Health: Smoggy Environment May Reduce Old People's Mental Abilities

Researchers looked at more than 14,000 men and women, aged 50 and older, who took part in the 2004 U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Information about their mental skills was compared to national Environmental Protection Agency data on 2004 annual average levels of fine particulate air pollution.

People who lived in areas with high levels of fine particulate matter scored worse on tests of mental skills such as word recall, knowledge, language and orientation. The association between high levels of particulate matter and reduced mental ability remained even after the researchers accounted for factors such as age, race, ethnicity, education, smoking, and lung and heart conditions.

Levels of fine particulate air matter ranged from 4.1 to 20.7 micrograms per cubic meter. Every 10-point increase was associated with a 0.36-point drop in mental ability test scores. This is roughly equal to the effect of aging three years, the researchers said.

The findings were scheduled for presentation Friday at a meeting of the Gerontological Society of America in San Francisco.

This is the first national study to show how exposure to air pollution can affect older adults' mental abilities, according to a society new release. The findings suggest that fine particulate air matter might be an important environmental risk factor for brain functioning.

"As a result of age-related declines in health and functioning, older adults are particularly vulnerable to the hazards of exposure to unhealthy air," study co-author Jennifer Ailshire, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Biodemography and Population Health at the U.S. National Institute on Aging, said in the news release.

"Air pollution has been linked to increased cardiovascular and respiratory problems, and even premature death, in older populations," she noted. "There is emerging evidence that exposure to particulate air pollution may have adverse effects on brain health and functioning as well."

Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The study found an association between air pollution and mental functioning; it did not prove cause-and-effect.

SOURCE: Gerontological Society of America, news release, Nov. 16, 2012

READ MORE

Veteran Nigeria Actor Pete Eneh Goes Through Leg Amputation To Save Life

Because of lack of proper treatment from an infection, now Pete Eneh is literally paying a leg. Extremely sad news coming from the home of veteran actor, Pete Eneh. Just heard from reliable sources that doctors at Parklane Hospital Enugu had no choice but to amputate one of his legs in order to save his life.

The veteran actor was said to have sustained some kind of injury last year, and because he didn't give it proper treatment, it led to serious infection that became hard to treat. The injury was said to have degenerated to a sore and because Mr Eneh was diabetic, it refused to heal. He spent three months at the hospital before he was advised that the proper treatment now is to amputate the leg before the infection spread to other parts of his body.

The amputation took place on Wednesday October 24th after all efforts to save the leg was unsuccessful. Pete Eneh is said to be dealing with it well.

Lindaikeji

READ MORE

Another Woman Dies After Buttocks Enlargement Surgery

Dead: Claudia Aderotimi believed a 'bigger booty' would help her to appear in more music videos, according to her distraught friends.

A woman who called herself the 'Black Madam' (Pictured above) will stand trial on murder charges for allegedly performing illegal buttocks-enhancing procedures on a Nigerian-born woman,Claudia Aderotimi who later died in her Philadelphia hotel. A judge upheld third-degree murder charges during a preliminary hearing today against Padge Gordon, who is also known as Padge Windslowe, 40.

The ruling comes after a friend of the dancer testified today that she and 20-year-old Claudia Aderotimi came to Philadelphia last year and had their buttocks enlarged. Windslowe's defense attorney argued that both girls knew his client was not a real doctor as they had visited her for the injections before.

Theresa Gyamfi said the 'Black Madam' gave them silicone injections in their hotel room — but then fled when Aderotimi went into respiratory distress. A doctor testified that the industrial-grade, not medical grade, silicone went to Aderotimi's blood, liver, lungs and brain. She was rushed to a Delaware County hospital in an ambulance, but died within hours of a pulmonary embolism, according to the doctor.

But defense lawyer Christopher Mannix said he will challenge those medical conclusions at trial, along with allegations his client performed the injections. The Philadelphia Inquirer said that prosecutors told the court she painted herself out to be a medical professional when she administered a series of injections to the two women. This was the second time the woman went to Windslowe, paying $1,800 to $2,300 a time to have their butts enlarged

Method: Windslowe is accused of injecting a substance she described as silicone into her client's buttocks and then sealing the wound with super glue (file photo)

Windslowe's attorney, Christopher Mannix, argued the silicone that killed Aderotimi had not been linked conclusively to the silicone found at the injection site. He also said the women knew Windslowe was not a medical professional, and that they were getting an illegal procedure.

The Black Madam has been jailed since March when she was arrested on charges of administering a series of injections to an exotic dancer in Philadelphia. That woman did not die but has since suffered from lingering health problems. It is alleged that Windslowe left the hotel room even after Miss Aderotimi complained of chest pains and breathing problems.

Police charged Windslowe in July after a year-long investigation.

Miss Aderotimi's friends said she believed a 'bigger booty' would help her dream to appear in more music videos. The aspiring dancer was dropped from one shoot because directors discovered she had been wearing padded trousers to help enlarge her bottom.

Windslowe has also beencharged with injuring an exotic dancer who spent two weeks in the hospital after she was injected with silicone and Krazy Glue in a similar procedure Talent scout Tee Ali, who met the Thames Valley University student when she filmed a video, told The Sun: 'The problem was she didn't have no butt, and she wanted a butt.

'She went to audition for one video shoot wearing fake booty pants and she got all the attention.

'But when they found out it was fake she didn't get asked back.'

They have also charged Windslowe with injuring an exotic dancer who spent two weeks in the hospital after she was injected with silicone and Krazy Glue in a similar procedure.

Windslowe was arrested in February 2012 at what police called a 'pumping party' at a Philadelphia home. That arrest was for assault and related charges in a separate incident that authorities said left a client with severe lung problems from silicone that entered her bloodstream and was later found in her lungs.

Illegal injections using substances including liquid silicone, paraffin and petroleum jelly have been used to enlarge women's breasts, hips and buttocks in other cases.

It was believed that Windslowe used silicon from Thailand mixed with Krazy Glue for the injections, charging $1,000 a time.

Authorities said they knew Windslowe had injected Aderotimi, but the Delaware County medical examiner's office was awaiting test results from the Food and Drug Administration before determining the cause of death. Philadelphia police believe she has performed at least 14 cosmetic surgeries, moving locations to avoid detection.

The authorities said Windslowe would clean the site before injecting a substance she described as silicone into the client's buttocks. When the procedure was done, she would cover the wound with glue.

READ MORE

AMAZING Granny! 86 Year Old Gymnast's Incredible Routine On Parallel Bar

If you were inspired to take up a sport by the London 2012 Olympics but then quickly dismissed the idea because you thought you were too old - then think again.
A German gymnast has shown age is no barrier to sporting achievement by being named the world's Oldest Gymnast at the age of 86.
Johanna Quaas appeared on This Morning and amazed presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield with her display of strength and agility on the parallel bars.

The 86-year-old from Leipzig performed a flawless routine live on the TV show which included scissor twists, hand stands and a perfect dismount.
Holly could be heard whispering 'oh my gosh' in astonishment as Johanna displayed strength and speed that defied her years.
Before Johanna took to the bars, Holly asked her if she ever felt aches and pains as a result of her exercise regime.

Super gran: Johanna held her own body weight with perfect poise and balance

In a spin: Twists and rolls were no problem for the pensioner

The gymnast appeared on the ITV show after being officially named the world's Oldest Gymnast in this year's Guinness World Records.
She said: 'It is great feeling to be included and I hope the record inspires others to realise it's never too late.'

Ta dah! The gymnast jumped from the bars with a controlled dismount after the routine

Now thats really incredible. Many people half her age are not that physically fit. Im gonna be very fit like her when I breeze past her age, believe it!!

READ MORE

Davido Donates N1m to Breast Cancer Patient Debbie

Davido has donated N1m to Debbie the lady with cancer. He called in to console Debbie and made the donation.

We still need more help. According to doctors, Debbie needs to be operated upon before the second week in September.

This will only make like N1.1M out of N6m she needs.

God bless Davido

READ MORE

21 Tips to Release Self-Neglect and Love Yourself in Action by Tess Marshall

Feeling worthy requires you to see yourself with fresh eyes of self-awareness, , and love. Acceptance and love must come from within.
You don’t have to be different to be worthy. Your worth is in your true nature, a core of love and inner goodness. You are a beautiful light. You are love. We can bury our magnificence, but it’s impossible to destroy.

Loving ourselves isn’t a one time event. It’s an endless, moment by moment ongoing process.
It begins with you, enfolding yourself in your own affection and appreciation.

Read on for steps to discover your worth and enfold yourself in affection and appreciation.

1. Begin your day with love (not technology). Remind yourself of your worthiness before getting out of bed. Breathe in love and breathe out love. Enfold yourself in light. Saturate your being in love.

2. Take time to mediate and journal. Spend time focusing inward daily. Begin with 5 minutes of meditation and 5 minutes of journaling each morning. Gradually increase this time.

3. Talk yourself happy. Use affirmations to train your mind to become more positive. Put a wrist band on your right wrist. When you’re participating in self-abuse of any form, move the band to your left wrist.

4. Get emotionally honest. Let of go of numbing your feelings. Shopping, eating, and drinking are examples of avoiding discomfort, sadness, and pain. Mindfully breathe your way through your feelings and emotions.

5. Expand your interests. Try something new. Learn a language. Go places you’ve never been. Do things you haven’t done before. You have a right to an awesome life.

6. Enjoy life enhancing activities. Find exercise you like. Discover healthy foods that are good for you. Turn off technology for a day and spend time doing things that make you feel alive.

7. Become willing to surrender. Breathe, relax, and let go. You can never see the whole picture. You don’t know what anything is for. Stop fighting against yourself by thinking and desiring people and events in your life should be different. Your plan may be different from your soul’s intentions.

8. Work on personal and spiritual development. Be willing to surrender and grow. Life is a journey. We are here to learn and love on a deeper level. Take penguin steps and life becomes difficult. One step at a time is enough to proceed forward.

9. Own your potential. Love yourself enough to believe in the limitless opportunities available to you. Take action and create a beautiful life for yourself.

10. Be patient with yourself. Let go of urgency and fear. Relax and transform striving into thriving. Trust in yourself, do good work, and the Universe will reward you.

11. Live in appreciation. Train your mind to be grateful. Appreciate your talents, beauty, and brilliance. Love your imperfectly perfect self.

12. Be guided by your intuition. All answers come from within. Look for signs and pay attention to your gut feelings. You’ll hear two inner voices when you need to make a decision. The quiet voice is your higher self; the loud voice is your ego. Always go with the quieter voice.

13. Do what honors and respects you. Don’t participate in activities that bring you down. Don’t allow toxic people in your life. Love everyone, but be discerning on who you allow into your life.

14. Accept uncertainty. Suffering comes from living in the pain of the past or the fear of the future. Put your attention on the present moment and be at peace.

15. Forgive yourself. Learn from your mistakes and go forward. Use this affirmation, “I forgive myself for judging myself for __________ (fill in the blank i.e.: for getting sick, for acting out, for not doing your best.)

16. Discover the power of fun. Self-love requires time to relax, play, and create face-to-face interaction with others. Our fast-paced world creates a goal setting, competitive craziness that doesn’t leave room for play. Dr. Stuart Brow says, “The opposite of play isn’t work, it is depression.”

17. Be real. Speak up and speak out. Allow yourself to be seen, known, and heard. Get comfortable with intimacy (in-to-me-see).
 
18. Focus on the positive. Go to your heart and dwell on and praise yourself for what you get right in all areas.

19. Become aware of self neglect and rejection. Become conscious of your choices. Ask yourself several times throughout the day, “Does this choice honor me?”

20. Imagine what your life would look like if you believed in your worth. Dedicate your life to loving you. Make it your main event.

21. Seek professional help. Self-rejection and neglect is painful. You deserve to be happy. You have a right to be accepted and loved. If necessary, seek help from a support group, counselor, or coach. It’s the best investment you can make.
Because we are all interconnected, when I love me, I also love you. Together through our love, we can heal ourselves, each other, and the world. Love is our purpose, our true calling. It begins with and within each of us.
Read full article from the source.

Source: Tinybuddha

READ MORE