Malignant tumors are an increasing problem in the world today. Cancer and heart attack are the top two causes of death around the globe. However there is another type of tumor that does not get all the attention it deserves. Benign tumors are non-cancerous but dangerous. One type of benign tumor is the giant cell tumor of the bone. Although they occur in only one person per million a year, their removal is costly and complicated. In rare cases the tumor can expand to the lungs making the condition life threatening.

For a Vietnamese man named Nguyen Duy Hai, the fight against the giant cell tumor of the bone ended successfully last Friday. He is now recovering in the intensive care unit of the Ho Chi Minh City’s FV Hospital. The tumor got its name from the way the cells look under a microscope where many giant cells are seen. These cells are formed by the fusion of several individual cells into a single, large, cell. Just how large had Nguyen Duy Hai’s tumor got? Well, it weighted at twice the man’s body weight, more specifically 180 pounds. Post-operation it was estimated that the tumor was in fact 200 pounds. It took 12 hours of surgery to remove the tumor in its entirety.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks left almost 3,000 people dead, countless injured, and many families forever changed. The effects of this tragedy are still visible today. Children are growing up without parents, parents lost children, and we all lost friends. But if we thought the attacks could hurt us no more, we were wrong. A new study just discovered that the heroes of the 9/11 attacks, the first responders who came to help and saved many lives, are at increased risk for cancer.

                When the Twin Towers fell, more than half of the members of the New York Fire Department were sent to try and help rescue as many victims as possible. They were joined by members of the NYPD, EMTs, and many volunteers from surrounding areas. More than 50,000 people participated in the efforts. Many of these first responders died that day.  In fact, over 340 firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, 15 EMTs, and 37 Porth Authority Police Department officers lost their lives.

We all know smoking is injurious to health. FDA has regulations that all the tobacco companies must abide by. These regulations are made so as to inform people of the perspective bad effects of smoking. But, how far can FDA go? Yes, the extent up to which FDA can make regulations is also limited. If they do not stop at that extent, they can be sued. And that is exactly what is happening.

Five tobacco companies, including some of the largest in the United States, have filed a lawsuit against the federal government on Tuesday. The basis of their lawsuit is that government mandated graphic warning labels on cigarette packages unconstitutionally infringes on the companies’ rights.

FDA wants the tobacco companies to put nine new warning labels, complete with graphic photos and the phone number 1-800-QUIT-NOW. FDA regulations say that starting in September 2012; half of each cigarette package will have to display one of those new labels.

Wonder Vitamins to the Rescue…


We all know vitamins are essential for good health and what we also know are that they are named after the letters of the alphabet… but, do we know how each vitamin helps the body and what are the best sources of these vital vitamins?  If not, don’t worry! Just slouch into your chair a little, get comfortable and see how investing 10 minutes of your time can result in a healthier you.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is also called Retinol. In its original form it can only be found in foods of animal origin. Vegetarians fear not, this vitamin can be derived from fruits and vegetables too. However, in fruits and veggies its present as a compound called carotene. The body breaks down this carotene to supplement it with vitamin A. 

How it helps your body…
Vitamin A is essential for good eye sight.
It promotes healthy growth and development of the fetus.
Aids maintaining healthy skin
It enhances fertility and sperm mobility.
Helps fight infections.
Helps maintain structure and integrity of body cells.

Deficiency symptoms…
These are symptoms to watch out for if your deficient in vitamin A.
Faulty teeth, slow bone formation, night blindness, bumpy skin, increase susceptibility to colds and viral infections, sinus, urinary tract infections, rapid weight loss, loss of appetite.

Foods to eat…
Cheese, butter, milk, carrots, liver, eggs, apricots, spinach, sweet potato…

Vitamin B

Vitamin B has a huge family. You’ve probably heard of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, biotin, and pyridoxine. These are the fancy names for vitamins in the vitamin B family like vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 and B9. 

Now I know you all don’t know what third hand smoke. Haha I know it sounds crazy. Second hand smoke should be the end of it but apparently it isn’t. This third hand smoke might be that silent killer. Third hand smoke is considered to be nicotine and other chemicals left on just about any indoor surface by tobacco smoking. The residue left by the tobacco smoke is thought to react with common everyday pollutants in the house. The tobacco smoke and the pollutants in the air mix and create a toxic mix. Which I like to call the, “silent killer”. This toxic mix of third hand smoke contains cancer causing substances. This poses a health hazard to nonsmokers who are exposed to it, especially children.

Think of Sex as pleasure? Did you ever think that Sex could lead you to be a healthier person? It does make you lead a healthy life while loving your partner.Here I am listing some of the benefits that you might have from having Sex:

1. Sex as a Stress Reliever
Sex lowers blood pressure and overall stress. It was found that frequent intercourse was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure in cohabiting participants. Yet other research found a link between partner hugs and lower blood pressure in women.

2. Sex as an Immunity Booster
Good sexual health may mean better physical health. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections.

You may have heard that omega 3 fatty acids can help you resist cancer, but there’s more to the story. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats your body can’t make on its own. You get them from delicious cold water fish and some seeds and nuts. But omega-3’s may be hampered by a hidden rival- the omega-6 fatty acids lurking in vegetable oils, fried foods, meats, eggs, milk processed grains, and anything containing corn or soybean oils.

1) Heart Disease – 7.20 Million people (12.2%)
With obesity on the rise and more people leading increasingly inactive lifestyles, it's not surprising that the leading killer of both men and women is heart disease. So people, start eating healthy, exercise, maintain your weight and stop smoking.

There are three main reasons why people are concerned that cell phones may cause certain types of cancer or other health problems:

1.  
   • The number of cell phone users has increased rapidly. As of 2010, there were more than 303 million subscribers to cell phone services in the United States. This is an increase from 110 million users in 2000. Globally, the number of cell phone subscriptions is estimated to be 5 billion.
   • Over time, the number of cell phone calls per day, the length of each call, and the duration of use of cell phones have increased and cell phone technology has undergone substantial change
   • Cell phones emit radio-frequency energy, which is a form of non ionizing radiation. The tissues next to where the phone is held absorb this energy. Potential health effects of radio-frequency exposure from cell phones, radar, satellite stations, microwave ovens, and other sources have been studied for many years. 

What is radio-frequency energy, how can it affect the body, and how is it measured in epidemiologic studies?