Showing posts with label brain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brain. Show all posts

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Brain Tumor Symptoms and How They Lead to Brain Cancer Diagnosis

Brain Tumor Symptoms and How They Lead to Brain Cancer Diagnosis

There are a lot of possible brain tumors symptoms, and most of them can also be found in people who do not have this ailment. Thus, some people tend to dismiss the signs they experience without knowing that they can lead to a cancer diagnosis. Knowing the common symptoms of brain cancer can help by alerting patients who experience these so that they would undergo a brain scan to determine whether a cancer is present.

Brain Tumors Symptoms
Headaches. The most common symptom is a persistent headache. Over 46% of patients with brain cancer experience headaches, although they usually experience them differently and with no defined pattern. Headache that may be due to a tumor is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and can get worse when you bend over.

Seizures. Seizures are the second most common among all brain tumors symptoms, with 33% of patients reporting a seizure prior to a diagnosis. Seizures are also linked to other diseases such as stroke or epilepsy. If a person is diagnosed with epilepsy or hypertension, seizures should still be brought to the attention of a doctor. However, if it is a persons first time to have a seizure, it is usually indicative of a new illness that he might not be aware of. One of the possible illnesses this may point to is a brain cancer. Thus, a person should get a brain scan immediately after the incident.

Vision or Hearing Problems. A person with a brain cancer will also most likely experience some problems or abnormalities in vision or hearing. Around 25% of patients experience vision problems. These problems occur when a tumor is causing an increased intracranial pressure on the areas of the brain that control hearing and vision.

Behavioral and Cognitive Abnormalities. Some changes in behavior and cognitive ability have been reported among patients with brain tumors. These include problems in short-term memory, inability to concentrate, inability to find the right words to use, and abnormal behavior such as uncharacteristic lack of patience or loss of inhibitions.

Strange Sensations. Since the brain controls much of the body, a tumor can also cause some problems with any body part. Usually, these manifest in strange sensations or a weakening feeling in the legs, arms, facial muscles, head, or hands. These symptoms have been reported in 25% of patients. However, these are also signs of a stroke. When these suddenly occur, the patient must be brought to the doctor. If a stroke is ruled out, then the patient will be advised to get a brain scan to check for tumors.

Brain tumors symptoms and diagnosis can be tricky. When doctors are faced with these, they usually consider the more common causes first before they consider brain cancer. However, some doctors tend to take too long testing different diagnoses, and this may lead to a delay in treatment. Thus, trust only a cancer specialist experienced in dealing with the symptoms.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7224864

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Resveratrol and Nuts Combine to Improve Brain Health and Boost Cognitive Function

Nuts, especially walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts, combined with the potent polyphenol resveratrol team together to improve mood and protect the aging brain to help maintain memory and cognition. Researchers reportingin the New England Journal of Medicinehave found that nuts consumed over a period of years not only help with weight management issues, but also can reduce systemic inflammation to improve spirits and prevent cognitive decline.

Resveratrol has long been associated with brain health. The Journal of Pineal Research reportsthat resveratrol demonstrates anti-aging properties in the brain necessary for energy production and optimal brain function. Combining these two natural agents together as part of your healthy diet can improve mood, help retain memories and preserve youthful thought patterns.

Nuts Improve Mood, Slash Brain Inflammation and Prevent Cognitive Decline
Researchers determined to validate the health-promoting capacity of nuts provided test participants with a diet of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts for a period of 12 weeks. The volunteers for this study were sex and age-matched individuals given a control diet, and compared to a group not receiving the nut mixture. All participants exhibited symptoms of metabolic syndrome, increasing risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, mood disorders and loss of cognition.

Individuals receiving the nutshad increased levels of serotonin which will help a person feel better and potentially more satisfied and less likely to suffer from depression and poor mood. Additionally, the nut control group demonstrated reduced inflammatory markers from the high polyphenol content of the nuts. This is an important finding, as individuals exhibiting the signs of metabolic syndrome experience the effects of systemic inflammation leading to accelerated brain aging and cognitive decline.

Resveratrol Positively Influences Gene Expression to Restore Mitochondria Function
Mitochondria are the tiny metabolic engines that are responsible for powering each of our trillion or so cells throughout the body. Over time, mitochondria begin to experience loss of function and cellular decline and aging of the cell begin. Mitochondrial regulation is controlled in large part by the ‘longevity’ gene known as Sirt1. Calorie restriction and potent natural nutrients such as resveratrol are known to alter expression of the Sirt1 gene. Researchers have demonstrated that resveratrolis able to restore neural mitochondria function by reviving Sirt1 gene expression, and provides “a potent anti-aging effect within the brain.”

The human brain is a highly metabolic organ, demanding 20% of the total oxygen supply for the body. As such, it is also susceptible to the effects of oxidative stress and free radical damage that cause brain inflammation and advanced signs of aging. Natural nutrients such as resveratrol (25 – 50 mg per day) that cross the blood-brain barrier and foundation monounsaturated fats supplied by most nuts (1 to 2 ounces each day) and seeds protect the brain from damage and dramatically lower the risk of memory loss and cognitive decline.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

How to Maintain Brain Health

Maintain Brain Health | Brain whose size is approximately twenty-fifth part of the human body, is the most important parts that require relatively more energy compared to other parts of the body. Lack of nutrition of the brain, such as multivitamins, amino acids and minerals, can greatly affect the maximum power of the brain, which ultimately also affect stamina. And, when the mind or brain tired, your body will also feel tired, so we will not be productive.

Therefore, recognize some of tips below to keep your brain healthy:

1. Eat regularly
The research team in Italy, found that food turns out to activate the molecules in the brain and can make the brain live longer. Molecule called CREB1. function of CREB1is to activate many genes associated with age and brain function. CREB1 is known have important functions in the brain for the ability to remember, organize the process of learning and anxiety and reduces aging.

2. Expand eat fish.
Fish may protect the brain from aging, because fish contains vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids that cause brain shrinkage and we rarely have better mental performance. In addition, omega 3 fatty acids are also an important component of brain cell membranes and can improve memory power, thereby reducing the risk of dementia in old age.

A researcher that as combination from researcher from Oregon Health and Science University, Portland VA Medical Center, and Oregon State University done brain scan to 42 participant. They found that people with high vitamin and Omega 3 in blood, will get the biggest brain volume, While the people with fat trans in blood have brain volume that more small.

3. Consumption of food vitamin B
  • a. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine). Thiamine helps the growth of organs and central nervous system in babies. Found in all kinds of food grains and fortified ingredients, such as breads, cereals, wheat and pasta. Deficiency (lack of) of thiamine causes: fatigue, poor memory, mental confusion, behavioral aberrations, and short-tempered
  • Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). Is the form that helped usher koenzym nerve stimulation. Vitamin B5 sources are meat, poultry, fish, cereals, grains, milk, and vegetables.
  • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Assist the development of infant brain and nervous system, in addition to form new red blood cells. In addition Vitamin B6 helps convert tryptophan into serotonin, a brain chemical that is causing a sense of calm to the body. Found in chicken meat, liver, bananas, watermelon, beans, and fortified products such as cereals. Vitamin B6 deficiency affects irritability, easy fatigue, poor concentration, poor sleep habits, and poor memory
  • Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). Vitamin B12 along with folic acid to help mother and baby produce healthy red blood cells and helps the development of the fetal brain and nervous system. Sources of vitamin B12 are meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, eggs, and feed containing milk.

4. Avoid fast food.
A non-profit organizations in the UK called the Alzheimers Research UK felt called to examine the risk of food that cause dementia or dementia. According to the results in the field, trans fats found in fast food is associated with lower mental test scores and typical brain shrinkage seen in Alzheimers disease.

5. Train your mental
Mental stimulation to keep the brain healthy and increases the power of memory. People who have a good memory and tend to have different desires can overcome the challenges of mental exercise. You can train your brain by using techniques such as puzzles, riddles and interest in social and cultural fields.

6. sports
Enough with the half-hour every three times a week for exercise, will give a good effect to increase your brainpower, because sport can improve the hearts ability to pump blood more effectively.

7. Get plenty of rest
Adequate rest is done regularly can help improve memory. Thus the results of a study conducted by researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Tokyo, Japan. The researchers found the protein synthesis in the cerebellum plays an important role in the miracle. Rest is regular spacing effect. The distance effect is believed to help the brain recover gradually the memory. The researchers also found a distance effect also works in a unique way on the learning process. Those who learn little by little without the pressure would be easier to remember the learned knowledge than those who learn by diforsir.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Junk Food Damage The Brain

Junk Food Damage The Brain | Experts in the United States again warned of the dangers a regular habit to eat junk food.

According to recent research, foods with high fat content, but the nutritional value of zero can damage cells in the brain that controls body weight and obesity lead to cycles. These findings also explain why people who are overweight are so difficult to lose weight.

In his research, experts from the University of Washington gave the rats in the laboratory with the type of food which they call "high-fat diet of the American people". Only three days later, the rats are getting greedy and increase calorie intake until doubled.

Further examination showed that these mice also experience inflammation or inflammation of hypothalamus, the brain consists of nerve cells that control body weight. Inflammation was stopped within a few days, but then "relapsed" after four weeks later.

Dr. Joshua Thaler, expert and researcher of Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence at the University of Washington in Seattle, said the experts also detect the presence of a brain injury recovery response called gliosis.

"Gliosis considered together with the recovery of injuries to the brain, and specifically looks at the conditions of nerve injury, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis. We speculate that gliosis that we might see as a protective response that failed. We also detected a significant damage and loss of cell nerve cells are important in controlling weight, "said Thaler, who presented his research at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Societys for-93 in Boston.

He added that possibility of injury in rat brain is a consequence of excessive consumption of junk food and this fact gives an explanation of why losing weight becomes very difficult for most of them are obese.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Train Your Brain So That The Weight Does not Go Up and Down

Losing weight is a very difficult and tiring due to fluctuations,occasional down then up again. and so on. According to the expert,before trying to lose weight,you need to learn is how to keep it in order not to go up and down.

According to research,weight loss will last long if dieters understand healthy habits to maintain your diet and get used to walking around before applying any weight loss program.

The study,involved 267 obese women were divided into 2 groups randomly. The first group was asked to immediately perform the method of weight loss,while the second group was asked to undergo a lifestyle adjustment program and learn to stabilize body weight for 8 week before  starting a weight loss methods.

All participant in both groups were equally successful eventually cut his weight about 7 kg or 9 percent of initial body weight. but the following year,the weight back again 7 kg in those who directly perform weight loss methods. Women who participate in the program 8 weeks behind average only 3 kg.

weight loss programs in the research carried out for 20 week containing a variety of conventional methods are proven effective. Participants meet weekly with a trained instructor, a journal of food,plenty of exercise and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.

In the 8-week program ,the participants were instructed to not only lose weight,but was also told that weight will come back again after successfully unloaded. The program is designed to teach you how to recognize and control the fluctuating weight,1.5~3 kg that occurs in people with normal weight.

Successful dieters who lose weight often feel excited and enjoyed it then fall asleep so that weight back again. This 8-week program is a program of cognitive behavioral approach, in which participants are taught about dieters experience she ever h
   

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Beware Dental X rays Can Trigger Brain Tumor

Dental X-rays Can Trigger Brain Tumor | For those of you who frequent dental check using x-ray, should be wary. A recent study in the United States, published on 10 April 2012 in journal Cancer indicates, they often undergo X-rays of the teeth have a greater risk of tumors in the head commonly called a meningioma cancer.

These tumors grow on the inner lining of the skull. Most growing slowly, but they can cause problems and can even be deadly, if it begins to put pressure on the brain.

In his study, scholars from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Mass., make the observation of two methods of radiation (x-ray) is called a "bitewing" and Panorex.

The research involved nearly 3,000 adults aged 20-79 years, about half (1433 people) among those diagnosed with tomor. Researchers found that patients often undergo radiation x-ray or dental X-rays in the area associated with a higher risk of developing cancer.

Specifically, patients who have had a Panorex checks once a year or more, have a risk 2.7 to 3 times greater meningoma cancer, depending on age, rather than people who have never done this x-ray. While participants who had X-rays "bitewing" at least annually, the risk is 1.4 to 1.9 times greater with meningioma cancer.

Meningioma is a tumor of the membranes that cover the brain, which is more common in women than men, especially in the age of 50-60 years. But, most meningiomas are benign.

Study author Dr. Elizabeth Claus, said although the patients with dental problems currently getting a lower radiation exposure than in the past, but the researchers asked the dentist and patient to consider when and why it is necessary X-rays.

"I hope this research will help to raise awareness about the optimal use of dental x-rays," he said.

Guidelines from American Dental Association says, kids can get a one-time exposure every 1 or 2 years; for teenagers once in the period from 1.5 to 3 years, while adults can get the exposure once in three years 2-3.

Meanwhile, Michael Schulder, vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery of Cushing Neuroscience Institute, is not surprised by these findings.

"The possibility of tumor in patients undergoing dental radiation is low. However, dentists and patients should consider again that too much radiation each year, unless there are symptoms in dental patients who really need radiation," he concluded.