Sunday, February 6, 2011

The developments made in the field of science and technology contributed a lot to human well-being. Years ago, surgical operations impose a lot of risks to its clients. Volumes and volumes of blood loss are being noted after an operation and risk of infection is inevitable. Current knowledge and advancements in surgical technique greatly reduced the volume of blood loss, the discomfort or surgery, the risk of infection, and also the length of recovery. One proof of this advancement is the laser sinus surgery. What is a sinus? And what is laser sinus surgery?
 Human beings have four sinuses. First is the maxillary sinus which is the largest among other sinuses and is located underneath the eyes, lying above the maxillary bone. Second is the frontal sinus which lies above the frontal bone or above the eyes. Third is the ethmoid sinus which lies between the eyes and the nose and lastly, the sphenoid sinus which is located at the base of the skull underneath the pituitary gland. Like any other body organ, these sinuses are also at risk for alteration which may need medical or worst, surgical interventions. Some sinus problems that may need surgical intervention are as follows: sinus pain or congestion, loss of smell, deviated septum, nasal polyps, severe allergic reactions, post nasal drip, nasal obstruction, and long term sinus headaches.
One common sinus surgery that is on top of the talk right now is the laser sinus surgery. It is a type of surgical procedure that produces lesser trauma and bleeding than the conventional surgical sinus surgery. It uses an endoscope and a laser in treating sinus problems. An endoscope is a thin instrument that has a camera and light on its tip. It is inserted on the nose to see the integrity of the sinuses. The doctor can either look directly on the endoscope through its external lens or through a monitor. With endoscope, there is no need to create an opening just to see the sinuses. After detecting the sinus problem, the next thing that the physician or surgeon would do is to insert the laser tool and correct the problem. Laser sinus surgery is perfectly engineered and backed-up with the latest science principles to a point that it does not injure the surrounding tissues of the nose and cause discomfort.
Recovery from laser sinus surgery would take less than a week and best thing is that it can be done in the clinic of a doctor or as out-patient procedure. There is no need for hospital admission and lie down on the operation table. Lesser risks and lesser cost are the two things that truly defines laser sinus surgery.

Posted on 6:39 PM by farooq

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Sleeping should be a time where one experiences total relaxation and comfort. It should not be a time for struggle to look for the best position on bed and should not be a predisposing factor to wake up with a sore neck or a back pain. There are many factors that can be attributed to body injuries brought about by sleeping and the number one on the list is the sleeping position. What are the types of sleeping positions? And what are the best pillows for side sleepers?
 Generally, there are three types of sleeping position. One is when one sleeps on their back or lying supine. Second is when one lies down on their stomach or prone position and the third is when one lies towards their side or side lying position. Some researches reveal that majority of people are side sleepers. The problem with side lying position is the possibility of waking up with back pain, shoulder pain and sore ear. These are mainly because of the pressure created on the side of the body and the misalignment of the spine. In order to get away with these side sleeping problems, one should look for the best pillow that can alleviate the pressure created on the side of the body and maintain the alignment of the spine.
PILLOW. The best pillow for side sleepers are actually those that are firm and can provide optimal comfort when sleeping. Since the level of comfort differs from person to person, it should be made known that looking for the best pillow is a personal choice. When shopping, it is not enough to touch the pillow and check its firmness, it is best to try lying on it. There are pillows that have a depression in the middle while there are some that have fillings that supports the neck in order to level the neck with the head and body. There are also pillows that have a cave like hole underneath in order to accommodate side sleepers who loves to raise their bottom arm when sleeping (there is no need to place the bottom arm underneath the pillow which can cut off the circulation on the arm especially when the sleeper is very heavy).
FILLING. Latex and memory foam are known for their great supporting capabilities. They are both malleable and can accommodate any shape and size of head. Grain pillows can also be an option for side sleepers. Grain pillows can be adjusted manually in order to accommodate the position of the head when sleeping.
Aside from supporting the top part of the body, it is also important to support the lower half of the body. A pillow can actually be placed between the knees in order to align the whole body and prevent the spine from curving. These are some things that need to be considered in order to attain optimum sleep and to wake up fresh and fully energized.

Posted on 6:38 PM by farooq

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Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is known to affect the person’s mood and anxiety level. It is the main reason why some experiences seasonal affective disorder. For those who live in cold places, their serotonin level are low which contributes to feelings of depression and tiredness while for those who live in warm areas where the sun is always on top of their head, their serotonin level is high which contributes to feelings of well being and happiness. Serotonin is derived from tryptophan and is commonly found on the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and platelets. Due to the mood-affecting capability of serotonin, a lot of people are asking this question: should I take serotonin vitamins? Read on to know the answer.

There are a lot of medications out there that can be purchased in order to elevate the level of serotonin and get away with depression. Some needs a physician’s prescription while some can be purchased over-the-counter. Some medications are made from different chemicals (SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) while some are made naturally (St. John’s Wort). Whatever the nature of medication is, it will always have side effects. The best answer that can be generated for the above question would be to consult a physician first before taking up anything because some medications that can elevate the serotonin level in the body could cause addiction (like L-theanine and valerian root). On the other hand, there are ways that can be done in order to elevate the level of serotonin in the body. They are all natural and does not need a prescription. Below are some of those.
DIET. Try to note your diet. List all the foods you are consuming for about a week or two and note if you eat foods that can contribute to low serotonin level. Studies have shown that poor diet can actually be attributed to low serotonin level. Processed foods, whole wheat and rye bread are known to decrease level of serotonin while fruits such as banana, dates, and papaya can alleviate the level of serotonin. Eliminate junk foods in your diet and limit the intake of carbohydrates. A diet high in carbohydrates increases insulin level in the body which, at the same time, lowers the level of serotonin. It is also better to avoid caffeine like soft drinks and tea.
EXERCISE. Exercise produces endorphins which allow one to fight off stress and feel good with oneself. It also prevents obesity. Obese people will in time need insulin therapy and insulin is known to oppose serotonin.
GET ENOUGH SUNLIGHT. Do not be afraid to go out of the sun (just do not forget to wear sunscreen). Sunlight increases the level of serotonin in the body. During winter, sunlight alternatives can be chosen in order to feel the warmth that the natural sunlight provides.
These are some ways that can be done to increase the serotonin level in the body. They are simple, inexpensive, healthy, and for sure NO SIDE EFFECTS.

Posted on 6:37 PM by farooq

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We all study physics in high school. We have studied his theories and many scientific equations. While we all know, or maybe not all, about the things he has written, discovered, and thought of, we don’t know that much about Albert Einstein. So, here are some Albert Einstein fun facts to let us get to know more about this genius.



Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in the city Ulm, Kingdom of Württemberg, Germany to a Jewish couple, Hermann and Pauline Einstein. Albert was born with an abnormally large head that his mother thought he was deformed. The back of his head was too big that the family considered monstrosity but later on, after some weeks, the shape and size of Einstein’s head was normal.
Growing up, Einstein had difficulty in speaking. He would seldom speak and when he did, he spoke slowly. Einstein would actually try out entire sentences in his mind or mutter them under his breath before speaking them out loud. He did this until he was nine, making his parents worry that he may be retarded.
And so how did this late talker end up a genius? It all started with a compass. When he was 5 years old, Einstein was sick in bed. Then his father brought and showed him a compass. It was a compass that sparked his interest in science with its arrow always pointing to one direction no matter how you turn the case around.
Despite his intellectual capabilities in math and science, Einstein also experienced failure. He failed to pass his entrance exams to the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School, now called Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH). When he first took the exam, he passed the math and science parts of the test but failed languages, history, geography, and others. He had to go to trade school for a year before retaking the exam. Einstein passed on his second take.
Einstein married his first wife, Mileva, in 1903. But before they could tie up the knot, they had an illegitimate daughter, Lieserl. Einstein never saw his daughter and there is very little known about her. Einstein later had two sons with Mileva, Hans Albert and Eduard. But sadly, Einstein’s fame made it difficult for his family. The constant traveling made Einstein estranged from his wife. He even proposed a contract on how they would interact. Eventually, his marriage ended with a divorce. And it was the divorce that pushed his son, Hans, further away from him.
Little did we know that Albert Einstein was, in fact, a ladies’ man. After he divorced Mileva, Einstein married his cousin, Elsa. Elsa wasn’t really his first choice. He wanted to marry Elsa’s daughter from her first marriage, Isle, who was 18 years younger than Einstein. But Isle demurred. She was no attracted to Einstein and saw him more as a fatherly figure. Because of this, infidelity was one of the reasons thought to cause his divorce with Mileva.
However, it seems that the fame was too much for Mileva to handle. Albert was constantly away, traveling to places to give talks about his theories. In fact, when he lived in the U.S., people approached him often and asked him to explain his theories. Later, Einstein was able to come up with an excuse to get away from all the attention. He told people that he was always mistaken for Professor Einstein.
Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics on December, 1922. However, he was not able to attend the ceremony. He was traveling in Japan at that time. Among many things given to Einstein, one was the offer to become the president of Israel. But Albert Einstein turned it down.
Albert Einstein is truly one of greatest men that ever lived. He is a true genius. He died on April 18, 1995 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Sadly, nobody knows what his final words were. The nurse on his deathbed didn’t understand German. His great brain is now preserved.

Posted on 6:27 PM by farooq

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Yorkies, or Yorkshire Terriers, are one of the most adorable dog breeds. So, if you want to know more about these dogs, below are some of the interesting facts about Yorkies, our adorable terriers.

Today, many people treat their little Yorkies as princesses. But did you know that in England, these dogs were far from royalty? Englishmen actually used Yorkies to rid their houses of rodents. Yorkies helped poachers hunt for rabbits and other rodents. Yorkshire Terriers were also used by some miners to help them see in the dark. Yorkies’ coats shine in the dark and so they helped miners in transporting wire through the tunnel.
Surely all that work would lead to sweating. Yorkies have sweat glands too. Yes, dogs usually relieve themselves of heat by panting. But Yorkies happen to have sweat glands in between their paws. That’s a pretty odd place for sweat glands. Just imagine humans to sweat it all out in between their toes. You’re gonna have one pair of smelly shoes.
And after all that work, you would be dead tired and early to hit the sack. Yorkies, in their first two weeks of life, are pretty much heavy sleepers. They spend about 90% of their time sleeping at that age, that’s about 21 and a half hours. Imagine sleeping that long. But don’t worry, Yorkies are far from being lazy when they grow up.
Yorkies are quite adventurous. They love to chase small animals that highly resemble rodents. They are also highly territorial. Yorkshire Terriers will fight to protect and defend their possessions. These little dogs can be very aggressive which means that they tend to bark more compared to other dog breeds.
In fact, Yorkies can be very small. The smallest dog that was ever recorded, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is a Yorkshire Terrier. Her name was Sylvia, from Blackburn, England. She stood at 2 and a half inches from paws to shoulder, and was as long as 3 and a quarter inches. She weighed only a mere 4 ounces, pretty small eh? Sadly, Sylvia did not live long. She lived for only 2 years.
2 years is quite short for the average lifetime of Yorkshire Terriers. The average lifespan of a Yorkie is from 12 to 15 years. So, you can expect your little buddy to live with you quite long. One thing is for sure about these Yorkies, you can expect them to stand by your side despite their small stature. Yorkshire Terriers can be small but they have the heart of a lion.

Posted on 6:27 PM by farooq

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