This is Joe's World

What Is Glaucoma? It's a condition that can damage your optic nerve, usually because of too much pressure in your eye. The optic nerve does an important job. It sends signals from your eye to your brain, which turns them into an image you can see. When the optic nerve isn't working right, you'll get problems with your vision. You can even lose your sight. What Causes Glaucoma? Your eyes make a fluid that bathes and nourishes tissue in them. Normally the liquid flows through a channel called the drainage angle. When you have glaucoma, the channel stops working well. Fluid backs up and causes pressure to build up inside your eye. Who Gets Glaucoma? You're more likely to get the condition if your parent, brother or sister, or another close relative has it. Your chances of getting it are greater if you're over 40, are African-American or Hispanic, or because of things like: o High pressure in eyes o Eye injury or surgery o Thin cornea (clear lay

Poses to Know No matter the style of yoga you choose -- hatha, vinyasa, or hot yoga -- nearly all of them include a few key moves. To stay safe, your best bet is to work with a trained instructor who can show you the right way to do each position. If you’ve had neck, back, or joint pain or flexibility problems, talk to your doctor before you start a yoga routine. Most of all, don’t push yourself to do anything that hurts. You can tailor most poses to work for your body. Mountain This move seems simple, but doing it right helps with posture and balance. Stand with your big toes touching, heels slightly apart (or wider if that’s more comfortable), arms by your sides. Imagine lifting through your inner feet and ankles. Pull your shoulder blades down, and widen your collarbones. Keep your head in line with your shoulders (not pulled back or forward), your chin parallel to the floor. Your pelvis and lower back should be neutral, not tucked or arched. Hold for 30 seconds t

“Be with someone who brings out the best in you, not the stress in you.” This is just common sense don’t you think? I mean, why would you surround yourself with people who raise your blood pressure and get the blood bubbling in your veins with anger or annoyance? I realize that sometimes it can’t be avoided if it’s someone very close to you, e.g. a relative or work colleague but, if not, why would you? There are enough stressors in life to deal with without asking for more of the same. I know you’ve got a lot more sense than that so good for you. Trust me, you really don’t need it. CathiBew.co.uk

Lamenting is an ancient way of releasing emotions through a type of singing when one is feeling overwhelmed by grief, sadness, pain, anger, or other negative emotions. Before laments were sung at times of loss and upheaval, the practice was about connecting to one's ancestors, and was often focused on helping move people from one world to another. In Finland, lamenting is rife with symbolism and rarely uses straightforward descriptions of the lament, which itself is sweet, positive, light, and bright, unless referring directly to the lamenter. But while Finland is experiencing a revival in the practice of lament singing, the rest of the world is seeing a steady decline, often due to competing religious beliefs and modernization. While previous generations of lamenters have died out, a new generation has arisen in Finland, keen on both preserving the traditions of old, and adapting them to suit modern issues. http://www.dailygood.org/story/1769/how-an-ancient-singing-tradition-

Deli Turkey One serving of slices could have more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium. That's about half of what's OK for an entire day. Eating too much salt raises your blood pressure, and high blood pressure can raise your chance of AFib. It may also make symptoms harder to manage, so your odds of having a stroke go up. Other super-salty foods include pizza, canned soups, breads, and rolls. Check food labels to find lower-sodium options. Instant Oatmeal A popular fruit-flavored brand has about 11 grams of sugar in one packet -- almost 3 teaspoons of added sugar. While most adults have about 22 teaspoons every day, women should get no more than 6 a day, and men no more than 9. All that extra sugar can lead to obesity and high blood pressure, which can set off bouts of AFib. More surprising sugar sources: pasta sauce, granola bars, and ketchup. Aged Cheese Think cheddar, parmesan, and gorgonzola -- strong cheeses that have tyramine, an amino acid that helps

A new book explains how our attempts to influence others work (or don’t work) in the brain—and how to avoid being manipulated. BY  KIRA M. NEWMAN   Where there is communication, there is influence—and today we’re communicating constantly. We have access to more information than ever before, and would-be influencers have more and more access to us. But how do people influence others, for good or for ill? That’s the subject of the new book   The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others   by neuroscientist Tali Sharot. She argues that we’re full of misconceptions about how minds get changed, which means that we often fail to influence others—our kids, our students, our coworkers, our patients, and our loved ones. “Many of our instincts about influence…are ineffective because they are incompatible with how the mind and brain operate,” she writes. How influence works in the brain By explaining how the brain responds to attempts at influenc

“You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.” Altering our mind-set to being more positive and, perhaps also more assertive, enables us to totally rethink who we are. Not only who we are at the present time, but who we aspire to be tomorrow, and the next day, and the next…. To even think of changing the way we approach and live life without taking time to firstly get our “think set” in gear, would prevent us from ever signaling and moving off. Know what I mean? Of course you do! CathiBew.co.uk