How to wash your hands properly

Near-Death Experiences and Brain Activity

Near Death Experiences(NDE) are the experiences that a person feel or observe when he is near to his death.Many Scientists are doing many researches on this topic and observe the experiences of thousands of person who come in life again after Near Death Experiences.

A lot of Mysteries are present in NDE which varies one to one but 1 thing is common among all i.e. the person is walking through dark tunnel toward a luminous light end. He sees an attractive shining light and then he moves toward it. In most cases the word “light from a point or dark tunnel” is discussed by the persons after NDE. This data come to us from the persons who experienced but do not die. Now the Researchers concentrate on finding the biological reasons for all these experiences. One of a major they find is “Brains Activity or Brain waves during NDE”.

The mystery of why people ‘brought back from the dead’ report powerful spiritual experiences may have a biological explanation, according to experts.

* Researchers who studied brainwaves of dying patients, found there was a surge of electrical activity in their brains just moments before their lives ended.
* The doctors from George Washington University medical centre in Washington believe this surge may be the cause of near-death experiences, where patients see themselves walking towards a bright light or floating outside their bodies.
* Many patients who experience these sensations believe they are having a religious vision and treat it as confirmation of an afterlife.
* Some revived patients even reported seeing religious figures. Others said they felt suffused with a sense of peace as they start to walk into a light-filled tunnel.

However, the intensive care doctors at George Washington have an alternative biological explanation, which has been published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine. A team led by Dr Lakhmir Chawla used an electroencephalograph (EEG), a device that measures brain activity, in seven terminally ill people to provide pain-relieving sedation. Dr Chawla noticed moments before death patients experienced a burst of brainwave activity that lasted from 30 seconds to three minutes. The activity was similar to that measured in fully conscious people. Soon after the surge the patients were declared dead.

Dr Chawla said, “We think the near-death experiences could be caused by a surge of electrical energy released as the brain runs out of oxygen”. As blood flow slows down and oxygen levels fall, the brain cells fire one last electrical impulse. It starts in one part of the brain and spreads in a cascade and this may give people vivid mental sensations.’ He added that he had seen the same phenomenon in around 50 other patients.

However, Sam Parnia, leader of the Awareness During Resusciation study in the UK, said Dr Chawla’s conclusions should be treated with caution. Dr Parnia said there was no proof that the electrical surge is linked to near death experiences as all the patients died. His team are currently interviewing 700 Britons who have been brought back to life after cardiac arrests to study the mental consequences of the experience.

Near death experiences have been found to have a positive effect on the majority of patients, whatever their cause. A Dutch study published in The Lancet in 2001 found around one in five cardiac arrest victims underwent a near-death experience. They found these patients tended to feel happier, more altruistic and less afraid of death later on.

Yoga as an effective treatment for back pain

New researchs from the U.S. suggests that the millennia-old therapy of yoga could benefit millions of people who suffer from back pain problems. In an article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on December 20, researchers concluded that yoga act as a more effective treatment for back pain than conventional therapy.
A study conducted at the Group Health Cooperative in Washington State required 101 adults to follow a choice of remedial treatments – a 12-week course in yoga, 12 weeks of standard therapeutic exercise or the same period following instructions in a self-help book. The results showed yoga both expedited relief from pain and had longer lasting benefits. Lead researcher Dr. Karen Sherman said this was because “mind and body effects” were in collusion.

The article states that: “Most treatments for chronic low back pain have modest efficacy at best. Exercise is one of the few proven treatments…however, its effects are often small, and no form has been shown to be clearly better than another. Yoga, which often couples physical exercise with breathing, is a popular alternative form of ‘mind–body’ therapy…[It] may benefit patients with back pain simply because it involves exercise or because of its effects on mental focus. We found no published studies in western biomedical literature that evaluated yoga for chronic low back pain; therefore, we designed a clinical trial to evaluate its effectiveness.” Millions of people worldwide swear by yoga to improve their mental and physical health.

BP is facing a bill of up to $34bn from the Gulf of Mexico disaster

BP is facing a bill of up to $34bn from the Gulf of Mexico disaster after US senators demanded the oil company deposited $20bn into a ring-fenced account to meet escalating compensation costs.

The sum dwarfs many analysts' previous estimates, shared by BP, that put the cost of the clean-up effort and payment of damages to affected communities, such as fishermen, closer to a total of $5bn.

Shares in BP nose-dived by more than nine per cent today as investors took fright at the demand by the 54 Democratic senators, who represent a majority in the US upper house. The company is now worth almost half what it was before the accident of just under two months ago.

BP already faces up to $14bn in civil penalties, payable under US environmental law, assuming the leak is plugged in August. These punitive damages are directly linked to the size of the spill – already estimated at being up to eight times worse than the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989 – with BP liable for up to $4,300 for each barrel-worth spilt.

Senate leaders insisted the $20bn ring-fenced account should be exclusively for "payment of economic damages and clean-up costs" and should not be seen as a cap on BP's other legal liabilities. With punitive damages pending too, the theoretical total of $34bn is equivalent to more than half the corporation tax paid by all British companies last year.

Tony Hayward, chief executive of BP, and other directors of the company, will meet Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday prepared to offer concessions in the hope of taking the sting out of mounting political attacks on the company.

BP will be in "listening mode", willing to cut its next dividend, worth about $2.5bn, possibly paying the cash into the clean-up fund. It will also reiterate its commitment to paying all legitimate claims arising from the disaster. But the company does not believe that the demand by the senators to stump up $20bn is justified.

Executives were also alarmed by the White House's insistence last week that BP must pay the wages of rig workers laid off by other firms because of the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the gulf. If pursued, the company fears it would be exposed to potentially limitless claims from anyone affected by the disaster, which would eventually bankrupt the company. The company hopes that President Obama's statement, following the meeting with BP, will draw back from the demand.
Hayward, who was in Houston today overseeing the spill response, hosted a conference call with his board to discuss BP's next move. The company had indicated that it would wait as usual until close to its next results announcement, on 27 July, to decide whether or not to pay its next quarterly dividend. But it is now set to announce its intentions sooner, perhaps as early as Thursday. It is understood BP could use the dividend as a bargaining chip in its talks with the White House.

Obama today risked the wrath of families of 9/11 victims by comparing the gulf spill to the 2001 terrorist attacks, as pressure intensified on the White House to show greater urgency over the crisis.

Ahead of a trip to Louisiana and a televised address to the nation tomorrow, Obama said the spill, the worst environmental disaster in US history, would, like the 2001 terror plots, continue to influence the country for decades to come. Some people who lost relatives in the 9/11 attacks rejected the comparison. "I think he's off-base," said Jim Riches, a former New York fire department deputy chief, whose son died at the World Trade Centre. "These were 9/11 murders … not something caused by people trying to make money."

Treatments of Dandruff

1. Regularly cleans all affected parts

Shampoo the scalp and affected parts with any of the many commercial preparations available for dandruff. Many lines are excellent. Selenium sulphide (Selsun) suspension shampoo and zinc pyrithione 2 % (like Head & Shoulders) preparation (Zp11 dressing and shampoo or dangard) are also very effective. Instructions usually accompany the commercial package.

2. Simple general measures are often helpful

These include eating a sensible balanced diet avoiding, excess sweets and carbohydrates or spicy food, hot drinks and alcoholic beverages. Get adequate rest at night (every night). Follow sensible working hours and avoid foolish excesses. Adequate recreation helps, and the basic of simple hygiene are important Infections, emotional stresses and upsets, constipation, and dietetic indiscretions should be attended to. Regular Scalp massage may help.

Care of eyelashes in Dandruff
Dandruff (seborrhea) of the eyelashes can be both annoying and hard to treat. Eye doctors like to recommend scrubbing the lashes with baby shampoo on a cotton swab. This method may be worth a try, but it often fails. Cortisone-based lotions should be used close to the eye only under medical supervision since continuous exposure of the eye to cortisone can lead to serious eye problems.

Further Treatments

If these simple measures don’t assist, seek professional help form the family physician. Other lines of treatment he may suggest could include:

* Creams containing corticosteroids

(Equal to 0.5 to 1.0 % hydrocortisone). These often reduce the inflammation and excessive discharges.

* Creams containing Sulphur (3-5%) and Salicylic acid (2-3%) are popular and often satisfactory. they are often used as a cream the night before the shampooing. If sores develop indicating infection form other growing germs, these must be treated independently.

In over weight people where the condition arises between folds of fat rubbing together, the physician may check for diabetes. Castellani’s paint (a bright magenta-coloured preparation) applied will often cure the irritating cracks and fissures that commonly develop in these areas. Pre-cleansing the area with soap and water is essential( but all traces of soap must be removed afterwards.)

* Antifungal creams are often effective, apparently because they reduce the number of yeast organisms living on the skin. Over-the-counter creams include 1% clotrimazole cream and miconazole cream 2%. Antifungal creams also are applied once or twice a day.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis ??

This is according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
You might not know it, but you could be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Although rheumatoid arthritis is commonly associated with the older generation (people over the age of 65), the disease is found in younger generations – even including children. How could you tell if you have it? Well if you’re experiencing morning stiffness for no apparent reason (like if you had done a lot of strenuous exercise the night before, for example), you might be suffering from one of it’s symptoms. As mild as you might think morning stiffness is, you really ought to give it some serious thought and consult with your doctor because if that morning stiffness is related to rheumatoid arthritis, you can work to prevent it from disabling or crippling you later on down the road to a point where you can barely function. But rheumatoid arthritis isn’t just a physical condition. It has the propensity to tax your mental and emotional state of well-being tpp.
This is because arthritis can change the way you work, the way you interact with your family, and the way you entertain yourself with recreational activities. You might even know someone with rheumatoid arthritis and have observed how this disease changed not only his or her mobility, but also his or her outlook on life. Those of us without rheumatoid arthritis tend to take our ability to move anyway we want for granted, but when that ability slowly disappears right before our eyes, it’s no surprise that we get depressed about it.
But it doesn’t necessary have to be that way. With proper medications, education, support, and prescribed exercises, you could work to prevent the most severe forms of the disease – or at least prolong the worst case symptoms.

Arthritis works in two ways. First, it inflames the muscles, ligaments, and cartilage that sit in-between joints. And it’s this inflammation that causes the pain, swelling, and heat. Those are symptoms that are typical indications of an injury and they’re vital to understanding more about this disease. Second, arthritis works by releasing enzymes that basically consume or otherwise destroy the muscles, ligaments, and cartilage that have become inflamed to a point where they’re not very useful and don’t allow for easy movement. In the worse cases, cartilage disappears completely and as you can guess, this is extremely crippling and uncomfortable.
That’s why we call rheumatoid arthritis a disease. Typically, inflamed muscles, ligaments, and cartilage are the result of an injury, like falling on the knees for example. But with arthritis, no injury has to occur. In fact, arthritis is a type of autoimmune disease and the cartilage inside joints is one of the things that it destroys. And any joint can be affected – one, two, maybe even more but most of the time, the disease targets fingers, hips, feet, and knees.

Some causes of headache

Headache is not a disease, but a symptom which may mean only wrong diet, with liver, stomach and intestine temporarily unable to do their normal work. It may indicate the presence of some brain disease, such as abscess or tumor; or it may be a part of symptom complex of other diseases; Most of which have nothing directly to do with the brain. Obviously the rational way to relief headache is to find and correct its cause.

Possible Causes of Headache:


* Eyestrains are probably the commonest cause of headaches that occur in the frontal region. They usually disappear with rest and sleep. They may be permanently cured by the wearing of correctly fitted glasses.

* Infections of the sinuses of upper jaw and the frontal bones of the face causes a constant frontal headaches, worse in the morning , and not relieved by sleep. Focal infections headaches may be caused by abscesses about the roots of the teeth, pyorrhea, unerupted molar teeth or diseased tonsils.

* Headaches may also arise form toxemia occurring in nephritis (kidney Infection), Diabetes, Chronic arthritis, tuberculosis and arteriosclerosis (Blockade of arteries due to deposition of fats or other substances) or from retention of nitrogen material or waste product with in the blood. Nearly all acute infectious disease has headaches as a prominent symptom especially in the early stages.

* Headaches of gastrointestinal origin are frequent. The sufferers often eat much but exercise little. Excessive use of sweets is liable to clog the liver. The patient has a coated tongue. Foul breath attacks of dizziness and a sallow complexion and is troubled with gaseous fermentation and bloating. The stools contain much undigested starch and fats. They show gas bubbles, and have very offensive odour. The individual is drowsy and usually too fat.

* Excessive Caffeine which is found in considerable quantities in tea, coffee, and several soft drinks, is another common cause of headaches.

* Disturbance of the glands of internal secretion, notably the thyroid gland, which becomes enlarge in goiter, the pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, the adrenals, located above the kidneys, and the ovaries, all of which hare concerned with the regulations of nutrition, frequently cause toxic headaches. To cure these, the underline glandular trouble must be detected and properly treated.

Ionic Air Purifier Problems

Many people have allergies to airborne dust, mold, and pollen. These tiny particles can accumulate in your home environment, potentially leading to health problems. At first glance, freestanding ionic air purifiers seem like a good deal: They're affordable, quiet, and are said to clean particles from the air. Studies by consumer groups have cast doubts on the performance and health benefits of these appliances.

Electric Shock
Ionic air purifiers work by producing a high-voltage static electric charge inside the unit. The grid attracts dust and other allergens, which cling to it. Although units sold in the United States are designed to prevent a shock hazard, shocks still may result from metal objects inserted into the purifier, from water accumulating under it, or by not having it plugged into a grounded outlet.

Ozone
Ozone, an unstable, chemically reactive form of oxygen, is formed when normal airborne oxygen molecules (O2) pass near a source of high voltage. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ozone is known to cause health problems in people exposed to it for long periods. Known short-term effects include coughing, lung pain, and shortness of breath. Ozone may combine with lemon and pine-scented agents in cleaners to form formaldehyde, a carcinogen. A 2005 Consumer Reports investigation of air purifiers found several models emit unacceptably high amounts of ozone. These models failed an Underwriters Laboratories sealed-room ozone test. Although your rooms probably have adequate ventilation, you should avoid excessive ozone in your home. Even a well-designed unit may emit ozone if it becomes dirty. The high voltage will arc inside the device, causing a hissing noise. The high-voltage arc produces ozone.

Poor Performance
The 2005 Consumer Reports article reported test results of several home air purifiers and found the air-cleaning ability of some of them poor. The consumer group rated five of seven units "poor" for removing dust, smoke, and pollen when switched to their highest setting. Many customers would consider this a serious purchase, intending to alleviate their allergies or protect their families from smoke and pollutants, and may believe that they are protected when in fact they are not. The assumption that the unit works may lead the customer to delay other efforts to improve air quality in the home.

Top 10 Don’ts Of Great Hair Care

Most people are concerned about the appearance of their hair and strive to attain beautiful, healthy and stylish locks. In fact, most will go to any lengths to achieve their desired look. From professional salon treatments to over-the-counter serums, hair care is a big business.
The only problem is that we forget to follow basic hair care regimens that will guarantee the health and beauty of their tresses. Additionally, many are also causing needless damage to their hair by participating in unhealthy hair care behavior.
So, what should you do to make sure that your hair stays healthy, shiny and strong?
To avoid all hair care disasters, follow these 10 absolute don’ts of great hair care.

Hair care don’ts

1. Avoid unprofessional and over-the-counter hair care products whenever you can. Many of these only offer false hopes and promises.
2. Do not cut your own bangs. Leave all of your cutting needs, even bangs, to your hair care professional.
3. Avoid excessive sun, chlorine and salt water during the summer months. Excessive exposure can cause severe damage that is irreversible even if you use the best hair care products.
4. Do not use clarifying hair care products on your tresses more than one time per week. They can strip hair of moisture and essential oils.
5. Do not visit a hair care salon without first getting a referral from someone you can trust. Choosing a salon based on an advertisement or sale alone is very risky.
6. Do not purchase hair color that comes in a box.
7. Never stick with an outdated look because you are afraid of looking different. Styles change for a reason. Ask your hair care professional to bring you into this decade with a new style.
8. Do not straighten your hair with a clothes iron. C’mon, this was so over in the 70s. We have straightening irons that won’t damage your hair for this now. Look in the hair care isle.
9. Don’t brush your hair or put too much tension on it while it is still wet. This will cause breakage. Also, do not wear tight styles such as corn rows for extended periods of time unless you have ethnic hair.

10. Never use sun-lightening products such as lemon juice or over-the-counter hair care products designed to lighten hair with the sun unless you want a very short hair cut in the future.
In the end, hair care is a very individualized and personal thing. Feel free to add your own flair and style to your hair care routine, but remember to include hair care principles that will benefit your hair and avoid those that damage it.

Beat the summer heat 2

Take breaks

When working outside in the Sun, take timely rest breaks in a cool area. Relax; slow down, pace yourself periodically to avoid fatigue.


Wash your face with water

Wash your face with water twice or thrice daily to keep the skin clean and cool. It will also keep your skin oil free and will prevent acne too.


Eat light meals

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables during summers. Avoid oily and heavy meals.


Treat heat exhaustion

Symptoms of heat exhaustion are dizziness, headache, feeling tired, and perhaps sick to your stomach. The remedy is to drink more fluids and get to a cooler place – cool, not ice cold, water, and air conditioning are ideal.

sleep deprivation and premature death

People who sleep less than 6 hours per night have a shorter life, according to a recent study. After reviewing 16 studies conducted on more than 1.3 million people, a team of researchers from two universities found that people who sleep for less than the recommended 6-8 hours each night have a 12% higher risk of dying prematurely.

Previous research showed that sleep deprivation may be associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol level.

The study also showed that consistent over long sleeping can be a cause for concern. Sleeping for over 9 hours a night can be an indicator of ill-health and a significant marker of an underlying serious and potentially fatal illness.

“Consistently sleeping 6 to 8 hours per night may be optimal for health. The duration of sleep should be regarded as an additional behavioural risk factor, or risk marker, influenced by the environment and possibly amenable to change through both education and counselling as well as through measures of public health aimed at favourable modifications of the physical and working environments “ said Professor Francesco Cappuccio.

Beat the summer heat 1

Stay hydrated
The summer season is here and it's time to think about preventing dehydration and heat-related illness. Very few people know that the best time to have fluids is before you are thirsty because by the time you are thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. So, make it a habit to drink at least 15 glasses of water a day.

Use a sunscreen
Use a sunscreen before going out in the sun. Apply it at least 30 minutes before going outside. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) should be 15 or more.

15 Most Common Causes of Death in the United States

Where you live has a good deal to do with how you will die. In the United States, the top two causes of death are responsible for more than 50 percent of the annual death toll. In the world at large, there's a lot more variety in how you meet your Maker. Here is our list of the 15 most common causes of death in the United States:

Cause ....................................................................................... Percent of Total
1. Diseases of the heart------------------------------------- 28.5
2. Malignant tumors --------------------------------------- 22.8
3. Cerebrovascular diseases--------------------------------- 6.7
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases ----------------------- 5.1
5. Accidents (unintentional injuries) -------------------------4.4
6. Diabetes mellitus----------------------------------------- 3.0
7. Influenza and pneumonia --------------------------------- 2.7
8. Alzheimer's disease ---------------------------------------2.4
9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis -------------1.7
10. Septicemia (blood poisoning) -----------------------------1.4
11. Suicide ---------------------------------------------------1.3
12. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis ------------------------1.1
13. Primary hypertension and hypertensive renal disease---- 0.8
14. Parkinson's disease (tied) ---------------------------------0.7
15. Homicide (tied) -------------------------------------------0.7

Source: CDC/NHS, National Vital Statistics System

Chewing tobacco: Not a safe alternative to cigarettes Part 2

Health risks of chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco

While the available evidence shows that smokeless tobacco may be less dangerous than cigarettes are, long-term use of chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products can cause serious health problems. That's because they can contain about 30 cancer-causing substances. Like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco also contains nicotine, which can cause you to become addicted. Here's a look at some of the health problems related to smokeless tobacco:

Addiction
Because smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, you can get addicted, just as you can with cigarettes and other tobacco products. Your body may actually absorb more nicotine from chewing tobacco or snuff than it does from a cigarette. Just as with smoking, withdrawal from smokeless tobacco causes signs and symptoms such as intense cravings, increased appetite, irritability and depressed mood. Also, over time, you develop a tolerance for the nicotine in chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products, and you need more to feel the desired effects. This may lead you to dangerous habits — using brands with more nicotine, using more often, leaving chew in your mouth overnight and swallowing tobacco juices.

Cancer
Your risk of certain types of cancer increases if you use chewing tobacco or other types of smokeless tobacco. This includes esophageal cancer and various types of oral cancer, including cancers of your mouth, throat, cheek, gums, lips and tongue. Surgery to remove cancer from any of these areas can leave your jaw, chin, neck or face disfigured, and the cancer may be life-threatening. You also face increased risks related to pancreatic cancer and kidney cancer.

Cavities
Chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco cause tooth decay. That's because chewing tobacco contains high amounts of sugar, which contributes to cavities. Chewing tobacco also contains coarse particles that can irritate your gums and scratch away at the enamel on your teeth, making your teeth more vulnerable to cavities.

Gum disease
The sugar and irritants in chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth in the area of your mouth where you place the chew. Over time you can develop gum disease (gingivitis), which can lead to periodontitis and tooth loss. And like cigarettes, chewing tobacco and other smokeless products can stain your teeth and cause bad breath.

Heart disease
Smokeless tobacco increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Some evidence suggests that long-term use of smokeless tobacco increases your risk of dying of certain types of heart disease and stroke.

Precancerous mouth lesions
Smokeless tobacco increases your risk of developing small white patches called leukoplakia (loo-ko-PLAY-kee-uh) inside your mouth where the chew is most often placed. These mouth lesions are precancerous — meaning that the lesions could one day become cancer. If you stop using smokeless tobacco products, the lesions usually go away within a few months.

Quitting chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco
If you use chewing tobacco or other forms of smokeless tobacco, quit. Now that you know the dangers associated with it, you have extra motivation to stop using smokeless tobacco. And if you're trying to stop using cigarettes, don't switch to smokeless tobacco instead. While smokeless tobacco may be safer than cigarettes, smokeless tobacco hasn't been shown to help you stop smoking. In fact, you may end up using both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

Chewing tobacco: Not a safe alternative to cigarettes Part 1

Get the facts about chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco. They're more harmful and addictive than you might think.

You can call chewing tobacco by whatever name you want — smokeless tobacco, spit tobacco, chew, snuff, pinch or dip — but don't call it harmless. Whether you use chewing tobacco or other types of smokeless tobacco because you like it or because you think smokeless is safer than cigarettes, be forewarned — chewing tobacco can cause serious health problems.

Chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco

Chewing tobacco is a common type of smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco products consist of tobacco or a tobacco blend that's chewed, sucked on or sniffed, rather than smoked.

There are many types of smokeless tobacco products around the world. In the United States, the main types of smokeless tobacco are:

* Chewing tobacco. This consists of loose tobacco leaves that are sweetened and packaged in pouches. You put a wad of the tobacco between your cheek and gum and hold it there, sometimes for hours at a time. It's also called chew and chaw. Usually you spit out the tobacco juices, but if you're more addicted, you tend to swallow some of the juices.
* Plug. This is chewing tobacco that has been pressed into a brick shape, often with the help of syrup, such as molasses, which also sweetens the tobacco. You cut off or bite off a piece of the plug and hold it between your cheek and gum. You spit out the tobacco juices.
* Twist. This is flavored chewing tobacco that has been braided and twisted into rope-like strands. You hold it between your cheek and gum and spit out the tobacco juices.
* Snuff. This is finely ground or shredded tobacco leaves. It's available in dry or moist forms and is packaged in tins or tea bag-like pouches. A pinch of snuff is placed between the lower lip and gum or cheek and gum. Dry forms of snuff can be sniffed into the nose. Using snuff is also called dipping. You normally spit out the tobacco juices, but as with chewing tobacco, if you're more addicted you tend to swallow the juices instead.
* Snus. Snus (pronounced snoos) is a newer smokeless, spitless tobacco product that originated in Sweden. It comes in a pouch that you stick between your upper lip and gum. You leave it there for about a half-hour without having to spit, then discard it.
* Dissolvable tobacco products. These are pieces of compressed powdered tobacco, similar to small hard candies. They dissolve in your mouth, requiring no spitting of tobacco juices. They're sometimes called tobacco lozenges, but they're not the same as the nicotine lozenges used to help you quit smoking.

Running barefoot could be healthier

Jogging is considered the perfect exercise because it’s simple and it only requires the right shoes. Now, a group of runners claim that they don’t need any shoes because running barefoot is healthier.

The runners say barefoot running was practiced since antiquity and that members of some tribes in Mexico used to run hundreds of miles with just sandals on their feet without suffering any injuries. Those sandals inspired the runners to create minimal footwear which is practically a glove for the foot.

Supporters of this idea say barefoot running is changing the way the foot touches the ground and moves the impact from the heel farther forward on the foot. This reduces the impact on the foot, which is three times the body weight of the runner when wearing shoes.

Not everybody agrees though. Some voices claim that those who run long distances should strike on the rear of the foot because it puts less pressure on the Achilles tendon. Striking on the forefoot is recommended only for running short distances where a higher speed is achieved.

How to avoid heat-related illnesses

To keep it cool during hot-weather exercise, keep these basic precautions in mind:

* Take it slow . If you're used to exercising indoors or in cooler weather, take it easy at first. As your body adapts to the heat, gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts. If you have a chronic medical condition or take medication, ask your doctor if you need to take additional precautions.
* Drink plenty of fluids . Your body's ability to sweat and cool down depends on adequate rehydration. Drink plenty of water while you're working out — even if you don't feel thirsty. If you're planning to exercise intensely or for longer than one hour, consider sports drinks instead. These drinks can replace the sodium, chloride and potassium you lose through sweating. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, which actually promote fluid loss.
* Dress appropriately . Lightweight, loosefitting clothing promotes sweat evaporation and cooling by letting more air pass over your body. Avoid dark colors, which can absorb the heat. A light-colored hat can limit your exposure to the sun.
* Avoid midday sun . Exercise in the morning or evening — when it's likely to be cooler outdoors — rather than the middle of the day. If possible, exercise in the shade or in a pool.
* Wear sunscreen . A sunburn decreases your body's ability to cool itself.
* Have a backup plan . If you're concerned about the heat or humidity, stay indoors. Work out at the gym, walk laps inside the mall or climb stairs inside an air-conditioned building.

New technology may help people quit smoking more easily

A new technology developed by researchers from Duke University Medical Center may soon help people quit smoking more easily. The new technology, which delivers more efficiently nicotine to the blood stream, provides immediate relief to withdrawal symptoms.

“We wanted to replicate the experience of smoking without incurring the dangers associated with cigarettes, and we wanted to do so more effectively than the nicotine replacement therapies currently on the market,” said Jed Rose, Ph.D., director of the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research.

Unlike other nicotine vapor delivery systems like Nicotrol or Nicorette inhalers, the new technology combines nicotine with the vapor phase of pyurvic acid to form a salt called nicotine pyruvate which, when inhaled, replicates the natural inhalation used by smokers when drawing on a cigarette. This results in lower craving for ciggarets, rapid increase in plasma nicotine concentrations and a lower irritation compared to Nicotrol or Nicorette.

“Compared to the current nicotine vapor inhaler, we are able to give smokers more nicotine, although still less than a cigarette, with less irritation, resulting in reduced cravings,” said Rose. “Thus we are able to achieve a therapeutic effect with greater tolerability.”

The inhalation system may one day prove useful for other medications delivery but for now more research is needed to asses its role in helping people quit smoking and to examine the safety and effectiveness of prolonged use of the inhalation system.

Delicious Diabetic Diets

Diet plays a key role in controlling the disease. Feeling overwhelmed with all the options? Check out this video!

A very interesting story about Multiple Skin Abscesses

A 24 year old woman presented with fever and an abscess in her left antecubital fossa. She claimed that three weeks previously she had attended a blood donor session and an attempted cannulation at the site of the abscess had been unsuccessful. General examination was otherwise unremarkable and the only admitted history was of tonsillectomy, appendicectomy, and extraction of wisdom teeth. Incision and drainage of the abscess in the left antecubital fossa was undertaken on the night of admission and a ß haemolytic streptococcus and Escherichia coli were grown from the pus evacuated.

Her fever settled with intravenous antibiotics, but four days after admission a further abscess appeared on the dorsum of the right foot. Further inquiries led to a complete denial of any other relevant history.

In view of the two abscesses, a full screening for immunodeficiency was undertaken. Immunoglobulin and complement concentrations were measured and white cell function tests were performed all had normal results. The patient was negative for HIV antibodies. Other investigations performed for metastatic abscesses included abdominal ultrasonography and cerebral computed tomography, both of which had normal results.


As no further abscesses appeared during the next week's stay on the ward the patient was discharged, but she returned three days later with fever, rigors, and a swollen abscessing area in the right antecubital fossa. Again, examination was unremarkable apart from the abscess, but some tiny scars on the wrists were noted and under pressure she admitted to a suicide attempt.

Blood cultures were performed which eventually grew E coli and Streptococcus milleri, and the abscess in the right antecubital fossa was drained. She was again treated with intravenous antibiotics but six days after her admission another abscess appeared in the left antecubital fossa, which again required drainage.

Despite repeated questioning, no further helpful history was available. She vehemently denied, on confrontation, the possibility that she could either be using injecting drugs or injecting faeces into her veins. Subsequently her father, who lived 200 miles away, attended the ward and reported that the patient had been admitted to hospital with a halothane overdose in 1989 while working as a veterinary nurse. She also had a history of anorexia and bulimia with multiple suicide attempts.

Five days later she developed a further abscess on the right foot; it required drainage and again grew S milleri and E coli. Over the next two weeks she developed abscesses in her right perianal region and the right groin, both of which grew S milleri, and she then developed a suppurating wound on her abdominal wall in the right subcostal region.

On the evening that the abscess appeared on the patient's abdominal wall her friend, who visited her every day, was confronted and was found carrying a basket containing a large rat. It then became apparent that the patient had been sleeping with the rat, which was her pet, all the time she had been in hospital; her friend brought the rat in the evening and removed it in the morning. On re-examination we were unable to find any obvious rat bite marks on the patient's fingers or toes, but she habitually bit her nails and there were several lacerations on her fingers.

The multiple abscesses were thought to be due to rat bites and the patient was denied access to the rat, which had been her pet since being discovered in the wild some years before. Subsequently no further abscesses appeared, the rat no longer slept with the patient, and both remained well.
Rat bites are an uncommon cause of multiple skin abscesses, certainly in Western societies. Rat bite fever induced by Streptobacillus moniliformis is well described and is associated with chills, arthritis, and a diffuse rash