LEE YON CHONG

Andropause occurs when there is a drop in the levels of testosterone, the dominant male hormone. Normally, a man’s testosterone levels peaks at the age of 30, after which it begins to decline by about 10% every decade. This decline in testosterone is gradual, spanning 10 to 15 years on average.

During this time, the male body also increases the production of another hormone called the Sex Binding Hormone Globulin (SBHG). Much of the circulating testosterone in the body is trapped by SBHG making it unavailable to exert its effects on the body’s tissues. The remaining testosterone is known as “bioavailable” testosterone.

Low levels of “bioavailable” testosterone are associated with andropause. Although every healthy male experiences a decline of bioavailable testosterone, some men’s levels dip lower than others. One out of two men between the ages of 40 to 60 years old will experience this condition which can affect a man’s quality of life, both mentally and physically.

Symptoms of andropause includes:-

1. Decreased sexual performance or erectile dysfunction

2. Reduced libido

3. Mood disturbances, including depression and irritability

4. Loss of muscle mass and strength.

5. Increased upper and central body fat

6. Difficulty concentrating and memory loss

7. Sleeping difficulties

8. Fatigue

9. Dysphoria (restlessness)

10. Loss of self-esteem

11. Increased anxiety

12. Forgetfulness

13. Premature aging

14. Changes in hair growth and skin quality

15. General aches and pains

16. Sweating and hot flashes

17. Decreased general wellbeing.

Studies have also shown that the decline in testosterone levels can actually put a person at risk for health problems such as heart disease, obesity and osteoporosis.

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, there are a number of different treatment options available. One is testosterone replacement therapy but this treatment is  not suitable for all men with andropause.

An alternative treatment is making some simple lifestyle changes like:-

Regular exercise. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise at least four days a week.

Healthy diet.

Quitting smoking and

Stress management.

Seek medical advice if you have more than 3 of the mentioned symptoms.

Here we go again. Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz has said that growth for 2009 was forecast at between 5% and 5.5% . (See today’s Star newspaper).

Matthias Chang has said that Malaysia will not have a 3.9% growth in 2009 and has put up a challenge to anyone from the Badawi regime and Bank Negara that by H1 2009, our KLCI will drop below 700.

Matthias has agreed to pay RM5000.00 to the first 5 individuals from the Badawi regime and Bank Negara who dare to take up his challenge and prove him wrong. Of course, if they lose to Matthias, they must also pay him the same amount.

Well if you are not from the Badawi regime or Bank Negara, I do not know if you are eligible but if you are really interested to take the challenge, perhaps you can first check with Matthias first at his website.

Our Deputy PM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak mentioned that Malaysia’s economic fundamentals were strong. As such it has the capacity to weather the destabilising consequences of developments in the US economy and international financial markets.

Major central banks have collectively injected a massive US$180 billion into the market - this is on top of the US$1 trillion injected between 2007 and the first half of 2008. This was part of the package of the US$247 billion rescue structure - ECB giving US$110 billion, the Swiss National Bank up to US$27 billion, the Bank of Japan up to US$60 billion, the Bank of England up to US$40 billion and the Bank of Canada up to US$10 billion. And yet our Deputy PM says that Malaysia can weather this massive financial crisis.

This is either height of arrogance or downright stupidity.

Just noticed this one.

It is the day when Queen Elizabeth, Mr. George Bush and Mr. Lee Kwan Yew died.

All three of them take rebirth in hell (too bad-lah).

After spending sometime in hell, Queen Elizabeth begins to miss her royal family. She asks the devil in-charge if she can make a telephone call back and the devil agrees. She calls and talks to her royal family for about an hour, insisting that Prince Harry should not go to Afghanistan anymore. After the call, Queen Elizabeth ask the devil how much is the charge. After calculating the time spent and the rate, the devil says it is 1 million pound. She then issue a cheque to the devil for the amount charged.

Mr. George Bush, upon knowing that it is possible to call from hell, also ask the devil if he can call back to the US. The devil also agree to his request. Mr. George Bush immediately make the call to the Secretary of State and discuss about Osama Bin Laden and Isreal-Palestine issues. The discussion lasts for an hour also. After the call, the devil also calculate the time spent and the rate and the total bill comes to US$1.0 million. Mr. Bush then raise a check of that amount and give it to the devil.

Mr. Lee Kwan Yew, a typical kaisu Singaporean, demand from the devil that he be allowed to call back to Singapore too. The devil also agree to allow him to call back Singapore. The call lasted for 2 long hours because he is unable to get hold of his son, Lee Hsien Loong, on the phone. Apparently, his son is busy outside finding Mas Selamat. After talking to his son, Mr. Lee ask the devil what is the total charge, expecting to be much more because of the longer time spent. The devil do his calculation and tell Mr. Lee is only 1 Singapore dollar.

Mr. Lee Kwan Yew is shocked by the amount charged and ask the devil the recalculate the amount. The devil recalculate and say yes it is 1 Singapore dollar because all calls from one hell to another hell are considered local calls!!!!!!

Come July 2008, banks will begin to charge credit card holders finance charges on retail transactions from the date of posting if cardmembers choose to pay partial or the minimum payment of previous month outstanding balance.

Cardmembers no longer can enjoy the 20 days interest-free period UNLESS full payment of the previous month outstanding balance is received by due date.

As a “trade-off”, banks will introduce a so-called Tiered Interest Rate Structure whereby depending on your number of prompt minimum payments made in the last 12 consecutive months, the finance charges will be lowered to between 15% - 18% per annum as compared to the present fixed 18% per annum.

Can you imagine how much the banks will be making upon the implementation of this new ruling? Everyone knows that the credit card business is one of the most lucrative business for banks. With just one card, the bank can earn from 3 sources - merchant discount, cash advance fee and finance charges. Previously, there is also the annual fees but now most banks have waived it off. The more you use the card the more the bank will earn from its merchant discount and if you are in the habit of making only partial payments, finance charges.

Now they are creating an additional income source by charging finance charge on retail transactions from the date of posting with the blessing from Bank Negara. They know very well that this easy money because majority of cardholders pay their cards by installments.

THIS IS FORMULA LOGICAL?

CREDIT CARD BUSINESS = LOAN SHARK

Can anyone out there give your views?

What actually is insulin resistance? It is a condition that affects our muscle, fat and liver cells. The receptors in these cells become less sensitive to insulin and are not able to utilize the hormone properly. Glucose therefore, is unable to gain access into these cells.

The resulting high blood glucose level continues to signal the pancreas to release more insulin into the bloodstream, while the liver produces excessive glucose in response to the energy-starved cells. Eventually, this compensation mechanism fails to work. The pancreas will then be unable to meet insulin demand after meals, resulting in excess glucose in the bloodstream.

Many people with insulin resistance have high levels of blood glucose and insulin simultaneously circulating in the blood.

When the blood glucose level is higher than normal but not in the diabetic range, it is known as Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Impaired Fasting Glucose. In layman’s term, it is “Pre-Diabetes”.

Once a person has developed this condition, Type 2 diabetes mellitus will occur soon after if that person is not careful.

Can insulin resistance be reversed? The answer is YES. How? By simply engaging in an exercise regime and eating healthy food.

However, once you have developed diabetes, the condition is no longer reversible. You will have to live with that condition for the rest of your life.

See the BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRE-DIABETES AND DIABETES MELLITUS???

Most of us have heard that we need to eat less sugar – and rightly so. However, despite the numerous warnings by health authorities of the ill effects of sugar, the majority of the population is still consuming sugar on a daily basis in some form or other.

We do not have to consume white, refined sugar to be consuming sugar. Sugar includes glucose, fructose (as in fruit sugar), lactose (as in milk), sucrose (as in table sugar), maltose or malts (as in rice malt and honey), jam (contains concentrated juice, which is high in fruit sugar), maple syrup, corn syrup, palm sugar, and the very deceiving organic brown sugar, which is not all that different from white sugar. Even alcohol is a sugar. All of these sugars are problematic in many ways.

While many people really try hard to avoid sugar and do not sweeten their tea or coffee, yet they crave sugar in some other form, such as chocolates, ice cream, canned drinks or soft drinks, cookies , etc.

Nancy Appleton, PhD, clinical nutritionist, has complied a list of 146 reasons on “how sugar is ruining your health” in her book Lick the Sugar Habit. Some of some includes:-

1. Sugar can decrease growth hormones (the key to staying youthful and lean);
2. Sugar feeds cancer;
3. Sugar increases cholesterol;
4. Sugar can weaken eyesight;
5. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein;
6. Sugar contributes to diabetes – The Mother of All Diseases;
7. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children;
8. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease;
9. Sugar can impair the DNA structure;
10. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficult concentrating and crankiness in children;
11. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection;
12. Sugar contributes to osteoporosis and
13. Sugar is the main culprit in the case against obesity.

This message is not meant to ask people to stop consuming sugar all together but merely a reminder TO REDUCE THE INTAKE OF SUGAR TO A MINIMUM.

While there are still no known approaches that can effectively be taken to prevent Type 1 diabetes, studies have shown that just by adopting a simple healthy lifestyle measures, one can effectively prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes (the most common form of diabetes).

Healthy Lifestyle simply means:-

1. Increased physical activity. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, five days a week, is enough.

2. A healthy diet. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables daily and reduce your intake of sugar and saturated fats.

3. Weight loss. It is estimated that well over half of all cases of Type 2 diabetes could be avoided if excessive weight gain in adults could be prevented.

4.Stop smoking. People with diabetes are at a greater risk to dying from coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease than people without the condition.

Sound simple enough? There is no need to purchase and consume expensive multi-vitamins. Likewise, there is no need to eat foods that are expensive and you need not have to join those expensive fitness club to exercise.

In short, it is really very cheap and easy to prevent our body from getting the mother of all diseases. So think about it.

WHY IS SLEEP IMPORTANT?

Sleep has several important functions:-

• Sleep allows the body to repair muscles and other tissues
• Sleep allows the brain to organize and archive memories
• Sleep helps lowers our energy consumption
• Sleep helps to recharge the brain
• Sleep helps keep the mind alert and calm
• Sleeping well increases brainpower.

Studies have found that there is a relationship between the quantity and quality of one’s sleep and health problems. Modern life has left many of us busier than ever, leaving little room for adequate rest. More often than not, many people spend time and effort to consume a proper diet and exercise, but they tend to overlook sleep as a major part of their health regimen.

Medical research has proven that getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis provides many benefits. Having a regular sleeping cycle allows the body to build up immunity to fight off an infection, extends one’s lifespan and helps maintain optimal emotional and social functioning. Lack of sleep or only sleeping for a few hours each night can affect the body and mind in many ways.

Research has also shown that insufficient sleep impairs the body’s ability to use insulin, which can lead to the onset of diabetes. During the sleep cycle, blood pressue usually lowers. However, this normal decline is adversely affected by interrupted sleep leading to hypertension and cardiovascular problems.

Besides health problems, sleep deprivation has also been linked to negative mood and behaviour, and decreased productivity. Insufficient sleep will also lead to delayed reaction time and lack of energy.

So the next time you feel like going to sleep, do not fight the urge with coffee and medications. Just obey your body and head towards the bed.

Sweet Dreams!!!!!