Twin bomb explosion rock Kenya

A deadly twin bomb explosion rocked Mombasa, Kenya yesterday May 3rd, killing at least 3 people, and injuring several others.

According to a Sky News report, one blast happened at a busy bus station in Mwembe Tayari, near the city centre, when grenades were thrown into a crowded minibus killing at least three people, and wounding seven others. The other explosion occurred at a well-known beach resort hotel, the Reef Hotel, in the Nyali area of the city, although no casualties are reported in that explosion. A bag was said to have been dropped by the entrance of the hotel which was later discovered to contain the explosive.

In Sept. 2013, Kenya suffered a devastating terrorist attack in which a shopping mall was attacked  in a 4 day siege killing at least 67people.

Anxiety Treatment Exercises

Anxiety disorders affect millions of people and are the most common mental illness in the United States. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America website, there are a number of effective therapies and exercises available to treat the symptoms of anxiety. Self-help exercises that you can practice to lessen the symptoms of your anxiety include guided meditation, breathing exercises and relaxation exercises. Have a question? Get an answer from a doctor now!

Guided Meditations

Meditation is a practice that is highly praised by business executives, religious leaders, spiritual healers and everyday people. The difference between guided and unguided meditation is that guided meditation give you a kind of script to follow while you meditate. You are given visual clues, encouragement and techniques to control your breathing and ease your stress. Guided meditations can help you cope with anxiety as the technique has been shown to reduce the heart rate, create a sense of calm and well-being, and promote a positive self-image. The resources section at the end of this article provides links to websites that offer guided meditations for you to use at your leisure. When doing a guided meditation, remember you only need about five to ten minutes. If you're suffering from anxiety, it is helpful to try a meditation before entering into a situation that you find stressful, such as being around large groups of people or being in a small area.

Breathing Exercises

According to the article "5 Simple Exercises for Managing Anxiety" by Therese J. Borchard, breathing from your diaphragm creates a sense of well-being and calm. For this reason, when you begin feeling anxious, focus on slowing down your breathing and pushing that air deeper into your lungs. This will ease your rising tension and help you bring yourself back to the present. HolisticOnline.com's article "Breathing Exercises" suggests you stand with your feet shoulder width apart and inhale slowly while raising your hands above your head. Exhale, and turn your hands up toward the sky. Inhale once more and slowly rotate your hands back toward the ground, and slowly lower your arms while feeling the air rush out from your nostrils. You can repeat this exercise in sets for more effectiveness, as the technique forces you to focus on your breathing and your body, keeping your attention away from your worries.

Relaxation Exercises

The MayoClinic.com article "Relaxation Techniques" presents a number of relaxation techniques you can use when you feel your anxiety levels rising. You should also consult your physician or a mental health professional to give you addition tips and techniques, especially if you begin feeling uncomfortable or distressed while performing these techniques.

You can use visualization to reduce anxiety by imagining yourself in a serene environment. Visualization is a somewhat misleading term, because although you imagine what the place looks like, you also involve all of your senses and imagine what the place feels and smells like. For example, if your place of serenity is an open field looking out over a green valley, you'd not only see the valley but also smell the slightly sweet scent of clover in the air, and you'd feel the wind running softly against your skin. Initially, you may have difficulties making the "image" stick, but relaxation exercises take practice; the more you do them, the stronger they'll be.

You can also try progressive muscle relaxation, in which you tense up groups of muscles (such as your upper arm muscles) and slowly relax them. You can do this throughout your whole body starting with your feet and ending with your face. (You may be surprised how much tension you carry in your face.) Progressive muscle relaxation can also help you fall asleep if anxiety makes it difficult for you to fall asleep.

Eating Out & Entertaining

Introduction

"Would you like that 'supersized'?" is a common question at fast-food restaurants. The large portions we're served when eating out at restaurants and take-out establishments can foil any healthy diet or weight loss program. The good news is that eating out healthfully has never been easier.

Whether you're on the road, in an airport, or in your neighbourhood, you'll find that nearly all restaurants offer healthy choices for discriminating diners. When eating out, you can almost always find a nutritious salad, grilled chicken sandwich, or cup of soup that will satisfy your hunger without excess calories. (Just watch out for "all you can eat" buffets that tempt you into eating more than you should.)

At restaurants, "have it your way" -- ask for the food to be prepared the way you like it. And be picky when scanning the offerings at parties, picnics, or barbeques. When eating with friends at a party or a picnic, your best bet is bring a healthy dish to share. That way, you can be sure there's something nutritious for you to eat.

Experts offer the following tips to help you make the most nutritious and healthy choices when you're eating out:

Have sauces served on the side.
Choose light salad dressings or vinaigrettes, served on the side.
Go for foods that are baked, broiled, roasted, grilled -- any preparation other than fried is the best choice.
Select broth-based soups.
Have tomato or vegetable toppings on pasta.
Go easy on the cheese.
Limit bread, chips, or whatever is in the basket while you await your meal.
Order fresh fruit or fruit sorbet for dessert.
Choose grilled chicken or lean meat sandwiches.
Hold the french fries; substitute a side salad (easy on the dressing).
Skip the casseroles unless you know what they contain.
Choose simply prepared foods without lots of extra ingredients and calories.
Enjoy as many simply prepared vegetables as you like.
Keep portions small.
Avoid mindless hand-to-mouth eating.
Enjoy a salad and an appetizer in place of an entree, or take home half your meal for tomorrow's lunch.

What Are the Causes of Red Skin?

If you blush because you are embarrassed or shy, you have a temporary condition that turns your face red. It's nothing to worry about. But some people have other, more serious conditions that turn their skin redsome short-term and some long-term.Labels





Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition that includes bumpy skin, acne-like breakouts and red skin that gets worse if you drink alcohol or eat spicy foods, according to freebeautytips.org. Rosacea tends to occur in fair-skinned people, who blush easily. Rosacea starts slowly and persists until a person's face is always red, pimples occur and blood vessels in the center of the face (cheeks, chin, nose and forehead) become visible. Skincarephysicians.com reports that rosacea may be caused by Demodex folliculorum, a mite that lives in hair follicles. The mites clog oil glands and this results in inflammation or red skin. The medical community also believes that Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that results in intestinal infection, may be the cause. Rosacea afflicts mostly women; however, when men have this condition, it causes rhinophyma, which makes the nose appear extremely red, deformed and too big, according to sbmedex.wordpress.com.

Contact Dermatitis
If you have sensitivity or an allergy to certain substances and your skin turns red when you come in to contact with these substances, this is contact dermatitis, according to revolutionhealth.com. Contact dermatitis can cause your skin to hurt, swell, heat up and become scarlet. Some soaps and detergents may have this effect, as can household cleaning products. Other culprits include rubber products, latex, elastic and dyes.

Sunburn
A sunburn can turn your skin red. When skin is overly exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, the skin becomes inflamed and turns red. Although summertime sunburns are well documented, your skin can burn anytime you are exposed to the sun without wearing sunscreen.

Red Rashes
Psoriasis results in red, scaly, itchy patches on your joints, according to medicineplus.com. Diaper rash will turn an infant's bottom red. Poison ivy will result in a red rash anywhere that your body has been exposed to the plant. Cradle cap, which newborns sometimes get, is called seborrheic dermatitis. The baby's scalp is affected by this condition because of overproduction of skin oil and irritation caused by yeast (malessizia), according to medicineplus.com. This can cause red skin, but not always. Other rashes that can turn a child's skin red include milia, heat rash, eczema, a yeast infection and baby acne, according to righthealth.com.

Additional Causes
A high temperature can cause a person's skin to become flushed. Cellulitis is a skin infection caused by bacteria that can make your skin feel hot to the touch. Cellulitis is painful. The infected area will become red. Scarlet fever is a sickness that is caused by a bacteria called group A streptococcus. It will result in a rash consisting of tiny red bumps that appear on the abdomen and chest. People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol may develop a red nose.

Medication
According to wrongdiagnosis.com, Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a rare condition that is often caused by medications and can result in red patches on the skin, in addition to rashes, blisters in the mucous membranes, persistent fever, swollen eyelids, flu symptoms and conjunctivitis. Whenever a patient starts on a new medication, he and his doctor should be on the lookout for these symptoms, because this syndrome can be fatal.

US embassy in Nigeria warns of possible terror attack on Sheraton Hotel in Lagos

The United States Embassy in Nigeria today Friday May 2nd issued a warning to U.S citizens, asking them to avoid Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, and also said 'groups associated with terrorism' are planning an attack on Sheraton Hotel in Lagos.

The warning was posted on their website .
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria and recommends that U.S. citizens avoid all travel to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states because of the May 14, 2013 state of emergency proclamation for those three states by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As of late April, groups associated with terrorism allegedly planned to mount an unspecified attack against the Sheraton Hotel in Nigeria, near the city of Lagos. There was no further information regarding which of the two Sheraton Hotels in Lagos was the possible target, or if both of the Sheraton Hotels are possible targets. There is no further information regarding the timing or method of attack. U.S. citizens are cautioned to avoid these hotels at this time.

The security situation in the country remains fluid and unpredictable. The U.S. Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens in Nigeria to keep personal safety and health in the forefront of your planning. We remind U.S. citizens to review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.

The Department strongly advises U.S. citizens who travel to or reside in Nigeria to enrol in the State Department's Smart Traveller Enrolment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens without internet access may enrol directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. STEP enrolment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to contact you in an emergency.

What to Feed Your Baby in Year 1 - Starting Solids

Start Solids at 4-6 Months
That's the recommended time to introduce solid foods -- usually rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, to start. But it's not just about age. Before starting solids, babies should be able to sit up (with support), turn their heads away, and make chewing motions. And, they should be over the "extrusion reflex" that makes them spit out anything but liquid.

19 Habits That Wreck Your Teeth

Teeth

It’s natural and sugar free, so you might think ice is harmless. But munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may trigger quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache. Next time you get the urge for ice, chew some sugarless gum instead.

Playing Sports With No Mouth Guard
Whether you play football, hockey, or any other contact sport, don't get in the game without a mouth guard. This is a piece of molded plastic that protects the upper row of teeth. Without it, your teeth could get chipped or even knocked out when the action gets rough. Self-fitting mouth guards may be purchased at a store, or you can have one custom made by your dentist.