Prostate cancer kills 14 Nigerian men daily —Expert

Prostate cancer kills 14 men everyday in Nigeria, Dr Abia Nzelu, coordinator, National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP), Lagos State branch, has said.

Nzelu, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, noted that the figure was based on studies.

She said that most men report their cancer cases late when the symptoms had already manifested and attributed the situation to ignorance. According to her, people die unnecessarily, even when they are diagnosed because there are no facilities to treat them. “Prostate cancer, the second commonest cancer in men, kills 14 men in Nigeria every day. This is not acceptable because it can be prevented.

Lance Armstrong celebrity guy to burn at Edenbridge

Lance Armstrong beat competition from Abu Hamza and George Osborne to be the guy at the Edenbridge bonfire celebrations

An effigy of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong wearing a Jim'll Fix It badge will be burned at a Kent town's annual bonfire celebrations.

A 30ft (9m) model of the American, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping offences, will go up in flames in Edenbridge. The Jim'll Fix It badge is in reference to TV presenter Jimmy Savile who is suspected of widespread sexual abuse. Radical cleric Abu Hamza and Chancellor George Osborne were also considered.

The woman who lives on a diet of only VENISON and SWEDE - because she says she's intolerant to everything else

A mother-of-two has been forced to eat a bizarre diet of only vension and swede after becoming intolerant to almost all foods.

Clare Greasly claims venison and swede are the only two foods she can stomach, because her body appears to be intolerant to everything else

Clare Greasly claims these are the only two foods she can stomach, because her body appears to reject everything else she eats. The once healthy mother has lost more than four stone due to the bizarre condition - yet doctors are unable to find an answer to her problems. Mrs Greasly, from Manchester, said: 'Venison and swede are the only foods that give me the mildest reaction. I have to experiment with what I can eat, and I just about seem to be able to cope with those. 'Other than that, I'm limited to rhubarb and dried cherries.' 'I used to love my life, running the house, and looking after my teenagers, but now, I barely have the energy to do anything. 'My husband and children are worried sick about me and I have to admit, I think my days are numbered.'

Study backs 'controversial' malaria drugs subsidy

Researchers who evaluated a global subsidy for malaria treatment say it had a substantial impact in a short space of time. Publishing their results in The Lancet, the global health experts acknowledged that the scheme had been "highly controversial". The Affordable Medicines Facility for malaria (AMFm) was called into question by Oxfam last week.  The research says it reduced the price of drugs and led to more treatment.

Japan tsunami reconstruction money 'misspent'

 Japan has spent funds intended for reconstruction after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami on unrelated projects, a government audit has found. Projects financed by the $150bn (£93bn) fund include roads in Okinawa, an ad campaign for Japan's tallest building and support for whaling research. Some 325,000 people remain displaced 18 months on from the disaster. In some areas little reconstruction work has been carried out, reports say.  Some 19,000 people were killed or remain missing following the tsunami and earthquake that struck north-east Japan in March 2011.

IVR Process Can Challenge Sex Life

A new study discovers that infertility treatment can negatively impact a women’s sex life. Despite the importance of sex in conceiving a child, little attention has been given to the sexual dynamics of couples as they work to overcome infertility challenges. “Sex is for pleasure and for reproduction, but attention to pleasure often goes by the wayside for people struggling to conceive,” said Nicole Smith, a doctoral student with Indiana University’s Center for Sexual Health Promotion.

Smith is conducting the study in collaboration with Jody Lyneé Madeira, Ph.D. “With assisted reproductive technologies (ART), couples often report that they feel like a science experiment, as hormones are administered and sex has to be planned and timed. It can become stressful and is often very unromantic and regimented; relationships are known to suffer during the process.”

Master Skills to Prevent Weight Yo-Yo Before New Diet

A provocative new weight loss approach asks women to not lose weight for the first eight weeks of the program.

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine found women who spent eight weeks mastering weight-maintenance skills before embarking on a weight-loss program shed the same number of pounds as women who started a weight-loss program immediately. Moreover, the “maintenance-first” women regained only 3 pounds on average a year later, compared to the average 7-pound gain for the immediate dieters.

Sniffer Dog Finds Stowaways In Coffin Truck

Three Africans have been caught trying to enter Britain illegally in a truck loaded with coffins. The trio, Eritrean nationals, hid among dozens of boxed coffins, which were loaded in a van from Bulgaria. But the human cargo was unearthed by sniffer dog Mitzy. The discovery was made on Monday when Border Force officers searched the lorry at the port of Dunkirk in northern France. The truck, which was waiting to board a ferry to the UK, was carrying coffins bound for a funeral director in Hounslow, west London.

Cancer linked to fertility problems

A 17 per cent higher overall rate of adult and child cancers in the offspring of women who had fertility problems. Photo / Thinkstock

Results of a large study unveiled in Auckland show a link between women with fertility problems and an increased risk of cancer in their children. The study of more than two million people in Denmark was presented at the Fertility Society of Australia conference in Auckland. The researchers, from the Danish Cancer Society Research Centre and Copenhagen University, found a 17 per cent higher overall rate of adult and child cancers in the offspring of women who had fertility problems than in those born to fertile women. "[This] is mainly explained by an increased risk of leukaemias in childhood, and ... by an increased risk of skin cancer, cancer of the urinary tract and cancer in the endocrine glands in adulthood," Dr Marie Hargreave told the conference. "For all other childhood cancer types and adulthood cancer sites we found no statistically significant associations."

Fit as a fiddler: Benefits cheat who pocketed £17,000 by claiming he could barely walk is caught out doing a 15 mile TRIATHLON

A benefit cheat who helped himself to £17,000 by claiming he could barely walk was caught out completing a 15 mile triathlon.

Keep fit fanatic Anthony Connor, 39, said a debilitating stroke left him with a limp and he could only walk 75 metres in five minutes. He also said he needed help getting in and out of the bath and getting up and down the stairs. But Connor’s run of luck ran out after investigators secretly filmed him swimming, cycling and running for a total of 25km during the Tatton Park triathlon in Knutsford, Cheshire. The footage showed Connor whizzing past spectators on his bicycle during a 19k sprint and later raising his arms in victory as he completed a 5k run. He completed the entire course in just two and a half hours.

Smoking predicted to kill a billion people this century

File photo / Brett Phibbs

It is described as the biggest public health disaster in the history of the world, with its perpetrators likened to terrorists. Smoking will kill up to a billion people worldwide this century, unless governments across the world stamp down on the half-trillion-dollar tobacco industry.

These are the words of John Seffrin, chief executive of the American Cancer Society, who was speaking this weekend at a high-level forum of the world's 100 leading cancer experts gathered in the Swiss resort of Lugano, who issued a stark warning to governments worldwide. They said governments must do far more than they have done to control the global tobacco industry, either by raising cigarette prices dramatically, outlawing tobacco marketing or by taxing the multinational profits of the big cigarette firms.

10 Unusual Ways To Use Epsom Salts At Home

Did you know that Epsom salts were named for the salty spring where they came from in Surrey, England?  When people think of Epsom salts, the first thing that comes to mind is probably soaking stiff muscles in the bathtub, but there are many more uses for Epsom salts than just that.  Check out these 10 unusual ways you can use Epsom salts at home.

Discovering Your Child’s Currency and Using It to Create Positive Change

Influencing a child to make the right choices regarding his behavior can be a challenge, especially when the child in question is a particularly strong-willed one. Often, the most effective method of bringing about change is determining a child’s individual currency and using it as an incentive to motivate him to make the right choices.

What is Currency?

While your first thought at the word “currency” may be along the lines of allowances and kids’ finances, currency as a behavioral concept actually has nothing to do with money in most cases. Each child has their own form of currency, whether it’s a hobby, activity or favorite toy. The desire to engage in these activities or play with a favorite toy can be very strong, making it a useful tool when he’s misbehaving. The things that he wants and desires the most are seen as his particular currency.

10 iPhone Apps That Help With Discipline

When it comes to Apple’s powerful and popular iPhone, it seems that there’s very little the mobile device isn’t able to streamline and simplify. Thanks to the App Store and the developers that make it great, there are even offerings to help busy parents track and manage parenting and disciplinary tactics. These 10 apps are among the most popular and useful for keeping up with kids’ behavior, as well as the rewards and consequences of their behavioral choices.

After the storm: True scale of Sandy's devastation across Eastern Seaboard emerges as death toll hits FIFTY and damage set to top $50BILLION

The devastating aftermath of Superstorm Sandy began to emerge this morning as the death toll hit 50 and damage was expected to reach $50billion. As the superstorm passed over the region, startling before-and-after pictures revealed what was left of the East Coast. At first glance, New Jersey's Mantoloking Bridge appeared to be completely different highways - until it becomes clear that just one solitary house was left standing.

 

Before the storm: The horizon over the Mantoloking Bridge was once dotted with row after row of Atlantic vacation homes

Razed: Now the horizon in New Jersey is entirely altered following the devastating superstorm Sandy

Row after row of Atlantic vacation homes on the horizon were wiped out by the 900-mile storm following surging waters and winds which reached peaks of 95mph. The colossal scale of the devastation was mounting today as the death toll continued to rise - 50 people were dead in the wake of the storm but that number was expected to grow as rescue missions and clear-up continued. The cost was originally estimated at around $20billion but financial forecasters now expected it somewhere between $30 - $50billion of damage.

The two-year-old daughter of one of Britain's richest men is found hanged on a blind cord by her mother at their £12 million home

Tragedy: Tycoon Morten Hoegh's daughter Alexandra, 2, was found hanged in her cot after getting tangled in blind cords

The two-year-old daughter of one of Britain's richest men has died after being found hanged on a blind cord in her cot. Alexandra Lucy Hoegh was discovered by her horrified mother Dana, who ran out of their £12million Notting Hill family home screaming: 'please help, the baby's not breathing'.

The tragic toddler is the daughter of Norwegian shipping and oil tycoon Morten Hoegh, who runs his multi-billion pound company between homes in London and Oslo. Paramedics rushed to the scene in west London but the toddler died on the way to the hospital on Monday. Her death highlights the danger of blind cords, as the toddler is one of at least ten children who have died in this way since 2010.

5 Crafts You Can Do Using Broken Crayons

Young children often love to color, but since they are still developing their hand-eye coordination they sometimes end up pressing down too hard on their crayons, accidentally breaking them.  Most parents hate to throw the broken pieces away, and instead end up tossing them into a bucket so the kids can still use them.  However, after a while it may seem like your collection of broken crayons is a little bit too big.  When that’s the case, check out these crafts you can do with them.

How to Protect Your Sandy Insurance Claims

A row of houses stands in floodwaters at Grassy Sound in North Wildwood, N.J., as Hurricane Sandy pounds the East Coast Monday Oct. 29, 2012. The powerful storm made the westward lurch and took dead aim at New Jersey and Delaware on Monday, washing away part of the Atlantic City boardwalk, putting the presidential campaign on hold and threatening to cripple Wall Street and the New York subway system with an epic surge of seawater. (AP Photo/The Press of Atlantic City, Dale Gerhard) MANDATORY CREDIT Associated Press -

For some homeowners, the aftermath of Sandy could bring a whole second round of troubles. After the storm passes, they may have to negotiate with their insurers to get the cash they need to repair wind and water damage.

Homeowners' insurance companies have gotten tougher as weather has become more cataclysmic. They've raised rates, carved out some coverage and tucked in new wind and hurricane exclusions and deductibles.

Homeowners need to play the game right if they want to get claims paid quickly and thoroughly. You can start early - here's what to do now and later.



How to control the stomach bulge

How to control the stomach bulge (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Even the most disciplined and the most hard working people find their Waterloo when fighting the stomach bulge.

From bloating because of water retention to the sheer frustration brought on by the stomach's refusal to fall flat, abdominal weight is a tough battle to win. Today we've picked out our top 5 tips about how to control the stomach bulge - 5 tips and bits of awareness that everyone entering this stomach bulge arena needs to know. So, let's get started!



The four-year-old boy with 25 fingers and toes including double thumbs - but his parents don't want him to have surgery

Children often learn to count to ten using their fingers or toes, but that wouldn't help one four-year-old boy in India who has 25 digits. Arpan Saxena from Bhopal, India, suffers from two rare genetic disorders called Polydactyl, a disorder that gives rise to excess digits being formed, and Syndactyly, which leads to fingers and toes being fused together. Arpan, who has 13 fingers and 12 toes, enjoys celebrity status in Bhopal, with his picture plastered on city walls. 'I love it when people come to see me and take photos,' he said.  'But the only thing I don't like is that I can't walk a lot because my feet never fit in any shoes.'

 

Unlucky for some: Arpan Saxena shows his 13 fingers at his home in Bhopal, India. He said he liked being a local celebrity

Fake Photos of Sandy Flood Social Media

No matter what part of the country you're in, it's nearly impossible not to be aware of the devastation and destruction that superstorm Sandy wrought as it pummeled the East Coast of the United States. In fact, with 24-hour news coverage, there are seemingly endless photos and videos being shared via social media. But not all the images -- nor the captions that accompany them -- are real.

At least 10 fake photos, either digitally altered or pulled from movies, have surfaced on the Web so far. One of the most retweeted and shared photos shows the Statue of Liberty with the eye of the hurricane looming above her head. Lady Liberty turned 126 years old on October 28, and the picture is not a real depiction of what it endured during the storm. The photograph is, in fact, a mashup of two photos: one is of the Statue of Liberty, and the other is of a thunderstorm over Nebraska in 2004.

Slimmer future for heavy kids who get help early

Weight-loss programs can help even very young children slim down, and it appears that acting early may improve the odds of success, according to a pair of new studies. "What they are showing is a pretty consistent trend that if we were to intervene early, we could really have an effect on changing the trajectory of weight gain in children," said Dr. Elsie Taveras, a pediatrician at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, who co-wrote an editorial on the findings.

In one study, Dutch scientists found that heavy three- to five-year-olds saw continued benefits from a weight-loss intervention at least several months after it ended. And a report from Sweden shows overweight and obese children under 10 were much more likely to slow their weight gain than were adolescents getting similar behavioral treatments.

Letitia Baldrige, Etiquette Maven, Is Dead at 86

 Letitia Baldrige, the imposing author, etiquette adviser and business executive who became a household name as Jacqueline Kennedy's  White House chief of staff, died on Monday in Bethesda, Md. She was 86. Her death was confirmed by Mary M. Mitchell, a longtime friend and collaborator.

 

At 35 Ms. Baldrige, known as Tish, left her job as public relations director for Tiffany & Company to help out a friend and fellow Vassar alumna, the former Jacqueline Bouvier, becoming, in essence, the social secretary of the Kennedy White House as it emerged as a center of culture, art, youthful elegance and sparkling state dinners. Ms. Baldrige left the White House in June 1963, less than six months before President John F. Kennedy's assassination, to work for the Merchandise Mart, a Kennedy family business enterprise in Chicago. She went on to found her own public relations and marketing business.

Pupils ordered to brush teeth at school in a battle against tooth decay (UK)

Pupils are being ordered to brush their teeth at school in an attempt to combat increasing rates of tooth decay in British children.

Pupils ordered to brush teeth at school in a battle against tooth decay Photo: ALAMY

Children at school will take a break from lessons everyday to clean their teeth with fluoride toothpaste under the supervision of teachers. The pilot scheme, called Smile Time, will take place at schools in Greater Manchester and will be extended if it proves successful. The town of Rochdale has been chosen for the project because it has one of the worst rates of tooth decay among children in Britain. Sugary foods are being blamed as well as parents failing to encourage their children to brush their teeth at home. Last month statistics revealed that nearly half of children under the age of 12 have tooth decay.

Hypothermia Risk in Sandy's Aftermath

With power out and temperatures dropping in Hurricane Sandy's aftermath, keeping warm is more than a comfort issue. It's a matter of life and death. In its early stages, hypothermia -- too-low body temperature -- is hard to recognize. That makes it especially deadly, as many people don't know it's happening and become unable to take care of themselves.

Many people think it has to be freezing outside before they can get hypothermia. But if a person is wet from rain or sweat, hypothermia can set in at temperatures well above 40 F. Those most at risk are elderly people, who are less able to compensate for low temperatures, says James F. Peggs, MD, professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan. "For elderly people, having the furnace go out or falling and spending hours on a cold floor can trigger hypothermia," Peggs says. "A body temperature of 96, not a whole lot lower than normal, can cause hypothermia symptoms in the elderly."

Smartphones Linked to Higher Rates of Teen Sex

A new study shows that many teens use the Internet to seek partners, and those that do are more likely to engage in unsafe sex. “We wanted to know if the risk was real rather than just hype,” says researcher Eric Rice, PhD, a researcher with the School of Social Work at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

The study analyzed data from a 2011 CDC survey conducted among more than 1,800 Los Angeles students ages 12 to 18. The survey asked questions about being approached online for sex, seeking sex partners online, having sex with online partners, using condoms with those partners, and about their use of technology, especially smartphones.

How to Stay Safe in Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath

Information and Resources

Q&A: Riding Out the Storm Safely

Sandy is being called a "once in a generation" storm that’s unfortunately living up to its title. Millions are without power and may be for some time. Others have evacuated, or will, escaping the torrential rains and winds that have gusted up to 90 miles per hour. For those in the storm areas, and those watching and waiting from afar, here are some important safety tips.

Q: How do I contact someone in the affected area?

A: You can of course try calling. Many landlines will be down, but some are operating. If you use your mobile phone, you may get a busy signal because mobile bandwidth may be overloaded in the storm areas, or some cell towers may be damaged. If you can’t reach someone by phone, try texting. All of the wireless carriers are recommending people text because it has a greater chance of getting through and will use less battery power of the person you’re trying to reach.

Sandy takes out 25 pct of cell towers

Superstorm Sandy knocked out a quarter of the cell towers in an area spreading across 10 states, and the situation could get worse, federal regulators said Tuesday. Many cell towers that are still working are doing so with the help of generators and could run out of fuel before commercial power is restored, the Federal Communications Commission said.

Britons go mushroom mad

Sales of mushrooms have hit an all-time high as Britons increasingly turn to the cheap and versatile foodstuff for their cooking. Shoppers spent over £365 million on mushrooms over the last year, equivalent to £14 per household, making them the nation’s third most popular item in supermarkets' vegatable aisle after potatoes and tomatoes.

Sales of mushrooms have risen Photo: ALAMY

How to prevent muscle cramps

How to prevent muscle cramps (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

If you're not very regular with exercise, chances are you're no stranger to muscle cramps. But if you ignore these cramps, you might be setting yourself up for future injury. So how do you prevent and put a stop to muscle cramps? Let's find out the solution...

What is a muscle cramp? 

We use our muscles through out the day. It is as important as breathing, but when your rhythm of breathing changes so do your bodily functions. Similarly when your muscle contracts involuntarily, without warning, it causes cramps or spasms. These spasms can involuntarily contract a muscle or groups of muscles. A muscle cramp may last for anything from a few seconds to a few minutes.

How to keep coughs and colds away

How do these infections spread?

Viruses are mainly transmitted through droplets of moisture in your breath, and through sneezing and coughing. Bugs that cause coughs and colds can also be passed on through contact with your hands. This is why good hygiene can limit the risk of picking up infections. 

Britain and Ireland suspend aid to Uganda after £10m of funding ends up in Prime Minister’s account

Millions of pounds in foreign aid to Uganda have been funneled into private bank accounts of workers in its prime minister’s office.

 

'Missing money': Britan and Ireland have frozen all aid payments after £10 million meant to help the Ugandan population ended up in accounts belonging to staff of Prime Minister Patrick Amama Mbabazi

The money was meant to have been spent on helping the needy in the poverty-ravaged African nation. But instead the 12million euros (£10million) – a joint gift from Ireland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden –  somehow wound up in accounts belonging to aides of prime minister Patrick Amama Mbabazi. No British money was taken but last night Whitehall officials said they had taken the precaution of suspending British aid payments of £4million-a-year to Mr Mbabazi’s office. In total, Britain is sending £98million this year to Uganda, most of which will continue.

Election may determine fate of sick, uninsured Americans

President Obama's healthcare law guarantees all Americans access to coverage, starting in 2014. Mitt Romney has pledged to repeal the law and let states decide what to do with the uninsured.

Jode Towe was driving his big rig across the New Mexico desert in April when he noticed an odd sensation at the back of his throat. "It was like something was growing there," he recalled. When Towe, 41, went to a clinic, he got bad news. He might have cancer. Doctors recommended a biopsy. If the results confirmed their suspicions, surgery and chemotherapy might follow. But Towe and his wife, who live in this small city near Nashville when they aren't hauling freight across the country, don't have health insurance. Nor do they have $4,000 for the tests to get an accurate diagnosis. For now, they're waiting as the growth in Towe's neck swells. "I always worked hard. I never took it easy," Towe said, his voice trailing off. "But they said I might die."

Mother who killed 14-month-old daughter and 10-week-old son while in grip of postnatal depression will not face prison... as banker husband stands by her

A mother with postnatal depression killed her two babies because she had delusions that they would be seized by social services, a court heard yesterday.

 

Felicia Boots, 34 who smothered her ten week old son Mason, and 14 month old daughter Lily Skye, was suffering from postnatal depression when she smothered them and laid them side by side in a wardrobe

Jewellery designer Felicia Boots, 35, suffocated her ten-week-old son Mason and 14-month-old daughter Lily days after the family had moved into a new £1.4million home in an area known as Nappy Valley because it is popular with young, rich families. Her husband Jeffery, an investment banker, returned home that evening to find the house in darkness and his wife sitting on the stairs, hugging herself. She had tried to kill herself but inflicted only superficial damage to her neck. The woman suffering postnatal depression has admitted killing her two babies who were then discovered dead by their father at the family's home.

Disney buys Star Wars maker Lucasfilm from George Lucas

Disney is buying Lucasfilm, the company behind the Star Wars films, from its chairman and founder George Lucas for $4.05bn (£2.5bn). Mr Lucas said: "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of film-makers."

In a statement announcing the purchase, Disney said it planned to release a new Star Wars film, episode seven, in 2015. That will be followed by episodes eight and nine and then one new movie every two or three years, the company said. The last Star Wars film was 2005's Revenge of the Sith, and Disney said it believed there was "substantial pent-up demand".

Bananas could replace potatoes in warming world

Climate change could lead to bananas becoming a critical food source for millions of people, a new report says. Researchers from the CGIAR agricultural partnership say the fruit might replace potatoes in some developing countries. Cassava and the little known cowpea plant could play increasingly important roles in agriculture as temperatures rise.  People will have to adapt to new and varied menus as traditional crops struggle say the authors.

Responding to a request from the United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, a group of experts in the field looked at the projected effects of climate change on 22 of the world's most important agricultural commodities.

BA and Virgin cancel majority of flights to and from New York tomorrow while JFK airport expected to reopen amid the chaos

Thousands of Britons will be caught in a third day of travel chaos tomorrow as the biggest storm in US history forces airlines to make yet another round of flight cancellations - while JFK airport in New York is expected to reopen.

 

Still waiting: Stranded passengers wait in the check in area at Heathrow Airport for flights to the east coast of the US to return to normal, after the fierce storm battered America

The total number of planes grounded by Sandy worldwide has surpassed 15,000 with British Airways cancelling another 12 flights tomorrow. BA have cancelled the majority of their flights to and from New York's JFK and Newark airports but flights to Boston, Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia should resume as normal on Wednesday. Virgin Atlantic also warned that their early morning transatlantic flights tomorrow to the city's airports will be axed after all flights departing in and out today were cancelled. British Airways cancelled 15 flights to and from the East Coast today but resumed flights to Boston as normal. The first left at 9.50am this morning followed by another at 1.36pm.

Storm Sandy: Transport chaos as floods recede

40 people have been killed, millions are without power and transport across the north-eastern US has been severely disrupted as storm Sandy heads north for Canada.

In New York City, 18 people have been killed and the public transport system remains closed until further notice. More than 15,000 flights were cancelled, the flight-tracking website FlightAware estimates. Earlier, Sandy killed more than 60 people as it hit the Caribbean.

More pictures of the destruction that was SAND

Eye of the storm: New York was among the hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy. A fire broke out in Breezy Point, Queens, destroying between 80 and 100 houses

Fleet in the floods: Yellow cabs in a parking lot are surrounded by water after Superstorm Sandy struck Hoboken, New Jersey

Trashed: Cars float up from a car garage in a mixture of floodwater and gasoline in lower Manhattan as workers begin the process of pumping out the mess

Octomom Nadya Suleman checks into rehab

Octomom. (Jeff Higgins/LE/Splash News)

Nadya "octomom" Suleman is seeking help for addiction. The 37-year-old has checked into Chapman House Drug Rehabilitation Center in Orange County, California, for a prescription drug problem, her rep confirmed to TMZ. She will be there for a 28-day stint, separating the single mother from her 14 children.

Stress and Depression May Halt Contraception Use

Depression and stress can cause lapses in proper use of contraception, a new study suggests.

In the study, women with moderate to severe depression and stress symptoms were less likely to use contraception consistently — that is, use it each time they had sex — compared to women with mild or no symptoms. Women with depression or stress were also more likely to say they did not use contraception at all in the past week compared to women with less severe symptoms.

College student, 18, hanged herself at home 'after acquittal of man she accused of rape'

A teenage girl hanged herself after being left devastated by the acquittal of a man she accused of rape, an inquest heard today.

Kayley Howson, 18, endured a three year legal ordeal culminating in her testifying against her alleged assailant in court only to see him cleared by a jury. The college student, who slipped into bouts of depression after making her allegation to police, was said to have taken the verdict 'very very hard' and 'blamed herself.' She later hanged herself at her family home in Burnley, Lancashire.

The jaws of death: Terrifying final moments of zebra snatched from its herd by crocodiles as it crosses Kenyan river

These incredible photos truly capture nature at its rawest - as an unfortunate zebra battles in vain to avoid becoming a hungry crocodile's lunch. The series of images, taken in Kenya during the annual zebra migration, show the food chain in action as one beast is plucked from the herd and destined for dinner. And despite fighting for its life, and almost managing to escape the clutches of the predator's jaws, it is eventually overpowered by the hungry congregation of crocs.

 

Doomed: The zebra tries in vain to escape from the crocodile's jaw

5 ways to keep your phone charged in a power outage

 In our increasingly digital world, a mobile phone or other portable device is often a one-stop communication device. Phone calls, text messages, social media and even radio and television can all come from the same gadget. And when the power goes out, these gadgets can quickly become stylish but useless bricks.

Near-death experiences occur when the soul leaves the nervous system and enters the universe, claim two quantum physics experts

Life after death: Dr Stuart Hameroff, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona, advanced the theory on a television documentary

A near-death experience happens when quantum substances, which form the soul leave the nervous system and enter the universe at large, according to a remarkable theory proposed by two eminent scientists. According to this idea, consciousness is a program for a quantum computer in the brain, which can persist in the universe even after death, explaining the perceptions of those who have near-death experiences.

Dr Stuart Hameroff, Professor Emeritus at the Departments of Anesthesiology and Psychology and the Director of the Centre of Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona, has advanced the quasi-religious theory. It is based on a quantum theory of consciousness he and British physicist Sir Roger Penrose have developed which holds that the essence of our soul is contained inside structures called microtubules within brain cells.

Doctors Push to Ease Children’s Anxiety, Pain in ER

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a new report emphasizing the importance of controlling pain and anxiety in children who receive emergency medical care. “There are a lot of modalities for reducing pain in children, and we’re doing a lot better in terms of kids’ pain than we used to,” said report author Dr. Joel Fein, an attending physician in the emergency department at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Parents should advocate for the children for pain and anxiety management” if they feel they aren’t getting adequate control, said Fein, who also is a professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine.

Obama declares 'major disaster' in New York as 17 people die in Superstorm Sandy and swathes of the city wake up under water

President Obama has declared a 'major disaster' in New York and Long Island as swathes of the city woke up under water after a night of being battered by Superstorm Sandy. This morning millions of people on the East Coast are facing flooded homes, fallen trees and widespread power outages caused by the giant storm, which swamped New York City's subway system and submerged streets in Manhattan's financial district.

Exercise Makes You Smarter

New research shows that a regular exercise routine can boost cognitive function.

In the study, previously sedentary adults were put through four months of high-intensity interval training. At the end, their cognitive functions — the ability to think, recall and make quick decisions — had improved significantly, said Dr. Martin Juneau, director of prevention at the Montreal Heart Institute. “If you talk to people who exercise, they say they feel sharper. Now we’ve found a way to measure that,” he said.

Teens, Especially Males, Turn to OTC Drugs

A new study warns that parents may want to lock up their medicine cabinets as youth turn to drugs that are easily accessible.

Researchers discovered more stringent enforcement of alcohol and tobacco sales and a heighten effort to combat access to illicit drugs has led teens to turn to over-the-counter drugs. Moreover, the new University of Cincinnati study suggests adolescent males are at a higher risk of reporting longtime use of over-the-counter drugs, compared with their female peers.

5 DIY Last Minute Halloween Costumes

You’re down to the wire and you can’t find a costume, so what do you do?  You could send the kids in last year’s costume if it still fits, but that’s probably not going to be much fun for them.  Or you could have them put a sheet over their head and go as a ghost, but that’s been done a thousand times.  Don’t despair; instead check out these last minute costumes you can throw together at home.

How to Dress Kids for Winter Weather

As cooler weather starts to roll around, new parents or those that have recently relocated to a more wintry climate often find themselves struggling to determine the best methods for dressing their youngsters in weather-appropriate attire. While opinions on the subject can be quite varied on the topic, there are a few truths that parents forced with their first real winter weather should consider before the chill sets in.

Layering is Key

Frigid weather can send even the most laid-back parent into overdrive, but it’s important to remember that kids are usually only outside for brief stretches throughout the day. As such, it’s best to dress them in layers that are easily shed in warm classrooms and stores, rather than one or two very bulky items that leave them sweating. For younger kids that attend daycare or elementary school, it’s also wise to attach labels to coats, gloves and hats. It’s easy for cold-weather items to get misplaced, sent home with the wrong child or left behind when little ones are in a rush at the end of the day, but replacing them can also become quite expensive very quickly.