View allAll Photos Tagged Hypertension

Central Serengeti National Park

Tanzania

East Africa

 

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus.

 

The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in length from about 50 centimetres (20 in) for males to about 40 centimetres (16 in) for females.

 

In addition to very interesting behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension and anxiety. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males changing groups at the time of sexual maturity.

 

The most significant studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition and particular predator sightings. – Wikpedia

 

"Tu Sais ce qu'ils veulent Les Gens...? Moi, Je vais te le dire ce qu'ils Veulent.. !... Ils Veulent du Sacré."

Jim MORRiSSON

 

Nikon D90

50mm 1,8 AFD (75mm DX)

Iso 400

F/3,2

1/2000

According To the Alchemy Machine

Tanzania National Park

Tanzania

East Africa

 

Vervet monkey up in a tree.

 

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in length from about 50 centimetres (20 in) for males to about 40 centimetres (16 in) for females.

 

In addition to very interesting behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males changing groups at the time of sexual maturity. The most significant studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition and particular predator sightings. - Wikipedia

© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

 

Candid street photography from Glasgow, Scotland, captured in February 2025.

 

March, as well as being the start of meteorological spring, is also Long Covid Awareness Month.

 

Covid never disappeared, despite great amounts of 'hopium' out there, and is still today killing more people than flu and disabling many, many more than that. More than 400,000,000 people that are known, and know, that they have Long Covid and many millions more that are so far unaware but that know that they have never felt 'right' since 'that infection' they had.

In fact, in the UK at the moment, waste water surveillance of Covid shows that levels of infection are higher now than in 2021/2022. Sadly the Lateral Flow Tests are now very poor at detecting current strains. If you think it is a really nasty cold or the flu outside of flu season it is mostly likely Covid.

 

Long Covid will strike anyone, regardless of physical fitness or self-perceived immunity strength. It does not discriminate.

 

Over 470,000 peer reviewed studies, pre-prints and meta analyses point to the horrific damage that every single Covid infection, no matter how mild, does to our bodies. You may be lucky enough not to notice ongoing symptoms from your Covid infection but internal damage has been done. Each reinfection does cumulative damage. Long Covid is a likely outcome, eventually, as each reinfection is a roll of the dice.

 

From mayoclinic.org "People can get Long Covid symptoms after catching the Covid-19 virus even if they never had Covid-19 symptoms. Also, long COVID symptoms can show up weeks or months after a person seems to have recovered."

 

There are some 200+ signs and symptoms attributed to Long COVID.

 

Most common is debilitating fatigue. It's a kind of exhaustion that cannot be remedied by a nap or sleeping. Activity one day can lead to days of being unable to do much at all.

Many people report a fast heart rate, chest pain or palpitations.

Headaches are common.

'Brain Fog', which is actually brain damage caused by the virus, can be a range of cognitive issues such as difficulty concentrating or with short term memory. A feeling of not being quite as 'sharp' as you used to be.

Shortness of breath is commonly reported. It can be ongoing or intermittent.

Always ill or colds that are worse than ever? COVID damages the immune system in a similar way to HIV.

 

Some symptoms include: fatigue, headache, attention disorder, hair loss, dyspnoea, ageusia, anosmia, post-activity polypnea, joint pain, cough, sweating, nausea or vomiting, chest pain/discomfort, memory loss, hearing loss, tinnitus, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders such as persistent diarrhoea, weight loss, cutaneous signs (rashes etc), resting heart rate increase, palpitations, pain, intermittent fever, sleep disorder, reduced pulmonary capacity, sleep apnoea, chills, mental health issues, psychiatric illness, red eyes, pulmonary fibrosis, diabetes, limb oedema, dizziness, stroke, throat pain, sexual dysfunction, new hypertension, myocarditis, renal failure, PTSD and arrhythmia.

This list is NOT exhaustive!

 

Infection can be prevented. It is not inevitable. FFP2/3 respirators are effective at preventing all airborne viruses, ventilation of indoor spaces, HEPA filtration of the air and use of Far UVC devices have all been proven.

 

Awareness is needed because COVID and Long COVID were made political by neoliberal think tanks, politicians and billionaire media. Misinformation and disinformation were spread. There is still a lot of medical gaslighting despite the vast mountains of clinical evidence and science. Some people blame the vaccine but Long COVID was recorded before vaccines were available and is similar to ongoing health issues suffered by the few survivors of the first SARS virus.

 

If you think that you may have ongoing symptoms following an infection that could have been COVID then I urge you to seek help from your doctor. There is no treatment or cure but awareness matters. There are ways and means to reduce the impact of those symptoms to varying degrees of success. Don't suffer in silence.

 

If you read all of this then, thank you, that means a great deal to me.

 

I care about this because public health messaging has failed us all.

I care because I suffer from Long COVID myself.

 

COVID was never 'just like a cold or flu'. COVID was never 'mild'. COVID is not 'over'.

 

It is a devastating disease.

 

Be aware. Protect yourself. Protect others.

Shall be hoping that I can get to visit to comment later on today providing that the new hard disk arrives in time...

 

btw: for anybody even remotely interested in installing Linux instead of Windows, dont - unless you are willing to endure frustration, poor software and hypertension... Maybe I am just getting old and frustrated more easily LOL

Cannonball tree, (Couroupita guianensis), tall, soft-wooded tree, of the family ... The tree is also cultivated in the southern regions of North America. ... each sort of broad-leaved lumber has characteristic properties that fit it for particular uses.

There are many medicinal uses for the plant. Native Amazonians use extracts of several parts of the tree to treat hypertension, tumors, pain, and inflammation. It has been used to treat the common cold, stomachache, skin conditions and wounds, malaria, and toothache.

 

Photo taken in Bali

Chaotic woods photography ... Withlacoochee State Forest, Citrus County, Fl

A rare storm had recently rolled through the region and the rain it unloaded did a thorough job of destroying the crinkly ridges I had hoped to capture. I walked over 3/4 of a mile out onto the salt flats in hopes of finding an intact patch, but it was all pretty eroded. The entire time I treaded very carefully to avoid damaging the remaining formations.

 

(2 second exposure)

Scrambled eggs, blueberry muffin with butter, coffee, and 7 medications for T2 diabetes, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol. Plus the ever popular Cholula green hot sauce, just one of their four flavors. Make that five...no...six. I only have four,

 

Note to my UK friends - Cholula, one of Mexico's best hot sauces, is available at Tesco. Give it a try.

 

Note to my senior friends: If you have trouble remembering the names of all of your medications, try memorizing them alphabetically and saying them in pairs. Works for me, but I only have 8 - so far.

2018 coloured pencils, gel ink pen, acrylics on paper

Catharanthus

Genus of flowering plants

Catharanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. Like the genus Vinca, they are known commonly as periwinkles.[1][2] It is a perennial herb and a subshrub endemic to Madagascar,[3] with the exception of the Catharanthus pusillius species, which is found in India and Sri Lanka.[4][5][6][7] The most widely known species is Catharanthus roseus due to its renowned usage in traditional and modern medicine, specifically, as a source of cancer-treating alkaloid chemicals.[8]

 

Catharanthus pusillus

 

Catharanthus lanceus

 

White Catharanthus roseus

Morphology

The plants of Catharanthus are perennial herbs that are subshrubby, often with prostrate or erect stems that branch from the base of the plant.[4][5] The genus was first described in 1837 by George Don. He characterized the plants by the morphological features of simple, opposite, or almost oppositely arranged leaves. The flowers are usually solitary in the leaf axils. Each has a calyx with five long, narrow lobes and a corolla with a tubular throat and five lobes that can be twisted.[3][9][4] Fruits are commonly made up of two divergent follicles that hold many seeds.[2][5] The corolla varies in color shades of pink, purple, and white.[4][5] There are nine known species. Eight are endemic to Madagascar,[10] though one, C. roseus, is widely naturalized around the world.[4][5][7][11][12][13] The ninth species, C. pusillus, is native to India and Sri Lanka.[4][5][7][14] The plant, as it has been observed up to this point, can inhabit up to 2000 m elevation, particularly those seen in the central plateau mountains.[4]

It has also been mentioned that the genus is closely associated with the genus Amsonia, but possesses distinct differences such as Catharanthus grows mostly solitary or in pairs, while Amsonia grows in groups.[5]

Historical Taxonomy

The genus has undergone several taxonomic revisions since it was classified initially. The genus was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 with the species Vinca rosea (known now as Catharanthus roseus). Along with V. rosea, he distinguished two other species, Vinca major and Vinca minor. In 1828, Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach proposed a separation of V. rosea with the new name of Lochnera.[2][11] However, the distinction and descriptions he intended to back up his proposal were not widely accepted in the world of botany and taxonomy. In 1838, it became an accepted proposition and name as Stephen Endlicher made a clear and valid distinction, which includes how Catharanthus is filiform while Vinca is narrowly obconical, Catharanthus is a perennial (a plant living longer than two years) herb or undershrub erect or procumbent, while Vinca is a perennial herb ascending.[2][5] Around the same time, George Don had first described his findings and formally proposed a new genus, Catharanthus. This was based on differences in morphological characteristics of other species in the Vinca genus and V. rosea. In 1844, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle further revised the classification of the genus, dividing Vinca into three sections: Lochnera, containing C. roseus, C. coriaceous, C. lanceus, C. longifolius, C. trichophyllus, and C. ovalis. C. pusillus was distinguished into a different section called Cupa Veela. After these taxonomic revisions and contributions occurred, the name Catharanthus was acknowledged more. In 1949, Pierre Pichon added C. scitulus to the Lochnera section and renamed it Androyella.[2][5] More recently, in 2015, the genus was expanded further with the discovery of the species Catharanthus makayensis by Lucile Allorge, Peter B. Phillips on, and Richardson Razakamalala.[4] C. roseus and C. trichophyllus are also known as sadabahar (in Hindi) and Chang Chung Hua (in Chinese).[2] The name Catharanthus comes from the Greek for "pure flower".[3][9]

Species Descriptions

Catharanthus coriaceous Markgr. - Madagascar

C. coriaceous is typically found in the northern areas or the central plateau of Madagascar, preferring a dry, rocky environment. The plants are relatively small at full growth (hardly ever grown more than 30 cm tall). The one-flowered plant has leaves that are 30mm long or less but are longer than the internodes.[2][4] The follicles are erect or pedunculate, and the corolla is pink.[5]

Catharanthus lanceus (Bojer ex A.DC.) Pichon - Madagascar

Commonly found in or on the central Plateau, preference for humid environments. The plant's leaves are relatively small, being shorter than the internodes. Unlike other species, C. lanceus branches out many a times and has several rosettes or flowers.[4][5]

Research has been conducted, isolating two alkaloids found in the root: Lanceine and Vinosidine.[15]

Catharanthus longifolius (Pichon) Pichon - Madagascar

Usually found in the mountainous areas in the southeast and northern areas of Madagascar. Named after its leaf shape, which is lanceolate as it grows. It is relatively small, with leaves being less then 9 mm wide. The corolla is pink with a yellow eye, and the lobes are white closest to the base.[2][4][16]

C. longifolius contains similar compound alkaloids as C. roseus such as Cathafoline, similar to the structure of Serpentine and Vindolinine.[16]

Catharanthus Makayensis (L. Allorge, Phillipson on, & Razakamal.) - Madagascar

The newest species of the genus, C. makayensis, was discovered in 2015 by Mohamed Mezaga, Lucile Allorge, Peter B. Phillipson, and Richardson Razakamalala. It differed from other species in the genus with its hexangular cross-section stems.[2][4] It has smaller leaves (2 mm long) and a Corolla with a magenta eye and white lobes. It grows up to 60 cm tall. Only 2 samples have been found in the Makay Massif area in sandy soil and moist areas along river banks up to 400–600 m elevation.[4]

Catharanthus ovalis Markgr. - Madagascar

C. ovalis is found in the southern areas of the Central Plateau and the southwest of Madagascar. The plant has glabrous stems and leaves with an oval shape. The leaves are sessile (petiole less than 1 mm long) and the corolla has a white or yellow eye and pink lobes.[2][4]

Catharanthus pusillus (Murray) G. Don. - India, Sri Lanka, Western Himalayas

Unlike other species in the genus, C. pusillus is a species of Catharanthus that is found in India and Sri Lanka and can be referred to as Sangkhi, Ran-kel, or Tiloni in Marathi, and many others.[2] It is the smallest of the genus and is sometimes referred to as "Tiny Periwinkle" as well, growing up to 20 cm tall. The corolla is white with a yellow eye and the corolla tube can grow up to 11 mm long.[2][4][17]

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don. - Madagascar Periwinkle, old-maid, rosy Periwinkle, pink Periwinkle - Madagascar; naturalized in Italy, S Asia, Australia, S United States, Central America, India and various oceanic islands

The most widely known species, native to Madagascar, particularly the south-east and throughout the tropics, has been naturalized and cultivated globally. The plant is relatively large (30–100 cm) at full growth. The corolla is normally pink with a purple eye or white with a yellow eye.[2][4][8]

Catharanthus scitulus (Pichon) Pichon - Madagascar

C. scitulus inhabits the sub-arid south in low-lying, sandy soil. Stems spread into pseudo-dichotomous branching, coming together to form a rosette at each node.[4] Similar to C. lanceus, the plant branches out more than the other species. The corolla is pink or violet at the lobes.[2][5]

Catharanthus trichophyllus (Baker) Pichon - Madagascar. Also known as Sadabahar or Baramasi in India.

C. trichophyllus is found throughout the northern areas of Madagascar and extends down the east coast. It's corolla has reddish-pink lobes with a purple eye. Additionally, it has fruits that grow spirally. It's leaves are sub-sessile (petiole less than 1 mm long).[2][4]

C. trichophyllus contains alkaloids such as Vinblastine, Vincristine, Ajmalicine, etc. These alkaloids are also found in C. roseus and used to treat cancer, high blood pressure, and many other illnesses.[2][11]

Uses

In the 1950s, Catharanthus roseus, known formerly as Vinca rosea, was heavily researched when India, and various countries in Africa and the Caribbean used it for its medicinal properties.[8] It is a main source of vinca alkaloids, now sometimes called catharanthus alkaloids. The plant produces about 130 of these compounds, including vinblastine and vincristine, two drugs used to treat cancer.[11][18][19][20][21] These alkaloids are typically used to treat cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and testicular cancer. A less commonly known alkaloid that the species holds is Ajmalicine (found in the root), used to treat high blood pressure/ diabetes. Traditionally, the medicinal properties of the plant extend to treating hyperglycemia, asthma, hypertension, malaria, various infections, and many more.[2][8][11] The species was also briefly referenced when trying to find COVID-19 treatment through the extraction and usage of Jasmonic acid, Methylester, Peniclovir, and Putamonoxin B and D.[11] Other traditional medicine uses the plant for leaf juice application on bee and wasp stings in India, eye wash for infants with flower extract in Cuba and Jamaica, treat insomnia in Malaysia, ease sore throats and laryngitis in America.[2][8][11]

Many of the species, primarily Catharanthus roseus, is also cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens. Several cultivars have been bred to produce flowers in many shades of pink, red, lilac, and white, or in light shades with dark throats.[2][8][22]

Species

Source:[12]

Catharanthus coriaceus Markgr. – Madagascar

Catharanthus lanceus (Bojer ex A.DC.) Pichon – Madagascar

Catharanthus longifolius (Pichon) Pichon – Madagascar

Catharanthus ovalis Markgr. – Madagascar

Catharanthus pusillus (Murray) G.Don. – India, Sri Lanka, Western Himalayas

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don. – Madagascar periwinkle, old-maid, rosy periwinkle, pink periwinkle – Madagascar; naturalized in Italy, S Asia, Australia, S United States, Central America, India and various oceanic islands

Catharanthus scitulus (Pichon) Pichon – Madagascar

Catharanthus trichophyllus (Baker) Pichon – Madagascar. It is also known as Sadabahar or Baramasi in India.

Its official, type 2 diabetes and stage 2 hypertension due to high blood pressure. I’m fucked and I need a drink!!! photo by dodsonis

1) Emotional strain

2) Toorh decay

3) Hypertension

4) Ageing

5) Constipation

6) Constipation (Diarrhea)

 

Different graphical techniques, 1931-1939,

Vasarely Museum, Budapest

A very recent pic of Little Joey in the backyard. He's perched on a plastic table near the clothesline (don't ask me why the table is there, lol).

 

Joey went through hell throughout last July. He suffered from severe gastritis and bouts of vomiting and his breath smelled like a dead rat. That's caused by the high levels of uremic toxins that had accumulated in his body.

 

He could not eat as his gums were very painful and had to be spoon fed four times daily. Mouth ulcers usually accompany Stage 4 kidney disease in cats.

 

The last straw that broke the camel's back was when the metoclopramide that was prescribed by an inexperienced young vet that not only caused him agitation and yowling, but triggered his hypertension.

 

I could handle his chronic kidney disease, but when multiple problems like mouth ulcer and high blood pressure compounds things, I felt so helpless. 😢

 

I remember crying when Joey was yowling all night over three weeks ago as I could not help him. I had no medicine to give him and even if I did, I wouldn't know the correct dosage.

 

He was disoriented and felt extreme pain, just like if we have hypertensive headaches. Cats that have excessive high blood pressure can actually go blind.

 

I rushed him to the animal hospital on the following day and Dr Melissa Aw examined his blood pressure and took a sample of his blood.

 

Joey has been stable for a week, thanks to his hypertensive drugs (Enalapril, 1.25mg daily). At the same time I did further research on natural remedies to alleviate his nausea and gastritis, plus his swollen gums.

 

I chanced upon a website for CKD cats and learned that Slippery Elm Bark can reduce nausea and relieve gastric pain, while coenzyme CoQ10 has natural anti inflammatory properties.

 

That did the trick and Joey's finally on the mend. He is back to normal now - less hiding, he's able to eat kibble on his own (but not enough), has started grooming himself and no longer salivates.

 

His bowel movements resumed and he no longer sits in a meatloaf position (sick cats do this). His eyes look very alert, he has begun purring when petted and no longer throws up.

 

I've never felt so relieved as I thought he was ready to throw in the proverbial towel.

 

Thanks to all of his human friends who has sent him well wishes and prayers. 😻🙏

One year ago today, I didn't know where to rest my mind.

 

I was a heart patient. They diagnosed me pulmonary hypertension and cardiac myopathy. In other words, the artery between my lung and heart was severely inflammed. If it ruptured, I was dead. Also, my heart simply couldn't keep up, hence the tremendous amount of fluid in my extremities and around my heart. "We are treating you as if you had a heart attack," the doctors said. It was very, very serious. If I had waiting much longer, my heart may have just stopped beating or the artery may have ruptured.

 

It was too unreal to believe.

 

In 12 hours, they took 18 pounds of fluid off of me. I could breathe again. My heart was not going to leap out of my chest.

 

But, it still felt broken. I didn't know what to do with myself. Who to think about? My new baby? My other new baby? My god, they needed ME! They were so small and so fragile. I wanted to be with them so bad it absolutely consumed me.

 

Or maybe I should think about Elyse. What a few weeks she had experienced. What a sweet, sweet baby girl. My best friend. I talked to her endlessly on the phone. She told me what color socks she was wearing. She cried. It was confusing for her and it scared her to hear that Mommy was sick.

 

Or maybe I should think about my husband. Our entire family's backbone through this ordeal. He had been off work since my dad's heart attack. We needed him. He took care of Elyse and Will. He picked up and dropped off Elyse at preschool. He was there to greet Will when he got off the bus from kindergarten. He made their meals, played with them, and reassured them. Oh yeah, he also had TWO brand-new babies to care for also!! Steve was our hero. But, how much more could he take? He was a proud new dad, but his wife was not doing well. He even had to take all three kids out this morning for Connor's jaundice test. I can only imagine the production it was to get those tiny babies cleaned, feed, dressed, and loaded into carseats. It was their first venture out together. The stress he had to deal with had to be overwhelming. He just wanted his family together.

 

My brother was beside himself with worry. He sounded so much like my dad when I talked to him on the phone. Demanding to know what the doctors were doing for me. Insisting on helping. Arguing with me about not taking care of myself. He was so fiercely protective of me and he just felt helpless. My SIL was a tremendous support also. She was Steve's backup and encouraged Elyse to play at their house also.

 

But maybe I should think about my mom, the bravest, strongest woman ever. She was a grieving widow. But, she never had a moment to grieve; she had to be a doting grandmother times four. Plus, she was literally worried sick about me. I did not want her to visit me. She spent enough hours in the hospital already this month.

 

I think I let my mind wander to my dad the most. It was the easiest to deal with. I felt at peace with his passing because I had no regrets about our relationship. He was the best and I always knew how he felt about me. In fact, I was almost thankful he didn't have to be here to deal with me. He would have been an absolute wreck with me in the hospital. At least he was spared that. I thought about all that he was going to miss. Everything was just too cruel.

 

But, maybe I should take a moment and think about myself. I had to get better. I had people who were counting on me. I was a total pain in the hospital because I did NOT want to be there.

 

They certainly did not what to do with a post-partum, breast-feeding, dual-delivering mom of twins in the cardiac unit. It was almost comical. When a new nurse read my chart and came to talk to me, it always went from condolences, to congratulations, to sympathy. Everyone was wonderful but I hated every moment.

 

The sheer amount of medication was staggering. I knew all the names of the prescriptions. They were identical to my 70 year old father's.

 

I spent this day resting and crying. I had an actual diagnosis. What I was feeling had a name. Now it was time to get better.

 

One year ago today, I pumped, I rested, I cried, I ate, I slept, and I held my breath everytime they took my blood pressure. It was coming down....finally.

     

MacroMondays

Remedy

 

Red,Xarelto-blood thinner. [heart]

White large,Trovas-cholesterol. [heart]

Yellow,APO-Pantoprazole-gastroesophageal reflux.

Blue,Digoxin-atrial fibrillation. [heart]

1/2 White,Metrol-beta-blockers,treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart attack. [heart]

1/2 Yellow,Mobic- arthritis.

White,Codalgin frt-pain.

I have Ocular Hypertension (High Eye Pressure) and have had for over ten years, I have my eyes monitored at my local hospital and have taken eye drops morning and night for some years now, just to keep a watch for encroaching Glaucoma, where you gradually lose your peripheral vision without realizing what is going on until it's too late......glad to say that although my pressures are persistently high, my vision for now is good, apart for wearing glasses for reading anything or looking at the back of my camera or a computer.......which finally leads me to my posted image......get your bloody eye's checked!

  

White chocolate, technically isn't chocolate, but delicious, has calcium & boosts immunity, reduces Cholesterol, improves liver health, elevates blood sugar levels, tones down hypertension and breathing problems.

 

2 vits and BP med.

 

Tenuous Link: (pharm)aceuticals.

 

I have finally found out what the real cause of Romeo and Juliet's death was...Hypertension 😁

Common names for this plant are Misai Kuching (Malaysia), Kumis Kucing and Remujung (Indonesia), Java Tea and Kidney Tea (European), Yaa Nuat Maeo (Thailand).

 

Scientific Names are Orthosiphon Stamineus Benth, Ocimum Aristatum BI., Orthosiphon Aristatus (Blume).

 

Plant family: Lamiaceae, Labiatae

 

This plant is best used for treating the ailments or problems of kidney and bladder due to it's mild diuretic action. It is believed to have antiallergenic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.It is used as a remedy for kidney stone and nephretis. It is also used for treating gout, diabetes, hypertension and rheumatism. It is also reported to possess antifungal and it exhibits considerable antibacterial activity.

Shoot there ain't nothing there but boats, docks, and water. Of course there's no hypertension.

HE'S HOME!

 

They wanted to keep him one more night because they'd introduced a new heart med -- Viagra -- at about 4:00 p.m. (watch out Tucker). The fluid has cleared a great deal from his chest, his breathing is normal (for him) and we got to take him home. It wasn't exactly against medical advice because they said it would be okay either way. He will be on several medications every day for the rest of his life, but he's very happy as we are all together. After we drove in, I went in to prepare Tucker for seeing Noah, to mellow him out, sotto voce, so he didn't get too excited. Noah's to avoid strenuous exercise moving forward and that will be difficult to monitor but we certainly will. He has congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. He's a sick dog. But he's home. He sees the cardiologist again Saturday morning and we're going to be plugged in to the emergency animal hospital here for the duration. I thank God for this. And thank you all for your support. You and all my in-person friends really helped me through this; Matt also has social media friends who did the same. Thank you so very much. We're not out of the woods and anything can happen. But he's HOME.

Leeches have been used in medicine for over 2,500 years. They were popular in earlier times because doctors thought that most diseases were caused by an excess of blood. As recently as the 19th century, leeches were used to treat everything from tonsillitis to hemorrhoids.

 

These are creepy little blood suckers. The cloth covers are there to keep them from getting out of the jars. It's happened before.....a dried up leech is not a pretty sight.

The wild flower of Oxalis barrelieri, otherwise is known as Belimbing Tanah by the native people of Malaysia. This tiny flower measuring not more than 1 cm across. The whole part of the plants is used as a cure for diabetes and hypertension, taken in a form of decoction.

Todas as Pesquisas e Fotos anexas obtidas via Internet

26 de Abril Homenageamos o Dia de Prevenção e Combate à Hipertensão, Brasil

(artigo extenso e complexo, postarei em capítulos)

***

All Research and Photos accompanying obtained via the Internet

April 26 We honor the Day of Prevention and Combat Hypertension, Brazil

(Article extensive and complex, post in chapters)

***

Toutes les recherches et photos accompagnant obtenus via l'Internet

Avril 26 Nous honorer la Journée de la prévention et l'hypertension de combat, le Brésil

(Article complet et complexe, après dans les chapitres)

***

***

***

YOUTUBE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce7t5FyfYOI

 

Por Deus, Amigos Queridos assinem por MISERICÓRDIA de nossas FLORESTAS...

Por tudo que já SUPLIQUEI e que posto novamente!!

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/O-que-fazemos/Amazonia/Pagin...

 

CONTINUO SUPLICANDO, QUANTAS VEZES FOREM NECESSÁRIAS!!

ASSINEM ESTAS PETIÇÕES, POR FAVOR...

- PARA SALVAR A AMAZÔNIA,

 

www.avaaz.org/po/belo_monte_people_vs_profits/?vl

 

- PARA SALVAR AS FLORESTAS DO BRASIL,

- PARA VETAR AS MUDANÇAS DO CÓDIGO FLORESTAL !

 

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/Participe/Ciberativista/Codi...

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_sam/?cl=1419482907&v...

 

VAMOS LUTAR POR NOSSO PLANETA, PELAS NOSSAS FLORESTAS, PELOS INDÍGENAS (NOSSOS IRMÃOS), PELOS NOSSOS FILHOS, NETOS, BISNETOS...PELAS PRÓXIMAS GERAÇÕES...POR UM MUNDO MELHOR...

O PLANETA TERRA PEDE SOCORRO!!

TUDO OU NADA ESTÁ EM NOSSAS MÃOS,... BRASILEIROS!!

 

Muito obrigada,

 

Celisa

***

 

By God, Dear Friends sign of our forests for mercy ...

For all that ever I pleaded and put it back!

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/O-que-fazemos/Am azonia/Pagin...

 

CONTINUOUS Sulpice, as often as necessary!

Sign these petitions, PLEASE ...

- To save the Amazon,

 

www.avaaz.org/po/belo_monte_people_vs_profits/?vl

 

- TO SAVE THE FORESTS OF BRAZIL

- To veto FOREST CODE CHANGES!

 

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/Participe/Ciberativista/Codi...

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_sam/?cl=1419482907&v...

 

WE FIGHT FOR OUR PLANET, FOR OUR FORESTS, INDIGENOUS BY (OUR BROTHERS), for our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren for generations to come ... ... ... FOR A BETTER WORLD

ASKS HELP THE PLANET EARTH!

ALL OR NOTHING IS IN OUR HANDS, ... BRAZILIAN!

 

Thank you so much,

 

Celisa

***

 

Par Dieu, Chers Amis signe de nos forêts pour la miséricorde ...

Pour tout ce que j'ai plaidé et le remettre!

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/O-que-fazemos/Am azonia/Pagin...

 

Sulpice CONTINUE, aussi souvent que nécessaire!

S'il vous plaît signer ...

- Pour sauver l'Amazonie,

 

www.avaaz.org/po/belo_monte_people_vs_profits/?vl

 

- Pour sauver les forêts du Brésil

- De mettre son veto CHANGEMENTS Code forestier!

 

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/Participe/Ciberativista/Codi...

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_sam/?cl=1419482907&v...

 

Nous luttons pour notre planète, pour nos forêts, AUTOCHTONES PAR (NOS FRÈRES), pour nos enfants, petits-enfants, arrière petits-enfants pour les générations à venir ... ... ... POUR UN MONDE MEILLEUR

DEMANDE AIDE LA PLANETE TERRE!

Tout ou rien est entre nos mains, ... Brésilienne!

 

Je vous remercie,

 

Celisa

***

 

Por Dios, queridos amigos: signo de nuestros bosques por la misericordia ...

Por todo lo que he declarado y poner de nuevo!

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/O-que-fazemos/Am azonia/Pagin...

 

CONTINUA Sulpice, cuantas veces sea necesario!

Firmar estas peticiones, por favor ...

- Para salvar el Amazonas,

 

www.avaaz.org/po/belo_monte_people_vs_profits/?vl

 

- PARA SALVAR LOS BOSQUES DE BRASIL

- De vetar los cambios Código Forestal!

 

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/Participe/Ciberativista/Codi...

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_sam/?cl=1419482907&v...

 

LUCHAMOS POR NUESTRO PLANETA, PARA NUESTROS BOSQUES, POR INDÍGENAS (NUESTROS HERMANOS), para nuestros hijos, nietos, bisnietos para las generaciones futuras ... ... ... POR UN MUNDO MEJOR

PIDE AYUDA AL PLANETA TIERRA!

TODO O NADA ESTÁ EN NUESTRAS MANOS ... BRASIL!

 

Gracias,

 

Celisa

***

 

Per Dio, cari amici segno delle nostre foreste per pietà ...

Per tutto ciò che mai ho supplicato e rimetterlo!

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/O-que-fazemos/Am azonia/Pagin...

 

Sulpice CONTINUO, ogni qualvolta sia necessario!

SIGN queste petizioni, PER FAVORE ...

- Per salvare l'Amazzonia,

 

www.avaaz.org/po/belo_monte_people_vs_profits/?vl

 

- PER SALVARE LE FORESTE DEL BRASILE

- Per veto modifiche al codice FORESTA!

 

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/pt/Participe/Ciberativista/Codi...

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_sam/?cl=1419482907&v...

 

Lottiamo per IL NOSTRO PIANETA, PER I NOSTRI BOSCHI, indigene da parte (NOSTRI FRATELLI), per i nostri figli, nipoti, pronipoti per le generazioni a venire ... ... ... PER UN MONDO MIGLIORE

CHIEDE AIUTO DEL PIANETA TERRA!

Tutto o niente è nelle nostre mani, ... BRASILIANO!

 

Grazie,

 

Celisa

***

***

***

Dezenas de milhões de câes e gatos são ASSASSINADOS BRUTALMENTE, com INSTINTOS de CRUELDADE na CHINA !!

Amigos Queridos eu suplico, assinem esta PETIÇÃO, é um PEDIDO de Ativistas e Protetores de Animais que estão se mobilizando no MUNDO INTEIRO, em favor das vidas destes MÁRTIRES!!

Em DOIS MINUTOS pode-se assinar!! São seres INDEFESOS, eu ROGO, por Deus!!

 

www.change.org/petitions/the-chinese-government-stop-the-...

Muito obrigada,

 

Celisa

***

 

Tens of millions of dogs and cats are brutally murdered, with instincts of cruelty in CHINA!

Dear Friends, I beg, sign this petition, it is a request for Activists and Animal Protectors who are mobilizing around the world, in favor of the lives of Martyrs!

In two minutes you can sign up! They are helpless, I pray, by God!

 

www.change.org/petitions/the-chinese-government-stop-the-...

Thank you,

 

Celisa

***

 

Des dizaines de millions de chiens et de chats sont brutalement assassinés, avec des instincts de cruauté en Chine!

Chers amis, je vous prie, signez cette pétition, et une demande pour les activistes et les protecteurs des animaux qui se mobilisent autour du monde, en faveur de la vie des martyrs!

En deux minutes, vous pouvez vous inscrire! Ils sont impuissants, je prie, par Dieu!

 

www.change.org/petitions/the-chinese-government-stop-the-...

Je vous remercie,

 

Celisa

***

 

Decenas de millones de perros y gatos son brutalmente asesinados, con los instintos de crueldad en China!

Queridos amigos, os ruego, firmen esta petición, y una petición de activistas y los protectores de animales que se movilizan en todo el mundo, a favor de la vida de los mártires!

En dos minutos se puede firmar para arriba! Están indefensos, te ruego, por Dios!

 

www.change.org/petitions/the-chinese-government-stop-the-...

Gracias,

 

Celisa

***

 

Decine di milioni di cani e gatti vengono brutalmente assassinati, con istinti di crudeltà in CINA!

Cari amici, vi prego, firmare questa petizione e una richiesta di attivisti e protettori degli animali che si stanno mobilitando in tutto il mondo, a favore della vita dei martiri!

In due minuti puoi iscriverti! Sono impotente, io prego, per Dio!

 

www.change.org/petitions/the-chinese-government-stop-the-...

Grazie,

 

Celisa

***

***

***

Que Deus abençoe a todos os Queridos Amigos, principalmente nossas Queridas Amigas @rtbene, Blankita e Mag, e alivie o sofrimento daqueles que tanto necessitam.

Beijos em seus corações,

Celisa

***

May God bless all the Dear Friends, mainly our Dear Friends @rtbene, Blankita and Mag, relieve the suffering of those who so desperately need.

Kisses in your hearts,

Celisa

***

Que Dieu bénisse tous les chers amis, en particulier notre cher ami @rtbene, Blankita et Mag, et soulager la souffrance de ceux qui ont si désespérément besoin.

Bisous dans ton coeur

Celisa

***

Que Dios los bendiga a todos los queridos amigos, en especial nuestro querido amigo @rtbene, Blankita y Mag, y aliviar el sufrimiento de aquellos que tan desesperadamente necesitan.

Besos en tu corazón

Celisa

***

Che Dio benedica tutti i cari amici, soprattutto il nostro caro amico @rtbene, Blankita e Mag, e alleviare le sofferenze di coloro che così disperatamente bisogno.

Baci nel tuo cuore

Celisa

***

***

***

CONTINUO SUPLICANDO, QUANTAS VEZES FOREM NECESSÁRIAS!!

ASSINEM PELO AMOR DE NOSSO PLANETA, PELAS NOSSAS FLORESTAS, PELOS INDÍGENAS (NOSSOS IRMÃOS), PELOS NOSSOS FILHOS, NETOS, BISNETOS...PELAS PRÓXIMAS GERAÇÕES...POR UM MUNDO MELHOR...

O PLANETA TERRA PEDE SOCORRO!!

TUDO OU NADA ESTÁ EM NOSSAS MÃOS,... BRASILEIROS!!

 

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_brazil/?vl

 

***

CONTINUOUS Sulpice, as often as necessary!

SIGNED BY THE LOVE OF OUR PLANET, OUR FORESTS BY, FOR INDIGENOUS (our brothers), for our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren for generations to come ... ... ... FOR A BETTER WORLD

ASKS FOR HELP THE PLANET EARTH!

ALL OR NOTHING IS IN OUR HANDS ... BRAZILIAN!

 

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_brazil/?vl

 

***

Sulpice CONTINUE, aussi souvent que nécessaire!

SIGNÉ PAR L'amour de notre planète, notre forêt par, pour les peuples autochtones (nos frères), pour nos enfants, petits-enfants, arrière petits-enfants pour les générations à venir ... ... ... POUR UN MONDE MEILLEUR

DEMANDE D'AIDE DE LA PLANETE TERRE!

Tout ou rien est entre nos mains ... Brésilienne!

 

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_brazil/?vl

 

***

Sulpice CONTINUO, cuantas veces sea necesario!

FIRMADO POR EL AMOR DE NUESTRO PLANETA, nuestros bosques, por indígenas (los hermanos), para nuestros hijos, nietos, bisnietos para las generaciones venideras ... ... ... POR UN MUNDO MEJOR

PIDE AYUDA AL PLANETA TIERRA!

TODO O NADA ESTÁ EN NUESTRAS MANOS ... BRASIL!

 

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_brazil/?vl

 

***

Sulpice CONTINUO, ogni qualvolta sia necessario!

FIRMATO L'AMORE DEL NOSTRO PIANETA, I NOSTRI BOSCHI, ad indigeni (i fratelli), per i nostri figli, nipoti, pronipoti per le generazioni a venire ... ... ... PER UN MONDO MIGLIORE

CHIEDE AIUTO PER IL PIANETA TERRA!

Tutto o niente è nelle nostre mani ... BRASILIANO!

 

www.avaaz.org/po/save_the_amazon_brazil/?vl

Vervet Monkey

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatze

 

St Lucia is a settlement in Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The small town is mainly a hub for the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park.

 

Evidence of early humans living in the caves up high in the Lebombo mountains dating back 130,000 years ago provided scientists with clues regarding the lifestyle of these prehistoric settlers. From this cave alone some 69,000 stone implements and various human remains have been recovered. Some of these tools date back to the middle and early stone ages (130,000 to 30,000 years ago).

 

St. Lucia was first named in 1554 as Rio dos Medos do Ouro (alternatively Rio dos Médãos do Ouro — River of the Gold Dunes) by the survivors of the Portuguese ship São Bento. At this stage, only the Tugela River mouth was known as St. Lucia. Later, in 1575, the Tugela River was named Tugela. On 13 December 1575, the day of the feast of Saint Lucy, Manuel Peresterello renamed the mouth area to Santa Lucia.

 

In 1822, St. Lucia was proclaimed by the British as a township. In 1895, St. Lucia Game Reserve, 30 km north of the town, was proclaimed. Since 1971, St. Lucia Lake and the turtle beaches and coral reefs of Maputaland have been listed by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention). In December 1999, the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

The park is also home to about 1,200 Nile Crocodiles and almost 800 hippopotamuses.

 

Other animals include leopards, Greater Kudu, Black Rhinos, rich avifauna and numerous invertebrates.

 

Under Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, it has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).

 

(Wikipedia)

 

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. Vervets were introduced to Florida, St. Kitts, and Cape Verde. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in body length from about 50 centimetres (20 in) for males to about 40 centimetres (16 in) for females.

 

In addition to behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males moving to other groups at the time of sexual maturity. The most significant studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition and particular predator sightings.

 

The vervet monkey very much resembles a gray langur, having a black face with a white fringe of hair, while the overall hair color is mostly grizzled-grey. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; the males are larger in weight and body length. Adult males weigh between 3.9 and 8.0 kg (8.6 and 17.6 lb), averaging 5.5 kg (12 lb), and have a body length between 420 and 600 mm (17 and 24 in), averaging 490 mm (19 in) from the top of the head to the base of the tail. Adult females weigh between 3.4 and 5.3 kg (7.5 and 11.7 lb) and average 4.1 kg (9.0 lb), and measure between 300 and 495 mm (11.8 and 19.5 in), averaging 426 mm (16.8 in).

 

When males reach sexual maturity, they move to a neighboring group. Often, males will move with a brother or peer, presumably for protection against aggression by males and females of the resident group. Groups that had previously transferred males show significantly less aggression upon the arrival of another male. In almost every case, males migrate to adjacent groups. This obviously increases benefits in regard to distance traveled, but also reduces the amount of genetic variance, increasing the likelihood of inbreeding.

 

Females remain in their groups throughout life. Separate dominance hierarchies are found for each sex. Male hierarchies are determined by age, tenure in the group, fighting abilities, and allies, while female hierarchies are dependent on maternal social status. A large proportion of interactions occur between individuals which are similarly ranked and closely related. Between unrelated individuals, there is female competition for grooming members of high-ranking families, presumably to gain more access to resources. These observations suggest individual recognition is possible and enables discrimination of genetic relatedness and social status. Interactions between different groups are variable, ranging from highly aggressive to friendly. Furthermore, individuals seem to be able to recognize cross-group vocalizations, and identify from and to which monkey each call is intended, even if the call is made by a subadult male which is likely to transfer groups. This suggests the members within a group are actively monitoring the activity of other groups, including the movement of individuals within a group.

 

Vervet monkeys have four confirmed predators: leopards, eagles, pythons, and baboons. The sighting of each predator elicits an acoustically distinct alarm call. As infants vervets learn to make the variety of calls from observation alone, without explicit tutelage. In experimentation with unreliable signalers, individuals became habituated to incorrect calls from a specific individual. Though the response was lessened for a specific predator, if an unreliable individual gives an alarm call for a different predator, group members respond as if the alarm caller is, in fact, reliable. This suggests vervet monkeys are able to recognize and to respond to not only the individual calling, but also to the semantics of what the individual is communicating. It is believed that vervet monkeys have up to 30 different alarm calls. In the wild vervet monkeys have been seen giving a different call when seeing a human being approaching, leading researchers to believe that vervet monkeys may have a way of distinguishing between different land and flight predators.

 

Mothers can recognize their offspring by a scream alone. A juvenile scream will elicit a reaction from all mothers, yet the juvenile's own mother had a shorter latency in looking in the direction of the scream, as well as an increased duration in her look. Further, mothers have been observed to help their offspring in conflict, yet rarely aided other juveniles. Other mothers evidently can determine to which mother the offspring belongs. Individuals have been observed to look towards the mother whose offspring is creating the scream.

 

Siblings likely provide the prevailing social relationships during development. Within social groups, mother-offspring and sibling interactive units are distinct groups. The sibling interaction are heavily supportive and friendly, but do have some competition. Contests primarily involve postweaning resource allocation by the common mother. For example, siblings have conflict over grooming time allocated by their mother. Offspring are usually not born in extremely close proximity due to the interbirth period of the mother. This time can be reduced by use of an allomother. The clarity of the familial and sibships within a group may act as a form of alliance, which would come at relatively low cost in regards to grooming. Other alliances are shown through conflict with aggressive individuals that have acted against a closely related sibling.

 

Allomothering is the process when another individual besides the mother cares for an infant. In groups of vervet monkeys, infants are the source of a tremendous amount of attention. Days after an infant is born, every member of the group will inspect the infant at least once by touching or sniffing. While all group members participate in infant caretaking, juvenile females which cannot yet menstruate are responsible for the majority of allomothering. The benefit is mutual for the mother and allomother. Mothers that use allomothers are able to shorten their interbirth periods, the time between successive births. At the same time, allomothers gain experience in rearing infants, and had more success in raising their own offspring. Juvenile females discriminate in preference for the infant they choose to allomother, and will usually choose siblings or infants of high-ranking individuals. When a mother allows her juvenile daughter to become an allomother for a newborn sibling, the mother decreases her own investment in the infant, while increasing the chances of successful rearing of her immature daughter.

 

Grandmothers and grandchildren share one-quarter of their genes, so they should be more likely to form affiliative relationships than unrelated members in a group. Not only do infants approach their grandmothers more often than unrelated members, but they also prefer their grandmothers compared to other adult female kin, not including their own mothers. Additional research has shown grandmothers show no preference over the sex of their grandchild. Interest in the grandchild spurred from the rank of the grandmother within a group. Higher-ranking grandmothers showed more interest in caring for their grandchildren when compared to low-ranking grandmothers. The presence of grandmothers has been associated with a decrease in mortality of infants.

 

Spiteful actions are extremely rare in the animal kingdom. Often, there is an indirect benefit to the individual acting 'spiteful' or to a close relative of that individual. Vervet monkeys have been observed to destroy a competitor's food source rather than consume or steal it themselves. While energy is being lost on destroying the food, a competitive advantage is given to the individual due to an increase in competitive gain. This would be pertinent for a male which could be displaced within his group to immigrating males.

 

Female vervets do not have external signs indicating a menstruation period, thus there are not elaborate social behaviors involving reproduction. Typically, a female gives birth once a year, between September to February, after a gestation period of about 165 days. Usually only one infant is born at a time, though twins can occur rarely. A normal infant weighs 300–400 g.

 

The vervet monkey eats a primarily herbivorous diet, living mostly on wild fruits, flowers, leaves, seeds, and seed pods. In agricultural areas, vervets become problem animals, as they will raid bean crops, peas, young tobacco plants, vegetables, fruit, and various grain crops. Carnivorous aspects of their diet include grasshoppers and termites. Raids of cattle egrets and weaver bird nests have been observed where the vervets will eat the eggs and chicks.

 

The vervet monkey ranges throughout much of Southern and East Africa, being found from Ethiopia, Somalia and extreme southern South Sudan, to South Africa. It is not found west of the East African Rift or the Luangwa River, where it is replaced by the closely related malbrouck (C. cynosuros). The vervet monkey inhabits savanna, riverine woodland, coastal forest and mountains up to 4000 m (13,100 ft). They are adaptable and able to persist in secondary and/or highly fragmented vegetation, including cultivated areas, and sometimes are found living in both rural and urban environments. Annual home range size has been observed to be as high as 176 ha with an average population density of 54.68 animals/km².

 

In spite of low predator populations in many areas, human development has encroached on wild territories, and this species is killed by electricity pylons, vehicles, dogs, pellet guns, poison, and bullets, and is trapped for traditional medicine, bush meat, and for biomedical research. The vervet monkey has a complex and fragile social system, and persecution of the monkeys is thought to have affected troop structures and diminishing numbers. Many people living in close proximity to vervet monkey colonies see them as pests as they steal their food. There are heavy fines in some cities to discourage the killing of vervet monkeys.

 

Its status according to the IUCN is "least concern".

 

This species was known in ancient Egypt including the Red Sea Mountains and the Nile Valley. From fresco artworks found in Akrotiri on the Mediterranean island of Santorini there is evidence that the vervet monkey was known to the inhabitants of this settlement around 2000 BC; this fact is most noted for evidence of early contact between Egypt and Akrotiri. Excavations dated to the end of the 1st century AD from Berenike, a Roman-Egyptian port-town on the Red Sea coast, demonstrate that vervet monkeys must have been kept as pets at that time.

 

Introduced vervet monkeys are naturalized in Ascension Island and Cape Verde. Dania Beach, Florida, is home to about 20 introduced vervets.

 

(Wikipedia)

 

St Lucia ist ein Ort im Distrikt uMkhanyakude, östlich des Verwaltungssitzes Mtubatuba der gleichnamigen Gemeinde in der Provinz KwaZulu-Natal von Südafrika. Die Kleinstadt ist ein beliebter Ausgangspunkt für touristische Touren im iSimangaliso-Wetland-Park (ehemals Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park). 2011 hatte die Stadt 1104 Einwohner.

 

St Lucia liegt an der Mündung der Lagune des St.-Lucia-See auf einer schmalen Landzunge, begrenzt durch das St. Lucia Estuary im Westen und den Indischen Ozean im Osten. Der Ort liegt etwa 240 km nördlich von Durban. Die Straßen sind schachbrettförmig angelegt, die Hauptstraße ist die Mackenzie Street, wo sich die meisten Geschäfte und Tourismus-Dienstleister befinden. Zahlreiche Bootsanleger ermöglichen den Tourveranstaltern Ausflüge in die St. Lucia-Lagune und aufs Meer an der Elephant Coast. Weiter im Inland befindet sich das Dorf Khula Village und im Süden schließt sich das Siedlungsgebiet von Mapelana (Maohelane) an. Der iSimangaliso Wetland Park erstreckt sich vom Ort aus noch ca. 10 km weiter nach Süden und ca. 60 km weit nach Norden an der Küste, die hier stark durch Feuchtgebiete gegliedert ist, allen voran die Lagune des Lake St. Lucia, die sich von St Lucia über ca. 30 km nach Norden erstreckt. Im Park befinden sich die höchsten bewachsenen Sanddünen der Welt und als Sehenswürdigkeit auch das Cape Vidal Lighthouse.

 

Im Ort starten zahlreiche Wanderrouten wie iGwalagwala Trail, Emoyeni Trail (63 km), Mziki Trail (40 km).

 

Etwa 20 km südlich des Ortes liegt das Cape St Lucia mit dem Cape St Lucia Lighthouse St. Lucia wurde zuerst 1554 als portugiesisch Rio dos Medos do Ouro (Rio dos Médãos do Ouro, dt. Fluss der Goldenen Dünen) benannt Damals landeten Überlebende des portugiesischen Schiffs São Bento dort an. Zu dieser Zeit hatte nur die Mündung des Tugela River den Namen St. Lucia erhalten. Später, 1575, erhielt der Fluss seinen heutigen Namen. Am 13. Dezember 1575, dem Fest der Heiligen Lucia, benannte Manuel Peresterello das Gebiet um in „Santa Lucia“.

 

1822 wurde St. Lucia von den Briten als Township institutionalisiert. 1895 wurde 30 km nördlich des Ortes das St. Lucia Game Reserve (Jagdreservat) gegründet. im Gebiet von KwaMbonambi.

 

Nach der Köppen-Geiger-Klima-Klassifikation ist das Klima in St Lucia ein humid subtropisches Klima (Ostseitenklima, Cfa).

 

(Wikipedia)

 

Die Südliche Grünmeerkatze (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) ist eine Primatenart aus der Familie der Meerkatzenverwandten (Cercopithecidae). Sie ist eine der sechs Arten, in die die Grünen Meerkatzen in jüngeren Systematiken unterschieden werden.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen erreichen eine Kopfrumpflänge von 40 bis 60 Zentimeter, der Schwanz wird bis zu 70 Zentimeter lang. Ihr Gewicht beträgt 4 bis 6 Kilogramm, wobei die Männchen deutlich größer und schwerer als die Weibchen werden. Das Fell dieser Tiere ist an der Oberseite graugrün gefärbt, die Unterseite ist heller, die Hände und Füße sind schwarz. Auch das Gesicht ist schwarz, es wird von hellen Haaren an den Backen und an der Stirn eingerahmt. Wie bei allen Grünmeerkatzen haben die Männchen leuchtend gefärbte Genitalien: das Skrotum ist blau und der Penis rot.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen sind im östlichen und südlichen Afrika beheimatet. Ihr Verbreitungsgebiet reicht von Äthiopien und Somalia über Kenia und Tansania bis nach Südafrika. Sie kommen in einer Reihe von Habitaten vor, bevorzugen aber offene Wälder und Savannen. Allzu dichte Wälder meiden sie aber ebenso wie völlig baumlose Gebiete. Auch in der Nähe des Menschen können sie sich aufhalten.

 

Diese Primaten sind semiterrestrisch (das heißt, sie halten sich sowohl am Boden wie auch auf den Bäume auf) und wie alle Altweltaffen tagaktiv. Zur Nachtruhe ziehen sie sich auf Bäume zurück. Sie leben in Gruppen von bis zu 50 Tieren, die sich aus mehreren Männchen, vielen Weibchen und den dazugehörigen Jungtieren zusammensetzen. Beide Geschlechter etablieren eine Rangordnung, die beispielsweise beim Zugang zu Nahrungsquellen und bei der Fortpflanzung zum Tragen kommt. Sie kommunizieren miteinander mit einer Reihe von Lauten, Gesten und Körperhaltungen.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen sind Allesfresser, bevorzugen aber Früchte. Daneben verzehren sie auch Blüten, Blätter, junge Triebe, aber auch Insekten, Würmer und andere Kleintiere.

 

Nach einer rund 165-tägigen Tragzeit bringt das Weibchen ein einzelnes Jungtier zur Welt. Dieses wird im zweiten Lebenshalbjahr entwöhnt und mit 2 bis 3 Jahren geschlechtsreif – wenngleich sich Männchen aufgrund des Gruppenverhaltens selten vor dem fünften Lebensjahr fortpflanzen.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen sind weit verbreitet und können sich besser als die meisten Primatenarten auf die Nähe des Menschen einstellen. Sie kommen teilweise auch in Städten vor und dringen in Plantagen ein. Mancherorts werden sie deswegen als Plage betrachtet und verfolgt, hinzu kommt die Bejagung wegen ihres Fleisches. Insgesamt dürfte die Art nicht gefährdet sein, die IUCN listet sie nicht gesondert.

 

(Wikipedia)

1. Yummy.

2. Aids in digestion.

3. Improves vision.

4. Prevents gallstones.

5. Lowers hypertension.

6. Good source of antioxidants.

7. Prevents urinary tract infections.

8. Reduces cholesterol and protects heart function.

9. Counters bad effects of smoking.

10. Reduces oxidative stress of Type 2 Diabetes.

 

Hmmm. Why the Lower Nutrient Supply for Organically-Grown Tomatoes is a Benefit

Organic tomatoes, according to a study carried out by a team of scientists at the University of California, Davis, are produced in an environment that has a lower nutrient supply, since nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers are not added. This leads to excessive formation of antioxidants such as quercetin (79% higher) and kaempferol (97% higher) in organic tomatoes. As we all know, antioxidants are good for health and help in reducing heart diseases. Moreover, chemical-based tomato farming involves spraying tomatoes with large quantities of pesticides and insecticides. Tomatoes are a highly sprayed crop throughout the world. Therefore, many organic food lovers believe that they are protected from chemical contamination when they eat organic tomatoes instead. Of course, organic farming is good for the environment as well.

 

Info Source: Organic Information Services Pvt Ltd.

 

This photo: These tomatoes will be in my belly in about an hour.

  

Had the pleasure of performing Mr. Claus' annual checkup and am pleased to report that he's in great shape for this year's holiday season. If fact, given his age and comorbidites he meets the new blood pressure guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. The new definition of stage 1 hypertension is reduced from 140 to 130 mm Hg systolic and 90 to to 80 mm Hg diastolic as the cut off pressures. Way to go, Santa!

 

- About 111,000 people die every year due to smoking or passive smoking.

- One person dies every 5 minutes from smoking related diseases.

- The NHS spends over four hundred million pounds each year on treating smoking related illnesses.

- Cigarettes and other smoking materials are a very common cause of fires.

- Smoking materials account for almost 240 deaths every year.

- Out of 6,600 fires 40% are caused by smokers - that's 2,640 fires!

 

Smoking Hazards

• Lung cancer

• Lung disease

• Heart attack

• Heart disease

• Hypertension

• Stroke

• Oral cancer

• Bladder cancer

• Pancreatic cancer

• Cervical cancer

• Pregnancy complications

• Low birth weight babies

• Early menopause

• Lower estrogen level for women

• Facial wrinkles

 

Other Problems with Smoking

• Your breath, clothes, hair, skin, and home smell of stale tobacco. You do not notice the smell if you smoke, but to non-smokers the smell is obvious and unpleasant.

• Your sense of taste and smell are dulled. Enjoyment of food may be reduced.

• Smoking is expensive.

• Life insurance is more expensive.

• Finding a job may be more difficult as employers know that smokers are more likely to have sick leave than non-smokers. More than 34 million working days (1% of total) are lost each year because of smoking-related sick leave.

• Potential friendships and romances may be at risk. (Smoking is not the attractive thing that cigarette advertisers portray.)

 

Why do People Start To Smoke?

- The main reasons why the youth begins to start smoking are :

- Peer group pressure, feeling left out while friends smoke and trying to fit in with the crowd.

- Stress at home (think), work, school or in general by getting fed up with things.

- Trying to attract attention, act cool or become popular.

- Calm down nerves (think again).

 

How does Smoking Ruin You?

- Heart Disease - Nicotine raises blood pressure making the heart work harder therefore it needs more oxygen which is cut down by carbon monoxide from getting to the heart. This causes severe heart attacks.

- Lung Cancer - This starts with a smokers cough producing lots of phlegm. Chest infections and bronchitis begins causing the lungs to be destroyed.

 

Giving Up

Over 11 million people have given up smoking in UK and 9 out of 10 gave up on their own without medical help. Over half of these people found it easy whether they were light or heavy smokers. This is just one example of how people have given up smoking in the past, if you smoke, then this might work for you.

 

Prepare Yourself

Think about when you are most likely to smoke. Try and keep yourself occupied at these times with something else and change your routines for a while.

 

Pick A Day

Pick a certain day for giving up when you will not be under stress and stick to that day.

 

Stop

Give up on your chosen day and avoid even thinking about smoking.

 

Stay stopped

Continue one day at time, treat yourself to other things with the money you would have used on cigarettes and see how much better and worth it, it is . Each day without a cigarette is a success.

 

Advantages to Giving Up

There are obviously many advantages to giving up smoking and a few of them are listed. For example :

 

- Having given up you will be free from pollution of tar, carbon monoxide and many other poisons.

- You will smell much more fresher and feel more fitter.

- You will be free from worry about damaging your health .

- you will also have extra money to spend on something more worthwhile..

- You will become more popular with a lot more people.

 

Disadvantages to Giving Up

NONE

 

Timeline of health benefits after stopping smoking...

 

After...

72-hours Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase

1-month Skin appearance improves owing to improved skin perfusion

3–9 months Cough, wheezing, and breathing problems improve and lung function increases by up to 10%

1-year Risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker

10-years Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker

15-years Risk of heart attack falls to the same level as someone who has never smoked

 

Other benefits of stopping smoking include the following:.

 

• Chest infections and colds become less frequent.

• The smell of stale tobacco goes from your breath, clothes, hair, and face.

• Foods and drinks taste and smell much better.

• Finances improve. You will save well over £1000 per year if you smoked 20 a day.

• You are likely to feel good about yourself.

  

Please stop smoking. Please...

Vervet monkey

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatze

 

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.

 

To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

 

The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere an area designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").

 

The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.

 

(Wikipedia)

 

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. Vervets were introduced to Florida, St. Kitts, and Cape Verde. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in body length from about 50 centimetres (20 in) for males to about 40 centimetres (16 in) for females.

 

In addition to behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males moving to other groups at the time of sexual maturity. The most significant studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition and particular predator sightings.

 

The vervet monkey very much resembles a gray langur, having a black face with a white fringe of hair, while the overall hair color is mostly grizzled-grey. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; the males are larger in weight and body length. Adult males weigh between 3.9 and 8.0 kg (8.6 and 17.6 lb), averaging 5.5 kg (12 lb), and have a body length between 420 and 600 mm (17 and 24 in), averaging 490 mm (19 in) from the top of the head to the base of the tail. Adult females weigh between 3.4 and 5.3 kg (7.5 and 11.7 lb) and average 4.1 kg (9.0 lb), and measure between 300 and 495 mm (11.8 and 19.5 in), averaging 426 mm (16.8 in).

 

When males reach sexual maturity, they move to a neighboring group. Often, males will move with a brother or peer, presumably for protection against aggression by males and females of the resident group. Groups that had previously transferred males show significantly less aggression upon the arrival of another male. In almost every case, males migrate to adjacent groups. This obviously increases benefits in regard to distance traveled, but also reduces the amount of genetic variance, increasing the likelihood of inbreeding.

 

Females remain in their groups throughout life. Separate dominance hierarchies are found for each sex. Male hierarchies are determined by age, tenure in the group, fighting abilities, and allies, while female hierarchies are dependent on maternal social status. A large proportion of interactions occur between individuals which are similarly ranked and closely related. Between unrelated individuals, there is female competition for grooming members of high-ranking families, presumably to gain more access to resources. These observations suggest individual recognition is possible and enables discrimination of genetic relatedness and social status. Interactions between different groups are variable, ranging from highly aggressive to friendly. Furthermore, individuals seem to be able to recognize cross-group vocalizations, and identify from and to which monkey each call is intended, even if the call is made by a subadult male which is likely to transfer groups. This suggests the members within a group are actively monitoring the activity of other groups, including the movement of individuals within a group.

 

Vervet monkeys have four confirmed predators: leopards, eagles, pythons, and baboons. The sighting of each predator elicits an acoustically distinct alarm call. As infants vervets learn to make the variety of calls from observation alone, without explicit tutelage. In experimentation with unreliable signalers, individuals became habituated to incorrect calls from a specific individual. Though the response was lessened for a specific predator, if an unreliable individual gives an alarm call for a different predator, group members respond as if the alarm caller is, in fact, reliable. This suggests vervet monkeys are able to recognize and to respond to not only the individual calling, but also to the semantics of what the individual is communicating. It is believed that vervet monkeys have up to 30 different alarm calls. In the wild vervet monkeys have been seen giving a different call when seeing a human being approaching, leading researchers to believe that vervet monkeys may have a way of distinguishing between different land and flight predators.

 

Mothers can recognize their offspring by a scream alone. A juvenile scream will elicit a reaction from all mothers, yet the juvenile's own mother had a shorter latency in looking in the direction of the scream, as well as an increased duration in her look. Further, mothers have been observed to help their offspring in conflict, yet rarely aided other juveniles. Other mothers evidently can determine to which mother the offspring belongs. Individuals have been observed to look towards the mother whose offspring is creating the scream.

 

Siblings likely provide the prevailing social relationships during development. Within social groups, mother-offspring and sibling interactive units are distinct groups. The sibling interaction are heavily supportive and friendly, but do have some competition. Contests primarily involve postweaning resource allocation by the common mother. For example, siblings have conflict over grooming time allocated by their mother. Offspring are usually not born in extremely close proximity due to the interbirth period of the mother. This time can be reduced by use of an allomother. The clarity of the familial and sibships within a group may act as a form of alliance, which would come at relatively low cost in regards to grooming. Other alliances are shown through conflict with aggressive individuals that have acted against a closely related sibling.

 

Allomothering is the process when another individual besides the mother cares for an infant. In groups of vervet monkeys, infants are the source of a tremendous amount of attention. Days after an infant is born, every member of the group will inspect the infant at least once by touching or sniffing. While all group members participate in infant caretaking, juvenile females which cannot yet menstruate are responsible for the majority of allomothering. The benefit is mutual for the mother and allomother. Mothers that use allomothers are able to shorten their interbirth periods, the time between successive births. At the same time, allomothers gain experience in rearing infants, and had more success in raising their own offspring. Juvenile females discriminate in preference for the infant they choose to allomother, and will usually choose siblings or infants of high-ranking individuals. When a mother allows her juvenile daughter to become an allomother for a newborn sibling, the mother decreases her own investment in the infant, while increasing the chances of successful rearing of her immature daughter.

 

Grandmothers and grandchildren share one-quarter of their genes, so they should be more likely to form affiliative relationships than unrelated members in a group. Not only do infants approach their grandmothers more often than unrelated members, but they also prefer their grandmothers compared to other adult female kin, not including their own mothers. Additional research has shown grandmothers show no preference over the sex of their grandchild. Interest in the grandchild spurred from the rank of the grandmother within a group. Higher-ranking grandmothers showed more interest in caring for their grandchildren when compared to low-ranking grandmothers. The presence of grandmothers has been associated with a decrease in mortality of infants.

 

Spiteful actions are extremely rare in the animal kingdom. Often, there is an indirect benefit to the individual acting 'spiteful' or to a close relative of that individual. Vervet monkeys have been observed to destroy a competitor's food source rather than consume or steal it themselves. While energy is being lost on destroying the food, a competitive advantage is given to the individual due to an increase in competitive gain. This would be pertinent for a male which could be displaced within his group to immigrating males.

 

Female vervets do not have external signs indicating a menstruation period, thus there are not elaborate social behaviors involving reproduction. Typically, a female gives birth once a year, between September to February, after a gestation period of about 165 days. Usually only one infant is born at a time, though twins can occur rarely. A normal infant weighs 300–400 g.

 

The vervet monkey eats a primarily herbivorous diet, living mostly on wild fruits, flowers, leaves, seeds, and seed pods. In agricultural areas, vervets become problem animals, as they will raid bean crops, peas, young tobacco plants, vegetables, fruit, and various grain crops. Carnivorous aspects of their diet include grasshoppers and termites. Raids of cattle egrets and weaver bird nests have been observed where the vervets will eat the eggs and chicks.

 

The vervet monkey ranges throughout much of Southern and East Africa, being found from Ethiopia, Somalia and extreme southern South Sudan, to South Africa. It is not found west of the East African Rift or the Luangwa River, where it is replaced by the closely related malbrouck (C. cynosuros). The vervet monkey inhabits savanna, riverine woodland, coastal forest and mountains up to 4000 m (13,100 ft). They are adaptable and able to persist in secondary and/or highly fragmented vegetation, including cultivated areas, and sometimes are found living in both rural and urban environments. Annual home range size has been observed to be as high as 176 ha with an average population density of 54.68 animals/km².

 

In spite of low predator populations in many areas, human development has encroached on wild territories, and this species is killed by electricity pylons, vehicles, dogs, pellet guns, poison, and bullets, and is trapped for traditional medicine, bush meat, and for biomedical research. The vervet monkey has a complex and fragile social system, and persecution of the monkeys is thought to have affected troop structures and diminishing numbers. Many people living in close proximity to vervet monkey colonies see them as pests as they steal their food. There are heavy fines in some cities to discourage the killing of vervet monkeys.

 

Its status according to the IUCN is "least concern".

 

This species was known in ancient Egypt including the Red Sea Mountains and the Nile Valley. From fresco artworks found in Akrotiri on the Mediterranean island of Santorini there is evidence that the vervet monkey was known to the inhabitants of this settlement around 2000 BC; this fact is most noted for evidence of early contact between Egypt and Akrotiri. Excavations dated to the end of the 1st century AD from Berenike, a Roman-Egyptian port-town on the Red Sea coast, demonstrate that vervet monkeys must have been kept as pets at that time.

 

Introduced vervet monkeys are naturalized in Ascension Island and Cape Verde. Dania Beach, Florida, is home to about 20 introduced vervets.

 

(Wikipedia)

 

Der Kruger-Nationalpark (deutsch häufig falsch Krüger-Nationalpark) ist das größte Wildschutzgebiet Südafrikas. Er liegt im Nordosten des Landes in der Landschaft des Lowveld auf dem Gebiet der Provinz Limpopo sowie des östlichen Abschnitts von Mpumalanga. Seine Fläche erstreckt sich vom Crocodile-River im Süden bis zum Limpopo, dem Grenzfluss zu Simbabwe, im Norden. Die Nord-Süd-Ausdehnung beträgt etwa 350 km, in Ost-West-Richtung ist der Park durchschnittlich 54 km breit und umfasst eine Fläche von rund 20.000 Quadratkilometern. Damit gehört er zu den größten Nationalparks in Afrika.

 

Das Schutzgebiet wurde am 26. März 1898 unter dem Präsidenten Paul Kruger als Sabie Game Reserve zum Schutz der Wildnis gegründet. 1926 erhielt das Gebiet den Status Nationalpark und wurde in seinen heutigen Namen umbenannt. Im Park leben 147 Säugetierarten inklusive der „Big Five“, außerdem etwa 507 Vogelarten und 114 Reptilienarten, 49 Fischarten und 34 Amphibienarten.

 

(Wikipedia)

 

Die Südliche Grünmeerkatze (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) ist eine Primatenart aus der Familie der Meerkatzenverwandten (Cercopithecidae). Sie ist eine der sechs Arten, in die die Grünen Meerkatzen in jüngeren Systematiken unterschieden werden.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen erreichen eine Kopfrumpflänge von 40 bis 60 Zentimeter, der Schwanz wird bis zu 70 Zentimeter lang. Ihr Gewicht beträgt 4 bis 6 Kilogramm, wobei die Männchen deutlich größer und schwerer als die Weibchen werden. Das Fell dieser Tiere ist an der Oberseite graugrün gefärbt, die Unterseite ist heller, die Hände und Füße sind schwarz. Auch das Gesicht ist schwarz, es wird von hellen Haaren an den Backen und an der Stirn eingerahmt. Wie bei allen Grünmeerkatzen haben die Männchen leuchtend gefärbte Genitalien: das Skrotum ist blau und der Penis rot.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen sind im östlichen und südlichen Afrika beheimatet. Ihr Verbreitungsgebiet reicht von Äthiopien und Somalia über Kenia und Tansania bis nach Südafrika. Sie kommen in einer Reihe von Habitaten vor, bevorzugen aber offene Wälder und Savannen. Allzu dichte Wälder meiden sie aber ebenso wie völlig baumlose Gebiete. Auch in der Nähe des Menschen können sie sich aufhalten.

 

Diese Primaten sind semiterrestrisch (das heißt, sie halten sich sowohl am Boden wie auch auf den Bäume auf) und wie alle Altweltaffen tagaktiv. Zur Nachtruhe ziehen sie sich auf Bäume zurück. Sie leben in Gruppen von bis zu 50 Tieren, die sich aus mehreren Männchen, vielen Weibchen und den dazugehörigen Jungtieren zusammensetzen. Beide Geschlechter etablieren eine Rangordnung, die beispielsweise beim Zugang zu Nahrungsquellen und bei der Fortpflanzung zum Tragen kommt. Sie kommunizieren miteinander mit einer Reihe von Lauten, Gesten und Körperhaltungen.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen sind Allesfresser, bevorzugen aber Früchte. Daneben verzehren sie auch Blüten, Blätter, junge Triebe, aber auch Insekten, Würmer und andere Kleintiere.

 

Nach einer rund 165-tägigen Tragzeit bringt das Weibchen ein einzelnes Jungtier zur Welt. Dieses wird im zweiten Lebenshalbjahr entwöhnt und mit 2 bis 3 Jahren geschlechtsreif – wenngleich sich Männchen aufgrund des Gruppenverhaltens selten vor dem fünften Lebensjahr fortpflanzen.

 

Südliche Grünmeerkatzen sind weit verbreitet und können sich besser als die meisten Primatenarten auf die Nähe des Menschen einstellen. Sie kommen teilweise auch in Städten vor und dringen in Plantagen ein. Mancherorts werden sie deswegen als Plage betrachtet und verfolgt, hinzu kommt die Bejagung wegen ihres Fleisches. Insgesamt dürfte die Art nicht gefährdet sein, die IUCN listet sie nicht gesondert.

 

(Wikipedia)

Edibility / Nutrition

- Young shoots are edible.

- In the Bicol area, leaves are cooked in gata (coconut milk).

- Study has shown leaves lubi-lubi leaves as potential flavoring in the preparation of enriched lubi-lubi noodles. (see study below). (15)

Folkloric

- Leaf concoction used for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, kidney stones, and high cholesterol.

  

source: staurt x change

Salon visitor at home: 'Home comforts make all the difference, thank you!'

( Image owned by the account holder)

 

{Hairdressing services for people in rehabilitation and long term care. Did you know that ‘neck hypertension’ is a cause of strokes in the elderly? This simply means that bending can be harmful when trying to shampoo the client. For this reason ensure that a light and flexible shampoo tray is attached to the head, with proper support, so that the neck is not strained. As shampoo and water are applied, care must be taken to avoid twisting the head so that the client is comfortable and protected at all times. With good control and care, there will be less mess. A hair wash system with a stand can be purchased to assist the client to stay upright and safe at all times.}

ISS047e134605 (05/30/2016) --- ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Tim Peake uses hardware for the Vascular Echo experiment. As humans get older on Earth, arteries stiffen and this causes an increase in blood pressure (hypertension) and elevates the risk for cardiovascular disease. Recently, it has been observed that some crew members returning from the International Space Station (ISS) have much stiffer arteries than when they went into space. The results from studying these changes could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain crew member health, and quality of life for everyone.

Folkloric

- Leaf decoction used for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, kidney stones, and high cholesterol.

 

source: stuart xchange

As is known, garlic, composed mainly of water and carbohydrates, prevent hypertension, diabetes and is used to combat digestive and cardiovascular disease. In addition, garlic has no contraindications and toxicity is very low.

Jean de las Cachenas

  

im sure Jean has died.

 

He had Diabetes, hypertension, and the worst disease of all

...............Poverty!

 

He came from Haiti to earn 1-2 dollars a day cutting cane in the boiling sun.

and he did so for many decades .

 

Drank cheap rum his whole life

im sure to fight his inner demons

and to get to sleep in the horrible heat.

  

He resided here a while in this 5 star hotel with swimming pool and 24 hour doormen.

 

The bateyes that surround San Pedro de Macoris ( home of many famous baseball players ) are full of Haitian expats who reside in squalor and painfully suffer their whole lives uneducated, jobless, infirm

 

the gamut of what impoverishment has to offer.

 

Jean is invisible to the outside world.

 

Im glad i met him.

 

Much can be learned from the poor, the humble, the forgotten, the weak, the less fortunate.

for

they are strong

they tolerate adversity like no other can

 

they should be honored....

their poverty is not their fault.

 

but no flags will fly half staff for

 

Jean de las Cachenas

SPM

 

Photography’s new conscience

linktr.ee/GlennLosack

linktr.ee/GlennLosack

  

glosack.wixsite.com/tbws

 

Nearly everyone has had headache pain, and most of us have had it many times. A minor headache is little more than a nuisance that's relieved by an over-the-counter pain reliever, some food or coffee, or a short rest. But if your headache is severe or unusual, you might worry about stroke, a tumor, or a blood clot. Fortunately, such problems are rare. Still, you should know when a headache needs urgent care and how to control the vast majority of headaches that are not threatening to your health.

 

What causes headaches?

 

Doctors don't fully understand what causes most headaches. They do know that the brain tissue and the skull are never responsible since they don't have nerves that register pain. But the blood vessels in the head and neck can signal pain, as can the tissues that surround the brain and some major nerves that originate in the brain. The scalp, sinuses, teeth, and muscles and joints of the neck can also cause head pain.

 

When to worry about a headache

 

You can take care of many types of headaches by yourself, and your doctor can give you medication to control most of the tougher headaches. But some headaches call for prompt medical care. Here are some warning signs for when you should worry about headaches:

 

Headaches that first develop after age 50

A major change in the pattern of your headaches

An unusually severe headache

Head pain that increases with coughing or movement

Headaches that get steadily worse

Changes in personality or mental function

Headaches that are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, decreased alertness or memory, or neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures

Headaches that are accompanied by a painful red eye

Headaches that are accompanied by pain and tenderness near the temples

Headaches after a blow to the head

Headaches that prevent normal daily activities

Headaches that come on abruptly, especially if they wake you up

Headaches in patients with cancer or impaired immune systems

Types of headaches

 

There are more than 300 types of headaches, but only about 10% of headaches have a known cause. The others are called primary headaches. Here is a rundown on some major primary headaches.

 

Tension headaches

 

Occurring in about three of every four adults, tension headaches are the most common of all headaches. In most cases, they are mild to moderate in severity and occur infrequently. But a few people get severe tension headaches, and some are troubled by them for three or four times a week.

 

The typical tension headache produces a dull, squeezing pain on both sides of the head. People with strong tension headaches may feel like their head is in a vise. The shoulders and neck can also ache. Some tension headaches are triggered by fatigue, emotional stress, or problems involving the muscles or joints of the neck or jaw. Most last for 20 minutes to two hours.

 

If you get occasional tension-type headaches, you can take care of them yourself. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, other brands) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, other brands), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, other brands) often do the trick, but follow the directions on the label, and never take more than you should. A heating pad or warm shower may help; some people feel better with a short nap or light snack.

 

You can live free of headache pain!

Check out Harvard Medical School 's guide to relieving and preventing migraines and other headaches

Click here to learn more

 

If you get frequent tension-type headaches, try to identify triggers so you can avoid them. Don't get overtired or skip meals. Learn relaxation techniques; yoga is particularly helpful because it can relax both your mind and your neck muscles. If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, a bite plate may help.

 

If you need more help, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication or a muscle relaxant to control headache pain. Many people with recurrent tension-type headaches can prevent attacks by taking a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, generic). Fortunately, most people with tension-type headaches will do very well with simpler programs.

 

Migraine

 

Migraines occur less often than tension headaches, but they are usually much more severe. They are two to three times more common in women than men, but that's small consolation if you are among the 6% to 8% of all men who have migraines. And since a Harvard study of 20,084 men age 40 to 84 reported that having migraines boosts the risk of heart attacks by 42%, men with migraines should take their headaches to heart.

 

Neurologists believe that migraines are caused by changes in the brain's blood flow and nerve cell activity. Genetics play a role since 70% of migraine victims have at least one close relative with the problem.

 

Migraine triggers. Although a migraine can come on without warning, it is often set off by a trigger. The things that set off a migraine vary from person to person, but a migraine sufferer usually remains sensitive to the same triggers. The table lists some of the most common ones.

 

Major migraine triggers

 

Changing weather: rising humidity, heat

Lack of sleep or oversleeping

Fatigue

Emotional stress

Sensory triggers: bright or flickering lights, loud noises, strong smells

Dietary triggers:

missing a meal

alcohol, especially red wine

chocolate

nitrates in cured meats and fish

aged cheese

an increase or decrease in caffeine

MSG (often present in Asian and prepared foods)

Migraine symptoms. Migraines often begin in the evening or during sleep. In some people, the attacks are preceded by several hours of fatigue, depression, and sluggishness or by irritability and restlessness. Because migraine symptoms vary widely, at least half of all migraine sufferers think they have sinus or tension headaches, not migraines.

 

About 20% of migraines begin with one or more neurological symptoms called an aura. Visual complaints are most common. They may include halos, sparkles or flashing lights, wavy lines, and even temporary loss of vision. The aura may also produce numbness or tingling on one side of the body, especially the face or hand. Some patients develop aura symptoms without getting headaches; they often think they are having a stroke, not a migraine.

 

The majority of migraines develop without an aura. In typical cases, the pain is on one side of the head, often beginning around the eye and temple before spreading to the back of the head. The pain is frequently severe and is described as throbbing or pulsating. Nausea is common, and many migraine patients have a watering eye, a running nose, or congestion. If these symptoms are prominent, they may lead to a misdiagnosis of sinus headaches. One way to remember the features of migraine is to use the word POUND

 

P is for pulsating pain

O for one-day duration of severe untreated attacks

U for unilateral (one-sided) pain

N for nausea and vomiting

D for disabling intensity.

 

Without effective treatment, migraine attacks usually last for four to 24 hours. When you're suffering a migraine, even four hours is far too long — and that's why early treatment for a migraine is so important.

 

Migraine treatment. If you spot a migraine in its very earliest stages, you may be able to control it with nonprescription pain relievers. Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and a combination of pain medications and caffeine are all effective — if you take a full dose very early in the attack. The anti-nausea drug metoclopramide (Reglan) may enhance the activity of NSAIDs.

 

When prescription drugs are needed, most doctors turn to the triptans, which are available as tablets, nasal sprays, or as injections that patients can learn to give to themselves. Examples include sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and rizatriptan (Maxalt). Triptans provide complete relief within two hours for up to 70% of patients; the response is best if treatment is started early. Some patients require a second dose within 12 to 24 hours. Because the triptans can affect blood flow to the heart as well as the head, patients with cardiovascular disease should not use them. Patients who take antidepressants in the SSRI family should also avoid triptans.

 

Work with your doctor to find the migraine treatment that works best for you. Remember, though, that overuse can lead to rebound headaches and a vicious cycle of drugs and headaches. So, if you need treatment more than two or three times a week, consider preventive medications.

 

Migraine prevention. Some people can prevent migraines simply by avoiding triggers. Others do well with prompt therapy for occasional attacks. But patients who suffer frequent migraine attacks often benefit from preventive medications. Effective prescription drugs include beta blockers (such as propranolol, nadolol and atenolol), certain antidepressants (such as amitriptyline), and certain antiseizure medications (such topiramate and valproate). Difficult cases may benefit from referral to a headache specialist.

 

Cluster headaches

 

Cluster headaches are uncommon but very severe headaches, and they occur five times more often in men than women. Although anyone can get cluster headaches, the typical patient is a middle-aged man with a history of smoking.

 

The problem gets its name because the headaches tend to come in clusters, with one to eight headaches a day during a one- to three-month period every year or two, often at the same time of year. The pain always strikes one side of the head and is very severe. The eye on the painful side is red and watery, the eyelid may droop, and the nose runs or is blocked. The attack starts abruptly and lasts for 30 to 60 minutes. Most sufferers become restless and agitated during the attack; unable to sit still, they pace, jog in place, or beat their head against a wall. Nausea and sensitivity to light and sound may accompany the pain.

 

Inhaling high flow oxygen soon after the onset of the headache can often stop the attack. Sumatriptan is often effective for cluster headaches, particularly when given by injection. Other triptans may also help. Some patients favor lidocaine nose drops, dihydroergotamine injections, or other treatments. The most effective medication for preventing cluster headache attacks is verapamil, a calcium-channel blocker. Other drugs that may help include divalproex, topiramate, and lithium.

 

Other types of headaches

 

Doctors have diagnosed hundreds of conditions associated with headaches. Here are just a few:

 

Medication headaches. Many drugs number headaches among their side effects. And although it seems paradoxical, many medications used to treat headaches can also cause medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches. Migraine sufferers are particularly vulnerable to a vicious cycle of pain leading to more medication, which triggers more pain. If you have frequent headaches and use medication, OTC or prescription, or both, for more than 10 to 15 days a month, you may have medication overuse headaches. The way to find out is to discontinue or taper your medication — but always consult your doctor first. A corticosteroid such as prednisone may help control pain during the withdrawal period.

 

Sinus headaches. Acute sinusitis causes pain over the forehead, around the nose and eyes, over the cheeks, or in the upper teeth. Stooping forward increases the pain. Thick nasal discharge, congestion, and fever pinpoint the problem to the sinuses. When the acute infection resolves, the pain disappears. Sinusitis is not a common cause of chronic or recurrent headaches.

 

Ice cream headaches. Some people develop sharp, sudden headache pain when they eat anything cold. The pain is over in less than a minute, even if you keep eating. If you are bothered by ice cream headaches, try eating slowly and warming the cold food at the front of your mouth before you swallow it.

 

Headache from high blood pressure. Except in cases of very high blood pressure, hypertension does not cause headaches. In fact, most people with high blood pressure don't[h1] have any symptoms at all, and a study of 51,234 people reported that hypertension was associated with a reduced incidence of headaches. But that's no reason to neglect your blood pressure. Hypertension leads to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and kidney disease, so all men should have their pressure checked, and then take steps to correct abnormalities.

 

Headache from exercise and sex. Sudden, strenuous exercise can bring on a headache. Gradual warm-ups or treatment with an anti-inflammatory medication before exercise can help. Sexual intercourse may also trigger headaches; some men note only dull pain, but others suffer from severe attacks called orgasmic headaches. Some people can prevent orgasmic headaches by taking an NSAID 30 to 60 minutes before intercourse.

 

Headache testing

 

Modern medicine depends on tests to diagnose many problems. For most headaches, though, a good old-fashioned history and physical will do the job. In fact, CT scans, MRIs, and EEGs (brain wave tests) look normal in tension-type headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Still, these tests can be vital in patients with warning signs or other worrisome headaches.

 

Living with constant headaches

 

For most of us, an occasional headache is nothing more than a temporary speed bump in the course of a busy day. Even so, most men can ease the problem with simple lifestyle measures and nonprescription medications. Relaxation techniques, biofeedback, yoga, and acupuncture may also help. But for some of us, headaches are a big problem. Learn to recognize warning signs that call for prompt medical care. Work with your doctor to develop a program to prevent and treat migraines and other serious headaches. And don't fall into the trap of overusing medications; for some gents, rebound headaches are the biggest pain of all.

  

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

 

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