Chicken-Pox Tips

Chicken-Pox Vaccine

Risks or side effects of the new chicken-pox vaccine?

Answer: 'The chicken-pox vaccine is usually well tolerated,' says E. Lawrence Hoder, MD, from the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Lahey Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. 'The most common side effects associated with the vaccine are pain and redness at the injection site.

Other reported side effects include respiratory tract illness, chills, fever, irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbance, gastrointestinal disturbance, rashes, itching, and joint and muscle aches, although these symptoms have not yet been positively identified as being vaccine related. Approximately three to five percent of vaccinated individuals develop a chickenpox-like rash within 5 to 30 days from vaccination.

Causes
Chicken pox is caused by exposure to a highly contagious airborne varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The illness typically begins with fever, malaise and a rash. The rash begins as flat red patches that evolve into patches with a central blister, the classic “dew drop on a rose petal.” These patches then dry and scab. New eruptions occur daily for four to seven days. The average child gets a total of 500 chicken pox sores.

Complications in healthy children are unusual but include secondary skin bacterial infections, neurologic complications, hepatitis and Reye’s Syndrome (a serious illness that can cause recurrent vomiting, liver problems and seizures). For most children, chicken pox will be a fairly benign illness. The economic consequences due to lost time at work for caregivers usually far outweighs any health risk. For adults and immunocompromised persons, however, infection with chicken pox may cause severe complications, such as pneumonia that requires hospitalization.

“Once a person has had chicken pox, he or she will usually have a lifelong immunity to the disease,” says Dr. Hoder. “Rarely, however, a person will experience a second, milder case of chicken pox later in life.” It is important for parents to understand that having the vaccine may not provide such protection. The need for revaccination has not yet been determined. Similar to measles vaccine, a “booster” dose may be required.

Vaccinations
Currently, the American Association of Pediatricians recommends a vaccination for all susceptible children greater than one year of age. As of August 1998, the State of Massachusetts requires the vaccine (or a physician-certified reliable history of chicken pox) for entrance into daycare or preschool for children who are 19 months or older and who were born on or after January 1997; by the 1999-2000 school year, vaccinations will be required for entrance into kindergarten or for those children already in school, for entrance into 7th grade.

When Not to Vaccinate
The chicken pox vaccine should not be administered to adults or children who have the following conditions:

• A history of hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine, including gelatin

• A history of an allergic reaction to neomycin

• Blood disorders (other than simple anemia) or cancer

• A condition or treatment resulting in an immunosuppressed state, for example, immunoglobulin deficiency, AIDS, or corticosteroid therapy

• A family history of an immunodeficiency

• Active, untreated tuberculosis

• Any illness that produces a fever

• Pregnancy (or a considered pregnancy in the three-month period following administration of the vaccine)

Precautions
Individuals who receive the vaccine should avoid taking aspirin (salicylate) for at least six weeks after the vaccination. Because vaccinated individuals may be able to transmit the virus to close contacts, vaccinated persons should avoid close association with susceptible, high-risk persons. This risk of transmission is probably small and is more likely to occur if the vaccinated individual developed a rash after vaccination.

Prom Dresses

Prom dresses are one of the main and most important things on your mind in the spring. Probably you want the latest styles in prom dresses and you certainly don’t want the same prom dresses that your peers are wearing. Individuality and exclusivity are two of the most important factors that you girls consider when choosing your perfect prom dresses. Unfortunately for you young ladies, it is highly likely that at least one pair of duplicate prom dresses will make their debut at the prom.

But you can still stand out in the crowd by following some usefull tips that you will find here for prom dresses. So continue and find things that will help you make your prom dress the best prom dress you'll ever remember.

In the past, finding a great selection of quality, beautiful prom dresses was almost impossible. Now with the internet at your finger tips, there are thousands and thousands of dresses to choose from.

Prom Dresses

Prom dresses are one of the main and most important things on your mind in the spring. Probably you want the latest styles in prom dresses and you certainly don’t want the same prom dresses that your peers are wearing. Individuality and exclusivity are two of the most important factors that you girls consider when choosing your perfect prom dresses. Unfortunately for you young ladies, it is highly likely that at least one pair of duplicate prom dresses will make their debut at the prom.

Contact Lenses

Contact Lenses are the perfect solution for people with vision problems who do not wish to have surgery and do not like the feel and visual appearance of eyeglasses. Millions of people wear these little disk that fit right on your eye and give you crisp, clear vision without changing your appearance. However, there are color contact lenses and specialty contacts that can change your appearance by giving your eyes a new color or different look.

Hairstyles

To look good, simply a pretty dress won't do. You need to have a good hairstyle to go with it. As well as finding the inspiration for trying a new hairstyle, on these pages you will find information about hair care, analysis of the latest in hair fashions and trends, and advice for choosing a hair style for special occasions. Whether it is a wedding hairstyle, a prom hair style, a homecoming hairstyle or a formal hair style for some other special event you're sure to find the information and inspiration here.

Coughs Prevention Tips

Coughs Prevention Tips

See Your Doctor When...

If you have any of the following conditions along with your cough,

see your doctor without delay because you may have an infection, or the cough may indicate the presence of a more serious health condition.

• Your cough doesn't get better after a few days. Coughing can lead to fractured ribs or a heart attack.

• You cough up blood or bloody mucus.

• Your mucus is yellow, brown or green and does not improve in a few days. This will indicate that you have an infection.

• If you cough for more than three days for no apparent reason.

Or, if you have:

• Shortness of breath when you cough.

• Sharp pains in your chest when you cough.

• A fever along with a persistent cough. This could be indicative of a serious respiratory illness. If you have a high fever and difficulty breathing you may have pneumonia.

• Chest pain

• Persistent chills

• Excessive night sweats

• Laryngitis and a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks.

• A skin rash, earache, pain in the teeth or sinuses, or a headache.

Coughs Prevention Tips

Coughs Prevention Tips

Remedies

Folk

Aloe vera Mix equal parts of aloe juice and honey. This is very good for a scratchy cough.

Angelica Use a tincture of the root or leaf, or make a tea. Angelica is an expectorant. Do not use if you are pregnant.

Bee balm Native Americans used bee balm to alleviate colds and coughs. Steep two teaspoons of fresh (one, dried) bee balm leaves in a cup of hot water, covered, for four minutes. Sip a cup three times a day. Bee balm has antiseptic compounds that can help heal respiratory infections and clear nasal congestion.

Carrot juice Mix with honey and a little warm water. Take a tablespoonful several times a day.

Cayenne pepper Mix ¼-½ teaspoon of pepper in a glass of water and use as a gargle, swallowing afterward. You can also use 15-20 drops of Tabasco sauce in a glass of water or juice. Pepper helps clear congestion and draws blood to the throat to fight infection.

Chamomile tea will soothe the throat.

Garlic Grate one or two cloves of garlic and mix with a teaspoon of honey. Take as needed.

Ginger Make a tea using ginger and drink 6 oz several times a day, as needed.

Grape juice Mix a cup of grape juice with a teaspoon of honey.

Honey Mix honey with juice of a fresh lemon and take as needed. Not only does honey soothe the tickle, but it has antibacterial properties, too.

• Dr. D. C. Jarvis, in his classic book, Folk Medicine, described another honey remedy that worked very well: boil a whole lemon for 10 minutes; when cool enough to handle roll it back and forth on a hard surface, cut it in half and squeeze the juice into a pint of raw honey. Add a teaspoon of glycerin and take as often as needed.

Horehound cough drops have been used for generations to quell coughs. One of horehound's compounds, marrubiin, stimulates bronchial secretions and helps break up congestion.

Hyssop Steep two teaspoons of dried hyssop in one cup of boiling water, covered for ten minutes; strain and drink cool for an expectorant or hot to relieve congestion. The oils in hyssop are good for mild respiratory problems. Hyssop contains marrubiin, the same compound that makes horehound an excellent expectorant.

Lime juice Mix equal parts of lime juice and honey.

Mullein soothes and relaxes the lungs and bronchial tubes, which eases a cough. Use 25-30 drops of tincture in a small glass of boiling water three times a day.

Onion broth Make a broth by boiling an onion for 10-15 minutes; strain and drink the broth several times a day. The broth will reduce congestion.

Onion juice Make a syrup by combining 1 teaspoonful of raw onion juice with 1 teaspoonful of honey; let stand for 3-4 hours, and take in divided doses.

Sugar Suck on a cube of raw sugar.

Tea Tea made with peppermint or rosemary will help break up congestion.

Thyme Make a tea using two tablespoons of fresh (one tablespoon of dried) thyme in a cup of boiling water; steep, covered, for four minutes; strain and drink hot. Thyme relaxes the lungs and promotes expectoration of mucus. It contains a volatile oil, thymol, which has antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

Coughs Prevention Tips

Coughs Prevention Tips

Supplements

Vitamins A, C and E are beneficial with conditions that cause coughs.

Tips to Control Cough

• Breathe the steam from a vaporizer, hot shower, or pan of boiling water. The moist air will soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion and phlegm in your throat and lungs. A few drops of the oil of eucalyptus will help this process.

  • Elevate the head of your bed. This will allow your sinuses and nasal passages to drain better and not create that "tickle" in your throat.

  • Stop smoking. Passive smoke or other irritants, such as chemicals, can be a cause. Household cleaners, new carpeting, paneling and mattresses are some of the many possible sources of chemical irritants.

  • Drink at least 8 eight ounce glasses of water. This is especially important if your cough is due to an illness. Water is the best expectorant you can take and will help thin the mucus and loosen the cough.

  • Do not use over-the-counter expectorant cough remedies as they just suppress the symptoms and do not address the underlying problem. If you have the kind of cough with mucus you want to get it out of your respiratory system, not suppress it. Try one of the natural expectorant remedies below.

  • Try eating hot chili peppers, horseradish or other spicy foods. They will help loosen mucus.

  • During the winter, if your house is dry, use a humidifier and a cool-mist vaporizer in your bedroom at night. This will help thin the mucus. Be sure to thoroughly clean the vaporizer, as it can harbor bacteria.

  • Drink hot tea to break up the mucus and open and moisten the airways.

  • Cough drops or hard candy will help stop the tickle if you have a dry cough and will moisten the throat.

  • Avoid foods that increase the production of mucus, such as dairy products, meat and fried foods.

  • Hot packs placed on your throat and chest are very soothing.

Coughs Prevention Tips

Coughs Prevention Tips

Aromatherapy

The use of inhaled steam can be very effective in liquefying mucus and reducing irritation.

To control the steam, bend over the steaming water while holding a towel over your head. Try some of these aromatherapy oils. Inhaling essential oils can stimulate your lungs to expel phlegm.

Cypress Add three drops each of cypress and juniper oil and a drop of ginger.

Cedar Dilute 3 drops of oil of cedar in one teaspoon of carrier oil, such as olive, sweet almond or jojoba, and massage onto your chest several times a day.

• Add 10-15 drops to a pot of steaming water and inhale the vapors

Eucalyptus Add a few drops of eucalyptus to a carrier oil and rub on your chest.

• Put 10-15 drops of oil in boiling water and inhale the steam. Eucalyptus is a good decongestant and expectorant. You can also add three drops of hyssop oil.

Jasmine Use the oil in a burner or put a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale the fumes.

Myrrh Add a few drops of myrrh to a carrier oil and rub on your chest. This will help reduce mucus.

Peppermint Dilute 3 drops of peppermint oil in one teaspoon of carrier oil, such as olive, sweet almond or jojoba, and massage onto your chest several times a day.

• Add 10-15 drops to a pot of steaming water and inhale the vapors.

Pine Put some essential pine oil in a burner to soothe the throat. You can also place a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale the fumes.

Thyme Add 10-15 drops of this oil in a pan of boiling water and inhale the fumes, in an infuser, or place a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale.

• Massaging using oil of thyme may also be helpful in relieving your cough. Put 5 drops in ¼ cup olive oil and massage your neck and upper body. Thyme is an excellent expectorant and has been used for centuries to heal respiratory conditions.

Reflexology

Rub the padded area below your big toe in various directions at the first sign of a cough. Also, hold back the toes and press on the raised area with your thumb. This will help relieve chest congestion.

Coughs Prevention Tips

Coughs Prevention Tips

Congested Coughs

Causes

The obvious causes of coughing are colds, flu, bronchial infections, sinus congestion, smoking, and the need to rid the throat of foreign matter.

But did you know that heartburn is one of the leading causes? For some unknown reason heartburn is the cause for about 10% of chronic coughers. See our Heartburn section for suggestions to relieve both the heartburn and coughing. Dust, pollen and chemicals are other sources of irritants. Also, some drugs, most notably ACE inhibitors used for high blood pressure, have coughing as a side effect in 21% of the people using them. Coughing is also a common symptom of asthma. The sound of your cough may indicate its cause. Below is a list of the cough sounds and what that may indicate:

• A barking cough - bronchitis or croup

• A high-pitched cough - your vocal cords are involved and the airways have become narrowed

• A wheezing cough - asthma and/or bronchitis

• A loud, gasping cough with difficulty getting air - whooping cough.

Coughs Prevention Tips

Coughs Prevention Tips

What is Coughs?

A cough is the body's response to inflammation or irritation in the throat, larynx, bronchial tubes or lungs.

There are two basic kinds of coughs, congested and dry, with each one having different underlying causes.

Coughs Prevention Tips

Dry Coughs

A dry cough will be raspy and without phlegm and may be due to smoking, asthma, dust, foreign matter, pollution, or come after a sore throat.

Another cause of your dry cough could be a climate-controlled building. The heating and cooling systems dry the air and your respiratory membranes, too. Rapid temperature and humidity changes upon entering a building add to the problem. Chronic coughing, sneezing and a runny nose may be the result. If you work in a climate-controlled building, avoid cold drinks and food as they interfere with your body's ability to maintain its optimal temperature. During the air-conditioning season cold foods and drinks affect your body's temperature and its ability to adjust to the building's conditions; instead drink hot liquids and eat warm foods. When your building is heated, drink fluids at room temperature. You want to soothe the mucus membranes and moisturize your throat.

Inhaling steam from a pan with one of the essential oils mentioned above added is particularly helpful with dry coughs.

Remedies

Folk

Aloe vera juice Mix equal parts of aloe vera juice and honey and take a tablespoon or two as needed. Good for a smoker's cough.

Apple cider vinegar Sprinkle apple cider vinegar on your pillowcase before bedtime.

• Put 1 or 2 teaspoons of vinegar in a glass of water and keep beside your bed to use when you feel the tickling sensation coming on. Take a few swallows as needed. Vinegar dissolves mucus and reduces inflammation.

• Mix ½ cup of honey with 3-4 tablespoons of vinegar. Take one tablespoon before going to bed or during a coughing fit, and throughout the day, as needed. Stir well before use.

Comfrey Take a comfrey tea for dry persistent coughs. Comfrey should not be taken for long term use as it may cause liver damage.

Codonopsis root Use a decoction, tincture or powder for chronic coughs.

Garlic Mince a clove of garlic and place in a small bowl; cover with honey and cover the bowl with plastic wrap; marinate overnight. Take one tablespoonful upon awakening, then throughout the day, as needed.

Honey Add a tablespoon of honey to a glass of boiling water and drink as needed. This will soothe the throat.

Horehound lozenges help suppress a dry cough.

Licorice root Take 5 grams of powdered root with honey three times a day. You can also make a decoction by using ½ teaspoon to one cup of water. Take three cups daily. Licorice has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, and is an expectorant. Do not use if you have high blood pressure.

Tea Make a tea of wild cherry bark, slippery elm or red clover. Sweeten with honey.

Zinc lozenges are helpful.

Homeopathy

Antimonium tart Is to be used if the cough is loose and rattling with little or no phlegm and breathing is painful.

Bryonia Use when a cold has gone to the chest and turned in to a hard, dry cough.

Drosera Use for a cough after which you have a whooping sound or with vomiting.

Ferrum phos. Is beneficial for a hard, dry cough with a tickle.

Constipation Prevention Tips

Constipation Prevention Tips

Practical Constipation Tips

Getting into a Regular Habit

Most people's bowels respond best to a regular habit. Some of us are too busy to make time for our bowels. Other lives a very irregular lifestyle which makes a habit difficult.

The bowel usually goes to sleep at night and wakes up in the morning. Eating, drinking and moving around all stimulate the bowel. The most likely time for a bowel action is about 30 minutes after the first meal of the day.

This makes it important not to skip breakfast. Try to eat at least something for breakfast and take two warm drinks. Try to make 5-10 minutes of free uninterrupted time about 30 minutes later. This is not always easy if your house is busy in the morning, so you may need to plan ahead or get up a little earlier while you retrain you bowel.

Sitting Properly

The way you sit on the toilet can make a big difference to ease of opening your bowels. The "natural" position (before toilets were invented) is squatting. Countries where squat (hole in the floor) toilets are still common seem to have less problems with constipation.

While actually squatting is not very practical, many people find that adopting a "semi-squat" position helps a lot. One of the footstools that toddlers use to reach a sink is ideal, 8-12 inches high (20-30cm). Position this just in front of your toilet and rest your feet flat on the stool, keeping your feet and knees about one foot (30cm) apart. Lean forwards, resting your elbows on your thighs. Try to relax.

Breathing

It is important not to hold your breath when trying to open your bowels. Many people are tempted to take a deep breath in and then hold their breath while trying to push. Try to avoid this. Sit on the toilet as described above, relax your shoulders and breathe normally. You may find it easiest to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

If you hold your breath and push this is STRAINING and tends to close your bottom more tightly. Also, if you hold your breath, you are limited in how long your can hold this and when you have to take the pressure off and breathe, you tend to be back to square one.

If you find that you cannot help straining and holding your breath, try breathing out gently, or humming or reciting a nursery rhyme.

Pushing without Straining

The best way to open your bowels is by using your abdominal (stomach) muscles to push. Leaning forward, supporting your elbows on your thighs and breathing gently, relax your shoulders. Make your abdominal muscles bulge outwards to "make your waist wide". Now use these abdominal muscles as a pump to push backwards and downwards into you bottom. Keep up the gentle but firm pressure.

Relaxing the Back Passage

The final part of the jigsaw is to relax the back passage. Many people with constipation actually tighten the back passage when they are trying to open the bowels, instead of relaxing, without realizing what they are doing. This is like squeezing a tube of toothpaste while keeping the lid on!

To locate the muscles around the back passage, firstly squeeze as if you are trying to control wind. Now imagine that the muscle around the anus is a lift. Squeeze to take your lift up to the first floor. Now relax, down to the ground floor, down to the basement, down to the cellar.

Putting it All Together

This is a bit like learning to ride a bike. The above instructions tell you WHAT to do, but do not tell you HOW to do it. It sounds simple, but coordinating everything takes practice, and you have to work it out for yourself. Some people find it easier than others.

• Sit properly

• Breathe normally

• Push from your waist downwards

• Relax the back passage

Cholera Prevention Tips

Cholera

What is cholera?

Cholera is a diarrheal disease caused by the consumption of water or food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

Cholera is a public health concern in developing countries all over the world, especially in Africa, south Asia, and Latin America. Cases among travelers to and from developed countries are rare, however, some outbreaks in the United States have been caused by contaminated seafood brought into the country by travelers.

What causes cholera?
Vibrio cholerae is usually found in impure water supplies because of the unsanitary disposal of excrement. Person-to-person transmission is rare. It is usually transmitted by consuming contaminated food or water from:

• municipal water supplies

• ice made from municipal water

• foods and beverages bought from street vendors

• vegetables irrigated with fresh sewage

• raw or inadequately cooked fish and seafood taken from sewage-polluted waters

How does the Vibrio cholerae bacterium affect the body?
The bacterium that causes cholera is usually very sensitive to the acids present in the stomach and digestive tract. Small amounts of bacteria are killed by the stomach acids before they can establish themselves in the body.

But, when large numbers of the bacteria overwhelm the body's natural defenses, they grow in the small intestine and are passed in the fecal material of the infected person. Infected persons who have mild cases or show no symptoms of the disease -- especially those who have poor personal hygiene habits -- spread the infection by direct contamination of food with infected excrement.

Can cholera be prevented?

The best preventives for cholera are:

only use water that has been boiled or chemically disinfected for:

o drinking, or preparing beverages such as tea or coffee

o brushing teeth

o washing face and hands

o washing fruits and vegetables

o washing eating utensils and food preparation equipment

o washing the surfaces of tins, cans, and bottles that contain food or beverages

do not eat food or drink beverages from unknown sources

o any raw food could be contaminated, including:

§ fruits, vegetables, salad greens

§ unpasteurized milk and milk products

§ raw meat

§ shellfish

§ any fish caught in tropical reefs rather than the open ocean

A cholera vaccine is no longer available in the United States because it is not recommended by the CDC or the World Health Organization. Currently, no country requires the cholera vaccine for entry if arriving from cholera-infected countries.

How may cholera be treated?
For diarrhea that is worse than normal and does not respond to

Chicken-Pox Tips

Chicken-Pox Tips

Chicken-Pox Vaccine

Risks or side effects of the new chicken-pox vaccine?

Answer: 'The chicken-pox vaccine is usually well tolerated,' says E. Lawrence Hoder, MD, from the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Lahey Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. 'The most common side effects associated with the vaccine are pain and redness at the injection site.'

Other reported side effects include respiratory tract illness, chills, fever, irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbance, gastrointestinal disturbance, rashes, itching, and joint and muscle aches, although these symptoms have not yet been positively identified as being vaccine related. Approximately three to five percent of vaccinated individuals develop a chickenpox-like rash within 5 to 30 days from vaccination.

Causes
Chicken pox is caused by exposure to a highly contagious airborne varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The illness typically begins with fever, malaise and a rash. The rash begins as flat red patches that evolve into patches with a central blister, the classic “dew drop on a rose petal.” These patches then dry and scab. New eruptions occur daily for four to seven days. The average child gets a total of 500 chicken pox sores.

Complications in healthy children are unusual but include secondary skin bacterial infections, neurologic complications, hepatitis and Reye’s Syndrome (a serious illness that can cause recurrent vomiting, liver problems and seizures). For most children, chicken pox will be a fairly benign illness. The economic consequences due to lost time at work for caregivers usually far outweighs any health risk. For adults and immunocompromised persons, however, infection with chicken pox may cause severe complications, such as pneumonia that requires hospitalization.

“Once a person has had chicken pox, he or she will usually have a lifelong immunity to the disease,” says Dr. Hoder. “Rarely, however, a person will experience a second, milder case of chicken pox later in life.” It is important for parents to understand that having the vaccine may not provide such protection. The need for revaccination has not yet been determined. Similar to measles vaccine, a “booster” dose may be required.

Vaccinations
Currently, the American Association of Pediatricians recommends a vaccination for all susceptible children greater than one year of age. As of August 1998, the State of Massachusetts requires the vaccine (or a physician-certified reliable history of chicken pox) for entrance into daycare or preschool for children who are 19 months or older and who were born on or after January 1997; by the 1999-2000 school year, vaccinations will be required for entrance into kindergarten or for those children already in school, for entrance into 7th grade.

When Not to Vaccinate
The chicken pox vaccine should not be administered to adults or children who have the following conditions:

• A history of hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine, including gelatin

• A history of an allergic reaction to neomycin

• Blood disorders (other than simple anemia) or cancer

• A condition or treatment resulting in an immunosuppressed state, for example, immunoglobulin deficiency, AIDS, or corticosteroid therapy

• A family history of an immunodeficiency

• Active, untreated tuberculosis

• Any illness that produces a fever

• Pregnancy (or a considered pregnancy in the three-month period following administration of the vaccine)

Precautions
Individuals who receive the vaccine should avoid taking aspirin (salicylate) for at least six weeks after the vaccination. Because vaccinated individuals may be able to transmit the virus to close contacts, vaccinated persons should avoid close association with susceptible, high-risk persons. This risk of transmission is probably small and is more likely to occur if the vaccinated individual developed a rash after vaccination.

Cardiovascular Health Tips

Cardiovascular General Health Tips

Alcohol Consumption and the Heart
Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathy, hypertension, arrhythmias, and stroke.

Aspirin After a Heart Attack
Studies show that heart attack patients who took aspirin when their symptoms began, and then daily for one month, significantly lowered their risk of dying and of having another heart attack or stroke.

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Aspirin During a Heart Attack
Up to 10,000 more people would survive heart attacks if they would chew one 325 milligram aspirin tablet when they first had chest pain or other sign of a heart attack. Patients should be given aspirin during the first hour -- during pre-hospital transport or in the Emergency Room -- if a heart attack is suspected.

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C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
The C-Reactive Protein test (CRP) is a blood test that may be a better indicator of heart attack risk than tests for cholesterol.

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Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a disease of the heart and blood vessels and is the nation's leading killer, claiming 939,610 lives in 2000. The personal, social, and economic impacts of cardiovascular disease are significant. In 2000, the economic impact was estimated to be almost $290 billion. Knowing the risk factors for heart disease and heart failure and adopting life-long heart-healthy practices can improve heart health.

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Cloning and Transplants
Researchers say they've taken a major step toward cloning pigs whose hearts, lungs and kidneys could be safely transplanted into humans. Such organs would save the lives of thousands of critically ill people who cannot get transplants because of the shortage of human organs. Scientists say they produced four piglets without one of two genes that lead to the massive rejections that have plagued efforts at xenotransplantation -- the process of replacing human organs with animal organs.

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Dine at the Dinner Table Only
If you eat in front of the TV, then every time you nestle in with the remote control, it's a cue to eat. Instead, designate an eating spot for all meals and snacks.

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Exercising When Obese
If you're obese, check with your physician before initiating any exercise program. Search for a low impact aerobic program as a starter.

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Fat Free vs. Calorie Free
Just because a product is fat free, doesn't mean it is calorie free. In fact, fat free or reduced fat products can have as many, if not more, calories per serving than regular products. So, yes, you do need to watch your fat intake. But remember that calories count, too.

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Food Labels to Reveal Artery-Clogging Trans Fat
Trans fat hasn't gotten the attention its infamous cousin, saturated fat, earned through warnings and labels. That's about to change: After 10 years of debate, the government is requiring food labels to reveal exact levels of the artery clogger.
Tran’s fat is in numerous products, from meats and dairy products to pastries. The most common source is partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, where liquid oil is turned into a solid to protect against spoiling and maintain long-term flavor.

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Garlic and Heart Disease
Garlic helps fight heart disease. It contains sulfur compounds, which scientists suspect inhibit the formation of artery-clogging blood clots. It may reduce both elevated blood cholesterol and blood pressure. Roasting transforms garlic into an almost buttery substance that makes a great fat-free spread for bread or addition to dips. To roast, wrap a garlic head in aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 40 minutes.

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Heart Reshapes After Injury
Using the male chromosome as a marker, researchers studying eight cross-gender heart transplants from New York Medical College have discovered that the body can actively reshape the heart after injury.