What You Didn't Know About Anger

What do you know about anger except for the fact that it's one of the most consuming emotions ever known to man? I don't know much about it either until I searched for some facts about it.

Let me share some of the things I found out about anger:

Anger is not unhealthy. Sometimes the emotion is justifiable and therefore normal. The only time anger becomes destructive is when you let it run your life.

You don't always have to lash out when you're angry. There are other ways for you to express anger. You can do it objectively and say what you feel in a calm and composed manner. Yelling or acting out will never help calm you down nor will it help resolve your issue.

Bottling anger up is a great way to manage anger. As a short term solution, it works fine. But you'll start suffering from physical and psychological complications when you do it for too long.

I'm still no expert on the subject of anger or how to manage it properly, but learning all these helped me understand anger better. At least now I know that I shouldn't keep my anger in for too long if I don't want to end up being consumed by it.

By: Abbey Yap

Sinus Headache: An Overview

Don't you just hate it when you experience a sudden headache that seems to originate from the bridge

of your nose and spreads to your forehead? Sinus headaches can be such a pain, literally!
But what triggers sinus headaches? Up until I experienced it more often, I didn't really care to think

of what's causing the headaches. Upon digging through the net, I learned about the usual sinus

headache starters. Here are some of them:

1.Allergens in the environment, like dust, second-hand smoke, or pollen from plants may trigger sinus

headaches.
2.Nasal congestion caused by allergies or colds may make one susceptible to experiencing sinus

headaches.
3.Deformities of the nose, be it congenital or accidental in nature, can induce sinus headaches.
4.Dental infections, although quite uncommon, may also cause one to experience sinus headaches.

You may think sinus headaches are not serious, but if you let it go on without treating it, you may

end up with a more severe condition. Keep in mind that sinus headaches are symptoms of acute sinusitis

which, when left undiagnosed and untreated, may lead to a brain infection.

You don't want that now, do you?

By: Abbey Grace Yap

Why You Should Always Check Cosmetic Product Labels

I've never been fond of using make-up. One, I never really learned to apply it properly; and two, I often find myself itching half to death when I try to put some on. It could be because I'm not comfortable wearing make-up or I'm allergic to it.

Some cosmetic products contain toxic ingredients that can harm the skin. What chemicals am I talking about? They are:

Mercury – commonly found in mascaras under the name thimerosal, this metal can increase one's chances of developing cancer or reproductive health issues.

Petrochemicals – often found in foundations, petrochemicals in lipsticks and lip balm appear as petrolatum, mineral oil, or paraffin in product labels.

Hydroquinone – used in skin lightening products and moisturizers, this chemical may cause cancer and prevent your endocrine glands from properly functioning. Also, it may leave permanent bluish-black spots on your face.

To make sure that you're getting a skin-safe product, talk to your trusted dermatologist. Ask for a list of chemicals that you should be looking out for in make-ups. You should be very careful about what you put on your skin. It is, after all, your first line of defence against all the harmful elements out there.

By: Abbey Yap

The Truth Behind Common Fitness Myths

A lot of people jump into fads without so much as taking the time off to learn something more about them before actually trying it. Take exercising, for example. Aside from the fact that it helps us get into shape and it keeps us healthy, what else do we know about it?

I've heard people say that when one looks fit, then he must be fit. Truth is, not all buff men are physically fit. To be physically fit means to have passing marks in all aspects of fitness – balance, coordination, endurance, flexibility, and strength.

Other people also say that using machines is better than exercising with free weights. Exercise machines only give you a false sense of working out that makes you develop muscles, but without building the strength and endurance offered by the resistance free weights provide.

These are two of the most common fitness myths that you may have heard of from other people. To learn more about fitness and exercise, discuss what you know with a licensed fitness trainer. You'll be surprised at how much of what you know is based on myths.

By: Abbey Grace Yap

Famous Artist With Drug Problems

We all know that drugs are bad for us. We should definitely avoid these because they brings nothing but bad news to our health and well-being.

You know how we can easily condemn people with drug problems because they're just random people that we don't know? Do you think you'd feel just the same if you knew that some of the brightest minds in the world ever knew were junkies?

Ernest Hemingway – The novelist, famous for his memoir, A Moveable Feast, was a known alcoholic. In his later years, he began to experience physical and mental side effects of the alcoholism and was a frequent visitor in various hospitals.

Andy Warhol – He was known to be popping Obetrol pills like candy. Obetrol is a psychoactive drug used for mental problems. Obetrol comes in quick-release form, making it a source of instant gratification for the user.

Miles Davis – He was said to be addicted to heroin. But after four years of heroin-use, he was able to quit his addiction, thanks to Sugar Ray Robinson's inspiring dedication to stop his own addiction.

All three artists were commendable in their craft. Their addiction, not so much. But among the three, I give Mr. Davis the cake for actually being able to kick the habit. They really need some online medical advice.

Back Strengthening Exercise to Combat Back Pain

Back pain is pretty common in an industry where work is done sitting down in front of a computer. It is said to be caused by an improper sitting posture. But with back strengthening exercises, we should be able to remedy and prevent back pain.

Doctors emphasize, though, that before getting into the exercise, you should warm up. Aside from that, you should also make sure movement isn't jerky as it increases chances of injuries.

Here is one of the many back strengthening exercises I found on the Internet:

Twist, Squat, and Lift. (You'll need an empty medium-sized trash can with a 5lb dumbbell inside for this exercise.)

Stand with your feet apart and the waste basket behind your right foot.

Twist to the right and squat to pick up the trash can.

Using your heels to push, stand up straight with the basket at waist level.

Twist to the left and squat to put down the garbage basket behind your left foot.

Stand back up straight to end one rep.

Do 8 to 10 reps before trying out other back strengthening exercises.

By: Abbey Grace Yap

Medical Myths We Subscribe To

We've all grown up to some medical facts handed down by our parents or our older neighbors. It's funny how we still subscribe to them up until know. However, what's funnier is the fact that those medical facts seem to have been tweaked a little as it got passed on from one person to another.

What facts am I talking about? Here are some examples:

1.“Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.” Most people take it that we SHOULD drink 8 to 10 glasses of water throughout the day. The truth is, that range is supposed to include the water we use in cooking.

2.“Don't crack your knuckles, you'll develop arthritis because of it.” The sound you hear is merely a gas pocket that formed and burst between your knuckle joints.

3.“Don't swallow gum because it'll take seven years to get out of your body.” Although it's true that the stomach cannot digest gum, it's not going to stick to the lining of your digestive tract.

It's funny how so many of what we thought to be medical facts are actually just half-truths. But I'm glad that I finally learned the truth behind them.

By: Abbey Grace Yap