6 Symptoms of Liver Disease You Shouldn't ignore

Your liver is responsible for performing as many as 500 different functions in your body. Any type of damage to liver (caused due to alcohol abuse, smoking, unhealthy eating habits, etc.) can disrupt these functions and lead to complications throughout the body. Here are some of the common symptoms of liver disease:

1.  Nausea and vomiting

This is a common symptom that accompanies a lot of diseases. Nausea refers to experiencing an urge to vomit and may be accompanied by sweating and excessive salivation. Vomiting on the other hand refers to the actual ejection of the contents of your stomach through your mouth and is usually painful.

2. Pain in the right upper part of the abdomen

The right upper part of your abdomen is where your liver is located. If you are feeling pain in this area, it is likely that you have some form of liver disease so make sure you consult a doctor soon.

3. Indigestion

Since the liver is one of the vital organs involved in digestion, any damage caused to it can disrupt the normal process. You may be unable to finish your meal or experience a burning sensation in your stomach.  

4. Weakness and fatigue

Your liver is responsible for the absorption of many minerals and vitamins in your body. If it stops functioning properly, you may experience symptoms like weakness and fatigue.

5. Weight loss

Many types of liver disease can cause decreased appetite as your body is not able to digest the food properly. Liver disease also disrupts your metabolism leading to unexplained and sudden weight loss.

6. Yellow discoloration of skin

People suffering from hepatitis or liver cancer may also suffer from jaundice, which causes yellow discoloration of skin and eyes.

Liver disease can cause several other complications too, and it is important that you become alert and take care of your health before it’s too late. Here are some of the things that can cause liver disease along with tips to avoid damaging your liver.

Source:  http://health.india.com

Now, a simple blood test to predict risk of sudden cardiac death

LONDON: A simple blood test can now predict your risk of sudden cardiac death. 

Samuel C Dudley, a lifespan researcher from the Cardiovascular Institute at Rhode Island in the US has found that a simple blood test can predict a person's risk for Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) enabling physicians to more quickly and accurately assess a patient's need for an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). 

Currently risk assessments are determined by measuring the fraction of blood ejected from the heart in any one heartbeat, the ejection fraction. When the ejection fraction falls below 35%, a patient may benefit from an ICD. 

It is believed that approximately 60% of patients who receive defibrillators as a result of these assessments may not actually need one. This blood test will determine more accurately which patients do in fact need the defibrillator. 

Sudden cardiac death is an unexpected death caused by loss of heart function, or sudden cardiac arrest. It is the most common cause of natural death in the US resulting in approximately 325,000 adult deaths in the country each year. 

The incidence rate is quite high in India - about 10% of all cardiac-related deaths are sudden while the mean age of the patients who die is lower than 60 years. 

Studies have showed that one-third of the patients who die of SCD had heart attacks in the past and 80% of them were smokers or had risk factors like hypertension and diabetes. 

Dudley said, "This is the first test of its kind. Never before have clinicians been able to accurately assess a patient's risk of sudden cardiac death by performing a blood test. The primary prevention model for at-risk patients in the US is to implant an ICD before a cardiac event happens. While it's better to be safe this has led to widespread overuse of ICDs throughout the US and abroad." 

SCD is a condition in which the heart unexpectedly stops beating. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. If not treated the sufferer dies within minutes.

Our heart has an electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. Abnormal functioning of this electrical system can cause irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm. 

Some arrhythmias can cause the heart to stop pumping blood to the body and this leads to SCA. This, however, is not the same as a heart attack. 

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked but the heart usually doesn't stop beating. 

People who have heart disease are at higher risk. But people who appear healthy and have no known risk factors can also fall prey to this killer. 

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

10 Tips to Cut Your Electricity Bills in Half

Today is World Environment Day and what better way to celebrate than to go green! While the heat and mercury levels are up and the power demand is only rising this summer, we show you how to save electricity. Yes, a few minor but smart adjustments could help you save electricity and cut your electric bills in half!

24 degrees is cool enough
A/Cs help us survive the scorching summer months but they are also big time electricity suckers. The cooler it gets, the more power is being consumed. So instead of shock frosting your home at 18 degrees settle for a very comfortable 24 degrees and save some power. 

Switch it off
Even though you have switched the TV off after watching your favourite program it’s still eating up electricity in the ‘stand-by mode’. As a matter of fact all devices kept on ‘stand-by’ account for a whopping 5 percent of the city’s power consumption. So make sure to switch off these devices completely

Right lights
You might not see a difference in the way they light up the room but the right choice of bulbs shows on your electricity bill. Compact fluorescent ones are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs but provide the same lighting.

Iron dry
Even getting those wrinkles out of your clothes can turn into an act of electricity saving. For that, select iron boxes with an automatic temperature cut off and neither wet the clothes while ironing them nor start working on them after you’ve just retrieved them from the washing machine.

Cool and covered
There’s a whole bunch of things you can do to cut down on the power supply your fridge requests. To start with set the thermostat in medium cooling position and make sure there’s enough space between the wall and the fridge so that air can easily circulate. Don’t overload it and also don’t put any hot or warm foods straight into it. Always cover liquids and wrap foods because otherwise they’ll get moist and make the compressor work harder.

Wash 'n' save
Your washing machine works most efficiently if you fill it up nicely with dirty clothes and use the requested amount of detergent only. If your clothes are not too dirty, using cold water is fair enough. If possible use a timer facility and dry your clothes naturally instead of using an electric dryer.

Energy-friendly shower
Give your geyser a break after 10 am or keep it switched off all together because cold showers are way more refreshing. If you need hot water, reduce the thermostat setting to 50 degrees. If available use a solar water heater, which is the eco-friendly alternative to your regular electric water heater.

Smart waves
Compared to a regular, stove a microwave oven consumes half as much energy. Except for baking breads and pastries, you do not have to preheat the microwave. Of course you want to check if your food’s ready to be eaten. But don’t check too often because each time you open its door the temperature drops by 25 degrees.

Concerned cooking
For preparing your favourite foods use a pressure cooker as much as possible because it saves time and energy. 
If you own an electric stove, turn it off several minutes before the specified cooking time and make use of the remaining heat. Before you start cooking any items you’ve kept in the fridge, let them sit for 10 minutes on the counter to adapt to room temperature.

Green shade
Stock up on pretty potted plants and shrubs or plant some trees in front of your house if possible and position them in such a way that they block the sun from shining straight on your A/C. A unit operating in the shade needs up to 10 percent less electricity than one exposed to sun.

Source: https://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com

Scientists calculate exact age of Moon

LONDON: An international team of planetary scientists have now calculated the exact age of the Moon. 

The team of researchers from France, Germany and the US has simulated the growth of the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Earth and Mars) from a disk of thousands of planetary building blocks orbiting the Sun. 

By analysing the growth history of the earth-like planets from 259 such simulations, the scientists have discovered the relationship between the time the earth was impacted by a mars-sized object to create the moon and the amount of material added to the earth after that impact. 

The conclusion they have reached is that the moon formed nearly 100 million years after the start of the solar system. 

This is the first geologic clock in early solar system history that does not rely on measurements and interpretations of the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei to determine age. 

The conclusion, they say, is based on measurements from the interior of the earth combined with computer simulations of the proto-planetary disk from which the earth and other terrestrial planets formed. 

The research was funded by the European Research Council, as well as NASA's Astrobiology Virtual Planetary Laboratory. 

Augmenting the computer simulation with details on the mass of material added to the earth by accretion after the formation of the moon revealed a relationship that works much like a clock to date the moon-forming event. 

"We were excited to find a clock for the formation time of the moon that didn't rely on radiometric dating methods. This correlation just jumped out of the simulations and held in each set of old simulations we looked at," says lead author Seth Jacobson of the Observatory de la Cote d'Azur in Nice, France. 

From geochemical measurements, the newly established clock dates the moon to just over 95 million years after the beginning of the solar system. This estimate for the moon-formation agrees with some interpretations of radioactive dating measurements. 

Because the new dating method is an independent and direct measurement of the age of the moon, it helps to guide which radioactive dating measurements are the most useful for this longstanding problem. 

"This result is exciting because in the same simulations that can successfully form Mars in only 2 to 5 million years, we can also form the Moon at 100 million years. These vastly different timescales have been very hard to capture in simulations," says author Dr Kevin Walsh from the Southwest Research Institute Space Science and Engineering Division.

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Daily coffee habit linked to lower risk of liver cancer, study says

In their continuing quest to prove that coffee is indeed a health food, medical researchers analyzed the health records of nearly 180,000 Americans and determined that the ones with a daily java habit were less likely to get a common type of liver cancer than their less-caffeinated counterparts.

The study, presented this week at the American Assn. for Cancer Research's annual meeting in San Diego, may not be enough to get your coffee break covered by your health insurance, but the results were striking.

Compared with people who drank no more than six cups of coffee per week, those who drank one to three cups per day were 29% less likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, which is the most common form of liver cancer. Serious coffee drinkers -- those who downed four or more cups per day -- were 42% less likely to be diagnosed with the disease.

“Now we can add HCC to the list of medical ailments, such as Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke, that may be prevented by coffee intake,” study leader V. Wendy Setiawan, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a statement.

Though she is not a physician, she added: “Daily coffee consumption should be encouraged in individuals who are at high risk for HCC.”

RELATED: Foods that affect your risk of cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for about 85% of all liver cancers in the U.S., and kills about 16,000 people a year, according to 2008 review article in the Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 3.2 out of every 100,000 Americans is diagnosed with HCC each year, while researchers at the National Cancer Institute say the rate is 4.9 cases per 100,000 Americans.

Setiawan and her colleagues decided to look for a link between HCC and coffee consumption after epidemiological studies from other countries suggested that the drink could reduce the risk of the cancer.

They examined data on 179,890 African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Japanese Americans, Latinos and Caucasian adults who enrolled in the Multiethnic Cohort Study in the 1990s. The study participants reported their coffee-drinking habits (along with lots of other dietary data) when they joined the study.

Eighteen years after the study began, 498 of the volunteers had developed HCC. But the risk wasn’t spread evenly among coffee drinkers and non-drinkers. Although the researchers controlled for factors such as the volunteers’ body mass index, drinking and smoking habits, ethnicity and other factors, they found that these things didn’t affect the relationship between coffee consumption and HCC.

Setiawan said she wasn’t sure why coffee seems to protect the liver, but the research team intends to investigate the link (if any) between java and chronic liver diseases.


And in case you were wondering, the study was not bankrolled by Starbucks. Funding came from the National Cancer Institute.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/science

The Definitive Answer To 20 Of Your Biggest Health Questions

Does olive oil prevent heart disease? 

Short answer: Yes 

The health benefits of olive oil come from the presence of polyphenols, antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart diseases and cancers. 

But to get these healthy compounds, consumers should buy good-quality, fresh "extra-virgin" olive oil, which has the highest polyphenol content. Most commercially available olive oils have low levels of polyphenols associated with poor harvesting methods, improper storage, and heavy processing. 

Do cough syrups work? 

Short answer: No 

In 2006, the nation's chest physicians agreed that the majority of over-the-counter cough medicines don't actually work. These colorful syrups typically contain doses of codeine and dextromethorphan that are too small to be effective. 

Only cough suppressants that contain older antihistamines seem to relieve coughs. That includes brompheniramine, an active ingredient in Dimetapp. 

Does sugar cause hyperactivity? 

Short answer: No

Following a review of 23 studies, a 1996 report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that sugar "does not affect the behavior or cognitive performance of children." 

The age-old myth that kids misbehave when they eat large amounts of candy, cookies, and other junk food, could be related to the type of events where these foods are typically served. For example, kids are more wound-up at birthday parties and during Halloween when sweet treats tend to flow freely. 

Do sugary soft drinks lead to diabetes? 

Short answer: Yes

The majority of health research is stacked against sugar-sweetened soda. A large 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women who drank one or more sugary drinks per day increased their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 83% compared to those who consumed less than one of these beverages per month. 

Do I need sunscreen with more than 30 SPF?

Short answer: No

Sunscreens with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 block about 97% of ultraviolet rays, while sunscreens with an SPF of higher than 30 block 97%-98%.  It's more important that you choose "broad-spectrum" sunscreen, meaning it protects against both UVB and UVA rays. Sunbathers also need to apply a generous amount of sunscreen in order to get the full benefit of the SPF. 

Is the MSG in Chinese likely to give you a headache? 

Short answer: No

A review of 40 years of clinical trials, published in the journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 2006, found that all previous research "failed to identify a consistent relationship between the consumption of MSG and the constellation of symptoms that comprise the syndrome," including headaches and asthma attacks.  The misconception spawned from several poorly-done small studies in the 1960s that seemed to connect MSG with a variety of maladies that people experienced after eating at Chinese restaurants.  Learn more about the MSG myth here » 

Do nuts make you fat? 

Short answer: No 

As much as 75% of a nut is fat. But eating fat doesn't necessarily make you fat. The bigger factor leading to weight gain is portion-size. Luckily, nuts are loaded with healthy fats that keep you full. They're also a good source of protein and fiber.  One study even found that whole almonds have 20% less calories than previously thought because a lot of the fat is excreted from the body. 

Is walking as effective as running? 

Short answer: Yes 

Studies have shown that how long you exercise — and thus how many calories you burn — is more important than how hard you exercise. Running is a more efficient form of exercise, but not necessarily better for you. 

A six-year study published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology in April found that walking at a moderate pace and running produced similar health benefits, so long as the same amount of energy was expended. 

Is drinking fruit juice as good for you as eating fruit? 

Short answer: No 

Calorie for calorie, whole fruit provides more nutritional benefits than drinking the pure juice of that fruit. That's because when you liquefy fruit, stripping away the peel and dumping the pulp, many ingredients like fiber, calcium, vitamin C, and other antioxidants are lost.  For comparison, a five-ounce glass of orange juice that contains 69 calories has .3 grams of dietary fiber and 16 milligrams of calcium, whereas an orange with the same number of calories packs 3.1 grams of fiber and 60 milligrams of calcium. 

Are all wheat breads better for you than white bread? 

 Short answer: No 

Not all wheat breads are created equal. Wheat breads that contain all parts of the grain kernel, including the nutrient-rich germ and fiber-dense bran, must be labeled "whole grain" or "whole wheat." 

Some wheat breads are just white bread with a little bit of caramel coloring to make the bread appear healthier, according to Reader's Digest. 

Can a hot tub make me sick? 

Short answer: Yes 

Hot tubs — especially ones in spas, hotels, and gyms — are perfect breeding grounds for germs. 

The water is not hot enough to kill bacteria, but is just the right temperature to make microbes grow even faster. Even though hot tubs are treated with chlorine, the heat causes the disinfectant to break down faster than it would in regular pools. The most common hot tub infection is pseudomonas folliculitis, which causes red, itchy bumps. A more dangerous side-effect of soaking in a dirty Jacuzzi is a form of pneumonia known as Legionnaire's disease. This is what reportedly sickened more than 100 people at the Playboy Mansion back in 2011. 

Does coffee cause cancer? 

Short answer: No 

Coffee got a bad rap in the 1980s when a study linked drinking coffee to pancreatic cancer. The preliminary report was later debunked.  More recently, health studies have swung in favor of the caffeinated beverage. Coffee has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, liver cancer, and even 

suicide. 

Do eggs raise cholesterol levels? 

 Short answer: No 

Although egg yolks are a major source of cholesterol — a waxy substance that resembles fat — researchers have learned that saturated fat has more of an impact on cholesterol in your blood than eating foods that contain cholesterol. 

"Healthy individuals with normal blood cholesterol levels should now feel free to enjoy foods like eggs in their diet every day," the lead researcher from a 25-year University of Arizona study on cholesterol concluded. 

Can you drink too much water? 

Short answer: Yes 

It is very rare for someone to die from drinking too much water, but it can happen. Overhydrating is most common among elite athletes. Drinking an excess of water, called water intoxication, dilutes the concentration of sodium in the blood leading to a condition known as hyponatremia. The symptoms of hyponatremia can range from nausea and confusion to seizures and even death in severe cases. 

To avoid this, drink fluids with electrolytes during extreme exercise events. 

Can yogurt ease digestive problems? 

Short answer: Yes 

Our digestive tract is filled with microorganisms — some good and some bad. Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria, generically called probiotics, that helps maintain a healthy balance. Probiotics can relieve several gastrointestinal problems, including constipation and diarrhea.  Certain brands of yogurts, like Activa by Dannon, are marketed exclusively to treat tummy issues. 

Do whitening toothpastes whiten teeth more than regular toothpastes? 

Short answer: No 

Whitening toothpastes usually contain peroxides and other strong abrasives that might make your teeth appear whiter by removing stains. Unlike at-home whitening strips and gels that contain bleach, these toothpastes do not actually change the color of your teeth. 

Is it safe to microwave food in plastic containers?

Short answer: Yes

But the plastic container should display the words "microwave safe." This means that the Food and Drug Administration has tested the container to make sure no chemicals used to make the plastic leech into foods during microwaving. If chemicals do seep out into food, the amounts are tiny and not dangerous to our health.  As a general guideline, plastic grocery bags as well as most plastic tubs that hold margarine, yogurt, cream cheese, and condiments are not microwave safe. 

Can watching TV ruin your eyesight?

Short answer: No

Watching TV will not destroy your rods and cones as the outdated myth suggests. Before the 1950s, TVs emitted radiation that could increase an individual's risk of eye problems after excessive TV viewing. Modern TVs have special shielding that blocks these harmful emissions. 

Is red wine better for you than white wine?

Short answer: Yes 

Red wine contains much more resveratrol than white wine, an antioxidant found in the skin of grapes that has been shown to fight off diseases associated with aging. 

Is bottled water better for you than tap water? 

Short answer: No

Bottled water is no safer or purer than tap water, although it is substantially more expensive. 

A recent study by Glasgow University in the U.K. found that bottled water is actually more likely to be contaminated than water from your faucet because it is less well-regulated. 

Bottled water and tap water typically come from the same sources — natural springs, lakes, and aquifers. While public water supplies are tested for contaminants every day, makers of bottled water are only required to test for specific contaminants every week, month, or year. 

25 DIY Uses For Lemon Peels

We recently did a post about the uses of orange peels, so it would ojnly make sense to do a follow up with lemon peels! Here are 25 reasons that you shouldn't throw away those lemon peels!


1. Make an All-Purpose Cleaner

You can use lemon peels and vinegar to make a great and all-natural all-purpose cleaner. Do this by filling a container of your choice with lemon peels. Add in vinegar to cover the peels and seal with a tight-fitting lid. Put the container away and forget about it for two weeks. After two weeks, strain the lemon peels from the vinegar and add water to the lemon vinegar. This mixture will clean the greasiest and dirtiest spots around the house and you'll never have to buy and all-purpose cleaner again!

2. Skin Lightener or Brightener
Lemon is a natural skin lightener because it contains citric acid which is actually a bleaching agent. Apply the leftover lemon peels to your hands, face or wherever else you would like to lighten the skin and tighten the pores.











3. Garbage Disposal Deodorizer
In order to rid of poor smells coming from the garbage disposal, toss a few lemon or orange peels down the drain. Remove the fruit before doing this because the citrus-y juices could come splashing back in your face!

4. Simmering Stove-Top Scents
Add some lemon peels or rinds to a but of simmering water, cloves, cinnamon sticks and orange peels for a natural deodorizer and humidifier for the air.



5. Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen
Scatter small slices of lemon peels around the kitchen to get rid of ants. Make sure you place them at the thresholds, windowsills, around door entrances and near any cracks where the ants may be entering. Ants do not like the smell of lemon and will not enter your home. They can also be effective protection against larger insects like roaches and fleas.



6. Coffee Cup Stain Remover
Have a favorite coffee cup that is stained at the bottom? Put a small section of lemon peel into a stained coffee mug and add water. Let the cup sit for several hours and then wipe it clean with a cloth. The stains should completely disappear!

7. Keep Your Refrigerator Fresh
Cut a lemon in half and place in the fridge to absorb the smells. This time, you should leave the fruit and peel together so that they moisture of the fruit can absorb the odor.

8. Tea Kettle/ Coffee Pot Cleaner
If you have mineral deposits in your tea kettle or coffee pot, fill the kettle with water and add a handful of thin lemon peel slices. Bring the water to a boil, turn off the heat and let the mixture sit for an hour. Drain the mixture and rinse well. For a coffee pot, add ice, salt and lemon rinds to the empty pot, swish and swirl for a minute or two, then dump and rinse the mixture.




9. Microwave Cleaner
If your microwave is letting off stink, add lemon rinds to a microwave-safe bowl and fill the bowl with water half-way. Cook in the microwave on high for 5 minutes, allowing the water to boil and the steam to condense inside the microwave. Carefully remove the bowl and wipe away the mess in the microwave with a damp towel.

10. Chrome Polish
To cut through mineral deposits on chrome faucets and other tarnished chrome, rub it with a squeezed lemon half, rinse and buff with a soft cloth. For this cleaning method, the lemon should remain with the fruit inside.

11. Copper, Brass and Stainless Steel Polish
To brighten up copper, brass or stainless steel, dip half of a lemon in salt and rub it on the affected area. Leave the lemon on for 5 minutes, rinse with warm water and polish dry.

12. Cutting Board Refresher
If you want to refresh your cutting board, rub the surface with a lemon after washing. Let the lemon sit for a few minutes and then rinse. The antibacterial properties of the lemon will remove the germs lurking on your cutting board.

13. Brown Sugar Keeper
To keep brown sugar moist and ready to use, add some lemon peel (with the pulp removed) to the brown sugar
.
14. Lemon Zest
Lemon zest is great to add to marinades, salads, baked goods and lots of other dishes. To zest a lemon, simply grate the peel with a zester or the smallest grater you have. You can use the zest when it's fresh, or dry it out on paper towel and store it in a jar.
lemon peel

15. Lemon Twists
Use a vegetable peeler or a knife to cut long strips of the lemon, while removing the white pitch part of the peel that is bitter. Prepare on the spot or save them for cocktails or lemon water later in the freezer.

16. Lemon Extract Powder
Using the zest or twists above, try the strips or zest skin-side down on a plate for about 3 to 4 days. Put the dried peels into a blender or a spice grinder and pulverize them into powder. You can use this powder instead of lemon extract or zest in recipes.

17. Lemon Sugar
Once you've made the lemon extract powder, you can also add it to sugar, or make fresh twists and place them in a jar of sugar to ferment and infuse the sugar.

18. Lemon  Pepper
Mix the lemon extract powered with freshly cracked pepper for an interesting taste.

19. Candied Lemon Peel
Deliciously Sweet candied lemon peels can be eaten plain, dipped in chocolate or used in baked goods. The peel or twist is candied by placing it or cooking it in sugar.

20. Lemon Sugar Scrub
Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar with finely chopped lemon peel and add enough olive oil to make a paste. Wet your body in the shower, turn off the water and massage the sugar rinse all over your skin. Then rinse off with warm water and feel the softness!
nail whiteness!

21.Nail Whitener
Whiten your fingernails by rubbing them with a lemon wedge.

22. Motion Sickness Cure
Suck a slice of lemon to prevent you from feeling nauseous.
grater cleaner

23. Grater Cleaners
Clean out old or hard to reach spots in your grater by rubbing the pulp side of a cut lemon over the grater.

24. Fire starters
You can make natural and cheap fire starters for those camping nights by baking discarded lemon or orange peels until they darken.

25. Trash Can Deodorizer

Put a few lemon peels in the bottom of the trash can from time to time to keep your garbage from stinking up the house.