Men's Health - The magazine men live by

Think back to the last few times you and your partner made love. Try to remember if you felt the tip of your penis bump into something at the maximum thrust point. If it did, then you probably hit her cervix (or the diaphragm covering her cervix) and you're long enough to hit hot spots. If you hit it so hard she complained, you're probably a little on the long side. That takes some adjusting. In this situation, the missionary position works best because that's when you tend to get the least depth penetration. You might also want to try woman-on-top positions where she is facing you: These can minimise length while maximising upper-wall stimulation. On the other hand, if you have never felt some type of resistance when thrusting, you may be a little on the short side compared to her anatomy. No problem. If you're using the missionary position, have her elevate her legs and bring them toward her chest. This shortens the vaginal canal. If you're kneeling in front of her, try to get your pelvis as close to hers as possible. This position maximises your length.
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Clearly, this will not come as a surprise: sex is good for you. In particular, sex is great for your back. If all the world's orthopaedic specialists convened to formulate the best single exercise for releasing muscular constriction, toning back muscles and relaxing the nervous system, making love would be that exercise. It has been scientifically demonstrated that orgasm has 10 times the effect of Valium. Tell that to your chiropractor.
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We like having sex on the stairs. Try a doggie-style position with her a few steps above you. Her skin and breasts will brush against the carpeted steps (she'll like that). You'll like the strong upwards thrusts you have to make to stay connected.
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Quickies. She loves them for the spontaneity. You love them because they're like sports highlights: no filler. Here is a winning strategy to cut through the schedule for great 5 minute sex. Tara Roth Madden, author of romance on the run suggests you follow her lead, and don't treat it as something to cross off the to-do list. If you're worried she'll think you're quick on the trigger, tell her it's just a preview.
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Here is your six-step plan: 1. Don't masturbate for several days before hand. The more your ejaculate, the longer your refractory periods. 2. Skip the post-romp cigarette. Nicotine kills erections. 3. After sex, give each other massages. Relieving tension in any of your muscles decreases anxiety, a factor in secondary erections. 4. Alcohol in low doses increases the arousal signals from your brain to your penile tissue. Your inhibitions are down, so you're more easily excited than when you're completely sober. But stop at two drinks. Anything more inhibit performance. 5. Good circulation is also important for maintaining strong erections. Improve yours by simply standing up and moving around a bit. 6. Finally, change the stimuli. Not your partner but rather the surroundings, the erotic movie, the toys, her outfit, positions etc.
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You can tell if the woman you're dating is worthwhile if you really enjoy talking to her after you have sex.
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In the flaccid state, the penis receives less than 0.1 percent of the blood circulating through the body. That`s lower than virtually every other organ. Its oxygen level is also very low, 35 millimetres of mercury compared to 55 to 60 in most organs. The only time the penis gets a lot of blood and oxygen is during erections. Hence the saying "use it or lose it". Erections recharge your batteries.
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For most men there is a period after the point of ejaculatory inevitability and before ejaculation that is incredibly pleasurable. It lasts for about five seconds and then the semen is expelled. To become multi-orgasmic, you want to come as close to that point as possible. Once you find it, you'll cut off the flow of semen but not the sensation. To do so, use the "squeeze technique". Each time you feel ejaculation coming on, squeeze the head of your penis for 15 seconds.
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It`s a 7-step process. Heed every single one. 1. Comtemplate it Talk about it with your partner for at least several months. Make certain that this is what you want. Reversing the procedure is expensive and, even under the best circumstances, has only an 80 to 90 percent success rate. 2. Find a smooth operator Does your family doctor do vasectomies? If so, ask how many he does a year. Fifty or more is a good answer. Otherwise ask him to refer you to a reputable urologist. <3. Inform your medical aid to see if they will foot part of the bill. 4. Get cut on a Friday so you can recuperate over the weekend. Enlist a cheerleader Ask if your partner can be in the operating room with you during the procedure. Hey, you were there when she gave birth, right? 6. Don`t ignore complications If you have swelling, bleeding, fever or increasing pain, go back to the doctor immediately. 7. Practise safe sex Use other means of birth control for at least the next 6 weeks, then take a semen sample to your doctor. Take in another a week later. If both are negative, you`re sterile. Go home and go wild.
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To keep a relatiomship fresh, tell the truth. If you don`t tell the truth, then past feelings don`t get resolved. Then you`re continuously dealing with the same old things. The relationship gets old and boring, and dies.
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She was so very good to you last night. Thank her by getting up early and preparing a memorable breakfast in bed.

Comfort in most important. If possible, provide a shoulder bolster with armrests and a bed tray with legs. If not, use an ordinary tea tray and put it on a table at the side of the bed.

Don`t put flowers in a vase - it might spill. Instead, lie them flat on the tray. A single rose or a few flowers on sprigs on green will do.

Use the best china and silver in the house.

Use a linen napkin, not a paper serviette.

Fold the newspaper and put it next to the tray.

Forget bacon and eggs. It`s ordinary and you`ll never keep it all hot. Halve a grapefruit and segment it with a knife so that the individual sections can be easily removed with a fork. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Grill for a few minutes to crystallise the top and serve. It`s deliciously sweet and tart.

Coffee or tea? Her preference. Choose an exotic flavour and fill the cup only halfway to reduce the risk of spills.
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Even if she's never been the jockey type, she'll have a hard time resisting this invitation to ride. Lean back with your shoulders against the foot of the bed and your feet on the floor, supporting the bulk of your weight. She straddles your midsection and uses her legs to thrust. Difficulty? Moderate. Payback? Extreme. Not only does she control the angle, speed, depth and rhythm of the thrusts but, because she supports her own weight, she also has complete freedom of movement. This is as close as you can get to having sex in a swing without installing hardware in your bedroom. Your mate doesn't have to rely on your figuring out where she likes to be touched - she can stimulate whatever needs it on her own. One caution: Some women tend to get weak in the knees during orgasm, so brace yourself for a little extra weight once she peaks.
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For some reason, many men think they have to thrust for longer than Egoli`s been on TV. Relax. That just isn`t the case. The truth is, if intercourse goes on too long, women get tired and their minds start to wander. After 10 minutes they get impatient. After 20 they`re making shopping lists.
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Trace capital letters with your tongue very slowly on her clitoris. A B C... see if you can make it to M.
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A healthy man usually has from four to seven erections while sleeping, though these decrease in frequency after age 50 or so. Presumably, all the psychological and emotional stresses surrounding sex are absent when you're asleep. So if you're getting good nocturnal erections, any performance problems you're having are psychological. To run a system check on your equipment, wrap postage stamps around the base of your penis, and secure the ends together. If the stamps are torn along a perforation the next morning, everything is working correctly.
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By licking her nipples, private parts and neck, then blowing on the wet patch, you can create a sexy tingle that will drive her wild. To make her head spin even more, use alcohol. It evaporates more quickly than water or saliva, creating a greater cooling effect when you blow on it. So bring that glass of wine into the bedroom. Swish some around in your mouth and lick a choice spot (try her breasts first). Then blow gently, give it a second and take a long, slow lick. Repeat as necessary.
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Your annual cholesterol test isn`t just a measure of heart-disease risk, it`s a gauge of your sexual potency. One of the biggest erection facilitators is a chemical called nitric oxide. It`s a vasodilator, which means its helps trigger blood flow to the penis and harden it. Having lots of cholesterol in your circulatory system restricts blood flow to the penis and inhibits nitric oxide production, which makes your erection flounder.
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Men who thrust in a circular motion - rather than straight in and out - have greater ejaculatory control.
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Some women can have an orgasm just from having their feet rubbed. To discover if she's one of them, do this: Using a dab of lotion, very slowly stroke the arch of her foot, back and forth from the ball to the heel. Pay special attention to the middle toe - in some people this digit has a direct nerve connection to the genitals. Apply moderate pressue - not so hard as to cause pain or so light to tickle.
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When you're giving her oral sex, think about the back of your neck: A soft touch can make you shiver but a more substantial caress doesn't. Her clitoris reacts to stimulation in the same way. Put your whole hand there for several minutes to build up her arousal. Then add your mouth but keep using your hand too; this will help her become accustomed to the feel of your tongue. Press firmly with the flat side of your tongue (don't flick with the tip) and use plenty of saliva. If she enjoys the sensation, you can also insert a finger into her vagina. Many women find the sensation of simultaneous internal and external stimulation very arousing.
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Want to drive her wild with desire? Look her straight in the eye suring sex instead of burying your face in the pillow. Add a little running commentary on the action and ask her opinion too. The combination of eye contact and dialogue - that direct connection during sex - is an incredible turn-on for women.
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If premature ejaculation is a problem, try masturbating an hour or two before you want to have sex with your partner, or just before you pick her up for a date. This trick may cause you to lose some of the immediate passion of sex but it will help slow both the pace at which you become aroused and the speed of your climax.
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Immediately after you become completely hard, measure along the top of your erection from the base to the tip. Average length: 12.8cm
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Stand with your back against a wall and estimate your angle. A zer-degree erection (an oxymoron if we`ve ever heard one) would point at your feet; 90 degrees would point directly out in front; and 180 degrees wouold point up at your chin. Average: 105.7 degrees
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Measure immediately after undressing, since a warm or cold room can cause expansion or shrinkage. Do it while standing and use a flexible ruler. Position the tip of the ruler gently against the point where the shaft meets the abdomen. then simply bend the ruler along the shaft and read the length. Average: 8.7cm
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Men's breasts have the same potential for erotic pleasure as women's breasts. In both sexes, the breasts are richly supplied with nerve endings, especially in the nipple area.
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If you and your wife or girlfriend have a special song, play it in the background while making love. If something has special meaning to you both, bring it to the bedroom because it creates a special connection between the two of you.
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Don`t rush to your partner`s crotch during foreplay. Instead pretend it`s too hot to handle, that if you touched it for more than a second, you`ll get burnt. Don`t rip off her panties. Slowly start to pull them down, then pull them back up and devote more attention elsewhere. It`ll drive her wild.
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Most people think that men initiate flirting but two-thirds of the time women give off a signal of interest first. If she\'s doing one or more of the following, she\'s probably interested in you: Flashing her eyebrows She raises her eyebrows for a second or two, then quickly lowers them. Often combined with a smile and eye contact. Running her fingers through her hair Some women make only one hand movement, others stroke their hair. Smiling coyly Look for a half-smile, often combined with a downward glance or brief eye contact. Licking her lips This could be a simple, subconscious wetting of the upper or lower lip. Giving you short, darting glances The looks usually occur in bouts, with an average of three glances per bout. Primping She smoothes out her clothes, even though they\'re already perfect. Swaying to the music While seated, she moves her body to the beat. Get over there and ask her to dance, now! Caressing an object She runs her fingers over a glass, an ashtray, a bunch of keys or anything else that\'s handy. Hiking her skirt up to expose her leg Do we really have to explain this one?
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Lots of guys who cheat on their partners plead sexual boredom at home. And, sometimes, a good case for that can be made. But if your sex life isn`t everything you dreamt it would be, make sure you`ve given it everything you`ve got. Ask yourself how much ingenuity, improvisation, energy, joy and lust you bring to between the sheets.
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Couples who talked about themselves using the words `us` and `we` rather than `you` and `me` during the first year of marriage had stronger, more satisfying unions when they were surveyed again in the third year.
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While it`s true that direct stimulation of the clitoris - the little pink button above a woman`s vagina - is the key to most women`s orgasms, don`t pounce too quickly. As she becomes more and more aroused, the clitoris will swell and harden, producing a sort of `erection`. But her erection takes longer to develop than yours and any direct contact or hard pressure before that point can be painful.
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Anticipation is a large part of what turns women on. So help her undress. Then, once she`s naked, take her hand and stand facing her. Brush her hair back and let your fingertips hover over the surface of her skin. You`re where you should be if thw fat part of your finger pads are touching her skin ever so slightly. Now go ahead and run your finger tips over her arms, breasts, tummy and thighs. You`ll be creating a dlilghtful shiver up her spine - and making her feel as though you appreciate every inch of her body.
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Opening your next meeting with the joke about the priest and the novelty condoms is not the smartest idea. But a new study suggests that in certain kinds of workplaces, sexual banter can promote camaraderie and bonding among colleagues. Such interaction can "make people feel happy, free and more human," says Dr Kari Lerum and that may lead to greater efficiency. Lerum stresses that her findings are specific to the service industry (she collected her data in restaurants) and apply only where employees are fairly equal in status and work closely together. She adds, "It only works if everyone is on board."
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About 37 percent of men who take anti-depressants will experience some form of sexual dysfunction of lose interest in sex completely. There are, however, some thing you can do to avoid becoming a limp statistic. Try taking the pill early in the morning. Some medications will wear off by nighttime and won`t affect your sexual function as much.
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The mechanism of female orgasm has nothing to do with penis size. Nine out of 10 women have clitoral orgasms, caused by external stimulation to the clitoris. If you`re physically fit, reasonably attractive and an adequate lover, even a 10-cm erection is long enough.
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The penis doesn't become significantly smaller with age but it often looks that way. There's a pad of fat in front of the pubic bone, just above the base of the penis. It's there as a cushion for vigorous sex. But as your grow older and gain weight, this pad thickens from 1.8cm to over 3.1cm. This can hide as much as three centimetres or over an inch of your penis, making your onetime boerie look like a cocktail sausage. Unfortunately, sit-ups and crunches won't tighten the pad. The only defense is too stay lean.
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If your partner sucks on a breath mint before giving you oral sex, it`ll be more pleasurable for you. The peppermint oil in some mints can cause a mild irritation that brings a flushed, warm sensation to the skin - especially the thin skin of the penis. If a strong mint is too much to swallow before sex, a menthol throat lozenge will also work.
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If your partner objects to giving you oral sex because, well, it doesn't taste very nice, an apple a day may help. High in natural sugars, fruit reportedly blesses men with sweeter seminal fluids.
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The coital alignment technique, or CAT, reportedly intensifies a woman`s orgasms. Here`s how to do it: Start in the missionary position, with your weight on your elbows and her knees slightly bent and raised. Now slide your entire body up, so that your pelvis is slightly above hers. In this position, the base of your penis is rubbing against her clitoris. Relax your upper body and allow her to bear your weight. Now press her pelvis into yours; you respond in kind. Allow her to set a rhythm and keep it up until the ceiling collapses.
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Many women find it very erotic to be teased at the opening of the vagina. Grasp the base of your penis with your hand and gently make circles around the clitoris or run the underside of the shaft along her inner lips. Don't penetrate fully. Pull out before you're halfway in.
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This is the paradox between sex and relationships: Men feel intimate as a result of sex; women feel sexual as a result of intimacy. It`s the basis of so much misunderstanding between the sexes.If you can grasp the wisdom of these 16 words, you`ll be forever blessed.
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When both of you need a little extra zip, try the `dual orgasm position`. Have your partner raise her right leg until her knee is even with your left shoulder. She should leave her left leg flat on the bed. Then direct your thrusts toward the inner thigh of her raised leg. By splitting her legs, she stretches her vagina, allowing for tighter penetration and more pressure on the clitoris.
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Here`s new position for sex that`ll blow her mind, literally: Have her lie on her back across the bed, with her head and shoulders dangling over the edge (make sure she keeps as much of her lower back on the mattress as possible and stop if she gets too light-headed). Enter her slowly and show some restraint when you thrust - you don`t want to knock her on to the floor. Any time you turn your head upside-down, you`ll feel a rush as blood pours in. This head rush, combined with physical pleasure, can heighten orgasms for some women.
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Many guys ejaculate sooner than they`d like to, so those with the opposite problem don`t get much sympathy. Just as men with erection difficulties often sabotage their hard-ons by worrying about going flat, guys who can`t climax make things worse by focusing on their failures. It`s sort of like the flyhalf who makes all his conversion in practice but chokes during the match. Just like you, he`s a greater talent but wilts under pressure. The key to ejaculating while she`s still awake is learning to feel comfortable letting go in front of her. Try mutual masturbation, in which you and your partner masturbate in front of each other. You`ll have some control, while being intimate at the same time. If you`re successful, it`ll improve your confidence.
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Unhooking a bra with only one hand is a useful skill to have. Firstly, find the clasp at the back (there may be more than one if she`s well-endowed). It`s a hook-and-eye gizmo held together by the force of the elastic back strap pulling the hook into the eye. Slip your thumb under the back strap just to the right (your right) of the clasp. Pull it about two centimetres away from her back. Now, with your middle finger press against the back strap on the opposite side of the clasp from your thumb. Your thumb should be stretching the strap away from her back as your middle finger is pressing it in, toward her skin. Lastly, turn your wrist so the middle finger comes nearly under the thumb, thus transferring the stress on the strap to your finger and thumb. This will allow the hook to freely escape the eye and the strap to come apart.
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The average woman needs about 15 minutes of foreplay. For goodness sake, don't look at your watch but here's a guide: Zero to minute 3: Mute the TV and get rid of the chips. Kiss her like she's the only thing in the world right now. Minute 4 to minute 6: Kiss her some more. But while you're doing it, begin to touch her all over. Not like that. Like this: Gently, as if it's something you've never felt before. Then let her touch you. Minute 7 to minute 12: Very slowly take off her clothes. Start to take off yours and let her finish for you. Do not fold anything. Minute 13 to minute 15: Use your mouth. Nibble, lick, bite. A little roughly on ordinary skin; gently elsewhere. There, that wasn't so bad, was it?
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Smoking constricts the blood vessels and can interfere with your love life. A surprisingly large number of impotent men are smokers but their condition often improves once they stop.
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The tender flesh behind the knee is good for both a tickle and a turn-on. Make sure your partner`s leg is fully extended, then gently trace a figure of eight on the back of her knee with your fingertips or the tip of your tongue.
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Every night thousands of couples experience a condom break or slip. Here's what to do if it happens to you: 1. Wash immediately Wash yourself with soap and water. No studies have shown that soap destroys STDs but it won't do any harm, and it might do some good. 2. Show concern Gently ask her to a. inspect herself for bits of broken condom, b. refrain from douching, as that can push in microbes and c. see her doctor, chemist or clinic about the "morning after pill", which is a concentrated dose of birth-control drugs that can reduce the risk of pregnancy. 3. Rehash histories If she is infected, your risk for contracting gonorrhea is as high as 50 percent. Not to mention HIV. Have another chat about previous sexual partners and diseases. If you're concerned about STDs, see your doctor and get tested within a few days. 4. Troubleshoot Did you use an expired condom or an oil-based lubricant? Maybe you nicked it with a fingernail while putting it on. Whatever the cause of the breakage, don't do it again.
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When walking down the road or along a pavement with a woman, always position yourself between her and the street. This creates a barrier (you) between her and any dust, water or verbal abuse from any passing motorists, plus it allows her to windowshop if the conversation lulls.
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An aerobic workout - even a brief one - can help put you in the mood for love and even give your orgasms more punch. Aerobic exercise increases brain activity in the left frontal lobe, triggering positive feelings that can boost interest in sex. Exercise also produces those well-known, feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which can increase arousal and the intensity of orgasms. The effect lasts 60 to 90 minutes after 10 minutes of exercise.
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As far as your body is concerned, yawning and getting an erection are practically the same thing. They`re both controlled by a chemical called nitric oxide. Released in the brain, it can either travel to the neurons that control mouth opening and breathing or go down the spinal cord to the blood vessels that feed the penis. Sometimes it does both (that\'s why a big yawn can cause a tremor down below). Allowing yourself to yawn now and then throughout the day may help prime the neurochemical pathways that lead to good, sturdy erections.
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Who is the passive aggressive guy? The colleague who views every relationship like a power struggle. Every ofﬁce has one. Dr Scott Wetzler, author of Living with the Passive Aggressive Man, tells you how to spot him and how to beat him. It’s not easy to spot him. You’ll notice that he doesn’t keep his promises or you’ll ﬁnd yourself angry at him and not know the reason. His problem is a lack of self-esteem. He feels like he’s always at a disadvantage and so uses devious methods to succeed. Crack him by being upfront. Start making him responsible and accountable for his work. Document everything and be sure he knows his deadlines.
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Here are some easy tests to see if you should shed a few kilos. Firstly, measure the circumference of your relaxed waist (around your belly button). If it`s more than 102cm, you`re carrying too much belly fat. This rule holds true for men of all heights and frames. Secondly, stick a finger in the collar of a dress shirt and lightly whisk it around your neck. If you can't do that without grazing skin, you're getting fat. Lastly, look at your penis. If it seems shorter, you've probably gained weight. As you gain fat in your lower abdomen, it obscures the base of your penis, making it look shorter. In the worst-case scenario - what doctors called `buried penis` - your entire willy disappears
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Find a doctor who`s roughly your age - give or take five years. If he is facing the same health quirks you`re facing, it`ll help him anticipate what tests and treatments your really need. You`ll also feel that he understands you better.
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Before surrendering your body, ask your doctor these key questions: 1. How many times have you done this particular procedure? 2. What are the outcomes of the operation in terms of mortality and complication rates? 3. Are complications frequent? 4. Why do you want to use this particular operating technique? 5. What should I expect after the anaethesia wears off? 6. What potential problems could arise later? 7. What is your philosophy about pain control? 8. How long is recovery?
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If you`re about to undergo surgery, stop using garlic, vitamin E and fish-oil pills, which all can thin your blood and cause excessive bleeding. Stop taking them at least two weeks before the operation.
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Feel a sneeze coming on? Don`t hold your breath, seal your lips or pinch your nose to lessen the sound of your sneeze; the air pressure you biuld up can force infections deep into your sinuses or ears. First try pinching your nose when you feel the first tickle of a sneeze coming on. This usually makes the sensation subside. If not, lightly cover your nose and mouth with your cupped hand (preferably holding a fresh tissue) and let rip.
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Flossing is 10 times more important than brushing. The broad, flat surfaces of your teeth harbour few bacteria but the unbrushable crevices between teeth are full of dental debris. If you can`t floss after every meal, do it at least once a day.
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Blowing your nose could make you cold last longer. Using X-rays, researchers discovered that nose blowing actually forces some mucous backwards. You may propel bacteria and viruses directly into your sinuses, which may trigger reactions that could make your cold worse. As soon as symptoms appear, take antihistamines instead.
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Doing so reduces mouth odour by 75 percent, whereas brushing the teeth alone reduces it by only 25 percent. Combining the two methods is best. That approach reduces bad breath by 85 percent.
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It\'s not the pain reliever you choose, it\'s the form it comes in. Liquid gel capsules of dissolved ibuprofen reach your bloodstream almost 60 percent faster than the solid form.
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Pour a glass of water and hold up a small mirror to your throat as your drink it. Watch the area below your Adam's apple for bumps and bulges as you drink. If you see any, have them checked pronto.
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As you`re towelling yourself off after a shower or bath, give yourself a quick once-over for any moles and freckles that seem new or larger than before - this could be a marker of skin cancer. Check your back in the mirror. Finally, dry your feet and privates with a hair dryer to cut your odds of picking up a fungus. If athlete`s foot and jock itch are common problems for you, add a little anti-fungal powder.
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In the Echinacea vs. Chicken soup wars, poultry broth is still the champ: a new study discredits echinacea as a cold fighter. Researchers exposed 437 volunteers to cold viruses after giving them daily doses of echinacea or a placebo for a week. After five days, both groups had the same symptoms.
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Don`t make temporary changes to your diet with the idea that you`ll stop them when you`ve lost some weight. Permanently change your eating habits and the way you think about food. That`s the way you`ll keep the kilos off for good.
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If you're the the type of guy who wakes up hungry in the middle of the night, keeping a glass of water and some grapes on your bedside table will save you a trip to the kitchen, where the last piece of chocolate cake awaits.
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Stress is never listed as a cause of death but it can usually be implicated as an accomplice. One new way to control stress is to cut off all outside news one day a week. No television, no newspapers, no radio, no Internet, no magazines. Cut off the information overload and you won't feel so overwhelmed.
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The heart responds to exercise the same way ordinary muscle does. Just as your chest expands with repeated bench presses, your heart grows with prolonged aerobic exercise. A well-trained heart can be about 30 to 40 percent larger than a normal one. And since it`s so big, it can pump about 50 percent more blood with every beat.
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Don`t go back to a doctor who prescribed medication for you without first asking about your diet, exercise programme or other medication your taking. He`s either sloppy or ignorant.
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Studies show that `central obesity` (that`s a boep to you) raises your risk of heart disease. This simple ttest will tell you how big a problem your belly is. With a measuring tape, take a reading on your waist at the midpoint between your bottom rib and hipbone. Then measure your hips at their widest point. Divide your waist size by your hip size, and you`ve got something called your waist-to-hip ratio. If that ratio is 0.95 or less, you`ve just eliminated one key risk factor for heart disease.
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Fruit is good for you, so the best yoghurt must be the kind with the fruit in it, right? Not necessarily. For the most nutritious yoghurt, avoid the fruit on bottom varieties. The fruitmay be mostly jam, which packs the equivalent of eight or nine teaspoons of sugar per cup - nearly as much as a tin of cooldrink. Instead, choose plain fat-free yoghurt or flavours like lemon, which doesnt contain fruit, and add your own berries. Frsh fruit provides a healthy dose of fibre too.
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Using tap water to clean or store contact lenses can cause a potentially blinding infection. Tap water contains microscopic organisms that, when trapped under lenses, can cause ulcers on the cornea.
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Don`t wait too long to hit a pit stop. Holding urine in a full bladder can increase your risk of a heart attack. Researchers found that the stress from having a full bladder and not being able to relieve it increases heart rate by an average of nine beats a minute, and ups bloodflow to the heart by 25 percent. Both of these symptoms could be enough to trigger a heart attack.
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Alcohol impairs your ability to get an erection the same way it impairs your ability to drive and walk. It dulls the nerves that transmit sensation between your penis and your brain. If you`re looking to perform later in the evening, tell the bartender to cut you off after three drinks.
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Younger men with a genetic susceptibility to male-pattern baldness can trigger it prematurely by crash dieting or subjecting themselves to too much stress. The condition is called `shedding`. If you`re trying to lose weight, make sure your diet contains ample protein, which is essential for hair growth.
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The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores needs the amino acid arginine to initiate its dirty work. Beer is rich in arginine, as are chocolate, peas, peanuts and cashews. Limiting your consumption of these may help reduce outbreaks if you`re prone to them.
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For safe, lasting weight loss, don`t lose more than one kilogram a week. The biggest drawback to rapid weight loss is that you`re far more likely to regain weight. People who drop kilos quickly usually rely on extreme exercise programmes or very low-kilojoule diets, which are tough to maintain for more than a few weeks. Rapid weight loss also involves losing a lot fluid, which can be dangerous, especially if you`re engaged in serious exercise. Often those who lose a lot of weight quickly eventually rebound to a weight even greater than they started with.
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Eating a steak-and-potatoes diet can not only plug up your arteries; it might also lead to hair plugs, as well. After reviewing 30 years of hair loss and heart disease data collected from more than 2,000 men, researchers found that those with the least hair also had the highest risk of dying from heart disease. The connection is likely due to nitric oxide, a naturally occurring chemical that prevents blood clots and dilates blood vessels (two key factors in avoiding heart attacks). Nitric oxide also seems to foster hair growth and erections. When atherosclerosis damages the walls of your blood vessels, it causes them to produce less nitric acid.
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If you just don't like the taste of vegetables, try sneaking them into your meals. Chop or shred veggies and add them to dishes that hide their flavour. Put spinach in chillies, mushrooms in macaroni and cheese, artichokes on pizza, and peppers and spring onions in omelettes.
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Submerge a superficial burn in cool water until it no longer hurts. You can also use shaving cream (it absorbs heat as it expands, halting the burning process) or a bag of frozen peas (you can mould it around your skin).
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Sleep deprivation decreases the odds of shedding blubber and keeping it off. Researchers found that healthy men who snoozed only four or seven hours a night for six nights in a row had higher glucose and insulin levels in their blood. This is a terrible state of metabolism for a man who's trying to lose weight because surplus insulin boosts body-fat storage. Hit the sack for eight hours each and every night.
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Changing your toothbrush when you're sick may help you get better faster. Well-worn bristles harbour bacteria and yeast associated with pneumonia, stomach ulcers, sore throats, sinus infections and upset stomachs.
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Next time a doctor hands you a prescription, take a minute to ask some questions. You could save some money. Drug companies have perfected the art of modifying a popular drug just as the patent for it is about to expire and a cheaper generic subsitute is ready to hit the market. The companies push to modified pills to doctors and patients and thus hang on to their share of the market. These medications can cost much more than a generic or an older version that does virtually the same thing. Ask your doctor these questions:

Is this a brand-name drug? Why am I getting it and not a generic?

Is this a new drug with new active ingredients or just a modified version of an older formulation? Would the old one work?

If it`s new, what`s the benefit: fewer side effects, longer lasting, more convenient?
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If your nose is bleeding, lean forward. Leaning back can cause you to choke on your blood. Pinch your nose closed. The bleeding should stop within five minutes. Then test for a fracture. If the tip sounds squishy when you press it, your nose is broken.
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At a party, follow each alcoholic drink with a glass of mineral water or soda. You'll always have something in your hands to sip but you'll be getting half the liquor and kilojoules you otherwise would. No kilojoules, carbonated mineral water and lime looks just like a 700-kilojoule gin and tonic.
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Take vitamin E with milk (but not skim or 2 percent). The nutrient, which helps protect against heart disease, is fat soluble so you need to take it with a drink containing some fat. Absorption won`t be as effective if it`s taken with water.
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Contrary to popular belief, if you have a hoarse throat you shouldn't whisper. Whispering is an abrasive way to use your voice, producing a tense, abnormal vocal-cord motion that may worsen the situation.
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If you take the bracelet or metal strap and roll it over in your hands, it should adapt nicely to the curvature of your hands or fingers. A cheap watch doesn`t do that. Another test: tap the face with your fingernail. If you hear the dull sound of Plexiglass rather than the sharp clink of crystal, the watch is probably counterfeit.
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Keep your toothbrush bristles down in a glass of mouthwash (which you should replace every few days). This will minimise the germs you put in your mouth.
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If you suffer from frequent headaches, you can put your finger on what`s triggering them. All you need to do is pick up a pen. By keeping a headache diary, a pattern could emerge that can help you identify the hidden causes of pain. When your headache comes, note what the time is, what your recently ate and what you were doing just before you noticed it. This will point to the troublemakers. Some commonly overlooked suspects include sex, flying, skipping meals, chewing gum, spicy foods, ice cream and too much sleep.
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Migraines are highly individualised but certain foods - especially those high in a compound called tyramine - are known to induce them in some people. Key suspects include offal (like kidneys), fermented products (such as yeasts, soy sauces, wine and beer), monosodium glutamate (MSG), Vienna sausages, certain aged cheeses, chocolate and caffeine.
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Although most nuts are high in fat, some are better than others. The healthiest nut is the almond. A handful (that`s 60g) contains as much fibre as an apple (seven grams), almost as much potassium as a banana (436g) and 10 milligrams of heart-protecting vitamin E. But don`t get carried away: that handful also has 15g of fat. The death nut is the macadamia. It contains very few nutrients (almost no vitamin E) and is loaded with fat (21g per 60g).
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Does exercise make you feel stronger and more energetic? Do you feel better after a high-carbohydrate pasta-and-salad meal than you do after a high-fat steak dinner? These are important new bulletins from your body. So are hangovers, overuse injuries, minor aches and pains, heartburn, constipation, headaches and some types of impotence. A doctor can help you interpret these messages but only you can detect them. Swtich off the TV news once in a while and listen to your body.
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Baldness may indicate that you run a higher risk of developing heart disease. Men with frontal balding are nine percent more likely to have coronary heart disease, while men with baldness originating from the top of the head have a 23 to 36 percent greater risk than guys with no hair loss. Researchers aren`t sure how to explain the link. If you are going bald, you might want to talk to your doctor about diagnostic tests that might give an early indication of possible heart trouble.
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Do pills get stuck in your throat? Try taking them with two quick gulps of water without pausing rather than one larger gulp. The first swallow gets your epiglottis - the flap of tissue that covers the windpipe - to fold down, so tablets don't get caught in it. The second gulp gets the pill past the epiglottis before it springs back.
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Cut and wash fruit and vegetables just before cooking or eating them. This keeps vitamin levels at their maximum. And don`t cut them into tiny pieces. The more surface area exposed to oxygen, the faster vitamins lose their potency.
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Here is a simple way to measure your weight-loss progress: Measure you waist. Then measure your neck. Now subtract your neck size from your waist size. Repeat this calculation every four weeks. If the number is going down - if your waist is getting smaller relative to your neck - you're losing fat. If it's going in the opposite direction, you need to beef up your workouts and slow down your fork.
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If your medication is regularly exposed to light, heat or humidity (which is exactly the climate in steamy bathrooms), it could degrade faster than it should. The worst place to store anything is in a bathroom. The fridge is also a bad idea because it`s humid inside, causing certain medicines to crystallise or crack. A cool, dry place, like a linen cupboard, is the best storage place.
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Cold viruses are transmitted through the air and by touch, so the best way to not get a cold is to keep your distance from someone who has one. The most critical period to avoid contact is the first two or three days that the sufferer shows symptoms. By the way, you can`t get a cold from catching a chill. On the contrary, the reason we get sick in winter is because we spend more time inside in close contact with others.
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When a foreign object bigger than a splinter has entered your body, there is only one rule: Leave it until you can get to a doctor. The object is like a stopper. If you remove it, you may have massive bleeding and a much lower chance of surviving the injury.
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What follows are the 20 components of a complete physical. It's a good idea to have a baseline exam at 30, followed by a comprehensive exam every year after 40. Run down the list when you make the appointment. 1. Blood test (as extensive as possible) 2. Body-fat test 3. Bone-density screening 4. Chest X-ray (if you're a smoker) 5. Colonoscopy (starting at 50 or earlier if you have family history or other significant risk factors) 6. Comprehensive medical and family history 7. Head-to-toe physical exam 8. Hearing test and vision screening 9. HIV test 10. Kidney and liver-function tests 11. Neurological exam 12. Prostate exam 13. Pulmonary-function test 14. Skin exam for melanoma and pther possible malignancies 15. Stethoscope exam 16. Stool sample for occult blood (to test for colon cancer) 17. Stress test and resting electrocardiogram 18. Throat exam, including vocal cords 19. Thyroid-function test 20. Urinalysis
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If you're booked for surgey, and a local anaesthetic isn't an option, do these three things to ensure that you wake up. 1. Cut out the spuds Don't eat potatoes, tomatoes or brinjal for at least a week before the op. Researchers have found that compounds in these foods can affect your body's ability to metabolise anaesthetics. 2. Bring your medications If you talk to the anaesthesiologist before surgery, show him all the medications you take, prescription and over-the-counter. This will reduce the chance of problematic interactions. 3. Go intravenous Ask whether your anaesthetic can be administered intravenously instead of through a gas mask. Inhaled anaesthetics can leave you groggy for longer after surgery.
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If you leave gym or happy hour with red, puffy cheeks, it could be the beginning of rosacea, a common skin disease that causes the blood vessels in your dace to dilate. If left untreated, rosacea can give you a bulbous nose and even permanently mar your face with spider veins and itchy, pus-filled patches. See a dermatologist immediately. While there's no cure, quick treatment can help. A few months of tetracycline followed with a topical gel or cream will usually control it.
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An unhappy relationship increases your chnace of getting sick by 35 percent and shortens your life by four years. If fitness fanatics spent just 10 percent of their weekly exercise time working on their marriages instead of their bodies, they would get three times the health benefit.
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If you\'re over 40 and get headaches or eyestrain from reading, you may have presbyopia: loss of close focus. To tell if you do, open a telephone book and choose some numbers (if you normally wear glasses, keep them on). Move the book away until you can focus on the numbers. If you must fully extend your arms or bend them only slightly to see clearly, you\'re probably ready for bifocals. See an optometrist or opthalmologist for a more precise test.
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Celery is the answer for any man whose doctor has told him, `You have high blood pressure; cut down on salt`. Celery`s naturally salty flavour can help quash your sodium cravings, whether noshed raw or added to a wide variety of dishes. And, as a bonus, it contains potassium, a mineral that`s been shown to help fight hypertension.
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According to a Harvard University study, you could cut your heart-attack risk in half by eating just four grams less of trans-fat every day. You`ll find it in margarine, crackers, biscuits, cakes and many fried foods, especially chips. Look for the phrase `partially hydrogenated vegetable oil` on nutrition labels. The closer to the top of the ingredient list you find this, the more trans-fat the food contains.
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Guys who breathe through their mouths a lot are often tired without knowing why. The reason: Breathing through your mouth tends to be shallow and rapid and your body works too hard for the oxygen it gets. Remedy this by making a conscious effort to breathe slowly and steadily through your nose.
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Many of the antibiotic prescriptions written are unnecessary. Patients expect antibiotics and the physician tries to keep his patients happy. Many doctors even prescribe them for viral infections - such as the flu - knowing full well that they`re useless (they only fight bacterial infections). Taking unnecessary antibiotics can help disease-causing bacteria develop a resistance to them, which could hurt you when you really need them. You only need antibiotics for sinus infections, strep throat, pneumonia and serious skin infections. And always take every single pill the doctor gives you or you\'ll leave the strongest bugs alive to repopulate.
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Frozen or very cold cans of beer make great ice packs. Hold one against whatever is ailing you: a sore muscle, a sunburnt neck, a pounding headache. With a bandage, you can wrap a frostie against the back of your thigh. Or use a sweatband to strap a can near your elbow. Metal transmits the cold very rapidly. Just make sure to put some thin fabric between the skin and beer can to avoid frostbite.
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Don`t crush a pill into powder to make it easier to swallow. If it`s a time-release medication, it was designed to enter the system slowly and steadily; taken in powdered form, the drug is absorbed at once and can cause an overdose. Crushing pills also destroys coatings made to protect the lining of the throat and stomach. Instead of pulverising your pills, see if the prescription comes in gel capsules, which are easier to get down.
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Reduce the inflammation with ice. Then rub aspirin or meat tenderiser on the insect bite to break down the venom. Relieve the pain and itching by dabbing the bite with a pasty salve of water and baking soda. If you have neither, use a mud pack.
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To see if you\'re overtraining, check your pulse first thing in the morning. If it\'s 10 beats per minute or more above normal, your body is still recovering.
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Close your eyes and lift your dominant foot (right foot if you`re right-handed) about 15cm off the floor, bending your knee at a 45-degree angle. Try this three times and average the number of seconds before you have to open your eyes or move your foot to prevent falling over. Typical scores: 28 seconds for ages 20 top 30; 18 seconds for 40 to 50; and four seconds for 60 to 70.
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Ask a friend to suspend a thin 30cm ruler vertically by holding it at the top. Keep the thumb and middle finger of your right hand 10cm apart, equidistant from the 30cm mark on the ruler. As your fired drops the ruler without warning, catch it between your two fingers. Your score is whatever centimetre mark you catch it at. Do this three times and take an average. The score usually decreases from the 22cm mark at age 20 to the 12cm mark at age 60.
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Pinch the skin on the back of your hand between your thumb and forefinger for five seconds, then count how long it takes to flatten out completely. Up to 50 years of age, it requires only about five seconds; by 60, 10 to 15 seconds, and by 70, 35 to 55 seconds. Your initial measurement is less important than the rate of change over the years.
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If a vitamin pill doesn`t break down within 20 to 30 minutes, it will bypass the first part of the small intestine, where most nutrients are absorbed. To see how well your vitamin pill is being absorbed, drop it in a glass of vinegar. If it doesn`t break down in 30 minutes, switch to another brand.
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Weights can make your biceps look good but they`re also good for your heart. Why? In addition to lowering cholesterol and blood-pressure levels, stronger muscles make physical exertion, especially lifting or carrying heavy things, less taxing. Stronger muscles result in a significant reduction in heart rate and blood pressure while you'`re carrying the object. This may help you avoid straining your heart during exertion, which can cause a heart attack.
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Here`s the simple translation for those blood-pressure numbers that doctors and nurses rattles off: The first number (120) is the systolic pressure, which represents the pressure in the arteries at the moment your heart contracts and pumps blood. The second number (80) is the diastolic pressure, which represents the arterial pressure between beats, or the resting pressure. By the way, `120 over 80` is what you want to hear. That`s a perfect reading for a healthy man. A cute nurse touching your arm or a morning cup of coffee can make your pressure surge, so don't be shy about asking for a high reading to be double-checked. But if you hit 140/90 or higher and don`t edge down over a week or two, you`ve got high blood pressure, pal.
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