The power of the peer group varies from culture to culture around the world. In a study of the attitudes of young people in Europe and America, some interesting differences emerged. It was found that young people in Europe are more likely to turn to their friends for advice on sex and contraception than their [...]
While the peer group is a vital source of information about sex, it can also be a big source of misinformation. One woman told me that when she was about twelve, she had a best friend who, she was convinced, was the font of all knowledge. ‘Jane told me that the way you got pregnant [...]
The protective measures suggested so far in this section are for specific poisons and toxic or harmful substances in your environment. When you know that you are, or will be, subjected to these specific poisons or health-destroying influences, the suggested measures can help you to protect your health against their damaging effect. The information on [...]
The disease-producing bacteria are not as the sea sands, but I think that almost everybody will agree that there are too many of them. It would be futile to try even to mention them all. My medical dictionary takes about four pages to list them. What I should say are the most common, or at [...]
Glandular fever is a relatively common viral illness which affects mainly older children and adolescents. Glandular fever is caused by a virus called the Epstein-Barr virus which is commonly transmitted through saliva (hence its nickname of ‘the kissing disease’). Clinical features The incubation period for glandular fever is from 3 days to 2 weeks. The [...]
In spite of what children say or how they seem to act, if you have raised them in love, they have and know love. They may try to shock you, but in spite of the fact that the boy your daughter is dating has green hair and honks the horn instead of coming to the [...]
I love it, really love it. It’s fast, easy, efficient. No mess, no fuss. Ã always come. Plug it in, turn it on, and it turns you on. The vibrator set me free. WIFE I hate the damn thing. Sometimes she wants me to use it on her. I can hear her using it sometimes. [...]
The sauna is an ancient treatment developed by civilisations living in cold climates. Because of the cold climate, their bodies tend not to sweat much, so these cold climate dwellers invented the sauna to promote improved circulation of body fluids, speed up metabolism and accelerate sweating: a great natural purification and detoxification function of the [...]
Myalgic encephalomyelitis is rather a mouthful, so it is often abbreviated to ME. Myalgia means painful muscles, and encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal nerves. This disease is uncommon and the cause unknown, but it is believed to be either a viral infection or a reaction of the body to recent infection with [...]
Diabetes predisposes a person to the earlier development of cataract. In most cases, the opacity is present in both eyes although one may be more advanced than the other. To the sufferer, it seems as if he is looking through glass which is gradually frosting. Even when fully developed, light can always be perceived and [...]