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Oral Cancer Facts

Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore in the mouth that does not go away. Oral cancer, which includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat), can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:

- Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth.
- The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth.
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth.
- Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck.
- Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within 2 weeks.
- A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat.
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue.
- Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or change in voice.
- Ear pain.
- A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together.
- Dramatic weight loss.
- If you notice any of these changes, contact your dentist or health care professional immediately.

Risk factors for the development of oral cancer include:

- Smoking . Cigarette, cigar, or pipe smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.
- Smokeless tobacco users. Users of dip, snuff, or chewing tobacco products are 50 times more likely to develop cancers of the cheek, gums, and lining of the lips.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol. Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in nondrinkers.
- Family history of cancer.
- Excessive sun exposure, especially at a young age.
- It is important to note that over 25% of all oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and who only drink alcohol occasionally.

To prevent oral cancer:

- Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products and drink alcohol in moderation (and refrain from binge drinking).
- Eat a well balanced diet.
- Limit your exposure to the sun. Repeated exposure increases the risk of cancer on the lip, especially the lower lip. When in the sun, use UV-A/B-blocking - sun protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.

You can take an active role in detecting oral cancer early, should it occur, by doing the following:

- Conduct a self exam at least once a month. Using a bright light and a mirror, look and feel your lips and front of your gums. Tilt your head back and look at and feel the roof of your mouth. Pull your checks out to view the inside of your mouth, the lining of your cheeks, and the back gums. Pull out your tongue and look at all surfaces; examine the floor of your mouth. Look at the back of your throat. Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes in both sides of your neck and under your lower jaw. Call your dentist’s office immediately if you notice any changes in the appearance of your mouth or any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above.

- See your dentist on a regular schedule. Even though you may be conducting frequent self exams, sometimes dangerous spots or sores in the mouth can be very tiny and difficult to see on your own. The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer screening exams every 3 years for persons over age 20 and annually for those over age 40. During your next dental appointment, ask your dentist to perform an oral exam. Early detection can improve the chance of successful treatment.

Top 10 Low-Sugar Fruits

fruits

When you go on lunch break, you realise one of your colleague always keep munching apple; definitely the first question you will ask him/her “Are you on diet?” He/She will answer you either yes or no. With the full healthy knowledge you had in mind from this fruit blog, you might be able to help him/her in going the correct way of dieting.

Yes, fruits are healthy, and many people will eat it as one of their meal of the day in order to lose weight; or people will had it after their heavy meal in order to smooth their digestion. So, in order to lose weight or not being over-weight by eating fruits, you need to choose the low-sugar level fruits.

1. Apples - can be found in red and green. Beside low in sugar, apples also contain vitamin C and soluble fiber that eliminates toxins and aids cholesterol management.

2. Apricot - rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as iron, potassium and calcium.

3. Berries - such as strawberry, blackberry, blueberry - low in carbohydrates; contained antioxidants that could reduce risk of certain types of cancer.

4. Guava - low calories; also rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as dietary fiber.

5. Grapefruit - a citrus family fruits that rich in vitamin C; contain anti-oxidants that cuold prevent cancerous cell; as well as building the immune system against cold and infection.

6. Kiwi - supplies great amount of vitamin C and also a type of enzyme that helps in extracting nutrient of the food.

7. Peaches - a seasonal fruit that is rich in potassium and vitamin C.

8. Plum - contain vitamin A and vitamin C; enhances the body to absorb iron.

9. Pears - soluble fiber and rich in vitamin C.

10. Papaya - contain a type of enzymes which could enhance digestion.

It is not a lost for you to try out all the above mentioned fruits; no harm done!  Fruits are beneficial to our body, and it is cheap and easily find anywhere! :)

Parabens: Can it lead to breast cancer?

The most commonly found ingredient/chemical in our cosmetics, paraben, is a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, toothpaste, and etc.

Parabens has the great effects for breast cancer. Because parabens can imitate the effects of oestrogen on a weak basis, which is of particular significance to women; lack of oestrogen can lead to menstrual problems and fertility problems, on the other hand too much oestrogen can have a negative effects. Thus, doctors try to decrease the levels of oestrogen in the body during breast cancer treatment so that the tumour does not get extra encouragement in its growth.  Study found that out of 20 breast cancer patients, 18 of them had parabens presence in their breast tissue; but the studies evidences are not strong enough to make a proven results of parabens can cause breast cancer.

Parabens have been proven to penetrate the skin and can be traced in the blood minutes after application, it is theorized that they may have adverse effects on the body. It is thought that the parabens entered through the skin by the application of paraben-containing anti-perspirants. Because the cosmetic used involves penetration into body tissues without going through the digestive process, the chemical remain intact in the tissue. 

Parabens can be found in virtually any of the cosmetics and toiletries products, however, there are several others options, where there are many company now offering parabens-free cosmetics (especially deodorants).

Healthy Sex is Beneficial

sex benefits

Sex does a body good in a number of ways, according to Joy Davidson, a New York psychologist and sex therapist, and other experts. The benefits aren’t just anecdotal or hearsay, it is all backed by scientific scrutiny.

What are the health benefits of sex?

1. A big health benefit of sex is lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction. According to the researchers from Scotland, they studied on 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. The result of the research is stated that their blood pressure response to stress.  Those who had intercourse had better responses to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained.

2. Good sexual health may mean better physical health. Having sex once of twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Studies shows that frequent sex, once or twice a week, had higher levels of IgA than those who had sex less than once a week, or having it very often, three or more times weekly.

3. According to Patti Britton, a Los Angeles PhD sexologist and president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and therapists, sex is great mode of exercise. 30 minutes of sex burn 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound.

4. Scientists from England found frequency of sex was not associated with stroke. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.

5. One of the reasons people say they have sex is to feel good about themselves. Great sex begins with self-esteem, and it raises it; if the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises your self-esteem, stated Gina Ogden, a PhD sex therapist and marriage and family therapist in Cambridge.

6. Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps us bond and build trust. The more contact, the higher the oxytocin levles.  Oxytocin allows us to feel the urge to nurture and to bond, according to Patti Britton. Higher oxytocin has also been linked with a feeling of generosity. So, if you are feeling suddenly more generous towards your partner than usual, credit the love hormone.

7. As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphine increase, and pain declines.  so if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those hiher oxytocin levels.

8. Frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life. Researchers reported in the British Journal of Urology International, they found that no association of prostate cancer with the number of sexual partners as the men reached their 30s, 40s, and 50s. They also found men who had five or more ejaculations weekly while in their 20s reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer later by a third.

9. For women, doing a few pelvic floor muscle exercises known as Kegels during sex offers a couple of benefits.  You will enjot more pleasure, and you’ll also strengthen the area and help to minimize the risk of incontinence later in life.

10. The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep. And getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure.

How to Stay Awake Naturally?

As more and more of us getting less sleep, it’s tempting to reach for a coffee or expresso when we feel sleepy at work.  However,consuming too much of caffeine can lead to a vicious cycle, reduce your sleep time, altering the normal stages of sleep and decrease the quanlity of your sleep.

Try the following tips to helps your stay awake:

1. When you are feeling tired at work, a 10 minutes walk will helps.  The 10 minutes walk will increase the energy for 2 hours, because walking can pumps oxygen through your veins, brain and muscles. You can also try by eating a candy bar, which can provide a quick energy boost.

2. Taking a nap also helps; there are 2 things to remember about naps, don’t take more than one and don’t take it too close to your bedtime; nap should be between 5 to 25 minutes.  It’s best to nap about 6 or 7 seven hours before you would normally go to bed. If you need to nap at work, do it during your break hour.

3. Continuous fixation on a computer screen can cause eyestrain and worsen sleepiness and fatigue. Relaxing your eyes by moving your eyes away from the computer screen for a few minutes.

4. Low sugar snacks always give you a quick energu boost; such as peanut butter on whole wheat cracker or celery sticks, yogurt and baby carrots.

5. Engage yourselve in a conversation with your colleagues with interesting topics, such as politics, sports, games, fashion, and etc.

6. Environment with dim lighting aggravate fatigue.  Exposure to brighter light can reduce sleepiness and increase alertness.

7. Deep breathing raises blood oxygen levels in the body, which improve circulations, slower your heart rate, lowers blood pressure, ultimately aiding mental performance and energy.

8. Driving while sleepy is dangerous; change the drivers often or pull off the road take a walk and get some fresh air.

9. Dehydration can cause fatigue; drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables.

10. Exercising helps too; try to exercise 30 minutes a day. If exercise too hard some days, the energy level may drop for a bit, thus eating a meal that contains both protein and carbohydrates within 2 hours after a heavy exercise will lessen the initial energy loss.