Tumor Research
How to manage hypertension
Stressful lives that we lead have left even the young, active, hale and hearty young…
Remedies for common winter ailments
Come winter, and we're all ready with our wardrobe makeover – full of sweaters, warm…
Top 5 Most Common Infant Affecting Diseases
Jaundice Jaundice is one of the most common diseases affecting infants and newborns. Every day…
Join Miles For Hope in a Guinness World Record Breaking Attempt
On April 10, 2009, Miles For Hope, it's many supporters, along with the Dunedin Blue…
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How to manage hypertension
Stressful lives that we lead have left even the young, active, hale and hearty young people with hypertension. Where this sad reality is leading us to is a different aspect…
Remedies for common winter ailments
Come winter, and we’re all ready with our wardrobe makeover – full of sweaters, warm clothes and mittens. We sure do take all the essential care to keep ourselves warm,…
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How to manage hypertension
Stressful lives that we lead have left even the young, active, hale and hearty young people with hypertension. Where this sad reality is leading us to is a different aspect altogether, but for now, we’ll focus on how to manage hypertension. A variety of factors – lifestyle and diet cause hypertension, diet included. So what should you do to keep your blood pressure under control? Let’s have a quick look:
Exercise:
The sole solution to most of the illnesses we come across is exercise. But that’s what we hate doing the most! But yes, exercise is a must for those with hypertension. Exercise helps to regulate the blood flow and pressure and bring it back to normal. So yes, exercise, all you can, as much as you can and do it every day!
Lower down on processed food:
Processed food naturally contains a lot of salt, and consuming this food means the intake of additional salt. So cut down on processed food and opt for fresh, healthier options such as fruits and salads to munch to snack on.
Cut down on sodium intake:
There’s no alternative to this – sodium is known to aggravate hypertension since quite a long time now. So cut down your salt intake. If you can’t do without salt in your food, you have to cut down step by step –and reach your ultimate goal of low sodium. Now that you are depriving your body of sodium, you can alternatively increase potassium content instead. Potassium is found in bananas, milk, yogurt, fish, spinach and other greens.
Reduce caffeine intake:
We know it’s hard to kickstart the day without that cup of strong black coffee. Agreed. But what f this cup loaded with caffeine is detrimental to your health. You have to, of course, consider cutting down or eliminating it right? So do it – and do it step by step. If you have four cups of coffee a day, bring it down to two. Even in those two cups, reduce the amount of coffee you add. You’ll notice the difference it makes in your pressure levels. You can always opt for healthier, fresh fruit juices to get over your coffee pangs.
Stop smoking and drinking:
Everything in a limit is fine (though this is not applicable for smoking). The minute you overdo things, your body reacts. To keep your blood pressure under control, you have to take efforts to quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake. Both of these have harmful elements which adversely affect your health – so stay away!
Remedies for common winter ailments
Come winter, and we’re all ready with our wardrobe makeover – full of sweaters, warm clothes and mittens. We sure do take all the essential care to keep ourselves warm, safe and protected during winters. But the germs and viruses are still in the air. And despite the care, we still fall prey to ailments winter brings along with it. So let’s have a look at the remedies which will help you tackle the winter ailments:
- Common cold:
This is something we all fall prey to. And the remedies are pretty simple – a tall glass of warm milk with a pinch of turmeric in it. The warm milk will comfort you and the turmeric, that’s loaded with antioxidants, will be perfect to help you get rid of all the cold-causing elements. You could also have a glass of warm water mixed with a little honey – it will quickly relieve you of the unease caused by cold. - A sore throat:
If not treated properly, it can even leave you voiceless for a while! Well, the remedy for a sore throat is simple – just crush a little bit of ginger and add some honey to it. Keep this mixture aside for a while and then consume it bit by bit. It will ease your sore in no time! The spice of the garlic and the healing properties of honey will bring in quick relief. You can also suck on a single pepper and see the magic it works on your damaged throat!
- Dry skin:
While this is not an ailment causing you the trouble of any kind, we’re sure not fans of dull, flaky looking skin! Winter calls in for moisturization – you can use heavy moisturizers during winter to keep the moisture nicely locked in the skin. For natural moisturizers, you can opt for coconut oil to keep your skin soft and supple. - Influenza:
Flu comes in as a combination of all winter ailments together – fever, cold, sore throat. So you have to be even more wary of flu. Don’t try to treat flu at home – rush your child to the doctor immediately and start off with the prescribed medicines and diet. Other care is very vital when it comes to flu – the proper care will ensure the symptoms don’t aggravate.
There you go – winter ailments and their simple remedies!
Top 5 Most Common Infant Affecting Diseases
Jaundice
Jaundice is one of the most common diseases affecting infants and newborns. Every day there are millions of babies dying due to severe cases of jaundice at birth. Jaundice is a disease that is caused due to an excess of bilirubin that results in a yellowish pigmentation of the skin. This is usually something that can be resolved, but only if treated at the nick of time. In the case of infants, this disease is a lot more serious as their liver is still immature and will not be to handle the bilirubin from the gallbladder.
Bluish Skin and Apnea
Although, any healthy baby is possibly bluish at the time of birth and for a little while post that, this usually fades away after a while when the blood circulation improves. However, in the case of a bluish tinge around the mouth or bluish tinge that refuses to fade could mean that you need to see a physician or pediatrician as soon as possible to get the child diagnosed. Your infant could be suffering from Apnea which means the stoppage of breathing for around 15 to 20 seconds which results in a bluish skin tone. Keep in mind that this also indicates, an underlying heart problem that may require immediate attention.
Anemia
Anemia is a deficiency that exists in infants, children, and adults. Regardless, it can be treated. It refers to a condition where there is a lack of hemoglobin, indicating that the level of oxygen in the child’s blood is low and that the blood is thicker than required. Usually, the children of anemic mothers tend to be born anemic as well, and if this goes untreated, it can result in something extremely serious and be fatal for the health of the child.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is yet another common condition that captures the infant body, usually as a reaction to the various antibiotics and infections that plague the infant’s body. What you can do is keep the infant well hydrated using oral saline and water. Ensure you monitor the color and texture of the stools and if in any doubt, make sure to consult your doctor.
Colic
Colic is yet another common disease in infants. This disease refers to a condition wherein the baby cries continuously without any real reason. Normally, any discomfort experienced by the baby needs to disappear within a period of 3 months from birth. If that does not happen, then the colic is persistent, and the milk formula intolerance needs to be ruled out, and the actual cause for this needs to be diagnosed.
Congenital heart defect
A congenital heart defect is a disease in the structure of the infant’s heart present at the time of birth. Any signs and symptoms of the same, depend on the specific type of problem that exists. The symptoms for this can easily vary from none at all to life-threatening. Some of these symptoms are rapid breathing, poor weight gain, bluish skin, and feeling tired.
Join Miles For Hope in a Guinness World Record Breaking Attempt
On April 10, 2009, Miles For Hope, it’s many supporters, along with the Dunedin Blue Jays will attempt to break the world record for the world’s largest candle light vigil. (For those unable to attend, we have created a virtual vigil, click here to light your candle)
The vigil was created to bring awareness to brain tumors and to honor brain tumor survivors, those who have lost their battle and others touched by brain tumors, including family and friends. All brain tumor survivors attending the event, will be asked to stand on the field when lighting their candle for the vigil. We want to honor these survivors as the true heroes they are.
Tickets are only $8 and will include a ticket to the Dunedin Blue Jays home opener against the Clearwater Threshers, a “Together In Hope” candle & matches, a commemorative keepsake, as well as the Firework Show.
In honor of “Together in Hope” and this world record breaking attempt, we challenge everyone to raise at least $75 towards the cure for brain tumors! We have a fundraising packet available that will show how easy it is to raise $75 in just 2 weeks! The two top fundraisers; one from the Individual category, and one from the Team category, will be announced during the event and receive an award during the “Together in Hope” event recognizing their great achievement. If you are a top fundraiser, but unable to attend the event, you will still receive honorable mention at the event and your award will be mailed to you. Miles For Hope will also present the 2nd & 3rd place fundraising teams and individual fundraisers with a gift card to a local restaurant. One gift card per team or individual. Fundraising amounts must be received by Miles For Hope by April 5, 2009 to be eligible for the award or gift card. The first through third place teams and individual fundraisers be mentioned on our web page as well.
By making a $500 donation, you will be eligible for 2 VIP Suite tickets, which includes food & beverage as well as 2 event T-shirts. To reserve your VIP tickets for the game, please click on the below link to make your donation.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make history by breaking a Guinness world record! There are a limited number of tickets available for this event.
How Are Brain Tumors Diagnosed
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, the brain tumor diagnosis process usually involves several steps which can include a neurological exam, CT Scan, MRI Scan, PET Scan, MRS, a biopsy
or other tests or procedures:
Neurological examination -Your physician tests reflexes, muscle strength, eye and mouth movement, coordination, and alertness.
CT Scan/CAT Scan – (Computed Tomography scan)is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.
MRI Scan – (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.
PET Scan – (Positron Emission Tomography) is a type of nuclear medicine procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a radioactive substance, called a radionuclide (radiopharmaceutical or radioactive tracer), is used during the procedure to assist in the examination of the tissue under study.
Specifically, PET studies evaluate the metabolism of a particular organ or tissue, so that information about the physiology (functionality) and anatomy (structure) of the organ or tissue is evaluated, as well as its biochemical properties. Thus, PET may detect biochemical changes in an organ or tissue that can identify the onset of a disease process before anatomical changes related to the disease can be seen with other imaging processes such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
MRS – (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) is a procedure that produces images depicting function rather than shape. The equipment requires a special, highly complex facility.
Biopsy – the process of removing at least some of the tumor in order to examine it in a lab. In a craniotomy, the surgeon will also remove as much of the tumor as is safely possible. For tumors in a part of the brain that is difficult to reach, a surgeon may perform a stereotactic biopsy, during which a small sample of the tumor is extracted using a needle.
A pathology report contains the analysis of brain tissue taken at the time of a craniotomy or needle biopsy. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope. Further tests or analysis may be performed on the tumor tissue. Then the pathologist will write a pathology report, which provides the information needed to make a diagnosis of the tumor type.
Clinical Trial for Low Grade (Grade II) Glioma Patients Now Open and Accepting Patients
Miles For Hope announced today that the brain tumor vaccine clinical trial, Optimizing Dendritic Cell Vaccination for Low Grade Glioma Patients, is now open and accepting new patients. Patients must have a Grade II Brain Tumor and surgery at UCLA to qualify for the trial. The trial is a Phase II Clinical Trial Evaluating Autologous Dendritic Cells Pulsed with Tumor Lysate Antigen for the Treatment of Low-grade Gliomas.
This clinical trial was proudly funded by Miles For Hope, Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure and The Stephen M. Coffman Charitable Trust. In July 2011, these non-profit organizations came together to jointly fund a $100,000 research grant to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) neurosurgeon Linda Liau, M.D., PhD to begin this clinical trial, Optimizing Dendritic Cell Vaccination for Low Grade Glioma Patients. This is the first trial of its kind for patients that have been diagnosed with low grade gliomas, a common form of brain cancer. This research has the potential to improve the lives of brain cancer patients.
Charity Pool Tournament Will Benefit Local Brain Tumor Charity
Miles for Hope, a Clearwater charity, will be the recipient of proceeds from a charity pool tournament to raise brain tumor awareness and funding for a brain tumor vaccine clinical trial
Stefanie Macaluso became aware of how devastating a brain tumor is to a family after her boyfriend’s father, Rob Schram, was diagnosed with melanoma which subsequently metastasized to his brain. When he was diagnosed with melanoma, he received 11 rounds of chemotherapy and began to have some complications with his leg. An MRI of the brain revealed four tumors which had formed in the brain. Doctors immediately began radiation treatment in an effort to slow the growth of the tumors. When the largest of the tumors began to bleed, surgery was performed to remove the tumor that was causing the majority of the problems.
After learning about Miles for Hope and their mission and dedication to raising awareness and funding for cutting-edge brain tumor research and experimental clinical trials, Stefanie registered for the Moving Towards A Cure® event in Clearwater. “In addition to registering for the event, Stefanie committed to helping us raise critically needed funding for brain tumor awareness and research”, stated Barb Gibbs, Executive Director of Miles for Hope. “We are currently funding experimental vaccine clinical trials for brain tumors which are showing promise and hope for this disease over the past two decades. Thanks to the involvement of individuals like Stefanie, we can continue to find better treatments that provide a better quality of life for those suffering with brain tumors, and ultimately a cure for it”.
Brain tumors currently affect over 200,000 people each year, one person every 3 minutes in the United States, and they are the leading cause of solid tumor cancer death in children under the age of 20. In addition, brain tumors are the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in males under the age of 39.
Miles For Hope Funds Pediatric Trial at UCLA
Miles for Hope has funded $125,000 to UCLA for a new research trial that will optimize dendritic cell vaccinations for pediatric patients with pediatric malignant gliomas. Dr. Linda Liau is a pioneer in the DC Vaccine trial for adults and wanted to continue and expand her research to pediatrics. The main purpose of this study is to see whether a new immunotherapy procedure is safe and effective in treating pediatric patients with malignant brain tumors. Miles For Hope, along with the Stephen Coffman Trust, were excited to fulfill another objective of our founder, Bob Gibbs. Bob wanted to fund a trial for low grade gliomas which was accomplished right before his passing in December and we have fulfilled another objective for Bob in funding this pediatric trial which was announced at our cycling/run/walk event in Clearwater last September.
