It is found mostly during and shortly after the rainy season in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia and China, India, Middle East, Caribbean and Central and South America, Australia and the South and Central Pacific. The dengue virus is transmitted to its host during probing and blood feeding.

Causes of Dengue Fever

- It is caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4), of the genus Flavivirus.
- Increase in non-biodegradable plastic packaging and discarded tires.
- Increased jet air travel is helping people infected with dengue viruses to move easily from city to city.
- Lack of effective methods to control epidemics.
- Lack of effective mosquito control efforts.
- Poor Public health systems.
- Rapid growth or Overcrowding of cities in tropical countries.
- Urban decay, and substandard sanitation, allowing more mosquitoes to live closer to more people.

Signs and Symptoms of Dengue

After the mosquito carrying the virus has bitten a person the symptoms generally starts within 5 to 8 days. The acute phase of illness can last for 1 week followed by a 1 to 2 week period of recovery period.
- Mild fever, to incapacitating high fever upto 105 degrees.
- Rashes
- Headache
- Redness and pain in eyes
- Joint and muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Change in taste
- Swollen lymph nodes

Who is at a high risk of having dengue?

- Anyone who is bitten by an infected mosquito can get Dengue fever.
- Risk factors for Dengue hemorrhagic fever include a person’s age and immune status.
- It also depends on type of infecting virus.

- A flat or raised growth of black or brown color, often mixed with blue, red, or white parts, from 6 mm to few cm in size, may appear anywhere on the skin, in men mostly on the trunk, in women on the back and legs, and parts of the skin that are usually hidden from the sun, but were exposed to intense sunlight for short periods.
- Melanoma may show one or more of typical ABCDE characteristics: Asymmetry: one part of the tumor differs from other parts; Border of the tumor is irregular; Color: tumor may be of different colors, often several colors are present in one tumor; Diameter above 6 mm (in most cases), Evolving: lesion growths and changes color and appearance with time.

Melanoma Subtypes :
- Superficially spreading melanoma grows relatively slowly.
- Nodular melanoma grows rapidly – weeks to months. It tends to ulcerate and bleed.
- Acral lentiginous melanoma appears in dark skinned people (Afro-American, Asian, and Hispanic), mostly on their palms, soles, and under nails.
- Lentigo maligna melanoma. A macule grows slowly (years) as a patch, over 1-3 cm in size. It does not spread to other organs.

Treatment :
- Chemotherapy is often used to treat melanoma that has returned or spread.
- Medications such as interferon or interleukin, which boost the immune system to fight the cancer, may be useful in addition to chemotherapy and surgery. This kind of treatment is called immunotherapy. However, interferon has many side effects and can be difficult to tolerate.
- Radiation treatments may be used to relieve pain or discomfort caused by cancer that has spread.
- Cancer that has spread elsewhere in the body is sometimes removed with surgery to relieve pain or discomfort.

- Squamous cell carcinoma arises from squamous cells in the uppermost layer of epidermis – stratum corneum.
- It appears as a scaly, reddish, dome-shaped, fleshy nodule, from 5 mm to few cm (if left untreated) in size, often with a central ulcer. It mostly appears on sun exposed areas of the skin or lips.
- It grows slowly, but it can spread to other organs.

Risks for squamous cell skin cancer include:
- Having light-colored skin, blue or green eyes, or blond or red hair.
- Long-term, daily sun exposure (such as in people who work outside).
- Many severe sunburns early in life.
- Older age.
- A large number of x-rays.
- Arsenic.
- Chemical exposure.
- Chronic skin ulcers.
- Actinic keratoses (These lesions have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma.).
At first cancer cells tend to spread only as far as the nearest lymph nodes clusters of tissue found in the underarms, groin, neck, and other parts of the body that help fight disease. When cancer spreads, they often trap cancer cells. structures, which filter out and trap the cancer cells. If spread has occurred, the affected lymph nodes can be removed before cancer spreads to vital organs.
With early detection and proper treatment, SCC is curable. Allowed to progress, SCC can invade and destroy much of the tissue surrounding the cancerous tumor, which can be disfiguring.
Some SCCs, such as those that develop on a lip or an ear, can be particularly aggressive. Left untreated, aggressive SCCs have a greater risk for metastasis (spreading) to the lymph nodes and other internal organs. This makes early diagnosis and treatment of SCC essential.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA : This cancer is the most common type, and is the type of skin cancer that 90% of US citizen are diagnosed with.
- Basal cell carcinoma arises from the basal cells in the bottom layer of the epiderrmis – stratum basale.
- Basal cell carcinoma does not metastasize like the other skin cancers, but can still badly damage the area they occupy.
- It resembles a small nodule that is red in color, and located on the face, hands, or sometimes the torso. Occasionally, these nodules appear on the trunk of the body, usually as flat growths.
- Basal cell carcinoma can lead to the loss of organ function on such external organs as the ears or eyes.
- Although most cases of basal cell carcinoma are caused by the sun, other exposures can have the same results. Arsenic, severe burns, tattooing, vaccinations, and radiation can all cause basal cell carcinoma.

The variety in which basal cell carcinoma can appear makes for hard diagnosis. It can hide itself in the form of a mosquito bite, wart, rash, or cyst. For these reasons it is important for one to see a physician if any area of sun exposed skin looks unusual or has had prolonged pain.

The list below highlights some of the main causes:
- Having any deficiency of the immune system, that is having a condition that predisposes you to lowered immune system function, will increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
- Being exposed to abnormally high levels of X-rays may contribute to the development of skin cancer.
- Using tanning booths to acquire an artificial tan has been widely accepted as a substantial cause of the disease.
- Having a family history increases the risk of skin cancer.
- If you have several moles these can become cancerous growths on the skin’s surface.
- Some people are thought to be at a more significant risk, such as lighter skinned people, people with blond or red hair and green or blue eyes.

Health Benefits of Dates :
- Great energy booster.
- Dates get digested very quickly, that’s why they can be used for quick energy and repairing wastes.
- Dates are also excellent remedy for alcoholic intoxication.
- The date is a laxative food. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of constipation as the roughage provided by it stimulates sluggish bowels.
- Dates are an effective remedy for weak heart. Dates soaked overnight in water and crushed in the same water in the morning after removing the seeds should be taken at least twice a week in this condition. It will strengthen the heart.
- Dates are Rich in Potassium and Low in Sodium.
- Researches have revealed that dates are effective in preventing abdominal cancer.
- Dates have a tonic effect and thus, hold value as medicines.

However, as a precaution, dates require great care for selection. The sticky surface of the date attracts dust and impurities of the air to settle there. It is, therefore, advisable to purchase the best varieties in good packing condition and to wash them thoroughly before use.
- When you select dates, always make sure they are evenly colored and fleshy. A dry, withered-looking date has neither any taste nor nutritional benefits.
- Ensure there are no sugar formations on the exterior part of a date. This usually happens around a dry date fruit and is absolutely not suitable to eat.

Symptoms :
- Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen.
- Heartburn
- Abdominal pain, bloating (full feeling), belching and gas, nausea, vomiting, acidic taste, “growling” stomach, and sometimes diarrhea.

Causes :
- A disease or an ulcer in the digestive tract might cause indigestion.
- For most people, it is the result of eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations. Indigestion is not caused by excess stomach acid.
- Being tired or stressed, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol or caffeinated beverages can cause indigestion or make it worse.
Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion is called functional, or non-ulcer, and is caused by a problem associated with how food moves through the digestive tract.

Treatment :
- Combine 1 tbsp. of ginger and lemon juice with 2 tbsp. of honey in 8 cups of warm water. Mix these ingredients for several minutes until they are adequately joined. Consume this mixture when you begin to feel the effects of indigestion.
- Green tea and herbal tea are very effective in improving digestion.
- Eat 10 to 20 grapes whenever you experience any type of digestion issue. Grapes are very good at relieving indigestion, as well as an upset stomach.
- Add 1 tbsp. of cinnamon to 8 oz.. of cold water, then mix thoroughly. Drink this mixture 1 hour after you have eaten to prevent or relieve indigestion, as well as flatulence.
- Drink 4 oz. of pineapple juice after each meal to prevent any type of digestion problem, including belching, flatulence or bloating. If you experiencing these problems, consume the drink each day, after every meal, until your indigestion has subsided.
- Avoid eating junk food during indigestion. Foods like fizzy
drinks, caffeinated drinks, garlic, alcohol, acid fruits, chocolate, and
tomatoes/tomato products can give you heartburn and indigestion.
- Start taking diet rich in green leafy vegetables.
- Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.
- Eat slowly.
- Caffeine causes the stomach to produce more acid, so reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
- If stress is a trigger for your indigestion, reevaluating your lifestyle may help to reduce stress. Learn new methods for managing stress, such as relaxation and biofeedback techniques.
- Smokers should consider quitting smoking, or at least not smoking right before eating, as smoking can irritate the stomach lining.
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.
- Do not exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.
- Do not lie down right after eating.

- Soya beans are also a great source of fibre so soy milk has the health benefit of containing a good deal more fibre than cows milk which helps our general digestive functions.
- Soymilk is cholesterol free, and has a lower amount of saturated fat compared to cow’s milk.
- Soymilk is a good nutritional source of vitamin B1, B2, B6, and E, and minerals such as magnecium and calcium for just about anybody wanting to live a healthy lifestyle.
- Soymilk is derived from the isoflavones, also known as cancer-fighting chemicals, as they aid in the prevention of various cancers.
- The prevention of osteoporosis, a disease where the patient’s bone becomes porous and brittle, is the fifth significant health benefit of soymilk. The human body is in a constant state of activity breaking down and remaking of bones. Soymilk isoflavones protect one’s bones by hampering the body’s ability to break bones, while enhancing the ability of the body to remake bones.
- Soy milk contains only vegetables proteins.
- Soy milk contains no lactose.
- Soy milk does not cause insulin dependent diabetes.
- If you are allergic to cows milk then Soy milk might be a good alternative. About 2.5% of children are allergic to cow’s milk whereas only 0.5% of children are allergic to soy milk.

Missing elements from Soya milk :
It misses some of the important health benefits that cow’s milk can provide.
If you are switching from using cow’s milk to soy milk you should be aware that Soy milk does not contain calcium and so you should allow for this by eating calcium rich foods in other parts of your diet. Other foods rich in calcium include leafy green vegetables such as Kale, sardines and almonds. Soya milk doesn’t provide the omega-3 fatty acids EPA or DHA.