Chocolate holds a powerful allure for so many dementia symptoms of us, robbing us of the best of intentions to cut calories and control our weight. So how do we control cravings?Far more common in women (97%) than men (68%), that longing dementia symptoms for the rich, creamy flavor or dense, calorie-packed food dementia symptoms and all the feelings that go with them is something so many of us understand.

However, recent research by British scientists at the University of Exeter shows that a brisk 15-minute bit of exercise can halt that craving …

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Understanding herpes and what it is like for those who have it.

WHEN people hear the words ?genital herpes?, many of them react with disgust, fear or shame.

But do you realise that the woman sitting next to you on the LRT, or in front of you at the supermarket queue, could have herpes?

It doesn?t make her ?dirty? or promiscuous, and she doesn?t behave any differently ? she just has a virus, like you may have a cold virus.

different foods may act as triggers for some people. The most commonly reported food triggers are excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine, chocolate or nuts.

Having herpes is just like having any other condition that you have to live with. unfortunately, there is a lot of social stigma surrounding the disease, mainly because it is a sexually transmitted disease. just like with HIV, people with herpes fear to tell their friends, family, and even partners that they have the infection.

Due to this stigma, there are women with herpes who do not seek treatment, may unwittingly pass on the infection to their partners, and cannot enjoy a full life.

This article is intended to help women understand herpes and what it is like for those who have it. Life doesn?t end when you have herpes.

The thing about herpes

Herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, and can manifest as cold sores around the mouth or face (oral herpes), or in the genitals, buttocks, or anal area (genital herpes).

Genital herpes is transmitted through sexual intercourse, even oral sex.

Herpes does not always produce symptoms, but when it does, the symptoms vary with each person. some people get very painful sores, about two to 10 days after they become infected with the virus. The sores are small, fluid-filled blisters that group in clusters.

The sores may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, such as swollen glands, fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, and nausea. However, some people experience only mild symptoms.

Due to the wide range of symptoms, genital herpes may be wrongly diagnosed as other conditions, such as yeast infection, urinary tract infection, bladder dysfunction, inflammation of the cervix, or genital trauma.

For those with symptoms, they may experience outbreaks several times a year, where new sores or blisters appear.

While recurrent outbreaks are usually less severe, they can still cause a great deal of discomfort and frustration, sometimes during the worst times, like when something important is happening in your life.

What triggers the outbreaks

Stress ? both emotional and physical ? is believed to be the most significant trigger in herpes outbreaks. We may not realise it, but stress affects the body?s hormones and immune system, so that we become more vulnerable to illnesses and infections when we are stressed.

High levels of stress, caused by anger or fear over personal, work, and relationship problems, can trigger frequent recurring outbreaks. Physical stress, caused by other illnesses or lack of rest and exhaustion, can also lead to those nasty sores popping up.

It?s quite obvious that women with herpes need to control their stress levels and ensure that they get proper sleep. This may be easier said than done, but testimonies from other patients are evidence that it will bring some benefit in reducing the outbreaks.

Other triggers in your environment can be controlled quite easily, such as your clothing, your exposure to sunlight, and the food you eat. Tight clothing and undergarments can spark off an outbreak, so be sure to wear comfortable, cotton undergarments.

Women with herpes should also avoid exposure to UV light as much as possible by wearing protective clothing and hats, and staying indoors more often. always wear sunscreen with a high protective factor whenever you go outdoors.

Different foods may act as triggers for some people. The most commonly reported food triggers are excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine, chocolate or nuts. anyone with herpes should keep a diary of their outbreaks and record what they were eating and drinking at the time, in order to rule out the possible food triggers.

There are anti-viral medications that are quite effective in controlling genital herpes, and some may even help the patient reduce the shedding of the virus and prevent transmission of herpes to the sexual partner.

Having a relationship

Most women with herpes feel terribly ashamed when they are diagnosed with the infection. they feel as if they are walking around with a scarlet sign on their foreheads, and that they will never have a relationship again.

One of the most difficult things after the diagnosis is confronting the partner who may have given you the virus. This is a natural, human reaction, although pointing the finger will not help resolve the situation. consider the fact that your partner may not have known that he had the herpes virus, because not everyone exhibits symptoms.

The other side of the coin may be that you have to break the news to your partner that you have herpes. it will be a difficult conversation, but if you want to be in a trusting, monogamous relationship, your partner has the right to know how he can protect himself.

Using latex condoms can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus, as long as the condom remains unbroken and completely protects all areas of the penis that is in contact with the vagina.

A condom must be used for all forms of sexual contact, including oral, anal and manual sex, as it is skin contact that transmits the virus, not the semen.

If one of you has oral herpes, be very cautious about performing oral sex on your partner, as that could transmit the virus. Using a dental dam, or a latex condom, to cover the vaginal area, could reduce the risk of transmission.

You also need not worry that having herpes will stop you from having children. Many women with genital herpes have perfectly normal pregnancies. However, you should talk to your obstetrician about how to minimise the risk of transmitting the virus to your unborn baby.

Living with herpes may not be easy. But you can either choose to let it control you, or choose to control it, so that you can live a normal life.

Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar is a consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist (FRCOG, UK). for further information, visit primanora.com. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader?s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

I don't know why I have been getting indigestion for 2 weeks, I've never had it before. I have been taking a antacid containing calcium carbonate, it seems to relieve symptoms for a few hours then it comes back. what could I do to fix this problem? And what could be causing it?

you need to make an appt with our doctor. you could try PECID COMPLETE. its over the counter and it works. BUT,having constant indigestion is bad for you so you need to go to the doctor.

i agree; often indigestion can actually be another source of chest pain, which is why it's important to see a doctor. one of the more common causes is gastro-esophageal reflux disease; not sure about the treatment though.

For "at-home" remedies these are things you should try…Change what you eat and drink..no "acidy" foods, no sodas/pops/cokes. no coffee or no chocolate…Anything spicy [tomato's, pickles] or greasy fried foods or potato chips. if you smoke, that contributes too..also try walking for exercise [if you can]
For O.T.C. medicines to help check out Gaviscon it's really good, and Prilosec is now O.T.C. Sometimes if you have to take daily medicine, this can aid in having indigestion..

Pay attention to what "triggers" the indigestion and avoid it..once you get your stomach back "right" then you may be able to eat of those foods again, just in moderation…

You should, check with your doctor to make sure to don't have stomach ulcers and see what is the best course of treatment you need to help with this.. Some of the over the counter medicines can not be mixed with some prescription medicines, so check with your doctor first…..Best wishes…:)

Talk to your doctor about getting on some type of PPI – Proton Pump Inhibitor. These are drugs such as Nexium, Prevacid, Aciphex and Prilosec.

The reason your antacid is not working is because it is not getting to the source of the problem. GERD, acid reflux happen when your stomach is producing too many acids and this is when a PPI comes into play to bring the level down.

If you don't have insurance your best option would be to buy Prilosec OTC, which will cost about $24 depending where you go for 28 pills. I was taking this for a while and it was just as effective as the RX. However if you do have insurance the co-pay for Omeprazole is only $5.

Chocolate is probably the most well known. But grapes are just as dangerous. Angela Poates sat down with me to talk about the nightmare she went through with her dog, Rio.

You don't often see Poates without Rio by her side. It's safe to say, the husky-border collie mix is her best friend.

“I've always been like if I've got Rio I'm good,” said Poates.

So when a sudden illness hit Rio back in October, it was a devastating blow to Angela. she helplessly watched as her energetic, playful dog started slipping away.

“The people at the vet were like, we love him. He's so sweet. He's so quiet, that's not Rio,” said Poates.

The culprit, something you may not expect.

“I heard grapes were bad for dogs but I've also heard chocolate is bad for dogs, and I've known a ton of dogs that have eaten chocolate; maybe an upset stomach and they're fine,” said Poates.Rio went counter surfing and snacked on the seemingly harmless fruit drying in her kitchen sink. 

“They were sitting exactly right here, he ate probably number wise, 20,” said Poates.

Angela says Rio first had an upset stomach, the next day he wouldn't eat. she took him to the Veterinary Emergency Center in Carytown.

“Right then as soon as they took the blood work they found out he was in acute kidney failure,” said Poates.

Dr. Nathan Lippo, didn't treat Rio, but said any amount of grapes can be toxic to a dog.

“The toxin in the fruit is unknown but we do know it's in the flesh of the grape not the seeds, not the skin. It's a water soluble toxin so it effects them pretty badly,” said Dr. Lippo.Dr. Lippo said there have been a number of cases reported since it was first documented in 1999.

Chocolate tops the list for toxicity in dogs said Dr. Lippo, followed by grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and macademia nuts. Damage to a dog can vary with each food.

Dr. Lippo said while chocolate can cause cardiac problems. Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure.

“In onions and garlic, it's called a super-radical so it destroys red blood cells and for macademia nuts we don't know what the toxin is in that,” said Dr. Lippo.

You won't notice your dog is sick the moment it eats toxic foods.

“Unfortunately it takes about 12 to 24 hours for signs to appear but at that point the damage is already done,” said Dr. Lippo.

If your dog receives treatment right away, Dr. Lippo said the prognosis is good. Symptoms include acting lethargic, not eating and vomiting. Flushing the system and soaking up the toxin begins the recovery process.

It was touch and go for Rio. 

“Say our prayers, good boy,” said Poates to Rio.

He spent six nights at the emergency vet. When Angela couldn't afford the 24 hour vet care anymore, she started treating Rio at home. four months later, Rio is how Rio should be, for the most part. He's not 100%.

“They think there's probably permanent kidney damage,” said Poates.

While treatment was a huge expense, to Angela, the cost didn't matter. Angela spent more than $5,000 on vet visits.

She's had to change Rio's diet to accommodate for the kidney damage. Dr. Lippo said the majority of people food is safe for dogs, including green beans and carrots, but such treats should be given in moderation.

If you think your dog has eaten a toxic food, take it to the vet as soon as possible. 

Copyright 2011 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 December 2010, 12:55 CST

Researchers said that a chemical in cocoa could soon be turned into a medicine for persistent cough.

Scientists are in the final stages of clinical trials for a drug that contains theobromine, which is an ingredient found in chocolate and cocoa.

Developers in the U.K. say that the drug could be on the market within two years. 

Most current medicines used to control the symptoms are opiate-based ones like cough syrups containing codeine.

The Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in October that people under the age of 18 should not take codeine-based remedies because the risks outweigh the benefits.

Researchers say that the new theobromine treatment should not have this problem, and because it is flavorless it can be taken by those who dislike chocolate.

Theobromine is thought to work by inhibiting inappropriate firing of the vagus nerve, which is a key feature of persistent cough.

The final stage of the drug’s testing will begin in the next few months.

The drug is being developed by the private U.K. company called SEEK.

Manfred Scheske, CEO of Consumer Health at SEEK, told BBC: "I am very excited to announce the progression for the late-stage development of BC1036, which has the potential to dramatically impact the treatment of persistent cough and could greatly benefit the quality of life of persistent cough sufferers."

Professor Alyn Morice of the Hull Cough Clinic told BBC that there was a need for new treatments.

"Thousands of people across the UK suffer from persistent cough, and due to the drawbacks of current opioid drugs such as codeine, we are in desperate need of a non-opioid treatment with a drastically improved side effect profile for patients."

The cough can be a protective reflex in healthy individuals, but when the cough serves no useful role it is the most common respiratory complaint.  Persistent cough is defined as a cough that last for over 2 weeks.

On the Net:

• Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
• SEEK

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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Are there any foods that help relieve depression symptoms?

Thank you for any help.

Chocolate actually helps… in moderation. Chocolate releases some of the same endorphins in your brain that exercise does, which naturally makes you feel happier.

Strangely, salsa (hot peppers and cilantro) and chocolate

Carbs help, in my experience–a good sized bowl of pasta will lift your mood. Totally agree with the idea of a balanced diet, tho. Good luck to you–depression sucks.

Omega 3 fatty acids are known to help longterm relieve some depression symptoms. These can be found in fish, and many nuts, although you can also buy pills. Eating healthy will make your body feel better and give you the vitamins and minerals you need on a daily basis, giving you the best chance to recover quickly from depression symptoms.

Eating poorly to make yourself feel better will make your body feel worse, worsening depression symptoms, and just feeds the depression cycle. Good luck,..