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15 Harmful Impacts of Secondhand Smoke Never to Ignore

September 11, 2021 by Chris Butler

Did you know that secondhand smoke is more harmful than smoking? Cigarettes have filters, so smokers are protected from certain toxins in the tobacco. However, secondhand smoke comes out of the other end of the cigarette – the end that doesn’t have a filter. For those looking for alternatives, nicotine pouches can be a viable option. Check out https://heysnus.com/cs/collections/nicotine-pouches to explore more about nicotine pouches.

So while you might accept the risks of smoking for yourself, you could be harming someone you love without realizing it.

Fifteen Harmful Consequences of Secondhand Smoke

Unfortunately, being exposed to unfiltered cigarette smoke can have harmful and even devastating side effects. Below are fifteen harmful impacts that come from exposure to cigarrette smoke.

1. Problems with Pregnancy

Secondhand smoke can harm babies even before they are born. Unfortunately, it can cause a baby to be born prematurely. Along with this could come the issue of a low birth weight. A woman could even have a miscarriage.

It can affect the mother’s health as well. Breathing, energy, and blood pressure levels can all be affected. It’s best if you avoid secondhand smoke from all sources if you’re pregnant.

2. Sick Children

Unfortunately, children are the ones who suffer the most from being around smokers. They get sick more often, especially with infections. They also tend to wheeze and cough often.

Children can’t defend themselves against it since it’s usually the adults in their households that are smokers. Even if the adults smoke outside, they can bring the toxins back into the home with them (discussed further along). This leads to children living in a consistently toxic environment which can make and keep them sick.

3. Babies have complications.

The toxins in smoke can cause quite a few complications in infants. For one, their breathing is severely affected from cigarette smoke. The smoke also increases their risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Research has shown that most infants who die from SIDS tend to have higher levels of nicotine and carcinogens in their lungs than those who die from other causes. Unless the infant is lighting up it’s own cigarette, the high levels of nicotine and carcinogens come from other people’s smoke.

4. Mental Health Problems

According to researchers associated with Harvard University, second hand smoke can cause mental problems. They say it increases a child’s risk of neurological disorders by 50 percent. This includes problems like learning disabilities, depression, and behavior disorders.

In some cases, it can affect an adult’s mental health immediately. Their concentration can be broken and their short-term memory may not work as well. They could also suffer from depression and behavior issues like kids.

5. Immediate Health Problems

Some health problems are mentioned above, but did you know that some of these problems can happen immediately? Your blood pressure could rise, your oxygen levels can lower, and your heart may start working harder. You may even feel slightly light-headed.

This is extremely dangerous because in this case, your heart is working too hard. Secondhand smoke puts a lot of pressure on a person’s body and eventually, like any overworked machine, it will break.

6. Heart Disease

Being around smokers is detrimental to your heart health. In fact, a person who is exposed to cigarette smoke often is up to 30% more likely to have heart disease than a smoker. Heart disease is the most well-known side effect of smoking as well as second hand smoke.

Heart attacks are one of the most common heart conditions associated with exposure to cigarette smoke. The chemicals can cause these adverse impacts:

Swollen arteries by irritating their lining.
Endothelial dysfunction, a condition in which the arteries can’t dilate.
A higher risk of blood clots, which can block an artery.

7. Eye Problems

It’s crazy to think about, but second hand smoke can actually cause eye problems. Researchers believe that the issues are due to exposure from childhood which can cause a condition known as choroidal thinning. This condition is seen in many retinal diseases, but in the case of being exposed to cigarette smoke, it’s likely from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Macular holes are another issue that can come from exposure to smoke from cigarettes. This is just what it sounds like – a hole in the macula (light-sensitive tissue in the retina area). This can cause blurry or distorted vision.

8. Sinus Problems

It should be no surprise that second hand smoke causes sinus problems. Breathing in all those toxins can irritate your nostrils, making your body think that it’s being invaded by allergens. For some people, the smoke might actually be an allergen.

Medically known as chronic rhinosinusitis, sinus problems affect one in six people. According to a study done by Dr. C. Martin Tammemagi of Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario and his colleagues, being around smoke from cigarettes can increase your chance of suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis by up to 40 percent.

9. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a term for a group of diseases that obstruct your breathing. These conditions are horrible and can diminish your quality of life dramatically. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are examples of diseases included in this group.

Exposure to irritating chemicals is what causes COPD and, in most cases, the irritating chemicals come from smoking. It’s important to take steps to prevent COPD because by the time you start showing symptoms, it’s too late to reverse it. It’s one of the most preventable diseases but unfortunately also one of the most common because people don’t limit their contact with second hand smoke.

10. It causes skin damage.

The toxins in tobacco can cause significant damage to your skin. Examples are sagging skin and deep wrinkles. If you’re constantly exposed to secondhand smoke, you inhale all the toxins. This means you’re more likely to look worse than the smoker.

11. Cancer

People who breathe in second hand smoke are exposed to over 7,000 chemicals. According to the CDC, hundreds of these chemicals are toxic to humans and at least 70 of them, known as carcinogen, can cause cancer.

Cigarettes have been linked to cancer for decades but people continue to put their lives and others at risk. It’s unfortunate that non-smokers, even a person who has never smoked even once, can be at the same risk of lung cancer as smokers.

Types of cancer linked to second hand smoke exposure:

breast cancer
nasal sinus cavity cancer
nasopharyngeal cancer
leukemia in kids
lymphoma in kids
brain tumors in kids

12. Thirdhand Smoke

It’s a little known fact that secondhand smoke leads to thirdhand smoke. Thirdhand smoke is the smoke that saturates everything around it. It can get into clothing, furniture, hair, and more.

This lingering smoke still gives off toxic fumes. This essentially means that a place can become so saturated that simply living or working in it can become harmful to your health. This is especially bad for children because they become exposed during the most important time of development in their lives.

13. Odors

It’s easy to tell when someone is a smoker. You can smell the cigarette smoke on them, even if they smoke outside. You can also smell it on non-smokers who are around smokers often. Second- hand smoke is almost impossible to hide.

The scent tends to saturate everything from hair to clothing. The smell is just as strong on non-smokers as it is smokers. This means that kids of people who smoke may even be going to school smelling like cigarette smoke.

14. It can cause nicotine addiction.

It makes sense that someone exposed to the toxins in second hand smoke could become addicted to nicotine just like a smoker. Research has shown that second hand smoke affects the brain. It triggers the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) which are the same receptors that smoking triggers. Even short exposure can trigger these receptors.

15. Death

Secondhand smoke is a killer. Each year, over 34,000 Americans die from heart disease due to second hand smoke. Out of these, at least 7,300 are from lung cancer and at least 8,000 of them are from strokes.

With all the problems listed above, is it any surprise that exposure to cigarette smoke kills? The body can only handle so much and over time, all the problems can break it down.

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Dangers Secondhand Smoke on Those You Love

Secondhand smoke can be as bad as smoking. It’s detrimental to your health and can have immediate negative effects. The long-term consequences could be unbearable.

Staying away from it can be hard if you have loved ones or co-workers who smoke. You have to make a choice to be around them and get sick, or to stay away from them if they won’t stop smoking. It’s a hard choice and one that you can only decide when you search your heart. However, anyone who puts your life in danger is selfish, and it may not be worth sacrificing your health to be around that person.

Just keep these fifteen points in mind as you make your choice. Hopefully, you’ll choose to live and avoid the bad choices highlighted here.

15 Behaviors That Can Help Save Your Marriage

September 11, 2021 by Chris Butler

Bringing two people together from diverse backgrounds in a marriage is challenging. Though you love each other dearly, you will go through a roller coaster of events if you stay together long. There will be days when you can’t wait to see them and times when you want to be alone. Indeed, you will face times in which you must work hard to save your marriage.

It’s often the case that people take out their frustrations on the ones closest to them, and this is often your spouse. If you want to save your marriage, you must make changes to ensure you’re both happy together.

Every day around this country, people file to end their marriage for unreconcilable differences. The heartbreak from divorce is excruciating to bear, but you don’t have to be another statistic.

Fifteen Tips and Behaviors To Save Your Marriage

If you want to work on a troubled marriage, then you should know that it won’t be an instant fix. It didn’t take you months and years to get into this position, and it’s not going to resolve overnight either magically. Be patient with one another and have realistic expectations. Here are some tips and behaviors you should observe to save your marriage.

1. Realize You’re Not Perfect

One of the biggest problems in any relationship is nitpicking over silly things. If you want to improve your marriage, you must first acknowledge your part in all this. You’re not perfect, and neither is your partner.

When you realize all your faults, it makes your spouse’s issues seem a little less trivial. It doesn’t excuse their issues, but this tactic helps divert your mind from them to focus on you.

2. Speak About the Issues That Bother You

If you have a bone of contention between you and your spouse, you need to discuss it. Nothing good comes from pushing problems under the rug. Do you remember when you asked your children to clean their room, and they cram stuff under the bed or in the closet?

What happens? You find the mess, tear it all out, and make them clean it right. The moral of this story is that you will eventually have to deal with the things you try to conceal, so don’t put off the inevitable.

3. Save Your Marriage by Thinking as “We” During Decision-Making

It’s hard to lose your sense of self when you become the other half of a relationship. However, it would help if you remembered that you’re not single while you maintain your individuality. You’re part of a couple, and you should act like one.

Before creating any plans, signing for significant purchases, or making life decisions, you must consider your spouse. Everything you say affects them, so give them the courtesy that you should find someone so interlinked with you.

4. Remind Yourself of All the Good Qualities

When things get really frustrating, you should stop dwelling on the negative and focus on the positive. What are the qualities that you love in your spouse? Are they amazing cook, beautiful singer, and a wonderful parent to your children?

When you begin to focus on the positive things and view them through optimistic lenses, it will change your entire attitude.

5. Try Dating Again to Save Your Marriage

When is the last time that you’ve been on a date? It shouldn’t be before your wedding. Shaunti Feldhahn is a relationship expert and motivational speaker, as well as an esteemed author.

She wrote a blog recently on the importance of dating after marriage. She states that it keeps things exciting and shows that you choose each other all over again. These dates don’t need to be extravagant or meticulously planned.

However, they shouldn’t go to the grocery store or hang out with people from down the block either. A date should be where your spouse gets your undivided attention.

6. Remember To Do the Little Things

If you want to save your marriage, you must return to the basics. It’s the little things that matter most. Try to do something each day to make your spouse smile.

These things can include letting their car warm-up so they’re not cold when they go to work. Give your partner some coffee so they can take it with them. Also, making sure they have a nice meal and a great dessert is always welcome.

You can make all the big gestures in the world, but the small things you do that show you love them are the ones that matter most.

7. Reconnect Physically to Save Your Marriage

Why do people stop connecting physically when they have a rift in their marriage? These are the times that you should connect even more. Every human being has physical needs that their partner should handle, and if you don’t take care of these needs, then many folks look elsewhere.

Try reconnecting on a physical level to bring back the magic. The power of touch is a fantastic thing, and it can be done outside the bedroom. Why not try grabbing their hand as they walk by or pulling them in for a friendly kiss before they leave for work?

Remember, connecting means touching on several occasions, not just during intimate acts.

8. Try Emotionally Focused Therapy

Psychotherapy is always a good thing when you want to save your marriage. However, emotionally focused therapy is a bit different. According to Good Therapy, this is counseling that focuses on the adult love and bonding processes.

These sessions are done one-on-one, and it helps you deal with the emotions of the situation so that you can have healthier emotional contact with your spouse.

9. Reintroduce Humor

When’s the last time you and your spouse laughed together? Life can’t be all about work, children, and troubles. It would help if you had time to let your hair down and have fun.

If you haven’t busted a gut lately, it’s time to reintroduce humor. Laughter is fantastic for the soul, and it’s excellent healing medicine. According to the National Library of Medicine, laugher has many benefits for the physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of your life.

10. Practice Mirroring

Mirroring is a powerful tool that’s a practical part of communication. When your partner says something is bothering them, you need to repeat what they said back to them. This lets you understand what’s being said clearly, and you won’t leave out bits and pieces.

When you repeat something aloud, you’re allowing your brain to process the statement and not lean into your own understanding. Plus, it helps to validate what they’re saying.

11. Stop Talking About Divorce and Slow Down

One of the things that many couples are guilty of is threatening divorce when they get angry. Don’t be so quick to jump on the divorce train just because you’re upset. After a while, when you don’t leave, the veiled threats lose their clout.

If you want to save your marriage, stop talking about divorce and speak about resolutions. Recognize there’s a rift and step into action mode to fix things.

12. Treat Your Marriage Like a Living, Breathing Entity

If you stop looking at your marriage as an object and viewing it as an entity, it will change your entire outlook. It will die if you don’t give your pet food and water. The same can be said of your relationship.

Your spouse needs to be nurtured, loved, and have companionship from you. Your union will perish if you don’t work to keep it alive.

13. Celebrate Together

Don’t let birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays go by without celebrating with one another. It would help if you got your spouse a cake or pie on their special day, and by all means, at least acknowledge the date.

Now, each couple has their way of doing things, and you don’t need to spend much money to celebrate. However, they at least should have a verbal acknowledgment and a hand-made card or something to show them how special they are in your eyes.

14. Understand the Need for Space

There are times in a relationship when you both need space. Allow your spouse to go out with their friends, and you should do the same. It would help if you had time to spend apart, making the times you spend together even more special.

15. Tell Them You Love Them

If you want to save your marriage, you must return to the basics. Your spouse needs to know how much you love them. It would help to never let a day go by without telling them how much you care.

When you say these three little words, make sure you mean it. Don’t just give them lip service, but tell them from your heart how you feel.

Final Thoughts on Tips and Behaviors To Save Your Marriage

With so many marriages ending in divorce, many people don’t take the time or energy to work on things. What about the couples that make it 30, 40, or even 50 years together? How can they go far when so many others don’t even make it a few months?

The key is not to give up. You often want to throw in the towel and wave the white flag of surrender. Thankfully, you can save your marriage with some hard work and getting back to the basics of why you fell in love. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to do, and it’s up to you both if it’s worth saving.

14 Habits That Make Time Management Less Stressful for Busy People

September 11, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

You want to be both productive and efficient, so learning proper time management skills is imperative. Not only will you use these skills on the job, but proper management of your time will also spill over into your personal life.

But that statement begets a question. What is time management anyway, and why is it so important?

You have 168 hours in your week, 24 hours, or 1,440 minutes daily to get things done. Someone who has good time management will be conscious of every minute. They make goals and set expectations of themselves for the day.

When you organize your time, you will have less stress and be more efficient. Forget about late assignments and turning in lackluster work to your boss. You have allocated sufficient time to do a good job.

Having a good work/life balance can help you from experiencing burnout. When people become stressed out, they lose their creativity and become frustrated and angry with life. There is a better way to do things.

Fourteen Achievable Time Management Tips

Do you feel like every day is a mad dash to get everything done? Are there times when you feel like you’re on empty because you don’t have the energy for one more thing? You’re busy, and life is hectic. However, here are some tips to help you manage your time more efficiently.

1. Start Each Day by Making a List

Make a list of all the things that you need to accomplish during the day. As you tackle each task, make sure that you check an item off your list. You will feel great seeing things get done, and it will help you build momentum to keep going.

2. Prioritize Your Day

Some tasks, like a doctor’s appointment, have more precedence than doing laundry. While it’s essential to write out all the things you must do, you need to prioritize the items. If some tasks don’t get done that day, you must ensure that it’s not the high priority items.

3. Do the Bigger and More Critical Items First

One way to be more efficient is by tackling the more important jobs first. Get the hard stuff out of the way to have more time to focus on the smaller things. Plus, you won’t feel a sense of dread after lunch when you still have crucial things that haven’t been done.

4. Use A Time Tracking Device

If you start tracking your time, you may be surprised to find out how much more efficient you could be. Please do it for a day or even a week and see where you need to make changes. You may find that you waste a lot of time that could be allocated differently.

Employers often use this trick when they feel they have an employee taking too long to accomplish tasks. There’s nothing wrong with being accountable for your time, even if you’re not required to punch a time clock.

5. Block Distractions

Distractions are different for each person. Some people love music and watch videos while working, while others find they cannot get a thing done with noise.

Anything that slows you down or prohibits you from accomplishing what’s on your list is a distraction. Get rid of annoyances to be more productive.

6. Toss Multitasking

While you may think that multitasking is a great way to accomplish more in less time, studies have found that it overloads the brain. A study done by Lesley University found that when the brain is overloaded, it sends it into the fight or flight response, which causes anxiety and all sorts of issues. Focus on one task, get it done, and move on to the next.

7. Schedule Breaks

Have you ever seen someone taking a power nap in their car on their lunch break? It’s because they are using their time wisely. They’ve eaten, and now they’re taking time to clear their mind. While you don’t need to take a nap, you do need breaks.

Whether you’re working at home or in the office, make sure you give yourself a break. You can’t sit in front of a computer screen for more than a few hours without having strain, headaches, and getting frustrated. Get up, walk around, get a drink, and give yourself time to relax.

8. Keep Your Area Organized

Those who are efficient with time management are almost always highly organized. They have desks that are neat and tidy, and their homes are in order too. Did you know that when your space is clean and free of clutter, you can be more productive?

If a person’s desk is messy and hard to find items, their brains probably look similar. Get organized to save yourself time.

9. Put Appointments on Your Smartphone Calendar

Your smartphone has this excellent calendar features that you must use. Put all your appointments in there, and make sure to set a reminder notice. Having all your meetings at the touch of a button ensures you don’t miss anything important.

Another fantastic feature of this program is that you can share it with other people in your household to keep them on track too. Why not spread the time management and efficiency around to others?

10. Learn to Delegate

A good boss will not only pitch in and help, but they learn to delegate work to their best team players. Whether dealing with your job or your home, learn how to delegate tasks to other people. Remember, you cannot do it all, and why should you tackle everything when you can have others pitch in and help?

11. Learn the Power of The Word No

Why is it that so many people keep putting more on their plate than they can handle? If you’ve made your list, and you already see your day is full, learn to say no when more is being added. You will feel such a sense of relief and freedom when you realize the power of using the word no.

12. Get Off Your Cell Phone

Cell phones, computers, tablets, and all these electronic devices are a big help. However, they are also huge time wasters. Don’t check your email every time it dings. Instead, have a set time that you check your email and don’t alleviate from that plan.

The same goes for phone calls and texts. You will get more done when you get off your phone. Erin Dollar was concerned about her time-wasting on her phone. So, she downloaded an app that tracked how much time she was spending online. She grossly underestimated the amount of her life she devoted to the online world.

From surfing social media to texting friends, she found out the big reason why she wasn’t getting anything done. She was shocked to see that in one day, she checked her phone more than 80 times. Dollar decided that things needed to change, and when she learned to put the phone away, she got way more done.

13. Keep A Good Work-Life Balance

One problem that many people face is an excellent work-life balance. You can be either spending too much time at work, or you’re overly involved at home. It would help if you allocated sufficient time in your day to do the things around your house that require your attention.

If too much of your day is spend on one or the other, then it throws things off.

14. It’s Okay to Skip Tasks Once in A While

You must learn that if one task stumps you or is too much for one day, then it’s okay to skip it or add it to the schedule tomorrow. Don’t kill yourself to get everything done in one day when it’s enough work for 2-3 people.

The goal of efficient time management skills is to learn how to balance everything so that you don’t need to feel rushed and crazy busy every day. You can procrastinate a tiny bit if it’s for the sake of your sanity. Remember, there’s always tomorrow.

Final Thoughts on Developing Better Time Management Habits

A recent survey posted by the National Library of Medicine finds that time management skills are a massive area of concern for management. Whether you’re the manager of your home, life, or workplace, you will learn that you must plan properly to be efficient.

A good manager will always have their day and even their week or month planned. Getting a routine in place is essential and learning to say no and ask for help when needed is critical. Having the right work-life balance is imperative for your mental health.

It’s hard to be in two places at once, but you must have time for your home and job. Most importantly, it would help if you had time for self-care to handle your personal needs. If you don’t have proper rest, eat a well-balanced diet, and hit the gyms occasionally, then you won’t feel right, and your management skills will suffer.

What can you do to be more productive and avoid timewasters?

3 Habits to Help Boost Determination and Reach Your Goals

September 10, 2021 by Kristen Butler

Although most people set new goals and try to turn over a new leaf during New Year’s, you should set new targets continually. Having a dream or vision for your future gets you excited, keeps you inspired, and can motivate you to grow and change. Sadly, many goals are never met, as you all the sudden hit a wall and feel stuck or lack the determination to finish.

What happened to all your mojo? You were once on fire and eager to meet this task, and now your goal falls by the way and becomes a distant memory. Is there a way to stay positive and have the determination to see your dream come to fruition?

First, you should know that it’s pretty common to give up before reaching the finish line. Most people start with a great passion for getting things done, but they lose their willpower along the way. The problem is that many obstacles come and throw you off course.

Have you ever been on a road trip and see the dreaded detour sign? These detours can add more miles and time to your trip, and there’s always the chance you’ll end up lost. Life has many bypasses that you must circumvent, but you still stay the course.

Some goals are going to be short-lived, and it’s usually because people lack passion. For instance, weight loss is a common goal that is easily forgotten. The temptation of carb-laden foods and sugary snacks is too much to handle.

The key is to build a better strategy to finish what you set out to do. Don’t just set goals without anything to back them. You want to have a plan in place so that you’re successful.

Boosting Determination and Staying Motivated

According to a study by Finder, more than 188.9 million adult Americans made goals at the start of 2021. Most of these goals were regarding health, finances, and relationships. Sadly, 23 percent of those folks didn’t believe their goal was obtainable. If you start defeated, then you’re not going to go far.

Don’t beat yourself up too badly when things don’t go as planned. You’re only human, and life throws you all kinds of curveballs that cause you to become sidetracked. Thankfully, you can take charge and learn habits or keys to staying motivated.

It would help if you had S.M.A.R.T. goals. Think of these goals as your internal GPS that moves you from where you’re at right now to where you want to be in the future. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. You wouldn’t go on a trip without a GPS or navigation system, would you?

Of course, you wouldn’t venture off without a map to tell you where you’re going. So, why would you start on a life’s journey without having some direction? George T. Doran created S.M.A.R.T. goals back in 1981, and it’s an easy acronym that means that your goals must be:

S – Specific to your needs and desires
M – Measurable
A – Attainable and not unrealistic
R – Relevant to your life and dreams
T – Time-bound

By using this system to establish and fuel your goals, you can accomplish that which seems impossible. While you don’t want to think small, your visions must be obtainable. It’s easy to lose your focus when your goals are not realistic, so try using these three habits to help you.

1. Write It Down

What would happen if you put the wrong street address into your GPS? You would end at the wrong destination. Well, writing things down on paper will give you a greater chance of reaching the correct location.

Taking the time to write it all down allows you to put things into the Universe to help you. Before putting anything on your paper, make sure that you’re specific about your goal. Second, you don’t want to set yourself up for defeat, so you need to make sure that it’s attainable.

You can set a goal to be a millionaire by the end of the year, but it’s probably not a realistic goal for most folks. So, it would help if you learned how to fine-tune your aspirations so that they’re practical. Also, make sure it’s time-centered. You may want to pay off a student loan by the end of the year that’s $50k, but is it possible to achieve this in a short period?

Having determination is one thing, but you need to write things down for clarity. You want to put your focus on the five W’s. Remember these from your days of writing in English class? You want to identify what, where, when, why, and who will be involved in the situation.

It would help if you established the proper criteria so that you can track your progress. The goal must be something you can attain, and it should be something that matters to you. The key is to stretch yourself and push beyond your current limits to achieve something great.

2. Find Your Reason “Why.”

Many people seek life coaches or counselors when they want to make changes in their life. Their determination is excellent at the beginning, but along the way, they get stuck. The first thing you should ask yourself before starting a goal is why you want to accomplish this task?

For instance, if you want to lose 50 pounds, it’s obviously due to better health, although there can be other reasons. Think to yourself that the more significant the “why,” the easier it will be to determine how it will be done. Most folks don’t develop a deep emotional connection with their goals, and they soon get stuck because they’re not consistent and lack motivation.

Consequently, your “why” is what puts meaning behind the things you do. This little word can help to direct and guide you from start to finish. For instance, if you set a goal to move up the corporate ladder, the why would be making more money, using your skills, and supporting your family better. So, the “why” behind this goal becomes your driving force.

Think of it as the gasoline you put in your engine that helps you drive your car. You wouldn’t get far without gas on your journey, and you’re not going to get far on your goals if you don’t have an emotional attachment to why you’re starting it in the first place.

No matter what comes your way to derail you, your passion and determination will help you keep going. When you feel passionate about something, then it fuels your fire.

3. Schedule Everything

Schedules are important in life because they keep you on track. What would happen if your doctor’s office didn’t have schedules and allowed everyone to show up? It would be very frustrating and a complete disaster.

Having a schedule keeps you moving in the right direction, and it establishes a starting and ending point. Use the calendar app on your smartphone to record your tasks. This tool can help you lay out your priorities and remind you where you need to be.

Time is your most valuable asset, and it can remind you of the goal even when you become distracted. Isn’t the calendar on your phone one of the greatest inventions of modern technology? It’s something so simple, yet that reminder that pops up on your screen keeps you task-oriented and knowing what you need to accomplish.

What would happen if you didn’t put down the kid’s piano recital to pay the electric bill or the doctor’s appointments in your calendar? There’s a good chance that you’ll forget about it. Life is so chaotic and busy on most days that you would forget lots of things if you didn’t have these gentle reminders.

Having a visual reminder of your goals for the day, week, and month is essential to keep you going in the right direction. Your calendar is critical because it helps you to schedule and motivate yourself. Your determination may wax and wane, but the calendar is going to keep reminding you of the goals you’ve set no matter what’s going on.

Final Thoughts on Determination and Reaching Your Goals

You can do anything you set your mind to do. You can be anything you want, and you can move mountains with your determination. However, the key is that you must stay the course even when hardships come your way.

Do you stop driving just because it’s raining outside? No! You keep going regardless of the weather. You grab your umbrella, turn on the windshield wipers, and go about your day.

It would help if you looked at your goals the same way. Sure, there are going to be days when it’s more complicated than others to stay on track with weight loss, climbing the corporate ladder, and doing whatever you set out to do, but you must keep the course.

Thankfully, when you passionately connect with your dreams, then you can stoke the fire in your soul that will keep you moving in the right direction. Your car wouldn’t get far without gas, and you won’t get fire without some spark of motivation driving and pushing you to excel.

9 Effective Ways To Have Better Group Conversations

September 10, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Talking to people in a group sounds like the most natural thing, but stop considering it sometimes daunting. It can get loud when people compete to speak over each other, while some who thought they’d join in give up in frustration. You can constantly be piping up, interjecting here and there while all the thoughts you need to express stay simmering beneath the surface. To make group conversation work, you’ve got to take a step back and slow down. Things improve when you settle on some ground rules. Here are nine practical ways to have better group conversations.

1. Keep The Discussion Bouncing Back And Forth

A good discussion flows from one participant to the next, and everyone can assist in the steady exchange of ideas. Maintaining a proactive back and forth will reveal the group’s commonalities and disagreements. Avoid falling into lulls or the encroachment of dominant personalities.

· Engagement

Sometimes just a few people haphazardly contribute while others fall silent, stalling the flow. Indicate you’re going to speak next by saying, “I’ll have a response to that.” Then invite participation by asking others if they’re interested too. They might perk up and start thinking carefully.

· Consider People

When people are given positive attention, they put more stake in a conversation. Be considerate when getting things going by asking, “is it okay to move on?” or “Does anyone want to add?” If someone is talking too much, wait for the right moment to politely say, “let someone else weigh in.”

· Don’t Sweat Disagreements

A minor disagreement is good for conversation and will undoubtedly get people talking. When things lag, challenge people by saying something controversial. Say you want to hear everyone’s take on it so you can get to the bottom of things.

2. Make It Clear That You’re Tuned In

Striving to be tuned in makes contributing easier, even if you’re unsure what to say yet. People will be more interested in talking to you if they can tell you’re listening. You certainly don’t want them to think you’d rather be somewhere else.

· Comments

Periodically make comments to stay involved while reassuring people that you’re listening minimally. Brief phrases like “oh yeah?”, “that’s good” or “I heard the same thing” go a long way. Acknowledge people in small ways by responding “yeah, I do” when some say, “ya know?”

· Self-Esteem

Group conversations can be intimidating, but you should speak up regularly to boost your positive thinking. Doubt creeps in when you get stuck in your head and pointlessly turn things over. Even when you’re not entirely confident in what you’re saying, responding to others gives you less mental energy to worry.

· Body Language

Make it evident that you want to speak. Making eye contact is a start, which research shows can increase the number of turns a person will take in a group conversation. Be open with your body language by leaving your arms uncrossed and pointing your feet toward the group.

3. Speak To Bolster Group Conversations

Don’t just speak to get your opinion across. Try to direct group members into a productive discussion. When people are reluctant, prodding and singling them out isn’t likely to work. Instead, what you say should create the right arena to draw them in.

· Grab Their Attention

Even if you’re not that interested in it, say something you think will intrigue the group. Speculate on a rumor. Ask them if they’ve heard about a recent event. Bring up something you think they won’t have heard of. This can increase the group’s general enthusiasm.

· Spur Them On

Avoid asking questions that can just be answered with a simple response like yes or no. Follow up what people say with phrases like “how?”, “why?” or “tell us more.” This will give everyone else opportunities to respond and keep it interesting.

· Brainstorming

It can help to frame the conversation as a high-stakes brainstorming session. Everyone can throw their hat in the ring and give unflinching criticism to narrow down the best ideas. Research shows that creativity is nurtured when people are conceived as being on a journey together and are providing thought-provoking feedback.

4. Ensure An Environment Of Mutual Respect

A tense environment smothers conversation, which can come from a lack of respect. If people are mouthing off or opining that disagreement is unwelcome, participants will silence themselves or get into fights. Consideration should be assumed and reciprocated from the start.

· Productive Disagreement

No one should be afraid that others will disagree with them. To avoid that, you might bring up potential conflicts and discomforts when you start saying something. If someone points out an error of yours, thank them and take the opportunity to learn.

· Good-Natured Habits

Cultivate a respectful attitude to set the example and make the group comfortable. Don’t interrupt even when they’ve misspoken, and don’t obnoxiously object if they offend. Get used to saying “that’s fair” or “I want to hear you out,” so it’s clear you’re acting in good faith.

· Reach Out

Being respectful involves showing that group members matter to you. Reassure them when they falter and praise them when they make good points. Bring up topics you think the quieter group members would want to discuss, making them more receptive when you get around to what you’re interested in.

5. Encourage Structured Group Conversations

A group of people needs structure to run smoothly, or some voices will crowd out others. Negotiating a structure requires a delicate balance, so try to see varying personalities as a positive element. Differences will enrich conversation while a roadmap is still followed.

· Initial Plan

You’ll likely have some idea of what people want to talk about. Have the group decide what it wants to cover and what it’ll get to if there’s time. People should understand upfront that they may be disappointed.

· Take Turns

Dilemmas in how to proceed can be solved simply by taking turns. Have an order for which person or chunk of the group will speak and for how long. You can eventually shake up the order to prevent people from getting antsy.

· Time To Move On

It would be best if you had a plan for when you’re at an impasse. Complex topics and disputes can spiral out of control and ruin conversation. When you aren’t getting anywhere, put your foot down and remind everyone that it’s in the group’s best interest to move on.

6. Think Your Statements Through

Do the group justice by absorbing what they’re saying, so you have a handle on things. Parse the details, so you don’t misrepresent them. If you’re intimidated, let positive thinking well-up and empower you.

· Pause For A Moment

It can help to stop yourself just as you’re about to talk. Confirm that you’ve genuinely got something to add. Imagining a potential comeback from someone could make you think twice about saying something unhelpful.

· Reflection After Response

There are times when you really need to mull over what someone has said to you. Think it through so you can reply constructively. It’s all too easy to rush to defend yourself and say something silly in the process.

· Challenge Yourself

Get introspective during the conversation to make a better contribution. Ask yourself how your preconceived notions could have been wrong. It might be time to address and rectify your values based on what you’ve learned.

7. Find The Right Way To Manage Authority

During a group conversation, there isn’t necessarily a leader, and each group has unique needs. Mismatched goals and battling egos are trouble when there’s no one to regulate things. You’ll have to figure out who group members should turn to for guidance.

· Share Authority

It’s helpful to divide power among the most responsible in the group. Pick an odd number of authority figures so you can vote on how to proceed and always have a tie-breaker. You must put the priorities of other group members before your own if this is to work.

· Be Palatable

If you wield influence in the group, don’t let it go to your head. Point out that you could be wrong and make suggestions instead of giving orders. No one should feel like they have to modify their speech to suit you. Instead, they should be happy to ask for advice.

· Take Charge When Needed

Of course, there are times when you can’t stand by. Whether you’ve been given the authority or not, address bad behavior and other problems swiftly. According to Dr. Michael Lowe, sometimes groups need someone to say the right thing and take the lead. If you can tell that others are reluctant to make a decision, make your own decision, and they might appreciate it.

8. Have A Proactively Constructive Conversation

Be proactive to make sure that you’re getting somewhere. A kind of finesse is needed to help the group conversation meet its potential. Work with group members to tackle any shortcomings in the ongoing process and create a setting for the spark of creativity.

· Keep Things On Track

Rein in discussion topics and take note of when you go off track. The more interruptions you’ve had, the more you need to assess your strategy. Maybe the group needs breaks at different intervals, or they’ve grown uninterested but don’t want to admit it.

· Assess And Improve

Take steps to have better sessions in the future. Some time into a conversation, you might recap it all so that you know where to head next. You might ask questions or pose some of your own to keep people attentive and thinking.

· Stay Motivated

Encourage introspection so that participants can determine what they do and don’t like about group conversations. That way, the group can properly tailor sessions to their needs. Group leaders should take some time to inspire positive thinking so that talking is more cathartic.

9. Think Of The Group As Your Team

A group conversation is a place for good-faith actors. Everyone should support each other. Everyone should be concerned with the well-being and improvement of those speaking. The group doesn’t just have to talk. It can think like a team.

· Be Problem-Solvers

Group conversations are great when they’re cooperative, not combative. In fact, research shows that collaborative activities allow people to practice skills like creativity, communication, conflict resolution, and time management. Team conversations are training grounds for the real world.

· Act Altruistically

Be positive about your surroundings and remember that everyone is on the same side. Group members should wish the best for each other and conduct themselves accordingly. There’s no need to resort to divisive tactics like goading one-liners, “gotcha” questions, and baseless accusations. According to Alison Wood Brooks, Ph.D., you can reduce people’s hostility towards you by being open and upfront about your shortcomings.

· Appreciate Differences

Everyone involved has got to celebrate, not lament, each other’s differences, even when there are significant disagreements. No practical person would endanger their team over a difference in opinion. When someone says something you dislike, explain both what you agree with and what you don’t. You can learn more about each other that way and explore interesting topics.

Final Thoughts On Successful Group Conversations

Group conversations can be fun, engaging, and thought-provoking. By following these tips for facilitating these discussions, you can build relationships and tackle complex topics.

Nuclear Fusion Reactor Produces Record-breaking 10 Quadrillion Watts of Power

September 10, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Last month, scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California achieved a milestone in nuclear fusion research. The researchers produced more than ten quadrillion watts of power using an experimental nuclear fusion reactor. They accomplished this by firing an array of laser beams at a pea-sized hydrogen capsule. This record-breaking experiment marks a turning point in fusion research and could help fight for clean energy.

Fusion occurs when two atoms slam together, forming a heavier atom. This process powers the sun and generates enormous amounts of energy. Fusion reactions are typically short-lived since they require tremendously high pressure and temperatures to fuse the nuclei.

At the laboratory’s National Ignition Facility (NIF), giant, powerful lasers reproduce similar temperatures and pressures as those within the sun, other stars, and nuclear weapons.

A giant leap forward, but a fusion reactor is still a future technology

The team focused 192 of the world’s largest lasers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) onto a BB-sized pellet. This resulted in a hot spot no larger than a human hair, releasing 1.3 megajoules of energy in 100 trillionths of a second. While the energy blast was brief, a chief scientist for the fusion program called it a “Wright Brothers moment.”

To put it in perspective, the energy produced equates to 10% of the energy from the sun hitting Earth. It also amounts to about 70% of the power that the hydrogen capsule absorbed from the lasers. Scientists hope that in the future, they will reach fusion ignition. This is the point at which the reaction generates more energy than it uses.

However, the energy produced in the experiment far surpassed scientists’ expectations. They set a prior record of 170 kilojoules in February 2021, making this second experiment a victory.

The team hopes the discovery will enhance their nuclear fusion weapons research, the NIF’s primary focus. It may also lead to improved, sustainable energy using nuclear fusion. While that’s a ways off, the study provides promise for a future without fossil fuels.

“This result is a historic step forward for inertial confinement fusion research, opening a fundamentally new regime for exploration and the advancement of our critical national security missions,” Kim Budil, the director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, said in a statement.

NIF’s revolutionary nuclear fusion reactor is an improvement in nuclear energy

Modern nuclear power plants produce energy using nuclear fission when a neutron slams into a larger atom. The atom then splits into two smaller, lighter particles, which release massive amounts of energy. Elements like uranium and plutonium are most commonly used in fission reactions. The nuclear fission process heats water into steam, which then spins a turbine to create clean energy.

On the other hand, fusion can create several times more energy than fission without producing radioactive byproducts. Most previous experiments on fusion energy use doughnut-shaped chambers called tokamaks. These machines confine a plasma of hot, electrically charged hydrogen inside massive magnetic coils lining the chamber. As the plasma heats up, it releases large amounts of energy.

For over 60 years, scientists have attempted to produce sustainable energy using tokamaks with little success. However, by 2025, scientists from MIT believe they can create the world’s first sustainable fusion reactor.

The experimental reactor developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory doesn’t use a tokamak. Instead, it focuses lasers the size of three football fields on hydrogen fuel pellets. These pellets are placed in a 33-foot-wide spherical metal “target chamber.” The world’s most powerful lasers can produce up to 4 megajoules of energy.

Scientists initially developed the method to study the behavior of hydrogen in nuclear weapons, called hydrogen bombs. They also think it could have important implications for energy production using nuclear fusion. However, it’s still a future technology that requires much more intensive testing and research.

The results haven’t been published in a peer-reviewed journal yet, but scientists from the laboratory said that would occur. Since the news of the vast achievement spread fast, they wanted to get the facts out regardless.

Fusion energy for commercial power production

The NIF’s lasers can only fire about once per day, so the method isn’t viable for commercial use. Power plants would need to vaporize several hydrogen capsules each second, which may be possible in the future.

Scientists at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford have worked on a rapid-fire laser system that requires less energy. Siegfried Glenzer, a plasma physicist, hopes that nuclear fusion energy will become a viable replacement for fossil fuels. He used to work at the Livermore laboratory but wasn’t involved in the recent research.

“This is very promising for us, to achieve an energy source on the planet that won’t emit CO2,” he said about the laser system in a New York Times article.

Physicist Stephen Bodner, who formerly headed laser plasma research at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., said this about NIF’s research in the Times interview:

“They have come close enough to their goal of ignition and break-even to call it a success. It is time for the U.S. to move ahead with a major laser fusion energy program.”

Advantages of nuclear energy

It’s the second-largest source of low-carbon electricity worldwide, behind hydropower.
It produces zero emissions, using heat to produce energy. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the nuclear industry helped to avoid over 471 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2020.
Nuclear energy plants don’t require much land. According to the Department of Energy, a typical 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility in the US needs a little over 1 square mile to operate. Compare that to wind farms, which require 360 times more land to produce the same electricity.

Final Thoughts: A record-breaking nuclear fusion reactor generates ten quadrillion watts of power

In August, scientists successfully created a nuclear fusion reactor capable of generating ten quadrillion watts of power. While the reaction lasted not even a second, it marks a considerable step in nuclear fusion research. Scientists hope that nuclear fusion could provide a sustainable energy source to replace fossil fuels in the future.

10 Positive Changes In Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

September 10, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Many people indulge in drinking alcohol on a semi-regular basis. Whether it’s a glass of wine in the evening or a bottle of beer with your friends, it’s not unusual to drink, and it’s not an inherently negative thing to do.

But at the same time, alcohol isn’t exactly a healthy thing either. Plus, going overboard with drinking can have severe adverse effects on your life. If that seems to be the case for you, it may be time to wean yourself off the substance. Don’t believe that stopping can be good for you? Here are ten positive changes in your body when you stop drinking.

1. Your Sleep Gets Better If You Stop Drinking Alcohol

If you’ve ever drunk a significant amount of alcohol, you’ve probably noticed that you seem to get sleepy right after. This may make you think that alcohol is good for sleep, but that isn’t the case. While it can make you tired and quicken your rate of drifting off, it can also prevent you from getting proper restorative sleep. That’s why you still feel exhausted the next day after drinking!

According to studies, this because alcohol can cause the following problems:

Alcohol messes with your sleep-wake cycles and throws off your Circadian rhythm.
It prevents you from getting deep sleep, which is necessary for proper rest.
Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles, which can increase your risk of sleep apnea or even make you snore more.

It’s true that at first when you stop drinking alcohol, you may find it harder to sleep. But if you keep at it and practice positive bedtime and sleep habits, you’ll notice that your sleep quality improves significantly and will feel much fresher and sharper every morning.

2. When You Quit Drinking Alcohol, Your Digestion Will Improve

Your liver is an integral part of the process of digestion, as it naturally filters out toxins from the body and helps to cleanse you of anything you probably don’t want to digest. But when you drink a lot of alcohol, you’re forcing your liver to work overtime, making it stop working on everything else to filter and metabolize the ethanol and toxins in alcohol. This is why drinking too much can:

Lead to fatty liver disease
Cause liver inflammation
Result in cirrhosis or liver failure

Luckily, the liver bounces back quickly. So if you quit drinking before it’s damaged, it can recover and be back to good, working shape within a few weeks.

But digestion still suffers, even when we take the liver out of the equation. This is because the human digestive system has trouble dealing with alcohol, managing it differently than other toxins and substances. For example:

Alcohol from fermented drinks, including wine and beer, cause an overproduction of gastric acid in the stomach.
Excessive alcohol intake can irritate the stomach and even damage the gastrointestinal tract and lining.
Alcohol begins to damage food-digesting cells the moment it enters your body.
Alcohol can increase your risk of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract.

3. Your Skin Looks Better

Have you ever noticed that alcoholics tend to have bad skin, significantly notably reddish patches all over their face? This is because alcohol does multiple different things to your body that are all bad for your skin! This includes:

Broken facial or nose capillaries
Lower levels of collagen that cause the skin to sag or appear loose
Dehydration that causes dry skin
Inflammation that causes acne and other problems
Higher risk of jaundice
Higher risk of psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease, according to studies.

When you stop drinking, you’ll find that your skin will regain elasticity and lose much of the yellowing and redness that was occurring from alcohol.

4. Your Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Drops

Did you know that drinking alcohol is bad for your heart? No amount of positive thinking can save you from the statistics: heavy drinks have twice as high a chance of passing away within 24 hours than those who don’t drink, which increases to six times as likely in just a week.

Even if you don’t immediately get a severe sign of disease, it is worth noting that misuse of alcohol can increase the risk of cardiovascular issues like:

Ischemic stroke
Atrial fibrillation
Myocardial infarction
Hemorrhagic stroke
Heart failure

You may not immediately see the results on your heart when you stop drinking, but the science has it all laid out for you – if you drink, you’re at higher risk for heart disease, and that’s a pretty good reason to stop!

5. Your Immunity Gets Stronger When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

To fight bacteria, germs, viruses, and other unwanted microorganisms, the human body needs to produce enough white blood cells. But when you drink heavily, the alcohol messes up your immune system, leaving you with too few of those positive cells to keep you safe. This is also why those who drink heavily often struggle with diseases like tuberculosis and pneumonia.

As soon as you stop drinking, your immune system will begin to repair itself. You’ll notice that you’re less susceptible to illness, colds, and flu, and you’ll be healthier and stronger for it!

6. You’ll Enjoy Better Mental Health

A lot of people use alcohol as a coping mechanism for poor mental health. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health in America shows that a whopping 9.2 million adults in the United States experienced a substance use disorder and a mental illness at the same time in 2018. Still, a shocking 60% of them didn’t receive any form of treatment. Common alcohol-drinking comorbidities include:

Bipolar disorder
Anxiety
Schizophrenia
Depression

The exact links between addiction rates and mental illness are a little bit fuzzy, but the bottom line is that they seem to be in a bit of a deadly cycle. Those with mental illness may try to self-medicate with alcohol, but then the alcohol worsens the illness, so they drink more of it. It’s a perilous trap to fall into.

At first, when you stop drinking, you may feel that your mental illnesses have gotten worse as the withdrawal sets in. Seek professional help if necessary, and once you wait off that first difficult roller coaster, you’ll notice that you have a clearer head and much fewer symptoms of your disorders at lower severity.

7. You’ll Be More Hydrated

Did you know that alcohol is a diuretic? This means that it makes you excrete moisture and hydration from your body through urination at a faster rate. After drinking a lot, you may notice that your bladder seems to yell at you to go to the bathroom more often.

The cycle of this is: alcohol causes the levels of antidiuretic hormone, or ADH, in your body to drop. That antidiuretic hormone is crucial for informing your kidneys that you need them to retain water, so the drop in them means your kidneys start reducing their water retention, making you need to go to the bathroom more often.

As soon as you stop drinking, you will immediately notice a significant change in how often you take bathroom breaks. Of course, that means you’ll also be more hydrated. The human body is naturally made up of mostly water – you need it for circulation, waste removal, body temperature maintenance, positive thinking and wellbeing, and much more. All bodily functions require you to be hydrated to work at their best, and when you stop drinking alcohol, you’ll be able to restore these functions.

8. You’ll Receive Better Nutrition

When you drink, you wind up with a lot less nutrition than you need. This is because:

Alcohol depletes the crucial nutrients in your body.
A lot of alcoholics “drink” their meals instead of eating proper food.
Alcohol messes with your body’s ability to digest, store, use, and excrete nutrients properly, which can wind up in a lack of positive nutrients and even cause malnourishment.

If you stop drinking, your body will begin to re-regulate how it uses nutrients, allowing your body to use the food stores that it has properly. You’ll also feel more motivated to eat proper meals, which your body will further thank you for. This is also why many people lose weight or develop a healthier body composition when they stop drinking alcohol.

9. When You Quit Drinking Alcohol, Your Memory and Thinking Will Improve

Have you ever noticed that you tend to get forgetful when you drink? That’s because consuming adult beverages often affects your hippocampus, the part of the brain that is crucial for functions like learning and memory, according to research. In fact, alcohol makes that part of the brain shrink!

Unfortunately, you won’t notice positive changes in your brain right away when you first stop drinking, as alcohol can genuinely mess up the way your mind functions as an organ. But in a few months or a year, the structural changes your brain has endured will start to correct themselves, and you’ll get better at:

Maintaining attention span
Utilizing positive thinking skills
Remembering things
Solving problems

10. Your Risk Of Cancer Drops If You Stop Drinking Alcohol

Lots of people are afraid of developing cancer, and alcohol is a well-known carcinogen. The more you drink, the more likely you are to have this frightening disease, and the longer you drink for, the more that risk increases exponentially. You’ll put yourself at risk for:

Esophageal cancer
Breast cancer
Liver cancer
Head and neck cancer
Colorectal cancer

On top of that, studies have shown that 3.5% of deaths from cancer in America are related to alcohol. Again, this isn’t a visible effect you’ll see when you quit drinking, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

Final Thoughts On Some Positive Changes In Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

There is nothing inherently wrong with consuming alcohol, especially if it’s only in moderation. Different people have different levels of tolerance, and it’s okay if you know your limits, know when to stop, and make sure that you keep your body in good shape.

But if people around you are beginning to express concern about how much you drink, or you find that you feel ashamed of your drinking habits, or perhaps if you’ve noticed your health going downhill lately, it may be time to make some changes to your practices. Quitting drinking will bring so many positive results for your body and mind!

If you need help kicking a drinking habit, please know that many people and organizations out there are willing to and happy to help you. You don’t have to go through the process alone, and you’ll be glad you stuck it out when you see all the significant changes to your body and mind!

60 Australian Companies Agree to Radically Reduce Plastic Waste

September 9, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Recently, over sixty major supermarket chains and multinational brands signed a pact to reduce plastic waste by 2025 radically. Companies in Australia, New Zealand, and other places in Oceania signed the agreement. Major brands participating in the pact include Coca-Cola, Woolworths, and Nestle, as well as several government agencies.

The ANZPAC Plastics Pact aims to drastically reduce plastic waste from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific by 2025. Much of the plastic ends up in landfills and oceans, further polluting the planet.

Because plastic pollution is a global problem, it requires a multinational solution. This is why governments throughout Oceania have called upon crucial players in multiple industries to tackle plastic waste. Their goal is to create a collaborative solution that promotes a circular economy for plastic, ensuring used materials become neither waste nor pollution. In Camden, NJ, efforts like dumpster rental services play a crucial role in supporting similar initiatives. Companies providing Dumpster rental camden NJ enable efficient waste collection and recycling, helping communities contribute to reducing plastic pollution locally while aligning with global goals. If you’re also looking for an affordable junk removal cost in San Diego, contact Crisan Junk Removal Service for assistance.

The participants pledge to achieve these four plastic waste reduction goals by 2025:

Eliminate unnecessary packaging through redesign, innovation, and more sustainable models;
Make all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable;
Increase the amount of packaging collected and effectively recycled for all areas within the ANZPAC region;
Increase the amount of recycled content used for packaging to 25 percent.

Government agencies, companies, and industry leaders have been working on the pact for three years now. As plastic pollution keeps increasing each year, it’s beyond time to reduce plastic waste through dedicated action.

The plastic waste problem

Ideally, no plastic would end up in landfills, oceans, or other natural areas. In New Zealand, 41% of recyclable plastic containers pollute landfills. It doesn’t look much better in the Pacific Islands. Here, over 300,000 tonnes of waste plastic is produced annually. In Australia, a whopping 800,000 tons of plastic waste ends up in landfills or the environment.

Brooke Donnelly from the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) said:

“What we’re really trying to address here is a systemic problem that says the plastics system is actually broken. Our take, make and dispose approach means too much plastics waste is actually ending up in landfill.”

According to data from APCO, Australia sold about a million tons of plastic between 2018 and 2019. However, only 18% of it got recycled. That means over 80% of this plastic waste got sent to a landfill or dumped somewhere in the environment.

In addition, Donnelly said that if they don’t act by 2040, the volume of plastic on the market will double. This means plastic pollution would increase dramatically. Plastic volume in the world’s oceans would triple each year, and ocean plastic stocks would quadruple.

The solution to clean up their act

ANZPAC covers Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It’s the first in Oceania to join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact network. On the website, ANZPAC describes the network as the following:

“A strategically aligned response to plastic waste and pollution, that enables vital knowledge sharing and coordinated action.”

The foundation unites over 550 organizations worldwide.

In fact, this is not a unique arrangement–eleven plastic pacts already exist in the world. Countries like the UK, the US, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Chile, South Africa, Canada, and Poland have already signed on. The European Plastics Pact marked the first regional initiative to become part of the pact in March 2020. ANZPAC follows suit as the second regional Pact in the network.

As an international challenge, Plastics Pacts address the global problem of managing plastic waste effectively and consistently. Global supply chains have increasingly complex issues with managing plastic traveling across borders. Therefore, ANZPAC aims to move from a linear approach to a circular economy for plastic. If it never becomes waste or pollution, the plastic in circulation will decrease dramatically.

“What I’m hoping for is that this will also be a way of Australia and New Zealand being able to support the Pacific region, which has different but just as challenging issues with plastic,” said Jenni Downes, a research fellow at Monash University’s Sustainable Development Institute in an interview with ABC Australia.

The targeted measures started in 2018

She said the pact’s goals overlap with already-existing targets in Australia. The 2025 National Packaging Targets set by APCO in 2018 will help the industry achieve its goals.

“A lot of this has come from the realisation of the massive marine plastic problem we have, and that a lot of that is lightweight, single-use packaging from consumer products,” she said.

Also, she noted how it is important to have a market for the recycled material after collecting it. Having a system to transfer the plastic to industries that will reuse it will ensure the process runs smoothly. Without that, she says, there’s no point collecting it. However, she believes that the pact shows we’re moving in the right direction overall.

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organization (APCO) will lead the delivery and development of ANZPAC. APCO will take a hands-on approach, offering the specific reporting, governance, and administrative frameworks needed. So together, they will innovate, invest and share knowledge to reduce plastic waste in the region.

While the efforts have been recognized, the organization faces a huge uphill battle. Thus, it will likely take decades to transition to a world without plastic waste. In places like Australia, unfortunately, it’s common to see plastic washing up on the beaches.

However, clean-up organizations like Beach Patrol help to keep the beautiful beaches plastic-free. The president of the group, Ross Headifin, says that the group provides people an opportunity to make a difference in their community. Additionally, he said that it gives people an outlet and makes them feel like they’re solving a problem. The group now includes a network of 4,500 volunteers in communities across Melbourne.

As citizens and organizations like ANZPAC come together, it seems that we can win the fight to reduce plastic waste.

Final thoughts on the pact that vows to reduce plastic waste in Australia

Over 60 supermarket chains and global companies agreed to reduce plastic waste in Oceania by 2025. Large companies like Coca-Cola and Nestle also jumped on board. Hopefully, this will mean much less plastic circulating in the waterways and landfills in Australia and New Zealand. It’s certainly a step in the right direction and proves that coming together for a positive purpose can move mountains.

New Study Shows How Histamine Might Play a Role in Depression

September 9, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

A new study from Imperial College London and the University of South Carolina links high histamine to depression. The findings confirm prior studies that inflammation, which triggers histamine release, affects the hormone serotonin. Low levels of this crucial molecule in the brain seem to link to depression, according to this science.

If scientists can reproduce the study in humans, these findings could lead to new treatments for depression. Depression affects nearly 300 million people worldwide, according to the WHO, although it is likely a conservative estimate. Depression remains the leading cause of disability globally and dramatically contributes to the global burden of disease. It’s believed that this complex mental disorder stems from a combination of social, biological, and psychological factors.

Scientists have attempted to understand the root cause of depression for decades. Now, they reveal how histamine contributes to this devastating mental disorder. The body releases histamine as an immune response to a normally harmless foreign substance, such as pollen. When this happens, immune cells attack the perceived threat, and blood flow increases in affected areas.

How histamine impacts depression

This immune response allows the body to fight infections, but it can become compromised if histamine remains elevated. Chronic inflammation keeps histamine levels high, which weakens the immune system. Many health conditions cause inflammation, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, allergies, and even stress. The study, which appeared in The Journal of Neuroscience, reveals that inflammation-induced histamine might also contribute to depression.

Lead author Dr. Parastoo Hashemi, from Imperial’s Department of Bioengineering, said: “Inflammation could play a huge role in depression, and there is already strong evidence that patients with both depression and severe inflammation are the ones most likely not to respond to antidepressants.

“Our work shines a spotlight on histamine as a potential key player in depression. This, and its interactions with the ‘feel-good molecule’ serotonin, may thus be a crucial new avenue in improving serotonin-based treatments for depression.”

How serotonin impacts histamine in the body

Many antidepressants target serotonin, commonly called the “feel-good hormone.” Most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) impede the re-absorption of serotonin in the brain. This allows the serotonin to circulate for a more extended period, enhancing mood and warding off depression.

SSRIs undoubtedly improve many lives, but an increasing number of people have become resistant to their effects. Experts believe that specific interactions between neurotransmitters, including serotonin and histamine, play a considerable role in treatment-resistant depression.

So, researchers focused their investigation on the complex relationship between histamine, serotonin, and SSRIs. For the study, they placed microelectrodes in the hippocampus of the brains of live mice to measure serotonin levels. The hippocampus helps regulate mood and plays a vital role in storing and recalling memories.

This method, also called fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), allowed them to measure serotonin levels without harming the brain. The microelectrodes measure only five micrometers wide and do not endanger living tissue. After placing the microelectrodes, they gave half the mice lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections, a toxin found in some bacteria that triggers inflammation. Scientists gave the other half, the control group, a saline solution.

The observations

The researchers observed that brain serotonin levels decreased after a few minutes of the LPS injection. In the control mice, serotonin levels did not change. This shows how quickly the brain responds to inflammation, which affects serotonin levels. Since LPS cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, it couldn’t have been responsible for causing the decrease in serotonin.

Upon investigating further, the researchers found that the inflammation triggered the release of histamine, which directly inhibited serotonin. This occurred when the histamine attached to inhibitory receptors on the serotonin neurons. Scientists believe a human study would reproduce this effect since humans also have these receptors on their serotonin neurons.

To see how SSRIs would affect histamine and serotonin, researchers administered them to the mice. Surprisingly, the control mice had higher serotonin levels than the other group. Researchers believe this occurred because the SSRIs caused histamine levels to rise, which canceled the serotonin boost.

Next, researchers gave the mice antihistamines to counter histamine’s inhibitory effects. This caused serotonin levels to rise back to normal levels. The findings confirm the scientists’ theory that histamine directly inhibits serotonin in the brain. The histamine-reducing drugs triggered a whole-body drop in histamine, unlike regular antihistamines taken for allergies, which only affect neurons.

Histamine: A new molecule of interest in depression treatment

Researchers say that if they can replicate the study in humans, it could lead to better depression treatments. Doctors could measure chemicals like serotonin and histamine in human brains to more effectively target and detect depression. The study authors added that the findings might result in new opportunities to explore histamine’s role in depression. Perhaps the research would prompt the development of improved medications to reduce histamine in the brain.

Since the study only involved mice, researchers will need to observe the effects in humans moving forward. However, the fact that they can’t use microelectrodes in human brains may act as a roadblock. They’re currently researching other techniques to get a glimpse of the human brain. Scientists believe the gut may help them continue their studies since it also synthesizes serotonin and histamine.

The researchers also said that pain, which accompanies inflammation, can trigger changes in neurotransmitters. However, prior research shows that these changes only last a few minutes. In this study, the decrease in serotonin lasted much longer, proving that pain didn’t cause the serotonin drop.

Dr. Hashemi added: “Inflammation is a whole-body response and is therefore hugely complex. Depression is similarly complex, and the chemicals involved are affected in myriad ways by both genetic and environmental factors. Thus we need to look at more complex models of depression behaviors in both mice and humans to get a fuller picture of both histamine and serotonin’s roles in depression.”

Final thoughts on a study linking histamine to depression

Scientists have been studying the causes of depression for years to help improve treatments. They’ve recently discovered that histamine, a chemical messenger involved in the immune response, plays a crucial role in depression. Chronic inflammation, which elevates histamine, causes serotonin levels to drop. Low levels of this critical hormone have been strongly associated with depression.

The study offers promise for improved depression treatments that target histamine. In combination with SSRIs, this could provide an answer for people with treatment-resistant depression.

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