School of Being Healthy

According to a British study, a few sessions of behavioral therapy, even a “self-help” version, could help some women find relief from menopausal hot flashes.

 More than two-thirds of the women who underwent, through group sessions or self-help, had a “clinically significant” drop in problems related to hot flashes and night sweats, after six weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy.

“These results suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy delivered in group or self-help format is an effective treatment option for women during the menopause transition and postmenopause with problematic hot flashes/night sweats,” wrote senior researcher Myra Hunter, at King’s College London. Hunter said the therapy “involves developing helpful, accepting approaches to hot flashes and also using breathing exercises to focus attention away from the flashes and negative thoughts.”

“Women say that they might still have hot flashes but not notice them, and then they feel more confident about coping with them,” Hunter said.

Believe it or not, the word “depression” is often a loaded word in our society and a huge majority of people associate it with a sign of excessive emotion or weakness. The fact that depression is characterized by the inability to experience pleasure and enjoy life indicates that it cannot be left untreated for any length of time.

Before we read any further, it is important for us to note that depression can be caused by many factors, including lack of social support, financial strain, chronic pain, drug abuse, childhood trauma, sexual abuse, relationship problems, loneliness, or stressful life experiences.

If left untreated for long, depression may lead to significant weight loss or weight gain, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, restlessness, aggressive nature, substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

It is for this and many reasons that anyone experiencing depression should seek immediate medical advice. A medical practitioner will study the case and may recommend vitamins for depression treatment along with advice on how to get regular sleep and exercise, eat healthy to boost mood naturally, stress management, and practicing relaxation techniques.

If you or anyone near you is struggling from depression, it is time that you act fast so that you can make a noteworthy contribution in making the world a better place where we all can enjoy life just as it was always supposed to be.

Green Valley Food Corp. has announced the recall of 650 cases of alfalfa sprouts distributed in Texas because of possible salmonella contamination.

The company said in a statement late on Thursday that “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts in 5 ounce containers with the date January 1, 2012 on the label are being voluntarily recalled. Green Valley said the product was distributed to retail chains and food distribution centers in Texas and other alfalfa products or blends are not affected. There have been no confirmed illnesses related to the recalled product at this point, according to the company.

A random customer sample tested positive for salmonella earlier this month. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The consumer health unit of Novartis will be taking a hit of $120 million in the fourth quarter after the Swiss drugmaker decided to voluntarily recall some products in the United States.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Novartis said operations and shipments had been temporarily stopped at the Novartis Consumer Health (NCH) Lincoln, Nebraska facility for accelerating improvements at the site.

“NCH will take a one-time charge currently estimated at $120 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, relating to the recalls and improvement work at the Lincoln facility,” Novartis said in the statement.

The drugmaker plans to gradually resume operations at its Lincoln site following implementation of planned improvements and in agreement with the FDA.

No trace of potentially deadly bacteria that killed two infants in recent weeks was found in sealed cans of Enfamil baby formula, according to U.S. health officials.

It was further added that a recall was unnecessary, providing relief for the product’s manufacturer, Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

“Parents may continue to use powdered infant formula, following the manufacturer’s directions on the printed label,” the agencies said in a joint statement.

“We’re pleased with the FDA and CDC testing, which should reassure consumers, healthcare professionals and retailers everywhere about the safety and quality of our products,” Tim Brown, Mead Johnson’s general manager for North America, said in a statement.

“There is currently no evidence to conclude that the infant formula or nursery water was contaminated during manufacturing or shipping,” said an FDA spokesman.

According to an Israeli study, people who harbor ulcer-causing bacteria in their stomachs can be protected against some diarrheal diseases.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University said some previous studies had suggested that being infected with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, increases the risk of diarrhea, while others have reported finding the opposite.

“Our findings suggest an active role of H. pylori in the protection against diarrheal diseases,” wrote lead author Dani Cohen in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The researchers wrote having an immune system in overdrive due to chronic H. pylori infection may also keep other bacteria in the digestive system at bay.