health
Keeping your mind and body in check - popular topics in health and medicine to maintain a long and healthy life.
Cigarettes
I live in a family of smokers, one who has heart and lung problems due to smoking for the last 50 years, one who's got gut problems due to smoking more addictively for the last 20 years, and the others in the family are lucky so far, but only because they've stopped before it's too late. Even that puts me off starting because I want to be healthy and try and reach past 100, for which smoking is one of the worst things. So here's a tip for you: try and help yourself by not starting at all, as tempting as it is, because once you start you're trapped and it's so hard to get out because cigarettes contain a highly addictive substance called nicotine, found naturally in tobacco. When you inhale it in, it travels quickly to the brain and can cause a feeling of temporary relaxation and/or stress relief. Nicotine can also elevate your mood and your heart rate. Smokers are more likely to get heart disease, lung cancer, or a stroke than non-smokers, which is what happened to my granddad, and now he's having to carry a cylinder of oxygen around with him to breathe and can't go any further then his local shop. That's why my mum and I have to take him shopping into the town centre because that's how limited smokers can become, and you don't want that happening to you do you. More woman die from lung cancer than breast cancer in the UK and USA. Smoking causes 80 percent of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths. Smoking can make it harder for woman to become pregnant; it can also affect peoples' children, which is why it's been known for so many kids to get ill so early nowadays, because the parents keep doing this around their children. It can also cause lots of different types of cancer around your whole body, including bladder, blood (acute myeloid leukemia), cervix, colon and rectum (colorectal), esophagus, kidney and ureter, larynx, liver, oropharynx (includes parts of the throat, tongue, soft palate, and the tonsils), pancreas, stomach, trachea, bronchus, and lung. Despite the adverts of how bad it is for you on the packets, all they care about is money, because otherwise they wouldn't be selling them, would they? They seem to be making all different drugs illegal but they're doing nothing with cigarettes. I think they should treat cigarettes they same as drugs regardless of how much money the companies will lose, because in the long run people will be saving money because they won't need so many operations and medication in hospital. So, help us defeat the cigarette companies by stopping smoking yourself by Reduce-to-Quit. when you gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke you can manage your nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms with a Nicorette gum or Nicorette Lozenge until you’re ready to quit for good. The gum comes in 2 mg, 4 mg or 6 mg, so you can choose the strength that's right for you depending on how much you've been smoking, and it is available in packets of 25, 105 or 210. The lozenge comes in 2 mg or 4 mg so you can find the right strength to suit you, and comes in packets of 20 or 80. Or, if you want to stop smoking straight away, there are many great benefits you can feel when you quit smoking abruptly; your sense of taste might improve after just two days and after three, you’ll likely have more energy. However, stopping abruptly will test your willpower to the max… which is why it's good to have friends' and family's support as well as using Nicorette. The first week of quitting can be the toughest as your body isn’t used to the lack of nicotine. However, it’s also one of the most important weeks in your quit journey, because if you're successful at staying smoke-free for the first week, then you're more likely to quit for good. Also, get your friends and family to stop too, and then the companies won't get any money.
By Kelsea Peet8 years ago in Longevity
Chronic Illness Turned to Education and Empowerment
Barby Ingle had it all. She had just been hired by Washington State University as the head coach of their spirit programs, started her own cheer and dance training company, and was living the post-collegiate life and was well on her way to success.
By Megan Roche8 years ago in Longevity
A Child’s Voice Found Through Intuitive Science
No one really knew what to do for Gracie. The doctors didn’t know what was causing it, so they didn’t know how to treat it. Allergies? At eighteen months old, Gracie couldn’t tell anyone what was going on in her body. She couldn’t explain why her nose ran constantly since she was just a few weeks old. She couldn’t explain why her eyes moved independently of each other, and why the earaches kept coming. Did she need more antibiotics? Special glasses? Tubes in her ears? Different medications?
By Paul S. Madar8 years ago in Longevity
Tired of Narcolepsy
It first happened sometime during the summer of 2010, during the last lesson of the day. I had my eyes down as I was reading Macbeth in English; the teacher was reading out loud to us all. After a while, my eyes felt heavy, I couldn’t keep them open. The words on the page became suddenly jumbled up. Eventually, the feeling passed and thought nothing of it. I just assumed I was sleepy from being in school all day.
By Sarah Garvey8 years ago in Longevity
Temporarily Handicapped Part 1
First things first, I am not a small woman, and with that being said, having an accident that makes you wheelchair bound is not easy. People judge you immediately without looking, asking, or even simply caring. People are judgmental and quick to jump to conclusions, this is, of course, human nature and everyone does it.
By Neferitiri8 years ago in Longevity
What Are the Implications of Using Public Health Initiatives to Help Individuals to Change Their Lifestyle in Order to Improve Their Health and Well-Being?
This essay will look at what public health initiatives can do to help individuals to change and improve their health and well-being. It will also look at what the pros and cons are of such initiatives impacting the individual’s lifestyle and identity. It will take into account the theories of sociologists Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman on identity and those of Erving Goffman, who looks at stigma, labelling and how public health initiatives can encourage society to label others based on appearance (Leach, 2010 pp7-10). The essay will also look at individuals who have acknowledged that there are dietary problems in or society and had lead campaigns to prevent obesity especially in children and prevent other diet related diseases.
By Samantha Hill8 years ago in Longevity
Life with Reggie
Everyone, say "hello" to Reggie. He is my 18-year-old brother, and yes, he has Down syndrome. And, since October is Down syndrome awareness month, what better way to make you aware than to show you this cute little guy and tell you a little about his story?
By Lindsey Duncan8 years ago in Longevity
13 Simplest Things to Make Oneself Happier
You're only as happy as you make your mind up to be! 1. Exercise. It is the best thing you could do for yourself. The endorphins produced from exercise will definitely make you happier, both physically and emotionally. It doesn't happen overnight but if you keep at it for a while, you will be amazed at how even a simple 30 minutes of working out daily creates a huge difference.
By Erika Potap8 years ago in Longevity
Ageing, Exercise, and Neurodegeneration
Ageing is thought to be the highest risk factor for neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia. Dementia is characterised by the progressive decline in cognitive functions and memory. The WHO indicates that worldwide, approximately 47 million people suffer from dementia, the most common form being Alzheimer’s disease; the predictions are that this number is set to triple by 2030. In an era of increased longevity, what can we do to minimise the risk of developing dementia, a condition for which there is presently no cure?
By Tracey Evans8 years ago in Longevity
