#What Is Anthrax? Anthrax is caused an infectious disease by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The bacteria live in soil
and usually infect wild and domestic animals such as goats cattle and sheep. Anthrax outbreaks are fairly common worldwide and mostly affect agricultural workers.
Humans become sick with the disease by handling animal products such as wool hide or bone from animals infected with the anthrax bacterium.
The most common form of the disease cutaneous anthrax is contracted when bacteria spores enter the body through a cut or scrape on the skin.
Of the three forms of the disease cutaneous pulmonary and gastrointestinal cutaneous anthrax is the easiest to treat with antibiotics.
Anthrax can also be inhaled into the human respiratory tract this pulmonary method of infection is most common among those who process wool
and animal hides according to the U s. National Library of Medicine. Those with pulmonary anthrax are at risk of respiratory collapse
and suffer the highest mortality rate of any anthrax victims with 92 percent of cases resulting in death.
The third form of the disease gastrointestinal anthrax can occur when a person consumes the meat of an anthrax-infected animal.
This is the rarest form of anthrax in the United states but it can be deadly: Between 20 and 60 percent of all gastrointestinal-anthrax cases result in death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.
Anthrax and bioterrorism Anthrax can be created easily in a lab and is incredibly durable: Spores of anthrax bacteria can lie dormant for years before entering a living host where they reactivate
and multiply. These characteristics make anthrax an extremely dangerous bioterrorism weapon. Anthrax has been used in bioterrorism
and warfare since World war i when Scandinavia deployed anthrax against the Imperial Russian Army. It was used also by The british army during WORLD WAR II to weaken German livestock.
More recently anthrax has been used in bioterrorism attacks in both Japan and the United states. In 1993 a religious cult in Japan deployed anthrax against civilians in Tokyo
but the attack yielded no injuries or fatalities. In 2001 letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news-media offices
and two U s. senators resulting in the deaths of five people and the infection of 17 others.
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#What Is bonded Leather? If you've purchased a relatively cheap leather sofa leather-bound books
or an inexpensive belt you might own a bonded-leather item. But what is bonded leather?
Bonded leather consists of scraps from real leather hides that are mixed with polyurethane a type of plastic.
The material should include from 60 to 100 percent real natural leather such as cowhide according to manufacturing standards.
The actual proportion depends on the quality level maintained by the manufacturer. To make bonded leather manufacturers use the scraps and fibers left over during the production of real leather items.
Blended with plastics these scraps are attached to a hard-fiber backing. Manufacturers also frequently add coats
and polishes to make the material look more leatherlike. Real leather items by contrast use the whole skin of an animal not scraps.
Today coconut oil is sold also as a nutritional supplement that has an impressive range of touted uses from getting rid of lice to treating diabetes.
As a supplement people use it topically to treat psoriasis and lice or consume it for liver protection
and to treat diarrhea diabetes high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Â Does coconut oil work? Coconut oil has been used for a variety of indications;
People who have cholera dehydration or kidney problems should avoid coconut oil she said. And people with high cholesterol should use it cautiously.
The most well-known form of gluten intolerance is celiac disease which affects one in every 141 people in the United states according to the National institutes of health.
When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten it triggers an immune response that damages their intestines preventing them from absorbing vital nutrients.
 Wheat allergy is a rare type of gluten intolerance it's a classic food allergy marked by skin respiratory or gastrointestinal reactions to wheat allergens.
After consuming gluten patients with gluten sensitivity may experience many celiac disease symptoms such as diarrhea fatigue
#What is Hay fever? Simply put it's a misnomer. Doctors and researchers who specialize in allergies prefer the term allergic rhinitis
because hay is not the culprit and most allergies don't involve any fever. About 40 million Americans suffer from the condition whatever it's called.
Symptoms include stuffy and runny nose watery and itchy eyes sneezing wheezing and cough. There are dozens of substances that potentially can cause trouble in those of us who are susceptible to allergies
but trees are usually the first on the scene during spring allergy season says Jay M. Portnoy M d. president of the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and chief section of allergy
asthma & immunology at Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in Kansas city Mo. Rain can provide some initial relief by reducing tree pollen counts
but it also can spur the growth of grass and weeds later in the spring and in early summer producing more pollen.
In many parts of the country this spring saw a perfect storm of allergy conditions.
and children with complaints that may be difficult for them to differentiate from a cold allergy or sinus problem.
Once they are diagnosed with a seasonal allergy an individual allergy treatment program can be prescribed for their relief Dr. Bassett said.
There has been prolonged a snow cover on the ground from Mid-november through Mid-march said ACAAI President-Elect Richard G. Gower M d. Marycliff Allergy Specialists in Spokane Wash.
1. Trees produce pollen the dust-like male reproductive parts of plants that cause most allergies.
and is a major cause of allergies. Evergreens also can be troublemakers. Cedar juniper cypress and sequoia trees have all been known to cause allergies
and if you're allergic to one you may be allergic to them all. Other suspects include elm trees
which are common in the eastern and midwestern regions birch trees olive trees sycamores and poplars including cottonwoods balsam
and aspen. 2. Grasses usually come along to stir up allergy symptoms after trees are through pollinating typically from late spring to early summer.
and some blue grasses. 3. Weeds are guilty of causing most of the allergy misery that occurs in the late summer and early fall.
which affects as many as 75 percent of all hay fever sufferers. Ragweed is found in virtually every region of the United states
The ACAAI has more information that can help you get your allergies under control. Call its toll free number 800-842-7777
or visit http://www. acaai. org to learn how you can have a life without allergies.
and is known to contain cholesterol-lowering fiber and cancer-fighting carotenoids and flavonoids. During WORLD WAR II kale was recommended often for victory gardens
Melatonin's effects on sleep other hormones and cancer are the reason it has been studied ever since its discovery in the 1950s.
Melatonin may also be given for insomnia linked to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder ADHD) and autism in children.
so melatonin supplements seem like a logical fix for insomnia. There is a high demand for sleep aids especially in the U s. The National Health Interview Survey done in 2002
and again in 2007 found 1. 6 million US adults were using complementary and alternative sleep aids for insomnia.
Melatonin was a top choice. However melatonin dose more than influence sleep. Melatonin also regulates the start of menstruation the length of ovulation cycles and menopause according to the University of Maryland Medical center.
Melatonin levels are linked also to cancer in various ways. Women with breast cancer typically have lower levels of melatonin than women who don't have it according to the University of Maryland Medical center.
Similarly men with prostate cancer typically have lower melatonin levels than men without prostate cancer.
Some studies show shift-workers with irregular sleep schedules have increased an risk of cancer according to the American Cancer Society.
Melatonin may also have antioxidant effects and stimulate white blood cells which attack cancer cells. Occasionally melatonin is used as a complementary medicine in cancer treatment for breast brain lung prostate head and neck or gastrointestinal cancer.
Melatonin is used sometimes to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy including weight loss nerve pain weakness and a condition called thrombocytopenia.
A variety of other conditions are purported to benefit from melatonin supplements including Alzheimer s disease tinnitus depression chronic fatigue syndrome fibromyalgia migraine irritable bowel syndrome and epilepsy.
Supplement makers now market melatonin in pill liquid chewable or lozenge form. Melatonin supplements are sold doses that can range from 1 to10 milligrams.
Studies show melatonin can encourage sleep in children who suffer from insomnia related to autism mental retardation and other central nervous system disorders according to the National institutes of health.
In 2001 double-blind study of 20 children with developmental disabilities showed all but two children fell asleep faster
Melatonin may possibly be effective for cluster headaches especially when taken in nightly doses of at least 10 milligrams according to the National institutes of health.
A movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia may be helped by melatonin. Additionally melatonin may decrease sunburn when applied to the skin as a cream before sun exposure.
There is some evidence that melatonin may help cancer medications fight tumors and decrease the side effects of cancer treatment.
One study of cells in a test tube found melatonin reduced the growth of slowly-metastatic breast cancer cells meaning cancer cells that slowly start to spread to other types of tissue.
Melatonin also reduced the growth of non-metastatic breast cancer cells according to the paper published in 2001 in the journal Bioelectromagnetics.
 However the majority of evidence on melatonin and cancer has been done in relatively small studies according to the American Cancer Society.
More research needs to be done on effects of melatonin in cancer treatment or prevention. There is a lack of evidence about
Migraines and other headaches may not respond to melatonin nor may fibromyalgia menopausal symptoms osteoporosis irritable bowel syndrome or tinnitus.
However melatonin may cause side effects including headache daytime sleepiness short-lived depression symptoms stomach cramps dizziness and irritability.
so it may interfere with some cancer treatments according to the American Cancer Society. Patients currently undergoing cancer treatment should speak with their doctors before taking melatonin supplements.
Melatonin may increase the strength of the immune system which can cause problems for people with severe allergies rheumatoid arthritis lymphoma
and other conditions linked to overactive immune systems according to the American Cancer Society. People with immune system disorders should speak with a doctor before taking melatonin supplements as melatonin may weaken the effectiveness of immunosuppressants.
Melatonin may slow blood clotting so taking melatonin alongside medications that also slow blood clotting can lead to excessive bruising or bleeding.
Melatonin may also produce this side effect if taken with herbs that slow blood clotting such as angelica clove danshen garlic ginger ginkgo Panax ginseng red clover and willow.
therefore decreasing the effectiveness of diabetes medications to lower blood sugar. Melatonin may also constrict blood vessels
which could be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or heart disease. Supplements that contain melatonin precursors such as L-tryptophan
and 5-HTP have not been proven effective in treating insomnia and there are safety concerns that they may be linked to debilitating condition called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS).
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#What Is Molasses? Thousands of fish have been reported dead in the waters around Honolulu after a massive spill of molasses.
Low levels of adiponectin in the body are more common among  people who are obese and those with type 2 diabetes.
So people taking drugs for diabetes should be monitored closely by their healthcare team. Raspberry ketone may also cause changes in body fat
Eaton and other advocates of the Paleo diet believe that many modern diseases are a result of today's eating habits.
In the short term Paleo-style diets have been found to provide health benefits including lower blood sugar levels in those with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
The team then introduced the bee groups into the test chambers to determine how the contamination affected smell recognition which they gauged based on
Though the researchers focused on the effects of nitrogen oxide gases on floral odors other highly reactive contaminants such as naturally occurring ozone gas
Colony collapse disorder These findings could have serious implications for the global food supply the team said
Global honeybee populations have declined dramatically within the past decade or so due to a condition called colony collapse disorder
The researchers suspect that diesel pollution may be yet another factor playing into colony collapse disorder
Antioxidants can help combat disease by neutralizing unstable molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are produced in response to a number of environmental sources from cigarette smoke to pollution.
and can ultimately lead to disease. The body produces some antioxidants on its own but many come from the food we consume.
and Lots of Confusion An enduring mantra among nutritionists from both a vegetarian and carnivorous perspective has been to eat more whole grains to reduce the risk of heart disease type 2 diabetes and colon cancer.
And with March touted as both National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and National Nutrition Month this mantra can be deafening.
Carbohydrates with a high GI on a scale from 0 to 100 tend to spike blood sugar levels and ultimately lead to problems such as obesity and diabetes.
precipitation sunlight temperatures and disease and insect infestations volcanic eruptions and fire. Near the core of a tree rings will be tighter and darker
A couple of years later the bark falls off revealing the wood and an injury to the tree.
Like humans dogs can suffer from gastrointestinal issues including upset stomach nausea bloating and illness from pathogenic microbes.
while grass consumption didn't often lead to vomiting dogs that seemed ill before eating grass were more likely to vomit than dogs that appeared to act normally beforehand.
and didn't have mutated the gene died of lactose-induced diarrhea while the adults who produced lactase and were
 This harm results not just from changing temperature but stem indirectly from climate impacts on elk small predators and even the forest the birds inhabit.
and gravy style of canned pet food that caused rapid kidney failure and death in hundreds and possibly thousands of animals.
Though no one is certain why melamine is causing so much trouble it can cause kidney stones. The main components of kidney stones in rats that ate the pet food says a federal document are melamine and uric acid (also known as urea the main component in urine.
It s not surprising the two would buddy up as melamine is made often from urea.
and cancer risk from cigarettes we have reached now the same point on climate change. There is a scientific consensus
Berries are one part of a diverse food source that aids bear survival and reproduction and at certain times of the year can be more than half their diet in many places in North america.
#Worst Allergy Season Ever? Marlene Cimons writes forâ Climate Nexus a nonprofit that aims to tell the climate story in innovative ways that raise awareness of dispel misinformation about
This spring could be the most miserable one ever for those of us with allergies
  This promises a robust allergy season''said Leonard Bielory an allergy and immunology specialist with the Rutgers Center for Environmental Prediction in New jersey a state which suffered widespread destruction from Sandy.
and while the count is still low some allergy sufferers are showing comparatively severe symptoms''he added.
And pollen production is only part of the impact that global warming is going to have on allergies and asthma and our health overall.
and drought dust will worsen air pollution exacerbating asthma and other respiratory diseases. In other regions climate change will affect the insect population their stings
and bites can provoke fatal allergic reactions in sensitive individuals as well as the proliferation of such vines as poison ivy.
Midwestern and Western cities causing an increase in respiratory diseases. In short if you have allergies or asthma climate change is going to make you a lot sicker now and in the coming years.
 Allergic diseases are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United states with an annual cost of $18 billion according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies annually. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Asthma afflicts about 20 million Americans
and is rising around the world according to the CDC. Moreover some public health experts regard the global increase of asthma as an early health effect of climate change
and a harbinger of more health dangers to Come in fact one study published in the Journal of Allergy
and Clinical Immunology called climate change potentially the largest global threat to human health ever encountered''predicting more injury disease and death from natural disasters heat waves infections and widespread malnutrition as well as more allergic
and air-pollution illnesses and death. If you are lucky enough to be free from allergies don't make the mistake of dismissing them as nothing more than a minor annoyance.
Allergies can have a serious impact on the quality of life and in some circumstances a bee sting for example or if they trigger an asthma attack they can kill.
This is not just a matter of having a runny nose''said Jeffrey Demain director of the Allergy Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska.
 Allergies affect the ability to go to work and go to school and they affect school and work performance.
They interfere with playing sports social opportunities how well you sleep your relationships and your overall general happiness.''
''On average someone with allergic disorders experiences a quality of life 35 percent less than the general population Demain said.
It really is quite dramatic''he said. Allergies occur when the body's immune system overreacts to a substance that generally doesn't bother other people.
The allergens can prompt sneezing coughing watery eyes and itching. In the years between 1970 and 2000 allergic rhinitis among Americans has risen from 10 percent to 30 percent
which correlates to similar increases in positive allergy skin-test results according to Bielory. Most experts believe the impact of climate change on allergic diseases will vary by region depending on latitude altitude rainfall and storms land-use patterns urbanization transportation and energy production.
Drought for example will contribute to increasing air pollution while heavy rain will wash the pollution away
but encourage the growth of mold. Bielory and his colleagues reporting in a 2011 study showed that the ragweed-pollen season has become longer in northern areas of the country in recent years
and points to climate change as the reason this is happening. Â We drew a line from Texas to Canada''he explained.
The pollen count duration remained the same in Texas but changed as you moved north.
Even though you are heading north to Canada the pollen started earlier and ended later and it should have been shortening.
More people are going to develop asthma and allergies and it's going to be severe.''''Stopping human activities that contribute to climate change might help future generations avoid these risks
but the rest of us like the plants themselves will have to adapt. We also can hope for a new medical breakthrough that will turn off the allergic response.
 In the meantime stay inside and keep your windows closed. The views expressed are those of the author
With no evidence of infectious diseases or deadly toxins in whale tissue samples scientists are scrambling to determine a cause of death.
and cause large deep lesions particularly on the backs of young 2-6 week-old calves the researchers said in a statement from WCS.
and followed its subjects for nearly 50 years attempted to identify common causes of heart attack
or protect against certain cancers including bone breast lung and colon cancers. Asparagus is extremely low in calories at about 20 per serving has no fat
of which can be a serious risk factor in heart disease. Asparagus has more than 1 gram of soluble fiber per cup
which lowers the risk of heart disease. The vegetable s high levels of Vitamin k help maintain healthy blood clotting
of which may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Regulating blood sugar The B vitamins abundant in asparagus play a key role in metabolizing sugar and starches
Lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes As with heart disease risk of type 2 diabetes increases with excessive inflammation and oxidative stress.
and improve Î-cell function also helps lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Anti-aging benefits Free-radical busting antioxidants especially glutathioneare thought to slow the aging process.
and preventing kidney stones Asparagus can act as a natural diuretic due to its high amounts of the amino acid asparagine.
This can help rid the body of excess salt and fluid making it especially good for people suffering from edema and high blood pressure.
and prevent kidney stones. Asparagus is high in fiber with 2 grams of insoluble fiber and 1 gram of soluble fiber per cup.
Decreasing birth defects It is essential for mothers-to-be to get enough folate which decreases the risk of neural-tube defects in fetuses.
There it nurtures bacteria known to improve nutrient absorption decrease allergies and lower the risk of colon cancer.
Cancer risk Antioxidants and anti-inflammatories which are found in great quantities in asparagus are associated typically with decreased risk of cancers.
It is possible to have an asparagus allergy in which case you should not eat it.
People who are allergic to other members of the lily family such as onions garlic and chives are more likely to be allergic to asparagus.
Symptoms include a runny nose hives trouble breathing and puffiness or swelling around the mouth and lips.
which is linked to preventing cancer reducing the symptoms of bladder infections promoting prostate health and many other benefits.
and reduce the risk of cancer in addition to a load of other good things. Onions are low in calories (45 per serving) very low in sodium
The sulfur in onions can help lower high blood pressure lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.
When platelets cluster the risk for heart attack or stroke increases significantly so onions blood-thinning properties can be a powerful aid against these heart problems.
which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Anti-inflammatory Onions have been used to reduce inflammation for centuries.
which reduces the risk of heart disease. The quercetin in onions can help with arthritis pain by easing swelling and joint stiffness.
Immune system Onions can promote a strong immune system by eliminating free radicals improving the effectiveness of Vitamin c in your body
The quercetin in onions also reduces allergic reactions by stopping your body from producing histamines which are what make you sneeze cry
and itch if you re having an allergic reaction. Cancer Onions are high in quercetin a powerful anticancer agent.
In lower concentrations quercetin helps prevent cancer cells from growing by killing free radicals. In higher concentrations quercetin becomes toxic to cancer cells.
and ward off infections. The phytochemicals in onions that scavenge free radicals also reduces your risk of developing gastric ulcers.
Regulating blood sugar The chromium in onions assists in regulating blood sugar. The sulfur in onions helps lower blood sugar by triggering increased insulin production.
Women who ate onions frequently had a 20 percent lower risk of hip fracture than those who never ate onions.
Onions especially if consumed raw can worsen heartburn in people who suffer from chronic heartburn or gastric reflux disease.
It is also possible to have a food intolerance or allergy to onions. People with onion allergies may experience red itchy eyes
and rashes if an onion comes into contact with the skin. People with a food intolerance to onions may experience nausea vomiting and other gastric discomfort.
According to the National Onion Association: Onions probably originated in Central asia in modern-day Iran and Pakistan.
Pliny the Elder catalogued Roman beliefs that onions could cure poor vision induce sleep and heal mouth sores dog bites toothaches dysentery and lumbago.
Onions were prescribed to alleviate headaches snakebites and hair loss. They were used also as rent payments and wedding gifts.
and trauma or even chronic stress in utero can reverberate throughout the lifetime. It adds to a bit of evidence of the effects of these early life experiences in the long-term said study researcher Michael Mendl a professor of veterinary science at the University of Bristol in the United kingdom. 11 Facts Every Parent Should Know About Their Baby
but were injected with a low dose of E coli bacteria to simulate a mild fever and immune response.
or infection changed positions more often wagged their tails more and had more contractions than ewes left alone in their early days.
The lambs from ewes that had had an early-life infection responded more promptly than the lambs born to ewes in the other groups.
if we applied analgesia is there an effect that minimizes any long-term changes he said. We don't know necessarily
Although supplement makers cannot make disease-specific health claims without the FDA's consent manufacturers can make vague claims such as saying that a product improves digestive health.
These might include individuals with weakened immune systems such as cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy. The risks are increased also in people undergoing organ transplants
and for people who have had much of their gastrointestinal tract removed because of disease. People who are hospitalized
because there is a small risk of infection Hibberd said. 5. Pay attention to expiration dates. Live organisms can have limited a shelf life
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