All women at some point in their life will have to have a cervical smear as a part of a health checkup. But do you know exactly what a cervical smear is, and how it can affect, diagnose or treat women’s ailments? Read on for more information about this common procedure.
Women’s Health: What is a Cervical Smear?
A cervical smear is a test used on women to tell if there are any changes in the health of the cervix. This is helpful to diagnose the early stages of cancer.
The cervix is located at the end of the uterus, and connects to the top of the vagina. There is a central canal that connects the vagina to the inside of the uterus, and it measures approximately 3cm square.
Women’s Health: Why Have a Cervical Smear?
The main reason to have a cervical smear is to monitor the health of the cervix, and to lower the number of women who contract cervical cancer. The smear is targeted to detect early strains of potentially cancerous cells. If caught in time, women’s health may not suffer terribly, and the growth of the cancer may not progress further. However, a cervical smear is just a screening process; it won’t detect all forms of cancer, all of the time.
Women’s Health: Who Needs a Cervical Smear?
Women who are sexually active, or who are 18 or older (whatever comes first) should take their health in their own hands and have regular cervical smears until the age of 70. A regular smear would be every three years for most women, depending on their health and the results of the last smear. Also, women who are not healthy should have annual smears, such as those with HIV. Women who have had a hysterectomy who have had abnormal pap smears in the past should get themselves checked every year by a health practitioner; there is still a risk of abnormal cell growth at the top of the vaginal canal.
Women’s Health: How is a Cervical Smear Done?
A cervical smear is only taken when women are in good health, and are not bleeding. Any blood that appears during the testing can skew the results unnecessarily.
The procedure is performed with women on their backs, and their legs held up in the air by a health practitioner or stirrups. A speculum is placed inside the vagina, so that the health practitioner can view women’s cervix closely. Then a brush-like instrument is placed over the cervix, and cells are wiped onto the brush, and then placed onto a glass slide for diagnosis.
Women’s cervical smears can be done by a health practitioner, such as a doctor or nurse. The procedure usually only takes a couple of minutes, at the most, and isn’t painful, although it may be a bit uncomfortable.
By: Peter Lenkefi
Maqui Superberry is a very small, tiny and deep purple color fruit. Maqui Superberry has the highest antioxidant value of any known superfruit. Maqui Superberry can be found in the central part and the Pantagonia region of Chile. The native Mapuche Indians of the Pantagonia region have enjoyed for centuries the benefits of this unique medicinal and healthy aging of the Maqui Superberry. The Mapuche Indians have traditionally used this berry for supporting stamina, increasing strength, and promoting healthy immune response.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF MAQUI SUPERBERRY
Clinical research conducted by the Brunswick Laboratories of Norton MA has certified that Maqui Superberry has the highest antioxidant value of all the fruits and berries for supplemental consumption. In fact, this berry is packed with antioxidants and contains the highest ORAC values ever found among all berries or fruit. ORAC is the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity of food.
ORAC provides us with a method of measuring the overall antioxidant power of foods and supplements. Antioxidants are essential to good health, especially with respect to aging and age related disorders. Scientists have learned that phytochemicals, including antioxidants, increase our resistance to disease and boost immunity. Hence the recommendation of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. The average American gets less than 1 serving of greens per day and is not getting the recommended antioxidant intake.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ANTIOXIDANT
Emerging science suggests that free radicals may be linked to health imbalances, and is a leading cause of aging and poor health. Antioxidants are able to neutralize the free radical before it does any harm. Maqui Superberry can help prevent free radicals from doing their damage. Besides delivering superior antioxidant to support healthy aging, healthy immune system and cardiovascular health; Maqui is also an excellent source of Vitamin C, Iron, ans Potassium..
Antioxidants remain the foundation of good health and longevity. As we age, our cells continue to be affected by free radicals, our organs begin to degenerate and aging accelerates as stated by Dr Ward Bond. Maqui is truly the antioxidant superfruit for supporting optimal health.
By: Gilles Coulombe
Can your family achieve better health through reverse osmosis treatment of your tap water?
The companies that sell home reverse osmosis systems seem to think so. But there are so many disadvantages, and unless you have a specific problem with your water supply, there is no reason to invest in these expensive systems. Plus, you should always remember that home reverse osmosis systems alone won’t make your water safe to drink.
First, let’s look at what home reverse osmosis systems can do.
They can remove things that are heavier or larger than a water molecule. That may sound pretty small, but when you think about it, chemical contaminants are dissolved within the structure of our water. They are not heavier or larger; they are more or less “attached” to the molecules.
So, that’s one reason that you cannot achieve better health through reverse osmosis.
And here’s another:
Trace minerals and natural elements are needed by your body to maintain bone structure, improve joint function, to maintain a regular heartbeat, and for many other purposes. All groundwater has a naturally occurring mineral content.
Minerals are heavier, so home reverse osmosis systems will remove them. So, what you get tastes stale and isn’t even good for you. Studies have shown that drinking distilled water, which also has no mineral content, is bad for your digestion and leads to nutritional deficiencies.
So, that’s two reasons that there is no good health through reverse osmosis. Ready for the next one?
Bacteria, parasites, protozoa, viruses, fungi and other microscopic organisms are not trapped by home reverse osmosis systems. Any reputable company will advise you that some method of disinfection must be used before the water can be considered safe to drink. So, they suggest that you use chlorine.
What they don’t tell you is that drinking chlorinated water causes digestive problems and in the long-term may lead to cancer or heart issues. They also fail to mention that when chlorine reacts with biological material (bacteria, etc.), dangerous by-products called THMs are formed.
THMs – trihalomethanes – are hazardous and are classified as known carcinogens. Home reverse osmosis systems do not trap THMs, cannot remove the chlorine, and do not remove bacterial contaminants that cause waterborne illnesses.
So, that’s actually three more reasons that idea of health through reverse osmosis treatment is a falsehood. The only good thing that home reverse osmosis systems can do is desalinate. The big desalination plants use them as one step in their treatment plan. Large facilities all over the country use them as one step towards better water quality.
Over 2,000 different chemicals have been found in groundwater, reservoirs, and flowing through the taps all over this country. Many of them are cancer-causing agents. Drugs and hormones have been found by treatment facilities after water is termed “safe” to drink.
Home reverse osmosis systems can remove none of these things.
So, when you think about everything that contaminates our water, and you realize that the expensive reverse osmosis system will not remove them, then you can see that there are multitudes of reasons that you cannot achieve better health through reverse osmosis. There are wiser home water filtration choices for your family.
By: Sherri Stockman