Now, kiss for better health!

Exercise. Dieting. Various therapies. When it comes to healthy living, you are always a sport. Now here is something else you can try: Cheeky kisses!

London: The next time you greet a person, make sure you avoid shaking hands. Instead give a peck on his or her cheek -- it's healthier for you.

A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that people who greet each other with handshakes are much more likely to pass on germs, such as flu and stomach bugs, than those who settle for a kiss.

According to lead researcher Prof Sally Bloomfield of the London School of Hygiene, "The hands are critical in the chain of infection as they transmit infections from surfaces to people and between people.

"Shaking hands is the main form of physical contact with each other but you don't know what the other person has been touching before you greet them. People avoid kissing each other when they have a cold, but in fact they are more likely to pass on an infection by shaking someone's hand." In fact, the researchers, whose study has been funded by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, came to the conclusion after analysing the effects of handshakes and kisses on a group of people, according to media reports.

According to co-researcher Carol O'Boyle of the School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, "Hand hygiene is just as important when we are outside the home -- on public transport, in the office, in the supermarket, or in a restaurant.

"Quite often it is not possible to wash our hands in these situations, but carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitiser means we can make our hands hygienic whenever and wherever the need arises."

© Copyright 2007 PTI. All rights reserved

Read this before you swipe! Debit-card dangers

Yes, debit cards are convenient — but consider these points of caution

By Sloan Barnett

TODAY

updated 10:58 a.m. ET Feb. 13, 2008

First, some basics: A debit card looks just like your credit card, but works like an electronic check. The payment is deducted directly from your checking or savings account. When you use your debit card to purchase items, you or the cashier slides the card through a scanning machine that enables your bank to verify that the funds are available and then approve the transaction. Most debit cards can also be used to withdraw cash at ATMs, and can also look just like your ATM card (look at the face of the card to find the “debit” language).

Debit cards are handy — so handy, in fact, that two-thirds of American households have them. They are more convenient to carry than cash or a bulky checkbook, plus swiping the card is easier and faster than writing a check. In addition, there are no interest payments. The money is deducted out of your account right when the purchase is made. Finally, you can use your debit card’s cash-back feature to get cash when you make purchases at a store, avoiding a separate trip to the bank or the ATM.

Despite all these benefits, there are some cautions to keep in mind:

Credit-building
You are not building credit with a debit card like you do with a credit card. Your debit card purchases do not enable you to build up positive credit. That means your good habits go unnoticed. However, by using your debit card instead of your credit card, you can avoid running up a big bill and making late payments, harming your credit. So if you have trouble making payments on time, a debit card would be the way to go.

Fraud protection
Debit cards do not give you the same fraud protection as credit cards do. The federal regulations are very different for debit cards than for credit cards when it comes to financial liability. When using a credit card, you are generally responsible for the first $50 of fraudulent charges, whereas your liability on many debit cards can be as high as $500. In addition, unlike a credit card, if there is a problem with your purchase, you are not able to withhold payment until further investigation by the credit-card company. If your debit card is stolen or lost, report it to your bank immediately. In many cases, if you wait more than 60 days to report your card lost or stolen, you could be responsible for all of the damages. Of course. always check with your bank to understand its policies and applicable state laws. Don't take this lightly: A recent study in 2007 put fraud losses from debit-card purchases at $245 million.

Lost or stolen cards
A debit card is like a blank check, so you need to guard the card and the number on the card. If your card gets stolen, a thief can empty your bank account in minutes. Thieves don’t even need your card. As long as they have your name and card number, they can shop online or over the phone with your card information. If your debit card is lost or stolen, call your bank immediately! Follow the phone call with a letter.

Protect your debit card by holding on to your debit-card receipts and checking them against your bank statement each month.

Merchant disputes
If there is a dispute regarding a purchase you make, you are in a weaker position when you use a debit card instead of a credit card. The merchant already has your money when you pay with a debit card. So while the dispute is taking place, your money will remain with the merchant and you will only see that money again if you win the dispute.

Rewards
While some debit cards are beginning to offer rewards, they are still far fewer and less valuable than those offered by credit cards. Ask your bank if there is a rewards program you can enroll in to earn points toward travel or goods every time you use your debit card. Most likely the rewards will not be as valuable as the ones you get with your credit card.

Immediate deduction
When you use a debit card, the money is immediately taken out of your banking account. With a credit card, there is a float period between the time you make the purchase and the date the credit-card bill is due. This means that you earn a little bit of extra interest on your money sitting in your bank account when you use a credit card vs. a debit card.

No added services
Credit cards often come with added benefits, such as extended warranties on products purchased and insurance for rental cars and airline travel. Debit cards do not offer these services.

Tracking spending fees and overdrafts
When using a debit card, it can be difficult to keep track of what you purchased if you aren’t diligent in writing down everything or if you don’t go online constantly to check your account. Making a mistake on the balance can cause you to think you have more in the account than you really do, and can ultimately result in accidental overdrafts.

If you unintentionally let your balance get too low, each debit that comes through will bounce. With fees as high as $34 per bounce, this can add up to hundreds of dollars in a matter of seconds. So, for example, if you forgot to track a few debits and you have written a large check, many banks will honor the large check and then bounce all the debits, even debits as small as $2.

Even if you do keep track of your accounts, the bank's calculations may not be as accurate as you are. It takes time for deposits to become available and the funds may not be accessible as soon as you would like, leading you to believe you have more in your account than you really have access to. This can cause you to spend more than is in the account and rack up overdraft fees.

Debit-card overdraft loans are more expensive than overdraft loans from any other source, including overdrafts by check. Debit-card overdrafts cost people $2.17 in fees for every dollar borrowed, compared to check overdrafts, which cost $.86 per dollar borrowed.

Fees
Banks prefer the credit option when you use your debit card, because they make more money in fees. For a $200 transaction, for example, a bank could make $1.99 if the customer chooses the “credit” option and signs his or her name. This is more than three times the 60 cents they usually make from customers who choose “debit” and enter a PIN number.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Here are some ways to stop banks from stealing your hard-earned money.

Keep your balance up
Keep a cushion of money in your account to avoid bouncing checks or debits. Decide that you are not going to let your account fall below a certain amount, like $1,000; when you see it getting close, transfer money into it from another account. If you don’t have the money to replenish it, then you should cut back on spending.

Track your account
Sign up for your bank’s online banking program. This is an easy way to see what is going on with your checking account. Pay close attention to the available balance.

A lot of us think that once you deposit a check in the bank, it’s yours for the spending. Watch out, this is not the case! Most banks put holds on checks for several days, even up to a week. Until the money clears, you should not use your debit card. Debits go through right at the time of purchase, and if the bank is holding your deposit, you’ll get huge fees on the overdrawn debits. If you need the money right away, take the check to the bank and have it turned into cash, then deposit it. When you deposit cash it is available almost immediately.

Call your bank
When it comes to overdraft fees, banks hope you won’t fight back and request courtesy credits. Many banks will credit you back the fee or part of the fee if it’s your first offence.

Use cash
Cash can’t bounce and that’s the beauty of it. If you are not willing to use a credit card, then cash is the next best option. I’ve found spending actual cash makes you more aware of what you are spending. It seems when you swipe a debit card, you tend to spend more because it doesn’t seem like spending “actual” money. At the beginning of each week, take out what you think you’ll need and stick with that.

Go.. Get a Red Valentine !!

You have finally fallen in love. There are just two little problems - you have no idea whether the person in question reciprocates your feelings and you don't know how to make him/her do so, either. Make it Happen is a mantra that will help you cross these hurdles.

Tips for Women in Love

Attire

Dress for the occasion. Find a balance between dressing too casual that will make it seem as if you are disinterested in the date, and too provocative that will make it seem as if you are trying too hard.

Make up

Looking good is one of the first steps to attracting anyone's attention. But, it is highly recommended that cosmetic beauty be reserved for occasions like a party or an exclusive restaurant. On a normal day, excessive make up is a complete no-no.

Be Independent

It is but natural to get carried away when men are at their chivalrous best. It never hurts though, to offer to pay for the coffee once in a while. Men respect women who are independent and have a mind of their own.

Body Language

Body language is the most essential part of getting someone thinking about you. An occasional glance, a smile and a friendly demeanour, in general, will give him the confidence to approach you.

Intelligent Conversations

Outward beauty may attract a man for the moment, but it takes more than that to sustain his attention. Most men appreciate a woman with whom they can relate to and with whom they can share a lively conversation. So, an interest in current affairs and topics other than the usual girls' favourites will get you a long way.

Appreciation

People have a tendency to feel insecure if their efforts go unappreciated over time. So, if you notice that the guy in question has missed his usual football game on TV just to meet you or has taken care of you while you were ill, make sure you let him know that you appreciate his efforts with a gift or a timely thank you.

Beyond Looks

Looking beyond a person's physical appearance is a sure way of knowing that you will never miss out on what could have been a wonderful relationship but was lost just because of personal prejudices.

Tips for Men in Love

Assertive vs. Aggressive

There is a thin line between being assertive and being aggressive. Women prefer confident, assertive men versus bullies with an intimidating attitude. Politeness, respect for others and dealing with panache in heated situations are traits that a woman notices in a man.

Modesty

You might own a Ferrari or wear a Rolex but if you cannot stop bragging about them or about your achievements in every conversation, maybe then its time to adjust the attitude a little.

Research vs. Stalking

There is a difference between doing some research about the girl you are in love with and stalking her. It is always good to know something about the girl, like her family background or her hobbies but what needs to be sternly avoided is stalking her by following her around everywhere, giving her blank calls or calling her repeatedly. It is important to give the other person enough personal space to bring in the comfort factor.

Right Moves

The woman in question could be the most beautiful creature one has ever set eyes on, yet it would be considered extremely rude to stare at her. Be a perfect gentleman and avoid staring at her bare shoulders or low neckline. Watch out for her behaviour. If you do not sense the vibes you expect to receive, it is better not to push it. Patience pays.

Appearance

One of the biggest turn offs is body odour. A fresh and neat look not only makes you feel good but also tells a lady that you value the time you spend with her and have taken the effort to be at your best.

Chivalry

Chivalry may sound conservative but it never goes out of style. Women still love men who don't feel shy to show them some old fashioned chivalry like opening the door for them or pulling out a chair for them. Here are a few pointers to get you a head start;

• Be punctual if you have offered to meet her somewhere or are picking her up
• Ask her if she minds before you light up your cigarette
• Open the door for her; be it the car or the restaurant
• Allow her first, whether you're getting into a seating row at a theatre or when you are in a queue
• Lead the way while crossing the road
• Pull out the chair for her at the table
• Sit only after the lady has taken her seat and rise when she does so
• Make the move to pay the bill, but if she insists, back off
• Remember important days like anniversaries and birthdays

Follow these pointers and one never knows, it might lead you to the beginning of a great relationship.

9 Conditions You Couldn’t—and Shouldn’t—Do A Thing About

Sometimes it's best to let the body heal itself

By Rich Maloof for MSN Health & Fitness

“First, do no harm.”

That’s the numero uno credo of physicians around the world, and a reminder that medical intervention can sometimes do more harm than good. The human body has a remarkable ability to function as its own pharmacy and even its own emergency room. Sometimes, wise doctors know, we need to step aside and let the body conduct its own repairs.

Several of the conditions listed here can be difficult to endure, and perhaps the future of medicine will save us the pain and speed the healing. Until then, let time heal all of these wounds.

Broken Rib

For years, physicians would wrap a patient’s chest tightly in bandages to immobilize a rib fracture—until it was understood that the practice led to increased instances of pneumonia. Bandaging a torso inhibits deep breathing, which can lead to respiratory infection. Your upper body’s muscles and skeleton adequately form a de facto cast of their own. Unfortunately, all you can do for a broken rib is try not to laugh or cough too much; the force of either is very painful and can even re-fracture a healing break.

Food Poisoning

So you thought the deli’s tuna salad was supposed to be brown, and now you can’t be more than eight feet from a toilet. A wave of vomiting and three or four hours of diarrhea is not the best way to spend an afternoon, but it’s the best way to clear your body of the bacteria you’ve ingested. “The more you try to stop it, the more trouble you’re going to get into,” warns Dr. Thom Horowitz, chairman of family medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. “Your body is trying to clean itself out. Our rule is, ‘The first couple of hours of diarrhea are your friend.’” When you’re finally ready to eat again, find a new deli. And a new friend.

Conjunctival Bleed

This condition sounds and looks far worse than it is. When tiny blood vessels burst in the eye, blood gets trapped beneath the eye’s clear surface (the conjunctiva), leaving red splotches in the white part (the sclera). Your doctor may want to check your blood pressure and discuss blood-thinning medications, but a conjunctival bleed can occur with no apparent cause—and there’s no treatment necessary. The blood will disappear, absorbed into your eye, within two weeks.

Hematospermia

They say one of the few times a man pays full attention is when he’s talking about himself. Another is when blood is coming out of his penis. Traces of blood in the semen, known as hematospermia, seems nightmarish but is typically the harmless result of blood vessels breaking in the testicle or along the urethra. The condition often follows sexual exploits that are a bit too, er, vigorous. “It happens when someone’s into indoor sports,” Horowitz adds dryly. “Men almost always panic when they see that but it’s not associated with any bad diseases. Unless it keeps bleeding, get a good night’s sleep. And be a little more gentle next time.”

Coughing

A cough that results from an upper respiratory infection is one of the body’s protective mechanisms; expelling air prevents secretions from getting into the lungs. Though very annoying to the patient (and to others in their vicinity), coughing can and should last the six or so weeks it takes to completely clear the infection. Says Horowitz, “As long as a person is not having fevers or bringing up large amounts of colorful phlegm—or getting exhausted because they can’t get any rest—it is actually counterproductive to stop a cough.”

Sheared-off Nail

Having a fingernail or toenail torn off can be torturous, there’s no question about it. But once the nail comes sliding off its bed, there’s little to do other than cover the area and wait for it to start growing back from the cuticle. If there’s blood under a nail and the patient is desperate to save it, a doctor can sometimes drill a small hole to drain the blood.

Fractured Skull

When you break an arm or a leg, the fractured bone needs to be immobilized (with a splint, cast and/or sling) so that it can heal in its proper position. When the dome of bone around your brain is cracked, though, only rarely will movement cause the fissure to open or worsen. Short of a second blow to the head, the fracture most likely will stay aligned and heal on its own. “There can be a problem if the fracture is out of place, putting pressure on a nerve, or if there’s bleeding underneath it,” Horowitz says. “The issue is not whether the skull is broken but whether it’s out of alignment.”

Ruptured Eardrum

The eardrum is a thin membrane that can be breached by loud noise, air pressure (e.g., on an airplane or while scuba diving), infection, or by having a friend stick a pencil in there. A perforation of the membrane is like a tear in fabric, but the hole will usually close on its own as the delicate tissue grows back. One of the worst things you can do for a ruptured eardrum is to use ear drops, because the ear needs to remain dry and free of infection to repair itself. When a rupture worsens or won’t heal, a doctor may patch it in a simple office or outpatient procedure.

Missing Recommended Sleep

“People get very concerned if they’re not getting eight hours of sleep because they see the commercials on TV and the propaganda,” asserts Horowitz. “Getting people into a coma for a full eight or nine hours has turned into a multimillion-dollar business.” It’s an oppositional view in the age of Ambien and Lunesta, but people vary tremendously in the amount of sleep they require. When assessing your own requirements, separate the concepts of sleep and of rest. Are you functioning properly in the daytime? Are you alert and clear-headed, or were you fired for napping in a board meeting? As long as you regularly feel rested and healthy, there’s not a pressing need to spend a third of your life in your pajamas.

Is Sarkozy's new wife too sexy for France?

Paris, Feb 4 (DPA) The news that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his girlfriend of scarcely four months, singer and former supermodel Carla Bruni, tied the knot Saturday will no doubt come as a relief to friends and political allies who feared he was spending too much time on his personal affairs and not enough on affairs of state.

French conservatives, facing an uphill struggle in next month's local elections, may well be hoping that normalizing the relationship will go a long way to repairing Sarkozy's with the French, who have grown tired of seeing their president and his mistress monopolize the covers of France's glossy glamour weeklies.

But France is still, despite all of Sarkozy's efforts, a morally traditional country - a macho country - where it is more or less expected that men are promiscuous and women are tactful.

This applies particularly to the country's First Couple. For example, Francois Mitterrand was known as a philanderer and even had a second family, with a daughter, Mazarine, born to his mistress. Asked to comment on it, Mitterrand said, 'So what?' His wife, Danielle, on the other hand, was seen as cultured, loyal and prudent.

And stories are legion about the liaisons of Sarkozy's predecessor, Jacques Chirac. A book published in 2007, Stranger in the Elysee, detailed his numerous extramarital affairs - but no one in France cared. Yet there was never any suggestion of his wife Bernadette stepping out.

Mitterrand's predecessor, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, was also known for his gallivanting. And there were few eyebrows raised in France when Sarkozy's ex-wife was quoted in a recent book as describing him as a 'skirt-chaser.'

But the wives of French presidents, on the other hand, have always been seen as well dressed, self-effacing and discreet. That tradition may have ended Saturday, because Carla Bruni is not a typical First Lady.

Her list of former lovers is long and illustrious, and is said to include rockers Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, real estate mogul Donald Trump, actors Kevin Costner and Vincent Perez and former French prime minister Laurent Fabius.

According to her sister, the actress-director Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, 'When my sister wants someone, she takes him. You remember with Mick (Jagger)? How many evenings she spent at Eric Clapton's home to start a relationship with Jagger ... Even now that she's almost 40, she's in love like a 16-year-old.'

Not surprisingly, she told Le Figaro magazine last year that she was not by nature monogamous.

'I am a tamer (of men), a cat,' she said. 'Monogamy bores me terribly ... I am monogamous from time to time but I prefer polygamy and polyandry (its female equivalent).'

Love, she said, 'lasts a long time, but burning desire - two to three weeks.'

She reportedly met philosopher Raphael Enthoven, the father of her son, while living with his father, the publisher Jean-Paul Enthoven.

Raphael Enthoven's ex-wife, Justine Levy - the daughter of yet another French philosopher, Bernard-Henri Levy - later wrote a novel about the end of her marriage and Bruni's part in it.

In a book titled Nothing Special, Levy described the character representing Carla Bruni as a 'Terminator,' a woman who was 'beautiful and bionic, with the look of a killer.'

France's new First Lady has embraced her reputation as a femme fatale. 'I'd rather be called a predator than an old hag. Predator - that's not bad for a woman,' she said.

But do the French think so too? With local elections coming up and then France's turn to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union, Sarkozy - and the country - can little afford to have the First Lady's private life dominate the news.

- Yahoo News

'High' way to sex!

Stilettos can improve women's sex life

Washington, Feb 3 (ANI): Wearing high heels not only makes a woman look sexy, but also improve her sex life, says a new study.

Lead researcher Maria Cerruto, a urologist at the University of Verona, said that she conducted her tests because she wished to tackle "bizarre" non-scientific theories blaming high heels for a range of ills, including schizophrenia.

The study found that wearing a pair of moderately high heels could tone the body, condition muscles, and even improve a woman's sex life without the need for onerous exercise sessions.

"As a woman who loves heeled shoes, I tried to find something healthy in them. In the end I achieved my goal. Heels affect pelvic floor activity, reducing pain and improving your health. We now hope to prove that wearing heels during daily activity may reduce the need for pelvic exercises," Times Online quoted her as saying.

During the study, the researcher studied 66 volunteers aged under 50 and measured the electrical activity in the pelvic muscles of the women.

She discovered that women who held their feet at a 15-degree angle to the ground, the equivalent of a 7cm heel, showed up to 15 per cent less electrical activity in their pelvic muscles.

The results suggest the muscles are more relaxed when women wear higher heels, increasing their strength and ability to contract.

"Women often find it difficult to complete their exercises. This may prove a solution," Cerruto said.

Matt Roberts, a personal trainer whose clients have included Madonna, Naomi Camp-bell, Natalie Imbruglia, Mel C and John Galliano, said: "A woman wearing high heels will hold the muscles tight to compensate. When you are standing on tiptoes you have to clench the buttocks, the inner thighs and the pelvic floor muscles. It would potentially give them a short-term tension and toning. But the negative effects can outweigh the positive."

He added: "The knees and metatarsals are put under strain, the hips are out of position. It can lead to long-term health risks."

The study is published in the journal European Urology. (ANI)