Snoring Is More Than Just An Annoying Habit

We often raise an eyebrow about snorers. However, we can usually only tell that a person snores if we’ve spent the night with them (whether by ourselves or as a group sleepover, perhaps) or among couples whether married or not. But once the lights are out and we drift off to dreamland, we began to despise being around our snoring partner as their snoring can keep us tossing and turning the entire night and deprive us of precious sleep.

However, let us look past the symptom and understand why people snore in the first place. It’s not just a habit that annoys people but is actually a medical condition that also needs medical help. Getting checked and treated is the least you can do for them as snoring may eventually mess with their breathing while sleeping and compromise their health in a snap.

A loud snorer can wake up a whole household without having a clue.

"There's always a certain level of denial," says Kathleen Bennett, a Cincinnati dentist who specializes in treating sleep breathing problems. "People come in all the time and say, 'I have no problem sleeping, but my wife is complaining.' "

If that rings a bell, sleep experts say, it could be time for a chat with your doctor. You may have a case of physically harmless, if annoying, snoring — or your snoring could be a sign of a more serious health problem.

The big concern: obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which blocked airways cause people to stop breathing many times a night, disrupting sleep and cutting off oxygen to the body and brain. Untreated apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity and diabetes — and the sleepiness it causes can contribute to accidents at work and on the road, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

(Via: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/26/snoring--health-danger-apnea/25952535/)

Back in the days, most people will only brush snoring aside snoring and live with it but we know better now. We understand its health implications and this knowledge allowed medical experts to look for effective snoring managements so we don’t have to suffer from sleepless nights anymore.

Studies have shown that sleep apnea has some serious side effects.

A disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep, apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, despite efforts to breathe. That can cause broken sleep patterns and low blood oxygen levels. Doctors say these side effects can lead to hypertension, heart disease, and mood and memory problems.

In a recent study at the University of Maryland Medical Center, researchers found that sleep apnea can cause a rise in depression and that sleep-related breathing disorders can also worsen nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder.

And because sufferers are usually sleepy during the day, apnea can increase the risk of automobile crashes. There's no question it can be life-threatening, doctors say.

(Via: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/07/06/snoring.sleep.apnea.help/index.html?eref=rss_us)

Anti-snoring mouthpieces, mouthguards, CPAP and surgery are just some of the options right now but newer technologies are being discovered so that snorers have more options to choose from.

There is now a new non-surgical laser treatment available in San Diego to help minimize snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea.

NightLase uses laser energy to heat and tighten the oral mucosa tissue. As the tissue is heated, collagen production skyrockets, resulting in a tightening effect that helps relieve snoring and sleep apnea.

Doctors say there is little to no recovery time with the treatment.

(Via: http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/01/16/new-treatment-helps-end-snoring/)

People are always on the lookout for better snoring management and possibly an anti-snoring solution that works best for their preference and lifestyle. And all these new anti-snoring developments are actually a good thing for snorers because that means they have a chance at beating sleep apnea, sleep better and no longer torture their partners every single night. You likewise need not sleep in separate rooms anymore or feel annoyed every time you see your snoring partner drift off to sleep. Sleep apnea and snoring can be a thing of the past if you just get checked and treated the soonest time possible.

The following article Snoring Is More Than Just An Annoying Habit was initially seen on https://www.thechurchreport.com

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/snoring-is-more-than-just-an-annoying-habit/

Churches Offer Hope To Refugees

Many countries are at war today. Nations are bombed and communities are destroyed – communities that house thousands to millions of innocent people who suddenly lost homes and a reason to live because everything they knew and believed in disappeared in a snap. As the very government that vowed to protect them shatters against more powerful foreign military and troops, refugees have nowhere to go.

There are various community support groups and non-profit organizations that extend help to these people but what they need the most is not just food but shelter – shelter away from the war and chaos and a chance to rebuild their lives. States are torn over this matter. Some are open to receiving refugees while there are others that oppose, fearing for the safety and security of their own citizens. While many are left undecided, the church steps up and opens its door to scared and scarred refugees who lost everything they have in life through the sanctuary movement.

Now, in the wake of the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, religious leaders across the West are resurrecting the almost 40-year-old movement, inspired by their predecessors’ desire to act on the social justice values taught by their faith. More than 800 congregations across denominations have signed a sanctuary pledge promising to provide a safe haven for those threatened with deportation.

Back in the ’80s, Corbett and Fife were responding to what they saw as systematic discrimination against Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugees, in violation of the 1980 Refugee Act. Many had escaped violence sponsored in part by the Reagan administration’s military support for right-wing governments in the region. But instead of being granted protection, Salvadorans and Guatemalans were often sent to detention centers and pressured to “voluntarily return” to their countries of origin. According to federal data, the U.S. government denied 97 percent of Salvadoran political asylum applications and 99 percent of Guatemalan applications between 1980 and 1990.

Corbett grew up on a sheep ranch in Casper, Wyoming, and had a graduate degree in philosophy from Harvard. He was equal parts environmentalist and humanitarian, and the refugee crisis offended his profound sense that all life — human beings, as well as nature — was interconnected. His core motivation, says Fife, was finding the answer to a single question: “How do you protect the basic rights of the land and of people?”

(Via: http://crosscut.com/2017/03/how-western-churches-built-a-movement-to-protect-refugees/)

And while churches stand for different religions, desperate times like war bring them together and unite them for a single cause – to help the victims of war and offer refuge when necessary even if it means setting aside their religious differences.

A year and a half ago, three churches put aside theological differences and came together to sponsor the resettlement of three Syrian refugee families to this town of 8,500.

“We have three different theological outlooks on things, but they’ve been pushed to the background,” said Ron Marlin, a lay leader for Dauphin First United Church, a liberal mainline Protestant congregation.

“The focus was very much on helping our neighbors in need,” agreed Cordell Lind, whose wife, the Rev. Lorayln Lind, serves as pastor for the conservative evangelical First Baptist Church of Dauphin.

In the United States, President Trump’s effort to bar refugees from certain Muslim-majority nations, including Syria, has dominated headlines for weeks.

But here in Canada, the government has welcomed more than 40,000 people fleeing Syria’s civil war since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s October 2015 election.

(Via: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/lifestyle/20170404/rival-canadian-churches-jointly-welcome-syrian-refugees)

Even in America that is now currently led by Donald Trump, churches are urged to reach out to refugees and offer help but most pleas go on deaf ears.

Middle East expert Brigitte Gabriel thinks the Christian church needs to step up and help beleaguered Christian refugees from the Middle East find asylum in the United States.

One of the disturbing aspects of President Trump's revised travel ban is the removal of a clause contained in his original executive order that allowed for prioritization of refugee claims from members of persecuted religious minority groups. In Muslim-dominated countries, that means Christianity.

U.S. churches will probably just remain as an onlooker as churches all over the world open their doors to needy refugees who are desperate for help. But with the travel ban, any church who wants to help will also likely have a hard time doing so as President Trump made sure that no unwanted (and possibly dangerous) foreigner can step foot in his beloved America.

"Unfortunately right now churches in America are not focusing on going out and basically raising the money to bring Christians into the churches and having them adopted by families," she laments. "Some very small churches are doing that, but that's literally one percent if even [that] of the total refugee population that Christian churches are bringing to America."

(Via: https://www.onenewsnow.com/persecution/2017/03/14/american-churches-urged-to-engage-refugee-issue)

What a pity it is for all the refugees who’ve got their whole lives turned upside down just because more powerful nations in the world like the U.S. decides that country’s like Syria need their help and bomb the entire nation without second thoughts or consideration over the lives of the people. And now those innocent civilians are left without a home they won’t even open up their borders and provide shelter to these people who suddenly found themselves alienated by everybody.

Community groups and churches can only help a few but many are still in need and only when bigger nations offer help by providing asylum for the refugees and stop meddling with these countries in the first place can we expect to find some semblance of peace and order in our society.

The following post Churches Offer Hope To Refugees was first seen on thechurchreport.com

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/churches-offer-hope-to-refugees/

Helping The Poor Overcome Poverty

The world has never been fair. You know very well how different the life of one born in poverty and one born in luxury regardless if you lives centuries ago or living in the present. While you can’t choose your family, you have a chance to improve the quality of your life as you age especially if you are educated or talented with great gifts. However, the odds are high if you are poor because education is expensive and talents often need to be harnessed over time unless you are exceptionally good.

Although it is easier to discover raw talent now with the help of social media and there are more opportunities for work depending on your industry, the life of the poor remains the same. Most poor workers work on the most menial of jobs and get their hands dirty for a measly amount in return. And as such, they are trapped in a cycle of poverty throughout their lifetime and so on and so forth. In times of need, they may commit crimes to put food on the table or save the life of a loved one.

Crime and joblessness are directly related. 

A person does the crime, serves the time, gets out of jail and can’t find a job.

Employers are afraid to hire convicted felons. 

Perhaps the person with a record initially wants to walk the straight and narrow. 

But without a job or any prospects for finding one, he gets frustrated. Then he gets aggravated, or perhaps just desperate. 

The next step is often resorting back to a life of crime. 

Recidivism. 

(Via: http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/opinion/editorials/crime-poverty-joblessness-go-hand-in-hand/article_fa869590-3cf3-5fae-8954-697da1c76ad0.html)

So, do we let the poor people be trapped in this situation forever or do we do something about it and stop them from becoming criminals in the process? We all have a capacity to help others. It may not always be monetary but any form of help can make a difference in their lives, especially if it gives them a chance to escape their fate.

Fortunately, unlike in the time of Charles Dickens, people in need are not forced into prisons or union workhouses and there are agencies to help people if they wish to seek help.

There are, to name a few, the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry, Upper Room Food Bank, Salvation Army, many churches offer programs, Downtown Charlottetown Inc. has a “street Navigator”,  Jenn Nicholson, who manages its Street Out reach program.

(Via: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/elections-2015/2017/4/6/slideshow--there-is-help-available.html)

We feel the need to share our blessings and uplift the lives of the poor even though we are not told. We feel compassion for those who suffer in hunger and in pain because they don’t have the money to pay for their needs. While many are willing to share, there are some who don’t feel obligated to give back to the poor.

On one side are folks, like me, who feel that a civil, caring society has a moral responsibility to fund anti-poverty programs.

On the other side are people who argue that it’s unfair that a share of their income — through taxation — subsidizes various federal and state entitlement programs that help people who became poor because they made irresponsible decisions.

We have to keep talking about this, because divided we all fall. When readers disagree with me, I give them a chance to be heard in the Color of Money “Talk Back” feature. I received quite a bit of pushback on this month’s pick for the book club. I selected “Falling,” an essay by novelist and former Washington Post book critic William McPherson. 

Faith in humanity is restored every time we hear stories of people helping one another in times of need and more so of ordinary individuals going out of their way to extend help to the poor when they have so little themselves.

Advocating for anti-poverty programs does not mean you don’t recognize that some people getting help made poor choices. It doesn’t mean you absolve them of personal responsibility. People shouldn’t have children they can’t support. Retiring and then recklessly spending down your money is bad money management. But helping the destitute is the decent thing to do.

What do we as a society owe the poor?

We owe them empathy. We owe them a safety net that gives them a chance to get back on their feet — and maybe even survive.

(Via: http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/singletary-what-do-we-owe-the-poor/article_83a12768-a927-5656-9229-f3ec3ad70d98.html)

You don’t have to be rich to be able to help the poor nor do you always have to give out money to uplift their lives. Even donating used clothes and things can help people get through their day. At times, just spending your time with them to hear their story and become a friend is more than they can ever ask for.

Nowadays, it is easier to ask for help from the global community through the various social networking platforms. Anyone can set up GoFundMe sites to raise money for various causes or even ask the help of local charities to set up fundraising activities through their various networks. There is always a way if you are willing to help. You can help one person at a time or an entire community. By empowering the poor and helping them stand on their both feet without always relying on the government or others for help, we can make the world a better place to live in for future generations. To be able to do this, we need the concerted effort of the state, the church, and the people to address poverty at its roots.

Helping The Poor Overcome Poverty See more on: TCR Blog

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/helping-the-poor-overcome-poverty/

A Fallout Of The Religious

Religion played a big role in shaping the society we now know. From ancient times, there has always been the belief of the ultimate being that guides us all regardless of religion. These spiritual beliefs have helped us overcome dark times in history and strengthened our faith in religion.

But as our technology advances, we spend more time tinkering with technological gadgets rather than enhancing our spirituality. Praying each day becomes more of a burden and an after-taught for many. The population is growing but only a few go to churches to hear and celebrate the Holy Mass. Why does mankind put faith behind and put more importance on material things? Are we really done with religion now? Does it no longer hold any relevance in our modern lives?

Many Americans say they're "spiritual but not religious." A Barna study defines who they are, what their beliefs are, and how they live out their spirituality daily.
There are two types of "irreligious spirituality," says the report, the second of a two-part exploration of faith and spirituality outside the church.
Thera are those who consider themselves "spiritual" but say their religious faith is not very important in their life, and then there are those who do not claim any faith at all, Barna explains.

The two groups include more women than men but equally make up around 8 percent of the U.S. population. Combined, they make up 11 percent of the population, as there is some overlap between the two.

These two groups, however, differ from the "love Jesus but not the church" crowd, on which the first part of the study focused, in significant ways, Barna cautions. "Those who Barna defined as loving Jesus but not the church still strongly identify with their faith," it explains, pointing out that those who say they believe in Jesus but no the church say their religious faith is "very important in my life today;" they just don't attend church.

(Via: http://www.christianpost.com/news/americans-identifying-spiritual-but-not-religious-barna-study-179888/)

While it is impossible to believe, people still believe in faith although they rarely go to churches anymore. It’s just that many people now have learned to distinguish between religion and faith. So, there might still be hope for mankind after all. On top of the name-calling and the discriminating, we should all be sensitive of the feelings of others and respect their rights as they respect ours to achieve world peace and harmony.

A Republican U.S. senator from Mississippi and the attorney fighting the state's law targeting the gay community are making the same argument on religious freedom, though for vastly different reasons.

Sen. Roger Wicker has signed a letter with 17 of his colleagues asking President Donald Trump to respect religious freedom.

"We cannot be a country that financially punishes individuals for practicing their sincerely held religious beliefs or decides which practices are a valid part of a particular religious tradition and worthy of protection," the letter Wicker signed reads.

"The core principle that animates both religion clauses — free exercise and the establishment clause — is the principal of neutrality, and when it comes to religious issues, the government has to be neutral and cannot put its weight down on one side of the debate," Kaplan told The Clarion-Ledger on Tuesday. "The core of our argument yesterday before the circuit court was that 1523 was flatly and obviously unconstitutional because it so clearly violates that principal by establishing three official or preferred religious beliefs in the state of Mississippi."

(Via: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/05/wicker-trump-protect-religious-freedom/100099008/)

There various cases of human rights abuse and religious persecution in the United States despite being an open and democratic country. Most stories in the news these days talk about unspeakable crimes that go to show how little regards we have left for others. Crimes have increased as the number of church-goers drop. The scriptures are there to supposedly guide mankind on how to live life in accordance with the teachings of the Lord but how will we know about it if we don’t go to churches or hear the mass anymore.

This religious fallout is worsened by our affinity to technology. Whatever little time we have left is taken up by other endeavors that include web browsing, movie watching, social media updating, etc. However, it is not too late yet. There definitely are some positive things happening. The sun shill shines after every storm and we can still rise up and redeem ourselves from our mistakes. While we try to identify as spiritual beings rather than religious ones, it seldom reflects in our actions. It does not hurt to be religious in our ways if it is the only way for us to get in touch with our inner self and rekindle our faith in that ultimate being.

A Fallout Of The Religious is republished from TCR Blog

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/a-fallout-of-the-religious/

Does Religion Affect Relationships?

There is a saying that goes, “No man is an island”. And it is true in every sense of the word. We live in a social world. We have a relationship with everyone in our family, school/ work, community, and to the world at large. At times we are in harmony but conflicts may also arise. While personal differences are often the reason we may have relationship issues with someone, it may also be about religion or religious beliefs.

Religion has sparked countless wars over the centuries. And until today, religion still manages to disturb the world order even though most faith teaches to respect one another. Not surprising as well, many terrorists fight for their religion – as many of them are die-hard Muslims. It is also the reason for the U.S. travel ban since President Trump not only dislikes most Muslims but thinks they’re terrorists as well. And as such, it has fueled an ongoing yet often unspoken debate about one’s religion. So, has religious extremism blinded people and affected relationships for good?

The post 9/11 scenario changed the course of history causing disastrous consequences and now the leaders must come out with an alternative strategy to promote peace and harmony. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the messenger of love who guaranteed the rights of followers of Christianity and Judaism. The Pact of Madina introduced by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the first ever charter of humanity granting recognition to human rights. It is time to eradicate all anti-human ideologies especially the one, which is taking its roots from religion. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are Abrahamic religions that could save the drowning boat of the humanity and convince their followers to understand one another, and live peacefully. Think-tanks, scholars and the political leadership of Pakistan and the United States need to make collective endeavors to end tensions escalated out of political fissures.

Radical interpretation of Islam must not be allowed.

Speakers said that despite improvements in security and economy in Pakistan, tensions continue to grow between the governments of Pakistan and the United States, which is not good for the people longing for an egalitarian society. Islamophobia is on the rise in the United States, Britain, France, Australia and other Western countries. They said that violence against minorities in Pakistan is hinting at uncertain future. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism need to find similarities rather than difference. Their followers should be convinced at the intersection of faith and reconciliation so that all sorts of stereotypes are wiped out paving way for real democracy and goodwill.

(Via: http://nation.com.pk/national/28-Mar-2017/religion-based-extremism-discrimination-anti-human-ideologies-speakers)

While the whole world sees Muslims as dangerous religious extremists, nobody is more at risk and in danger than ordinary Muslims who has nothing to do with the bloodbath yet they are the ones who are persecuted the world over.

“Saudi Arabia, which is the heart of Islam, wanted a coalition of Muslim state to fight terrorism… Terrorism destroys Muslims more than any other people. This terrorism was mentioned 1,400 years before it happened,” he said.

“The prophet said before the end of time, you will find youths claiming to be Muslims using the Qur’an to kill people. It was even mentioned in Islamic books that terrorism would come.

“Fighting terrorism, I am telling you, can only be effectively be done by Muslims themselves. So, when you see Muslims coming together to fight terrorism, and you you hear Christians voices saying ‘Nigeria should not join this force because it means we are Islamising  Nigeria’, this is wrong!”

Gumi said Muslims ought to come together to combat terrorism but the lack of cooperation from Christians had become a big setback.

“We need the Muslims to come together to fight this terrorism, but we don’t get the cooperation of our Christian citizens because of lack of understanding of what Islam is all about,”he said.

“We want the Christians to open up their mind allow Muslims to fight terrorism.

(Via: https://www.naijanews.com/news/8397-only-muslims-can-fight-terrorism-effectively-ahmad-gumi.html)

Nobody understands the religious ideals of the Koran than the Muslims themselves and perhaps they are also the ones who can effectively wipe out the threat of terrorism if they unite and fight the common enemy. What the West is doing right now does not help address terrorism at all but discriminate ordinary Muslims who have nothing to do with terrorists and sow hate in their hearts.

While the issue of religious extremists is a hot topic globally, a growing concern among relationship conflicts ending personal relationships is also seen everywhere. Most people are immune to divorce already because most marriages end in one.

Back in the olden days divorce rates were very low.  Religion had a strong influence and the world offered less life options and opportunities. Wives and husbands honoured their vows and stayed together through thick and thin. The bible is quite clear that marriage commitments must be honoured, which are at sometimes hard to fulfil.

At present about one in three marriages end in divorce.  All are based on religious commitments. I do wonder about exactly what is the flaw in the process, and what does religion say about what we should do afterwards?

As far as I know, the bible only goes to the point of marriage and after that it’s not prescriptive.  It  only says that women (wife’s) should submit to men (husbands), and to stay together through thick and thin forever. (Corinthians 7)

(Via: https://www.insights.uca.org.au/features/soapbox/what-does-religion-christianity-say-about-relationship-breakdown)

Many of us think of religion as our saving grace but many times it proved as wrong. Nothing has been as more divisive and destructive as religion and religious ideals. Even churches do not always practice what they preach. Conflict happens because we try to impose our beliefs on others when we should actually be respecting theirs and try to live in harmony. Even in our personal relationships, we attempt to dominate the relationship by telling the other person to embrace our beliefs and follow everything we say and do.

Religion should be about our faith. Remember that your religion will not save you in the end but your faith will. Do good to others and make the world a better place to live in. If we can only accept this truth, there will be less hate in the world and everyone will be more understanding of our personal differences. But for now, we can only hope that the time comes because human nature is making it harder for everybody to achieve that higher world order.

The following blog post Does Religion Affect Relationships? is available on The Church Report

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/does-religion-affect-relationships/

Activism Rises In The Trump Era

The world has always been the home to a diverse set of people and our personal differences make life more colorful more often than not. Most of these differences do not matter because they are petty and can be easily ignored. Other times, they concern causes bigger than ourselves and also have a bigger impact on the world. Activism is born when that happens. And we often attribute this term to the world of politics where no friend or foe is constant and loyalties do not last long.

Activists are patriots who aren’t afraid to show to the world how much they care for their causes. And as such, you can see political activists holding protests and fighting off the military with their bare hands armed only with a courageous and selfless heart and their placards. Since there are major changes happening in the country (and in the world) these days, it is no longer surprising to see more and more activists go out into the streets and make their voices be heard. After all, who would’ve thought that a racist guy like Donald Trump would win the highest political seat in the land? Worse, he lived up to his name and issued various policies without regard to the public interest soon after assuming the presidency.

After the 2016 election, Diane Redmond felt compelled to get involved in activism, but she wasn’t sure how.

“I felt frustrated because I have a limited income and I didn’t think I could help financially,” said Redmond, a graphic designer who lives in St. Louis. “What I did have was time I could sacrifice and energy I could spare, despite working two jobs.”

She eventually helped organize the Women’s March on St. Louis in January and continues to encourage community advocacy through DefendHERS, a social justice organization in the city.

Redmond isn’t alone. In the Show-Me state and nationwide, the unexpected election of President Donald Trump has inspired a new wave of political activism that doesn’t seem to be letting up.

While most demonstrations have been held in opposition to Trump, his supporters in Missouri say they’ve also felt compelled to continue grass-roots organizing efforts, often led by people who don’t have a history of being active in politics.

The controversial commander-in-chief has political newcomers turning out in droves, and experts say they haven’t seen anything like it.

“Trump is just not a person you have moderate feelings about,” said Ken Warren, a professor of political science at St. Louis University. “People are extremely for him or against him.”

(Via: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-activism-inspired-by-trump-shows-no-signs-of-slowing/article_feb85037-1b6b-582b-a419-f9ee7d26ea2d.html)

And this is especially true if you stay tuned to the news. Since he expressed his intent to be the Republican bet for the 2016 Presidential election, people were already furious while many rejoiced that a completely Pro-American like him intends to run for public office. And his bid was as controversial as his personal life which is nothing short of controversies after controversies.

In December, Teen Vogue writer Lauren Duca wrote a scathing opinion column about Donald Trump, “Donald Trump Is Gaslighting America” that went viral. Millennial-aimed sites Bustle and Mic are using new funding in part to build their politics coverage. The New Yorker is looking for writers who can flow between the worlds of politics and culture.

Politics and pop culture have long been intertwined, but it’s true more than ever in the era of Trump. As such, publications of all editorial stripes are capitalizing on audiences’ interest, deploying more staffers to capitalize on readers’ interest in the Trump election and its aftermath. Data from Chartbeat, which measures article production and consumption across online publishers, found that across a sample of thousands of publishers, there was a rise in both political coverage and readership (see chart below).

“Politics is dominating the conversation in a way we haven’t seen for a long time,” Bustle editor Kate Ward said. “Pretty much everyone wants to talk about it on a daily basis.”

The increased coverage has been good for audience growth, particularly at women’s sites, with traditionally women’s issues dominating the news. Traffic to Cosmopolitan’s politics vertical tripled from March to November, a period when traffic to the site overall was flat. “We have absolutely seen an unprecedented interest in political stories from our readers in the past six to 18 months,” said Kate Lewis, digital editorial director at parent Hearst, which has enlisted political columnists at Cosmo and Elle to augment Esquire’s longstanding coverage.

(Via: https://digiday.com/media/politics-pop-culture-news-trump-era-political-news-everyones-beat/)

Even on social networking sites, you can see people (even families and close friends to total strangers) getting into a heated discussion (fight) about their political views. Ordinary citizens have been turned into political activists all of a sudden and have a say on the country’s political climate.

“I don’t think voting is the end, but rather the beginning, of political participation. Voting is a ‘gateway drug’ to political engagement. Now, more than ever, is a time to engage, not just with voting, but by contacting representatives, joining political organizations, contributing, volunteering, demonstrating and maybe even running for office.”

(Via: http://miscellanynews.org/2017/04/05/news/democracy-matters-ponders-trump-era-voting-rights/)

We can expect to hear from more activists over the years as Trump’s presidency just barely took off. As the people who voted for him wait in anticipation for him to keep his promise of making America great again, many watches in nervous anticipation as to what his next antics will be (more travel bans, perhaps?) and how it will affect their lives. While not all protesters go out into the streets to make a scene, some protests in a variety of ways, the most popular of all is speaking (ranting) about their stand on social media.

Everyone has a right to free speech and that is one of the most overly used right nowadays. Whether it will serve its purpose or not is yet to be seen. For now, let us all wait on the sidelines and wait for President Trump’s next move and ponder whether there is yet another reason to protest after all.

Activism Rises In The Trump Era is available on thechurchreport.com

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/activism-rises-in-the-trump-era/

Snorers Suffer From More Broken Relationships

Most couples can’t get enough of each other at the onset of their relationship. They always try to win the affection of their partner and mostly show only their good sides. But over time, they get to know the other person for who they really are. While many are willing to accept the good along with the bad, there are some who aren’t just open or mature enough to do that.

It is the reason why relationships end before they even blossom. Even married couples face such challenges that result in divorce. While technically not really a relationship issue, snoring has ended relationships as often as personal differences, fallouts, money issues and infidelity do. If the other person is a snorer, it is often impossible for your partner or spouse to enjoy a good night’s sleep. It can make them cranky throughout the day and not look forward to sleeping time.

"It was rough on our marriage, for sure," says Ryan Weathers, owner of Mcmleague.com, who purchased the ZQuiet mouthpiece when the troubles persisted. "I never thought a mouthpiece would help, but I credit it with saving my marriage."

A huge number of British couples sleep in separate beds – even if they're madly in love.

Why? Because of irritating night time habits. There are a number of reasons why men vacate to the sofa, or women pop into the spare room.

Around 38 per cent of those in relationships sleep apart, according to bedroom company Tweak Mattress, which asked 2,000 British adults to find out about sleep patterns.

It's not just snoring causing people sleep separately. There's a multitude of reasons. Although snoring was the main culprit.

(Via: http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/sex-relationships/annoying-habits-causing-couples-sleep-9976000)

Although not an ideal set-up, many couples actually sleep apart and are especially true among couples where one is a loud snorer. However, is it really saving your relationships or hurting it more? And what about your health? Why do we focus on the relationship more and ignore how our health suffers.

But snoring is not funny. It ruins relationships, destroys careers and, in its most extreme form, it can kill; which is why Dilkes, consultant ENT surgeon at London’s Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth, wants us to wake up and smell the coffee.

Snoring is an epidemic with real public health consequences. Left untreated it can develop into sleep apnoea, which causes blood oxygen levels to plummet and is associated with impotence, loss of concentration, poor memory, diabetes, hypertension and, most worrying of all, heart attacks in the middle of the night. A not-so-silent killer.

Around 40 percent of men over 30 snore, of which two percent have sleep apnoea. Almost two thirds of men over 65 snore, with ten percent suffering sleep apnoea. Not that it is exclusively a male problem, as a fifth of women snore too, and the figures are likely to be much higher as social stigma drives snorers underground.

(Via: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/health/simple-workout-will-stop-snoring-improve-sleep/)

What you need to know is that snoring is manageable and there are different snoring treatments and managements you can choose from. You need not suffer or break off a relationship with your significant other because the snoring makes sleeping at night almost impossible.

Given the multiple causes of snoring, there are numerous potential treatments available that work on some but not others.

Recommended lifestyle changes include:

• avoiding alcohol before bed (minimises airway floppiness)

• losing excess weight (reduces airway compression)

• stopping smoking (reduces airway irritation and fluid accumulation)

• avoiding sleep deprivation (minimises airway floppiness)

There are several medical treatments for snoring that require professional advice. If you snore regularly, it is highly recommended you see a sleep and respiratory doctor for diagnosis and to determine the right treatment for you.

(Via: https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/03/all-the-ways-snoring-affects-your-health/)

If you really love your partner, why not help him/ her beat sleep apnea and the characteristic snoring while sleeping trait rather than ending the relationship. Snoring is a deadly condition and should never be taken lightly as many snorers haven’t woken up from their deep slumber. If you can’t accept this minor flaw of your partner, then it means your love isn’t strong enough and is but a valid excuse to end it once and for all.

While CPAP and surgery are the ultimate management for sleep apnea, the use of anti-snoring devices can help curb snoring and allow you to sleep soundly at night. A popular choice is an anti-snoring mouthpiece. It is not only convenient to use but very helpful in treating sleep apnea. With snoring already out of the way, you have no reason at all to worry about spending quality time with your partner at night or cause unnecessary rifts in the relationship.

The following blog post Snorers Suffer From More Broken Relationships is courtesy of The Church Report Blog

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/snorers-suffer-from-more-broken-relationships/