Monday, 21 February 2011

Thought-stimulating ideas | Two Ideas

1. The Last Word
Unless there is a decision involved, let the next argument you have end with the other person having the last word. Watch how you feel compelled to say something more. It will leave you on better terms with the other person, but that may not be important. What is important is the direct experience of observing one's compulsion to "win" an argument--which is not the same as wanting truth or understanding.

2. Failure Formulas?
There is a lot of nonsense in the idea of success formulas, or at least in the certainty offered with some. You can do everything right and be hit by a car tomorrow, after all. Failure formulas, on the other hand, are more certain. Do nothing to make money, for example, and you are VERY likely to make none. Treat people rudely and you are very likely to have fewer friends. Maybe we should spend as much effort to avoid the wrong actions as we do looking for sure routes to success.

Steve Gillman

Friday, 11 February 2011

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Berkenaan Organ HATI - Fakta dan Penyakit Berkaitan

Hati merupakan satu-satunya organ dalaman manusia yang mampu tumbuh semula secara semulajadi selepas kerosakan tisu. Baki sekurang-kurang 25% tisu asal sudah mencukupi untuk tisu tumbuh semula ke saiz asalnya.

Kebanyakan penyakit hati melibat kekuningan (jaundice) akibat peningkatan kandungan bilirubin di dalam badan. Antara gejala lain penyakit hati adalah lidah berselaput, nafas berbau, ruam dan gatal kulit, tompok pigmentasi kulit, peluh berlebihan, bau badan, gelung hitam di bawah mata, mata kemerahan, air kencing pekat, najis berwarna cair dan salur darah yang nyata pada kulit.

Selain itu, masalah hati juga boleh melibatkan gejala masalah penghadaman, gula darah, sistem imuniti dan masalah metabolisme. Pesakit juga boleh menghadapi masalah penyerapan lemak dalam makanan dan kesukaran mengambil makanan berlemak atau berminyak. Masalah hati juga boleh membawa kepada kegusaran, 'otak tepu', tidak dapat menumpu perhatian, badan kepanasan, sakit kepala dan rasa mual.


Masalah hati individu dewasa melibatkan pembengkakan hati akibat jangkitan virus, parasit atau toksin, sirosis (pengerasan hati) dan kanser. Selain itu, masalah pengumpulan besi (haemokromatosis), pengumpulan kuprum (penyakit Wilson), hati berlemak dan beberapa sindrom lain juga boleh menyerang hati. Masalah hati boleh didiagnosis melalui ujian fungsi hati, seperti penghasilan protein-protein seperti enzim dan hormon tertentu.

HIPERTENSI
Juga dikenali sebagai tekanan darah tinggi adalah satu masalah tekanan darah yang berpanjangan (kronik). Hipertensi kronik merupakan satu faktor risiko untuk strok, serangan jantung, kegagalan fungsi jantung dan aneurisma arteri di samping menjadi punca utama kegagalan fungsi buah pinggang. Antara faktor risiko mengalami hipertensi adalah akibat obesiti, sensitif terhadap pengambilan garam, rintangan insulin (diabetes), faktor genetik (warisan) dan juga umur pesakit. Hipertensi juga boleh berpunca daripada apnea tidur, tumor (ketumbuhan), masalah buah pinggang, sindrom Cushing (penghasilan hormon cortisol berlebihan), pengambilan ubat tertentu atau ketika mengandung.

Walaupun hipertensi sendiri tidak dianggap sejenis penyakit, rawatan amat penting kerana kesan jangka pendek dan jangka panjang terhadap sistem dan organ badan. Antara peningkatan risiko akibat hipertensi adalah kemalangan serebro-vaskular (CVA atau strok), myocardial infarction (serangan jantung), hipertensi kardiomiopati (kegagalan fungsi jantung akibat hipertensi kronik), hipertensi retinopati (kerosakan retina mata), hipertensi nefropati (kerosakan buah pinggang) dan hipertensi ensfalopati (rasa keliru, sakit kepala, konvulsi akibat tekanan tinggi dalam otak).

Tuesday, 8 February 2011

Brainpower Practice

Many people report that their thinking improves when walking at a comfortable pace. Studies have shown that exercise in general is good for brain function both right away and because of the long term benefits to the cardio-vascular system. One recent study showed that older persons who walked 45 minutes three times per week scored and average of 11% higher on tests that measured decision making ability.

I think there is more than just the benefit of exercise here. I think the rhythmic and automatic nature of walking is very conducive to creative thinking in particular. I hope there will be more studies that look at the difference between other exercise and walking, in relation to brain performance.

In the meantime, try walking as a way to think and solve problems. It works well if you carry a small tape recorder, so you can record any ideas without stopping. Otherwise, bring a pen and notepad. I think you'll find walking to be good for your creative problem solving ability. In any case, there are enough other proven benefits of walking if I am wrong.