These are the results of an international, multicenter study published on-line today in the journal Genetics in Medicine. The study, the largest and most comprehensive done to date, adds to the documented capability (study published in Genetics in Medicine in October 2011) of the tests by examining results in 62 pregnancies with trisomy 18 and 12 pregnancies with trisomy 13.

Scientists with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) have developed tools that expand the use of ultrasound during spaceflight and on Earth, especially in rural and underserved locations. These tools include techniques that streamline training and help remote experts guide non-physician astronauts to perform ultrasound exams. Ultrasound can be used to assess numerous conditions – fractured bones, collapsed lungs, kidney stones, organ damage and other ailments – in space and on Earth. With an NSBRI grant, they also created a catalog, or atlas, of “space-normal” imagery of the human body, setting the stage for astronauts to provide care without consulting a physician on Earth. This atlas was handed over to NASA earlier this year.

Dr. Scott A. Dulchavsky, the Roy D. McClure Chairman of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, is the principal investigator of these projects and is a member of the NSBRI Smart Medical Systems and Technology Team. “The ultrasound imagery techniques came from space program constraints of not having a trained radiologist on orbit or having a CAT scan or an MRI available, forcing us to use ultrasound for things in which we would not normally use it,”

In the developing world, the availability of many medical technologies is limited by cost, durability, and ease-of-use. This is especially true of expensive diagnostic devices, which are critical for detecting diseases that are endemic in developing countries. However, researchers are working to develop low-cost, user-friendly alternatives that could improve the ability of healthcare providers to diagnose a range of conditions.

Harvard researchers have developed an alternative microfluidic device that replaces standard silicon, glass, or plastic substrates with treated paper. Fluids flow through the microchannels in the paper device in the same way that they would in a standard chip. Researchers have used the device to test for glucose and protein in urine, but hope to adapt it for the possibility of testing blood samples for HIV/AIDS, dengue fever, or hepatitis. While a traditional microfluidic device costs between $10 and $1,000USD, the materials to create the paper devices, known as microPADS, cost only three cents. The design of the microPAD device allows for several tests to be conducted simultaneously, furthering the cost and resource savings.

To help better diagnose infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, researchers have developed a microscope that attaches to any cellular telephone with a camera feature. The device, known as a Cell Scope, is able to illuminate pathogens in a sample treated with fluorescent molecular “tags.” It is estimated that the production of first Cell Scopes will cost roughly $1,000 each, but with further developments the price could drop to just a few hundred dollars, including the cell phone. Not only can an individual use the microscope to view the pathogens, but they can also send an image to a healthcare facility for assistance making an appropriate diagnostic determination.

Efforts have also been made by scientists at the Burnet Institute to improve HIV-testing procedures. A prototype monitoring test has been designed for use in remote settings. The new test, which uses a finger-prick blood sample, allows individuals to determine their CD4+ T-cell count within 30 minutes. The CD4+ T-cells are critical for healthy immune system function and their levels are a deciding factor with regard to starting anti-retroviral therapy. Standard CD4 tests are often not available in the developing world due to their cost, the need for specialized equipment and trained personnel, and the long wait period to obtain test results.

Though these diagnostic technologies offer improvements in the developing world, as The Wall Street Journal reports, acceptance may be slower in the United States. Some researchers have found success when applying African healthcare models to rural areas of the U.S., and results using low-cost technologies originally conceived for use in the developing world may follow this trend. The use of innovative low-cost testing methods may also assist with telemedicine initiatives, as they allow healthcare providers to conduct necessary tests and provide better diagnostic information to consultants. Through discussion among global health experts – as allowed by telemedicine initiatives like icons in Medicine – innovative diagnostic tools and other cost-saving measures may become more popular, and help to provide improved care worldwide.

LONDON – Popular painkillers, which are routinely used to ease headaches, back problems and period pain, can cause addiction in just three days, the UK Government’s drug watchdog has warned.

The drugs, which contain codeine and include brand names such as Nurofen Plus and Solpadeine Plus, are taken by millions of people. However, official figures have shown that tens of thousands of people have become dependent on the drugs, many accidentally, with women most at risk of developing an addiction.

Growing concern about the spread of what experts describe as a ‘hidden addiction’, has led the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to announce a series of measures to counter the problem, reports The Telegraph.

Packets size will be limited to just 32 tablets with larger packs available only by prescription in a bid to curb misuse.

Clear and ‘prominently positioned’ warnings will be put on the front of packs and accompanying patient information leaflets, stating: ‘Can cause addiction. For three days use only.’

Advertising will no longer state that the drugs are remedies for things like coughs and colds and only that they are acute and moderate pain.

WAKE FOREST – A popular antacid to prevent stress ulcers in critically ill patients requiring breathing machine support heightens their risk of getting pneumonia threefold, says a new study.

“Patients who develop hospital-acquired pneumonia or ventilator-acquired pneumonia have about a 20 to 30 percent chance of dying from that pneumonia,” said senior study author David L. Bowton, professor-anesthesiologist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM).

The study compared treatment with two powerful drugs that decrease stomach acid, namely ranitidine and pantoprazole, marketed as Protonix or Prilosec.

Both drugs decrease stomach acid, but the newer pantoprazole is considered more powerful and has become the drug of choice in many hospitals.

However, in the analysis of 834 patients, researchers found that hospitalized cardio-thoracic surgery patients treated with pantoprazole were three times more likely to develop pneumonia.

“We conducted this study, in part, because we thought we were seeing more pneumonias than we were used to having,” said study co-author Marc G. Reichert, coordinator for surgery at WFUSM Centre.

Both acid-reducing drugs can make the stomach a more hospitable place for bacteria to colonize. Patients on breathing machines sometimes develop pneumonia when stomach secretions reflux into the lungs.

Current treatment guidelines to prevent pneumonia recommend raising the head of the bed for patients on breathing machines, which reduces the risk of stomach secretions getting into the lungs.

Doctors should consider whether an acid reducer is needed at all, Bowton said. The occurrence of stress ulcer bleeding has gone down in recent years, perhaps because patients with breathing tubes are fed earlier, and food in the stomach may neutralise or reduce the effects of stomach acid.

Bowton added that in cases where an acid reducer is needed, ranitidine is recommended, given the apparent decreased risk in developing pneumonia, said a WFUSM release.

Doctors should stop using the drug as soon as the risk of bleeding passes — once the patient is off the breathing machine and eating, either on his/her own or through a feeding tube.

These findings were published in a recent issue of CHEST.

Hemorrhoids develop when the normal veins around the anal opening become abnormally enlarged or dilated. This happens because of habits or medical conditions that cause increased pressure on veins in the pelvis. The most frequent cause is a refined diet with not enough grains and bulky foods. This causes constipation, leading to increased pressure.

Hemorrhoids are classified as internal or external depending on where they are in relation to a line (the dentate line) that separates the two types of anal skin.

External Hemorrhoids develop below the line and are generally painless. They rarely need medical treatment, unless a vein bursts, blood pools under the skin and a painful lump forms (this is called a clotted or thrombosed hemorrhoid).

Internal Hemorrhoids develop above the dentate line. They can range in size from a slight swelling under the wall of the canal to large, sagging veins that stick out of the anus all the time. For treatment purposes, internal Hemorrhoids are graded according to their size:

    * Grade I: The vein bulges during bowel movements.

    * Grade II: The vein comes out of the anus during bowel movements, but goes back by itself.

    * Grade III: The vein comes out during bowel movements, but doesn’t go back by itself. It has to be replaced by hand.

    * Grade IV: The vein sticks out all the time and cannot be replaced.

It is possible for a person to have both internal and external Hemorrhoids at the same time.

Cause

    * Poor bowel habits – straining from long-term constipation or diarrhoea

    * Overweight, which often leads to straining to pass stools

    * Standing or sitting for long periods of time

    * Breathing improperly while lifting heavy weights (inhaling rather than exhaling while pushing against the weight)

    * Pregnancy, which results in increased blood flow to the pelvic area

    * Medical conditions, such as long-term (chronic) heart and liver disease, which causes blood to pool in the abdomen and pelvic area

    * Coughing, sneezing or vomiting

    * Genetic (inherited) factors

Symptoms

Internal and external Hemorrhoids manifest differently.

External Hemorrhoids

    * Slight swelling of the veins near the anus generally goes unnoticed. It may only be felt as extra skin around the anus.

    * These skin tags can become inflamed, causing a feeling of pressure in the anus. They can also make it hard to keep the anal area clean, which can lead to skin irritation, itching and burning. If a vein becomes quite large, it may cause discomfort, especially during bowel movements. The discomfort may discourage you from cleaning the anal area as well as you should, which can also lead to skin irritation.

    * A clotted haemorrhoid can be very painful. The pain may be so bad that you cannot sit or walk. The skin covering the lump may be blue (because of the collection of blood under the skin) and shiny due to stretching of the skin.

    * If the lump is not removed within 24 to 48 hours, the pain will gradually lessen over the following four to five days. The skin covering the lump may break open on its own, causing mild bleeding. With good self-care, pain and bleeding will stop within two weeks.

Internal Hemorrhoids

    * The most common symptom of internal Hemorrhoids is painless rectal bleeding. You may notice bright red streaks of blood on toilet paper after having a bowel movement or blood on the surface of stools. If you strain to pass stools, blood may spurt (spraying the sides of the toilet bowl) or trickle (coloring the water in the toilet bowl) from your anus.

    * You may have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness after passing stools because of the bulging of the hemorrhoid in the anal canal.

    * Hemorrhoids that are large enough to stick out of the anus (grade III and IV) may secrete mucus, causing mild skin irritation and itching. Good hygiene can keep this from becoming a problem.

    * You may see or feel protruding Hemorrhoids as moist pads of skin sticking out. It may recede into the rectum on its own or can be pushed back into place.

    * Very large Hemorrhoids may become painful if they swell and are squeezed by the muscles (anal sphincters) that control the opening and closing of the anus.

    * At their worst, large internal Hemorrhoids stick out of the anus all the time.

    * In rare cases, the opening and closing of the anus may cut off the blood supply to the swollen veins. This causes tissues inside the rectum to die, and emergency surgery is required to prevent serious damage.

Prevalence

Hemorrhoids are very common. Most people will experience symptoms or problems at some point in life, most often between the ages of 20 and 50. Men and women are affected.

When to see a Doctor

A visit to a doctor is indicated when:

    * Rectal bleeding occurs for no apparent reason and is not associated with trying to pass stools

    * Rectal bleeding continues for more than one week

    * Stool becomes more narrow than usual

    * A lump near the anus gets bigger or becomes more painful

    * Pain and/or swelling due to Hemorrhoids is severe

    * Moderate pain lasts longer than one week after home treatment

    * Any unusual material seeps from the anus

    * Tissue from inside the body sticks out of the anus and does not return to normal after three to seven days of home treatment

    * Rectal bleeding becomes heavy and/or changes in color from bright red to dark red or if stools change in color

Diagnosis

A number of ailments that affect the anal canal, rectum, and colon (large intestine) can cause bleeding, discharge, itching, and discomfort. Most people who have these symptoms assume they have Hemorrhoids, but this is often not the case.

The purpose of a visit to the doctor is to evaluate symptoms and confirm the diagnosis. Even more importantly, he or she should rule out life-threatening conditions. If the diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment plan can be initiated.

Diagnosis is based on:

    * Medical and social history, including personal habits

    * Symptoms

    * Visual examination

    * Digital rectal examination, i.e. feeling inside with a lubricated gloved finger

    * Anoscopy, the use of a small, hollow lighted tube to help see into the anal canal and lower part of the rectum

    * Proctoscopy – as above, but this makes a more thorough rectal examination possible

    * A fecal occult blood test – this may be done if internal Hemorrhoids cannot be detected with a digital rectal examination or anoscopy.

    * Flexible sigmoidoscopy – because people older than 50 are at higher risk for cancer of the colon and/or rectum (colorectal cancer), this procedure may be undertaken to view the lower colon and so rule out other causes of rectal bleeding, even if Hemorrhoids are evident.

    * Further examination of the entire colon with colonoscopy, when indicated

    * A barium X-ray can also be done which will show the colon’s interior.

Treatment

Home and medication

The best treatment is prevention and such strategies are also effective when Hemorrhoids have already developed.

In addition, most small internal Hemorrhoids can be treated at home with the following techniques:

    * Try not to sit for long periods. Take frequent breaks.

    * A doughnut-shaped cushion can make sitting more comfortable and ease hemorrhoid pressure and pain.

    * Insert petroleum jelly just inside the anus to make bowel movements less painful.

    * Ointments that contain hydrocortisone may help decrease inflammation and speed healing.

    * Resist the temptation to scratch Hemorrhoids, as this irritates the inflamed veins more, damages the surrounding skin and intensifies the itchiness. Non-prescription hemorrhoid creams may help for the itching and pain.

    * When wiping, be gentle. If toilet paper is irritating, try dampening it first, or use cotton balls or alcohol-free baby wipes. You may prefer washing yourself and then dabbing the area dry.

    * Bathe regularly to keep the anal area clean, but be gentle. Excessive scrubbing, especially with soap, can intensify burning and irritation.

External Hemorrhoids

    * External Hemorrhoids usually do not need treatment, unless an enlarged vein near the anus bursts, forming a hard and extremely painful lump under the skin (thrombosed hemorrhoid).

    * If the pain is not too severe, stool softeners, topical pain-relieving creams and Sitz baths (sitting in a bathtub of warm water for 15 minutes several times a day, especially after a bowel movement) may be sufficient. If pain is severe, surgical treatment may be required. If the lump is not removed within 24 to 48 hours, the pain will gradually lessen over the next four to five days. The skin covering the lump may break open on its own, causing mild bleeding. With good self-care, pain and bleeding stop within two weeks (although the lump may remain for several weeks).

Internal Hemorrhoids

    * Anaesthetising creams and suppositories to reduce inflammation may relieve irritation and pain due to internal Hemorrhoids.

    * Internal Hemorrhoids that continue to bleed after a trial of home treatment or become so large that they stick out of the anus may require professional treatment.

Surgery and fixative procedures

This section discusses surgery and fixative procedures for internal and external Hemorrhoids.

External Hemorrhoids

    * If an external hemorrhoid causes a lump with severe pain, it is more effective to surgically drain it, as this provides immediate relief from pain. It is best if it is removed during the first 24 to 48 hours after formation of the lump. This procedure is easily performed in the doctor’s office using a local anesthetic to numb the skin.

    * Surgical removal (hemorrhoidectomy) is only considered for external Hemorrhoids when the veins are so large that they cause significant discomfort and make it difficult to keep the anal area clean.

    * If skin tags cause repeated problems, they can be removed surgically.

Internal Hemorrhoids

    * Larger internal Hemorrhoids may require medical treatment. Non-surgical treatments are used to cure most smaller (grade I and II) and some larger (grade III) internal Hemorrhoids.

    * The goal of most non-surgical procedures is to cut off the flow of blood to the enlarged vein, causing the vein to fall off and a scar to form in its place on the wall of the anal canal. These are called fixative procedures because the scar keeps nearby veins from drooping into the anal canal. Fixative procedures include the following:

          o Rubber band ligation: a tiny rubber band is tied around a prolapsed hemorrhoid, shutting off its blood supply. Within a week, the hemorrhoid will fall off. This method is painless and successful 75% of the time.

          o Coagulation or cauterization: using an electric probe, laser beam or infrared light, a tiny burn painlessly seals the end of the hemorrhoid, causing it to close off and shrink.

          o Injection sclerotherapy: Hemorrhoids are injected with chemicals that create a scar and closes off the hemorrhoid. With a success rate of 90%, this is often the first choice. Results are not permanent, however; repeat injections may be needed every two or three years.

    * Most internal Hemorrhoids respond to non-surgical treatment. When compared to surgery, these procedures involve less risk and are less painful. These treatments often depend on the doctor’s experience and the equipment available.

    * Surgical removal of Hemorrhoids (hemorrhoidectomy) is most successful for treating larger (grade III and IV) internal Hemorrhoids.

    * Smaller internal Hemorrhoids are only treated surgically when they cause severe problems (usually when a person has several Hemorrhoids, when bleeding cannot be controlled with other treatments, or when a person has both internal and external Hemorrhoids).

    * Surgery may be done under general, spinal or local anesthetic. It can be done with a scalpel, cautery device or laser. The choice as to which is the most appropriate varies from patient to patient and is best left to the judgment of the surgeon.

    * Complete healing from this operation can take two to four weeks. However, after one week most patients are able to return to their usual activities with minimal or no discomfort.

    * The success rate of hemorrhoid removal approaches 95%, but unless dietary and lifestyle changes are made, Hemorrhoids are likely to recur.

Prevention

The best treatment is prevention. Initial treatment for Hemorrhoids begins at home. Since Hemorrhoids are made worse by straining to pass stools, changing some of your daily habits so you can have regular, smooth bowel movements may help relieve symptoms and keep Hemorrhoids from getting bigger. Half of all haemorrhoid sufferers find relief with dietary changes alone.

    * Avoid constipation by eating high-fiber foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, beans, and legumes) and avoiding refined and “junk” food.

    * If this cannot be accomplished with diet alone, adding bulk laxatives may be necessary.

    * Drink plenty of liquids such as water, fruit juice and other beverages that don’t contain caffeine – at least eight glasses of water a day.

    * Limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day. Alcohol causes dehydration, which can lead to constipation.

    * Monitor your sodium (salt) intake. Excess salt in the diet causes fluid retention, which will cause swelling in all veins, including Hemorrhoids.

    * Regular exercise is important, especially if you have a sedentary job. Exercise helps by keeping weight down, decreasing constipation and enhancing muscle tone. Exercise often to promote regular, smooth bowel movements.

    * Practice good bowel habits. Go to the bathroom as soon as you have the urge to move your bowels. Try to set up routine times when you can go to the bathroom without feeling as if you have to rush or strain. Once on the toilet, don’t sit there any longer than necessary, because this can put additional pressure on the haemorrhoidal veins. Don’t strain to pass stools. Be relaxed and give yourself time to let things happen naturally. Never hold your breath while passing stools.

    * Modify your daily habits. Avoid prolonged sitting and/or standing at work or during leisure time. Take frequent short walks. If possible, avoid frequent lifting of heavy objects. If you must do heavy lifting, always exhale as you are lifting the weight; don’t hold your breath when you lift.

If you think this only affects awkward teenagers you’re wrong. There are men of all ages who will stand in a public toilet with a full bladder, only to find they’re unable to urinate. They might not even be feeling self-conscious at the time.

There’s a theroy that the problem has its roots in our primitive history and that we’re still inclined to think “I can pee in Ugg’s presence, therefore I can challenge him to a fight, intimidate him with terrifying roars, bared yellow teeth and thumping of my hairy chest.” Perhaps so, but that doesn’t help get the pee from the bladder to the bowl.

You have a few options. Clenching and unclenching your pelvic floor muscles may help trigger the flow or urine. If not, you can try teaching yourself to pee around other people by degrees. Start by standing in a cubicle with the door closed, progress to keeping the door open, then to standing at the urinal furthest from anyone else, and eventually to peeing happily while singing “Old Man River”.

One doctor advised doing mental calculations, which apparently stimulates the cortex of the brain, interrupting the stream of messages it’s sending your nether regions. If all else fails, a behavioral therapist ought to be able to help.

Stress is the plague of the new millennium. We blame everything on it from our health to our relationships to our poor performance at work. However stress is not always a bad thing, positive stress motivates us and spurs us into action. It also keeps us going when we don’t think we can make it through another day. The problems come in when we experience stress overload and the emotional and physical distress that accompanies it.

So what’s the solution? It’s time to get back into the driving seat and rebalance your life. You don’t necessarily need to spend all your hard-earned cash on stress relief and visits to your shrink, mother nature has a lot to offer the stressed and weary. Try some of these excellent natural remedies to boost your mood, de-stress and get your life back on the rails.

1. Aromatherapy

Try the top five de-stressing essential oils. All of the following essential oils will work to balance and soothe your body and mind. Mix a few undiluted drops with a carrier oil, such as almond, for a massage or add it to your bath water.

   1. Lavender – balancing, soothing and normalizing

   2. Geranium – relaxing and uplifting

   3. Neroli – soothing and regenerating

   4. Chamomile – acts as a sedative and boosts the immune system

   5. Ylang-ylang – calming, also an aphrodisiac

Adding these essential oils to the bath will take a load off your mind. But make sure that you follow the following guidelines so that you get the full benefit of the essential oils:

    * Follow the instructions on the bottle carefully and only add the recommended number of drops.

    * The bath must be hot, but not scalding or else the oils will evaporate before you’ve even hopped in.

    * Stay in the bath for about 20 minutes. If you stay in for less, the essential oils might not have time to take effect; if you stay in for longer, you’ll just feel lethargic.

    * While you’re in the bath, focus on ensuring that your breath is deep and regular. Inhale from the diaphragm, hold for a few seconds and exhale slowly.

2. Exercise that stress away

Most exercise has calming benefits, but you don’t have to hit the treadmill for hours, or take a high-impact aerobics class to pound and punch out your stress. Why not try one or more of these three gentle natural therapies that offer a complete mind-body workout and long-lasting stress-reducing results?

Tai Chi

The aim of this 8000-year-old exercise system is to harmonise the body and mind through meditation and slow, graceful movements. Tai Chi is based on the Taoist philosophy of yin (cool, dark, negative energy) and yang (hot, light, positive energy) two polar types of energy that are believed to exist in everything in the universe. The goal of Tai Chi is to balance these energies. In so doing, the natural balance of the body and mind is restored and stress is reduced.

By focusing on the controlled movements, your mind is distracted from whatever tension or stress you may be experiencing. Tai chi is great for stress-related disorders like headaches and stomach ulcers and is even used by cancer patients in China.

Alexander Technique

This therapy was developed 100 years ago by an Australian actor Frederick Alexander. It will teach you how to deal physically with everyday situations, including how you sit, how you walk and how you lift things. The aim of this therapy is to reteach your body the natural, relaxed poise that you had as a child.

By improving one’s posture, the Alexander Technique will eliminate the physical symptoms of stress, such as backache and muscle tension in the neck. A person is taught how to loosen one’s neck and free one’s head. This will promote a sense of calm, improve your posture and encourage better breathing.

Pilates

Pilates is quickly reaching the same popularity level as yoga. It was designed in the 1920′s by Joseph Pilates as a way for injured and recuperating dancers to stay fit. Pilates combines systems of springs and pulleys to lengthen and tone muscles with floor-based stretching exercises.

Both Tai Chi and Pilates concentrate on breathing. Pilates, like the Alexander Technique, will also radically improve your posture and realign your body. You will feel healthier and more relaxed. While performing all the stretching exercises, energy is released and this energy helps to dissipate stress and muscle tension.

Build your therapy into your normal exercise regime, by alternating with resistance work and two or three aerobic sessions per week.

3. Massage

The intrinsic benefits of touch through the medium of massage, has long been recognized. It is the oldest and simplest of all complementary therapies and in traditional cultures it is accepted as a natural part of self-care. A good massage can dissipate nervous energy and release feel-good endorphins into the body. These endorphins are like natural painkillers and help ease aching, tired muscles.

If you have a willing partner, spend one evening a week massaging each other with special massage oils. If you’re not sure, what you are doing, read one of the many books on massage or enrol in a course. Or you could try the following self-massage techniques:

Neck and shoulders

First, lie on your side on the bed or on the floor, and using slow, circular movements, massage the side and back of your neck. Then move onto your shoulders and as much of your upper back that you can reach. Now, turn over and repeat the massage on the other side.

Back

Sit up straight. Staring at the bottom of your back, position the fingers of both hands on either side of the spine. Gently “walk” your fingers up your back as far as you can go, and back down again.

Face

Lie on your back on the bed and start stroking your forehead with both hands, moving from the middle and out towards the ears. Repeat this movement as you slowly move down your face towards your chin, then gently massage around your eye sockets. Finish off with a mini-Indian head massage by briskly rubbing your scalp for five minutes.

What to take

Consult your doctor or a professional herbal practitioner before using any of the herbs mentioned in the following section, especially if you are pregnant, suffer from a chronic disease or are on other medication.

1. De-stress the herbal way

Is stress getting you down? Do you feel like you are not coping? Take action. Try the top five de-stressing herbal supplements.

   1. Kava kava – relaxes you, just like a couple of glasses of wine, but without the side effects. It will also give you a positive sense of wellbeing.

   2. Ginseng – if you take this herb over a period of time, your body’s ability to cope with stress will increase.

   3. Passionflower – if your stress is causing insomnia, anxiety or nervousness, this is the herb for you. Many over-the-counter sedatives contain Passionflower.

   4. Skullcap – for mental and physical exhaustion. It relaxes the muscles and nerves.

   5. Vervain – a very useful herb if you are suffering form a stress-induced virus (like the flu). Also a natural anti-depressant.

If you are under constant stress, take the above herbs in tablet or tincture form for at least four weeks.

LONDON – Scientists in the UK are trying to figure out why women’s breasts are getting bigger.

While some scientists blame expanding waistlines for the increase in bust sizeS, others say pollution from pesticides is causing the ‘outburst’.

But others feel there’s an as yet uncovered real reason as to why boobs are growing, reports The Daily Star.

A scientific source said: “It’s the big question and it’s got a lot of people baffled.”

In the recent years, the demand for super-size bras has been rocketing in the UK.

Some experts reckon the reason for the chest expansion is an increase in man-made chemicals in the environment.

Agricultural pesticides and plastics are known to upset hormonal development if they get into the food chain.

Dr Marilyn Glenville, who is a nutritionist specializing in women’s health, said: “Estrogen gives women their characteristic shape as they go through puberty.

“It’s what causes the stimulation in breast tissue, so if we’ve got extra estrogen coming in from the environment that’s going to have an effect on breast size.

“It might be a better way of getting bigger boobs than a breast implant but there is a trade-off.

“It shows that breasts are being stimulated but that’s not good if cells start to mutate.

“It will get worse if something’s not done about it. Breasts, in theory, could get even bigger.”

Dr Joanna Scurr, lecturer in bio-mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Breasts are getting bigger but it’s not just because we’re getting heavier.

“We looked at 300 British women over four years and found an increase in the size of the average bosom, not just in women who are fat.”

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

Signs And Symptoms of Heat Stroke

Indications of heat stroke can at times impersonate those of heart attack or other conditions. Different people possibly will have different symptoms and indicators of heat stroke. However familiar symptoms and signs of heat stroke include the following:

1. Elevated body temperature

2. The lack of sweating, with burning red or flushed dehydrated skin

3. Trouble in breathing

4. Bizarre activities

5. Hallucinations and illusions

6. Nervousness and Anxiety

7. Convulsions

8. Loss of consciousness

Heat stroke can happen unexpectedly, without any symptoms of heat exhaustion. If someone is experiencing symptoms of heat stroke, it is important to seek medical attention at once.

Causes of Heat Stroke

High temperature is the main cause of heat stroke

Heat related conditions like heat stroke may arise when your body cannot remain cool. As the atmospheric temperature increases, your body stays cool as you sweat. On hot, sticky days, the loss of sweat is measured by the increased humidity in the air. Dehydration too is a major worry, as too much fluid loss can lead to heart and brain damage.

Chronic medical conditions like diabetes, nausea; vomiting or diarrhea can put children and adults at threat for a heat stroke in dreadfully hot climates. The other common causes of heat strokes could be as follows:

1. High temperatures or humidity

2. Extended and excessive exercise

3. Excess clothing

4. Too much use of alcohol

5. Cardiovascular ailments

6. Sweat gland dysfunction

7. Medications that weaken the body’s ability to sweat may have an effect on people to this problem

8. Pregnancy

9. Obesity

Remedies for Heat Stroke

Heat Stroke home remedies and natural cures, Questions and answers

Victims of heat stroke should be moved to a cool area and clothing should be removed.

Heat stroke is a medical crisis involving hospitalization, and the local emergency system must be turned on as soon as possible.

1. The body temperature ought to be lowered instantly.

2. The sufferer should be moved to a cool area and clothing should be removed to encourage inactive cooling. Energetic cooling methods can be used.

3. The victim should be positioned into the revival pose to make sure that their airway remains open.

4. Cool the person by sponging with damp towel.

5. Water containing electrolyte, juices and glucose should be given to the victim.

Diet for Heat Stroke

Heat Stroke : Home Remedies suggested by users

Stay hydrated and minimize sun exposure.

Drink plenty of water, stay away from the sun, and avoid taxing activity during hot weather conditions. If you start experiencing the warning signs, shift to a cool, sheltered area and gulp something cool.

Suggestions for Heat Stroke

Try chamomile flowers to get relief from heatstroke

If you start experiencing the warning signs, move to a sheltered area and drink something cool. A few people also use chamomile flowers to alleviate the symptoms of heatstroke, though the effectiveness of this therapy is not assured.

After a complete recovery from heatstroke, a slight follow-up care is considered necessary. Improving patients may possibly desire to relax and reside in cool areas for some days. Patients should also implement aggressive prevention policies to keep heat stroke from returning.

Other names: methyl sulfonyl methane

MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) is a compound found naturally in foods such as cow’s milk, meat, seafood, fruits and vegetables.

MSM is thought to work by contributing sulfur. It’s found in capsule or tablet forms. MSM is also available as a cream or lotion, although evidence suggests it can’t be absorbed through skin.

Why Do People Use MSM

Osteoarthritis

Two small studies suggest MSM may reduce osteoarthritis pain. MSM is often combined with glucosamine in commercial arthritis products. It’s thought to work because of the sulfur, which is believed to strengthen collagen. More evidence is needed.

Interstitial cystitis

MSM has been proposed as a treatment for interstitial cystitis, although human studies are needed.

Snoring

One small, preliminary study found that MSM resulted in quieter snoring.

MSM has been explored for cancer prevention, scleroderma, allergies and constipation.

Side Effects and Safety

Side effects with MSM are rare but may include stomach upset, headache and diarrhea. One study suggested MSM was safe for up to 12 weeks.

The safety of MSM in pregnant or nursining women, children, or people with liver or kidney disease, however, isn’t known.

If you have excess cellulite then you no doubt have tried to find the best exercise to reduce cellulite. If you have been unsuccessful than this article is here to help. In order to find the best exercise to reduce cellulite you first need to understand a little bit of what cellulite is and how it forms.

How does Cellulite Form and What is It Exactly?

Cellulite is a condition where the skin, usually in the lower body, becomes dimpled and lumpy. This condition is most common in post pubescent females, although it can occur in just about anyone. Primarily the reason thought for this is that there is some kind of a hormonal component that causes its formation. Estrogen seems to be the primary culprit from a hormonal level, but exercise to reduce cellulite is effective.

The first step before you begin exercise to reduce cellulite is to control your diet. Start by trying to eliminate excess fats and replace those with more fruits and vegetables. Drinking more water may or may not help you depending on your situation. For some people drinking large amounts of water has helped to get rid of the fat that has built up around their legs. Taking these initial steps will help so that when you exercise to reduce cellulite it will be much more effective.

Different Cellulite Reduction Exercises You can Do

The key to reducing the amount of cellulite that is built up in your lower body is to find good cardio exercises that you can do for long periods of time. In addition it is important that these exercises work your legs. Treadmills, Elipiticals, and just jogging are all great ways to lose excess pounds and melt away the cellulite.

By finding an activity you enjoy you will be able to do the cardio for longer, thereby increasing the effectiveness of your exercise to reduce cellulite. Stretching before starting is also important as you want to avoid hurting yourself while exercising.

The other key is to make sure before you start exercising that you are hydrated and have eaten or drank some kind of carbohydrates. By having something in your system you will be able to exercise longer with more energy and actually burn more calories than if you had nothing at all. Take and follow these steps in order to find exercise to reduce cellulite that will not only keep you healthy, but make you healthy looking as well.

Weight loss is often a must for individuals who are obese. You can find numerous remedies for shedding the particular fat. This surgical procedure is one of the finest selections for those those people who are too heavy. The folks in whose physique mass catalog tend to be as compared to thirty five and have well being complications due to their extra pounds are usually advised with regard to this surgical procedure.

This surgery is the only choices at times, while we have a medical crisis in which one needs to relieve weight at the same time. Obviously you can find handful of problems and risks that are involved in this surgical procedure; even so this surgical procedure is extremely efficient as well as basic.

A single needs to be little mindful after the weight loss surgical procedure to be able to prevent achievable complication. However by far the particular weight loss surgery could be the quickest way of reducing your weight. The person must keep to the advices with the surgeon towards the primary or else he is able to grow to be obese or too heavy after some time.

As far as this surgical procedure is concerned the main thing is that one should have the total in creation concerning the almost all feasible surgical alternatives. one do not need to to go everywhere because he can get almost all relevant details in the physician himself concerning the various medical options, the treatments of the chosen weight loss surgical treatment, the merits and demerits of the weight loss surgery as well as the post operative care required.

A single you could have decided to go for weight loss surgery, please obtain cleared all of the doubts simply by asking yourself the surgeon. Never think twice to ask the query even though it appears thus ridiculous to you.

There’s nothing incorrect within getting opinion from your other medical doctor who’s very experienced like the physician who will work an individual. Attempt to discover the bands and also address with the patients that got gone through this surgical procedure, to be able to reveal their own experience, whether it is bad or even excellent.

As well as getting in development in the doctor as well as a man, one will also have information concerning this surgical treatment from internet. Another excellent source to obtain information about this surgical treatment is actually ASBS (American modern society with regard to bariatric surgical treatment).Obviously the actual weight loss surgical procedure brings about instant weight loss you will find various issues and dangers required.

The important thing in this surgery is ahead of taking or opting for surgery the individual must be perfectly knowledgeable in regards to the this surgical treatment as he needs to signal “informed consent”.

“Informed consent” is definitely an important insurance plan to be brought in from the patient ahead of this surgery. According to this permission the particular parents concurs for the surgical procedure right after knowing the actual achievable dangers as well as problems.

If your individual has complete information regarding the particular weight loss surgical procedure, he can not have unwanted concerns whenever he encounters the actual signs and symptoms from the feasible publish operative problems in which happen because of weight loss surgery and may speak to the actual medical doctor the moment he or she updates the warning signs. Therefore there’s nothing wrong within deciding on weight loss surgical treatment if the physician guidelines one to choose one.

What I have discovered in practice is that there are usually only one or two main groups of muscles, setting up the imbalances that cause the joint to move or the pressure to build up in a muscle making the joint stiff or tight and painful to use.

If the muscles that set up the imbalances (usually the deeper structural muscles) are worked on correctly, the pressure that causes the twist, tilt or tightness is released, along with the pain.

When a back develops problems it is not normally something that has just happened but rather the result of a buildup of imbalances over time. It tends to involve the whole body in some way and therefore requires a holistic approach to get a lasting cure.

To demonstrate, reach to the right to pick something up and you’ll notice it is not just your shoulder and arm that moves, you will feel every muscle in your body adjust in some way to support that movement.

Any therapist who doesn’t get their hands onto the muscles and body regularly, which lets face it is most of them including a doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, Pilates or yoga instructor, personal trainer etc, is severely handicapped right from the start when it comes to successfully treating back pain.

There is no way, without the vital information you get from the feel of the body, they could devise the best way of approaching a particular person’s back problem, or diagnose it correctly for that matter. In one hour you can significantly change how a person feels within themselves, simply by making a significant change to the muscle imbalances in their body and how those muscles feel to the touch.

The body will respond to the right touch as if it knows what is good for it, just as it will freeze up and resist the wrong treatment as a way of protecting itself. Have you ever gone for an adjustment from a chiropractor and had trouble relaxing?

When seeking out treatment for your back pain you need to tune into your body and instinctively you will know what is helping you and what isn’t.

A large number of people can’t afford to spend several hundred dollars on the medical merry go round hoping they would find someone who could help them.

I felt that if people were well educated on diagnosing their own problem and had effective techniques they could use daily at home to make progress on their own, they would get much better value from the therapy appointments they had and more importantly, they’d be able to recognize very quickly when a therapist they saw was going to be a waste of their money and time.

Stress is one of the biggest problems in the western world and may be caused by a variety of different things. Conventional medicine can offer little help to deal with stress and so many people may turn to alternative therapies. On alternative therapy that could be of great help is kinesiology and so in this article we will look at what both stress and kinesiology and also how kinesiology can help treat stress.

What is Stress?

Stress is a general term that can cover pressure put on the emotional, mental or physical aspects of a person. However usually when we think of stress as an illness we consider the mental and emotional problems that people suffer from. People who suffer from stress usually have a large number of symptoms including insomnia, irritability, restlessness, headaches, digestive problems, reduced self-esteem as well as many others. It can have a significant impact on a person’s life and prevent them from fulfilling their true potential.

In addition if suffered for a long time without treatment it can lead to a number of other health problems that include alcoholism, obesity, suicide, drug addiction, cigarette addiction, and other harmful behaviours. As well as that it is thought that stress can contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes, as well as a lowered immune system. For these reasons it is important to seek treatment as quickly as possible to help you deal with the problems.

What is Kinesiology?

Kinesiology is a therapy system that identifies the problems in a person’s life by assessing their ability to hold their muscles against light pressure. It is believed that each muscle is linked in a part of the body and to an energy meridian that runs along the body. A therapist will normally test the muscles in the body to see just where imbalances are occurring. The therapist will then test the muscles to get feedback and determine what the cause of the problem is.

This means that every person’s treatment is unique as one person’s physical response to a problem will be different to another. The therapist will then devise a treatment plan that will suit the patient and their exact needs. The treatments used will vary from patient to patient and may include things like flower essences, massage, acupuncture, nutritional advice to name just a few. This makes it a truly holistic therapy as it considers the person as a whole and each person is treated differently.

Kinesiology and Stress

If you suffer from stress then a visit to a kinesiology therapist could really help you. The therapist will carefully test your body and identify just which part of your body is responding to and causing the stress. Each person will hold their stress in a different part of the body so this individual treatment can be a great advantage. Once the therapist has identified where you are holding the stress in your body they will be able to devise a treatment plan that will help you to overcome your stress and improve your overall health. In addition to that the actual therapy sessions may help to relax you in themselves and this can help to reduce the stress that you are feeling.

Kinesiology is definitely an option for people who are suffering from stress. However it is important to say that there are a lot of potential treatments for people to try. For that reason it is important to do a detailed research of what is available to you and make sure a particular therapy will be right for you. If you have decided to use kinesiology then it is important to find a reputable therapist who has good references to ensure you get the best possible treatment.

The term “organic” has been in the limelight recently and a lot of “organic” products have been appearing on grocery store shelves across North America. However, humans have been farming and eating “organically” throughout our evolutionary history. It was only during the 20th century where farmers were hard pressed to supply food for a rapidly growing human population. The 20th century was the start of the industrial revolution and marked a paradigm shift in how business would be done. The goals of all titans of industry were to deliver as many products to the consumer at the most efficient low cost way possible while contributing heavily to a companies bottom line.

This notion carried over to the agriculture sector and farmers and companies were trying to find a way to produce more for less. This resulted in science being manipulated to grow food. Synthetic chemicals were used to increase the production and shelf life of food to meet the growing demand of consumers. This involved the use of various chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, genetically engineered organisms, irradiation, and nanotechnology being manipulated to mimic nature. However, with the onset of diseases, it is very clear that the synthetic trade off does not make economic sense in the grand scheme of things. This article will demystify what organic foods are and why we should all make the switch.

Organic vs. Natural: “Organic” and “natural” are sometimes used interchangeably; however their literal meaning and regulation are quite different. Organic foods are produced without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics – they are usually grown using renewable resources. Instead of chemical fertilizers, organic farmers use insects called “beneficial insects” as a method of pest control. In dairy, organic means that no antibiotics or hormones were given to cows the land is used for grazing and the feed has been certified. The feed also cannot contain animal by products. In fashion, organic clothing means that the materials are raised or grown in compliance with organic agricultural standards.

When a product is labeled “organic” it is normally followed by a seal of certification normally issued by third party government agencies such as USDA. Needless to say, true “organic” products are highly regulated and the companies that sell these types of products usually offer complete disclosure and transparency.

“Natural” products, on the other hand, are products that are made from substances found in nature but the products themselves are not regulated. A product can be considered “natural” even if it is prepared synthetically like in a laboratory. Any product derived from plants, animals or elements found on earth can earn the “natural” label. In the food industry today, there is no official definition of “natural.” A food labeled “natural” may contain pesticides, herbicides, toxic heavy metals, P.C.B.’s, fluorides, MSG, high-temperature cooking by products, synthetic chemical vitamins, and other unnatural substances. Consumers should be weary of products labeled “natural” and the companies who manufacture them. Sometimes, however, companies temporarily label their products as “natural” while they wait to obtain the organic seal.

Why organic food is better: Organic food is a better choice than inorganic food for numerous reasons, most importantly for human health. First off, organic food is richer in essential vitamins and minerals. Consumers would need to eat a lot more inorganic food to even come close to the nutritional content of an organic food item. The reason for this has to do with how organic and inorganic items are farmed and the type of minerals the plants are absorbing.

Minerals are elements that originate in the soil and cannot be created by living things. Plants absorb minerals from the soil, and animals get their minerals from the plants or other animals they consume. Most of the minerals in our diets come directly from plants, such as fruits and vegetables, or indirectly from animal sources. Inorganic food farming is practice on large commercial scale and normally involves the use of synthetic fertilizers that contain minerals such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. These are the main minerals that a plant needs to survive and thrive and the ones found in most commercial fertilizers.

With these three minerals, plants look better and the fruit lasts longer. However, unlike plants, humans and animals need a lot of other minerals in order to live healthy. Organic farmers use non-commercial fertilizers such as mineral rich chicken and cow manure mixed in with compost. This so called “green maturing” practice is more sustainable and results in a more nutritional plant.

Where to buy organic food: Aside from niche supermarkets and farmer markets, the best place to find certified organic products would be over the internet. Most independent organic food vendors have a website set up where they showcase their organic food and dairy products. However, unless you know exactly what and who you are looking for, most consumers will rarely find a shop that is truly “certified organic”.

To save time, a great alternative would be to visit the largest vendor driven eco marketplace on the internet called eco3P.com. eco3P strives to consolidate all eco friendly, organic, fair trade, vegan, and related vendors onto one easy to use marketplace. Vendors set up shop and tell the story behind who they are and the type of products that they sell. The “3P’s” stand for “people, planet, and profitshare” as the company shares a portion of their proceeds to help various environmental causes and conserve rainforest.

Conclusion: As you can see, organic food is the most prudent choice. Although organic products are more expensive on a nominal basis, they are also more nutritious and contain more vitamins and minerals that your body needs. The intangible savings of going organic are manifold – you will actually consume less since you are getting a more nutritious fulfilling product, you do not need to compliment your diet with vitamins, and eating healthy means less time spent in bed being sick while ingesting costly medications.

Simply look for the USDA certified organic seal and keep an eye out for where the products are made. Remember that in order to be certified organic, products must be grown and manufactured in a manner that adheres to standards set by the country they are sold in. Only a few countries (Australia, Canada, Sweden, U.K., Norway, India, Japan, and the USA) currently have policies in place that producers must adhere to in order to get the certified organic seal. Recently, in many food shops such as Whole Foods, organic products have been coming from China, a country notorious for loose policies and poor environmental standards.

After the survey of 1,000 women aged 18 to 70, a department store found that the cosmetic products women used often expired four years on average. Some cosmetics even expired more than 15 years. As usual, eyebrow pencil’s shelf life is a year and a half, but in fact the time it stay in the cosmetic bag is 8 years on average, the shelf life of lipstick and lip gloss are 1 year to 2 years, but some people would save them for 10 years, perfume’s shelf life is 3 years, many people have saved for 8 years.

Sarah Stern, head buyer of this cosmetics department survey, said: “We will not hesitate to throw away the deteriorated or expired foods, we should take the same approach to skin care. Beautiful lasts forever, but the cosmetic products are not. Women have very high loyalty for cosmetic brand and product, but health risks would be buried if they not to decline throw out expired products.  Paul Salmon’s words were quoted on New Zealand Herald, which reported a large number of bacteria could be bred in delayed cosmetic products.  All in all, cosmetic bag is a dangerous place for filth.

The survey found that 68% of women neglect whether cosmetics or skin care products had expired, they usually do not throw them away until they are run out. Investigators said expired eye cosmetic product is particularly harmful because the eye is more prone to infections. Redness, itching,  swelling and other symptoms would last for a long time.

Expiration balm would result in dry mouth, sensitive, and blisters. Once Mascara opened, it should normally be used up in 4 to 6 months while high-gloss powder should be used within 6 months. Eye shadow should be run out in a year and a half to two years. The survey also found that about two-thirds of women would share cosmetics or skin care products with others, which increase the risk of infection.

Five years ago, European Union required cosmetics manufacturers to mark shelf life for the products, but near 90% women ignored this information, some people said they didn’t know this information, other say they couldn’t understand clearly the text identity. In addition, some women may think it is a pity to throw away expired cosmetics which are not used up. Response to such opinion, specialist suggested that cosmetics manufacturers produce small packaging products which enable consumers to be able to run out before the end of shelf life.

You will hear a lot of things said about your diet and what you should and shouldn’t eat. We are looking at what to eat for breakfast in this article but why is breakfast just so important? Well breakfast is the first meal of the day and it is what gets us started. That is not only a figure of speech but it will actually get our digestive system moving and if you are looking to control your weight will really help. Having a healthy breakfast is vital as it will make sure we start of the day the right way. Also if you eat well for breakfast it will help to keep you satisfied until lunch and so reduce the chance of you snacking. This is important for all people but if you are trying to lose weight it is even more vital and can really help you with your weight loss program.

Five of the Best Breakfasts

Often people don’t know what to eat for breakfast or what to choose. Below we will split the possible breakfast items into five categories and give you the best thing you can eat out of each. This will not only give you options for your breakfast but also make sure you are on the right track.

1. Cereal – the best cereal that you can eat is granola this is a combination of wholegrain oats that are packed full of fibre and nuts and seeds that are a great source of omega 3. It is important to be careful when buying it though as many have a lot of added sugar. Look for varieties with no added sugar. If you want sweetness you can look for varieties that include berries.

2. Fruit Juice – the best fruit juice to go for is tomato. Firstly it contains less sugar than many other fruit juices like orange however it also contains a disease fighting antioxidant that many studies have shown reduce your chance of getting breast cancer. As with so many juices it is much better if you can make your own at home with fresh tomatoes.

3. Toast – if you are going to have toast then the best bread to use is whole meal sourdough. This type of bread does not use commercial yeast so reduces the chance of making your feel bloated and sluggish. In addition it has a low GI and so will help to keep you going until lunch especially if you spread it with peanut butter.

4. Yogurt – the best yogurt to go for is plain live yogurt. This is high in protein, calcium and vitamin B2 as well as probiotics that can help with a healthy digestive system. It will also not have the sugar that you get in many yogurts. Good alternatives are fromage frais and 0% fat Greek yogurt.

5. Fruit – the best fruit to have for breakfast are berries,  particularly if you combine them with your granola and 0% fat Greek yogurt. These are great as they have the largest amount of antioxidants of all fruit. They will also help to fight free radicals and to aid cell renewal. Being very low in calories also makes them a great snack throughout the day.

Foods vary in freshness and quality over time.  There are difference for meats, fruits and even packaged products.  We found this web site, which allows you to enter any food type, or select from a robust list of foods, and it will show you how long the food product can be stored on a counter, in the fridge or frozen.

This is an excellent resource, and remember, 18% of all food poisonings happen because someone eats old food, full of bacteria and decay.  Protect yourselves and your family by using this guide.

http://www.stilltasty.com  

LOS ANGELES – Stronger and more lasting memories are likely to be formed when a person is relaxed and the memory-related neurons in the brain fire in sync with certain brain waves, scientists said on Wednesday.

Researchers from the United States said their findings could help develop new therapies for people with learning disabilities and some types of dementia.

“This study establishes a direct relationship between events at the circuit level of the brain…and their effects on human behavior,” said Ueli Rutishauser of the California Institute of Technology, who worked on the study.

Synchronization in the brain is influenced by “theta waves” which are associated with relaxation, daydreaming and drowsiness, but also with learning and memory formation, the scientists explained in the study in the journal Nature.

While scientists already know that relaxed minds are better at receiving new information, this study pinpoints a mechanism by which relaxation neurons work together to improve memory.

“Our research shows that when memory-related neurons are well coordinated to theta waves during the learning process, memories are stronger,” said Adam Mamelak, a neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Erin Schuman of the California Institute of Technology, who also worked on the study, said many learning disabilities appear to be linked to deficiencies in sensory processing and timing.

“These results provide a potential explanation for these deficits,” she said in an email to Reuters.

The findings suggest that if doctors were able to optimize the state of the brain, by ensuring it was relaxed, and then synchronize the delivery of the things it needed to learn, the outcome, or memory, might be better, she said.

The research team studied eight volunteers who were shown 100 photos of a range of objects and allowed to view each for one second. Fifteen to 30 minutes later they were shown another 100 photos — 50 new ones and 50 from the first set — and asked to recall which ones they had seen before and say how confident they were in their answers.

Using electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes, the researchers recorded neuron activity and the “background” electrical signals in regions of the brain where memories are formed. They found that recognition was stronger when the learning took place while neurons were firing in sync with theta waves.

Most studies of theta waves are conducted in rats, with only a few in humans, partly because EEG electrodes need to be placed directly on the brain’s surface to get precise measurements.

This study was conducted with volunteers with epilepsy and who were undergoing EEGs, which are often used to find the source of epileptic seizure activity. The researchers said steps were taken to ensure the patients’ underlying medical condition did not affect the outcome of the study.