How big is life?
On the one hand, it is everything. Imagine a world without you. Yes, it would exist, but it is hard to imagine because all our knowledge, all our understanding, all our awareness of the existence of the world is filtered through our senses. Without life, we cannot perceive the world, and therefore it ceases to exist along with us.
But life really is quite small, too. Each of us will one day pass on, handing over the torch to a new generation. And the universe will pretty much unfold as it had before and as it will again. Once life changes very little.
In the end, life is as big or as small as you make it, as you perceive it. What perception will you place on the life you make?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Why Garlic Is Good for You
Garlic Relaxes Blood Vessels, Increases Blood Flow
The health benefits of garlic have been touted for centuries, but now researchers may have pinpointed at least one reason why.
A new study shows red blood cells process compounds from digested garlic and turn them into the cell messenger hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow. Therefore, eating garlic may increase our natural supply of this vital chemical and play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease.
Previous studies on garlic’s health effects have produced mixed results. For example, some studies of garlic have found few benefits, but others have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.
But researchers say if further studies confirm these findings, testing the ability to produce hydrogen sulfide may be used to standardize garlic supplements to produce greater health benefits.
Finding Garlic’s Effect
In the study, researcher Gloria Benavides, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues analyzed the effects of juice extracted from supermarket garlic on human red blood cells in the lab.
They found the red blood cells immediately began producing hydrogen sulfide after getting a tiny dose of garlic. The amount of garlic tested in the lab was roughly equal to two garlic cloves for a typical adult.
Further tests showed the key chemical reaction occurred at the membranes of the red blood cells, but a small amount of hydrogen sulfide was also produced inside the cells.
Few plants other than garlic contain the building blocks of hydrogen sulfide to provide these health benefits, and researchers say garlic is the only one commonly used in the human diet.
Their results appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The health benefits of garlic have been touted for centuries, but now researchers may have pinpointed at least one reason why.
A new study shows red blood cells process compounds from digested garlic and turn them into the cell messenger hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow. Therefore, eating garlic may increase our natural supply of this vital chemical and play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease.
Previous studies on garlic’s health effects have produced mixed results. For example, some studies of garlic have found few benefits, but others have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.
But researchers say if further studies confirm these findings, testing the ability to produce hydrogen sulfide may be used to standardize garlic supplements to produce greater health benefits.
Finding Garlic’s Effect
In the study, researcher Gloria Benavides, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues analyzed the effects of juice extracted from supermarket garlic on human red blood cells in the lab.
They found the red blood cells immediately began producing hydrogen sulfide after getting a tiny dose of garlic. The amount of garlic tested in the lab was roughly equal to two garlic cloves for a typical adult.
Further tests showed the key chemical reaction occurred at the membranes of the red blood cells, but a small amount of hydrogen sulfide was also produced inside the cells.
Few plants other than garlic contain the building blocks of hydrogen sulfide to provide these health benefits, and researchers say garlic is the only one commonly used in the human diet.
Their results appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A new Lifestyle approach to recover from Depression
Depression can make you feel powerless. But there are many things you can do for yourself to improve your mood, help your recovery, and stay healthy.
Don't be a passive patient. You don't have to leave your treatment entirely in the hands of your health care providers. Depression robs you of a feeling of control. Taking responsibility for your own health can give that feeling back.
Here are some things you can do.
Exercise. Many studies have established that regular physical activity can help you feel better when you are recovering from depression. The type of physical activity really doesn't matter. Just choose something that you enjoy. Start slowly, perhaps with walks around the neighborhood. Try exercising with a friend or relative, or sign up for a class. Sharing the activity with someone may help you stick to a new exercise regimen.
Get some sunlight. You might find that getting some sun can put you in a better mood. Some people have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression that typically recurs during the fall and winter, when sunlight is scarce. If you have SAD, ask your doctor if light therapy -- exposure to artificial sunlight with a special lamp -- might help.
Get enough sleep -- but not too much. Depression, and sometimes the treatment for it, can interfere with your sleep. Some people with depression sleep too much. Others have insomnia -- they can't fall asleep at night or they wake up too early in the morning.
Not getting enough sleep can have a huge impact on your mood. So you need to get into some good sleep habits.
Stay on a regular schedule: go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Don't nap. Physical activity during the day may help you sleep, but don't exercise too close to bedtime. That is stimulating. Before getting into bed, unwind with a good book or soothing music. However, avoid reading or watching TV in bed. That will help you maintain good sleep habits.
Eat a healthy diet. Despite what you might read, there is no diet that will cure or prevent depression. But a common sense eating plan will provide the nutrients you need and keep you feeling healthy and energetic. Don't buy into fad diets that sharply restrict what you can eat. Instead, focus on the basics. Watch your calories, eat lots of vegetables, grains, and fruits, and limit fat and sugar.
Do things you enjoy. When you're recovering from depression, you may not feel like getting out and having a good time. But you should push yourself a little. Set aside time to do things that you used to enjoy doing. Make a plan to go out to dinner or a movie with friends. Or return to a hobby that you used to pursue. Try expressing yourself creatively.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and many illicit drugs can contribute to depression and make it worse. In fact, substance abuse often goes hand in hand with depression. Alcohol and drugs may also affect how well antidepressants work. If you think you have a substance abuse problem, you need to get help now. Addiction or abuse can prevent you from fully recovering from your depression.
Considering Alternative Treatments
You might be thinking about trying alternative medicines or therapies. However, you should check with your health care provider before trying any herbs or supplements. There is no firm evidence that any alternative medicines work. Some can cause serious side effects or interact with other drugs. Just because something is natural doesn't mean its safe.
But some other alternative therapies, while unproven, are widely considered safe.
You might try relaxation techniques, Contra Thought process, meditation, hypnosis, massage, or acupuncture.
Don't be a passive patient. You don't have to leave your treatment entirely in the hands of your health care providers. Depression robs you of a feeling of control. Taking responsibility for your own health can give that feeling back.
Here are some things you can do.
Exercise. Many studies have established that regular physical activity can help you feel better when you are recovering from depression. The type of physical activity really doesn't matter. Just choose something that you enjoy. Start slowly, perhaps with walks around the neighborhood. Try exercising with a friend or relative, or sign up for a class. Sharing the activity with someone may help you stick to a new exercise regimen.
Get some sunlight. You might find that getting some sun can put you in a better mood. Some people have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression that typically recurs during the fall and winter, when sunlight is scarce. If you have SAD, ask your doctor if light therapy -- exposure to artificial sunlight with a special lamp -- might help.
Get enough sleep -- but not too much. Depression, and sometimes the treatment for it, can interfere with your sleep. Some people with depression sleep too much. Others have insomnia -- they can't fall asleep at night or they wake up too early in the morning.
Not getting enough sleep can have a huge impact on your mood. So you need to get into some good sleep habits.
Stay on a regular schedule: go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Don't nap. Physical activity during the day may help you sleep, but don't exercise too close to bedtime. That is stimulating. Before getting into bed, unwind with a good book or soothing music. However, avoid reading or watching TV in bed. That will help you maintain good sleep habits.
Eat a healthy diet. Despite what you might read, there is no diet that will cure or prevent depression. But a common sense eating plan will provide the nutrients you need and keep you feeling healthy and energetic. Don't buy into fad diets that sharply restrict what you can eat. Instead, focus on the basics. Watch your calories, eat lots of vegetables, grains, and fruits, and limit fat and sugar.
Do things you enjoy. When you're recovering from depression, you may not feel like getting out and having a good time. But you should push yourself a little. Set aside time to do things that you used to enjoy doing. Make a plan to go out to dinner or a movie with friends. Or return to a hobby that you used to pursue. Try expressing yourself creatively.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and many illicit drugs can contribute to depression and make it worse. In fact, substance abuse often goes hand in hand with depression. Alcohol and drugs may also affect how well antidepressants work. If you think you have a substance abuse problem, you need to get help now. Addiction or abuse can prevent you from fully recovering from your depression.
Considering Alternative Treatments
You might be thinking about trying alternative medicines or therapies. However, you should check with your health care provider before trying any herbs or supplements. There is no firm evidence that any alternative medicines work. Some can cause serious side effects or interact with other drugs. Just because something is natural doesn't mean its safe.
But some other alternative therapies, while unproven, are widely considered safe.
You might try relaxation techniques, Contra Thought process, meditation, hypnosis, massage, or acupuncture.
Managing Job Stress
Job stress comes in many different forms and affects your body in various ways. Minor sources of stress may include equipment that won't work or phones that won't quit ringing. Major stress comes from having too much work, not having enough work, doing work that is unfulfilling, fearing a job layoff, or not getting along with your boss.
Usually it is the major sources of stress that lead to burnout, causing people to become unhappy and less productive in their work. Job stress can affect your health and home life as well. Low levels of stress may not be noticeable; slightly higher levels can be positive and challenge you to act in creative and resourceful ways; and high levels can be harmful, contributing to chronic disease.
The major sources of job stress fall into seven categories:
Control. This factor is the most closely related to job stress. Studies show that workers who believe that they have a great deal of responsibility but little control or decision-making power in their jobs are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and other stress-related illnesses.
Increased responsibilities. Taking on additional responsibilities in your job can be stressful. This can be worse if you have too much work to do and are unable to say no to new tasks or projects. Competence. Are you concerned about your ability to perform well? Are you challenged enough, but not too much? Do you feel secure in your job? Job insecurity is a major source of stress for many people.
Clarity. Feeling uncertain about what your duties are, how they may be changing, or what your department's or organization's goals are can lead to stress.
Communication. Workplace tension often results from poor communication, which in turn increases job stress. An inability to express your concerns, frustrations, or other emotions can also lead to increased stress.
Support. Feeling unsupported by your coworkers may make it harder to resolve other problems at work that are causing you stress.
Significance. If you don't find your job meaningful or take pride in it, you may find it stressful.
Managing job Stress
Here are some options for lowering stress on the job:
Meet with your superior often and when required and talk about your performance and your job. If a performance review is already part of your job, treat it as a chance to clear up issues that may be causing stress for you. Discuss the following:
-What is expected of me in this position
-Where is this company going, and how do I fit into that plan?
-How am I doing? What are my strengths? Areas for improvement?
-What can I expect from you if a problem with my work or my job should occur?
-If I continue my current high-quality performance, how and when can I expect to be rewarded?
-Manage your time well. It's important to leave your job at the office, even if your office is a room in your home. If you give up free time to get more work done, you may pay for it with stress-related symptoms. If your employer offers a flexible work schedule, take advantage of it to fit your own work style. For instance, come in earlier to have a longer midday break or to make time for a yoga class or workout.
-Unplug. Technologies such as cellular phones and the Internet have made it possible to be available to everyone, including clients and coworkers, at all times. Do not allow technology to eliminate the boundaries between your time and your employer's time. Leave your work cell phone behind when having it with you is not absolutely necessary, or decide not to answer it during times you have set aside for yourself or your family. Avoid checking work e-mail at home.
-Know when to quit. If you are truly miserable because of a stressful job and the suggestions above have not worked, it may be time to think about changing jobs. Make sure you know whether it is you or the job that's the problem. Before quitting, spend time researching other job options. Being unemployed will probably also lead to stress. Getting another job before quitting is ideal, but sometimes that isn't possible.
Decide what is less stressful for you:
unemployment or being miserable in your current job.
Usually it is the major sources of stress that lead to burnout, causing people to become unhappy and less productive in their work. Job stress can affect your health and home life as well. Low levels of stress may not be noticeable; slightly higher levels can be positive and challenge you to act in creative and resourceful ways; and high levels can be harmful, contributing to chronic disease.
The major sources of job stress fall into seven categories:
Control. This factor is the most closely related to job stress. Studies show that workers who believe that they have a great deal of responsibility but little control or decision-making power in their jobs are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and other stress-related illnesses.
Increased responsibilities. Taking on additional responsibilities in your job can be stressful. This can be worse if you have too much work to do and are unable to say no to new tasks or projects. Competence. Are you concerned about your ability to perform well? Are you challenged enough, but not too much? Do you feel secure in your job? Job insecurity is a major source of stress for many people.
Clarity. Feeling uncertain about what your duties are, how they may be changing, or what your department's or organization's goals are can lead to stress.
Communication. Workplace tension often results from poor communication, which in turn increases job stress. An inability to express your concerns, frustrations, or other emotions can also lead to increased stress.
Support. Feeling unsupported by your coworkers may make it harder to resolve other problems at work that are causing you stress.
Significance. If you don't find your job meaningful or take pride in it, you may find it stressful.
Managing job Stress
Here are some options for lowering stress on the job:
Meet with your superior often and when required and talk about your performance and your job. If a performance review is already part of your job, treat it as a chance to clear up issues that may be causing stress for you. Discuss the following:
-What is expected of me in this position
-Where is this company going, and how do I fit into that plan?
-How am I doing? What are my strengths? Areas for improvement?
-What can I expect from you if a problem with my work or my job should occur?
-If I continue my current high-quality performance, how and when can I expect to be rewarded?
-Manage your time well. It's important to leave your job at the office, even if your office is a room in your home. If you give up free time to get more work done, you may pay for it with stress-related symptoms. If your employer offers a flexible work schedule, take advantage of it to fit your own work style. For instance, come in earlier to have a longer midday break or to make time for a yoga class or workout.
-Unplug. Technologies such as cellular phones and the Internet have made it possible to be available to everyone, including clients and coworkers, at all times. Do not allow technology to eliminate the boundaries between your time and your employer's time. Leave your work cell phone behind when having it with you is not absolutely necessary, or decide not to answer it during times you have set aside for yourself or your family. Avoid checking work e-mail at home.
-Know when to quit. If you are truly miserable because of a stressful job and the suggestions above have not worked, it may be time to think about changing jobs. Make sure you know whether it is you or the job that's the problem. Before quitting, spend time researching other job options. Being unemployed will probably also lead to stress. Getting another job before quitting is ideal, but sometimes that isn't possible.
Decide what is less stressful for you:
unemployment or being miserable in your current job.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
HOPE
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence."
-- Helen Keller
"Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again."
-- Sarah Ban Breathnach
"Everything that is done in the world is done by hope."
-- Martin Luther
"The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.
Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof."
-- Barbara Kingsolver
-- Helen Keller
"Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again."
-- Sarah Ban Breathnach
"Everything that is done in the world is done by hope."
-- Martin Luther
"The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.
Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof."
-- Barbara Kingsolver
Anger and your Heart
Fuming or furious frequently?
Learning to soothe your chronic anger may help your heart.
A new report shows that having a short fuse may shorten the path to heart disease in men with prehypertension (blood pressure above normal but less than the high blood pressure range).
So the researchers, who work at the Medical University of South Carolina, reason that those men may do their hearts a favor by learning to tame their chronic anger.
The same might be true of women, but it's going to take further studies to be certain of that. Meanwhile, there's no downside to healthy anger management.
Data came from 2,334 U.S. adults aged 48-67. They were followed for four to eight years during the 1990s.
Compared with less angry men, chronically angry men with prehypertension were moderately more likely to develop high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease during the study.
The same wasn't true of women, perhaps because few women developed heart disease during the study, note Marty Player, MD, colleagues.
For men and women alike, long-term psychological stress was linked to heart disease.
The results didn't change when the researchers factored in participants' age, sex, race, smoking status, and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
However, Player's team couldn't control for every conceivable risk factor for heart disease.
The study appears in the current edition of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Learning to soothe your chronic anger may help your heart.
A new report shows that having a short fuse may shorten the path to heart disease in men with prehypertension (blood pressure above normal but less than the high blood pressure range).
So the researchers, who work at the Medical University of South Carolina, reason that those men may do their hearts a favor by learning to tame their chronic anger.
The same might be true of women, but it's going to take further studies to be certain of that. Meanwhile, there's no downside to healthy anger management.
Data came from 2,334 U.S. adults aged 48-67. They were followed for four to eight years during the 1990s.
Compared with less angry men, chronically angry men with prehypertension were moderately more likely to develop high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease during the study.
The same wasn't true of women, perhaps because few women developed heart disease during the study, note Marty Player, MD, colleagues.
For men and women alike, long-term psychological stress was linked to heart disease.
The results didn't change when the researchers factored in participants' age, sex, race, smoking status, and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
However, Player's team couldn't control for every conceivable risk factor for heart disease.
The study appears in the current edition of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Cell Phones May Cause Hearing Loss
"Use cell phones when absolutely necessary"
Long-time mobile phone users who talk more than an hour a day on the devices may be may be more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss, researchers say.
"Our intention is not to scare the public," says Naresh K. Panda, MS, DNB, chairman of the department of ear, nose, and throat at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, and researcher for the study. The study, he tells WebMD, is preliminary and small. "We need to study a larger number of patients."
He presented the findings Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery in Washington.
His team found that people who had talked on cell phones for more than four years and those who talked more than an hour daily were more likely to have these high-frequency losses. These losses can make it difficult to hear consonants such as s, f, t and z, making it hard to understand words.
But another hearing expert familiar with the study says there is as yet no cause for alarm.
Hearing Loss Study
Panda and his colleagues evaluated 100 people, aged 18 to 45, who had used mobile phones for at least a year, dividing them into three groups according to length of use. One group of 35 had used phones for one to two years; another group of 35 had used them for two to four years, and a group of 30 had used them for more than four years.
"We asked them if they had been using the phones less than 60 minutes or more than 60 minutes per day," Panda tells WebMD. They compared the phone users with 50 people who had never used cell phones and served as a control group. The study was conducted in India.
Those who used the mobile phones for more than four years had more hearing loss in high-frequency ranges in their right ear, the ear most held the phone to, than those who used the mobile phone for one to two years.
"When we compared high-frequency thresholds (the level at which the sound is first detected) between the one- to two-year [users] and more than four years; there was a significant difference in the thresholds between these two groups," he says.
One- to two-year users had a 16.48 decibel loss in the high-frequency range, he says, while those who used the phones more than four years had a 24.54 decibel loss.
That decrease in hearing over a relatively brief period may not be noticeable to mobile phone users but would be of concern to a hearing expert, says Andy Vermiglio, AuD, a research audiologist at House Ear Institute in Los Angeles.
Mobile phone users who had symptoms such as a warm sensation, fullness in the ears, or ringing were more likely to have the high-frequency hearing loss, Panda also says.
Long-term mobile phone use may result in inner ear damage, Panda speculates. And symptoms such as ear warmth or fullness could be early warning signs of that damage.
Second Opinion
The research is too preliminary to warrant alarm, says Chester Griffiths, MD, chairman of the surgery department at Santa Monica -- UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. He was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings for WebMD.
"Based on this study, I would not advise any change at the point, but I would caution people if they have any symptoms to stop using a cell phone or to reduce use."
Cell Phone Industry Responds
Joe Farren, a spokesman for CTIA -- the Wireless Association, the industry organization for the cellular industry, tells WebMD he has not reviewed the new study closely so he can't comment directly on the findings.
But he tells WebMD that previous research has not found a link between cell phone use and harmful health effects.
"There have been numerous studies conducted around the globe that have been peer-reviewed and published in leading scientific journals that show no association between wireless usage and adverse health effects," Farren says.
The subjects in the Indian study used GSM mobile phones. Farren says U.S. mobile phone users have phones that use the GSM platform but also other platforms.
Panda plans to continue his research. Meanwhile, his advice to preserve hearing:
"Use cell phones when absolutely necessary."
Long-time mobile phone users who talk more than an hour a day on the devices may be may be more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss, researchers say.
"Our intention is not to scare the public," says Naresh K. Panda, MS, DNB, chairman of the department of ear, nose, and throat at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, and researcher for the study. The study, he tells WebMD, is preliminary and small. "We need to study a larger number of patients."
He presented the findings Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery in Washington.
His team found that people who had talked on cell phones for more than four years and those who talked more than an hour daily were more likely to have these high-frequency losses. These losses can make it difficult to hear consonants such as s, f, t and z, making it hard to understand words.
But another hearing expert familiar with the study says there is as yet no cause for alarm.
Hearing Loss Study
Panda and his colleagues evaluated 100 people, aged 18 to 45, who had used mobile phones for at least a year, dividing them into three groups according to length of use. One group of 35 had used phones for one to two years; another group of 35 had used them for two to four years, and a group of 30 had used them for more than four years.
"We asked them if they had been using the phones less than 60 minutes or more than 60 minutes per day," Panda tells WebMD. They compared the phone users with 50 people who had never used cell phones and served as a control group. The study was conducted in India.
Those who used the mobile phones for more than four years had more hearing loss in high-frequency ranges in their right ear, the ear most held the phone to, than those who used the mobile phone for one to two years.
"When we compared high-frequency thresholds (the level at which the sound is first detected) between the one- to two-year [users] and more than four years; there was a significant difference in the thresholds between these two groups," he says.
One- to two-year users had a 16.48 decibel loss in the high-frequency range, he says, while those who used the phones more than four years had a 24.54 decibel loss.
That decrease in hearing over a relatively brief period may not be noticeable to mobile phone users but would be of concern to a hearing expert, says Andy Vermiglio, AuD, a research audiologist at House Ear Institute in Los Angeles.
Mobile phone users who had symptoms such as a warm sensation, fullness in the ears, or ringing were more likely to have the high-frequency hearing loss, Panda also says.
Long-term mobile phone use may result in inner ear damage, Panda speculates. And symptoms such as ear warmth or fullness could be early warning signs of that damage.
Second Opinion
The research is too preliminary to warrant alarm, says Chester Griffiths, MD, chairman of the surgery department at Santa Monica -- UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. He was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings for WebMD.
"Based on this study, I would not advise any change at the point, but I would caution people if they have any symptoms to stop using a cell phone or to reduce use."
Cell Phone Industry Responds
Joe Farren, a spokesman for CTIA -- the Wireless Association, the industry organization for the cellular industry, tells WebMD he has not reviewed the new study closely so he can't comment directly on the findings.
But he tells WebMD that previous research has not found a link between cell phone use and harmful health effects.
"There have been numerous studies conducted around the globe that have been peer-reviewed and published in leading scientific journals that show no association between wireless usage and adverse health effects," Farren says.
The subjects in the Indian study used GSM mobile phones. Farren says U.S. mobile phone users have phones that use the GSM platform but also other platforms.
Panda plans to continue his research. Meanwhile, his advice to preserve hearing:
"Use cell phones when absolutely necessary."
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