August 26, 2010

Man Discovers a Bullet in His Head after 5 Years

Filed under: health — Tags: cyst, doctor, gun, gun shot, health, new year's, safety — John @ 8:41 pm

After recurring pain in his head, the man decided to finally go and see a doctor to discover what the root of the problem was. He went in expecting the doctor to tell him he had a cyst, but discovered he had a .22 caliber bullet lodged in the back of his head.

The man said that he remembered being hit in the head during a 2004 or 2005 New Year’s party, but quickly dismissed the blow as anything serious, as he was intoxicated at the time. The wound from the bullet would eventually heal, covering the bullet and leaving a bump in the man’s head. Only recently did the man decide to finally get this bump examined.

Police are not treating this incident as anything suspicious as they say the bullet most likely came from celebratory gun shot into the air as people welcomed in the New Year. The bullet has been successfully removed and from the man’s head and he should be able to leave the hospital later this week.

August 23, 2010

Chalk River Nuclear Reactor Is Once Again Producing Medical Isotopes

Filed under: health — Tags: cancer, diagnosis, health, heart, heart disease, medical isotopes, nuclear — John @ 9:25 pm

The Chalk River nuclear reactor, in Ontario, Canada, is finally up and running once again. The reactor, which will turn 53 years old later this year, was shut down May 15, 2009, originally for a month of maintenance. However, the reactor would stay inactive for 15 months as several repairs were made, including a heavy water leak.

The lengthy closure of this facility sent much of the medical world scrambling. The nuclear reactor is responsible for producing a third of the world’s medical isotopes. By closing the production for over a year, the world experienced a global shortage of the important isotopes.

The isotopes produced from the reactor are used in many tests, including those to diagnose cancer and heart ailments. During the 15 months where the isotopes were in short supply, doctors were forced to reschedule procedures and push back treatments. Thankfully now, the reactor is running smoothly and is once again producing the very important medical isotopes.

Increased Risk of Asthma in Teens Linked to Tylenol

Filed under: Asthma — Tags: acetaminophen, Asthma, eczema, health, nasal congestion, safety, teenagers, teens, Tylenol — John @ 9:24 pm

Recently, a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine discovered something rather alarming. The results of the study suggest that teenagers who take acetaminophen, better known as Tylenol, have a much higher risk of developing asthma, allergic nasal conditions, and eczema.

If you are thinking “I’ll be fine because I only take Tylenol once and a while,” then you are very wrong. The study showed that teens that used acetaminophen at least once per year were up to 43% more likely to have asthma. If you take acetaminophen every month than your risk increased 2 ½ times. Teens who took acetaminophen at least once a month were 99% more likely to have eczema. Nasal congestion was also linked to acetaminophen use.

I’m sure that further testing will have to occur in order to determine if there are any other risks, especially if Tylenol is still safe for teenagers. While I believe that Tylenol will still be considered safe, it is important to monitor these kinds of events in order to protect the public, especially those that may be more affected by the risks of commonly used medicines. Teens are greatly affected by many interactions during their growing and developmental stages. Because there are so many important changes during the teenage years, the safety of medications for this age group must be thoroughly tested, as any internal reactions, especially with drugs, can cause serious damage.

May 7, 2010

7 Things to Do to Become a Healthier Person

Filed under: health — Tags: health, omega 3 — Candace @ 11:50 pm

Exercise, drink 8 glasses of water a day, and sleep at least 8 hours a night. These are things you have heard a million times before and they are keys to being a generally healthy person, but there are other things that you can do to be healthy.

1. Switch your sugar with honey – By switching to honey you can reduce your cholesterol intake. Honey slows the oxidation of bad cholesterols which increases your good cholesterol.

2. Eat apple peels – At least don’t peel your apples. Apple peels have characteristics to fight cancer in the liver and colon, and breast cancer.

3. Kiss – Kissing helps to increase the production of saliva in your mouth which helps protect your teeth enamel.

4. Do nothing – Sit in a dark place with no noise and just relax. This (even for just 10 minutes) can relieve great amounts of stress and refresh you. Doing this twice a day can have a lasting effect.

5. Smile – Smiling and laughing makes you look younger and has been scientifically proven to keep you healthier.

6. Eat brussel sprouts – Eating this vegetable on a daily basis will reduce wrinkles, prevent birth defects in babies, and stop cancer growths. This is the miracle vegetable for sure.

7. Eat fish – Fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These are the good fats that the body needs. These fatty acids reduce inflammation and lower the risk for chronic diseases.