Sabtu, 23 Agustus 2008

What This??????????...........Children of the Gulf War

Fadel, 7 years old, came from Basra, South of Iraq. Depleted uranium, with it metal toxicity and radiation, has damaged her liver and kidneys. A needle was injected into her body to draw out the abdominal dropsy. She died soon after the painful injection.






Juwad has lost 550g in four months since his birth. His parents were unable to buy milk for him. He suffered from heavy diarrhea due to malnutrition. The hospital had almost no antibiotics available. Babies with low resistance are highly susceptible to infectious disease. Many fail to escape death.






Baby born with anencephaly (without a skull). His shocked mother disappeared from the hospital.










PLISS STOP
THE WAR
????????????????????????????





All photos are copyrighted © by Takashi Morizumi.

ANENCEPHALY


I got this picture when I studied in medical UKI..... This is an infant without cranium bone.... My teacher knew about that situation from USG when that woman came for ante natal care... Age of pregnant about 20 weeks..... I saved this picture on hp....
What is Anencephaly?
Anencephaly is a defect in the closure of the neural tube during fetal development. The neural tube is a narrow channel that folds and closes between the 3rd and 4th weeks of pregnancy to form the brain and spinal cord of the embryo. Anencephaly occurs when the "cephalic" or head end of the neural tube fails to close, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Infants with this disorder are born without a forebrain (the front part of the brain) and a cerebrum (the thinking and coordinating part of the brain). The remaining brain tissue is often exposed--not covered by bone or skin. A baby born with anencephaly is usually blind, deaf, unconscious, and unable to feel pain. Although some individuals with anencephaly may be born with a rudimentary brain stem, the lack of a functioning cerebrum permanently rules out the possibility of ever gaining consciousness. Reflex actions such as breathing and responses to sound or touch may occur.
The cause of anencephaly is unknown. Although it is thought that a mother's diet and vitamin intake may play a role, scientists believe that many other factors are also involved.
Recent studies have shown that the addition of folic acid (vitamin B9) to the diet of women of childbearing age may significantly reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Therefore it is recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 0.4 mg of folic acid daily.
Is there any treatment?
There is no cure or standard treatment for anencephaly. Treatment is supportive.
What is the prognosis?
The prognosis for babies born with anencephaly is extremely poor. If the infant is not stillborn, then he or she will usually die within a few hours or days after birth.
What research is being done?
Research supported by the NINDS includes studies to understand how the brain and nervous system normally develop. These studies contribute to a greater understanding of neural tube disorders, such as anencephaly, and open promising new avenues to treat and prevent neurological birth defects.
Reviewed by: Jeffri tobing, MD
Date Reviewed: August, 2008

CATARACTS

What Are Cataracts?
In your eye you have a lens, which is normally clear like a window that has just been cleaned. If that lens gets cloudy, it's called a cataract (say: kah-tuh-rakt). Like a dirty window, a cloudy lens makes it difficult to see well. The person can still see, but it's blurry.
The lens in your eye is made of protein and water. But as people get older, sometimes proteins in the lens stick together and cause cloudiness, or cataracts. At first, a person who has a cataract may not notice any difference in the way he or she sees. But over time, the person may find it harder to read and do other normal tasks. In fact, "cataract" means waterfall in Latin. Why? Because, if you have one, it can be like seeing through a waterfall.
Cataracts almost always happen to people who are older than 50. This is the type of cataract Jake's grandmother has. No need to worry - cataracts aren't contagious, which means you can't get cataracts from someone who has them.
Rarely, kids are born with cataracts or develop them while they are babies. When kids are born with cataracts, it may be because they inherited the cataracts (through their genes) or got them when they were still developing inside their mom before being born. Whether the person is young or old, cataract surgery usually solves the problem.
What Does the Doctor Do?
If a person has vision trouble, he or she should see an eye doctor. The doctor can test the person's vision and examine the eyes. When a cataract first forms, a person may be able to see better by using stronger lighting and wearing glasses. Eventually, though, surgery may become necessary.
During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a new plastic lens that a
person can easily see through. After the surgery, a person may be able to see better, or it may take a while for the person's vision to improve. After surgery, the person will have to do a few special things, like take eyedrops.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. More than 1 million surgeries are done every year. That's a lot of eyes!
Why Do People Get Cataracts?
Like wrinkles on a person's skin, cataracts go along with getting older. Cataracts might happen to someone who's 50 or they might not happen until someone is 70. Certain factors make it more likely someone will develop cataracts. Some are difficult to avoid, such as having diabetes and taking certain medications.
But kids and adults can do something about other risk factors, such as smoking, poor nutrition, eye injuries, and unprotected exposure to the sun. In other words, don't smoke, eat healthy, protect your eyes from injury, and wear your sunglasses!
Updated and reviewed by: Jeffri Tobing, MD
Date reviewed: August, 2008

EPILEPSY

Ex: CT Scan Pict of Epilepsy





Epilepsy is a general term used for a group of disorders that cause disturbances in electrical signaling in the brain. Like an office building or a computer, the brain is a highly complex electrical system, powered by roughly 80 pulses of energy per second. These pulses move back and forth between nerve cells to produce thoughts, feelings, and memories.



An epileptic seizure occurs when these energy pulses come much more rapidly-as many as 500 per second for a short time-due to an electrical abnormality in the brain. This brief electrical surge can happen in just a small area of the brain, or it can affect the whole brain. Depending on the part of the brain that is affected, the surge of electrical energy can cause:
- Changes in a person's sensations or state of consciousness.
- Uncontrolled movements of certain parts of the body or of the whole body.


These changes are known as an epileptic seizure.
-Epilepsy is also known as a seizure disorder because the tendency is to have recurrent seizures.
-Epileptic seizures vary in severity and frequency, and even in the time of day they occur.
-While some people may experience no more than two or three seizures during their entire lifetime, others will have several seizures in one day.




Does Everyone Who Has A Seizure Have Epilepsy?

A seizure is a symptom of epilepsy, but not all seizures are caused by epilepsy.

A seizure not related to epilepsy can be caused by a reaction to:
- A drug
- A high fever
- A severe head injury
- Other disorders such diabetes, some heart conditions, and narcolepsy , among others.
Sometimes people have a single seizure for which no cause can ever be found.



Several conditions or behaviors mimic epilepsy but are not epilepsy.
- Epilepsy is not a fainting disorder.
- Epilepsy cannot be caused by holding the breath. Some children act out by holding their breath until they faint. This is not epilepsy.
- Epilepsy is not momentary confusion, forgetfulness, or a lack of concentration.
- Epilepsy is not catatonia, a specific type of schizophrenia characterized by stupor and bizarre movements.



Epilepsy is not contagious. A tendency toward epilepsy may be inherited, but it cannot be caught like a cold from another person.



Nice to Know:
Q. Is epilepsy a mental illness?



A. Epilepsy is not a form of mental illness and it does not cause mental illness.


Q. Is epilepsy a sign of reduced intelligence?


A. Epilepsy is not an indicator of intelligence.

Epilepsy affects people of average intelligence as well as those above and below average. Some people with mental retardation may have epilepsy, but most people with epilepsy are not mentally retarded.



More than a few people known for their intelligence have had epilepsy, most notably Julius Caesar and Napoleon, Charles Dickens and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Socrates and Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite and creator of the Nobel Prize.



What Brings On An Epileptic Seizure?


Seizures can be sparked by a variety of stimuli, including:
- Lights that flash at a certain speed
- The flicker of a television screen or TV monitor
- A sudden loud noise or repetitive sounds
- Alcohol consumption
- Cigarette smoking
- Stress
- Headache
- Menstruation
- Lack of sleep
- Having a bad day
- Some people with epilepsy have seizures only during their sleep.



Sexual activity does not trigger seizures.



But seizures can also occur seemingly for no reason at all.



Need to Know:
Can Epilepsy Be Life-threatening?
Epilepsy can be dangerous, particularly if a condition called status epilepticus occurs. This is a serious situation in which a person has prolonged seizures or does not fully regain consciousness between seizures.


Some doctors define status epilepticus as a seizure that lasts for more than five minutes. More conservative doctors define the condition as a seizure lasting 10 or even 30 minutes. Without emergency attention, this condition can cause permanent brain damage or be fatal.





Hence the importance of taking the medication prescribed.

- About a third of status epilepticus events are triggered when a person stops taking antiepileptic medication.
- Status epilepticus can by triggered by sudden withdrawal of certain antiepileptic drugs.
- About a third of the time, it is the first sign of a seizure disorder. It can also follow stroke, poisoning, high fever, or low blood sugar in people with diabetes.

Status epilepticus affects over 100,000 people in the United States each year and causes about 50,000 deaths.



Facts About Epilepsy:
-
About two million people in the United States have epilepsy or have had a seizure at some point in their lives.
- About 75% of people with epilepsy had their first seizures in childhood.
- Epilepsy was first mentioned more than 3,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. It was thought to be an attack by demons or gods.
- The Greek physician Hippocrates first suggested, about 400 BCE, that epilepsy was a disorder of the brain.
- Bromides were the first drugs to be used effectively against epilepsy. Their use was introduced in 1857 by Charles Locock.
- More than 30 different types of seizures have been described. Some researchers have estimated that as many as 500 different genes could be linked to epilepsy.

Reviewed by: Jeffri Tobing, MD
Date Reviewed: August, 2008

BREAST CANCER

You may have heard about special events, like walks or races, to raise money for breast cancer research. Or maybe you've seen people wear those little pink ribbons on their clothes.


Breast (say: brest) cancer is a common cancer among women. It occurs rarely in men and it doesn't affect kids. But kids might want to learn about it because they know someone who has it or because they want to learn how to check for it when they are older.


What Is Breast Cancer?


The human body is made of tiny building blocks called cells. Your body creates them, replacing those that die with new ones. Usually, the body creates healthy, normal cells that do just what they're supposed to do. This includes cells in the breasts, the two rounded areas on the front of the chest.


But if a cell changes into an abnormal, sometimes harmful form, it can divide quickly over and over again without dying, making many, many copies of itself. When this happens, a tumor, abnormal body cells grouped together in the form of a mass or lump, can start to form and grow.


Breast cancer is a kind of tumor that develops in the cells of a person's breast. You may think that only women can get breast cancer, but because all people have breast tissue, men can get breast cancer as well - though this is very rare.


A tumor can form anywhere in a person's body. Someone has cancer when those abnormal cells will not stop growing, and then cause sickness in the body. Someone with breast cancer may have cancer cells in just one part of the breast, which might be felt as a lump. The cancer can spread throughout one or both breasts. Sometimes breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, like the bones, the liver, or elsewhere.


Why Do People Get Breast Cancer?


Any woman can get breast cancer, but doctors have found that certain factors make some women more likely to get it.


family history:
A woman whose mother, sister, aunt, or daughter has had breast cancer is more likely to get breast cancer.


age:
As women get older, they are more at risk for breast cancer. Teens - as well as women in their twenties and thirties - are less likely to get breast cancer.


diet and lifestyle choices:
Women who smoke, eat high-fat diets, drink alcohol, and don't get enough exercise may be more at risk for developing breast cancer.


What Are the Signs of Breast Cancer?


A woman who has breast cancer may have no problems, or she may find a painless lump in her breast. If women examine their breasts monthly, they can help find lumps or other changes that a doctor should examine.


Most breast lumps are not cancer, but all lumps should be checked out by a doctor to be sure. Breast lumps that are not cancer may be scar tissue or cysts (fluid-filled lumps or sacs) or they can be due to normal breast changes associated with hormone changes or aging.


Girls who are beginning puberty might notice a lump underneath the nipple when their breasts start developing. Usually, this is a normal. You can ask a parent or your doctor about it to be sure.


What Will the Doctor Do?


Sometimes a doctor will discover a lump in a woman's breast during a routine examination or a patient might come to the doctor with questions about a lump she found. In other cases, a mammogram (say: ma-muh-gram) may find a lump in the breast that can't be felt. A mammogram is a special kind of X-ray of the breast that helps doctors see what's going on inside. Sometimes, other kinds of pictures, like an MRI, can also be taken.


When a lump is found, the doctor will want to test it. The best way to do this is usually with a biopsy. In a biopsy, a small amount of breast tissue is removed with a needle or during a small operation. Then, the tissue is examined under a microscope to look for cancer cells.
The biopsy may be benign (say: bih-nine), which means the lump is not cancer. If the biopsy shows cancer cells, the lump is malignant (say: muh-lig-nunt). If a breast lump does contains cancer cells, the woman, along with her doctor and family, will decide what to do next.


Breast Cancer Treatment


Treatment for breast cancer usually depends on the type of cancer and whether the cancer has spread outside of the breast to the rest of the body.


Here are some common treatments:


lumpectomy (say: lum-pek-tuh-mee), which removes the cancerous tumor from the breast. A woman usually has this surgery when the cancer is found early and when the lump is small and in only one part of the breast.


mastectomy (say: ma-stek-tuh-mee), which removes the whole breast. This surgery is done when cancer cells have spread through the breast or into other parts of the body. It is a good way to remove all or most of the cancer, and it can help prevent the cancer from spreading or coming back. Sometimes, a woman who has a mastectomy may choose to have an operation to reconstruct (rebuild) the breast, so her shape will be more like it was before.


radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which are often used after lumpectomy or mastectomy to make sure that all the cancer cells are destroyed and do not grow back. Radiation therapy (say: ray-dee-a-shun ther-uh-pee) uses high-energy X-rays to kill the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy (say: kee-mo-ther-uh-pee) is special medicine that travels throughout the entire body and kills cancer cells.


Living With Breast Cancer


Dealing with breast cancer can be very hard for a woman and her family. A woman who has breast cancer surgery or treatment may not feel well for a while. She may be depressed if she had her breast removed. If a woman needs chemotherapy, she may lose her hair and she may feel sick to her stomach. She also may worry that the cancer will return and she'll get sick again.


The good news is that many times, especially if a lump is caught early, women with breast cancer go on to live full, healthy lives after treatment. Some women join support groups so they can talk to other women with breast cancer who are feeling the same emotions.


There are even groups that kids or other family members can join to talk about their feelings when someone they love has breast cancer. Find a trusted adult to talk with if you're worried about a loved one.


Breast Cancer Prevention


Doctors and scientists are working on finding cures for all types of breast cancer. They are researching new medicines that may even help prevent the disease. But in the meantime, it's important for women to catch the disease early.


Regular mammograms - together with monthly breast self-exams - are the best ways for women to protect themselves. You may want to ask the women you care about if they are taking these important steps to stay healthy.


Reviewed by: Jeffri Tobing, MD
Date reviewed: August, 2008
Original review by:James Fahner, MD

ALZHEIMER DISEASE

We all forget things once in a while. Maybe you've forgotten to send a card for someone's birthday or to return an overdue library book. Forgetting stuff is a part of life and it often becomes more common as people age.


But Alzheimer (say: alts-hi-mer) disease, which affects some older people, is different from everyday forgetting. It is a condition that permanently affects the brain, and over time, makes it harder to remember even basic stuff, like how to tie a shoe.


Eventually, the person may have trouble remembering the names and faces of family members - or even who he or she is. This can be very sad for the person and their families. It's important to know that Alzheimer disease does not affect kids. It usually affects people over 65 years of age. Researchers have found medicines that seem to slow the disease down. And there's hope that someday there will be a cure.


What Happens in the Brain?


You probably know that your brain works by sending signals. Chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters (say: nur-oh-trans-mih-terz), allow brain cells to communicate with each other. But a person with Alzheimer disease has decreased amounts of neurotransmitters. People with Alzheimer disease also develop deposits of stuff (protein and fiber) that prevent the cells from working properly. When this happens, the cells can't send the right signals to other parts of the brain. Over time, brain cells affected by Alzheimer disease also begin to shrink and die.
Lots of research is being done to find out more about the causes of Alzheimer disease. There is no one reason why people get Alzheimer disease. Older people are more likely to get it, and the risk gets greater the older the person gets. For instance, the risk is higher for someone who is 85 than it is for someone who is 65. And women are more likely to get it than men.


Researchers also think genes handed down from family members can make a person more likely to get Alzheimer disease. But that doesn't mean everyone related to someone who has Alzheimer disease will get the disease. Other factors, combined with genes, may make it more likely that someone will get the disease. Some of them are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Down syndrome, or having a head injury.


On the positive side, researchers believe exercise, a healthy diet, and taking steps to keep your mind active (like doing crossword puzzles) may help delay the onset of Alzheimer disease.


How Do People Know They Have It?


The first sign of Alzheimer disease is a continuous pattern of forgetting things. This starts to affect a person's daily life. He or she may forget where the grocery store is or the names of family and friends. This stage of the disease may last for some time or quickly progress, causing memory loss and forgetfulness to get worse.


What Will the Doctor Do?


It can be hard for a doctor to diagnose Alzheimer disease because many of its symptoms (like memory problems) can be like those of other conditions affecting the brain. The doctor will talk to the patient, find out about any medical problems the person has, and will examine him or her.
The doctor can ask the person questions or have the person take a written test to see how well his or her memory is working. Doctors also can use medical tests (such as MRI or CT scans) to take a detailed picture of the brain. They can study these images and look for the deposits of proteins and fiber that are typical of Alzheimer disease.


Once a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, the doctor may prescribe medicine to help with memory and thinking. The doctor also might give the person medicine for other problems, such as depression (sad feelings that last a long time). Unfortunately the medicines that the doctors have can't cure Alzheimer disease; they just help slow down the disease.


When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer Disease


You might feel sad or angry - or both - if someone you love has Alzheimer disease. You might feel nervous around the person, especially if he or she is having trouble remembering important things or can no longer take care of himself or herself.


You might not want to go visit the person, even though your mom or dad wants you to. You are definitely not alone in these feelings. Try talking with a parent or another trusted adult. Just saying what's on your mind may help you feel better. You also may learn that the adults in your life are having struggles of their own with the situation.


If you visit a loved one who has Alzheimer disease, try to be patient. He or she may have good days and bad days. It can be sad if you no longer are able to have fun in the same ways together. Maybe you and your grandmother liked to go to concerts. If that's no longer possible, maybe bring her some wonderful music on a CD and listen together. It's a way to show her that you care - and showing that love is important even if her memory is failing.


Reviewed by: Jeffri Tobing, MD
Date reviewed: August, 2008
Originally reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD

DOWN SYNDROME

You have probably seen people who have Down syndrome. They have certain physical features, such as a flatter face, upward slanting eyes, and a somewhat larger tongue. They may have medical problems, too, such as heart defects. And they usually have some mental retardation, which means they may have trouble learning. But despite their challenges, kids with Down syndrome can go to regular schools, make friends, enjoy life, and get jobs when they're older.


To understand why Down syndrome happens, you need to understand a little about chromosomes. What's a chromosome? They are thread-like structures within each cell and are made up of genes. Genes provide the information that determines everything about people, from hair color to whether they are girls or boys.


Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46. But a baby with Down syndrome has an extra chromosome (47 instead of 46) or one chromosome has an extra part. This extra genetic material causes problems with the way their bodies develop.


Health Problems Are Common


Babies with Down syndrome tend to develop more slowly than other babies do. They may start walking later than other babies. About half are born with heart defects, which means there is something different with the way their hearts developed. Usually, these problems can be corrected by surgery.


Some babies also may have problems in their stomachs or a blockage in their intestines that prevents them from digesting food properly. Kids with Down syndrome are more likely to get infections that affect their lungs and breathing. When they do get infections, they often last longer. They may have eye or ear problems or digestion problems like constipation. Some may develop leukemia, a type of cancer. Each person with Down syndrome is different and may have one, several, or all of these problems.


We've mentioned a little about the features people with Down syndrome often have. In addition to the eyes and face, they may have small or misshapen ears, a large space between the big toe and the second toe, and a crease that goes across the palms of their hands. It's important to note, though, that not all people with Down syndrome look alike or have all these features.


Do a Lot of People Have Down Syndrome?


About one out of every 800 babies born has Down syndrome, no matter what race or nationality the parents are. It is not contagious, so you can't catch it from someone else. You are born with it. No one gets Down syndrome later in life.


Now you know that Down syndrome is caused by a problem with a chromosome. You might already know that we get our chromosomes from our mother and father. Remember the 23 pairs of chromosomes - half are from your mom and half are from your dad.


But doctors aren't sure why this chromosome problem happens to some babies. It's nothing the mom or dad did before the child was born. Anyone can have a baby with Down syndrome. But the older the mother, the greater the risk.


Is There a Cure?


At one time, most kids with Down syndrome did not live past childhood. Many would often become sick from infections. Others would die from their heart problems or other problems they had at birth. Today, most of these health problems can be treated and most kids who have it will grow into adulthood.


Medicines can help with infections and surgery can correct heart, stomach, and intestinal problems. If the person gets leukemia, there are medical treatments that can be very successful. Someone with Down syndrome has a good chance of living to be 50 years old or more.
But there is no cure for Down syndrome. It is something a person will have all of his or her life. But scientists continue to do research in the hope of finding ways to prevent Down syndrome or at least improve the health and lives of people who have it.


What's Life Like for Kids With Down Syndrome?


Many kids with Down syndrome go to regular schools and may attend regular classes. Some need special classes to help them in areas where they have more trouble learning. Their parents work with teachers and others to come up with a plan for the best way for each child to learn. Kids with Down syndrome like their playtime, too. They play sports and participate in activities, such as music lessons or dance classes.


Because they look different, some kids may tease or bully kids who have Down syndrome. But these kids have feelings just like anybody else. When they get teased, it hurts their feelings. They want to be accepted and have friends. If you know someone with Down syndrome, you can be a big help by not teasing him or her. Instead, offer a helping hand and a friendly word of encouragement.


You might wonder what kids with Down syndrome do after they graduate from high school. They often go to work. You may have seen a person with Down syndrome on the job - maybe helping in an office, a grocery store, or restaurant. In fact, they are known for their enthusiasm, reliability, and dedication. For all their hard work, they can feel a sense of accomplishment - and enjoy spending their paychecks!


Updated and reviewed by: jeffri tobing, MD
Date reviewed: August 2008
Originally reviewed by: Charles I. Scott, MD

HOROSCOPE SEPTEMBER 2008

1. Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)[?]
The Bottom LineToday, it's payback for you -- you can expect some great karma and good luck now.In DetailToday it is payback for you -- which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how many brownie points you have accrued in your karma account. If you worry that you're due for some bad news, try to keep busy! Staying distracted is the best way to soften whatever blows are coming your way. But if you're confident that you've built up a lot of good will, then this is a great day to relax. Open up your schedule and enjoy having unstructured time to soak up all the good vibes.


2. Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)[?]
The Bottom LineTry to avoid any financial dealings with your friends, now. It's not worth the risk.In DetailTry to avoid any financial dealings with your friends, right now. No matter how exciting an opportunity may be, it's just not worth the risk when the health and happiness of a friendship could be at stake. There is a lot of uncertainty about transactions and investments right now, and you all would be much better off if you delayed moving forward with things. Wait for another time, when things are clearer. Money is a very personal issue -- don't make it a public one.


3. Gemini (May 21 - Jun 21)[?]
The Bottom LineIf someone is trying to hurt your reputation, fight back as soon as possible.In DetailIf someone is critical about your work or your attitude today, don't waste any time worrying about it. Unless they are saying things that will negatively affect your reputation and how others see you, you don't need to give a darn about what they think. But if you do start seeing that people might be listening to this person and believing what they say, then you must address the attacker immediately. People will think that if you don't fight back then what they are hearing must be true.


4. Cancer (Jun 22 - Jul 22)[?]
The Bottom LineYou can't search for a new philosophy -- you must create one by trying new things.In DetailYou can't search for a ready-made new philosophy on life -- you have to create one, by exposing yourself to new ideas and theories. If you have been wrestling with a certain issue and just can't shake the bad way it's making you feel, seek some insight from friends. Ask them how they would handle things, and their answers will help you shape your own attitudes. What's right for them might not be right for you, but at least you're seeing different points of view. And that will be helpful.


5. Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22)[?]
The Bottom LineThere are many ways to get around conflicts -- ignoring them isn't one of them!In DetailThere are all sorts of creative ways to get around the conflicts in your life, but ignoring them sure isn't one of them! Procrastination will never, ever help you get things done -- it will only keep you passive. Step up and take charge of your own life by having that conversation you've been dreading. Set some time aside later today and try to get face to face with the person who's causing you stress. If you can't do that, then talk to them on the phone in a quiet location.


6. Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)[?]
The Bottom LineThere is a huge risk of people overreacting today -- be careful about what you say.In DetailThere is a huge risk of people overreacting today -- so be careful about what you say to others, especially people you don't know very well. Even the slightest hint of something controversial could trigger someone's temper and get them all worked up and in your face -- who needs that? Plus, all of the excess energy they create will distract you from the things that really need your attention, today. So just carry on as you normally would. And keep an eye out for hotheads!


7. Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22)[?]
The Bottom LineStaying in synch with other people is going to be fun and easy for you, today.In DetailStaying in synch with other people is going to be fun and easy for you, today, which is obviously a very good thing. Each of the power players you are working with is right on the same page as you are, so you won't have to waste any energy being more flexible than you are willing to be. Everything you want to do, they will want to do -- and vice versa. So the tone of the day will be harmonious, and no one is going to be annoyed or out of sorts when you suggest your nuttiest idea.


8. Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)[?]
The Bottom LineMore than ever, new music and art will spark your creativity and make you happy.In DetailMore than ever before, new music and art will spark your creativity, today, offering you some new ideas and giving your brain a few new ways of thinking. Try to expose yourself to different music genres today -- when was the last time you listened to opera, Broadway tunes, or a little country? Click over to a music website and see what artists are similar to your favorites. If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket, you should invest in expanding your CD collection.


9. Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)[?]
The Bottom LineChildlike behavior is only cute with children -- be the grownup in a group, today.In DetailChildlike behavior is only cute when it's taking place among children -- so if you see grownups acting like they're ten today, do yourself a favor and steer clear of them! And if you can't steer clear of them, at least do not join in on their silly games. You've got grownup business to attend to, and sitting around gossiping or cutting people down behind their back is not going to help you. People may think you're being a party pooper by not joining in, but do you really care?


10. Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)[?]
The Bottom LineYou have a natural patience and compassion that makes you a wonderful leader.In DetailYou have a natural patience and compassion that makes you a wonderful leader -- so why are you letting your fears keep you from stepping into that role? It's time for you to swallow your doubts and raise your hand when someone asks 'who wants to be in charge,' today. You know you can do this, and you know that you can do this well! You're only too glad to help, and there is no reason not to show it. Be enthusiastic, and all of your doubts will just fade away.


11. Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)[?]
The Bottom LineYou might get sidetracked from a project, today, but you handle it seamlessly.In DetailYou might get sidetracked from one of your pressing projects by an unexpected relationship issue, today, but it probably won't be a problem. Don't worry about the distraction -- deal with it. You can take care of it without alerting anyone at work or school to the fact that anything is amiss. You'll be back, focused on the task at hand without anyone being the wiser. In fact, you can expect a few compliments by the end of the day about what a great job you're doing!


12. Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)[?]
The Bottom LineYour friends are all different, so stop treating them all the same. Mix it up.In DetailYour friends all come in different shapes, sizes, and styles -- so why are you treating them all the same way? It's not that you should play favorites, it's just that you need to start being more mindful of the fact that some friends require more attention from you than others. Just because friend A doesn't need to hear from you for months, doesn't mean that friend B is going to be cool with that. Make sure you're giving everyone what they need. And if you're not, it's not too late to start trying.