diseases and conditions

Drug addicts all seem to develop specific physical and habitual characteristics as they spiral down into the hole of addition; Meth addicts seem to show these traits in an especially ugly form! I believe knowledge is power, I may dedicate my life towards my passion but I also try to educate myself about those who dedicate theirs towards self-destruction. Why? If you don’t know how bad things can become, they you cannot fully appreciate the gift of not living that type of life can be!

What is Meth?

Meth is a nervous system stimulant which gives its users an instant rush of energy, they feel like they are 10ft tall and can do anything. It is also goes by the name “ice”, “crystal” and “glass” for its smokable forms while the pill forms go by “billy whizz”, “speed”, “sulphate”, “fast”, “uppers”, “powder” and “crank”. It is made up of mix of commonly available, hazardous chemicals, as such it can be mass produced relatively easily and requires no importation such as other hard drugs.

How is Meth taken?

Meth can be taken in various forms such as powder, pill, injectables and I am sure there are other creative ways addicts have found in order to receive a high from this awful drug.

Why do people take Meth?

When the dangerous mix of peer pressure, low self-esteem and easy availability come together, the perfect storm begins. I can easily say that these are the same pressures that create many other types of addicts from nicotine to alcoholics.

What happens after a user stops use?

Well, the reason they took the drugs was to feel 10ft tall, once off, they receive the opposite effect and feel like they belong 6ft under. With prolonged use, Meth addicts become extremely paranoid and develop a host of traits that would make a schizophrenic appear normal. Like other drugs, there is also an adaptation that the body does to cope, meaning more regular and higher doses are required to achieve the same effect.

What do meth addicts look like?

These aren’t pretty pictures, it shows you what drugs can do to you in their extremes. Note that cigarettes and alcohol have the same effects but they are to a lesser extreme and more internalized.

Governments “War on Drugs” commercials: The Montana Meth Project Ads

I may be wrong, but I believe these commercials where actually produced by a concerned individual who had enough with seeing the government do little in the face of the Meth epidemic that was happening in his city. Hopefully these scare the shit out of you… if they don’t, you have deeper problems.

The ugly physical effects of Meth

Like other hard drugs, Meth has a profound effect on the physical body. As the substance is completely toxic to the body, it tries to excrete these substances through the skin’s pores, which tend to get infected. This specific trait seems to be specific to Meth users. In addition, many Meth users end up with mouths that would make even the local dentist freak-out! The internal organs are also taxed beyond recovery most of the time with prolonged use, which means that you don’t only age much faster, but you are really screwing yourself internally as well. Any type of drug use leads to malnutrition, lack of exercise and the usual culprits that don’t have any positive impact on living a long, healthy life.

The Bottom Line

Drugs, of any kind, produce nothing of any positive value to a life.

Buzvia: Documentary Review -> The Meth Epidemic, Amphetamines/Methamphetamines on myfoodcount.com drug listing

Montel Williams has accomplished a heck of a lot in his life and continues to be a force to be reckoned with in both the entertainment and health care industries. He doesn’t fear going against convention, fights for what he believes is right and is an incredibly intelligent man willing to debate issues that others wouldn’t ever touch. His live can be summed up using his favorite quote by Winston Churchill:

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

Montel Williams Early Years

Montel Williams was born in Baltimore, Maryland on July 3rd, 1956. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 1974 and progressed into the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a degree in Engineering and International Security Affairs. He was awarded a number of honors during his 22 years of military service which include the Meritorious Service Medals (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medals (2), Naval Achievement Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medals (2) and the Navy Commendation Medals (2). He had a distinguished career and retired as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve.

Montel Williams Changes Television

Although he was known for his lack of hair among talk show hosts, he fought incredibly hard to garner the attention and loyal viewers that made him a household name. He began “The Montel Williams Show” in 1992 putting him head-to-head against heavy hitters such as Geraldo, Phil Donahue and the Goddess of talk show hosts, Oprah Winfrey. He successfully mixed the strengths of his competition and thrived. He has also appeared in a number of very popular television shows such as “Jag”, “All My Children”, “Wheel of Fortune”, produced a number of television series, directed and acted through a very broad spectrum of entertainment media. He changed the face of entertainment, as a result, both Montel Williams and “The Montel Williams Show” where nominated for “Outstanding Talk Show Host” by the Daytime Emmy Awards four times, winning them once.

Montel turning challenges into opportunities

Montel has had three wives through his career in an industry known to be extremely difficult on relationships and has four children. By far, the most difficult issue he has had to deal with is his personal bout with Multiple Sclerosis, being diagnosed with MS in 1999. That same year, he was honored with the PRISM Award and Inspiration Award by the Entertainment Industries Council for his incredible leadership and role model status within the entertainment industry. He has, ever since his MS diagnosis, faced this incredibly challenging disease head-on by spreading awareness about this auto-immune disease on country-wide tours, his talk show and creating “The Montel Williams MS Foundation” to help raise funds to fight this horrible disease. His tireless activities garnered “The Montel Williams Show” the “Beacon Award” by the New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA). He was also awarded the AFTRA Disability Awareness Award by News & Broadcasting in 2003. He is also a published author of several books including “Mountain, Get Out Of My Way”, “Life Lessons and Reflections”, A Dozen Ways to Sunday”, “The 21 Day Fitness Program for Changing Your Body and Changing Your Life” and “Climbing Higher” and helps bring influential pieces to life through “Mountain Movers Press”. Montel Williams is also a national spokesman for the “Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)” which helps those who can least afford to be sick an affordable mechanism to get the drugs they need to remain healthy.

The Bottom Line

The doors of new opportunities in life are always opened by the keys of unforeseen challenge.

Buzvia: The Montel Williams MS Foundation, Montel Williams on Wikipedia, The Montel Williams Show

I must admit, being paid to walk around with a big gun, driving rather unique and powerful vehicles does sound like a fun until you realize that your main purpose is to be an efficient killing machine.

Documentary Summary

You should watch this video but here is a summary if you don’t have time.

• war doesn’t only cause physical scars but also mental ones that remain with soldiers for a lifetime, hidden from sight
• solders, when they first entered Iraq, needed verification from their buddies that what they where seeing wasn’t just in their imagination, from destroyed vehicles to dead bodies laying along the road
• reports of suicide bombers where rampant as soldiers first entered Bagdad so they where very fearful as everybody looked like a potential enemy
• solders opened up fire with over 15 weapons against a woman in a black burka that didn’t obey their commands, slowly approaching them only to discover she was trying to pull out a white flag to show the soldiers
• soldier who initiated the first shots decided to hide this experience from others but it began to have a mental toll on him
• there is no protection during war for the mind as you are constantly witnessing death by the hands of others and yourself
• once soldiers return from the battlefield, they begin to regain their emotions and realizing, replaying, the tragedy that they had witnessed
• returning veterans have frequent troubling dreams, feelings and thoughts
• nobody comes back from combat unchanged
• depression, anger and emotional turmoil take their toll and the army re-enforces these thoughts by telling them that their lives are already over and not to worry about their mortality as it don’t make things better
• on any given day, there are more psychological casualties then physical ones during war
• psychological trauma was referred to as shell-shocked in WW1 and battle fatigue in WW2
• 1/3 of returning Vietnam vets suffered from psychological problems upon returning, referred to as post-Vietnam Syndrome
• after Vietnam, the medical community called this problem Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• military focuses too much on physical abilities at the cost of being able to mentally handle the ramifications of an action
• solders are not suppose to show any weakness
• there is a huge stigma towards receiving psychological help, it’s even career ending for soldiers
• Iraq was the first time that psychologists where introduced onto the battlefield to help soldiers cope with what they where experiencing, referred to as Combat Stress Control Teams by the Pentagon
• after a soldier asked for help from the Combat Stress Control Teams, they where mentally abused by the command structure and later discharged for cowardice
• military heavily frowns upon soldiers who refuse to fight or fear dying
• Veterans Affairs is not part of the military and any information given to them is strictly confidential
• resilience treatments are being performed by the military in order to help soldiers cope with their mental problems, ironically, once they are “cured”, they are sent right back into the environment that caused the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• few studies have been made on sending somebody with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder back into a battlefield, military states that combat is their job, regardless of the impact on the mental or physical costs
• purpose of the military is to win wars, people with mental or physical problems are of no use to them
• in January 2005, the Department of Defense slowly began to take steps towards dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in it’s ranks

The Bottom Line

War is the ultimate failure for both diplomats and the soldiers tasked with fighting them.

Frontline Documentary: The Soldier’s Heart

There are two types of lies in this world, those you tell yourself and those you tell others… smokers seem to be experts in both! Caring about their health while smoking is one of the biggest.

Drug addicts are all the same

So far, I have talked to smokers from Canada, United States, Australia, Malaysia, Japan and Korea over an extended period of time and the excuses are all the same. They seem to relish describing how “addicted” or “hardcore” they are. I was talking to one addict yesterday and they where quite proud to say their breath smelled like that of an ash tray… interesting, another from Australia told me exactly the same thing while I was in that country! Here are some fantastically delusional lies you can expect to hear from a smoker (feel free to add more):

I can quit anytime

If this where true, they could quit right now but just try to get enough guts and throw their pack away in front of them… they will run like a squirrel right into the bin to get them. I know… I have done this several times with the same results.

I don’t smoke that much

Sadly, the effects of smoking both primary and second (onto non-smokers) is cumulative. You won’t die right away from emphysema or COD but I wouldn’t want to be a lung in a smokers body after a few decades of continual self-poisoning.

I feel fine

Next time a drug addict tells you that they feel fine, ask them to join you for a hike up a sizable hill… their tune will change guaranteed. The reason they feel fine is because they are use to living in a marginalized body, not because they are actually “fine”.

It helps me keep my shape (slim)

There are two ways to keep your body in shape, one is to exercise and the other is to under-feed it. Sure, smoking is keeping you slim, but guess what, you can accomplish far more by working out and quitting smoking then otherwise. What you are doing is actually starving your body, making it waste resources trying to clean the crap out of the air you take in instead of improving or optimizing it.

My father/mother/uncle smoked till they where 90 years old!

George Burns also smoked a cigar until he hit 100 years old, sure, there are some people out there with wonder genetics but odds are, you don’t have them. Imagine if George Burns never smoked, he might still be alive today! Regardless of how you cut it, smoking WILL reduce not only your lifespan but the quality of the live you live dramatically with time.

Smokers Facing Death

I had a grandfather who I wish everyday never smoked because he died a painful death over several years, his body was fine but his lungs where shot from a live addicted to cigarettes. Now, this week, I got news that one of my uncles, one who saw what my grandfather went through his final years, has been diagnosed with lunch cancer caused by smoking. My grandfather openly admitted that if he ever got a lung transplant that the first thing he would to is smoke and oddly, my uncle, even while at hospital surrounded by smokers slowly fading away, still had the conscience to go… you guessed it right… smoke in hiding! Each and every smokers has to face up to the fact that one day, guaranteed, they will face their maker far sooner then anticipated due to a slow, selfish, purposeful self-poisoning of the very body they inhabit.

Unfunny Joke

Here is an unfunny joke I seem to repeat to myself just about every time I see somebody smoking. What is the difference between a smoker and a junkie? One uses a legal substance. Sad isn’t it… mentally, a junkie is in the same place as a smoker.

How do I treat smokers?

I take my health very seriously, to the point that if I find out a friend smokes, they are no longer somebody I associate myself with. I would honestly prefer to be alone the rest of my life then to spend it with somebody hell bent on destroying their health. There is no sugar coating things, smokers have a death wish but are too much of a coward to get it over with, instead, they drag the emotions of those around them into the hole they inhabit. My only exception to this “banish them from my sight” rule is family but then I try to spend my time outdoors with them as much as possible, limiting exposure to second-hand smoke. Would I ever hire somebody who smoked? Nope, politically correct or not, why the hell would I want to invest my time and resources into somebody who doesn’t give a damn about themselves?

Spiders on Drugs

To some, alright, many out there, this may seem kinda harsh but I live my life by many simple rules, at the top of my list is that if you don’t care about yourself, then I don’t care about you. I do have a very well developed sense of humor so here is something to lighten up the mood on a serious topic. The effect of drugs on spiders! If you can’t laugh at even the worst of things, then the thoughts that follow them have no way out of your head.

The Bottom Line

Reversing a denial is the first step towards a successful life.

The entire “wellness” industry has been on its BS binge for quite some time now, although herbs have been used for many millennia to “cure” conditions, it doesn’t mean they are effective beyond a placebo. Sure, there are exceptions but when you pit a pharmaceutical drug vs one sourced from “natural ingredients”, the pharmaceutical version is more often then not far more potent.

What are Herbal Remedies?

I haven’t heard anybody give me a definition for what exactly “Herbal Remedies” actually are? I visit trade shows and it seems everybody has their own self-serving definition of what a Herbal Remedy is and why their product is better then any pharmaceutical grade medications out there. As a result, here is my unbiased definition

Herbal Remedy: product sourced from many natural ingredients whose origins are dubious, it’s effectiveness relies heavily on both the placebo effect and on generational trust (it’s been used for thousands of years, so it must work safely). Often promoted as a supplement in modern times without any double blind clinically based studies to backup incredibly exaggerated marketing claims. Herbal Remedies are sold in a variety of formats, from homemade bags to pharmaceutical looking packaging at various price points that aren’t related to effectiveness nor quality. Some are effective but the vast majority are not, relying on a shotgun approach verses a laser one by the pharmaceuticals.

Natural cures for EVERYTHING!

The “wellness industry” likes to promote the reason why their “natural cures” aren’t widely available is due to pharmaceutical companies trying to protect their turf and corrupt government agencies getting in the way of healthy alternatives. I am sure there is some elements of that but while the pharmaceuticals must spend billions proving their product works before reaching the marketplace, the wellness industry is hell bent on not spending a dime on studies that would prove (more likely disprove) their effectiveness. Instead, they rely on pharmaceutical sounding words, testimonials, slick marketing and promises that they must know are over-the-top. Among the most successful out there is Mannatech but there are many more out there as well.

The Wellness Industry Circumventing a Paradox

I believe the entire “wellness industry” is in sort of a paradox, it cannot prove their product work in a clinical setting yet they cannot gain acceptance by the medical field without proving their product works. How to circumvent this seemingly endless paradox? Well, keep telling people they work, if you say something often enough, the general populous will eventually believe it’s a fact. Open any health magazine (Muscle & Fitness, Cosmopolitan, Runners World, Flex etc… ) and you will see this effort in full force, listen to the radio and you will hear the same, watch television and commercials are pushing useless herbal remedies as well.

Times article about potential dangers of herbal remedies

Dr. Sanjay Gupta wrote an interesting piece for Time which outlines the “wellness industry” in rather stark terms, here is a summary:

• use of herbal supplements by the general public has jumped 83% in the past decade and is now worth 22.3 billion dollars a year!
• most common mistake herbal remedy users make is believing the product actually works
• 19% of herbal remedy users are trying to treat specific conditions, not general wellness and wellbeing
• 2/3 of herbal preparations have never been clinically proven for effectiveness
• 2002, the FDA put out a warning against the dangers of supplements using kava root due to its potential to cause liver damage
• 2004, FDA banned ephedra after it was linked directly to over 100 deaths
• Ayurvedic supplements (Indian and South Asian preparations) may be laced with heavy metals such as mercury and lead
• Saint-John’s-wort has an anti-depressive effect but also interferes with some HIV medications and heart drugs like warfarin and digoxin

What to do?

Well, before you spend another dime on naturally sourced supplements, be sure to visit a doctor and share your concerns. He or she knows far more about health then either of us and can lead you in the right direction. Secondly, tell your doctor each and every medication you are taking, some herbals that do work interfere with pharmaceuticals. Thirdly, if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is, save your money.

The Bottom Line

Effective herbals may have their place in overall health but should never be taken in replacement or in conjunction with pharmaceuticals unless cleared by your health practitioner.

Buzzvia
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1625175,00.html

I find it fascinating at how diverse the human form can be and still be able to live with relatively little health problems, it makes you realize the resilience of our genetic and mental evolution that has made us such a successful species around the world.

Story Summary

ABC News had an extensive article about the extremes of the human form, here is a summary:

• Susie Campbell is 3 foot 10 inches in height, based on birth records, it’s estimated that the United States has over 15 000 people with dwarfism with the most common being achondroplasia, both her parents where of normal height
• in Russia, being born with any type of “deformation” can mean a life to be lived in an orphanage then state hospital or the streets
• Dwarfs suffer from an enlarged skull because fluids produced by the brain to act as an shock absorber has to flow into a smaller spinal column hole, as a result, fluids build up
• at 4 foot 7, Joshua Campbell suffers from hypochondroplasia Dwarfism, which gives him a relatively proportional average adult body but with shorter arms
• most types of Dwarfism are caused by a genetic mutation while for most types of gigantism, they are caused by the release of excess growth hormones by the pituitary gland within the brain
• at 24 years old, Igor Vovkovinskiy is already 7 foot 8 inches high living in a custom built house to make everyday activities easier, he was already 5 feet tall at the age of 3 and is within an inch of the Mongolian herdsman who got married recently who is currently considered the tallest man on Earth
• Sandy Allen recently celebrated her 52nd birthday at the height of 7 foot 7 inches but must stay in a wheelchair as her legs cannot support her 420 lbs frame, she was already 6 foot 3 when she was 10 years old
• people at both extremes of the height scale are incredibly independent due to their experience (negative and positive) from early childhood, they have had to grow up very fast and leaned to rely on themselves more then others

Who wants to be normal?

The more I research and discover about health and fitness, the more I question why anybody would ever want to be normal. Who wants to be normal? Einstein wasn’t normal, he suffered from a host of physical and mental problems throughout his life yet is known the world over for his achievements. If anything, being abnormal, with a physical or mental disability should make other both appreciate what they have and encourage an abnormal person to pursuit their dreams where their extensive abilities are. I was a great fan of the series “little people in a big world” before I moved out of reception range as it showed that even when facing adversity, the human spirit can thrive if allowed to.

The Bottom Line

Life is what you make of it, normal or otherwise.

Buzzvia
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=3404733&page=1

According to a BBC report sourcing a recent World Health Organization study, South African rates of obesity are approaching those in the industrialized world. I was surprised to hear this considering the only things we hear coming out of Africa are starvation, poverty and war.

According to the BBC/WHO:

• WHO estimates 400 million people worldwide are clinically obese
• Obesity crisis caused by fried fatty meat eaten during many meals
• HIV is the focus of many countries within Africa while obesity awareness and education fell off the wayside
• urban black woman have highest incidence of obesity, 67% to 72%!
• ill effect of obesity (morbidity) is being felt throughout society with higher rates of mortality
• in developing countries, where food is perceived to be scarce, being fat is a status symbol of wealth (culturally)
• if you are thin, people assume you have HIV or AIDS
• people fear going on weight loss programs for fear of being labeled HIV Disease positive
• South African government is saying that you cannot legislate peoples behavior

Ironic Twist

What I find incredibly ironic about this entire situation is that one very serious yet preventable disease (HIV Disease) is used as an excuse to create another very serious yet preventable disease (Obesity). South Africans are trading one epidemic for another! The very fact that their society as a whole thinks this is alright is deplorable, the South African government needs to step in to educate people that simply being thin doesn’t mean you have HIV Disease and that being fat isn’t healthy. Being obese leads to a number of major health problems including a shortened lifespan, diabetes, heart attack and the list goes on.

This being South Africa, I don’t expect this to happen anytime soon, with a corrupt government that still believes HIV Disease is caused by poverty, not a virus with no policy towards controlling its spread. This is ironic as well because Nelson Mandela’s own son died of AIDS a few years back (and he wasn’t poor).

The Bottom Line

Obesity shows it’s ugly head where ever ignorance and negligence live.

Buzzvia
Newspod for August 20th, 2007

According to a new study, yes, it is! HIV apparently has the ability to not only kill off mature brain cells but also prevent the brain from fixing the damage!

Journal Results

In the latest Cell Stem Cell journal, the University of California (San Diego) performed found out after performing experiments on mice that HIV viral load had a direct relationship with the amount of brain damage occurring and the inability of the brain to repair the damage caused. Although it was already known that HIV has a protective protein coating called gp120 which kills normal brain cells by disrupting their internal chemistry, what was discovered is that this same protein also slows the production of new brain cells in the hippocampus. This is bad news as the hippocampus is responsible for processing memory and solidifying learned behavior/materials.

HIV induced dementia

One of the known symptoms of advanced HIV Disease is dementia but until now, the depth of the damage it caused to the brain wasn’t known. Before antiviral drugs where developed, patients suffering from full blown AIDS often had mental illness but as this was segregated to those who where already in a state of waste, it was hard to pinpoint cause and effect. The brain is like many organs in our body, it regenerates itself on a regular basis, optimizes its processes and adapts to new challenges but this process occurs over an extended period of time, HIV is too quick.

Ramifications

Well, although the triple drug cocktail and other medications help keep viral loads down as much as possible, they don’t travel as easily through the brain as other organs due to its complex structures. As a result, even though a patient may live longer, the compound effects of HIV on the brain may still produce dementia in an otherwise relatively healthy individual.

The Bottom Line

HIV Disease is really proving to be one tough cookie to not only crack but understand as well.

Buzzvia
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6944255.stm

People suffering from mental health issues use to be housed in psychiatric institutions but now, in the United States, they are increasingly being held in jail. If fact, one out of every 10 patients are now housed behind bars with the general inmate population, which now represents over half a million of those held in detention facilities around the country.

Summary

I urge you to view the video yourself but if you don’t have time, here is a summary:

• prisons have become the new state mental health facilities as they where systematically shutdown due to budget cuts and policy changes
• 50 000 mentally ill stay in state hospitals but 500 000 stay in prison
• 16% of prison inmates in Ohio are mentally ill requiring special services (medication, follow-up… ) that most facilities aren’t built to provide
• 30% of those 16% mentally ill will always require hospitalization and professional services to keep their condition manageable
• patients requiring acute care or constant watch are sent into the prison infirmary
• patients become suicidal, depressed and delusional due to being housed in a prison facility
• prisons are built to provide safety and security for the local population, not mental health services
• most mental health patients are in prison due to minor offenses and not following orders by lower level detention facilities
• Ohio prison system tries to triage those who are mentally ill verses criminal intent regarding disciplinary action
• mentally ill patients require more force then the general prison population because they quickly become out of control
• mentally ill inmates are often cycled between maximum security prison to mental health facilities for stabilization then back again into prison
• once mentally ill inmates return to prison, their conditions quickly degrade
• prison mental health services are often better then those in community based settings as close monitoring and force can be applied
• some inmates believe prison makes their condition better while others say it makes it worse
• isolation makes those who are already mentally ill worse and they fall apart due to lack of intellectual stimulation
• parole is a difficult goal to achieve due to their mental illness which often leads to an extensive rap sheet being produced in addition to their own bias towards wanting to guarantee mental health services in prison for the inmates own good
• some mentally ill inmates fear leaving prison because they fear the complexity of everyday life, they believe they are better off in the confines of a controlled environment
• mentally ill inmates have a high rate of return after parole as they often stop taking their medication, believing they don’t need it anymore and are cured
• two million people are behind bars in the United States, of which 25% have mental problems

The Bottom Line

Mental illness requires close attention by medically educated professionals, not people involved with law enforcement.

Buzzvia
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/asylums/

There seems to be a day dedicated to just about every condition known to man from Diabetes Day to Aids Day but hey, why not add another… Left-Handed Day! I can’t think of any group of people who have been more systematically suppressed then left handed people throughout history. From simple everyday tools to even religious influences where Christians believed left handedness was the work of the devil while Muslims believe being right-handed is a pillar of their religion. If you where born left-handed, more likely then not, you where going to live an interesting life.

Why does left handedness exist?

As with many medical mysteries, the exact reason as to why there are a few people out there who are left-handed in this predominantly right-handed world is still a hot topic of discussion. Theories as to why left handedness exists include it being a minor genetic fluke, hormonal abnormalities during fetal development and modern electronics interference (though left handed people existed before electricity). As for me, I believe left handedness exists to diversify our species, for instance, maybe every once in a while there was a distinct advantage to being left handed while hunting in the jungles which increased the survival success of those with this trait, leading to it being passed onto the next generation.

Interesting Facts about Left handedness

To add to this pile of mysteries, left handedness is more common in males than females and occurs more often in twins. In addition, those suffering from Down’s Syndrome, Dyslexia and other mental disorders are more often then not, left-handed as well. Although there is a strong genetic component to being left or right handed, environment can modify this as well. For instance, those suffering from an injury to their right hand, forcing them to use their left hand for an extended period of time often keep using their left hand for what use to be right handed tasks even after the injury heals. Another interesting fact is that most traffic flow is right-sided.

Famous People who are Left Handed

myfoodcount.com does have a list already compiled of just about everybody who was ever left handed which we hope to launch in our famous section within the next few months but until then, here is a preview.

George H.W. Bush

Fidel Castro

Julius Caesar

Tom Cruise

Ned Flanders

Benjamin Franklin

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Ben Stiller

Alexander The Great

The Bottom Line

If you are a left-handed person, be happy that you are alive now, not a few hundred years ago where the suppression would have been far worse then it is today.

Buzzvia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-handed

Let’s face it, AIDS is going to be with us for at least the next half century if not more. The reason that HIV Disease has been such a successful virus around the world is because it exploits all the human weaknesses that make up our various civilizations. Each year, there are new promises made by scientists regarding eradication of this deadly virus but this simply leads to more knowledge being acquired regarding the complexity of this virus.

Summary: Part 1

I encourage you to view this program online but if you don’t have time, here is an extensive summary.

• by the time HIV Disease was diagnosed in the United States, over 250 thousand people where infected, by the time it was diagnosed in Africa, millions where already infected
• the AIDS virus is 150 times smaller than the size of the blood cell it attacks and eventually kills, progressively over several years, the body dies from an infection due to an overwhelmed (now severely compromised) immune system without anymore t-cells to combat infection
• originally, most patients died within a few months upon diagnosis
• June 1981, CDC reports in the MMWR the occurrence of a mysterious disease which will soon be labeled as AIDS
• originally, infections where among healthy gay men who had a number of recreational drugs and sexual partners so the point of infection was very difficult to track down
• infection diagnosis then spread through the Haitian community, the CDC couldn’t figure out the connection between the gay men in large cities and the Haitian Community in Florida
• in Europe, infections began to show up in heterosexual couples who where not from Haitian backgrounds nor homosexual ones
• November 1981, three drug users where diagnosed in New York with AIDS which later lead to an epidemic of AIDS within the drug communities
• diagnosis of AIDS leads to becoming a social outcast within their peers, as this was mostly hitting the gay and drug communities, they where not a priority by the government (they didn’t care)
• government didn’t want public tax dollars going towards helping people who deserved to die based on actions against the Laws of God
• CDC warns that AIDS has entered the blood supply after a child becomes infected with AIDS
• Hemophiliacs are the next group to be infected with AIDS en mass, CDC then realized that AIDS had to be a virus spread through sharing of bodily fluids
• blood banks refuse to admit that AIDS could be spread from blood transfusions, even when faced with evidence by the CDC, it took two years before they began screening procedures, leading to 35 thousand confirmed new AIDS cases
• President Reagan comes into power and institutes a 25% cut in funding to the CDC, leading to two years of stagnation in the AIDS epidemic
• scientists had trouble finding the original source of AIDS, leads lead to the Congo
• once scientists visit the Congo, they realize that woman can also be infected with AIDS, once this is reported to high ranking government officials, they still cannot put two and two together as the gay and drug user biased is systemic throughout the administration
• Haitians where contracted by the now independent Congo once the Belgians left in the 1980s to teach the Congonese population, once they return, they infected many Haitians (the connection is now made)
• many gay men would travel to Haiti for cheap sex, then returning to the United States, leading to further infections within the gay community
• AIDS spread quickly through the closed and impoverished Haiti population
• bathhouses in the gay community became huge points of infection among the population, government officials debated the impact
• 1983, AIDS was a political disease even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it didn’t discriminate against host (sexual orientation, race or background)
• in the summer of 1983, HIV Virus was isolated by the French but scientists in the United States couldn’t wrap their head around more then one retro-virus existing
• HIV is thought to come from Chimpanzees that carried SIV hunted by humans in Central Africa sometime in the 1930s
• 1959 was the first confirmed case of somebody dying of AIDS
• one infection from a Chimpanzee to one Human lead to the current AIDS epidemic
• in May of 1984, the first AIDS blood test was developed and work on a vaccine is promised within two years
• AIDS blood test reveals that somebody can be HIV positive but completely healthy for decades before symptoms become apparent, leading to exponential infection rates
• in 1985, the gay community was going through an incredible challenge as people where dying daily, half of hemophiliacs died from AIDS as well
• during the second term of Reagan’s administration, AIDS was still not acknowledged and still seen as a mainly a gay problem
• Rock Hudson was a gifted Hollywood actor, known for his looks and ability with the woman, the personification of a perfect male, was the first major figure diagnosed with AIDS
• Rock Hudson’s death lead to AIDS becoming mainstream with widespread public fear, discrimination and paranoia spread across the country
• Ryan White, a 14 year old hemophiliac infected with AIDS is forced to quit coming to school due to unfounded fears and ignorance
• in September 1985, the Reagan’s administration re-enforces stigma that AIDS can be spread by casual contact, which is then denied by the scientific community which says AIDS is spread by exchanges in bodily fluids
• AIDS hides itself behind the bodies own sugars that essentially make it invisible to the human immune system
• in 1985, two million people where infected (mostly in Africa) and over 500 thousand Americans
• sex and homosexuality are taboo subjects in Africa which lead to exponential infection rates
• Jonathan Mann encountered AIDS in Zaire in 1984 during a study for the CDC and lead a WHO global program across the world, breaking taboos and forcing the issues behind AIDS into the public
• Irine Kaliba lead the development of the first AIDS support organization in Uganda after her husband died from AIDS caused by a blood transfusion, promoting education and hope to stop the AIDS infection growth rates (leading to a decrease)
• in 1985, heroin and the sex industry caused an explosion in new AIDS cases within Thailand
• 1 in 10 new army recruits where found in Thailand to be infected with AIDS, the government acted quickly to promote the use of condoms among sex workers while neglecting the drug users who had infections rates of up to 40%
• in Britain, AIDS was primarily spreading through the Heroin community from 0% to 56% within an 18 month period, in response, the government sets-up needle exchanges across the UK
• in 1987, United States Senator Jesse Helms was insulted by publications spreading knowledge about AIDS prevention and pushed for a ban against homosexual materials which is still on the books today, this was seen as a blow to the AIDS fight
• AZT was a cancer drug from the 1950s that caused immune system regeneration in AIDS patients, it was a public funded drug whose patent was given to a private company by the United States government at the price of 10 000$US a year
• mass demonstrations against the slow process of AIDS drug approval and extremely high drug prices
• AZT doesn’t totally knock out the AIDS virus, as a result, it adapted and became drug resistant to the once promising drug
• in 1987, the AIDS memorial quilt is displayed in Washington, over 40 thousand Americans had already died from AIDS
• on May 31st, 1987, president Reagan finally speaks-out about AIDS, while pushing for education, he also took steps that would be counter-productive such as testing new immigrants and not promoting condom use
• by 1990, a million Americans are infected with AIDS, equivalent to 1 on every 250 people across the United States population
• Ryan White Care Act is passed by Washington to begin putting a wedge in the exponential global increase in AIDS infections
• Jonathan Mann departs the WHO because of personality conflicts, his high profile work lead to conflicts with his boss who was jealous of Jonathan’s success on the AIDS front

Summary: Part 2

• Africans migrate en mass to South African in search of jobs
• next to the hostels where the men live are brothels where AIDS is spread through the population
• when Mandela is released from Jail, 1% of the South African population had been infected with AIDS but the government did very little to combat the growing epidemic over the following four years
• in 1984, Mandela saw his job being mostly that of reconciliation and led his vice president to take the helm of the AIDS fight
• during the five years that president Mandela was in office, he rarely discussed AIDS as infections where doubling on a yearly basis within his country
• Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992 promising to take the lead in the AIDS fight, in stark contrast to Reagan
• HIV was thought to be dormant for several years before infection but scientists found out that it replicated by the billions on a daily basis starting on the first day of infection, it just took a long time before these actions progressed to compromise the immune system
• replication of HIV isn’t a perfect process, as such, drug resistance is a given
• in 1996, the triple cocktail developed by the team working under Dr. David Ho shows incredible promise against the AIDS virus, the cost was 16 thousand dollars a year
• by 1996, 20 million Africans where infected with HIV with no way of affording the cost of treatment, which lead to an enormous moral question being asked
• AIDS patients in the United States with health care could afford the drugs but not those without it while in Brazil the triple cocktail is freely available to anybody who needs it, yet it’s banned in South Africa
• Brazil had 500 thousand infected AIDS patients in the 1990s, the government built the AIDS clinics in poor neighborhoods but it wasn’t until a patient brought the government to court did they provide the triple cocktail to their population
• AZT can prevent transmission between mother and child
• President Mbeki continues to see that AIDS is an environmental and social disease, infection rates are now to 20% within the population which was completely preventable
• infection rates within the black communities skyrocketed while they stabilized in the rest of the American population
• 40% of new AIDS infections come from IV drug users within the United States
• AIDS becomes a global pandemic which is met with absolute ignorance many governments around the world who deny its existence
• 20 million people died by the end of the 1990s by HIV/AIDS infections while most of the international community still looked the other way
• in the late 1990s, President Mbeki repeats his denials about AIDS, saying it’s caused by poverty, not a virus during the first AIDS conference in Africa
• the pharmaceutical industry stand behind their intellectual property rights behind the AIDS drugs they had developed at the cost of poor peoples lives
• George Bush creates a 15 billion dollar PEPFAR fund to help provide free AIDS drugs to Africans dying of AIDS to sidestep the UN Global Fund pushed by Kofi Annan
• United States leadership still think that AIDS was a consequence of sinful behavior, as a result, not their problem, hence funds where released with strings attached in 2002
• Christians see AIDS as an opportunity to spread the word of God to dying patients around the world
• UN Global Fund against AIDS targeted over 160 countries while the Bush plan concentrated on mostly African countries
• SARS in China affected the global community to open transparency about health problems
• disease, for the first time, seen as a situation that can affect economic and national security of a country
• triple cocktail needs to be taken for life as the infection returns afterwards, HIV never go away from a persons body, you can suppress it but not eradicate it
• Bush’s AIDS plan relies on prevention, where 20% of funds are allocated and shies away from direct sexual talk such as condom use
• prostitution, homosexuality and condom distribution are no-nos regarding receiving funds from the Bush administration
• the challenges posed by AIDS are far and wide with the implications of an entire global community relying on a constant supply these life saving drugs
• triple cocktail users live up to 8 years longer on the drugs but the costs take up a large portion of government health care budgets
• in 2008, both the UN and US funds against AIDS run out
• 95% of new infections take place in poor countries with 40 million in new infections over the next several years
• drugs and treatment programs cannot keep-up with infection rates
• India already has 5 million infections
• HIV spreads among mostly heterosexual populations now
• 5 million new cases per year, no cure and no vaccine exists
• current generation don’t know the face or challenges with AIDS, they tend to think it’s a manageable disease with little consequences, which is false
• AIDS fight is now towards mitigation, not beating it as too many have died and are being infected daily
• Nelson Mandela’s son has died from AIDS
• AIDS shows how interconnected we really are

The Bottom Line

HIV/AIDS is a condition that will be with us for at least the next generation if not more but prevention is always a more effective mechanism to control the spread then treatment.

Buzzvia
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/aids/view/

When ever you have enough people wanting anything, there is a market niche created which others will choose to exploit (not necessarily in a bad way). Well, with all the online dating sites, people who now suffer from HIV Disease (AIDS), Herpes or other incurable but treatable sexually transmitted diseases can now find like partners to share their lives with. This solves one problem at the expense of creating another.

Sobering STDs Facts

I do remember reading while back that there is a 50% chance of being infected with at least one STD throughout our lifetime, some are treatable, some are not. Before we delve into the world of dating with STDs, let’s review a few key facts thanks to the Center for Disease Control:

• condoms do not ELIMINATE the risk of acquiring an STD but they are an effective method towards reducing risk
• abstinence is not 100% effective but the best method of STD prevention
• pregnancy provides NO protection against STDs and may be harmful to the child while passing thought the birth canal
• one in every 250 people living in the United States has HIV Disease (2/3 don’t know it)
• most STD carriers show no symptoms, hence most don’t know they got them
• STDs are common across all age, race, sexual orientation, social and economic backgrounds
• acquiring STDs don’t just happen “down there”, for instance, Gonorrhea can also infect the eye and live in our mouths while HIV Disease can be acquired by sharing bodily fluids (ei: blood transfusion)
• acquiring one STD increases the risk of acquiring more
• herpes infection in the USA are 25% for woman, 20% for men!

Dating with STDs

People with STDs often feel alone and once over the initial shock of diagnosis, find it hard to find new partners. STDs become a huge barrier to dating the general public hence why dating sites catering to those suffering from an STD are booming online.

Giving hope where there is little

Some STDs are curable, so for those people, regular dating sites are fine but if you suffer from Herpes, Syphilis or a host of other diseases, these sites give hope to those who may have a tough time otherwise.

If you got HIV Disease for instance, I think it would be far better to live out the rest of your 10 - 15 years sharing the experience with a lover instead of sitting next to a window waiting for the Grim Reaper to make an appearance. I think these sites are also a fantastic ice breaker as well, you don’t have to deal with “when do I tell my partner I have XYZ” as you both have the condition on a site specializing in it.

STD Dating Sites

Unlike most online dating sites that cater finding your equal, many of these sites also serve a dual purpose of sharing and community. One thing that irks me is why few of these sites have any “about us” page, if you suffer from a disease as personal as an STD, wouldn’t you want to know a bit about the background before revealing yourself to the online world?

hivpassions.com
A 100% FREE online dating & social networking site for HIV Positive Singles. Being HIV+ doesn’t mean the end to dating, or making new friends. Sign up now to enjoy free chat, message boards and email.

herpespassions.com
A 100% FREE online dating & social networking site specifically for singles who have herpes. 1 out of every 5 women in the U.S. have herpes, and 1 out of every 4 men…so there are plenty of people dealing with this issue. Herpes Passions is here to help singles with either HSV-1, HSV-2, or both, meet one another. Based on statistics, you’re pretty likely to meet people with herpes on any dating site you join, but on this one, people know about it ahead of time.

mpwh.com
Meet People with Herpes is a huge online community of people where fantastic friendships are made. Although set up as a dating and social website, it has become a caring community of thousands of people. Participation can be as anonymous as you want, and membership is free, although there is a fee for upgraded services.

PositiveSingles.com
This is an exclusive community for singles and friends with STDs. Here you can get on with your life and meet new friends, partners or potential spouses. If you just need to find someone to talk to or give them help or advice, this is the best place. Never feel lonely again!

positivespot.com
Welcome To PositiveSpot the premier Online community specifically designed for men and women living with STD’s. Standard Membership is free and no credit card required. Instantly create your own personal profile with photos, video and audio.. Find a date, a lasting friendship or soul mate.

PozCity.com
Providing a community for those with HIV/AIDS. Join Now and meet others make new friends, or meet your soulmate.

PozGroup
PozGroup.com is a place where you can find friendship, support, and even love with STD. HPV dating, STD dating, Herpes dating, STD singles, Herpes picture, STD relationship, STD match, STD marriage.

stdmatch.net
We understand at times it is difficult especially in the beginning stages of learning about herpes or if you have been rejected in the past. That is why we created STD Match! Find others in your area today who have herpes and share your outlook on dating. It is free to join and you can start communicating right away in our forums! Then sign up for direct anonymous communicating and more features. Sign up today FREE!

stdpassions.com
A free online dating & social networking site where singles with STD’s can meet. Having a sexually transmitted disease does not mean the end of loving relationships. Sign up now to enjoy free chat, message boards and email.

The Bottom Line

Where there is a will, there is a way.

Reference
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/02/27/std.internet/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/std/

On June 9th, I decided to go visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, it was an interesting experience being able to swim with the fishes and see a lot of corals but what I wasn’t expecting was a severe bout of Seasickness on the way back. This proves my own personal theory that I am not a descendant of any great maritime explorers, I was at ocean for only 8 hours on a 30ft catamaran with 25 knot winds… I can only imagine how it would feel like immigrating to North America via wooden boat in the ocean for months!

What is Seasickness?

Also known as Mal de Mer, seasickness is basically motion sickness, it affects people not only in boats, you can get it in the car, plane and even on trips to the International Space Station! What drove me crazy is that others on the boat where having a great time, sipping champaign and eating really good food while I felt like I got hit by a Mac Truck. It also hit me fast, one minute I was fine, the next I was finding out how much food was left to be digested in my stomach.

What does Seasickness feel like?

We are now July 10th and I still feel a little bit under the weather, the only thing I can compare it to is a wicked hangover. The only difference is that instead of the “spinning” effect getting drunk on alcohol provides, an equally nauseating “rolling” wave action is felt when you lie down. The nice thing about seasickness is that once you remove the cause, the symptom almost disappear right away. In my case, I was happy to be on dry land again, but the effects of throwing up a few times tied in with a few hours of snorkeling under the hot sun probably lead me to becoming dehydrated. As a result, I was wiped out physically, I slept great but still have some effects today.

Does Motion Sickness only affect wimps?

I wouldn’t think so but who knows, the weaker your body, the more prone you are to motion sickness, the fact that up to 50% of astronauts use some medication to prevent motion sickness can be interpreted either way.

What causes Seasickness?

Seasickness, as with motion sickness, is caused by brain confusion. Your eyes, inner ear and body are all giving different signals to the brain, as a result, it doesn’t know what the hell to do but turn you into an instant bulimic. You would have thought a natural response would be to sleep but the brain works in wonderful ways sometimes.

How to cause Seasickness

Stick yourself in a situation where you are surrounded by items that are not moving while you are moving, great place to start is below deck on a very small boat. The more enclosed the area without views of the horizon, the better… be sure to throw in a few jolts here and there, again, while neither you nor your direct environment show any signs of movement. Now you know how to prevent it! There are medications out there such as Gravol that work towards preventing motion sickness, in hind sight, that is what I should have taken before my trip out to the Great Barrier Reef!

The Bottom Line

Seasickness is easy to avoid, just don’t go out at Sea!

Reference
http://seasickness.co.uk

There is a growing trend in the medical field, as people get more and more obese, the products need to properly take care of them need to grow larger and stronger to handle the extra bulk.

Case Study: Calgary

Calgary has just received an ambulance that can carry people who weight up to a thousand pounds! Yes, a thousand pounds! The new ambulance features a remote lifting system, air mattress that blows up under the patient and wider work rooms in the back.

We got it backwards!

Paramedics are increasingly having problems getting some patients to medical rooms because they simply cannot handle the bulk of some people who choose through daily actions to let themselves go. These super-morbidly-obese people then have the gull to call 911 and request medical services. I simply do not get it, I don’t know of any medical condition that is able to get somebody up to these atrocious weights while eating a normal diet and exercise regimen. Being super-morbidly-obese is a choice and I don’t really care as to the cause. These people have problems, big ones (no pun intended) and by serving them, we are only making things worse for the medical industry, the staff and ultimately, the health conscious patient themselves. A paramedic is a very precious commodity, if they throw out their back carrying somebody who obviously doesn’t care about themselves, this is going to put able-bodied people who do care for themselves at risk. I think we need to step back a little in the medical field and revise certain oaths taken by people in the medical field to essentially say:

Take care of yourself, we will help take care of you.
Neglect yourself, we will help dig a hole.

Live with your choices

If you choose to live a life of unhealthy habits, you are responsible for your own health care. 911 will come pick-up your body should you have a heart attack at 700lbs but don’t expect them to use a moving crane to get you into the Operating Theater in order to save the life you have chosen to throw away. If you choose to smoke your entire life and end up with lung cancer, then you have to drag your own butt into the Hospital, purchase your own unsubsidized Oxygen and drag your butt back home… you want a lung transplant? I don’t think so, healthy people have first priority. I believe health is the ultimate personal responsibility. Getting hit by a bus while your healthy which causes medical conditions is one thing, choosing to neglect your body which causes medical conditions is quite another.

The Bottom Line

Health is a choice more often that not, it cannot be ignored.

References
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/06/21/obese-ambulance.html

Modifying kids behavior in order for them to fit inside of a “one size fits all” mold is never a good idea but sometimes, this is all that can be done because of lack of resources (financial, chronological and emotional).

Background

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and begins in childhood in which the child is difficult to control due to lack of attention, hyperactivity and other behavioral problems. ADD is simply the condition without the hyperactive aspect being expressed by the child. It is mostly treated with medication and neither the cause nor ways of preventing it are known.

Summary

I encourage you to view this video but here is a summary in the meantime:

• children failing preschool, being told they suffer from brain disorders and need psychiatric medications to control behavior in schools
• each class within a school in the United States have 2-3 kids consuming behavior modification drugs and this is only increasing
• 4x more psyciatric medication prescribed to Americans kids then what is prescribed around the world combined
• Family A
  • their child was misbehaving, impulsive, unfocused and to his teacher, he needed medication to “fit in”
  • 6 million school kids diagnosed with ADHD / ADD in the United States
  • diagnosis based on list of 28 multiple choice questions, child, which is three and a half, was diagnosed with ADHD by psychiatrist and being told he needed medication to calm him down
• Family B
  • child takes 3 tables in the morning, some more during lunch then later in the day to help child concentrate
  • parents told child needed medication based on teachers assessment, such as talking with others and being social during classes
  • Retalin is being sold as the safest medication to help a child get over ADHD
  • child approached parents to get on the medication to help develop focus in school
  • child went from failing to great achievement in school, helped athletic performance and had a dramatic difference in personality traits
  • in 7th grade, child had doubts as to effectiveness of taking Retalin and decided to stop medication against wishes of school, psychiatrist and family
  • teachers noticed changes in childs behavior during 7th grade even when they didn’t know she was diagnosed with ADD
  • after a month off Retalin, child returned onto drugs, making teacher happy that the student can once again focus
  • half way through 7th grade, Retalin was replaced with Adderall
• medication prescribed so child is within a normal range of behavior
• in the 50s and 60s there wasn’t a need to have 6 million children medicated for ADD / ADHD, so what changed?
• ADD / ADHD is considered a fraud by Scientologists and they pushed school boards to stop pushing for medication of their student population
• ADHD is a lifelong condition, neurological and inherited which can only be “cured” via medication
• ADHD drugs cannot be advertised directly to patients so “public talks” about ADHD used to open “awareness” about the problem and the drugs that can sure it
• ADD / ADHD is a billion dollar a year industry, diagnosis is a booming industry
• Shire Richwood, drug maker of ADHD drugs, advocates under the association CHADD
• CHADD pushed for children to be eligible under disability act, so they can have less homework, extra services and classes for their child paid by school
• in the 1980s ADD / ADHD incidences where stable but diagnosis boomed in the 1990s after the United States made this condition eligible under the disability act as parents found out about the advantages of such a program
• lawsuits flying all over the place that there is a conspiracy between Novaris (Retalin manufacturer), Shire Richwood (Adderall manufacturer) and CHADD to over-prescribe ADD / ADHD drugs to children to help their bottom line
• Family C
  • diagnosis of ADD / ADHD is complex as it co-exists with other psychological problems such as depression, self-esteem and other factors
  • child is very sensitive and depressed
  • child had problems hanging out with the wrong crowd, suffered from peers making fun of him due to weight and other insults
  • child became overly concerned about future (in negative way)
  • child brought to church where a therapist thought he suffered from suicidal tendencies
  • child attempted suicide after being put on medication for several months, was tired of his life no matter how much medication was prescribed
• ADHD linked with depression in 18% of cases, additional drugs prescribed which also helped him loose some weight (child is morbidly obese)
• scientists have a tough time finding out more about ADD / ADHD as to cause after close to 20 years of study
• stimulants (Retalin, Adderrall etc. ) are effective against ADD / ADHD, it’s seen as a disorder of efficiency which may be due to size of cerebellum (being smaller in ADD / ADHD vs normal child)
• CCHR, association funded by Scientologists, doesn’t recognize psychiatric industry, says medication for psychological conditions is nothing but witchcraft
• Family D
• child diagnosed with ADHD in grade two, put on Retalin and by the time child was in 6th grade, was on a host of drugs to control behavior but no drugs seemed to work
• parents got court order to put child on Adderrall against his wishes, his condition lead to breakup of family

My personal views about ADD / ADHD debate

I believe that ADD / ADHD in 95% of the cases is based on environment and diet, there is nothing wrong with a child who is inattentive nor hyperactive, we are all different.

Most people have an atrocious diet, this does nothing to help both mental and physical development. The main reason that medication is being pushed is to help teachers better perform their jobs, these children are simply BORED with where they are and methods being used to teach them. Kids (and adults) of course have no problem focusing on things they LOVE to do. I was bored in University and most of high school, I had a few exceptions when the teacher that taught had a real passion for their courses, others simply treated us like robots to memorize and spit out results. Of course, it’s always easier to simply prescribe medication for all involved (including parents) then to make a drastic change in environment. Maybe your kid isn’t meant to learn via school, throw them on a boat and travel around the world, I believe the symptoms you see would quickly disappear.

I also believe a steady diet of television in the formative years aggravates the condition. Think about it, your brain adapts to the environment around it, if you are watching television, your brain is being taught that something new and exciting is always but a few seconds away… that’s why it’s entertaining. Go from this to a static class room for up to 8 hours a day and no wonder the brain over-reacts (hyperactivity or depression). Think about it.

Of course, there is that 5% of cases where medication may be required, but treating children with drugs while the brain is still developing should be avoided at all costs. To summarize, I believe ADHD / ADD is very similar to cancer, in which environment and lifestyle choices play an enormous role in its development.

The Bottom Line

Real or not, ADHD is here to stay because the alternatives to medications are simply too much of a perceived burden.

References
http://www.myfoodcount.com/healthylife/whatis/adhd.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/watch/

There are few tests that cause so much debate as the 60 second HIV test. Gone are the days when you need to wait weeks to find out IF you have acquired HIV Disease and I believe this is a good thing.

Test Details

The 60 second HIV test is just as accurate as the old “up to 3 weeks” laboratory test still routinely performed today. The test comes in a kit called the INSTI HIV-1 Rapid Antibody Test which is manufactured by bioLytical Laboratories and works by detecting the antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 in blood, serum or plasma. INSTI HIV-1 Rapid Antibody Test kit contains the INSTI Membrane Units, sample diluent, color developer and clarifying solution. The nice thing about this test is that it can sense Recombinant HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteins. In case you where wondering, the test cost 8 dollars in Canadian Funds. Heck, I think these should be mandatory when ever you enter into a new relationship as 30% of the people with HIV Disease in North America don’t even know they have it!

60 Second Ramifications

Some people argue that waiting weeks for a test result will make people think twice about potentially exposing themselves to HIV Disease in the future while others say that this in itself is preventing many people who would otherwise get the test, to infect others. I guess it depends on the person facing this possibly life altering test result, if it was me, I would prefer to know right away instead of having three weeks of sleepless nights for what may end up being nothing. No matter your feelings, the advantages are great, especially before making any kind of contact (sexual or otherwise) with a new partner. Sure, it isn’t sexy but hey, neither is the pill regimen that must be taken if you do end up with HIV Disease.

The Bottom Line

Prevention is always the best course of action when faced with a life altering disease.

Reference
bioLytical Laboratories http://www.biolytical.com/
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/06/22/ont-hiv-070622.html

The American Cancer Society along with a list of Cancer experts has released a simple guideline that help women realize that they may be suffering Ovarian Cancer symptoms.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Although the cause is unknown, like other cancers, they are a localized uncontrollable growth of cells, in this case, Ovarian Cancer occurs on the Ovaries which produce eggs and hormones for women. Because there may be very few noticeable symptoms until it reaches and advanced stage, early detection rarely occurs, as such, there is only a 50% survival rate after 5 years! Cancer sure does suck.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Although the old guidelines still remain true such as:

• Abdominal discomfort and/or pain
• Gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, or cramps
• Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling of fullness even after only a light meal
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Abnormal bleeding from the vagina
• Hair growth, voice deepening, acne, loss of menstrual periods

This list is very generic and can be a host of any other less severe diseases, wasting precious time going down the wrong road. The American Cancer Society recently added the following to clarification to further promote early diagnosis of this treatable cancer.

If you experience any of the above for several weeks (ei: 2+) and it isn’t from a pre-existing condition, tell your doctor right away. I would suggest you be demand him to perform a CA-125 Assay which is a blood test to measure the amount of this substance in your body. If it’s elevated, it may mean Ovarian Cancer is present

Treatment and Prevention of Ovarian Cancer

Although there are no set guidelines for cancer prevention as the cause is still unknown, a good diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle will go a long way. If anything, this will allow your body to recover that much faster if you need to have surgery to remove the growth(s). Treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy and using radiation in various ways.

The Bottom Line

Cancer is an environmental and lifestyle condition 90% of the time, the healthier you are, the better your chances of not only avoidance but also pulling through in top shape.

References
American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org
http://myfoodcount.com/healthylife/whatis/ovariancancer.html

Seems like every once in a while, there is a show (in this case, a confirmed hoax) that really sparks worldwide condemnation even if it actually serves a greater good.

The State of Organ Donations

People around the world are truly upset at how a TV show by Dutch TV channel BNN, which also created “Big Brother”, could have even done such an evil thing as possibly awarding a much needed organ for our entertainment but let’s look at some (although dated) very sobering facts.

USA

• There is a constant critical shortage of organs, in 2002 out of the 80 thousand waiting patience, less then 13 thousand organs where made available
• Organ transplantation waiting lists are growing at a faster rate then that of organ donation
• In 2001, over 6 thousand people DIED waiting for a much needed organ

Canada

• Between 1996 and 2000, waiting lists grew 62% while number of transplants grew by just 22%
• By 2001, there where almost 4 thousand patients waiting for organs
• In 1999, 170 people waiting for an organ died due to their condition which represented 40% of those ON the list

Organ Donation Rates (worldwide)

• USA: 22 per million
• Canada: 15 per million
• Europe: 15 per million

Let’s put this into perspective

In 2001, there where a reported 2,416,425 deaths reported in the United States, which includes 6 thousand waiting transplant patients representing 0.2% of this total. Based on this, more people died simply WAITING for an organs to be made available to them than almost twice the number that died during the September 11th terrorists attacks in New York City, yet, where is the worldwide outcry? Where is the hundreds of billions of fresh investment into educational and alternative technologies that benefit the health of ALL of mankind? Where are the UN resolutions upon resolutions casting a solid mandate towards solving this solvable problem? Where is the leadership? The sad fact is, diseases and health simply are NOT a high priority until they are needed by those in power. If you keep tabs on the marketing you see around you and you will quickly realize that there is far MORE money spent by companies promoting alcohol and tobacco consumption to the general public then those promoting healthy lifestyles!

What does all this mean?

If you believe in God, screw asking for a great afterlife, if you are in need of a transplantation, ask to live long enough for a donor to become available!

BNN Chairman defends the show

I don’t know if at the end of the show, the hoax was simply a way out of the controversy or the original intent was to actually award the organ, but I am happy that once again, a REAL AND GROWING problem has been pushed to the forefront around the world. As the chairman of BNN (Laurens Drillich) states while defending the show from the great criticism he and his network has received:

“At least in this case… the contestants in the show have a 33 percent chance of getting a new kidney. They would have to wait much longer in real life for the same deal.”

I couldn’t agree more!

Solutions

I do know that this is a Worldwide problem, some governments have decided to pursuit a “sign if you DON’T want to be a donor” instead of the conventional “sign if you DO want to be a donor” with great success. There is also the emergence of “living donors” for such items as kidneys but the problem is that a few years alter, these donors may themselves need a transplant. There IS a black market in third world countries for organs including China where “inmates” are routinely made available to wealthy individuals for organ transplantation before their execution.

The Bottom Line

Organ transplantation is the easiest sacrifice you could ever make as they no purpose to you once your dead. I always sign my organ donation card, do you?

References:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ICF/is_1_30/ai_n18615365
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14570230

I waited a few days before commenting on this story so that more of the facts surfaced, now for my perspective.

Summary

For those of you not in the loop, in North America, USA specifically, there is a new demon created by the media, no, it isn’t the leader of some rogue country, this time, it’s a citizen who traveled abroad with a highly infections and deadly strain of Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and then returned causing the sparks to fly across the country with some people even calling for his execution!

Summary: A little deeper

Based on the above, people are in an uproar, some are SO quick to judge! But consider that his doctor told him it was fine for him to travel (by plane) and he had no idea how infectious his condition was, the media should give this guy a break! There are far worse things happening in the world.

Sick people are all over the place

Although I wish everybody who was sick would stay in their homes, the sad reality is many still go to work, socialize and unwittingly infect a bunch of other people as a result. Each and everyday, I am easily willing to wager that things you touch out “in public”, be it a shopping basket or change you get at the cash register, has some type of germs on it, I am not talking about a few but BILLIONS of them. We live SURROUNDED by germs, they come from all over the place! Most of the time, this isn’t a problem, our immune system is able to fight off these viruses, bacteria and contagions quite well but every once in a while, BAM… your stuck in bed with a headache and a runny nose.

Those without sin throw the first stone…

I find this debate rather two faced, everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY has gone to work or public places sick, EVERYBODY has spread germs (knowingly or otherwise) and EVERYBODY is part of this never ending cycle of biological immigration / warfare that has gone on since the first organisms evolved on this pile of rocks we call Earth. Donald Trumpis quoted quite often saying he wishes business people wouldn’t even give eachother handshakes simply because he sees the same thing that I do… humans are the transportation system for the germ communities!

The bigger issue

I believe this is great for the general public to wakeup and realize that more people die in this world due to germs then wars, famines or anything else combined yet we spend more money on fighting “big small things” then “small big things” at the detriment of our own collective survival as a species. If you have a suppressed immune system, like those with HIV Disease, Cancer or many other condition, who cares about terrorism, the next person who even talks to you can lead to your death! We must realize collectively that each and every one of us is a carrier. I am positive that for every Andrew Speaker in this world that there are millions of people who do exactly the same thing but fly under the radar on a daily basis. He just happens to be the famous pawn that everybody is trying to vilify, I hope that this article helps undo some of the damage done to him.

The Bottom Line

Germs are like cockroaches, they where here way before humans arrived and will be on this planet way after we become extinct.

Cancer has grown increasingly prominent among western cultures whose population live their lives surrounded by a toxic soup that is a byproduct of their lifestyle. As incidents of smoking, pollution, poor diet and lack of activity take their toll slowly on the body, more of our internal systems to keep cancer at bay are damaged. It is estimated that 50% of all cancer incidences in women and 30% in men are directly associated with environmental factors.

The Bottom Line

The best way to fight cancer is not to get it in the first place, there is no 100% effective way to avoid cancer, but anything that reduces the risk should be adopted as part of any healthy lifestyle.

I should have known better… I run a health site, avoid the sun but yet… the heavy rains and almost constant cloud cover here in the topics tricked me into believing that I was safe… I was so very wrong.

What is a sunburn?

A sunburn is a torture device created by God to remind all of us the importance of wearing sunblock. I think I would prefer to have my fingernails ripped out one by one then to live with a sunburn for any extended period of time! A sunburn is caused by an overexposure to UV light, most of which comes from the sun – the results are a nice burn… hence sun… burn… sunburn!

Just the symptoms please…

A few hours after getting a sunburn, you will notice your skin is red or a very deep tan depending on how much “overexposure” you received. You may experience some pain and temperature sensitivity to the burned area followed by blisters within a day or two. You will then notice your skin pealing up to several weeks afterwards as a new layer of skin is produced.

I got one… now what?

Basically, the best thing you can do is allow your skin to rest, limit further sun exposure and if you need to, put icy water over your burns… it will numb the pain and speed up the healing process. Expect it to take a few weeks though… sunburns are like in-laws, quick to come over but slow to leave
How NOT to get one…

Sunburns are the result of human error, if you don’t want to get one, put on tonnes of sunblock and don’t be shy about re-applying it every few hours especially if your are being active. I usually wear pants (track pants if very hot) and long sleeve t-shirt with a large brim hat. Don’t forget to put sunscreen over your ears and lower face/neck as well even with a hat, those places burn nicely if unprotected. Be sure to wear sunglasses as well, UV light can cause eye damage in the future even when not exposed to direct sunlight.

Can a sunburn cause cancer?

Why yes they do… but it generally takes repeated exposure to UV light, keep in mind sun tanning beds can cause cancer just as easily as the sun so they are NOT any safer nor alternatives. A tan by UV light is a tan… no matter how it was achieved. A tan is also a symptom of skin damage as well, keep that in mind. The sun is also great at causing premature aging as well, hence why many facial creams have added UVA and UVB blocking ingredients to their mix.

What is the difference between sunblock and sunscreen?

Sunscreen simply absorbs the UV light hitting your skin while sunblock… you guessed it… BLOCKS the UV light from ever getting to your skin in the first place. Sunblock also blocks out both UVA and UVB while sunscreen in general only absorbs UVB. Although labeling is a problem – most people think erroneously that sunscreen and sunblock are the same thing, if in doubt, look at the ingredients. Sunblock will have either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide listed while sunscreen will not. Ingredients that work wonders blocking UVA by the way are aveobenzone (also known as Parsol 1789), oxybenzone or octocrylene. Keep in mind that the words “broad spectrum” also indicate that they block both UVA or UVB light… but be sure to double check the label just to be on the safe side.

The Bottom Line

Sunburns, unlike the weather, are predictable and avoidable.

Growing up as a kid when everybody else was suffering from acne, I was suffering from poison ivy blisters Actually, I can’t think of a summer where I didn’t catch this wonderful condition – it’s almost a right of passage for me now to confirm warmer weather is upon me… this time I tried something different.

What is the good news about Poison Ivy?

Although I am sure poison ivy has its role in nature (feeding birds, protecting against erosion etc.), it still ranks up there with mosquitoes as things that I wouldn’t miss if they ever became extinct. Poison ivy (its cousins poison oak and sumac) are actually quite harmless, they will not attack you, are rarely fatal and best of all, once you catch it, easily treated. One of the few pleasures of catching poison ivy is hot showers never felt so damn good.

What is the bad news about Poison Ivy?

The worst thing about poison ivy is you can’t get rid of it, you cannot burn it as the smoke can harm your lungs, you can’t rip it out of the ground as even a small piece of root will make it come back with a vengeance and any way you cut it, no matter how you do it, will most likely lead to re-infection unless you are doing it in a bio-hazard suit. One last thing, poison ivy LOVES carbon dioxide (as do most plants) so the more you drive your car and use energy – burning fossil fuels - the more poison ivy will be out there waiting for you during your next camping trip.

How do I know if I got poison ivy?

It’s always a good idea to double check with a medical doctor to make sure you don’t have more serious health or medical problems – your rash might have nothing to do with poison ivy. Over the years, I have come to recognize the hallmarks of poison ivy, usually (but not always), poison ivy rashes develop in clumps, like they are in a race to see which “rash” can get the highest on elevation on my skin, another hallmark is lines, for some reason, poison ivy loves to form rashes that go in straight lines… so remember, clumps with lines
What causes those rashes?

Poison ivy (and its cousins) contain an oil called urushiol, this agent causes those wonderful rashes. It takes only a few minutes to enter your skin (causing a reaction) and it may take up to a week before you start noticing a rash.

What does poison ivy look like?

Make