Journey With Myself Promotion : Promote to win a top level domains + Hosting!

This is a promotional giveaway where you could win the following prizes: Top Level Domains [Like *.com *.org *.in etc] Premium hosting for 1 year Many domains This promotion will run from Sunday, 12th October’ 2011 to 31st October’ 2011 00:00 hours (mid-night). Result of the promotion will be announced on within a week and prizes will be distributed to all the winners in the next 3 weeks’ time.

Every Day is A New Day

New day.. New office location.. New Seat.. So many new things happened to me before this new year comes. Newness always brings enthusiasm and excitement. Hope this New Year also comes with hand full of surprises as Every Day is a New Day indeed..!!!

12 Most Famous Love Stories of All Time

When: 31 BC Where: Rome and Egypt What’s So Special about Their Love: These two had a love so strong, war was waged against them to break them up. When Mark Antony left his wife, Octavia, for the mesmerizing Cleopatra, Octavia’s brother Octavian brought the army of Rome to destroy them. These two lovers were so entranced with each other that they committed suicide rather than be apart- the ultimate Romeo and Juliet true love story.

Mahatma`s Teachings

I like both the movies MunnaBhai MBBS and Lage Raho MunnaBhai. I dont know about the Gandhi`s political decisions but I believe in his teachings to the nation.

Universal Truth about Boys............lolz!!

Now i truly admit, Google is very very very smart......

Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts

Friday, December 9, 2011

Survival Tips for Allergy Sufferers




Itchy eyes. Runny noses. Constant sneezing. If you have allergies, these misery-makers are a way of life. But you don’t have to suffer. Lifescript talked to top allergy specialist Maeve O'Connor, M.D., for survival tips and the best treatments. Plus, find out how hormones make allergies worse… 

Are your allergies seasonal? Is it Fluffy? Or your food? Whatever the source, one thing is the same: They’re uncomfortable – if not debilitating – to deal with. 

As many as 50 million of us suffer from allergic diseases, according to the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology. Around 54% of Americans test positive for one or more allergens. 

What can you do to relieve the distress? We talked to Maeve O’Connor, M.D., a specialist in allergy, asthma and clinical immunology at the Carolina Allergy & Asthma Center in Charlotte, N.C., for the latest in the allergy wars.

What exactly are allergies?Think of your immune system in two parts: One fights infection; the other responds to perceived threats, like allergens. Many substances act as allergens, including foods, pet dander, mold, ragweed or pollen. You’re typically exposed through the environment, as a fetus or eating.

So what happens in an allergic reaction? The first time your body is exposed to an allergen, nothing happens. The next time it’s exposed, the body starts producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). 

These antibodies circulate in the body, causing the release of histamines and other chemicals, such as leukotrines, which are immune mediators; they cause inflammation and allergy symptoms in the nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, skin or stomach. 

Are women more prone to allergies than men?Actually, men and women are pretty evenly split when it comes to allergies. But hormones can make allergies more challenging for women. 

What effect do hormones have on allergies?It’s not the estrogen itself that can trigger symptoms, but changing estrogen levels can activate proteins that produce an inflammatory response, which exacerbates allergies.


These changes can occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle, perimenopause and menopause. Experts believe that nasal congestion often gets worse when estrogen levels rise. But there’s no way to predict how your allergies will change since women’s hormone levels vary.

Do these hormonal changes include pregnancy?During pregnancy, a third of women will notice that their symptoms get worse, a third will see an improvement, and a third will have no change.

More sinus congestion can also be caused by expanding blood vessels in the nose and increasing blood volume in pregnancy. 

Does stress affect allergies?Absolutely. Stress triggers the release of cortisol and other hormones, which can make you more sensitive to allergens. Recent studies have shown that even slight or moderate levels of anxiety and stress can worsen allergy symptoms. 

Stress affects the immune system, raising levels of immune mediators that heighten allergic response. So patients may require more medication during stressful times than at other times.

Stress also can exacerbate skin allergies, including hives and eczema, and cause unexplained itching. 

Are there other risk factors, like weight? Obesity doesn’t seem to worsen allergies. A family history of allergies is the biggest risk factor for developing them.

What health problems are linked to allergies?Women who have autoimmune diseases – Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis – are more likely to suffer from allergies. They’re all examples of immune system dysfunction. That’s why allergists and rheumatologists overlap a lot.

For example, hives can be caused by allergies, but also by autoimmune disease. I often diagnose autoimmune disease [even though] I’m seeing people for chronic hives. 

More people these days seem to have food allergies. Is that a reality? Yes. One study cites an 18% increase in the incidence of peanut allergies over the past 10 years. The question is, why?



Some people believe that the use of hand sanitizers, the overuse of antibiotics and too much time indoors is skewing our immune systems. We’ve become less capable of separating harmful substances from safe ones. As a result, we’re overly sensitive to potential allergens.

We also have better testing now. But we have a lot of false results. People who aren’t certified by the American Board of Allergy/Immunology are doing tests and possibly not interpreting the results properly.

That’s why it’s important to have allergies treated by someone who specializes in allergies and immunology.

Is global warming really causing more allergies?Studies suggest it is. As the earth has gotten warmer, the pollen season has been extended, which makes allergies last longer. And the longer warm seasons have increased the incidence of bug bite allergies because certain insects thrive in warm climates.

Also, the warmer climate is causing higher ozone levels, which increase allergy and asthma problems – especially for people sensitive to outdoor allergens like pollen.

This year has been especially bad. We’re having more pollen than ever. The pollen is so thick it’s acting like an irritant. It gets into the lungs and nasal cavity, creating symptoms.

I’ve even had non-allergic patients calling me complaining of coughing.

How can they get relief? Several ways: over-the-counter remedies, lifestyle strategies and prescription treatments, including shots.

Which over-the-counter remedies are best? Choosing the right one often requires trial and error. But these drugs aren’t without side effects, so talk to your doctor before using one. The drug you choose depends on your symptoms.

If you have seasonal allergies or hives, you might want to try an antihistamine such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). These block the action of histamine [a substance produced by the body that causes an allergic reaction] and can stop the running nose, itchy eyes and sneezing.
 For a stuffy nose, you may want a decongestant such as pseudephedrine (Sudafed). These work by narrowing your blood vessels and reducing the amount of fluid that leaks into the nose’s lining. Decongestants are sometimes combined with antihistamines. 

But be wary of decongestants if you suffer from high blood pressure – they can boost it. And topical decongestants like Afrin shouldn’t be used for more than 3-4 days in a row; beyond that, they can worsen congestion.

For irritated, red or itchy eyes, I recommend eye drops specifically for allergies, such as ketotifen (Zaditor) and naphazoline (Naphcon A). But don’t [use] eye drops that remove the red – they won’t relieve the itch.

To get rid of red [eyes], [try] saline eye drops that don’t contain tetrahydrozolin – it’s a vasoconstricting chemical [that shrinks blood vessels]. Prolonged use can cause blood vessels to be dilated for an expanded period of time, which can cause a “rebound” effect that actually make redness worse.

When do you need a prescription drug? If OTC remedies don’t work or if side effects are intolerable. Severe allergies, for example, may require prescription antihistamines, drugs that modify inflammation-causing leukotrienes and/or nasal or systemic corticosteroids.

But again, tell your doctor about your other medications and health conditions. Certain allergy medications can’t be used by people who have high blood pressure or glaucoma – they may raise blood pressure (and pressure in the eye).

Are there any promising new drugs?There are a couple new antihistamine nose sprays called azelastine (Astepro) and olopatadine (Patanase) that work really well at relieving congestion. They [supply] antihistamine directly to the nasal passage.

There’s also a new Zyrtec derivative called levocetirizine hydrochloride (Xyzal). It’s less sedating than Zyrtec and is also FDA-approved for chronic hives.

If someone doesn’t want to use drugs, what natural remedies do you recommend? I like the neti pot, an ancient treatment that irrigates the sinuses with saline – it’s wonderful.

At first, many patients don’t like it, and it can be irritating. But after about a week, improvement in their nasal symptoms is obvious. They just need to stick with it.
 However, [using it] once a day is the maximum. If you notice any irritation, bleeding or drying, back off and only do it during the week, not weekends. 

Some people talk about echinacea or locally produced honey as a remedy. But the evidence on those is weak.

Of course, there’s the placebo effect: If you’re eating local honey and you notice an improvement in your allergies, then I say go for it.

The bottom line is, we need more studies on these homeopathic measures.

What lifestyle strategies or changes do you recommend? It depends on what’s setting off your allergies. If you suffer from dust mite allergies, I recommend vacuuming regularly and using dust mite encasements on mattresses and pillows. Women who travel a lot, for example, should always carry covers because hotel rooms are notorious for dust mites.

If outdoor allergens are the problem, don’t sleep with the window open or drive with the window down. Brush animals after they come inside. Wash your hair after spending time outdoors.

If you’re allergic to pet dander, try washing your pet more often – and ask someone else to do the job. Change the filters in your house regularly and never allow the animal to sleep in your bedroom.

When should someone consider allergy shots? If you’ve tried all the above measures and you’re still not getting relief, or you require multiple medications, call an allergy and immunology specialist. Shots are recommended if your allergy symptoms are really bad or if you have asthma.

[The shots are] a form of desensitization therapy, which dampens the immune response to an allergen. After 3-5 years, you can usually stop the shots and be completely symptom-free.

They’re about 85% effective at providing relief. Effectiveness depends on the severity of a person's allergies and the number of substances to which the person is allergic.

Patients taking shots are often able to stop their allergy medications or use them "as needed," instead of daily. Also, the shots have been proven to stop the "allergic march" in children – preventing allergic children from developing asthma.
 Isn’t there a treatment that doesn’t involve shots?
Like allergy shots, sublingual immunotherapy, or SLT, desensitizes you to allergens, but by putting liquid drops of the allergen under your tongue. SLT studies are promising but not complete. It hasn’t been approved by the FDA, but it’s being used in Europe with some success.

So far, SLT is considered less effective than shots. But it's a simpler treatment because patients can do it at home.

Both shots and SLT expose an allergic person to the allergen. Can someone do food exposure treatments at home?No. If you’re allergic to a food, it’s way too dangerous to do this yourself at home. Duke University has had promising results with food allergies in children, particularly peanut-allergic children. But these are tightly controlled studies with carefully administered dosages of peanuts.

There’s always a risk of death if you eat something you’re allergic to. Oral challenges should be performed in the office of an allergist who has been board-certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. At this point, desensitization to food allergens is for research purposes only.

What’s Your Allergy IQ?
Ignorance may be bliss, but not when it comes to a stuffy, sneezy, scratchy problem like allergies. Maybe you suffer from seasonal allergies. Or perhaps the bed bugs really are biting. Do you know what’s making you itch? Find it out .

Monday, November 21, 2011

Height increasing exercises



Good height is desired by one and all. It adds to your over-all personality and boosts your confidence level. In this phony world, where looks are given undue importance, a short person is likely to suffer from inferiority complex. Fortunately, there are ways to increase your height through a tactfully engineered exercise program, especially designed to elongate the spine and torso, strengthen core muscles, improve posture and enabling your body to increase the release of growth hormone in to the blood stream. The following few stretching exercises and yoga postures are considered to be effective in increasing the height of a person.

1. Cobra Pose
This yoga posture is known to substantially stretch and elongate the spine, consequently increasing the overall height of the person. To get into this posture, first lie flat on your stomach, facing down on the floor. Now place your palms beneath your shoulders. Gently raising your chin up by arching the back, feel a nice stretch in the whole back area extending till the neck and shoulders. Hold the position for 30 seconds to get the maximum benefits. Repeat Cobra pose for at least three times to begin with, and increase the number of repetitions gradually.
2. Super Cobra
This posture is an extension of Cobra pose and further aids in increasing the height of a person. Get into the cobra pose to start with. Your arms should be perpendicular to the ground, your back arched while raising your chin gently upwards. Once you are in the cobra pose, bend your hips slowly to bring your body in an inverted “V” position. While you get getting into the “V” position, tuck your chin against your chest. Hold the position for 10-15 seconds and then slowly get back to the cobra pose. Repeat this set, altering cobra pose and super cobra pose for at least six times to begin with.
3. Super Stretch
This is relatively a simple stretching exercise, which can be practiced by kids as well as grand parents. To do this stretch, stand straight with your hands placed firmly by your side. Now gently raise your arms up and as high as you possibly can. You may also lean back a little to feel a nice stretch across the lower back area. Hold the stretch for nearly 15 seconds and slowly get back to the original position. Repeat this stretch as many times as you can.
4. Hanging
Gravity can be considered an obstacle to growing taller. Given that we all spend a significant amount of day in an upright, vertical position, gravity causes our spine and joints to compress and shorten. Hanging helps to counteract this effect by elongating your arms, torso and the spine. Surprisingly, hanging alone can increase a person’s height by one to two inches. This exercise is especially good for growing kids and also is a fun exercise. Grasp a bar firmly and hang from it for as long as you can. This hanging practice helps the spine to get lengthened and straightened, which ultimately adds to the height of a person. Hanging is also a great exercise to improve posture. Kids can do hanging exercises at community parks along with other children to make it more competitive and enjoyable.
5. The Bow down
This position gives a nice stretch to the legs, especially hamstrings along with elongating the spine. To get into the bow down position, begin with standing upright straight with your hands firmly placed on your hips. Gently start to bend forward and continue doing so for as far as you can without bending the knees. Your head would face down, while chin should be away from the chest. Hands should stay on your hips at all times. After staying in the position for about 8-10 seconds, slowly get back to the start position. Repeat the bow down pose for six times to begin with, and gradually increase the frequency.
6. Basic leg stretch
This one works equally well for legs as well as the spine. In the sitting position, stretch your legs forward and spread them as far apart as possible. Now try to touch the toes of your one leg with your hands without bending the knees. Keep the legs stretched out and stay in the position for at least 7-10 seconds. Next, do the same stretch with the other leg. Repeat this stretching exercise for at least four times to start with.