Author Archives: yjpark

Can Exercise Help to Prevent Cancer?

Many people have believed cancer is found in people’s genes and therefore cannot be prevented. It is a good thing to see that simple exercise is proving people wrong. However in as much as it is true that certain types of cancers run in the family; most cancers are not linked to genes we inherit from our parents. In fact, only a small portion of all cancers is inherited. Cancer is highly preventable and not just cancer, many other diseases too; such as heart attacks and chronic illnesses. These killer diseases can be prevented by a simple general change in a person’s lifestyle.

A large study in 2008 found out that a combination of four healthy behaviors could automatically improve your health or even help prevent killer diseases. These behaviors were: not smoking, moderating how much alcohol you drink, keeping active and eating five daily portions of fruit and vegetables everyday. The people who ticked all the four healthy boxes are more likely to gain fourteen years of life compared to those who do not follow what the healthy boxes require. At the end of the study, health doctors said that they were less likely to die from cancer or heart disease.

(image from: wikimedia)

Exercise is a good take to battle cancer with. Exercise even prevents people from being overweight, which is another cause for diseases like diabetes, heart failure and cancer. Exercise is simple to do and a God sent healer. Why don’t people just embrace it and do it wholeheartedly and eventually save lives. Furthermore, it is inexpensive; you do not need to have a gym instructor to discipline yourself in exercise. It is a matter of a decision – to wake up early in the morning and go jogging for a couple of hours. This will increase your blood circulation and make sure your body is fit and healthy.

This is a call for everyone who values their health, no matter what your weight is. A list of that can be prevented by exercising is: Being active boosts high density lipoprotein or cholesterol which in turn decreases unhealthy triglycerides. It prevents cancer, heart attacks, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, depression, metabolic syndrome, falls and basically almost every single disease. So, worry no more about your health and embrace exercise.

Anti-cancer food (image from: wikimedia)

Eating right is the next big thing that anyone can engage in to save their lives. A study has shown that being overweight after completing cancer treatment was the cause of shorter survival times and a higher risk of cancer recurrence. People talk of eating a balanced diet but which foods really prevent cancer? Anti-cancer foods really work, yes; it’s being tried and tested. While you exercise your way to a healthy living, you can try these foods too to help prevent occurrence and recurrence of cancer: blueberries, green tea, garlic, broccoli, onions, cooked tomatoes, red wine, soybeans, turmeric and watercress. The delicious foods have also, in addition to exercise, been on the front line in battling prostrate, breast, lung, and colon cancers.

Flu Virus

Flu is a common name for influenza, an infectious disease found in mammals and birds, caused by the RNA viruses. Its symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, headache, fever, coughing, and chills. The two modes of transmission for flu include the air through sneezes or coughs, and direct contact through touching contaminated surfaces or nasal secretions and bird droppings. Disinfectants, sunlight and detergents can inactivate the flu virus. Occasionally, pneumonia may develop as a result of flu, either viral pneumonia that is direct or bacterial pneumonia that is secondary. A common sign that flu is developing into pneumonia in both children and adults is when the flu patient seems to be recovering but starts having trouble in breathing or with high fever. However, sometimes flu is confused with an illness like common cold.

Flu spreads in seasonal epidemics leading to severe illnesses and deaths every year. Three flu epidemics occurred in the 20th Century, having been caused by a new virus strain in humans leading to millions of deaths. Most commonly, the strain occurs when the virus spreads form animals to humans. It occurs when new genes from pigs’ or birds’ virus are picked up by human strains. However, there are three common types of influenza that include influenzavirus A, influenzavirus B, and influenzavirus C. Each of these genus have on species, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and influenza C virus.

Picture of ducks (Source: commons.wikimedia.org)

Influenzavirus A is naturally hosted by wild aquatic birds but the same is spread to other bird species causing a severe outbreak in domesticated poultry. This may be subdivided into serotypes depending on the response of antibodies to the virus. In humans, the confirmed serotypes that cause deaths include H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, H5N1, H7N7, H1N2, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7, and H7N9. Influenzavirus B is not as common as influenzavirus A and it infects humans exclusively. However, the only animals known to be susceptible to this flu virus include the ferret and the seal. Influenzavirus B mutates twice to thrice slower than influenzavirus A. Also, it has less genetic diversification, with one influenza serotype. Influenzavirus C is found in pigs, humans and dogs and sometimes causes local epidemics and severe illnesses. It is not as common as other types of influenza viruses with a mild cause of the disease among children.

CDC scientist transferring H7N9 (Source: commons.wikimedia.org)

Therefore, since the modes of transmission for the flu virus include the air through sneezes or coughs, and direct contact through touching contaminated surfaces or nasal secretions and bird droppings, it is advisable that good personal hygiene should be maintained. The hygiene habits include frequent washing of hands, avoidance of touching the mouth, nose and eyes, avoiding contact with patients, avoiding spiting, the use of gloves and face masks when taking care of patients, avoiding smoking as it raises risks of infection, and surface sanitizing.

Fukushima Radiation Effects Under Control

In 2011, the tsunami that hit Japan led to discharge of radioactive isotopes from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The venting reduced gaseous pressure from the reactor containment vessels and discharge of water from the coolant into the sea. The USS Ronald Reagan undertook a rescue mission following the nuclear plant accident. However, several months later, the US sailors started experiencing severe radiation symptoms that prompted them to file suits against the Tokyo Electric Power Company with claims that the company failed to disclose radiation details from the US Navy after the nuclear power plant accident. According to the WHO report, 70% of the people exposed to radiation are likely to develop thyroid cancer, 7% are at a risk of suffering from leukemia, 6% from breast cancer, 4% from female cancers.

Image by IAEA Imagebank (Source: flickr.com)

Traces of the radioactive particles have been detected worldwide and numerous deaths of birds, animals and sea life have been linked to the radioactive plume. However, since  the accident, the Tokyo Electric Power Company has been trying to contain the radioactive leaks and nuclear radiation levels around the Fukushima power plant. Their effort has been successful because at the worst month following the disaster, Fisher’s lab tested Tuna that had been caught off the waters of California. The radioactivity dose from the tuna was much lower than what people are exposed to from eating bananas, medical X- rays, and natural occurrence. This is because disperse of contaminants through the Pacific Ocean into the West Coast dilutes the radiation concentration reducing it several times. Additionally, the federal and state agencies have boosted monitoring of radiation after the disaster and the recorded data shows a decline in the high levels in milk and air.

IAEA experts monitoring water samples (Source: flicker.com)

On the contrary, assertions are circulating in the internet that seafood and beaches are being contaminated by radiation from the Fukushima meltdown. For example, the YouTube video titled ‘28 Signs that the West is Being Absolutely Fried with Nuclear Radiation from Fukushima’ shows a man detecting radiation levels using a Geiger counter on Half Moon Bay beach. Also, an outrageous worry in Seattle was also observed that people were afraid of eating seafood and going to the beach. This prompted the California Department of Public Health to send inspectors to test radiation levels. The analysis showed that radiation at the beach resulted from natural occurrence from minerals in the sand but not as a result of the Fukushima radiation.

Since the tsunami that led to discharge of radioactive isotopes from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, there has been tremendous improvement in the control of radiation health risks. The Tokyo Electric Power Company controlled the leaks and the same has been reviewed several times by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition, numerous tests have been conducted and it has been established that fish are safe for human consumption. Also, it has been established that beaches are safe for use by the public.