COMMUNITY AWARENESS
Friday, 10 August 2012
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
SAFETY TIPS FOR USING PUBLIC COMPUTERS
Public computers in libraries, Internet cafes, airports, and copy shops can be safe if you follow a few simple rules when you use them.
Read these tips to help keep your work, personal, or financial information private.
• Don't save your logon information
Always log out of websites by clicking "log out" on the site. It's not enough to simply close the browser window or type in another address.
Many programs (especially social networking websites, web mail, and instant messenger programs) include automatic login features that will save your user name and password. Disable this option so no one can log in as you.
• Don't leave the computer unattended with sensitive information on the screen
If you have to leave the public computer, log out of all programs and close all windows that might display sensitive information.
• Erase your tracks
Internet Explorer 8 offers In Private browsing that leaves no trace of specific web activity. For more information, see Browse privately.
Internet Explorer also keeps a record of your passwords and every page you visit, even after you've closed them and logged out.
Disable the feature that stores passwords
Before you go to the web, turn off the Internet Explorer feature that "remembers" your passwords.
1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
2. Click the Content tab, and then click Settings, next to AutoComplete.
3. Click to clear both check boxes having to do with passwords.
Delete your temporary Internet files and your history
When you finish your use of a public computer, you can help protect your private information by deleting your temporary Internet files. For information on how to delete temporary Internet files on Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8, see Delete temporary Internet files.
• Watch for over-the-shoulder snoops
When you use a public computer, be on the look out for thieves who look over your shoulder or watch as you enter sensitive passwords to collect your information.
• Don't enter sensitive information into a public computer
These measures provide some protection against casual hackers who use a public computer after you have.
But keep in mind that an industrious thief might have installed sophisticated software on the public computer that records every keystroke and then emails that information back to the thief.
Then it doesn't matter if you haven't saved your information or if you've erased your tracks. They still have access to this information.
If you really want to be safe, avoid typing your credit card number or any other financial or otherwise sensitive information into any public computer.
10 TIPS TO FIGHT DEPRESSION
During
the phase of depression sometimes we become pessimist and our negative
thoughts make it hard to attain back the peaceful state. As we are
already depressed due to tough circumstances, these negative thoughts
add fuel to fire and steal our peace of mind making it really hard to
concentrate even on routine things. So what should be done to fight the
depression and negativity? Below are the tips to be considered:
1- Try
not to think about problems and rough circumstances again and again;
instead focus on the solution. Think what needs to be done to fix the
issues.
2- Change your environment. Take a break from your routine life and visit some relative or explore some new city/country.
3- Stay away from negative people. Remember, if someone is negative, he/she is spreading negative germs. Keep yourself germ-free.
4- Read news paper or a good book on daily basis.
5- Go to market and buy yourself something you like. Feel good about it.
6- Surround yourself amongst happy people. Spend quality time with joyful and colorful friends
7- Adopt some good hobby and spend time on it. (gardening, blogging, book reading)
8- Visit Orphan house and spend time with children. Help them financially if possible. Give gifts. This act gives real inner happiness.
9- Think about the positive events of your life. About your childhood, education, fun trip, a friend's wedding etc.
10- Go to Mosque/church and spend time in prayers to get peace of mind.
2- Change your environment. Take a break from your routine life and visit some relative or explore some new city/country.
3- Stay away from negative people. Remember, if someone is negative, he/she is spreading negative germs. Keep yourself germ-free.
4- Read news paper or a good book on daily basis.
5- Go to market and buy yourself something you like. Feel good about it.
6- Surround yourself amongst happy people. Spend quality time with joyful and colorful friends
7- Adopt some good hobby and spend time on it. (gardening, blogging, book reading)
8- Visit Orphan house and spend time with children. Help them financially if possible. Give gifts. This act gives real inner happiness.
9- Think about the positive events of your life. About your childhood, education, fun trip, a friend's wedding etc.
10- Go to Mosque/church and spend time in prayers to get peace of mind.
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Gambling on Google
Gambling on Google
By Joyce Sunila
I just returned from the Multi-Specialty
Cosmetic Surgery Symposium in Las Vegas. In addition to the medical
sessions, it included 4 full days of practice management sessions
covering a range of topics from marketing to consultation skills to
staff training. 
Every year, one topic seems to dominate the marketing talks. This year’s buzz was reviews and reputation.
· How Google’s new algorithm favors those with the best reviews.· How bad reviews can bump you off the first page of Google.
· How to counter bad reviews. (A few schools of thought on that one …)
· How to get your patients to write good reviews for you.
· How to protect your reputation (that is, your Reviews).
Google, Google, Google
Google’s been the Big Bad Wolf of the marketing sessions for
years. Its ever-changing algorithms sweep ferociously across the
Internet, forcing abrupt changes in rankings and, thus, SEO strategy.
This year the Big Bad Wolf had a henchman: The Godfather. Online reviews
have become so powerful that “protection rackets” have sprung up to
counter them.
Internet marketing companies now promise to
protect your reputation by squeezing good reviews out of your patients
and trying to negotiate away your bad ones—all in the name of higher
Google rankings.
Step Back - What’s the Goal of Marketing?
Not all of the presentations were about reviews and reputation.
There was a panel discussion about how to handle consultations. During
the question-and-answer period, a young doctor in the audience took the
microphone and confessed he spent quite a long time with prospects, and
that he enjoyed getting to know them.
He was quickly cut down by a panelist. “You’re wasting the practice’s time. After 30 minutes you should close the sale.”
He protested. Everyone on the panel nailed him. They suggested he attend a session about “closing skills.”
The Irony of It All
No one mentioned that the onslaught of “bad reviews” doctors
are getting might be related to treating patients like cash cows instead
of human beings.
Next year, I’m hoping the Symposium will
include a panel about how doctors can spend more time listening to their
patients. People who are listened to carefully and sympathetically tend
to be happy campers. They have neither the time nor the inclination to
complain on the Internet (and they are also a whole lot less likely to
sue you).
Just saying …
Joyce Sunila is the president of Practice
Helpers, providing e-newsletters, blogs, and social media services to
aesthetic practices. You can contact Joyce at joyce@practicehelpers.com or visit the Practice Helpers Web site at www.practicehelpers.com.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
HEART BURN
What is heartburn?
Despite its name, heartburn doesn't affect the heart. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. It usually occurs after eating a big meal or while lying down. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours.
What causes heartburn?
When you eat, food passes from your mouth down a tube (about 10 inches long in most people) called the esophagus. To enter the stomach, the food must pass through an opening between the esophagus and stomach. This opening acts like a gate to allow food to pass into the stomach.
Usually, this opening closes as soon as food passes through. But if it doesn't close all the way, acid from your stomach can get through the opening and into your esophagus. This is called reflux. Stomach acid can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn.
Hiatal hernia can also cause heartburn. Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach is pushed up through the diaphragm (the muscle wall between the stomach and chest) and into the chest. Sometimes this causes heartburn.
What factors add to heartburn?
Many things can make heartburn worse. Heartburn is most common after overeating, when bending over or when lying down. Pregnancy, stress and certain foods can also make heartburn worse. The box below lists other things that can aggravate heartburn symptoms.
Things that can make heartburn worse
Cigarette smoking
Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated) and other drinks that contain caffeine
Alcohol
Carbonated drinks
Citrus fruits
Tomato products
Chocolate, mints or peppermints
Fatty foods or spicy foods (such as pizza, chili and curry)
Onions
Lying down too soon after eating
Being overweight or obese
Aspirin or ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin)
Certain medicines (such as sedatives and some medicines for high blood pressure)
Can heartburn be serious?
If you only have heartburn now and then, it's probably not serious. However, if you have heartburn frequently, it can lead to esophagitis (an inflamed lining of the esophagus). If esophagitis becomes severe, your esophagus might narrow and you might have bleeding or trouble swallowing.
If you get more than occasional heartburn, it may be a symptom of acid reflux disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an inflamed stomach lining (gastritis), hiatal hernia or peptic ulcer.
What can I do to feel better?
You might be able to avoid heartburn by making some changes in your lifestyle. The box below lists some tips on how to prevent heartburn.
Tips on preventing heartburn
Try to eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down. If you take naps, try sleeping in a chair.
If you smoke, quit.
Lose weight if you're overweight.
Don't overeat.
Eat high-protein, low-fat meals.
Avoid tight clothes and tight belts.
Avoid foods and other things that give you heartburn.
What if my symptoms get worse?
If lifestyle changes and antacids don't help your symptoms, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to take prescription medicine or schedule you for some tests.
Tests might include X-rays to check for ulcers, a pH test to check for acid in the esophagus, or an endoscopy to check for other conditions. During an endoscopy, your doctor looks into your stomach through a long, thin tube which is inserted down your esophagus. Your doctor may also check for H. pylori, bacteria that can cause ulcers.
What about medicines for heartburn?
Several kinds of medicine can be used to treat heartburn. Antacids neutralize the acid that your stomach makes. For most people, antacids that you can get without a prescription (over-the-counter) give fast, short-term relief. However, if you use antacids too much, they can cause diarrhea or constipation. Look for antacids that contain both magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. (One causes constipation while the other causes diarrhea so they counteract each other.) Some brands of antacids include Maalox, Mylanta and Riopan. Follow the directions on the package.
H2 blockers (some brand names: Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Several are available without a prescription.
Other medicines, such as omeprazole (brand name: Prilosec) and lansoprazole (brand name: Prevacid), also reduce how much acid the stomach makes. Metoclopramide (brand name: Reglan) reduces acid reflux. To find out what medicine is right for you, talk with your doctor.
Is heartburn associated with heart attacks?
No. But sometimes pain in the chest may be mistaken for heartburn when it's really a sign of heart disease. If you have any of the symptoms in the box below, call your doctor.
Call your doctor if:
You have trouble swallowing or pain when swallowing.
You're vomiting blood.
Your stools are bloody or black.
You're short of breath.
You're dizzy or lightheaded.
You have pain going into your neck and shoulder.
You break out in a sweat when you have pain in your chest.
You have heartburn often (more than 3 times a week) for more than 2 weeks.
source: familydoctor.org
Despite its name, heartburn doesn't affect the heart. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. It usually occurs after eating a big meal or while lying down. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours.
What causes heartburn?
When you eat, food passes from your mouth down a tube (about 10 inches long in most people) called the esophagus. To enter the stomach, the food must pass through an opening between the esophagus and stomach. This opening acts like a gate to allow food to pass into the stomach.
Usually, this opening closes as soon as food passes through. But if it doesn't close all the way, acid from your stomach can get through the opening and into your esophagus. This is called reflux. Stomach acid can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn.
Hiatal hernia can also cause heartburn. Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach is pushed up through the diaphragm (the muscle wall between the stomach and chest) and into the chest. Sometimes this causes heartburn.
What factors add to heartburn?
Many things can make heartburn worse. Heartburn is most common after overeating, when bending over or when lying down. Pregnancy, stress and certain foods can also make heartburn worse. The box below lists other things that can aggravate heartburn symptoms.
Things that can make heartburn worse
Cigarette smoking
Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated) and other drinks that contain caffeine
Alcohol
Carbonated drinks
Citrus fruits
Tomato products
Chocolate, mints or peppermints
Fatty foods or spicy foods (such as pizza, chili and curry)
Onions
Lying down too soon after eating
Being overweight or obese
Aspirin or ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin)
Certain medicines (such as sedatives and some medicines for high blood pressure)
Can heartburn be serious?
If you only have heartburn now and then, it's probably not serious. However, if you have heartburn frequently, it can lead to esophagitis (an inflamed lining of the esophagus). If esophagitis becomes severe, your esophagus might narrow and you might have bleeding or trouble swallowing.
If you get more than occasional heartburn, it may be a symptom of acid reflux disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an inflamed stomach lining (gastritis), hiatal hernia or peptic ulcer.
What can I do to feel better?
You might be able to avoid heartburn by making some changes in your lifestyle. The box below lists some tips on how to prevent heartburn.
Tips on preventing heartburn
Try to eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down. If you take naps, try sleeping in a chair.
If you smoke, quit.
Lose weight if you're overweight.
Don't overeat.
Eat high-protein, low-fat meals.
Avoid tight clothes and tight belts.
Avoid foods and other things that give you heartburn.
What if my symptoms get worse?
If lifestyle changes and antacids don't help your symptoms, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to take prescription medicine or schedule you for some tests.
Tests might include X-rays to check for ulcers, a pH test to check for acid in the esophagus, or an endoscopy to check for other conditions. During an endoscopy, your doctor looks into your stomach through a long, thin tube which is inserted down your esophagus. Your doctor may also check for H. pylori, bacteria that can cause ulcers.
What about medicines for heartburn?
Several kinds of medicine can be used to treat heartburn. Antacids neutralize the acid that your stomach makes. For most people, antacids that you can get without a prescription (over-the-counter) give fast, short-term relief. However, if you use antacids too much, they can cause diarrhea or constipation. Look for antacids that contain both magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. (One causes constipation while the other causes diarrhea so they counteract each other.) Some brands of antacids include Maalox, Mylanta and Riopan. Follow the directions on the package.
H2 blockers (some brand names: Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Several are available without a prescription.
Other medicines, such as omeprazole (brand name: Prilosec) and lansoprazole (brand name: Prevacid), also reduce how much acid the stomach makes. Metoclopramide (brand name: Reglan) reduces acid reflux. To find out what medicine is right for you, talk with your doctor.
Is heartburn associated with heart attacks?
No. But sometimes pain in the chest may be mistaken for heartburn when it's really a sign of heart disease. If you have any of the symptoms in the box below, call your doctor.
Call your doctor if:
You have trouble swallowing or pain when swallowing.
You're vomiting blood.
Your stools are bloody or black.
You're short of breath.
You're dizzy or lightheaded.
You have pain going into your neck and shoulder.
You break out in a sweat when you have pain in your chest.
You have heartburn often (more than 3 times a week) for more than 2 weeks.
source: familydoctor.org
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