Archive for April, 2009

Swine flu – or swine influenza in full – is a form of influenza which affects pigs and which is known to pass on from the pigs infected with it to human beings who come into contact with them. According to the Wikipedia entry on the disease – www.wikipedia.org/wiki/swine_flu cases of human to human transmission of swine flu have been observed too, where a human being who gets the disease from contact with an infected pig passes the disease on to another person, such that the second person ends up being infected with swine flu without getting into contact with any pigs.

Swine flu – like all forms of influenza – is caused by a virus, the specific viruses culpable for swine flu cases being Orthomyxoviruses. The viruses responsible for causing virus flu – like all forms of flu viruses – are always in a constant state of reinventing themselves, making the treatment of the disease rather tricky.

According to http://www.medicinenet.com/swine_flu/article.htm , common symptoms of swine flu include coughing, fever (characterized by high body temperature) and throat soreness. These are generally also accompanied by a feeling of congestion in the respiratory system which can be rather uncomfortable. Now while these are typical symptoms of influenza, other symptoms unique to swine flu include what starts as headaches and fatigue, progressing into vomiting and loose stool (diarrhea), accompanied by chills, in the severer cases. Swine flu is known to be fatal.

Early and proper diagnosis of swine flu in pigs can help forestall the spread of the disease to humans where it can have devastating effects. According to the website of the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm common symptoms of swine influenza in pigs include sudden fever, coughs, nasal (and eye) discharge, difficulties with breathing, inflammation and redness of the eyes and loss of appetite. According to the same authoritative website, and contrary to popular belief, one cannot catch swine flu from consumption of pork, although people are advised to ensure that they only eat well cooked pig meat, to be on the safe side.

While swine flu is a relatively rare condition (with only a dozen of cases reported between late 2005 and early 2009 according to the American Center for Disease control (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm ), epidemics of the disease do occur from time to time – and these can be really deadly.

According to the trusted medical website WebMD at http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/20061101/swine-flu-faq?page=2, swine flu is treatable, though mention is made of the virus responsible for the condition developing resistance some of the medications used in its treatment, meaning that some of the medications found to be effective in its treatment at one time might prove completely ineffective in its treatment at some other point in time. As at now, common drugs employed in the treatment of swine flu with a good degree of efficacy include Tamiflu and Relenza.

According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ some things you can do to avoid keep yourself (and your loved ones) safe from swine flu include avoiding contact with sick people, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth – especially if you feel that you come into contact with the disease and have not washed your hands. You, of course, need to wash your hands with water and soap after coughing or sneezing and ensure that you cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

Most physicians prefer to look at body weight in relative, rather than absolute terms. In this way of look at things, body weight is looked against the height of the individual. And thinking about it seriously, it is a better way of looking at the whole issue of weight because what might be an ideal weight for a four foot person would surely not be ideal for a six foot person. Similarly, what is considered being overweight for a four foot person might be what will be considered the ideal weight for a six foot person.

The body mass index – which is a physician’s guide to understanding body weight, is obtained by dividing the weight of a person by the person height’s and the figure obtained this way is what a physicians use in advising people about their weight. This is why a person’s assertion that they are 90 kilograms won’t usually amaze a physician, until the person makes a revelation about their height, because 90 kilograms might not be too much for the tallest of people.

To make body mass index calculation simple and accurate, a standardized body mass index table has been developed, which is basically a schedule with height (measured in inches) on the vertical axis and the weight on the rows against the height, with the body mass index for each height and weight combination occurring on the first row – such that for every combination of body height and body weight, a body mass index is easily obtainable.

Since body mass index is a relative – rather than absolute measure, it becomes possible to make conclusions based on the figures it reveals, especially when the figures are in turn seen against the person’s waist size. For instance, where a person’s body mass index (BMI) happens to be 18.5 and less, such a person is said to be underweight – and driven to the extreme, this too can be considered an hazard, just as being overweight is. A body mass of between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal and optimal, especially when it happens to coincide with a waist size of 40 inches (and below) in men and 35 inches (and below) in women. A body mass index of between 25.0 and 29.9 is considered overweight and comes with an increased risk of diseases linked to weight and waist size whereas body mass indexes between 30.0 and 39.9 constitute obesity and come with a very high risk of diseases that come with being overweight, especially when they happen to coincide with a waist size that is greater than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women. A body mass index that is greater than 40 – regardless of the person’s waist size is considered extremely high and needs to be treated as a serious health hazard.

Apart from the body mass index that is published in form of a table, various programs to calculate body mass index given an input of weight and height have also been developed and if you prefer to make use of one of these, you can enter the Internet search term ‘body mass index’ on your favorite search engine and it will lead you to at least one of these.

With gorgeous actress Kate Beckinsale claiming that she has “fat ass” days – when she feels so insecure that she won’t leave her house – is there any hope for us lesser mortals? If, like Kate, you have your own hang-ups about your bum, read our seven celebrity tips to help you tone up and get the perfect behind

1. USE A POWER PLATE LIKE MADONNA

Madonna is continually re-inventing her image, but one thing that has stayed constant over the years is her toned figure. She’s a fan of horse-riding, which is great for toning your bum and burning calories. Her energetic dance routines also help to keep her in shape, along with her regular Pilates and Ashtanga yoga sessions. According to reports, Madonna has now become a fan of the new celeb fitness must have – a power plate – joining the likes of Sadie Frost and Jemima French. The plate is a cross between scales and a gym bike. It helps to tone muscles and reduce cellulite, with users standing on a vibrating platform to wobble the pounds and inches away. The only downside is that it costs a whopping £2,600. But, if Madonna’s leotard-clad figure in her video Hung Up is anything to go by, then it appears to have had the desired effect.

2. HIT THE DANCE FLOOR LIKE BEYONCE

Hitting the dance floor for an hour can burn up to 500 calories, so it’s no wonder that Beyoncé has a rather pert behind. Her bum began to rival J Lo’s after her bum-shaking dance routine for the Crazy in Love video two years ago. And judging by pictures of her recent performance at the World Music Awards, her dance moves are certainly helping her behind defy gravity.

3. TAKE UP HORSE-RIDING LIKE JORDAN

The great thing about horse-riding is that you don’t feel like you’re doing exercise – that is until you get off and can hardly walk! Jordan is one celeb whose figure has reaped the rewards of plenty of horse-riding – and don’t we know it. She’s not shy when it comes to flashing her pert bum in revealing outfits. Horse-riding is great for toning the bum and you can burn between 300-400 calories an hour – even more if you help mucking out the stables.

4. CUT OUT ALCOHOL LIKE J-LO

Jennifer Lopez is naturally curvy so she has to work hard at keeping weight off her bottom and thighs. She regularly exercises, doing kick-boxing, jogging and other high-impact aerobics, which reduce fat and give her lower half a slimmer, sleeker look. She’s also teetotal, which helps to reduce the signs of cellulite. Alcohol is full of toxins that contribute to cellulite. So if you want a cellulite-free bum, you could start by cutting out your favorite tipple.

5. GO FOR A SPIN LIKE RACHEL HUNTER

If you make your living out of modeling lingerie like Rachel Hunter, you really need to keep your bum in shape. The model mum keeps her behind in tip-top condition with a combination of spinning and Pilates. She says: “When I have something like a photo call for Ultimo to do, I really do have to watch what I eat. I make sure I exercise regularly; I’ll usually do spinning about
three or four times a week and I do Pilates.”
Spinning, the gym-based cycling, is a great way to tone the legs and bottom. Spinners cycle for 30 minutes to an hour on a special program to build up stamina and tone up bottom and leg muscles. And an hour on the bike can burn off a whopping 300 calories.

6. DO A RUNNER LIKE NELL McANDREW

It doesn’t cost a thing and if you end up with a curvy figure like model Nell McAndrew then running is definitely worth a try. Nell is a keen runner, having taken part in a couple of marathons. She doesn’t believe in dieting and thinks that healthy eating, the odd naughty treat and plenty of exercise is all that’s needed to keep you in shape. But beware – don’t overdo the running. We might think that Nell’s got a perfect behind but she thinks otherwise. When I asked her what her least favorite body part was, she responded by saying: “My bum – I want a bigger one! It’s gone a bit flat since I’ve done two marathons.”

7. THE ANTI-AGEING DIET

Eating a diet rich in fruit and veg – especially aubergines, spinach, cabbages, celery, onions, leeks, cherries, grapes, melon, prunes and apples – not only helps you lose weight but also fights wrinkles. These anti-ageing properties are put down to the mix of vitamins, minerals and super-nutrient antioxidants, which protect against sun and pollution damage – great news for a slimmer, more youthful you!

- GO FOR THE BURN

Just 500mg of vitamin C daily will boost your fat burn by up to 30 per cent. A red pepper has 210mg; 200g/7oz of frozen berries, 110mg; a large orange, 100mg; a glass of grapefruit juice, 50mg; and a serving of broccoli, 50mg.

- DID YOU KNOW?

Laughing for just 15 minutes burns a whole 50 calories.

- WALK YOUR FEET OFF!

I’ve worked out how far I’d have to walk to burn off a 200g tube of Pringles Light, with 976 calories – it’s 11 miles (17.6 kilometers). So don’t give in to temptation!

- WHAT’S HOT

SKINNY LATTES – one “grand” cup gives you 33 per cent of your daily calcium requirement.
PITTA OR GRANARY BREAD – they have a low GI, keeping blood sugar down and stopping hunger pangs.
GOOD OLD WATER – tap or bottled. It is sugar and calorie-free. Aim to drink a litre a day and an extra litre for every hour that you exercise.

- WHAT’S NOT

VENTI HOT CHOCOLATE - with whipped cream.  That’s 719 calories and 27g of fat per cup.
WHITE SLICED BREAD – It has a high GI and sends blood sugars soaring. You will be hungry again in half an hour too.
FRUIT-FLAVOURED WATER – they can have as much sugar as cola; that’s 13 teaspoons per 500ml bottle.

Words by Nicki waterman. For more information on losing weight and getting active, check out: www.nickiwaterman.com

In days gone by, it would have been very difficult to find a senior citizen looking for a gym. The idea of taking responsibility for ones fitness was not a common one in the general population anyway, and was even rarer among the senior citizens who would always feel that if they had gotten to the ages where they could be considered ‘seniors,’ then they were doing things right and there was no use ‘fixing it if it wasn’t broken.’

Then somewhere along the way, the idea of taking responsibility for one’s own fitness took hold and with time grew to a point where many people, including senior citizens are now to be seen undertaking exercises aimed at taking themselves to a higher level of fitness.

Now by the time a person attains an age at which they would be considered senior citizens, they usually have dispelled the notions which would make them subject to ‘mob Psychology’, that it, just doing something because others are doing it. Because of this, there must be something else to explain the proliferation of senior citizens taking more responsibility for their physical fitness.

Indeed, as it turns out, the reality of living in today’s world calls for a new level of fitness for senior citizens.

People are living longer, for one, and today it is considered realistic to expect to live to an age like 80 or 90 in many countries, at least if the life expectancy statistics are anything to go by. Now considering that someone who is 60 (and who already qualifies to be considered a senior citizen) might have another 20 or 30 years to live, it is only fair that such a person would take responsibility for their personal fitness – lest they end up spending the last years of their lives on a wheel chair, which to many people is a very off-putting prospect.

People are also working for longer – and this is another factor leading to the need for a new level of fitness for seniors. The International standard retirement age has progressively been lifted from 50 to 55 and lately to 60, with most countries have lifted theirs even higher to an extent that it is not rare to find a person who has clocked 70 still on a company’s or a government’s payroll. Challenges of the modern workplace on the other hand call for a higher level of fitness and the senior citizen who has to stay at their work place has to conform to this new degree of physical fitness requirement to work effectively.

Beyond the workplace, living in today’s world – which is becoming ever more fast paced – also demands for a new level of fitness for seniors who find themselves having to rush from place to place to get various things they need to be done, a great difference from the past when they would have just sent a child or some other youngster to get the same done for them.

Pedometers are electronic devices that count your walking steps and from the same steps work out the distance you have traveled in the more advanced pedometer models.

The working of a pedometer largely depends on a motion sensing mechanism – which is implemented using a coiled spring set-up in the most basic models, a hairspring mechanism in the slightly more advanced set ups and a piezo-electric accelerometer mechanism in the most advanced set ups.

The main role of pedometers in personal fitness is motivation. Success breeds success, or so we are told. Noticing that you managed to walk 5000 steps yesterday, and then 6,000 today can motivate you to do some 7,000 tomorrow. That build up of figures can lead to a sense of accomplishment – which can be considered a form of success, even before the success starts to show up on the weight scales, for those who want to use walking exercises as a part of their weight loss effort. As it turns out, many people using other exercises for their weight loss would be glad to get such a way of getting motivation before their weight loss starts showing up on their weighing scale – and unfortunately, this is something that only people using walking exercise can get, thanks to pedometers. This is to say that through a pedometer, you get a way of enjoying the exercise journey, as well as the destination (weight loss) – which is consistent with the sage’s advice of enjoying the journey as well as the arrival at the destination.

The more advanced pedometer-models can convert the steps that one has walked into actual distance (in terms of kilometers and miles) and this way one can get a way of enumerating their weight loss efforts to their friends (or more usefully to their physician) in a way other people – even people who are not involved in weight loss efforts, can relate with. Saying that you walked 10,000 steps yesterday might be meaningless to someone who is not conversant with the recommended walking steps for weight loss. Saying to the same person that you managed to clock some 10 kilometers obviously sounds much more meaningful.

The even more advanced pedometer-models can even convert your walking in terms of calories (albeit approximations) you are likely to have lost through the effort. In this way, coupled with a monitored calories intake, you are in a position of working out whether your are expending the calories you are taking in your exercise regime and whether you are even going beyond expending the calories you are consuming to burn up those stored in form of fat in the body, which is what will ultimately result in weight loss from your exercise effort.

There are even pedometers that come with a memory feature – that they are able to keep a record of how much you have been walking, and perhaps even represent it graphically in the most advanced pedometer models. Now if watching your walking graph shoot up and up is not motivation, then there is really no telling what motivation is.