Infant eczema - disease and disorder of the skin

The word ‘eczema’ is derived from the Greek meaning to ‘boil over’, describing the bubbly and hot appearance of active eczema. The words eczema and dermatitis mean the same, referring to a particular type of skin inflammation, which has potentially multiple different causes.

More specifically, atopic eczema refers to a very characteristic itchy skin rash, which typically starts in infancy or childhood. It tends to affect different parts of the skin at different stages of the person’s development, but at some point usually involves the skin creases (flexures) of the arms and legs.

It is more common in those with a family history of atopic eczema, asthma or hay fever. Eczema is a complex disease and multiple factors contribute to its development. However, genetic factors play a big role and various environmental triggers (for example, the house dust mite, bacterial toxins, hard water, climatic factors, air-borne allergens and pollution) may aggravate it.

Eczema tends to follow a fluctuating course. You can expect the child’s eczema to flare at times when he/she is ‘stressed’, for example, by teething pain.

It may flare when they are unwell with viral or bacterial infections and after having vaccinations. Anything that tends to dry the skin, eg. soaps, shampoo, bubble baths, detergents or chlorine will aggravate eczema. Contact with wool, synthetic clothing and animal hair will also aggravate it. In teenagers eczema may flare at exam times.

Atopic eczema usually starts on the scalp or cheeks in infants. It may even start as cradle cap. It later spreads to the limbs and body and in some children may be widespread for a time. At the crawling stage it is usually worst on the backs of the elbows and the fronts of the knees.

When the child is a little older the eczema settles in its characteristic location at the skin creases of the arms and legs. In teenagers and adults it may be worst on the hands.

The first principle of eczema treatment is to avoid those things that make eczema worse. Irritants like soaps and bubble bath should be avoided and substituted with an oily or emollient alternative.

Allergens like dog dander must be minimised and measures taken to reduce the house dust mite in the child’s environment.

Clothing and bed covers should be 100% cotton if possible. Heat and perspiration may make the itch intolerable.

Therefore the child’s environment should be kept cool. In particular, the bedroom should be well ventilated.

Emollients are products that moisturise and soften the dry skin, which is the central problem in atopic eczema. This therapy is a crucial part of your treatment plan for your child. Emollients are safe and can be used frequently. There are many choices on the market at present.

In general, when the skin is very dry an oil-based emollient, for example emulsifying ointment or paraffin gel, will be the most efficient.

As the skin improves a cream like Silcock’s base may be used. Emollients should be considered in three situations.

Firstly, they should be used as a moisturiser applied twice or three times daily all over. Care should be taken to apply emollients gently in the direction of the hair (to avoid irritating the hair follicles).

Secondly, they should be used instead of soap. Finally, emollients should be used in the bath, ideally on a daily basis.

The aim of bathing is to both grease and cleanse the skin. An excellent emollient bath may be prepared by dissolving two spoonfuls (dessert spoonfuls for child, table spoonfuls for adult) of emulsifying ointment in very hot water, whisking it up and adding it to the bath water.

There are also very effective, liquid bath additives available which may be more convenient to use.

Some of these contain an antiseptic which will help reduce the

numbers of bugs on the skin. Regular bathing with emollients is essential to help reduce secondary bacterial infection, – a common problem in atopic eczema.

Dmae - good for your brawn and brain

DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol) is a chemical produced in the brain. This naturally occuring amino alcohol is produced in minuscule amounts by the brain, with higher concentrations being typically found in anchovies and sardines. Known primarily as a precursor to choline and acetylcholine (chemicals in the brain responsible for nerve transmissions and cognitive function), DMAE has been used most predominantly to improve memory and focus while stimulating neural activity. Many researchers believe that it may serve an anti-aging function by increasing the body’s capacity to produce acetylcholine – a deficiency commonly associated with memory loss.

DMAE is a memory booster substance common to a number of drugs that are known to stabilize cell membranes. Cell membrane degradation has been proposed as one of the prime mechanisms of aging. DMAE is increasingly favored by medical practitioners for its role in boosting brain power. DMAE has shown positive results in the treatment of a variety of cognitive and disruptive disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and memory lapses. DMAE is even being used in skin care products designed to treat sagging skin and age spots.

DMAE may enhance water retention in connective skin tissue, causing the surface of the skin to tighten. The second, and more likely, explanation involves DMAE’s cholinergic feature, which enhances the skin’s ability to transmit acetylcholine. The neurotransmitter’s function in sending signals from nerves to muscles may promote a form of muscle tightening in the skin. It is important to note that although DMAE cannot fully reverse existing facial sagging, it may reduce its further progression. Some people report a cumulative effect with continued use of the compound.

Benefits

• improves memory and focus

• assists with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)

• treats sun spots and sagging skin

What are the stages of lung cancer

Once a diagnosis of lung cancer has been made, the doctor will attempt to determine the stage the lung cancer is at. The staging system is somewhat like a measurement system, with the numbers indicating: whether the cancerous tumors are localized or whether the tumors have spread to other parts of the body; the tumor’s size; and whether or not the tumors have spread to the lymph nodes. There are four main stages of lung cancer (Stages 1 – 4) and identification of one of the stages is what helps doctors prescribe an appropriate treatment method.

Different Cancer, Different Stages of Lung Cancer

The staging system is a bit more complicated than simply assigning a number. First of all, the stage numbering system differs slightly depending on whether the lung cancer has been diagnosed as small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common form and it progresses more slowly than the other type. Non-small lung cancer can be broken down into 4 stages. Stage 1 means that the tumor is local; it has not spread to the lymph nodes. Adding the letter A or B to the stage 1 classification indicates the size of the tumor (“A” means it is less than 3 cm across) and whether it’s larger and growing in a sensitive area (“B”). Stage 2 means the tumor has spread into lymph nodes or the chest wall. Again, an “A” and “B” designation determines the size and the location of the tumor. Stage 3 is more complicated and can mean several things. For example, it can indicate that the tumor has spread, but it’s still only affecting one side of the lung, or that tumors have spread to other nearby body parts such as the chest wall, or that fluid is collecting in the lungs. Stage 4 is of course the worst stage and means that cancerous tumors have spread into a whole other part of the body like the pelvis or liver.

Small-Cell Cancer

In cases of small-cell cancer, there are two stages of lung cancer – Stage 1 and Stage 2. These stages are used to designate whether the cancerous cells are limited in number or whether there exists an extensive amount that have invaded the chest and other parts of the body. When they’re limited in number, patients have a good chance of receiving effective treatment and possibly even resuming a near normal life. An extensive amount however, means treatment options are very limited.

The Staging Challenge

Although the stages of lung cancer seem well-defined, categorizing a person’s cancer into one of these stages is often challenging. Each case of cancer involves so many different factors and the combination of factors can be interpreted in many different ways by different doctors. Proper diagnosis and classification takes time and may take several rounds of testing. CT scans, MRIs, blood tests, bone scans and even testing the pleural effusion (if present) may all be needed.

The tale of the humble popcorn

Corn pollen more than 80,000 years old was found in Mexico. Proper popcorn was known in China, Sumatra, and India for at least 5000 years. Popped popcorn and kernels 5600 years old were discovered in the "Bat Cave" in New Mexico in 1948-1950. Popcorn kernels - ready to pop - were unearthed in ancient Peruvian tombs. In a cave is southern Utah, fluffy, fresh looking, white popcorn was dated to 1000 years ago.

Popcorn was used by the Aztecs and Indians as a decorative motif in headdresses, necklaces, and ornaments on statues of divinities. In the 16th century, both Hernando Cortes (in Mexico) and Christopher Columbus (in the West Indies) described these unusual uses of the snack. Father Bernardino de Sahagun (1499-1590), a Franciscan priest with deep interest in Mexican culture, described a ritual in honor of the Aztec gods of fisheries:

"They scattered before him parched corn, called momochitl, a kind of corn which bursts when parched and discloses its contents and makes itself look like a very white flower; they said these were hailstones given to the god of water."

French explorers in the early 17th century reported that the Iroquois Indians in the Great Lakes region drank popcorn beer and ate popcorn soup. In either 1621, or in 1630, popcorn was brought as a gift by the Indian Quadequina, brother of Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag tribe, to the colonists in Plymouth, Massachusetts at their first Thanksgiving dinner in the new land.

This may be an apocryphal story but, in any case, it would not have been popcorn as we know it today. An oiled ear was held on a stick over an open fire and the popped kernels would be chewed off. Popcorn later served as a morning cereal, eaten with cream or milk. The colonists called it "popped corn", "parching corn", or "rice corn".

Most of the world's popcorn ("prairie gold") is produced in Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana, in the United States. The kernel is a seed containing a plant embryo and its soft, starchy food. The seed is protected by a hard shell. Heating the kernel converts water held in the seed into pressurized steam which causes the kernel to pop and the starch to expand to 40 times its original size.

Javea a coastal paradise

Xаbia, also known as Jбvea, is a coastal town overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Marina Alta, a comarca in Alicante, Spain. The town itself is divided into three parts; the Old Quarter, the port and the village that is almost 3 km inland. Declared one of the healthiest climates in the world by the World Health Organization, Jбvea is protected by the cool harsh winds of the winter from the north by the mountain of Montgу. The temperatures stay pleasant enough even during the summer, averaging 32°c in the warmest month of August which is also one of the most active months in Jбvea in terms of tourist activity.

Fast becoming a popular tourist resort, the town of Jбvea has developed into a hot property market for retirement villas and land in general. The population of around 28,500 swells to over 100,000 when the tourists pour in. For the most part through, the inland groves of Jбvea are undisturbed by the tourist activities, they still produce tons of citrus oranges every year and the sight remains awesome when the branches are laden in season.

From a tourist point of view, the town is accessible through roads while the nearest train station at Gata de Gorgos is 10km inland. Connected to Alicante and Valencia through bus service as well, Jбvea is at an hours drive from the two airports. In addition, the coach service caters daily to travelers headed to and from Madrid.

Once a town fortified to ward off pirates and marauders, the ‘old quarter’ of Jбvea boasts the 14th Century Church of Sant Bartolomй that is dated a further 300 years back through some evidence. The church was declared a National Historic and Arts Monument for its historical value and is a popular tourist attraction now. While the ruins of the 15th Century Fontana Castle in the Arenal region have been replaced by apartment buildings, the cannons of the British destroyed fortification are still displayed in front of the Church of Sant Bartolomй. The Museo Historico y Etnografico Municipal J. B. Soler Blasco Javea, an etnographical museum, and the Agustinas Descalzas are also located in the old quarter, along with a modern market that, even with the span of time, retains the beauty of the olden days.

The port is an obvious tourist favorite with a gravel beach, marina and a wide variety of restaurants to keep holiday makers adequately entertained. As with most areas in Jбvea, there is a historical significance to everything. The port, dating back to the 15th century, played its extraordinary role in raisins export till the trade collapsed by the end of the 19th century. An attraction in the port area is the church of Nuestra Seсora del Loreto which shows off the town’s fishing culture to the hilt in its build. This area compliments the sandy beach of Arenal which is the party centre for the town. The various sand artists work away as while the tourists pour in, making it into a bustling place with bars, beach parties and long nights of fun and activity.

If all this isn’t enough to set Jбvea out as a town to visit, the 2,150 hectares of Montgу National Park add another mix of history and modern lifestyle to the area. The archeological remains dating several thousand years back, and the various pagan and Christian and cultural fiestas held in June, July and September make sure the time spent in this beautiful resort town worth your while.

Wealth knowledge

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What is wealth knowledge? It is knowing how money is made, and how wealth is protected. It isn't really a secret. In fact, there are hundreds of books out there that spell it all out for anyone willing to pay a little bit. The problem is that the essential truths are not popular with those who want to get rich easily.

Wealth Knowledge - Creation of Wealth

The first thing to understand if you want wealth knowledge, is that wealth is created. It isn't shuffled around from person to person depending upon who is "trickier." There is more wealth on the planet now than ever before, and more being created every day. No one has to get poorer for a man to become wealthy.

Start to recognize and understand the ways in which value is created. This is the basis of your own financial enrichment. You have to create something of value to others, and that is how you really make money. Any other way of making money is fragile, probably unethical, and likely temporary.

In the business of property "flipping," for example, it may appear that there is no value created. Buy a fixer-upper for $120,000, sell to another investor for $130,000 - where is the value you created? In the application of your knowledge of values, how to find properties, and how to structure deals. You put a neglected property into the hands of someone who will renovate it and make it a nice home for some family.

Think first of how you will give people what they need and want. In any business you'll make more money finding ways to solve other peoples problems than in finding ways to get paid. There are always enough ways to get paid if you create enough real value.

Wealth Knowledge - Habits of Wealth

A wealthy person is different from a poor person. No, he or she doesn't have different feelings, or even a superior character. What makes the wealthy different is what they consistently do. Wealth knowledge is in knowing what habits to cultivate.

Debt is a means to buy "toys" for most people. Put another TV on the credit card. It isn't that wealthy people avoid debt. They have much more usually. The difference is that they use debt to invest, to generate more wealth. The next time you borrow any money, do it to buy income producing real estate, or to start a business.

Wealth knowledge is about knowing what pays you the most for your time. Discover that, and do those things more. Make it a habit. Just spending two hours to re-arrange your banking, might make you hundreds more in interest over the years. Does your job pay you $100 per hour? Those you sell real estate know you can make several times as much for the same time selling $300,000 properties as selling $30,000 lots. Why not concentrate on working where the money is?

Everything gets easier as you do it more. There are tasks that you want to avoid, but are important to your financial future. It's tough to get motivated to do them. Get in the habit of starting each day with these most difficult tasks, though, and it gets easier. Of all the things you need to learn and do, developing good habits is the key to wealth knowledge.

Online debt consolidation loans just a click away

“It’s a new world out there,” was something I was told when I was little. Today, I realize that it sure is!! The speed with which technology is fast developing today is quite enthralling. It began with computers, infrastructure and then, the internet. Well, it’s high time this mass network be put to use, not only for its efficiency but also for it’s speed. Thanks to it, today, “loans” are just a click away!!

Debt Consolidation Loans replace your multiple existing loans and debts with a single consolidated loan from another creditor altogether. A debt consolidation process brings together your pending debts and multiple payments like store, gas and phone bills, medical bills, taxes, overdue rent etc. This consolidation reduces your monthly payments by lowering the interest rate or extending the repayment period or sometimes both. So finally all you have to do is pay off one loan by making single monthly payments. The creditor of this loan corresponds with all your previous lenders and you no longer have to deal with them. The main attraction of this loan is its low interest rate. Debt Consolidation Loans that are applied for and dealt with online, are called Online Debt Consolidation Loans.

Online Debt Consolidation Loans are very efficient and time saving. Instead of walking into a bank the traditional way, these loans allow you to apply online. The internet presents you with an opportunity to find detailed information on all the loans available, interest rates, repayment options, credit scores and lists of the innumerable companies offering them. With Online Debt Consolidation, you can compare quotes, choose your loan, fill out the required documents, apply for the loan, get an answer and manage your finances, all from the comfort of your home.

There are infinite loan companies that provide the online facility. It is not only easy for you but also for your creditors to deal with all their clients without having to personally visit them. They can maintain records and keep you informed by the minute. To find the best deals, you can simply start off with a search engine by typing “Online Debt Consolidation Loans”. From there, look up companies and check for reviews to see which are the most reliable when it comes to online debt consolidation. It may be a good idea to ask the company you are thinking of using, for references from former clients that had similar debt problems.

Remember:

•There are endless online debt consolidation programs available on the internet. Get as many quotes as possible. Find out about interest rates, repayment options, security or collateral needed, etc. Dig out all the information before getting one.

•Get references from former clients that had similar debt problems.

•Be vigilant about fine prints, lender fees and hidden costs. If in doubt, clarify with your lender; once the agreement is signed, the terms are binding to both parties.

•Do not hesitate in taking the help of legal experts.

•Always be cautious and keep an eye out for fraud.

Online Debt Consolidation Loans facilitate you further by allowing you to make your payments online as well. It uses your savings account number to wire money into your new consolidation loan. There is, as with anything, always a fear of being a victim of fraud when it comes to online dealings. Always remember that fraudulent companies will provide minimum information about themselves while extracting maximum out of you.

Do not apply:

•When there is a fee for application.

•When there is no customer service or representative help.

•When the company is not reputable.

•And even if your instincts just tell you so.

When it comes to managing your debt quickly, easily, and conveniently, Online Debt Consolidation Loans may be ideal for you. They help individuals research, apply, and use debt reduction programs in order to take charge of their debt. Look around and talk to people before committing to any lender. It sure pays off to take full responsibility for your own finances. All of it can happen through a series of mouse clicks and keystrokes. Get your deal right away!