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Know your abilities. Write your three strengths and three weakness at work and at home. Keep revising this list. Appreciate your strengths, work out a rational plan to reduce, not necessarily eliminate, weakness. If your are not sure, talk to a close friend. Do not be embarrassed about your weakness. It is only when you refuse to believe that you have any weakness that you should began worrying.
Prevent accidental boils. Always turn on cold water faucet first before adjusting water temperature in sinks, tubs and showers. Never let infants operate faucets.
Achilles tendon is pulling of tendon in the back of the heel; many a minor damages to tendons heal by themselves but if swelling of pain persists longer, a surgery or cast may be necessary.
Higher acidity in mouth, even for 20-30 minutes begins to erode teeth enamel leading to tooth decay. Rinse mouth promptly after drinking fruit juices or eating desserts. All sweet foods (except those sweetened by artificial sweeteners) promote acidity of mouth by supporting growth of bacteria that produce acid. Rinsing with baking soda is an excellent method of reducing mouth acidity.
Acne in adults can be a sign of hormonal imbalance or drug toxicity, particularly from use of steroids; get a medical check up if it persists
Acne is not a sign of poor health or peculiar dietary habits; it is also not related to sexual promiscuity or constipation. It is the result of hormonal changes and caused by the oiliness of skin.
Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese treatment using needles, is now a widely accepted medical technique; if you want to try it out, get a qualified healer because it is an extremely complicated art and science.
Acute hepatitis is the inflammation of liver caused by virus, toxin, obstruction, parasite, or drug.
Gambling is an addiction that brings true pleasure and as a result obsessive gamblers become reckless; they do not play only to win. Eventually, it wrecks them mentally and socially. Treat obsessive gambling like a disease not a habit.
Acne affects more than half the adolescents, specially girls. It is a normal response mediated by the hormone testosterone but exacerbated by stress, stages of menstrual cycle and make-up of the affected area. Proper cleansing of skin and use of anti-acne preparations is recommended.
Both men and women benefit equally not only from aerobic but also weight pushing exercises.
Do not use aerosols containing chlorofluorocarbons to protect the ozone layer.
Afternoon naps give you just enough deep sleep to feel refreshed; in the morning or evening, naps leave you groggy. The urge to nap in the afternoon is not due to the effect of meals but to a drop in the body temperature. If you can manage a nap, go ahead.
Your good health today is a result of yesterday's good eating living habits, which may no longer guarantee good health as you grow older; gradually reduce calories, increase physical activity and reduce unmanageable stress.
Immunity to disease declines in the elderly. Each bout of disease lowers it further. Much care must be exercised in disease prevention, specially respiratory infections.
AIDS symptoms take about 15 years to appear after infection. The acute phase has similar symptoms as viral infection: fever, sore throat, rash, etc. Within eight weeks of infection, a positive response to HIV is detected. Initial signs of AIDS include persistent fever with night sweating, fatigue and malaise, diarrhoea of unknown cause and 10-15% weight loss. Death comes from loss of body's defence against infections, primarily respiratory. By the end of 1994, there were about four million cases of AIDS world-wide.
Air conditioning removes moisture and dust from air and can be very helpful in many diseases, particularly of respiratory tract. Keep windows closed and air conditioner running to reduce allergic symptoms; clean filters frequently.
Air-conditioning can cause diseases. Outbreaks of Legionnaire's disease (a type of pneumonia), humidifier fever (a lung disease) and sick building syndrome (headaches, irritability and loss of energy) have all been linked to contaminated air-conditioning systems. Allow for some fresh air to dilute air-conditioned air. Keep air-conditioner filters clean.
Use of alcohol depletes the body of C and B vitamins. Take vitamin supplements. Alcohol is a depressant not an stimulant as erroneously believed; it makes people appear more alert by depressing inhibitions.
Food allergies are quite common; symptoms range from vomiting, diarrhoea, skin reactions to difficulty in breathing. Just about any food can cause an allergic reaction but it is mostly high protein foods from vegetable and marine origin, cow's milk, soy, peanut, wheat and fish.
Allergies are immune body reactions to foreign bodies; body also develops allergy to itself. Asthma, skin reactions, suffocation and even infertility are often the result of allergic reactions.
Amniocentesis, the removal and testing of amniotic fluid, is risky and should only be done to assess genetic abnormality in older women and never for determining sex of the foetus.
Anaemia is the deficiency in the size or number of red blood cells or the amount of haemoglobin in them; it results in reduced consumption of oxygen. Causes of anaemia include: lack of nutrients, principally, iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid; haemorrhage, genetic abnormalities, many chronic diseases and drug toxicity.
Let out anger. Do not store anger but make sure you solve the problems causing anger also. Be very careful in letting it out on the loved ones. You must make sure they understand that you are unhappy with what they did and not with themselves.
Angina is the pain that occurs when the muscular wall of the heart becomes temporarily short of oxygen, often when the demand for oxygen is high (exercising), being emotional or facing extremes of temperature. Triggered by blocked arteries, it is a common disease after age 30 in men. In women, it appears later in the life and is mostly caused by other diseases such as anaemia. Carry your "nitro" with you at all times, if you doctor has prescribed it for you.
Pain in the chest due to reduced supply of blood to heart muscles is relieved by using tablets of nitro-glycerine placed under tongue for quick action; if you doctor has recommended you this drug, never leave home without it.
Angioplasty is a surgical technique to improve blood flow through an artery narrowed by disease. An inflatable balloon, powerful laser and often micro chopping blades are used to remove blockages. Done correctly, angioplasty replaces open heart surgery with much less risk.
Asthma caused by allergy to animal fur is due to animal saliva that dries on fur. Do not acquire furry animals, fish are fine.
Do not ignore any animal bites; most stray dogs and cats in our part of the world are infected and can cause life-threatening diseases. Consult your doctor immediately.
Ankle and Hand Weights
Ankle and hand weights are not recommended in any type of exercise because of the marginal advantage and the real possibility of causing damage. Avoid them and instead increase the frequency and length of exercise.
Antacids used routinely cause depletion of phosphate, iron and vitamins, folic acid and thiamine from the body. Consider changing diet plans to replenish these essential components and better yet, take supplements because it is often not possible to modify diet for longer term basis.
New drugs have become available that specifically treat anxiety; ask your doctor if you need them.
Antibiotics should never be self-prescribed, nor should you take drugs prescribed to others. Always finish all the antibiotic medicine given as per directions even though you may have begun feeling well.
If you are given drugs to keep blood thin (anticoagulant drugs), do not use aspirin, alcohol or other drugs since they can induce abnormal bleeding. Consult your doctor before taking any other medication.
Drugs use to "thin-out" blood are used for long-term basis in patients highly prone to strokes or other similar disorders. When taking these drugs, do not switch the brand without first consulting your doctor, you may have a reaction because different brands may "deliver" different quantity of drugs.
Antihistamine drugs block the action of histamine, a chemical produced in the body, that irritates and inflames tissue causing an allergic reaction such as hay fever. A side effect of antihistamines - drowsiness - is now overcome in the new generation of drugs with much reduced side affects. Ask your doctor for non-drowsiness type cough-cold preparations.
Antiperspirant sticks and roll-ons work better than sprays; use products containing aluminium chlorhydrate, the only approved antiperspirant chemical that works by sealing-off the sweat glands temporarily. Antiperspirants such as aluminium chlorhydrate work by reacting with sweat glands and sealing them.
Use of antiseptic ointments kills bacteria but also irritates wounds; they do have some infection prevention value. Do not use any preparation that stings or burns since it may be causing more damage than benefit.
Anxiety attacks can strike suddenly; if you are prone to these, modify lifestyle to reduce stress and discuss your problems openly with friends and family.
Healthy appendix should not be removed as a matter of course in abdominal surgeries. Appendix is not a useless organ; it supports body's defence system. However, if sever pain develops in appendix, it may be ready to rupture; surgery may be needed quickly.
Appetisers help you eat less of the main course; order them but not the fried types.
Appetite suppressants are used in the treatment of obesity; they either act at the brain level or produce bulk feeling in stomach to cut down appetite. Those acting on the brain are often addictive and produce many side effects; bulking agents cause flatulence, abdominal pain and bloating feeling. Long-term use of any of these drugs is not recommended.
There are no known drugs that safely and effectively stimulate appetite. Lost appetite usually returns when an underlying illness subsides. Refuse drugs to promote appetite. Appetite stimulants are worthless. There is no medical rationale for using the drugs which claim to increase appetite. A medical evaluation should be made for the underlying cause and if none is found and the child appears normal, no effort should be made to increase appetite.
Appreciate humour. Nothing works more magically than a good laugh to relieve tension. Read more humour than any other literature. Practice telling funny stories even if you are not good at it. Find subtleties in life to laugh about. Above all, learn to laugh at yourself. It releases stress.
Irregular heartbeat or palpitation beats are mostly harmless; caffeine, cigarette smoke and alcohol are common causes; reduce stress. If you experience frequent or worsening irregular beats consult your doctor.
Arthritis is inflammation of joints causing pain, disability and deformity; trauma, infections and immune disease (in young people especially women) and old-age hollowing of bones are responsible. Keep joints moving and treat disease promptly to avoid becoming invalid.
Artificial nails of all types eventually damage your natural nails; stay away from them.
Use of artificial sweeteners in slimming diets is questionable because the appetite compensates the lack of calories from sugar, and other foods are eaten to maintain the calorie intake.
Asbestos is a mineral that is associated with lung cancer and many other lung diseases. Its use has been banned in public places world-wide. It is still widely used in our country; choose an alternate such as tin, wood or other composite materials.
Take aspirin. Taking 30-80 mg aspirin (the children's aspirin dose) offers significant protection against strokes in patients with history of heart and circulation problems. It may also boost your immune system, reduce incidence of cataracts and gallstones and migraine headaches. Make sure you are not allergic to aspirin. Aspirin used for longer term in arthritic patients and as a preventive measure in patients with history of heart diseases causes depletion of vitamin C, folacin and B12 in the body. Ask your doctor if you should begin taking vitamin supplements.
Assess your job. Write down why your job is important and read it frequently. If you become convinced that you're just a cog in the wheel, work to change situation or the job. Every one must feel important to keep their sanity. You can not afford to short-change yourself for too long.
Causes of asthma include respiratory infections, allergy to house dust mite, animal fur, feathers, pollens, food exposure to fumes and chemicals; exercise, anxiety or emotions; drugs, aspirin or beta blockers. Prevent asthma by reducing exposure to smoke, dust, and taking preventive medicines such as chromoglycate. Keep a diary of what may be causing the reaction; sleep regular hours and avoid physical or emotional stress; swim when possible; dust the bedroom regularly, avoid woollen blankets, feather pillows or eiderdowns, keep mattress covered; vacuum the room and mattress daily.
Watch for foot-itching; it can be athlete's foot disease, a fungus infection; treat it promptly.
Buy athletic shoes that support arch and hold feet from slipping forward
Autism is a condition in which a child is unable to relate to people and situations and may show an obsessive resistance to any change. Delay in speaking is very common along with reduced ability to understand and emulate. No particular treatment is given except behaviour therapy; most children end up requiring life-time care.
Drive safely. Most accidents happen closer to home because we begin to relax as we approach closer to home. Stay alert to live. Lock windows and doors.
While driving, keep your car air conditioner running with recirculation to cut down on inhaling carcinogens from street coal tar and exhaust fumes of autos.
Autoimmune disorders are a group of conditions in which the immune system (the body's defence mechanism) attacks the body's own tissues as if they were foreign substances for unknown causes except for some genetic connection. Women are more often affected than man. An individual who has one autoimmune disorder may develop others. These include: Addison's disease (adrenals), anaemia, hepatitis, infertility, diabetes, Goodpasture's syndrome (lung and kidney), Grave's and Hashimoto's disease (thyroid), blood platelet disorders, Myasthenia gravis (muscles), Vitiligo (white skin patches), arthritis, lupus etc. You can substantially reduce the risk of death from these diseases by dietary modification and by adopting a lifestyle that is soothing to mind.
Avoid indigestion. Faulty absorption of carbohydrates and proteins causes their breakdown in the large intestine by bacteria to give excess gas and toxins, some of which are now believed to be carcinogenic.
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