Friday, April 20, 2018

Relation between pollution, pollutants and cancer

Air pollution refers to the mixture of several harmful substances, which lead to various serious health hazards on exposure. The primary sources of air pollution are man-made, including fumes from automobiles and the smoke from burning fuels. Desert dust, radon gas, and several other natural sources of air pollution are equally dangerous. Air pollution is classified into outdoor and indoor air pollution. It is highly associated with increased risks of developing cancer. Smoking is considered to be one of the major agents, which pollute the air and increase the chances of cancer to a large extent.

Outdoor air pollution
  1. Outdoor air pollution is strongly linked with cancer development.
  2. As every person is exposed to some form of air pollution, it has a more harmful effect on the whole population across the globe as a general threat.
  3. A certain part of outdoor air pollution referred to as PM 2.5, or solid dust particles, are highly responsible for the development of cancer.
  4. The chances of cancer increase with the increase in PM 2.5 levels in the air.
Indoor air pollution
  1. There are several sources of indoor air pollution that are closely associated with an increased risk of cancer.
  2. The sources include fuels used for heating homes and for cooking, radon, and tobacco smoke.
  3. Second hand smoke is another harmful indoor air pollutant that causes cancer.
Second hand smoke
  1. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of cancer development, along with the risk of developing other diseases such as stroke and lung disease.
  2. A lot of people all over the world get exposed to second hand smoke.
  3. A lot of deaths occur due to cancer because of second hand smoke exposure which is common every year, all over the globe.
Radon
  1. Radon is a natural radioactive gas, which is associated with increased risks of developing lung cancer.
  2. It is found at low levels outdoors. It may also build in high concentrations indoors.
  3. Although radon exposure does not pose a huge threat for cancer, a lot of radon-associated cancers develop due to exposure to radon, along with tobacco smoke.
Benzene
  1. This is a flammable liquid having no color and with a sweet odor.
  2. It is closely associated with the development of leukemia and cancers affecting other cells of the body.
  3. Cigarette smoking and tobacco smoke are major cancer causing elements that are found in the air commonly. Both of these are quite harmful. It is recommended that you not only quit smoking, but also keep away from passive smoking.
Pollution are not only the cause of cancers but also related to pulmonary diseases. Those who have asthma are hypersensitive  to strong smells- flowers, perfumes, smoke, agarbatti , pollen, dust. These days, many are troubled by pulmonary diseases due to increasing pollution all over the world and to cancer too.

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-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Study provides insights on links between nature and mental wellbeing


Exposure to trees, the sky and birdsong in cities is beneficial for the mental well-being of people, a study suggests.

Researchers found that being outdoors, seeing trees, hearing birdsong, seeing the sky, and feeling in contact with nature were associated with higher levels of mental well-being, and that the beneficial effects of nature were especially evident in those individuals with greater levels of impulsivity who are at greater risk of mental health issues. 

The researchers developed a smartphone-based app to examine how exposure to natural features in cities affects a person's mental well-being.

The app monitored 108 individuals who collectively completed 3,013 assessments over a one-week period.

In each assessment, participants answered several questions about their current environment and momentary mental well-being. GPS-based geo-tagging was used to monitor their exact location throughout the 1-week trial.

The results showed significant immediate and time lagged associations with mental well-being for several natural features: trees, the sky and birdsong. These associations were still evident several hours after exposure to trees, the sky and birdsong had taken place, indicating time-lasting benefits.
The investigators were interested in whether the beneficial effects of nature might vary from one individual to another, depending on their risk of developing poor mental health.

To assess this each participant was rated on "trait impulsivity" - a psychological measure of one's tendency to behave with little forethought or consideration of the consequences, and a predictor of higher risk of developing addictive disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antisocial personality disorder and bipolar disorder.

This revealed that the beneficial impact of nature on mental well-being was greater in people with higher levels of trait impulsivity and a higher risk of developing mental health issues.

A Dr. said, "These findings suggest that short-term exposure to nature has a measurable beneficial impact on mental well-being.

The interaction of this effect with trait impulsivity is intriguing, as it suggests that nature could be especially beneficial to those individuals who are at risk of poor mental health. From a clinical perspective, we hope this line of research will lead to the development of low-cost scalable interventions aimed at promoting mental health in urban populations."

 The landscape architects said, "Right now decisions on urban planning and design aimed at improving mental health tend to be based on "conventional wisdom", due to the lack of robust scientific data. Our findings provide a much-needed evidence base for the benefits of nature within urban centres. From the perspective of urban planning and design, we hope the results will inform future investments and policies, helping build healthier cities".

An artist and action based researcher comments, "This study represents a successful example of how smartphone technologies can be employed as a tool for citizen science. It also demonstrates the value of academic and non-academic researchers coming together to carry out truly cross-disciplinary work with tangible real-world implications".

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-                      
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FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       
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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

How to get over Spring time allergies


Symptoms of seasonal allergies, commonly referred to as hay fever, include itchy eyes, nose and throat; sneezing; stuffy or runny nose; tearing up; and dark circles under the eyes.
In the early spring, trees are the first to start producing pollen as soon as they start budding, and it creates major problems for people with allergies. The symptoms people experience often resemble a common cold, but, if it happens every year at this time, it's most likely allergies.
In addition to medications, lifestyle changes can help relieve hay fever symptoms. These measures include:
  • Limiting outdoor activities when pollen counts are high.
  • Leaving windows closed at home or in the car to keep pollen out.
  • Installing and using your air conditioner early, to filter the outside air that comes into your home.
  • Washing your hair after being outside.
  • Avoiding mowing lawns or raking leaves, both of which stir up pollen and mold.
  • Not hanging sheets or clothes outside to dry.
There's no reason for people with allergies to suffer. As long as each one takes the proper precautions, one should be able to enjoy the outdoors and make the most of the warm weather.

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