Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a terrible disease which has afflicted millions of people worldwide. This syndrome is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); it destroys the immune system of the body making you vulnerable to other foreign agents and particles. In spite of millions being spent on research every year, this disease remains to be evasive without a permanent cure or vaccine.

We all know AIDS is spread through different ways but the most common one still remains unprotected sex. The only way to prevent contracting AIDS from your partner or sexual companion is to use a condom. Though not hundred percent foolproof, this is the only method which has been highly successful in controlling the spread of this disease. Prevention is the only key to stay safe of this dreaded disease; hence, there are hundreds of AIDS awareness programs and campaigns conducted all across the world to awareness among the public. Listed below are a few of these which have become highly popular for their creativity to continue educating the public on the use of condoms.

• Bubble Campaign – This AIDS awareness campaign by Denmark’s AIDS-Fondet was targeted to fight against stigmatization associated with the disease. It shows a person walking inside a balloon wearing a t-shirt which is inscribed: Prejudice is one of the worst side-effects.
• Catch the sperm – This widely acclaimed program is from Switzerland and is actually a small game created by Stopaids.ch. This game was an instant hit especially among youngsters and is still downloaded by many.
• Condom ringtone – This ad campaign, launched very recently by the BBC World Service Trust and Bill Gates has become very popular creating much awareness in the society. This ringtone was downloaded by a whooping number of people and continues to be heard even today.

• Condom tree – This is a brilliant AIDS awareness program that is carried out in Australia. In order to promote the importance of safe sex among the Aborigines, NCHS placed new condoms on river gums and eucalyptus trees; thus making this highly effective contraception available to all.
• Human hour glass – This ad campaign from France was designed to inform public that at least one person dies from AIDS every ten seconds. It shows a large human hour glass which is visually eye-catching and very appealing.
• Take out a condom – This is an AIDS awareness program that was showcased in Brazil on the World AIDS Day. Huge posters carrying the word ‘AIDS’ was propped up all across the city; the catch was in the condoms that decorated this word. Hundreds of people expressed solidarity by interacting with the poster.

• Where is AIDS – This is yet another highly popular AIDS campaign bought out in Brazil based on the theme of the book, ‘Where’s Waldo?’
• Protect Yourself from AIDS – This campaign was started in France on the night before the World AIDS Day 2007. Hundreds of bicycles with pink saddles were lined up which carried the significant message – And you, what do you do to protect yourself?
  Statue of Sorrow – This one from Canada features a woman’s statue inscribed with the words, ‘AIDS is still around’.

AIDS continues to be a harrowing and horrible disease to strike our society; it is not more campaigns that we need but more people who are receptive to the meaning of these campaigns.

The ‘King of Pop’ has finally succumbed to the ‘King of Kings’; and ever since, newspapers, tabloids and magazines have rolled out pages of news proclaiming that Michael Jackson suffered from skin cancer which could have been the cause of his death.

There are plenty of rumors circulating that he had cancerous spots and pre-cancerous lesions on his face. He could or could not have but none of us will probably ever know the truth of this statement as he always led a highly secretive and well-guarded personal life.

But we do know one thing for sure; Michael did suffer from Vitiligo and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In a rare interview with Oprah Winfrey, he disclosed this information as the real reason for his skin color unlike popular belief that he had gone in for skin bleaching procedures to lighten his skin tone. There are many health experts who believe that Michael Jackson could have suffered from skin cancer since he had these skin problems.

Vitiligo is quite a common skin disorder in which one can notice white spots or patches on the skin surface. Human skin produces a pigment called melanin which is responsible for our skin color. People with a darker skin tone have more melanocytes than people with a lighter skin tone. In people with Vitiligo, the melanocytes which are the melanin producing cells, get weakened or destroyed causing less or no production of this pigment which leads to the formation of these white spots or patches. Michael Jackson also suffered from discoid lupus, a form of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, in which red and scaly patches appear on the skin.

Michael mentioned in his interview that in the initial stages of the disease, when he only had a few white patches, he used to cover it up with heavy makeup to match his dark skin tone. But as time went and he developed the patches all over the body, it was easy to apply makeup to lighten his skin tone than to darken it. He always appeared covered from head to toe and hardly revealed his skin in any of his music videos. He finally went in for depigmentation therapy to even out his skin tone when full-bodied makeup became too hard to handle on a daily basis.

Because of the presence of these two diseases, there is a very strong possibility that Michael Jackson could have suffered from skin cancer in his last days. He had been suffering from Vitiligo for the past twenty years; this combined with the heavy use of cosmetics and treatments could have finally taken a toll on his health. It was reported by a leading newspaper that Michael had a surgery to remove a cancerous lesion from his nose and was under therapy to cure his cancer. Apparently, he had a form of skin cancer which was treatable and not dangerous.

Like his entire life, the stories of his skin cancer remain highly speculative. All his fans can hope for is that the autopsy report will finally reveal how ‘Michael Jackson – The Biggest Entertainer of the World’ actually died.

Snoring is involuntary and cannot be controlled by the person. He will not be aware of the episode and therefore cannot take any measures to control snoring. The person lying near you on the same bed will get irritated due to this illness as their sleep will be disturbed. In many cases snoring is a symptom of the underlying disease. There are many reasons due to which this symptom is produced.

Here I will explain you the top ten reasons due to which an individual can suffer from this ailment.

How does snoring occur?

Snoring is caused when there is an obstruction in the airway. It will be difficult to inhale as well as exhale air. When the tongue comes in contact with uvula and soft palate this sound is produced. It is disgusting and will drive your partner out of the bed. When your muscles are weak, this ailment rises up in people. Here are a few reasons due to which snoring is produced in human beings.

Obesity

Excessive fat deposition in the body can lead to snoring. In such individuals fat accumulation around the neck region apply pressure on the airway especially in supine position. The pressure exerted on the throat blocks the airway and results in snoring.

Alcohol and other beverages

If you are a person who consumes alcohol everyday, snoring is inevitable. Consumption of alcohol and other pills relaxes the muscles of tongue. This leads to snoring as the air passage is blocked.

Sinusitis

Researches and studies have proved that people who suffer from sinusitis also tend to have snoring. The sinuses are filled with phlegm and drainage is not proper due to which the air path can get obstructed. Smoking will increase the condition and cause more trouble to the person. It is advisable to stop smoking to prevent snoring.

Hereditary

In such cases treatment will not be effective as the person has got the problem in their genes. You can make a difference in the intensity of the condition. No treatment will be able to get rid of snoring in these individuals.

Pillow

If you do not use the correct pillow it can cause snoring. Do not use a pillow which is larger in size as it can cause obstruction of the air canal. People have a habit of using two pillows while sleeping. This will increase the pressure around the neck region and produce blockage in the air passage.

Allergic Complaints

People who have allergies are more prone to have snoring. They always have congestion and irritation in their nose and find difficulty in breathing. The only option to get rid of your complaint in this case is by taking proper medication for your allergy.

Fatty food

Avoid fatty foods like milk, dairy products and other substances which will produce accumulation of mucous in your respiratory system. Excessive accumulation of mucous is also a reason for snoring.

Gender

Males are more commonly affected by this illness than females because they have a narrow airway. In females the air canal is wider than males which decrease snoring to a considerable extent.

Age

People develop the habit of snoring when they start touching their old age. The throat becomes narrow and dry. The muscles of the tongue and throat get weak which result in this complaint.

Sleeping postures

Some people can have snoring due to their sleeping postures. Try sleeping on sides to decrease your ailment.

Snoring is not a minor problem and can often be a symptom of heart attacks and other cardiac disorders. Take treatment at the earliest to ensure the safety of your life.

Everyone wants to have a healthy body but very few take the pains to supplement their diet with the right amount of vitamins. It is important to consume the standard daily requirement of vitamins which has been decided by WHO. If you body is deficient of a certain vitamin for a long time it can lead to complications. The top ten vitamins which are required for our body are explained here in detail. There are many questions asked by people regarding these vitamins and their uses.

Vitamins are divided into two types, fat soluble and water soluble. What are fat soluble vitamins? A, D, E, and K are normally found in the fatty tissues present in the body. These are known as fat soluble vitamins. Vitamin B and its components are considered in the group of water soluble. They easily dissolve in water and find it difficult to penetrate into the tissues. These vitamins are not stored in the body and get excreted if present in excessive amounts.

Let me explain you the important vitamins which should be included in the diet to live a healthy life. Always be careful not to take vitamins in excess quantities as they can cause toxic effects on the body.

Vitamin A

There are many health complications which are produced due to decreased intake of this vitamin. Some of the main uses of this vitamin are,

• Protects vision.
• Prevents night blindness.
• Useful for protein synthesis.
• Produces glycogen.

Thiamine or Vitamin B1

The common uses of this vitamin are,

• Helps in the metabolism of protein.
• Produces hemoglobin which is required to supply oxygen in the body.
• It also promotes growth.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin

Niacin is helpful in performing many activities of the body. Here are a few uses of this vitamin,

• Helps in energy production.
• Athletes require more amount of niacin than the other people.
• Niacin is produced from amino acid tryptophan which is found in turkey meat. Body makes this vitamin even in conditions of deficiency.

Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine

The main uses of this vitamin are,

• Helps in protein metabolism.
• Promotes growth and utilization of carbohydrates.

Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin

Here are a few uses of this vitamin,

• Important for body building.
• Helps in metabolism of carbohydrate.
• Protects the nervous system.
• Useful to stimulate nerves and cause contraction of the muscles.
• Control the action of muscles.

Biotin

This vitamin is more essential in people who perform heavy training exercise. The main uses of Biotin are,

• Helps in amino acid metabolism.
• Do not eat raw eggs because it contains Avidin as it inhibits the uptake of biotin.

Riboflavin

Riboflavin is very essential in our body. Some of the uses of this vitamin are,

• Helps in the production of energy.
• Oxidizes fatty acids.
• Helps in the metabolism of glucose.
• They are mainly required to shut down hydrogen ions in Krebs cycle.

Vitamin D

You can find this vitamin from all natural sources. Deficiency of vitamin D can lead to many health problems. Sun is a major source of this vitamin. The main uses are,

• Helps in Calcium and Phosphorus absorption.
• Calcium is necessary for proper bone growth and muscular contraction. If your body does not contain enough calcium it can lead to the formation of brittle bones.
• Phosphorus helps in quick muscle contractions which is necessary if you doing heavy weight exercise.

Vitamin E

Here are a few uses of this vitamin,

• Helps in protecting the cell membrane and also is a good antioxidant.
• Useful for treating skin diseases.

Hence vitamins are essential to promote good health and a strong body. The deficiency of these vitamins can lead to many health hazards. Supplement your diet with these vitamins to improve the quality of your life.

In today’s fast moving world there are only a few people who follow the rules of nature and live accordingly. People of the newer generation have no time to take care of their health and busy setting up their career and life. Health becomes secondary for these people and as a result they have no time to get down from clinics.

Diseases which were unknown in the past have come up due to these unhealthy living standards. Junk food, fatty food and oily food are commonly used by the people nowadays due to which obesity; dyslipidaemia and cardiac complaints are present even in younger people. Older people are healthier compared to the modern generation.

I am writing this article to make people aware of the phase they are walking through now. You should free yourself from this chain and adopt healthy ways of living to save your body. Here are few ways which can give you a sound body as well as mind.

Exercise
In the modern world people run around the place to make their own living. Exercise has been pushed aside by the public to a corner. They common answer they say when asked about this matter are that they do not have time. Proper exercise is vital to maintain a healthy body. Heavy weight training is not necessary for your body. You can perform simple exercises like walking, jogging and swimming for thirty minutes in a day. This is helpful and will give you new spirits and energy.

Sleep
For an adult at least six hours of sleep is mandatory. Growth of the body takes place mostly during our sleep. This is one of the basic needs of the body and improper patterns of sleep will cause many health problems.

Diet
Make sure to have a diet which includes all the nutrients in correct proportion. Nutritional deficiency is very common in women and you should take care to eat vitamins, minerals, proteins and other essential components in equal quantities.

Merriment
People in their stressful days forget to enjoy life. This will affect the health adversely. Take time to be with your family, go for outings and lead a relaxed life.

Avoid late night jobs
This is an important factor which you have to maintain in your life. Do not sleep late and wake up late in the morning. It is advisable to get up early as it will provide you new energy and stamina.

Hobbies
Every person will have specific interests in their life. Many forget this taste lying in them due to their hectic life schedules. Take time to relax and enjoy the things which you give you immense pleasure.

Avoid alcohol and smoking
Do no indulge in any bad habits like alcohol intake, smoking and other beverages. They are harmful for health and can cause a negative impact. Stay away from all these substance to enjoy life in its full extent.

Relieve stress
If you are in a job which is stressful and tiring, make sure to practice yoga or other relaxation techniques at home. This will take off the load from your head and give you a proper sleep.

Love and passion
This factor is very much important in the life of every individual. Take time to mingle with everyone and lead a peaceful life. Love the people in order to receive it back. God has created each and every thing for a purpose. Respect the value of everything you have and love one another.

Face challenges
Be bold and practical in life. Do not feel frightened to take up new risks. Face the challenges in front of you as they will help you go forward in life.

Following these tips will help you in leading a healthy and safe life. Do not forget to laugh and enjoy which are essential in form a healthy body and mind.

Nowadays people are under constant stress and strain. The world is being competent and people thrive to live in the highly developed society. Stress is unavoidable and it accompanies you in every place. Let it be your job, family or studies, stress is present everywhere. The intensity of stress taken by an individual can vary accordingly but it is always present. People are desperate to know about measures to decrease stress in their life? I am here to explain you how stretching and stress is related? Many have asked me whether stretching will help to decrease stress in their lives.

I am a psychiatrist by profession and have seen many patients in my clinic suffering from stress induced problems. Exercise has seen to be effective in controlling stress to a greater extent. They are simple stretch outs which can be beneficial in conditions when you are highly stressed and tensed. There are many typing exercises for your fingers to tackle stress in computer professionals. Continuous typing on keyboard can lead to many health problems. To prevent this you can adopt these simple methods into your daily routine.

Stretching of back muscles is found effective to decrease the amount of strain which is build up in the back. The muscles get relaxed and give you more energy to keep your work going in a steady phase. Do not maintain a single posture for a long period as it is harmful for your body. Continuous standing or sitting will cause negative impact on your body. To avoid such situations make sure to get up and walk or stretch the back muscles and calf muscles after a period of time. Yoga is also advised for many people as it is the ultimate stretch out to reduce stress.

Yoga is useful to calm your mind and relaxed. They have a dual action, which is on mind as well as body. A person who does yoga everyday will have a sound body and an alert mind. If you are a beginner then start with simple exercises to stimulate the hidden energy in your body. Do not indulge in smoking or alcohol when under high stress as they all take away the pains only for few hours. Stretch every body part when you feel tensed and do breathing exercises. All this will help to decrease your stress and strain and get back on your feet again.

There are many websites and guides available on net which will guide you in the right direction. You can even get free information regarding the exercises and can follow them in your life. There are many places where you understand the different stretching exercises which will help you in reducing stress. Do not indulge in heavy weight training because they will not be helpful in tackling stress. Go in for simple and effective methods and feel the difference in life. Suggesting these methods has brought considerable relief in my patients. They are now able to deal with stress better than before.

Stress is common and present in every individual. You should know the methods to tackle stress and maintain the quality of your life. Simple stretching exercises are there to help you out of this difficulty.

Is massage useful in old age? People often ask this question because they feel confused regarding this question. Massage is useful in any age group and has many benefits. The only point you should keep in mind is that seek the help of a professional while you decide to do massaging. Do not let quacks do the task as that can cause injury to the muscles and other parts of the body. If massaging is done in the right way it relaxes the body and increases our stamina. In old age group the whole process benefits both mind and body. Their weakness and tiredness will be removed and a new spirit will be implanted in them by massaging.

In senior citizens massaging can be used for many conditions. Let me explain you a few important points regarding this topic.

• Massaging helps in relaxation of the whole body. The muscles which are under stress will be eased and brought into a harmonious state. It helps the person to cool down and enjoy the surroundings. After a thorough massage, people feel relaxed, calm and serene.
• Pain relief – it can be used to decrease the pain of joints and muscles in older people. After the age of 60 it is mostly seen that joint pain accompanies elder people. They feel weak and difficulty in walking. The pain is severe and distressing. In these cases massage is helpful as there is special training given nowadays for treating old age group.

Why is Geriatric massage different from normal massage?

When this technique is performed in older people, the whole process should be carried out with utmost care. They are brittle and weak; therefore a treatment indicated for them should be also soft and mild. There are many centers which provide classes on this topic. In geriatric massage, the strokes performed are gentle and mild according to their body type. Hands and legs are the main places where the massage is concentrated as pain is present mainly on this area. Rubbing, rolling, tapping, kneading and pressing are the main movements involved while doing massage in an elderly person. They have no side effects and also affect the mental plane. They reduce stress, anxiety and remove your worries effectively. Diseases like depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, weakness and stiffness of body has been treated using massaging. It is also used in immuno- compromised patients to boost their immunity levels. Proper massaging prevents the accumulation of uric acid and increases the blood circulation to various parts of the body.

Geriatric massage often lasts for thirty minutes. It can vary if the patient is suffering from severe disability. You can direct the procedure to certain parts according to the disease. The person should lie down on a flat surface and follow the rules systematically to get the desired results. The session will have to be repeated according to the disease for relieving the complaints. Massage increases the stamina of the person and increases the immunity naturally and safely. There are free guide lines available in stores which will give you an idea about the treatment procedures and their uses.

Nicotine diminishes your appetite and therefore food intake is less. Once you quite smoking, appetite levels are restored and you crave for food. The over indulgence in food makes you plump and gain weight rapidly. People are not able to control their desire for food when they stop smoking. If you put a check on this matter, there will no weight gain after quitting cigarettes.

Will power and mindset are the two important factors which are required in order to stop smoking. Seek the help of a professional if you are not able to get rid of this habit. Ensure the quality of your life by stopping this dreadful habit. More than 5 lakh people are loosing lives as a result of cigarette smoking. The side effects caused by this substance are tremendous and you will have to sacrifice your lives. An average of 13 to 14 years of life span is decreased in a person who smokes on regular basis.

Smoking not only affects the person who is involved in this activity. It also causes negative impact on pregnant woman and other human beings living in the same atmosphere. Passive smoking is more dangerous than active smoking. With your bad habits you are putting the lives of other people in danger. You can prevent many diseases by stopping this habit forever. Do not indulge in smoking as it eats up your health slowly. If you are a chain smoker you will have problems in the initial days of stopping this habit. They are known as withdrawals and will resolve within a few days or weeks.

Giving up smoking is a hectic process and many people do not have enough will power to take a strong decision. You can get help of from many websites and guides which is available on net to guide you in the right path. Follow them regularly and you can find relief from your illness. Stop smoking and stay healthy forever.

Smoking is injurious to health, you can find this logo on every cigarette packet but people still indulge in this habit. In spite of knowing its harmful effects people take this poison and destroy their lives. I have asked many people why they do not stop smoking.

There are many excuses which are produced in front of me, but the most common are,

• Fear of putting on weight.
• Difficulty in tackling stress.

Even though smoking is not the solution to your stress, people do not give up cigarettes. The feeling obtained after consuming a cigarette is relaxing and makes the person forget his troubles for some time. But the worst part is they are highly toxic and can lead to numerous health hazards. Giving up smoking can decrease numerous diseases like;

• Cardiac complaints.
• Carcinoma of lungs and other parts.
• Tuberculosis.
• Liver complaints.
• Respiratory complaints.

Each and every system is affected due to cigarette smoking. Prolonged use of nicotine will make you sick and lead to death. Do not fear about putting on weight because only a few people will gain weight after stopping this habit.

How is nicotine addiction and weight gain related?

Nicotine diminishes your appetite and therefore food intake is less. Once you quite smoking, appetite levels are restored and you crave for food. The over indulgence in food makes you plump and gain weight rapidly. People are not able to control their desire for food when they stop smoking. If you put a check on this matter, there will no weight gain after quitting cigarettes.

Will power and mindset are the two important factors which are required in order to stop smoking. Seek the help of a professional if you are not able to get rid of this habit. Ensure the quality of your life by stopping this dreadful habit. More than 5 lakh people are loosing lives as a result of cigarette smoking. The side effects caused by this substance are tremendous and you will have to sacrifice your lives. An average of 13 to 14 years of life span is decreased in a person who smokes on regular basis.

Smoking not only affects the person who is involved in this activity. It also causes negative impact on pregnant woman and other human beings living in the same atmosphere. Passive smoking is more dangerous than active smoking. With your bad habits you are putting the lives of other people in danger. You can prevent many diseases by stopping this habit forever. Do not indulge in smoking as it eats up your health slowly. If you are a chain smoker you will have problems in the initial days of stopping this habit. They are known as withdrawals and will resolve within a few days or weeks.

Giving up smoking is a hectic process and many people do not have enough will power to take a strong decision. You can get help of from many websites and guides which is available on net to guide you in the right path. Follow them regularly and you can find relief from your illness. Stop smoking and stay healthy forever.

Emu oil has been used by the aborigines in Australia for many years because of its curative properties. It has tremendous healing powers and is useful to treat many conditions. They are natural and safe and make the finest of all moisturizers. It helps in nourishing the skin naturally and removes all the blemishes and scars present on the skin.

This is why it is used for the treatment for burns. They are effective and helps in removing the marks produced due to burns. It is rich in vitamin A, F and E. All these vitamins are useful for promoting healthy skin. Very few people are allergic to this drug and therefore it is ideal for people who are having sensitive skin.

There are no side effects recorded till now and do not cause any infections when applied on the body. It can be used for many purposes and treating burns is one among them. How does it help in healing burns? When you apply emu oil to the part affected, healing takes place faster and rapidly. Pain is decreased considerably and makes the person comfortable and relaxed. It can be used for all kind of burns and is effective in controlling the wound from getting infected. It is a mixture of unsaturated oils and therefore has the ability to go deep in the skin.

It does not leave any oily feeling on the skin and provides an excellent medium for the transportation of essential oils. It has got anti inflammatory powers and can help in healing wounds faster, decrease swelling and reduce pain. Some people use this oil to treat their arthritis and rheumatic complaints. Emu oil is useful for treating skin complaints like psoriasis and eczema due to its efficiency in cell rejuvenation. If applied over the part which came in contact with burn it will stimulate the cells of the area and cause regeneration of the part.

Emu oil is effective for treating insect bites where there is tremendous swelling and pain. Due to its anti inflammatory properties it helps in controlling the infection which is built up around the area. It gets solid during winter season like coconut oil and can be regained to its normal condition by warming it with hands. Cold sores are treated using emo oil. They can be applied directly over the affected area. You can purchase this product online and in many shops. There are many websites present from which you can order this product for affordable rates. You can also get guide books in which you can read about all the uses of this oil.

It can be used in many diseases like arthritis, injuries, burns, cuts, psoriasis, and in controlling hair fall. The ideal way to use this oil is by applying a little portion to the affected area and massaging it thoroughly. An oily effect should not be present on the skin. If you feel the area slightly oily, it means that you have used the medicine in excess. Emu oil is effective and reliable in treating burns and related conditions.