Monday, June 30, 2008

Jamu Jawa Anti Kanker

Berikut adalah resep jamu Jawa anti kanker dari dr. Lulut, peneliti pada Laboratorium Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pelayanan Pengobatan Obat Tradisional (LP4OT), Departemen Kesehatan RI, Jl. Indrapura 17 Surabaya telp. 031-3557813, khusus untuk sahabat-sahabat Rumah Kanker:




Resep 1:
15 gram benalu teh
5 gram tapak dara

Resep 2:
15 gram benalu teh
600 mg daun sambung nyawa

Resep 3:
15 gram benalu teh
2 gram daun dewa

Resep 4:
15 gram benalu teh
2 gram kunir putih
5 gram temulawak

Pilih salah satu saja dari keempat resep di atas. Semua bahan ditimbang dalam keadaan kering, direbus dengan 2-3 gelas air bersih dengan api kecil hingga air tinggal separuhnya. Saring, endapkan. Diminum airnya saja, sehari 2 x 1/2 gelas, sesudah makan.

Catatan:
Untuk mengeringkan cukup diangin-anginkan saja sampai kering benar, jangan dijemur di bawah sinar matahari. Untuk merebus gunakan panci keramik, stainless steel, atau enamel.

Jika ada komplikasi dengan penyakit lain, konsultasikan pada dr. Lulut di laboratorium tersebut pada hari & jam kerja. Bisa juga berkonsultasi ke Poli OTI (Obat Tradisional Indonesia) RSU Dr. Soetomo, Surabaya, dan RSU Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou, Manado.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Prostate Health Tips

by: Richard Haigh

Tip 1

If you suspect that you have prostate cancer. Go to your doctor and ask for a Prostate Specific Antigen test. This is the common test used to detect the disease.

The systems of the disease are :
1. A general pain in the prostate area
2. A need to urinate frequently, especially at night time
3. Difficulty in urinating, both in starting or holding back
4. Interrupted or weak flow of urine
5. The presence of blood and in urine and semen
6. Pain or burning sensation when urinating
7. Erectile dysfunction (inability to have or sustain an erection)
8. Uncomfortable or painful ejaculation
9. A frequent pain or stiffness in the upper thighs, hips, or lower back.

Some of the mentioned symptoms can also be related to other reproductive diseases other than prostate cancer. Ask your doctor.

Tip 2

Use Soy based products in your diet. Soy is very rich in isoflavones.Although the benefit of isoflavones to treat prostate cancer is not yet fully proven, their general health benefits are undoubtedly beneficial to overall health, which is what is needed.

Using Soy does not have to cost you an arm and a leg in your weekly shopping, you can make your own.

Tip 3

You may very well enjoy this tip: have a single glass of red wine every evening. Drink ten cups of green tea, which is thought to contain an adequate amount of polyphenol to obstruct the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Tip 4

Get to love the humble tomato for it contains antioxidants, which can help reduce the risk of the prostate cancer developing. In the winter months when fresh tomatoes are not in season, use tomato sauce or tinned tomato; cooking does not affect the antioxidants. You can also have watermelon for desert for a double dose of Lycopene.

Tip 5

It is vital to make sure you are and remain at your ideal weight when it comes to prostate cancer. Being very overweight or obese makes it very tough to become aware of prostate cancer. There is also the fact that not being the right weight has a harmful effect on the outcome of the disease. They are many diets and ways of losing weight, I would suggest trying one of the two products the Aloe Store. Hoodia Super Slim or Aloe weight loss diet pack .


Tip 6

For a neutral balanced lifestyle weight management and fitness are vital and should be part of your overall strategy to fight prostate (or any other sickness for that matter). This means being sensibly active and eat a variety of foods particularly fruits and vegetables, you are far less likely to become ill. What ever we are talking about: having a cold or getting cancer, people who exercise and eat the right food are at a great advantage. Build up your immune system and maintain it: Drink Aloe Vera to do this.

Tip 7

Exercising does not necessary mean standing in the middle of a room waving your arms or legs about. You can have fun doing it and have a very good social life at the same time. Join a walking club. Go out and do whatever sport takes your fancy. The main thing is get off the couch and make a start.

Tip 8

It is key that you get serious about habitual exercises. It is highly suggested that you do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day no less than three times a week. Certainly, you should try to go beyond this bare minimum, but start there.

Tip 9

Exercises that stretch you, will persevere the flexibility of your body and limber. Exercises that will get your heart healthy like jogging, walking, and cycling will help to burn lots of calories. If you need to build up your muscles and strengthen your body, consider resistance training.

Tip 10

Modern scientific studies have shown that pollen helps the prostate function properly. The reason is that it contains many vitamins and minerals important for glandular function. Pollen also contains testosterone, which is the essential male hormone. Warning: Asthmatics should not use bee pollen.

Tip 11

Eat pumpkin seeds; these have been found to contain large amounts of magnesium, which the French have proven to be effective in the treatment of prostate ailments.

Tip 12

It is true to say that most cases of prostate cancer grow so slowly that action is rarely needed. Most of the time it is a case of “watchful waiting”. Which means the doctor will place you under surveillance and routine testing. If the cancer reaches a point in which it becomes a danger to the patient, other treatment methods will come into play. These methods consist of radiotherapy, hormone therapy, or surgery. It is not yet even known precisely why some people get prostate cancer, but a high fat high carbohydrate diet, obesity, race and family history all play a part. It is now up to you to choose if you want to reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer. If you do have treatment for a prostate cancer, your aftercare would benefit a lot towards a speedy recovery if: you keep as mobile as possible and maintain a good level of fitness.

Tip 13

If you find you need emotional support, look for local support groups. Most major cancer centres have support groups for everyone in the community. If you are fortunate enough to live near one, you should have no troubles at all finding one on hand. However, if you don’t live near a cancer centre, you may need to talk with your doctor to get an idea of where to begin. And to finish if you think you have prostate cancer: the first thing to do is to see your doctor.


Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Erectile dysfunction (impotence)

Written by Dr David Delvin, GP and family planning specialist

The outlook for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) has improved enormously in the first seven years of this century – so much so that almost all patients nowadays can be assured of a return to successful intercourse.

Many of these males feel that the new treatments for erection difficulty (formerly known as ‘impotence’ or ‘impotency’) have transformed their lives.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Term watch

Many people confuse erectile dysfunction with:

· premature ejaculation which is 'coming too quickly'.

· retarded ejaculation (delayed ejaculation) which is an inability of the man to reach a climax.

First, let’s define the problem. ED means an inability to get a good enough erection to achieve satisfactory intercourse.

Some sufferers can’t get a hard-on at all; others get one but it isn’t firm enough to penetrate the partner; and others can manage penetration for a bit, but then lose it.

Why does ED occur?

ED is very common, and it occurs for a variety of reasons and at different ages.

Teenagers and young men

In younger males, the most frequent cause is anxiety – particularly nervousness about having sex, about causing a pregnancy, or about using a condom. A lot of men in this age group complain that they ‘can’t get on with a condom’ because as soon as they try to put it on, they lose their ‘stiffy'.

Middle age

Common causes in this age group are overwork, stress, guilt and bereavement (ED often happens when a widowed man tries to form a new sexual relationship). A few cases are due to diabetes.

Post-middle age

In this group of men, ED gets commoner with increasing age. Nonetheless, 70 per cent of all 70-year-olds are sexually potent.

It is now clear that in a very high proportion of cases, the problem is due to deterioration in the blood vessels that carry blood into the penis. Research being carried out in 2007 suggests that in addition there may often be deterioration in the arteries of the brain or the heart. Therefore older men with ED should take care to protect themselves against strokes and heart attacks – for example by keeping their blood pressure and cholesterol down.

You may be surprised to see that I have not listed ‘lack of hormones’ as a common cause of ED. In fact, lack of male hormone is pretty rare.

If you are tempted to go to one of the many private clinics that make a habit of diagnosing ‘male hormone deficiency', and then charging huge sums of money for testosterone treatment, I suggest you think twice!

What is an erection?

An erection occurs when blood is pumped into the penis and stays there, making it hard. It generally happens because a guy is thinking about sex, or because his penis is being stimulated - or both.

The result is that signals go down the nerves that lead from his spinal cord to his genitals. They tell the blood vessels which supply the penis to open up. Blood flows in and the organ ‘blows up’ like a balloon. A valve mechanism near the base of the penis keeps the blood from flowing out again – a least, until sex is over.

As you can see, getting an erection is a complex process. It’s awfully easy for various factors to interfere with it - for instance, worry, tiredness, too much alcohol or in later life, narrowing of the blood vessels.

Nicotine is now known to narrow those vital blood vessels – which is why ED is much commoner in smokers. But often, there is nothing physically wrong with men who develop ED.

Are many cases due to psychological causes?

Yes, particularly in the young. In general, erectile dysfunction is quite likely to be psychological rather than physical if the man:

  • is still waking with morning erections
  • can still get a good erection by masturbation.

Common psychological causes of erection difficulties include:

  • nerves - especially about performing
  • guilt - notably if you’re trying to have sex with somebody else’s wife
  • relationship problems - especially if you’re no longer keen on your partner
  • latent gayness - for instance, if you’re a basically gay guy, trying to have sex with a woman
  • depression
  • exhaustion.

In a lot of cases, ED turns out to be due to a mixture of psychological and physical causes.

What physical causes are there?

Common physical causes include:

  • deterioration of the arteries – this is a physical change which is common in older men, including those with high blood pressure
  • diabetes
  • smoking
  • excessive drinking (hence the phrase ‘Brewer’s droop’)
  • being obese and out-of-condition
  • side-effects of certain drugs, notably ones for blood pressure and depression
  • effects of recreational drugs, like cocaine.

Less common physical causes include:

  • excessive drainage of blood from the penis (‘venous leak’)
  • diseases of the nervous system
  • injury to the spinal cord
  • major surgery in the abdomen, particularly prostate operations
  • hormone problems, including excess production of a pituitary hormone called prolactin.

What should I do if I'm having potency problems?

If you have difficulty getting an erection, seek help. Don’t suffer in silence – as so many men do!


Also, don’t hide it from your partner. A lot of guys behave like this, and very often the result is that the other person decides that she is being scorned, or that ‘he doesn’t love me any more'.

Your first move should be to consult your GP.

If for any reason you don’t want to do that, then contact another medical/relationships agency, such as the ones listed at the end of this article.

Please don’t do daft things like:

  • buying yourself some pills or potion off the Internet
  • signing up with some clinic that asks you for £1,000 deposit
  • going to a prostitute to see if she can cure you
  • deciding that your life is over (it isn’t).

What will happen when I see a doctor or therapist?

If you go to a doctor, he should take a full history of your problem, and then examine you to see if there are any physical causes for your ED. A therapist or counsellor isn’t able to do physical examinations, nor can they prescribe drugs.

The doctor should also do a test for diabetes and possibly other lab tests as well.

After that, he may well be able to give you some indication of the likely cause of your ED. If he can’t, then ask if can refer you to someone who can give you further help.

Once the cause(s) of your erectile dysfunction has been identified, you can get treatment.

What treatments are now available?

Treatment depends on the cause of the ED. For instance, psychological causes may require:

  • commonsense advice to one or both partners
  • counselling
  • psychotherapy
  • relationship counselling.

Personally, I feel that in some cases of psychologically-induced ED, it’s worth trying erection-inducing drugs to help ‘kick-start’ the man back into action and boost his confidence. Not all doctors agree with me.

The treatments for ED that has a physical origin are listed below.

Erection-inducing drugs

Oral drugs which induce erection have revolutionised the treatment of ED over the last eight years. They don’t work for everybody, but they do work for the majority – even in diabetes. They can also help people with neurological and spinal problems.

Also, the choice of available drugs means that if one particular drug doesn’t suit you, it’s well worth trying one of the others.

There are three orally-administered drugs available in the UK. They all have side-effects, only a few of which we can list here. For more information, read the package insert leaflet, and if in doubt ask your doctor.

It is not safe for some people to use these drugs, and some medications interact dangerously with them. Therefore, before going on any of these pills you should always see a doctor, talk things over with him, and have a physical check-up.

Do not buy erection drugs by mail-order, or from chaps you meet in pubs! They may not be the right thing.

The oral drugs currently available are:

Viagra (sildenafil)

Widens the bloods vessels, so giving an erection - provided the penis is rubbed. In most men, works within an hour. Effect lasts for about four hours. Easily blocked by food in the stomach.

Viagra still remains the world’s most popular ED drug. At the Vienna International Sexology conference of December 2006 which we attended, it was claimed that its continuing popularity is due to the ‘hardness ‘ of the erections it produces.

The most common side-effects are headache, visual disturbances, blocked nose, flushed face, indigestion, palpitations - and dizziness after getting out of bed too quickly! Blue vision occurs at higher doses. Viagra is very dangerous with certain heart drugs. Interacts with many medications. Do not drink grapefruit juice on day of use.

At the beginning of April 2005, a report from the University of Minnesota suggested that a small group of men have suffered blindness as a result of Viagra use. It was claimed that the drug may rarely cause a serious eye condition called ‘non-arteritic ischaemic optic atrophy.’ In 2007, it became apparent that about half a dozen British men have suffered similar eye problems. If you are taking Viagra, you should ask your doctor to keep you informed of any further research on this development.

Cialis (tadalafil)

Works in the same way as Viagra. Now popular with a lot of men, because its effects last so long – at least 12 hours in most cases. Manufacturers claim it is not blocked by food.

Side-effects similar to those of Viagra, but also causes back pain and muscle pain. Interactions with other drugs and with grapefruit juice are similar to those of Viagra, but also clashes with the antibiotic clarithromycin and the sedative phenobarbitone. Cialis is very similar in structure to Viagra, but so far (2007) there have been no reports of blindness on Cialis.

Levitra (vardenafil)

Works in same way. Side-effects and interactions are similar to those of Viagra. Not as long-lasting as Cialis. So far, there have been no reports of blindness.

The above three drugs are supposed to be ‘prescription-only’ in the UK and most other countries. However, in Manchester during early 2007, Boots the chemists opened three centres where men can obtain Viagra (for a fee) after careful counselling from a pharmacist. There is back-up from a group of private doctors. If this scheme turns out to be a success, then Viagra and similar drugs may become more widely available over the counter.

Uprima

There is another oral anti-ED drug called ‘Uprima’, but it was withdrawn from sale in Britain during 2006 – probably for commercial reasons.

What other drug treatments for ED are there?

It’s also possible to give erection-inducing agents by:

  • injections into the penis.
  • pellets inserted down the urinary pipe.

These methods have become less popular since the increasing availability of oral drugs, but they suit a minority of men. You have to be quite brave to give yourself a jab in the penis. For details of side-effects, consult your GP.

What mechanical aids are there for ED?

There are a number of devices that can help men to achieve a better erection and to have successful sex.

Vacuum pumps.

A pump is a cylinder which you put over your penis. You then pump out the air. That should ‘suck’ your penis into an erection – which, however, tends to be a bit cold and blue-looking.

Rings

Specially-designed rings which fit round the base of the male organ are often used with vacuum pumps. However, they can be tried on their own. The idea is that the ring helps stop the blood from flowing out of the penis.

External splints

These are supposed to prop the penis up during sex. Not awfully successful, in my view.

Vibrators

Although vibrators aren’t often prescribed by doctors (and certainly not on the NHS), I have found that they can be quite useful in urging a lethargic penis into life. Some vibrating devices such as the Penisator actually clip round the male organ.

In December 2006, at the Vienna conference, it was reported that vibrators are surprisingly effective in helping men with spinal injuries to achieve an orgasm – and thus to have children.

What about surgery?

In the 1990s there was great hope that surgery would cure a lot of men who had ED. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out like that, and it is fairly rare to see a man whose erection problems have been put right by a surgical operation.

The types of surgery which are available for ED are as follows.

  • Curing a venous leak. As we’ve indicated above, a few men lose their erections because blood leaks out of the penis through a leakage in the veins. Occasionally, this leak only occurs in certain sex positions. Where a leak can be clearly pin-pointed by special X-rays, a urologist may be able to operate in order to improve matters.
  • Insertion of internal splints. A skilled urologist can insert artificial splints inside the body of the penis. With the simplest type of splint (which is just a firm rod), the man lifts the organ into a vertical position when he wants to have intercourse. There are more sophisticated (and much more expensive) internal splints which you or your partner can inflate when you wish to make love. Some couples report being very pleased with these. But if anything goes wrong with the surgery – for instance, infection or bleeding, you could be in some trouble.

Summing up

Erectile dysfunction is usually treatable these days. However, it’s important to first establish what the cause is.

Very often, there are several causes, including both physical and psychological factors.

Commonsense measures will often help – for instance, cutting down on stress, alcohol or smoking, getting more sleep, or stopping any medications which interfere with erection. Your GP should assist you in these areas.

If he can’t, then talk to one of the organisations listed below.

Further help

The following can be helpful in various ways to ED sufferers and their partners:

The Sexual Dysfunction Association (formerly The Impotence Association) Tel: 0870 7743571.

Institute of Psychosexual Medicine Tel: 020 7580 0631.

Family Planning Association (fpa)/Sexual Health Direct Tel: 0845 310 1334.

Brook Advisory Centres For Young People Tel: 08000 185 023. Website: http://www.brook.org.uk.

Relate Tel:01788 573 241.

Couple Counselling Scotland (now called Relate Scotland but their website is still currently to be found under its old name). Tel: 0131 55 61 52 7. Website: www.couplecounselling.org

British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy (BASRT) Tel:020 8543 2707.

Tentang Wasir

Apakah Wasir itu?

Wasir atau Hemorhoid adalah bantalan vaskuler yang biasanya terdapat dalam anus dan rektum bawah. Bantalan vaskuler ini berfungsi untuk memberi kontrol pada saat buang air besar, yaitu memungkinkan untuk menahan tinja. Bila bantalan ini membengkak atau berdarah, maka akan timbul masalah.

Wasir sering digolongkan sebagai wasir luar atau wasir dalam. Untuk maksud pengobatan, wasir dapat digolongkan menjadi:

Wasir Tingkat Pertama - Ini adalah wasir dalam yang berdarah tetapi tidak tersembul keluar.

Wasir Tingkat Kedua – Ini adalah wasir yang tersembul keluar sewaktu buang air besar tetapi mengecil secara spontan.

Wasir Tingkat Ketiga - Ini adalah wasir yang tersembul keluar tetapi harus diperkecil dengan memakai jari.

Wasir Tingkat Keempat - Ini adalah wasir yang secara tetap tersembul keluar dan tak bisa diperkecil.

Wasir tingkat pertama dan kedua dapat diobati tanpa pembedahan, sedangkan wasir tingkat ketiga dan keempat hampir selalu memerlukan pembedahan jika timbul gejala. Wasir yang tidak bergejala tak perlu diobati.


Kelebihan Kulit - Ini dapat dikacaukan dengan wasir, tetapi sebenarnya adalah kulit yang lebih di seputar anus.

Apa yang menyebabkan Wasir?

Beberapa faktor menyebabkan terbentuknya wasir, Ini termasuk:

  • Kurang latihan buang air yang baik
  • Sembelit kronis dan peregangan yang berlebihan sewaktu buang air besar. Melewatkan waktu yang lama (misalnya: membaca) di toilet.
  • Kehamilan

Friday, June 20, 2008

What is stomach cancer?

What is stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer is a form of cancer that can begin anywhere in the stomach. A stomach tumor or other type of stomach cancer occurs when cells in the stomach grow out of control and become tumors. Stomach cancer cells take over healthy cells. They may then spread throughout the stomach and then to other organs and parts of the body, especially the esophagus and small intestine.

Stomach cancer often begins with the development of a benign growth known as a polyp. These polyps may lead to a stomach tumor later on. Also see stomach cancer causes.


Stomach cancer statistics

According to the American Cancer Society,

  • about 21 thousand Americans are diagnosed with stomach cancer annually
  • 13 thousand of these stomach cancer cases will be men
  • 8 thousand stomach cancer cases will be women
  • average age when stomach cancer is diagnosed is 71.
  • about two thirds of stomach cancer cases are diagnosed after age 65.
  • a person's risk of developing stomach cancer in their lifetime in the United States is approximately 1 in 100.
  • Early stage stomach cancer diagnosis results in a 75 percent chance of survival for at least five years. Diagnosis in the late stages usually results in a 30 percent chance.

Stomach cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, but the number of cases has been decreasing in recent years.

Stomach cancer is more common worldwide than in the U.S. There are many more cases in Japan, Korea, Great Britain, South America and Iceland. Japan, in fact, has more than 10 times as many cases as the U.S.. However, native Japanese people who move to the United States and adopt American eating habits develop fewer cases of stomach cancer than people in Japan who eat a typical Japanese diet.


Visit our
Stomach Blog and Discussion Forum

Get recent news, ask for advice, share your experience with others


Stomach cancer risk factors

Researchers have found evidence that diets that include a lot of salt and nitrates probably increase a person's chances of getting stomach cancer.

Despite mounting belief that certain diets may be a factor, there's no medical evidence yet regarding the cause of stomach cancer. But there are some known risk factors, especially in certain industries. People who work in the coal mining, timber, nickel and rubber industries all have high rates of stomach cancer.

People with a family history of stomach cancer also seem to be at higher risk, as do those who have had stomach surgery for ulcers and pernicious anemia.

There's also a specific type of bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori which has often been found in the stomachs of stomach cancer patients.


Stomach tumor and stomach cancer types

Adenocarcinomas appear and develop in the glandular cells of the stomach lining. This is the most common type of stomach cancer.

Soft tissue sarcomas, which are extremely rare. originate from the cells in the muscle layer of the stomach.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is another type of sarcoma which originate in the tissues that support the organs of the digestive system. They are also known as GISTs.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. A MALT lymphoma is the main type to affect the stomach. A MALT lymphoma is also known as a MALToma.

Carcinoid tumor is another type of cancer that can affect the stomach.

Also see: detecting a stomach cancer symptom, stomach cancer treatment, stomach cancer prevention.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of the body. Your body makes some cholesterol, and some cholesterol comes from the food you eat.

Your body needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. This article focuses on cholesterol and your diet.

See also:

Times Essentials

Recent findings and perspectives on medical research.

Cutting Cholesterol, an Uphill Battle

Reporter's File

Cutting Cholesterol, an Uphill Battle

By JANE E. BRODY

Dozens of measures, individually or together, can help to lower cholesterol. See what worked for one Times reporter.

See All » News & Features

Reference from A.D.A.M.

Alternative Names

Diet - cholesterol

Function

Cholesterol helps the body produce hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D. Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream to be used by all parts of the body.

Food Sources

Cholesterol is found in eggs, dairy products, meat, and poultry. Egg yolks and organ meats (liver, kidney, sweetbread, and brain) are high in cholesterol. Fish generally contains less cholesterol than other meats, but some shellfish are high in cholesterol.

Foods of plant origin (vegetables, fruits, grains, cereals, nuts, and seeds) contain no cholesterol.

Fat content is not a good measure of cholesterol content. For example, liver and other organ meats are low in fat, but very high in cholesterol.

Side Effects

In general, your risk of developing heart disease or atherosclerosis goes up as your level of blood cholesterol increases.

Recommendations

More than half of the adult population has blood cholesterol levels higher than the desirable range. High cholesterol levels often begin in childhood. Some children may be at higher risk due to a family history of high cholesterol.

To lower high cholesterol levels:

  • Limit total fat intake to 25 - 35% of total daily calories. Less than 7% of daily calories should be from saturated fat, no more than 10% should be from polyunsaturated fat, and no more than 20% from monounsaturated fat.
  • Eat less than 200 mg of dietary cholesterol per day.
  • Get more fiber in your diet.
  • Lose weight.
  • Increase physical activity.

The recommendations for children's diets are similar to those of adults. It is very important that children get enough calories to support their growth and activity level, and that the child achieve and maintain a desirable body weight

The following two sample menus provide examples of an average American diet and a low-fat diet.

AVERAGE AMERICAN DIET

  • Breakfast
    • 1 egg scrambled in 1 teaspoon of butter
    • 2 slices of white toast
    • 1 teaspoon of butter
    • 1/2 cup of apple juice
  • Snack
    • 1 cake donut
  • Lunch
    • 1 ham and cheese sandwich (2 ounces of meat, 1 ounce of cheese)
    • White bread
    • 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise
    • 1-ounce bag potato chips
    • 12-ounce soft drink
    • 2 chocolate chip cookies
  • Snack
    • 8 wheat thins
  • Dinner
    • 3 ounces of broiled sirloin
    • 1 medium baked potato
    • 1 tablespoon of sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon of butter
    • 1/2 cup of peas, 1/2 teaspoon of butter

Totals: 2,000 Calories, 84 grams fat, 34 grams saturated fat, 425 milligrams cholesterol. The diet is 38% total fat, 15% saturated fat.

LOW FAT DIET

For the same number of calories, a low-fat diet provides 190 mg of cholesterol, compared to 510 mg of cholesterol for an average American diet. Because fat is high in calories, the low-fat diet actually has more food than the typical American diet. An example follows:

  • Breakfast
    • 1 cup of toasted oat ring cereal
    • 1 cup of skim milk
    • 1 slice of whole-wheat bread
    • 1 banana
  • Snack
    • 1 cinnamon raisin bagel, 1/2 ounce light cream cheese
  • Lunch
    • Turkey sandwich (3 ounces of turkey) on rye bread with lettuce
    • 1 orange
    • 3 Fig Newton cookies
    • 1 cup skim milk
  • Snack
    • Nonfat yogurt with fruit
  • Dinner
    • 3 ounces of broiled chicken breast
    • 1 medium baked potato
    • 1 tablespoon of nonfat yogurt
    • 1/2 cup of broccoli
    • 1 dinner roll
    • 1 cup skim milk

Totals: 2,000 Calories, 38g fat, 9.5g saturated fat, 91mg cholesterol. The diet is 17% fat, 4% saturated fat.

NOTE: The low-fat diet example is too low in fat for small children to promote good growth. In addition, it may be difficult for them to eat such a large volume of food. Children should have a diet that is closer to 30% of calories from fat. Lower-fat diets may be appropriate in some children. Ask your doctor what is best for your child.

Back to TopReferences »

Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

What is high blood pressure (Hypertension)


High blood pressure (hbp) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high. You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without a single symptom. But silence isn't golden. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

Hypertension can be classified as either essential (primary) or secondary. Essential hypertension indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a patient's condition. Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of (i.e., secondary to) another condition, such as kidney disease or tumors (pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma). Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. At severely high pressures, defined as mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average, a person can expect to live no more than a few years unless appropriately treated.
Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries. The walls of arteries have a layer of muscle and elastic tissue that makes them flexible and able to dilate and constrict as blood flows through them. High blood pressure can make the artery walls thicken and harden. When artery walls thicken, the inside of the blood vessel narrows. Cholesterol and fats are more likely to build up on the walls of damaged arteries, making them even narrower. Blood clots also can get trapped in narrowed arteries, blocking the flow of blood.
Arteries narrowed by arteriosclerosis may not deliver enough blood to organs and other tissues. Reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart can cause a heart attack. If an artery to the brain is blocked, a stroke can result.
Hypertension makes the heart work harder to pump blood through the body. The extra workload can make the heart muscle thicken and stretch. When the heart becomes too enlarged it cannot pump enough blood. If the hypertension is not treated, the heart may fail.
The kidneys remove the body's wastes from the blood. If hypertension thickens the arteries to the kidneys, less waste can be filtered from the blood. As the condition worsens, the kidneys fail and wastes build up in the blood. Dialysis or a kidney transplant are needed when the kidneys fail. About 25% of people who receive kidney dialysis have kidney failure caused by hypertension.

Blood pressure measurements are classified in stages, according to severity:
  1. Normal blood pressure: less than less than 120/80 mm Hg
  2. Pre-hypertension: 120-129/80-89 mm Hg
  3. Stage 1 hypertension: 140-159/90-99 mm Hg
  4. Stage 2 hypertension: at or greater than 160-179/100-109 mm Hg

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Lymphoma Overview

Lymphoma is a type of cancer involving cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes. Just as cancer represents many different diseases, lymphoma represents many different cancers of lymphocytes—about 35 different subtypes, in fact.

Lymphoma is a group of cancers that affect the cells that play a role in the immune system, and primarily represents cells involved in the lymphatic system of the body.

  • The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It consists of a network of vessels that carry a fluid called lymph, similar to the way that the network of blood vessels carry blood throughout the body. Lymph contains white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes attack a variety of infectious agents as well as many cells in the precancerous stages of development.

  • Lymph nodes are small collections of lymph tissue that occur throughout the body. The lymphatic system involves lymphatic channels that connect thousands of lymph nodes scattered throughout the body. Lymph flows through the lymph nodes, as well as through other lymphatic tissues including the spleen, the tonsils, the bone marrow, and the thymus gland.

  • These lymph nodes filter the lymph, which may carry bacteria, viruses, or other microbes. The lymph nodes, or glands as they may be called, filter the lymph, which may on various occasions carry different microbial organisms. At infection sites, large numbers of these microbial organisms collect in the regional nodes and produce the swelling and tenderness typical of a localized infection. These enlarged and occasionally confluent collections of lymph nodes (so-called lymphadenopathy) are often referred to as "swollen glands."
Lymphocytes recognize pathogens (infections and abnormal cells) and destroy them. There are 2 major subtypes of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes, also referred to as B cells and T cells.
  • B lymphocytes produce antibodies (proteins that circulate through the blood and lymph and attach to infectious organisms and abnormal cells). The combination attachment cell or antibody microbial organism essentially alerts other cells of the immune system recognize and destroy these intruders, also known as pathogens.

  • T cells, when activated, can kill pathogens directly. T cells also play a part in the mechanisms of immune system control, to prevent the system from inappropriate overactivity or underactivity.

  • After fighting off an invader, some of the B and T lymphocytes "remember" the invader and are prepared to fight it off if it returns.

Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation whereby they grow and multiply uncontrollably. Lymphoma is a malignant transformation of either lymphocytes B or T cells or their subtypes.

  • As the abnormal cells multiply, they may collect in 1 or more lymph nodes or in other lymph tissues such as the spleen.

  • As the cells continue to multiply, they form a mass often referred to as a tumor.

  • Tumors often overwhelm surrounding tissues by invading their space, thereby depriving them of the necessary oxygen and nutrients needed to survive and function normally.

  • Because of their uncontrolled growth, lymphomas can encroach on and/or invade neighboring tissues or distant organs.

  • In lymphoma, abnormal lymphocytes travel from one lymph node to the next, and sometimes to remote organs, via the lymphatic system.

  • While lymphomas are often confined to lymph nodes and other lymphatic tissue, they can spread to other types of tissue almost anywhere in the body. Lymphoma development outside of lymphatic tissue is called extranodal disease.

Lymphomas fall into 1 of 2 major categories. Hodgkin lymphoma (HL, previously called Hodgkin's disease) and all other lymphomas (non-Hodgkin lymphomas or NHLs).

  • These 2 types occur in the same places, may be associated with the same symptoms, and often have similar gross physical characteristics. However, they are readily distinguishable via microscopic examination.

  • Hodgkin disease develops from a specific abnormal B lymphocyte lineage. NHL may derive from either abnormal B or T cells and are distinguished by unique genetic markers.

  • There are 5 subtypes of Hodgkin disease and about 30 subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

  • Because there are so many different subtypes of lymphoma, the classification of lymphomas is complicated and includes both the microscopic appearance and well-defined genetic and molecular rearrangements.

  • Many of the NHL subtypes look similar, but they are functionally quite different and respond to different therapies with different probabilities of cure. HL subtypes are microscopically distinct, and typing is based upon the microscopic differences as well as extent of disease.

Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer in the United States. It is the sixth most common cancer in adults and the third most common in children. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is far more common than Hodgkin disease.

  • In the United States, about 54,000 new cases of NHL and 7000 new cases of HL were diagnosed in 2004, and the overall incidence is increasing.

  • About 24,000 people die of NHL and 1400 of HL each year, with the survival rate of all but the most advanced cases of HL greater than that of other lymphomas.

  • Lymphoma can occur at any age, including childhood. Hodgkin disease is most common in 2 age groups: young adults aged 16-34 years and in older people aged 55 years and older. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to occur in older people.
Click here for more information about Lymphoma.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Alcohol as a Cause of Cancer

It has been told that moderate consumption of red wine, on average 2 glass per day will be beneficial for our health. For other alcohol in general, the suggested consumption is 4 drinks a day for men, and 2 drinks a day for women. Apparently, this no longer hold true. Red wine consumption is particularly good for cardiac disease, however consumption of wine and alcohol in general would increase the risk of cancer.

A new report "Alcohol as a Cause of Cancer" is released today, 8 May 2008, showing alarming link between alcohol consumption and particular types of cancer.

An international audit of cancer and alcohol research was conducted by The Cancer Institute New South Wales. The study found that even as little as 2 glass of alcohol per day can significantly increase the risk of cancer. And thus, reducing alcohol consumption will lower risk of cancer.

The types of cancer associated with alcohol consumption include:
- bowel cancer,
- breast cancer,
- head and neck cancer,
- oesophageal or gullet cancer.

The average risk increase per average drink is around 10-20% for some of the above cancers.

I myself have received news in less than a week that 3 men I know of have been diagnosed with colon or prostate cancer. All 3 of them smoked and/or drink wine on regular basis.

Cancer, in fact, is a very common disease. On average, 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women will most likely get cancer in their lifetime. The prevention strategies would include, but not limited to, eliminating the risk factors such as alcohol and tobacco. For more tips on cancer prevention, please refer to my previous post on cancer.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Limfoma non Hodgkin indolen versus agresif

Limfoma non Hodgkin indolen versus agresif

Klasifikasi limfoma non Hodgkin didasarkan pada sejumlah kriteria. Suatu cara sederhana , tetapi sahih, untuk melihat ini adalah dengan menggunakan dua klasifikasi, atau levelan, dari limfoma non Hodgkin, yang membantu dokter untuk memutuskan pengobatan apa yang aka diberikan pada pasien :

  • Indolen (disebut juga level-rendah atau tumbuh-perlahan)
  • Agresif (juga disebut level-tinggi atau tumbuh-cepat)

Limfoma non Hodgkin tumbuh secara perlahan. Pada awal sering tidak menimbulkan gejala, dan sehingga sering berlangsung beberapa waktu tanpa terdeteksi. Bahkan setelah didiagnosis, kebanyakan tidak memerlukan pengobatan segera, kadang-kadang selama beberapa bulan atau tahun. Pengobatan, jika diperlukan, biasanya efektif membuatnya mengecil dan bahkan menghilang, memberikan suatu periode bebas penyakit, atau 'remisi', pada pasien. Akan tetapi, mereka sering relaps, atau muncul lagi, dan akan lebih banyak pengobatan diperlukan.

Tabel : perbedaan antara LNH indolen dan agresif.


Limfoma non Hodgkin indolen
Limfoma non Hodgkin agresif
Proporsi
40% - 50% 50% - 60%
Pertumbuhan
Lambat Cepat
Penjelasan
Sering tidak kelihatan gejala pada saat diagnosis; diagnosis bisa kapan saja dalam berbagai kasus Gejala kelihatan sebelum diagnosa
Pengobatan
Kadang tidak butuh secepatnya Biasanya butuh secepatnya
Outcome
Respon baik terhadap pengobatan, namun kadang bisa kambuh Respon sangat baik terhadap pengobatan, lebih mudah disembuhkan

Limfoma non Hodgkin agresif tumbuh lebih cepat. Mereka tampaknya lebih menyebabkan gejala daripada limfoma non Hodgkin indolen, dan biasanya mereka membutuhkan pengobatan segera. Meskipun nama agresif kedengarannya sangat menakutkan, limfoma ini sering memberikan respon sangat baik terhadap pengobatan. Mereka, pada kenyataannya, seperti sembuh seutuhnya dibandingkan dengan limfoma non Hodgkin indolen.

Limfoma non Hodgkin indolen dan agresif dapat dibedakan dari penampilannya dibawah mikroskop. Untuk tujuan ini, suatu contoh jaringan limfoma perlu dikumpulkan pada semua pasien. Kebanyakan pasien akan dibiopsi dimana kelenjar yang terserang, atau bagiannya, dilepaskan secara pembedahan. Pada yang lainnya, diagnosis mungkin terjadi secara kebetulan selama prosedur rutin seperti suatu gastroskopi.

Penting untuk membedakan klasifikasi limfoma non Hodgkin , karena pengobatan untuk keduanya dapat sangat berbeda.


......Sebelumnya Baca selengkapnya di sini.................

Apakah Limfoma non Hodgkin itu?

Limfoma adalah suatu penyakit limfosit. Ia seperti kanker, dimana limfosit yang terserang berhenti beregulasi secara normal. Dengan kata lain, limfosit dapat membelah secara abnormal atau terlalu cepat, dan atau tidak mati dengan cara sebagaimana biasanya. Limfosit abnormal sering terkumpul di kelenjar getah bening, sebagai akibatnya kelenjar getah bening ini akan membengkak.

Karena limfosit bersirkulasi ke seluruh tubuh, limfoma – kumpulan limfosit abnormal – juga dapat terbentuk dibagian tubuh lainnya selain di kelenjar getah bening. Limpa dan sumsum tulang adalah tempat pembentukan limfoma di luar kelenjar getah bening yang sering, tetapi pada beberapa orang limfoma terbentuk di perut, hati atau yang jarang sekali di otak. Bahkan, suatu limfoma dapat terbentuk di mana saja. Seringkali lebih dari satu bagian tubuh terserang oleh penyakit ini.

Secara umum, karena sirkulasi alamiah dari getah bening, limfoma biasanya disebut sebagai penyakit yang menyerang seluruh tubuh, dan bukan hanya daerah yang jelas mengalami pembengkakan kelanjar. Kondisi ini dikenal sebagai ‘penyakit sistemik’.

Kebanyakan gejala limfoma timbul karena pembengkakan akibat pengumpulan limfosit abnormal. Gejala yang tepat tergantung pada di bagian tubuh mana pembengkakan terjadi. Sebagai tambahan, limfosit abnormal tidak dapat memenuhi peran normalnya dalam sistim kekebalan tubuh dan, tanpa pengobatan, seseorang dengan limfoma tampaknya lebih mudah terserang infeksi.

Limfoma dapat dibagi dalam dua kelompok utama :

  • Limfoma non Hodgkin (sering ditulis sebagai limfoma non Hodgkin, tanpa apostrofi, atau limfoma non Hodgkin, dan sering secara singkat ditulis LNH)
  • Limfoma Hodgkin (juga dikenal sebagai penyakit Hodgkin)

Situs ini hanya membahas tentang limfoma non Hodgkin

Limfoma non Hodgkin adalah penyakit yang menyerang sel dari sistim limfatik, yang dikenal sebagai sel darah putih, atau limfosit. Klik pada gambar untuk melihat diagram animasi yang menjelaskan limfoma non Hodgkin
Animated diagram explaining non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Limfoma non Hodgkin

Limfoma non Hodgkin adalah salah satu dari dua kelompok limfoma (yang lainnya adalah limfoma Hodgkin). Sel dalam limfoma non Hodgkin tampilan dan perilakunya berbeda dari sel dalam limfoma Hodgkin.

Sangat penting untuk mengetahui secara tepat jenis limfoma non Hodgkin apa yang diderita pasien, seberapa cepat pertumbuhannya, di mana lokasinya dalam tubuh, dan seberapa jauh penyebarannya. Untuk mengetahui hal tersebut, penyakit ini disub-divisikan berdasarkan :

  • Klasifikasi atau grade – ini menginformasikan dokter apakah limfoma non Hodgkin ini indolen (grade/level rendah, atau pertumbuhan lambat) atau agresif (grade tinggi, atau tumbuh cepat).
  • Jenis – dalam klasifikasi indolen atau agresif, penyakit ini selanjutnya dibagi menjadi lebih dari 30 jenis, tergantung dari bagaimana contoh sel, biasanya didapatkan melalui biopsi, tampak di bawah mikroskop. Hal ini juga dikenal sebagai ‘levelan’.

  • Stadium – mengindikasikan di mana limfoma di dalam badan dan berapa jauh penyebaran yang telah terjadi, penyakit ini dibagi dalam stadium I,II,III,IV. Disamping riwayat penyakit pasien dan pemeriksaan fisik, penentuan stadium juga memerlukan pemeriksaan seperti sinar-X, CT scan, PET scan, biopsi sumsum tulang dan pemeriksaan darah.

Informasi ini – klasifikasi, jenis dan stadium – membantu dokter untuk memprediksi bagaimana suatu limfoma non Hodgkin tertentu akan berperilaku dan bagaimana pasien akan terpengaruh. Hal ini juga sangat penting untuk merencanakan pengobatan yang tepat, sehingga semua informasi harus tersedia sebelum pengobatan direncanakan dan dimulai.

.....Sebelumnya Selanjutnya.....

Sistem Limfatik

Sistim limfatik adalah bagian dari sistim kekebalan tubuh. Ia memainkan peran kunci dalam pertahanan tubuh melawan infeksi dan sejumlah penyakit lainnya, termasuk kanker.

Seperti sistim peredaran darah, sistim limfatik adalah suatu sirkulasi, tetapi cairan yang beredar didalamnya adalah getah bening, bukan darah. Sistim limfatik membantu transportasi zat seperti – sel, protein, nutrien, produk sisa/buangan – di seluruh tubuh. Sistim limfatik meliputi : Pembuluh limfatik (sering disebut secara sederhana ‘limfatik’), kelenjar getah bening (sering disebut ‘kelenjar limfe ’) dan Organ seperti limpa dan timus.

Sistem limfatik membantu membawa substansi ke seluruh tubuh. Klik pada ilustrasi untuk melihat animasi yang menunjukkan bagaimana sistem limfatik bekerja
The lymphatic system

Fisiologi dan peran sistim limfatik

Sistim limfatik adalah suatu bagian penting dari sistim kekebalan tubuh, membentengi tubuh terhadap infeksi dan berbagai penyakit, termasuk kanker.

Suatu cairan yang disebut getah bening bersirkulasi melalui pembuluh limfatik, dan membawa limfosit (sel darah putih) mengelilingi tubuh.

Pembuluh limfatik melewati kelenjar getah bening. Kelenjar getah bening berisi sejumlah besar limfosit dan bertindak seperti penyaring, menangkap organisme yang menyebabkan infeksi seperti bakteri dan virus.

Kelenjar getah bening cenderung bergerombol dalam suatu kelompok – sebagai contoh, terdapat sekelompok besar di ketiak, di leher dan lipat paha.

Ketika suatu bagian tubuh terinfeksi atau bengkak, kelenjar getah bening terdekat sering membesar dan nyeri. Hal berikut ini terjadi, sebagai contoh, jika seseorang dengan sakit leher mengalami ‘pembengkakan kelenjar’ di leher, Cairan limfatik dari tenggorokan mengalir ke dalam kelenjar getah bening di leher, dimana organisme penyebab infeksi dapat dihancurkan dan dicegah penyebarannya ke bagian tubuh lainnya.

Peran penting dari sel T dan sel B

Ada dua jenis utama limfosit:

  • Sel T
  • Sel B

Seperti jenis sel darah lainnya, limfosit, dibentuk dalam sumsum tulang . Kehidupannya dimulai dari sel imatur yang disebut sel induk. Pada awal masa kanak-kanak, sebagian limfosit bermigrasi ke timus, suatu organ di puncak dada, dimana mereka menjadi matur menjadi sel T. Sisanya tetap tinggal di sumsum tulang dan menjadi matur disana sebagai sel B. Sel T dan sel B keduanya berperan penting dalam mengenali dan menghancurkan organisme penyebab infeksi seperti bakteri dan virus.

Dalam keadaan normal , kebanyakan limfosit yang bersirkulasi dalam tubuh adalah sel T. Mereka berperan untuk mengenali dan menghancurkan sel tubuh yang abnormal (sebagai contoh sel yang telah diinfeksi oleh virus).

Sel B mengenali sel dan materi ‘asing’ (sebagai contoh, bakteri yang telah menginvasi tubuh). Jika sel ini bertemu dengan protein asing (sebagai contoh, di permukaan bakteri), mereka memproduksi antibodi, yang kemudian ‘melekat’ pada permukaan sel asing dan menyebabkan perusakannya.

Selanjutnya.......


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