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Tai Chi Increases Seniors' Immunity
A Chinese form of martial art that's also a meditation and exercise discipline shows a remarkable ability to boost immunity in older people, according to recent research. This is on top of studies that have already demonstrated that the martial art, known as tai chi, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep patterns and reduces stress.
The 2,500-year-old discipline is often practiced in groups, and is well known from images of citizens performing it together in parks all over China. Its slow, rhythmic movements are designed to promote mental calm, peace and serenity - and the research seems to back that up. It also improves balance, flexibility, strength and coordination, and so is especially beneficial for those who are overweight or arthritic.
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The Paradoxical Vulnerability of Men
Dr. Marriane Legato discusses what she believes to be one of the most interesting issues concerning men. At any age, from birth to 85 years, men die at a greater number than women. Their vulnerability in the womb is very interesting. About 250 male fetuses are conceived for every 100 females fetuses and, yet, the birthing average is a one to one ratio. So why are those male fetuses dying at a greater number in the womb? Why are they less developed than girls at birth? They're about six weeks behind their sisters when they're born. And if they're premature and have a low birth weight, they're much more likely to die than girls.
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What is an Aneurysm?
WHAT IS AN AORTIC ANEURYSM?
With Dr.Sateesh Babu
Vascular Associates of Westchester
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How Long Can a Human Being Live?
Dr. Valentin Fuster considers the question of how long can human being live. He begins by describing how the life expectancy of men and women has been extended two or three years per decade since he attended medical school. However, this improvement in life expectancy has come from improved treatments not through promoting good health.
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The Possibilities of the Human Genome
Dr. Marianne Legato discusses the reality that we, as human beings, can now create life. We are tremendously powerful in terms of our scientific knowledge. We can clone human beings; that is absolutely going to come to pass. The defense department's scientfic arm, DARPA, is doing amazing kinds of investigation on preparing soldiers that don't bleed, who don't feel pain, who can consume enormous amounts of calories to sustain them during prolonged periods of activity. The special forces can't go more than 4-5 day in a physically demanding environment because they simply can't consume enough energy to sustain themselves. So if you look at what DARPA is doing, it's very daring, very amazing.
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How the Y Chromosome Drives Evolution
Dr. Marianne Legato explains that the male "Y chromosome", which at one point was called a wasteland, has genes responsible for the "housekeeping issues" in tissues. It's not just dedicated exclusively to male fertility and determining the male sex in the developing fetus. The aspect that is not appreciated about the Y chromosome, is that because it's exterior, and because so many sperm are produced in any given day, the mutations are enormous. And It is the Y chromosome, actually, that is driving evolution. It gives us a huge palette of mutations to choose from as we go on from generation to generation. It's the Y chromosome that drives evolution in a very important way.
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The Challenges of Overseas Medical Evacuations
Dr. John Cahill explains that a number of tropical diseases, if left unrecognized or untreated, can have devastating outcomes. Unfortunately, he sees this on a daily basis. There are people who return from their travels with serious viral or parasitic infections. In good hands, it can be very easily treated, but without seeking the correct care or going to a physician who doesn't understand the implications of these diseases, they can be misdiagnosed or missed.
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Gender Differences in Coronary Artery Disease
Dr. Marianne Legato discusses how she evaluates patients being screened for cardiovascular disease. She says that one of the things she looks for are the signs of early coronary artery disease in men, as well as the unique symptoms in women. Women also experience coronary artery spasm, which does not affect men, that can cause angina even in the presence of non-obstructive coronary disease. They can have clean coronaries and still experience chest pain.
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The Dangers of Infections During Travel
Dr. John Cahill discusses about how traveling abroad has become very easy - it's relatively cheap, readily available, enjoyable, and a click away on the internet. But many people don't seem to realize there are health risks involved when traveling, particularly when traveling to the developing world or to the tropics. Travelers need to think about being vaccinated for diseases that might not occur in the United States.
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What Is a Peptic Ulcer?
Peptic Ulcer Disease
One out of eight people in the United States will be diagnosed with Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) over the course of their lifetimes. As with many diseases are understanding of the issues and causes of the disease have been evolving in recent years creating the opportunities for more innovative and effective treatments.
What are the Causes Peptic Ulcers?
A Peptic Ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or intestine. In many ways it is similar to a sore in the mouth. When the ulcer occurs in the stomach it is called a "gastric ulcer". When it occurs in the duodenum it is called a "duodenal ulcer."
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