The Wonders Of Aayatul Kursi

I have had my daughter in early 20s.

During my confinement period, I used to dream of an extremely thin vampire,  pontianak, craving for my blood.
All the time whenever I suddenly woke up from having such dream, my mouth would still muttering Aayatul Kursi.

I had blogged earlier that the house that I rented during the 80s, its Javanese owner is said to possess a bad spirit right up until her death.

She refused to look at me even on her death bed.

But my then neighbour, who was with me visiting my landlord in hospital, when she held the old lady's hand, it was as if a very strong surge of current flowing into her body.
From then on, it was a long three-year battle of treatment from seeing her very own mirror reflection just skeletal frame without flesh and skin.

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After I get to know and understand sickly S closer, beside the prescribed  medication and the varieties health supplement she consumes daily, I encouraged her to find alternative treatment too.
That was more than ten years ago.

Her cave-in shoulders, acute asthma and other ailments is a great concern for me.

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S is learning Qur'an reading from my friend.

Although her husband is a well known figure in the local community, S is a  reserved individual, not opening herself to others, shy of others knowing and discussing her state of health.

It affects her head too.
She is extremely slow, that is fine.
But she is shy to let others know.
So she would go to my friend's house after others left.

My friend has great concern for her too.
She too encouraged her to find alternative treatment that GOD Willing, will improve her health, and her Qur'an reading.
She is still at the first few pages of the Qur'an when others had completed the whole Book and had started all over again.

After weeks of persuasion, at long last, S agreed on the alternative treatment.
But on condition, no one is to know of her undergoing such treatment.

During the first treatment when Aayatul Kursi was read to her, she put out both hands, and another voice in her suddenly shouted and demanded: "STOP!!!"
S said she felt extreme heat in her body...

This morning, when I called my friend asking about S, she is delighted.
GOD willing, S will very soon catch up others with her reading...                         

What Causes Cancer?

WOMEN'S WORLD 
By DR NOR ASHIKIN MOKHTAR

You can reduce your risks of getting cancer if you keep clear of avoidable cancer-triggering factors.

THE big “C” is the single most frightening condition that any woman can imagine in her lifetime.
Every woman wants to prevent it, and avoid ever having to hear the diagnosis from her doctor.

Before you can know how to prevent cancer, you have to know what causes it.
Cancer is a complex disease, as it is not a single condition, and does not have a simple black-and-white cause.

There are many different types of cancer, up to at least 200 types, because they can affect any organ or tissue in the body.
Then, each cancer has its own causes – not all are related, and some are very specific.

So, as you can see, it’s not as simple as putting the blame on one cause.
You need to understand the multifactorial nature of cancer in order to adopt holistic changes to your lifestyle that will help you reduce the risk of cancer. 

The big bad C

Cancer is essentially a disease of the cells, where individual cells become abnormal and multiply out of control.
Cancer can occur in any of the cells in the body, as everything in our body, including our organs, bones, muscles, skin and blood, is made up of millions of tiny cells.

If cancer occurs in the cells of the skin, then the person has skin cancer; if it is in the cells of the breast, then it is breast cancer.

Cancer starts from the genes of one abnormal cell.
In a normal cell, there are genes that control how the cell divides and multiplies – a cell becomes abnormal if those genes are damaged or mutated.
This causes the cell to start multiplying out of control, to form a cancerous (or malignant) tumour.
This tumour may form a lump or a patch of cells that can be seen on a scan.

Every person has a risk of developing cancer, simply because we are made up of cells.
There is nothing that can completely prevent cancers from developing because nature cannot be controlled.

However, there are certain biological, environmental and lifestyle risk factors that increase the likelihood of cell mutations.
These could range from cigarette smoke and asbestos, to certain viruses.

If you reduce these risk factors in your life, you would contribute towards dramatically diminishing the chances of getting cancer.
In other words, don’t give your cells a chance to go bad! 

Cancer triggers

We all know that smoking leads to lung cancer.
This is because cigarettes and cigarette smoke contain cancer-causing substances that are carcinogenic, like benzenes or ammonia.
These carcinogens, which turn cells cancerous, are one of the main causes of cancer.

The longer the duration, and the greater the amount of carcinogens that you are exposed to, the greater your risk of developing cancer.
The most commonly known carcinogens are tobacco smoke (causes cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder and pancreas), asbestos (causes mesothelioma), and radiation from UV rays or radioactive materials.

Certain viruses and bacteria can also lead to cancer.
This doesn’t mean that you can “catch” a cancer the same way you catch a viral influenza.
What happens is that the virus or the bacteria causes cell mutations that lead to cancer.

The hepatitis B and C viruses can increase the risk of liver cancer, while the human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to abnormalities in the cervical and genital cells that may become cancerous after several years.

There are vaccinations for hepatitis B and HPV, so that can protect yourself from these infections. Furthermore, women should have regular Pap smears to pick up any possible HPV infection and treat it early.

One type of bacteria known to play a role in cancer is Helicobacter pylori, which infects the stomach lining and eventually leads to inflammation and increased risk of cancer.  
H. pylori infection can be treated with antibiotics. 

Lifestyle factors

Some risk factors for cancer are beyond our control.
For instance, age increases the likelihood of cancer, but we cannot stop the hands of time from advancing.
You are more likely to develop cancer the older you get, because the mutations in the cells take a long time to develop and turn into cancerous cells.

When you are older, your body’s immune system is also weaker and less able to resist the development of abnormal cells or repair them.
This is the same reason that certain types of cancer are more likely in people with weakened immune systems, like organ transplant patients who take immunosuppressive medications, people living with HIV and AIDS, or those who have disorders that affect their immunity.

There has been a lot of debate in recent years about whether your diet and physical activity has an impact on cancer development.
Increasingly, scientists are starting to say “yes”, as research shows that certain foods have cancer-protective properties, while others can increase the risk of cancer.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that strengthen the body’s immune system and protect it from damage caused by age, the food we eat, and environmental factors.
All the different-coloured fruits and vegetables, such as green broccoli, orange carrots, red cabbage, blueberries and purple eggplant, contain unique compounds that may protect against cancer.

Eating at least five servings of colourful fruits and vegetables every day is the easiest form of defence against cancer and keeps the body generally healthy.

Eating too much of high-fat foods is thought to contribute to the risk of cancer, because it is most likely to cause obesity.
Along with lack of physical activity and overindulgence in alcohol, obesity has a strong link with certain types of cancers, such as colorectal cancer.

Some of my patients have read emails or heard claims that food additives and artificial sweeteners are carcinogenic.
These claims can cause a lot of unnecessary fear in people.
All ingredients in our food products are regulated by the Health Ministry, and these products would not be approved if they were shown to cause cancer.

If you are wary, you can reduce your intake of artificial sweeteners and processed foods, so that you consume mostly natural ingredients.
However, there is no need to be paranoid, as it would take huge amounts of any substance to cause serious harm – and it is rarely possible for a person to consume so much of any product or ingredient. 

Born with cancer?

Some of my patients have asked me whether they have “cancer genes”, because many of their close family members, like their mother, sisters, and aunts, have developed cancer.

Some people may be born with a genetic mutation in their cells that makes them “genetically predisposed” to developing cancer.
However, it doesn’t mean that they will definitely get cancer, just that they are at higher risk because they already have one of several mutations needed for cancer to develop.

One instance of genetic predisposition is the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes, where women who carry one of these genes may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not have the gene.
These genes can be identified through genetic testing.

However, all this talk about genetic predisposition can be misleading.
Some women think that just because they have the genes, they are doomed to cancer.
Other women think that just because they do not have the genes, they will not get cancer, so they do not have to do breast self-examination or go for regular medical checkups.

Let me use BRCA as an example again.
Less than 5% of all breast cancer is due to the mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene – which means at least 95% of breast cancer out there is caused by a multitude of other factors, some of which I have described above.

That is the most important take-home message for cancer prevention – there is not one single cause for cancer, but a combination of risk factors and triggers.
There are many things that have to happen before cancer can develop – for instance, whether you have the genetic make-up, have been exposed to carcinogens, how you eat and exercise, and the general state of your health, all of which will have to cause several genetic mutations before cancer develops.

The best advice I can give women is to live healthy, think positively, and always be in control by managing your health.
By reducing all of the risk factors listed above, you are giving your body a fighting chance to keep cancer at bay. 

Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar is a consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist (FRCOG, UK). 
For further information, visit www.primanora.com. 
The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. 
Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. 
The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. 
The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

Source: The Star - Sunday, June 12, 2011

Of Non-Stop Crying Or Not Crying At All

Folk Remedies For Colic Do Not Work, Review Says

By LINDSEY TANNER

CHICAGO – That nonstop crying of a baby with colic has some parents turning to popular folk remedies. Unfortunately, there's no good evidence they work, according to a review of 15 studies.
The results don't surprise New York City mom Leni Calas, 32. She tried many treatments studied, including fennel extract, sugar drops and massage, and says nothing worked for baby Roxy, who cried almost nonstop for six months.
"Our daughter would wake up and cry literally morning to night without napping," Calas said. "She would just literally scream herself purple, and then throw up because she had been screaming so much."
Calas said she and her husband couldn't accept what doctors told them — that there was nothing wrong with their baby and that she'd outgrow the crying spells. But that's exactly what happened.
And that's what most doctors believe about colic, which affects up to roughly 20 percent of U.S. babies, usually in the first few months of life.
If a physical problem can be found, the condition is usually not considered colic. Gastric reflux and protein allergies are among conditions that can cause digestive upsets and crying spells in babies, and are often mistakenly called colic.
That may explain why some remedies thought to ease digestive problems may not work in babies with true colic, including alternative treatments containing fennel, herbal teas and probiotics, which all were included in the medical review.
Alternative remedies are not tested and approved by the federal government, and the purity and amounts of their ingredients are not always verified. Parents should always check with their pediatricians if they plan to give their children an alternative treatment, said Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, head of the American Academy of Pediatrics nutrition committee.
The study by researchers at the University of Exeter in England was published online Monday in Pediatrics. The researchers analyzed results from 15 studies on various alternative remedies, massage and chiropractic methods advertised as effective against colic. Overall, almost 1,000 infants were involved.
Few of the studies were rigorously conducted and all had "major limitations," the researchers said.
"Thus, the notion that any form of complementary and alternative medicine is effective for infantile colic is currently not supported from the evidence" studied, they said.
None of the studies reported side effects, but one involving an herbal remedy listed vomiting, constipation and other symptoms possibly related to the treatment.
Although there were promising signs with a few treatments, including fennel extract, herbal teas and sugar solutions, better research is needed to provide conclusive evidence, said researcher Rachel Perry, the review's lead author.
Her own two children had colic, but it disappeared around the time she tried giving them an over-the-counter herbal liquid promoted as effective against colic.
Because colic does go away on its own, it's hard to determine whether specific treatments might work, she said.
"As a desperate mother, I can understand the sort of desire to try anything," Perry said.
She urged parents not to give up, since it's possible better designed studies on alternative remedies will show more definitive results.
Bhatia, a professor at Georgia Health Sciences University, said the study results don't mean that none of the treatments will work for any baby. Some parents do report success with alternative remedies. Sometimes that might be because parents think it will work and they feel calmer, which can in turn calm the baby — a placebo effect. But even if there's only a placebo effect, there's no reason not to continue, as long as doctors have been consulted and the treatment is safe, Bhatia said.
Parents should always check with their pediatricians if they plan to give their children an alternative treatment, said Bhatia, For Leni Calas' baby Roxy, now almost 2, the incessant crying spells tapered down and by 9 months disappeared.
Calas said she's convinced of one thing "that no one wants to hear — that the only thing that really does cure it is time."
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Online:
American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

Source :News Yahoo - March 28, 2011

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Toddler Tianna May Die If She Cries
By JOEL TAYLOR

Little Tianna Lewis McHugh Is The Girl Who Cannot Cry.

She has a rare condition which means her tears could trigger a fatal fit.

Tianna McHugh suffers Reflex Anoxic Seizures, which can be fatal

Her parents Ceri Lewis and Andy McHugh face a tense daily battle to make sure she doesn't cry.
The two-year-old looks as if she has died when she has a terrifying Reflex Anoxic Seizure.
Her skin turns white, her body stiffens, her heart stops beating and she stops breathing.

Other children with the condition react to pain, fear or fright, but Tianna has a form so extreme that simply crying can trigger a fit.
Tianna, of Wrexham, was diagnosed with the condition aged 18 months and has survived ten seizures since. The most serious one lasted two hours.
Describing the first fit, mother Ceri, 23, said: 'She looked like she had died. She went a deathly grey, her lips and around her eyes were blue and her eyes rolled back in her head. I was hysterical.'
Father Andy, 30, said he had to resuscitate his daughter.
'After five or six blows she took a massive breath and came around crying her eyes out,' said the car sales executive.
Tianna suffered her last seizure in July and her parents are hoping she will grow out of the condition.

Source: Metro.co.uk - November 3, 2009

Sorry, Can't Resist The Laughter

A Seberang Takir, Kuala Terengganu woman was forbidden to look at herself in the mirror for a month by a medium.

She followed the rule thinking that was supposedly to avoid the magic in the treatment formula from being dispelled - She is on the highway to become the sexiest lady in town through traditional treatment. The 33-year-old's hope for a magical transformation into a pretty maiden. But she realised the magic did not work when the big day came.
After 31 days, her appearance was still the same chubby woman with blackheads, pimples and all.
She had parted with RM2,250 (S$980), at least RM250 (S$110) for each treatment session. The victim then confronted the medium at his house to get a refund.

She lodged a police report the same day, at the end of January 2010. Police arrested a 34-year-old man to facilitate investigations.

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A retired couple lost their life savings of RM750,000 (S$326,000) when they were cheated into handing it over to a bomoh, a traditional medicine man, who claimed he could cure the husband’s illness.

The husband could be cured if they gave him RM750,000 to be placed in a coffin. The medicine man convinced them to buy the coffin and have it kept in a temple in Kuching, Sarawak, and he would place the money in it on their behalf.
The husband would be cured provided the money was not touched for 3 years.

Sungai Maong Cheif Insp Stanley Mawan points at the seized mini coffin used to store the RM750,000. Photo: The Star

The incident happened in the middle of 2009 but the couple only lodged a police report on the second week of January 2010 after suspecting that they had been cheated.
Police arrested the bomoh, 35, and his accomplice, 47, at separate locations.

Police also seized the coffin, which was empty, and a vehicle which the bomoh was believed to have purchased with the money.