Lack Of Sleep Can Kill

A month ago, many of us heard about the sad demise of Ranjan Das from Bandra, Mumbai. Ranjan, just 42 years of age, was the CEO of SAP-Indian Subcontinent, the youngest CEO of an MNC in India. He was very active in sports, was a fitness freak and a marathon runner. It was common to see him run on Bandra's Carter Road. Just after Diwali, on 21st Oct, he returned home from his gym after a workout, collapsed with a massive heart attack and died. He is survived by his wife and two very young kids.

It was certainly a wake-up call for corporate India. However, it was even more disastrous for runners amongst us. Since Ranjan was an avid marathoner ( in Feb 09, he ran Chennai Marathon at the same time some of us were running Pondicherry Marathon 180 km away ), the question came as to why an exceptionally active, athletic person succumb to heart attack at 42 years of age.

Was it the stress?

A couple of you called me asking about the reasons. While Ranjan had mentioned that he faced a lot of stress, that is a common element in most of our lives. We used to think that by being fit, one can conquer the bad effects of stress. So I doubted if the cause was stress.

The Real Reason
However, everyone missed out a small line in the reports that Ranjan used to make do with 4-5 hours of sleep. This is an earlier interview of Ranjan on NDTV in the program 'Boss' Day Out': Boss' Day Out: Ranjan Das of SAP India.

Here he himself admits that he would love to get more sleep ( and that he was not proud of his ability to manage without sleep, contrary to what others extolled ).

The Evidence
Last week, I was working with a well-known cardiologist on the subject of ‘Heart Disease caused by Lack of Sleep’. While I cannot share the video nor the slides because of confidentiality reasons, I have distilled the key points below in the hope it will save some of our lives.

Some Excerpts:

· Short sleep duration ( <5 or 5-6 hours ) increased risk for high BP by 350% to 500% compared to those who slept longer than 6 hours per night. Paper published in 2009. As you know, high BP kills.

· Young people ( 25-49 years of age ) are twice as likely to get high BP if they sleep less. Paper published in 2006.

· Individuals who slept less than 5 hours a night had a 3-fold increased risk of heart attacks. Paper published in 1999.

· Complete and partial lack of sleep increased the blood concentrations of High sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-cRP), the strongest predictor of heart attacks. Even after getting adequate sleep later, the levels stayed high!!

· Just one night of sleep loss increases very toxic substances in body such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-alpha) and C-reactive protein (cRP). They increase risks of many medical conditions, including cancer, arthritis and heart disease. Paper published in 2004.

· Sleeping for <=5 hours per night leads to 39% increase in heart disease. Sleeping for <=6 hours per night leads to 18% increase in heart disease. Paper published in 2006.
Ideal Sleep

For lack of space, I cannot explain here the ideal sleep architecture. But in brief, sleep is composed of two stages: REM ( Rapid Eye Movement ) and non-REM. The former helps in mental consolidation while the latter helps in physical repair and rebuilding. During the night, you alternate between REM and non-REM stages 4-5 times.

The earlier part of sleep is mostly non-REM. During that period, your pituitary gland releases growth hormones that repair your body. The latter part of sleep is more and more REM type.
For you to be mentally alert during the day, the latter part of sleep is more important. No wonder when you wake up with an alarm clock after 5-6 hours of sleep, you are mentally irritable throughout the day (lack of REM sleep). And if you have slept for less than 5 hours, your body is in a complete physical mess ( lack of non-REM sleep ), you are tired throughout the day, moving like a zombie and your immunity is way down ( I’ve been there, done that ).

Finally, as long-distance runners, you need an hour of extra sleep to repair the running related damage.

If you want to know if you are getting adequate sleep, take Epworth Sleepiness Test below.
Interpretation: Score of 0-9 is considered normal while 10 and above abnormal. Many a times, I have clocked 21 out the maximum possible 24, the only saving grace being the last situation, since I don’t like to drive ( maybe, I should ask my driver to answer that line ).

In conclusion:
Barring stress control, Ranjan Das did everything right: eating proper food, exercising ( marathoning! ), maintaining proper weight. But he missed getting proper and adequate sleep, minimum 7 hours. In my opinion, that killed him.If you are not getting enough sleep ( 7 hours ), you are playing with fire, even if you have low stress.

I always took pride in my ability to work 50 hours at a stretch whenever the situation warranted. But I was so spooked after seeing the scientific evidence last week that since Saturday night, I ensure I do not even set the alarm clock under 7 hours. Now, that is a nice excuse to get some more sleep.

Unfortunately, Ranjan Das is not alone when it comes to missing sleep. Many of us are doing exactly the same, perhaps out of ignorance.

Retired teacher running in Marathon des Sables to help those with HIV/AIDS

MANY people will readily donate money to a charitable organisation, and some will volunteer their services for a good cause, too.

Retired teacher and veteran marathon runner Mohamed Adnan Osman, however, is doing something that few would do.

He will be putting his body to the test by participating in the Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) – dubbed the “world’s toughest foot race” – in the hope of inspiring his friends, family and the whole nation to donate money to the Malaysia AIDS Foundation (MAF).

The Marathon des Sables is a seven-day competition in which participants are required to run 243km across the Sahara desert.

That distance is equivalent to five and a half regular marathons, and the longest single stage is 84km.

Along the way, the runners wil be traversing dry riverbeds, desert plains and mammoth sand dunes, in scorching temperatures of between 45°C and 48°C.

The event is held every year in the southern Moroccan desert, and this year, it is being held from March 27 to April 2.

Mohamed Adnan said he would be running alongside more than 800 other participants from around the world, aged between 16 and 78. Each of them is required to carry their own food and gear.

“In order to give some significance to this endeavour I will be using the marathon as a vehicle to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malaysia and raise funds for the MAF’s Medicine Assistance Scheme,” Mohamed Adnan said during a farewell party organised by the MAF at Celebrity Fitness in 1 Utama shopping centre in Petaling Jaya recently.

MAF chairman Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said she grateful to Adnan for naming MAF as his charity of choice, and hoped his deed would be an inspiration to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

“MAF also hopes that companies and individuals will be inspired by Cikgu Adnan’s amazing endeavour to donate to MAF.

“We are hoping to raise RM50,000 through this marathon fund-raising drive for our Medicine Assistance Scheme, which assists people living with HIV/AIDS with the purchase of medications,” she added.

Donations can be banked into Maybank account number 514105-421257 under the name Malaysian Aids Foundation.

Association wants more local runners

THE Federal Territory Amateur Athletics Association (FTAAA) will continue to bar foreigners, without PR status, from road races.

FTAAA secretary S. Vegiyathuman said they were happy with the high number of participants for the Kuala Lumpur City Day 10km Run at the Dataran Merdeka recently.

“Our aim is to encourage more local runners to take part as well as win the prizes.

Unfortunately some selfish people have taken advantage and roped in foreign participants for their own financial gain.

We have to stop the unsporting practice.

“The KL City Day Run was the first event we had implemented the ruling. We will continue to bar foreign participants, without PR status, from our future events as well,’’ said Vegiyathuman.

About 3,000 participants took part in the run which was organised in conjunction with the City Day celebrations. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup flagged off the run.

Vegiyathuman said the run was organised at a minimal cost and T-shirts were not provided to the participants.

“We are now looking into ways to promote running as an healthy activity. Monetary gain should not be the priority. We are happy with the big number of participants from primary schools. We hope the teachers, who had accompanied the primary school pupils, will continue to coach and guide them,’’ said Vegiyathuman.

However, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi felt that the FTAAA should allow participants from Singapore and Thailand to take part in the road races.

“The participants from the two countries were regulars in road races in Malaysia. They would be able to give some competition to our local runners,’’ said Sieh.

Mark Williams, who is with the Alice Smith International School, won the men’s Open category. He completed the run in a time of 36:32 while Malaysians M. Arul Thevar and P. Subramaniam were second and third in 36:32 and 36:41 respectively.

In the women’s open category, China-born Yuan Yufang, who has represented Malaysia in international meets like the SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics, clocked 43:58 to finish as the winner. Michelle Tan was second in 45:41, while Hayley Holle was third in 46:44.

Cikgu Adnan, 66-year-old marathon runner, gets sponsorship from Yayasan Sime Darby

Yayasan Sime Darby has contributed RM25,000 to support 66-year-old marathon runner Adnan Osman who can be admired for his tenacity and courage.

“This is not the type of endeavour an ordinary person will be able to accomplish and we admire Adnan for his courage,” he said at the handover of the company’s contribution to Adnan, here today.

Adnan, better known as Cikgu Adnan is a veteran of marathons.

He has competed in 12 marathons and scaled 12 mountains.

The six-day MDS race, to be held in Morocco from March 26 to April 2, will involve over 800 runners aged between 16 and 78. They are to cross 143 kilometres of uneven terrain in temperatures of up to 120 fahrenheit.

Additional Toll Discount in conjunction with Chinese New Year Holidays

聯邦州際公路 車速減10公里

交通部宣佈，農曆新年期間實施10大道路安全措施，其中全國聯邦公路及州際公路的駕駛時速，降低每小時10公里時速。
這項減速行動，也是配合自本月19日至下月2日展開的「態度行動19」所展開。交通部長拿督斯裡翁詩傑今午推介農曆新年道路安全運動後，宣佈這項應節的返鄉減車禍措施，內容包括教育宣導、執法及工程技術層面的10大措施。
其中，工程部將執行聯邦公路及州際公路下調每小時10公里時速舉措，而陸路交通局及警方則負責展開執法。
載重型車輛禁上路
交通部也將在1月24日、25日、31日及2月1日全面禁止以運載建築材料為主的第一級別重型車輛上路，而第2級別重型車輛允許在早上6時至午夜12時行駛。
第3級別重型車輛則在特定地區，允許於早上6時至傍晚6時上路，舒緩交通阻塞及減低意外風險。至於運載藥物、食物、燃料及垃圾等特定物品，還有來往碼頭及機場的第4級別重型車輛則不受限。
翁詩傑較後表示，該部今年著重3個特定項目，分別是扣後座安全帶、摩哆騎士扣綁符合規格頭盔及成人過馬路時牽兒童的手，並提醒道路使用者注意這方面安全。
「財神爺」提醒道路安全
據悉，交通部已製作相關道路安全廣告，從即日起在電子媒體頻密播出，其中廣告皆以華人熟知的「財神爺」為主角，提醒道路使用者注意這些安全事項，也貼切配合農曆新年氣氛。
他表示，長遠而言，該部將把主軸放在道路安全教育，即通過教育部在小學開始塑造年輕一代道路安全意識，成人方面則通過不斷宣導，糾正他們的錯誤觀念。
他說，該部也設下目標，要2010年死亡車禍率達至全國每10萬車輛對2人死亡車禍人數，而目前數據是每10萬車輛3.5人死亡。

KLIM loses title sponsor

AMBANK Group will not be part of the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon (KLIM) this year.
AmBank Group, with its annual contribution of RM400,000, had been the title sponsors of the KLIM since 2004. Besides the sponsorship, AmBank Group had also initiated a series of programmes, including a three-leg running circuit, to promote the KLIM.

The KLIM, organised by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Federal Territory Amateur Athletics Association (FTAAA), had gained international recognition and was included in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) calendar.

However, the DBKL had informed the financial institution that they were looking at other sponsors for the 2009 edition of KLIM.

AmBank Group public affairs director Syed Anuar Syed Ali confirmed that they had received a letter from the DBKL regarding the KLIM.

“The letter stated that they had a new sponsor and would like to thank AmBank Group for the support rendered since 2004. For the past four years, as the sponsors, we have played a part in the promotion of marathon in Malaysia.

“We wish the DBKL and FTAAA all the best in organising the KLIM,’’ said Syed Anuar.

However FTAAA are still waiting for the DBKL to confirm the date for the 2009 KLIM.

FTAAA secretary S. Vegiyathuman said they had tentatively scheduled the KLIM for Feb 22.

“The date is not far away and we have yet to receive any feedback from KL City Hall. We have to work fast as we have to start the promotions,’’ said Vegiyathuman.

Magazine picks adidas for two awards

ADIDAS Running has been internationally recognised by the world’s leading running magazine Runner’s World, winning two awards at the magazine’s yearend summit in New York.
The Supernova Cushion 7 took the Best Update award after winning over the Runner’s World editorial team with its comfort driven design, breathable ClimaCool upper and the ForMotion heel unit.
Adidas Running will build on this success next year with the introduction of the Supernova Glide.
With specific cushioning properties, the new Supernova Glide will also feature a more flexible sole thanks to material reduction around the Torsion System.
The Response Cushion 17 won the Reader’s Choice: Best Looking Shoe award after receiving over 4,200 votes from Runner’s World readers worldwide.
The stylish silver and white upper with the classic black three stripes caught the eye of Runner’s World readers while the adiPRENE cushioning ensured a comfortable as well as a fashionable run.
Its adiWEAR outsole and ground-adapting heel unit make this the ultimate shoe for dynamic runners.
Next Year, the Response Cushion 18 is destined to also make waves in the running design world. Entering retail in FW, the Response Cushion 18 will feature even smoother transition properties and a lock down overlay for the closest possible fit.
They are available in stores nationwide with the price range from RM329.90 to RM369.90 per pair.

Reader’s pick: The Response Cushion 17 was a favourite.

澳洲馬拉松女將麥甘癌症病逝．得年41歲

澳洲媒體今天報導，澳洲大英國協運動會兩面金牌得主麥甘（Kerryn McCann）因癌症病逝，得年41歲。
媒體引述澳洲乳癌患者互助網（Breast CancerNetwork Australia）的消息指出，麥甘昨晚病逝於雪梨南方烏隆岡附近的家中，家人隨侍在側。
麥甘是澳洲最成功的馬拉松選手之一，曾獲得2002年於英國曼徹斯特及2006年在澳洲墨爾本舉行的大英國協運動會比賽金牌。
去年她說，在發現懷了第三胎後，她已罹患乳癌，並在生了兒子古柏後，開始進行長期化療。
麥甘去年10月接受雜誌訪問時說：「外科醫生相信治療成功，且他是對的，這實在是太棒的消息。」
但今年9月，她的先生葛瑞格說，他的妻子身體「有些問題」，報導說她被肝癌所苦。
麥甘在墨爾本比賽中令人最難忘的時刻是在接近終點墨爾本板球場最後3公里處，和肯亞選手切羅諾(Hellen Cherono）一決高下獲勝的情景。

瞄準世界新紀錄．杜拜重金有請馬拉松之王

主辦者今天表示，衣索比亞籍世界紀錄保持人吉布塞拉西將參加明年一月十六日舉行的杜拜馬拉松。這項比賽的最高獎金可達三百萬美元。
卡瑪里在記者會上說，吉布塞拉西今年一月贏得杜拜馬拉松冠軍之後，杜拜方面就跟他一直保持聯繫。他當時差點刷新世界紀錄。
這項比賽獎金兩百萬美元，如果創下新的紀錄，將再發給一百萬美元。
吉布塞拉西九月二十六日在柏林締造兩小時三分五十九秒的新紀錄，這不僅是他第二十六次締造新的或最佳的世界紀錄，也使他成為第一個打破兩小時四分障礙的馬拉松跑者。

沒有世界記錄

以前由於馬拉松競跑是在公路上進行的，地形及氣候等不同，難以指定標準，所以沒有世界紀錄，而是以世界最佳成績來表達選手的成績記錄。直至2004年，馬拉松競跑才被允許擁有世界紀錄。

缺乏訓練仍想摘冠‧馬拉松女王飽受戰亂苦

肯雅‧內羅比）世界冠軍埃德利巴面對肯雅國內戰亂缺乏訓練，但她的信心卻不受影響，信誓旦旦要在北京奧運會女子馬拉松摘下金牌。
在2004年雅典奧運會上，埃德利巴以微差敗給日本選手野口瑞希，她說：“我沒有任何的壓力，我已經將雅典奧運會上的陰影拋諸腦後，我現在全心全意為北京奧運會冠軍奮鬥。”
許多運動員在戰亂中死亡
埃德利巴在肯雅監獄擔任接線員工作，但她有足夠的時間進行訓練。然而，肯雅國內時局動亂，很多長跑運動員都因此而死亡。
她說：“這是件很傷心的事，雖然我的親人朋友沒有1個受傷。但因為時局混亂，我已經一週沒有進行訓練了。外面的戰亂使我飽受折磨。我找不到可以訓練的地方。但是我會盡全力訓練，以達到我自己定下的目標。”
一名從1998年開始在肯雅訓練長跑的運動員說，戰亂已經嚴重影響了肯雅整個奧運代表團的訓練，特別是世界著名男子馬拉松選手勒伊和萬吉魯。
不能奪冠便是徹底失敗
埃德利巴在監獄上班的時間裡，擁有很多訓練跑步的時間。
她說：“我的工作給了我很多訓練的機會，所以我不能令他們失望。如果我不能在北京奧運會上奪得冠軍，便是一次徹底的失敗。”
在肯雅，埃德利巴被名眾暱稱為最棒的凱瑟琳，她統治馬拉松賽場已很多年，並認為自己選擇馬拉松是正確的，一定可以登上奧運會馬拉松頒獎禮的領獎台。
“每一天都是不一樣的。我一定不能空手而歸，我要為我的祖國奪回這枚女子馬拉松金牌。”

Start saving for your future

SET aside some money for yourself first when you get your pay cheque, that is the advice given by a chartered financial consultant so that you can retire as a millionaire.

K.H. Tan said the idea of “paying yourself first” was good and should start early in one's working life.

“Paying yourself first means before you settle the bills or spoil yourself on designer coffees, you set money aside for yourself. Now this isn't cash to splurge but cash to save for the future,” he said.

Tan, 38, added that many young executives who had attended his financial seminars felt it difficult to set money aside for themselves.

“Salary adjustments, increments and bonuses are earned. No matter how much you earn, you must force yourself to set aside an amount for retirement. If you don't do it, nobody else will,” he said at his recent I Can Be a Millionaire seminar.

However, Tan said: “Human nature makes it difficult as people think they don't have enough to pay themselves first because there's always something to spend the annual salary increase on.
“We advice many to start on a small sum instead of a ambitious sum.

“As income grows, increase the savings and to make the pay your self first effective, the process has to be automatic. Apply for an automatic bank transfer to take effect each time your income is credited to your account,” he added.

Tan's business partner P. Utama Raj strongly believes in the pay yourself idea and suggest that young executives request their employers transfer a fixed percentage of their income from their monthly pay to an investment portfolio.

“By doing so, the process becomes automatic and it makes it easier to hit that million ringgit mark due to the consistent monthly deposits and power of compounding interest,” he said.

Raj, 35, added that young executives must avoid incurring credit- card debts and spend wisely.
“One good approach to spend wisely is to use cash whenever possible.

“Being discipline does not mean a lack of a social life or depriving oneself of every shopping urge.

“We must keep our spending habits within reason thus exercising delayed gratification,” he said.

慈濟勘災團啟程 - 援助四川救急難

（慈濟訊）正當慈濟勘災隊伍進駐緬甸不久，2008年5月12日，位於中國四川汶川縣更傳出發生規模7.9級強震；地震強度相當於兩百五十一顆原子彈能量釋放，是臺灣1999年921大地震的五倍。地震發生後，重大災情不斷傳出，傷亡人數更是節節攀升！

當四川震災災情傳出，證嚴上人立即指示慈濟基金會花蓮本會成立災難協調中心，號召全球慈濟人力量共同救災。 由中國地區慈濟人所組成十六人勘災團已於今天（ 5月14日）先行動身進入重災區勘災。

另外，來自慈濟花蓮本會十一人勘災團隊，將於隔日（5月15日）出發前往災區，以協助進行勘災等後續救援評估；隨行包括大愛電視臺記者，以到四川災區進行現場直線追擊。

慈濟基金會第一批救援物資包括：四萬兩千條毛毯以及一萬零兩百個生活包等，總重有六十噸，將連同紅十字會提供的急救包、夾克，以及帳篷等共一百一十噸物資，由華航包機隨明天臺灣慈濟團隊運往成都，發放給災民。

若民眾有意捐款以援助災民，

可將款項捐入慈濟《國際賑災》銀行專戶：

戶口名稱：Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merit Society Malaysia

戶口號碼：004067500119 Malayan Banking Berhad

自強震過後迄今，四川省當地仍有大大小小的餘震發生，又碰上天雨來攪局，民眾人心惶惶。面對不斷攀升的死傷人數，來自各方的賑災速度，也在跟救援時間賽跑。

證嚴上人慈示：驚世的災難，要有警世的覺悟！上人呼籲大家要以戒慎虔誠的心，為災民祈福，唯有凝聚眾人虔誠善心與善念，才能共同消彌災難。

臺灣佛教慈濟基金會馬來西亞 謹啟

國際賑災捐款 捐款方式：

1） 郵寄支票

-支票擡頭 " BUDDHIST TZU CHI MERIT SOCIETY MALAYSIA"

-地址：55-57A JALAN SS25/2 TAMAN BUKIT EMAS 47301 PETALING JAYA

2） 匯入戶口號碼

-戶口名稱：Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merit Society Malaysia

-戶口號碼：004067500119 Malayan Banking Berhad

-請把BANK IN SLIP+連同捐款者姓名+聯絡電話+地址

傳真回來吉隆坡分會（FAX：03-78808158）以便郵寄囘收條。

3） 前來吉隆坡分會捐款

-辦公時間： 星期一至星期六，9AM-8PM

-星期日 9AM-6PM

-地址：55-57A JALAN SS25/2 TAMAN BUKIT EMAS 47301 PETALING JAYA (KELANA JAYA LRT STATION 對面)

-聯絡電話 03-78809048

Donate Money for China Earthquake

Anyone who interest to donate $$ for China Earthquake,

You can issue cheque to ‘YAYASAN NANYANG PRESS’

Address :
Yayasan Nanyang Press,
No.1, Jalan SS7/2,
47301 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Contac:
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柏楊走了，華人依然醜陋

作者 - 宋育晶
第一次看柏楊先生的書，是在10多年前的學生時代，一本《丑陋的中國人》看得我失眠，看完后腦子浮現的都是書中所說的醬缸、蛆蟲、中國人（或者說華人）各種的惡行惡相。
我記得從小開始，無論是學校老師教的，還是書本上看到的，都是說「中國五千年悠久的文化」、「偉大的華夏文明」、「優秀的炎黃子孫」、「我們都是龍的傳人」等。即使是海外華人，許多家長也會向孩子灌輸這種觀念，培養孩子的民族自豪感。
無可否認，中華民族是優秀的，但長期以來，這個民族卻積累了許多根深蒂固的惡習和固步自封的觀念。就如柏楊所說的，這種醬缸文化，讓我們永遠沾沾自喜、盲從、不團結而愛窩里斗、死不認錯，這樣的民族習性如何能承擔更艱巨的歷史重任？如何能為人類做出更大的貢獻？
當初柏楊揭露了「丑陋的中國人」的一面，如同在華人世界投下了一枚原子彈！身為中國人，柏楊如此尖銳、直截了當地批判中國人，讓許多人費解。但必須承認，柏楊所指出的，都是真相，他只不過是說真話而已，這一點，又讓人折服、慚愧！
在網上看到某位人士這樣評論：「柏楊最大的價值不僅體現在他2000余萬字的文學和史學著作，更體現于在中國人的劣根性逐漸被美飾得近乎虛假的時候，再次揭了全體中國人的瘡疤。」
《丑陋的中國人》這本書問世20多年了，但是「醜陋的華人」依然醜陋。遠的不說，就說本國華人好了，當初許多看過這本書的人，如今捫心自問，我們身上是否還有這種民族劣根性：自私、死不認錯、崇拜權貴、不知「法治」為何物？而本地的華社，從華團到政壇，是否還在醬缸里，繼續內斗、互相猜忌？
柏楊先生曾經幾次來馬演講，他告訴這里的華人，不要抱怨。盡管我們可能遭遇有欠公平的待遇，但如果一昧抱怨，並不能改變事實，而是要想辦法改變。但是，你想，一個不團結的華社，可以改變些什么？
我們華人的這個病，已經5000年了，《丑陋的中國人》是柏楊當初下的大帖猛藥，可惜的是，藥雖然是下對了，但是病人似乎不受藥，這是民族的悲哀

知名作家柏楊病逝

（台灣‧台北）知名作家柏楊今日（週二，29日）凌晨1時12分，於新店耕莘醫院病逝，享壽89歲。
柏楊2月24四日因肺炎及呼吸衰竭入進深切治療病房，3月19日轉入普通病房，後來又因胃部問題進行“胃造廔”手術，再次住進深切治療病房，4月12日才轉普通病房，以氧氣及呼吸輔助器治療。
住院期間，候任總統馬英九於4月16日前往探視，總統陳水扁也於4月27日以私人不公開行程探視柏楊，並以“勇士”稱呼，柏楊當時也打起精神回應。
他的遺體已移至台北市第二殯儀館，家屬決定先火化遺體，再舉辦基督教安息禮拜追思會。
柏楊的等知名作品包括《醜陋的中國人》、《中國人史綱》等，《中國人史綱》更被列為對社會影響力最大的十部書之一。

Unknown Woon pays his way from US to compete in Games

THE journey to the Korat SEA Games has been a long and tough one for Malaysian marathon runner Woon Chan Yew and it’s not over yet.

He had to train under sub-zero temperatures, pay US$1,600 (RM5,200) for air ticket and endure a 20-hour flight from Iowa via Los Angeles to reach Kuala Lumpur, all because he wanted to represent the country in the Games.

Who is Chan Yew? He was born in Kuala Lumpur 28 years ago, works as an assistant dining service manager at the University of Iowa, the United States, and is down to run in the marathon.

But gaining his berth to the Games was also an uphill one. Not many in Malaysia knew about him and his ability to compete at such a high level. After all he has never won anything significant.

Upon arriving in Korat, he told Bernama: “I started running in the marathon one year ago and won a local meet. The local press covered it and last month I sent the press clipping to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) when I found out that the athletics squad to Korat was not finalised yet.

“A series of e-mails were exchanged and my winning time of 2’32:00 convinced the OCM to give me a chance.

“I had to fork out my own money to pay the air ticket and had to convince my bosses to allow me to take leave to compete here. I cannot promise a gold medal for Malaysia but I have promised the OCM that I will give my best and not give up. I will fight and fight on until the very last.

“That’s my promise to the OCM and the Malaysia Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU),” said Chan Yew.

Not many are expecting Chan Yew to strike gold but he is here under the Category A ticket, which means he is a medal prospect, but more importantly he is already a winner in his own right.

But win or lose for Chan Yew, after the Games he will have to work on his off days when he goes back to make up for the leave he has taken to be part of the Games.

“But I guess it’s all right with me. The experience of the Games and the chance to represent my country is worth it,” said Chan Yew.

The commitment and sacrifice shown by Chan Yew also received a round of applause from MAAU vice-president Karim Ibrahim who said his attitude should serve as an example to others.

死亡运动之马拉松 - 芝加哥命案分析心脏病是主因

“坚持，一定要坚持”查理·希伯尔在芝加哥马拉松赛赛程过半后，仍不停的往身上浇着水，他默默地给自己鼓着劲，他觉得自己一定能够坚持跑完全程，虽然今年已是35岁的年龄，但他是一名警官，平日生活习惯良好，也不乏锻炼，完成马拉松应该不成问题。

然而，悲剧在他努力的跑完了18英里后发生了，毫无征兆地，查理瘫软在煞白的马路上，很快地，脉搏停止了跳动。等到医护人员赶到并将他送往当地医院时，魂魄已经悄悄离开了他的身体。当天下午一点，这位倔强的长跑爱好者被宣布死亡。

据主治医生介绍，查理·希伯尔患有二尖瓣脱垂，过于激烈的运动，导致心源性猝死。心性猝死是指在既往健康的状态下因非创伤性原因引起的意外心脏骤停,并于发病6小时内死亡，它是运动性猝死的最主要原因。2004年10月17日,北京国际马拉松赛暨第5届首都高校马拉松挑战赛过程中,两名业余选手
——北京某大学学生和某长跑俱乐部联队队员猝死。一年后的10月16日,在2005年北京国际马拉松赛上,又发生了相似的一幕，一名26岁的业余选手猝死。而究其死因，都和心源性猝死离不开。

当然，引发死亡的还有炎热的天气和马拉松恶劣的外界条件也是容易发生悲剧的根源。“那天的气温很热，街上没有一点风，空气出奇的潮湿。”一名参赛队员回忆着当时芝加哥马拉松赛的情况，据估计，当天早上的温度已高达二十度，随着比赛的进行，气温更是急剧攀升到31度，这时候，很多的参赛者已经出现体力不支，严重脱水等状况。

因为马拉松距离很长，管理也相对困难。本次芝加哥公路赛的主办官员解释说“水都是放在桌上由参赛者自己拿去。很多队员在炎热的天气下，用矿泉水浇在身上用来降温，而不是必要的补给，导致后面很多选手没有足够的饮用水导致最后严重脱水。”

即便如此，大多数人认为主办方不应该为自己开脱，有人甚至认为“在如此恶劣的情况下，组委会在比赛进行了三个半小时后才宣布中止，是一件很残忍，很不人道的事情。”

历史总是以自己的方式提醒着人们不要忘记，“欢乐吧，雅典人，我们胜利啦！”公元前450年斐里庇得斯在雅典城的中央广场激动地大叫后倒地，那时，马拉松便有了死亡的味道。

40公里又200米，一个马拉松的距离，一个从生到死的尺度。2007年的10月8日，又一个完好的生命因为马拉松而丧命。



链接：

芝加哥马拉松：

创办于20世纪70年代，自1997年起，连续3年创造出惊人的成绩，从而成为全美最好最大的马拉松。环形的路线平坦、宽敞、速度很快，起点和终点都在位于密歇根湖畔辽阔的格兰特公园。这条路线充分展示了芝加哥的迷人之处，从市中心的摩天大楼到城市的北部，西部和南部不同种族的聚居区，这些都是很多旅游者从没看到过的。


二尖瓣脱垂(mitral valve prolapse)：

指由于二尖瓣装置异常，造成瓣膜在心室收缩期异常地脱入左房。此约1/4～l/5的患者无症状。症状多为非特异性，以间隙性、反复性、一过性为特点。半数以上有胸痛，位于心前区，为钝痛，锐痛或刀割样疼痛，可以是一过性，亦可持续数小时，含服硝酸甘油效果不一。偶尔可有典型心绞痛症状。胸痛可能是由于脱垂的瓣叶使乳头肌及其周围左心室壁过度牵张，引起缺血和冠状动脉痉挛所致。约半数有心悸，少数有头晕和晕厥。活动时心电图连续监护发现，心悸和心律失常之间的相关性不高。晕厥亦可出现在无心律失常时。40％患者有气短、乏力症状。如有严重二尖瓣返流，可出现左心功能不全症状。偶尔有一过性脑缺血表现。除了上述与二尖瓣功能紊&#
20081;及并发症有关的症状外，患者可有焦虑不安、过度换气等自主神经系统功能紊乱症状。

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