Archive for December 31st, 2010

The Business of Sports and the Case Study of Michael Vick

Comments: 0December 31st, 2010 by admin

Many people separate business and sports and if you will note they are on separate sections of our newspapers. But the reality is that “sports is very much a business” in America. In the major leagues like the NBA, NFL, and to the Baseball Association, those are all very large franchises. So is NASCAR for that matter. And for these businesses it is all about branding, image, and marketing. If they don’t market themselves well to sports fans, those fans will not be interested and they will stop paying the fees to watch these events or buy logoed products.

Now let’s take the case study of Michael Vick, who was convicted of sponsoring dog fights, which obviously is unfortunate considering Americans love their dogs, and the reality of nonprofit groups like PETA, who love animals and don’t want any harm to come to them. PETA is a group that gets a lot of press and they often have riots and protests that make the headlines of the major media. Now that Michael Vick has been reinstated into the league, a team might pick him up to play for them.

It will of course, be interesting because he has a very good player, but whatever team picks him up, well they will have do a little damage control in the media and they might take a few fans and pet lovers refuse to watch their games. This is a serious issue, and one that will be very interesting to watch. You must remember that sports is a business, and Michael Vick is an awesome player, but he has also been convicted of cruelty to animals. Please consider all this.

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Drug Addiction – Is it Hereditary?

Comments: 0December 31st, 2010 by admin



According to a research study conducted by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (NCADI), children of alcoholic parents are four times likely to be an alcoholic than any other children. It simply means that children of alcoholic parents are at higher risk of becoming alcoholic than children whose parents are not alcoholic. But, it does not prove that the problem of alcoholism is hereditary. If proper care and precaution is taken, it can usually skip from generation to generation. But, it is difficult to deny that alcoholism has genetic factors.

Following three major factors are responsible for causing drug addiction in a person:

Personal Habits:

Children of alcoholic parents see a lot of alcohol at home. They gradually get used to have alcohol everywhere. Chances are high of their picking and tasting drinks.

Surrounding Environment:

The environment is very much responsible for causing drug addiction problems in a person. Children, who see alcohol, at home everywhere usually witness unhappiness, bereft of love and care from family and feel insecurity often. So, an unhappy childhood contributes a lot in the development of alcohol problems at the adult age.

Heredity:

Heredity or family linage plays an important role in getting alcohol patterns in a person. Usually, sons tend to affect more than daughters of a family. Many studies have revealed that children face risk of almost 50% if their parents are involved in alcoholism. So, children of alcoholic parents must take care of themselves properly. They should monitor their behavior and actions closely to detect the possible signs frequently. If detected, look for effective solutions at the earliest.

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Posted in Alcohol

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Comments: 0December 31st, 2010 by admin



Cancer of the ovary, a disease affecting one of both of the ovaries, is one of the most serious and under-recognized ailments affecting women. In United States, it is considered as the fifth among the most fatal gynecologic cancers (affecting the female reproductive organs). It is said that in every 57 women, one may be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and almost half of those women diagnosed with the said cancer may die in a span of five years.

Ovarian Cancer: Overview

Ovarian cancer is characterized by the malignant growth of one or of the two ovaries. The cells in the ovary multiply progressively and abnormally to the point that they can no longer be controlled. As a result, excessive tissues start to form tumors, which may be benign or malignant. The malignant ones are those that cause cancer.

The growth of the tumor may not necessarily start from the ovary or the ovaries, but may have spread to the ovary from other parts of the body, oftentimes the breast. The malignant tumor in the ovary may likewise spread to other parts of the body. The most common cases of ovarian cancer arise from epithelial cancer, which affect the epithelial cells (cells found in the tissues covering surfaces of the ovary).

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

It is important for women to be aware of the nature and symptoms of ovarian cancer as this deadly cancer can affect women of any age. However, women face higher risk of ovarian cancer as she gets older, particularly after she reaches the age of fifty.

Most of the time, the symptoms of ovarian cancer do not show up until the cancer is widespread or in its advanced stage. This makes a woman at higher risk since it can be too late before she may be able to detect symptoms of ovarian cancer. Moreover, there are only very few symptoms of the cancer, which may be mistaken as symptoms of other health conditions.

The very first symptom of ovarian cancer is vague abdominal discomfort and bloating, which is caused by the excess fluid in the abdominal cavity. One always feels full even when she has not eaten much. As time passes by the swelling of the abdomen intensifies that some of your clothes may no longer fit you. Usually, it is because of this unusual swelling (way different from a woman’s monthly water retention) that most women go to the doctor for check up.

Bloating is accompanied by digestive disturbances, unexplained changes in the bowel habits and urinary patterns. There are frequent trips to the bathroom even in the absence of a urinary tract infection or other health problems. One may feel nauseous, very tired and she may feel like vomiting at times. She may also feel discomfort and pain during an intercourse.

Pain and swelling in the pelvic area is also noticeable upon closer physical examination. This is due to the swelling in the pelvis. In very rare instances, a woman in her postmenopausal stage experiences abnormal bleeding.

Other vague and non-specific symptoms of ovarian cancer include back and leg pain, loss of appetite, undernourished appearance, weight gain or weigh loss, and unusual bleeding in the vagina (heavier and longer than the usual menstrual bleeding).

Detecting Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Screening is a way to detect the symptoms of ovarian cancer. The earlier the patient is screened, the better so as to decrease the mortality and morbidity of ovarian cancer. One of the most effective ways to detect the cancer in its early stage is through pelvic and rectal exam.

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Posted in cancer