Man's most dangerous enemy is at the gates
Copyright 2006 John Piper
Man's greatest enemy cannot be seen, it cannot be heard, and it is so small that billions, yes billions, will fit onto the head of a pin. As you read this, the enemy is massing for an attack. Many billions, many trillions of these beings are busy trying to find the key so that they can infect you. A few have already succeeded but at that point in their evolution it was not easy for a human being to get infected and the virus, known as H5N1 but more commonly called bird flu, was very alien to human physiology. This resulted in a very high death rate – in excess of 50% of those infected in the very early days.
As the virus continues to evolve there is hope, based on past experience, that as it becomes more adaptable to human beings it will become less deadly.
In 1918 an ancestor of this virus, H1N1 by name, launched a mass attack on us and killed up to 100 million people. I cannot be precise, as in 1918 records were not kept as carefully as today, and this virus hit as the Great War ended and confusion reigned. But the UK National Health Service puts the death toll at 50 million and that does not include those who were misdiagnosed or those who were killed in the resulting panic or as a result of the disruption of vital services.
In 1918 we did not even know what a virus was and it is tempting to think that this time round we will be ready. But the sad fact is we are not. There is no effective vaccine in place and there cannot be until we know what form the virus will take when the pandemic starts. We could spend millions producing vaccine but then we might find it is useless. Some might say we should anyway and that is something I will touch on later.
But are there not anti-viral drugs? Yes, these do exist but Tamiflu, which seems likely to have most effect, is in very short supply. It is also in high demand - it is available on the internet but at over $600 for five packs of ten – usual price from Roche, around $20 per pack!
The effectiveness of Tamiflu is aslo suspect with resistant forms of the virus already in place. The more Tamiflu that is used the more resistant strains will appear. Similarly as millions of birds are vaccinated the virus has more and more "experience" and learns to bypass these enemies.
But do not despair, there is plenty that you can do and I will cover this in future articles.
------
John Piper is a freelance researcher and writer with four books under his belt. He specialises in stock markets and health. Feel free to contact the author at john@ttttt.freeserve.co.uk with any comments on this article or visit http://www.virusalert1.com for John's Book on bird flu.
Effective Ways To Stop Smoking Cigarettes
A purpose is the eternal condition for success.
Every former smoker can tell you just how hard it is to stop smoking cigarettes. However, there are a range of stop smoking commodities that can assist you on your transition to a smoke-free lifestyle. Though there is no cure for smoking, there are a variety of smoking free videos, quit smoking aid groups and prescription and natural stop smoking aids that will make your endeavour to quit smoking cigarettes much easier for you.
Quit Smoking Tips
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Lao-tzu, Tao-te Ching
You may feel like you will never possess enough commitment power to quit smoking cigarettes. However, trying to stop smoking is just like all things else in the world. It takes practice. Very few individuals stop for good on the principal try. Each time you try to stop, it will get a little easier, especially if you are knowledgeable of some of the best ways to quit smoking.
These days, there are a variety of goods on the market that can assist you to stop smoking cigarettes. There are laser smoking restraint treatments, acupuncture cessation smoking methods, and even a smoking cessation shot. You can also see your physician to obtain a stop smoking antidepressant. These medicines help to relieve stress and to also cut down on your cravings, serving you to stop smoking faster and more permanently.
A person with some doubt but taking action is better than one with no doubt taking no action. Michael E. Angier
If you are interested in nicotine interchange methods to help stop smoking cigarettes, you might consider purchasing the patch or nicotine gum. The patch is just a patch that you apply everyday that delivers a stable amount of nicotine into your system. Rather than dealing with nicotine withdrawal symptoms such as irritation or hunger, the patch allows you to gradually wean yourself off of the drug by gradually reducing the amount of nicotine every week or so. The patch has proven to be one of the best ways to quit smoking.
Nicotine gum is another method that can help you to stop smoking cigarettes. Nicotine gum works greatly like the patch, except that you can control the amount of nicotine you are receiving. Every time you have a cigarette hunger, you can reach out for a new chunk of gum rather than a cigarette. If you strictly follow the directions that go along with these nicotine gum stop smoking products, you will discover that your cravings are drastically reduced. Rather than spending your entire day fighting your cigarette cravings, you can feel a bit more normal while you are trying to stop smoking.
A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided. Anthony Robbins
No matter what stop smoking methods you use to stop smoking cigarettes, you can rest assured that it is worth it. You will have much more energy once you boot the routine, and you will also save a lot of cash. All of these benefits pale in comparison, however, to the fitness benefits you will giving yourself and the people around you.
I hope you have gotten some good quit smoking advice from this article and that you are able to use them.
Steve Hill discusses the quit smoking process. Learn the facts before you decide which quit smoking product to buy. Read more no-bull stop smoking articles and information at: quit smoking and how to stop smoking
The Successful Resolution of Mechanical Low Back Pain (and other disorders of the body).
Copyright 2006 Robert Ryles
This article will explain to you the principles that lie behind the successful resolution of mechanical low back pain (and other disorders). They are a series of logical simple to understand steps that underpin successful treatment practice and effective exercise prescription
DIAGNOSIS
The first step is diagnosing what the problem is. This is done by doctors and therapists basically using two methods. The first one being what the patient says or complains of and the second being what is actually found by the practitioner from their physical examination.
Both of these are vital suppliers of information for a correct diagnosis. The sum total of all the information gleaned from both methods should build a picture of the exact problem that leads on to the diagnosis.
Sometimes it is possible to ascertain an EXACT diagnosis and other times it is not. Having an exact diagnosis is desirable but not absolutely essential to successful treatment. What is important is that the existence or absence of certain conditions is ascertained so that the correct treatment and advice can be followed.
In the case of back pain it is important to be able to put the cause of the pain down to a mechanical problem affecting the back. With reference to back pain there are certain conditions from other body systems that give pain in the back and these must be ruled out before treatment of the back can begin
PAIN RESOLUTION
Before normal movement and function can be looked at the aspect of pain must be considered. This is because in the initial stages of an episode of back pain the pain is there to prevent further damage occurring. It is important that this pain is allowed to settle and further damage is not caused. A few days of the CORRECT rest is normally sufficient to achieve this. Longer than this and there are likely to be more negative effects than positive from resting unless a specific reason is given by a qualified medical person. There are modalities that are helpful in resolving pain such as medication and electrotherapy that can be beneficial.
MOVEMENT RE EDUCATION
The next stage is the regaining of the normal amount of movement in the back. This is the stage at which most problems occur. This is normally for a number of common reasons. These generally revolve around the fact that there is a degree of overlap between the pain stage and this stage and people are unsure of when to begin moving, which specific movements to do, how many to do and for how long.
It is here that is so often the KEY CRITICAL POINT in the recovery process because with the CORRECT ADVICE INSTRUCTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT regarding movement and exercise therapy most back pain can be improved. If this point is missed problems begin and little by little get bigger and more difficult to resolve until ultimately if left long enough, which often can be just a matter of weeks, you can become a chronic back pain patient, with all its associated problems.
STRENGTH RE EDUCATION
The next stage once the movement is well on the way to recovery is the re education of the muscles that control the area. Here again the skill is knowing when to begin the exercises, which ones to do, how many and for how long. With the back you may be lucky and be able to resume your normal everyday activities without needing any specific strengthening exercises. There are however great many people with low back pain who would be so much better and be much more able with again the CORRECT EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION. For some it would undoubtedly totally solve their problem.
NORMAL FUNCTION ACTIVITY RESUMATION
Following the successful resolution of pain, movement and strength all these three come together to allow the patient to resume their normal everyday activities. Here again the key is the skilful and correct advice as to how much how soon. If the previous three stages have been addressed properly this stage will follow naturally but the correct advice is paramount in preventing re injury.
SUMMARY
So there we have it. The basic stages behind the successful resolution of mechanical low back pain. This can essentially be transferred to many other musculo skeletal problems. Although in black and white it appears relatively simple do not confuse something being simple and think it means it is unskilled. It requires specific knowledge at each of the particular stages.
In fact I would go as far as to say categorically how important it is to get as far as possible a definitive diagnosis of your problem before engaging in any form of therapy whether by a third party or self help.
------
Robert Ryles is a Chartered Physical Therapist. He has worked extensively in orthopedic and sports medicine fields and in both International and Premiership football. He is also a lecturer, researcher and author in his expert field. His current work a self help guide to the successful resolution of back pain is available at:
http://www.solveyourbackpain.com
