Fastest Trains in the World

There are trains which are the fastest. Some of them are noted because they are the largest. Some trains do not fall into any of these categories but are known to carry the largest number of passengers. Newer versions of such super fast trains have started making their appearance around the length and breadth of several countries. They have made travel faster and easier for human beings. The following is the list of the fastest trains in the world!

China
The CRH2 is a modified E 2-1000 series Shinkansen design and is one among the fastest train models in China. It is also the second Shinkansen model of train that was exported. The other one was the 700T series.

Taiwan
The Taiwan High Speed Rail is roughly 335.50 kms and runs along the west coast of Taiwan. It runs to Kaohsiung city from Taipei City and is said to have started its operation on January 5, 2007.

Korea
South Korea’s high-speed rail system, the Korea Train eXpress (KTX) is operated by Korail. It has a high speed of 350km/hr and its technology is based on the French TGV system. Its speed can be limited to 300 km/h for safety during normal service. This super fast train reached a great speed of 352.4 kms per hour on December 16, 2004.

Japan
A network of super fast trains connects Honshu in Japan with other major cities. It also connects Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu and Tokyo. The super fast trains of Japan are known as shinkansen. These trains of bullet types are run by Japan Railways.

Spain
AVE is an abbreviation for Alta Velocidad Española meaning High Speed. It can also imply bird in Spanish. Ave is a network of high speed trains that operate at speeds of up to 300 km/h and connects all important towns and cities in Spain.

UK
A high speed train service in Western Europe, Eurostar connects London and Kent in the United Kingdom, with Brussels in Belgium and Paris and Lille in France. There are also seasonal trains to France and limited services to Disneyland Resort Paris.

France
A high speed train service of France, the TGV rail service was developed by the French national rail operator, SNCF and GEC-Alsthom (now Alstom). The TGV rail network connects Paris with other important cities of France and also nearby countries.

Japan
This is an older version of the maglev Shinkansen and it ran at a speed of 320 mph (515 km/h) in 1990. This was a fastest train in Japan during the 1990’s.

Germany
The TR-07 was a German maglev train which ran from Hamburg reaching a speed of 270.3 mph in 1989. Its noise level was very much reduced owing to the engine design. Transrapid is a German monorail which is presently amongst the quickest of all the trains in the world. It is run by magnetic levitation. During its trial, the train was able to reach speed upto 450 km/hour. The newer and latest versions even reach a speed of over 500 km/hour.

Japan
The MLU001 was a Japanese Maglev Train which ran at a speed of 248.9 mph (400.4 km/h) in 1987. This marked the way for other super fast trains that made its appearance in the 1990’s and 2000’s.

Best Travel Destination

Have a look at the all time best travel destination countries. Those places have managed repeatedly pull visitors year after year, regardless of economic issues. The list of countries was based on the number of tourists registered entering those countries over the last 5 years.

France
France averages 76 million visitors a year. The nation of France has repeatedly topped the list of the most visited European countries. From the rural wine making area of Tuscany to the hedonistic life found on the southern coast, France offers the visitor luxury and charm in a single package. France averages 76 million visitors a year.

Spain
Spain averages 55.6 million visitors a year. A firm favorite with families seeking an inexpensive beach holiday, Spain remains one of the top tourist destinations in the world. In recent years much has been done to clean up the reputation that many of the southern coastal regions gained during the package holiday era of the 1980s. Spain averages 55.6 million visitors a year.

 United States
United States averages 49.4 million visitors a year. Truly no other country in the world can offer such a varied experience for the visitor. The southern states supply some of the best known attractions such as Disney Land while the midwest offers unparalleled natural beauty; the modern metropolitan centers of the north such as New York offer the visitor an urban adventure. United States averages 49.4 million visitors a year.

China
China averages 46.8 million visitors a year. For holiday makers interested in culture and history, China makes for an enthralling destination. With its brash and boisterous cities and its obvious commitment to its heritage, China supplies a fascinating holiday.

Italy
Italy averages 36.5 million visitors a year. Rich cultures and outstanding natural beauty makes Italy a favorite with many tourists. Classic cities such as Venice and Rome typify the uniqueness of a visit to Italy. The southern coast and islands offer exceptional beach holidays.

United Kingdom
United Kingdom averages  30 million visitors a year. Arguably sporting some of the most stunning natural countryside in the world, the UK offers a chance for the visitor to enjoy not only modern urban life in cities such as London and Manchester, but to taste the English summer in areas such as Kent, Devon and the Lake District.

Mexico
Mexico averages 21.9 million visitors a year. Much beloved by American tourists, Mexico offers that little taste of the exotic just a short step across the border from the USA. Spicy cuisine, lively nightlife and friendly locals make Mexico a favorite getaway destination for many US residents.

Germany
Germany averages 21.5 million visitors a year. Unlike most of the destinations mentioned above, Germany is not a traditional summer vacation destination. Instead, Germany makes for an intriguing mix of natural countryside and cities with individual character such as Berlin and Munich.

Canada
Canada averages 20.3 million visitors a year. While the southern USA enjoys the Mexican border to supply it with a local holiday destination, the Northern part of the USA exploits its proximity to the Canadian border. A fantastic country for those who enjoy winter sports and the great outdoors.

Austria
Austria averages 20 million visitors a year.A destination which presents a refined face to the visitor, from its architecture to its art galleries, Austria is a leading cultural center. Famed for its love of the arts, including ballet, opera and theater, many leading European centers of art can be found in Austria.

Female Fantasies

We all have fantasies. Some of our fantasies run wild while we’re kids. When we become adults, the fantasies linger with us. Who would not like to fantasize about a dream and fairy tale wedding? Better yet…who would not dream about winning the lottery and not going to work? We all do.

Raise your hand if you recognize 1 or 2. Remember what Freud once said: only unsatisfied people have sexual fantasies.

Winning the lottery:
75/100 women fantasize regularly about winning the lottery. Many of them admit that they play weekly lotto to advance their chances of winning. Some have also grouped together to multiply their chances of winning.

Prince-Charming:
85% of the survey unmarried women fantasize about marrying a prince charming with the right physique. Some even desired to find a husband that will let them stop working.

A Day in the Life of a Man:
40/100 women wondered and fantasized about what it would be like to live a life of the opposite sex. They tried to understand men’s actions and tried to understand why they act the way they do. This situation is similar to Beyoncé’s song…If I Were a Boy….

Lesbianism/Bisexualism:
Many women have also admitted that they fantasized about being a lesbian. These individuals were all straight; dating or married. I believe it was just the social influences and stereotypes which brought out such fantasies. They agreed.

No Responsibilities:
Women have a huge load of work to do. Many of them work, care for kids, husband and the house. They cook, wash, clean and read bedtime stories to their kids. When feeling tired, some women dream about being free of all responsibilities.

Emotional Needs:
Women tend to be emotional and intimate. They are overly concerned about others, including their love.

Beauty:
Women worry about their beauty. They want to make sure that their faces and body are perfect. They sometimes compare themselves with other women, including celebrities. This is in tune with Freud’s quote on non-satisfaction.

Being in Control:
Almost all of the women surveyed believed that they thought about being in control and wanting to have more power than they at the time had. They even dreamed about teaching someone a lesson or two about morals. Rightfully so, I may add.

Getaway island:
Massages and sitting on the beach with a tropical drink and with no one to bother them were a quote taken from someone being surveyed. Stress sometimes gets to people in the wrong ways. Fantasies are a way to deal with the stress.

First Time/First Kiss:
Women, who never slept with a guy, fantasize about their first time or kiss. Who does not? Men do it all the time. It’s natural for heaven’s sake. Movies like Juno would not be popular otherwise. People easily connect.

People Who Were Buried Alive

Everybody is scared of getting buried alive and the following people had these nightmares transformed into reality when they were declared dead prematurely.

Virginia Macdonald
Virginia Macdonald died in 1851 after she had been ill for a long time. After she was buried, her mother was sure of the fact that Virginia was not dead. Unfortunately, when the coffin was taken out, it was found that the poor girl’s hands were bitten and the body showed other traces of having been buried alive.

Madame Blunden
Madame Blunden was declared dead in 1896 and was buried under a school. The coffin was opened up after complaints from children about noises and those who were around managed to watch her take her last breath.

Collins
In 1886, New York Times carried an article about a young girl named Collins who died suddenly and was then buried. When her body was being shifted, it was discovered that her knees were pulled till her chin, her arm was turned in an unnatural manner and her face was twisted in such a manner that it was obvious she had been through dreadful torture.

Unknown man
The Daily Telegraph carried an article in 1889 about a man who had been buried in Grenoble. Because he stayed intoxicated for 20 hours, it was assumed that he was dead. However, when the sexton was placing the thick coffin in the grave, he heard loud moans and frantic knocks. By the time he opened it up, the man had died and his head was badly mutilated.

Unknown man
The Sunday Times carried an article in 1838 about a man in Tonneins who was buried alive. When the coffin was being lowered into the Earth, the grave-digger heard loud noises and sure enough, the man had been declared dead prematurely.

Unknown woman
The British Medical Journal carried a piece in 1877 about a woman who was buried because she was thought to be dead when in fact; she was in some sort of a trance. When the grave was opened a few days later in order to place another body in, the woman’s body was found to be mutilated.

Miss Hockwalt
Miss Hockwalt belonged to the elite section of the society in Dayton during 1884. She was thought to be dead after being found on a chair, looking lifeless and ‘dead’. She was then buried. The grave was opened up later and the lady’s hair had been torn out and her skin was bitten.

Mary Norah Best
Mary Norah Best was seventeen years old when she was declared dead in 1871. It has been believed that many people would have benefited from her death which is why she was buried. In 1881, it was found that Mary’s skeleton was ‘sitting up’ and the undertaker realized that the poor girl had woken up and managed to break open the casket.

Unknown Man
The New York Times article carried an article on a man from Asheville who was declared dead after being sick for several months. When the coffin was being moved, it was opened up and much to the horror of the man’s relatives, his hair was pulled out.

Madame Bobin
In 1901, Madame Bobin supposedly contracted yellow fever and was pregnant at the time. After she was buried, a nurse said that the body was quite warm and that the muscles were not rigid. The coffin was opened up and found that she had given birth to her baby in the coffin who had also suffocated to death.

Facts About Death Worth Knowing

Death is always sad but if you look hard enough, it can be quite interesting. This list may be macabre but it is also quite fascinating!

Economic Burial

Promessa is a Swedish company which offers economic burials, if that’s what the family of the deceased wants. They will first immerse the body in a certain chemical in order to freeze-dry it and then attach a machine to it which pulverizes it. The end result is that the body turns to dust.

Eating Enzymes

There are certain enzymes in our body which kick-start the digestion process and keep it going till the waste is ready to be removed. These are the same enzymes that devour your body on the third day of your death. The bacteria attacks the dead cells and a certain gas is released which adds weight to the body

Dead Cells

When the embryo is developing, a number of cells have to kill themselves. This is programmed and quite routine and happens so that the child is born with normal and not webbed feet.

Dead American People Are Not Environmentally Friendly

Americans that are buried in the U.S.A are not too eco-friendly. This is because about massive volumes of formaldehyde, ethanol and methanol are used to embalm the body. This fluid seeps into the soil and destroys it bit by bit. Cremations, on the other hand, release harmful noxious gases into the air which only enhances the holes in the ozone layer.

Devoured by Vultures

There is a certain group of people called Zoroastrians in India which place their family members’ dead bodies on the terrace. This is done so that they are eaten by vultures and so that the body is given back to nature.

21 grams

An experiment was carried out by a doctor in Massachusetts in 1907 with the help of a deathbed that was specially designed for the occasion. It was found that the human body loses 21 grams almost instantly. People believe that the soul weighs 21 grams and when it leaves the body, it loses that much weight.

Long Hair and Nails

Even though it is not known for sure, people believe that a person’s hair and nails keep growing long after his death. This is because they are both made of keratin and dead cells and therefore, the death of the body does not affect them all that much.

Lack of Oxygen

The most prominent cause of death is lack of oxygen, no matter what the scenario is. However, it’s a fact that you cannot kill yourself by holding your breath. When the brain does not get enough oxygen, the muscles start competing with each other and literally spasm out of control which is what kills the person.

Soapy Corpse

When a corpse is buried and if the combination of the temperature and humidity in the air is just right, certain tissues in the body will transform into a substance whose texture will resemble that of soap. This happens because of the damp environment and the lack of oxygen in the air

Get Buried in Outer Space

A US based company can send the remains of your loved ones into space as long as you are ready to pay them a hefty fee. A memorial service will be held and you can watch the launch.

Bizarre Religious Traditions

While most traditions have been accepted over the years, the following are quite bizarre and will shock you!

Iyomante Ritual

This tradition is native to the Ainu people and they carry out the slaughter of such bears that are hibernating in their caves. They retrieve her cubs and raise them for a few years after which they are choked to death as well. They do this because they believe that bears are god-like creatures that walk amongst us.

Living with the Dead

This tradition is carried out by an ethnic group of Indonesia. When a person dies, they wrap up the corpse and keep it in the house. They believe that this will help preserve the soul that stays intact till the body is buried.

Masai Spitting

The Masai Tribe is native to parts of Tanzania and Kenya and their traditions are quite bizarre in the sense that they greet each other on religious holidays by spitting on each other. Also, the men take a new born into their arms and spit on it repeatedly. The belief behind this is that if they don’t, the child will be on the receiving end of some bad luck for the rest of their lives.

Feeding the Dead

It was recently discovered that Romans, in the past, would have meals with the corpses of loved ones and also feed the food to them. They did so with the help of such pipes that were attached to their organs. They then poured food, honey and wine through it.

Yanomamö Ash Eating

The Yanomamö are such tribes which belong to parts of Brazil and Venezuela. Because they try to stay away from modern life and stick to their traditions, many of them are still in use. When a family member of the tribe dies, they burn the body thoroughly and then eat the ashes.

Hanging Coffins

People of China and some known as the Toraja follow this particular religious tradition wherein they bury their family members and then hang them over some cliffs. If you stand at the bottom of any of these cliffs, you will be able to see a clear dotting of brown and black entities which are infact coffins. They focus on this belief mainly when children and elites pass away.

Mourning of Muharram

On the death anniversary of Husayn Ibn Ali, a number of groups consisting of Shia muslims go out into the streets with whips attached with knives and blades and beat themselves up repeatedly. Others may also cut their own heads off with these knives. While it may seem cruel, it is a tradition that has been passed over from generations and is followed voluntarily by these groups.

Satere-Mawe Initiation Rite
The Satere-Mawe people ask their young boys to wear a glove which is covered and inserted with such bullet ants that are drugged. They are known to have extremely painful stings and the boy can only remove it after 10 minutes. He must repeat in for several months till the family tells him it is okay to stop.

Baby Tossing

This tradition is followed by families living in Solapur in India. They are required to take their babies till the terrace of 50 foot tower and throw them off. People holding sheets at the foot of the tower will catch it safely. This ensures that the baby has a long and healthy life.

Eating Death

The Aghoris follow this tradition and delve into the practice of cannibalism. They also live solely in cremation grounds and sustain themselves as well as they can from the resources available there.

Best reason for not doing Homework

Homework is a pain for students. Many youngsters do not like to complete their tasks. They make up excuses which are sometimes preposterous. Here are the top 10 reasons for not doing homework. Raise your hand if you recognize one or two. Don’t be shy we are culpable of at least one.

My dog ate my homework (Excuse):
This is a classic excuse students use to get away with incomplete assignments. Bart Simpson popularized this term with his laziness. Usually this phrase means that the student has no care for his/her work.

Sick:
Teachers have heard these excuses plenty of times. From having a belly ache to their hands hurting to even getting a headache. Students will make up anything just to get out of doing homework.

Computer broke:
This one time I had students lined up at my door because the internet and printer were not working. They thus could not hand in their assignment/homework to me. At that point I utilize a USB key.

Death:
Take out a handkerchief because sometimes this excuse is a lie students tell. Universities and even schools now require a professional note to accompany this reason.

Book left at school:
This is another popular reason for not completing tasks and homework assignments. Many students sometimes leave their belongings at school. Teachers are now being cleverer. They partner students with others. If something is misplaced, they can call someone from the same class and share. No EXCUSES!

Cleaning Lady`s Fault:
Yesterday, the cleaning lady cleaned my house and put my papers somewhere I could not find them. The papers included the instructions to doing my homework. No instructions = no homework. Not an excuse many teachers believe unless a parent confirms it,

Mugged:
Great but preposterous: My bag was stolen with all my books, papers and binders. Someone mugged me on the way to school today.

Sleep:
Some students use the excuse of sleeping for not completing homework. When this is not enough, students add that their mother forgot to wake them up.

Washing machine:
Students will also use the excuse that their homework was in the clothes which were washed the same day. They also blame the occurrence on a parent for not checking the pockets. Students never take responsibility for their actions. They will just keep pointing fingers at others.

Simple:
“I don`t want to do homework because I simply don`t want to. There`s nothing in it for me to do what you want me to do. You are not the boss of me.“ Students say this when the mean it bluntly. These students are usually the aggressive ones.

No known cure Diseases

Modern medicine had seen dramatic advancement at controlling various diseases affecting man. Nonetheless, there still remains an assortment of diseases that has no cure. (click on sub title for more)

Common Cold
The common is a viral infection that is defined as an acute type of ailment that initially affects the upper respiratory tract. In the more advanced cases, the infection reaches the lower portion and can cause secondary infections that affect the middle ears and the eyes.

Cancer
This incurable disease has more than 100 distinct forms which is generally defined by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal and invasive cells in the body.

Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease affecting the lungs. It generally leads to the inflammation of airways and causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.

AIDS/HIV
AIDS is a contagious disease that affects the immune system. HIV is the pathogen that causes AIDS. An individual that is afflicted by AIDS are prone to a wide variety of malignancies and infections.

Diabetes Type 2
This incurable disease impairs the metabolism of carbohydrates resulting to the inability of the body to produce insulin and maintain the normal level of blood sugar.

Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease
This incurable and very rare disease is a highly degenerative ailment that attacks the central nervous system. The probability occurrence of this disease is placed at one in a million individuals.

Influenza
This incurable ailment is more commonly known as flu. There are three major types of flu designated as type A, type B and type C.

Lupus Erythematosus
This incurable disease is more commonly referred to as lupus. It is an autoimmune disease that results to inflammation in specific parts of the body.

Polio
This type of incurable disease is sometimes referred to as infantile paralysis. It is a highly infectious disease that attacks the nervous system which can lead to paralysis when not properly managed.

Ebola
This viral disease causes severe and extremely serious hemorrhagic fever which oftentimes results to death. It is zoonotic and also affects chimpanzees and gorillas.

Myth about cancer

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases affecting man. It is one major challenge whose treatment and medical solution has eluded experts and practitioners for many years now. Cancer easily leads the kind of diseases that are dreaded by most of us. It is essential that we slay all the myths and misconceptions that are associated with cancer. Here is our list of the top 10 wrong notions about cancer.

There is already a cure but medical science is still deferring its release
This is just one of those conspiracy theories that abound in our society today. This legend is all pure crap as this will definitely run counter to the Hippocratic Oath of medical practitioners and that is to save lives. Further, if there is indeed a cure for cancer, would it not be illogical for a pharmaceutical company to defer the release of a sure fire cash cow.

Cancer cases is on the rise
In its absolute terms, the statement is correct. However, we have to qualify this assumption by taking into account several variables that define the overall profile of modern society. It is essential that we look at the prevalence of cancer cases with the context of increasing population and life expectancy. Further, with the advent of modern technology, we are now witnessing the transfer and sharing of ideas and information. This leads to heightened awareness on the latest events and developments related to cancer.

Breast cancer only affects women
Not true. Both male and female can have breast cancer although the incidence is much higher in women while cases in male are stilled considered rare. It is estimated that 2000 American men are afflicted by breast cancer annually.

Surgery will lead to the spread of cancer in the other parts of the body
This is a medical myth and it is amazing that a lot still believes that such modality can do more harm than good for the cancer patient. This misconception may be traced back during those past times where medical practitioners could do no more than diagnose the disease and of which surgeries are entirely exploratory.

A positive attitude and outlook are the only things that you need to beat cancer
A positive attitude is indeed essential in the overall management of the disease. It is the reason why medical practitioners and staff maintain a pleasant and light demeanor when dealing with their cancer patients. However, it is just one element of the overall treatment approach.

Artificial sweeteners can trigger cancer
This is one myth about cancer which is obviously a product of intense marketing intramural in the corporate world. This notion was entirely based on a 1969 study where mice that were fed with cyclamate developed cancer. What was not mentioned about the study was that the mice in the experimental group were given doses of cyclamate which is equivalent to 800 cans of soda daily for an extended time period.

Large masses and lumps are cancerous
Some of these abnormal growths in our bodies are benign. However, it is important that one should undergo a thorough screening in order to ascertain if the lump of mass is cancerous, pre-cancerous or benign.

Cell phones can cause cancer
This is one of the raging controversies today although the general consensus is that there is no reason to believe that using cell phones predisposes one to have cancer.

There is no cure for cancer
This statement has to be properly qualified as we would have to go through some technicalities in order to come up with a valid answer. However, we can state that cancer is incurable but the patient suffering from cancer can be cured. It is patently false to tell someone that his cancer cannot be cured.

Cancers are all the same
This is the biggest misconception about the disease and is being complicated by the emergence of a slew of “cure all” fixes and remedies being offered in the market today. In reality, there are more than 100 types of cancer and they all have their peculiarities and differences. It is important to note that because of the divergent types of cancer, medical intervention in the management and treatment of these cancer types also varies.

Major Cause of Death

At the world’s current population over 57 million people die every year. The causes are varied, but there are ten diseases and accidents which are the major reasons behind these deaths.

Ischaemic Heart Disease – 12.6%
Commonly classified as heart attacks, this disease is characterized as reduced blood supply to the heart muscles. There are many causes behind the occurrence of this problem and they range from age factors, dietary habits, diabetes, smoking, hypertension and sedentary lifestyles among other aspects. It is the most common cause of death in Western countries and the reason behind most hospital admissions.

Cerebrovascular Disease- 9.7%
These are generally known as strokes and are related to diseases related to the vessels supplying blood to the brain. Hypertension is the most important cause behind this. It damages the blood vessel lining, causing neurological damage and complications which often lead to death. Swift medical response can often prevent fatalities.

Lower Respiratory Infections- 6.8%
Pneumonia, lung abscess, acute bronchitis are all symptoms of lower respiratory infections. Among infectious diseases they are the leading cause of death. Symptoms could include fatigue. weakness, shortness of breath and high fever. Antibiotics have become an effective form of treatment, but among the lower economic strata these are difficult to get or cost too much.

HIV/AIDS- 4.9%”:
AIDS is a disease of the human immune system and is now believed to have spread in pandemic proportions through the world. According to a UNAIDS 2009 report 60 million people have been infected, with over 25 million deaths, and 76% of them have occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed to have originated in central Africa in the early twentieth century.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – 4.8%:
In England it is believed one out of every 59 people will be diagnosed with having COPD. It is most commonly caused by tobacco smoking and also by coming in contact with noxious gases. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are a part of this group of diseases. In 1990 it was the sixth most prevalent cause of death, but due to a progressive increase in the number of smokers it is going higher as a cause of death as the years go by.

Diarrheal Disease-3.2%:
The second most common cause of death among infants worldwide and also the most common cause of death among poor people, diarrhoea can however be treated very easily with Oral Rehydration Salts and Zinc Tablets. The loss of fluids due to this disease leads to dehydration and also electrolyte imbalances.

Tuberculosis – 2.7%:
TB is a very common and deadly infectious disease which attacks the lungs and it kills over 50% of it’s victims. It can spread through the air when the infected person coughs or sneezes and thus distributes the infected particles. One third of the world’s population is infected with TB and new infections occur at the rate of one per second.

Malaria – 2.2%:
Widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions, malaria at one stage was one of the most major causes of death worldwide. With better medicines and injections, the incidence has decreased but it is still very prevalent in Asia and Africa

Cancer of Trachea/Bronchus/Lung – 2.2%:
Cancer is one of the main causes of death, and among all types of cancer lung cancer is among the worst offenders. Once again, smokers are the most vulnerable, since they account for almost 85% of the cases.

Road Traffic Accidents -2.1%:
This should come as no surprise since every daily newspaper is full of tales of road accidents. Disability and significant financial costs are also among the resultant problems due to road accidents. This number is definitely going to increase, in direct proportion to the phenomenal rise in the number of vehicles in the world.

Eating Disorder

Here is a serious look at the Top 10 most terrible eating disorders which are predominantly characterized by bizarre food and mental disorders that bring about various abnormal eating behaviors.(Click on sub title for more)

Anorexia Nervosa
Latest studies have shown that there is about 1 in every 100 teenage girls who suffer from varying degrees of Anorexia Nervosa. There are even girls as young as 8 years old who have been hospitalized for this eating disorder.

Bulimia Nervosa
This eating disorder is characterized by binge and purge episodes where the individual usually resort to induced vomiting to complete the cycle.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder
BDD is a corollary disorder that is normally associated with Anorexia and Bulimia and often continues to manifest in the behavior of an individual long after the other symptoms have been successfully controlled.

Night Eating Syndrome
NES is relatively new eating disorder that commonly affects the obese and the morbidly obese. Night Eating Syndrome sufferers also experience insomnia.

Anorexia Athletica
This is technically not classified as an eating disorder but an effect of another validated serious eating disorder. Their predominant behavior goes beyond the normal inclination of most of us after a good session in the gym.

Binge Eating Disorder
BED is generally categorized as a separate condition from bulimia. It is generally believed to be the pre-cursor of the latter and is the most common eating disorder.

Bigorexia
This eating disorder is generally defined as the direct opposite of anorexia and is the only eating disorder in our list that affects more men than women.

Pica
This is the most interesting among all the eating disorders in our list. Pica is generally seen as both a psychiatric problem and eating disorder. It is characterized by the unmitigated compulsion to eat non-food and non-nutritional stuffs.

Prader-Willi Syndrome
This eating disorder is mainly due to chromosomal abnormality. Its common symptoms include mental retardation, motor skill anomaly and stunted growth.

Orthorexia
This eating disorder is characterized by the obsession with healthy foods. As a distinction to anorexia, those individual suffering from orthorexia exhibit an abnormal level of obsession to pure and healthy foods.

Mental Disorder

Mental disorders make up for a tenth of the diseases in the world. While some mental disorders, albeit life-altering, are quite common, these are definitely not.(Click on sub title for more)

Stockholm Syndrome
This disorder is often seen among those who have been abducted in the past. The hostage begins to feel sympathy, compliance as well as loyalty with the person who has kidnapped him. The risk does not matter and the hostage may also refuse to testify again him.

Lime Syndrome
This mental disorder is seen amongst the hostage takers wherein they become in tune with the needs of those who they have kidnapped. They become emotionally attached to them and end up releasing them quite quickly.

Diogenes Syndrome
This mental disorder is associated with a Greek philosopher who decided to live like an animal. Therefore, those who suffer from this disorder resign themselves to a life characterized by unusual and reclusive tendencies; a type of hoarding that is compulsive and self neglect. Diogenes Syndrome is associated with such senior citizens that are slightly senile.

Paris Syndrome
This mental disorder is very common among those Japanese tourists who become anxious in Paris and have severe mental meltdowns. Even though it is quite rare, the experience can be quite harrowing for those who suffer from it. These polite tourists suffer from a major culture shock as they cannot understand why the city is nothing like it is portrayed in the movies.

Stendhal Syndrome
Those who suffer from this mental disorder find it difficult to stand before beautiful artwork. They are instantly anxious, confused and dizzy. Some may even hallucinate if they see ‘too much art’ in one place. This term is also used to describe that condition which is associated with people who experience the same symptoms after being exposed to natural beauty.

Jerusalem Syndrome
Those who suffer from this mental disorder feel compelled to visit Jerusalem. They have such ideas that are religious and obsessive at the same time and are laced with delusions as well. This disorder is not exclusive to a single denomination and is known to affect Christians and Jews that belong to diverse backgrounds. It may even strike those who have visited Jerusalem and were completely normal before entering the city.

Capgras Delusion
This is a rare disorder and those suffering from it believe that either an acquaintance, family member or spouse has gone missing and an imposter who looks exactly like the person has taken his place. Capgras Delusion is common among those who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or those who are recovering from brain surgery.

Fregoli Delusion
This disorder is the opposite of the above mentioned disorder and those who suffer from it feel that different people they meet are not different but in fact that same person. The patient believes that this one person continuously changes his appearance.

Cotard Delusion
This disorder is quite rare and those who suffer from it believe themselves to be dead. They are sure that they do not exist and that their veins run dry. Some may even think that they are immortal.

Reduplicative Paramnesia
Those who suffer from Reduplicative Paramnesia believe that a particular area, location or place is either duplicated or has the ability to exist in more than two places at the same time. They may also believe that that one site has been shifted to another location. For example, a patient who is standing in a restaurant will convince himself that he is in fact at a another restaurant which is located in some other part of the country.

Keep Stress Away

Stress is one of the leading ailment that crosses racial, economical and status boundaries worldwide and knows no age. Unfortunately, very few are well versed with stress management methodologies. Having recognized the agony that people suffering from stress go through, the article seeks to offer a helping hand on how to minimize stress. It is not possible to wish away stress but it is possible for one to handle it. Discussed herein are top ten ways to keep you free from stress.

Talk about what is affecting you
First and foremost, experts recommend that you talk about what is affecting you rather than bottling it in. Talk about the issues that are affecting you with someone whom you trust and who will offer a keen ear without passing any judgment. In as much as you won’t be able to alter what is affecting you, speaking openly about it will enable you to release some of the tensions inside you. In addition, you can physically let what is affecting you be writing it down or engaging in an exercise.

Take immediate action
Take immediate action. The only way you can make progress in managing stress is by taking an action to help alleviate it. Small steps may seem insignificant but eventually has a huge impact. This will enable you to have a sense of control on the situation affecting you. No matter how minute the action may seem take a step towards it.

Learn to understand your body
Of importance is learning to understand your body. Having a better understanding of the body’s reaction to stress will enable you discover new ways of counteracting it. Once you understand your body’s signals the easier it becomes to identify to minimize the stress. For instance, you may opt to take a short break as a way of clearing your mind.

Take control
Take control. Endure that you are in control at all times. Be certain that you are aware of ways through which you can keep yourself feeling better and making certain that your needs are met. You can engage in numerous hobbies such as swimming and jogging that can help you to release some of those built in pressures. Moreover, being in control prevents you from keeping to yourself. Take immediate steps to ensure that you receive professional help from qualified and certified medical personnel. Internet technology has made access to such help possible through the number of websites setup by registered medical personnel.

Avoid putting much pressure on you
Avoid putting so much pressure on you. The number one leading cause of stress in the world today is trying to handle so much in short time. Try and prioritize your tasks and lay off those that do not seem if immediate importance. Where possible, delegate some of the tasks. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Take a French leave
Take a French leave. As the saying goes, “a change is as good as a rest”. Sometimes when under stress, a little get away can help in releasing the pent up steam. If you can afford it, take a trip outside town. Alternatively, you can treat yourself to a spa.

Prioritize your work
Given the bustles and pressures from the society, it may be nearly impossible to avoid all that may be coming your way. In such instances, it is advisable that you prioritize your work and slowly work through them.

Help other people
Sometimes, the best way of managing stress is by offering a helping hand to those around you. By giving or volunteering it makes you have a sense of belonging, empowerment as well as importance. There are a number of websites online from where you can get information on how to be a volunteer.

Attain your own success
Attain your own success. Whereas, it may be near impossibility to impact the whole world, you can start by making a change on yourself. Start by learning to love and care for yourself. These qualities will enable you to attain your goals and objectives. Make certain that you make an affirmative step in ensuring that you are working to attain your goals.

Mingle
Mingle with other people. To avoid feeling the weight of stress, socialize with other people. Being around people is like an anesthetic. It makes you feel a temporary relief and with time you can be sure that all the built up pressures will go away.


In closing, remember that your happiness lies in your own hands and as such you need to all that you can to avoid scenarios where you are likely to be stressed.

Sleep Disorder

Every body loves sleeping but unfortunately, some of us suffer from sleep disorders that end up ruining the entire experience. Let us look at the 10 most bizarre disorders related to sleep.(Click on sub title for more)

Rapid eye movement behavior disorder
Those who suffer from this disorder act out during their dreams. Such actions are usually violent and they can end up injuring themselves or those who are sleeping next to them. With the help of consistent therapy and certain drugs, this condition can be treated and the patient can resume the natural paralyzed state.

Night Terrors
Those who suffer from night terrors are plagued with unexplainable terror and find it difficult to wake up. They wake up slowly after an episode and can be found gasping and screaming. They do not remember the night terror and can end up hurting anybody who tries to help them.

Bruxism
Those who suffer from this sleep disorder tend to grind their teeth as they sleep. This condition is quite common and can damage the teeth irreversibly if left unchecked. It can cause extreme facial pain and can also lead to acute arthritis of certain joints. Unfortunately, a majority of the bruxers do not know that they have a condition which is why it becomes difficult to treat them.

Restless Legs Syndrome
Those who suffer from the Restless Legs Syndrome feel the urge to move their legs as they want to stop such sensations that make them uncomfortable. Even though medicating a patient which suffers from this condition is considered to be controversial, doctors prescribe opioids or methadone in order to provide temporary relief to such patients.

Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome
This sleep disorder is quite rare and the bodies of those who suffer from it do not recognize the sleep cycle. The patient finds it difficult to sleep in a proper pattern and the cycle they follow changes almost every day. The body may take over a week to complete a sleep-wake cycle in some cases.

Sleep Apnea
Those who suffer from this sleep disorder stop breathing in intervals when they are asleep. Usually, the patients are not aware that they stopped breathing even after they wake up. Once it is recognized, it is treated with the help of a PAP or Positive Airway Pressure device. Patients can also undergo treatment and medication.

Kleine-Levin syndrome
Those who suffer from this disorder feel the need to sleep for about 20 hours on a daily basis. When they wake up, they eat a lot and indulge in intense and continuous sexual activities. Even though there is no definite treatment, doctors recommend certain stimulants like modafinil.

Somniloquy
Patients with this disorder talk in their sleep and can be very loud. While some speak as they dream, others start rattling off long speeches and more often than not, the speech is not clear. Those who suffer from this problem do not undergo medication. Doctors recommend the use of mouth guards as this can prevent sleep talking.

Narcolepsy
This is a neurological disorder related to sleep which causes patients to fall asleep randomly. They create a pattern which forces them to fall asleep unexpectedly after which they find it difficult to wake up and stay awake. Patients may also suffer from hallucinations and sleep paralysis.

Sexsomnia
Those who have this condition indulge in sexual activities as they sleep. Patients are usually aware that they have a problem but they are embarrassed to get help. This sleep disorder can be controlled without medication and with minimal effort.

Unsual Phobia

A phobia is a consistent fear of a particular object, situation or person. While some are afraid of heights, others are scared of men in top hats. Let us look at the 10 most unusual phobias.

Ithyphallophobia 
Also known as Phallophobia and Medorthophobia , this is the fear of erection. Surprisingly, it is a very common phobia and creates unimaginable stress for those who are scared of an erect penis. It can make people want to hide from their friends, family and colleagues. Those who suffer have this phobia need to be exposed to their fear in order to get over it.

Ephebophobia
This is the fear of youth and can impact the person psychologically and socially. It has been proposed that if a large chunk of the society has this phobia, it can damage the economic health of the country. Those who have this phobia tend to avoid and loath teenagers.

Coulrophobia
People who have this phobia have an irritational fear of clowns. While it is considered to be normal amongst children as it is felt that they may grow out of it, a good number of adults and teenagers have the phobia as well. They find the mere appearance of the clown treacherous and even though they know that the fear is illogical, they cannot shake it off without consistent therapy.

Ergasiophobia
Ergasiophobia is the fear of work and can lead to severe psychological problems. Those individuals who have this phobia generally suffer from an additional health problem like depression.

Gymnophobia
This is the fear of nudity and those who have this phobia are scared about either seeing others in the nude or having someone see them naked. The cause of this phobia may be low self-esteem related to the individual’s inferior opinion about his own body. They also feel that if somebody sees them naked once, they will continue picturing them the same way every time they meet them.

Neophobia
Neophobia is the name given to the fear of new experiences of new things. Those who have this phobia are completely against trying any thing new, visiting new places or breaking their set routine. They become angry, irritated and frustrated if they are asked to carry out any of these activities. A majority of the neophobics just want to preserve their traditions and pass them on to their children.

Paraskavedekatriaphobia
Paraskavedekatriaphobia is fear of Friday the 13th as this day is considered to be unlucky in almost every part of the world.

Panphobia
Also known as Pantophobia and Omniphobia, Panphobia is the fear of everything. A panphobic will be scared all the time but will not know why. They are always waiting for something bad to happen and are therefore, extremely cautious. Those who have this fear usually go on to become schizophrenic. Out of all the phobias mentioned in this list, Panphobia is the hardest to recover from because the fear is so vague.

Taphophobia
Taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive. It was considered to be perfectly normal many years back as technology was not as developed as it is today. Those who have this phobia are scared that they will be incorrectly pronounced dead and hence, buried alive.

Pteronophobia
Pteronophobia is the fear of being tickled by feathers. Some babies are constantly tickled by feathers and hence, grow up feeling trapped. Those who are scared of being tickled suffer from the same irrational fear.

Things Parents need to teach their Children

Many parents leave it up to teachers and other educators to teach children proper manners. It is the job of the parents to do preliminary education with their children. Here are the things they would need to teach their children at a young age. The younger the better!

Respect for Elders:

How many times did we hear these statements from children: You’re not my mother! You’re not the boss of me. No matter who the individual is, children should have respect for them. It’s the role of the parent to teach that to their children. Otherwise, children would run into problems every time a child is being taught a lesson or two outside of the house or outside of the nuclear family.

Wash Hands:

This is very important to teach and to model to children. Washing hands could eliminate germs and can eliminate anyone being sick. With viruses such as H1N1 and SARS being deadly it is important for all children to know how to wash their hands. It should not just be taught at school, it should be emphasized and reinforced at home as well.

Please and Thank you:

The problem here lies sometimes in the parents and elder siblings. Children pick up on things quite fast. If for example, a parent forgets to say thank you, they child will find it is a useless word to use. Be consistent and emphasize politeness for children.

Table Manners:

This should be part of the grade 1 class curriculum and part of a child’s upbringing. When you sit at a table, do not use your hands to pick up food, chew with your mouth closed and wait for others to sit down before starting to eat. Constant nagging can be eliminated if children were taught table manners during their early upbringings. Teachers could reinforce this in the classroom as well.

Keep hands and feet to yourself:

Role-modeling is one problem parents face. Children are greatly influenced by parents and their elderly. If their parents or other elders use violence to solve their problems, children will copycat them. Parents should always emphasize “keep hands and feet to yourself at all times”. If they fail to see why they need to role model, they should examine the Bobo doll experiment by Albert Bandura.

Share:

Envy is one word to describe many children’s character. They always believe that someone else is much better off then them. Children also fight over TV, games and other toys because of envy. Parents should condition an appropriate behavior by role modeling and discussing appropriate manners with their children at a young age.

Don’t do others what you don’t want done to you:

Children love to pinch and they love to do crazy things to others. They however, sometimes realize the repercussions of their actions. Parents should always teach their kids not to do anything to others which they would not appreciate being done on them. Otherwise parents will face lots of problems and complaints from parents, teachers and other community members.

No one is perfect:

Some parents want their children to be perfect. They put a great deal of stress on academics and sports. When a child makes an error, parents would sometimes look down on them. Parents should not do so and should emphasize that learning is a process. No one is perfect and mistakes do occur.

Not to put hands where they don’t belong:

Many children do disgusting things with their hands. They then do not wash their hands when they are supposed to. Parents should reinforce the no picking nose and scratching other body parts. If it does happen, parents should prompt their children to wash their hands.

Read:

It seems simple, but you’d be surprised as to how many children enter kindergarten not knowing how to read. 15 minutes a day reading with your child helps them become better readers.

Children Worst Habits

Don’t you hate when your child does something gross? Which parent’s mouth would not drop to hear their child say something they never expected them to say? We all have. The reality is that many children pick up on bad habits and addictions. Here are some worst habits children have. As parents, we should adjust our parenting styles to ensure these habits are eliminated.

Picking their noses
This is a disgusting habit children have and sometimes carry to their adulthood. North American children created a song for those who pick their noses, “circle, circle dot, dot, now I got the coodie shot.” Those coodies in the nose are there to protect the child/adult from viruses and infections. Always have a tissue to clean the finger and try to divert the child’s attention away from the habit.

Scratching behinds
There is a saying that stipulates that children have needles in their behinds. Something is scratching all the time and makes them move around. Scratching behinds, similarly, is another habit that is done in the home and on the street. Gross.

Thumb sucking:
This habit begins when the child is a baby. They usually gain this habit because of teething issues. If your toddler is still sucking their thumb, parents should gradually teach them not to. Otherwise, all the bacteria on children’s hands are going into their mouths.

Bad Language:
Children pick up cues and language of adults fast. Albert Bandura’s experiment with the Bobo doll is an example of that. If a child hears parents use bad language, they are prone to repeat it in their day to day conversations.

Eating junk food:
Children are prone to be addicted to fast food. Just look at the streets in Canada and the United States and you will see what I am talking about. Obesity is on the rise. Some children prefer burgers made by fast food restaurants over homemade ones. That is usually no fault other than the parents who spoil them.

Video games/Television:
If you give a child the chance to skip school and play video games and watch TV, they will gladly take that opportunity. Most children spend at least 5-6 hours a day playing video games and watching television. Some even die from being too obsessed with winning. This is a darn shame as there are other healthier opportunities for them.

Smoking:
Although the minimum age for smoking in many countries is around 18 to 21 years of age, children still experiment with smoking. Many children try their first cigarette at around the age of 12 or 13. One cigarette could get them addicted for life.

Biting:
Children are known to bite things and people. Parents should sit down to discuss the inappropriateness of such actions. If the behavior follows, negative reinforcement should be taken.

Arguing/Talking Back:
Many have heard children say the following 4 phrases to parents, guardians, teachers and other adults: 1) you’re not the boss of me; 2) I don’t want to; 3) No and 4) You’re not my mother. Children are glowingly aggressive and rebellious. It could get worse if parents do not step in at an early age.

Tattle Tailing:
This says it all. Children are known to tell on others, especially their siblings. No secret is ever safe with children, especially when they are mad. Revenge is the first thing on many children’s minds. Parents should not reward snitches who tattle tale. Rather, they should talk to children about minding their own business.