More medical-related stuff...

Big Male Genital Discovery. I Mean The Discovery Is Big. And It's About Male Genitals.

http://www.upworthy.com/big-male-genital-discovery-i-mean-the-discovery-is-big-and-its-about-male-genitals?c=ufb1

Listen carefully... towards the end of the video, did she say "elective surgery" or "erective surgery"?
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Thoughts on Ebola

Dr. Ben Kim's Natural Health Newsletter
October 14

Dear Reader,

Many have asked for my views on the Ebola, so I'll share
a few thoughts here.

My understanding is that Ebola is more transmittable than
most world health authorities are generally leading people to
believe.

It's true that the current form of the Ebola virus is not
airborne, which is to say that the Ebola virus isn't capable
of traveling through the air without fluid encasing it.

Chickenpox and tuberculosis are examples of airborne germs
that are capable of traveling through the air from one person
to another without transfer of body fluids.  Put another way,
airborne germs travel from the lungs of one person to the lungs
of another without exchange of blood, sweat, or other body
fluids.

The point that isn't being made strongly enough is that
the Ebola virus counts as a droplet-borne disease.  Droplets
of secretions that are generated with coughing, sneezing,
vomiting, and even some routine medical procedures that are
done around the upper respiratory tract can transmit the Ebola
virus.

These droplets of secretions that contain the Ebola virus
can infect someone nearby if the droplets come into contact with
any of their mucosal linings, like those that protect the
eyes, nasal passageway, and oral cavity.

So if you are within several feet of someone who is infected
with the Ebola virus, even if there is no exchange of body
fluids, it is possible for you to become infected if that
person releases enough droplets of virus via secretions that
occur with coughing, sneezing, and other involuntary contractions
around the upper respiratory area.

The latest data indicates that approximately 70 percent of
infected people are dying.  This is confirmation of how
debilitating the Ebola virus can be, but it is also confirmation
that even if infected, some people are capable of recovering.

My opinion is that in coming weeks, more infections will be
confirmed in multiple countries.

We can only hope that the CDC and their counterparts in
other countries will be able to contain confirmed infections,
and that enough support will be given to those areas within
Africa that are being devastated right now.  With enough supplies
and trained response teams, even hardest hit areas should be
able to prevent this outbreak from killing many millions - the
current goal is to successfully bury 70 percent of those who
have died from Ebola and isolate and treat 70 percent of those
who are fighting infections, all within the next 60 days.

For those who are lucky to be living in areas that have not yet
been touched by Ebola, here are some points on prevention to
keep in mind until the current outbreak is clearly contained:

1.  If at all possible, avoid airplane travel.

2.  Ensure optimal vitamin D status.

(http://drbenkim.com/vitamin-d-facts.htm)

3.  Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C.

(http://drbenkim.com/nutrient-vitaminc.html)

4.  Be mindful of washing your hands with soap and warm or
hot water on a regular basis.

5.  Be well rested.

I don't believe there is much else that we can do to minimize
risk of infection, not unless we want to stockpile enough food
and water to last until Ebola goes away, and stay in our homes
until then.

Unless you are living in an area where new infections are
being confirmed every day, I don't think you need to fear going
about your regular activities.

That is all I have to say about Ebola for now.  Let's hope
that things change for the better soon.

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and peaceful week ahead,

Ben Kim

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Note: This Wall Street Journal article below was published in 2011...

WSJ: Radiation's Effect Depends on Amount

By GAUTAM NAIK

Japanese authorities warned Tuesday morning that they believed that the population living in the area immediately surrounding the stricken nuclear reactors now faced a health risk from further increases in radiation leaks.

Authorities said that radiation levels there had surged to levels that will "clearly have impact on the human body."

On average, an American will receive an annual radiation dose of about 620 millirem, or 6,200 microsieverts, a dose that isn't deemed to be harmful, says the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Half of this radiation exposure comes from natural background sources, such as radioactive materials that naturally exist in rocks, soil and other sources, as well as cosmic rays.

The other half originates from human sources, mainly diagnostic medical procedures such as computer tomography scans, which emit roughly 1,500 microsieverts of radiation, or a full set of dental X-rays, about 400 microsieverts.

Television sets, smoke detectors and luminous watches can also contribute tiny amounts. Natural radioactivity even occurs in foods such as carrots and bananas, and in beer.

Radioactive materials are made of unstable atoms. Such atoms give off excess energy until they become stable; the emitted energy is known as radiation.

To put the reports coming out of Japan in perspective, the NRC limits occupational radiation exposure for adults working with radioactive material to 50,000 microsieverts a year.

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan said that on Monday morning, a radiation level of 3,130 microsieverts per hour was recorded at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, about six times the legal limit. Later in the morning, a radiation level of 326 microsieverts was recorded there.

Significant radiation exposure boosts cancer risk. Damage that occurs at the cellular or molecular level can disrupt the body's natural control processes and allow an uncontrolled growth of cells, or cancer.

Ionizing radiation can bring this about by breaking chemical bonds in atoms and molecules.

The NRC says there are no data to reliably estimate the occurrence of cancer following exposure to low doses and dose rates below about 100,000 microsieverts.

But high doses are dangerous. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says exposure to five to 10 rems of radiation will alter a person's blood chemistry, while 55 rems will also bring on nausea. and fatigue. (One rem is equal to 10,000 microsieverts.)

Vomiting and hair loss occur at 70 rem and 75 rem respectively, while exposure to 400 rem can mean possible death in two months. With even higher doses, the onset of death is quicker.

—Gautam Naik