400,000 Reasons to Stop Smoking

Written by Kathy Burns-Millyard


Continued from page 1

- Among whites, 25.1 percent of men and 21.7 percent of women smoke

- Among black or African Americans, 27.6 percent of men and 18.0 percent of women smoke

- Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2 percent of men and 12.5 percent of women smoke

- Among Asians (only), 21.3 percent of men and 6.9 percent of women smoke - Among American Indians/Alaska Natives (only), 32.0 percent of men and 36.9 percent of women smoke Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those with 9-11 years of education (35.4 percent) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6 percent). It's highest among persons living belowrepparttar poverty level (33.3 percent).

And These Figures Spell Death...

·One out of every five deaths is caused by tobacco

·An average of 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco

·Tobacco is blamed for many serious pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases ·Tobacco and nicotine are some ofrepparttar 114627 most potent carcinogens and are to blame for a majority of all cancers ofrepparttar 114628 lung, trachea, bronchus, larynx, and esophagus

·Tobacco use also produces cancers inrepparttar 114629 pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix

·Impotency is sometimes to blame from addiction to nicotine because of its ability to reduce blood flow

·Smoking is an important risk factor for respiratory illnesses, causing 85,000 deaths per year from pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia ·Children and adolescents who are active smokers will have increasingly severe respiratory illness, as they grow older

·Smoking during pregnancy causes about 5-6% of prenatal deaths, 17-26% of low-birth-weight births, and 7-10% of pre-term deliveries, and it increasesrepparttar 114630 risk of miscarriage and fetal growth retardation

·Cigarettes are responsible for about 25% of deaths from residential fires, causing nearly 1,000 fire-related deaths and 3,300 injuries each year

So, are you ready to try and quit smoking now?

Visit http://www.health-and-fitness-information.com/Quit-Smoking/ to learn how you can finally quit smoking fast, easily, and all naturally!



© 2004 Kathy Burns-Millyard and The Health and Fitness Information Network

This article is provided courtesy of http://www.health-and-fitness-information.com - You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.


How Endometriosis Affects Conception

Written by Dr. Mike Berkley


Continued from page 1

What isrepparttar Cause of Endometriosis?

The cause of endometriosis is still unknown. One theory is that during menstruation some ofrepparttar 114626 menstrual tissue backs up throughrepparttar 114627 fallopian tubes intorepparttar 114628 abdomen, where it implants and grows. Another theory suggests that endometriosis may be a genetic process or that certain families may have predisposing factors to endometriosis. Inrepparttar 114629 latter view, endometriosis is seen asrepparttar 114630 tissue development process gone awry.

According torepparttar 114631 theory of traditional chinese medicine, endometriosis is a disease which is caused byrepparttar 114632 stagnation of blood. Blood stagnation may occur due to one or more abortions or lower abdominal or pelvic surgeries.

Additionally, engaging in sexual intercourse during menstruation may very likely over time cause blood stagnation. Emotional trauma, severe stress, physical or emotional abuse can all lead torepparttar 114633 stagnation of blood.

Additionally, diet may be a precipitating factor. The constant, long term ingestion of cold foods can congeal blood and thus contribute torepparttar 114634 stagnation thereof. Cold foods include raw vegetable, ices, ice cream, ice in drinks, frozen yogurt, etc. Remember, cold congeals. Think about what happens to a normal glass of water when put inrepparttar 114635 freezer. It turns to ice.

The blood is affected similarly. That is to say, it congeals, doesn't flow smoothly and can form endometrial adhesions, chocolate cysts, uterine fibroids. Whateverrepparttar 114636 cause of endometriosis, its progression is influenced by various stimulating factors such as hormones or growth factors. In this regard, investigators are studyingrepparttar 114637 role ofrepparttar 114638 immune system in activating cells that may secrete factors which, in turn, stimulate endometriosis.

In addition to these new hypotheses, investigators are continuing to look into previous theories that endometriosis is a disease influenced by delaying childbearing. Sincerepparttar 114639 hormones made byrepparttar 114640 placenta during pregnancy prevent ovulation,repparttar 114641 progress of endometriosis is slowed or stopped during pregnancy andrepparttar 114642 total number of lifetime cycles is reduced for a woman who had multiple pregnancies.

How is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of endometriosis begins with a gynecologist evaluatingrepparttar 114643 patient's medical history. A complete physical exam, including a pelvic examination, is also necessary. However, diagnosis of endometriosis is only complete when proven by a laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope (a tube with a light in it) is inserted into a small incision inrepparttar 114644 abdomen.

The laparoscope is moved aroundrepparttar 114645 abdomen, which has been distended with carbon dioxide gas to makerepparttar 114646 organs easier to see. The surgeon can then checkrepparttar 114647 condition ofrepparttar 114648 abdominal organs and seerepparttar 114649 endometrial implants. The laparoscopy will showrepparttar 114650 locations, extent, and size ofrepparttar 114651 growths and will helprepparttar 114652 patient and her doctor make better-informed decisions about treatment. Endometriosis is a long-standing disease that often develops slowly. What isrepparttar 114653 Treatment?

Whilerepparttar 114654 treatment for endometriosis has varied overrepparttar 114655 years, doctors now agree that ifrepparttar 114656 symptoms are mild, no further treatment other than medication for pain may be needed. Endometriosis is a progressive disorder.

It is my opinion that by not treating endometriosis it will get worse. Treatment should immediately after a positive diagnosis is made. The pain associated with endometriosis can be diminished by using acupuncture and herbal medicine. I have treated many women with endometriosis and have successfully alleviated pain and slowed down growth and recurrence of endometriosis.

For those patients with mild or minimal endometriosis who wish to become pregnant, doctors are advising that, depending onrepparttar 114657 age ofrepparttar 114658 patient andrepparttar 114659 amount of pain associated withrepparttar 114660 disease,repparttar 114661 best course of action is to have a trial period of unprotected intercourse for 6 months to 1 year. If pregnancy does not occur within that time, then further treatment may be needed. Again, these patients should consider herbal medicine to aid inrepparttar 114662 process of conception.



Dr. Mike Berkley is the founder and director of The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness, in New York. He works exclusively in the area of reproductive medicine and enjoys working in conjunction with some of New York’s most prestigious reproductive endocrinologists. Sign up for his free newsletter at www.BerkleyCenter.com


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