Kissing and health

Kissing and health

Can you "catch something" by kissing?
Yes you can -- anything from just a cold to
a pretty serious sexually transmitted
disease. Also, since the AIDS virus has been
found in the saliva of people with AIDS, it
could be transmitted by kissing someone who
has the disease, especially if you have any
cuts in your mouth.

There's no such thing as 100% safety. But
if someone has a cold or the flu, wait until
it's over. If you see he's got sores on his
mouth or lips, stay away! Also, if you have
cuts in your mouth, or he does this increses
your chance of passing on infection.

I don't want to make you paranoid, but just
to tell you there's no such thing as "safe kissing"
so keep that in mind.

How to kiss

When your lips meet, keep them slightly parted and
press gently against his lips. Tilt your head
slightly to one side, so your noses won't get
in the way.

What do you do next? It depends. If it's just a
little kiss, a peck on the lips, move away but
(this is very important) don't move away all of
a sudden, as if you were disgusted by his kiss!
Just move away slowly, maybe while still holding hands,
and looking in his eyes.

Kissing and s-e-x


Kissing can be a lot of fun. Don't think that just
because you kiss a guy you have to do anything
more.

On the other hand, once you're kissing
passionately, you might both feel like going further.
The best way I know to avoid that is to kiss
him in a semi-public place. If you kiss him in
a movie theater or on your front porch, you know
it's not going to lead to sex right there!

On the other hand, if you're sitting on your bed when
your parents aren't home, there's not really anything
to stop you, so it's something you might want to avoid.

I'm not trying to tell you how to run your life, just
telling you what's worked for me.

Practice makes perfect!

The only way to get good at kissing is to
practice. Have fun!

Kissing do's and dont's

A sure way to ruin a perfect kiss is with bad
breath. Carry around some mints or gum, and
have one a few moments before you kiss. Offer
him one too. Avoid spicy foods, garlic and
onions just before. Or at least make sure
you're both eating spicy food, so neither will
notice.
Non-smokers hate kissing a smoker! It's
as gross as kissing an ashtray!
You might be nervous, but don't giggle during or
after you kiss. The other person won't understand
it's nervous laughter. He'll think that you were
laughing at him!

How to avoid Badbreath

How to avoid Badbreath


What's That Smell?

Bad breath is the common name for the medical condition known as halitosis (say: ha-luh-toe-sus). There are many different things that can cause halitosis - from not brushing your teeth to certain medical conditions.

Sometimes, a person's bad breath can blow you away - and he or she may not realize there's a problem. There are tactful (nice) ways of letting a person know that he or she has bad breath. You could offer mints or sugarless gum without having to say anything.

If you need to tell a friend he or she has bad breath, you could say that you understand foods can cause bad breath because you've had it before yourself. By letting someone know that bad breath isn't something unusual, you'll make the person feel more comfortable and less embarrassed about accepting your piece of chewing gum.

If you suspect your own breath is foul, ask someone who will give you an honest answer without making fun of you. (Just don't ask your brother or sister - they just might tell you your breath stinks even when it doesn't!) Although everyone gets bad breath sometimes, if you have bad breath a lot, you may need to visit your dentist or doctor.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Here are three common causes of bad breath:
foods and drinks, such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange juice, and soda
poor dental hygiene (say: hi-jeen), meaning you don't brush and floss as you should
smoking and other tobacco use

Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath because when you leave food particles in you mouth, these pieces of food can rot and start to smell. The food particles may begin to collect bacteria, which can be smelly, too. Plus, by not brushing your teeth regularly, plaque (a sticky, colorless film) builds up on your teeth. Plaque is a great place for bacteria to live and yet another reason why breath can turn foul.

Preventing Smelly Breath

So what's a kid to do? Don't smoke or use tobacco products, of course. And take care of your mouth by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day. Brush your tongue, too, because bacteria can grow there. Flossing once a day helps get rid of particles wedged between your teeth. Also, visit your dentist twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings.

Not only will you get a thorough cleaning, the dentist will look around your mouth for any potential problems, including those that can affect breath. For example, gum disease, also known as periodontal (say: per-ee-o-don-tul) disease, can cause bad breath and damage your teeth.

If you're concerned about bad breath, tell your doctor or dentist. But don't be surprised if he or she leans in and take a big whiff! Smell is one way doctors and dentists can help figure out what's causing the problem. The way a person's breath smells can be a clue to what's wrong. For instance, if someone has uncontrolled diabetes, his or her breath might smell like acetone (the same stuff that's in nail polish remover).

If you have bad breath all the time and the reason can't be determined by your dentist, he or she may refer you to a doctor to make sure there is no other medical condition that could be causing it. Sometimes sinus problems, and rarely liver or kidney problems, can cause bad breath

Sleeping Tips

Sleeping Tips


You should wake up refreshed in the morning without the use of an alarm clock and feel energetic all day. If not you may find some good tips below.

Sleep deprivation is a large proportion of the problem is due to the high paced
lifestyle causing the lack of time to get the sleep we need. When we do not get the
amount of sleep we need we accumulate a sleep debt. This sleep debt has to be
paid back or sleepiness will continue to worsen. Many people try to pay back the
debt on the weekends resulting in the disruption of their circadian rhythm.

Here are some Tips that may help.



* Sleep is as important as food and air. Quantity and quality are very important. Most adults need between 7.5 to 8.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you press the snooze button on the alarm in the morning you are not getting enough sleep. This could be due to not enough time in bed, external disturbances, or a sleep disorder.
* Keep regular hours. Try to go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day. Getting up at the same time is most important. Getting bright light, like the sun, when you get up will also help. Try to go to bed only when you are sleepy. Bright light in the morning at a regular time should help you feel sleepy at the same time every night.
* Stay away from stimulants like caffeine. This will help you get deep sleep which is most refreshing. If you take any caffeine, take it in the morning. Avoid all stimulants in the evening, including chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeinated teas. They will delay sleep and increase arousals during the night.
* Use the bed for sleeping. Avoid watching TV or using laptop computers. Know that reading in bed can be a problem if the material is very stimulation and you read with a bright light. If it helps to read before sleep make sure you use a very small wattage bulb to read. A 15 watt bulb should be enough. Bright light from these activities may inhibit sleep.
* Avoid bright light around the house before bed. Using dimmer switches in living rooms and bathrooms before bed can be helpful. (Dimmer switches can be set to maximum brightness for morning routines.)
* Don't stress if you feel you are not getting enough sleep. It will just make matters worse. Know you will sleep eventually.
* Avoid exercise near bedtime. No exercise at least 3 hours before bed.
* Don't go to bed hungry. Have a light snack, avoid a heavy meal before bed.
* Bedtime routines are helpful for good sleep. Keep routines on your normal schedule. A cup of herbal tea an hour before bed can begin a routine.
* Avoid looking at the clock if you wake up in the middle of the night. It can cause anxiety. This is very difficult for most of us, so turn the clock away from your eyes so you would have to turn it to see the time. You may decide not to make the effort and go right back to sleep.
* If you can't get to sleep for over 30 minutes, get out of bed and do something boring in dim light till you are sleepy.
* Keep your bedroom at comfortable temperature. Not too warm and not too cold. Cooler is better than warmer.
* If you have problems with noise in your environment you can use a white noise generator. A old fan will work or you can buy noise machies from many sources.
* Know that the "night cap" has a price. Alcohol may help you to get to sleep but it will cause you to wake up throughout the night. You may not notice it. (It is worse if you have sleep apnea because the alcohol makes the apnea worse.) Sometimes people snore only if they have had some alcohol or may snore worse if they already snore.)
* If you have a sleeping partner, ask them if they notice any snoring, leg movements and/or pauses in breathing . Take this information and try the sleep test. You may have a sleep disorder or you may just need to increase your awareness about your own sleep need. If you have any concerns see your doctor.

Understanding Depression

Depression



Also called: Clinical depression, Dysthymic disorder, Major depressive disorder, Unipolar depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It's more than just a feeling of being "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include

* Sadness * Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy * Change in weight * Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping * Energy loss * Feelings of worthlessness * Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression can run in families, and usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.

There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants and talk therapy. Most people do best by using both.


Causes


There's no single known cause for depression. The illness often runs in families. Experts believe a genetic vulnerability combined with environmental factors, such as stress or physical illness, may trigger an imbalance in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, resulting in depression. Imbalances in three neurotransmitters — serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine — seem to be linked to depression.

Scientists don't fully understand how imbalances in neurotransmitters cause signs and symptoms of depression. It's not certain whether changes in neurotransmitters are a cause or a result of depression.

Factors that contribute to depression include:

* Heredity. Researchers have identified several genes that may be involved in bipolar disorder, and they're looking for genes linked to other types of depression. But not everyone with a family history of depression develops the disorder, and conversely, people with no family history of the disorder can become depressed.
* Stress. Stressful life events, particularly a loss or threatened loss of a loved one or a job, can trigger depression.
* Medications. Long-term use of certain medications, such as some drugs used to control high blood pressure, sleeping pills or, occasionally, birth control pills, may cause symptoms of depression in some people.
* Illnesses. Having a chronic illness, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer or Alzheimer's disease, puts you at higher risk of developing depression. Having an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), even mildly, also can cause depression.
* Personality. Certain personality traits, such as having low self-esteem and being overly dependent, self-critical, pessimistic and easily overwhelmed by stress, can make you more vulnerable to depression.
* Postpartum depression. It's common for mothers to feel a mild form of distress that usually occurs a few days to weeks after giving birth. During this time you may have feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, irritability and incompetence. A more severe form of the baby blues, called postpartum depression, also can affect new mothers.
* Hormones. Women experience depression about twice as much as men, which leads researchers to believe hormonal factors may play a role in the development of depression.
* Alcohol, nicotine and drug abuse. Experts once thought that people with depression used alcohol, nicotine and mood-altering drugs as a way to ease depression. But using these substances may actually contribute to depression and anxiety disorders.


Risk factors

Depression affects all ages and all races. Twice as many women experience depression as men. While men are less likely to become depressed than women are, depression does affect men as well. Gender differences in depression may be due in part to biological causes, such as hormones and different levels of neurotransmitters.

Other factors that may put you at an increased risk of depression include a family history of the disorder, pregnancy or stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one or a job.

How 8 Glasses a Day Keeps Fat Away

How 8 Glasses a Day Keeps Fat Away


Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most

important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most

of us take it for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion"

for permanent weight loss!


Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize

stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will

cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can

actually reduce fat deposits. Here's why: The kidneys can't function

properly without enough water. When the kidneys don't work to capacity,

some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary

functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body.

If the liver has to do some of the kidney's work, it can't operate at

full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains

stored in the body, and weight loss stops. Drinking enough water is the

best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it

perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every

drop. Water is stored in extra cellular spaces (outside the cells).

This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands. Diuretics offer a

temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some

essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will

replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition

quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water

retention is to give the body what it needs.PLENTY OF WATER. Only then

will the stored water be released. If you have a constant problem with

water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate

sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more

water your system retains to dilute it. But getting rid of un-needed

salt is easy - just drink more water. As it's forced through the

kidneys, it takes away excess sodium. The overweight person needs more

water than the thin one! Larger people have larger metabolic loads.

Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that

the overweight person needs more water. Water helps maintain proper

muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by

preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that

usually follows weight loss - shrinking cells are buoyed by water,

which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy, and resilient.

Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a

lot more waste to get rid of - all the metabolized fat must be shed.

Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste. Water can help relieve

constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it

needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result?

Constipation. But, when a person gets enough water, normal bowel

functions returns. So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths

about water and weight loss:



The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently.

Retained water shows up as excess weight.

To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.

Drinking water is essential to weight loss. How much water is enough??

On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day.

That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one

additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you

drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the

weather is hot and dry. Water should preferably be cold - it's absorbed

into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence

suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. When

the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are

perfectly balanced. Once this happens you have reached the

"breakthrough point". What does this mean?

Endocrine-gland function improves.

Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.

More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.

Natural thirst returns.

There is loss of hunger almost overnight.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out

of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained

weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to

go back and force another "breakthrough".

Dandruff

Dandruff (also called scurf and historically termed Pityriasis capitis) is due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. As it is normal for skin cells to die and flake off, a small amount of flaking is normal and in fact quite common. Some people, however, either chronically or as a result of certain triggers, experience an unusually large amount of flaking, which can also be accompanied by redness and irritation. Most cases of dandruff can be easily treated with specialized shampoos. Dandruff is not an organism like lice; it is just dead skin that accumulates in the scalp. Dandruff is unlikely to be the cause of hair loss.

Excessive flaking can also be a symptom of seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infection or excoriation associated with infestation of head lice.

Dandruff is a global phenomenon and many people find that dandruff can cause social or self-esteem problems. Treatment may be important purely for psychological reasons.

Causes

As the epidermal layer continually replaces itself, cells are pushed outward where they eventually die and flake off. In most people, these flakes of skin are too small to be visible. However, certain conditions cause cell turnover to be unusually rapid, especially in the scalp. For people with dandruff, skin cells may mature and be shed in 2 - 7 days, as opposed to around a month in people without dandruff. The result is that dead skin cells are shed in large, oily clumps, which appear as white or grayish patches on the scalp and clothes.

Dandruff has been shown to be the result of three required factors:[1]

1. Skin oil commonly referred to as sebum or sebaceous secretions
2. The metabolic by-products of skin micro-organisms (most specifically Malassezia yeasts)
3. Individual susceptibility

Common older literature cites the fungus Malassezia furfur (previously known as Pityrosporum ovale) as the cause of dandruff. While this fungus is found naturally on the skin surface of both healthy people and those with dandruff, it has recently been shown that a scalp specific fungus, Malassezia globosa, is the responsible agent. This fungus metabolizes triglycerides present in sebum by the expression of lipase, resulting in a lipid byproduct oleic acid (OA).[citation needed] Penetration by OA of the top layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum, results in an inflammatory response which disturbs homeostasis and results in erratic cleavage of stratum corneum cells.

Rarely, dandruff can be a manifestation of an allergic reaction to chemicals in hair gels/sprays, hair oils, or sometimes even dandruff medications like ketoconazole.

There is no convincing evidence that food (such as sugar or yeast), excessive perspiration, or climate have any role in the pathogenesis of dandruff.



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