Health Information Center

Four years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancerous tumor could not be felt by me or my gynecologist or the surgeon who performed my mastectomy. My film mammogram and my ultra sound were inconclusive, but I had a radiologist that wouldn’t stop. The tumor finally showed up on a diagnostic mammogram. It was difficult to see and impossible to feel because the tumor was in the back of my breast close to the chest wall. I am one of those very fortunate women who have not become a statistic. Over 40,000 women die every year from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths of women in the United States. (Lung cancer is first.) While there are no guarantees in life, there are measures to take to give you an edge.

There are two types of screening mammograms: digital and film. Get a yearly digital mammogram. They are more definitive than a film mammogram. A digital mammogram takes an electronic image of the breast and stores it on a computer. Images can be enhanced and brightened for a clearer reading by a radiologist. Digital mammograms use less radiation than a film mammogram. A film mammogram takes a picture of the breast on film, like a picture. It can’t be altered, magnified, or brightened. Continue reading ‘October is Breast Cancer Month’ »

We are constantly being told to avoid the sun as much as possible. We are told to cover up and nearly every skin product that we buy seems to contain sunscreen. However, now there is some evidence that a small amount of sun exposure may actually be healthy.

There are two most frequent reasons that we are told to avoid exposure to the sun are skin cancer and aging. This article is going to discuss some new studies on melanoma, how the situation may not be so straightforward, and some evidence that a small sensible amount of exposure to sunlight may have health benefits.

There are a number of types of skin cancer, with melanoma being the one that scares us. Other precancerous and cancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are much more common. These other types of skin cancer, particularly if they are detected early, are in most cases very treatable. Continue reading ‘Melanoma – Rate Not Increasing and Some Sun is Good’ »

Vitamin D sure is in the news a lot lately. In fact, a recent statistic showed that up to 80 percent of American adults are deficient in vitamin D! That’s a startling fact, especially considering all of the health benefits vitamin D can have, from keeping your heart healthy to staving off dementia and cancer. Now, a new study has shown that there’s an asthma-vitamin D connection – especially if you’re a mom-to-be. Let’s take a look at this recent discovery.

An insufficiency of Vitamin D may be linked to the severity of asthma symptoms in children, according to a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. According to the study, a higher intake of vitamin D by pregnant women can reduce the risk of asthma in children as much as 40 percent.

Pregnant women who were vitamin D deficient had more of a chance of having a child who suffered from asthma and other allergies, according to the studies. The study was the first performed on children and the link to vitamin D concerning asthma. Continue reading ‘Skin Cancer – Breathe Right – The Surprising Link Between Asthma and Vitamin D’ »

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Seniors have the misfortune of having to experience getting brittle bones as they age. This can lead to bigger risks of bone fractures as well as developing osteoarthritis. The only recourse that seniors may be able to do is by trying to build up stronger bones. Here are some ways on how to do it.

Not Just Calcium

Seniors are most often told to take more calcium in order to ensure stronger bones at their age. But actually it takes more than just getting more calcium. Seniors also have to take more of other nutrients like magnesium and vitamin D since calcium works together with these in order to build up stronger bones. Continue reading ‘Building Stronger Bones For Seniors’ »

You may be surprised to learn that active vitamin D is actually a hormone. Vitamin D receptors have been found in the brain, heart, skin, and white blood cells. The reproductive organs such as the ovaries, breasts, testes, and prostate gland also contain vitamin D receptors.

Vitamin D performs several functions in your body. It has long been known that vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorous in the bloodstream and promotes bone formation and mineralization. New research is revealing the role vitamin D plays in the immune system. For example, vitamin D enhances phagocytosis, a process by which certain white blood cells engulf bacteria, dead cells, and other debris. Vitamin D also plays a role in preventing autoimmune diseases. Continue reading ‘What you should know about Vitamin D’ »

Majority of mankind doesn’t follow a regular diet balanced with vitamins, which makes it essential for most of them to depend on some exterior source like supplements. These supplements include multivitamins. It is very important to the efficacy of vitamins which we shall look into.

People of all age groups need vitamins since deficiency can occur at any age. Bone strength is one important factor, and if the body doesn’t get enough Vitamin D in the form of calcium, then it could result in rickets in children and Osteolmalacia in adults. This is a disease which causes the bones to become weak and soft and can cause fractures in adults as well as children. That is why it is very important for the body to receive sufficient sunlight so it can prepare Vitamin D for itself. Continue reading ‘Multivitamin Supplements – How Vitamins and Minerals Can Improve Your Health’ »

Yes, many calcium-rich supplements available today are blends of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium. Many other minerals like potassium, sodium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins like vitamin K2 and K3 are also used in making high-quality calcium supplements.

For the development of healthy bones, teeth and muscles children as well as adults need adequate quantities of calcium either from food or from nutritional supplements. A calcium vitamin D magnesium supplement is ideal for people of all ages since vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium and magnesium has its own health benefits.

Women are advised to increase their intake of calcium-rich foods to reduce risk of developing osteoporosis in old age. Many other illnesses like depression and PMS in women are associated with calcium deficiency. Liquid calcium vitamin D and magnesium supplement is also available now and is very effective in overcoming calcium deficiency. Continue reading ‘Calcium Vitamin D Magnesium Supplement’ »