Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Is It a Boy or a Girl? Science and Folklore to Gender Predictions

Men and women are curious alike. And when it comes to knowing the gender of the baby, no parent can keep still for 10 whole months! We will discuss various scientific and old wives' tale on child gender prediction methods.


Scientific methods


Amniocentesis


In this procedure the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus is removed using a needle which is inserted into the mothers' abdomen. As this fluid is immediately surrounding the fetus, it contains cells from the baby. And these cells will contain DNA of the baby. Doing a DNA test can reveal not only the sex of the baby, but also any disease that the baby is liable to have after birth.


Chorionic villi sampling


This procedure is used in very early pregnancy (10 weeks), when the fetus is nothing more than a tiny blob of tissue ball. The layer surrounding this tissue blob contains cells from the fetus. A few cells are obtained from this without disturbing the inner developing fetus. A DNA test confirms the sex and possibility of any disease.


These are highly risky and highly invasive child gender prediction methods. They are costly too. A less invasive method is the ultra sound.


Ultra sound


Ultra sound scans are done as a part of routine checkup during pregnancy. The gender of the baby becomes known during the process and no scan is done explicitly to know the gender as such. The baby's sex can be identified clearly around 16th week of pregnancy. Many countries have banned on revealing the sex of the child due to female infanticide and feticide.


Other methods


Chinese calendar


This calendar predicts gender of the child based on age of the mother during conception and the month of conception. It has been found to be 90% accurate. The age calculation differs slightly and is largely based on the Chinese New Year dates.


Gold chain and ring method


A chain is taken with or without a ring and is placed over the right palm of the pregnant woman. The chain either rotates (it's a girl!) or swings (it's a boy!). No manipulation here. Just keep the chain still and see how true it is for you.


Bodily changes and gender


It is said that if it is a boy the woman will carry a low stomach, will have darker areolas, will have thicker hair on legs and plenty more such things. It is said to be opposite if it is a girl child.


Heart beat and gender


It is said that a male fetus produces slower heart beats (though much faster than a adult human) than a girl fetus. For a girl fetus the pulse is said to be more than 140 beats per min.


If you are pregnant try these second category child gender prediction methods for fun!

Weapons To Use For Nasal Congestion

Our bodies cannot optimally function physically when we are short of breath for one reason or the other. The cells do not get the sufficient oxygen they need to burn energy for various activities in the body.


If you have congested breathing, this could be due to mucus clogging up the nasal cavity or the bronchial tubes, your heart and lungs will have to work more than they usually do to accomplish the same feats that would have otherwise been easier done. This means that you will be unproductive the whole day and more tired than usual.


Not only does this congestion disrupt your daytime routine but it will also disrupt your sleep at night causing you to have an even worse day the following day. The numbers of causes as to why one may get nasal congestion are plenty but more often than not the culprit is allergies.


Nasal strips are a very good way to fight nasal blockage. They are placed outside the nose and open your nostrils to clear the passageways.


To make sure that they remain in place while you go about your activities, they have an adhesive band that sticks to your skin. Due to the fact that the band is resistant, it gently pulls open the nostrils to allow for larger volume of air to enter.


Saline nasal sprays are also strongly recommended for dealing with nasal congestion. It is pushed gently into the nostrils and with a pumping action, it lets go of a decongestant mist in your nose. There are different solutions used by different people in the pump spray to decongest the nose.


The saline solutions are most highly recommended because they are extremely basic and only provide moisture to the nostrils.


If you would rather use medications, you have the choice of going with antihistamines, topical decongestants or corticosteroids.

Monday, December 20, 2010

How to Search For a Doctor or Pediatrician That Suits You

Pediatricians specialize in the care of children and are a type of doctor. Pediatrician professionals care for children from birth until they reach the age of 18. Children have unique issues and medical conditions that adults do not have to deal with, so it's very important that parents find good pediatricians for their kids. Pediatricians offer basic health exams, vaccinations, and treatments for a variety of health conditions and injuries. When a patient has a problem that is more serious, the doctor will refer him to a specialist.


Choosing the best doctor for your child is an important decision that you will have to make as a parent. Your kid's pediatrician will be a good source of information and he will be providing medical care for your child over the years. That's why it's so important that you find a doctor you feel comfortable with, trust, and respect. The doctor you choose should be friendly, knowledgeable, caring, responsive, and easy to communicate with.


You can find a doctor or pediatrician by searching the Yellow Pages and online directories. You should also read online reviews and check out the doctor ratings online. There are many websites that offer valuable information when it comes to searching for doctors and specialists and they will help you find a brilliant doctor.


After you make a list of doctors in your area, give them a call and meet with them in person if you have to. Ask them questions, compare their answers and pick the doctor who is the best match for you and your child. When you meet with the doctors, find out if they accept your health insurance, which hospitals they are affiliated with, how long they have been in practice, if they are board certified and if they have a sub-specialty. Find out what their philosophies are on child health issues like breastfeeding, toilet training, etc. What do they think about using antibiotics? Do they offer early, evening and weekend appointments? Do they take emergency calls after hours? What tests do the pediatricians handle (blood tests, X-rays)? Check to see if they have a waiting list, because it may take a while before you can come in with your child for an appointment.


Sometimes you can find out about a doctor's qualifications by looking at his walls. His plaques may tell you where the pediatrician went to school, if he is board certified, if he belongs to some kind of association and where he served his residency. If you are on a budget, find out what the doctor's fees are, what payment methods are accepted and when he expects to be paid. If you don't have a lot of time on your hands, find out if the doctors' offices are very busy. Some doctors are busier than others, so if you don't want to wait for hours when you visit the doctor, make sure you ask about it.


If your child is sick, make sure you ask the doctor plenty of questions about it. Find out how you can prevent your child from getting sick again, what vaccinations your child needs, what your treatment options are and such. Don't leave the doctor's office if you still have questions and write them down before you come in if you need to. That way, you won't leave anything out. A good doctor should be happy to answer all of your questions.


You may want to consider taking your child to different doctors for a while, until you decide who is the best person for the job. That way, you can get to know the doctors better and find the best provider for your child's needs.

Vitolax - Cure Constipation Problems

For many people, chronic indigestion or digestive problems are quite difficult to handle. It can be both irritating and embarrassing to deal with especially for those who prefer not to use a lot of over the counter medications and treatments. Thus you can try natural remedies to cure digestive problems safely and effectively as they contain several combinations of powerful herbs and nutrients.


Here given below are certain useful tips to cure Constipation problems naturally and safely:


Avoid Overeating: - It is an effective way to cure Constipation problems. Moreover minimizes the intake of carbonated beverages with your food and try to eat slowly by chewing the food completely.


Use Peppermint or chamomile tea as it is believed to cure Constipation problems by improving digestive functions.


Exercise regularly: - It may prove to be highly useful in curing Constipation problems. It overcomes the sluggish bloated feeling that persists if you stay inactive after eating.


Take citrus juice or apple cider vinegar: - It helps soothe stomach upsets. Moreover drinking a glass of water with a bit of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar may help cure digestive problems.


Ginger cure digestive problems by providing soothing effect to stomach. It helps promote digestive functions


VitoLax herbal Remedy: - You can use natural and safe remedy like VitoLax. VitoLax prevents constipation and strengthens digestive functions by minimizing your feeling of discomfort and bloatedness. VitoLax cleans and detoxifies your system. It encourages normal peristalsis and bowel motility by absorbing water. VitoLax overcomes digestive problems and helps you achieve optimum health. It has no fatal long-term or short-term side-effects and thus offered with 90 days money back guarantee.

Doctor Reviews: What To Look For in a Great Health Professional

A new trend has begun to take over the internet. The quest for more information has now enveloped the health care industry in the form of user-driven doctor reviews. The sites that provide these allow people just like yourself to sign up and then post about their experiences at a physician's appointment. They then aggregate these reviews in an easy to read format that helps others find a physician they would like. If you've been looking for quality health care where you live, you can use one of these sites to help you out. You just have to know what to look for.


A good site providing doctor reviews will give you a great deal of information to help you with your search. This information should include the name and physical address of the office, as well as a link to get directions. It should specify whether or not the office is accepting new patients, as many are not, especially in larger cities. In a best case scenario, it should give a bit of information regarding the office hours, what type of payment they accept, and general information about the practice. Without reading a single opinion, you can use this type of information to learn quite a bit about a practice, sometimes eliminating it from your search right away.


When it comes to the doctor reviews themselves, there are several bullet points that a good write-up should include in some form or another. If you have an appointment and want to come back and make a review, these are some of the things you should include to ensure thoroughness. These things include describing how easy it is to make an appointment, how long you had to wait past the time when your appointment was scheduled to begin, and a decent amount concerning the physician's bedside manner. The write-up should also include information about how long the physician takes with their patients and whether there is a rushed feeling. There should also be some general notes about the staff.


Remember when reading through the doctor reviews that the people who posted their opinions are only human, as are the physicians themselves. There will be mistakes and there will be people posting because they hold a personal grudge or are upset for reasons that have nothing to do with the physician's level of responsibility. As long as you can keep these things in mind, these sites can be a tremendous service for those looking for a new physician.

Stress and Its Effects

In the fast paced world that we are in today, it is undeniable that people are exposed to stress. As we all know, everyone is prone to stress and its good and bad effects. There is no escape for stress and its effects. It is accepted that when you are stressed out, every part of you, emotionally, physically and mentally may have different reactions to whatever stressor is causing you to react in such a way. This article will discuss the effects of stress in general.


The Physical Effects of Stress


The effects of stress come in different forms but the most evident manifestation is exhaustion. With exhaustion come different effects that may lead to symptoms such as those that you may have when you suffer from flu. Aside from the flu like symptoms, your bowel movement can also be affected by stress. It is a fact that one of the first areas that might be hit by stress in the body is the digestive system. Often times lose bowel movement or an irritable stomach leading to discomforts and spasms are caused by stress as well. Insomnia and all the other sorts of sleep deprivation can also be caused by too much stress. This has a bad effect though since if you are not having enough sleep, the tendency of your stress level getting high is great. Migraines and headaches are also the effects of stress. These headaches are often times known as tension headaches wherein pain usually manifests as an effect of being so stressed out. There is also a great chance that a person who is so stressed out too often can acquire diabetes. If by instance a person already has diabetes and is then stressed out, then the ailment can end up worse. As mentioned earlier, the digestive system is the first area that may be struck with the effects of stress, in this case, ulcers may also develop, which is usually disregarded by most people. People with inflamed ulcers will lessen their intake of proper food making the situation even more severe than it already is. Other manifestations of the effects of stress are skin irritations and other forms of discomforts in the body.


The Emotional and Mental Effects of Stress


People who are stressed out usually end up irritable and may become anti social. Relationships may be destroyed due to irritability. In severe cases, stress can lead to depression and other forms of psychological imbalance making it worse than it already is. It is not only the mind that will come out to be affected by stress but so will the behavioral patterns as well. Sudden shifts in moods and on how to treat people is basically one of the symptoms that stress has already taken its toll on someone.


Stress works like a domino effect. Once you are stressed out, both aspects of your physical and mental; states will be affected. Stress can be relieved with different ways and means depending also upon the person's preferences. There may be countless effects of stress in both mental and physical aspect but there are also a lot of ways to minimize stress from our lives.

Keeping Fit the Fun Way

Keeping fit is actually simple and fun, happy and energetic. Many people find it the other way round though. People like these are more likely negative thinking people. Whether you are overweight or normal weight, everyone needs at least half an hour to one hour of exercise daily. That is just one over twenty-four of your day! But the benefits are outrageous. Here are some steps that can guide you in having a healthy body and keeping fit at all times.


There are all types of exercises, from very vigorous, medium level and light. Keeping fit does not mean that you must lift weights or run a marathon. Instead, for normal people like us, medium workload is just enough to keep us fit. For example, walking around the housing area of yours is a great way to start your routine. When you get used to walking long distance, you can move on to power walking, a faster, and more athletic version. This is even more effective.


Jogging is the next step after walking. If it is convenient, it is best that you jog on softer ground. Sand on a beach is the best of all, as it cushions the blow to you ankles and feet. If you feel lonely, you can always have a friend to accompany you. It can be your partner, you children or even your best friend. Jogging regularly surely increases your cardiovascular strength.


If sports are more to your liking, then tennis or table tennis are great for a start. Table tennis is obviously the skillful form, but it still gets the reflexes going. You get yet another advantage, which is you get the skills. If you prefer a much more rough and energetic game, you can try football, or even rugby. Those are categorized as the vigorous activities than can surely boost your body to be fit.


Something a little more challenging may be your cup of tea. Weight lifting or skateboarding may interest you. Perhaps rock climbing, parasailing or wind surfing grabs your fancy. It all depends on your very own personal interest. That is why keeping fit is fun and easy. I am pretty sure that everyone has their own interest in sports, so what's the hassle of keeping fit as a fiddle? It would certainly be a bonus if you excel in one of the sports and then represent your country to a high level competition.


Keeping fit should not be a problem to anyone regardless of the young and the old. It should not be taken too lightly, and it should not be taken too seriously too. But most importantly, take it moderately. Fit it into your daily routine. You will be amazed at how you will feel after each workout. No matter what interest you, there is always some activity for everyone. Keeping at least a moderately fit as possible is most important not only to feel good about our young age, but also benefit our level of health in the future. So make the change and start your new life today.

What Is Anterior Cervical Discectomy?

For those who wonder what anterior cervical discectomy actually is, this article is going to reveal about it along with more information related to it. This is something that is carried out for the purpose of relieving pain that is usually due to the pressure that takes place on people's spinal cord or nerve roots. This operation is usually carried out on the upper spine of those who suffer from neck pain. The necessary procedures to be carried out in this case can be figured out by paying attention to the term anterior cervical discectomy. Anterior represents front, cervical means neck and discectomy -- as always -- means cutting out a disc.


Anterior cervical discectomy usually works following these procedures. First, it creates an incision measuring about 2 inches horizontally on either right or left side of the sufferers' neck. Retractors will then separate soft tissues and neck muscles apart. This way, it is possible for surgeon to perform the tasks on the spine front. It is also necessary to split those thin muscles of platysma that exists under the skin in alignment compared to the incision of the skin. It is then that the spot existing between strap and sternocleidomastiod muscles is entered.


Then, an area between carotid sheath and esophagus/trachea is entered. The spine covered with thin fascia is then dissected away from the disc space where a needle is then inserted and X-ray is performed to make sure the surgeon has got the spine level accurately.


In most cases, it is necessary to use a magnifier glass or a microscope to carry out the dissection. This is to help visualize those anatomic structures that come in very small sizes. The next procedure is then to shave a bone layer off those flat surfaces that can be located on the 2 vertebrae. This is when bleeding will occur so that the bone is able to graft heal and join the other bones in existence.


A good surgeon will usually measure how high and wide the space between the 2 vertebrae is. He will then graft a particular bone section from the pelvis top. It is then fitted into the original place of the disc. The surgeon will then give higher pull to the traction so that he will be able to put those 2 vertebrae away from each other and tamp the graft into the appropriate place.


Then, after the surgeon has released the traction pull, he will make sure that the graft is in the correct place by turning and bending the neck. A drainage tube is also used in most cases in order to cover the wound while everything else is put back into the appropriate places.

Know More About The Amazing Nasal Block Strips

If you experience shortness of breath you know what a problem it can be. It can affect the way you live your life and even reduce your activity.


Those that have congestion through nasal cavity and bronchial tubes are making their heart and lungs work harder than normal. This can make you feel fatigued during the day and less productive.


Unfortunately, congestion isn't just something to worry about during the day. It can be troublesome at night, as well. When you struggle to breathe at night you lose quality sleep. Inevitably, you feel more tired than usual the next day. Often allergies are to blame for such congestion.


Some people find relief from such symptoms by using nasal blockage strips. These amazing bands work from the outside by gently opening the nasal passageways. This makes way for more oxygen to enter.


When you open the package of nasal strips you find an adhesive backing that you press against your nose. The band's resistance forces the sides of your nose to open wider, which brings oxygen to the lungs.


You may also want to try to find relief by using a saline nasal spray. The contain medication in the form of a spray. The applicator is inserted in the nose and then the user squeezes the bottle releasing the medicinal mist. There are a few different types of solutions that work as a spray.


You'll find that saline solutions are a fairly common spray. They are primarily used to provide moisture for irritated nostrils.


If you research nasal sprays, you'll find the most common types of medications available are antihistamines, corticosteroids, and topical decongestants. They work about the same way in expanding nasal passages to allow more oxygen to pass through and thus making you feel better faster. What a relief!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Overview Of Treatment Options For Unsightly And Uncomfortable Varicose Veins

Because varicose veins (VVs) often cause pain and cramps, as well as appear unattractive, many people who suffer from them seek treatment. Options for resolving varicosities have expanded over the years, though some measures may be more appropriate than others depending on your circumstances.


This condition is caused by increased blood pressure within the blood vessels. Once your doctor has confirmed its diagnosis - typically, by performing an ultrasound - he or she will discuss the best forms of treatment with you. The goal of this article is not to recommend one approach over another. Instead, we'll provide an overview of your options so you'll be prepared to discuss them with your vascular surgeon.


Vein Ligation And Stripping


Ligation involves tying off the target vein. Incisions are made into your leg above the blood vessel, which is then clamped to inhibit blood flow. Blood will eventually be directed to other superficial veins in your legs, leaving the target vein to slowly atrophy. As this occurs, its appearance through the surface of your skin becomes less pronounced until it disappears. The problem with this approach is that the rate of recurrence is high.


Stripping is more invasive. Here again, two incisions are made above the target vein. It is then clamped and removed. While it is effective for resolving the varicosity, there are less invasive approaches that can accomplish the same goal.


Ambulatory Phlebectomy


This method is similar to vein stripping in that the varicose vein is removed. One of the key differences is that the incisions made are tiny; the blood vessel is collapsed and withdrawn through them. The incisions are so small that stitches are usually unnecessary. Also, while stripping is done under general anesthesia, an ambulatory phlebectomy only requires a local anesthetic.


Vein Ablation


This approach is done with a catheter. An incision is made near the target vein, and the catheter is inserted through it. The instrument is equipped with electrodes that heat the blood vessel to the point that it is destroyed. As a result, blood will be unable to pass through the vein, and will be directed through others. The destroyed blood vessel is left inside the leg, where it is gradually absorbed.


Sclerotherapy


Smaller varicose veins can be treated with sclerotherapy. With this method, your doctor injects the target blood vessel with a chemical that irritates its inner wall. The vein becomes inflamed and scarred. As with ablation, the vein will no longer be able to carry blood, and soon collapses to be absorbed by your body. Blood that once passed through the collapsed vein is directed elsewhere.


Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)


With EVLT, your surgeon uses a laser fiber to destroy the varicose vein. Here, a small incision is made above the blood vessel, and the laser fiber is inserted through it. Once it is in position within the target vein, the fiber is used to heat the inner wall. This destroys the vein, and causes it to collapse. As with other measures described earlier, the blood vessel is eventually absorbed into your body, and disappears.


Endovenous laser treatment is one of the easiest and quickest treatments methods used by vascular surgeons. In most cases, the entire process can be completed in less than sixty minutes. There is rarely discomfort or pain following the procedure.


Compression Stockings


This is usually the first option most doctors will recommend in treating varicose veins. Depending on the severity of the varicosities, stockings may be sufficient for resolving the problem. They are normally worn around the lower leg (i.e. from the ankle to just below the knee), and apply pressure in a graduated manner. Pressure is greatest near the ankle, and lessens as the stocking extends toward the knee.


This is the least costly form of treatment. Because it does not require surgery, many patients prefer it to more invasive alternatives.


The unattractive appearance and discomfort that typically accompany varicose veins can be treated. Speak with your doctor regarding an appropriate strategy for your condition.

Health And Safety - To Enhance Life Expectancy

Human beings are concerned about their health and safety right from childhood. Here are a set of rules that helps humans to maintain their health and safety. Main concern of individual is about his physical fitness. There are many types of diseases and other health related ailments that affects the human health. Complications related with health can be broadly categorized into two categories. First are diseases and second are aliments. Disease is a type of disorder which if not given proper heed results into death of human beings. Examples of diseases are cancer, typhoid, jaundice etc.


On the other hand ailments also affect body, but they are not life threatening. Ailments can affect day to day working ability. Some common ailments are cold, pain in joints etc. Most of health related problems are found in both men and women. Since, the body functioning of women is diverse from men, so there are some health related problems that are present in only males and others are present in females only. Ladies give birth to young offspring, so they have problems related with their reproductive systems. On the other hand men do not suffer from such types of problems.


By eating healthy and nutritious diets (green vegetables, fruits and fibre rich diet) one can protect himself from various diseases and disorders. Safety aspects also need attention, one should not smoke and drink. Life style also needs to be changed; I. e. Exercise helps to maintain body weight of a person. Overweight leads to various forms of problems like diabetes and hypertension (high or low BP). Finally to have health and safety one should have positive mental approach towards life.

Healthy Organic Tea

Did you know that curry leaves can be easily made into a healthy drink? Did you know it's really good for your health? Did you also know that it helps illnesses such as diabetes? Curry leaves have excellent medicinal properties.


My Indian colleague suggested to add curry leaves to hot water and drink from it. I love tea but especially those with ingredients that are good for your health. Curry leaves are known to have medical properties to treat diabetes. Curry trees are easily grown and easy to maintain. At the seedling stage the curry trees need extra care and attention. They grow abundant leaves which you can use for your culinary purposes.


I haven't tried curry leaves with any other ingredients but kept this mixture very simple. You can easily grow a curry tree at home if you have space in your back yard. Curry leaves are one of the ingredients used in curries. The tea is a little pungent but still easy on the taste buds. This taste is something that you can become accustomed to after two to three drinks. Four stalks of leaves should be enough for a small teapot.


Other tips for a great tea recipe is to place a whole lemon in a large flask, add honey, ginger and hot water. This is especially good when you catch a cold or flu, but it's also a good beverage during the any day. The abundance of antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic properties in this mixture is also a bonus for your health. Another great aspect of this mixture is that it is fresh.


Guava leaves are aromatic and can be sued as a recipe. Some people dry the leaves and store it but you can pick the leaves and place it in a hot water jug. You can refill up to 4 rounds of tea after the first pot is finished.


After having tea, you will feel a great sense of satisfaction and wellbeing. If you are not physically feeling great, but at least you will be feeling mentally great knowing that you have contributed towards your health. This is very important in today's society because we eat a lot of junk food and food with preservatives. Therefore we need these teas to help maintain our body's immune system and health.


Curry trees don't need much water to survive and produce healthy leaves for your culinary desires. I hope you can drink 3 to 4 cups of tea per day to help you digest food and for improving your anti-oxidant intake and general wellbeing. However, this does not take away the need for regular exercise and good dietary habits.

The Variations of Chiropractic Care

Relief


When treating acute pain and discomfort with patients who are experiencing a lot of pain, chiropractic care for relief is generally applied. On the regions and the number of problems that need to be corrected and adjusted, the frequency of visits may be determined by the level of damage done. This approach helps patients experience a new sense of relief.


Correction


This technique is useful for patients with spinal problems that have developed over a prolonged span of time without proper treatment. Many of these patients have resorted to a variety of treatments in the past, such as surgery, medications and the like, without favorable results. Problems and misalignments in the spine and joints cannot be treated successfully using other means and methods.


Maintenance


Intended to help patients maintain optimum level of health or to help enhance the healing process. Chiropractic care may have already healed the spine or joints. However, when the spine becomes injured, it gets weak, requiring additional maintenance visits. Depending on the problem, patients may go to the chiropractor once every 2 to 6 weeks. This type of care involves the entire body. Through the proper flow of energy to the different areas of the body, the treatment provided will focus on improving system performance.


Different Types of Chiropractors


To relieve symptoms present among patients, such as headaches, nausea, neck and back pains, symptom relief chiropractor is the first type of practitioner to see. It is necessary to free fixations, reduce discomfort and pain, and decompress joints with manipulations.


Treatments such as electro stimulation, diathermy, laser acupuncture and tens units may also be incorporated by the practitioner. In order to expand level of treatment in the future, practitioners may add drugs to the treatment. Depending on the patient's response to treatment determines the length of treatment. Recurrence of treatments minimize over time.


The traditional chiropractor which focuses on the traditional philosophy of subluxation is the second type of professional. Structural correction of the spine is called subluxation. Interference with nerve impulses is minimized as the spine is aligned. In order to get rid of the nerve interference, or subluxation, by adjusting the spine to the best and most stable position biomechanical is the traditional practitioners' primary goal.


Programs involving spinal exercises coupled with treatments are used to help stabilize the position.


Diagnostics


Determining which type of chiropractic approach will best suit your needs and condition will require a diagnostic test. Many patients may have to undergo more than one type of treatment to fully recover.

Five Medical Options to Lower Blood Pressure

Drugs that are utilised to treat high blood pressure are named antihypertensive agents. Before acquiring some antihypertensive agents you should meet a doctor as they are determined considering various constituents as ease of use and side effects. Generally, a low dose of medicine is established in the beginning and upon following the results of the medication, the dosage is determined. In case you were applied a too low dosage in the start and this is not assisting you to lower the blood pressure, then the physician shall prescribe you a higher dosage. In case the antihypertensive agent dosen`t work, then there are just two alternatives to follow. One choice is to stop the present agent and start an antihypertensive belonging to another class or a second sort of antihypertensive can be summed to the one that is already being had. Physicians commonly recommend the second alternative because the diverse classes of this agents use to function in diverse ways to lower blood pressure, and they also complement each other. These are the fundamental types of medication:


Diuretics - Water pills seem to be the earliest and the most analyzed antihypertensives that exist. Their function is to reduce the pressure on arterial blood vessels by raising the kidneys evacuation of salt, water and sodium while decreasing the volume of fluids in the blood stream thus. As each pill that exists even this one holds some side effects and they consist of increased frequency of urination and also raised urinary elimination of potassium. A good advice for the patiens that have a small level of potassium in their body is to consume lots of food that is rich in potassium, like bananas or even consider potassium supplementations.


Beta Blockers - This type of drug works by reducing the heart muscle contractions which helps to decrement the force with which the blood is pumped into the body, and by this way they succeed to lower the blood pressure. Potential side effects include slowing down heart rate too much, aggravating heart failure and in some exceptional events, depression, confusion and impotency. Although it has a great deal of side effects, for the ones that have coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure or even myocardial infarction, this kind of medication might convey some gains.


Calcium Channel Blockers - There are distinct ways in which this type of antihypertensive drug agents function in order to lower blood pressure. Some of them function like beta blockers and as well, decrease the resistance to blood flow by enlarging arterial blood vessels thus, shrinking blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers basically operate by forbidding calcium from entering the muscle cells of blood vessels and the heart. This helps the heart to loosen and causes the pressure to go down. In case you have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) you should be very cautious because this type of medicaments have some tough side effects.


ACE Inhibitors - The way in which this medicines function is by dilating the arterial blood vessels which stimulate the reduction of opposition to blood flow and so, they help to reduce blood pressure. Patients with CHF can use them without fear because this type of medicine is utilizable for them and as well, has some complementary benefits. Though they are in general tolerated comfortably there could be some possible side-effects.


Vasodilators - These directly open the blood vessels by relaxing the muscles of the vessel walls.


Angiontensin antagonists, alpha-beta blockers, nervous system inhibitors and alpha blockers are some other families of antihypertensive agents that can be utilized for this type of disease. You require to consult a doctor about the type of medicinal drug that you will acquire because the treatment can be decided only after several weeks of monitoring under a doctor supervising.

Measure Your Oxygen Saturation

Oxygen saturation is the measurement of the amount of oxygen that is carried or dissolved in a given medium. As the heart contracts, the blood goes in the lungs where the oxygen molecules can bind to the red blood cells. Blood oxygen saturation or arterial oxygen saturation is the term used to refer the percentage of the red blood cell that is saturated by oxygen. Blood saturation is considered healthy if it ranges from 95 to 100 percent.


Saturation level may vary slightly depending on activity and age. The blood oxygen level that is less than 90 percent will be considered abnormal. All the body organs in the body need an adequate supply of oxygen to function effectively. If oxygen saturation is low, various health problems can occur


Hypoxemia is the term that is used to describe too low oxygen level. Symptoms may include fatigue, confusion, headache, and shortness of breathe. Because oxygen is needed in the brain and heart continuously, brain damage or even death can occur if blood oxygen level becomes too low.


Oxygen saturation can be measured to show signs of breathing problem or maybe a part of physical exam. There are 2 major ways to obtain saturation levels. One way is using pulse oximeter and the other way is using Arterial blood gas test.


Pulse oximeter is a device that is commonly utilized to determine the saturation. It is a small device that is usually clips in the patient's ear lobe or finger tips and shines one red light and one infrared. These light beams will allow the pulse oximeter to read changes in the patient's blood.


An arterial blood gas or ABG test may also be administered to provide more precise reading. This test involves blood extraction from the radial artery in the wrist. This test is known to be more painful than other kind of blood test in which blood extraction is usually done in the vein. Luckily, arterial blood gas is done quickly and can be well tolerated with small risk to the patients. The ABG results are available in a few minutes.


If you have too low saturation, treatment may be prescribed by your doctor. One of the treatments that are commonly used for low oxygen saturation is the oxygen therapy. Oxygen can be given in nasal or mask forms. The amount of oxygen that is usually given is based on the level of oxygen saturation is in the blood.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Pulse Oximeter Used As a Health Monitoring Device While Walking

Walking is widely considered one of the best and most effective exercises that a person can engage in. Walking allows individuals to raise their heart rate in order to achieve a good exercise level while at the same time not engaging in any type of physical activity that may characterized as intense or that may cause some sort of injury. The elderly in particular not only enjoy walking on a daily basis but it is also recommended that they walk on a daily basis. It is typically recommended for the elderly to walk on a daily basis because like mentioned before it is a physical activity that not only is good for you but is not intensive whereby it would cause any type of serious injury. While the individual is walking it is important to monitor your health in order to determine whether you are functioning at optimal levels. The monitoring that I am referring to is in regards to pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). The pulse rate is due to the fact that blood flows in and out of the tissues in the human body and different rates. This rate is what contributes to the level of pulse rate. When the blood-flow is more intense and moves in and out of the tissues faster the pulse rate thus will be faster.


On the other hand, blood oxygen saturation is the percentage of oxygen in the hemoglobin. In other words, its the oxygen level of an individual in their blood. Both of these vital signs are very important to monitor why walking due to the fact that during walking exercises both the pulse rate and the SpO2 levels are affected and thus a portable device is necessary in order to utilize to measure these vital signs. One such device is a pulse oximeter.


A pulse oximeter is a medical and health device that measures pulse rate and SpO2 levels with accuracy and speed. The process is very simple. You simply place your finger inside the portable pulse oximeter device and within seconds the oximeter will give you a reading of your pulse rata and SpO2 levels. The device is a fraction of the size of the smallest cell phone on the market and easily can fit in the person's pocket without being too bulky or heavy. The benefit of utilizing a pulse oximter is the fact that you can take it with you wherever you desire to go and anytime it is necessary you simply take the oximeter out of your pocket and place your finger inside of it to get accurate readings.


Previous generations of oximeters where no where close to be as portable and small as the current generation. Previously the devices were limited to hospitals and clinics and as such they were very expensive and definitely not mobile. With the advent of new technology and chips that allow for smaller devices to be built the oximeters of today are small and lightweight and can be taken anywhere that the person exercising desire to got.

Fibromyalgia Treatment

There is no one treatment for fibromyalgia. In addition, it has to be said that when you treat fibromyalgia, what you are really doing is relieving the symptoms that are associated with the disease. And since fibromyalgia is a multifaceted illness, even the treatment is a conglomeration of different modalities that can help the patient lead a quality life.


It is most beneficial for the patient if they are treated not only to relieve their symptoms, but rather to help them cope and adjust to their illness. In this light, there is a need to combine different kinds of treatment and see which ones work best for the patient. In a way, finding the right combination is achieved through trial and error.


The treatments can be broken down to the use of behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy and medications.


BEHAVIOURAL AND COGNITIVE THERAPY


Patients should learn to deal with their stress so that it does not trigger and of the pain symptoms that are common in patients with fibromyalgia. Without the stress, the patient will remain calm and unable to precipitate any pain. It also wards off feelings of anxiety that is also an aggravating factor in fibromyalgia.


The objective of cognitive therapy is to teach the patient to ward off any negative thoughts and feelings that may trigger the illness. This will also allow them to enjoy their life and have more appreciation for it. They are advised to also keep a pain or symptom journal so that they are able to keep track of the factors that may trigger the pain attacks.


IMPROVED FITNESS


It may also help if the patient is able to do some exercises so that any stiffness and muscle pain can be eased. A patient can start with some low impact exercises and increase in increments as they see fit. It is important though that they be advised not to exercise too much. Walking and swimming is a good start. While Ta'i chi is said to do wonders but you can also start with something simpler, like stretching. A massage can be good too. It eases sore muscles and will probably contribute a sense of wellbeing to patient.


GOOD DIET


A good diet can work wonder for patients with fibromyalgia. For one thing, it fosters a good feeling about one's self. A well balanced diet and holding off on the caffeine may also improve one's ability to sleep. In this way, sleep too, becomes a means of treating with fibromyalgia. A good sleep signifies deep sleep which means that the patient will be rested. This gives him a better chance of waking up rested and refreshed.


MEDICATIONS


The goal of using medications in the treatment of fibromyalgia is to relieve the patients of the symptoms that may hound them because of fibromyalgia. Among these medications are anti depressants, pain relievers, anti-seizure medications and muscle relaxants. Patients should have access to these medications when they are needed. In combination with the other treatment modalities already presented, it makes life for the fibromyalgia patients a little bit more comfortable.


My world fell apart when I developed fibromyalgia, but in developing a way to recover from it I created an amazing career helping others. My methods also aided my recovery when I had a pancreatic tumour, and a malignant melanoma. Having suffered from fibromyalgia symptoms my aim is to help others recover and put the pieces of their life back together only better than it was before. If you would like to know more about my story click here: fibromyalgia treatment

Determining the Costs of Chiropractic Vs Medical

Medical vs. Health Care: The Costs


Research continues in order to find possible areas where savings can be produced without sacrificing the quality of medical and health care that an individual receives.


Chiropractic vs. Traditional Clinic Care


This is the main reason why chiropractic has gained so much appreciation in the medical field over the years. Health experts examined a bevy of individuals who opted for chiropractic care against those who opted for traditional medical care. The variance between the methods lies in three differing factors: surgical rates, diagnostic imaging, and level of patient satisfaction.


It is indeed true that costs are considerably lower for individuals who opt for chiropractic care rather than traditional medical care due to the absence of the need for medical equipment or prescription drugs. Inasmuch, the traditional medical patient, as well as, the chiropractic patient, had exceptional results from both procedures. Evidently, although both treatment processes benefit the patient, the savings on costs make chiropractic the practical method to undergo.


Chiropractic Cost Coverage


A treatment session for chiropractic care usually involves manipulation of the vertebrae, in addition to the arms and hands. In extreme cases, the length and frequency of the chiropractic treatments are extended. Research and survey done by Chiropractic Economics magazine shows that an average chiropractic session costs approximately $65. Frequency and length of treatment varies, hence, so does the cost. Cost can be as low as $34 or as high as $65, depending on the procedure needed.


If you are going in for your initial chiropractic session, you can expect to pay a little more than that. This is due to the chiropractor's need to conduct an overall health evaluation in order to assess the patient's viability for chiropractic care and to assess your risk factors so as not to endanger the patient's health. Follow-up visits should be of the lower costs. In cases where patients are required to receive additional procedures with the use of equipments (i.e. x-ray, massage sessions, or acupuncture), additional fees are charged to the patient for the additional service.


Savings Options


As chiropractic gets more notoriety for being a valid form of health care treatment, it has also revealed itself as being the most cost-effective method of treatment than even traditional medical treatments, mostly due to the differences in costs. There are more ways to increase savings:


-Chiropractic care is often covered in health insurance plans.
-Chiropractic treatments are considered tax-deductible.
-Some chiropractors perform services on a cash-only basis. These practitioners often charge less than the others with costs as low as $57 per session.
-Chiropractors who are sole practitioners usually charge less than those who are associated in groups.

Tips to Protect You From Flu

Nowadays we are very vulnerable to cold and flu and that is not only during the winter season but anytime as there have been various flu outbreaks recently. Flu virus can be air-borne or can be contracted by physical touch or it can be spread through touching infected objects and things like doorknobs, escalator railings and elevator buttons.


You can defend yourself from cold and flu by following simple instructions given below.


How to defend yourself from flu


It has been found that 80% of all infections are spread by hands. So wash your hands regularly with a hand sanitizer or at least with soap and water for around 20 seconds.


It is advised to keep you warm during the cold seasons and avoid sudden temperature changes as it can lead to developing a cold. In order to prevent contact with unwanted germs, it is recommended to keep your nose and mouth covered if you are going outside.


Start building your immune system by eating fruits and vegetables like papayas, carrots, oranges, guavas, limes, onion and rice which are rich in Vitamin A and C. you can also drink green or black tea.


Increase your intake of garlic and garlic rich foods as they are very effective in defending and fighting against cold and flu.


You can also minimize your chances of catching a cold by avoiding places where there are a lot of people. You should always remember that the more the people the higher the chances of catching unwanted germs.


It is also good idea to go for regular check-ups to a doctor and find out if there is anything wrong with your body.


You can also defend yourselves from cold and flu ailments by just supplementing your diet with natural herbal supplements.

Are There Risk Factors Associated With Chiropractic Care?

The Risk Factors Involving Neck Manipulations


There are definite risks involved in chiropractic manipulation to the neck.


Based on a survey in Switzerland where 203 practitioners participated, there have been incidences of cerebro-vascular accidents occurring from the procedure, wherein 1 to 3 patients out of every 1 million suffer from a stroke. Further studies, found that 1 out of every 400,000 patients who underwent cervical manipulations suffered from stroke, with death occurring in one out of every 1.5 million. In cervical spine surgery patients, complications occur 3% to 4% of the time, which is very comparable to chiropractic neck manipulation procedures statistics.


Due to it being highly effective and cost-effective, the process is still preferred by many patients. Chiropractics render short term pain relief, and enhance range of motion. It is especially highly effective on back and neck pain, alleviating the problem thoroughly.


What You Should Know About Chiropractics


Chiropractic is an approach wherein the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of different mechanical disorders, are based on the spine. The practice is generally considered as an alternative type of medicine, which is a conclusion that is rejected by most chiropractors.


The spine is manipulated, together with soft tissue and other joints in primary treatments in manual therapy. Bodily dysfunctions may be triggered by interferences with the different points in the body.


The Risk to the Spine


The main body organs included in the approach are the spine and joints. Problems can arise if the spine is mistreated. It is important that you trust only in a practitioner who has been in the field for a long time. In order to avoid having your spine pressed in the wrong manner, it is vital that you maintain the proper position throughout the process. Just like any other medical and alternative treatment, spinal manipulation can have serious complications.


The occurrences are actually quite rare. If the techniques are employed properly, the dangers and risks of chiropractic are minimal.


Regarding Complications


Differing symptoms and side effects can occur from inappropriately applied chiropractic treatments. There are contraindications that should be considered due to some incidences where the patient suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, unstable joints and joint pain.


As Osteoporosis is one of the contraindications, children and the elderly should consult a physician before seeking chiropractic care.


Other frequently associated symptoms that may occur are neurological symptoms, neck pain and severe headaches. 35% to 55% of the patients may experience stiffness and pain. Incorrect spinal manipulations, could permanently disable or even kill a patient. Vertebrobasilar artery stroke can occur in patients younger than 45 years.


X-Rays and CT Scanning may also be utilized by chiropractors for diagnostic purposes.


The risks involving certain diagnostic procedures are equivalent to that of any conventional type of medical treatment.

Discover 2 Amazing Tips On How You Can Grow Taller Naturally Even If You Are Past 25 Years

When some first learned that people can grow taller naturally even if one is past 25 years of age, they dismissed the idea and thought that it was merely a joke or a lie. The reaction is understandable because the idea was new and revolutionary. When students tried it in Philippines wrote back after saying that the techniques were a success and expressed their gratitude as they found a way to grow taller naturally.


You too can increase height naturally, only that you must give your full heart and determination to your goal. You shouldn't lose interest until you achieve your purpose. It can happen that sometime you get lazy but just get up and exercise. Give time to yourself and perform them.


However there are 2 important tips that you should know and understand as to why it is possible to increase height naturally even if you are the accepted age of stopping to grow. In this article I wish to share those tips, these are:


i. The physiological curvatures of the spine
ii. The expandability of the in vertebral cartilages of the spine.


How to grow taller naturally by understanding the physiological spinal curves.


An infant who is still unable to sit up, doesn't have these curvatures but as he grows up, curvatures develop. Naturally there are three curves, one at the neck, which is a forward bend, in the middle-a backward bend and in the lower back- another forward bend. It is said that as one grows older, the depth of these curves increases because of the weight of the head and torso, and because of bad posture. By decreasing the degree of each curve, therefore height can be increased. With proper exercises targeting this effect then one is prone to grow taller naturally within short period of time.


How to grow taller naturally by understanding the extensibility of in vertebral cartilages.


It is a known fact that a person is taller after he wakes up in the morning than when he is about to go to sleep at night. This is attributed to the expandability of the in vertebral cartilages. Scientifically it is said that, the effect of pressure on the in vertebral cartilages is shown by the loss of height which is sustained at the end of the day. Thus it is well known that a man of middle stature who remains in the erect position during the day will lose nearly one inch in height and that this is regained only after he has been in the recumbent position for six or eight hours.


That these vertebrae of the spinal column can be expanded or lengthened is shown and proven by a certain custom of Burmese women of the Padang tribe even at present. These women place brass rings around their neck to lengthen the neck's seven vertebral discs. And it is reported that some have stretched the length of their neck from 15 to 20 inches.


Thus in order for you to increase height naturally you need to maintain your interest, don't let it fade, discipline yourself to perform stretching exercises to add few inches to your height. Don't listen to inner discouragements because there will be moments when doubts will assail you. Give the exercise some time and don't have the mindset of getting quick results as enough time is what will lead you to grow taller naturally.


However you should listen to this very important tip:

Is Bowtrol A Rip-Off?

You probably already realise that you cannot eat highly prepared or fried foods constantly because they do not render your system with all the appropriate nutritional value. Everybody tells you it is most effective to consume healthy to get your minerals and vitamins.


But you may not have taken into consideration that these have an impact on your elimination process in a bad way. When you look slow or even have soreness in your tummy, that is because food just isn't doing what it's supposed to do.


It's supposed to move through your colon and switch on the digestive process, not get caught there and turn into waste materials that collects microbes. Consequently eating properly is actually a single part. Fresh foods are usually the best ones to choose. Anything with fiber is nice, just like multi-colored fruits and vegetables.


Drinking plenty of mineral water is additionally a vital aspect connected with every day, since it helps things to proceed. Combined with training your digestive track will be in far better form. Still sometimes, regardless of how challenging you are trying to eat well, you just have to have an assist.


That's when you'll look to a colon cleanse consisting of some of these all-natural compounds. But you may not be certain about which of the supplements on the market to choose.


You must know that Bowtrol is one of these colon cleanses having an outstanding reputation. You'll have a mild, all-natural detox that works with your system instead of against it. Bowtrol is absolutely not a scam!


This means you won't get cramping, and also you will not be tied to the closest restroom. It will simply help your system carry out what it's supposed to be carrying out initially. Your important internal organs are going to be empowered to do their jobs with no interference.


All and all, this report proves that Bowtrol is not a scam!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Yeast Die-Off - Toxins Out of Your System As Rashes

If you have all the classic candida symptoms, rashes could be the form of toxins working their way out of your system as the yeast die off. Yeast produces toxins as its waste product and it gets into the blood stream and causes things like the achy joints and muscles, foggy head, headaches, memory loss, etc. It is an ingredient that when processed by the liver to rid the blood of it, it turns into a type of alcohol. So, you will get a foggy head and memory loss much like being drunk.


As the yeast starts to die off, it releases toxins that if it has been in the fungal stage does release into the blood stream. It is possible I suppose that you are having a die off reaction as the toxins spread throughout the body at this stage in killing it off. Another thing I recently read is that as the yeast is starved of its diet of sugar and carbs and starts to die off, it actually feeds on the dead yeast cells as they die off. The book I read this in said it is important to continue to do bowel cleansing with psyllium (Metamucil type fiber products) or another high fiber supplement along with a high fiber diet.

Gain Height With Natural Ways - Is It Really Possible to Gain Height Without Pills

Most of us wonder if it is possible to gain height after puberty or in our 20's. The scientific fact is even if you passed your 20's there are still natural things you can do to get taller without using any pills. For example specific stretching exercises for your legs and spine, eating proper nutrients and playing specific sports will help release your growth hormone regardless of your age, causing you to gain extra inches.


Scientists found out that 35% of our growth is directly related with our spines. Most people are below than their potential height because of poor posture and not employing specific exercises to gain those extra inches up to 4 or more. Did you know that just correcting your posture by putting your shoulders back when you are walking and sitting up straight, you can easily and quickly gain 1-2 inches.


Another important topic regards to how to gain height naturally is your diet. You need foods that are rich with nutrients such as calcium, vitamins especially vitamin d, protein and amino acids. You can find them in milk, eggs, fish, spinach, vegetables and fruits which are some important examples of the things that provide those nutrients. Also you should drink 8 glasses of water per day on average because it helps disperse the nutrients and vitamins. You should also avoid processed foods like breakfast cereals, soda drinks which stunt your growth.


Moreover you can hang from a bar at least 30 minutes per week and each hanging should last at least 30 seconds in order this practice to work. There are also different kinds of sport you can play like basketball, volleyball and swimming which are very important because these sports help activate human growth hormone in your blood cells and helps lengthen your spine. Rope skipping and cycling are also ideal to grow taller naturally.


But, these are just a small part of the whole about how to gain height.There are many stretching exercises like cobra and super cobra stretches that you can employ in your daily routine in order to gain height naturally and quickly.There is a new scientifically proven program that will show you all the necessary steps and tips to get taller naturally by 2-4 inches in only 8 weeks. Click Here Now to find more about gaining those extra inches you desire.

Abdominal Hernia - The Various Types and Classifications

Hernias are commoner in males than in females, though they occur at all ages and in both sexes. The term refers to abdominal hernia except where it has been distinguished as diaphragmatic or pelvic.


Definition: It is defined as the protrusion of a small sac of peritoneum into and through the wall of the abdominal cavity. Or it is simply the protrusion of any part of the internal organs through the structures enclosing them.


Classification
Hernia is classified as congenital or acquired.
1. Congenital: This is as a result of the presence of a defect in the abdominal wall or failure of closure of the umbilicus at birth.


2. Acquired: This kind of hernia develops later in life. It is usually due to defect in the abdominal wall brought about by the weakening of the supporting structure as a result of excessive strain on the abdominal wall, surgery or other factors.


Types
Types of hernia are usually identified by the anatomical site of weakness. Types of hernia therefore include:
i. Inguinal: This is the protrusion of the intestine through the inguinal ring into the inguinal canal. They are either congenital or acquired. They are usually more common in males.


Inguinal hernias are either direct or indirect based on their anatomical relationship to the inguinal canal and the direction of penetration. Direct inguinal hernia does not share the coverings of the spermatic cord but passes into a direct subcutaneous location. It is due to defects of the inferior medial areas of the inguinal floor.


Indirect inguinal or oblique hernia on the other hand is the protrusion of the abdominal organs beyond the superficial ring and into the scrotum. They share the coverings of the spermatic cord.


ii. Umbilical: It is the protrusion of the intestines through the umbilical ring. This is due to failure of the umbilical ring to close spontaneously (closure is usually around 2 years of age). This is therefore is an example of congenital hernia.


iii. Femoral: This is the protrusion of a loop of intestine through the femoral canal and exits through the femoral ring (the femoral canal is the opening beneath the inguinal ligament through which the femoral artery passes from the abdomen to the thigh). Femoral hernia is commoner in females.


iv. Ventral or Incisional: This occurs mostly in the abdominal wall. The hernia occurs most often at site of an old wound with poor or incomplete healing. It may occur as a result of infection of operation wound.


The course of Abdominal Hernia
The hernia sac may contain viscera, loop of intestine, omentum, or it may be empty.
1. Reducible: When the contents of the sac can be returned to its normal position by manipulative measures or replaced in the abdominal cavity, the hernia is said to be reducible. The content may also move back into their original position when the patient lies down.


2. Irreducible or Incarcerated: This type cannot be manipulated back into its original position. It is tightly held in place by adhesions.


3. Strangulated: is the type where the neck of the sac is constricted thereby cutting off blood supply to the contents. The constriction of the blood vessels may lead to gangrene of the viscus.

Take The Kangen Water Challenge!

Kangen is alkaline-based and therefore much better compared to tap water because it has powerful antioxidants and other health advantages. The body requires alkaline in order to digest food, repair deterioration, and keep all of the systems working appropriately. Alkaline is furthermore needed to re-balance pH levels which are disrupted by taking in acidic food and drinks, particularly carbonated cold drinks.


There have been a lot of discussion in recent years regarding the the level of quality of drinking water that is supplied by municipalities. Despite the fact that the water is actually purified of many harmful toxins as well as chemical substances, scientific evaluation shows that, in many areas of the globe, the purification process involves the usage of chemicals like chlorine. While chlorine might kill off different bacteria as well as dangerous elements, by itself it is a powerful bleaching acid.


This simple truth is valid reason for alarm when you consider that the body needs a minimum of 2 liters of fluids per day to remain in good health. If you drink that much water at a supply which is sub-standard, all kinds of disease and illness can take place. Due to this, millions of people have turned to water in bottles or even have installed water purifiers in their households.


Another problem would be the food stuff most of us consume. Most foods generate a build-up of acid waste materials within the system. Drinking alkaline liquid could actually help break this accumulation all the way down by keeping the human body's pH levels in check. That's where Kangen has proved to be an effective. If most of these acids are left within the system, they give a perfect proliferation ground for viruses, germs, and other hazardous micro-organisms.


It's not only sub-standard drinking water and particular foods which harm the body, but it's also subjected to numerous contaminants, toxins, and free radicals every day. These also build up in the blood stream and will need to be flushed out by your renal system. This can not be accomplished properly if the build-up is excessive.


As mentioned previously, Kangen is known to be a very good antioxidant. The alkaline aids your kidneys in clearing the body of harmful toxins and waste. Alkalized water can also aid the prevention of acid health issues like gout pain, allergies, arthritis, and skin problems.


Kangen has smaller elements than piped waters which means it is taken in easily by the system. The need for sipping quality water can never be over-emphasized, especially considering that an adult body is comprised of 75 % water. In addition, the brain contains 85 percent water, and the bloodstream consists of no less than 90 % water.

How To Grow Taller Naturally By Considering These 12 Surefire Secret Tips

Many people who are short and dissatisfied with their height, want to learn ways they could increase height. Though many also don't believe that is possible to grow taller naturally once a certain age is passed but the opposite couldn't be truer. During the growth period there are lessons that we don't get to learn, tips that we should be considering. Our human bodies are complex and thus makes it easy at times to neglect factors that may influence certain activities in our body--one of it being growth. In this article I wish to share with you tips to consider if you want to ensure yourself that you increase height naturally and these tips can be used even if you are past the known age were you can grow any further.


Here are 12 secret tips to grow taller naturally:


1. Stretch before you get up in the morning - Instead of jumping out of bed, spend a few minutes stretching and twisting your body while still lying down or sitting up in bed. Stretch your arms upward, and your legs downward. These help you increase your height because they stretch the joints and the spine, pull the muscles, and improve your posture.


2. Massage - Massaging yourself after performing the exercises also helps promote upward growth. Massage especially the knees and the back of the knees, ankles, hip joints, and the base and upper spine.


3. Breath deeply - Take a deep breath of fresh air several times daily. Stand erect and take 10 long, deep breaths. Fill your lungs with fresh, invigorating air.


4. Walk outdoors - Walking is one of the best exercises for physical health. Do some walking every day, but rest when you get tired.


5. Avoid smoking and drinking - Smoking, especially excessive smoking, has been said to retard growth, besides pumping poison into your body and like smoking, alcohol also tends to retard growth. So, while you are exercising to increase your height, do away with them as much as possible.


6. Bath yourself with sunshine - Expose yourself to a lot of sunshine early in the morning. It's one of the richest sources of Vitamin D.


7. Take sufficient rest or nap - Rest for half hour after your exercises. Likewise, rest for 15 to 30 minutes once or twice daily. Take some naps whenever you can as it will benefit your spinal column and your muscles each time you lie down.


8. Sleep flat on your back - Don't sleep curled in bed but lie flat on your back. Straighten that spine and avoid using a high pillow.


9. Stretch yourself up whenever you can - Several times a day, pause and stretch for a minute or two. It will not only help you increase your height but also refresh you.


10. Always stand, sit, walk and think tall - Don't slump on your chair. Don't sag but pull your chest out. Chin up. You will feel better, look better and inevitably become taller! Also think happy and stop worrying. Be convinced that you are tall and still getting taller every day.


11. Perform the tip-toe exercise - While dressing, undressing, or alone in your room, try walking on your tip-toes. And whenever you can, stand erect, then raise your body on your toes then with our heels as high from the floor as possible. Repeat till you feel tired. This will stretch your body and improve your posture.


12. Remember that glass of water - Drink a glass of water upon arising in the morning and another glass an hour after each meal.


However you should listen to this very important tip:


What I am about to share with you is a step-by-step program that has changed most people's lives as regarding increasing height naturally. Most who have used this have claimed an increase of 2 - 4 inches within 6 weeks naturally is possible and have appreciated the program. If you want to grow taller naturally then I urge you to read what is on the next page before the holiday offer runs out. Click here now.

Causes of Chronic Diarrhea? 3 Common Causes

There can be many different causes of chronic diarrhea. It is not a nice thing and can have a very debilitating effect on the health of a person if it continues for an extended period of time. Other complications of the condition can be dehydrations, a general weakening of the system and overall ill health. Here are some of the causes of chronic diarrhea.


Bacteria, viruses and germs.


These can enter into the system in different ways. They can be carried in by food, water or even via the air. Once an infection has entered the body in this way it can take a doctor or specialist quite a lot of detective work to find out what the exact problem is. If you find you are suffering from an extended bout, it is important to tell your doctor exactly what you may have ingested, or if you have travelled anywhere where it is possible that you might have caught the infection from.


Taking antibiotics


It is very common to suffer when you are taking a course of antibiotics. The problem with this is that the drug probably won't have a chance to become absorbed into your system, therefore whatever infection you have probably won't be killed. You must tell your medical practitioner if you have this problem whilst taking a course of antibiotics.


Food intolerances


The digestive tract of the body is quite sensitive, and it's not unheard of to suddenly develop a food intolerance, even at a later stage in your life. This is particularly common with diary products. Diarrhea can be a symptom of an intolerance to a certain foodstuff. You may well need to see a specialist to find out exactly which food is affecting you.


Any diarrhea which continues for more than 48 hours needs to be taken seriously, or 24 hours if it is a young baby or an elderly person. If it continues on and off over a long period of time then you will need to seem medical advice to find out the causes of your chronic diarrhea.

How to Remove a Synergeyes Hybrid Contact Lens From Your Eye

A Synergeyes hybrid contact lens is a specialty lens design that has both a hard material and soft material combined. These lenses are made for those who want crisper vision which is aided by the harder material known as a gas permeable lens and is in the center of the Synergeyes lens. The outer portion of the lens is the soft material and helps keep the lens centered and helps with comfort. However, one of the possible problems with this design is the removal.


Once on the eye this lens has some unique attractive forces unlike an ordinary gas permeable lens or a regular disposable soft lens. A gas permeable lens can be removed by a forced blink or sliding it out over the lower lid or even a special suction tool. A soft lens is usually removed by grabbing the center or just below the center and pinching the lens to grab and remove. The Synergeyes method of removal is closer to how a soft lens is removed but is a little trickier.


First, your hands must be dry. And I mean dry. Did I say dry? You're going to have to grab the very bottom of the lens where the soft part is. If you try to grab the middle you'll not get a good squeeze on the lens because the gas permeable part in the center is not going to give and you need something to give in this situation. Before grabbing the lower part look up. That will help bring the lower part of your eye and the lens up so you can grab it. You'll probably need to use your middle finger first to pull your lower lid down a bit. Then take your thumb and index finger and seriously push on the lower part of the lens and grab like you want that lens out. Once you have a grip on it then sliding it down will be the next move. Regular soft lenses give easier but this lens is pretty much stuck to your eye so this will take more effort.


One other possibility to help in removal is to use latex or similar gloves. Since the fingers can sometimes lose their grip on the lens, a glove seems to be effective if needed. It's important to take your time and to not become frustrated no matter which way you remove this lens.


Also, the other eye can be trickier either due to the different position your hand and arm have to be in or because the Synergeyes lens might have a slightly different fit. Again, a little practice and patience will help.


Don't use your fingernails to grab the lens. The soft lens material is durable but can certainly rip by using fingernails. And larger fingers might make this somewhat more difficult but with practice just about anyone can master the technique.


Removing this lens will take some practice and might seem too difficult but it's well worth it because of the vision and comfort they provide. The Synergeyes lens comes in a couple of different versions but they are all removed in the same way. If for some reason the lens will not come out easily you might need to visit your eye care profession for more help.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Why Doesn't Everyone Snore?

It is reasonable to think everyone snores at least once in their lifetime. Whether from a cold or temporary allergy, congestion often leads to snoring. Occasional snoring is also expected when we drink alcohol, take a sedative or feel overtired.


Habitual snoring occurs all the time and is the result of another disorder. Everyone does not snore on a regular basis because they do not suffer from another disorder. When you snore regularly, it indicates another more serious condition such as sleep apnea or a breathing problem. It is important to determine why you snore to resolve the problem and avoid future health risks associated with snoring and lack of sleep.


Snoring Is A Problem


Snoring is considered a problem and not something "everyone does". Regular snoring is not a normal condition. According to Dr. David Gozal, University of Louisville researcher, "Snoring should always be considered a problem, since snoring indicates the presence of increased upper airway resistance during sleep."


When you snore, others are sure to let you know about it. Sometimes we don't realize we are snoring until someone else tells us. The sooner you know about your snoring, the sooner you can resolve the problem. You bed partner will like sleeping with you better, too!


Snoring Is Risky


Besides being annoying, snoring is risky. Health conditions, including high blood pressure and heart irregularities, sleeping problems and breathing difficulties can develop as a result of snoring. Adnan I. Qureshi, M.D., State University of New York at Buffalo professor of neurosurgery, states, "We found that certain sleep characteristics such as sleeping for more than eight hours, the tendency to fall asleep during the day, and the tendency to snore influence the likelihood of having a stroke. Individuals who snore severely or have trouble staying awake during the day should see a doctor to find out why."


Mark Mahowald, University of Minnesota Medical School professor of neurology, said, "One complete night of sleep deprivation is as impairing in simulated driving tests as a legally intoxicating blood-alcohol level."


Finally, according to Eve Van Cauter, Ph.D., a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, "metabolic and endocrine changes resulting from a significant sleep debt mimic many of the hallmarks of aging. We suspect that chronic sleep loss may not only hasten the onset but could increase the severity of age-related ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and memory loss."


Habitual snoring is not normal and can lead to sleep deprivation and other health problems. Despite popular opinion, not everyone is doing it!

Why Am I Always Cold? Here Are 4 Common Causes

Are you always asking why am I always cold? It's a question hundreds of thousands of people ask, and often they never find a satisfactory answer. We'll take a look at 4 common causes of needing to wear that extra layer of clothing.


A poor diet


This can have a huge effect on how you feel; both in your health and in terms of feeling cold all the time. Not taking on board the correct nutrients can make you feel terrible, making you more susceptible to even small changes in the ambient temperature. It can also cause you to rapidly lose weight, and if you have little fat insulating your body then you will feel temperature changes far more acutely than everybody else.


Incorrectly functioning thyroid gland


If you suddenly start to suffer from the temperature, and this is combined with a rapid gain in weight, then this could signify thyroid problems. If the thyroid gland is not working correctly then the body's metabolic process is slowed and lowers the body temperature.


Weakened Immunity


Another reason for why you are always cold could be some kind of internal parasite, which in turn allows for an overgrowth in Candida (a yeast infection). One of the symptoms of this is cold hands and feet. The solution is to keep a strong immune system with correct eating habits, the use of supportive supplements and keeping to healthy lifestyle habits.


Being underweight


In addition to not having an insulating layer of fat in the body, when you eat, the body sends blood, and therefore heat, to the stomach to aid digestion. If you feel this temperature drop after you have eaten, then this could well be the case.


There are plenty of other reasons as well, including certain medications and hormone imbalances. If this is becoming a major factor in your life, it may well take a trip to see your doctor to find out why you are always cold.

Facts - Cure Digestive Problems

Recent statistics reveal a shocking revelation - a lot many people in the United States alone suffer from frequent bouts of stomach pains and spasms but tend to ignore this condition until it gets worse. The sudden stomach pains are associated with the bacteria in the intestines and stomach walls. The bacterium metabolizes the food and causes chemicals and gas that eventually leads to constipation. As the bacterium multiplies, stomach problems worsen and the pain gradually intensifies. Individuals facing such a problem can find solace in natural and holistic forms of treatment.


Such frequent bouts of constipation and diarrhea should not be left untreated or ignored, as overtime the bacteria could eat into the intestine wall leading to severe consequences like stomach ulcers. In the long term, with continual bad eating habits the toxin accumulation may cause stomach or intestine cancer, especially if there is a high risk of the condition in the family.


Cleaning the digestive track is actually quite simple and requires no much effort. Fiber and water intake are the 2 crucial elements that need to be included in one's schedule. It will keep the digestive system clean and will prevent cloths. If you are still victim of stomach pains and the condition does not seem to improve, get help from natural digestive supplements that help cure digestive problems. At the same time, avoid anything with milk or cheese.


Increase fruit consumption that has high in fiber like red apples. Try to stay away from fried foods, chilies and/or anything that is deep-fried. Also, try and avoid peanut intake as it causes bloating.


Oats are excellent to help clean up your stomach. Cold water or drinks with meals affects digestion as your stomach needs proper room temperature for food digestion. When stressed, take a deep breath and practice meditation. Stress can also worsen the condition. Give your stomach a change to recover. Natural supplements are excellent to cure digestive problems especially if your symptoms persist despite doing the above. However, if it still does not help do not hesitate to consult a doctor at the earliest and go for a checkup.


VitoLax is herbal supplements that cure digestive problems.

Seasonal Sports Training Tips

There is a season for everything in life, and that holds especially true for sports. Currently it is football season. Basketball is starting and we see Baseball all but over. So, how should you look at your physical conditioning coming into, during and coming out of your favorite sports season?


Every sport is different so I won't get into specifics. The goal is to give you a few tips to use during your exercise programs. The following information should help you develop a proper mindset for any sport you like as you move in and out of its season.


Pre season prep time


Leading into a sports season should be seen as a preparation or warm up time. Just as you do before every game you need to prepare your body for the activity. This is a time when you need to consider your sport and give thought to the areas of your body used during the sport.


Think about how your body moves through the activities of the sport. Whether it is football, soccer, basket ball or Olympic badminton competition (if you didn't know, yes badminton is an Olympic sport), each sport has specific ways it uses your body that makes it unique. This uniqueness is where you should maintain focus in your pre season workouts. Find ways to exercise your muscle groups that will strengthen and build endurance in them through these specific athletic movements.


Why do we focus on these areas? Simply to help eliminate injuries during season. If you condition your body to handle the specific movements involved in your sport, then during season - when you put all your effort into your sport - you will be less likely to get hurt. In fact, doing this will even minimize the amount of sourness you experience during the season startup.


In season peak development


So, now you're all warmed up and ready to play - uh, well, you think so. Just because you took the time to do some pre season warm up (by the way, good job) doesn't mean you are at the top of your game. If you want to make sure you are at your peak for the season you need to really push yourself to the top.


Professional athletes, and those who strive to be the best, don't just leave there game to preseason warm up and practice; they know that intense exercise regimens year-round will bring their physical conditioning to its peak level. It is this conditioning that makes their game that much better than the rest.


Here are some areas that you should focus on during your Sport season.


Rotational Exercise - Make sure you are exercising your whole body not just the areas your sport uses. Many sports have repetitive movements that only exercise your body in one direction, for instance swinging a bat. Make sure you are doing other exercises that allow you to condition your body through its full range of motions.


Your core - Make sure you are continually developing your core; this area helps stabilize you during much of your body's movements. Your midsection - Rectus abdominis, Rectus abdominis, Transversus abdominis, Erector spinae - as you can see, has four distinct muscle groups that need your focus. Plan to exercise the midsection of your body in every workout.


Weights - continue to use weights in your exercise but maybe limit to 1 repetition of 15 to failure. During peak season, weights might need to be limited, but off season, they are very important for muscle development. This will ensure you are not over fatiguing yourself during your sport's season; unless, of course, your sport requires more intense weight training.


Cardio conditioning - Outside of the cardiovascular exercise you get from your sport, you should also give three days a week to this area. Your heart and lungs provide the necessary oxygen and nutrition to the muscles of your body. If your cardiovascular system is operating at its peak you will have a better chance of performing at your peak in your sport season.


Off season cool down


Well, the games are over - No more competition to keep you motivated. So what do you do to cool down from your Sport season? The off season of any sport should be considered the phase where you are recovering, both physically and psychologically. Many athletes use this time to evaluate their season and make a determination on where they can focus for improvement in their next season.


One way to look at the off season is to see it as a transitional period; a 4 to 6 week period between your sports season and the preseason. It should include cardiovascular training (never give this one up) so that you maintain your aerobic fitness; keep it light and enjoyable. In additions include resistance training that focuses on stabilization and correcting any imbalances due to repetitive motion. Finally, add in flexibility exercise. Make sure you include plenty of stretching. This will remove a lot of the stiffness associated with an intense season.


Wrap it all up


As you can see there is no wrap up for exercise; it's a part of every season. Now you may be wondering, "How do I maintain focus and keep my motivation going during every season". Well, it's easy! The best way to make sure you are motivated is to engage a personal trainer for all your sports seasons.

Some Cures for Panic Attack You Should Consider

Panic attack can strike at any moment of the day or night. It is one of the most confusing 10 or so minutes that you can have. For those who witness it, it can be even more confusing. People who have had a panic attack episode would want to have a cure for it. However, there is always a possibility of recurrence of an attack. A cure for panic attack therefore has to be designed for a particular attack.


The cures for panic disorders are selected depending on the cause of the attack to its occurrence. They also have different effects on different individuals. Here are some of the cures for panic disorders available.


Medications have been manufactured to deal with anxiety disorder. Perhaps the most common are tranquilizers like Valium which help to keep anxiety under control. The medications have side effects though. They are recommended for cases where the recurrence of an anxiety disorder is not frequent. It is also recommended that you consult your doctor before using them. Also, as these medications render you immobile for sometime, their use should be wisely thought out depending on the time when the panic disorder strikes.


Another method that has been used as a cure for panic disorder is confronting the panic attack trigger. This method involves facing and trying to overcome the panic attack trigger when an attack occurs. It is usually effective in the long term. However it is quite difficult to accomplish. It is recommended that the individual confront their fears gradually as many risks are involved in a sudden confrontation. The gradual steps will enable the person prepare well and eventually succeed it every battle. However, a single unsuccessful attempt could lead to discouragement.


The two methods are effective cures for anxiety disorder when an attack strikes. However, there are other methods which can help one prepare for any unexpected anxiety disorders.


Practicing breathing techniques before a panic disorder sets in is a good way to cure panic disorder. Taking up yoga exercise can be both beneficial in terms of learning how to control breathing s well as stay calm in times of panic disorder. Deep breathing is important during panic attacks. Practicing when you are less stressed will enable the body automatically start deep breathing in case of a panic disorder.


You do not have to try to find a place where you think you will be safe when the panic disorder sets in. it can be useful to think of a place you would rather be when a panic attack sets in. continually believe that you will find yourself there if any panic attack strikes. This method has been effective for people who have suffered trauma. The thought of a safe place usually helps them relax.


There is no known specific cure for panic disorder. Being a condition which can occur at any moment, it has been hard to come up with any effective methods to cure it. It is always advisable to try out different methods to find out which works best.


Want to discover more about cure for panic attack?

Pulse Oximeter Use by Athletes During Exercise

Athletes are truly individuals that devote their life for the wellness of their bodies and their health. They strive ever so hard in order to reach new heights of physical wellness and stamina. However, one of the problems that arises is the fact that athletes do not stop to measure their vital signs during extreme or intense exercise. This is critically important as many injuries or even life threatening injuries occur to absolutely healthy adults in situations of intense exercise due to the fact that the athletes didn't take the time to measure their vital signs in order to determine whether they are at a stable and healthy level.


For example, the individual may be on the treadmill exercising and preparing for a local marathon. They may determine that today might be the day that they need to especially increase the intensity of the exercise in order to meet certain thresholds of health and fitness in order to get ready for the marathon. Unfortunately what the athlete doesn't realize that pushing one's body to such an extreme may have serious health side effects and complications if the body's response to such exercise is not monitored closely. One big issue is that the athlete is not in any way monitoring their vital signs such as pulse rate and oxygen level. Pulse rate is in essence one of the most basic yet important vital signs that needs to be monitored in individuals. The pulse rate truly gives health professionals an indication of a specific level of health of individuals. A great device to use in order to monitor yourself during intense exercise is the use of a pulse oximeter.


A pulse oximeter is a health device that is used to measure pulse rate as well as blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). The oximeter utilizes infrared light that passes through the person's skin and comes back with a measurement of the pulse rate. Due to the fact that the blood-flow comes in and out of the tissues at differing levels then oximeter uses the infrared light to measure such differences and in turn comes back with a number which designates the pulse rate. On the other hand, blood oxygen saturation or SpO2 is representative of the percentage of oxygen in the hemoglobin or blood in your blood. This is an extremely important vital sign to not only monitor but also take care that it doesn't fall below unhealthy levels. The pulse oximeter instantly measures the blood oxygen saturation and reports back a number which will allow you to gauge whether you are at healthy levels or not. What athletes can do is quite innovative not only in the field of sports but also technology. The new generation of pulse oximeters are very small and portable. They are smaller than the size of the smallest cell phone on the market today and as such can be taken by the athlete where they desire to go. The athlete simply takes out the oximeter during exercise and by inserting their finger inside the device they can noninvasively get their pulse rate as well as Sp02 levels.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Constipation in Children

What are the signs of constipation?


Here is the list of the signs that a child can have constipation:


? Straining and pain when going to stool, even bleeding
? Diarrhoea. When trying to pass the bowel motion, children may leave marks on their underwears.
? Pain in stomach
? Other common symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, skin problem, anorexia...
? If constipation continues for a few days, it may lead to other diseases, affects seriously living way of children


What are the causes of constipation?


The main reason for constipation is a diet high in processed food and low in roughage. The other reasons include:


? Eating disorder: Children who suffer from constipation often haven't a good diet. Especially, they eat so much wheat like pasta and bread, too little roughage (roughage can make children digest easily).


? Not drinking enough fluids. Fluid or mineral water plays an important role in body and helps to digest easier. When children don't drink enough fluids, they get constipation quickly.


? One of the causes of constipation is medicine such as pain-killer ( Tylenol #3, oxy codone ( percocet), hdrophonrmone ( Dilaudid)


? Stress and anxiety. This can cause the bowel motion to pass through too quickly ( causing diarrhea).


? Metal activities: Not having a habit of going to stool frequently, especially, reading newspapers, books when going to toilet are causes of constipation.


? Imbalance in the gastrointestinal bacteria. Diet that has a lot of sugars can lead to an imbalance of the intestinal flora.


Treating and preventing constipation in children


? Fluids


Have your child drink more pure water, especially fruit juices ( apple juice, grape juice...)) are helpful in preventing from constipation. Avoid drinks contained much sugar like soda.


? Food


When your child gets constipation, avoid to digest food trans fats, limit constipating food like bananas, milk, carrots,apples... Provide them with more vegetables (cabbage, nightshade...)


? Creating a habit of going to stool


Often remind children to go to the toilet and change the position when they go to. Simply, place a small stool in front of the toilet, your child can place his feet on it and raise his knees. This thing may make them feel more comfortable.


? Physical activities


It's no doubt that physical activities prevent from constipation effectively. Everyday, go for a walk with your children, let them take part in sport activities like swimming, running... Encourage them to go out or simply to walk in the parks. Avoid them spending much time on TV or computer because it can also cause obesity in children.


Sometimes, your child must go to see a health professional if constipation is very difficult to relieve. To avoid this case, learn more about constipation as well as its treatment or prevention to assure that your child don't get constipation any more.

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