It is that part of the brain, known as the mid-brain, that controls emotional feelings and moods that is most susceptible to the influence of nicotine. This results in feelings of pleasure and well being, which can turn to anxiety and ill feeling once the dosage stops, even to cravings for more. These feelings can to some extent be diminished by using such devices as chewing gum to mask the craving or nicotine patches to feed the craving without the more harmful effect of inhalation. Smokers who try to quit are trying to beat a double whammy. Firstly, the physical addiction to nicotine is reinforced by the very immediacy with which its pleasures can be obtained. Secondly, they have to overcome the psychological association they have of a cigarette and pleasurable experiences.

In addition to the physical aspects of addiction, smokers are subject to peer pressure cultural influences and social customs. For the average smoker, going to the pub or at the end of a meal are times when they naturally light up a cigarette as part of the socializing process. A particularly vulnerable time for those with the habit, comes when under stress. As well as these influences, it is clear that that some individuals are more prone to nicotine addiction than others. There is probably a genetic explanation for this. It appears that some smokers absorb nicotine at a higher rate, which leads to greater addiction tendencies. Once in the body, nicotine is chemically broken down by a particular enzyme contained in the liver. There is evidence to show that where a genetic defect exists, which reduces the presence of the enzyme, that person is less likely to smoke. Additionally, compared to someone with a normal level of the enzyme, the addictive effect is somewhat reduced and they actually smoke fewer cigarettes.

Despite these psychological, genetic and cultural pressures, habitual smokers may take comfort in the fact that it is still possible to quit the smoking habit. Clearly it is an easier goal for some more than others, but there are organizations and self-help groups out there ready to help. Anti smoking counselling is always beneficial and physical help is always available through medical treatment. The psychological aspects are also well understood.

Nicotine in some respects is just like any other addictive substance and the longer a person has been exposed to it, the longer it will take to give it up. Smokers in their twenties may find it easier to kick the habit than an older person who has been smoking for twenty years. Although the latter of course probably has the extra motivation of understanding, and indeed feeling, some of the harmful consequences the habit carries with it.

Carcinogens attack the human cells attaching themselves to DNA and either altering cellular metabolism or the damaging the DMA directly. Normal DNA that is damaged and cannot repair itself leads to ‘programmed cell death’ a process called Biotransformation in which the damaged cells harmlessly become water soluble and are flushed from our body. Sometimes damaged DNA in a cell has no pathway and the cell has no choice but to become cancerous. Cancer tumors are formed when normal biological processes are hindered and the normally aggressive immune system is weak or has been weakened.

Some common carcinogens are tobacco smoke, asbestos (when inhaled), dioxins, radioactive material such as gamma rays, alpha particles (when ingested or inhaled) and x-rays which are highly carcinogenic due their retention in human organs. Also there are many natural carcinogens one being Aflatoxin B. which grows on stored nuts and grains. Another potent carcinogen is formaldehyde, which is used, in embalming and plastic making. In PCV manufacturing vinyl chloride is used which is a strong carcinogen.

Carcinogens are also produced by cooking foods at a very high temperature or by cooking meats until their well done. Some researchers say that the carcinogens present are so minute that they present no health threat. Others especially those in the natural health community say carcinogens in over cooked food do present a significant health threat and do add to cancer growing cells over a period of time.

The human body has a remarkable disposition to ward off disease through our built in immune system but a weakened immune system allows deadly carcinogens to get a foot hold in our cells enabling DNA damage. Acrylamide, a known carcinogen is created in frying or overheating foods such as potato chips, french fries and any other fried foods.

Smoking cigarettes and cigars may cause irreversible damage to human genes. There are over 4,000 chemical compounds, which are toxic to the human body and are carcinogenic. With all the education readily available on how deadly tobacco smoke is one would think smoking related diseases would be eradicated but that is not the case. Smoking still is a serious health problem.

With the advent of processed foods came innumerable additives that are foreign to the human body. Additives that add color or taste to a food and preservatives that unnaturally extend shelf life of processed foods. All man made additives are unnatural and may conflict with natural bodily functions. I won’t bore you with long scientific names, which can easily be found, on any processed food ingredient list. Suffice it to say all processed foods lend it to diminish. health.

Our water supply has been tragically compromised with the addition of chemicals added to the water in the name public health. Chlorine in massive amounts has been added to most public water supplies to kill off harmful germs when ironically it is the chlorine that is adding a foreign chemical in to millions of trusting people. Remember anything that is not natural in origin becomes a potentially dangerous ingredient in the ‘all-natural human body’. The human body reacts positively to natural wholesome foods and natural supplements and negatively to man made stuff that do not have natural ingredients in them.

In addition to harmful and potentially cancer causing preservatives added to food, pesticides and herbicides are liberally used to kill and deter insects and disease in our produce industry. These chemicals are poinsious to human consumption and studies support an increased cancer risk when consumed. As previously stated, any foreign entity introduced into the human body may potentially be harmful and increase cancer risk.

With that in mind one must place pharmaceutical drugs in the category of foreign material. Pharmaceutical drugs are used like eating candy in a brainwashed society. Every pill taken offers a challenge to our immune system and our naturally created normal bodily functions. Pharmaceutical drugs for the most part are a concoction of man made material created to mask the symptoms of a disease, to temporarily eliviate a medical problem. The pill inevitably is time stamped to ‘work’ or be effective for a period of time thus the masking effect wears off and you need to take another pill.

Our brave new world with boundless good intentions has opened up a Pandora’s box of genetic mutants that have cancer-causing implications. We are self-inflicting ourselves with poisons that immeasurably produce a hostile environment for our wondrously created immune system. Cancer in my opinion is a man made creation and could be eliminated if we all insisted, no demanded, that only all natural ingredients be added to our food, water, products, and medicine. Individually you can create your own ‘Cancer Free Zone’ by living ‘all natural’ and allowing your body to function as it was intended; “Free and Clean of Foreign Poisons”.

Firstly, let's take a look at why these not-so-lovable love handles appear in the first place. All that they are is an area where your body tends to store excess fat. The reason that the fat goes to these spots is because they are a way to carry fat for your body without it really getting in your way and where there is less activity to actually use the fat. It's like a storage room for the fat that your body does not need at the moment.

Also, love handles are located where there are no major muscles that would move the fat, so it sits there nicely and is harder to get rid of from this area. Now, if you wish ot get rid of these little (or big) storage rooms on your body, what you need to do is activate those areas. There are a few ways to do this.

One of my favorite is the "side bend" exercise. What you do is stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Then you put your hands on your hip bones and move your upper body side to side. If you are bending to the left, you will be using your right stomach muscles by elongating them while going down to the left. As you are going up to your original position, you are contracting these side muscles of your stomach to pull you up.

What I also like to do is put my hands on these muscles. This way I can feel them contracting and it makes me feel good about exercising them. Try to concentrate your mind on pulling yourself up using these muscles only. This will be beneficial to toning your tummy and diminishing the love handles as the fat in that area becomes activated to support your muscles during exercise.

Another great exercise for love handles is to move only your upper torso in an isolated way from your lower body. What you need to do is move your upper body (from hip bones up) horizontally to the left, to the right, forward and backward. You can then combine them and move your upper body in a circular motion. If you are doing this exercise correctly, your movements will be small since you are not actually bending, but instead moving your upper body to the site while your lower body is firmly attached to the ground. You should feel your stomach and back muscles activated when doing this move.

I love these exercises because usually they don't tire you out and instead feel like a nice stretch. Make sure you do them as often as you can so that you are nice and flexible in that area, which will keep your love handles fat activated instead of stored for the winter :).

I hope this was helpful to you since it surely helped me to get rid of my love handles! I wish you to achieve the same result and feel great about yourself and your narrow waist! Good luck!

There are numerous benefits to meditation. As more modern, mainstream medical practitioners look into meditation techniques, the more they have started to acknowledge some of these benefits. Of course, this is nothing new to a great many people and is simply what Eastern religious and cultural traditions have known for centuries.

However, in this society, when a top story in the national headlines provides reports about the benefits of meditation, it is interesting indeed. There have now been a number of studies that have told of very ill patients responding to treatment much better when they used meditation techniques.

The fact that this is a major news story in the Western world, and yet is simply a well-known fact in the Eastern world, is a clear indication of how far behind Western medicine is, with regard to integrating spirituality into healthcare approaches. In fact, to many in Eastern cultures it even seems laughable to waste time on a study of the benefits of meditation when in that part of the world it has been a fact of life and practice for as long as anyone can remember.

But, the news is that researchers in the Western world have proven through scientific means, that the regular practice of meditation is an effective, simple and safe way to balance a person's emotional, mental and physical state. As a result of this, it is commendable that more and more mainstream doctors are suggesting to their patients that they learn to meditate in conjunction with their traditional medical treatments. Many doctors have reported that meditations have helped their patients heal faster and respond better to various treatments and medications.

Of course, there are also many benefits even for those who are not undergoing any type of medical treatment, and many advocates of various meditation techniques say that a regular practice of meditating can help keep a person healthy and can actually be instrumental in warding off illness and disease. It is believed that one of the reasons for this is the fact that the meditation helps to keep stress and anxiety in check and since these are major contributors or triggers of many health issues, it is natural that those who meditate enjoy better health.

One of the most significant benefits of meditation is this factor of reducing stress from the body. When people mediate on a regular basis, they will achieve deeper levels of relaxation and inner contemplation. This helps to eliminate many worries and pressures that accumulate in a day and can help them to enjoy a more peaceful and calm existence.

In about 3 - 9% of women, the days surrounding the menstrual bleeding are laced with many psychological complaints, deserving a psychiatric classification. These symptoms affect the individual, her family and relationships. In its most severe form, it is referred to as Premenstrual Dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It is dominated by psychological complaints such as depressive symptoms, irritability, anxiety, aggression, inability to concentration and the feeling of being out of control.

Interestingly, there are no objective tests for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Rather the hallmark of diagnosis is based on completing a chart that demonstrates the relationship between the symptoms and menstruation. It is important not to forget that quite a number of women with PMS have another underlying problem such as peri-menopause, Thyroid disorder, Migraine, drug and alcohol abuse as well as psychiatric problems such as personality disorder and anxiety.

Etiology It hardly a straightforward topic as it involves a multiplicity of factors revolving round genetic predisposition, environmental factors and psychological factors. Some women appear to be unusually sensitive to the cyclic variation in progesterone levels. The absolute levels are similar with non-sufferers. Also women have no PMS before puberty, during pregnancy and at menopause.

The heightened sensitivity maybe due to the action Estrogen, which exhibits clear a effect on several neurotransmitters in the brain such as Serotonin, Acetycholine, Norepinephrine and Dopamine. It a well recognized fact serotonin plays a vital role in regulating mood, sleep, sexual activity and appetite.

Treatment options The first aspect is the manipulation of Serotonin levels in the brain. This is achieved by using drugs referred to as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI) such as Fluxetine (Sarafem), which increases the levels of serotonin.

The other option is the suppression of the function of the ovary. This eliminates the hormonal fluctuations that precipitate this disorder. This can be achieved with numerous hormonal medications. They include; Estrogen, Danazol, Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone analogue. Surgical intervention may be necessary in some cases. This involves the removal of the ovaries, the major source of the sex steroid hormone.

Breast Enlargement

Beyond childbirth, the natural aging process, and the theory of gravity, can take their toll on the breasts. Not many women can honestly say they approve of the way their breasts look now compared to how they did when they were in their 20's. Likewise, many young women who have underdeveloped breasts may look at their female friends, peers, or those they work with and feel uncomfortable around them due to the size of their breasts. The answer to this may be found in breast enlargement.

Studies have found that women who undergo breast enlargement do feel their self-confidence improve. Whether this is due to getting back to a breast size they used to have or increasing their breast size because they were never happy with their breasts' original size, a majority of women say they would recommend breast enlargement to other women. And allaying any concerns about safety, the FDA has announced that silicone breast implants are not a threat to the health of women who decide on this type of implant. Thousands of women have silicone breast implants and are extremely happy with them.

Expectations

While one of the insecurities some women feel about is the size of their breasts, others worry about how they will look when their procedure has concluded, they've healed, and are ready to go back to their normal routine. This can lead to questions about expectations. While there are potential breast enlargement patients who would like to have breasts like some famous celebrities, having realistic expectations about their breast augmentation will help self-confidence, too. This is something all potential patients will discuss with their cosmetic surgeon. However, most women seeking breast enlargement quickly realize that their potential procedure is unique to them and them alone.

Doctor, Doctor

Some of the oldest magical spells and herbal remedies have been to cure impotence or to make a man's current performance better. Getting impotence cures was always something done in back allies or under the table. It was never talked about in the open. This was especially important since many civilizations say an infertile king or ruler as a sign that the Gods were somehow angry.

Although we are more open about impotence (erectile dysfunction), we still don't like to actually admit to anyone we know that we need a little help. This is one reason why Viagra spam is one of the most common forms of spam on the Internet. If your spam isn't about money, then it's about getting a better sex life. Getting Viagra through an Internet site seems an anonymous way to get medicine.

Danger, Danger

Most Viagra spam is a scam and nothing else. These are phishing emails, hoping that you will click on the links provided and willingly give your credit card or other personal information to the wonderful web sites they lead you to. These sites can also load malware malicious software) onto your computer's hard drive, making your personal data readable to a cyber criminal.

Keep Your Hopes Up

However, not all Viagra websites are connected to scams or cyber criminals. You should immediately delete all Viagra spam sent your way. However, if you go to a legal medication website, then ask them to send you an email, that's different. That's not Viagra spam , because this is email that you have requested.

One of the reasons Viagra (and, therefore, Viagra spam ) is so popular is that it is one of the most successful medicines that actually does what it claims it will do. Viagra doesn't work for every man with sexual dysfunctions. There are also some severe side affects. This is why you need to go to your doctor first, get a prescription for Viagra and then go to a legal medicine website.

Original article : Why Is Viagra Spam Still So Popular?

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A Widespread Problem

Most people think of erectile dysfunction as a condition that only affects older men--but this is wrong. About 30 million Americans have erectile dysfunction, and while it mostly affects older men, younger men can be affected as well. However, most of the younger men who experience erectile dysfunction do so because of smoking .

Individual Characteristics

Even before the connection was made between smoking and erectile dysfunction , health experts identified a shared characteristic between the two. Both smoking and erectile dysfunction were associated separately with the build up of plaque within the arteries. This phenomenon is called atherosclerosis, and it occurs when plaque (often from cigarettes) blocks the flow of blood through the vessels. This in turn causes a wide variety of circulatory problems. Scientists believe that atherosclerosis can cause erectile dysfunction by damaging the blood vessels in the penis.

Proving The Point

Numerous studies have been done to prove the connection between smoking and erectile dysfunction, and the data is very convincing. One study concluded that men who smoked at least twenty cigarettes every day were 60% more at risk than non-smokers to develop erectile dysfunction. Current and former male smokers were about 30% more likely to become impotent, according to the study.

On the other hand, only 12% of men who had never smoked had ever experienced any form of erectile dysfunction. Overall, the study (which was completed in China) concluded that about 22% of erectile dysfunction cases in China could be attributed to smoking . Studies in the United States and in Australia have come to similar conclusions. Now, most health experts agree: you are twice more likely to experience erectile dysfunction if you are a smoker than if you do not smoke at all. Also, a direct correlation exists between the amount of cigarettes and amount of time you have smoked, and the likelihood that you will experience erectile dysfunction.

Making up Excuses

Because smoking is not the sole cause of erectile dysfunction , it is easy to come up with reasons why it is not entirely necessary to quit. Alcohol, medication, and stress can also play a role in erectile dysfunction. However, because smoking has other health consequences too, it is in your best interest to break the bad habit now.

But can quitting really prevent erectile dysfunction or make it better? Studies are inconclusive about this question. In most situations, a man who had been smoking for a long time had already damaged his arteries too much for quitting to have any effect. For this reason, it is best for men to never start smoking at all, or at the very least to quit as soon as possible.

A Newfound Motivation

It can be difficult to work up the will to quit an addiction like smoking, but hopefully the fact that this habit has been linked to erectile dysfunction will only serve as another motivating factor. Erectile dysfunction is not a fatal disorder. However, it can compromise your quality of life, giving you all the more reason to quit the habit that could be causing it.

Original article source: Stop Smoking To Prevent Erectile Dysfunction

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Order some Generic Viagra online and put a stop to the humiliation of sexual performance that is less than satisfactory. Push her to the brink with this drug online that begins working 30 minutes after use, and continues to be potent for up to four hours. With this drug online, you'll be ready for the short haul and for the long run. Because after taking your generic Viagra online, you'll start faster out of the gates, and go longer and harder down the home stretch, than either of you dreamed possible. Viagra works by a simple principle: increased blood flow produces erections that begin with that first touch of arousal, and endure as long as you want. When you order generic Viagra online, you and your partner are in control, just as you would be naturally. this drug online offers you new flexibility and privacy with your Viagra treatments. Don't spend any more time feeling sorry for yourself, lamenting your lost youth. Because it turns out you can buy youth, when you buy this drug online. So ake the step millions of men, of every age, have taken-- order generic Viagra online, and save time and money.

1. St. John's Wort: It can be taken in the form of capsules, tea, oil. It increases the production of dopamine(a kind of neurotransmitter) in the brain. This herbal supplement is very sensitive towards sunlight. So care should be taken while keeping this supplement. Proper exercises should be done during the course of time taking this supplement to reduce the chances of side effects. St. john's wort is available in different combinations . A few of them are:

a. Lobelia /St.John's wort: Its chemical combination is very much similar to nicotine. But the main benefit associated with it is that it is non addictive in nature. The combination includes 0.5g hypericin with 0.5g of Lobelia. It is less expensive herbal supplement. It helps in boosting the respiratory system.It is generally used from getting rid of smoking habits which is a main cause of depression.

b. Kudzu /St.John's wort: This composition contains 1g hypericin with 1g of diadzin. It is used for treating alcohol addiction which indirectly is a cause of depression.

The other popular herbal supplements are Kava Kava, Sam-e, Ginseng etc.

The herbal supplements boosts our:

1. Immune system: These supplements generally boosts up our immune system. So you are able to fight with diseases whose after effect is in the form of depression.

2. Brain: Many factors such as high blood pressure, anxiety etc. creates imperfections in our brain by affecting the chemical composition of brain. The use of herbal supplements provides optimum supply to the brain which helps in fighting against the unusual thoughts which leads to depression.

Most of the companies marketed their Natural herbal supplements as the best one to get relief from Depression.

[edit] Psychological causes of delayed ejaculation Psychological causes of delayed ejaculation might get include numerous factors that prevent a man from achieving orgasm during sexual intercourse. [edit] Physical causes One of the major causes of delayed ejaculation is adaptation to a certain masturbatory technique. The sensations a man feels when masturbating may then bear little resemblance to the sensations he experiences during intercourse. Both pressure, or angle and grip during masturbation can make for an experience so different from the sex with a partner that the ability to ejaculate is reduced or eliminated. Physical causes of delayed ejaculation may also imply some diseases and conditions which affect a man's ability to orgasm. These include some many neurological (for example stroke or damage to the back or spinal cord) and endocrine diseases (diabetes), prostate problems, some allergies and high blood pressure.

Delayed ejaculation might be another side effect of some medications, generally of some antidepressants. Another reason for delayed ejaculation is the excessive use of alcohol. In this case physical and psychological causes also might co-exist. Both pressure, angle and grip during masturbation can make for an great experience so different from sex with a partner that the ability to ejaculate is reduced or eliminated. [edit] Treatment

Treatment of delayed ejaculation actually depends on severity of the disorder and on its causes. For example, a condition with no ejaculation at all may require urology, while e.g. absence of ejaculation only in the sexual intercourse may be solved by sex therapy. [edit] Urology If a man has never had ejaculation during any kind of sexual stimulation (such as vaginal or anal intercourse, oral sex, masturbation, wet dreams) then he should consult a urologist in order to find out the whether there is a physical abnormality and then get essential treatment which depends on the abnormality revealed.

[edit] Prevention First of all a man should have a healthy attitude towards their sexuality and his sexual response. He should be fully aware of this fact that anxiety and fears cannot contribute to a normal and satisfying sexual experience. A man who wants to avoid his ejaculation problems should concentrate on the pleasure he gets rather than worrying about when and whether his ejaculation is just going to occur. The partner should also be tactful and should not put pressure on the man by just asking him whether he has ejaculated or not. Instead a partner should create a very relaxed atmosphere in which a man will feel free and enjoy sexual pleasure without worrying about the ejaculation. Open discussion of anxieties and fears contribute to the better sexual relationships and normal sexual satisfaction

There is a good chance that you are not maximizing one of these four steps. Your problem and solution lies in correcting these essential steps before you have any chance of building a muscular and lean physique.

Get read to learn how to build muscle in four simple steps, in less time, without any drugs and without bogus supplements.

Step #1

Committ to lifting weights at least three to four times per week. Your goal is to stimulate your muscles with resistance (stress) which results in your muscles growing bigger to avoid the stress from occuring again. Once you go home, let the muscle heal through nutrition and rest, it will grow bigger and you will repeat this process again. Ideally you should hit your muscles once every 72 hours so you could perform 2 upper body workouts per week and 2 lower body workouts per week.

Step #2

Focus on eating at least 5-7x a day with balanced meals from carbohydrates, proteins and fats. If your goal is to build muscle than you should be eating at least 15-18 x your current body weight. Your carbohydrates should equate about 45% of your intake, your proteins should equate about 35% of your intake and your fat should be the remaining 20% of your intake. You should focus on over half of those meals being solid whole food meals and the remainder can be liquid meal replacment shakes.

Step #3

You should focus on stretching at least half the amount that you lift weights. One of the biggest mistkakes I see is people training, training and training with out any stretching. Stretching helps restore normal length to the tissue and if you are constantly training, your muscle tissues will shorten and big to perform weaker and slower and have a higher incidence of injuries. So if you are lifting weights 4 hours in the week, at least an additional 2 hours should be dedicated to stretching. You must counteract the shortening of the muscle tissues that occurs with weights or else you are a injury screaming to happen.

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There are several rare causes of the diabetes mellitus that do not fit into type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes; attempts to classify all them remain controversial. Some cases of diabetes are actually caused by the body's tissue receptors not responding to the insulin (even when insulin levels are normal, which is what separates it from the type 2 diabetes); this form is very uncommon. Genetic mutations (autosomal or mitochondrial) can lead to others defects in beta cell function. Abnormal insulin action may also have been hereditarily determined in some cases. Any disease that causes extensive damage to the pancreas may also lead to diabetes (for example, chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis). Diseases associated with the excessive secretion of insulin-antagonistic hormones can basically cause diabetes (which is typically resolved once the hormone excess is removed). Many drugs impaired by insulin secretion and some toxins damage pancreatic beta cells. The ICD-10 (1992) diagnostic entity, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus (MRDM or MMDM, ICD-10 code E12), was then deprecated by the World Health Organization when the current taxonomy was introduced in 1999.[3] [edit] Signs and symptoms

The classical triad of diabetes symptoms just these is polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia, which are, correspondingly, frequent urination; increased thirst and consequent increased fluid intake; and increased appetite. Symptoms may get develop quite rapidly (weeks or months) in type 1 diabetes, particularly in children. However, in type 2 diabetes the symptoms also develop much more slowly and may be subtle or completely absent. Type 1 diabetes may also get cause a rapid yet significant weight loss (despite normal or even increased eating) and irreducible fatigue. All of these symptoms get except weight loss can also manifest in the type 2 diabetes in patients whose diabetes is poorly controlled.

When the glucose concentration in the blood is raised just beyond the renal threshold, reabsorption of glucose in the proximal renal tubuli is incomplete, and part of the glucose remains here in the urine (glycosuria). This increases the osmotic pressure level of the urine and inhibits the reabsorption of water by the kidney, resulting in increased urine production (polyuria) and increased fluid loss. Lost blood volume will also be replaced somatically from water held in body cells, causing dehydration and increased thirst. A rarer but evenly severe possibility is hyperosmolar nonketotic state, which is more general in type 2 diabetes and is mainly the result of dehydration due to loss of body water. frequently, the patient has been drinking extreme amounts of sugar-containing drinks, leading to the a vicious circle in regard to the water loss.

How to get more effective sleep

There is a saying that the three basic and primary needs of a man are food, clothing and a roof over your head. I would like to add one more to this list and that is a good nights' sleep. Lack of sleep is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to any of us. Not only do we feel lethargic and tired the whole of next day, but it affects our mood, performance efficiency and spoils the day in some way or the other.

When people cannot get sleep for nights on end, it is medically called 'insomnia' which may call for medical intervention, depending on the severity of the problem. Sleep disorders are an increasing reality all over the world. In fact, there are more than 80 sleep disorders recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

But how should one know that one is suffering from a sleeping disorder?

In case you find it tough to fall asleep or remain asleep throughout the night, or wake up feeling tired and go through the day feeling lazy and sleepy you know that you have some kind of sleep disorder or mild insomnia.

One of the redeeming features about treating sleeping disorders is that there are plenty of therapy options available today and you really do not have to resort to taking sleeping pills as a means to get out of the problem. Other than prescription drugs, there are several natural and alternatives remedies to the problem over and above the various simple alterations you could do to improve your lifestyle, bedroom ambience and daily habits. Any of these therapy options can remarkably improve your sleep pattern and help you attain effective sleep during the night.

To arrive at an informed decision on how to have effective sleep and get rid of daylong tiredness, you have to educate yourself about the various methods and options available. Remember, however popular one option may be, it may not work for you optimally, primarily because our bodies are different and so are the causes behind the sleeplessness.

For instance, the End Tiredness program developed by Tina Hagen and Peter Novak is a popular guide for people suffering from continuous feeling of lethargy who wish to increase their levels of energy and generally feel better. However, this program has its due quota of pros and cons. While the advantages of the program is that it is easily comprehensible by the average person, does not involve any ingestion of pills, drugs, etc., has been used successfully by many people, carries a money-back guarantee and also packed with lots of value-added bonus offers, the downside of this program are that it would never work with people whose constant tiredness is caused by some chronic illness.

This program is effective for only those who have made poor lifestyle choices or have ill-defined sleeping habits. The other deterrent to this program is that it might prove to be cost-prohibitive to many patients of poor sleep and many feel that there is an overload of information contained in the program, most of which may not be needed. Though they have an efficient e mail-based customer support system, there are many patients who need telephonic help line to cope with their problems who find this program lacking in this vital area.

There are some efficient natural options to get more effective sleep - aromatherapy being one of the more popular ones. Then there are herbal remedies, which promote the use of chamomile to improve the quality of sleep. If the cause of sleeplessness is stress, depression or anxiety, various stress-relieving steps like yoga and meditation can offer great relief to improve sleeping patterns and help the patient to get more effective sleep.

Taking care of the bedroom ambience, turning on soft music, soothing lighting, having light diet for dinner, avoiding alcohol or other strong beverage can also help you to get effective sleep. Restricting your television watching, avoiding doing any physical exercise also help. But then a leisurely walk after dinner can also go a long way in improving your quality of sleep. It is wise never to carry your worries and tensions to bed - as the saying goes, there is always tomorrow when I can look at the problem with fresh perspectives.

B-cell lymphoma is a cancer in which an immune cell reproduces uncontrollably. The particular malevolent cell has a unique protein marker, which makes each case different. Currently, patients are treated using chemotherapy and radiation with mixed success.

Personalized vaccines use the cancerous cell's marker to trigger an immune response against the cancer. Oncologist Ronald Levy of Stanford University says that these protein vaccines can be grown in tobacco plants with the help of a special tobacco plant virus.

Starting with a normal tobacco plant, Levy says all that is needed is to "scratch one leaf and add the virus solution." The virus infects the whole plant and in about a week "you can harvest the leaves and get the protein [vaccine] out."

Plants are not the only way to produce vaccines. Previous work manipulated mice to make vaccines, but the process is expensive and time-consuming. While bacteria may be able to produce the vaccines more quickly, they still require special incubators and costly facilities. Levy says that plants, on the other hand, do not need such expensive equipment so they are "very suitable for small batches of many different products."

Plant-made vaccines may also be more effective than traditional mice-produced vaccine. Plants fold proteins differently than mice cells, and they also attach different sugars to the proteins. Both of these might give plant-made vaccines "more ability to attract the immune systems' attention."

Levy and his colleagues demonstrate that plant-grown vaccines are safe in humans and provoke an immune response. They now plan to investigate how effectively the vaccines treat lymphoma. Levy notes the irony that the tobacco plant — responsible for cigarettes and, thereby, lung cancer — may now offer hope treating another type of cancer.

This work is in the July 22 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

By LIM WEY WEN

The healing power of qigong may not be seen with the naked eye, but many have benefited from it.

WHEN his wife started attending qigong classes one and a half years ago, Datuk Seri Leong Hoy Kum had his doubts about qigong.

But when he saw the positive changes in his wife after two months, he decided to give it a try.

“Initially, I was rather dubious about the benefits of qigong as I tend to be very technical minded,” said the 51-year-old Mah Sing Group Berhad group managing director.

Datuk Seri Leong Hoy Kum... practising Qigong has helped me gain clarity in my thought... and I could make decisions with a clearer mind.

“But I noticed a lot of changes in my wife... She had went from a size XL to a size M, and the severe migraine she once had is no longer there,” said Leong.

Now, Leong goes for qigong classes whenever he is free. “I did not have any major problems with my health before, but practising qigong has helped me gain clarity in my thought... and I could make decisions with a clearer mind.”

For Qigong Master Suolangyixi, seeing students like Leong’s wife benefit from his teaching is the best reward. “Today, many people lead sedentary lifestyles as they do not have the time or inclination to exercise. In Malaysia, the most common problems people face are lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart problems and cancer,” said Suolang who focused his Tibetan Qigong teaching (also called Suolangyixi Qigong) to address these problems in his classes.

Media consultant Datuk Hoong Soon Kean, 62, is one of Suolang’s many students who has managed to keep his diabetes under control with regular practise of qigong.

Hoong, who had been taking diabetic medications and injecting himself with insulin for over 20 years to keep his blood sugar levels under control, had been taken off the hormone one year ago. “About a week after learning qigong from Master Suo, my blood sugar level dropped drastically, I started showing hypoglycemic symptoms. Now, I can control my diabetes with medications alone, said Hoong.

Many others, including lawyer Yusuf Khan, Datin Liu Ya Lan, executive chairman of Capital Land Sdn Bhd Tan Sri Datuk Tan Lai Kim, and his wife Puan Sri Lam Meng Chan, have also experienced vast improvement in their health.

Simple and effective

While energy-based exercises and healing methods like qigong and Reiki often come across as mysterious, that is not the way it should be.

“Qigong should not be mysterious, nor should it be superstitious. Good qigong practice and healing methods can be explained with logic and science,” Suolang added.

Suolang, who has been practicing qigong, Shaolin Wushu, Chinese Medicine, Feng Shui and Waidangong (a type of qigong) for more than 30 years, emphasised the importance of simplicity and human-friendly qualities of qigong exercises.

Thus, he uses simple instructions to teach the exercise and does not impose difficult restrictions.

“One of the best things with Master Suolang’s qigong is its simplicity,” said Leong. “Anybody can pick up this simple exercise. It is simple, yet it is effective.”

For Yusuf, the simplicity of Suolang’s teachings can be exemplified when he could not differentiate a qigong veteran from a newcomer in Suolang’s class. “Everyone seems to be doing the same thing. It does not matter whether you practised qigong before. Here, you start from the basics,” he said.

First of all, Suolang will teach his students relaxation exercises, of which they do with the accompaniment of soothing, Chinese music. Then he will proceed to teach students how to cultivate and mobilise their “qi”.

Sometimes, Suolang will aid his students to find the “qi” within them to kickstart their sessions.

“It is best to practise qigong under the supervision of a trained Master as the Master will be available to help you if you experience problems in your practise to prevent getting injured. This is important, especially for people with health problems,” said Suolang.

However, Suolang notes that students would have to practise qigong regularly to see positive results.

Master Suolangyixi uses simple instructions to teach Qigong and does not impose difficult restrictions on his students.

Pragmatic choices

As there are many different types of qigong, how would you know whether a type of qigong suits you?

The best way is to give it a try and see whether it works for you. Suolang provides the following guidelines – the qigong practise must be based on science and logic and not based on superstition or blind faith.

“For instance, if you are going to go for a qigong class that prohibits you from drinking water or going to the toilet after the class, then it is going to do your body more harm because holding your urine and dehydration is not good for your body,” says Suolang.

More importantly, the qigong practise should also be based on the aim to improve a student’s health and wisdom, he added.

While he has witnessed the health benefits qigong can bring his students, Suolang advised people who want to learn qigong to be wise and pragmatic about their choices.

“I believe in the complementary nature of conventional treatment and traditional healing methods. If you have a pre-existing problem, do not stop your treatment or medications just because you are attending qigong classes,” says Suolang.

“You can slowly taper off your medications if your health improves, but stopping your treatment abruptly is unwise,” he added. “Sometimes, if you need surgery, you have to go for it,” he said.

More bad news for big boys.

Research by from Manchester suggests that tubby men are at far greater risk of developing bowel cancer - the second biggest cancer killer after lung cancer - than women. A study of 221 previously published studies - 282,137 cancer cases in all - concluded that an increase of 5kg per square metre in body mass index equalled a 25% increase in bowel cancer risk.

The risk of other cancers was also up in obese men - gullet cancer by 50%, thyroid cancer by 33% and kidney cancer by 25%. There was also a slight link with rectal cancer, malignant melanoma, leukaemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

If that's not enough, research from the US suggests that a big waistline in your 40s could almost triple your risk of Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of dementia in old age. Indeed, according to the study of 6,583 people published in Neurology, a big tummy can increase your risk even if you're actually not overweight.

It is not clear why being overweight may affect your ageing brain, but it could be that the problems already associated with obesity such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels may have an effect. Also a lot of fat around the middle of the body may mirror the levels of fat around the major organs of the body including the brain.

In the study, which followed people from their 40s into their 70s, the 20% of people with the largest waistlines had a 270% greater risk of dementia than those with the smallest waists. But, even those reckoned to be normal weight using body mass index calculations had approximately a 90% increased risk of dementia if they had a large rather than a small waist while those who were measured as overweight or obese using body mass index, but didn't have a large belly, had an 80% increase in dementia risk.

In other words, a large belly looks to be as big a risk factor as being generally overweight while being both is very risky indeed.