Handbook of Life.....

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar..
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time for meditation and prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

1. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don't have to win e very argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.

Life:

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. Time heals everything.Give time, time.
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
6. The best is yet to come.
7. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
8. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Change Your Thinking

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking..

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.


One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall..

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .'

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Signs

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder which causes individuals to have thoughts and fears in their minds, in the form of obsessions. These excessive thoughts and fears are mitigated by compulsions, prompting individuals to excessively do things in a certain way.

Excessive Confessions:
This is caused by a fear of doing something wrong. I never knew this was a sign and so I put it as #1 to see if readers would agree.

Excessive Sexual Thoughts:
We all have sexual thoughts, but those with OCD have excessive thoughts which intrude into daily activities. This is a type of obsession and many people would use a compulsion listed below to mitigate it.

Washing hands repeatedly:
This is a form of compulsion. This is usually done to stop obsessions and images of contamination from popping into their minds.

Checking things too much:
People who are obsessive-compulsive have a tendency to check things too much. This again is used to mitigate obsessive thoughts. In this situation, people may be afraid and obsessed about intrusions, so they repeatedly check if they locked all the doors.

Arranging:
This is an example of an obsession. Those with OCD have an obsession with symmetry and numbers. If someone misplaces their belongings or place it the wrong way, people with OCD get easily frustrated.

Excessive doubts:
Those who suffer from OCD may experience excessive doubts. They lack confidence and will need to use compulsions in order to make sure that everything is done properly. An example of this is the excessive calling of loved ones to see if they are okay.

Counting:
This is a form of compulsion. Many people with OCD use counting to help them mitigate obsessions. They are self-conscious and feel they need to stop. They, however, cannot and that becomes a problem.

Praying excessively:
Believe it or not people who are obsessive-compulsive have a fear of religion (obsession). They would excessively pray (compulsion) in order to mitigate their thoughts.

Refuse to touch others:
There are those who are germaphobes, but this is different. This is quite different than what Seinfeld made it out to be in one of their episodes. It is not voluntary and is not always triggered by someone’s actions.

Collecting:
Individuals with OCD may also not throw things away. They would keep things for long periods of time, with or without sentimentality.

Health Food Myth

HEALTHY FOOD MYTH

Over the years, a number of myths have been formed about healthy food which when revealed, are quite shocking.

Eating too much fruit will lead to blood sugar problems
If you are eating healthy food, you must be eating some fruits too. Many people believe that since these fruits contain natural sugars, they will instantly have blood sugar problems. They feel that if they eat too much fruit, they will get a sugar rush that will subside soon, leaving them empty. This is not true. Fact is that if your blood sugar is high, it has nothing to do with the fruit.

Fruit can lead to Candida
Many people believe that if they eat too many mangoes, bananas or apple, they will get Candida. They self-diagnose themselves and panic to no extent. Fact is that this is not true and if they do not believe it, they should visit a doctor.

Carrots will improve your eyesight
Many people who have thick glasses and those who find it difficult to even recognize themselves in the mirror without their contacts start nibbling on carrots day in and day out with the hope that it will improve their eyesight. However, while carrots are definitely good for you as they are healthy, they will not change your eyesight. Therefore, keep those glasses on and stop overdosing on the carrots.

Eating too many bananas will lead to an overdose of potassium
While too much of supplemental potassium will definitely cause problems, natural potassium is completely safe. Even though bananas contain about 1,200 mg of this element, you do not need to worry.

Fruit can lead to the development of cancerous cells in the body
This myth is completely untrue. In fact, the more fruit you eat, the more you will keep cancer at bay. Therefore, those patients who have cancer should munch on a whole of fruits through the day instead of avoiding it. People believe that since cancer cells expand after feeding on sugar, fruits are dangerous. However, this is simply not true.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are not as nutritious as fresh ones
Many people believe that the fruits they purchase from the grocery store are much safer than those that are canned. However, this is not true because who knows how long these fruits and vegetables have been sitting around? Even though fresh fruits may taste better than frozen ones, there is absolutely no difference in their nutrition value.

When choosing between butter and margarine, always go the latter
People try to avoid butter because they feel that by consuming it, they may increase the risks of cholesterol problems. However, what they don’t realize is that margarine is as bad, if not worse because it has double the effect as it contains harmful trans fats.

Bananas are fattening
Just because this fruit is sweet, people believe that it is fattening as well. However, one medium-sized banana contains only 105 calories. They are good for your health because they contain healthy doses of fiber, potassium and magnesium which together make the immune system stronger and more powerful.

If you cook vegetables, you take away their vitamin content
This is definitely not true as cooking the vegetables will actually help your body absorb the vegetable nutrients. However, if you over boil them, the vegetables will eliminate themselves.

Whole grain bread is better than the rest
While this can be true, always be sure to go through the fiber content mentioned behind the packaging to be completely sure.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis facts

• Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease.
• Psoriasis has no known cause.
• The tendency toward developing psoriasis is inherited in genes.
• Psoriasis is not contagious.
• Psoriasis gets better and worse spontaneously and can have periodic remissions (clear skin).
• Psoriasis is controllable with medication.
• Psoriasis is currently not curable.
• There are many promising therapies, including newer biologic drugs.
• Future research for psoriasis is promising.

What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces red, dry plaques of thickened skin. The dry flakes and skin scales are thought to result from the rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes from the blood . Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Some people have such mild psoriasis (small, faint dry skin patches) that they may not even suspect that they have a medical skin condition. Others have very severe psoriasis where virtually their entire body is fully covered with thick, red, scaly skin.

Psoriasis is considered a non-curable, long-term (chronic) skin condition. It has a variable course, periodically improving and worsening. It is not unusual for psoriasis to spontaneously clear for years and stay in remission. Many people note a worsening of their symptoms in the colder winter months.

Psoriasis is seen worldwide, in all races, and both sexes. Although psoriasis can be seen in people of any age, from babies to seniors, most commonly patients are first diagnosed in their early adult years.

Patients with more severe psoriasis may have social embarrassment, job stress, emotional distress, and other personal issues because of the appearance of their skin.

There are five types of psoriasis:
plaque, guttate, lnverse, pustular, and  erythrodermic. Plague psoriasis is the most common form, appears as red patches, raised or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, it is called scale. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression

Plague Psoriasis
is the typical form with scaly, red, raised patches – the plaques – which vary in size from a few millimeters to many centimeters. They tend to be symmetrical and prefer the extensor surfaces such as the backs of the elbows and the fronts of the knees. The lower back and sacral area (top of the buttocks) is another common site for large plaques. Although the plaques can be very large and widespread, they generally cover 5% or less of a person’s body surface.

Guttate Psoriasis
is also known as teardrop or raindrop psoriasis. It tends to occur in children, adolescents and younger adults., and is a generalized rash of small spots up to 1 centimetre in diameter. It tends to follow an infection, often of the throat, when it appears very suddenly a week after the infection. It is widespread but does spare the palms and soles, and clears up after several weeks or months depending on how quickly treatment is started. Up to 50% of people affected will not have a further attack, but it may become chronic or evolve into one of the other types of psoriasis.

lnverse Psoriasis
develops in the natural folds of the skin, such as the armpit, the breast folds, the pubis, the genital area, the groin, and the buttock crease. The area affected appears highly inflamed but lacks scales because of the body’s natural lubrication. It can cause troublesome nappy rash in infants but is mainly found in older people. The reason for the lack of scale is the decreased water loss from two surfaces of skin lying against each other.

Pustular Psoriasis
Can affect just the hands and feet, with round yellow pustules (raised areas of skin containing pus) appearing under the skin surface of the palms or soles, or both. They gradually turn brown as they reach the surface and are shed as scales. The pustules are sterile and not due to infection. This pattern is most often seen in middle-aged people who are smokers. Generalised pustular psoriasis, with sheets of very small pustules on a background of very red, hot skin, is a medical emergency. A person can become very ill from loss of heat, and fluid, and feel very feverish. It is sometimes triggered if large amounts of strong steroid creams have been used to treat widespread plaques or after oral steroids

Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Also is an emergency. Like many medical terms, erythroderma is from the Greek – for red or inflamed and skin. The whole of the skin turns red and leads to loss of fluid and heat, as with pustular psoriasis. There are no pustules but urgent admission to hospital is needed to replace lost fluid and to prevent hypothermia (low body temperature). The underlying psoriasis also needs to be treated once the person has been stabilized. Erythroderma can occur with other skin diseases such as eczema but is, thankfully, quite rare. It can occur slowly but, as with pustular psoriasis, often develops suddenly after incorrect use of sudden withdrawal of steroid treatment.

What causes psoriasis?
The exact cause remains unknown. There may be a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It is common for psoriasis to be found in members of the same family. The immune system is thought to play a major role. Despite research over the past 30 years looking at many triggers, the "master switch" that turns on psoriasis is still a mystery.

Is psoriasis curable?
No, psoriasis is not currently curable. However, it can go into remission and show no signs of disease. Ongoing research is actively making progress on finding better treatments and a possible cure in the future.

Is psoriasis contagious?
No. Research studies have not shown it to be contagious from person to person. You cannot catch it from anyone, and you cannot pass it to anyone else by skin-to-skin contact. You can directly touch someone with psoriasis every day and never catch the skin condition.


What is the treatment for psoriasis?
There are many effective treatment choices for psoriasis. The best treatment is individually determined by the treating physician and depends, in part, on the type of disease, the severity, and the total body area involved.

For mild disease that involves only small areas of the body (like less than 10% of the total skin surface), topical (skin applied) creams, lotions, and sprays may be very effective and safe to use. Occasionally, a small local injection of steroids directly into a tough or resistant isolated psoriasis plaque may be helpful.

For moderate to severe disease that involves much larger areas of the body (like 20% or more of the total skin surface), topical products may not be effective or practical to apply. These cases may require ultra-violet light treatments or systemic (total body treatments such as pills or injections) medications. Internal medications usually have greater risks.

For psoriatic arthritis, systemic medications are generally required to stop the progression of permanent joint destruction. Topical therapies are not effective.

It is important to keep in mind that as with any medical condition, all medications carry possible side effects. No medication is 100% effective for everyone, and no medication is 100% safe. The decision to use any medication requires thorough consideration and discussion with your physician. The risks and potential benefit of medications have to be considered for each type of psoriasis and the individual patient. Some patients are not bothered at all by their skin symptoms and may not want any treatment. Other patients are bothered by even small patches of psoriasis and want to keep their skin clear. Everyone is different and, therefore, treatment choices also vary depending on the patient's goals and expressed wishes.

An approach to minimize the toxicity of some of these medicines has been commonly called "rotational" therapy. The idea is to change the antipsoriasis drug every six to 24 months in order to minimize the possible side effects from any one type of therapy or medication.

In another example, a patient who has been using strong topical steroids over large areas of their body for prolonged periods may benefit from stopping the steroids for a while and rotating onto a different therapy like calcitriol (Vectical), light therapy, or an injectable biologic.