Different Types of Chlamydia Tests

A sample of urine or other body fluid is used to be able to perform Chlamydia tests, and to check if Chlamydia trachomatis is present and is the cause of the infection. In the United States, Chlamydia is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease or most commonly known as STD.

There are several kinds of tests that can be done to assess whether a person is infected with Chlamydia or not. These tests can be taken at nearby STD clinics which can help you in diagnosing the disease. Majority of the tests require a sample--usually from body fluids--to be extracted from an affected area.

•Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). In these test, the DNA or the genetic material of the Chlamydia bacteria is detected. These types of tests are the most sensitive at present. Therefore, the results are very accurate and there is a very low chance that a false-positive result would occur. A molecular biology technique called the polymerase chain reaction or PCR is one example of a nucleic acid amplification procedure. This test can be performed using samples of urine.

•Nucleic acid hybridization tests (DNA probe test). Chlamydia DNA can also be detected using a probe test. This test is also very accurate, but it is less sensitive than DNA amplification tests.

•Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA). This technique detects Chlamydia antigens which trigger a person's immune system to combat Chlamydia infection.

•Direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA). This is a fast technique which also detects chlamydia antigens.

•Chlamydia culture. In this test, a special cup is used to allow Chlamydia bacteria to multiply and grow. This is a more expensive test and you have to wait longer for the results, usually around five to seven days. The culture must be prepared in the laboratory. The Chlamydia culture test is usually done when a child is suspected of having experienced sexual abuse, or when treatment has not worked.

Why It Is Done

The different tests for Chlamydia are done because of the following reasons:

•To check if symptoms and warning signs of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) are brought about by a Chlamydia infection.

•If the mother is infected with Chlamydia during the time of delivery, the newborn must be check for Chlamydia as well.

•To determine people who are at high risk for being infected with Chlamydia and those who are already infected. A Chlamydia infection does not always manifest symptoms. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggests testing for Chlamydia for:

- All sexually active women aged 24 or younger.
- Women who are older than age 24 practicing high-risk sexual behaviors.
- All pregnant women in the first trimester and again in the third trimester if high-risk sexual behaviors are reported. A pregnant woman who has a Chlamydia infection must be treated immediately so that the infection would not be transmitted to her newborn.
- All women who have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- All women with symptoms of cervicitis or cervical infection found on a pelvic exam.

How to Prepare

A Chlamydia test is performed on either bodily fluid (direct sample) collected from the area of the body that is suspected to be infected or on a urine sample. If your Chlamydia test is being performed on a:

•Direct sample (normally from the cervix): A woman should not use vaginal creams or douche or use medicines for 24 hours before undergoing a Chlamydia test.
•Urine sample: Refrain from urinating for two hours before a urine sample is collected.

Home Heart Training - 2 Great Cardio Exercises For You to Do at Home!

Who says that you can't get a great cardio workout done at home? As a matter of fact, with the right training drills and proper motivation you can get a better cardio workout at home than at a gym in a lot of ways. The best cardiovascular workout has to involve nothing more than your own hand held gym that is known as a kettlebell and a little outdoor yard space. Keep reading if I have your attention.

Cardio Conditioning At Home!

1. Kettlebell Snatches To Jump Rope: This is one sick cardio conditioning combination that you can easily perform right in your front yard. With this drill you will simply want to execute a series of kettlebell snatches with a moderately heavy bell with each arm. As soon as you have finished your set of snatches then simply drop the bell on the ground and grab a jump rope and get after it for a duration of 2 minutes. When you have completed the series simply allow yourself a 2 to 3 minute recovery and repeat the process all over again. This is some of the best cardiovascular training you can do anywhere!

2. Kettlebell Totes: For this drill you will need the availability of a couple of bells of moderate resistance and equal weight. From here you are going to utilize the length of your yard to perform some loaded walks with the bells. For this drill the walking surface should be flat, so if your yard isn't a good option then you may want to look into using your driveway, inside hallway, etc. Begin the drill by picking the bells up off of the ground and holding them at your sides. Walk a challenging distance while carrying the bells at your side. You can determine your distance either by measuring or just by simply walking for timed laps. Either way you can make this drill effective by doing so.

Once you begin your loaded walks simply walk the designated distance with the bells at your sides to start. Once you have completed doing this then clean and rack the bells at your chest to perform some loaded walks with them at the rack. This adds additional intensity to the drill and your heart will start really pumping at this point. Once you complete this variation you can take the drill a step further and clean and press the bells overhead to perform the walks. This will add a whole new dynamic of sick strength and unmatched cardio to your workout!

If you haven't already started to implement the 2 mentioned cardio drills into your workouts then you are missing out. Take the time to do so and you will have one of the best in home cardio programs going! Remember that most anyone can train hard, but only the best train smart!

NUTRITION CENTER - Healthy Diet Goals

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans. We can reduce heart disease by promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle. Getting information from credible sources can help you make smart choices that will benefit your long-term heart health.

For the first time, the American Heart Association has defined what it means to have ideal cardiovascular health, identifying seven health and behavior factors that impact health and quality of life. We know that even simple, small changes can make a big difference in living a better life. Known as “Life’s Simple 7,” these steps can help add years to your life:

1. don’t smoke;
2. maintain a healthy weight;
3. engage in regular physical activity;
4. eat a healthy diet;
5. manage blood pressure;
6. take charge of cholesterol; and
7. keep blood sugar, or glucose, at healthy levels.

Alcohol Sharply Reduces Risk of Heart Disease in Men

A Spanish study on alcohol consumption revealed that men who consume large amounts of alcohol cut their risk of heart disease by more than a third. At the same time, excessive alcohol consumption, which is responsible for 1.8 million deaths a year, will increase one's risk of developing many other diseases.

The study analyzed 41,500 people, both men and women, between the ages of 29 and 69. Participants were followed for ten years and were asked to keep documentation about their drinking habits. What researchers found was that men who consumed alcohol daily reduced their risk of developing heart disease by 35 percent. Women did not experience the same results.

More extreme levels of alcohol consumption among men, between three and eleven (or more) shots of hard liquor a day, suggested a 50 percent decrease in heart disease. It is believed that women do not experience the same effects from alcohol as men do because of differences in female hormonal activity and the methods by which females process alcohol.

While partially unclear as to how it works logistically, scientists understand that consumption of alcohol tends to raise high-density lipoproteins, also known as "good" cholesterol, which prevents bad cholesterol from accumulating in the arteries.

Intake of alcohol is linked to the development of another type of heart disease called cardiomyopathy, which is a weakening of the heart's ability to adequately function. Such a condition can result in death if not dealt with properly.

Experts reiterated the fact that while alcohol consumption may reduce one type of heart disease, it can cause many other problems including liver, brain, and pancreatic illnesses. The Stroke Association noted that high alcohol consumption increases one's risk of having a stroke by 300 percent.

While adding to existing literature on the subject of the alleged benefits of alcohol, experts from across the board warned people not to take the study as a license to binge drink. The risks far outweigh the benefits and, unless a person is very careful in monitoring his or her intake, he or she may easily go over what is considered moderate alcohol limits.

Better ways to prevent heart disease include limiting intake of unhealthy fats and excess processed foods. Some nutrient-dense foods that are known to assist in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels include blueberries, grass-fed meats, wild salmon, garlic, avocados, coconut oil, dark green vegetables, apples and raw almonds.

Heart Disease: Three Steps for Helping Your Loved One Following Diagnosis

If you have a loved one who has recently been diagnosed with heart disease, or has suffered a heart attack, they are going to need your help now more than ever before.
You can be their cheerleader, their dietary advisor, and their exercise partner, all rolled into one.

As we discussed recently, when someone receives a diagnosis of heart disease, or suffers a heart related event, it is common for them to go through a time of depression. But, having someone there to empathise and encourage, can make a huge difference to how they cope.

It may not be an easy task, I know, but it's a worthwhile one.

So, what can you do to help you loved one following a diagnosis of heart disease?

1. Discuss smoking

Quitting smoking is just the first step on the journey to a healthy lifestyle. Let's be straight, continuing to smoke after a diagnosis of heart disease is slow suicide.

But, you can be your loved one's main supporter in their effort to stop smoking, helping them to become accountable for the lifestyle choices they make from now onwards.

2. Discuss exercises

Exercise is essential in general for good health, but especially for someone with heart disease. The health care team will probably recommend a number of suitable exercises, which are safe and effective for your loved one.



So, what can you do? Well, you can make sure they get some exercise daily, by being their exercise partner — their fitness coach if you like! Studies show that people who exercise with a partner are more compliant than those who don't.



Types of exercise which are suitable for those with heart disease include:



* Walking. This is the best form of exercise, and it can be done anywhere.
* Cycling. Stationary bikes, or cycling around the local neighborhood are perfect.
* Pilates. This is great because it helps the body to get stronger, while at the same time decreasing stress and anxiety.
* Swimming. This is an excellent choice for those who are overweight, providing a full body workout, without stressing the joints.



While you are exercising, be extra vigilant and look out for the following symptoms:



* Chest pain, or pain in the neck, jaw or shoulder.
* Dizziness or nausea.
* Unusual shortness of breath.
* Unusual feelings of fatigue.
* Unusual heart beat: too slow, too fast, or a feeling of skipped beats.



If they experiences any of these symptoms, stop exercising right away and get medical attention.



As a side note, have you thought about becoming certified in CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation? You can get certified through your local chapter of the Red Cross, or your local hospital. This will give you the training necessary to start life saving measures, if it ever became necessary.



3. Discuss diet

A healthy, whole food diet is just as important as a regular exercise routine. However, we all know that changing poor eating habits can be a challenge on your own.

Perhaps your own eating habits aren't really up to scratch either. Well, now is the perfect time to make changes — imagine how you would feel if someone gave you a measly salad, while they tucked into a big, fat, juicy cheeseburger?

The following simple tips should help you and your loved one:

• Learn how to read food labels. Know what is in the food you eat.
• Use an online nutrition calculator to work out the nutritional value of the foods you choose.
• Eat more whole, fresh fruits and vetetables.
• Include whole grains and high fiber foods into your diet.
• Stay away from processed foods. They contain way to much sodium and preservatives.
• Reduce your intake of drinks and food that contain a lot of added sugars, and artificial sweeteners.
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Have a chat with a dietitian to work out the best type of diet for your loved one's condition.
• Learn portion control. This is very important to maintaining a healthy weight.
  

Childhood cancer survivors have 10 times greater risk of heart disease (because radiation damages the heart!)

Survivors of childhood cancers are nearly 10 times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease as adults than people who did not have cancer as children, according to a study conducted by researchers from Emory University and published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Researchers remain unsure of the exact reason for the increased risk, but the effects of radiation therapy appear to play a significant role.

"Mechanistically, we are not yet sure why this is, but the association is definitely there," said researcher Lillian R. Meacham.

Using data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, researchers compared data from 8,599 cancer survivors with data from 2,936 of their cancer-free siblings.

They found that cancer survivors had a 60 percent higher chance of being on cholesterol medicine, a 70 percent higher chance of suffering from diabetes and nearly a 100 percent higher chance of being on blood pressure drugs. They were no more likely that their siblings to suffer from obesity, however, suggesting that something more than lifestyle factors are at play.

"These risk factors are manifesting at about age 32, which is much younger than a non-cancer survivor would exhibit signs of cardiovascular risk factors," Meacham said. "Some have suggested that when you are a cancer survivor there are parts of you that wear out early, so we need to be vigilant about our follow-up of these patients in order to find these late effects early and intervene."

Physical activity increased a cancer survivor's risk of suffering more than one symptom by 70 percent compared with cancer free siblings. Being older when the study was conducted increased survivor's risk by 8.2 times compared with their siblings.

Radiation therapy was also strongly associated with cardiovascular risk, with those who had undergone chest and abdomen radiation suffering from 2.2 times the risk of cardiovascular risk factor clustering as those who had not undergone the therapy. Total-body radiation increased the risk by 5.5 times.

What are the health benefits of garlic?

So What are the health benefits of garlic?It is not an easy questions to answer.But a lot of people who concern about their health would ask about this.Especially people who just love to eat a lot of garlic.Some may put garlic inside their cooks.As far as i know, chinese food using a lot of garlic in their
Antioxidant – Allicin logically increases antioxidant enzymes atalase and glutathione peroxidase in your blood. It could help against the harmful property of nicotine and slows the aging process of your liver by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.
Anti-Bacterial – Garlic has 1% of the might of penicillin and can ward off several bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, E. Coli, Cryptococcal meningitis, Candida albican and Staphylococcus. The unruly with most antibiotics is the bacteria develops resistance to them, however this is not the casing with garlic.

The repayment were first realized back in the early 19th century when English priests trapped infectious fever. The French priests, who ate garlic everyday, didn’t.

Blood Clots – Clinical trials, which were available in the Journal of Hypertension, showed that the blood coerce of volunteers was abridged 1 – 5% after winning garlic supplements. This may not sound a lot but this small discount can degrade the chance of a stroke by 30-40% and middle disease by 20-25%