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The trustees of Social Security will release their annual report on the program's health sometime in the next few weeks, and the news will not be good.

 The 2012 briefing is expected to show further deterioration in Social Security's financial outlook, due to the higher-than-expected 2.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment awarded this year and a decline in the taxable wage base available to the program. The report is the official gauge of the program's health - signed by three Cabinet members, the Social Security commissioner and two independent Congressional appointees.

 Social Security is not in imminent danger of running out of money, but it faces a financial crunch a bit further out - around 2035. That is when Social Security's Trust Fund is projected to be exhausted due to the drawdown of benefits by the baby boom generation. At that point, the program would have sufficient tax revenue to pay only about 76 percent of promised benefits.

 Steve Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration (SSA), is one of the nation's top experts on retirement data. Since he is like a walking encyclopedia on Social Security's workings and features, Reuters talked with him ahead of the trustee report's release to find out how beneficiaries can get the most out of the current Social Security program:

 Q: You've been at the Social Security Administration nearly 39 years. We hear a lot of talk now in Washington that the aging baby boomer population is the big problem facing Social Security. Is that a surprise, or is it impossible to surprise an actuary?

 A: It's not a surprise at all. People say it's about the growing number of older people living longer, but it's all just about birth rates. Our birth rates dropped after 1965 when the baby boom ended, to the lowest-ever single year of births experienced in this country's history - 1.74 births per woman, on average, in 1976. It dropped very quickly over a short period of time and stabilized at 2.

 Q: So Social Security's main long-term challenge is the change in ratio of workers to retirees?

 A: Imagine that in an earlier generation each of us had three children. So when we get old and retire, we each have three kids in the work force contributing toward taking care of us - chipping in to buy us a house or pay our rent, or paying in to Social Security. But back in that 1965-to-1976 period, we shifted to having only two children. If only two kids are sharing that burden, that's got to be either half again more they will put on the table, or one-third less that we're going to get - it's just straight-up arithmetic. Or we have to find a way to extend the time period over which we can work.

 Q: With traditional pensions declining, Social Security is the only game in town for many people in terms of a guaranteed income source for retirement. Is there a way for people to "buy" more Social Security than they could otherwise get?

 A: There's one way to do this that is discussed extensively. Social Security uses a formula called the primary insurance amount, or PIA. If you wait to start receiving Social Security until your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you get 100 of your PIA. If you take it at 62, when you first become eligible, you get only 75 percent. But if you wait until age 70, you get 132 percent of the PIA.

 From 75 percent to 132 percent at 70 - that is close to a doubling of the monthly retirement income that you can have for the rest of your life. What's key on this is that Social Security is one of the few providers of a true inflation-indexed life annuity. So if people who do have some savings would use those assets to push back the date that they file for Social Security benefits, they can, in effect - easily and at a very good rate of return - "buy" a CPI-indexed life annuity.

 Q: And you get the benefit of all the COLAs along the way.

 A: Exactly. If you do wait until age 70 - or whenever you start receiving benefits, you don't miss out on any of those COLAs that started at age 62. They add up and they are right there when you start getting your benefits.

 Q: You're 63 now, but you won't be receiving Social Security yourself, correct?

 A: Right. Federal workers first came into Social Security after the 1983 reforms. Workers who were hired after that point all are in Social Security; people like me had the option to join, but I stayed in the civil service retirement system. If I get Social Security at all, it would be from the work I did before joining Social Security. I'll be enrolling in Medicare, but Social Security won't be significant for me. And even though we are in an office where we make projections 75 years into the future, I don't have any plans for retirement at all. As long as I'm healthy and having fun doing my job, I want to stay here.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc shares fizzled on their first day of trade on the Nasdaq, erasing early gains of as much as 18 percent to trade close to their initial public offering price.

 The stock opened 11 percent higher and rose to $45 before rapidly heading south in frenzied trade, touching its initial public offering price of $38. The No. 1 online social network raised as much as $18.4 billion in one of the biggest initial public offerings in U.S. history.

 After a delay in the opening print that drove up anxiety levels among traders and onlookers outside the Nasdaq, the company's closely watched stock began trading at $42.05, compared with an IPO price of $38.

 To rapturous applause from employees, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg -- flanked by Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and Nasdaq Chief Executive Robert Greifeld -- rang the bell to kick off trading at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time.

 The 28-year-old billionaire founder hugged and high-fived Sandberg and other employees in celebration after he pressed the remote button.

 The area outside Facebook's offices at 1 Hacker Way was packed with throngs of photographers, more than 12 television trucks, and a TV news helicopter hovering overhead as the excitement reached fever pitch.

 "A 15 to 20 percent pop is in the realm of possibility," said Tim Loughran, a finance professor at the University of Notre Dame, before the start of trade.

 "Given they already moved their IPO range up and increased the size, that's bullish to begin with."

 Some expect shares could rise 30 percent or more on Friday, despite ongoing concerns about Facebook's long-term money-making potential. An average of Morningstar analyst estimates put the closing price for Facebook shares on Friday at $50.

1. Monitor your thoughts

 The moment our mood starts to change abruptly and we start thinking irrationally, stop right then and there. This is much easier than done, but with practice, we’ll be able to pinpoint the exact thought which causes our mood to swing like a pendulum. However, we must be aware of the fact that it could be a chain of thoughts rather than a single thought which may cause a mood swing. We must be on the lookout for these thoughts.

 2. Oversensitivity

 There is a remote possibility that it may be our own overtly sensitive nature which causes us to have sudden mood swings. Subconsciously, we might not entertain the thought of being presented with a certain type of situation or surrounding. Hence, a mere mention of the aforementioned factors would be enough to make us irritable, as nobody would willingly want to step out of their comfort zone. We should never rule ourselves out as a possible cause.

3. Subconscious message

Instances have also been seen where we try to make a genuine effort to focus on the matter at hand, more out of necessity than desire. In cases like these too, our mind may try to send us a signal by making us incapable of carrying out said activity. These are subtle inbuilt stimuli the human body has in place to make us realize what we are doing and what we actually need to do.

 4. Hormones, yes

 Wondered why gobbling up that bar of chocolate or taking a walk in a sunny garden, when we are feeling down, actually have a positive effect on our mood and elevate our spirits? This can be attributed to a lack of serotonin, the ‘feel-good’ hormone. Exercising, eating carbohydrate laden food and exposure to sunlight are known to increase serotonin levels in the human body.

 5. Emotions, emotions

 All of us go through phases in life where we find ourselves in emotional turmoil, be it financial matters or those of the heart. These matters tend to take precedence over issues of day to day importance, and hence we become irritable and moody when we have to focus on daily tasks. Putting mind over matter is a very tough task indeed, but with diligence and focus, we can definitely learn how to separate ourselves from our emotions.

 There’s also the final case, where the person might be suffering from clinical depression. If that is indeed the case, it would be best to seek medical advice. However, most of the time all that we require is some sincerity and dedication on our part to want to achieve a proper mental balance.

London, May 17 (ANI): Medication mistakes by doctors are making thousands of hospital patients suffering from diabetes vulnerable to potentially fatal low blood-sugar levels, a recent report has revealed.

According to the report, hospitals in England and Wales made 3,700 medication errors in a week.

If this one-in-three level of mistakes - which can lead to dangerously high blood-glucose levels - continued for a year, it could affect 208,000 patients, the Daily Express reported.

During a seven-day period, patients with blunders suffered more than double the number of severe hypoglycaemic - or hypo - episodes com- pared to those treated accurately.

Hypos occur when blood-glucose levels drop severely low - and if left untreated can lead to seizures, coma or death.

"It is unacceptable for any person in hospital to receive inade- quate care," Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said.

"Urgent action is needed to make sure that general ward staff are competent in treating in-patients."

The National Diabetes Inpatient Audit analysed data for 19,400 patients over seven days last October.

Results revealed that 32.4 per cent of patients in England had experienced at least one medication error during the previous seven days - down from 36.6 per cent the previous year.

The audit also found that 68 patients developed diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be fatal if not detected. This occurs when blood-glucose levels are consistently high, indicating insulin treatment was not given for a significant period.

"The majority of hospital doctors and ward nurses still do not have basic training in insulin management and glucose control," Audit lead clinician Dr Gerry Rayman said.Medicine management has improved since 2010 but there are still too many errors. We will continue to work with clinicians to reduce these," The Health Department said. (ANI)

Washington, May 17 (ANI): Drinking coffee might help you live longer, a new study has suggested.

Results of the study show that death rates over a 13-year period among men and women who drank coffee decreased with a greater number of cups per day, up to six.

The trend was seen for deaths from any cause, and from specific causes such as heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke and diabetes.

This relationship, however, was not seen for those who died of cancer.

"We observed associations between coffee-drinking and a range of different causes of death, and across a number of different groups," Discovery news quoted Neal Freedman, lead author of the study from National Institutes of Health, as saying.

"The effect was seen in both men and women, those of different body weights, and in both former and never smokers," he said.

The study showed an association, not a direct cause-effect relationship, between coffee and mortality rates.

Still, while high coffee consumption was previously thought to have adverse health effects, this study adds to the growing body of recent findings that show higher coffee consumption is not harmful, and in some cases may have health benefits, said Jeanine Genkinger, an epidemiology professor at the Columbia University School of Public Health in New York City, who was not involved in the research.

Genkinger emphasized that the greatest benefits may come from black coffee - cream, sugar and additives may be detrimental to health.

For the study, researchers looked at the coffee drinking habits of 402,260 members of the American Association of Retired Persons.

Participants completed a detailed dietary, lifestyle and demographic questionnaire at the study's start, when they were between ages 50 and 71. During the study, 52,515 participants died.

The association between drinking coffee and mortality was seen among different races and education levels, and in a very large group with a large number of deaths - this type of analysis was not done in previous studies, said Esther Lopez-Garcia, of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain.

The new study also removed the possibility of smoking and alcohol as confounding factors, said Edward Giovannucci, a nutrition and epidemiology professor at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

The study will be published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (ANI)

London, May 18 (ANI): Following a healthy calorie controlled diet during pregnancy is safe and can reduce the risk of serious complications such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes and premature birth, for pregnant women, including those who are overweight and obese, according to a new study.

In the UK, more than half the women of reproductive age are overweight or obese, and across Europe and the US, up to 40percent of women gain more than the recommended weight in pregnancy. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with a number of serious health problems.

Pregnancy is thought to be an ideal time for health professionals to discuss weight management as mothers are motivated to make changes that will benefit themselves and their baby.

So a team of researchers, led by Dr Shakila Thangaratinam from Queen Mary, University of London, investigated the effects of diet, exercise, or a combination of the two on weight gain during pregnancy and any adverse effects on mother or baby.

They analysed the results of 44 randomised controlled trials involving over 7,000 women. Study design and quality were taken into account to minimise bias.

Weight management interventions in pregnancy were effective in reducing weight gain in the mother. Dietary intervention resulted in the largest average reduction in weight gain (almost 4 kg) compared with just 0.7 kg for exercise and 1 kg for a combination of the two. Diet also offered the most benefit in preventing pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes, high blood pressure and premature birth.

However, the researchers stress that the overall evidence rating was low to very low for these important outcomes.

Importantly, the results showed that interventions are safe and do not adversely affect the baby's weight. The researchers concluded that dietary and lifestyle interventions in pregnancy improve outcomes for both mother and baby, but acknowledge the lack of data on risk factors such as age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

The study was published on bmj.com. (ANI)

London, May 17 (ANI): Everyone over the age of 50 should be given statins because the cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke even in healthy people, say experts.

A research by scientists at Oxford University has found the risk of a heart attack or stroke is cut by a fifth in those who have no sign of heart disease.

Treatment guidelines should be reviewed in light of the findings, the experts said, and the NHS should impose a blanket policy of prescribing up to 20 million people statins at a potential cost of 240million pounds a year, the Telegraph reported.

Currently, the only people considered at high risk, those with a one-in-five chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years, are given the drugs.

Half of men aged 50 or over and almost a third of women qualify for statin treatment. About five million people are thought to take them.ational guidelines should be amended to lower the threshold for treatment to those with a one-in-10 risk over a decade, the experts said.

As the majority of people in their fifties would qualify for statins under this criteria, it would be cheaper and easier to implement a blanket policy to save money on screening tests - which cost up to 700 pounds per patient - to identify them, it was argued.

The cost of statins, 1 pound for a month's course, would also be offset by the savings they would bring to the NHS in preventing costly operations, medical procedures, rehabilitation and by freeing ward space and places in care homes. A total of 1.3 billion pounds is spent annually on cardiovascular drugs alone.

The proposed statins programme would be controversial, as many believe it is unnecessary to medicate otherwise healthy people, and it is not clear how many would take the tablets if they were not experiencing symptoms.

"If we want to prevent heart attacks and strokes that come out of the blue in people with no previous evidence of problems - and about half of such events happen in the absence of any prior history of disease - then we have to identify and treat people who are currently healthy but are known to be at increased risk of developing heart disease. Such treatment should, of course, be in addition to obvious things like encouraging better diet, more exercise and avoidance of cigarette smoking," said Prof Colin Baigent, co-author of the study.

A National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence spokesman said the study findings will be included in the ongoing review of the clinical guidelines on cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment.

The study analysed data from 175,000 people in 27 random trials, which compared people on statins with those on a dummy pill.

Researchers found that for every one-point reduction in levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, there was a 21 per cent reduction in the risk of serious events, including heart attacks, strokes or surgery for blocked arteries among those with no symptoms of heart disease.

The risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke among those at lowest risk was cut by 15 per cent.

For every 1,000 people in the low-risk group treated with statins for five years there would be 11 fewer major heart attacks or strokes.

"A benefit that greatly exceeds any known hazards of statin therapy," the researchers wrote.

Side effects of statins can include muscle aches, stomach disturbances, and altered iver function. Patients have also reported sleep and memory problems, depression and headaches.

There was no evidence of a rise in deaths from cancer, the researchers said, and although there was a small increased risk of a "bleeding stroke" (a burst blood vessel in the brain) and more people were diagnosed with diabetes in the statin group, these were outweighed by the benefits of the treatment.

The findings were published online in The Lancet. (ANI)

Top 8 health benefits of sleep
Reduces stress: In the case of sleep deficiency, the body’s functions enter a state of high alert, and cause an increase in blood pressure and production of stress hormones. The stress hormones make it harder to sleep and the higher blood pressure amplifies the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Boosts memory: In the time you’re asleep, the brain processes any new knowledge, organises the skills learned while awake, makes connections between events, feelings and memories, and sensory input. This helps you to process information and perform better.
Healthier heart: A lack of sleep is often associated with increased blood pressure and cholesterol – factors directly responsible for heart ailments and strokes. Seven to eight hours of sleep will go a long way in promoting cardiovascular health.
Lowers inflammation: One of the most important benefits of sleep is that it helps to keep stress hormone levels in check. This allows the body to alleviate the levels of inflammation, which is known to increase the risk of heart-related diseases, premature aging, arthritis, cancer and diabetes.

Allows body repairs: The cells in the body produce more protein while you’re asleep, which aids the body in recovering from damage caused by stress, ultraviolet radiation, and other harmful exposures.

Lower risk of depression: Sleep has an impact on several chemicals in the body, including serotonin, which causes depression in people in the event of a deficiency. The right amount of sleep, close to 7 to 8 hours, can prevent the onset of depression by producing enough serotonin.

Weight management: Lack of sleep may lead to an imbalance of the ghrelin and leptin hormones, which are crucial in regulating appetite. Additionally, the same part of the brain that controls sleep also increases metabolism. So to maintain or control weight, it is imperative to get adequate sleep.

Higher alertness levels: It follows logically that a good night’s sleep leads to more energy and alertness the next morning. This prepares the body for a day’s worth of activity and engagement, and increases the likelihood of another good night’s sleep. It’s a good circle to be caught in.
Tips for better sleep
No blue light: Switch off the television and computer, and keep away the cellphone an hour before bedtime. The short waves of blue light may interrupt sleep.

Avoid naps: Though the occasional 20-minute power nap is a real boost, avoid any shut-eye eight hours prior to bedtime, as that can make falling asleep at night more troublesome.

Save the bed for sleeping: Your bedroom should only be limited for rest and relaxation. Keep the money talk, phone conversations and TV viewing out the door.

Set a routine: Fix hours for when you sleep and wake up. This puts a healthy sleep cycle in place, and allows you to fall asleep quickly each night and sleep well through the night.

No caffeine: Caffeine interferes with deep sleep, so avoid even small amounts found in chocolate and decaf coffee anytime after noon.

Eat light: You know what they say about eating like a pauper at night? Follow it. Prepare light, small meals for the night to get high-quality sleep.

Stop smoking: If there aren’t enough reasons to kick the habit, here’s another: nicotine acts as a stimulant and can keep from falling asleep and worsen insomnia.

Unwind: Though it may seem self-indulgent at first, fix a downtime routine an hour before bed each night. Take a warm bath, read a book, listen to soothing music and lower the lights to give your day the perfect close.

Next time your friends rib on you for being a sleepyhead, bring this list out. A regular habit of seven to eight hours of sleep will help you stay active daily and ahead of the pack by keeping serious ailments at bay.

SRK  VS MCA


Shah Rukh Khan was at the centre of an ugly row Thursday with allegations that he had got into a brawl with security personnel and officials at the Wankhede stadium. But the star issued a furious denial and said it was his children and others who had been 'manhandled' and deserved an apology.

IANS reports that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner even faced a lifetime ban from entering the Wankhede Stadium after allegedly turning up there drunk at the ground and misbehaving with security guards and cricket officials Wednesday night.

The incident took place after his team beat Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League match at the stadium. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) filed a complaint with Mumbai's Marine Drive police station.

In a case of his word against theirs, Shah Rukh denied that he was drunk or that his behaviour was incorrect.

'I don't think that my behaviour was incorrect or I did something illegal. I think what I did was correct. They are my kids and I have a responsibility towards them. I will not apologise. They (officials) should apologise to me,' Shah Rukh told reporters outside his residence.

Recounting his version, the 46-year-old said: 'I had gone to pick up my children who were there to watch the match. I went there, congratulated my team and when I came back, I saw that there a gentleman was manhandling the children. They were pushing little girls. I just told him that this is not the way to behave.

'He (the official) spoke something in Marathi, something which I can't even repeat... I said he should not speak to me like this. It is extremely disturbing to see the way they manhandled children... I won't deny that I could have said something in a fit of anger,' he added.

He said he was not drunk.

'I just drink socially. It is an easy way to pick on the celebrities and say things like that they were drunk or were angry.'

The version of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was completely different. Officials said Shah Rukh and his entourage wanted to celebrate after the presentation ceremony but were not allowed to do so.

He allegedly misbehaved with an elderly guard and pushed him. When MCA officials intervened, he is said to have abused them.

'This is a grave matter. I have called for an urgent meeting and we shall discuss the matter following which we will decide the future course of action,' union minister and MCA president Vilasrao Deshmukh told IANS.

A decision on a lifetime ban would be taken only after the meeting of all members from the managing committee of MCA next week, MCA Joint Secretary Nitin Dalal said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Iqbal Shaikh agreed that the actor was drunk and said police were looking into the matter.

'Shah Rukh was drunk. He was smelling of alcohol but he was not drinking at the Wankhede stadium. But it is not an offence. He was also abusing and threatening MCA and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) officials,' said Sheikh.

Sheikh, who is also a member of the MCA managing committee, said he was present at the ground and tried to prevent the situation from turning ugly.

As the controversy swirled, IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said a decision would be taken only after getting all the versions.

The scuffle is unwelcome news for the star, who was in the spotlight in January this year for slapping director Shirish Kunder at a party hosted by Sanjay Dutt.

Shah Rukh's colleagues in Bollywood appeared to be strangely quiet at this latest controversy with no immediate reactions.

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Indian Premier League (IPL) player Luke Pomersbach was arrested Friday for allegedly molesting an American woman in a five-star hotel in the capital and beating up her fiance, police said.

The Australian player from the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team is alleged to have molested the woman at the ITC Maurya hotel here. Her fiance was beaten up by the player when he tried to stop him and was admitted to Primus hospital in the diplomatic area of the national capital, police said.

The IPL management, which just a day earlier was fielding questions on the fracas between Shah Rukh Khan and security personnel and officials at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, said it was not responsible for the behaviour of individual players.

Giving details of the incident, the woman told a television channel that the incident happened when Pomersbach, along with some others, joined them for a drink. She also alleged that the hotel staff did not cooperate with her in calling the police.

"We were staying in ITC (Maurya) and went downstairs to have few drinks with friends. The Australian guy was talking to my fiance that he would like to have few drinks with him... he tagged along and we did not want to say no," the woman told Headlines Today.

"We came up to our room, and I thought to leave the guys alone and walked towards my bedroom ... this guy caught hold of me and tried to molest me. My fiance tried to stop him," she said.

The woman said that when she asked the hotel staff to call the police, they lied about having done so, but never reported the incident.

"I called the operator and asked for help. I asked them to call the cops, she said I will call, but nobody came up. The manager came up after a couple of minutes and he kept telling me I will call the cops, which was a lie, no one called the cops until I called them myself after a while when I figured out the number," she said.

Reacting to the incident, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said: "We are not responsible for behaviour of individuals in hotels ... what somebody was doing in some hotel we have nothing to do with it. IPL is not hosting any party and we have done away with such parties and there was no official party."

He denied that the IPL would take action and said the law should take its course. "Let the police decides what action to be taken," he said.