What is brain?
Brain is brain, everybody knows what is brain, brain is the master control center of the body. The brain constantly receives information from the senses about conditions both inside the body and outside the body. The brain rapidly analyzes this information and then sends out messages that control body functions and actions. The brain also stores information from past experience, which makes learning and remembering possible. It is the source of thoughts, moods and emotions.
Your brain has 100 billions nerve cells and trillions of nerve conections. Although it's only two percent of your body's weight, it uses 70 percent of your body's oxygen and other nutrients. Because your brain can't store these nutrients as muscles can, it requires a constant flow of blood to keep working properly. A stroke occurs when this blood supply is altered and brain tissue is starved of blood. Within four minutes of being deprived of essential nutrients, brain cells begin to die.
There are two main types of brain stroke.
1. Ischemic. A about 80 percent of stokes are caused by atherosclerosis ( buildup of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits called plaque). Growth of plaque roughens the inside of your artery. The irregular surface can cause turbulent blood flow around the buildup-like a boulder in a rushing stream- and trigger development of a clot. More than half of ischemic strokes are caused by stationary ( thrombotic ) blood clots that develop in the arteries leading from your heart to your brain. A less frequent form of ischemic stroke occurs when a tiny piece of clotted blood breaks loose from the artery wall and is swept through larger arteries into small vessels inyour brain. A clot that may have developed in a chamber in your heart can also break loose. If the moving (embolic) clot lodges in a small artery and blocks blood flow to a portion of your brain, a stroke occurs. An ischemic stroke usually affects the cerebrum, the portion of your brain that controls your movement, languages, and senses.
2. Hemorrhagic. This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures. Blood from the hemorrhage spills into the surrounding brain tissue, causing damage. Brain cells beyond the leak or rupture are deprived of blood and are also damaged. One cause of hemorrhagic is an aneurysm. This "ballooning" from a weak spot in a blood vessel wall develops with advancing age. Some aneurysm may also form as a result of a genetic predisposition. As an aneurysm forms, the vessel wall becomes thin and stretched. An aneurysm that grows to at least three-eights of an inch in diameter (about the size of the head of a thumbtack) is most likely to rupture.
Most common cause of a hemorrhagic stroke is high blood pressure(hypertension). The constant force exerted by uncontrolled high blood pressure can weaken blood vessel walls. Hypertension increases your risk of a hemorrhagic stroke whether or not you have an aneurysm. An uncommon cause of hemorrhage is rupture of an arteriovenous malformation. This congenitally malformed nerwork of thin-walled blood vessels can burst and allow blood to leak into your brain, damaging or destroying tissue.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Winning and Keeping Friends
To win friends by being yourself, by showing appreciation to people's good deeds, by doing simple things to them, by being approachable and accommodating. Call your friends by their names, call them through the phone or by sending messages through texting just to say hello. Communication is very important too. Invite them in your home to chat with them and to drink beer. During weekends, you ussually spend most of your time for your family, but when your friends need your help, don't hesitate to help them. You help them in their financial needs but more so in their moral and spiritual needs, pray for them. You can buy almost anything, but not a friend. You can only win them. If you hear that a friend had said something negative against you, at the right time and place you must talk to him or her in a diplomatic way.
Meeting people every day offers opportunities to interact with different personalities. Since no two persons are the same, such interactions are rather difficult. Winning their friendships is even a greater challenge. More often than not, people tend to shy away from the idea of getting into a deep relationship with others. Either they don't want to undergo the process or they refuse the risk to be hurt. You can break this barrier of friendship by simply being sincere and open to them, finding ways where you can be of help and assuring them that you are always there when needed. You need not to be rich in order to do this, a word or two for comfort or praise, and a smile- there are all what you can give to make them feel at home in our lives. Let us not think of what they can do for us. Instead let us think of how you can serve their needs.
To have a long-lasting friend, one must be sincere. Even shaking hands, it must have a feelings or a tap on his shoulder. A true friend must have an integrity and can be trusted, somebody who can keep a secret. Our world is getting impersonal and the relationships with people are becoming very mechanical. However, a heart full of trust and sincerity of purpose can jolt people back into the reality of their humanness. After all, we are made to love and by all means, we should live accordingly to the goal. By doing our part in loving and by doing our share in giving, we will see friendships being won and influence being cast. It is only through this way that we can touch people's lives with ours.
Meeting people every day offers opportunities to interact with different personalities. Since no two persons are the same, such interactions are rather difficult. Winning their friendships is even a greater challenge. More often than not, people tend to shy away from the idea of getting into a deep relationship with others. Either they don't want to undergo the process or they refuse the risk to be hurt. You can break this barrier of friendship by simply being sincere and open to them, finding ways where you can be of help and assuring them that you are always there when needed. You need not to be rich in order to do this, a word or two for comfort or praise, and a smile- there are all what you can give to make them feel at home in our lives. Let us not think of what they can do for us. Instead let us think of how you can serve their needs.
To have a long-lasting friend, one must be sincere. Even shaking hands, it must have a feelings or a tap on his shoulder. A true friend must have an integrity and can be trusted, somebody who can keep a secret. Our world is getting impersonal and the relationships with people are becoming very mechanical. However, a heart full of trust and sincerity of purpose can jolt people back into the reality of their humanness. After all, we are made to love and by all means, we should live accordingly to the goal. By doing our part in loving and by doing our share in giving, we will see friendships being won and influence being cast. It is only through this way that we can touch people's lives with ours.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tears as Expression and Protection
All human beings cry. From the birth to the death, from the womb to the tomb, tears have become a part of people's lives. Babies cry for a variety of reasons: hunger, ear pain, physical hurt, indigestion, burns, and wetness. Children scream when they lose a fight. Sympathetic adults shed tears when touched by a tender scene. Some suitors become teary-eyed upon hearing the sweet sound of yes from the lady they are wooing. In moments of triumph, winners burst into tears of joy. When teased or scolded, sensitive individuals sob. The risk and broken-hearted cry out of pain and anguish. Others mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Tears are an expression or result of an intense emotion. But they are also an important part of the human body's protective mechanism. Tears are small drops of fluid secreted by two lachrymal glands located behind each of a person's eyelids. These glands squeeze out their salty solution through small ducts in the underside of the eyelids. Each time the eyelids blinks, it suck a little fluid from the glands. This fluid then bathes the cornea, the transparent front part of the eyeball's outer coat. Without the moisture provided by these fluids, the eyeball would rub so painfully on the inside lining of the eyelids. Tears also wash away foreign particles in the eye such as dust, hair, and other minute particles. When the eye is irritated tears overflow.Tears also contain proteins that help make our sight organ immune to infection. It also has a mild germicide called lysozyme that kill bacteria and other potentially harmful microbes.
Tears promote the health of our eyes. But their release also helps develop our emotional and social well-being. Children normally cry when afraid or hurt. It has been a tradition among many families to make boys ashamed of showing pain or fear. Since crying is considered unmanly, boys tend to repress and deny all kind of feelings, including tenderness. This impedes their ability to establish a wholesome relationship with family members, freinds, and fellow workers. Suppressed grief could also affect one's nervous system.
When a person experiences fervid emotion such as grief or great joy, the muscles around the lachrymal glands tighten up and squeeze copious tear fluids. So when you feel like crying allow yourself to cry. These lachrymal glands and tears stored in them are natural parts of human beings placed there for a purpose. They are to protect our eye and provide us a means of expressing our most intense emotions.
Tears are an expression or result of an intense emotion. But they are also an important part of the human body's protective mechanism. Tears are small drops of fluid secreted by two lachrymal glands located behind each of a person's eyelids. These glands squeeze out their salty solution through small ducts in the underside of the eyelids. Each time the eyelids blinks, it suck a little fluid from the glands. This fluid then bathes the cornea, the transparent front part of the eyeball's outer coat. Without the moisture provided by these fluids, the eyeball would rub so painfully on the inside lining of the eyelids. Tears also wash away foreign particles in the eye such as dust, hair, and other minute particles. When the eye is irritated tears overflow.Tears also contain proteins that help make our sight organ immune to infection. It also has a mild germicide called lysozyme that kill bacteria and other potentially harmful microbes.
Tears promote the health of our eyes. But their release also helps develop our emotional and social well-being. Children normally cry when afraid or hurt. It has been a tradition among many families to make boys ashamed of showing pain or fear. Since crying is considered unmanly, boys tend to repress and deny all kind of feelings, including tenderness. This impedes their ability to establish a wholesome relationship with family members, freinds, and fellow workers. Suppressed grief could also affect one's nervous system.
When a person experiences fervid emotion such as grief or great joy, the muscles around the lachrymal glands tighten up and squeeze copious tear fluids. So when you feel like crying allow yourself to cry. These lachrymal glands and tears stored in them are natural parts of human beings placed there for a purpose. They are to protect our eye and provide us a means of expressing our most intense emotions.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Loud Noise is Unhealthy
Some people may well tolerate loud noise but there are many reasons to stay away from it. Noise is one of human life's stressors. When a person exposed to loud noises, the blood vessels constrict and less blood flows to the organs. Noise is like passive smokers. People aren't aware that noise is affecting their health.Noise are unpleasant, annoying, and distracting sounds. Most kinds of noises are produced by vibrating objects that send out irregular vibrations at irregular intervals.
Dutch researchers also found out that people living on noisy streets suffer more high blood pressure than those in quieter areas. According to them, noise can cause people to get angry more easily, and provoke depression and organic diseases particularly when under stressful situations. Younger people are more at risk. It was reported that mothers who lived near airports bore more premature and underweight babies.
The researchers also agree that noise from traffic, night clubs, building firms, lively restaurants with videoke, discos and even background music- is enough to make some people's muscles tense, their pupils dilate, their heartbeat increase, their arteries constrict and their blood cholesterol and adrenalin levels rise. To much exposure to noise can also cause deafness.
Dutch researchers also found out that people living on noisy streets suffer more high blood pressure than those in quieter areas. According to them, noise can cause people to get angry more easily, and provoke depression and organic diseases particularly when under stressful situations. Younger people are more at risk. It was reported that mothers who lived near airports bore more premature and underweight babies.
The researchers also agree that noise from traffic, night clubs, building firms, lively restaurants with videoke, discos and even background music- is enough to make some people's muscles tense, their pupils dilate, their heartbeat increase, their arteries constrict and their blood cholesterol and adrenalin levels rise. To much exposure to noise can also cause deafness.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Trichinosis Desease -Eating Undercooked Food
Trichina is a small round worm that causes the desease trichinosis. The worm is a parasite, it lives in and feeds on other animals. The Trichina infects human beings and other animals, especially hogs, bears, and rats. Trichinosis in hogs, bears, and rats usually results from eating infected meat and infected garbage. The larvae ( early form of the worms ) live in microscopic cysts ( sacs ) in the muscles of animals they infect. They usually live in the animal's chest and neck muscles. If an animal infected by the larvae is allowed to live, the cysts eventually harden and the larvae die. But sometimes infected animals are killed for meat. In such cases, the larvae can be killed by thoroughly cooking or freezing the meat. However, if the larvae are not killed and the meat is eaten, the larvae are freed from the cysts during digestion. The larvae attach themselves to the intestine of the person who eats the meat. They become adult worm in about 3 or 4 days. The largest are only about 6 millimeters long. It is difficult to know how widespread trichinosis is because symptoms are similar to other less severe ailments, and the tiny worms which cause the problem can usually be detected only by careful body tissue examination.
Trichinosis has long been associated with eating undercooked pork and other swine products. Spread by butchered animal wastes and rats, virtually any animal eating such materials can carry the worms and be a source for human infection. Trichinosis is not true infection since the worms do not multiply in the body. Besides pigs, common sources of trichinosis are bear, walrus, whale seal, and dogs and cats when used for food. Europeans have contracted trichinosis from eating horsemeat, a new known source of the desease.
Although trichinosis is not usually fatal, a person eating heavily infested, undercooked meat can die. Aching muscles are usually the first indication of trouble. The pains generally start in the shoulders, then spread to the back and legs. A loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting follow. Since the tiny worms can plug up vessels carrying lymph fluid in the body, a typical symptom is swelling of the tissues around the eyes. Almost certain diagnosis can be made when the three symptoms- muscles pains, loss of appetite or nausea, and swelling around the eyes- occur together.
To avoid ingesting the worms, take special precautions when eating meat from wild animals, such as wild pig and bear. Pork products, especially sausage, should be well-cooked.
Preventing trichinosis is a relatively simple procedure:
1. Thoroughly cook all animal flesh before eating, especially pork. People using microwave ovens should be careful that all the meat reaches the minimum cooking temperature (140 degrees ) . Trichinosis has resulted from "cold spots" in the meat when using microwaves.
2. Freeze pork and pork products for at least three days at- 16.6 degrees F to kill the worms. Even lower temperatures may be needed to kill some cold-resistant worms found in artic regions.
3. Cook all garbage fed to pigs to prevent worm spreading.
Trichinosis has long been associated with eating undercooked pork and other swine products. Spread by butchered animal wastes and rats, virtually any animal eating such materials can carry the worms and be a source for human infection. Trichinosis is not true infection since the worms do not multiply in the body. Besides pigs, common sources of trichinosis are bear, walrus, whale seal, and dogs and cats when used for food. Europeans have contracted trichinosis from eating horsemeat, a new known source of the desease.
Although trichinosis is not usually fatal, a person eating heavily infested, undercooked meat can die. Aching muscles are usually the first indication of trouble. The pains generally start in the shoulders, then spread to the back and legs. A loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting follow. Since the tiny worms can plug up vessels carrying lymph fluid in the body, a typical symptom is swelling of the tissues around the eyes. Almost certain diagnosis can be made when the three symptoms- muscles pains, loss of appetite or nausea, and swelling around the eyes- occur together.
To avoid ingesting the worms, take special precautions when eating meat from wild animals, such as wild pig and bear. Pork products, especially sausage, should be well-cooked.
Preventing trichinosis is a relatively simple procedure:
1. Thoroughly cook all animal flesh before eating, especially pork. People using microwave ovens should be careful that all the meat reaches the minimum cooking temperature (140 degrees ) . Trichinosis has resulted from "cold spots" in the meat when using microwaves.
2. Freeze pork and pork products for at least three days at- 16.6 degrees F to kill the worms. Even lower temperatures may be needed to kill some cold-resistant worms found in artic regions.
3. Cook all garbage fed to pigs to prevent worm spreading.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Beginning of Lent
Lent is a religious season observed in the spring by christian churches. It serves as a time of spiritual discipline and renewal in preparation for Easter. Many churches hold special worship services during the season. Besides attending these services, Christians observe Lent with fasting, prayer, and self-sacrifice. Some Christians do charity work. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in many churches. In the Easter Catholic and Easter Orthodox Churches, Lent begins on a Monday, which is sometimes called Pure Monday or Clean Monday. The Lenten season lasts approximately 40 days, excluding Sundays in Western churches, excluding Saturday and Sunday in Eastern churches. The number 40 recalls Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness, as described in the Gospels. Most churches reserve special observance of Jesus' Passion ( suffering and death ) for the last week of Lent, called Holy Week.
The word Lent comes from words meaning spring and long and probably refers to the lenthening of days as spring approaches. Lent Probably grew out of the early Christian church's practice of baptizing people at the Easter Vigil, a service held on the eve of Easter. During the Vigil, the church also accepted repentant Christians back into the faith. In the weeks before Easter, candidates for baptism fasted and received religious instruction. By the A.D. 900's, Lent had become a time of penance and preparation for Easter for all Christians.
Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Its name comes from the custom of making confession of sin and receiving forgiveness ( being shriven ) on the day. Shrove Tuesday is a time of celebrating in many countries. It corresponds with Fastnacht in Germany and Mardi Gras in France and the Southern United States. The English celebrate Shrove Tuesday as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day. They traditionally cook and eat flat, thin pancakes on that day.
Ash Wednesday is the first the day of Lent. The day marks the beginning of season of dicipline and penitence that continues through the Lenten season. The day is observed by Western Christian churches, especially by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. In many churches, the observance of Ash Wednesday centers on ashes from burned palms used in the previous year's Palm Sunday procession. A priest or pastor blesses the ashes and uses them to marks a cross on the forheads of worshipers. This blessing is based on the Biblical passage,"... for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," ( Gen. 3:19). Ashes also serve as a symbol of purification and penitence.
Holy Week is the final week of Lent.
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar. Palm Sunday worship recalls when people spread palms and clothing in front of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. This happened several days before He was crusified. Palm Sunday marks a turn in Christian churches observance of Lent from a time of discipline and sorrow for one's sins to one of looking ahead to the Passion ( suffering and death ) of Jesus and His Resurrection.
By the late 300's Christians in Jerusalem were celebrating Palm Sunday on the first day of Holy Week. It was part of trend there to remember the last events of Jesus' life by holding services at sacred sites in the city. Today, Christians in many traditions observe the day with blessing and distribution of palms. Usually, the ceremony includes a procession.
Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, recalls Jesus' last meal and His arrest and imprisonment. Many Protestant churches hold Communion services on this day. During Maundy Thursday Mass, Roman Catholic priest often wash the feet of 12 church members or poor people in remembrance of how Jesus washed the feet of His 12 disciples at the time of the final meal. A priest takes the Host ( the wafer of bread regarded as Jesus' body ) from the main altar to a shrine on the side. The shrine symbolizes the place where Jesus' was held prisoner after His arrest. All decorations are removed from the main altar as a symbol of the stripping of Jesus' garments before the Crucifixion.
Good Friday observes the death of Jesus on the cross. Most churches hold mourning services. Some of these services last from noon until 3 p.m. to symbolize the last three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross. The Eastern Orthodox Churches follow mourning services with ceremonies recalling how Jesus was taken down fron the cross and placed inside a tomb. In numerous Spanish- speaking countries, Christians hold processions in which people carry statues of dying Jesus and His mother, Mary. Many Christians eat little or no food on Good Friday.
Holy Saturday is chiefly a day of solemn vigil ( watch ). The major activity of the day comes at nightfall as observance of the Ressurection approaches. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold vigil services that often include the baptism of new members. The vigil service leads up to a dramatic moments. The lights in each church are put out, leaving everyone in darkness. Then, the priest lights one tall candle, representing the risen Jesus. The flame from this candle is used to light other candles held by worshipers, which symbolizes the spreading of Jesus' light throughout the world. In Eastern Orthodox Churches, the ceremony is timed so that the priest lights his candle exactly at midnight. After all candles have been lit, the service becomes an Easter celebration, with joyous music and the reading ofthe Easter story from the Bible. Traditionally, newly converted Christian were baptized on this day, after having received religious instruction during Lent.
Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold saturday evening services, but most Protestant churches wait until Sunday morning to hold their main Easter services. Many churches and communities, particularly in the United States, have additional outdoor Easter services at sunrise. At that time, the light of the rising sun recalls the light that comes back to the world with the newly risen Jesus. Catholic and Orthodox churches also hold additional services on Easter Sunday, especially for those who missed the long services of the preceding night. For many Christians, Easter Sunday is set aside for feasting and celebration.
The end of the Easter season. During the 40-day period beginning with Easter Sunday, Christian celebrate the time when Jesus reappeared to some of His followers. THis period ends on Ascension Day, or Ascension Thursday. On this day, The story of Jesus' rise to heaven is read in churches. In Catholic churches, the Easter paschal candle is put out on Ascension Day. The Easter season concludes 10 days later with the feast of Pentecost, when the apostles reported that the Holy Spirit had entered into them. Christian believe that the church began at that time.
The word Lent comes from words meaning spring and long and probably refers to the lenthening of days as spring approaches. Lent Probably grew out of the early Christian church's practice of baptizing people at the Easter Vigil, a service held on the eve of Easter. During the Vigil, the church also accepted repentant Christians back into the faith. In the weeks before Easter, candidates for baptism fasted and received religious instruction. By the A.D. 900's, Lent had become a time of penance and preparation for Easter for all Christians.
Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Its name comes from the custom of making confession of sin and receiving forgiveness ( being shriven ) on the day. Shrove Tuesday is a time of celebrating in many countries. It corresponds with Fastnacht in Germany and Mardi Gras in France and the Southern United States. The English celebrate Shrove Tuesday as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day. They traditionally cook and eat flat, thin pancakes on that day.
Ash Wednesday is the first the day of Lent. The day marks the beginning of season of dicipline and penitence that continues through the Lenten season. The day is observed by Western Christian churches, especially by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. In many churches, the observance of Ash Wednesday centers on ashes from burned palms used in the previous year's Palm Sunday procession. A priest or pastor blesses the ashes and uses them to marks a cross on the forheads of worshipers. This blessing is based on the Biblical passage,"... for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," ( Gen. 3:19). Ashes also serve as a symbol of purification and penitence.
Holy Week is the final week of Lent.
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar. Palm Sunday worship recalls when people spread palms and clothing in front of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. This happened several days before He was crusified. Palm Sunday marks a turn in Christian churches observance of Lent from a time of discipline and sorrow for one's sins to one of looking ahead to the Passion ( suffering and death ) of Jesus and His Resurrection.
By the late 300's Christians in Jerusalem were celebrating Palm Sunday on the first day of Holy Week. It was part of trend there to remember the last events of Jesus' life by holding services at sacred sites in the city. Today, Christians in many traditions observe the day with blessing and distribution of palms. Usually, the ceremony includes a procession.
Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, recalls Jesus' last meal and His arrest and imprisonment. Many Protestant churches hold Communion services on this day. During Maundy Thursday Mass, Roman Catholic priest often wash the feet of 12 church members or poor people in remembrance of how Jesus washed the feet of His 12 disciples at the time of the final meal. A priest takes the Host ( the wafer of bread regarded as Jesus' body ) from the main altar to a shrine on the side. The shrine symbolizes the place where Jesus' was held prisoner after His arrest. All decorations are removed from the main altar as a symbol of the stripping of Jesus' garments before the Crucifixion.
Good Friday observes the death of Jesus on the cross. Most churches hold mourning services. Some of these services last from noon until 3 p.m. to symbolize the last three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross. The Eastern Orthodox Churches follow mourning services with ceremonies recalling how Jesus was taken down fron the cross and placed inside a tomb. In numerous Spanish- speaking countries, Christians hold processions in which people carry statues of dying Jesus and His mother, Mary. Many Christians eat little or no food on Good Friday.
Holy Saturday is chiefly a day of solemn vigil ( watch ). The major activity of the day comes at nightfall as observance of the Ressurection approaches. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold vigil services that often include the baptism of new members. The vigil service leads up to a dramatic moments. The lights in each church are put out, leaving everyone in darkness. Then, the priest lights one tall candle, representing the risen Jesus. The flame from this candle is used to light other candles held by worshipers, which symbolizes the spreading of Jesus' light throughout the world. In Eastern Orthodox Churches, the ceremony is timed so that the priest lights his candle exactly at midnight. After all candles have been lit, the service becomes an Easter celebration, with joyous music and the reading ofthe Easter story from the Bible. Traditionally, newly converted Christian were baptized on this day, after having received religious instruction during Lent.
Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold saturday evening services, but most Protestant churches wait until Sunday morning to hold their main Easter services. Many churches and communities, particularly in the United States, have additional outdoor Easter services at sunrise. At that time, the light of the rising sun recalls the light that comes back to the world with the newly risen Jesus. Catholic and Orthodox churches also hold additional services on Easter Sunday, especially for those who missed the long services of the preceding night. For many Christians, Easter Sunday is set aside for feasting and celebration.
The end of the Easter season. During the 40-day period beginning with Easter Sunday, Christian celebrate the time when Jesus reappeared to some of His followers. THis period ends on Ascension Day, or Ascension Thursday. On this day, The story of Jesus' rise to heaven is read in churches. In Catholic churches, the Easter paschal candle is put out on Ascension Day. The Easter season concludes 10 days later with the feast of Pentecost, when the apostles reported that the Holy Spirit had entered into them. Christian believe that the church began at that time.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Understanding Migraine Pain
Migraine is one of the severest types of headache. It is also called sick headache because the pain may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Migraine may be caused by increased stretching, swelling and throbbing of the arteries in the head. Such foods as chocolate and various cheeses may trigger migraines in some people. Migraine recurs from time to time and its often so painful that the victim must stay in bed. Some people suffer migraines as frequently as two or three times a week. In other cases, attacks occur several months or even years apart. For many sufferers, each migraine attack follows the same pattern. Before the pain begins, they may see flashing lights or have a blind spot in their field of vision. The pain usually strikes on one side of the head, and nausea and vomiting may follow. Some victims also shed tears, experience blurred vision, or have numbness in an arm or leg.
Different and painful.Migraine headaches bring crushing pain to many people. For some, what they eat may play a role. If your migraines are triggered by certain foods, it's possible that avoiding those foods may help you avoid a headache. A migraine headache can last from four to 72 hours. It's different and more painful than a tension headache you might get after a stressful day. A migraine may include throbbing and sometimes disabling head pain. Some or all the following may accompany the pain; blurred vision; flashing lights; nausea and vomiting; tingling numbness in you arms or legs; and ususal sensitivity to light, sound or odors. Some people with migraines also have food cravings, mood swings, irritability and frequent yawning.
A link to what you eat?
Almost anything in your lifestyle or invironment can trigger changes in your brain that lead to a migraine . But up to 20 percent of the time, migraines may be linked to a certain food and combination of foods. Although it's still an issue debated by doctors, there may be chemicals in some foods that cause widening of blood vessels in the brains of people who have migraine pain. Foods and food ingredients that are sometimes associated with migraines include:
Alcohol, especially red wine and beer
Aged cheese
Caffeine, especially cutting back
Chocolate
Fermented, pickled or marinated foods
Meats preserved in nitrates
Nuts
Pizza
Foods prepared with monosodium glutamate (vetsin )
The important thing to keep in mind is that not all of these foods cause migraines in e veryone who gets the headaches. In fact, most people with migraines can eat these foods and not get a headache. In addition, if your migraines are linked to what you eat, it may be that only the one food involved. And that food may not provoke a migraine every time you eat it. Unfortunately, this means it takes time and patience to find any dietary connection to your headaches.
Keeping a migraine diary is one of the best way to pinpoint migraine triggers, whether it's food or something else. Use a notebook to keep track of migraine information, and make sure you record;
1. The date and time of your headache.
2. The symptoms you had not only during migraine but before and after.
3. A description of the pain, its location and how severe it was.
4. The treatment you used, such as taking aspirin or using ice.
5. What you are, drank and were doing on the day of headache and the days preceeding it.
You may also want to nte ant changes in your life that took place near the onset of your migraine. For instance, was there a change in your daily stress level, or was the amount of time you slept different?
If you see a pattern developing in your migraine diary, you may wish to talk to your doctor- even if you've already been diagnosed with migraines. If your doctors agrees that your migraines may be triggered by what you eat, you may be advised to avoid a particular food or drink. You may also wish to see a registered dietitian. A dietitian can recommend substitutes for suspected food triggers and help you plan menus to reduce migraine attacks.
Understanding migraine pain because they involve blood vessels in your brain, migraines are also known as vascular headahces. Although much of the origin of headahces is unknown researchers believe that changes in nerve pathways and imbalances in brain chemistry may cause these blood vessels to dilate and become inflamed. The swollen vessels may irritate nearby nerves, causing the intense throbbing pain for which migraines are known.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Bonding Experience With Your Child
Reading is the major skill upon which all other learning is based. If you can help your children develop strong reading skills, they will likely succeed in most other areas of learning. And you can help them! How? It can be as simple as reading aloud. Just minutes a day will make a difference in abilities. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. You will think of more as you go along.
1.The earlier you start, the better. There are saying that an infant is reading at that magical moment when it first responds to a parent's smile. Important meaning is found in that smile, and that's what reading is all about- discovering meaning. It's never too early or too late to begin. As you read to young children, point to the pictures or move your finger under the words. They will soon learn that pictures tell story, that words tell about pictures, that sentences ( in many languages ) are read from left to right,and that pages are read from top to bottom.
2. Time means love. Set aside a regular block of time to read aloud. Avoid times when your child has obligations such as homework or wants to watch a favorite TV program. Make a commitment and atay with it. If necessary, turn down other appointments. Think about the positive message that will send to your child!
3. Listening shows commitment. There will be times when your child wants to share or talk about a book he or she has read. You can always drop everything, but when you can, do. When you must postpone the request, explain why, commit to a time later in the day, and keep your commitment. The younger the child, the sooner that time should be.
4. Selecting books teaches values. Listen to your children and discover their interests. As children grow older, involve them in selecting books. Introduce them to the library and make regular visits together. Not all books will appeal to your children, and not all are books you will want them to read. But you can intrduce them to a better quality of literature as you determine criteria together, and they will be better prepared to make their own selections in the future.
5.Discover your child's ability to understand. If your child wants to learn more about space exploration, use materials he or she can comprehend. Younger children will learn more from books with pictures. Knowing that a man traveled to the moon may be enough to satisfy a beginner. How he got there will interest older readers.
6. A good environment sets the stage. Have plenty of eye-appealing books and magazines in your home- some for you, some for your children. Choose a place where you will read together: a favorite chair, propped up on your child's bed, the porch swing, wherever. Provide a bookcase that will be the child's own and encourage him or her to store favorites there. It's also a good place to keep those library books so you can find them easily when it's time to return them.
When you're ready to read aloud, eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV or radio, and avoid times when friends or family members are likely to make demands of your time.
8. Practice your own laughter. When you read aloud, use voice inflection and tone that will make the story come to life. Share the humor, the pathos, the anxiety. Put some drama into your voice.
9. Keep them dangling. Start a book, arouse the child's interest, then stop while interest is high. This lets a child ask for more. Older children may ask for the book so they can finish reading it for themselves.
10. Make room for laughter. Share jokes, nonsense rhymes, funny stories, puns, words with silly sounds. Read aloud stories or examples of humor that appeal to children.
11. Accept your child's pace. Don't overdo it. Five or 10 minutes is enough at first. The younger the child, the shorter the attention span. You want the child to ask for more, not beg you to stop.
12. Teach your child how to find information. When kids ask tough questions about a topic in the book, be truthful. "I do'nt know, but I can help you find out" lets you lead them to the other books to find answers.
13. Expand the imagination.Begin reading a story, but stop before the end. Ask the child to imagine what might happen. After you have speculated together, read the rest of the story aloud- or better yet, let the child read the rest of the story, if able to do so, and share the ending with you.
14. Share the fun with others. Kids love to hear themselves talk. Taperecord them reading story, and send the tape to a grandparents or friends.
15. Seek a response and enlarge a child's horizon. Get a response from your child. Educators call it a comprehension check. Have the child act out part of the story. On other days draw a picture, summarize ideas, or review information. Encourage children to read favorite books and stories to a younger sibling or to share their new knowledge with older person.
16. Nurture a budding reporter. After a trip to the zoo, a visit to the park, encourage your child to talk and write about it. Younger children can dictate their story to you- a sentence or two is sufficient. Invite them to illustrate it with a picture, then read it to someone- a grandparent, a neighbor, an elderly friend, a cousin,etc. The refrigerator door is still a good place to display your child's craft.
17. Give the gift of approval. When your child shares a reading ( or any other ) experience, listen carefully and respond positively. Your child wants to please you. Your approval is a major source of encouragement.
1.The earlier you start, the better. There are saying that an infant is reading at that magical moment when it first responds to a parent's smile. Important meaning is found in that smile, and that's what reading is all about- discovering meaning. It's never too early or too late to begin. As you read to young children, point to the pictures or move your finger under the words. They will soon learn that pictures tell story, that words tell about pictures, that sentences ( in many languages ) are read from left to right,and that pages are read from top to bottom.
2. Time means love. Set aside a regular block of time to read aloud. Avoid times when your child has obligations such as homework or wants to watch a favorite TV program. Make a commitment and atay with it. If necessary, turn down other appointments. Think about the positive message that will send to your child!
3. Listening shows commitment. There will be times when your child wants to share or talk about a book he or she has read. You can always drop everything, but when you can, do. When you must postpone the request, explain why, commit to a time later in the day, and keep your commitment. The younger the child, the sooner that time should be.
4. Selecting books teaches values. Listen to your children and discover their interests. As children grow older, involve them in selecting books. Introduce them to the library and make regular visits together. Not all books will appeal to your children, and not all are books you will want them to read. But you can intrduce them to a better quality of literature as you determine criteria together, and they will be better prepared to make their own selections in the future.
5.Discover your child's ability to understand. If your child wants to learn more about space exploration, use materials he or she can comprehend. Younger children will learn more from books with pictures. Knowing that a man traveled to the moon may be enough to satisfy a beginner. How he got there will interest older readers.
6. A good environment sets the stage. Have plenty of eye-appealing books and magazines in your home- some for you, some for your children. Choose a place where you will read together: a favorite chair, propped up on your child's bed, the porch swing, wherever. Provide a bookcase that will be the child's own and encourage him or her to store favorites there. It's also a good place to keep those library books so you can find them easily when it's time to return them.
When you're ready to read aloud, eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV or radio, and avoid times when friends or family members are likely to make demands of your time.
8. Practice your own laughter. When you read aloud, use voice inflection and tone that will make the story come to life. Share the humor, the pathos, the anxiety. Put some drama into your voice.
9. Keep them dangling. Start a book, arouse the child's interest, then stop while interest is high. This lets a child ask for more. Older children may ask for the book so they can finish reading it for themselves.
10. Make room for laughter. Share jokes, nonsense rhymes, funny stories, puns, words with silly sounds. Read aloud stories or examples of humor that appeal to children.
11. Accept your child's pace. Don't overdo it. Five or 10 minutes is enough at first. The younger the child, the shorter the attention span. You want the child to ask for more, not beg you to stop.
12. Teach your child how to find information. When kids ask tough questions about a topic in the book, be truthful. "I do'nt know, but I can help you find out" lets you lead them to the other books to find answers.
13. Expand the imagination.Begin reading a story, but stop before the end. Ask the child to imagine what might happen. After you have speculated together, read the rest of the story aloud- or better yet, let the child read the rest of the story, if able to do so, and share the ending with you.
14. Share the fun with others. Kids love to hear themselves talk. Taperecord them reading story, and send the tape to a grandparents or friends.
15. Seek a response and enlarge a child's horizon. Get a response from your child. Educators call it a comprehension check. Have the child act out part of the story. On other days draw a picture, summarize ideas, or review information. Encourage children to read favorite books and stories to a younger sibling or to share their new knowledge with older person.
16. Nurture a budding reporter. After a trip to the zoo, a visit to the park, encourage your child to talk and write about it. Younger children can dictate their story to you- a sentence or two is sufficient. Invite them to illustrate it with a picture, then read it to someone- a grandparent, a neighbor, an elderly friend, a cousin,etc. The refrigerator door is still a good place to display your child's craft.
17. Give the gift of approval. When your child shares a reading ( or any other ) experience, listen carefully and respond positively. Your child wants to please you. Your approval is a major source of encouragement.
Preventing Low Back Pain
You probably don't even think about your back-unless it hurts. Fortunately, a sore back will often settle down or improve on its own within a month to six weeks. But with a little care and attention, you may be able to avoid an aching back in the first place.Your back is a balanced network of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. All of these work together to balance and bear the weight of your body and whatever you happen to be carrying.
Within this this network is a series of curves- in your neck, upper back and lower back. These curves help absorb the impact of day-to-day living. Of the three curves, the lower back (lumbar spine) is the most common site of pain. Any number of things may contribute to lower back pain, including poor muscle tone, excess weight ( especially around your middle ) and improper or heavy lifting.
In addition, poor posture and sitting or standing in one position for a long time puts extra stress on your back. To help prevent back pain you need to combine aerobic exercise, muscle strenght and flexibility, and proper baody mechanics.
Aerobic Exercise. Regular, daily aerobic activities that don't strain or jolt your back are often recommended for back care. These exercise can increase strenght and endurance in your lower back, allowing your muscles to function better. Appropriate activities might include walking, swimming or biking. Talk with your doctor about what activity might be best for you.
Muscle strenght and flexibility. Conditioned abdominal and back muscles work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your your hips and upper legs allows for proper pelvic bone allignment, which directly affects how your back feels.
Hamstring stretch- Sit on a firm bed. Keeping your back straight, slowly bend forward ( do not bounce ) at your hips until you feel a gentle pull in the muscles under your thigh. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Maintain a neutral pelvic position- Ideally, the top of your hip should be level. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Gently tighten and pull in your abdominal muscles while slightly tucking under buttocks muscles.
Bridging- This strengthens abdominal, buttocks and lower back muscles. Tighten your abdominal muscles and slowly raise your hips as afr as you can without dis comfort. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds and repeat three times. Gradually increase the time as you improve.
Knee-to-chest stretch- Lie on a firm surface with your hips and knees bent and feet flat on the surface. Pull your left knee toward your chest with both hands. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Proper body mechanics.
Stand- Maintain a neutral position. If you must stand for long periods of time, alternate placing your feet on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
Sit- Choose a seat with good lower back support, or place a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
Lift- Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Never lift and twist simultaneously.
Sleep- When you sleep, give your spine a rest, too. Lie on your side with a pillow between your bent knees, or lie on yout back with a pillow under your knees. Following these simple precautions can help your back do its job- perhaps with- out reminding you it's even there.
Within this this network is a series of curves- in your neck, upper back and lower back. These curves help absorb the impact of day-to-day living. Of the three curves, the lower back (lumbar spine) is the most common site of pain. Any number of things may contribute to lower back pain, including poor muscle tone, excess weight ( especially around your middle ) and improper or heavy lifting.
In addition, poor posture and sitting or standing in one position for a long time puts extra stress on your back. To help prevent back pain you need to combine aerobic exercise, muscle strenght and flexibility, and proper baody mechanics.
Aerobic Exercise. Regular, daily aerobic activities that don't strain or jolt your back are often recommended for back care. These exercise can increase strenght and endurance in your lower back, allowing your muscles to function better. Appropriate activities might include walking, swimming or biking. Talk with your doctor about what activity might be best for you.
Muscle strenght and flexibility. Conditioned abdominal and back muscles work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your your hips and upper legs allows for proper pelvic bone allignment, which directly affects how your back feels.
Hamstring stretch- Sit on a firm bed. Keeping your back straight, slowly bend forward ( do not bounce ) at your hips until you feel a gentle pull in the muscles under your thigh. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Maintain a neutral pelvic position- Ideally, the top of your hip should be level. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Gently tighten and pull in your abdominal muscles while slightly tucking under buttocks muscles.
Bridging- This strengthens abdominal, buttocks and lower back muscles. Tighten your abdominal muscles and slowly raise your hips as afr as you can without dis comfort. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds and repeat three times. Gradually increase the time as you improve.
Knee-to-chest stretch- Lie on a firm surface with your hips and knees bent and feet flat on the surface. Pull your left knee toward your chest with both hands. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Proper body mechanics.
Stand- Maintain a neutral position. If you must stand for long periods of time, alternate placing your feet on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
Sit- Choose a seat with good lower back support, or place a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
Lift- Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Never lift and twist simultaneously.
Sleep- When you sleep, give your spine a rest, too. Lie on your side with a pillow between your bent knees, or lie on yout back with a pillow under your knees. Following these simple precautions can help your back do its job- perhaps with- out reminding you it's even there.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Tips on Debt Reduction
1. Establish a Budget. Often, families who make a reasonably good income say they don't know where it all goes. You can find out by making all your purchases by check for a period of three months. Then simply study your checkbook register for that period. Many are surprised to learn how much money is spent on unnecessary items.
2. Set goals for your family. Many families live from paycheck. They aren't really enjoying life; they're just existing- just getting by. Why not set goals for your family? Pay off some debt by a set of date. Save money for your next car. Have the children start saving regularly for their college expenses. Setting goals and meeting them brings satisfaction.
3. Destroy your credit cards. Credit cards are of the major causes of family indebtedness. They are so easy to use and so hard to pay off. If you find that you are not paying off the cards in total each month or that you are using them to purchase items that you would not otherwise have bought, then you should destroy your credit cards before they destroy you or your marriage.
4. Purchase depreciating items with cash. In general, families who use cash to make their purchases spend less. For one thing, when you save up for an item, you are more likely to make sure you get the best deal available. On the other hand, you're more likely to purchase things that will soon be used up or eaten when you can delay paying for them than when you have to lay out the cold, hard- and hard-earned- cash.
5. Begin economy measures. Sometimes we're not aware of how mush we could reduce our monthly expenses just by watching some of the small things. Take utilities, or example, just setting your thermostat a little higher in summer and a little lower during the cold months and turning out the lights in rooms not being used can save a significant amount over the course of a year. You can also save by making fewer and shorter long-distance calls, by shopping on sale days and by eating out less often.
6. Have a sale.Most of us have closets and basements and garages cluttered with items that we never use again, things like children's clothes and toys; old books, magazine and record albums; tools and leftover building materials- the list goes on and on. Why not collect all this "stuff", have a yard sale, and place the proceeds on your debt?
2. Set goals for your family. Many families live from paycheck. They aren't really enjoying life; they're just existing- just getting by. Why not set goals for your family? Pay off some debt by a set of date. Save money for your next car. Have the children start saving regularly for their college expenses. Setting goals and meeting them brings satisfaction.
3. Destroy your credit cards. Credit cards are of the major causes of family indebtedness. They are so easy to use and so hard to pay off. If you find that you are not paying off the cards in total each month or that you are using them to purchase items that you would not otherwise have bought, then you should destroy your credit cards before they destroy you or your marriage.
4. Purchase depreciating items with cash. In general, families who use cash to make their purchases spend less. For one thing, when you save up for an item, you are more likely to make sure you get the best deal available. On the other hand, you're more likely to purchase things that will soon be used up or eaten when you can delay paying for them than when you have to lay out the cold, hard- and hard-earned- cash.
5. Begin economy measures. Sometimes we're not aware of how mush we could reduce our monthly expenses just by watching some of the small things. Take utilities, or example, just setting your thermostat a little higher in summer and a little lower during the cold months and turning out the lights in rooms not being used can save a significant amount over the course of a year. You can also save by making fewer and shorter long-distance calls, by shopping on sale days and by eating out less often.
6. Have a sale.Most of us have closets and basements and garages cluttered with items that we never use again, things like children's clothes and toys; old books, magazine and record albums; tools and leftover building materials- the list goes on and on. Why not collect all this "stuff", have a yard sale, and place the proceeds on your debt?
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Leap Year
A leap year has 366 days, or one more day than an ordinary year. A leap year occurs in every year that can be divided evenly by four, except the year that mark the hundreds, such as 1500. The only century years that are leap years are those that can be evenly by 400, such as 1600 and 2000. Leap years were added to the calendar to make the calendar year nearly the same as the solar year, which is the time it takes for the sun to pass the vernal equinox twice. The extra day is added to the end of February and occurs as February 29 once every four years.
Year is the time the earth takes to make one complete revolution around the sun. There are two different kinds of years which are used by astronomers. The solar, equinoctial, or tropical year is the time between two passages of the sun through the vernal equinox, which occurs in March. This year is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds long. This year is used for all practical and astronomical purposes. It is the basis of our common or calendar year.
The sidereal year is made up of 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 9.5 seconds. This is the time it takes the earth to return to the same place in its orbit, with reference to the fixed stars. The sidereal year is longer than solar year because of the precession of the equinoxes. The sidereal year is seldom used except in the calculations of astronomers.
The calendar year is only 365 days long, and so we have to add an extra day every four years to correct the difference in time between the calendar year and the solar year. This fourth year is called leap year, and the extra day is February 29. Adding an extra day every fourth year makes the average calendar year 11 minutes, 14 seconds too long. So, the day is not added in the century years, except in those divisible by 400. The years 2009 will contain 366 days. Thus the difference between calendar and solar years will vary only one day over period of several thousand years.
The lunar year is made up of 12 lunar months. The ancient Greeks used this year. It contained 354 days. In most Christian nations the calendar year begins on January 1. During the Middle Ages, however, most European nations considered March 1 or March 25, Annunciation Day, as the first day of the calendar year. By 1600 nearly all civilized countries except England recognized January 1 as the first day of the year. England adopted the Gregorian calendar, which recognized January 1 as the beginning of the year, on September 14, 1752.
The church calendar, which is used in the Roman Catholic and in most Protestant churches, is regulated partly by the solar and partly by the lunar year. This causes a difference between the fixed feast day, which always fall on the same day every year, and movable feasts such as Easter, whose dates vary from year to year. The fixed feast days are determined by the solar year, and the movable feast days, by the lunar year.
In ancient Roman times, before the Julian calendar was adopted, the year began on March 1. The Jewish year begins near the time of the autumnal equinox, around the 22nd of September. The Islamic year, however, is based on the changing phases of the moon and lasts for 354 days. Therefore, the beginning of the Islamic year continually falls earlier in the seasons. Thirty Islamic years make up a cycle during which there are 11 leap years. These leap years occurs at irregular intervals.
Year is the time the earth takes to make one complete revolution around the sun. There are two different kinds of years which are used by astronomers. The solar, equinoctial, or tropical year is the time between two passages of the sun through the vernal equinox, which occurs in March. This year is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds long. This year is used for all practical and astronomical purposes. It is the basis of our common or calendar year.
The sidereal year is made up of 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 9.5 seconds. This is the time it takes the earth to return to the same place in its orbit, with reference to the fixed stars. The sidereal year is longer than solar year because of the precession of the equinoxes. The sidereal year is seldom used except in the calculations of astronomers.
The calendar year is only 365 days long, and so we have to add an extra day every four years to correct the difference in time between the calendar year and the solar year. This fourth year is called leap year, and the extra day is February 29. Adding an extra day every fourth year makes the average calendar year 11 minutes, 14 seconds too long. So, the day is not added in the century years, except in those divisible by 400. The years 2009 will contain 366 days. Thus the difference between calendar and solar years will vary only one day over period of several thousand years.
The lunar year is made up of 12 lunar months. The ancient Greeks used this year. It contained 354 days. In most Christian nations the calendar year begins on January 1. During the Middle Ages, however, most European nations considered March 1 or March 25, Annunciation Day, as the first day of the calendar year. By 1600 nearly all civilized countries except England recognized January 1 as the first day of the year. England adopted the Gregorian calendar, which recognized January 1 as the beginning of the year, on September 14, 1752.
The church calendar, which is used in the Roman Catholic and in most Protestant churches, is regulated partly by the solar and partly by the lunar year. This causes a difference between the fixed feast day, which always fall on the same day every year, and movable feasts such as Easter, whose dates vary from year to year. The fixed feast days are determined by the solar year, and the movable feast days, by the lunar year.
In ancient Roman times, before the Julian calendar was adopted, the year began on March 1. The Jewish year begins near the time of the autumnal equinox, around the 22nd of September. The Islamic year, however, is based on the changing phases of the moon and lasts for 354 days. Therefore, the beginning of the Islamic year continually falls earlier in the seasons. Thirty Islamic years make up a cycle during which there are 11 leap years. These leap years occurs at irregular intervals.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Genetic Seeds of Disease
Some of the illnesses that afflict man have their origins in the physical equipment he inherited from his parents- in the unique set of genes with which he was born. Exactly how many disorders are thus inescapably built into human beings not even the modern geneticist knows for sure. Both heredity and environment are involved to some extent in all disease. In some cases, environment factors obviously play the critical role. A sufficiently large dose of barbiturates will kill anyone, regardless of his physical inheritance. But geneticist now know that each person's success in fighting off infections and other threats to health depends partly on his individual genetic endowment. Furthermore, many rare and strange diseases are definitely inherited.
The genes' role in the body's adaptation to the environment is illustrated by the reactions of different types of people to sunlight. Those with fair skin must take care not to be badly burned by a day at the beach. Darker-skinned people- who have inherited a better capacity to produce the pigment involved in tanning- adapt to sunlight with less skin damage. As one consequence, people with fair skins are more likely than brunets to develop skin cancer. Thus, although the cancer itself may not be inherited, certain people may be more vulnerable to it because of their genes.
Genes are probably the most intricate bundles of information known. They determine the nature of every cell in every living organism, establishing its species, sex and the general pattern of its individual characterictics. Humans, who are composed of trillions of highly specialized cell, have many thousands of genes. They are gathered in 46 curiously shaped agglomerations of matter called chromosomes, which come in pairs- one member of each pair from each parent. The basic genetic materials accomplishes its many tasks by duplicating itself completely in every new cell grown by the body; fron headquarters in the cell nucleus it then directs the cell's development.
Genes and environment are so intertwined in their effects upon development that a geneticist's hardest task is often to unravel what is genetic and what is not. A baby with a perfectly sound genetic inheritance, for example, may be born with a congenital defect- that is, a defect present at birth- because he was damaged by his environment. This damage may have been caused by anything from virus in his mother's bloodstream to an injury during delivery. Even certain diseases that seemed to run in families have turned out to be caused by enviroment. It had been known for a long time, for instance, that a large percentage of the females of certain strains of mice developed mammary cancer. The disease seemed definitely hereditary- until it was discovered that the milk of mice from these particular strains contained a cancer-inducing virus. By letting newborn mice of these strains suckle on mice of another strain, experimenters succeeded in ending this apparently hereditary trait.
Even when a disease is genetic, the geneticist may find it impossible to predict which apparently normal member of a family will develop it. One genetic disease, Hungtington's chorea, a progressive degeneration of the nervous system ending in death, may not show its first symptoms- involuntary jerking movements of the body and limbs- until a person is past middle age. If the victim has children, the statistical chances are that half of them will also be afflicted, but there is no way to predict who or when, for the disease may strike at any age.
The genes' role in the body's adaptation to the environment is illustrated by the reactions of different types of people to sunlight. Those with fair skin must take care not to be badly burned by a day at the beach. Darker-skinned people- who have inherited a better capacity to produce the pigment involved in tanning- adapt to sunlight with less skin damage. As one consequence, people with fair skins are more likely than brunets to develop skin cancer. Thus, although the cancer itself may not be inherited, certain people may be more vulnerable to it because of their genes.
Genes are probably the most intricate bundles of information known. They determine the nature of every cell in every living organism, establishing its species, sex and the general pattern of its individual characterictics. Humans, who are composed of trillions of highly specialized cell, have many thousands of genes. They are gathered in 46 curiously shaped agglomerations of matter called chromosomes, which come in pairs- one member of each pair from each parent. The basic genetic materials accomplishes its many tasks by duplicating itself completely in every new cell grown by the body; fron headquarters in the cell nucleus it then directs the cell's development.
Genes and environment are so intertwined in their effects upon development that a geneticist's hardest task is often to unravel what is genetic and what is not. A baby with a perfectly sound genetic inheritance, for example, may be born with a congenital defect- that is, a defect present at birth- because he was damaged by his environment. This damage may have been caused by anything from virus in his mother's bloodstream to an injury during delivery. Even certain diseases that seemed to run in families have turned out to be caused by enviroment. It had been known for a long time, for instance, that a large percentage of the females of certain strains of mice developed mammary cancer. The disease seemed definitely hereditary- until it was discovered that the milk of mice from these particular strains contained a cancer-inducing virus. By letting newborn mice of these strains suckle on mice of another strain, experimenters succeeded in ending this apparently hereditary trait.
Even when a disease is genetic, the geneticist may find it impossible to predict which apparently normal member of a family will develop it. One genetic disease, Hungtington's chorea, a progressive degeneration of the nervous system ending in death, may not show its first symptoms- involuntary jerking movements of the body and limbs- until a person is past middle age. If the victim has children, the statistical chances are that half of them will also be afflicted, but there is no way to predict who or when, for the disease may strike at any age.
A Paradox of Hunger
Hunger is an everyday, unchanging fact of life for great numbers of the world's people, many of whom are hard put to get any food at all. In some 3rd world countries, for example, protein malnutrition is widespread because the consumption of meat and diary products-the natural foods containing the most complete protein- is almost nil. In such regions animals cannot be raised for food, since they return only a fraction of the calories, or energy, they consume- an important consideration in countries where a poor rice crop can mean the death of millions and where a polite salutation between freinds is, "Have you eaten?"
Famine and malnutrition, of course, have existed since the beginning of time. But today there is a cruel paradox. Man has all the knowledge necessary to produce enough properly balanced food to feed the entire population of the world. It is now known that in addition to oxygen and water, man needs at least 43 essential nutrients, classified into five main groups: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins. A deficiency of any one of them can cause illness, but all of them can be made plentiful by science. It is a question of priorities and money.
The proteins, currently the most expensive of foods to obtain in high-quality form, are also among the vital to human beings. They are large, complex chemical substances made up of varying combinations of some 20 amino acids. At least nine are essential in a child's diet. They all promote growth during the crucial childhood years and aid in the renewal of tissues. In nature, proteins are first manufactured by plants, using nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon from the soil and air. Thus both man and animals depend ultimately on plants for proteins. But most of commonly eaten plant products contain incomplete proteins: They lack some of the essential amino acids, or have them in the wrong proportions. And the absence of even one essential amino acid limits the body's ability to make use of the others.
In the wealthy countries, animals are used as virtual factories for the production of high-quality proteins inconcentrated form. But it is not necessary to eat meat, eggs or dairy products to stay healthy. The Japanese get a large percetage of their protein from soybeans and other vegetables. Some primitive tribes have learned to eat various leaves, berries, insects and even clays, all of which are rich in nutrients they would otherwise lack. But a dreadful monotony marks the diet of people in more and more nations as they specialize in exporting agricultural products to world markets and fail to import foods necessary for proper nutrition. Some parts of Latin America now produce almost nothing but coffe for export, while others grow mainly bananas or sugar cane. In Central American nations as well, governmental policies have encouraged the production of cash crops, such as cotton.
The usual Central American diet of corn and beans, or just corn, is deficient in certain essential amino acids and accounts for some lethargy in the people there. Many peasants who have been raised on this diet no longer feel genuine appetite; they content themselves with a few cornmeal tortillas, and sometimes must force themselves to eat even those. Besides suffering from a shortage of proteins, Central Americans also lack minerals and vitamins. When they become infested with worms or others parasites, they have little energy left, even though they may not actually look sick. A serious infestation of hookworm can rob its vitamin of half a pint of blood per day, leading to fatal anemia.
Famine and malnutrition, of course, have existed since the beginning of time. But today there is a cruel paradox. Man has all the knowledge necessary to produce enough properly balanced food to feed the entire population of the world. It is now known that in addition to oxygen and water, man needs at least 43 essential nutrients, classified into five main groups: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins. A deficiency of any one of them can cause illness, but all of them can be made plentiful by science. It is a question of priorities and money.
The proteins, currently the most expensive of foods to obtain in high-quality form, are also among the vital to human beings. They are large, complex chemical substances made up of varying combinations of some 20 amino acids. At least nine are essential in a child's diet. They all promote growth during the crucial childhood years and aid in the renewal of tissues. In nature, proteins are first manufactured by plants, using nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon from the soil and air. Thus both man and animals depend ultimately on plants for proteins. But most of commonly eaten plant products contain incomplete proteins: They lack some of the essential amino acids, or have them in the wrong proportions. And the absence of even one essential amino acid limits the body's ability to make use of the others.
In the wealthy countries, animals are used as virtual factories for the production of high-quality proteins inconcentrated form. But it is not necessary to eat meat, eggs or dairy products to stay healthy. The Japanese get a large percetage of their protein from soybeans and other vegetables. Some primitive tribes have learned to eat various leaves, berries, insects and even clays, all of which are rich in nutrients they would otherwise lack. But a dreadful monotony marks the diet of people in more and more nations as they specialize in exporting agricultural products to world markets and fail to import foods necessary for proper nutrition. Some parts of Latin America now produce almost nothing but coffe for export, while others grow mainly bananas or sugar cane. In Central American nations as well, governmental policies have encouraged the production of cash crops, such as cotton.
The usual Central American diet of corn and beans, or just corn, is deficient in certain essential amino acids and accounts for some lethargy in the people there. Many peasants who have been raised on this diet no longer feel genuine appetite; they content themselves with a few cornmeal tortillas, and sometimes must force themselves to eat even those. Besides suffering from a shortage of proteins, Central Americans also lack minerals and vitamins. When they become infested with worms or others parasites, they have little energy left, even though they may not actually look sick. A serious infestation of hookworm can rob its vitamin of half a pint of blood per day, leading to fatal anemia.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Disturbed Mind
Everyone is afflicted with worry, some people tend to worry more than others. These persons or individuals tend to be moody and gloomy, They tend to look at the negative side of life. Worry means "to disquiet, make uneasy," " to trouble, torment, harass," futile, nervous agitation, often purposeless, always restless. In biblical literature, the word referring to worry translated " anxiety or care".
Anxiety is a term used by psychiatrists and psychologists to mean the same as fear or worry. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, showed that anxiety is a fundamental emotion that influences our lives from earliest childhood. This is true of those who are mentally healthy as well as of those who are mentally ill.
People with neuroses frequently complain of excessive anxiety. Many people with psychoses also have this compaint. Sometimes such people dread and avoid particular situations or activities such as high places, trains or other vehicles, or walking on the street alone. These special dreads are called phobias.
Effects of Worry
A persons or individuals suffer from loss of apetite, ulcers, stomach problems even tooth decay. They also experience backaches, headaches, lack of concentration, insomia, as well as visual andheart problems. Some claim that worries are high achievers because they are driven by their worries to work harder in order not to fail.
Worry is a monster that pounces on you and leaves you nearby as good as dead. It can dampen your energy and enthusiasm, rob your job, disturb your peace of mind and insult your sense of contentment. It can paralyze you with fear and make you forget your worth.
What Causes Worry
1. Concern for the Future.
Worry can be an unnecessary preoccupation with unpleasant things that might happen. Wars, terrorism, nuclear testing, and natural disasters could project a bleak future, sowing fear among people. Besides wordly concerns, people are also anxious about their personal problems. Women fear being raped. Singles dread the thought of growing old alone.
2. Cares of this World.
The people today are materialistic, the pursuit of pleasure, prestige and prosperity has become the primary goal. People are anxious not just to make a living, but to have a luxurious lifestyle. They go after a five-digit income , in exchange for a lot of hard and stressful work. The desire to be physically appealing is also becoming a source of anxiety to many females, especially teenagers. Unfortunately many equate being thin-really thin- to being sexy. In an attempt to greatly reduce weight, some become afflicted with eating disorders.
3. Challenges and Complexities of Life.
Fulfilling the demands of daily duties and responsibilities can also cause worry. Many people suffer headaches and sleepless nights to meet deadflines. Adults are constantly wary about their financial obligations. Some worry about mundane things like what to wear or watch.
4. Childhood Experiences.
Some childhood experiences and parental influences may contribute to a person's apprehensions. A parents suffered from serious financial problems might grow up with a tendency to overly worry about financial security. Or someone who has overly health-concious parents may be affected with hypochondria.
Helpful Tips to fight worry
1. Work.
While many of our worries are without solid basis, some concerns are legitimate. We should attend to them as a matter of duty and for our peace of mind. We need to work to survive and support our family. We should save for the future needs of your children.
2. Trust in God.
Toil if you must, but put your trust in God. Confidence in God, who cares and provides, can be an anchor for your trouble soul. As mortals we are capable of performing a lot of things and yet we are also limited. But God is unlimited and He can come to our rescue when we need Him. Trust your heavenly Father who feeds the birds of the air to feed you as well.
3. Take one day at a time.
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus admonished His followers not to worry about tommorow. He even adds, " Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life." Take time to attend to every legitimate concern. But remember, you're also entitled to take a rest. You shouldn't feel guilty when you have to unwind once in a while. You might be surprised to find out that relaxation can recharge your zest to face life's challenges.
4. Be thankful for your blessings.
A thankful heart breeds contentment. Being thankful for every blessing I receive frees me from worrying. I am not choked by greed nor torn apart by jealousy or envy.
5. Train your mind to focus on the positive side.
Some people always dwell on the negative. Even in the midst of a happy occasion they expect a sad event to follow. They are critical of others. They are panicky about what they do, fearful that something has been overlooked. I'm not saying that we disregard errors or close our eyes to a wrongdoing. I'm saying that we should refuse to entertain any thought that is neither constructive nor purposeful.
Anxiety is a term used by psychiatrists and psychologists to mean the same as fear or worry. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, showed that anxiety is a fundamental emotion that influences our lives from earliest childhood. This is true of those who are mentally healthy as well as of those who are mentally ill.
People with neuroses frequently complain of excessive anxiety. Many people with psychoses also have this compaint. Sometimes such people dread and avoid particular situations or activities such as high places, trains or other vehicles, or walking on the street alone. These special dreads are called phobias.
Effects of Worry
A persons or individuals suffer from loss of apetite, ulcers, stomach problems even tooth decay. They also experience backaches, headaches, lack of concentration, insomia, as well as visual andheart problems. Some claim that worries are high achievers because they are driven by their worries to work harder in order not to fail.
Worry is a monster that pounces on you and leaves you nearby as good as dead. It can dampen your energy and enthusiasm, rob your job, disturb your peace of mind and insult your sense of contentment. It can paralyze you with fear and make you forget your worth.
What Causes Worry
1. Concern for the Future.
Worry can be an unnecessary preoccupation with unpleasant things that might happen. Wars, terrorism, nuclear testing, and natural disasters could project a bleak future, sowing fear among people. Besides wordly concerns, people are also anxious about their personal problems. Women fear being raped. Singles dread the thought of growing old alone.
2. Cares of this World.
The people today are materialistic, the pursuit of pleasure, prestige and prosperity has become the primary goal. People are anxious not just to make a living, but to have a luxurious lifestyle. They go after a five-digit income , in exchange for a lot of hard and stressful work. The desire to be physically appealing is also becoming a source of anxiety to many females, especially teenagers. Unfortunately many equate being thin-really thin- to being sexy. In an attempt to greatly reduce weight, some become afflicted with eating disorders.
3. Challenges and Complexities of Life.
Fulfilling the demands of daily duties and responsibilities can also cause worry. Many people suffer headaches and sleepless nights to meet deadflines. Adults are constantly wary about their financial obligations. Some worry about mundane things like what to wear or watch.
4. Childhood Experiences.
Some childhood experiences and parental influences may contribute to a person's apprehensions. A parents suffered from serious financial problems might grow up with a tendency to overly worry about financial security. Or someone who has overly health-concious parents may be affected with hypochondria.
Helpful Tips to fight worry
1. Work.
While many of our worries are without solid basis, some concerns are legitimate. We should attend to them as a matter of duty and for our peace of mind. We need to work to survive and support our family. We should save for the future needs of your children.
2. Trust in God.
Toil if you must, but put your trust in God. Confidence in God, who cares and provides, can be an anchor for your trouble soul. As mortals we are capable of performing a lot of things and yet we are also limited. But God is unlimited and He can come to our rescue when we need Him. Trust your heavenly Father who feeds the birds of the air to feed you as well.
3. Take one day at a time.
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus admonished His followers not to worry about tommorow. He even adds, " Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life." Take time to attend to every legitimate concern. But remember, you're also entitled to take a rest. You shouldn't feel guilty when you have to unwind once in a while. You might be surprised to find out that relaxation can recharge your zest to face life's challenges.
4. Be thankful for your blessings.
A thankful heart breeds contentment. Being thankful for every blessing I receive frees me from worrying. I am not choked by greed nor torn apart by jealousy or envy.
5. Train your mind to focus on the positive side.
Some people always dwell on the negative. Even in the midst of a happy occasion they expect a sad event to follow. They are critical of others. They are panicky about what they do, fearful that something has been overlooked. I'm not saying that we disregard errors or close our eyes to a wrongdoing. I'm saying that we should refuse to entertain any thought that is neither constructive nor purposeful.
Monday, February 9, 2009
What You Can Do at Home for Neck Pain
Most neck pain responds fairly well to home care and doesn't require medical treatment. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, may help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Acetaminophen ( Tylenol ) may relieve pain and is less irritating to the stomach.
This may also help:
Short-term immobilization.
A soft cervical collar that supports a your neck without taxing the muscles may help, especially at night. Neck pain from disk problems may require a firmer collar. But use collars as little as possible- usually less than 10 days. Prolonged use may increase pain and decrease neck muscle strength and range of motion.
Heat and Cold.
Both may relieve pain, Ice packs may be particularly helpful after ab acute musclestrain or injury.
Exercise.
Improving overall fitness and strengthening neck and upper back muscles may help prevent recurrence of neck pain.
SOME EXERCISES FOR YOUR NECK
Shoulder Squeeze.
Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for about three seconds. Repeat as often as is comfortable.
Shoulder Shrug.
Gently raise your shoulders tightly to your neck, hold for five to 10 seconds, then very slowly relax to a normal position.
Seated Rowing.
Pull arms back in a rowing motion.
Weightlifting.
Grasp one-to two-pound weights in your hands. Bend forward at your hips ( keep your back straight) with your arms hanging down. Gently raise and lower the weights asif you were flying, lie on your stomach on the table or weight bench.
This may also help:
Short-term immobilization.
A soft cervical collar that supports a your neck without taxing the muscles may help, especially at night. Neck pain from disk problems may require a firmer collar. But use collars as little as possible- usually less than 10 days. Prolonged use may increase pain and decrease neck muscle strength and range of motion.
Heat and Cold.
Both may relieve pain, Ice packs may be particularly helpful after ab acute musclestrain or injury.
Exercise.
Improving overall fitness and strengthening neck and upper back muscles may help prevent recurrence of neck pain.
SOME EXERCISES FOR YOUR NECK
Shoulder Squeeze.
Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for about three seconds. Repeat as often as is comfortable.
Shoulder Shrug.
Gently raise your shoulders tightly to your neck, hold for five to 10 seconds, then very slowly relax to a normal position.
Seated Rowing.
Pull arms back in a rowing motion.
Weightlifting.
Grasp one-to two-pound weights in your hands. Bend forward at your hips ( keep your back straight) with your arms hanging down. Gently raise and lower the weights asif you were flying, lie on your stomach on the table or weight bench.
Fire Prevention at Home
It is important that we know how to prevent fire in our home. There are some information and tips of what we can do to prevent fire.
Install Smoke Detectors.
Place the smoke detectors in every corners of your house, especially in the kitchen. Working smoke detectors can alert you to a fire in time for you to escape. Always check your smoke detectors batteries once a month.
Keep an Eye on Smokers.
If some of the members of the family is smoking try to convince them not to smoke inside the house. There must be a smoking place like in the garden , in the terrace or go outside in the street. Careless smoking is a leading cause of fire deaths.
Cook Carefully.
When cooking, check the stove or oven to make sure that they are working properly, never leave cooking unattended. You must have a timer to reminds you that the food your cooking is already done. Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles and clean the stove or oven, check the pipeline of the gas before and after cooking.
Plan Your Escape From Fire.
Sit down with your family and design an escape plan . Make sure that everyone knows at least two unobstructed ways- doors and windows- out every room.
Remember, matches and lighters are tools, not toys. Store all matches and lighters up high, where kids can't see or reach them, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Use Electricity Safety.
If an electric appliance smokes or has an unsual smell, unplug it immediately, and have it serviced before using again. Replace cracked or frayed electrical cord. Don't overload extension cords or run them under rugs. Don't tamper with your fuse box or use improperly sized fuses.
Check all electrical outlets regularly. If a fuse blows or a circuit breaker is tripped, don't just replace or reset it. Find out the problem and correct it.
Install Smoke Detectors.
Place the smoke detectors in every corners of your house, especially in the kitchen. Working smoke detectors can alert you to a fire in time for you to escape. Always check your smoke detectors batteries once a month.
Keep an Eye on Smokers.
If some of the members of the family is smoking try to convince them not to smoke inside the house. There must be a smoking place like in the garden , in the terrace or go outside in the street. Careless smoking is a leading cause of fire deaths.
Cook Carefully.
When cooking, check the stove or oven to make sure that they are working properly, never leave cooking unattended. You must have a timer to reminds you that the food your cooking is already done. Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles and clean the stove or oven, check the pipeline of the gas before and after cooking.
Plan Your Escape From Fire.
Sit down with your family and design an escape plan . Make sure that everyone knows at least two unobstructed ways- doors and windows- out every room.
Remember, matches and lighters are tools, not toys. Store all matches and lighters up high, where kids can't see or reach them, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Use Electricity Safety.
If an electric appliance smokes or has an unsual smell, unplug it immediately, and have it serviced before using again. Replace cracked or frayed electrical cord. Don't overload extension cords or run them under rugs. Don't tamper with your fuse box or use improperly sized fuses.
Check all electrical outlets regularly. If a fuse blows or a circuit breaker is tripped, don't just replace or reset it. Find out the problem and correct it.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Bubbly Drink-Beer
What is beer?
Beer is an alcoholic beverage made from cereal grains, hops, water, and yeast. Everybody knows what is cereal grains such as wheat, oats, or corn. The hop is vine grown for its papery, yellowish-greenflowers, which are used in brewing beer. The flowers, also called hops, grow in conelike clusters that measure from 1 to 4 inches ( 2.5 to 10 centimeters ) in length. The petals have tiny glands that contain various oils and ressins ( sticky substances ). These materials prevent the growth of bacteria in beer and give the beverage its bitter taste. The yeast used in winemaking acts on the sugar in grapes and other fruits to produce alcohol through fermentation. In most wines, the carbon dioxide gas is allowed to escape into the air. But it provides the bubbles for some champagnes and other sparkling wines. Another type of commercial yeast, called brewer's yeast, cannot act directly on the grain used in the brewing of beer. Brewers must first convert the starch in the grain into sugar by means of a process called malting. The yeast is then added to convert the sugar to alcohol.Brewers use carbon dioxide to carbonate the beer.
How to make beer, brewers mix barley malt with water and such grains as corn and rice. This mixture is heated to convert starches in the grains into sugar. The excess grain is removed from the mixture, which is then boiled with hops to provide more flavor. Next, brewers add yeast to the mixture, which starts a process called fermentation. This process changes the sugar into alcohol. After fermentation, the beer is aged in tanks for several weeks or months to improve its taste. It is then filtered and packaged in barrels, bottles, or cans.
Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks. It was brewed at least as early as 4000 B.C.. The ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Teutons made beer.
Beer is an alcoholic beverage made from cereal grains, hops, water, and yeast. Everybody knows what is cereal grains such as wheat, oats, or corn. The hop is vine grown for its papery, yellowish-greenflowers, which are used in brewing beer. The flowers, also called hops, grow in conelike clusters that measure from 1 to 4 inches ( 2.5 to 10 centimeters ) in length. The petals have tiny glands that contain various oils and ressins ( sticky substances ). These materials prevent the growth of bacteria in beer and give the beverage its bitter taste. The yeast used in winemaking acts on the sugar in grapes and other fruits to produce alcohol through fermentation. In most wines, the carbon dioxide gas is allowed to escape into the air. But it provides the bubbles for some champagnes and other sparkling wines. Another type of commercial yeast, called brewer's yeast, cannot act directly on the grain used in the brewing of beer. Brewers must first convert the starch in the grain into sugar by means of a process called malting. The yeast is then added to convert the sugar to alcohol.Brewers use carbon dioxide to carbonate the beer.
How to make beer, brewers mix barley malt with water and such grains as corn and rice. This mixture is heated to convert starches in the grains into sugar. The excess grain is removed from the mixture, which is then boiled with hops to provide more flavor. Next, brewers add yeast to the mixture, which starts a process called fermentation. This process changes the sugar into alcohol. After fermentation, the beer is aged in tanks for several weeks or months to improve its taste. It is then filtered and packaged in barrels, bottles, or cans.
Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks. It was brewed at least as early as 4000 B.C.. The ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Teutons made beer.
MOTHER SONG
I ONCE HAD A DEAR OLD MOTHER
WHO LOVED ME TENDERLY
FOR WHEN I WAS A BABY
SHE TOOK GOOD CARE OF ME
ONE NIGHT AS I LAY DOWN SLEEPING
MY BROTHER BY MY SIDE
I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN
TELLING MY MOTHER DIED
AND WHEN I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING
I FOUND MY DREAM COME TRUE
FOR AN ANGEL TOOK MY MOTHER
UP IN THE SKY SO BLUE
SO CHILDREN OBEY YOUR PARENTS
OBEY THEM FAITHFULLY
FOR IF YOU LOSE YOUR PARENTS
YOU LOSE THE BEST OF ALL
WHO LOVED ME TENDERLY
FOR WHEN I WAS A BABY
SHE TOOK GOOD CARE OF ME
ONE NIGHT AS I LAY DOWN SLEEPING
MY BROTHER BY MY SIDE
I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN
TELLING MY MOTHER DIED
AND WHEN I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING
I FOUND MY DREAM COME TRUE
FOR AN ANGEL TOOK MY MOTHER
UP IN THE SKY SO BLUE
SO CHILDREN OBEY YOUR PARENTS
OBEY THEM FAITHFULLY
FOR IF YOU LOSE YOUR PARENTS
YOU LOSE THE BEST OF ALL
Saturday, January 31, 2009
How to Make Caregiving Easier
1. Find ways to communicate.
When your loved one becomes frustrated trying to find the right words, be patient. Allow time before "helping" fill speech gaps. Use short sentences, and add hand and face signals. Stand so your face and hands can be seen. Communicate from the side not affected by the stroke.
Communication is sharing information or providing entertainment by speaking, writing, or other methods. Probably the most important type of communication is personal communication, which happens when people make their thoughts and wishes known to one another. People communicate in manny ways, including by talking, by moving their hands, and even by making faces. People also use telephone calls, text massages, internet, and letters for personal communication. Without personal communication, parents would not know what their children need. Teachers could not help their students learn. Friends could not make plans with one another. People could not share knowledge. Each person would have learn everything for himself or herself.
2. Dont Take Emotional Outburst personally.
Realize behaviors such as inappropriate laughter or crying or easy irritation are due to the stroke. They don't necessarily express true feeling. Emotion is usually considered to be a feeling about or reaction to certain important events or thoughts. An emotion can be either pleasant or unpleasant. An individual also may have a mixture of both pleasant and unpleasant emotions. People enjoy feeling such pleasant emotions as love, happiness, and contentment. They often try to avoid feeling unpleasant emotions, such as loneliness, worry, and grief. However, people are sometimes not fully aware of their own emotions. Although most people believe they know what an emotion is, psychologists have not yet agreed on a definition that applies to both human beings and other animals.
Individuals communicate most of their emotions by means of words, a variety of other sounds, facial expressions, and gestures. For example, anger causes many people to frown, make a fist, and yell. People learn ways of showing some of their emotions from members of their society, though heredity may determine some emotional behavior. Research has shown that different isolated peoples show emotions by means of similar facial expression. Even children who are born blind have facial expressions like those of sighted children.
3. Create a Calm Environment.
When communicating, make sure you have the person's attention. Select a topic for discussion, make sure that when he or she is talking focused your faced and always listened. By moving your heads up side down means your understand what they saying, no argument is needed. Turn off the television or radio, a quiet place or environment, it helps to have a better conversations If your loved one loses interest, touch him or her to regain attention- or find a better time.
4. Be Flexible.
Observe natural cycles of your loved one's alertness and fatigue. Plan a flexible daily schedule that allows regular rest periods. Keep focused periods to five or 10 minutes at a time.
5. Plan Exercise.
Get an exercise plan from the physical therapist that they are the one conducting a physical theraphy, so what is physical theraphy. Physical theraphy is the use of physical means, such as light, heat, cold and exercise, to treat disease or injury. Physical theraphy is used to help prevent, relieve, or correct conditions that interfere with a person's physical ability to function normally. Physical theraphy is helpful in treating many diseases and disabilities. It is often used in treating heart and lung diseases and virious types of paralysis and muscles weaknesses, such as strokes and multiple sclerosis. It is also important in amputations, fractures and other injuries, and other orthopedic conditions. With the aid of physical theraphy, a disabled person may lead a constructive and creative life. There are many kinds of equipment, exercises and self-help devices are used to help the disabled person. Radiant heat lamps, electric heating pads, diathermy, hydrotheraphy, and paraffin baths are used to apply heat. Heat relieves pain, improves circulation, and relaxes muscles. Cold, when used soon after injury, lessens pain, hemorrhage, and swelling. Ultravio;et radiation attacks germs and promotes healing of certain skin disorders. Ultrasound is used to treat inflammatory conditions of joints, muscles, and nerves, and painful amputation stumps.
Exercise helps to maintain and improve body function and posture. It increases muscle tone, strength, and endurance. Some exercises can be performed by the patient alone. For others, the patient might need the help of the therapist. Often mechanical devices, such as parallel bars, stationary bicycles, pulleys, weights and dumbbells, are used. Self-help devices such as splints, braces, crutches, and wheelchairs help disables people perform daily activities. Physical therapist train people to use these devices and to develop confidence in accomplishing daily tasks.
6. Divide Responsibilities.
Share caregiving and household tasks among family members. Ask friends to help shop and run errands. Or have groceries delivered. Cook meals ahead and freeze meal-size portions.
When your loved one becomes frustrated trying to find the right words, be patient. Allow time before "helping" fill speech gaps. Use short sentences, and add hand and face signals. Stand so your face and hands can be seen. Communicate from the side not affected by the stroke.
Communication is sharing information or providing entertainment by speaking, writing, or other methods. Probably the most important type of communication is personal communication, which happens when people make their thoughts and wishes known to one another. People communicate in manny ways, including by talking, by moving their hands, and even by making faces. People also use telephone calls, text massages, internet, and letters for personal communication. Without personal communication, parents would not know what their children need. Teachers could not help their students learn. Friends could not make plans with one another. People could not share knowledge. Each person would have learn everything for himself or herself.
2. Dont Take Emotional Outburst personally.
Realize behaviors such as inappropriate laughter or crying or easy irritation are due to the stroke. They don't necessarily express true feeling. Emotion is usually considered to be a feeling about or reaction to certain important events or thoughts. An emotion can be either pleasant or unpleasant. An individual also may have a mixture of both pleasant and unpleasant emotions. People enjoy feeling such pleasant emotions as love, happiness, and contentment. They often try to avoid feeling unpleasant emotions, such as loneliness, worry, and grief. However, people are sometimes not fully aware of their own emotions. Although most people believe they know what an emotion is, psychologists have not yet agreed on a definition that applies to both human beings and other animals.
Individuals communicate most of their emotions by means of words, a variety of other sounds, facial expressions, and gestures. For example, anger causes many people to frown, make a fist, and yell. People learn ways of showing some of their emotions from members of their society, though heredity may determine some emotional behavior. Research has shown that different isolated peoples show emotions by means of similar facial expression. Even children who are born blind have facial expressions like those of sighted children.
3. Create a Calm Environment.
When communicating, make sure you have the person's attention. Select a topic for discussion, make sure that when he or she is talking focused your faced and always listened. By moving your heads up side down means your understand what they saying, no argument is needed. Turn off the television or radio, a quiet place or environment, it helps to have a better conversations If your loved one loses interest, touch him or her to regain attention- or find a better time.
4. Be Flexible.
Observe natural cycles of your loved one's alertness and fatigue. Plan a flexible daily schedule that allows regular rest periods. Keep focused periods to five or 10 minutes at a time.
5. Plan Exercise.
Get an exercise plan from the physical therapist that they are the one conducting a physical theraphy, so what is physical theraphy. Physical theraphy is the use of physical means, such as light, heat, cold and exercise, to treat disease or injury. Physical theraphy is used to help prevent, relieve, or correct conditions that interfere with a person's physical ability to function normally. Physical theraphy is helpful in treating many diseases and disabilities. It is often used in treating heart and lung diseases and virious types of paralysis and muscles weaknesses, such as strokes and multiple sclerosis. It is also important in amputations, fractures and other injuries, and other orthopedic conditions. With the aid of physical theraphy, a disabled person may lead a constructive and creative life. There are many kinds of equipment, exercises and self-help devices are used to help the disabled person. Radiant heat lamps, electric heating pads, diathermy, hydrotheraphy, and paraffin baths are used to apply heat. Heat relieves pain, improves circulation, and relaxes muscles. Cold, when used soon after injury, lessens pain, hemorrhage, and swelling. Ultravio;et radiation attacks germs and promotes healing of certain skin disorders. Ultrasound is used to treat inflammatory conditions of joints, muscles, and nerves, and painful amputation stumps.
Exercise helps to maintain and improve body function and posture. It increases muscle tone, strength, and endurance. Some exercises can be performed by the patient alone. For others, the patient might need the help of the therapist. Often mechanical devices, such as parallel bars, stationary bicycles, pulleys, weights and dumbbells, are used. Self-help devices such as splints, braces, crutches, and wheelchairs help disables people perform daily activities. Physical therapist train people to use these devices and to develop confidence in accomplishing daily tasks.
6. Divide Responsibilities.
Share caregiving and household tasks among family members. Ask friends to help shop and run errands. Or have groceries delivered. Cook meals ahead and freeze meal-size portions.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Postural Hypotension
What you can do for Postural Hypotension?
Postural hypotension related age or an underlying disease may not be curable. There are some ways to be done by trying these to minimize symptoms:
1. Get out of bed slowly.
Try sitting up in bed for at least five minutes before standing. Slowly move your hands by grabbing and your feet by stretching while in the bed.
2. Stand and Flex.
Wait a few seconds after standing to adjust to being upright. You can shake your hands and legs. But avoid standing perfectly still. Instead, try rocking to help tighten your thigh and buttocks muscles. This may improve blood flow from legs.
3. Try support hose.
These may also improve blood flow from your legs. Talk to your doctor about proper fit and kind of materials your going to use or brand.
4. Eat smaller meals.
Make sure that the food you are going to eat is a complete diet, a little fish, meat, vegetables , milk and fresh fruits . After a large meal, blood flows toward your abdomen ( and away from the head ) to aid in digestion.
5. Drink plenty of water.
Being even mildly dehydrated can promote postural hypotension by depleting blood volume. Getting enough salt can also help maintain fluid levels.
6. Avoid Alcohol.
Do not take alcohol because alcohol is dehydrating and relaxes blood vessels, it can aggravate postural hypotension.
7. Take cooler bath.
Avoid hot baths or hot tubs. Heat expands blood vessels, increasing the likelihood that blood will pool in your legs.
8. Seek treatment.
Several drugs are available to treat postural hypotension. A new prescription medication called midodrine ( ProAmantine ) may help reduce severe symptoms.
Postural hypotension related age or an underlying disease may not be curable. There are some ways to be done by trying these to minimize symptoms:
1. Get out of bed slowly.
Try sitting up in bed for at least five minutes before standing. Slowly move your hands by grabbing and your feet by stretching while in the bed.
2. Stand and Flex.
Wait a few seconds after standing to adjust to being upright. You can shake your hands and legs. But avoid standing perfectly still. Instead, try rocking to help tighten your thigh and buttocks muscles. This may improve blood flow from legs.
3. Try support hose.
These may also improve blood flow from your legs. Talk to your doctor about proper fit and kind of materials your going to use or brand.
4. Eat smaller meals.
Make sure that the food you are going to eat is a complete diet, a little fish, meat, vegetables , milk and fresh fruits . After a large meal, blood flows toward your abdomen ( and away from the head ) to aid in digestion.
5. Drink plenty of water.
Being even mildly dehydrated can promote postural hypotension by depleting blood volume. Getting enough salt can also help maintain fluid levels.
6. Avoid Alcohol.
Do not take alcohol because alcohol is dehydrating and relaxes blood vessels, it can aggravate postural hypotension.
7. Take cooler bath.
Avoid hot baths or hot tubs. Heat expands blood vessels, increasing the likelihood that blood will pool in your legs.
8. Seek treatment.
Several drugs are available to treat postural hypotension. A new prescription medication called midodrine ( ProAmantine ) may help reduce severe symptoms.
4 R Stress Prevention Formula
1. RUNNING
Regular aerobic exercise for 30 minutes three to five times a week-jogging, brisk walking, biking, swimming, dancing, or anything , - releases endorphins, the mind-body's natural pain killer and mood calmer. And what is endorphin, endorphin is any of a group of substances in the nervous system of human beings and animals. Endorphins and closely related chemicals called enkephalins are part of a larger group of morphinelike compounds called opioids. Opioids help releive pain and promote a feeling of well-being. Endorphins and enkephalins control the brain's perception of, and response to, pain and stress and many form part of the body's pain relieving system.
2. READING
Lose yourself in a book, magazine, or any reading materials that can make your brain think, especially one that can help you laugh at yourself and at the absurdities of your "on the edge" and "learn-and-mean" world. Reading is the act of interpreting printed and written words. It is a basic tool of education and one of the most important skills in everyday life. We live in a world of printed words. Through reading we acquire new ideas, obtain needed information, seek support for our ideas, add to our personal pleasure, and broaden our interests. The ability to read helps distinguish human beings from other animals. People in civilized country read hundreds or even thousands of words every day. They may not look at a book, newspaper, or magazine to do this. For example, they read their mail, street signs, traffic direstions, advertisements on billboards, package labels, the wording in television and karaoke, and many other things with words. The ease and skill with which they read all these words help them develop pride and self-confidence.
3. RETREATING
Take time to reflect on these gnawing stressors: what they are, how they manifest themselves, and your negative and positive coping patterns. Can you let go of one or two of these stress gremlins or at least retreat from " all or none" and rigidly idealistic expectations? Remember this basic law of " safe stress " . Do know your limits and don't limit your "No" s.
4. "RITING" ( WRITING )
Research shows that writing about your problematic scenario can reduce stress. You can start writing a diary about the thing that memorable on your daily life. Collect pictures and put a caption that will remind your mind. And capturing ideas and images that both cognitively analyze issues and release emotions produces the greatest benefit. Write on.
Regular aerobic exercise for 30 minutes three to five times a week-jogging, brisk walking, biking, swimming, dancing, or anything , - releases endorphins, the mind-body's natural pain killer and mood calmer. And what is endorphin, endorphin is any of a group of substances in the nervous system of human beings and animals. Endorphins and closely related chemicals called enkephalins are part of a larger group of morphinelike compounds called opioids. Opioids help releive pain and promote a feeling of well-being. Endorphins and enkephalins control the brain's perception of, and response to, pain and stress and many form part of the body's pain relieving system.
2. READING
Lose yourself in a book, magazine, or any reading materials that can make your brain think, especially one that can help you laugh at yourself and at the absurdities of your "on the edge" and "learn-and-mean" world. Reading is the act of interpreting printed and written words. It is a basic tool of education and one of the most important skills in everyday life. We live in a world of printed words. Through reading we acquire new ideas, obtain needed information, seek support for our ideas, add to our personal pleasure, and broaden our interests. The ability to read helps distinguish human beings from other animals. People in civilized country read hundreds or even thousands of words every day. They may not look at a book, newspaper, or magazine to do this. For example, they read their mail, street signs, traffic direstions, advertisements on billboards, package labels, the wording in television and karaoke, and many other things with words. The ease and skill with which they read all these words help them develop pride and self-confidence.
3. RETREATING
Take time to reflect on these gnawing stressors: what they are, how they manifest themselves, and your negative and positive coping patterns. Can you let go of one or two of these stress gremlins or at least retreat from " all or none" and rigidly idealistic expectations? Remember this basic law of " safe stress " . Do know your limits and don't limit your "No" s.
4. "RITING" ( WRITING )
Research shows that writing about your problematic scenario can reduce stress. You can start writing a diary about the thing that memorable on your daily life. Collect pictures and put a caption that will remind your mind. And capturing ideas and images that both cognitively analyze issues and release emotions produces the greatest benefit. Write on.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Medical Causes of Fatigue
1. ANEMIA, which is caused by lack of iron in the blood. This is the primary medical explanation for fatigue in women of childbearing age. What is anemia? Anemia is a condition in which the number of healthy red blood cells falls below normal. Red blood cells pick up oxygen in the lungs and carry it to tissues throughout the body. There, the oxygen is combined with food to release energy. In an anemic person, the blood cannot provide the tissues with enough oxygen. Thus, the person feels weak or tired. others symptoms are dizziness, headaches, pale or cool skin, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath. Anemia is not a disease itself, but a condition caused by a variety of diseases and disorders. The main causes of anemia are (1) insufficient production of red blood cells, (2) loss of blood and (3) excessive destruction of red blood cells.
Insufficient Production of Red Blood Cells. Each day, about 0.8 per cent of the body's red blood cells wear out and destroyed. If the body fails to replace these cells at the same rate, anemia results. Red blood cells are produced inthe bone marrow, a tissue in the center of the bones. This process requires various minerals and vitamins that are supplied by the diet.
Deficency Anemias develop if the diet does not include sufficient amounts of iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid. These nutrients are essential for the production ofred blood cells. Deficiency anemias also result if the body cannot absorb these nutrients properly. For example, pernicious anemia occurs when vitamin B12 cannot be absorb. Physicians treat deficiency anemias by adding the missing nutrient to the diet or by administering it through injections or in tablets.
Aplastic Anemias occurs if the bone marrow loses its ability to produce red cells. Some cases are due to diseases that affect the marrow, such as leukemia in its early stages. Other cases result from exposure to chemicals or radiation. Many cases have no apparent cause. Victims of aplastic anemia receive regular blood transfusions until their bone marrow begins to function again. In many cases, however, the marrow never regains function, and the victims dies.
2.THYROID DISEASE, which may affect up to 10 percent of women. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty losing weight, extremely dry skin and hair and sensitivity to cold. The Underactive Thyroid, called hypothyroidism, is a deffect that results in the low production of thyroid hormones. This defficiency causes an overall decrease in both physical and mental activity. Symptoms appear in almost every organs system of the body. The skin becomes dry and puffy. Hair thins and becomes brittle. Slow speech, slow reflexes, poor memory, constipation,and fatigue can all result from hypothyroidism. In adult it causes mental and physical retardation. The Overactive Thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, results in an overproduction of thyroid hormones.
3. DEPRESSION, which is an underdiagnosed, underrecognized condition among women. It is a serious disorder in which a person suffers long periods of sadness and other negative feelings. The term Depression also describes a normal mood involving the sadness, grief, disappointment, or loneliness that everyone experiences at times. Depressed people may feel fearful, guilty, or hopeless. They often cry, and many lose interest in work and social life. Many cases of depression also involve aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, or otherbphysical symptoms. Some depressed patients try to harm or kill themselves. Period of depression may occurs alone or they may alternate with periods of mania ( extreme joy and overactivity ) in a disorder called bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder.
According to another theory, disturbances in the chemistry of the brain occurs during depression. Brain cells communicate with one another by releasing called neurotransmitters. Some think that certain neurotransmitters become underactive during depression and overactive during mania. These changes in brain chemistry may be related to disturbances in the body's internal rhythms.
4. CHRONIC FATIGUE SYMDROME (CFS). Symptoms include: Severe fatigue lasting for more than six months that does not improve with rest, impaired memeory and thought processes, pain, and sleep difficulties.
Insufficient Production of Red Blood Cells. Each day, about 0.8 per cent of the body's red blood cells wear out and destroyed. If the body fails to replace these cells at the same rate, anemia results. Red blood cells are produced inthe bone marrow, a tissue in the center of the bones. This process requires various minerals and vitamins that are supplied by the diet.
Deficency Anemias develop if the diet does not include sufficient amounts of iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid. These nutrients are essential for the production ofred blood cells. Deficiency anemias also result if the body cannot absorb these nutrients properly. For example, pernicious anemia occurs when vitamin B12 cannot be absorb. Physicians treat deficiency anemias by adding the missing nutrient to the diet or by administering it through injections or in tablets.
Aplastic Anemias occurs if the bone marrow loses its ability to produce red cells. Some cases are due to diseases that affect the marrow, such as leukemia in its early stages. Other cases result from exposure to chemicals or radiation. Many cases have no apparent cause. Victims of aplastic anemia receive regular blood transfusions until their bone marrow begins to function again. In many cases, however, the marrow never regains function, and the victims dies.
2.THYROID DISEASE, which may affect up to 10 percent of women. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty losing weight, extremely dry skin and hair and sensitivity to cold. The Underactive Thyroid, called hypothyroidism, is a deffect that results in the low production of thyroid hormones. This defficiency causes an overall decrease in both physical and mental activity. Symptoms appear in almost every organs system of the body. The skin becomes dry and puffy. Hair thins and becomes brittle. Slow speech, slow reflexes, poor memory, constipation,and fatigue can all result from hypothyroidism. In adult it causes mental and physical retardation. The Overactive Thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, results in an overproduction of thyroid hormones.
3. DEPRESSION, which is an underdiagnosed, underrecognized condition among women. It is a serious disorder in which a person suffers long periods of sadness and other negative feelings. The term Depression also describes a normal mood involving the sadness, grief, disappointment, or loneliness that everyone experiences at times. Depressed people may feel fearful, guilty, or hopeless. They often cry, and many lose interest in work and social life. Many cases of depression also involve aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, or otherbphysical symptoms. Some depressed patients try to harm or kill themselves. Period of depression may occurs alone or they may alternate with periods of mania ( extreme joy and overactivity ) in a disorder called bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder.
According to another theory, disturbances in the chemistry of the brain occurs during depression. Brain cells communicate with one another by releasing called neurotransmitters. Some think that certain neurotransmitters become underactive during depression and overactive during mania. These changes in brain chemistry may be related to disturbances in the body's internal rhythms.
4. CHRONIC FATIGUE SYMDROME (CFS). Symptoms include: Severe fatigue lasting for more than six months that does not improve with rest, impaired memeory and thought processes, pain, and sleep difficulties.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Unpleasant Sensation
Pain is an unpleasant sensation. People generally associate pain with physical injuries or illnesses. But feelings and emotions can also produce pain. For example, an noyance can produce painful tension in the neck muscles. Pain is highly personal sensation. An injury that causes severe pain is one person might produce only moderate pain in another. Physicians find it difficult to measure pain and must rely largely on the patient's description of the sensation. Headache pain, for instance, provides little measurable evidence, yet headache sufferers often report extremely severe pain.
Nerves carry pain signal to the brain in the form of electric impulses. The brain responds to these signals in different ways, depending on the situation. In some cases, the brain does not react immediately to the signals. For example, an athlete injured during a game may not notice any pain until the contest is over. In such cases, the brain ignores the pain signals because it is concentrating on other tasks.
Severe pain can serve as a useful warning that something is physically wrong with the body. In most such cases, the pain disappears after the fault is corrected. Physicians refer to such short-lived, severe pain as a acute pain. It differs from chronic pain, which last a longtime. Some chronic pain results from disorders that cannot be completely cured, such as certain types of cancer and arthitis. But in other cases, pain persists even though its physical cause has been corrected. This type of chronic pain resists treatment and can lead to mental breakdowns and drug abuse. Some persons undergo many unsuccessful surgical operations in effort to control such incurable pain.
People instinctively recoil from pain and often react to it with fear and tension, which in themselves may increase the discomfort. Yet the mind and body have an innate capacity for mastering the perception of pain to some degree. Soldiers at the battle front with terrible wounds have often reported far lesser degrees of pain and required fewer analgesics than civilians with comparable injuries.
It is also possible to summon up the body's pain-regulating mechanism through training and effort. Religious ascetics purposely inflict injury on themselves to pursue a spiritual goal, yet they experience no pain when they practice such extreme forms of self-mortification as walking through fire. Women trained in psychoprophylaxis, a relaxation technique for natural childbirth, can endure labor pains with little or no medication.
In such instances, the brain has probably mobilized the body's endorphins-morphine-like substances in the nervous system and gut that suppress pain. One experiment showed that when people believe pain will be lessened, it is. A group of patients who were told they had received a painkiller but were in fact given a placebo- a pill without analgesic effect- actually increased the levels of endorphins in their systems and experienced a decline in discomfort.
Nerves carry pain signal to the brain in the form of electric impulses. The brain responds to these signals in different ways, depending on the situation. In some cases, the brain does not react immediately to the signals. For example, an athlete injured during a game may not notice any pain until the contest is over. In such cases, the brain ignores the pain signals because it is concentrating on other tasks.
Severe pain can serve as a useful warning that something is physically wrong with the body. In most such cases, the pain disappears after the fault is corrected. Physicians refer to such short-lived, severe pain as a acute pain. It differs from chronic pain, which last a longtime. Some chronic pain results from disorders that cannot be completely cured, such as certain types of cancer and arthitis. But in other cases, pain persists even though its physical cause has been corrected. This type of chronic pain resists treatment and can lead to mental breakdowns and drug abuse. Some persons undergo many unsuccessful surgical operations in effort to control such incurable pain.
People instinctively recoil from pain and often react to it with fear and tension, which in themselves may increase the discomfort. Yet the mind and body have an innate capacity for mastering the perception of pain to some degree. Soldiers at the battle front with terrible wounds have often reported far lesser degrees of pain and required fewer analgesics than civilians with comparable injuries.
It is also possible to summon up the body's pain-regulating mechanism through training and effort. Religious ascetics purposely inflict injury on themselves to pursue a spiritual goal, yet they experience no pain when they practice such extreme forms of self-mortification as walking through fire. Women trained in psychoprophylaxis, a relaxation technique for natural childbirth, can endure labor pains with little or no medication.
In such instances, the brain has probably mobilized the body's endorphins-morphine-like substances in the nervous system and gut that suppress pain. One experiment showed that when people believe pain will be lessened, it is. A group of patients who were told they had received a painkiller but were in fact given a placebo- a pill without analgesic effect- actually increased the levels of endorphins in their systems and experienced a decline in discomfort.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Digital Systems/Computers
What's so wonderful about digital?
You often hear how much better digital systems are than others. Digital musical instruments and recordings give very good sound, digital watches keep good time, digital tele-communication fast and easy to communicate, digital medical instruments for example the thermometer, blood pressure monitor, and others medical tech equipment and machine help the physician, transportations in space, land and sea they use digital equiptment and machines. Digital camera brings clear pictures, household equipments machines are digital. Computers are digital machines. But what does digital means.
Basically, a digital system is one that works with numbers. A digital watch display the time in changing numbers rather than the movement of hands over a dial. The other main kind of of system is called analog, and analog systems work by using things to represent numbers or quantities. As a watch may use hands to show the time, a thermometer uses the movement of a column of liquid to indicate temperatures and a gramophone records uses the wiggles of a groove to preserve sound waves. These are all analog system. Digital systems work first by measuring a changing-for example sound waves in digital recording- and then converting the measurements into strings of numbers. These numbers are in the form of codes and are usually handled by computers, which can deal with numbers very fast.
The numbers are then processed in some way; they may be recorded, for example. The system then takes the numbers and changes them back into required form, such as sound waves. Now, in all the processes that take place, the value of the numbers does not change, so that when they are changed back, the sound or whatever is produced is virtually identical to the original. Using a digital system the quality does not deteriorate.
Analog system change quantities into other quantities. In analog recording and broadcasting, for example, sound waves are changed into varying electric currents in wires, radio signals transmitted through the air, magnetic patterns on tape or wiggles in the grooves of a record, and then back into sound. All these changes degrade the sound, so that it is not as good as the original.
Digital computers solve problems and do other tasks by counting, comparing, and rearranging digits in the arithmetic/logic unit. All data, whether numbers, letters, or symbols, are represented by digits. Digital computers commonly use the digits of the binary numeration system. Unlike the familiar number system, which uses 10 digits, the binary system uses only two digits: 0 and 1. These binary digits called bits, can be easily represented by thousands of tiny electronic circuits of digital computer.The circuits operate much like an ordinary electric switch. When the switch is off, it corresponds to the binary digits 0. When the switch is on, it corresponds to the digit 1.
An electronic digital computer is able to perform all the basic arithmetic operations because binary digits, like decimal numbers, can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. To solve a problem, it carries out these operations automatically one after the other according to the program stored in its memory.
Most digital computers are general-purpose computers. They can be programmed to handle all sorts of complicated, multistep tasks. These computers are so widely used that the word computer often means a general-purpose digital computer.
You often hear how much better digital systems are than others. Digital musical instruments and recordings give very good sound, digital watches keep good time, digital tele-communication fast and easy to communicate, digital medical instruments for example the thermometer, blood pressure monitor, and others medical tech equipment and machine help the physician, transportations in space, land and sea they use digital equiptment and machines. Digital camera brings clear pictures, household equipments machines are digital. Computers are digital machines. But what does digital means.
Basically, a digital system is one that works with numbers. A digital watch display the time in changing numbers rather than the movement of hands over a dial. The other main kind of of system is called analog, and analog systems work by using things to represent numbers or quantities. As a watch may use hands to show the time, a thermometer uses the movement of a column of liquid to indicate temperatures and a gramophone records uses the wiggles of a groove to preserve sound waves. These are all analog system. Digital systems work first by measuring a changing-for example sound waves in digital recording- and then converting the measurements into strings of numbers. These numbers are in the form of codes and are usually handled by computers, which can deal with numbers very fast.
The numbers are then processed in some way; they may be recorded, for example. The system then takes the numbers and changes them back into required form, such as sound waves. Now, in all the processes that take place, the value of the numbers does not change, so that when they are changed back, the sound or whatever is produced is virtually identical to the original. Using a digital system the quality does not deteriorate.
Analog system change quantities into other quantities. In analog recording and broadcasting, for example, sound waves are changed into varying electric currents in wires, radio signals transmitted through the air, magnetic patterns on tape or wiggles in the grooves of a record, and then back into sound. All these changes degrade the sound, so that it is not as good as the original.
Digital computers solve problems and do other tasks by counting, comparing, and rearranging digits in the arithmetic/logic unit. All data, whether numbers, letters, or symbols, are represented by digits. Digital computers commonly use the digits of the binary numeration system. Unlike the familiar number system, which uses 10 digits, the binary system uses only two digits: 0 and 1. These binary digits called bits, can be easily represented by thousands of tiny electronic circuits of digital computer.The circuits operate much like an ordinary electric switch. When the switch is off, it corresponds to the binary digits 0. When the switch is on, it corresponds to the digit 1.
An electronic digital computer is able to perform all the basic arithmetic operations because binary digits, like decimal numbers, can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. To solve a problem, it carries out these operations automatically one after the other according to the program stored in its memory.
Most digital computers are general-purpose computers. They can be programmed to handle all sorts of complicated, multistep tasks. These computers are so widely used that the word computer often means a general-purpose digital computer.
A Short Radio Wave
What is Microwaves?
Microwaves is a short radio wave. It varies from .03937 inch to 1 foot ( 1 millimeter to centimeters) in length. Microwaves travel in straight lines. Like light waves, they may be reflected and concentrated. But they pass easily through rain, smoke, and fog, which block light waves. They can also pass through the ionosphere, which surrounds the earth and block or reflects longer radio waves. Thus, microwaves are well suited for long-distance, satellite, and space communications and for control of navigation.
Microwaves first came to public notice through the use of radar in World War II (1939-1945). Today, many satellite communications systems use microwaves. In TV, microwaves transmission sends programs from pickup cameras in the field to the TV transmitter. These programs can then be sent via satellite to various locations around the world. Microwaves can transmit pictures and printed matter in the process called Ultrafax. They can also cook food in microwave ovens.
Many people use microwaves in their homes. They are the kind of rays that heat food in microwave ovens. Microwaves are also important in communication. They are used like radio waves to carry signals from one place to another. No need to worry, though-these microwaves don't roast birds or burn aircraft that fly to through them. There many kinds of brand of microwave oven. In a developed countries, every household used microwave oven.
Microwaves is a short radio wave. It varies from .03937 inch to 1 foot ( 1 millimeter to centimeters) in length. Microwaves travel in straight lines. Like light waves, they may be reflected and concentrated. But they pass easily through rain, smoke, and fog, which block light waves. They can also pass through the ionosphere, which surrounds the earth and block or reflects longer radio waves. Thus, microwaves are well suited for long-distance, satellite, and space communications and for control of navigation.
Microwaves first came to public notice through the use of radar in World War II (1939-1945). Today, many satellite communications systems use microwaves. In TV, microwaves transmission sends programs from pickup cameras in the field to the TV transmitter. These programs can then be sent via satellite to various locations around the world. Microwaves can transmit pictures and printed matter in the process called Ultrafax. They can also cook food in microwave ovens.
Many people use microwaves in their homes. They are the kind of rays that heat food in microwave ovens. Microwaves are also important in communication. They are used like radio waves to carry signals from one place to another. No need to worry, though-these microwaves don't roast birds or burn aircraft that fly to through them. There many kinds of brand of microwave oven. In a developed countries, every household used microwave oven.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Best Cure for an Overused Muscle and Strain Injury
Body strecthing is required before beginning a repetitive task. Stretch the muscles of your shoulders, arms, hands, and legs. Slowly bend your wrists back and forth, shake your legs many times, make a sit and stand movement or roll your shoulders in small, gentle rotations. Exercising can also prevent recurrence of previous muscle injury.
Adaption of new positions which can make you feel good and relax can also be of great help. If you're in an awkward position or your movements are restrained, you can make use of an equiptment, for example, a table specially designed for comfortable use of your computer. Facing or looking at a beautiful site or pictures inside the rooms or looking outside the window can also help you relax and loosen up the tired and achy parts of your body.
Another remedy to overused muscle and strain injury is by alternating repetitive tasks with another. If you have been working for two hours solving problems and you already feel tired, work on another duty or task which is easier to do and after you're done with it, you can go back to the first task. This will help in increasing your concentration in solving the problems.
Taking a short break will also do the trick. Sometimes, when you work for four hours straight without break, the result is an incomplete job different from what you are projecting, expecting or aiming. Talking to your co-workers about matters which are not work-related can also help. Observed yourself especially your health condition, because in whatever you do, you need to be in good shape.
Adaption of new positions which can make you feel good and relax can also be of great help. If you're in an awkward position or your movements are restrained, you can make use of an equiptment, for example, a table specially designed for comfortable use of your computer. Facing or looking at a beautiful site or pictures inside the rooms or looking outside the window can also help you relax and loosen up the tired and achy parts of your body.
Another remedy to overused muscle and strain injury is by alternating repetitive tasks with another. If you have been working for two hours solving problems and you already feel tired, work on another duty or task which is easier to do and after you're done with it, you can go back to the first task. This will help in increasing your concentration in solving the problems.
Taking a short break will also do the trick. Sometimes, when you work for four hours straight without break, the result is an incomplete job different from what you are projecting, expecting or aiming. Talking to your co-workers about matters which are not work-related can also help. Observed yourself especially your health condition, because in whatever you do, you need to be in good shape.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Smoke in the mind
Why some people smoke?
Early in the morning when they wake up ,while drinking hot coffee they smoke and while sitting in the toilet they smoke to eliminate the bad smell. They say that after eating they want to smoke to remove the taste of the food liked crab and shrimp. When there is a party or gathering, while drinking wine or beer having conversation to each other, exchanging experience and ideas about the past, problems they encounter in their job and how to solve it, mostly are smoking. When waiting a bus some smoke.
When working, some they do it to refresh their mind just to finished their work - writers making a column, architects designing a house and building, engineers computing the strength of materials, accountants balancing the financial statement, lawyers researching and preparing pleadings, a politician implementing law and to have good governance, actors making a movie, soldiers tour of duty,they smoke.
Smoking calms other people minds and feelings but it is the primary cause of cancer and different health diseases. Therefore why do people smoke eventhough they know the effects of smoking?is it for pride? for socialization? or for relaxation? The main cause why people is still undefined, is it because of the nicotine content of cigarettes and tobacco, or the lungs gets used to it that it is already a daily body requirements for that person. Because if the main cause would be nicotine why do some people only smoke when they are in stress, they say that it relaxes them and sometimes while drinking it removes the effects of alcohol(for some people). But the truth is we cannot stop people from smoking specially those people who are now addicited to it. We can only lessen the number of sticks of cigarettes per day that is the best and only solution.
Early in the morning when they wake up ,while drinking hot coffee they smoke and while sitting in the toilet they smoke to eliminate the bad smell. They say that after eating they want to smoke to remove the taste of the food liked crab and shrimp. When there is a party or gathering, while drinking wine or beer having conversation to each other, exchanging experience and ideas about the past, problems they encounter in their job and how to solve it, mostly are smoking. When waiting a bus some smoke.
When working, some they do it to refresh their mind just to finished their work - writers making a column, architects designing a house and building, engineers computing the strength of materials, accountants balancing the financial statement, lawyers researching and preparing pleadings, a politician implementing law and to have good governance, actors making a movie, soldiers tour of duty,they smoke.
Smoking calms other people minds and feelings but it is the primary cause of cancer and different health diseases. Therefore why do people smoke eventhough they know the effects of smoking?is it for pride? for socialization? or for relaxation? The main cause why people is still undefined, is it because of the nicotine content of cigarettes and tobacco, or the lungs gets used to it that it is already a daily body requirements for that person. Because if the main cause would be nicotine why do some people only smoke when they are in stress, they say that it relaxes them and sometimes while drinking it removes the effects of alcohol(for some people). But the truth is we cannot stop people from smoking specially those people who are now addicited to it. We can only lessen the number of sticks of cigarettes per day that is the best and only solution.
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