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Ah, the rules of Life. I don’t think one has to get overly philosophical to figure out how to lead a successful and joyful life. One of the primary tools for doing so stems from attaining the quality of being self-loving. In other words, don’t beat yourself up or engage in self-defeating behavior and you will lead a decent life. Moreover, by developing the habit of doing productive and positive things that benefit you, your family and your living environment, you will help yourself, society and the world at large and thereby create the pay-it-forward, good brand of karma.

The following are practical guidelines to assist in getting the most joy out of the adventure that is your life. In other words, you should be able to incorporate the following tips into your life without radically changing your daily routine or the way you go about living your life.

Rules of Life Tip #1: If you have any reservations about engaging in an activity or acting on an impulse, no matter what it is, DO NOT DO IT! In other words, my advice is the antithesis of Nike’s slogan: don’t just do it. Try to count to 10 or wait at least 24 hours before acting, speaking or making an important decision in your life.

Health:

Smoking:

It goes without saying that it is inadvisable to inhale any type of illicit drug or plant product, legal or otherwise. As far back as the First Grade, I can remember being taught that cigarettes cause lung cancer, emphysema and a host of other deadly diseases. So there really is no excuse at this point to justify smoking.

Smoking Related Diseases Do Not Discriminate. It was recently reported that Whitney Houston was diagnosed with emphysema. If so, her problem was most likely directly linked to her habit of smoking crack and cigarettes. Her diagnosis is proof positive that diseases associated with smoking can and will attack anyone and everyone who inhales cigarette smoke and other toxins into their lungs on a regular basis. Sadly, even though the dangers of smoking are widely known and documented, millions of folks keep lighting up. Keep reading for more convincing reasons as to why you should break free from the smoking chains.

You Do NOT Want to Die from the Effects of Smoking.

Yes, it’s true. We will all die someday from something. But trust me when I tell you that you do NOT want to die from the effects of smoking. It is pure torture on the smoker as well as on the smoker’s loved ones as they witness the horrific physical deterioration and suffering of a family member. For convincing evidence of the horrid impact smoking has on one’s health, check out the Department of Health and Human Services new packaging policy requiring warning labels on all tobacco products by September 2012 that include graphic photos of the health damage caused by smoking. A few examples of those labels follow:

http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/CigaretteWarningLabels/default.htm

But Will the Upcoming Warning Labels be Effective? After all the years of government warnings about how sick a person can become from smoking cigarettes and all the tax increases, the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) reports the following sobering statistic:

Every day of the year approximately 2,200 adults -- who presumably have heard about the health hazards of smoking their entire lives -- begin, for the first time, to smoke cigarettes on a daily basis.

According to the CDC, there are approximately 46.6 million adult cigarette smokers in the United States. The CDC says that the percentage of adults who smoke has gone down: 42.4% were smokers in 1965 while 20.6% were smokers in 2009, the most recent year tabulated. But because the population of the country has increased, the actual number of smokers today is almost as large as it was in 1965, when, according to the CDC, there were 50.1 million adult smokers.

So the question arises as to whether the forthcoming explicitly illustrated warning labels truly will be effective in getting people to stop smoking.

The labels are required to cover half the surface of each pack of cigarettes sold in the U.S.

Health-advocacy groups and government officials say the labels are designed to discourage cigarette consumers at the point of purchase. Among the nine illustrations that will be used are a photograph of a diseased lung, a picture of a tracheotomy hole in a man's throat and a picture of a man with his bare chest surgically stitched up. The pictures are downright revolting, and no one will be able to buy a pack of cigarettes without seeing the pictures. The R.J. Reynolds Co., manufacturer of Camel, Kool, Winston and Salem cigarettes, has said that the government-mandated images are "intended to elicit loathing, disgust and repulsion."

But if 45 years of increasingly alarming warning labels hasn't convinced folks to stop smoking cigarettes, a question arises as to whether anything, including higher taxes and graphic pictures, will achieve this goal. It seems ludicrous to think that any of the 46.6 million smokers in the U.S. will see the new warning illustrations and think: "I didn't know that cigarettes can harm your health. You mean to tell me that cigarettes can kill you? That’s news to me." In all honesty, there probably isn’t anyone in the United States over the age of five, smoker or nonsmoker, who isn't aware of the connection between smoking and disease.

If cigarettes were a brand-new product, they most likely would not be allowed on the market. But they have been around for so long that there is basically zero chance that they will be outlawed at this point. From a political standpoint, few in the Congress or the White House would want to have to stand for re-election in the future after potentially having angered 46.6 million adults -- even those who desire to stop smoking -- by taking away their cigarettes.

So the next obvious question is as follows: Are you ready to take away the power of the Tobacco Companies before they ruin your life and those around you?

The Unscrupulous Tobacco Companies Will Continue Destroying Lives Until and Unless You Take Away Their Power.

The pernicious assault by the tobacco companies to entice teens and pre-teens to experiment with smoking in the hope that they will become addicted early in life and remain life-long smokers, is absolutely disturbing. Although smoking restrictions are gaining in popularity, unfortunately as a society we still have not found a way to rid our populace of these cancer sticks.

We Do NOT Want to Emulate the Chinese in this Area.

Did you know that China has over 300 million smokers? That number represents almost one third of the country’s citizens. Although Chinese authorities are starting to warn their citizens about the dangers of smoking, they are facing an insurmountable battle as increasing numbers of young people and adults continue to light up. What is more, the quality of the cigarettes in China is more toxic than in the U.S. because of a lack of regulation over the industry there and in other Asian nations. You don’t have to read the tea leaves to accurately predict the escalating toll this nasty habit is currently taking and will take on the Chinese people.

Smoking is Cost-Prohibitive.

Have you ever added up the humongous cost of smoking? To validate a smoking habit in terms of the money it costs is to truly engage in voodoo economics. It is no secret that cigarettes are getting increasingly expensive, so let’s put some numbers to that premise. In the past 10 years, 47 states and the District of Columbia have implemented 105 cigarette tax rate increases. Only Missouri and North Dakota have resisted raising cigarette taxes in recent years (no increases in cigarette taxes since 1993), while California last hiked cigarette taxes in 1999. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, states currently charge an average of $1.71 in taxes on each pack of cigarettes. As a result, the average price for a pack of smokes in the United States is now $4.63, though the price fluctuates quite a bit across the U.S.

In Missouri, for instance, the state with the nation's lowest taxes assessed on cigarettes, a pack costs $3.97 on average, while in New York, the state with the most expensive cigarette prices and related taxes, the average cost per pack is around $9.00. In the five boroughs of New York City, which contain roughly half of New York’s population, there are additional city taxes such that a pack can cost anywhere from $11 to $13.

On top of the above retail price information, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that the average health costs associated with each pack of cigarettes is double the retail price. Yikes and double yikes!

Here’s another way to look at the cost of smoking: There are 20 cigarettes in a pack; the people buying the higher priced ones are essentially rolling up a dollar bill and setting it on fire each time they smoke.

Opinions vary greatly, but by most accounts the average smoker burns through 20 cigarettes a day, or seven packs a week. At this rate, the average smoker spends at least $1,500 a year, and in locations with higher taxes, like New York City, it's closer to $3,300. If you consider other uses for those funds instead of supporting a smoking habit, it is rather eye-opening. Think of vacations, home improvements, a new car, etc. But because the cost of smoking generally occurs via a series of small purchases, it can be easy to overlook how much you're spending on this habit.

The Government is Trying to Help You Quit.

The government does not want people to smoke because smoking can lead to serious illness and death. One of the ways federal and state and local governments try to dissuade smokers is to tax packages of cigarettes so that the intended potential purchasers will think twice because of the elevated prices. The CDC has stated: "Raising the price of tobacco has proven to be one of the most effective strategies for preventing and controlling tobacco use." The CDC says there is a dollars-and-cents formula to this notion. Each 10% increase in the price of cigarettes is estimated to reduce consumption by nearly 4% among adults.

One of many reasons governments implement cigarette taxes is to reduce smoking among price-conscious consumers. Research shows that people smoke less as cigarettes get more expensive. Tobacco giants Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds have publicly conceded in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that tax increases are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on sales of tobacco products due to lower consumption levels.

Are You Willing to Voluntarily Ingest Poison? Still can’t rationalize quitting or mustering up the willpower to do so? Perhaps the following question will give you a different perspective on smoking: Would you ever drink turpentine or anti-freeze? The answer to that one is not only “no,” but an unequivocal “hell no!” So, how can you rationalize inhaling several different poisons into your lungs, which are then distributed throughout your body via the bloodstream, thereby polluting your innards thereby bringing about a slow and agonizing death?

If You Smoke, You Smell Like Pepe LePew.

If the above information doesn’t convince you to give up the cigs, try to be mindful of the nasty smell of putrid tobacco that clings to your clothes, hair, fingers and breathe after you smoke a cancer stick. If you are a smoker, chances are that your sense of smell has been dulled by repeated inhalation of cigarette smoke. But trust me, old cigarette smoke reeks like poop to a non-smoker. Yup. I’m not kidding. You smell like feces after you smoke a cigarette. A skunk may be attracted to your scent, but not many other species will find it appealing! Also, the remaining odor means that those around you are being exposed to toxins.

The Rich Keep Getting Richer. Last question on this topic: Are you ok with poisoning yourself in exchange for lining the pockets of the white collar criminals in the upper echelons of the corrupt tobacco companies?

Electronic Cigarettes – Panacea or Pitfall?

An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, is an electrical device that attempts to simulate the act of tobacco smoking by producing an inhaled mist bearing the physical sensation, appearance and often the flavor and nicotine content of inhaled tobacco smoke. The device uses heat, or in some cases, ultrasonics, to vaporize a propylene glycol- or glycerin-based liquid solution into an aerosol mist, similar to the way a nebulizer or humidifier vaporizes solutions for inhalation.

Most electronic cigarettes are designed to resemble cigarettes, cigars or pipes in function, but many take the form of ballpoint pens or screwdrivers to make it more practical to carry the device. Most are also reusable, with replaceable and refillable parts, but some models are disposable.

The primary stated use of the electronic cigarette is as a smoking cessation device as it attempts to deliver the experience of smoking without, or with greatly reduced, adverse health effects usually associated with smoking tobacco products. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised that use of the device still carries health risks, and that it could appeal to non-smokers, especially children, due to its novelty, flavorings and possibly overstated claims of safety.

The possible benefits or adverse effects of electronic cigarette use are a subject of disagreement among different health organizations and researchers. Controlled studies of electronic cigarettes are limited due to their relatively recent invention and subsequent rapid growth in popularity. Laws governing the use and sale of electronic cigarettes, as well as the accompanying liquid solutions, currently vary widely, with pending legislation and ongoing debate in many regions.

Manufacturers promote electronic cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes by claiming that most of the harmful material produced by the combustion of tobacco in traditional cigarettes is not present in the atomized liquid of electronic cigarettes. Despite claims that electronic cigarettes are safer because they contain no carcinogenic substances, manufacturers include warning labels with their products because they contain nicotine.

According to Cancer Research UK, "For a smoker, the health hazards of continuing to smoke greatly outweigh any potential risks of using nicotine replacement therapy". However, while electronic cigarettes are purported to deliver nicotine to the user in a manner similar to that of a Nicotrol inhaler, no electronic cigarette has yet been approved as a medicinal NRT product or provided the necessary clinical testing for such approval. Moreover, doubts have been raised as to whether electronic cigarettes actually deliver any substantial amount of nicotine at all.

Research carried out at the University of East London on the effects of the use of an electronic cigarette to reduce cravings in regular tobacco smokers showed that there was no significant reported difference between smokers who inhaled vapor containing nicotine, and those who inhaled vapor containing no nicotine. The report concluded that although electronic cigarettes can be effective in reducing nicotine-related withdrawal symptoms, the nicotine content does not appear to be of central importance, and that other smoking-related cues (such as taste and vapor resembling smoke) may help reduce the discomfort associated with tobacco abstinence in the short term.

Though manufacturers have marketed electronic cigarettes as a way to curtail an addiction to nicotine, international health organizations have stated they may not be marketed as a cessation device. A number of regulatory agencies have issued warnings regarding the health effects of these products. The recently formed Electronic Cigarette Association aims to eliminate unsubstantiated health claims made by electronic cigarette companies, and those companies that wish to participate in the association must agree to refrain from making such claims. In an online survey from November 2009 among 303 smokers, it was found that e-cigarette substitution for tobacco cigarettes resulted in reduced perceived health problems when compared to smoking conventional cigarettes (less cough, higher ability to do exercise and a better sense of taste and smell).

The Electronic cigarette is legal in the United States, but may be subject to legislation at the state level. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lost its battle in the courts in January 2010 to have them classified as a drug delivery device and thus bring them under FDA regulation pursuant to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). In September 2010, the FDA announced that it would begin regulating e-cigarettes, on the premise that they comprise both a drug and a drug delivery device. The FDA began regulatory action against five American companies "for violations of the FDCA, including unsubstantiated claims and poor manufacturing practices." On December 7, 2010, a federal appeals court ruled against the FDA, in 3-0 unanimous decision, clearing the way for marketing of electronic cigarettes. Until late 2006, e-cigarettes didn't become easily available in the U.S., but now there are several million users worldwide with tens of thousands of new e-smokers every week. As a consequence of their growing use, the FDA plans to regulate smokeless electronic cigarettes as tobacco products and has given up efforts to regulate them under stricter rules for drug-delivery devices.

Tips for Quitting.

Mark Twain said "Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times." If you have tried to quit smoking and failed, take comfort in the fact that most smokers fail several times before quitting successfully. Past failures do not mean that you are unable to quit. Instead, view those efforts as part of the normal journey toward becoming a nonsmoker.

When asked why you smoke, you might have said, "I just like to smoke." or "It's my choice to smoke."

The tobacco companies have promoted the idea that smoking is a matter of personal choice. But in actuality, there really isn't much choice as has been suggested by these companies. By convincing smokers that smoking is a personal choice, the tobacco industry has helped to keep its customers in denial about the true extent of their addiction. The tobacco companies have used this spin to keep millions of customers buying their deadly products. But if smoking truly is a choice, then theoretically one should be able to quit on any given day. We all know that is not the case.

Ask yourself the following questions, and be totally honest: Am I addicted to tobacco? Am I truly making a free choice when I smoke?

In Nicotine Anonymous' 12 Step program, which sprang from the Alcoholics Anonymous program, the first step is admitting the following: "I'm powerless over tobacco." Making this admission may seem trivial to you, but for many it is a very significant step in becoming a non-smoker.

If you are a smoker, you actually might physically need to have a cigarette. Studies have shown that nicotine addiction is harder to break than a heroin or cocaine addiction.

The point is that admitting that you're smoking more out of addiction than choice will help motivate you to move forward to the next steps - taking control and becoming a nonsmoker.

In addition, this admission will further serve you by helping you stay smoke-free later. In the months and years after you quit, when temptations to smoke occasionally overpower you - and they will - remind yourself, "I have an addiction and I'm powerless over tobacco." Saying this to yourself in overwhelmed moments of desire will help give you the strength to say no to "just one" cigarette.

If you can make it for just five minutes without giving in, the urge to smoke can be controllable or even disappear. In this way, you'll be able to stay smoke-free for life.

Come on – do yourself a BIG favor and get rid of the cigs for good!

Dental Health – Heart Health Connection

Experts say that your oral health could clue you in to the condition of your heart. There are important facts you should know about the links between your teeth, gums and heart.

By brushing, flossing and following all of your dentist’s recommendations for healthy teeth, you may ultimately keep your heart healthy too.

Researchers have found a surprising number of links between the state of your mouth and the health of your heart. In fact, people who develop gum disease (either gingivitis, a milder form that results in inflammation and infection of the gums, or periodontitis, which develops when the inflammation and infection spread below the gum line) have nearly twice the risk for heart disease as compared to those without gum disease.

Researchers are trying to ascertain whether gum disease can actually cause a heart attack.

Experts are starting to understand that the underlying mechanism of cardiovascular disease is related to inflammation.

Some types of bacteria normally occur in your mouth, but if you’re not properly flossing and brushing to remove plaque (the white film caused by bacteria that sticks to your teeth after you eat), your risk for gum disease increases. And once gum disease has developed, you create an environment for bacteria that do not normally grow in your mouth.

More importantly, because gum disease causes your gums to bleed, bacteria can move into your bloodstream, creating an inflammatory process in the blood vessels.

The bacteria may increase your risk for heart disease by contributing to the formation of clots or further plaque build-up in your arteries that can interfere with blood flow to the heart.

Although it will take long-term clinical trials to more directly identify gum disease as a cause of heart disease, this research should be taken to heart (pun intended!).

Researchers are also uncovering possible links between gum disease and stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, respiratory disease and even pre-mature babies.

Important Information and Steps for Maintaining Healthy Teeth (and Heart):

The American Academy of Periodontology estimates that half of all people over age 55 have gum disease. Gum disease is also the main reason people 35 and older lose their teeth.

The risk for gum disease increases as you get older, but staying on top of your dental health should start in childhood. Regular brushing, flossing and dental check-ups can help you prevent gum disease.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, see your dentist immediately — it could be a warning sign of gum disease:

- Sour taste in the mouth.

- Persistent bad breath.

- Bleeding gums.

- Swollen, tender gums.

- Loose teeth.

- Sensitive teeth.

- Pain when chewing.

Most Importantly: Preventing gum disease — or treating it with deep cleanings, medication, or surgery — may just help you prevent heart and other health problems down the road.

Diabetes:

The Staggering Facts. Diabetes is a serious disease that affects a gargantuan and ever-increasing number of Americans. Disturbingly, the incidence of diabetes increased by 90 percent from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, and the number of Americans with diabetes has tripled from 1980 to 2006. Moreover, according to the American Diabetes Association an estimated 41 million Americans between the ages of 40 and 74 are on the verge of type 2 diabetes. But because pre-diabetes may not have discernable symptoms, it often is not detected before the afflicted individual develops full-blown diabetes. When it's caught early, however, modest weight loss and daily exercise can slow and even prevent the onslaught of the disease.

Risk Factors and Preventing Diabetes. The key to staving off diabetes is to get a blood glucose test every three years starting at age 45 or earlier and more frequently for anyone who is overweight and has any of these additional risk factors:

- high blood pressure,

- low HDL (good) cholesterol and/or high triglycerides,

- polycystic ovarian syndrome (a hormone imbalance that can cause infertility and is associated with insulin resistance), or

- parents or siblings with diabetes.

Risk factors also include being of African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander descent; having gestational diabetes or delivering an overweight baby; and not getting enough physical activity.

Genetics Matter. In families with a strong history of the disease, testing should begin when overweight kids are in their teens.

Symptoms. Whatever your age or family history, if you notice excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme and persistent hunger, or unexplained weight loss despite overeating, get your blood glucose measured because you may already be diabetic. Other symptoms include fatigue, recurrent yeast infections, slow-healing sores and blurry vision.

What to do if You are Pre-Diabetic. If your blood sugar indicates that you're headed for diabetes, you can take steps to prevent the progression of the disease. In a two- to five-year study, pre-diabetics who exercised at moderate intensity for 30 minutes five times a week and dropped, on average, 5 to 7 percent of their body weight with a low-fat, reduced-calorie diet cut their risk of the disease by 58 percent. This approach was nearly twice as effective as taking medication, which mainly helped participants who were younger than 45 and extremely obese. Eating 500 fewer calories a day should be enough to knock off the necessary weight.

What to do if You have been Diagnosed. Even if you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, you can still benefit from increased exercise and reduced caloric intake, although you may not be able to control your blood sugar without medication. Typically, diabetes is treated with drugs that lower blood sugar and avert (or postpone) the need for insulin injections. Many doctors and researchers in the medical community believe that weight loss can ameliorate diabetes, decrease glucose levels and reduce or even eliminate the need for medication. A recently-launched federal trial called “Look Ahead” should reveal more in the coming decades.

Contact the American Diabetes Foundation for More Information. For further information, call the American Diabetes Association at:

1-800-diabetes; or

Check out the federal government's National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse website: diabetes.niddk.nih.gov.

The Different Types of Diabetes.

Pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar levels are elevated above normal but aren't high enough to meet the criteria for diabetes. Normal blood sugar is under 100 mg/dL. Pre-diabetes is a blood sugar between 100 and 125. Diabetes is a blood sugar of 126 or higher. People with pre-diabetes usually produce enough insulin, but the body does not respond to the hormone as well as it should. This condition is called insulin resistance, which has been linked to obesity and abdominal fat. The condition doesn't have to progress to type 2 diabetes. As mentioned above, lifestyle changes can reverse the condition.

Type 1 diabetes. This type is caused by an autoimmune condition that affects the insulin-producing cells—called beta cells—in the pancreas. People with type 1 must take insulin because the body produces little to none.

Type 2 diabetes. This type results when pre-diabetes escalates or worsens. As with pre-diabetes, a person with type 2 may have high levels of insulin circulating in their bloodstream, but his or her insulin resistance has worsened to a point where even high levels of the hormone can't get enough glucose into cells. After a while, insulin production itself may diminish. One theory is that the pancreas simply wears out from years of manufacturing the hormone at such a high rate. As many as 95 percent of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, which in most cases is a result of obesity.

Gestational diabetes. This is a form of diabetes that women can develop during pregnancy. It usually develops in the second half of pregnancy (doctors typically test for it around the 22nd week of pregnancy) and can put your health as well as the health of the fetus at risk.

Strategies for Dealing with Diabetes:

Control Your Intake of Carbs. Your body uses carbohydrates as its main source of energy. When you eat a carbohydrate-rich food like cereal, bread or fruit the body breaks down the starch and sugar in these foods into glucose. The glucose is then transported through the bloodstream, and with the help of the hormone insulin, it is transported to all the body's cells, where it's used as fuel. When you have diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or the cells aren't responsive to the insulin. In this instance, if you eat a meal containing carbohydrates, you'll end up with an excess of glucose in your bloodstream and not in your cells, which need the fuel to pump your heart, expand your lungs and keep nerve cells firing in the brain. Over the long term, the excess glucose causes damage to your eyes, kidney and nerves and increases your risk for heart disease. Although you need carbs for energy, the key is finding the right amount, both in terms of blood sugar and calories, and spreading them between your meals and snacks so you keep your blood sugar as stable as possible throughout the day.

Maintain a Healthy Weight. The connection between weight and diabetes is well-established. Ideally, you should try to bring your body mass index—a ratio of height to weight—into the healthy category. A BMI of less than 25 is considered healthy. To calculate your BMI, use the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute's calculator: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.

Even losing a small amount of weight—about 10 percent, according to studies—can help you control your disease. Exercise is also important – read on for more information.

Exercise Regularly. Exercise protects against diabetes by helping you shed pounds, thus reducing your risk for the disease. It also helps you lose dangerous abdominal fat, also called visceral fat, which puts you at risk not only for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, but also for heart disease and other illnesses. Last but not least, it reduces insulin resistance, meaning it makes insulin more effective at transporting glucose into all the body's cells.

Exercise: The best reasons to exercise include:

To fight disease. Exercise reduces your risk of a number of conditions, such as cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

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