Dr Benway

Dr Benway is perhaps the most promiscuous of all mad scientists. Created by William Burroughs, he became the means of the author to ridicule the medical profession and, maybe the various wrong uses that science can be put to in general. The scientist made his first appearance in the book Naked Lunch, followed by several other books by the same author. He also featured in the film made on Naked Lunch by David Cronenberg. The scientist displays a striking tendency to be independent in his thoughts and actions, and someone who lacked a conscience. He can be better described as a surgical artist than a doctor, for whom his performance and his next fix is of more importance than the well being of his patient.

Dr Frankenstein

An infinite obsession to create life out of inanimate matter through artificial means is what drives Frankenstein, who eventually leaves school just to pursue his dream for the next two years. He ends up assembling a humanoid creature perhaps by stitching together bits and pieces of human corpses. It’s likely that a chemical or an apparatus, or a combination of both is used to join the human pieces, though he does not come out clean on this even when asked repeatedly. He in fact avoids the question thrice and the only clue is the fact that he did notice lightning strike down a tree in his childhood. However, Frankenstein becomes successful in bringing it to life though the monstrous proportions of his creation, combined with its ugliness was terrifying and something that is best kept at bay.

Dr Jekyll

Nowhere is the psychopathology of a split personality so brilliantly portrayed as in the character of Dr Jekyll in the classic tale ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ penned by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. In fact, so famous is the character of Jekyll and Hyde that it has come to signify wild or contradictory behavior in the real world. By ingesting a potion that he himself contrived, Dr Jekyll could transform himself into Edward Hyde, a brutal and remorseless person that brings to the fore the hidden side of Dr Jekyll.

Dr Moreau

Created by H G Wells, Dr Moreau is a visionary doctor engaged in research work in an island.

It all begins when a man who is shipwrecked is brought to the island, where he eventually discovers that the island’s inhabitants are experimental animals whom Dr Moreau transform into strange looking humans.

The story had been made into films on three occasions, in 1933, in 1977 and then again in 1996.

Dr Strangelove

Dr. Strangelove’s job is that of a scientific advisor to President Muffley in the war room, drawing upon his previous experience as a Nazi physicist. He translates his German surname ‘Merkwürdigliebe’ to its English equivalent as soon as he becomes an American citizen. He even ends up addressing the President as ‘Mein Fuhrer’ at least twice in the film, which can be explained by his past Nazi association. His character is an amalgamation of RAND Corporation strategist Herman Kahn, Nazi SS officer-turned-NASA rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and Edward Teller, considered the father of the hydrogen bomb. The character is also compared to the U.S. Secretary of State and controversial Nobel Peace Prize laureate Henry Kissinger.

Dr No

A brilliant scientist who is known to suffer from Napoleon complex, Dr No would describe himself as the unwanted child of a German missionary and a Chinese girl with a good family background. He goes on to become the treasurer of Tong, identified as the most powerful criminal society of China. He makes a daring escape to America after pulling off a heist to the tune of $10,000,000 worth of Tong gold bullion. A specialist of atomic energy that eventually costs him both of his hands; Dr No got them replaced with crude bionic ones made of either iron or steel.

Dr Frank N Furter

Dr Frank N Furter can be described as the sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania - the heartthrob of the immensely popular British musical comedy film, Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Armed with considerable scientific prowess, he uses them to create a handsome young man as a means to improve his love life.

A hilarious musical that parodies science fiction and horror films, the film portrays all sorts of strange goings on and bed swapping.

Dr Evil

Always accompanied by his cat Mr. Bigglesworth and his side-kick Mini-Me, Dr Evil is best described as the fictional supervillian, with Mike Myers playing out his character in the Austin Powers film series.

He happens to be the primary villain of the movies and a formidable opponent of Austin Powers. With intentions to dominate the entire world, Dr Evil is always busy hatching terror plots towards that goal.

He is the parody of any number of James Bond villains, primary among which is Donald Pleasance’s Ernst Stavro Blofeld of SPECTRE.

Doc Brown

Emmett Lathrop “Doc” Brown is a fictional scientist and one of the main characters in the Back to the Future motion picture trilogy, with actor Christopher Lloyd playing the character in the three films as well as the live action sequences of the animated series while Dan Castellaneta lent his voice in the animated series.

Doc Brown’s is loosely inspired by Leopold Stokowski and Albert Einstein, as is evident in the appearance and mannerisms of the character.

Dr Faustus

Not much is known about where Faust’s name or persona originated from, though the general perception is that of it being based on the German figure Dr. Johann Georg Faust who lived from 1480 to 1540. A magician and an alchemist of questionable character, Faust probably hailed from Knittlingen, Württemberg, and went on to obtain a degree in divinity from Heidelberg University in 1509. Faust is the leading figure of a classic German legend that centered around a medieval scholar who makes a pact with the Devil.

• 10 Influential Scientists Of All Time
• 10 Poisonous Foods That Tickles Our Taste Buds
• Fascinating Cigarette Smoking Facts
• Top 10 Most Dreaded Diseases
• Bizarre Medical Anomalies
• Top 10 Disorders Related To Eating
• 10 Ways You’Re Ripped Off By Car Dealers

Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

“A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.”

It is the theory of relativity and specifically his mass-energy equivalence, expressed by the famous equation E = mc2 that the German scientist Einstein is best known for. He made immense contribution in the field of Theoretical Physics, something that earned him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921, especially for his invention of the law of the photoelectric effect. Among his most notable contribution to physics is his special theory of relativity that led to the convergence of mechanics and electromagnetism while his general theory of relativity, which can be seen as an extension of the principle of relativity to non-uniform motion also provides a whole new theory to explain gravitation. Among his other contributions, the primary are advances in the fields of relativistic cosmology, capillary action, critical opalescence, classical problems of statistical mechanics and their application to quantum theory, an explanation of the Brownian movement of molecules, atomic transition probabilities, the quantum theory of a monatomic gas, thermal properties of light with low radiation density that laid the foundation for the photon theory, a theory of radiation including stimulated emission, the conception of a unified field theory, and the geometrization of physics. With over 300 pieces of scientific works and over 150 non-scientific works to his credit, Einstein is revered by the physics community throughout the world. The Time magazine named him ‘Person of the Century’ in the year 1999. In wider culture the name “Einstein” has become synonymous with genius.

Isaac Newton (1643 - 1727)

“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.”

Newton, an English physicist, is widely regarded to be one of the most influential men in human history. Author of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, and considered to be the most influential book in the history of science, Newton is also known for his significant abilities as a mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. The book deals with the topic of universal gravitation and describes the three laws of motion, which forms the foundation of classical mechanics; something that has gone on to dominate the scientific view of the physical universe for the next three centuries and has become the basis for modern engineering. Newton was able to demonstrate the compatibility of Kepler’s laws of planetary motion with his theory of gravitation, thereby proving beyond doubt that the motions of objects on Earth and of celestial bodies are governed by the same set of natural laws. This cleared all doubts pertaining to heliocentrism and hence helped usher in the scientific revolution. In the field of mechanics, Newton formulated the principles of conservation of momentum and angular momentum while in optics, he developed the first reflecting telescope that can be termed as practical. He also devised a theory of color based on the observation of a prism decomposing white light into a visible spectrum. He also formulated an empirical law of cooling and did research on the speed of sound. In mathematics, Newton, along with Gottfried Leibniz, led to the development of differential and integral calculus. His other contributions include the generalized binomial theorem, the so-called “Newton’s method” for approximating the zeroes of a function, and study of the power series. Newton ranks at the very top among all other notable scientists, as is amply demonstrated in a poll conducted by Britain’s Royal Society in 2005 as to who among all famous scientists has a greater impact on the history of science. Newton was deemed much more influential than Albert Einstein.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519)

“Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory.”

Leonardo da Vinci was a person of great and varied learning. An Italian by birth, he achieved expertise in several diverse fields. For instance, he was an expert mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and a writer all at the same time. In fact, such was his prowess in all the above fields that he has often been referred to as the quintessential ‘Renaissance man’, someone with seemingly infinite curiosity that is perhaps matched only by his proficiency in inventing things. His imaginative contrivance and technological feats are awe inspiring. He had conceptualized a helicopter, a tank, concentrated solar power, a calculator, the double hull and outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. Not many of his designs were converted into reality or were even feasible during his time, though some of his smaller inventions, such as an automated bobbin winder or a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire, entered actual manufacturing phase. He was the most diversely talented person ever to live on earth and was greatly advanced of his time. As a scientist, he was always pushing the limits of human knowledge in various fields like anatomy, civil engineering, optics, hydrodynamics and so on.

Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”

Galileo made immense contributions in the field of observational astronomy, which includes the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus, observation and analysis of sunspots and the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter, later named the Galilean moons in his honor. Born in Italy, Galileo was equally adept in the fields of philosophy, mathematics and physics. The motion of uniformly accelerated objects was studied by Galileo as the subject of kinematics and has now become an integral part of almost all high school curriculums. Galileo also contributed in the field of applied science and technology, the result of which was a greatly improved compass design. Galileo is also referred to as the ‘father of modern observational astronomy’, the ‘father of modern physics’, the ‘father of science’, and ‘the Father of Modern Science’ and is believed to be instrumental in the way science has shaped up the way it has now. He also made important improvements to the telescope and supported the Copernican school of thought, something that earned him the ire of the church. Copernicanism, which stands for heliocentrism, challenged the then dominant geocentric view that had been dominant since the time of Aristotle, and Galileo’s support for it led to the Catholic Church prohibiting his viewpoint since it was yet to be empirically proven at the time. In fact, Galileo was forced to retract his idea of heliocentrism and had to spend the last years of his life under house arrest on orders of the Holy Inquisition.

Niels Bohr (1885 - 1962)

“An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field.”

A Danish physicist, Neils Bohr’s work laid the foundation that led to better understanding of the atomic structure and quantum mechanics, a feat that fetched him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922. His work made it possible to solve many of the problems regarding the nuclear model of an atom that classical physics was unable to. He asserted that electrons move in fixed orbits around the atom’s nucleus and explained how they emit or absorb energy. At his institute in Copenhagen, Bohr mentored and collaborated with some of the top physicists of his time. He also featured in the team of physicists who were working on the Manhattan Project. One of his sons, Aage Niels Bohr too grew up to be a physicists of repute, and like his father, he also went on to receive the Nobel Prize in 1975. Bohr is recognized as one of the most influential physicists of the 20^th century.

Max Planck (1858 - 1947)

“We have no right to assume that any physical laws exist, or if they have existed up to now, that they will continue to exist in a similar manner in the future.”

Max Planck is credited to having laid the foundation of quantum theory and is considered to be one of the most important physicists of the twentieth century. A German physicist, Planck has made many contributions in the field of theoretical physics, but it is his work that led to the origin of the quantum theory that won him more accolades, something that revolutionized the way atomic and subatomic processes were previously understood. This is comparable to the way Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity went on to revolutionize the way we think of space and time. Both of these theories together form, what can be rightfully considered, as the fundamental theories of 20th-century physics. Many of his discoveries were later translated to industrial and military applications that went on to affect every aspect of modern life.

Marie Curie (1867 - 1934)

“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.”

Born in Poland, Marie Curie was a physicist and a chemist who did pioneering work in the field of radioactivity. Apart from being the first woman professor at the University of Paris, she also has the rare distinction of being the only person to have been honored with Nobel Prizes in two different streams of science. In fact, Nobel Prizes had become a family tradition of sort with her, as her husband Pierre Curie too was a Nobel laureate, as were her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie and son-in-law Frederic Joliot-Curie. Among her most notable achievements is the creation of the theory of radioactivity, a term used by her for the fist time, and techniques for isolating radioactive isotopes. Her work also led to the discovery of two new elements, radium and polonium. It was also under her personal direction that active research fist began to be done in the treatment of neoplasms or cancers using radioactive isotopes. Though she was a perfectly loyal French citizen, her naming of the first chemical element that she discovered in 1932 as polonium showed she was ever aware of her Polish identity. In the same year, she founded the Radium Institute in her hometown Warsaw, headed by her sister Bronisława, also a physicist.  She also founded Curie Institutes in Paris and Warsaw.

Alan Turing (1912 - 1954)

“Science is a differential equation. Religion is a boundary condition.”

An English mathematician and logician of great repute, Turing is often rightfully considered as the father of modern computing. He is credited to having created an influential formalization of the concept of the algorithm and computation with the Turing machine. His Turing test added fuel to the raging debate regarding artificial intelligence as to whether it is at all possible to build a machine that will be intelligent enough to think and take decisions on its own. He later joined the National Physical Laboratory where he created the design of the world’s first computer based on the stored program concept, or ACE, though the design never got translated into a working model. The year 1948 saw him move to the University of Manchester where he made contributions to the Manchester Mark 1, then touted to be the world’s first true computer. During the World War II, he lent his services at the Bletchley Park, which served as the UK’s code breaking center and was the head for some time of Hut 8, the section tasked with German naval cryptanalysis. There he developed several methods for deciphering German ciphers. This included the method of the bombe, which was an electromechanical machine that could successfully find setting of the Enigma machine.

Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)

“I love fools’ experiments. I am always making them.”

Charles Darwin is perhaps best known for his theory of natural selection that emphasized that all species of live have evolved over time from a common ancestor. An English naturalist and biologist, Darwin lived to see the scientific community as well as the general public being convinced of the fact that evolution does occur. This, while his theory of natural selection gained general acceptance as the primary explanation of the process of evolution in the 1930s, and which has now formed the basis of modern theory of evolution. In its modified form, it is Darwin’s theory that can be credited to having laid the foundation of modern biology, since it is his theory that provides a unifying and logical explanation for the diversity of life on this planet. In his landmark book On the Origin of Species published in 1859, Darwin explained the phenomenon of diversification in nature as something that is brought about primarily by evolution by common descent. In his other books like The Descent of Man or, Selection in Relation to Sex, followed by The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, it is the human evolution and sexual selection that formed the main topic. As a tribute to Darwin’s excellence and distinction, he happens to be in the exclusive group of five 19th century UK non-royal personages to be granted a state funeral.

Nikola Tesla (1856 - 1943)

“The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.”

Tesla, a Serbian engineer and inventor, is known for his notable contributions in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which can be termed as revolutionary at best. He is also sometimes referred to as the most important scientist of the modern age and some who literally ’shed light on the face of Earth’. Tesla’s patents and extensive theoretical work laid the foundation of modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems, which includes the polyphase power distribution systems and the AC motor, all of which led to the commencement of the Second Industrial Revolution. Apart from his pioneering work on electromagnetism and electromechanical engineering, Tesla has also contributed in varying degrees in the fields of robotics, remote control, radar and computer science, and was instrumental in the expansion of ballistics, nuclear physics, and theoretical physics. The Supreme Court of the United States bestowed upon him the credit of being the inventor of the radio in year 1943. Many of his achievements have found application, with some controversy though, in various pseudosciences, UFO theories, and early New Age occultism. In fact, such is his contribution to science that he is also regarded as ‘The Father of Physics’, ‘The man who invented the twentieth century’ and ‘the patron saint of modern electricity.’

• 10 Most Frantic Scientists
• Bizarre Medical Anomalies
• Top 10 Most Dreaded Diseases
• 10 Poisonous Foods That Tickles Our Taste Buds
• Fascinating Cigarette Smoking Facts
• 10 Ways You’Re Ripped Off By Car Dealers
• Top 10 Birth Control Myths
• Top 10 Disorders Related To Eating

This article is part 1 of 2 in the series Surviving Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is the most common non-obstetrical surgical procedure done in the United States wherein a woman’s uterus or womb is removed.

What necessitates a hysterectomy?

Several medical conditions necessitate hysterectomy, the most common of which are the presence of uterine fibroids, severe pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, pelvic relaxation and uterine prolapse.

Uterine fibroids or uterine leiomyomata are the number one reason hysterectomy is performed. Although benign growths in the uterine lining, uterine fibroids are often associated with heavy bleeding and a lot of other menstrual discomfort experienced by women who elect to have a hysterectomy.

Pelvic relaxation is another medical condition that could be remedied by hysterectomy. When a woman experiences pelvic relaxation, there is a loosening of the support muscles and tissues in the pelvic area. This often leads to impaired sexual performance and urinary incontinence or the inability to hold in one’s urine. In some cases, urinary incontinence gets so bad urine leaks out when a woman coughs sneezes or laughs. Though the exact reason for pelvic relaxation is still unknown, childbearing has been identified as the major contributing factor.

How is a hysterectomy performed?

A hysterectomy is commonly performed by an incision done through the abdomen (abdominal hysterectomy) or through the vagina (vaginal hysterectomy). Both procedures take about 2 hours to complete while hospital recovery time can be longer with an abdominal hysterectomy than a vaginal one. But on the average, both require anywhere from 4 to six days hospital stay.

What are the types of hysterectomies?

1. Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Total abdominal hysterectomy is the most common type of hysterectomy wherein the doctor removes the woman’s uterus, including her cervix.

Some of the conditions that can be treated by a total abdominal hysterectomy are cancer of the ovary and uterus, endometriosis, and large uterine fibroids. It may also be done in cases of unbearable pelvic pain, but only after a thorough medical examination has been done to identify the real cause of the pain, and only after several failed attempts at other forms of medication.

Quite obviously, women who desire to have children are not good candidates for this procedure unless it is required by a life-threatening condition such as the removal of a cancerous growth in the uterus.

2. Vaginal Hysterectomy

A vaginal hysterectomy is the procedure to remove the uterus through the patient’s vagina. This is most appropriate only for conditions such as uterine prolapse, endometrial hyperplasia, or cervical dysplasia because in these three the uterus is not too large as to require removal through the abdomen.

3. Laparoscopy-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

A laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy is very similar to the vaginal hysterectomy procedure above. The only difference is that it makes use of a laparoscope, a very thin viewing tube with a magnifying glass-like device at the end of it.

Depending on the severity of the condition, some women would greatly benefit from having a laparoscope used during vaginal hysterectomy because it would allow the whole upper abdomen to be thoroughly examined during surgery.

The use of the laparoscope would also be beneficial for the early detection of endometrial cancer, or as a preparatory step to oophorectomy or the removal of the ovaries. Compared to a simple vaginal hysterectomy or total abdominal hysterectomy, laparoscopy-aided vaginal hysterectomy is a more expensive procedure. Aside from the cost implications, it has been found to have a higher incidence of complications that resulted to longer hospital stays.

4. Supracervical Hysterectomy

Supracervical hysterectomy is a much simpler type of hysterectomy that requires less time to perform. For this reason and the fact that it spares the patient’s cervix, this procedure is preferred by most surgeons. What remains of the cervix, called the “stump”, may actually give some form of support to the vagina, preventing the risk of vaginal prolapse.

Women may elect to have this procedure if there is not reason to have their cervix removed. In most cases the cervix is actually better left in its place, as when the patient is diagnosed with severe endometriosis.

5. Radical Hysterectomy

Radical hysterectomy is an even more extensive procedure than a total abdominal hysterectomy because it involves the removal of the upper vagina and of tissues surrounding the uterus.

Radical hysterectomy is most often performed on patients diagnosed with early stages of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, radical hysterectomy is also associated with a higher incidence of injury to the bowel and urinary system as compared to abdominal hysterectomy.

6. Oophorectomy (Removal of the ovaries) and Salpingo-Oophorectomy (Removal of the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes)

Oophorectomy is the medical procedure to remove the ovary while salpingo-oophorectomy is the removal of the ovaries and the adjacent fallopian tube.

These two procedures are commonly performed on patients with cancer of the ovary. Also for the removal of a suspicious ovarian tumor, or because of the presence of Fallopian tube cancer (which is very rare). These two procedures may also be performed due to complications of infection, or in combination with hysterectomy because of cancer.

On rare occasions, a woman with inherited breast or ovarian cancers will opt to have an oophorectomy as a preventative (prophylactic) measure to reduce the risk of a worse case of ovarian or breast cancer.

What are the usual complications of a hysterectomy?

Some of the usual complications of hysterectomy include pain, infection and bleeding in the surgical area. Compared to vaginal, an abdominal hysterectomy has a higher percentage of post-operative infection and pain.

What are the alternatives to a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy for conditions other than to stave off cancer is generally not considered until after all other tests or medications have been tried and were unsuccessful. Besides medication, there are now newer procedures, such as uterine artery embolization or surgical removal of a portion of the uterus (myomectomy), that are currently being used to treat excessive uterine bleeding.

As a general rule, before undergoing any type of hysterectomy, a woman should consider taking the following tests to select the best procedure for her:

1. A complete pelvic exam wherein the ovaries and uterus are thoroughly examined.
2. An up-to-date pap smear.

A pelvic ultrasound, depending on what the physician finds on the above.

• A Second Look at Hysterectomy
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• 40’s Women Common Conditions - Ovarian Cysts
• 40’s Women Common Disease - Fibroids
• 40’s Women Common Conditions - Endometriosis
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Ganglion Cyst - Bump It Off
• Mesothelioma Health Facts
• 10 Gynecology Health Facts Women Should Know
• Top 10 Birth Control Myths

1. Neck (19 inches or 48.3 cm)

At the gym: Nautilus four-way neck machine. This allows a safe workout for the neck, achieved by raising and lowering the head as well as moving the head sideways. Begin with 70 pounds in the head-raising exercises while 50 for the rest, with one set consisting of 8-12 repetitions in each direction should be enough.

At home: Barbell shrug. A 100-125-pound barbell using an overhand grip is required. Method to be followed is to stand straight and let the bar to hang down near the thighs, followed by repeated shrugging movement of the shoulder towards the ear, without letting the arms to bend. This way, two sets of 8-12 repetitions are to be done.

2. Biceps (16.5 inches or 42 cm)

Gym or home: Incline biceps dumbbell curl. Sit on an incline bench with arms hung back, allowing them to be stretched fully with palms facing forward. Now, curl the dumbbells up alternately, each time turning the palm inward. The time-plan should be, two seconds up, a brief pause, and then four seconds down. Three sets, each consisting of 8-12 repetitions with a 45 second rest in between sets is what is required.

3. Chest (52 inches; 132 cm)

Gym or home: Bench press that can be performed both with dumbbells or a barbell. First, a warm up set using just two-third the weight that you would normally bench will keep things simple, followed by three sets of 8-12 repetitions using rest of the weights.

4. Forearms (14.5 inches or 36.8 cm)

Gym or home: Wrist roll. For this, tie one end of a 30-inch long rope to a broomstick that has been shortened to 18 inches. To the other end of the rope, attach a 5 - 10 pound weight. Now, using an overhand grip, hold the stick horizontally in front of you, followed by repeated rolling movement so as to raise and lower the weight, which can be done as many times as you are comfortable doing.

5. Buttocks (47.5 inches; 120.6 cm)

At the gym: Nautilus hip-extension machine for a successful workout of the gluteal and hamstrings muscles. One set of 10-15 repetitions is to be done.

At home: Full squat, with dumbbells or a barbell. For this, stand upright with feet firmly on the ground. Gradually lower yourself until your thighs become almost parallel to the floor, all the while keeping your weight on your heels and your knees in line with your feet. Then slowly revert back to standing position. Begin with a warmup set using two-third the weight you normally squat with, followed with three sets of 10-15 repetitions with the full set of weights. However, if you suffer from knee, hip or back problems, you can perform a half squat, which involves lowering yourself till your thighs make a 30-degree angle with the ground.

6. Calves (19 inches; 48.3 cm)

Gym or home: Standing calf raise, with dumbbells in your hands or a barbell on your shoulders. For this, stand upright on the balls of your feet at the edge of a sturdy step. Next rise up on your toes, and then come back down, letting your heels drop slightly below the step. Do two sets of 15-20 repetitions.

7. Waist (40.5 inches; 102.8 cm)

It is largely due to his large obliques, or the muscles on each side of his torso. In ancient Greece, athletes were thick-waisted since they needed strength of the abdominal muscles for sports such as the discus, the long jump, and wrestling. In Doryphoros’s case, waist may not look that big, which is due to his chest being proportionately larger.

Gym or home: Twisting trunk curl. This is done by lying on the floor, with your lower legs resting on a chair seat. Then slowly curl your upper torso off the floor; but at the top of the movement, slowly twist to the right, so that your left elbow comes close to your right knee. Untwist and lower yourself, then curl up and twist to the left, which makes it one repetition. Do two to four sets of 20-25 repetitions.

8. Thighs (26.5 inches; 67.3 cm)

At the gym: Leg press. Select a weight you would be comfortable pressing only about a dozen times. After you have completed the twelfth repetition, quickly reduce the weight by 20 percent and follow it up with 6-8 more repetitions. If you are game for more, you can cut down an additional 20 percent of weight and pound out 6-8 repetitions more.

At home: Lunge, with dumbbells in hand or a barbell on your shoulders. Take a step forward with your right leg so that your knee is bent 90 degrees. As you do this, allow your left knee to drop towards the ground. Then revert back to the starting position with your right leg. Repeat the entire thing with your left leg, which makes it one complete repetition. Do one set of 6-8 repetitions. Again, if there are problems in your knee, hip or back, you can do the half squat under “Buttocks” instead.

Note:

Doryphoros stood at 6 feet 5 and a half inches. In order to get the right proportions for your own height use these rules:

1. Your waist should be about 12 inches smaller than your chest.
2. Measurements of you neck, biceps and calf should each be roughly half of your waist.
3. Size of your thighs should be about 1.5 times the size of your calves.

• Beginner’s Guide To Exercise
• Sleep Healthy, Sleep Well - Shopping For The Right Mattress
• Tips For A Healthy Athlete’s Joint
• Home Spa Treatments
• Simple Stretches To Keep Common Headaches At Bay
• 6 Stretch Exercises To Stay Alert At Work
• Big Bags - A Pain In The Neck
• Functional Fitness - Real Life Activity Work Out
• Exercises To Ease The Pain After Mastectomy
• Tighten Facial And Neck Muscles With Facial Yoga

Let us compare the two most effective types of weight loss supplements: fat binders and appetite suppressants.

Both fat binders and appetite suppressants, although they work in different way, offer satisfactory weight-loss benefits.

Diet Supplements Incorporated Into Your Diet

Perhaps you’ve tried more diet regimens than you can stomach, from the cabbage soup diet to the South Beach Diet, but you still haven’t found one that works for you.

Diet regimens are usually very strict, and, therefore, very hard to keep.  And when you fail, even just once, more often than not, you will tend to completely revert to the bad eating habits you were trying to control in the first place.

Having a healthy eating habit is still very important.  Diet supplements, though not magic formulas, can be very helpful when combined with a healthy diet as long as you remember that your body’s overall fitness and health should never be compromised.

Fat binders are ideal when you have the tendency to indulge your cravings every now and then.  Your efforts at sticking to a strict diet regimen are not completely thrown out a window when you go out to dinner on your anniversary.  The fat binder will help eliminate some of the excess fat and limit the negative effects on your regimen.

Appetite suppressants on the other hand, are very helpful to those who seriously want to stick to their strict diet regimen.  An appetite suppressant will help curb your cravings for sweets or for snacking by making you feel full more quickly and for a longer period of time.

Which One Works Best For You?

Both fat binders and appetite suppressants are very effective at promoting weight loss.  It is just a question of determining which one works best for you.

If you still want to have the option to indulge in big or fatty meals every now and then, a fat binder will be more suitable for you.  But if you want to really cut down on snacking and prevent giving in to your sweet cravings, then you should go for an appetite suppressant.

The good news is, you need not restrict yourself to either just a fat binder or an appetite suppressant.  Although both supplements are effective on their own, it is safe to use both to achieve faster weight loss while still enjoying some freedom in your diet.

For example, before going to work, you can take an appetite suppressant so you can avoid snacking throughout the day.  Then when you go home, you can still enjoy a big dinner with the family, afterwards taking a fat binder so you can get rid of most of the excess fat.

The Most Effective Fat Binder And Appetite Suppressant

After understanding the differences between fat binders and appetite suppressants, you can make an informed decision on which one to take.  You can also opt to use both kinds of diet supplements if you want more powerful results.

Here are the most effective fat binder and appetite suppressant products that I would recommend.  These offer the best weight loss benefits on their own, or combined.

Proactol

This is a top rated, most effective fat binder on the market which binds up to 28% of dietary fat.  It is clinically proven to help reduce excess body weight, and also has appetite suppressing properties.  Best of all, it is 100% natural and comes with a full 6 months (180 days) money back guarantee.

Click here to learn more about Proactol

UniqueHoodia

This is a top rated, most effective appetite suppressant which cuts down your calorie intake by as much as 2,000 calories per day.  It is also 100% natural and contains only genuine and 100% pure Hoodia Gordonii fom South Africa, with no binders or fillers.  It effectively suppresses your appetite and prevents you from snacking, with no known side effects.  It comes in 460mg capsules with a full 6 months (180 days) money back guarantee.

Click here to learn more about UniqueHoodia

• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Phentermine
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Hoodia
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Meridia
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Duromine
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Adipex
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Alli
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Ephedra
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Xenical
• Weight Loss Dilemma - Diet Pills War
• Diet Pills War - Proactol vs Reductil

Introduce a salsa party and the joys of healthy living to your friends. It may not be the “it” theme but it proves your classy yet elegant taste for fun and you’ll be surprised at the smiles that this kind of exercise will put on their faces. All you need is at least three to four varieties of homemade salsa, something to put it on, music, and a person who actually knows how to dance salsa who will guide you and your friends with the basics.

Your salsa party will be a sure success because:

1. you served them with the healthiest food
2. taught them the salsa moves
3. helped them burn the calories from last weeks party

The next thing you know, you might be setting the new trend for healthy summer parties from here on.

Salsa: The Perfect Flavor to Nutrition

Salsa can liven up almost anything. It contains ingredient that prevents aging, cancer and degenerative diseases away, allowing people to shine with radiance that is rooted from good health. No wonder it is such a best seller condiment because it offers a sinful taste yet doesn’t add up a huge chunk of cholesterol, fat and calories.

A look at some of the traditional ingredients shall provide us with an in depth look at the wonders of salsa:

Ingredient Wonder No. 1: Great Wonders come in Shiny Packages - Tomatoes

Start harvesting those fresh tomatoes from your garden because they are the big stars for our salsa production. These little babies are sure filled with great health wonders disguised in a shiny packaging. Tomatoes are a storehouse of lycopene, and carotenoid that keeps prostates, heart and colons healthy. It is also loaded with disease preventing vitamins A and K, and collagen reinforcing vitamin C. Tomatoes also keeps the cholesterol and livers functioning at their best by acting as blood cleansers and purifiers.

Ingredient Wonder No. 2: The Tear-Jerker - Onions

Our ingredient wonder number two is onions, which are the main source of quercetin, a flavanoid that fights against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, heart diseases and cancer. These known tear-jerker ingredients are packed with vitamins C and E, potassium, fiber and folic acid. Their popularity extends to helping keep the blood vessels in great shape and assists the body getting rid of heavy metals.

Ingredient Wonder No. 3: The Anti-Vampire - Garlic

It’s no surprise vampires shy away from this potent food because of its powerful profile that promotes heart and cardiovascular health, treating and blocking off cancer simultaneously. Garlic reduces high blood pressure and contains antibiotic and anti-fungal properties, which makes it the best beauty aid for women. The high sulfur content makes it able to tone up the skin, strengthening nails and makes the hair more lustrous.

Ingredient Wonder No. 4: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Peppers are great sources of vitamins C and A, and folate. Hot peppers are rich with capsaicin, the compound that makes cancer cells die. They are also known for relieving congestion and sinus conditions, and for promoting the cardiovascular system. Traditional salsa is used with Jalapenos, but for those wanting a milder salsa, El Paso or Anaheim peppers will do the trick.

Ingredient Wonder No. 5: With a Twist - Lemon

Lime juices are traditionally used with salsas that add to its alkalinizing effect. It may also be altered with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar which ever suits your taste - both of which are antimicrobial and help digestion.

Ingredient Wonder No. 6: Cilantro

Cilantro is a natural internal cleanser and deodorizer that can flush out mercury and other heavy metals from the body. These greens are packed with antioxidants that normalize cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and supports digestive and urinary tract health.

Ingredient Wonder No. 7: Sea Salt

Sea salt is a source of energy that promotes cellular communication and stabilizes heart rhythms. A pinch of this makes a whole lot different to the salsa because it frees the juices form the vegetables that allows the flavors to blend.

Two additional ingredients that can add texture, color and further nutrient dimension to a traditional salsa are corn and black beans.

Salsa: The Perfect Rhythm to Nutrition

Dancing being a physical activity is one of the most satisfying and empowering ways to exercise that allows you to let lose and have fun, while moving to the beat of the music.

This stress buster dance helps keep the body trim and slim by burning up to 420 calories in an hour, and increases blood flow to the brain. Salsa dance increases muscle mass, boosts endurance and improves coordination without the harmful side effects as opposed to running or riding a bike.

Salsa dancing actually reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and strengthens the bones of the legs and hips. It is a wonder dance that provides the heart with healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise while simultaneously allowing you to engage in a social activity that helps keep away loneliness and depression. Dancing activity for the elderly can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

No doubt, salsa dancing is the best activity that provides multiple benefits to the body, mind and soul.

• Healthy Party Appetizers
• Foods That Fight Cancer
• 10 Best Healthy Foods We Are Not Eating
• Diabetic Healthy Way Of Eating
• Fight Cancer With Healthy Fruits And Vegetables
• Healthier New Year Resolution #3 - Exercise More
• Health Friendly Fats And Oils
• Checklist To Prevent Breast Cancer
• Learn How To Read The Nutritional Fact Labels
• Top 10 Healthy Facts Of Fitness

Allergy develops when your immune system fails to recognize a food ingredient as a nutrient and treats it instead as a foreign object. When the immune system identifies a foreign object as harmful, it will create antibodies to combat them. Foods that commonly cause allergies are eggs, milk, seafood, soy products, peanuts, almond, walnuts, pecans, and other tree nuts.

What Causes Food Intolerance?

Unlike food allergy, food intolerance is not an immune response. Rather it is a digestive system response that results when the stomach cannot properly digest or breakdown food. Many have intolerance to milk and other daily products owing to their lactose content.

What Are the Symptoms of Food Allergy?

Those with food allergy may suffer symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The amount of food needed to cause allergy differs from person to person. Typical symptoms of food allergy are:

• Itchy skin
• Hives or rash
• Swollen airways
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Anaphylaxis

What Are the Symptoms of Food Intolerance?

Typical symptoms of food intolerance are:

• Painful stomach
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Bloating, gas, or cramps
• Heartburn
• Vomiting
• Nervousness or irritability
• Headache

How Prevalent Are Food Allergies and Intolerances?

It is estimated that 2 to 4% of the adult population and 6 to 8% of the children population suffer from food allergy. The incidence of food intolerance is higher. Almost everyone has at least experienced intolerance to a particular food. One of the most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance, which affects about 10% of the US population.

What Causes Food Allergies and Intolerance?

Food allergy is caused by sensitivity to certain proteins or chemical compounds found in food. Allergy develops when the immune system identifies a protein as harmful. The initial response of the immune system to a foreign object deemed harmful is the production of antibodies called immunoglobulin E or IgE.  These antibodies are released along with histamine and other chemicals. Histamine can have adverse effects on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, and skin.

Allergic symptoms manifest after the antibodies are released. Allergy symptoms vary depending on which part of body is targeted by histamine. Itchy ears, throat and nose mean that histamine is released in these areas. If histamine affects the skin, symptoms could be hives or rashes. If histamine is released in the stomach, abdominal pain, cramps, or diarrhea is to be expected.

People with food allergies have often relatives who are predisposed to such disorder, thus this condition can be inherited.

Food intolerance can be triggered by a number of factors. Sometimes, the body may lack enzymes necessary for thorough digestion of a particular protein. Intolerance can also be a response to chemical ingredients or food additives such as food coloring, spices, and preservatives. These ingredients contain dyes and monosodium glutamate.

Sulfite and salicylates can also cause digestion problems. Sulfites are naturally found in red wine and are used as food preservative. Aspirin and other salicylates belong to a family of plant chemicals naturally found in many fruits, vegetables, and alcoholic beverages. Aside from these chemicals, other food ingredients may trigger digestive problems if taken excessively.

How to Distinguish Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance

The amount of food needed to trigger allergy is less than the threshold limit for food intolerance. That’s why people with specific food allergies must totally avoid foods to which they are sensitive. On the other hand, food intolerance requires considerable intake of certain food before its symptoms manifest.  For instance, a person with lactose intolerance may feel no digestive problems after taking a glass of milk, but feels the symptoms when milk intake is increased to two glasses.

Food allergies and intolerances should not be mistaken for food poisoning, which is caused by spoiled or tainted food. To obtain accurate diagnosis and treatment, it is better to consult a doctor.

How Food Intolerance Is Diagnosed

Identifying foods that cause intolerances is mainly done through trial and error. Make a list of what you eat and determine the ingredients commonly found in those that you suspect are causing digestion problems.

Going on an elimination diet is another way to determine problem foods. Stop taking suspected foods until you are relieved from symptoms. Then bring back these foods into your regular diet so you can pinpoint which one is poorly tolerated by your stomach. Before going on an elimination diet, consult a registered dietitian who will assist you in planning a well-balanced diet.

How Food Intolerance Is Treated and Prevented

Avoid or reduce the consumption of problem foods. Manage the symptoms as soon as they arise.

Identifying problem foods and threshold levels is the key in preventing food intolerance. When dining out, ask a food attendant about the ingredients or additives used in the food you plan to order. Some of the ingredients to which you are sensitive may not be evident from menu description. Check food ingredients by looking at food labels. Also pay attention to condiments and seasonings for they may contain MSG and other additives.

• Natural Allergy Relief
• Understanding Colic In Babies
• Common Allergies in Children
• H. Pylori Infection - What You Should Know
• Guide To Avoid Digestive Disorders From Food Combination Disaster
• The Unhealthy Caffeine Fix
• How To Avoid Common Liver Problems
• HIV And AIDS FAQ - How Much Do You Know About HIV And AIDS?
• Anti Antibiotics - How To Fight Infection Naturally
• Good Carbs Bad Carbs - Know Your Carbohydrates

Fawcett became an icon in the 1970’s for her swimsuit posters. On-screen, among her notable works include The Cannonball Run, The Burning Bed, Small Sacrifices, Extremities, and The Apostle.

In 2006 when she was first diagnosed with anal cancer, Fawcett started her battle and got into radiation and chemotherapy, but in May 2007 not long after her treatment, scans revealed that her cancer was back and has progressed to stage IV cancer and has started spreading to her liver as well.

This angel is not the one to bow down easily and bravely underwent series of cancer treatments and procedure in Germany for six times which included chemotherapy, surgery to remove the original anal cancer, and laser treatments of the tumors in her liver.

Early 2008, though doctors stressed that she wasn’t cancer free, Fawcett was filled with optimism when scans showed that her tumors were no longer active and each of the known sites of tumor in her liver had all been treated.

Sadly, the cancer made big comeback in the spring of 2008 when test results revealed new tumors in Fawcett’s liver and they found a re-growth of her original anal tumor.

Fawcett opted for alternative treatments in the US when she entered clinical trial of an experimental drug in summer of 2008, which unfortunately was not successful, revealing that her tumor was progressing. Simultaneously she switched to other chemotherapy drugs, which to her dismay made her hair fall out - something Fawcett has been trying to prevent from her early cancer treatment.

April 2009 this year, after her sixth trip to Germany for more intensive treatments and surgical procedures, Fawcett was admitted to the hospital for blood clotting.

The Villain: Anal Cancer

The anus is the opening at the end of the rectum through which body waste passes. Anal cancer is an uncommon cancer whereas cancer cells develop in the anus.

Anal Cancers are highly treatable when diagnosed in the early stages before the malignancy has spread beyond the primary site, with 82% of five-year survival. The five-year survival then drops to 60% if diagnosed by the time it has spread to surrounding lymph nodes. And about 20% of patients live over five years when it has started to spread to distant organs.

The overall five-year survival rate diagnosis of anal cancer is 60% for men, while women have higher probability of 71%.

Targeted Victims of Anal Cancer

Those in the ages between 50 and 80 years old are common to be diagnosed with anal cancer. Men in their 50s are more likely to have anal cancer, but after age 50 it is slightly more common in women.

Some tumors that develop in the anus are benign, but eventually develop into cancer over time. There are several risk factors associated to anal cancer:

• People over 50 years old
• Having several sexual partners
• Having open anal intercourse
• Having a weakened immune system
• Frequent anal redness and soreness
• Smokers

There are claims that a particular vaccine may prevent anal cancers; however this has not been proven yet.

Signs of Anal Cancer

There are no symptoms associated with some cases of anal cancer. Though, about half of the patient’s first sign of the disease is anal itching and bleeding.

Anal cancer is very uncommon unlike other known cancers, so instead of trying to justify your healthy lifestyle and acting as the “know it already” brat, immediately address those symptoms and have it checked by professional doctors. Fear of the unknown is scarier when you realize the truth a little too late for you to do something about it.

Additional signs of anal cancer:

• Pain or pressure in the anal area
• Unusual discharges from the anus
• Lump near the anus
• Change in bowel habits

Detecting Anal Cancer

There are several ways to diagnose anal cancer including a routine digital rectal exam or during a minor procedure to remove suspected hemorrhoids. Anal cancer may also be detected through more invasive procedures like anoscopy, proctoscopy or endorectal ultrasound.

Once cancer is suspected, a pathologist will examine results from the conducted biopsy exam to give final confirmation.

Defeating the Villain: Treatments for Anal Cancer

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the standard treatments and are currently the most widely used approach for anal cancer. These treatments would normally involve series of repetition before getting optimistic results.

• Mesothelioma Health Facts
• Genital Warts Health FAQ
• Ganglion Cyst - Bump It Off
• Hepatitis - Are You At Risk?
• Hysterectomy 101
• Top 5 Lifesaving Test Every Woman Should Have
• HIV And AIDS FAQ - How Much Do You Know About HIV And AIDS?
• How To Avoid Common Liver Problems
• Grape Seed Extract Can Prevent Skin Cancer
• Understanding HIV And AIDS

Heart attack and cardiac arrest are the worst heart disease cheaters. Regardless if you follow a healthy lifestyle, one day you’re kicking like a horse, the next day you could be dead once it hits you. Every person should take precaution to prevent heart attacks and cardiac arrest because they can either kill you or leave you sickly, bedridden, and depressed.

Attack or Arrest: Does it Matter?

No one is ever too young or too old for that matter to start fretting about heart diseases. Truth be told, heart problems are all too common with younger men. It is the number one most common killer of men after experiencing accidents.

It is highly recommended for people to start caring for their hearts as early as the tender age of 20’s. It is the time when you could choose how to spend your luxury cash between buckets of beer or on blood pressure monitors and baby aspirins. The odds are about one out of three that you will die of cardiovascular disease. Consider for a moment that not only will you be able to delay this unpleasant episode; you may actually prevent it from happening altogether.

Lesser Evils: Heart Attacks vs. Cardiac Arrest

What is the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest anyway?

Heart attack (a.k.a. myocardial infarction) is basically a plumbing problem. In school, our science teachers taught us that the heart is a big pump that circulates the blood throughout our bodies, and that requires energy supply before it could function properly.

Fats, clotted blood, and other nasty stuff can cause the clogging in the coronary arteries, which is supposed to feed the heart. If added with blood clot altogether clogged in the artery, the fuel is blocked from getting to the heart, starving the cells until it dies, which then stops the pumping.

Cardiac arrest is essentially an electrical problem. Our hearts are triggered to beat with regular electrical impulses. An irregular heartbeat is called arrhythmia causing electrical impulses to become erratic which interfere with the pumping of the heart. Ever wonder what those TV doctors meant when they yell for “Clear!” once the patient hit a flat line? That is a perfect scenario of a cardiac arrest. Those paddles electrically jolt the heart back to its correct rhythm.

While these two are essentially different, a heart attack can sometimes lead into cardiac arrest.

Heart Disease Prevention

The key to prevention is to avoid clots and plaques from building up in your arteries. Keeping a smooth blood flow through your body reduces the risk of having heart problems.

While plaque builds up gradually, your arteries may still show some ill effects of all the crappy food you ate in high school and college. The process begins during childhood from the ice creams and burger consumed at that time. Manifestation of acceleration begins between the ages of 50 and 60.

We all know how to prevent plaque from building up. We’re just too stubborn to commit to them.

• Daily exercise for at least half an hour
• Pyramid Meal - more fruits and vegetables being the foundation and less red meat particularly those high in saturated fat
• Maintain within range of your normal body mass index
• Do not smoke
• Reduce emotional stress

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires a lot of discipline and commitment. It’s never too late for some changes especially with your lifestyle and eating habits. Regardless that some risk factors are beyond your control - like increasing age, family history and misfortune of being born a man. Even people who have full-fledged heart disease tend to live longer once they started making positive changes in their lifestyle.

Apart from positive lifestyle, medication can also control other medical conditions that increase your risk of clots such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

Treating Heart Diseases 101

Emergency treatment is immediately required for people who’s having a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Below are the lists of symptoms that requires immediate medical attention:

• Any painful discomfort or squeezing in the chest
• Pain that escalates into the arms, shoulders, neck or jaw
• Shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea
• Racing heartbeat and simultaneous dizziness
• Unconsciousness

After emergency treatment is given, you are likely to have more of these coming as well as a stroke. This would warrant an ongoing treatment to prevent further clots in your artery.

Blood thinners is an option or other drugs that reduce your blood’s tendency to clot.

You may also consider surgical treatments such as stents implant (that opens up a clogged artery), bypass (can re-channel blood flow away from the clogged arteries to new ones), pacemakers (keeps a steady heart rhythm), and ICDs (implantable cardiac defibrillators) that shocks an abnormal rhythm back to normal.

Additional Facts about Heart Diseases

Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to live a boring one. You can still have your regular fries and burger but in moderation. As a matter of fact, a few bottles of beer or glasses of wine a night decrease the odds of a heart attack.

Healthy living is imperative not only to have a healthy body but a happy life as well. Being sickly, potbellied, and limp isn’t fun is not exactly the best feats to attract the hot ladies. Regardless if you don’t care about living a long life, go for those changes so that you may have a good one.

• Sudden Cardiac Arrest
• Blood Presure, Cholesterol And Matters Of The Heart
• High Cholesterol Level Risks
• Monitor Your Blood Pressure
• Atrial Septal Defect - A Hole In The Heart
• Testing Risk Of Heart Attack And Stroke
• Anatomy Of The Heart
• Hypertension - A Whole New Pressure
• Understanding Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Mesothelioma Health Facts

The study involved keeping rats in darkness for six weeks.  Scientists observed that the brain cells, or neurons, which are involved in controlling emotions, began to die.  This was a form of brain damage in brain regions that, in humans, are known to be underactive during depression.  The study claims that the neuronal death may be the underlying cause of darkness-related blues.

The depressive behavior exhibited by the rats in the study which was caused by light deprivation may stem from the disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm.  Changes in brain systems that regulate mood may occur when an organism’s circadian system does not receive normal light stimuli.

Get sunlight especially during the fall and winter seasons.

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression that many suffer during the fall and winter seasons.  Sunlight is scarce during these months.  Another form of depression that is less serious and that arises during these seasons is the “winter blues.”  Both these conditions are directly related to inadequate sunlight.

Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that contributes to mood regulation.  People with depressive behavior have shown lower levels of serotonin than normal; the same results were observed in healthy people during the winter.

Studies have shown that the levels of serotonin are directly related to how much sunlight the body is exposed to.  The brain has higher serotonin levels during days with plenty of sunlight than during days with less.

People who live in the higher latitudes, where there is limited light exposure, have shown a higher occurrence of seasonal affective disorder.  The incidence in the US also rises during the fall and winter seasons.  All these lead to the conclusion that very limited sunlight exposure for very long periods of time may have a negative impact on a person’s mood, often leading to depression.

The body needs sunlight to function properly.

The body has a biological clock which involves many of the internal physiological systems to keep in tune with the rhythms in nature, most importantly, the cycles of night and day.  This internal biological clock is regulated by the body’s circadian rhythms, in response to both internal and external stimuli, like sunlight, which is believed to be very important in synchronizing the body’s circadian rhythms and ensuring that the body functions properly.  Our daily habit of waking up in the morning and sleeping at night is one of the most important products of circadian rhythm.

When the body does not get enough sunlight because the person has been confined to the hospital for a few weeks or has been stuck inside the house for days due to bad weather, the brain will undergo changes that may eventually result in negative moods.  In addition, the hibernation hormone, melatonin, will increase with decreased light, which will eventually lead to a feeling of tiredness.

The body has other internal clocks which work both independently and together to keep the body running properly, controlling temperature and the release of hormones.  These clocks include the brain, lungs, liver, heart, and skeletal muscles.

How To Give Your Body Adequate Light Exposure

No matter what the season, it is very important to spend some time out in the sun.  During the summer season, however, you should know how much time under the sun is safe for you.  The amount of sunlight you require also depends on the months of the year and if you are light or dark skinned.  During months when the sun is lower in the sky for most of the day, a person with light skin will need more than 20 minutes of sunlight, while a person with dark skin will need 60 to 90 minutes of sunlight.

During the winter months or days when you have to stay indoors, it is very important to make up for the loss of exposure to bright light to keep your serotonin levels high and your moods elevated.  If you can afford it, you can move to a place with a more ideal climate during the winter season.  A more practical option is to replace the light bulbs in your home and office with full-spectrum bulbs, which will give you the same qualities of natural light.
Good full-spectrum lighting should give you a natural and balanced source of light indoors and should have infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths.  During darker days, full-spectrum lighting goes a long way towards boosting your tolerance and is the next best thing to natural sunlight.

More Tips to Help Boost your Mood

Sunlight is a great mood booster, but there are other ways that you can improve your state of mind all throughout the year.

• Have a healthy diet.  Keeping the body fit and healthy greatly impacts a person’s state of mind.
• Know which foods affect your moods and how they affect your moods, like grains and sugar for example.
• Make sure that your Vitamin D levels are at their optimum.
• Get plenty of exercise.  Physical activity is also a good mood booster.
• Add foods which are high in omega 3 fats to your diet, specifically, animal-based omega 3.

• Alternative Pain Treatments For Fibromyalgia
• How To Manage Summer Depression
• Exercise Your Power Of Thought
• Bipolar Disorder - Keep It In Order
• Top 5 Ingredients In Foods That Make You Go Blue
• Ways Pets Can Lead A Healthy Life
• The Mind And Body Link
• Fibromyalgia-Induced Depression
• Top 10 Healthy Facts Of Fitness
• Chocolate’s Dark Secrets Revealed