What Your Face Says About Your Health

Visual diagnosis has been followed through the ages; this is because your face is the most illuminating part of your body and provides great insights into the functioning and status of your organs.

MensXP.com

Think back to your last visit to a general doctor; what are the first things he looks at?

He asks you to stick out your tongue, he examines your eyes and takes an almost kinky interest in your mouth and ears. All this is not to follow some protocol but to read the signs of your body’s health. Visual diagnosis has been followed through the ages; this is because your face is the most illuminating part of your body and provides great insights into the functioning and status of your organs. This is because our body is a coherent machine where all the parts work in symphony and harmony, with the same energy flowing through our veins. Let us take a look at what can be ascertained by examining the face.

Face and Body: Connections

Why your face is such a good mirror of your general health –

1.    Your mouth is the entry to the digestive system and hence provides the basic diagnosis of your digestive tract.

2.    Your nose is the ingress to the respiratory system and thus is a fine place to begin to understand your respiratory health.

3.    The eyes are directly connected to the optic nerve, the brain and the nervous system, which also explains our heavy reliance on our sense of vision.

4.    The ears send sound signals to the brain, making up the auditory system.

5.    Did you think ‘rosy cheeks’ were just part of a poem? The colour of your cheeks actually represents the health of your lungs.

6.    Dark circles and bad skin under the eyes reflect poor kidney health.

7.    The condition of your forehead reflects the condition of your bladder.

Symptoms, their meanings and solutions

Forehead acne

First connection, the forehead reflects the general condition of your digestive system. So acne in this region is a sign that you’re not really pampering your stomach. We might think of pampering as filling it up with rich foods and corpulent amounts of alcohol, but to the body the exact opposite is true. Too much oil or grease is what causes the acne, and the booze doesn’t help either. Healthier food habits, like a high-fibre and low-carb diet will set this right.

Dark circles and under-eye bags

Dark circles and under-eye bags, though mostly hereditary, do sometimes appear all of a sudden or get worse than before. This is a clear indication of deteriorating health. Dark circles and bags under your eyes are known to be linked to the kidneys. Discolouration in this area could mean that the toxins are building up in your kidneys, or even general dehydration. This could be a result of excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption. On the other hand, it could also be the result of certain deficiencies such as vitamin B12 or Iron.

Congested cheeks

One of the most common complaints about the face is white spots near the cheeks. This is because these spots can result from simple reasons such as bad cosmetics or unclean pillows. This doesn’t mean that you can dismiss them lightly because this part of your face also corresponds to the health of your lungs. So the spots can be indicative of a respiratory problem, such as in smokers or asthmatics. This is because they are prone to breaking of capillaries in the cheeks. This is not as dramatic as it sounds so don’t freak out. A visit to a dermatologist should solve it.

Moles

Ever heard people complimenting “that sexy mole”? Apart from being kind-of attractive when in the right places, a mole is not always bad even from your health point of view. Research has actually found that people with more moles have stronger bones and are less likely to suffer osteoporosis. The benefits are not limited to the bones. People with moles are known to have healthier eyes and even a more well-functioning heart. So don’t curse your moles. If you have them, feel blessed.

Source: What Your Face Says About Your Health

Five things you should do when you're pregnant

Once you've seen for yourself those two blue lines on the pregnancy test, or maybe you heard it from the horse's (well, your doctor's) mouth, what do you do next?

RealBuzz

What to do when you're expecting

Congrats – you're pregnant! Once you've seen for yourself those two blue lines on the pregnancy test, or maybe you heard it from the horse's (well, your doctor's) mouth, what do you do next? Here are our top five tips on what to do whilst you wait for the stork's arrival:

What to do when you're pregnant, rule 1:  Attend pre-natal appointments

Once you've established that you're pregnant, done your happy dance, gone through every emotion in the book, and finally gathered your thoughts, it's important to attend a pre-natal appointment. Whether it's your first appointment or you've been attending them for a while, appointments for mamas-to-be are important for keeping you and your baby healthy and giving your unborn the best start in life. Whilst we all pray that there aren't any problems, if any issues did arise then the doctor has a better chance of treating them.

What to do when you're pregnant, rule 2: Do get your recommended daily dose of folic acid

Your pregnancy diet plays a vital role in your baby's development, and it's important that you get a good dose of folic acid to reduce your little one's risk of heart defects and spinal problems such as spina bifida. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that women who eat folate-rich foods before and during their pregnancy have a lower chance of having a baby with a neural tube defect. Some foods such as spinach, sprouts and green beans are all naturally high in folic acid, but these don't provide enough for your baby's development so you might choose to take folate supplements too. Women suffering from diabetes, sickle cell disease, and a number of other medical issues usually need more folic acid during pregnancy, and the recommended daily allowance can vary between individuals so it's important to speak to your doctor before making any changes to your pregnancy diet.

What to do when you're pregnant, rule 3: Do relax and pamper yourself

The phone won't stop ringing, the laundry pile is never-ending, and so is your workload come to think of it. Add a touch of pregnancy into the mix and you're a fully-fledged stress head. It really is important that you find the time to relax because pregnant bodies are already under huge pressure trying to supply everything your little love needs – added stress on top of this can be potentially harmful to you and your child. It's really important that you make time to relax as stress can increase the chance of premature birth and could cause abnormalities in your child. You may find it helpful to join a local support group where you can network with other pregnant women and discuss your worries and anxieties. You will probably find that whatever is worrying you is on the minds of the other pregnant women you meet too, and this will put your mind at ease – a problem shared is a problem halved. 

What to do when you're pregnant, rule 4: Do make the most of your free time

Make sure you make the most of your free time before the baby arrives. Go out with your friends or watch a comedy film to make you laugh and reduce your stress levels, which can be harmful to you and your baby if they rise dramatically during pregnancy. Whatever your preferred 'pregnancy hobby', ensure that you enjoy your time before the birth because once you're exposed to excessive amounts of baby sick, sleepless nights and dirty nappies, 'me time' tends to take a back seat. You could also appoint a responsible baby sitter for when your bundle of joy arrives too, because going out and enjoying yourself on the odd occasion makes you a happy parent, and a happy parent makes for a happy child. Learning how to balance your relaxation time with a growing family is an on-going process, but you will soon get used to it.

What to do when you're pregnant, rule 5: Attend a pregnancy photo shoot

Pregnancy photo-shoots are specially geared towards getting the best shots of your bump. Once a bump has started to appear – or once you have a fully-fledged baby tum – this is the perfect time to attend a photo shoot to create a beautiful keepsake which will last a lifetime. A little miracle is growing inside you and a photo shoot offers the ideal way to capture this exciting time of your life. You can attend a photo shoot with your partner, family or even your friends. Once you've given birth, you will enjoy looking back on the photographs in years to come, and once the impending little one is all grown up, they will enjoy seeing what they looked like in mama's tummy. Enjoy!

Source: Five things you should do when you're pregnant

Natural Causes of Hair Fall

The hair follicles undergo continuous growth cycles with involution and resting phases. This process, lasting weeks to months, seems to be related to a circadian clock, approximating a 24-hour cycle.

By Team Lifestyle | Yahoo Lifestyle Entertainment

If you don't use harsh chemicals in the form of shampoos and other hair products, and yet wonder how you suffer from hair fall, don't fret. While chemicals from hair products are the main culprit for hair fall these days, there are also some natural causes for this phenomenon. Here's a look at some of the common ways you could be losing your hair, as well as clearer idea into the 'life cycle' of your hair.

THE NATURAL HAIR LOSS CYCLE

Seasonal variation: Human hair cycles are really no different from dogs and cats or even other animals. While not so noticeable in people, there are cyclical variations, based upon the fact that there is low shedding in the winter and increased shedding as summer wanes. November seems to be the month with the maximum loss of hair in northern emperate climates and sometimes May. It has been postulated that hair provides insulation to the head in the winter and protection against the sun in the summer.

Nutritional variation: This is not a consideration in normal, healthy people; however, with persistent hair shedding, there can be other factors involved. For example, people who have eating disorders, be it anorexia or bulimia, or who place themselves on crash diets may deplete their bodies of necessary nutrients and vitamins, needed for hair growth.

Similarly, patients receiving parenteral nutrition may experience hair loss, probably because all of the vitamins and trace minerals are not being absorbed. These would nclude, zinc, selenium, biotin, and even iron, but excessive intake of any one of these can also cause hair loss. For this reason, supplements to induce hair growth are not recommended, unless there is an underlying condition.

CONCERNS OVER NATURAL HAIR FALL

Hair fall is a major concern for consumers. In a global consumer survey9, it was revealed that hair fall was a top 5 concern across the world, and was the number 1 consumer concern in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) for 1 in 5 women (21%).

Wanting ‘stronger hair’ was also listed as a top 5 need in BRIC markets: a quarter in Brazil (26%) and Russia (23%), nearly a fifth in India (17%) and also high in China (15%).

Concerns about hair fall are not confined to the older woman; those worried about this issue range from 16-45+ years. Unlike hair breakage, hair fall is perceived as a problem with no solution, and fear of hair fall leading to baldness results in anxiety and changes in behaviour. For example, women limit the hair styles they adopt (tying it up, cutting it short, stop colouring).

The self-perceived hair fall problem can lead to a feeling that they are unable to express their personality or mood as hair and hair style are an “expression of self”.

Over two thirds (69%) of women feel the way their hair looks has a big impact on how they feel about themselves, this sentiment being strongest in India (80%) and Russia (72%).

Three quarters (75%) of women are worried about how the environment affects the overall quality of their hair, and over a third (34%) feel their bodies and biological make up are the main cause of hair fall, blaming hereditary causes (10% in Brazil), illness (15% in Russia, 12% in India), stress (9% in Russia) and age (15% in China).

Many women overreact to their hair fall level. Whereas they may be exhibiting normal levels of hair fall, they perceive themselves to be in a clinically problematic area, e.g. androgenic alopecia, telogen effluvium etc. They are looking for a product regime to reassure themselves that they will have normal hair.

HAIR GROWTH:

·         The amount of time that hair stays in the hair follicle is genetically predetermined

·         The longer that hair remains in the anagen phase, the longer the hair will be

·         Hair growth occurs in a mosaic pattern, meaning that at any one time, the hair visualized is in different phases

·         The duration of the anagen phase is genetically predetermined, but it may decrease with age

·         Normal growth:

o    1.06 cm (2.54 in) every 28 days or about 10 cm (25 in) per year

o    Approximately 0.35-0.37 mm (.014 in)/day

·         New growth generally matches the amount of hair shed

·         Newly formed hair takes about 3 weeks to be seen on the scalp

Duration of hair on the head:

·         Eyebrows: about 4 months

·         Scalp: several months to about 7 years

Although the stated average natural hair loss is 100 hairs per day this can vary tremendously between individuals. Unilever use an internal definition that “normal” shedding is up to 150 hairs per day and high shedding is greater than 150 hairs lost per day.

Source: Natural Causes of Hair Fall

Couple Sex

Eight year old girl went to her grandfather, who was working in the yard and asked him, "Grandpa, what is couple sex?"

The grandfather knowing frankness of Obama with their Girls on media news decided a girl talented enough to ask the question, is rightful enough for a straightforward response.

Thoughtfully and carefully he began to explain, covering everything on the subject about human reproduction, attractions, joys and responsibilities of sex.

When he finished explaining, the little girl was staring at grandpa with her mouth gasping, eyes wide in amazement.

Seeing her astonished face, the grandfather inquired, "Why you asked me that question, dear baby?"

The little girl replied, "Grandma says that dinner will be ready in just a “COUPLE SECS”.

Humour

The capacity of human beings to bore one another seems to be vastly greater than that of any other animal.

PHONE SALES

The phone rang and the lady picked it up.. It was a salesman from a mortgage refinance company. "Do you have a second mortgage on your home?"

"No," she replied.

"Would you like to consolidate all your debts?"

"I really don't have any," she said.

"How about freeing up cash for home improvements?" he tried.

"I don't need any. I just recently had some done and paid cash," she parried.

There was a brief silence, and then he asked, "Are you looking for a husband?"

When Clinton was President

John Cleese, the English comedian and actor, was asked on American TV what he thought the difference between the English and the Americans were.  In reply, he said that there were three differences:

1.    We speak English and you don't.

2.    When we hold a World Championship for a particular sport, we invite teams from other countries.

3.    When you meet the head of state in England, you only have to go down on one knee.

  

Golf

"Give me the fresh air, a beautiful partner, and a nice round of golf and you can keep the fresh air and the round of golf."

-- Jack Benny

"Golf and sex are about the only things you can enjoy without being good at."

-- Jimmy Demaret

"If you think it's hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball."

-- Jack Lemmon

"The people who gave us golf and called it a game are the same people who gave us bag pipes and called it music."

-- Unknown

"I would like to deny all allegations by Bob Hope that during my last game of golf, I hit an eagle, a birdie, an elk and a moose."

-- Gerald Ford

"The least thing upsets him on the links. He missed short putts because of the uproar of butterflies in the adjoining meadows."

-- PG Wodehouse

FRISKY

One Night After Watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ... a man and his wife went to bed and the lady began feeling very, er, frisky. She asks him if he was in the mood.

He replied, "Not tonight dear, I'm really tired."

She replied, "Is that your final answer?"

He says, "Yes."

"OK, then I'm going to phone a friend," she replied.

WIDOWS

Two widows were visiting in the lounge of the Seniors' Center...

"Well," said one, "Mary has just cremated her third husband."

"Yeah, that's the way it goes," replied the other widow. "Some of us can't find a husband, and others have husbands to burn!"

Inner Wisdom

·         As I let go of my feelings of guilt, I am in touch with my inner sociopath.

·         I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.

·         I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault.

·         I no longer need to punish, deceive, or compromise myself, unless I want to stay employed.

·         In some cultures, what I do would be considered normal.

·         Having control over myself is almost as good as having control over others.

·         My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of self-judgment.

·         I honor my personality flaws for without them I would have no personality at all.

·         Joan of Arc heard voices too.

·         I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me.

·         I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper, and complain.

·         As I learn the innermost secrets of people around me, they reward me in many ways to keep me quiet.

·         When someone hurts me, I know that forgiveness is cheaper than a lawsuit, but not nearly as gratifying.

·         The first step is to say nice things about myself. The second, to do nice things for myself. The third, to find someone to buy me nice things.

Confucius did NOT say...

·         Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.

·         Passionate kiss, like spider web, leads to undoing of fly.

·         Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.

·         Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.

·         Man who runs in front of car gets tired, man who runs behind car gets exhausted.

·         Man who eats many prunes get good run for money.

·         War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left.

·         Man who fight with wife all day get no piece at night.

·         It takes many nails to build a crib, but only one screw to fill it.

·         Man who drives like hell is bound to get there.

·         Man who stands on toilet is high on pot.

EXERCISE

I just signed up for an exercise class and was told I needed to wear loose fitting clothing. Honestly, if I had any loose fitting clothing, do you really think I would have signed up for the exercise class?

I really don't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happy with buns of cinnamon. - Ellen DeGeneres

Aerobics: A series of strenuous exercises which help convert fats, sugars, and starches into aches, pains, and cramps. - Unknown

Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes. - Robert M. Hutchins

Don't forget, your brain needs exercise, too. So, I spend lots of time each day thinking up excuses for not working out.

I'm on a strict running program. I started yesterday. I've only missed one day so far.

Thirty ways to shape up for summer -- number one: eat less; number two: exercise more; number three... What was I talking about? I'm so hungry right now.

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

SMS: My love! If you're smiling send me a smile.

    If you're sleeping, send me your dreams.

    If you're crying, send me your tears.

Reply: I'm in the loo...

INTERESTING WORDS

"listen" and "silent" use the same letters?

And that "eat" is the only word that if you take the first letter and move it to the last, it spells its past  tense "ate"?

Report Card

A boy walked through the front door of his house after school one afternoon and presented his latest report card to his dad. Dad looked at it and frowned.

"This report card is terrible!" he lamented. "It's just as bad as the last several you have brought home."

"Yeah," the boy replied.

"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" the father asked.

"Well, no," the boy answered, then added, "There's a bright side to all this!"

"And what is that?" the father demanded.

"Obviously," the boy replied, "I never cheat!"

Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc'-ra-cy)

A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by The least capable of producing, and Where the members of society least Likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

4 things you MUST KNOW about your DEBIT card!

Noopur Runjhun, Akosha.com

ATM cards or debit cards are by far one of the most convenient options that have been introduced to encourage cashless transactions. It is convenient, easy to maintain and almost a direct replacement of cash. Unlike credit cards, which by design cannot and do not operate as cash, ATM cards are precisely designed for the purpose.

ATM cards or debit cards can do all that cash can do and much more. They are a perfect combination of cash and credit cards, imbibing only the positives of both. With debit cards being accepted in almost all sorts of online transactions, they can do what a credit card does minus the credit card's drawbacks. They are limited like cash, acting as a good stop-cork for any unwanted expenditure that necessarily seeps in with the flexibility of credit cards. But unlike cash, they are easy to handle and way more convenient.

The benefits of ATM cards are countless making them one of the most preferred modes of transaction for the common man. However, Murphy's Law is true for every sphere of life and debit cards are no exceptions. And with the kind of record that banking industry in India has when it comes to consumer issues, anything that can go wrong with debit cards will and does go wrong, leaving a set of extremely bothered consumers in its wake.

As always, we sifted through the complaints that landed on our desks and dug out the issues that were most striking and uncommon when it came to debit cards.

1. No SMS alert for transactions

We had never thought this could be this relevant concern till one of our complainants drew our attention to its implications and the regulations which deem this compulsory. RBI has actually issued express regulations that mandate that customers get SMS alerts for all transactions done through their debit or credit cards from June 30, 2011.

These regulations are aimed at checking fraudulent transactions and encouraging usage of cards by customers. According to these guidelines by the Reserve Bank of India all lenders are instructed to provide SMS alerts for all card (credit as well as debit card) transactions irrespective of amount latest by June 30.

This clearly implies that you must get an SMS alert for every single transaction and if your bank fails to do so, you should immediately inform the bank and demand that alerts should be sent under all circumstances.

This may hardly seem relevant in normal circumstances especially for debit card usage. But the procedure is in place for a reason and one should not ignore the instances of its non-compliances till some disaster strikes. As was in case of this consumer who had lost thousand of rupees by the time he realised that he had actually lost his card just because his bank did not send SMS alert for the transactions his stolen card was being used for.

While this seems an extreme case, it is a pretty probable one too and nobody should leave such issues to chance. Always remember that your bank has a regulatory obligation to send you those alerts and if it does not, you should take it to task.

2. Secure online transactions

The amount of money that is lost by consumers in fraudulent online transactions is humongous. This despite the fact that this is one of the areas where banks have always been uncharacteristically cautious. Not only express instructions/ warnings are issued to the consumers about not disclosing their PIN number and other details on any web site on a regular basis, most banks have also brought in the concept of 3D pins to ensure further check on fraudulent transactions.

The consumers should themselves be extra cautious during online transactions. Make sure your 3D pin is generated as soon as you procure your card and keep it a secret.

Furthermore, while making online payment through debit/credit card, ensure the transaction is secure. Look for https instead of http in the web site's name. The additional's' stands for secure.

3. Lost ATM card, lost money

What happens when you lose your ATM card? Apart from the partial heart attack of course. Well, you get your card blocked immediately obviously. But then, what if you still lose your money? Don't be shocked. That is very much a possibility as had happened with one of the consumers whose complaint landed with us.

In all such circumstances, where a consumer loses money via his lost ATM card despite informing the bank, the bank is held liable for the loss and is bound to compensate the consumer.

In all such circumstances, inform the relevant authorities in the bank and if the issue is still not redressed, take up the matter immediately before the Banking Ombudsman. Also, in case any such loss or theft, immediately file an FIR with police to establish the time of theft/loss.

Also an added advice, if you ever manage to recover a lost/stolen ATM card, never ever use it again. Cut it diagonally and throw it away. Get a new one issued from your bank for a minor fee.

4. Money lost in transit

One of the most common occurrences during online transactions via debit cards or net banking services is losing money in transit. This happens when money gets deducted from your account but never actually reaches the seller's account due to technical hiccups.

In all such circumstances, such money is credited back into your account within five working days of such failed transactions and if this does not happen, you should immediately take up the matter with your bank. Also, as an added precaution, if one transaction fails and the money is stuck, try and avoid attempting another transaction immediately.

Most probably, the transaction will fail again and you will end with twice the money stuck in the system.

ATM cards are cashless and yet they are cash, the carriers of your hard earned money. Just as the responsibility of your cash lies with you, your ATM card and whatever happens to it is ultimately your responsibility. Be cautious, be vigilante and most importantly be aware of all the regulations and rights that are associated with debit cards.

Ultimately for any consumer, information is the most potent defense and most deadly weapon.

Source: 4 things you MUST KNOW about your DEBIT card!

World's oldest Ferrari unveiled!

The world's oldest Ferrari which won the 1947 Turin Grand Prix has been unveiled for the first time after restoration and is now believed to be worth a whopping $8 million.

The 166 Spyder Corsa built by manufacturer Enzo Ferrari just after the World War II is believed to be world's oldest Ferrari and was restored for $500,000 by its owner Jim Glickenhaus from California, the Daily Mail reported.

Capable of speeds of up to 160 kilometres-per-hour, which was enough to win the model the 1947 Turin Grand Prix, this 12-cylinder classic car is a one-of-a-kind.

"I bought the car at auction in 2004 for around $770,000," Glickenhaus, 62, said.

The motor - numbered 002 - was the first sold by Enzo Ferrari in December 1947, after his first build crashed.

In 2006 the owner of a Ferrari marked 001C came forward claiming his vehicle was the world's oldest.

This was actually a number two car built before Glickenhaus' 1947, which could contain a proportion of parts from the first crashed 01C Ferrari.

However this vehicle lacked the original engine and used Ford motor parts.

"My Ferrari still has the original chassis, engine, gearbox and most of the mechanical pieces," Glickenhaus was quoted by the paper as saying.

Glickenhaus believes the car could now fetch up to $8 million.

"I took it to the original home of Ferrari, Marenello in northern Italy. There you will find the mechanics that have preserved the heritage of this machine. They had all the photographs, parts and knowledge to deliver an authentic restoration," Glickenhaus added.

Source: World's oldest Ferrari unveiled!