#Health - Soft drinks kill 184,000 adults every year - Study finds

133,000 deaths from diabetes, 45,000 deaths from cardiovascular
disease and 6,450 deaths from cancer were caused by fizzy drinks,
fruit drinks, energy drinks and sweetened ice teas in 2010.

The dangers of fizzy, sugary drinks have once again been highlighted
as scientists have said they kill 184,000 adults every year.

It further said those under 45 consume more artificially sweetened
drinks and are more at risk of diabetes and obesity.

According to Telegraph , the worldwide study is the first to estimate
deaths and disability from diabetes, heart disease, and cancers caused
by the drinks.

It added that 133,000 deaths from diabetes, 45,000 deaths from
cardiovascular disease and 6,450 deaths from cancer were caused by
fizzy drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks and sweetened ice teas in
2010.

The study did not include pure fruit juices and all drinks had at least 50
kcal per eight US ounces (0.23 litres) serving or just over two thirds
of a standard pop can.

According to Dr Dariush Mozaffarian , Dean of the Friedman School of
Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston said "many
countries in the world have a significant number of deaths occurring
from a single dietary factor, sugar-sweetened beverages"
She therefore said it should be a global priority to substantially reduce
or eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages from the diet as there are no
health benefits from them.

The study based its estimates of consumption from 62 dietary surveys
including 611,971 individuals conducted between 1980 and 2010 across
51 countries, along with data on national availability of sugar in 187
countries and other information.

Based on meta-analyses of other published evidence on health harms of
sugar-sweetened beverages, it calculated the direct impact on
diabetes and the obesity-related effects on cardiovascular disease,
diabetes and cancer.

It found sugar drinks caused more deaths in Mexico with 405 deaths
per million adults equal to 24,000 total deaths followed by the US with
an estimated 125 deaths per million adults or 25,000 total deaths.

Japan also came in with the estimated percentage of deaths less than
1% of over 65 years old, but 30% in Mexican adults under 45.

Three quarters of all deaths are linked to developing countries.
Younger adults were however more at risk of chronic illnesses than
older people.

The study which was published in the journal, Circulation, raised
concern on the health impact of sugar-sweetened beverage intake on
the young as younger adults form a large sector of the workforce in
many countries.

Source - PunchNG

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Measles: First death in 12 years reported in Washington state

The death of a woman in Washington state in spring has been confirmed
as the first US fatality from measles in 12 years, health authorities say.

Officials said the link was not spotted until a post-mortem examination because the woman lacked some of the common symptoms of measles, such as a rash.

Measles is highly contagious and easily transmitted but it is rarely fatal.

The death comes after an outbreak of measles at California's Disneyland in 2014 that infected over 100 people.

Although no one died from that outbreak, it sparked an intense debate across the US about mandatory vaccinations for schoolchildren, which some parents oppose.

Officials said the case in Washington state was not linked to that Disneyland incident.

The woman was on medication that had weakened her immune system,Washington State Department of Health spokesman Donn Moyer told reporters.

She was hospitalised for several health conditions in the spring at a facility in Clallam County, Mr Moyer said. "She was there at the same time as a person who later developed a rash and was contagious for measles," he added.

Officials have not revealed her name or her age but did say that she was not elderly. An autopsy concluded the cause of death was pneumonia due to measles.

"This tragic situation illustrates the importance of immunising as many people as possible to provide a high level of community protection against measles," Mr Moyer said.

There have been 176 cases of measles in the US so far this year, with 117 of those cases linked to the Disney outbreak, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The last US death from measles was in 2003.

Source - BBC News

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5 Ways To Relieve Back Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be an exciting time for both expectant mothers and their families as they prepare to bring a new life into the world. However, pregnancy often brings unexpected complications that can cause quite a bit of discomfort for the mother to be. One of the biggest complaints is back pain and spasms.

Back Pain Causes

There are a few different reasons why women experience back pain during pregnancy. The common reason is actually quite simple – weight gain. During pregnancy, women can potentially experience dramatic weight gain.

In reality, it’s hard not to gain weight. You are growing a new human, after all. This new weight gain is centered around the abdominal region shifting your center of gravity and causing an adjustment in your normal posture. This will put greater pressure on your back often resulting in pain.

Sometimes, however, the back pain might be more serious. Pain in the back could be the result of uterine contractions and could be a sign of early labor. Like a heart attack, which shows itself through pain down the left arm, early labor symptoms can cause referred pain in the back. If your pain comes and goes, it could be a sign of early labor and you should see a physician as soon as possible.

If you are like many women who are pregnant, you have had to deal with back pain as part of the pregnancy process. There are many different ways you can relieve your back pain that is safe for both you and your baby. Here are 5 ways to relieve normal back pain during pregnancy. As some back pain can be a sign of a serious condition for both you and your baby, please ensure that you inform your healthcare provider about your back pain before implementing these methods.

1. Exercise

One of the best ways you can stop back pain is through exercise. Strengthening your muscles in your back and improving your overall physical fitness can help you carry the extra weight of that baby much more easily and comfortably, helping you avoid back pain altogether.
Some of the best exercises for pregnant women are walking, swimming and riding a stationary bike. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist about what exercises are safest for you and your baby before you begin any exercise routine or program.

2. Massage Therapy

There is nothing like a good massage to relax your muscles and relieve the tension in your body. A good massage can help you relax tensed muscles that are beginning to get sore and can even help you relieve stress so at the end of the day you feel less stress. Once your tensed muscles are relaxed and you are less stressed, you will begin to feel less pain in your back.

3. Hot and Cold

Placing hot and cold compresses are an easy way to provide a little relief to your aching back. Assuming your health care provider approves, begin by placing a cold compress on the painful area of your back for 20 minutes each day for two to three days.
After that, switch to a hot compress to the same area and continue to alternate. When applying heat, be sure to avoid applying it to your abdomen while you are pregnant.

4. Improve Your Posture

When you are pregnant, you face extra pressure on your spine and are forced to carry around extra weight. In many instances, this causes slouching putting even more pressure on your spine. While you are working or sitting, try placing a towel in the small of your back and make a conscious effort to sit up straight at all times. This will help you maintain good posture and relieve the added pressure on your spine resulting in less pain after a long day.

5. See Your Doctor

If all else fails, or if your pain is severe, you should consider paying a visit to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to look at both your health and the health of your baby to determine if something more serious is happening and will then be able to prescribe a better treatment that can help you with your pain while also ensuring your unborn child remains safe.

More Tips to Help Prevent Back Pain

In addition to steps above, you should also actively try to prevent your back pain from happening. With just a few changes in your lifestyle, you can stop many of the causes of back pain before they happen.

If you need to pick up something from the ground, do not bend over. Instead, bend your legs into the squat position to grab whatever you dropped. While you may like the way high heels look on your feet, while you are pregnant consider switching to flats instead to relieve the pressure that high heels place on your back.

When you go to bed, avoid sleeping on your back. Many doctors advise against sleeping on your back anyway due to some dangers it places on both you and your child, so instead try sleeping on your side to relieve the pressure on your back.
Pregnancy is truly a beautiful miracle of life and should be embraced. However, back pain from pregnancy can put a damper on how you feel and prevent you from enjoying what is supposed to be a truly special time in your life.

If you are dealing with back pain while you are pregnant, try using these solutions to help relieve the pain so you can enjoy this magical time and embrace it the way it was meant to be. If your pain continues, talk with your doctor and see how they can help you relieve the pain so you can get back to preparing to be a mother.

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Benefits of apple juice...

We’ve all heard the old adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but does apple juice hold the same miraculous benefits? We decided to put it to the test and viola, listed below are the top 10 health benefits offered by apple juice. Read on…

Reduces heart risk: Drinking a glass of apple juice helps prevent cholesterol formation in your blood vessels and arteries. This further helps in reducing the risk of developing two major causes of heart diseases – high cholesterol and plaques in the arteries.

Improves digestion: A glass of raw apple juice helps to clean the liver and kidneys by removing harmful toxins. Due to its cleansing properties, it helps you achieve a cleaner digestive system and you are better protected against liver and kidney diseases.

Helps in weight loss: If you are trying to shed some weight, then add apple juice to your diet. Apple juice is completely free of calories and fat and can lower cholesterol.

Provides energy: A glass of apple juice is packed with various essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, K and folate. Due to their richness in all these nutrients, it helps to pack your body with lots of energy.

Lowers the risk of dementia: Various studies have showed that drinking apple juice regularly helps lower the risk of dementia in older people. Apple juice also slows down brain ageing and helps keep it sharp for a longer time.

Improves vision: Apple juice is rich in vitamin A, which helps in improving eye health. Vitamin A helps protect your eyes from eye diseases and keeps your vision sharp.

Source: healthmeup.com

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How to beautify Your nails naturally

Cleanliness and maintenance are the best
ways to retain things in their natural
forms; however we love to spend money
on expensive beauty products and
manicures when it comes to beauty of
nails. Nails are the tiny but important
part of our hands that gives the pulled-
together appearance. Many of us have a
myth to trust on what our saloons guide
us.

The simple and easy way is keeping
your nails healthy by focusing on
cleanliness. Cleanliness of nails is not
only of concern in women even men have
vanity, so they want to keep their nails in
a right shape and appearance. One
simplest way you can try at home is use
olive oil, milk cream and acetone-free nail
polish removers for clean and healthy
nails.

You can see some new and of
course natural tips for achieving healthy,
well groomed and elegant nails. There
exists an indemnity factor that these tips
are more productive than any expensive
manicure in a salon.

· First of all take a bowl of olive oil and
soak your nails in it.

Leave them in it for
10 minutes then wipe off excess oil
carefully with cotton wool.
· Then you can wash your hands, after
washing hands you can apply a hand
cream to prevent them from drying up.

Dry nails have more chances of breaking
and giving deadly look.
· If you want to avoid dryness eternally
then use nail polish removers that are
acetone-free. If you tend to use your
normal nail paint remover, then the
natural color of your nails may turn to
pale yellow.

· You can gently massage your nails after
applying milk cream. It will improve their
blood circulation and avoid dryness.

· You can also use the finishing side of a
nail buffer to help in blood circulation in
the nail bed.

· Never forget to moisturize the nail bed
and the cuticle.

Do not cut or manipulate
your cuticles otherwise it will give worse
look and may leave your nails red and
ragged.

· After having food do not forget to
remove any clogged particle from your
nails.

· It is advisable for women to apply nail
colors of some good brand. Especially if
you are interested in nail arts.
· Use mild moisturizers for your nails.
If
your nails are prone to breakage then, it
could mean they need moisture.
These were some of the tricks applicable
for both men and women at the comfort
of their home.

You need not spend money
on expensive products… just give a new
shape to your nails naturally. Take care
of them!!

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4 000 receive free health care through foundation

Omu-Aran - Dr Musa Bello, the Coordinator of Aro Bamgbose Free
Health Care Empowerment Programme in Kwara, says no fewer than 4
000 people have benefited from the programme since its inception a
year ago.

Bello said this during the Bi-annual Free Healthcare Programme
organised by the foundation in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government
Area on Sunday.

The two-day programme attracted people from the three wards in
Omu-Aran and the adjoining communities in Oro, Oko, Aran-Orin and
Oke-Onigbin.

Some of the beneficiaries of the programme received free test,
treatment and drugs for different ailments such as hypertension,
diabetes, malaria and pelvic ulcer diseases.

They also received health tips on breast cancer awareness and
prevention of Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.

Bello said the programme was being organised to coincide with the Eid-
el-Kabir and Christmas periods in order to achieve wider coverage.

He said the foundation’s intensive awareness campaigns through
churches, mosques, schools and markets had helped a lot in view of the
large turnout of people who attended the programme.

Chief Adekunle Oyinloye, the Chairman and sole financier of the
foundation, urged Nigerians to always take advantage of the
numerous free healthcare services being organised to know their
health status.

Oyinloye said staging of the programme was informed by the need to
raise the health standard of the beneficiaries.

- NAN

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