Computers. Allegedly here to make our lives easier. What a crock.

Having been snowed under with studying, and trying to contend with a 4 month old baby who never sleeps during the day and cries half the night, I gave up on updating the site before Christmas, hoping the new year would bring more time where I could actually sit down and write something. Christmas as well didn’t help this. Today I sit down to finally write an update, get it all written, then failed to save it when I exited the system (I blame the inevitablack of sleep babies cause). So a nice update, the first one in ages, got trashed and I have to do it again. *sigh*

So, before I start swearing enough to make Bill Hicks roll over in his grave, here I am having to write all this again. Anyway, here goes.
The Update

Firstly there will be no year end awards. The absurdity of me having to pick the winners is… Well, absurd really. Hopefully I can get a voting system in place at the end of the upcoming season so all 3 of you who read this site can vote.

I’ve been totally out of the loop, and were it not for a friend, I would still think Craig Pollock was with BAR. I’ve barely had time to check the F1 news, let along write about it. Since it’s going to take me a good few days to get back up to speed, I figured it was time to continue my season review, covering the the remaining teams in a two part update.
Jordan

Hard to believe this team was winning races a couple of years ago. A dismal season, compounded by the Frentzen fiasco must leave Eddie Jordan looking forward to this year. From winning races, even going so far as having a driver in with a shot at the championship in the late stages of the 1999 season, to this. Terrible. Frentzen issue not withstanding, in blunt terms, Jordan sucked in 2001.
Minardi

Minardi were saved at the eleventh hour in 2001. The question is, was it worth it? The team were the only group in the paddock to score no points, and the team was always at the tail end of the grid. Their season can be best summed up by their Monza performance. One Minardi comes out of the pit, and dies at the first chicane. Out comes the other Minardi, and promptly dies at the same place. I’ve always been a fan of Minardi, but really, when the team is on life support and in such a critical condition, in some ways, it would be best if the plug were pulled.
Jaguar

Jaguar’s season can be summed up in one word. Pathetic. With the might of the Ford Motor Company behind them, one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, they should be sweeping all before them. Instead they’re down fighting in the midfield with the likes of BAR. Bobby Rahal was held up as a scapegoat for their failure, but little changed after he was given the boot. It seemed that the ever egotistical Irvine, who claims he’s the second best driver in the world (thus making his teammate the best if late season performance was anything to go by), went well in the first session or so, and then basically slid down the order for the rest of the weekend. For a company with as much money to burn as Ford, they should hang their heads in shame at the fact that their 2001 season was laughable at best and other teams do as well or better on a much lower budget. Proof that it doesn’t just take money to win in F1. There is, buried away somewhere, the need for talent, something Jaguar obviously lacks.
BAR

Ken Tyrrell died in 2001. A legendary name from the sport is gone, but then the cancer merchants known as British American Tobacco had pretty much destroyed that lineage anyway. Again, similar situation as Ford. Money to burn on a team, and bugger all to show for it. Unlike Jaguar, however, BAR at least put in good performances on rare occasions. Jacques Villeneuve has to be given credit for sticking around such a crap team. The departure of Craig Pollock will, like the departure of Rahal, mean nothing, but with Pollock gone

Diabetes is a condition in which the Islet cells in the pancreas do not produce sufficient insulin to control the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, and the sugar level rises, with adverse consequences for many organs and systems in the body.

Type I diabetes is a condition in which practically no insulin is produced, and the person is totally dependent on insulin injections.

Type II diabetes is the more common type in which some insulin is produced, and there is considerable resistance to the utilization of the insulin, so that drugs are often used to stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin or to increase the effectiveness of the insulin.

There are many nutritional and lifestyle approaches that can accomplish the same thing for type II diabetes in a safer, more cost-effective way.

Type II diabetes was once called “maturity onset” diabetes, because most people did not get it until age 40, (in contrast to type I diabetes, which can occur at any age, often due to a sudden event, maybe due to an infectious or autoimmune cause, which destroys the insulin-producing islet cells). We are now finding an astounding increase in type II diabetes in young adults, teenagers and children. Why is this happening?

It may help to understand this phenomenon if we recognize the causes. It all starts with the resistance of muscles cells and other cells to the effects of insulin, thereby preventing the uptake of glucose into the cells for energy use, thereby calling for the pancreatic islet cells to put out more insulin, which in turn forces glucose into metabolic pathways that turn it into fat.

What causes this insulin resistance? We do know it is associated with lack of exercise, too high intake of processed carbohydrates (refined starches, sugar and alcohol) and increased body weight. Children and adults have been increasingly eating more of the foods that contribute to insulin resistance; they have been exercising less and they have been continuing to gain weight. This weight gain in children is now being described as an epidemic.

This stage of insulin resistance, which long precedes the actual development of diabetes and continues through the condition of diabetes, causes many problems aside from diabetes itself. The high levels of insulin are associated with high risk for heart attacks, arterioscleroses and other inflammatory conditions. Also, it probably will be shown to contribute to a host of other chronic and degenerative diseases.

Besides insulin resistance causing problems, diabetes itself causes destruction of small arteries in eyes, kidneys and feet when blood sugar is not strictly controlled. High blood sugar also causes cross-linking of proteins, which results in free radical production, oxidative stress and resultant premature aging and many degenerative diseases.

The major concern in the prevention of diabetes and its associated chronic conditions is the prevention and reversal of insulin resistance.

The following measures can do just that:

* Exercise
* Wise choice of macronutrients (proportions of carbohydrates, fats and proteins)
* Micronutrient supplementation (vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc.)

Both aerobic conditioning and strength training are effective in improving insulin sensitivity and gllycemic (blood sugar) control.

Moderating the balance between the macronutrients is important as well as choosing the right kinds and sources of these macronutrients. The 40/30/30 percentage of calories balance among carbohydrate/fat/protein is best for most diabetics (the “Zone-favorable” diet), and the 60/20/20 or 50/25/25 may be better for some groups of people with borderline or actual kidney failure, because the high protein can make kidney failure worse.

The types of these macronutrients may be as important than the proportions among them. It is important to get carbohydrates mostly from vegetables, beans and whole grains, some whole fruits from the temperate zone, but not fruit juices), and to avoid alcohol and foods with added sugar like desserts and soft drinks, etc.

Fats are best obtained from cold-pressed olive oil, cold-water fish and flax seeds. It is of utmost importance to avoid trans fatty acids from hydrogenated oils, present in almost all margarines and shortenings and many processed foods. These fats make cell membranes resistant to insulin’s effects. The omega-3 fatty acids in flax oil and fish oil are very helpful for improving insulin sensitivity for cell membranes.

Protein is best from plant sources, especially dried beans, soybean products, fish and whey supplements.

Large amounts of fiber in vegetables and beans help in the moderation of the glycemic response to foods.

Supplementing with micronutrients can help improve insulin sensitivity and protect against many of the damages caused by diabetes, especially from free radicals and oxidative stress. The antioxidants are the most important for this protection.

The following are some of these supplements:

Vitamin C 1000 to 3000mg/day
Vitamin E 400-800 unilts/day
B-complex including 100mg of B-6, 100mg of niacin, plus 200mg of nicinamide/day
Vitamin B-12 1000mcg/day
Folic acid 1000mcg/day
Magnesium 200-600mg/day
Chromium 300mcg/day
Selenium 300mcg/day
Zinc 40mg + Copper 2mg/day
Manganese 10-50mg/dayVanadium 100mcg/day
Fiber supplements such as guar gum, oat extract, oat bran, psyllium, pea fiber, pectin.
Inositol 1000-3000mg/day
L-Carnitine 400-2000mg/day
alph-lipoic acid 500-1000mg/day
Coenzyme Q-10 100mg/day
Essential fatty acids — fish oil 5 grams/day (always include Vitamin E)
Fenugriik 3 tsp seeds/day

About 40 million people in the United States suffer from hypertension. Many don’t realize it because there are no clear warning signs or symptoms of hypertension. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to vision problems, heart attack or stroke.

There are several different types of medication prescribed to treat high blood pressure: alpha?blockers, beta?blockers, calcium?channel blockers and angiotension?converting?enzyme inhibitors. Each of these drugs works in a different way.

For example, alpha?blockers act to widen the arteries, while beta?blockers slow the heart rate. Calcium channel blockers and angiotension?converting?enzyme inhibitors prevent the arteries from. Although all have been shown to be effective in at least some patients, many have unpleasant side effects such as lightheadedness, fatigue, flushing and nausea.

Many cases of hypertension can be lowered and treated effectively with a combination of natural lifestyle changes including the following:

* If you are overweight, weight loss often is one of the simplest steps you can take to lower your blood pressure. Even just a few pounds can make a measurable difference in your blood pressure.

* Regular exercise, defined as 30 minutes per day of walking or any other aerobic exercise, is an important step in losing weight and lowering blood pressure.

* Reduce alcohol consumption, specifically, to less than two drinks per day.

* Research has shown that for some patients, diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish can control blood pressure as well as medication.

* Some minerals help to lower blood pressure and others cause more harm. Some patients with high blood pressure are sensitive to sodium; in these patients, lowering the intake is often enough to lower blood pressure. Calcium and magnesium can also improve the blood pressure in some.

* Stress exacerbates problems with high blood pressure. Practice stress management and relaxation techniques to lower your blood pressure naturally.

* Onion and garlic have also been shown to have a mild lowering effect on blood pressure. Add extra onion and garlic to your diet for meals that are tasty and reduce your blood pressure.

Although lifestyle changes may help in lowering blood pressure, medication may be necessary. Only you and your doctor can decide what’s right for you. Discuss the alternatives with your doctor.

“The real epidemic in our culture is … what I call emotional and spiritual heart disease: the sense of loneliness, isolation, and alienation that is so prevalent in our culture because of the breakdown of the social networks that used to give us a sense of connection and community.” –Dr. Dean Ornish

I never really wanted to rock climb. Sure, I participated in sports my whole life, but always in the conventional ones like soccer, swimming, softball, and basketball. The most out-of-the-ordinary physical activity I did was horseback riding, which I loved but never quite fit into, not owning my own horse, not having parents willing to pay the big bucks it would have cost for me to excel. I really wanted that — to excel at some sport, or at least to love it enough to train hard and try my best. But I never wanted to rock climb.

My boyfriend coaxed me to go rock climbing at the end of my senior year of high school. I didn’t try it sooner because I hadn’t wanted to cut my nails, which were always painted bright red back then. When I finally gave in, I was surprised that instead of the scrambling up rocky slopes that I had pictured in my mind, we were actually toproping the vertical walls of a 35-foot granite aqueduct. My first day climbing, I made it about three feet off of the ground.

It only took two or three climbing sessions before I was hooked. Hooked on the intricacy of the movement, determined that I would make it to the top of the section of wall I was attempting (the “easiest” route at the Arches, as the bridge was called by the climbers). But I was hooked on something else, too: the climbers.

For the first time in my life, I felt like an equal among adults. I found a place where adults really listened to me, and did not expect to be called Mr. or Mrs., but merely first names. It went beyond the names, though. I experienced a deep sense of mutual respect, a lack of condescension that I’d never quite felt before. Here, at the Arches, among climbers, I discovered what it was like to be treated like an adult by adults, to have my opinion valued, to be taken seriously, to be accepted into a community of people of all ages driven by the same love: the love of climbing.

Their understanding of me helped me to grow and change, not only as a climber, but also as a person. I had no equipment of my own, but those guys — Norm, John, Barry, Leon — they lent me their too-big shoes, their harnesses, their chalk bags, and they belayed me and taught me.

“Ha ha ha,” my boyfriend laughed when we broke up. “You’ll quit climbing now. You just wait and see.”

But he was wrong. Actually, he ended up quitting climbing, and my passion remains just as strong now as it was back then, if not more so. Over the past seven years, I’ve come to realize that it’s not just the climbing itself that keeps me coming back for more.

No, it’s the people, the community, that I savor and love. Nothing beats a campfire out in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of other climbers, trading stories and laughter late into the evening. Hanging out at the end of the day is as much of a ritual as rock climbing itself has become. The indoor climbing gym only reinforces those community ties during the week. And whenever I travel, I carry my gear with me, or at least my shoes and my chalk bag, knowing that if I find a spare moment, I can almost assuredly hook up with a local group of climbers.

I never really had a hero when I was growing up. I never had posters on my wall of my latest heartthrobs, and never thought, “I want to be just like him or her.” But I do know that those first climbers I met, back at the Arches, became the closest people to heroes in my life. They made me one of them, and as a teenager, I didn’t really want much more.

“If a rose was called by any other name would it not smell as sweet?” Shakespeare, “Romeo & Juliet”. Medications: Generic vs. Brand Name

How much difference does it make if you take a generic brand medication instead of the brand name?

Does it matter? If it doesn’t matter, why do different companies make the same medications to sell for a various amounts of money? Why are they allowed to?

Why do we ever buy Brands? Is it all because of advertising?

What is the opinions of the pharmaceutical companies? physicians? nurses? parents of sick children? patients?

One lady states that when her husband gets the generic form of his medication it doesn’t work nearly as well (Indocin SR. 75mg, generic name is Indomethacin SR 75mg). This medication is used in osteoarthirits, gouty arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, & ankylosing spondylitis. It is an apirin-like medication.

My son had a very bad cough for a few weeks. He had spasms as he coughed that he appeared as if he was choking. His face turned red, saliva spurted from his mouth and nose and it seemed as if he couldn’t catch his breathe. He reminded me of how a person coughs that has a tracheostomy. I finally took him to the doctor because I was worried that it was lingering and I was worried about his lungs (he had a brief encounter with asthma when he was an infant from a viral infection). His Pediatrician office prescribed Bentyl. The NP gave me a sample that tasted like Root Beer. When I gave it to my son he actually took it since it tasted like Root Beer and it seemed to work immediately. I finished the sample and had the prescription filled. I was given the generic. The pharmacist at CVS never asked me if this was OK but I took it thinking it wouldn’t be polite to ask. It didn’t taste like Root Beer. I put it in a little bit of Root Beer soda and that was sufficient for my son to take it. His cough did not appear to be getting better at the rate it was previously. In fact when I cut it back to 2x day it got significantly worse and took a much longer time to improve after I increased it back to three times a day. I called the store and asked for the name brand. They said,”OK, but I would have to wait 5 days since that is when they get their orders in…they didn’t have it in stock”.” “OK”, I said. “ I’ll continue with generic until then”. It didn’t feel polite to complain. When did I become so polite?

On Monday, I picked up the name brand and had to pay an extra $10.00 for it since it was not covered under my health insurance (only the generic was covered with the co-pay plan)!

What is your experience with generic medications? Why are we not asked when having scripts filled? Does it matter? Does it matter at some times and not others? Why does the insurance company have the right to tell me what type of medication I can get under the plan…I pay over $800.00 a month for my family health plan! I’m investigating and I’ll wait for your responses.

Clones of some drugs are allowed to be made and sold by other companies after the originals have been on the market for 17 years…that is when the patents run out. There are some medications that should not be used in generic form (it’s dangerous to do so)such as blood thinners since they are hard to regulate.

Generic medications should have the same basic formula as the brand medication but fillers & coloring is sometimes added and flavors may be different. Overall quality is SOMETIMES not as good as the brand name. The FDA does regularly check the manufacturing plants of generic drugs for safety.

Some insurance companies will only pay for the generic brand. Check with your insurance company and pharmacy. You may have to pay for the brand name yourself but I would write to your insurance company and complain about the policy especially if taking the generic brand is not in your best interest (problems of your own taking it or your doctor’s or pharmacist’s opinion). When dropping off prescriptions ask for the brand name if that is what you want.

While there are many different seizure types, many patients are unfamiliar with types other than the particular seizures they may have. Even then, sometimes the seizures are not fully understood. The following is a guide to help everyone, patient, relative, and the curious, understand seizures.

There are two main categories of seizures, Partial and Generalized.
Partial Seizures are centered in only one part of the brain.
Generalized Seizures involve the entire brain.

Common Partial Seizures:

Simple Partial Seizures – are seizures that occur while an individual is awake. The symptoms depend on which part of the brain is involved, but may include twitching, numbness, dizziness, nausea, or disruptions to senses. The individual remains fully aware of what is happening. These seizures can sometimes progress to other types of seizures and are sometimes described as a warning or “aura”.

Complex Partial Seizures – are seizures which actually change the individual’s awareness of their surroundings so he or she will not remember the seizure, however, onlookers may believe that the person is aware of the attack because the individual is awake. Symptoms may include strange behavior such as lip smacking, drunken behavior, or picking at clothing. These behaviors are called automatisms.

Secondary Generalized Seizures – are seizures that begin as partial seizures, that is, in only one area of the brain, but the activity spreads to become a generalized seizure.

Common Generalized Seizures:

Absence Seizures – are seizures characterized by staring or blinking spells. Formerly called Petit Mal or “Small Illness”, these seizures have been renamed as they really are a small absence of consciousness. The seizure is seen as the individual stopping and starring or perhaps blinking, then resuming activity. Onlookers may thing that the person was simply daydreaming. These seizures are most common in children, but can be seen in adults, especially if accompanying other types of seizures.

Myclonic Seizures – are seizures, which manifest themselves in short, jerky movements in various parts of the body. These jerks can be quite forceful and actually can pull muscles.

Atonic Seizures – also called “Drop Attacks”, these seizures are characterized by an individual falling limply to the ground. If this type of seizure occurs frequently, safety of surroundings may be a consideration to avoid serious injury.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures – formerly known as Grand Mal or “Large Illness”, these are the violent seizures most people think of when they hear about epilepsy. This seizure is really two phases: the Tonic Phase during which the muscles contract and the body stiffens, causing the individual to fall to the ground. During the Clonic phase, the victim jerks uncontrollably with convulsions. Air maybe forced out of the lungs causing a cry from the person, and the lips may turn blue. The individual loses consciousness and, when first coming-to, can be disoriented and exhausted, and will need time to recover.

Tonic Seizures – are seizures during which the individual will stiffen and drop to the ground, as with the Tonic-Clonic Seizure, but will not convulse. As with the Tonic-Clonic seizure, the episode will most likely not be remembered.

What to do in case of a seizure:If you are witness to an individual having a seizure, it is important to remember not to panic. DO NOT PLACE ANYTHING IN THE MOUTH. It is a myth that they will bite their own tongue off and swallow it. Also, do not try to restrain the victim, but try to cushion a fall and move sharp edged objects out of the way. Do not give the victim anything to drink until they are fully conscious. Be supportive and stay with the person until they have recovered. It is unnecessary to call for an ambulance unless the seizure has lasted more than five minutes.

Muscular relaxation can help control ejaculation. It can happen by decreasing or stopping thrusts of the pelvis. With PE, other useful methods are the squeeze techniques. One saying is retarded ejaculation. Aging, anxiety and other emotional factors are frequently the cause. It can also be done by self control training as a method of extending the enjoyment of intercourse.

There are several causes of premature ejaculation. If stress is the cause, the guy needs to attempt to get through it with medicine or meditation. There are various anti-stress treatments, as well as supplements, that assist with brain chemistry restoration and a fix for male sex hormone imbalance.

Mind control is another vital thing in dealing with PE. Some things that have to be handled are worry, madness, and anxiety to handle rapid climax. Meditation, pranayama, and yoga are some holistic exercises that can help you achieve this.

Kegel exercises serve a vital part in limiting PE. You can build your pelvic muscles and increase your libido with these exercises. A technique called ballooning also assists in helping premature ejaculation. Masturbating might assist in helping fast climax, according to some sexologists.

Rapid climax can be effectively treated with herbal premature ejaculation pills. Delay is the product that we recommend. Made of herbal extracts and natural nutrients, this high quality premature ejaculation pill allows you to take back control of your sexual performance. Delay contains natural ingredients that increase penetration time and delay ejaculation by controlling the hyperactivity experienced by the sexual sensors.

Physicians recommend this premature ejaculation pill to help restore the normal hormonal balance in the body.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is for general information only and is not meant to offer advice regarding your health.

What’s wrong with this? Well, perhaps nothing. Everything has its place and I view medicine as a tremendously beneficial and useful resource. But – it doesn’t answer all the questions, nor does it provide all the solutions to our understanding of health and illness or provide alternatives to non-medical interventions that may be equally or more effective.

Health psychology reflects a more holistic approach but largely through a rigorous and scientific methodology. It therefore embraces the biological aspects of health and illness yet overlaps and integrates with psychological and social phenomena. This biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1977, 1980) is really the foundation of health psychology.

It may seem odd that conventional medicine has always tended to view the mind and the body as unrelated. Yet, this is precisely the basis of the medical model. Once we accept the principle that the mind and body are not separate entities but in fact influence each other greatly, it empowers individuals to realise the extent to which they can influence their own wellbeing. There is now compelling evidence, for example, that stress can and does directly affect the immune system leaving people prone to illness.

Those of you still hankering for a definition may find this widely accepted definition by Matarazzo (1980) helpful, although it may take a few re-reads before it really sinks in:

“Health Psychology is the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific and professional contributions to the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, the identification of aetiolic and diagnostic correlates of health, illness and related dysfunction, and the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation.”

What are Health Psychologists Interested in?

Apart from the definition previously given, the basic approach health psychologists take tends to fall into two broad categories. The first of these relates to attempts in trying to understand and explain the reasons that underpin health protective or health-risk behaviours. So, for example, psychologists are interested in how beliefs about health and illness can actually predict behaviour. This leads into the second category about how an understanding of such a relationship can be used to turn theory into practice (e.g. health promotion campaigns, self-help, various intervention strategies). To this end a host of issues have been targeted by health psychologists as being prime candidates in linking the mind to the body, within the context of the biopsychosocial model. These include:

- Cancer
- Eating
- Coping
- Emotion, health and illness
- Patient-doctor relationships
- Exercise
- Contraception & Abortion
- High blood pressure
- Screening
- Diabetes
- Health promotion
- Personality
- Heart conditions
- Pain
- Stress
- Health policy
- and more……

Psychology helps to illuminate the nature of the human condition in terms of two of our most valued commodities – health and happiness. We will review different approaches to research as well as the benefits and limitations of these approaches. We hope this short article has wet your appetite and that you will visit again soon.

The Impact of Smoking on Health
The use of and exposure to tobacco smoke has a tremendous impact on the health of an individual. Tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death in the United States. It is responsible for one in every five deaths. Cigarette smoking is the most lethal form of tobacco use. In the 1960’s, half of all adult men and a third of adult women in the U. S. smoked. By 1993, the number of smokers had declined to 28% of adult men and 23% of adult women; however, the rise in teenagers who smoke is on the rise with 3,000 new smokers a day. On average, Americans begin smoking in early adolescence. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 50% of adult smokers began smoking by the age 14 and 90% began by the age of 20.

Although cigarette smoking is on the decline in the U.S., worldwide consumption continues to increase by 2% with the highest growth rate in developing countries. The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the total world population now alive will die of a tobacco related disease. Approximately 400,000 Americans die from tobacco related diseases each year. Annually, that equals 18-20% of all U.S. deaths. Americans who start smoking during adolescence and continue until middle age have a one-in-three risk of dying from a disease caused by tobacco or of developing a serous but non-fatal tobacco-related disease (NIH, 2000).

Coronary artery disease and heart disease is the most common tobacco-related cause of death. Cigarette smoking accelerates the hardening of arteries, increases artery narrowing, and causes reversible vasoconstriction that attributes to high blood pressure. High blood pressure is not more prevalent in smokers but is more difficult to control. Smokers with hypertension need less blood pressure medication when they quit smoking. Heart attacks are five times more common among smokers than non-smokers under the age of 50. The American Medical Association estimates about one-third of all heart attacks and 40% of all stroke related deaths are attributable to tobacco use. Smoking induced peripheral vascular disease also is the most common organic cause of impotence and premature wrinkles.

According to the CDC, tobacco use is responsible for 90% of all lung cancers including those diagnosed in ex-smokers and non-smokers. The risk of dying from lung cancer for the average American smoker is 10%. Smokers who are also exposed to other lung carcinogens such as asbestos or radon have as much as a 50% risk of dying from lung cancer. Many other types of cancers are associated with tobacco use including oral, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, breast, colon and bladder. About 85% of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is attributable to tobacco smoking. Approximately 40% of men over the age of 30 who smoke a pack a day have chronic bronchitis. By age 60, that percentage increases to 80%. It is estimated that 20% of all lifetime smokers develop COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Other diseases related to smoking include spontaneous pneumothorax, eosinophilic granuloma, peptic ulcer disease, and osteoporosis.

Health Effects of Second Hand Smoke
Second hand tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. The healthcare community now believes that second hand smoke is more dangerous than the smoke inhaled. Some are toxic and some are carcinogenic. Long-term exposure to second hand smoke has been shown to cause lung cancer and coronary heart disease in adults. Family members of a smoker have an increased risk of health effects related to second-hand smoke. Children who live in a home shared by a smoker or who are exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased risk of otitis media, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is more common among infants born to women who smoke or share a home with a smoker. Nicotine and other components of smoke are present in breast milk of nursing mothers who smoke. Infants who ingest these chemicals take smaller volumes with each feeding, gain weight more slowly, and have a higher incidence of vomiting, diarrhea, and restlessness than infants of nonsmoking mothers. The CDC estimates that tobacco accounts for 10% of all infant mortality.

Why Quitting Is So Hard
Quitting cigarette smoking is a very individualized process. Fewer than 5% of smokers are successful on their first attempt at quitting. This should not be considered a failure. On average it takes five to six attempts to quit before achieving permanent abstinence. Most smokers have a “relationship” with cigarettes. For many, smoking is a source of pleasure, comfort and self-esteem. The pleasure is derived from the biochemical effects of nicotine on the brain. Nicotine affects the locus ceruleus, which enhances the feeling of vigilance and arousal and acts on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system that enhances feelings of reward and pleasure. Often a great sense of loss accompanies quitting that leads to relapse.

Nicotine produces a pharmacologic dependence that has withdrawal symptoms during cessation. The severity and frequency of withdrawal symptoms varies between individuals. Withdrawal symptoms can include restlessness, irritability, decreased concentration, headaches, nausea, abdominal discomfort, insomnia and diarrhea. Nicotine patches and medications can assist in reducing withdrawal symptoms. Cigarette cravings can be very intense. The intensity of craving increases more at certain times of the day such as upon waking, after dinner, during social functions and during times of stress.

Experienced smokers have learned to control the dosing of nicotine to produce either a stimulation or relaxation effect. A series of brief, rapid puffs provides the smoker a feeling of enhanced alertness and the ability to focus concentration. Long inhalation, breath holding, and slow exhalation provides the smoker a feeling of calmness. When a person has been relying on a drug such as nicotine to cope with daily stressors, fluctuations of mood and issues of self-control can be quite difficult.

Part of cigarette smoking is habitual behavior. Often a smoker will light a cigarette after a meal, during a coffee break, or while driving and be unaware of smoking until the cigarette is half gone. Chain-smoking is the extreme of habitual behavior. Many smokers enjoy the oral satisfaction of smoking, which is similar to the satisfaction that infants receive with sucking on a bottle or pacifier. It is important to learn to change these habits and set up activities to deal with the cravings. Reducing cigarette consumption over time is more likely to lead to success than quitting “cold turkey” in individuals who experience moderate to severe nicotine withdrawal. It is important to be supportive and recognize the difference between a smoking slip (smoking a few cigarettes) versus a relapse (returning to former smoking patterns). Often smokers become discouraged and give up smoking cessation with the first cigarette, because the person believes that only 100% abstinence is acceptable. Slips during the first 2-4 weeks of cessation are common and can lead to relapse. Slips should be recognized and should also be a way of preventing further slips. As the smoking cessation attempts continue, slips become less frequent and relapse less common.

Smoking Cessation – The Benefits of Quitting
Former smokers live longer and remain healthier than life-long smokers. People who quit by the age of 50 reduce their risk of dying before the age of 65 in half. The risk of sudden death from heart attack or stroke decreases immediately and continues to decline with time after smoking cessation. The risk of lung cancer as well as other cancers begins to decline five to seven years after cessation. COPD, bronchitis, and emphysema may not improve after smoking cessation, but the disease process slows and the illness is less severe. Often cough and sputum production resolves in individuals with chronic bronchitis and is less in persons with obstructive lung disease. After smoking cessation the individual will experience fewer colds, respiratory infections, have an increase of smell and taste, and often-improved lung functioning.

If you have family members or friends who smoke, encourage them to join the Great American Smokeout. Who knows, it could be their first day of a smoke-free life! The ACS and the American Lung Association have several good references and tools to assist with changing smoking habits. But to quit smoking takes more than one day. For some it is easier than others. Get help. Ask your primary health care provider for assistance in quitting. Ask for information about local smoking cessation programs. There are also medication options to help with nicotine withdrawal.

Eight out of ten men in America use commercial deodorants. Together with antiperspirants, they are amongst the top selling personal care products, but how ‘clean’ do we need to smell? Antiperspirants and deodorants are classified as over-the-counter drugs not cosmetics, because their actions affect the structure and function of the body, especially the skin. Antiperspirants are formulated to retard the [healthy] flow of perspiration by lowering the skin’s pH level, in the area it is applied, thus inhibiting moisture [sweat]. Deodorants, which often contain antiperspirant ingredients, control the odor produced by the bacteria living off the interactions of the skin oils, sweat and other chemicals. Killing the bacteria solves only halve the problem. Red meat eaters smell different than vegetarians, and of the lot, raw foodists smell the sweetest. Think about it. Since most of the metabolic waste from one’s diet is expelled through the skin pores, it only highlights the obvious fact that food putrefaction of digestion causes [smelly] body odors.

What’s in commercial deodorants? You might well ask. Fragrances and metallic salts, especially aluminum, are used in both deodorants and antiperspirants. A poison to the nervous system, aluminum [the third most common element on earth] has been linked to Alzheimer’s, general body debilitation and neurological damage of brain cells. Fortunately, since antiperspirants and deodorants are considered drugs, not cosmetics, ingredients must be listed, so you can chose not to buy one that contains aluminum salts. Then we have to consider the fragrance aspect, which can be even more dangerous to our ageless health. Here’s an even more dirty industry that’s run on profit, alone. The fragrance industry is the least regulated of all cosmetics, and employs over 4000 industrial chemicals to tantalize our sense of smell, creating the illusions of attraction, love and power. Scent trade secrets ensures designer manufacturer’s the license to use two hundred or more highly volatile, mostly petroleum derived chemicals that undergo no testing for toxicity.

Fragrances, especially those found in popular personal care products such as colognes, after-shaves, and deodorant’s, causes diminished cerebral blood flow after only thirty minutes of inhalation, and here are some of the most common, toxic chemicals found in them all:

Ethanol, limonene, linalool, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, A-terpineol, A-pinene, acetone, ethyl acetate, g-Terpinene, camphor, and methylene chloride,

Public awareness is demonstrating against fragrance infringement. More and more, fragrance-free zones are popping up in the workplace, church, cafe’, gyms and schools. Just like the non-smokers, demand a smoke-free environment, non-scent advocates want to breathe air uncontaminated by fragrance fumes and in California, demand has overpowered the industry and choice as to where one can and cannot wear colognes and perfumes.

We all have the right to breathe fragrance-free, fresh air. A change in lifestyle and the complete avoidance of harmful [or questionable] chemicals makes us want to make our own deodorants and colognes, so for encouragement to break the buy-cycle, here’s a few recipes to experiment, with.

Underarm deodorant

A sensual masculine deodorizing powder for everyday use

2 tablespoons dried sage leaves

1 tablespoon witch hazel bark

2 tablespoons calamus root

1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel

1 teaspoon finely grated lime peel

2 drops sage essential oil

2 drops neroli essentail oil

Grind the dried herbs and citrus peel into a fine powder and then sift. Add the essential oils and mix. Store in a tightly capped jar and store in a cool place away from sunlight.

Use on underarms daily, or as required.

Sandalwood deodorizing powder (excellent for the sport orientated man)

1 cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon dried rose petals

1 tablespoon dried calamus root

1 tablespoon dried rosemary leaves

1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers

1/2 cup arrowroot

5 drops coriander essential oil

5 drops juniper essential oil

10 drops sandalwood essential oil

Grind herbs into a fine powder, then sift. Add the cornstarch and arrowroot and mix, then add the essential oils and mix again. Store this aromatic deodorizing powder in a colored (cobalt or amber are best) glass jar and cap tightly. Label and store in a cool cupboard away from sunlight.

Use as required.

A number of herbs and spices lend their natural aromatic potencies to preventing body odor. A folklore herbal combination of lovage, bergamot-mint, sage and thyme has an age-old reputation for its odor defying properties. Herbal teas are traditionally used for the cleansing and healing properties, too. The breath can be kept fresh with spice resin gargles and herbal tooth granule formulations with aloe, sage and prickly ash. Aromatic herbs such as sage and elder can scent foot and body powders, keeping the skin fresh and dry, too.

Most commercial antiperspirants or deodorant products actually do more harm than good. Perspiration is a natural and necessary process for healthy skin aeration and toxin elimination. Herbal, or other natural resource deodorizing products do not block the skin pores or alter the natural human scent of perspiration effecting the bacteria that causes foul smelling and staining odors.