But, you don't LOOK sick!

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SourceAsk anyone with Lyme Disease and they will tell you...it is hard for people to understand what we are going through, because...well, we don't look sick. At least not usually. Honestly, it doesn't bother me. I mean, if I'm going to feel like crap, I'd rather not look like it too. But, it does make it difficult, because on a day when I am in pain, fighting a sinus headache, having a major anxiety attack, experiencing short of breath, have intestinal cramps, feel like I'm walking through mud, can't focus on any one thing for more than 30 seconds due to brain fog and feel like I need a cane just to hold me up...people think I'm fine. It's totally understandable! I don't look sick.

Also, I do what I can to mask symptoms, which doesn't help people understand what I'm going through either. On a day when I am having difficulty moving, I may support myself with a hand on the wall as I walk, but only if I think no one is looking. If I am teaching a class or having a conversation, sometimes I lose a word or stutter or say knee when I mean elbow. During these instances, I make a joke and we laugh it off. If I'm tired (and it shows), a little Eye Creme goes a long way. Sometimes, though, symptoms are hard to hide. Like when I am in the middle of a conversation and I forget what I was talking about...mid-sentence. Or when I can't remember a person's name that I definitely should remember. Or when I can't breathe simply because I walked from one room to the other or bent down to pick something up. But, it's all good. At least I don't look sick!

Now, I'm out and about a lot. Between teaching yoga classes, taking my son to school, doctor's appointments, visiting friends and family, I interact with a lot of people each day. Often, someone will ask: "how are you?" To me this question presents a dilemma. I don't want to lie, but I also don't want to unload on anyone with the multitude of bad things that are happening in my body at that particular moment. Do they really want to know? Are they asking to be polite? Either way, what I'm going through is no fun, so hearing about it can't be much fun either. However, I could talk about Lyme for hours. HOURS. So, listener beware! Asking a simple question like "how are you?" can unleash an hour-long depressing rant about the politics of this controversial disease, how I can't eat anything I want to eat and my fears about my children's future as they fight this disease. That's what's weighing on my heart right now, so I can't help myself! Hmmmm. Maybe we should think of a safe word. You know, so in case I ramble on and on and you just want me to shut up. Or how about you just make up some excuse to get away...as quickly as possible...like your house is on fire or you just saw the bat signal.

I've had Lyme for a long, long time, so my 'normal' is anything but. To me, though, it's life. I felt even half as bad as I do each day, I would think I was cured (forget the fact that there is no cure for Chronic Lyme!) Any relief from symptoms would be a tremendous gift. Ultimately, though, what we're working towards is the day when I don't look sick because...I'm not!Be a Fan

Dog Skin Problem - Six Main Reasons Your Dog Can't Stop Scratching

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Your dog skin problem is driving you nuts! Your dog won't stop scratching, gnawing, licking, and biting. However, stop and think for a moment. If his behavior is driving you nuts, how must your poor dog be feeling?By identifying the reason for your dog's itching and scratching, you are one step closer to getting relief for him. Here are the six main reasons for your dog skin problem:

1. Infectious - bacterial, fungal, and yeast are skin and coat pathogens. Fungi cause circular patches of hair loss that usually do not itch. Yeast infections cause greasy, and odor causing sores.
2. Neurogenic - no medical reason for the dog skin problem. Incessant licking characterizes this dog skin problem which is basically, a nervous habit of licking and chewing. This is often brought on by dogs that arent getting the proper exercise or attention they need and they bite, chew, and lick themselves as a nervous energy outlet.
3. Allergenic - an allergic reaction to numerous things; food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust. All other causes must be ruled out before this diagnosis is used.
4. Environmental - itching brought on by what the dog is exposed to in his environment; swimming, digging, romping through fields. If the dog is sensitive to grasses or gets scrapes and cut, the wound often stays moist, bacteria sets in and causes an infection. This is most often referred to as a "hot spot."
5. Nutritional - due to imbalanced diet without proper nutrition. This dog skin problem is often caused by the owner feeding the dog an inferior dog food. Just because a brand of dog food states, "Complete and Balanced" doesn't mean it is a good source of nutrition for your dog. Owners will often opt for cheaper dog food and feel secure that they are feeding their dog a good diet because they fall for false advertising. Remember, false advertising is just as prevalent when it comes to pet products as it is in human products.
6. Parasitic - fleas, ticks, chiggers, deer flies, and gnats are the most common parasites that cause your dog's skin problem. Repeated exposure to these parasites can cause sensitivity and eventually infection. Cheyletiella mites, often referred to as "walking dandruff" and Sarcoptic mites which are called scabies or red mange, are much more serious. These mites cause very intense itching and scratching, hair loss and inflamed skin.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debra_Proctor

Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer and Treatment Options

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(Image credit to ‘Shutterstock’)

Diagnosing ovarian cancer is very important to determine the stage of the disease, which then also very crucial for the doctor in deciding the appropriately treatment options to cure the disease. In the previous article, we have clearly understood that diagnosing the disease at a much earlier stage is significantly helpful to encourage the successful of the treatment and prognosis of patient. 
You might also like to know more about symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer (conditions that put you at higher risk of developing the disease) in here, before continuing!
Unfortunately, there are usually less signs or even almost no symptoms that occur at very early stage /early stage. This is one of major reasons of why the disease is not easy to be diagnosed /detected at early stages - in fact, the disease is still often diagnosed at later stages. 
Furthermore, there is still no specifically reliable screening test to find the disease as early as possible. And some symptoms of ovarian cancer also can be generated by other health conditions. Therefore, diagnosing the disease is usually not enough with one or two tests. 
Diagnosing ovarian cancer
The diagnosis usually begins from the symptoms that occur, general health and medical history of patient. Your doctor may ask about your abdomen (tummy) and then may also perform some internal examinations.
For further tests, then patient usually will be referred to a registered gynaecologist. If the specialists are concerned that a patient may have cancer in the ovaries, they will arrange some appropriately tests to find a clearly diagnosis.
And the following are some common procedures /tests to diagnose ovarian cancer:
Some procedures to examine your pelvic!
The pelvic examination may only use a manual technique or also with a speculum to visually check the cervix and genitals (vulva) of patient. Speculum is a kind of small device that can be inserted into the female genital. 
CA 125 blood test
CA 125 is a kind protein that can be found on the cells of ovarian cancer. High level of CA 125 in the blood is often associated with ovarian cancer. 
But CA 125 also can be found on the surface of some healthy tissue. And elevated CA 125 levels also can be caused by certain noncancerous conditions (such as pregnancy, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometriosis). Therefore, having high CA 125 level doesn’t mean that you definitely have ovarian cancer. Other appropriately tests are usually needed to confirm a clearly diagnosis. 
In essence, CA 125 blood test is not a completely reliable procedure to diagnose ovarian cancer. But it can be used to find that there is a kind of inflammation. Sometimes, it is also useful to monitor the progress of the treatment. 
In addition, in fact many patients with ovarian cancer at early stages don’t have abnormal CA 125 levels. The elevated CA 125 levels usually occur in the advanced stages (about 90 percent (9 out of 10 patients) with later stages of the disease have raised CA 125 levels).
Ultrasound test
It is a kind of test to visually check the inside body of patient.  It can produce images of the inside organ by using high-frequency sound waves, so thus doctors can analyze the shape, size, and configuration of the patient’s ovaries.
In other words, ultrasound test is helpful for the doctors to get to know whether the ovaries have normal size, normal in texture, and whether or not they have ovarian cysts!
If your specialist still in doubt whether or not you have ovarian cancer, you may be asked to repeat some appropriately tests (like ultrasound test) in the next months.
CT-scan test
This test is usually needed to visually check your ovaries more clearly. In general, it is a kind of X-ray test that purposed to get several pictures of the inside of the body from different angles. Then these pictures will be fed into the computer to result more detailed pictures of your ovaries.
Before taking CT-scan test, patient is usually asked to:

1. Avoid drinking /eating for about four hours before the test!
2. Drink a special prescribed liquid for about a few hours before taking the test!
3. Take other appropriately procedures before the test!

Staging ovarian cancer
Before deciding the treatment plan, first doctors need to clearly diagnose the type and stage (whether the cancer has spread or still completely inside the ovaries). 
Furthermore, it is not always possible to clearly find and diagnose the type of ovarian cancer until after patient has had surgery. Surgeon will take a sample tissue during surgery, which then can be closely analyzed in the lab.
The following are some common tests and procedures to determine the type of stage of ovarian cancer:
X-ray and ultrasound scan
To find whether or not the cells of cancer have spread to the lungs or whether there is a pleural effusion (a fluid build-up around the lung), you may be asked to take a chest X-ray test. 
And your specialist may also recommend an ultrasound scan /CT-scan to get to know whether there is any sign of cancer cells elsewhere in the abdomen /tummy. Even sometimes a patient may also be asked to take a MRI test, but it is often unnecessary.
Image guided biopsy
This test is used to take a sample tissue of the body that as close as possible represents the spread of ovarian cancer (it can be a sample tissue from inside the abdomen, ovaries, or other different places). 
Image guided biopsy usually also involve a scan test (like ultrasound scan or CT-scan test) for the guide of specialist to put the needle. Patients may get some different needle puncture sites to take some different samples of tissue from different places of the body. 
But sometimes image guided biopsy is not suitable in some women. For instance, a patient who has unreachable tumor with image guided biopsy – therefore she may need to take a laparoscopy test!
A small camera inserted into the inside body (laparoscopy test)
Laparoscopy is a helpful option to closely examine the cells of ovarian cancer without needing a big surgery, because the specialists can use a small camera to visually check inside the body of patient. 
In this procedure, doctors usually will make a small cut in the abdomen then the flexible tube that has a small camera will be inserted through the abdominal cavity. Furthermore with keyhole surgery, it is also possible for doctors to take a sample tissue of affected ovaries which then will be closely examined in the lab.
Taking abdominal fluid
For patients who also complain about swollen abdomen /tummy, it can be a sign that cancer cells may have spread. However, swollen tummy also can be caused by other noncancerous conditions.
The swollen tummy in patients with ovarian cancer is often associated with fluid build-up in the tummy (or often called as ‘ascites’). To find a clearly diagnosis, the specialist usually will take a sample of abdominal fluid which then will be closely analyzed in the lab.
** Additionally, you will not take all tests mentioned here! Because the tests that you will take are usually closely dependent on the symptoms that you have, the tests that you have had so far, etc! 
And below are helpful tips about some important questions that you should ask to your doctor before taking any test:

1. What the tests /procedures are you going to do?!
2. What is the goal of each test?!
3. Will the procedures that you need to take be effective to diagnose ovarian cancer?
4. Will you know the answer about a kind of the treatment you need to take after these tests?
5. How about with side effects of each test? Are these tests painful or not?
6. Can you be an out-patient? Or should you stay at hospital during the test - if so, how long?!
7. Can you bring your family /someone when you have these tests? 
8. How long to get the result of the test?
9. And who will you ask about your test result, who will give you the test results?

Ovarian cancer treatment options
Surgery is one of the most common choices for almost all patients with ovarian cancer. The type and stage of the disease are significantly factors that influence the amount & type of surgery or other appropriately treatments that you will need to take! Read also the previous post about stages of ovarian cancer!
Other factors that usually can affect the decision of the treatment that you have are your overall health and the grade of cancer cells (a variable to analyze about the progress of cancer cells to grow and spread).
Chemotherapy is another common choice to treat the disease. It is often used and prescribed after surgery. But for patients with low grade stage I (at very early stage), they may not require further treatment after surgery – though some of them may also still need to take radiotherapy treatment.
The following are general information about options of the treatment for ovarian cancer:
Treatment options for very early stage
If the tumor is still categorized into a borderline tumor or low grade (which usually occur at very early stage), patient usually needs to take a surgery that only removes the affected ovary! 
Fortunately, borderline tumors are easier to be treated and they are also unlikely to come back (this is very beneficial for patients who still have a plan for pregnancy, because the unaffected ovary is very possible to be left behind).
But for women with menopause or have had menopause or women who don’t have a plan to get pregnant, doctors may recommend to remove both ovaries (including for the unaffected ovary) in order to significantly reduce the risk of developing recurrence cancer in the ovaries.
Options of treatment for ovarian cancer at early stage
To completely eliminate the risk of cancer cells being left behind, both ovaries and womb of patients with stage I ovarian cancer should be removed during surgery – according to a guideline from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Your doctor may also recommend omentum removal (this procedure is also called as ‘omentectomy’ to remove a sheet of fatty tissue in the abdomen). Because there is a chance for ovarian cancer cells to also spread into the omentum!
Sometimes, the specialists may also need to remove some biopsies from different areas of the body (such as sheet of diaphragm, certain tissues in the pelvis & abdomen, and lymph nodes in the abdomen & pelvis) where the cancer cells could have spread.
And after surgery, doctors may also prescribe chemotherapy in order to kill any remaining cells of cancer and reduce the risk of the cancer cells to come back. This procedure is also often called ‘adjuvant chemotherapy’!
How about with the treatment options for later stages (stage II, III, and IV)?
In these stages, the cells of cancer have spread more widely, and therefore more treatment is needed. To completely cure the cancer, patients are also more likely to get more than one surgery - depending on the general health of patient, whether the cells of cancer have spread to another organ (how far they have spread), and how fast the cancer cells are growing! 
Stage II
For this stage, the treatment options usually involve:

1. Removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus.
2. Partial removal (resection) of tumor in the area of pelvic.
3. And partial removal of any other structures that are affected by the cancer.

Adjuvant chemotherapy procedure is also usually used after surgery. But taking chemotherapy before surgery may be recommended if surgeon believe that the chance of removing all cancer is good. This procedure is called neoadjuvant option, which usually more purposed to shrink the cells of cancer so thus they will be easier to remove. 
Stage III
In general, the treatment options for this stage is still almost similar to the stage II treatment, but with more aggressively chemotherapy and doctors may also consider some experimental treatments to find a better result.
Some patients may also be advised to take a direct abdominal treatment (a kind of treatment option that is referred to as ‘peritoneal therapy’). This procedure is more difficult, but may provide a better result to improve survival.
Stage IV
It is the most advanced stage, and therefore it is more difficult to be treated. Moreover, patients with this stage are more likely to be not well enough to take a big operation. Multi-agent chemotherapy may be prescribed to shrink cancer cells as much as possible - this option is also purposed to slow they down!
Furthermore, doctors may also consider taking some clinical trials (such as the use of biological therapies with chemotherapy) to find a better result. Patients may also be asked to take appropriately radiotherapy to ease /relieve the symptoms that occur – depending on where in the parts of the body the cancer cells have spread.
*** Consult more with a doctor for more detailed information!

Best Foods that Help Fight and Prevent Cancer

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Cancer is one of the most popular serious diseases in this modern living. Therefore when people talking about it, they are often looking for the most effective ways on how to prevent the disease! And many people believe that there are certain foods that can help reduce their risk of developing cancer. However in fact there is no single food that can prevent cancer, but many experts believe that the appropriately combination of foods or dietary changes may give a significant difference to lower the risk!

You might also like read the previous posts about how you can get stomach cancer and best foods to lower cholesterol, before continuing!

Garlic, broccoli (cruciferous vegetable), and berries are some foods that have more essential properties for cancer-fighting -- according to several studies conducted by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund. What else you need to know?

Berries

This fruit is high in fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C. And as well we know that antioxidants are often associated with the essential property to lower the risk of cells in the body from damage linked to cancer. Berries are also believed can boost the body’s immune system.

Foods high in fiber may be helpful to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer, while foods containing vitamin C may decrease your risk of cancer in the esophagus -- according to a report of AICR.

All types of berries (especially such as raspberries and strawberries) have a lot of ellagic acid (a kind of phytochemical) which also believed helpful to reduce the risk of certain cancers (such as cancers of breast, lung, bladder, skin, and esophagus).

Even some studies found that ellagic acids may have essential properties to fight cancer with some different ways at once. They may be helpful for your body to slow the reproductions of cells of cancer, they can act as a powerful antioxidant, and they also may give a significant contribution to deactivate certain carcinogens.

Furthermore, another polyphenol property that can be found in the berries is anthocyanins. It is also believed can reduce and also repair damaged cells of the body.

Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli)

There are some cruciferous vegetables (such as Brussels sprouts, rapini, cauliflower, etc) but broccoli is usually the most known type. Broccoli is not only a good source of fiber but also high in magnesium, beta-carotene, vitamin C, folate and vitamin K.

For each 148 grams of broccoli also contain about 40 calories, that’s why it is also recommended in many weight loss methods. You may also be interested to know more about easy ways to lose weight!

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables also contain some polyphenols, such as quercetin and hydroxycinnamic acids. These vegetables may help protect the body from breast cancer, stomach cancer, and cancers of esophageal, mouth, larynx, pharynx, & skin.

Garlic

Garlic is still categorized into the family of vegetables what we call as ‘Allium’. Garlic and other Allium vegetables (such as chives, leeks, scallions, and onions) are believed can be powerful to prevent stomach cancer – according to an AICR’s report. In this report, eating garlic may also be helpful to lower the risk of developing cancer in the colorectal.

Organosulfur, quercetin, and alixin are some essential properties in the garlic and Allium vegetables which now being studied for cancer-fighting effects. In some studies, essential compounds in the garlic have shown the effectiveness and ability to slow or event stop the progress of tumors in stomach tissue, bladder, colon, and prostate.

Furthermore, garlic also contain essential compound what we call as ‘diallyl disulfide’ which may be effective to kill leukemia cells and to prevent cancers of lung, skin, and colon. Read also the previous post about how do you know if you have colon cancer?!

And in several studies with animal for the subject, some essential compounds in the Allium vegetables have shown the ability to slow the development of lung, colon, esophagus, and breast cancer in several stages.

That’s why many AICR experts agree that garlic is good choice as part of well-balanced pointedly plant-based diet.

Tomatoes

Some studies found that eating tomatoes is linked to lower risk of developing cancers of prostate, skin, breast, lung, mouth, and skin. Unfortunately there is still no clearly answer for the compounds of tomatoes for cancer-fighting.

But experts believe that lycopene (a kind of pigment that gives the red color in tomatoes) may have a significant contribution of tomatoes against cancer. Lycopene also can help protect the cells of body from damage and kill cells that grow abnormally.

Vitamin C is another antioxidant in the tomatoes, which can be helpful to prevent cellular damage that will cause cancer.

The way on how you eat tomatoes is also believed will affect the effectiveness of tomatoes for cancer-fighting. Processed products of tomatoes (such as paste, sauce, or juice) are better to release more lycopene and allow your body to easily absorb this essential compound.

Furthermore according to some recent studies, the body should also get some oil along with lycopene for better absorption of this essential compound. Ask a dietitian for in-depth information!

Tea

It’s undeniable that tea is one of good sources for antioxidants, particularly a special compound called as ‘catechins’ which may be effective to reduce the size of cancer cells and stop the growth of cancer cells.

Although the effectiveness of tea (especially green tea) for cancer-fighting is still debatable, but some studies have shown that green tea is associated with the lower risk of developing cancers of prostate, breast, liver, lung, and colon. Even some longer term research found that tea may also be effective to decrease the risk of pancreatic, stomach, and bladder cancer!

However, remember that tea also contain caffeine. Therefore, it’s also important to consume it in moderation. Read also about how much caffeine in green tea?!

Soy products

Soy is one of good sources for different types of phytoestrogens which can help protect the body from the risk of prostate & breast cancer by restricting cancerous changes – according to the Cancer Cure Foundation.

Soy has a lot of isoflavones, but some studies have found that genistein may be the most powerful compound for cancer-fighting. However, women who are at high risk of breast cancer (having many risk factors of breast cancer) should eat soy products in moderation, because excessive consumption of isoflavones from soy products may stimulate cells of cancer to grow!

-- You may also like to know more about soy allergy symptoms!

Legumes

Legumes (such as lentils, beans, and peas) are another choice of a big nutritional punch. They are believed may decrease the risk of stomach and colon cancer.

There are many fruits and vegetables that contain phytochemicals, but some experts believe that legumes have uniquely phytochemicals (such as phytica acid, saponins, and protease inhibitors) which may be more powerful to prevent the risk of developing abnormal cells in the body.

Moreover, legumes are also good source for fiber. And as well we know that many experts recommend high fiber foods for cancer-fighting.

Get more protection from an exotic spice!

One of the main ingredients for Indian spice turmeric is curcumin. And did you know that it is also a potential cancer fighter?! Some research found that curcumin can be effective to suppress and restrict the invasion of cells of cancer for a wide array of cancer.

Dark green leafy vegetables

We can get fiber, carotenoids and folate in these emerald-hued veggies. Either carotenoids or folate can give important contribution to lower your risk of cancer.

Folate is essential compound that can be powerful to protect your DNA so thus the change of healthy cells to be abnormal cells decreases, while carotenoids is a kind of antioxidant that can help control the cells of the body to grow.

Therefore many experts believe that eating dark green leafy vegetables (such as chard, chicory, lettuce, kale, spinach, and mustard greens) is associated with lower risk of having abnormal cells in the larynx, mouth, skin, pharynx, stomach, lung, and breast.

Whole grains

According to a research from the University of Minnesota, individuals who have their fill of whole grains are at 43-21 percent lower risk of cancer than others who consume little to none. This suggests that whole grains can be one of good choices for cancer-fighting.

And in fact, whole grains are different with refined grains, because whole grains also contain antioxidants, fiber and other essential nutrients.

Even some experts believe that fiber of whole grains can create helpful substances when fermented in the colon which then eventually will protect the healthy cells from cancer-causing agents. Whole grains may be effective and helpful to prevent cancers of stomach, cancer, and breast.

Other tips

The following are other pieces of helpful information on how to prevent cancer:

Getting more varied with fruits and vegetables

However as mentioned before, there is no single food that will be powerful enough to prevent cancer! In other words - don’t only focus to only a specific food, always stay on a balanced-diet! Remember that each healthy food has uniquely properties that can give a contribution to keep you healthy.

It’s undeniable that vegetables & fruits are high in cancer-fighting nutrients. And the more color, the more essential nutrients that you will get. So, it is so recommended to get more varied with vegetables and fruits in the diet.

Cut down on meat!

Some studies found that vegetarian has lower risk of developing cancer than others who consume meat. This suggests that excessive consumption of meat may put you at higher risk. Being vegetarian is not easy for everyone, but you can cut down on meat!

You should know that meat lacks fiber. It also lacks other essential nutrients for cancer-fighting! And in fact, most of meat contains saturated fat that can be dangerous for your health. Even meat is also able to create carcinogenic compounds – depending in how it is cooked /prepared!

There is nothing wrong with meat, but it’s much better to consume it moderation along with a balanced-diet.

Consider the cooking methods!

Experts also believe that the way on how you to prepare /cook meat will affect how big a cancer risk rate it poses! Broiling, grilling, and frying meats at over heat (very high temperatures) will cause unfriendly compounds of chemicals to form which then may increase the risk of developing cancer.

But steaming, braising, and stewing are some better choices of cooking methods that can restrict those chemicals to form. For better result, don’t forget also to add plenty of protective and healthy vegetables when we do stew the meat.

Get a plenty of fluids or water!

Being hydrated is not only important for overall health, but some experts also believe that drinking more liquid may be effective to lower the risk of bladder cancer. This theory is based on water diluting concentrations of potential cancer-triggering agents in the bladder.

Drinking less water will cause you to urinate less frequently, and this will increase the amount of time for those agents to stay longer in contacting the lining of bladder.

On the other hand, drinking adequate water every day will maintain the normal cycle of your urination. More frequently urination will decrease the amount of time for those cancer-causing agents keep in contact in the lining of bladder, which then may be effective to significantly decrease the risk of developing bladder cancer.
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption!
Many studies have shown that excessive drinking alcohol is linked to some health problems, including linked to different types of cancer (particularly such as cancers of breast, liver, rectum, colon, throat, mouth, esophagus, and larynx).
Though one drink of alcohol for women and two drinks for men a day are safe according to the American Cancer Society, but to keep safe it’s much better to more strictly limit alcohol!

Common Cancer Symptoms Often Ignored by Women

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(Image credit © to ‘Getty’)

Some studies have shown that women are more likely vigilant than men about taking cancer screenings and healthy check-ups. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that all women always care to their health, particularly younger women. In fact, there are still many young women who tend to ignore signs that may point to a cancer.
Furthermore, there is an opinion that cancer only occurs in elderly people. ‘Yes’ many different types of cancer may be more common in elderly, but sometimes these diseases can strike younger than you think! You might also like to read the previous post about best foods to prevent cancer, before continuing!
One thing you should clearly understand that it’s very important to find or diagnose a cancer at most early stage. Because an earlier stage of cancer is much easier to be treated than others that are diagnosed at later stages!

The following are some facts of cancer symptoms and signs that are often ignored by women.
Pain in the lower right side and pain in the back
Sometimes a breast cancer is diagnosed through back pain -- particularly when cells of cancer have spread to the ribs /spine of patient, or when a tumor in the breast presses backward into the patient’s chest.  
Pain in the back may also be an early sign of liver cancer. Moreover, people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer also often recall having had this symptom (chronic back pain) that unrelieved by painkillers.
In addition, you are more likely to have various pains and aches as you age, but pain - as vague as it may be, sometimes also can be early sign of certain cancers. When you have pain, and if it persists and occurs without any clearly reason, you should start to ask yourself whether there is something wrong in the body. To keep safe and to find a clearly diagnosis, see a doctor promptly if you in doubt to your condition!
Pain in the abdominal and pelvic
Pains in the pelvic and abdomen can be caused by a lot of things! But in fact, they are also one of common early symptoms for some serious health conditions, like ovarian cysts, fibroid, and even ovarian cancer & leukemia. Therefore, you should not ignore these signs, particularly if they persist over time.
In addition, women who have abdomen pain and followed with depression also should be closely evaluated. A study has shown that there is a link between pancreatic cancer and depression, though this link is still a poorly understood -- more studies are required!
A very prolonged cough!
Coughs are usually expected with some mild health problems, particularly like allergies, flu, colds, or even you may also have cold after taking a certain medication. 
But when you have a persistent cough or if it last longer (more than 3-4 weeks), this may signal a serious health condition such as cancer. And for this case it should not be ignored, particularly if you are also a smoker -- ask doctor to closely examine the lung, throat, and your overall health! Read also smoking side effects for women!
In addition, patients with lung cancer may also experience chest pain. This chest pain may also extend from shoulder to arm. Furthermore, chest pain also can be a warning sign of a heart attack, especially for men.
Wrong perception in wheezing
Many women think that wheezing is expected with asthma. There is nothing wrong with this opinion, but did you know that wheezing or shortness of breath may also point to a lung cancer, particularly if you never have it before?! However, any difficulties associated with breathing should not be ignored!
Dry scaly patches /small waxy lumps on the skin
There are some common symptoms of skin cancer, but in fact early signs like small waxy lumps and even dry scaly patches are often ignored. See a doctor promptly if these signs don’t heal, easily to bleed, or become crusty to find a clearly diagnosis! 
To keep safe, it’s much better to be vigilant about checking & examining skin all over your body to make sure that there is nothing wrong. Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with more information about different types of skin cancer. 
Fever without known reason!
It is another vague sign that also could point to a cancer or other serious health problems, particularly for fever that is not caused /explained by common infection such as influenza. Did you know that fever is also one of pretty common cancer signs, especially when the cells of cancer have spread from their original site.
According to ACS (the American Cancer Society) -- unexplained fever or fever with unknown reason may point to lymphoma or other early blood cancers. Sometimes fever of cancer symptom may also be followed with changes of the stool (particularly a change for the color of the stool).
Something wrong with your weight loss!
Having healthy weight /ideal weight is helpful for overall health of your body. But experiencing weight loss (or even drastically weight loss such as ten pounds a month) and at the same time you don’t have any change to your exercise (the amount of physical activity a day doesn’t increase) and to your diet, this may be a sign that there is something wrong!
In many cases, unexplained weight loss can be one of early symptoms for cancers that affect digestive system (like colon cancer). This also may point to a condition when cells of cancer have spread to the liver which then usually will cause loss of appetite and other problems.
In addition, sometimes unexplained weight loss also can point to an overactive thyroid.
Having indigestion!
Everyone can experience indigestion, a pregnant woman for instance. But when you have unexplained indigestion, this may signal a red flag. It may be an early sign of certain cancers, such as cancers of throat, esophagus, or stomach. 
What else you need to know?

1. About upset stomach! It may be often associated with stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer, but did you know that frequent upset stomach may also point to a colorectal cancer?!
2. Unable to eat /loss of appetite /feeling full quickly! This is also another vague sign that may point to an ovarian cancer, particularly if it lasts over time and also followed with pelvic pain. 
3. Mouth changes, such as white spots on your tongue and white patches inside the mouth! These are more likely to occur in smokers. They may signal a leukoplakia (precancerous condition) which then can lead to an oral cancer – according to ACS. 
4. Problems associated with swallowing /difficulty swallowing! There are some health conditions that can cause difficulty swallowing, and throat cancer is one of them. Moreover, sometimes difficulty swallowing may also be an early sign of lung cancer.
5. Bloating! This is very common, and anyone can have it. But sometimes it may also point to an ovarian cancer, particularly if it persists more than a few weeks, occurs almost every day, and also followed with other common symptoms of ovarian cancer such as pelvic pain, abdominal pain, and feeling full quickly.

Abnormal bleeding
There are some conditions of abnormal bleeding that may point to a cancer.
Abnormal bleeding associated with leukemia
You should ask to yourself whether there is something wrong with the plateletsand red blood cells in your body if you often experience bleeding that doesn’t stop or have excessive bruising. Because sometimes these signs may point to leukemia!
Leukemia cells can affect the ability of platelets and red blood cells to carry clot and oxygen. Therefore, women with leukemia usually experience excessive bruising in certain strange places (such as on hands and fingers). Another symptom that may occur is bleeding gums.
Blood in the stool and cough with blood
Coughing up blood must not be ignored, particularly if it occurs more than once! Cough with blood can be caused by some health conditions, including the possibility of a cancer.
Another bleeding in wrong place that must be concerned is blood in the stool. It can be a sign of mild health problems, but it also can signal a certain cancer (particularly such as colon cancer). See a doctor immediately if you experience this symptom to keep safe and find a clearly diagnosis!
Bleeding between your menstrual periods!
Between periods, women of childbearing age should not have any bleeding expected with menstrual cycles. This abnormal bleeding is easier to be noticed in women with regular periods. But unfortunately in fact, there are many young women who often ignore the sign of bleeding between periods. 
Bleeding between periods (particularly if beforehand you never spots between your periods) should be closely examined to make sure there is nothing wrong in your body. This abnormal bleeding may point to endometrial cancer. Read also diseases associated with irregular period spotting!
Furthermore, bleeding after menopause also should be concerned. The natural menstrual periods of women will naturally stop after menopause, therefore bleeding after menopause can be categorized into abnormal bleeding. See also the previous post about post-menopausal bleeding!
Breast /nipple changes
Most women completely know the condition of their breasts, even without doing regularly self-exams. But there are also vague signs that often ignored, such as thickening of the skin and redness on the skin of the breasts. If these symptoms persist over weeks, they should be closely examined!
Nipple changes also should be concerned, particularly if these occur when you are not pregnant or without known reason. A nipple that begins to appear inverted, flattened, or even turned sideways may point to a breast cancer. Sometimes scaly, itchy, or crusty skin on the nipple also may occur due to the inflammatory breast cancer. 
You might also like to know more about best foods to prevent breast cancer!
Nail changes
Sometimes changes in nails also may point to some different kinds of cancer, particularly if these occur with unknown reason. 
Pale nails can signal something wrong with the liver, which may be an early symptom of liver cancer. And abnormal changes in nails, particularly when they curve down over the tips with the enlarged ends of fingers may also point to a lung cancer.
Fatigue /weakness
In general, weakness and fatigue can be caused by a lot of factors. If there is a clearly reason of your weakness (such as being pregnant, having lack of sleep, etc) then you may not need to worry a lot. 
But for unexplained fatigue /weakness, this can be a sign of many different types of cancer or other serious health conditions, particularly if you experience unexplained fatigue that also followed with other serious symptoms.
According to the American Cancer Society -- unexplained weakness is one of early signs of stomach cancer, colon cancer, or leukemia.
Lymph node changes
A swelling /lump in the lymph nodes (like in the neck or under the armpit or grain, or anywhere else) should not be ignored, because this could be worrisome and even may signal a serious problem. 
In general, enlargement of lymph nodes is one of indications of changes in the lymphatic system, which may lead to cancer. A lump or painless lump underarm /grain or lump on the neck may point to early stage of leukemia. Sometimes lump under the arm may also be an early sign of a breast cancer.
If you notice any swellings or lumps and if they persist more than a month and also get progressively larger, see a doctor promptly for a clearly diagnosis and more advice!

What are the Symptoms of Liver Cancer?

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As the name implies, liver cancer or ‘hepatocellular carcinoma’ is a kind of cancer than begins and occurs in the liver. And when people are talking about this disease, ‘what are the symptoms of the disease’ is one of the most frequently asked questions. Unfortunately the signs, particularly for the early signs of the disease are very vague. In other words, there is almost no unique or specific symptom that can tell you when you have liver cancer at early stage – many symptoms that occur may also be caused by other health problems.

Before continuing, you might also like to know more about best foods to prevent cancer and cancer symptoms often ignored by women!

A liver cancer at early stage is much easier to be treated and better in prognosis than others that are diagnosed at later stages. Therefore, it’s important to find and diagnose the disease as earlier as possible. What else you need to know?

The crucial functions of liver for your body

The cells of cancer in the liver are also able to spread into the bloodstream, why?

As well we know that liver is important for the body to convert nutrients absorbed from your digestive tract to be ready-to-use properties by continuously filtering blood that revolves /circulates through your body. Therefore, we can say that all blood will pass through liver, and that’s why of there is a chance for cancer in the liver to travel and spread into the bloodstream.

Furthermore, liver also perform other crucial functions for the body, such as; for removing unfriendly chemical waste products and toxins from the blood and preparing them for excretion, helping to maintain blood clotting, digesting fats & proteins, etc! 
What is definition of liver cancer?

First, you need to clearly understand that not all cells of cancer that affect or attack liver are considered liver cancer (primary type).

For instance, cancer that starts from other organs (like in the lung, colon, etc) which then spreads to the liver is often called as metastatic cancer (secondary liver cancer). This kind of cancer is usually named from the organ /part of the body in which it began (like metastatic lung cancer is used to describe a cancer that begins in the lung and then spread to other parts of the body).

Liver consists of some different kinds of cells – but most of these cells (about 80 percent of the liver tissue) are hepatocytes. Therefore as mentioned before, a cancer that arising from the liver itself (primary type) is also called as hepatocellular carcinoma! Fat-storing cells, bile ducts, and blood vessels are other types of cells and components that can be found in the liver.

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In addition, there are some different types of tumors that can occur /form in the liver, this is reasonable because once again the liver itself is made up of many different kinds of cells. Generally these tumors can be divided into two major groups; noncancerous (familiar called ‘benign’), and cancerous (‘malignant’) which can spread to other organs of the body.
In many cases, benign is relatively easier to be treated than malignant or cancerous tumor. Therefore, the successful rate of the treatment and prognosis of patient is also influenced by the type of tumor.

Liver cancer statistics

In fact, this kind of cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and even it is the 3rd common cause of cancer-related mortality. Read also liver cancer stages and prognosis!

Although it is less common in the U.S and UK, but the rates of diagnosis of this disease are increasing in both countries – according to an article published on WebMD and NHS.

In many countries, secondary type is more common than primary type. And for primary type, it affects about twice as many men as women in the U.S -- with elderly (at average age of 67) is at the most high risk.

And in the UK, about 2,750 new cases of people diagnosed with the disease are reported each year – with about 40 percent of these cases affect women and 60 percent affect men. Though it is a rare but it is a kind of serious cancer that can be potentially life-threatening.

The disease is relatively more common in the following countries:

1. China
2. Mongolia
3. Countries of South East Asia
4. Countries of central and western Africa

How do you get liver cancer?

The cancer occurs when the normal & healthy cells in the liver develop mutations /changes in their DNA (a crucial material of the body that provides crucial instructions for each chemical process). See also treatment options for liver cancer!

DNA mutations then will lead to changes / alterations in these instructions. As a result, there is a change to result abnormal cells that grow out of control which then will create a tumor (a mass of abnormal cells).

What are causes of liver cancer? Unfortunately, the exact cause of the disease is not known. But some factors that increase the risk of the disease are known. Generally, your risk increases as you age (about 70 percent of all liver cancer cases affects individuals who are over the age of 65).

Other factors or conditions that put you at higher risk of developing liver cancer may include:

1. Being overweight. Having unhealthy body mass index will increase your risk!
2. Excessively exposure to certain unfriendly substance, particularly such as aflatoxins. In fact, many foods contaminated with aflatoxins are relative easier to be found in many countries where liver cancer is also more common.  
3. Having a family history of certain liver disease, such as Wilson’s disease and hemochromatosis.
4. Having a health condition (such as cirrhosis) that can lead to scar tissue in the liver. 
5. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease also can increase the risk of liver cancer, because an accumulation of fat that accumulates in the liver will increase the chance of cancer cells to form in the liver.
6. Some studies found that individual with blood sugar problem (such as diabetes) are higher risk of liver cancer than others who do not have any blood sugar disorder.
7. Excessively consumptions of alcohol. Consuming too much alcohol in long term can cause an irreversible damage in the liver.
8. Having a chronic HCV (hepatitis C virus) or HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection also can increase the risk! According to a NHS report, hepatitis B infection is pretty common in certain countries of Asia and Africa where people diagnosed with liver cancer are also common.

Liver cancer symptoms in women and men
In many cases, the disease usually doesn't cause any initial symptom. But if the symptoms do occur at early stage, as mentioned before many of them are very vague (such as night sweats, fever, fatigue, or chills).

The common signs and symptoms of liver cancer that may occur include:
Changes in skin, eyes, urine and stools!
Cancer cells in the liver can spread and affects other parts of the body, including the bile duct. And this can significantly affect the performance of the bile duct to drain away from the liver, which then will lead to the bile’s yellow pigment to be excreted through the patient’s kidney.
If this problem occurs, patient may get changes in urine (color of urine is dark) and experience pale colored stools (white –chalky stools). Furthermore, another symptom what we call ‘jaundice’ may also occur due to the excessively accumulation of the bile in bloodstream. Jaundice is usually characterized by changes in eyes (whites of the eyes) and skin (a yellowing of the skin).
These signs are also vague. Having these symptoms doesn't mean that you definitely have liver cancer, because they also can be caused by other kinds of infection. However, if you experience any of these signs, see a doctor promptly to keep safe and to find a clearly diagnosis!
A swollen abdomen (tummy)
Patients with liver cancer may also experience a swollen tummy. And there are two major reasons to answer the cause of this symptom. First, the growth of cancerous tumor itself that get bigger in size which then result more pressure and swelling over the right side of tummy /abdomen.
And the second reason is due to ascites (a build-up of fluid in the abdomen) – this is caused by the congested liver. The liver that is congested can squeeze and affect the blood that flows to the liver, which then will create more pressure to the veins and then eventually cause the fluid to leak from these veins into the tummy. 
Furthermore, the fluid that leaks from veins into the abdomen may also occur if the liver is no longer to produce blood proteins as it should. Sometimes the veins may also get larger in size and even you may be able to notice these dilation veins underneath the surface of your skin.
Unexplained weight loss
Patients usually also experience a drastically weight loss as more than ten percent of their body weight! This sign may also be followed with loss of appetite.
Having a significantly weight loss with clearly reasons (such as taking a weight loss diet and doing weight loss exercises) is normal. But if you get it without known reason, you should ask to yourself whether there is something wrong with your body!
Other signs
Other symptoms and signs that may also occur include:

1. A high fever (100.4 degree Fahrenheit /38 degree Celsius -- or higher) that may also be followed with sweating.
2. General fatigue and weakness.
3. Nausea and vomiting.
4. Itching that may occur all over the body.
5. Patient may also experience bloated or feeling full quickly after eating, even with a small meal.
6. General sudden worsening of health.

In addition, the symptoms and signs that occur usually also associated with the stages of the disease. Liver cancer at later stages is more likely to generate more noticeable symptoms than when it still at early stages.
*** If you in doubt to any symptom that you experience, don’t take a conclusion on your own. Consult more with a doctor for in-depth information and clearly diagnosis!

Nutrition for Early Pregnancy (First Trimester) – More FAQs!

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If you have a pregnancy for the first time in your life, you may have a lot of questions! Nutrition is one of the most frequently asked questions. But in general, you don’t need to pack in excessively extra calories in the first trimester of your early pregnancy. In other words, you may need additional calories but how much you should go? Then what are best foods you should eat? And what are foods you should avoid?

You might also like to know more about miscarriage of pregnancy, before continuing!

The first trimester is a crucial time of incredible growths for your new baby, but she /he is still very small. That’s why once again you don’t need to drastically increase the calories of food that you eat, because she or he still doesn’t need a lot of extra oomph. But it’s important to stay close on a balanced-diet with high quality of healthy foods.

Major checklists for your first trimester

In the first 1-2 months of your early pregnancy, there is still no significant sign of the shape of your body (particularly abdomen) that indicates you are being pregnant. In other words, your baby bump won’t develop until later on – but there are some changes to allow your new baby get enough food (nutrient) and O2 (oxygen).

The creation of placenta is another crucial point in the first trimester. Placenta is responsible for all O2 and nutrition going to fetus /baby. It also has crucial function to handle wasted products coming out. To support all of these mechanisms, you need adequate iron and other essential minerals. Furthermore, your blood volume also will increase in order to help distribute /transport everything.

The growth of your baby comes from being a single cell to a very small (tiny) human complete with some crucial organs (such as feet, hands, lungs, brain, and a pumping heart). In essence, the baby requires plenty of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other essential nutrients to complete all that amazing growth.

Nutrition for the first trimester of your early pregnancy

Did you know that the cellular structure of brain, blood, body, bones, or other organs of your baby are being formed in the 12 weeks after you conceive? And these processes will go continuously throughout pregnancy, which means once again the baby needs a continual flow of a wide variety of good nutrition in order to make each system & organ grow strong.

The following are some crucial properties you should concern for your pregnancy:

1. Iron! It is an essential mineral to build hemoglobin (a kind of molecule that can be found in the cells of blood – it has crucial function to carry O2).
2. Folic acid! It is important for the development of spinal cord and brain of baby. It also can eliminate the risk of neutral tube defects. Since this property is very crucial, doctors often prescribe folic acid supplement and prenatal vitamin for pregnant women in order to make sure they will get plenty of folic acid and other essential vitamins.
3. Vitamins! A pregnant woman should get plenty of vitamins (such as vitamin A, C, D, B-complex, etc). These vitamins can help provide a lot of health advantages. For instances, vitamin C is useful to create collagen and prevent infection. Vitamin D is useful to promote a strong bone, and B-complex is used to protect a pregnant woman against birth defects.
4. DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)! As well we know that DHA is so crucial for eye and brain development. Fish is good source of omega-3 fatty acid – but not all kinds of fish are good for pregnancy. Some types of fish are high in mercury which can be harmful for you and your baby. Fortified eggs and salmon are more recommended for your safer DHA. Your doctor may also recommend a DHA supplement if necessary.
5. Calcium (Ca)! It plays a key role for the development of baby’s bones. If you don’t get plenty of calcium from your diet, your body can take Ca from your bones to provide plenty of calcium for your pregnancy but this can put you at higher risk of osteoporosis.
6. Protein! You should completely understand that the protein is the basic structural of every cell for your baby’s growth. In other words, lack of protein in your pregnancy can restrict the fetal growth. A research in the New England Journal of Medicine found that insufficient protein during pregnancy can increase the newborn’s risk of having high blood pressure (hypertension) later in life.
7. Etc – consult more with a doctor or dietitian for in-depth information.

Make sure to get plenty of fluid every day!

In general, 10 cups of fluid /day are the common requirement for pregnant women. The water is the most of your liquid, but don’t forget also to consider other healthy fluid sources such as from juice and milk.

To get the better result, choose fat-free milk instead of fat milk. Moreover, there are also a lot of products of milk that specially produced for pregnant women.

And for juice, don’t forget to consume it in moderation. Juices also contain calories, which means they can increase your chance of unwanted excessively weight gain if you consume them too much.

Weight gain of pregnancy -- how much it should be!?

It’s normal to experience weight gain when you are being pregnant, but the big question is how far it should go?

Women who start their pregnancy at an underweight may need to gain more than other women with normal weight. For those with normal weight, they can expect 25 – 35 pounds of weight gain – according to an article published on WebMD. And for twins-pregnancy, the weight gain can be more (about 34 – 45 pounds).

For women who start their pregnancy at overweight, they are usually recommended to go for fewer pounds of weight gain. Furthermore, overweight moms are more likely to have heavier newborns that are usually more difficult to deliver.

However, overweight women should not do weight loss diet during pregnancy because it may cause lack of nutrient for them and their baby. For more detailed information about an appropriately pregnancy eating plan for overweight moms, consult more with a doctor and dietitian!

How much calories you should go during pregnancy?

You may experience a significantly weight gain in the first few months of your pregnancy. However, the most important thing you need to remember is ‘pregnancy should not be your reason to overeat’! You should be more focus to the extra calories with high in nutrition.

In general, most of pregnant women usually require an additional 300 calories /day. This may sound like a lot, but it is actually equivalent to the calories of about 2-3 large apples.

Moreover, there are also some pregnant women who experience weight loss in their first trimester. This may occur due to lack of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.

However it’s important to make sure that you have plenty of nutrients throughout your pregnancy. If you experience weight loss or if you cannot control your morning sickness, tell your doctor! Uncontrollable morning sickness can put you at high risk of dehydration. Morning sickness may last for the entire pregnancy, but it usually will stop after 13 weeks of pregnancy.

What are foods you should avoid during pregnancy?

Keep far away from these following foods:

Alcohol

If you love drinking alcohol, you may have opinion that one drink is not a big problem! But you should clearly understand that there is still no level of alcohol that have been confirmed will be safe during pregnancy.

Some studies found that miscarriage and stillbirth are more likely to occur in pregnant women who drink alcohol. Furthermore mental retardation, heart problems, facial deformities, and low birth weight are other problems that also more likely to occur for this case.

So, don’t take the risk if you seriously want to get a healthy pregnancy! Stay away from spirits, wine, and beer because they contain alcohol that can work against your healthy baby!

Caffeine

There is opinion that caffeine can flow through placenta which then will affect the heart rate of baby. Though it is still debatable, but some studies have confirmed that there is a link between excessively consumption of caffeine and increased risk of miscarriage.

Your doctor may still allow the consumption of caffeine, but you are usually also asked to not go more than 200 mg of caffeine /day. But to keep safe and for better result, it is much better to avoid caffeine during pregnancy. Read also the previous post about caffeine in green tea!

Unwashed vegetables & fruits – undercooked foods!

Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in a lot of nutrients and vitamins. However, you should not each unwashed fruits /vegetables – this is intended to prevent any unfriendly & harmful bacteria! Always remember that you now (when being pregnant) are at increased risk of bacterial food poisoning!

If you want to consume sprouts, make sure you cook them thoroughly! But for raw sprouts (such as mung bean, clover, alfalfa, and radish), they should be avoided during pregnancy!

Undercooked foods also must be avoided! So if you want to have eggs, poultry or even meat on your plate – make sure they have been cooked thoroughly!

Herbal tea

Most people have opinion that herbal tea is good for the health. This is true – but make sure to consult first with your healthcare provider if you want to consider any herbs (including herbal tea) for your pregnancy! In fact, there is still no research that confirms the effect of herbal tea on developing babies.

Too much vitamin A

Vitamin A is also essential property for pregnancy, but don’t consume it too much! You should know that excessively consumption of vitamin A may increase your risk of birth defects. If you in doubt with this issue, consult more with your doctor!

Unpasteurized foods

Unpasteurized foods (such as products of blue cheese, feta, camembert, brie, and Mexican-style cheeses that have no ‘pasteurized label’) must be avoided. Even unpasteurized juice also should be avoided. These foods can increase your risk of foodborne illness.

Harmful viruses /bacteria in seafood

Seafood is one of popular foods, and you may also like it! But before having it on your plate, make sure that it is free from harmful bacteria. The following are some helpful tips:

1. To avoid clams or oysters, don’t eat raw fish & shellfish!
2. Lox or refrigerated smoked seafood also should be avoided! Your doctor may still allow you to eat smoked seafood, but make sure it is an ingredient in cooked dish! 
3. If you want to eat local fish, get to know the local fish advisories! If there is water pollution in your local area, limit the amount of local fish or avoid them if necessary to keep safe!
4. And don’t forget to cook any seafood thoroughly!  

Avoid any seafood that contains mercury!

The high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and protein in seafood are top reasons of why we love eating seafood. But for a pregnant woman, mercury in seafood also can be very harmful.

The older and bigger fish are more likely to have more mercury. Therefore tilefish, shark, king mackerel and swordfish are forbidden foods for pregnant women – according to EPA (the the Environmental Protection Agency) and FDA (the Food and Drug Administration).

But there are also some fish and seafood that have lower mercury. These include tilapia, catfish, salmon, crab, cod, Pollock, and shrimp. Though these types of seafood contain less mercury, but you still need to limit your consumption of them during pregnancy.

According to EPA and FDA, eating about less than 340 grams (12 ounces) of safely seafood /week is allowed for pregnant women. However, this calculation is still debatable – there are also some experts who don’t agree with this suggestion. If you in doubt with this issue, ask your doctor for more advice!

Cramping While Pregnant in the First Trimester

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There are a lot of topics that we can explore when we are talking about pregnancy. And “Is it normal to experience cramp in the first trimester of pregnancy?”, -this is one of the most frequently asked questions, particularly if you are now being pregnant for the first time in your life. In general, cramping in the first trimester is normal, but how far it should be?

Before continuing, you might also like to read the previous post about best nutrition for the first trimester of pregnancy!

Cramping is not the single symptom that occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. You may also have a range of other physical symptoms. While most cramping is normal, but there are also some cramps that should be more concerned. Overall if you experience any symptom that causes concern, it should be reported to your doctor!

Causes of first trimester cramping

The changing shape of your uterus is usually the major cause of this symptom. In the early of your pregnancy, your uterus will change (expanding) in order to respond the growing fetus.

Therefore, there is chance for uterus to cramp moderately to severely as it stretches. Furthermore, your uterus is also your vital muscle that will be significantly important to delivery your newborn in the world.

The reasons and causes of this symptom can vary depending on continuation, length, and severity of cramping. Other causes /reasons for cramping during pregnancy may include:

1. The implementation of fetus /embryo into the wall of your uterine. After conception (about 8-10 days after conception), the uterine wall is essential to implement the fetus and hold it. This implementation may cause cramp, and usually also will be accompanied by mild bleeding (spotting). 
2. More pressure on other organs! As mentioned before the enlarging uterus is usually the most common cause. But in pregnancy, the enlargement of uterus is not the single reason. The uterus also needs to rearrange its position to do the new task for the growth of fetus. These changes can make more pressure on other organs (such as your bladder, stomach, and even your internal organs). Moreover, you abdomen is also enlarging to provide more space and room for the enlargement of your uterus.
3. Gastrointestinal problem! It is less common reason associated with cramping in the early of pregnancy. However, in fact most women with pregnancy are more susceptible to have gas problems as well as morning sickness (nausea & vomiting), heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation. These problems are usually caused by changes in their diets.

In addition, the gravity of the woman’s center also begins to shift in the first trimester. This occurs to respond the normally weight gain when you are being pregnant. 
And it can make the muscles and ligaments loosen throughout the body, which then may lead to discomfort and also pain. Sometimes this mechanism is also associated with back pain, leg & abdominal cramps as the body adapts to square up the new additional weight being added in line with the pregnancy.

Normal and abnormal cramping!

Once again, abdominal cramping and discomfort in your early pregnancy is one of the common symptoms. You may worry about the risk of miscarriage, but if it is only light cramping then you should not too worry.

Normal cramping usually begin shortly after conception – but it may also not occur until later in your pregnancy. Though it often makes you feel discomfort, but in general it can be a sign that your pregnancy is continuously progressing.

However, sometimes this symptom also can be a sign of certain problems associated with pregnancy, such as miscarriage or even ectopic pregnancy (it occurs when your fertilized egg implant in the wrong place (not on the uterus wall – but usually in the fallopian tubes)).

Heavier /severe cramping that is also followed with other unusual symptoms should be more concerned! Severe cramping with sharp lower stomach pain may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy. And when it occurs with heavy bleeding (bright light bleeding), this may be a sign of threatened miscarriage.

If you experience these symptoms, see your doctor promptly in order to find a clearly diagnosis and more advice for the best choice!

What you should do?

For normal cramping, proper nutrition and hydration is one of the best remedies to treat this symptom. Your doctor may also prescribe additional prenatal vitamin if necessary. Keegel exercise is usually suggested after birth, it is intended to restore the normal shape of the uterus and improve the muscles of uterus and abdomen.

To ease this symptom, you should also have adequate rest and sleep. Furthermore, relaxation technique may also help ease your cramping – this therapy is useful to ease the mind. Overall, you should stay on general healthy practices.

** Ask your doctor for more advice, especially if you doubt to your condition! If your doctor thinks that your cramping is abnormal, you may need to take several tests for clearly diagnosis.

Warning signs in pregnancy that you should not ignore!

In fact, pregnancy is the most challenging phase in a woman’s life. If you experience these following warning signs of pregnancy, report to your doctor promptly!

Complications associated with chronic diseases

You should beware to any unusual changes of your pregnancy if you have preexisting health conditions (particularly such as lupus, hypertension (high blood pressure), asthma, diabetes, or thyroid disease).

In other words, experiencing not well-controlled of these diseases during pregnancy can cause serious problem for you and your baby. For instance, having too low /too high of thyroid hormone or uncontrollable blood sugar during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage.

However, don’t let your preexisting medical conditions to become a factor that can increase the level of your stress. Remember that most women have healthy pregnancies, including you! You just only need to make sure that your preexisting health condition is under control. Discus more with your healthcare provider to get more advice!

Burning /pain when you pee

Having this symptom may signal that there is an infection in the urinary tract or bladder – and if left untreated then it may cause other serious problems for your pregnancy (such as pre-term birth and pre-term labor). Therefore, you need to report this symptom to your doctor for clearly diagnosis and to get the appropriately treatment!

Unusual fever (high fever)

If you experience a high fever (higher than 38 degrees Celsius /101 Fahrenheit), don’t ignore it! It may signal a serious problem, such as a sign of serious infection that can affect your baby.

Sometimes the fever may be followed with joint pain and rash – if these symptoms occur, you may experience infections of CMV (cytomegalovirus), parvovirus or other kinds of infection.

Unusual nausea & vomiting

It is normal to experience morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) while you are being pregnant, particularly in your first trimester. But for excessively nausea and vomiting, you should not ignore these problems!

Severe nausea and vomiting will put you at high risk of having dehydration, lack of nutrient, unwanted weight loss, etc. On other hand, it’s important for you to keep hydrated and have plenty of nutrients during pregnancy!

So, tell your doctor if you experience extreme nausea & vomiting – you may require hospitalization and other appropriately medications!

Severe headache /swelling on one-side calf or leg/ calf or leg pain!

These are rare in pregnancy, but there is a chance for a pregnant woman to experience blood clot in the calf – though this chance is very small.

A blood clot in your brain may cause severe headache, while a blood clot in your calf may cause swelling /pain on your calf or leg. If you experience these symptoms (particularly if you also have a personal history of blood clots), tell your doctor!

Unusual itching and vaginal discharge

It’s common to have some vaginal discharge during pregnancy. But sometimes it (particularly for excessively vaginal discharge & itching) may be a sign of sexual transmitted diseases or other infections that can be harmful for your baby.

If you in doubt to this symptom - don’t be shy, tell your doctor! Because if there is a problem, curing /treating it can give a significantly difference for your pregnancy and your baby!________Reference: WebMD

How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy While Breastfeeding?

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Becoming a new mom is one of the greatest things in a woman’s life. But pregnancy also can bring more pounds of weight - therefore it’s reasonable if losing weight after pregnancy while breastfeeding is one of the most frequently asked questions after delivery. And did you know that your exciting moment of breastfeeding also can help lose your weight? 
You might also like to read also another common question associated with pregnancy about ‘how to ease back pain during pregnancy’ in here, before continuing!
Some women think that they should eat more when breastfeeding and they believe that it will increase their weight. In general, you need to get plenty of nutrients to give your best quality of milk for your newborn. But this doesn't mean that you need huge calories! The key is still on your balanced diet and don’t forget to have a moderate exercise!
Facts of breastfeeding and weight loss
A study published on the American Journal and Clinical Nutrition (in 2008) found that women who gained weight during pregnancy at reasonable amount and did their breastfeeding exclusively were more likely to lose more pregnancy-weight.
This study involved about 25,000 participants with a wide range of how long & how intensively they breastfeed which each participant gets the score of breastfeeding. Researchers believe that women who did their breastfeeding for the first 6 months after birth will retain 4.4 pounds /2 kg less than women who didn't!
During pregnancy, the body of a pregnant woman automatically layers on extra tissue of fat. This can make you have a lot of fat savings. But there are some reasons of why you experience it during pregnancy. One of these reasons is to support breastfeeding after birth.
Many experts believe that this exciting activity of early motherhood can be a natural burner for excessive weight-pregnancy, because your body will use your excessive fat to produce breast milk. In other words each time you breastfeed your baby, more pounds of your excessive fat that will be burned naturally.
However, there are also other crucial points you should follow to help your gradually weight loss after your pregnancy. Again, the most important thing is don’t forget to get plenty of healthy foods in balanced diet and do your moderate exercise! Both with your exclusively breastfeeding will promote the entire health of your body and help you restore your healthy weight before pregnancy. 
Another issue you should concern is about the timeline of your weight loss. As well we know breastfeeding is the best (healthiest) food for your baby, so don’t do any extreme way in losing your weight. This is not only bad your overall health but also for the health & growth of your baby.
You may lose your weight quickly by skipping your breakfast or with other extreme ways, but these also can affect the quality of your breast milk. Doing your exercise vigorously is also not recommended. It can work successful to burn your calories more quickly, but it may also release some toxins into your breast milk.
The keys on losing weight after pregnancy while breastfeeding
Exclusively breastfeeding, balanced diet, and moderate exercise are the major keys of role in restoring your ideal weight safely – as mentioned before. Below are other pieces of information that you should know!
How far you should go for weight gain during pregnancy?
Did you know that the risk of postpartum weight retention is higher in women who have over weight during pregnancy? 
Well, it’s completely normal to experience weight gain during pregnancy – but if you go too far, your weight after birth is also more likely to go too over than the weight before you pregnant.
About 38% of women in the U.S gain excessively weight (higher than recommended) during pregnancy. So, how far you should go? The answer is dependent on your pre-pregnancy weight. 
If you are an overweight individual and now you have multiple pregnancy; your doctor generally will ask you to close with 11 – 19 kg or 25 – 42 pounds of weight gain. But for the case of single pregnancy, you should go by 5 -9 kg or 11 – 20 pounds of weight gain. And if you have normal weight, your pregnancy weight can be expected higher than the previous calculations – ask your doctor for more advice!
Helpful tips for your safely weight loss plan
The following are some helpful checklists:
(1) Counting calories should not be your top list!
It is undeniable that counting your daily calories is one of the most crucial steps for weight loss. But when it comes to weight loss while breastfeeding, this should not be your first concern.
In fact there is no single formula to answer the exact calorie you should go for healthy mom with breastfeeding. In general, women with breastfeeding require extra calories for about 500 calories higher than others who aren’t! But overall the answer varies from women to women, depending on your exercise (physical activity), the level of your metabolism, the intensity of your breastfeeding, your current weight, etc.
Follow your hunger instead of calculating calories – but remember don’t eat too much, because you might know exactly of how much you should eat. Always focus on a balanced diet!
(2) Exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months
The current recommendation for exclusively breastfeeding is about the first six months after birth – according to the World Health Organization. After 6 months, you can continue to breastfeed but then don’t forget to introduce some solid foods for your baby. You may keep continuing your breastfeeding until the first birthday of your baby. 
Nurse your newborn as much as he/she wants. Again, each time you nurse your baby, the longer you continue to naturally burn more pounds of your excessive calories.  
(3) When you should reduce your calorie?
The decreased weight due to breastfeeding also varies from women to women. Some women get back their normal weight for about 1 year after birth while others don’t lose much. Again, the individual factors play key role!
For the best result (either for you or your baby), it is much better to focus on the gradually weight loss. In other words, it is safe to lose weight during breastfeeding but make sure you do it gradually.
Don’t start your weight loss before 2 months of your baby’s age. A decreased calorie diet in the first 1-2 months can diminish the supply of your milk. With the combination of moderate exercise and healthy diet, your doctor usually allows you to lose for about 1 pound a week.
(4) What else you should concern?

1. Keep hydrated! Being dehydration can affect directly to the supply of your milk – so make sure you drink plenty of water (about 7-8 glasses) every day. Furthermore, it also can help you keep far away from overeating. Monitor your urine – if your urine is light yellow /clear then it is good sign that your body is well hydrated.  
2. Choose healthy fats. Trans-fats and saturated fats must be avoided if you seriously want to get back your normal weight! It is much better to choose unsaturated fats such as salmon, olive oil, avocado, seeds, and nuts – and don’t forget to eat them in moderation!
3. Stay on eating healthy foods! The variety of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats are excellent for the quality of your breast milk and your gradually weight loss program. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates (such as whole grains) are not only best choices to provide a lot of essential nutrients for your breastfeeding but also can give you a longer-lasting energy. 
4. Again, do a moderate exercise! As you exclusively breastfeed your baby - moderate exercise can be effective way to burn your excessively fat gradually!
5. Join to a community that can support your program! There are a lot of weight-loss-after-pregnancy groups on internet. You can share your experience and find a lot of stories from other members in there!

Dog Skin Problem - Six Main Reasons Your Dog Can't Stop Scratching

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Your dog skin problem is driving you nuts! Your dog won't stop scratching, gnawing, licking, and biting. However, stop and think for a moment. If his behavior is driving you nuts, how must your poor dog be feeling?By identifying the reason for your dog's itching and scratching, you are one step closer to getting relief for him. Here are the six main reasons for your dog skin problem:

1. Infectious - bacterial, fungal, and yeast are skin and coat pathogens. Fungi cause circular patches of hair loss that usually do not itch. Yeast infections cause greasy, and odor causing sores.
2. Neurogenic - no medical reason for the dog skin problem. Incessant licking characterizes this dog skin problem which is basically, a nervous habit of licking and chewing. This is often brought on by dogs that arent getting the proper exercise or attention they need and they bite, chew, and lick themselves as a nervous energy outlet.
3. Allergenic - an allergic reaction to numerous things; food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust. All other causes must be ruled out before this diagnosis is used.
4. Environmental - itching brought on by what the dog is exposed to in his environment; swimming, digging, romping through fields. If the dog is sensitive to grasses or gets scrapes and cut, the wound often stays moist, bacteria sets in and causes an infection. This is most often referred to as a "hot spot."
5. Nutritional - due to imbalanced diet without proper nutrition. This dog skin problem is often caused by the owner feeding the dog an inferior dog food. Just because a brand of dog food states, "Complete and Balanced" doesn't mean it is a good source of nutrition for your dog. Owners will often opt for cheaper dog food and feel secure that they are feeding their dog a good diet because they fall for false advertising. Remember, false advertising is just as prevalent when it comes to pet products as it is in human products.
6. Parasitic - fleas, ticks, chiggers, deer flies, and gnats are the most common parasites that cause your dog's skin problem. Repeated exposure to these parasites can cause sensitivity and eventually infection. Cheyletiella mites, often referred to as "walking dandruff" and Sarcoptic mites which are called scabies or red mange, are much more serious. These mites cause very intense itching and scratching, hair loss and inflamed skin.

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