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Article |
| C is for CANCER |
| Sun, 22nd January 2012 |
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Ones worst fear is cancer, which kills 35,000 in Australia every year. Bowel, lung, breast and prostate head the list. The good news is that a vast number can be prevented by simple lifestyle measures that are virtually costless. Generally, here are the major causes. Worst is smoking, which not only causes lung cancer but affects many other organs. Do not smoke, and avoid the passive smoke of others which is just as lethal. Being overweight comes next and is responsible for many cancers in an indirect way. Reduce intake of foods high in fat and carbs. Exercise daily (30 minute walk is fine). Measure waist at navel level. 93 cm and less for men and 80 cm or less for women is the ideal. Bowel cancer is insidious, usually with no symptoms until well advanced. Risk is 1 in 25, but 1 in 8 if affecting a close relative. Although most occur in 50s and those over 50, many occur in people in their 20's and 30's. The "Haemoccult" (Rotary clubs, and pharmacies) test is a rough test. Colonoscopy is the gold standard. Eventually it will become as routine as the Pap test and mammogram in women. Always starts as a small wart (polyp), totally curable if removed. A daily aspirin reduces risks, but irritates the stomach. The mammogram is now standard for all women over 60 (some say 50), or ultrasound in younger women. The PSA blood test for guys 40 plus is an indicator, and if elevated, requires a prostate check. Sun exposure causes most skin cancers. Any persisting sore or dark mark requires intervention. Any persisting cough, especially in smokers needs a chest x-ray for early diagnosis and intervention. |
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| NUTS |
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Are nuts a good form of nutrition? |
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One of the best. Most are rich in protein, essential vitamins, minerals, and "good" fat. Walnuts (plus sensible diet) may control diabetes. Almonds are rich in calcium (strong bones).
Macadamias support cardiac health. Have a small handful each day, and vary regularly. |
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| WHOOPING COUGH |
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My dad has developed whooping cough, and is quite ill. I thought this disease had vanished, or only occurred in infants. |
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Once a major killer in babies, it vanished with mass immunisation of infants. But about 20 years ago, a report linked vaccination to a bowel disorder, long since discredited. Mothers simply stopped immunisation. Which meant it soon restarted. Little ones pass the germ to adults. Today, a single whooping cough-tetanus shot is advised for persons over 50. |
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| GAY |
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Is being gay an inherited issue? |
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Absolutely yes, as is nearly every other human characteristic, personality make-up or disease. At the moment of conception, tens of thousands of bits of DNA passed down through countless generations are passed on. Heaps have been identified with genetic mapping. Diabetes, breast cancer risks, heart disease to name a few, plus thousands more constantly being identified. Of course personal decisions and lifestyle can augment or suppress many. But if that microscopic bit of DNA is there, risks escalate. |
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| ROLLED OATS |
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What is the current view on rolled oats for brekky. Isn't it high in fat? |
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Rolled oats is one of the best breakfast cereals. Its low GI factor means it is absorbed slowly, keeps blood sugar levels normal, and can help control diabetes. It is highly nutritious, contains "good fats", which benefit the heart and blood vessels. |
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| BLOOD |
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I have been passing blood for months, often feel tired, and wonder what action I should take. |
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Please see a doctor at once. Most likely it's a bleeding pile (haemorrhoid, or dilated blood vessel near the entrance), but it could be cancer! Prompt diagnosis and intervention is essential. Local creams often help. If severe "rubber band ligation" quickly removes them. But a bowel cancer check is essential. |
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