Overview
Self-esteem fluctuates over time, according to recent findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Family relationships, social status and career achievement influence our feelings of personal worth, which can vary depending on our stage of life. Self-esteem generally evolves similarly for men and women across the lifespan, but how we learn to value ourselves as individuals---and what we learn to value---may differ.
Similarities
With greater income and employment status, self-esteem increases for both sexes until age 60. That's according to researchers Ulrich Orth, Ph.D., Kali Trzesniewski, Ph.D. and Richard Robins, Ph.D., whose longitudinal study sampled more than 3,600 participants ranging in age from 25 to 104 years. After age 60, reduced income and declining health contributed to lower self-esteem, a trend that is consistent for both sexes.
Differences
Men have been shown to have higher self-esteem than women for the majority of adult life, according to Orth and colleagues. The study further suggested that social, economic and health factors may contribute to this difference. Self-esteem also differs for men and women, notes Joel Wade, Ph.D., of Bucknell University. His study, which appeared in a 2000 issue of International Journal of Psychology, found that men's self-esteem is linked to physical strength and a sense of dominance, while women's self-esteem is often associated fertility and motherhood.
Significance
Self-perception often determines how we respond to feedback from others--including in the workplace. That's according to researchers Maria Johnson and Vicki Helgeson, Ph.D., whose article appeared in a 2002 issue of "Psychology of Women Quarterly." In their study, Johnson and Helgeson found that men's self-esteem was largely unaffected by either praise or corrective feedback from their employers, whereas women's self-esteem increased with positive comments and decreased sharply with negative comments. Johnson and Helgeson further suggest that our internal responses to feedback may impact our job performance, work ethic and overall employment satisfaction.
Misconceptions
For both men and women, overall well-being may be at risk when self-worth is contingent upon external factors, notes Jennifer Crocker, Ph.D. of University of Michigan. Seeking continual validation from others increases frustration, feelings of stress and vulnerability to depression. In contrast, those who feel secure in themselves for who they are---rather than what they do---are less likely to demonstrate such problems.
Considerations
Changing how we view self-esteem can ultimately improve social relatedness, notes Crocker. By focusing our goals on helping others instead of self-affirmation, Crocker suggests we may connect with others in a more meaningful way, and thus experience greater life satisfaction.
"I pray that this article enables you to M.A.N. Up!"
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Men's Health
In general, men have less awareness about their overall health, and there are poorer and fewer health education and health programs that focus on men than women. This is important because in the 1920s life expectancy for men and women was about the same, but over the years this has changed – men’s life expectancy is now more than 10% lower than that of women. Moreover, men have an earlier and higher death rate for each of the top ten leading causes of death including cancer, stroke, heart disease, and suicide.1,2,3
National Men’s Health Week
To promote awareness of issues surrounding men’s health, the National Men’s Health Week Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton on May 31, 1994. This year National Men’s Health Week will be observed from June 14-20, with men’s health screenings being offered on Capitol Hill. To set an example for the rest of the country, more than 700 members, staffers, and employees are screened each year for prostate cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.4
The Men’s Health Act
To further strengthen the focus on men’s health issues, the Men’s Health Act was introduced in 2003 by Representative Randy Cunningham (R-CA) and Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID) to establish an Office of Men’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. If passed, this Office will mirror the work of the Office of Women’s Health (established in 1991) by developing strategies, coordinating research activities, recommending public policies, as well as promoting awareness and early detection of diseases that adversely affect men.
Early Detection
Early detection is critical to good health outcomes, especially regarding cancer treatment. However, expenditures for outreach and screening at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2000 show that while $185,000,000 was spent on breast and cervical cancer programs, $11,000,000 was spent on prostate cancer programs. Moreover, expenditures for cancer research by the National Cancer Institute show that $424,900,000 was spent on breast cancer research compared to $190,000,000 spent on prostate cancer research.2 It is expected that 230,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.5
VA Focuses on Men’s Health
Because the veteran population is mostly male, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is primarily focused on men’s health care issues. With an annual budget of more than $25 billion, VHA is the nation’s largest integrated health care system, employing more than 180,000 health care professionals and operating more than 1,300 sites of care, including hospitals, community and facility-based clinics, nursing homes, and various other facilities.
HSR&D Research
As part of VHA’s Office of Research & Development, HSR&D conducts research on many health issues related to men’s health, such as prostate cancer, smoking interventions, depression, and hypertension. In addition, the Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) was created to target diseases and conditions that are highly prevalent and burdensome among the veteran population. The current veteran population is mostly male and these diseases and conditions are particularly burdensome for men, their families and the VA health care system as a whole. Below are some specific examples of HSR&D research projects and findings.
Lower Cost Interventions for Prostate Cancer Screening
Evidence is inconclusive about whether mass screening and early treatment for prostate cancer can reduce mortality, but due to cost concerns it is important to know whether more resource intensive interventions also have greater impact. Investigators in this HSR&D study assessed the relative effectiveness of a video versus a lower-cost mailed pamphlet intervention for increasing patients’ knowledge about prostate screening. They also examined the impact of the interventions on screening preferences, testing rates, and decision-making participation. Both the pamphlet and video described prostate cancer, the potential risks and benefits of PSA testing, and explained that the decision to undergo screening should be discussed with a physician. In addition, the video depicted patients discussing their differing opinions about the value of PSA testing. Results of the study showed that patients who received the pamphlet or video were more knowledgeable about prostate cancer and screening. Further, patients who received the pamphlet were more likely to discuss screening with their provider.
Lower Screening Rates for Colorectal Versus Prostate Cancer
While some believe PSA screening may reduce deaths due to prostate cancer, others believe that widespread screening will lead to more prostate cancer diagnoses and potentially harmful therapy, without any improvement in outcomes. On the other hand, colorectal cancer screening for people 50 and older is widely advocated, and has proven to substantially reduce mortality among those who receive periodic screening. Researchers compared the prevalence of PSA and colorectal cancer screening among men in the United States. Using data from a large telephone survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n = 49,315), they found that 75% of men aged 50 and older had undergone PSA testing at least once, compared to 63% of men aged 50 and older who had undergone colorectal cancer screening. Further, men were more likely to be up-to-date on prostate screening than colorectal cancer screening. This suggests that despite widespread efforts to improve adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines, it is still considerably less common than prostate cancer screening. Investigators recommend that physicians inform patients about the known mortality benefit of colorectal cancer screening, as well as the uncertainty about screening for prostate cancer. 7
VA Physicians Refer Depressed Patients More Often then Private Sector Counterparts
Depression is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, yet this condition is markedly under-treated in the private sector despite clinical guidelines that encourage aggressive treatment with antidepressant medications and/or mental health referral. Theorizing that greater availability of mental health services in VA would result in better adherence to depression management guidelines, this study compared management recommendations of VA versus non-VA physicians who viewed videotapes portraying a standardized case of major depressive disorder (MDD) in an elderly patient. All physicians viewed a videotape vignette (professionally produced with actors) of an elderly patient presenting to a physician for a hypertension follow-up. During the visit, the patient describes specific symptoms that meet MDD criteria. After viewing the tape, physicians answered questions about diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up recommendations. Randomly selected participating physicians included 115 practicing in an outpatient VA setting and 128 practicing in non-VA medical settings in the Northeastern U.S. Results showed that VA physicians were twice as likely to recommend treatment for depression and half as likely to recommend monitoring within 2 weeks than non-VA physicians.8
Lower Mortality in Black vs. White Veteran Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
Blacks have a higher prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) than whites, in addition to higher rates of hospitalization and readmissions that may be linked to disparities in access to care. Investigators in this CHF QUERI study sought to determine any racial differences in short-term and intermediate-term mortality in VHA patients (99% male) hospitalized for CHF, and to examine racial differences in the patterns of health care utilization following the initial hospitalization. Investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study of 4,901 black and 17,093 white patients hospitalized with heart failure at 153 acute care VA hospitals nationwide between October 1997 and September 1999. Results of this study showed that overall black patients had lower short-term (within 30 days of admission) and intermediate-term (measured at 1 and 2 years following discharge) mortality rates than white patients.9
Lack of Lipid Testing Associated with Increased Morbidity and Mortality
A large number of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) do not have a current measurement of their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. IHD-QUERI investigators sought to identify patients at risk for not undergoing lipid measurement and determine whether they had higher risk-adjusted morbidity and mortality compared to patients with a lipid measurement. Using an existing database, investigators extracted data on all active primary care and cardiology patients with CHD from 8 VA hospitals (n = 12,135). They assessed information on patient demographics, outpatient and inpatient diagnoses, pharmacy data, and laboratory data. Findings showed that 40.7% of the patients did not have an LDL measurement during the 15-month baseline period, and those without an LDL measurement had a 5% higher hospitalization rate and a 36% worse survival rate. Findings also show that CHD patients less likely to have a lipid measurement included: older patients, African-Americans, those with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or depress, and those living more than 25 miles from a medical center.
"I pray that this article enables you to M.A.N. Up!"
National Men’s Health Week
To promote awareness of issues surrounding men’s health, the National Men’s Health Week Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton on May 31, 1994. This year National Men’s Health Week will be observed from June 14-20, with men’s health screenings being offered on Capitol Hill. To set an example for the rest of the country, more than 700 members, staffers, and employees are screened each year for prostate cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.4
The Men’s Health Act
To further strengthen the focus on men’s health issues, the Men’s Health Act was introduced in 2003 by Representative Randy Cunningham (R-CA) and Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID) to establish an Office of Men’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. If passed, this Office will mirror the work of the Office of Women’s Health (established in 1991) by developing strategies, coordinating research activities, recommending public policies, as well as promoting awareness and early detection of diseases that adversely affect men.
Early Detection
Early detection is critical to good health outcomes, especially regarding cancer treatment. However, expenditures for outreach and screening at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2000 show that while $185,000,000 was spent on breast and cervical cancer programs, $11,000,000 was spent on prostate cancer programs. Moreover, expenditures for cancer research by the National Cancer Institute show that $424,900,000 was spent on breast cancer research compared to $190,000,000 spent on prostate cancer research.2 It is expected that 230,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.5
VA Focuses on Men’s Health
Because the veteran population is mostly male, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is primarily focused on men’s health care issues. With an annual budget of more than $25 billion, VHA is the nation’s largest integrated health care system, employing more than 180,000 health care professionals and operating more than 1,300 sites of care, including hospitals, community and facility-based clinics, nursing homes, and various other facilities.
HSR&D Research
As part of VHA’s Office of Research & Development, HSR&D conducts research on many health issues related to men’s health, such as prostate cancer, smoking interventions, depression, and hypertension. In addition, the Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) was created to target diseases and conditions that are highly prevalent and burdensome among the veteran population. The current veteran population is mostly male and these diseases and conditions are particularly burdensome for men, their families and the VA health care system as a whole. Below are some specific examples of HSR&D research projects and findings.
Lower Cost Interventions for Prostate Cancer Screening
Evidence is inconclusive about whether mass screening and early treatment for prostate cancer can reduce mortality, but due to cost concerns it is important to know whether more resource intensive interventions also have greater impact. Investigators in this HSR&D study assessed the relative effectiveness of a video versus a lower-cost mailed pamphlet intervention for increasing patients’ knowledge about prostate screening. They also examined the impact of the interventions on screening preferences, testing rates, and decision-making participation. Both the pamphlet and video described prostate cancer, the potential risks and benefits of PSA testing, and explained that the decision to undergo screening should be discussed with a physician. In addition, the video depicted patients discussing their differing opinions about the value of PSA testing. Results of the study showed that patients who received the pamphlet or video were more knowledgeable about prostate cancer and screening. Further, patients who received the pamphlet were more likely to discuss screening with their provider.
Lower Screening Rates for Colorectal Versus Prostate Cancer
While some believe PSA screening may reduce deaths due to prostate cancer, others believe that widespread screening will lead to more prostate cancer diagnoses and potentially harmful therapy, without any improvement in outcomes. On the other hand, colorectal cancer screening for people 50 and older is widely advocated, and has proven to substantially reduce mortality among those who receive periodic screening. Researchers compared the prevalence of PSA and colorectal cancer screening among men in the United States. Using data from a large telephone survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n = 49,315), they found that 75% of men aged 50 and older had undergone PSA testing at least once, compared to 63% of men aged 50 and older who had undergone colorectal cancer screening. Further, men were more likely to be up-to-date on prostate screening than colorectal cancer screening. This suggests that despite widespread efforts to improve adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines, it is still considerably less common than prostate cancer screening. Investigators recommend that physicians inform patients about the known mortality benefit of colorectal cancer screening, as well as the uncertainty about screening for prostate cancer. 7
VA Physicians Refer Depressed Patients More Often then Private Sector Counterparts
Depression is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, yet this condition is markedly under-treated in the private sector despite clinical guidelines that encourage aggressive treatment with antidepressant medications and/or mental health referral. Theorizing that greater availability of mental health services in VA would result in better adherence to depression management guidelines, this study compared management recommendations of VA versus non-VA physicians who viewed videotapes portraying a standardized case of major depressive disorder (MDD) in an elderly patient. All physicians viewed a videotape vignette (professionally produced with actors) of an elderly patient presenting to a physician for a hypertension follow-up. During the visit, the patient describes specific symptoms that meet MDD criteria. After viewing the tape, physicians answered questions about diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up recommendations. Randomly selected participating physicians included 115 practicing in an outpatient VA setting and 128 practicing in non-VA medical settings in the Northeastern U.S. Results showed that VA physicians were twice as likely to recommend treatment for depression and half as likely to recommend monitoring within 2 weeks than non-VA physicians.8
Lower Mortality in Black vs. White Veteran Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
Blacks have a higher prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) than whites, in addition to higher rates of hospitalization and readmissions that may be linked to disparities in access to care. Investigators in this CHF QUERI study sought to determine any racial differences in short-term and intermediate-term mortality in VHA patients (99% male) hospitalized for CHF, and to examine racial differences in the patterns of health care utilization following the initial hospitalization. Investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study of 4,901 black and 17,093 white patients hospitalized with heart failure at 153 acute care VA hospitals nationwide between October 1997 and September 1999. Results of this study showed that overall black patients had lower short-term (within 30 days of admission) and intermediate-term (measured at 1 and 2 years following discharge) mortality rates than white patients.9
Lack of Lipid Testing Associated with Increased Morbidity and Mortality
A large number of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) do not have a current measurement of their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. IHD-QUERI investigators sought to identify patients at risk for not undergoing lipid measurement and determine whether they had higher risk-adjusted morbidity and mortality compared to patients with a lipid measurement. Using an existing database, investigators extracted data on all active primary care and cardiology patients with CHD from 8 VA hospitals (n = 12,135). They assessed information on patient demographics, outpatient and inpatient diagnoses, pharmacy data, and laboratory data. Findings showed that 40.7% of the patients did not have an LDL measurement during the 15-month baseline period, and those without an LDL measurement had a 5% higher hospitalization rate and a 36% worse survival rate. Findings also show that CHD patients less likely to have a lipid measurement included: older patients, African-Americans, those with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or depress, and those living more than 25 miles from a medical center.
"I pray that this article enables you to M.A.N. Up!"
Monday, June 13, 2011
Five Mistakes Men Make With Weight
Lots of men are making at least one of these five big mistakes when trying to lose weight. Are you?
1. You Don't Know How To Cook. It never seemed important, so you didn't learn how to cook, though you have managed to figure out how to use the microwave oven. You end up eating too much salty, processed and tasteless frozen food. What do you see when you open the refrigerator? A shelf full of beer and power drinks? Do you have the local pizza shop magnet on the outside?
2. Size Does Matter. It is essential to control your portion size if you want to lose weight. Realize that the big bowl of pasta at your favorite Italian restaurant could feed an entire family. Or maybe you are not eating enough food because you believe that starving yourself will lead to quick weight loss. Portions that are too big or too little will not support your weight loss.
3. Bad Attitude. When you look at dieting as a sort of punishment for that hamburger and french fries that you ate you end up with a bad attitude. Why would you want to punish yourself? As a child you tried to avoid punishment whenever possible. Don't start now. Instead, of looking at your diet as depriving yourself, look at it as rewarding yourself with better health and energy. A better attitude will go a long to motivate you to stay on track.
4. Giving Up. Weight loss doesn't happen right away. It takes time and it's normal to have setbacks. If you have a night of pizza and beer, don't feel like you have completely fallen off the diet wagon. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and forgive yourself. Keep the big picture in mind and don't give up.
5. Unrealistic Expectations. You dream of a sculpted body with six-pack abs. You want to look like an action hero or Olympic athlete. While you may want a perfect body... and who doesn't... it's not likely to happen. Set realistic goals and remind yourself of them daily.
For a realistic goal, include more than just a number on a scale. Decide what you want to look like and more importantly figure out how you want your life to be different. Create an image in your mind of what it will look like. Will you be able to play ball with your kids? Walk up the stairs without straining? Have better posture and appear more confident?
"I pray that this article enables you to M.A.N. Up!"
1. You Don't Know How To Cook. It never seemed important, so you didn't learn how to cook, though you have managed to figure out how to use the microwave oven. You end up eating too much salty, processed and tasteless frozen food. What do you see when you open the refrigerator? A shelf full of beer and power drinks? Do you have the local pizza shop magnet on the outside?
2. Size Does Matter. It is essential to control your portion size if you want to lose weight. Realize that the big bowl of pasta at your favorite Italian restaurant could feed an entire family. Or maybe you are not eating enough food because you believe that starving yourself will lead to quick weight loss. Portions that are too big or too little will not support your weight loss.
3. Bad Attitude. When you look at dieting as a sort of punishment for that hamburger and french fries that you ate you end up with a bad attitude. Why would you want to punish yourself? As a child you tried to avoid punishment whenever possible. Don't start now. Instead, of looking at your diet as depriving yourself, look at it as rewarding yourself with better health and energy. A better attitude will go a long to motivate you to stay on track.
4. Giving Up. Weight loss doesn't happen right away. It takes time and it's normal to have setbacks. If you have a night of pizza and beer, don't feel like you have completely fallen off the diet wagon. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and forgive yourself. Keep the big picture in mind and don't give up.
5. Unrealistic Expectations. You dream of a sculpted body with six-pack abs. You want to look like an action hero or Olympic athlete. While you may want a perfect body... and who doesn't... it's not likely to happen. Set realistic goals and remind yourself of them daily.
For a realistic goal, include more than just a number on a scale. Decide what you want to look like and more importantly figure out how you want your life to be different. Create an image in your mind of what it will look like. Will you be able to play ball with your kids? Walk up the stairs without straining? Have better posture and appear more confident?
"I pray that this article enables you to M.A.N. Up!"
Monday, June 6, 2011
How To Appreciate Your Cell Phone
Are you taking full advantage of all the features on your cell phone? Do you know that your phone probably has a vibrating ringer mode? Click here to find out what you've been missing.
Cell phone tips
It's practically impossible to walk on the streets these days without hearing the ring of a cell phone. How often does a phone ring in public, prompting everyone around you to reach for their pocket, answer the phone, only to find that it's not theirs? For such a small contraption, a cell phone can really seem like a complicated piece of technology.
Getting the most out of your cell phone is of key importance, especially with people replacing their home phone lines with cellular ones. There are ways to maximize your cellular phone's features and make the most of this practical invention.
Get informed
1) Read the manual
Manuals are usually associated with being as long as an Encyclopaedia, but cellular phone manuals are more readable than they seem. The phone's features are properly organized into categories, making the manual a breeze to read and understand.
You'll also be surprised to learn that your phone has many more features than you thought, and probably never would have imagined on a phone.
2) Check the net
Check out or your cell phone's manufacturer's website. Both Nokia and Ericsson have websites, providing users with updated information on their respective cell phone. This is an excellent and easy-to-use resource and a great way to supplement information on your cell phone.
3) 1-800 Number
Get the number of your cell phone service provider, which usually offers a toll-free number for those in need of tech support or who have customer service inquiries.
Phone features
Here are some things you may not have known about your cell phone:
1) Digital Black Book
You can store a given amount of names and phone numbers into your phone's memory, allowing you to record a phone book in your cell. You can use your Palm Pilot -- or for the rest of us who still use paper, your phone books --to record the rest of the phone numbers once you exceed the limit of numbers.
Some phones, such as the Ericsson T18z, have a voice-activated dial feature, which allows you to record your voice saying a person's name and then recording the person's number on the phone. It automatically dials the requested phone number with the activation of your voice; it's like a voice-activated speed-dial. Check to see if your phone comes with this feature.
2) Rise & Shine
If you happen to take a quick power nap at work and you need to wake up in 10 minutes, not to worry, you can use the alarm clock feature on your phone.
3) Moving Forward
If you're at work or a friend's house and don't want to be disturbed, you can program your cell to forward all calls to your home's voice mail, or whatever other number you choose. This one's also practical for when you've used up all your monthly free minutes and you don't want to receive any more calls on your cell; simply forward incoming calls to another number where you can be reached.
4) Reset
While on the topic of limited minutes, take advantage of the counter on your cell. Most phones have a timer that records the number of minutes used. It's a good idea to keep track of this counter and check it every now and then to make sure you have not exceeded your monthly amount of free minutes.
If you are on a minute/month plan, you can reset the counter at the start of every month to keep track of every month's amount of minutes used.
And the list of features continues...
Cellular phone features
5) Good Vibrations
You're at the latest Denzel Washington movie, but you're also expecting a call from your friend. To avoid the movie audience from heckling you and throwing popcorn in your direction during the remainder of the movie, you may want to set your phone to "vibrate".
While this is a practical feature that allows you to receive calls without disturbing anyone else, keeping your phone on vibrate sucks up the life of your phone's battery. So use this feature sparingly, or avoid it if you know that you need the phone to be charged all day.
6) Battery; Keeps On Going...
While in the day of analog cellular phones, it was recommended that we recharge our phone's battery only once it was completely dead. Luckily, today's digital phones allow you to recharge your battery without hindering the life span of the cell. Still, it's recommended that you only recharge the phone's battery once it reaches its half point.
It's also advisable that you only recharge the cell once it's completely dead when you first receive it. Wait for it to die until you recharge the battery the first 3 times.
7) Games & Things
If you have games such as "Snake" on your phone like the Nokia does, you're in luck. Waiting in line will no longer seem as boring.
8) Wheel Of Fortune
Excessive cell phone usage has been known to cause many accidents on the road, so use your cell phone sparingly while driving. Better yet, avoid using your cell altogether while behind the wheel, or use the cellular Hands-Free Kit, which allows motorists to talk on the cell and keep both hands on the wheel.
Nowadays, cellular phones make us wonder what we did before they were around. I guess we just stayed home expecting a call or relied on our answering machines a lot more. Or, we just got out of the car and rang our friend's doorbell to tell them we're at their house rather than calling them from a block away.
Read your cell phone manual and ask your cell phone provider about the features if you have more questions. Until next time, stay in touch!
"I pray that this article enables you to M.A.N. Up!"
Cell phone tips
It's practically impossible to walk on the streets these days without hearing the ring of a cell phone. How often does a phone ring in public, prompting everyone around you to reach for their pocket, answer the phone, only to find that it's not theirs? For such a small contraption, a cell phone can really seem like a complicated piece of technology.
Getting the most out of your cell phone is of key importance, especially with people replacing their home phone lines with cellular ones. There are ways to maximize your cellular phone's features and make the most of this practical invention.
Get informed
1) Read the manual
Manuals are usually associated with being as long as an Encyclopaedia, but cellular phone manuals are more readable than they seem. The phone's features are properly organized into categories, making the manual a breeze to read and understand.
You'll also be surprised to learn that your phone has many more features than you thought, and probably never would have imagined on a phone.
2) Check the net
Check out or your cell phone's manufacturer's website. Both Nokia and Ericsson have websites, providing users with updated information on their respective cell phone. This is an excellent and easy-to-use resource and a great way to supplement information on your cell phone.
3) 1-800 Number
Get the number of your cell phone service provider, which usually offers a toll-free number for those in need of tech support or who have customer service inquiries.
Phone features
Here are some things you may not have known about your cell phone:
1) Digital Black Book
You can store a given amount of names and phone numbers into your phone's memory, allowing you to record a phone book in your cell. You can use your Palm Pilot -- or for the rest of us who still use paper, your phone books --to record the rest of the phone numbers once you exceed the limit of numbers.
Some phones, such as the Ericsson T18z, have a voice-activated dial feature, which allows you to record your voice saying a person's name and then recording the person's number on the phone. It automatically dials the requested phone number with the activation of your voice; it's like a voice-activated speed-dial. Check to see if your phone comes with this feature.
2) Rise & Shine
If you happen to take a quick power nap at work and you need to wake up in 10 minutes, not to worry, you can use the alarm clock feature on your phone.
3) Moving Forward
If you're at work or a friend's house and don't want to be disturbed, you can program your cell to forward all calls to your home's voice mail, or whatever other number you choose. This one's also practical for when you've used up all your monthly free minutes and you don't want to receive any more calls on your cell; simply forward incoming calls to another number where you can be reached.
4) Reset
While on the topic of limited minutes, take advantage of the counter on your cell. Most phones have a timer that records the number of minutes used. It's a good idea to keep track of this counter and check it every now and then to make sure you have not exceeded your monthly amount of free minutes.
If you are on a minute/month plan, you can reset the counter at the start of every month to keep track of every month's amount of minutes used.
And the list of features continues...
Cellular phone features
5) Good Vibrations
You're at the latest Denzel Washington movie, but you're also expecting a call from your friend. To avoid the movie audience from heckling you and throwing popcorn in your direction during the remainder of the movie, you may want to set your phone to "vibrate".
While this is a practical feature that allows you to receive calls without disturbing anyone else, keeping your phone on vibrate sucks up the life of your phone's battery. So use this feature sparingly, or avoid it if you know that you need the phone to be charged all day.
6) Battery; Keeps On Going...
While in the day of analog cellular phones, it was recommended that we recharge our phone's battery only once it was completely dead. Luckily, today's digital phones allow you to recharge your battery without hindering the life span of the cell. Still, it's recommended that you only recharge the phone's battery once it reaches its half point.
It's also advisable that you only recharge the cell once it's completely dead when you first receive it. Wait for it to die until you recharge the battery the first 3 times.
7) Games & Things
If you have games such as "Snake" on your phone like the Nokia does, you're in luck. Waiting in line will no longer seem as boring.
8) Wheel Of Fortune
Excessive cell phone usage has been known to cause many accidents on the road, so use your cell phone sparingly while driving. Better yet, avoid using your cell altogether while behind the wheel, or use the cellular Hands-Free Kit, which allows motorists to talk on the cell and keep both hands on the wheel.
Nowadays, cellular phones make us wonder what we did before they were around. I guess we just stayed home expecting a call or relied on our answering machines a lot more. Or, we just got out of the car and rang our friend's doorbell to tell them we're at their house rather than calling them from a block away.
Read your cell phone manual and ask your cell phone provider about the features if you have more questions. Until next time, stay in touch!
"I pray that this article enables you to M.A.N. Up!"
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