Little Did We Know That Prostate Cancer is the Most Common Non-Skin Cancer Amongst Men

November 29, 2012 By

Little Did We Know That Prostate Cancer is the Most Common Non-Skin Cancer Amongst Men

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer, has overtaken lung cancer as the leading cancer affecting all men and followed by colorectal cancer.

Statistically, 80 percent of prostate cancers occur in men over the age of 65. Although this cancer can also occur in younger individuals, it is very rare under the age of 50. As males age the prostate can develop problems.

Annually, one out of six American men will develop it in the course of his lifetime. Little did we know the fact a man is 33% more likely to develop prostate cancer than a woman is to get breast cancer.

In 2004, it is estimated that 234,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnose in the United States. That makes it the most common cancer among American men, next to the skin cancer. More than 27,000 deaths due to prostate cancer are expected to occur annually.

One new case every 2 1/2 minutes. One new case every 150 seconds.

While in UK, nearly 35,000 men are diagnosed and about 10,000 men die from prostate cancer annually. This means over one man die every hour in UK.

Today, about two million men are fighting prostate cancer, and over the next decade, as baby boomer men reach the target ripen age for prostate cancer, about three million more will be compelled to join the battle. It is estimated that by 2012, the number of new cases in the U.S. is expected to increase to more than 300,000 new cases per year by 2012.

One new case every 100 seconds. One man dead every 13 minutes.

What is prostate?

Prostate is a male sex gland, the size of a walnut, located behind pubic bone in front of the rectum that encompasses lower part of a bladder. The tube that carries urine (the urethra) runs through the prostate. At birth the gland size is small like a pea and it continue to grow until age of 20 when a man reaches adulthood. Male hormones (called androgens) is responsible for this growth. The gland size will not change until 45, when it starts to grow again.

Its primary function is to produce thick fluids that nourish the sperm, as well as helping propel sperm through the urethra and out of the penis to reach and fertilize an egg. Even though prostate is not a primary component of urinary tract, but it is very important for urinary health.

In older men, the part of the prostate around the urethra may keep on growing. This causes BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) which cause problems passing urine. BPH is a problem that must be treated, but it is not cancer.

What is prostate cancer?

The body is made up of different types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide and then die. Sometimes, cells mutate and begin to grow and divide more quickly than normally. Instead of dying, these abnormal cells clump together to form tumors. If these tumors are cancerous or so-called malignant tumors, they can invade and kill healthy tissues in the body. From these tumors, cancer cells can metastasize (spread) and form new tumors in other parts of the body. In contrary, non-cancerous tumors or so-called benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.

Prostate cancer is abnormal cells grow out of control forming small nodules or bumps (overgrowth tissue) on the surface of in the prostate gland. In some cases, the overgrowth tissue is benign and this prostate condition is called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). Other times, abnormal cancerous cells characterize the overgrowth of tissue, and this is referred to as a malignancy or prostate cancer.

As its close proximity to the bladder, prostate disorder might interfere with urination and causing bladder or kidney problems. It is also located immediately next to the nerves responsible for erections hence it might interfere with sexual function as well.

Although more than 70% of all prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, doctors recommend that every man above the age of 50 should have a PSA test and a rectal exam. According to statistic African-American have almost twice as much prostate cancer incidence rates as Caucasian American, hence they should start getting tested at age 40. The same is true if you have a

family history of prostate cancer.

One-third of men over the age of 50 have some cancer cells within their prostate and nearly all men over the age of 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. In most men, these cancers grow extremely slowly, particularly in elderly men, and it will never cause any problems. Even without treatment, many of them will not die of the prostate cancer, but who, but rather live and die of some other unrelated cause before the disease takes its toll.

However, similar to most types of cancer, if left completely unchecked prostate cancer can be aggressive, grow more quickly and may spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, particularly lymph nodes or the bones. This makes treatment much more difficult.

What are the symptoms?

Prostate cancer often does not cause any symptoms for years. When symptoms do occur, usually the cancerous cells have spread beyond the prostate, this is why regular check up for men age of 40 and above is necessary and recommended. The symptoms include:

Urinary problems:

Dull pain in the lower pelvic area, hips, or upper thighs

Not being able to urinate

Sensation that your bladder doesn’t empties

Having a hard time starting or stopping the urine flow

Problems with urgency of urination and difficulty in starting

Frequent urination, especially at night

Weak flow of urine

Urine flow that starts and stops

Pain or burning during urination

Difficulty having an erection

Pain at ejaculation

Genital pain

Blood in the urine or semen

Note: Other health issues such as urinary infection or inflammation; bladder problems or kidney stone can cause exactly the same symptoms. Hence, should those symptoms occurred and accompanied with blood in your urine, painfully ejaculation and general pain in your lower back, hips and leg bones, significant lost of weight – you must inevitable visit your urologist for a thorough check up.

Who are at risk?

Risk factors consistently associated with prostate cancer include:

Age: After the age of 50, the chance of developing prostate cancer is higher. More than 80 percent of all prostate cancers occur in men 65 years and older.

Race: African American men have a 60% higher risk of prostate cancer than white men, including Hispanic men

Ethnicity: More common in North America and northwestern Europe and occurs less frequently in Asia, Africa, Central

America and South America.

Family history: Appears to have a genetic link. Having family history of prostate cancer, a father or brother with the disease doubles a man’s risk of developing it. Man whose brother had a prostate cancer have 4.5 times higher risk of prostate cancer and 2.5 time higher if his father had a prostate cancer.

Vasectomy: Men who have undergone vasectomy (a surgical procedure that renders them sterile) may have an increased risk.

Men who have diabetes have less risk of getting the disease, although no one really knows why.

How to prevent?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce the risks from all forms of cancer:

Diet: The results of most studies show s diet high in animal fats and low in fresh fruit and vegetables have an increased chance of developing prostate cancer.

Studies show a diet high in lycopenes (found in higher levels in colorful fruits and vegetables), selenium, goji berry, broccoli and turmeric may lower the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Exercise: Maintaining a healthy weight along with regular physical activity may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Get plenty of rest- regularly scheduled bed time is important for overall health.

How is prostate cancer detected?

There are three common screening methods for prostate cancer:

Digital rectal examination (DRE)

A digital rectal examination as part of an annual physical exam in men age of 50 or older (and in younger men who are at increased risk). During this test, a doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities. While the rectal exam may be a bit unpleasant, it is done quickly.

Blood test for prostate specific antigen (PSA)

The PSA is a blood test which measures a protein in prostate gland cells. The American Cancer Society recommends the test to be executed once a year for men 50 and older, and for younger men with higher prostate cancer risk.

Results under 4 are usually considered normal. Results above 10 are considered high. Values between 4 and 10 are considered borderline. The greater the PSA level, the greater the chance that prostate cancer exists.

The test need to be validated further with a biopsy as the PSA test cannot be used as a foolproof test for prostate cancer:

2 out of 3 men with a high PSA values show no cancerous cells in their prostate biopsy.

1 in 5 men with prostate cancer will have a normal PSA result.

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)

TRUS will be done if the digital rectal exam or PSA levels are abnormal. A probe is inserted into the rectum and pictures are recorded using sound waves, which create an image of the prostate gland. The test is usually done in outpatient setting and usually takes less than 30 minutes. Based on results from these screenings, additional tests may be recommended.

A positive biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. If a biopsy reveals cancer, additional testing is done to see if it has spread to other organs:

Blood tests- may be taken to see if the cancer has spread

Bone scan- to determine if the cancer has spread to the bones

CT scan- a series of x-ray images taken of the pelvis or abdomen, often used to determine general signs of disease

Chest x-ray- to determine if cancer has spread to the lungs

MRI- magnetic resonance imaging to detect cancer in lymph nodes and other internal organs

What is the usual treatment for prostate cancer?

There are several treatments to treat prostate cancer: These include surgery, radiotherapy and various forms of drug treatment. Hormone therapy is commonly used. It blocks the action of testosterone, a sex hormone that prostate cancers need in order to grow.

Three treatment options are generally accepted for men with localized

prostate:

Radical prostatectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the entire prostate gland and nearby tissues. In some cases the lymph nodes in the pelvic area are also removed. This procedure is performed using nerve-sparing surgery which might prevent damage to the nerves needed for an erection. However, nerve-sparing surgery is not always possible.

Radiation therapy: Using energy to the prostate using an external beam of radiation. Patients with high-risk prostate cancer are candidates for adding hormonal therapy to standard radiation therapy.

Active Surveillance may be an option recommended for patients with early-stage prostate cancer, particularly those who have low-grade tumors with only a small amount of cancer seen in the biopsy.

Are there any side effects?

As with all disease, treatment may result in side effects. The most concern side effects of are impotence, or erectile dysfunction, and incontinence.

Researchers still do not fully understand what causes prostate cancer, or how it develops – and they urgently need to improve on current treatments.

Little Did We Know That Prostate Cancer is the Most Common Non-Skin Cancer Amongst Men

Little Did We Know That Prostate Cancer is the Most Common Non-Skin Cancer Amongst Men

Irwan Lee is the owner of Powerhealths, GojiHighlights.com and Immune-boost.com. Click here for health watch and best natural nutritional supplements and its business opportunity.

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A Common Sense Economic and Market Structure Model for Developing Countries

September 30, 2012 By

A Common Sense Economic and Market Structure Model for Developing Countries

Introduction

For more than thirty years developing countries’ economic problems have created major financial crises in the international community. Developing countries have remained so due to their low-income economies. African and Middle East countries live in ethnic diverse communities and are subject to political instability and corruption than Asia and Latin American countries that live in more homogeneous communities. There is more cost involved in a population of workers and who belong to different ethnic groups because of diversity, cultural differences, religion and language. The purpose of this economic development model is to address economic stability, the problems (value inhibitors), solutions (value drivers), the strategies and implementations of the economic enhancement in order to help the developing countries be less dependent on developed countries. So many studies have been conducted on developing countries, but none of the studies have focused on how the developing countries could apply or use the economic models with less participation of the industrialized countries. World Bank and United Nations ought to examine minutely any potential foreign aid application while focusing on this model for developing countries. This model will enhance in devising a strategic means of monitoring the developing countries before distributing fund to those that may not use the model or practice noncompliance. The practical sense of the use of this model is to elevate the developing countries to economic success and stability, and reduce their dependency on developed countries.

Role of leadership

In developing countries, most leaders behave and think differently. Although, these may not be tolerated by developed countries, they are the norm and are based on their ethnicity, beliefs, religion, culture, social classes, and assumption of supremacy. Negotiating and managing conflicts in developing countries is a matter of understanding the genetic makeup of that country. Diversity may create needs but these needs do not have to be neglected in order to create balance among the ethnic or sectarian groups. A Western countries’ style of negotiating and resolving conflicts may not be applicable in the developing countries where religion and ethnicity have continuously impacted the leadership in those countries. Hence, the inefficient and ineffective leadership have led to social development and economic neglect that have caused the worse economy and poverty in those areas. If politics are set aside and economic benefits are put in the forefront by these developed countries, the chances of conflict resolution will be increased.

Leaders who have vision for change may think about what the impact the economic and market development will have in the long-run, and in the locations and in the life of its citizens. The social problems in Malaysia exist because of the ethnic Chinese who are not Muslim in a country where over 90 percent of the population is Muslim.

In developed countries, situations create focus on civilization and leadership, where civilization shapes leaders and leaders shape civilization. Power is treated as a shared resource, but in most developing countries coercion is the system used by leaders. Leaders use physical, economic, and social threats and punishments to induce change in followers for the sake of the leaders. The leaders therefore have become power wielders. These leadership problems have impacted the economic and market structure of the countries. Hence, a new model may mean a step to a new and better way of life for all the developing countries. The Western part of the Asia continent is predominantly Muslims and still have untapped resources that have not been explored because of dictatorship, politics, religion, culture, beliefs, and diversity. Exploring these countries and helping them stabilize will transcend to trading with other developing countries, which will in turn pull them out of poverty, instability, and create peace among the sectarian and ethnic groups.

Asia

Before the coming of the tsunami in December 26 2005, the South Asian countries were poor and developing. Both the South and East Asia have untapped economic sources. These potential raw materials need to be explored in order to help develop the economic and market structure of the region. The tsunami destroyed the infrastructure, economy, and the lives of the people of the South Asian countries. The 6.3 in magnitude earthquake that hit the central java of Indonesia on May 27, 2006 destroyed what was left of the tsunami. These countries will benefit from cash crop, livestock, and poultry production because of their adequate weather and availability of natural water, which will not require a high technology in order to irrigate the farmland. Mechanized farming will need to be introduced and implemented to aid in maximizing production of agricultural products. The Eastern part of South Korea has a comparative advantage over industrial, commercial, and manufacturing production. Producing and trading on building, automobile, motorcycle, and other petty materials in the form of buying and selling will enhance in the development of the market setting and economy. This will help in the stabilization of the East and South Asian countries. A stable economy will help resolve and manage conflict in these countries that have different ethnic groups and history of diversity. The economic and market structure may also aid in the stability of the leadership, political and social system. The environmental problems may need to be addressed in order to guard against pollution or any unhealthy by products or waste materials that may cause harm to people or have short or long term health problems or may be fatal to people. If these countries are stable, they will attract foreign investments rather than needing foreign aid. The military disturbances in East Timor are not helping the economic and the market structure of the young independent country.

The four factors that determine the economic growth are labor, capital, land, and Entrepreneurship. Developing countries have more labor force with lower wages than developed countries and yet their economic growth is still lower than that of the developed countries. Capital is another problem facing developing countries. They need resources such as equipments, machines, factories, and money to work with. Labor without capital is synonymous to guns without bullets. Capital will also represent an investment that will pay off in the future. Most developing countries have untapped resources such as oil, gold, diamond, minerals, forests, and water that represent land which by themselves cannot stimulate economic growth unless they are explored and converted to goods and services. Technology enhances economic growth. A group of agricultural researchers from Texas A&M University and University of California-Davis acquired a four-year grand of $4.4 million from U.S Agency for International Development’s Mission to Afghanistan eGrazing. This discovery will aid the livestock herders to successfully tend to cattle, sheep, horses and goats. If this system had been in place, it may have made an impact during the tsunami in Indonesia. Political and social factors that inhibit Economic Growth are corruption, instability, lack of leadership and administrative skills, population growth, and lack of business enterprises.

Africa

African countries are very poor and in dare need of economic and market structure development. Before these countries go global, they may to have sufficient needs of life by taking comparative advantage of their sources of raw material. Some have cash crops that need to be irrigated, some have livestock and poultry that need to be technologically upgraded, and market structure that needs to be redesigned, developed and implemented. The improvement of the agriculture will help the poor farmers send their children to school, build infrastructure, develop the quality of institutions, and make a smooth run of transportation.

Middle East

Middle East region is a turbulence area because of instability associated with religion, oil, dictatorship, and developed countries’ influence. The Iraq war has devastated the whole region, and couple with the Israel, Palestinian, and Lebanese conflict, which has created further economic drawbacks that amount in billions of dollars. The destruction of the infrastructures, and the lost of lives have sent the economy of Lebanese country decades backwards.

Latin America

Development in Latin Americans countries could stem from agriculture, forestry and fishing, to mining, and manufacturing. These Latinos can help in building their countries rather than trying to immigrate to United States of America. If guided, they will improve their countries’ economy and help in the marketing of agricultural, manufacturing and other natural resources. Immigrants spend much time in the state of California farms, Illinois factories, North Carolina, and areas in the north east of United States of America working mostly in food industries. These efforts can be redirected to Latin America in order to develop the entire area.

Political struggles, lack of administrative skills, and power supremacy have strangled the economic and market structure of most countries in Latin America. For decades the Latinos have traveled north of the border to United States of America in search of better lives. This economic situation has resulted in the deaths and mutilations of people trying to enter United States of America. The smugglers who are known as the “coyotes” have made huge profits for attempting to transport these illegal Latinos across the border. It is very dangerous ventures because of the hot temperature, train transportation, unhygienic felt, bad weather, lack of food, water, and other unknown dangers along the road to the border. Immigrants spend months traveling to the border and most times do not make it to United States because they are caught and send back south of the border. Most gang groups have resorted to kidnapping wealthy Latin Americans living in the United States side of the border for huge ransoms, demand thousands of dollars in exchange to the kidnapped victims and most of the times these victims are killed. Families are separated due to fractured economy when men live their families for years in search of money for food in the north of the border. Income is not redistributed to the population, the rich gets richer while the poor gets poorer. The people of Latin Americas deserve more from their leaders and their natural resources, which has not happened because of corruptions and drug kingpins who have operated by intimidation, coercion, and fear.

The Four “Pies” facing developing countries

Poverty stems from lack of education, opportunities, and low literacy level. These countries do not put too much emphasis in education as they resort to marrying more than one wife and having too many children. Farming and herding have been their main source of food production and livelihood. Ethnicity is attributed to too many tribes, languages, and dialects. It has also contributed to lack of trust amongst different ethnic groups due to lack of understanding each other’s culture and tradition. They have become one country but different people. Instability is created by lack of a stable government by corrupted leaders, who always come to power for the purpose of stealing funds. That ultimately leads to no mandate to build infrastructure, and develop the economy and market for the country. When people’s needs are not met, most of the times in developing countries, rebellion begins when the government neglects a certain group of people. When people are deprived of the necessities of life while the other group has it all because of their ethnicity and religious sect, it creates tensions that lead to a “time-bomb” ready to explode. These most times cause conflicts that are attributed to hatred, sabotage, riots, revolution, and deaths. This is common in the developing countries where corruption and venality have played a role due to self-centeredness on the part of the leaders. Leaders therefore resort to intimidation of their citizens and thereby control these countries by coercion.

17 Strategies for implementing economic and market structure in developing countries

(1)A comprehensive education across the country needs to be instituted. This may be in the local dialect and language in order to make it easy for the citizens of that area. Assessment test of individuals’ talent and abilities need to be explored, recognized and documented to be sure where these individuals’ maximum potentials lie. A program needs to be instituted in order to teach the citizens methods of family planning and birth control. Individuals also need to understand the social and economic benefit of the birth control.

(2)Some individuals may have ability in agricultural work (Crops/livestock/Poultry). Locations with fertile lands need to be located and utilized for crops and livestock, and those areas without fertile land may need to be used based on its comparative advantage, such as poultry, storage of byproducts, and market areas.

(3)Supermarkets are to be constructed in all densely populated locations or urban cities to enable the young men and women find and keep jobs. The stores will consist of three shifts so that students can work and at the same time go to school and do their schoolwork. These markets will be located in the areas where people can afford to shop. A Wal-mart (USA) approach will be most appropriate in these locations. The four utilities of market will have to be considered and instituted as the main reason for the location of the supermarkets.

(4)Consideration of the product that people will want, the price to set for the product, the place that will be appropriate for the supermarkets and their nearness to the people, and how the promotion of the product will be conducted in order to reach the consumers and customers.

(5)The nomadic approach of rearing, transporting, and selling livestock will be changed to using trucks to transport them if it involves long distance in order to avoid spreading of any diseases such as mad cow disease and other diseases that come from livestock feces as they are transported though out the country. Trading locations where buyers and sellers meet, and the days to meet are to be established in both rural and urban areas.

(6)Areas where people still live in poverty, a trade by barter may be established so as to allow the farmers who want to exchange items from their farms to bargain for exchange. This short-run method will continue until the economic development is in place and running.

(7)Foreign investment and property rights need to be considered as part of encouraging investments and savings in order to stimulate the economic growth. This method may help the developing countries to invest less money on capital goods, create more competitive markets, and in turns reduce or eliminate corruption.

(8)Establish local leaders by ethnicity, who will act as representatives or middlemen between the government and their ethnic group. These local leaders may be selected by group they represent and approved by the government to ensure they are working on behalf of the people they represent and not for their own self-interest. In addition, the African experts may be contracted to help establish the boundaries of no corruption.

(9)Individuals have certain religious beliefs and different ways of thinking, and as such need to be segregated according to their sect for the benefit of market structure and economic development. Individuals who understand that certain groups have designated times in which they pray will have no problem doing business with such groups. This may reduce tensions for those who understand the culture of those religious group, and for those, who do not there will be tensions and uneasiness, which is the reason for grouping citizens according to their religious sect.

(10)Government need to institute “watch dog groups” in order to police the programs and to make certain that the programs are in place and running. A 3-year trial needs to be established for any program of economic and market structure that is implemented for these countries. This is enough time to evaluate the program in place in order to ensure its workability. Experts in Africa need to be involved in all phases of implementation in order to combat corruption and promote stability.

(11)Poverty may be reduced if adequate and stable structure for economy and market is established, and the government leaders via the local leaders address all citizen’s problems. The essential necessities — housing, clothing and food – may be the top priorities for these countries in order to reduce the poverty.

(12)Professionals and skilled workers are to be encouraged through issuance of incentives in order to motivate them to stay and reside in these developing countries and help in the development of these countries rather than leaving for developed countries. Mass exodus from these developing countries only harms and delays the development of these countries.

(13)Construction of infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and bridges are important for the economic and market structure of developing countries. Food products and other necessities of life can be transported to their respective destinations as quickly as they are needed when good infrastructure is in place. It may also encourage in foreign investments. Investors will prefer to invest in stable countries to unstable countries.

(14)Construction and installation of adequate running water in developing countries and to all parts of the countries also will help in building stable economic and market structure. It will help in curtailing diseases such as typhoid’s and malaria that usually come from unclean water. It will also help the children to focus in education and literacy programs rather than traveling miles upon miles to fetch water from the streams and wells. Some of these children die in taking these water-fetching adventures.

(15)Installation of electrical system may help in the growth of communities. Businesses cannot operate adequately where electricity is lacking. As such, these countries will require electricity in all areas of the countries as a form of economic development and market structure in order to help businesses function and grow, help in the food storage, and eradicate waste of food products that would otherwise be stored safely in cold rooms and refrigeration.

(16)Social Organizations need to be introduced to help the poor get out of poverty, and give them the opportunity to operate their own small businesses. This type of organizations are set up by the government as not-for-profit organizations, and the purpose is to develop the people’s business skills and issue them interest free start-ups loans to enable them manage their own businesses, which in turn lead them to poverty free. They will guided them to the type of businesses to open, how to open them, where to open them, and why they should open those kinds of businesses.

(17)The potential goals may be achieved by enforcing the use of this model as a condition of receiving funding or foreign aid. As a way to check and ensure that monies do go to what they are intended for, developing countries pledge to use and implement this model. This model will check and police the development of the projects. The intention of this requirement is not to discriminate against developing countries, but to help the citizens of those countries as they have no way of benefiting from these funding and foreign aid that usually end up abused, misdirected, and misused for other personal and private purposes by the leaders due to corruption and venality.

Who Are the Developing Countries

World Bank defined developing countries as those with low-income economies with per capita incomes of $755 or less. World Bank is an International Organization that categorizes such countries as developing countries and also issues loans to them.

A Common Sense Economic and Market Structure Model for Developing Countries

A Common Sense Economic and Market Structure Model for Developing Countries

About the Author

Dr. Sidney Okolo is a professor, consultant, strategist, and Africa expert. He is affiliated to several universities and the Managing Director of International Business Associates, a management consulting firm, and also the CEO of Global Education Support, an education assistance program.

Among other things, he engages in all aspects of learning, knowledge, organization and human change. His focus is on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, profit engineering, human potential, excellence, achievement, business strategy, research and development. Product management, change management, conflict management, athlete management, marketing, business development and operations. He works with clients to adapt to change due to change in factors of production, technology, goods and services. He engages clients in training, retraining, development, skills enhancement, association, behavior modification, ways of thinking, and attitude adjustment. In addition to his work in the United States of America, his focus is also on developing countries in the continent of Africa, their leadership, culture, economic and market structure, community planning and development, and his created four letter word, “PIES”, which stands for: poverty, instability, ethnicity, and sectarianism.

http://www.iba-pec.com

http://www.globaleducationsupport.org

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Shuttlecock Woes – A Layman’s Guide to Common Badminton Injuries

September 17, 2012 By

Shuttlecock Woes – A Layman’s Guide to Common Badminton Injuries

A rather common opinion about badminton is that it is one of the safest games possible-a fun, family game innocent of malice and devoid of any real danger of injury. Such notions are highly probable, given the immense popularity of the game worldwide, as entertainment for children during playtime as well as a serious Olympic sport.

However, contrary to popular opinion, badminton players are also prone to injury-some so intense in nature that they may take months to heal completely. According to one study conducted by a Denmark-based group of doctors and published in 2006, badminton injuries occur at an average rate of 2.9/person every 1000 hours of play time. Despite being a non-contact sport, where there is no physical contact between the opposing players, badminton injuries happen frequently-mostly due to over use of certain parts of the body and sometimes because of accidents happening suddenly and painfully. Mostly they occur in players who wear the wrong shoes, do not warm-up, warm-up more than required, sport bad technique, are overweight or generally unfit. Injuries are witnessed in players who have not indulged in sport for a while as well as in seasoned players who have overused body parts such as wrists, ankles, knees and elbows to name a few.

Acute/Accidental injuries:

Ankle Sprains- Although still wanting in detailed statistical studies, some research papers have shown that on an average, ankle sprains constitute more than half of all reported badminton injuries. An ankles sprain can be described as the stretching and or tearing of ligaments and muscles in the ankle. In extreme cases, there may also be damage to tendons, bones and other joint tissues. The resulting bleeding within tissues can cause sudden edema and swelling of the ankle, which in third degree sprains, often takes more than 6 months to heal completely. Ankle sprains are accidental in 99% of the incidences and happen when the player lands on his partner’s foot or on the floor with his own foot turned inwards, outwards or flexed. The extremely quick directional changes required during badminton, often cause the feet to roll over or twist, resulting in a sprained ankle. Fatigue, extra body weight and shoes with more than normal ‘grip’ are frequent contributors to such injuries.

Meniscus Tear- This also goes by the layman-friendly alias ‘Torn Cartilage Knee Injury’ and is as painful as a sprained ankle. During the intricate footwork required during a badminton game, the meniscus or cartilage, which provides a soft cushioning between the thigh and shin bones, sometimes ruptures, causing pain in the joint-line of the knee, swelling and inability to flex the leg completely. This may sometimes also be accompanied by an injured or totally ruptured ligament, which increases the pain factor and healing time. Normally, the swelling and pain settles down easily for most people. However for some sportspersons, the knee can become prone to knee locking or ‘giving way’, in which case, surgery is required.

Muscle Strain- Unexpected movements, such as a sudden overhead smash, may put muscles in various parts of the body under pressure, thereby causing a disruption of fibres in the affected muscle. This can result in pain, swelling, bruising and in extreme case, loss of function. Muscles commonly affected are the hamstring, knee, shoulder and calf, to name a few.

Ocular hurt- A Malaysian study reportedly called badminton the ‘sport which presented the greatest ocular hazard in Malaysia’. Another Canadian study backed up these claims saying that 30-58% of all eye injuries in Canada caused by racquet sports were attributed to badminton. This may seem funny to a layman, since a shuttlecock looks anything but devious, with its lightweight feathery appearance, compared to the heavier balls used in tennis and squash. Although the frequency of eye injuries on an average is more in squash than in badminton, the latter does account for injuries which are greater in severity. This is partly because the bottom round of the shuttlecock fits into the eye orbit and also because of the extremely high speeds achieved during badminton. Badminton is widely considered to be the fastest racquet sport in the world and shuttlecocks have been known to reach speeds of more than 300 km/hour. On 25 September 2009, Malaysia’s Tan Boon Heong set the international smash record of 421 km/hour in the men’s double’s category at the Japan Open 2009. This is 1/3rd the speed of sound at sea level, so one can imagine the effect of a shuttlecock travelling at that speed and hitting one’s eye. It would be painful to say the least.

Fractures- Fractures are fairly rare in badminton, although some have been reported. They normally happen when another player’s racquet hits a player’s arm or leg or if the player himself falls down heavily or if another player missteps and falls/steps on him/her.

Chronic/overuse injuries:

Achilles Tendonitis- Loosely defined, Achilles Tendonitis or Achilles Tendonipathy is an inflammation of the heel cord of the foot. In reference to badminton, it can be described as a chronic degenerative change in the Achilles Tendon (a cord of inelastic tissue connecting bone and muscle running from heel to calf) occurring due to repetitive jumping and running, worsened by poor warm-up techniques. More common as one ages, it also tends to worsen with activity.

Tennis Elbow- Do not be mislead by the nomenclature of this particular injury. Tennis Elbow is often seen in sports other than tennis and very frequently among badminton players. The injury, known as Lateral Epicondylosis among the medical fraternity, is a chronic overuse injury which occurs due to the inflammation of the tendons of the forearm on the outer part of the elbow. Players who indulge in repetitive backhand strikes are often subject to Tennis Elbows. Change of grip size, lack of recovery and excess stretching tend to make them worse.

Golfer’s Elbow- This particular injury is similar to Tennis Elbow in mostly all respects except for the location of the injury. While Tennis Elbow causes inflammation on the outer part of the elbow, Golfer’s Elbow usually occurs on the inner side of the elbow with the pain sometimes radiating along the forearm. It is also a chronic degenerative problem, mainly caused by an overuse of the wrist.

Jumper’s Knee- As the name suggests, this injury often comes on due to repeated jumping on hard surfaces. Known in medical terms as Patellar Tendonitis, the Patella Tendon located below the knee cap is affected over a long period of jumping and landing during badminton. Activity normally worsens the tendon damage and a rupture may sometimes follow with lack of rest

Rotator cuff injury- The most prominent shoulder injury to affect badminton players over time, typically a rotator cuff injury is brought on over time by repeated stress to the shoulder area while playing overhead shots in badminton. It usually begins as a lingering irritation in the shoulder known as an ‘impingement syndrome’, which if left uncared for, worsens to develop partial tears in the rotator cuff muscles. Further activity and stress can cause a complete tear in one or more muscles in the area.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction- The Sacroiliac Joint connects the sacrum at the base of the spine to the ilium of the pelvic region. Continuous badminton playing with low core stability causes an anatomic issue in this joint, which results in chronic lower back pain. The condition is known as Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction and affected players are advised to refer a physician for a complete evaluation of the condition.

Neck sprains- Focusing on the shuttlecock for long durations and turning one’s neck accordingly in various directions, can cause the neck to be extended beyond the normal angles, especially while playing smashes and strikes around the head, thereby causing neck sprains.

Cramps- A cramp can be described in a badminton player as a sudden and intense pain caused mainly in the leg area due to major loss of fluid, overheating of the muscle and fatigue. Although the suddenness of a cramp could warrant it to be placed in the “acute injury” category, it is considered to be a chronic injury, since it happens after playing badminton for a long time.

Abrasions and blisters- Common yet less malignant as compared to the rest of the above-mentioned conditions, abrasions occur mostly on the hands and knees due to direct contact with hard surfaces when the player falls or scratches himself. Blisters occur due to pus or fluid formation under the skin caused by extended periods of gripping a racquet, an abrasion not being cleaned or healed properly and heels or toes being continually encased in shoes or being in direct contact with a hard surface for long periods.

Prevention and cure:

It would be wise to adhere to the oft heard rule in the exercise arena “You don’t get fit to play a sport, you play a sport to get fit!” Therefore it is advisable for badminton players of all ages and levels to take a few important pre-game precautionary measures, which include but are not limited to increasing fitness levels, better nutrition, decreasing weight, getting the proper shoes, grips and other attire, warming-up before playing and improving playing technique.

One cannot stress enough the importance of a good warm-up session before and cool-down session after a heavy game of badminton. A typical warm-up should include about 5-10 minutes of gentle jogging , spot walking or skipping, followed by short stretches of 30 seconds each, slightly longer stretches on the tighter muscles ending with stretches for certain individual muscle groups like shoulder, hamstring etc. If the player wishes, he/she may also follow this with certain specific exercise drills such as push-ups, sit-ups and the like. Stretching releases tension within muscles, allows freer movement and circulation and not only prepares the body for heavy-duty badminton, but also the mind. Begin the game with around 5-20 minutes of gentle shots with your partner and then gradually increase the pace and tempo of your game. Ideally one must end a game with cool down exercises and stretches too.

Shoes and grips especially are of utmost importance in preventing ankle and elbow injuries respectively. Gripping a racquet too hard or long can bring on a Tennis Elbow, while wearing heavy grip non-supportive shoes cause ankle sprains and Achilles Tendonitis.

To prevent elbow issues, take extra care to buy a good quality racquet which fits precisely into the palm of your hand. Turn your racquet into a powerful, injury-preventing instrument by adding more grip to the handle, taking care not to add too much to disrupt the racquet balance. For those of you, who already have suffered from Tennis Elbows before, it would make sense to wear a Tennis Elbow Compression Strap, which works by reducing tension on the elbow tendons.

Badminton requires the player to slide across the court and hence it would be a good idea to get shoes which have a good arch support, shock absorbers to prevent injury to the ankle, heel cups to keep the heel protected and special soles which do not provide much room for friction with the ground below. Take care to buy a shoe which has a combination of these qualities in order to be assured of all rounded protection. Never wear jogging or basketball shoes for your badminton game and make sure you keep a pair of good badminton shoes aside meant solely for badminton.

A few other recommended products for badminton injuries include orthotics and insoles, knee and Achilles straps, ankle braces, shoulder supports and blister socks.

To prevent eye injuries, many research scientists recommend that certified plastic polycarbonate glasses be worn by beginners and experienced badminton players alike.

Lastly, as a generic rule, make sure you are always well stocked up on water or isotonic sports drinks, especially while playing badminton in hot weather, since like all other sports, badminton too tends to sap the fluids and cause dehydration.

When a badminton injury has already happened, quick and correct procedures are essential for a speedy cure. In case of acute injuries like sudden sprains, strains and tears, the first step towards healing is correct diagnosis. This must be followed by the rest, ice, compression and elevation protocol which is absolutely necessary for recovery. Special care must be taken to keep weight off the injured area and lengthy periods of rehabilitation are a must. In case of a sprained ankle a removable plastic cast walker may be necessary to provide the required support. Tennis Elbows can usually be alleviated by rest and ice therapy, but in the more severe cases, pain relief and anti inflammatory medication and sometimes corticosteroid injections are required. Golfer’s Elbow on the other hand is usually treated with tape, elbow guards, manual therapy and stretching. When Achilles Tendonitis occurs, ice packs are normally helpful, but a minimum rest period of three months is required for the body to produce the collagen tissue in order to repair the injured tendon.

Sounds scary? It doesn’t have to be! Badminton can continue to be a fun sport for all those who have even a smidgen of interest in it. The fear of injury need not come into the picture at all, if the necessary precautions are taken and if players choose to keep themselves intelligently informed about the protocols to be followed- in case of injury.

Keep the shuttlecock flying fearlessly and treat yourself to a great injury-free badminton blast!

Shuttlecock Woes – A Layman’s Guide to Common Badminton Injuries

Shuttlecock Woes - A Layman's Guide to Common Badminton Injuries

Shreyasi is a Singapore-based full time business journalist covering the South Asian steel and raw materials industry for a London-headquartered global steel information company. When she is not working, she spends her time as a freelance writer, thinker, poet, singer, swimmer and wildlife enthusiast. She loves to travel, read and write about anything under the sun, although, animals, wildlife, health, spirituality and paranormal phenomena are her top favorites. For more information and samples of her writing, please visit http://shreyasi-dreamweaver.blogspot.com/

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Information on Skin Cancer – Preventing Common Skin Diseases

September 4, 2012 By

Information on Skin Cancer – Preventing Common Skin Diseases

Although it is not clear what has changed in recent times, it seems that skin cancer is far more common now. I think it is a combination of things. Firstly, research into skin cancer and how to care for skin has increased our understanding of the disease. This has increased the number of awareness campaigns so that the average person is more conscious of skin cancer and what are the main causes. People will now check their skin and see their doctor if they have a concern. This may raise the number of cases being diagnosed but it also means more are being treated, and, in most of these cases, successfully. This article will give you some information on skin cancer and hopefully raise awareness of the issues involved.

Skin cancer is a disease where cancer cells form on the outer layers of the skin. In most cases the cancer cells stay there and are easy to treat. However some will spread and can start to form on internal organs. This is when skin cancer becomes really serious and can be fatal if not treated.

There are three types of cancer. The most common form is known as basal cell carcinoma. Most people are diagnosed with this form of the disease. It rarely spreads and is easy to treat.

Squamous cell carcinoma is also a common skin cancer. It is more common for this form of the disease to spread but usually to other skin cells close to it. Again, if caught early it is fairly easy to treat.

Melanoma is the third type of skin cancer and is far less common. It is also the most serious form of the disease because it is often malignant. It will spread to other parts of the body, including internally, affecting vital organs. It is also harder to detect by personal examination.

Signs and Symptoms

There are a multitude of different signs and symptoms that can develop. The overriding advice in spotting skin cancer is that if you notice an unusual mark on your skin that doesn’t go away or appears to be getting bigger then you should consult your doctor or a skin cancer professional.

Information on skin cancer confirms that a growth, an abnormal accumulation of cells, even a pimple that does not go away can be typical early signs of the disease. These marks normally occur on areas of the skin that are exposed to sunlight, like the face, neck, back and arms. However they can appear anywhere on the body.

Malignant melanoma will typically look like a brown spot or mole on the skin. This is often very hard to spot as many people are born with moles on their skin and get more as they grow older. If you notice a brown mark or mole on your skin that appears to be getting bigger then you should consult a professional for a proper diagnosis.

There is no guaranteed way to prevent skin cancer, however avoiding ultra-violet (UV) radiation is the best way to prevent it developing. You should avoid appliances like sun tanning beds that give off ultra-violet rays. The sun is the main source of UV rays and it is virtually impossible to avoid these rays (and in limited quantities sunlight is beneficial to the health). However when you are in the sun you should protect you skin. This can involve wearing clothes like long sleeve shirts, wide brimmed hats and sunscreen. You should also wear sunglasses for the eyes.

Information on Skin Cancer – Preventing Common Skin Diseases

Information on Skin Cancer - Preventing Common Skin Diseases

For more details on the signs and symptoms of skin cancer and whether there are any natural cures for skin cancer and ways to treat and prevent the disease occurring then visit http://symptomsofskincancer.net

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Common Questions About Paintless Dent Repair

August 30, 2012 By

Common Questions About Paintless Dent Repair

If you haven’t heard of paintless dent repair, it’s a special technique that uses specific tools to massage dents out of your vehicle without damaging the paint, so there’s no need to repaint or use other chemicals. If you have heard about paintless dent repair but still have questions, you’re in the right place. Below you will find some of the most common questions about paintless dent repair and their answers.

Can any dent be fixed with PDR?

Unfortunately not. To repair the dent, a technician needs to be able to access the dent from underneath with the special tools. If they can’t reach the dent this way, they won’t be able to repair it. In this case, you would need to find another dent repair service to use.

Will a dent ever return after it has been repaired?

No. Once the dent has been properly repaired, it will be gone for good. They only way for the dent to return is if you damage the vehicle in the same spot again.

Will the spot of the repair be noticeable?

If a minor dent is removed correctly, you will not be able to notice where the dent ever existed. The area will look brand new again. Even people with experience spotting repairs can’t see it when you use PDR techniques. However, some larger dents may be faintly visible.

Will the same PDR service fix the paint damage as well?

Unless you choose a service that offers multiple repair services, most PDR services only focus on dent repair. You would need to find a different service to repair any paint damage you have. Your dent repair technician should be able to recommend a good paint repair service in the area.

How long will it take to repair the dent?

The time frame depends on many factors including the size and severity of the dent as well as where it’s located. A minor dent can usually be repaired in under an hour. However, some may take a couple of hours to completely repair. This is still much less time than it would take in a body shop.

Will there by any damage to the vehicle during the repair?

While there is always a chance that your vehicle could sustain damage during the repair process, it is highly unlikely, especially with PDR. It’s much more likely that your vehicle would be damaged in a body shop than with paintless dent repair techniques.

These are just some of the common questions people have about paintless dent repair. Hopefully you found the answers to any questions you had. If you didn’t, you can always call a paintless dent repair service and ask them. Most are more then happy to answer any questions you may have about their service or the repair process in general.

Common Questions About Paintless Dent Repair

Common Questions About Paintless Dent Repair

Check out our review of Smart car repair specialists http://www.bestdentrepaircardiff.co.uk/index.html

Who are located in South Wales. Covering Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend and surrounding areas. http://www.bestdentrepaircardiff.co.uk/common-questions-about-paintless-dent-repair.html

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Why We Speak and Write in Cliches and Common Phrases

August 30, 2012 By

Why We Speak and Write in Cliches and Common Phrases

How many people in your workplace use distinctive words when speaking or writing? Here’s a wild guess: damn few, if any. That I’m sure is the case even if you earn your keep in an exceptional workplace.

That’s because we all speak in common phrases and clichés – not to mention that dreadful industry parlance. When it comes to communication, people resemble parrots. We walk around repeating the same tired words and phrases. One person’s PowerPoint presentation or white paper is very much interchangeable with just about anybody else’s.

But why is this the case?

There are at least three prominent reasons.

1) Clichés and common phrases are easily understood and – the best ones – deliver a lot meaning in very few words, which is one of the principles of good writing and speaking.

2) We are rewarded with a sense of kinship when sharing the same vernacular. That sense of belonging is no small matter to most people.

3) We don’t expend the effort required to achieve originality. Speaking and writing with a distinctive voice takes work – more work that most of us are willing to invest.

The problem is that walking and talking and writing like a human parrot turns you into an indistinguishable voice in an immense choir. That’s the last thing you want when trying to establish your identity in a competitive workplace. It’s the person with the distinctive voice whose ideas will stand out and be heard, not the person whose speaking and writing is so much more white noise. Fresh ideas have to be expressed in language as fresh as the idea itself.

Most clichés and common phrases are terrific statements invented long ago, adopted by the masses, and endlessly repeated. For example, to say I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place is widely understood and would take many more words to express if we tried to avoid the cliché. Ditto for a Catch-22 situation. Try explaining what a Catch-22 situation is and compare the word count. Ditto for bull in a china shop.

Given that, it’s easy to rationale that it makes sense to use widely understood phrases that economize on words. After all, being clear and brief are two key principles of good communication.

Industry parlance or jargon works much the same. Join a new industry and you will not truly feel part of the team until you’ve learned that industry’s lexicon and use it as fluidly and understandably as your colleagues. To do anything else would put you out of step with the crowd, and most people don’t have the sense of self to step away from the crowd. Being an individual, being an original, takes backbone. We also fear that if we walk to the beat of our own drum we might not be considered a team player by our colleagues.

One of my all-time favorite quotes sums it up: “Man’s unique agony as a species consists of his perpetual conflict between the desire to stand out and the need to blend in.”

Standing out also takes effort. You need to actually think about what you’re about to say or write. Foolishly, most people don’t see that as a good investment of time and energy. They spend more time and energy wondering why they’re not really being heard and why they’re not advancing professionally.

Originality also requires imagination, and we haven’t all been imbued with that talent. Still, there are ways. We don’t have to speak and write with the sledgehammer impact of a Christopher Hitchens, Martin Amis or Tom Wolfe. Rather, if we can stud our speech and writing with simple, intermittent, standout phrases, the impact is likely to be more pronounced than we might imagine – just as a single great guitar riff can make an entire song memorable.

So let’s give it a try. Let’s try to freshen up the language. Let’s find substitutes for the trite and tired.

Why We Speak and Write in Cliches and Common Phrases

Why We Speak and Write in Cliches and Common Phrases

Mike Consol is president of http://MikeConsol.com, which provides corporate training seminars in four categories: 1) verbal communication skills, 2) PowerPoint presentation skills, 3) Business writing workshops, 4) Media training (both traditional media and social media). He is also the creator and host of the radio talk-show Boomtown Business on KDOW (AM 1220) in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Risk Adjusted Return – Compare Mutual Funds on a Common Basis

August 24, 2012 By

Risk Adjusted Return – Compare Mutual Funds on a Common Basis

Risk-adjusted return provides a simple means of comparing similar mutual funds on a common basis. As similar mutual funds usually are not equivalent in terms of risk, simply comparing their average returns is not a valid means of selecting the best mutual fund.

Similar mutual funds are those that are in the same category or asset class. In other words, compare large cap value to large cap value, technology to technology, emerging markets to emerging markets and so on. It’s important to understand that using risk-adjusted returns to compare mutual funds in different categories may be interesting, and useful in getting a feel for the relative risk of different asset classes, but it’s not a valid means of selecting mutual funds, as mutual funds in different asset classes are not alternative investments, they are complementary investments in a well-diversified portfolio.

The Sharpe ratio has long been used as a risk-to-return performance measure. The Sharpe ratio is computed by dividing the average excess return by the standard deviation of excess returns, where excess return is the actual return less the average T-Bill rate for the same period. The result is a measure of excess return per unit of risk. This is a very significant and useful statistic but it is not particularly intuitive to the average investor, who is accustomed to thinking in terms of actual returns. The Sharpe ratio is the best purely quantitative measure for comparing mutual funds, but for most investors, comparing risk-adjusted returns is a necessary step in the process, as it makes the comparison in terms with which they are familiar.

Modigliani and Modigliani recognized that average investors did not find the Sharpe ratio intuitive and addressed this shortcoming by multiplying the Sharpe ratio by the standard deviation of the excess returns on a broad market index, such as the S&P 500 or the Wilshire 5000, for the same time period. This yields the risk-adjusted excess return. This, too, is a significant and useful statistic, as it measures the return in excess of the risk-free rate, which is the basis from which all risky investments should be measured. However, this still falls a bit short of being truly intuitive to the average investor, and excess returns are not part of the mutual fund data that is ordinarily published.

To produce a number that is intuitive and significant to the average investor, actual average return should be divided by the standard deviation of actual returns and the result then multiplied by the standard deviation of the actual returns of a relevant index for the same period of time. (A broad market index can be used in lieu of an index that is representative of the category but the result will be less relevant.) The result is a risk-adjusted return that is derived from and relates directly to published returns and is thus a more intuitive measure for the average investor. A mutual fund’s risk-adjusted return is what a fund would have returned if its level of risk, as measured by the standard deviation of returns, was the same as that of the benchmark index.

Not much is lost by computing risk-adjusted returns in this manner and the result is much more useful to the general public. What is lost is the measure of excess returns, but that isn’t the objective of computing risk-adjusted returns. Rather, the objective is to compare mutual funds on a relative basis in terms that are meaningful to the average investor. As long as the funds that are being compared are similar in nature and their returns cover the same period of time, using the risk-adjusted return for comparing mutual funds is reasonably reliable basis for selection that will lead you to the same selection as the Sharpe ratio more often than not. However, as the possibility of a sub-optimal selection exists, it’s best to use go one more step with the quantitative analysis.

The final quantitative step in the comparison should be the use of the Sharpe ratio, which is an absolute measure of risk-to-return that is widely published and therefore doesn’t need to be calculated. The fund with the highest Sharpe ratio should be selected and usually this will be the fund with the highest risk-adjusted return. Mathematically, computing the risk-adjusted return from actual returns is not as reliable for identifying the best mutual fund but it’s not as abstract as the Sharpe ratio.

Using risk-adjusted returns to gain an understanding of the relative performance of mutual funds then validating the comparison with the Sharpe ratio is a good strategy for the average investor for comparing mutual funds.

Risk Adjusted Return – Compare Mutual Funds on a Common Basis

Risk Adjusted Return - Compare Mutual Funds on a Common Basis

See Comparing Mutual Funds with Key Statistics for a detailed discussion of the use of risk-adjusted returns and other key statistics for comparing mutual funds at Your Complete Guide to Investing in Mutual Funds.

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Achieving Goals – 5 Common Reasons Why We Don’t Successfully Achieve Our Goals!

August 24, 2012 By

Achieving Goals – 5 Common Reasons Why We Don’t Successfully Achieve Our Goals!

Everyone sets goals… some we achieve and others we don’t. There are many reasons why we don’t achieve goals… some of the common reasons can be prevented if we only knew what to do and how to do it.

5 Common Reasons Why We Don’t Successfully Achieve Our Goals:

Lack of plan –you can have a great goal you want to achieve, for example, set up a website for a business with no website design experience or skills (this was actually one of my goals less than a year ago) but have got no idea how to go about it. You need to have a plan of attack… you need to know what you need to do, when you need to do it, and how you’re going to do it. Without a structured plan made up of easy to accomplish steps you’ll find yourself doing many things and getting nowhere fast.

Vague goals — having vague goals produces vague results. One of the keys to successfully achieving any goal is to be very clear about what you want to achieve. You may not know all the details but you at least need to know what you are “aiming” for. You need to know what your target is… if you don’t know what you are aiming for, how will you know if and when you have achieved it?

Distractions– you set a goal that will change your life in some way e.g. losing weight, saving money for a new car, changing career… setting goals means you have to make changes in your life in order to achieve this goal. Distractions will happen along the way… distractions are inevitable. If your commitment to your goal isn’t that strong, distractions will win and take your focus from your goal… and your goal is abandoned. When goals are abandoned and not achieved, nothing in your life changes.

Thoughts and beliefs — you may have a very clear goal, e.g. lose weight and get fit, you may have a solid plan to achieve your goal, you may consistently take the necessary action to achieve your goal, but your predominant thoughts and underlying beliefs may in fact prevent you from ever achieving your goal e.g. “I’ve been on diets before and they haven’t worked”, “I hate doing exercise”, “losing weight is no fun”, “I will never lose weight”. If your thoughts and beliefs aren’t aligned with your goal, it is highly unlikely you will never achieve your goal.

Giving up — obstacles, problems, rejections and failure can dent our confidence and be difficult to overcome. All too often people give up on their goals too soon, frequently just before they would have been achieved. The reality is: you will come across obstacles, problems and difficulties in your journey to achieve your goal, but it’s important to persevere, to keep going, and find solutions to difficulties. If you give up on your goal… nothing in your life changes. And the bottom line is… if you truly want to achieve something, you will find a way!

Have you experienced any of these reasons for not achieving your goal?

Achieving Goals – 5 Common Reasons Why We Don’t Successfully Achieve Our Goals!

Achieving Goals - 5 Common Reasons Why We Don't Successfully Achieve Our Goals!

Jeanne May of Aspirations Plus, works with spiritually minded people providing them information, inspiration, guidance and support to achieve their goals and dreams. I invite you to learn the Secrets of How to Achieve Life Changing Goals by visiting http://www.aspirationsplus.com/alcgpromo.html

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Five Common Allergies – And Tips to Get Rid of Them

August 23, 2012 By

Five Common Allergies – And Tips to Get Rid of Them

Allergy season is now in full swing, and people everywhere are looking for tips to get rid of allergies. One of the first things you should do if you suspect allergies, is to go have an allergy test done. This test is usually done at either your primary care physician’s office, or at the office of an Allergy and Immunology doctor. The test is usually performed by a nurse or medical assistant and the results are interpreted by the doctor. After this test is complete, you will have a better idea of what is triggering your symptoms. Then you can take steps to prevent allergy symptoms, and ultimately, learn how to get rid of your allergies!

This article will discuss five of the most common allergies and tips on how to get rid of them. First you may ask, what is an allergy? Basically, an allergy is an unnatural immune reaction to a normally benign substance (whether plants, animals, insects or food) that your body thinks is harmful. These substances are called allergens. When you come into contact with an allergen, your body releases a chemical called histamine into the bloodstream, (in hopes of destroying what it thinks of as an invader) which causes inflammation. This is called an allergic reaction. Sometimes, an allergic reaction is so severe, it can become fatal. What are some of the most common allergies? They include substances such as:

1 Pollen

2 Mold

3 Pets/animal hair

4 Latex

5 Food

Of all common offenders, pollen is the number one allergen in the United States, and is the most common allergy during seasonal allergy months. Pollen comes from a multitude of plants, herbs, trees and flowers, and spreads like wildfire through the air. The most prevalent time for pollen is during the spring and summer, when most plants bloom to life. Plants release pollen on into the autumn season, and while winter is usually a time for pollen-allergy sufferers to breathe a sigh of relief, there are still some plants that release pollen even in the dead of winter.

Mold is pesky little fungi that loves to grow in warm, moist, dark places. Mold releases spores into the air, and when mold is touched or the spores are inhaled, they cause inflammation in the airways and bring on an allergic reaction. It is important to have your house routinely checked for mold, especially if you live in a humid climate. The longer a mold problem persists, the harder it is to eradicate.

An allergy to animal hair is a very common, yet unfortunate, allergy to have. The most common cause of an allergy to animal hair is the proteins that coat the hair. Those oils/proteins are there to protect the animal’s coat of hair and keep it shiny. Unfortunately, those shiny coats trigger respiratory allergies in many people, which can be very sad for animal lovers. Sometimes, animal hair allergies are so severe that the afflicted person, sadly, cannot keep a pet.

Latex allergy is another quite common, yet often times severe, allergy. The protein contained in the latex rubber is the offender here, and usually leads to an immediate, sometimes very severe allergic reaction. For those who work in the healthcare field, and those who require frequent doctor visits, this allergy can be problematic, since many healthcare items contain latex. Fortunately, more and more medical manufacturers are coming out with latex-free gloves and other latex-free equipment.

Last on this list of the top five most common allergies, but certainly not least, are food allergies. Food allergy can, at times, be the most problematic allergy of all. This is because nowadays, in this age of food additives and preservatives, there are many hidden ingredients in processed and pre-prepared foods. The most common food allergies are nuts, shellfish, wheat and milk/dairy products. When a food allergy sufferer eats an allergy-causing food, their bodies release histamine into the bloodstream, causing inflammation which can be severe. This reaction can be anywhere from diarrhea and stomach cramps to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that causes the airway to close or swell shut.

Now that you know some of the most common allergies, and you know that getting tested to identify your allergies is the first step, it’s time to talk about how to get rid of your allergies. Many (but not all) modern doctors believe that adults won’t be able to totally get rid of their allergies. Children tend to grow out of their allergies, but most adults retain their allergies for life. Don’t groan just yet – keeping positive is a huge step in dealing with your allergies. Contrary to popular belief, there is hope – yes, you can get rid of your allergies! Some more good news is that many naturopathic doctors, herbalists, and natural healers believe that you can indeed get rid of allergies.

The next step to getting rid of your allergies is to avoid the things that give you allergic reactions. That sounds fairly simple, but it can be complicated when it involves allergens such as food. Modifying your environment can go a long way to getting rid of allergies. Keep an allergy diary and write about your reactions – this will help you learn what to avoid. If you have mold in your house, make sure it is cleaned out and totally eradicated by specialists that deal specifically with getting rid of mold. If you are allergic to your household pets, don’t fret. Do some research into allergy-friendly pets that you can own – yes, there are allergy-friendly animals out there. There are even allergy-friendly dogs such as the short-haired Chihuahua. If you are allergic to pollen, make sure to have someone help you keep your grass mowed and your yard in tip-top shape, and take your prescribed allergy medicine daily. If latex is what gets your allergic response going, be sure to alert any new doctors to this allergy, and carefully read labels on household and cosmetic supplies to make sure they are latex-free. Food allergies can be the trickiest, but if you become an avid-label reader and carry allergy medicine (including an Epi-Pen for serious reactions) with you that should go a long way to helping you avoid the offending substances. Do a diet of elimination – meaning, eliminate all the problem foods from your diet for a period of time (usually around 6 weeks) and then slowly introduce them back in, one at a time. Many times, elimination diets have huge success rates, even to the point that the previous allergy-causing foods no longer cause problems!

Next on the list is treatment. Take your prescribed allergy medicine every day. If you know you are going to come into contact with any allergens, take your medicine beforehand to lessen or even prevent symptoms. Talk to your doctor about getting what is called allergy shots. These shots contain very small amounts of the substances to which you are allergic, so as to desensitize you. The theory is, which each shot, you become less and less allergic to that particular substance. The good thing is, many people have a huge success rate with allergy shots. Another option is alternative treatments such as chiropractic and acupuncture sessions.

A lot of allergy sufferers swear by acupuncture to alleviate their allergies. Other alternative treatments would be vitamin, antioxidant and herbal supplements that boost the immune system, stabilize cells, and repair damage. Examples of these would be vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin E, Quercetin, green tea, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Saline sinus rinses also have a high success rate, since they flush out irritants and bacteria. Speaking of flushing out irritants – a good intestinal cleanse has worked wonders for many food allergy sufferers.

Remember to always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, doing any kind of cleanse, or starting any kind of alternative therapy for your allergies. Though you may want to, you can’t diagnose yourself. Allergy sufferers need to be under the care of a physician. Don’t fret or get discouraged, though! No matter what the naysayers say, there are options and you can get rid of allergies. Allergies don’t have to last forever – and when you follow the tips outlined in this article, you can kiss your allergies goodbye.

Five Common Allergies – And Tips to Get Rid of Them

Five Common Allergies - And Tips to Get Rid of Them

Read more of my articles on health and fitness and articles to show Allergies Articles.

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Common Terms of Employment Law

August 18, 2012 By

Common Terms of Employment Law

Employment law came about due to the demands of workers to have better working conditions and to have the right to organize. Alternately, employers wanted to restrict the powers of workers in order to keep labor costs low.

Employers’ costs can increase when workers organize to win higher wages. Also, laws imposing costly requirements such as health and safety or equal opportunity conditions will dramatically increase their costs.

The state of employment law at any one time is therefore both the product of, and a component of, struggles between the employer and employee.

The contract of employment is the most basic feature of common employment law. This governs the employee and employer relationship in order to facilitate a fluid labor market. When an employee is hired, the essential terms are given to the employee. These must specify in concrete terms the hours to be worked, the term of wages, holiday rights, notice in the event of dismissal, job description and so on.

Common employment law also concerns the three-way relationship between employer, employee and trade unions. Trade unions, or labor unions, were formed to allow the employees to organize in order to protect their rights as a group. Trade unions must also follow particular procedures before taking certain actions such as strikes, pickets as well as workplace involvement.

Other areas employment law is involved with is Health and Safety, Anti-discrimination, Unfair dismissal and Child labor.

The earliest Health and Safety laws went into effect in 1802 to protect children working in English factories.

The Anti-discrimination law means that discrimination against employees is morally unacceptable and illegal. In particular, racial discrimination and sexist discrimination is not allowed.

The Unfair dismissal law protects employees by guaranteeing that they “can’t be fired without any legitimate motive” and “before offering him the possibility to defend himself”.

Child labor is the employment of children under an age determined by law or custom. This practice is considered exploitative and was not actually seen as a problem throughout most of history. It has only become a disputed issue with the beginning of universal schooling which brought about the concepts of children’s rights.

As you can see, there are many rules, regulations and requirements provided by employment law. Throughout history it has always been a struggle between employer and employee that still continues today.

Common Terms of Employment Law

Common Terms of Employment Law

Notes for editors: Claire Jarrett recommends 11sb, who are Employment Lawyers London

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