Stem cell therapy may help reduce heart failure after a heart attack

(Photo: AI generated image/IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) Patients with weak heart function who receive stem cell therapy shortly after a heart attack are less likely to suffer heart failure, according to a study.

Heart failure can occur after a heart attack when the heart muscle is extensively damaged, weakening its ability to pump blood effectively.

This can be a sudden complication (acute heart failure) or a long-term one. Symptoms include trouble breathing, fatigue, swelling in the legs, and an irregular heartbeat.

The clinical trial, published by the BMJ, suggests stem cell therapy may be a valuable add-on procedure for this particular group of patients after a heart attack to prevent subsequent heart failure and reduce the risk of future adverse events.

An international team of researchers, including those from Queen Mary University of London in the UK, set out to assess the impact of delivering stem cells directly into coronary arteries (known as intracoronary infusion) after a heart attack on the development of heart failure over three years.

“The results suggest that this technique may serve as a valuable adjunctive procedure after myocardial infarction to prevent the development of heart failure and reduce the risk of future adverse events," the team said.

The trial included 396 patients (average age 57-59 years) with no previous heart conditions at three teaching hospitals in Iran. They had all experienced a first heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Of these, 136 patients in the intervention group received an intracoronary infusion of allogenic Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells within 3-7 days of their heart attack in addition to standard care.

The remaining 260 control group patients received standard care alone.

Compared with the control group, intracoronary infusion of stem cells was associated with reduced rates of heart failure (2.77 vs. 6.48 per 100 person years), readmission to hospital for heart failure (0.92 vs. 4.20 per 100 person years), and a combined measure of cardiovascular death and readmission for heart attack or heart failure (2.8 vs. 7.16 per 100 person years).

The intervention did not have a statistically significant effect on readmission to the hospital for heart attack or death from cardiovascular disease.However, by six months, heart function in the intervention group showed a significantly greater improvement compared with the control group, said the researcher, while also urging the need for additional trials confirming the finding. Stem cell therapy may help reduce heart failure after a heart attack | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→November 13, 2025

Love is good for health

By Cena, Although it sounds funny or weird, studies and experiments have demonstrated a closerelationship between health and love. It has been shown that the bonds offriendship, love and affection, enhance health and happiness. Some of the benefits of love on health are: improving attention, motivation and memory. There is a significant reduction in anxiety, stress and depression. Strengthens the immune system, dispels wrinkles and low levels of hypertension. Here are some findings that relate to health and love: 

• (1) Strengthens the immune system. Biochemical reactions experienced by the body of a person when being in love help improve health and help to "strengthen the immune system," according to experts. With love our quality of life is better and tend to get sick less, and that negative feelings are outweighed by the positive and our body works better. 
• (2) Influences on the rapid recovery. We have seen that sick people who have someone to love them and watch for them, have a faster recovery than patients who have no affection from anyone. (3) Improves quality of life. We are more likely to get sick and depressed when we have problems and we are alone. However, the love we prolong life. Being loved makes problems feel lighter with the support of others.  
• (4) Energy and stress. According to experts, the emotional well it feels like to be able to give love and helping others makes people feel more energy and fighting stress. 
• (5) A feeling of great comfort. From the endocrinological point of view, love brings change for the better. As Jesus says Dr. Rocca, Ricardo Palma Clinic, "the first thing you are beta releases endorphins that trigger when you're in love, and are responsible for the feeling of great comfort.  (6) Love rejuvenates. "The hormones, the nervous system and skin, forming a narrow triangle, so the separation of estrogen in women improves hair, nails, skin," says Sandro Tucto dermatologist. 
• (7) Fewer doctor visits. Another study found that couples who have spent more time together, make fewer doctor visits. The psychiatrist Enrique Galli said that "stable relationships get colds less than singles, while elderly couples suffer less pain than the lonely elderly. This is due to segregation of hormones that allow for greater resistance to pain. " 
• (8) Making love, health benefits. Keeping sexually active and safe, influences our physical and emotional state is very important to our overall health. It is scientifically proven that people who frequently make love, get sick less and are happier. The list of health benefits that are attributed to sex as therapeutic activity include: well-being, improves self-esteem, makes you look younger, is a natural pain reliever, improves interpersonal relationships, reduces snoring, strengthens immune system, increases energy, relieves symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders. So now you know, since love helps heal, self-medication is recommended a good dose of love every day to live healthy and happy. Source: Forum Human Health, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→July 24, 2025

Tai chi might help relieve knee joint pain

Tai chi is a Chinese meditation practice that combines deep breathing and slow, fluid movements. (Photo: @ https://pixabay.com/ under Creative Commons CC0)

Tai chi may offer some relief to patients without the potential cost of attending physical therapy or side effects of medications. Tai chi may work as well as traditional physical therapy for easing pain in people with knee osteoarthritis, a small study suggests.Knee osteoarthritis, a leading cause of pain and disability in older adults, occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones wears down. While it can’t be cured, physical therapy or anti-inflammatory medications are often prescribed to relieve pain and improve mobility. To see if tai chi – a Chinese meditation practice that combines deep breathing and slow, fluid movements – might be a good alternative to physical therapy, researchers randomly assigned about 200 people with knee osteoarthritis to try one of these options for three months. Both groups experienced similar reductions in pain at the end of the three months, and after a year, the study found. People in the tai chi group, however, reported greater improvements in wellbeing and mental health than the participants assigned to physical therapy. The findings suggest that the growing number of U.S. patients practicing tai chi to address musculoskeletal and mental health issues are on to something, said lead study author Dr. Chenchen Wang, director of the Center for Complimentary and Integrative Medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. “Tai chi is a multicomponent traditional Chinese mind-body practice that may systematically promote health . . . by integrating physical, psychosocial, emotional, spiritual and behavioral elements,” Wang said by email. In the study, Wang and colleagues assigned about half of the participants to attend hour-long tai chi classes twice a week for 12 weeks. The others got six weeks of 30-minute physical therapy sessions twice a week and were then told to continue with exercises at home at least four times a week for another six weeks. Participants were 60 years old on average. They were typically overweight or obese and had been suffering from knee osteoarthritis for around eight years. While neither group had perfect attendance, 79 percent of the people in tai chi and 78 percent of patients in physical therapy went to at least half of the scheduled sessions, researchers report in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Because patients knew what treatment they received, it’s possible that preconceived notions about the potential benefits of tai chi or physical therapy may have influenced the changes in symptoms that participants reported, the authors note. The study was also done at a single academic medical center, making it hard to say whether the results would be similar in other settings. Even so, the findings suggest that tai chi may offer some relief to patients without the potential cost of attending physical therapy or side effects of medications, said Romy Lauche of the Australian Research Center in Complimentary and Integrative Medicine at the University of Technology Sydney. “Finding effective and safe interventions is a top priority,” Lauche, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email. “Any kind of exercise including tai chi may benefit patients by improving functional disability, and they also impact coping skills,” Lauche added. The controlled movements that are a hallmark of tai chi can be good for joints because they allow fluid in the joints to move in and out of cartilage, improving flexibility, noted Jean-Michel Brismee, a researcher in physical therapy and rehabilitation at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. “Both tai chi and physical therapy should have the goal to educate patients in doing the healing movements at home daily,” Brismee, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email.Source: The Asian Age

Read More........→May 20, 2016

Great Ways to Start Your Day

The way you spend your morning can add a certain flavor to the rest of your day. Here are  some  

healthy lifestyle habits to incorporate into your morning routine that can leave you better able to handle the stress you .experience. Try one or several, and experiment until you find what suites you for a healthy lifestyle. Morning walk has so many health benefits, the stress management benefits are just gravy! A morning walk can get yo ready for a refreshing and energetic day, helps you sleep better at night, keeps a check on weight and reduces the risk of numerous other health conditions Eating a balanced breakfast can balance your blood sugar levels and give you the sustenance needed to handle day to day mental and physical stress. Be sure to have plenty  of  protein  and

fruit, not just caffeine and empty calories! Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day without which one can be more resilient both mentally and physically! Therefore, do not skip! Stretch in the shower! The hot water loosens up the muscles and makes it easier to get a good stretch. The act of stretching will help to release stored tension and enable you to start the day feeling more relaxed, at peace, and ready to handle what comes your way! Sipping a warm cup of Green tea is a soothing activity that will help you prepare for the day ahead and feel nurtured. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, that keeps up the immune system and maintains healthy weight and helps to cope up with stress and anxiety. Put on some music and start your day! Music therapy has been shown to reduce stress and have a positive effect on health and mood! Listening to music as you get ready and start your day will create a sense of peace and well being. Music can
 

compliment other healthy lifestyle habits, adding rhythm to your brisk walk, peace to your yoga workouts, leisure to your showers and stimulates your mindas you write! Drink plenty of water everyday! Drinking at least 3-4 liters of water daily keeps your body hydrated, puts a check on weight, keeps constipation at bay by improving body metabolism, and makes skin look younger and glowing!,  Source: HerbHealt, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→May 03, 2013

Awesome therapy makes us nicer

A jaw-dropping moment really can make time appear to stand still - or at least slow down, new research suggests. Regular ``awesome'' experiences may also improve our mental health and make us nicer people, claim psychologists. The findings raise the prospect of ``awe therapy'' to overcome the stressful effects of fast-paced modern life. Awe is the emotion felt when encountering something so vast and overwhelming i t alters one's mental perspective. Examples might include experiencing a breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon, taking in the ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights, or becoming lost in a dazzling display of stars on a clear, dark night. The new research found that by fixing the mind to the present moment, awe seems to slow down perceived time. Studies on groups of volunteers showed that experiencing awe made people feel they had more time to spare. This in turn led them to be more patient, less mat erialistic, and more willing to give up time to help others. The research is published in journal Psychological Science.Source: Sam Daily Times

Read More........→March 14, 2013

Young girls can dance their way to better mental health

Washington, November 21 (ANI): Dancing helps young girls overcome low spirits, stress, fatigues and headaches, besides boosting their mental health and self esteem, according to a new study. This is shown in a study run by Anna Duberg, a physical therapist at Orebro University Hospital and a doctoral candidate at Orebro University in Sweden. Dance also brings enhanced self-esteem and a greater capacity to deal with everyday problems, the researchers said. The dance study included 112 Swedish girls 13 to 19 years of age. On multiple occasions, these girls had gone to see the school nurse for symptoms such as anxiety and depression, fatigue, headaches, and back, neck, and shoulder pain. In the study, 59 of the girls were randomized to a group that regularly danced together two days a week and 53 girls to a control group where the girls did not change their living habits. The study results indicated that the girls in the dance group, despite all the challenges entailed by being a teenage girl, increased their self-esteem compared with the control group. The positive effect persisted at follow-ups four and eight months after the dance training ended. Fully 91 percent of the girls in the dance group felt that the dance study had been a positive experience. In the long run this may also lead to a more healthful lifestyle. (ANI), Source: News Track India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→February 02, 2013

One-week spa treatment can help boost your health

Washington, November 20 (ANI): Treating yourself a week at a spa could improve your health, say researchers. A new study has revealed that not only are spa treatments relaxing and nourishing, but they are safe and a week-long spa stay can correspond with changes in our physical and emotional well-being. Researchers from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital evaluated 15 participants before and after their visit to We Care Spa, a health and wellness spa in Desert Hot Springs California, and found the program safe and helped to improve the participants' health. The week-long program included diet modification, meditation and colonic hydrotherapy, voluntarily participation in low-risk hatha and Vishnu flow-yoga programs, and a juice-fast cleansing very low calorie diet of approximately 800 calories per day. Stress management was provided through daily structured meditation and yoga programs as well as time for personal meditation encouraging deep breathing, heightened awareness and a calming effect. In preparation, participants were asked to modify their diet three to four days prior to arrival by replacing a normal diet with fruit, sprouts, raw and steamed vegetables, salads, vegetables, herbal teas, prune juice in the morning, laxative teas or herbal laxatives nightly and avoiding pasta, meat, cheese, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods. The participants, 13 women and two men between the ages of 21 and 85, with no history of significant medical, neurological or psychological conditions each underwent a physical evaluation including weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and an EKG test. They also received a complete blood count (CBC), liver function tests, tests measuring cholesterol and triglycerides, thyroid hormone testing, and the concentration of metals such as mercury and lead. In addition, psychological and spiritual measures before and after their arrival were measured. An evaluation of the results showed that undergoing a spa program resulted in a weight decline of an average of 6.8 lbs., a 7.7 percent decrease in diastolic blood pressure as well as a decrease in mercury, sodium and chloride levels and a 5.2 percent decline in cholesterol level and mean BMI. Cholesterol level decline seemed to be curiously associated with a decline in HDL's, the good-for-you high density lipoproteins, which is of some concern, though they remained within the range regarded as beneficial. Hemoglobin increased 5.9 percent. No statistically significant changes in liver or thyroid function and no EKG changes were noted. No serious adverse effects were reported by any individual, but the study noted changes in the participants' sodium and chloride concentrations, suggesting that those interested in going to a spa program should check with their physician to make sure they do not have any medical problems or medications that could put them at risk for electrolyte disturbances. Improvements in anger, tension, vigor, fatigue and confusion were also noted as was a statistically significant improvement in anxiety and depression levels measured by the Speilberger Anxiety Scale and the Beck Depression Index. Participants also reported significant changes in their feelings about spirituality and religiosity. While beneficial, it is not possible to differentiate the effects of each of the individual elements of the program to determine which components were responsible for the changes observed. "This will require an evaluation of one or more elements-such as yoga, very low calorie diet or colonics-in isolation to determine which elements have the most significant effects," said Andrew Newberg, MD, director of research at the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine and lead author on the study. In the future Newberg and colleagues look to study the effects of a spa stay on specific disease population, i.e. diabetics. The authors also encourage spa participants to consult their physician before attending this or similar programs and research the center vigorously for safety and efficaciousness. Their complete findings will be available in the December issue of Integrative Medicine, A Clinician's Journal. (ANI), Image Link Flickr, Source: News Track India

Read More........→January 23, 2013

E-Book: Stay Fit Feel Young

..... Every positive or negative development needs too much time to reach a level of maximization and both are having its own diversity. What do we need? Answer is "control or adjustment" with schedule to craft us psychically or mentally strong. An over weight person is full of fat with his bound extra energy if he will understand the value of his fat then he can be like any thing. As same as a very slim person with less require energy or a well built person with a shape of balance energy but they all have . their own challenge to meet with a level of their liking. What has to be the next step? This called a progression of the best form as per every bodies liking or a conversion of bound energy in unbound style, generation of extra energy or ambition to gain utmost energy by an extra effort of Physical exercise, Yoga, cycling, jogging, walking, dips, weight lifting, swimming, all required parameters of a gymnasium, sport and very importantly place exercise / yoga between your work. All these will make you fit; relax cool, composed and so many disease won't like to see your home address.  . Scheduling the day is Very important to manage the basics of living like timing of wake up, refreshment, morning tea, exercise, break fast, lunch, dinner with respect to work and its timing. Weight can be reduced by two ways 1st dieting, 2nd exercise or the combination of both "A science research is also measured that when body won't find the require Contents of food then it starts to eat its own fat, means fat can convert by dieting (you can take the example of so many Jain religious people those used to live without food for several days or months for their worshiping but they stay live Very . fit, Doctor used to apply the technique of reducing stomach (Amashaya) up to 80% it's also a form of dieting) or very productive exercise which covers all the part of body can burn fat rapidly If the range of exercise will robust then it starts to convert fat with heavy Muscular shape you can take the example of so many wrestlers and their dieting Schedule and the way they used to consumed their daily routine extra take by very heavy exercise. So it's simple when the combinations of dieting and exercise will come together then Chances of reducing the fat would on higher side. Proper minerals, vitamin, protein takes (in the shape of fruit, high fiber diet or Branded .. organic tablets) are Essential for dieting, heavy exercise or for both, Before applying any dietary or exercise schedule first you have to calculate your body mass index and consult with a certified fitness trainer or from a doctor for daily calorie burning needs, daily food intake with specific exercise schedule as every age group and gender has its own limitations. Then you will able to calculate the need of daily exercise with specific foods take on your Finger tips Suppose you have taken bit higher food with respects to your daily need then you can go for more work out then your body will automatically tell you that your intake is consumed properly. Exercise can be like these (1) Speedy .. Morning Walk: 30 minutes (If you feel bore to do so then speak your Religious Mantra or any song of your inspiration in your mind along with walk. (2) Psychical Exercise: 25 minutes (Do it with every part of your exercise like -: head, neck, Shoulders, chest, stomach , waist, back, hips, legs etc.) In the shape of dips, weight lifting or you can follow amazing “Baba ram dev”.(3) Reverse Exercise: – 5 minutes -: lastly you can go for some crucial reverse (Opposite) exercise especially for Waist, back (over body is just like a spring if it will move on one side continuously then we can find sting so reverse Exercise makes body in normal shape). (4) Time . .. Management: timing is the most important issue with any exercise schedule, Try to be productive day by day, means you have to reduce your time of your assign work out agenda for the best result. Crucial Points: (a) When we eat something then we should go for 2 to 10 minutes walk whatever the place we would be by doing this we can save our self from several health problems. (b) After doing 2 to 5 hours work if any body go for 2 to 3 breath control Yoga just for 5 Minutes then he can find himself fully fresh and energy fully for coming working hours because here Yoga is just like a reverse exercise which compose your body in Standard form. Every body knows that 1ST happiness comes from disease less healthy body and exercise, yoga etc. are the source of generation. So come on do the task just for your self. All the Images And Video Links taken just for reference purpose: Image Flickr: Link1, Link2, Link3 Link4, Link5, Link6, Link7, Link8, Link9, Link10, Author: Ashish Bordiya

Read More........→December 08, 2012

Fruit and veg aids kidney recovery

A study has shown that adding extra fruit and vegetable to the diet of patients recovering from kidney disease may speed up the route to recovery. Alkaline therapy is used to treat CKD patients with severe metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the body). Nimrit Goraya, MD (Texas A and M College of Medicine) and her colleagues looked to see if adding fruits and vegetables, with high alkaline content, can benefit CKD patients with less severe metabolic acidosis. For the study, 108 patients were randomized to receive added fruits and vegetables, an oral alkaline medication, or nothing. After three years, consuming either fruits and vegetables or the oral medication reduced a marker of metabolic acidosis and preserved kidney function to similar extents. Study co-authors for “Fruits and Vegetables or Oral NaHCO3 Preserve GFR and Reduce Urine Angiotensinogen, a Marker of Kidney Angiotensin II Activity, in Stage 3 CKD” include Chanhee Jo, PhD, Jan Simoni, PhD, and Donald E. Wesson, MD. The finding was presented during the American Society of Nephrology’s Annual Kidney Week. Source: Fresh-Plaza, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→November 15, 2012

Easy stress test

Do you feel tired? Or perhaps you are bristling with energy? Check which one is true for you with this easy stress test. The optic illusion in the picture was invented by a Japanese psychology professor Akiyoshi Kitaoka, who says the “rotating snakes” stay perfectly still for calm and relaxed people and move if you are tired and need a nap. However a fast-spinning picture means you’d better get some professional help. Akiyoshi Kitaoka was born August 19, 1961 in Kochi, Japan. He graduated from the University of Tsukuba, where he studied animal psychology (burrowing behavior in rats) and neuronal activity of the inferotemporal cortex in Macaque monkeys. In 1991, Akiyoshi Kitaoka received a PhD in psychology for his studies of visual illusions and visual perception of geometrical shape, brightness and color in motion illusions and other visual phenomena like Gestalt completion and perceptual transparency, based on a modern conception of Gestalt Psychology. He rose to prominence through his “rotating snakes” illusion. Source: Voice of Russia

Read More........→November 06, 2012

Your body talks

Body can express your thoughts and ideas to the person you are communicating without uttering a  word. Here are a few signs and languages to help your body convey right messages Did you know that your body has a language? It is a very important medium of communication which constitutes to 60 per cent of what your communicating. Also known as ‘non-verbal communication’, in this type, communication happens via body postures, gestures, eye movement, facial expression, movement of hands, shrugging the shoulders, standing or sitting postures, etc. If you wish to communicate well, then it makes sense to understand how you should use your body to say what you mean. Behavioural psychologists have conducted considerable research programmes on non-verbal communication and have studied human behavioural clues that could be useful for developing a better rapport with the person one is communicating with. Unintentional human gestures such as making an eye-rub, a chin-rest, a lip-touch, a nose-itch, a head-scratch, an ear-scratch, crossing arms, and a finger-lock have been found conveying some useful information in a specific context. Experts say first impression is the best impression. So, let us practice how to give the best first impression to others by altering/improving our body language. While our parents taught us to use physical expressions like waving the hands, pointing fingers, thumbs up, touching, shaking hands, folding hands, etc, it is necessary to practice accepted international gestures also. This will help you communicate with everyone more effectively. For instance, in India most people nod their head horizontally in a slow motion to say ‘Yes’ and in a fast motion to say ‘No’. Please note that the international practice is different. They nod their head vertically to say ‘Yes’ and horizontally to say ‘No’. Well, I didn’t know it myself when I first visited America in 1985. These are the common gestures in most of the countries. There is no specific universal sign for any expression. For instance, when you show two fingers, ‘V’, it is a sign of victory, whereas in some of the African countries, it is a sign of accepting defeat. During the seminars, group discussions and in interviews, your body language is being observed by the other participants to know your real intention. Therefore, mind your language and body language too. The body language can be altered and improved on practice. (Dr BV Pattabhi Ram is a renowned personality developer who holds a PhD from Osmania University. He conducts workshops on Soft Skills / HRD; and motivates students and teachers on study skills. Contact him at bvpattabhiram@yahoo.com), Source: The Hans India

Read More........→September 21, 2012

'Marriage is the new miracle cure for cancer'

Scientists have discovered a new cancer treatment that outranks all others - marriage. Married patients with advanced lung cancer are likely to survive longer after treatment than patients who are single, according to a study by the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center in Baltimore. Similar benefits have been seen in other cancers, including those of the prostate, and head and neck. The researchers studied 168 patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer, who were treated with chemotherapy and radiation over a 10-year-period. They found that 33 per cent of married patients were still alive after three years compared to 10 per cent of the single patients, with women faring better than men. Married women had the best three-year survival rate (46 per cent) against 3 per cent in single men. Single women and married men had the same 25 survival rate at three years. White married patients had a better survival rate than married African-Americans. "Marital status appears to be an important independent predictor of survival in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer," said the study's lead author, Elizabeth Nichols. "The reason for this is unclear, but our findings suggest the importance of social support in managing and treating our lung cancer patients. Patients may need help with day-to-day activities, getting to treatment and making sure they receive proper follow-up care," Nichols said in a statement. "We believe that better supportive care and support mechanisms for cancer patients can have a greater impact on increasing survival than many new cancer therapy techniques," he said. Previous studies have found decreased survival for single men diagnosed with several types of cancer, including prostate and head-and-neck cancers. "We need to better understand why marriage is a factor in our patients' survival," said Dr Feigenberg, radiation oncologist at the University of Maryland Greenebaum. Lung cancer is the Number one cause of cancer death in both men and women, and this study suggests that having a spouse who can act as a caregiver may improve survival for patients with this type of cancer, the researchers said. The researchers presented their findings at the 2012 Symposium on Thoracic Oncology in Chicago.  Source: Indian Express

Read More........→September 09, 2012

Frequent massage boosts biological benefits

By: Kathi Baker, Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Repeated massage therapy delivers sustained, cumulative beneficial effects, a new study shows. The effects persist for several days to a week, and differ depending on the frequency of sessions. Results of the study were reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The researchers, led by Mark Hyman Rapaport, examined the biological effects of repeated Swedish Massage Therapy and light touch intervention. In a priorstudy, the researchers found that healthy people who undergo a single session of Swedish Massage experience measureable changes in their body’s immune and endocrine response. "We expanded the study to show the effects of repeated massage because we believed the frequency of massage, or the interval between massages, may have different biological and psychological effects than a single session," explains Rapaport, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. The study was conducted over five weeks, assessing neuroendocrine and immune parameters. Study volunteers were randomized into four intervention groups to receive a concurrent five weeks of Swedish Massage once a week or twice a week, or a light touch control once a week or twice a week. Source: eScienceCommons

Read More........→August 31, 2012

Lose Weight The Natural Way

A Chaotic & unhealthy lifestyle can have a poor impact on our health which may lead to increase in body weight or obesity, heart diseases & strokes,diabetes, hypertension & aweaker immune system. Of these, weight gain is becoming a matter of concern among the people. In the era of commercialization, we find various weight loss pills, anti-cellulite products and expensive fitness gadgets popping up on the internet and television screens, but these can only cause frustration and may prove detrimental to our health. Natural herbal remedies are safe and promising in reducing weight. Let's try some of such formulations for controlling weight in a healthy manner: (1) Mix in a glass of lukewarm water, a tsp of honey with ½ tsp lemon juice. Drink it every morning and evening to lose weight. (2) Pound a ginger rhizome & boil the same in water. Add to it, ½ tsp lemon juice and 1/4th tsp black pepper powder. Have it when hot. (3) Squeeze a lemon in a glass of bitter gourd juice and have it every morning. (4) Having a tomato or two in morning is said to be beneficial in reducing weight. (5) Boil about 10 gm of triphala (a combination of equal amount of Amla, Harra & Beheda powder in a glass of water for 10 minutes. Consume it warm in the morning. (6) Consuming 2 cups of Green tea is also believed to shed excess fat. (7) To keep a check on weight, soak a few leaves ofIndian plum/ Jamun overnight. Discard the leaves & drink water in the morning on an empty stomach. (8) Take ½ tsp of guggal powder, a tsp of  

Eat Green Vegetables & Fruits

ginger rhizome powder and mix in honey to make it into a paste. Administer it once a day to lose weight. A balanced diet and any form of exercise plays a vital role in reducing as well as maintaining a normal weight. One should eat a diet good in green vegetables and fresh fruits. Some of thefat burning spices such as black pepper, long pepper, mustard, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne should be added to the meals or used in preparations. Fish like tuna & salmon are high inLectin, a protein, which helps improve metabolism and aids fat loss. Reduce the intake of salt & carbohydrate rich, high calorie foods (eg. rice, potatoes). Having vegetable soup or eatingpapaya at dinner time is helpful in reducing weight. Eating acabbage salad also helps reduce weight as tartaric acid, an ingredient in the vegetable is known to inhibit conversion of dietary sugar to fat Along with diet, regular exercise is quite beneficial. Brisk walk, skipping a rope, jogging, aerobics, yoga and pranayam(yogic breathing exercises) are among few exercises that can be of help to attain a healthy weight. Also, one should eat slowly as it satisfies hunger with less food, thereby reducing calorie intake.Drink plenty of water (3-4 litres/ day) as it has no calories and reduces hunger. Losing weight isn’t a mysterious process… it’s a matter of burning more calories than we eat. Source: HerbHealtH

Read More........→August 10, 2012

Yoga 'may help improve balance in stroke survivors'

Group yoga can improve balance in stroke survivors who no longer receive rehabilitative care, to new study has claimed. In a small pilot study, researchers tested the potential benefits of yoga among chronic stroke survivors those whose stroke occurred more than six months earlier. “For people with chronic stroke, something like yoga in a group environment is cost effective and appears to improve motor function and balance,” Arlene Schmid, lead researcher of the study from Indiana University, said. The study’s 47 participants, about three-quarters of them male veterans, were divided into three groups – twice-weekly group yoga for eight weeks, a “yoga-plus” group, which met twice weekly and had a relaxation recording to use at least three times a week, and a usual medical care group that did no rehabilitation. The yoga classes, taught by a registered yoga therapist, included modified yoga postures, relaxation, and meditation. Classes grew more challenging each week. Compared with patients in the usual-care group, those who completed yoga or yoga-plus, significantly improved their balance. According to the researchers, balance problems frequently last long after a person suffers a stroke, and are related to greater disability and a higher risk of falls. Furthermore, survivors in the yoga groups had improved scores for independence and quality of life and were less afraid of falling. “For chronic stroke patients, even if they remain disabled, natural recovery and acute rehabilitation therapy typically ends after six months, or maybe a year,” Schmid said. Improvements after the six-month window can take longer to occur, she said, “but we know for a fact that the brain still can change. The problem is the healthcare system is not necessarily willing to pay for that change. The study demonstrated that with some assistance, even chronic stroke patients with significant paralysis on one side can manage to do modified yoga poses.” The oldest patient in the study was in his 90s. All participants had to be able to stand on their own at the study’s outset. The researchers said that yoga may be more therapeutic than traditional exercise because the combination of postures, breathing and meditation may produce different effects than simple exercise. “However, stroke patients looking for such help might have a hard time finding qualified yoga therapists to work with,” Schmid said. “Some occupational and physical therapists are integrating yoga into their practice, even though there’s scant evidence at this point to support its effectiveness,” he added. The study has been published in the journal Stroke. Image Link Flickr, Source: Indian Express

Read More........→August 06, 2012

Benefits of Morning Walk

Walking is an effective exercise for all ages, all states and levels of health. Research studies prove that regular walk -

• (1) Stimulates blood circulation 
• (2) Strengthensthe cardiovascular system 
• (3) Lowers the cholesterol levels 
• (4) Controls weight 
• (5) Keeps a check on blood pressure levels 
• (6) Prevents osteoporosis 
• 7) Develops stamina and strength. Latest studies also suggest that walking is the best exercise for the brain, as the latter is nourished by the blood sugar due to improved circulation. Do get at least 30 to 40 minutes walk everyday. Remember, time spent walking means time taken off from the stresses of daily life. So, Get Going. Source: HerbHealtH

Read More........→July 30, 2012

Join the smile high club

Deccan Chronicle, You may have dropped the perfect lines, flaunted the most impressive resume and prepared to forgive a friend. Yet the one thing that clinches the deal every single time is a genuine smile. No, not the socialite one that precedes the air-kiss or the menacing one like Joker’s (in The Dark Knight). For a moment, drop the façade and let the lips give you an emotional facelift. The X-Factor tells you how flashing your pearly whites, is a good way to winning hearts and keeping you healthy too. Benefits: (1) Mood: The next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. Even if you don’t want to grin, repeatedly doing so eventually makes you believe, there’s actually a reason to smile. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood. (2) Health: When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. This helps prevent flu and the common cold. When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins,
natural painkillers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed.(3) Confidence: We don’t need an expert to validate this, though we do need to be reminded from time to time — we are always drawn to people who smile. Job seekers give the air of confidence when they project the right smile while date hunters often fall hook, line and sinker for a prospective partner, just because of a smile. It’s also infectious. You smile at someone and they are mostly like going to smile right back.Youth recall: The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Try smiling your way through the day — you’ll look younger and feel better. (1) Eyes: Resistance exercises can reduce crow’s feet, the lines near the outer corner of the eyes. When the skin around the eyes is more toned and firm, existing lines become less prominent and the skin is less prone to developing new lines. Try smiling into a mirror, placing your index fingers near the outer corner of your eyes, and pressing gently upward, to lift the cheek. Hold for six seconds, then release. (2) Mouth: Pucker up and smile to tone the area around the lips and lower cheeks, recommends FatFreeKitchen.com. By reducing smile lines around the mouth, you may be more inclined to share your pearly whites. Purse the lips as dramatically as possible, pulling in the cheeks, then try to smile. Hold the
pose until you feel a mild ache in the muscle region around the mouth. To prevent muscle strain, do this exercise just once daily. (3) Cheeks: Tone your cheek muscles while acting silly to stay motivated to maintain the workout, suggests Womens-Health-and-Fitness.com. Grin a huge smile while keeping your lips closed, making sure the edges of your mouth turn upwards. Try to touch your ears with the corners of your mouth. Wrinkle your nose to feel your cheek muscles engage. Hold for five seconds, then let your face relax. Repeat the exercise 10 times. How to identify: There is no doubt that the world is turning into a scarier place with rapists, murderers and maniacs galore, so it’s possibly understandable why people are reluctant to take a smile at face value. On the other hand you have fashionistas and socialites giving a smile a bad name with their fake ones. Yet, a genuine grin is a connection that can be made instantly…one which you will recognise instantly too. (1) The Duchenne Smile: French physician Guillaume Duchenne paid particular attention to an anatomical distinction of the smile. While conducting research on the physiology of facial expressions in the mid-19th century, Duchenne identified two distinct types of smiles. A Duchenne smile involves contraction of both the zygomatic major muscle (which raises the corners of the mouth) and the orbicularis oculi muscle (which raises the cheeks and forms crow’s feet around the eyes). Duchenne smiles are known as authentic smiles because they consistently co-occur with positive emotions. Duchenne smiles are marked by wrinkles in the eyes that resemble crows feet and are associated with feeling excitement, amusement, interest, happiness and joy. (2) The Pan-Am smile :  The Pan-Am smile, also known as the “Botox smile”, is the name given to a “fake smile”, in which only the zygomatic major muscle is voluntarily contracted to show politeness. It is named after the airline Pan American World Airways, whose flight attendants would always flash every jet-setter the same, perfunctory smile. A non-Duchenne smile involves only the zygomatic major muscle. Supreme quote:  As long as you smile, have sparkly eyes and stick your shoulders back, nobody's going to notice your bum or your waist or your feet, for that matter –– Cat Deeley. Image Flickr Link1, Link2, Link3, Source: Deccan Chronicle

Read More........→July 05, 2012

Daily yoga or 20 mins of walking may benefit cancer patients

Indian Express, Agencies : Washington, Researchers are working towards being able to prove, with scientific certainty, that prescriptions for daily yoga or 20 minutes of walking will likely extend a cancer patient’s survival. But several studies at the University of Rochester Medical Center have suggested that knowing how to develop and apply specific exercise programs (dose and timing to achieve a certain outcome) is a realistic goal. Karen Mustian and Lisa K. Sprod from the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at URMC investigated physical activity among older people, a group they describe as often overlooked and underestimated in terms of their ability to live with cancer. Mustian, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of Radiation Oncology at URMC and an exercise psychologist specializing in cancer, conducted a phase II clinical trial to discover whether six weeks of a home-based exercise plan (walking and resistance bands) improved cancer-related fatigue and strength in 58 men with prostate cancer who were treated with radiation and androgen deprivation therapy. The mean age of the group was 67. The men had a wide range of fitness levels, from frailty to golfers who were fit and active. A control group that did no exercise was also established. Researchers measured cardiopulmonary function (through a gold-standard test called Vo2-peak) and muscular strength, and found that all exercisers improved while the control group declined in performance. The most significant information, Mustian said, was that everyone who exercised regularly achieved some added benefit – even the fittest participants. K. Sprod, Ph.D., a junior faculty member who is being recognized with an ASCO Merit Award, investigated the appropriate amount, type, and intensity of exercise in cancer survivors older than 65, who are also experiencing the natural functional declines associated with aging. The double hit, she said, is an understudied issue. After analyzing a national sample of 14,887 people, Sprod established that older cancer survivors engage in less physical activity , even routine activity such as stooping, lifting, and walking – than people without a history of cancer. This may lead to less independence, a higher risk of the cancer coming back, and reduced survival. The study raises new questions, such as whether the treatment contributes to less activity, or whether patients and physicians are worried about the safety of becoming physically active during and after cancer treatment, or a combination of the two factors, Sprod said. In another exercise-related study, Luke J. Peppone, Ph.D., a research assistant professor, investigated the effects of a yoga program on women with breast cancer who were taking aromatase inhibitors, medications that deplete estrogen and often cause severe menopause-like symptoms. A frequent complaint is joint pain and muscle aches, sometimes making it difficult for women to get out of bed or grip a fork and knife. Peppone said a high percentage of breast cancer survivors discontinue aromatase inhibitor therapy because of side effects, putting them at greater risk for cancer recurrence. His study measured the self-reported quality of life and physical discomfort among 95 women taking aromatase inhibitors and 72 women who were not taking the drug. Each group took part in a four-week gentle yoga program. The women taking aromatase inhibitors reported a significant reduction in pain, muscle aches, and total physical discomfort, Peppone said. The study will serve as a pilot to launch a larger study of exercise to relieve musculoskeletal pain. Finally, a controlled study of yoga therapy in middle-aged, mostly female cancer survivors showed that a four-week, customized gentle yoga plan significantly reduced perceived difficulty with memory. Michelle C. Janelsins, Ph.D., research assistant professor at Wilmot, randomized patients to one of two groups: standard follow-up care after receiving adjuvant cancer treatment, and standard care plus a program that consisted of breathing exercises, gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga postures, and meditation. The yoga group had significantly reduced memory difficulty compared to the standard care control group. Improved memory also partially contributed to improved fatigue and improved quality of life, Janelsins noted. In some ways, Mustian said, the exercise-and-cancer dilemma harkens to the days when it was not known what types of chemotherapy and how much should be given to cancer patients. Through rigorous scientific inquiry, physicians were able to refine the way they prescribe and administer chemo and Mustian believes the same refinement is possible with exercise. “I think we do an incredible disservice to people who have just been diagnosed with cancer when we say, ‘Just do it!” Mustian said. “Sometimes we see 72-year-olds who are more fit than 55-year-olds, and so it is best to look at functional capacity, and then to be as specific as possible when it comes to personalizing exercise for people with cancer. Otherwise we are sending mixed messages,” he added. The findings will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2012 annual meeting in Chicago, June 1-5, 2012. Source: Indian Express, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→June 19, 2012

Scientists find key to happiness

Image Link Flickr

Indian Express, Agencies : Washington, Happiness can be fleeting, but by hanging on to those good times and not comparing your personal experiences to those of others can help you remain happy for longer, a new study has suggested. Researchers in the US carried out a happiness survey on a group of 481 participants who had identified a recent positive change in their lives that had made them happier. Six weeks after that, the psychologists evaluated whether the original happiness boost had lasted. For some it had, but for most it had not, the researchers found. “The majority got used to the change that had made them happy in the first place,” said Kennon Sheldon, a professor of psychological sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Missouri. “They stopped being happy because they kept wanting more and raising their standards, or because they stopped having fresh positive experiences of the change, for example they stopped doing fun things with their new boyfriend and started wishing he was better looking,” Sheldon said. “A few were able to appreciate what they had and to keep having new experiences. In the long term, those people tended to maintain their boost, rather than falling back where they started,” he noted. The researchers, who detailed their work in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, said due to genetics and other factors, people have a certain “set-point” of happiness they normally feel, and it can vary from somber to bubbly. According to Sheldon, people can train themselves to stay at the top of their possible range of happiness. “A therapist can help a person get from miserable to OK; our study shows how people can take themselves from good to great,” he said. Sheldon also noted that the best life changes don't necessarily equate to new purchases. Though a new possession can boost happiness, that purchase has to be experienced a new every day and appreciated for what it brings to have any lasting effect on happiness. “The problem with many purchases is that they tend to just sit there. They don't keep on providing varied positive experiences. Also, relying on material purchases to make us happy can lead to a rise in aspirations like an addiction.“Our model suggests ways to reduce the 'let down' from those purchases,” he suggested. Source: Indian Express

Read More........→June 15, 2012

Two Breathing Exercises for Better Sleep

Health & Fitness Solutions, By Michael Paladin: Deep breathing is one of the best ways  to  lower 

stress  in the  body. This is because breathing deeply sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax. Breathing exercises can help you relax, because they make your body feel like it does when you are already relaxed. Counting breaths and 2-to-1 Breathing are two breathing exercises to help you relax and fall asleep. Counting Breaths: 1) Lie in bed on your back with your hands by your sides or resting on your abdomen. Your body should be flat, so if you have a high pillow, remove it. Breathe slowly, smoothly, and deeply through your nose throughout the exercise. As you breathe in gently, expand your abdomen; as you breathe out, let your abdomen fall back into place. This ensures true, deep breathing. 2) All you have to do is mentally count your breaths up to ten. You can either count your inhalations or your exhalations. Here's the catch though: every time your mind wanders and you lose count, you must start from one again. Each time you reach ten, start at one again. Continue like this and you will fall asleep. 2-to-1 breathing This breathing pattern relaxes the body by subtly stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, thereby inducing a state of relaxation. As you lie in bed, gently slow down the rate of exhalation until you exhale for twice as long as you inhale. You can coax a longer exhalation by contracting the abdomen slightly. Don’t try to fill or empty or empty the lungs completely. You are simply changing the rhythm of your breath. In the beginning, it may help to count to eight on the exhalation and four on the inhalation, or sex on the exhalation and three on the inhalation (or any other 2-to-1 ratio you find comfortable. Focus on the smoothness and evenness of your breath, gradually eliminating any jerks and pauses. Do one of these breathing exercises every night whether you have sleep problems or not. It will improve the quality of your sleep and most likely reduce the amount of sleep you need. Finally, there is a way to get rid of tiredness and start living a full and energetic life that doesn't depend on drugs, stimulants, or expensive treatments. Instead, you'll learn some simple and easy-to-understand information, apply it, and then start fighting tiredness the natural way. To find out how to end tiredness once and for all, click  Source: Health & Fitness Solutions, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→June 08, 2012