THE SUN AND WRINKLES

Yet another article to reinforce what I have been saying about the connection of aging and UV light.

SKIN CARE THE EFFECTS OF UV LIGHT
The effects of ultra-violet on the skin are a mixed blessing!

Some is beneficial, necessary for the formation of vitamin D, some is harmful. Much of what happens to the skin as a result of ultra-violet light is the result of the skin trying to protect itself and the body inside from the harmful effects of an excess of the rays; the skin is quite effective at preventing the rays penetrating deeply into the body.

The Stratum Corneum is a major factor in this prevention (see diagram below)

Reflection of rays by layers of the Stratum Corneum

The Stratum Corneum is maintained at such a thickness that with the ‘usual’ intensity of ultra-violet falling on it, very little passes through and no damage is caused to the live cells beneath. The Stratum Corneum of exposed parts of skin such as the face, neck and hands will be thicker than those parts normally covered by clothing.

However, exposure to higher than normal intensities of ultra-violet will allow sufficient rays to pass through the epidermis possibly to cause damage to the living cells underneath.


Penetration of Ultra-Violet Rays into the Skin

In a skin, which has active melanocytes producing melanin pigment granules, this extra ultra-violet will develop the colour of this melanin, resulting in a Tan.

But not everyone’s skin is in such a state of readiness; their melanocytes may be inactive, as a result damage will be caused to the live cells. The result reddening, discomfort, may be even blisters and peeling i.e. Sunburn.

Regardless, more UVB rays will penetrate to the Stratum Germinativum to stimulate its dividing cells into greater activity, this will produce new epidermal cells at a more rapid rate and this will eventually thicken the Stratum Corneum, thus helping to reflect UV rays.

The general increase in the skin’s metabolism reflects throughout the body in creating ‘a feeling of well-being’.
The physical, physiological and psychological effects of Ultra-Violet

Beneficial effects:
    •    Vitamin D production
    •    Stimulation of Metabolism
    •    Tonic Effect
    •    Has slight Germicidal effect on the skin
    •    Causes hyperkeratinisation (thickening described as above), which is thought to help with some skin conditions such as Acne Vulgaris and Psoriasis.

Screening responses against excess:
    •    Suntanning
    •    The irritant effect of sunburn
    •    The thickening effect of the Stratum Corneum

Damaging effects:


    •    Short term – Sunburn
    •    ***Long term – Premature aging, thickens the epidermis giving a ‘leathery’ appearance, irreversibly damages Collagen and Elastin fibres, causes dehydration, can cause allergic reactions, can produce dark pigmentation patches; Skin Cancer.

Vitamin D Production

A normal varied diet including dairy produce will supply all the vitamin D required; however through sunshine the vitamin may be made in the body with the help of ultra-violet.

In the body there are two substances, which can be converted into vitamin D, these precursor substances are 7-dehydrocholesterol and ergosterol. When vitamin D is required these substances are moved to exposed skin where using ultra-violet energy these substances are converted to Vitamin D.

The potential for making vitamin d in the skin is so enormous that merely exposing the face for less than an hour on an overcast December day will make all that is required for the day, the body is able to regulate this however so a days long sunbathing will not cause over production.




Article below from the DAILY MAIL

Blame the sun for your visible wrinkles: UV rays account for 80 per cent of skin ageing

• Exposure to sunlight is to blame for a majority of skin aging
• Research show that the effect of UV rays on skin increases with age

The sun is responsible for the vast majority of visible ageing, according to new research – another reason  to slather on the sun screen all year round.
UV rays accounted for  80 per cent of skin ageing, including wrinkles, in a study of almost 300 women – half sun-worshippers and half  shy of the sun.
The study also found that a two per cent increase in  skin damage ages a face by three years.

Blame it on the sunshine: UV rays are responsible for 80 per cent of your skin's visible ageing

Long-term UV exposure  can also lead to pigmentation, reduced skin elasticity and a degradation of skin texture, including yellowing.
Various other factors can also change the skin’s appearance and structure, including gravity, the  natural ageing process, pollution, diet, tobacco, illness and stress.
But in the study, reported  in the medical journal Clinical, Cosmetic And Investigational Dermatology, researchers wanted to calculate for the first time the effect of sunlight alone.
Dermatologists examined the faces of 298 women, aged 30 to 78, with 12 experts studying photographs of individual faces on a screen.

Cover up: The sun's damage on the skin increases with age

Another panel of  volunteers also viewed the women’s faces and estimated their age.
The results show that the effect of UV exposure increases with age. Significant differences  were seen in wrinkles and skin-texture quality after  the age of 50, with the  sun-seekers looking older than their real age.
The researchers worked out what they call a ‘sun damage percentage’ and calculated that the sun is responsible for 80.3 per cent of skin ageing.
They also found that  women with 80 per cent damage look their age, while those who have 82 per cent damage look about three years older, and those with  78 per cent damage appear three years younger.
The researchers, from L’Oreal Research and Innovation Center, Paris, said: ‘Our study confirms  the accountability of sun exposure in premature ageing of the face.
‘Our comparison between two groups of women, whose sun behaviour was different, has allowed us to clearly demonstrate the effect of  UV exposure.’
However, the researchers added that sagging in older faces is likely to be linked to the long-term effects of gravity.
Dr Richard Warren, senior clinical lecturer and consultant dermatologist at the University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘It is very hard to distinguish accurately between intrinsic [natural] ageing and extrinsic [environmental] ageing, and this study goes some way to addressing the specific impact of the sun on skin.
‘Effective use of sunscreens will not only limit extrinsic skin ageing but will also reduce skin cancer risk.’

VISIT AMAZON ASTRID BROWN'S PAGE
Find all the books, read about the author, and more

SEE WHAT SMOKING DOES TO YOUR BODY!

I came across this article in the press Daily Mail, and it reinforces what I have been saying on this site for ages. You cannot possibly hold on to your looks if you smoke never mind the detriment to your health. It just isn't good for you at all.

Astridestella.info: SMOKING AND CANCER
29 Dec 2012
... and results in death and disease. 'Giving up smoking can be extremely difficult, so providing extra motivation and reminding people of just how harmful the habit is can help smokers to take that first step in quitting for good.' ...
http://www.astridestella.info/
Astridestella.info: EVEN PASSIVE SMOKING IS DETRIMENTAL
02 May 2011
Smoking is one of the worst abuses you can do to your body, firstly because of its direct effect affect on the lungs, it impairs the uptake and absorption of oxygen and of course all cells in the body require oxygen in order to ...

Astridestella.info: SMOKING AND CANCER

29 Dec 2012

... and results in death and disease. 'Giving up smoking can be extremely difficult, so providing extra motivation and reminding people of just how harmful the habit is can help smokers to take that first step in quitting for good.' ...

http://www.astridestella.info/

Astridestella.info: EVEN PASSIVE SMOKING IS DETRIMENTAL

02 May 2011

Smoking is one of the worst abuses you can do to your body, firstly because of its direct effect affect on the lungs, it impairs the uptake and absorption of oxygen and of course all cells in the body require oxygen in order to ...

http://www.astridestella.info/

- See more at: http://www.astridestella.info/#uds-search-results

Astridestella.info: SMOKING AND CANCER

29 Dec 2012

... and results in death and disease. 'Giving up smoking can be extremely difficult, so providing extra motivation and reminding people of just how harmful the habit is can help smokers to take that first step in quitting for good.' ...

http://www.astridestella.info/

Astridestella.info: EVEN PASSIVE SMOKING IS DETRIMENTAL

02 May 2011

Smoking is one of the worst abuses you can do to your body, firstly because of its direct effect affect on the lungs, it impairs the uptake and absorption of oxygen and of course all cells in the body require oxygen in order to ...

http://www.astridestella.info/

- See more at: http://www.astridestella.info/#uds-search-results

Astridestella.info: SMOKING AND CANCER

29 Dec 2012

... and results in death and disease. 'Giving up smoking can be extremely difficult, so providing extra motivation and reminding people of just how harmful the habit is can help smokers to take that first step in quitting for good.' ...

http://www.astridestella.info/

Astridestella.info: EVEN PASSIVE SMOKING IS DETRIMENTAL

02 May 2011

Smoking is one of the worst abuses you can do to your body, firstly because of its direct effect affect on the lungs, it impairs the uptake and absorption of oxygen and of course all cells in the body require oxygen in order to ...

http://www.astridestella.info/

- See more at: http://www.astridestella.info/#uds-search-results

What's smoking doing to YOUR body? Alarming graphic shows how cigarettes cause women to go grey and sprout facial hair and men to have sluggish sperm

• Tobacco Body has been created in conjunction with the Cancer Society of Finland to show the damage smoking causes
• Highlights lesser-known effects such as spots, grey hair, increased risk of stomach ulcers and weight gain 

We all know that smoking can cause lung cancer - but did you know it can also trigger women to go grey, grow facial hair and men to have sluggish sperm?
In an attempt to move on from the grisly anti-smoking pictures found on cigarette packets, Finnish doctors have developed an interactive website to highlight the dangers. 
Tobacco Body has been created in conjunction with the Cancer Society of Finland to show the damage smoking causes.

The site explains that with skin, for example, 'smokers are more likely to get spots as smoking weakens the circulation which increases the risk of infection. It also make acne more difficult to deal with'

To see the dangers for yourself, select the male or female body and then browse different parts of the body.

 

From spots, to an increased risk of stomach ulcers, the catalogue of side-effects and images make for disturbing viewing - right down to the grey, mottled skin of the smoker.

For women, one of the most disturbing things may be that smoking can trigger the growth of extra facial hair on the face and arms. 

To see the dangers for yourself, select the male or female body and then browse different parts of the body.

It adds that smoker's skin looks unhealthy because the chemicals in cigarette smoke make the skin's elastic fibres snap more easily, causing the skin to lose its elasticity

The site explains that with skin, for example, 'smokers are more likely to get spots as smoking weakens the circulation which increases the risk of infection. It also make acne more difficult to deal with.'
It adds that smoker’s skin looks unhealthy because the chemicals in cigarette smoke make the skin’s elastic fibres snap more easily, causing the skin to lose its elasticity.

Non-smokers also have five times less wrinkles compared to smokers who have smoked a pack a day for 25 years. 
Excess hair growth in women in triggered because smoking increases levels of the male hormone, testosterone.
Indeed, a study from the Medical College of Wisconsin found that women who smoked a pack of cigarettes or more a day were significantly more likely than non-smokers to have facial hair and experience early menopause and irregular periods.

The site also claims that smokers are more likely to carry extra weight around the middle. Of girls aged 16-24, those who smoke are most likely to be overweight

Smokers are more likely to carry extra weight around the middle. Of girls aged 16-24, those who smoke are most likely to be overweight, it is claimed. 
Hair doesn't fair well, either. The site explains: 'Smokers have brittle hair and are more likely to go bald and grey than others. Chemicals from tobacco gather in the hair and cause hairs to break off before they are fully formed.'

The Tobacco Body site was created in conjunction with the Cancer Society of Finland to show the damage smoking causes in the body

Smokers also have double the risk of a blood clot and a worse sex life. Smoking weakens
blood flow to the penis, which counts for smokers being twice as likely to have erectile problems. 
Smokers’ sperm density is also significantly less compared to the non smokers. The toxins from cigarettes decrease the concentration and mobility of sperm cells in semen and harm the cell’s structure, the site says.
And if that wasn't bad enough, smokers also put themselves more at risk of painful stomach ulcers.

The nicotine in cigarettes weakens the stomach’s ability to fight helicobacter pylori, a bacteria which causes stomach ulcers.  

VISIT AMAZON ASTRID BROWN'S PAGE
Find all the books, read about the author, and more

CANNABIS WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

The article below comes from the 'Daily Mail' and I've posted this to make you aware that Cannabis can lead to the user suffering from psychosis. It's a common recreation drug many will first experiment with and most users will find it has no side effects, however in some it will lead to full blown psychosis trouble is there is no way of knowing who will develop it, so is it worth the risk? Research has shown the active substance in Cannabis can have therapeutic medicinal benefits however much more research needs to be done and evaluated before it ever reaches being classified as a medicine. The other danger of Cannabis is it can lead to harder drugs as users look for a bigger 'high' as their tolerance rate improves and they become less immune to it's effects. It isn't possible to gauge who will be affected by these effects so is it worth the risk? for once changes have begun in the brain it can't be undone, the damage is done.

Read one family's experience below

Think cannabis is harmless? It drove this grammar school boy insane - then killed him

• Matthew was a bright young boy who excelled at maths and science
• But he started smoking cannabis and the 'harmless' drug took its toll
• He began having hallucinations and became incredibly paranoid
• Matthew's erratic behaviour turned violent, he started speaking of suicide
• His parents put him in hospital but once there he tragically hanged himself
• Matthew's doctors believe his suicide was triggered by smoking cannabis

Melanie Leahy has many photos of her son, Matthew. But it is the one of him aged 13, fresh-faced and dressed in his grammar school uniform, that is the most painfully poignant of all.

'Matthew had just been awarded top marks in all his academic subjects and was on the cusp of adulthood, with his whole future ahead of him,' she recalls. 'Even as a boy he spoke about his future, of having a large family and how he wanted to start up his own business.'

Happy and healthy: Matthew was 'gorgeous' and capable, learning to swim at the age of three

Tragically, it is a future Melanie will never see for her only child. For Matthew, 20, previously a Grade A student as well as an expert skiier and qualified lifeguard, hanged himself last November. His  suicide was triggered, doctors believe, by smoking cannabis.

Any suicide is an utter tragedy, but what makes Matthew's case even more shocking is that the young man took his own life while an in-patient at a mental health hospital.

Despite being on hourly observation because of his unstable state of mind, Matthew had managed to hang himself.

'When I got the phone call to tell me about Matthew's death, it ripped my heart out,' says Melanie, 48, a property manager. 'But most of all I was in shock about how doctors could have allowed it to happen.

'Matthew's father, Michael, and I had agonised over putting him into that hospital. We believed he was in the safest possible hands and that we had done our best for him. We never would have agreed if we'd thought we were sending him to his death.' Melanie questions his treatment at the NHS-run Linden Centre mental health unit in Chelmsford, Essex.

Bright-eyed: Matthew, pictured in his school uniform, aged five - several years before his troubles began

Several other young people have taken their own lives while in the care of the trust in recent years and Matthew's parents are still waiting for answers as to what really  happened to their beloved boy.
It's cannabis, a drug many class as 'harmless', that they blame for his spiral into self-destruction.
Born in December, 1991, Matthew was a 'healthy, happy and bright lad' according to his mother.

'Matthew was absolutely gorgeous and it soon became clear he was very bright,' says Melanie, who lives in Heybridge, Essex. 'He learned to swim at the age of three and, by time he was nine, was excelling academically at school.' Sadly, it was around this age that Melanie and Michael, a restaurateur, divorced.
'We'd been growing apart for a long time,' she explains. 'But where Matthew was concerned, we remained amicable, sharing care of him.'
Although Melanie and Matthew moved ten miles away to a three-bedroomed semi-detached home, Matthew divided his time between his parents' homes.

Painfully poignant: Of her many photos of Matthew, this one reminds Melanie the most of his bright future - now tragically lost

'We were incredibly proud when Matthew passed his 11-plus exam and won a place at Westcliff High School For Boys, a selective grammar school. He excelled at maths and science and was a natural with computers,' Melanie says. However, by the age of 14, teachers reported that Matthew wasn't paying as much attention at school.
Because of the characteristic smell of cannabis on his clothes, and his erratic behaviour, both Melanie and Michael suspected he was smoking the drug.
'I confronted him about it, but he would deny it,' says Melanie.
In June 2005 - after a friend told Melanie she'd seen him in a park smoking cannabis - Melanie took Matthew to see their GP.
'I wanted him to be tested,' she says. Her GP refused, on the grounds that it was not something GPs would test for, but Melanie became increasingly concerned about her son's behaviour.
'We had lots of arguments about him smoking cannabis. Both Michael and I did everything we could to try to stop him, from arguing to reasoning with him but nothing worked.'
By the age of 15, Matthew was having problems sleeping.
'Matthew saw his GP on his own and I now know from his medical notes that he admitted he was smoking cannabis, although because his friends were also smoking it he told his GP he believed it was harmless,' says Melanie.
'This time the doctor advised him about the risks and gave him advice about stopping smoking.'
But Matthew continued and, by the time he was 17, having left school with a clutch of GCSEs and the equivalent of two A-levels, he began his own computer support business. He moved into a shared house that Melanie owned, but at the same time his symptoms worsened significantly.
'Terrifyingly, he began saying he felt as if something was crawling over his body,' recalls Melanie. 'I researched it and pointed out to Matthew it was an effect of  cannabis smoking [doctors call this sensation 'formication' and it is one of a number of hallucinations cannabis can trigger].

'Matthew saw his GP on his own and I now know from his medical notes that he admitted he was smoking cannabis, although because his friends were also smoking it he told his GP he believed it was harmless'

'It became so severe that, at the end of 2009, he was referred by his GP to the drug and alcohol early intervention team. They came and spoke to him about the effects  of cannabis.'
Melanie now feels they didn't do nearly enough and wishes they'd referred him for counselling and more specialist help, such as  drugs rehabilitation.
Matthew's parents grew even more concerned when, in January 2011, Matthew became convinced he had threadworms living in his stomach, coming out of his nostrils and mouth and living in his ears - a sign of the paranoia caused by the cannabis.
The drugs team explained he was delusional and Matthew's state of mind deteriorated so much he was unable to continue his computer job.
'Eventually in May, Matthew was in so much distress about these imagined parasites that it was  preventing him from sleeping properly,' says Melanie. 'His GP felt he was hallucinating due to his drug problem and referred Matthew to a consultant psychiatrist.'
Yet he continued to smoke cannabis and his paranoia only worsened.
That June, having experienced a terrifying psychotic episode where he believed worms were destroying him, Matthew was admitted to the psychiatric ward at Clacton hospital and then the Linden Centre, where he remained for five months.

Young promise: 15-year-old Matthew, pictured with his mother Melanie, excelled at maths and science and was a natural with computers

Matthew was given drugs to calm his paranoia, but when he was released in November 2011 the family were shocked at his appearance.
'My son had become like a zombie,' says Melanie. 'He'd gone from a bright conversational boy to someone who was hollow-eyed, dribbling and shuffling.
'In hindsight, I don't feel there was any proper care for him at that hospital. His problems were just masked with medication and he was able to continue smoking the drug. I was horrified by the smell of cannabis whenever I visited him.'
His problems were clearly far from resolved when, in April 2012, Matthew - by now back in the shared house - erupted at Melanie when she forbade him to grow cannabis there.
'He said he couldn't deal with the hallucinations any more and wanted to kill himself,' she says. 'He thought the cannabis was helping to cure them, and wouldn't believe it was the cause.
'He threatened to cut his wrists or hang himself and I was so upset I called the police who took him to hospital.' Over the following weeks, Melanie's life became hell.
'One day, Matthew came home with cuts on his face that he'd made with a razor blade. He then threatened to hang himself. I kept telling him I loved him and begged him to get help.
'Another time when I wouldn't give him any money because I knew he would spend it on cannabis, he pinned me against a wall. I wasn't hurt, but it was frightening. I rang the police and, once again, they returned him to hospital.'

Heartbreak: Melanie keeps the memories of her beloved son close to her heart

Melanie's frustration with the system is evident. 'Despite all these episodes, he would simply be taken to hospital by police, be assessed and just sent home again,' she says.
In May 2012, with Melanie at her wits' end, Matthew, now 20, went to live with his father. But in November 2012, during a terrifying psychotic episode at his father's home in Bradwell, Essex, he smashed up his room with a baseball bat.
Michael says: 'Matthew was threatening to kill himself with a knife, so I called the police. He was in such a rage there was no knowing what he'd do.'
At this point he was admitted to the Linden Centre under Section 3 of the Mental Health act.
'Melanie and I were desperate,' explains Michael. 'Matthew needed professional help. He needed proper care and, although it was the hardest thing we've ever done, we believed putting him in hospital would save him.
'We were terrified that, if we didn't section him, he would kill himself. Doctors told us Matthew would be put on suicide watch, which reassured us because we felt something positive was being done at last.
'It was exhausting for us watching his every movement 24 hours a day and we knew this way he would not be allowed to kill himself.'

 'My son had become like a zombie. He'd gone from a bright conversational boy to someone who was hollow-eyed, dribbling and shuffling. In hindsight, I don't feel there was any proper care for him at that hospital.'

However, the couple say they have since been told that Matthew was put on constant watch only for the first day. They say they've been told this was reduced to hourly and he was being watched by a student nurse.
'We have no idea why this was allowed to happen, it was a  decision made by the nurses,' says Melanie. 'But, had I known that he wouldn't be watched 24 hours a day, I would never have agreed to let him go. I bitterly regret it.'
Tragically, five days before his death, Matthew rang his father, distraught, saying he'd been drugged and was desperately unhappy.
'We were scared for him, but were told not to visit for first seven days to give him time to settle,' says Melanie. 'And when we spoke to the ward, the staff denied he was as distressed as he'd made out to us, reassuring us he was in an art class.'
A post-mortem examination has since also revealed four to five mystery needle marks in Matthew's groin.
'He was petrified of needles,' says Melanie. 'We worry as to what drugs he had been injected with. We've had no explanation as to what these were, but it haunts me that he might have experienced real terror in those final days.'
Melanie was shocked to discover that Matthew was not the only troubled young person to die in the care of the same trust.

Grieving parents: Melanie and Matthew's father Michael now bitterly regret putting their son in hospital

In 2001, Nicola Dordoy, 42, was found hanging from her curtain pole in her room at the Linden  Centre, prompting the unit to claim that 'procedures would be changed' as a result.
A year later, Steven Kay, 39, went missing from his room at the Linden Centre and was later found  hanging from a tree. Then, in 2008, Ben Morris, 20, hanged himself with his belt at the same centre.
In May 2012, a Care Quality Commission report judged over all that 'the Linden Centre was not meeting one or more essential standards. Action is needed.'
Says Melanie: 'I was stunned by the fact that similar problems over lack of care plans, risk assessments and communication errors had been highlighted so many times at the same centre and the same trust.
'Had the trust taken on board all the issues then and improved the care within these mental health units, I believe Matthew would still be alive today.'
She claims that a lack of records of Matthew's final days might mean she never knows exactly what  happened to her son.
North Essex Partnership said: 'What happened to Matthew is terrible and the family's hurt is totally understandable. Everyone wants answers.
'The coroner can hold an inquest where all issues are raised, and questions asked. We ask Melanie and her family to talk to us about it all, we will answer her questions and her fears, frankly and honestly. That's in everyone's interest.'
Almost a year on, the family are still waiting for an inquest, but they bitterly regret putting him the hospital.
'Losing Matthew has caused pain beyond description,' says Melanie. 'But I'm not going to be happy with weak promises for the future.'
Whether she will get the answers she longs for remains to be seen. But she insists: 'I'm determined that Matthew's death won't be  in vain.'

VISIT AMAZON ASTRID BROWN'S PAGE
Find all the books, read about the author, and more

PLEASE BE AWARE OF FAKE PROFILES ON SOCIAL NETWORKS

NAME AND SHAME

FAKE PROFILES

Please be aware to fake profiles on the internet. Often the quality of their photos are very poor and they are extremely small and common sometimes the photo format is one not often or rarely used for uploading photos, this is because they have been copied and pasted from elsewhere on the net. I had the fortune lol if you could call it that LOL! to meet someone who uses the name Samuel but if you ask him to prove it is him and he wont be able to. He will always have some excuse, his cam is broken, his computer needs repairing, he cant plug his camera into his computer as the lead is broken or lol his CPU needs repairing or he needs help from the Tech guy at work. Based in Bahrain lol! need I say more of his origins. I have spoke to him on the phone and his accent does not ring true, nor does his vocabuary it certainly does not fit with his nationality and where he has lived. As a Medium I saw right through him. I have and many others out there have come into contact with this character. If someone is genuine, there will be no hesitation to show their face on cam or send you a photo with a newspaper showing a current headline and today's date failing that holding a card with their name and date. One last thing be very wary of someone who asks you for naughty photos of yourself or asks you for cyber sex, the genuine friend wont ask you such requests. I wasn't fooled by Sam here but many have before and others will in the future, so listen to your intuition.

Like the cartoon above of the dog on the internet, you cannot be sure to whom you are chatting to. If you start to develop a deeper relationship with anyone on the net always ask for proof.

- See more at: http://www.astridestella.org/2009_08_01_archive.html#sthash.MI0BcdVF.dpuf

NAME AND SHAME

FAKE PROFILES

Please be aware to fake profiles on the internet. Often the quality of their photos are very poor and they are extremely small and common sometimes the photo format is one not often or rarely used for uploading photos, this is because they have been copied and pasted from elsewhere on the net. I had the fortune lol if you could call it that LOL! to meet someone who uses the name Samuel but if you ask him to prove it is him and he wont be able to. He will always have some excuse, his cam is broken, his computer needs repairing, he cant plug his camera into his computer as the lead is broken or lol his CPU needs repairing or he needs help from the Tech guy at work. Based in Bahrain lol! need I say more of his origins. I have spoke to him on the phone and his accent does not ring true, nor does his vocabuary it certainly does not fit with his nationality and where he has lived. As a Medium I saw right through him. I have and many others out there have come into contact with this character. If someone is genuine, there will be no hesitation to show their face on cam or send you a photo with a newspaper showing a current headline and today's date failing that holding a card with their name and date. One last thing be very wary of someone who asks you for naughty photos of yourself or asks you for cyber sex, the genuine friend wont ask you such requests. I wasn't fooled by Sam here but many have before and others will in the future, so listen to your intuition.

Like the cartoon above of the dog on the internet, you cannot be sure to whom you are chatting to. If you start to develop a deeper relationship with anyone on the net always ask for proof.

- See more at: http://www.astridestella.org/2009_08_01_archive.html#sthash.MI0BcdVF.dpuf

FAKE PROFILES

Please be aware of fake profiles on the Internet often the quality of their photos are very poor and they are extremely small and common sometimes the photo format is one not often or rarely used for uploading photos, this is because they have been copied and pasted from elsewhere on the net. I've come across many of those fakes over time and like all fakes if you ask him/her to prove it is him/her and he/she wont be able to. He/she will always have some excuse, his/her cam is broken, his/her computer needs repairing, he/she cant plug his/her camera into his'her computer as the lead is broken or lol his/her CPU needs repairing or he/she needs help from the Tech guy at work. Often they are based in the middle east or Africa (West Africa is a common origin of these fake profiles).  Even  speaking to such profiles on the phone often the accent does not ring true, nor does the vocabulary and often does not fit with his/her nationality and where he/she is suppose to live. As a Medium I see right through these fakes. If someone is genuine, there will be no hesitation to show their face on cam or send you a photo with a newspaper showing a current headline and today's date failing that holding a card with their name and date. One last thing be very wary of someone who asks you for naughty photos of yourself or asks you for cyber sex, the genuine friend wont ask you such requests. I'm not fooled by these fakes but many have before and others will in the future, so listen to your intuition.

Like the cartoon above of the dog on the Internet, you cannot be sure to whom you are chatting to. If you start to develop a deeper relationship with anyone on the net always ask for proof.

VISIT AMAZON ASTRID BROWN'S PAGE
Find all the books, read about the author, and more

MOUTH CANCER IS ON THE INCREASE

I'm posting this article as a warning as there is an increase in mouth cancer

Some examples of cancer lesions

Symptoms of mouth cancer

The two most common symptoms of mouth cancer are:

• an ulcer in your mouth or on your lip that won't heal
• constant discomfort or pain in your mouth

Other symptoms can include:

• red or white patches in your mouth
  
• a lump on your lip, tongue or in your neck
  
• bad breath
  
• unexplained bleeding in your mouth
  
• numbness in your mouth
  
• loose teeth
  
• problems chewing or swallowing, difficulty moving your jaw or a feeling that something is caught in your throat
  
• changes to your voice – it may sound husky or quieter or you may slur your words
  
• weight loss because of problems swallowing

These symptoms aren't always caused by mouth cancer but if you have any of them, see your GP or dentist.

The earlier it's detected the better the prognosis and another good reason why it's essential to have regular dental check ups as your dentist will be examining your mouth and not just your teeth

_________________________________________

ARTICLE BELOW FROM THE DAILY MAIL

You should NEVER ignore a mouth ulcer that won't heal. Natalie did for just six weeks - and now faces tragic consequences

• She thought it was just a typical ulcer, and her GP didn't tell her otherwise
• Two months later, Natalie found out it was actually mouth cancer
• By that time, it had spread to her right lung; now, Natalie's outlook is bleak
• Mouth cancer is on the rise, in part because its signs are often missed

Natalie Hurley was eight weeks pregnant with her third child when she noticed a small mouth ulcer on the side of her tongue.

The 34-year-old thought it was merely an annoyance, but became more concerned when it had still not disappeared after a  few weeks. 'It was quite painful, but as far as I could tell it was a typical mouth ulcer,' says Natalie, who runs an embroidery and printing business with her husband Phil, 37.

'It was slightly smaller than a 5p coin and white on top. I put up with it for a fortnight, then went to France on holiday for three weeks and forgot about it.'

Mouth cancer: Natalie, pictured with her youngest son Tait, 16 months, Rocca, 5, and Jensen, 3, thought what was really mouth cancer was just an unusually long-lasting ulcer

The ulcer first appeared in July 2011, shortly after Natalie's mother had died from breast cancer, so she believed it was caused by the stress of that ordeal, combined with her pregnancy. But after six weeks Natalie saw a doctor.

'The GP said it was an ulcer and I was quite happy. But during a routine dental appointment the following week, I asked the dentist to look at it,' she says.

'I could tell by her face that something was wrong - she said mouth ulcers shouldn't last longer than two weeks.'
Her dentist referred Natalie to a specialist, but the letter went astray. While waiting for an appointment, Natalie visited her GP again, but was told not to worry.

More than two months since first spotting the ulcer, and desperate for a diagnosis, she saw another dentist, who immediately referred her to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset.

'By then it was hurting most of the time and kept growing - it had trebled in size. I took painkillers, but could feel it almost burrowing into my tongue,' she says.

Doctors took a biopsy and Natalie received a phone call within days, asking her to see a consultant maxillofacial surgeon with a specialist interest in head and neck cancer.

Brave front: Natalie is determined not to let the cancer dominate her future

He revealed she had a type of mouth cancer called squamous cell carcinoma - a disease that usually affects only the over-50s.

'My world fell apart,' says Natalie, who lives with Phil and their sons Rocca, five, Jensen, three, and Tait, 18 months, in Exmouth, Devon. 'I thought I was just going to have a simple operation to have an ulcer taken off.'

She had to have, in fact, half her tongue removed, followed by reconstructive surgery using skin grafts from her arm and stomach.

After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it was discovered the cancer had spread to her right lung. Latest scans have shown this tumour has grown to around 2in and Natalie faces major surgery to have the lung removed.

Unless she has the operation, scheduled for later this month, her outlook is bleak - doctors have said she could have just months to live.

Though Natalie knows the disease will eventually prove terminal, she is determined not to let it dominate her future. But she wants others to be aware of the signs of mouth cancer, which can often be missed by doctors and dentists.

Nearly 8,000 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer every year and there has been a 50 per cent increase in cases between 1999 and 2007, according to the charity Mouth Cancer Foundation.

Most cases occur in people over 50, but it's becoming more common in younger people, and doctors are looking into the reasons why. Recent studies show human papilloma virus number 16 (HPV-16) - the same one associated with cervical cancer - is linked to mouth cancer in much younger people with good oral health and no history of smoking or drinking alcohol.

'These HPV mouth cancers appear to be responsive to treatment and the survival rate is much better than non-HPV mouth cancer,' says Dr Vinod Joshi, a consultant in restorative dentistry and founder of the Mouth Cancer Foundation.

However, heavy smokers and drinkers are the most high-risk group. 'The dehydrating effect of alcohol on cell walls makes it easier for tobacco toxins to penetrate mouth tissues, where they can turn cells cancerous,' says Dr Joshi.

Even with treatment, mortality rates from mouth cancer are high, with around half of patients not surviving five years or more. This is partly down to the fact that patients, dentists and doctors can miss the signs and the cancer spreads before it is diagnosed.

'The biggest complaint by patients is late detection from doctors and dentists,' says Dr Joshi.
'Patients are generally unaware of the symptoms and the fact they're supposed to receive a full cancer examination at every routine dental visit. And people often put up with symptoms before getting them checked out.'

 

'My world fell apart. I thought I was just going to have a simple operation to have an ulcer taken off.'

Graham Merrick, consultant maxillofacial surgeon at Musgrove Park Hospital, adds: 'It's a relatively rare cancer, but the consequences are severe if it's missed.

'If you have a specific ulcer that's increasing in size and it's been there for more than two weeks, see your doctor or dentist.

'The earlier you present, the much better your chances of survival. We tend to see a three-month lag between patients first noticing that something is wrong and getting to us.'

As well as an ulcer, or a red or white patch, or anywhere in the mouth that does not heal within two or three weeks, symptoms can include a lump or swelling in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for at least three weeks.

Other signs are difficulty in swallowing, chewing or moving the jaw or tongue, mouth numbness, a feeling that something is caught in the throat or a chronic sore throat or hoarseness lasting more than six weeks. An unexplained loosening of the teeth is another symptom.

In a bid to raise awareness among dentists, the Mouth Cancer Foundation has introduced a screening accreditation scheme.  The idea is to encourage dentists to check for signs of mouth cancer by examining the face and neck, as well as thoroughly looking inside the mouth, during routine dental visits.

Natalie believes her story should act as a warning to others and also wants health professionals to learn from her experience.

'I feel I should have been listened to more. A few weeks could have made a difference. I just want my story told,' she says.

A week after diagnosis, Natalie began a lengthy treatment process. After a MRI scan revealed the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in her neck, she had a nine-hour operation in which part of her tongue was removed and reconstructed. This was followed by 24 hours in intensive care.

Natalie also picked up an infection in her tongue, which was treated during another two-week stint in hospital, before she underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy two months later.

Hopeful, yet realistic: All Natalie wants to do now is make the most of the time she has with her three sons and her husband Phil

Just before this stage of her treatment started, her baby son, Tait, had to be induced at 32 weeks in January 2012. 'I heard him cry and I just felt so relieved,' she says.

But in August last year a scan showed that the cancer had spread to Natalie's right lung. Parts of it have been removed in two operations. Despite the surgery, the tumour has returned and caused the lung to collapse.

Natalie is realistic about her future, but is hopeful about her upcoming operation.

'I know this cancer will kill me, and very quickly. My lung doctor has been more optimistic. He said that I'm young, I've managed really well with all the treatments so far,' she says. 'I'm hoping that if they take out my lung, it will buy me some years. I'm determined that it's not going to be months.'

Doctors were unable to say why Natalie developed the cancer and did not think it was linked to her mother's breast cancer. She had smoked only the occasional cigarette in her early 20s.

For now, though, Natalie is getting on with life as best she can. Her collapsed lung is incredibly painful and she struggles with intense episodes of coughing.

She is on strong painkillers, which make her drowsy most of the time. But she can still speak clearly and eat and drink, despite being left with just one salivary gland instead of two.

All Natalie wants to do now is make the most of the time she has with her family.

'Before I had cancer, I had short views on things - you do the school run, get ready for nursery, have your dinner. I forgot about quality of life, what it means to have young children and how amazing they are.'

mouthcancerfoundation.org

VISIT AMAZON ASTRID BROWN'S PAGE
Find all the books, read about the author, and more

IS HEATHER HONEY A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE TO MANUKA HONEY'S HEALING BENEFITS?

Interesting article I found on the Daily Mail today, being that I am Scottish! It's well known about the healing qualities and health benefits of honey, it is a natural antibiotic and has been used as a wound treatment since ancient times. Heather honey is a lot cheaper than Manuka even though heather is only in bloom from two to four weeks. It makes a good face mask for skin that is prone to break outs.

Scottish honey 'is as good at healing as manuka': Heather variety could offer cheaper alternative

• Experts say it could be a cheaper alternative to the New Zealand product
• Of the 11 types tested, samples from Inverness killed bacteria effectively
• Honey’s anti-bacterial properties are widely used in veterinary medicine
• But manuka is the only medical-grade honey on the market

Medicine: Experts claim heather honey could offer a cheaper alternative than the health product from New Zealand

Scottish honey may be as effective as more expensive manuka when it comes to beating bacteria, a study has shown.
Experts claim heather honey could offer a cheaper alternative to manuka, from New Zealand, which is already known for its medicinal qualities.
Honey’s anti-bacterial properties are widely used in veterinary medicine as a wound dressing.
The findings come from a study published in The Veterinary Journal and carried out by Dr Patrick Pollock and colleagues at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow.
Of 11 different honeys tested, heather honey from the Inverness area was particularly effective, killing MRSA microbes and three other types of bacteria.
Dr Pollock, a bee keeper, said: ‘While manuka is currently the only medical grade honey, the study reveals other honeys may be just as suitable.
‘Consequently, it may prove unnecessary to transport manuka honey from New Zealand when more local sources may be as, or even more, effective.’
Honeys largely get their anti-microbial properties from the hydrogen peroxide they contain. Manuka is thought to benefit from a phytochemical property and a methylglyoxal compound.
Heather honey costs an average of £1.90 for 100g while 100g of manuka is £4.71.
Dr Pollock said: 'Although manuka has been the most studied honey source to date, other honey sources may have valuable antimicrobial properties too.
'Honey is useful in equine medicine, particularly on wounds to legs. There is not much fat on the lower half of horses' legs, so can take a long time to heal, or even never fully heal at all.

Effective: Manuka is currently the only medicinal grade honey available, but other types may also be suitable (file picture)

'Honey helps to promote healing, cleaning the wound and keeping it infection free. If vets were able to use locally-sourced, cheaper honey as a wound dressing, it would be very beneficial particularly in poorer countries.'
The researchers took 29 honey products, including commercial medical grade honeys, supermarket honeys and honeys from local bee-keepers, and examined them for bacterial contamination before testing.
Eighteen were found to contain bacteria that excluded them from the trial and the remaining 11 were tested against 10 equine bacterial isolates at concentrations varying from two per cent to 16 per cent.
Eight of the honeys were effective against all the bacteria at concentrations ranging from two per cent to six per cent.

VISIT AMAZON ASTRID BROWN'S PAGE
Find all the books, read about the author, and more