Monthly Archives: September 2021

Thirty Allied Chiefs of Defence discuss the changing character of warfare – NATO HQ

Posted: September 27, 2021 at 5:13 pm

NATO's thirty Chiefs of Defence gathered in Athens, Greece for the fall session of the Military Committee Conference 2021. The agenda for the Conference was challenging but necessary so that the Military Committee, in its highest format, could provide guidance to the Strategic Commanders and advice to the NATO Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council.

Discussions focused on NATO-led operations, missions and activities and the threats and challenges facing NATO. The Chiefs of Defence exchanged views on the military input to the Alliances lessons learnt process that will evaluate the Alliances engagement in Afghanistan.

The Military Committee received briefings from NATOs Strategic Commanders, General Tod Wolters, Supreme Allied Headquarters Commander Europe (SACEUR) and General Andr Lanata, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) on the concept of Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic area and NATOs Warfighting Capstone Concept.

The Chief of Defence discussed enduring threats and peacetime challenges. They stressed how the geopolitical environment was changing and the line between peace and crisis was increasingly blurred. The Military Committee then deliberated the changing character of warfare and how the Alliance needs to maintain pace with the speed of technological change.

The NATO 2030 agenda was the focus of the next session as the Chiefs of Defence discussed its implications and opportunities for the NATO Military Authorities. Discussions then turned to how the Chiefs of Defence would provide their military advice into the next NATO Strategic Concept.

The final meeting of the day saw the Chiefs of Defence nominate Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak as the next Director General of the International Military Staff. Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak from Poland will take office in the summer of 2022.

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With the Taliban in control of NATO bases, arm smugglers in Pakistans borderlands hope business is back – The Independent

Posted: at 5:13 pm

As soon as the footage of the Taliban picking their way through abandoned NATO bases in Afghanistan beamed around the world, the veteran Pakistani arms dealer started getting calls.

The videos of the fighters in fatigues posing with US weapons, driving armoured cars and even flying US-made helicopters had alarmed the world. But several hundred kilometres away in neighbouring Pakistan, eyes gleamed. And sellers like Ahmad, who has spent two decades smuggling weapons from Afghanistan on special orders for his clientele, saw a glint of opportunity.

We are waiting, we are hopeful, he tells his potential buyers enthusiastically on a video call. We have orders for American M4s and pistols already lined up. In the days to come we hope - we expect - there to be some sort of arrangement.

The history of smuggling between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a long one. But it became rampant in the early days of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Strategically placed, Pakistan was a main lifeline for NATO troops and so ships brimming with supplies would land in Karachi from the Arabian Sea and make the several hundred-kilometre journey north to Afghanistan.

NATO containers and trucks were easy prey to bandits. The routes would go through notoriously dangerous regions like the Khyber Pass which cuts through the mountain ranges between the two countries and was once a critical nerve of the Silk Road.

It was common for the containers to arrive half full or to vanish entirely.

The borders meanwhile became a perforated wonderland for smugglers who exploited the fighting to sneak weapons, military equipment, clothing and even luxury western foodstuffs from bases in Afghanistan back into Pakistan.

Much of this contraband, from night vision goggles to ammunition belts, converged on places like Peshawar, near to the northwest border with Afghanistan, where the citys most famous marketplace was even nicknamed locally Bushs Bazaar after George W.

In those days this area, local journalists say, was so lawless it was almost a semi-autonomous no mans land. At the height of the chaos, goods would be openly peddled in the streets or shuttled off to far-flung corners of the country.

But as the war dragged on, business dried up. The borders and the provinces which hug them, were brought largely under state control.

The nature of the NATO supply chain to Afghanistan also changed, and Pakistan became less of a central nerve, leaving fewer opportunities for interception inside the country.

Senior Pakistani security sources told The Independent that while no one can guarantee a completely watertight border with Afghanistan given it stretches for over 2600km through sometimes impossible terrain, smuggling has been strangled and would continue to be so even after the withdrawal of the US and its allies.

Police checkpoints trawl the once-notorious borderlands.

And so Bush Bazaar - now more commonly known by its actual names of Sitara and Jhangir markets - is packed with Chinese knockoffs and homemade weapons, sculpted to look like US arms by local manufacturers who squirrel away in their factories based in the more remote towns nearby like Darra Adam Khel.

This, vendors believe, will now change.

(Oliver Marsden)

Frankly we want the American stuff, the proper commando kit hasnt been coming here for years, says one store owner who begrudgingly admitted his gun holsters, tactical vests, rifle lubricants and combat boots were actually made in China.

At the moment the border is pretty closed but maybe in a month stuff will come. We all saw the bases and the embassies being emptied. The stuff will come.

Khalid, (not his real name) an owner of a dusty gun shop a few hundred metres away, agrees.

The shoebox store is lined with locally made American knock-offs, replicas of the M4 and M16 assault rifles the owner used to sell up until around four years ago when security tightened and supply dwindled to bullets that were easier to sneak across the borders.

Before the Taliban, there was a trickle of American ammunition as officials [from the ousted regime] were easily bribed, he claims. Right now there is a total ban as the Taliban are trying to portray themselves as law and order. But we dont think this will last.

He says he now makes regular calls to contacts in the districts closer to the border for status updates.

They said they dont have anything for now but they are hopeful.

We have orders for American M4s and Simson pistols already lined up

Arms dealer in Pakistan

With Taliban fighters and their supporters opening, occupying and emptying bases, embassies and the headquarters of western organisations the local dealers believe the sudden wash of equipment will eventually and inevitably spill into Pakistan.

Some also think a burgeoning economic collapse (that the UN has warned could see famine grips parts of Afghanistan) might eventually see smuggling increase as people turn to increasingly desperate ways to make more cash. There are unconfirmed rumours that Afghan soldiers took their weapons and ammo with them when they fled again to make a quick buck as their livelihoods vanished.

There have already been attempts. In August - just a few days before the last US troop left Afghan soil - Pakistani customs officials told local media they intercepted a vehicle trying to smuggle US and NATO weapons including M4A1 Carbine Rifles, Glocks, Berettas and ammunition into Pakistan via the Torkham border near Peshawar.

Security at the border points has only tightened with the Talibans lightning advance across the country and at several points the crossings were completely closed. The Pakistani authorities have also told The Independent they cannot handle a sudden rush of refugees, and so have been on high alert.

The Khyber pass where in the past containers of supplies were frequently attacked

(Bel Trew)

Speaking to The Independent, Taliban commanders manning the Torkham border meanwhile insist weapons smuggling will not happen as there is no lawlessness anymore. They said bribery and corruption were the defining traits of the ousted administration, its a new and better era.

At least for now at the Torkham border, truck drivers say they are carefully checked on both sides. The only regular smuggling that is apparently going on is by small children hiding between the wheels of trucks shuttling food, clothes and cigarettes between the two sides. The Independent saw two children drop down from the undercarriage of the lorries and scuttle away.

And so Ahmad - the arms dealer - admits on the call he does not expect containers of goods to be openly traded like the old days. But with bases looted, there will be greater volume on the market.

I dont think its going to be necessarily easier to get the goods across the borders but there might be more stuff available, he says.That could bring costs down, right now its around $15,000 for an M4 which is too much.

As I said, we are waiting and hopeful.

All names have been changed

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College Students Support Shouting and Violence to Block Free Speech – Here Are the Best and Worst Schools in 2021 – CBN News

Posted: September 26, 2021 at 5:12 am

A new survey shows a stunning number of college students support the idea of shouting down campus speakers they don't like or even using violence to shut them up.

In recent years, free speech on America's college campuses has come under scrutiny after numerous incidents were reported showing higher education institutions were stifling students' First Amendment rights. The so-called "thought police" can be so harsh that students are simply afraid to utter their opinion because they fear it could lead to run-ins with their peers or professors meaning lower grades or even worse.

A recent survey found that more than 80% of students report self-censoring their viewpoints at their colleges at least some of the time, with 21% saying they censor themselves often.

That startling statistic comes from the 2021 College Free Speech Rankings, conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) in partnership with RealClearEducation, which was commissioned by College Pulse.

In the same poll, almost a quarter of the college students surveyed on 159 U.S. college campuses said it was acceptable to use violence to shut down a controversial speaker. Another 66% of respondents also supported shouting down a campus speaker with whom they did not agree.

The method of using violence to stop a campus speaker saw a 5-point increase over FIRE's 2020 report, according to the non-profit organization. When it comes to violent rejection of free speech, two elite women's colleges, Wellesley College and Barnard College top that list at 45% and 43% respectively.

Largest College Survey of Free Expression Ever Conducted

The rankings assess a school's free speech climate based upon the opinions of over 37,000 students at America's largest and most prestigious campuses. The results are based on the largest survey of campus free expression ever performed.

"Existing ranking systems don't look at a core aspect of higher education: the ability to think, discuss, and speak freely," said FIRE Executive Director Robert Shibley. "Our rankings guide prospective students and their parents toward schools that value free speech and open inquiry. They also help us hold schools accountable and demand they do better."

According to FIRE, the report takes into account the varied dimensions of free expression on campus from the ability to discuss challenging topics like race, gender dynamics, and geopolitical conflicts, to whether students hold back from openly sharing their views. You can find out more about the survey's methodology here.

The top five colleges where free speech is protected and valued:

The worst colleges for free speech at the bottom of the list of 159 schools:

You can explore the 2021 College Free Speech Rankingshere.

"There are fundamental questions that every student should want answered before committing to a college," said FIRE Senior Research Counsel Adam Goldstein. "The value of higher education comes from developing a fuller understanding of the world by asking questions that challenge the status quo. A college that won't clearly protect your right to ask those questions is a bad deal, even if it boasts small class sizes or a fancy stadium."

Colleges were scored on seven main components: openness to a discussion of controversial topics, tolerance for liberal speakers, tolerance for conservative speakers, administrative support for free speech, comfort expressing ideas publicly, whether students support disruptive conduct during campus speeches, and FIRE's speech code rating.

Public schools generally performed better than private schools. Only 5 of the bottom 30 schools on the list are public, according to FIRE.

Sean Stevens, FIRE senior research fellow for polling and analytics, said a school's administration is in control of the climate for free thought and free expression on campus. Administrators need to take the lead to assure students their right to free speech will be recognized.

"The research is clear, and our experience working with these schools confirms it: Much of the campus climate for expression is determined by the administration," Stevens noted. "Staking out a leadership position on free speech and open debate resonates with students and has a real effect on a campus' climate for free expression."

Other highlights from the 2021 report include:

You can download the report here.

FIRE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of students and faculty members at America's colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience the essential qualities of liberty.

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What would Justice Ginsburg say? Her words now part of the fight over pronouns | TheHill – The Hill

Posted: at 5:12 am

This past week the American Civil Liberties Union honored the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader GinsburgWhat would Justice Ginsburg say? Her words now part of the fight over pronouns Supreme Court low on political standing To infinity and beyond: What will it take to create a diverse and representative judiciary? MORE on the one-year anniversary of her death by rewriting her famous defense of a womans right to abortion to remove offensive language.The offensive language? References to women and female pronouns.

While Ginsburg herself likely would have made short work of such woke revisionism, the incident highlighted a critical crossroads reached in politics and academia in the treatment of misgendering as a form of hate speech or discrimination.

Across the country, universities are ramping up misgendering rules for faculty and students. The most recent isPoint Park University in Pittsburgh, which notified students that itsOffice of Equity and Inclusionwill enforce rules against misgendering, pronoun misuse anddeadnamingfor individuals who do not use their classmates' preferred pronouns.The university sent an email to students that states any individual who has been informed of another persons gender identity, pronouns, or chosen name is expected to respect that individual. Students were informed that using the wrong pronoun was a violation and action could be taken.

Many of us have no objection to using a students preferred pronouns. Indeed, many faculty members try to avoid using pronouns altogether in class, rather than look up a students designated pronoun. Confirming the right pronouns can be challenging in the middle of a fast-moving class. Students today identify from a growinglist of gender identitiesincluding, but not limited to, genderfluid, third-gender, amalgagender, demigender, bi-gender, pansgender, and a-gender. Pronouns can include, but are not limited to: He/She, They/Them, Ze/Hir (Ze, hir, hir, hirs, hirself), Ze/Zir (Ze, zir, zir, zirs, ze), Spivak (Ey, em, eir, eirs, ey), Ve (Ve, ver, vis, vis, verself), and Xe (Xe, xem, xyr, xyrs, xe).

Pronouns are fast fading from common discourse under the threat of pronoun penalties.Cities, too, are enforcing misgendering rules; for example, theNew York City Human Rights Law allows for fines if employers, landlords or professionals fail to use a preferred name, pronoun or title.

Yet some people have religious beliefs against following the new order and using such pronouns. As a result, there are serious free-speech and religious-freedomobjections to mandatory usage rules.

We are seeing a new stage in the fight over pronouns, where usage is mandatory and misgendering is a sanctionable offense. In other countries, it can be a violation of the criminal code. In England, a woman,Kate Scottow, was arrestedfollowing a debate on twitter over transgender policy. A transgender activist charged Scottow with harassment anddeadnaming, or using the prior name or gender of a transexual person.

It is not just religious conservatives objecting to misgendering and new identification rules.Some feminists have objectedthat the movement endangers feminist values and undermines advances for women. In Scotland,feminist activistMarion Millarwas charged withmalicious communication due to tweets criticizing gender self-identification.She has been labeled aTERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist).

Will misgendering in the United States be treated as actual hate speech or discriminatory speech?

To protect students from misgendering, universities and agencies would have to compel speech. This already is being litigated in some lower courts. In Loudon County, Va., a school board is fighting the courts in its effort to fireteacher Byron Tanner Cross, who was suspended for speaking against gender policies in a public board meeting.Crossrefused to use required pronounsand told the board: Its lying to a child, its abuse to a child, and its sinning against our God.The courts, includingthe state supreme court, ruled for Cross, noting that he could keep his job, adhere to his faith and satisfy the policy by avoiding pronouns altogether.

Notably, the schools rule extends to students themselves, who are required to use correct pronouns, and mandates punishment for those who intentionally and persistently refuse to respect a students gender identity by using the wrong name and gender pronoun.Religious families have said such a rule would require them to leave the public school system as a threshold exclusionary condition for public education.

The same objections are being heard in other areas. Recently, aCalifornia court ruledthatmisgendering patients is protected despite a landmark LGBTQ+ rights bill. The appellate court ruled that the 2017 lawunconstitutionally restricted freedom of speech by classifying willful and repeated misgendering and deadnaming as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 or imprisonment of up to 180 days. The court stated thatwe recognize that misgendering may be disrespectful, discourteous, and insulting, and used as an inartful way to express an ideological disagreement with another persons expressed gender identity. But the First Amendment does not protect only speech that inoffensively and artfully articulates a persons point of view.

Now, as shown by the ACLU, past pronoun offenses are being scrubbed away even for feminist icons like the notorious Ginsburg, for referring to the right of women to have abortions. Activists like Charlotte Clymerinsisted that"trans men and non-binary folks need abortion access.The result is deepening rather than closing the divide in our society.

It is possible to allow for the adoption of alternative pronouns and the recognition of different gender identities without seeking to compel others to do so. We need to find a place of common accommodation and respect in our society. Religious people, conservatives and TERFs also are part of the diversity that we should seek to protect. In the end, a degree of mutual understanding and tolerance could produce greater integration of all of these groups.

Justice Ginsburg herself may have said it best when she advised people to fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. You can find his updates on Twitter@JonathanTurley.

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Will marsquakes have an effect on future human colonies on Red Planet? – IBTimes India

Posted: at 5:11 am

Scientists successfully give InSight Mars lander Power Boost to continue mission in Aphelion

Just as earthquakes occur on Earth, marsquakes occur on Mars. Quakes vary in appearance and feel according to the material through which their seismic waves flow.

Whether these marsquakes will have an effect on human colonisation in the future remains a challenging question. Scientists are examining these marsquakes to determine whether human existence on Mars is feasible.

Youtube Screenshot

Surviving on Mars

Travelling to Mars is only the first stage of the journey; the trip will take 260 days when Earth and Mars are closest to one other.

Human existence on Mars would need the establishment of artificial Mars habitats equipped with advanced life-support systems. A critical component of this would be water treatment systems. Human beings are primarily composed of water, and without it, they would perish within days. Mars' atmosphere is significantly thinner than that of Earth.

The majority of marsquakes are minor, far smaller than anything felt on Earth. However, a few have been strong enough up to roughly magnitude 4 that scientists have been able to pinpoint their source.

Mars, in contrast to Earth, lacks tectonic plates that collide when they come into contact. However, it is still cooling after emerging from a primordial cloud of cosmic dust in a blazing state. Even today, heat emanates from its centre and is capable of cracking the surface.

Avoiding magnetic field generators near the colony is one strategy to survive these quakes. Marsquakes will cause damage to structures in the vicinity of the generator, thus separating it will assist, but it will also require maintenance on the building.

Occasional marsquakes cause the ground to quiver and demolish structures near their epicentres. Marsquakes are a direct result of the colony's efforts to strengthen its magnetic field, and they occur near Magnetic Field Generators. Endure the marsquake and then dispatch drones to repair damaged structures.

Youtube screenshot

What are the scientists working on?

Disasters reduce the Sanity of all Colonists, especially those whose Dome lacks a Security Station. Green Planet's terraforming programme has the potential to gradually diminish and eventually eradicate Martian disasters, but it also has the potential to produce new ones.

Scientists used information from the Apollo-era seismometers on the Moon, two of the first SEIS-detected quakes on Mars, and Earth-based quakes. Scientists can see how diverse earthquakes can be by putting data from these worlds through a shake chamber. The marsquake signals required to be ten million times louder than the moonquakes and earthquakes to be heard.

Researchers at Chabot Space and Science Centre created this Marsquake Challenge in an attempt to withstand the marsquake. The objective is to construct a model habitat capable of surviving a simulated Marsquake. The participants were required to construct a Marsquake table to represent the planet's trembling surface. Then construct a habitat and test it to see if it can withstand Mars' quakes.

InSight, short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, is a Mars lander designed to give the Red Planet its first thorough checkup since it formed 4.5 billion years agoNASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA InSight lander

NASA's InSight spacecraft made contact with Marsin 2018. It was constructed to conduct a study on Mars' core interior. InSight has detected 322 marsquakes since landing on Mars just over a year ago. This lander is equipped with an extremely sensitive seismometer that can detect marsquakes hundreds of kilometres away.

Recently, NASA'sInSight lander has discovered one of the strongest marsquakes ever recorded. The earthquake's magnitude is estimated to be 4.2, and it trembled for more than an hour and a half. Before this, two magnitude 4.2 and 4.1 powerful quakes were observed in August.

Its ultimate objective is to conduct the planet's first thorough analysis in 4.5 billion years since it originated.

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Anti-Vaccine Facebook Groups Have Been Imploring People to Stay Away from the ICU – Tech Times

Posted: at 5:10 am

(Photo : Pexels/Pixabay) VACCINE

Anti-vaccine Facebook groups are pushing for hazardous movements. They've been sending out messages to their followers instructing them to avoid emergency rooms and get their loved ones out of intensive care units.

The anti-vaxxers are consumed by conspiracy theories claiming that doctors are preventing patients who are unvaccinated from getting "miracle cures." Some even went as far as claiming that doctors kill unvaccinated patients on purpose.

People active in the anti-vaccine Facebook groups tell their followers with COVID-19 to avoid going to hospitals and instead try at-home treatments, which is very dangerous as they've not been scientifically proven.

According toNBC News, the messages in the groups show an escalation in the mistrust of medical professionals that began in the past few months on social media like Facebook, which have attempted to remove COVID-19 misinformation.

Meanwhile, doctors stated that hospitals are filled up because of the recent delta variant wave, according toVOX.

Also Read:Facebook's Fight Against Anti-Vaxxers May Not Be Enough as Pages Continue to Grow and Sell Merchandise

Wes Ely, an ICU doctor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said that they were down to four COVID-19 patients two months ago.

Since the surge, they've had 50 patients with COVID-19 on four ICU units, and 97% of them are not vaccinated. He added that the conspiracy theories circulating online are increasing the steam.

The concerns reflect numerous local reports about the increasing threats and violence directed toward medical professionals.

In Missouri, a medical center installed panic buttons on employee badges because of the increase in assaults.

Violence and threats against medical professionals have been reported in Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Idaho.

While COVID-19 misinformation has been a problem since the pandemic's beginning, the introduction of vaccines has invigorated the anti-vaccine community. It sparked a new push to look for and promote alternative treatments, some of which are very dangerous.

Other anti-vaxxers are turning away from hospitals. In the past few weeks, some anti-vaccine Facebook groups and influencers on Telegram have offered their followers instructions on how to get their family members released from the hospital even if they are not cleared yet.

According to the instructions, people can insist that their loved one be transferred into hospice care. The anti-vaxxers have recorded those removed from hospitals for viral videos, which were then posted on the platforms.

Some people in the Facebook groups formed recently are promoting the false cure ivermectin, an anti-parasite medicine for horses, according toThe Washington Post.

The anti-vaccine groups claimed that removing COVID-19 patients from hospitals is important to"self-medicate" at home using ivermectin.

However, as the patients realize that the horse medicine is ineffective, the groups have begun recommending several other hazardous at-home treatments, like nebulizing and inhaling hydrogen peroxide, gargling with iodine, and more.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America had released a warning against the alternative medicine promoted online like nebulizing hydrogen peroxide.

With COVID-19 cases increasing among those who refuse to get the vaccine and disinformation about it continue to spread online, anti-vaxxers have given rise to what is called a "vigilante medicine."

The label was given because patients are not taking lifesaving care from medical professionals and would instead try alternative medicine posted on Facebook.

Anti-vaccine Facebook groups are now changing the namesof their pages to avoid detection as Facebook launched a campaign to shut down groups and pages run by anti-vaxxers.

Related Article: Facebook Discovers Marketing Firm's Anti-Vaxx Campaign, Pays Influencers to Spread Disinformation About Vaccine

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Myths That Shouldn’t Stop You From Doing Yoga – Everyday Health

Posted: at 5:10 am

The popularity of yoga is surging. According to the 2016 Yoga in America Study (published by the Yoga Alliance), the number of people doing yoga increased from 20.4 million in 2012 to 36 million in 2016.

The benefits of a regular practice can be wide-ranging, including relief from pain, increased strength and flexibility, stress relief, better breathing, weight management, cardiovascular conditioning, better circulation, and a calmer mood, according to the Yoga Alliance.

And while nearly every version of this ancient practice incorporates some degree of strength, flexibility, and breath work to improve mental and physical well-being, not all practices are alike. Within yoga, you can find variations that run the full gamut from gentle restorative practices to sweaty, challenging workouts.

So, if you want to get into yoga, there are indeed a lot of options. And if any of the following myths about yoga have been keeping you from trying it, don't let them.

Social media is rife with yogis who can move their bodies in unimaginable ways, so its easy to see why you might think yoga is only for flexible folks. But its time for a reality check.

You dont do yoga because youre flexible; you do it to increase your flexibility and mobility, explains Samantha Clayton, an International Sports Science Association (ISSA)certified yoga instructor coach and a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)certified personal trainer based in Los Angeles. We all have to start somewhere, and each pose can be modified to fit where you are on your own personal flexibility journey.

Yoga (and the stretching youll do as part of it) is good for all levels of exercisers. And while you may never be able to stretch like the Instagram yogis, your flexibility will improve over time. Most people start noticing a difference after three to four weeks of practice, says Clayton, who is also the vice president of worldwide sports performance and fitness for Herbalife Nutrition and a former Olympic runner.

Good news: That back pain shouldnt disqualify you. Yoga can be modified for almost any medical condition, says Samantha Parker, an exercise physiologist with the United States Air Force in Washington, DC, a Yoga Alliancecertified yoga instructor, and an International Association of Yogacertified yoga therapist (meaning she is trained to modify yoga practices for various health and medical issues).

For instance, if you have glaucoma (a disease that damages the optic nerves in your eyes), youll need to avoid dropping your head below your heart, which means youll have to modify certain poses, Parker says.

While medical issues shouldnt hold you back from doing yoga, if you do have a health condition and youre not sure if yoga is suitable for you, check with your doctor first and ask if theres any movement you shouldnt be doing, Parker says.

Then talk with the yoga instructor before class to let him or her know you have certain moves you need to avoid. The instructor should be able to show you pose modifications to make that happen. (If your instructor is a certified yoga therapist, he or she can recommend modifications for specific health conditions, Parker adds.)

Though often associated culturally with Hinduism and Buddhism, yoga does not necessitate a set of religious beliefs and can be practiced in a completely secular way, according to the Yoga Alliance.

Yoga does, though, promote the idea of peace and purpose, which some people equate with spirituality, Parker says. If youre not into that, seek classes and instructors who focus solely on the physical aspects of yoga.

Women do make up a majority of yoga participants 72 percent female versus 28 percent male, according to the 2016 Yoga in America studybut the benefits of yoga extend to anyone who is interested in fitness.

Yoga helps everyone improve joint mobility, range of motion, and overall core stability, Clayton says. These benefits can help both men and women with performance goals across a wide range of sports, he says, from weight lifting to running and much more. Plus, yoga promotes good posture and muscular control and involves many of the smaller stabilizing muscles and tendons that may not get the same attention and stimulation with other workouts.

Yoga does involve a lot of stretching, but youre gaining more than just flexibility and mobility. Youre also building strength. Many of the movements involve holding your own body weight as resistance, and this can improve muscular strength and endurance, Clayton says.

In a study published in June 2015 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, for instance, a 12-week yoga program improved not only flexibility but also cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength and endurance in a group of healthy adults.

Parker doesnt mince words when she hears this myth. You have time, youre just choosing to spend it doing other things, she says.

And, she says, theres no minimum or maximum amount of time you need to do yoga. Longer yoga sessions can offer more benefits (depending on why youre practicing and what results youre looking for), but even short ones can boost mood, relieve stress, and increase physical fitness. You can do simple yoga flows at your desk to alleviate pain, increase cognitive function, and lower stress, Parker says. Or do five minutes of Sun Salutations in the morning or at night to achieve those same effects.

RELATED: A 5-Minute Stress Relief and Calming Yoga Flow

Because of the restorative, strengthening, and meditative aspects of yoga, experts say the right type of yoga complements nearly any other type of physical activity. If your muscles are tight, your muscles are also weak, and if you lack flexibility, youre unable to access the muscles entire power potential, Parker says. By doing yoga, you may find that you can perform better in other activities like strength training and aerobic exercise.

Plus, yoga gives those muscles much-needed relief from other activities. Most yoga is designed to heal and aid in active recovery, Parker says.

The key is finding the right practice to balance out the other types of activity youre doing, Parker says. If strength training is your primary focus, look for a yoga practice that focuses on flexibility and mobility. If youre spending most of your time doing cardio, look for a yoga practice that will help you build strength. Or if youre following an intense training plan for an upcoming race or event, check out a restorative yoga practice.

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If you take this popular prescription medicine, stop immediately and read this – BGR

Posted: at 5:10 am

Earlier this week, the FDA announced that Pfizer was voluntarily recalling all lots of Chantix 0.5mg and 1mg tablets. The drug recall is due to the presence of N-nitroso-varenicline. In large enough quantities, N-nitroso-varenicline can be a carcinogen.

If this recall sounds at all familiar, its because Pfizer back in August issued a similar recall back in August. While that recall involved four lots, the latest recall is far more expansive.

Before addressing the drug recall, lets briefly cover what the drug in question actually is.

To this end, Chantix has been around for more than 15 years. Its an anti-smoking drug that helps users cut back on cigarettes at a slow and steady pace. When it works as designed, smokers will stop smoking completely in about three months. As weve covered previously, the way Chantix works is somewhat novel. The drug essentially latches onto nicotine receptors in the brain. In turn, when a person on the drug smokes a cigarette, the nicotine has nowhere to latch onto. This serves to lessen the high of smoking and discourage future use.

Like many recalls with respect to both food and drugs the actual risk here is low. Note that N-nitroso-varenicline can often be found in grilled meats, dairy products, and vegetables. In other words, its not uncommon for someone to be exposed to nitrosamines. However, prolonged exposure can be risky.

Pfizer, despite the drug recall, makes a point of stating that the health benefits of stopping smoking outweigh the potential risk of cancer from nitrosamines.

Pfizer believes the benefit/risk profile of CHANTIX remains positive, the recall notice reads in part. Patients currently taking Chantix should consult with their doctor to confirm if they received an affected lot, and if appropriate, about alternative treatment options. To date, Pfizer has not received any reports of adverse events that have been related to this recall.

Additionally, there is no immediate risk to anyone currently taking Chantix.

The FDAs information page regarding nitrosamines reads:

The FDA put together a chart that maps out all the impacted Chantix lots. That list can be viewed over here. If you have the drug and you see it listed, you can contact Stericycle Inc. at 888-276-6166. The customer support line there is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM ET. When you call, youll be given instructions regarding how to return the drug and get reimbursed.

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If you take this popular prescription medicine, stop immediately and read this - BGR

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2021-26 Stillwater Current – Stillwater Current

Posted: at 5:10 am

According to IMARC Groups latest report, titled Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026, the global complementary and alternative medicine market exhibited strong growth during 2015-2020. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes numerous medical products and practices that are usually not a part of conventional or standard medical treatment. It primarily comprises of self-administered products and activities, such as herbal medicines, dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, and yoga, with chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage therapy. CAM also includes manipulative and body-based practices, whole medical systems, and biofield therapy. Currently, CAM is extensively used to treat cancer by alleviating common side effects of chemotherapy, such as pain, fatigue, and nausea.

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The increasing consumer preferences towards natural products and gentle therapies are primarily augmenting the global market for complementary and alternative medicines. Additionally, the growing incidences of numerous chronic ailments are also driving the demand for CAM for disease diagnosis and prevention. Moreover, numerous health insurance companies are offering CAM coverage in their medical plans, thereby further propelling the market growth. Due to the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a rising inclination towards natural or alternative medicines to treat coronavirus infection. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the global complementary and alternative medicine market to grow at a CAGR of around 15% during the forecast period (2021-2026).

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis takes over the world, we are continuously tracking the changes in the markets, as well as the industry behaviors of the consumers globally and our estimates about the latest market trends and forecasts are being done after considering the impact of this pandemic.

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Segmentation:

Breakup by Type:

Breakup by Disease Indications:

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Our offerings include comprehensive market intelligence in the form of research reports, production cost reports, feasibility studies, and consulting services. Our team, which includes experienced researchers and analysts from various industries, is dedicated to providing high-quality data and insights to our clientele, ranging from small and medium businesses to Fortune 1000 corporations.

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2021-26 Stillwater Current - Stillwater Current

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‘My Chronic Fatigue Turned Out To Be Lyme Disease’ – Women’s Health

Posted: at 5:10 am

I just had my first childa baby girlin January of 2016. I noticed that a lot of other new moms around me were bouncing back quickly after pregnancy and delivery. But I felt the opposite. I was so lethargic I couldnt even get out of bed. In my head I thought, This is new mom stuff. But I never came out of that "new mom stuff."

I could tell something was off about my body. Yes, we experienced all the normal challenges of a new baby at home. Our daughter had a difficult time sleeping as an infant (which is to be expected), and we got very few hours of sleep when she was born.

I spent most of the night awake and trying to feed and care for her. I was able to take care of her okay, but was having a really difficult time elsewhere. Id try to go for a walk and it felt physically impossible.

My doctor ran a bunch of tests trying to uncover the source of my fatigue. They looked for thyroid dysfunction, autoimmune diseases, adrenal fatigue. Chronic fatigue syndrome and depression was also considered. I received a test for Lyme disease. That test was negative, and so my doctors threw the possibility of Lyme out the window.

Still, my symptoms kept getting worse and worse. I was unable to get out of bed because my chronic pain and fatigue was so bad. I was miserable and kept seeing different doctors to try to find answers.

"My intuition told me that there was something wrong. Im glad I listened."

After doing research, I really thought that what I had was Lyme disease. Doctors wouldnt retest me, though, because my initial test was negative. However, I wanted to make sure that test wasnt a false negative.

Fast-forward to my visit to a functional medicine doctor. He told me I had adrenal fatigue and attributed my fatigue to being a new mom, once again. He sent me home with the recommendation to take a bunch of supplements, such as vitamin B12 and rhodiola. My doctor kept promising me that in three, then six months Id feel better. I never felt better.

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I knew I had so many symptoms because, at each doctors office I visited, Id have to fill out an intake form and list them all. Beyond the fatigue, I developed pretty bizarre symptoms. My muscles would twitch and wouldnt stop. In the middle-of-the-night, Id wake up shaking and my husband would have to hold me until it passed. The fatigue was like being weighed down by bags of sand.

When you write even 30 or 40 symptoms, the personnel at the office start giving you looks like something is wrong with you mentally. I was telling the truth. Ask any member of my family who has been through a day of this hell with me. The longer medical doctors put you off and dont take you seriously, the crazier you look. My gut, though? It said something was off.

The answer was no, but he agreed to give me a Lyme screening test, which is basically a questionnaire about your symptoms and the likelihood that you contracted Lyme. My score indicated a high probability of Lyme.

Finally, my doctor sent me to an infectious disease doctor. That doctor ran another blood test and, sure enough, I was positive for Lyme disease. This was 2018. I'm not sure how or when I contracted Lyme exactly, but I must've gotten a tick bite at one point in my life.

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I was treated with the standard 30-day dose of antibiotics used for Lyme disease. After the antibiotics, I went to a second infectious disease doctor because I still did not feel well or feel like myself. That doctor said that it was impossible for me to still have Lyme disease after being treated with two weeks of antibiotics. Instead, she, too, chalked my symptoms up to motherhood.

I was a run down, stressed out mom, she told me, and the best thing for me was to be on an antidepressant. I just thought, Im not depressed. The only thing thats depressing me is that I cant get anyone to help me with whats wrong with my body. And this was from a female doctor who was also a mom. She said that she was a tired mom, too, so she understood. I felt totally brushed off.

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We tried a lot of remedies, from homeopathic drops to infrared sauna therapy. But the biggest thing that made a difference was lowering inflammation by changing my diet drastically. (Always work with a doctor you trust before making major dietary changes to make sure they make sense for you.) Currently, Im slowly reintroducing food to see if I can tolerate it without an inflammatory response.

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Im now walking 10,000 steps per day or more. Im able to homeschool my daughter, be active, and do all the things I love, such as hiking and kayaking. I can garden without stopping. It brings me to tears every time I can do those things. (I've documented my journey on Instagram @againstoilodds.)

My story shows that you have to listen to your gut and be your own advocate. Dont be afraid to ask questionsrepeatedly, if you have to. Get a second, third, or fourth opinion. Dont be afraid to try alternative treatments if you feel stuck. Im glad I never gave up.

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'My Chronic Fatigue Turned Out To Be Lyme Disease' - Women's Health

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