Canine Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis sounds scary, and is scary. If the signs and symptoms are not recognized and aggressive treatment are not taken immediately, its severe and sudden onset can be fatal.

The good news is, most dogs never get it. The bad news is, you don’t have much time should your dog get it. That is why it is important to know what to watch for, and what crucial actions you must take to save your dog’s life.

What is HGE?

Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis occurs when the lining of the intestines leaks. What is happening is fluid, red blood cells, and protein seep out of the blood vessels and into the bowels, causing nausea, bloody vomit, and profuse and explosive bleeding from the rectum. Your dog may never get it. They may get it once in their life, or it may become a chronic condition.

It is not contagious.

Who Gets HGE?

Dogs of any age, breed or either gender can get it. Toy and smaller breeds, for example, Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, Miniature Poodles and Miniature Schnauzers between 2 and 4 years of age seem to be the preponderance of animals treated.

What makes this disease so insidious is the cause is unknown and there is no warning. There are numerous theories including, diet, bacterial toxin, intestinal parasites, normal or lower blood protein levels, and possibly even stress. Studies are also showing it seems to occur more in the spring.

Signs and Symptoms

This disease is fierce and progresses rapidly! The symptoms create a horrific mess! A perfectly healthy dog today, can be barely conscious in a puddle of blood by morning, then in shock in a matter of hours, and dead within 24 hours. It is vital for you to know what to watch for.

Symptoms include bloody, often explosive diarrhea, bloody vomit, both with an exceptionally foul odor. Most people who have dealt with HGE will agree, comparing it to “raspberry jam” is the best way to describe it.

Other signs and symptoms include rank smelling flatulence, lethargy, drooling, lack of appetite, dehydration, listlessness, depression, shock, and possibly death.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will begin by eliminating the most obvious. They include parvovirus, blockage, intestinal intussusceptions (telescoping one part of the bowel into another) intestinal volvulus (twisting of the intestines), gastrointestinal ulcers, corona virus, colitis, poison, hook worms, whip worms, leptospirosis, giardiasis, low platelets, coccidiosis, malabsorbtion, and cancer.

They will also note the absence of fever and no decrease in white blood cells, as well as normal or lower blood protein levels. Dogs with HGE commonly have high Pack Cell Volume (PCV), usually 60% or more, (normal is 35-55%). PCV is the measure of blood thickness caused by dehydration.

Treatment

Your veterinarian will ask you if you would prefer conservative or aggressive treatment. Do not waste time with conservative treatment. Insist on aggressive treatment. Your dog will remain in the hospital, with no food or water by mouth for 1-4 days. It also includes IV treatments with potassium, an anti-inflammatory and antibiotics to re-hydrate, help avoid shock, and prevent sepsis.

Your veterinarian may also change the protein in their diet. That means if they were on a predominately beef diet, it may be changed to chicken and/or lamb and possibly cottage cheese.

Prognosis

Your dog’s chance of survival is very good, if identified early and treated aggressively. Keep in mind, approximately 10-15% do have the risk for more than one episode.

Bottom line – Canine Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis can be fatal. Know the signs and symptoms, and take immediate and aggressive action. It could be the difference between life and death.

Fitness Article: Exercise with Lymphedema of the Leg…

I am writing this article from two points of view, as an experienced fitness trainer / strength coach who has studied health issues for many years and as a patient who suffers with lymphedema of the leg daily. I have been able to maintain my lymphedema pretty well, but that is because I have done extensive reading on the subject, I listened to my doctors, and I have extensive knowledge of exercise. It is on my mind every day, at almost every moment because it takes great effort to maintain properly. I have included the description of lymphedema below.

Lymphedema is a difficult thing to deal with and must be maintained all day long, every day. There is no cure for lymphedema. I have had lymphedema in my leg since my 1991 cancer surgery. I went from being a gymnastics coach and fitness trainer who exercised daily to being bedridden after my surgery as a result of the lymph nodes being removed along with the cancer. My life changed drastically, but I went back to work and learned how to maintain it as soon as possible. Several doctors told me that I would be bedridden for the rest of my life and that I would never work again. That was in 1991.

So, what is lymphedema? Here is the definition by the National Lymphedema Network…

“Lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the interstitial tissue that causes swelling, most often in the arm(s) and/or leg(s), and occasionally in other parts of the body. Lymphedema can develop when lymphatic vessels are missing or impaired (primary), or when lymph vessels are damaged or lymph nodes removed (secondary).

When the impairment becomes so great that the lymphatic fluid exceeds the lymphatic transport capacity, an abnormal amount of protein-rich fluid collects in the tissues of the affected area. Left untreated, this stagnant, protein-rich fluid not only causes tissue channels to increase in size and number, but also reduces oxygen availability in the transport system, interferes with wound healing, and provides a culture medium for bacteria that can result in lymphangitis (infection).”

So, what types of exercise can a lymphedema patient perform? That depends on the patient and whether they have medical clearance to exercise. Once cleared for exercise, the best exercise to reduce the leg swelling is swimming because the person is horizontal, in motion, and performing a non-impact movement. The second best exercise for a person with leg lymphedema is riding a recumbent bike. It is also non-impact, it’s a steady motion, and the legs are elevated slightly.

If the patient is in good physical condition otherwise and they have the lymphedema under control (as much as possible) they can use the elliptical machine. That is, if they can tolerate it from a fitness and medical standpoint. Make sure the lymphedema patient has permission from their doctor to perform exercise, especially an intense exercise such as the elliptical. Keep the person with lymphedema OFF THE TREADMILL. Walking and running cause the leg swelling to become MUCH worse because they are high impact. Picture someone putting ice cream into an ice cream cone and then packing it in. The swelling becomes dense, packed in if not maintained properly. The more severe, the more difficult it is to deal with.

In my experience, it can take an hour with the leg elevated before the swelling even BEGINS to go down and several days or weeks for it to completely drain. People with lymphedema should be wearing their compression stocking if their doctor prescribed it and sleeping with her legs elevated every night, unless their doctor has told them otherwise. It is important to stay in motion and to only perform non-impact exercises. For example, squats are often better than walking lunges for someone with lymphedema. The walking lunge is an impact exercise. Do NOT encourage a person with leg lymphedema to participate any exercise classes that include impact exercises. If they are in good shape the spin classes will keep the circulation going and help will lose or maintain a healthy body weight. It’s all about keeping the body in motion without ANY impact exercises.

Keep in mind that of the lymphedema is from a new surgery the patient MUST be cleared to begin exercise because if they begin to exercise before the doctors allow them to exercise they will cause problems with the lymphatic system. My doctors told me the swelling from the surgery would never go down if I started to exercise too soon and that I would cause permanent damage. I was told to wait one full year after my surgery before I was allowed to exercise my legs. I waited 10 months and couldn’t stand it any longer. I HAD to return to exercise because it was what I enjoyed and it was my life. Not being allowed to exercise my legs was extremely difficult for me because I spent a lifetime in the gym. Again, make sure the lymphedema patient has FULL medical clearance to exercise.

Here is something that many people do not know. When a person with lymphedema is not in motion and does not have compression stocking on their leg, they must keep their legs elevated in order to prevent swelling. Something as simple as waiting in line at the grocery store could cause enough swelling to keep a person in bed the next day. The swelling begins in less than a minute, literally, when standing still or sitting without the leg elevated. It is truly a challenge every minute of the day to keep the leg from swelling and those around lymphedema patients must be patient and considerate.

There is plenty of information on lymphedema. It is either primary or secondary. Secondary lymphedema would be caused from something such as a cancer surgery. Mine is secondary because my lymph nodes were removed from my upper thigh on one leg during my cancer surgery. If the lymphedema is not controlled it can end up being elephantitis. Yes, it is a real medical condition and it is very serious. There are lymphedema support groups throughout the USA. The National Lymphedema Network has plenty of information.

Let me know how I can help you…

Karen Goeller, CSCS

It is important to examine our nails regularly and check for any discolorations and changes in nail shape and structure. Our nails are seldom the first clues to disease, but it is nevertheless valuable to know that certain diseases manifest in our nails. Being able to discern between the serious and less serious signs in our nails will enable us to know when to seek advice and when we can take measures to resolve the problem ourselves. Overall, nail health remains an important part of a healthy body.

In order to notice abnormalities, we must first be acquainted with what a normal nail should look like. A healthy nail is semi-transparent, light pink and intact on the nail bed. The white half moon (or lunula) is visible just above the cuticle. Examining the nails may not provide an absolute diagnostic tool, but if the changes below are noticed and you have any concerns about them, speak to your doctor.

What Do Changes In Nail Color Reveal?

• Yellow Nail Syndrome is a yellow discoloration of the fingernails and may indicate respiratory conditions and lymphatic conditions. Other characteristics of yellow nail syndrome include thickening of the nails, stunted new growth and there may even be detachment from the nail bed in some instances.
• Terry’s Nails manifest in opaque-looking nails with a dark band at the tip of the nail. Although the condition may just be due to aging, it may also indicate more serious conditions e.g. congestive heart failure, diabetes, liver disease or malnutrition.
• Dark spots on the nail may indicate something as serious as skin cancer (melanoma). Get medical advice on this condition as soon as possible.
• Deep blue nail beds or pale blueish nails may be indicative of asthma, emphysema or anemia as it points to a decrease in oxygen supply
• Green nails may point to a fungal infection
• White spots on the nails do not point to zinc or calcium deficiency, but rather to injury. As the spots show up to 5 weeks following the injury, it may be hard to recall the incident causing the injury. The injury can be minor trauma such as excessive pressure on the nail or it may even indicate an allergic reaction to certain nail products, for example nail polish or hardeners. The white spots eventually grow out and in about 7 months they may disappear.
• White nail color can possibly reveal liver or kidney disorders. However, by the time these symptoms show up in the nails, there may have been other symptoms you may have noticed.

What Do Changes in Nail Structure Reveal?

• Pitting nails have small depressions in the nail and is common in psoriasis which is a skin condition causing scaly patches. Therefore, symptoms will have been seen in the skin as well. Nail injuries may also cause pitting and the condition may sometimes cause the nails to crumble. It is generally associated with conditions that damage the cuticle such as chronic dermatitis of the fingers or an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.
• Nail clubbing is characterized by enlargement of the tips of the fingers and the nails curving around the fingertips. It results from a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood and could be a sign of lung disease. It has also been associated with inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease and liver disease.
• In spoon nails the nails are soft and appear scooped out. The depression in the nail is usually large enough to hold a drop of liquid. This condition points to iron-deficiency anemia.
• Beau’s Lines are horizontal indentations which may appear when growth under the cuticle is interrupted either by injury or diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory diseases, pneumonia or other illnesses associated with high fever, or malnutrition. Nail growth may be interrupted by other factors too such as the weather, pregnancy, age and stress. Infections of the digestive tract may also affect nail growth. In rare cases the lines may point to poisoning.
• In onycholysis the nail separates from the underlying nail bed. May be caused by injury, thyroid disease, reactions to drugs or nail products. The condition has also been associated with psoriasis.
• Vertical ridges on fingernails can be both superficial or deep. The superficial ridges may simply be due to a lack of moisture or due to the normal aging process. The deeper ridges may indicate arthritis or decreased circulation to the base of the nail.
• Split finger nails that are dry and brittle have been linked to thyroid diseases. If also combined with a yellowish color, it may be due to a fungal infection. Exposure to harsh detergents may also cause the nails to split.

Interesting Facts about Your Fingernails:

• They grow four times faster than toenails.
• Your middle finger nail grows the fastest while the thumbnail grows the slowest
• Your fingernails grow at a rate of about 3 mm (1/8 inch) per month
• Nails grow faster during pregnancy
• Nails on your dominant hand (the writing hand) grow faster since writing stimulates blood flow
• Nails grow faster in warmer climates
• Men have faster growing fingernails than women

To see how pictures on how these changes in nail color and structure look, click here.

Not many people know that when they are given the drug, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for swine flu, bird flu or seasonal influenza they are taking a product derived from the particularly tasty, decorative spice, star anise.

Star anise (Illicium verum) is a universally used spice grown primarily in China, India and the Philippines. It is included in a wide array of ethnic dishes and is a component of Chinese cooking’s five spice powder and Indian cuisine’s garam masala. It has a similar taste to ordinary anise and is often used as a substitute for that spice. However it is the star-shaped pericarps (seed-pods), rather than the seeds themselves, that gives it both its flavor and provides the shikimic acid – the chemical compound used in the production of Tamiflu.

Shikimic acid

Shikimic acid itself does not have any known antiviral activity. However it does have a distinctive chemical structure that is used as the starting point for a complex, multistage process that culminates in the production of Tamiflu.

Tamiflu

Oseltamivir is known as a neuraminidase inhibitor that does not actually kill swine flu or other influenza viruses directly. Instead it inhibits the internal spread of these viruses by blocking a protein that facilitates the escape of replicating viral particles from body cells. Although some virus strains have developed resistance to this drug it is still very effective in most cases – especially if it is taken early on in the infective process.

Global Shortage?

As a result of the growing swine flu pandemic there is now a global shortage of star anise. However this is likely to be a temporary problem as shikimic acid can now be produced by the fermentation of specific E. coli bacteria. Another less important plant source of shikimic acid is the fruit of the liquidambar (sweetgum) tree. However the sweetgum fruit does not have very high concentrations of this compound. Other spices that contain shikimic acid, but are not used as commercial sources for the compound, are ginger and fennel.

Other health benefits of star anise

Although shikimic acid does not have any direct antiviral effects, star anise contains a compound called linalool that does indeed have antiviral activity. Like all spices, star it also has strong antioxidant activity. In particular it protects against the oxidation of fatty acids thereby helping to contain the deposition of cholesterol deposits in the arterial walls. Limonene is another important phytonutrient found in star anise that demonstrates strong anticancer activity.

Star lifesaver

In star anise we have yet another spice that, in addition to its enhancement of our gustatory experiences, is making a massive contribution to the containment of one more life-threatening disease.

What is meningitis? It is an uncommon but very serious and frightening viral infection that affects the meninges, the three membranes that lie between the brain and the skull. Meningeal coverings are also found on the spinal cord and can be affected as well. It usually affects newborns and infants more so than adults. There are two types of meningitis, bacterial and viral. Viral meningitis is the most common and is the milder of the two; usually presented by a headache, bodily discomfort, and diarrhea. It usually runs its course and the symptoms clear up in two to three weeks. Bacterial meningitis is much more serious which requires very prompt, aggressive medical treatment. If prompt medical treatment is not activated then death can incur. What are the signs for meningitis? Here are five of the most serious:

1. A sudden onset of fever. The skin is very warm to the touch. The fever may be 103 degrees Fahrenheit and up. Any child that presents a high fever such as this it is a true sign that something is drastically wrong; immediate action is necessary. Ironically, with some infants that contract viral meningitis, their skin may feel abnormally cool. Be prepared to experience both extremes!
2. Because of the infection, sudden swelling of the meninges occurs causing a very severe headache. You may even see the head getting increasingly larger because of the build up of pressure. Please do not wait; time is extremely critical at this point. You must get to the hospital immediately!
3. If your child has a stiff neck and it is so painful that the child cannot perform a routine touching of the chin to the chest, this maybe be a sign that meningitis is present.
4. The child’s mental status is altered to such a degree that he is incoherent and disoriented almost to the point of acting goofy.
5. The child may be so tired and drowsy that he cannot stay alert. This would be a progressive tiredness, so much so that it is difficult for the child to be awoken from sleep. Immediate medical attention must be pursued.

What can you do so that your child never has to experience a medical emergency such as this? Since meningitis is a virus and bacteria is involved, it usually affects children and even adults, for that matter, with weakened immune systems. To help strengthen your immune system naturally, look for an undenatured whey protein with cysteine. Why? Ultra pasteurization kills the most important aspect of the whey, the amino acid cysteine. Most whey proteins on the market are denatured. When whey is undenatured it means that the cysteine molecule has been kept intact. Cysteine, when combined with glutamate and glycine (both found in most foods), forms glutathione; the most important antioxidant. The effect a high level of glutathione in the body can have on your immune system is quite astounding; you are sick less often. It is true that meningitis is very vicious but the chances of contracting it are far less great when your immune system is very strong.

Hopefully you will find this information resourceful as you raise your children to be healthy adults. Diseases such as meningitis can come about so fast, but if you are prepared to see the signs, a potentially negative situation can turn into a positive one.

Criminal profiling begins with the basic premise that people behave according to what they think. The body follows the mind. What we think is reflected in how we behave. In the words of Hyrum W. Smith, “your behavior is a reflection of what you truly believe.” It is difficult, if not impossible, for people to behave contrary to their beliefs or fundamental values. Our behavior, therefore, reveals our fundamental thoughts through the actions or tasks we perform. Criminal profiling is the analysis of human behavior which has been analyzed and refined to help law enforcement evaluate past behaviors in an effort to predict future actions.

Criminal profiling and personality assessment are ways law enforcement has sought to combine the results of studies in other disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, and forensics, in an effort to combat violent criminal behavior. It has been particularly helpful in investigating sexual homicide because “many of these crimes appear without motive and, thus, offer few obvious clues about the killer’s identity,” according to Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives by authors Robert K. Ressler, Ann W. Burgess and John E. Douglas. Through profiling, investigators use behavioral characteristics of the offender to gather information about the killer’s behavior. Through this analysis, investigators are able to develop a working hypothesis in which to compare or contradict the information or data received from the crime scene, witness interviews, or physical evidence.

The process of criminal profiling began in the 1970s at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Science Unit. The accumulation of experience, education, and educated guesswork has helped investigators to refine the profiling process to help law enforcement investigators to evaluate past behaviors in an effort to predict future actions that may help in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders. Traditionally, investigators have learned profiling through “brainstorming, intuition, and educated guesswork,” according to Ressler, Burgess and Douglas.

The process of profiling has since been refined, reexamined and routinely validated to help law enforcement narrow the field of potential suspects as they pertain to individual cases. Through years of experience, investigators developed expertise through on-the-job experience, accumulated wisdom, and involvement in a large number of cases, explains Ressler, Burgess and Douglas.

The Premise of Profiling

The basic premise of criminal profiling is that the way a person thinks directs the person’s behavior. How they think is how they behave. The thoughts patterns, motives, reasons, justifications, or validations of behavior reflect the way an individual thinks which can be used to reveal past behavior or predict future actions. Philosopher Rene Descartes (1596-1650) is frequently quoted as saying, “I think; therefore I am.” More importantly to psychologists and profilers, however, is one of Descartes less famous quotes in which he states; “It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.” A profiler’s expertise is judged on the ability to assess a personality type based on systematic analysis of a crime scene.

“Criminal personality assessment helps investigators identify those patterns of behavior and personality,” explains Ressler. Burgess and Douglas. Investigators must evaluate through assessment of the crime scene to determine what it may reveal about the type of person who committed the crime. Criminal profiling helps law enforcement focus its efforts in a particular area through the collection of leads, personal interviews, crime scene analysis and educated assessment based on previous experience.

Process of Profiling

The criminal profiling process has matured during the past twenty years. It has since been divided into five main stages:

1. profiling inputs
2. decision process models
3. crime assessment
4. the criminal profile
5. the investigation (and, potentially, the apprehension)

Profiling Inputs

The first stage, profiling inputs, begins the profile generating process. During this stage investigators gather data from the crime scene and any other related information or evidence. Gathering background information on the victim is particularly important and should include information relating to the victim’s domestic setting, employment, reputation, habits, friends, relatives, criminal history, hobbies and social conduct, explains Ressler.

Decision Process Models

The second stage, decision process models, refers to the process of organizing and arranging inputs into patterns to differentiate the information. During this stage, investigators classify the crime by type and style. “It is important to classify homicides correctly,” explains Ressler, Burgess and Douglas. A correct classification assists in profiling and the direction of the investigation.

Crime Assessment

The third stage, crime assessment, “involves the reconstruction of the sequence of events and the behavior of both the offender and the victim,” writes Ressler, Burgess and Douglas. Through this assessment process investigators determine whether the crime was organized or disorganized by considering factors involving victim selection, strategies to control the victim, and the sequence of the crime. This is the Who, What, Where, and Why portion of the investigation.

The Criminal Profile

The fourth stage, the criminal profile, focuses on the type of person who committed the crime. The resulting analysis serves as the basis to formulate the strategy to conduct the investigation. It serves as the starting point to further validate or refute the information or evidence gathered with the intent of focusing the investigation to assure maximum coverage with minimal resources.

The Investigation

The fifth stage, the investigation, refers to the process of investigating the crime based upon the “congruence” of the criminal profile developed in stage four. The congruence refers to the cohesiveness of the profile. Throughout the investigative process the information is reexamined and the profile revalidated,” explains Ressler, Burgess and Douglas. The goal of a good profile effort is to aid in identification and apprehension of the criminal.

Apprehension

The final stage, the apprehension, occurs when and if a suspect has been apprehended. If an apprehended suspect admits guilt, “it is important to conduct a detailed interview to check the total profiling process for validity,” explains Ressler, Burgess and Douglas. The process of checking and rechecking the information and evidence gathered is critical to the entire criminal profiling process from the first stage through the final analysis and, ultimately, apprehension of the offender.

Conclusion

Criminal profiling begins with the basic premise that people behave according to what they think. The body follows the mind. Bad thoughts lead to bad behavior. Good thoughts lead to good behavior. Through the behavior of others, therefore, criminal investigators are able to analyze what a person thinks which helps them predict how they will behave in the future. This analysis helps law enforcement focus an investigation and, potentially, apprehend the criminal.

If you are planning a Disney World vacation, you really want the Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 2009 travel guide. This is really an insider’s guide to the “House of Mouse.” There are reviews of hotels, motels, and restaurants as well as detailed information about what not to miss. The Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 2009 can make your Disney World more enjoyable for you and for your family.

Is a trip to Ireland in your future? You need the Eyewitness Travel Ireland travel guide by Lisa Gerard-Sharp. You’ll find descriptions of the most important sights with maps, pictures, and illustrations for seven different regions in Ireland. And this travel guide is written so that information is set in its historical and cultural background. You’ll find hotel and restaurant recommendations as well as practical information on everything from the telephone system to the transport both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.

The warm weather and white sandy beaches of Hawaii call to all of us. But without planning, an Hawaiian vacation can be overwhelming. There’s so much more to Hawaii than beaches. There’s a dizzying array of sights and attractions to choose from. There’s a clever but simple self-test included in the No Worries Hawaii: A Vacation Planning Guide for Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island, by Jerry and Janine Sprout. The self-test allows readers to sort through Hawaii’s assets – beaches, nightlife, trails, gardens, attractions, cultural sites, surfing, snorkeling – 36 categories in all, to determine which are important and which island is best for them.

Thank you

H. pylori may cause, or at least contribute to, many symptoms outside the digestive system of infected people. These symptoms are known as ‘extragastric manifestations’ of H pylori. Research is uncovering associations with more and more extragastric symptoms and diseases. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Depression & anxiety
• Low energy / fatigue
• Lethargy
• Heart palpitations
• Brain fog
• Headaches
• Sleep problems
• Rapid weight loss
• Weight gain
• Skin problems such as urticaria and rosacea
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Sinus problems

When we take the time to understand how our bodies work, it is easy to see how H. pylori infection may lead to symptoms elsewhere in our bodies. Science is now uncovering some very interesting links between H. pylori and seemingly unrelated symptoms and health conditions. Whilst an ‘association’ does not mean that H pylori infection causes these symptoms and diseases, it suggests that the infection may play a role in their development, or aetiology.

Can you recall a time when you had a common cold, or a ‘flu’ infection? I’ll bet you felt extremely tired and you may have even been bed-ridden for a couple of days.

There is a good reason for this. When you have an infection, your body has to mount an immune response in order to try to eliminate the infectious organism. That organism can be a parasite, a virus or a bacterium like H pylori, for example.

The immune response requires a lot of energy and so your body naturally diverts its energy production to fuel the fight against the invading ‘bug’. It doesn’t really matter whether this invader is a common cold or a digestive infection – the result is exactly the same.

The problem is that H pylori bacteria are extremely difficult for your body to deal with and the immune response may not be enough to clear it. Whilst it’s there, however, a continuous response is required and this takes its toll on your energy levels.

In addition to the immune response, H pylori can exert other negative influences on your body that may lead to you feeling tired and drained.

First, it causes inflammation (in the stomach, this inflammation is called gastritis). Studies have clearly shown that chronic day-to-day inflammation can lead to fatigue and many other symptoms. One such study was conducted by Su et al, where patients were given therapy with a chemical that is known to cause inflammation (called interferon gamma). The researchers asked the patients what symptoms developed as a result of them being “inflamed”. The symptoms reported included:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Arthritic pains
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Insomnia

By definition, if H pylori causes chronic inflammation, it has the potential to lead in the long term to all these symptoms and, indeed, that’s what I’ve seen in my clients year after year.

It should also be noted that H pylori infection can cause a decline in hydrochloric acid production in your stomach. If you don’t have enough acid, it can be a lot harder to digest food. Research has demonstrated time and time again that infection with H pylori bacteria can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia and B12 deficiency, both of which can also make you feel tired.

Finally, some studies seem to indicate a relationship between H pylori infection and autoimmune thyroid disorders. The thyroid gland is very important for regulating energy levels, motivation and ‘drive’. If its function is compromised, lethargy and fatigue can develop.

In conclusion it is clear that digestive infections such as H pylori are not responsible for digestive symptoms alone. In fact, the digestive symptoms that are caused by the likes of Helicobacter infection are just the tip of the iceberg. If you are infected with H pylori and you feel tired or have mood imbalances like depression and anxiety, eradicating H pylori could be the missing link for you.

One of the major symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the gas buildup in the stomach. The gas, if not relieved, will cause cramping, colon spasm and major discomfort. Sometimes this can be so severe, that the IBS sufferer has to be confined to bed rest. Cumin – a common Indian herb may be the answer to removing the gas buildup. This is a natural method that provides a safe and easy approach to eliminating the gas build up in the stomach.

Cumin’s properties are stomachic, diuretic, carminative, stimulant and antispasmodic. It is valuable in dyspepsia diarrhea and hoarseness, and it is known to relieve flatulence and colic. Cumin is a stimulating medicinal herb and it contains compounds that fight inflammation, pain and swelling.

To make a tea with cumin, it is best to have the seeds that have been harvested from home-grown plants, like everything else. You can find cumin seeds in health food stores. To make a tea with cumin steep one teaspoon of dried and gently crushed cumin seeds in one cup of boiling water. Let the cumin seeds steep in the water for ten to twenty minutes.

After the gently crushed cumin seeds have been steeped for ten to twenty minutes, you should strain out the cumin seeds and drink the cumin tea. Drink one or two cups of the cumin tea a day to help relieve the swelling and inflammation. Sip the liquid while it is hot. Drink after a meal.

Cumin is believed to aid in the absorption of iron. If you have an iron deficiency you may want to try some cumin tea. So this is also good for women who are menstruating. Iron helps build blood cells.

Cumin is also good if you have indigestion or gas. If you are having trouble with indigestion or gas you may want to try some cumin tea to help relieve the indigestion or gas. This is what IBS sufferers know.

Other uses of Cumin:

• Roasted cumin seeds can also freshen the breath.
  Chewing roasted cumin seeds can also heal soars in the mouth and reduce excess saliva.
• Cumin tea cures problems in the urinary tract, cleans the bladder and kidneys.
• Combined with fenugreek, they help to keep the prostate healthy and reduce problems in the male and female reproductive organs and urinary systems.
• A teaspoon of cumin boiled in water reduces pain in the body and acts as a natural sleep aid for those who have difficulty falling asleep.
• Cumin tea can be drunk to reduce the symptoms of common cold and sore throat.
• Cumin helps to remove excess phlegm and is thus good taken during allergy season or at the onset of a cold.

The main benefit of cumin as an IBS treatment is that it helps to regulate bowel function and can help to stop diarrhea by eating it with a bit of sugar candy. Cumin and fennel combined in equal parts and chewed or boiled as a tea help to promote digestion. Combined with turmeric and peppercorn it becomes a very good digestive aid and immune booster. Cumin can be chewed after a meal to promote digestion and reduce stomachache.

This crime AGAINST some Danish women stemmed from the ideas of Eugenics. No doubt about it. However, it also was fed by obsolete ideas of women and sexuality. In both cases it was an attempt to keep society free of “degenerate individuals” which meant people who suffered from inherited illnesses, especially of a mental character. To let these “sub-humans” breed would be to endanger society and that had to be stopped at all costs.

It happened in the beginning of the 1900th century and officially it stopped in 1961 when the infamous habit of interring women who were considered “retarded” ended. Up til then the morally suspects – i.e. “lose” women – ended up on the small island of Sprogoe (: Sprogo). Men were sent to another island by the name of Livoe (: Livø). Part of this must have been for punishment of “immorality”, but the main reason for this cruelty was the wish to protect the society at large against “bad, defected genes”. For them to be allowed to have children was a fight which they were bound to lose. Their reality was that they were not let lose from the island without being sterilized and those of them who already had children most often lost the right to even see them. Also because these children were put up for adoption and were expected to break off connections with their immoral mothers.

Some of these women left the island on their own which cost them their lives: They set out on an attempt to escape by swimming. However, none seems to have succeeded in this dangerous exploit. What is so sad is that what earned the women the name of “retarded” was their way of living. To be a woman and to have lovers was in itself an indication that they were mentally defective. It is a backward way of thinking rooted in old fashioned considerations about women and sexuality. One’s wish to think that this happened several hundred years back in time is assailed by facts: It did not end until 1961 which means 9 years before the “Redstockings” started their feministic actions which went on into the 1980’ies.

One may wonder at the reasons these women were considered fitting inmates on an island like Sprogoe. However, but what brought them there is not different from some men’s life style. A man who had a child out of wedlock was not interred the way a woman was likely to be. And it is ironic that the island sometimes swarmed with men visiting it in the hope of meeting some of these easy women. Nobody seems to have thought the thought that someone setting sail and venturing out on an erotic expedition to meet immoral women was just as bad as she was supposed to be for less.