WHY YOU NEED TO QUIT SMOKING

Tobacco smoke is enormously harmful to your health. There’s no safe way to smoke. Replacing your cigarette with a cigar, pipe, or hookah won’t help you avoid the health risks associated with tobacco products.

Cigarettes contain about 600 ingredients. When they burn, they generate more than 7,000 chemicals, according to the American Lung Association. Many of those chemicals are poisonous and at least 70 of them can cause cancer. Many of the same ingredients are found in cigars and in tobacco used in pipes and hookahs. Cigars have a higher level of carcinogens, toxins, and tar than cigarettes.

When using a hookah pipe, you’re likely to inhale more smoke than you would from a cigarette. Hookah smoke has many toxic compounds and exposes you to more carbon monoxide than cigarettes do. Hookahs also produce more secondhand smoke. Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death.

NICOTINE

One of the ingredients in tobacco is a mood-altering drug called nicotine. Nicotine reaches your brain in mere seconds. It’s a central nervous system stimulant, so it makes you feel more energized for a little while. As that effect subsides, you feel tired and crave more. Nicotine is habit forming.

Smoking increases risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, and poor eyesight. It can also weaken your sense of taste and sense of smell, so food may become less enjoyable.

Your body has a stress hormone called corticosterone, which lowers the effects of nicotine. If you’re under a lot of stress, you’ll need more nicotine to get the same effect.

Physical withdrawal from smoking can impair your cognitive functioning and make you feel anxious, irritated, and depressed. Withdrawal can also cause headaches and sleep problems.

When you inhale smoke, you’re taking in substances that can damage your lungs. Over time, your lungs lose their ability to filter harmful chemicals. Coughing can’t clear out the toxins sufficiently, so these toxins get trapped in the lungs. Smokers have a higher risk of respiratory infections, colds, and flu.

In a condition called emphysema, the air sacs in your lungs are destroyed. In chronic bronchitis, the lining of the tubes of the lungs becomes inflamed. Over time, smokers are at increased risk of developing these forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Long-term smokers are also at increased risk of lung cancer.

Withdrawal from tobacco products can cause temporary congestion and respiratory pain as your lungs begin to clear out.

Children whose parents smoke are more prone to coughing, wheezing, and asthma attacks than children whose parents don’t. They also tend to have more ear infections. Children of smokers have higher rates of pneumonia and bronchitis.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Smokers are at great risk of developing oral problems. Tobacco use can cause gum inflammation (gingivitis) or infection (periodontitis). These problems can lead to tooth decay, tooth loss, and bad breath.

Smoking also increases risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus. Smokers have higher rates of kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer. Even cigar smokers who don’t inhale are at increased risk of mouth cancer.

Smoking also has an effect on insulin, making it more likely that you’ll develop insulin resistance. That puts you at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. When it comes to diabetes, smokers tend to develop complications at a faster rate than nonsmokers.

Smoking also depresses appetite, so you may not be getting all the nutrients your body needs. Withdrawal from tobacco products can cause nausea.

SEXUALITY

Restricted blood flow can affect a man’s ability to get an erection. Both men and women who smoke may have difficulty achieving orgasm and are at higher risk of infertility. Women who smoke may experience menopause at an earlier age than nonsmoking women. Smoking increases a woman’s risk of cervical cancer.

Smokers experience more complications of pregnancy, including miscarriage, problems with the placenta, and premature delivery.

Pregnant mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are also more likely to have a baby with low birth weight. Babies born to mothers who smoke while pregnant are at greater risk of low birth weight, birth defects, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Newborns who breathe secondhand smoke suffer more ear infections and asthma attacks.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

The immune system is the body’s way of protecting itself from infection and disease. Smoking compromises the immune system, making smokers more likely to have respiratory infections.

Smoking also causes several autoimmune diseases, including Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. It may also play a role in periodic flare-ups of signs and symptoms of autoimmune diseases. Smoking doubles your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

SMOKING AND CANCER

Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body:

·         Bladder

·         Blood (acute myeloid leukemia)

·         Cervix

·         Colon and rectum (colorectal)

·         Esophagus

·         Kidney and ureter

·         Larynx

·         Liver

·         Oropharynx (includes parts of the throat, tongue, soft palate, and the tonsils)

·         Pancreas

·         Stomach

·         Trachea, bronchus, and lung

Smoking also increases the risk of dying from cancer and other diseases in cancer patients and survivors

POWER OF HIV & AIDS

HIV (human immune-deficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system, the body's natural defense system. Without a strong immune system, the body has trouble fighting off disease. HIV infects and destroys certain white blood cells called CD4+ cells. If too many CD4+ cells are destroyed, the body can no longer defend itself against infection. Having HIV does not mean you have AIDS. Even without treatment, it takes a long time for HIV to progress to AIDS-usually 10 to 12 years depending on the individual’s immune system.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION

HIV can spread only in certain body fluids from a person infected with HIV: 

·  Blood

·  Semen

·  Pre-seminal fluids

·  Rectal fluids

·  Vaginal fluids

·  Breast milk

The spread of HIV (called HIV transmission) is only possible if these fluids come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or are directly injected into the bloodstream (from a needle or syringe). Mucous membranes are found inside the rectum, the vagina, the opening of the penis, and the mouth. 

HIV can also spread from an HIV-infected woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth (also called labor and delivery), or breastfeeding. This spread of HIV is called mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

You can’t get HIV from casual contact with a person infected with HIV, for example from a handshake, a hug, or a closed-mouth kiss. And you can’t get HIV from contact with objects such as toilet seats, doorknobs, or dishes used by a person infected with HIV. 

KISSING

An important thing to note is that HIV is NOT spread through saliva, but through contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and HIV-infected blood or blood-contaminated body fluids. HIV can ONLY be transmitted via kissing if both partners have sores or bleeding gums and blood from the HIV positive partner gets into the bloodstream of the negative partner through this broken or sore skin.

IS HIV AIDS?

HIV is not AIDS.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome:

§  Acquired means you can get infected with it;

§  Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the body's system that fights diseases.

§  Syndrome means a group of health problems that make up a disease.

Being HIV-positive, or having HIV disease, is NOT the same as having AIDS. Many people are HIV-positive but don't get sick for many years. As HIV disease continues, it slowly wears down the immune system. Viruses, parasites, fungi and bacteria that usually don't cause any problems can make you very sick if your immune system is damaged. These are called "opportunistic infections".  You might not know if you are infected by HIV. Within a few weeks of being infected, some people get fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomach ache, swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash for one or two weeks. Most people think it's the flu. Some people have no symptoms.

The virus will multiply in your body for a few weeks or even months before your immune system responds. During this time, you won't test positive for HIV, but you can infect other people.

When your immune system responds, it starts to make antibodies. When this happens, you will test positive for HIV. It attacks the body’s defense system called the CD4 cells. One way to measure the damage to your immune system is to count your CD4 cells you have. These cells, also called "T-helper" cells, are an important part of the immune system. Healthy people have between 500 and 1,500 CD4 cells in a milliliter of blood. If you have less than 200 CD4 cells or if your CD4 percentage is less than 14%, you have AIDS.

At 200 CD4 cells, your body can’t fight infections anymore, be it bacteria, virus etc, the body will be prone to opportunistic infections. With the help of anti retroviral drugs, it can help the body build up some energy to fight infections, in other words, without anti-retroviral therapy the system will get so weak and over powered which leads to death.

PREVENTION

There's no vaccine to prevent HIV infection and no cure for AIDS. But it's possible to protect yourself and others from infection. That means educating yourself about HIV and avoiding any behavior that allows HIV-infected fluids — blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk — into your body.

To help prevent the spread of HIV:

·         USE CONDOMS: If you don't know the HIV status of your partner, use a condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex. Women can use a female condom.

Use only water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants can weaken condoms and cause them to break. During oral sex use a non-lubricated, cut-open condom or a dental dam — a piece of medical-grade latex.

·         SHARE YOUR STATUS WITH YOUR PARTNER: It's important to tell anyone with whom you've had sex that you're HIV-positive. Your partners need to be tested and to receive medical care if they have the virus. They also need to know their HIV status so that they don't infect others.

·         USE CLEAN NEEDLES: If you use a needle to inject drugs, make sure it's sterile and don't share it. Take advantage of needle-exchange programs in your community and consider seeking help for your drug use.

·         GET MEDICAL CARE DURING PREGNANCY: If you're HIV-positive, you may pass the infection to your baby. But if you receive treatment during pregnancy, you can cut your baby's risk significantly.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE/DISORDER

An autoimmune disease develops when your immune system, which defends your body against disease, decides your healthy cells are foreign. As a result, your immune system attacks healthy cells. Depending on the type, an autoimmune disease can affect one or many different types of body tissue. It can also cause abnormal organ growth and changes in organ function.

There are as many as 80 types of autoimmune diseases. Many of them have similar symptoms, which makes them very difficult to diagnose. It’s also possible to have more than one at the same time. Autoimmune diseases usually fluctuate between periods of remission (little or no symptoms) and flare-ups (worsening symptoms).

Autoimmune diseases often run in families, and 75 percent of those affected are women.

WHAT CAUSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ATTACK HEALTHY CELLS?

The exact cause of autoimmune disorders is unknown. One theory is that some microorganisms (such as bacteria or viruses) or drugs may trigger changes that confuse the immune system.

Also, you may be more susceptible to developing an autoimmune disease if you have a family member with one.

SYMPTOMS

Because there are so many different types of autoimmune disease, the symptoms vary. However, common symptoms are fatigue, fever, and general malaise (feeling ill). Symptoms worsen during flare-ups and lessen during remission.

Autoimmune diseases affect many parts of the body. The most common organs and tissue affected are:

·         joints

·         muscles

·         skin

·         red blood cells

·         blood vessels

·         connective tissue

·         endocrine glands

DISGNOSIS

Ordinarily, your immune system produces antibodies (proteins that recognize and destroy specific substances) against harmful invaders in your body. These invaders include:

·         viruses

·         bacteria

·         parasites

·         fungi

When you have an autoimmune disease, your body produces antibodies against some of your own tissues. Diagnosing an autoimmune disease involves identifying the antibodies your body is producing.

The following tests are used to diagnose an autoimmune disease:

·         autoantibody tests: any of several tests that look for specific antibodies to your own tissues

·         antinuclear antibody tests: a type of autoantibody test that looks for antinuclear antibodies, which attack the nuclei of cells in your body

·         complete blood count: measures the numbers of red and white cells in your blood; when your immune system is actively fighting something, these numbers will vary from the normal

·         C-reactive protein (CRP): elevated CRP is an indication of inflammation throughout your body

·         erythrocyte sedimentation rate: this test indirectly measures how much inflammation is in your body

TREATMENT

Autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions with no cure. Treatment involves attempts to control the process of the disease and to decrease the symptoms, especially during flare-ups. The following is a list of things you can do to alleviate the symptoms of an autoimmune disease:

·         eat a balanced and healthy diet

·         exercise regularly

·         get plenty of rest

·         take vitamin supplements

·         decrease stress

·         limit sun exposure

·         avoid any known triggers of flare-ups

Medical interventions include:

·         hormone replacement therapy, if necessary

·         blood transfusions, if blood is affected

·         anti-inflammatory medication, if joints are affected

·         pain medication

·         immunosuppressive medication

PREVENTION

There is no known prevention for most autoimmune disorders, it just occurs and can re stabilize on its own after a period of time. Reoccurrence is eminent in same individual.

Self medication should be avoided due to certain researches has shown drugs aid in autoimmune disorder. Take medications ONLY prescribed by a qualified medical personnel. Tattoos can as well trigger autoimmune disorders for the skin due to chemicals used in the process.

COMMON AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

(1)  Immune mediated or type 1- Diabetes mellitus

(2)  Multiple sclerosis

(3)  Rheumatoid arthritis

(4)  Inflammatory bowel diseases

(5)  Systemic lupus erythematosus

(6)  Psoriasis

(7)  Scleroderma

(8)  Autoimmune thyroid disease

REASONS BEHIND BLOATED STOMACH.

Stomach bloating is so common these days it’s been called an “epidemic”.

While a bloated stomach is certainly uncomfortable — even embarrassing when it comes along with gas or the need to run to the bathroom — it might be a bigger problem than you think. Stomach bloating can sometimes signify serious health problems. It’s one of the most common candida symptoms and leads to other issues like a digestive disorder, autoimmune reaction, allergy or even cancer in some.

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Bloating is the feeling of having built-up gas in your digestive system that makes your stomach protrude uncomfortably. Some people term it “looking pregnant” when their bloating becomes very bad. Having a bloated stomach is different from gaining actual fat mass around your stomach, since bloating is temporary and mostly caused by air becoming stuck around your abdomen, making it distend outward.

Luckily, in some cases stomach bloating isn’t anything to be alarmed about. It can usually be cleared up by making some simple changes to your diet and routine, although not always. Along with feeling full, gassy and having pain in your abdomen, you should check if your bloated stomach occurs simultaneously with other symptoms throughout the body. This can clue you in on what’s causing the problem and whether it might be serious enough to warrant a doctor’s visit.

When you’re feeling bloated, check for other symptoms, including:

·         A fever

·         Skin rashes or hives

·         Watery eyes, itchy throat and other signs of allergic reaction

·         Constipation or diarrhea

·         Vomiting or nausea

·         Blood in your urine or stool

·         Unintentional weight loss

·         Trouble going to the bathroom

·         Pain around your lymph nodes, including in your groin, throat or armpits

·         Fatigue

·         Irregular periods

·         Hemorrhoids

Bloating itself is usually a problem with digestion. Making it more confusing, many different things can affect gut health, the ability to metabolize food properly and our body’s way of naturally eliminating waste. Because so many different factors can contribute to stomach bloating — including some that seem totally unrelated, like sleep or stress.

For many people, the cause of excessive gas in the intestines boils down to: inadequate protein digestion (causing some foods to ferment), inability to break down sugar and carbohydrates fully (certain complex sugar compounds need the presence of enzymes to be digested fully, yet people can be lacking these), and imbalances in gut bacteria. In the digestive tract, there are trillions of healthy and unhealthy bacteria that compete, and when “bad bacteria” outweigh the good for one reason or another, an imbalance can lead to a bloated stomach and excessive gas.

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF BLOATING

 DIGESTIVE DISORDERS:

Most people dealing with various functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease have bloating, gas, distension and other symptoms.

 FLUID RETENTION ( Edema ):

Sometimes bodily fluids can be stored around the body, including near the abdomen or pelvis area, which causes excess bloating and temporary weight gain. You might also notice jewelry and clothes becoming tighter, extra swelling, and pain around joints or tightness in the skin. This can be due to a liver disease in some cases or rarely even from cancer. Check for other signs of liver failure or hepatitis, including yellowing of the skin (jaundice), changes in the white color of your eyes or pain in the abdomen.

DEHYDRATION:

Ever notice the day after you’ve been eating salty foods or drinking alcohol that you become dehydrated and bloated as a result? It might seem counterintuitive, but the more water you drink (or consume in water-heavy foods) and better you stay hydrated, the less bloating you’re likely to deal with. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances both halt digestion and make it hard to “stay regular.”

When your body tries to recover from you being dehydrated, it holds on to excess water to prevent the situation from happening again.

CONSTIPATION:

This might be the most obvious reason you have a bloated stomach. Constipation can cause stool to remain in the intestines, leaving you with a hard-feeling stomach, pain, discomfort and gas. The biggest reasons for constipation include eating too little fiber, not drinking enough water, being too sedentary/avoiding physical activity and stress.

FOOD ALLERGIES OR SENSITIVITIES:

Often, food allergies, intolerances (like lactose intolerance) are common reasons for gas and bloating. The foods that cause gas include dairy products, gluten-containing foods (most bread, pasta, rolls, cereals, etc.) and certain kinds of carbohydrates called FODMAPs. An elimination diet can help you pinpoint which foods might cause bloating (like apples or avocados, for example) because they’re not being properly broken down and digested.

SIB:

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is caused by high levels of abnormal bacteria living in the digestive tract, usually in the bowel (dysbacteriosis), where they can accumulate after taking antibiotics or due to inflammation and poor digestion. Normally, different strains of bacteria are in proper balance in the colon, which helps with absorption of essential nutrients, but when harmful bacteria invade and take over, damage of the stomach lining can occur along with numerous symptoms. Some foods are capable of causing SIBO symptoms and related sensitivities in the digestive tract, including FODMAPS in some cases that can ferment abnormally during digestion.

INFECTION:

You can become bloated and swollen if you’re dealing with an infection because this triggers inflammation levels to rise, caused by an elevated white blood cell count around the pelvic, urinary and gastrointestinal organs. Check for signs of a fever, redness and pain, and swollen lymph nodes, which usually accompany a serious infection.

BOWEL OBSTRUCTION:

Sometimes a severely bloated stomach — along with constipation, nausea and vomiting — is due to a bowel obstruction, which is caused by scar tissue or a tumor. When these grow and press against the bowel, the bowels become blocked and hold in fluid and stool. You’ll likely know this is what you’re dealing with since it’s usually very painful and stops you from going to the bathroom normally.

HORMONAL CHANGES:

PMS is known to cause a bloated stomach and digestive issues, since it makes you prone to constipation and fluid retention. This is common and not too much of a concern unless you notice other serious symptoms like an irregular menstrual cycle, fibroids or severe cramping. Having a bloated stomach before or during your period can differ depending on your cycle, and some women experience severe water retention for up to two weeks.

 CANCER:

While it’s not the cause of most people’s bloating, one sign of cancer in the colon or uterine is bloating. This is why it’s important to talk to a doctor if you’ve tried all other ways of reducing bloating and digestive issues but still can’t seem to pinpoint what’s causing your symptoms.