About 85% of oral cancer occurs due to abuse of tobacco (smoke and smokelesschewing) or alcohol. But what is alarming the doctors about India’s tobacco-mouth cancer graph is that now youngsters below 30 years of age from 20% of the patient pool.
“The youngest boy whose tongue was operated was 13 years old,’’ says Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck cancer surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital. He remembers a 28-year-old woman who started using gutka as a pain killer during a toothache at 15 years of age.
While people below 25 years of age being afflicted by the disease is rare, Dr Chaturvedi is worried that as the youth get increasingly addicted to the cheap tobacco-based products, the cancer numbers too will increase. Incidentally, in 1999, the Journal of Indian Medical Association reported an unusually high incidence of oral submucous fibrosis—a stage that predates cancer by five years—among younger individuals.
The article’s author, Dr P C Gupta, then with the epidemiology research unit of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Colaba, wrote that “there are several recent reports in the literature predicting an increase inmouth cancer incidence in India. This prediction is based upon observation of an increasing prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis, especially in younger individuals, caused by gutka, an industrially manufactured food item’’.
A walk through the wards and the out-patients department of Tata Memorial Hospital tells the story of an ignored epidemic.
In the Tata Memorial Hospital’s OPD, every patient has a similar story to tell: years of consuming gutka, khaini, areca-nut or smoking cigarettes or bidis. “Almost all the patients in the OPD havemouth cancer caused due to tobacco abuse,’’ says the doctor.
Head And Neck Cancers
They encompasses a wide range of tumours that occur in the head and neck region, including the nasal passages, sinuses, mouth, throat, larynx, swallowing passages, salivary glands and the thyroid gland. People who use tobacco or drink alcohol excessively are much more likely than others to develop the disease
Oral Cancer arises in the mouth. It includes the lips, the gums and the area behind the wisdom teeth, the inside of the lips and cheeks, the floor and roof of the mouth, and the front two-thirds of the tongue
Laryngeal Cancer begins in the larynx or the voice box. It sits at the top of the trachea, the tract that leads to the lungs
Nasal Cavity & Paranasal Sinus Cancers are found in the tissues that line these hollow structures. The paranasal sinuses are hollow areas in the bones of the face near the nose that produce mucus
Nasopharyngeal Cancer is found in the nasopharynx, the uppermost portion of the throat
Oropharyngeal Cancer is found in the section of the throat (oropharynx) located just beyond the mouth. The region includes the base of the tongue, the soft palate (the soft area just beyond the roof of the mouth), and the area around the tonsils
Hypopharyngeal Cancer is found in the hypopharynx, the uppermost portion of the oesophagus (the tube through which food travels to the stomach)
Salivary Gland Cancer is found in the salivary glands, the structures that produce saliva to keep the mouth from drying, and aid in digestion of food
Treatment
It may include surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. When surgery is extensive, reconstruction of the area is often possible. For example, in cases where the jaw bone is removed, a surgeon can fashion a new jaw using bone from the patient’s own leg. Dental implants can be used to replace teeth
Death Clock
According to Smokefree Mumbai Campaign, an endeavour of the BMC along with NGOs. Since Thursday, January 01, ’09 15,668 Mumbaikars have died due to smoking related causes
Rising Numbers
The excess number of deaths among adult smokers in 2010 will be about 930,000
That includes 580,000 deaths among men and 90,000 deaths among women between the ages of 30 and 69 years
- Projections Based on Study in India and Canada
Bidi Menace
6,00,000 lives are lost in India every year due to the bidi habit says the Bidi Monograph entitled, Bidi Smoking and Public health, released by the government of India in May 2008
SYMPTOMS
· A sore in the mouth that won’t heal or bleeds easily
· Frequent nosebleeds, ongoing nasal congestion, or chronic sinus infections that don’t respond to treatment
· Persistent sore throat, hoarseness or a change in the voice
· Pain in the neck, throat or ears that won’t go away
· Blood in the sputum
· Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving jaws or tongue
· Loosening of teeth
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Very Important Security Tips for Online Activities
The usage of internet is increasing worldwide by leaps and bounds so the risk involved with it. Some of the biggest scams are happening online. The virtual world is very fragile if you ignore and do not take precautionary measures. Here’s a list of tips for online security and making our online appearance safer.
1. Never respond to any email from unknown sender even if it claims that you’ve won a lottery of US $ 500,000.Simply delete it immediately even from your trash.
2. Never share your email id without any solid reason. Create separate email ids for online shopping, official works and social networking.
3. Don’t ever note down your password especially in digital format. Your computer data can be accessed by virus or malwares.
4. Whenever you forward emails to friends, make use of BCC (Blind Carbon Copy). BCC makes all email ids invisible to all recipients. Don’t let email ids of all your friends display in email itself. This practice can reduce spamming at least by 50%.
5. Don’t click on any link in an email id from unknown sender.
6. If you use your credit card for online shopping, always use a LOW LIMIT CREDIT CARD. A Low Limit Credit Card reduces your chances of any big monetary loss even if it’s hacked.
7. Never ever copy any sensitive data like credit card no, ac no, password etc by pressing CTRL + C or right click option. When you copy any data in your PC, it’s copied in clipboard which is accessible by websites using simple JavaScript.
Thinks twice before clicking on 'Allow Access'
8. If you are looking for any online work don’t ever pay money to sites asking for registration before giving you work like data entry or MLM (multi level marketing). They are fake. Use your brain, Why you should pay if you want to work for them? Did you ever pay to your employer for working with them?
9. Use reputed portals for online shopping. Always look for HTTPS in address bar when entering your bank account details or credit card details.
10. Don’t blindly accept any friendship requests. Make sure you know the person individually before accepting any friendship requests on orkut, facebook or any other social networking site.
1. Never respond to any email from unknown sender even if it claims that you’ve won a lottery of US $ 500,000.Simply delete it immediately even from your trash.
2. Never share your email id without any solid reason. Create separate email ids for online shopping, official works and social networking.
3. Don’t ever note down your password especially in digital format. Your computer data can be accessed by virus or malwares.
4. Whenever you forward emails to friends, make use of BCC (Blind Carbon Copy). BCC makes all email ids invisible to all recipients. Don’t let email ids of all your friends display in email itself. This practice can reduce spamming at least by 50%.
5. Don’t click on any link in an email id from unknown sender.
6. If you use your credit card for online shopping, always use a LOW LIMIT CREDIT CARD. A Low Limit Credit Card reduces your chances of any big monetary loss even if it’s hacked.
7. Never ever copy any sensitive data like credit card no, ac no, password etc by pressing CTRL + C or right click option. When you copy any data in your PC, it’s copied in clipboard which is accessible by websites using simple JavaScript.
Thinks twice before clicking on 'Allow Access'
8. If you are looking for any online work don’t ever pay money to sites asking for registration before giving you work like data entry or MLM (multi level marketing). They are fake. Use your brain, Why you should pay if you want to work for them? Did you ever pay to your employer for working with them?
9. Use reputed portals for online shopping. Always look for HTTPS in address bar when entering your bank account details or credit card details.
10. Don’t blindly accept any friendship requests. Make sure you know the person individually before accepting any friendship requests on orkut, facebook or any other social networking site.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Ginger as a Natural Cold Remedy
Ginger is used in most of the places as a remedy for sickness. It has been a famous addition to energy drinks because of its properties. The ginger root can be used to prevent cough, nausea and sore throat. It can also be used to keep your body energetic. Ginger when used in the tea during the winter season gives a better taste and very beneficial to the body. Moreover, ginger is readily available in the market with the affordable price.
Drinking the tea containing ginger on daily basis is vey good for health. The ginger tea can provide energy, improves the digestive system and helps in getting rid of the cold and cough. Thus, the ginger tea is a very healthy drink which should be drunk on the daily basis as it can easily refresh your soul.
There are several other benefits of ginger which are explained below. Ginger is very useful for the motion sickness. It helps in improving the circulation of the blood. It is also helpful in inflammation and the chronic pain. The ginger can provide relief from the stomach cramps and reduces the menstrual pain. The relief from morning sickness and heartburn can be obtained by taking ginger. The regulation of blood sugar can be maintained as well as the immune system can be enhanced by its consumption.
While taking ginger, ensure that you do not overdose it. If it has been taken in more quantity, then it can cause sleepiness or dizziness.
Ginger is used in most of the places as a remedy for sickness. It has been a famous addition to energy drinks because of its properties. The ginger root can be used to prevent cough, nausea and sore throat. It can also be used to keepyour body energetic. Ginger when used in the tea during the winter season gives a better taste and very beneficial to the body. Moreover, ginger is readily available in the market with the affordable price.
Drinking the tea containing ginger on daily basis is vey good for health. The ginger tea can provide energy, improves the digestive system and helps in getting rid of the cold and cough. Thus, the ginger tea is a very healthy drink which should be drunk on the daily basis as it can easily refresh your soul.
There are several other benefits of ginger which are explained below. Ginger is very useful for the motion sickness. It helps in improving the circulation of the blood. It is also helpful in inflammation and the chronic pain. The ginger can provide relief from the stomach cramps and reduces the menstrual pain. The relief from morning sickness and heartburn can be obtained by taking ginger. The regulation of blood sugar can be maintained as well as the immune system can be enhanced by its consumption.
While taking ginger, ensure that you do not overdose it. If it has been taken in more quantity, then it can cause sleepiness or dizziness.
Ginger is used in most of the places as a remedy for sickness. It has been a famous addition to energy drinks because of its properties. The ginger root can be used to prevent cough, nausea and sore throat. It can also be used to keepyour body energetic. Ginger when used in the tea during the winter season gives a better taste and very beneficial to the body. Moreover, ginger is readily available in the market with the affordable price.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Inspiring tale of a Champion Soccer Player
Go for the Goal: a Champion’s Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life is the inspiring autobiography of Mariel Margaret Hamm, whom everyone knows mostly as “Mia,” arguably the best women’s soccer player in the world. In her down-to-earth style and no mincing at words, she gives a vivid account of all that happened with her in all those years she was growing up to be what she was eventually going to be. She is brutally honest in admitting that she is yet to be the greatest player; yet she knows she’ll be one only because everyone was already naming her as one.
Every prospective young soccer player anywhere in the world should take a leaf out of her book by reading closely what she has to say. It communicates directly to them by showing how to face players much older and more skilful than them, how to survive the taunts and trials for a player who is just beginning and yet has a dream of being a fine soccer player. Not only is the book an easy read, it does not blabber much on difficult to understand terms about soccer. A reader with no knowledge of soccer can still be inspired to be one. And there is a glossary at the end of the book clearly illustrating terms on soccer she has used which the reader may not clearly understand. The training tips and drills can be so useful and inspiring to anyone who is not even playing soccer.
One other fact she mentions showed to me why she is such a great champion. She talks of the importance of “teamwork” in playing matches. She is so humble and down-to-earth in knowing and realizing about this quality. For it is teamwork alone that can win matches, be it any sport. And she admits it openly.
“Goal” is an inspiring tale of a super soccer player and great human being. I would strongly recommend everyone to read it. “Mia Hamm” is an institution by herself and I salute her for her contribution.
Every prospective young soccer player anywhere in the world should take a leaf out of her book by reading closely what she has to say. It communicates directly to them by showing how to face players much older and more skilful than them, how to survive the taunts and trials for a player who is just beginning and yet has a dream of being a fine soccer player. Not only is the book an easy read, it does not blabber much on difficult to understand terms about soccer. A reader with no knowledge of soccer can still be inspired to be one. And there is a glossary at the end of the book clearly illustrating terms on soccer she has used which the reader may not clearly understand. The training tips and drills can be so useful and inspiring to anyone who is not even playing soccer.
One other fact she mentions showed to me why she is such a great champion. She talks of the importance of “teamwork” in playing matches. She is so humble and down-to-earth in knowing and realizing about this quality. For it is teamwork alone that can win matches, be it any sport. And she admits it openly.
“Goal” is an inspiring tale of a super soccer player and great human being. I would strongly recommend everyone to read it. “Mia Hamm” is an institution by herself and I salute her for her contribution.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Easy 10 seconds quiz!
Friends!
Take a look here...
The Quiz reinforces learning through simulation and practice. Instead of just presenting a manual-type of instructions, the Quiz removes the need to switch back and forth between the text and the actual program. The Quiz takes you into learning the commands by their actual location in the program. Every time you answer a question correctly, you are reinforcing your knowledge with the location of that command in the program. In the event that you really don't know the correct answer, you have the option to watch a quick video to give you an idea of what that command does and where it's located.
Here is the link again...http://easy10seconds.com/
Thank you.
Take a look here...
The Quiz reinforces learning through simulation and practice. Instead of just presenting a manual-type of instructions, the Quiz removes the need to switch back and forth between the text and the actual program. The Quiz takes you into learning the commands by their actual location in the program. Every time you answer a question correctly, you are reinforcing your knowledge with the location of that command in the program. In the event that you really don't know the correct answer, you have the option to watch a quick video to give you an idea of what that command does and where it's located.
Here is the link again...http://easy10seconds.com/
Thank you.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Drink water on empty stomach
DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH
Did you know that a few glasses of water everyday at daybreak can keep the doctor away? Read on..
Today it is popular in Japan to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven a its value. I am posting below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:
Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.
METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2.. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3.. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4.. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5.. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6.. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.
The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/ reduce main diseases:
1.. High Blood Pressure - 30 days
2. Gastric - 10 days
3.. Diabetes - 30 days
4.. Constipation - 10 days
5.. Cancer - 180 days
6.. TB - 90 days
7.. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily.
This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.
It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.
Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.
This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ...not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.
It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.
Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer.It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks: Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.
Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
Did you know that a few glasses of water everyday at daybreak can keep the doctor away? Read on..
Today it is popular in Japan to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven a its value. I am posting below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:
Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.
METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2.. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3.. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4.. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5.. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6.. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.
The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/ reduce main diseases:
1.. High Blood Pressure - 30 days
2. Gastric - 10 days
3.. Diabetes - 30 days
4.. Constipation - 10 days
5.. Cancer - 180 days
6.. TB - 90 days
7.. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily.
This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.
It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.
Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.
This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ...not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.
It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.
Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer.It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks: Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.
Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Information on the human blodd
Here are a few interesting details of our blood. Take a look...
1) A woman has approximately 4.5 litres of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 litres.
2) The kidneys filter over 1515 litres of blood every day.
3) If you could stretch out all of a human's blood vessels, they would be about 96,560 km. long. That's enough
to go around the world twice.
4) Blood accounts for about 7% of a human's body weight.
5) A newborn baby has about 0.23 litre of blood in his/her body.
6) Two million red blood cells die every second.
7) By donating just one pint (1.75 litres) of blood, four lives can be saves.
8) One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and
cryoprecipitate.
9) Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
10) Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system.
11) Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
12) Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, proteins and salts.
13) Plasma, which is 90 percent water, makes up 55 percent of blood volume.
14) Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets.
15) There is no substitute for human blood.
1) A woman has approximately 4.5 litres of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 litres.
2) The kidneys filter over 1515 litres of blood every day.
3) If you could stretch out all of a human's blood vessels, they would be about 96,560 km. long. That's enough
to go around the world twice.
4) Blood accounts for about 7% of a human's body weight.
5) A newborn baby has about 0.23 litre of blood in his/her body.
6) Two million red blood cells die every second.
7) By donating just one pint (1.75 litres) of blood, four lives can be saves.
8) One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and
cryoprecipitate.
9) Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
10) Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system.
11) Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
12) Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, proteins and salts.
13) Plasma, which is 90 percent water, makes up 55 percent of blood volume.
14) Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets.
15) There is no substitute for human blood.
Monday, December 7, 2009
India is the Diabetic capitol of the world!
* According to reliable estimates nearly 10% of diabetics have Insulin dependent or type I Diabetes. Moreover, 7% of type II Diabetics may eventually require Insulin. This means that as many as 7 million people in India require Insulin to manage their Diabetes.
* On an average an Insulin dependent patient has to take as many as 60,000 injections throughout his life to keep his diabetes in check.
* A large number of Insulin dependent patients tend to discontinue treatment owing to unpleasant side effects of injectable Insulin, notably Hypoglycemia.
* Diagnosis and management of diabetes is critical because diabetes and cardiovascular risks often affect the same patient populations.
Quite clearly Diabetes is acquiring epidemic proportions in the country.
It merits mention that any effective strategy aimed at countering Diabetes has to be necessarily an all - encompassing one. It is therefore eminently desirable to consider all aspects of the diabetes problem. An aspect that has so far received less attention than it deserves is what may be called 'compliance to treatment'. Statistics have it that a large number of Insulin dependent people discontinue treatment on account of the side effects that injectable Insulin brings on.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce sufficient amounts of the hormone Insulin or does not respond to the Insulin produced. This leads to high blood sugar levels leading eventually to life threatening complications.
The rationale behind the treatment is quite simple. If your body is not producing Insulin, it needs to be provided from the outside. As of now the only recommended way of doing that is to inject it subcutaneously (under the skin) from where it is absorbed quickly. If, on the other hand, your body is resistant to the Insulin that it produces, you need to lower that resistance. This is achieved through drugs known as Oral Hypoglycemic (sugar - lowering) Agents.
Insulin injected subcutaneously (under the skin) and finding its way quickly into the blood has a potential of causing what is known as Hypoglycemia (dangerously low levels of blood sugar, which may prove fatal), characterized in the initial stages by manifestations like sweating, palpitations, anxiety and pallor and in the later stages by slurred speech, paralysis, coma and even death. This effect is not seen with drugs, which reach the blood much more slowly. That explains why many people on injectable Insulin tend to discontinue treatment. It goes without saying that a discontinuation of treatment has serious repercussions in terms of final outcomes in a condition like diabetes.
Cutting edge clinical research is endeavoring to bypass this problem. Researchers throughout the world are continuously striving to come up with newer methods of Insulin delivery - methods that would help avoid episodes of hypoglycemia.
Oral Insulin is an exciting development in this connection. Developed by an American biopharmaceutical company, is already being used patients, delivers Insulin through the Buccal Mucosa (the inside lining of the mouth).
It is emerging as an exciting prospect for researchers and clinicians alike for it is possible to control the number of puffs thus the quantity of insulin delivered to the body In addition to the possibility of averting episodes of Hypoglycemia, oral Insulin also offers ease of administration and convenience as also freedom from the all too frequent and annoying needle pricks.
The device design makes it possible for patients to carry Oral-Insulin device in their coat pockets or hand bags and doesn't require refrigeration. The ease of using the device doesn't require privacy that is needed to administer an insulin injection.
Says Dr. Vijaya Sarathi, Diabetologist, Kem Hospital, Mumbai, "Oral insulin is an alternative mode of insulin delivery, because of less bio-availability the dose required is high. Efficacy and potency is same this is best suited for those requiring less dose of insulin. Oral Insulin has the potential of ensuring better patient compliance since it doesn't have to be injected. Better compliance lead to improved glycemic control and thus minimize the serious diabetic complications such as diabetic foot etc. Moreover, the chances of hypoglycemia with oral Insulin are significantly lower compared with Injectable Insulin" The key design advantage is Insulin is not delivered to the lungs as in other non-injectable insulin systems.
As of now Injectable Insulin is the mainstay of treatment for people with type 1 or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. In exploring alternatives we are, of course, seeking better compliance and freedom from side effects. What we are also seeking is an evolving treatment modality that helps us vanquish the disease completely in near future.
The Diabetes-Reversing Breakthrough. The Most Effective Diabetes-Reversing Resource Currently Available On Planet Earth. A Scientifically Proven Program That Normalizes Your Blood Sugar And Eliminates Your Diabetes Drugs And Insulin Shots! Guaranteed!
Click Here!
* On an average an Insulin dependent patient has to take as many as 60,000 injections throughout his life to keep his diabetes in check.
* A large number of Insulin dependent patients tend to discontinue treatment owing to unpleasant side effects of injectable Insulin, notably Hypoglycemia.
* Diagnosis and management of diabetes is critical because diabetes and cardiovascular risks often affect the same patient populations.
Quite clearly Diabetes is acquiring epidemic proportions in the country.
It merits mention that any effective strategy aimed at countering Diabetes has to be necessarily an all - encompassing one. It is therefore eminently desirable to consider all aspects of the diabetes problem. An aspect that has so far received less attention than it deserves is what may be called 'compliance to treatment'. Statistics have it that a large number of Insulin dependent people discontinue treatment on account of the side effects that injectable Insulin brings on.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce sufficient amounts of the hormone Insulin or does not respond to the Insulin produced. This leads to high blood sugar levels leading eventually to life threatening complications.
The rationale behind the treatment is quite simple. If your body is not producing Insulin, it needs to be provided from the outside. As of now the only recommended way of doing that is to inject it subcutaneously (under the skin) from where it is absorbed quickly. If, on the other hand, your body is resistant to the Insulin that it produces, you need to lower that resistance. This is achieved through drugs known as Oral Hypoglycemic (sugar - lowering) Agents.
Insulin injected subcutaneously (under the skin) and finding its way quickly into the blood has a potential of causing what is known as Hypoglycemia (dangerously low levels of blood sugar, which may prove fatal), characterized in the initial stages by manifestations like sweating, palpitations, anxiety and pallor and in the later stages by slurred speech, paralysis, coma and even death. This effect is not seen with drugs, which reach the blood much more slowly. That explains why many people on injectable Insulin tend to discontinue treatment. It goes without saying that a discontinuation of treatment has serious repercussions in terms of final outcomes in a condition like diabetes.
Cutting edge clinical research is endeavoring to bypass this problem. Researchers throughout the world are continuously striving to come up with newer methods of Insulin delivery - methods that would help avoid episodes of hypoglycemia.
Oral Insulin is an exciting development in this connection. Developed by an American biopharmaceutical company, is already being used patients, delivers Insulin through the Buccal Mucosa (the inside lining of the mouth).
It is emerging as an exciting prospect for researchers and clinicians alike for it is possible to control the number of puffs thus the quantity of insulin delivered to the body In addition to the possibility of averting episodes of Hypoglycemia, oral Insulin also offers ease of administration and convenience as also freedom from the all too frequent and annoying needle pricks.
The device design makes it possible for patients to carry Oral-Insulin device in their coat pockets or hand bags and doesn't require refrigeration. The ease of using the device doesn't require privacy that is needed to administer an insulin injection.
Says Dr. Vijaya Sarathi, Diabetologist, Kem Hospital, Mumbai, "Oral insulin is an alternative mode of insulin delivery, because of less bio-availability the dose required is high. Efficacy and potency is same this is best suited for those requiring less dose of insulin. Oral Insulin has the potential of ensuring better patient compliance since it doesn't have to be injected. Better compliance lead to improved glycemic control and thus minimize the serious diabetic complications such as diabetic foot etc. Moreover, the chances of hypoglycemia with oral Insulin are significantly lower compared with Injectable Insulin" The key design advantage is Insulin is not delivered to the lungs as in other non-injectable insulin systems.
As of now Injectable Insulin is the mainstay of treatment for people with type 1 or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. In exploring alternatives we are, of course, seeking better compliance and freedom from side effects. What we are also seeking is an evolving treatment modality that helps us vanquish the disease completely in near future.
The Diabetes-Reversing Breakthrough. The Most Effective Diabetes-Reversing Resource Currently Available On Planet Earth. A Scientifically Proven Program That Normalizes Your Blood Sugar And Eliminates Your Diabetes Drugs And Insulin Shots! Guaranteed!
Click Here!
Loose weight weight fast
Here are 5 ways to lose weight. And they are all not even about doing exercises...
We all know that if we want to lose weight than we have to burn off more calories than we take in. It’s a simple equation that most of us can understand. Getting ourselves to actually do the work necessary to burn calories isn’t always quite so easy though. A lot of people find it difficult because they think that it means that they have to exercise every day. It’s definitely important to get enough exercise if you want to burn calories to lose weight. However, that’s not the only thing that you should be doing to burn calories. Believe it or not, there are a lot of other things that you can do to burn calories other than just your standard trip to the gym.
Here are five great ways to burn calories on a daily basis:
1. Eat to Burn Calories.
You already know that you have to eat properly if you want to lose weight. But were you aware of the fact that there are a lot of foods that you can eat that will actually assist you in burning more calories? If you eat smart, you can burn more calories even as you take calories in to get energy. What a great concept. Some of the tips that you’ll want to follow if you’re going to eat to burn calories include:
• Eat often but make the meals small ones. There are some experts who believe that eating frequently assists you in burning more calories than you would burn if you ate the same amount of food in just one or two sittings. The reason for this is that you are working your digestive system every time that you eat. Those experts say that each time you start a meal, you burn up some calories by igniting your digestive system. If you only eat once or twice per day then you only burn those calories once or twice. If you eat five or six times per day then you’ll burn more calories. The trick is to make sure that you keep your meals small so that you aren’t taking in more calories while you do this.
• Eat breakfast. You want to get started right away with those digestion burning calories. You shouldn’t skip breakfast for a number of reasons anyway. Doing so is definitely linked to weight gain with a few different causes to blame. Think about this when you’re trying to burn calories each day.
• Eat protein. The body has to work harder to digest protein than to digest other foods. This means that you’re burning more calories when you eat it. Choose protein that’s as low in calories as possible to get the most benefit.
• Burn some calories to get your meal. It’s the little things that we do all day long that help us to burn more calories. If you order your food as a delivery meal then you’re not burning as many calories as you would if you went toget your food. If you get a pre-made sandwich instead of walking around the kitchen to make your own sandwich then you’re not burning as many calories as you could. Think about how to burn calories while you’re getting food and eating it.
2. Drink to Burn Calories
It isn’t just the food that we take in that can help us with burning more calories. If we choose the right drinks then they can also act as calorie-burners. There are two really important drinks that we want to get used to having daily if we’re going to drink to burn calories: water and tea.
Water is really important for our bodies and for weight loss. The body works to absorb and use water and it’s burning calories the whole time that you do that. Most people don’t drink enough liquid at all. You should increase your liquid intake to help burn calories throughout the day. The liquid you choose should be water since this helps you to burn those calories without taking in new calories. With all of the other benefits water has for your body, this is really a win-win situation.
When water just isn’t going to satisfy you then your next best choice for a beverage is green tea. Green tea has been shown to have calorie-burning properties. When you drink green tea, you burn more calories than you take in. If you don’t like green tea then you can also burn calories by drinking caffeinated black tea. However, green tea is a better choice. Remember that you lose out on the calorie-burning benefits of tea if you add milk or sweeteners to it.
3. Chew Gum
You might not think that you would burn a lot of calories just by chewing gum. However, that extra action for your mouth can end up resulting in a lot of calories burned if you’re chewing gum all day every day. You’ll want to choose no-calorie gum to get the benefits of burning those calories. And you’ll want to discuss this with your dentist since chewing gum all day may be bad for some people’s teeth. It’s a neat little trick to add to your repertoire of burning calories though.
4. Move Quickly and Often
Ultimately you’re going to need to move to really burn some calories. Get in the habit of doing all of your daily activities with just a bit more speed and energy than you usually do and you’ll find yourself burning off more calories than you did in the past. Simply speeding up your walking pace is a good start. Do your house chores with intensity instead of doing them in the lazy manner that you’re probably accustomed to. By working this type of non-exercise exercise into your daily routine, you’re naturally going to burn a lot of calories without feeling like you’re doing too much work.
5. Exercise
Finally, there is the thing that will burn the most calories and that’s exercise. What you should do is to make sure that you choose forms of exercise that you truly enjoy. This will allow you to do them often in order to burn calories while still enjoying each day.
TAKE A LOOK AT Fat Burning Nutrition 'Bible' - Others Come And Go. Burn The Fat Is A Perennial Best Seller Since 2003.As seen on Oprah Winfrey Click Here!
We all know that if we want to lose weight than we have to burn off more calories than we take in. It’s a simple equation that most of us can understand. Getting ourselves to actually do the work necessary to burn calories isn’t always quite so easy though. A lot of people find it difficult because they think that it means that they have to exercise every day. It’s definitely important to get enough exercise if you want to burn calories to lose weight. However, that’s not the only thing that you should be doing to burn calories. Believe it or not, there are a lot of other things that you can do to burn calories other than just your standard trip to the gym.
Here are five great ways to burn calories on a daily basis:
1. Eat to Burn Calories.
You already know that you have to eat properly if you want to lose weight. But were you aware of the fact that there are a lot of foods that you can eat that will actually assist you in burning more calories? If you eat smart, you can burn more calories even as you take calories in to get energy. What a great concept. Some of the tips that you’ll want to follow if you’re going to eat to burn calories include:
• Eat often but make the meals small ones. There are some experts who believe that eating frequently assists you in burning more calories than you would burn if you ate the same amount of food in just one or two sittings. The reason for this is that you are working your digestive system every time that you eat. Those experts say that each time you start a meal, you burn up some calories by igniting your digestive system. If you only eat once or twice per day then you only burn those calories once or twice. If you eat five or six times per day then you’ll burn more calories. The trick is to make sure that you keep your meals small so that you aren’t taking in more calories while you do this.
• Eat breakfast. You want to get started right away with those digestion burning calories. You shouldn’t skip breakfast for a number of reasons anyway. Doing so is definitely linked to weight gain with a few different causes to blame. Think about this when you’re trying to burn calories each day.
• Eat protein. The body has to work harder to digest protein than to digest other foods. This means that you’re burning more calories when you eat it. Choose protein that’s as low in calories as possible to get the most benefit.
• Burn some calories to get your meal. It’s the little things that we do all day long that help us to burn more calories. If you order your food as a delivery meal then you’re not burning as many calories as you would if you went toget your food. If you get a pre-made sandwich instead of walking around the kitchen to make your own sandwich then you’re not burning as many calories as you could. Think about how to burn calories while you’re getting food and eating it.
2. Drink to Burn Calories
It isn’t just the food that we take in that can help us with burning more calories. If we choose the right drinks then they can also act as calorie-burners. There are two really important drinks that we want to get used to having daily if we’re going to drink to burn calories: water and tea.
Water is really important for our bodies and for weight loss. The body works to absorb and use water and it’s burning calories the whole time that you do that. Most people don’t drink enough liquid at all. You should increase your liquid intake to help burn calories throughout the day. The liquid you choose should be water since this helps you to burn those calories without taking in new calories. With all of the other benefits water has for your body, this is really a win-win situation.
When water just isn’t going to satisfy you then your next best choice for a beverage is green tea. Green tea has been shown to have calorie-burning properties. When you drink green tea, you burn more calories than you take in. If you don’t like green tea then you can also burn calories by drinking caffeinated black tea. However, green tea is a better choice. Remember that you lose out on the calorie-burning benefits of tea if you add milk or sweeteners to it.
3. Chew Gum
You might not think that you would burn a lot of calories just by chewing gum. However, that extra action for your mouth can end up resulting in a lot of calories burned if you’re chewing gum all day every day. You’ll want to choose no-calorie gum to get the benefits of burning those calories. And you’ll want to discuss this with your dentist since chewing gum all day may be bad for some people’s teeth. It’s a neat little trick to add to your repertoire of burning calories though.
4. Move Quickly and Often
Ultimately you’re going to need to move to really burn some calories. Get in the habit of doing all of your daily activities with just a bit more speed and energy than you usually do and you’ll find yourself burning off more calories than you did in the past. Simply speeding up your walking pace is a good start. Do your house chores with intensity instead of doing them in the lazy manner that you’re probably accustomed to. By working this type of non-exercise exercise into your daily routine, you’re naturally going to burn a lot of calories without feeling like you’re doing too much work.
5. Exercise
Finally, there is the thing that will burn the most calories and that’s exercise. What you should do is to make sure that you choose forms of exercise that you truly enjoy. This will allow you to do them often in order to burn calories while still enjoying each day.
TAKE A LOOK AT Fat Burning Nutrition 'Bible' - Others Come And Go. Burn The Fat Is A Perennial Best Seller Since 2003.As seen on Oprah Winfrey Click Here!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Tell them you don't want easy credit
Did they come to your campus today offering hats, T-shirts, food, drinks or other goodies just for filling out a credit card application?
Think carefully before taking this bait, because it will get you on the hook - perhaps to the tune of thousands of dollars. And don't count on your school for support in this matter - it may be raking in millions of dollars in fees for allowing these hucksters to try to lure you into signing up with them.
Here is how you can say NO to credit that is just too easy.
1. Step 1
Read the booklet that comes with the application - carefully - before completing any credit card applications. Don't let the lure of free food or drinks tempt you into filling one of these out without knowing its terms. Ask the marketer in front of you about the rates that will kick in after the teaser rate expires. If they can't answer any of your questions, walk away immediately.
2. Step 2
Take the time to thoroughly shop around for the best credit card deal. The ones being hawked on your campus probably have much higher rates than cards that could be just as available to you if you look around. Bankrate.com (see Resources below) indicates that the rates for college students can range anywhere from 10 to 23 percent, but the cards offered to college kids usually charge at least 3 to 4 percent more than other cards.
3. Step 3
Think very carefully about what you need a credit card for. It is not a good idea at all to use them to pay for beer, bar tabs, pizza and clothes each month, unless you can pay the balance off in full. Remember that you are young and will probably graduate with enough debt without having a sizable credit card balance to pay off as well!
4. Step 4
Ask your student services department whether they will sell your contact information to credit card marketers. If so, be prepared to receive numerous phone calls, mailings and email messages offering credit card deals. Ask if you can have your name removed from these lists and block your email. You may need to contact your alumni association to do this; they are often the ones who cut these deals with the credit card companies.
5. Step 5
Be wary of co-branded cards that have your school logo on them. Although this may seem like a show of school spirit, these cards often have much higher rates and fees than other cards. Regardless of what kind of card you use, be sure to make your monthly payments on time to avoid unnecessary service charges and late fees.
Tips & Warnings
*
If you're not sure how much credit card debt you can carry, open an account on a website like mint.com, where you can input all of your debts and assets and cash flow so that you can get a clear picture of your financial situtation at all times. A good rule of thumb to remember is that your revolving debt payments should probably not exceed 25% of your disposable income (15% is a better number.)
*
Remember the rule of 72: Divide 72 by your rate of interest, and the quotient is the number of years that it will take for your debt to double. If your credit card charges 12% interest, then it will take 6 years for your card balance to double. Therefore a $20,000 balance when you graduate could easily become twice that by the time you're 30 if you only make the minimum payments.
Think carefully before taking this bait, because it will get you on the hook - perhaps to the tune of thousands of dollars. And don't count on your school for support in this matter - it may be raking in millions of dollars in fees for allowing these hucksters to try to lure you into signing up with them.
Here is how you can say NO to credit that is just too easy.
1. Step 1
Read the booklet that comes with the application - carefully - before completing any credit card applications. Don't let the lure of free food or drinks tempt you into filling one of these out without knowing its terms. Ask the marketer in front of you about the rates that will kick in after the teaser rate expires. If they can't answer any of your questions, walk away immediately.
2. Step 2
Take the time to thoroughly shop around for the best credit card deal. The ones being hawked on your campus probably have much higher rates than cards that could be just as available to you if you look around. Bankrate.com (see Resources below) indicates that the rates for college students can range anywhere from 10 to 23 percent, but the cards offered to college kids usually charge at least 3 to 4 percent more than other cards.
3. Step 3
Think very carefully about what you need a credit card for. It is not a good idea at all to use them to pay for beer, bar tabs, pizza and clothes each month, unless you can pay the balance off in full. Remember that you are young and will probably graduate with enough debt without having a sizable credit card balance to pay off as well!
4. Step 4
Ask your student services department whether they will sell your contact information to credit card marketers. If so, be prepared to receive numerous phone calls, mailings and email messages offering credit card deals. Ask if you can have your name removed from these lists and block your email. You may need to contact your alumni association to do this; they are often the ones who cut these deals with the credit card companies.
5. Step 5
Be wary of co-branded cards that have your school logo on them. Although this may seem like a show of school spirit, these cards often have much higher rates and fees than other cards. Regardless of what kind of card you use, be sure to make your monthly payments on time to avoid unnecessary service charges and late fees.
Tips & Warnings
*
If you're not sure how much credit card debt you can carry, open an account on a website like mint.com, where you can input all of your debts and assets and cash flow so that you can get a clear picture of your financial situtation at all times. A good rule of thumb to remember is that your revolving debt payments should probably not exceed 25% of your disposable income (15% is a better number.)
*
Remember the rule of 72: Divide 72 by your rate of interest, and the quotient is the number of years that it will take for your debt to double. If your credit card charges 12% interest, then it will take 6 years for your card balance to double. Therefore a $20,000 balance when you graduate could easily become twice that by the time you're 30 if you only make the minimum payments.
Which phobia do you have ? Here is the list...
PHOBIA COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD PHOBOS WHICH MEANS IRRATIONAL FEAR!
The Phobias have been arranged in alphabetical order.
A (fear of)
ablutophobia : washing or bathing
acarophobia : itching
acerophobia : sourness
achluophobia: darkness
acousticophobia : noise
acrophobia : heights
aeroacrophobia : open high places
aeronausiphobia: vomiting secondary to airsickness
aerophobia : drafts, air
aeruophobia : flying
agliophobia : pain
agoraphobia : open spaces
agraphobia: sexual abuse
agrizoophobia : wild animals
agyrophobia : streets or crossing the street
aichmophobia : needles or pointed objects
ailurophobia : cats
albuminurophobia : kidney disease
alektorophobia : chickens
algophobia : pain
alliumphobia : garlic
allodoxaphobia : opinions
altophobia : heights
amathophobia : dust
amaxophobia : riding in a car, or vehicles
ambulophobia : walking
amnesiphobia : amnesia
amychophobia : scratches or being scratched
anablephobia : looking up
ancraophobia : wind
androphobia : men
anemophobia : air drafts or wind
anginophobia : angina, choking or narrowness
anglophobia : England, English culture, etc
angrophobia : becoming angry
ankylophobia : immobility of a joint
anthophobia : flowers
anthrophobia : people
anthropophobia : people or society
antlophobia : floods
anuptaphobia : staying single
apeirophobia : infinity
aphenphosmphobia : being touched
apiphobia : bees
apotemnophobia : persons with amputations
arachibutyrophobia : peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth
arachnophobia : spiders
arithmophobia : numbers
arrhenphobia : men
arsonphobia : fire
asthenophobia : fainting or weakness
astraphobia : thunder and lightning
astrophobia : stars and celestial space
asymmetriphobia : asymmetrical things
ataxiophobia : ataxia (muscular in coordination)
ataxophobia : disorder or untidiness
atelophobia : imperfection
atephobia : ruin or ruins
athazagoraphobia : being forgotten or ignored
atomosophobia : atomic explosions
atychiphobia : failure
aulophobia : flutes
aurophobia : gold
auroraphobia : northern lights
autodysomophobia : one that has a vile odor
automatonophobia : ventriloquist dummies or wax statues
automysophobia : being dirty
autophobia : being alone or of oneself
aviophobia : flying
B (fear of)
bacillophobia : microbes
bacteriophobia : bacteria
bactrachophobia : reptiles
ballistophobia : missiles or bullets
barophobia : gravity
basophobia : inability to stand
bathophobia : depth
batonophobia : plants
batophobia : heights
batrachophobia : amphibians
belonephobia : pins and needles
bibliophobia : books
blennophobia : slime
bogyphobia : the bogeyman
Bolshephobia : Bolsheviks
botanophobia : plants
bromidrosiphobia : body smells
brontophobia : thunder and lightning
bufonophobia : toads
C (fear of)
cacophobia : ugliness
cainophobia : newness, novelty
caligynephobia : beautiful women
carcinophobia : cancer
cardiophobia : the heart
carnophobia : meat
catagelophobia : being ridiculed
catapedaphobia : jumping from high and low places
cathisophobia : sitting
catoptrophobia : mirrors
cenophobia : new things or ideas
ceraunophobia : thunder
chaetophobia : hair
cheimaphobia or cheimatophobia : cold
chemophobia : chemicals
cherophobia : gaiety
chionophobia : snow
chiraptophobia : being touched
cholerophobia : anger
chorophobia : dancing
chrometophobia : money
chromophobia : colors
chronomentrophobia : clocks
chronophobia : time
cibophobia : food
claustrophobia : enclosed spaces
cleisiophobia : being locked in
cleptophobia : stealing
climacophobia : stairs
clinophobia : going to bed
clithrophobia : being enclosed
cnidophobia : stings
coimetrophobia : cemeteries
cometophobia : comets
contreltophobia : sexual abuse
coprastasophobia : constipation
coprophobia : feces
coulrophobia : clowns
cremnophobia : precipices
cryophobia : extreme cold, ice or frost
crystallophobia : crystals or glass
cyberphobia : computers or working on a computer
cyclophobia : bicycles
cymophobia : waves or wave like motions
cynophobia : dogs
D (fear of)
decidophobia : making decisions
defecaloesiophobia : painful bowel movements
deipnophobia : dining
dementophobia : insanity
demonophobia : demons
demophobia : crowds (Agoraphobia)
dendrophobia : trees
dentophobia : dentists
dermatophobia : skin lesions
dermatosiophobia : skin disease
dextrophobia : objects at the right side of the body
diabetophobia : diabetes
didaskaleinophobia : going to school
dikephobia : justice
dinophobia : dizziness
diplophobia : double vision
dipsophobia : drinking
dishabiliophobia : undressing in front of someone
domatophobia : houses or being in a house
doraphobia : fur or skins of animals
dromophobia : crossing streets
dutchphobia : the Dutch
dysmorphophobia : deformity
dystychiphobia : accidents
E (fear of)
ecclesiophobia : church
eicophobia : home surroundings
eisoptrophobia : mirrors or seeing oneself in a mirror
electrophobia : electricity
eleutherophobia : freedom
elurophobia : cats (Ailurophobia)
emetophobia : vomiting
enetophobia : pins
enochlophobia : crowds
enosiophobia : committing an unpardonable sin
entomophobia : insects
eosophobia : dawn or daylight
epistaxiophobia : nosebleeds
epistemophobia : knowledge
equinophobia : horses
eremophobia : being oneself
ereuthrophobia : blushing
ergasiophobia : surgical instruments
ergophobia : work
erotophobia : sexual love
erythrophobia : the color red
euphobia : hearing good news
eurotophobia : female genitalia
F (fear of)
febriphobia : fever
felinophobia : cats
Francophobia : France, French culture
frigophobia : cold
G (fear of)
galeophobia: cats
gallophobia or galiophobia: fear France, French culture
gamophobia : marriage
gatophobia : cats
geliophobia : laughter
geniophobia : chins
genophobia : sex
genuphobia : knees
gephyrophobia : crossing bridges
gerascophobia : growing old
germanophobia : Germany, German culture
gerontophobia : old people or of growing old
geumaphobia : taste
glossophobia : speaking in public
gnosiophobia : knowledge
graphophobia : writing
gymnophobia : nudity
gynophobia : women
H (fear of)
hadephobia : hell
hagiophobia : saints or holy things
hamartophobia : sinning
haphephobia : being touched
harpaxophobia : being robbed
hedonophobia : feeling pleasure
heliophobia : the sun
hellenologophobia : Greek terms
helminthophobia : worms
hemophobia : blood
herpetophobia : reptiles
heterophobia : the opposite sex (sexophobia)
hierophobia : priests
hippophobia : horses
hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia : long words
hobophobia : bums or beggars
hodophobia : road travel
homichlophobia : fog
homilophobia : sermons
hominophobia : men
homophobia : homosexuality
hoplophobia : firearms
hormephobia : shock
hydrargyophobia : mercurial medicines
hydrophobia : water
hydrophobophobia : rabies
hyelophobia or hyalophobia : glass
hygrophobia : liquids, dampness, or moisture
hylephobia : materialism
hylophobia : forests
hypegiaphobia : responsibility
hypnophobia : sleep
hypsiphobia : height
I (fear of)
iatrophobia : doctors
ichthyophobia : fish
ideophobia : ideas
illyngophobia : vertigo
insectophobia : insects
iophobia : poison
isolophobia : solitude, being alone
isopterophobia : termites
ithyphallophobia : erection
J (fear of)
Japanophobia : Japanese
Judeophobia : Jews
K (fear of)
kainolophobia : novelty
kakorraphiaphobia : failure
katagelophobia : ridicule
kathisophobia : sitting down
kenophobia : voids
keraunophobia : thunder
kinetophobia : movement or motion
kleptophobia : stealing
koinoniphobia : rooms
koniophobia : dust (Amathophobia)
kopophobia : fatigue
kosmikophobia : cosmic phenomenon
kymophobia : waves
kynophobia : rabies
kyphophobia : stooping
L (fear of)
lachanophobia : vegetables
laliophobia : speaking
leprophobia : leprosy
leukophobia : the color white
levophobia : things to the left side of the body
ligyrophobia : loud noises
lilapsophobia : tornadoes and hurricanes
limnophobia : lakes
linonophobia : string
liticaphobia : lawsuits
lockiophobia : childbirth
logizomechanophobia : computers
logophobia : words
luiphobia : syphilis
lutraphobia : otters
lygophobia : darkness
lyssophobia : rabies or of becoming mad
M (fear of)
macrophobia : long waits
mageirocophobia : cooking
maieusiophobia : childbirth
malaxophobia : love play
maniaphobia : insanity
mastigophobia : punishment
mechanophobia : machines
megalophobia : large things
melanophobia : the color black
melissophobia : bees
melophobia : fear or hatred of music
meningitophobia : brain disease
menophobia : menstruation
merinthophobia : being bound or tied up
metallophobia : metal
metathesiophobia : changes
meteorophobia : meteors
methyphobia : alcohol
metrophobia : fear or hatred of poetry
microbiophobia : microbes (bacillophobia)
microphobia : small things
misophobia : being contaminated with dirt of germs
mnemophobia : memories
molysmophobia : dirt or contamination
monopathophobia : definite disease
monophobia : solitude or being alone
motorphobia : automobiles
mottephobia : moths
musophobia : mice
mycophobia : fear or aversion to mushrooms
mycrophobia : small things
myctophobia : darkness
myrmecophobia : ants
mysophobia : germs or contamination or dirt
mythophobia : myths or stories or false statements
myxophobia : slime (blennophobia)
N (fear of)
nebulaphobia : fog (homichlophobia)
necrophobia : death
nelophobia : glass
neopharmaphobia : new drugs
neophobia : anything new
nephophobia : clouds
noctiphobia : the night
nomatophobia : names
nosemaphobia : illness
nosocomephobia : hospitals
nosophobia : disease
nostophobia : returning home
novercaphobia : step-mothers
nucleomituphobia : nuclear weapons
nudophobia : nudity
numerophobia : numbers
nyctophobia : the dark or of night
O (fear of)
obesophobia : gaining weight
ochlophobia : crowds or mobs
ochophobia : vehicles
octophobia : the figure
odontophobia : dental surgery
odynophobia : pain
oenophobia : wines
oikophobia : home surroundings, house
olfactophobia : smells
ombrophobia : rain
ommetaphobia : eyes
oneirogmophobia : wet dreams
oneirophobia : dreams
onomatophobia : hearing a certain word
ophidiophobia : snakes
ophthalmophobia : being stared at
optophobia : opening one's eyes
ornithophobia : birds
orthophobia : property
osmophobia : smells or odors
osphresiophobia : smells
ostraconophobia : shellfish
ouranophobia : heaven
P (fear of)
pagophobia: ice or frost
panophobia: everything
panthophobia: disease
pantophobia: fears
Papaphobia: the pope
papyrophobia: paper
paralipophobia: neglecting duty
paraphobia: sexual perversion
parasitophobia: parasites
paraskavedekatriaphobia: Friday the 13th
parthenophobia: virgins or young girls
parturiphobia: childbirth
pathophobia: disease
patroiophobia: heredity
peccatophobia: sinning (imaginary crime)
pediculophobia: lice
pediophobia: dolls
pedophobia: children
peladophobia: bald people
pellagrophobia: pellagra
peniaphobia: poverty
pentheraphobia: mother-in-law
phagophobia: swallowing
phalacrophobia: becoming bald
phallophobia: a penis, esp erect
pharmacophobia: taking medicine
pharmacophobia: drugs
phasmophobia: ghosts
phengophobia: daylight or sunshine
philemaphobia: kissing
philophobia: falling in love
philosophobia: philosophy
phobophobia: one's own fears
phonophobia: noises or voices
photoaugliaphobia: glaring lights
photophobia: light
phronemophobia: thinking
phthiriophobia: lice (pediculophobia)
phthisiophobia: tuberculosis
pinigerophobia: smothering
placophobia: tombstones
plutophobia: wealth
pluviophobia: rain or of being rained on
pneumatiphobia: spirits
pnigophobia: choking or being smothered
pocrescophobia: gaining weight (obesophobia)
pogonophobia: beards
poinephobia: punishment
poliosophobia: contracting poliomyelitis
politicophobia: politicians
polyphobia: many things
ponophobia: overworking or of pain
porphyrophobia: the color purple
potamophobia: rivers or running water
potophobia: alcohol
proctophobia: rectum
prosophobia: progress
psellismophobia: stuttering
psychophobia: mind
psychrophobia: cold
pteromerhanophobia: flying
pteronophobia: being tickled by feathers
pupaphobia: puppets pyrexiophobia
pyrophobia: fire
Q (fear of)
Quadraphobia : quartets or of being drawn and quartered
Quadrataphobia : quadratic equations
R (fear of)
radiophobia : radiation, x-rays
ranidaphobia : frogs
rhabdophobia : being severely punished or beaten by a rod
rhypophobia : defecation
rhytiphobia : getting wrinkles
rupophobia : dirt
Russophobia : Russians
S (fear of)
samhainophobia : Halloween
sarmassophobia : love play
satanophobia : satan
scabiophobia : scabies
scelerophibia : bad men, burglars
schlionophobia : school
sciophobia : shadows
scoleciphobia : worms
scolionophobia : school
scopophobia : being stared at
scotomaphobia : blindness in visual field
scotophobia : darkness
scriptophobia : writing in public
selaphobia : light flashes
selenophobia : the moon
seplophobia : decaying matter
sesquipedalophobia : long words
sexophobia : the opposite sex
siderodromophobia : trains
siderophobia : stars
sinistrophobia : left-handedness
sinophobia : chinese, chinese culture
sitophobia : food or eating
snakephobia : snakes (ophidiophobia)
soceraphobia : parents-in-law
social phobia : being evaluated negatively
sociophobia : society
somniphobia : sleep
sophophobia : learning
soteriophobia : dependence on others
spacephobia : outer space
spectrophobia : specters or ghosts
spermophobia : germs
sphexsophobia : wasps
stasibasiphobia : standing or walking
staurophobia : crosses or the crucifix
stenophobia : narrow things or places
stygiophobia : hell
suriphobia : mice
symbolophobia : symbolism
symmetrophobia : symmetry
syngenesophobia : relatives
syphilophobia : syphilis
T (fear of)
tachophobia : speed
taeniophobia or teniophobia : tapeworms
taphephobia : being buried alive
tapinophobia : being contagious
taurophobia : bulls
technophobia : technology
teleophobia : definate plans
telephonophobia : telephones
telosphobia : being last
teratophobia : bearing a deformed child
testophobia : taking tests
tetanophobia : lockjaw, tetanus
teutophobia : German or German things
textophobia : certain fabrics
thaasophobia : sitting
thalassophobia : the ocean
thanatophobia : death or dying
theatrophobia : theatres
theologicophobia : theology
theophobia : god(s) or religion
thermophobia : heat
tocophobia : childbirth
tomophobia : surgical operations
tonitrophobia : thunder
topophobia : performing (stage fright)
toxiphobia : poison
traumatophobia : injury
tremophobia : trembling
trichinophobia : trichinosis
trichopathophobia : hair
triskaidekaphobia : the number 13
tropophobia : moving or making changes
trypanophobia : injections
tuberculophobia : tuberculosis
tyrannophobia : tyrants
U (fear of)
uranophobia : heaven
urophobia : urine or urinating
V (fear of)
vaccinophobia : vaccination
venustraphobia : beautiful women
verbophobia : words
verminophobia : germs
vestiphobia : clothing
virginitiphobia : rape
vitricophobia : step-fathers
W (fear of)
Walloonphobia : the Walloons
wiccaphobia : witches and witchcraft
X (fear of)
xanthophobia : the color yellow
xenophobia : strangers
xerophobia : dryness
xylophobia : forests
Y (fear of)
Ymophobia - Fear of contrariety
Yellow color - Xanthophobia
Z (fear of)
zelophobia : jealousy
zeusophobia : God or gods
zoophobia : animals
The Phobias have been arranged in alphabetical order.
A (fear of)
ablutophobia : washing or bathing
acarophobia : itching
acerophobia : sourness
achluophobia: darkness
acousticophobia : noise
acrophobia : heights
aeroacrophobia : open high places
aeronausiphobia: vomiting secondary to airsickness
aerophobia : drafts, air
aeruophobia : flying
agliophobia : pain
agoraphobia : open spaces
agraphobia: sexual abuse
agrizoophobia : wild animals
agyrophobia : streets or crossing the street
aichmophobia : needles or pointed objects
ailurophobia : cats
albuminurophobia : kidney disease
alektorophobia : chickens
algophobia : pain
alliumphobia : garlic
allodoxaphobia : opinions
altophobia : heights
amathophobia : dust
amaxophobia : riding in a car, or vehicles
ambulophobia : walking
amnesiphobia : amnesia
amychophobia : scratches or being scratched
anablephobia : looking up
ancraophobia : wind
androphobia : men
anemophobia : air drafts or wind
anginophobia : angina, choking or narrowness
anglophobia : England, English culture, etc
angrophobia : becoming angry
ankylophobia : immobility of a joint
anthophobia : flowers
anthrophobia : people
anthropophobia : people or society
antlophobia : floods
anuptaphobia : staying single
apeirophobia : infinity
aphenphosmphobia : being touched
apiphobia : bees
apotemnophobia : persons with amputations
arachibutyrophobia : peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth
arachnophobia : spiders
arithmophobia : numbers
arrhenphobia : men
arsonphobia : fire
asthenophobia : fainting or weakness
astraphobia : thunder and lightning
astrophobia : stars and celestial space
asymmetriphobia : asymmetrical things
ataxiophobia : ataxia (muscular in coordination)
ataxophobia : disorder or untidiness
atelophobia : imperfection
atephobia : ruin or ruins
athazagoraphobia : being forgotten or ignored
atomosophobia : atomic explosions
atychiphobia : failure
aulophobia : flutes
aurophobia : gold
auroraphobia : northern lights
autodysomophobia : one that has a vile odor
automatonophobia : ventriloquist dummies or wax statues
automysophobia : being dirty
autophobia : being alone or of oneself
aviophobia : flying
B (fear of)
bacillophobia : microbes
bacteriophobia : bacteria
bactrachophobia : reptiles
ballistophobia : missiles or bullets
barophobia : gravity
basophobia : inability to stand
bathophobia : depth
batonophobia : plants
batophobia : heights
batrachophobia : amphibians
belonephobia : pins and needles
bibliophobia : books
blennophobia : slime
bogyphobia : the bogeyman
Bolshephobia : Bolsheviks
botanophobia : plants
bromidrosiphobia : body smells
brontophobia : thunder and lightning
bufonophobia : toads
C (fear of)
cacophobia : ugliness
cainophobia : newness, novelty
caligynephobia : beautiful women
carcinophobia : cancer
cardiophobia : the heart
carnophobia : meat
catagelophobia : being ridiculed
catapedaphobia : jumping from high and low places
cathisophobia : sitting
catoptrophobia : mirrors
cenophobia : new things or ideas
ceraunophobia : thunder
chaetophobia : hair
cheimaphobia or cheimatophobia : cold
chemophobia : chemicals
cherophobia : gaiety
chionophobia : snow
chiraptophobia : being touched
cholerophobia : anger
chorophobia : dancing
chrometophobia : money
chromophobia : colors
chronomentrophobia : clocks
chronophobia : time
cibophobia : food
claustrophobia : enclosed spaces
cleisiophobia : being locked in
cleptophobia : stealing
climacophobia : stairs
clinophobia : going to bed
clithrophobia : being enclosed
cnidophobia : stings
coimetrophobia : cemeteries
cometophobia : comets
contreltophobia : sexual abuse
coprastasophobia : constipation
coprophobia : feces
coulrophobia : clowns
cremnophobia : precipices
cryophobia : extreme cold, ice or frost
crystallophobia : crystals or glass
cyberphobia : computers or working on a computer
cyclophobia : bicycles
cymophobia : waves or wave like motions
cynophobia : dogs
D (fear of)
decidophobia : making decisions
defecaloesiophobia : painful bowel movements
deipnophobia : dining
dementophobia : insanity
demonophobia : demons
demophobia : crowds (Agoraphobia)
dendrophobia : trees
dentophobia : dentists
dermatophobia : skin lesions
dermatosiophobia : skin disease
dextrophobia : objects at the right side of the body
diabetophobia : diabetes
didaskaleinophobia : going to school
dikephobia : justice
dinophobia : dizziness
diplophobia : double vision
dipsophobia : drinking
dishabiliophobia : undressing in front of someone
domatophobia : houses or being in a house
doraphobia : fur or skins of animals
dromophobia : crossing streets
dutchphobia : the Dutch
dysmorphophobia : deformity
dystychiphobia : accidents
E (fear of)
ecclesiophobia : church
eicophobia : home surroundings
eisoptrophobia : mirrors or seeing oneself in a mirror
electrophobia : electricity
eleutherophobia : freedom
elurophobia : cats (Ailurophobia)
emetophobia : vomiting
enetophobia : pins
enochlophobia : crowds
enosiophobia : committing an unpardonable sin
entomophobia : insects
eosophobia : dawn or daylight
epistaxiophobia : nosebleeds
epistemophobia : knowledge
equinophobia : horses
eremophobia : being oneself
ereuthrophobia : blushing
ergasiophobia : surgical instruments
ergophobia : work
erotophobia : sexual love
erythrophobia : the color red
euphobia : hearing good news
eurotophobia : female genitalia
F (fear of)
febriphobia : fever
felinophobia : cats
Francophobia : France, French culture
frigophobia : cold
G (fear of)
galeophobia: cats
gallophobia or galiophobia: fear France, French culture
gamophobia : marriage
gatophobia : cats
geliophobia : laughter
geniophobia : chins
genophobia : sex
genuphobia : knees
gephyrophobia : crossing bridges
gerascophobia : growing old
germanophobia : Germany, German culture
gerontophobia : old people or of growing old
geumaphobia : taste
glossophobia : speaking in public
gnosiophobia : knowledge
graphophobia : writing
gymnophobia : nudity
gynophobia : women
H (fear of)
hadephobia : hell
hagiophobia : saints or holy things
hamartophobia : sinning
haphephobia : being touched
harpaxophobia : being robbed
hedonophobia : feeling pleasure
heliophobia : the sun
hellenologophobia : Greek terms
helminthophobia : worms
hemophobia : blood
herpetophobia : reptiles
heterophobia : the opposite sex (sexophobia)
hierophobia : priests
hippophobia : horses
hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia : long words
hobophobia : bums or beggars
hodophobia : road travel
homichlophobia : fog
homilophobia : sermons
hominophobia : men
homophobia : homosexuality
hoplophobia : firearms
hormephobia : shock
hydrargyophobia : mercurial medicines
hydrophobia : water
hydrophobophobia : rabies
hyelophobia or hyalophobia : glass
hygrophobia : liquids, dampness, or moisture
hylephobia : materialism
hylophobia : forests
hypegiaphobia : responsibility
hypnophobia : sleep
hypsiphobia : height
I (fear of)
iatrophobia : doctors
ichthyophobia : fish
ideophobia : ideas
illyngophobia : vertigo
insectophobia : insects
iophobia : poison
isolophobia : solitude, being alone
isopterophobia : termites
ithyphallophobia : erection
J (fear of)
Japanophobia : Japanese
Judeophobia : Jews
K (fear of)
kainolophobia : novelty
kakorraphiaphobia : failure
katagelophobia : ridicule
kathisophobia : sitting down
kenophobia : voids
keraunophobia : thunder
kinetophobia : movement or motion
kleptophobia : stealing
koinoniphobia : rooms
koniophobia : dust (Amathophobia)
kopophobia : fatigue
kosmikophobia : cosmic phenomenon
kymophobia : waves
kynophobia : rabies
kyphophobia : stooping
L (fear of)
lachanophobia : vegetables
laliophobia : speaking
leprophobia : leprosy
leukophobia : the color white
levophobia : things to the left side of the body
ligyrophobia : loud noises
lilapsophobia : tornadoes and hurricanes
limnophobia : lakes
linonophobia : string
liticaphobia : lawsuits
lockiophobia : childbirth
logizomechanophobia : computers
logophobia : words
luiphobia : syphilis
lutraphobia : otters
lygophobia : darkness
lyssophobia : rabies or of becoming mad
M (fear of)
macrophobia : long waits
mageirocophobia : cooking
maieusiophobia : childbirth
malaxophobia : love play
maniaphobia : insanity
mastigophobia : punishment
mechanophobia : machines
megalophobia : large things
melanophobia : the color black
melissophobia : bees
melophobia : fear or hatred of music
meningitophobia : brain disease
menophobia : menstruation
merinthophobia : being bound or tied up
metallophobia : metal
metathesiophobia : changes
meteorophobia : meteors
methyphobia : alcohol
metrophobia : fear or hatred of poetry
microbiophobia : microbes (bacillophobia)
microphobia : small things
misophobia : being contaminated with dirt of germs
mnemophobia : memories
molysmophobia : dirt or contamination
monopathophobia : definite disease
monophobia : solitude or being alone
motorphobia : automobiles
mottephobia : moths
musophobia : mice
mycophobia : fear or aversion to mushrooms
mycrophobia : small things
myctophobia : darkness
myrmecophobia : ants
mysophobia : germs or contamination or dirt
mythophobia : myths or stories or false statements
myxophobia : slime (blennophobia)
N (fear of)
nebulaphobia : fog (homichlophobia)
necrophobia : death
nelophobia : glass
neopharmaphobia : new drugs
neophobia : anything new
nephophobia : clouds
noctiphobia : the night
nomatophobia : names
nosemaphobia : illness
nosocomephobia : hospitals
nosophobia : disease
nostophobia : returning home
novercaphobia : step-mothers
nucleomituphobia : nuclear weapons
nudophobia : nudity
numerophobia : numbers
nyctophobia : the dark or of night
O (fear of)
obesophobia : gaining weight
ochlophobia : crowds or mobs
ochophobia : vehicles
octophobia : the figure
odontophobia : dental surgery
odynophobia : pain
oenophobia : wines
oikophobia : home surroundings, house
olfactophobia : smells
ombrophobia : rain
ommetaphobia : eyes
oneirogmophobia : wet dreams
oneirophobia : dreams
onomatophobia : hearing a certain word
ophidiophobia : snakes
ophthalmophobia : being stared at
optophobia : opening one's eyes
ornithophobia : birds
orthophobia : property
osmophobia : smells or odors
osphresiophobia : smells
ostraconophobia : shellfish
ouranophobia : heaven
P (fear of)
pagophobia: ice or frost
panophobia: everything
panthophobia: disease
pantophobia: fears
Papaphobia: the pope
papyrophobia: paper
paralipophobia: neglecting duty
paraphobia: sexual perversion
parasitophobia: parasites
paraskavedekatriaphobia: Friday the 13th
parthenophobia: virgins or young girls
parturiphobia: childbirth
pathophobia: disease
patroiophobia: heredity
peccatophobia: sinning (imaginary crime)
pediculophobia: lice
pediophobia: dolls
pedophobia: children
peladophobia: bald people
pellagrophobia: pellagra
peniaphobia: poverty
pentheraphobia: mother-in-law
phagophobia: swallowing
phalacrophobia: becoming bald
phallophobia: a penis, esp erect
pharmacophobia: taking medicine
pharmacophobia: drugs
phasmophobia: ghosts
phengophobia: daylight or sunshine
philemaphobia: kissing
philophobia: falling in love
philosophobia: philosophy
phobophobia: one's own fears
phonophobia: noises or voices
photoaugliaphobia: glaring lights
photophobia: light
phronemophobia: thinking
phthiriophobia: lice (pediculophobia)
phthisiophobia: tuberculosis
pinigerophobia: smothering
placophobia: tombstones
plutophobia: wealth
pluviophobia: rain or of being rained on
pneumatiphobia: spirits
pnigophobia: choking or being smothered
pocrescophobia: gaining weight (obesophobia)
pogonophobia: beards
poinephobia: punishment
poliosophobia: contracting poliomyelitis
politicophobia: politicians
polyphobia: many things
ponophobia: overworking or of pain
porphyrophobia: the color purple
potamophobia: rivers or running water
potophobia: alcohol
proctophobia: rectum
prosophobia: progress
psellismophobia: stuttering
psychophobia: mind
psychrophobia: cold
pteromerhanophobia: flying
pteronophobia: being tickled by feathers
pupaphobia: puppets pyrexiophobia
pyrophobia: fire
Q (fear of)
Quadraphobia : quartets or of being drawn and quartered
Quadrataphobia : quadratic equations
R (fear of)
radiophobia : radiation, x-rays
ranidaphobia : frogs
rhabdophobia : being severely punished or beaten by a rod
rhypophobia : defecation
rhytiphobia : getting wrinkles
rupophobia : dirt
Russophobia : Russians
S (fear of)
samhainophobia : Halloween
sarmassophobia : love play
satanophobia : satan
scabiophobia : scabies
scelerophibia : bad men, burglars
schlionophobia : school
sciophobia : shadows
scoleciphobia : worms
scolionophobia : school
scopophobia : being stared at
scotomaphobia : blindness in visual field
scotophobia : darkness
scriptophobia : writing in public
selaphobia : light flashes
selenophobia : the moon
seplophobia : decaying matter
sesquipedalophobia : long words
sexophobia : the opposite sex
siderodromophobia : trains
siderophobia : stars
sinistrophobia : left-handedness
sinophobia : chinese, chinese culture
sitophobia : food or eating
snakephobia : snakes (ophidiophobia)
soceraphobia : parents-in-law
social phobia : being evaluated negatively
sociophobia : society
somniphobia : sleep
sophophobia : learning
soteriophobia : dependence on others
spacephobia : outer space
spectrophobia : specters or ghosts
spermophobia : germs
sphexsophobia : wasps
stasibasiphobia : standing or walking
staurophobia : crosses or the crucifix
stenophobia : narrow things or places
stygiophobia : hell
suriphobia : mice
symbolophobia : symbolism
symmetrophobia : symmetry
syngenesophobia : relatives
syphilophobia : syphilis
T (fear of)
tachophobia : speed
taeniophobia or teniophobia : tapeworms
taphephobia : being buried alive
tapinophobia : being contagious
taurophobia : bulls
technophobia : technology
teleophobia : definate plans
telephonophobia : telephones
telosphobia : being last
teratophobia : bearing a deformed child
testophobia : taking tests
tetanophobia : lockjaw, tetanus
teutophobia : German or German things
textophobia : certain fabrics
thaasophobia : sitting
thalassophobia : the ocean
thanatophobia : death or dying
theatrophobia : theatres
theologicophobia : theology
theophobia : god(s) or religion
thermophobia : heat
tocophobia : childbirth
tomophobia : surgical operations
tonitrophobia : thunder
topophobia : performing (stage fright)
toxiphobia : poison
traumatophobia : injury
tremophobia : trembling
trichinophobia : trichinosis
trichopathophobia : hair
triskaidekaphobia : the number 13
tropophobia : moving or making changes
trypanophobia : injections
tuberculophobia : tuberculosis
tyrannophobia : tyrants
U (fear of)
uranophobia : heaven
urophobia : urine or urinating
V (fear of)
vaccinophobia : vaccination
venustraphobia : beautiful women
verbophobia : words
verminophobia : germs
vestiphobia : clothing
virginitiphobia : rape
vitricophobia : step-fathers
W (fear of)
Walloonphobia : the Walloons
wiccaphobia : witches and witchcraft
X (fear of)
xanthophobia : the color yellow
xenophobia : strangers
xerophobia : dryness
xylophobia : forests
Y (fear of)
Ymophobia - Fear of contrariety
Yellow color - Xanthophobia
Z (fear of)
zelophobia : jealousy
zeusophobia : God or gods
zoophobia : animals
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Chevrolet Spark bags the Top J D Power Awards for Quality in 2009
Chevrolet Spark has won the top award for quality for the third consecutive year in the India Automotive Initial Quality Study announced by J.D Power Asia Pacific 2009. The victory validates the growing popularity of Chevrolet brand in the country and GM India's commitment to produce world-class vehicles for this market.Despite stiff competition, the Chevrolet Spark was ranked the highest in the compact car segment in this year's JD Power study, which is the industry benchmark for new vehicle quality.
The Chevrolet Spark was ranked first and won the top award in the vast and fiercely competitive Compact Car Segment, with a score of 116 PP100. This is the third year in a row that the Spark has bagged this prestigious award. The Chevrolet Tavera has bagged the second position in the MUV / MPV category while the Aveo U-VA was ranked third in the Premium Compact Segment in the face of equally stiff competition. Commenting on the multiple wins for Chevrolet, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President, GM India said, "These prestigious wins from J D Power, coming the third year in a row, clearly serve to reiterate that Chevrolet has become the preferred automobile brand in terms of quality and customer delight. These multiple, repeat wins are the result of GM India's single-minded focus on our valuable Chevrolet consumers and our deep commitment to offer best-in-class products that meet and exceed customer expectations. We will continue to leverage the momentum gained this far and build on the inherent strengths of our products in the future also."
It may be recalled that Chevrolet, which completed its fifth anniversary recently, swept the JD Power Awards last year also, when its cars were awarded top honours in their respective segments in JD Power's IQS and APEAL studies in India. Keeping in mind the diverse needs of vehicle buyers across India, Chevrolet offers products that range from small cars to premium SUVs. The JD Power India IQS study, which serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality, is measured at two to six months of ownership. The IQS examines more than 200 problem symptoms covering eight vehicle categories. Overall quality performance is based on both design quality and production quality problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with lower scores indicating a lower rate of problem incidence and higher vehicle quality. The 2008 India Initial Quality Study, now in its twelfth year, is based on evaluations from more than 6,600 owners who purchased a new vehicle between November 2008 and July 2009. It included 50 vehicle models covering 13 makes and was fielded from May to September 2009 in 20 cities across India.
General Motors India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. GM produces the Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet SR-V, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Tavera for sale in India and operates two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Talegaon, Maharashtra, and Halol, Gujarat.
The Chevrolet Spark was ranked first and won the top award in the vast and fiercely competitive Compact Car Segment, with a score of 116 PP100. This is the third year in a row that the Spark has bagged this prestigious award. The Chevrolet Tavera has bagged the second position in the MUV / MPV category while the Aveo U-VA was ranked third in the Premium Compact Segment in the face of equally stiff competition. Commenting on the multiple wins for Chevrolet, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President, GM India said, "These prestigious wins from J D Power, coming the third year in a row, clearly serve to reiterate that Chevrolet has become the preferred automobile brand in terms of quality and customer delight. These multiple, repeat wins are the result of GM India's single-minded focus on our valuable Chevrolet consumers and our deep commitment to offer best-in-class products that meet and exceed customer expectations. We will continue to leverage the momentum gained this far and build on the inherent strengths of our products in the future also."
It may be recalled that Chevrolet, which completed its fifth anniversary recently, swept the JD Power Awards last year also, when its cars were awarded top honours in their respective segments in JD Power's IQS and APEAL studies in India. Keeping in mind the diverse needs of vehicle buyers across India, Chevrolet offers products that range from small cars to premium SUVs. The JD Power India IQS study, which serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality, is measured at two to six months of ownership. The IQS examines more than 200 problem symptoms covering eight vehicle categories. Overall quality performance is based on both design quality and production quality problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with lower scores indicating a lower rate of problem incidence and higher vehicle quality. The 2008 India Initial Quality Study, now in its twelfth year, is based on evaluations from more than 6,600 owners who purchased a new vehicle between November 2008 and July 2009. It included 50 vehicle models covering 13 makes and was fielded from May to September 2009 in 20 cities across India.
General Motors India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. GM produces the Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet SR-V, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Tavera for sale in India and operates two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Talegaon, Maharashtra, and Halol, Gujarat.
Thank you for smoking
The effects of smoking have been big news for many years. Every year more people try to quit, there are more restrictions on smoking, and more research into the effects of smoking both on smokers and the people around them.
You don't have to be a smoker to want to know the facts about cigarette smoking. You might be a parent or teacher keen to encourage young people not to start in the first place. Or perhaps you're an employer trying to reduce smoking at work by helping your staff quit. Or you may be trying to help your partner of a friend to stop smoking. The effect of smoking on other people looks at the dangers of second-hand smoke, whether at home, in the car.
The dangers of smoking
Most of us have a pretty good idea of what the dangers of smoking are and what it can do to people. You might, however, be surprised by some of the less obvious effects of smoking.
In this section, find out all about the effects of smoking on your health. Smoking can affect every part of your body. It can lead to both minor and major health problems. But do you know exactly what happens to your body when you smoke?
What happens when you smoke?
• When you smoke, less oxygen reaches your lungs. Nicotine, the addictive stuff, stimulates your central nervous system, making your heart beat faster and raising your blood pressure. Tar from cigarettes ends up in your lungs.
• Over time, smoking obstructs or narrows the small airways in the lungs and destroys the air sacs there. It clogs arteries and causes blood clots.
The health benefits of stopping
"I feel healthier. I taste my food better. I’m not breathless walking up that hill. I’ve got more money which I spend on nice clothes."- Shelagh, Inverclyde
Stopping smoking not only reduces the risk of getting serious smoking-related diseases, it means you're less likely to have other health problems, such as:
• Gum disease and bad breath
• Coughs and shortness of breath
• Colds and flu
• Mouth ulcers
• High blood pressure
• Asthma attacks
In the long-term, breaking the habit reduces the chances of you suffering from:
• Stroke
• Reduced vision
• Mouth and throat cancer
• Heart disease
• Emphysema and bronchitis
• Lung cancer
• Stomach ulcers
• Bladder cancer
• Infertility
• Peripheral vascular disease, which can lead to gangrene and amputation of limbs.
Some of the less well-known benefits of stopping smoking are that wounds and surgical incisions should heal more quickly. For women, the good news is that you're less likely to suffer painful periods and osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) once you've quit.
Thinking of starting a family? Men who smoke may suffer from impotence and produce less sperm. Women who smoke take longer to conceive and are more likely to have a miscarriage or stillbirth. Stopping smoking can improve your chances of conceiving.
Improve your health
It doesn't matter how old you are, how much you smoke or how many years you've been a smoker – giving up can halt at least some of the damage. The heart can pump more blood – and oxygen – around the body with less effort.
Quitting particularly reduces the risk of a heart attack in people with other risk factors like being overweight or who have diabetes,high blood pressure or raised blood cholesterol levels.
As well as affecting your general health, quitting smoking can make a big difference to the way you look. Did you know that stopping smoking can benefit your skin? For a start, you’ll be getting rid of the yellow tar stains from your fingers and the smell of stale smoke from your hair. This will make a difference to how you look and how you feel.
"Folks say I’m looking a lot better. I’m not huffing and blowing."- Arthur, Aberdeen
Benefits to your skin
The benefits of stopping smoking to your appearance can be gained at any point in life, although, obviously, the earlier you think about stopping smoking, the greater the effect on your looks.
The myth that gets many teenagers to take up the habit in the first place – that smoking makes you look older – is sadly true when it comes to your skin.
Smoking reduces the amount of blood flowing to the skin and dries it out. Over time, this means it loses elasticity and gets more wrinkled.
Stopping smoking can have positive effects on your skin. You will improve your skin tone and colour. You're less likely to get wrinkles round your eyes and mouth from squinting when smoke gets in your eyes, and puckering up when you draw on a cigarette.
Quitting smoking lowers your chances of developing psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that can be extremely uncomfortable and disfiguring.
Benefits to your body
Quitting smoking has a good effect on your entire body.
Many smokers believe their habit help keeps their weight down. This is true to some extent. But did you know that smoking affects the shape of your body?
Smoking causes changes in the glands that secrete hormones so smokers store more body fat around their waist and upper torso than their hips. This means smokers are likely to have a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) than non-smokers. A high WHR is associated with a greater risk of developing:
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Gallbladder problems
• Cancer of the womb and breast in women
Quitting means your body can get back to normal and recover from the effects of smoking.
Benefits to your teeth
It's not just the look of your teeth that can be affected by smoking. Smoking makes it harder for saliva to remove germs in your mouth so you have more chance of getting gum disease, which can lead to premature tooth loss and bad breath. Stopping smoking means whiter teeth and a reduced risk of losing them – with fewer trips to the dentist too, with any luck.
Smoking is a costly habit in more ways than one. The financial cost of smoking should not be underestimated, and giving up can give you some immediate financial benefits.
Think about it, if you smoke an average 20-a-day, you will smoke 7,300 cigarettes a year. Even if you buy cheaper brands, that still means you spend at least £1,500 on cigarettes every year. So the cost of smoking really mounts up.
What could you buy with that? A holiday, maybe. Or a new wardrobe?
If you're a younger smoker, stopping could still mean you're around £8 per week better off. The average weekly cost of smoking for a teenager is roughly the same amount as the cost of a CD or DVD.
"It was 40 a day. It was £8, £9 a day, £60 a week. I realised it was the right time to do it."- Jeff, Dumfries
The cost of smoking
The cost of smoking can be a burden on your household budget. One survey found that if both you and your partner smoke, you could be spending as much as 15% of your income on tobacco.
There are other costs of smoking that you might not have thought about before. Some savings are less obvious:
• Long-term, because you're less at risk of developing a smoking-related disease or disability, you’re also less likely to need to take time off work from ill health, or have to retire early.
• You will pay less for insurance premiums.
• There is reduced risk of damage to your home from fire, and you will save money on cleaning and redecorating to get rid of nicotine stains and the smell of smoke.
You can use our Cost Calculator to work out how much smoking costs you and how quitting could add money to your bank account.
But it's not just you who stands to gain from stopping. Before the smoking ban came in, some calculations were done. It was found that every year Scottish employers lose:
• £450 million in productivity due to smoking
• £40 million from smoking-related absences
The cost of smoking also affects the NHS – £200 million a year in hospital care. Cigarettes and matches are a common cause of fire – several million pounds worth of fire damage to Scottish homes each year is the result of fires caused by cigarettes left burning. Although it is likely to reduce as a result of people giving up smoking and as a result of less people being exposed to second-hand smoke due to the smoking ban, the costs still remain high. Finally, cigarette ends, packets and matches are the most commonly found items of rubbish and therefore add to the cost of keeping our cities and towns tidy.
People who don't smoke still suffer the effects of passive smoking by breathing in 'second-hand smoke' from smokers' cigarettes. There may still be smoke particles in the air even if it doesn't seem smoky. One of the dangers of second-hand smoke is that particles from smoke in the air are smaller than in smoke drawn directly from a cigarette and can penetrate deeper into the lungs.
The effects of passive smoking or second-hand smoke include:
• Eye irritation
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Dizziness
• Nausea
"I think most people who do smoke want to give up. It’s very, very hard but I think there is a turning point for everyone. Mine just happened to be my grandson."- Bella, Edinburgh
The effects of passive smoking
A non-smoker who lives with a smoker may be exposed to about 1% of their tobacco smoke from passive smoking. This can increase their chances of developing lung cancer or dying from a heart attack. The same applies to people who work in a smoky atmosphere, which is why Scotland now has a ban on smoking in enclosed public places such as workplaces, pubs and restaurants.
You don't have to be a smoker to want to know the facts about cigarette smoking. You might be a parent or teacher keen to encourage young people not to start in the first place. Or perhaps you're an employer trying to reduce smoking at work by helping your staff quit. Or you may be trying to help your partner of a friend to stop smoking. The effect of smoking on other people looks at the dangers of second-hand smoke, whether at home, in the car.
The dangers of smoking
Most of us have a pretty good idea of what the dangers of smoking are and what it can do to people. You might, however, be surprised by some of the less obvious effects of smoking.
In this section, find out all about the effects of smoking on your health. Smoking can affect every part of your body. It can lead to both minor and major health problems. But do you know exactly what happens to your body when you smoke?
What happens when you smoke?
• When you smoke, less oxygen reaches your lungs. Nicotine, the addictive stuff, stimulates your central nervous system, making your heart beat faster and raising your blood pressure. Tar from cigarettes ends up in your lungs.
• Over time, smoking obstructs or narrows the small airways in the lungs and destroys the air sacs there. It clogs arteries and causes blood clots.
The health benefits of stopping
"I feel healthier. I taste my food better. I’m not breathless walking up that hill. I’ve got more money which I spend on nice clothes."- Shelagh, Inverclyde
Stopping smoking not only reduces the risk of getting serious smoking-related diseases, it means you're less likely to have other health problems, such as:
• Gum disease and bad breath
• Coughs and shortness of breath
• Colds and flu
• Mouth ulcers
• High blood pressure
• Asthma attacks
In the long-term, breaking the habit reduces the chances of you suffering from:
• Stroke
• Reduced vision
• Mouth and throat cancer
• Heart disease
• Emphysema and bronchitis
• Lung cancer
• Stomach ulcers
• Bladder cancer
• Infertility
• Peripheral vascular disease, which can lead to gangrene and amputation of limbs.
Some of the less well-known benefits of stopping smoking are that wounds and surgical incisions should heal more quickly. For women, the good news is that you're less likely to suffer painful periods and osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) once you've quit.
Thinking of starting a family? Men who smoke may suffer from impotence and produce less sperm. Women who smoke take longer to conceive and are more likely to have a miscarriage or stillbirth. Stopping smoking can improve your chances of conceiving.
Improve your health
It doesn't matter how old you are, how much you smoke or how many years you've been a smoker – giving up can halt at least some of the damage. The heart can pump more blood – and oxygen – around the body with less effort.
Quitting particularly reduces the risk of a heart attack in people with other risk factors like being overweight or who have diabetes,high blood pressure or raised blood cholesterol levels.
As well as affecting your general health, quitting smoking can make a big difference to the way you look. Did you know that stopping smoking can benefit your skin? For a start, you’ll be getting rid of the yellow tar stains from your fingers and the smell of stale smoke from your hair. This will make a difference to how you look and how you feel.
"Folks say I’m looking a lot better. I’m not huffing and blowing."- Arthur, Aberdeen
Benefits to your skin
The benefits of stopping smoking to your appearance can be gained at any point in life, although, obviously, the earlier you think about stopping smoking, the greater the effect on your looks.
The myth that gets many teenagers to take up the habit in the first place – that smoking makes you look older – is sadly true when it comes to your skin.
Smoking reduces the amount of blood flowing to the skin and dries it out. Over time, this means it loses elasticity and gets more wrinkled.
Stopping smoking can have positive effects on your skin. You will improve your skin tone and colour. You're less likely to get wrinkles round your eyes and mouth from squinting when smoke gets in your eyes, and puckering up when you draw on a cigarette.
Quitting smoking lowers your chances of developing psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that can be extremely uncomfortable and disfiguring.
Benefits to your body
Quitting smoking has a good effect on your entire body.
Many smokers believe their habit help keeps their weight down. This is true to some extent. But did you know that smoking affects the shape of your body?
Smoking causes changes in the glands that secrete hormones so smokers store more body fat around their waist and upper torso than their hips. This means smokers are likely to have a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) than non-smokers. A high WHR is associated with a greater risk of developing:
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Gallbladder problems
• Cancer of the womb and breast in women
Quitting means your body can get back to normal and recover from the effects of smoking.
Benefits to your teeth
It's not just the look of your teeth that can be affected by smoking. Smoking makes it harder for saliva to remove germs in your mouth so you have more chance of getting gum disease, which can lead to premature tooth loss and bad breath. Stopping smoking means whiter teeth and a reduced risk of losing them – with fewer trips to the dentist too, with any luck.
Smoking is a costly habit in more ways than one. The financial cost of smoking should not be underestimated, and giving up can give you some immediate financial benefits.
Think about it, if you smoke an average 20-a-day, you will smoke 7,300 cigarettes a year. Even if you buy cheaper brands, that still means you spend at least £1,500 on cigarettes every year. So the cost of smoking really mounts up.
What could you buy with that? A holiday, maybe. Or a new wardrobe?
If you're a younger smoker, stopping could still mean you're around £8 per week better off. The average weekly cost of smoking for a teenager is roughly the same amount as the cost of a CD or DVD.
"It was 40 a day. It was £8, £9 a day, £60 a week. I realised it was the right time to do it."- Jeff, Dumfries
The cost of smoking
The cost of smoking can be a burden on your household budget. One survey found that if both you and your partner smoke, you could be spending as much as 15% of your income on tobacco.
There are other costs of smoking that you might not have thought about before. Some savings are less obvious:
• Long-term, because you're less at risk of developing a smoking-related disease or disability, you’re also less likely to need to take time off work from ill health, or have to retire early.
• You will pay less for insurance premiums.
• There is reduced risk of damage to your home from fire, and you will save money on cleaning and redecorating to get rid of nicotine stains and the smell of smoke.
You can use our Cost Calculator to work out how much smoking costs you and how quitting could add money to your bank account.
But it's not just you who stands to gain from stopping. Before the smoking ban came in, some calculations were done. It was found that every year Scottish employers lose:
• £450 million in productivity due to smoking
• £40 million from smoking-related absences
The cost of smoking also affects the NHS – £200 million a year in hospital care. Cigarettes and matches are a common cause of fire – several million pounds worth of fire damage to Scottish homes each year is the result of fires caused by cigarettes left burning. Although it is likely to reduce as a result of people giving up smoking and as a result of less people being exposed to second-hand smoke due to the smoking ban, the costs still remain high. Finally, cigarette ends, packets and matches are the most commonly found items of rubbish and therefore add to the cost of keeping our cities and towns tidy.
People who don't smoke still suffer the effects of passive smoking by breathing in 'second-hand smoke' from smokers' cigarettes. There may still be smoke particles in the air even if it doesn't seem smoky. One of the dangers of second-hand smoke is that particles from smoke in the air are smaller than in smoke drawn directly from a cigarette and can penetrate deeper into the lungs.
The effects of passive smoking or second-hand smoke include:
• Eye irritation
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Dizziness
• Nausea
"I think most people who do smoke want to give up. It’s very, very hard but I think there is a turning point for everyone. Mine just happened to be my grandson."- Bella, Edinburgh
The effects of passive smoking
A non-smoker who lives with a smoker may be exposed to about 1% of their tobacco smoke from passive smoking. This can increase their chances of developing lung cancer or dying from a heart attack. The same applies to people who work in a smoky atmosphere, which is why Scotland now has a ban on smoking in enclosed public places such as workplaces, pubs and restaurants.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Why are men termed HONORABLE even by God?
You heard this before. Men are honorable. Do you know why? Here is an incident that will explain clearly...
Must Read for Every Man and of course Woman (to understand man)
If a female is reading this article then just realize the value of a man, and if its a male then feel proud of after reading it!
"One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree above a river, his axe fell into the river. When he cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, "Why are you crying?"
The woodcutter replied that his axe has fallen into water, and he needed the axe to make his living.
The Lord went down into the water and reappeared with a golden axe. "Is this your axe?" the Lord asked.
The woodcutter replied, "No."
The Lord again went down and came up with a silver Axe. "Is this your axe?" the Lord asked.
Again, the woodcutter replied, "No."
The Lord went down again and came up with an iron Axe. "Is this your axe?" the Lord asked.
The woodcutter replied, "Yes."
The Lord was pleased with the man's honesty and gave him all three axes to keep, and the woodcutter went home happy.
Some time later the woodcutter was walking with his wife along the riverbank, and his wife fell into the river. When he cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
"Oh Lord, my wife has fallen into the water!"
The Lord went down into the water and came up with ANGELINA JOLIE "Is this your wife?" the Lord asked.
"Yes," cried the woodcutter.
The Lord was furious. "You lied! That is an untruth!"
The woodcutter replied, "Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding.
You see, if I had said 'no' to ANGELINA JOLIE , You would have come up with CAMERON DIAZ . Then if I said 'no' to her, you would have come up with my wife. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three.
Lord, I am a poor man, and am not able to take care of all three wives, so THAT'S why I said yes to ANGELINA JOLIE ."
The moral of this story is: Whenever a man lies, it is for a good and honorable reason, and for the benefit of others.
That's our story, and we're sticking to it! - "WE ARE HONORABLE MEN!"
Must Read for Every Man and of course Woman (to understand man)
If a female is reading this article then just realize the value of a man, and if its a male then feel proud of after reading it!
"One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree above a river, his axe fell into the river. When he cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, "Why are you crying?"
The woodcutter replied that his axe has fallen into water, and he needed the axe to make his living.
The Lord went down into the water and reappeared with a golden axe. "Is this your axe?" the Lord asked.
The woodcutter replied, "No."
The Lord again went down and came up with a silver Axe. "Is this your axe?" the Lord asked.
Again, the woodcutter replied, "No."
The Lord went down again and came up with an iron Axe. "Is this your axe?" the Lord asked.
The woodcutter replied, "Yes."
The Lord was pleased with the man's honesty and gave him all three axes to keep, and the woodcutter went home happy.
Some time later the woodcutter was walking with his wife along the riverbank, and his wife fell into the river. When he cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
"Oh Lord, my wife has fallen into the water!"
The Lord went down into the water and came up with ANGELINA JOLIE "Is this your wife?" the Lord asked.
"Yes," cried the woodcutter.
The Lord was furious. "You lied! That is an untruth!"
The woodcutter replied, "Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding.
You see, if I had said 'no' to ANGELINA JOLIE , You would have come up with CAMERON DIAZ . Then if I said 'no' to her, you would have come up with my wife. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three.
Lord, I am a poor man, and am not able to take care of all three wives, so THAT'S why I said yes to ANGELINA JOLIE ."
The moral of this story is: Whenever a man lies, it is for a good and honorable reason, and for the benefit of others.
That's our story, and we're sticking to it! - "WE ARE HONORABLE MEN!"
Did anyone tell you that car names have no meaning?
Who said car names don't have meaning ?
BMW: Brings Me Women.
FIAT: Failure in Italian Automotive Technology.
FORD: For Only Rough Drivers.
HYUNDAI: Hope You Understand Nothing's Drivable And Inexpensive....
VOLVO: Very Odd Looking Vehicular Object.
PORSCHE: Proof Of Rich Spoiled Children Having Everything.
KIA: Kills In Accidents
OPEL: Old People Enjoying Life
TOYOTA: The One You Only Trust, Always.
GOLF/GTI: Girls Only Love Fun / Get Them Inside
HONDA: Hanged Over, Now Driving Away.
BMW: Brings Me Women.
FIAT: Failure in Italian Automotive Technology.
FORD: For Only Rough Drivers.
HYUNDAI: Hope You Understand Nothing's Drivable And Inexpensive....
VOLVO: Very Odd Looking Vehicular Object.
PORSCHE: Proof Of Rich Spoiled Children Having Everything.
KIA: Kills In Accidents
OPEL: Old People Enjoying Life
TOYOTA: The One You Only Trust, Always.
GOLF/GTI: Girls Only Love Fun / Get Them Inside
HONDA: Hanged Over, Now Driving Away.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Are you just a friend or potential boyfriend for her???
Before asking a girl out, knowing whether she sees you as ‘just a friend’ or a ‘potential boyfriend’ can help a great deal. Here are the signs to watch out for
But what if she doesn’t see me ‘that’ way?’ is a guy’s perpetual query. And women, with their read-me-if-you-can approach, make it difficult for men who are no mind-readers. Most men would rather look for someone who’s ‘interested’ than pursue a girl for whom they are nothing more than a late-night chauffer. So how do you know whether a girl considers you just a strong shoulder to cry on, or something more? Youngsters Anisha Ghurye, Smita Padmanabhan, Nandini Sharma, Kshitij Barot, Tulika Sodera and Suresh Petkar helps you decode the signals. Here goes:
YOU ARE JUST A FRIEND IF…
You know her embarrassing moments
Yes, she looks hot when she dresses up. But if she doesn’t mind meeting you in a decade-old ganji, looking distinctly unsexy, well, you are not the one she dresses up specially for. She will allow you to see her in all her moods and has no qualms in discussing womanly issues with her girlfriends even when you are around.
She doesn’t laugh at your jokes
If you cannot make the girl laugh, forget any relationship with her. No girl wants to end up with a guy who consistently throws bouncers that go straight above her head. It needn’t mean you get a joke book. It only means that your sense of humour is different from hers, and the fact that she doesn’t appreciate yours shows that you arejust a friend.
She cancels on you, all the time
Everything seems to be more important than you — from the beauty parlour appointment to the dog’s monthly vet visit. When it comes to the priority graph, you stand in the negative. Bottom line: if her favourite line is ‘Relax, we can always go later’ then, my friend, you are just a you-know-what.
She’s isn’t refined for you
Even the cattiest woman would act like Audrey Hepburn in front of guys she sees as potential boyfriends. But, if this girl gives you an unedited lowdown or her bitch-a-thon sessions, sorry dude, you arejust a friend, someone who she expects to listen and nod in agreement.
A POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND IF…
She touches…often
But wait, the million-dollar word here is ‘how’. If she loves pulling your hair and punching your shoulder, ahem, sorry strong boy, you arejust a friend . To ascertain if you are a potential, go for finer details. If she doesn’t mind casually patting your thighs, running her hands in your hair and insists on giving you a neck massage, get the hint.
She doesn’t discuss guys with you
If you are a potential, very rarely, you would hear of guys who she likes. Or, she might also start ‘toning down’ details. That candlelight dinner will turn into ‘just a quick bite’ and that hunk who reminds her of things she would want to do to George Clooney will be mentioned as someone ‘Ok looking’.
She doesn’t correct you
If your mentioning Bihar as the capital of Patna doesn’t evoke a response, either she is indifferent or she might see you as a boyfriend. Meaning, a girl who sees you ‘that’ way will try her best to agree with whatever you say (the correcting part comes later, remember?) If your occasional grammatical errors are overlooked, go boy, go!
She praises you often
No matter what you do, she seems to ‘like’ it, from that rugged T-shirt to that 'witty' offhand remark you made. Her praising you more often signals that she wouldn’t mind being more than just friends. You feel women score low on logic, but they know exactly what’s needed to massage the male ego.
But what if she doesn’t see me ‘that’ way?’ is a guy’s perpetual query. And women, with their read-me-if-you-can approach, make it difficult for men who are no mind-readers. Most men would rather look for someone who’s ‘interested’ than pursue a girl for whom they are nothing more than a late-night chauffer. So how do you know whether a girl considers you just a strong shoulder to cry on, or something more? Youngsters Anisha Ghurye, Smita Padmanabhan, Nandini Sharma, Kshitij Barot, Tulika Sodera and Suresh Petkar helps you decode the signals. Here goes:
YOU ARE JUST A FRIEND IF…
You know her embarrassing moments
Yes, she looks hot when she dresses up. But if she doesn’t mind meeting you in a decade-old ganji, looking distinctly unsexy, well, you are not the one she dresses up specially for. She will allow you to see her in all her moods and has no qualms in discussing womanly issues with her girlfriends even when you are around.
She doesn’t laugh at your jokes
If you cannot make the girl laugh, forget any relationship with her. No girl wants to end up with a guy who consistently throws bouncers that go straight above her head. It needn’t mean you get a joke book. It only means that your sense of humour is different from hers, and the fact that she doesn’t appreciate yours shows that you arejust a friend.
She cancels on you, all the time
Everything seems to be more important than you — from the beauty parlour appointment to the dog’s monthly vet visit. When it comes to the priority graph, you stand in the negative. Bottom line: if her favourite line is ‘Relax, we can always go later’ then, my friend, you are just a you-know-what.
She’s isn’t refined for you
Even the cattiest woman would act like Audrey Hepburn in front of guys she sees as potential boyfriends. But, if this girl gives you an unedited lowdown or her bitch-a-thon sessions, sorry dude, you arejust a friend, someone who she expects to listen and nod in agreement.
A POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND IF…
She touches…often
But wait, the million-dollar word here is ‘how’. If she loves pulling your hair and punching your shoulder, ahem, sorry strong boy, you arejust a friend . To ascertain if you are a potential, go for finer details. If she doesn’t mind casually patting your thighs, running her hands in your hair and insists on giving you a neck massage, get the hint.
She doesn’t discuss guys with you
If you are a potential, very rarely, you would hear of guys who she likes. Or, she might also start ‘toning down’ details. That candlelight dinner will turn into ‘just a quick bite’ and that hunk who reminds her of things she would want to do to George Clooney will be mentioned as someone ‘Ok looking’.
She doesn’t correct you
If your mentioning Bihar as the capital of Patna doesn’t evoke a response, either she is indifferent or she might see you as a boyfriend. Meaning, a girl who sees you ‘that’ way will try her best to agree with whatever you say (the correcting part comes later, remember?) If your occasional grammatical errors are overlooked, go boy, go!
She praises you often
No matter what you do, she seems to ‘like’ it, from that rugged T-shirt to that 'witty' offhand remark you made. Her praising you more often signals that she wouldn’t mind being more than just friends. You feel women score low on logic, but they know exactly what’s needed to massage the male ego.
What to do if you have lost your mobile cellphone
It is so easy to identify your mobile phone. It has a unique number. Read ...
After reading this post, please preserve the IMEI number in a notepad and send to your mail address so that it will be permanently with you.
An IMEI number-The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is an international identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.
How can I find out my IMEI number? IMEI numbers are independent of the phone number and are usually written underneath the battery or on the back of the handset. Mobile phone users can also check their 15 digit IMEI number by dialing *#06# on their mobile handset. Mobile phone owners should make a note of their IMEI number and keep the details in a safe place.
After reading this post, please preserve the IMEI number in a notepad and send to your mail address so that it will be permanently with you.
An IMEI number-The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is an international identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.
How can I find out my IMEI number? IMEI numbers are independent of the phone number and are usually written underneath the battery or on the back of the handset. Mobile phone users can also check their 15 digit IMEI number by dialing *#06# on their mobile handset. Mobile phone owners should make a note of their IMEI number and keep the details in a safe place.
Interesting facts about THE RICHEST INDIAN IN THE WORLD!
MUKESH AMBANI -- He presides over RELIANCE and his collosal empire! Here are some facts about the man that will surprise you...
Here are some facts about the Reliance Head Mr Mukesh Ambani which could make a person from a middle class family feel more close to him. After all you can't expect to see the richest Indian man enjoying fast food on a roadside stall... amazed read on.
* He likes very basic food of every indian - Dal Chawal, roti, sabzi etc.
And he will eat anywhere, roadside stall or posh restaurant as far as the food is tasty.
* He is a vegetarian. His favourite place is Mysore Cafe at Matunga, Mumbai. He loves paanki from Swati Snacks a restaurant at Tardeo.
* When he has guests coming home, he enquires what they would like to have and asks it to be prepared. And he always serves a special dish with his own hands to his guests.
* Nita Ambani practices her classical dance everyday and he can't resist watching her dance!
* He has either his Father's photo or the family photo with his parents and siblings in every room of his house.
* He spends his Sundays with his mother and children. He loves watching movies and never misses one. His friends take his words about the verdict of a film (whether it'll be a hit or flop), and they claim he is hardly wrong anytime.
* He never celebrated his birthday except his 50th one at the Jamnagar plant with his employees. But spends huge time planning wife's birthday bashes and presents. He believes that the best celebrations are only with family.
* He never leaves home without praying.
* His colleagues claim they have never seen him shouting or lose his temper.
* He wakes up very late in morning around 10.30
* He loves cars especially British. Always owned executive cars like Mercedes, Bently and Maybach.
* He wears clothes very similar to his dad; white shirt and dark coloured trousers. He has no knowledge of brands. If asked he says, "I wear anything which fits me".
* He reaches office at noon and works till midnight.
* He loves old Hindi songs and spends Sundays listening to them.
* He makes it a point to shake hands with each of his son's friends whenever they come home.
* He loves to chat and can go on for hours.
* He loves to take long walks. He often takes his colleagues along and then begin the brainstorming sessions.
Here are some facts about the Reliance Head Mr Mukesh Ambani which could make a person from a middle class family feel more close to him. After all you can't expect to see the richest Indian man enjoying fast food on a roadside stall... amazed read on.
* He likes very basic food of every indian - Dal Chawal, roti, sabzi etc.
And he will eat anywhere, roadside stall or posh restaurant as far as the food is tasty.
* He is a vegetarian. His favourite place is Mysore Cafe at Matunga, Mumbai. He loves paanki from Swati Snacks a restaurant at Tardeo.
* When he has guests coming home, he enquires what they would like to have and asks it to be prepared. And he always serves a special dish with his own hands to his guests.
* Nita Ambani practices her classical dance everyday and he can't resist watching her dance!
* He has either his Father's photo or the family photo with his parents and siblings in every room of his house.
* He spends his Sundays with his mother and children. He loves watching movies and never misses one. His friends take his words about the verdict of a film (whether it'll be a hit or flop), and they claim he is hardly wrong anytime.
* He never celebrated his birthday except his 50th one at the Jamnagar plant with his employees. But spends huge time planning wife's birthday bashes and presents. He believes that the best celebrations are only with family.
* He never leaves home without praying.
* His colleagues claim they have never seen him shouting or lose his temper.
* He wakes up very late in morning around 10.30
* He loves cars especially British. Always owned executive cars like Mercedes, Bently and Maybach.
* He wears clothes very similar to his dad; white shirt and dark coloured trousers. He has no knowledge of brands. If asked he says, "I wear anything which fits me".
* He reaches office at noon and works till midnight.
* He loves old Hindi songs and spends Sundays listening to them.
* He makes it a point to shake hands with each of his son's friends whenever they come home.
* He loves to chat and can go on for hours.
* He loves to take long walks. He often takes his colleagues along and then begin the brainstorming sessions.
LCD versus PLASMA TVs
You want to buy the latest television and cannot decide on whether you want to go for LCD or the Plasma...read further.
As far as looks are concerned, both LCD & Plasma almost look similar at least to layman. But the fact is that both of them apply very different technologies to give you the desired picture quality. Plasma TV Overview Plasma television technology is based loosely on the fluorescent light bulb. The display itself consists of cells. Within each cell two glass panels are separated by a narrow gap in which neon-xenon gas is injected and sealed in plasma form during the manufacturing process. The gas is electrically charged at specific intervals when the Plasma set is in use. The charged gas then strikes red, green, and blue phosphors, thus creating a television image. Each group of red, green, and blue phosphors is called a pixel (picture element). Although Plasma television technology eliminate the need for the bulky picture tube and electron beam scanning of traditional televisions, because it still employs the burning of phosphors to generate an image, Plasma televisions still suffer from some of the drawbacks of traditional televisions, such as heat generation and screen-burn of static images.
LCD TV Overview LCD televisions, on the other hand, use a different technology. Basically, LCD panels are made of two layers of transparent material, which are polarized, and are "glued" together. One of the layers is coated with a special polymer that holds the individual liquid crystals. Current is then passed through individual crystals, which allow the crystals to pass or block light to create images. LCD crystals do not produce their own light, so an external light source, such as florescent bulb is needed for the image created by the LCD to become visible to the viewer. Unlike standard CRT and Plasma televisions, since there are no phosphors that light up, less power is needed for operation and the light source in an LCD television generates less heat than a Plasma or traditional television. Also, because of the nature of LCD technology, there is no radiation emitted from the screen itself.
Plasma vs LCD The ADVANTAGES of Plasma over LCD are:
1. Larger screen size availability.
2. Better contrast ratio and ability to render deeper blacks.
3. Better color accuracy and saturation.
4. Better motion tracking (little or no motion lag in fast moving images).
The DISADVANTAGES of Plasma vs LCD include:
1. Plasma TVs are more susceptible to burn-in of static images.
2. Plasma TVs generate more heat than LCDs, due to the need to light of phosphors to create the images.
3. Does not perform as well at higher altitudes.
4. Potentially shorter display life span - this used to be the case. Early Plasmas had 30,000 hours or 8 hrs of viewing a day for 9 years, which was less than LCD. However, screen life span has now improved and 60,000 hour life span rating are now common, with some sets rated as high as 100,000 hours, due to technology improvements.
LCD television ADVANTAGES over Plasma include:
1. No burn-in of static images.
2. Cooler running temperature.
3. No high altitude use issues.
4. Increased image brightness over Plasma.
5. Lighter weight (when comparing same screen sizes) than Plasma counterparts.
6. Longer display life used to be a factor, but now LCD and Plasma sets both have at least 60,000 hour or higher life spans.
DISADVANTAGES of LCD vs Plasma televisions include:
1. Lower contrast ratio, not as good rendering deep blacks.
2. Not as good at tracking motion (fast moving objects may exhibit lag artifacts) - However, this is improving with the recent implementation of 120Hz screen refresh rates and 240Hz processing in higher-end LCD sets.
3. Not as common in large screen sizes above 42-inches as Plasma. However, the number is growing fast, with 46 and 47-inch screen sizes becoming more common, and some LCD sets having a screen size as large as 65-inches also available to the general public.
4. Although LCD televisions do not suffer from burn-in susceptibility, it is possible that individual pixels on an LCD televisions can burn out, causing small, visible, black or white dots to appear on the screen. Individual pixels cannot be repaired, the whole screen would need to be replaced at that point, if the individual pixel burnout becomes annoying to you.
5. LCD televisions are typically more expensive than equivalent-sized Plasma televisions (although this is changing), especially when comparing EDTV Plasmas to HDTV-LCD Televisions.
You can get the latest tv at auction prices here at http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=1&campid=5335828046&toolid=10001&customid=
As far as looks are concerned, both LCD & Plasma almost look similar at least to layman. But the fact is that both of them apply very different technologies to give you the desired picture quality. Plasma TV Overview Plasma television technology is based loosely on the fluorescent light bulb. The display itself consists of cells. Within each cell two glass panels are separated by a narrow gap in which neon-xenon gas is injected and sealed in plasma form during the manufacturing process. The gas is electrically charged at specific intervals when the Plasma set is in use. The charged gas then strikes red, green, and blue phosphors, thus creating a television image. Each group of red, green, and blue phosphors is called a pixel (picture element). Although Plasma television technology eliminate the need for the bulky picture tube and electron beam scanning of traditional televisions, because it still employs the burning of phosphors to generate an image, Plasma televisions still suffer from some of the drawbacks of traditional televisions, such as heat generation and screen-burn of static images.
LCD TV Overview LCD televisions, on the other hand, use a different technology. Basically, LCD panels are made of two layers of transparent material, which are polarized, and are "glued" together. One of the layers is coated with a special polymer that holds the individual liquid crystals. Current is then passed through individual crystals, which allow the crystals to pass or block light to create images. LCD crystals do not produce their own light, so an external light source, such as florescent bulb is needed for the image created by the LCD to become visible to the viewer. Unlike standard CRT and Plasma televisions, since there are no phosphors that light up, less power is needed for operation and the light source in an LCD television generates less heat than a Plasma or traditional television. Also, because of the nature of LCD technology, there is no radiation emitted from the screen itself.
Plasma vs LCD The ADVANTAGES of Plasma over LCD are:
1. Larger screen size availability.
2. Better contrast ratio and ability to render deeper blacks.
3. Better color accuracy and saturation.
4. Better motion tracking (little or no motion lag in fast moving images).
The DISADVANTAGES of Plasma vs LCD include:
1. Plasma TVs are more susceptible to burn-in of static images.
2. Plasma TVs generate more heat than LCDs, due to the need to light of phosphors to create the images.
3. Does not perform as well at higher altitudes.
4. Potentially shorter display life span - this used to be the case. Early Plasmas had 30,000 hours or 8 hrs of viewing a day for 9 years, which was less than LCD. However, screen life span has now improved and 60,000 hour life span rating are now common, with some sets rated as high as 100,000 hours, due to technology improvements.
LCD television ADVANTAGES over Plasma include:
1. No burn-in of static images.
2. Cooler running temperature.
3. No high altitude use issues.
4. Increased image brightness over Plasma.
5. Lighter weight (when comparing same screen sizes) than Plasma counterparts.
6. Longer display life used to be a factor, but now LCD and Plasma sets both have at least 60,000 hour or higher life spans.
DISADVANTAGES of LCD vs Plasma televisions include:
1. Lower contrast ratio, not as good rendering deep blacks.
2. Not as good at tracking motion (fast moving objects may exhibit lag artifacts) - However, this is improving with the recent implementation of 120Hz screen refresh rates and 240Hz processing in higher-end LCD sets.
3. Not as common in large screen sizes above 42-inches as Plasma. However, the number is growing fast, with 46 and 47-inch screen sizes becoming more common, and some LCD sets having a screen size as large as 65-inches also available to the general public.
4. Although LCD televisions do not suffer from burn-in susceptibility, it is possible that individual pixels on an LCD televisions can burn out, causing small, visible, black or white dots to appear on the screen. Individual pixels cannot be repaired, the whole screen would need to be replaced at that point, if the individual pixel burnout becomes annoying to you.
5. LCD televisions are typically more expensive than equivalent-sized Plasma televisions (although this is changing), especially when comparing EDTV Plasmas to HDTV-LCD Televisions.
You can get the latest tv at auction prices here at http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=1&campid=5335828046&toolid=10001&customid=
How much vitamins are you taking every day?
Vitamins and minerals are essential for the maintenance of good health and the prevention of a number of diseases. In this article we look at the properties of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, and common food sources.
Types of vitamins
There are two types of vitamins:
• water-soluble vitamins B and C
• fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body, so you need to get them from food every day. They can be destroyed by overcooking.
Vitamins and minerals are found in a wide variety of foods and a balanced diet should provide you with the quantities you need.
Vitamin A (retinol)
This vitamin is essential for growth and healthy skin and hair. It is a powerful antioxidant that plays a key role in the body's immune system. Vitamin A is found in the following animal products:
• milk, butter, cheese and eggs
• chicken, kidney, liver, liver pate
• fish oils, mackerel, trout, herring.
Another source of vitamin A is a substance called beta-carotene. This is converted by the body into vitamin A. It is found in orange, yellow and green vegetables and fruits.
Vitamin B Complex
The complex of B vitamins includes the following group of substances:
• B1 - thiamine
• B2 - riboflavin
• B3 - nicotinic acid
• B6 - pyridoxine
• B12 - cobalamin
• folate - folic acid.
The body requires relatively small amounts of vitamins B1, B2 and B3.
Vitamins B6 and B12 help the body to use folic acid and are vital nutrients in a range of activities such as cell repair, digestion, the production of energy and in the immune system. Vitamin B12 is also needed for the breakdown of fat and carbohydrate. Deficiency of either vitamin will result in anaemia.
Vitamin B6 is found in most foods, so deficiency is rare.
The best dietary sources of the B vitamins, especially B12, are:
• animal products (meat, poultry)
• yeast extracts (brewers' yeast, Marmite).
Other good sources include:
• asparagus, broccoli, spinach, bananas, potatoes
• dried apricots, dates and figs
• milk, eggs, cheese, yoghurt
• nuts and pulses
• fish
• brown rice, wheat germ, wholegrain cereals
Dietary sources of vitamin B6 are similar to those for vitamin B12 and also include avocado, herring, salmon, sunflower seeds and walnuts.
Folic acid (folate)
Folic acid works closely in the body with vitamin B12. It is vital for the production of healthy blood cells.
Lack of folic acid is one of the main causes of anaemia, particularly in people whose diet is generally poor. Vitamins B6 and B12 help the body use folate, so are often given alongside folic acid supplements.
In pregnancy, low folate levels increase the risk of the baby's spinal cord system not developing completely (spina bifida). All women are now advised to take folic acid supplements in the first three months of pregnancy and preferably before conception.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most potent antioxidant vitamins.
We need vitamin C for growth, healthy body tissue, wound repair and an efficient immune system. In addition, it's thought vitamin C can reduce cholesterol levels and regulate your blood pressure and your body's absorption of iron.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are the main source of vitamin C - eating your five a day will easily meet the body's needs.
Too much vitamin C can result in a sensitive, irritable stomach and mouth ulcers.
Vitamin C content of foods - an adult needs 60mg a day
Food Serving size Amount of vitamin C
Strawberries 1 bowl 70-120mg
Kiwi fruit 1 fruit 50mg
Steamed broccoli 1 serving (80g) 50mg
Orange 1 large 70mg
Mango and passion fruit smoothie 250ml glass/bottle 48mg
Frozen peas, cooked 1 serving (85g) 17mg
Vitamin D (calciferol)
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth. It helps the body to absorb calcium.
The action of sunlight on the skin enables the body to manufacture vitamin D - even on a cloudy day. For this reason, most people will get enough vitamin D through their everyday activities.
Foods rich in vitamin D are oily fish, liver, cod liver oil and dairy products.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is important in cell maintenance and also plays an active role in the maintenance of a healthy heart, blood and circulation. It is one of the body's main antioxidants.
The following foods are rich in vitamin E:
• avocados, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, watercress, brussels sprouts
• blackberries, mangoes
• corn oil, olive oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil
• mackerel, salmon
• nuts, wholemeal and wholegrain products
• soft margarine.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is involved in the blood clotting process and in the maintenance of strong bones. It is found in small quantities in meat, most vegetables and wholegrain cereals.
Your body also makes vitamin K in the large intestine, through the activity of 'healthy bacteria'. For this reason, there is no recommended daily amount.
These bacteria are also referred to as the gut flora. They form part of our defence against more harmful organisms.
Diets rich in fatty and sugary foods can adversely change the balance of the gut flora, as can the additives and pesticides that are often a part of modern food production.
Types of vitamins
There are two types of vitamins:
• water-soluble vitamins B and C
• fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body, so you need to get them from food every day. They can be destroyed by overcooking.
Vitamins and minerals are found in a wide variety of foods and a balanced diet should provide you with the quantities you need.
Vitamin A (retinol)
This vitamin is essential for growth and healthy skin and hair. It is a powerful antioxidant that plays a key role in the body's immune system. Vitamin A is found in the following animal products:
• milk, butter, cheese and eggs
• chicken, kidney, liver, liver pate
• fish oils, mackerel, trout, herring.
Another source of vitamin A is a substance called beta-carotene. This is converted by the body into vitamin A. It is found in orange, yellow and green vegetables and fruits.
Vitamin B Complex
The complex of B vitamins includes the following group of substances:
• B1 - thiamine
• B2 - riboflavin
• B3 - nicotinic acid
• B6 - pyridoxine
• B12 - cobalamin
• folate - folic acid.
The body requires relatively small amounts of vitamins B1, B2 and B3.
Vitamins B6 and B12 help the body to use folic acid and are vital nutrients in a range of activities such as cell repair, digestion, the production of energy and in the immune system. Vitamin B12 is also needed for the breakdown of fat and carbohydrate. Deficiency of either vitamin will result in anaemia.
Vitamin B6 is found in most foods, so deficiency is rare.
The best dietary sources of the B vitamins, especially B12, are:
• animal products (meat, poultry)
• yeast extracts (brewers' yeast, Marmite).
Other good sources include:
• asparagus, broccoli, spinach, bananas, potatoes
• dried apricots, dates and figs
• milk, eggs, cheese, yoghurt
• nuts and pulses
• fish
• brown rice, wheat germ, wholegrain cereals
Dietary sources of vitamin B6 are similar to those for vitamin B12 and also include avocado, herring, salmon, sunflower seeds and walnuts.
Folic acid (folate)
Folic acid works closely in the body with vitamin B12. It is vital for the production of healthy blood cells.
Lack of folic acid is one of the main causes of anaemia, particularly in people whose diet is generally poor. Vitamins B6 and B12 help the body use folate, so are often given alongside folic acid supplements.
In pregnancy, low folate levels increase the risk of the baby's spinal cord system not developing completely (spina bifida). All women are now advised to take folic acid supplements in the first three months of pregnancy and preferably before conception.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most potent antioxidant vitamins.
We need vitamin C for growth, healthy body tissue, wound repair and an efficient immune system. In addition, it's thought vitamin C can reduce cholesterol levels and regulate your blood pressure and your body's absorption of iron.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are the main source of vitamin C - eating your five a day will easily meet the body's needs.
Too much vitamin C can result in a sensitive, irritable stomach and mouth ulcers.
Vitamin C content of foods - an adult needs 60mg a day
Food Serving size Amount of vitamin C
Strawberries 1 bowl 70-120mg
Kiwi fruit 1 fruit 50mg
Steamed broccoli 1 serving (80g) 50mg
Orange 1 large 70mg
Mango and passion fruit smoothie 250ml glass/bottle 48mg
Frozen peas, cooked 1 serving (85g) 17mg
Vitamin D (calciferol)
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth. It helps the body to absorb calcium.
The action of sunlight on the skin enables the body to manufacture vitamin D - even on a cloudy day. For this reason, most people will get enough vitamin D through their everyday activities.
Foods rich in vitamin D are oily fish, liver, cod liver oil and dairy products.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is important in cell maintenance and also plays an active role in the maintenance of a healthy heart, blood and circulation. It is one of the body's main antioxidants.
The following foods are rich in vitamin E:
• avocados, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, watercress, brussels sprouts
• blackberries, mangoes
• corn oil, olive oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil
• mackerel, salmon
• nuts, wholemeal and wholegrain products
• soft margarine.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is involved in the blood clotting process and in the maintenance of strong bones. It is found in small quantities in meat, most vegetables and wholegrain cereals.
Your body also makes vitamin K in the large intestine, through the activity of 'healthy bacteria'. For this reason, there is no recommended daily amount.
These bacteria are also referred to as the gut flora. They form part of our defence against more harmful organisms.
Diets rich in fatty and sugary foods can adversely change the balance of the gut flora, as can the additives and pesticides that are often a part of modern food production.
Construct your bedrooms with Vastu (Indian Feng Shui)
Since we are spending one-third of our lives in the bedrooms, its location is of utmost importance. Spending close to eight hours a day in the area, the inherent properties of different zones work on out subconscious mind and mould out actions accordingly. To regulate our lives and mammies the positive results adherence to Vastu principles is essential.
Different zones have been demarcated for the bedrooms of all family members. Avoid having bedrooms in the North-East and South-East corners of the house. A bedroom in North-East gives loss of wealth, obstruction in all works, delay in marriage of daughter, when parents sleep in North-East, they become very easy to influence. The lose their identify and power of discretion. The bedroom of the master of the house should be in South West only. A south-West Bedroom located in the earth zone gives stability. Fair judgment and inner strength to deal with important issues. The room in south-West can be used by the master of the house or by the eldest so. Central South can also be used by the eldest son. Elderly people feel comfortable in the South-West. in families, where the grandfather has a big say in the business and family matters it is found that they invariably have their bedrooms in South-West of the house.
A Bedroom in South-East gives rise to sleeplessness, worries and marital problems. Couples drift apart. It the head of the family is in South-East, he is found to be constantly embroiled in disputes. Agneya (South-East) is ruled by Agni or fire which relates to assertiveness and aggressive attitude. As Fire is predominant in this sector, It would be wise for couples to stay away from this zone. Shy and timid children can use this room and get plenty of confidence.
People who are by nature aggressive and quarrelsome can avoid this room. Newly married couples should avoid this room. This is not a good zone for pregnant ladies
Vayavya (Noth-West) is ruled by Vayu or Air. This sector relates to movement or transit. This is a good zone for placement of marriageable daughter’s bedroom. North-West bedroom is also recommended for newly weds and for couples planning to have a baby. Avoid bedrooms for children in this zone as the lord of this zone is Vayu or wind-god. The inherent property of wind is constant movement. Children will become hyperactive and lack concentration if placed in North-West. This is a good zone for having the guest room.
Bedroom should not be in the central portion of the house. Brahmasthan attracts a lot of energy which I not conducive to the main objective of a bedroom providing rest, peace and tranquility.
Different zones have been demarcated for the bedrooms of all family members. Avoid having bedrooms in the North-East and South-East corners of the house. A bedroom in North-East gives loss of wealth, obstruction in all works, delay in marriage of daughter, when parents sleep in North-East, they become very easy to influence. The lose their identify and power of discretion. The bedroom of the master of the house should be in South West only. A south-West Bedroom located in the earth zone gives stability. Fair judgment and inner strength to deal with important issues. The room in south-West can be used by the master of the house or by the eldest so. Central South can also be used by the eldest son. Elderly people feel comfortable in the South-West. in families, where the grandfather has a big say in the business and family matters it is found that they invariably have their bedrooms in South-West of the house.
A Bedroom in South-East gives rise to sleeplessness, worries and marital problems. Couples drift apart. It the head of the family is in South-East, he is found to be constantly embroiled in disputes. Agneya (South-East) is ruled by Agni or fire which relates to assertiveness and aggressive attitude. As Fire is predominant in this sector, It would be wise for couples to stay away from this zone. Shy and timid children can use this room and get plenty of confidence.
People who are by nature aggressive and quarrelsome can avoid this room. Newly married couples should avoid this room. This is not a good zone for pregnant ladies
Vayavya (Noth-West) is ruled by Vayu or Air. This sector relates to movement or transit. This is a good zone for placement of marriageable daughter’s bedroom. North-West bedroom is also recommended for newly weds and for couples planning to have a baby. Avoid bedrooms for children in this zone as the lord of this zone is Vayu or wind-god. The inherent property of wind is constant movement. Children will become hyperactive and lack concentration if placed in North-West. This is a good zone for having the guest room.
Bedroom should not be in the central portion of the house. Brahmasthan attracts a lot of energy which I not conducive to the main objective of a bedroom providing rest, peace and tranquility.
Your handwriting reveals your personality
Graphology is the scientific study and analysis of handwriting which depicts a person's personality. It may open the ways to many unexplored areas for anyone. But handwriting must be studied taking into consideration the size and slant of letters, word spacing, line spacing the way zones are used, pressure and margins applied. Here's how...
The Script Size
Small
People with a small handwriting are meticulous, observant, reserved and restrained. They are mentally alert but tend to lack self confidence.
Large - People with a large handwriting are bold and aggressive. They are ambitious, enthusiastic and extroverts. But they lack concentration and discipline.
Moderate - People with a moderate handwriting are conservative, conventional and traditional, practical and realistic. They are honest, sincere and pretty adaptable.
Variable - People who keep changing their handwriting are moody and hot-tempered, generally indecisive. Sometimes they might be naïve, immature and unpredictable.
The slant factor
Extreme Right Slant - This pattern indicates insecurity and impulsiveness. Such people are sensitive, possessive and intense. At times they are unrestrained and capable of hysteria.
Extreme Left Slant - This pattern indicates a repressed childhood and a fear of life. They are emotionally withdrawn, apprehensive of intimacy and defensive.
Vertical Slant - This handwriting is an indicator of independent, self controlled, self restrained and self reliant. Their head controls heart.
Irregular Slant - This pattern makes extremely sensitive, moody, thoughtful, erratic, unpredictable and versatile people.
Spacing between the words
Closely Spaced Letters - These people are repressed, scared, selfish, hostile and inhibited. They are resentful and not very adjusting in nature.
Widely Spaced Letters - These people are generally sympathetic, humane and considerate.
Evenly Spaced Words - These people are reasonable, self confident and amiable. They are well balanced and non adventurous.
Unevenly Spaced Words - These people are insecure and spontaneous; with a changeable social attitude and gullible.
Spacing between the lines
Evenly Spaced Lines - Such people are well balanced in their attitude. They are harmonious and flexible.
Widely Spaced Lines - Such people are good mannered but fearful of intimacy. They are suspicious, spontaneous and hostile in their behaviour.
Narrowly Spaced Lines - Such people are thrifty and frugal. They fear isolation but are generally very creative.
Unevenly Spaced Lines - Such people are moody and quick-tempered, indecisive, inconsistent, naive and immature and unpredictable.
Zooming on zones
Different Zones
1. Upper zone: determines intellect, imagination, ambition & spiritualism.
2. Middle zone: determines routine actions, social work, instant matters.
3. Lower zone: determines desires.
Upper Zone
1. Inflated: Imaginative, spiritual and intellectual.
2. Enlarged: Extremely imaginative.
3. Compressed: Lack of self image and creativity.
4. High: Cautious and interest in abstract matters.
Middle Zone
1. Inflated - Immaturity, conceit, tendency to exaggerate , boredom.
2. Compressed: Lack of interest in everyday social and work life.
Lower Zone
1. Inflated: Wilfulness, wastage of time & money.
2. Angular: Hostile, uncompromising, resentment.
3. No loops: Materialistic repression.
4. Short loop: Lethargic, no material interest.
Pressure Points
Heavy Pressure - Such persons are aggressive, possessive violent and egoistic. They are creative enthusiastic, sensuous and enduring. It shows an emotionally strong and deeply committed person.
Light Pressure - Such persons are sensitive, tender, tolerant, spiritual, adaptable and forgiving. They are passively indifferent, weak-willed and lack vitality. It indicates physically weak and fragile person who prefers pastel colours.
Moderate Pressure - Such persons are moderately energetic, cooperative, sociable. They are calm and collected. They shun extremes and are balanced mentally.
Margins
Upper Margin
Wide: Modest, formal, reserved and withdrawn to oneself.
Narrow: Informal, direct, lack of respect and indifferent.
Lower Margin
Wide: Idealistic, superficial, aloof and reserved. It indicates emotional trauma.
Narrow: Sentimental, materialistic, depressed communicative and fatigued.
Left Margin
Wide: Self respect, reserved, courageous A late riser but faces life bravely.
Narrow: Shy and unsociable. Lack of spontaneity & good health. Deprssed
Right Margin
Wide: Reserved and fearful of future, oversensitive extravagant, unrealistic and a poor mixer.
Narrow: Love of travel, unwise thriftness. Ambivalent social attitude.
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The Script Size
Small
People with a small handwriting are meticulous, observant, reserved and restrained. They are mentally alert but tend to lack self confidence.
Large - People with a large handwriting are bold and aggressive. They are ambitious, enthusiastic and extroverts. But they lack concentration and discipline.
Moderate - People with a moderate handwriting are conservative, conventional and traditional, practical and realistic. They are honest, sincere and pretty adaptable.
Variable - People who keep changing their handwriting are moody and hot-tempered, generally indecisive. Sometimes they might be naïve, immature and unpredictable.
The slant factor
Extreme Right Slant - This pattern indicates insecurity and impulsiveness. Such people are sensitive, possessive and intense. At times they are unrestrained and capable of hysteria.
Extreme Left Slant - This pattern indicates a repressed childhood and a fear of life. They are emotionally withdrawn, apprehensive of intimacy and defensive.
Vertical Slant - This handwriting is an indicator of independent, self controlled, self restrained and self reliant. Their head controls heart.
Irregular Slant - This pattern makes extremely sensitive, moody, thoughtful, erratic, unpredictable and versatile people.
Spacing between the words
Closely Spaced Letters - These people are repressed, scared, selfish, hostile and inhibited. They are resentful and not very adjusting in nature.
Widely Spaced Letters - These people are generally sympathetic, humane and considerate.
Evenly Spaced Words - These people are reasonable, self confident and amiable. They are well balanced and non adventurous.
Unevenly Spaced Words - These people are insecure and spontaneous; with a changeable social attitude and gullible.
Spacing between the lines
Evenly Spaced Lines - Such people are well balanced in their attitude. They are harmonious and flexible.
Widely Spaced Lines - Such people are good mannered but fearful of intimacy. They are suspicious, spontaneous and hostile in their behaviour.
Narrowly Spaced Lines - Such people are thrifty and frugal. They fear isolation but are generally very creative.
Unevenly Spaced Lines - Such people are moody and quick-tempered, indecisive, inconsistent, naive and immature and unpredictable.
Zooming on zones
Different Zones
1. Upper zone: determines intellect, imagination, ambition & spiritualism.
2. Middle zone: determines routine actions, social work, instant matters.
3. Lower zone: determines desires.
Upper Zone
1. Inflated: Imaginative, spiritual and intellectual.
2. Enlarged: Extremely imaginative.
3. Compressed: Lack of self image and creativity.
4. High: Cautious and interest in abstract matters.
Middle Zone
1. Inflated - Immaturity, conceit, tendency to exaggerate , boredom.
2. Compressed: Lack of interest in everyday social and work life.
Lower Zone
1. Inflated: Wilfulness, wastage of time & money.
2. Angular: Hostile, uncompromising, resentment.
3. No loops: Materialistic repression.
4. Short loop: Lethargic, no material interest.
Pressure Points
Heavy Pressure - Such persons are aggressive, possessive violent and egoistic. They are creative enthusiastic, sensuous and enduring. It shows an emotionally strong and deeply committed person.
Light Pressure - Such persons are sensitive, tender, tolerant, spiritual, adaptable and forgiving. They are passively indifferent, weak-willed and lack vitality. It indicates physically weak and fragile person who prefers pastel colours.
Moderate Pressure - Such persons are moderately energetic, cooperative, sociable. They are calm and collected. They shun extremes and are balanced mentally.
Margins
Upper Margin
Wide: Modest, formal, reserved and withdrawn to oneself.
Narrow: Informal, direct, lack of respect and indifferent.
Lower Margin
Wide: Idealistic, superficial, aloof and reserved. It indicates emotional trauma.
Narrow: Sentimental, materialistic, depressed communicative and fatigued.
Left Margin
Wide: Self respect, reserved, courageous A late riser but faces life bravely.
Narrow: Shy and unsociable. Lack of spontaneity & good health. Deprssed
Right Margin
Wide: Reserved and fearful of future, oversensitive extravagant, unrealistic and a poor mixer.
Narrow: Love of travel, unwise thriftness. Ambivalent social attitude.
You can get books on handwriting at cheap prices here...http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=1&campid=5335828046&toolid=10001&customid=
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Put back pain behind you with these back pain remedies
Back pain is something which everyone has face some time in their lives. Here is how you can tackle the problem when you all about it.
Introduction
Back pain is a common complaint. Four out of five people in the United States will experience low back pain at least once during their lives. It's one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work.
On the bright side, you can prevent most back pain. If prevention fails, simple home treatment and proper body mechanics will often heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional for the long haul. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.
Causes
Your back is an intricate structure composed of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and disks — the cartilage-like pads that act as cushions between the segments of your spine. Back pain can arise from problems with any of these component parts. In some people, no specific cause for their back pain can be found.
Strains
Back pain most often occurs from strained muscles and ligaments, from improper or heavy lifting, or after a sudden awkward movement. Sometimes a muscle spasm can cause back pain.
Structural problems
In some cases, back pain may be caused by structural problems, such as:
Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. Sometimes, the soft material inside a disk may bulge out of place or rupture and press on a nerve. But many people who have bulging or herniated disks experience no pain from the condition.
Sciatica. If a bulging or herniated disk presses on the main nerve that travels down your leg, it can cause sciatica — sharp, shooting pain through the buttock and back of the leg.
Arthritis. The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis are the hips, hands, knees and lower back. In some cases arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
Skeletal irregularities. Back pain can occur if your spine curves in an abnormal way. If the natural curves in your spine become exaggerated, your upper back may look abnormally rounded or your lower back may arch excessively. Scoliosis, a condition in which your spine curves to the side, also may lead to back pain.
Osteoporosis. Compression fractures of your spine's vertebrae can occur if your bones become porous and brittle.
Rare but serious conditions
In rare cases, back pain may be related to:
Cauda equina syndrome. This is a serious neurological problem affecting a bundle of nerve roots that serve your lower back and legs. It can cause weakness in the legs, numbness in the "saddle" or groin area, and loss of bowel or bladder control.
Cancer in the spine. A tumor on the spine can press on a nerve, causing back pain.
Infection of the spine. If a fever and a tender, warm area accompany back pain, the cause could be an infection.
Risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of developing low back pain include
Smoking
Obesity
Older age
Female gender
Physically strenuous work
Sedentary work
Stressful job
Anxiety
Depression
When to seek medical advice
Most back pain gradually improves with home treatment and self-care. Although the pain may take several weeks to disappear completely, you should notice some improvement within the first 72 hours of self-care. If not, see your doctor.
In rare cases, back pain can signal a serious medical problem. See a doctor immediately if your back pain:
Is constant or intense, especially at night or when you lie down
Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends below the knee
Causes weakness, numbness or tingling in one or both legs
Causes new bowel or bladder problems
Is associated with pain or pulsation (throbbing) in the abdomen, or fever
Follows a fall, blow to your back or other injury
Is accompanied by unexplained weight loss
Also, see your doctor if you start having back pain for the first time after age 50, or if you have a history of cancer, osteoporosis, steroid use, or drug or alcohol abuse.
Screening and diagnosis
Diagnostic tests aren't usually necessary to confirm the cause of your back pain. However, if you do see your doctor for back pain, he or she will examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs. He or she may also test your reflexes with a rubber reflex hammer. These assessments help determine where the pain comes from, how much you can move before pain forces you to stop and whether you have muscle spasms. They will also help rule out more serious causes of back pain.
If there is reason to suspect that you have a tumor, fracture, infection or other specific condition that may be causing your back pain, your doctor may order one or more tests:
X-ray. These images show the alignment of your bones and whether you have arthritis or broken bones. X-ray images won't directly show problems with your spinal cord, muscles, nerves or disks.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scans. These scans can generate images that may reveal herniated disks or problems with bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels.
Bone scan. In rare cases, your doctor may use a bone scan to look for bone tumors or compression fractures caused by osteoporosis. In this procedure, you'll receive an injection of a small amount of a radioactive substance (tracer) into one of your veins. The substance collects in your bones and allows your doctor to detect bone problems using a special camera.
Nerve studies (electromyography, or EMG). This test measures the electrical impulses produced by the nerves and the responses of your muscles. Studies of your nerve-conduction pathways can confirm nerve compression caused by herniated disks or narrowing of your spinal canal (spinal stenosis).
Treatment
Most back pain gets better with a few weeks of home treatment and careful attention. A regular schedule of over-the-counter pain relievers may be all that you need to improve your pain. A short period of bed rest is okay, but more than a couple of days actually does more harm than good. If home treatments aren't working, your doctor may suggest stronger medications or other therapy.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or in some cases, a muscle relaxant, to relieve mild to moderate back pain that doesn't get better with over-the-counter pain relievers. Narcotics, such as codeine or hydrocodone, may be used for a short period of time with close supervision by your doctor.
Low doses of certain types of antidepressants — particularly tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been shown to relieve chronic back pain, independent of their effect on depression.
Physical therapy and exercise
A physical therapist can apply a variety of treatments, such as heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and muscle-release techniques, to your back muscles and soft tissues to reduce pain. As pain improves, the therapist can teach you specific exercises to increase your flexibility, strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, and improve your posture. Regular use of these techniques will help prevent pain from coming back.
Injections
If other measures don't relieve your pain and if your pain radiates down your leg, your doctor may inject cortisone — an anti-inflammatory medication — into the space around your spinal cord (epidural space). A cortisone injection helps decrease inflammation around the nerve roots, but the pain relief usually lasts less than six weeks.
In some cases, your doctor may inject numbing medication into or near the structures believed to be causing your back pain. Early studies indicate that botulism toxin (Botox) also may help relieve back pain, perhaps by paralyzing strained muscles in spasm. Botox injections typically wear off within three to four months.
Surgery
Few people ever need surgery for back pain. There are no effective surgical techniques for muscle- and soft-tissue- related back pain. Surgery is usually reserved for pain caused by a herniated disk. If you have unrelenting pain or progressive muscle weakness caused by nerve compression, you may benefit from surgery. Types of back surgery include:
Fusion. This surgery involves joining two vertebrae to eliminate painful movement. A bone graft is inserted between the two vertebrae, which may then be splinted together with metal plates, screws or cages. A drawback to the procedure is that it increases the chances of arthritis developing in adjoining vertebrae.
Disk replacement. An alternative to fusion, this surgery inserts an artificial disk as a replacement cushion between two vertebrae.
Partial removal of disk. If disk material is pressing or squeezing a nerve, your doctor may be able to remove just the portion of the disk that's causing the problem.
Partial removal of a vertebra. If your spine has developed bony growths that are pinching your spinal cord or nerves, surgeons can remove a small section of the offending vertebra, to open up the passage.
Prevention
You may be able to avoid back pain by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing proper body mechanics.
To keep your back healthy and strong:
Exercise. Regular low-impact aerobic activities — those that don't strain or jolt your back — can increase strength and endurance in your back and allow your muscles to function better. Walking and swimming are good choices. Talk with your doctor about which activities are best for you.
Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises (core-strengthening exercises) help condition these muscles so that they work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your hips and upper legs aligns your pelvic bones to improve how your back feels.
Quit smoking. Smokers have diminished oxygen levels in their spinal tissues, which can hinder the healing process.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts strain on your back muscles. If you're overweight, trimming down can prevent back pain.
Use proper body mechanics:
Stand smart. Maintain a neutral pelvic position. If you must stand for long periods of time, alternate placing your feet on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
Sit smart. Choose a seat with good lower back support, arm rests and a swivel base. Consider placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
Lift smart. Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Avoid lifting and twisting simultaneously. Find a lifting partner if the object is heavy or awkward.
Complementary and alternative medicine
Many people choose hands-on therapies to ease their back pain:
Chiropractic care. Back pain is one of the most common reasons that people see a chiropractor. If you're considering chiropractic care, talk to your doctor about the most appropriate specialist for your type of problem. In addition to chiropractors, many osteopathic doctors and some physical therapists have training in spinal manipulation.
Acupuncture. Some people with low back pain report that acupuncture helps relieve their symptoms. The National Institutes of Health has found that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for some types of chronic pain. In acupuncture, the practitioner inserts sterilized stainless steel needles into the skin at specific points on the body.
Massage. If your back pain is caused by tense or overworked muscles, massage therapy may help loosen knotted muscles and promote relaxation.
Introduction
Back pain is a common complaint. Four out of five people in the United States will experience low back pain at least once during their lives. It's one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work.
On the bright side, you can prevent most back pain. If prevention fails, simple home treatment and proper body mechanics will often heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional for the long haul. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.
Causes
Your back is an intricate structure composed of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and disks — the cartilage-like pads that act as cushions between the segments of your spine. Back pain can arise from problems with any of these component parts. In some people, no specific cause for their back pain can be found.
Strains
Back pain most often occurs from strained muscles and ligaments, from improper or heavy lifting, or after a sudden awkward movement. Sometimes a muscle spasm can cause back pain.
Structural problems
In some cases, back pain may be caused by structural problems, such as:
Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. Sometimes, the soft material inside a disk may bulge out of place or rupture and press on a nerve. But many people who have bulging or herniated disks experience no pain from the condition.
Sciatica. If a bulging or herniated disk presses on the main nerve that travels down your leg, it can cause sciatica — sharp, shooting pain through the buttock and back of the leg.
Arthritis. The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis are the hips, hands, knees and lower back. In some cases arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
Skeletal irregularities. Back pain can occur if your spine curves in an abnormal way. If the natural curves in your spine become exaggerated, your upper back may look abnormally rounded or your lower back may arch excessively. Scoliosis, a condition in which your spine curves to the side, also may lead to back pain.
Osteoporosis. Compression fractures of your spine's vertebrae can occur if your bones become porous and brittle.
Rare but serious conditions
In rare cases, back pain may be related to:
Cauda equina syndrome. This is a serious neurological problem affecting a bundle of nerve roots that serve your lower back and legs. It can cause weakness in the legs, numbness in the "saddle" or groin area, and loss of bowel or bladder control.
Cancer in the spine. A tumor on the spine can press on a nerve, causing back pain.
Infection of the spine. If a fever and a tender, warm area accompany back pain, the cause could be an infection.
Risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of developing low back pain include
Smoking
Obesity
Older age
Female gender
Physically strenuous work
Sedentary work
Stressful job
Anxiety
Depression
When to seek medical advice
Most back pain gradually improves with home treatment and self-care. Although the pain may take several weeks to disappear completely, you should notice some improvement within the first 72 hours of self-care. If not, see your doctor.
In rare cases, back pain can signal a serious medical problem. See a doctor immediately if your back pain:
Is constant or intense, especially at night or when you lie down
Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends below the knee
Causes weakness, numbness or tingling in one or both legs
Causes new bowel or bladder problems
Is associated with pain or pulsation (throbbing) in the abdomen, or fever
Follows a fall, blow to your back or other injury
Is accompanied by unexplained weight loss
Also, see your doctor if you start having back pain for the first time after age 50, or if you have a history of cancer, osteoporosis, steroid use, or drug or alcohol abuse.
Screening and diagnosis
Diagnostic tests aren't usually necessary to confirm the cause of your back pain. However, if you do see your doctor for back pain, he or she will examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs. He or she may also test your reflexes with a rubber reflex hammer. These assessments help determine where the pain comes from, how much you can move before pain forces you to stop and whether you have muscle spasms. They will also help rule out more serious causes of back pain.
If there is reason to suspect that you have a tumor, fracture, infection or other specific condition that may be causing your back pain, your doctor may order one or more tests:
X-ray. These images show the alignment of your bones and whether you have arthritis or broken bones. X-ray images won't directly show problems with your spinal cord, muscles, nerves or disks.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scans. These scans can generate images that may reveal herniated disks or problems with bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels.
Bone scan. In rare cases, your doctor may use a bone scan to look for bone tumors or compression fractures caused by osteoporosis. In this procedure, you'll receive an injection of a small amount of a radioactive substance (tracer) into one of your veins. The substance collects in your bones and allows your doctor to detect bone problems using a special camera.
Nerve studies (electromyography, or EMG). This test measures the electrical impulses produced by the nerves and the responses of your muscles. Studies of your nerve-conduction pathways can confirm nerve compression caused by herniated disks or narrowing of your spinal canal (spinal stenosis).
Treatment
Most back pain gets better with a few weeks of home treatment and careful attention. A regular schedule of over-the-counter pain relievers may be all that you need to improve your pain. A short period of bed rest is okay, but more than a couple of days actually does more harm than good. If home treatments aren't working, your doctor may suggest stronger medications or other therapy.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or in some cases, a muscle relaxant, to relieve mild to moderate back pain that doesn't get better with over-the-counter pain relievers. Narcotics, such as codeine or hydrocodone, may be used for a short period of time with close supervision by your doctor.
Low doses of certain types of antidepressants — particularly tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been shown to relieve chronic back pain, independent of their effect on depression.
Physical therapy and exercise
A physical therapist can apply a variety of treatments, such as heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and muscle-release techniques, to your back muscles and soft tissues to reduce pain. As pain improves, the therapist can teach you specific exercises to increase your flexibility, strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, and improve your posture. Regular use of these techniques will help prevent pain from coming back.
Injections
If other measures don't relieve your pain and if your pain radiates down your leg, your doctor may inject cortisone — an anti-inflammatory medication — into the space around your spinal cord (epidural space). A cortisone injection helps decrease inflammation around the nerve roots, but the pain relief usually lasts less than six weeks.
In some cases, your doctor may inject numbing medication into or near the structures believed to be causing your back pain. Early studies indicate that botulism toxin (Botox) also may help relieve back pain, perhaps by paralyzing strained muscles in spasm. Botox injections typically wear off within three to four months.
Surgery
Few people ever need surgery for back pain. There are no effective surgical techniques for muscle- and soft-tissue- related back pain. Surgery is usually reserved for pain caused by a herniated disk. If you have unrelenting pain or progressive muscle weakness caused by nerve compression, you may benefit from surgery. Types of back surgery include:
Fusion. This surgery involves joining two vertebrae to eliminate painful movement. A bone graft is inserted between the two vertebrae, which may then be splinted together with metal plates, screws or cages. A drawback to the procedure is that it increases the chances of arthritis developing in adjoining vertebrae.
Disk replacement. An alternative to fusion, this surgery inserts an artificial disk as a replacement cushion between two vertebrae.
Partial removal of disk. If disk material is pressing or squeezing a nerve, your doctor may be able to remove just the portion of the disk that's causing the problem.
Partial removal of a vertebra. If your spine has developed bony growths that are pinching your spinal cord or nerves, surgeons can remove a small section of the offending vertebra, to open up the passage.
Prevention
You may be able to avoid back pain by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing proper body mechanics.
To keep your back healthy and strong:
Exercise. Regular low-impact aerobic activities — those that don't strain or jolt your back — can increase strength and endurance in your back and allow your muscles to function better. Walking and swimming are good choices. Talk with your doctor about which activities are best for you.
Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises (core-strengthening exercises) help condition these muscles so that they work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your hips and upper legs aligns your pelvic bones to improve how your back feels.
Quit smoking. Smokers have diminished oxygen levels in their spinal tissues, which can hinder the healing process.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts strain on your back muscles. If you're overweight, trimming down can prevent back pain.
Use proper body mechanics:
Stand smart. Maintain a neutral pelvic position. If you must stand for long periods of time, alternate placing your feet on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
Sit smart. Choose a seat with good lower back support, arm rests and a swivel base. Consider placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
Lift smart. Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Avoid lifting and twisting simultaneously. Find a lifting partner if the object is heavy or awkward.
Complementary and alternative medicine
Many people choose hands-on therapies to ease their back pain:
Chiropractic care. Back pain is one of the most common reasons that people see a chiropractor. If you're considering chiropractic care, talk to your doctor about the most appropriate specialist for your type of problem. In addition to chiropractors, many osteopathic doctors and some physical therapists have training in spinal manipulation.
Acupuncture. Some people with low back pain report that acupuncture helps relieve their symptoms. The National Institutes of Health has found that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for some types of chronic pain. In acupuncture, the practitioner inserts sterilized stainless steel needles into the skin at specific points on the body.
Massage. If your back pain is caused by tense or overworked muscles, massage therapy may help loosen knotted muscles and promote relaxation.
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