HEALTH N MONEY MATTERS

EFFECT OF SMOKING ON THE HEART

2011-05-17T10:52:00.001-07:00

INTRODUCTION

Each year, tobacco smoking accounts for around approximately 20% of all heart disease deaths. What is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)? CHD has two principal forms - angina and heart attacks. Both occur because the arteries carrying blood to the heart muscle become blocked or narrowed, usually by a deposit of fatty substances, a process known as at ATHEROSCLEROSIS. Angina is a severe pain in the chest brought on by exertion and relieved by rest. A heart attack is due to obstruction of a coronary artery either as a result of atherosclerosis or a blood clot: part of the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and dies. Risk factors for Coronary Heart Disease Cigarette smoking, raised blood cholesterol and high blood pressure are the most firmly established, non-hereditary risk factors leading to CHD with cigarette smoking being the "most important of the known modifiable risk factors for CHD", according to the US Surgeon General. A cigarette smoker has two to three times the risk of having a heart attack than a non-smoker. If both of the other main risk factors are present then the chances of having a heart attack can be increased eight times. At least 80% of heart attacks in men under 45 are thought to be due to cigarette smoking. At this age, heavy smokers have 10 to 15 times the rate of fatal heart attacks of non- smokers. Even light smokers are at increased risk of CHD: a US study found that women who smoked 1-4 cigarettes a day had a 2.5-fold increased risk of fatal coronary heart disease. The role of smoking in Coronary Heart Disease Inhaling tobacco smoke causes several immediate responses within the heart and its blood vessels. Within one minute of starting to smoke, the heart rate begins to rise: it may increase by as much as 30 percent during the first 10 minutes of smoking. Smoking also raises blood pressure: blood vessels constrict which forces the heart to work harder to deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. Meanwhile, carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke exerts a negative effect on the heart by reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Smoking and arterial disease Smoking tends to increase blood cholesterol levels. Cigarette smokers also have raised fibrinogen levels and platelet counts which make the blood more sticky. Carbon monoxide attaches itself to haemoglobin much more easily than oxygen does. This reduces the amount of oxygen available to the tissues. All these factors make smokers more at risk of developing various forms of atherosclerotic disease. As the atherosclerotic process progresses, blood flows less easily through rigid and narrowed arteries and the blood is more likely to form a thrombosis (clot). This sudden blockage of an artery may lead to a fatal heart attack, a stroke or gangrene of the leg. Aneurysm Is a ballooning of the wall of an artery which leads to risk of bursting or clotting, which may lead to catastrophic results. Smokers are very much more likely to die from a ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta than non-smokers. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) Smokers have a 16 times greater risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (blocked blood vessels in the legs or feet) than people who have never smoked. Smokers who ignore the warning of early symptoms and continue to smoke are more likely to develop gangrene of a leg. Cigarette smoking combines with other factors to multiply the risks of atherosclerosis. Patients who continue to smoke after surgery for PVD are more likely to relapse, leading to amputation, and are more likely to die earlier.10 Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease) This is a rare form of PVD, and is virtually always due to heavy cigarette smoking. It consists of an inflammatory condition of small vessels that leads to blocking of the arteries and gangrene. Few sufferers are able to stop and many of them end up with multiple amputations. Stroke Smokers are more likely to develop a cerebral thrombosis (stroke) than non-smokers. A form of cerebral haemorrhage (subarachnoid) is more common in smokers, especially among women who also take the contraceptive pill.

Facts About Heart Disease And Women

2011-05-17T10:22:00.001-07:00

Kicking The Smoking Habit CORONARY HEART DISEASE is a woman's concern. Every woman's concern. One in ten American women 45 to 64 years of age has some form of heart disease, and this increases to one in five women over 65. Another 1.6 million women have had a stroke. Both heart disease and stroke are known as cardiovascular diseases, which are serious disorders of the heart and blood vessel system. Cigarette smoking is a habit that greatly increases the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases. Surprising as it may seem, smoking by women in some countries causes almost as many deaths from heart disease as from lung cancer. If you smoke, you are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than a non-smoking woman, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Smoking also boosts the risk of stroke. The big question is why do you have to smoke is it for fun or for a purpose?

HOW TO APPLY FOR PAYONEER MASTERCARD FREE

2011-05-09T03:33:00.001-07:00

Payoneer is one of the most widely used prepaid debït card services with vast user account growth world wide acceptability.
But the major problem has being how to own one of such card. This trend will show you how to get one from payoneer partners.
This is because payoneer only give out the card through there partners which means you cannot directly apply for one.
The network is www.ReviewMe.com, which I’m sure you’ve heard about. If you’ve not gotten a card yet, then follow along, let ’s request for a new card using the ReviewMe Network: Registering With ReviewMe The first thing you ’ll do is to sign up for an account, hop over to their website and click on that big button that says “SIGNUP NOW”. Fill the form normally with your correct country address details, and in the payment option, select “ Prepaid Debit Mastercard”. As soon as you’re done with the form, click on “Create Account”, and you’ll be automatically taken to the Payoneer Mastercard signup page. Ensure you fill out the page appropriately with your orginal address, so your card can get to you effortlessly. When asked for your Identity verification, choose the drivers’ license option, though you’re free to choose any of the other two listed (National ID card or Int. Passport) if that ’s what you have. Your mastercard should be approved within 24hrs, so ensure you check your mail regularly. If you ’d like your card to be delivered to a P.O Box, then after about 5days of application, go to Payoneer.com, click on the “Contact Us” link. Tell them you want your card to be shipped to a P.O Box, and provide details. P.O Box is faster, and with that you should get your card within 33days. How To Fund Your Payoneer Mastercard There are 3 different ways you can do this. You can either use card to card transfer, liberty reserve and of course getting payment from the network. 1. Card to Card Transfer If you already own a local issued credit card, you can use this option. Go to: https:// load.payoneer.com/ LoadToPage.aspx , follow the instructions on the page and your card should be loaded. Anybody other than you can equally load fund directly into your card from any credit card using this option. If you do freelance work or the sorts, you can get paid directly into your card from your employer with this method. 2. Fund Payoneer Mastercard With Liberty Reserve The other option is funding using liberty reserve, that ’s if you don’t own any local card that you can use. Though I ’ve never used this option myself, so do your due diligence before making use of the following information: Visit www.minute-exchange.com Click on “Debit Cards” on the top menu. Click on “Fund Debit Cards” (They used “Found” instead of “Fund”. Don’t know why, so don’t ask.) Select the Atm card option . Enter the amount you want to fund with. Select Liberty reserve as the “ Ecurrency Type”, then enter your liberty reserve account number. Enter your full name in the next box exactly as it appears on your Payoneer card, and then enter your card number. In the last box, which says “Additional Information” put in there that the card you’re funding is from Payoneer, and that it can be funded directly at: https:// load.payoneer.com/ LoadToPage.aspx using any credit card. Then click submit. This will take you to liberty reserve payment page. Follow the instructions there to make your payment. Check your card within 24hrs, and you should see your money in there. 3. Receive Payment Directly From The Network This option is for getting payments directly from the network you ’re working with. If it’s an affiliate network, then promote product and make sales. If it ’s a freelance network, then look for work opportunities and execute them to get paid. If it ’s a review type of network in the case of ReviewMe, then list your blog on their marketplace to get offers from advertisers, though your blog has to be popular with lots of great content to get advertisers’ attention. You can now go on a spending spree. Funds from your Payoneer mastercard can be withdrawn using any of the ATM machine that accept internationally issued mastercard.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF BODY ODOUR

2011-05-02T03:03:00.001-07:00

Body odour is often easily treated and a medical diagnosis isn't usually necessary. Take regular baths or showers, at least once a day. After puberty, using an antiperspirant can help to reduce sweating, and some also inhibit bacterial growth. This is rarely needed with younger children. Fresh clothes should be worn every day, and clothing should be washed at as high a temperature as possible, then dried as quickly as possible. Bacteria can survive in damp clothing and produce a characteristic smell. Feet should be washed regularly, dried thoroughly and treated with antifungal powder if necessary. Avoid closed, sweaty shoes such as trainers, and wear fresh cotton socks or keep feet bare in open sandals as often as possible. Avoiding very spicy food may also help. For more severe sweating, called hyperhidrosis, injecting botulinum toxin (Botox) into the skin near the armpit, the removal of some sweat glands from the armpit, or destroying nerves that control armpit sweating, may be recommended.

BODY ODOUR A CASE STUDY

2011-05-01T22:32:00.001-07:00

Body odour, also known as bromhidrosis, is the unpleasant smell that can occur when you sweat. Human sweat is mostly odourless, but when bacteria on the skin break down the sweat into acids, it produces an unpleasant smell. Sweat glands The human body contains 3-4 million sweat glands. There are two types of gland: eccrine glands – spread across your skin, these are responsible for regulating your body's temperature by cooling your skin with sweat when you get hot apocrine glands – concentrated in your armpits, genital area and breasts, these glands develop during puberty and release scented chemicals known as pheromones Eccrine sweat is usually odourless but can start to smell if bacteria get a chance to break down the stale sweat. It can also take on an offensive odour if you consume certain things, such as garlic, spices, alcohol and certain medications, such as some antidepressants. But it is the apocrine glands that are mostly responsible for body odour because the sweat that they produce contains a high level of protein, which bacteria find easy to break down. Body odour is worse if you have a high level of apocrine sweat production, or there is lots of bacteria on your skin.
Who is affected Everyone who has passed the age of puberty (and therefore developed apocrine glands) can produce body odour.
Factors that can make body odour worse include: being overweight eating a diet rich in spicy foods having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes (see the Body odour warning sign box in Body odour - treatment) Men tend to sweat more than women and are more likely to have body odour.
Managing body odour You can manage a body odour problem by getting rid of any excess skin bacteria and keeping the affected skin as dry as possible. This can often be achieved through simple hygiene measures. Surgery is available for more severe sweating that cannot be treated by self-care measures and over-the- counter products.

TATTOO A NICE SHOT OF DESIGN, BUT

2011-04-28T02:06:00.001-07:00

Before imitating super stars think of how it can affect you negatively.
Why jumping around now when Tattoos have been around since ancient Egypt and have also been discovered on "the iceman" from millions of years ago. So why all the talk today about the tattoo culture and its effects on our society? Some nations of the world still sees tattooing as a family and cultural tradition. Children are tattooed as a right of passage. In America, they feel it is an expression of who they are as a person. With this self expression comes positive and negative feedback from other members of our society. Some of the positive aspects of being tattooed can be expressed by many tattoo lovers. The rush of putting something decorative on their bodies is like no other feeling in the world. Knowing the mark of the needle is there forever is a beautiful committment to many ink seekers. Picking a design and saying it is part of "you" is what drives some to commit to tattoo collecting. Sports teams, girlfriends names, children's favorite play toys, favorite foods, brand names, flowers, and even frightening subjects are part of the tattooing design platform. A tattoo can mean a committment between two friends to be friends forever. A tattoo can commemorate a death of a family member, friend, or even a pet. Many times while doing memorial tattoos, artists will see the tears of the living flow under the buzz of the needle. The tattoo gives closure and security in knowing the memorial is permanently a part of the grieving person's body. "Wearing your heart on your sleeve" is actually what the memorial tattoo does for the client seeking to show their love, committment, or grief of losing a loved one. This is just one positive effect of getting tattooed. Another effect that can be positive is the ornamental decoration of one's body. Many decorative designs can be seen on young people and even people in their eighties. One episode of Miami Ink showed an eighty year old lady getting her first tattoo. She was a perky eighty year old and wanted to have her initial on her upper arm. It was an honor for Ami to decorate her virgin skin at the age of eighty. Art on the skin has been around for millions of years. Expressing oneself through artistic designs is an uplifting experience for many being tattooed. The designing of a unique tattoo is one positive part of the tattooing experience. Becoming the designer gives the tattoo client a sense of ownership of the artwork being placed on their bodies. Some tattoo artists do not like to use artwork done by the client or a client's agent. Some art just does not make for good tattooing. If a piece of art is not up to an artist's view of good tattoo art, the artist may refuse to do the tattooing. If the artist approves of the art the client has designed, then it can have a very uplifting and positive effect on the client. The pride that comes with saying they designed their own artwork is great. Choosing the placement is another positive control of one's own body and what will become a part of their being forever. Positive feedback from friends and family also adds to the clients feelings of euphoria from being tattooed. Negative feedback is also very common when someone gets a tattoo. Society in the past few decades was very critical as a whole of tattooing. To be tattooed was a stereotype of being in the class of people who had been in prison, in jail, in trouble, or even in a gang. Now the stereotype has changed, since doctors, lawyers, teachers, grandparents, moms, and even preachers are getting tattoos. This new generation that has been encouraging of the tattoo culture and has promoted the positive image of tattoos. Still with this new generation extending their open arms to tattoo artists and people covered in tattoos, there are still sections of the general public that look down on tattoos. If one covers their tattoos in the workplace, then sometimes the negative effects are not felt. Many tattoo seekers do not realize the negative effect of getting a tattoo in a visible place. Covering a visible tattoo for career reasons can be a committment in its self. Make-up and even clothing choices are under scrutiny when trying to keep tattoos from public viewing. This is one reason artists may discourage a tattoo seeker from getting a neck, face, or even a lower arm tattoo. The armed services is also very stringent on tattoos being viewable to the public while in the service. Once soldiers were proud of getting their new tattoos and showing them off, now if visible, a service man can be charged with insubordination for having visible tattoos. So when considering a tattoo, be sure you consider the negative effects of tattooing your body for life. As an artist, I view the positive effects as outweighing the negative effects. This is all realitive to the person being asked. One's experiences will determine if tattooing is viewed as positive or negative. It is all about how you look at the big picture, even if that picture is on your skin! So before you tattoo try and have a good reason of doing it

FEMALE AND MENSTRUAL CRAMPS

2011-04-27T09:21:00.001-07:00

What are menstrual cramps? Menstrual cramps are pains in the abdominal (belly) and pelvic areas that are experienced by a woman as a result of her menstrual period. Menstrual cramps are not the same as the discomfort felt during premenstrual syndrome (PMS), although the symptoms of both disorders can sometimes be experienced as a continual process. Many women suffer from both PMS and menstrual cramps. Menstrual cramps can range from mild to quite severe. Mild menstrual cramps may be barely noticeable and of short duration - sometimes felt just as a sense of light heaviness in the belly. Severe menstrual cramps can be so painful that they interfere with a woman's regular activities for several days. How common are menstrual cramps? Menstrual cramps of some degree affect more than an estimated 50% of women, and among these, up to 15% would describe their menstrual cramps as severe. Surveys of adolescent girls show that over 90% of girls report having menstrual cramps. What is dysmenorrhea? The medical term for menstrual cramps is dysmenorrhea. There are two types of dysmenorrhea, primary and secondary. In primary dysmenorrhea, there is no underlying gynecologic problem causing the pain. This type of cramping may begin within six months to a year following menarche (the beginning of menstruation), the time when a girl starts having menstrual periods. Menstrual cramps typically do not begin until ovulatory menstrual cycles (when an egg is released from the ovaries) occur, and actual menstrual bleeding usually begins before the onset of ovulation. Therefore, an adolescent girl may not experience dysmenorrhea until months to years following the onset of menstruation. In secondary dysmenorrhea, some underlying abnormal condition (usually involving a woman's reproductive system) contributes to the menstrual pain. Secondary dysmenorrhea may be evident at menarche but, more often, the condition develops later.What causes menstrual cramps? Each month, the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium) builds up in preparation for a possible pregnancy. After ovulation, if the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, no pregnancy will result and the current lining of the uterus is no longer needed. The woman's estrogen and progesterone hormone levels decline, and the lining of the uterus becomes swollen and is eventually shed as the menstrual flow and is replaced by a new lining in the next monthly cycle. When the old uterine lining begins to break down, molecular compounds called prostaglandins are released. These compounds cause the muscles of the uterus to contract. When the uterine muscles contract, they constrict the blood supply (vasoconstriction) to the endometrium. This contraction blocks the delivery of oxygen to the tissue of the endometrium which, in turn, breaks down and dies. After the death of this tissue, the uterine contractions literally squeeze the old endometrial tissue through the cervix and out of the body by way of the vagina. Other substances known as leukotrienes, which are chemicals that play a role in the inflammatory response, are also elevated at this time and may be related to the development of menstrual cramps. Why are some cramps so painful? Menstrual cramps are caused by the uterine contractions that occur in response to prostaglandins and other chemicals. The cramping sensation is intensified when clots or pieces of bloody tissue from the lining of the uterus pass through the cervix, especially if a woman's cervical canal is narrow. The difference between menstrual cramps that are more painful and those that are less painful may be related to a woman's prostaglandin levels. Women with menstrual cramps have elevated levels of prostaglandins in the endometrium (uterine lining) when compared with women who do not experience cramps. Menstrual cramps are very similar to those a pregnant woman experiences when she is given prostaglandin as a medication to induce labor.What other factors influence menstrual cramps? As mentioned above, an unusually narrow cervical canal tends to increase menstrual cramps. Another anatomical factor thought to contribute to menstrual cramps is a backwards tilting of the uterus (a retroverted uterus). Lack of exercise is now recognized to contribute to painful menstrual cramps. It has long been thought that psychological factors also play a role. For example, it is widely accepted that emotional stress can increase the discomfort of menstrual cramps. What are the symptoms of menstrual cramps? Menstrual cramps are pains that begin in the lower abdomen and pelvis. The discomfort can extend to the lower back or legs. The cramps can be a quite painful or simply a dull ache. They can be periodic or continual. Menstrual cramps usually start shortly before the menstrual period, peak within 24 hours after the onset of the pains, and subside again after a day or two. Menstrual cramps may be accompanied by a headache and/or nausea, which can lead, although infrequently, to the point of vomiting. Menstrual cramps can also be accompanied by either constipation or diarrhea because the prostaglandins which cause smooth muscles to contract are found in both the uterus and intestinal tract. Some women experience an urge to urinate more frequently.

MAKE YOUR FINGER NAILS STYLISH

2011-04-26T10:08:00.001-07:00

Unlike the feet or toenails, which can be occasionally covered with designer shoes, your hands are seen on a regular basis while interacting with people. Thus, it is essential to give equal attention and care to your fingernails just as the way you are particular about your hairstyles and garment selection. A little time spent in fingernail care on a regular basis can reflect a huge difference in your overall appearance and always work positively for you, be it at work or social gatherings. One of the simplest ways to fingernail care is through a well- planned and balanced diet. The right kind of foods added in your regular diet can easily bring a healthy glow to you fingernails and enhance your overall appearance. However, it is important to remember that nails are made of keratin (a hard protein), which enables the nails to protect your fingers and toes from injuries. Similar to hair and skin, negligence and poor diet may reflect in weak and brittle nails, leading to ugly looking hands. Fingernail care can be a simple process once you start considering the following tips and take adequate measures to implement them in your daily routine. Increase the intake of calcium, iron, potassium and Vitamin B by adding seafood, soy, celery and dairy products in your regular diet. You may also add a multi-vitamin to your regular diet to ensure the intake of other necessary vitamins. Never forget to pamper your fingernails by applying moisturizer and sunscreen lotions after swimming or while moving around in the sun. Both chlorine and sun tend to make the nails brittle. Often the reason behind splitting nails is traced back to low water intake and thus, it is essential to drink plenty of water regularly to maintain proper hydration levels. Never forget your gloves to protect your fingernails from dust and strong chemicals while cleaning dishes or other household objects and gardening. Spare your nails from the jobs of scraping off surfaces or opening boxes or lids of the containers. You have specific tools for all these jobs. Moreover, it not only affects the texture of the nails, but it also makes you look disgraceful. Try to avoid excessive use of perfumed lotions containing alcohol, especially if you have brittle nails. Maintain regular gaps between applying nail polish allowing the nails to breathe and reducing the possibilities of drying and chipping. To prevent your nails from getting unhealthy and ugly to look at avoid biting them. Moreover, the habit of biting nails represents a poor picture of your personality. Washing and cleaning with soaps tend to make your hands and nails dry and thus it is always good to use a moisturizer or cream to hydrate them. You may also use non-drying nail lotions to moisturize your fingernails once daily. Trim your nails regularly to avoid breaking off. You may find that the pointed tip of your fingernail tends to break off mostly and so, while trimming, cut your fingernails in a squared or rounded shape. Use specific cuticle creams to soften them. Trim cuticles at least once in a week using a cuticle clipper. Increase your Vitamin B intake if you develop ridges along the nail beds and rub a lemon after squeezing its juice off if you have weak nails.

HOW TO TREAT STRETCH MARKS

2011-04-26T04:20:00.001-07:00

Extreme stretching of the skin causes stretch marks, which can be there for keeps or may reduce or disappear over time if skin care is regular and other options for removal are considered. Stretch marks are deep scars, or scar tissue, that appears as stripes on the surface of the skin though they go deeper at times. Common locations for stretch marks are regions like the stomach, legs, buttocks and breasts, but they can appear nearly anywhere on the body. Causes of Stretch Marks Extreme stretching of skin can be linked with various causes that prevent the skin from returning to its original condition. Some of these include gaining large amounts of weight in a short period of time and people most prone to this are bodybuilders, pregnant women and adolescents who go through rapid growth spurts and thus develop stretch marks. Prevention of Stretch Marks Stretch marks are actually very tiny skin fibers that get torn as a result of extreme stretching beyond the skin ’s immediate elasticity extent and though there is no known remedy to fully repair these fibers, there are many products and treatments available that can help lighten stretch marks and improve the look of the skin. Treatment of Stretch Marks: The course of treatment of stretch marks depends largely on the severity and location of the scar tissue and one widely acceptable practice in the removal of stretch marks is Exfoliation. Exfoliation involves removing top layers of dead skin and unveiling soft, fresh skin. This helps minimize the appearance of stretch marks. Some great natural exfoliators from the kitchen shelf are oatmeal or baking soda to make your own preparations. Nature stores provide organically grown varieties of these and other exfoliating products too that are either scented or unscented, depending on your personal choice. Post exfoliation, do remember to hydrate the skin by drinking lots of water and fresh un-sweetened juices to replenish the moisture lost and keep the skin nourished with general application of a deep- penetrating moisturizing cream or lotion. Baby oil, olive or vitamin E oil are good bets for intense moisturizer while some people swear by the benefits of coconut oil too. If stretch marks are new, use of such oils and creams containing jojoba extracts, aloe vera, vitamin E and cocoa butter/shea butter is helpful in reducing their appearance over regular applications over a period of time. A temporary solution would involve applied corrective makeup that has a natural base so it does not irritate the skin and minimize the appearance of stretch marks too. Persons having used Vicks Vapor Rub claim it stuff works wonders on stretch marks and recommend rubbing some onto a clean cloth then using that to gently massage on the region of the stretch marks in a painless and easy manner.

DRUG DISCORVERED TO TREAT DIABETIC NEUROPATHY!

2011-04-26T03:35:00.001-07:00

Diabetic neuropathy is a condition in which the kidney cells are damaged due to high blood glucose levels. It is one of the major causes of end stage kidney disease in the USA. A collaborative study conducted by the researchers from the National Institute of Health (NIH), University of California, Mayo Clinic and San Diego School of Medicine has revealed that an anti inflammatory and anti fibrotic drug named pirfenidone is effective in treating diabetic patients with kidney disease. According to Kumar Sharma, the lead author of this study, a precise dose of pirfenidone not only halted the damage of the kidney cells but also improved its functioning in the patients tested. The study was conducted on 77 randomly selected diabetic neuropathy patients. They were divided into 3 groups. One group was given a low dose of pirfenidone (1200 mg), the second group was given a high dose (2400mg) and the third group served as control. After one year, low dose group showed significant improvement in kidney functioning whereas the high dose group did not show any change. Before it can be made available to the common man, the researchers are planning to conduct a clinical study on a large group.

TONGUE PIERCING AND IT'S FATAL DANGERS

2011-04-24T11:01:00.001-07:00

Have you ever being asked to pierce your tongue?
Well it is better if you were being told about the fatal consequences as well before doing it.

Some of the common and curable infections caused by tongue piercing are; Dental damage, bacterial infection, keloids, allergic reactions, excessive bleeding, severe pain, nerve damaging. Everyone feels that it’s really cool to have a tongue piercing. However, most people don’t realize the potential life threatening dangers of tongue piercing. HERE ARE THE FATAL DANGER OF TONGUE PIERCING: The barbell of the jewelry can become loose and can go down in a wrong way i.e. it can wind up in your lungs. Now you can imagine clearly the consequences, if it really happens with you. Your mouth is full of bacteria and it contains major blood vessels which can spread deadly infection to the brain which can easily kill you. Chances are there that you can get a serious infection like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, if the artist by chance uses unsterilized equipment. In extreme cases it may cause blood poisoning which ultimately leads to death. It may cause oral cancers . Your tongue can swell so large blocking your airways, and ultimately leading to death. It can cause speech impediments. Deep cyst formation Severe damaging of veins and nerves Neuromas i.e. overgrowth of nerve tissue Endocarditis , it’s a disease caused when bacteria enters the bloodstream and damages the heart valves. HERE ARE SOME DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF TONGUE PIERCING: In one case, a 25-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital after her tongue swelled up. She was found to be suffering from a rare condition called Ludwig’s Angina which did not respond to antibiotics. This news came in the British Dental Journal. In one case, a teenage boy in England died of blood poisoning after getting his lip pierced. This news was published in the London’s Telegraph in November 2005. In another case, a young girl died from Brain Abscess following a tongue piercing. This condition is rare, but it can happen to you too. So if you are being motivated by a super star then you have to think hundred times before you go for a tongue piercing!

''DIABETES'' Is it as dangerous as we think?

2011-04-24T05:43:00.001-07:00

One of the most deadly disease is diabetes, but despite been dangerous people still take it for granted. A lot of people do ask these questions;
what is diabetes
what are the types of diabetes
what causes diabetes
what are the common problems that people run into
what role does insulin play in diabetes. Well lets take it through one after the other

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a group of disorders in which there is excessive blood glucose, commonly blood sugar in the blood stream. In a healthy person, the hormone Insulin produced by a gland called Pancreas located inside the abdomen keeps the blood glucose in the normal range and helps store the excess glucose in the liver. In diabetes, depending on what type of diabetes one has, there is either an absence of insulin or the insulin is present in the body but the body is resistant towards it. In other words, even though insulin is present in the body, it is not able to act and hence keep the blood glucose in the normal range. Question 2: What are the types of diabetes? Diabetes can be classified into the following types: Type 1 diabetes in which there is no production of insulin from the pancreas as the cells that produce insulin are destroyed. Type 2 diabetes in which although insulin is present it is not able to act and with time, insulin production decreases from the pancreas as well. Gestational diabetes mellitus is a form that is diagnosed during pregnancy. Question 3: What causes Diabetes? Type 1 is caused by a destruction of cells in the pancreas that produce and secrete insulin. It cannot be prevented. Essentially, the body ’s defense mechanism or the immune system which normally fights bacteria, viruses and other germs turns against its own and destroys insulin producing cells. Type 2 diabetes as stated before is because of insulin resistance. The most common reasons for insulin resistance are obesity that is being overweight, lack of activity or exercise and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Question 4: What are the common problems that people run into? People with diabetes underestimate the disease process. It is a chronic disease that needs to be fought every day with the same vigor and jest that one shows initially when diagnosed with diabetes. People get complacent about diabetes as it kills over years and not over months like most cancers do. Persons, who have diabetes essentially, are unaware of the disease process and progression and come to find about it when irreversible damage has already occurred to the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves and foot. One can end up with heart attacks, stroke, and kidney failure, or even loss of eye sight and gangrene of the feet. Question 5: What role does Insulin play in diabetes? Insulin plays a key factor role in glucose control and hence the development of diabetes. Glucose is a form of energy source for the cells which make up the tissues and the tissues in turn make up the organs of the body. The food that we eat, mainly carbohydrates is broken down into glucose in the intestine and absorbed from there into the blood stream. As soon as the body senses that glucose is rising in the blood stream insulin is secreted from the pancreas which helps glucose enter into cells. One can think of insulin as a master key which opens doors in the cells so that glucose can enter the cells which in turn is used to produce energy. If there is no insulin or if the body has resistance to insulin, blood glucose rises excessively as it is not able to enter the cells and the cells cannot use it to produce energy. The body then tries to use different forms of energy which is not very effective.