(CNN) -- A Singapore man undergoing treatment for cancer was detained for four hours by U.S. immigration officials after the drug he was taking caused his fingerprints to disappear.
Foreign visitors undergo mandatory fingerprint screening when they enter the United States.
Now, the unidentified man's oncologist is asking patients taking the commonly used drug, capecitabine, to carry a doctor's note when they travel to the United States.
The oncologist, Eng-Huat Tan of the National Cancer Center in Singapore, described the encounter in a letter published in the current issue of the cancer journal Annals of Oncology.
The 62-year-old cancer patient, identified as Mr. S, eventually was allowed to enter the United States and visit relatives after officials determined he did not pose a security threat.
According to the oncologist, the patient had neck and head cancer that had spread. He responded well to chemotherapy.
To prevent a recurrence, doctors placed him on capecitabine, marketed in the United States as Xeloda.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Finding a 'center' in a weight loss journey
By Elizabeth Landau
CNN
(CNN) -- Giyen Kim recently posted a picture of scrumptious-looking jalapeno corn muffins, along with the recipe, on her blog. But after baking them, Kim didn't even take a bite.
The past six weeks have been "a roller coaster" for Giyen Kim of Seattle, Washington.
The people who did eat the muffins at the potluck dinner told Kim they loved them, but she restrained herself because she's trying to lose weight.
"I tried a little bit of the batter, but I've been trying to stay away from wheat," she said.
Kim, 35, is one of several iReporters who have been sending in updates on the changes they want to make in 2009. Kim's goals were to lose weight and jump-start her career as a writer. Share your story with iReport.com
Right now, she says in her latest video update, she's trying to find her "center," and adjust from there.
"I've found that it's extremely difficult to lose weight the slow way, which is gradually and without making a lot of extreme dietary changes," she said in the video. "So, now I'm trying to change these long-term habits and eat more healthfully for the rest of my life. And, wow, I'm having a tough time."
At the beginning of the year, Kim, of Seattle, Washington, weighed in at about 190, and wanted to return to her pre-pregnancy weight of 120. She succeeded in losing 10 pounds in February, and initially felt more motivated to keep up with her weight loss.
CNN
(CNN) -- Giyen Kim recently posted a picture of scrumptious-looking jalapeno corn muffins, along with the recipe, on her blog. But after baking them, Kim didn't even take a bite.
The past six weeks have been "a roller coaster" for Giyen Kim of Seattle, Washington.
The people who did eat the muffins at the potluck dinner told Kim they loved them, but she restrained herself because she's trying to lose weight.
"I tried a little bit of the batter, but I've been trying to stay away from wheat," she said.
Kim, 35, is one of several iReporters who have been sending in updates on the changes they want to make in 2009. Kim's goals were to lose weight and jump-start her career as a writer. Share your story with iReport.com
Right now, she says in her latest video update, she's trying to find her "center," and adjust from there.
"I've found that it's extremely difficult to lose weight the slow way, which is gradually and without making a lot of extreme dietary changes," she said in the video. "So, now I'm trying to change these long-term habits and eat more healthfully for the rest of my life. And, wow, I'm having a tough time."
At the beginning of the year, Kim, of Seattle, Washington, weighed in at about 190, and wanted to return to her pre-pregnancy weight of 120. She succeeded in losing 10 pounds in February, and initially felt more motivated to keep up with her weight loss.
Monday, May 18, 2009
New York principal's death linked to flu virus, hospital says
NEW YORK (CNN) -- An assistant principal of a New York middle school who was hospitalized with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, died Sunday from flu complications, hospital and state officials said.
New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden reports a rising tide of flu in the city.
1 of 2 It's the sixth death in the United States that health authorities have linked to the virus.
"It is with great sadness tonight that we learn that New York has lost one of its residents to an illness related to H1N1," New York Gov. David Paterson said.
Mitchell Wiener, 55, assistant principal at Intermediate School 238 in Queens, died at 6:17 p.m. Sunday, said Andrew Rubin, a spokesman at Flushing Hospital.
"We believe he had complications of the swine flu," Rubin told CNN Radio, adding that once Wiener was admitted to the hospital, he was listed in critical condition. However, he wouldn't say whether Wiener had any pre-existing medical conditions.
Last week, when city and state officials announced that four students were infected and that a school official in Queens was "critically ill" with the virus, Mayor Michael Bloomberg did not name the official but described the staffer as an assistant principal who "may have had other health problems."
New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden reports a rising tide of flu in the city.
1 of 2 It's the sixth death in the United States that health authorities have linked to the virus.
"It is with great sadness tonight that we learn that New York has lost one of its residents to an illness related to H1N1," New York Gov. David Paterson said.
Mitchell Wiener, 55, assistant principal at Intermediate School 238 in Queens, died at 6:17 p.m. Sunday, said Andrew Rubin, a spokesman at Flushing Hospital.
"We believe he had complications of the swine flu," Rubin told CNN Radio, adding that once Wiener was admitted to the hospital, he was listed in critical condition. However, he wouldn't say whether Wiener had any pre-existing medical conditions.
Last week, when city and state officials announced that four students were infected and that a school official in Queens was "critically ill" with the virus, Mayor Michael Bloomberg did not name the official but described the staffer as an assistant principal who "may have had other health problems."
Monday, May 4, 2009
Swine flu cases rise worldwide as Mexico lowers its alert level
GENEVA, Switzerland (CNN) -- The number of confirmed cases of swine flu jumped to 1,025 on Monday, comprising 20 countries, the World Health Organization said.
The death toll climbed as well as Mexico's health minister announced that a 26th person in the country was confirmed to have died from the H1N1 virus, also called swine flu.
There has been one confirmed death outside Mexico, a Mexican toddler who was in the United States visiting relatives.
The WHO said there were no immediate plans to raise its alert to the highest level, Phase 6. That designation would mean "that we are seeing continued spread of the virus to countries outside of one region," WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda said at a news conference.
"If you are seeing community outbreaks occur in multiple regions of the world, it really tells us if the virus has established itself and that we can expect to see disease in most countries in the world."
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 286 confirmed cases across 36 states, 60 more cases than the day before.
The numbers are expected to increase. Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's interim deputy director for public health, said Sunday, "We believe we're just on the upswing here."
The death toll climbed as well as Mexico's health minister announced that a 26th person in the country was confirmed to have died from the H1N1 virus, also called swine flu.
There has been one confirmed death outside Mexico, a Mexican toddler who was in the United States visiting relatives.
The WHO said there were no immediate plans to raise its alert to the highest level, Phase 6. That designation would mean "that we are seeing continued spread of the virus to countries outside of one region," WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda said at a news conference.
"If you are seeing community outbreaks occur in multiple regions of the world, it really tells us if the virus has established itself and that we can expect to see disease in most countries in the world."
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 286 confirmed cases across 36 states, 60 more cases than the day before.
The numbers are expected to increase. Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's interim deputy director for public health, said Sunday, "We believe we're just on the upswing here."
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
WHO says no sign flu outbreak slowing
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor Maggie Fox, Health And Science Editor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Mexican toddler in Texas has died of the new swine flu virus, the first confirmed death outside Mexico, as the World Health Organization said the outbreak showed clear signs of spreading around the world.
Nearly a week after the threat first emerged in Mexico, Spain reported the first case in Europe of swine flu in a person who had not been to Mexico, underscoring the threat of person-to-person transmission.
"It is clear that the virus is spreading and we don't see evidence of it slowing down at this point," Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO acting assistant director-general, told a news briefing.
With Germany and Austria reporting cases, bringing the number of affected countries to 9, Fukuda said the WHO was moving loser to raising its pandemic alert to phase five, the second highest level possible.
U.S. officials said that a 22-month-old boy had died in Texas -- the first confirmed U.S. swine flu death -- but they added that he was on a family visit from Mexico, where up to 159 flu fatalities have been recorded.
Dr. Richard Besser, acting head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the country now had 91 confirmed cases in 10 states from New York to California.
"We're going to find more cases. We're going to find more severe cases and I expect that we'll continue to see additional deaths," Besser said.
President Barack Obama, who on Tuesday asked for $1.5 billion in emergency funding to fight the disease, said the death showed it was time to take "utmost precautions" against the virus.
Wall Street opened higher on Wednesday even as data showed the U.S. economy shrank at a steeper pace than expected and traders looked beyond flu fears for hopeful signs that the recession may be abating.
Financial markets are keeping an eye on the spread of the virus, but so far the economic impact has largely been confined to the tourism and pharmaceutical industries.
Unless a significant number of deaths start to be reported from a number of countries, raising the possibility of an even slower recovery from recession, analysts predict the impact on stock, bond and currency prices is likely to be limited.
TOURISM HIT
France said it would seek a European Union ban on Thursday on flights to Mexico. Argentina and Cuba have already stopped flights from Mexico.
The EU, the United States and Canada have advised against non-essential travel to the popular tourist destination, as nearly all the cases so far, in Canada, New Zealand, Israel and Spain, have been linked to travel from Mexico.
The WHO said there was no plan now to call an emergency committee meeting to raise the pandemic alert level, which could take place if it were confirmed that infected people in at least two countries were spreading the disease to other people in a sustained way.
The WHO's Fukuda, who earlier said the outbreak may end up as a "very mild pandemic", said the report of the Spanish case involving a person who had not been to Mexico suggests the virus is spreading more easily among people.
"There are cases which are occurring in people who have not traveled," Fukuda told a news briefing. "What we are looking for overall is whether we see many kinds of those infections occurring that suggest transmission is occurring independent of travel."
Spain's El Mundo newspaper said the Spanish patient had recent contact with someone who had visited Mexico.
H1N1 swine flu poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu re-emerged in 2003, killing 257 people of 421 infected in 15 countries. In 1968 a "Hong Kong" flu pandemic killed about 1 million people globally, and a 1957 pandemic killed about 2 million.
The new strain contains genetic material from avian, swine and human viruses and appears to have evolved the ability to pass easily from one person to another.
It cannot be caught from eating pork products but Egypt ordered all its pigs to be slaughtered and some countries, led by Russia and China, have banned U.S. pork imports.
The World Trade Organization said on Wednesday it had not been told officially of any such bans, and the EU and Japan said they would not follow suit.
In the United States, where pork producers have voiced outrage over the trade bans, officials began referring to the outbreak as the 2009 H1N1 flu.
Obama's newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius held her first news conference on Wednesday seeking again to reassure the public
"We are determined to fight this outbreak and do everything we can to protect the health of every American," she said.
SCHOOLS, PYRAMIDS CLOSED
The outbreak has deeply affected life in Mexico and ravaged tourism, a key earner. Mexico City was unusually quiet, with schools closed. Many parents took their children in to work.
All Mayan and Aztec pyramid ruins, dotted through central and southern Mexico, were closed until further notice.
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said more than 1,300 people were in hospitals, some of them seriously ill, out of a total of about 2,500 suspected cases.
"In the last few days there has been a decline (in cases)," he said. "The death figures have remained more or less stable."
Seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people in a normal year, including healthy children in rich countries.
Health agencies advise frequent hand-washing and covering sneezes and coughs to help stop the spread. Experts generally agree that face masks, especially the surgical masks seen on the streets of Mexico City, offer little protection.
(Reporting by Maggie Fox, Doina Chiacu and Will Dunham in Washington, Jason Lange, Catherine Bremer Alistair Bell and Helen Popper in Mexico City, Eric Burroughs and Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong; Writing by Andrew Quinn, editing by Anthony Boadle)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Mexican toddler in Texas has died of the new swine flu virus, the first confirmed death outside Mexico, as the World Health Organization said the outbreak showed clear signs of spreading around the world.
Nearly a week after the threat first emerged in Mexico, Spain reported the first case in Europe of swine flu in a person who had not been to Mexico, underscoring the threat of person-to-person transmission.
"It is clear that the virus is spreading and we don't see evidence of it slowing down at this point," Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO acting assistant director-general, told a news briefing.
With Germany and Austria reporting cases, bringing the number of affected countries to 9, Fukuda said the WHO was moving loser to raising its pandemic alert to phase five, the second highest level possible.
U.S. officials said that a 22-month-old boy had died in Texas -- the first confirmed U.S. swine flu death -- but they added that he was on a family visit from Mexico, where up to 159 flu fatalities have been recorded.
Dr. Richard Besser, acting head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the country now had 91 confirmed cases in 10 states from New York to California.
"We're going to find more cases. We're going to find more severe cases and I expect that we'll continue to see additional deaths," Besser said.
President Barack Obama, who on Tuesday asked for $1.5 billion in emergency funding to fight the disease, said the death showed it was time to take "utmost precautions" against the virus.
Wall Street opened higher on Wednesday even as data showed the U.S. economy shrank at a steeper pace than expected and traders looked beyond flu fears for hopeful signs that the recession may be abating.
Financial markets are keeping an eye on the spread of the virus, but so far the economic impact has largely been confined to the tourism and pharmaceutical industries.
Unless a significant number of deaths start to be reported from a number of countries, raising the possibility of an even slower recovery from recession, analysts predict the impact on stock, bond and currency prices is likely to be limited.
TOURISM HIT
France said it would seek a European Union ban on Thursday on flights to Mexico. Argentina and Cuba have already stopped flights from Mexico.
The EU, the United States and Canada have advised against non-essential travel to the popular tourist destination, as nearly all the cases so far, in Canada, New Zealand, Israel and Spain, have been linked to travel from Mexico.
The WHO said there was no plan now to call an emergency committee meeting to raise the pandemic alert level, which could take place if it were confirmed that infected people in at least two countries were spreading the disease to other people in a sustained way.
The WHO's Fukuda, who earlier said the outbreak may end up as a "very mild pandemic", said the report of the Spanish case involving a person who had not been to Mexico suggests the virus is spreading more easily among people.
"There are cases which are occurring in people who have not traveled," Fukuda told a news briefing. "What we are looking for overall is whether we see many kinds of those infections occurring that suggest transmission is occurring independent of travel."
Spain's El Mundo newspaper said the Spanish patient had recent contact with someone who had visited Mexico.
H1N1 swine flu poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu re-emerged in 2003, killing 257 people of 421 infected in 15 countries. In 1968 a "Hong Kong" flu pandemic killed about 1 million people globally, and a 1957 pandemic killed about 2 million.
The new strain contains genetic material from avian, swine and human viruses and appears to have evolved the ability to pass easily from one person to another.
It cannot be caught from eating pork products but Egypt ordered all its pigs to be slaughtered and some countries, led by Russia and China, have banned U.S. pork imports.
The World Trade Organization said on Wednesday it had not been told officially of any such bans, and the EU and Japan said they would not follow suit.
In the United States, where pork producers have voiced outrage over the trade bans, officials began referring to the outbreak as the 2009 H1N1 flu.
Obama's newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius held her first news conference on Wednesday seeking again to reassure the public
"We are determined to fight this outbreak and do everything we can to protect the health of every American," she said.
SCHOOLS, PYRAMIDS CLOSED
The outbreak has deeply affected life in Mexico and ravaged tourism, a key earner. Mexico City was unusually quiet, with schools closed. Many parents took their children in to work.
All Mayan and Aztec pyramid ruins, dotted through central and southern Mexico, were closed until further notice.
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said more than 1,300 people were in hospitals, some of them seriously ill, out of a total of about 2,500 suspected cases.
"In the last few days there has been a decline (in cases)," he said. "The death figures have remained more or less stable."
Seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people in a normal year, including healthy children in rich countries.
Health agencies advise frequent hand-washing and covering sneezes and coughs to help stop the spread. Experts generally agree that face masks, especially the surgical masks seen on the streets of Mexico City, offer little protection.
(Reporting by Maggie Fox, Doina Chiacu and Will Dunham in Washington, Jason Lange, Catherine Bremer Alistair Bell and Helen Popper in Mexico City, Eric Burroughs and Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong; Writing by Andrew Quinn, editing by Anthony Boadle)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
FACTBOX-Defences against swine flu in Europe and Africa
28 Apr 2009 10:58:00 GMT
Source: Reuters
April 28 (Reuters) - Governments around Europe and Africa acted to stem a possible flu pandemic as the virus spread from Mexico to North America and Europe.
Here is a guide to some of the precautionary steps being taken around Europe and Africa:
* Star denotes new or updated entry:
EUROPE:
AUSTRIA -- Has stocks of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat 4 million people (half the population), and has secured production capacity for prophylactic vaccines for the entire population. It has also stockpiled 8 million protective masks.
* BRITAIN -- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico. It also said routine consular and all visa services at its embassy in Mexico City had been suspended. Has antiviral stockpiles to provide treatment for 50 percent of the population should they become ill.
-- Travel firm Thomson Holidays said it had decided to repatriate its customers from Mexico and to cancel flights bound for Cancun on Tuesday.
* BULGARIA -- Sofia airport boosted checks of passengers arriving from countries affected. Two thermal scanners have been installed at the airport. Customs officers are also checking the luggage of passengers arriving from Mexico, the U.S., Canada and Japan to ensure they are not importing pork products.
* CZECH REPUBLIC -- Circulated general information on the viral strain to hospitals, doctors and general practitioners. Has stocks of 2 million doses of Tamiflu, enough to treat one fifth of the population. At Prague Airport, information boards on swine flu have been put up and medical exams are available.
DENMARK -- A general pandemic plan is in place since bird flu scare. Denmark has stockpiled Tamiflu.
* FRANCE -- Is now strongly advising against travelling to Mexico. Has reinforced checks at airports, especially for people returning from Mexico. France has a stock of more than 30 million antiviral treatments, composed of 24 million doses of Tamiflu and 9 million doses of Relenza.
GERMANY -- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico.
GREECE -- Has "strategic stocks" of Tamiflu and other antivirus medicine.
ITALY - Pamphlets are being handed out to passengers at Rome's international airport although there are no restrictions on travel. Italy has 10 million doses of Zanamivir (Relenza) and 60,000 doses of Tamiflu as well as enough Tamiflu powder to make 30 million doses.
NORWAY -- A "pandemic committee" will be assembled this week. Authorities have stored flu medicine covering one-third of the 4.7 million population.
RUSSIA -- Health ministry recommends Russian citizens avoid trips to Mexico.
Aircraft personnel arriving from the Americas have been instructed to look out for passengers with flu-like symptoms. Planes, on which cases are suspected, should be taxied to special zones, and passengers and crews examined by medics.
-- Imposed curbs on meat imports from Mexico, a number of U.S. states and the Caribbean.
SPAIN -- Distributing leaflets to passengers arriving from Mexico, advising them to report to a health centre if they suffer symptoms. Spain has a stockpile of 10 million doses of Tamiflu. Flights to Mexico are being equipped with face masks and gloves.
UKRAINE -- Ban on imports of live pigs and pork meat from countries where cases of swine flu have been recorded. This applies to Mexico, the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. All shipments received after April 21 will be subject to the ban.
AFRICA:
* EGYPT -- The authorities have increased medical staff at Cairo airport to check passengers arriving from Mexico and will monitor them during their stay.
* ZAMBIA -- Has formed an emergency task force to deal with a possible outbreak of swine flu.
Source: Reuters
April 28 (Reuters) - Governments around Europe and Africa acted to stem a possible flu pandemic as the virus spread from Mexico to North America and Europe.
Here is a guide to some of the precautionary steps being taken around Europe and Africa:
* Star denotes new or updated entry:
EUROPE:
AUSTRIA -- Has stocks of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat 4 million people (half the population), and has secured production capacity for prophylactic vaccines for the entire population. It has also stockpiled 8 million protective masks.
* BRITAIN -- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico. It also said routine consular and all visa services at its embassy in Mexico City had been suspended. Has antiviral stockpiles to provide treatment for 50 percent of the population should they become ill.
-- Travel firm Thomson Holidays said it had decided to repatriate its customers from Mexico and to cancel flights bound for Cancun on Tuesday.
* BULGARIA -- Sofia airport boosted checks of passengers arriving from countries affected. Two thermal scanners have been installed at the airport. Customs officers are also checking the luggage of passengers arriving from Mexico, the U.S., Canada and Japan to ensure they are not importing pork products.
* CZECH REPUBLIC -- Circulated general information on the viral strain to hospitals, doctors and general practitioners. Has stocks of 2 million doses of Tamiflu, enough to treat one fifth of the population. At Prague Airport, information boards on swine flu have been put up and medical exams are available.
DENMARK -- A general pandemic plan is in place since bird flu scare. Denmark has stockpiled Tamiflu.
* FRANCE -- Is now strongly advising against travelling to Mexico. Has reinforced checks at airports, especially for people returning from Mexico. France has a stock of more than 30 million antiviral treatments, composed of 24 million doses of Tamiflu and 9 million doses of Relenza.
GERMANY -- Advises nationals against non-vital travel to Mexico.
GREECE -- Has "strategic stocks" of Tamiflu and other antivirus medicine.
ITALY - Pamphlets are being handed out to passengers at Rome's international airport although there are no restrictions on travel. Italy has 10 million doses of Zanamivir (Relenza) and 60,000 doses of Tamiflu as well as enough Tamiflu powder to make 30 million doses.
NORWAY -- A "pandemic committee" will be assembled this week. Authorities have stored flu medicine covering one-third of the 4.7 million population.
RUSSIA -- Health ministry recommends Russian citizens avoid trips to Mexico.
Aircraft personnel arriving from the Americas have been instructed to look out for passengers with flu-like symptoms. Planes, on which cases are suspected, should be taxied to special zones, and passengers and crews examined by medics.
-- Imposed curbs on meat imports from Mexico, a number of U.S. states and the Caribbean.
SPAIN -- Distributing leaflets to passengers arriving from Mexico, advising them to report to a health centre if they suffer symptoms. Spain has a stockpile of 10 million doses of Tamiflu. Flights to Mexico are being equipped with face masks and gloves.
UKRAINE -- Ban on imports of live pigs and pork meat from countries where cases of swine flu have been recorded. This applies to Mexico, the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. All shipments received after April 21 will be subject to the ban.
AFRICA:
* EGYPT -- The authorities have increased medical staff at Cairo airport to check passengers arriving from Mexico and will monitor them during their stay.
* ZAMBIA -- Has formed an emergency task force to deal with a possible outbreak of swine flu.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Swine flu: What it is, how to fight it
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY
It's a common respiratory ailment in pigs, but this strain appears to bea subtype never before seen in pigs or humans. Here are answers to questions you may have about swine flu.
Q: What is swine flu?
A: It's a common respiratory disease in pigs that doesn't usually spread to people. When pigs catch this flu, many get quite sick, and 1% to 4% die, according to the World Health Organization. In the past, people have sometimes caught swine flu if they worked directly with pigs.
Q: How is this swine flu virus different?
A: This strain appears to be a subtype not seen before in humans or pigs, with genetic material from pigs, bird and humans, according to WHO. Unlike most cases of swine flu, this one can spread from person to person, said Richard Besser, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at a White House press conference Sunday. One of the confirmed cases in the USA caught swine flu from a spouse, who had been to Mexico.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: United States | White House | Minnesota | Mexico | North Dakota | World Health Organization | Elizabeth | Janet Napolitano | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Q: Were pigs the carriers of this virus?
A: It's closer to say that pigs were the mixing bowl for this virus. Birds can't pass bird flu to people. But pigs are uniquely susceptible to getting flu viruses that infect birds. Experts have long worried that a pig would catch a bird strain of the flu and then the virus would mutate inside the pig to a form that could also infect other mammals. That may be what happened in this case. Pigs can also be infected with more than one influenza virus at a time, allowing the viruses to share genes, called "genetic reassortment," creating new and potentially much more virulent viruses.
Q: Can you catch swine flu from eating pork?
A: No, according to WHO. Pigs coming in to slaughter facilities are monitored for flu symptoms, and those that are ill are not allowed to enter the food supply. Cooking also kills the virus. People who work with pigs, however, can catch the virus. The Department of Agriculture is conducting tests to confirm that the food supply is safe, said Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Q: Is there a vaccine against swine flu?
A: No, but government scientists could try to create one, according to the CDC. "We've identified the virus," Besser said. "Should we decide to manufacture a vaccine, we can work toward that goal very quickly." CDC scientists don't know if this year's flu vaccine offers any protection.
Q: What about antivirals? Can they prevent swine flu?
A: This strain of swine flu does appear sensitive to the antiviral drugs Relenza and Tamiflu, but not to amantadine, or Symmetrel, and rimantadine, or Flumadine, Besser said. With normal seasonal flus, if taken within the first 48 hours after symptoms appear, antivirals can help people recover a day or two sooner. Doctors sometimes prescribe antivirals to household members of people with the flu to prevent them from getting sick.
Q: What are the symptoms?
A: The most common symptoms are fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing, although some people also develop a runny nose, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea, according to the CDC.
Q: What should you do if you have these symptoms?
A: Stay home from work or school, to avoid spreading your illness to other people, Besser said. Don't get on an airplane. People should call their doctors to ask about the best treatment, but should not simply show up at a clinic or hospital that is unprepared for their arrival.
Q: How can people protect themselves?
A: As always, people should wash their hands frequently, Besser said. In the past, the CDC has said there isn't conclusive evidence to support using face masks. Surgical masks are designed to prevent the wearer from spreading germs, but may also catch large respiratory droplets if someone sneezes nearby. In a 2007 statement, the CDC said these masks could be worn if someone needs to go to a crowded place, such as a grocery store, for a short time. N95 respirator masks filter out 95% of particles to prevent the wearer from breathing them in. These must be fitted properly around the nose to create a seal, so they can make breathing difficult.
Q: What does it mean for the government to declare a public health emergency?
A: While the declaration "sounds more severe than it is," Napolitano said Sunday, it will free up funds and allow health officials to use medications and tests that aren't normally used. The government also issued a public health declaration during recent floods in North Dakota and Minnesota, she said, and noted that the government often issues such declarations when hurricanes are approaching. The federal government is also releasing 25% of the 50 million doses of antiviral medications in the nation's Strategic National Stockpile, Napolitano said. The Department of Defense is also making 7 million doses available.
Q: Why has the virus been so much deadlier in Mexico, where 1,300 have become ill and more than 80 people have died, than in the USA?
A: "What we've seen in this country is not anywhere near the severity of what we're seeing in Mexico," Besser said. Doctors don't yet know why cases have been milder in the USA, where only person has been hospitalized, although 20 cases have been confirmed, Besser said.
More information is available at www.cdc.gov.
It's a common respiratory ailment in pigs, but this strain appears to bea subtype never before seen in pigs or humans. Here are answers to questions you may have about swine flu.
Q: What is swine flu?
A: It's a common respiratory disease in pigs that doesn't usually spread to people. When pigs catch this flu, many get quite sick, and 1% to 4% die, according to the World Health Organization. In the past, people have sometimes caught swine flu if they worked directly with pigs.
Q: How is this swine flu virus different?
A: This strain appears to be a subtype not seen before in humans or pigs, with genetic material from pigs, bird and humans, according to WHO. Unlike most cases of swine flu, this one can spread from person to person, said Richard Besser, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at a White House press conference Sunday. One of the confirmed cases in the USA caught swine flu from a spouse, who had been to Mexico.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: United States | White House | Minnesota | Mexico | North Dakota | World Health Organization | Elizabeth | Janet Napolitano | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Q: Were pigs the carriers of this virus?
A: It's closer to say that pigs were the mixing bowl for this virus. Birds can't pass bird flu to people. But pigs are uniquely susceptible to getting flu viruses that infect birds. Experts have long worried that a pig would catch a bird strain of the flu and then the virus would mutate inside the pig to a form that could also infect other mammals. That may be what happened in this case. Pigs can also be infected with more than one influenza virus at a time, allowing the viruses to share genes, called "genetic reassortment," creating new and potentially much more virulent viruses.
Q: Can you catch swine flu from eating pork?
A: No, according to WHO. Pigs coming in to slaughter facilities are monitored for flu symptoms, and those that are ill are not allowed to enter the food supply. Cooking also kills the virus. People who work with pigs, however, can catch the virus. The Department of Agriculture is conducting tests to confirm that the food supply is safe, said Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Q: Is there a vaccine against swine flu?
A: No, but government scientists could try to create one, according to the CDC. "We've identified the virus," Besser said. "Should we decide to manufacture a vaccine, we can work toward that goal very quickly." CDC scientists don't know if this year's flu vaccine offers any protection.
Q: What about antivirals? Can they prevent swine flu?
A: This strain of swine flu does appear sensitive to the antiviral drugs Relenza and Tamiflu, but not to amantadine, or Symmetrel, and rimantadine, or Flumadine, Besser said. With normal seasonal flus, if taken within the first 48 hours after symptoms appear, antivirals can help people recover a day or two sooner. Doctors sometimes prescribe antivirals to household members of people with the flu to prevent them from getting sick.
Q: What are the symptoms?
A: The most common symptoms are fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing, although some people also develop a runny nose, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea, according to the CDC.
Q: What should you do if you have these symptoms?
A: Stay home from work or school, to avoid spreading your illness to other people, Besser said. Don't get on an airplane. People should call their doctors to ask about the best treatment, but should not simply show up at a clinic or hospital that is unprepared for their arrival.
Q: How can people protect themselves?
A: As always, people should wash their hands frequently, Besser said. In the past, the CDC has said there isn't conclusive evidence to support using face masks. Surgical masks are designed to prevent the wearer from spreading germs, but may also catch large respiratory droplets if someone sneezes nearby. In a 2007 statement, the CDC said these masks could be worn if someone needs to go to a crowded place, such as a grocery store, for a short time. N95 respirator masks filter out 95% of particles to prevent the wearer from breathing them in. These must be fitted properly around the nose to create a seal, so they can make breathing difficult.
Q: What does it mean for the government to declare a public health emergency?
A: While the declaration "sounds more severe than it is," Napolitano said Sunday, it will free up funds and allow health officials to use medications and tests that aren't normally used. The government also issued a public health declaration during recent floods in North Dakota and Minnesota, she said, and noted that the government often issues such declarations when hurricanes are approaching. The federal government is also releasing 25% of the 50 million doses of antiviral medications in the nation's Strategic National Stockpile, Napolitano said. The Department of Defense is also making 7 million doses available.
Q: Why has the virus been so much deadlier in Mexico, where 1,300 have become ill and more than 80 people have died, than in the USA?
A: "What we've seen in this country is not anywhere near the severity of what we're seeing in Mexico," Besser said. Doctors don't yet know why cases have been milder in the USA, where only person has been hospitalized, although 20 cases have been confirmed, Besser said.
More information is available at www.cdc.gov.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Flu outbreak closes theaters in Mexico
Commercial exhibitors plan to remain open
By John Hecht
April 24, 2009, 07:20 PM ET
MEXICO CITY -- A swine flu outbreak forced Mexico's government to shut down state-run theaters Friday, and it appears that the Mexican boxoffice will take a hit this weekend as health officials urge people to stay out of confined places with crowds.
Health officials here are scrambling to contain a swine flu virus that has killed about 60 people and infected hundreds more. Schools, museums and government-owned theaters were closed Friday. Several indoor concerts were canceled or relocated to alternate outdoor venues.
Commercial exhibitors were planning to stay open, but weekend attendance figures may drop considerably if people heed the government's advice to steer clear of enclosed spaces that draw large crowds. Videocine's "Igor" and Paramount's "I Love You, Man" are opening in Mexico this weekend. Fox's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" hits theaters next Friday.
By John Hecht
April 24, 2009, 07:20 PM ET
MEXICO CITY -- A swine flu outbreak forced Mexico's government to shut down state-run theaters Friday, and it appears that the Mexican boxoffice will take a hit this weekend as health officials urge people to stay out of confined places with crowds.
Health officials here are scrambling to contain a swine flu virus that has killed about 60 people and infected hundreds more. Schools, museums and government-owned theaters were closed Friday. Several indoor concerts were canceled or relocated to alternate outdoor venues.
Commercial exhibitors were planning to stay open, but weekend attendance figures may drop considerably if people heed the government's advice to steer clear of enclosed spaces that draw large crowds. Videocine's "Igor" and Paramount's "I Love You, Man" are opening in Mexico this weekend. Fox's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" hits theaters next Friday.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Mexico flu deaths raise worries of global epidemic
By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer Mark Stevenson, Associated Press Writer
MEXICO CITY – At least 16 people — and possibly dozens more — have died from a swine flu virus in Mexico, and world health officials worry it could unleash a global flu epidemic. Mexico City closed schools across the metropolis Friday in hopes of containing the outbreak, and tougher measures were being considered.
Scientists were trying to determine if the deaths involved the same new strain of swine flu that sickened seven people in Texas and California — a disturbing disease that combines pig, bird and human viruses in a way that researchers have not seen before.
The World Health Organization counted at least 57 deaths in Mexico, but said it wasn't yet clear what flu they died from.
"We are very, very concerned," WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham said. "We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human."
WHO raised its internal alert system Friday, enabling the agency to divert more money and personnel to dealing with the outbreak. "It's all hands on deck at the moment." Abraham said.
President Felipe Calderon cancelled a trip and met with his Cabinet to coordinate Mexico's response. The government has 500,000 flu vaccines and planned to administer them to health workers, the highest risk group.
There are no vaccines available for the general public in Mexico, and authorities urged people to avoid hospitals unless they had a medical emergency, since hospitals are centers of infection. They also said Mexicans should refrain from customary greetings such as shaking hands or kissing cheeks.
But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans need not avoid traveling to Mexico, as long as they take the usual precautions, such as frequent handwashing.
Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said only 16 of the deaths have been confirmed as the new swine flu strain, and that government laboratories were testing samples from 44 other people who died. At least 943 nationwide were sick from the suspected flu, the health department said.
Cordova said samples also were sent to the CDC to look for matches with the virus that infected seven people in Texas and California.
Cordova called it a "new, different strain ... that originally came from pigs."
Epidemiologists are particularly concerned because the only people killed so far were normally less-vulnerable young people and adults. It's possible that more vulnerable populations — infants and the aged — had been vaccinated against other strains, and that those vaccines may be providing some protection.
"We certainly have 60 deaths that we can't be sure are from the same virus, but it is probable," Cordova told MVS radio in Mexico City.
Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC said "at this point, we do not have any confirmations of swine influenza in Mexico" of the kind that sickened seven California and Texas residents. All seven recovered from symptoms that were like those of the regular flu, mostly involving fever, cough and sore throat, though some of the seven also experienced vomiting and diarrhea.
Scientists have long been concerned that a new flu virus could launch a pandemic, a worldwide spread of a killer disease. A new virus could evolve when different flu viruses infect a pig, a person or a bird, mingling their genetic material. The resulting hybrid could spread quickly because people would have no natural defenses against it.
The most notorious flu pandemic is thought to have killed at least 40 million people worldwide in 1918-19. Two other, less deadly flu pandemics struck in 1957 and 1968.
Nobody can predict when pandemics will happen. Scientists had been concerned about swine flu in 1976, for example, and some 40 million Americans were vaccinated. No flu pandemic ever appeared, but thousands of vaccinated people filed claims saying they'd suffered a paralyzing condition andother side effects from the shots.
In recent years, scientists have been particularly concerned about birds. There have been deaths from bird flu, mostly in Asia, but the virus has so far been unable to spread from person to person easily enough to touch off a pandemic.
Closing the schools across the metropolis of 20 million kept 6.1 million students home from day care centers through high schools, and thousands more were affected as colleges and universities closed down. Parents scrambled to juggle work and family concerns due to what local media said was the first citywide schools closure since Mexico City's devastating 1985 earthquake.
Authorities also advised capital residents not to go to work if they felt ill, and to wear surgical masks if they had to move through crowds. A wider shutdown — perhaps including shutting down government offices — was being considered.
"It is very likely that classes will be suspended for several days," Cordova said. "We will have to evaluate, and let's hope this doesn't happen, the need to restrict activity at workplaces."
Mexico's initial response in its overcrowded capital brought to mind other major outbreaks — such as when SARS hit Asia. At its peak in 2003, Beijing was the hardest-hit city in the world. Schools, cinemas and restaurants were shuttered to prevent the spread the deadly respiratory virus, and thousands of people were quarantined at home.
In March 2008, Hong Kong ordered more than a half million young students to stay home for two weeks because of a flu outbreak. It was the first such closure in Hong Kong since the outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Lillian Molina and other teachers at the Montessori's World preschool scrubbed down their empty classrooms with Clorox, soap and Lysol on Friday between fielding calls from worried parents. While the school has had no known cases among its students, Molina supported the government's decision to shutter classes, especially in preschools.
"It's great they are taking precautions," she said. "I think it's a really good idea."
Still, U.S. health officials said it's not yet a reason for alarm in the United States. The five in California and two in Texas have all recovered, and testing indicates some common antiviral medications seem to work against the virus.
Schuchat of the CDC said officials believe the new strain can spread human-to-human, which is unusual for a swine flu virus. The CDC is checking people who have been in contact with the seven confirmed U.S. cases, who all became ill between late March and mid-April.
The U.S. cases are a growing medical mystery because it's unclear how they caught the virus. The CDC said none of the seven people were in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu. And only a few were in contact with each other.
CDC officials described the virus as having a unique combination of gene segments not seen in people or pigs before. The bug contains human virus, avian virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.
Health officials have seen mixes of bird, pig and human virus before, but never such an intercontinental combination with more than one pig virus in the mix.
Scientists keep a close eye on flu viruses that emerge from pigs. The animals are considered particularly susceptible to both avian and human viruses and a likely place where the kind of genetic reassortment can take place that might lead to a new form of pandemic flu, said Dr. John Treanor, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
The virus may be something completely new, or it may have been around for a while but was only detected now because of improved lab testing and disease surveillance, CDC officials said.
The virus was first detected in two children in southern California — a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County and a 9-year-old girl in neighboring Imperial County.
It's not known if the seasonal flu vaccine Americans got this winter protects against this type of virus. People should wash their hands and take other customary precautions, CDC officials said.
MEXICO CITY – At least 16 people — and possibly dozens more — have died from a swine flu virus in Mexico, and world health officials worry it could unleash a global flu epidemic. Mexico City closed schools across the metropolis Friday in hopes of containing the outbreak, and tougher measures were being considered.
Scientists were trying to determine if the deaths involved the same new strain of swine flu that sickened seven people in Texas and California — a disturbing disease that combines pig, bird and human viruses in a way that researchers have not seen before.
The World Health Organization counted at least 57 deaths in Mexico, but said it wasn't yet clear what flu they died from.
"We are very, very concerned," WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham said. "We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human."
WHO raised its internal alert system Friday, enabling the agency to divert more money and personnel to dealing with the outbreak. "It's all hands on deck at the moment." Abraham said.
President Felipe Calderon cancelled a trip and met with his Cabinet to coordinate Mexico's response. The government has 500,000 flu vaccines and planned to administer them to health workers, the highest risk group.
There are no vaccines available for the general public in Mexico, and authorities urged people to avoid hospitals unless they had a medical emergency, since hospitals are centers of infection. They also said Mexicans should refrain from customary greetings such as shaking hands or kissing cheeks.
But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans need not avoid traveling to Mexico, as long as they take the usual precautions, such as frequent handwashing.
Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said only 16 of the deaths have been confirmed as the new swine flu strain, and that government laboratories were testing samples from 44 other people who died. At least 943 nationwide were sick from the suspected flu, the health department said.
Cordova said samples also were sent to the CDC to look for matches with the virus that infected seven people in Texas and California.
Cordova called it a "new, different strain ... that originally came from pigs."
Epidemiologists are particularly concerned because the only people killed so far were normally less-vulnerable young people and adults. It's possible that more vulnerable populations — infants and the aged — had been vaccinated against other strains, and that those vaccines may be providing some protection.
"We certainly have 60 deaths that we can't be sure are from the same virus, but it is probable," Cordova told MVS radio in Mexico City.
Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC said "at this point, we do not have any confirmations of swine influenza in Mexico" of the kind that sickened seven California and Texas residents. All seven recovered from symptoms that were like those of the regular flu, mostly involving fever, cough and sore throat, though some of the seven also experienced vomiting and diarrhea.
Scientists have long been concerned that a new flu virus could launch a pandemic, a worldwide spread of a killer disease. A new virus could evolve when different flu viruses infect a pig, a person or a bird, mingling their genetic material. The resulting hybrid could spread quickly because people would have no natural defenses against it.
The most notorious flu pandemic is thought to have killed at least 40 million people worldwide in 1918-19. Two other, less deadly flu pandemics struck in 1957 and 1968.
Nobody can predict when pandemics will happen. Scientists had been concerned about swine flu in 1976, for example, and some 40 million Americans were vaccinated. No flu pandemic ever appeared, but thousands of vaccinated people filed claims saying they'd suffered a paralyzing condition andother side effects from the shots.
In recent years, scientists have been particularly concerned about birds. There have been deaths from bird flu, mostly in Asia, but the virus has so far been unable to spread from person to person easily enough to touch off a pandemic.
Closing the schools across the metropolis of 20 million kept 6.1 million students home from day care centers through high schools, and thousands more were affected as colleges and universities closed down. Parents scrambled to juggle work and family concerns due to what local media said was the first citywide schools closure since Mexico City's devastating 1985 earthquake.
Authorities also advised capital residents not to go to work if they felt ill, and to wear surgical masks if they had to move through crowds. A wider shutdown — perhaps including shutting down government offices — was being considered.
"It is very likely that classes will be suspended for several days," Cordova said. "We will have to evaluate, and let's hope this doesn't happen, the need to restrict activity at workplaces."
Mexico's initial response in its overcrowded capital brought to mind other major outbreaks — such as when SARS hit Asia. At its peak in 2003, Beijing was the hardest-hit city in the world. Schools, cinemas and restaurants were shuttered to prevent the spread the deadly respiratory virus, and thousands of people were quarantined at home.
In March 2008, Hong Kong ordered more than a half million young students to stay home for two weeks because of a flu outbreak. It was the first such closure in Hong Kong since the outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Lillian Molina and other teachers at the Montessori's World preschool scrubbed down their empty classrooms with Clorox, soap and Lysol on Friday between fielding calls from worried parents. While the school has had no known cases among its students, Molina supported the government's decision to shutter classes, especially in preschools.
"It's great they are taking precautions," she said. "I think it's a really good idea."
Still, U.S. health officials said it's not yet a reason for alarm in the United States. The five in California and two in Texas have all recovered, and testing indicates some common antiviral medications seem to work against the virus.
Schuchat of the CDC said officials believe the new strain can spread human-to-human, which is unusual for a swine flu virus. The CDC is checking people who have been in contact with the seven confirmed U.S. cases, who all became ill between late March and mid-April.
The U.S. cases are a growing medical mystery because it's unclear how they caught the virus. The CDC said none of the seven people were in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu. And only a few were in contact with each other.
CDC officials described the virus as having a unique combination of gene segments not seen in people or pigs before. The bug contains human virus, avian virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.
Health officials have seen mixes of bird, pig and human virus before, but never such an intercontinental combination with more than one pig virus in the mix.
Scientists keep a close eye on flu viruses that emerge from pigs. The animals are considered particularly susceptible to both avian and human viruses and a likely place where the kind of genetic reassortment can take place that might lead to a new form of pandemic flu, said Dr. John Treanor, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
The virus may be something completely new, or it may have been around for a while but was only detected now because of improved lab testing and disease surveillance, CDC officials said.
The virus was first detected in two children in southern California — a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County and a 9-year-old girl in neighboring Imperial County.
It's not known if the seasonal flu vaccine Americans got this winter protects against this type of virus. People should wash their hands and take other customary precautions, CDC officials said.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Celebrities Love Their Hair Extensions and Now You Could Too!
Celebrities have always been the latest trend setters. They have been the ones who bring in the latest trends when it comes to clothes and shoes but they are also the ones who set the bar when it comes to hair styles. Let's face it we have always looked at our favourite stars and wished our hair looked like theirs but the one thing that you need to keep in mind is the fact that most the time these celebs will have help with their style through the use of hair extensions.
Although most celebrities would love to think that they were born with luscious long and full hair like the kind you see in fashion magazines, but in reality this look is often down to the pure fact that they are given a little helping hand.
Over the past few years there have been a number of celeb hair trends that have caused a stir but the stir that has been caused by hair extensions is unlike anything we have seen in a long while. Just how popular they have actually become is a very impressive fact for the reason that when they first hit the beauty scene back in the 1980's they were dismissed as a fad that would never take off. This 'fad' is now one of the biggest trends of our time; however it is actually the celebs that we should be thanking for this, after all if it weren't for the amount of celebs that were wearing extensions they wouldn't be readily available to us in salons all over the UK!
Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce and Kate Moss as well as Lindsey Lohan are all examples of big name stars who have helped pushed this hair trend into the limelight. Beyonce uses them to help give her locks the fullness that they have and Lindsey Lohan relies on them in order to achieve her statement long curly locks. They are the reason why so many big name stars look so fabulous on the red carpet and on the big screen. They were Hollywood's best kept secret but now that secret is out we all want a piece of the action.
Hair extensions are the answer for people who just can't seem to grow long locks or for those who are fed up of waiting for their natural hair to grow. They can give you longer, fuller and healthier looking hair instantly and best of all the variety you can get with them means no matter what colour or texture etc that your hair is; there will be extensions available to match.
One of the most popular forms of extensions with the world of celebrity is however great lengths. This form of extension is made of 100% human hair and uses a revolutionary form of attachment. Luckily for you, this form of extension is widely available in salons all across the UK so you can have locks that look exactly like your favourite celebs; just make sure that you go to a salon who are experienced in the application and removal of hair extensions before you take any steps to having them applied.
For Hair Extensions to rival those of your favourite celebrities get in touch with Inanch, home of Great Lengths Hair Extensions
Although most celebrities would love to think that they were born with luscious long and full hair like the kind you see in fashion magazines, but in reality this look is often down to the pure fact that they are given a little helping hand.
Over the past few years there have been a number of celeb hair trends that have caused a stir but the stir that has been caused by hair extensions is unlike anything we have seen in a long while. Just how popular they have actually become is a very impressive fact for the reason that when they first hit the beauty scene back in the 1980's they were dismissed as a fad that would never take off. This 'fad' is now one of the biggest trends of our time; however it is actually the celebs that we should be thanking for this, after all if it weren't for the amount of celebs that were wearing extensions they wouldn't be readily available to us in salons all over the UK!
Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce and Kate Moss as well as Lindsey Lohan are all examples of big name stars who have helped pushed this hair trend into the limelight. Beyonce uses them to help give her locks the fullness that they have and Lindsey Lohan relies on them in order to achieve her statement long curly locks. They are the reason why so many big name stars look so fabulous on the red carpet and on the big screen. They were Hollywood's best kept secret but now that secret is out we all want a piece of the action.
Hair extensions are the answer for people who just can't seem to grow long locks or for those who are fed up of waiting for their natural hair to grow. They can give you longer, fuller and healthier looking hair instantly and best of all the variety you can get with them means no matter what colour or texture etc that your hair is; there will be extensions available to match.
One of the most popular forms of extensions with the world of celebrity is however great lengths. This form of extension is made of 100% human hair and uses a revolutionary form of attachment. Luckily for you, this form of extension is widely available in salons all across the UK so you can have locks that look exactly like your favourite celebs; just make sure that you go to a salon who are experienced in the application and removal of hair extensions before you take any steps to having them applied.
For Hair Extensions to rival those of your favourite celebrities get in touch with Inanch, home of Great Lengths Hair Extensions
Thursday, March 5, 2009
How to Reduce Face Wrinkles - 3 Little-Known Secrets
Ever wondered how to reduce face wrinkles? Without spending a fortune on dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and other expensive and painful cosmetic procedures? I have, and I've discovered that the best wrinkle solution is a lot easier than you may think. If you want to know how to reduce face wrinkles, read on.
The secrets I'm about to share are worth their weight in gold. Imagine how you'll feel when you really look younger again--when you can look in the mirror and be surprised at how youthful and vibrant your complexion appears. Imagine turning the heads of members of the opposite sex (especially those younger than you are). Imagine finally looking as healthy and energetic as you feel.
All of these benefits and many more are certainly possible if you follow these three easy tips.
1) Get more sleep.
According to dermatologists, when you don't get sufficient sleep, your body produces more cortisol, a hormone that destroys skin cells. By getting the recommended 7 - 8 hours of sleep each night, you'll naturally create more human growth hormone, a critical substance that helps to keep your face firmer, more elastic--and less likely to display unsightly wrinkles.
2) Take Omega 3 fish oil supplements.
Omega 3 is an important essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids feed your skin, helping to keep it bright, smooth, and youthful.
Although you can get omega 3 from eating more fish, especially salmon, most of us don't consume enough fish on a regular basis to meet the recommended amounts of omega 3. It's easier to simply get this nutrient from a quality omega 3 fish oil supplement. Look for a purified fish oil supplement high in DHA.
3) Use an anti-aging facial moisturizer with collagen-enhancing properties.
This may be the best wrinkle solution of all. As we age, we lose collagen in our skin cells--and experience the familiar signs of aging such as fine lines, dark circles, and age spots. By using an anti-aging moisturizing cream proven to stimulate collagen production, you can dramatically reduce face wrinkles and renew your complexion.
Cynergy TK is an ingredient proven in scientific trials to give skin more firmness and elasticity. Matter of fact, a group of test subjects using Cynergy TK experienced over a 40% increase in skin elasticity in less than three weeks. You'll find this innovative new ingredient contained in top quality moisturizers and lotions.
Your next step? Learn how you can look ten years younger with a remarkable natural skin care system. Visit my web site now.
Discover the benefits of the best wrinkle solution to reduce face wrinkles. Learn about the dramatic results you can achieve - To get rid of age spots, wrinkles, fine lines and damaged skin visit: http://www.healthy-skin-care-products.com/
The secrets I'm about to share are worth their weight in gold. Imagine how you'll feel when you really look younger again--when you can look in the mirror and be surprised at how youthful and vibrant your complexion appears. Imagine turning the heads of members of the opposite sex (especially those younger than you are). Imagine finally looking as healthy and energetic as you feel.
All of these benefits and many more are certainly possible if you follow these three easy tips.
1) Get more sleep.
According to dermatologists, when you don't get sufficient sleep, your body produces more cortisol, a hormone that destroys skin cells. By getting the recommended 7 - 8 hours of sleep each night, you'll naturally create more human growth hormone, a critical substance that helps to keep your face firmer, more elastic--and less likely to display unsightly wrinkles.
2) Take Omega 3 fish oil supplements.
Omega 3 is an important essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids feed your skin, helping to keep it bright, smooth, and youthful.
Although you can get omega 3 from eating more fish, especially salmon, most of us don't consume enough fish on a regular basis to meet the recommended amounts of omega 3. It's easier to simply get this nutrient from a quality omega 3 fish oil supplement. Look for a purified fish oil supplement high in DHA.
3) Use an anti-aging facial moisturizer with collagen-enhancing properties.
This may be the best wrinkle solution of all. As we age, we lose collagen in our skin cells--and experience the familiar signs of aging such as fine lines, dark circles, and age spots. By using an anti-aging moisturizing cream proven to stimulate collagen production, you can dramatically reduce face wrinkles and renew your complexion.
Cynergy TK is an ingredient proven in scientific trials to give skin more firmness and elasticity. Matter of fact, a group of test subjects using Cynergy TK experienced over a 40% increase in skin elasticity in less than three weeks. You'll find this innovative new ingredient contained in top quality moisturizers and lotions.
Your next step? Learn how you can look ten years younger with a remarkable natural skin care system. Visit my web site now.
Discover the benefits of the best wrinkle solution to reduce face wrinkles. Learn about the dramatic results you can achieve - To get rid of age spots, wrinkles, fine lines and damaged skin visit: http://www.healthy-skin-care-products.com/
Friday, February 6, 2009
Acai (Asai) Berry Diet- Top Health and Weight Loss Benefits of Acai Berry Diet
The Acai Berry is the new topic in everyone's mouth, especially, dieters. By now every serious dieter or health cautious individual has heard about the Acai Berry diet. For good reason most may say. This magnificent fruit has made a tremendous impression on Scientist, Doctors and Dieters alike. The Acai Berry diet was introduced to America not long ago. Scientist was impressed and amazed to discover its nutritional values.
There are many health benefits that this unique fruit can produce, such as:
• Ability to induce metabolism- which in return helps dieter burn fat and lose weight more efficiently and faster. It is able to do this because it contains a drastic amount of antioxidants, much more than common fruits found in your local grocery store.
• Ability to improve immune system- if the body immune system is healthy the body has more energy. The large level of antioxidants produced by the berry and the bodies fatty acids combined are found to be powerful tools to fight against infections.
• Ability to fight cancer and other diseases- the nutritional background found in Acai Berry diets prove to help fight cancer and other disease by strengthening the body cells that are normally attacked.
• Ability to help control appetite- Acai Berry diets, such as diet bars and shakes can be used as a healthy and nutritional meal supplement. Not to mention, the enzymes and antioxidants are used to control appetite.
• Ability to improve blood pressure and cholesterol- The vitamins and antioxidants are powerful tools used to aid in treating high blood pressure and cholesterol. The fruit and its extracts contain key vitamins; such as, vitamins A, D, E and K which are valuable to controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Not only is the Acai Berry diet good for maintaining weight but also living a healthier lifestyle.
An another important property of acai berry fruit is it retains its magical properties when preserved. Thus leading to very effective weight loss supplements. Weight loss supplements are designed to work with the dieting process to help improve vitamin and mineral levels that may be missing in the diet.
There are many health benefits that this unique fruit can produce, such as:
• Ability to induce metabolism- which in return helps dieter burn fat and lose weight more efficiently and faster. It is able to do this because it contains a drastic amount of antioxidants, much more than common fruits found in your local grocery store.
• Ability to improve immune system- if the body immune system is healthy the body has more energy. The large level of antioxidants produced by the berry and the bodies fatty acids combined are found to be powerful tools to fight against infections.
• Ability to fight cancer and other diseases- the nutritional background found in Acai Berry diets prove to help fight cancer and other disease by strengthening the body cells that are normally attacked.
• Ability to help control appetite- Acai Berry diets, such as diet bars and shakes can be used as a healthy and nutritional meal supplement. Not to mention, the enzymes and antioxidants are used to control appetite.
• Ability to improve blood pressure and cholesterol- The vitamins and antioxidants are powerful tools used to aid in treating high blood pressure and cholesterol. The fruit and its extracts contain key vitamins; such as, vitamins A, D, E and K which are valuable to controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Not only is the Acai Berry diet good for maintaining weight but also living a healthier lifestyle.
An another important property of acai berry fruit is it retains its magical properties when preserved. Thus leading to very effective weight loss supplements. Weight loss supplements are designed to work with the dieting process to help improve vitamin and mineral levels that may be missing in the diet.
Oprah's Dynamic Duo - Acai Berry & Colon Cleanse For Weight Loss & Anti-Aging
If the world's most influential woman showcased acai berry in her show, it better be good. And it was. In fact, acai berry, a very small fruit from Central America, took the health fanatics by storm. And recently, it was found out that the properties of the berry can cause self-destruction in leukemia cells in an in-vitro experiment. But even before this recent discovery, acai berry and colon cleanse had already been working side by side in making people a bit less unhealthy and a bit less heavy.
Why does the body need colon cleanse? The digestive system is the measuring stick for health, so to speak. This is because when there are problems in the digestive tract, excessive build-up of toxins for example, the effects are usually felt in other parts of the body. And there are around 60 plus diseases and disorders that are typically associated with unhealthy colon. So chronic bad health often roots from problematic colons. Because of poor diet and insufficiency of measures to ensure healthy digestive systems, many people develop diseases and conditions from toxins, plaques and food remains that pile up in the linings of the colon. This then provides the right breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that are seriously harmful to the entire body. The toxins and poisons created by the unhealthy conditions of the colons will eventually reach all parts of the body, and in time, the effects will be felt. Thus, it is only important to secure a healthy digestive tract by means of colon cleanse.
What makes acai berry effective in the colon cleanse process? First things first, does the dynamic duo of acai berry and colon cleanse really work? As there are no clinical evidences to support this claim, only user anecdotes can be used as evidence and according to them, it really does work. According to one anecdote found in the internet, a woman lost 40 pounds by just combining the tandem of acai berry and colon cleanse. And the pounds kept on shedding off. Sounds pretty much like a scam right? Actually not. It may seem like a story from a fairy tale book but acai berry is a really potent fruit and it really works well with colon cleanse products and sometimes, it could also work as a colon cleanse agent by itself.
So what makes the duo work? Acai berry has natural properties that encourage the cleansing of the colon. The colon is the large intestine where all the human waste stays so naturally it has its share of bacteria and stuffs. But there are conditions when there is unnecessary build up of harmful toxins and materials in the colon. This is where the need for the properties found in acai berry comes in. The antioxidants found in acai berries help in flushing out the toxins and other materials from the digestive tract which sets the cue for continuous and effective detoxification process. The verdict on whether the claim on acai berry and colon cleanse is true or not is still out for the jury to decide. However, as of yet, there are strong indications that it really does work. But for the sake of argument, let's just say that anything with substantial amount of antioxidants and fiber could alleviate any ails of the digestive system.
Now you want to have more energy, be Healthier, look Younger, lose weight, and cleanse your body, right?
Do this with Acai Berry Power 500 by Clicking Here Now!
Acai Berry Power 500 is the most popular, trustworthy, & uses the best of the berries, so you can't go wrong with Power 500.
Why does the body need colon cleanse? The digestive system is the measuring stick for health, so to speak. This is because when there are problems in the digestive tract, excessive build-up of toxins for example, the effects are usually felt in other parts of the body. And there are around 60 plus diseases and disorders that are typically associated with unhealthy colon. So chronic bad health often roots from problematic colons. Because of poor diet and insufficiency of measures to ensure healthy digestive systems, many people develop diseases and conditions from toxins, plaques and food remains that pile up in the linings of the colon. This then provides the right breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that are seriously harmful to the entire body. The toxins and poisons created by the unhealthy conditions of the colons will eventually reach all parts of the body, and in time, the effects will be felt. Thus, it is only important to secure a healthy digestive tract by means of colon cleanse.
What makes acai berry effective in the colon cleanse process? First things first, does the dynamic duo of acai berry and colon cleanse really work? As there are no clinical evidences to support this claim, only user anecdotes can be used as evidence and according to them, it really does work. According to one anecdote found in the internet, a woman lost 40 pounds by just combining the tandem of acai berry and colon cleanse. And the pounds kept on shedding off. Sounds pretty much like a scam right? Actually not. It may seem like a story from a fairy tale book but acai berry is a really potent fruit and it really works well with colon cleanse products and sometimes, it could also work as a colon cleanse agent by itself.
So what makes the duo work? Acai berry has natural properties that encourage the cleansing of the colon. The colon is the large intestine where all the human waste stays so naturally it has its share of bacteria and stuffs. But there are conditions when there is unnecessary build up of harmful toxins and materials in the colon. This is where the need for the properties found in acai berry comes in. The antioxidants found in acai berries help in flushing out the toxins and other materials from the digestive tract which sets the cue for continuous and effective detoxification process. The verdict on whether the claim on acai berry and colon cleanse is true or not is still out for the jury to decide. However, as of yet, there are strong indications that it really does work. But for the sake of argument, let's just say that anything with substantial amount of antioxidants and fiber could alleviate any ails of the digestive system.
Now you want to have more energy, be Healthier, look Younger, lose weight, and cleanse your body, right?
Do this with Acai Berry Power 500 by Clicking Here Now!
Acai Berry Power 500 is the most popular, trustworthy, & uses the best of the berries, so you can't go wrong with Power 500.
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