Aspirin May Slow Brain Decline In Elderly Women With Heart Risk

Low dose aspirin may ward off cognitive decline in elderly women with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, conclude researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden who write about their five-year study in a paper published 3 October in the online journal BMJ Open.

In their introduction, corresponding author Anne Börjesson-Hanson and colleagues explain that many studies have looked at the effect of non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on cognitive decline and dementia, but few have looked at the effect of aspirin on these conditions.

Yet, while researchers have proposed that inflammation might be important in the development of cognitive decline and cardiovascular diseases, and low dose aspirin is widely prescribed to prevent cardiovascular disease, no study has yet examined the effect of aspirin on cognitive function in people at high cardiovascular risk.

For their study, the researchers followed 681 women aged between 70 and 92 for five years. 129 of the women were already taking aspirin at daily doses ranging from 75 and 160 mg, and after undergoing baseline assessments, 601 were classed as having high cardiovascular risk.

Over the study period, the participants underwent more tests of cognitive and thinking skills, including one commonly used in the UK to diagnose dementia, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).

The results showed that while the MMSE scores for the overall group fell over the five years of the study, it fell less for those women taking aspirin.

But although other tests of memory and thinking showed a similar pattern, those results were not statistically significant.

By the end of the study, 41 of the participants developed dementia, but the rate was no different between those on aspirin and those who weren’t.

In discussing the possible limitations of their study, the authors say they can’t rule out that people with incipient cognitive decline might be less likely to take aspirin anyway.

They conclude that low-dose aspirin treatment “may have a neuroprotective effect in elderly women at high cardiovascular risk”.

Simon Ridley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, says in a press release:

“The results provide interesting insight into the importance of cardiovascular health on cognition, but we would urge people not to self-medicate with aspirin to try to stave off dementia.”

He points out the study found no benefit from aspirin on overall dementia rates, and that previous trials investigating potential benefits of drugs like aspirin for dementia have been negative.

“We know that keeping our heart healthy through regular exercise, a healthy diet, not smoking and keeping our blood pressure and cholesterol in check, can help to reduce the risk of dementia,” says Ridley, adding that research into risk factors for cognitive decline must nevertheless become a top priority in the UK because of its increasingly aging population.

Many people take a low dose of aspirin every day to lower their risk of a further heart attack or stroke, or if they have a high risk of either. However, while some might say this is a good idea, there are others who think perhaps not. If you are considering taking it, you should discuss it with your doctor first. For more information on this debate, you may wish to see our earlier article on Daily Aspirin – More Benefit Than Risk?.

Read More

How To Get Rid Of Acne

People who want to know how to get rid of acne should first seek for its causes. The market can give you various products that can treat your skin condition. Even some treatments are readily available at your home. However, learning the step by step process on how to get rid of acne will benefit you.

There are only two options on how to get rid of acne: natural method and product-based method. Most people who take their step on the path of getting rid of acne use the product-based method because it is said that it provides faster cure. But what people don’t know that it may cause harm to their skin. In fact, there are products that were banned because of this issue while others are strictly regulated because of some reasons. Therefore, you should adapt how to get rid of acne naturally before it’s too late.



Easy Ways to Get Rid of Acnes

The first thing that would pop into someone’s mind on how to get rid of acne is the expenses. Not all people realize that the best answer on how to get rid of acne is to consider changes in their lifestyle. Start the change like keeping your pillowcase neat and away from germs. Facing your wash can also do the job on how to get rid of acne, but it’s not enough. Here are a few easy ways on how to get rid of acne:

Swap your pillowcase more often. Depending on the severity of acne, you need to change your routing when swapping your pillowcase so that you will be successful on how to get rid of acne.
Another way on how to get rid of acne is to quit picking. If you haven’t washed your hands, do not touch your face because it’ll just make the condition worse. Do your homework instead or keep your hands busy.
Exercising regularly can also help you to on how to get rid of acne. You don’t to take a gym class or avail fitness programs. Do exercises in your home for about 30 minutes a day. Exercise at least three times a week.
Having a daily skin-care routine is also another way on how to get rid of acne in your face or body. Wash your face regularly with the right facial cleanser.
What Causes Acne

There are a lot of factors that causes acne. It commonly forms due to the presence of abnormal cells in the hair follicles of the skin. Hormonal imbalance, poor dietary habits, too much pressure or stress, and insufficient vitamin intake are the factors which primarily causes acne to occur.

Hormonal Imbalance- it is known as the main cause of rosacea and acne. It typically happens during the period of puberty, a stage in which the body begins to generate androgens. If the dead cells are mixed with the oil-like substance called sebum, the pores may be infected by bacteria which can cause inflammation of the skin.
Poor Dietary Habits- foods also have contribution in the acne’s development. Processed foods can lead to hormonal imbalance which results to acne. So, include healthy foods in your eating habits to get good results on how to get rid of acne.
Too much pressure or stress- studies also show that acne’s formation was due to stress and pressure. Stress can cause adrenaline glands to generate more than its normal level. This also cause hormonal imbalance which lead to acne formation on the skin.
Insufficient Vitamin Intake- if the body system lacks vitamins, one’s immune system can also weaken too which makes people prone to some diseases. Formation of acne may occur if you lack zinc, Vitamins E, B, A, and C.
Natural Remedies for Body Acne

Acne also occurs on surfaces of the body and many individuals have problem with it especially body acne is prone to sweats. There are natural remedies on how to get rid of acne in your body. Using aloe Vera is a great way on how to get rid of acne naturally. This helps you cure clogged pores and reduce irritating skin. Clay masks are also great choice on how to get rid of acne in the body.

Conclusion

Whatever type of acne you have in your body or face, it is still important to know how to get rid of acne. Make sure that you know what causes acne before you applied anything on your face. If you don’t where to start on how to get rid of acne, don’t figure it out by yourself because it may just worsen the situation. You may ask your friend who also have past experiences on acnes. Consulting a dermatologist could be your best option if you are willing to pay. But, if you are not capable enough to carry the expenses, go natural on how to get rid of acne because this can help you eliminate acnes in a safer way.

Read More

How To Lose Weight Fast and Safely

Working on weight loss? Then you probably want results — fast.

Let me save you some time: skip the fad diets. Their results don’t last. And you have healthier options you can start on — today!

You can safely lose 3 or more pounds a week at home with a healthy diet and lots of exercise, says weight loss counselor Katherine Tallmadge, RD.

How to Lose Weight Fast

If you burn 500 more calories than you eat every day for a week, you should lose about 1-2 pounds.

If you want to lose weight faster, you’ll need to eat less and exercise more.

For instance, if you take in 1,050 to 1,200 calories a day, and exercise for one hour per day, you could lose 3-5 pounds in the first week, or more if you weigh more than 250 pounds. It’s very important not to cut calories any further — that’s dangerous.

Limiting salt and starches may also mean losing more weight at first — but that’s mostly fluids, not fat.

“When you reduce sodium and cut starches, you reduce fluids and fluid retention, which can result in up to 5 pounds of fluid loss when you get started,” says Michael Dansinger, MD, of NBC’s The Biggest Loser show.

Diets for Fast Weight Loss

Dansinger recommends eating a diet that minimizes starches, added sugars, and animal fat from meat and dairy foods. For rapid weight loss, he recommends focusing on fruits, veggies, egg whites, soy products, skinless poultry breasts, fish, shellfish, nonfat dairy foods, and 95% lean meat.

Here are more tips from Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, author of The Flexitarian Diet :

Eat vegetables to help you feel full.
Drink plenty of water.
Get tempting foods out of your home.
Stay busy — you don’t want to eat just because you’re bored.
Eat only from a plate, while seated at a table. No grazing in front of the ‘fridge.
Don’t skip meals.
Keeping a food journal — writing down everything you eat — can also help you stay on track.

“Even if you write it down on a napkin and end up throwing it away, the act of writing it down is about being accountable to yourself and is a very effective tool for weight loss,” says Bonnie Taub Dix, MA, RD, author of Read It Before You Eat It .

Besides jotting down what you ate, and when, you might also want to note how you were feeling right before you ate it. Were you angry, sad, or bored? We often focus so much on foods and calories, but our emotions are a huge part of our eating habits.

If you see a persistent pattern in your emotional eating, please consider talking to a counselor about it. They can be a big help in finding other ways to handle your feelings.

It’s time to move more! Losing weight requires close to an hour a day of moderate exercise, one study shows.

Plan to do cardio and strength training.

“Cardio burns the most calories, so it is ideal for fast weight loss, but afterward you need to include a few hours a week of strength training,” Dansinger says. To burn the most fat, try to break a sweat after your warm-up and keep sweating for the entire hour, Dansinger says.

If you’re not exercising now, and you have a chronic condition or a lot of weight to lose, it’s wise to check in with your health care provider first. They’ll be rooting for you! And they’ll make sure that you’re ready to work out.

Pace yourself. Don’t do too much, too soon — work your way up to help prevent injury.

One way to step up the intensity is to do interval training — brief bursts of high-intensity, followed by a more mellow pace, and repeating that pattern throughout your workout.

“Interval training allows people to work harder without having to spend the entire time at the higher level, and over time, the more you do it, the easier it becomes to burn more calories,” Blatner says.

Fad Diets and Crash Diets

I know how tempting diet crazes can sound, especially if you have a lot of weight to lose. You hear about stars who did it and look incredible.

But remember, if a diet plan sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Also, please skip any programs that promote detoxification pills, laxatives, fasting, or potions, and any that promise weight loss faster than 2-3 pounds per week.

The truth is that cutting calories below 1,050-1,200 per day is counterproductive, because you need strong muscles to be able to exercise effectively.

“When you eat too few calories, you lose fat but also precious muscle, which is the worst thing you could do because it slows your metabolism and makes it more difficult to increase exercise intensity or duration,” Dansinger says.

Fad diets also set you up for failure by depriving you of what you want. You can’t eat like that for long, and it’s too likely that you’ll rebel and end up back where you started. You deserve better than that!

So by all means, attack your weight loss goal. Put it on the fast track. But please, do it right so you set yourself up for lasting success.

Credits :  http://www.webmd.com

Read More

Can You Make It Through This Post Without Having Your Mind Blown?

1. Let's start small:

2. Here's something that you never realized:

3. While we're at it, here's some more famous voice actors:

4. Here's the right way to eat a cupcake:

5. Now get ready to have your childhood mind blown:

6.

7. DID YOU KNOW? The "YKK" on your zipper stands for "Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikigaisha:"

8.DID YOU KNOW? 3.14 is PIE backwards:

9.DID YOU KNOW? The dot over over an "i" is called a "tittle:"

10.DID YOU KNOW? Cashews grow like this:

11.And pineapples like this:

12.Before we move on, here's the ending to "Inception" explained:

13.Now let's shrink things down. Here's what velcro looks like close up:

14.Here's what chalk looks like under a microscope:

15. And here's what sand looks like under a microscope:

16.Speaking of sand, there are more stars in space than there are grains of sand on every beach on Earth:

Let's go deeper:

17. If you shrunk the Sun down to the size of a white blood cell and shrunk the Milky Way Galaxy down using the same scale, it would be the size of the continental United States:

18.Speaking of things that are huge, a Blue Whale's heart is so big, a small child can swim through the veins:

19.There's enough water in Lake Superior to cover all of North and South America in one foot of water:

20.Here's the true size of Africa:

21.And the Pacific Ocean:

22.Let's think bigger: If you dug a hole to the center of the Earth and dropped a book down, it would take 45 minutes to reach the bottom:

23.Here's what Jupiter would look like if it were the same distance to Earth as the Moon:

24.And here's what a sunset on Mars looks like:

Too much? Just breathe:

25.DID YOU KNOW? There are more bacteria cells in your body than actual body cells:

26.DID YOU KNOW? John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, has a grandson that's alive today:

John Tyler had a son, Lyon, when he was 63. Lyon had a son, Harrison Tyler, at 75.

27.DID YOU KNOW? A compressed spring weighs more than a relaxed one:

28.JUST THINK: We know more about the surface of the moon than the bottom of the ocean:

29.Speaking of the ocean, there are more atoms in a glass of water than glasses of water in all the oceans on Earth:

30.Speaking of time: The Ottoman Empire still existed the last time the Chicago Cubs won a World Series:

31.Keep this in mind, too:

Mind not blown yet? Things are about to get REAL:

32.The Great Pyramid was built circa 2560 BC...

... and Cleopatra lived 69 BC – 30 BC...

... and the first Moon landing was in 1969, AD...

which means Cleopatra lived closer to the Moon landing than she did to the building of the Great Pyramid.

33.Speaking of the pyramids, they were as old to the Romans as the Romans are to us:

34.Should we keep going? The difference in time between when Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus lived is greater than the difference in time between Tyrannosaurus Rex and now:

35.Here's one more: In 1903 the Wright Brothers flew for the first time...

...38 years later, in 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor...

... and 28 years later, in 1969, man landed on the Moon.

That's 66 years.

PHEW! That was intense. Here's a picture of a puppy burrito (puprito) to chill you out:

                                                 Post credit to: Buzzfeed.

Read More

Thousand Year Old World’s Largest Cashew Tree- Maior Cajueiro do Mundo.

In 1994, the Guinness Book of Records set aside a separate column for the world’s largest cashew tree called Maior Cajueiro do Mondo located in Natal, Brazil. The gigantic tree has grown from an amalgamation of two genetic tissues. Such tissues allow the branches of the tree to grow outwards rather than upwards. Gradually, hence, the branches tend to stoop towards the ground and eventually make for a root. This new root further grows into a new tree.

The massive tree occupies 80,000 square feet of land or roughly five acres. It is guessed to be around thousand years old. One can easily climb a tower to view this tree from a vantage point or for that matter, even climb up through the roots.

You can heartily go and pay a visit to this enormous work of nature. However, beware of the orange caterpillars. These gorgeous looking insects are poisonous. They swamp over the tree seasonally and are a size of a finger.

The beauty of this tree is that it produces 60,000 pieces of cashew fruit each year. As for some people it may come as a surprise that a cashew nut is not the fruit but a single nut is attached only to the bottom of the fruit!

                                       [source:www.braziltravelbuddy.com]

Read More