People used to believe that earth was the center of the universe and sun revolved around it. Those at the time who did not concur with this belief were declared heretics, tortured and burned alive. Over time we have come to let go of many outdated notions and no longer have a habit of setting our neighbors on fire if they happen to have an opinion that differs from ours, usually. There is a slight residue of that ancient mentality when it comes to understanding the complex biochemical organism that is a human being. Whether it is due to a strong belief in intelligent design or simply collective memory loss of how helpless humans can be in the face of nature, there is a worrying trend of abandoning the weapons that our ancestors wish they had. Increasing amounts of young parents, who are probably too young to remember kids in iron lungs suffering from polio, are deciding against vaccinating their own kids from the horrific diseases that are vaccine preventable. What is even more shocking is that it tends to happen in countries that have historically benefited the most from the development of medical science and responsible socio-political systems. Taking for granted relatively recently acquired security from mass killer bugs, young parents do not seem to recognize how damaging viruses can be.

 

One fact that for some might take a while to wrap their heads around, is that viruses, bacteria and microbes are living organisms. They might not have arms and legs, talk, walk or think, but if we suppose that Darwin was right, we can safely assume that they are also, just like humans, fighting for survival. They multiply at a much faster pace than humans reproduce, and there is countless number of them. As a species, humans have adapted to living with all sorts of visible and invisible stuff floating around, but on occasion there comes along a virus or bacteria that is simply not compatible with the human immune system. The virus itself does not have a grand plan to mass murder everyone that comes into contact with it (we hope), however because it is foreign to the humans’ immune system the effect on person’s health and well being can be catastrophic.

 

The first vaccine that proved capable of preventing an epidemic was developed against small-pox back in the late 18^th century. The philosophy behind it was relatively simple: by introducing the human immune system to a particular virus in a small dose, thereby allowing the system to comprehend it and figure out a defense mechanism against the virus which can be used in the future, should the immune system encounter the virus again. The progress in immune technology has been immense since then. Recently licensed HPV vaccine for instance, by immunizing against human papilloma virus types 6, 11, 16 and 18 (most widely sexually transmitted infection) prevents 70% of cervical cancers in women. The third generation vaccines also called DNA vaccines are currently undergoing pre-clinical trials. If successful we could see preventive vaccines against Alzheimer’s, herpes and a whole range of other unpleasant conditions that affect millions of people around the world. Hard not to believe in medical science after that.

 

Now lets go back to the anti-vaccine conspiracy theory individuals who choose not to vaccinate their kids. No, we do not propose to burn them alive. Instead we would like to investigate some predominantly stated reasons for choosing not to vaccinate.

 

Time and again articles that link vaccination to autism surface on the internet. We do feel for the parents who had the misfortune of having their kids diagnosed with autism, it surely is a great struggle for the family. After Andrew Wakefield’s statement that MMR vaccine causes autism, which was based on falsified research, there have been numerous studies done that investigate that claim. Many man hours and even more dollars have been spent to find the link between vaccination and autism and none were found.

 

From an emotional perspective, it is much easier to either find hope in, or simply to blame something tangible like the supposed connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, as it provides a focal point for frustrations and wishes for cures. In that regard internet in the age of information has simultaneously been the greatest blessing and a curse, as there’s still so much ‘proof’ still supporting the vaccine-autism link. At this point in time any Tom, Dick or Harry could type out an argument (pro or against vaccination for instance) and their argument could have as much reach and persuasive power as scientific research and the experience of medical professionals over several decades. Long gone are the days when in the family of 12 children only 5 made it into adulthood; there are no vivid examples or memories of children helplessly gasping for air while dying of measles in many modernized countries. Has the advancement in science and technology blinded us to how fragile we still are?

 

The impact of the anti-vaccinationists on public health is shocking. For example 2000 confirmed cases of measles in the UK over 2 years (more than over a previous decade combined) occurred among children whose parents decided against the MMR vaccine due to the fear of autism. Similar situations occurred in the US, where one unvaccinated boy passed on measles to other 137 unvaccinated children causing an epidemic. The State of California is seeing a terrifying return of vaccine preventable diseases that were though to have been eradicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The basic logic behind the mass vaccination of a population is referred to as “community immunity” or “herd immunity”; by minimizing the number of individuals susceptible to a particular virus the likelihood of an outbreak or an epidemic in the community remains low. Viruses are ultimately self-limiting – the infected person either recovers or dies. The main reason why we haven’t seen unvaccinated people dying right left and center is because the level of herd immunity is still high enough to prevent anything seriously tragic from happening like an outbreak of epidemic proportions.

 

Another common conspiracy theory revolves around vaccines as population growth control. In 2003 Ibrahim Datti Ahmed, a president of Nigeria’s Supreme Council of Sharia Law claimed that polio vaccines were laced with a drug that causes infertility (by the USA of course) with an agenda to slow the birth rate of Nigerian people. In a country where people are typically economically impaired and where the government feels insecure about its domestic support and international position this conspiracy theory flourished, and a polio outbreak followed soon after. Before long the Government realized the consequences of the propaganda lie and soon dropped the anti-vaccine program.

 

Whether it is a mother who can not come to grips with her child’s diagnosed condition, a government leader trying to find a control tactic through imaginary enemies and weapons or individuals who are convinced that humans are nature’s superior beings - they all have something in common. Namely the passion and conviction with which they spread a view, just like a virus, that has potentially irreversible consequences for those they are supposedly looking out for and care for the most. Polio, if contracted, can lead to disability, muscle paralysis and deformities in the legs, ankles and hips. Complications from mumps can leave boys sterile, deafness in not uncommon as a result of permanent nerve damage. Measles may lead to serious eye disorders as well as nervous system problems.

 

For the sake of a balanced argument, fine-tuning the immune system doesn’t always go as well as planned. Pandemrix, a H1N1 flu vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline is currently under investigation. After numerous cases of narcolepsy reported by the recipients of the vaccine, the European Medical Agency as of mid 2011 has advised against it. It was shown that those who received the vaccine were 6-13 times more likely to develop narcolepsy. The link between the condition and the vaccine has not been found, and representatives of the pharmaceutical company assure that the benefits of the vaccine largely surpass the risks.

 

It is important to point out the problems often encountered in the vaccine development process, in particular the issues that concern funding, investment and regulations around the development of vaccines. Up until about 1970’s, the procedure(development and distribution) was predominantly a governmental matter. The onset of postmodernist culture (often linked to departure from the international gold standard and rapid increase of the political and economical power of corporations) saw a new trend where healthcare matters such as medication, vaccine and medical device manufacturing and development have largely been taken over by commercial interests. The rationale being that this would provide an environment for healthy competition thus raising productivity and the quality of the healthcare products.

 

While it might have worked in certain areas, when it comes to development of vaccines the reality is that due to the lengthy development period and very strict yet understandable regulations around retention and distribution, often times pharmaceutical companies find it not profitable enough to continue on with the development or production of vaccines. For examples Pfeizer terminated its production of influenza vaccine Fluogen back in 1998 due to the above mentioned hurdles. Similarly the ongoing developments of two most awaited vaccines against cancer and AIDS are often running into barriers due to funding. As businesses aren’t typically interested in the greater good without a profit motive and no politician short of a dictator will be in power long enough to see the political pay-off, many potential vaccines and avenues of research often languish in development because of funding problems. At this point we should mention the recent news regarding the new Malaria vaccine. After development of the vaccine by GlaxoSmithKline came to a halt due to profitability issues, $200 million poured in by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation helped to revive the research. The vaccine is currently being tested, showing 50% drop in risk of infection after vaccination. 

 

Human organisms while very similar are rarely identical. It is very difficult to foresee different micro variations in every person in a reaction to a particular vaccine, rather vaccines are designed as blanket prevention. One in a million might die from an unforeseen side-effect, and it is very sad. However, in the case of contracting that specific disease the person may have died anyway, but as a carrier of a virus could have infected many more. From the perspective of health in the broader human population, it is a minor cost. The Spanish flu pandemic in the early 20^th century took over 50 million lives world wide in the span of a year. There was no vaccine, people died in a horrible manner within hours of contracting a virus. As outlined above, problems with vaccines are not widespread, and tend to be limited to adverse reactions in a tiny fraction of humans or very rarely to production and distribution errors.

 

Thus before embarking the bandwagon of natural medicine only, afraid of contaminating a young body with chemicals and other unnatural components, believing that vitamin C cures all, think about the reason why so much time and resources have been spent to research and produce vaccines. They might not be absolutely safe in every single case (neither is surgery or chemotherapy), but they have been protecting us from far greater threats, in terms of both severity and size, to the health and well being of humanity as a whole.

 

It seems to have been the flavor of 2011: the protest. We can hardly go a day without seeing a report about the latest mass protest somewhere in the world.

It began in the Middle East, and like the falling of a small pebble which goes on to start an avalanche, the years’ massive demonstrations began in a small, little known country called Tunisia. The pebbles gathered strength and swept across the Middle East with an avalanche’s speed and destructiveness, taking out dictators along the way.

The Middle East wasn’t the only place in which massive demonstrations were held this year: rioting took place for several days in the United Kingdom in August, in the United States the “Occupy” movements have become a household name, even peace-loving Canada was not spared from riots after the Vancouver Canucks won the Stanley Cup.

While we all have our own opinions of what seemed to be the year of the protest, this post is not here to comment on them. We are here to continue our duty of keeping you healthy and safe wherever you find yourself, even if the rebellious spirit seizes you and you find yourself picketing your neighborhood 7/11!

So what are some of the biggest health concerns when partaking in a mass demonstration?

1) Well let’s start with the obvious: Police (or Military)

The duty of the police is to keep order and uphold the law of the land. They are, for better or worse, the enforcers of said laws. While laws vary from country to country, particularly in regards to the freedom of assembly, expression and speech, the response of the law enforcement is pretty much the same where ever you go.

Police like order, safety, and most importantly, quiet. When any of these are infringed upon they take it seriously, and break out the dispersal gear.

While the arsenal of equipment in use for police forces in different countries around the world will vary, some of their favorite toys are:

- Tear Gas: A non-lethal chemical weapon that stimulates the corneal nerves in the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even blindness. It is popular for dispersal of large groups. Fire a few canisters into the crowd and even the toughest protesters will scatter.

- Pepper Spray: A chemical compound that attacks the ear, eyes and throat to cause tears, pain, temporary blindness and shortness of breath. A favorite for up close and personal dispersal of small groups; if used in large quantities, it could kill a super hero, or Keith Richards. Unlike tear gas in which your human instinct to flee takes over, pepper spray will take you down, and leave you rolling around in complete and utter agony.

If you have been unfortunate enough to have been subjected to one of the above “non-violent” crowd dispersal tactics, you will know that 1) it hurts like hell, and 2) you can not get enough water on the affected areas. The best relief to the eyes is said to be a mixture of liquid antacid and water, and for the skin: canola oil followed by alcohol (try to resist the temptation to guzzle the booze until you have taken a cold shower).

Some other “non-violent” protest-breaking favorites are:

- Sound Dispersal Devices: A relatively new technology, sound dispersal devices are used to scatter crowds by sending a concentrated, insanely annoying, noise towards your location. It is the police equivalent of that old teacher who used to run her nails on a chalkboard (you know I’m talking about you, Sister Mary Clarence) to quiet you down. Much like tear gas this is designed to disperse crowds and get you on the run.

- Rubber Bullets: As with the other devices on the above list, this is exactly how it sounds, a rubber projectile which is meant to disperse crowds, and particularly to take down violent or threatening protesters. As long as you don’t take one to the face you should be able to walk away from the incident, albeit with a large bruise. But it could be worse, previous incarnations of rubber bullets included solid wooden canisters, known as Baton Shells, fired out of a device similar to a grenade launcher. While a Baton Shell wouldn’t, technically, be used to kill someone, they tended to shatter on impact with the ground; sending wood splinters up at shin height to all the protesters in the vicinity. Non lethal, but very painful. Baton Shells are still in use by many police forces around the world.

For the last two, no explanation is needed, and while we would love to put a “snarky” comment to them, the fact is, stuff has just hit then fan when these gets busted out,

which is no laughing matter; people die.

- Real Bullets

- Tanks

The best advice is to get the hell out of there and live to fight another day.

2) You may have noticed that many of the above police “techniques” for dealing with large demonstrations is to get them to disperse. However, this leads to our next major health concern during a large protest: the crowd (the mob)

While you may think your fellow protesters are the best people in the entire world, the fact of the matter is that they can quickly turn into your worst nightmare, particularly when stuff starts to hit the fan. Like here (at 0:26).

- Stampede: It is a simple fact, when many people are crowded together, their “fight or flight” instinct takes over (thanks usually to the dispersals measures of the police); very little will stop a crowd’s instinct to get away from any potential harm. I am sure many of you are thinking, ‘oh, well I can handle the large crowd, I will just push my way through’. Well unfortunately, this is what everyone else in the crowd is thinking too, turning everyone into one massive tidal wave of pushing and shoving. And if you fall down, it is like getting sucked into a whirlpool, because all that energy pushing the crowd can not be stopped on a dime.

- Stuff on Fire: We’ve all seen the mob mentality that can turn a peaceful slow march into an end-of-days all out street battle. This is usually followed by pictures of cars and business ablaze. What many don’t realize is that while it can sometimes relieve a little stress to set something on fire, that fire doesn’t go out with the snap of a finger and will most likely catch on to anything that surrounds it.

The best advice is to try to avoid getting killed by your fellow protesters is to avoid the largest crowds, and look for side streets or other quick escape routes. When in doubt, climb; look for a street light or tree that will help you get above the herd (unless it is on fire).

3) The next major health concerns when demonstrating is yourself, that’s right, Self-harm:

Whether it is to make a political point or just to show off how badass you are, when you find yourself protesting you may feel the need to get carried away sticking it “to the man”, and that can lead to some serious problems. Some of the popular self-inflicted protest wounds are:

- Hunger Strikes: A tactic used by many political prisoners; hunger strikes are not uncommon in large protests. However many often forget the cardinal rule of a hunger strike: Tell somebody! You would be surprised, but if you don’t get the word out that you and your group of investment bankers are going on a hunger strike until the rest of the 99% is paid fairly, nobody will really notice.

- Drugs: Resist the peer-pressure to experiment with things that you never tried before, and especially in large doses. While the drug angle is often overplayed in the general media, there are still a number of cases of drug overdose, particularly if protests last for over a few days. So if some stranger offers you ‘the best trip of your life’, be wary.

- Self-immolation: This one is serious, and it is unlikely that you will be walking away from it. A popular one for Buddhist monks in China, Self immolation is currently coming back into vogue as a form of protest around the globe. The easiest way to avoid self-immolation is to not set yourself on fire. Glad we could be of help.

The best piece of advice is to take care of yourself (because no one else will), and don’t get too wrapped up in your cause that you think going out in a blaze of glory is the only way – it isn’t.

4) As we move away from the marches and on to the “occupiers”, that is to say protesters camping out for the long haul, a whole new bag of health issues crops up. The most common is Hygiene, or lack thereof.

No, we are not saying that protesters are dirty and unhygienic, but the simple fact of the matter is, when you get so many people congregated in a small space, in less than hospitable conditions, bacteria and viruses will be unleashed. Meaning that one of the biggest hygiene-related problems during a large and lengthy protest is:

- Communicable Diseases: While generally not life-threatening, disease can put a big dent in the will of any protest movement. Add to this a lack of proper toilets and showering facilities and the breeding ground for disease nearly triple ( not to mention a very uncomfortable situation particularly if you get struck down with the runs). It’s an interesting correlation that non-violent mass protest has only become a viable dissent tool in the age of modern sanitation; typhoid probably doesn’t care what your beef is, but it does see that commune of unwashed protesters as a great buffet.

The best advice to avoid catching (or spreading) disease is to stay as hygienic as possible. Yes, you may not be able (or want) to get a shower everyday, but there are plenty of anti-biotic soaps and gels that will do the trick. Also, try to eat healthy and get as much sleep as you possibly can (those drum circles can easily put you to sleep).

Or follow this woman’s lead and protest while you shower!

5) But perhaps the biggest health concerns during a march or occupation isn’t even man-made! It is Mother Nature:

Despite what any weatherman says, no one can really predict the weather. And when it comes to a protest, nothing can cause more chaos than a bit of nasty weather. Whether it is extreme weather like snowstorms, lightning, hail or dust storms, or just temperature extremes, weather can play a major factor in deterring even the most devout protester.

Admire their dedication, but they do look cold!

When you think about it, you do not generally see too many protests in the dead of winter. This is simply because exposure to snow or freezing rain can lead hypothermia, pneumonia or worse. Which spell major trouble for any protester.

You also do not see many protests during the middle of summer in hot climates, this is because heat and sun exposure will bring dehydration and eventually sun-stroke. Which can be life threatening.

While you will probably be labeled a “fair-weather” protester, play it smart and avoid the deadly weather, or at the very least, dress for the occasion.

Well there you have it, the top 5 biggest health concerns when demonstrating. While most of us in our lifetimes will have stood up against a viewed atrocity, particularly in that young, rebellious stage - the most important part is to be able to live to tell the tale. So take care of yourself, and one another.

We have all heard some of the most ridiculous items and ‘prized possessions’ that people will insure. A quick scan of the internet will show you that most musicians, celebrities and quirky millionaires insure voices, body parts or unusual possessions for countless millions of dollars. Strange insurance for “normal” people ranges for coverage for alien abductions to animals flatulence. However, what gets far less coverage are normal insurance policy claims that occur under some of the oddest circumstances.

Some of the following stories may be hard to believe, but these incredible insurance claims illustrate the fact that almost anything can happen to anyone at any time, making insurance necessary for all.

One thing to point out is that all of these items below were investigated by both police and insurance claim agents. It is a steadfast reminder that if you’re looking for a way to make money in tough times, we don’t recommend filing a claim as a route to riches, as typically, fraudulent claims can lead to a new lifestyle, but probably not the one you may have been hoping for – namely a new “home” behind bars and a burly roommate named Bubba.

1) Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire

We’ve all heard of, or have known, a Bridezilla and the path of destruction that can follow in their path. But can you imagine an actual fire-ridden path of destruction in her wake?! Well, this is exactly what happened at a couple’s dream wedding in the Caribbean.

The happy couple had just officially become man and wife, and they were ready to kick off their shoes while enjoying a picturesque sunset barbecue with family and friends; or so they thought.

While enjoying the bonfire, the bride got a little too close, catching fire to her wedding dress. The scene threatened to turn into the Corpse Bride, if it were not for the quick thinking of her new husband - who threw his lovely, burning bride, straight into the ocean.

Needless to say, the bride’s wedding dress was ruined, as was the groom’s tuxedo as he jumped in himself after launching her into the water. However, thankfully the smart, water logged couple, had taken out wedding insurance cover and were compensated for their ruined wedding outfits.

2) Blinded by the Moon(s)

Who hasn’t come across them on beach holiday - the beautiful group of women in scantly-clad bikinis. However, as Jerry Seinfeld famous quipped, ‘it is like looking at the sun, you don’t stare’; and here is a good reason why you should listen to Jerry.

A young British traveler was vacationing around the Greek isles, when he was fortunate enough to cross paths with a group of women in very skimpy bikinis while walking down the street. Unfortunately for the young man however, he continued to walk down the street; never taking his eyes off of the Greek goddesses, that was at least until his face went straight into a bus shelter that he claimed ‘came out of nowhere’. Unlike in the movies, the scene didn’t play out with just a bruise to the man’s pride; the man shattered his nose requiring a trip to the emergency room.

The young traveler was fortunate that his perverted peeping injury was paid for by his medical insurance company – although the doctor prescribed no more bikini watching for fear of further injury. We can not confirm if he followed this advice and he was likely to wear sunglasses for the remainder of this trip due to his two black eyes. One thing is certain, he will heed the advice of countless men who have come across this situation before; either stop and pretend you have just found the most interest piece of architecture conveniently near the ladies, or be aware of obstacles perv.

3) Raiders of the Lost Camera

Continuing with the beach theme that is emerging - many of us are guilty of thinking that we can trick potential thieves on the beach by hiding our valuables in our shoes or wrapped in our towel, which doesn’t fool anyone, especially those pesky beach-dwelling kleptomaniacs. However, two British children traveling with their family thought that they could out smart any potential thieves by burying their parents’ video camera in the sand to prevent it from being stolen whilst the family was swimming in the water.

Unfortunately for the children, and their parents, they could not remember the exact location of where they buried the camera. One wonders if perhaps they marked it with an X, only to have the tide wash it over, or even if the camera would have been in working condition (as we all know how sand gets into everything). Thankfully, the family’s property insurance felt for the parents and paid out for a new camera, and dad let his children live to see another day.

4) The Poseidon Ad-Denture

An elderly man vacationing on a cruise ship was prepared for a relaxing week under the sun. Unfortunately, a storm made for a few rough days at sea, which led to a bit of sea sickness for the elderly man. While at dinner with a few other patrons, the man felt his dinner was about to make a reappearance, so after excusing himself, the man quickly made his way to the adjoining deck to clear his head (and his supper).

The man however forgot to remove his false teeth prior to vomiting over the side of a cruise ship, causing them to end up at the bottom of the sea.

The man was fortunate enough to have taken out travel incurrence; claiming his new dentures under “lost baggage”.

It makes us wonder if there is a fish roaming the ocean with an extra set of teeth.

5) ‘Tis Not The Season

We have all gone a vacation only to have it spoiled by the weather. While in most cases you can come up pretty good “plan B”, one woman decided that she would put in an insurance claim because of the money she lost due to the uncooperative weather.

The woman was traveling for a week of snow skiing at a luxury Alpine resort, unfortunately for the woman; there was very little snow upon her arrival. The woman believing that she could get no use out of her vacation, and especially her new skis, filed an insurance claim for the trip, and the skis.

Her claims were rejected (we wonder why?).

6) Keeping Up With the Jones’

Every person going on holiday worries at some point that their house or car might get broken into while they are away. Well for one unfortunate family in the UK, this proved to be true. However, it wasn’t the jewelry case or the TV that was missing, it was their entire driveway.

While the family was away for several weeks, thieves walked away with their expensive paving brick by brick, leaving a muddy dirt track upon the families return. Thankfully, the family’s insurance company covered the missing drive way. One wonders though, where were the neighbors during all of this, as it clearly must have taken several days to steal the bricks.

7) ‘An Apple a Day…May Wreck Your Car

For one man in Europe, he really did think that the sky was falling.

I am sure we all know Chicken Little who famously quipped that the “sky is falling” after receiving a Galileo-like hit to the head by an apple. Well for this man, he must have truly begun to wonder if Chicken Little was on to something.

The man had pulled to the side of the road near an apple orchard to enjoy his lunch. This was when the man said that his vehicle became deluged by hundreds of apples. After the downpour of apples subsided, the man got out of his vehicle to see that an fork-lift on the other side of the apple trees had accidentally tipped over and knocked several trees.

The man was worried his auto insurance wouldn’t cover the unusual incident, but thankfully he didn’t upset the apple cart and his insurance covered the claim.

9) A Staining Situation

Perhaps it was the curry vindaloo that caused it! But for one unfortunate man his race to the bathroom didn’t quite work out.

A man in the UK submitted an insurance claim for a new pair of pants. The man wanted to be compensated after he unfortunately soiled them in a race to the toilet at a bus station which didn’t work out. The reason for the claim was that the man had said the bus authorities had shut the toilet without notifying the patrons. The man was not aware of this as he ‘raced to the loo’ only to find a locked door.’

Just be glad you weren’t passing by the man at the same moment, or that didn’t have to sit next to him on the 3 hour bus journey after.

The claim was rejected.

10) A Series of Oh So Unfortunate Events

Who hasn’t had “one of those days” where seemingly everything that could go wrong does. Well for one driver in the United States, their day was certainly going that direction after they braked too late and rear ended the car in front of them. Unfortunately the driver’s day was about to get a whole lot worse.

Their auto insurance claim read an account like this: “While going forward I smashed the rear light of the car in front of me. So I backed up, and in doing so smashed the front bumper of the car behind me. That’s when I stepped out of the car, but in doing so, I knocked down a bicyclist with my door”.

The details of the report did not speculate as to the sex or hair color of the driver, but it does cause from some speculation.

So there you have it, our list of the 10 most unusual insurance claims. What do you think? Have you heard any other wacky insurance stories? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

We all dread those doctors’ visits, especially as we get older. The worry which accompanies the trip to the local quack only increases with age, as does our risk of developing a severe disease or disability. However, we may be in luck due to the advancement in medical technology currently being made by scientists around the world; in the not too distant future our children may not have to worry about the same diseases, ailments or physical disabilities that we worry about today.

Why not? The answer, simply put, is Robots.

As Apple’s introduces their iPhone 4s with its new Siri voice assistant, which sounds frighteningly like a female version of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey, it signals yet another advancement in the use and dependency of technology in our day-to-day life. Fans of sci-fi thrillers such as The Matrix, Terminator or Battlestar Galatica will now most certainly be preparing themselves for the A.I. apocalypse. But little do they, or the rest of the population, know that the machines have already been quietly taking over for some time, especially in the field of medical care.

Below we’ll take a look at the top 10 modern machines that are changing the medical industry (and preparing themselves to crush their human masters).

Hybrid Assistive Limb 5

The Hybrid Assistive Limb 5, or HAL 5 (this will really have sci-fi fans going) is an artificially powered ecoskeleton that helps double the amount of weight someone can carry unaided. The device was developed, like much of the other machines on this list, by researchers in Japan.

While this device has a long list of tasks that will greatly impact fields across all professions, it is being looked at in hospitals and in medical care for patients who are suffering from illness that make them weak and unable to perform daily tasks. It is also being used for workers in facilites to help lift items (or humans) that are overweight.

This device is currently on the market, but the thing that will most certainly revolutionize modern medicine which is still in development is cognitive responses, in the hopes that one day wheelchair-bound individuals may be able to “walk”.

Call us crazy, but we’re definitely looking forward to the day when we too can have our very own Luke Skywalker hand from Return of the Jedi.

Da Vinci Si HD Surgical System

The accolades for Da Vinci are numerous, from painter to inventor, to possible head of a secret society; Da Vinci would not have a problem lending his name to this robotic system which performs minimally invasive surgeries. The machine looks like a large and futuristic sewing machine, which it basically is.

Da Vinci gives superior visualization, enhanced dexterity, greater precision and ergonomic comfort to surgeons for a great range of surgeries, even those as complex as open-heart surgery. The system makes only small incisions of about 1 or 2 centimeters where needed, which can reduce hospital stays by half, reducing costs by about one-third and will mean less pain and a speedier recovery.

CyberKnife

The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is quite the opposite of its name. The CyberKnife is a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body. Developed by Accuray, CyberKnife uses continual image guidance technology and computer controlled robotic mobility to automatically track, detect, and attack tumors. The CyberKnife system precisely delivers high-dose radiation, reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and eliminating the need for invasive head or body stabilization frames. As a result, recovery rates are shorter and costs are lowered. Typically, patients require five or fewer visits. The device is relatively small and can therefore be used at smaller medical facilities.

This may be a great idea, until the CyberKnife develops full sentience and goes on the attack spree which will most definitely follow.

SOFI

While 20 years ago many thought that laser precision surgery would be the thing of the future, it is actually robot-assisted surgery that doctors say is going to make things much easier. For starters, aside from being far more precise it’s also steadier, less invasive and it could even be a lot less stressful for the surgeon who doesn’t even have to be in the same room. This is why SOFI (Surgeon’s Operating Force-feedback Interface) has taken this type of surgery to a more sophisticated level by adding haptic feedback that is received by the surgeon performing an operation form a remote location. The feedback is a critical part in the surgeons work and this will enable the surgeon to gauge the amount of pressure being applied to the tissues etc.

It will still be several years before SOFI makes its way into the operating tables but “she” will be one hell of a surgeon once there.

Nursebot

Yes, this is exactly as the name sounds. Nurses (the people) have seen a decline in their numbers in recent years, which has led to shortage in these much needed medical professionals. One of the least sought after, but most important roles in nursing is for the elderly. To help address the situation, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Michigan, and Carnegie Mellon University have been working on mobile robots that are specifically designed to help elderly people cope with day-to-day activities. This allows them to live at home and will help to reduce costs of nursing homes and rehab centers. The nurses can do things like temperature with laser beams and thermal camera imaging (which means no more rectal temperature-taking treatment for grandma). Some models have soft fingertips nimble enough to delicately grip a drinking straw and arms with the strength to lift an adult out of bed. The Nursebot can also respond to commands to do things like fetch medication or refreshments. Nursebot even comes equipped with telepresence capabilities, allowing live nurses or doctors to monitor medical conditions.

RIBA

Taking one look at this photo you will probably have no problem guessing where RIBA was invented. RIBA, the Robot for Interactive Body Assistance, was created in Japan and designed to lift people who are too weak or ill to sit, walk, or stand by themselves. While similar to the Nursebot, RIBA is designed entirely to carry individuals. The robot can, at the moment, lift people of up to 135 pounds, although that weight limit is expected to increase. The machine has 454 sensors built into its arms, along with a motor for lifting people, as well as a soft foam skin for comfort. The robot responds to commands, and is trained to recognize both faces and voices, according to its developers. Its prospective markets are nursing homes, long- and short-term care facilities and hospitals, especially when the robot is able to lift heavier weights.

Remote Presence RP-7

This machine looks like the robot from Lost in Space, a talking head with a rectangular box shape. This remote presence robot allows doctors in different geographical locations to teleconference right by a patient’s bedside. Real-time video allows for detailed viewing, examination and digital image capture of human anatomy, bedside monitors and equipment, EKG strips and light box images. The system is currently used in remote areas of northwestern Pennsylvania, western New York, and eastern Ohio, and even provides coverage to 14 prisons in region.

Lokomat

After suffering a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or other harm to the central nervous system, there is a good possibility that one may lose the ability to walk or to use other motor functions.

This leads to an intensive rehabilitation regiment, which dispite the patient’s hard work can produces limited results. This is why researchers in Switzerland designed Lokomat, which combines medical and engineering approaches to help patients regain mobility faster, with less pain. The Lokomat uses a robot to automate treadmill training, giving patients longer and more frequent sessions and resulting in a faster and improved return to mobility. The robot intelligently adapts its behavior to the patient’s individual capabilities.

The walking with Lokomat is said to improve pelvis and hip actuation as the walking is more natural, and the virtual training environments can increase patients’ motivation and engagement.

IntelliFill I.V.Pharmacy

The IntelliFill i.v. is designed to automate hospital pharmacies’ intravenous drug preparation process. It uses bar code scanning, vision systems, and weight confirmation steps to identify final products to reduce medication errors. The robot-based system promotes long-term hospital cost savings by preparing the final intravenous products in a syringe instead of an IV bag, according to developer Baxa. Unfortunately, the machine doesn’t vend sodas.

Nanotechnolgy

Nanotechnology, or, as it is sometimes called, molecular manufacturing , is a branch of engineering that deals with the design and manufacture of extremely small electronic circuits and mechanical devices built at the molecular level of matter.

One application of nanotechnology in medicine currently being developed involves employing nanoparticles to deliver drugs, heat, light or other substances to specific types of cells (such as cancer cells). Particles are engineered so that they are attracted to diseased cells, which allows direct treatment of those cells. This technique reduces damage to healthy cells in the body and allows for earlier detection of disease. For example, nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells are under development. Tests are in progress for targeted delivery of chemotherapy drugs and their final approval for their use with cancer patients is pending.

If you work in an office you will have most likely received an email in recent years about a man who died at his desk, while this can happen, the kicker was that he was not discovered to be dead for nearly five days. Although the validity of that story is debated, it highlights something that medical professionals have been telling us for years; sitting at a desk is killing us, literally. If you want to avoid an untimely demise under the florescent lights of that cubicle you love, read the top 10 biggest health problems that can come from working in an office, and the ways to prevent them.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Yes, you may think that this condition only affects the heavyset woman in the cubicle next to you, but actually CTS is becoming a very common issue with today’s modern office worker.

First documented en-masse after World War II, the issue was not taken seriously until the 1970s.

Up to that point it was thought to be just another excuse used by wimpy office workers to miss a day on the job. Turn to the days of the desktop computer and CTS has become an increasingly serious issue. Medical professionals describe CTS as pressure on the median nerve - the nerve in the wrist that supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. It can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers (at least it doesn’t make you go blind). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by performing a motion repeatedly over and over again; motions which may be familiar to male readers spending any amount of time on websites with dubious content.

Although other factors can play a part in CTS, in the workplace it is the endless hours spent on spreadsheets, word documents and emails that have led to the explosion of the condition in the last 20 years.

Prevention: Experts say that before you treat Carpal Tunnel with acupuncture, drugs or surgery, stretching and other exercises may help release tension in the wrist. Contrary to what many believe, your wrists shouldn’t actually rest on those cushy wrist pads that sit below your keyboard or mouse pad. They should actually be used as a guide for how high your wrists should be; i.e. The hands should hover over the wrist when at rest and the pads should only be used as a tool to rest your wrists in between bouts of typing.

Lower-Back Pain

While you may think that lower-back pain only affected your father after he “single-handedly wrestled with a full-grown grizzly bear”, it has become an increasing problem for office workers of all ages. Experts say that this is due to the increase in sedentary positions; namely, sitting on your ass for more than a few hours of the day. Add to that an increase in bad posture, and the result can be devastating to your body over time. Employers should be mindful of this as well since, according to Georgetown University, back pain is among the top reasons for employees having to miss work (at least that is what they claim to be missing work for). It isn’t just slouching either, sitting up straight but curving your back too much can also lead lower-back pain.

George Costanza had it right when he complained about back pain from his legendary wallet. Experts say that having large items in your back pocket such as a wallet, or smart phone, while sitting increases back pain as it puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Prevention: Besides being better aware of your posture as you’re sitting at your desk, getting regular exercise, including abdominal strengthening activities, should relieve some of the pressure on your lower back.

Make sure you stand often; the simple act of standing improves blood flow and engages your muscles from feet to trunk. If you do not have a reason to get up, make one! Moving your desk items such as printer, scotch tape, fax machine away from your desk, as well as getting up to talk to someone instead of sending them an email can help you get up and around more often.

The chair that you sit in is also very important; it should help support good posture and not reinforce bad ones.

Eyestrain

Those of us who have to look at spread sheets for hours on end will most certainly have felt, at some point, that the numbers were burning holes in our eyes.

Programmers sorting through thousands of lines of code on a mountain dew fuelled 3am coding binge are well aware of the melty eye phenomenon. Well, the feeling that your eyes may be, literally, melting out of your head isn’t too far off from reality; staring at a computer screen for long periods of time can lead to blurry and overly sensitive eyes, too-watery or too-dry eyes, headaches or a sore neck according to the Mayo Clinic.

Prevention: To prevent eyestrain at your computer, increase your font size so you don’t have to squint. You should also rest your eyes frequently by looking away from your computer screen, which, coincidentally, is a perfect excuse when your boss catches you taking a little catnap, “I was just resting my eyes to reduce eyestrain, boss.” If he doesn’t believe you, make sure he knows that as a worse case it can cause dizziness, fatigue or vomiting and is often attributed to learning and attention problems. Your office IT department may also recommend switching the text on your screen to white, while changing the background to black as a method to reduce eye strain; but if you’re using a CTR computer monitor, changing this set up often may cause the monitor to explode.

Viruses/Bacteria

When thinking about the world’s dirtiest jobs, working in an office generally doesn’t jump into most peoples minds, but “the office” in terms of bacteria and germs, is 400 times dirtier than your toilet. While generally not the breeding ground for the Ebola virus, desks are a rampant with germs, due in part to eating at your desk which can turn it into a bacteria cafeteria. It isn’t the fact that you’re eating food at your desk which is dirty, but rather the issue is that the aftermath of your delicious desk meal is rarely cleaned up; leaving lots of tasty crumbs for those hungry, hungry microbes. According to experts, the phone is the dirtiest item sitting on your desk, your keyboard is next, and the mouse and the computer follow. Food remnants can get into hard to reach areas of your desk and can attract rats, roaches and other creepy crawlers when the lights go out, which leads to unintended exposure to their germs. Add to this the coworker who never washes their hands after using the toilet and you don’t stand a chance. At the end of the day, your office is a bacterial battleground, and you are the most tempting target.

Prevention: If you frequently eat your lunch at your desk, you may want to make sure you have hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes to wipe down your work surface daily. That can also protect you from germs sprayed into the air by your coughing and sneezing coworkers. If your office has a communal kitchen sink with a sponge, use paper towels instead, just to stay safe from bacteria. And tell that dirty non-hand washing salesman to wise up, or else.

Also, if you bring your own lunch, remember that raw and cooked foods need to remain refrigerated; leaving them out for two hours or more is a food safety no-no.

Noise stress

Phones ringing, loud printers, annoying coworkers and other office noises can, in fact, be a health risk. Cornell University environmental psychologist, Gary Evans, conducted a study that revealed office noise in open-style offices can lead to “higher levels of stress and lower task motivation.” There may be a reason why the hustle and bustle of a post office causes some employees to “go postal.” Evans and his colleagues believe that while some low-level noise can lead to workers becoming more focused on their tasks, the long term effects of noise stress affect decision making, as well as concentration, keeping workers from realizing that they need to take a break or change their posture, which as we already know can lead to detrimental health. Long-term exposure to noise stress may mean your coworker could be packing more than just his lunch one day.

Prevention: Quiet, enclosed rooms can alleviate the effects of low-level office noise. In lieu of private offices, noise reducing headphones can help. If you are unable to wear headphones in the office, a brief walk to the park or another quiet area throughout the day can help to reduce your stress level.

The bottom line? Be considerate to your colleagues, and refrain from blasting that epic Death Metal track straight after lunch; or ever, now that we think about it.

Exposure to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electric and Magnetic Fields (say that five times fast)

Computer and cell phone emissions are so commonplace these days that they may seem harmless. But the radiation emitted from them has the potential to be hazardous. It is believed by some that high level EMF exposure can cause leukemia, cancers, reproductive and development problems, as well as depression. There is not much you can do to avoid EMF in the modern workplace, and even working at home will still result in exposure. So unless you’re ready to join the tin-foil hat brigade, with their shiny and stylish helmets, ELF and EMF exposure is here for a good long while to come.

Prevention: It is possible to minimize your contact with EMFs by keeping your distance from objects that put off emissions, including keeping your cell phone, tablet and other electronic devices in a far away desk drawer. Try also to place your computer hard drive as far away from your body as possible.

Pro Tip: Take your phone out of your pocket and put it on your desk as the first act of every day. You know, unless you want all that awesome radiation next to your junk. Mutant offspring For The Win?!

Obesity

Although not a new issue, the problem is becoming worse as lack of physical activities, increased levels of stress, and the growing prevalence of junk food contribute to an increase in obesity in workplaces around the world.

Colon cancer

While experts still debate on whether an office jobs can have a definitive link to colon cancer, it is certain that sitting for hours on end is a leading factor in the increase in colon cancer across the globe. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, experts have found that people who work in the office for more than 10 years, and spend most of the time in sedentary work at a desk, have up to a 44 per cent increase in a risk of colon cancer.

Prevention: As with many of the other items on this list, getting up and moving around during the day, as well as a healthy diet can help to reduce this risk. Broccoli has been identified as a leading preventative agent in the fight against colon cancer, so it could be a good idea to load up on a lunch full of that green leafy vegetable.

However, broccoli also causes flatulence; if colon cancer doesn’t get you, your stinky farts may just turn the tables and give your coworkers the incentive they need to get there first.

Heart disease

Even if you heart is not in your work, it is certainly being exposed to it. According to British scientists, those who work for 10-11 hours in the office have up to 67 per cent higher risks to develop heart disease.

As well as the other contributing factors already listed, it is due in part to working long hours and having less time for exercise, healthy eating and physician’s visits. Working in an office can also expose workers to more stress, less sleep and engage in other behaviors which contribute to cardiovascular risk, particularly that much needed smoking break.

Prevention: Getting up from your desk every 30 minutes can decrease the risk of having a heart attack. Take time during your lunch break to go for a stroll at a brisk pace and drink more water. However, if you’re getting up for a cigarette, you’re not fooling anyone. Get back to work.

Office Obstacle Course

You do, after all, work in a space that is filled with objects that can cause you to slip, trip or even electrocute yourself. As one expert puts it “the modern office is a minefield of objects that can lead to bodily harm”. Add simpleminded coworkers who spill liquid, string cables improperly or put obstacles in public places to the mix and the results can be disastrous. In fact, it’s well known that the Kitchen is the most dangerous place in an individual’s home, so adding all the office obstacles to an office kitchen gives us the perfect threat for the modern employee.

Prevention: Keep your eyes open and don’t be stupid! While this may seem relatively simple, one can easily get distracted when negotiating the office or think that they can get that piece of toast stuck in the toaster out by using the metal knife in the drawer.

From vampires to hiccups to sensitive skin, we’ve identified 17 medical conditions that will have you wondering if we’ve stolen them from an article by The Onion.

Foreign Accent Syndrome: “Do British! Okay, now try German! Can you do Australian? Irish?” We’ve all met someone who is great at doing accents, and although amusing, its always a relief when your friend returns to their usual voice. But what if they couldn’t? Although extremely rare (only 60 reported cases since 1941), FAS is a condition in which a patient starts speaking their native language in a different accent, seemingly brought on due to severe brain trauma, such as a stroke or seizure, and in extremely rare cases, an intense migraine. Scientists have found that certain parts of the brain control linguistic functions, and if these parts are damaged in an accident, it can result in mispronounced syllables and changes in tone and pitch. In one case, an Australian man started speaking with an Irish and an American accent after having a stroke. A British woman started speaking with a Jamaican accent after a stroke. While seemingly amusing at first, the accents do not go away and are thus traumatizing to both the speaker and their friends who have to listen to what sounds like a new person in front of them.

Cotard Delusion or Walking Corpse Syndrome: No no, this is not a disease that causes people to return from the dead and walk around in the land of the living. However, the people that have this disorder do believe that they are, in fact, walking corpses. They think that they are dead, decaying, or have lost limbs. When they look in the mirror and see a reflection, they feel no connection between the face they see and their inner selves, making them think they do not even exist. Cotard Delusion emerges usually in patients that are bipolar, schizophrenic, or depressed, and can only be treated with antidepressants, anti-psychotics, mood stabilizers, and electroconvulsive therapy. After being brought home to South Africa after a motorcycle accident in 1990, one man believed that he was a dead man wandering through hell (affirmed by the intense heat). Freaky, right?

Congenital Insensitivity to Pain: Backaches. Headaches. Scrapes. Broken bones. There are so many times in our lives when we experience excruciating pain and simply wish we couldn’t feel it. For some, that is a reality. While seemingly awesome (the Jackass crew would surely be jealous of this inability), it means that people will not stop engaging in something that is harmful to them simply because they can’t feel it. Children and babies are especially in danger because they easily bite off the tips of their tongues or move even if they have fallen and fractured a bone. Adults may not notice even small things such as infections, or in more intense situations such as a car crash, they may try to get up and move without even realizing they are injured, potentially worsening their injuries. Most children have to wear protective goggles because they poke at their eyes continuously. For many cases there is no treatment, and thus people must take preventive measures, such as pulling their children’s teeth before they can hurt themselves.

Porphyria, or Vampire Disease: Been reading Twilight or watching Vampire Diaries? Well, now you can believe the hype, because vampires do exist. Fortunately for us, these people just look like vampires, not act like them, because of a series of unfortunate chemical reactions in their bodies. People suffering from poryphia can be extremely sensitive to sunlight and will get burns or abrasions easily under the sun, obviously preferring to stay inside. Their urine is purplish-red, which some think is a result of drinking blood. Lastly, their skin begins to tighten and shrink, and as this occurs around the mouth, the canine teeth become more visible and akin to fangs. Now the only problem is…how do we distinguish these “vampires” from the ones that actually drink blood?

Cataplexy: We’ve all laughed until we couldn’t breathe and had to sit down, but what if you actually collapsed? Cataplexy is a muscular weakness that is triggered by emotions such as anger, fear, awe, or embarrassment, or actions such as laughing. Cataplexy results in buckled knees, slurred speech, arm weakness, and more. People with Cataplexy can become extremely unemotional in order to not risk dropping things or collapsing, which can change and diminish their quality of life. It can be treated with antidepressants.

Argyria, or Blue Skin Disorder: If you’ve ever seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, surely you remember Violet, who chewed blueberry gum until her skin turned blue. Unfortunately for some, this is a reality. Argyria is a condition in which the skin becomes blue or blue-grey colored, caused by improper exposure to chemical forms of silver. While silver is generally not dangerous, ingesting or inhaling forms of it, especially colloidal silver, results in silver/sulphide particle deposits in the skin, causing the color distortion. Now, don’t go thinking that just because you touch your grandmother’s jewelry you’re going to end up looking like a smurf. The United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1991 said that the most colloidal silver a person could be exposed to without damage was about 1 liter of 10 ppm colloidal silver per month. Those who have Argyria tend to have consumed gallons of colloidal silver per week for years, to treat sinus and arthritis problems. Thankfully, modern medicine is always looking for new ways to cure things that don’t involve making you a cartoon character.

Hypertrichosis or Werewolf Syndrome is a disorder in which hair grows excessively on the body. Sometimes people are born with it; sometimes it develops later in life. It can be localized or grow all over the body, including the face, leading to the “werewolf” suspicion. Doctors are not certain about what causes hypertrichosis (no, its not the full moon), but one theory is that the anagen phase of the hair cycle, which is when the hair grows, continues on past a normal point, leading to an abnormal amount of hair. There are removal options, such as typical cosmetic procedures like plucking and waxing. Laser hair removal, although normally permanent, is a long-term solution but not a final one, as the hair sometimes continues to grow back. Most people with the condition are actually accepting of it, saying that it defines who they are. Kind of makes me feel ashamed for complaining about a pimple.

Pica: We all ate sand as toddlers on the playground once, but there are some people who never stop. Pica is a disorder in which sufferers have an appetite for basically everything that you are never supposed to eat: metal, dirt, sand, chalk, batteries, office supplies such as tacks, toothbrushes, and soap. Unfortunately, the classic children’s rhyme “God made dirt, dirt don’t hurt!” is not entirely true. People with pica can accidentally ingest animal feces and parasites from the soil, not to mention contracting lead poisoning (which leads to brain damage) from eating paint or plaster. For those who eat glass or other sharp objects such as metal, they risk tearing their stomach or obstructing their intestine. Here’s where it gets interesting: pica is caused by a mineral deficiency, so whatever the patient is eating usually contains the mineral their body is lacking in. Pica is most commonly found in children (usually those with mental developmental disorders) and women (caused by traumatic events, OCD, or schizophrenia). Moral of the story: if your ten year old is still eating dirt…it may be worth a trip to the doctor.

Musicogenic Epilepsy: If you’re at a concert and the guy next to you is dancing so crazily that he looks like he’s having a seizure-he very well may be. Musicogenic epilepsy is just that-musically induced seizures. Triggered by a certain song or type of music, a person can start seizing anytime, anywhere, even if they just hear a few notes of that certain song. It may seem improbable, however the part of the brain that processes music overlaps with the part that triggers seizures. The rhythm of the music and a person’s emotional response to it can cause a group of cells to become excited, and result in a seizure. Surgery is necessary for treatment; doctors identify the parts of the brain that the music is affecting, and attempt to successfully remove them.

Exploding Head Syndrome: The name is misleading. Sufferers of EHS hear explosions, roars, gunshots, screams inside their heads, usually while they are asleep but sometimes while they are awake too. Patients will wake up and think someone has broken into their house, called their name, or that they are in the middle of an attack. EHS is more than “just a bad dream” though; the sufferer’s body responds immediately with fear, anxiety, elevated heart rate, and adrenaline, commonly leading to insomnia because patients are too scared to sleep. There’s no known cause (although there is a correlation to extreme stress) or treatment, though three people were cured by taking clomipramine, an antidepressant. One theory is that a mild seizure occurs in the temporal lobe where the nerve cells for hearing are. Sounds like this is a disorder Dr. House needs to study.

Progeria: If you’ve seen Benjamin Button, you’ve gotten a fair idea of what Progeria might look like. Born a health baby, a child will start rapidly displaying symptoms of aging around the age of 2 years old. Skin becomes wrinkled, joints become stiff, and arthritic, respiratory, and cardiovascular problems can even arise. There is no known cure, and sadly, few children with Progeria live beyond 13 years of age.

Capgras Delusion: We’ve all accidentally not recognized people from our past; old friends or teachers that we coincidentally see on the street as we temporarily forget their names. Some people, however, can’t even recognize a member of their own family. The Capgras Delusion is a disorder in which someone believes that a significant other or a member of their family has been replaced by an identical imposter. One scientist has a theory that it is caused by a disconnection between the temporal cortex and the limbic system. The temporal cortex is where faces are recognized, while the limbic system is associated with emotions. If there is a disconnect, the person cannot synthesize memories and feelings, and thus does not recognize their loved one. It may be found in patients who have had brain trauma or are schizophrenic.

Stendhal Syndrome: Ever seen a piece of art so beautiful it took your breath away? Well, apparently there is a condition in which sufferers have a rapid heartbeat, get dizzy, faint, and even hallucinate when exposed to a particularly breathtaking piece of art, or are in a place where there are many pieces of art, such as a museum. Stendhal Syndrome is commonly referred to as Florence Syndrome, as it often occurs in museums in Florence where many great works are housed.

Medical Students Syndrome: Although it sounds like it should be a plot-line on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, Medical Students Syndrome is a type of hypochondria in which medical students who study patients with certain diseases come to think that they too have those medical conditions. For example, after learning that pneumonia causes pain in a certain spot, the students will concentrate on that spot on their bodies and begin to think that even innocent symptoms are evidence of their own pneumonia, or they may temporarily develop the symptoms they have studied. Talk about mind over matter.

Synthesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to stimulation of another sensory or cognitive pathway. For example, patients might picture colors when they read or see letters or numbers. Days of the week and months of the year can have personalities. People also hear sounds when they see certain colors. It often arises after a stroke, while under the influence of psychedelic drugs, during a temporal lobe epilepsy seizure, or in people who are blind/deaf.

Dermotographia: What if you could write on your skin without any writing utensil but your fingernail? Dermotographia is a skin condition in which the skin becomes raised and inflamed when scratched or rubbed. It can be induced by anything that has an effect on one’s skin, such as certain fabrics or temperatures. Mast cells surrounded by a a weak membrane release histamines, resulting in the membrane breaking down and a red reaction appearing on the skin. Although it can be treated with antihistamines, one patient, Ariana Page Russell, decided to use her skin as her canvas, drawing different designs on herself and photographing them to make art.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is a neurological condition which distorts people’s perceptions. They may see objects as smaller or larger than they actually are, lose their sense of time, and also lack spacial perspective. So all things considered, its a lot like LSD. It is treated with antidepressants and other medicines used to cure migraines, as it is often caused by migraines and brain tumors.

Can’t be bothered to work out? Don’t have enough time to cook healthy foods? No problem. If you want to shed major pounds quickly, try any of these diet/detox fads. (Disclaimer: As soon as you go off the cleanse and eat normal food, all weight and more will be gained back. Good luck!)

10.) Blue Glasses Diet: If you’re trying to shed pounds for the summer, this may be the diet for you.

Instead of taking off your sunglasses when you get inside, leave ‘em on-on the one condition that they are blue. Not only does a blue tint make food look repulsive, inevitably making you less inclined to eat, but the color blue also suppresses the brain’s appetite center, while also blocking red rays of light, which stimulate the brain’s appetite center. If you’ve ever noticed how fast food signs are in warm colors like red, orange, and yellow, this is the reason why. In fact, when Burger King changed its logo to include blue, sales went down. Side effects of the blue glasses diet may include looking ridiculous.

9.) Piercing Diet: If you’re simply unable to resist sweets, ear stapling may be the best procedure for you. A specialist staples a small, stainless steel ring to your inner cartilage, targeting pressure points that release endorphins, reducing stress and thus, reducing emotional eating. This is also known as a placebo. The tongue piercing diet is a bit more straightforward; for two weeks after the piercing you are unable to eat solid foods, and sometimes even swallowing liquid food can hurt. This diet is more commonly known as starvation. Side effects may include paralysis of one side of your face if the piercing technician pierces too close to the vein. Get skinny or die tryin’, right? .

8.) Blood Type Diet: On this diet, your blood type supposedly corresponds to what food you should be eating. For example, Type O’s apparently need less grains, while Type A’s apparently need a fresh vegetarian diet. Nevermind the fact that everyone needs to eat a balanced diet, or that everyone’s bodies would do better with consumption of fresh, organic veggies. Side effects may include cravings, as well as fatigue due to lack of nutrients, or, if you’re “supposed” to eat less meat, your hair will start falling out because of lack of iron.

7.) Chewing Diet: Relatively simple, the chewing diet consists of chewing

each bite of food at least 32 times. Once food is chewed, you must tip your head back and allow it to slide down your throat. If there are any pieces that are too big to slide down your throat, you must pick them out and either throw them away. Side effects may include wanting a new jaw, being blacklisted from dinner parties, rearrangement of your schedule because dinner takes twice as long, and a general feelings of dread towards all meals.

6.) Babyfood Diet: If you’re a working mom with not enough time for your newborn child, not to worry. This is the perfect diet; not only can you sit down and eat with your baby, but you can eat what they eat too. Think of it as a bonding experience. On this diet, you can either eat the canned baby food that can be bought in the supermarket, or make your own purees. No bread, salt, dairy, or sweets allowed–only pureed veggies and fruit, up to 14 times a day. Just know before beginning this diet that your only dining companion will be your baby (jars of babyfood aren’t exactly welcome in four-star restaurants with friends), and that other friend we call a bowel movement won’t be visiting for a very, very long time.

5.) CottonBall Diet: We’ve all sat in the kitchen with a bag of chips, eating and eating but never feeling full. However, next time you’ve got the munchies, head to the bathroom instead of the kitchen. Instead of dipping your hand into the cookie jar, try cotton balls. Low in calories, but high in fiber and super filling. If you’ve really got a sweet tooth, you can dip them in gelatin beforehand to make them a bit tastier (although they’d obviously taste great with or without the added sweetener). You may have digestive problems and suffer headaches, dizziness, and fatigue from a severe lack of nutrients as a result, but what’s all that compared to a rich, flavorful meal of cotton?

4.) Cookie Diet: If you really can’t keep your hand in the cotton ball jar and out of the junk food drawer, there is still hope for you. On this diet, you eat six of Dr. Sanford Siegal’s special cookies per day, with one meal of lean protein and one cup of vegetables in the evening, totaling a grand 800 calories per day. These special cookies are only available to patients at Siegal’s weight loss treatment centers, with a cost of $400 per month.

Why spend an exorbitant amount of money just on cookies from Dr. Siegal when you can just pick up a box of Oreos at the grocery store, you ask? Well, because Dr. Siegal’s cookies have appetite suppressing enzymes in them, of course! Not only does the diet prevent you from getting your required nutritional amounts per day (at least 1,500 calories are recommended, and 5-9 cups of veggies), but you’re also adding unnecessary and unwanted chemicals into your body. Just look at Snooki from Jersey Shore, an obvious success story who has recently spoken to the media about her love of the diet.

3.) TapeWorm Diet: Ever been afraid to kill one of the massive bugs lurking in your bathroom? Well, how about eating one? For this diet, people willingly ingest tapeworm cysts (think of it as an egg–a cute baby tapeworm egg waiting to hatch) that will grow in their intestinal tract. The tapeworm interferes with digestion, enabling the host to eat as much as they want without the calories affecting their weight. After a loss of about 2 pounds per week, the tapeworm is killed with antibiotics as soon as the desired weight is achieved. Sounds pretty simple, right? Except for the fact that the tapeworms can grow up to 25 feet in length and then must be excreted. Also, seeing as they are illegal to buy or sell in the US, you will have to take a flight to Mexico and pay around US$2,000 for the ingestion procedure and purchase of the tapeworm.

Possible side effects may include anemia (as the tapeworm absorbs not just food, but also vitamins), bloating, headaches, weakness, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. Oh, and death. If the tapeworm moves through the bloodstream up to the brain or its eggs prevent organs from functioning correctly, the host will die. The best part is that you can when you excrete the tapeworm, it can either be alive, or dead! It’s lived in you, so why not have it live with you as a pet? It probably won’t want to leave you either–they don’t call it a parasite for nothin’.

2.) The Photoshop + Facebook Diet: If all of these diet fads aren’t working for you, and you’re still not seeing the results you like, try this one. Take one photo of yourself per week, and each week edit the photo on Photoshop to make it look like you’ve lost five pounds. Upload the photo to Facebook profile pictures. Encouraging comments will ensue. “Looking great!” “Keep it up!” Follow their advice, and upload a newly edited profile picture each week, until your Facebook profile shows you at your desired weight. Side effects may include not being able to leave the house for fear of your friends actually seeing what you look like, as well as feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and general anthropophobia.

1.) The Common Sense Diet: On this diet, you eat 5 small meals per day, drink water regularly, and exercise for 20-30 minutes a day. Meals should consist of whole grains, veggies, and lean protein, with sweets once in a while for good measure. Workouts should consist of a balance between cardio and weightlifting. Side effects may include feeling energetic and happy, having a toned physique and healthy cardiovascular system, and being able to maintain your new and improved figure in the future.

We humans have a special place in our hearts for food. Sure, we could survive on boiled rice and some type of green leafy thing; but where is the fun in that? As every international traveler knows, the scope of dishes around the planet means that there are often some terrifying surprises waiting for you at your next meal. What may not be known, however, is that some of these culinary horror stories are packed with healthy goodness. So when you’re next abroad, contemplating a tasty snack of Cockroach on a Stick, remember our list of 10 healthy foods that are absolutely terrifying.

10. Blood Sausage (AKA – Black Pudding)

Ubiquitous in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, Blood Sausage recipes will vary across the planet. The simplest way of creating this dish is to take a pig’s intestine, fill it with blood (from either a pig or a cow), add a filler (such as suet or barley), and cook until the blood is able to congeal upon cooling. Voila, as the French would say; you have just created a tasty treat where the main ingredient is blood. If you happen to be a Twilight fan, you will now be able to indulge your sparkly vampire fantasies in the comfort of your own home.

In all seriousness, as appetizing as it may be to eat a food composed almost 100% of blood, this type of sausage packs a mean punch in the health foods department. If the idea of consuming what is essentially coagulated blood does not appeal to you, consider this; Blood Sausage has virtually no carbohydrates, contains relatively few calories, and due to the main ingredient (blood) is one of the best sources of Iron and Zinc in the world.

Eating blood may not be for everyone (or anyone), but if you have the stomach for it Blood Sausage can help ensure that you have a full and balanced diet.

9. Kopi Luwak (AKA – Civet Cat Coffee)

Imagine this, you are a poor coffee farmer in South East Asia and you’ve been having trouble with local wildlife eating the coffee beans that you have been working so hard to grow and harvest. In most other parts of the world the wild animals threatening your crops would be hunted to extinction, leaving you free to tend to your coffee plantation in peace. Killing the animals however, doesn’t really mesh with the South Asian mindset; so instead, you choose to follow the animals in question and reclaim your stolen beans manually – by picking through feces (shit sifting if you will). If this sounds familiar, congratulations, you are a Kopi Luwak farmer.

Arguably the most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak is coffee that has been allowed to pass through a Civet Cat’s digestive tract. After roasting it is then packaged and sold for as much as US$ 600 a pound to “discerning” (read as clinically insane) customers. Tasty, tasty bum coffee; isn’t Ass to Mouth a big no-no?

However, as is the case with all coffee, science has discovered that our favorite morning beverage can do wonders for your health. Coffee reduces the risk of an individual developing Type II Diabetes, significantly lowers the chances for developing Colon cancer, and even helps reduce the risk of Parkinson’s Disease. In this sense, Kopi Luwak is a healthy living winner, but you could probably just drink Folgers instead.

8. Snake Wine

What is better than wine? The answer is obviously wine that has been fermented with a venomous snake. Another stellar idea brought to you by the people of South East Asia. Take your garden variety King Cobra, kill it while taking care to preserve the head (where the all important venom is located), and drop the carcass in a bottle of rice wine or local whiskey. After the snake has steeped in the alcohol for at least three months it is ready to serve; a nice rosé drink of death.

Vietnamese shamans and doctors have been prescribing Snake Wine as a cure-all for centuries, claiming that it will help with medical afflictions from impotency to hair loss. The common beliefs revolving around this beverage is that the more deadly the snake used in the making, or the longer the wine has been left to ferment, the stronger the medical effects.

How is Snake Wine healthy you ask? As with all alcoholic beverages science has shown that when consumed in moderation there are a number of potential benefits; such as a reduced risk of heart disease and lowered blood pressure. The blood from the snake also provides a good source of iron.

There have been few studies done on Snake Wine by western scientists; however, local witch doctors make a surprisingly strong argument in favor of the drink, especially at 4 am after a few pints.

7. Caterpillar Fungus

A long time staple of Traditional Chinese Medicine the Caterpillar Fungus (or Cordyceps sinensis) was first mentioned in a 1694 encyclopedia of Chinese medical practices. The process of acquiring the Caterpillar Fungus starts with the larvae of the Ghost moth, most commonly found throughout the Tibetan Plateau and across the Himalayas. During it’s developmental stages, the larvae becomes infected with the fungus, which in turn kills it’s host. Once the moth larvae is dead the fungus sprouts into a distinctive twig-like shape, starts producing spores, and continues on its mission of wholesale moth genocide.

If the idea of eating something which has killed its previous host sounds good to you, you’re not alone. Caterpillar Fungus is growing in international popularity and now commands the impressive price of US$ 900 an ounce. Claiming its current fame following the 1993 world athletic championships (after three record breaking Chinese athletes were found to have been taking a course of the fungus), the Caterpillar Fungus is thought to have cellular health properties, provide protection to bone marrow, and may offer protection against liver damage. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners claim that the fungus is an effective cure for everything from back ache to tuberculosis, though they say the same thing about tiger penis.

If you are a fan of invasion of the body snatchers, and have a thing for munching on the carcasses of dead moths, then the Caterpillar Fungus may be right for you.

6. King Salmon Heads (AKA – Stink Heads)

Salmon is an incredibly tasty fish, but we bet that you didn’t know that you can increase the tastiness of your fresh caught salmon by burying the head in the ground and leaving it to rot for a week or two. Alaskan natives get the credit for this tasty morsel, few cultures anywhere in the world would have thought to let their fish rot prior to eating and it is hard to believe that this occurs in real life, and not just in Neal Stephenson novels.

During the time that the salmon head is in the ground, the very natural process of decay begins to occur. Most western diners would pitch an absolute fit at being served fish less than a day old, so the idea of being given a dish containing fermented fish head paste is distinctly unappetizing. It is extremely hard to imagine eating something that smells like two week old fish. Modern preparation of this dish has meant that traditional holes in the ground have been replaced by plastic bags and containers which in turn lead to an increased chance of botulism in the rotten fish head.

Taste and texture aside, Stink Heads are still fish, and as such contain important omega fatty acids. Omega 3 has been shown to have possible anti-cancer effects, and may reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular death in individuals who have as little as one gram of Omega 3 per day. Further studies have indicated that fish are able to improve an individuals mental abilities and may help children who have learning or developmental issues to lead a normal and healthy life.

The bottom line is that fish are good for you, but you’d probably be better off getting the catch of the day rather than eating a week old salmon head.

5. Fermented Tofu

What smells worse than a sewer on a hot day, has the consistency of rancid jello, and looks like blue cheese gone wrong? The answer, of course, is Fermented Tofu, also known as Chinese Cheese. One of the Chinese names for Fermented tofu is Chou Doufu. The word chou can be literally translated as “foul smelling, stinking, or putrid”.

This appetizing dish is made by allowing cubes of Tofu, placed under hay, to dry and ferment in the open air. The fermenting aspect is actually a result of aerial bacteria and fungal spores raining down on the tofu during the drying process. Once a suitable level of bacteria and fungi have settled on the tofu the cubes are then placed in brine to pickle. Add some flavoring, such as Chinese rice wine, or some pickles, and you have yourself some delicious Fermented Tofu.

If you can actually manage to eat this delightful food you may be interested in learning that Tofu is one of the healthiest foods around. Tofu is an excellent dietary source of protein, and it is recommended that people trying to avoid diabetic heart disease or atherosclerosis try to have a serving of tofu everyday. In addition to this soy (the key ingredient in Tofu) has shown to have beneficial effects on women experiencing menopause as well as having numerous minerals good for antioxidant protection and increased energy levels.

Try some Fermented Tofu, the stuff is good for you; or you could always lick a sewer pipe, there shouldn’t be too much of a difference as far as your mouth is concerned.

4. Chumiles (AKA – Stink Bugs)

In Taxco, Mexico, the first Monday after the Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos) the local populace gathers together and hunts down the most fearsome animal in the land. Well, not really. They actually attempt to collect tiny 6 legged insects that are affectionately called “stink bugs”.

These stink bugs come in two distinct types, the larger are called Jumiles and their slightly smaller counterparts are Chumiles; both are considered delicacies among the local populace. Once the Jumiles/Chumiles have been found they will be consumed live. This is the Taxco version of picking a cockroach up on the ground and chowing down. Larger Jumiles are said to have an almost overpowering taste of iodine; a taste which connoisseurs assure us needs to be acquired. Although the savings potential could be huge; just imagine, instead of going grocery shopping all you’d have to do is camp out in the kitchen with a flash light – much more convenient.

As tempting as live insects may be to some of us, the Taxco natives may have stumbled onto the animal equivalent of Red Bull – Chumiles contain high amounts of riboflavin vitamins, more commonly found in modern energy drinks. In addition to this, Chumiles also have incredibly high levels of Niacin (key in preventing the disease Pellagra) and iodine (you’d just have to taste one to come to that conclusion). Plus, you can always use dead Chumiles to make an awesome taco sauce; OLE!

3. 100 Year Old Egg (AKA – Century Egg)

Despite the name a Century egg is not, in fact. 100 years old. Take an egg, coat the exterior in an alkaline clay (using wood ash, quicklime, and salt), roll in a mass of rice chaff and leave to dry. Wait three to four months and remove the alkaline paste covering your delectable treat. The putrid, opaque green, object that you have just uncovered is a Century Egg.

A Century Egg is really only an egg that has had its internal PH raised and been allowed to petrify. As such, it is no surprise that the yolk becomes a very dark shade of green and elicits a strong odor of ammonia and sulfur – always a natural occurrence when leaving perishable items to rot. 100 Year old Eggs are big business around the South-East Asia region, with local variants of the recipe being found in Vietnam, Thailand (where the name means “horse urine egg”), Hong Kong and China. In recent years there have been reports of “fake” Century Eggs being produced throughout China which have high lead and zinc concentrations. Always make sure your rotten food is from a reputable source.

Eggs are always a good source of essential minerals and vitamins, they contain the good types of fat, and studies done by the Harvard School of Medicine have indicated that regular consumption of eggs may protect against blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. 100 Year old eggs have been a staple in Chinese cuisine for hundreds of years, and as such all signs point to Century Eggs as being seriously good for your health; if you can get one in your mouth.

2. Balut

Consisting of a fertilized poultry egg (usually duck or chicken) with a semi developed fetus, Balut is a common street food in the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The egg is boiled and then sold to customers, who will typically sip the broth from around the embryo, prior to eating the bird fetus with a pinch of salt or some chili vinegar. The taste is best described as “acquired” and we have been told that it is one of those dishes that you either love or hate.

The age of the egg to be cooked is something of a local preference. In the Philippines, for instance, it is preferable to only boil Balut which are 17 days old. At this stage the fetus has not developed any feathers and the bones are virtually non-existent. In Vietnam, however, the ideal age for a Balut is between 19 and 21 days – the Vietnamese prefer to wait until the fetus can be readily identified as a bird. In Vietnam the Balut is crunchy, not so much in the Philippines.

Half Egg, half bird, Balut has protein and goodness aplenty. Filipinos believe that the Balut is good for arthritis of the knees, and is useful as an aphrodisiac. Funnily enough, western science has come to the conclusion that eating chicken (no mention on Chicken fetuses though) is good protection against bone loss in older people. Poultry in general is also an excellent source of B vitamins, and makes Balut a good food for helping keep your metabolism running.

1. Placenta

Child birth is an often messy affair; there is lots of screaming, cursing, blood and pain. The act ultimately ends with the birth of a child, and once the umbilical cord is cut most parents will call it a day and proceed with the necessary paperwork of making sure the newly arrived infant will be an upstanding, and properly documented, member of society. However, there has been an emerging trend in recent years whereby the traditional rituals and practices associated with child birth do not end with the delivery of a baby, but rather with the mother requesting to consume her own placenta.

Placenta, or afterbirth, is the sack which connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall of the mother (essentially keeping the fetus firmly in place) and provides the unborn child with oxygen, food, and waste disposal services. After a child is born, the mother’s body will eject the placenta as the final act of the delivery. For those of you who have not experienced child birth first hand, imagine being confronted with a bloody alien blob which slightly resembles a dead jellyfish; this will then be eaten.

Traditional to the Chinese, placentophagy (the fancy word for “eating a placenta”) is becoming increasingly popular in modern Europe and the Americas. There are a number of recipes for placenta, some of the more popular include; having the placenta preserved and placed into capsules to be taken as a pill, served as a smoothie, added to a nutritious stew, or even incorporated into a red sauce pasta dish.

Many cultures believe that consuming ones own placenta is incredibly beneficial to the mother. This is due to the fact that the placenta contains many good minerals, vitamins, and hormones, which modern society believes are good for helping against post partum depression, stimulating milk production in the mother, and which will help the mum regain some of the vital nutritional supplements which she has been diverting to her unborn child in the 9 months prior to birth.

We highly recommend steak and placenta pie, you know, if you’re going to be eating it anyway.

With all the modern medical advancements in cures for diseases, one disease which still remains cure-less is Alzheimer’s. A degenerative illness that severely affects more than 5 million people worldwide. Some modern drugs can provide a modicum of relief for people suffering from mild memory loss; however scientists need a better understanding of the disease, and a fresh strategy for treating it. The best that we can do today is simply try to prevent Alzheimer’s, and the weapons used to prevent the oncoming of such a crippling disease are found in everyday foods. So what foods exactly are used to ward off Alzheimer’s? Here’s a quick list of the seven, most common, most accessible foods that can be used to prevent Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is a crippling neurodegenerative disease that results in loss of brain function. Early symptoms are forgetfulness and impaired awareness of the events of daily life. The disease is more common the older you are and affects on average about 3.1% of Americans between 70-79 years. Certain vitamins and minerals are particularly effective at preventing possible development of Alzheimer’s. This is because these vitamins and minerals ensure a healthy heart and brain, allowing for a naturally stronger defence system which can help to ward off Alzheimer’s.

 

1.    Eggs: The first on our list, and one of the best foods that can help prevent Alzheimer’s is the common, everyday big breakfast ingredient the egg. Eggs provide good dietary source of choline, a major component of lecithin, the yellow fatty substance found in the egg’s yolk. This helps to repair damaged brain tissue. In addition to this they also provide good sources of iron, vitamin B12, other major vitamin B groups such as B2, great source of protein, and on top of all this, is easily digested into the system so your body can start benefiting from these ingested minerals.

 

2.    White Germ and whole grain breads: The second item on our list is white germ and whole grain breads, this common food has many forms of being eaten. Plain, toasted, fried, and even two together with fillings on the inside. These breads are high in Lecithin and Choline, like eggs. But also are full of other healthy components which include carbohydrates, vitamin E, many B vitamins, and numerous minerals and anti oxidants which help to prolong the onset of possible Alzheimer’s

 

3.    Soy Beans and Soy Products: Soy products are another great source of choline along with eggs and white germ and grain breads. They also are rich in protein, carbohydrates, calcium and fiber. Soy is also a good source of folic acid; also know as, folate acid. Soy is also known to lower blood levels of homocysteine. Soy products basically can break up deadly amyloid protein that forms fibrous deposits in the brains of potential Alzheimer’s patients.

 

4.    Blueberries: Blueberries, apart from being blue and extraordinarily tasty, Blueberries are one of the best foods, that when consumed help at preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s. This is due to their high concentration of vitamin C in comparison to other vitamin C rich foods like oranges, guava, and kiwi fruit. This helps to ensure a healthy brain which in turn can slow the development of Alzheimer’s. Blueberries also contain a lot of anti-oxidants which can help fight the onset of the ageing process as well, such as wrinkles appearing and prolonged memory.

 

5.    Orange Colored Fruits and Vegetables: Orange colored fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, carrots and pumpkins, in comparison contain a lot more antioxidants, than other colored fruits and vegetables. These antioxidants are primarily vitamins A, C, and E. Scientists believe that the best way to sustaining a healthy brain to fight off Alzheimer’s disease is to have a healthy heart, pumping lots of blood to the brain. Vitamin A can help contribute to a healthy heart by immensely reducing the risk of heart disease. The vitamin C in the orange fruit and vegetables helps to fight off the build up of cholesterol, which can allow more flow of blood to the head, resulting in higher brain hydration.

 
6.    Fish: The second last on the list and also one of the stronger foods which help to fight off the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The more fish or omega 3 enriched eggs you eat, the better chance you have to avoid Alzheimer’s disease years down the road. This is because Alzheimer’s patients are found to have lower blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid, aka DHA, than people with normal cognitive functioning. DHA is an Omega 3 fatty acid that is already known to reduce heart disease, depression and attention deficit disorder; however it has recently been discovered to help fight off Alzheimer’s disease as well. The best sorts of fish to eat are particularly salmon and tuna, as these fish are the most Omega 3 fat packed.

 

7.    Turmeric: The last on our list is probably by far also the best culinary delight at preventing the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric. Turmeric for those who do not know it, is the yellow substance in curry powder that gives curry powder its unique flavor. Epidemiologists have noted that cultures consuming large amounts of turmeric have extremely low incidence of Alzheimer’s in their senior population. India, for example, whose population uses turmeric as both a herbal medicine and a cooking ingredient, has less than one quarter of cases in that of the U.S, despite having well over 3 times the population of the U.S, and the lack of quality of life in India compared to the U.S. Turmeric comes from the Curcuma Longa plant which can be found in many parts of South Asian countries.

 

There you have it, 7 common foods that can be used to battle and prevent the on set the Alzheimer’s disease.

Western diseases have been dispersed across the globe since the age of exploration. When European troops alighted in the new world, they brought with them all kinds of infectious diseases that devastated the native populations of Asia and the Americas. Back then, the so-called “afflictions of affluence” that originated in the West were syphilis and influenza. Many centuries later, the conditions suffered by the rich have evolved into chronic conditions that take years to develop and will not be cured.

Changing lifestyles have made cancer and diabetes the new silent killers, which take lives in wealthy countries while impoverished nations deal with infections. The United Nations has focused on combating infectious diseases to improve life in developing countries. However, as the public health and quality of life improves in low-income countries, the chronic illnesses that once plagued only the richest countries are now becoming the most serious threat in poor countries as well.

Afflictions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer are all a product of the modern lifestyle: inactivity as a result of urbanization and a general disregard for health. Poor diets, smoking and increasing pollution also contribute. As a result, developed countries must invest funds in treatment and research in order to combat these incurable maladies.

Malaria, tuberculosis, measles and cholera are all big problems in poor countries, though can be easily controlled with inoculation and treatment. These “ailments of poverty” used to be the most ominous health concerns in poor countries, but chronic conditions have recently surpassed infections as the biggest global killer. Nevertheless, worldwide health organizations are focusing on infections as an impediment to development rather than trying to institute preventative measures for the chronic afflictions that accompany this modern world.

Perhaps the most pivotal issue in the evolution and spread of chronic conditions is that these diseases hit younger and kill more quickly in lower-income countries than in middle- or high-income countries. Currently, chronic ailments account for half of the illnesses in poor nations, which is a huge drain on the health system and labor force. Because of inferior health infrastructure and lower general well-being, chronic diseases take their toll more easily than in countries where people have a good diet and the aid of knowledgeable physicians. Africa is the only continent where more people die from infectious diseases than from chronic ones. Health officials estimate that by 2015 chronic disease will be the top killer globally.

In 2005, three quarters of the deaths from chronic afflictions occurred in poor countries. This shows that international awareness needs to shift in a different direction. Rather than focusing on infection as a threat, authorities need to start targeting prevention and treatment of chronic ailments. People are living longer, getting fatter and smoking more in poor countries, resulting in rapidly escalating numbers of patients with diabetes and cancer. The trend is reversing in rich countries, where people are taking better care of their bodies and ridding their lives of cigarettes.

So why does it remain that people are more concerned with bird flu than with hypertension? Ostensibly, it may be because infections are simpler to treat, usually with immunization or drugs, and chronic diseases require long-term management. But as the world continues to develop and lifestyles evolve, more resources must be allocated to care for these chronic diseases as they eclipse infections as a threat to world health.