Help A Choking Adult

Help a Choking Adult

Choking occurs when a foreign object blocks the airway and makes the natural passage of air exchange problematic. For many adults, the usual culprit is food. For children, it can be anything from food to small toys. If "simple" choking does not correct itself, the foreign object can completely block the airway leading to respiratory arrest, and even death. This article is going to focus on choking--and the immediate first aid necessary to save a life.

Instructions

1. Everyone chokes; however, the vast majority of the time, choking will correct itself without any assistance. When the foreign object is large, however, there may be several signs of choking you should be aware of:

1. Inability to talk

2. Extreme trouble with breathing

3. Inability to expel the object out of the throat

4. Skin, lips and nails turn dusky, indicating lack of adequate oxygen

5. Sudden unconsciousness

2. Ask "can you talk?" If a person can talk, this usually indicates that they are getting enough air flow past the foreign object in their throat. Offer reassurance and support and never stick your fingers down the victim's throat. They will typically be able to expel the object on their own.

3. If a person cannot talk or needs assistance in expelling the foreign object from his/her throat, there are several maneuvers you can do. However; the most important thing is to remain calm and reassuring. If you have any serious concern for the choking person's well being, call 911 immediately!

4. To assist the choking victim, let him/her know everything you are going to do, as you do it. Stand behind and place one of your feet in front of the victim to act as a brace. Gently bend the victim away from you and deliverer several firm (but not hard) full hand blows to the mid-shoulder blade area.

5. If the object remains stuck in the victim's upper airway, explain that you are about to do the Heimlich Maneuver. Please review the technique in the accompanying photo.

6. Abdominal thrusts can also be done if the person is lying on the ground. Please be sure that their head is gently turned to the side to prevent the falling back into the airway!

Tags: foreign object, Choking Adult, correct itself, expel object, Help Choking, Help Choking Adult

Chiropractic Cures For Bone Spurs

Chiropractor

Bone spurs affect a majority of the patients over the age of 60, though they can occur in anyone at any age. The spurs generally are associated with arthritis or spinal degeneration. While it can be quite painful, many find that there is little that physicians can do, and sufferers are turning to chiropractic care for relief.

Definition

A bone spur, or osteophyte, is a misleading name. While the name implies that something (most likely a nerve) is being spurred by a bony protrusion, it is actually quite opposite. An osteophyte is a smoothed, bony structure that is the result of degeneration of the bone. A spur rarely ever 'spurs' anything; instead, it is simply a bony protrusion caused by the body to help stabilize weakened areas of the body.

Causes

Bone spurs are the body's way of strengthening a weakened area. This is why most people find that they have spurs in their joints. Joints are naturally weaker areas, and as we age, the joints can become even weaker, causing the body to build up defenses. However, bone spurs do not just spontaneously occur. When a bone spur is discovered within the body, there is usually another, possibly unknown, pre-existing condition that is promoting the bony growth, such as osteoarthritis, arthritis or plantar fasciitis. When these joint attacking conditions occur, bone spurs will appear.

Chiropractic Care

As many arthritis patient know, there is little in the way of medicines which can alleviate the pain, inflammation and swelling associated with this disease. There is even less for bone spurs, unless the patient is in such pain and is unable to function that surgery to remove the spur is necessary. Yet, many arthritis patients are finding that chiropractic care can help eliminate the pain by reducing the inflammation the irritation in nerves associated with the joints and by improving mobility. As the joint weakens, the patient will lose mobility. When this occurs, the nerve can become even more inflamed, increasing the pain and discomfort. Chiropractic care can help with these issues, by helping the joint to heal naturally. Continuous chiropractic care can ease the pain and discomfort; though it will not be able to cure the bone spur altogether, it can help slow the degenerative process and improve the quality of life and mobility that patients have.

There are no cures for bone spurs and their associated medical conditions, but chiropractic care can dramatically assist patients in pain relief while slowing, if not reversing, the degenerative process in the bones. Many patients find that they can return to their former lifestyles with continuous chiropractic care and have little need for pain medications or surgery. As with any new treatment, it is best to consult your physician before beginning, to ensure that chiropractic care is right for you.

Tags: bone spur, bone spurs, chiropractic care, associated with, find that, become even

Type 2 Diabetic Diet Plan

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, meaning that the condition effects how a person is able to break down the foods he eats. While a diabetic diet is similar to a diet recommended for most people aiming to achieve a healthy lifestyle, the diet also should focus on maintaining blood sugar levels.

Basic Principles

A person with type 2 diabetes has trouble producing enough insulin to convert glucose found in carbohydrates into energy. Carbohydrates are a body's source of energy, yet those with diabetes must consume them in regulated amounts in order to be able to break them down. For this reason, a diabetic diet should focus on controlling portion sizes and eliminating overeating. The recommended calorie count is typically 1,500 to 1,800 calories, although a physician should evaluate the best calorie count based on your age, weight and activity level.

You should aim for carbohydrates to make up 45 to 65 percent of daily calories, protein to provide 15 to 20 percent of daily calories and fats to provide 20 to 35 percent of daily calories.

An Exchange Plan

The Mayo Clinic recommends following an exchange system diet plan to regulate the amount of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. The exchange system groups food into categories, which are translated into portion sizes. For example, one small apple equals 15 grams of carbohydrates while 1/3 of a cup of cooked pasta has the same amount of carbohydrates. Both of these are referred to as "exchanges," meaning they have 15 grams of carbohydrates in them. A person on a 1,600 calorie diet should aim for about 13 carbohydrate exchanges per day, which translates into 800 calories a day from carbohydrates, according to endocrineweb.com.

Healthy sources of carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, and peas, and low-fat dairy products. Spread these carbohydrates across the span of your day (such as breakfast, 3 exchanges; a snack, 2 exchanges; lunch, 3 exchanges; a snack, 2 exchanges; and dinner, 3 exchanges).

Add in Fiber

Dietary fiber helps the body use carbohydrates to aid in digestion. Foods that contain fiber include vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole-wheat flour, wheat bran or bread, or nuts, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your total fiber intake should be 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day.

Reduce Saturated Fat Intake

The presence of diabetes can increase a person's risk for heart disease and stroke by hardening the arteries. For this reason, it's important for diabetics to highly regulate the amount of saturated fat in their diet to no more than 7 percent. Trans fat, which is present in many pre-packaged foods, should be eliminated completely. Butter, margarine, and shortening should be avoided while healthy fats, such as olive or canola oil should be included. Diabetics should also look for opportunities to swap unhealthy saturated fats, such as butter on a bagel for healthier choices, such as sugar-free fruit spread.

Healthy Protein Sources

Those with type 2 diabetes should aim to eliminate meats high in saturated fats, such as organ meats. Replace these with heart-healthy fish, such as cod, tuna, or halibut; lean cuts of chicken; turkey; and egg substitutes.

Tags: daily calories, fats such, percent daily, percent daily calories, able break, amount carbohydrates

What Is A Pyrolytic Carbon Heart Valve

Pyrolytic carbon heart valves require surgery to be implanted.

A pyrolytic carbon heart valve is a mechanical replacement or prosthetic. Mechanical heart valves are used, according to the American Heart Association, to replace a diseased or damaged valve that is beyond repair.

Pyrolytic Carbon

Pyrolytic carbon is a turbostratic carbon, which are materials that are structurally similar to graphite but have greater durability, reports azom.com. It is considered to be biocompatible, meaning the body doesn't react badly to it.

History

Medgadget.com notes that, in the late 1960s, pyrolytic carbon was originally being developed for use as coating for nuclear fuel. The material proved to be viable as a replacement for the metal and plastic used in heart valves at the time.

Heart Valves

The heart valves themselves are not pure pyrolytic carbon, but a layer of pyrolytic carbon over a graphite core that, prior to 1996, was a silicon/pyrolitic carbon alloy. An alternative to the silicon alloy is now available, according to azom.com

Benefits

In addition to the biocompatibility, the benefits of pyrolytic carbon heart valves include durability and strength. The material also helps to inhibit the development of blood clots (thromboresistant).

Prevalence

Pyrolytic carbon is, reports azom.com, the most popular material in use for mechanical heart valves, with over 4 million devices having been made.

Tags: heart valves, carbon heart, carbon heart valves, pyrolytic carbon, pyrolytic carbon heart, reports azom

Causes Of Numbness & Tingling In Feet

Most people frequently experience tingling in one foot or notice a small area on the underside of the foot that may feel numb after exercising or walking. But if these feelings become common, you should be carefully examined by a trained professional because the body uses these symptoms to warn you of serious medical conditions.

Sciatica

The Mayo Clinic describes sciatica as "Pain that radiates from the lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg ..." The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, and when it is affected by disease or injury, the pain can create a feeling of pins and needles or tingling in various parts of the feet. The Mayo Clinic reports the primary condition must be removed before the tingling will be eliminated.

Morton's Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a condition caused by a growth of nerve tissue, usually between the third and fourth toe. This is where the lateral plantar and medial plantar nerves combine close to the surface of the foot fat pad. The metatarsal ligament is also located in this area, and the impact of walking or running compresses the ligament and the nerve. Surgery is necessary to remove excess tissue to eliminate the feeling of numbness in the foot pad that is created by the compression of the excess tissue.

Diabetes

Diabetics experience swelling and tingling in the feet because of the expansion and contraction of the nerve cells and surrounding layers of tissue. This feeling can be intermittent as the blood sugar rises and falls, or it may be present at all times. Treatment involves diet, drugs and exercise to balance the blood sugar. Once damage has been done to the tissue and nerves, the tingling or numbness can become a permanent condition.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the fatty covering of the nerve fibers in the spinal cord and brain are eaten away by the body's immune system. One of the early symptoms of the disease is a tingling and numbness in the feet and hands during the early damage to the nerve fibers. Once serious damage has occurred, the feet may feel numb or become paralyzed. MS is fatal, but drug treatment has been successful in prolonging life.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a serious illness of the nervous system. A tingling feeling in the feet and hands is usually the first symptom, according to the Mayo Clinic. This feeling expands to other parts of the body and can include paralysis of either the legs or arms. It is accompanied by choking and breathing difficulties. The causes of the condition are unknown and there is no cure, but most people recover fully from the illness.

Tags: Mayo Clinic, blood sugar, excess tissue, feel numb, feet hands, foot that

Make Natural Sinus Infection Remedies

Feel better with natural sinus infection remedies

You can make you own sinus infection remedies to feel better when you are having trouble with your sinuses. Sinus infections occur when the sinuses swell up. This prevents them from properly draining, which can lead to pain, pressure and trouble breathing. Here are a few ways you can create your own natural sinus infection remedies.

Instructions

1. Inhale steam vapors. You can do this by taking a hot shower, or boil water until the air in the kitchen becomes moist. This will loosen the excess mucous, allowing it to drain. Another way to loosen mucous using heat is to eat soup and drink hot tea. For best results, inhale steam vapors at least 3 times a day.

2. Drink a glass of garlic juice. Garlic is one of the strongest sinus infection remedies because of its ability to fight off fungus and bacteria. If you can't stand the taste of the juice, dice the garlic and sprinkle it into a cup of hot water and breathe in the steam. Do this about 3 times a day.

3. Clear your nasal passages using a neti pot. Fill it up with warm water and add a little salt. This will help clear the nasal passages and make breathing easier.

4. Treat your sinus infection with echinacea. You can take it as a capsule, or drink it as a tea. This herb is very effective in relieving infections.

5. Include apple cider vinegar with your sinus infection remedies. Apple cider vinegar is rich in potassium, which reduces the body's production of mucous and relieves a runny nose. Add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup of warm water and drink it. Drink this mixture 3 times a day.

6. Drink lots of water. This is a good preventative measure and you should do this even when you don't have a sinus infection. Try to drink 8-10 glass every day. This can prevent you from getting sick because your immune system will function better when your body is properly hydrated. Also, an adequate fluid intake will help your nasal passages properly drain out the mucous your body produces.

7. Avoid foods that may trigger a sinus infection. Limit your intake of salt and sugar. These can worsen the symptoms of a sinus infection. Dairy foods such as milk, cheese can cause the body to produce more mucous and increase pressure on the sinuses.

Tags: infection remedies, sinus infection, sinus infection, sinus infection remedies, cider vinegar, nasal passages, apple cider vinegar

Create A Fantasy Character Online

An example of an online fantasy character.

There are many ways to live out an online personality and creating a character individual to you can help make your online experience more enjoyable. Follow the steps below to create a fantasy character online that fits you and the world you choose to play in.

Instructions

1. Decide what game or environment your fantasy character will be playing in. The type of place you will be visiting can make a big impact on the type of fantasy character you create. You will create a different character for a game where you use spells and fight with swords than a game that portrays a world closer to our own in which you build your own house and go to dance clubs.

2. Choose the gender of your fantasy character. Just because you may be one gender in real life does not mean you have to be that gender online. If you are a girl in real life, you may want to be a boy who can easily swing an axe in the gaming world you choose to play in.

3. Pick out the body and face of your online fantasy character. This is a fantasy so you do not have to make your character look like you unless you want to. If you have brown hair in real life your fantasy character can have purple hair or if you are short and skinny, your character can be tall and muscular.

4. Add clothing to your fantasy character. The type of gaming environment you will be playing in is a big indicator of what type of clothing your fantasy character should wear. Games in which you fight wizards will have different types of clothing than those games in which you invite friends over for parties in a hot tub. You may also find that you choose to dress your fantasy character in more or less clothing than what you may actually wear in your offline world. Clothing may also include any extras your character my have such as weapons, armor, jewelry or even a jet pack.

5. Create a name for your fantasy character. You can search online for baby names to help you choose a name for your character or you could read your favorite books to see what type of name stands out to you. If you cannot decide on a name then ask your friends and family for suggestions. The name of your fantasy character is important because generally, this will be the one aspect of your character that you will not be able to change once you begin playing your game.

Tags: fantasy character, your fantasy, your fantasy character, your character, fantasy character, name your

Go To The Chiropractor Without Fear

If you have been experiencing some back or neck pain or tension and have considered going to a chiropractor, you'll need to do so without fear. Most people fear the unknown, so if you've never been to a chiropractor, it's only natural to feel some trepidation. But there are ways you to overcome your fear and go to a chiropractor with a clear mind.

Instructions

1. Visit a local chiropractor's office and sit down with the doctor. Ask questions about what to expect and what chiropractic is all about. Take home any available brochures or information about chiropractic. The more you know about the practice, the less fear you might feel.

2. Know that chiropractors are licensed professionals with years of schooling and clinical study behind them. Chiropractic is not some mysterious "voodoo" practice but a recognized, proven method of alleviating back problems.

3. Concentrate on the fact that a chiropractor is going to ease or eliminate your back pain. Convincing yourself that you have a great chance at a pain-free future will help you go to the chiropractor without fear.

4. Make sure the doctor explains everything he is going to do to you before doing it. Have him explain terms like subluxation, adjustment and manipulation. If you know what to expect, you may have less reasons for feeling any fear.

5. Talk to relatives, friends or colleagues who have gone to chiropractors. Find out how it has helped to alleviate or eliminate their symptoms. Hearing chiropractic success stories can only help to rid you of your fear of going to a chiropractor.

Tags: going chiropractor, what expect, your fear

Heal Your Body With Crystals

Crystals are made up of minerals, as are our bodies. Therefore, there is a natural affinity between crystals and humans. Although they look like simple stones, crystals are anything but. Rather, they are filled with vibrating energy, energy that we can harness to heal our bodies. Many miraculous healings have been reported with the use of crystals. With a little bit of practice, you, too, can learn to heal your body with crystals. Here is how you can do that.

Instructions

Heal Your Body With Crystals

1. Go to a quiet place, alone, where you will not be disturbed for at least 10 minutes. Stand in the center of the floor.

2. Pick up a large white quartz crystal.

3. Drop your arms down to your sides, holding the crystal in your right hand

4. Close your eyes.

5. Imagine a white light coming up from the floor.. Imagine it traveling through your feet, up through your legs, up to your stomach and through your chest. Imagine it traveling down your arms and out your hands. Imagine the light traveling out of your right hand and through the crystal. Imagine the crystal glowing with the light. “Feel” it getting warm.

6. Touch: When you feel your crystal getting almost too hot to hold, touch it to the part of your body that needs healing. Feel the heat penetrating your skin. Imagine the crystal healing your body.

7. Bring the crystal up to your face, holding it about an inch away from your eyes. Slowly move it down your body, over your neck and then over your heart and your solar plexus, your abdomen and then your pelvis. This movement will totally cleanse your chakras of any negative energy.

8. Repeat this crystal healing ritual once a week for perfect health.

Tags: your body, down your, through your, Body With, Body With Crystals

How Do Blind People Write

History of Braille

Night writing was originally conceived in the early 1800s so soldiers could read dispatches without light. Louis Braille refined the system and delivered a way to read and write to the blind. Braille is a system of transferring the alphabet into raised dots on paper that you can read with your fingertips. Each letter, called a "cell," is comprised of six dots in two vertical columns of three dots each. To read, you move your fingers over the dots and you are able to "see" the words. Many special tools are available to braille users so that they can write as well.

Slate and Stylus

Slate and stylus are used to indent the dot cells onto paper so that you can read them. The stylus is shaped like an awl with a rounded tip that you use to punch the dots on the paper. A slate is a hinged metal or plastic plate that has rectangular holes on the top panel through which the dots are punched and indentations on the bottom panel. These indentations match the groupings of six dots that comprise the letters of the alphabet. Shaped like a bowl, the indentations keep you from punching all the way through the paper. The hinge keeps the two halves of the slate from moving around as you write and ensure that the holes you punch through always line up with the depressions on the bottom slate. Because of the way the dots are punched into the paper, when using a slate and stylus, you have to punch the holes from right to left, so that when you turn the paper over, it can be read from left to right like all English writing.

Mechanical and Electronic Methods

A brailler is like a typewriter, but with only six keys that correspond to the dots that make up a cell. The keys are pressed simultaneously in various combinations to achieve certain letters. A standard computer keyboard can be reconfigured using the braille ASCII codes so that the keys use the braille alphabet, rather than the standard English one. The finished document is sent to an embossing printer for output.

Still in Development

In 2006, undergraduates at Johns Hopkins University developed a prototype that will allow more people, especially those of limited financial means, access to a braille writer (see link in Resources). It operates with the slate for braille writing, but instead of a stylus, you have a hand-held device that has six keys that will cause up to six pins to emboss the paper rather than having to punch six separate holes with the single-pointed stylus. The four engineers who designed the writer estimate that--with mass production--the device would cost no more than $10 and could be operated without electricity.

Tags: dots paper, dots punched, dots that, keys that, paper that, paper that read, rather than

Chiropractic Doctors' Salaries

Chiropractic doctors can solve problems in the upper back.

Chiropractic doctors, more commonly called chiropractors, manipulate the spine to treat problems with the musculoskeletal system. The profession requires two to four years of undergraduate study, and a four-year chiropractic education. All states also mandate a license. New chiropractors can enter into a partnership with an established professional, buy an existing practice, or start their own.

Basics

Chiropractic doctors work in clean, comfortable offices for an average of 40 hours per week, but longer hours are common and so are shifts in the evening and weekends to accommodate patient schedules. They must be able to stand on their feet for long periods. As of May 2009, the median salary was $67,650 annually, with a range of $32,750 to $150,570. This is equivalent to $32.53 per hour, with a range of $15.74 to $72.39. All amounts are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employers

The largest employers of chiropractic doctors are the offices of other health practitioners, which include chiropractors who are self-employed. They comprise 92 percent of the total 26,310 positions and are among the top five for pay, with a mean $38.40 per hour, or $79,870 per year. The highest paying employers are offices of physicians, with mean wages at $44.93 per hour, or $93,450 per year, for 950 positions.

Locations

Tennessee is the state with the best pay for chiropractic doctors at a mean $53.88 per hour, or $112,060 per year, for 210 positions. Also among the top five for salaries is Wisconsin, at a lower mean of $49.05 per hour, or $102,030 per year, but with better employment at 810 jobs. The highest paying city for this profession is Charlotte, North Carolina, where compensation runs a mean $66.50 per hour, or $138,320 per year, for 140 positions.

Prospects

The Bureau sees jobs for chiropractic doctors increasing by 20 percent until 2018, which is faster than average for all jobs. The demand will come from consumers who prefer this health care alternative that avoids surgery or drugs. Specialists in pediatric care as well as gerontology will find excellent prospects. Those who entered multi-disciplined practices that include a doctor and physical therapists will find the best prospects.

Tags: hour year, mean hour, mean hour year, Chiropractic doctors, hour year positions, year positions

Calm Down A Psychiatric Patient

When a psychiatric patient is taking medication properly, a violent or emotional crisis is rarely seen. But when medication doesn't work, or a psychiatric patient is not taking it, you may be faced with the challenge of calm him down. Cooling off an emotional crisis can be difficult, especially if it's been building for a few days or is accompanied by erratic or dangerous behavior. But soothing a distressed psychiatric patient can be done with a little training, and luck.

Instructions

1. Determine why the psychiatric patient is upset or needs calming by attempting to talk with him, or with family members. Depending on her diagnosis, she may be upset over something that may not seem like a big deal to you, but is a major issue for her.

2. Talk to the psychiatric patient. Sometimes all it takes to calm him down is a calm conversation, mostly focused on you listening to his concerns. Use active listening, by rephrasing what he tells you; such as, "I understand what you are saying is...".

3. Call the psychiatric patient's doctor. He can prescribe medication that can help the patient calm down if she is at home or in an outpatient setting. If he can call it in to a local pharmacy, medication can often be available within the hour.

4. Determine if the psychiatric patient has been taking his medication and/or attending counseling sessions regularly. Ask the patient directly, if you trust his response, or ask family members. The patient may have special medication to take in situations where he loses control. Call the counselor familiar with the patient's situation, as she may have ways of calming down the patient.

5. Do not touch the psychiatric patient unless you are very familiar with her. Touching a psychiatric patient can set off a violent episode, or lead you into physical displays of affection you may not be comfortable with (such as hugging or cuddling).

6. Don't tell a psychiatric patient to "get a hold of yourself" or "stop crying." Psychiatric patients cannot control their brain chemistry or emotions; that's why they have sought help.

7. Call 911 or your local emergency number if it appears the psychiatric patient is not going to calm down, is suicidal, or is a danger to himself or others. Police or EMS crews are specially trained to calm down psychiatric patients.

Tags: psychiatric patient, calm down, psychiatric patient, Determine psychiatric, Determine psychiatric patient

Remove An Imbedded Tick

Ticks are tiny, bloodsucking parasites that often lurk in leaf litter and thick, low-lying vegetation. They may carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease. Keeping your skin covered in possible tick-infested areas does a great deal to help reduce the chance of contracting one of these diseases, but one should always inspect one's body carefully after passing through an area that may have been infected by ticks, If a tick is found, it should be removed immediately.

Instructions

1. Put on latex gloves to protect your hands from contact with any potentially diseased excretions from the tick. If latex gloves are not available, use whatever you can--a paper towel, a tissue, or dishwashing gloves might help.

2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Keep constant pressure on the tick as you pull it up steadily; don't yank. The tick may come away from your skin cleanly, but it's very common for the body to come away while its head and mouth parts, or the mouth parts alone, remain embedded in your skin.

3. Extract the tick's embedded head or mouth parts, just as if they were a splinter, by using either the fine-tipped tweezers or a needle. If you can't remove the mouth parts on your own, contact a physician and inquire whether it's safe to leave them in place. According to the Lyme Disease Foundation, some physicians hold that the mouth parts will come out on their own as skin cells naturally slough away.

4. Place the tick in a zip-close plastic bag and freeze it, marking the date of the bite and bite location on the body on a slip of paper, then putting the paper in the bag with the tick. The Lyme Disease Foundation recommends that you call a doctor to find out whether or not you should seek further medical treatment.

5. Swab the bite area thoroughly with alcohol or another disinfectant. Apply a band-aid or other covering to help protect the wound, then remove your gloves and wash your hands with soap and water.

Tags: mouth parts, your skin, come away, Disease Foundation, fine-tipped tweezers

Pros & Cons Of Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is a procedure often recommended for people who no longer have sufficient cartilage between the bones of the knees, typically as a result of arthritis. When pain medication, exercises or injections meant to provide relief do not help knee pain and stiffness, it might be time to talk to your doctor about knee replacement surgery. Two common methods are total knee replacement and partial, or unicompartmental, knee replacement.

Pro--Pain Relief

The biggest advantage to knee replacement surgery is pain relief. After the initial pain associated with surgery and recovery time, including several weeks of therapy, your knee replacement should allow you to perform normal activities without pain.

Pro--Duration

Knee replacement surgery is a long-lasting fix. Depending on your age, physical condition and lifestyle, your knee replacement could last a decade or for the rest of your life.

Pro--Elimination of Other Remedies

Before knee replacement surgery, people often have to repeatedly go to the doctor for injections that temporarily reduce friction between the surfaces of the bones in the knee. They also may have to regularly take high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs, which can cause kidney damage. Surgery should put an end to these practices.

Con--Cost

Any surgery is expensive, and knee replacement surgery is no exception. Knee replacement surgery is covered by most insurance plans, but remember that you might still have to pay a deductible and coinsurance.

Con--Complications

One of the most common complications of knee replacement surgery is the formation of blood clots. Other dangers, although rare, include infections, nerve damage, complications from anesthesia or heart attack or stroke.

Tags: knee replacement, replacement surgery, knee replacement, knee replacement surgery, replacement surgery, Knee replacement

How Sodium Affects Blood Pressure

Avoiding sodium---table salt---is a key factor in preventing and managing high blood pressure. Other controllable risk factors include not smoking, exercising regularly, avoiding stress and maintaining a healthy weight. For many, eating a low-salt diet is one of the most difficult lifestyle changes. Scientists, however, have proven its value.

Effects

Salt causes blood vessels to retain fluid, which in turn forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. Research shows salt may also cause tiny blood vessels called arterioles to dilate, constricting and slowing blood flow. This can also cause the heart to work harder and blood pressure to increase.

Variations

Not every person responds to sodium the same way, though salt sensitivity---as well as salt's affects on blood pressure---seem to increase with age.

Recommendations

Health experts recommend adults consume no more than 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams of salt a day---roughly the equivalent of 1 teaspoon. Since some sodium is also found naturally in meats, nuts, grains, fruits and vegetables, reading all food labels is important to controlling your daily intake.

Expert Advice

Other effective ways to reduce the amount of sodium you consume each day:

- When cooking, substitute salt with sodium-free spices like basil, bay leaves, curry, garlic, lemon, oregano, parsley, pepper, rosemary or thyme.

- Take the salt shaker off the kitchen table.

- Choose foods and beverages that tend to have a lower sodium content, including fresh vegetables; fresh turkey and chicken breast; shredded wheat; oatmeal; puffed rice or wheat; fresh fruit juices; and seltzer water.

Added insights

Just like sodium can increase blood pressure, calcium and potassium can help lower it. To increase your calcium intake, choose low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, oranges, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, squash, Brussels sprouts, tuna and halibut.

Tags: blood pressure, also cause, blood vessels, heart work, heart work harder

Have The Mindset To Lose Weight If You Were Overweight Since Childhood

Have the Mindset to Lose Weight if You Were Overweight Since Childhood

It is always very difficult to lose weight, but is even more so if you were overweight since childhood. Having myself overcome 35 years of being overweight since age 2, I write this article based on personal, firsthand experience. After decades of struggling, I not only managed to reach my goal weight, but I'm now involved in an intensive bodybuilding program, and am working towards becoming a certified personal trainer and weight loss coach.

In this article I discuss the steps to being in the proper mindset to lose weight if you were overweight since childhood. The Resource section links to articles of mine in which I discuss the logistics of losing weight, but once you're in the proper mindset, it will no longer be a matter of dieting or counting calories. Everything will fall into place on its own.

Instructions

1. Step 0 is to accept the fact that you may not be able to tackle these steps on your own. You may need the assistance of some sort of support group, whether formally, or with a few close friends. You may also need to seek some sort of professional therapy or counseling. This article brings up some very difficult issues that must be faced and overcome.

2. First you must be aware of and willing to accept your current weight for what it is. You don't have to beat yourself up over it, but you have to get out of the mindset of saying things like, "I'm just big boned," or "I've been retaining water lately," or "Being fat is all I've ever known." You must start from the standpoint that you're at your current weight, and you will work towards losing some of it.

3. You must fully believe the fact that you are capable of losing weight, although the attempts you have made so far have not been successful, at least not permanently so. You must get passed all of your notions that you are genetically programmed to be heavy. It is simply not true. Certainly losing your last 20 pounds may be extremely challenging, if not seemingly impossible, but that is not the point. The point is that you definitely can move in the direction of losing weight, and keeping off the weight that you are losing.

While it is true that some people have naturally faster or slower metabolisms, there are things that you can do to speed yours up, namely exercise, and in any case, it may just be that losing weight will be harder for you than someone else. However, that is no different than saying that doing math or playing the piano is harder for some people than for others.

Absolutely no one is genetically programmed to be heavy (again, I'm not talking about the last 20 pounds), unless you have a very specific medical condition which only effects a small percentage of people. Almost everyone is overweight simply because they eat too much and exercise too little, but obviously if you have a special medical condition you should do precisely as your doctor instructs.

4. You will need to fully come to terms with any and all anger issues that stem from your history of childhood overweightness. As you struggle with losing weight it is extremely easy to become angry that you ever got to your weight in the first place. It is easy to feel anger toward your family for not doing more to intervene while you were young, or perhaps for not being good role models, or perhaps for even encouraging your overweightness whether consciously, subconsciously, or completely unintentionally.

Many painful memories may come to the surface, perhaps of not being able to participate in sports like your peers did, or being teased for your weight, and so forth. You need to begin your weight loss efforts from the standpoint of acceptance and forgiveness so that you can put all of your mental efforts into focusing on your weight loss plan.

5. You must brace yourself for the fact that your family, especially if overweight themselves, may actually not be as supportive of your losing weight as you'd like them to be. If unhealthy binge eating is a big part of what you typically do with your family, then objectively speaking you will not be all that much fun to be around while you are watching what you eat.

Your family may give you all sorts of flawed advice and ideas such as, "Oh, just eat and enjoy! All the women on our side of the family have always been big," or "I read in a magazine that if you eat a lemon after you finish your meal, it will burn all of the calories that you just ate," or "I heard that if you walk around the block after you eat, all the food just comes right of you, and it's like you ate nothing at all," and so forth. Much of this advice may be exactly the same that they gave you since childhood, which is probably part of how you became and remained overweight. You must accept that this was almost certainly not done maliciously, but done out of ignorance.

Your family will also likely ask you to share all of the details of the diet and exercise program that you are doing, and will go on and on about what works and what doesn't work, etc. Once you have established your eating and exercise plan you will simply have to be strong and stick with it regardless of what everyone around you says.

6. You must realize that although overweightness boils down to calories eaten versus calories burned, in your case what is much more important is changing your eating and exercise patterns. You will simply have to break the mold that you have been in since childhood. That is extremely difficult, and it's something that you'll do very gradually. You'll just have to push yourself in that direction. You'll have to get right back on track when you get off it. Once you change your patterns and your mindset with regard to food and exercise, you'll see that the weight will simply start coming off on its own. You will automatically know what to do. You will become increasingly aware of your body, and be healthy with it.

7. It is important to understand that if your family was always overweight just like you were, at some level there may be some feelings of jealousy as they see you start to lose weight. That can be a natural human subconscious reaction. It doesn't mean that your family doesn't love you, or wants to consciously sabotage you, or anything like that. It's just that you'll be accomplishing something that they have always had trouble with themselves. Just make sure that you don't get derailed by any statements that may be made by your family on the matter.

8. The good thing that comes out of having been overweight in the past is that you've already figured out what doesn't work. Supposedly when Thomas Edison was asked how he felt about failing 1000 times when inventing the light bulb, he replied that he successfully discovered 1000 ways to not make a light bulb. Try to apply that positive way of thinking to your situation. Start thinking in terms of what will work for you in your weight loss efforts, realizing that there is no reason to repeat any of the things that didn't work.

9. You'll need to stop playing the role of the stereotypical fat person. Don't use screen names of "fatchick123" or "hotbbw69" or things like that. Don't make self-deprecating fat jokes. Don't think about the things that you could never physically do, and can't do right now. You're working toward being able to do those things. Don't see yourself as a fat person, or even a person with a history of being heavy. Just see yourself as a person who is making an effort to lose weight.

10. See the Resources below for other articles of mine on this subject that may be helpful from a logistical standpoint. Constantly remind yourself that you can do it. You can lose weight and be healthy. If I can do it, so can you. O

Tags: losing weight, your family, that your, your weight, lose weight, weight loss

Cure Phobias

Phobias, or panic reactions, are an unreasonable fear of objects or situations that pose little real danger, according to MayoClinic.com. There are three main types of phobia: simple or specific phobias such as a fear of spiders or of heights; agoraphobia, which is a fear of open spaces; and social phobia, which is a unreasonable fear of social situations such as meeting new people. Symptoms of phobias include sweating, trembling, increased heart rate, dizziness, hot flushes or chills, and shortness of breath. Fortunately there are methods to help you deal with, and cure, phobias.

Instructions

1. Practise exposure therapy. This self-help technique involves gradually exposing yourself to the source of your phobia. Initially, merely picture yourself in the situation that usually causes you anxiety, recommends FamilyDoctor.org. When you feel comfortable with this, progress to gradually exposing yourself to the situation or object that causes your phobia. Tolerate it for as long as you can before removing yourself. Gradually try and increase the amount of time you can do this.

2. Practise flooding. This is a more extreme version of exposure therapy and involves exposing yourself to the object or situation you fear for 40 minutes, the maximum amount of time your body can remain in an anxious state. After doing this, you may be better able to tolerate your phobia. Bupa's Health Information Team recommends doing this only under the guidance of a trained therapist.

3. Avoid alcohol and other drugs. Many phobia sufferers turn to alcohol, as they believe it will help them cope with their phobia. In the long term, however, it will just make the problem worse.

4. Avoid caffeine. Caffeine, which can be found in coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolate, stimulates your nervous system and may increase feelings of of fear and anxiety.

5. Practise muscle relaxation. Concentrate on one part of the body, such as the upper arm, and concentrate on tensing the muscles there for four or five seconds. Then relax. Repeat the process with every other part of your body.

6. Take up yoga. This will teach you relax your body and, in turn, your mind.

7. Exercise every day. Exercise will help reduce feelings of anxiety and give you a sense of general well-being.

8. Practise relaxation techniques such as counting backwards from a hundred or deep breathing. These can help reduce anxiety and fear.

Tags: exposing yourself, your body, your phobia, amount time, doing this, exposure therapy

Manage Social Phobia

Social phobia is a common phenomenon that ranges from a simple aversion to interacting with strangers to preventing an individual from socializing with people in any type of public setting. As one of the more common anxiety disorders, social phobia can be managed and eventually overcome with the aid of a strong support network, counseling, and sometimes medication.

Instructions

1. Assess the degree of social phobia that is present. If the individual is able to entertain guests in his or her home, work in an office with two or three other people, or otherwise participate in activities that involve a few people at a time, therapy may provide some aid in controlling the condition.

Symptoms Of Rheumotoid Arthritis

Symptoms of Rheumotoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the synovium membranes that surround the joints. Striking over a million people in the United States, this destructive joint condition may cause irreversible damage to ligaments, bone and cartilage. Although RA can strike at any time, the onset of symptoms is most common between the ages of 40 and 60. Although the cause of RA is undetermined, lifestyle choices, like smoking, and heredity may play a part.

Symptom Activity

The symptoms of RA may appear and disappear as the patient progresses from an active cycle of the disease (flare) to remission. In addition to the inflammation of the synovium, an active cycle may include the swelling of glands, membranes and other tissues within the body.

Stiff Joints

Synovial fluid fills the synovium membrane that surrounds the joint. When RA strikes, the synovium becomes inflamed, and the amount of fluid within the membrane increases, creating pressure in the joint. The patient experiences stiffness and decreased mobility in the affected joints, frequently more pronounced in the morning.

Symmetry

RA often strikes both side of the body in a symmetrical pattern. More than one joint is commonly affected, such as the small bones in both hands and both wrists.

Nodules

Small, firm rheumatoid bumps may appear beneath the skin. Often forming on the arms, especially the elbows, these bumps are common during an active RA flare and may be painful in some patients.

General Malaise

During an RA flare-up, the patient may run a low-grade fever and become easily fatigued. He may experience a loss of appetite and achy muscles.

Complication Symptoms

Patients with RA may experience inflammation of the glands, tissue and the linings of organs, resulting in the development of subsequent disorders. If the glands of the mouth and eyes are involved, the patient may develop Sjogren's syndrome, and if the spleen is involved, Felty's syndrome is a possibility. In addition, other medical conditions may develop if the white blood cells during an RA flare attack the linings of the lungs or the heart or other organs.

Tags: active cycle, Rheumotoid Arthritis, Symptoms Rheumotoid, Symptoms Rheumotoid Arthritis

Is An Operation Worth It For Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal that can place restrictive pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots in the back. Although not all individuals with stenosis experience significant difficulties, at its worst the condition is extremely painful and debilitating. In many advanced cases, doctors recommend surgery to relieve the damaging pressure of stenosis. While surgery may indeed provide at least some relief, it is best understood as a partial solution to a complex medical problem.

Nonsurgical Options

Surgery for spinal stenosis is generally considered only after nonsurgical methods of relief have failed. If you have received a spinal stenosis diagnosis, but have not exhausted nonsurgical options, your quest for treatment should begin there. Options for nonsurgical treatment include regular exercise, organized physical therapy, anti inflammatory medications, lumbar traction, steroid injections, chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture. Spinal stenosis is a very individual ailment, and treatments that work well for one patient may not work at all for another. Consult your doctor for a full explanation of your options, and discuss which of them may be appropriate for you.

When Surgery is Indicated

If you have exhausted nonsurgical options, there are additional choices for you to make. First, doctors generally recommend surgery only in those cases where the effects of uncontrolled stenosis have significantly degraded quality of life. If you are in this category, you likely have pain that allows you to walk only for very brief periods of time. Since spinal stenosis is degenerative; your condition will not improve on its own. Given these circumstances, surgery may be the only reasonable option.

Surgical Options

The general purpose of stenosis surgery is relieving pressure on the spinal cord while retaining the strength and integrity of the spine and surrounding muscles. There are several types of surgery that will achieve this objective. Your doctor's preference and your particular situation will determine which option is right for you.

Decompressive laminectomy is a procedure in which the entire back sections (lamina) are removed from the spinal bones to allow more room for the spinal cord. It is performed either as an open surgery or as a laparoscopic procedure. In either case, extensive complications from surgery are possible, including infection, blood clots and nerve deterioration.

Laminotomy is a more limited procedure in which only parts of the lamina are removed. While post-surgical healing may be quicker, the dangers of laminotomy are more or less identical to those of laminectomy.

Fusion is a procedure to stabilize the spine by surgically joining two or more spinal bones. It is sometimes performed along with a laminectomy.

Postsurgery Prognosis

While each of these procedures may lessen your stenosis-related pain, they also carry limitations beyond the potential risks of the operation itself. Recovery from such invasive surgery can take several months, and will require a commitment to extensive rehabilitation. Additionally, surgery cannot stop spinal stenosis, only relieve its effects. Even after surgery, your symptoms very well may return. In order to get a full picture of your outlook for recovery, consult your doctor and surgeon.

Tags: spinal cord, exhausted nonsurgical, exhausted nonsurgical options, have exhausted, have exhausted nonsurgical, lamina removed

Check For Autism In Toddlers

Autism impairs a person's ability to relate to others, communicate with normal language, and process feelings (many of which may not fit the issue at hand). Checking for autism in toddlers is tricky at best, but tests have been created to help pinpoint telltale signs of this disease. If you suspect your child has autism, the following tests can determine whether or not your child has the disease.

Instructions

1. Know the warning signs. Signs of autism include a toddler's refusal or inability to make eye contact. The toddler may shun any signs or displays of affection. Another warning sign is the inability to point at objects when you ask, "Where is the light?" or "Is this the toy you want?" Frequent tantrums at inappropriate times are symptomatic of autism. Many parents notice that their toddler isn't babbling or learning new words. If your child is having problems with verbal communication, you should note that it is a telltale sign of autism.

2. Administer the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT). This test is administered by your child's pediatrician. It is a preliminary test that will determine whether or not your child should be sent to a psychologist for further evaluation. It takes only about five minutes and is given to toddlers at around the age of 18 months. There are several markers in this test that indicate developmental delays and autism.

3. Have the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) completed for your child. This test will be done in the office of a licensed professional. It contains 5 diagnostic domains and 15 questions. Some of the domains assessed include adaptiveness to change, verbal responses/communication and relating to others. After the examiner has reviewed previous doctors' reports, interviewed the parents and observed the child, he or she will answer these questions. A CARS score will then be computed to determine if the child is normal, mildly autistic, or severely autistic.

4. Request a Bayley Scales test. This test is age-sensitive and can only be administered by a trained psychologist, not by your pediatrician. Motor skills, mental agility and behavior are assessed in the 3 domains of the Bayley Scales. This test has been administered to thousands of normal children to create a scale and criteria for diagnosing developmental delays. The test will conclude if your child shows problems in the areas of language development, memory, motor skills, muscle control, etc.

Tags: your child, This test, Autism Toddlers, Bayley Scales, determine whether

Effects Of Magnets

You may know magnets as being handy household tools but they are also used for health purposes.

Magnetic therapy is an alternative form of medicine which works on the basis that our bodies are all electrical and resonate at a certain frequency. These frequencies are constantly being affected by our diet, exercise, health and other factors, and, as a result, our frequency may need retuning. Advocates believe magnets can have beneficial effects to the individual's health, although magnetic therapy is thought of as a pseudoscience due to the lack of scientific proof pertaining to it.

Brief History of Magnets

The Chinese have been using magnets in their medicine since around 2000 B.C. in conjunction with reflexology and acupuncture. In the 15th century, a Swiss physician wrote a number of papers discussing the medical effects of magnets, with particular regard to the inflammatory processes in the body. Later, in the 18th century, Michael Faraday made a number of discoveries pertaining to the healing powers of magnets. While, later still, in the 20th century, scientists carried out a number of studies exploring the healing effects of magnets on specific conditions such as sciatica, rheumatism and even cancer. These studies have seen a prolific rise in the last few decades.

How Magnets Work

Magnets help to heal the body in a number of ways, particularly focusing on the body's blood, cells and its inflammation process. The magnets work in terms of magnetic fields which operate through the iron in the blood. The magnets are placed close to the area of inflammation and the field penetrates the body, causing the affected cells to react and realign their ions. Following such procedures, the area affected by the inflammation will go through various procedures of repair which the magnets will also help to stabilize and manage.

Magnetic Strength

Magnets come in different strengths and are used for different purposes. It is important to make sure that you use the correct magnet for the correct use. Ferrite magnets are used for healing purposes and should be of an 800 gauss strength, but are easily damaged. However, the majority of magnetic healing jewelry bands and straps will contain neodymium magnets which keep their strength for up to 10 years. A general rule is that if you do not know the strength of the magnet, do not use it.

Magnetic Application

Depending on the strength of your condition, the application of magnetic therapy should be altered accordingly. For a minor injury such as a sprain, it is recommended that you use four to six magnets circling the area which a strength of 800 gauss. Whereas a worse condition such as Diabetes requires a stronger application of drinking magnetized water and wearing magnetic shoe insoles with a minimum of 25,000 gauss. However, whatever your condition, you should always consult a professional first.

Tags: effects magnets, your condition

Anxiety Symptoms In Women

Although anxiety disorders affect both men and women, there seems to be a slightly higher incidence in women. There are many causes of anxiety and some anxiety is normal. The stress of work, financial burdens and responsibilities of daily life can create an atmosphere of anxiety that develops into a downward spiral. It is important to recognize the symptoms of anxiety and learn manage them.

Features

Many women live with chronic anxiety and may not even realize it. Several symptoms can be produced by anxiety and those symptoms can vary from person to person. The most common symptoms of anxiety include muscle tension, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, loss of sex drive and depression. Symptoms of severe anxiety include irrational fear, feelings of dread, shortness of breath, nausea, irritability and elevated heart rate.

Causes

One of the main reasons for anxiety is unmanaged stress. Everyone experiences a certain level of stress in their lives but some manage it better than others. It is normal for stress levels to change according to the experiences and situations occurring in a person's life. How one deals with such situations can play a determining role in whether she lives with chronic anxiety. There can also be biological causes of anxiety such as hormone imbalances. Anxiety can also be related to conditions such pregnancy, postpartum depression and menopause.

Types

There are six main types of anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry and fear over the concerns of daily life. Symptoms typically include insomnia, restlessness, stomach upset and the inability to relax. Panic disorder is characterized by recurring panic attacks. Symptoms of panic attack may include heart palpitations (rapid heartbeat), hyperventilation (shortness of breath), feeling lightheaded, nausea, sweating and chest pain. Panic attacks are often accompanied by an intense feeling of fear or dread. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by repetitive and compulsory behavior. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder may wash their hands repeatedly or double-check to make sure the door is locked or the stove is turned off. Social anxiety disorder is also known as social phobia. People who suffer from social anxiety disorder are extremely self-conscious. They fear what people think of them and will avoid social situations. Those who suffer from social phobia may experience some of the same symptoms associated with panic attacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder results from a traumatic event. Sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder often have flashbacks, nightmares and tend to always be on guard. Phobias are unrealistic or exaggerated fears. People with a phobia try to avoid the object of their fear. They can experience similar symptoms as those with panic attacks.

Treatment

There are several medications to treat the symptoms of anxiety. Most often antidepressants and tranquilizers such as Valium or Xanax are prescribed. Behavioral therapy can be effective in alleviating anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps one to identify and overcome negative thought patterns and behavior. Anxiety can be controlled through a combination of medication and behavioral therapy.

Considerations

Learning manage stress can help to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. Lifestyle changes may be necessary to manage stress properly. Balance work, play and rest. Women often sacrifice their own well-being to be all and do all. If you're not eating right and getting enough rest, you are bound to be stressed. Don't take on added responsibilities if you're already pushed to the limit. If you're dealing with a lot of stress, you might want to join a support group. It really helps to talk and know that you're not alone.

Significance

If you are pregnant or recently gave birth and are suffering from anxiety symptoms, consult your physician. Chronic anxiety isn't good for you or your baby. Many women suffer from postpartum depression which can leave them feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. It is best to get help rather than try to do everything alone. It is also important to see a physician to determine the cause of anxiety. Your physician will be able to determine a proper course of treatment aimed at specific causes such as hormonal imbalances or other factors.

Tags: symptoms anxiety, anxiety disorder, disorder characterized, suffer from, anxiety disorders

Cook The Weight Watchers Way

Weight Watchers is a for-profit organization that helps people lose weight and learn to eat more nutritiously. Participants can join weight watchers for a fee. In turn they get access to nutritional counseling and support groups. People who join weight watchers are urged to follow a point system. Points are allotted each week for factors such as initial weight, height, age and gender. Many counselors suggest that participants make home cooked meals rather than eat out to fully control their calorie consumption. Cooking following weight watchers principles is not difficult.

Instructions

1. Learn the point values for all items that you are planning to cook. All foods are assigned a Weight Watchers point value. Points can range from zero for water to dozens of points for some very rich dishes that contain items such as butter. People who join weight watchers are given material that contains point values for common foods. You can also look up point values online, buy foods produced by Weight Watchers and use reference books that indicate more specific point values.

2. Decide what you want to cook. People who follow Weight Watchers are pushed to menu plan at least a day or two in advance. Menu planning helps participants avoid excess calorie consumption and create well balanced meals that are filled with the right nutrition. A good Weight Watchers meal should include a combination of protein, fats and carbohydrates.

3. Look up the point value for each item that you are cooking. You can also think about making meals from one of the many Weight Watchers cookbooks available on the market. A Weight Watchers cookbook should have a list of each item as well as the final point totals for the entire dish.

4. Measure out the quantities of the food items you are planning to prepare. Have a calibrated scale at hand so you can see exactly how much food is going into each dish. The scale should indicate values up to the half-ounce. Clean the top of the scale after you weigh each item, or set messy foods on waxed paper or put them in a pre-weighed bowl to keep the scale clean.

5. Consider which preparation methods you wish to use to prepare items. Weight Watchers counselors prefer that people use healthier methods to cook whenever possible such as steaming, baking or quick sautéing.

6. Use necessary oils. The Weight Watchers philosophy is based around slow and effective weight loss. Participants are exhorted to eat all the calories they are supposed to eat each day to keep the body from going into starvation mode. Calories include the consumption of healthy oils, such as olive oils. Use them with your food.

Tags: Weight Watchers, point values, each item, join weight, join weight watchers, Weight Watchers, calorie consumption

Get Rid Of A Deep Foot Callus

Calluses, commonly known as corns, often form on the foot as a result of wearing shoes that don't fit properly. These patches of hardened, sometimes discolored skin, can be quite painful but they are easy to prevent and treat. By simply changing your footwear you can usually eliminate even the deepest and most entrenched calluses. If some kind of foot deformity is causing your calluses, such as hammertoe or bunions, you may need to purchase special shoes and consult a podiatrist. More often than not, however, you can get rid of a deep foot callus by changing shoes and taking care of your feet to speed up the healing process.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Purchase a pair of shoes that fit properly. Discontinue wearing the shoes that are causing your calluses. High heels are particularly common culprits when it comes to foot calluses. You should wear shoes that are comfy and offer your foot solid support while allowing it to breathe.

2. Soak your feet once a week in a warm mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. One cup of vinegar is sufficient. Submerge your feet in a small foot bath for 10 minutes. Then remove the softened dead skin from your foot using a pumice stone or other abrasive material.

3. Try using soft corn pads, which you can buy at any pharmacy in the foot care aisle. Dr. Scholl's is a highly recommended brand that you'll find just about anywhere. Corn pads offer protection and relief for calluses by reducing some of the pressure surrounding your foot. Don't buy the medicated ones because they contain chemicals that can actually make your problem worse.

4. If all else fails, make an appointment with a podiatrist. You may have some kind of structural problem in the foot that's causing calluses to form. Such problems can usually be corrected with surgery and/or physical therapy.

5. Maintain a healthy immune system if you have calluses. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods.

Tags: shoes that, your feet, your foot, causing your, causing your calluses

Therapeutic Colors

Color has long been recognized for its therapeutic value and for the effect it has on human emotions and physical well-being. Color therapy, or chromo therapy, draws upon the therapeutic value of colors to heal and provide relief from emotional and physical ailments. Alternative treatment therapists apply color through visualization and suggestion to heal and balance energy related to physical, spiritual, mental or emotional imbalances.

History

Ancient Egyptians and Greeks attributed the healing power of color to the god Thoth who was believed to use color in healing. These ancient people used color in a wide variety of ways to promote healing. Salves and dyes, made from colored minerals served as remedies for physical and emotional ailments. Gems, stones and crystals placed strategically were thought to promote healing. Treatment rooms painted in various colors designed to heal specific ailments adorned sanitariums. The belief that health required a proper balance and that illness signified an imbalance triggered the use of color to restore the proper balance to the body.

Effects

The practice continued until the Middle Ages when Christianity denounced it as paganism and forbade Christians from participating in such practices. Those who practices color therapy faced persecution, but the tradition survived by oral tradition passed on in secrecy.

Time Frame

During the Renaissance, healing with color revived. Paracelsus (1493 to 1541) regarded as a great physician throughout Europe focused on color as vital to healing. After the Middle Ages, an emphasis on scientifically proven methods caused a decline in color as a therapeutic tool. By the early nineteenth century, medicine focused on the physical body and dismissed treatments designed to meet the needs of the mind and spirit. In 1876, Augustus Pleasanton published his works on the use of color on the growth of grapes in a green house with alternating clear and blue glass. He claimed the size, yield and flavor improved with the addition of blue light. He also reported cure of disease and pain with the use of blue light. His work was dismissed as unscientific. In 1877, Dr. Seth Pancoast advocated the value of color in healing in his book, "Blue and Red Lights." In 1878, Edwin Babbit's publication of "The Principles of Light and Color" received worldwide attention.

Function

Pancoast identified red as a stimulant, blue and violet as soothing with anti-inflammatory properties and yellows and oranges as nerve stimulants. He invented the Chromo Disk to funnel and localize light to specific parts of the body. He also used colored glass to produce colored light. He filtered light through colored lenses to create therapeutic water reported to have healing properties. By the end of the century, red light was used to prevent scarring from smallpox and TB patients were treated with sunlight and ultraviolet rays.

Theories/Speculation

The use of color therapy to heal and to promote well-being continues to be shunned by the medical profession, but is practiced as a form of alternative medicine with remarkable success.

Tags: blue light, color healing, Middle Ages, promote healing, proper balance

Screening For Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian health is a common concern for women. Ovarian cysts and cancer are prevalent in women, even those younger than 50 years old. The screening process for this disease is not as advanced as medical professionals hope it will be, but is progressing slowly. The developing technologies are identifying the disease in earlier stages, yet are still not preventing enough deaths to be considered successful.

Why Screening is Necessary

Ovarian cancer, if not caught early, may be detrimental to healthy ovary functions. It makes pregnancy difficult and in some cases warps the ovaries, leading to abnormal fetus development or miscarriage. In many cases ectopic pregnancies are linked to cancers.

Screening, if successful, will help you diagnose whether you do have the cancer and help your doctors treat you.

About The Screening

Screening is conducted using trans vaginal ultrasound or ovarian palpitation. Both of these methods are minimally invasive. Screening is only deemed a success if it prevents death or detects ovarian cancer in its early stages. The screening tests currently available in the field of medicine have a tendency to produce high false positives in some women. The screening is only preliminary to diagnosis, and means very little until diagnostic tests are run.

Screening Risk Factors

Often screenings will not be suggested without one or two major risk factors present in a patient. It is common for ovarian cancer to strike those who have no risk factors, other than hereditary factors. Menopausal women are at the highest risk. The use of fertility drugs is a significant risk, especially for women in their 30s. Also bearing children later in life can leave one vulnerable to ovarian cancer.

How Sceening affects Treatment

The screening process helps doctors identify the stage of the cancer. Surgery is the most common form of treatment. In some cases surgery in addition to other treatments, like chemotherapy, will be needed. Most screenings will lead to diagnostic tests, which show lesions or large shadows of where the cancer is.

If the cancer is removable, a laparotomy is performed and the surgeon will identify the cancer and begin removal or clean up. In some cases a hysterectomy is performed.

Shortcomings of Screening

Ovarian cancer is rarely diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, because the symptoms don't tend to show up until the cancer has advanced.

A screening conducted via ultrasound can sometimes show bumps or shadows that may lead one to think they have cancer, but there is a 50 percent chance that an ovarian cancer screening will give a false positive. Doctors often overlook the readings on screenings because they believe another illness is at fault.

Screening by ultrasounds helps identify lumps that may be advanced stages of cancers. However, this practice can also lead to needless surgery, with no cancers present.

The Screening Process isn't a Diagnosis

Being suggested for a screening test does not mean you have cancer. The screenings are given when there are no symptoms present. Sometimes these screenings can be part of a check up to make sure that everything is working as it should. If you have an unclear or abnormal screening your doctor may suggest a few diagnostic tests. These will be the tests that determine whether you may have ovarian cancer present.

Tags: diagnostic tests, have cancer, ovarian cancer, some cases, early stages

Research The Different Facelift Techniques

Facelift surgery techniques appropriate for each person vary depending on a variety of factors, including different skin types, age, desired results and procedure costs. Taking the time to research the different techniques can help you to be better prepared to discuss your options with your surgeon.

Instructions

Learn About Facelift Surgery Techniques

1. The most common facelift technique involve an incision that runs along your hairline behind the ears, allowing sagging fat and skin to be removed before reattaching and tightening the skin to the face with stitches or staples. The incision is made behind the hairline to hide any scarring. Female patients with strong facial bone structure typically have the best results with this technique.

2. Research the thread facelift technique, a much less expensive and invasive procedure than the traditional technique. The procedure is designed to reduce early aging signs, like sagging skin around the neck and cheeks, and can be performed with the patient fully conscious. With this technique, threads are pulled through small incisions, lifting and pulling the skin tighter to the face and producing only minimal scarring.

3. Be aware of techniques that target areas of the face that are difficult to address with traditional procedures. Endoscopic facelift surgery utilizes a thin, long tool that positions a camera inside incisions made to the face, allowing the surgeon to view the tissue and fat that needs to be removed. The incisions necessary for this procedure are much smaller than hairline incisions and result in little to no scarring.

4. The lower facelift technique is used to improve the appearance of the neck and jawline through a procedure that is similar to the traditional technique. However, it targets only the lower third of the face. An incision behind the ears and along the chin is made to remove excess skin in the neck.

5. Conduct research into different facelift techniques that address other common problem areas, such as the cheeks and eyelids. Dark circles under the eyes and falling cheeks are improved through lifting the tissue through incisions beneath the lower lids of the eyes or along the temples.

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Normal Calcium Levels In Humans

Calcium is very important to the body. It can be found in the skeletal system and teeth, but also in the muscles, nerves and blood. There are many systems and processes that depend on normal calcium levels and having too much or too little can result in serious illnesses. The endocrine system is responsible for making sure calcium is properly distributed. Sometimes a disease like hyperparathyroidism can cause an imbalance of blood calcium levels. In other cases, osteoporosis is the culprit.

Hypocalcemia

Hypocalcemia is a condition where there is a lack of calcium in the blood. This can be due to hypoparathyroidism, where the parathyroid gland cannot make enough hormones to maintain plasma calcium levels, or a poor diet lacking in calcium or vitamin D. Severe hypocalcemia can cause numbness and spasms in the hands, feet and mouth. It can also cause memory loss, hallucinations and depression. Treatments include injections of calcium ions, or oral doses of calcium.

Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia is when you have too much calcium in the blood. This is usually because of hyperparathyroidism, a condition of excessive hormonal levels by the parathyroid gland. In some cases cancer can be the cause, though it is rare. Mild elevated calcium levels usually have few or no symptoms, but severe cases can result in nausea and vomiting, depression and lethargy, weakness, joint aches, and headaches.

Calcium in the Body

Calcium can be found in three major areas of the body. In cells, it is important for enzyme function, muscle contraction and intracellular signals. In the blood stream, calcium floats freely or is bound to proteins. The skeletal system is the third major source of calcium because most of the bones are calcium. The small intestine, bones and kidneys also help regulate the calcium levels of blood.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become fragile and weak, especially in the hips, spine and wrist. Women are more at risk, though men can suffer from it as well. Osteoporosis makes the bones porous, and can go undetected for years until a bone finally fractures. Maintaining calcium amounts in the body, exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding cigarette smoking and alcohol decrease the chances of getting osteoporosis.

Calcium Deposits

Calcium deposits are small granules of calcium that build up in the body. They can appear almost anywhere and are virtually undetectable. Usually, the only time they are found is when pain occurs at that location. Calcium deposits aren't rocks that grow in the body. They are closer to a chalky toothpaste consistency. The reason calcium deposits occur isn't entirely known.

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Treatments Using Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurveda is a holistic system for good health, developed in India and used worldwide, that treats common illnesses and ailments with herbal remedies. Ayurveda employs herbal healing to balance the body's energies, which is a basic principle of Ayurvedic herbal medicine, but herbs should not be used on their own to treat serious conditions.

Identification

The Ayurvedic system is a whole-body approach to health. Ayurveda incorporates diet, exercise, routine, psychotherapy, herbal medicine and a variety of other treatments to achieve and maintain complete health. According to "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs" by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Michael Tierra, the basis of Ayurvedic care is the maintenance of good health. However, when sickness does occur, the most commonly prescribed medicine in Ayurvedic practice is herbal medicine.

Energy Balance

Ayurvedic herbal medicine is based mainly on the balance of Ayurvedic energies. Individual conditions and illnesses require unique blends of their own for treatment. Many common conditions have natural Ayurvedic treatment options. Acne, allergy, hair loss and menstrual cramps are among the conditions that can be treated with Ayurvedic herbal formulas, Khalsa and Tierra say.

Types

Herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine range from common household foods to obscure plants that can be difficult to find. According to Khalsa and Tierra, types of herbal remedies used in Ayurvedic medicine include celery juice and cucumber juice for acne, turmeric for back pain and cinnamon bark for menstrual cramps. Other common herbs used for Ayurvedic healing include pomegranate, mustard and poppyseed. Some herbs have side effects and interactions with health conditions and medications, so check with your doctor before taking anything new.

Taking Herbs

In Ayurvedic herbal medicine, herbs are commonly dosed as a tea, powder or paste. Some common herbs are available in your grocery store as a vegetable or spice. You can also take herbal extracts in tincture form, which is the form recommended by Alan Keith Tillotson and Robert Abel in "The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook" as the most effective for absorption of the healing herbal components. A tincture is a mixture of carefully measured herbs soaked in purified drinking alcohol, such as vodka, for about two weeks. If you have a specific condition, an Ayurvedic herbalist can mix a tincture with a special blend of herbs to treat it.

Warning

Ayurvedic medicine is a comprehensive plan for better health. While many of its practices are safe and easy to incorporate into your daily life, Ayurveda is not a substitute for medical attention in case of an acute condition. If you have any illnesses or take any medications, talk to your doctor before taking any medicinal herbs, or before making any big changes that might affect your health.

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