Zika: Profile of a mysterious virus

A baby infected with Zika virus

The world’s latest health scare is Zika: a tropical, mosquito-borne virus that holds little danger for most people, but could completely derail the lives of some.

Most often, the virus which is sweeping Latin America causes only mild symptoms – with many people never even realising they have it.

But health officials suspect it may be behind a surge in cases of microcephaly, a condition which causes babies to develop abnormally small brains and skulls — leading to permanent disability or death.

The outbreak has seen some countries urging couples not to get pregnant, while the US Centers for Disease Control has warned pregnant women to avoid travelling to 22 affected nations.

On Tuesday, US health authorities confirmed the virus had been transmitted by sexual contact – by someone infected in Venezuela who came home to a partner in Texas.

Here’s what we know about the virus.

What is Zika?

The virus gets its name comes from a forest in Uganda where it was first discovered in infected rhesus monkeys in 1947. Within years, the virus had spread to humans in Uganda and Tanzania, according to the World Health Organisation.

Like dengue fever and chikungunya, two similar diseases, Zika is transmitted by mosquito species found in tropical and sub-tropical regions: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, or tiger mosquitoes.

How do I know if I have it?

In 70 to 80 per cent of cases, the disease goes unnoticed. The symptoms resemble those of a mild case of the flu – headache, muscle and joint pain, and mild fever – plus a rash.

Symptoms last about two to seven days.

Why are experts worried?

The virus is suspected of causing two serious complications, though it has not been scientifically linked to either: microcephaly in babies, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

A surge in microcephaly and other brain deformities in newborns has been reported in areas hit by the current Zika outbreak, particularly in Brazil.

Microcephaly cases in the South American country surged from 163 live births on average per year, to more than 4,000 in the current outbreak. Forty-nine babies have died.

Many foetuses die in the womb.

Guillain-Barre is a disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

Most patients recover, but the syndrome can sometimes be deadly. Cases believed to be linked to Zika have been reported in Brazil and French Polynesia.

What to do?

There is no vaccine for Zika, and no treatment – patients can take pain-killers and other medication to relieve the symptoms.

The virus is transmitted mainly through mosquito bites, so killing mosquitoes and avoiding contact with them is key. Health officials recommend covering up, using insect repellant and keeping windows closed or screened.

Authorities have responded to the outbreak by fumigating and getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

And officials in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica have advised couples not to fall pregnant at this time.

Brazil has announced a crackdown on mosquito breeding grounds ahead of the Olympics, which will bring hundreds of thousands of travellers from around the world to Rio de Janeiro in August.

Where is Zika now?

The virus was first reported in Africa, Asia and the Pacific before leaping to the Americas last year.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito’s habitat, mainly in tropical zones, stretches as far as the southern United States and into southern Europe.

On Monday, the WHO said Zika constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern”.

It is now present in some 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Brazil has been the hardest hit, with almost 1.5 million infections.

Travellers have brought it back to the US states of Florida, Hawaii, New York, and Texas.

In Hawaii, a woman who had contracted Zika in Brazil gave birth to a baby with microcephaly.

Cape Verde, Indonesia, Thailand and islands in the French Caribbean have also reported Zika infections.

AFP

If Your Child Ever Sits in This Position, Stop Them Immediately

Paying attention to how your child or grandchild sits is more important than you may think. It turns out the popular "W" sitting position can be detrimental to a child's development later on in life. Why, you ask?

If Your Child Ever Sits in This Position, Stop Them Immediately

Well, according to the Pediatric Therapy Center, children who continue sitting in this position after their 2^nd birthday may not properly develop the core strength and balance they need for certain motor skills, like jumping and running. It may also leave muscles tight in the legs, hips, and ankles, as well as possibly leading to a hip dislocation.
Yikes.
Not only that, but extensive use of this sitting position could leave your child "pigeon-toed," meaning they walk with their toes turned in. 
To prevent these negative effects from happening, it's important to be vigilant with your child about sitting in safe positions such as cross-legged, side-sitting, or even long-sitting, which puts a child's legs out in front of them.

This is NICE..

For more information, check out the Pediatric Therapy Center's website.

Facebook Photos Reveal the Dangers of Letting People Kiss Your Baby

Claire Henderson, a new mom from Doncaster, England, posted the above shocking photos to Facebook on September 16. With them, she explained how a person with no visible signs of cold sores gave them to her baby Brooke by getting close to her. In babies, that virus can be fatal.

Check her Facebook Post Here

Henderson wrote:

Please share this with every new mum and pregnant woman you know... COLD SORES CAN BE FATAL FOR A BABY. Before 3 months old a baby cannot fight the herpes virus. If a baby contracts this it can cause liver and brain damage and lead to death. I know this sounds like I am scaremongering but if my friend had not told me about this my baby girl could have been very seriously ill. I noticed the signs early and got her to A&E, we have now been in hospital on a drip for 3 days and have got another 2 to go. She was VERY lucky, all her tests came back clear. The moral of the story is DO NOT let anyone kiss your newborn's mouth, even if they don't look like they have a cold sore- 85% of the population carry the virus. And if someone had a cold sore, ask them to stay away until it has gone. Everyone who I have spoken to had not heard of this before and so I felt it was important to share Brooke's story and raise awareness to stop anyone else going through what we have this week.

Please Share with your loved one... Caring is Sharing..

Hit the SHARE button below............

Scientists Develop Super Condoms That Kill HIV Virus and Boosts Sexual Pleasure (Photo)

A team of scientists in America have invented a new type of condom that is capable of killing the HIV virus while enhancing pleasure.

The new hydrogel-based condom

A new hydrogel-based condom that contains antioxidants has been invented by a team of USn-American scientists at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center.

It was gathered that not only does it contain plant-based antioxidants, which kills the HIV-virus in case of condom breakage but it also uses antioxidants to enhance pleasure.

Experts say it is the new big player to join the fight against AIDS

"We are not only making a novel material for condoms to prevent the HIV infection, but we are also aiming to eradicate this infection if possible. Supercondom could help fight against HIV infection and may as well prevent unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. If we succeed, it will revolutionize the HIV prevention initiative"

Choudhury, the lead researcher and assistant professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center's Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, said the researchers hope to test the condom within the next six months and then get it released for general usage.

Lady Addicted to Selfies Who Spends 23hrs a Day Online, Develops a Painful Disease (Photos)

A young selfie addicted lady who spent up to 23 hours a day online, is currently seeking help after developing a painful disease caused by hunching over her laptop.

Michelle Gore

21-year-old lady identified as Michelle Gore, from Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom, who became so obsessed with technology that she took 200 selfies a day and used her phone in the shower, has warned others of the dangers after developing a rare medical condition.

It was learnt that she spends up to 23 hours online every day and was thrilled to receive some latest gadgets at Christmas of 2014. However after spending hours hunching over a selection of devices including a tablet, phone and laptop, she was diagnosed with Tietze disease in January last year.

Michelle, who graduated from the University of Bath in July 2015, said; "I would end up spending the entire holidays glued to a screen of some sort – whether it was watching a YouTube tutorial to work out how to use my new phone, or trawling an internet forum for tips."

"I was never without my phone or some other device because I couldn’t bear to miss out on updates from apps like Snapchat, Instagram or WhatsApp. I’d be taking selfies all day as many as 200 just to get the perfect shot that I could post online.

And before I went to bed I’d play games on my PlayStation or Xbox or watch Netflix, but just so I didn’t miss out, I’d leave my phone on all night in case a message came through.

I even specially requested a waterproof phone for Christmas last year, just so I could stay online in the shower."

Her Doctor said her addiction had put a strain on her rib cartilage, causing the inflammatory disorder which is characterised by chest pain and swelling between the upper ribs.

"Sometimes I was getting just one hour of sleep a night and that meant I struggled to focus during the day. I’d take my phone to lectures with me and found it hard to concentrate. As a result, my grades suffered and while I got a degree, I didn’t get the result I wanted.

I don’t know how long I can keep this up. I got the shakes I am sweating and unstable... and I am bored out my mind. I look in the mirror and I am a mess...My hair is a tangled mess... the colour from my face is gone... my once so lively eyes never looked so lifeless.... it’s like staring at a zombie version of myself."

Now she is warning others about the dangers of getting too hooked on technology and has made a hard-hitting video highlighting the perils with the charity Fixers. Recovered Michelle who is also a graphic designer, said; "

I realised I had a problem when I woke up on Boxing Day 2014 tangled up in cables from different gadgets. I had the laptop wire round my leg, my headphones around my neck, my mobile under my pillow, my tablet charging on my bedside table and my Xbox and PlayStation controls at the foot of the bed. I thought, "this isn’t normal".

And when Michelle began experiencing shooting pains in her back and chest, she knew something was seriously wrong. She said: "I was in pain every day and I was worried there was something up with my heart so I went to see my GP in January last year."

I was at breaking point so I confessed how long I’d been spending on my gadgets. She said I’d strained my costal cartilage from being in the same position for so long staring at my phone or hunching over my laptop. It came as a real shock but luckily it was the wake-up call I needed to sort myself out."

Dr Richard Graham, Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist and Technology Addiction Lead at the Nightingale Clinic, UK, said the addiction is complex to treat.

"Unlike with alcohol or drugs, a patient cannot simply decide never to use a technology again. Instead, they must learn to establish a healthy relationship with technology and that is the crux of the treatment; sleep and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are peripheral treatments that treat conditions that can sometimes coexist with technology addiction.

He added: "We need technology in our lives and it brings a host of benefits. It can however, drain us of our time as we spend more and more time online. This can become a compulsion to constantly be plugged in so that we don’t ever risk feeling that we are missing out, or stepping off a ladder. The by-product of this is that we are seeing an increasing number of young people addicted to technology."

Do you Know What Will Happen if You Drink Coconut Water For 7 Days?

Does coconut water have a magical effect as everyone claims? You have probably heard about coconut oil and the numerous benefits it offers. Now, you will read about the biggest advantages of coconut water of which you have probably not heard before.

You probably did not know that coconut water has a practical compatible structure with the blood plasma in human bloodstream. Moreover, coconut water was used in armed conflicts in the past as a replacement for blood and numerous lives were saved in long and exhausting battles.

Nowadays, coconut water is used all around the globe. You can find it in numerous markets which offer you the chance to use the beneficial advantages of this unbelievable fruit. Coconut water does not taste very pleasantly, but this should not be the reason to avoid one of the best detoxification waters in the world.

What happens when you drink this water?

When you consume coconut water you strengthen your immune system and you eliminate the bacteria which cause urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, gum diseases and viruses which cause cold, infection diseases and typhus.

It will not only increase your energy, but it will also increase the production of thyroid gland hormones. This water is also very good for people who suffer from kidney diseases since it reacts as a natural diuretic. It will cleanse the urinary tract and the bladder canals.  It will remove the toxins from the body and ‘’crash’’ the kidney stones.  Coconut water is good for digestion due to the high level of fibber which it contains. If you drink it regularly it will eliminate the gastric acid. You can drink it in big amounts, since it has low levels of fat. You will lose weight, thanks to water’s ability for keeping you sated and meanwhile it lowers the appetite.

If you have acne, oily or dry skin, all you need to do is to soak a cotton wool in the coconut water and apply it to the skin. It will clean and freshen up the skin, and most importantly, it will keep the pores open. If you mix the water with olive oil, you can cleanse your organism. This mixture can remove bowel parasites.

According to experts, you can solve several health problems during pregnancy with the help of coconut water. Drink one cup of coconut water every morning and you will balance the electrolytes whose misbalance can lead to hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.

If you drink alcohol during the night you will probably have headache in the morning. So, the next time when you exaggerate with alcohol, you will remember this ‘’savior’’ if you want to get rid of the headache. Additionally, it will also compensate for the lost fluids and you will overcome the nausea which is often related with hangover.

If you want your skin to be hydrated and radiant during the entire day, one cup of coconut water will be enough. Also, after several exhausting physical activities, you can drink coconut water and you will regain energy. It will refresh you and leave a positive influence on each body part.

Increase of energy, strong immune system, protection from bacteria and infections, weight loss… What more can you wish for?

Source: Diet Of Life

healthtipssource.com

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Fashion Advice That Everyone Out There Should Know 2016

Fashion Advice That Everyone Out There Should Know

Is your cloth cabinet looking a bit old? If it's far, you possibly aren't alone. Many humans have old wardrobes, both because they can't find the money for new clothing, or due to the fact they aren't top at making fashion selections. Irrespective of the motive, you can update your cloth wardrobe thanks to the subsequent style suggestions.

Buy a ramification of jewellery portions. When you have an excellent range of colours and patterns, you'll constantly have something that suits your outfit. Then you definitely will now not worry about shopping rings to match each outfit which you buy. Suppose variety and you will have a couple of alternative for an outfit.

Appearance interior style magazines to get a concept of what you need to be carrying for this season. You don't get garments that at once healthy what the contemporary style is. But, you can shape a style this is very similar so humans may additionally recognize you are up to date with the contemporary style.

Clumps of makeup are not an appealing look for a lady. In truth, current polls taken via guys locate that the fewer makeups, the higher. This doesn't mean that you have to keep away from makeup altogether; attempt to use warm tones and put on simply one layer of mascara and eyeliner.

To feature a touch a bit of "spring" to your wardrobe, go along with mint inexperienced this season. This soft inexperienced looks first rate on its very own or while paired with other colorings like neutrals and different subdued colorations. You could locate it in numerous sunglasses and in everything from attire to shoes.

Be cautious whilst the usage of mascara, and do strive to get the extra product on the comb with the aid of pushing it carefully into the container. This is going to motive the comb to become broken, and, therefore, making use of your makeup turns into an awful lot greater of a chore. Bacteria love an environment like this. Pass the comb sideways a bit if you need to get more mascara on the comb.

Exercise

as a way to ensure that you may in shape into the contemporary style tendencies you're going to need to make sure that you are as narrow as feasible. Food regimen and exercising so you do not feel embarrassed due to the fact you cannot suit into a number of the state-of-the-art developments that this season's fashion has to provide you.

One of the key things which you want to be greater elegant is to get healthy. Being fit will help you experience confident and appearance fantastic. If you are sporting a further bit of weight then you definitely need to begin a clean food plan and start doing a chunk of exercise on a day by day basis.

If you need to appearance higher in any aggregate of your cloth cabinet, workout regularly. A physique that stands tall with self-belief makes any outfit look higher. You do not have chiseled abs. Even an ordinary taking walks routine of light durations can make your spine rise up enough to make a distinction.

A historical cloth wardrobe isn't always precisely something to be happy with, but you don't ought to be ashamed either. You may effortlessly trade the kingdom of your cloth wardrobe and update it with new apparel while you placed the style hints from this newsletter to apply. They may have you ever searching like royalty.

Why Heartburn, Acid Reflux And Stomach Pain Could Be Early Warning Sings Of Cancer

I’m certain sooner or later you’ve enjoy that burning sensation after a meal. It’s uncomfortable and also a nuisance, but you pop an antacid and that burning feeling fades away.

You could by no means have been too worried approximately it before, perhaps you just loved meals that turned into too highly spiced or acidic, but such indigestion could be a major signal of something you actually don’t need to have: belly and esophageal most cancers. As with all most cancers, early detection is fundamental.

Don’t just take an antacid and shrug it off

Inside the U.Okay., the general public health England (PHE) has launched a marketing campaign to alert humans to heartburn as a probable warning sign of most cancers – forgo the stiff top lip method to pain and spot your health practitioner. PHE says stomach and esophageal most cancers are the 5th maximum commonplace cancers in the U.Okay., with almost 13,000 people identified each 12 months. And kind of 10,000 humans die from the identical at some stage in the equal period.

I’d like to alert people to the difficulty as nicely.

Extra than sixteen,000 new belly and esophageal cancer instances are diagnosed every 12 months within the united states, and it’s 3 to four instances much more likely to strike guys compared to women. That’s in step with the yankee most cancers Society (ACS). Much like the U.K., American belly and esophageal most cancers instances have a survival price of an insignificant 10 percent.

Poor digestion linkedThe ACS indicates you may make easy life-style modifications with a purpose to control GERD. Growing your bodily activity is one, however many have to do with what, when and how much you eat. 

Pick out masses of culmination and vegetables, consume smaller and greater common meals for the duration of the day, keep away from consuming to 3 hours earlier than going to mattress, and devour far less highly spiced or acidic meals.

Even as you’re at it, you can strive slicing down smoking or quitting it altogether, and lowering or discontinuing the consumption of alcohol. You could additionally strive an antacid or an over-the-counter proton pump inhibitor designed to lessen belly acid. to stomach and esophageal cancer

In step with both PHE and the ACS, the symptoms of stomach and esophageal cancer consist of negative digestion over the direction of 3 weeks or extra; the sensation of food sticking on your throat on every occasion you swallow; the lack of frame weight for no obvious purpose; trapped wind and frequent burping; nausea and vomiting, as well as stomach pain or some soreness.

However gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – what generally indicates up as heartburn – is now considered a first-rate warning signal. A latest ACS Gallup ballot showed that forty four percent of adults inside the U.S. Have heartburn and terrible digestion once every month, and roughly 30 percentage of belly and esophageal cancer cases may be linked to it. It’s mainly characterized by a burning-type pain within the decrease part of the mid-chest, behind the breastbone and in the mid-stomach.

Lifestyle tips to protect yourself

The ACS indicates you may make easy life-style modifications with a purpose to control GERD. Growing your bodily activity is one, however many have to do with what, when and how much you eat.

Pick out masses of culmination and vegetables, consume smaller and greater common meals for the duration of the day, keep away from consuming to 3 hours earlier than going to mattress, and devour far less highly spiced or acidic meals.

Even as you’re at it, you can strive slicing down smoking or quitting it altogether, and lowering or discontinuing the consumption of alcohol. You could additionally strive an antacid or an over-the-counter proton pump inhibitor designed to lessen belly acid.

The earlier you take action, the better

Following the ones steps, if you’re still displaying signs and symptoms of heartburn and poor digestion, your circle of relatives physician may additionally advocate aggressive kinds of treatment and prevention. These can consist of medicinal drugs and other nonsurgical scientific tactics, as well as laparoscopic and open surgeries, and endoscopic healing procedures. Routine endoscopies are especially essential for guys over the age of 50, and people who revel in some thing greater than heartburn and negative digestion, weight loss, trouble swallowing, vomiting or anemia.

The earlier that stomach and esophageal most cancers are recognized, the more likely remedies will prove a hit. Human beings showing the early symptoms of these cancers should visit their family health practitioner right now to be able to acquire referrals for tons wanted tests and scientific attention.

In case you’re experiencing repeated heartburn, please don’t delay a visit in your physician.