tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43770702981635896652024-03-19T05:50:58.901-07:00Medical Information GuideVal Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-52375184713642237692010-07-07T14:16:00.000-07:002010-07-07T14:19:02.879-07:00Eating Disorders and Your Personality<div style="text-align: justify;">Lacking in confidence? Having trouble with being such a perfectionist? Although you may not notice it, some of your most distinguishing personality traits could determine your susceptibility to eating disorders. Studies have shown that people diagnosed with eating disorders share the same common denominator: specific self-defeating personality traits. Apart from these, however, having any of the identified personality disorders, possessed with specific distinctive negative traits, raises your chances of acquiring eating disorders. Below are the first two:</div><div><br /></div><div>Avoidant Personality</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Several studies have indicated that most anorexic patients have avoidant personalities due to their extreme fear of rejection. So sensitive are they to being criticized that the slightest off-hand remark suffices to strengthen their belief of their own inadequacy. The oversensitivity to failing of people with avoidant personality disorder is further elucidated by these traits: perfectionism; extreme</div><div style="text-align: justify;">shyness; sexual and/or emotional inhibition; sensitivity to rejection; affinity with being “good”; and a fear of being criticized, ridiculed, and/or humiliated.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Narcissistic Personality</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A personality disorder characterized by an extreme emphasis on one's importance, people falling under this category are prone to pacifying themselves. Their need for admiration from others explains why they are so sensitive to criticism and failure.</div><div><br /></div><div>Word Count: 200</div><div><br /></div><div>Picture Link: http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/l/li/livinus/150354_scream.jpg</div><div>Source: http://adam.about.com/reports/Eating-disorders.htm</div><div>http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe08.html</div><div>http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe07.html</div><div><br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-4534682769582546112010-04-08T14:20:00.000-07:002010-04-08T14:26:23.983-07:00At the Mercy of Anxiety? Check Your BP (blood pressure)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/d/dr/dropowtt/281659_i_want_out.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 224px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/d/dr/dropowtt/281659_i_want_out.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Do you find yourself feeling light-headed and out of breath during crunch time? Whether you're trying to beat a work deadline or running at the speed of light just so you could make it to the office in time, the effects such circumstances would have on your mental and physical system are the same: the onset of anxiety triggering a spike in your blood pressure. Even if you have no hypertension and are healthy throughout, fact has it that you too could experience a sudden, dramatic BP increase once anxiety sets in. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although physically uncomfortable, these temporary BP spikes have no serious physical damage. As it is, it is not confirmed that anxiety directly causes hypertension. However, should the aforementioned episodes escalate to the point that you experience them more frequently or every day, then a lifestyle change coupled with a visit to your doctor are in order. Just like chronic hypertension, regularly experiencing a surge in your BP due to anxiety is as detrimental to your kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Besides, since anxiety could prompt you to turn to unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, and overeating; you also run the risk of acquiring hypertension later on. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(85, 85, 68); line-height: 18px; ">Contributed By: Maris Modesto</span></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-72347955663752220712010-04-07T14:44:00.000-07:002010-04-07T14:47:53.224-07:00Maximize the Destressing Benefits of Relaxation Response<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/c/ce/cempey/885280_ready_for_the_workout.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/c/ce/cempey/885280_ready_for_the_workout.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">As you get started with your relaxation response practice, do it properly by observing these significant pointers:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><b>Find time to do it.</b>In starting out your relaxation response practice, it's imperative to find the right time that you have especially set aside for it. Depending on your schedule, see to it that once you have decided on the specific time, you would manage to keep it. Regularity requires sticking to a fixed schedule. This way, you are assured of fully absorbing the stress-relieving benefits of relaxation response into your system. </li><li><b>Never do it when you're feeling drowsy or lethargic. </b>Since relaxation response activities are intended to relax you totally, they could make you sleepy. However, falling asleep would mean not being able to complete the exercise, hence, you miss out on getting the most from it. To prevent this, ascertain that the period you've chosen is nowhere near your bedtime or during those hours when you're likely to feel drowsy.</li><li><b>Practice the activity that you like best. </b>There are many different activities promoting the benefits of relaxation response, and all of them are equally effective. It all boils down to selecting the one which appeals to you the most. </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(85, 85, 68); line-height: 18px; ">Contributed By: Maris Modesto</span></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-83999693899556653912010-04-06T13:30:00.000-07:002010-04-06T13:42:34.002-07:00What You Should Know About AS (Asperger's Syndrome)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/j/ja/jana_koll/1202469_matesik.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 219px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/j/ja/jana_koll/1202469_matesik.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify; ">At first glance, AS people are hardly any different from others. However, getting to know them better or becoming intimate with them would give you a closer look at what exactly it is about them that distinguishes them from the rest. As it is, AS people are very well capable of functioning in typical life settings just like everybody else. However, they possess specific symptoms, especially poor or immature socialization skills and a distinctive oddity of behavior, specifically categorizing them among the 400,000 families suspected to be riddled with Asperger's syndrome—a neurobiological disorder characterized by impaired social skills and poor coordination.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Although diagnosis can be made as early as the age of three, it is not unusual for most AS people to be misdiagnosed with ADHD before it can be confirmed that what they have is actually AS later on. To familiarize you better with the nature of AS, here are its other symptoms:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Predilection for “self” topics when conversing with others</li><li>Robotic and reiterative speech</li><li>Not having enough “common sense”</li><li>Academic problems; specifically with math, reading, or writing</li><li>Unusual mannerisms and/or behaviors</li><li>Bungling movements</li><li>Fixation for complicated topics (patterns, music, etc.)</li><li>Improper and/or limited social interactions</li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(85, 85, 68); line-height: 18px; ">Contributed By: Maris Modesto</span></div></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-55668461316100627522010-04-05T14:18:00.000-07:002010-04-05T14:28:50.530-07:00Foolproof Tips in Managing Sunburn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/z/zu/zulema011/417360_sunburn.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/z/zu/zulema011/417360_sunburn.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">“An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.” The truth of this popular adage can never be disputed, especially where one's health is at stake. As it is, this also applies to even seemingly mundane complaints as sunburn. Typical during the hot summer months, the best step in addressing sunburn is through conscientious prevention. Capable of ruining the skin - the main organ used for heat control and fluid retention as well as protection against infection - handling sunburn can be done by following these foolproof tips:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Get indoors or shield sunburned areas immediately. Further exposure to the sun after you have had sunburn would only worsen it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spot check the sunburned area for blisters. The latter are indications of second-degree burns, meaning that the affected are has suffered complete damage and is already prone to complications. Emergency cases calling for immediate medical attention would be indicated by having such a big blister that it could cover an entire abdomen or is bigger than an arm. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ease the discomfort and pain via a shower or bath. Aloe or over-the-counter cooling agents could also be applied on the affected areas. However, never use oil or butter. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(85, 85, 68); line-height: 18px; ">Contributed By: Maris Modesto</span></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-43491884978065736452010-03-30T14:42:00.000-07:002010-03-30T14:48:10.434-07:00Zeroing In On Teen Depression<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/d/dn/dnabil/1046561_sadness.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 210px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/d/dn/dnabil/1046561_sadness.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In discussing teen depression, many factors come into play, ranging from genetics to social, physical, as well as environmental factors. Defining the manner whereby a particular teenager could be at risk requires discussing his inherent personality aside from the previously mentioned factors. Teen girls are said to have a higher risk since they often obtain their self-esteem through their relationships. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, depression cannot be contained to only one life premise. With the many challenges confronting adolescents as they struggle with growing up, it can be surmised that like every body else, depression is a perennial threat if they're not careful.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most cases of teenagers who had depression experienced the following: teen pregnancy, drug or substance abuse, and lagging behind their peers in academics or other areas. Once depression sets in, the ultimate risk would be having that compulsion to commit suicide. To keep teens safe, parental support and guidance are important. As with other health issues, preventing the disorder from settling in is the best way to ensure that your teen is protected from its adverse effects. Prioritizing their health concerns means being attentive not only to their physical needs, but also to their mental needs as well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(85, 85, 68); line-height: 18px; font-family:tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Contributed By: Maris Modesto</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-33909400320092292802010-03-26T12:45:00.001-07:002010-03-26T12:53:08.319-07:00Plate Size Matters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/p/po/porah/1231764_chinese_meal_2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/p/po/porah/1231764_chinese_meal_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">In telling the reasons behind the compulsion driving people to overeat unconsciously, a food psychologist pointed out that several factors come into play. Some studies revealed that one common reason in particular has a lot to do with the plate size we use for eating. Nevertheless, despite the variations of these factors, a food expert maintains that all these reasons compelling us to overeat without our noticing it are united under the fact that they exist only in our minds. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A problem generated by the demands of today's busy lifestyle, such tendencies are referred to as mindless eating by Brian Wansink, a behavioral scientist at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. According to him, people are so preoccupied with the many things they are busy with during the day that they tend to lose track of how often they eat. He claims that the stomach has nothing to do with these compulsions. The mind is the sole culprit. However, as powerful as it is, it could be fooled easily using a simple technique: change plate sizes. Dr. Wansink confirmed, “Based on our studies, people get more food servings when their plates are bigger. They add up to 20-28% more.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-size:13px;">Contributed By: Maris Modesto</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-10798450008352851732010-03-25T14:01:00.000-07:002010-03-25T14:17:22.918-07:00What It's Like to Be a Hypochondriac<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/_/_l/_lisandra/287712_medicine.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/_/_l/_lisandra/287712_medicine.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Getting sick due to a cold or flu hardly fazes anyone anymore. However, when the sickness becomes frequent, it can't be helped that others would be alarmed. Besides the possibilities that the concerned individual could just be feigning sickness or is really suffering from a particularly debilitating disease, another plausibility most of us overlook is hypochondria. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For some, hypochondria is a possibility after having experienced the demise of a loved one due to illness. Likewise, the same anxiety grips persons who are nearing the specific age whereby a loved one has passed away prematurely because of the same reason. Despite having a healthy disposition, anyone who has gone through the aforementioned experiences could become anxious over a particular disease that caused a loved one's death. They may suffer from panic attacks and mull over the idea that they're also troubled by the same symptoms. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Usually, majority of illnesses beleaguering hypochondriacs are nowhere near as serious as they thought. However, from their vantage point, it's magnified greatly. Though the physical aches and symptoms they're griping about could be real, the causes they associate these with aren't. Often, these arise from their elevated stress level resulting from their anxiousness about having the condition in the first place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-size:13px;">Contributed By: Maris Modesto</span></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-62427310995696816172010-03-24T12:06:00.000-07:002010-03-24T12:19:28.056-07:00Identifying Giardiasis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/n/nk/nkzs/966608_drinking___.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 253px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/n/nk/nkzs/966608_drinking___.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Unquestionably, drinking contaminated water poses a variety of health problems, which includes giardiasis. One of the primary causes of diarrhea in the United States, this disease derived its name from the microscopic parasite known as giardia lamblia, which disrupts the body's absorption of carbohydrates and fats from the food it digests. Even in typical chlorinated water, this parasite could survive. It can even thrive up to two months in cold water.<br /><br />The primary symptom indicating the onset of giardiasis is when the patient begins to suffer from diarrhea. The characteristic of his stool would be watery and odorous without any trace of mucus or blood. Unlike the usual excrement that sinks in the toilet bowl's water, the stool of a person suffering from giardiasis would float. It would also have a characteristically shiny-like appearance since the fat hasn't been properly absorbed by the body.<br /><br />In treating giardiasis, your doctor would prescribe medication to kill the giardia lamblia parasite. The process usually takes five days up to a week. For children, medicines in liquid form are usually administered. Since some of these medications have side effects, it is best to stay vigilant as soon as the child starts taking them.<br /><br /><br />Contributed By: Maris Modesto<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-39083768110902089902010-02-12T13:49:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:51:35.178-08:00Food and Your Emotions<div style="text-align: justify;">Do you often find yourself hungry whenever you feel down? If your answer to this question is a big “yes,” then you're ranked among the many people labeled as emotional eaters. Although common, the compulsion to use food to compensate for adverse emotions endangers your weight loss efforts. Emotional eating makes you susceptible to overeating, especially with high risk high-calorie foods with lots of sugar and/or fat.<br /><br />Food serves as one of the most common emotional pacifiers whenever people find themselves stressed out and/or beleaguered by problems. The act of eating itself is a form of distraction. It keeps them preoccupied while suppressing adverse emotions like sadness, confusion, anger, loneliness, fear, boredom, or a combination of any of them.<br /><br />Even if there are people who tend to eat less when confronted by these emotions, getting emotionally distressed also leaves them vulnerable to eating compulsively. Whether done consciously or not, the peril of having your emotions entwined with food could send you reaching out for whatever food is available every time you feel bad. Regardless of what particular emotion has triggered your compulsion, you still end up with the same risks: botched weight loss efforts and becoming unhealthy.<br /><br /><br /><br />Contributed By: Maris Modesto<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-74919743221067449472010-02-02T11:01:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:52:24.857-08:00Fishy Matters That Really Matter<div style="text-align: justify;">Rich in omega-3-fatty acids, protein, and other vital nutrients sans the high levels of saturated fat, fish is a major component of a well-balanced diet, helpful in achieving and maintaining our healthy weight. However, because it has been confirmed that fish contains mercury and other toxins prevalent in our environment, questions concerning its healthfulness has been raised. To stay on the safe side without sacrificing the health benefits of eating fish, be guided by these pointers:<br /><br />King Mackerel, Shark, Tilefish, and Swordfish have been confirmed to contain the most amount of toxins, hence, we are advised to exclude them from our diets.<br /><br />It's safe to consume up to 12 ounces of these fish and shellfish with low amounts of mercury: canned light tuna, salmon, shrimp, pollock, and catfish.<br /><br />Since white tuna (albacore) contains more mercury than light tuna, we're advised to consume no more than six ounces of it weekly.<br /><br />Following these pointers would assure our continued enjoyment of the nutritional benefits of fish. Overall, too much consumption of mercury results to severe health complications, specifically risking the brain and nervous system. Those at higher risk are pregnant women, their unborn fetuses, lactating women, and young children.<br /><br /><br />Contributed By: Maris Modesto<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-66001839634382244282010-02-01T11:26:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:52:49.689-08:00Why Organic Produce Is Better<div style="text-align: justify;">The organic food trend sweeping across the globe isn't media hype alone. Learn how going organic could improve health by considering these facts:<br /><br /> * Organic produce tops the freshness list.<br /><br />Since organically grown produce is not treated with preservatives to prolong its storage life, it's definitely fresher. And fresh fruits and veggies always taste better. However, in buying organic products, knowledge of the source is important. Usually, the farms producing them are located near the places where they're sold.<br /><br /> * Using organic farming methods benefits us and our environment.<br /><br />Organic farming methods is considered beneficial to our environment because of the following: it decreases pollution, soil contamination and erosion, saves water, makes the soil more fertile, and decreases energy consumption. Because organic farming never uses chemical fertilizers and pesticides, we're treated to pesticide-free and more nutritious fruits and veggies.<br /><br /> * Eating organic meat omits the health risk of adverse side effects.<br /><br />Livestock raised the organic way is neither fed with animal by-products nor given antibiotics, which could translate to negative health consequences for us. Moreover, the animals are raised in a more spacious environment instead of being cramped together, thus, promoting their overall better health. Reasonably, healthy livestock means healthier meat.<br /><br /><br />Contributed By: Maris Modesto<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-478915930749853992010-01-21T12:41:00.000-08:002010-01-21T12:42:50.832-08:00The Importance of Keeping a Healthy Weight<div style="text-align: justify;">The benefits of keeping a healthy weight goes beyond appearances. Besides having a more appealing vital statistics, achieving and maintaining your body's ideal weight is equivalent to a healthier and hardier physique. In effect, your risk of contracting illnesses, especially serious ones, is decreased greatly.<br /><br />Based on researches, obesity lowers a person's life expectancy by nine years on average. With this comes heightened risks of contracting serious ailments such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers in the breast, prostate and colon. Accordingly, experts have pointed out that only a small percentage of people suffer from obesity due to Cushing's syndrome or slow metabolism due to an underactive thyroid. Majority of obese people worldwide attribute their condition to unhealthy habits characterized by consuming beyond their daily required caloric consumption coupled with a sedentary lifestyle.<br /><br />But as debilitating as the health consequences of obesity are, it is still a reversible condition. In losing the excess weight, we also decrease our risk of the serious illnesses associated with obesity. Making important healthy lifestyle changes is imperative. Losing weight through a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise becomes more effective if we exercise more and eat less.<br /><br /><br />Contributed By: Maris Modesto<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-16000348067383157822010-01-19T08:44:00.000-08:002010-01-19T08:50:32.090-08:00Getting to Know Financial Stress<div style="text-align: justify;">Tough economic times always puts the pressure on our finances that we can't help but feel anxious, worried, and/or sad. Where money matters are concerned, the need for surviving in the modern world doesn't exempt us from the burdening mental stress that comes with being preoccupied about anything concerning our bills. Hence, all of us are susceptible to financial stress. Like the usual stress, financial stress affects us physically and mentally. Find out how this comes about by pondering on these facts:<br /><br />Physical Changes<br /><ul><li>trouble sleeping or staying asleep</li><li>declining concentration ability</li><li>feeling down or even tearful during random instances</li><li>loss of appetite</li></ul><br />Mental Changes<br /><ul><li>pessimistic way of thinking that leads to feelings of helplessness and/or hopelessness </li><li>loss of enthusiasm reflected in oversleeping or wanting to be alone most of the time</li><li>shying away from other people's company or decreased enthusiasm for socializing with friends and loved ones</li></ul><br />Coping with these adverse changes is possible when you follow the given suggestions below:<br /><br /><ul><li>Stick to your usual routine in spite of yourself.</li><li>Expose yourself to early morning sunshine.</li><li>Talk it out with a friend. </li><li>Be attentive to your physical health needs (healthy diet and regular exercise) despite your feelings.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></li></ul><br />Contributed By: Maris Modesto<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-79678640204992125312009-12-10T02:20:00.000-08:002009-12-10T02:22:30.527-08:00Mesothelioma a Rare Disease<p style="text-align: justify;">This is a uncommon form of cancer, commonly attached to exposure to asbestos. In Mesothelioma, cancerous cells develop in the mesothelium, a defensive lining that covers most of the bodies inner organs. The most common site for Mesothelioma is the outer lining of the lungs along with chest cavity (known as the pleura lining), but it may also occur in the lining of the abdominal cavity (also known as the peritoneum) or the outer lining of the heart (pericardium).</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Individuals who develop Mesothelioma have typically worked in jobs where they were exposed to asbestos particles via airborne means, or by direct contract with contaminated materials used by loved ones or friends in such occupations.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;">Mesothelioma symptoms</h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">It may take upwards of 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos for Mesothelioma symptoms to become apparent. Among the symptoms of Mesothelioma one might see, the primary two associated with plural cavity Mesothelioma are:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">shortness of breath </p> </li><li><p>pain in the chest - most likely due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space </p> </li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Symptoms of <b>Mesothelioma</b> that are affecting the peritoneal cavity may include </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">weight loss </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">abdominal swelling </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">bowel obstruction </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">blood clotting abnormalities </p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">anemia </p> </li><li><p>fever </p> </li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">If the cancer has spread then the symptoms may diversify as well. General symptoms of metastasized Mesothelioma may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">All symptoms on this page may be caused by Mesothelioma, especially if the individual had a prior exposure to high levels of asbestos earlier in life. However, all of these symptoms can be caused by less serious conditions.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-27525101847835481502009-12-07T22:30:00.000-08:002009-12-07T22:37:58.108-08:00Dengue Alert<div align="justify">What is dengue?<br /><br />Dengue fever is a relatively common problem in Asia and periodically reaches epidemic proportions in some countries like Indonesia, Philippines and others, usually every 4-5 years. Rarely fatal in fit adults, the patient is often left debilitated and requires considerable time for convalescence. Dengue Fever is most common during the rainy season (November - May) as the mosquito requires clean standing water to reproduce.<br /><br />Dengue occurs due to infection by a flavivirus which is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes mosquito. (Unlike malaria, this disease occurs in greater Jakarta - urban dengue occurs in nearly all tropical countries like I said it before).<br /><br /><br /><br />SYMPTOMS<br /><br />Certainly in the aboriginal stages of illness, dengue fever is difficult if not impossible to distinguish clinically from the many other possible causes of similar symptoms and signs.<br /><br />IN ADULTS:<br /><br />The deposit of the dengue virus in the skin by the bite, there is an incubation period of 2 - 14 (usually 4 - 8) days.<br /><br />Thereafter onset of symptoms is usually abrupt, coinciding with viremia (the virus multiplying in the bloodstream) with chills, headache, backache, weakness, pain behind the eyes, flushing of the face, muscle and joint pain, and lassitude. The joint and back pains can be very bad indeed; hence the older name 'breakbone fever'.<br /><br />The temperature rapidly rises, often to 40°C (104°F), and there is a low heart rate (compared to the degree of, and other causes of, high fever). The blood pressure is often low also. A transient rash which blanches under pressure may be seen during the first 24 hours of fever.<br /><br />During the 2nd to 6th day of fever, nausea and even vomiting may occur, and the patient may develop one or more of the following; skin hypersensitivity, generalized swelling of regional lymph nodes, swelling of the palms, changes in taste sensation, loss of appetite, constipation, anxiety and depression.<br /><br />Within 2 to 4 days a temporary improvement can occur with a sudden drop in temperature and subjective improvement - for 24 hours until there is a second rapid temperature rise. A generalized morbilliform (“measles-like”) rash appears a characteristic rash on the trunk, limbs, palms and soles especially. (This second febrile phase does not invariably occur). This rash usually disappears in 1-5 days, the skin in these areas turn bright red and may peel. The temperature should fall back to normal and the infectious episode is effectively over.<br /><br />Epistaxis (“nose bleeds”), petechiae (“red skin spots”) and purpuric skin lesions (“purple skin spots / bruises”) can occur at any stage of the disease, varying with age, sex, and type of dengue virus. Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, and excessive vaginal bleeding if menstruating can also occur, but do not usually occur in most cases.</div><div align="justify"><br />IN CHILDREN:<br /><br />A fever occurs in nearly all dengue infections in children; the other most common symptoms are a red throat, a (usually mild) runny nose, cough, and mild gastrointestinal symptoms which of course may present similar to pharyngitis, influenza, and upper respiratory infections.<br /><br />The presentation of dengue in the younger child is much less characteristic than in the older child and adult as above.<br /><br /><br /><br />TREATMENT<br /><br />It has no particular cure for the infectious caused by dengue virus in dengue fever or DHF / DSS. The complications can and should be treated, and in the rare cases of DSS, treatment for shock as well as a low platelet count is both essential and available including fresh blood and / or platelet transfusion but there is no medicine or vaccine anywhere available that can act specifically against the virus.<br /><br />It has been suggested that DHF is more likely if the patient has previously had an attack of dengue within the last calendar year (generally within the last eight-twelve months), and that the occurrence of DHF relates to this previous "sensitization". Previous exposure may raise the incidence of subsequent DHF, presumably (as experiments have shown) by the antibody elicited in response to the first infection, being capable of enhancing the infection due to the virus found in the second episode.<br /><br />Uncontrolled bleeding distinguishes this from uncomplicated dengue fever. Bleeding can occur from the gums, nose, intestine, or under the skin as bruises or spots of blood especially under a tourniquet this test should be employed if there is any suspicion. The liver is often enlarged.<br /><br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-80630060098568323392009-12-07T02:15:00.000-08:002009-12-07T02:16:16.670-08:00More Public Transportation, Less ObesityThe problem of obesity is known to be at an all-time high in the United States, with an ever-increasing number of young people being found to either be obese or be at risk of it. This is, of course, a bit of a severe problem, and the federal government has attempted to take numerous steps to try and fix the problem. However, recent research has also started to delve into what might be the cause for these problems. According to a study that looked into the frequency of obesity in various countries, it seems that there may be a connection between walking, biking, and public transportation and the frequency of obesity in people.<br /><br />The study has found that countries where walking, biking, or taking public transportation to work, shopping, or school have largely lower frequencies of obesity in the general population. The study found that the higher the rate of use for public transportation and methods such as bicycles or walking, the lower the recorded instances of <a href="http://www.buymedsonline.ca/buyxenical.html">obesity</a>. It was also noted that Americans, who largely prefer to travel by car from one location to another, have the highest obesity rates in the world, and are also the people least likely to walk, cycle, or take mass transit.<br /><br />An estimated 12% of all people use active transportation in the United States, with 9% of that number walking, 1% riding bikes, and 2% taking a bus or train. As for the rest of the population, the car is found to be the favored means of getting around – incidentally, a third of that segment of the population have been found to be obese. This is in comparison to the 67% of commuters in Latvia, 52% of the population that prefers to walk in the Netherlands, and 62% of Swedes who walk, bike, or use mass transit. The obesity rate for Latvia is at 14%, while the Netherlands has it at 11% - significantly lower than for the US.<br /><br />Part of the reason for this was found to be the structure of most European cities. The roads tended to be narrower and allowed less traffic flow, discouraging people from using cars. In contrast, US areas have much wider roads to allow for more vehicles to pass, and to speed up the flow of traffic. European cities, therefore, are structured to discourage too many people from driving cars, while American cities are designed to accommodate large numbers of vehicles on the road at once.Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-89071709844835931302009-02-19T02:13:00.000-08:002009-02-19T02:22:35.649-08:00Workaholism: Working For The Sake of Constant Activity <div style="text-align: justify;">Some people are not aware that there is a world of difference between being “hardworking” and being a “workaholic.” Being hardworking is characterized by perseverance and diligence. However, being compelled to work for the sake of working, and you feel panic, anxiety or a sense of loss when you aren’t working, is a case of being a workaholic. And that is a totally different story.<br />The difference between the two lies in knowing when to stop and set boundaries. A hardworking person knows when he/she has worked long enough. On the other hand, the workaholic feels uneasy and not yet satisfied with his/her work even if he/she has been doing it for hours longer than the usual. The lack of constant activity makes the workaholic person uneasy and incomplete.<br />According to Diane M. Fassel, author of Working Ourselves to Death and Chief Executive of New Measures, which conducts employee satisfaction surveys, “the workaholic is addicted to incessant activity. The behavior continues even if the worker becomes aware that it is personally harmful — even harmful to the quality of the work.”<br />Compared to drug addiction and alcoholism, being a workaholic is viewed by many as praiseworthy. They are rewarded for working excessively, which never happens with addiction.<br />However, mental health professionals are now considering workaholism as a condition that can cause both mental and physical damage. There are certain types of people who are more susceptible to workaholism than others. They are the perfectionists and those who have the need to be always in control.<br />Also, these are the people who engage in too much work in order to escape from a bad relationship or to make up for an absence in one’s personal life. The danger of working too hard is that the stress that goes along with it has been shown to lead to substance abuse, sleep disorders, anxiety, and, ultimately, to physical problems like heart disease.<br />The following are tell-tale signs of workaholism:<br />When most people close to you feel neglected by you because of your work, you should certainly take their concerns seriously.<br />When you regularly conceal from family members that you are working, even sneaking into the next room to work on your laptop, you may have a problem.<br />Nowadays, people are just too willing to get connected, 24-7. Advances in technology have significantly contributed in transforming people into becoming workaholics. The advent of mobile phones, laptops, and internet shops allow people easy access to go online wherever they are; be it in the restaurants, on the sidewalk, at home, or during vacation.<br />Workaholism can be very hard to change. It will require professional help, as well as behavioral and cognitive therapy. During treatment, workaholics may go through withdrawal syndrome. The active support of family members and friends may be needed to turn the tide.</div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-38790169727791852742009-02-17T01:58:00.000-08:002009-02-17T02:07:50.531-08:00Why Some Soldiers Don't Get Battle Stress<div style="text-align: justify;">War is a jarring thing. The sounds of shells being fired, the sight of comrades getting shot, and the experience of things exploding within one's immediate vicinity can all have a tremendous effect on mental health and stability. It is, therefore, not all that surprising that people who have seen combat are a little jarred, and may not be quite normal. Depression, anxiety, and other disorders are not uncommon side effects of having seen battle, which is why the military has established programs and services specifically to help returning soldiers cope with what's happened to them. However, there are also a few people that, simply put, don't seem at all affected. According to recent research on the matter, certain individuals have lower levels of stress hormones and, as a consequence, don't get stressed.<br /><br />It is known that some people simply perform better than others when put into a high-stress situation. Some people have the ability to keep cool heads, regardless of what is going on around them. This is true for mundane situations, such as an approaching deadline, and it is true for combat situations, with shells exploring, bullets flying, and all manner of unpleasant sensory data coming in. A recently completed study has managed to find what may be the reason for such behavior, and why not everyone is capable of displaying such calm. There have been some who theorized that this might be more linked to biochemistry than mental health.<br /><br />According to the study, blood samples taken from soldiers who fared best under levels of extreme stress had lower levels of cortisol and higher levels of neuropeptide Y. What does this mean for the average person? It means that the soldier in question had lower levels of a stress hormone, and higher levels of a chemical that is designed to damped the stress response of the body. This means that the body's systems manage to turn down stress levels much better than the average person. Now, the next aim of the research team is to find some way to extend this benefit to those who aren't as cool-headed under stress. Potential benefits for <a href="http://www.drugstorepharmacy.mobi/fluoxetine.html">mental health </a>are still undetermined.</div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-47682867795170878392009-02-11T18:43:00.000-08:002009-02-11T19:39:33.014-08:00The Prospect Of Depressing Sex<div style="text-align: justify;">Most grouping equal stimulate with pleasure, happiness, or at least base, physical enjoyment. What the average mortal does not mentally associate stimulate with is depression. However, there are whatever grouping that actually mentally associate stimulate with any number of negative factors. Everything from discomfort to boredom to pain can be cited, and in whatever cases, it can actually leave a mortal feeling lethargic and depressed for a long period afterwards. It isn't meet the elderly – who tend to be stereotyped as existence too old for stimulate – who have this problem, as there are numerous grouping in their younger years that are known to experience discomfort or depression at the prospect of stimulate or afterwards.<br /><br />People with this difficulty sometimes have conditions that attain stimulate an state that only cannot be enjoyed, but there are also those who have clean bills of health, in both the physical and mental fields. This difficulty is meet as likely to manifest among the well-adjusted and hard-working grouping as it is in those who are mentally unstable and psychologically imbalanced. It isn't a lack of friends, kinsfolk or personal support structure, either. It can be quite tempting to assume that this difficulty with stimulate only stems from issues towards the partner or to stimulate in general, but extended analysis might expose that this is not the case. There are meet whatever grouping that are incapable of finding pleasure in sexual intercourse.<br /><br />There are cases of grouping – usually women – who experience pure episodes of <a href="http://www.buymedsonline.ca/buyfluoxetine.html">depression</a> that last for several hours after intercourse. These cases have null added wrong with them physically, and their psychiatric profiles are as connatural as one could get aside from the problem. While it is true that grouping can sometimes feel quite sad after intercourse, this is not thoughtful an adequate explanation for the pure depression and dysphoria that the above cases feel, as it is significantly more tumultuous and goes beyond the simple feeling most experience. The answer to this question, however, is still thoughtful to be up to speculation.<br /><br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-27610250503714474962009-02-08T18:22:00.000-08:002009-02-08T18:55:47.130-08:00The Reasons For Abnormal Blood Sugar<div style="text-align: justify;">When the body fails to regulate blood sugar (glucose), it may result in serious, and even fatal, complications like diabetes. The regulation of glucose is a function of not one, but three organs of the body, namely the pancreas, the liver, and the muscles, with some help from fats. However, a startling new discovery about a hormone released from the bone is significantly changing our understanding of diabetes and giving new clues on how to deal with it.<br /><br />Diabetes is considered to be the fifth leading killer of Americans. In addition to the body's failure to regulate glucose, other specific types of diabetes result from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, <a href="http://www.drugstorepharmacy.mobi/amoxicillin.html">infections</a>, and other illnesses.<br /><br />On the other hand, new research suggests that the issue is even more complex than what it seems to be. A hormone from the skeleton may influence how the body handles sugar. There is also increasing evidence that demonstrates that the signals from the immune system, the brain, and the gut play very important roles in controlling glucose and lipid metabolism. These findings are mainly relevant to Type 2 diabetes, the more common kind, which comes on in adulthood.<br /><br />While elevated blood sugar defines diabetes, the reasons for abnormal sugar tend to be different from one individual to another. It is in understanding exactly what signals are involved that raises the hope of providing the right care for each person each day, rather than giving everyone the same drug.<br /><br />Lead researcher, Dr. Gerard Karsenty, first described the findings at a conference where the assembled scientists appeared to be overwhelmed by the potential implications of the study. It was the first time that the skeleton was actually seen as an endocrine organ, producing hormones that act outside of bone.<br /><br />In his previous work, he had shown that a hormone produced by fat, called leptin, is an important regulator of bone metabolism. In this work, idea that if fat regulates bone, bone must regulate fat was tested. His experiment with mice revealed that a previously known substance called osteocalcin, which is produced by bone, acted by signaling fat cells, as well as the pancreas. The net effect is to improve how mice secrete and handle insulin, the hormone that helps the body move glucose from the bloodstream into cells of the muscle and liver, where it can be used for energy or stored for future use. Insulin is also important in regulating lipids.<br /><br />Patients with Type 2 diabetes no longer heed the hormone’s directives due to the cells' resistance to insulin. Their blood glucose levels surge and production of insulin in the pancreas decline as well.<br /><br />The experiment revealed an increase in osteocalcin which addressed the twin problems of insulin resistance and low insulin production. The mice became more sensitive to insulin and it increased their insulin production, thus bringing their blood sugar down. As a bonus, it also made obese mice less fat.<br /><br />Should osteocalcin works in humans as well, it can be considered as a “unique new treatment” for Type 2 diabetes. Most current diabetes drugs either raise insulin production or improve insulin sensitivity, but not both. Drugs that increase production tend to make insulin resistance worse. A deficiency in osteocalcin could also turn out to be a cause of Type 2 diabetes.<br /><br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-61463995067942887472009-02-05T19:45:00.000-08:002009-02-05T19:58:03.321-08:00Why You Should Considering Having Sex Regularly<div style="text-align: justify;">Sex is a good thing, not only for partners who want to bond more with each other, but also for the individual's health. This is, of course, provided that sex is done in moderation. However, it is important to keep in mind that having too much sex can take a bad toll on you and your health.<br /><br />Below are some of the health benefits of sex:<br /><br />1.It's a great form of exercise. Not only is it an enjoyable kind of exercise, but if you are one who's into trying different sexual positions, then you're using your different muscle groups.<br /><br />2.It improves muscle and bone strength. Like any other form of exercise, sex puts our bones and muscles to use, giving them a strengthening workout of sorts.<br /><br />3.It betters your cardiovascular health. It does so by increasing blood flow throughout the body and positively changing the good to bad cholesterol ratio.<br /><br />4.It's a great stress reliever. Thanks to the oxytocin released by the body during sexual activity that releases endorphins that induce relaxation.<br /><br />5.It improves blood oxygen levels. A healthy session of love making can increase the amount of oxygen in the cells. This helps keep our organs and tissues working perfectly.<br /><br />6.It acts as an analgesic. Sex triggers the release of oxytocin in the body. This hormone increases one's pain threshold, providing significant <a href="http://www.buymedsonline.ca/buyfioricet.html">relief from pain</a>.<br /><br />7.It offers prostate protection in men. Regular ejaculation is helpful in draining the fluid buildup that is said to cause various kinds of prostate-related problems.<br /><br />8.It helps in women's hormone production. Instead of taking hormone replacement pills for estrogen deficiency, having regular sex sessions can naturally increase a woman's estrogen level. This will, in turn, help protect her heart and keep her vaginal tissues supple.<br /><br />Again, it is important to emphasize at this point, that none of these benefits will be attainable if you have too much sex. Once or twice a week should be enough to give you the benefits you need from sex.</div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-42576616206918640492009-02-02T22:28:00.000-08:002009-02-02T23:01:12.397-08:00Stress Smoking and Hair Loss<div style="text-align: justify;">Almost everybody has to deal with stress on a day-to-day basis. From the baby trying to call an adult's attention, to the working head of the family trying to bring food to the dinner table, we all deal with stress in our own ways.<br /><br />On a positive note, stress has its beneficial effects. It can sometimes give us an extra energy boost to accomplish tasks and helps keep us focused. However, when it becomes too much to handle, people start manifesting various psychological and physical symptoms of being overstressed. One of the many physical manifestations of being stressed is hair loss.<br /><br />If you're thinking hair loss in the sense that they just start falling off on their own. That isn't the case. It is because when one is stressed, they get into habits that lead to hair loss and thinning.<br /><br />One of the many habits stressed out people have is smoking. Smoking changes the way the body grows hair and restores the scalp. Smoking increases the amount of DHT or dihydrotestosterone in the hair follicles by 13%, and increases testosterone levels by 9%. Together, these two hormones increase the amount of hair lost and the rate it is lost.<br /><br />Aside from aiding in the production of hormones that speed up hair loss, smoking also makes the blood vessels in the scalp constrict, thereby impeding the blood flow to the scalp. To add to that, carbon monoxide in the smoke you inhale interferes with the blood's oxygen carrying ability, making it even more difficult for fresh blood to get to the scalp to avoid further hair loss.<br /><br />Smoking is just one of the many bad habits we turn to when we're pressured and stressed, there are still a lot more stress habits that could cause your hair loss. Would you still want to keep <a href="http://www.drugstorepharmacy.mobi/zyban.html">smoking</a> after knowing that it's causing your baldness?<br /><br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-27488846214877986382009-02-02T01:52:00.000-08:002009-02-02T02:07:05.223-08:00The Penis Has A Mind of It's Own<div style="text-align: justify;">Most men usually wonder why the penis often seems to have a mind of its own. Like the arms and legs, the penis responds to the autonomic nervous system which regulates heart rate and blood pressure and is not always under conscious control.<br /><br />During sexual arousal, the conscious mind is usually in compliance with it. However, a lot of sexual arousal goes on in the sympathetic nervous system. During the REM phase of sleep, impulses from the brain may also cause erections. It doesn't matter if you're dream has anything to do with sex or not. Even straining to have a bowel movement or lifting heavy weights can also produce an erection.<br /><br />In the same way that penis grows without your consent, it also shrinks on its own. According to Drogo Montague, MD, a urologist at the Cleveland Clinic, a man may have different sizes of its penis in flaccid state. Exposure to cold water or air makes your penis shrink. That's a function of the sympathetic nervous system. And since psychological stress affects the sympathetic nervous system, the flaccid penis looks bigger than when you're stressed out.<br /><br />There is really no permanent relationship between the size of the flaccid penis and its <a href="http://www.drugstorepharmacy.mobi/levitra.html">full erect</a> length. Based on a research study involving 80 men, it was found that increases from falccid to erect lengths ranged from less than a quarter inch to 3.5 inches longer.<br /><br />It can mean that a guy with a big limp penis doesn't necessarily gets much bigger with an erection. Likewise, a man whose penis looks small could surprise you with a big erection. Sex researcher Alfred Kinsey said in his analysis of more than thousand penis measurements, shorter flaccid penises tend to gain about twice as much length as longer flaccid penises.<br /><br />It is interesting to know that a penis that doesn't gain much length with an erection is called a “show-er” while a penis that gains a lot is said to be a “grow-er.” Statistics have shown that about 12% of penises gained one-third or less of their total length with an erection, and about 7% doubled in length when erect.<br /><br />Resource Box : Monch Bravante is a freelance writer and an advertising practitioner with special interest in public health issues.<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377070298163589665.post-22739055549752686692009-01-30T00:21:00.000-08:002009-01-30T00:24:14.909-08:00The Theoretical Cancer Vaccine<div style="text-align: justify;">One cannot be vaccinated against cancer. This is a simple, clear medical fact. Medical science just has no way of developing a vaccine that would prevent a condition like cancer from taking hold. The technology does not exist that would allow us to wipe out cancer in the same way that polio and smallpox have been. However, that doesn't mean that some sort of cancer vaccine would not be impossible in the future.<br /><br />Theoretically, a cancer vaccine can be developed, it is simply a matter of the right research team looking into the right method. There have been several inroads made in the past few decades towards this aim, with testing of prospective vaccines having been conducted. Some trials are still in the process of being completed, as well. The problem, however, is that none of the results so far have shown enough promise to be the concrete way to prevent cancer.<br /><br />Immunotherapy is considered to be among the most promising avenues of treatment for cancer that is currently available. The mentality behind this method involves developing medications and drugs that would allow the body to attack the cancerous cells, rather than relying on <a href="http://www.buymedsonline.ca/">medications</a> or radiation to do it. It also allows for the development of several experimental vaccines designed to provide a person immunity to cancer. In this vein, there are two major categories of hypothetical cancer vaccines: the specific and the universal.<br /><br />As the name implies, specific vaccines are ones that are developed to treat a particular type of cancer. There are various forms of cancer, and some theorize that it would be better to develop a vaccine for each one separately to maximize the chances of preventing the condition. The universal, on the other hand, would theoretically function as a general “prevent-all” measure. It would not target any specific cancer, but would instead be intended to vaccinate the person to all known forms of cancer.<br /></div>Val Ferdinand Perezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773288572693688noreply@blogger.com0