Drug addiction

Drug addiction is a pathological or abnormal condition which arises due to frequent drug use. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally rewarding stimuli. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition has categorized three stages of addiction: preoccupation/anticipation, binge/intoxication, and withdrawal/negative affect. These stages are characterized, respectively, everywhere by constant cravings and preoccupation with obtaining the substance; using more of the substance than necessary to experience the intoxicating effects; and experiencing tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and decreased motivation for normal life activities. By the American Society of Addiction Medicine definition, drug addiction differs from drug dependence and drug tolerance.

It is, both among scientists and other writers, quite usual to allow the concept of drug addiction to include persons who are not drug abusers according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The term drug addiction is then used as a category which may include the same persons who under the DSM-IV can be given the diagnosis of substance dependence or substance abuse.

Beware of the Silent Killer

Eliminate sodium.

It's a proven fact that sodium contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, fluid retention and other health ailments.

Most of the sodium in our diets comes from table salt. The American Heart Association recommends that healthy adults limit their sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams a day. A quarter teaspoon of sodium contains 600 milligrams of sodium.

To avoid getting too much sodium, read labels.

The write way to lose weight

Keep a food journal.

There's no better way to keep track of what you're eating than by logging it. Record every morsel that goes into your mouth. This will help you keep a tally on your caloric intake. In the event you hit a weight-loss plateau, you can look back and see what foods could be preventing you from losing.

All you need is a spiral notebook and a pen to keep tabs on your eating behaviors.

Myths & old wives’ tales about eyes

MYTH:

Reading in dim or poor light is harmful to your eyes, may ruin them, or may cause you to need eyeglasses.

TRUTH:
Your eyes are not harmed by reading in dim light. They may get tired because of the extra effort it takes to see clearly, but no damage will occur.

MYTH:
Using the eyes too much for close work such as reading is the reason people need glasses (or need bifocals).

TRUTH:
There is no hard evidence that using your eyes to read, study, work, etc. will cause you to need glasses. Any nearsightedness is probably due to your heredity. If you need bifocals to see up close, blame your longevity.

MYTH:
Using your eyes too much can wear them out.

TRUTH:
Eyes are not like light bulbs! They can last your entire lifetime if they are healthy (or have conditions that are treatable). Their health has nothing to do with the number of hours you use them.

MYTH:
Holding reading material up close will damage a child's eyes.

TRUTH:
The place where reading material is held has no effect on the health of the eyes or the need for glasses. Many children find it comfortable to read close-up and their very good focusing ability makes it easy for them to do so. (Nearsighted children hold things close to their eyes because they see much better at close range. However, this does not cause nearsightedness to develop.)

MYTH:
Wearing someone else's glasses may damage your eyes.

TRUTH:
Although you may not see very well with them, no harm can come from wearing eyeglasses that are not your prescription.

MYTH:
Wearing glasses all the time will make you so dependent on them that you will see poorly without them.

TRUTH:
Wearing eyeglasses will never make your eyes worse. Some refractive errors increase as you get older. If you have been wearing glasses, they may appear to be responsible, but they are not. Also, once you have enjoyed clear vision with glasses, it may seem that your eyes are worse when you take them off.

MYTH:
If you need corrective lenses, your eyes are not healthy.

TRUTH:
The need for eyeglasses has nothing to do with the health of your eyes. You simply have a normal variation in the size, length, or shape of one or more parts of the eyeball, or some changes that occur normally with age.

MYTH:
Exercises can correct nearsightedness (myopia).

TRUTH:
There is no evidence that any type of exercise makes any difference. Some people with myopia can learn to squint their lids together, which can momentarily improve their vision enough to pass eye tests, but this will not change the myopia.

MYTH:
The wrong diet can cause you to need glasses. A good diet can do away with your need to wear glasses.

TRUTH:
There is no scientific evidence that diet plays any role in the need for glasses, nor will a change in diet or a special diet or vitamins make any difference. This myth may be based on the fact that there are a few eye diseases related to lack of vitamins or to malnutrition, especially in people who are the victims of famine or primitive conditions.

MYTH:
Eating a lot of carrots will give you good eyes and eyesight.

TRUTH:
The only basis for this myth is that carrots contain vitamin A, which, in small amounts, is necessary for the eyes to function. A normal diet contains all the vitamin A anyone needs. Too much may even be damaging to your health.

MYTH:
Daily eye exercises will keep the eye muscles in good tone.

TRUTH:
Being alive and looking around at your world is all that is necessary to keep your muscles "toned." Any extra effort is a waste of time and has no benefit.

MYTH:
If you cross your eyes on purpose, they can get stuck there.

TRUTH:
There is no way that you can make your eyes cross permanently. (So leave your kids alone when they do it to aggravate you.)

MYTH:
Surgery will not be necessary for crossed eyes or other eye muscle problems if proper exercises are done.

TRUTH:
Many eye muscle problems respond to treatment by glasses, patching and orthoptics (special eye exercises). Others can only be corrected with surgery, which is sometimes supplemented with exercises.

MYTH:
If you masturbate, you can cause a need for glasses.

TRUTH:
No, there is no way that this ridiculous myth can be true.

MYTH:
It is safe to look at an eclipse of the sun through several darkened negatives or a piece of smoked glass.

TRUTH:
It is never safe to look directly at an eclipse through any device except those scientifically designed for that purpose. Because people believe the myth, eclipses of the sun create a lot of visual loss.

MYTH:
Prolonged viewing of computer screens damages your eyes.

TRUTH:
There is no scientific evidence that any permanent damage to your eyes can occur in this way.

MYTH:
Sitting too close to the TV set is bad for your eyes. To keep from damaging your eyes, view television is a dark room with only a small lamp on top of the set.

TRUTH:
Whether the room is dark or lighted, or whether the light is in front of or behind you, is a matter of personal preference and comfort. It will not make any difference to the health of your eyes.

MYTH:
Cataracts (lens opacities) are caused by overuse of the eyes.

TRUTH:
Cataracts are usually related to age and many years of exposure to bright sunlight. They have nothing to do with how you use your eyes.

MYTH:
Cataracts can be treated with eyedrops or medication.

TRUTH:
Once a cataract has developed, there is no proven medication or eyedrop that can make it go away. The only clear-cut treatment for cataracts that require treatment (not all of them do) is surgery.

MYTH:
Cataracts are hereditary. If your mom or dad had them, you are bound to also have them.

TRUTH:
This one is mostly untrue. Although there are certain, uncommon types of cataracts that run in families, the most common type is related to age and has no predictable hereditary pattern.

MYTH:
Contact lenses can stop myopia from progressing.

TRUTH:
Because many adolescents begin wearing contact lenses around the time their myopia is stopping or slowing down anyway, there seems to be a cause-and-effect relationship. But studies have shown this is not true. There is a treatment program called orthokeratology, in which contact lenses are used to flatten cornea and thereby reduce nearsightedness; but the change is small, temporary, and in most cases does not reduce myopia enough to eliminate glasses altogether.

ABC of BMI

BMI, or body mass index, is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

But just like your weight, you should not let your BMI be your only measure of fitness. Not all adults who have a healthy BMI are at their most healthy weight. They may have lots of fat but very little muscle, and some athletes encounter the opposite problem.

A BMI, however, does give many people a good idea of whether or not they are in good health condition.

The cause of yo-yo dieting

Don't fall for fad diets.

When you're desperate to lose weight, it's easy to fall prey to the latest weight-loss craze. From the cabbage soup diet to the grapefruit diet, these faddish programs promise quick, easy results. Unfortunately, it's you who suffers. Although you may lose a few pounds, these plans are hardly maintainable - or healthy - in the long-term.

More often than not, you'll put the weight back on, along with some extra pounds. Stick to healthy eating and exercise for lasting results.

Green tea and stay healthy

Green tea has been enjoyed for centuries in formal Chinese tea ceremonies. It has long been believed to relieve headaches and body aches, increase energy, prevent disease and aid digestion.

Many tests have been inconclusive and others are still under way, some of the health claims by green tea proponents are:

• Longer life
• Weight loss
• Increased ability to survive after a heart attack
• Antioxidants to combat free radicals
• Cavity fighting
• Higher metabolism, more calories burned
• Cancer prevention
• Lower cholesterol
• Detoxification of blood
• Liver function support
• Bone density maintenance
• Reduced inflammation
• Alzheimer's prevention and treatment
• Lower risk of diabetes and heart disease

Green tea contains a group of polyphenols known as catechins. The most studied and effective compound is epigallocatechin gallate, better known as EGCG. A growing number of published scientific studies propose that it does protect against cancer and heart disease and aid weight control. It is used as a fat loss aid used in some dietary supplements.

The side effects of green tea are few and mild. They are mainly due to the caffeine content, which the Buddhist monks of the 8th century discovered helped keep them awake during long meditation sessions. Actually, green tea has just enough caffeine to give you a lift, but not enough to cause nervous jitters. It would take four cups to equal the amount of caffeine in just one cup of brewed coffee. There are 8 to 20 mg. of caffeine in green tea, compared to 40 to 60 mg. in black tea and 90 to 150 mg. in coffee. The best known effects of caffeine include increased intellectual activity, improved reading speed, more energy, increased heartbeat, improved alertness, quicker reaction times and a brighter mood. Too much caffeine, on the downside, can cause insomnia, headaches, irritability and muscle tension.

Because of the caffeine content, there are some possible drug interactions. If you are taking any medicines with the ingredients codeine, ephedrine, psedoephrine, theophylline, atropine, aminophylline or warfarin you should consult with your physician and pharmacist before taking green tea products.

Green tea is available in tea bags, loose leaves, and prebrewed in bottles. It is available in caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties. There is also a product called Matcha, which is made of powdered tea leaves that are simply mixed into hot water. If you are not a fan of the flavor, it can also be found in tea blend sodas and fruit juice beverages, tablets, extracts, nutrition bars and liqueur.

Green tea contains zero calories. Just substituting it for higher calorie beverages, particularly soda, will help you reduce your overall calorie intake and help you feel full and more energetic. While nobody knows exactly how much of the active ingredient, EGCG, is necessary, most researchers agree that to reap the benefits, just three to four cups a day are all that are needed.

Don't trust the scale

Weighing yourself on a scale every day can do more harm than good.

Calorie counting and constantly checking the scale usually leads to disappointment, which, in turn, leads to broken resolutions. The body fluctuates in weight as many as 3 to 5 pounds during the day. So while you're actually losing weight, you may think nothing has changed. Also, muscle is denser than fat, so while you may not see the numbers drop or in some cases see the numbers escalate, it may just be that you're gaining muscle. The best way to use the scale is moderately.

Try weighing yourself only once a week.

Grow your great body in your own backyard

Stop searching for a great workout and step into your own backyard.

A day of heavy yard work will not only leave your neighbors jealous of your beautiful lawn, but also of your fit body. Mowing the lawn, raking leaves, gardening, shoveling dirt and picking weeds result in big-time calories burned.

Another great bonus of using yard work for exercise is that you simply get to enjoy the fresh air and being outdoors.

Laugh until you slim

Always save room for the most enjoyable abs workout there: laughter.

Let's face it, exercise can be downright hilarious. The good news is that in order to get in shape, everyone is in the same boat. Jumping around from side to side, flexing muscles and sweating out aggression is all part of the fun. Before you get too serious lifting those heavy weights, remember to stop and have fun with your workout.

A good laugh is a great way to boost energy levels and help you release stress.