21 May, 2013

Balding, an indicator of heart disease?

Check for these physical characteristics that could be indicators of future health problems

Heart disease

As if losing your hair wasn't bad enough, follicle-challenged men are now said to be at significantly greater risk of heart disease. Men with baldness at the crown of their heads are a third more likely to develop coronary artery disease, with Japanese researchers suggesting that men who lost their hair earlier in life are at especially high risk. Research published in the British Medical Journal had a look at six studies involving 37,000 men to report these startling findings.
How to prevent it: The good news is risks of heart disease can be greatly reduced. Simple measures like making sure you get enough exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet will keep your heart in check. Avoid drinking and smoking, which are the key causes of heart disease.

Short index finger

Osteoarthritis
Strange as it may seem — and also bad news for women — if your index finger is shorter than your ring finger you could be twice as likely to develop osteoarthritis in the knees. According to a 2008 study in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, such people tend to have lower levels of oestrogen, which could contribute to the onslaught of osteoarthritis. How to prevent it: There is a lot of speculation regarding links between hormones and osteoarthritis, however most doctors would advise that risk can be minimised by avoiding injury and staying as healthy as possible. Eat a balanced diet, look after your joints and maintain a healthy weight.

Short legs

Liver disease

A 2008 study by Bristol University indicated that women with legs between 20 and 29 inches in length tended to have higher levels of four enzymes, which indicated liver disease.
How to prevent it: Research suggests that there is a connection between fat distribution and liver function. The liver is a vital organ. A healthy diet and a low alcohol intake will help keep your liver working to its full potential.

Short arms

Alzheimer's
Women with shorter arm spans are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in Neurology. Experts believe women who measure less than 60 inches fingertip to fingertip may have had nutritional deficits in childhood, predisposing them to cognitive decline.

How to prevent it: Keeping your brain active is key. Brain food includes oily fish and folic acid.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

21.05.2013

Big egos don't produce good results in exams, says research

Students who think they deserve the best marks are among those most likely to fail in exams, a research suggested.  Researchers from the University of Otago tracked the progress of 300 marketing students and found bigger egos don't necessarily produce better results, the Australian Associated Press reported.

Growing evidence suggests younger generations have a rocketing sense of entitlement, leaving researchers curious as to how well people with excessive belief in their self-worth actually achieve, the report said.  Those with an exaggerated belief in what they deserve tended to do worse in their exams than those who took personal responsibility and were internally motivated for success, study leader Donna Anderson says.

These more ego-driven students were more likely to fail when they found the exam more difficult than expected, when compared with other students who also found the test surprisingly challenging, the study says.

This indicates that high expectations and extra stress don't go well together.

It also supports the notion that students who are excessively entitled believe that other people are responsible for their success or failure, and so are less motivated to put in more effort when required, Dr Anderson says.  The results, published in the International Journal of Higher Education, are the first internationally to prove that so-called "excessive entitlement" interferes with actually achieving success in the face of the challenge of university study.

Psychology lecturer Jamin Halberstadt, who oversaw the study, says there is a growing body of evidence suggesting those in Generation Y tend to have an inflated sense of entitlement.

He says this is "highly problematic" in an education system that is becoming more user pays. "When you pay for your degree it becomes more like a product you purchase and with that can come these expectations of what you deserve to get in return," said Professor Halberstadt.

Source: www.indianexpress.com

21.05.2013

Winning isn't getting ahead of others. It's getting ahead of yourself

ROGER STAUBACH