This model, developed by scientists from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is described in a paper that appeared online May 11, 2011, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

NCI’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), which estimates a woman’s risk of developing invasive breast cancer, is used to counsel women and to determine eligibility for breast cancer prevention trials. It is based on the Gail model, an algorithm that uses information about personal and family medical history to estimate a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer, during the next five years and over her lifetime. The BCRAT was initially based on data from white women but was later augmented with a new model for estimating risk in African-American women, called the CARE model. With the publication of this latest model, the BCRAT has been updated again to include the new algorithm, and a disclaimer about accuracy for APA women has been removed.

“The new model is the latest step in our ongoing effort to improve NCI’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool by updating it with newly obtained data for specific subgroups of the population,” said senior author Mitchell H. Gail, M.D., Ph.D., after whom the original model is named.

To develop the model, Gail and colleagues used data from the Asian American Breast Cancer Study (AABCS), combined with data from NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. The AABCS is a population-based study which included more than 1,500 APA women, 38 percent of whom had invasive breast cancer. The resulting algorithm was tested using data from approximately 4,000 APA women in the NIH Women’s Health Initiative, a study of health issues among postmenopausal women.

The factors included in the APA model are the same as those for the other models included in the BCRAT. They include age at first menstrual period, age at first live birth, number of first-degree relatives (mother, sisters, or daughters) who had breast cancer, and number of previous benign breast biopsy examinations. However, the weight of individual factors and the calculations used to assess the interactions of multiple factors have been adjusted.

The researchers compared the projections of the model, which they named after the AABCS, with those of the BCRAT. For most risk factor combinations, the BCRAT generated higher risk estimates for APA women than the AABCS model. Compared with the new model, the BCRAT overestimated risk for Chinese and Filipino women, and women in most other groups, but not for Hawaiian women, who have higher breast cancer incidence rates than white women. Overall, they found that the AABCS model more accurately predicted breast cancer risk for APA women.

Each year in the general population, there are about 93.7 new cases of breast cancer per 100,000 APA women, and 127.3 new cases per 100,000 non-Hispanic white women, according to SEER data. In a 2007 SEER study, researchers found that among APA subgroups, native Hawaiian women had the highest breast cancer incidence rates (175.8 per 100,000), followed by Japanese-Americans (126.5 per 100,000). For Chinese-Americans, the largest subgroup, there are approximately 77.6 new cases per 100,000 women.

The new model may overestimate risk for women who have recently immigrated to the United States from certain regions of Asia where breast cancer risk is low. Further, the tool may not be appropriate for women living outside the United States. Although the authors conclude that there is a need for additional validation studies on the model, they recommend that clinicians and researchers use the AABCS model instead of the previous model when counseling APA women about their risk for breast cancer and determining their eligibility for breast cancer prevention trials.

Like the other risk projection models, the AABCS should only be used in consultation with a physician. The models that make up the BCRAT, including the new AABCS model, are not appropriate for women who have a history of breast cancers, have received radiation treatments to the chest, or who are known to carry a mutation in one of the breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2).

To access the NCI’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), please visit: http://www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/

For more information about NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, please visit: http://dceg.cancer.gov

To access the 2007 SEER study on incidence rates in the APA population, please visit: http://seer.cancer.gov/publications/apicancer/index.html

About the National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at www.cancer.gov or call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

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Also, it has been discovered that Caucasians have a greater tendency to have this oftentimes severe hearing condition. Fortunately, most people will not develop the more serious forms of tinnitus, and it is not at all difficult to adjust to the noise. Likewise, some who discover they have tinnitus may only be temporarily affected because it will disappear. Then there are people who go through such severe interference that they require operation.

The most basic description of tinnitus symptoms is you will pick up dissonances that no one else hears. But these are genuine interferences that are detected in a way that is just as real as anything else normally heard.

It is noteworthy that in the America, about a million people go through this so dramatically that it creates problems during their normal activities throughout the day.

Almost all people think of ringing in the ears because that symptom is so among sufferers. If the intensity of the sound, or interference, is low enough, then that does not present a real problem. When the sound is soft enough, then just about anything you do is going to cause the sound to go unnoticed, or heard.

There is an odd symptom in which the sound that is detected can be a clicking sound in unison with the beating of the heart. Another type of interference reported by some is a buzzing sound in one or both ears. That particular buzzing noise is akin to ringing in the ears in that it is a constant tone.

The degree of severity concerns how loudly the sound is detected. The vast majority of tinnitus afflicted people do not experience this condition to an extreme level. Majority of the tinnitus sufferers have the ability cope with it because the brain has a distinct way of conforming to various situations.

Not all evident symptoms of tinnitus predicate that there is a continuing problem. Swimmers are well-known for getting water in the ear which will produce the same types of dissonances. But the moment the water or fluid within the ear disappears, or drains out, then the dissonance will go away.

If you should have a build-up of ear wax that suddenly intervenes with normal hearing, then once again that can create short-lived symptoms of tinnitus. So that is important to bear in mind if you notice a ringing or whirring sound in your ear and wonder about it.

However there is still additional information you may want to think about. The most usual kind is subjective tinnitus in which is what you hear all by yourself. Objective tinnitus is a condition in which others may be able to hear the sound, as well. Objective tinnitus does not create a very loud noise because usually people have to get very close to your ear  to detect it.

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The first place to start is with your diet. A healthy and well-balanced diet will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to get through each day. If your body is energized with the right nutrients then each body system will be able to function properly, that includes your immune system. With the fast-paced life that has come to be synonymous with daily life in American society, many Americans have resorted to eating on the go. This entails more fast-food bad-choice meals which leads to a deficit in the right nutrients your body needs. What results is an individual who is depriving their immune system of what it needs to work. Thus, we end up with taking more “sick days” than what is truly needed.

For more information on how to achieve a well-balanced diet, visit MyPyramid.gov. Some quick items to take note of is that foods with a high Vitamin C content can help reduce the amount of time that you are sick versus actually preventing sickness. This is not meant to completely put down foods with Vitamin C, however, it is important to note that it does not directly prevent illness, rather just lowers the number of days you are sick. A good balance of fruits and veggies, in particular, can help prevent the common flu or cold.

Another way you can combat illness is hitting the problem right at the source, the fast-paced life. Sometimes as Americans, we need to realize that life cannot just be about always being on the run. Part of getting sick is a result of always being stressed and exhausted. Having your body in overdrive for too long will eventually wear your down and cause your immune system to also not function to its maximum capacity. Take time to relax at work, at home, even in the car.

At work you can take a quick 5 minute break to do some breathing exercises that relax the mind and open your blood vessels increasing blood flow throughout the body, or do some yoga exercises. At home, even with the kids always needing you or your partner needing dinner, you can always take a few minutes to yourself. Maybe add a few minutes to your shower and bath and just clear your head, or take a book into your room and close the door to block out the house noise. Anything that will give you time to clear your head and just think of nothing will seriously help loosen the mind, body, and soul. Finally, in the car you can practice breathing exercises, either on your own or on a tape, or can listen to your favorite music that will put you in a good mood for the ride.

The last tidbit of advice that can be offered on the subject of preventing sickness is getting a good night’s rest. During sleep is the only time your body had the chance to recover from the day’s work. As mentioned before, it is no secret that American life tends to be fast-paced. With this, it is common for people to cut down their sleeping hours to get more working hours in each day. This can be extremely detrimental to your health and should never be an option for wanting to accomplish more in your day. It is recommended that adults get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. This will give your body enough time to recuperate and will help you feel more energized the following day, which can also translate into being able to get more work done.

It might seem like there is not a lot to be done to prevent getting sick. However, by taking care of these few points you can avoid getting extremely sick and possibly missing out on work, school, and other obligations that you have. Taking good care of your body with food, relaxation, and sleep, can help prevent many short and long term illnesses.

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Food is important to good health. Sadly, however, in the modern world it is easy to eat “junk food” that has little or no nutritional value. In addition to not providing nutrition, some modern foods contribute to stomach problems – like acid reflux and heartburn.  If you know what foods to avoid, you can help make sure acid reflux doesn’t lead to other serious health problems for you.

Acid reflux or GERD is a condition that causes stomach acids to travel up the esophagus.  If this condition is not treated, it will only get worse. This can cause serious complications.

If you frequently have a sour taste or burning sensation in your chest or upper abdomen, with excessive belching and breathing difficulties, it may be a sign of a problem with acid reflux.

There are certain beverages and foods which cause problems with acid reflux. Because of this, you should avoid the following foods if you have frequent heartburn.

• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Spearmint and peppermint
• Alcoholic drinks
• Fruit juices
• Fatty foods
• Fried foods
• Onions
• Citrus fruits
• Spicy foods
• Products which are tomato-based
• Caffeinated drinks – including DIET SODA

A change in your diet is the most effective way to deal with acid reflux. Although at first you may feel deprived of these foods, concentrate on how much healthier you are going to be. Changing your diet is not easy – and you should check with your health care provider before trying to radically alter your diet, but eating right can go a long way in making sure you don’t have problems with heartburn or acid reflux.

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Acid Reflux, another term for heartburn, occurs when the stomach produces too much acid. As a result of the excess acid, it sometimes travels up the esophagus, which can cause the burning sensation of heartburn. While you may think this is only a problem for people of a certain age, it actually affects people of all ages. While the way your body works has something to do with it, you can also help your acid reflux by following a good, healthy diet.

If you didn’t know, Acid Reflux is triggered by foods like chocolate, citrus fruits, spicy foods, and fried and fatty foods. Together with the time of day the foods are eaten and over eating which causes excessive weight. Therefore, the key to avoid the heartburn lies in avoiding certain types of foods, but there are also some foods you can use to lessen your chance of heartburn. We are going to look more closely at both these foods.

Foods to Avoid Heartburn:

• Fatty Foods – As you may have guessed, fast food is out. You want to avoid the burger chains and their super fatty foots. They may taste good going down, but they can cause major havoc with your stomach! It’s just not worth it.
• Alcohol - Beer especially can increase the production of stomach acid, which can cause serious problems for you later down the road. While you may think popping some antacid is okay, over the long term you might end up doing serious damage to your body.
• Soda - Along with beer, soda and certain other beverages can increase stomach acid, causing acid reflux or other serious problems over time. It’s best to limit the amount of soda you drink each day – even if it is “DIET,” which really isn’t that good for you for other reasons!
• Milk - While this may offer quick, temporary relief, it can actually produce more stomach acid quickly, meaning it’s not really going to help and may actually make the heartburn worse.

Foods to Help with Acid Reflux

These foods have a very little chance of causing heartburn.

• Baked potato
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Peas
• Apple, fresh or dried
• Apple juice
• Bananas
• Bread, mult-grain or white
• Cereal, bran or oatmeal
• Corn bread
• Graham crackers
• Pretzels
• Rice, brown or white
• Rice cakes
• Mineral water
• Cookie, fat-free
• Jelly beans
• Red licorice
• Potato chips (BAKED VARIETY)

Other Eating Tips to Avoid Heartburn

Beyond changing (improving) your diet, here are some other tips to help with avoiding heartburn.

• Eat small, frequent meals instead of three large ones each day. This can help your stomach work better at digesting and not producing too much acid.
• Chew your food fully before swallowing. If you don’t, your stomach will have to produce more acid to break up the food, which can mean trouble once the food is gone and the acid remains.

As always, check with your health care provider for the best advice on ways to avoid problems with acid reflux, GERD, and other stomach acid problems.

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The popularity of high fiber diets has steadily increased over the last few years. The health benefits of a high-fiber diet include increasing the bulk in the colon so that excretion passes smoothly. However, the other health benefit is that dietary fiber, the part of the plant that goes undigested in the stomach and small intestine, provides nourishment to the good bacteria found in the colon.  Due to its health benefits, it is important to consume a diet high in fiber. Generally, 23-35 grams, is considered an adequate daily consumption of dietary fiber.

So why is fiber so important to the colon? Well, the colon functions to complete the digestive process. One way it accomplishes this is by removing excess water that was not absorbed in the small intestine. Thus, it helps prevent diarrhea.  The bacteria found in the colon is responsible for helping prevent this as well as producing vitamins and enzymes, enhancing the immune system, controlling cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and preventing certain cancers.

Fiber can help increase the number of bacteria found in the colon, which in turn helps to prevent colon cancer, a major health problem in the United States. Starting out as a colon-polyp, it grows over time until it becomes detected as cancerous. One of the theories as to why colon cancer is more prevalent in the Western countries is that many foods and grains are processed and contain carcinogens that attach to the colon wall. After extended exposure to this carcinogen, the colon becomes prone to colon cancer. Good fiber that is not processed with a high amount of fiber helps create bulkier and softer stool. Stools of greater size help to clear out the carcinogens along the colon wall.

The bacteria in the colon also produce a preventative effect to the development of colon cancer. Thus, it follows that by consuming good dietary fiber and increasing the number of good bacteria in the colon, you can decrease your risk for colon cancer.

Colon cancer is found to be partly genetic. However, this does not mean that you cannot make a dietary change that will increase your health benefit. The power to change your diet lies within you; it is up to you to decide what kinds of food to eat. Always remember, that when it comes down to it, the saying “you are what you eat” really is true.

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• Get plenty of rest, especially while you have a fever. Rest helps your body fight infection.
• Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, which can make cold symptoms worse.
• Drink plenty of water, this helps with congestion and preventing dehydration.
• Drink plenty of juices such as orange or grape with vitamin C, or pure pineapple, which along with vitamin C has Bromelain, which is an enzyme that not only breaks up congestion, but is also a natural infection fighter.
• Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to relieve a sore throat.
• Avoid alcohol, soda and beverages with caffeine which are dehydrating
• Use saline (salt-water) nose drops to help loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin in your nose.
• Blow your nose often, avoid sniffing, which can lead to ear infections
• Drinking hot liquids such as hot tea with honey which soothes the throat and nose
• Steamy showers help moisturize your nasal passages and relives congestion
• Use mentholated or eucalyptus salve under your nose, this helps with breathing and with keeping your nose from getting sore
• Sleep on extra pillows

Remember, serious conditions can masquerade as the common cold and a mild infection can evolve into something more serious. If you have severe symptoms or are feeling worse with each passing day, see a doctor.

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How To Get Vitamin D

Vitamin D

Where can you go to get some? Just walk outside your door. Vitamin D is naturally produced by our bodies when the skin is exposed to sunlight, but due to modern lifestyles, many people are deficient. It is also difficult to get enough sunlight in colder climates, particularly during winter months.

If your situation makes it hard to get enough sunlight, supplements are also a good solution. In the Japanese study, children were given a dose of 1200 I.U. per day, but adults are often advised to take more. Supplements also give you the benefit of vitamin D without the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.

Vitamin D has long been seen as a simple way to boost your health, but we are now realizing it might be more powerful than we ever thought before. It might have more effective results than the drug it was compared to in the study, with no toxic side effects. If nothing else, it is a great tool to keep our bodies functioning in top shape.

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Farmville Addiction

Anyone with a Facebook account knows that Farmville is the latest unlikely hit, allowing users to design and operate their own cartoon farm complete with too cute livestock and the unlikely banana tree that still produces a crop every three days regardless of the snow on the ground.

With millions of players, the charming escapist guilty pleasure can quickly become an addicting habit. If you find youself addicted to Farmville, consider the following ways to break the cycle.

5. Don’t Start Playing

Probably the most unlikely solution, it nevertheless is true that abstinence is the only certain way to avoid fullblown Farmville addiction. But those cartoon cows are just too cute, so we’ll move on to…

4. Set a Timer

You don’t need to spend hours a day organizing your livestock and rearranging your orchards or crops. At its heart, Farmville is a beguilingly simple game. Set an egg timer, or an old fashioned kitchen alarm, and tear yourself away when the bell rings. If that doesn’t work, you can always…

3. Ask Your Friends For Help

In this age of TV shows like Intervention, there’s likely a whole host of family and friends who will be eager to stage a fun and melodramatic effort to help your Farmville addiction.

2. Get Addicted to Something Else

Facebook offers a whole host of other classic time sucking games for escapism purposes. Try a walker on the darker side with the silly Mafia Wars, or search for pirate gold in Treasure Madness.

All that is fine, but I’m betting the most surefire way to cure Farmville Addiction is surprisingly simple:

1. Visit A Real Farm

Somehow, cartoon animals seem a bit less appealing when you’re reminded that their real life counterparts require a bit more work than the occasional brushing. The stench of cow manure alone could easily be enough to shatter the illusion!

If you have tips for beating a Farmville addiction, leave a comment below!

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1. Tips to Prevent Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction

For now, I want to offer some tips to help prevent Internet addiction. Whether you use these for yourself or a “friend” who is addicted to the Internet (Farmville addiction anyone?)

ZenHabits – a very cool site, btw – has 8 Practical Tips to Cure Your Internet ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder.)

Offline Day. Try to cure your Internet Addiction by having, at least once a month, a “completely offline” day. From the time you wake up till the time you go to sleep, avoid any contact with the Internet. No PDA, no email, no IM, no blogs.

MentalHealth.net has a good primer on Internet addiction titled Introduction to Internet Addiction.

Mental health professionals are split as to whether or not Internet addiction is real. No one disputes that some people use the Internet in a compulsive manner even to a point where it interferes with their their ability to function at work and in social relationships. What is disputed is whether people can become addicted to the Internet itself, or rather to the stimulation and information that the web provides. The controversy surrounding Internet Addiction is precisely whether people become addicted to the net itself, or to the stimulation to be had via the net (such as online gambling, pornography or even simple communication with others via chat and bulletin boards.)

If you need a good look at the basics of Internet addiction that article should be able to help you.

If you need a more detailed and academic look at Internet addiction, there’s Internet Addiction Disorder: Causes, Symptoms,and Consequences by Jennifer Ferris. Not the most light reading, but if you’re interested in Internet addiction, it’s a good read.

And maybe it’s ironic that you’re looking up information on Internet addiction while using the Internet?

What are your thoughts? Are you addicted to the Internet? Do you know someone who is? How has it affected your life? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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