40 Tips For a Better Life!

Life is made up of good and bad lessons we accumulate along the way. In order to understand it, we must separate it into a few domains, each with its own lessons to teach us. This list of good advice was given by a group of people from all ages. So here are 40 great tips for a great life!

Health 1. Drink a lot of water 2. Eat your breakfast like kings, lunch like princes, and dinner like beggars 3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods made in factories 4. Live your life according to the TEE princpile: Truth, Empathy and Energy. 5. Make time for contemplation and/or prayer 6. Involve more game playing in your life 7. Read more books than you read last year 8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes a day 9. Invest at least 7 hours of sleep every sleep 10. Take 10-30 minutes to walk somewhere each day. Smile while you walk. Character 11. Don't compare your lives to those of others. You have no idea what their journey really looks like. 12. Don't waste time on negative thoughts or things you cannot change. Instead divert your energy to a positive moment in the  present. 13. Don't exaggerate in your actions, keep yourself in check. 14. You don't have to win EVERY argument. Agree to disagree.  15. Don't waste your energy gossipping. 16. Dream more while you're awake. 17. Envy is a waste of time. You may already have all you need, but if not, envy won't get it for you. 18. Forget past events and don't remind your partners of their past mistakes. It will ruin your present happiness. 19. Life's too short to hate people. Don't hate in vain. 20. Make peace with your past, or it will destroy you at present. 21. No one is responsible for your happiness but you. 22. Realize that life is a school and you're here to learn. Problems are just a part of learning, but the lesson they teach will be  with you for life. 23. Smile more. Laugh more. 24. Don't take yourselves so seriously, no one else will! Community 25. Call your family often. 26. Every day give something good to another. 27. Forgive everyone, for everything. 28. Spend time with people over 80 and under 6 - it will teach you a lot. 29. Try to make at least 3 people smile, every day. 30. What other people think of you is none of your concern. 31. Your work won't take care of you when you're sick. Your family and friends will. Don't cut ties. Life 32. Do the right thing. It pays in the long term 33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or brings you enjoyment. 35. Forgiveness heals all wounds. 36. No matter how good or bad the current situation is, it'll change. 37. The best is yet to come. 38. When you wake up alive in the morning, don't take it for granted - embrace it. 39. The secret of secrets in your heart is that you CAN be happy - so be happy. 40. Never forget to enjoy the time you have, the moment you are in, and the people that share these things with you!

Dengue: Symptoms, causes and treatment

The alarming rise in cases of dengue across cities in the country has become an increasing cause of worry. It now more important than ever to be aware of the risk factors, and protect yourself. Prevention in this case, is truly better than cure.

What is dengue?

Dengue is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by “Aedes” mosquitoes. The mosquitoes that transmit Dengue live among humans and breed in discarded tires, flower pots, old oil drums, and water storage containers close to human dwellings.

Dengue cannot be spread directly from person to person, i.e., is not contagious. A person can only become infected by the bite of a mosquito that is infected with the dengue virus. he World Health Organization estimates that 2.5 billion people (two fifths the world's population), risk contracting dengue, and that there may be as many as 50 million cases of dengue fever every year.

Symptoms

Dengue usually begins with chills, headache, pain while moving the eyes, and backache. Persistent high fever is characteristic of dengue. Other symptoms to watch out for are exhaustion, backache, joint pains, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure and rash.

In less than 5% of cases there can be severe disease which can lead to low platelets in blood leading to risk of bleeding, fall in blood pressure, fluid accumulation in chest and abdomen and rarely even fatal liver damage.


Treatment

Because dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific treatment for it; treatment of dengue is typically concerned only with the relief of symptoms. People who show the symptoms mentioned above should immediately consult a physician. It is important to drink plenty of fluids, stay hydrated, and get as much rest as possible.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)

DHF is a more severe form of dengue and can be fatal if untreated. It tends to affect children under the age of ten, and causes abdominal pain, haemorrhage (bleeding), and circulatory collapse (shock).

Prevention

• The prevention of dengue requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes dengue.

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• To prevent mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when outdoors.

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• “Aedes” mosquitoes usually bite during the day. Therefore, special precautions should be taken during early morning hours before day break and in the late afternoon before dark.

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• Eliminate stagnant water that serve as mosquito breeding sites at home, workplaces and their vicinity.

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• Using mosquito nets at home and patients need to be kept under mosquito netting until the second bout of fever is over and they are no longer contagious.

Cover overhead tank to prevent access to mosquitoes.

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• Eliminate breeding ground by removing unused plastic pools, old tires, or buckets ,clearing clogged gutters and by spraying insecticide between houses .
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• Conduct dengue awareness programs in your apartment complex and neighbourhood.

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• Advise people showing symptoms of dengue to immediately go for a check-up and get treatment.

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• The most effective way to prevent mosquito bite and to reduce the number of mosquitoes around homes or neighbourhoods is to find and eliminate their breeding sites.

World's Unusual Tunnels

These tunnels are ones that you don't often see because they are rare or unique. Some have even become very popular tourist attractions!

Here are Pictures Of Eight Rare Tunnels. Enjoy! :) 


1. The Tower Tunnel, Japan



One of the most curious buildings in Japan is the Gate Tower Building in Osaka, Japan. This building is the result of an unusual compromise between the land owner and the Japanese government. The 5th, 6th and 7th floors of this 16-story office building is occupied by an express highway - passing right through the building. On the building's floor information board on the ground floor, the tenants for the three floors are listed as the Hanshin Expressway. 

The tunnel does not make contact with the building. Highway passes through as a bridge-tunnel, held up by supports next to the building. The highway is surrounded by a structure to protect the building from noise and vibration. 

2. Tunnel Log, California, USA


Tunnel Log is a tunnel cut through a fallen giant sequoia tree in Sequoia National Park, California, USA. 


The tree, which measured 275 feet (84 m) tall and 21 feet (6.4 m) in diameter, fell across a park road in 1937 due to natural causes. The following year, a crew cut an 8-foot (2.4 m) tall, 17-foot (5.2 m) wide tunnel through the trunk, making the road passable again 

3. Tunnel of Love, Ukraine


One of the most beautiful tunnels in the World can be found near the city of Klevan in Ukraine - The Tunnel of Love. This is in fact a train tunnel of trees. It's the main attraction in the area and also one of the most beautiful places in Ukraine. 


During the warm months of the year the trees planted next to each other form a fairy green tunnel along one kilometer (0.6 MI) long section of the railway. Not a lot of people seem to know very much about the tunnel, or have ever heard of it at all, making it a well-kept secret. 

4. Tunnel Rock, California, USA


Tunnel rock is located just inside the entrance to Sequoia National Park in Central California. A huge granite boulder beneath which the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) dug a tunnel for the roadway in 1938. The road now bypasses the 'tunnel' but visitors can walk beneath this 'balanced rock'. 

5. The "L" Tunnel, Illinois, USA


This tunnel is located above the McCormick Tribune Campus Center at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. 


A major design challenge was the noise of the public transit tracks passing over the lot. The solution was to enclose a 530-foot (160 m) section of the tracks in a stainless steel tube passing over the building. The tube's support structure is completely independent of the building's, to minimize vibration passing between them. 

6. Natural Tunnel, Virginia, USA

Natural Tunnel is a massive naturally formed cave that is so large it is used as a railroad tunnel. The tunnel's 200-foot (61m) width is large enough to accommodate trains, so in 1906 Southern Railway established a passenger line that snaked under the natural structure. Today, the passenger rail is no longer in use, but freights continue to haul coal through the tunnel on a regular basis. The awe-inducing nature of the structure led William Jennings Bryan, 1896 presidential candidate and Woodrow Wilson's secretary of state, to declare it the eighth wonder of the world. 

7. Guoliang Tunnel, China


The magnificent tunnel road in the Taihang mountains was built by 13 local villagers headed by their chief, Shen Mingxin, and took around five years to finish. This tunnel was opened to traffic in 1977. The 1200 meter (3,940ft) long Guoliang tunnel is about 5 meters (16ft) high and 4 meters (13ft) wide. 


The tunnel passes through the side of an almost vertical section of a mountain with many holes that looks likes windows. Traveling this road is extremely thrilling because of the seemingly bottomless cliff right next to it 


8. Tunnel of Fish, Spain

Journey to the undersea world of the 70 meter (230 ft) tunnel at the L'Oceanografic (marine park) in Valencia, Spain where the sea life becomes part of your life. The water moves around and above you as the illuminated lights reflect off the many fish swimming through this unique tunnel. 


The blue and green hues of the water and the specially designed glass used for this tunnel, reflects tourists visiting and gives the impression of almost being part of the sea existence. If staring eye to eye with these fish is not enough excitement for you, wait until you come face to face with a shark, eel or stingray. Thousands of tourists stroll this incredible tunnel every year and explore the fascinating life of many different species of fish. 

Penang (Malaysia)Snake Temple The Temple of the "Azure Cloud"

The Snake Temple (Chinese: 蛇庙; pinyin: Shé Miào; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tsuâ-biō) is situated inSungai Kluang, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia and is perhaps the only temple of its kind in the world. 

The temple is filled with the smoke of burning incense and a variety ofpit vipers. The vipers are believed to be rendered harmless by the sacred smoke, but as a safety precaution, the snakes have also been de-venomed but still have their fangs intact.

Visitors are warned against picking up the reptiles and placing them on their bodies for taking pictures. Local devotees believe that the temple's snake population has come there of its own accord.

The temple was built circa 1850 in memory of Chor Soo Kong (祖師公), by a Buddhistmonk. Chor Soo Kong (also known as Qingshui) was born with the Tan surname (陳昭應, or Tan Chhiau-eng) in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). He was very serious about spiritual attainment and was ordained at a young age. 

Legend has it that Chor Soo Kong, who was also a healer, gave shelter to the snakes of jungle. When he died at the age of 65 after a lifetime of good deeds, he was bestowed the honorific title Chor Soo, meaning an eminent historic figure continuously revered by a community generation after generation. After the completion of the temple, snakes appeared on their own accord. The Snake Temple was originally named the "Temple of the Azure Cloud" in honor of the beauty of Penang's sky.

Believers from as far away as Singapore and Taiwan come to pray in the temple on Chor Soo Kong's birthday (the sixth day of the first lunar month).

(Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_Temple)

The pictures of the temple and the snakes are given below:

The Snake Temple is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and entrance to the temple grounds is free. Photography inside of the Snake Temple is not allowed to prevent stressing the resident reptiles. Snakes can also be found hanging from branches in the courtyard interior of the temple. 

Diet for Senior Citizens

Ageing (British English) is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline. Reaction time, for example, may slow with age, while knowledge of world events and wisdom may expand.

(Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing)

Ageing is associated with a lot of free radical release in the body. It is also called as oxidation of cells. Weak muscles, graying and falling of hair, reduced skin tone, susceptibility to colds and coughs and lack of energy are symptoms of oxidation.

As you age, your need for nutrition increase. Your body is in a degenerative mode. Growth of cells and tissues is slow but repairing of tissues is at a higher rate.

You suffer from low immunity, poor digestion, weak bones and muscles and fatigue. Activity of the body reduces and you may be a victim of metabolic disorders like diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, etc. All this does not mean that you have to eat less. Eating right becomes more important than eating less.

Vitamins like vitamin E, C, A and some minerals are essential in right quantities to reduce the ill-effects of free radicals in the body.

At times, food becomes very important during old age as that is the time when you can spend some time with the rest of the members of the family. 

Women especially should be very careful about their diet in old age. Due to menopause, the ability to absorb calcium reduces and they may get weakness in joints and susceptibility to fractures very easily. Food cooked should be soft and easy to chew, in case there have been teeth extractions or dentures are being used.

Tips to right eating in old age:

- Add plenty of natural colour to your diet. Two to three meals of seasonal fruits will work as antioxidants and prevent constipation.

- Egg whites are a good source of protein important for repair of worn out cells and tissues. For vegetarians, paneer made from low-fat milk is good substitute.

- Use of mustard oil or olive oil is a good cooking medium as both prevent high cholesterol and improve good cholesterol in the blood.

- Six to seven small meals in a day aid digestion, absorption and prevent fatigue.

- Vegetables soups without cream and thickening agents are a healthy meal to be taken as a supper.

- Always leave your home with a small healthy snack in your bag, to avoid eating out.

- Avoid processed foods with artificial colours and preservatives.

- Potassium-rich foods like cumin seeds (zeera), sweet limes, fenugreek seeds (methi) and coconut water are good for muscular flexibility, prevent water retention and swellings. They also contribute to maintain blood pressure.

- For a high dose of nutrition, add curd to the dough for rotis to improve the biological value of the cereal, and to keep them soft.

- Oats porridge is an excellent breakfast for seniors.

- Drink about 15 glasses of water in a day to prevent dehydration. In old age, muscle density reduces and susceptibility to dehydration is always very high, especially in summer.

- Do not overcook the food to make it soft as by doing so one destroys vital nutrients. Instead, select foods which need less time to cook.

- Also, exercise regularly, stretch and do yoga to ensure absorption of nutrients well.

Finally in case you suffer from any medical disorder, consult a professional nutrition consultant for your individual requirement.

20 Tips to ward off Dementia

(Note: Due to the shifting of my residence from Old Mahabalipuram Road,Chennai to another house in Mogaippair,Chennai ,I was busy with the activities relating to shifting of the house. I got the broad band connection in the new house only two days back.

For this reason, I was unable to continue my blogging activities till yesterday and I also could not visit the blogs of my 'Indi blogger' friends for promoting their posts. I will continue my blogging activities from today--Sai baba)

What is Dementia and what are the effects of Dementia?

Dementia (taken from Latin, originally meaning "madness", from de- "without" + ment, the root of mens "mind") is a serious loss of global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging. It may be static, the result of a unique global brain injury, or progressive, resulting in long-term decline due to damage or disease in the body. 

Although dementia is far more common in the geriatric population, it can occur before the age of 65, in which case it is termed "early onset dementia".

Dementia is not a single disease, but rather a non-specific illness syndrome (i.e., set of signs and symptoms) in which affected areas of cognition may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving. 

It is normally required to be present for at least 6 months to be diagnosed; cognitive dysfunction that has been seen only over shorter times, in particular less than weeks, must be termed delirium. In all types of general cognitive dysfunction, higher mental functions are affected first in the process.

Especially in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time (not knowing what day of the week, day of the month, or even what year it is), in place (not knowing where they are), and in person (not knowing who they, or others around them, are). 

Dementia, though often treatable to some degree, is usually due to causes that are progressive and incurable as observed in primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible, depending upon the etiology of the disease. Fewer than 10% of cases of dementia are due to causes that may presently be reversed with treatment. Causes include many different specific disease processes, in the same way that symptoms of organ dysfunction such as shortness of breath, jaundice, or pain are attributable to many etiologies.

(Source and refer for other details :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia)

Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. It was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him.

Alzheimer's disease is also known as simplyAlzheimer's, and Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT) .

Most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late. Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier.

"More and more research is suggesting that lifestyle is very important to your brain's health," says Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a neuro-psychologist and an adjunct  associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "If you want to live a long, healthy life, then many of us need to start as early as we can."

     Dr. Paul Nussbaum

So what can you do to beef up your brain - and possibly ward off dementia?

Nussbaum, who recently gave a speech on the topic for the Winter Park (Fla.)

Health Foundation, offers 20 tips that may help.

1. Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering

now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire.


2.
Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because

you're trying something new and complex.



3
Practise writing with your non-dominant hand several minutes everyday.

This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.



4.
Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only

regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the

incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. 

The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of

dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.

5. 
Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zeal and found that, of

1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from

dementia! 

Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their

brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a

garden.



6.

Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health

is important to maintain blood flow to the brain. Or... buy a pedometer and

walk 10,000 steps a day.

7.
Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that

process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates

many areas of the brain as well.


8.
Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's

a stress reducer.



9.
Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,

you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one

language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual

seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. And

some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the

higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia.

So start them early.



10.
Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing

your brain, you're socializing too. Playing solo games, such as solitaire or

online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games

that encourage you to socialize too.



11.
Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and

chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live

longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees

live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent

only in the very later stages of the disease.



12.
Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that

music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two

hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research

that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers

don't understand why.



13.
Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you

were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.



14.
Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on

a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate

a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found

experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots

of information about locations and how to navigate there.


15.
Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people

who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report

happier, healthier lives.


16.
Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut

out the stresses of everyday life.



17.
Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep

and dementia.


18. Eat more foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines,

tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher

in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and

walnut oil are good sources too.



19.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables

mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading

killers of brain cells.



20.
Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down,

socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate

alone or on the go.

DOING ALL 20 THINGS LISTED ABOVE AND YOU WILL NOT FIND ENOUGH

TIME IN YOUR LIFE TO FIT IN DEMENTIA AS WELL: IN OTHER WORDS,

"CONTINUE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ALREADY DO AND YOU

WILL HAVE COVERED MOST OF THE THINGS LISTED!"

(For other details  of the works of Dr.Paul Nussbaum visit http://www.paulnussbaum.com/)