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Here are nine surprising things which effects our memory:

1> Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates adds negative impact on memory. Extra carbohydrates or only carbs in the diet increases the risk of Alzheimer. Dr Vincent Fortanasce, author of The Anti-Alzheimer’s Prescription suggests cutting back on the carbs to avoid this disease. Excess carbohydrates causes your insulin to spike which results over activation of the insulin-degrading enzyme that exists in the brain. This activity make the enzyme busy in degrading insulin rather than getting rid of beta-amyloid proteins, the toxic protein that produces Alzheimer’s disease. Hence take a proper balanced diet for a good memory.

2> Statins: A recent study revealed that statins helps in preventing dementia. A research out of the University Of Michigan School Of Public Health shows that people at high risk of dementia who took cholesterol-lowering statins were half as likely to develop dementia as those who did not take the prescription medications. It is said that statins help lower the high insulin levels in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s. But it is not known exactly which statins help in this activity hence it is not recommended to take statins by its own without doctor’s prescription.

3> Depression, Anxiety: People who remain in depression and experience more negative emotions are more likely to experience an early memory loss. A study published in the journal Neurology in 2007 shows that those kind of people were 40% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than those who were least prone. A transitional stage between normal aging and dementia, mild cognitive impairment is associated with mild memory or cognitive problems.

4> Fish: Fish is a protein rich diet and it is found that people who ate tuna and other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids three times or more per week had a nearly 26% lower risk of having the silent brain lesions that can cause dementia and stroke, compared to those who avoided fish. According to research appearing in the latest issue of journal Neurology studied on more than 2,300 people age 65 and older has found this fact.

5> Thyroid Disorder: According to the May issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter states that memory loss and thyroid activity are linked together. Under active thyroid give rise to memory loss. Thyroid hormones control many bodily functions, ranging from heart rate to mood and memory. Older people with this treatable condition may exhibit only one symptom, such as memory loss or decreasing mental function. Hence a low thyroid activity disrupts these functions.

6> Hot Flashes: Women in mid life can have a poor memory according to new research out of the University of Illinois at Chicago which confirms a link between hot flashes and memory among women. A surge in the stress hormone cortisol, which usually accompanies a hot flash, is believed to be the cause. More the hot flashes worse will be the ability to remember names and stories etc.

7> Smoking: Smoking increases risk of memory loss. According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in June, middle-aged adults who smoke appear to be at an increased risk of having poor memory. The research also shows that long-term ex-smokers were less likely to have cognitive deficits in memory and vocabulary then others.

8> Chronic Pain: Chronic pains also have a negative impact on memory. According to University of Alberta study of 24 patients the pain along with affecting a person’s ability to work, sleep and function on a daily basis also impairs memory. The study says that among people with chronic pain lasting six months or longer showed that two-thirds have significant disruption of attention and memory when tested.

9> Marital Status: Mid-life marital status is related to late-life cognitive function. A Finnish study of more than 1,400 people in mid life and then an average of 21 years later showed that those who were living with a life partner in mid life were significantly less likely to show cognitive impairment compared to those living without their spouse. Singles, separated, divorced or widowed are at more risk of memory loss.

Tags: Alzheimer, Anxiety, beta-amyloid, Carbohydrates, carbs, Chronic Pain, Depression, Diet, Disease, Fish, Hot Flashes, Marital Status, Memory, proteins, Smoking, Statins, Thyroid Disorder, toxic protein

Joining the growing list of countries enforcing total bans on smoking in enclosed spaces, the Indian government also announced a nationwide ban on smoking in public and private buildings in India from October 2 this year. The announcement was made on Friday, the World Population Day.

“From October 2 this year, nobody in India can smoke in buildings, both public and private. Anybody who wants to smoke can do so on the road,” Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said addressing a function in Patna.

Ramadoss said that if the urge for a quick puff proves too strong, then the smokers have to go out in the open space for that. Last year, the ban was restricted in workplaces, restaurants and hotels, includes theatres, pubs, bars, malls and any other enclosed spaces.

“Smokers can have a puff at the risk of their health in private, in their bedrooms, provided they have the permission of their wives,” Ramadoss said.

Countries like Japan and some parts of Australia (Queensland) and Ireland have a partial ban on smoking outdoors, especially near schools and hospitals. India is among 67 countries in the world to have imposed total or partial bans on smoking in public due to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on the health and environment, but the inclusion of private buildings within its purview is a rarity.

Tags: Ban, India, Patna, Ramadoss, Smoke, Smoking

After every activity of our life is getting an electronic touch and life style getting tech savvy then why not smoking? Yes! The concept of e-smoking is helping people to avoid health hazards of smoking and to quit the bad habit.

An Indian company in Chennai has introduced e-smoking based on Nicotine replacement therapy. These electronic cigarettes were start marketing first time by the company on May 31, the ‘World No Tobacco Day’.

Sunil Praveen Kumar of SPK Company that has brought the product to India said: “These cigarettes are called electronic cigarettes or super cig. And, for the first time these have been introduced in Chennai. We are getting this from Hong Kong and this particular product is used to quit smoking using nicotine replacement therapy.”

These cigarettes have been recently introduced in China, Israel and European countries and now have now made a mark in Chennai.

Looking like a normal cigarette, the whiter part is actually the battery and the filter part is the cartridge which can be replaced. Diluted nicotine is kept in the gadget which the atomizing chamber converts into vapor to satisfy the smoker.

The best part is that puffing these cigarettes does not compromise on the stimulation aspect of smoking, as it lends the same stimulation sans carcinogenic elements. The vapor evaporates soon, causing no irritation to people near the smoker.

“Normally, a traditional cigarette has got around 4,000 chemicals among which 24 are cancer-causing chemicals. But in the e-ciggies, using nicotine replacement therapy we just give a diluted nicotine, water, glycol and tobacco perfume to give the smokers a real feel of smoking and this can be smoked anywhere indoor outdoor anywhere,“ told Praveen Kumar.

Legally, you can smoke this everywhere because smoking refers to possession of lit tobacco and in this device there is no tobacco and you need not light it. You can just put it in your mouth and inhale like a regular cigarette without the dangers of cancer causing chemicals,” he added.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labs have certified the cigarettes after testing for toxic content and by The European body called Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS).

The product has already appealed the smokers, who even after being aware of the ill-effects of smoking find it difficult to kick the habit.

Specialists from the medical fraternity too have showed their faith on this product. Dr Benedict Aruldas, member, Indian Medical Association, Tamil Nadu chapter said, “Mainly people get addicted to smoking because of stress for office-goers, from school, from friends they learn how to smoke. So, using that patient can reduce himself from smoking level to non-smoking level by using this device.”

There are two varieties of e-cigarettes. The first meant for those keen to quit smoking is priced rupees 3,600 for a packet of 900 cigarettes, costing rupees Rs 4 per cigarette. The other one is priced rupees 2,000 for beginners for the same quantity, costing just over Rs 2 a piece.

It can be a good option for smokers and ultimately help to quit this bad habit.

Tags: E-Smoking, India, Internet, Nicotine, No Smoking, Smoking

A recent survey among people between the ages of 18 to 35 indicated the maximum number of smoke and nicotine addicts from this age group. The reasons most normally stated include fun, pleasure; running away from tensions, peer pressure etc. Even the WHO declares a non neglectable ratio of the world population as smoke and nicotine addicts.

While the ill effects of this life taker process have been stated innumerable times but a very large ratio of the people doing it have an ignorant behavior towards these warnings. The reason is only the shear pleasure of a few moments that calms one down after the craving of the body. Some developed countries are of the idea that smoke addiction is comparatively more prevalent in the developing countries due to the lack of resources for its cure like the rehabilitation centres, easy reach by small level companies targeting the lower class, taking advantage of the large number of problems being faced by them.

Studies have proved that smoke other than affecting the liver has a major role in tooth yellowing and decaying. More severe affects are in the stomach and gall bladder causing gall stones and ulcers leave aside the well known skin cancer and loss of eyesight.

But the easiest target in today’s time is the youth. Nicotine has become a status and style statement for not only the males but the gender equality has plunged into this part as well.

It starts from the secondary school or the college level where one starts smoking to prove the peer that he’s grown up and by the time sensibilities knock the doors of their brains, their bodies have succumbed to the desire of the deadly sticks.

Realizing the need of the hour, Indian police had tried to take preventive measures in Delhi by putting up signs of “NO SMOKING” in commercial places failing which there were fines of Rs.500 but it is a common site to see people still burning their hearts away openly.

It cannot be said that there is a need of awareness, but there is surely a need of spreading a fear among the general people of its slow its slow and silent killing because in todays time man lives for his pleasures and is afraid only of death.

Tags: Health, India, Smoking, WHO, Youth

Bengal Marxist Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is now the new target for the Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss. After King Khan Ramadoss has trained his gun on Buddhadeb against his smoke puffs.

Buddhadeb being a leader should be an example for others. His behaviour should be ideal and should be worthy to be followed by others. Ramadoss said that he is a senior person and doesn’t need his advice.

Bhattacharjee is known to smoke in privacy of his chamber in spite of a ban in the Writer’s Building. As the chief minister was the prime offender there is no strictness on the rule. Though smoke detectors worth lakhs of rupees have been installed in all the chambers of ministers and bureaucrats but perhaps they are not working or not been activated. There seems no law for the ministers. Ironically, the chief minister has company in the Health minister Dr. Suryakanto Mishra and a number of others Left Front ministers who are also finding it difficult to kick the habit.

A nationwide survey on tobacco consumption reveals almost three-fourths of all Bengalis are hooked to the cancer stick. On this Ramadoss had to say, “Seventy per cent of men in West Bengal people take to tobacco, including the chief minister.” He also pointed out the northeastern states have the highest number of smokers in the country.

Bhattacharjee lighting up at the drop of a hat has been in the news for a long time. It surfaced in the nineties when a nettled West Bengal Finance minister Dr Asim Dasgupta upped and slapped a constable on duty on the Writers Building corridor for smoking. He proposed an enactment of a ban on smoking the corridors of the secretariat and public places. Bhattacharjee, then Home minister, and a batch mate of the finance minister told his cabinet colleague to turn a blind eye to his chamber.

Now the PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami has upped the ante and put up notices on the corridors of Writers’ Building, which reads, “Smoking and spitting on the corridors are strictly prohibited.”

Tags: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, King Khan, Ramadoss, Smoking, Tobacco