5 Viruses That Are More Dangerous Than Ebola

The Ebola virus has now killed more than 1,000 people in West Africa. Although the mortality rate of the most recent outbreak isn't as high as in previous events, it's still the case that most people who become infected with Ebola will not survive. (The mortality rate is about 60 percent for the current outbreak, compared with 90 percent in the past, according to the National Institutes of Health.)

But despite this somber prognosis, health experts in the United States aren't particularly worried about the threat of Ebola in this countryor in other developed countries.

Rabies

Over the past 100 years, rabies has declined significantly as a public health threat in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately two people now die yearly in the United States from this virus, which is transmitted to people through saliva when they are bitten by infected animals, such as dogs or bats.

People who know they have been bitten by an animal should receive the rabies vaccine, which prevents infection by the virus, according to the CDC. But, especially in the case of bat bites, people may not always realize they have been bitten.

And rabies has one of the highest fatality rates of any virus; only three people in the United States are known to have ever survived the disease without receiving the vaccine after exposure to the virus.

Still, the disease remains a greater threat in other areas of the world than in the United States. Approximately 55,000 people die of rabies every year in Africa and Asia, according to the WHO.

HIV

Though the number of annual deaths related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has declined in recent years, an estimated 1.6 million people worldwide died of HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related causes in 2012, according to the WHO. The virus attacks a person's immune cells and weakens the immune system over time, making it very difficult for the infected individual to fight off other diseases.

About 15,500 people with an AIDS diagnosis died in 2010 in the United States, according to the CDC. In total, an estimated 650,000 people have died of AIDS in the United States since the disease was discovered in 1981. An estimated 36 million people have died worldwide from the epidemic.

Today, people with HIV do live longer than they used to, a trend that coincides with the increased availability of antiretroviral therapy, as well as the decline in new infections since the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1997. However, no cure for HIV exists.

Influenza

The flu may not sound very scary, but it kills far more people every year than Ebola does. The exact number of people who die each year from seasonal flu virus is the subject of much debate, but the CDC puts the average number of annual deaths in the United States somewhere between 3,000 and 49,000.

The large variation in yearly deaths arises because many flu deaths are not reported as such, so the CDC relies on statistical methods to estimate the number. Another reason for this wide range is that annual flu seasons vary in severity and length, depending on what influenza viruses are most prominent. In years when influenza A (H3N2) viruses are prominent, death rates are typically more than double what they are in seasons when influenza A (H1N1) or influenza B viruses predominate, according to the CDC.

A highly contagious virus, influenza sickens far more people than it kills, with an estimated 3 million to 5 million people becoming seriously ill yearly from influenza viruses. Worldwide, the flu causes an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Despite the relatively low mortality rate of the virus, public health professionals and doctors recommend annual flu shots to keep the risk of complications from influenza at bay.

"Healthy people should get their vaccines every year," Rokusek told Live Science. "Studies have shown that the flu vaccine is an effective preventative measure."

But flu vaccines, which offer immunity from influenza A and B viruses, do not protect against other forms of influenza, which can arise when the virus undergoes genetic changes. New strains of the flu result in higher than average mortality rates globally. The most recent influenza pandemic, the "swine flu" or H1N1 pandemic, killed between 151,700 and 575,400 people globally during 2009 and 2010, according to the CDC.

Mosquito-borne viruses

Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, viruses such as dengue, West Nile and yellow fever kill more than 50,000 people worldwide every year, according to estimates by the WHO and the CDC. (Malaria — which is also spread by mosquitos, but is caused by a parasite rather than a virus — kills more than 600,00 people yearly.)

At least 40 percent of the world's population, or about 2.5 billion people, are at risk of serious illness and death from mosquito-borne viral diseases, according to the CDC.

Dengue fever, which is endemic to parts of South America, Mexico, Africa and Asia, claims approximately 22,000 lives every year, according to the CDC. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a deadly infection that causes high fevers and can lead to septic shock.

These diseases occur in regions neighboring the United States, making them a threat in this country.

"Dengue is very active in the Caribbean, and travelers to the Caribbean come back to the United States with dengue," said Dr. Robert Leggiadro, a New York physician and professor of biology at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. [10 Deadly Diseases That Hopped Across Species]

People infected with dengue while traveling abroad can spread the disease at home when mosquitos bite them, and then bite other people, Leggiadro said.

Even more deadly than dengue is yellow fever, which mostly affects people in Latin America and Africa. The disease causes an estimated 30,000 deaths worldwide, according to the WHO.

Less deadly, but still dangerous is West Nile virus, a viral neurological disease that is spread by mosquitos that bite humans after feasting on birds infected with the virus. Although the vast majority of people infected with this virus will not show symptoms of West Nile, the disease has killed an estimated 1,200 people in the United States since it was first seen here in 1999, according to the CDC.

Rotavirus

Not everyone is at high risk of contracting rotavirus, but for children around the world, this gastrointestinal virus is a very serious problem. Approximately 111 million cases of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus are reported every year globally, according to the CDC. The vast majority of those affected by the virus are children under the age of 5, and about 82 percent of deaths associated with the virus occur in children in developing nations.

Globally, an estimated 440,000 children who contract the virus die each year from complications, namely dehydration. In the United States, a vaccine for rotavirus was developed in 1998, but was later recalled due to safety concerns. A newer vaccine, developed in 2006, is now available and is recommended for children ages 2 months and older.

Despite routine vaccinations for rotavirus in the United States, the CDC estimates that between 20 and 60 children under age 5 die every year from untreated dehydration caused by the virus.


While some parents in the United States have expressed concern about the complications that may arise as a result of vaccinating for rotavirus, Leggiadro told Live Science that vaccination for this and other preventable diseases is the best way to safeguard against diseases that, if left untreated, can be deadly.

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Dilwale Trailer Very Eagerly waiting you all have been.Awesome Watch it and share your Reviews

                                            Dilwale Trailer 






Watch here Exclusively
After the 'D' posters of "Dilwale", actor Shah Rukh Khan shared another look that featured all the actors, including SRK, Kajol, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon in one frame.

The interesting part is that the actors covered half of their faces in the poster. SRK even captioned the photo as: "Our Director Rohit not allowing us to reveal our first look. So v hav outsmarted him by releasing only Half a Look."
After their 'half' look poster, the "Diwale" team has shared several similar photos on social media as they wrapped up their shoot.

Earlier, the "Dilwale" team kept the suspense intact as all the three posters released has not revealed the looks of its stars. But now, the stars have appeared in the poster, though the official one is yet to come.


Directed by Rohit Shetty, "Dilwale" is one of the most awaited flicks of this year, and the fans are eagerly waiting for its trailer, which will be released on 9 November.

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New Study Finds Barbecued Meat and Chicken Increase Risk of Kidney Cancer

Hello Guys.It's an Amazing Study found by Researchers that Barbecued Stuff is a Ticket to Kidney Cancer.It's True, Stop enjoying with your Family, Friends or Colleagues going to Farm Houses or any parks or something else making Barbecue and Enjoying it.



A diet high in barbecued meat may increase the risk of developing kidney cancer, scientists have found.
The new study comes just a week after the World Health Organisation warned that red and processed meats are carcinogenic and people should limit their intake.
Around 10,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year in Britain, and more than 4,000 will die. The most common kind is renal cell carcinoma.

When meat is cooked by flame grilling or frying it produces the carcinogens, PhIP and MeIQx.
The kidney filters many harmful toxins from the body so scientists speculate it could be at increased risk of developing cancer as it attempts to rid the body of the carcinogens.

Researchers from the University of Texas looked that the eating habits of 659 people suffering from renal cell carcinoma and compared them to 699 healthy subjects.
"We found elevated cancer risk associated with both meat intake and meat-cooking carcinogens, suggesting independent effect of meat-cooking carcinogens on RCC risk," said Dr Xifeng Wu, professor of epidemiology and senior author of the study
"Our findings support reducing consumption of meat, especially meat cooked at high temperatures or over an open flame as a public health intervention to reduce RCC risk and burden.”

The results show that kidney cancer patients consumed more red and white meat compared to healthy individuals. They found that high levels of PhIP increased the risk of kidney cancer by 54 per cent while large amounts of MeIQx doubled the risk.

Researchers also discovered that individuals with specific genetic mutations are more susceptible to the harmful compounds created when cooking at high temperatures, such as pan frying or barbecuing.
Individuals with variations in the gene, ITPR2, were more vulnerable to the effects of consuming PhIP.

“By analysing genes known to be associated with RCC risk, we found that high intake of these carcinogens may be particularly meaningful for a certain subgroup of the population," said Dr Stephanie Melkonian, lead author of the study.

The researchers do not suggest that individuals should remove meats completely from their diets, but rather consume it in moderation, as part of a well-balanced diet, complete with fruits and vegetables. When grilling or pan-frying meat, try to avoid charring it as much as possible, they suggest.
The research was published in the journal Cancer.

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How to Control Your Anger Best Tricks

Anger is very powerful Emotion. If Anger is controlled then you can lead a happy and peaceful Life but if it's not controlled then seriously believe me you are destroying your own Life and others too.

Do you fume when someone cuts you off in traffic? Does your blood pressure rocket when your child refuses to cooperate? Anger is a normal and even healthy emotion — but it's important to deal with it in a positive way. Uncontrolled anger can take a toll on both your health and your relationships.

1.Stay out from negative people and be with Positive Attitude and Humble People

Stay away seriously it influences you indirectly and makes you Arrogant and Negative minded. Be with Good people who are not Jealous by nature and are Humble. Try this and Come back and Thank Me.


2.Drink Water Immediately if Anger Arises

There is scientific answer for this, Water is composed of H20 which consists Oxygen and Hydrogen and Anger releases some chemical Reactions in Body which water makes them Calm and Cool Immediately


3.Get some ExercisePhysical activity can help reduce stress that can cause you to become angry. If you feel your anger escalating, go for a brisk walk or run, or spend some time doing other enjoyable physical activities.


4. Love Your LifeLoving your Life Passionately leads to self loving feeling which automatically creates goodness in you. You tend be good mostly to all because you know the meaning of life. Life is given to Love and Spread love not to be Hated or being Jealous.


5. Identify possible situationsInstead of focusing on what made you mad, work on resolving the issue at hand. Does your child's messy room drive you crazy? Close the door. Is your partner late for dinner every night? Schedule meals later in the evening — or agree to eat on your own a few times a week. Remind yourself that anger won't fix anything and might only make it worse.

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How to Find Passion For something in Life which is Very Important

• There’s a myth which has become common among us,That passion can only be spontaneous. You either love your job or you don’t. You either enjoy exercising or hate it. You are interested in reading books or you find them boring. That passion can’t be forced or created.

• I want you to clear that Passion is different and Talent is different but both are Directly Proportional in order to Succeed in Life,Talent is God's Gift but Passion isn't,We think that Passion should be given by God naturally and we end up ourselves doing things which we are not Passionate
• Passion is something which is really needed in our lives either to Achieve something or satisfying ourselves.
  
  I will show how to Find Passion and Maintain it Diligently
  
  

1.Secret of getting ahead is getting started.

That's True Unless you start something you wont get a correct picture of your passion.You will be stuck somewhere in the middle configuring your passion.Like actually what i am passionate about ? How many got this ? Well i to faced the same situation but eventually i found my passion.

2. Stick to your Passion,Don't get Distracted

Finding passion is easy as compared to sticking to it.Many things come up in life ahead which eventually distracts you in some or the other way.As you grow older, Become married and so on the Responsibilities Arise Naturally which distracts you to Follow it.

My advice is that you should learn Life management which teaches you to Deal with family relationships,Professional Side and Personal life.It teaches you to deal with Stress,Tensions etc etc.

3.Passion of others is not your Passion

Seriously it's true.Many people especially teenagers fall in this trap.If a friend is Passionate in Photography or something else and is excelling in his Passion,You get thrilled and try to do that.You actually like it First but eventually you loose your interest.
The main reason behind this is following others passion,Never do that.

4.Get curious about your Passion

Curiosity is the basis of passion. Shake off your current understandings and begin from the view that you are almost completely ignorant on the subject. Then look for novelty to boost your interest.

5. Make it a Game

Give yourself rules, objectives and strategic constraints. The more creative thinking required, the better.

6. Focus which is very important

Cut distractions and eliminate noise. The more you focus on an activity the better you can notice interesting qualities about it. The only truly boring activity is the one you can’t pay attention to.

7.Set a Goal and Expect Results

Create a specific goal along with a deadline. This can infuse mundane activities with a sense of direction and purpose. Writing a report goes from being just another task, to a creative challenge that pushes you.Implement Time Management Techniques and Hold a Good Grip.

8.Overcome the Failure and Frustration Barriers

The life of failures is common many Great legends have Failed Consistently until they got Succeed.Don't get frustrated about your repeated failures,Instead learn from failures.If an activity is too difficult for you to become enthusiastic about it, slow down. Worry less about results and more about experimenting until you build up skill. Whenever I try a new hobby, I strive to just try things out before building skills. This keeps me from getting frustrated and ensures the process is fun.

9.Connect with Talents

How can you apply your existing talents to an activity? Find ways to use skills you already have in a new endeavor. An artistic person could draw pictures to help himself study. An athletic person might be able to use her strength and endurance as a speaker.

10.Humble Confidence

Confidence is necessary for passion, but arrogance can destroy it. Build a humble confidence where you believe in your abilities to handle the unknown, but you also have a great respect for it.

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Intresting and Wow Benefits of Sex

"Having sex regularly can do more than make you feel closer to your partner—it can actually make you physically healthier," says Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University and author of Pleasure.

Improves Immune System 

“Sexually active people take fewer sick days,” says Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD a sexual health expert.

People who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses, and other intruders. Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Research suggests a link between sex and lower blood pressure, says Joseph J. Pinzone, MD. He is CEO and medical director of Amai Wellness.

“There have been many studies,” he says. “One landmark study found that sexual intercourse specifically (not masturbation) lowered systolic blood pressure.” That's the first number on your blood pressure test.

Relieves Stress 

If you're freaking out about tomorrow's job interview, slip between the sheets. Research from the University of the West of Scotland reveals that people who had intercourse at least once over two weeks were better able to manage stressful situations such as public speaking, says study author and psychology professor Stuart Brody, Ph.D. That's because endorphins and oxytocin are released during sex, and these feel-good hormones activate pleasure centers in the brain that create feelings of intimacy and relaxation and help stave off anxiety and depression, says WH advisor Laura Berman, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and author of It's Not Him, It's You! You don't have to climax to net the effects, but you'll get the biggest surge of soothing hormones if you have an orgasm. Just one more reason to shoot for a stellar finish.

Improves Women's Bladder Control

A strong pelvic floor is important for avoiding incontinence, something that will affect about 30% of women at some point in their lives.

Good sex is like a workout for your pelvic floor muscles. When you have an orgasm, it causes contractions in those muscles, which strengthens them.

Boosts Libido

Longing for a more lively sex life? “Having sex will make sex better and will improve your libido,” says Lauren Streicher, MD. She is an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

For women, having sex ups vaginal lubrication, blood flow, and elasticity, she says, all of which make sex feel better and help you crave more of it.

Youthful and Brighter Glow

Get busy to get gorgeous: In a study conducted at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland, a panel of judges viewed participants through a one-way mirror and guessed their ages. Those who were enjoying lots of nooky with a steady partner—four times a week, on average—were perceived to be seven to 12 years younger than their actual age. Regular sex promotes the release of hormones, including testosterone and estrogen, which can keep the body looking young and vital; estrogen has also been shown to promote soft skin and shiny hair, says Meston. Move over, moisturizer—time to turn back the clock with some shagging.

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Good News Masturbation has Excellent Benifits

"Firstly Let me Clear you that Addicting to Masturbation is very dangerous,Do you hear me,It's highly addictive and has many defects on your Health so please Do not make it an Addiction"

Science has shown that masturbating can provide plenty of healthy benefits.

A recent study from adult product peddler AdamandEve.com reveals that 27 percent of Americans admit to masturbating once or twice a week.

That number seems suspiciously low to us, especially since science has shown that being master of your domain can provide additional feel-great benefits. (Also because the people surveyed were browsing an adult toy website.)

“Masturbation is part of a healthy sex life,” says Gloria Brame, Ph.D., a clinical sexologist. “It’s totally safe and harmless. It’s healthier than brushing your teeth every day.”

It prevents cancer.

 An Australian study found that men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Disease-causing toxins build up in your urogenital tract and when you rub one out, you flush the bad guys out of your system, says Brame.

It makes you harder. 

As you age, you naturally lose muscle tone... even down there.

Regular sex or masturbation works out your pelvic floor muscles to prevent erectile dysfunction and incontinence

Manages Stress And Depression

Masturbation has been used in the management of stress, as it results in release of feel-good hormones, called oxytocin, in the body. It has also been found useful in dealing with depression.

Boosts Your Mood

Masturbating releases a slew of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine and oxytocin that lift your spirits, boost your satisfaction, and activate the reward circuits in your brain. An orgasm is the biggest non-drug blast of dopamine available, and benefits your health in more than one way.

Helps You Last Longer on Bed with your Partner

Taking yourself to palm prom may help you stretch your sack sessions. Train yourself by timing how long it takes you to orgasm, suggests Dr Nawal. If it usually takes two minutes solo, try for three next time. Or count how many strokes you need to get to your happy place. If you’re spurting after 50, shoot for 60. Practice makes perfect, right?

Improves Sperm Motility

Some studies found that masturbation improves some quality and motility. “Theoretically, a man masturbating before intercourse releases the residual sperms in the semen transporting tubules. This paves way for new ‘better’ sperms which are released during the sexual act and increase the chances of conception, which can add to your health benefits,” says Dr Mahesh Nawal, an Indore-based sexologist and President of ASECT.

It ups your immunity. 

Ejaculation increases levels of the hormone cortisol, says Jennifer Landa, M.D., a specialist in hormone therapy. Cortisol, which usually gets a bad rap as a havoc-wrecking stress hormone, actually helps regulate and maintain your immunity in the small doses.


“Masturbation can product the right environment for a strengthened immune system,”

Prevents Pregnancy And STDs

Last but not the least, this one is for both you and your girl! For couples not intending to get the girl pregnant, masturbation is a safe way of attaining sexual satisfaction without vaginal penetration which would otherwise lead to an unintended pregnancy. If the man’s penis is rubbed around the vulva and spills sperms there, there could be a chance of getting pregnant. Masturbation poses no risk of contracting an STD. However, mutual masturbation may however result in exchange of sexual fluids when partners touch each other’s genitals, says Dr Nawal.

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How Music Helps People With Alzheimer's Disease

Guys if you aren't aware of it,So Don't worry
What is Alzheimer's Disease

• Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. 
• Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.
• Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions. 
• Alzheimer's has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues. Although current Alzheimer's treatments cannot stop Alzheimer's from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing. 

"Where words fail, music speaks."

The famous phrase penned by writer Hans Christian Andersen rings true for many people with Alzheimer’s disease – even in the very late stages. Ezinma Ramsay, 24, a classically trained violinist in New York City, performs weekly for a man with the disease, fulfilling a request from his daughter. “He can’t remember what day it is sometimes when I perform, but he knows the music,” Ramsay says. “He’ll whistle along, and sometimes his caregivers say he’ll whistle for the whole week. It’s amazing.” Indeed, music therapy can promote wellness and enhance memory among those with the disease.

What is music therapy?

Al Bumanis, director of communications at the American Music Therapy Association, which represents roughly 4,000 certified music therapists nationwide, says much of music therapists' work is geared toward the aging population. You’ll find music therapists in nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and at community centers. Bumanis defines music therapy as a health profession that uses music as a treatment tool to address non-musical goals. For example, music can be used to elicit a happy or memorable moment from someone's past, which may decrease anxiety by promoting relaxation or give an otherwise sedentary person enough energy to get up and boogie.

The science of music memory

Music can connect people and enrich their lives, says Ruth Drew, director of family and information services at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago. “Many people with Alzheimer’s disease may not be able to initiate meaningful activity, so music can be a big part of that,” Drew says, adding that music can affect someone’s level of boredom or agitation, calm them or lift their spirits. “I can tell you that caring for someone in a great mood is a lot easier, fun and safer than caring for someone who’s scared, upset and unhappy.

Affection and closeness

Later forms of the disease can affect a person's ability to interact with loved ones through emotional closeness and expressing affection through speech, according to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. However, music can reinvent this closeness between someone with Alzheimer's disease and his or her spouse, friends and family. The foundation says music can prompt hugs, kisses and caresses, plus lead to gentle, rhythmic movements such as rocking in a chair or patting their leg to the beat. 

Different strokes

Don’t push your musical tastes on your loved one, Bumanis warns. “I don’t know if they’re going to go for the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead, but you never know,” he says. If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, play music that the person enjoyed when they were 18 to 25 – whether it’s classical or country, Cher or Ol’ Blue Eyes. If they say it sounds terrible, try something else, and keep track of what they like most. Another option is to load their favorite music into an old iPod or MP3 player so they always have music handy

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Red Meat and Cancer: 6 Expert Nutrition Tips You must Focus

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you'll know that earlier this week the World Health Organization declared processed meat as definitively carcinogenic to humans and red meat as "probably" carcinogenic. As a nutritionist and an avid follower of dietary trends and analysis, I found this one interesting. Vegetarians and vegans rejoiced and the media cranked out a combination of sensationalist and alarmist headlines
Firstly, the news that processed meat is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) is not new but has been brewing for decades. That shouldn't necessarily be surprising - especially if you've seen documentaries like "Food, Inc." (essential viewing.) So you mean Spam and hot dogs aren't good for us? No way! Come on everyone, whether you want to believe it or not, it's hard to see how processed meat can be either health-promoting or nourishing in any shape or form.

1. Avoid processed meat the vast majority of the time. 

Remember this includes ham, bacon (cue weeping), sausages and any meat item (turkey/chicken included) that has been salted/cured/fermented/smoked or otherwise "preserved". If you are going to have it, try choosing an ethical brand such as Applegate or Niman Ranch. But do note that according to the IARC, the Applegate/Niman Ranch deli meats and sausages would still fall into this category as they are either salted, smoked or contain nitrites (albeit naturally occurring nitrites from celery.) If you or your children rely on deli meat for lunch boxes, it's time to start branching out. Try hummus and cucumber, nut butter and fruit-only jam, home roasted organic chicken, avocado and tomato.... there are lots of options! We're in this one together friends, it's going to mean a change in my house too.

2. Pick good quality, grass-fed (and preferably organic) red meat options, occasionally.

Every food purchase you make casts a vote at the checkout so buying organic and grass-fed supports animal welfare. If you think that's pointless (given that your meat, after all, is ultimately dead, then watch this video and get back to me!) If you like red meat, try grass-fed beef or lamb in small portion sizes (1/4 of your plate max). Grass-fed meat tastes different - it is more rich and has an intense flavor, so a little goes a long way. You may also find it more tough. That's not because there is anything wrong with it, but rather we are used to corn-fed beef which is softer (and less healthy.) It's more expensive so to manage the costs, dilute it with beans, lentils and vegetables - and have it less often.

3. Always eat your vegetables!

Regardless of whether you are having red meat or not, always fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables or salad. These are packed full of cancer-preventing antioxidants that help to neutralize oxidative damage in the body.

4. Be careful how you cook red meat.

Processing red meat triggers the formation of cancer-causing chemicals such as n-nitroso-compounds (NOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Cooking even good quality red meat at a high temperature also forms PAHs and herterocyclic aromatic aminos (HAAs) too. I have written a column with specific recommendations on this previously (especially regarding BBQ!)

5. Be a healthy vegetarian.

If you're vegetarian or vegan, be a healthy one! There's no animal products in french fries or soda but they are arguably disease-promoting too (especially on a large scale.) Get your veggies in and stick to good quality vegetarian protein instead of processed veggie burgers and sausages.

6. Manage your health holistically. 

Remember, although it's a huge part of the picture, nutrition is not the whole picture when it comes to cancer prevention. Managing stress, taking exercise and staying well hydrated (with water!) are all important too.

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Go Ahead and Have Fun: Sex Doesn't Cause Heart Attacks, Study Finds

• Patients with heart disease can worry about one less thing: German researchers find sex doesn't seem to trigger heart attacks, strokes or other unpleasant events.

The American Heart Association advises that sex after a heart attack is OK.

But patients don't always get that message, says Dr. Dietrich Rothenbacher, who led a small study at Ulm University in Germany.

It seems very unlikely that sexual activity is a relevant trigger of heart attack," Rothenbacher said in a statement.

"It is important to reassure patients that they need not be worried and should resume their usual sexual activity."

They questioned 536 heart disease patients aged between 30 and 70 years about their sexual activity before and after heart attacks, strokes and other types of sudden cardiovascular death.

About 15 percent of the patients said they'd had no sexual activity in the 12 months before their heart attack, 25 percent said they'd had sex about once a week and 55 percent said they had sex more than once a week, the team reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Over the next 10 years, there were 100 heart attacks, strokes or other adverse events in the group.

The researchers looked to see what type of sexual activity had been going on before these events. Less than 1 percent of the patients said they'd had sex within an hour before.

There is one thing to watch out for, the researchers aid. Erectile dysfunction drugs work on blood flow and they can interact with some heart medications. Nitrate drugs for chest pain, for instance, can mix with the ingredients in Viagra, Cialis or similar drugs and cause a serious, sudden drop in blood pressure.

And so can drugs used to treat low blood pressure or prostate problems by increasing urination.

So don't Worry and have fun guys.Enjoy the Fullest.

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Short Sleepers May Catch More Colds

Want to avoid catching a cold this winter? Start by getting more than six hours of sleep a night.

In what may be the first study of this kind, researchers say they found that adults who sleep less than five or six hours a night are four times more likely to catch a cold than than those who get at least seven or more hours of sleep.

“Sleep plays a role in regulating the immune system, and that’s how we think it influences susceptibility to the common cold,” said Aric A. Prather, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, who is the lead author of the study, published this week in the journal Sleep.

Previous research had suggested a link between less sleep and higher vulnerability to colds, but that study relied on subjects self-reporting the number of hours they slept. The new study was the first to measure actual sleep. To do so, the researchers used a technique called wrist actigraphy, which uses a watchlike device with an accelerometer that measures movement and inactivity and which, when combined with sleep diaries, provides a more accurate accounting of sleep.

“This study reinforces the notion that sleep is just as important to your health as diet and exercise,” said Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “People need to view sleep as a tool to achieve a healthy life, rather than as something that interferes with all their other activities.”

Many Americans don’t get enough sleep; a 2013 survey by the National Sleep Foundation said that one in five adults gets less than six hours of sleep on an average work night.

Poor sleep has been linked to numerous chronic illnesses, and new guidelines issued this year by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society urge adults to get seven or more hours of sleep per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

The guidelines say that sleeping less than seven hours per night is associated with weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke, depression and premature death, as well as “impaired immune function, increased pain, impaired performance, increased errors and greater risk of accidents.”

The new study recruited 164 men and women aged 18 to 55 from the Pittsburgh area between 2007 and 2011, and put them through extensive health screenings, questionnaires and interviews to determine their levels of stress, their general temperament and their use of alcohol and tobacco. Then the researchers measured the subjects’ normal sleep habits for a week, before sequestering them in a hotel and deliberately administering them nasal drops containing the cold virus.

The volunteers were monitored for a week and daily mucus samples were collected to see if they had become infected.

Those who slept less than six hours a night the week before the exposure were 4.2 times more likely to catch the cold compared with those who got more than seven hours of sleep, researchers found. Those who slept less than five hours a night were 4.5 times more likely to catch the cold. (Those who slept just over six hours but less than seven weren’t at increased risk.)

It didn’t seem to matter whether the sleep was continuous or fragmented, Dr. Prather said. The results were adjusted to control for differences among subjects, including pre-existing antibody levels to the rhinovirus, age, sex, race, body mass index, the time of year when the trial was done, education, income, health habits such as smoking and physical activity, and psychological variables such as stress.

“The good thing about this is that there are opportunities for people to improve their sleep, and most people admit they need more and want more,” Dr. Prather said, adding, “it’s just about looking at the barriers and making it a priority.

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Why Do Muscles Ache a Day or Two After Exercise?

After rigorous exercise, the muscle pain is more acute a day or two later rather than immediately. Why is that?

Welcome to the equivocal effects of delayed onset muscle soreness, the scientific term for aches that accumulate and intensify a day or two after a strenuous workout. Usually, D.O.M.S. involves not just pain but also “loss of strength and range of motion in the affected area,” said Scott Sailor, a professor of kinesiology at Fresno State University in Fresno, Calif., and the president of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

D.O.M.S. commonly occurs after exercise that involves lengthening muscles while they contract, Dr. Sailor said, such as running downhill. But it can develop after any exertion that is more intense or prolonged than is normal for you.

Such strenuous workouts can cause multiple slight tears to the muscle tissue, after which a variety of cells and substances migrate to these muscles to help them start healing.

Interestingly, these substances are not necessarily the same as those that arrive after a more severe muscle injury. Molecules that promote inflammation and swelling, for instance, tend to predominate in tissues affected by a serious injury, but can be absent in tissue affected by D.O.M.S., recent studies show.

Similarly, “there was a time when we attributed the muscle soreness to lactic acid,” Dr. Sailor said. “We have now learned that lactic acid leaves the muscle so quickly” that it cannot be involved in causing D.O.M.S.

In essence, researchers remain puzzled about what cellular reactions cause D.O.M.S.

Likewise, there is controversy about how best to treat it.

“Various treatments have been attempted over the years,” said Dr. Sailor, including massage, icing and anti-inflammatory painkillers. “At best, they have decreased the perception of pain,” he said, but only temporarily. No treatment yet has been shown to actually reduce the length of time that muscles remain sore and weak.

So if you do develop D.O.M.S., accept that, for the next five to seven days, you are going to be sore. Refrain from strenuous exercise during this time, Dr. Sailor said, although gentle walking is fine.

And, if it is any consolation, your muscles should be stronger after they recover.

In your future workouts, Dr. Sailor said, increasing the duration or intensity gradually should increase strength and fitness to limit the potential of experiencing the effects of D.O.M.S.

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Filtered Sunlight Is Good Cure for Infant Jaundice, Study Says

Filtered sunlight is a cheap, effective way to treat infant jaundice, according to a study by Stanford researchers.

Jaundice — caused by an excess of bilirubin in the blood — leads to brain damage or death in about 150,000 babies a year in poor countries. The problem is common in newborns, whose livers sometimes need several days after birth to generate the enzymes needed to break down bilirubin, which is released when red blood cells break down. Yellow skin and eyeballs are common symptoms.

In wealthy countries, jaundiced newborns are placed for several days under sunlamps that emit extra blue wavelengths of light and minimal ultraviolet or infrared ones.

It was established during World War II that artificial sunlight cures jaundice, which more than 28,000 soldiers developed after getting yellow fever vaccine made from human blood.

For years, American research focused on drugs to block bilirubin formation, while hospitals relied on lamps and, in extreme cases, transfusions to treat patients.

But hospitals in poor countries may be unable to afford lamps or may lack a steady electricity supply to run them.

The Stanford team, whose work was published last month in The New England Journal of Medicine, tested whether real sunlight —which is plentiful at many hospitals in tropical climes — could be made safe enough for babies to lie in for hours a day.

They treated 433 babies for jaundice at a hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Half received sunlamp phototherapy, and half slept in outdoor cribs or their mothers’ laps under canopies of plastic film that filtered out ultraviolet and infrared rays.

The sunlight treatment was slightly more effective, and the children did not have more sunburn, dehydration or overheating.

The researchers have designed a small greenhouse to be used in windier or colder climates.

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Spread of Cigarettes in China

Chinese men now smoke one-third of all the world’s cigarettes, and a third of all young men in China are doomed to eventually die from the habit, scientists in China and Britain have concluded.

Their study, published last week in The Lancet, estimated that two-thirds of all males in China smoked, more were still taking up the habit and more were starting as teenagers, which adds risk.

With population growth stagnant, the number of men 60 or older is expected to double by 2030, and the number dying of smoking-related ailments each year will triple, hitting three million a year by 2050.

More smokers are stopping by choice, the study found, but still only 9 percent did so.

By contrast, smoking rates among women in China have dropped sharply; about 10 percent of older women smoke, but only about 1 percent of middle-aged women do. However, another recent study detected rapid increases among teenage girls in some regions.

Before China achieved prosperity, the Lancet study said, smokers typically started at age 25, more smoked pipes and many could not afford multiple cigarettes every day.

The study estimated future smoking-related deaths from many causes, including lung cancer, obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, heart failure and other cancers. Lung disease rates are already high in China, even among nonsmokers, owing to urban air pollution and to indoor wood fires used by the rural poor.

The study was led by scientists from China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the University of Oxford.

Antismoking efforts in China face a difficult political situation: The central government has a monopoly through the Chinese National Tobacco Corporation, and more than 7 percent of government revenue comes from it.

According to an editorial accompanying the study, myths about smoking persist in China: that Asians are less susceptible to its dangers, that it is an ancient Chinese tradition and that quitting is easy.

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To Prevent Malaria in Humans, Scientists Try Protecting Pigs

For years , scientists have known of a sneaky way to kill mosquitoes: Give humans a deworming pill.

The active ingredient, ivermectin, kills not only worms infesting people but also mosquitoes who drink their drug-laden blood. (Ivermectin also kills lice, bedbugs and other blood-feeders. The drug’s inventors recently received a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.)

Turning everyone in a village into a walking mosquito bomb, many scientists agree, could stop or slow transmission of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases.

But villagers with worms normally receive only one or two pills a year. Researchers aren’t certain it is possible — or safe — to boost blood levels of ivermectin high enough to wipe out generations of mosquitoes during the biting season, which can last for months.

Scientists at the medical school of the University of Barcelona have come up with a novel alternative: Use livestock.

In a poster presentation at a meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Philadelphia last week, the researchers showed how they had implanted two-inch soft silicone rods releasing a steady dose of ivermectin under the skin of pigs.

Many poor farmers keep their animals near or even inside their homes to protect them from predators or thieves.

Some disease-carrying mosquito species alternate between biting animals and humans, said Dr. Carlos Chaccour, a researcher at the University of Barcelona’s Institute for Global Health and the University of Navarra. Ivermectin will kill most mosquitoes, but the dose needed varies by species.

Because not all poor farmers raise pigs — Muslims, for example, do not — the method will still need to be tested in cattle, goats, camels and other livestock.

Animals usually tolerate high doses of ivermectin safely, Dr. Chaccour said, but must be drug-free for some time before they are safe to eat. For example, cattle should not be slaughtered for food until 90 days after a single deworming treatment, according to guidelines by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

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Scientists develop first portable kit to detect cancer

Scientists have developed the world's first portable lab-in-a-briefcase that can operate even at high temperatures, with the aim of boosting early detection rates of cancer in developing countries.

Believed to be the first kit of its kind dedicated to the portable measurement of cancer biomarkers, the concept is the brainchild of Dr Nuno Reis, a Lecturer at the Loughborough University in UK.

With the help of his Research Associate Ana Isabel Barbosa, Reis developed a solution for diagnostic testing in remote areas of developing countries that lack adequate technology to support a full laboratory.

The lab-in-a-briefcase comprises of four components; a manually driven multi-syringe device capable of performing up to 80 simultaneous tests from whole blood samples at any one time; microwell plates pre-loaded with assay reagents; a portable USB-powered film scanner to image the test strips; and a portable computer for real-time data analysis.

The entire system can be carried in a small briefcase, handbag or laptop case, and requires just one operator with minimal training to conduct the test within 15 minutes - with no need for additional equipment or instruments.

One of the remarkable features of the lab-in-a-briefcase is that it uses whole blood without the need for any sample preparation a previously challenging task outside of a laboratory setting. A new affordable and disposable microfluidic test strip comprising of tiny tubes about the size of a human hair is used specifically for the quick measurement of different types of cancer biomarkers in a whole blood sample.

This technology, which operates in a similar way to a pregnancy test, has already been used successfully by Reis in a separate study that detected prostate cancer with the help of a smartphone camera. "Our lab-in-a-briefcase is both inexpensive and simple to use; it means that high precision diagnostic kits, complete with clinical laboratory equipment, can be made accessible to remote populations, and this is what makes it a truly life-changing concept for the screening and monitoring of different types of cancer," Reis said.

"This portable lab can really make a difference, boosting levels of cancer detection in developing countries where ordinarily people would not have such easy access to early diagnostics," he said. The number of people dying from cancer in developing countries is on the increase, partly due to steadily ageing populations, but also due to limited access to proper diagnostic tools.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for over 8 million deaths per year, and 70 per cent of the world's cancer deaths occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America.
The number of new cancer cases is expected to rise by 70% over the next two decades, researchers said. The study was published in the Lab on a Chip journal.

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Scientists Have developed a more effective 'multitasking' flu vaccine

Researchers from Australia say they may have uncovered a way to make the seasonal flu vaccine more effective, by adding a string of synthetic fat molecules that boost the body's immune response to the difference strains of the influenza virus.

It is estimated that worldwide, flu infections are responsible for around 3-5 million cases of severe illness and 250,000-500,000 deaths every year.

Young infants, pregnant women, adults aged 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for flu-related complications.

The best protection against flu is the seasonal flu vaccine, which is developed every year based on a prediction of which viruses are likely to be circulating. However, such predictions are sometimes far from accurate; earlier this year, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that the 2014-15 flu vaccine was only 23% effective across all age groups.

The low protection from last season's flu vaccine was put down to the emergence of influenza A H3N2 "drift variants" as the most predominant viruses, against which the vaccine had low effectiveness. 

"The holy grail would be to develop a vaccine that cross-protects against different strains, which would be beneficial for the whole community, even if the prediction of circulating strains is wrong," says Brendon Chua, a research fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia and coauthor of this latest study. 

In addition, Chua and colleagues say such a vaccine would also be beneficial in the event that a strain of flu virus from another species evolves to infect humans; this has happened in the past with the H5N1 flu strain from birds and the H1N1 strain from pigs. 

Activating both innate and adaptive immunity to combat flu

The team hypothesized that a more effective, cross-protective flu vaccine could be developed by using an adjuvant that activates a variety of antibody-independent immune responses. 

The researchers had an adjuvant in mind to test - a synthetic lipopeptide, which consists of a string of fat molecules that simulate a lipopeptide found on the outer membrane of a pathogen. They explain that this adjuvant activates both innate and adaptive immune responses. 

The innate immune response is the body's first-wave, short-term defense against pathogens to help prevent cells from becoming infected, while the adaptive immune response is the longer-term defense in which immune cells learn to "remember" pathogens they have previously encountered to launch a more effective attack. 

"Harnessing both types of immunity would provide protection in that period during an outbreak when no [new] vaccine is available," notes Chua. 

Increased protection with adjuvanted vaccine

For their study, published in the journal mBio, the researchers gave a group of mice a low dose of an inactivated influenza A vaccine in which the synthetic lipopeptide had been added, while another group was given an inactivated influenza A vaccine without the adjuvant. Three days later, the mice were exposed to the flu strain that was included in the vaccine, as well as an "unmatched" strain that was not. 

The team found the mice that received the adjuvanted vaccine demonstrated much better protection against both flu strains, compared with mice that received the standard flu vaccine, and they even survived a normally lethal dose of the flu virus. 

What is more, the researchers found the mice that received a low dose of the adjuvanted vaccine produced around 600 times more neutralizing antibodies than mice that received a similar dose of the standard vaccine, and the adjuvanted vaccine also stimulated a higher number of T cells responsible for clearing flu infection in the lungs. 

"The culmination of all these responses is that it reduces the ability of the virus to infect cells, reproduce and spread," says Chua. 

The researchers then infected mice with flu virus strains - only one of which was included in the vaccine - 35 days after giving them either the low-dose adjuvanted vaccine or standard vaccine. 

The mice that received the adjuvanted vaccine showed significant protection against both strains, while mice that received the standard vaccine demonstrated low protection against both strains, according to the results.

"The biggest advantage is that this approach doesn't rely on getting a match between the strains used in the vaccine and circulating virus - you can still get some protective effect at the population level."

The team believes their findings suggest that adding a simple component to the seasonal flu vaccine may not only lead to more effective protection against the flu virus, but it could also offer community protection against a new flu strain in the early stages of an outbreak. 

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Addiction V/s Habit The Difference You need to know

People with an addiction do not have control over what they are doing, taking or using. Their addiction may reach a point at which it is harmful. Addictions do not only include physical things we consume, such as drugs or alcohol, but may include virtually anything, such abstract things as gambling to seemingly harmless products, such as chocolate - in other words, addiction may refer to a substance dependence (e.g. drug addiction) or behavioral addiction (e.g. gambling addiction).

 This article focuses mainly on addiction to physical substances.

 In the past addiction used to refer just to psychoactive substances that cross the blood-brain barrier, temporarily altering the chemical balance of the brain; this would include alcohol, tobacco and some drugs. A considerable number of psychologists, other health care professionals and lay people now insist that psychological dependency, as may be the case with gambling, sex, internet, work, exercise, etc. should also be counted as addictions, because they can also lead to feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness, despair, failure, rejection, anxiety and/or humiliation.

 When a person is addicted to something they cannot control how they use it, and become dependent on it to cope with daily life.

A habit may eventually develop into an addiction

Many of us can use substances or become engaged in activities without any significant problems. Some people, however, may experience damaging psychological and/or physical effects when their habit becomes an addiction. 

What is the difference between a habit and an addiction?

◾Addiction - there is a psychological/physical component; the person is unable to control the aspects of the addiction without help because of the mental or physical conditions involved.

◾Habit - it is done by choice. The person with the habit can choose to stop, and will subsequently stop successfully if they want to. The psychological/physical component is not an issue as it is with an addiction.

 With a habit you are in control of your choices, with an addiction you are not in control of your choices. 

 Addiction to substances or activities can sometimes lead to serious problems at home, work, school and socially. 

 The causes of addiction vary considerably, and are not often fully understood. They are generally caused by a combination of physical, mental, circumstantial and emotional factors. 

 Addiction, often referred to as dependency often leads to tolerance - the addicted person needs larger and more regular amounts of whatever they are addicted to in order to receive the same effect. Often, the initial reward is no longer felt, and the addiction continues because withdrawal is so unpleasant. 

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Night Terrors: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Night terrors (or sleep terrors) differ substantially from standard nightmares and can be incredibly distressing for the sufferer and their family.

 Although night terrors can be genuinely terrifying, they are not normally an indicator of anything more serious and tend to cease of their own accord.

What are night terrors?

Night terrors are nocturnal episodes where the sufferer experiences terror, the sufferer may flail their limbs and scream and shout. Bouts are often associated with sleep walking.

Night terrors are most common in children, but adults can also suffer from them. A normal attack generally lasts between 30 seconds and 3 minutes, but can be substantially longer.1

Night terrors are unpleasant for all involved, but in general they are not a cause for medical concern.

A study conducted in Norway looking at various parasomnias (a category of sleep disorders) asked 1,000 random participants how often they had experienced night terrors. The results showed that 10.4% of respondents had experienced night terrors at one point in their life and 2.7% in the last 3 months. 2

A similar study was conducted in the UK. Of the 4,972 participants, 2.2% reported having experienced night terrors. 3

Extrapolating from these figures we can estimate that more than 7 million people in the US will have experienced night terrors at some point in their lives.

Signs and symptoms of night terrors

Night terrors differ from nightmares. In a nightmare the dreamer may wake up, but during night terrors they will generally stay asleep.

This difference is most likely because of the phase of sleep in which they occur. Nightmares tend to happen during rapid eye movement sleep (REM), towards the end of a night's sleep.

Night terrors, on the other hand, occur in the first third of the night during deeper sleep, also called slow wave sleep or non-REM sleep.4

The signs of a night terror episode can include the following:

◾Scream and shout
◾Sit up in bed
◾Kick and flail
◾Heavy breathing, racing pulse, and profuse sweating
◾Dilated pupils and increased muscle tone
◾Difficult to rouse from sleeping and general confusion if successfully woken
◾Stare wide-eyed as if awake but be unresponsive to stimuli
◾Behave aggressively (more common in adults)
◾Get out of bed and run around the house(D again)
◾Amnesia of the event

What causes night terrors?

There can be a number of potential causes or contributing factors where night terrors are concerned. Here is a short list of some of them:

◾Stress
◾sleep deprivation
◾Light or noise
◾An overfull bladder
◾Spending the night somewhere unfamiliar
◾Possible genetic component

Treatment and prevention of night terrors? 

Generally, there is no need for any kind of medication for night terrors. With children, although it appears distressing, it does not permanently harm them and most children grow out of night terrors. 

Gently restraining your child and speaking calmly can help shorten the episodes.

Treatment is only generally called upon if the episodes are having a significant negative effect on the sufferer or their family's safety or their ability to function during the day. If treatment is necessary it generally falls into these categories: 

◾Treating an underlying condition - such as sleep apnea or a mental health problem

◾Improving sleeping conditions - if sleep deprivation is thought to be a major factor

◾Medication - drugs are rarely used, but benzodiazepines and serotonin re-uptake inhibitors have found to be useful in some cases5 

◾Dealing with stress - therapy or counseling can help if stress seems to be a factor.

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Biggest health mistakes women make in their 50s

1. You ignore heart health.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and risk rises as women age. Menopause doesn't cause cardiovascular disease. Rather, it's those bad habits earlier in life, such as smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise that can begin to take a toll on heart health in the 50 and over woman, according to the American Heart Association.

A September 2015 report issued by the CDC on so-called "heart age" versus biological age shows women, on average, have hearts that are five years older than actual chronological age. If a woman has high blood pressure (140 mm Hg or more), her heart's "age" is 18 years older than she is, according to the report.

But the good news is that it's not too late to change habits that increase your risk of heart disease, says Leslie Cho, M.D., director of the Cleveland Clinic's Women's Cardiovascular Center.

"Although some damage may already be done, the evidence points to the fact that changes you make in terms of getting more exercise, eating smarter, losing weight, and quitting smoking, no matter what your age, will benefit your heart," says Cho.

In fact, a study by the German Cancer Research Center of nearly 9,000 people between the ages of 50 and 74 showed that heart attack and stroke risk can be cut by some 40 percent within the first five years of tossing those cigarettes.

This is also the time to make sure you keep up with heart health tests such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol testing. "Prevention or early detection, when problems can be easily treated, will help keep a woman active and healthy," says Cho.

Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. "If you are having problems with exercise or weight loss and blood pressure control, don't think you have to do everything on your own," she says. "Talk to your doctor. He or she can help you."

2. You put up with menopause miseries.

One of the biggest mistakes women make during this time is thinking they have to learn to live with menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, sleeping difficulties, and vaginal and urinary problems. 

Although short-term use of hormonal therapy has been shown to help many women who deal with some of the most severe problems of menopause, not every woman is a candidate or may want to take hormones, says reproductive endocrinologist Barbara Soltes, M.D., of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "But that doesn't mean they have to suffer since there is other help available," she says. 

For example, if hot flashes are causing difficulty, the North American Menopause Society just released findings on what really works to cool the heat. According to their report cognitive behavioral therapy (including relaxation techniques, learning how to feel more positive about menopause, and sleep strategies) can reduce hot flash severity. Clinical hypnosis has some good evidence, too. 

Bladder issues like stress or urge incontinence can also be helped with medications, devices, and behavioral changes, says Soltes, who advises women to see a doctor with a special interest in menopause if they are having any menopausal difficulties.

3. You think sex is over.

Sexual frequency can decline with age, but a survey published in The New England Journal of Medicine shows even 75- to 85-year-olds had sex two to three times a month, with more than 20 percent reporting sexual relations at least once a week. 

However, sex can change due to hormonal upheavals at menopause, which can cause vaginal dryness and potentially painful sex. But over-the-counter lubricating products can help, as can prescription topical estrogen, says Kat Van Kirk, a licensed family and marriage therapist and board-certified clinical sexologist in Lihue, Hawaii. (Yoga, Kegel exercises, and pelvic floor physical therapy may also help some women improve sexual function, according to The North American Menopause Society.) 

It's important for women to remember that sex ". . . can be hugely beneficial to our bodies, minds and spirits," says Van Kirk, often resulting in improved pelvic muscle tone, healthier vaginal tissues, and better psychological well-being. 

Despite the challenges, sexual relationships can actually improve as people age since women no longer fear pregnancy and couples have less stress about careers or financial situations.

4. You believe weight gain is inevitable.

Here's the real story: The risk of weight gain rises due to advancing age, but it does not mean extra pounds are inevitable. But you do have to work harder to maintain your weight and to lose weight, says Rush Medical Center's Soltes. 

That's because so-called energy expenditures decrease during menopause due to loss of muscle and hormonal changes. "If you eat the same things and exercise the same amount as you did in your thirties, you could potentially still gain weight," says Soltes. "Women don't want to hear that, but it is biology." 

A good starting point is the American Heart Association's recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week, broken into 30 minutes, five times a week, or smaller increments such as 15 minutes twice a day, says Cho, of the Cleveland Clinic. 

While exercise is great, you have to eat a little smarter, too. A study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion followed nearly 200 middle-aged women for three years, tracking eating patterns, overall health and lifestyle. The researchers found women who did not change their eating habits as they aged were 138 percent more likely to put on 6.6 pounds or more during midlife. 

The fix is to eat more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, and be aware of what you are putting on your plate, says Soltes. 

5. You lose your sense of "purpose."

"Purpose" provides structure to our lives, says psychiatrist Niranjan Karnik, M.D. of Rush University Medical Center. And when retirement or other age-related challenges loom, some individuals may lose their sense of "purpose" and positivity, leading to poor health and poorer sense of well-being, he adds. 

Having "purpose" in midlife and beyond doesn't mean you have to strive to change the world — although if you think you can, why not try? Rather, ". . . it's simply finding meaning in the day to day," whether that's gardening, learning a new language, volunteering at a local pet shelter, or even starting a new career if you want, says Karnik. 

It's these small things that can pay some big dividends. A study of some 6,000 people, who were a part of the Midlife in the United States study, found a lower risk of mortality during the study's 14-year-follow-up among participants who had a sense of purpose in life and maintained good social relationships. 

A study at Rush University showed having "purpose" later in life slowed cognitive decline by about 30 percent. Other studies show "purpose" reduces your risk of heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, and may even make an individual more likely to follow a healthy lifestyle. 

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