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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is a slow progressing destruction of airways caused by gradual loss of lung function. It s a combination of various lung diseases. In COPD, two lung diseases, namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the main diseases. Other diseases like asthmatic bronchitis and bullous disease are also present. This disease is common among the older women in America. On a whole, about 11 of the American population suffers from COPD. According to researches, it kills 85,000 people in the US every year and it is the fourth leading cause of death. The effects of smoking on the lungs can be severe and permanent. Smoking causes irreversible damage to the lung tissues and causes inflammation of the lungs. This inflammation stops only when the smoking is stopped. The cigarette manufacturing companies add some chemicals to cigarettes for various reasons that block the production of alpha-1-antitrypsin AAT , which maintain the elastic fibers of the alveoli. This in turn destroys the walls of the lungs, which makes the process of breathing very difficult. Other causes that lead to COPD are industrial pollution, occupational dusts, continuous...

Some people with little vision or desire to entertain would be forgiven for wondering why anyone would want to buy a chocolate fountain. It all depends. If you are the type of person who invites people around then rations the food and drink and expects your guests to like it or lump it, then perhaps it s not for you. I ve certainly been to those kind of parties, where the hosts were so mean you were searching for takeout on the way home. However if you are a generous host or hostess who wants to really send your guests away happy, then the thought that you might buy a chocolate fountain won t seem so strange to you. Sure, the sort of person who wants to show off would also want to buy a chocolate fountain for their next party, but there s nothing wrong with trying to make an impression on your guests. Entertaining is just that it s your turn to make sure that your guests are amused, fed and watered to the very best of your ability. You might want to buy a chocolate fountain if you are planning a grand party like a wedding reception, or a retirement party or special birthday. Conversely you might want a fountain just to make a small, intimate party have that wow...

We had a little excitement this morning at home. My wife came out of the bathroom and said, quite calmly, Ed, there s a big black spider in the bathtub. Since I was watching my daughter, Ella, at the time, I carried her in there to investigate. I was a bit surprised that my wife did not call it a Brown Recluse. That s our running joke. She grew up in Brown Recluse territory, and so whenever she sees a brownish spider she says Ed, I just saw a Brown Recluse. I gently remind her that the Brown Recluse does not live in Northern California as I gather up the culprit and take it outside. When Ella and I looked in the tub, I could understand why Melissa had not called it a Brown Recluse. This spider was a deep shiny black. I m usually pretty casual about spiders, knowing that the only dangerous spider in our area is the black widow, a spider I had never before seen. But the color of this one caused me to act with a bit more caution. And it was good that I did. When I gathered up the critter in a Tupperware bowl, I could see, through the translucent plastic, a distinctive red hourglass on the belly. Here was my first Black Widow. Needless to say, my wife did not share in...

Have you ever felt uncomfortable with someone because they were different than you. Maybe they had a different ethnic background or skin color, or maybe they were book smart while you are more street smart . Maybe they dressed differently than you do, or maybe you were just repulsed by them and you re not sure why. I had a disturbing experience this week, in which a person was publicly ridiculing me for my spiritual beliefs. I can t lie, it stung. We all want to be liked and accepted, and it hurts when we are rejected. I didn t even know this person, he just took exception to me because I was different than he was. He didn t give me a chance and try to find out if I was someone he might like to know. He assumed I was not acceptable because of one thing about me that didn t sit well with him. Maybe you ve had a similar experience. Have you been rejected by someone because of your religious beliefs, skin color, body size, ethnic background or some other reason. It doesn t feel good, does it. Over time, such experiences can make us question our own self-worth. What is really happening when a person is intolerant of another. I believe there are two dynamics playing...

For eight years, Janis Lopes of Orange, Calif., couldn t sleep because she felt like she had worms crawling in her legs. Only getting up and walking around the house seemed to relieve the unusual and sometimes painful sensations that she was experiencing. She was sleep-deprived at work, depressed throughout the day and anxious when she had to sit through a play or movie. After years of pain, discomfort and frustration, Lopes learned that she suffered from Restless Legs Syndrome, a condition that is both real and treatable. Restless Legs Syndrome is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often accompanied by creeping-crawling sensations. Restless Legs Syndrome is most prevalent at night and during periods of inactivity. As a result, sleep disturbances are common, and everyday activities such as traveling in a car or sitting at a desk can become unbearable. The disorder can cause chronic sleep deprivation that may result in difficulty concentrating, anxiety, mood swings and depression. Even though Restless Legs Syndrome affects up to 10 percent of the adult population, it can go undiagnosed for years because many people mistake the urge to move...