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Paracetamol Ups Asthma Risk in Kids

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Infants who have been given the common pain reliever paracetamol may have a higher risk of developing asthma and eczema by the time they are 6 or 7, a large study covering children in 31 countries has found.

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The findings were published in the journal Lancet together with two other studies, which found that runny noses and wheezing early on in life may be strong predictors of asthma.

In one study, researchers pored through data provided by parents of more than 205,000 children and found paracetamol use in the first year of life was associated with a 46% higher risk of asthma by the time the children were 6 or 7 compared to those never exposed to the drug. It is used to relieve fever, minor aches and pain, and is used in a liquid suspension for children.

Medium use of paracetamol in the past 12 months increased asthma risk by 61%, while high dosages of once a month or more in the past year raised the risk by over three times. Medium use was defined as once per year or more, but less than once a month.

Suspicions of a possible link between paracetamol and asthma emerged when experts observed an increased use of the drug to a simultaneous rise in asthma prevalence worldwide.

Some experts think antioxidants, which stop unstable molecules known as free radicals from doing too much damage, can lower the risk of cancer, heart disease and other ailments. “Paracetamol can reduce antioxidant levels and… can give oxidative stress in the lungs and cause asthma,” one of the researchers, Richard Beasley at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, said.

Sources: The Times Of India

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Drink To Remember

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Alcohol in moderate quantities challenges the brain, thus improving memory, reports Roger Highfield

A glass or two of wine can boost our ability to remember, says a new study. Scientists have found that moderate amounts of alcohol challenge the brain and it responds by improving the memory…..…CLICK & SEE

The findings rubbished the notion of drinking to forget, as they also show drinking enough to exceed the limit for driving means you are more likely to remember the embarrassment of a boisterous binge   from making an indecent proposal to dancing without your trousers on.

“Contrary to popular belief, we also found that excessive levels of alcohol enhanced memories of highly emotional stimuli,   said Prof. Matthew During of the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

“Our work suggests that heavy drinking actually reinforces negative memories.”

With Dr Maggie Kalev, he studied the effects on memory of moderate levels of alcohol consumption, equivalent to a glass or two of wine a day, and found they can enhance memory.

Moderate levels of alcohol challenge the brain and it responds by improving memory, said During.   It is like the best way to build strength in a muscle is to challenge the muscle. But you have to get it just right.

Kalev added that low levels of alcohol “promoted neutral memories, such as remembering objects”. The research has been published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

An earlier study by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, suggested that alcohol affects our memory for details more than our memory of a major event.

That suggested why, after recovering from a binge, one may not remember dancing on a table, or much about the place where the drinking occurred. However, you may still have a lingering feeling that a good (or bad) time was had.

Source: The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)

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Say iChoose

Everything in the 21st century seems to begin with an  the iPod, iPhone, iTunes or iWay. If it is not, it is  you  or myself. Everyone is encouraged to look out for himself or herself. No wonder then that the social fabric is breaking down and divorce is on the rise.

We  should be the dominant pronoun when two adults fall in love. Sex is a natural expression of love between two consenting, responsible adults. But they should be aware that the act may culminate in pregnancy. If having a child is not the immediate aim, sex should be preceded by a discussion about contraception.

Most of the time, however, this is not the case. Even couples who use contraception may miss  a few times. Husbands may not use condoms regularly. The consequences of unprotected sex are remembered only the  morning after. Tense, anxious and ignorant about how to proceed, the couple then waits to see if the next period will make its appearance on schedule.

Emergency contraceptive pills are a way to avoid getting pregnant after unprotected sex. Although they should be dispensed only by prescription, they are often available over the counter (OTC). It is 80 per cent effective if the first pill is taken within 72 hours. The second pill has to be taken 12 hours later.

Emergency contraception works because pregnancy does not actually occur at the time of intercourse. The sperm has to travel through the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes. The ovum has to be released from the ovary and meet the sperm. The process may take a few days. If the emergency contraceptive pills are taken during this window period, pregnancy is prevented.

These morning-after pills contain either progesterone or a combination of oestrogen and progesterone in doses higher than in the 21- or 28-day packs of oral contraceptives. Such pills prevent ovulation, fertilisation and implantation of the fertilised ovum. They block pregnancy at all the three stages. They are different from abortion pills. Chemically, the abortion pill consists of two medications   mifepristone and misoprost. Administered in the correct dose and sequence, it terminates a pregnancy which has already attached itself to the uterine wall and started to develop. It works up to the 49th day after the last period.

Abortion pills should be taken only under medical supervision. They should not be purchased OTC. Scans need to be done before and after the termination.

Both the measures are safe but shouldn’t be used regularly. A woman can control her chances of getting pregnant with almost 99 per cent efficacy. She needs to choose the method that suits her best.

An intrauterine device can be inserted. It lasts for 3, 5 or 10 years, depending on the type and manufacturer’s recommendations.

Have an injection of the long-acting depo progesterone. This protects for 12 weeks. Irregular cycles, breakthrough bleeding or spotting can occur.

Oral contraceptive pills. The active ingredient is given for 21 days. Then there is a pill free interval of 7 days. These regularise the cycle and prevent pregnancy. There are many fears about their safety, which have, however, been proven to be unfounded. The pills do not increase the risk of cancer.

Condoms are efficient if they are used consistently from the beginning till the end of intercourse. They have the additional advantage of preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Sterilisation of either partner tackles the problem permanently.

Contraception is a sensitive topic. It is rarely discussed openly even with medical professionals. Many religions have their own views. Others feel morally obliged to regulate and enforce standards and norms for social behavior. Neither legislation nor coercion has worked successfully for contraception.

Source:The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)

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Exercise Without Really Trying: 4 Ideas

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Simple ways to make burning calories second nature.

Burning calories becomes something you never need to think about when you incorporate movement into most moments of your day. Here’s how to spend less time counting calories:

1. Get on the vacuum program. Make vacuuming a total body exercise by stepping forward in a slightly longer-than-usual stride as you move the carpet machine forward while keeping your back straight, then stepping back as you draw the unit toward you again. At the same time you work the muscles of your legs with this lunge-like motion, roll the vacuum cleaner forward with your arms, which uses your shoulder, chest, arm, and upper back for a near-complete workout that contains elements of both strength and aerobic conditioning....CLICK & SEE

2. Make every movement count. Fidgeting burns hundreds of calories a day, according to studies at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and even chewing gum eats up 11 calories an hour. So don’t lose sight of the fact that any form of physical activity — no matter how small — helps your body burn calories. More ways to get movement into your everyday life:

Always stand up and walk around when on the telephone.

Always stand up and walk around during television commercials.

Chop your vegetables by hand, rather than using a food processor.

While in the car, roll your shoulders and stretch your arms at red lights.

Whenever you have music on, tap your toes or bounce your knee to the rhythm.

Insist on bagging your own groceries at the food store.

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3. Get two workouts in one.
You can burn a substantial amount of extra calories during a strength workout if you move quickly from one exercise to the next. By keeping in motion rather than resting between exercises, you are combining strengthening with aerobic exercise, greatly boosting your energy burn. Key trick: Alternate between upper- and lower-body moves, so you give just-exercised muscles time to rest.

4. Track your metabolism. Even if you boost your metabolism, how would you know? It’s largely been a matter of guesswork or cumulative results on the bathroom scale. Now, however, health providers and fitness centers can help clients track their resting metabolic rate (RMR) — the basic measure of metabolism — using a new device called the BodyGem. When you breathe into the handheld inhaler-like unit for a few minutes, your current RMR pops up on a digital readout, giving you a calorie goal for both diet and exercise — and a tangible way to check on your progress. To find healthcare professionals or gyms using the BodyGem, check a locator feature on the manufacturer’s website, www.healthetech.com.

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From :The Everyday Arthritis Solution

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Health Problems & Solutions Healthy Tips

Get Rid of Your Anger

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Anger is a feeling that many of us know all too well. Some of us experience it daily, while others hold on to it for years at a time. As you likely know, anger is not at all a healthy emotion, and it doesnt make you feel good. Over time it can become self-destructive, ruining relationships and even your health…...CLICK & SEE

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This is not to say that anger is always a bad thing–anger is a natural part of living; it is a signal that something is wrong and needs your attention. Anger evokes that well-known “fight-or-flight” response, preparing us to defend ourselves physically and psychologically.

Sometimes it is required to get angry to get the job done from subordinates or for some other purposes.But this anger should just be a show only,and this is not harmful.
But if it pushes your body into an overdrive mode that is almost always unnecessary.

It is always said that Wiser and Cleaver people never get angry but shows anger.Anger always slows down the progress.A bad worker always gets angry with his tools.

When you become angry the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released, causing your heart rate and blood pressure to increase. Also, your muscles get tense, your digestive processes stop and certain brain centers are triggered, which alters your brain chemistry.

In the long run, and sometimes even short term, this automatic response to anger can lead to a variety of health problems such as:

  • Headaches
  • Problems with digestion
  • Insomnia
  • Increased anxiety
  • Depression
  • High blood pressure
  • Skin problems, such as eczema
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

Not only that, but anger can lead to other negative emotions like bitterness, hopelessness, futility and overall sadness. Let’s face it; it’s hard to have a good time if you are holding on to anger.It always hrms us,never does any good to any one.So the obvious answer here is: let the anger go. Get rid of it, and it will not be able to bring you down either physically or emotionally.Yes, everyone knows that this is easier said than done, of course, and while the anger management techniques may not guarantee that your life will become suddenly anger-free, they will certainly help you deal with the anger that does come along in a more healthy, proactive way.It is a fact, if you are really interested to get you free from anger, you can surely do it but with time. But your mental strength and strong wish should always be there.Let me write down some of the techniques and methods through which a person can get rid of anger and they are as follows::-

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE:
This overcomes variety of emotional changes.But you will have to learn it from some expert
.It involves tapping your body’s energy meridians and voicing specific positive affirmations about, in this case, your anger. While this may sound unusual, it works to clear the “short-circuit”–the emotional block behind your anger–from your body’s bioenergy system, thus restoring your mind and body’s balance, which is essential for optimal health and the healing of physical disease.

RELAXATION:
If you feel anger starting to take over, simply trying to relax can dissuade the negative feelings. This doesn’t mean that you should ignore your feelings. Take a step back and assess the situation. Is your anger justified? If you determine that it is, give yourself a moment to feel hurt, frustrated or annoyed, but don’t let it consume you.Always try to control your mind,never allow your mind to overtake you in getting angry which will never do any good to you.
There are simple steps that you can use daily to overcome anger. These include:

  • Slow, deep breathing
  • Imagining a peaceful scene
  • Relaxation exercises, such as yoga poses

After awhile you’ll see that these steps become automatic reactions, and you won’t even have to think about doing them when anger confronts you.

EMPATHISE:
Don’t let the source of your anger get the better of you. If someone makes you angry, try viewing the situation from his or her angles. Looking at things from a different perspective may make it easier to understand why the situation is occurring, and it may help you to calm down if you come up with a reasonable explanation.

EXERCISE:
Physical activity is a great way to reduce angry feelings. It gives you a chance to focus your mind on something else and once your body is hard at work you will be less likely to obsess over angry feelings.

Vigorous activities such as running and kickboxing are healthy ways to release angry energy that has built up. Follow the intense portion of your workout with something soothing, such as meditation or yoga, to help you relax.

STAY AWAY FROM ARTIFICIAL STIMULANTS:
Stimulants like sugar,caffeine and nicotine speed up the nervous and cardiovascular systems, which can add to the symptoms of anger. If you have recurrent problems with anger, staying away from these items can help. Avoiding them will also produce other health benefits beyond anger reduction.

ACCORDING TO ME IF SOME REALLY WANTS TO GET RID OF ANGER AND WANTS TO GET MENTAL PEACE, ONE SHOULD TRY TO DEVELOP THREE QUALITIES WITHIN AND THEY ARE LOVE,SACRIFICE AND FORGIVEFULLNESS.

There are Good things and Bad things, Beautiful thing and Ugly things, one should accept Good things,admire them, enjoy the beautiful things but never hate bad or ugly things.Because anger develops from hate, if one wants, may avoid them to get mental peace.We should always remember that for all circumstances we get into trouble are created temporarily and the time resolves it.Nonviolent Peaceful Solution is the best way to handle personal problems.Even the toughest problem can be solved permanently through this process.
Anger Management: A Simple –Twelve-Step Program

1. Accept that most things in the world are out of your control.

2. Accept that it is your choice to get angry about those things.

3. No one makes you angry.

4. Life is unfair. Waste no energy lamenting or trying to change that fact.

5. No one likes to be around an angry person. No one feels like helping an angry person.

6. So why be angry? Maybe you really don’t want your problems solved. Maybe you just want to complain and wail and gnash your teeth.

7. Take stock of yourself. What do you want?

8. You should smile more. Your face won’t break.

9. Anger is a weed; hate is the tree. –St. Augustine

10. Anger makes a rich man hated and a poor man scorned. –Thomas Fuller

11.It is always wise to see the good side of every person you meet with.

12.Try to avoid the persons you dislike..

(Help taken from :http://www.mercola.com/2003/aug/9/anger.htm)

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