stress

What are the top reasons one should consider to quit smoking?

When we are young and strong, care should be taken to pick up good habits and avoid smoking and tobacco chewing which can have a severe and telling effect on our health. On average, smokers die 22 years younger than smokers.

- Quit smoking as it increases the chances of heart diseases and stroke.
- Quit smoking so that you improve your sense of smell, taste and touch.
- Quit smoking as it increases the chances of developing cancers of the lung, mouth, tongue, throat and nose.
- Quit smoking as you get to save some money.
- Quit smoking to feel, look or smell better.
- Quit smoking as its addiction raises irritation and anxiety levels and decreases blood circulation and increases the chances of developing hearing loss.
- Quit smoking to improve your skin tone and texture.
- Quit smoking to reduce wrinkles.
- Quit smoking as it increases the chances of getting asthma and other pulmonary diseases.
- Quit smoking as it weakens the immune system and puts you at a greater risk for infections and illnesses.
- Quit smoking as it decreases blood circulation.
- Quit smoking as it increases the chances of developing hearing loss.
- Quit smoking as it raises irritation and anxiety levels.
- Quit smoking as it also give out passive smoke that puts your loved ones and others at an increased risk of heart disease.
- Quit smoking as it reduces the number of coughs, colds, and earaches.
- Quit smoking as it improves the color of your teeth and fingers.
- Quit smoking as current smokers have a 44 percent greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers do.
- Quit smoking as it reduces your oxygen intake by almost 10 percent, and thus with the elimination of cigarettes, one can begin to feel better.
- Quit smoking as this could give one confidence to take control of other areas of their life.

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Peptic Ulcer – what are the causes, signs and symptoms

The duodenum is the first part of your small intestine. A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or duodenum. A rash in the upper portion of the small intestine or in the stomach lining is called peptic ulcer. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer.

Causes of Peptic Ulcer

- Helicobacter pylori : It is usually caused by a bacterial infection of Helicobacter pylori. It weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum, allowing acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath. Both the acid and the bacteria can irritate the lining and cause an ulcer to form.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Long-term use of these pain relievers is the second most common cause of ulcers. These drugs block prostaglandins, substances in the stomach that help maintain blood flow and protect the area from injury.
- Cigarette smoking not only causes ulcer formation, but also increases the risk of ulcer complications such as ulcer bleeding, stomach obstruction and perforation.
- Evidences suggest that life stresses or personality types contribute to ulcer disease.
- Alcohol, coffee, colas, spicy foods, and caffeine have no proven role in ulcer formation.

Signs and Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer

- Sharp and severe pain and discomfort in the upper central abdomen.
- Ulcer pain occurs usually an hour after meals.
- It rarely occurs in night.
- Duodenal ulcer usually occurs between meals when stomach is empty and is relieved by food.
- The pain lasts for minutes to hours.
- It comes and goes for several days or weeks.
- Some other symptoms may include weight loss, poor appetite, bloating, burping, vomiting and
feeling sick to your stomach.
- Sudden sharp stomach pain that doesn’t go away.
- Black or bloody stools.
- Bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Helpful Hints for avoiding problems…

Prevention is better than cure. People get careless when their back is not hurting and they start doing all the things that they should not do to avoid back ache.
Precautions that you should take are :
- Your neck is best ruined when you hold the phone between your head and shoulders to avoid using your hands. Use a mouthpiece or else get a speaker phone to avoid this situation.
- People who say that in order to lift something, always bend your knees and crouch down to pick up something from floor level are not wrong. You should avoid leaning over from the waist to grab it. It creates a stress on the lower vertebrae.
- Driving for a longer time and in a wrong posture can create bad back ache. Take frequent breaks to get out and stretch. Keep your knees elevated and for that keep your seat as far forward. Keep doing neck exercises and shoulder lifts while you drive.
- Do not continue sitting in the same posture for longer periods. Take breaks to exercise and stretch your neck and upper back. Place a stool to elevate your knees and feel comfortable. You will feel comfortable if the lower part of your buttocks or lower back are pushed against the back of the chair.
- If the body is not prepared for active sports, then you should avoid playing active sports over the weekend. If you are planning to play a cricket match over the weekend with a gang of friends, spend a few extra minutes with the routines for the whole week preceding the get-together.
- Always turn to either of your side with knees close to the edge of bed to get up instead of keeping the legs flat on the bed, and straining the muscles of your lower back.