Alcohol addiction: Are you an alcohol addict?

Countless families, no matter their social status, suffer immensely when their husbands, sons, daughters or wives binge on alcohol. 

These families suffer silently as booze rules the lives of their loved ones, but let's not confuse alcohol with occasional drinking. In 2009, as per government statistics, approximately 14 million Indians were addicted to alcohol, by which we mean 14 million Indians were dependent on alcohol. But there are ways to spot if your loved one is going to turn into an alcohol addict; it is time to nip it in the bud and save the family.

What is alcohol addiction?
With a spurt of bars and nightclubs offering alcohol, youngsters are more prone to alcohol addiction...or so common perception goes. But does this mean that addiction to alcohol is only a phenomenon of the 21st century? We think not. The importance to be socially accepted, or the need to alter reality are not new emotions in this world. So what is alcohol addiction?

'Alcohol dependence is a psychiatric diagnosis (a substance related disorder DSM-IV) describing an entity in which an individual is addicted to alcohol either physically or mentally, and continues to use alcohol despite significant areas of dysfunction, evidence of physical dependence, and/or related hardship.'

Essentially, if you break the official description down, alcohol addiction can be read as the feeling that your life revolves around alcohol, you consume it in large amounts - often in settings that aren't alcohol related, like breakfast, work or your child's play date - and you are not worried about it affecting your life adversely. Often alcohol addicts experience extreme weight gain orweight loss, and several other health issues.

What are the signs of alcohol addiction?
The major reason why we start drinking is to de-stress. When we are tired and worked up, we have a drink to calm our nerves and relax. But this could turn into an addiction before you know it, especially if you don't find any other outlet for your stress or emotional mood swings. The feeling of being drunk is momentarily priceless but the effects on health and your system are dire.

Some more signs include, getting into trouble due to alcohol like getting arrested for drunk driving, your performance at work suffers and your relationship with loved ones is drastically altered.

If you wake up and crave for a drink, you're abusing alcohol. When you have alcohol to get over a hangover, you're abusing alcohol. If you are trying to quit, but can't, you're abusing alcohol. If moderate drinking isn't working for you, and if two drinks always lead to 20, then it's time to seek professional help, or an intervention.

So how does one quit alcohol?
Weigh the pros and cons of drinking; are you happy to be an alcoholic? Do you receive enough love? Are people around you happy? Do you have any savings in the bank? Next step, if moderation isn't working, then make a commitment to completely give up alcohol. Prepare realistic aims to follow and be ready for the withdrawal symptoms.

If all efforts fail, India has several rehab centers for substance abuse victims. Anonymity is theessence at these centers, there are regular checks and the plan seems foolproof, but the onus is on you. A lot of effort has to come from the alcoholic's part.

Withdrawal symptoms of alcohol addiction
Just like other addictions, when you stop drinking, you will experience certain symptoms. The common signs are:

- Trembling hands
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Headaches and trouble concentrating
- Blood pressure increases
- Heart beats faster
- Disorientation
- Vomiting

Several studies suggest that physical engagement in sports, exercise, and healthy eating pursuits help fight alcohol addiction. The healthier your meals are, the less likely is it that your blood sugar levels will fluctuate and set in alcohol cravings.

So, examine your lifestyle and rectify harmful patterns like late nights, lack of exercise and unhealthy binge eating. Enlist support from family and friends, and replace the time spent with alcohol with happier and healthier activities.

However, if you suffer from a serious over-use addiction, then you must consult a healthcareprovider immediately.

Top 7 relationship rules you should follow

Here are the seven regulations we've chalked out for you which one ought to abide by when in a relationship

While there is no rule book that Cupid donates to you after he has struck the arrow, there still are some (read: silent) hard and fasts that you should keep in mind lest you travel through choppy waters in your relationship. Be aware you don't lose balance when sitting on one plank of the love seesaw. Here's making things wee-simpler, we give you a rundown on majorrelationship rules you just shouldn't mess with.

Avoid anything you'd not want him to do:

You've made things clear to him; he shouldn't talk with his ex, shouldn't go for those friday night basketball games with the boys, no late night talks for him with his girl friends... with all this and more, just remember one thing. Rules are meant to be the same for both of you. Don't think you'll set all the rules out for him and, side-by-side, happily keep in touch with that ex of yours or chat with your guy pals without letting him know.

Forget them not
Friends are the most crucial part of anyone's life. But the moment people enter into a relationship, they tend to forget their friends, ignoring them to the fullest. That is a complete no-no! Don't loosen ties with your pals just because you're hooked.

Say it when you mean it

We say communicate your heart out, but only when the time is right. Don't use that 'L' word for the sake of it, just because you have mistaken like for love. Contemplate on it clearly before expressing it to the other person.

Tattle to each other

Remember, it's just you and your partner who're in this relationship, so better keep any third person aside. If there's a problem that's irking you or your partner, try and sort it out among yourself rather than involve more people. Most problems don't need a third party involvement. So, keep the others out of this one.

Don't ever cheat

Bored? Well, try to spunk up that relationship, or else walk out of it. But don't you cheat! Cheating is no answer to boredom, and it is totally unacceptable. Make sure you tell your partner clearly that you're not happy with the way things are shaping up between the two of you, and sort it out, or else, walk out of it.

Compare not

Yes your ex must have been a darling! A gem-of-a-person none can match up to. But get the point, you ain't with that ex of yours. So, don't compare your current with your past. Instead, just be happy with what you've got at hand.

Take care if you don't want someone else to

He cares for you, but you can't invest time for them? Or you're unable to tell the person how much you love them? If you're not there for someone, chances are, someone else will be there for them. So, either care for your partner, or don't crib later if someone replaces you in their life.

How tattoos can cause hepatitis

Body piercing or getting your body tattooed in David Beckham style may cost you a huge price — infection of Hepatitis B and C virus. Theneedle used in the act to (re) fashion your body may just be infected with the said virus causing liver disease, which in its ultimate stage often turns cancerous (liver cirrhosis). That is deemed to happen if the needle is not properly sterilized. 

How tattoos are done
A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on your skin with pigments inserted through pricks into the skin's top layer. Typically, the tattoo artist uses a hand-held machine that acts much like a sewing machine, with one or more needles piercing the skin repeatedly. With every puncture, the needles insert tiny ink droplets. The process — which is done without anesthetics — causes a small amount of bleeding and slight to potentially significant pain.

How they cause hepatitis?
Tattoos are a potential cause for spreading hepatitis B and C virus. "The main risk is if the equipment, which is the needle, is infected and not enough precaution is taken to prevent transmission. But it's not just the needle that can 

spread the virus.
Needles are not the only things that can cause transmission of the hepatitis. The silent culprits are the expensive ink bottles in which the artist dips his needle time and again while doing the tattoo. So even if they use disposable syringes or fresh gloves, if an artist uses the same ink bottle for several clients, the chances of transmission of the virus increase. Now since these ink bottles are mostly imported, they generally don't use fresh bottles for every client.

Explaining the science behind it, "Tattoo making involves pricking the needle deep into the dermis - the layer under the skin surface - which results in bleeding and the same needle is dipped into the paint bottle which leads to transferring of Hepatitis B or C from infected to another.

Preventive measures to rescue yourself from hepatitis
Tattoo as you would any other medical procedure. You want a tattoo parlor to be at least as clean as your doctor's office. 
Ask to see the tools the artist will use. The needles should be new, sterilized, and wrapped — no exceptions. The ink should be in small pots meant for single-use and anything that touches your skin should not be reused. And the artist should wear gloves. 
Tattoos can be beautiful, artistic expressions of our inner selves. Just be sure you know the risks and go to a professional tattoo artist. 

Dr. Ravindra Sharma, MD, DNB Gastro, Consultant Gastroentrologist, Aaditya Nursing Home, Sri Ganganagar

Obesity affects reproductive capacity

In addition to a host of other physical and psycho-social concerns, childhood obesity could be related to growing problems with infertility, say researchers. 

In a recent review, scientists suggested that childhood obesity could be disrupting the timing of puberty and ultimately lead to a diminished ability to reproduce, especially in females. 

Human bodies may be scrambling to adjust to a problem that is fairly new. For thousands of years of evolution, poor nutrition or starvation, were a greater concern, rather than an overabundance of food. 

"The issue of so many humans being obese is very recent in evolutionary terms, and since nutritional status is important to reproduction, metabolic syndromes caused by obesity may profoundly affect reproductive capacity," said Patrick Chappell, an assistant professor of veterinary medicine at Oregon State University and an author of the recent report. 

"Either extreme of the spectrum, anorexia or obesity, can be associated with reproduction problems," he said. 

Researchers are still learning more about the overall impact of obesity on the beginning of puberty and effects on the liver, pancreas and other endocrine glands, Chappell said. While humans show natural variations in pubertal progression, the signals that control this timing are unclear. 

But in general, puberty appears to be starting earlier in girls. It is being accelerated. 

This may have several effects, scientists have found. One theory is an impact on kisspeptin, a recently characterized neurohormone necessary for reproduction. Normal secretions of this hormone may be disrupted by endocrine signals from fat that serve to communicate to the brain. 

Another possible affect on pubertal timing, and reproduction in general, is disruption of circadian clocks, which reflect the natural rhythms of night and day. Disrupted sleep-wake cycles can affect the secretion of hormones such as cortisol, testosterone, and insulin, researchers have found. 

"Any disruption of circadian clocks throughout the body can cause a number of problems, and major changes in diet and metabolism can affect these cellular clocks," Chappell said. 

"Disruption of the clock through diet can even feed into a further disruption of normal metabolism, making the damage worse, as well as affecting sleep and reproduction," he added. 

Some studies in humans have found correlations between early puberty and the risk of reproductive cancers, adult-onset diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. 

Early onset puberty has also been associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety in girls, studies have found, as well as increased delinquent behaviour, smoking and early sexual experiences in both girls and boys. 

Other research has suggested that such problems can persist into adulthood, along with lower quality of life, higher rates of eating disorders, lower academic achievement and higher rates of substance abuse. 

Additional research is needed to better understand the effect of these processes on metabolism, hormones and other development processes, the survey concluded. 

The analysis was published in Frontiers in Endocrinology.

Are you stuck in the wrong job?

Are you currently sitting at your desk, with your head in your hands, unsure whether you're in the right place? We give you a low-down on the signs that tell you're ready for a new job. 

When is it a risk well worth taking: 

'Boring' becomes your favourite word 
If you're so bored at work that updating your status on Facebook or re-tweeting posts is the only exciting thing that you do during the day, it's time to start updating your resume . Sometimes, things are a little slow if you're just learning the ropes or if you're in between projects, but if the idleness persists, you have to think about the situation and your careerseriously. 

You get mood swings often 
How happy are you? If you're in a bad mood every other day, it is one major thing that indicates that you should leave your current job. It is absolutely normal to have a bad day once in a fortnight. It is a part of every job. But if you're dragging yourself to work forcefully everyday and then just sulking all day, start typing out that letter of resignation. Being depressed 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week is not acceptable where quality of life is concerned. If you're that unhappy in your current job, divert all your efforts in finding a better one instead of crying over it. 

Lack of opportunities to grow 
At some work places, you might like the kind of work you are doing and the kind of people you're working with but there's just no room to climb the ladder. That might be OK for a while, but after a point you might want to get better at your job. If you're already at the top of where you can go in your company but have started to crave something more, look at your current job as a stepping stone and resume-builder rather than somewhere you have to stay for good. If you're not feeling challenged, you're just going to end up feeling unhappy. 

No social life 
You have to put your best in whatever you do. There are times when you are expected to take on extra tasks or pitch in to finish up something on a tight deadline. But if you can't remember the last time you met your friends or went out on a family outing, you might want to opt for a job that consumes a little lesser time. Your work might be giving you the desired job satisfaction but having no life outside the office is unhealthy and can eventually lead to stress and anxiety. 

You're underutilized 
This might be the case with you. You have the skills that would be beneficial to your employer but you're not just getting the chance to prove your mettle, especially if you are hired for one thing but you're getting stuck with administrative tasks. Ask for some one-on-one time with your boss and explain the kind of work you would be interested in doing. Bring forth a clear picture. If you're still relegated to menial tasks, it may be time to move on. 

You dream about quitting 
If you're already at the stage of wishing for a new job or even thinking about doing anything but what you're doing, take those thoughts seriously and figure out what you want to do next. You need to be proactive when it comes to your career. Research on the vacancies at various companies, polish your resume, and start applying for anything intriguing that comes up.

9 Warning signs of a troubled marriage

Although we all love to be happily married, couples often find themselves caught off guard when a marriage breaks. The reasons may range from silly to serious. It happens in the most unexpected way. Only when you face the situation do you actually begin to think back and realise if you missed the warning signs. 

Here are a few situations that suggest trouble in your marriage 

1. Digging up the past, name calling, verbally abusing and belittling in-laws have almost become common for you two. 

2. Both look for silly excuses to fight. You try avoiding each other and don't look forward to coming back home anymore. Even a trivial complaint turns into a bitter fight. You feel there's no workable solution in sight. 

3. Nothing is a joint decision anymore. There's no logic behind your explanation. It's simply a matter of ego to prove what you feel is right. 

4. Jealousy creeps in. There's no healthy competition anymore. It's not at all fun to ask for guidance as you are belittled for your complete lack of knowledge or ignorance. You can't take your spouse into confidence. 

5. Your spouse can't think beyond himself/herself. You feel like an outsider being neglected and unwanted. You don't feel part of the family at all. It is no more our family but 'my family'. This means danger! 

6. One of you cheats. Extra-marital affair is a strict no-no and ruins family life. It's an unpardonable mistake and means the end of a marriage. 

7. Neither of you are inclined towards sex. It kind of becomes mechanical with absolutely no passion. Sex is something that keeps the marriage going. 

8. You don't seem to sort out issues then and there. Either of you is an escapist and avoids confrontation. You have bottled it all up and can't wait for it to burst so you can put an end to your relationship. 
9. No communication of any sorts. Forget the mushy notes and flower bouquet, your partner doesn't bother asking 'how are you' in a mail or text message. When there's total silence between the two of you and you run out of topics to talk, then your relationship has reached a dead end. 

"If you are not at peace; you are in pieces." Dr. Kurien S. Thomas

Know when to say no

Sometimes children push themselves too hard while aiming for the skies. Parents, watch out for the warning signs and put your foot down. It will save your child, say experts 

Pressure to win and be the best. Attending tuition classes. Intense training schedules. In a world of super achievers, children often find themselves at the burnt end of the rope. With constant peer pressure, and overzealous parents wanting their children to accomplish beyond their capacity, more often than not, a push becomes the shove. 

A lot of times, peer pressure leads to children stressing themselves out over education, sports or other extracurricular activities. Nishi Mehta (name changed on request) recalls her son's mad dash to learn football, as a lot of his friends had signed up for the game. 

"My son suffers from fragile bones. Football is an energetic game that requires a lot of running around and tremendous stamina. It also results in a lot of injuries, which he couldn't cope with, considering his condition. I had a tough time explaining to him why football was not his sport," she says. 

Dr Bhupendra Chaudhry, Consultant Psychiatrist, Manipal Hospital, explains, "A lot of children put pressure on themselves after seeing their peer group and set unrealistic targets for themselves. They want to prove that they are super achievers. In such cases parents need to empathize with the child and offer them an alternative solution." Like Nishi Mehta did after seeking professional help, which helped her to understand her child's strengths through some simple tests and signed him up for chess, an indoor game. "His analytical skills and patience levels were ideal for the game. Now when he wins chess tournaments, he doesn't feel left out of the success cycle." 

As Dr Yesheswini Kamaraju, Consultant Psychiatrist, Fortis Hospital, says, "For majority of children, it takes time to know their expertise. If a child doesn't try out various options, he or she may be losing out on opportunities." 

The red flags 
Experts opine that most children and adolescents show warning signs when pushed beyond a limit. As parents, it is necessary to look out for the danger spots for damage control. 
Common signs include 
» anxiety 
» mood disorders 
» adamant behaviour 
» anti-social behaviour 

"Loss of concentration, being fearful in public situations, watching too much television or doing standalone activities should ring a bell," points out Dr Chaudhry. It is a common situation, when families or parents push a child so much it results in irritability and they want to escape the rigour. "In such cases, family sessions where parents are helped to evaluate and set expectations, understand their ward's temperamental attitudes is important," he explains. 

Functional pains are another indication, points out Dr Kamaraju. "Abdominal aches, stress-induced symptoms, headaches, sleep difficulties can be a manifestation of the emotional turmoil that a child goes through in such situations," she says. 

Remedial actions 
Taking help from professional counsellors can help resolve behavioural disasters to a great extent, says Dr Chaudhry. Agrees Dr Kamaraju, advising the presence of school counsellors and therapists. Using the right language and helping the child develop a good self esteem after they've quit something is very important, she says. "Words like 'you won't get it, what is this rubbish' are very common in schools these days. 

What a lot of educationists need to understand is that these words can affect a child mentally," she warns. "If a child wants to quit something, immediately after trying it, explain to them patiently that they need to give it some time before deciding to do so. But if he or she is 
absolutely hell-bent on giving up or if it is a physical problem, then a parent has to realise that there is a difficulty and that they should stop pushing," Dr Kamaraju says. 

Taking a break and then getting back to it if a child feels the inclination or interest is another option. Having the right role models to look up to and adequate supervision are also key factors to encourage a child to pursue certain goals, she points out. 

Obesity, root causes of daytime sleepiness

Three studies have concluded that obesity anddepression are the two main culprits that make people excessively sleepy while awake. 

Researchers at Penn State examined a random population sample of 1,741 adults and decided that obesity and emotional stress are the main causes of the current "epidemic" of sleepiness and fatigue plaguing America. 

Insufficient sleep and obstructive sleep apnea also play a role; both have been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, emotional stress,diabetes, obesity and accidents. 

"The 'epidemic' of sleepiness parallels an 'epidemic' of obesity and psychosocial stress," Alexandros Vgontzas, MD, the principal investigator for the three studies, said. 

"Weight loss, depression and sleep disorders should be our priorities in terms of preventing the medical complications and public safety hazards associated with this excessive sleepiness," Vgontzas said. 

In the Penn State cohort study, 222 adults reporting excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) were followed up 7 and a half years later. 

For those whose EDS persisted, weight gain was the strongest predicting factor. 

"In fact, our results showed that in individuals who lost weight, excessive sleepiness improved," Vgontzas said. 

Adults from that same cohort who developed EDS within the 7½-year span also were studied. 

The results show for the first time that depression and obesity are the strongest risk factors for new-onset excessive sleepiness. 

The third study, of a group of 103 research volunteers, determined once again that depression and obesity were the best predictors for EDS. 

"The primary finding connecting our three studies are that depression and obesity are the main risk factors for both new-onset and persistent excessive sleepiness," Vgontzas said. 

In the Penn State cohort study, the rate of new-onset excessive sleepiness was 8 per cent, and the rate of persistent daytime sleepiness was 38 per cent. 

Like insufficient sleep and obstructive sleep apnea, EDS also is associated with significant health risks and on-the-job accidents.

Stressful jobs making us age prematurely

Finnish researchers have confirmed that a stressful job could make us old and sick before time. 

Led by Kirsi Ahola of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the researchers measured the length of DNA sections called telomeres and how the lengths varied in association with jobstress and found that people suffering from the most job stress tended to have shorter telomeres.

Telomeres, located at the ends of chromosomes, serve as a type of protective cap to the ropy strands, helping assure that the genetic instructions carried by genes on the chromosomes are accurately translated so cells get the right messages. 

Telomeres shorten with age, oxidation and chemical insults. Often, when telomeres reach a critically short length, the cell dies in a process called apoptosis, according to NBC News. 

Some cells do not die, but rather become what scientists call 'senescent' - they start making genetic errors and causing damage. 

Ahola and her team analyzed blood cells called leukocytes - which are critical to immune function - in 2,911 people between ages 30 and 64. 

They found that workers who experienced severe exhaustion from job stress had significantly shorter leukocyte telomeres than their relatively stress-free counterparts. 

But it appears that frazzled wage earners have more to worry about than crow's feet, wrinkles and greying locks. Telomere shortening has been linked to Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. 

In short, being in a constant state of anxiety at your workplace could make you old before your time and expose you to illnesses associated with aging. 

"I think that these results should be used when considering health hazards and work place legislation. Chronic work stress can become a health risk and should be prevented," the Daily Mail quoted Ahola as telling NBC News. 

The research appeared in the journal PloS One this month.

Recession could be bad for your skin

Recession could increase levels of stress, which in turn can trigger skin conditions like eczema,psoriasis and acne, say dermatologists.

In a survey nine out of ten dermatologists have noted a rise in eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions triggered by stress since the credit crunch hit.

As distress of skin conditions has led some sufferers to self-harm and contemplate suicide, the British Skin Foundation said it is important to address any underlying emotional problems that trigger physical symptoms.

The survey of 105 doctors and nurses who specialise in skin conditions found 41 per cent had seen a noticeable increase in stress-related break-outs. Five per cent cited a 'huge' increase and almost half had seen a slight increase.

The poll, carried out at the British Association of Dermatologists' annual conference, showed therecession is taking its greatest toll on eczema sufferers.

However, there have also been rises in acne, psoriasis - characterised by dry red patches of skin covered with silvery scales - and vitiligo, in which pale patches appear on the skin.

"The recession brings with it a set of problems that add further stress and misery to the millions that live with a skin disease," the Daily Mail quoted BSF member Bevis Man said.

Previous BSF research had revealed many sufferers of skin diseases have been verbally abused in public.