Florence Nightingale originated from a wealthy British family and received a brilliant home education. Her destiny as a woman from the upper social class was to marry a rich man and become a housewife. However, Florence was a very active and determined young lady. In her early twentieth, she realized that not the worldly avocations, but taking care about the people in poverty and sickness was her true calling. Despite the antagonism of her parents, Nightingale entered nursing career, looking for support and inspiration in reading books on theology, medicine and philosophy, as well as taking care about the poor.

After several years of medical practice in Europe, Florence Nightingale was back to London, where she continued working as a superintendent in the “establishment for gentlewomen during illness”. That was the first chance for her to create her own strategy of hospital work organization. Since she had to face the main problems of the British medical care system, including poor discipline, ineffective management, lack of professional education, etc., she started looking for ways to solve them.

During the Crimean war, Nightingale was appointed for serving in a hospital in Turkey, and this work became a turning point in her career. Together with a group of her associates, Nightingale made every effort to organize a proper medical care for wounded soldiers: she initiated new principles of medical sanitary and patient care, introduced healthy diet and proper hygiene, made medical personnel wear uniforms and keep proper records on every patient. As a result,  the mortality rate declined from 42.7% to 2.2%. This experience helped Nightingale to define the highest mission of her life. When she was back to England, she decided to dedicate herself to promoting the idea of total reformation of the British public health care system. She was giving public speeches and wrote a series of books and articles, which are still used as manuals for the knowledge of nursing.

She was involved in charity campaigns and raised funds for many hospitals in Britain. She developed some charts and diagrams to illustrate mortality statistics and used them as an effective tool for making the authorities realize the need for changes in the existing health care system. A great deal of Nightingale’s reforms were implemented and highly appreciated. Finally, she established a training school at St. Thomas hospital. Today, Florence Nightingale is remembered not only because she “..changed the very nature of the profession [clinical nursing] and introduced scientific measurement of nursing practice” (Mundinger). She earned her place in history as one of the most educated, courageous and determined women, who relieved pain and suffering of thousands of people around the world and whose life was filled with infinite care, compassion and love for humanity.

Critics, who were opposing the decision to make morning-after pills available without a prescription, used to say that no studies had been carried out to show if long-term use of the medicine is safe. They were arguing that easy access to emergency contraception would increase unsafe sex, particularly among the teenagers. Also, they took the idea of the FDA as an objection to moral conscience, a new hidden form of aggression against the weakest and most defenseless creatures, human embryos.

Supporters used to say that there was no evidence that morning-after birth control would lead women into carelessness about regular birth control or sexually transmitted diseases, or cause more sexual activity, in general. They underlined that wider use of the pills could considerably decrease the amount of unintended pregnancies every year and prevent thousands of abortions, which are quite harmful for health.

There were a lot of fears and pessimistic opinions on the problem of availability of emergency contraception for teenagers and adolescents. Also, there were a number of controversial researches conducted in the countries, where PCP could be obtained without a prescription. In particular, Swedish specialists reported about serious increase of unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases among the youth in 1999-2004. At the same time, in Britain the amount of incidents of teenage unprotected sex did not increase after launching Plan B.

There were no numerous studies conducted on this point in the US, but the majority of the specialists supposed that making emergency contraception available for everybody, including teenagers and youth, would not bring to increase in risky sexual behavior and would not result in abuse of morning-after pill. Finally, in autumn 2006, the FDA approved non-prescription asses to emergency contraception in our country, therefore, morning-after pill is now available over-the-counter in all licensed pharmacies for women over 18.

This decision did not meet support from American specialists, in particular, from American Academy of Pediatricians, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and other institutions. They express the opinion that young people will have sexual relations in anyway, and making assess to PCP limited for teenagers and youth will result in nothing else but increasing the risks of unwanted teenage pregnancies and abortions in our country.

Undoubtedly, emergency contraception has a good potential for lowering the number of unwanted pregnancies. Recently, more and more women visit the pharmacists to buy the pills for emergency contraception. The FDA scientific advisers present morning-after pills as a very secure and important tool to decrease the amount of abortions in our country. But, at the same time, every woman has to be properly informed about the side-effects and restrictions for using Plan B, as well as understand the risks and responsibility she takes.

PCP can be taken as an effective method of contraception in the cases, when a woman had an act of unprotected sexual intercourse and does not want to get pregnant. Also, she can use morning-after pill when primarily applied method of contraception failed by some reason. For example, if the condom broke, or birth control pills were not taken in time, then emergency contraception can become a good decision to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

It also can be used when a woman, who takes regular contraception pills, has had a tummy upset, or when she is not certain if she may have ‘missed’ her pill (together with its effectiveness against possible pregnancy). Finally, in the situations when rape or other sexual assaults take place, emergency contraception offers an essential alternative to the prospects of abortion or undesired motherhood.

Possible side-effects of taking morning-after pill are not much different from usual side-effects of taking other contraception pills. Specialists say that PCP can cause nausea, headache, dizziness, pain or heaviness in breasts, and slight vaginal bleeding. Emergency contraception can affect regularity of menstruation. Also, doctors underline that pregnancy (as one of possible side-effects) can be avoided with very high probability only if the pill was taken within 24 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse.

Certainly, PCP can not protect from sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS/HIV, because emergency contraception belongs to hormonal methods of protection. Therefore, women must remember that only condom protects against STD, and such form of contraception still remains the safest. Another drawback of emergency contraception is limitation on using such pills. For example, Postinor must not be taken more than 2-4 times per month; otherwise it may lose effectiveness and become very harmful to female organism.

But, generally speaking, morning-after pill is quite safe and can be taken by the majority of women without any fear. Moreover, according to recent medical tests, PCP does not affect or harm fetus in cases, when a woman gets pregnant even after taking the pill. The only risk group is the females, who have serious liver disorders or suffer from a rare disease, called porphyria.

Undoubtedly, there are other advantages of emergency contraception. It is supposed to be a secure and quite affordable treatment women can use at any time and place. For the females, who got pregnant after a sexual assault, PCP can be an essential need. Any woman, who became a victim of rape, should definitely be offered such a pill as soon as possible. It is proved by the tests that the pill prevents about 89 % of unwanted pregnancies when taken within 24 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse.

First of all, all those burgers, Big Macs and potato fries are very caloric. They are fried using a lot of fat and other substances, which are harmful to our digestive system. Our body can not cope with such amounts of calories, and when we eat fast food very often, we open the way to gaining weight and becoming obese.

Besides, many types of fast food contain so called oxidized fat, which is very dangerous to our vessels and can cause problems with blood circulation. Oxidized fat can be a reason of arterial plague formation. Such plague can get collected in our arteries, block our blood flow and cause some serious diseases, including heart attack.

Finally, when we go to fast food restaurants, we have a tendency to eat really fast and pay no attention on how much we eat. Eating fast affects our appetite and our digestion to a great extent, so every time we come to fast food restaurants again, we want to eat bigger and bigger portions of meals, because fast eating does not make us feel full.

Therefore, there are many opponents of fast food and eating in fast food restaurants since it is quite harmful to our overall health. Nowadays, there is a huge public trend directed on taking good care about our health, because our good health is our most priceless asset. In order to live a long life, be always healthy and fit, we must be very careful about what we eat and how we eat.

Unlike previously mentioned Cognitive behavioral approach, which analyzes psychology from more “scientific” positions, Existential approach means using philosophic basis and understanding, what is human being. The most known works on Humanistic approach are: the Concept of Self-actualization and other theories of A. Maslow, and also Gestalt Therapy (based on the concept “now and here”).

Integrated approach is a strategy, which combines two or more approaches, according to the particularities of an individual case. The specialist, who uses Integrated approach, analyzes the situation and creates a special program for a client, using advantages and benefits of any/some above mentioned approaches or strategies. Category of Systems is frequently used in Family Therapy and Counseling.

Modern researches discovered that, taking into account all the differences, there is no approach, which can demonstrate better efficiency than the others. Specialists underline that the key for successful therapy is developed personal skills and establishing of good contact between customer and therapist. Nevertheless, there are definite types of disorders and distresses, which can be better treated by using the techniques of specified approach (for example, Cognitive Behavioral therapy is the best for treating people suffering from panic disorders, etc.).

Frequently this approach includes analysis of unconscious reaction of a person through interpersonal patterns. There are a lot of specific techniques, which are used by the specialists of psychodynamic therapy, like interpersonal interpretation, free association, childhood experience, working through past, etc. This approach differs from the others with its applicability to the clients with good flexibility and ability to plunge into their past in order to understand and improve their present.

Cognitive behavioral approach is, probably, the most popular strategy in practice; it is very effective for treatment of such spread psychological disorders like depression, phobias, anxiety, etc. This approach is more general and its main characteristic is concentration of the therapist on analyzing “thoughts” and “thinking” of a person as a reason of psychological disorder. In other words, the therapist tries to analyze the influence of thoughts and perception of this world on behavior, to find out negative feelings and to help in replacing them with healthy positive emotions.

Cognitive behavioral approach also includes some different specific strategies, for example, rational behavior or rational living therapy, rational emotive therapy, and others. There is quite wide range of special techniques, like brainstorming, self-talk, evaluating evidence, target actions, modifying beliefs, etc., which can be used within this approach and chosen by a specialist accordingly to particular details of a situation. Bibliotherapy (reading therapy), being a part of cognitive behavioral strategy, received huge popularity and gives with brilliant results when treating moderate depressions.

There are three groups of reasons which are considered to be the main causes of hair loss. The first group includes various psychological reasons. Those are, first of all, different stresses and the conditions, which cause anxiety, worry and continuous nervous tension. There are numerous situations, when people start losing their hair after serious psychological traumas and shocks, such as a reaction on sudden death of a family member, etc.

The second group includes physical factors. Such reasons as eating disorders, dieting and taking a lot of medications, injuries, malfunctions of liver and thyroid, infectious diseases and problems with the level of hormone called dihydro-testosterone, can cause hair loss. Besides, such physical factors as aging, consumption of some toxic substances and exposure to great doses of radiation also contribute greatly to the development of this problem.

Finally, the third group includes genetic reasons, such as genetic predisposition to hair loss. It is one of the strongest and the most common causes of hair loss. Very frequently men inherit from their fathers and grandfathers the genes which cause baldness. Fortunately, modern medical technologies offer a variety of effective solutions, including hair loss treatment (medications, special diets, massage of head, and so on), hair implantation and others.

Certainly, steroids are effective for increasing strength and size of muscles. But there is a great deal of negative effects, which can seriously damage the organism and even cause death. Psychological effects of using steroids include the attacks of increased aggression and uncontrolled anger, various psychological disorders, panic attacks, hallucinations, sleeping disorders, and so on. Besides, in some situations steroids can cause addiction, along with other not less terrible dangers of using anabolic steroids.

The second group of the effects includes the factors connected with increased level of testosterone and hormonal changes in the body. The men who use steroids can start having problems with urination, suffer from erectile malfunction or shrinking of the testicles, start developing breasts, etc. The girls who use anabolic steroids can start developing male characteristics, including growing facial hair, having deepened voice and menstrual irregularities, etc.

In addition, using steroids can result in problems with blood pressure, the level of cholesterol in blood and normal functioning of digestive system. Finally, steroids also affect such important organs of human organism, as liver and heart, and can cause liver malfunction, heart attack, as well as liver or blood cancer. That is why in order to remain healthy, it is strongly recommended to avoid using steroids.

That is why more and more people start supporting the idea that marijuana must not be strictly prohibited for adults, but just legally controlled, taxed and regulated. There are various scientific arguments in favor of marijuana, especially in comparison with such “usual things” of our life as tobacco and alcohol. According to the experts, marijuana is less harmful than tobacco, and smoking marijuana does not cause any dependence. Moreover, when the effects of using alcohol usually lead to aggressive behavior, human reaction on marijuana can be described as pacifism and non-violent behavior.

Also, the proponents of decriminalization of cannabis cultivation point on possible positive economic effects which can be achieved after marijuana legalization. They say that national government will be able to receive up to several billions USD from taxes on marijuana in case of its legalization. Furthermore, much higher incomes can be obtained from cannabis processing industry and related industrial branches. Even strictly controlled sells of marijuana will bring a lot of money from licenses and excise duties. Thus, good money could be saved at the expense of cancellation of different federal programs and other “anti-marijuana efforts”.

Besides, there are  other issues connected with legalization of marijuana. Experts point on medical advantages of using cannabis, which is especially effective when treating people with  cancer. That is why in some states using marijuana with medical purposes was recently permitted. Also, many people are convinced that legalization of marijuana will help to decrease the number of crimes connected with drug dealing and abuse.

However, there are a lot of opponents of marijuana legalization who built their argumentation mostly on ethical, religious or social statements related to the issue. Many consider marijuana consumption to be the first step to using other more dangerous drugs, like heroine, cocaine, etc. They underline that if marijuana is legalized, it would bring to a number of new unnecessary dangers in our daily life, including driving under effect of marijuana, making children smoke marijuana, and so on.

Also, many researches by the representatives of FDA resulted in scientific findings show that marijuana is harmful for health and can cause serious physical and mental damage, like lung cancer, brain damage, amotivational syndrome, depression, etc.Nevertheless, the number of people in the United Sates who support marijuana legalization increases every year. This tendency is supposed to be global, that is why many specialists suppose that decriminalization of marijuana cultivation and distribution in the most developed democratic societies of the world is only a matter of time.

The symptoms and signs of the both types include, first of all, attacks of thirst and, as a result, frequent urination. Also, lack of energy in human body can cause extreme hunger, but usually diabetic people do not gain weight. Finally, high level of sugar in blood and lack of sugar in body cells can cause problems with eyes and fatigue. People with type 2 diabetes usually have difficulties when healing sores and fighting with different infections.

In order not to develop diabetes, it is necessary to undertake the following preventive measures: (1) going in for sports and having not less than 30 minutes of physical activities every day (walking, jogging, swimming, riding a bike, etc.); (2) eating healthy food, mainly foods with low calories and fat, like vegetables, fruit, etc.; (3) keeping normal body weight by dieting and regular exercising; (4) controlling alcohol consumption, etc.

Treatment options embrace monitoring and recording the level of sugar in blood, as well as taking some medications and insulin therapy, which includes insulin injections or using insulin pump. Also, proper self-care can be an important element of treatment program, including taking care about own body, controlling blood pressure and level of cholesterol, living psychologically balanced and emotionally positive life, etc.