What Causes Acid Reflux?

Though the root causes are often unclear, perhaps the most prevalent acid reflux cause is a poor diet. Acid reflux occurs during digestion, when the stomach churns up acid or refluxes it into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat. So if you eat too many highly acidic foods like tomato sauces and/or fatty, fried foods, the stomach has to process an overabundance of acid. Too much acid can push back through a valve between the stomach and the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Acid reflux culprits include but are not limited to tomato based sauces, fried and fatty foods, chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruits, peppers, and caffeinated beverages.

Along the same lines as diet, overeating also causes reflux. When you overeat, the stomach can’t keep up with the demand to process all the acids. So food gets backed up, and digestive acids infiltrate the esophageal valve to cause that unpleasant burning feeling centered in the chest.

Also diet-related, another acid reflux cause is being overweight. There is a clear correlation between being overweight and a notable increase in the occurrence of acid reflux. Many believe this is because the extra weight puts more pressure on the stomach and esophagus. This pressure has been known to open the lower esophageal sphincter (esophagus valve), when the valve should be closed. This allows acid to escape into the esophagus.

Other factors that create a predisposition for acid reflux include smoking, use of alcohol, food allergies, certain medications, and lying down after meals. As you can tell, most of these factors can be overcome by practicing some behavioral modifications. In fact, in many cases of recurrent acid reflux, lifestyle changes are all that is necessary in preventing heartburn from becoming a chronic disease. Remember to consult a physician before embarking on any treatment strategy.

Bk. 5: Bathing (Ghusl)

1.248:
Narrated `Aisha:
Whenever the Prophet took a bath after Janaba he started by washing his hands and then performed ablution like that for the prayer. After that he would put his fingers in water and move the roots of his hair with them, and then pour three handfuls of water over his head and then pour water all over his body.

1.249:
Narrated Maimuna:
(the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Apostle performed ablution like that for the prayer but did not wash his feet. He washed off the discharge from his private parts and then poured water over his body. He withdrew his feet from that place (the place where he took the bath) and then washed them. And that was his
way of taking the bath of Janaba.

1.250:
Narrated `Aisha:
The Prophet and I used to take a bath from a single pot called 'Faraq'.

1.251:
Narrated Abu Salama: `Aisha's brother and I went to `Aisha and he asked her about the bath of the Prophet. She brought a pot containing about a Sa` of water and took a bath and poured it over her head and at what time there was a screen between her and us.

1.252:
Narrated Abu Ja`far: While I and my father were with Jabir bin `Abdullah, some People asked him about taking a bath He replied, "A Sa` of water is sufficient for you." A man said, "A Sa` is not sufficient for me." Jabir said, "A Sa was sufficient for one who had more hair than you and was better than you (meaning the Prophet)." And then Jabir (put on) his garment and led the prayer.

1.253:
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet and Maimuna used to take a bath from a single pot.

1.254:
Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im: Allah's Apostle said, "As for me, I pour water three times on my head." And he pointed with both his hands.

Bird Flu Is In The U.S

In that great Hitchcock thriller, the birds start attacking Tippi Hedron (Melanie Griffith's mom, for trivia fans) in Mendocino for no particular reason. Today, Ms. Hedron works actively in films, international relief efforts and for animal causes. She may get an ironic opportunity to combine her charity works with birds again, because scientists around the world are looking nervously at the increasing possibility of a return of avian influenza, also known as the bird flu. First identified in Italy in 1900, it is the H5N1 virus implicated in the great Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 that killed about 40 million people. I say "implicated in" instead of "caused," because it was government policies that made the death toll much higher than it needed to be. But there is no doubt H5N1 is a major killer. 

There are three steps H5N1 has to go through in order to get to people. First, there needs to be a lot of infected birds. Almost 200 million chickens have been killed or died in Asia in the last year due to avian flu infection. Strike One. 

Next, unless someone eats diseased poultry, the flu has to cross species into an animal that can easily infect people. It has now crossed into pigs, which is where most human flu outbreaks begin. Pigs carry human influenza viruses. Viruses can combine (exchange DNA) in pigs, creating a variant of H5N1 that can spread as easily and rapidly as ordinary flu. Strike Two. 

Finally, it has to hit an unprepared populace, with lowered immune systems and no effective drugs. Lowered immune systems are caused by, among other factors, cold weather, lack of sleep, excess weight, stress, high sugar intake and caffeine. Hmmm. Sound like anyone you know? 

Serious scientists think H5N1 could kill as many people as the 1918 disaster, if only because there are now more than three times as many people in the world. The UN Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza recently said a bird flu pandemic could kill as many as 150 million people. Other scientists have projected up to 354 million deaths. And you thought $3 gasoline was a major problem!
The H5N1 bird flu reappeared in Hong Kong in 1997. Eighteen people were infected, and six died. All the chickens in the area were slaughtered, and the outbreak was confined to Hong Kong. But it has now been found in Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia and Indonesia.
It then showed up in Russia, almost certainly carried by migratory birds. So much for banning chicken. In August 2005, it appeared in Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and then in western Russia, poised to enter Europe. Roumania found infected and dead swans in October. An infected parrot died in quarantine in the United Kingdom. 

The Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza in charge of a response to H5N1 says a pandemic could begin at anytime, and kill five million to 150 million people. He confirmed the virus is in migratory birds, and said an outbreak could start in Africa, where immune systems are chronically depressed, or the Middle East as well as southeast Asia. What he didn't say is that the same migratory birds, mainly ducks, swans and geese, also travel thousands of miles to Canada and the U.S. The H5N1 virus is almost certainly in the U.S. already - it just hasn't been found yet. December, Janaury and February are the "flu season" in both the U.S. and Asia. 

We have reviewed all the companies involved in bird flu vaccines, and found two stocks that should be bought immediately because they will make a fortune even if there is never a case of bird flu in the world again. Governments around the world are stocking up on vaccines just in case they are needed, and these stockpiles need to be replenished periodically. For the names of the two stocks, visit my website at http://www.NewWorldInvestor.net

Bk. 4: Ablutions (Wudu')

1.137:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The prayer of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs the ablution." A person from Hadaramout asked Abu Huraira, "What is 'Hadath'?" Abu Huraira replied, " 'Hadath' means the passing of wind."


1.138:
Narrated Nu`am Al−Mujmir: Once I went up the roof of the mosque, along with Abu Huraira. He perform ablution and said, "I heard the Prophet saying, "On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Al−Ghurr−ul−Muhajjalun" from the trace of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his
radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly).' "

1.139:
Narrated `Abbas bin Tamim: My uncle asked Allah's Apostle about a person who imagined to have passed wind during the prayer. Allah' Apostle replied: "He should not leave his prayers unless he hears sound or smells something."

Knowledge From Sahih Bukhari

Knowledge


1.56:

Narrated Abu Huraira: While the Prophet was saying somethingin a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, "When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?" Allah's Apostle continued his talk, so some people said that Allah's Apostle had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin had asked. Some
of them said that Allah's Apostle had not heard it. When the Prophet finished his speech, he said, "Where is the questioner, who inquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?" The Bedouin said, "I am here, O Allah's Apostle ." Then the Prophet said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday)." The Bedouin said, "How will that be lost?" The Prophet said, "When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.)"