EffectsThe effects of smoking will vary from person to person and depend on such things as:

• a person’s susceptibility to chemicals in tobacco smoke;
• the number of cigarettes smoked per day;
• the age when the person began smoking; and
• the number of years of smoking.

Immediate effects

• Smoking one cigarette immediately raises a person’s blood pressure and heart rate and decreases the blood flow to body extremities such as the fingers and toes.
• Brain and the nervous system activity is stimulated for a short time and then reduced.
• A smoker may also experience dizziness, nausea, watery eyes and acid in the stomach.
• Appetite, taste and smell are weakened.

Other effects of cigarette smoking

• Smokers typically experience shortness of breath, persistent coughs, reduced fitness, yellow stains on fingers and teeth and decreased sense of taste and smell.
• Smokers have more colds and flu than non-smokers and find it harder to recover from minor illnesses.
• Smoking can cause impotence in men, while women who smoke are less fertile than non-smokers.
• People who smoke tend to have facial wrinkles appearing much earlier and, in general, look older than non-smokers of the same age.

Smokers have an increased risk of developing:

• respiratory infections such as pneumonia and chronic bronchitis;
• emphysema (a progressive and potentially fatal lung disease);
• heart attack and coronary disease;
• cancer of the lung, throat, mouth, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, stomach;
• stomach ulcers; and
• peripheral vascular disease due to decreased blood flow to the legs.

A person who is dependent on cigarettes may find that they experience withdrawal symptoms when they cut down or stop smoking cigarettes. These can include:

• increased nervousness and tension;
• agitation;
• loss of concentration;
• changes to sleep patterns;
• headaches;
• coughs; and
• cravings.

Other dangers and important facts

• Smoking during pregnancy can affect the unborn child, and babies are more likely to be born underweight, premature or stillborn.
• Passive smoking, where a person is subject to breathing in the cigarette smoke of others, can cause lung damage, including cancer and heart disease.
• Fifty Australians die every day from smoking compared with 10 who die from alcohol-related conditions or 4 who die from road accidents.

  Source: Australian Drug Foundation

What are Medical Errors?

Medical errors happen when something that was planned as a part of medical care doesn’t work out, or when the wrong plan was used in the first place. Medical errors can occur anywhere in the health care system:

• Hospitals.
• Clinics.
• Outpatient Surgery Centers.
• Doctors’ Offices.
• Pharmacies.
• Patients’ Homes.

Errors can involve:

• Medicines.
• Surgery.
• Diagnosis.
• Equipment.
• Lab reports.

Most errors result from problems created by today’s complex health care system. But errors also happen when doctors and their patients have problems communicating. For example, a study supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that doctors often do not do enough to help their patients make informed decisions. Uninvolved and uninformed patients are less likely to accept the doctor’s choice of treatment and less likely to do what they need to do to make the treatment work.

What Can You Do?

Be Involved in Your Child’s Health Care

1. The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your child’s health care team.

That means taking part in every decision about your child’s health care. Research shows that parents who are more involved with their child’s care tend to get better results. Some specific tips, based on the latest scientific evidence about what works best, follow.

Medicines

2. Make sure that all of your child’s doctors know about everything your child is taking and his or her weight. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

At least once a year, bring all of your child’s medicines and supplements with you to the doctor. “Brown bagging” your child’s medicines can help you and your doctor talk about them and find out if there are any problems. Knowing your child’s medication history and weight can help your doctor keep your child’s records up to date, which can help your child get better quality care.

3. Make sure your child’s doctor knows about any allergies and how your child reacts to medicines.

This can help you avoid getting a medicine that can harm your child.

4. When your child’s doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it.

If you can’t read the doctor’s handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either. Ask the doctor to use block letters to print the name of the drug.

5. When you pick up your child’s medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my child’s doctor prescribed?

A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dose.

6. Ask for information about your child’s medicines in terms you can understand—both when the medicines are prescribed and when you receive them at the hospital or pharmacy.

• What is the name of the medicine?
• What is the medicine for?
• Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
• How often is my child supposed to take it, and for how long?
• What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
• Is this medicine safe for my child to take with other medicines or dietary supplements?
• What food, drink, or activities should my child avoid while taking this medicine?
• Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
• When should I see an improvement?

7. If you have any questions about the directions on your child’s medicine labels, ask.

Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, ask if “four doses daily” means taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during regular waking hours.

8. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your child’s liquid medicine. Also, ask questions if you’re not sure how to use the device.

Research shows that many people do not understand the right way to measure liquid medicines. For example, many use household teaspoons, which often do not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, like marked oral syringes, help people to measure the right dose. Being told how to use the devices helps even more.

9. Ask for written information about the side effects your child’s medicine could cause.

If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does-or, if something unexpected happens instead. That way, you can report the problem right away and get help before it gets worse. A study found that written information about medicines can help people recognize problem side effects. If your child experiences side effects, alert the doctor and pharmacist right away.

Hospital Stays

10. If you have a choice, choose a hospital at which many children have the procedure or surgery your child needs.

Research shows that patients tend to have better results when they are treated in hospitals that have a great deal of experience with their condition. Find out how many of the procedures have been performed at the hospital. While your child is in the hospital, make sure he or she is always wearing an identification bracelet.

11. If your child is in the hospital, ask all health care workers who have direct contact with your child whether they have washed their hands.

Handwashing is an important way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. Yet, it is not done regularly or thoroughly enough. A study found that when patients checked whether health care workers washed their hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap.

12. When your child is being discharged from the hospital, ask his or her doctor to explain the treatment plan you will use at home.

This includes learning about your child’s medicines and finding out when he or she can get back to regular activities. Research shows that at discharge time, doctors think people understand more than they really do about what they should or should not do when they return home.

Surgery

13. If your child is having surgery, make sure that you, your child’s doctor, and the surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done.

Doing surgery at the wrong site (for example, operating on the left knee instead of the right) is rare—but even once is too often. The good news is that wrong-site surgery is 100 percent preventable. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons urges its members to sign their initials directly on the site to be operated on before the surgery.

Other Steps You Can Take

14. Speak up if you have questions or concerns.

You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your child’s care.

15. Make sure that you know who (such as your child’s pediatrician) is in charge of his or her care.

This is especially important if your child has many health problems or is in a hospital.

16. Make sure that all health professionals involved in your child’s care have important health information about him or her.

Do not assume that everyone knows everything they need to. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

17. Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and to be your advocate. Choose someone who can help get things done and speak up for you if you can’t.

18. Ask why each test or procedure is being done.

It is a good idea to find out why a test or treatment is needed and how it can help. Your child could be better off without it.

19. If your child has a test, ask when the results will be available.

If you don’t hear from the doctor or the lab, call to ask about the test results.

20. Learn about your child’s condition and treatments by asking the doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources.Source:

Bhatkal: Moulana Faisal Ahmed Armar Bhatkali, has been declared as the joint winner for writing a thesis in Arabic language on the Seerath (biography) of Holy Prophet Mohammed (May peace be upon him) with the title ‘The Side of Mercy for the mankind in the personality of Mohammed’ (Mpbh), by Rabita Adab e Islami Makkah Mukarrama. The organization, Rabita Adab e Islami every year holds competition on different topics related to the Seerath. This year 2 scholars won the coveted first prize. The topic given for this year was very relevant to the International scenario where terrorism is being associated with Islam and Muslims, the title was aptly chosen to convey the mercy of the Holy prophet towards the mankind. And to tell the world that, no other humarn being can be more merciful to the mankind than Prophet Mohammed (Mpbh).

The first prize carries a reward of 3 lac Saudi Riyals. Thus, the first prize will be shared equally by the joint winners, each getting 1.50 lac Saudi Riyals. Although there has been no official announcement of the winners, the winners have been intimated on phone. The official announcement is expected after 3 days. Moulana Faisal Ahmed Armar Nadvi is the second person from the Indian Subcontinent to bag the award, after Moulana Safiur Rahman al Mubarakpuri for writing his thesis on the Seerath (biography) of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (Mpbh) on the given Title of � Al Raheeqil Makhthoom� which has been translated into English as ‘The Sealed Nectar’. The prize will be awarded, in a large function which will be held in the Holy month of Ramzan in Jeddah.

Moulana Faisal Armar is known for his writings having penned many books. Recently wrote a book titled �The Role of Islamic Scholars in the Indian freedom movement�. Apart from this he has written many books on different topics. A book written by him in Arabic language titled Al-Asarulbayyinath Fi Fazailil Ayaath was published from Damascus (Syria).

Born in 1975, Moulana Faisal Ahmed Armar who has been gifted good intellect is son of Mr. Mohammed Meeran Armar. He memorized The Holy Qur’an in Madrasa Tahfeezul Qur’an Bhatkal and later graduated with Alimiyath degree from Jamia Islamia, Bhatkal. He went on to complete his Fazeelath education from Darul Uloom Nadvatul Ulama, Luknow. He has been teaching in Darul Uloom Nadvatul Ulama, Luknow since last ten years. Many Islamic Scholars graduated from Jamia Islamia Bhatkal, are known world over for writing articles in Arabic language which have been published by many international magazines.

Source: http://www.sahilonline.org

Here are 10 ways to keep personal information secure when online:

1) Favor common sense over technological solutions. Keep personal documents safe, preferably in a locked drawer. Shred bank statements, credit card slips and bills before throwing them away.

2) If it’s too good to be true, it is. Never open unsolicited “spam” messages. Delete e-mails offering cash, free gifts or stock tips. Millions of unsolicited “spam” messages are sent every day in an attempt to defraud computer users.

3) Basic prevention helps. Protect your computer against identity theft. Install security software to combat viruses, spyware and spam and keep it updated.

4) Know enough about your firewall, the barrier between the public Internet and a personal computer, to know when it is working and when it isn’t. Don’t worry about the geeky complexity of it all, just know it’s operating.

5) Beware of “phishing”, where criminals trick people into revealing personal or financial details, often by sending e-mails purporting to be from a bank. Never casually reply to requests for your personal financial details.

6) Keep your private e-mail address secure. Consider using different e-mail accounts for shopping, banking, friends and work. There are many free account providers.

7) Do not use the same password for different sites. Choose passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Don’t use obvious passwords, such as your first name or “123456″ and don’t write them down. For memory’s sake, choosing a basic root word, then rotating numbers, is safer.

Make online payments safely. Never enter a card number unless there is a padlock in the Web browser’s frame, rather than the Web page. The Web address should begin with “https” — the extra “S” stands for “secure”. Consider reserving one credit card for Web use or signing up for a separate online payment service like PayPal.

9) Secure your wireless network at home and be wary when using public access points. Encrypt the connection to scramble communications over the network. Turn off the wireless network when you’re not using it. 
10) Treat your laptop computer like cash — never leave it in a locked car or turn your back while using it in a public place. The same holds true with your mobile phone: Lock your phone (and any passwords you keep on it) when not using it.

Source: www.reuters.com