According to new research, cutting salt intake to recommended levels worldwide could save about 3 million lives a year.

Take less salt can help lower your blood pressure. By itself, high blood pressure is not necessarily a big problem, but over time and combined with other factors like high cholesterol levels or overweight can increase our risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It would be interesting to know whether a low salt diet could reduce our risk of these serious health problems, rather than just lowering blood pressure.

Now, researchers have analyzed many small studies on salt intake to obtain a broader understanding of its effects on health. The researchers combined the results of 13 studies involving over 177,000 people from six countries including the U.S., Scotland and Japan.

In the new study, published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal), the British Medical Association, people who ate more salt were found to have more chances of suffering a stroke. On average, an extra consumption of 5 grams per day was associated with a risk of stroke by 23% higher.

This might seem a large increase, but the impact depends on what each one that is prone to suffer a stroke in the first instance.

The impact of salt on cardiovascular disease overall was not as clear.
A research problem is that it is difficult to measure precisely the amount of salt in a person. Most of the analyzed studies used food questionnaires to find out what took the participants, which determines the outcome in terms of accuracy (and integrity) of the replies. Only 4 of the 13 studies measured the amount of salt in the urine of participants (a much more accurate), but even these only measured the levels of salt for a day, so it did not take into account changes in the diet of people over time.

The Food Standards Agency says people should not drink more than 6g salt a day and the WHO recommendation is even lower (5g). However, salt intake in most countries is much higher than these recommendations.

Modern diets rich processed foods, canned and fast foods tend to have a high salt content. Even foods that seem innocuous, such as bread and breakfast cereals contain large amounts of salt. Therefore, according to the researchers, achieving important changes in the diets of people would, probably, a nationwide action, instead of simply recommending people to take less salt.

Personally, if we reduce our consumption of salt should:
* Look at the amount of salt in foods such as bread, breakfast cereals and convenience foods.
* Replace canned soups and vegetables for fresh vegetables and homemade soups, or else choose low-salt varieties.
* Drink fruit and vegetables as snacks instead of crackers.
* Avoid adding salt when cooking systematically or at the table.
* Season with herbs, spices, black pepper, lime, lemon, wine, tomatoes and garlic instead of salt to flavor cooked foods.

Prevention can be 3 types:

* Primary prevention: it’s all measures aimed at preventing the occurrence of disease in the general population
* Secondary prevention: it concerns individuals who are exposed to a risk but are not yet ill
* Tertiary prevention: it affects patients, to encourage them not to expose themselves to risk

For most cancers, the curative treatment remain disappointing, even if success is emerging in certain pathologies.
But

* Is the location of the disease requires a significant mutilation (removal of one lung, larynx removed, removal of the esophagus, removal of the bladder) to try to cure the patient
* Either the disease has already spread throughout the body and the treatment is simply to contain the evolution thereof.

No medication has made its case today in the primary prevention of cancer.
Thus, the only “treatment” of an effective cancer prevention, ie removing the causes of cancer.
Some cancers may decrease more than 90%, if living, collective and individual, the causes of these cancers.
Tobacco

The cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 95% of lung cancers.
The bladder cancer is directly linked to tobacco by the action of tars absorbed with the smoke, being eliminated in the urine, stagnate in the bladder.
Alcohol

Associated with tobacco is the leading cause of cancer of the pharynx and larynx in France.

Solar Ultraviolet Radiation

The incidence of skin tumors has increased steadily since the increased exposure to sunlight and in his early childhood.
Early sex

The incidence of cancer of the cervix is directly related to the early and multiple sex without a condom.
It is interesting to emphasize the preventive vaccine against the papilloma virus is now supported by the National Health Insurance.

Antioxidants and Cancer

Real antidote formidable free radicals, antioxidants arouse passion undeniable.

While many studies confirm basic daily their major involvement in many diseases, the discordance of clinical studies, the designs often empirical or imaginary, may lead to some disappointment and a real ambiguity.

This is particularly true for one of the most difficult: the management of oxidative stress in cancer.

The difficulty here is that certain antioxidants or antioxidant cocktails, in some cases, at certain doses, may protect the tumor, or even promote tumor proliferation.

It is well recognized, however, that the reactive forms of oxygen (free radicals) involved in the pathogenesis of many cancers.

Indeed, free radicals in excess uncontrolled by inadequate antioxidant defenses, created by oxidizing certain bases, mutations and strand breaks in DNA and initiating carcinogenesis.

However it appears that their effects involve more complex mechanisms, particularly by inhibiting or otherwise stimulating the expression of genes involved in regulating the proliferation or cellular differentiation or apoptosis (apoptosis is the programmed death of certain cells, especially those with abnormal cancerous).

Many studies (including studies SUVIMAX) have shown the benefits of antioxidants in the prevention of many cancers, and it is unanimously recognized that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is an essential preliminary step to prevention.

Things are complicated considerably when it comes to proposing strategies antioxidant in cancer and specifically during treatment by radio and chemotherapy in order to “treat” their oxidative effects.

At high concentrations, free radicals can induce apoptosis of cancer cells (programmed death), and is in fact a means to destroy tumor cells.

Treatment with radiotherapy, as many molecules used in chemotherapy are based mainly on the induction of an overproduction of free radicals in tumor cells, and this mechanism would be responsible for at least part of their antitumor effect.

The anticancer drugs can induce production of free radicals belong to different classes, among which we note:

Intercalating agents, anthracyclines such as doxorubicin, the topoisomerase inhibitors, antimetabolites as of 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C and platinum derivatives such as cisplatin and oxaliplatin, taxanes and hormone receptors as tamoxifen.

Understandably so easily that any antioxidant can potentially oppose the action of these treatments and limit their effectiveness.

However, one major limitation of these molecules derive their toxicity on normal cells and many therapeutic protocols lead to some irreversible damage.

Some anticancer drugs are toxic to certain special organs, anthracyclines have a toxic effect on the heart related to the production of free radicals that oxidize the lipid structures of cells and mitochondria, others have pulmonary toxicity related to a irreversible fibrosis, also linked to the release of free radicals.

It may therefore appear reasonable to try to oppose or at least limit this toxicity ‘pro-oxidant’.

The difficulty is to limit the toxic effects without compromising treatment efficacy.

Many antioxidants have been proposed to reduce the side effects of cancer treatments, such as N-acetyl cysteine or Co-Enzyme Q10 has shown interest in the prevention of anthracycline cardiotoxicity.

More recently many teams are interested to SOD (super oxide dismutase), and more specifically to chemical compounds that mimic the activity of SOD.

Many compounds have been tested, some with only mimicking the activity of SOD, but the most interesting are those who also have an activity ‘catalase’ and glutathione reductase, two key enzymes in the detoxification and antioxidant protection of the cell.

Very recent studies have shown that treatment with N-acetyl cysteine, a precursor of glutathione, induced an increase in tumor cell proliferation, while some mimetic of SOD and the glutathione reductase decreased.

These results confirm the extraordinary complexity of the subject and that any antioxidant supplements “blind” in the context of cancers and their treatment is avoided.

These new approaches and undoubtedly promising, still require a rigorous monitoring biological markers of oxidative stress, knowing that the rate of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and peroxidase and glutathione reductase are not reliable markers of oxidative stress.

Finally, if things are simpler in prevention, we must not forget however, that studies have shown that some high-dose antioxidants such as beta carotene increased the risk of cancer.

Antioxidants are undoubtedly significant interest in preventing cancer as many degenerative diseases.

Their use in the legitimate aim to restrict the pro-oxidant deleterious effects of radio and chemotherapy of cancers, however, must be very cautious in the current state of our knowledge.

Such strategies can be thought that in a medicalized, and guided by a rational biological seriously.

It is however legitimate to support the oxidative stress of all patients treated by radio and / or chemotherapy, remote cures and respect the few rules dictated by the work we have, and again at s relying on diagnostic biological screening of oxidative stress.

Individual screening

There are also cases of individual screening legitimate outside the defined group, for some cancers.
Screening should be supervised by a consultation of individual risk assessment by the physician.

Clinique

Due to the development mode and location, a cancer is revealed by clinical symptoms related to it invades the body, in situ and near, and the disorders it engenders.

Mass Syndrome

The discovery of a tumor, usually irregular and hard to palpate, guides to the diagnosis:

* Lump in the breast tumor breast
* Swallowing disorders: esophageal tumor
* Digestive disorders: gastrointestinal tumor
* Headache, vomiting, seizures: brain tumor
* Pollakiuria: bladder tumor

Local Invasion and Locoregional

The tumor invades the body and causes malfunctions or runs nearby:

* Dysphonia by flooding of a head and neck cancer
* Constipation by invasion of colon tumors
* Phenomenon of orange peel at the skin tissue against invasion by a breast cancer
* Swelling below the tumor compression of the drainage system: large arm of breast
* Pain from nerve damage in their peripheral course: ischial bone tumors

Hemorrhage

The cancerous tumor requires a blood supply system important to feed all the cells, and this system of neo vessels are fragile, so easily bleeds.
It is a way of revealing common cancers:

* Hemoptysis in lung cancer
* Hematemesis and melena in stomach cancer
* Haematuria in bladder cancer
* Hémospermie in prostate cancer
* Rectal bleeding in rectal cancer
* Bleeding in cancer of the cervix during sex and endometrial cancer

Discovery of a Metastasis

In 15% of cases, cancer is found by a distant metastasis of the original tumor, which may sometimes not be found.

* Lymph node metastasis: lymph indurated
* Liver Metastasis: digestive disorders, pain, jaundice or liver
* Pulmonary Metastasis: incidental findings on radiographs or breathlessness
* Metastasis cerebral seizures occurring in adults with no history of epilepsy

There are other hypothyroidism symptoms as well. The inability to lose weight, even after dietng and exercising, thinning hair,dry skin,and constipation are all common symptoms. When these symptoms are combined with tiredness, a woman can feel pretty miserable. Perhaps you have already been to the doctor and have been dismissed as simply complaining about life,or made to feel like your symptoms were not important.

There is a simple blood test that checks the levels of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. If it is too low, a synthetic hormone replacement is prescribed, so don’t let anyone dismiss your symptoms without checking your thyroid levels. You could feel like a whole new woman in a month or two with the proper treatment. Hypothyroidism is a real condition with very real symptoms. It is easily verified y a blood test and easily treated so ask your doctor to check your hormone levels before dismissing your symptoms.

Many agents have been identified and are often associated. Conceptually, there are 2 types of agents that promote cancer, responsible for cell mutations (mutagens) and those who are responsible for promoting the transfer. Some factors, like tobacco, are both mutagens and promoters.

Chemical

They are very numerous, and the leader in tobacco is responsible for most cancers of the lung.
Tobacco remains the leading cause of cancer, of course, lung cancer and airways but beyond digestive cancers, kidney, urinary …

Alcohol is involved, particularly in the development of gastrointestinal cancers, but beyond in cancers of the oral cavity, larynx and even the female breast.

The frequent association of alcohol and tobacco consumption constitutes the largest share in the origins of cancer deaths.

Occupational Pathology recognizes many cancers due to chemical or environmental:

* Skin cancer: arsenic, pitch, tar and oil, coal.
* Head and neck cancers: timber, nickel, chromic acid, zinc chromate.
* Broncho-pulmonary and pleural: asbestos, silica, arsenic, nickel, iron oxide.
* Bladder cancer: aromatic amines, dyes derived from benzidine.
* Liver cancer: arsenic, vinyl chloride monomer
* Prostate cancer: cadmium
* Brain tumors: nitrosated derivatives
* Leukemia benzene

Habits and Lifestyles

It is now apparent that the excess of certain fats in the diet and smoking and excess salt are contributing factors in the occurrence of cancerous diseases, particularly in the digestive tract.

Radiation

Radiation is involved in the occurrence of cancers in that they cause changes within the cell nucleus by DNA damage.
Skin cancers are more frequent among subjects exposed to sunlight.
The nuclear accident at Chernobyl released cesium and radioactive iodine. The thyroid iodine selectively fixed and the number of thyroid cancer has increased (2,000 cases could be attributed to the accident) in areas affected by the nuclear cloud.

Hormones, Viruses, Parasites

Hormones

Estrogens, female hormones are a factor of growth of some cancer cells
Virus

15% of human cancers have a viral cause established

* Certain leukemia and lymphoma
* Epstein Barr virus is associated with Burkitt’s disease, some cancers of the nasopharynx, some Hodgkin’s disease (variety of lymphoma)
* Virus hepatitis B and C is involved in the occurrence of primary liver cancer
* The papilloma virus, sexually transmitted diseases, are involved in cervical cancer
* HIV / AIDS is involved in the occurrence of Kaposi’s sarcoma and malignant lymphoma non-Hodgkin

Parasites

Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium, a parasite of African waters in the East, is involved in the occurrence of bladder cancer.

Genetic factors

Genetic factors are implicated in cancers called “hereditary”, related to genetic transmission of the mutation: some breast and colon. They represent 5% of all cancers.

Some environmental habits are involved in the occurrence of cancers known family, without putting in evidence of transmission of specific genes.

Squeeze a little to rule out any nipple discharge.
Palpation

The woman must be lying

The arm of the breast to explore should be placed behind the head and felt with the opposite hand with fingers fully extended. If you find something that looked strange, will be explored at the same level the opposite breast and compared. Do not forget the armpits to feel any lumps however small.

If during these maneuvers will find some alteration, should not be alarmed, but contact your gynecologist.

Diagnostic methods

- Finally, when doing a mammogram? Are its radiations harmful?. At 35 years should have a mammogram call “DB” in order to put images with which to compare future. After forty years, should get a mammogram at least every two years. Before age 35, by the special characteristics of the breast at the time, often more useful ultrasound, although the doctor will assess the most appropriate in each case. With mammography has been made to detect cancers in early stages that had not yet given clinical symptoms. It has proven to be a safe technique with minimal radiation risk.

If a lesion was detected by fine needle aspiration or biopsy, get a sample of it that will be decisive for the type of operation performed.

In recent years the number of cases of breast cancer has been increasing and many of them if they had caught earlier would not have claimed the lives of many patients. That is why it now considers the early diagnosis of breast cancer is the most important factor in reducing the mortality from the disease. Yet this does not intend to frighten, but to get a proper diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases of the breast.

In summary, the most important thing is to make a correct early detection of breast cancer to achieve healing of it and a good prognosis. Know that you play a key role in controlling their health. The person who best knows his mom is you, therefore, is best placed to detect changes in it.

The breast is composed of different tissues that are subjected to hormonal changes experienced by every woman in every menstrual cycle and throughout his life. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and many other factors modify it.

There is a glandular tissue is distributed in clusters. He is in charge of producing milk during lactation. There is a fibrous tissue that supports the breast and fatty tissue that cushions. As in other organs, there are arteries, veins and nerves that maintain the circulation, can give nutrition and sensitivity. An important role played by the lymphatic system defends possible tumors and infection. It is responsible, so to speak, to clean breast of “waste products”, diverting them to the lymph nodes found in the armpits and supraclavicular fossae. It is for this reason that not all breast examination must never forget these regions.

Risk Factors

There are a number of factors that may predispose a woman to suffer from breast cancer.

* The diet rich in animal fat and overweight.
* Breast cancer is apparently not hereditary, however, those women with a family history of breast cancer are more at higher risk and should be monitored more closely.
* It is more common in women who began their rules and early evening are gone.
* The disease is more common in women without children or who have had beyond the first 30 years.

Benign breast lesions

Fortunately, most of the changes that occur in the breast are benign. These include:

* Fibroadenoma. It is a solid tumor that occurs primarily in young women. It has a very low malignant potential.
* Fibrocystic breast disease. It’s “a way of being” of the breast. They are very fibrous breasts with a tendency to form cysts. Are difficult to scan both the doctor and patient, but no breasts are abnormal.
* Mastitis. Breast infections are. Appear more frequently after birth. With proper treatment and hygienic measures are usually solved without problems.
* Duct ectasia. Level are dilated ducts of the breast can cause discharge from the nipple retraction and sometimes the same.

Benign breast lesions

There can be a series of changes in the breast that every woman should know, since often warn that there is some alteration in the breast. Do not panic but be alert and see a specialist.

* Increased size of one breast in a short period of time. Very often one of the two breasts is larger than the other, but not normal the sudden growth of one of them.
* Palpation of a package for small.
* Discharge from the nipple. It is useful to look at the color of it.
* Changes in the skin. Redness, eczema …
* Alterations to the level of the areola or nipple. Ulceration, retraction …
* Pain in the breast and pectoral region.

After eighteen years of first sexual intercourse, it is necessary to perform an annual gynecological examination in which should include a full assessment of the breasts.

Breast self-examination. The breast is an organ that can reach them easily. We see and we can touch. Every woman should know your breasts, see the changes that occur in them. This technique is very simple, painless, safe and convenient, but nevertheless only two thirds of women practiced once a year and third once a month as recommended. Often it is through ignorance or how to do it for fear of finding “something wrong”. What we want to achieve with this informative text is to clarify their doubts.

A good time for self exploration is a week after menstruation. In cases where there is no menstruation can be done in the first week of each month. The steps are:
Visual inspection

Naked from the waist up, stand in front of a mirror and look. First with his arms folded, then raised them. You have to watch that there is no deformity, blemish, bulge, shrink …

The vision changes of particular value in older people because of their frequency, their importance in maintaining independence and because they are problems that are often overlooked.

1. The sight of the elderly
Eyestrain. This is one of the most common problems in the elderly. While it may be assumed that a young person looks good, this can not be taken for granted when you get older. The vision loss may result in numerous major cases, and these causes may be treatable or not.

But in any case increases the likelihood of accidents, and people who are ill may have problems to function in normal life.

Vision problems can also cause mental and behavioral disorders in the elderly. It is imperative that all couples will be reviewed in the light with some frequency, because it depends on their future livelihoods. In the absence of problems, it is bad advice to get a review each year.

2. Most frequent problems of vision
2.1. Presbyopia
Presbyopia is the loss of accommodation of the lens that occurs when it becomes rigid over the years. The lens is a lens that exists inside the eye, and are designed to focus the light. So presbyopia, also known as “sight”, is presented as difficulty focusing on objects to change the look from far to near. It is a universal change, and is corrected with glasses that enhance the focus on close objects.

2.2. Waterfalls
Cataracts are extremely common. The lens (the lens) becomes increasingly opaque, and is doing vision loss. Appear in both eyes, but its progression can be at different speeds. Occur more often in women, although not known exactly why. They are also more frequent in diabetics, smokers and drinkers. The only effective treatment is surgery, in which the lens is changed by an intraocular lens that makes up their duties. It is a simple operation with very high success rate.

2.3. Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is becoming a serious problem. In the back of the eye is the retina, which is the area that collects and converts images into nerve impulses that the brain interprets. In the center of the retina is an area called macula, essential to vision because it is where the image is focused. Macular degeneration in this area is damaged (it is not known exactly why it happens). The victim begins to see the crooked lines and then lost sight of the central visual field. There are several ways of varying severity, and treatments are very effective yet. Control is required by an ophthalmologist.

2.4. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is increased fluid pressure inside the eye. The increased pressure can damage the optic nerve permanently. There are different forms of glaucoma. The problem is that this disease often produce no symptoms, so it is often diagnosed late. Therefore it is important to get regular checkups. The important thing is to diagnose it at an early stage for treatment. Treatment with medication and with certain transactions is usually very effective.

2.5. Retinal disorders other diseases
Changes may occur in the retina by systemic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension. This disease can damage the retina without anyone noticing it, by gradually lose vision. It is believed that diabetic retinopathy is now the leading cause of blindness in adults in developed countries. For these retinopathies are not progressing to blindness is essential to maintain the best possible control of diabetes or hypertension. It is imperative that diabetics with hypertension and attend an annual review by your ophthalmologist.

Infections of this type are anemia is chronic, lasting a month or more, which is the time it takes to develop. The most common are: tuberculosis, empyema and lung abscess, bronchiectasis, osteomyelitis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, chronic fungal infections and HIV infection.

But not all anemias within an infection can be categorized as ACS or the mechanism may be mixed. It can cause anemia by immune hemolysis (mycoplasma, Epstein-Barr) nonimmune hemolysis as bacterial endocarditis, malaria microangiopathic hemolysis as HIV infection or E. Coli O157; by infection of hematopoietic progenitors: parvovirus B19 and HIV and hemophagocytosis in the case of brucellosis, leishmaniasis and infections with herpes group viruses and HIV.

Also some of the drugs used to treat infections can cause anemia. Moderate anemia is generally not less than 9g/dL hemoglobin and clinical results from underlying disease. Its onset is insidious over a period of 3-4 weeks.

The number of pressure variations per second is what is called sound frequency and is measured in Hertz (Hz). Each frequency of a sound produces a different tone.

Sound Level Meters

The instruments used to measure the noise level are called sound level meters and provide an indication of noise level (averaged over time) of sound waves incident on the microphone. The sound level is displayed on a scale usually with a moving needle indicator or digital display.
The ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies. For this reason, even though the sound pressure level of two sounds may be the same, can be interpreted as different levels if one has a greater concentration on the frequencies that the ear is most sensitive. For this reason, sound meters are incorporated into the frequency weighting filters that modify the sensitivity of sound level on frequencies that are less audible to the ear. Many sound level meters are equipped with different weighting filters-frequency sensitivity.
The weighting scale is used most frequently. The scale A is internationally standardized and adjusted its weighting curve to the response of human hearing. The sound level values measured with this scale are known as dB (A).
There are other rating scales used less frequently such as the B scale, used for medium-intensity sounds, the C scale, used to loud sounds, and the D scale, used to measure the noise of jet aircraft. Because of its good agreement with the subjective response, the scale A, is commonly used for all levels, still relatively rare use of scales B, C and D.
Often, the sounds emitted by the sound sources fluctuate widely over a period of time. Can you measure an average value of noise during the period known as the equivalent sound pressure level Leq. The Leq is the equivalent continuous sound level that it provide the same acoustic energy to the fluctuating noise measured over the same period of time.