The Nomophobia Test: Fear of Being Without Your Mobile Phone

Take the self test for ‘nomophobia’: short for “no-mobile-phone phobia”. Recently the psychologists have developed a test for nomophobia: the fear of being without your phone.

The researchers found four aspects to nomophobia:

• Not being able to communicate,
• Losing connectedness,
• Not being able to access information,
• giving up convenience.

People in the study responded to the statements below on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).

You can add up your total score, by adding your responses to each item. The higher the score, the more you ‘suffer’ from nomophobia.

Here are the statements:

• I would feel uncomfortable without constant access to information through my smartphone.
• I would be annoyed if I could not look information up on my smartphone when I wanted to do so.
• Being unable to get the news (e.g., happenings, weather, etc.) on my smartphone would make me nervous.
• I would be annoyed if I could not use my smartphone and/or its capabilities when I wanted to do so.
• Running out of battery in my smartphone would scare me.
• If I were to run out of credits or hit my monthly data limit, I would panic.
• If I did not have a data signal or could not connect to Wi-Fi, then I would constantly check to see if I had a signal or could find a Wi-Fi network.
• If I could not use my smartphone, I would be afraid of getting stranded somewhere.
• If I could not check my smartphone for a while, I would feel a desire to check it.

If I did not have my smartphone with me:

• I would feel anxious because I could not instantly communicate with my family and/or friends.
• I would be worried because my family and/or friends could not reach me.
• I would feel nervous because I would not be able to receive text messages and calls.
• I would be anxious because I could not keep in touch with my family and/or friends.
• I would be nervous because I could not know if someone had tried to get a hold of me.
• I would feel anxious because my constant connection to my family and friends would be broken.
• I would be nervous because I would be disconnected from my online identity.
• I would be uncomfortable because I could not stay up-to-date with social media and online networks.
• I would feel awkward because I could not check my notifications for updates from my connections and online networks.
• I would feel anxious because I could not check my email messages.
• I would feel weird because I would not know what to do.

The study was published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior (Yildrim et al., 2015).

Stop the addiction!! Can you?

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Say No to Sleeping Pills

Do you have the habit of taking sleeping pills? Are you under the impression that what you are doing is completely fine? If that is the case, stop right there.

By taking sleeping pills, you are damaging your health in ways you could have never imagined. Sleeping pills have a number of side effets. This post talks about some of the most dangerous of them.

Stress is one of the factor

Before going to the side effects of sleeping pills, let’s first understand that sleeplessness (the reason behind people taking sleeping pills) can be caused by a number of factors. These factors are:

• Stress
• Relationship problems
• Excessive nicotine intake
• Taking stimulants like caffeine before sleeping
• Job pressure and insecurities
• Shifting jobs that interfere with the natural sleeping cycle

To induce sleep there are many options, but a lot of people opt for the quick fix solution, which is taking sleeping pills. Clinically, they are called sedative hypnotics and examples include barbiturates and benzodiazepines.

Taking too much nicotine

Sleeping pills seem to be the easiest way to doze off, but they can also cause serious troubles in the long run. Like many other medications, these drugs can prove to be harmful to your health. The risks and side effects can be severe when you use them improperly and in the long term. However, the severity of side effects can vary from one person to another, and they are dependent on the number of pills being taken, compounds used in the pills, and the health of the user, etc. Prescription and OTC sleeping pills can have different effects on the users, as it has been seen.

Below listed are some of the most dangerous side effects of sleeping pills:

1. Your Body Develops Resistance To Them:

A lot of women and men battle insomnia by using sleeping pills, and they seem to work well initially. However, things change after a time. Your body develops resistance to the effect of the pills when you keep using them for a long time.

Resistance to Sleeping pills

After a while, you realise that taking the pills is not helping you fall sleep. This might even force you to resort to a sleeping pill overdose, which can have a fatal outcome.

2. Parasomnia/Erratic Behaviour Patterns:

Some sleeping pill drugs can cause Parasomnia, which is a semi- conscious state that can make people sleepwalk or suffer from amnesia. Affected people can do a lot of other things while sleeping and on waking up they cannot recall anything. This can prove to be risky at times.

3. Drowsiness:

Some people who take sleeping pills tend to get more affected by the drugs than others. They may still feel sleepy when they wake up in the morning, and the sensation can persist for some time. Drowsiness while driving can be quite risky. This can also happen when they have to wake up earlier than usual for some reason. Needless to say, it negatively affects your efficacy at the workplace.

Drowsiness or mood change

4. They May Become Addictive:

Some women and men find it quite tedious to sleep without taking sleeping medications once they become habituated to these drugs. This is what doctors refer to as rebound insomnia. You may need medical intervention once this withdrawal symptom happens. It is worse than general sleeping problems.

5. Sleeping Pills May Lead To Heartburn:

Is getting a good night’s sleep worthwhile if the next day suffer from heartburn? Those who are already afflicted with GERD may fare worse. Studies have suggested that using specific types of sleeping pills can enhance the risk of acid reflux in users. A study carried out at the Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson University Hospital showed people, using the popular sleep pill zolpidem, actually sleep through periods of acid reflux rather than waking up. It can cause damage to the oesophagus in the long run.

Heartburn

6. Risk Of Early Death And Cancer:

A University of California study conducted a couple of years ago indicated that using sleeping pills can shorten your lifespan. The study findings published in the journal BMJ Open showed that people increase their risk of dying with the amount of sleeping pills they take. Not only that, relying on sleeping pills can also make you more susceptible to developing cancer, the study authors found. Popular hypnotic sleeping pills like Restoril and Ambien were said to be risky.

7. Risk Of Memory Loss Related Ailments:

The elderly lot can face memory loss related problems if they take sleeping pills for long. A study has indicated that elderly people who take sleeping pills for over 3 months can be vulnerable to developing Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative disorder. The researchers said Benzodiazepine was the most potent drug for this.

Short Memory lost

8. Allergic Reaction:

This is something a few people face, but it is not unheard of as such. This can happen when your body is allergic to some compounds present in the sleeping medication you are taking. Allergic reactions include breathing problems and serious facial swelling.

9. Interaction With Alcohol:

Some sleeping medications, when taken with or after drinking alcohol, can accentuate the effects of both (5). As a result, after waking up you feel quite groggy and far from well.

10. Change In Behaviour:

Those who become addicted to using sleeping pills may sometimes display irritability. Many also complain of mood swings.

Say no to sleeping pills

Alternatives To Sleeping Pills:

After knowing the many side effects that can be caused by sleeping pills, you may feel like trying safer and alternative remedies to battle sleeping problems! In fact, you can try out many alternative methods that have fewer or no side effects on your mind and body. Those are:

• Yoga postures
• Meditation techniques
• Change in the bedroom setup including lights and other elements of distractions
• Trying sleep-inducing foods
• Bathing
• Soothing music
• Aromatherapy

Ayurveda Meditation

At times, you may still have to resort to sleeping medications, especially when alternative methods fail to yield the desired results. However, make it a point to consult with the doctor beforehand. A doctor can assist you regarding selecting the aptest drug for your sleeping needs and guide you on the right dosage too. This will surely help you stay away from the harmful effects of sleeping pills.

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Good News for Smokers

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Everyone knows smokers are at a much higher risk of getting cancer, lung disease, and emphysema; which is why pretty much everyone tells you not to smoke cigarettes. However, they’re extremely addicting and some people just cannot stop. 

Many long term smokers deal with bronchitis or persistent cough. The best thing to do is to quit smoking, however, if you’re not willing to quit this unhealthy habit, you can at least try cleansing your lungs. Here we want to introduce to you one Magical Elixir For Smokers to Cleanse Your Lungs

Eat lots of onion, garlic, ginger and turmeric. These ingredients are great when it comes to preventing malignant diseases. Turmeric has antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties. It contains an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids as well. So it’s understandable why you should use it on a daily basis.

Onion and Ginger

Here is the Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of onions;
• 1 liter of water;
• 400 grams of brown sugar;
• 2 teaspoons of turmeric;
• Small peeled ginger root.

Turmeric

Preparation:

1. Put the sugar in the water and place it on fire. 
2. Peel the onions and cut them into quarters. 
3. Add them to the mixture along with the ground ginger and turmeric. 
4. Reduce the heat when the mixture starts to boil, and cook it until the liquid is reduced by half. 
5. When you are done cooking, strain the resulting mixture and transfer it into a glass jar. 
6. When the mixture cools, place the jar in the fridge. 

Garlic

You should consume two tablespoon of this remedy in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening two hours before dinner.

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What’s in a Cough?

Generally speaking, coughing is perfectly normal. A cough can help to keep your throat clear from phlegm and other irritants. However, sustained coughing can also be symptomatic of a number of conditions.

For example, a short-term bout of coughing that lasts two to three weeks — starting quickly and slowly tapering off — can point to a cold, flu, or sinus infection.

Bouts of coughing that last a longer time (three weeks or more) might signify an allergy or another underlying disorder. 

What Causes Coughing?

Coughing can signify a cold, which are caused by viral infections in the respiratory tract. Other symptoms of a cold include nasal congestion and/or a runny nose.

Allergies have similar symptoms, but are caused by allergens that irritate the immune system. When faced with an allergen such as pollen, the immune system creates chemicals called histamines to react to them.

If you have a cough that arises immediately in a certain environment or season, you may have an allergy. 

Symptoms to Watch Out For

Respiratory tract infections involve body aches and fever, whereas allergies do not. You should see a doctor if you develop a fever or experience chills, as these symptoms can be a sign of a serious lung infection like bronchitis. You should also seek medical attention if your cough is violent or you produce thick, bad-smelling, off-colored phlegm.

You can treat coughs due to colds, allergies, and sinus infections with a number of over-the-counter medicines. So pay a visit to your nearest GP clinic for the treatment.

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Healthy Eating as You Age: Choosing Healthy Foods

Adults over 50 can feel better immediately and stay healthy for the future by choosing healthy foods. A balanced diet and physical activity contribute to a higher quality of life and enhanced independence as you age.

Food your Body Needs as You Age

• Fruit – Focus on whole fruits rather than juices for more fiber and vitamins and aim for 1½ to 2 servings or more each day. Break the apple and banana rut and go for color-rich pickings like berries or melons.
• Veggies – Color is your credo in this category. Choose antioxidant-rich dark, leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, and broccoli as well as orange and yellow vegetables, such as carrots, squash, and yams. Try for 2 to 2½ cups of veggies every day.
• Calcium – Maintaining bone health as you age depends on adequate calcium intake to prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures. Older adults need 1,200 mg of calcium a day through servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese. Non-dairy sources include tofu, broccoli, almonds, and kale.
• Grains – Be smart with your carbs and choose whole grains over processed white flour for more nutrients and more fiber. If you’re not sure, look for pasta, breads, and cereals that list “whole” in the ingredient list. Older adults need 6-7 ounces of grains each day (one ounce is about 1 slice of whole grain bread).
• Protein – Adults over 50 without kidney disease or diabetes need about 1 to 1.5 grams per kilogram (2.2lbs) of bodyweight. This translates to 68 to 102g of high-quality protein per day for a person weighing 150 lbs. (0.5 g of protein per lb. of body weight is close enough). Try to divide your protein intake equally among meals. It’s important to vary your sources of protein instead of relying on red meat, including more fish, beans, peas, eggs, nuts, seeds, and low-fat milk and cheese in your diet.

Important Vitamin and Minerals

• Water – As we age, some of us are prone to dehydration because our bodies lose some of the ability to regulate fluid levels and our sense of thirst is may not be as sharp. Post a note in your kitchen reminding you to sip water every hour and with meals to avoid urinary tract infections, constipation, and even confusion.
• Vitamin B – After 50, your stomach produces less gastric acid making it difficult to absorb vitamin B-12—needed to help keep blood and nerves vital. Get the recommended daily intake (2.4 mcg) of B12 from fortified foods or a vitamin supplement.
• Vitamin D – We get most of our vitamin D intake—essential to absorbing calcium and boosting muscles—through sun exposure and certain foods (fatty fish, egg yolk, and fortified milk). With age, our skin is less efficient at synthesizing vitamin D, so consult your doctor about supplementing your diet with fortified foods or a multivitamin, especially if you’re obese or have limited sun exposure.

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Eating Well as You Age

For adults over 50, the benefits of healthy eating include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times, and better management of chronic health problems. As we age, eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced. But healthy eating doesn’t have to be about dieting and sacrifice. Whatever your age, eating well should be all about fresh, colorful food, creativity in the kitchen, and eating with friends.

Feeding your body, mind and soul 

Remember the old age, you are what you eat? Make it your motto. When you choose a variety of colorful fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins you’ll feel vibrant and healthy, inside and out.

• Live longer and stronger – Good nutrition keeps muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong for the long haul. Eating vitamin-rich food boosts immunity and fights illness-causing toxins. A proper diet reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, bone loss, cancer, and anemia. Also, eating sensibly means consuming fewer calories and more nutrient-dense foods, keeping weight in check. 
• Sharpen the mind – Key nutrients are essential for the brain to do its job. People who eat a selection of brightly colored fruit, leafy veggies, and fish and nuts packed with omega-3 fatty acids can improve focus and decrease their risk of Alzheimer’s disease.Regular consumption of antioxidant-rich green tea may also enhance memory and mental alertness as you age. 
• Feel better – Wholesome meals give you more energy and help you look better, resulting in a self-esteem boost. It’s all connected—when your body feels good you feel happier inside and out. 

Of course, balanced nutrition is more than calorie counting. There are many other aspects to creating a nutritious lifestyle. 

How many calories do adults over 50 need?

Use the following as a guideline:

A woman over 50 who is: 

• Not physically active needs about 1600 calories a day 
• Somewhat physically active needs about 1800 calories a day 
• Very active needs about 2000 calories a day 

A man over 50 who is: 

• Not physically active needs about 2000 calories a day 
• Somewhat physically active needs about 2200-2400 calories a day 
• Very active needs about 2400-2800 calories a day

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Acupuncture: Explained

Acupuncture is a ancient Chinese medical practice that involves inserting fine needles at specific points on the skin. The basis of this medical practice is Qi (chee), life energy that flows through the body. Illness occurs when Qi does not flow freely through the body. Acupuncture is believed to restore the flow of Qi, and thus restoring good health.

Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of health conditions. It’s most commonly used to treat headaches, Lower back pain, dental pain. Apart from these, acupuncture has been observed to be effective as treatments for:

• Nausea and Vomiting Post and operation
• Osteoarthritis
• Pain during Endoscopy

It is also commonly used to treat asthma, infertility and anxiety. However as with most forms of alternative medicine, there is very little scientific backing and hence it’s practice is not recommended by many healthcare professionals.This does not necessarily mean that this form of treatment is ineffective. It just means that it’s not as profitable. Such is the sad story of the world of medicine, where pharmaceuticals take precedence over any other form of treatment.

Scientifically speaking, Acupuncture could possibly be affecting nerves and muscle tissue and through that process instigate a body reaction that results in better health. However, one cannot ignore the possibility of the placebo affect being responsible for the success of the treatment.

The existence of Qi is questionable in the eyes of science. With the knowledge we have at this day and age, we have come to realize that there is more that we know about the human body now than ever before. Yet, we have only scratched the surface. In actuality, at best, we know about 40 % of the human body and its functions. With 40 % I am being extremely optimistic. The only way to know more is to explore. So I leave it to you. Alternative Medicine may be the way to true healing, curing ourselves of diseases as opposed to the “Medicine” that in most cases is a symptomatic form of treatment.

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