Friday, April 30, 2010

Alternative Medicines - Why The Silence?

If there are alternative medicines and natural treatments that really work, why don't we hear more about them? I don't think there are many true conspiracies around, but this is one of those areas that makes me wonder. The movement between government posts and positions in the pharmaceutical corporations is well documented. This easy movement between the boardrooms and the FDA and other agencies certainly leaves room for abuse and "back door agreements." More often than not, though, there is just a conspiracy-of-common-interest that prevents safe alternative medicines from coming to market, or from becoming widely known. For example, drug companies don't want the competition of safe alternatives to their drugs. Meanwhile, it is politically safer for the FDA to not allow a product, because if they approve something and it causes any problems, they get the blame. This is a convenient coinciding of interests. Also, natural products, like silymarin (Milk Thistle Extract), which is used all over Europe to treat poisonings and to protect the liver, are legal here, but not well known. This is because, as a natural product, there is no way to patent it. Without being able to exclude others from selling it, no company can afford to spend the millions it would take to get it approved as a medicine here. A natural product also can't be marketed heavily. Imagine if a large company spent millions to promote a medicinal herb. As soon as they got the public's attention, all the smaller companies could undercut them on the price, since they spent nothing on marketing, and a plant product is usually the same no matter what the name on the label. No company wants to spend big money on a product they don't have an exclusive right too. When a plant isn't approved as a natural treatment, there are no pharmaceutical reps out there educating doctors about it (Didn't you know that's how doctors keep educated?). In addition, even if a doctor has read about a useful plant, he is more likely to face a malpractice suit for an allergic reaction to an alternative medicine than from killing someone with a "standard and accepted" treatment. Which do you think he'll recommend? Companies face the same issues of liability. In addition, the companies are limited in what they can say about these natural products. This is why you can look all over the box that some plant medicines come in, and never once see a mention of what it is for. It is tough to learn about these natural treatments, isn't it? In other words, if you want to know about alternative medicines and medical treatment, you have to look outside the mainstream for your information. You have to read the magazines that cover these alternatives, and sometimes, when it is safe, you have to even experiment a little on yourself. As for my own approach, I like to see that there is actually some real research that demonstrates a benefit. Anecdotal evidence doesn't mean much. People get better all the time, and credit whatever they happened to be using at the time. On the other hand, if it is inexpensive and safe, like eating blueberries to improve vision, I'll try almost anything once. Do natural treatments work? Sometimes. I have twice removed skin growths from my face that may have even been pre-cancerous. They were there for many years, yet it took just weeks to make them disappear using a simple and cheap natural product. I have also witnessed the fastest healing of a cut (on my foot) that I've ever seen, after applying a common plant to it. Some alternative medicines really do work.

10 Steps to Fat Loss

1) Calculate how many calories you body needs to consume to maintain your existing weight. This is called you maintenance calories.(Search Google with "calorie needs" and you will find a few different calculators to help you with this)

2) Initially deduct 10%(to a maximum of 500Kcal)off the total maintenance calories. Drastically reducing your calories will result in muscle and water loss - not fat loss.

3)Divide you calories over 5 or 6 meals rather then 2 or 3. You should aim to eat every 3-4 hours.

4)Cut out all simple carbohydrates (except straight after exercise, eat whole grain, high fibre foods.)

5) Exercise at least 3 times a week, doing 30 minutes of cardio to a reasonable level of intensity. This will help to create the calorie deficit and encourage your body to lose fat.

6)Make simple replacements in your diet, Sweetener in place of sugar, diet drinks in place of full sugar drinks, use leaner cuts of meat etc. At first these changes may be difficult but you will get used to them and make vital calorie savings every day.

7) Drink plenty of water - at least 2 litres of water every day - if you are dehydrated you body will be less efficient and will make fat loss more difficult.

8) Try to eat low carb(complex only!), low fat and moderate protein. From my experience the South Beach Diet is excellent.

9)Keep a food diary to monitor how many calories you are consuming - it is very easy to over eat.

10) Supplementing you diet can make fat loss easier. A diet high in protein can help preserve muscle (more muscle means an increase in metabolism). There are also some fat loss supplements available which help boost your metabolism, this is useful as your metabolism may slow during extended periods of dieting.

This article is written from my own experiences. I have lost 20lbs of fat and gained 20lbs of muscle. My body fat is 11%. Please consult a doctor for proper medical advice.

http://www.thesupplementsite.co.uk

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Allergy Season: It's Nothing To Sneeze At

Almost 40 million Americans face seasonal allergies, which usually begin in the spring and can last through the first frost. They're often triggered by pollens, molds or other airborne allergens. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Americans spend as much as $4.5 billion annually on medications and doctor visits to treat their allergies. The first step in treatment is to reduce exposure to specific allergens. If that's not possible, managing symptoms through medication is often next. Here are some tips to help control your allergies: Know Your Triggers: To avoid an allergen, you need to know what it is. Physicians can determine what you're allergic to by reviewing your personal and medical history or doing a physical exam. In some cases a skin, patch or blood test may be used to confirm suspected allergens. Create a Sneeze-free Environment: A few changes at home can make a difference. Use an air conditioner whenever possible, make your home "dust mite" unfriendly by vacuuming often, use hypoallergenic products and check pollen counts before going out. If they're high, stay inside. Find the Right Remedy: Antihistamines reduce symptoms and work best if taken before exposure to allergens. Decongestants should only be used for a short time as they can worsen the condition. Nasal sprays, known as inhaled steroids, are another option. Know the OTC Options: Doctors may recommend over-the-counter medications as a first-line treatment. Those that include diphenhydramine have been an allergy staple for years but can cause drowsiness. Newer non-sedating antihistamines, such as Claritin, are now available without a prescription. OTCs are usually far less expensive than prescription drugs and are now covered under pretax health care accounts, such as FSAs and HSAs. Consider Generics: They can be as effective as brand-name medications and cost 30 to 80 percent less. Popular allergy medications Allegra and Flonase are now available as generics-fexofenadine and fluticasone. According to a recent Medco analysis, 80 percent of all Allegra prescriptions were filled with a generic at retail pharmacies within 30 days of its introduction. Discuss the options with your doctor. With the right knowledge and treatments, you can spend more time outside and less time concerned about watery eyes, a runny nose and the cost of medication.

10 Steps to Asthma Self Help

Managing asthma is not something your doctor can do for you all by himself. Asthma self help is an important part of treating and managing your condition so that it doesn’t take over your entire life. Your doctor may prescribe both daily medication and medication to take in case of an acute asthma episode, but the task of minimizing risk of asthma attack and taking care of yourself on a daily basis is largely up to you and your family. Learning some key asthma self help tricks can help you keep your asthma under control so that it doesn’t interfere with your daily life.

Because asthma can be caused, triggered or worsened by so many things, there are many things that you can do to lessen the frequency and severity of the symptoms. Your doctor will offer important suggestions in addition to medication to help you manage your asthma. Think of those suggestions as a personalized asthma self help plan. A major part of asthma self help involves avoiding asthma triggers. Some ways that you can help yourself if you or someone in your family has asthma include:

1. The first and most important step in asthma self help is to follow your doctor’s orders. Don’t stop taking daily medication just because you feel better. If he’s prescribed daily peak flow measurements, be sure to follow instructions carefully and measure daily to monitor your condition.
2. If you smoke, quit. Whether the asthma sufferer is you or a child in your family, cigarette smoke is one of the most common asthma triggers known.
3. Keep the house dust-free – or as close to dust-free as possible. Dust is another common asthma trigger. Use a cylinder vacuum instead of an upright – preferably one that encloses the vacuum cleaner bag inside a solid canister to minimize pumping dust back into the air.
4. If you can, remove carpets and heavy draperies. They’re dust-catchers that easily breed dust mites. If you can’t remove them, vacuum them frequently using a canister vacuum cleaner.
5. Avoid using down feather pillows and comforters, and use a plastic cover on your mattress. Mattresses and pillows can harbor dust mites. The same goes for stuffed animals and other ‘soft’ decorations.
6. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf in cold weather. Cold air is another common asthma trigger.
7. If your asthma is triggered by allergens, monitor the outside air quality daily. Avoid open fields and woodsy areas during peak pollen seasons, and take extra care when air quality is in danger ranges.
8. Mold is another common allergen that triggers asthma. Keeping mold down is another important part of asthma self help care. Dry wet laundry immediately, and wash and disinfect bathrooms and showers regularly. Remove houseplants, as mold grows in their soil.
9. Pet dander can also trigger asthma symptoms. If you can’t part with a pet because of emotional ties, at least keep it out of the bedroom to minimize your exposure to dander.
10. Be aware of any food or ingested allergies, and avoid foods, medications and drinks that cause allergic reactions.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

All About The Best Stomach Exercises

It is only natural, most people want to look their best, and exercising their stomach muscles is usually a huge part of most fitness programs. If so much time and energy is going to be focused on this muscle group, it is a good idea to know what the best stomach exercises are. There are many resources available for finding the best stomach exercises, and plenty of people to say what they consider the best, so how can a person decide for themselves which truly are the best exercises for working their stomach muscles? First of all it is important to note that the best stomach exercises are those that a person is willing to do. No matter how effective the exercise is, if a person isn't going to do them consistently the exercise will not benefit that particular individual. It is also important to note that the best stomach exercises do not necessarily require equipment to perform them, although some machines and equipment may work quite well for some people. When a person decides on a fitness program that includes stomach exercises, it is best to include stomach exercises that work the different parts of the stomach. If a person simply concentrates on one area of their stomach, there workout will not be as effective. The best stomach exercises, combine working the oblique, which are the side muscles, the lower abdominals, the mid section and also the upper section. Some of the most popular stomach exercises are crunches. These are a very effective exercise and very convenient since they can be performed anywhere without any equipment. The next stomach exercise that is also very popular and goes along with the basic crunch is the side crunch, which works out the oblique. Some people consider the best stomach exercises to be included in a Pilate's workout. The reason for this is because in Pilates, the whole focus is on the core of the body which is the abdominal, or stomach muscles. Every movement in a Pilate's workout will work the stomach muscles either directly or indirectly. These exercises can be found on the internet, either the exercise itself or video's that can be purchased. Another good exercise that some fitness experts considers to be one of the best stomach exercises involves laying flat on your stomach, leg straight and then raising your body up using your arms as your hands are clasped together and keeping your body straight as if doing a pushup. Hold this position as long as you can stand. This is an excellent movement to strengthen the whole stomach. Remember again though that just because one person may consider a specific exercise to be the best stomach exercise that does not necessarily mean it is the best for everyone. Each person's body is different and will respond differently to certain movements. Any one serious about working on the abdominal muscles will find it most helpful to try several different stomach exercises and then determine which one they can both feel and see results with. If one exercise is simply too hard to do correctly, or does not feel like it has done anything for the muscle group worked, that exercise is clearly not the best and the person should find what works best for them.

10 Steps on Improving Your Metabolism

Copyright 2006 Karen Sessions

Are you sluggish and low on energy? Do you feel like you work and work toward your weight loss goal and never seem to make any dramatic improvement?

You could be suffering from a slow metabolism. Even though you may have a slow metabolism, it does not have to destroy your weight loss efforts. You can dramatically improve your metabolism, and boost your energy levels without taking supplements.

Your metabolism simply refers to the conversion of food to usable energy by the body. It is the biological process, by which energy is extracted from food, and the net result is how fast or slowly the body burns those calories.

A few steps you can take to improve your metabolism naturally are:

Drink Water – Water is great to drink and you should be drinking a minimum of 8 to 10, glasses daily, of course, more is better. It will help increase your metabolism and flush out sodium, toxins, and fat. Drinking water before meals will fill your stomach so you feel full and prevent overeating. Avoid excess colas, coffee, teas, and sugary juices. Caffeine will dehydrate you, and the sugar will do more damage than good in the long-run.

Eat Every Three Hours – Eat a small balanced meal every three hours, including snacks. Meals and snacks should be balanced, meaning they should contain a complete protein, carbohydrates, as well as natural fat. Failure to eat consistently can lead to a slower metabolism and fat storage. Also, skipping meals slows down your metabolism. To ignite fat loss you need to be consuming the right foods in a balanced manner throughout the day.

Don't Skip Breakfast – Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it gets your metabolism running in high gear. You wouldn't drive your car to work on an empty tank, and you shouldn't start your day without adequate nourishment. Your first meal sets your metabolism for the day and keeps it going, as long as you eat every three hours. If you get up early and eat a late breakfast, you miss out on several hours of burning calories.

Don't Fear Fat – Fat has developed a bad reputation. Many people think fat makes you fat. This is false. The type of fat and how much fat you eat impacts your body fat composition. Fat is needed by the body. Those who follow a very low-fat diet have a harder time ridding their body of fat. Choose natural healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados, various nuts, flax, and natural peanut butter to receive your necessary fats.

Omit Trans Fat – Trans fat is the bad fat, the cause of weight gain, low energy, depression, cancer, and heart disease. You will never get the body you desire by eating "healthy" fast food, frozen dinners, and other processed choices. If it's man-made, it's not the best choice, and will halt fat loss endeavors. Eat the foods Mother Nature has provided to meet your fat loss goals.

Be Active Daily – Stay active at least six days a week. Take the stairs when possible or park further out to get that little bit of extra movement to keep the heart and lungs working optimally. The more movement you get daily, the better you will feel overall.

Do Cardiovascular Exercise – Cardio exercise is necessary for heart and lung health. It also burns calories. Doing cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach can tap into fat stores, and keep your body burning calories at a high rate for about an hour after cardio is finished. If you fail to eat adequately daily, first morning cardio on an empty stomach can work against you. Doing morning cardio on very low calorie diet can burn muscle. Another good time to incorporate cardio is in the evening after your last meal. This allows you to burn calories so you are not sleeping on them. You do not have to implement a morning and evening session, choose one or the other or cycle between the two to prevent staleness and boredom.

HIIT It – Blend some High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) into your cardiovascular program from time to time to give your body and metabolism a good shock. The body is programmed for adaptation. Therefore, doing the same cardio format day in and day out can become stale really fast. Take one or two days a week and implement some HIIT to give the body an added shock.

HIIT is basically alternating low intensity and moderate to high intensity cardio training. For example, a 20 minute HIIT session would look similar to this:

Minute 1 and 2 – Low Intensity (Walking) Minute 3 and 4 – High Intensity (Light jogging or running) Minute 5 and 6 – Low Intensity Minute 7 and 8 – High Intensity and so on…

Weight Train – Resistance training builds muscle, which is metabolically active tissue. The more muscle you acquire, the faster your metabolism will be. Adding more lean muscle tissue to your body will put curves in the right places and allow you to eat more calories a day.

Listen to Your Body – Killing yourself with workouts is just as dangerous as not working out at all. Listen to your body and get proper rest. Don't train if you are ill, still sore from the previous workout, or just simply too tired. Training in such a state can cause more problems than it solves.

If any of the above fails to prove results in 4 to 6 weeks, there could be an underlying problem, such as a food allergy, sluggish thyroid, hormonal imbalance, toxins, parasites, etc. If so, I recommend searching for a natural healer in your area to determine the cause. and work from there. For the most part, proper diet, detoxifying, and herbs can correct any ailments.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

5 Tips To Finding Effective Anti-Snore Devices

If you have tried everything, but still seem to suffer from snoring, don’t give up. Before turning to surgery, consider shopping for anti-snore devices. These products do not typically require a prescription, are economically priced and may just be the answer that you are looking for. However, as is the case when shopping for anything, there are a lot of anti-snore devices out there and knowing what to look for will make your selection process a lot easier.

Tip 1
Read the packaging, or information, carefully. Is the product doctor recommended or approved? If you see that the product is, in fact, doctor recommended, then you know that it is one of the quality anti-snore devices. For example, the Sleep Genie made by Odyssey Direct Solutions is a product that is doctor recommended. It has been proven to be effective, so you know you are getting value for your dollar.

Tip 2
Is the product safe? If the label doesn’t feature any product warnings, then look at the features and ask yourself if you think it looks safe for you. There is simply no reason to consider a product with safety warnings. While you are asleep, how much attention can you be paying to the safety of anti-snore devices? A good anti-snore device will protect you while you sleep and not cause additional need for concern.

Tip 3
Take a moment to consider if this is one of the anti-snore devices that appears comfortable. Among the things to consider are it’s design and materials. For instance, the Sleep Genie is very sleek in it’s design and is made from a comfortable nylon lycra blend. With this product, the snoring sufferer won’t have to worry about tossing and turning in discomfort. Comfort is key and is a must-have to avoid further sleep deprivation.

Tip 4
Affordability is a factor. Take some time to think about the cost of the item and it’s qualities. The majority of anti-snore devices are affordable, but others can be very costly. Before spending big bucks on anything, ask yourself if a more affordable product can produce the same results.

Tip 5
Does the product offer a guarantee or warranty? This is a sure sign that the product is backed by the company who makes it, which says a lot about their belief that the anti-snore device will work for you. Odyssey Direct Solutions, for instance, offers a 90-day money back guarantee on the Sleep Genie. By selecting a product that is backed by a company guarantee, you can feel good in knowing that you are getting value for your dollar.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Monday, April 26, 2010

All Natural Sleep Aid Supplements Reviewed: How Well DoThey Work?

Sleep Aids Reviewed- In-depth Reviews of Sleeping Pills / Sleep Aid supplements Looking for the right sleep aid to overcome your insomnia? You’ve come to the right place. Featured here are in-depth reviews of hundreds of sleep aid medications and sleep supplements to help you find the right product for you specific sleep problem. We’ve identified an extensive range of sleeping pills available in the market from numerous manufacturers with different medications suitable for different people. We are quite confident that you will find a medication that suits your particular condition. To make it easy for you to choose the sleep aid, we’ve ensured that review of each medication/supplement covers details of the ingredients of the product, an assessment of the product’s composition, the benefits and effects (including negative or side effects), information about any clinical research to justify the claims of the sleep aid manufacturer and equally importantly, price. After all, we want to be sure you are not losing sleep over the money you spend on your sleeping pills! Moreover, wherever possible, we have also tried to present you with you comments from consumers of these sleeping pills elsewhere on their own experiences in overcoming their sleep problems with specific medications. How to choose a sleeping pill / sleep supplement? That’s what we hope the reviews below will help you do! Each of the products below have proven to counter sleep disorders; many of them are good enough to tackle chronic insomnia. Before you order a particular sleep aid, consider the following key aspects: What is your specific problem and how serious and persistent is it? For example, are you suffering from chronic insomnia or a temporary sleep disorder? Do you have any known allergies to the ingredients of the drug? What does the drug actually do to your body ie. how does it work? Is the sleep drug suited to any specific conditions that you may be undergoing, say for example, pregnancy or nursing? Is the sleep aid compatible with any other medications you may be taking? What is the recommended dosage and duration you will be required to take the capsules? Note that both dosage and duration have an impact on cost and as well the possibility of other side effects. Is the manufacturer reliable and proven? After all, you don’t want to lose any more sleep than you already are! Last but not the least, how hard is it going to hit the wallet? You obviously don’t want to risk it with cheap sleeping pills that may well be spurious, but at the same time you want to ensure that the pills are truly delivering the quantity and quality of sleep that your body and mind require, without any side effects. So, here’s wishing that your sleep problems are overcome with any of the sleep aids mentioned below. Read the reviews carefully, consider the above criteria and go ahead and purchase the right product that best addresses your sleep needs!

5 Tips To Dealing With Dry Skin

Dry skin is a problem that not only occurs during the cold winter months, but also during summer as well. The increased humidity indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer add to the problem that affects many sufferers around the world.

Symptoms of dry skin include redness and a tight feeling when you attempt to bend your fingers or even in the slightest movement of your hand. In the case of extreme dry skin, cracking and bleeding may occur. This is the most unpleasant part of dry skin as it can be very embarrassing and, as expected, very painful. While it often seems that there is no way to end this discomfort, there are several tips to help individuals who suffer from dry skin.

Dry Skin Tip # 1
Use a soap that has moisturizing lotion. This will be gentler on your skin and will add moisture back where it has been otherwise removed. If possible, avoid harsh soaps that dry out the skin or strip it of it’s natural moisture.

Dry Skin Tip # 2
While it is important to maintain proper hygiene, overly washing your hands or showering multiple times each day may promote dry skin. After washing, it is equally important to dry your skin thoroughly to prevent it from chapping.

Dry Skin Tip # 3
One of the most effective dry skin treatment products is Pacquin Plus Dry Skin Cream, which is sold in 8oz. bottles. This thick white lotion provides instant relief for dry skin and can be applied to not only the hands, but the entire body as well.

Dry Skin Tip # 4
Use a quality exfoliation product to remove dry and/or dead skin cells. By removing the old cells, you will expose the healthy cells and may be better able to fight against nature’s harmful effects.

Dry Skin Tip # 5
If problem worsens or persists, consult a dermatologist. In some instances, over-the-counter products may not be able to treat severe cases of dry skin. A dermatologist has the ability to recommend stronger treatment products, which may be needed in some instances.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as professional medical advice. The information contained herein should not be used in place of, or in conjunction with, a doctor’s recommendation . Any individual who develops severe dry skin or that which does not respond to over-the-counter treatment, should consult a licensed dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

All About Online Ordering

One of the reasons why most people are hesitant to buy or purchase anything online is because they are afraid they might come across a scam. Another reason may be because they are not familiar with how buying online is done. Like most problems, each of them has a solution. It is actually quiet easy to avoid being fooled over the internet and be familiar with the process of online purchasing only if a person knows what to look out for and what to follow. Contained in this article are the following information needed by those people who would like to have even just a few guidelines on ordering or purchasing online. It also includes some specific examples and details on the benefits of it. Basically, most sites already provide the directions on how orders can be made from them. There are buttons either labeled as either "Buy Now", "Order Now", "Submit Now", which will automatically lead to other steps of the process. Sometimes, there are diagrams or even written instructions that details the entire process of ordering. It is actually that easy to orders sometimes. However, there are still some sites that are cluttered, confusing, and difficult to understand especially to those people who do not use the internet frequently. In such cases, there are just a few pointers that need to be kept in mind. If there are no buttons that will automatically lead to the order forms or whatever step following the initial procedure, there is usually a tab for the page where buying can be made or accomplished. These pages are sometimes labeled as "Shops" where a complete listing or display of the products are posted. After those pages are found, it is already quiet easy to figure out the next thing to do. As an example, one famous online drugstore makes use of the "Buy Now" buttons which will lead next to the Medical Order Form. This form may be made up of several parts such as a personal account information, shipping or contact information, and a medical questionnaire. After these forms are accomplished, some customer agreements have to be read and agreed to before the button "Submit" can be clicked. After this, all a person needs to do is wait for the updates regarding his or her order. One of the trickiest parts that need to be properly monitored is when payments are made online. This usually involves providing one's credit card information to those who manage the site. In order to determine that these pages are really exclusively managed by the site administrators or owners, one can look at the site addresses indicated on search bars. Addresses that have "https" on them rather than just a mere "http" are said to actually be the secure sites. Thus, it is safe to provide the credit card information to these sites because other people cannot access them. The only remaining information that should be determined is whether the site being accessed is one that is reliable or that which can be trusted. Since most sites nowadays are monitored to be ones that are reliable, chances of being tricked is quiet slim. Aside from disadvantages or difficulties such as those already mentioned, ordering online has actually a lot of benefits. First, it is actually more convenient since several tasks can be accomplished easily at a lesser amount time spent. It is also less costly considering that transportation expenses are already not an issue. The hassles of waiting in lines and possibly bearing with some annoying people or other situations will also be avoided. Eventually, most businesses will already opt for purchases from their companies to be made online. Thus, it is better if one has some knowledge already of this process before that happens.

10 Smashing Tricks To Burn Yourself To A Gorgeous Body

Most folks I know start off the New Year by making resolutions to lose weight and get in shape. often, this mission is often easier said than done. Some last a little longer than others, but for most, impetus starts to fizzle soon into the next buffet engagement.

Have no fear: ten delightful tactics can empower you to motivate your self to a better body. Whether you are looking to lose a lot or just a few pounds or you want to exercise more to tone your body, you can create an action plan that can help you stay motivated.

Conviction: Conviction is the primal way for you to motivate yourself to exercise more or to stick to a diet. Faith in yourself is also known as self-efficacy and it means that once you believe that you can do something, no matter how hard, you do it. Those that have a lot of self-esteem believe that they have the power to make changes in themselves. Those without solid self-confidence will find that they will have a much more difficult time sticking to any fitness plan and will not exert much effort.

Support: A staunch support system of friends and family keeps almost anyone motivated to reach their goals. When a person starts a new fitness plan or diet program, many changes need to happen. It is important to surround yourself with others that can support you and understand your personal goals. Let those around you know that you need them to support your new goal and try to include them in your objectives.

Positive Mind-set: Your enthusiasm will soar if you keep a positive attitude towards your new fitness goals. Think about the positive aspects of a healthier lifestyle and exercise plan and keep that in mind you may be tempted to skip a day at the gym. When following any fitness plan, it is also important to remember that you may have setbacks or you may not achieve your goals as fast as you had hoped. Keeping your stance positive even during the rough times will help you stay focused on your goals.

Follow Through: You will find that you have an easier time staying motivated when you make a plan and keep at it. Without understanding each step you need to take to reach your goals, it will be harder to focus on the destination. For example, if you are trying to eat healthier, write down what foods you want to eliminate and foods your want to add to your diet. As you progress, compare your results with your plan and that will help you stay the course.

Keep Organized: Keeping organized will keeps the motivation burning to stay on the new fitness plan. If you plan on going to the gym a few times a week, you can get everything you need ready to go the night before. Have your shoes, gym clothes and membership card by the door. Not only will this make it easier for you find exactly what you need, but it will also serve as a visual reminder of your goal. Keep your days planned out and schedule time in for healthy cooking or burning the asphalt.

Forms of Motivation: Intrinsic and extrinsic are both types of motivation. Understand what they mean and which one helps keep you motivated. Those who are intrinsically motivated do not need outside forces, such as rewards to stay focused. They have the power from within to stay motivated. Other forces, such as rewards or praise from others, motivate those who are motivated extrinsically. Most people feel motivated both ways. Understand what kind of motivation keeps you passionate.

Reward Yourself: Incentives can be a great motivator, especially in a new fitness plan. Give yourself a small reward when you meet each of your goals. This will help you get to your final goal. You may choose to buy yourself a new shirt when you lose ten pounds or maybe go see a movie. Whatever appeals to you would stoke the flames of zeal.

Heroes: When you are trying to get a better body through a fitness plan, look for a hero. That person does not have to be famous, but anybody you look up to. Maybe it is someone you know with zest for healthy living. Use that person to emulate when your spirit wanes.

Knowledge is Power: As soon as you commit yourself to a new fitness plan, arm yourself with piles of information. Compare different diets and exercise plans. Learn the ins and outs of each one and you can make confident informed decision.

Varied Pursuits: Another great way to stay motivated is by diversifying activities. When you start to feel upset, you can set it aside and do something you really love. It might even be possible to include what you love doing to help you achieve your fitness aims.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Air Purifier Comparisons – Weeding Out the Bad

Conducting an air purifier comparison can be a daunting task – there are so many different manufacturers’ products available on the market, using a wide variety of differing technologies. How is the ordinary person to know which one is best for them? Choosing the right air purifier for you comes largely down to the particular needs of your household, but whether you have asthma or chemical sensitivity, here is a quick air purifier comparison to help illustrate the purifiers you shouldn’t buy. There are a variety of different technologies utilized in the air purification systems available today, and while some of these receive more publicity than others, an air purifier comparison quickly shows us that some systems simply don’t live up to the hype. Most of us have heard, for example, a whole lot about the Sharper Image air purifier, or we may have picked up something about ozone air purifiers. Just remember – just because a system generates a lot of attention doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for the right reasons. Air purifier comparisons consistently turn up negative evidence on a few of the technologies employed in the air purification systems you will see in stores. Ion air purifiers, for example, while popular with many consumers, are seen by experts to be fairly ineffective. This type of unit, like the Sharper Image air purifier, rely largely on hype to get you to spend your money, so be careful before you buy to perform your own air purifier comparison, to ensure that the information offered by the marketers is reliable. An internet air purifier comparison will quickly show that another technology, ozone, is deemed by many experts to not only be ineffective, but can actually be dangerous to your health. There are many useful studies available online on this topic, so be sure to utilize these when making your personal air purifier comparison. Your air purifier comparison should always consider the needs of you and your family, but remember, regardless of your particular requirements, an ozone or an ion air purifier are probably not the best or safest choice. Air purifier comparisons aren’t easy, but there are some to avoid.

10 Small Steps To Improve Your Health

Many of us make health-related resolutions, such as to lose weight, stop smoking or join the neighborhood health club. While it is common to set high goals, experts say that setting smaller goals could do more for our health.

"Small steps are achievable and are easier to fit into your daily routine," says James O. Hill, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. "They are less overwhelming than a big, sudden change."

Here are 10 to try:

1. Stop gaining weight. Even if you gain just a pound or two every year, the extra weight adds up quickly.

2. Take more small steps. Use a pedometer to count your daily steps; then add 2,000, the equivalent of one extra mile. Keep adding steps, 1,000 to 2,000 each month or so, until you take 10,000 steps on most days.

3. Eat breakfast. Breakfast eaters tend to weigh less and have better diets overall. For a filling and nutrition-packed breakfast, top Whole Grain Total® with fresh fruit slices and low-fat or fat-free milk.

4. Switch three grain servings each day to whole grain. If you're like the average American, you eat less than one whole grain serving a day.

5. Have at least one green salad every day. Eating a salad (with low-fat or fat-free dressing) is filling and may help you eat less during the meal. It also counts toward your five daily cups of vegetables and fruits.

6. Trim the fat. Fat has a lot of calories, and calories count. Purchase lean meats, eat poultry without the skin, switch to lower-fat cheeses, use a nonstick pan with only a dab of oil or butter.

7. Consider calcium by including two or three daily servings of low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt. Dairy calcium is good for bones and may also help you lose weight.

8. Downsize. The smaller the bag, bottle or bowl, the less you will eat.

9. Lose just 5 to 10 percent of your current weight. The health benefits are huge-lower blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides.

10. Keep track of your eating. Write down what you eat over the next couple of days and look for problem spots. Often, just writing things down can help you eat less.

Mindy Hermann

Note to Editors: This is Series V-16 of 26.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Not As Bad As Assumed?

Wine, drinking, and alcohol have always been associated with a variety of negative effects, particularly on pregnant women and the fetuses they carry. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy has been linked to a number of unwanted side effects, including stunted cell growth and impaired nervous system development. The damage done by drinking during pregnancy can also sometimes lead to neurological disorders later on in life, though only under certain circumstances. However, recent medical studies have discovered that a little drinking during pregnancy may not pose such a high risk as it has been thought to be, provided the amounts are carefully monitored and are not in excess. Now, numerous studies have pointed out that drinking while pregnant is a negative factor. These same studies have shown that women who had drinking binges while expecting have children who develop a variety of problems later in life, both in physical wellness and mental health. However, it is worth noting that the studies have not exactly determined what in alcohol causes these problems, or if alcohol indulgence causes these issues at all. In recent studies, evidence has come to light that alcohol may not be as large a factor for causing ill effects during pregnancy as initially believed. There is some debate on whether or not it is as damaging as initially believed, but most do not doubt that it would have a few side effects. Recently, the University of Oxford conducted studies into the issue under the leadership of Dr. Ron Gray. The researchers began by reviewing the results and conditions of 14 previous studies to try and eliminate any factors other than the biological and chemical that might have contributed to the results. According to the team's preliminary findings, previous studies limited their definitions of what it means to “binge drink” and did not seem to take certain factors into account. Factors such as frequency were paid attention to by some, while others ignored it in favor of amount of alcohol ingested. Currently, no studies have revealed a link between occasional drinking binges and effects such as stillbirths, miscarriages, and fetal alcohol syndrome. Other problems include poor IQ scores and social development skills, suffering academic performance, and learning disabilities. The word “occasional” is considered to be the critical term in the study's definition. There is no doubt that regular binging on alcohol is going to guarantee some sort of damage to the fetus, but there is no evidence what imbibing smaller amounts with less frequency can do. Some parties have taken issue with the study's definition of binge drinking, which only includes women who drink throughout the pregnancy period. This puts their assumption that “occasional drinking doesn't cause much damage” into a questionable light. For the time being, most doctors are still likely to advise women to stay away from drinking. While there may be no damage done in a drink or two, there is still no direct information on just how much alcohol it would take to cause damage. The amount of time in between drinks is also unknown, which adds another complication. It may be that occasional drinking can do no damage, while regular intake (even of smaller amounts) can cause long-term defects. Or it is possible that quantity of alcohol imbibed, regardless of what intervals are in between binges. At the moment, researchers are taking the stand that further study is needed to fully understand all possible angles of this situation.

Alcohol and Cancer: Understanding the Connection

Research has shown that risks for cancer increase among men who have two alcoholic drinks a day and women who have one alcoholic drink per day. While everyone has been widely aware of the fact that smoking cigarettes greatly increase your risk of contracting cancer, there has been very little publicity of the fact that alcohol can act as a similar carcinogen.
By its very nature and design, the consumption of alcohol damages cells in your body. This damage can easily promote cell division, stimulate enzymes which cause the activation of other carcinogens and destroy certain nutrients that act as natural preventatives to cancer.
Most of the research indicates that a strong link exists between alcohol and cancers of the esophagus, pharynx and mouth. There is a suggested, those less strongly proven, link between cancers of the liver, breast and colon.
According to the American Cancer Society, oral cancers are six times more common in alcohol users than in non alcohol users.
Obviously, all of this evidence points to the conclusion that you should avoid alcohol so you can lower your chances of contracting these types of cancer.
For most people the question then comes down to a simple decision: are the benefits of drinking alcohol larger than the potential deficits of cancer? As long as the mythology continues that there is no cure for cancer, the question should be fairly simple to answer. Very few people would happily enjoy a few nights out with friends drinking for months or years of painful cancer.
Put plainly, our bodies are designed to heal themselves. Our immune system was created to keep our bodies healthy. However, like any other worker, our immune system cannot do its work if we don’t give it the necessary tools.
One of the effects of alcohol, which isn’t one of the reasons most folks drink it, is that it reduces the ability of your immune system to do its job. So, people who regularly drink alcohol are regularly inhibiting the ability of their immune system to do its job.
Our cells are constantly dividing and there are a large number of ways the cell can become malignant. In reality, we probably develop malignant cells on a daily basis. However, once they become known to our immune system as a threat, they are destroyed.
It’s only when our immune system somehow misses the indications that a cell is becoming a problem that we term it cancer.
There is no dispute about the fact that doing anything which will inhibit our immune system increases our chances for becoming ill. It’s significantly odd, then, that we all continue going about our lives while continually doing things that inhibit our immune systems.
In the end, we all need to evaluate the actions we take and the decisions we make with an eye towards the potential rewards versus the potential risks. Alcohol diminishes the immune system and a diminished immune system greatly elevates our chances of developing cancer. Next time you start to drink alcohol, stop and ask your immune system if it really wants to get drunk.

10 Reasons For Eye Surgery Lasik!

There is no "best" method for correcting vision errors. The most appropriate correction for you depends on your eyes and your lifestyle. You should discuss you situation with your ophthalmologist or eye doctor to decide which correction will be most effective for you.

10 Reasons for Lasik!

1. Nothing is as sweet as the freedom from the hassles and inconveniences of contacts or glasses.

2. You save money! Over the years, the costs of lenses, solutions and glasses amounts to thousands of dollars.

3. You save time! In one year, the average contact lens wearer spends nearly 60 hours wetting, soaking, rubbing, cleaning and otherwise maintaining them. This is about 2.5 whole days!

4. Imagine waking up in the morning, and being able to see the clock!

5. You get to go swimming, scuba diving and be able to see things!

6. You are able to spontaneously go camping or stay overnight.

7. You are able to take a nap when the mood strikes without first having to remove lenses. Imagine the hassle saved!

8. You will be able to see while putting on makeup or shaving, no more squinting!

9. You will be able to participate in outdoor sports without glasses that fog or get splashed with rain or lenses that dry out in the wind.

10. And most important of all, you w ill be able to avoid the negative consequences of long term contact lens wear!

Clinicians wishing to undertake laser eye surgery should ensure that patients understand the benefits and potential risks of the procedure. So the better you understand your LASIK surgery, and what happens after your surgery, the better prepared you'll be for your surgery. Patients should be counseled on the potential risks and benefits of LASIK, then make an informed decision. No matter what your motivation may be, the decision to have eye improvement surgery is no small task and it should be considered carefully. If you decide Lasik surgery is for you, consulting your eye doctor is critical to making an informed decision.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Agoraphobia: Get Out of the Market and Conquer Your Fear

We all experience fear once at least once in our lives. When we were kids, we were very frightened to go to school on the very first day knowing that the people there would be total strangers. We were also terrified by the thought of having to go to the dentist. Some had lesser degree of fear such as dreading the thought of having to speak before a crowd or reciting in front of the class. Some manage to overcome those fears, but there are others who are still weighed down by their fears and anxiety. Fear plays a very important part in our daily life, and in human society as a whole. Fear comes in many shapes and forms, but it could be described as an unpleasant feeling of perceived risk or danger, real or not. It functions to make us alert and ready for action while expecting specific problems. We feel fearful when we believe we do not have the ability to cope with something. This fear may be grounded in reality, as when we fear being knocked down by a car when trying to cross a busy road. Or the fear may be irrational as when we fear a tiny harmless spider. Many of our fears are a mix of reality and misinterpretation of our ability to cope. When there is a large degree of of misinterpretation it is likely that it is a phobia rather than a fear. Phobias involve the experience of persistent fear that is excessive and unreasonable. It is the most common mental disorder and research shows that more than 12 percent of the American population will develop a phobia. Phobias are among several anxiety disorders, which also include panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Phobias are cued when a person approaches a particular situation or object, or even anticipates the approach of it. The individual experiencing a phobia understands the fear they will experience as a result of that situation will be unreasonable and excessive. Phobias come in many different forms, some of the examples of phobias are: arachnophobia; the fear of spiders, acrophobia; the fear of heights. aviophobia; the fear of flying, felinophobia; the fear of cats, apiphobia; the fear of bees, and the list goes on. Some phobias are well-recognized, others are unheard of. But one kind of phobia that can be seriously disabling to an individual is called agoraphobia. The term agoraphobia is translated from Greek as “fear of the marketplace.” Its literal definition suggests a fear of “open spaces,” but the term agoraphobia has been widely misunderstood and misleading. Agoraphobics are not necessarily afraid of open spaces. Rather, they are afraid of having panicky feelings, wherever these fearful feelings may occur. For many, they happen at home, in houses of worship, or in crowded supermarkets, places that are certainly not “open.” Agoraphobia is a condition which develops when a person begins to avoid spaces or situations associated with anxiety. Typical “phobic situations” might include driving, shopping, crowded places, traveling, standing in line, being alone, meetings and social gatherings. Agoraphobia arises from an internal anxiety condition that has become so intense that the suffering individual fears going anywhere or doing anything where these feelings of panic have repeatedly occurred before. Once the panic attacks have started, these episodes become the ongoing stress, even when other more obvious pressures have diminished. It sets up a “feedback condition” which generally leads to increased numbers of panic attacks. Typically, people with agoraphobia restrict themselves to their “comfort zone” that may include only their home or the immediate neighborhood. Any movement beyond the edges of this zone creates a rise in anxiety. Sometimes, a person with agoraphobia is unable to leave home alone, but can travel if accompanied by a particular family member or friend. Even when they restrict themselves to “safe” situations, most people with agoraphobia continue to have panic attacks at least a few times a month. Researchers are still trying to understand what causes someone to have agoraphobia. As with most mental illnesses, agoraphobia is probably caused by a complex mix of biology and genetics, life's experiences, temperament and traits. But researchers do know several risk factors involved that make a person more likely to get agoraphobia. These factors include: · Having panic disorder · Experiencing stressful life events · Having a tendency to be nervous or anxious · Alcohol and substance use disorders · Female gender Agoraphobia usually starts during late adolescence or early adulthood, but younger children and older adults also can develop it. Research also shows that more women are diagnosed with agoraphobia than men. As with many other mental disorders, agoraphobia treatment typically includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Depression treatments and anti-anxiety medications are commonly used to treat agoraphobia and panic symptoms. Among antidepressants, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR) and sertraline (Zoloft) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat panic disorder and also may help agoraphobia. Other types of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) also are sometimes used to treat agoraphobia. But TCAs and MAOIs tend to have more side effects and more serious side effects than do SSRIs. Anti-anxiety medications, also called benzodiazepines, can also help control symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks, and are often used in agoraphobia treatment. These may include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), to name a few. Treatment of agoraphobia is often successful, and you can overcome agoraphobia and learn to keep it under control. A phobia can make one's life miserable, cause embarrassment, and undermine self confidence and self esteem. However, you do not have to learn to live with a phobia, there are positive and pro-active manner which will help you conquer and get out of the marketplace of fear.

10 Real Life Diet Tips

Are you tired of diet tips handed out by someone with apparently unlimited income and time? For some of us, it may just not be practical to spend half of our Sunday preparing carefully portioned meals for the rest of the week, or financially feasible to buy all our meals prepackaged in just the right portions. And there are those of us who cringe at the thought of weighing food to achieve 'optimal portion sizes'. Here are ten real life diet tips for the rest of us.

1. Eating out? Restaurant portions tend to be enormous, and if it's on the plate, we tend to eat it. If it's possible, order from the kid’s menu, where portions are more reasonably sized.

2. Keep healthy snacks around and easily accessible. A bowl of fruit on the kitchen table, a container of celery or carrot sticks in the refrigerator, or a couple of pop-open cans of fruit salad in your desk at work will help you grab for something healthy when those first hunger pains begin. In other words, you'll be more likely to grab something low-calorie and good for you if it's easy to eat.

3. Substitute frozen vegetables for canned. Canned veggies tend to be high in sodium, which you don't need, and low in real nutrition, which you do. Buy economy size bags with zip closures to make it easy to pour out a single serving for a meal.

4. Buy a vegetable steamer. Steaming is one of the healthiest ways to cook vegetables. The food retains nearly all of its natural nutrients instead of leaching it out into the cooking water. Even better, it makes your veggies taste great - which means you'll be more likely to eat them instead of filling up on fatty foods that pack on weight.

5. Never eat standing up. One of the easiest ways to sabotage your diet is to 'eat without thinking'. Treat eating with the respect that it deserves. Fix yourself a plate. Sit down and eat properly. You'll be less likely to just pop food into your mouth without paying attention.

6. Spread your meals out. When you eat three meals a day, your body tends to store whatever it doesn't need right that moment. By adopting a 'grazing' habit, you'll keep your metabolism working throughout the day. Have a small breakfast, a piece of fruit with crackers or toast at mid-morning, a light lunch and an 'after school snack' mid-afternoon. Just remember that you're breaking up the same amount of food into smaller meals, not ADDING more food into your daily diet.

7. Grab a fruit juice or flavored water instead of soda. Soda is nothing but empty calories. No nutrients, lots of sugar. Instead, grab a bottle of 100% fruit juice, or water flavored with a spritz of fruit.

8. Drink water. Even the FDA recommends at least 8 full 8 ounce glasses of water a day to keep your body working right. When you're dieting, you should drink even more. It's not just that full feeling - water helps your body digest foods properly and cleans out your system.

9. Can't afford a gym membership? Make a pact with friends to exercise together. Make a date at least three times a week to play volleyball, take a walk or spend half an hour doing something active.

10. Skip the potato chips. Fatty snacks fried in hydrogenated oil like potato chips contribute fat and calories and not much else. Instead, grab a handful of dried fruit or a cup of yogurt for the same amount of calories and a lot more nutritional benefit.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Advanced Nutritional Products - What Are They?

Advanced nutritional products are substances that have been shown by clinical studies to provide important health benefits. Advanced nutritional products that support the health of the heart, eyes, brain, immune system, joints and so on are being proven by studies on an ongoing basis. We are living longer, and we want those extra years to be active ones full of optimism, energy and health. The foundation for good health is a lifestyle that includes a sensible diet with nutritional supplements, sufficient quality sleep, reasonable exercise and weight management. Taking high-quality, anti-aging advanced nutritional products helps fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have. The essential nutrients that your body needs are extensive and complex. Vitamins and minerals are just the beginning. Other nutrients that provide significant anti-aging benefits are the key to improved energy, better health and freedom from disease. Here are examples of advanced nutritional products: • Resveratrol - this phytonutrient is an antioxidant found in the skins of red grapes, in red wine, red grape juice and mulberries. Studies suggest that it is an effective antioxidant that reduces mortality in cardiovascular diseases and cancer, that it inhibits the replication of herpes simplex virus, may be beneficial in atherosclerosis, may be helpful in lowering cholesterol levels, increasing HDL cholesterol levels, preventing damage to blood vessels and as alleviation of menopausal symptoms. • Quercetin - is a bioflavanoid and one of the advanced nutritional products that supports the immune system, connective tissue and blood vessels. • Alpha Lipoic Acid - this antioxidant (ALA) enhances effects of other antioxidants to fight free radicals in the body and enhance recovery. May enhance insulin sensitivity, improving the body's ability to add lean mass and reduce fat. May be beneficial in persons suffering from type II diabetes and hyperglycemia. • Acetyl-L-Carnitine - occurs naturally in the body and is one of the advanced nutritional products. It is used for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, age-related memory deficits, senile depression, Down syndrome, alcoholism-related cognitive deficits and after-stroke treatment as it increases cerebral blood flow. • L-Carnosine - may play a role in preventing atherosclerosis, joint inflammation, formation of cataracts, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. • Policosanol - comes from sugar cane and has been studied and published in over 80 clinical studies, more studies than for most prescription drugs. Policosanol significantly lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol without the side affects associated with the statin drugs. • Lutein - is found in leafy dark green vegetables. Studies suggest it may offer protection against cancer and degeneration of the eyes and skin by sunlight. • Zeaxanthin - increasing dietary intake of the advanced nutritional products lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. • DIM 3,3' - diindolylmethane is found in the cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. Diindolylmethane may be used for preventing breast and uterine cancer, preventing benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). • Turmeric - is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herb used for bronchitis, colds, chest infections, leprosy, fever, kidney inflammation and cystitis. And there are more! Is it possible that advanced nutritional products can slow the aging process? Absolutely! Numerous clinical studies have shown and are still discovering the health benefits of many of these nutrients. Slowing the aging process includes providing your body ALL the nutrients it requires. You can try to design your own supplement plan and take many different supplements individually. However, designing your own supplement program is not the best way since this means taking many different substances and will not provide the best results. When trying to design your own supplement plan, it's easy to end up with a dozen or more individual substances to take daily, which is both a hassle and expensive. Besides, if certain substances are out of balance, it's possible they can combine to produce other unwanted compounds that can be harmful. There is one manufacturer that combines the advanced nutritional products in one broad high-quality supplement. Nutrient quantities are combined according to the latest research and the individual ingredients are even linked to the relevant clinical studies. Learn as much as you can about what finding the best advanced nutritional products really means. Your health, energy and wellness is the issue. Before spending your money, be informed about the anti-aging products you'll be taking every day. Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

10 Powerful Tips to Stop Smoking

Powerful Hints to Stop Smoking

Whether you are using Nicotine Replacement Therapy, Hypnosis or just Cold Turkey, these strategies and hints are for aiding you to stop smoking and are sure to assist you in helping your neurology change and thus enable you to stop smoking with ease. It is up to you to ensure that you do these things to really enhance what you are doing, the more effort you put into these exercises, the easier it is to stop smoking for good.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 1.

Being a smoker is like cycling with stabilisers attached to the wheels, you can find it hard to be balanced without smoking. Now, when you cycle freely again, the natural balance returns.

When people smoke, more than half of what they breathe is fresh air - pulled through the cigarette right down into the lungs. So if you feel any cravings you can instantly overcome them by taking three deeper breaths. Imagine breathing from that space just below your belly button. Whenever you do this you put more oxygen into your bloodstream. This means you can use deep breaths to change the way you feel instantly and give you power over the way you feel and help you let go of those old cravings and thus making it easier to stop smoking.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 2

Next, think now of all the reasons you don't like smoking, the reasons that it's bad and the reasons you want to stop smoking. Write down the key words on a piece of paper. For example, you experience breathlessness, it's dirty, filthy and your clothes smell, your friends and family are concerned and it's expensive, unsociable and so on. Then, on the other side of the paper, write down all the reasons why you'll feel good when you've succeeded in stopping. You'll feel healthier, you’ll feel in control of your self, your senses are enhanced, your hair and clothes will smell fresher and so on. Whenever you need to, look at that piece of paper.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 3

Next, we are going to programme your mind to feel disgusted by cigarettes. I want you recall 4 times when you thought to yourself "I've gotta quit", or that you felt disgusted about smoking. Maybe you just felt really unhealthy, or your doctor told you in a particular tone of voice 'You've got to quit' or somebody you know was badly affected by smoking. Take a moment now to come up with 4 different times that you felt that you have to quit or were disgusted by smoking.

Remember each of those times, one after another, as though they are happening now. I want you to keep going through those memories and make them as vivid as possible. The more vivid you make those memories, the easier it will be to stop smoking. See what you saw, hear what you heard and feel how you felt. I want you to take a few minutes now to keep going through those memories again and again, overlap each memory with the next until you are totally and utterly disgusted by cigarettes.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 4

Have a think to yourself about the consequences of you not stopping smoking now, if you just carry on and on. Imagine it, what will happen if you carry on smoking. What are the consequences? Imagine yourself in 6 months time, a years time, even 5 years time if you do not stop smoking now. Think of all the detrimental effects of not stopping right now and how a simple decision you make today can make such an impact on your future.

Next, imagine how much better is your life going to be when you stop smoking. Really imagine it's months from now and you successfully stopped. Smoking is a thing of the past, something you used to do. Keep that feeling with you and imagine having it tomorrow, and for the rest of next week. In your mind, imagine stepping in to that non-smoking version of you and feel how it feels to be a non-smoker.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 5

Also, your mind is very sensitive to associations, so it's very important that you have a clear out and remove all tobacco products from your environment. Move some of the furniture in your house and at work. Smokers are accustomed to smoking in certain situations. So, for example, if you used to smoke on the telephone at work move the phone to the other side of the desk. Throw away ashtrays, old lighters and anything that you used to associate with smoking. Make your environment conducive to stopping smoking.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 6

Smokers sometimes use their habit to give themselves little breaks during the day. Taking a break is good for you, so carry on taking that time off - but do something different. Walk round the block, have a cup of tea or drink of water, or do some of the techniques on this programme. In fact, if possible drink a lot of fruit juice. When you stop smoking the body goes through a big change. The blood sugar levels tend to fall, the digestion is slowed down and your body starts to eject the tar and poisons that have accumulated. Fresh fruit juice contains fructose which restores your blood sugar levels, vitamin C which helps clear out impurities and high levels of water and fibre to keep your digestion going. Also try to eat fruit every day for at least two weeks after you have stopped.

Also when you stop, cut your caffeine intake by half. Nicotine breaks down caffeine so without nicotine a little coffee will have a big effect. Drink 8-10 glasses of water (ideally bottled) to help wash out your system.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 7

You were used to using cigarettes to signal to your body to release happy chemicals, so next we are going to programme some good feelings into your future. Allow yourself to fully remember now a time when you felt very deep ecstasy, pleasure or bliss, right now. Take a moment to recall it as vividly as possible. Remember that time - see what you saw, hear what you heard and feel how good you felt. Where abouts in your body were those feelings, imagine turning them up and spreading them through your body to make them more intense.

Keep going through the memory, as soon as it finishes, go through it again and again, all the time squeezing your thumb and finger together. In your mind, make those images big and bright, sounds loud and harmonious and feelings strong and intensified. We are making an associational link between the squeeze of your fingers and that good feeling.

Okay, stop and relax. Now if you have done that correctly when you squeeze your thumb and finger together you should feel that good feeling again. Go ahead do that now, squeeze thumb and finger and remember that good feeling.

Now we're going to programme good feelings to happen automatically whenever you are in a situation where you used to smoke but now you stop smoking.

So, next I'd like you to squeeze your thumb and finger together, get that good feeling going and now imagine being in several situations where you would have smoked, but being there feeling great without a cigarette. See what you'll see hear and take that good feeling into those situations without a need for a cigarette.

Imagine being in a situation where someone offers you a cigarette and you confidently say 'No thanks, I don't smoke'. And feel fantastic about it!

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 8

Get social support. Your commitment to stopping smoking for the rest of your life can be made much easier by talking about it to friends and family and letting them support you. They will congratulate you on doing so well too! You really did stop smoking.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 9

Be aware of making excuses for yourself. Some people talk themselves into smoking, especially if they encounter a stressful situation and in the past they used to deal with it by smoking. If those old thoughts pop into your head, shout the word “STOP” in your head, to stop the thoughts from progressing. Nicotine just stresses your body more and is like that itch that can never be properly scratched; the more you smoke, the more you have to. So say “STOP” and steer clear of old slippery slopes.

Powerful Stop Smoking Hint 10

Reward yourself. Congratulate yourself. Feel how good it feels to stop smoking and be a non-smoker. Treat yourself each time you get past a certain milestone; the first week or first month, the six month target. Let yourself know that you did something really special here.

Keep on using your brain, stretching it and helping your self, by running through these exercises time after time; you are sure to be able to make it easier and easier and successfully stop smoking for good.

Copyright 2005 Adam Eason All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Adult Bedwetting – Exercise May Help The Problem

Adult bedwetting is as embarrassing to adults as it is to teenagers. No one wants to admit that he/she has a bedwetting problem, but doctors see adults on a daily basis that suffer from enuresis. This is the name given to bed wetting in anyone over the age of five because by that time most children have learned to recognize the signs that they need to get out of bed to use the bathroom. Even at that age, they become very upset by bedwetting, so you can only imagine how anyone with an adult bedwetting problem must feel. Whether adult bedwetting occurs suddenly or develops gradually, it is something that needs to be checked out by a doctor. It could be a symptom of a disease such as diabetes, a sleep disorder, an infection in the urinary system or even an allergy. Once the doctor runs the necessary tests, he/she may send you to a urologist as a precautionary measure. During this time, you can wear bedwetting diapers to keep dry during the night, especially while you are waiting for the medication to take effect. Adult bed wetting also responds well to enuresis alarms to wake you up in time to go to the bathroom. Adult bedwetting is often result of aging and the loss of muscle tone in the walls of the bladder. There are exercises you can do to reduce the occurrences of adult enuresis. These include doing such things as squeezing the bladder several times a day. This process helps to strengthen the bladder muscles because you pretend that you are trying to stop urinating. It also works during the day when you go to the bathroom so that you are actually stopping the flow. This is one method of exercise that adults suffering from nocturnal enuresis have found effective. If your adult bedwetting occurs occasionally, you should start a diary recording the events surrounding the bed wetting episodes. This should include such things as how much you had to drink before you went to bed and what foods you ate. Drinking too much alcohol is often responsible for adult bed wetting because it puts you into a deep sleep. Since alcohol impairs brain function, the connection between the brain and the bladder is severed so bed wetting is more likely. One factor to look at as a cause of adult bedwetting is the psychological factor. Stress and trauma can bring on bedwetting in an adult who did not even wet the bed as a child. This is where keeping a diary of events leading up to the adult enuresis episodes can help you determine what is causing them. Once you realize a pattern in stressful events and adult bedwetting, then you can take steps to avoid certain things that bring it on.

10 Powerful Keys To Healing Yourself

1. Be Present

Live in the now. The past is gone. You can never go back and make it right. You can never re-live a life that was yesterday. Live positively in the present moment, no matter what is occurring. It is All right and perfect. Do not look ahead and dread what may come. Our mind creates a lot of chatter and makes us afraid in order to keep us safe. Tell your mind "Thanks for sharing" and affirm "I am here, I am present". You are always at choice and you know how to make this day beautiful.

2. Nature

Sit on the lawn or next to a tree. Feel the pulse of the earth, the grandeur of the sky, the coolness of the breeze on your face, or the warmth of the sun on your face. Smile at nature, say hello to the bugs and all the animals you meet. Take a walk in a park or hike on a trail.

3. Exercise

Daily exercise gives you a break from your mind chatter, helps pump your heart, circulates your blood, clears toxins from your body, charges you with energy and has many other benefits. Choose an activity that is fun and mix it up. Do walking one day and yoga another day. Take a Tai Chi class and meet new people. The list of possibilities is endless.

4. Spirituality

Recognize and know you are important and unique. Meditate, or sit quietly, and be in the moment. Read books that are uplifting and have positive messages. Give thanks for your health, your home, your friends, all the joy and happiness in your life and all the good that surrounds you.

5. Forgiveness

It is time to let it go. Forgive all parts of yourself to be whole and perfect. Forgive yourself for any past mistakes or shortcomings; forgive the child within for being afraid; forgive the teenager that spoke words of anger; forgive the young adult for not being a risk taker. Forgive others in the past. Forgive your parents, your siblings and relatives. Let go of all grudges. Forgiveness is about coming to peace within yourself.

6. Bubble Bath

Give yourself permission to relax and savor quiet times. Read a book for fun. Spend that extra money and get a massage or a facial. Do something selfish for yourself.

7. Nutrition

Listen to your body. Feed it good nutritious food. Take a high quality multi-vitamin or a liquid supplement. Most health challenges can be reduced or eliminated with a dietary supplement.

8. Let Go of Judgment

Give up judgement and give up blame. Never speak critically of others or yourself. Speak words of encouragement to yourself and everyone you meet. Accept everyone for who they are and embrace their differences.

9. Service To Others

Reach out and lend a hand to a friend in need. Offer unconditional service to others. Be a great listener and really listen to people when they speak. Find ways to help others to lift their spirits and help lessen their burdens.

10. Love

Love yourself and use positive words of encouragement. Compliment strangers and make others smile. Speak from a loving heart and shine with joy.

Copyright © 2006 Wayne McDonald. All rights reserved.

Monday, April 19, 2010

ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING INFORMATION

Adjustable gastric banding surgery is now one of the most popular methods of restrictive weight loss surgery in the UK and Europe. gastricv banding or bariatric surgery is a surgical procedure specifically designed to assist in wieght loss for obese or morbidly obese patients who generally have a body mass index (BMI) of between 35 to 40 or sometimes a little higher. The Gastric banding appliance itself is an inflatable prosthetic medical device which is placed around the opening and top section of the patients stomach . A tube is connected to this banding devices via a tiny keyhole laparoscopic surgical procedure. Once the gastric banding device is in situ around the top of the stomach the gastric banding device is then filled, or inflated with fluid which then creates a small area at the upper end of the stomach. The gastric banding device is usually inflated and adjusted through a small access port which is normally located just under the surface of the skin in the abdominal area of the patient. A solution of saline or other non toxic solution is introduced into the banded area via this port to fill the pouch. A specialized surgical needle is used to avoid any damage to the portal membrane and any adjustments must subsequently be undertaken by a qualified gastric banding Surgeon or one of His assistants who have been specially trained in this procedure. There are several port designs in common use today, which may be placed in varying positions, according to the surgeons own personal preference and experiences in managing these types of procedures. The port is generally stitched into place to maintain the stability of the portal access point, and also to avoid any accidental damage by the Patient in their normal every day life. This pouch normally 'fills' with food quickly as the patient eats and thereby restricts further passage of food from the top to the bottom area of the patients stomach. Once the gastric Banding is applied to the patients stomach, that part of the stomach sends a subconscious message to the brain receptors that the stomach is full. This sensation is interpreted by the brain as a message that the stomach is now full. This in turn helps the patient to eat smaller portions of food and fluids, with the resultant effect of providing the required weight loss over time. When fluid is introduced into the band, the band itself inflated further, and as it expands it places additional pressure around the outside of the banded stomach area. This then decreases the size of the passage between the two areas of the stomach thereby restricting the movement of food into the lower part of the stomach. Over a period of time this restriction is often increased until the patient feels that they have reached a point where optimal weight loss can be reached for them, with the minimum amount of fluid required. This is an individual preference, and several visits and consultations are generally required to fine tune the tightening of the band and the amount of fluid content required for each individual patients overall comfort and weight loss targets The Main benefits provided by Gastric Banding Surgery is that it does not require any major surgery cuts, nor is it necessary to remove any part of the digestive system of the patients. Furthermore Subsequent Removal of the Band is possible, but this does require a further keyhole surgery procedure to be performed to remove the device. Once the Gastric Banding has been removed from the patient the stomach usually returns to its normal pre-banded state over time without any known problems to date. COMMON GASTRIC BANDING PROBLEMS It is unusual for gastric banding patients to experience any nutritional deficiencies following gastric band surgery. "Gastric dumping syndrome" issues also do not normally occur with gastric banding surgery, since no parts of the intestines or indeed of the stomach need to be removed or re-routed. However weight regain is possible as with ANY weight loss procedures including gastric banding. Some of the more radical procedures can initially result in rapid weight loss but this is normally controlled and managed well in Gastric Banding situations. World Health Organization recommend that monthly weight loss of ½ to 1 kilograms per week should be a general target weight loss for the average Gastric banding patient generally, and then the (Patient) should have no problems to lose this amount of weight, however this can be very variable, and in accordance with the individual patient, their personal life circumstances, their personal attitude and mobility. A commonly reported occurrence for gastric banding patients is regurgitation of non-acidic food from the upper pouched area. This is commonly known as Productive Burping. If the gastric banding Patient experiences this regularly, then they should consider eating less, eating much slower, and chewing their food much more thoroughly. If this does not eventually solve the problem then further medical advice must be obtained from your Practitioner or gastric banding surgeon. Occasionally, the narrow passage at the Banded are of the stomach can become blocked by a larger portions of un chewed or unsuitable food. If this occurs on a regular basis then further adjustments to your diet should be considered, and once again you are strongly advised to consult your gastric banding Reactionary or dietician. I some cases Ulceration or Gastritis Erosion can occur as the band can wear and aggravate a small area on the outside of the stomach wall which can then, in very rare and extreme cases, lead to a migration of the band itself into the inside the stomach. This however is a very very rare occurrence and usually there are many warning signs well in advance of this ever happening. Slippage of the gastric Band is also an unusual occurrence. This when the lower part of the stomach may prolapsed over the band devices and cause an obstruction. Once again however this a very rare occurrence and warning signs are usually noticed well beforehand. Psychological effects of any weight loss procedure may also be considered. Many Patients who have been Obese for extended periods of time prior to the gastric banding surgery procedure, have been habitually overeating for a greater part of their lives, therefore any sudden changes to their diet and lifestyle can have some adverse affects on the Patient.

10 Possible Causes of the Obesity Epidemic

It's well accepted that reduced physical activity and fast food are linked to obesity. But the evidence that these are the main causes of obesity is largely circumstantial. To stimulate debate, experts suggest 10 other possible causes of obesity, outlined in the International Journal of Obesity.

1. Sleep debt. Getting too little sleep can increase body weight. Today, many get less shut-eye than ever.
2. Pollution. Hormones control body weight. And many of today's pollutants affect our hormones.
3. Air conditioning. You have to burn calories if your environment is too hot or too cold for comfort. But more people than ever live and work in temperature-controlled homes and offices.
4. Decreased smoking. Smoking reduces weight. People smoke much less than they used to.
5. Medicine. Many different drugs including contraceptives, steroid hormones, diabetes drugs, some antidepressants, and blood pressure drugs can cause weight gain. Use of these drugs is on the upswing.
6. Population age, ethnicity. Middle-aged people and Hispanic-Americans tend to be more obese than young European-Americans. Americans are getting older and more Hispanic.
7. Older moms. There's some evidence that the older a woman is when she gives birth, the higher her child's risk of obesity. Women are giving birth at older and older ages.
8. Ancestors' environment. Some influences may go back two generations. Environmental changes that made a grandparent obese may "through a fetally driven positive feedback loop" visit obesity on the grandchildren.
9. Obesity linked to fertility. There's some evidence obese people are more fertile than lean ones. If obesity has a genetic component, the percentage of obese people in the population should increase.
10. Unions of obese spouses. Obese women tend to marry obese men, and if obesity has a genetic component, there will be still more obese people in the next generation.

These other contributing factors deserve more attention and study. Even more explanations include: a fat-inducing virus; increases in childhood depression; less consumption of dairy products; and hormones used in agriculture. What do you think can be attributed to the epidemic?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Acuvue Hydraclear contact lenses, are they right for you?

Acuvue Hydraclear contact lenses are some of the finest, most advanced contact lenses on the market today. Of course they come with the fine Acuvue name, which represents uncompromising quality and unparalleled innovation no matter which type of Acuvue lenses you use. Another great Johnson & Johnson product, the acuvue hydraclear contact lenses comes with the latest refinements that acuvue offers to make your contact lens wearing experience the most comfortable and beneficial possible. But, even with these advances and super technology, these lenses require the same basic but very important care that all lenses require. Just like any other lenses the acuvue hydraclear contact lenses need to be replaced on a regular basis, depending on exactly what type of acuvue they are. It is very important that you make sure to set a regular schedule for removing and discarding your old lenses and replacing them with a new pair. Here are a few tips you may want to consider to stay on a regular schedule. If you need to replace your lenses weekly, for example, maybe you can time your contact lens schedule to your favorite show, like “Survivor.” This way, you remember to replace your old lenses for crisp new ones each week before the show begins. Of course this is just an idea and I wouldn't really recommend it since TV programming constantly changes from season to season. A better idea would be to write your replacement date on a calendar or on your refrigerator. This way you will be reminded each time to change your contact lenses. Then again if your on the cutting edge of technology and the digital revolution like I am, you can program your desktop or laptop email calendar program like Microsoft Outlook or your personal digital assistant (PDA) to remind you to replace your lenses. Or maybe just the old-fashioned techniques will work for you, like writing the date on a new box of lenses with a permanent marker when you open them and when you get down to your last box, you can add another note on the box, something like “Reorder.” Taking such simple precautionary steps like these is critical to ensure that you are getting the most from your Acuvue Hydraclear contact lenses. This is very important, because the most from these advanced lenses is a lot. Hydraclear is fantastic new substance that provides the best features in a contact. For your eyes you get a soft, silky feel that provides wearability and comfort over the long haul. Johnson & Johnson acuvue hydraclear contact lenses are made from a soft flexible material that promises you clear and crisp vision enhancement. Hydraclear also boasts low dehydration, which means you don't have to worry about that terrible dry feeling in your eyes after prolonged use, and of course low protein deposits, which has a serious effect on all lenses durability and performance. And here is one more point to keep in mind, the acuvues come with the highest UVA and UVB blocking on the market to guard against the sun’s harmful rays giving your eyes even more added protection. Without a doubt the Acuvue Hydraclear is a great lense and breakthrough for many contact lense wearers. Talk to your doctor and ask him/her about these lenses. They will be more than happy to answer any questions you have and help you make the right decision for you and your eyes health.

10 Paths to Conquer Asthma

Asthma is a condition where due to certain stimuli a person experiences narrowing of air passages and difficulty in breathing. Treatment for asthma should be done under the guidance of a doctor and should be planned carefully. The key lies in recognizing the causes and managing the condition such that you are in control of the situation.

Treatments include:

1. Preventive action where you avoid situations that triggers off symptoms.

2. Practice meditation and breathing exercises to strengthen the air passages and lungs.

3. Exercise regularly to keep fit and to strengthen your heart as well as lungs.

4. Use air conditioning this will reduce your exposure to air born pollen and other triggers.

5. Keep your environment free of dust mites, pet dander, fur and feathers by regularly vacuuming and decontaminating your mattresses, pillows, sofas, throws, carpets, as well as curtains and covers.

6. Use inhalers which are of three types: aerosol inhalers; breath-actuated inhalers; and dry powder inhalers. These contain medication in aerosol form to provide immediate relief.

7. Drugs like short acting beta agonist namely salbutamol and terbutaline are first prescribed. The alternative medications are long acting beta2 agnostics like salmeterol or formoterol or antimuscarinics like ipratropium or oxitropium. In layman terms asthma medication is of two kinds anti-inflammatory medicines and bronchodilators. Common medicines are Albuterol, Altrovent, Pulmocort Respules.

8. Combination therapies where a steroid along with long acting medication are prescribed. Alternately, a combination of antimuscarinic and short acting beta 2 agnostic is used.

9. Use of special equipments like a peak flow meter which will warn you of an impeding attack and an inhaler spacer which will ensure efficient disbursement of medication.

10. Allergen Immunotherapy where the patient is desensitized to asthma causing allergens like smoke, weed, grass, pollen, dust, mold and so on. Similarly the patient is tested for food allergies that trigger off attacks and treated for them.

Research indicates that the best option for patients is to maintain a dairy and record when and why attacks occur. This will give a clear understanding of triggers. Then the next step is to create an asthma management plan with the help of your doctor. To strengthen the mind and spirit patients are often asked to join therapy groups that talk about fears, problems faced by asthmatics, personal experiences, and work together at breathing exercises and other regimens to strengthen their bodies.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Acupuncture Treatment To Quit Smoking - Does It Actually Work?

Acupuncture is an alternative medical method that originated from China. This method is based upon the old Chinese assumption that there are invisible energy point scattered across the human body. Theses energy points are called Meridians. during an Acupuncture treatment, tiny needles are inserted into the Meridians, causing he energy flow through them to change. This principle is used for quit a few benefits: * It can "open up" energy blocks that will relieve pain and stress * It can reduce cravings * It can strengthen your energy and vitality In the past years, Acupuncture has been used, among other uses, to help people stop smoking. The treatment included inserting the needles to specific points (among them, a few points in the outer ear). This treatment was supposed to reduce the cravings to another cigarette and help those people on their way to quit smoking. In the first few years of using this method, it was quit popular and gained a lot of followers that recommended it. That was mainly because the method is not invasive and is very suitable for people who can't, or won't take medicine and other "strong stuff". But, for the last few years, the use of Acupuncture in smoking cessation has reduced significantly. This happens because of the following reasons: * The percentage of people who actually stooped smoking while using Acupuncture was small. This indicated that Acupuncture is not the best choice for people who want to quit smoking. * New solutions were introduced to the scene, such as laser treatment, and shots treatment. This article does not discuss these methods, so let's just say that they proved to be by far more effective than Acupuncture. To conclude, It is clear that Acupuncture has it's place as an alternative method, and many people report getting results with it. If you want to give it a shot in your efforts to stop smoking, it is advised that you find a therapist with a proven back record of success with helping people stop smoking. However, I would say that as a means to help smoking cessation, there are much better solutions out there, so Acupuncture is in my opinion not the best choice.

10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma

As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age as well as state of health of the patient.

It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on the line of treatment. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options include:

1. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laproscopy. Often, doctors will advise palliative procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease.

2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms, palliatively. Research on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.

3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients respond to the drugs. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. The aim is to prevent spread of the disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant therapy; to annihilate any remains of the tumor in the body post surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy. Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.

4. Biological therapy using interleukin 2.

5. Immunotherapy where the body’s own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote growth of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread of cancer.

6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene sequence that causes the cancer. This is of two kinds, replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.

7. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.

8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.

9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid accumulation is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.

10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.

Often, complementary medicines are also used. Termed to be holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.

In the case of Mesothelioma which is untreatable one can opt for clinical trials of new treatments that are in progress in several research laboratories and centers. The best advice on the line of treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Acupressure - Is More Than Just Massaging

Acupressure is one the oldest Chinese traditions used to cure many of our health problems. It involves use of pressure by your hand, elbow and other means. This form of healing has been in existence for more than 5,000 years. A technique recommended by many and has been used world over. It is a simple method if you know how to do it. Acupuncture is another practice wherein needles are used on the pressure points to cure ailments. How does Acupressure work? Acupressure is a plain and simple science which has helped many people. Our body has many different pressure points. By applying pressure on these points, it energizes the necessary organs, which leads to healing of the ailing body. The idea behind acupressure is harmony of mind and soul. The relief it provides by the simple touch and pressure can be turn around in their life. It helps in resurfacing the lost and blocked energy in the curvatures of your body. There is a belief that our body gets charged by the 'Qi' pronounced as 'Chi'. The energy moves along the surfaces of our bodies known as 'meridians'. Applying pressure does all trick sending energy to places where it has been stuck for a very long time. Two common ways of doing acupressure are the 'Shiatsu' and the 'Jin Sin'. Shiatsu is the common therapy which uses immense pressure, whereas Jin Shin is the gentler form of acupressure that uses soft touch and gentle strokes. Irrespective of the techniques of acupressure, the basic aim is to create a relaxed atmosphere. Benefits of Acupressure It is a very easy process and can be learnt without much difficulty. The best way to learn acupressure is to try it on oneself. Some of the common benefits which acupressure provides us are: 1. Relaxes your mind and body 2. Increases blood circulation 3. Relieves from stress related problems like fatigue, insomnia 4. Heals injuries 5. Helps with Menopause and PMS 6. Helps in relieving joint aches and pains 7. Acts as a first aid in case of injury 8. Builts in vigor 9. Reduces labor pain 10. Cures common illnesses like cold, sinusitis, migraine 11. Relaxes the muscular tension 12. Helps in improving muscle strength and tone Precautions - Learn acupressure from a thorough professional - While practicing on yourself, have someone around you - Avoid open wounds, surgery, broken bone, skin infection and other problems - Prevent specific pressure points during pregnancy - Avoid acupressure on full stomach - Avoid cold drinks especially during winter - Wear comfortable clothes - Do acupressure for a limited period of time do not overdo it