It is hard to imagine a world without technology. In fact, one could argue that technological advances define historic periods. The Gutenberg Press brought about the Renaissance, the steam engine defined the industrial revolution and now the Internet will define what many call the information revolution.

As with these historic accomplishments, every advancement of technology was developed to improve the quality of life. Technology makes our lives easier and safer.

The cell phone made communication easier, the seat belt made transportation safer and now electric cigarettes have been developed in an effort to improve the lives of those who smoke and those who associate with them.

Electric cigarettes are devices that deliver small doses of nicotine through a small tube. Several manufacturers have designed electric cigarettes to resemble actual cigarettes. It is used just like any other cigarette except there is no smoke released by the device conquering the number one concern of non-smokers: second hand smoke.

A smoker simply buys a kit, which includes a rechargeable battery, and a container that holds liquid nicotine. Users inhale the solution that is vaporized in the tube. Users can then purchase refills as needed. This can translate into great savings depending on use.

Cost savings pale in comparison to the potential health benefits from the use of an electric cigarette as opposed to a traditional one. The electric cigarette eliminates the carcinogens inhaled in tobacco-based cigarettes, drastically reducing the likelihood of getting lung cancer – the number one cause of death amongst smokers. A greater cost savings is obtained if you take into consideration these possible health care costs usually associated with smokers such as higher health insurance premiums.

Of course many will also use this technology to help overcome addiction to cigarettes, providing a new strategy towards quitting.

What is Alcoholism?

There are four important characteristics of alcoholism. They are
• Craving – an obsessive urge to drink alcohol.
• Inability to Control – can not control the level and frequency of alcohol consumption.
• Physical Dependence- when alcohol drinking is withdrawn, many symptoms like sweating, nausea and shakiness can be observed.
• Tolerance – to experience the same amount of high they got for the first time, alcoholics drink larger amount of alcohol.

Consequences of Alcoholism

Many serious medical conditions and disorders arise out of alcohol dependence. It can also lead to cancer. Liver, brain and other vital organs in your body get damaged by heavy drinking. It can cause birth defects when a pregnant woman is an alcoholic. Homicides and suicides have also been related to alcohol dependence. It also is the main reason for vehicle crashes and injuries in night times.

Effects of Alcoholism on a Woman

Alcohol can be detrimental to woman more than on a man. It results in psychological and physiological problems in a woman as well as creates problems in an unborn child (of pregnant woman). When woman take to alcoholism due to factors like dear one’s demise, sexual or physical abuse, mental problems, overcoming trauma, she is actually risking her life. Issues like breast cancer, damage to liver, nerve, heart muscle, stomach or brain can occur. Certain permanent neurological disorders like brain shrinkage can also be the outcome of long term alcoholism.

In Pregnancy

When pregnant, consuming alcohol is dangerous as it flows through the bloodstream and reaches the fetus. It can result in miscarriages, premature baby, congenital behavioral problems or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the child.

Nursing Mothers

If a nursing mother consumes alcohol, it mixes with the blood stream. Thus, they also risk the baby’s health by consuming alcohol because it mixes with the breast milk. Hence, no level of alcohol consumption is safe for pregnant and nursing women.

Nathan Seppa in Science News confirmed the findings through a research conducted by an international team. In a similar study it was also found that people with high levels of amino acids had only half the risk of being affected by lung cancer when compared to those who had lower levels of amino acid. It was also said that having high levels of amino acids, Vitamin B6 and folate reduced the lung cancer risk by two-thirds.

A lot of facts about this study still remain unknown. Whether or not vitamin B6 offers protection against lung cancer for smokers is yet to be determined. So is the truth about whether Vitamin B6 from supplements or vitamin B6 from rich diet is more effective.
Another study conducted reveals that high levels of Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and folate offer protection against lung cancer.

One of the best ways to stay away from lung cancer is to take the necessary steps to prevent its occurrence. If you are a heavy smoker, think whether the habit is worth losing your life to a deadly disease. If you have recently quit smoking, get yourself checked for lung cancer and take the necessary steps to improve the quality of your life.

Vitamin D levels of a Mother and Newborn

It has been found recently through a Canadian study that babies born to mothers with low Vitamin D levels at the time of pregnancy, may be at a high risk of developing tooth enamel defects as well as childhood tooth decay. Researchers at Manitbota University after analyzing the Vitamin D levels of 206 pregnant women in their second trimester have found that only 21 among them had sufficient levels of Vitamin D. Also it was found that the women’s vitamin D levels were directly related to prenatal vitamin use and frequency of consumption of milk.

Further Examination

Researchers also looked into the case of 135 infants and found that 33.6 percent among them had early childhood tooth decay and 21.6 percent had enamel defects. Mothers of children suffering from enamel defects showed lower levels of Vitamin D during their pregnancy compared to the mothers of children who had no enamel defects. Likewise, mothers of babies suffering from early childhood tooth decay also had very low levels of Vitamin D compared to mothers of cavity free babies. Researchers also said infants with enamel defects were more likely to develop childhood tooth decay. This study is to be presented at the General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, Toronto. It will be the first study that shows pregnant women’s levels of Vitamin D may have direct bearing on their infant’s dental health.