3 Steps to Good Nose Hygiene

Can you imagine life without a nose? No more smelling the wonderful scents of freshly cut grass or roasted coffee beans. Not being able to have a proper conversation, since your mouth is on double-duty for breathing as well. Not to mention you’d look pretty funny!
It doesn’t stop there, though. The air you breathe in would be rife with dust and harmful microbes, since the little nose hairs and nasal mucous will not be there to filter them out. Without a nose, you’d have lost a crucial component of your body’s defense mechanisms.

So why is it that we do not properly maintain our noses? everyday, we brush our teeth and wash our faces, but we fail to take time to properly clean our noses, leaving them vulnerable to irritation and infection. Fortunately, it’s never too late to start. Here are three easy steps to go nose hygiene!

Step1 Clean your nose every day

The nose does a great job filtering the dust out of the air you breathe in, but this means that the dust is only confined to you nostrils.
Also in the  nostrils is the mucous secreted by the cells at the back of the nose. All that gunk trapped inside needs to come out, so blow each nostril in turn to clear it out.
Alternatively, use a neti pot filled with a warm saltwater solution. Used widely among Ayurvedic practitioners, this small, shallow pot with a long, tapered spout – it looks like a cross between a teapot and Aladdin’s lamp – can help you do a thorough job of  cleaning and moisturizing your nasal cavities. The answer is poured into one nostril and arrives from the other, rinsing the nasal cavity in between and flushing out excess mucous and irritants that may trigger sinusitis or allergies.
You can easily make your own saltwater solution at home, but be careful not to put too much salt as this could irritate your nose. If you prefer, over-the-counter saline nasal solutions are widely available.

Step 2 Don’t re-use tissues
Rather than a handkerchief, use tissues to blow your nose, Remember that each tissue is good for one time only, so be sure to dispose of it after use. Never re-use it as you could be re-introducing germs to your nose.

Step 3 Don’t overdo it
You’ll only aggravate your nose by rubbing or blowing it too often. Always treat your nose gently.

Try a nasal spray
When you have a cold, the use of a decongestant nasal spray can help relieve some of your symptoms.Under normal circumstances, however, a non-decongestant, saline nasal spray can help keep your nose and nasal passages in tip-top condition by introducing a saltwater mist to moisturize the nasal cells and to clear secretions.
Commercially-available saline nasal sprays are engineered to prevent backflow during use. This is very important to ensure the solution remains sterile and is safe for repeated use.

Overview of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The question has to  be asked: how common is rheumatoid arthritis in United States? It is estimated that approximately 0.5% of the American population has rheumatoid arthritis. However, this estimation is based on figures from the 1990s. There have been no recent studies in United States.

The lack of current statistics does not mean than rheumatoid arthritis is becoming a thing of the past. This disease has no cure and patients have to endure a lifetime of adjusting to its effects.

The progress of disease
Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. Typically, it affects the small joints of the hands, wrists and feet, but can affect any joint in the body. With the joint pin and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis have difficulty using their joints.

When the hands or upper limbs are affected, patients face difficulties gripping and other fine had movements essential in daily tasks, eg, dressing, bathing,  cooking and doing housework. In the feet and lower limbs, rheumatoid arthritis causes problems in walking, climbing stairs and getting up from a chair or the toilet.

This is apart from the pain that can be felt much of the time. Untreated, the symptoms will gradually worsen and lead to damage of the cartilage and bones of the joint, resulting in deterioration of joint function.

Women at higher risk
Rheumatoid arthritis is 2-3 times more common in women than in men. This is thought to be due to the stimulatory effects of the female hormone oestrogen on the immune system.

As rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, the body’s immune system is stimulated to produce abnormal antibodies that ‘attack’ the body. The process involves T-cell, whose functions are affected by oestrogen.

Men with rheumatoid arthritis frequently have slightly lower testosterone levels than normal.

The importance of the oestrogen link has been shown in epidemiological studies, which found that the risk of RA is increased in women who have never been pregnant. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis can often go into remission when a women is pregnant.

Could it be the gene?
Rheumatoid arthritis is not an inherited disease, but certain genes affect a person’s risk. Individuals with precise variants on the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes are additional most likely to build rheumatoid arthritis than men and women with other gene variants.

However, there are just as many people with these genes who never develop the disease, so there must be additional precipitating factors that are not well understood.

Smokers and infections
Cigarette smoking may also play a role. This habit can increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, which then may be more severe when it happens.

Infection from bacteria or viruses is one factor that has long been suspected to initiate rheumatoid arthritis. Nevertheless, at this time, there is absolutely no definite evidence of this

Systemic autoimmune disease
Rheumatoid arthritis is not only about the joints; other health complications may also arise in affected individuals. As rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, patients can have other organ involvement.

The inflammation in the joints can affect the lungs, skin and nerves, among others. This gives rise to its own set of problems. There is also an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Consulting rheumatologist regularly
There may also be complications from rheumatoid arthritis treatment. As the treatments work by suppressing the immune system, these patients are at an increased risk of infections.

Other drugs will have other specific complications which have to be discussed between the patient and doctor before starting the drug. Patients should be monitored regularly by their rheumatologists.

PREVENTING BAD BREATH

BY Dr. Angelo V. Fernandez, DMD, FICD

Bad breath, or halitosis, as what dentists normally call it, is a condition described as breath with unpleasant odor that causes embarrassment. With 85 to 90 percent of all the causes originating from the mouth itself (bacteria that live in the mouth are the primary causes of bad breath), bad breath affects a significant number of people.


Common causes

Some people with bad breath are not even aware that they are suffering from this condition; it is because the odor-detecting cells in our nose eventually become accustomed to the constant flow of the bad smell in the mouth. The following are the most common causes of bad breath:

• POOR ORAL HYGIENE: infrequent and improper tooth brushing and flossing can leave food debris to decay inside the mouth, giving off the characteristic of rotten egg smell.

• TOOTH DECAY: Bacteria-caused tooth decay is an important causative agent of bad breath. The bacteria have a putrefactive or rottening action on the mouth leading to its demineralization.

• DRY MOUTH: When there is a reduction or absence of saliva in the mouth, it leads to accumulation of plaque, favoring bacterial growth and bad breath. Mouth breathing is also one of the causes of dry mouth.

• SYSTEMIC ILLNESSES OR MEDICAL DISORDER: Local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, post nasal drip, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney dysfunction, and chronic bronchitis are possible causes.

• SEVERE DIETING: This causes bad breath due to ketoacidosis from prolonged starvation.

• EXTERNAL AGENTS: What you eat affects the air you exhale. Avoid eating certain foods like garlic, onions, coffee, and chewing tobacco.

• SMOKING: Smoking causes ‘smoker’s breath’ which is due to the accumulation of nicotine, tar, and other foul-smelling substances in the mouth.

• INFECTION OF THE MOUTH: Gum and periodontal diseases, oral cancer, and oral lesions are few examples.


Prevention

Bad breath can be prevented easily. Eat a well-balanced diet. Proper dental care should be observed by brushing your teeth, tongue, and gums; floss at least twice a day and rinse with mouthwash, so that food debris would not remain in the mouth. We can prevent dry mouth by increasing our fluid intake and chewing sugar-free dental health gum with xylitol that stimulates the flow of saliva and helps prevent dental cavities. Eat foods that keep breath fresh and prevent plaque from forming like raw carrots and celery.

Stop smoking, ask your dentist for tips on how to kick the habit. Smoking also interferes with the normal functioning of the cells in the gum tissue. It is also associated with lung cancer, but another major bad effect of smoking is “oral cancer.” Periodontal disease or gum problem also responds quickly to proper dental treatment, so visit your dentist’s at least twice a year. Dental caries should be restored immediately through dental filing, in some severe cases root canal treatment is an alternative procedure. If left untreated, it may lead to tooth loss.

Bad breath caused by systemic illness may be a long-term problem that can also be controlled with proper medical care. Once bad breath has been diagnosed, the expectation for fresh breath is usually excellent as long as you follow your dentist’s or physician’s treatment plan.

---

About the speaker/author:

Dr. Angelo Fernandez, DMD, FICD, is the Chairman of the Philippine Dental Association Committee on Dental Public Health 2011.  Click on www.pda.ph.

Kristen Stewart's Surprise Reaction to Being a 'Sex Symbol'

By Celebrity Health & Fitness,

Twilight’s Kristen Stewart raised eyebrows when she showed off her trim body in a tiny white bikini while shooting scenes for “Breaking Dawn” in Brazil. Since then, she’s started making lists of sexiest celebrities — much to her chagrin.

In her new movie, “On the Road,” there are rumors that Kristen will briefly appear topless, and she’s practically naked in “Breaking Dawn, Part 1,” according to reports.

In her movie “Welcome to the Rileys,” she plays a down-and-out teen who works part-time as a stripper.

Check out Kristen’s photos; click to enlarge.

And, in red carpet appearances, Stewart has dazzled in the latest fashions.

Still, she’s determined to be the anti-glamour Hollywood star and was irritated when FHM magazine named her recently as one of the world’s sexiest women.

She revealed that she hates to be called hot and rarely feels like a sex symbol.

“I can’t stand that,” Stewart, 21, tells UK’s Closer magazine. What does that even mean? I don’t feel hot.”

The slender 5’6″ Kristen, who dieted for her bikini and honeymoon scenes in “Breaking Dawn,” admits she still unaccustomed to the fame from starring in the popular vampire series.

“I have to pick and choose where I’m going,” says Stewart, who’s dating hunky co-star Robert Pattinson.

“I have become very reclusive. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Oh, I can’t deal with anything right now, I can’t see anybody.’ ”

Stewart, who has been acting since childhood, likes to cook, watch the Food Network and relax with friends during her free time.

Kristen is a good chef, whose culinary skills have earned her praise from co-stars.

“You got to try her tortilla soup! It’s incredible,” gushed her “On The Road” co-star Garrett Hedlund.

When she’s out in public, she’s likely to be dressed down in jeans and tees, and she drives a somewhat disheveled Mini Cooper.

While Kristen likes to avoid the limelight, she’s like most of her fans. Celebrities intrigue her, and she’s curious about them.

“If I knew that an actor was nearby, I’d be interested,” she confesses.

“I’m a people watcher, and I’d definitely choose that person to watch. It’s human nature to look at others and everyone is the same.”

Breaking Dawn, which co-stars Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz and Robert Pattinson, hits theaters Nov. 18.

Jane Fonda's Shocking Secret for Hot Looks, Hotter Sex

By Celebrity Health & Fitness,

 

Jane Fonda has been a symbol for golden years health and sexuality for two decades, and says sex after 70 has been the best in her life. But she’s had a secret to her hot looks and hot sex — testoserone.

“Here’s something I haven’t said publicly yet: I discovered testosterone about three years ago, which makes a huge difference if you want to remain sexual and your libido has dropped,” Fonda told London’s Sunday Telegraph.

Fonda, 73, says she has been taking the male hormone since she turned 70, and credits it for boosting her libido, saying it has made a “huge difference” in her life.

Fonda has been dating music producer Richard Perry, who is four years younger than her.

Some doctors, however, warn that the long-term consequences of the treatment are unknown, although others say it can do wonders for menopausal women.

“It is not just about libido, Professor John Studd of the London PMS and Menopause Clinic, told the newspaper.

“The benefits include more energy, more self-confidence, better mood and all of those things,” he added.

Testosterone is found in women naturally, although not in the amounts found in men. As men and women age, their testosterone levels drop.

Some doctors prescribe testosterone alongside more traditional hormone replacement therapy in women after menopause.

“Use testosterone, it comes in a gel, pill or patch,” she added.

But there are side effects and Fonda has been hit by one.

“I had to stop because it was giving me acne,” Fonda added. “It’s one thing to have plastic surgery, but it is quite another to have adolescence acne. That is going too far.”

Doctors say adjusting the dosage of the drug can control such things as acne and facial hair.

While Fonda is known as a physical fitness advocate, she’s also had spinal surgery, has artificial knee and a titanium hip implant.

But this is the first time she’s admitted to such a potent drug supplement.

“How do I still look good? I owe 30 percent to genes, 30 percent to good sex, 30 percent because of sports and healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and for the remaining ten percent, I have to thank my plastic surgeon,” she said.

Doctors explain cause of brain-eating amoeba

ST. BERNARD, La. -- It's taken the life of a 16-year-old girl in Florida after she swam in a river and a 9-year-old boy in Virginia after he was dunked in water at a fishing camp.

Now the mother of a young college student from St. Bernard Parish talks about the loss of her son from a deadly brain-eating amoeba.

The victims who have died of this rare infection include a Florida teen. The amoeba could have entered her body when she swam in a river near her home. She first had high fever, a headache and threw up 20 times.

Another case was the boy from central Virginia. He was dunked at day camp the first day.

Now this rare infection by an amoeba has also taken a life here at home. Patrice Cusimano remembers her only child.

"He had some very definite opinions about some things, but he was very kind. He was a sweet boy and I was very happy to see the comments (on the obit blog) that people made about him, about how kind he was, because to me that meant more than anything that he was kind to people. He was very much like my dad," said Cusimano.

Jeffrey Allen Cusimano of Arabi was 28 when he died on June 7 after the amoeba apparently entered his brain by contaminated tap water that unknowingly was in the neti pot he used to clear his sinuses.

A neti pot is small and shaped like a tea pot. It's used to rinse out the nose and sinus cavities with salt water to help people suffering from colds, sinus infections and allergies.

"Around 4:00 in the morning, I started hearing him taking showers like repeatedly, he would take a shower and then go lay down and take a show and go lay down and at some point I got up to check and I realized he was burning up with fever," his mother remembers.

State health officials say the organism was found in the shower head in his home. It was also in the hot water heater. But they say it was isolated to that home and the water supply was checked and not contaminated.

First symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck. Later symptoms include confusion, attention loss, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations.

That's exactly what happened to Jeff.

"At this time he was disoriented. He didn't know his social security number. He had started walking around the house about getting dressed, going to take a shower in his bedroom, and just acting very erratic," Patrice Cusimano said, crying.

Jeff graduated from Holy Cross High School with honors. He had plans, graduating from UNO this year with future MBA and law school hopes. He was enjoying a life in the hotel industry working at the Ritz.

But Patrice knew when the ICU doctor called from Ochsner Baptist Medical Center, those plans would never happen.

"The doctor called and asked me if I could come right back because he was deteriorating, and I knew I was going to lose him," she said. "So from Saturday to Tuesday, he was gone."

Only 120 people have died from this amoeba since it was found in the 1960s.

It usually happens to children after water is pushed up their noses from jumping in to water in lakes, ponds and rivers. People can swallow this organism and be fine, but for some when it gets lodged up in the nose, it goes to the brain and consumes it as its food.

"We see it late in the summer -- August, September -- and the organism invades the body," said Dr. Jim Diaz, of the LSU Health Sciences Center's School of Public Health. "Its infectious form is a cyst that's microscopic, and it invades the body through the nose. So the cases we've seen have been cases where people have been wake boarding or water skiing or doing something in fresh water -- diving, swimming under water a lot."

To protect yourself from this rare infection, use a nose clip or hold your nose when jumping into lakes and rivers. In neti pots, use only sterile or distilled water, or water that has been boiled and cooled.

wwltv.com

Anne Hathaway Super Thin After Grueling Catwoman Workouts

I eager to see the new catwoman movie. Do you know why? It is because of Anne Hathaway. Hahaha. She has work hard for this movie. Let us read the article below. Enjoy!!

By Celebrity Health & Fitness,

 

Anne Hathaway looked like she was in the best shape of her life when she appeared yesterday (Aug. 8) in an Alexander McQueen bustier dress at the New York City premiere of her new film, “One Day.”

Hathaway, 28, says she’s working out five days a week during filming of “The Dark Knight Rises,” the latest in the Batman series to keep up with all the physical action.

“They’ve given me a martial arts exercise that I have to do all the time to teach me grace and proper stance and fluid movement,” she said in a recent interview.

Check out Anne’s svelte figure; click the photos to enlarge.
 

“It looks so gentle, but when you’re actually doing fight choreography it’s ‘Oh my gosh, that’s actually a block.’ Oh, I’m hitting somebody’s throat right now.

“It’s been a lot of fun, it’s been a new challenge. I’d really like to do a lot more of it. It’s not something I ever thought I’d do.”

She plays Catwoman, and an early glimpse of her costume in photos released by Warner Bros. drew some hoots on the Internet.

“What I am happy to say is if you didn’t like the photo, you only see about a 10th of what that suit can do. And if you did like the photo, you have excellent taste,” she joked about the reaction.

Hathaway’s body-hugging black dress also raised eyebrows at the premiere because of her tiny waist and thin limbs, causing some to speculate she may be going overboard with the workouts.

But the 5’8″ actress, who is undergoing stunt training and strength exercises followed by 90 minutes of dance for her physical role, seems to realize that being skinny isn’t sustainable or enjoyable.

“I’ve hit the point in my life where I understand that being skinny is not sustainable, advisable, [or] enjoyable,” said the vegetarian.

“My identity used to be shaped on my appearance so much,” she said. “I don’t think I was shallow; I just think I was young. I focus on other things a lot more now.

Anne says she’s also not fazed by aging despite working in an industry that worships youth and physical perfection.

“I find the passing of time very liberating,” Hathaway told reporters on the red carpet.

“I feel more confident every, well not every single day, but most days I feel better than I did the day before, and that’s a good thing.”

Anne, who’s dating but has no intention of marrying or having children anytime soon, says she’s living life one day at a time.

“For every generation where traditional rules don’t apply, you don’t have to have things figured out by 22 and have four kids by the time you’re 30,” she says.

“We have a lot more time to figure out who we are.”

Reese: Save Time Exercise With Friends

By Celebrity Health & Fitness, 

 

Reese Witherspoon has a solution to solve time-crunch problems and socialize more while keeping her weight in check.

Because the 33-year-old actress struggles to find the time to work out and socialize, she arranges meetings with her pals at the gym.

“I try to exercise every day. I like to run for about an hour, and I’m big into working out with girlfriends,” she told InStyle magazine.

Reese has battled to overhaule her life since her divorce from actor Ryan Phillippe, who fathered children Ava, 10, and five-year-old Deacon, in 2007.

The split encouraged the “Monsters Vs. Aliens’”actress to take more time out from work and do things she enjoys.

“You just have to keep going, you have to keep it together for your kids and yourself too. I’m trying to learn from the things that have happened in my life, live more in the moment, and have more fun,” she said.

She says she’s spending a lot of her free time with boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal at her farmhouse outside Los Angeles.

“Jake is a great cook, he does a lot. We spend the weekends at my farmhouse. We have chickens and we grow cucumbers and tomatoes. It reminds me of where I grew up in Tennessee,” she said.

Famous Celebrities Who Were Institutionalized

Famous Celebrities Who Were Institutionalized

Checking in the loony bin to get help for mental illness can be a double-edged sword. On one side you are improving your chances of bouncing back. On the other side people denigrate you for being so much as associated with a mental facility.

When famous persons get committed to a mental institution, this inconvenience is multiplied tenfold. Their immediate social circles are not the only one in the know; the entire planet is. Before long the blogosphere is already roasting them alive. This is how fame collects its dues.

Fame may have brought these celebrities there in the first place. Mental conditions seem to dovetail well with popularity, as many people in this list would demonstrate.

Britney Spears

2007 – pop culture pundits remember this as the year Britney Spears literally went lady gaga. Coming from a divorce the year before, the pop superstar cranked up the crazy and shaved her head. It has been a downward spiral since.

In 2008 Spears finally checked into the psychiatric ward of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The weeklong meds there may have done her some good as she released a well-received album later that year.

Carrie Fisher

No one would have thought Carrie Fisher’s nerves would be having a Star Wars of their own. Decades after her star turn in that saga, Carrie Fisher latched on to drugs and alcohol to treat a looming insanity.

At 40, she finally entered a mental institution for bipolar disorder. There, she would not sleep for days on end and think persons on the TV screen were directly talking to her.

With the right meds however, she was able to turn her life around. To this day, the erstwhile Princess Leia is undergoing treatment, including electroshock therapy.

MindSoothe – promotes balanced mood, emotional health and feelings of well-being

James Taylor

James Taylor is unique in this list for positively seeing through his nine-month stay in the funny farm. He even sounds grateful for it on his hit song “Fire and Rain.” Apparently the stay kept him from serving in the Vietnam War, thereby saving him.

James was near graduating from high school when a deep depression set in, forcing him into Massachusetts’ McLean Hospital in 1965. Making the most of his time there, he continued studying through the facility’s partner school, Arlington.

Joey Ramone

Punk rock king Joey Ramone endured schizophrenia and social anxiety while growing up. But he did not enter a mental hospital for years – until he brandished a knife at his mother and sibling. He remained there for a month.

In the years thereafter, Joey reformed himself as a rock god, worshipped by thousands of sad boys like him.

SocialFear Relief - relieves social fear, anxiety, nervousness, shyness and stage fright

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was as famous for her feeble mental state as she was for her blonde bimbo act. In hindsight it was her genes that directed her fate. Her mother also has a mental illness and perished during institutionalization.

Historians know Marilyn grew sick of being used like a rag by men in high places. She also yearned to be treated right by Hollywood, to be given roles that showcased her acting range. In 1961, a doctor misled her into checking into a mental hospital, the very place she was scared of.

Life was not any better after she got out. Men in power continued passing her around until her untimely demise.

Margot Kidder

Fans of the Superman movies would never forget that scene in which a nutty, nude Lois Lane hides around a woodpile.

In a curious case of life imitating the art, the actress who portrayed her, Margot Kidder, was committed to a mental facility in 1996 for manic depression.

Melancholy Lift - relieves feelings of melancholy, sadness, grief and weepiness

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh’s legendary beauty belies her brain’s disarray. Even during the peak years of her popularity, she languished in manic depression. But no one in the movie-going public had any idea. Doctors were notorious then for covering mental illnesses up and employing crude treatments for them.

Vivien was winning Academy Awards even as the mental disease continued hounding her. It came to a head with an admission to a mental facility plus sessions of electroshock therapy. Hollywood urban legend has it that the sessions burned parts of her head.

Winona Ryder

Her 1990 stint in a mental hospital foreshadowed her performance in 1999’s Girl, Interrupted. Exhausted, anxious and depressed, at a time when she had just withdrawn from The Godfather: Part III cast, Winona was institutionalized.

She checked out after only a few weeks. In interviews afterwards, she said her confinement was for naught, that it offered nothing in the way of denouement to her troubles. Years later, Winona was embroiled in a shoplifting incident.

SAD Soother - relieves depression related to seasonal affective disorder

Yoko Ono

John Lennon’s paramour attempted suicide after divorcing her first husband in the US. Yoko’s parents were so concerned they returned her to Japan to be institutionalized.

She remarried afterwards but that relationship also went up in flames, although not before it gave her a bundle of joy.

***

By Healthy Lifestyle Blogzine

Report: Lady Gaga Is 'Sick and Obsessed with her Weight'

A shared article By Kiki Von Glinow  

 

Forget the 'Edge of Glory,' according to a report from Star magazine (via Radar Online), Lady Gaga is on a dangerous edge when it comes to her health. From her eating habits to her extreme self-scrutinizing, apparently it is just a matter of time before Gaga's unhealthy lifestyle catches up with her.

"Those who have worked with her on tour reported to me that Gaga barely ate for weeks at a time to fit into her costume," investigative journalist, Ian Halperin told Star. "She is sick and obsessed with her weight. One friend told me, Gaga will stare at herself in the mirror for hours on end, analyzing and critiquing her body. It's an unhealthy obsession."

But fitting into her outrageous and often barely there get-ups isn't the only reason Gaga is so concerned with her body -- according to Halperin, she uses her outlandish wigs and perfectly toned body to distract from the side affects of her Lupus -- a disease she has publicly admitted to battling. The disease has reportedly caused the mother monster to lose hair and break out in red blotches all over her body.

But Halperin who has been investigating Gaga for the past 12 months explains that her disease and her weight problems are not her only demons.

"Her drug use started young," he explained. "From heroin to cocaine and ecstasy, her friends say that she has done every drug conceivable. You name it she has done it. She's morphed into this caricature called Lady Gaga, who isn't even a real person. The girl known as Stefi to her friends and family has all but disappeared."

Although we imagine that it's only human to be somewhat self-scrutinizing when you're performing in front of millions, we hope that Gaga can take her own 'Born This Way' advice.

10 health benefits of stopping smoking

Many of us still didn't realise the benefits of not smoking.  Most of us still choose to be a smoker even though many Bad article about smoking has been produced. Why does it happen? Is it because they not afraid of being sick? For me, i think it is more meaningful if we motivate them rather than blame them. So today, i will share about the benefit of not smoking. Enjoy!! 

Smoking’s bad for your health, but exactly how does quitting make life better?

Better sex
Stopping smoking improves the body’s bloodflow, so improves sensitivity. Men who stop smoking may get better erections. Women may find that their orgasms improve and they become aroused more easily. It’s also been found that non-smokers are three times more appealing to the opposite sex than smokers (one of the advantages, perhaps, of smelling fresh).

Find out more tips for having good sex.

Improved fertility
Non-smokers find it easier to get pregnant. Quitting smoking improves the lining of the womb and can make men’s sperm more potent. Becoming a non-smoker increases the possibility of conceiving through IVF and reduces the likelihood of having a miscarriage. Most importantly, it improves the chances of giving birth to a healthy baby.

Younger looking skin
Stopping smoking has been found to slow facial ageing and delay the appearance of wrinkles. The skin of a non-smoker gets more nutrients, including oxygen, and can reverse the sallow, lined complexion that smokers often have.

Watch this video to find out how smoking can ruin your looks.

Whiter teeth
Giving up tobacco stops teeth becoming stained, and you'll have fresher breath. Ex-smokers are less likely than smokers to get gum disease and lose their teeth prematurely.

Find out more about dental health.

Better breathing
People breathe more easily and cough less when they give up smoking because their lung capacity improves by up to 10% within nine months. In your 20s and 30s, the effect of smoking on your lung capacity may not be noticeable until you go for a run, but lung capacity naturally diminishes with age. In later years, having maximum lung capacity can mean the difference between having an active, healthy old age and wheezing when going for a walk or climbing the stairs.

Longer life
Half of all long-term smokers die early from smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. Men who quit smoking by 30 add 10 years to their life. People who kick the habit at 60 add three years to their life. In other words, it’s never too late to benefit from stopping. Quitting not only adds years to your life, but it also greatly improves the chance of a disease-free, mobile, happier old age.

Less stress
Scientific studies show that people's stress levels are lower after they stop smoking. Nicotine addiction makes smokers stressed from the ‘withdrawal’ between cigarettes. The pleasant feeling of satisfying that craving is only temporary and is not a real cure for stress. Also, the improved levels of oxygen in the body means that ex-smokers can concentrate better and have increased mental wellbeing.

Improved senses
Kicking the smoking habit gives your senses of smell and taste a boost. The body is recovering from being dulled by the hundreds of toxic chemicals found in cigarettes.

More energy
Within 2 to 12 weeks of stopping smoking, the circulation improves. This makes all physical activity, including walking and running, much easier. Quitting boosts the immune system, making it easier to fight off colds and flu. The increase in oxygen in the body makes ex-smokers less tired and less likely to have headaches.

Healthier loved ones
By stopping smoking you'll be protecting the health of your non-smoking friends and family.

Passive smoking increases a non-smoker's risk of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Second-hand smoke makes children twice at risk of chest illnesses, including pneumonia, croup (swollen airways in the lungs) and bronchitis, plus more ear infections, wheezing and asthma. They also have three times the risk of getting lung cancer in later life compared with children who live with non-smokers.

Quitting is good for their health as well as yours.

 The quitting timeline

• After 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse return to normal.
• After 24 hours your lungs start to clear.
• After two days your body is nicotine-free and your sense of taste and smell improve.
• After three days you can breathe more easily, and your energy increases.
• After two to 12 weeks, your circulation improves.
• After three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing improves.
• After one year your heart attack risk is  half that of a smoker.
• After 10 years your lung cancer risk is half that of a smoker.

Sources : NHS

Enjoy the Freedom of Electronic Cigarettes

If there’s any legal product that has received negative press, the tobacco cigarette stands at the forefront. Maybe, just maybe, the E cigarette can change this. The E cigarette, also called the Electronic Cigarette or E Cig, is just what the name implies – an electronic cigarette. It doesn’t burn, and it’s 100% litter free. The E Cig is a “clean” alternative to cigarette smoking.

First, let’s look at exactly what an E cigarette is, and how it works. Generally, an E Cig looks just like a regular, rolled cigarette. Smokers like the feel of a cigarette in their hand and mouth, and the manufacturers of E Cigs have obliged their target customers with a familiar feeling product. The E Cig contains a liquid solution, aptly named “e-liquid” or “e-juice.” The solution may or may not contain nicotine, and can be flavored to taste like tobacco, menthol, coffee, vanilla or “energy drink” (as well as a host of other flavors). When activated, the E Cig heats up and vaporizes the liquid, creating an aerosol-like mist that is inhaled. There is no smoke to exhale, nor is there any waste to dispose of.

As the electronic cigarette is electronic, it requires some sort of power source. This can come in the form of disposable batteries, but the best E Cigs are rechargeable. The best of the best have an “on the go” charging pack, and can be “juiced up” anywhere. The E Cig is all about convenience, and they have made it pretty darned easy to take these on the road with you.

In this day and age, it’s virtually impossible to find a place that allows smoking, but the E Cig gives the user more freedom. As electronic cigarettes don’t release any smoke or carcinogens, they can be used anywhere, from a restaurant to movie theater. Some even have blue LED lights on the tips, so that others won’t think that you are smoking in a prohibited place. The E Cig allows the user to get what they want, when and where they want it – talk about convenience!

BV Cigs electronic cigarettes all have built-in atomizers, and one cartridge gives the same amount of puffs as a pack of cigarettes. Their flavor offerings are tobacco, menthol, coffee, vanilla and “energy drink.” As these are premium products, they come with the blue, LED tip, so that others don’t think you are breaking a “no smoking” rule, as well as an on-the-go charger, which can be plugged in to a wall outlet or USB port.

Electronic cigarettes are the new wave for smokers. They maintain the look and feel of smoking, but don’t burn carcinogens or leave second-hand smoke. As they are so clean, they can be used anywhere, inside or out. When it comes to look, feel, taste and convenience, e cigarettes, from BV Cigs, are the choice to go with.

Smoking in front of children can make them addicted to nicotine

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

 

Most smokers are very aware of the damage they are doing to their own health – and know that others can also suffer though passive smoking. But a worrying new study reveals that smoking infront of children not only passes on the harmful effects of the smoke in the air – it can also get them hooked on cigarettes. A Concordia and University of Montreal study published in the Oxford journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, found that tweens who repeatedly observe a parent, sibling, friend or neighbur consuming cigarettes are more likely to start smoking themselves.

‘Kids who see others smoking are more likely to take up the habit because they don’t perceive cigarettes as unhealthy,’ says lead study author Simon Racicot, of Concordia University’s Department of Psychology.

‘We found that kids who’d never smoked who were exposed to tobacco use were more likely to hold positive beliefs about the killer habit. These are the kids who are more likely to start smoking as teenagers.’

This new investigation builds on previous studies examining the negative effects of being surrounded by smokers.

Senior author Jennifer J. McGrath, a professor in the Concordia University Department of Psychology said around 60 per cent of children are exposed to secondhand smoke across North America.
‘Greater exposure to smokers is largely associated with greater exposure to nicotine,’ she said.
‘Children exposed to the same amounts of secondhand smoke as adults absorb higher doses of nicotine.
‘Early findings suggest that secondhand smoke exposure could possibly trigger addiction in the brain – before kids actually start smoking themselves.’

For the study, 327 11-13 year olds enrolled in French-language public schools were questioned about their smoking habits, the number of smokers in their entourage and the situations where they observed smoking.

‘Preteens who were surrounded by more smokers believed that there are greater advantages to smoking,’ says Racicot.

‘Therefore, smoking by parents, siblings, and friends increases risk factors for later smoking.’
The researchers argue that new prevention efforts must be tailored to children who are highly exposed to secondhand smoke – ensuring they are aware of the risks.

The general public also needs to be informed about how smoking around youth normalizes the dangerous habit.

‘When it comes to smoking around kids, the best thing a parent can do is to avoid exposing their kids to cigarettes and to secondhand smoke,’ says Racicot.

‘A parent should step outside of their home or car to smoke. And the addictive habit should remain out of sight, out of breath and out of mind.’

Miley Cyrus smoking cigarettes? Who cares?

Do you really care that Miley Cyrus is a smoker? Does anyone really care that she smokes cigarettes? What is the big deal? I simply don’t get it. People seem to be up in arms about the fact the Miley Cyrus smokes cigarettes. They claim that because she is a role model that she has some sort of responsibility to the children to be a good example to them. Give me a break. 

Miley Cyrus is not a role model. She has never been a role model. Cyrus has been an anti role model since she was 15 years old. We are talking about a girl who posed basically nude for a magazine when she was 15, has been caught smoking a bong, taken partially nude pictures of herself and allowed them somehow to get online, and humped a pole in front of young kids at the Teen Choice awards. This is the person everyone says is a role model?

Any parent who allows Miley Cyrus to be a role model for their children should have their children taken away from them because they obviously are not fit to be a parent.

Parents should sit down with their young children and let them know that what Cyrus does is not appropriate and should never be emulated under any circumstances. 

Parents should be their children’s role models not people like Miley Cyrus. People should leave Cyrus alone and let her live her life in peace and spend more time with their own children so people like Cyrus don’t have the influence over them that we all fear they do.

More Picture : here
More News : Cigarettes Flavour

Goodness of MilK

Taken from Dutchlady.com.my


I am worried about the sugar level in my child’s Growing Up Milk

1. I didn't know that Growing Up Milk need to have sugars. Why?

First of all, we need to understand that children of growing up age needs some source of energy to help them grow. Main sources of energy are carbohydrates and fats. Carbohydrates are important, because it is the main source of energy which is needed for good growth and development of the body and the brain, especially for growing up children.

Sugars are a type of carbohydrates. Milk which is a natural product in itself also contains sugars known as lactose. It is this sugar (lactose) in milk which helps your child to grow. Therefore, all Growing Up Milk will contain some form of sugars.

2. Tell me about the sugars in Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk.

First of all, at Dutch Lady Malaysia we have developed a well balanced formula which is optimal for growing up children in Malaysia. All Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk products are fully in compliance with Malaysia's draft standard of Formulated Milk Powder for Children, Malaysia's Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) 2005 and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2003 recommendation.

There are two types of sugars most commonly found in Growing Up Milk powder. First, the naturally occuring sugars in milk which are called lactose. Second, there are added sugars which are natural plant sugars.

Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk has a combination of lactose and added plant sugars. This is because, at Dutch Lady Malaysia we always strive to develop Growing Up Milk products which can help bridge the nutritional gap of the children. By providing an optimally and nutritionally balanced Growing Up Milk coupled with a healthy daily meal, it will help your child to achieve a nutritionally balanced diet which is important for his/her growth.

3. So, why does Dutch Lady need to have 'added sugar' in their Growing Up Milk powder ?

Dutch Lady's growing up milk is nutritionally designed using a combination of naturally occurring sugars in milk i.e. lactose and also added natural plant sugars in order to maintain the natural ratio of lactose in milk. Based on years of research, we found that it is important that our Growing Up Milk is optimally formulated. Our research reveals that products which are not optimally formulated, for example those with high lactose are not well tolerated by Malaysian children. Some children who consume high lactose milk may develop the following complications such as diarrhea, bloating (due to too much gas) as a result of the inability of their body to metabolise the excess lactose.

4. I am concerned about my child's sugar intake from his Growing Up Milk powder. How does the sugar content in Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk compare with the other brands who claims 'no added sugar'?

Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk has approximately 15% to 32% less total sugars (per 100g milk powder) versus brands who claims 'no added sugar'. In fact, the sugar levels in Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk is well within the recommended Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) 2005 level as well as within the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2003 recommendation.


Lactose and 'added sugar' which is the natural form of plant sugar, are all sugars.

Total sugar of Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk product is approximately 15% to 32% less (per 100gm of milk powder) than brands who claim they have 'no added sugar'.



5. I read some brands that 'have no added sugar' implied that other brands like Dutch Lady have a lot of 'added sugar' in their Growing Up Milk and this is unhealthy for my child. Is this true?

Growing Up Milk brands that claim 'no added sugar' only talk about 'added sugar' (which we explained are plant sugars). However, they do not talk about the overall total sugar content in their milk. Parents should look at the total sugar content in their child's Growing Up Milk.

Total sugar includes both the naturally occurring sugar in milk which is lactose and the added natural plant sugars. Even though Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk products has added natural plant sugars in our Growing Up Milk, our Growing Up Milk powder has a much lower total sugar content compared to brands who claim that they have ‘no added sugar’.

6. Is my child getting too much sugar from DL growing up milk?

Rest assured that your child is not getting too much sugar from our Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk as all our Growing Up Milk products are made in full compliance with Malaysia’s draft standard of Formulated Milk Powder for Children, Malaysia RNI 2005 and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2003 recommendations.

7. In terms of sugar intake, what should I really be concerned about?

We understand that parents are worried about the effect of excessive sugar consumption in your child's diet which could lead to tooth decay, childhood obesity as well as diabetes.

If you are worried about this, apart from ensuring that your child minimise the intake of high in sugar food or snacks such as that occasional bar of chocolate, you will also will need to look at total sugar level in your child's Growing Up Milk and not the added sugar level.

There is no difference in terms of calorific value between lactose and other added natural sugars.

8. I came across a website in Malaysia where it provides a model to calculate sugar by looking at Carbohydrate content of Growing Up Milk's nutritional information. When I key in Dutch Lady's Growing Up Milk's carbohydrate content, your product would have 7-10 teaspoons of added sugar. Please explain.

We are not at liberty to explain how the website makes its calculation. We believe that possibly the calculation method is factually misleading.

In terms of total sugar content, Dutch Lady’s Growing Up Milk has approximately 15% to 32% less total sugars (per 100g milk powder) versus brands who claims 'no added sugar'.

9. Is Dutch Lady planning to reduce its added sugar in its Growing Up Milk products?
We firmly believe that the added natural plant sugars in our Growing Up Milk is necessary to ensure optimally balanced formulation so that it provides adequate carbohydrate (energy source) for a growing child. The level of the total sugars in our Growing Up Milk are not excessive. It is well within the recommended Malaysia Recommended Nutritional Intake (RNI) 2005 and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2003 recommendations.

Secondhand Smoke May Increase Risk for Nicotine Addiction

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
 

Moderate secondhand smoke exposure results in occupancy of brain α4 β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which may increase vulnerability to smoking and nicotine addiction, new research shows. Study investigators found that after 1 hour of exposure to secondhand smoke in an enclosed space, a substantial amount of nicotine reaches the brains of nonsmokers and binds to receptors that are normally targeted by direct exposure to tobacco smoke — a finding that has important implications.

“We know that secondhand smoke exposure results in exposed individuals being more likely to become smokers and to have a harder time quitting smoking [if they are already smokers],” first author Arthur L. Brody, MD, from the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and the University of California, Los Angeles, told Medscape Medical News.

“Our study presents further evidence for the need to limit exposure to secondhand smoke in vulnerable individuals,” he added.

The study was published online May 2 in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Priming the Brain

In laboratory rats, long-term exposure to cigarette smoke leads to nicotine dependence and an upregulation of nAChR levels in the brain. Yet, “brain nAChR occupancy from secondhand smoke exposure has not yet (to our knowledge) been demonstrated,” the researchers write.

In the study, 11 moderately dependent cigarette smokers and 12 nonsmokers underwent positron emission tomography with the radioligand 2-(18)F-FA-85380, which permits visualization of brain α4 β2 nAChRs, one of the most abundant nAChR subtypes in the brain.

Each participant underwent 2 scanning sessions during which they sat in the passenger seat of a car for 1 hour and were exposed to moderate secondhand smoke or to no secondhand smoke.

During the smoke exposure condition, the mean air carbon monoxide level was 7.4 parts per million (ppm) — significantly higher (P < .001) than during the control condition (0.5 ppm).

For the entire group (smokers and nonsmokers), moderate secondhand smoke exposure led to an average 19% brain α4 β2 nAChR occupancy, the researchers say.

Evidence Supports Public Smoking Ban

“These results show that even limited secondhand smoke exposure delivers enough nicotine to the brain to alter its function,” Nora D. Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who was not involved in the study, noted in a statement.

“Chronic or severe exposure could result in even higher brain nicotine levels, which may explain why secondhand smoke exposure increases vulnerability to nicotine addiction,” Dr. Volkow added.

The researchers also found that smokers had a 23% increase, on average, in craving with secondhand smoke exposure, and they saw a correlation between nAChR occupancy and craving alleviation with subsequent cigarette smoking. This finding suggests that moderate secondhand smoke exposure delivers a priming dose of nicotine to the brain that contributes to continued cigarette use in smokers, they say.

“This study,” Dr. Brody said, “gives concrete evidence to support policies that ban smoking in public places, particularly enclosed spaces and around children.”

Sources : Daily Mail

Wales could be the first to ban smoking in cars

WALES could be the first European country to ban smoking in cars carrying children, First Minister Carwyn Jones announced yesterday. Mr Jones said legislation could be considered if children’s exposure to second-hand smoke did not reduce as a result of a campaign. A ban would be designed first and foremost to protect children from second-hand smoke as well as encouraging adults to give up smoking, he said.

 

The First Minister said that it would be the next logical step following the ban on smoking in offices, pubs and restaurants.

He said: “Wales was the first UK country to vote in favour of a ban on smoking in public places and if necessary we will not shy away from considering the introduction of progressive legislation to further protect children from second-hand smoke.”

It was not entirely clear how any such move would be policed. Mr Jones told the Western Mail that no new road traffic offence would be created, although he suggested there was “plenty of scope for joint working” with the police.

Legislation will not be considered until the end of a three- year campaign warning drivers about the dangers to children in the car of lighting up while driving.

Mr Jones said: “Children are particularly at risk from second-hand smoke, especially in vehicles where a confined space means there is no respite from the harm of the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.

“Our manifesto committed us to take tough action to tackle inequalities in health, particularly the harm caused by tobacco use and its effect on children.

“The law already requires any vehicle that is used by more than one person in the course of paid or voluntary work to be smoke free and an extension is the next logical step.

“We will mount a renewed campaign to tackle smoking alongside other interventions such as quit programmes, but will consider pursuing legislative options if children’s exposure to second-hand smoke does not start to fall within the next three years.

“There is a growing public consensus on the social unacceptability of being exposed to second-hand smoke and introducing legislation would be a powerful statement of intent about our commitment to the health of our children,” he added.

Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell said: “Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of smoking, and with no escape from second-hand smoke are more likely to develop long- term conditions such as asthma at an early age, which will affect them for their rest of their lives.”

The move from the Welsh Government comes less than two weeks after the British Medical Association called for drivers to be prevented from lighting up in their vehicles.

In June the BMA’s conference in Cardiff passed a motion calling for legislation to be introduced by all governments in the UK to tackle the issue of smoking while driving, to protect the health of other passengers and to increase the safety of other road users.

Delegates heard that smoking in a car was more damaging to a person’s health than breathing in exhaust fumes, because particle concentrations were 27 times higher than in a smoker’s home and 20 times higher than they used to be in a pub, when smoking was allowed.

That made it safer to have the exhaust pipe on the inside of the car than to smoke cigarettes in terms of fine particulate matter.

Research by the British Lung Foundation found that more than a third of children with a parent who smoked said the parent smoked in the car while the child is a passenger.