PharmaPassport Health Tips Blog

June 25, 2009

Highest Life Expectancy in Japan, But Other Countries Could Use Some Help

Filed under: developed nations,developing nations,life expectancy,literacy rates,third world countries,Uncategorized — John @ 1:51 pm

Ever wonder which country has the highest life expectancy? Well now you don’t have to. Japan currently holds the title for longest average life expectancy. The small, but very densely populated country of Japan has an average life expectancy of 83 year, says a publication called, “Best, Worst Countries for Life Expectancy,” -WebMD. While the nation of Japan has a very positive life expectancy, many other countries could definitely use some improvement.

Although Japan is doing amazingly well for itself, there were 15 countries that had a life expectancy for babies born in 2007, to be below 50 years of age. Most of these countries were located in developing nations, and/or had very poor literacy rates. Afghanistan was one of the countries with the lowest life expectancy at only 42 years old. Additionally, Afghanistan has an average literacy rate of just 28.1% most of which is in the male population.

However, Sierra Leone had the lowest life expectancy at only 41 years of age. 41 is less than half of Japan’s life expectancy. Sierra Leone has an average literacy rate of only 35.1%. Much like Afghanistan, more men than women in Sierra Leone are educated, with the gap between the genders being very vast.

One could assume that the lack of gender equality in many of these countries could be the cause of poor life expectancies. However, wars and disease outbreaks are also contributing factors. Either way, the education of women is a vital part of a developing nation and should not be overlooked.

Many of these countries require aid from already developed nations in order to raise the quality of life for the citizens living there. A lot of us that live in beautiful and developed nations tend to take many aspects of our lives for granted. We have access to many benefits like great medical systems, great education, and even clean water. Sometimes it pays just to look around you and think about how fortunate you really are.

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June 22, 2009

Why More People Should Consume the Recommended Daily Amount of Magnesium

Filed under: blocked arteries,diabetes,heart arrhythmia,high blood pressure,magnesium,pain relief,pre-eclampsia,pregnancy,Uncategorized — John @ 12:11 pm

Protects the Heart: Magnesium helps protect the heart from many things including, heart arrhythmias, blocked arteries, and high blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency can result in deadly health events for many people. Heart arrhythmias, the irregular and abnormally fast heartbeats or atrial fibrillation, can be prevented or at least, may be helped by consuming adequate amounts of magnesium. People with higher amount of magnesium in their blood cut the odds of dying from blocked or narrowed arteries by an enormous one-third. Furthermore, magnesium deficiency may result in higher blood pressure whereas; higher magnesium in your cells promotes lower blood pressure, more elastic blood vessels and a less enlarged heart. Additionally, research shows that lower amounts of magnesium lower the good HDL cholesterol and increases rate at which arteries harden.

Protects Against Diabetes: Eighty percent of diabetics have been found to have low intracellular magnesium. Further research suggests that the risk of type-two diabetes is increased by one-third with low amounts of magnesium. Magnesium supplements can improve insulin activity and may actually decrease the risk of diabetes and other complications.

Pain Relief: Magnesium can actually help relieve pain by reducing a pain transmitter in the nervous system called substance P. To help avoid or relieve muscle cramps, try taking 100mg to 400mg of magnesium every day. Furthermore, extra magnesium may also prevent or relieve painful myalgias, chronic lower back pain, restless legs syndrome, erythromelalgia (a painful dilation of the skin blood vessels), and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Promotes Safer Pregnancies: Research shows that magnesium lessons pre-eclampsia (a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy) which increases the risk of spontaneous abortion and premature, low-birth weight babies. A British study of 10,000 women in 33 different countries confirmed that taking magnesium sulphate supplements cut the risk of pre-eclampsia in half.

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June 18, 2009

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Tanning

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amanda @ 4:56 pm

Its summertime – the sun is shining, the days are long at hot – what else is there to do but get a wicked tan and show it off by the pool? Well, before you spend all of your days roasting in the sun, you need to be informed of the dangers of excessive sunbathing.

1. There are invisible rays penetrating through your skin!

Although we cannot see them, there are three types of ultraviolet rays (UV rays) in the sun that travel through the atmosphere and reach us on earth. These rays include UVA, UVB, and UVC. They can come in contact with our skin, and cause things like tans, burns and other reactions.

2. Tans look good on the outside…

On your body, a tan looks awesome. But a tan is very different on the inside of your body than on the outside. On the outside, you may look like a Greek God, or Goddess, but underneath it all your skin has been fried and damaged beyond compare. Imagine your entire body covered in patches and spots of all different colors – almost like mold. Well, that is exactly what UV damage looks like under special UV lights.

3. Ever wondered why your grandparents have dark patches on their skin?

When you age, the layers of skin on your body become thinner and loose elasticity. The sun damage from youth can show up years later as patchy uneven toned sun spots. Does the God-like body really compensate for the damage which reveals itself later?

4. Dark skinned people CAN get sun burnt

It’s no fair that you are pale white and turn as red as a lobster in the sun – even with loads of sunscreen – whereas your darker-skinned friend seems to get a beautiful tan without a dab of sun screen. Even though it looks like dark skinned people do not burn, they can become just as burnt as pale skinned people – it just doesn’t turn red, and it takes a littler longer.

5. Tanning beds are NOT safer than tanning outdoors

Despite what you may have heard, tanning beds are not safer than tanning outside. In fact, they are both equally dangerous. Tanning beds still deliver UV rays to your skin and can cause the same damage. In fact, research shows that even short-term use of tanning booths or beds can cause premature aging of the skin, and skin cancer. In a tanning bed your eyes are exposed to radiation levels 100 times greater than in actual sunlight, and those little goggles that they give you don’t really protect you from that. Neither tanning option is particularly safe, but if you are going to tan anyway, might as well tan outside – the sun is free.

6. The C word.

The worst thing that is caused by over-exposure to UV rays is skin cancer. More than 90% of skin cancer cases are caused by the sun, and 1 in 3 Caucasians will be diagnosed with skin cancer sometime in their lifetime. The most common type of skin cancer is called Basal cell Carcinoma (BCC). It grows from the bottom layer of the epidermis and spreads to the surface – often appearing as a dark spot.

So before you hit the beach remember to always…

- Bring a shirt or a hat in case you start to become burnt or overheated.

-Always, ALWAYS, use sunscreen of a reasonable SPF… like 30 or 45 (don’t worry, you will still tan with sunscreen on) – and none of that tanning oil stuff! Use that and you’re asking for a nasty red burn.

-RE-APPLY!! Putting on sunscreen once over the span of a whole day will not fully protect you – Especially if you go swimming, or get really sweaty.

- Be sun smart!!

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June 11, 2009

California Man Sentenced To One Year and One Day in Prison for Selling Medical Marijuana

Filed under: california,charlie lynch,lynch,marijuana,pot,Uncategorized,weed — John @ 5:21 pm

Charlie Lynch, described by many as a law-abiding, extremely friendly man, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for the sale of marijuana. Though marijuana is illegal in the United States, some individual states allow the distribution of marijuana for medical purposes. California is one of these states.

Lynch is not some thug, drug dealer, targeting children and selling in alleys and clubs. He thought he was running his business within the limits of the law, and in California it appeared that he was. There are thirteen states, California included, that have legalized use of marijuana for medical use. Lynch had been selling his marijuana only to patients whose doctors had suggested they take the drug. Countless times undercover police officers would try and persuade Lynch, or employees of his to illegally sell the marijuana, but were turned down every time.

Lynch followed all possible rules and regulations possible. He applied for his business license and joined the chamber of commerce. Lynch consulted with attorneys, and even called the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) before he opened his dispensary. After he received the green light to open his business, he held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which would include city councilmen and the town mayor.

Even though Lynch seemed to be following regulations, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Pat Hedges, seemed to have some sort of dislike for Lynch. After about a year, the Sheriff gave information to the Federal Government’s DEA that said Lynch had been selling marijuana. After a raid on his house, Lynch was taken to court.

However, because his trial was in a federal court his attorney’s could not mention the fact that what he was doing was completely legal in California, and they were unable to say anything about all the people Lynch’s dispensary had helped.

Lynch has gone on to describe his treatment as unfair, and I would have to agree with him. He was operating his dispensary within the laws of the state of California. He never sold any marijuana illegally, and more astonishingly neither had any of his employees. There wasn’t much more he could do save himself, and this shows that some of the laws of the United States may need to be revised, so innocent men like Lynch do not become imprisoned for doing nothing wrong.

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June 10, 2009

Detecting Diabetes Before You Have It

Filed under: diabetes,type 2 diabetes,Uncategorized — John @ 5:27 pm

If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this means that your body does not produce an adequate amount of insulin, or does not properly use the insulin your body does produce. Insulin is an important hormone that comes from the pancreas and helps your body’s cells use sugar. Sugar is the energy cells use; essentially it is like gas for your car.

(Picture From www.jdrf.org)

Type 2 diabetes creates many health risks that include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, eye problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, infections, gum disease, and problems with pregnancy. Recently, a study may have found indicators of diabetes that will allow one to help prepare for a new life style.

New research confirms that evidence of insulin resistance and changes in blood sugar linked to type 2 diabetes can be measured more than a decade before the disease occurs.

Researchers in the UK followed 6,500 British civil servants who did not have diabetes for about 10 years on average. During this time they repeatedly measured insulin sensitivity and fasting and non-fasting glucose levels.

During the average follow-up (10 years), 505 of the participants had developed type 2 diabetes.

Researchers followed more than 6,500 British civil servants without diabetes for up to 13 years, during which time they repeatedly measured insulin sensitivity and fasting and non-fasting glucose levels.

During an average follow-up of 10 years, 505 of the study participants developed type 2 diabetes.

However the study showed a steady upward trajectory in metabolic changes in the participants that did not develop diabetes. Furthermore, these changes tended to occur at different periods in those who would eventually develop diabetes, and these changes were often very sudden.

Overall the study revealed:

-A steady trend in fasting glucose, sometimes as early as 13 years prior to the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, with fasting glucose levels rising rapidly three years before diagnosis

-Glucose levels after eating began to increase rapidly starting three years prior to diagnosis

-Insulin sensitivity began to decline steeply five years before diagnosis

-Beta-cell function — a measure of insulin production — began to increase three to four years prior to diagnosis, as the pancreas tried to compensate for increases in blood glucose by producing more insulin. Insulin production dropped precipitously in the three years prior to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

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