Thursday 27 February 2014

Student With Hole in Heart to Undergo N3.47 million for Surgery


Ifeoma Igbo was born with patent ductus arterosus (PDA) a congenital heart condition that’s left an open hole at the top of her heart.
She has been hospitalized with a “history of difficulty in breathing and lower respiratory tract infection during infancy and early childhood,” her medical report at Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital said.
Dr Usman Sani, consultant paediatric cardiologist at UDUTH, reported a heart murmur on examination but said Ifeoma had been only on “conservative management” and referred her to Madras Medical Mission in Chennai, India for surgery.

Wash your hands after handling receipts to avoid BPA


Handling receipts may increase the body’s level of a chemical that has been linked to reproductive and neurological problems, suggests a new small study.
Bisphenol A – commonly known as BPA – typically enters the body when people eat food from a can. But it can also be absorbed through the skin from receipts, according to the study’s lead author.
BPA is used in the process of making hard plastics, and has been banned from use in manufacturing baby bottles. The chemical is also used in the interior lining of many food cans. The chemical can leach into foods that are stored in such containers and eventually end up in the body when people eat the food. More recent research has found that people can also end up with increased BPA levels after touching materials containing the chemical.

Tuesday 25 February 2014

When Men Get Breast Cancer?


As in a woman’s breast, the duct cells in a man’s breast can undergo cancerous changes fueled by hormones that influence the growth of cells. It is not clear why some men get breast cancer while most do not, but risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, inherited gene mutations, radiation exposure, extended occupational exposure to certain chemicals or intense heat, obesity, liver disease, alcoholism, and other cancer treatments.

All of these factors can influence the level of hormones in a man’s body and potentially spur breast cancer. That said, many men who develop breast cancer do not have any of these risk factors.

Fewer than 1 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed in men, but that is little comfort to the 2,400 men a year who learn they have the disease. For Dr. Bogler, 47, the diagnosis was particularly shocking because his wife had learned five years earlier that she had breast cancer.

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Home Remedies for Cracked Heels


Cracked heels are a very common problem and can range in severity from a cosmetic issue to a painful problem. Taking proper precautions right away can prevent cracks from getting deeper and causing bleeding and pain. Some of the causes of cracked heels are dry air, lack of moisture, improper foot care, an unhealthy diet and wearing the wrong types of shoes.

There are several home remedies for cracked heels that you can try to resolve the problem. Here are the top 10 remedies for cracked heels.

1. Vegetable Oil
A variety of vegetable oils can be used to treat and prevent cracked heels. Olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil will work. For best results, use this remedy before going to bed to allow ample time for the oil to fully penetrate your skin.

First scrub your feet with a pumice stone and wash them thoroughly. Apply the vegetable oil liberally on your heels and soles.

Put on a pair of clean socks and leave them on overnight while you sleep. In the morning, your heels will be noticeably softer.

Repeat this for a few days until the cracks in your heels are gone completely.

2. Rice Flour
Exfoliating the skin on your feet and heels will help remove dead skin from the dryness and cracking. Rice flour can be used as an homemade exfoliating scrub.

To make the scrub, mix a handful of ground rice with a few tablespoons of honey and apple cider vinegar. Stir it until it becomes a thick paste. If the cracking on your heels is extremely bad, add a tablespoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil.

Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes and then gently scrub them with the rice flour paste.
Source: top 10 home remedies

10 Houseplants that Detox Your Home

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality is one of the top five risks to public health. This is a result of home products made with toxic chemicals, such as vinyl flooring and air fresheners. If you don’t want to stop using these products and leaving the windows open all the time isn’t an option, there are plants that can help detoxify your indoor air. Here are some of the more effective. -
Aloe vera
You may know this plant as a sunburn soother, but it’s also a wonderful air purifier. Aloe actually absorbs chemicals from cleaning products and even gives you a warning sign by developing brown spots if the chemicals reach a high level.
Aloe cropped 10 Houseplants that Detox Your Home
Purple waffle plant
Researchers at the University of Georgia tested 28 common indoor decorative plants for their ability to remove the top five indoor pollutants. And the purple waffle plant was rated one of the best detoxifiers. This showy, low-maintenance spreading plant is an excellent choice as ground cover in a terrarium or to drape over a cupboard. 
waffle plant cropped 10 Houseplants that Detox Your Home
Source: Health Central