Health Benefits of Water

How much water to drink every day? A simple question with a very difficult answer.It is not easy to assess what is the standard requirement of water for an individual. It is subjective of many factors like weight, climate and activity levels.

Our body is made up of 60 per cent of water. Every day a normal person loses water through breath, sweat, urine and bowel movement. This water needs to be replenished or replaced.
To generalize '8 x 8 rule' - drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 2 liters). It can also be modified as 'drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day' as all fluids count toward the daily total requirement. Though this is not supported by any scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink. Another easy way to calculate is -
Divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30 (ex. somebody weighing 70 kg is going to need 2.3 liters/day)

Healthy reasons to drink adequte water:
Weight loss. Water is one of the best ways to lose weight. It replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn't have any calories. But it's also a great appetite suppressant and often when we think we're hungry, we're actually just thirsty.

Water has no fat, no calories, no carbs, no sugar.
Healthy Heart: Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risk of a heart attack.
Energy. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated which can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other symptoms. So it's a source of instant energy. Hot or humid weather can make a person sweat and require additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during winters. Further, altitudes greater than 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves

Dehydration commonly causes Headache: Often when we have a headache it's simply a matter of not drinking enough water.

Pregnancy or breast-feeding: Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are lost especially when nursing.

Healthy skin: Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It doesn't happen overnight, but consistent consumption of water has good effects on the skin.

Digestive problems: The digestive system needs a good amount of water to digest food properly.Often water can help cure acidity problems, and water along with fibre can cure constipation.

Cleansing: Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body.

Healing: It has been shown that proper water intake promotes healing processes.Drinking water helps to exercise harder. Dehydration severely hampers physical activities and slows you down. Exercise requires additional water, so be sure to hydrate before, during and after exercise.

Cancer risk: Drinking healthy amount of water has also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45 per cent. Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50 per cent and also reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Beyond the tap: Other sources of water
On average, food provides about 20 per cent of total water intake, while the remaining 80 per cent comes from water and beverages of all kinds. For example, many fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumbers are nearly 100 per cent water by weight. Beverages such as milk, buttermilk and juice are also comprised mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea or soda can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is one of your best bets because it's calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.

Remember:
-To carry a bottle of water everywhere
-keep a glass/bottle of water handy on your desk while working
-Drink enough water while exercising

benefit and risk of drugs

Since a physician is trained to recognize and understand the clinical data regarding a drug's benefits and risks, it is the physician who is better qualified to decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks.


I totally agree with Sonit. If patients were allowed to make this assessment for themselves what would be the point in the prescription system?

Associate Professor at McGill University Health Centre
It is a little bit more difficult than that. Who does decide? I would say that each step that a drug has to go through to reach the patient has its own decider. During the drug development it is the company that decides that pursuing the development might be worth it, and ultimately the regulatory institution (i.e., FDA) that will say yes or no. Finally the physician will decide whether or not the risk is worth the prescription considering the potential benefit but at the end of the day, the patient, with his/her own perception of what benefit and risk are, will decide to comply to the prescription or not. And for the same physician and the same patients, the preception will also vary depending on the disease that is being addressed. Now, who is right and who is wrong, I leave it to the philosophers...

Thank you Laurent, for bringing all this info with which I agree
I would like to add that in practice, patients as less standardized that in clinical trials where they are selected based on specific criterias.

Facing somehow different profiles in real practice, Company medical department is involved, then the physician, than the patient who may have the choices between different treatment options based on a clear information, eventually helped by a person in case of need (translator, parents, wife/husband, etc..)

Finger ulcers

You would have observed majority of the people in the age group of 25 to 50 years do suffer from one or the other problem of fingers. It could be either a complaint of persistent mild pain in fingers or appearance of ulcers on fingers tips, or blackening of nails and finger tips. If you are a habitual tobacco chewer or a smoker, you then in all probability are nearing a stage of ulcer development. If you are a regular user of tobacco-mixed paan masaala, or khaini, or jaffrani patti, believe me you yourself are making a road map for finger amputation.

If your fingers have ulcers or black discoloration, it simply means your hand and fingers are getting less supply of pure blood. If timely management is not instituted, there will definitely be no other outcome except of loss of fingers. If your fingers have constant pain and tingling sensation, this too is an indicator of inadequate blood supply. In such a situation, always seek consultation with a vascular or cardiovascular surgeon instead of a general surgeon.

What causes ulcers on fingers?
The commonest contributing factors to a finger ulcers are Raynauld's disease, Buerger's disease caused by smoking and tobacco chewing, and vasculitis caused due to significant inflammatory swelling of arterial wall. Because of vasculitis, the small arteries get deposition of blood clots inside, that results into complete stoppage of blood flow to the hand. This leads to ulcer and black discoloration of fingers. This stage heralds the beginning of gangrene.

There are two reasons for development of vasculitis. One is hyper sensitivity angiitis disease caused by the abnormal hypersensitivity of the arteries. Another one is immune vasculitis disease caused due to disturbances in the defence mechanism or immune system of the body. The Scleroderma disease tops the list of causative factors of immune vasculitis.

There are other causes too, of finger ulcers. One of the important causes is the unwarranted excessive pressure from outside on the artery which supplies blood to the hand. The external pressure on the artery occurs either in the neck area or at the shoulder. There are many reasons for this external pressure on the artery carrying blood to hand. If in the past you have sustained chest injury in an accident and suffered from fracture of clavicle or first rib, the fractured bones though get united in due course of time but leave a protuberant bony scar at the fracture site. This bony scar compresses the artery situated in the upper part of the chest resulting into inadequate supply of blood to hand. In some individuals, an additional rib emerges abnormally from the spine since birth. This abnormal rib in medical terms is called 'cervical rib' which too grows in size as the age advances, and starts pressing the artery which supplies pure blood to hand and fingers. This pressure on the artery causes pain followed by developmental of finger ulcers.

Sometimes, especially in ladies due to advancing age and lack of exercise, shoulders start dropping down. This puts artery of hand under abnormally excessive and harmful pressure, leading to disturbance in blood flow. Sometimes, due to old injury of neck, the mucles of the neck themselves get constricted permanently and in turn accelerates the process of construction of adjacent artery too.

Treatment in case of a finger ulcer
For treatment of finger ulcers in majority of the cases, medications and observance of certain precautions are required. Strict surveillance to monitor the progress of the disease and effect of treatment is very much essential. In a few cases only surgical intervention is needed. Sometimes, surgical removal of clots from the affected artery is required. In a few selected cases, sometimes special operations like thoracic outlet decompression are performed to take the undue pressure off the artery. In such operations, abnormally - grown cervical rib or the first rib is resected and taken out. Sometimes previously injured and abnormally united clavicle too has to be taken out to relieve pressure on the artery.
If diseased artery is damaged beyond correction, modern surgical techniques like 'arterial reconstruction' or 'arterial bypass' are employed. For bypass, artificial tubes imported from US and Germany are used. These special operations help in restoration of blood supply to hand and fingers.

What to do if you have ulcers on your fingers?
1 Protect your hand and fingers from cold. In winter seasons especially, wear woolen gloves on your hand.
2 Do not stand in front of refrigerator when it is open. Never put your hand directly into the deep freezer compartment.
3 Avoid using cold or icy water for bath. Use rubber gloves while washing dishes.
4 Change your profession or job, if you are working in a food processing industry, or ice cream manufacturing units or in cold storage, where you get a regular exposure to cold water every day.
5 Do not smoke. Never use tobacco-mixed paan masaala or tooth paste. Avoid using countrymade tobacco preparations like "Khaini", 'Chaini", "Hukka'.
6 Avoid using tight wrist band or wrist watches having tight straps. Wearing tight rings on your fingers is harmful.
7 Avoid direct injury to your hand and fingers. Use of sewing machine is harmful. Avoid regular practice on harmonium and piano.
8 Avoid using any detergent or soap especially meant for washing clothes.
9 Female patients should avoid using contraceptives.
10 Use salads and tomatoes in large quantities. Freshly-cut pineapple if eaten immediately is very beneficial.
11 Avoid some specific medicines like ergot preparation (used in headache and migraine), betablockers (used in blood pressure), Sudafed and Actifed used in cold.
12 Avoid holding mixi, hair drier, and drilling machines with your hand.

Positive Effects Of Deep Sleep

Scientists are confirming what yogis and ayurvedic physicians have reported for centuries: deep sleep rests the body and the mind. Our daily dose of sleep regulates our weight, strengthens our immunity, protects our cardiovascular health, repairs our tissues and cells, and restores our energy. Sleep also allows us to process, consolidate and retain new memories; it balances our emotions, makes us better problem solvers, and feeds our creativity.

When we depend on pills to put us to sleep, we're only masking our problems. Yoga challenges us to become the master of our mind, not a slave to it. When our thoughts begin to keep us awake at night, our mental gymnastics need to be addressed, not suppressed.

Side effects and cost aside, if we need drugs to put us to sleep, we're in trouble. Ceding control to the pharmaceutical industry makes it impossible for us to explore, and eventually master, our own body and mind. There are better ways to get a good night's sleep — through massage, yoga and ayurveda can show you how.

Give yourself a five-minute massage
A scalp and foot massage is a shortcut to full-body relaxation. Why? Because all meridians or nadis begin in the scalp and end in the soles of the feet. Plus, many neural endings, receptors and marmas (pressure points) are clustered in the head and feet. By giving yourself the following mini-massage you will get the benefits of an entire body massage. When you've massaged both feet, soak them for five minutes in a bucket of warm saltwater.

Make time for yoga
A regular, balanced hatha yoga practice circulates the lymph and blood, tones the channels of elimination, and balances both the endocrine and nervous systems, calming vata and helping the body and mind digest the events of the day. Whether you practise in the morning, afternoon, or at bedtime, yoga paves the way to a good night's sleep.

SALAMBA BALASANA
Sit on your heels with knees apart and tuck few pillows between your thighs and chest. Turn your head to one side. Let the rib cage melt in to the pillows. Relax and breathe deeply. Stay in this position for five minutes. Then turn heads the other side.

ADHAPMUKHA JATHARA PARVITTASANA
Sit with your hips to the right of your feet and cradle your left ankle in the arch of the right foot. Turn the sternum and place your right cheek on the top pillow, snuggling your belly into the support of the pillow. Repeat on the other side. Stay for one minute on each side.

SUPTA BADDHA KONASANAS
Lie on the bed, draw the soles of your feet together with your knees apart. Allow shoulders and chest to broaden and release to gravity. Be in this position for five minutes.

Heart Habits At Workplace

On the occasion of World Heart Day 2009 Senior Heart Specialist gave message to 'Work with a healthy heart' and take care of the heart to live a healthy life. Over 17.2 million people die every year due to heart diseases and stroke. At least 80% of these deaths from heart diseases and stroke can be prevented if the main risk factors, tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are controlled.

"Since most of us spend over half our waking hours working, a work place that encourages healthy habits can reduce risk of many diseases including heart attack and stroke. This is why World Heart Day 2009 is calling on every one to 'Work with Heart' encouraging you to make small changes that together could make a big difference in favour of great health and productivity," says Doctor.

Tips for devising work place programme:
1. Say no to Tobacco - Insist on smoke-free environment. Your risk to heart attack will be halved with in a year.
2. Get Active - Be physically active during the day. Walk around your building or exercise during office breaks. Include physical activity in your working schedule and encourage others to do so. Even 30 minutes of physical activity daily can help to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Take the stairs, go for a walk.
3. Eat Smart - Ask for healthy food at your work canteen or find near by cafes that serve healthy food. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Make smart choices, choosing fruits and green vegetables from the healthy menu or bring your own food from the home. Avoid salt and processed food.
4.Maintain Healthy Weight - Maintain ideal weight as per your height and age.
5. Know your Numbers -- Know numbers like your blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight, waist to hip ratio, body mass index. Take the help of doctor and develop a specific plan of action to improve these numbers.

Foods to Prevent Fatigue

In today's fast paced life fatigue is a common problem. A better diet can keep us energised throughout the day. Learn about the foods that help keep you feeling at your peak. Fatigue is simply mental or physical exhaustion. A process that slows the body down at the end of the day and prepares us for sleep, or protects overworked muscles from possible injury. Some simple dietary changes can help us keep fatigue from getting us down.

Drink plenty of water
Mild dehydration is a common and often overlooked cause of fatigue. Dehydration can reduce blood flow to organs, slowing down your brain. Drink about eight glasses of water a day, and don't wait until youfeel thirsty.

Eat breakfast
The brain is fuel-hungry, using up to 30 per cent of calories. A good breakfast refills our energy stores, keeping lethargy at bay during the morning hours. This is especially true for children, who have a higher metabolism and smaller energy reserves. Include carbohydrates at breakfast, a whole grain muffin with peanut butter, a piece of fruit and a glass of skim milk.

Eat protein and carbs in combination especially at lunch. It's not your imagination: that drowsy, dopey feeling you get around 4 pm is part of your brain's natural daily rhythms. Protein contains the amino acid tryptophan, precursor of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes a calm, relaxed feeling, which helps to fight emotional fatigue. Eaten with protein, carbohydrates may boost the brain's intake of tryptophan. Protein-rich foods also contain tyrosine, a precursor to neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, promoters of alertness, attention, and motivation.

Use caffeine judiciously
Caffeinated beverages fight fatigue. Caffeine not only makes you feel more energised, it also increases alertness, reaction speed and ability to think clearly for up to three hours. But five or six cups of coffee a day can make you irritable and jittery, actually decreasing performance on some tasks; caffeine late in the day can cause insomnia. If caffeine's your thing, try one cup in the morning and a Diet Coke with lunch.

Get enough calories, but avoid big meals. While overeating is a serious problem for many folks (and can itself lead to fatigue), if you're an intensely active person or you're on a stringent diet, you may not be getting enough calories. Needs vary: take care to consume enough calories for your gender, body type and activity level. High-intensity exercisers need to get enough protein.

Don't, however, take all your calories in one or two daily feasts. Instead, eat five or six smaller meals. A full stomach draws blood to the belly and away from the brain, leaving you listless and dull. Smaller meals also help keep insulin levels constant, avoiding fluctuations of energy and mood.

Eat Iron Rich Food
Iron enables blood to carry oxygen to the organs of the body. Deprived of adequate oxygen, the brain cannot function optimally, leading to lack of mental acuity and feelings of fatigue. Iron intake is not in general a problem for men, but many women have mild iron deficiency. If you suspect you're not getting enough iron, boost your intake with foods like lean red meat, liver, spinach, and apricots.

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How To Take Care of kids teeth

Young kids with pretty smile! Who doesn't like to see a kid smile? Who doesn't wish to pamper them with all they want….. sweets, candies, chocolates are exactly what make a child happy. Milk teeth, as the 1st set of dentition in a child is called, are rarely considered a cause of worry by parents because they know that sooner or later these teeth would go and be replaced by a 2nd set of teeth….. But its hardly known that despite the fact that milk teeth are replaced by the permanent set of teeth as the child grows, they need an equal amount of care so that they perform their function well as long as they stay and also look good.

Beginning at the very early years of a child, a very common form of tooth decay seen in infants is called "Rampant Caries" or "Nursing Bottle Caries". The terminology may sound complex but the cause is as simple. It is a common practice to have infants sleep or lie down with milk bottles containing sweetened milk in their mouth. The continuous contact or milk forms a layer on the child's teeth, especially during the night time when the saliva production is reduced. This can cause decay of a large number of teeth, sometimes so severe that the entire tooth structure is destroyed within a very short time period. And the parents will never know what happened to their child's perfect teeth!

Many parents tend to neglect decay in the early dentition of a child but if it progresses to very severe limits, it can cause severe dental pathologies as well as infection of the permanent tooth bud forming under the deciduous tooth. Trauma is a very common event in childhood. Kids often fall during play hurting their teeth. Sometimes the front teeth may fracture and the parents shall rush to a dentist, but at other times no apparent fracture may appear or the tooth can appear slightly driven into its sockets as compared to its adjacent tooth. This can be a cause of much more worry than an apparent fracture, for in this case the trauma to the tooth maybe transferred to the permanent tooth bud developing underneath it and produce severe deformity of the developing permanent tooth bud. So a dentist should be referred to after all such injuries to that an appropriate radiograph (dental X-ray) of the region can be taken and the necessary treatment provided.

Most parents worry about a "crooked teeth" phase in their child's life. This is often a transitory developmental stage seen in the mixed dentition period when permanent teeth begin to replace the milk teeth. No orthodontic treatment is needed in most cases but a dentist's advice should be taken. Many of these conditions are self - correcting as the child grows.

A major discrepancy or difference in a child's jaw sizes are signs of early consultation with an orthodontist. Such events occur due to the arrested or decreased growth of one jaw compared to the other. Such conditions are treatable only in the early stages of a child's growth by a treatment modality in orthodontics called as "growth modification" wherein appliances can be used to control and modify the growth of the two jaws relative to one another. This condition if left untreated in upto the pre-adolescent stage, can become a cause for serious worry and may require more severe treatment forms including orthognathic surgery (surgery of the jaws). Hence early intervention is always a preferred option in these cases.

Finally cleaning a child's teeth well is really important. Have the child learn the proper brushing technique by a dentist. For a brief guide, a child upto 7 years of age should hold his arm parallel to the floor and make large circles with the brush outside the mouth. This guides him in controlling the brush movements. Then the child should be asked to form similar smaller circles over his teeth while brushing them. No more than 5 minutes of brushing should be necessary. A parent should always guide children during brushing. Children above 7 years of age can follow the same brushing pattern as adults.

For an infant, as the first teeth begin to erupt, a parent may clean them by applying a small amount of toothpaste over them and wiping off with a towel or atleast with a wet towel alone. Lastly, the diet of a child should be monitored. Some children may not really hog onto sweets and yet have badly decayed teeth while others may be extensive sweet lovers and yet have perfectly healthy teeth. There is an inherent genetic predisposition or risk factor for each individual which affects his susceptibility for dental decay. But we should always take precautions.

All children are precious and so is their good health… and good health includes good dental health as well. We must not forget that teeth form a very vital part of our bodies. They help us in biting, chewing and mastication and give our faces an aesthetic look. So we cannot afford to have these young, pretty children lose out on those perfectly beautiful teeth.

Its time to know and act for a healthy generation!!
Treat your child's teeth well.... don't shut eyes to some good knowledge and some efficient treatment. Get to workright away....

Bioplastics an alternative for plastic bags

Keeping in view the perilous relation with atmospheric pollution the Govt of J&K has taken a very wise step to stop manufacturing degradable plastic bags in the State. So there was a pertinent need to develop its better alternative. The Govt has already undertaken a sound step in this direction in Kashmir by getting a plant there to manufacture bioplastic bags i.e biodegradable bags which are able to decay naturally in a way that is not harmful in any way. Bioplastics (also called organic plastics) are a form of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, corn starch, pea starch or microbiota, rather than fossil fuel plastics which are derived from petroleum.

The terminology used in the bioplastics sector is sometimes misleading. Mostly the industry uses the term bioplastic to mean a plastic produced from a biological source. One of the oldest plastics, cellulose film, is made from wood cellulose. All (bio-and petroleum -based) plastics are technically biodegradable, meaning they can be degraded by microbes under suitable conditions. However many degrade at such slow rates as to be considered non-biodegradable. Non-biodegradable bioplastics are referred to as durable. The degree of biodegradation varies with temperature, polymer stability, and available oxygen content. Consequently, most bioplastics will only degrade in the tightly controlled conditions of industrial composting units.

The term ‘‘biodegradable plastic’’ is often also used by producers of specially modified petrochemical-based plastics which appear to biodegrade. Traditional plastics such as polyethylene are degraded by ultra-violet (UV) light and oxygen. To prevent this process manufacturers add stabilising chemicals. However with the addition of a degradation initiator to the plastic, it is possible to achieve a controlled UV/oxidation disintegration process. This type of plastic may be referred to as degradable plastic or oxy-degradable plastic or photodegradable plastic because the process is not initiated by microbial action.

The production and use of bioplastics is generally regarded as a more sustainable activity when compared with plastic production from petroleum (petroplastic), because it relies less on fossil fuel as a carbon source and also introduces fewer, net-new greenhouse emissions if it biodegrades. They significantly reduce hazardous waste caused by oil-derived plastics, which remain solid for hundreds of years, and open a new era in packing technology and industry.

However, manufacturing of bioplastic materials is often still reliant upon petroleum as an energy and materials source. This comes in the form of energy required to power farm machinery and irrigate growing crops, to produce fertilisers and pesticides, to transport crops and crop products to processing plants, to process raw materials, and ultimately to produce the bioplastic, although renewable energy can be used to obtain petroleum independence. Other studies showed that bioplastics represent a 42% reduction in carbon footprint. On the other hand, bioplastic can be made from agricultural byproducts and also from used plastic bottles and other containers using microorganisms.

Plastic types
Starch based plastics
Constituting about 50 percent of the bioplastics market, thermoplastic starch, such as plastarch material, currently represents the most important and widely used bioplastic.

Polylactic acid (PLA) plastics
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a transparent plastic produced from cane sugar or glucose. It not only resembles conventional petrochemical mass plastics (like PE or PP) in its characteristics, but it can also be processed easily on standard equipment that already exists for the production of conventional plastics. PLA and PLA-Blends generally come in the form of granulates with various properties and are used in the plastic processing industry for the production of foil, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and other packaging.

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB)
The biopolymer poly-3- hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a polyester produced by certain bacteria processing glucose or starch.

Polyamide 11 (PA 11)
PA 11 is a biopolymer derived from natural oil. It is also known under the tradename Rilsan B commercialized by Arkema. PA 11 belongs to the technical polymers family and is not biodegradable.

Bio- derived polyethylene
The basic building block (monomer) of polyethylene is ethylene. This is just one small chemical step from ethanol, which can be produced by fermentation of agricultural feedstocks such as sugar cane or corn. Bio-derived polyethylene is chemically and physically identical to traditional polyethylene- it does not biodegrade but can be recycled. It can also considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Genetically modified bioplastics
Genetic modification (GM) is also a challenge for the bioplastics industry. None of the currently available bioplastics-which can be considered first generation products-require the use of GM crops. However, it is not possible to ensure corn used to make bioplastic in North America is GM-free.

Applications
Because of their biological degradability, the use of bioplastics is especially popular for disposable items, such as packaging and catering items (crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, straws). The use of bioplastics for shopping bags is already common. After their initial use they can be reused as bags for organic waste and then be composted. Trays and containers for fruit, vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy products and blister foils for fruit and vegetables are also already widely manufactured from bioplastics.

Non-disposable applications include mobile phone casings, carpet fibres, and car interiors, fuel line and plastic pipe applications, and new electroactive bioplastics are being developed that can be used to carry electrical current. In these areas, the goal is not biodegradability, but to create items from sustainable resources.

Performance and usage
Many bioplastics lack the performance and ease of processing of traditional materials. Polyactic acid plastic is being used by a handful of small companies for water bottles. But shelf life is limited because the plastic is permeable to water- the bottles lose their contents and slowly deform. However, bioplastics are seeing some use in Europe, where they account for 60 percent of the biodegradable materials market. The most common end use market is for packaging materials. Japan has also been a pioneer in bioplastic, incorporating them into electronics and automobiles.

Stop Smoking for the sake of life

Smoking is injurious to health is known, but regardless of the risk involved people continue to smoke .Most of the people know that smoking can cause lung cancer, but it can also cause many other cancers and illness. Cigarettes contain more than 4000 chemical compounds and at least 400 toxic substances .When you inhale, a cigarette burns at 700c at the tip and around 60c in the core .This heat breaks down the tobacco to produce various toxins.

World wide more than 1.3 billion people smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products.
Tobacco currently causes an estimated 4.9 million deaths annually,(8.8 percent of all deaths)
The products that are most damaging are ;
Tar, a carcinogen (substance that causes cancer).
Nicotine is additive and increases cholesterol levels in your body.
Carbon monoxide reduces oxygen in the body. Components of the gas and particulate phases cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Research has shown that smoking reduces life expectancy by seven to eight years. Smoker tend to develop coronary thrombosis 10 years earlier than non smokers and make up to 9 out of 10 heart bypass patients . Smokers and passive smokers are more likely to get cancer than non smokers .This is particularly true of lung cancer, throat cancer and mouth cancer, which hardly ever affects non smokers.

One in ten moderate smokers and almost one in five heavy smokers (more than 15 cigarettes a day) will die of lung cancer. The more cigarettes you smoke in a day and the longer you have smoked , the higher your risk of lung cancer. Similarly, the risk rises the deeper you inhale and the earlier in life you started smoking. For ex-smoker , it takes approximately 15 years before the risk of lung cancer drops to the same as that of a non- smoker.

There are a variety of symptoms of lung cancer, including difficulty breathing, coughing up blood , chest pain , loss of appetite, weight loss and general fatigue. Some lung cancers do not cause any noticeable symptoms until they are quite advanced and have spread to other parts of the body.
If current smoking patterns continue ,by 2020 the global burden of disease attributable to tobacco will reach 9 million deaths annually with 7 million of these in developing countries.
So, stop smoking !
Give yourself a life!

Evolution and use of water bottles

As redicilous as what you’re about to read might seem, I could legimitely gain insight into why people make these choices using the methods I’m learning in class. Anyway, I bet you agree with me. Read on:

Ever since college, I’ve noticed the preponderance of water receptacles hanging, attached, or inside of student backpacks, attaches, and messenger bags. It certainly makes sense – students, seeking to maintain a healthy lifestyle (because it’s just so awesome to drink water) make sure to have a fresh volume with them at all times. Back in my day, everyone was drinking water from plastic Nalgene bottles. Not only did these bottles allow everyone to know “hey, I’m healthy, I drink water” the bottle also allowed for cool stickers through which people could further describe their cool personality. But times have changed. From what I can tell, a WAR now rages between various factions of water consumers. If you aren’t carrying the right container, you’re either 1) poisoning yourself 2) an elitist 3) a hippy 4) cheap 5) drinking from the sewers 6) just don’t care about your body or 7) don’t care about the environment.

Let’s talk about the options:

Nalgene – As previously mentioned, this was really the first COOL water container. Everyone had one, they were cheap and they could carry WATER like none other. The best part about Nalgenes was not only were they clear (which showed to everyone how healthy you were), there was also ample space to place stickers describing even more awesome components describing your coolness. The most popular sticker was the DMB fire figure (if you don’t know what that stands for, you’re NOT cool). But the actual most cool sticker (that which is most popular cannot possibly also be the most cool since if it’s too popular it’s just not that cool) is the OBX sticker (again, if you don’t know what that stands for, you don’t deserve to know).

Nalgene User Rallying Cry: “My Nalgene.”

Stainless Steel Container – Nothing says clean like Stainless steel. The movement towards these excellently cool containers was spurred by the discovery that the plastic with which Nalgene bottles were fashioned actually may poison users of the bottle through leakage. Just imagine: Nalgene – So cool you’d die for it.

Stainless Steel User Rallying Cry: “Go ahead. Poison yourself.”

Bottled Water Container – Users of these containers simply prefer to use the container one of their purchases of filtered bottled water comes in. Once they drink the original volume, they reuse the bottled until they lose it. Not only are they being economical, they’re doing their part to reduce the usage of disposable plastic bottles. Good for them. Social responsibility is COOL. BUT, drinking tap water is NOT COOL. Imagine all the carcinogens, and fecal matter polluting the tap water supply? Worse off, should someone poison the water supply, these people are screwed. Being screwed is also NOT COOL.

Bottled Water User Rallying Cry: “Hey, it’s economical”

Water Fountain – Just stupid. I’ve been told by facilities managers that manage facilities that piping within the water fountains are cesspools of disreputable bacteria. You know, the kind of bacteria that HURTS you. Getting hurt is NOT COOL. But water fountains harken back to days past, like the 50s. The 50s are COOL.

Water Fountain User Rallying Cry: “Like GREASED LIGHTENING!! That kills you!”

I, personally, have a Stainless Steel Water bottle. The beauty of my water bottle is that no one can see what is actually in it. Which is to say, no one can see that I actually don’ t have anything in it. I haven’t even taken the little “inspected by #24” insert out. You see, I only carry the stainless steel water bottle to be cool. Carrying a water bottle purely to be cool is cool because not really giving a hoot about anything is cool. The point is, I’m COOL.

Back to the point, which is that 2/3 of the Earth is covered in water. We’re going to need a lot of bottles. And a lot of OBX stickers.

Life Enhancing Benefits of Pineapple

We all know that eating plenty of fruit will help ensure that our bodies are receiving the daily recommended antioxidants and vitamins to keep our healthy energy at peak levels. However, each piece of fruit you eat contains special extra benefits that work to cure, aid, heal, and promote specific, unique physical needs.


Strengthen Bones
Most people think that calcium, dairy products and milk are the primary food items that will help keep your bones strong and healthy. But, did you know that pineapples contain manganese, a trace mineral that is essential for building connective tissue and bones? One cup of pineapple contains approximately 73% of the daily value of manganese that is recommended for a healthy diet.

Remedy Coughs and Colds
While most people reach for vitamin C supplements or orange juice when they feel a cold or cough coming on, most people don’t know that reaching for pineapple is the best choice. Pineapple not only offers you what orange juice does, but it also contains bromelain a benefit that loosens mucus and suppresses coughing.

Anti-Inflammatory
Do you suffer from painful joints and osteoarthritis? Because bromelain is an anti-inflammatory consuming at least ½ cup of pineapple a day is considered an effective way relieve such suffering.

An Efficient Aid in Digestion
Another valuable benefit of pineapples is that it contains a proteolytic enzyme which by definition means to break down protein. Pineapples therefore help the body digest and utilize proteins effectively.

Morning Sickness
For pregnant ladies, morning sickness can be a difficult thing to endure. In the morning, drinking fresh pineapple juice and eating some nuts has been believed to relieve this condition.

A Healthier Mouth
In addition, drinking fresh juice is known for discouraging the growth of unwanted plaque.

Reduce Allergies
When consumed on a daily basis, studies have shown that people report fewer allergies and sinus related problems.

Blood Clot Reduction
Pineapple has also been known to hinder the development of blood clots. If you or someone you know is at risk for blood clots, studies show that adding pineapples to your diet can greatly reduce your risk.

Health Tips and Precautions During Pregnancy

There is no moment like the one when you first see your new born. Mankind has scaled many heights, but none compare to this, a gift from God, an unparalleled privilege, a creation of a new human life with a human 'soul' that lives forever. To take good prenatal care during this precious time to ensure a healthy baby is the duty of every mom and other family members to learn and understand the aspects of pregnancy.

So start preparing yourself for the bundle of joy coming your way! Most important thing you should concentrate on is eating food rich in nutrients. Being main source of the nourishment of baby's health the mother's energy requirements increase by 300 kcal daily throughout pregnancy, 500 kcal daily during the first 6 months, and 400 kcal during the next 6 months. The protein requirement increases by about 14 g per day and during lactation by about 25 g per day during first six months of delivery, over and above her normal requirements. Try to have a well balanced and healthy diet that provides in correct proportions from a wide variety of foods high in macronutrients like proteins, fats and carbohydrates and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, relative to the amount of calories they contain. Don't overeat; instead take frequent meals at regular intervals. Have plenty of water, avoid being empty stomach. Sip fluid, ginger drinks frequently in between, rather than with meals to avoid stomach fullness. It helps in morning sickness and nausea with vomiting.

Overweight in pregnancy can also be harmful, too much of weight gain makes you suffer from backache, leg pain, cramps, extreme tiredness and accelerated hypertension and diabetes. In general, 1-2 kg in first trimester, 1.5-2 kg/month in second trimester and 1.5-2 kg/month in third trimester is advisable and acceptable. Certain measures if taken really help in weight management which includes regular exercises, walking and meditation. These also help you prepare for the rigors of labour. Variety of food from all good groups, less in calories and dense in nutritional diet which fulfill medicinal purpose with good tongue taste play a vital role in terms of your weight management and other health benefits. For example getting plenty of calcium supplements with at least three glasses of milk, bananas and orange rich in potassium help relieve leg cramps. Including 1-2 glasses of fresh fruit juice, such as prune juice, bulk food high in fiber, such as bran cereals, raw fruits and green leafy vegetables help to maintain healthy bowl patterns. Avoid too much of traditional, fried, oily greasy and spicy food as it causes heartburn, a feeling in the centre of the chest and upper abdomen and seems to rise in your throat. Preferably, do not eat or drink before you go to sleep.

Self medication without the advice of a health professional can lead to various side effects, as many take diuretics "water pills" for swelling, or treat other natural symptoms of pregnancy on their own. Attend your prenatal appointments for systematic medical supervision and keep your gynaecologist contact number in your diary or handset to reach, in case of appearance of warning signs like bleeding, sudden leaking, sharp pain in abdomen, blurring of vision any symptoms of fever associated with chills and a lot of swelling of face and body. Few symptoms like tiredness during pregnancy can be managed by practicing relaxation techniques, listening to soothing music etc. Cheerful and relaxed mood with pleasant atmosphere reduce the stress of pregnancy, especially for mom's undergoing this magnificent experience for first time in their life. Back ache is very common and can be minimized by avoiding standing for long time in kitchen, do not stretch to reach something at home and workplace; whereas low- heeled footwear and sleep on firm mattress, preferably on your left side is recommended throughout pregnancy. At the same stretching of legs before going to bed may help relive leg cramps, a cushion between the legs gives you comfort in the final months of pregnancy. Before you prepare for the physical demands of labour a minimum of half an hour walk at fairly brisk pace is a good exercise. It's best to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. Read literature and books related to knowledge on the elements of child care, the need for family planning and the importance of birth spacing.

When you get admitted for delivery in hospital, keep required things of your personal use, baby clothes and all your medical records for ready references in a separate bag. Relax, as this is a period of great emotional changes. Talk to people who can help and support and who can give you a patient hearing.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born". After delivery it takes minimum six weeks for your body to recover from the changes of pregnancy. Nothing can replace breast milk and to meet the demands of breastfeeding, you require significant energy and nutrients. Now you are breastfeeding and baby depends on you for all his nutrition and growth. Well all your attention will be focused on baby's care and comfort but remember to take equally good care of yourself also. Do not let yourself suffer from hidden hunger, continue to eat nutritious food with essential supplements.

During and after pregnancy, every woman shows some interesting and unexpected behavior changes because of hormonal, physical and mental imbalance. Coping with this, talk with your partner about feelings you both have about this pregnancy, try not to have unrealistic expectations from yourself. Before this you were a woman, after months of looking forward, God has created you again in the form of a mother, the greatest right of a women.

Makeup Tips For Teenagers

When a young girl first begins to use make-up, she may end up using more than she should. For a young girl, it is best to "play down" the make-up. It is helpful to experiment with make-up, as this helps in knowing what really suits you and also gives you practice in applying it. However, for a young teenager, an over-made-up look can really spoil the entire effort. Young skins look fresh and natural with less make-up. Very dark colours, like dark maroon and dark brown can also have an aging effect and you will end up looking older than you are. The effort should be to accentuate your features and achieve a natural look.

Actually, today's trends favour the "natural" look - sheer and translucent, with subtle use of foundations and bases. The skin should not be covered with foundation. In fact, you can leave out the foundation, especially during the day. After cleansing, apply an astringent lotion, wait for a few minutes and then apply powder. Translucent powder, like a baby powder, is good. Avoid applying too much and pay more attention to the oily areas of the face, like nose, forehead and chin. Press the powder all over the face and neck, with a slightly damp sponge. This helps it to set and last longer. Avoid using too much powder around the eyes. Brush off excess powder with cotton wool.

Foundation can only be used to cover-up pimples. The best way to do this is to take a little bit of creamy foundation and apply it directly on the pimple or pimple scars. Avoid rubbing or smearing. Instead, pat it into the skin and then apply loose powder on top, blending the powder with the rest of the skin. Powder, in fact, can help to control oil and produce an even colour tone. For oily skin, you can also use a pressed powder (powder compact) instead of foundation.

If you want to use foundation at night, choose a water-based one. Adding a drop of water will give you a lighter coverage. But remember to blend well to get a smooth finish. While applying foundation, the main aim is to achieve a natural look. The colour tone should be even. Apply it on the face, forehead, nose and cheeks. Using a moist sponge, spread it evenly, going outwards. Apply foundation on the eyelids too. Blend well. Then, apply it on the lower part of the face, on the chin, and on either side, along the jawline. Again spread evenly and blend. Remember the neck too. Apply and spread evenly from the chin downwards. Blending is very important to achieve an even and smooth finish. The entire effect should be natural and should not have a mask-like look. Then apply powder to "set" the foundation, brushing off excess powder with cotton wool. Again, pressed powder (compact) can be used instead of foundation.

Use a blusher, but be subtle. The aim should be to give the complexion a healthy glow. Blushers come in powder, cream and even gel form. Use a powder blusher, as they are much easier to apply. They usually come with their own applicator brushes. Blushers are best applied with a brush. Apply on the cheekbones and slightly below it. You can use your finger tips to dot the area with blusher. Then, blend with the brush, outwards and slightly upwards, making sure there are no harsh lines or a blotchy effect. Choose a shade that would subtly enhance your natural skin tone. Pink or peach blusher would suit most skin tones. Your choice of colour will depend on your colour tone.

For the eyes, use a brown eye shadow on the eyelids. Try using the same brown shadow under the lower lashes, instead of eyeliner or kaajal. Take a darker brown eye shadow and apply it on the upper lid, close to the upper lashes. The entire effect will be natural. If you want to line the eyes, use an eye pencil, rather than eyeliner. Give your eyes a light touch of mascara. Make sure the lashes do not stick together. Brush them with an eyelash comb. For a young girl, dark smokey eyes, loads of mascara and false eye lashes would be "too much" and rather overpowering.

For the lips, plain gloss can be enough for the day, or add a touch of gloss over a light pink lipstick. But go easy with it, because too much gloss would highlight the lips more and draw more attention to them.

The natural look needs to be complemented with hair that has a healthy, sleek and shiny look. Avoid an elaborate hairdo or a "set" look. If your hair is long, you can leave it loose, or wear it in a pony tail. In fact, you can use a satin ribbon, co-ordinating it with your clothes. Avoid looking overstyled. For short hair, straight layered styles and a broken texture have been in. It seems the new trend will be long hair, with curls and waves at the ends. Varied lengths of fringing are also in, but you need to decide if it suits you. Girls with long hair have also been going for simple straight cuts. Straight hair with jagged edges, whether short or shoulder length has been "in" for some time, but now the soft, layered style ending with waves and curls is the new trend.The nails should not be too long and have a clean look. Use a clear, light pink, mauve, light brown or beige nail varnish.Lastly, use a light flowery or lemony fragrance.

Natural Treatment for a Beautiful Complexion

Lovely skin starts clean inside and ends clean outside. A balanced, alkaline diet, including five - nine servings daily of fruits and vegetables, adequate rest, fresh air, plenty of sun shine and pure water improve health, digestion, and circulation. The following Asian foods and herbs also improve skin quality.This is bitter melon, in India known as kerala. It tastes bitter, but lots of people enjoy it stir-fried with garlic. Because it is so bitter, it detoxifies the body and is useful for weight loss, diabetes, and for cleansing all sorts of impurities. You can fix it as a vegetable, take capsules from the health foods store or enjoy the tea called Cherry Grain Balsam Pear tea made from dried slices of bitter melon.




Trifala Churna the All in One Cleanser/Healer
Trifala Churna, a powerfully rejuvenating and deep-cleansing herbal powder, contains three fruits suitable for people of all ages. They are amla (Emblica officinalis), bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica), and haritake (Terminalia chebula.) Trifala powder (churna) is a popular cleanser/balancer for a multitude of health and beauty issues. Used daily, it tones and rejuvenates the skin, lungs, liver, and colon. Avoid using Trifala during pregnancy because it may be too laxative. Otherwise, as a gentle cleanser/rejuvenator, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of Trifala powder to hot water as a tea, fill an empty capsule with the powder, or drink a cup of “Get Regular” Yogi Tea from the supermarket twice daily.

Amla cleanses the mouth and strengthens teeth and gums, nourishes the bones and causes hair and nails to grow. It improves eyesight and reduces stomach and colon inflammation. Bibhitake is a tonic to the lungs and improves the voice. It is recommended for cough, sore throat, laryngitis, bronchitis, chronic diarrhea, and parasites. Haritake, sometimes called one of the most important Ayruvedic herbs, feeds the brain and nerves. It is also recommended for cough, asthma, malabsorption, abdominal distention and parasites, tumors, jaundice, heart disease, skin diseases, itching, edema, and nervous disorders. The herb does so many things, especially reduce disease, it is called abhaya–it promotes fearlessness. The combination of these three fruits in Trifala Churna, make it a supreme cleansing and balancing remedy. I recommend 1/4 teaspoon in hot water as a tea twice daily. Amla powder or pills can be used during pregnancy, but not Trifala.

Dark Circles
Dark circles under the eyes may result from fatigue and allergies. One fine remedy for both is nettle tea. Once a friend sat in my apartment suffering from cat allergies: Her eyes watered and nose became suddenly stuffed up when my cat came near her. I gave my friend a cup of hot nettle tea and she was amazed–no more choking, tearing, and coughing. Eventually, drinking an afternoon pot of nettle tea along with her daily zinc mineral supplement eliminated her allergies and dark circles.

Rosacea
Rosacea (red or purple broken capillaries, complexion roughness and redness, sometimes with tiny blemishes or bumps on the face) seems to affect thin-skinned blonde, blue-eyed women over forty or anyone with excess digestive acidity or an overly spicy diet. Some doctors believe that hormonal factors, including menopause, are indirectly involved. Rosacea is considered by some to be a form of acne. It sometimes feels as though heartburn is rising to spread to the neck and face leaving permanent redness and broken capillaries. The usual western medical treatment is a lifelong dose of daily antibiotics, which risks ruining digestion and eventually energy and blood production.

To help prevent or reverse rosacea, the first thing to do is to reduce intake of hot and spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol, all of which are inflammatory. One beauty specialist especially recommends eating red cabbage to “bring inflammation away from the face towards the stomach and intestines to be eliminated.” Here is a sweet, nourishing, and laxative recipe you can enjoy daily. Fermented foods made with turmeric support vital intestinal fluora that improve skin condition and boost immunity to illness.

Fermented Red Cabbage
Ingredients

* 1 red cabbage, finely chopped
* 2 organic apples, sliced
* 1 raw carrot, sliced
* 1/4 cup dried raisins
* 1/4 cup pecans
* 1/4 tsp. cumin powder
* 1/4 tsp. fennel powder
* 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
* 1/4 tsp. Garam Masala powder
* up to 1/2 tsp. potassium salt substitute
* 1 Tbsp. grapeseed oil
* 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
* the juice of 2 lemons
* (Optional) sweeten with a few drops of stevia liquid extract

Method

Cut the cabbage and apples into pieces and blanch them for a moment under very hot water. Rinse off the raisins and nuts. Chop or gradually blend all ingredients together in a blender until the cabbage is in small slices. Pack the ingredients tightly into sterilized air-tight glass jars and let it ferment naturally for several days. Avoid using salt or vinegar to make these mild-tasting pickled vegetables because they increase blemishes and acidity. Adjust the spices as needed and enjoy a half cup of fermented foods with protein and starch meals.

One New York plastic surgeon that I asked about acne and rosacea, recommend gentle massage of the affected area in order to increase circulation. The best complexion creams for treating inflammatory complexion problems such as acne or rough, itchy skin include cooling, antibiotic ingredients. A well-known Ayurvedic complexion cream is made by Vicco and contains turmeric and sandalwood oil. It can be applied to clean skin alone or as a makeup base in order to matte a shiny complexion and reduce blemishes by soothing irritated skin.

Make Yourself Frugally Fabulous

Sick of forking out a fortune for the latest “it” skin creams and cosmetics only to find they don’t do what they say on the tin and don’t last you five minutes? I’m going to let you in something very special… Top secret tips for being blimmin beautiful on a budget…Sssshhh…


Terrific Tootsies
Are your feet like sand paper? Could you do with polyfiller for the cracks in your heels? Do you not dare to bare them? Here’s a super secret for your tired trotters. Before bed, coat your feet in a thin layer of petroleum jelly, massage it in well making sure your heels, toenails and cuticles are well covered. Put on some snuggly thick socks, climb into bed, head off to the land of nod to dream sweet dreams, then in the morning peel off the socks and voila! Fabulous feet! Baby soft and glowing. It’s a pedicure for lazy girls.

Sugar Sugar
If your elbows and knees are as rough as the side of a match box but you can’t afford a salon bodyscrub then create your own at home. Mix olive oil with salt until it forms a liquidy paste. Stand on a towel and rub it onto your body in a circular motion - make sure you use this DRY! If you use it with water the salt will simply dissolve. Focus on your bum, knees, elbows and backs of your arms but go easy on delicate areas like your decolletage. Don’t use this on your face as it’s not really gentle enough. Rub it in gently (you need to nurture your skin!) and then get into a warm shower to rinse it off. You’ll be slippy so be careful! Pat yourself dry and your fabulous bod will be revealed. Your dead skin cells will be sloughed away by the salt and the skin undeneath will be glowing and hydrated because of the olive oil, your circulation will be boosted. If you’d like to make this more of a luxurious treat, you could mix a few drops of lavender oil into the scrub to scent it and relax you.

Fabulous Fizzog
When your skin is under the weather, it doesn’t matter how much expensive make up your cake on, you’ll still look pants. So give your skin a well earned treat. You don’t need salon facials to give your face a boost, you just need a toothbrush and some petroleum jelly! Clean your skin so that it is make up and muck free then apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Spread it all over your face making sure you’ve a good layer on your forehead, lips and cheeks but avoid your delicate eye area. Then with a clean toothbrush, gently brush your skin in circular motions over the petrolsum jelly. Cover all areas bar your eye area but obviously be sensible and don’t scrub too long or your skin will get sore. As you brush your circulation will be boosted, your dead skin cells removed and your skin moisturised by the jelly. When you’ve finished brushing, rinse thoroughly will warm (but not hot) water and pat dry with a towel. Your fine lines will be diminished, your lips will be luscious, your cheeks will be rosy and your fizzog will be fabulous!

Classy Cleopatra
There are few things more indulgent than a candle-lit bath, fragrant with ridiculously expensive bath oil. If you’d like the indulgence without the high price tag then this is a secret for you. Light a tea light, put on some soothing music and run yourself a bath. As the water is running, throw in a couple of handfuls of powdered milk and a few drops of lavender oil. Swoosh it around the bath and when the bath is run, ease yourself into it and relax. Lavender oil is a calming, healing oil so the gentle fragrance will have you on cloud nine while the powdered milk nourishes your tired skin. Soak your troubles away and when you emerge your skin will be soft and gently scented, your soul will be soothed.

Spot soother
There’s no need to splurge on expensive skin treatments for troublesome spots. If you sense you have a new spot brewing with the ferocity of Mount Etna, firstly follow the golden rule for spectacular skin…Be gentle, keep it clean, nourish it, don’t hurt it with harsh creams, you’ll over stimulate it and start a vicious circle of it being too dry and too greasy. Just keep it clean, moisturise lightly and to take your spot coat a cotton bud with neat tea tree oil and apply it to the spot. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, it will dry the spot without making it sore and it costs only a few pounds for a bottle which will last you ages.

Happy Hands
If your nails are stained from too many coats of polish and too few layers of base coat then try this. Fill a large bowl with warm water, a teaspoon of olive oil and a good few drops of lemon juice. Pop your finger tips into the bowl and relax for ten minutes or so as they soak. The lemon juice helps to remove the stains from your nails while the olive oil nourishes your cuticles. When soaked, take your fingers out of the bowl and give them a good rinse then pat dry. Pop a couple of drops of olive oil onto your hands and massage it in well, making sure you rub it well into your nails and cuticles. They may feel a little greasy so wrap them in a towel and chill for a few minutes as the oil is absorbed into your skin. The result - soothed skin, clean nails and happy hands.

77 Million Blind People Could Get Their Sight Back

Glaucoma is the major cause of blindness right across the globe. Many millions of people are waiting for a cure. Scientists believe that they are on the verge of developing a new, easy to use treatment, that could potentially give the gift of sight to many of these people.

77 Million Await Glaucoma Cure
Glaucoma is an eye disease which causes higher than normal pressure inside the eyes. The optic nerve is affected and sufferers gradually become blind as damage to the nerve increases. It has been estimated that more than seventy-seven million people across the globe are blind because of glaucoma.(According to the Daily Express Newspaper.)

Glaucoma is the Leading Cause of Blindness

It is a leading cause of blindness; there may be no symptom until the condition starts to affect the optic nerve, and there is no cure for it yet. It can attack anyone from babies to elderly people but elderly people are far more likely to suffer from it. Around one in ten thousand babies in US is born with glaucoma and African Americans are more prone to it at an earlier age.


Have an Optician Check for Glaucoma
When you visit an optician and have your eyes checked you will be given an eye pressure test. This sounds more alarming than it is. You will be asked to keep your eyes open wide while a puff of pressurized air is fired in at the pupil of the eye. This feeds figures regarding pressure to a machine, which gives a pressure reading for your eyeball.

Pay Attention to Raised Pressure in Eyes
The optician will be able to tell if there is any problem. Although this does not sound very pleasant it doesn’t hurt and isn’t even uncomfortable; it just feels a bit strange and might make your eye water a little bit. If you have any sign of raised pressure, the optician will recommend that you have regular check-ups and if the pressure readings are anything more than slightly raised, you will be referred to a specialist to avoid any unnecessary risk.

A New Formula Decreases Eye Pressure in Glaucoma
Scientists have developed a formula which they believe will decrease the pressure inside the eyes and cure glaucoma. There are various medications available which can slow down the disease but these often have severe side effects and are not always successful.

Nerve Growth Factor Reverses Effect of Glaucoma
The new medication contains a ‘nerve growth factor’ which can stop cells from dying and improve eyesight. Trials have been done on a group of people who had a build-up of pressure in their eyes and for whom medication has been totally ineffective.

Is the New Glaucoma Treatment Available?
Results were very encouraging and the pressure was reversed in most cases. Scientist stress that further tests need to be done before the treatment can be prescribed by doctors, but they are confident about their discovery. Improvements have even been discovered in patients who already had severe optic nerve damage and the treatment certainly has the potential to offer a brand new way of preventing visual loss through glaucoma, in the future.