Reasons why you must quit smoking today

No, we won't get into the whole throwing of heart wrenching statistics about how smoking kills and how many zillions of smokers will die a painful death by 2015, or how smoking is simply a ticking time bomb waiting to explode when you least expect it. Instead, here are some great reasons to quit smoking that will strengthen your resolve to quit this dangerous habit for good. According to tobaccofreemaine.org, 'one can experience the benefits of not using tobacco within 20 minutes of quitting, and as your tobacco-free days accumulate, the benefits will accumulate, too.' Now isn't that inspiring? Quitting smoking is the best thing a smoker can do to preserve a healthy body and mind; yes it's not easy to kick the lethal addiction, but we give you some strong reasons to call in the cold turkey. Read on to push yourself to the next level of commitment to quit smoking. Save money On an average a smoker spends more than Rs. 2000 per month on cigarettes alone. With prices going up every day, one will be shelling out more than this. Don't forget the host of medical appointments and treatments you need regularly because of smoking - bronchial infections, coughs, breath mints, extra deoderant use to mask the smell, etc. All of this costs money. And the medical costs of smoking are astronomical! Even if you have insurance, your health-care costs as a smoker are likely way ahead than that of a nonsmoker. So rather than spending 120 bucks everyday or Rs. 21,600 every year save that money and you will be smiling on a rainy day! Trouble in your bedroom Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it has a narrowing effect on the arteries. So it's harder for the heart to pump blood through the narrowed arteries, and this effects your body's pleasure controls. You will face difficulties in feeling aroused. A study looking at the impact smoking has on a man's ability to get an erection was recently presented at the American Heart Association's annual conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention in Miami. The study highlighted that men who smoked more than 20 cigarettes daily had a 60% higher risk of erectile dysfunction, compared to men who never smoked. In fact 15% of the past and present smokers had experienced erectile dysfunction. Sleep Troubles A study that appeared in the 2008 (February) issue of Chest, journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), revealed that smokers spend less time in deep sleep and more time in light sleep than nonsmokers. They also show the greatest differences in sleep patterns in the early stages of sleep. This was as a result of nicotine withdrawals every night. Weak bones As reported by webmd.com in 2001, Edward N. Hanley Jr., MD, chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. looked at work-related injuries and smoking. He found that 50% of smokers suffered from low back pain, compared with only 20% of nonsmokers. To add to their woes smokers always complain of cramps in their legs and perennial back pains. Nicotine also hampers healing of fractures and estrogen effectiveness. Non smokers tend to have stronger bones than smokers. Women smokers have been found to lose 2.3% to 3.3% of bone mineral density for every 10 pack-years of tobacco use. The effects are even worse in postmenopausal women. Ears Ringing Nicotine again!! It lowers the circulation of blood to the structure of your ears resulting in Tinnitus or ringing of ears. Rather, keep your ears healthy and enjoy good music and happy conversations. Smokers have a nearly 70% greater likelihood of developing hearing loss than nonsmokers. Kill Pill It is a toxic mix! Oral contraceptives are not recommended for smokers because oral contraceptives carry a risk of clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Anyone who smokes more than 15 cigarettes a day should be very careful about using birth control pills. The risks increase for women who are over 35 years of age and for those who smoke a great deal. According to Randy Fink, MD, Director of the Center of Excellence for Obstetrics & Gynecology in Miami, "Women who are current smokers on birth control have an 8.8-fold higher risk for having a blood clot than nonsmoking women not on birth control." HIV to AIDS Risk HIV-positive patients who smoke, have a faster progression time to AIDS than non smokers, since smoking impairs the lungs, making them more vulnerable to infection and affects the immunity of the body. Studies have also found that cigarette smoking significantly increases the likelihood and rate of developing mouth sores, oral hairy leukoplakia (whitish sore on the side of the tongue and inside cheeks) and bacterial pneumonia in smokers with HIV. Heart Risk, Heart Attacks and Cancers Smokers are at two to four times greater risk of developing coronary heart disease as nonsmokers. Cigarette smokers with coronary heart disease are also at twice the risk for sudden cardiac death as nonsmokers with coronary heart disease. Plus you have higher rates of many types of cancer, including bladder cancer, lung cancer and throat cancer. Brighten your teeth All those tobacco stains look very bad every time a smoker smiles, and then you spend a fortune to get them back to their glory. Just kick the butt and you save a lot of time and money. Psoriasis Studies have shown that daily smoking can lead to psoriasis. The higher the number of cigarettes over 20 smoked per day, the greater that risk. A study conducted in February 2012 revealed that smokers have an increased risk of developing the chronic skin condition psoriasis. Of nearly 186,000 men and women followed for 12 to 20 years, 2,410 developed psoriasis during that time. And the risk was greater among both current smokers and former smokers. People who were current smokers at the study's start were almost twice as likely as lifelong non-smokers to develop psoriasis. And past smokers had a 39 percent higher risk than non-smokers. People with psoriasis develop thick, red, scaly patches on the skin, which are often itchy or sore.

Steps for Keeping Your Knees Healthy

1. Warm-up and stretch before exercising. Warming up and stretching can help the knee joint in many ways, including increasing the circulation of the blood and lymph fluid into and out of joint structures and the adjacent soft tissues and ensuring that the muscles and the ligaments attendant to the knee joint are not too tight. As a result, tension on the tendons is reduced, and pressure on the knee is relieved. 2. Develop muscle balance. Strengthen the muscles of the lower body to reduce the amount of force that goes through the knees. Make sure that you maintain an appropriate muscle balance between the quadriceps and hamstrings (i.e., a 3-to-2 strength ratio is recommended) to provide an improved level of stabilization and strength for the knee joint. 3. Avoid doing too much exercise. Some individuals hurt their knees because of the overuse syndrome. Simply stated, cumulatively, they place excessive demands on their knees. 4. Avoid sudden increases in the intensity of exercise. Allow your body to gradually and progressively adapt to the demands that you impose on it. Doing too much too soon can injure your knees. Keep in mind that some actions that alter intensity level are not as obvious as others. For example, changing your approach to exercising (i.e., running hills instead of jogging on a flat terrain) may unduly increase your level of intensity. 5. Protect your feet. Your feet (particularly how and where they strike the ground when exercising) can have a profound effect on your knees. In this regard, two of the most meaningful actions you can undertake are to wear shoes that fit properly and provide adequate cushioning and to immediately take care of any foot problem (e.g., blisters) that occurs. 6. Vary the mode of exercise. Using several exercise modalities keeps you from repeatedly stressing the same bones and muscle groups, thereby keeping the orthopedic stress on your knees to a minimum. 7. Be conscious of possible load forces on your knees when choosing your exercise mode. Whenever possible, avoid engaging in an exercise modality that places unduly high impact forces on your knees (i.e., running stadium stairs, running downhill, etc.). 8. Use exercise equipment properly. Improper use of exercise equipment can cause knee problems. For example, if you exercise on a stationary bike, check the position of the pedal crank relative to the seat post. If the crank is not relatively close to the seat post, you will place undue stress on your knees while exercising. 9. Keep your weight down. Maintaining an appropriate level of weight can reduce the stress on your knees. Excessive weight can increase your risk of degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis of the knee. 10. Listen to your body. Pain is your body's signal that you may be placing too much stress on your knees. Reducing or stopping whatever is causing the stress is the primary step in ensuring that your actions don't lead to a more serious injury.

Foods that keep you hydrated

We all know that our body is 70 per cent water. We need to keep ourselves hydrated in order to keep our body functioning properly. There are mostly three types of food categories: fresh juicy fruits, green leafy vegetables and water based soups. There are a variety of fruits that you can choose from if you do not drink water that much. The best pick is a watermelon which has the maximum water content in it. Fresh fruits will give you the needed hydration to feel better and be healthier. Some more examples are: apples, kiwi, grapefruit, coconut, strawberries, and any type of berries. The second food group is vegetables. The green fresh vegetables provide nutrients that help the body to stay hydrated and not get too heavy with other foods. It is better to eat the vegetables raw. Cooking them will take out the natural moisture and hydration. The third category is soup or a broth. They can give you some liquid that your body needs and will therefore hydrate you. A good soup to try is a vegetable chicken soup. If you don't like chicken, get ve

getable soup.

Men's health: Top 5 ways to increase power and fitness

It is suggested by medical experts that a decrease in the level of testosterone can cost a man his life. Apart from this a decrease in bone density, sex drive and muscle mass is also directly linked with a shortage of testosterone in the body. Many latest researches have also suggests that a decrease in manpower can also lead to elevated risk of heart disease and prostate cancer, among many other health conditions. Today, we have for you for 5 suggestions to increase your manpower by keeping your sexual energy to the max and testosterone levels up. Keep your waist size under control. Do note than an increase in the waistline is directly linked to a decrease in your testosterone levels. To decrease your belly fat and aiming at six pack abs can be tough. First of all, you need to gain an understanding behind the science behind six pack abs for a flat belly. The simple science behind the six pack abs is the basic fact that they exist in everybody. It's just when you start putting on more body fat that these abs disappear. A combination of two major muscles transversus abdominis and rectus abdominis muscles make up our abdomen. Now, if you ate a healthy diet comprising of lean proteins, balanced amount of carbohydrates and less fats, you would enter a zone with minimal superficial body fat, and there your muscles would start protruding out very prominently resulting in six packs. Bulk up your biceps. Experts believe that men who lift weights tend to experience a 50 percent boost in their free testosterone levels. The more you strength your muscles, the more the testosterone levels increase. To increase bicep size one needs iron, that is they need to lift heavy iron, and yes bodyweight exercises like pull ups are essential too. Besides the training it is essential to have adequate intake of protein, carbs and fats to enhance size. Good protein choices would include eggs, chicken, meat, dal, milk. Carbs sources should be rotis, oats, bananas, etc and finally dietary fats to create a suitable hormonal profile for biceps building would include nuts, coconut oil, olive oil, etc. Consume loads of healthy fats and protein. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that men who intake higher amounts of healthy fats and protein tend to have higher testosterone levels. Usually men are somebody who are more prone to diet breakers because of extensive travelling, work hours and long hours of commuting. Carrying snacks would be a good idea for such cases. Good choices could include nuts, fruits, and chana. For the average man who has no medical issues a good diet could be like: Breakfast - some complex carbs like oats, nuts, and eggs Lunch - meat/dal/paneer with rotis, and some curd Dinner - a cup of veggies like cauliflower/broccoli/spinach, meat/paneer with some rotis Do not drink like a fish. Men who consume large amounts of alcohol not only tend to add to the luxury of their waistline, but they also tend to suffer from a decrease in their testosterone levels by 7 to 10 percent. A standard drink is: - One mixed drink containing 1.5 fl oz of 80-proof hard liquor, such as gin, whiskey, or rum - One 5 fl oz glass of wine - One 12 fl oz bottle of beer or wine cooler Also make it a point to avoid weight gain after drinking by: Keeping a track of what you eat. This means that you should be able to read your body signals as to when you are full. Mindless eating will just add to your daily calorie intake. Don't drink on an empty stomach as it can lead to a bad hangover next day morning. Drinking plenty of water in between the drinks so that you feel fuller. This will keep excess drinking at bay by and will stop the cravings to the next glass in every few minutes. Being informed of your weaknesses and know your drinking limit. If you are aware of yourself and your weaknesses in particular, you tend to drink and eat in moderations at social gatherings. Being aware of your health goals. Don't let a social gathering ruin your weeks of healthy living. Stick to your health goal. Stop stressing out as much as possible. This is because stress leads cortisol in the body to surge. Basically, it suppresses the body's ability to make testosterone and utilize it within tissues. There is enough scientific evidence which proves that stress can make you fat. What happens is whenever you are suffering from a stressful time, you brains reacts in a way as if it is in some kind of physical danger, thus instructing the cells in your body to release hormones. This leads to a sudden spike of adrenaline- leads to fight-or-flight response in the body. Simultaneously, your body gets a push of cortisol which instructs your body to stock up that energy even though you haven't used up too many calories in the stressed-out state. This ultimately leads to hunger. And, till the time the stress continues, your body keeps on pumping cortisol, thus making you even hungrier.

The Childrens' Food Campaign says chance to create a positive health legacy from London 2012

Health campaigners are urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban junk food and fizzy drink brands from future sporting sponsorship deals in a critical new report which says the committee has squandered the chance to create a positive health legacy from the London 2012 Games. The Obesity Games report, published by The Childrens' Food Campaign (CFC), found that corporate sponsorship accounts for less than 10% of the total funding for the London 2012 Games, while fast food sponsors contribute only about 2% of the IOC income. Yet the major sponsors Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Cadbury are given an unrivalled platform to promote their unhealthy brands and products, it says. The CFC is calling for the IOC to help tackle rising obesity levels by setting conditions on promoting healthy eating in their sponsorship deals and for junk food brands to be excluded. The findings will trigger fresh criticism of the stranglehold on food and drink at the Games held by sponsors Cadbury, McDonald's (its largest restaurant in the world is in the Olympic Park) and Coca-Cola, which is expected to serve 23m soft drinks at the Games due to its near-monopoly at Olympic venues. CFC co-ordinator Malcolm Clark said: "The Olympics have become a celebration of 'big'. For the junk food companies who sponsor the Games, that means big restaurants, big audiences, big brand value, big profits. But for children that could also mean bigger waistlines and bigger health problems later in life." He said the IOC could decide to cut out the top-tier category of food and soft drink partners entirely and lose little more than 2% of its total income.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR WOMEN

Establish an exercise routine. Why it matters: Staying active can help keep you looking young and vivacious throughout your 20s. It also will help lower your long-term risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, dementia and anxiety disorders. Remember: You are what you eat. Why it matters: While weight is a big issue in your 20s, focusing on your body’s health is more productive. By eating whole foods -- including veggies, fruits and whole grains – you may reduce your long-term risk of cancer, diabetes and other conditions. You’ll also keep your metabolic fires stoked, which means you’ll be less likely to pack on the pounds in the long run. Save your skin. Why it matters: Skin cancer rates are on the rise. Much of the damage that causes the disease later on in life occurs in our 20s, when we’re more apt to lie on the beach without covering up. The thing is, too much sunning does more harm than just causing skin cancer: It can also age you prematurely and saps your skin of much-needed moisture and nutrients. Learn how to manage stress. Why it matters: Stress can take a negative toll on your body, causing all sorts of problems, including anxiety disorders, depression and high blood pressure. Life doesn’t get any easier as you get older, so now’s the time to learn how to manage it, while your heart is at its peak strength.

Health Tips

Health and Fitness is now one of the major concern areas across the world. Easy lifestyle is what we are moving towards. Very less of effort spent on most activities like, travel by motor vehicles, air-conditioned environment, ready-made food stuff, etc. Earlier humans used to hunt for their living, due to which their body had to undergo a lot of physical exercise. Every part of the body was exercised and the intake was more of natural substances. Today, we hardly do any of those. Even a simple 30 mins per day of workouts and one good nutritious meal a day can help improve our health. This easy life has restricted humans to do that bit of physical exercise which is required to keep the body fit and healthy. How do we ensure that we have all that is required for a healthy living? This is a big question among everyone. We need a fit and healthy body. Good Health is all that one craves for. Becoming healthier and fitter though not very difficult needs dedicated efforts. Nutrition and Health Diet The basic foundation for a healthy individual starts from his foetal stage with proper and healthy nutrition derived from his or her mother. Hence, a pregnant woman's diet stands atop all diets. Your food shall be your medicine. Ayurveda has postulated the role of food and especially nutritive foods for maintaining health as well as cure of diseases. Nutrients are necessary for the proper functioning of mental, physical, metabolic, chemical and hormonal activities. The body is like a machine that will repair and rebuild itself if proper nutrition is provided by way of food. Sumptous nutrition is available in fruits and vegetables. Fruits have the capacity to give all that a body needs. How to consume? What to consume? Which fruit helps in which way? The answers to these questions can be found in our Nutrition and Healthy Diet Section Exercise and Fitness Simple fitness exercises can help to have a fitter and healthy life. Stretching exercises can help in many ways in mainting a fitter body. Weight loss can be achieved by following simple effortless regular exercises. Medical breakthroughs can happen by regular meditation and exercising. Yoga and other workouts which can be performed easily are available in this website to keep you fit and healthy. Health and Fitness can make all that difference in one's life. Healthy living is all that one needs, and to achieve that we picked up the best of the articles from reliable sources and have presented here in an organized manner. You might not be able to spend your valuable time on complicated medications and diet controls, but, you can find articles to help you have a better living using simple and easy technics. Ayurveda, a science in vogue practiced since centuries, uses a wide variety of plants, animal origin substances, mineral and metallic substances to rebalance the diseased condition in the sick. A few tips on simple treatment of life style diseases have been carefully picked for the visitors of this website. These tips can help reduce or control diseases like diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

Definition of Health Care System

"A health system consists of all organizations, people and actions whose primary intent is to promote, restore or maintain health. This includes efforts to influence determinants of health as well as more direct health-improving activities. A health system is therefore more than the pyramid of publicly owned facilities that deliver personal health services. It includes, for example, a mother caring for a sick child at home; private providers; behavior change programs; vector control campaigns; health insurance organizations; occupational health and safety legislation. It includes inter-sectoral action by health staff, for example, encouraging the ministry of education to promote female education, a well-known determinant of better health."

Health and Fitness

Learn why diet and exercise is important! Get into it, and stay into it - Make your healthy eating and physical activity a new lifestyle.

Top 10 Functional Food Trends

Pills, potions and powders seem to be taking a back seat to “real-food nutrition.” That’s according to a list of top functional food trends presented earlier this year at the Institute of Food Technologists’ (IFT) Wellness 2012 meeting. Consumers are looking to tap vitamins and minerals from the foods and beverages they eat and drink instead of from synthetic substitutes.