Honey has been in use for healing wounds for thousands of years. In the last two world wars, medics were using poultices prepared with honey for treating the battlefield wounds of soldiers. The discovery of antibiotics replaced honey as the remedy for healing wounds. Once again doctors are turning to honey as they find germs are becoming more and more resistant to the antibiotics currently available.

    Doctors working at Bonn University Children’s Clinic introduced honey in treating children’s wounds and have seen amazing results. “Wounds heal more rapidly. What is more, changing dressings is less painful, since the poultices are easier to remove without damaging the newly formed skin layer,” says Kai Sofka, wound specialist at the University Children’s Clinic. Honey helps in reducing the unpleasant smell from the wounds as well. Even wounds that refused to heal for years have been brought under control within a few weeks, according to Kai Sofka.

   Honey has been found effective even against the multi-resistant germs such as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or commonly known as staph), says Dr. Arne Simon who works in the cancer ward of the Bonn University Children’s Clinic.

     While producing honey, bees add an enzyme called glucose-oxidase. This enzyme results in the constant production of small amounts of hydrogen peroxide in the honey. Hydrogen peroxide is a very effective antiseptic. But the hydrogen peroxide available in the chemist’s shop loses its potency over time. But in honey, it is produced constantly and provides round the clock antiseptic protection to the wounds.

    Though heart attacks and strokes appear to happen suddenly, they don’t. They usually happen after cholesterol-rich plaque has lodged in the arteries that nourish the heart and the brain. Knowing what sets off heart attacks and strokes can help avoid these triggers. Here is a list of common heart attack triggers.

    Strenuous Activities: Climbing uphill, lifting heavy objects, running etc. that requires heavy physical exertion. But exertion is less likely to cause trouble in people who exercise regularly.

     Lack of sleep: Inadequate sleep can affect the repair and regeneration of the cells, reduce the immunity and render the heart more vulnerable.

     Grief: Losing people or things to which one is excessively attached, produces grief, which can be a potential trigger.

     Anger: A bout of anger can increase the chances of having a heart attack up to 14 times, during the next two hours.

     Overeating: Eating too much affects breathing, leads to breathlessness and could trigger a heart attack.

     Excessive sexual activity: Sudden excitement, excessive sexual activity or sexual activity inappropriate to one’s age and health, stresses the heart a lot.

     Extreme weather: Severe hot weather or severe cold weather puts tremendous stress on the heart and could trigger a heart attack.

    Thought almost all women are aware of the health benefits of breastfeeding, they are reluctant to breastfeed their babies because of the fear that their breasts might sag later. A new study by University of Kentucky plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Rinker found that breastfeeding does not affect the shape of the breasts.

     Rinker and his colleagues studied women who opted for a breast lift at the UK Healthcare Cosmetic Surgery Associates, between the years 1998 to 2006. The women were on an average 39 years old, 93 percent had  at least one pregnancy and most of them had breastfed at least one child. Additionally the research team evaluated the women’s medical history, body mass index, pre-pregnancy bra cup size and smoking habits.

     The results showed no difference in the degree of breast ptosis (the medical term for sagging of the breasts) for those women who breastfed and those who didn’t. However, the researchers found that several other factors did affect breast sagging, such as age, number of pregnancies and smoking habits.

      It’s common knowledge that age and multiple pregnancies results in the loosening of the skin and might contribute to sagging. What about smoking? “Smoking has an adverse effect on the shape of the breasts, as it breaks down a protein on the skin called elastin, which supports the breasts, explained Rinker.