Separate the myths from the real dangers of driving while you are fatigue or feeling drowsy may save your life or the life of your loved ones.

Myth: You can be drowsy but not drunk.

While everybody knows the implication of drunken driving, many people are not much concerned about sleepiness. But it may prove to be fatal. Researches reveal that as far as driving impairment is concerned, not sleeping for eighteen hours or twenty-four hours at a stretch can affect the body in the same way as being drunk. Drowsiness impairs proper judgment and reaction time.

Myth: Caffeine can perk you up.

Caffeine, taken through soft drink, coffee or gum can induce temporary alertness. But you must know that it takes about half an hour for the effect to set in. But this may not have any effect in case of over-exhaustion or people who are long used to it.

Myth: Drowsy driving takes place only during the night.

Most of the sleep related accidents take place early in the morning (between 4AM to 6AM). The other period is the rush hour between 2PM to 4PM. About twenty-five percent commuters admit that they do indeed feel drowsy during some days.

Myth: Only old and elderly people are prone to fall asleep while driving.

Contrary to popular belief, more then fifty percent of drivers, responsible for crashes with fatigue-related issues, are young people – less than 25 years of age. The people who are prone to fatigue-driving include shift workers, people suffering from sleep disorders and adults with children. The risk increases by six times for night-shift workers. Working for more than sixty hours in a week and disruption of sleep cycle can result in fatigue driving.

Myth: Cool air or music promotes wakefulness.

Remember how well you sleep during winter nights. So, dispel any misgiving that cool air will keep you awake while driving. The AC or music would be of little help to fight exhaustion.

Myth: It is better to avoid food while driving.

It is true that a sumptuous meal would surely make you sleepy. But not eating anything is of little help as driving is also energy-sapping. So, take snacks with carbs and proteins in it.

Myth: You can’t prevent a drowsy person from driving.

The level of drowsiness in a person admittedly, is difficult to judge. Having said that, it is true that keeping a drowsy person away from the wheel, can surely prevent mishaps. So, if you find somebody repeatedly yawning or you are aware that he hasn’t slept for six hours, then talk to him before he hits the road.

Fact: Dangers of driving while you are fatigue is real.

As per the government estimates, as many as 100,000 accidents and over 1,500 deaths are due to driver-fatigue. This could be more if you take into account the fact that thirty three percent of the 103 million of people admit that they have fallen asleep while driving.

Fact: Having a companion during driving helps.

Another person sitting by the side is of immense help, especially during long trips. He can keep an eye on the road and can keep you awake by talking. And it is better if he can drive as well. Both of you can take turns to drive every couple of hours or after each 100 miles.

Fact: Short Naps helps a lot but it does not completely eliminate the dangers of driving while you feel fatigue.

The National Sleep Foundation suggests people to take short naps of 15 to 20 minutes durations. This would instill alertness in you. But the naps should be short. Sleeping for more than 30 minutes would make you feel disoriented. In such cases, it is better to stop driving and take complete rest.

Fact: Some over the counter drugs can induce drowsiness.

Drugs used for the treatment of common ailments like cold, motion sickness and allergy can impair alertness while driving. If the cover of the medicine mentions drowsiness as a side-effect and specifically warns against driving, then it is wise to keep away from the wheels. Even small amount of alcohol can accentuate the effects of these drugs and make the person sleep.

Fact: Five signs that warrant a break from driving and reduce the dangers of driving while fatigue.

• A feeling of irritation and restlessness
• Daydreaming
• Involuntary blinking and yawning due to exhaustion
• Difficulty in keeping the head up
• Ignoring the traffic signals and exits
• Running onto other lanes

Simply take a break if you ever feel too tired or too drowsy while driving, take a short nap and then continue on your journey when you feel refreshed. Do it for your own safety and the safety of other drivers, eliminate the dangers of driving while fatigue.

The human growth hormone has a role in some of the vital functions of the human body like the metabolism and growth. Hence, its availability or the lack of it has a direct bearing on the physical as well as mental condition of the body. It promotes the growth of the bone by adding up the cartilage cells and also develops the muscle tissues. People with scanty or inadequate secretion may suffer improper growth or even from dwarfism. The effect is also dependent upon the age and hereditary factor of the person.

It is not only the inadequate secretion of growth hormone that creates problem for the body; its excess secretion of it may also prove to be harmful. The body goes through a rapid and high growth. Although rare, this effect can be found in some children during their adolescence. In case of adults, there might be the development of an innocuous tumor in the pituitary gland. There can also be unusual growth in some body parts like the breasts.

Due to this, there should be a balance in the secretion of growth hormones in the body.

Human growth hormones and age

The secretion of the human growth hormone wanes with advancing age. While it can be as much as 500 micrograms per day, it goes down to around 50 micrograms per day in case of an octogenarian. But many scientists also opine that the pituitary gland can be kept active even in the late age and hence the reduction the level of growth hormone can be minimized with the help of proper maintenance of the body and medication.

The recombinant growth hormones

With the advancement of scientific research, it has been possible to create the recombinant growth hormone in the laboratory by matching all the 191 different types of amino acids that constitute the human growth hormones. This is being manufactured by different medical companies. The drugs are being used by doctors while treating children, who have a retarded growth. They are also used for the treatment of other growth related problems like development of wrinkles, loss of muscle tissue and aging etc. Due to the inherent desire of men and women to look younger, these drugs have become very popular. This can be administered into the body through injection or oral supplements. You need to have a prescription to procure them. Many herbal products are also available in the markets that claim to be human growth hormones, but using these drugs without proper medical advice is always fraught with danger.

depression myths" />

Are these statements “Only women suffer from bouts of depression”; “Once you get it, you are strangled with it for the rest of your life”; or “It is only in the mind” depression myths? These are some of the statements one often comes across. Yes, there are myths abound about clinical depression, and they all make it hard to have the perspective of it both in terms of its nature and treatment.

Probably, this can be attributed to our propensity to club the word depression to a myriad range of moods and mental illnesses, as the case may be. By this, the real sense of clinical depression warranting treatment gets obscured.

Let’s find out some of the common Depression Myths and their truth:

1.  Top depression myths is that depression is not under the sphere of medical illness

Clinical depression is definitely a grave medical issue with biological and genetic roots, affecting both mind and the body. There is an increased level of stress hormones in the body of the people with depression. Their brain scan also reveals decreased activities in some parts of the brain.

2.    Even if it is a medical problem, you can’t help it

Depression can be treated and over 80 percent of patients respond well. With the breakthrough in new medications, this would surely rise.

Ruling out any other causes of depression like thyroid problem should be done first. For this, the doctor should be contacted immediately, who after proper diagnosis of the cause, would prescribe medicines, psychotherapy or both.

3.    Depression is similar to getting the ‘blues’. Hence, it is normal

Viewing depression like blues is like equating common cold with pneumonia. Everybody has his share of blues in the daily life. They can be the result of some disappointing events or even some frivolous ones like a rainy day. Of course they are short-lived and you don’t develop suicidal tendencies because of them. But, depression can last throughout the life. It is also more agonizing and life-threatening.

4.  The other depression myths is that depression is only a manifestation of self-pity

About 19 million people suffer from depression only in the US. The list of people who have been its victim include great names like Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, George Patton, abolitionist John Brown, Robert E. Lee, Florence Nightingale, Sir Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, J.P. Morgan, Barbara Bush, Ludwig von Beethoven and Michelangelo. These great people wouldn’t just while away their time pitying themselves!

5.  The other depression myths include you can override depression through sheer will power

Depression is a pathological condition just like diabetes or heart disease. You can’t will it away. It manifests due to certain chemicals changes in the body and hence you can’t get the better of it just through sheer will power. In fact, taking medical advice tells a lot about your determination and courage to overcome it, as this condition is often stigmatized in the society.

6.  Another popular depression myths is that depression will go away on its own

Some very fortunate people may get cured of depression on their own but for the majority of cases, it lasts for a considerable period of time or even for ever. People, who already have it once, also are at a greater risk to have more bouts of depression. Clinical depression can prove to be fatal and may result in suicide, if left untreated.

7.  Another common depression myths is that depression is part of the aging process

While it is not part of the aging process, it is true that elder people have more of the causes that can trigger it – monetary matters, failing health, loneliness etc. People over the age of sixty, are not tuned to accept depression as a normal medical disorder like the present generation and hence, do not seek medical help.

8.    Women are the only victims of depression

The reported cases of women being affected by depression is twice that of men. But sometimes, cases go unreported as in some societies; men do not come forward to seek medical help. Successful suicide attempts are more prevalent among men compared to women. So, it is imperative that men seek medical advice for the symptoms of depression.

9.  One of the depression myths is that depression is part of the growing up process and hence, teenagers and children do not get it

However we may wish to the contrary, children do become the victim of depression. As per the National Institute of Mental Health, one in 33 children and one in 8 adolescent suffer form depression every year. It is the duty of the adults to mark the symptoms of depression, as children would not able to vent their thoughts properly.

10.  Depression is hereditary

If you have a history of depression in your family, you are genetically predisposed to it just like the diabetes or high blood pressure. It doesn’t mean that you would surely get it though. It is just that you are at a higher risk than other people. So, go for medical treatment immediately, if you find any symptoms.

It is difficult to separate some depression myths from the fact, so if you’re unsure about something, it’s in your best interest to consult a physician.

Men generally don’t like to go for medical tests but it’s important for them to have the following medical tests once a year:

Medical Tests #1:Testosterone level – Low testosterone level can be related to bone strength, growth of hair, sexual performance and overall mood of men. About 5 million of American men are reported to have a low testosterone level.

Medical Tests #2:Testicular check-up – Testicular cancer affects many white men in the 20-34 age group. Any change in its appearance warrants a professional consultation.

Medical Tests #3:Digital rectal examination – This involves the direct check-up made by the physician to investigate the prostrate and colorectal cancer.

Medical Tests #4:STD screening – Studies show 50 percent of American would have contracted a sexually transmitted disease by the time they attain the age of 25. So, get tested for STD every six months.

Medical Tests #5:Colon cancer test – Doctors recommend that men with average risk of colon cancer should have sigmoidoscopies or investigation of signs of polyps or colon cancer apart from yearly stool tests for blood every 5 years or at more frequent intervals, if you have a family history of it.

Medical Tests #6:Hypertension – Almost 33 percent of Americans suffer from high blood pressure, which is a major cause of kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. So, get tested for it at least once a year or at more frequent intervals, if you already suffer from it.

Medical Tests #7:Skin cancer screening – Skin cancer can be prevented, if detection is done at its early stage.

Medical Tests #8:Eye examination – Apart from rectification of vision problem, glaucoma and other age-related mascular degeneration, you can also detect any signs of diabetes and high blood pressure thorough eye examination.

Medical Tests #9:Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test – The age (almost 70 percent of prostate cases are found in elderly men of 65 years or more) and family history (people of African-American origin are at greater risk) constitute the prime risk factors of prostate cancer. So, men above the age of 50 should undergo annual check-up.

Medical Tests #10:Routine physical examination – You may not have any major problem like cancer or stroke. But an annual medical check up should be performed to rule out the risk factors.

A man may need one or all of the above medical tests and it all depends on the general health of the man.

Get the man in your life to go for his annual medical tests to ensure he can lead a long healthy life.

There is no deny that hair on the head is nothing less than an asset for a person and thus it is crucial to get all the vitamins for hair.

Hair adds on to a person’s look and thus, one needs to take care of it. Maintaining healthy hair is not a difficult task provided one maintains a good lifestyle, good eating habits and has the right amount of exercise for his body. All the important factors that need to be catered to, will be thrown light upon in the later sections.

One needs to note the point that like every other body part, hair too needs the right amounts of proteins and vitamins, so that it remains healthy. The hair follicles must be in good condition for healthy attractive hair. Many of us are not aware of the fact that each follicle has various stages during its growth and tearing down process.

Vitamins for hair- are they a must?

It is due to deficiency of nutrients that the hair tends to thin and turns brittle. If the thyroid level is not active enough, then one might lose hair; whereas in case the level is high, the chances that hair turns greasy are enhanced. Though conditioners, head massage and other hair oils can be of great help in this regard, the most important requirement is that of the right kind of nourishment through food.

What are the right kind of vitamins for hair?

• It would be worth mentioning here that hair needs good amounts of copper for color, zinc in good amounts for growth and most important of all, iron for strength.
• The other vitamins for hair is selenium that contributes to stronger hair can be found only from brown rice, onions, seafood and corn oil.
• Protein is a must for people who wish to have healthy hair.
• Vitamin A provided it is taken in the right amounts is inevitable for good hair. In the case where the amount of vitamin A is more than 25,000 IU, problems will show up.
• Vitamin B1 is one among the most important vitamins for hair and it also helps in good functioning of the nervous system and related organs. Not many of us are aware of the fact that, in addition to this, it can be used as a remedy for fatigue and depression too.

For good circulation in the scalp, one has to provide the body with vitamin B3, also known as niacin. Food items like meat, chicken and fish are rich in this vitamin. The ideal amount of niacin intake would be 15 mg and if more than 25 mg were taken, it would cause ‘niacin flush’, which is a heating sensation in the body.

Approximately 50 mg of Vitamin B complex which consists of biotin, folate and inositol is said to be good for healthy hair. Vitamins for hair may also include Vitamins C, E and omega 3 fatty acids.