Herbal News Magazine

First off, let’s talk about what PFC’s are. They are chemicals that are used to make non stick pans more slick so that food does not stick to them. They are used in a variety of other consumer products as well where they have a lot of close human contact, such as stain resistant clothing, so they are pretty pervasive in today’s consumer goods.

Alarmingly, these chemicals have been found in humans just like a barrage of other chemicals.  Even more alarmingly, children who tested with high levels of this chemical showed that they had weaker, more compromised immune systems. This suggests that these PFC’s may actually play some role in depressing the immune system in children, who are often still developing immunities to several types of flus, colds and other viral infections.

You may be confusing PFC’s with another common chemical that invades the human body easily as it is in a great many consumer products – cups we drink out of, cans we eat and drink out of and a lot of things we touch which we then absorb – BPA’s. Both chemicals have destructive effects on the human body and should be avoided with as much care as is possible without making life too hard.

These chemicals are fluorocarbons, and not only are the associated with lower general immunity and immune response in children, but they generally are considered to make vaccinations less effective.  Not sure that makes complete sense, and to be quite frank I don’t support most vaccinations anyway, just my personal opinion, but apparently PFC’s has this negative effect on their effectiveness.

You may remember hearing the term “fluorocarbons” before. Remember when it was all the rage to go from aerosol cans to pump?  This was the age when hairspray and giant hair were in back in the eighties?  Well, fluorocarbons were given lots of attention back then due to their ability to destroy parts of the ozone layer, which has been depleted over the years in part due to environmental pollutions caused by these chemicals.

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I read the most fascinating article about people who are diagnosed with a disease that is clearly related to smoking such as COPD, lung cancer, Emphysema and other commonly related diseases.  You would think people would quit the habit after finding out they ar diagnosed with one of the top causes of death, but many of them don’t. It’s not quite fifty percent of people who don’t quit but let me tell you it’s darn near that.

Roughly estimated, it’s about 40% of people who are diagnosed with one of these devasatating diseases that still do not quit smoking.  This goes to show just how mentally and physically addictive nicotine and tobacco are to the human body.  I even have a personal story to tell about this.

Someone close to me in my family was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his late fifties.  He never did quit smoking the entire time even when he was going through chemotherapy and all the other various poison therapies he unfortunately had to be on.

Now, I get that when a person is near the end of their life and are in the terminal stages of cancer they should just “do what they want”, but there is always a chance to come back, and smoking carcinogens into your lungs is certainly a good way to hasten the disease along.

He really couldn’t quit. He was that addicted to smoking and figured he still wanted to enjoy the habit even after his cancer took a turn for the worse and he became terminal.  Stopping the habit is indeed challenging. I was a smoker in college and had a hard time quitting, even though I had asthma and I never should have picked up the habit in the first place.

My conscious, intelligent mind was telling me to quit, yet my body and mind were also telling me how good it felt to hold that cigarette in my hand, inhale slowly and let the chemicals take control of my mind, giving me that great buzz that cigarettes give you.

It is indeed a huge challenge, but it’s worth it. I’ve been off cigarettes for almost a decade now and feel so much healthier.  It’s a shame that so many people, even after diagnosed with life threatening disease, cannot find the willpower to quit – this is a testament to how addictive and dangerous this pastime is.

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Everyone knows that smoking cigarettes, cigars and other things you inhale hot smoke into your lungs with are dangerous to your health. That has definitely been more than established by the medical community.  As if to drive the point home even further, the Center for Disease Control has released their top death causes list.

And guess what?  The top three causes are related in some way to smoking. That’s not to say there are not other factors involved such as genetics, other lifestyle choices and environmental factors. However, each of them can have a direct relation to the act of smoking. Which makes quitting smoking all that much more important.

3 Smoking-Related Causes of Death

1.)  Emphysema and other lung function disease such as COPD.  This one is one of the most undeniably smoking-related health issues that can lead to death pretty easily.  Aside from lung cancer, it is a definite link to smoking – although, as with everything else, it can also happen on its own without smoking, but that is pretty rare and the link is a well known one.

2.) Cancer.  There are several types of cancer that are related to smoking. Cigarettes are a carcinogen. Not only does the smoke produce toxic by-products, but the cigarettes themselves contain harmful chemicals that permeate not only the lungs and other organs in the body, but also the surfaces of furniture, the walls in homes, the surfaces in cars, and everywhere else the harmful habit is done, making it carcinogenic not only to the smoker, but also to “second hand smokers”.  Basically, cigarette smoke is a cancer causing agent, and for that reason, it has been linked to everything from breast cancer to prostate cancer.

3.) Heart disease.  Heart disease can be partially genetic, true. It can also be greatly attributed to your diet and lack of exercise. However, smoking is also another acknowledged risk factor in determining likelihood of heart disease. Your ticker is affected by smoking because smoking raises heart rate and also increases blood pressure and stress levels, all of which are not heart friendly and cause damage over the years.

Smoking generally makes the smoker feel relaxed in the very moments they are smoking (and gives them a feel-good buzz too, hence the addictiveness). However, this is misleading because in the end smoking really jacks our nervous system up and increases dangerous anxiety and stress hormone levels, none of which is good for the heart.

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The most common New Year’s resolutions are usually aimed at stopping a “vice” that is bothering you and leading to poor health, a lower self esteem or self image.  Probably one of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight.

There are so many different diets advertised and exercise programs that it’s difficult to choose which one will work for you.  One type of diet that has been effective, by many accounts, is the Atkin’s diet and many other variations of the low carbohydrate kind of diet.  Probably one of the reasons that the “low carb” kinds of diets work so well is that they automatically cut out the junk food that led to inevitable weight gain in the first place.

Another tried and true method of weight loss is the Weght Watcher’s Program.  This has been around for decades and has been effective for many throughout the years.  It is a well balanced, realistic diet that doesn’t cut out any food groups, uses support groups and psychological assistance with reaching your weight loss goals through a group therapy approach.

Whatever way you decide to reach your weight loss challenge, you will feel so much better physically and mentally when you reach your desired healthy weight.  Obesity and excess weight is linked to many physical ailments such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.  You will feel better about yourself each time you look in the mirror also.

This is why weight loss is such a huge resolution for people – men and women alike (although women get targeted the most in this one).  Your weight has a lot to do with your overall health and the way you think of yourself.  The fact that it is powerful stuff when it comes to your health and mental well being makes it a hotbed for target goals and rumination.

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When we are not feeling well or just want to make sure we are in good health, most of us make a visit to our family doctor.  In order for these visits to do the most to improve our health, it is of the utmost importance that we communicate well with our physician.

Medications, whether they are new or ongoing, should be assessed for dosage, effectiveness and duration of time they need to be taken. Certain medications that you have been on for months, or even years, should be evaluated and reviewed every time you visit with your doctor.

Some patients may be on the same medication for 5 to 10 years or more and never discuss its necessity with their doctor during their visits.  As with anything, there are new and improved medications that come out all of the time.  Ask if there may be a new medication that would apply to your situation or diagnosis.

Often, just because you were started on a medication years ago, it doesn’t always mean you have to stay on that medication for life.  Ask these questions of your physician so that you will know that you are on the best medication routine for your health and your medical conditions.

Sometimes, your lifestyle may have changed for the better and you may need a lower dose of a certain medication, or even be able to discontinue it altogether.  This may apply in situations such as diabetes control for Type 2 diabetes.  Weight loss, exercise and a proper diabetic diet may have improved your blood glucose readings.

Certain medications you will still need and if you would discontinue use, your symptoms could recur.  Discuss this with your doctor also.  In addition, take responsibility and let your doctor know about any over the counter drugs you are using and herbal or nutritional supplements you are taking.  These can affect any prescription medications you will take.

Generally speaking, once a doctor starts you on medication to lower cholesterol or to control hypertension, they usually want you on it for life.  Along with taking any of the statins your doctor will want to do blood tests regularly to check you liver function.

Oral contraceptives should be reviewed and discussed.  It is important that you tell your doctor if you begin smoking or if you started on any new medications while taking oral contraceptives.  Discuss with your doctor any over the counter medications you are taking.

This would include non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin or Advil.  Even drugs such as Tylenol should be mentioned and discussed.  Let your doctor know how much you take, how often and for what purpose.  Over the counter heartburn and acid reflux medications should be discussed also.

Discuss any possible side effects of any medications you are on or may be starting.  Make sure you review the affordability of any medications that are prescribed and look at all of the options available to you.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your doctor visits.  You are your doctor’s customer and you deserve the time it takes to ensure you will be getting the most effective treatment for any health issues you may have.

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