Category: Health

{Smoking leaves its “footprint” on the human genome in the form of DNA methylation, a process by which cells control gene activity, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, an American Heart Association journal.}

The new findings suggest that DNA methylation could be an important sign that reveals an individual’s smoking history, and could provide researchers with potential targets for new therapies.

“These results are important because methylation, as one of the mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression, affects what genes are turned on, which has implications for the development of smoking-related diseases,” said Stephanie J. London, M.D., Dr.P.H., last author and deputy chief of the Epidemiology Branch at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. “Equally important is our finding that even after someone stops smoking, we still see the effects of smoking on their DNA.”

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, despite a decline in smoking in many countries as a result of smoking cessation campaigns and legislative action. Even decades after stopping, former smokers are at long-term risk of developing diseases including some cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke. While the molecular mechanisms responsible for these long-term effects remain poorly understood, previous studies linking DNA methylation sites to genes involved with coronary heart disease and pulmonary disease suggest it may play an important role.

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of DNA methylation sites across the human genome using blood samples taken from nearly 16,000 participants from 16 groups of the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genetic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium, including a group of the Framingham Heart Study that has been followed by researchers since 1971.

The researchers compared DNA methylation sites in current and former smokers to those who never smoked.

{{They found:}}

Smoking-associated DNA methylation sites were associated with more than 7,000 genes, or one-third of known human genes.

For people who stopped smoking, the majority of DNA methylation sites returned to levels seen in never smokers within five years of quitting smoking.

However, some DNA methylation sites persisted even after 30 years of quitting.
The most statistically significant methylation sites were linked to genes enriched for association with numerous diseases caused by cigarette smoking, such as cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers.

The researchers suggest that some of these long-lasting methylation sites may be marking genes potentially important for former smokers who are still at increased risk of developing certain diseases. The discovery of smoking-related DNA methylation sites raises the possibility of developing biomarkers to evaluate a patient’s smoking history, as well as potentially developing new treatments targeted toward these methylation sites.

The main analysis was not designed to examine effects over long periods of time.

The researchers note, that this is the largest examination of the effects of smoking on DNA methylation.

“Our study has found compelling evidence that smoking has a long-lasting impact on our molecular machinery, an impact that can last more than 30 years,” said Roby Joehanes Ph.D. of Hebrew SeniorLife, first author and an instructor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

“The encouraging news is that once you stop smoking, the majority of DNA methylation signals return to never smoker levels after five years, which means your body is trying to heal itself of the harmful impacts of tobacco smoking.”

{Choosing a healthy lifestyle is important if you want to live healthy. Foods that can ruin your system if consumed over a period of time should be avoided.}

Below are 13 foods you should avoid now

{{1. Alcohol }}

Alcohol consumption increases risk for diabetes and also damages the liver and pancreas.

{{2. Energy drinks }}

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Avoid energy drinks and opt for fresh fruit juices instead because energy drinks are high in sugar.

{{3. Flavoured Yoghurt }}

Go for basic yoghurt and avoid flavoured yoghurt because they are packed with sugar.

{{4. Cakes and ice cream}}

Cakes and ice cream should be avoided because they are high in sugar and saturated fat.

{{5. White bread }}

White bread has lots of sugar and processed ingredients.

{{6. Fried foods }}

Fried foods should be avoided because they create toxic substances that are detrimental to your body.

{{7. Red meat }}

Go for chicken and fish instead

{{8. Burger }}

Burgers are high in calories.

{{9. Doughnuts}}

Doughnuts should be avoided due to their high sugar content.

{{10. Smoothie }}

Avoid buying smoothies as they have lots of sugar and full fat milk. Make your healthy fruit smoothies at home instead.

{{11. Ice tea }}

Avoid ice tea and go for green tea instead because they are packed with lots of sugar.

{{12. Sausages}}

Sausages should be avoided because they are high in fat.

{{13. Aerated drinks}}

Aerated drinks should be avoided because they offer you nothing except empty calories.

{There have been many warnings about smoking and smokers being liable to die young, but they mostly fall on deaf ears to many.}

Researchers have found that smoking increases the risk of early death from motor neurone disease.

Smokers are also likely to see the symptoms of the disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, appear at a younger age, new research has suggested.

ALS is a progressive degenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and there is currently no cure for the disease.

In a bid to find out if tobacco might play a role in the development of the disease, a team of researchers gathered information on the smoking habits and evidence of respiratory disease (COPD) among 650 people diagnosed with ALS between 2007 and 2011 in one region of northern Italy.

Of the patients, 121 (18.6 per cent) were regular smokers at the time they were diagnosed with ALS.

Meanwhile, 182 (28 per cent) had stubbed out their habit before diagnosis, while 347 (53.4 per cent) were life-long non-smokers.

In total, 44 of the patients had COPD, which is known to shorten a person’s lifespan; 22 of them were ex-smokers.

The average survival of patients with COPD was shorter than that of people without it.

{You should pay more attention to the food you eat if you want a radiant skin.}

Below are 11 foods you should eat for a radiant skin

{{1. Olive oil }}

According to a 2012 study published in PLOS ONE, higher consumption of olive oil is linked with fewer signs of aging. Olive oil contains polyphenols which help fight damaging free radicals.

{{2. Tomatoes }}

A 2008 British study found that eating tomato daily offers the skin more protection from sunburn. Tomatoes contain lycopene which improves the skin’s natural SPF.

{{3. Dark chocolate }}

People who consume dark chocolate regularly are less likely to experience skin roughness and scaliness. Dark chocolates are rich in flavanols which help hydrate the skin and improve circulation.

{{4. Fish }}

Fish consumption has been linked to a radiant skin because fish (especially fatty fish) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which is anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the root cause of acne.

{{5. Green tea }}

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that consuming green tea makes the skin smooth and more elastic. This is because green tea contains catechins which boost blood flow and oxygen to the skin.

{{6. Walnuts }}

Walnuts will help give you a radiant skin because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acid.

{{7. Water }}

Consuming enough water is important if you want a radiant skin because water makes the skin appear more plump and less wrinkled.

{{8. Oysters }}

Zinc is an important nutrient that plays a key role in the growth and function of skin cells. Oysters are rich in zinc.

{{9. Yellow bell peppers }}

A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that people who ate yellow bell peppers had fewer wrinkles. Yellow bell peppers contain antioxidants that fight free radicals.

{{10. Eggs }}

Eggs will help give you a radiant skin because they are rich in protein and have less fat. Foods that contain too much fat are associated with aging skin.

{{11. Carrots }}

A 2011 British study found that people who eat carrots have a radiant skin. This is because carrots are rich in carotenoid.

{The human privates are delicate, and for this, if one isn’t careful in the way they treat them, complications can arise. Below is a list of some of the things you should not do to your privates.}

{{1. Do not pierce }}

Apart from the fact that most piercing instruments can expose you to infections if not properly sterilized, there’s also issue of trauma and injuries in the privates which can arise as a result of piercing.

{{2. Avoid tight underwear }}

Tight underwear expose you to excessive sweating which can cause bacterial infection if not checked, and according to research, tight underwear also have the capacity to limit blood flow to your genitals, thereby reducing sperm production, and consequently resulting in infertility. This is especially true for men.

{{3. Don’t fail to wash yourself after sex }}

It can be tempting to sleep off after the action, but that’s not really advisable. It’s good to wash yourself, especially the privates thoroughly immediately after sex, as failure to do so can create room for bacteria to breed there, thereby exposing you to infections.

{{4. Do not over-wash }}

While it’s good to wash and keep it clean down there, be careful not to over-wash it, as it can also create problems for you. The skin is delicate, you can cause yourself injuries, and be exposed to infections if you wash more than necessary.

{{5. Do not steam }}

You might have read or heard that steaming is good because it’ll help balance your hormones, but it’s not healthy, according to health experts. Steaming can cause you injuries down there, due to the delicate nature of the region.

{{6. Don’t self-medicate }}

If you notice any unusual symptoms about yourself, the wiser thing to do is to go see a certified health expert, so they can tell what’s wrong with you, and exactly the appropriate course of action to take. Do not go out there, getting yourself medication. There are too many drugs out there, and you can’t be sure how you’d react to them. Some have harsh compositions, so it’s good to thread carefully.

{{7. Do not use enlargement drugs }}

Size isn’t a problem, it’s about how you use it, not what you’re packing. Do not even contemplate using an enlargement drug, unless prescribed by a good doctor, as most drugs have harmful side effects.

{{8. Do not try to make it smell better }}

This is because of the risks associated with using a harsh deodorant. The natural smell of the privates is fine, just improve your personal hygiene.

{{9. Don’t forget to dry up after your baths }}

Bacteria like moist areas, if you do not dry up your privates well after your bath, it’d make you exposed to infections, this is why it’s important to clean up and dry up properly after your baths.

{{10. Don’t use hair removal cream down there }}

Also due to the make up of some of these products, it’s not advisable to use them on your private area.

Have you been guilty of any of these? It’s best you quit them now.

{Endurance training changes the activity of thousands of genes and give rise to a multitude of altered DNA-copies, RNA, researchers from Karolinska Institutet report. The study, which also nuances the concept of muscle memory, is published in the journal PLOS Genetics.}

Regular endurance training is very beneficial to health and wellbeing, and can be used to prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and other such conditions. However, just how this works on a molecular level is not fully known.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now analyzed RNA, the molecular copies of the DNA-sequence, in muscle tissue before and after endurance training. They found approximately 3400 RNA variants, associated with 2600 genes, that changed in response to training. One implication of the study is that training can induce the same gene to increase the production of one RNA variant and reduce that of another. According to the researchers, this can mean that genes can change function as a result of exercise and, for example, start to promote the production of certain protein variants over others.

“It has not been previously shown that training changes the expression of genes in this particular way. The study also provides new basic information about how the body adapts to regular endurance training and what role many of our genes play in the adaptation,” says Dr Maléne Lindholm at Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.

The study began with an exercise programme for 23 individuals that involved working one leg but not the other. Muscle samples were taken before and after the training period. After a nine months rest period, they then exercised both legs in the same way as in the initial period of exercise, with muscle samples taken from both legs.

“We were looking for any residual effects of previous training, a kind of muscle memory as it were, and trying to find out if this could influence the response to repeated training.”

The changed genetic activity in the previously trained leg was no longer present when exercise resumed. However, the repeated response to training was somewhat different in the trained and previously untrained legs in the second training period, which suggests that the exercise could have left other lasting impacts.

According to Dr Lindholm, the study is important above all for the fundamental understanding of how muscles operate and how we adapt to endurance training.

“The results can also contribute to the future optimisation of training effects in different individuals,” she says. “In the long run, it is conceivably of some significance to the possibility of preventing cardiovascular disease and the development of new, more precise drugs for people who, for whatever reason, are unable to exercise.”

{Have you had a cup of black tea today? You shouldn’t go a day without having a cup of black tea because it’s packed with so much benefits.}

Here are 7 benefits of black tea

1. Black tea is good for your oral health because it contains polyphenols which kills bacteria that cause cavity. It restricts bacteria growth that promotes the formation of cavities and tooth decay.

2. Drinking black tea provides protection against certain cancers. According to a research, women who drink black tea regularly have a lower risk of ovarian cancer.

3. Drinking black tea gives you a boost in energy levels by increasing blood flow to the brain without over-stimulating the heart.

4. Drinking black tea helps prevent premature ageing.

5. Black tea is good for the heart. According to researchers, people who drink black tea regularly have a lower risk of stroke.

6. Black tea contains tannins that help protect you against influenza, stomach flu etc. It also contains alkylamine antigens that help boost our immune response.

7. Several research have found that people who drink black tea regularly have stronger bones and a lower possibility of developing arthritis.

{Most men put their phones in their pocket because it’s easy and convenient but researchers at Australia’s University of Newcastle have advised men against keeping their phones in their trouser pockets.}

According to the researchers, placing your phones close to your genitals for a prolonged period of time will steadily drive down your sperm count.

The researchers reviewed 27 studies and found that exposure to mobile phones caused eight percent reduction in sperm motility and nine percent reduction in sperm viability.

“While the subject remains a topic of active debate, this review has considered the growing body of evidence suggesting a possible role for RF-EMR (radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation) induced damage of the male germ line,” the researchers wrote.

“In a majority of studies, this damage has been characterized by loss of sperm motility and viability as well as the induction of ROS generation and DNA damage.”

To avoid loss of sperm motility and viability as well as DNA damage, keep your phones away from your trouser pocket.

{A low sex drive can be caused by a number of factors which are listed below.}

1. Relationship troubles can lead to couples having a low sex drive. Anger, frequent quarrels with your partner and resentment can bring down your sex drive.

2. Stress can also cause low sex drive. When you are under chronic stress, your body releases cortisol which can interfere with your sex drive.

3. Some health conditions can lead to you having a low sex drive. Illness such as cancer, kidney disease and diabetes can mess with your testosterone levels causing you to have a low sex drive.

4. Depression can mess with your sex drive. When you are depressed, it’s becomes harder to feel sexual.

5. Some medication can affect your sex drive. Some medications used to treat depression and high blood can pressure affect your sex drive.

6. Inadequate sleep can lead to you having a low sex drive. A lack of sleep elevates your cortisol levels which affects your sex drive.

7. Alcohol consumption and use of hard drugs like marijuana can affect your sex drive.

8. How you see yourself can affect your sex drive. Your sex drive will suffer if you have a low self-esteem.