Technology Related Health Hazards - - Excessive Usage of Cell/Mobile Phones: A Possible Threat to Your Healthy Life

One of the most common sights we see these days, is that of people with their mobile phones next to their ears. A boon for better communication, cell phone usage nonetheless has many health hazards. Various studies indicate that the emissions from a cell phone can be extremely harmful, causing genetic damage, tumors, memory loss, and increased blood pressure and weakening of the immune system. This is alarming information, and one has to take into account all these factors..

CELL PHONES AND HEALTH

Though there is no evidence of cell phones causing cancer or any such illness, but the suspicion, or fear of the same is not baseless either. The electromagnetic radiation from cell phones does have a potential link to cancer. The fact that this radiation is invisible, intangible, and enters and leaves our bodies without our knowledge makes it even more intimidating.

Possible hazards:

* Two minutes of exposure to emissions from mobile phones can disable a safety barrier in blood causing proteins and toxins to leak into the brain, could increase chances of developing Alzheimer's multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's. (Scientists at Sweden's Lund University)
* Scientists say exposure to the phones' low-level radiation causes red blood cells to leak hemoglobin and can lead to heart disease and kidney stones.
* Recent studies suggesting a link between cell-phone use and brain tumors, and the possibility that the microwaves could ignite petroleum fumes at gas stations.
* A cell phone unit, or communications tower, has so many of thee radiation emanating gadgets. This can be a problem for its immediate environment.

SPECIFIC HEALTH CONCERNS

Cancer / Tumors

Studies have been conducted suggesting that rats that have been exposed to microwaves similar to the sort generated by mobile phones but more powerful, showed breaks in their DNA which could indicate an adverse effect. Also, mice exposed to radiation for 18 months developed brain tumors. Though of course, these studies are not concrete proof.

Blood Pressure

It was observed that people using cell phones were prone to high blood pressure. Again, there isn't any concrete evidence of the same.

Pregnancy

A study at the University of Montpellier in France was carried out on 6000 chick embryos and suggested that the heavily exposed chick eggs were five times less likely to survive than the control group. This study raised questions about possible effects on pregnant women but it has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed scientific literature or been reproduced, so its findings are difficult to assess.

Headaches, Heating Effects, Fatigue

A study brought out that longer the people used mobile phones, the more likely they were to report symptoms such as hot ears, burning skin, headaches and fatigue.

The study did not include a control group (that is people who do not use mobile phones, to make a comparison); therefore the symptoms reported could have been caused by any number of other factors in the mobile phones users' environment, such as working with computers, stress, driving or reading.

Memory

There have been various studies into the connection between mobile phones and memory loss. A study looked into the effect of radio frequency (RF) on the section of rats' brains that is linked with the memory. The results showed that RF could modify signals in the cells in a part of the brain that is responsible for learning and short term memory.

Posture (holding phone between raised shoulder and ear)

Some researchers claim that holding a mobile phone between the raised shoulder and the ear could have a damaging effect on muscles, bones, tendons and discs. These problems would apply equally to a cordless phone or a landline phone as to a mobile phone and are the effect of bad posture.

Mobile Phones and Children
Because of their smaller heads, thinner skulls and higher tissue conductivity, children may absorb more energy from a given phone than adults.

PREVENTION TIPS

* Cell phones should be used for emergencies, and not for long conversations.
* A small chip-like cell phone microwave radiation protection device is available, which has the ability to absorb electromagnetic energy waves from your mobile phone. It helps in reducing the potential harmful effects of these emissions to the human body.
* Using a mobile headset is a good idea, you don't have to hold phones next to your ears all the time
* Use a hands free mobile car kit while driving, without taking your hands off the steering wheel

THE WHO (World Health Organization) RULES

* Mobile phone users should limit their exposure to harmful radio frequencies by cutting the length of calls.
* Hands-free devices cut exposure by keeping the instrument away from the head and body.
* Driving cum mobile phone talking should be banned.
* Mobile phones should not be used in Intensive Care Units of hospitals as they can pose a danger to patients by interfering with the working of pacemakers and defibrillators.
* People with hearing aids should not use mobile phones.
* Base stations, which have low powered antennae on their terrace to communicate with cell phones, should not be located near children's schools and playgrounds.

CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING

Studies indicate that a lot of car accidents have happened, while the driver was on the phone. This is because while driving, one obviously needs to concentrate, and talking on a phone doesn't help. Some countries like Portugal have banned the use of cell phones, which may not be very practical, as their main use is to be reachable while you are on the move. Thus, it is important to take certain precautions while driving:

* Position your phone within easy reach so that you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
* Get to know the features of your cell phone - speed dial, redial, voice mail, they can be your lifesaver. But don't dial and drive at the same time. Use a hands free kit.
* Avoid using a phone when road conditions are hazardous or traffic is heavy. You can let your voice mail take messages and then call back later.
* Don't engage in stressful conversations that may distract your attention from the road.
* Don't take notes or look up phone numbers whilst driving, wait till you can pull over.
* User abbreviated speed dialing. In fact, voice activated dialing is even better. It leaves both hands free. Frequently called numbers can be programmed.
* Have an answering machine installed that could take messages until you can return the calls. Let your co-passenger handle the calls if you are not traveling alone.

Good Night's Sleep: A Lifesaver - - Six to Eight Hours Sleep At Night is The Best to Live Long

Getting a good night's sleep could be a lifesaver.

Those of us who manage between six and eight hours of shut-eye a night are more likely to live longer and have better health, a study has found.

Researchers say the best length for a nightly sleep is around seven hours - the time spent in bed by most Britons.

Their findings provide the most convincing evidence yet of a link between too little sleep and an increased risk of early death.

Around one third of the UK adult population regularly sleeps five hours or less a night.

Researchers from the University of Warwick and the Federico II University in Naples studied the nightly habits of thousands of people and found poor sleepers are 12 per cent more likely to die prematurely than those who get six to eight hours.

Long sleepers could also be in trouble if they regularly exceed nine hours a night.

While over-sleeping does not in itself increase the risk of death, it can be a significant marker of an underlying serious illness.

The findings published in journal Sleep today coincide with the release of a separate American study that found older people tend to sleep better - the opposite of what was previously thought.

'Organic' Label on Snacks - - A Source of Enticing for Overeating??

Organic labels on snacks appear to make people think that they have a lot less calories than they actually do, a study suggests.

The study showed that people, who ate cookies labelled as 'organic', believed that their snack contained 40 percent fewer calories than the same cookies that had no label, says Jenny Wan-Chen Lee, graduate student at Cornell Food and Brand Lab.

'An organic label gives a food a 'health halo,' said co-author Brian Wansink, Cornell University professor and author of the book, 'Marketing Nutrition'.

'It's the same basic reason people tend to overeat any snack food that's labelled as healthy or low fat. They underestimate the calories and over-reward themselves by eating more,' said Wansink.

The study even identified two personality types most likely to make these low estimates -- people who claim to 'usually buy organic foods,' and those who typically read labels for nutritional information.

"Go organic, live healthy, live green"

What if you don't want to overeat an organic food?

'Take your best guess at its calorie count. Then double it. You'll end up being more accurate, and you'll probably eat a lot less,' explained Wansink, according to Cornell University release.

These findings were presented at this week's Experimental Biology conference in Anaheim, California.

Breakthrough in Breast Cnacer Treatment - - New Test Predicts Who Get Invasive Breast Cancer

In a major breakthrough which may prevent needless surgery, scientists claim to have developed a test that can predict whether women treated for an early form of breast cancer will develop dangerous tumours later in life.

Sufferers are often advised to undergo mastectomies, that is, removal of their breasts as a precaution. Now, an international team has devised the test that can successfully predict whether after initial treatment, the sufferers had a high or low risk of developing invasive cancer, the Daily Mail reported.

"Women will have much more information, so they can better know their risk of developing invasive cancer. It will lead to a more personalised approach to treatment.

"As many as 44 per cent of patients may not require any further treatment, and can rely instead on surveillance," Prof Karla Kerlikowske of California University , who led the research, was quoted as saying.

If a test is developed for wider use, doctors would be able to advise women about the need for extra treatment such as radiotherapy or hormonal drugs, say the scientists. The scientist, writing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute , found that three biomarkers -- proteins and other molecules in breast tissue -- that can identify which women have double the risk of invasive cancer in later years.

It could benefit women with ductal carcinoma in situ -- cancer in cells lining the milk ducts that has not spread.

Back Pain Can Ruin Your Day - - 3 Simple Exercises to Stay Away From Back Pain

Avoid your day to be ruined by back pain! There are several of methods for you to get immediate relief from the pain, even without taking any painkillers. What you have to do is to make a little bit of space and start doing some simple exercises to loosen up your muscles. This is all you have to do to stop your lower back from hurting and get you started to enjoy the rest of your day!

These exercises mentioned below work well to get the blood moving in your body, release the endorphins, and throw the pain in your back away, at least for the time being:

1. Knee Bends

Use a chair, desk, or table for support. Place your hands on the support, then slowly bend your knees to lower yourself as much as you can comfortably go. Remember to exhale while doing so. Then slowly bring yourself to stand back upright while inhaling. Do this motion for 10 times.

2. Waist Twist

Stand with your legs slightly apart. Let your arms fall loose to your sides. Then, gently swing your arms left and right, letting your hands pat the lower part of your back each time they reach around. This will gently massage your kidneys. Do this motion for about 10 times also.

3. Hip Roll

Remain standing with your legs shoulder-width apart. Tighten up your stomach muscles and place your hands on your hips. Imagine you are playing the hula and just start rotating your hips 5 times clockwise and 5 times anti-clockwise.

How do you feel now? You should no longer feel the pain in your lower back after doing these exercises properly, and be able to get on with your daily activities as usual now!

But don't get me wrong here...

These exercises are not meant to PERMANENTLY stop your lower back from hurting. Once you have regained mobility and flexibility after doing the exercises, you should definitely look into finding what is the root cause of your back pain, and how to get rid of it altogether in order to enjoy life to the fullest, for good!

Pills With a Chip Inside: Created by Engineers at the University of Florida - - A System to Prevent Patients Who Circumvent Medical Treatment

Engineers at the University of Florida create a system to prevent patients who circumvent medical treatment.

A pill equipped with a small chip that sends an alert when it was ingested would be the solution for those who forget (or refuse) to take their medication.



The action is quite simple: inside a white capsule, common, is the microchip. Around it, covering the pill, are silver lines that constitute the antenna – a kind of label printed using ink made of silver nanoparticles and nontoxic conductors.

The pill does not require a battery because a mini-explosion is responsible for sending signals from low voltage to a small electronic device charged (or used) by the patient. In the future, it can be embedded in mobile phones and watches, to further facilitate the control. The device sends signals to a phone or laptop warning that the pill was ingested and informs the doctor that the medicine was taken.

Eventually, the patient’s stomach acid breaks down the antenna and the dish – while the microchip is in the entire intestinal tract before being expelled.

The pill is still a prototype, but the idea is that it can be used on a large scale. According to the American Heart Association, the failure in following the rules on drugs is the number one problem in treating diseases. In the U.S., 10% of hospitalizations were the result of relapse of patients to follow medication.

Laughter is The Best Medicine, New Study Reveals - - Laughercise: The Subtitute of Exercise and Gym Workout

Cracking up with laughter has similar effects on the body as a gym workout, a study has shown.

Sessions of mirth - dubbed 'Laughercise' - enhance mood, reduce stress hormones, boost the immune system and lower blood pressure and levels of 'bad' cholesterol, say researchers.

And like physical exercise, they also appear to stimulate appetite, offering a potential way to help malnourished patients who are off their food.

Californian scientist Dr Lee Berk said the effects of laughter mirrored those of repetitive exercise.

Volunteers watched two 20-minute videos - one distressing and one humorous. There was a week between viewings to ensure the effects did not overlap.

The researchers measured blood pressure and levels of two appetite hormones, leptin and ghrelin.

No significant effect was seen after volunteers viewed the distressing video. But watching the humorous clip caused changes in blood pressure and led levels of leptin to decrease as those of ghrelin went up.

Similar effects are seen straight after moderate physical exercise, and are accompanied by an increase in appetite.

Dr Berk said: 'The value of the research is that it may provide healthcare providers with new insights and understandings, and thus further options for patients who cannot use physical activity to normalise or enhance their appetite.'

Many elderly patients suffer from 'wasting' due to reduced appetite as a result of depression and lack of physical activity.

Such patients may be able to use 'Laughercise' to help them regain their appetite, say the scientists.

A similar loss of appetite is often seen in elderly patients after the death of a spouse, and people in chronic pain.

Dr Berk added: 'It's fascinating that positive emotions resulting from behaviours such as music playing or singing, and now mirthful laughter, translate into so many types of biological mechanism optimisations.

'As the old biblical wisdom states, it may be true that laughter is a good medicine.'