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Cancer Risk: GMO and Link to Cancer

December 27, 2014

GMO and Link to Cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death to a number of people. The disease is linked to lifestyle choices like wrong diet and lack of exercise. Other causes of cancer are infections, inheritance of cancer causing genes and chemicals such as carcinogens. Cancer affects your life and puts a stop to some aspects of it.

Everyday new cases of cancer emerge. Just like any other disease, cancer knows no age limits. People across all ages are at the risk of getting cancer. It ends up messing up the body functioning. Why is this so? Well, cancer affects the body cells. Cells are basically the building blocks of the body.

Cancer begins with a tumor. A tumor refers to a mass of tissue that is formed by an overgrowth of cells. Getting cancer depends on whether the tumor is malignant or not. Malignant tumors are basically cancerous while those that aren’t cancerous are referred to as benign tumors.

If left unchecked, cancer can end up being terminal. The good news is that cancer can be cured if it is detected early. Medical experts advocate for regular medical check-ups to ensure that your body is healthy. This allows the doctors to detect problems like cancer early and deal with it before it becomes severe.

GMO

Understanding cancer

As explained, cancer starts form a tumor. Cells end up dividing uncontrollably and this leads to development of tumors. These tumors affect the functioning of cells. This translates to entire body dysfunctioning.

There are over 100 types of cancers in the world. Over 1.4 million cases of cancer are reported every year. Cells are damaged and they lose their functioning. When this happens, the cells begin to divide uncontrollably forming masses of tissues.

In normal conditions cells grow and die. Old and worn out cells are replaced by new cells which are generated by the body. In the case of cancer, cells neither wear out nor die. Generation of new cells does not however stop. This clumping of cells in excess is what leads to emergent of the tissue masses we are calling tumors.

One fact about cancer that most people don’t comprehend is that cancer can end up affecting multiple body parts. This happens when cancerous tumors move from one part to another in a process called mitosis. For example, cancerous tumor from the stomach can end up spreading to the colon.

When cancer is detected, the patient is put under medication and therapies to prevent the cancer from spreading. Some treatments of cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immune therapy among others.

What are GMO?

The term refers to either animals or plants that have been genetically altered. They are created by inserting genes from one organism to another to alter its genetic composition. The organisms are mostly modified to improve the quality of genes in them. Genetically modified plants become resistant to disease and pesticides. They also become resistant to droughts and are able to survive worse drought conditions they never would have surpassed if not modified.

Genetically Modified Organisms have been linked to cancer. Their contribution to causing cancer cannot be overlooked. Many countries today are banning the use of GMO the latest being Russia. Today basically almost every food is genetically modified.

Genetically modified plants grow faster that organic ones. They are a solution to the starving population for most governments. But is it worth the risk? Are GMO really as safe as we are made to believe? The truth is that GMO are unhealthy compared to organic food.

Most of the foods that find their way into our diets are in one way or another genetically modified. Corn and soy are the known modified crops. Therefore avoid eating anything that is made from soy lecithin or corn syrup.

Most animals like chicken, cows and pigs are fed from these genetically modified crops like corm. Therefore GMO ends up finding its way to you through their meat. Always opt for animals you know are grass fed, like those raised in farms.

Organic foods on the other hand are safe and are made from non GMO seeds. Always read the label of cans when purchasing food. Go for foods which are labeled GMO- free as this means that they are not made from any genetically modified organisms.

GMO

How GMO can cause cancer

The most common cancer linked to GMO is breast cancer. When GMO are made, the genetic composition of the original plant is altered by inserting genes from another plan. This alters the DNA of the original plant.

Studies show that when DNA is altered it increases a person’s risk of getting cancer. This is because the genetic substances in GMO end up altering the DNA of humans. This alters normal body functioning.

When this happens, a person is at risk getting cancerous tumors. The cells are affected by this DNA modification and due to this they end up functioning abnormally and this is what can lead to cancer.

To find out more about GMO and cancer risks join the AwareMed community. Dr. Dalal Akoury will provide more facts about cancer and how you can avoid it. Contact her for more health and awareness tips.

Cancer Risk: GMO and Link to Cancer

 

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Alcohol the substance of Early Death

August 12, 2014

Alcohol the substance of Early Death – Drug Addiction

Alcohol

The display in alcohol shops are very glittering but the effects of alcohol content in them is very fatal. Do i say it is the business of death!

The title of this article should not scare you in any way because it is not a fiction in any way. Alcohol is not only the number one addictive substance but also number one killer. It is leading because it does not only kill its abusers but also very innocent people who have never tasted alcohol in their entire life time. The magnitude of alcohol effects are so real and many that researchers have had difficult time determining exactly what are the consequences of drinking this substance which has been associated with earlier death. The health complications associated with alcohol consumption include heart attack, diabetes, heart failure and stroke or lung disease. Therefore those who drink regularly are subjecting their life into several risks including:

  • People who drink regularly have a higher rate of death from injury, accidents or violence triggered by alcohol consumption.
  • Alcohol overdose may lead to death. The danger is so particular with young people in the adolescence stage of life. Young people may want to impress their peers with their ability to drink alcohol, the feelings of belonging motivates them into taking alcohol even though they may not be able to gauge its effects. However it is important to note that alcohol overdose doesn’t only occur from any one heavy drinking incident, but may also occur from a constant infusion of alcohol in the bloodstream.
  • Severe withdrawal and delirium tremens. Delirium tremens occurs in about 5% of alcoholics. It includes progressively severe withdrawal symptoms and altered mental states and in some cases, it can be fatal.
  • Frequent, heavy alcohol use directly harms many areas in the body and produce dangerous health conditions like liver damage, pancreatitis, anemia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, nerve damage, and erectile dysfunction.
  • Alcohol abusers who need surgery have an increased risk of postoperative complications, including infections, bleeding, insufficient heart and lung functions, and problems with wound healing. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms after surgery may impose further stress on the patient and hinder recuperation.

Alcohol the substance of Early Death – The Effects of Hangover

  • Although not traditionally thought of as a medical problem, hangovers have significant consequences that include changes in liver function, hormonal balance, and mental functioning and an increased risk for depression and cardiac events.
  • Hangovers can impair job performance, increasing the risk for mistakes and accidents.
  • Hangovers are generally more common in light-to-moderate drinkers than heavy and chronic drinkers, suggesting that binge drinking can be as threatening as chronic drinking.
  • Any man who drinks more than five drinks or any woman who has more than three drinks at one time is at risk for a hangover.

Alcohol the substance of Early Death – Accidents, Suicide, and Murder

Majority of deaths on our roads are facilitated by drink driving giving alcohol lead role in accidents, suicide, and crime therefore:

  • Alcohol plays a major role in more than half of all automobile fatalities across the globe.
  • Alcohol-related automobile accidents are the leading causes of death in young people.
  • When it comes to alcohol we do not have favorable limits for safe drinking because two drinks can impair the ability to drive and even one drink may double the risk of injury, and more than four drinks increase the risk by 11 times therefore the only safe way is not drinking at all.
  • Alcoholism is the primary diagnosis in a quarter of all people who commit suicide.
  • Alcohol is implicated in over half of all murder cases, with this ratio of one to one you can only desire to stop drinking.

Alcohol the substance of Early Death – Domestic Violence

If you have been to the alcoholic residence, you may have notice the elusiveness of peace and poor or no communication, conflicts and suspicion. The members of such households are not independent and expressive than non-alcoholic households or even recovering alcoholic parents. Domestic violence is a common consequence of alcohol abuse.

Effect on Women – women often are the victims of domestic violence, they incur serious injuries from their male partners who are abusing alcohol

Effect on Children – alcoholism in parents also increases the risk for violent behavior and abuse toward children. Children of alcoholic parents tend to do worse academically than others, have a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress and lower self-esteem than their peers. In addition to their own inherited risk for later alcoholism, many children of alcoholics have serious coping problems that may last their entire life. Adult children of alcoholic parents are at higher risk for divorce and for psychiatric symptoms.

Alcohol the substance of Early Death – Other Addictions

Recent studies are finding some relationship between genetic factors in alcohol and nicotine addiction relationship which may explain partially why alcoholics are often smokers. Alcohol consumption combine with smoking can be life threatening some studies have established that people who are alcohol-dependent and also smoke at the same time are more likely to die of smoking-related illnesses than alcohol-related conditions. Abuse of other drugs is also common among alcoholics. For more you can make reference in our previous article mixing alcohol with other drugs-dual diagnosis

Alcohol the substance of Early Death – Liver Disorders

Alcoholic Hepatitis and Cirrhosis – Alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine and passes directly into the liver, where it becomes the preferred energy source thereby endangering the functions of the liver where alcohol is converted to toxic chemicals like acetaldehyde, which trigger the production of immune factors called cytokines when these appears in large amounts they can cause inflammation and tissue injury. Even moderate alcohol intake can produce pain in the upper right quarter of the abdomen — a possible symptom of liver involvement. In many cases, such symptoms may be an indication of fatty liver or alcohol hepatitis, which are reversible liver conditions. Many alcohol consumers often drink on an empty stomach this increases the risk for liver damage.

Hepatitis B and C – People with alcoholism may have lifestyles that put them at higher risk for hepatitis B and C. Chronic forms of viral hepatitis pose risks for cirrhosis and liver cancer, and alcoholism significantly increases these risks. People with alcoholism should be immunized against hepatitis B. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. the dangers of not having a vaccine can only mean that if you are alcoholic then more health problems. You can recover from all these by visiting AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This facility is founded by doctor Dalal Akoury is well known for her commitment in eradicating addiction and other related health complications. She is an expert of several decades and administers treatment efficiently and naturally by focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. The unity of these elements will be the much needed breakthrough for your addiction problem.

Alcohol the substance of Early Death – Drug Addiction

 

 

 

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Breast Cancer and Alcohol; Role of Alcohol

March 17, 2014

Breast cancer and Alcohol-Role of alcohol

Breast cancer and Alcohol-Definition

Breast Cancer and Alcohol; Role of Alcohol

Alcohol has great effect on the causes of cancer, keep health by a voiding alcohol

Breast cancer is that which forms in tissues of the breast. The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the lining of the milk ducts (thin tubes that carry milk from the lobules of the breast to the nipple).

Another type of breast cancer is lobular carcinoma, which begins in the lobules (milk glands) of the breast. Invasive breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread from where it began in the breast ducts or lobules to surrounding normal tissue. Breast cancer occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

Breast cancer and Alcohol-Potential link between alcohol consumption and the cancer

Scientists looking at particular enzyme found a biological molecule that accelerates chemical reactions known as CYP2E1. Their findings offer a possible target to improve outcomes for patients in the later stages of the disease.

This enzyme, known as CYP2E1, has been implicated in various liver diseases linked to alcohol consumption, Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD), as well as diabetes, obesity and cancer. That is Breast Cancer and Alcohol are closely linked.

They wanted to understand why an enzyme known to function mainly in the liver was found to be heavily present in some types of breast cancer tissues. They also wanted to explore what other activities this enzyme might have that control the development of breast cancer. Their findings revealed that the enzyme breaks down various molecules within cells, including alcohol. The by-products of this metabolism include reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in something called oxidative stress, in normal physiological conditions this aids cellular functions, whereas when concentrations of ROS are high or oxidative stress becomes chronic, cells can be seriously damaged. Breast Cancer and Alcohol are closely related.

Previous studies have shown that the enzyme is most strongly expressed in early stages of breast tumors rather than more developed tumors and scientists believe that it contributes to the progression of breast cancer.

The study, published in Breast Cancer Research, found that depending on the stage of the breast cancer, high levels of the enzyme can help cells survive during stress. It was also found that inhibiting the activity of the enzyme in cells with high migratory potential promoted cell migration a process linked to cancer spreading known as metastasis.

Breast cancer and Alcohol-Causes and risk factors 

We have not fully understood the causes of breast cancer, as a result of this may be difficult to say with certainty why one woman may develop breast cancer and another may not. However the risk factors are known, some of these can change the likelihood that someone may develop breast cancer. There are some factors you cannot do anything about, but there are some you can change.

Alcohol

Your risk of developing breast cancer can increase with the amount of alcohol you drink. Research shows that, for every 200 women who regularly have two alcoholic drinks a day, there are three more women with breast cancer compared with women who do not drink at all. That study confirms that Breast Cancer and Alcohol has a cause and effect relationship.

Age

The risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. Breast cancer is most common among women over 50 who have been through the menopause. 8 out of 10 breast cancer cases occur in women over 50.

All women between 50 and 70 years of age should be screened for breast cancer every three years as part of the NHS Breast Screening programme. Women over the age of 70 are still eligible to be screened and can arrange this through their GP or local screening unit. Currently, there are ongoing pilot studies looking at widening the screening age range to 47-73.

Family history

If you have close relatives who have had breast cancer or ovarian cancer, you may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. However, as breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, it is possible for it to occur more than once in the same family by chance.

Most breast cancer cases are not hereditary. However, particular genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can increase your risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer. It is possible for these genes to be passed on from a parent to their child. If you have, for example, two or more close relatives from the same side of your family who have had breast cancer under the age of 50, you may be eligible for surveillance for breast cancer or for genetic screening to look for the genes that make developing breast cancer more likely.

Previous diagnosis of breast cancer

If you have previously had breast cancer or early non-invasive cancer cell changes contained within breast ducts, you have a higher risk of developing it again, either in your other breast or in the same breast again.

Previous benign breast lump

A benign breast lump does not mean you have breast cancer, but certain types of lump may slightly increase your risk of developing it. Certain benign changes in your breast tissue, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia (cells growing abnormally in ducts) or lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells inside your breast lobes), can make getting breast cancer more likely. If you drink alcohol specially more than 2 glasses per day it will increase your risk to develop breast cancer. Breast cancer and alcohol go hand in hand.

Breast density

Your breasts are made up of thousands of tiny glands (lobules), which produce milk. This glandular tissue contains a higher concentration of breast cells than other breast tissue, making it denser. Women with denser breast tissue may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer because there are more cells that can become cancerous. This is specially true if you drink alcohol regularly. Breast cancer and alcohol have been closely associated.

Dense breast tissue can also make a breast scan (mammogram) harder to read because it makes any lumps or areas of abnormal tissue harder to spot. Younger women tend to have denser breasts. As you get older, the amount of glandular tissue in your breasts decreases and is replaced by fat, so your breasts become less dense.

Being overweight or obese

Breast Cancer and Alcohol; The role of Alcohol is more pronounced if you have been through the menopause and are overweight or obese, you may be more at risk of developing breast cancer. This is thought to be linked to the amount of estrogen in your body, as being overweight or obese after the menopause causes more estrogen to be produced.

Being tall

If you are taller than average, you are more likely to develop breast cancer than someone who is shorter than average. This may be due to interactions between genes, nutrition and hormones, but the reason is not fully understood.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Both combined HRT and estrogen-only HRT can increase your risk of developing breast cancer, although the risk is slightly higher if you take combined HRT. When you are considering HRT pay attention to the fact that Breast Cancer and Alcohol may play a role in Breast cancer development with HRT.

It is estimated there will be an extra 19 cases of breast cancer for every 1,000 women taking combined HRT for 10 years. The risk continues to increase slightly the longer you take HRT, but returns to normal once you stop taking it.

Breast cancer and Alcohol-Role of alcohol

 

 

 

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