HPV Vaccine Prevents More Than Just Cervical Cancer

Recent study reveals that the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine not only prevents the transmission of the virus that causes cervical cancer, but also helps in deterring genital warts and low-grade cervical growths. The recent findings gave the health official of the United States more reasons to promote HPV vaccination especially to young women and girls.


The virus causes an estimated 500,000 cases of cervical cancer each year worldwide. Genital warts and low-grade cervical growths are estimated to have affected 30 million people annually.

Researchers conducted randomized control trial to 17,622 women, which had been given the vaccine or a placebo over a six-month period. The women were from 24 countries and territories, with age ranges from 16 to 26.

Malmo University in Sweden, Lund University, Joakim Dillner from the department of microbiology and colleagues discovered that the vaccine provided major protection against the warts and tumors in women. Researchers noted that 168 of 7,632 women who have taken the placebo developed cervical growths while the 7,629 vaccinated women only 7 of them have the cervical growths.

Based on the results of the study the researchers were able to conclude that the vaccine gave strong and continuous protection against the different types of warts and low-grade female cervical growth for four years.

The research was made possible through Merck Research Laboratories, a division of Merck & Company, manufacturer of the HPV vaccine Gardasil.

According to Dr. Crumpacker, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said in an interview that the research provides useful information because it shows the vaccine can do more than just thwart the virus from spreading.
 
via healthfinder.gov

We All Could Use Some Stress Test

One way of knowing how much your heart can get to work is by taking a stress test, also called an exercise test, or more simply known as the treadmill test. A person undergoing this test should be monitored and supervised by a medical professional. He or she will be asked to walk through the treadmill at a gradual but increasing pace with his or her heart rate being monitored with cardio equipment and blood pressure monitor attached to the heart while performing the test. Healthy people should not have any trouble performing the test. However, those who will have a really hard and tired time with the stress test should be subject to further cardio-related tests.

Beating Daily Stress and Anxiety

We can't deny it that stress is part in our modern society. The common factors that promote stress are the following-pressure in jobs, daily commute to work, someone you're in a relationship with, finances and family. Stress is a natural body reaction from any kind of demand from the outside world. Stress can trigger the body to release some chemicals and hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, to increase its preparedness by giving an instantaneous boost of energy and strength. Too much of this hormones and chemicals in our body are detrimental to our health.

Another threat to our health which is also brought by modern society is anxiety. Anxiety is characterized as a feeling of uncertainties, uneasiness, nervousness or fear, which can add up to a person's depression. Anxiety and stress should therefore be given utmost attention before any serious health conditions happen.

Obese Young Adult Increases the Risk of Having Psoriatic Arthritis

Image Source: Wikipedia

Recent study reveals that people suffering from psoriasis who are obese at age of 18 have a big chance of developing psoriatic arthritis earlier than normal-weight people with psoriasis.

This type of arthritis affects 6 to 42 percent of people with psoriasis, a skin disorder that is characterized by itchiness or painful reddish patches on the skin.

The new study conducted from 2002 to 2008, were participated by 943 patients with psoriasis in the Utah Psoriasis Initiative. Twenty-six and one-half (26.5) percent of those patients were suffering from psoriatic arthritis. Factors that can tell the possibility that a patient has a psoriatic arthritis includes body mass index (BMI) at age 18, suffered from psoriasis at a young age, being female and psoriasis has affected a larger surface of the body.

Twenty percent of those obese and overweight eighteen-year old participants, developed psoriatic arthritis by age 35, while twenty percent of normal-weight participants developed psoriatic arthritis by age 48.

Dr. Razieh Soltani-Arabshahi and his colleagues announced that patients who are susceptible to psoriatic arthritis will benefit from more frequent and thorough screening procedures for early detection and treatment of psoriatic arthritis, to avoid the development of irreversible damage to joint.

Vinegar As Remedy For Acne and Pimples on Your Face And Skin - Say Hello To This Sour Stuff

Who doesn't want a glowing, smooth and acne-free face? Acne is a familiar skin disorder that affects teenagers and adults. Acne breakout occurs during adolescence due to hormonal changes. Anybody affected with acne will try every option from natural remedy to over-the-counter cream and pill just to eliminate the problem. One solution is to use vinegar for acne. Such substance has been used as one of the natural remedies to different human health woes throughout the ages. A lot of people who used vinegar for acne have proven that it is an effective and safe antidote against the skin problem.

You might wonder how does a lowly vinegar eliminate acne. Skin pore becomes clogged because of too much sebum produced by the sebaceous glands, dead skin cells and other harmful elements. Clogged skin pore will become the breeding place for the acne-causing bacteria. Now, vinegar works by lowering the pH of the skin pores. A low pH is an undesirable place for the bacteria to live, therefore applying vinegar for acne-troubled skin helps eliminate the problem by fighting at the root cause.

Since, vinegar is rich in alpha-hydroxy acids, it helps in unclogging the skin pores. Alpha-hydroxy acids controls sebaceous glands in the production of sebum and helps the exfoliation of dead skin cells. Controlling the sebum production and removing of dead skin cells are the combined ways of vinegar to control the acne problem.

Vinegar can also be used as moisturizer because of its ability to help regulate the skin's pH balance. Depending on the skin type, regular and moderate application of vinegar will prevent skin dryness and allows absorption of other vitamins and minerals.

Why not give a try at this inexpensive treatment for acne and pimples? You might be one of those who can attest to the efficacy of this humble kitchen condiment.