Thirdhand Smoke - Bigger Health Hazard Than Previously Believed

Smokers, primarily, put their own health at risk with their habit, but their second-hand smoke puts others at risk too.

If you can smell tobacco smoke — even if you can't see it — you're breathing in toxins, including more than 60 known carcinogens.

Scientists are reporting that so-called "thirdhand smoke" -- the invisible remains of cigarette smoke that clings to smokers' hair and clothing as well as to household fabrics, carpets and surfaces even after secondhand smoke has cleared -- may be even more of a health hazard than previously believed.

In an effort to learn more about thirdhand smoke, Yael Dubowski and colleagues studied interactions between nicotine and indoor air on a variety of different materials, including cellulose (a component of wood furniture), cotton, and paper to simulate typical indoor surfaces. They found that nicotine interacts with ozone, in indoor air, to form potentially toxic pollutants on these surfaces. Exposure to them can occur to babies crawling on the carpet, people napping on the sofa, or people eating food tainted by thirdhand smoke.

Given the toxicity of some of the identified products and that small particles may contribute to adverse health effects, the present study indicates that exposure to thirdhand smoke ozonation products may pose additional health risks

Thirdhand smoke can persist on those materials for days, weeks and even months. You can't eliminate thirdhand smoke exposure in your home by opening a window, using air conditioning or a fan, or allowing smoking in some rooms but not others. The only way to fully protect your children — and nonsmoking adults in your family — is to make your home and car smoke-free. Consider this added bonus: Enforcing these smoke-free zones may help smokers quit and reduce the risk of teens becoming smokers.

Journal Reference:

Lauren M. Petrick, Alona Svidovsky, Yael Dubowski. Thirdhand Smoke: Heterogeneous Oxidation of Nicotine and Secondary Aerosol Formation in the Indoor Environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 2011; 45 (1): 328 DOI: 10.1021/es102060v

Picture Credit : quit-smoking-central.com

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Adakah anda ingin berhenti merokok tetapi tidak berjaya?

Kini anda boleh mencuba Terapi Gantian Nikotin atau dikenali sebagai NiQuitin yang didakwa mampu menghentikan tabiat itu.

Produk yang terbukti secara klinikal itu didatangkan dalam dua variasi iaitu pelekat dan lozenges yang mampu membebaskan seseorang perokok tegar mahupun biasa daripada tabiat merokok dalam masa hanya 12 minggu.

Lebih memudahkan, produk itu boleh dibeli di mana-mana farmasi di negara ini tanpa memerlukan preskripsi daripada doktor kerana ia dijamin selamat dan tidak mendatangkan kesan sampingan.

Naib Presiden merangkap Pengurus Besar Asia Selatan, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Sdn. Bhd. (GSK), Akhil Chandra berkata, nisbah perokok adalah dua orang lelaki bersamaan dengan seorang perokok di negara ini dan ia satu statistik membimbangkan.

“Kajian yang dibuat oleh National Morbidity Survey pada tahun 2006 mencatatkan bahawa 21.5 peratus atau lebih kurang empat juta orang di negara ini ketagih merokok yang mencatatkan kematian sebanyak 10,000 setahun.

“GSK yakin bahawa penyelesaian yang kami tawarkan dengan NiQuitin akan membantu perokok mengurangkan pergantungan mereka pada nikotin dan meningkatkan peluang mereka yang tidak merokok,” katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini semalam.

Kredit : kosmo.com.my

Zestz for LAUGHS - No Speakah De English

A bus stops and 2 Italian men get on. They sit down and engage in an animated conversation. The lady sitting next to them ignores them at first, but her attention is galvanized when she hears one of them say the following:

“Emma come first. Den I come.
Den two asses come together.
I come once-a-more!
Two asses, they come together again.
I come again and pee twice.
Then I come one lasta time.”

The lady can't take this any more, “You foul-mouthed sex obsessed pig,” she retorted indignantly!

“In this country we don't speak aloud in public places about our sex lives!”

“Hey, coola down lady,” said the man. “Who talkin' abouta sex? I'm a justa tellin' my frienda how to spell ' Mississippi '!’

Submitted by Edwin, author unknown

$5.00 says you're gonna read this again

Kesihatan Gigi dan Gigi Sensitif

Sensitiviti gigi adalah ketidakselesaan gigi melibatkan satu atau lebih gigi yang dipicu oleh makanan yang panas, sejuk, manis, atau makanan dan minuman masam, atau bahkan dengan menghirup udara sejuk. Rasa sakit boleh tajam, tiba-tiba, dan menembak jauh ke hujung saraf gigi anda.

Apa Punca Gigi Sensitif?

Gigi sensitif terjadi ketika lapisan yang mendasari gigi anda - dentin - menjadi terbuka sebagai akibat dari surutnya rangkaian gusi (selimut pelindung yang menutupi akar gigi). Akar, yang tidak ada enamel keras, mengandungi ribuan tubula kecil yang mengarah ke pusat saraf gigi (pulpa). Tubula dentin ini (atau saluran) membenarkan stimulus - contohnya, makanan panas, sejuk, atau manis - untuk mencapai urat saraf di dalam gigi anda, yang mengakibatkan rasa sakit yang anda rasakan.

Ada banyak faktor yang boleh menyebabkan gigi sensitif, termasuk:

* Memberus gigi terlalu kuat. Seiring waktu, memberus terlalu kuat atau menggunakan berus gigi berbulu keras boleh menghakis lapisan bawah enamel dan menyebabkan dentin terdedah. Hal ini juga boleh menyebabkan lekuk pada gusi (rangkaian gusi tertarik dari gigi).

* Kerosakan gigi berhampiran garis gusi.

* Lekuk pada gusi. Disebabkan gusi menjauh dari gigi seperti pada penyakit periodontal, permukaan akar menjadi terbuka.

* Penyakit gusi (gingivitis). Radang dan tisu gusi yang bengkak boleh menyebabkan sensitiviti akibat kehilangan ligamen penyokong, yang memaparkan permukaan akar yang mengarah langsung ke saraf gigi.

* Gigi retak. Gigi pecah atau rosak boleh menjadi tempat pembiakan bakteria dari plak dan masuk ke pulpa sehingga menyebabkan keradangan.

* Melaga-lagakan gigi. Melaga-lagakan gigi atau mengetap gigi mungkin menipiskan lapisan enamel dan mendedahkan dentin yang mendasarinya.

* Produk pemutihan gigi atau pasta gigi dengan baking soda dan peroksida. Produk-produk ini merupakan penyumbang utama untuk gigi sensitif.

* Usia anda. Sensitiviti gigi tertinggi pada usia antara 25 dan 30 tahun.

* Pembentukan plak. Kehadiran plak pada permukaan akar boleh menyebabkan sensitiviti.

* Menggunakan ubat kumur. Penggunaan jangka panjang beberapa pencuci mulut. Sesetengah ubat kumur dipasaran mengandungi asid yang boleh memburukkan lagi sensitiviti gigi jika terkena pada dentin (lapisan tengah gigi). Kandungan asid lebih banyak merosakkan lapisan dentin gigi. Jika anda mempunyai sensitiviti dentin, tanya doktor gigi anda mengenai penggunaan larutan fluorida neutral.

* Makanan masam. Pengambilan secara rutin makanan dengan kandungan asid yang tinggi, seperti buah jeruk, tomato, acar, dan teh, boleh menyebabkan enamel terhakis.

* Prosedur pemeriksaan gigi yang rutin. Sensitiviti boleh berlaku disebabkan membersihkan gigi, 'root planing', penempatan mahkota, dan pemulihan gigi. Sensitiviti yang disebabkan oleh prosedur gigi bersifat sementara, biasanya akan hilang dalam empat hingga enam minggu.

Apa yang Harus Dilakukan untuk Mengurangkan Gigi Sensitif?

Beberapa langkah yang boleh diambil untuk mengelakkan sensitiviti gigi meliputi:

* Menjaga kesihatan mulut dengan baik. Berus gigi dengan betul dan lakukan teknik floss untuk benar-benar membersihkan semua bahagian gigi dan mulut.

* Gunakan berus gigi berbulu lembut. Hal ini dapat mengurangkan permukaan gigi dari melecet dan mengurangkan kerengsaan gusi anda. Berus dengan lembut dan berhati-hati di sekitar garis gusi sehingga anda tidak menghakis tisu gusi anda.

* Gunakan ubat gigi tidak sensitif. Ada beberapa jenama ubat gigi di pasaran untuk gigi sensitif. Dengan penggunaan secara teratur anda akan melihat penurunan sensitiviti. Anda mungkin perlu mencuba beberapa jenama yang lain untuk mencari produk yang terbaik bagi anda. Tip lain. Sapu lapisan tipis ubat gigi pada akar gigi yang terdedah dengan jari anda atau Q-tip sebelum anda pergi tidur. Jangan gunakan ubat gigi kawalan tartar, melainkan menggunakan ubat gigi berfluorida.

* Perhatikan apa yang anda makan. Kekerapan mengambil makanan yang sangat masam boleh secara berperingkat melarutkan enamel gigi dan menyebabkan dentin terdedah. Ia juga boleh memburukkan lagi sensitiviti dan memulakan reaksi nyilu.

* Gunakan produk ubat gigi berfluorida. Penggunaan harian ubat kumur mengandungi fluorida dapat menurunkan sensitiviti. Tanyakan doktor gigi anda mengenai produk yang ada di pasaran untuk digunakan di rumah.

* Elakkan mengetap gigi. Jika anda mengetap atau mengisar gigi, gunakan pendakap mulut pada malam hari.

* Jumpa doktor gigi anda secara rutin. Dapatkan cara membersihkan gigi secara profesional, aturan kebersihan mulut, dan rawatan fluorida setiap enam bulan (atau lebih cepat bergantung pada keadaan gigi anda).

Jika anda masih mengalami ketidakselesaan, bincang dengan doktor gigi anda. Mungkin ada beberapa prosedur gigi yang boleh membantu mengurangkan sensitiviti, termasuk penggunaan:

* Tampalan putih(ikatan) untuk menutup permukaan akar yang terbuka
* Fluorida bervarnis digunakan pada permukaan akar yang terbuka
* Penutup dentin digunakan pada permukaan akar yang terbuka

Dry Chapped Lips: How To Prevent And Treat Them

Unlike body skin, the skin on our lips does not naturally create its own moisture layer, leaving it susceptible to dryness and chapping.

Thus, almost everyone has experienced dry, chapped lips at one time or another. This condition often comes after overexposure to extremes of weather – too much sun, wind, or cold and the dry air-conditioned environment in the office and at home.

Other possible causes of dry cracked lips are :

• Periodontal disease or abscesses
• Hypersensitivity to a new lipstick, in which case throw it into the garbage and never buy any product of the same brand again.
• Nickel found in items such as paper clipsJuice from citrus fruits
• Red dyes and cinnamates (cinnamon flavor) found in candy, lozenges, gum, mouthwash and toothpaste
• Snoring caused by enlarged tonsils, adenoids or sleep apnea resulting in co
  ntinuous breath flowing over your lips
• Thyroid hormone imbalance
• Chronic licking or chewing of your lips
• Medications, eg isotreinoin used in the treatment of acne, the anti-hypertensive propanolol and certain antidepressants may cause chapping.

What can you do to protect your lips and prevent the painful problem before it happens?

• ‘Obsessively’ apply a good lip balm to keep your lips moisturized.
• Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
• If the air in your home is very dry, invest in a humidifier to keep some moisture in the air.
• Invest on a humidifier to moisturize the air in your home and/or office.
• Breathe through your nose and cover your lips with a ski mask or scarf when you go out in cold weather.
• Licking dry lips actually dries them out even more. Furthermore, the enzyme amylase in your saliva can also damage the already compromised lip tissue.
• Avoid picking on the flakes of dry skin, this may cause your lips to bleed.

However, if your lips do not respond to any of the above treatments or if they are becoming severely chapped and uncomfortable, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Photo Credit: The HealthAge.Com

Zestz for LAUGHS - Another DOM story

A DOM is walking down the street one afternoon when he sees a woman with perfect breasts.

He says to her, "Hey miss, would you let me BITE your breasts for $100?"

"Are you nuts?!" she replies, and keeps walking away.

He turns around, runs around the block and gets to the corner before she does. "Would you let me bite your breasts for $1,000?" he asks again.

"Listen you; I'm not that kind of woman! Got it?"

So the little DOM runs around the next block and faces her again, "Would you let me bite your breasts - just once - for $10,000?!"

She thinks about it for a while and says, "Hmmmmm, $10,000... Ok, just once, but not here. Let's go to that dark alley over there."

So they go into the alley, where she takes off her blouse to reveal the most perfect breasts in the world.

As soon as he sees them, he grabs them and starts caressing them, fondling them slowly, kissing them, licking them, burying his face in them - but not biting them.

The woman finally gets annoyed and asks, 'Well? Are you going to bite them or not?'

"Nah," says the little DOM... "Costs too much!"

Submitted by TG of Singapore, author unknown.

What is a DOM?

An elderly man that dreams of screwing women between the ages of 15-35, or women who look like they're 15-35. Often stare at their young flesh. They often try to score with them. Usually have to settle with porn or elderly women, unless they are very rich (check sugar daddy)

OK-la, if you are not happy with this definition, CLICK HERE!

Picture Credit: An "Innocent Old Man" by Photobucket.com