LOVE YOUR BODY

CHRISTMAS

2009-12-24T01:26:00.015+08:00

Warmest Greeting of the seasonTO ALL MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,'' MERRY CHRISTMAS.........!!! ''

CARROT JUICE TO STIMULATE APPETITE

2009-12-22T01:58:00.000+08:00

FUNCTION

Carrot, celery and apple contain plenty nourishment, vitamin and food fiber, which are helpful to stimulate appetite. The unique spice and sourness of lemon can recover your appetite. Therefore, it is an ideal drink to stimulate appetite before meals.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 piece Carrot
2 plants Celery
1/2 piece Apple
1/2 piece Lemon
1 tablespoon Fruit Sugar
Mineral Water: Appropriate

METHOD

Remove skin from carrot, and cut celery into segments.
Remove skin and core from apple.
Put all ingredients into stirrer to beat into juice.

FOUR THINGS TO DO

2009-12-22T01:03:00.000+08:00

If people would do just four thing-engage in regular physical activity, eat a healthy diet, not smoke and avoid becoming obese - they could slash their risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke or cancer by 80 percent, a new report has found.
The multi-year study, published yesterday in the Archives of Internal Medicine, also found that less than 10 percent of the more than 23,000 people in the study actually lived their lives this way.

"The study has such a simple straightforward focus on making the point that prevention works in preventing serious disease," said Dr J Leonard Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.
"What really has been difficult is trying to figure out how to get people to take notice of the message and engage in healthy behaviors."
Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in Germany examined the habits of 23,153 German male and female participants aged 35-65 years who enrolled in the study between 1994 and 1998. At the start of the study, the scientists measured participants' heights and weights and asked them about diseases, lifestyle habits and diets.

Healthy factors included never smoking; engaging in physical activity such as sports and bicycle-riding for at least 3.5 hours each week; eating a diet low in red meat and high in fruits and vegetables; and having a body mass index lower than 30. A person with a BMI of 30 or above is classed as obese.
About 9 percent of participants practiced all four healthy lifestyle choices, and 4 percent practiced none. Roughly 35 percent of participants carried out a combination of two healthy factors. After an average of nearly eight years, researchers reviewed the participants' medical records for diagnoses of diabetes, heart attacks, strokes or cancers.

Compared with those who practiced none of the four healthy lifestyle factors, those with all four showed a 93 percent reduced risk for developing diabetes; an 81 percent reduced risk for a heart attack; a 50 percent reduced risk for a stroke; and a 36 percent reduced risk for cancer.
Two healthy factors combined - never smoking and having a body mass index of under 30 - had a greater effect on chronic diseases than any other combinations of two, reducing risk by 72 percent overall.

The scientists also found that each healthy factor on its own was linked to a reduction in chronic disease risk.
A body mass index of lower than 30 had the greatest effect on decreasing risk for any chronic disease but particularly for diabetes.
Never smoking reduced the risk of having a heart attack the most of all four factors.
"All of them are important, and trying to pick one is like asking someone to pick their favorite child," said study co-author Dr Earl Ford, a senior scientist in the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity at the CDC.

The study's findings are consistent with those of investigations that started in the late 1990s and are likely to apply to people living in the United States as well as those in Germany.
Heart disease, cancer and strokes are the top three causes of mortality in the United States, killing an estimated total of 1.3 million people every year, according to the CDC.Diabetes is the sixth cause of death, killing 72,449 annually. In addition, many people live constrained lives in poor health because of these illnesses.
Los Angeles Times

CHILDREN ASTHMA

2009-12-22T00:20:00.000+08:00

Parent's stress can increase their children susceptibility to developing asthma when the kids are also exposed to air pollution from traffic, a study found. The children of heavily stressed adults were about 50 percent more likely to develop asthma compared with kids living in less-strained households who were also exposed to traffic pollution, US researchers reported recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Parental stress alone, without the impact of air pollution, was not enough to increase asthma risk.

Asthma is the most common chronic health problem in children and affects about 6.7 million people under 18, according to the American Lung Association. Respiratory infections, stress, allergic reactions and cigarette smoke can all help trigger an asthma attack.
Researchers need to look more carefully at children social environments and how that interacts with air pollution to determine who is more likely to develop asthma, study author Rob McConnell said.

"Stress by itself is not enough but if the stress is combined with air pollution, that's when you see an effect," said McConnell, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Asthma is a complex disease and there are probably many contributing causes.
Previous research has demonstrated that traffic-generated air pollution and mothers' tobacco smoking increase children chance of developing asthma, the researchers found.

The study took in 2,497 children from southern California aged from five to nine who had no history of asthma or wheezing. During the three-year study, researchers used questionnaires to measure the stress levels of their parents, the kid's exposure to traffic- related pollution and whether their mothers had smoked cigarettes when pregnant, as well as other factors.

The researchers weren't able to measure stress in children. They measured stress in parents, mostly mothers, which indicated a stressful environment for the kids.
Both air pollution and stress can cause inflammation which, in the airways, can trigger asthma, McConnell said.
A total of 120 children developed asthma during the three years. The results showed that the probability of asthma onset increased as parental stress level rose to higher levels only in those children who were also exposed to traffic pollution.

The researchers found a similar pattern among children in stressed households in which mothers smoked before they were born.
Those kids were 2.5 times more likely to develop asthma compared with those in less strained homes in which mothers smoked while pregnant. McConnell added that the researchers are cautious about those findings because the number of mothers who smoked in the study was small.
Stress alone wasn't enough to cause the illness, although it seemed to amplify the children susceptibility to developing the disease, the researchers said.

"Further studies of the effect of exposure to air pollution in combination with stressful environments associated with poverty and other social factors could help us understand why the disease develops," McConnell said.
Nicole Ostrow
BLOOMBERG

MYIASIS

2009-12-16T01:14:00.000+08:00

Myiasis is the invasion of body of animals and human by larvae of fly (maggot). Elderly people with physical disability or bed-bound are more vulnerable to fly invasion of their body parts not protected by skin such as wounds and mucous membranes.
Many types of flies can cause myiasis in humans such as Oestroidea, Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae.

Development of disease
For Chrysomya bezziana, there are four stages of the life cycle, from egg, larva, pupa and then to adult. An adult female fly only lays eggs on live animals. The sites of larvae infestation are usually on superficial wounds, or mucous membranes in body orrifices such as the mouth, the ear and the nose of debilitated persons. The eggs hatch within 24 hours and the larvae burrow into the host's tissue and feed on the host's dead or living tissue.

Clinical Features
Feeding activity of the larvae may cause serious tissue damage, often accompanied by putrid discharge and ulceration, resulting in loss of fucntion, injury to the skin, secondary bacterial invasion and death.

Prevention
To prevent myiasis infestation, observe the following measures :

Observe good personal hygiene -Bathe daily and keep skin clean. -Maintain good oral hygiene.
Proper wound management -All wounds should be treated immediately and dressed properly. -Wounds should be observed regularly. Dressing should be keep clean and dry.
Ensure good environmental hygiene -Store food in refrigerator or cover the food with screen. -Refuse should be kept in containers with tight-fit lid and disposed of regularly. -Dead bodies of animals should be disposed of properly.
Fly proofing measures -Install fly screening, insect electrocuting device, or fly trap.
Keeping of pet -All wounds on animals should be treated immediately and properly. -Pets, particular dogs and cats, have to be examined by veterinary surgeon regularly. -Do not feed stray animals or keep them as pet.

CUMQUAT JUICE TO WET WHISTLE

2009-12-16T00:03:00.000+08:00

FUNCTION
Cumquat juice to wet whistle is sweet, sour and good-taste. It can wet whistle, increase body fluid and satisfy thirty. It is well curative for hoarse voice and cough and ideal for salemen and service staffs.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

10 pieces Cumquat
3 pieces Dark plum
1 tablespoon Fruit sugar
Mineral water: appropriate

METHOD

Remove seed from dark plum.
Put all ingredients into stirrer for mixture.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET

2009-12-12T01:12:00.001+08:00

It's been nearly 30 years since researchers first recognized the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by high consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, cereals, seafood and olive oil, along with a moderate amount of alcohol and relatively little meat or dairy. But apparently they've never tried to figure out which of those components deserves the credit. Now researchers from the University of Athens Medical School in Greece and the Harvard School of Public Health have examined the relative contribution of each of these foods and determined that moderate alcohol consumption seems to play the biggest role in reducing mortality.

The results were published online recently in the British Medical Journal.The team analyzed dietary data collected from 23,349 Greeks ages 20 to 86 who filled out food surveys and were followed for an average of 8 years. Researchers controlled for factors such as age, gender, smoking status, amount of exercise and body mass index.Overall, they confirmed that people who ate a Mediterranean diet were healthier than those who didn't.

There were 652 deaths among the 12,694 people who didn't follow the diet closely (a mortality rate of 5 percent) compared with 423 deaths among the 10,655 who did (for a 4 percent mortality rate). Alcohol alone accounted for 24 percent of the total benefit, the researchers found. Most of that came in the form of wine consumed with meals. Unlike with alcohol, none of the food was associated with health outcomes in a statistically significant way - that is, the differences observed could have been due to chance. However, the researchers churned through the data and calculated that low meat consumption was responsible for 17 percent of the upside of following a Mediterranean diet. That was followed by 16 percent from high consumption of vegetables and 10 percent to 11 percent each from eating lots of fruits and nuts, olive oil and legumes. The amount of cereals, dairy products and seafood eaten didn't appear to make much difference.

The Mayo Clinic says that key components of the diet include:Getting plenty of exercise and eating your meals with family and friends. Eating a generous amount of fruits and vegetables. Consuming healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil, using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods, eating small portions of nuts, consuming very little red meat, eating fish or shellfish at least twice a week.

Karen Kaplan
LOS ANGELES TIMES

HUMAN SWINE INFLUENZA

2009-12-07T23:31:00.000+08:00

Human Swine Influenza(swine flu) is caused by the novel A (H1N1) virus. Since its discovery in North America in April 2009, the disease has led to epidemics in many parts of the world. Like seasonal flu, swine flu mainly spreads from person to person via coughs and sneezes. People may also become infected by touching objects soiled with the virus and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The symptoms of swine flu are generally similar to those of human seasonal influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain and headache. Some infected persons may also have nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

How to prevent human swine influenza?
Be a responsible citizen. Stay vigilant and step up hygiene practices. The risk of infection, though not totally eliminated, can be minimised.
During the Mitigation Phase, step up personal hygiene and be vigilant:

Was hand frequently, attend to sneeze and cough manners, keep the home and environment clean, and maintain good ventilation.
Avoid touching the mouth, nose and eyes.
Avoid visiting crowded or poorly-ventilated places. If you must do so, step up personal hygiene and put on a mask.
If you develop influenza-like symptom, put on mask and seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you are ill, stay home, avoid contact with others and do not go to work or school.

What should I do if I have symptoms

If you develop influenza-like symptoms, put on mask and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Your doctor will assess your condition and arrange diagnostic tests or hospital care as necessary.
Person with mild symptoms may be taken care at home and should follow the doctor's prescription.
Stay at home unless you have to follow-up visits to clinics. Do not go to work or school, and avoid having contact with others until your illness is over for at least 48 hours.
If possible, you should stay in a separate room. In addition step up personal and environmental hygiene. Watch out for emergency warning signs that might call for urgent medical attention.

Seek medical care right away if the sick person:

has difficulty in breathing or chest pain
has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
is vomiting and unable to swallow liquids
has sign of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
has seizures
is less responsive than normal or becomes confused

Consult your doctor if in doubt.

Department of Health

SUNNY DAY ???.....GET SUNGLASSES...!!!

2009-12-07T00:34:00.000+08:00

It's nice to be able to see the sun. But don't forget that those cheery rays also carry deadly ultra-violet radiation. Those rays don't just prematurely age your skin; they also cause short-term problems like photokeratitis, or reversible sunburn of the cornea, and long-term damage like cataracts, a clouding of the eye's lens that develops over years.

Besides, too much squinting causes unsightly crow's feet.
But surely you don't need to use health as an excuse to get sunglasses, those Hollywood staples? You've just got to have them anyway because they look so good.
And these days, with so many fashion designers creating their own brand of sunnies, you are spoilt for choice.

When choosing the glasses, look for things like tinting (different tints absorb different light colors), polarization (lenses that change light angles, reducing glare) and ultraviolet coating to eliminate UV radiation.

Now you're ready for your day at the beach.

TOMATO JUICE TO NOURISH LIVER

2009-12-06T01:20:00.000+08:00

FUNCTION

For people of liver malfunction, the demand of vitamin is twice of that normal people. Tomato juice to nourish liver contains plenty vitamin B, C and B carotene, which can improve iodine of liver. Therefore, it is an ideal healthy drink for liver.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

1 piece Tomato
1 slice Pear
1/4 piece Lemon
1 tablespoon Fruit Sugar
Mineral Water : appropriate

METHOD

Remove stalk from tomato.
Put all material into a stirrer to beat into juice.

FIBER CONNECTION

2009-11-30T00:49:00.001+08:00

An apple a day may keep the doctor away but a fiber-filled diet could also hold the key to keeping asthma, diabetes and arthritis at bay, according to recent Australian research. Scientists at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research say that fiber not only helps keep people regular, it boosts the immune system so it can better combat inflammatory diseases.

When foods high in fiber, such as dried fruit and beans, reach the gut, bacteria convert them to compounds known as short-chain fatty acids. These acids are known to alleviate some inflammatory disease in the bowel.
Researcher Charles Mackay said the team, which worked with scientists in Australia, the United States and Brazil, was able to draw a clearer picture of this relationship, work which has implications for other diseases.
They demonstrated that a molecule used by immune cells and previously shown to bind short-chain fatty acids also functioned as an anti- inflammatory. "The important point about our work is that we provide the molecular explanation that links fiber in the diet to the microorganisms in our gut to the effect on the immune response," said Mackay.

The research, published in the latest edition of Nature, indicated that diet may have profound effects on immune responses or inflammatory diseases.
"We believe that changes in diet, associated with western lifestyles, contribute to the increasing incidences of asthma, Type 1 diabetes and other auto immune diseases," he said. "Now we have a new molecular mechanism that might explain how diet is affecting our immune systems."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The Standart Post

BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

2009-11-30T00:33:00.000+08:00

The prostate is a male sex gland which produces a thick fluid that forms part of the semen.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate due to non-cancerous growth within the gland.

BPH is believed to be to normal physiological process of aging. BPH is very common condition found in older men. It affects more than half of all men over 60 years, and up to 90% of men aged over 80 years.
Although the growth is benign, progressive enlargement of the gland may cause significant obstruction of the urethra and interfere with the normal flow of urine.

What are the common symptoms?
Not every man with BPH experiences symptoms. Less than half of all men with BPH do not show any symptoms of the disease. For the symptomatic ones, common symptoms are:

Urgency: finding it difficult to postpone urination.
Hesitancy: having to wait before you start to urinate.
Frequency: having to urinate more often than previously.
Nocturia: needing to get up at night to urinate.
Weak urine flow.
A burning sensation or pain while urinating.

In severe cases, the bladder cannot expel urine and results in urinary retention, causing swelling and pain in the lower abdominal area.
Many symptoms of BPH are similar to those found with prostate cancer, but they are not related. Having BPH does not increase the risk of prostate cancer.

How can I prevent it?
The benign enlargement of the prostate is a normal physiological process. There is no specific preventive method.

What should I do if I have suspicious symptom
If you notice any symptoms as describe above, you should consult a doctor immediately.
For suspected cases, the doctor may carry out some investigations. These include rectal examination, blood test, urine test, ultrasound examination and procedures to obtain tissue samples for laboratory examination to isolate any cancerous cells.

What is the treatment?
The doctor will recommend the optimal treatment depending on the size of prostate gland, along with the extent to which it affects the patient's life, and the presence of any other medical conditions. For some men, especially those who are old or have other medical problems, the choice of "treatment" may simply be "watchful waiting" with regular medical examination to monitor the situation and prevent complications.
Effective treatments for BPH include surgery and drug therapies, alone or in combination, to decrease the size of the prostate or reduce the severity of symptoms.

How can I help myself?
If you have a diagnosis of BPH, there are many things you can do to cope better and to improve your quality of life, including:

Avoid drinking large volumes of fluids at one time, of before bed.
Limit your intake of drinks containing alcohol or caffeine.
Use prescribed medications properly. Some cough mixture, anti-cold or decongestant medications may aggravate the symptoms.
Treat urinary infection early.
Maintain a healthy weight.

Understand your illness and its treatment will enable you to cope better. If you have any suspicions, you should seek medical advice.

Department of Health HK

SUGAR FREE PRODUCT ???

2009-11-30T00:30:00.000+08:00

Many favorite drinks too sweet for consumers. this is surprising because there is favorite drink with free sugar label actually contain 5.3 gram of sugars from the requirement that sugar free food must not contain more than 0.5 gram of sugars per 100 gram.
Beatrice Siu and Nickkita Lau,in The Standart Post report that health drink Yakult may not be that healthy after all.
The popular milk-like product packed more sugar per 100 grams than 79 other beverages in a joint study by the Consumer Council and the Centre for Food Safety.
And that includes drinks - fruit juices and soya and carbonated drinks - that are usually considered to contain their fair share of sugar, the council said yesterday.
Yakult's live lactobacillus drink topped the list of drinks for sweetness, with 16 grams of sugar per 100 grams.

"In other words, drinking three to four of Yakult's usual mini 100-milliliter bottles might exceed the daily recommended intake limit," said Ron Hui Shu-yuen, vice chairman for community relations.
The World Health Organization recommends the daily intake of free sugars be limited to less than 10 percent of the total daily energy intake - or about 50 grams on an energy intake of 2,000 kilocalories.
Two other lactic acid drinks contained high levels of sugar at 15 grams and 13 grams, respectively.
Other products that have 13 grams of sugar include Fanta Orange, Mirinda Orange, Capri-Sun Orange, Arabian Blackcurrant Drink and Vita Lemon Tea.

Consuming one can or pack of these drinks - which range in volume from 200 to 330 milliliters - will provide 50 to 90 percent of the daily recommended intake, or the equivalent of 8.5 cubes of sugar.
Anne Fung Yu-kei, the centre's principal medical officer for risk assessment and communication, suggested consumers drink more water and tea instead.
A Yakult spokeswoman said its recommended serving is one of its mini-bottles per day, and that consumers should adjust their intake to their needs. She said the sugar content is the same for Yakult manufacturers around the world, who use a standard formula.
The sugar is also needed to aid the breeding of prebiotic and other beneficial bacteria in the body.
The spokeswoman said the test result will be referred to the Japanese headquarters, which will determine whether follow-up action is needed.
The survey also found 10 products that claimed to have "less sugar" or "low sugar" failed to comply with the 2008 Food and Drugs nutrition labeling requirement of not more than five grams of sugar per 100 grams, or per 100 milliliters of food, to qualify for the designation.
Oldtown White Coffee 2-in-1, which claims to be sugar free, actually contains 5.3 grams of sugars per 100 grams.
This too breaches the requirement that "sugar-free" food must not contain more than 0.5 grams.
Two of the five samples claiming to be "less sweet" or "slightly sweetened" contains 9.1g and 9.8g respectively.

the standart post

CELERY JUICE TO INVIGORATE BLOOD CIRCULATION

2009-11-28T00:13:00.000+08:00

FUNCTION

Celery and carrot contain plenty vitamin A, B and carotene , which not only prevent cancer, but also invigorate blood circulation. They function antithrombotic. Taken with apple, they can restrain cholesterol increasing, prevent arteriosclerosis, and lower blood pressure

RECIPE :

INGREDIENTS

1 slice Apple
2 plants celery
1/2 piece carrot
1 tablespoon Honey

METHOD

Remove skin from carrot. Remove skin and core from apple.
Put all material into a stirrer to beat into juice.

BODY WARM GINGER JUICE

2009-11-27T01:10:00.000+08:00

FUNCTION
Ginger function invigorating blood circulation and remove coldness, apple and lemon contain plenty vitamin C, and honey can remove piquancy, and bring good taste. It may be used to warm body under cold condition, and promote blood circulation and drive away coldness. You will feel less cold.

RECIPE :

INGREDIENTS

1 piece Ginger
1 piece Apple
1/2 piece Lemon
1 tablespoon Honey
Mineral water: appropriate

METHOD

Wash ginger, remove skin and core from apple.
Put all ingredients into stirrer to beat into juice.

BLOOD ENRICHING STRAWBERRY AND SPINACH JUICE

2009-11-25T00:55:00.000+08:00

FUNCTION

The drink contains not only plenty iron, but also vitamin B and C that is helpful for people to absorb iron. As result, it can prevent iron-deficiency anemia. It is wonderful drink to enrich flood.

RECIPE :

INGREDIENTS

2 plants Spinach
5 pieces Strawberry
15 grains Grape
1 tablespoon Honey
Mineral water: Sufficient

METHOD

Remove stalk from strawberry, and skin and seed from grape.
Put all materials into a stirrer to beat into juice.

MEN'S OSTEOPOROSIS

2009-11-19T07:21:00.000+08:00

What is osteoporosis ?
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder that is characterized by decreased bone mass, leading to weak brittle bones that have higher risk of fractures.
This condition is not limited to woman and can also occur in men too. A study done by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2001 showed that over 20% of man aged 65 and above suffered from osteoporosis.

What are the causes

Our bone is a dynamic organ. New bone tissue is being made while old bone tissue is being broken down. As we get past around the age 30, the process of new bone formation begins to slow down relative to the process of old bone removal. This means that more bone cells are removed than added, leading to gradual loss of bone mass. The risk of osteoporosis increases in later life if the person starts with alesser bone mass and has a more rapid rate of bone loss. The following factors also predispose a person to osteoporosis:

Alcoholism
Smoking
Sedentary lifestyle or prolonged immobilization such as after a stroke
Poor diet with low calcium intake
Drugs (steroid, chemotherapy, anti-convulsants?
Certain endocrine diseases (e.g. Thyrotoxicosis), cancer and inflammatory bowel disease

What are the symptoms
Osteoporosis is usually clinically silent until a fracture occurs. The symptoms depend on the fracture site. The common sites of fracture include:

Spine-often with acute back pain, progressively stooped posture and loss of height
Forearm-usually at the wrist area, often resulted from a fall
Hip-usually resulted from a fall

How to prevent osteoporosis
You can lower your risk of osteoporosis by the following ways:

Engage in an active lifestyle and do regular exercise. Weight-bearing exercise based on your physical
Have a well-balanced diet to ensure adequate intake of calcium and Vitamin D. Calcium-enriched low fat milk/cheese, fish with bones (e.g.sardine) and dark green leafy vegetables are all good choices
Do not smoke
Reduce or avoid alcohol intake

What is the treatment?

The medical treatment of established osteoporosis mainly aims to slow down the rate of bone breakdown. If fracture occurs, surgical treatment may be needed. Lifestyle modification is important along with these treatments. The doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment regimen depending on the severity of the patient's disease and any other associated conditions.

What can I do if I have osteoporosis?

Maintain proper posture when sitting, walking or lifting weights to reduce stress on your spine.
Exercise regularly as to improve agility and balance, and hence to reduce risk of falls.
Take extra care to prevent falls or trip.
Follow the doctor's advice on drug treatment, exercise prescription and physiotherapy.

If you have any doubt, you should consult a doctor.

Department of Health HK

PREVENT AVIAN FLU

2009-11-17T16:34:00.000+08:00

AVIAN FLU (H5N1) is one type of influenza A. Avian flu (H5N1) has similar clinical presentation as other influenza viruses. However, it is more likely to result in high fever, chest infection, respiratory failure, multi-organ failure, even death.
Avian flu (H5N1) is transmitted from infected live birds to man. Transmission between human is very inefficient.

MANAGEMENT

People with influenza should have adequate rest and sleep and drink plenty of fluid. Anti-fever medicine and cough syrup are useful to reduce symptoms. Unless there is bacterial infection, antibiotics should not be used. Patient should also observe personal hygiene and wash hands frequently to prevent spreading the virus from the hands which can get the virus from contact with the nose or mouth. Aspirin should not be used in children because it can induce Reye's Syndrome. For patients with lower resistance or when there are signs of deterioration, e.g.persistent high fever or shortness of breath, they should seek early medical advice.

Avian flu H5N1 is generally more severe than an ordinary "flu", and many patients require hospital care. Some anti-viral drugs may be effective in treating the condition. However, drugs should be used carefully following doctor's instructions as they may cause adverse side effects.

PREVENTION

The best protection against influenza is by building good body resistance. This can be achieved though a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate rest, reducing stress and no smoking. If you have a "flu", better avoid crowded public places where the ventilation is not good.

Droppings of infected live birds and poultry may carry the Avian Flu virus. One should avoid touching live birds and poultry and their droppings. If you have been contact with live birds and poultry, wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water immediately. If you keep a live bird at home, avoid close contact with the pet and wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap each time after touching it or after cleaning its droppings. Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating. Travellers returning from endemic areas should consult doctors promptly if they have symptoms of influenza after trip. Let the doctors know the travel history and wear a mask to prevent spread of the disease.

At all times: Observe good personal and enviromental hygiene. Keep hands clean, wash hands frequently with liquid soap, especially before eating and touching nose, mouth and eyes. Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the soiled tissues properly (into a bin with lid), then wash hands thoroughly.

source: Department of Health HK

INFLUENZA

2009-11-16T17:11:00.000+08:00

Influenza is a highly infection viral disease. It is caused by various types of influenza viral strains. Three types of influenza viruses are recognised: A, B and C. Type A is more common. In Hong Kong, the two subtypes of influenza A, H1N1 and H3N2, are most commonly seen. Emergence of new subtypes occurs from time to time at irregular intervals, which is responsible for widespread outbreaks and makes periodic reformulation of the influenza vaccine necessary.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION

The disease is mainly spread through droplets in crowded and enclosed spaces. The infection may also be spread from person to person by direct contact with the secretions of infected persons.

INCUBATION PERIOD

The incubation period is short, usually around 1 to 3 days.

CLINICAL FEATURES

fever

headache

muscle ache

runny nose

cough and sore throat

other symptoms may include stuffy nose, tiredness, diarrhea and vomiting

COMPLICATIONS

Complication are common among those with weak body resistance.

Serious complications include bronchitis and pneumonia.

PREVENTION

Keep hands clean and wash hands properly.

Wash hands promptly if they are contaminated by respiratory tract secretions, e.g. after sneezing.

Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

No spitting. always wrap nasal and mouth discharges with tissue paper, and dispose of the tissue paper properly in rubbish bin.

Wear mask when symptoms of respiratory tract infection or develop. Seek medical advice promptly. Refrain from work or school if develop symptoms of flu.

Build up body resistance to prevent influenza infection. To do so, maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly and have plenty of rest, and avoid overstress and smoking

OBSERVE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE

Maintain good ventilation of indoor areas.

When influenza is prevalent, avoid attending crowded and poorly ventilated public places, such as restaurants and shopping centres

VACCINATION

Influenza vaccine is prepared according to the virus strains prevalent in the community each year, as recommended by the World Health Organization

source: Department of Health HK

STROKE

2009-11-14T11:01:00.000+08:00

Stroke is also known as "Cerebrovascular accident". It is cause by blockage or rupture of brain blood vessels, leading to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain cells. Body function would therefore be affected.
Stroke mostly affects elder people. Patients are ussually above the age of 50, but the age of patients has been declining in recent years.

RISK FACTORS STROKE

1. Age-the older, the more risky
2. Hypertension
3. Diabetes
4. Smoking
5. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
6. Atrial fibrillation
7. High blood cholesterol level
8. Blood vessel tumour or aneurysm
9. Alcoholism
10. Obesity
11. Lack of exercise

STROKE ATTACKS

Stroke is caused by the blockage or rupture of brain blood vessels, leading to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain and hence death of the brain cells. As a result, their neural function would be lost. The consequence of stroke is not always the same because brain blood vessels supply blood to different areas of the brain that govern different body functions.

Blockage or rupture of blood vessels of the motor area could lead to hemiplegia. In milder cases, the patient would suffer from impaired movements and weakness of the limbs.

If blood vessels of the speech area are affected, the ability of speech would be lost. Stroke could even lead to coma or death when major blood vessels of the respiratory centre or cardiovascular centre are affected.

The function of our brain is very sophisticated. The areas governing emotions, feelings and reasoning are also nourished by blood vessels. Something wrong with these blood vessels could lead to emotional fluctuations or speech disorders. It could also result in extreme depression or loss of memory.

WARNING SIGNS OF STROKE

Stroke could come as a sudden attack, but sometimes it could be preceded by the following symptoms. People with high risk of stroke should pay extra attention and see the doctor when these symptoms appear:

Sudden and temporary numbness or weakness on one side of the body.

Sudden impaired vision of one eye. Double vision.

Difficulty of speech or difficulty in understanding people's speech.

Sudden dizziness or loss of balance.

PREVENTION OF STROKE

1. Controlling the risk factors of stroke: People with hypertension, high blood lipid
levels, diabetes or heart diseases should attend regular medical examinations and comply with the drug treatment to control the conditions of the disorders.

2. Lifestyle adjustments: Quit smoking, refrain from alcohol, have a balanced diet and do moderate exercise.

3. Understanding the warning sign of stroke: Seek hospital treatment when symptoms of stroke appear.

HOW TO CHOOSE A SCENT

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How to choose a scent :
1. Don't buy perfume based on some one else, because it smells good on someone else, it may not smell the same on you. Your body chemistry different from everyone else.

2. Don't decide in first minute. Be sure to try a perfume for a day before buying it. Scents can change as the day goes on.

3. Don't smell it in the bottle. If you do, you are smelling mostly the top notes and the alcohol it is diluted in. This also give no idea of how it will smell on your skin. Think of your skin as the final, essential ingredient in a fragance.

4. Don't smell too many fragrances at one go. As a rough rule, four or five are usually adequate.

5. Ignore sexual division. Most women are not inhibited about this and wear men's colognes at will. But men too - irrespective of sexual orientation - can smell sexy in a 'women's' fragance.

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT JUICE BENEFIT

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APPLE JUICE : Strengthens renal function and prevent high blood pressure.

MANGO JUICE : Prevent nausea resulting from boat-sick and helps aid digestion.

PINEAPPLE JUICE : Eliminates swelling and hygrosis, aids digestion,
relieves sore throat.

WATERMELON JUICE : Relieves summer heat, promotes diuresis, lower blood pressure.
CARROT JUICE : Promotes secretion of gall, neutralizes cholesterol.

CELERY JUICE : Supplements body energy, relieves anxiety and stress.

LEMON JUICE : Rich in vitamin C, eliminates phlegm and cough.

ORANGE JUICE : Prevent heart disease, stroke, flu, cold, and eliminates blood stasis.

PEAR JUICE : Keeps heart and blood vessel in good condition, dispels body
toxins.

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT BEAUTY FORMULA

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PINEAPPLE AND APPLE MASK

* Beautifying your skin Removing dead skin cells

Peel and dice 100 grams of pineapple and 40 grams of apple Mix with 5 grams of oak in the blender.

Apply to face for 10 minutes.
(Not suitable for sensitive skin)

STRAWBERRY MASK

* Whitening your skin Enhancing skin elasticity

Mix six strawberries, one tablespoon of honey and
a small amount flour with a few drops of olive oil in the blender. Apply to face for 20 minutes

.

LEMON MASK

* Tightening your skin Achieving natural whiteness

Mix one teaspoon of orange juice, one teaspoon of lime juice and half box of sugar-free yogurt in the blender.
Apply to face for 10 minutes.

CUCUMBER MASK

*Controlling oil Keeping skin fresh

Mix half a peeled and deseeded cucumber, one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of wheat flour in the blender. Apply to face for 15 minutes.

WATERMELON MASK

* Reducing acnes and blackheads

After extracting watermelon juice by using juice extractor, reserve the peel
as ingredient for mask.
Mix the watermelon peel with one tablespoon of fresh milk and 2 tablespoons of flour in the lender. Apply to face for 20 minutes.

CLEANING AND CARE MICROWAVE

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GENERAL CLEANING

Every time after use, leave the oven door open for a while to let hot air out and to keep the oven dry. Wipe the inside of the oven once with a damp cloth with detergent. Then use a cotton cloth to clean.

CLEANING DIRT AND GREASE

If the oven becomes very dirty and grease accumulates, put a cup of mild detergent into the oven and heat for 1-2 minutes. The steam and the detergent will spread inside the oven. When the grease soften, clean it with a damp cloth.

REMOVING ODOUR

If strong smell stays after use, put a cup of water with two slices of lemon or little vinegar into the oven and heat for 2-3 minutes. While it cools off slightly, wipe with a damp cloth and the odour will be removed.

COOKING WITH MICROWAVE

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COOKING THE FOOD WITH SKIN OR MEMBRANES

- Before cooking the food with skin such as fish, use a knife to slit the fish to prevent the steam to built up inside the fish during microwave cooking.
- Cooking other food with skin such as tomato, potato, apple and sausage, pierce these food before cooking to allow to escape.
- Do not put and cook a whole egg with eggshell in the microwave oven.

TO CHECK IF THE FOOD IS THOROUGHLY COOK

- Though there are no standard microwave cooking time, it should be reduced at least to half than conventional recipes.
- The cake is over-cooked when it becomes hard and dry after standing time. If the cake is completely baked, it should pull away from the side of the pan, and the toothpick should come out clean when drawn out from the cake.
- Pierce a knife into the thickest part of the meat. If the meat is grilled well, juice or blood will not come out. If the mutton or beef is done rare or medium, then the middle part of the meat should be in light pink.
- When the chicken is thoroughly cooked, its juice should be clear yellow and the drumsticks should readily be removed.
- When the meat is thoroughly cooked, a fork splits its fibers.
- When the fish is thoroughly cooked, it flakes and is opaque.

SEX AFTER A HEA RT ATTACK

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Most people can have sex 2 to 3 weeks after a heart attack. Having sex is often compare to the energy of climbing two flight of stairs. When you have enough energy to do this, you most likely have enough energy to start having sex again.

HINTS FOR SEX AFTER A HEART ATTACK

- Set goals that are easy to reach.
- Don't rush.
- Be comfortable and rested.
- Avoid being to hot or cold.
- Avoid sex right after a heavy meal.
- Avoid alcohol just before sex.

People who use drugs to enhance sex or who prefer anal sex should know that both can cause irregular heartbeats. Your doctor may tell you to avoid both.

If sex causes chest discomfort or shortness of breath, stop and wait for another time. Tell your doctor if this happens more than once. Also tell your doctor if you have a lot of skipped heartbeats during or after sex.

Some people take nitroglycerin (NTG) before sex to avoid heart symptoms. But some find that the headache common with NTG is a turnoff to good sex. It may also cause brief loss erection.

STRESS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A HEART ATTACK

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Stress in your live can increase the risk of a heart attack. stress causes the body to produce more adrenaline (a hormone that stimulates the heart). this lead to faster or irregular heartbeats and higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It can also increase the risk of blood clot. some people feel the effects from stress on their body more than others. people who don't have a healthy outlet for anger may have more heart problems. Education, counseling and learning ways to handle stress improve your emotional well-being. This may lower your chance of another heart attack. many people find yoga, meditation or exercise helpful.

Your family and friends (and pets in some cases) are very important to your well-being. People who live alone or keep themselves apart from others have a higher death rate after a heart attack. Lean on others for support and fun times, and allow them to lean on you. Regular exercise with a group of friends can reduce stress and give you support.

Stress relief

There are a number of ways to relax and take a break from the stress in your live. Before you try to relax:
1. Find a quiet place where you will not be distracted or bothered.
2. Get comfortable. Sit or lie so your muscles are doing very little work.

Then, try to one of these:
* Create a peaceful scene in your mind. Pretend you are at the ocean, in the mountains or in a forest.

* Take a long, deep breath through your nose and hold it for a moment. Then let it out slowly through pursed lips. Repeat this 10 times or until you are well relaxed. Try to make each inhale and exhale last 5 to 10 seconds.

* Clench your fists as hard as you can, then relax them. Notice the feeling as the tension leaves your hands. Now repeat this tense / relax action for these muscle groups until they are relaxed:
- face
- stomach
- buttocks and legs
- neck and shoulders
- arms
- feet