Biggest killers of young people

Fri, Sep 11 10:09 AM

REUTERS – The first study to look at death rates across the world for young people aged 10 to 24 years was published on Friday.

The research, conducted by an international group of experts in adolescent health and backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), included the following key findings:

* The top ten causes of death in all 10-24 year olds, male and female combined, globally were

1) Road traffic accidents (10 percent);

2) Suicide (6.3 percent);

3) Violence (6 percent);

4) Lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia (5.9 percent);

5) Tuberculosis (5.5 percent);

6) AIDS (5.5 percent);

7) Drowning (4.1 percent);

Fire-related deaths (2.6 percent);

9) Meningitis (2 percent);

10) War (1.8 percent)

* For males aged 10-24 worldwide, the top five causes of death were

1) Road traffic accidents (13.9 percent);

2) Violence (9.2 percent);

3) Suicide (6.4 percent);

4) Drowning (5.3 percent);

5) Tuberculosis (5.2 percent)

* For females, aged 10-24 worldwide, the top five causes of death were

1) Lower respiratory tract infections (6.7 percent);

2) Suicide (6.2 percent);

3) AIDS (6.1 percent);

4) Tuberculosis (5.8 percent);

5) Road traffic accidents (5 percent) **

** (Note- Maternal deaths from all causes represented 15 percent of deaths, however they were divided into a number of different categories meaning that no individual maternal death category featured in the top five)

* In higher-income countries, traffic accidents caused 32 percent of deaths in males aged 10-24 years. Violence accounted for 10 percent of male mortality and suicide 15 percent.

* Relative risks for death in Africa were higher than in any other region, and nearly seven times higher than in high-income countries. (305 vs 45 deaths per 100,000)

* Males died at higher rates than females in all age groups and regions apart from Africa and southeast Asia, where the increased number of female deaths was largely from maternal mortality, with deaths from suicide, fire, AIDS, and tuberculosis also contributing.

SOURCE: THE LANCET

Michael Jackson is dead

Pop star Michael Jackson died Thursday following a cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles, officials said. He was 50.

The King of Pop, whose life of stardom and scandal kept him permanently in the headlines, was found unconscious at his rented Bel Air mansion and was rushed to the UCLA Medical Centre.

“We were notified by LAPD that Michael Jackson was transferred from his house to the hospital,” said Los Angeles County Coroner Fred Corral. “He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at approximately 2.26 this afternoon.”

Corral said an autopsy would be performed to check for toxicology and other problems. The results are to be released Friday.

A large crowd formed outside the medical centre and his home, playing Jackson’s music, as news crews and reporters jostled for stories and as news helicopters hovered overhead.

Corral said that he had suffered a cardiac arrest and local media reported Jackson had not been breathing when paramedics reached him. Reports from hospital first said he was in a coma, before numerous media reported his death.

“We are just stunned – I can’t tell you what has taken place but everyone is just stunned,” family spokesman Brian Oxman told CNN. Referring to reports that Jackson was in ill health, Oxman said he “feared and warned about” the level of medication that Jackson was taking, though he stressed that “he was in fine condition. We have never seen him in any kind of weakened condition”.

Jackson is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.

Jackson had appeared increasingly frail and financially- challenged in recent years. Despite earning hundreds of millions of dollars he was reported to be $500 million in debt thanks largely to his eccentrically extravagant lifestyle.

Jackson’s rented home was roped off after paramedics arrived to transport the King of Pop to the hospital.

Born in 1958 in Gary, Indiana, Jackson was a child star with the Jackson 5 and became one of the most successful recording artists of all time with the release of the album “Thriller” in 1982 – the best selling album of all time. His successful songs redefined the modern music video and forced MTV to start showing black performers, and paved the way for the acceptance of rap and hip-hop as mainstream musical styles.

Elevated to the stardom level of the Beatles and Elvis, he also introduced a new level of mega-stardom through his music and clothes, his dance moves, and his massive live concert tours.

“Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of colour – way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama,” said black leader Al Sharpton. “Michael did with music what they did in sport politics and music. No controversy will erase his impact.”

He raised consciousness about the plight of Africa with the supergroup recording “We Are the World” in 1985. But after that most of his headlines were dogged by scandal – from his marriages to Lisa Presley and former nurse Debby Rowe, to his eccentric lifestyle behind the gates of his fantasy childhood estate, named Neverland, after the setting of the book Peter Pan.

He managed to settle an allegation that he molested a boy there in 1993, but was forced to face a sensational “trial of the century” 10 years later. He was ultimately acquitted of the charges, but the exposure caused huge damage to his career and financial situation.

At the time of his death he had been preparing for a 50-concert run in London that was meant to represent his comeback and secure his financial future.

Univercell Vijay Awards 2009 – winners

Awards	Name	Film	Song
Favourite Hero	Dr.Kamal Haasan	Dasavatharam
Favourite Heroine	Nayantara	Yaaradi Nee Mohini
Favourite Film		Vaaranam Aaiyram
Favourite Director	Gautham Vasudev Menon	Vaaranam Aaiyram
Best Actor	Surya	Vaaranam Aaiyram
Best Supporting Female Actress	Simran	Vaaranam Aaiyram
Best Music Director	Harris Jayaraj
Best Playback Singer	Hariharan	Vaaranam Aaiyram	Nenjukkul
Best Lyricist	Thamarai	Vaaranam Aaiyram	Nenjukkul
Best Makeup Artists	Banu And Yogesh	Vaaranam Aaiyram
Best Director	Sasi Kumar	Subramaniapuram
Best Cinematographer	S.R.Kathir
Best Editor	Raja Mohammed
Best Stunt Master	Rajasekhar	Subramaniapuram
Best Comedian	Dr.Kamal Haasan	Dasavatharam
Best Villian	Dr.Kamal Haasan	Dasavatharam
Best Story Screenplay Writer	Dr.Kamal Haasan	Dasavatharam
Best Art Directors	Sammer Chanda, Prabhakaran, Thota Tharani
Best Costume Designer	Gautami Tadimalla	Dasavatharam
Best Female Actress	Sneha	Privom Santhipom
Best New Comer	Parvathy	Poo
Best Playpack Singer	Bombay Jayashri	Dhaam Dhoom	Yaaro Manathilae
Best Find Of The Year	James Vasanthan	Subramaniapuram
Best Entertainer Of The Year	Dhanush	Yaaradi Nee Mohini
Most Prestigious Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan	A.R Rahman
Best Crew Award	Subramaniapuram Team	Subramaniapuram
Best Contribution to Tamil Cinema	Satyam Cinemas

LTTE chief Prabhakaran’s dead body found

Colombo: Sri Lankan state television on Tuesday broadcast video footage of what it said was the body of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, with the face of the rebel leader visible. The images, also carried by the private Swarnavahini channel, showed the upper section of a corpse which was dressed in camouflage uniform.

The Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, General Sarath Fonseka, has confirmed that LTTE chief Prabhakaran’s body has been found on Tuesday morning by the Lankan troops.

The terror chief’s body was found by the 53 Division troops led by Major General Kamal Goonarathne, Sri Lankan military sources said.

A Lankan military spokesman also said that Prabhakaran was in uniform and there were bullet wounds on his head.

The Lankan military claimed that they have positively identified 18 bodies of senior LTTE cadres. The list of identified LTTE leaders include:

* Pottu Amman: LTTE’s Intelligence Wing Leader

* Bhanu: LTTE military leader

* Jeyam: LTTE military leader

* B Nadesan: LTTE’s Political Head

* S Pulidevan: Head of LTTE’s Peace Secretariat

* Ramesh: LTTE special military leader

* Ilango: LTTE Police Chief

* Charles Anthony: Eldest son of LTTE chief V Prabhakaran

* Sudharman: Aide to LTTE leader’s son

* Thomas: Senior intelligence leader

* Luxman: LTTE military leader

* Sri Ram: Senior Sea Tiger cadre

* Isei Aravi: LTTE female military leader

* Kapil Amman: LTTE deputy intelligence leader

* Ajanthi: Female LTTE training in charge

* Wardha: LTTE mortar in-charge

* Pudiyawan: Secretary to the LTTE leader

* Jenarthan: Special military leader

Election Result 2009-Tamilnadu

Source : http://www.dinamalar.com

10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World – Amaizing!!!

1. Box Jellyfish

The top prize for “The World Most Venomous Animal,” would go to the Box Jellyfish. It has caused at least 5,567 recorded deaths since 1954. Their venom is among the most deadly in the world. It’s toxins attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. And the worst part of it is that jelly box venom is so overpoweringly painful, that human victims go in shock, drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors experience pain weeks after the contact with box jellies.

You have virtually no chance to survive the venomous sting, unless treated immediately. After a sting, vinegar should be applied for a minimum of 30 seconds. Vinegar has acetic acid, which disables the box jelly’s nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain). Wearing panty hose while swimming is also a good prevention measure since it can prevent jellies from being able to harm your legs.

Jelly box can be found in the waters around Asia and Australia.

2. King Cobra

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake – growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length. Ophiophagus, literally means “snake-eater” as it eats other snakes. One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human. This snake is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

It’s venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.

3. Marbled Cone Snail

This little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any other animal on this list. One drop of its venom is so powerful that it can kill more than 20 humans. If you ever happen to be in warm salt water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, don’t even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom is to catch its prey.

Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. It results in intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure. There is no antivenom. However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

4. Blue-Ringed Octopus

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is very small, only the size of a golf ball, but its venom is so powerful that can kill a human. Actually it carries enough poison to kill 26 adult humans within minutes, and there is no antidote. They are currently recognized as one of the world’s most venomous animals.

Its painless bite may seem harmless, but the deadly neurotoxins begin working immediately resulting in muscular weakness, numbness, followed by a cessation and breathing and ultimately death.

They can be found in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia.

5. Death Stalker Scorpion

Contrarily to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy, adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition) are at the biggest risk.

Death stalker scorpions are spread in North Africa and Middle East.

6. Stonefish

Maybe Stonefish would never win a beauty contest, but it would definitely win the top prize for being “The World Most Venomous Fish”. Its venom causes such a severe pain that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated. It is described as the worst pain known to man. It is accompanied with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death. If not given medical attention within a couple of hours It can be fatal to humans.

Stonefish stores its toxins in gruesome-looking spines that are designed to hurt would-be predators.

Stonefish mostly live above the tropic of Capricorn, often found in the shallow tropical marine waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to the Queensland Great Barrier Reef

7. The Brazilian wandering spider

This spider is believed to have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only 0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse. They are also so dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and cars.

Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause priapism – uncomfortable erections lasting for many hours that lead to impotence.

8. Inland Taipan

The prize for “The World’s Most Venomous Snake” goes to the Inland Taipan of Australia. Just a single bite from this snake contains enough venom to kill 100 human adults or an army of 250,000 mice. Its venom is at least 200 – 400 times more toxic than a common cobra. The Inland Taiwan’s extremely neurotoxic venom can kill an adult human in as little as 45 minutes. Fortunately this snake is very shy and there have been no documented human fatalities (all known bites were treated with antivenin).

9. Poison Dart Frog

If you ever happen to be running through the rain forests somewhere in Central or South America, do not ever pick up beautiful and colorful frogs – it can be the Poison Dart Frog. This frog is probably the most poisonous animal on earth.The 2 inch long (5cm) golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 adult humans or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of this lethal toxin (the amount that fits on the head of a pin) is capable of killing a human or other large mammal. They are called “dart frogs” because indigenous Amerindians’ use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of their blow-darts. Poison dart frogs keep their poison in their skins and will sicken or kill anybody who touches or eats it.

10. Puffer Fish

Protect your Heart (Chat with Heart Specialist) – Useful information

A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Heart Specialist) Bangalore was arranged by WIPRO for its employees .
The transcript of the chat is given below. Useful for everyone.

Qn: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?
Ans:
1. Diet – Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil
2. Exercise – Half an hour’s walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a longtime
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Qn: Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?
Ans: No

Qn: It’s still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person
gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.

Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary?
Ans: Yes

Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?
Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.

Qn: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?
Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints

Qn: You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?
Ans: Mother Theresa , who was my patient

Qn: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?
Ans: Extremely rare

Qn: Does cholesterol accumulates right from an early age
(I’m currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Qn: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart ?
Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body’s enzyme release for digestion gets confused.

Qn: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Qn: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?
Ans: Yoga helps.

Qn: Which is the best and worst food for the heart?
Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.

Qn: Which oil is better – groundnut, sunflower, olive?
Ans: All oils are bad ..

Qn: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?
Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.

Qn: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position , place an aspirin tablet under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Qn: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that caused due to gastric trouble?
Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Qn: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.
Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Qn: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?
Ans: Yes.

Qn: Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?
Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child

Qn: Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart ? What precautions would you recommend?
Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Qn: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short / long term)?
Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Qn: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
Ans : No.

Qn: Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
Ans : No.

Qn: How would you define junk food?
Ans : Fried food like Kentucky , McDonalds , samosas, and even masala dosas.

Qn: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?
Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Qn: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?
Ans : No.

Qn: Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lot of forwarded emails on this)?
Ans : Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Qn: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead to heart problems?
Ans : No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.

Qn: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.

Qn: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Qn: What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?
Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight..

Qn: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?
Ans : No.

Qn: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?
Ans : There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to
reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Qn: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?
Ans : No.

Qn: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?
Ans : Nature protects women till the age of 45.

Qn: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
Ans : Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smoke and, go for health checkup s if you are past the age of 30 ( once in six months recommended) ….

He vs sHe in Office

How the company views its employees. (HE vs SHE)
1. The family picture is on HIS desk. Ah, a solid, responsible family man.
The family picture is on HER desk. Umm, her family will come before her career.

2. HIS desk is cluttered. He’s obviously a hard worker and a busy man.
HER desk is cluttered. She’s obviously a disorganised scatterbrain

3. HE is talking with his co-workers. He must be discussing the latest deal
SHE is talking with her co-workers. She must be gossiping.

4. HE’s not at his desk. He must be at a meeting.
SHE’s not at her desk. She must be in the ladies’ room.

5. HE’s not in the office. He’s meeting with customers.
SHE’s not in the office. She must be out shopping.

6. HE’s having lunch with the boss. He’s on his way up.
SHE’s having lunch with the boss. They must be having an affair.

7. The boss criticised HIM. He’ll improve his performance.
The boss criticized HER. She’ll be very upset.

8. HE got an unfair deal. Did he get angry?
SHE got an unfair deal. Did she cry?

9. HE’s going on a business trip. It’s good for his career.
SHE’s going on a business trip. What does her husband say?

10 . HE’s leaving for a better job. He knows how to recognise a good opportunity.
SHE’s leaving for a better job. Women are not dependable

Ajit’s Asal Movie Lanch – Videos

AJITH 49TH FILM “ASAL” WITH SARAN

The final confirmation made by sivaji production and ajith that saran will be director for his 49th film “ASAL”. Earlier the team was said that Gautham Menon or Vishuvardhan going to direct but the final decision has made by the team that Hat-trick director gonna to take the position.Well, it’s noteworthy that duo combo Ajith-Saran had spelled hat-trick with Kadhal Mannan, Amarkalam and Attagasam. Earlier Sivaji Productions had signed agreement with Sameera Reddy as Gowtham had suggested and now she is being sustained for female lead.Producers, Ajith and Saran on the verge of finalizing technicians within short period and buzzes are that it would be either A.R. Rahman or Harris Jayaraj scoring music. This gonna to be delighted news for ajith fans…….