Patient Zero Blog Carnival #3

January 17, 2010 | Filed Under alternative therapy, cancer, health, musings, nutrition | No Comments

Welcome to the January 18, 2010 edition of patient zero’s blog carnival.

Leslie Brown presents 25 Most Bizarre (But Real) X-Rays posted at ultrasound tech school.

Anne Valens presents 25 Online Tests to Check Up on Your Health posted at Diagnostic Medical Sonography Degree.

Robert Damone presents Top 50 Blogs to Learn About Health Administration posted at online MHA degree.

mrs laughton presents Top 50 Hospital Administration & Business Blogs posted at Masters In Health Care Online.

bigred hagans presents 25 Google Tips and Tricks for Healthcare Professionals posted at Online BSN.

Bluehippo Avalonne presents Top 50 Surgery Blogs posted at Online Surgical Technician Courses.

Anthony Stewart presents 10 Most Famous Surgeries of All Time posted at Online Surgical Technician Courses.

Anne Valens presents 25 Amazing Infographics and Studies Showing the Cost of Obesity posted at masters in health science.

Jimmy Hagans presents 50 Must-Bookmark Nursing Care Plan Libraries posted at Online LPN to RN.

Maureen Fitzsimmons presents Top 50 Medical Technology Blogs posted at Become An X-ray Technician.

Camille Hensley presents 50 Open Courseware Classes to Learn About the Healthcare Debate posted at Best masters in healthcare.

Allison Johanson presents 50 Open Courseware Classes on Diseases & Pandemics posted at BSN Program.

Diane Steward presents Top 50 Blogs for Job Seekers in the Healthcare Field posted at Online CNA Degree Programs.

mrs laughton presents Top 50 Nanotech & Biomaterial Blogs posted at Masters in Health Informatics.

bigred hagans presents 25 Intriguing Online Quizzes and Calculators to Test Your Life Expectancy posted at Best masters in healthcare.

Frederick Yarmy presents Top 50 Public Health Blogs posted at masters in health science.

cancer stories

sagarika satapathy presents Lung Cancer, Its symptoms and treatment posted at Social Work for Mankind.

Tracy Kudrna presents Can you say Soy? posted at Breast Cancer and me-My breast cancer blog, saying, "I have been maintaining a breast cancer blog for almost 2 years now, chronicling my journey with breast cancer."

exercise

Divinelysmile presents 100 Weird Phobias That Really Exist posted at Nursing Degree Guide.

Gracie Turner presents 100 Easy and Awesome Exercises You Can Do In Your Dorm posted at Online Classes.org.

medical news

Heather Sanders presents Top 50 Blogs by Medical Professionals posted at BSN to MSN.

Emily Moser presents Top 10 Myths About Swine Flu That Just Won’t Die posted at Pharmacy Technician Certification.

nutrition

NHE presents The health benefits of garlic (helping prevent weight gain?) posted at Natural Health Ezine, saying, "Research has been conducted for years regarding the effect of garlic and the prevention of cancer…"

Anthony Stewart presents Top 50 Hospice Care Blogs posted at Nurses assistant, saying, "Hospice care, whether it takes place in the home or in a facility, is often marked with the idea of comfort, and being surrounded by loved ones."

wellness

Stas Voras presents Amazing Fish Oil (Omega 3) posted at Vitamins and Supplements, saying, "In spite of the fact that Omega-3 fatty acids (the outstanding part of Fish Oil) have been studied as essential to normal growth and health since the 1930s, consciousness of their health benefits has dramatically increased in the past few years. Analyses about fish oil are produced practically every day as the scientific public detects more and more of the many unique omega 3 fish oil advantages. If you haven’t already been passed up in the net yet, here are some substantiated omega 3 benefits you should know about."

Ally Peterson presents 25 Amazing Infographics and Studies Showing the Cost of Sickness posted at Nurses assistant, saying, "According to these studies, it can be very costly to be sick!"

Gracyqueen presents 100 Inspirational Health Posts to Make Good On Your New Year’s Resolution posted at RN Central.

Amy Joines presents Top 20 Sites For Dealing With Heart Disease posted at MRI Technician Training.

Rose King presents Today’s Nursing Shortage By The Numbers (Infographics) posted at NursingDegree.net.

Martin Andrews presents The AA Alcoholism Treatment posted at Stop Drinking Advice, saying, "Discover how to quit drinking as revealed in Ed Philips "Alcoholism Treatment Guide", which offers tried and tested alcoholic addiction support to quit drinking within 21 days."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of patient zero’s blog carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Does Everyone Have Cancer?

January 17, 2010 | Filed Under cancer, musings | No Comments

First there was a report that actor Dennis Hopper had prostate cancer and is losing his fight against the disease. Now, there are reports that Michael C. Hall, the star of one of my favorite shows, Dexter had a secret battle with Hodgkin’s Disease last year. Not to mention that Maura Tierney has breast cancer and has been replaced on the mid-season replacement show, Parenthood by Lauren Graham because of it.

Mediterranean Diet Reduces Cancer Risk

January 16, 2010 | Filed Under cancer | No Comments

A new study published on Dec 9 in the online journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has associated use of Mediterranean diet with a lower risk of stomach or gastric cancer.

The finding may suggest that either the Mediterranean diet itself helps protect against stomach cancer or conversely, that other diets may boost the risk of a disease that kills about 23 percent of patients within five years of diagnosis.

The study, led by Dr. Carlos A. Gonzalez and colleagues of the Catalan Institute for Oncology in Barcelona showed that those who adhered to the diet most closely had a 33 percent reduced risk of stomach cancer compared to those who did not adhere to the diet as closely. The researchers analyzed data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study, which involved 485,044 men and women aged 35 to 70 years from 10 European countries. Based on their dietary practices, participants were given scores on an 18-point scale to indicate the degree of their adherence to the Mediterranean diet with the highest score referring to the best adherence. Every one-point increase in the score was associated with 5 percent reduction in the risk of stomach cancer, Gonzalez and his team found.

Stomach cancer is diagnosed in 21,700 Americans each year in the United States according to the American Cancer Society. The diet-related risk factors for stomach cancer include Helicobacter pylori infection, salted fish and meat, foods high in starch and low in fiber, pickled veggies and foods and beverages with high amounts of nitrates and nitrites.

Stomach cancer symptoms include indigestion or heartburn, discomfort or pain in the stomach, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, bloating after meals, weakness and fatigue without known causes, loss of appetite, among others.

Mediterranean diet has been linked to a reduced risk of a number of other diseases including depression, inflammation, premature death, diabetes, birth defect, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity/overweight to name a few. The Mediterranean diet consists of large quantities of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and moderate amounts of olive oil, nuts, poultry and fish with no more than half the daily intake of calories from carbohydrates.