Inner Profile

By Catherine Harvey

 Health insurance is vital when it comes to the treatment of cancer. This life threatening disease is often diagnosed in its later stages and needs intense treatment to save a life. We all know that the NHS is stretched to its limits and because of this people are more frequently turning to private health insurance to protect themselves in the event of a major health concern. They want to know that should they or their family contract an illness or disease that they can benefit from all the medical research that has been carried out over the years and that benefit can be felt immediately and not at the end of some waiting list.

Because cancer is one of the UK’s biggest killers and can sometimes be difficult to detect, constant research is being carried out into the earlier detection as well as preventative hints and tips and the best, least invasive treatment that can be brought about either through the NHS or with the assistance of health insurance.

It has long been known that the harsh treatments for cancer take an extreme toll on the body, weakening the immune system and laying the patient open to other possible infections. This is because the best hope of beating the disease is usually to use forms of chemotherapy and radiotherapy but it is near on impossible with conventional methods to direct this treatment at specific growths. Normally, this treatment will also kill off surrounding tissue and this is what causes the problem. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used with a fine balancing act of knowing when the patient is at the strongest to strike with the treatment and then allow some recovery time.

As with many things, results are always more effective when a problem is treated from within. To this end, the Daily Mail reports on new research into a highly effective way of encouraging the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Blinatumomab* is a new drug that is being trialled that uses the power of the immune cells to shrink or eliminate cancerous tumours and it is hoped it will be widely available within the next five years.

Thus far, tests have been carried out on people with non-Hodgkins lymphoma but the results are so promising that it is hoped further development will lead to many other cancers being treated. Already, the drug is being tested on patients with aggressive blood cancers.

The new drug has the ability to make cancer-killing white blood cells adhere to the tumour, releasing a poison that destroys the tumour. The body is adequately supplied with white blood cells to fight disease and normally they do a fine job. However, in the case of cancer, the white blood cells are often overwhelmed to the point where they become ineffective.

This is exactly what it is hoped the new drug will overcome - using the body’s own defence mechanism to destroy rogue cells from within without the need for invasive treatment. The drug will effectively activate the white blood cells to continue doing their thing until the tumour is beaten.

The research results have grabbed the attention of Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician and he is quite excited about the future prospects for patients. Careful monitoring and further research is necessary, but so far, this is the most promising possibility.

*Most insurers will not pay for drugs that have not obtained a license from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or those that are currently under experimentation, however, they will provide access to new drugs licensed by the EMA based on the individual’s needs.

Health expert Catherine Harvey looks at the hope for cancer cures and the way, if drugs pass all the neccessary criteria, we may be able to get health insurance to cover the cost in the future.

Are You Thinking About Buying A Sauna
By Steven Walters

 There are lots of people who grew up in northern areas where having a sauna available next to a cold clear lake was a normal thing. These people think that people everywhere use a sauna on a regular basis for cleansing and relaxation. In these places no one buys a sauna, they simply build one in their backyard or go to the public saunas which are very common.

Outside of these northern areas the sauna is not a common thing at all. Many if not most people in the United States aren’t aware of all the health benefits to be gained from regular sauna use. As saunas become more popular though more people are gaining a knowledge and appreciation for the health benefits that saunas present. If fact, many people are now choosing to install saunas in their homes and apartments. Sales of everything from small personal saunas to larger 3 person saunas and 4 person saunas are way up over the past few years.

These days sauna sales are a million dollar industry and the latest saunas are designed to provide the best in toxin cleansing and health benefits to the users. Many of todays saunas use infrared technology for heating so the old days of wood fires and rocks for heating are gone. There are also models that use electric, propane and gas to create the heat inside the sauna. And building a sauna has never been easier. You can put together a sauna kit in a few hours and be enjoying your sauna the same day the kit arrives.

Today’s multiple person saunas are both smaller and more economical than the saunas of the past. You can easily fit one into a spare room or utility space and make it a valuable utilized space. Smaller portable saunas are very popular with those that have limited space such as city dwellers. Another really cool option is the traditional barrel sauna which is gaining in popularity as an outdoor sauna option.

When looking at the cost of the sauna you should know that prices can vary greatly. The size of the sauna, the material it’s made of and the type of installation will all make a difference in the cost of your sauna. There are also upgraded features like MP3 players, top quality speakers and digital controls that can be installed that will increase the price of the sauna.

Smaller saunas are easy to do your self from a kit, however for a larger 3 person sauna or 4 person sauna you may want to consider hiring someone to do the installation. Depending on where you live and the type of install you may need to be concerned with building codes, water hookups, gas hookups and electrical connections. Because of these considerations it’s sometimes better to have the installation done by a professional.

No matter what size or type of sauna you need you can easily find them online. Sauna sales online are quite common and you might find a great deal, especially at sites like eBay and Craigslist. Thanks to improvements in technology and decreases in price, now could be the perfect time to treat yourself to a new home sauna.

To find out more about online saunas and how a sauna increases metabolism for health benefits please visit the authors website.

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Increase Your Flexibility With An Introduction To Yoga
By Heather Richards

 The ancient mystical practice and spiritual path of Yoga is believed to date back to the 8th century BC, the main sources of its concepts being Indian texts such as Upanishad and the Mahabharata. Although, seals from as distant a time as a thousand years earlier depicting yoga and meditation like postures were discovered by archaeologists at the Indus Valley Civilization site and many scientists think these drawings suggest a precursor of Yoga.

In essence, the aim of the spiritual path of Yoga is achieving a union with the Supreme Consciousness or even loftier goals set by some Yogis who are practitioners of Yoga. However, outside India it is most commonly associated with the practice of postures and or as a form of exercise. It can certainly have its advantages in both cases.

Raja Yoga is one of six orthodox astika, schools of thought, in Hindu philosophy. The term Yoga is derived from Sanskrit, its root word can be translated a number of ways. For instance, it is most commonly taken to mean uniting or joining, but sometimes it is understood as mode, manner, means. With so many varied systems of Yoga philosophy, similar to sects of Christianity, there may really be something for everyone to identify with and take to heart, but as mentioned before it is generally practiced in the western world today for health and wellbeing.

Practising Yoga postures regularly can help to ensure optimum blood flow and supply throughout your body while massaging your various organs and gently stretching your joints and muscles. Yoga may increase the flexibility of the practitioner by exercising little used joints and also help to lubricate different tendons and ligaments in the body of the practitioner. This can even be done by beginners with non strenuous positions.

It is also suggested that by regularly messaging organs within our body which tend to not receive any external stimulation during everyday activity, we can become more aware of our bodies and more quickly and easily sense early onset symptoms of disease and infection, enabling us to take sooner action and better control of our physical health.

In addition, increasing and enhancing blood flow throughout the body of the practitioner can help to flush out toxins, which may lead to decreased ageing, increased energy, and essentially enhance the practitioners quality of life. Not to mention this valuable exercise can tone your muscles and trim excess body fat.

I know, in spite of the vast multitude of benefits that Yoga can offer for your mind, body and soul, you still may not want to join an expensive class, or wear something like a leotard in a room full of strangers. Breathe easy, the above is not necessary at all, you can try it for yourself in the comfort of your own home by taking advantage of one of many available resources such as dvds, videos, or books which can help you to get started and build confidence before you try it in a group situation. Good luck and namaste.

Heather has been in business for over twenty five years and understands the importance of delivering relevant quality informative products and services in order to build good relationships. Heather has a wide range of knowledge and interests for FREE Health & Fitness Videos or for a wide range of topics and issues of interest to women, Heather and her expert Team Explains at www.WomensInfoProducts.com

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