Causes, symptoms and cures for ' HANGOVER'

Alcohol can affect the body in a number of behavioral and physiological ways and if you drink until the point of intoxication, you may experience what is often referred to as a hangover. Hangovers result in symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, headaches, sensitivity to light and sound, exhaustion and dizziness. Most of these symptoms last for about 24 hours, or until the effects of alcohol in the body are reduced. Hangovers can range from mild discomfort for a few hours to frequent bouts that have a long-term effect on the body’s metabolism of alcohol. Surprisingly, hangovers have still not been scientifically investigated and treatments remain in the realm of home remedies and natural cures.

Symptoms of Hangover :

While symptoms may vary from person to person depending on the ability to handle alcohol, the number of drinks consumed, and the type of alcohol consumed, classic hangover symptoms include:

Headache and muscle pain

Weakness and fatigue

Excessive thirst and dehydration

Electrolyte imbalance manifested in form of dizziness and lightheadedness

Nausea and vomiting

Stomach pain and inflammation of the stomach lining

Disturbed sleep patterns

Inability to concentrate

Decreased attention span

Mood swings and depression

Irritability and anxiety

Tremors and elevated pulse rate

Sweating

High blood pressure

Excessive urination

Low blood sugar

Disruption of normal biorhythms

Dry mouth or bad taste in the mouth

Drowsiness

Memory lapse

Sensitivity to light and sound

Diarrhea

Generally, such symptoms set in a few hours after the drinking has stopped and can continue for up to 24 hours after that.

Causes of Hangover :

Excessive consumption of alcohol is the main cause of a hangover. Alcohol can affect the body in different ways and this results in the different hangover symptoms experienced.

Apart from drinking too much, if you have drunk on an empty stomach or if you were dehydrated before drinking alcohol, the effects can be more intense. Drinking a large amount of alcohol over a short period of time or if you are not feeling well can also lead to a hangover.

Alcohol affects the body by increasing the production of urine. Because of this excessive urination, there is an increased tendency to get dehydrated leading to other hangover symptoms such as dry mouth, headaches, fatigue and dizziness. Another cause of a hangover is the effect alcohol has on the gastrointestinal system. Alcohol causes the lining of the stomach to get inflamed and over consumption can also lead to a fatty diseased liver. All this can result in stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Glucose production in the body is reduced when too much alcohol is consumed. This is why hangovers leave you feeling listless, weak and moody. In addition to the low blood sugar, a hangover can be exacerbated by lack of sleep or a restless sleep. Alcohol disturbs the body’s natural biorhythms and this leads to poor quality of sleep post a bingeing session. Alcohol intoxication leads to the dilation of blood vessels and this in turn causes the severe headaches symptomatic of a hangover.

If you are a heavy drinker, over time your central nervous system will be affected. When you stop drinking (even if it’s a matter of a few hours), your body undergoes a stage of alcohol withdrawal that can cause a hangover. Alcohol withdrawal manifests itself by way of tremors, a rapid heartbeat and spells of shivering and shakiness.

Some people may be more susceptible to hangovers than others. This is due to the presence of genetic variants of the aldehyde dehydrogenase [ALDH] enzyme responsible for metabolizing alcohol in the body. In such cases, alcohol is allowed to collect in the body and its toxic effects persist for much longer than normal. Other factors that contribute to the severity of a hangover are:

Age

Gender

Weight

Use of other drugs or tobacco in combination with alcohol consumption

Type of alcohol consumed – pure alcoholic drinks such as vodka and gin has fewer side effects than brandy, whisky or red wine. This is because the latter contain chemical compounds that result in higher levels of toxicity in the body

Certain personality types are more predisposed to hangovers than others. People who are generally negative, angry, depressed or guilty suffer from more acute hangovers than others

Your family history determines whether your hangover symptoms are more severe. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family, chances are that you drink more alcohol as well resulting in more frequent hangovers.

Remedies for Hangover :

The best hangover treatment is time. As long as you do not consume any more alcohol, the body should revert to normal within 24 hours. However, there are some home remedies for hangovers that you can try out in case the symptoms are too unbearable. These include:

@ Eat a meal of eggs the morning after binge drinking. The cysteine in eggs breaks down the alcohol in the body and reduces toxicity. Along with eggs, add a banana for an instant potassium kick. Potassium helps replace lost electrolytes and prevent dehydration.

 @ An excellent cure for hangover throwing up is to have a tablespoon of honey. The high levels of fructose in honey help metabolize the extra alcohol in the body and reduce hangover symptoms.

@ Apply a cold compress to the head and face to relieve headache and dizziness.

@ Make a strong cup of black coffee. To this add lemon juice but no sugar. According to some studies a chemical present in coffee can help combat headaches associated with a hangover.

@ Boil a handful of crushed thyme leaves in a pot of water. Strain this infusion and drink the tea when still warm. This is one of the best hangover remedies for nausea.

Diet for Hangover :

@ When suffering from a hangover, the best thing you can do is to replenish the loss of liquids in your body. Aim to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water and opt for a clear soup as part of your meal. Ready mix electrolyte solutions are also good for replacing potassium and salt lost due to alcoholic intoxication. Increase your intake of citrus fruit juices such as orange and lime or drink a cup of peppermint or ginger tea to lessen hangover symptoms as well.

@ Make yourself an easy-to-digest smoothie with fruit juice and a banana. This helps keeps your blood sugar stable and prevent mood swings and fatigue.

@ Nibbling on ginger snaps or ginger candy can help alleviate feelings of nausea and vomiting. However, do not overdo the consumption of ginger as it can aggravate the already delicate stomach lining and cause further health problems.

@ The apple cider vinegar cure for hangovers is especially popular. All you need to do is mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar along with a teaspoon of soda bicarbonate in a half glass of water. Drink this to reduce hangover symptoms and recover faster. The soda bi-carb replaces lost electrolytes and reduces dehydration while the apple cider vinegar balances out pH levels in the body, reduces toxicity and protects the liver from further damage.

@ Keep your meals small and light when suffering from a hangover but make sure you eat as an empty stomach can lead to severe acidity and aggravated symptoms.

Suggestion for Hangover :

@ Always drink slowly. Remember, drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea either. If you are a small person, alcohol hits you harder and faster. Pace yourself when drinking.

@ Drink in moderation. According to the recommended guidelines, women should have one unit of alcohol a day and men not more than two. A unit of alcohol is equivalent to 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer.

@ If you do drink more than the recommended units of alcohol, drink one glass of water in between alcoholic drinks. This will keep you hydrated, help you drink less and reduce the symptoms of a hangover. Drink another liter of water before sleeping for the best results.

@ Many people suggest eating a meal before drinking. A full stomach reduces the effect of alcohol in the body. Eating foods that are fatty and greasy also help line the stomach and prevent absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

@ Avoid taking painkillers such as Tylenol for a hangover. The acetaminophen such medications contain can cause long term damage to the liver if combined with alcohol.

@ At the end of the day, the only thing that can really prevent a hangover is not to drink. In lieu of this, keep a track of how much alcohol you are consuming, keep hydrated, and stop before intoxication sets in.

Info :Home remedies foryou.com

' Pros and Cons ' of Working Online from Home

Nowadays more and more youth is turning towards working Online from Home. Before taking this decision refer this article and get to know about the ' Pros & Cons ' of working online from home.

Cons

1. It’s lonely :

If you need social interaction through out the day, then working from home might not be ideal for you. There are people that just need to have others around at any given time; that need face to face communication, and for those a corporation might be a better fit.

2. No Health Insurance :

If you are single or not on anyone else’s insurance policy, you need to be aware that online jobs will not offer health insurance in almost all cases. Though it is possible to purchase your own insurance, it can be very expensive.

3.  Many distractions :

If you live alone this should not be a problem. If you live with your parents, friends or wife/husband and kids, however, be prepared to get interrupted more often than not. Other people have a hard time to conceptualize that you are actually working when you are at home on your computer. As a result, they will knock on your door or call you even for the smallest of the issues.

4. It requires discipline :

U sure love what U do, but U won’t deny that sometimes it is difficult to stay focused on the computer when there is a beautiful sunshine or Rainbow outside. A favourite TV show may lead u to b an indisciplined at times. 

5.  Always the same place :

One of the advantages of working in a company is that you have a physical as well as mental separation between your house and your work. this separation is healthy in many ways.

First of all it allows your body and mind to associate the office with work, and your house with leisure and relaxation. 

It can also get very monotonous if you need to stay in your home all day long. 

6. Difficult to explain what you do :

Good luck explaining to other people or relatives what your job is. it would be complex to explain this to someone that only uses the Internet to check his Mail account,  Facebook status and to search in Google once in a while.

Suppose you want to get financing to buy a house, for instance. It will be difficult to get credit if you work on the Internet with no fixed monthly salary or a company to back you up.

If u r running ur own business online its fine but if u r working for any firms or institutions then get the details and feedback of the same to avoid cheating. Many cases r found where after getting the work done the employers dont get paid. 

Pros

1. Flexibility :

Perhaps the biggest advantage of working from home is the flexibility that comes attached to it. Just a small example: Alarm clock is no longer ur enemy as u dont hv to set alarm for getting up on scheduled time for job.

You can work any time you want, and in any way you want.

Like to work in pajamas? Fine. Like to listen to heavy metal in the highest volume while you design? Go for it.

Some people are more productive at night as well, and for those working from home must be a paradise.

2. No boss :

Frankly, getting told by someone else what you should or should not do is unbearable.

The reduced levels of stress that you get by not having someone barking at you once in a while is gold. U r The Boss.

3. You Could Make a Lot of Money :

Depending on the online job you are looking at, there are definitely jobs where you can make an excellent, even above average living. Examples of these jobs are artists, stock traders and freelance writers. These generally are full-time positions however, and you may need to work 50 or 60 hours a week or more, u r always available at home so u can pay as much time as u wish and earn on hourly basis.

4. No Travel Expenses :

Working online from home can save quite a bit of money in travel expenses. Not having to drive from home to a work site each day not only cuts down on patrol expenses, but it can lead to less stress when you avoid dealing with traffic. You can also save on lunch by eating at home rather than going out to eat.

5.  It is healthier :

If u r health conscious or sports lover, it is difficult to spare time for this hobby, after a work day your energy levels are far from optimal.

If u work from home U have time to train every day. Some mornings U can jog, other afternoons U hit the gym, and others U may swim. U definitely wl b in best shape ever.

Another factor that contributes to your health when you work from home is your diet. If you know the basics of nutrition science you should be able to have a very balanced diet. You can time your meals perfectly.

The same cannot be said when working inside a company. You don’t have time to make your meals (remember you should have at least six of them in a day!) and you often need to eat whatever fried crap they are serving at the canteen.

6. More family time :

There is a point in the life of all of us where our family become our anchor and main priority. people that work from home value immensely the extra time that they have to spend with their loved ones. As a dad or mom you will also be in a much better position to educate and take care of your children if you are around all day long.

7. Enjoy Holidays anytime of the year :

The advantage here goes beyond taking holidays once in a while. You could literally move to the other side of the world if you so desire. As u work online u can work from any corner of the world along with enjoying ur travelling.

Having the possibility to live in the country or city of your choice is awesome.

It takes guts and some planning depending on your situation, but the feeling of freedom you will get once you get walking with your own legs is priceless.

Funny, Dumb, Stupid International Laws

In Arkansas, a man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month. ( Ladies! You’re under no such restrictions!)

In Arizona, donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs.( Was there a lot of this happening?)

There is a possible 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus in Arizona. 

You are not allowed to suddenly start or stop a car in front of a McDonald's or any other drive-in restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas. (That law was probably sponsored by Chili’s, Applebee’s, Denny’s and all the other sit-down restaurants in town lacking drive-ins.)

No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour in California. ( How often do you see a vehicle exceed 0 miles per hour without a driver?)

In Denver, Colorado, next-door neighbors may not lend each other vacuum cleaners.( How did that law get on the books in the first place? Was it supported by the vacuum cleaner companies who wanted to sell more vacuums and “clean up”? )

A woman isn’t allowed to cut her own hair without her husband’s permission.

This is a Minnesota law.

The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen

Thailand

You must pay a fine of $600 in Thailand if you're caught throwing away chewed bubblegum on the sidewalk. If you do not pay the fine, you are jailed.

No one may step on any of the nation's currency.

In Finland, traffic fines are calculated as a percentage of the offender's income

A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.

The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.

It is against the law to throw a ball at someone's head for fun.

A license must be purchased before hanging clothes on a clothesline.

The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

North Dakota

Alabama

Dominoes may not be played on Sunday.

It is illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

California

Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.

Women may not drive in a house coat.

Florida

Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.

If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.

It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.

It is illegal to skateboard without a license.

It is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol.

Indiana

It is illegal for a liquor store to sell cold soft drinks.

Liquor stores may not sell milk.

Michigan

These Laws may b no longer in use now. Mentioned just for ntrtainmnt...

Lawguru.com

Final Episode of STOCK MKT

Points to keep in mind while trading as an ' Intraday Trader'

Every investor is tempted as to how intraday trading can be done with profits at the end of the mkt sessions. But it is a fact that only a Bunch of traders wl be registering profits and that is because they follow a strategy and drill under a huge plans as to how to trade for the next day. 

Some simple and easy to b followed along with accurate observation and then  u can also b the part of the Bunch of booking profits OR at least u wl b able to minimise ur loss. The purpose of the intraday trading is to register small profits which can be average out at the end of the sessions.

I m sharing some of my personal observations wid u as an 'Intraday trader', which can be helpful to u.

I would strongly recommend dat before diving into this field pl....pl....pl....observe the Market at least for a Month....observe the basic movements of d mkt, try to catch the reasons of the daily up-down of the mkt. start trading once u r sure enough to grab the mood of the mkt, 

1. Always keep Nifty under observation.

The Nifty is an indicator of all the major companies of the NSE.  

If the Sensex goes up, it means that the prices of the stocks of most of the major companies on the BSE have gone up. If the Sensex goes down, this tells you that the stock price of most of the major stocks on the BSE have gone down. 

Just like the Sensex represents the top stocks of the BSE, the Nifty represents the top stocks of the NSE. 

2. choose those stocks which have a huge volatility. The movements of up and down of the share price should be high. 

3. start trading  wid a minimum trade quantity. Fix ur limits for daily bases.

4. never invest ur whole balance in a single scrip. Go for multiple scrips. The reason is if by chance ur trade fails, u still have chances wid other scrips to cover up the loss otherwise u wl face 100% loss just in a single trade.

5. Always fix a stop-loss which is very important to minimise ur loss. U can shift ur stop-loss according to the movement of d mkt. 

6. Refer CNBC or any other mkt related channel along with trading just to get the  latest mkt related updates. 

7. every company announces quarterly results, so avoid trading in dat perticular scrip whose results are expected in a day or two because the price of dat scrip move according to the result.

8. Time is very important, follow the clock before trading. The effect of opening of other international mkts  also affect NSE and BSE. Hv a glance on the intrnl opening during our mkt session. 

9.  Volatile Stock market is good for the BTST. BTST means buy today sell tomorrow, what you have to do is in last closing 15 minutes you have to buy your stock and in first 15 opening minutes you have to sell your shares, no matter what the prices are. You have to have square up your position as the market opens, either you make money or loose money. 

Never ever RUN behind the TIPs given by the brokers or any 'Tom , Dick or Harry'. Continues observation is the only Tip. 

Here is the MOST IMPORTANT POINT :

" STAY MILES AWAY FROM THIS FIELD ".

Surprised!!!!!! 

As there is a caution ' Smoking is Injurious to Health' on every cigar pkts, nd Every smoker knows about d ill effects of smoking yet he cant resists JUST the same way I m also warning u all. Most of the people know How this field Ruins the investors but still they cant resist to invest in Craving of earning a Fortune.

Choice is urs frndz....We must know our limits, timely quitting is always better. I m a Proud Quitter.

All the Very Best....I Hope All Of You Book a Lot Of Profits...

6th episode : STOCK MKT

Many of the beginners get confused wid d term Stock Trader, Stock Invester, Day Trader, Intraday Trader etc. here is a brief description for all these terms. Chose a term for u after digesting all the general info & deep knowledge about it.

A Stock Trader

A stock trader is a market participant, either an individual or firm, who purchases shares in a company with a focus on the market itself rather than the company's fundamentals. A stock trader usually tries to profit from short-term price volatility with trades lasting anywhere from several seconds to several weeks. The stock trader is usually a professional. Persons can call themselves full or part-time stock traders/investors while maintaining other professions.

A Stock Investor

A stock investor is the market participant that the general public most often associates with the stock market. Stock investors can be firms or individuals who purchase stocks with the intention of holding them for an extended period of time, usually several months to years. They rely primarily on fundamental analysis for their investment decisions and fully recognize stock shares as part-ownership in the company. Many investors believe in the buy and hold strategy, which as the name suggests, implies that investors will buy stock ownership in a corporation and hold onto those stocks for the very long term, generally measured in years.

Day Traders

Day Traders are investors who generally buy and sell the same stock in the same day. This type of trading is not limited to just buying stocks, they may also buy and sell stock options, currencies, or a whole range of futures. Typically day traders may hold a stock for a matter of seconds or minutes, additionally they may buy and sell the same stock several times during the course of a day. They tend to be out of the market (sell all of their stocks) before the trading day ends to avoid any possible after market gap downs (a situation where a stock may open the next day at a lower point than it closed the previous day). They avoid the risks of long term buy and hold.

Day trading requires a significant amount of time on a daily basis. Generally people who day trade are doing this for a living, spending their entire day at the computer buying and selling stocks. This type of strategy for stock market trading is only effective for day traders, who apply analysis rather than emotion to trading decisions.

Intra-day Traders

The name 'intra-day trader' refers to a stock trader who opens and closes a position in a security in the same trading day. This can be buying and selling to capitalize on a potential rise in a security's value or shorting and covering the short to capitalize on a potential drop in value. Intraday traders capitalize on small moves in the value of a security by using "leverage" or "margin", which basically means borrowing money.

Day traders and intra-day traders are at the top of the risk spectrum. They participate in rapidly changing market conditions, looking for quickly developing profit opportunities. Mostly these traders employ technical analysis to determine when conditions are right to enter either long or short, and then to exit (hopefully with a profit).

With the elevated risk comes the potential for extraordinary ROI (Return on Investment).

5th Episode : STOCK MKT

Types of Investments

There are many ways to invest the money, which are different from each other depending on there on risk factor and returns they provide.

To know which investment options are suitable, one has to find the characteristics and other details of those investments methods. 

Mainly you can invest in Bonds, stocks, Mutual funds, Futures, Gold, Real Estate, Forex etc

Let’s study one by one so that at the end of this chapter one should be able to find which investment option suits best for him.

1. Bonds - 

A company needs fund to expand into new markets, new products etc, while government need money for everything from infrastructure to social programs. 

In such scenarios they issue BONDS. A bond is nothing more than a loan for which you are the lender (provider) and the organization that sells a bond is known as the issuer. 

Benefits - Company or government firms provide interest on bonds.

Who can invest in bonds? 

This is the safest and low returns of investment type. This type of investment is mostly preferred by persons who doesn’t wish to risk there money and expect low returns.

2. Stocks - 

Stocks are exactly opposite of bonds. Stocks will provide high returns with high risk.

If you buy some stocks then you will become share holder responsible for profit as well as loss for that company. 

If company makes profit then it may pay you back in terms of dividends, but it is not guaranteed.

Some companies reinvest the profit for further growth and expansion plans which will increase the stock price of that company. If the company makes loss then the stock price may come down.

3. Mutual Funds - 

Mutual fund consists of fund manager and investors. 

The fund manager collects the money from all investors and invest in stocks, bonds etc.

It is the decision and responsibility of the fund manager to invest your money and generate the profit from investments. 

As some part of your investment is done in stock market so risk factor is present. As the investment is done with highly qualified and experience person the risk is modera

4. Options and Futures - ( F & O )

These are high risk and high returns related investments.

This investment method is advanced, which requires good knowledge of stock market.

Note - If you are new to investment then you should first learn basics and start investing in such instruments. It is usually short term investment with high risk factor.

We wl learn in detail about it later on. 

It is clear from above description that which investment method includes what type of risk and what type of returns.

All of above if you take stock market and invest for long term in value and growth stocks then the returns will be excellent with low risk.

Benefits of Investing in Stock Market for Long term : 

1) Investing for long term in stock market consist of low risk with high returns, provided you invest in value and growth  stock. It is proved by many analysts and noted investors like Warren Buffet that value investing gives you excellent returns and also it is verified and confirmed by companies through there past annual reports and prices.

2) No need to worry for daily ups and downs in share prices or market volatility. 

3) No need to monitor daily share prices sitting hours and hours in front of stock market, watching news etc. It’s not required daily but periodically you can update yourself about your stocks through news etc to track your stock prices.

4th Episode : STOCK MKT

In the last session we learnt about Index.. The Major question generally disturbs the beginners is : 
Why, When and How the stock mkt Falls and Rise? Though the STOCK MKT is the Most Unpredictable field, lets find some general factors that cause the Rise and Fall.
Stock markets can be volatile, and the reasons particular stocks rise and fall can be complex. The stock prices are affected by a number of factors and events, some of which influence stock prices directly and others that do so indirectly.

Internal Developments :

Developments that can occur within companies will affect the price of its stock, including mergers and acquisitions, earnings reports, the suspension of dividends, the development or approval of a new innovative product, the hiring or firing of company executives and allegations of fraud or negligence. Stock price movements will be most drastic when these internal developments are unexpected.

World Events :

Company stock prices and the stock market in general can be affected by world events such as war and civil unrest, natural disasters and terrorism. These influences can be direct and indirect, and they often occur in chain reactions. The social uncertainty and fear generated by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, affected markets directly as they caused many investors in the United States to trade less and to focus on stocks and bonds with less risk. An example of an indirect influence on markets is the announcement of a new military venture by a country in response to the outbreak of civil unrest or conflict abroad. This announcement likely would cause the price of the stocks of military equipment and weapons manufacturers to rise due to an expected increase in defense contracts, which in turn can raise the value of stocks for companies that supply military equipment parts and technology. It likely would raise the demand for, and price of, natural resources used to make these parts, which would raise the price of stocks representing particular mining and natural resource processing companies.

Inflation and Interest Rates :

One of the more predictable influences of the stock market are periodic adjustments of interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve to combat inflation. When interest rates are raised, many investors sell or trade their higher risk stocks for government-backed securities such as bonds to take advantage of the higher interest rates they yield and to ensure that their investments are protected.

Exchange Rates :

Foreign currency rates have a direct impact on the price and value of stocks in foreign countries, and changes in exchange rates will increase or decrease the cost of doing business in a country, which will affect the price of stocks of companies doing business abroad. While long-term movements in exchange rates are affected by fundamental market forces of supply and demand and purchase price parity, short-term movements are driven by news, events and futures trading and are difficult to predict.

Hype :

Stocks and the stock market also can be affected by hype about a company or the release of new products or services. Many people and organizations have an interest in promoting particular stocks and industries to increase the value of their own shares and profits, and positive financial reports and stock market newsletters, Internet blogs, press releases and news reports can build high expectations for the performance of companies, which will raise the price of their stocks. This can occur even when the hype has no foundation in truth; 

Info : chron.com

3rd episode : STOCK MKT

The first questions any share investor asks are, 'Is the market up or down?' and 'How are my shares doing?'. The answers to these and many other questions about the market depend on having a good sharemarket index. It measures the market and tells you if it's up, down, ahead or behind. But what is an index?
A stock market index is a bunch of stocks grouped together to measure a certain sector (utilities, banks, metal etc.) of the stock market.

A sector index is a specialized index tracking the performance of a specific sector of the stock market. ( Scroll down to the bottom for the different sectors of the stock mkt ).

For example, a number of companies such as Ranbaxy, glaxo, cipla etc. will be grouped together to create a pharmaceutical stock index. 

As the stocks in this  group change value, the index also changes value. If the index goes up by 1% then that means the "total value" of all the securities (stocks) that make up the index have gone up in value by 1%.

The Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Index, for example, consists of roughly 100 companies in the oil and gas industry. The index measures the performance of the oil and gas sector of the United States equity market, including oil and gas producers, oil equipment, oil services, and distribution.

Another index is ' A broad based index'  is exactly how it sounds, it's broad and covers a larger number of stocks. It represents the performance of a "whole market". When people refer to the stock market or its performance, they are most likely referring to a broad based index.

If u take a step in more detail then one more index is there ' Blue-Chip Index '.

A stock Index that tracks the shares of the top-performing publicly traded companies. Blue-chip stocks represent companies that are financially stable, well established and provide good returns for investors, making them desirable investments, because blue-chip co., tend to perform similarly to the economy as a whole. The performance of a blue-chip index may be considered a gauge of an industry's or a region's economic strength. 

Sectors

1)Metals  

2) Auto

3) Banking

4)Breweries and distilleries

5)Power

6)Telecom

7)Cement

8)Chemicals

9)Computers

10) IT

11)Construction

12) FMCG

13) Electronics

14)Engineering

15) Entertainment/Media

16)Finance and Investments

17) Hotel

18) Food processing

19) Healtcare
20) Pharma

21) Paint

22) paper

23) Petrochemicals
24) Plastic

25) Refineries

26) Sugar
27) Tea

28) Airlines

Info : investopedia,