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Wild Concept Cars at the 2010 LA Auto Show

Automakers look to a brighter future in sunny Southern California.

Optimism is back in style in the automotive world. The concept cars on display during the 2010 LA Auto Show prove that automakers are again willing to take risks and push boundaries. After a couple dismal years of sales due to a global recession, manufacturers are exhibiting a renewed sense of creativity.

Some of the concept cars seen in Los Angeles rely on heritage to spark a new ideas for the 21st century. The aggressive-looking Audi Quattro Concept is a modern interpretation of the German company's famous all-wheel-drive sport coupes from the 1980s.

Other automakers chose to break all the rules and display cars that look ready to take flight or travel through time. The Jaguar C-X75 and Mercedes-Benz Biome concepts are not only wildly futuristic, they're absolutely gorgeous, and a sign of even more good things to come.

Mercedes-Benz Biome

This is the Mercedes-Benz you'll aspire to own in, say, 2310. The bright white concept looks like it belongs on the set of Star Trek. Yet the Biome was actually designed at the German company's design studio in Carlsbad, California. There's room for four-passengers inside, or so we're told, and the seating position is in a diamond format.

The best part is that Mercedes-Benz says the Biome can be grown from seeds, and not built in a traditional factory. It sounds crazy, but that's part of the fun with any dream car. Using genetically modified trees and powered by something called BioNectar4534, Mercedes-Benz says the Biome's bio-fiber cloth body would be grown organically, and on the road, the car would emit pure oxygen. The Biome reportedly would weigh only 875 lbs.

It will be several generations before anyone starts pondering the spec sheet for a genetically-built Mercedes like the Biome.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

Following its impressive Paris debut, the Jaguar C-X75 turbine-electric hybrid supercar took center stage at the LA Auto Show. While very much a concept, the C-X75 represents Jaguar's new design face for upcoming models. That's excellent news, because this is one pretty kitty.

Even better is the fact that all this beauty is more than skin deep. At each wheel is an electric motor that weighs 100 pounds and provides 195 horsepower (145 kW) of power. Power for the electric motors comes from a 506-pound lithium-ion battery pack, which Jaguar claims takes a full charge in just 6 hours at 240 volts. Running only on electric power, the C-X75 will provide a driving range of 68 miles.

With the help of two micro gas turbines, the C-X75's range jumps to 560 miles. Jaguar claims the C-X75 can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, while top speed is reportedly 205 mph. All that turbine-generated power creates a lot of heat, as evidenced by sign at the exhaust outlets with the warning: Beware of blast.

Audi Quattro Concept

The Audi Quattro Concept is another Paris Auto Show veteran, but that did little to dampen enthusiasm for this muscular show car. The inspiration for this sport coupe stretches back a few decades. The German automaker built the Quattro Concept to celebrate 30 years of its Quattro all-wheel drive system and the Quattro Sport that dominated rallying in the 1980s.

Finished in Col de Turini white paint, the Quattro Concept is powered by a compact turbocharged five-cylinder engine that puts out a whopping 408 hp and 354 ft-lbs of torque. The chassis beneath the car comes from an Audi RS 5, with its wheelbase shortened and roof lowered. To further trim weight, the two-passenger Quattro has an aluminum body and hood, plus hatch and bumpers made of carbon fiber. The car weighs just 2,866 lbs.

Based on the positive reactions to the Jaguar C-X75 in Paris and Los Angeles, we don't see how Audi could decide not to build the potent Quattro.

Nissan Ellure Concept

The Nissan Ellure Concept, a world debut at the LA Auto Show, is meant to bring excitement back to the sedan category while meeting consumer demands for environmentally friendly vehicles. Thankfully, the Ellure's elegant exterior and classy cabin help the car meet these high expectations. The design is expected to heavily influence the next Altima and Maxima sedan.

The Nissan Ellure has what the Japanese automaker refers to as "rhythmic" shapes around the body. The polished grille is aluminum and acrylic, its wing shape apparently inspired by "Kamishimo," the Samurai's formal outer coat. The headlights are LEDs, with a light ribbon adding depth to their appearance.

Inside, the front seats are covered with black recyclable suede fibers and feature slender acrylic seat backs. The front seat passenger can make use of an ottoman (no joke). Under the hood is Nissan's next-generation hybrid propulsion system: a supercharged 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor with lithium-ion batteries.

Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept

Also seen for the first time in Los Angeles, Cadillac's Urban Luxury Concept addresses the move to smaller and more fuel-efficient city cars. The exterior shape of the Urban Luxury Concept carries Cadillac's strong and instantly recognizable sharp contours of its Art & Science design philosophy. The huge 19-inch wheels are pushed to the corners of the diminutive body to create a muscular stance and maximize interior volume.

A large windshield, overhead skylights and see-through A-pillars aid visibility while adding a spacious feel of the interior. The Cadillac Concept accommodates four passengers, with access to the cabin handled by huge chiseled door slabs that open scissor-style.

The Urban Luxury Concept's powertrain is a hybrid, featuring an electrically assisted turbocharged 1-liter inline-three-cylinder paired to a dual-clutch transmission. An engine start-stop function and regenerative braking help nudge the fuel economy to a claimed 56 mpg city and 65 mpg on the highway.

It remains to be seen whether the Cadillac family tree has room for a vehicle like the ULC. Yet itís exciting to see the American brand combine traditional luxury with the push towards greater fuel-efficiency.

Mazda Shinari Concept

The LA Auto Show was the first opportunity for the public to see the handsome Mazda Shinari concept. Pictures of the car have circulated online, yet this was the fist auto show appearance for the sedan that represents the brand's new design language.

Traditional Mazda design elements will be retained, such as the five-point grille and the prominent front fender shape, but the four-door Shinari embodies a new dynamic that blends sharp character lines with sculpted body shapes to convey a sense of power and elegance.

Crisp character lines, sculpted body panels, and a pronounced cab rearward proportion give the Shinari a powerful appearance. The attention to detail is remarkable for a show car. The satin-finish metal trim that frames the bottom of the grille splays out through the headlamp openings. This strip seems to travel through the wheel arch and re-emerges as a side vent accent.

Elements of this new design might soon appear on passenger sedans like the Mazda6, as well as replacements for sporty models like the MX-5 Miata and RX-8.

Subaru Impreza Design Concept

The Subaru Impreza Design Concept is an aggressive, but familiar, outlook for the all-wheel-drive-all-the-time company. Gone are the days of the three-box Subaru, as the overall line from the front of the car, through the bottom of the A-pillar, the roof, through the C-pillar and ultimately the trunk, is smooth and continuous. The front end -- with all the character lines, headlights, fog lights and air openings -- is much sharper and more pronounced than before.

For a company that has sometimes struggled to find its own look, the Impreza Design Concept is a safe step towards a more lasting long-term impression. The engine is a 2-liter version of Subaru's trademark Boxer configuration flat-four motor. It's mated to a continuously variable transmission that Subaru calls Lineartronic.

The EyeSight system is a clever tech touch, comprised of a series of cameras located at the front of the roof. EyeSight provides for collision mitigation, and can display the feed that it sees through the in-dash video system. The cabin is filled with video panels, including one located on the lower spoke of the steering wheel.

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How to Simplify Financial Planning

According to experts, financial planning should consider monetary requirements in different phases of life. It should provide a holistic picture of the inflow and outflow of money. In addition, it should address risk appetite, emergency situations and long-term financial goals.

When it comes to the basics of financial planning, there are four major focus areas:

Investment planning: It involves developing strategies for asset allocation based on your risk appetite. Diversification of assets is a key constituent of financial planning to lower the risk factors to achieve your desired long term goals. To devise a systematic fund allocation strategy, one should work on developing an investment tracking system. There are many software available online that can help you keep track of your investments.

Tax planning: No one likes to give away a significant portion of his/her annual income as tax, when there are legal methods available to save taxes. The government encourages individuals to leverage tax benefits available on several investment instruments. The first step towards tax planning is to identify the number of taxes that you are liable to pay. Some of the most common forms of taxes are income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Tax planning strategies involve the smart use of offshore bonds, Venture Capital Trusts, Enterprise Investment Schemes and Individual Savings Account (ISA).

Retirement planning: A financial plan that does not guarantee a secured future after the age of 60 is not worth investing in. By investing in retirement plans from an early age, it is possible to lead a financially-secured life in your old age. Retirement planning should answer two basic financial requirements - standard of living and medical emergencies. SIPP(Self-Invested Personal Pension) are highly popular retirement instruments in the UK. SIPP investment is a UK-government approved pension scheme that offers tax benefits on certain investment instruments.

Personal Insurance: Individual and family insurance policies are also a crucial part of financial planning. Insurance policies offer financial security against unforeseen circumstances. With a host of insurance schemes available in the market, buying the most suitable insurance is a daunting task. You can consult an expert to understand your insurance requirements in accordance with your financial plan. Some insurance policies also offer tax benefits.

Financial Planning versus Financial Advice
Hire an expert for financial planning may be a good idea. For a majority of the population, managing finance is a complex subject. Hiring a good financial planning service helps you to understand your requirements in a better way and allocate your funds according to long-term goals. However, one must understand that financial advice is only a subset of the larger picture. Based on your needs, you may have to customize the plan to fit your life and goals in a better way.

Look for a financial planner who offers comprehensive consultation on all major aspects of fund allocation. Hire a financial advisor who is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), UK. Some service providers have business arrangements with financial instrument providers, which makes the process of investment easy. Discuss your financial goals and devise a strategy that you can follow in the long term.

IT Insurance: Even the most Progressive Technology needs Security

Information technology is a field that is dynamic and in a state of constant up gradation. By the time all the nuances of one product are understood, a new version is on the market. Computer professionals are thus people who need to keep constantly upgrading their skills, learning new products and services, understanding the limitations and ramifications of each. Computers have forayed into every sphere of daily activity right from National defense to banking to online gaming and even social networking. Being in such a field leaves a lot of room for errors due to omission, negligence that may not be deliberate and malfunction of both hardware and software. Companies may invest in software or IT services that they may later feel are not exactly what they required or are not suited to deal with specific needs. This is expensive technology involving large sums of money and clients may feel shortchanged if their needs are perceived as unfulfilled. IT firms have thus realized the threat of potential financial claims by dissatisfied customers and have now begun to shop around for means of protection.

Insurance companies are now beginning to create customized packages for IT professionals. Right from a web developer who may be sued by a competitor for pilfering ideas to a hardware manufacturer who may have a suit filed for loss of business due to faulty parts supplied, to a software designer whose software has plenty of perceived lacunae…the threats are many. This is an industry that is fast paced and very specialized thus the scope for errors are plenty. In a world of savvy consumers all of whom are very conscious about their rights as end users, it is better to take precautions and find a suitable coverage for IT insurance.

Companies that offer comprehensive IT insurance packages to their clients as part of their professional services are especially susceptible to such damage claims. Clients may allege that a technological software or a particular software professional service have harmed their business. Accounting software may be held responsible for the miscalculation of taxes or a web developer can be charged for misunderstanding and misrepresenting client interests. Thus not only do IT professionals need to be insured, but IT products like specialized or customized software packages need to be insured too. If a server crashes with the subsequent loss of data, the financial fallout can be catastrophic and the cost of reconstruction can be prohibitively high. Thus even those maintaining the servers need to be insured as businesses that are heavily IT dependent may claim losses running into millions due to inaccessibility of the server.

IT insurance policies can encompass general commercial insurance combined with professional liability coverage as well. Individuals as well as group policies can be availed of to ensure that not only those working at senior management levels but also those who are providing vital back up services are covered by a comprehensive insurance policy. In fact IT professionals can even insure themselves against critical illnesses that prevent them from working on the computer. Whatever is the case, and whatever the need, one emerging trend is clear. That IT insurance has arrived and is gradually evolving into a comprehensive policy of protection in a consumer world that does not hesitate to litigate to address grievances. Rather than face financial upheaval and professional turmoil, IT firms as well as individual professions prefer to be safe rather than sorry.

Ideal Protein Diet Plan

In recent years, the ideal protein diet plan has emerged as one of the healthiest methods of weight loss. Find out what this diet entails, and reviews about this diet, here.

The ideal protein diet is almost 25 years old and was created by Dr. Tran Tien Chanh, MD PhD, in France. While it was initially developed only for athletes to regulate their protein levels and muscle building abilities, soon it was transformed into one that could be followed by anyone. It has been medically devised, and is known to help lose the fat from the body without the loss of muscle. More often than not, when following a diet, the opposite is the case. The body experiences muscle loss while the fat remains glued to the body. This is why this specific diet was designed, in order to ensure that you retain muscle for your body strength (by introducing proteins to the body), and lose the fat (by eliminating fats and carbohydrates from the diet) that is the source of a lot of health problems.

The ideal protein diet plan is one that is available only through certified health care professionals at a particular cost. Here, we talk about the intricacies of this diet, and the costs associated with it.

The Ideal Protein Diet Plan: A 4 Phase Process

The ideal protein diet is carried out in four phases, while consuming foods specifically designed for this diet. Only under the care of a certified health care professional can you purchase these foods and follow this diet. These professionals also ensure that you do not face any health problems while on this diet, and will take into consideration any health problems you are already suffering from. Following are the four phases that are involved in this diet, along with the ideal protein diet plan cost per phase.

Phase 1
The first phase of the ideal protein diet is meant to be followed until you lose about 90% of your weight, or achieve your weight loss goal up to this point. You are given a packet of ideal foods that is to form 3 of your meals every day. Your fourth meal will be a regular dinner, that follows the principles of a low carb high protein diet. This phase will cost you an average of $85 per week.

Phase 2
The second phase of this diet is meant to be followed till you lose the remaining weight, or completely achieve your weight loss goal. In this phase you will have only 2 meals consisting of ideal foods, while the remainder of your 2 meals will be regular, based on a high protein low carb diet. This phase will cost you an average of $60 per week, until you lose the remaining weight.

Phase 3
This phase revolves around slowly reintroducing carbohydrates and fats to your body. However, these nutrients may be consumed only in the morning, for a period of 14 days. You will consume 3 meals a day, where 1 will consist of ideal foods, while the remaining 2 will consist of fats and carbohydrates. This phase will cost you an average of $30 per week, and is centered around stabilizing your ideal weight.

Phase 4
The fourth phase is centered around maintaining your ideal weight. By the time you reach this phase, you will have learned how to choose the right kind of food for your meals, how to eat healthy, and avoid unnecessary fattening foods. This will help you maintain your weight. You will require to communicate with your health care professional through all these phases, and even in the last phase, to ensure that you are following the right path to maintain your weight.

The basic principle behind the ideal protein diet plan is to eliminate simple and complex carbohydrates from your diet, that are believed to hinder healthy weight loss. As such, this high protein diet enables healthy weight loss, that targets fat and not muscle in the body.

Ideal Protein Diet Plan Reviews

The ideal protein diet reviews so far have been extremely positive. Though at the start of the diet people have experienced some symptoms of sugar withdrawal, it is only from the fourth day onwards that they start experiencing the benefits of this diet plan, such as increased energy. The beauty about the ideal protein diet plan, among various weight loss plans, is that its instant meal packets eliminate the need to make complicated recipes with ingredients that are not so easily available. Further, under the guidance of a health care professional, who also provides numerous ideal protein diet plan recipes for your regular meals, you simply can't go wrong.

When you decide to follow the ideal protein diet plan, the certified health care professional you consult will explain to you, whether or not this weight loss diet will be beneficial for you. This will be done after taking into account your weight, the amount of weight you need to lose, and your overall health. Once the suitability of this diet is determined for you, you can easily start off on the path to healthy weight loss, and then maintain your ideal weight.

Estrogen Cream

Want to know more on estrogen cream? Then go through this article which elaborates the topic further. Keep reading…

Sometime or the other, we have heard about the type of hormones boosting the sexual activity in individuals generally referred to as sex hormones; the androgens and the estrogens. These hormones are present in both the sexes, however, testosterone (androgen) is responsible for maleness while progesterone and estrogen are specific to females. Right from development of the sexual organs to sexual characteristics, estrogen plays a major role in the menstrual cycle as well has been used as an alternative oral contraceptive, and for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as well.

Talking about estrogen, it is a steroid hormone produced by ovaries on puberty and mainly responsible for the sexual traits in a woman. Estrogen helps proper functioning of the menstrual cycle, since it is involved in the formation of the mature egg. We are acquainted that the estrogen and the progesterone levels increase during ovulation on a monthly basis and result in the release of the mature egg. Let's get into the details of what an estrogen cream is and whether it is recommended as well as familiar with the estrogen cream uses.

What is Estrogen Cream?

Knowing the details of estrogen cream is a prerequisite before using it, of course. It is expected that the progesterone and the estrogen levels drop down as a woman ages and reaches menopause. Menopause marks the end of active sexual life and is generally associated with very evident menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness, insomnia, night sweats, painful intercourse and hot flashes. Estrogen cream helps overcome all of these over the span of its usage. It has been used over and over for low sex drive and vaginal lubrication as well.

Now what has to remembered here is, this is not a conventional cream that can be applied according to your wish. It is available in the market as a drug and medication therapy but requires a doctor's recommendation always. The next question that will come to your mind is, how does an estrogen cream work? Well, the estrogen cream is supposed to be applied near around areas of the neck region, thighs, upper chest, breasts, behind the knees, and also inside the vagina with the aid of some applicators. The 3 most important estrogens present in a human female are estriol, estradiol and estrone, which are essentially the main components of these estrogen creams. They work by getting absorbed through the skin in such a manner that they reach the blood stream pretty early and facilitate the elevation of the estrogen levels to avoid the symptoms given above.

Estrogen Cream Side Effects

Though estrogen cream is highly useful, it has its share of side effects which cannot be overlooked. Below is the list of some very common estrogen side effects.

Increases the risk of uterus cancer characterized by vaginal bleeding even after menopause
Increases the risk of heart attacks, heart diseases and strokes
Increases the risk of getting blood clots
Increases the risk of breast cancer
Increases the risk of dementia when used with progestins
Headache
Infections
Abdominal pain and back pain
Accidental injuries
Increases the risk of vaginitis

If you happen to check, there are many trustworthy pharmaceutical shops which sell different types of estrogen creams. Be sure to use natural progesterone creams made from human or plant estrogen, and avoid an estrogen cream over the counter in which the estrogen values vary significantly. Doctors suggests that estrogen cream for face or estrogen shampoos which are manufactured can be very detrimental to health and should be avoided in all circumstances.

So this was some useful info on estrogen creams. I hope you have understood the pros and cons of the same. If you have been advised to use this, be careful in its use.

How Does HDTV Work

HDTV, a high-resolution television system, gave a new dimension to television broadcasting. To know more about HDTV, you must read on.

HDTV, short for high-definition television, is a digital television broadcasting system that offers a relatively higher resolution than traditional television systems. The high-definition television system was conceptualized in the 1930s. The British HDTV service started in 1936. Sadly, it had to be discontinued in the following year. After 44 long years, the first HDTV demonstration was held in the United States. The following years witnessed the digitization of television signals. With the advent of digital technology of broadcasting, HDTV received greater popularity. Today, the use of HDTV is on the rise in Australia, Japan and the United States.

How does HDTV work?

HDTV requires high-definition signals in order to broadcast superior-quality picture. The signals transmitted over the air with antennas are received by a HD tuner, which is built into modern-day television sets. A separate tuner box can be used for television sets that do not have an inbuilt HD tuner. Certain cable television companies offer HDTV transmission through set-top boxes issued by them to the TV users. Some of the satellite TV systems of today feature support for the reception and transmission of TV signals.

An HDTV features a digital broadcasting of signals. Digital signals use patterns of 1s and 0s, which result in higher-resolution images. Also, digital images are less fuzzy and have more clarity. The transmission of digital signals results in sharper and more realistic colors and an improved picture quality. The digital compression methods used by HDTV allow the bandwidth of a single analog channel to be used by two high-definition TV channels.

HDTV offers a frame-rate of 25-60 frames per second. It uses an interlaced scanning system in contrast with the progressive scanning system used by traditional television. Progressive scanning is a method of displaying moving images in which all the lines of each frame are drawn in a sequence. Interlaced scanning is a method of electronic display wherein each row of pixels of a moving image is scanned using two frame fields, one for odd lines of the image and the other for its even lines. Interlacing helps in the reduction of flicker, thus improving picture quality.

There is a marked difference between the aspect ratios (the width of a picture divided by its height) of a traditional television and HDTV. High-definition television systems offer an aspect ratio of 16:9 as against 4:3 offered by traditional television. Greater aspect ratio means that HDTV comes with a wider screen and provides clearer pictures.

Since HDTV uses the Dolby Digital audio format, it is capable of producing a theater-quality sound. The sound quality offered by HDTV is equal to that offered by any good stereo system.

Advantages and Disadvantages of HDTV

From the overview of the working of HDTV, it is clear that HDTV offers several benefits over traditional television. It offers a better picture quality due to higher resolution. A wider screen makes the picture-quality more noticeable than a standard-sized one. The interlaced scanning technique used by HDTV help in bettering user experience. An excellent quality of sound resulting from the application of Dolby sound technology gives HDTV an added advantage.

However, not all television service providers conform to the exact HDTV specifications. The bit rates and bandwidths offered by them deviate from the theoretical values. For the real experience of all the advantages of HDTV, it is important to use appropriate cabling. Failing to use the standard cabling is sure to hamper overall quality of reception. Moreover, the digital signals used by HDTV are more prone to interference than analog ones. Also, HDTV requires the television users to depend on cable operators or satellite companies, which may levy huge fees for the transmission of television signals.

Until the advantages of HDTV continue to outweigh its shortfalls, HDTV will dominate the world of television. And that’s good news for all the movie buffs and sports fans like you and me!

Effects of Stress

Headache, insomnia, disorders of the stomach, the heart, etc. are some of the effects of stress. This article will give you more information on the short as well as the long term effects or results of stress. Read on...

Stress is one of the causes of a variety of diseases and disorders in the world today. People suffer from stress due to various reasons like job, career, illness, death, relationships, finances, family, etc. Workaholics are more prone to suffer from stress. Majority of young adults and middle aged people are found to suffer from stress. At the same time a majority of people are found to ignore the effects of stress and rely heavily on medications to get rid of the signs and symptoms. However, they are unaware of the long term and long lasting outcomes of stress. So, what are the effects of stress? Here is a guide on the consequences of stress in human beings.

Physical Effects of Stress

A person suffering from stress faces several disorders of the body. This is because he tends to ignore his health, does not have a proper diet, does not exercise regularly and the constant anxiety and worrying has a negative effect on his body. Physical effects of stress include disorders of the stomach, the heart, abnormal functioning of the digestive as well as the reproductive system. If a person already suffers from any chronic condition, allergy, skin disease; stress tends to aggravate it. The following are the effects of stress on the body:

Palpitation, faster heart rate
Pain in chest, shoulder, neck, back
Sweating, cold and clammy skin
Breathlessness, difficulty in breathing
Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
Pain and discomfort in abdomen
Loss of appetite
Peptic ulcer
Diarrhea, loose stools, constipation
Increase of blood sugar level
Sleep disorders, insomnia
Reduced sex drive
Increase in blood pressure, hypertension
Heart diseases, heart attack

Psychological Effects of Stress

Stress also affects a person thinking capacity, his metal and emotional being. Side effects of stress include difficulty in thinking, analysis, etc. Anxiety and depression are the most common psychological as well as physical signs of stress. The following are the after effects of stress on a person's mental health.

Mood swings
Anxiety disorders
Difficulty in concentration
Pessimism
Constant worrying
Irritability, quick rise of temper
Agitation
Memory disturbances, memory loss
Feeling of loneliness, isolation
Depression
Nervousness
Racing thoughts

Apart from these, effects of stress on health also include obsessive or extreme behavior like over eating or complete lack of appetite, isolation or extreme agitation. Difficulty in conceiving, sexual dysfunction, etc. are some of the other negative effects of stress on the body. Similarly, drug, alcohol abuse, addiction to cigarette and gambling, etc. are also a few of the consequences of stress in human beings.

As there are several short as well as long term effects of stress, one may definitely wonder how to reduce stress and get rid of its negative consequences. There are several stress management techniques that help in reducing stress. Yoga, meditation, Vipassana, etc. are some of the well known and most effective techniques. On the other hand, undertaking a hobby everyday, spending time with loved ones or friends, etc. are also some of the easy yet useful ways of getting rid of stress. Lastly, it should be noted that taking nay kind of anti depressant or other drugs and medications will definitely take a toll on one's health and hence, people are advised against it.

This was a brief information on the physical as well as psychological effects of stress. Although it is true that there is no escape from stress in the modern day world, one should surely look for ways to reduce it and prevent it from bring life threatening. Take care!

Throat Glands

Lymph glands, thyroid glands, salivary glands are some glands that constitutes the throat glands. Swollen throat glands are often identified with swollen lymph nodes, but could also be related to other glands present in the throat. Read on to know more about these glands.

An organ or a group of cells or tissues that release a substance for use in the body is called as gland. The throat or the neck region of the human body consists of many glands. Most of these glands produce useful hormones, while some produce substance like saliva, mucous, sweat and tears. The most prominent throat glands are, thyroid and parathyroid glands, salivary glands and tonsils. Swollen glands in throat indicates several problems and diseases of the throat.

Lymph Glands

Lymph glands or lymph nodes are small cell clusters present in the lymphatic system and are important throat glands. They are between 500 and 600 in number and are present throughout the human body but mostly concentrated in neck, groin and underarms. Lymph is the fluid present between the cells which travels through the lymph channels formed by adjoining lymph nodes. Lymph and lymph glands is an essential part of the immune system as they defend the body against infection. It consists of white blood cells and antibodies which protects the body against foreign particles. The enlarged size of these lymph glands, which we term as swollen throat glands, are extremely important to determine other medical conditions and their causes. So these enlarged throat glands signal an infection.

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

The second type of throat glands are the thyroid glands and parathyroid glands. Thyroid glands are two lateral lobes in the shape of a butterfly and are brownish-red in color. Four small bodies protruding from the thyroid glands are called the parathyroid glands. The function of thyroid glands is to regulate body functions like metabolism, appetite, temperature. It also controls lipolysis, protein synthesis and cholesterol levels and helps in the conversion of nutrients to energy. Parathyroid glands regulates the calcium level in the blood and helps in the food absorption by the intestines.

Salivary Glands

Salivary glands secretes saliva that contains water along with mucus, electrolytes and enzymes. There are three types of salivary glands namely parotid glands, submaxillary (mandibular) glands, sublingual glands, depending on the type of secretion. It forms an important part of throat glands due to its various functions. Saliva lubricates the oral cavity and esophagus, helping the food to slide down. It also dissolves dry food and helps maintain oral hygiene by flushing away the food debris that remains in the mouth.

Tonsils

Tonsils are lymphatic tissue shaped like an almond located on both sides of the throat. Usually active in children, they are an important part of the immune system, as they protect the body against bacteria, virus and antibodies.

Symptoms of Swollen Throat Glands

Swollen throat has several symptoms that indicate an infection and malfunctioning of the throat glands:

Dry throat
Sore throat
Severe fatigue
Scratchy throat
Headache and fever
Enlarged throat glands
Throat pain when swallowing
Redness and infection of the skin
Runny nose and nasal congestion

Causes of Swollen Throat Glands

The causes of swelling and pain in throat glands depends on the gland that is affected. So the causes of the swelling in lymph nodes, thyroid glands and salivary glands are as follows.

Swollen Lymph Glands Causes

Cancer
Upper respiratory infection
Inflammation of the lymph nodes.
Infection that leads to multiplication on WBC.

Swollen Tonsils Causes

Viral infection
Bacterial infection like strep throat
Fungal and parasitic infection
Exposure to cigarette smoke in children

Swollen Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands Causes

Pituitary gland malfunction
Excessive exposure to iodine
Inflammation of thyroid glands
Cancerous growth in the thyroid glands

Swollen Salivary Glands Causes

Sjogren's syndrome
Salivary gland infection

Diseases of the Throat Glands

Depending on the glands affected, there are many diseases affecting the throat glands. Mostly the term 'swollen throat glands' indicate swollen lymph glands, but these tender throat glands might also indicate conditions and problems of other throat glands. Some common throat glands diseases and conditions are:

Tumors
Cancer
Goiter
Tonsillitis
Lymphadenitis
Hypercalcemia
Warthin's tumor
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Pleomorphic adenomas

Treatment of Swollen Throat Glands

Swollen throat remedies depends on its causes and severity. For a mild swelling of throat glands, without an indication of other underlying serious conditions, aspirin and ibuprofen reduces the inflammation. But aspirin should not be given to small children without consulting a physician. Even antibiotics are helpful for reducing symptoms of viral infection. But serious conditions like immune disorders and cancer needs specific treatments, while some of the above conditions might also require a surgery.

Apart from the treatments related to throat glands conditions, taking adequate rest is mandatory. Rest not only strengthens the immune system, but also aids the medicines in treatment of underlying conditions. Gargling with warm saline water helps relieve sore throat glands, while warm cloth compress relieves the outer swelling. It is always advisable to see a doctor even if mild swelling persists for more than a few days. Physical examination and lab tests are crucial in diagnosing any underlying conditions.