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Archive for February, 2008

Most people in the UK know at least one person whose life has been seriously affected by cancer, and as a result, many people are very keen to do something – anything – to help improve the lives of people living with cancer.

At first you may think that the battle against cancer is only fought in hospitals and laboratories, where scientists conduct research in an effort to develop new cures; but in fact, every single one of us can help by raising money for cancer charities, which helps support those affected by cancer and funds new research into new treatments.

Over the years, more and more extravagant ways of raising money through sponsorship have been dreamed up; cycling through the Sahara desert on a monocycle, running the London marathon – in a diving suit; jumping out of a plane – naked. The imagination and determination of fundraisers is the only limit to the world of wacky charity trips.

However, one of the most popular ways to raise money is still the tried-and-tested charity walk. The beauty of this form of fundraising is that everyone can join in, from toddlers to teenagers and OAPs, and it can be done anywhere, from capital cities to rural regions.

Walking events, such as Walk Wonders which raises funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, also have the bonus of bringing together a group a people for a communal cause. In addition, unlike more extravagant fundraising activities, there’s no expensive set up costs involved. There are a selection of organised walks that take place across the UK all year round, which range from short family fun walks, to much longer hikes and even multi-day adventures.

Most ask for no minimum amount of funds to be raised – every little helps. But, if you find that there is no organised cancer charity walk or other fundraising event in your area, why not hold your own? Many cancer charities offer assistance to those looking to set up their own event, and offer support and exposure through their organisations.

People take part in cancer charity walks for different reasons. Some are former sufferers who have recovered and want to give something back; some have a friend or family member who are currently undergoing treatment or want to honour a loved one who has passed away, and many just want to do something positive for those less fortunate than themselves.

Whatever your reason for wanting to take part, walking to raise funds for cancer is a meaningful way for people to contribute to a great cause, enjoy a healthy activity and participate in a collective family outing.

About the author: Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen gardener. He lives in Scotland with his two dogs.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

The rise in the popularity of voluptuous bodies and extremely big breasts in Hollywood has made the breast augmentation industry boom in just a couple of decades. Before, only women who were aspiring to become television and movie celebrities took the risks of getting breast implants; nowadays, almost every member of the female population, regardless of age and ethnicity, wishes to enhance her breasts.

If you are one of the those who want to supersize their boobs, then you need to have a deeper understanding of what you are getting yourself into, which can include breast implant dangers.

In a breast augmentation operation, the doctor inserts an implant, which is made either from silicone or saline, inside your breasts. A lot of women choose silicone rather than saline implants because the former feels and looks more natural. Although the saline ones are cheaper, it is no longer popular because of its high risk of bursting; nobody would want to wake up with one deflated breast. Here are some other problems you might encounter when having breast augmentation:

Finding A Reputable Cosmetic Surgeon

At present, almost 190,000 of the estimated 1.5 million women who had undergone surgical breast augmentation have had complaints about the procedures. Moreover, there have also been 123 reported deaths linked to this procedure. Many of the casualties actually came as a result of getting breast surgery from individuals who are not licensed to do so. Since getting breast enhancement in top clinics can be very expensive, many women are attracted to clinics that offer very cheap services. Unfortunately, the facilities that offer dirt-cheap prices for such a dangerous operation are usually run by unscrupulous individuals, so you should be very cautious.

Health Complications

Since this is a surgical procedure, there is always a risk of infection and other potentially lethal complications, such as the Toxic Shock Syndrome, a type of bacterial infection you can get from wounds and surgical procedures.

Many women with breast implants also complain about misshapen or misplaced breasts. If you have saline implants, there is a high probability of bursting, so you will end up with uneven breasts. Sometimes, you don’t just need one operation to make your boobs look perky and at the right position; many women have to undergo several procedures just to keep their breasts in place.

Furthermore, silicone or saline breast implants usually interfere with mammogram results; this procedure is one of the most effective ways to check if you have cysts or tumors in your breasts. Thus, people with implants do not only have to pay more for a mammogram, but also must accept the fact that the results of the test may not be accurate and reliable.

Lastly, some say that breast implants can cause certain types of cancer. Although there is really no definitive link between implants and cancers, it is still not advisable to downplay the risks.

Difficulty in Getting Health Insurance

The cost of medical procedures and visits to the doctor is steadily increasing. Thus, it is really wise to get a good medical insurance coverage. However, if you have breast implants, there is a big possibility that insurance companies will decline to give you coverage. If ever you get a medical insurance, it would probably not include breast-related check ups and procedures.

Before deciding to get a surgically implanted breasts, you should think thoroughly about the idea because there are a lot of complications that you have to face. Furthermore, there are many ways in which you can enhance your boobs even without surgery. For fuller and bigger breasts, you can always rely on padding and undergarments with underwire and other maximizing devices. You can also opt to take breast enhancement supplements, such as Clevastin. If you want to know more about this breast-augmentation product, click on http://www.clevastin.com/.

About the author: Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

There are many factors and steps you can take to maintain a healthy cholesterol level. The importance of maintaining a healthy cholesterol level are simple, it can greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, in other words, protecting the heart that keeps us alive.

Let’s discuss cholesterol and what it means to us. Cholesterol is a fatty wax like substance that goes through our bloodstream. It requires a water soluble protein transport carrier from the liver to all the necessary parts of our bodies, and then returning to the liver for breaking down and elimination. Combined protein and cholesterol, known as lipoproteins, can be HDL (high-density) or LDL (low-density).

HDL is referred to as “good cholesterol”. This type is responsible for returning extra cholesterol not being used to the liver, ready for the breakdown process. This cholesterol type is good only because it enables the excess to be disposed of.

LDL works in a different way. LDL is responsible for transporting cholesterol to all the necessary organs and tissues in our body from the liver.

So what does all this mean to my cardiovascular system? LDL is the problem type of cholesterol when there is more than needed and HDL cannot remove it from our blood vessels and arteries. When the excess amount of cholesterol cannot be removed, it builds up into a plaque-like substance and it starts to clog the artery walls. When this happens, this leaves a lot of room for diseases. With our arteries clogged, there is no possible way we are giving the correct transport of blood to all of our essential organs.

Without a clean blood flow, there is a chance the arteries will become clogged which results in higher blood pressure and can drastically affect our health. With clogged arteries, we are open up to diseases such as cardiovascular disease, a heart attack, strokes and paralysis.

Now that we know the dangers of high cholesterol, how do we lower it to prevent diseases? A correct diet and regular exercise is an excellent place to start.

A proper diet is the first step to lowering or even preventing high cholesterol. There are foods that we eat everyday that are good for us, but some of the foods we love most can cause the most damaging.

Leafy green vegetables are a good source of nutrients to fight off diseases and to maintain a healthy protein level.

Such greens are broccoli, spinach and green beans. Lettuce is also good, although there are not nearly enough nutrients in just lettuce alone. One factor I want to mention when eating your vegetables is to chew your food well. In order to get the most out of our greens, we need to chew them really well, extracting the natural nutrients.

Switching to healthier cooking oils is another step towards lowering your cholesterol. Olive oil and walnut oil are the best cooking oils you can use.

Some other essential foods we can eat to help with cardiovascular disease are baked or grilled fish, fruits and berries and nuts; including walnuts, pecans and peanuts.

Avoiding certain types of food is another way to help lower cholesterol. Red meats and dairy products that have not been reduced of fat may be the first thing to take out of our diet. Although there is protein in these foods, too much of a good thing can be too much.

Adding whole grains to your diet has been known for years to help reduce high cholesterol. The benefits of whole grain are that it is a soluble fiber that will lower LDL (the bad one) and raise the good type of cholesterol, HDL. Oat bran and other whole grain foods are not the only source to

get a good amount of fiber into our bodies to lower LDL. Other sources of fiber include barley, beans and green peas.

Although there is almost no substitute to a proper diet, there are some excellent supplements on the market today that have proven results to lowering cholesterol.

Supplements, as in vitamins and minerals, can really help with cholesterol. Not everyone has the time or dedication to reduce cholesterol with a proper diet. When choosing a supplement, here are some of the ingredients to look for in a quality product targeted to lowering cholesterol.

One of the most known supplements is in the form of fish oils, called Omega-3 fatty acids. This is a stand alone supplement, yet it is in most of the cholesterol lowering supplements out there.

Vitamin B-6 and B-12 are also great supplements. Another proven B vitamin, Niacin, also reduces LDL and raises HDL. If you plan on taking this, take as directed as too much can cause damage to the liver.

Vitamin E is a simple vitamin that will not cause damage in excess. In some cases, just a little extra vitamin E can reduce cholesterol levels.

If you feel you might have high cholesterol, please consult your doctor for tests and before taking a supplement specifically for lowering cholesterol.

About the author: Steven Johnson is committed to helping people maintain healthy and effective lifestyles. For more information on a fiber rich diet and other health supplements please visit his website http://Alternative Health Supplements.com .
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com