Yoga

YOGA

What is Yoga?

The word yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can think of the union occurring between mind, body and spirit.

What is commonly referred to as "yoga" can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word asana, which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses.

Asana is only one of the eight"limbs" or types of yoga, the majority of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well being than physical activity. Today, however, the words asana and yoga have become almost synonymous.


Yoga Poses

Many people think that yoga is stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses, each of which has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done quickly in succession, creating heat in the body through movement or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the pose. There is an ideal way that each pose should be done, although not all yogis will agree about what that is.


Yoga Practice

Yoga teachers will often refer to "your practice," which means your individual experience with yoga as it develops over time. The amazing thing about yoga is that your practice is always evolving and changing so it never gets boring. Although the poses themselves do not change, your relationship to them will. Anyone can start a yoga practice, even if you don't feel like you are very flexible or very strong. These things will develop over time. Another great thing about thinking of yoga as "your practice" is that it encourages the noncompetitive spirit of yoga. One of the most difficult, but ultimately most liberating things about yoga is letting go of the ego and accepting that no one is better than anyone else. Everyone is just doing their best on any given day.


Yoga Classes

In addition to practicing the poses, yoga classes may also include instruction on breathing, call and response chanting, meditation, or an inspirational reading by the teacher. The variety and amount of this will depend on the individual teacher and the tradition in which they have trained. Typically, a yoga class at a gym will be more focused on the purely physical benefits of yoga, while one at a yoga center may delve more into the spiritual side. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great. Whatever your tendency, you will be able to find a yoga class that suits your style.

Anxiety Managment

ANXIETY MANAGEMENT

Think of Solutions, not problems.

Educate Yourself :

Learn that anxiety is a treatable illness. Millions of people suffer from anxiety. So you are not alone.

Address Roadblocks :

It's OK to have roadblocks. It will disappear as you become more skilled at reducing your anxiety.

Set Gradual, Progressive Goals :

Unrealistically high goals can lead to feelings of frustration and halt your progress because you feel you have 'failed'. To avoid this pitfall, set yourself up for success by setting gradual, progressive goals.

Train Your Boady and Mind to Respond to Stress Differnetly :

You do this by repeatedly applying anxiety-reducing success techniques in your daily life.

Learning Deep Breathing :

Deep breathing involves deliberately learning to slow your breathing rate and breathe from the diaphragm ( a muscle in the lower abdomen ). Some experts consider deep breathing to be the most important step to reduce anxiety.

Exercise :

Either stand up or lie down, whatever is most comfortable for you.

1. Place one hand on your abdomen.

2. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, starting at the bottom of your abdomen, imagine

you're blowing up a balloon, ( fill your lower abdomen first ).

3. Count slowly to three as you inhale. You will feel your hand rise as you do this.

Make Wellness a Way of Life :

Build a lasting solution by creating a low-anxiety lifestyle.

This Involves : Staying motivated by reading books, listening to CD's and tapes, and by associating with people that support your low-anxiety lifestyle.

CELEBRATE your Successes :

The key to overcome anxiety is to celebrate your successes.

Celebrate them.

ENJOY THE LIFE & ENJOY THE MOMENT

SMILE MORE OFTEN.

Malaria

Approximately 300 million people worldwide are affected by malaria and between 1 and 1.5 million people die from it every year. Previously extremely widespread, the malaria is now mainly confined to Africa, Asia and Latin America. The problems of controlling malaria in these countries are aggravated by inadequate health structures and poor socioeconomic conditions. The situation has become even more complex over the last few years with the increase in resistance to the drugs normally used to combat the parasite that causes the disease

Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Four species of Plasmodium can produce the disease in its various forms:

Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium vivax
Plasmodium ovale
Plasmodium malaria

P. falciparum is the most widespread and dangerous of the four: untreated it can lead to fatal cerebral malaria.

Malaria parasites are transmitted from one person to another by the female anopheline mosquito. The males do not transmit the disease as they feed only on plant juices. There are about 380 species of anopheline mosquito, but only 60 or so are able to transmit the parasite. Like all other mosquitos, the anophelines breed in water, each species having its preferred breeding grounds, feeding patterns and resting place. Their sensitivity to insecticides is also highly variable.

Lung Cancer Surgery

The type of lung cancerSurgery is used to treat non-small cell lung cancers. It is not normally used to treat small cell lung cancer, except very early ones. This is because small cell lung cancer is rarely diagnosed when it is just in one place in the body. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are more often used for small cell lung cancer.

The size and position of the cancerIf you cancer is very near your
Heart
Windpipe
Gullet

Major blood vessels your surgeon may suggest you see a cancer specialist. It may be better for you to have other cancer treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or possibly both. This is because surgery too near these areas can be dangerous.
Types of operationThere are three main types of operation used to treat lung cancer. These are
Removing a small section of lung
Removing a lobe of the lung
Removing the whole lung

Removing a section of lungThese operations remove a small part of the lung. A wedge resection removes a very small part of the lung. A segmentectomy removes a slightly larger bit of lung. These types of operation are used when the specialist thinks the cancer has been diagnosed early and is only in one very small area. If the specialist thinks the cancer cells could be anywhere else in the lung he or she will not recommend this type of operation. A small number of people with lung cancer have an operation called a sleeve resection. Your surgeon may do this to avoid removing your whole lung if the cancer is central and affecting one of your main airways (bronchi). In this situation a simple lobectomy can't be done. The operation involves removing the affected section of the bronchus, and any surrounding cancer in the lobe. Removing a lobe of lung Lobectomy is the removal of one lobe of the lung. Bilobectomy is the removal of two lobes of the lung. The surgeon will recommend this type of operation if he or she thinks the cancer is just in one part of one lung. It is the most common type of operation for lung cancer.

Removing a whole lung This is called pneumonectomy. Your specialist will recommend this operation if the position of the tumour is central within the lung and involves either the 2 lobes on the left or the 3 lobes on the right.

Many people worry that they won't be able to breathe properly with only one lung but you can breathe normally with only one lung. If you had breathing problems before the operation, you will probably still be breathless afterwards. Your doctor will arrange for you to have breathing tests before the surgery to help decide if the operation is right for you. If your cancer has spread If your cancer has spread to anywhere else in your body, then a major operation to remove your cancer will not the right treatment for you. These operations are carried out to try to cure the cancer. If there are cancer cells anywhere else, the operation will not cure your cancer. Your doctor will probably suggest another type of cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy instead. Your general health If you have other health problems such as a severe heart condition or other lung disease, you may not be fit enough to have major lung surgery. Your surgeon will examine you thoroughly and do quite a few tests before you decide together whether an operation is right for you at all. Or whether you should have a smaller operation. See also radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis :

most children respond very well to antibiotic therapy. Nasal decongestants or topical nasal sprays may also be prescribed for short-term relief of stuffiness. Nasal saline (saltwater) drops or gentle spray can be helpful in thinning secretions and improving mucous membrane function. If your child has acute sinusitis, symptoms should improve within the first few days. Even if your child improves dramatically within the first week of treatment, it is important that you continue therapy until all the antibiotics have been taken.

Chronic sinusitis :
If your child suffers from sinus symptoms that last for twelve weeks, this is known as chronic sinusitis. If your child has chronic sinusitis or recurrent episodes of acute sinusitis numbering more than four to six per year, please call the division of Pediatric Otolaryngology for an appointment for your child. Your physician may recommend surgical treatment of the sinuses. Enlarged adenoids may be implicated as a cause of chronic sinusitis, and adenoidectomy is sometimes recommended.

Diagnosis of sinusitis :

Upon examining your child’s ears, nose, and throat and taking a thorough history, we can usually make a correct diagnosis. Occasionally, we will use special instruments to look into the nose during the office visit. An x-ray called a CT scan may help to determine how your child's sinuses are formed, where the blockage has occurred, and the reliability of a sinusitis diagnosis.

Breast Cancer Modalities

The three most common modalities for breast cancer screening are mammogram, clinical breast examination, and breast self-examination. The goal of these screening examinations is to detect occult breast cancer at an early stage- before it is clinically evident- and thereby increase the probability of cure. A screening mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breast. The breast tissue is compressed, so that two views of the breast can be taken: a mediolateral (MLO) view and a craniocaudal (CC) view. If abnormalities are seen, then further images of the abnormality are taken, called magnification, or spot compression, views.

Mammogram screening is ideally performed in conjunction with a physical examination of the breast. These two examinations are complementary to one another- mammographic screening is able to detect some cancers that are not palpable, while some cancers are palpable, but not detectable on mammogram. Therefore, and of inestimable importance, a palpable abnormality needs to be evaluated further, even if the mammogram is normal.

Physical examination of the breast is performed in both the upright and supine positions. The patient is disrobed from the waist up for a complete examination. The breasts are inspected in the upright position with the arms relaxed, with the arms raised, and with the pectoral muscles contracted. The clinician is looking for differences in the breast size, alteration in the breast shape, or areas of skin retraction. The skin of the breast and the nipples are inspected. The regional lymph nodes are examined, including the axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes. The breasts are subsequently palpated in the upright position and in the supine position, with the ipsilateral arm raised above the head. If a dominant mass is palpated, then further evaluation by a physician is warranted.

The first randomized controlled trial demonstrating the benefit of the screening mammogram and clinical breast exam in decreasing mortality was performed in 1963 by the Health Insurance Plan breast screening project. Sixty-two thousand women were randomized to either the intervention group, consisting of screening mammogram and clinical exam, or to a control group. At ten years of follow-up, the intervention group had a 30 percent reduction in breast cancer mortality.

Subsequent randomized trials of the screening mammogram also demonstrated a benefit to screening mammography. A meta-analysis of mammogram screening trials (9 randomized controlled trials and 4 case-control studies) was published in 1995. Data from the randomized controlled trials demonstrated that women between 40 to 74 years of age who underwent screening mammography had a relative risk of breast cancer of 0.79 (95% CI [confidence interval] 0.71-0.87) in comparison to unscreened patients. Women aged 50 to 74 (relative risk 0.77; 95% CI 0.69-0.87) benefited from screening mammogram more than women aged 40 to 49 (relative risk 0.92; 95% CI 0.75-1.13). The relative risk decreased to 0.83 (CI 0.65-1.06) after 10 to 12 years of follow-up. Based on these studies, screening mammography has been shown to decrease breast cancer mortality by approximately 30 percent.

The breast self-examination is a monthly examination of the breast performed by the patient. The goal of this examination is for the patient to notice any changes in her breasts that should subsequently be brought to the attention of a physician for further evaluation. It is estimated that patients discover approximately 65 percent of palpable breast abnormalities. For premenopausal women, the best time to perform the examination is one week after the start of menstruation. Postmenopausal women can perform the examination during any part of the month.

In performing the breast self-examination, the patient inspects her breasts in front of a mirror, with arms at her side and then with arms raised above her head. The nipples are gently squeezed to evaluate for discharge. The patient subsequently lies down and places the right arm above her head. The left hand is used to palpate the right breast. The breasts are examined in a circular motion with the fingers flat. All of the breast tissue and the axilla should be palpated. The opposite breast should be examined in a similar manner. The breasts should subsequently be examined in the shower. With one arm raised above the breast, the contralateral (opposite) hand is used to palpate the breast. The breasts are examined in a circular motion with the fingers flat. The patient is looking for breast lumps, changes in the breast shape, size, or contour, or for skin changes, puckering, or dimpling. Any of these abnormalities would warrant further evaluation by a physician.

The efficacy of breast self-examination in reducing mortality from breast cancer has not been established. Despite this, the exam is easily performed and of low cost. It should therefore be recommended to all women in the absence of better alternatives.

Stomach Cancer Surgery

Stomach Cancer Surgery

Depending on the type and stage of stomach cancer, surgery may be used to remove the cancer and the part of the stomach where it is attached. The surgeon will try to leave behind as much normal stomach as possible.

Currently, surgery is the only way to cure stomach cancer. If a patient has a stage 0, I, II, or III cancer and is healthy enough, an attempt should be made to treat the cancer by completely removing it. Even when the cancer is too widespread to be removed completely by surgery, most patients are helped by an operation because the surgery may help prevent bleeding from the tumor or prevent the stomach from being blocked. This type of surgery is called palliative surgery, meaning that it relieves or prevents symptoms but it is not expected to cure the cancer.

The particular operation performed usually depends on what part of the stomach is involved and how much cancer is in the surrounding tissue. There are 3 kinds of surgery used:
Endoscopic mucosal resection: In this procedure, the cancer is removed through an endoscope. This can only be done for early cancers where the chance of spread to the lymph nodes is very low.

Subtotal gastrectomy: This operation is recommended if the cancer is in the lower part of the stomach closest to the intestines. Only part of the stomach is removed, sometimes along with the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). With only part of the stomach removed, eating is much easier than with removal of the entire stomach.

Total gastrectomy: This operation involves the total removal of the stomach, and is recommended if the cancer is in the middle or upper part of the stomach. If you have a total gastrectomy, the surgeon will try and make a new "stomach" out of intestinal tissue. Usually the end of the esophagus is attached to part of the small intestine and some extra intestine is also attached. This can make room for food to be stored before moving down the intestinal tract, and will allow you to eat some food before getting filled up. No matter how effective this is, people who have a total gastrectomy can only eat a small amount of food at a time. Because of this, they must eat more often.

Stomach cancer often spreads to lymph nodes and these should also be removed. This is a very important part of the operation. Many doctors feel that the success of the surgery is directly related to how many lymph nodes the surgeon removes. In addition, stomach cancer may also spread to lymph nodes that are farther away in the abdomen. Some surgeons feel that these also must be removed. This is still uncertain though and many surgeons are reluctant to perform such an extensive operation because it causes more complications.

Surgeons in Japan have had very high success rates by removing all the lymph nodes near the cancer. Surgeons in Europe and the United States have not been able to equal the results of the Japanese surgeons. It is not certain whether this is because the Japanese surgeons are more experienced in this operation (because stomach cancer is much more common in their country) or the Japanese patients have earlier stage disease and are healthier. Whatever the answer, it takes a skilled surgeon who is experienced in operating on stomach cancer to remove all the lymph nodes successfully. It is important you ask your surgeon about his or her experience in operating on stomach cancer. Studies have shown that the results are better when both the surgeon and the hospital have had extensive experience in treating patients with stomach cancer.

The spleen is a collection of immune system cells and tissues that filter the blood to remove worn-out blood cells. It is located next to the stomach. If a cancer has extended beyond the stomach to the spleen, the spleen is usually removed together with the stomach, lymph nodes, and omentum.

Many surgeons believe that if they remove all the lymph nodes near the stomach, they improve the chance that their patient will be cured. Surgeons in Japan have had very high success rates by removing all the lymph nodes near the cancer. Surgeons in Europe and the United States have not been able to equal the results of the Japanese surgeons. It is not certain whether this is because the Japanese surgeons are more experienced in this operation (because stomach cancer is much more common in their country) or the Japanese patients have earlier stage disease and are healthier. Whatever the answer, it takes a skilled surgeon who is experienced in operating on stomach cancer to remove all the lymph nodes successfully. It is important you ask your surgeon about his or her experience in operating on stomach cancer. Studies have shown that the results are better when both the surgeon and the hospital have had extensive experience in treating patients with stomach cancer.

Surgery for stomach cancer is difficult and complications can occur. Some of these include bleeding from the surgery, blood clots, and damage to nearby organs such as the gallbladder and pancreas during the operation. Rarely, the connections between the ends of the stomach and esophagus or small intestine may not hold together completely and leak. During the 1950s, nearly 10% of people died after this surgery because of complications. Thanks to improvement in surgical techniques, only about 1% to 2% of people die after surgery for stomach cancer. This number is higher when the operation is more extensive as in when all the lymph nodes are removed. Several groups of surgeons have reported that as many as 5% to 15% of their patients die from the surgery when the surgeons try to remove all the lymph nodes. This number is lower in the hands of highly skilled and experienced surgeons.

You may develop other side effects after you have recovered from surgery. Some of these are frequent heartburn, abdominal pain particularly after eating, and vitamin deficiencies. The stomach is important in helping the body absorb certain vitamins. If certain parts of the stomach are removed, doctors routinely prescribe vitamin supplements, some of which can be taken only by injection. Changes in your diet will often be necessary after a partial or total gastrectomy. The most important change is that you will need to eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Because of these problems, it is important you discuss with your surgeon how big an operation he or she intends. Some surgeons try to leave behind as much of the stomach as they can to allow patients to be able to eat more normally afterward. The tradeoff is that the cancer might be more likely to come back. The type of surgery should be decided in a discussion between patient and doctor. It cannot be emphasized enough that your surgeon must be highly skilled. He or she should be experienced in treating stomach cancer and able to perform the most up-to-date operations to reduce your risk of complications.