7 SIGNS YOU ARE UNHEALTHY

We are often guilty of believing that we are a picture of fine health as we have no real signs that anything untoward is going on inside our body. However, this does not have to be true as there are actually a number of indications that we tend to ignore that are actually telling us that something is not right. Failure to pay attention to them will of course tend to lead to things getting worse, so what follows are 7 signs you are unhealthy in the hope that they may stop further problems from occurring.

1. You find that your lips crack.
It may sound like something that just happens due to the weather, but cracked lips, especially at the corners, can actually show that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency. A lack of this vitamin in your system can lead to health issues such as anaemia and it will affect your blood, so look at either buying a supplement to boost the levels, eat foods that are high in it, or consult your doctor to get a special injection that really will make a difference to your health.

2. You are not as tall as you used to be.
This may sound strange, but as we get older there is a tendency for us to shrink, but the rate at which this happens can indicate that there is some kind of issue with our bones and in particular with us developing osteoporosis. The problem with this bone disease is that it then means we are more likely to fracture a bone when we fall or develop curvature of the spine, so early diagnosis will allow you to make changes to your diet that can stop it from progressively getting worse.

3. You pick up more than your fair share of colds.
If you seem to be more prone to picking up colds it may indicate that you need to boost your immune system or there may be some kind of issue with it. You may be lacking in Vitamin C or there could even be a virus attacking it that you are unaware of, so get a blood test carried out that can check if there is anything to be concerned about and try to improve your general health to give it that natural boost.

4. Your urine is too yellow.
It is important that you pay attention to the color of your urine as this can actually be a fantastic indicator about your general health. If you are hydrated your urine should be almost clear, but if you are drinking enough and it is still a dark yellow it may indicate that there is an issue with your kidneys and the waste is not being processed correctly. Look at upping your fluid intake and see if it helps, but only drink water, and if it stays the same get your kidney function checked.

5. Your skin acts up continuously.
If you find that you develop acne, eczema, or any other skin disorder on a regular basis then it can mean more than you are simply not taking care of the skin or using the correct products. Instead, it could be the result of an allergic reaction or it may be your body telling you that it is stressed and needs you to slow down. Your skin is the biggest single organ in your body, so listen to what it is telling you as your body often use it to put out a cry for help and it offers up signs that all is not well and you are not as healthy as you thought you were.

6. You are not sleeping like normal.
If you find that your sleep pattern is disturbed and you are suffering from some form of insomnia it does tend to point towards your body and mind being too stressed. When we sleep, our body is supposed to lower the amount of cortisol coursing through it, but when we are stressed this does not happen and we are thrown out of sync. When this happens our body struggles to repair itself and recharge its batteries leading to us gradually being run down and when this happens we can pick up all kinds of illnesses due to our immune system not operating at full capacity.

7. You are tired, but sleep enough.
If you are getting more than enough sleep, but still find that you are tired in the afternoon, then it may indicate that there is a problem with your thyroid. The problem here is that your adrenal glands are being exhausted leading to your body using up all of its energy early on without it being replaced in the proper manner. This problem can then lead to your body being run down as it is working so hard trying to protect you from the different kinds of toxins that you can pick up during the day from the environment as well as things you are doing. When this happens it leaves you open to other potential health problems, so get your thyroid checked.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHOCOLATE

Chocolate intake may have possible beneficial or detrimental effects. Chocolate doesn’t have only bad side; it has a lot of good sides that we may not know.

There are many types of chocolate such as milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, etc but the best type of chocolate that is benefit is dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate contains less sugar than other types of chocolate. It may support cardiovascular health. Other effects under preliminary research include reduced risks of cancer, coughing and heart disease. Chocolates may lower blood pressure; improve vascular function and energy metabolism.

Some potential effects of chocolate in the body include:

1. Support of Cardiovascular Health: Limited research indicates that cocoa or dark chocolate may produce certain effects on human health. Cocoa has antioxidant activity, an effect not proved in the body.  Some studies have also observed a modest reduction in blood pressure.

Flavonoid which is present in dark chocolate help relaxes the blood pressure and help balance the hormone to be stable. Other than that, dark chocolate help decrease a high blood pressure, and also help get rid and decrease bad cholesterol. It would also stimulate the endorphin production.

Consuming milk chocolate or white chocolate, or drinking fat-containing milk with dark chocolate, appears to largely negate the health benefit.

2. Slows Down Aging: Dark chocolate has flavonoids (usually found in vegetables or fruits with dark color) that act like antioxidant to our body. Antioxidant helps slow down our body from aging.

3. Aphrodisiac: Romantic lore commonly identifies chocolate as an aphrodisiac. The reputed aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate are most often associated with the simple sensual pleasure of its consumption. A gift of chocolate is a familiar courtship ritual. Research looking at the psycho activity of chocolate reveals that methylxanthine, an active biological substance found in chocolate, competes with adenosine, a presynaptic inhibitor modulator, and blocks its receptor. This induced blockage can lead to arousal. The participants' blood pressure decreased, and they showed improvements in insulin sensitivity, meaning they were better able to metabolize glucose.

4. Stimulant: Chocolate may be a mild stimulant to humans mainly due to the presence of theobromine. It is much more potent for horses, and its use in horse racing is prohibited.

Chocolate contains a variety of substances, some of which may have an effect on body chemistry. These include: Anandamide, arginine, caffeine, dopamine, methylated xanthines, oxalic acid, phenethylamine (an endogenous alkaloid sometimes described as a 'love chemical; it is quickly metabolized by monoamine oxidase-B and does not reach the brain in significant amounts), theobromine (the primary alkaloid in cocoa solids and chocolate and partly responsible for chocolate's mood-elevating effect).

5. Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.

6. The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

7. While the sugar in chocolate may give energy, too much of it can cause tooth decay and gum disease if eating without regular and proper teeth brushing. Sugar plays a harmful role in tooth decay by providing the bacteria in your mouth with energy. The bacteria begin to multiply faster, and plaque begins to grow in size and thickness on your teeth. Bacteria can also use sugar as a type of glue to cling to your teeth, making it difficult to get rid of with just a toothbrush.

8. Chocolate contains caffeine and too much caffeine may lead to hypertension, insomnia, anxiety, dehydration and inability to concentrate.

  

HOW TO RESCUE A DROWNING VICTIM

Stay Safe. Wear a personal flotation device if available. The most important thing to remember is not to become a victim yourself.

1. If the victim is conscious, try to reach the victim with something rigid enough to pull him or her back. An oar is a good option.

2. If nothing will reach, throw the victim a rope and encourage him or her to grab on. A life-preserver with a rope attached is a very good option.

3. If the victim is too far for a rope, then there are few additional options for untrained rescuers. If enough people are available, try making a chain by holding hands out to the victim. A rescuer may try swimming out to the victim, but follow these steps:

4. Tie a rope around the rescuer's waist before heading out to the victim and have someone on shore or on a nearby boat holding the rope.

5. Take a pole, oar, rope, or other object to reach the victim. Rescuers should not attempt to directly touch a panicking drowning victim.

6. If the victim is unconscious, take a boat to the victim or tie a rope around the rescuer's waist and let the rescuer pull the victim to shore.

7.  Once a drowning victim is safely out of the water, perform basic first aid. In cold weather, remove the victim's wet clothing - all the way. Cover the victim with a blanket and watch for symptoms of hypothermia. If the victim is not breathing, begin CPR.

Warnings
If you cannot swim, do not enter the water. Instead, there are alternative methods to rescue the victim. You can reach to them with a long pole, throw them a rope, or if some sort of boat is available, row out to them.

Only enter the water if there is nothing around that could be used to reach the victim. Being in the water with someone in a panicked state, like a drowning victim, can be fatal to both the rescuer and the drowning victim.

Do not attempt a reaching assist from a standing position or you may be pulled into the water.

If the victim is panicking, it may be safest to take a hold of him/her from behind. If you try to take hold from the front, he/she may, in panic, grab onto you too tightly, thus pulling both of you under.