Terapi Air Putih

How to Drain Ear Fluid

2011-01-23T23:21:00.000-08:00

Ear infection can often occur after a cold or respiratory infection. At other times it will seemingly occur without cause. This then causes a build up of fluid which collects in the middle ear which is the space behind the ear drum. That in turn causes the Eustachian tube (which connects the inner ear to the throat) to become plugged thus preventing the fluid from draining. Symptoms of fluid in the ear then are: mild discomfort, severe pain as the fluid pushes against the ear drum and/or lack of hearing that sounds as though you are 'underwater' in one or both ears.

This can be unpleasant and distracting and many people find it a constant irritation. Most physicians will recommend simply waiting it out, but in severe cases they might provide you with antibiotics to treat the infection, or use tubes to drain the ear drum or minor surgery from an ENT doctor (ear, nose and throat) which will involve a small incision to drain the fluid. There are several ways however that you can encourage your ears to unclog at home which we will look at hear.

Note: Before trying any of these home remedies you should first see a physician. While in most cases fluid in the ear is a sign of infection, in rare cases it can be a symptom of tumour so it is important to get it inspected by an expert.

Hot Packs

A hot pack pressed against your ear can be a great way to ease the pain. To achieve this, try using a warm flannel or heating up some rice tied into a sock.

Ear Drops

Many ear drops are designed to neutralise fluid that collects in the ear but you should check with your doctor before using any. To use them, drip just a couple of drops into your ear while lying on your other side (so it doesn't run straight back out) and then close the end with some cotton wool.

Use Decongestants

Taking decongestants can sometimes help with ear fluid build up and many of these can be purchased over the counter. Again though check with your doctor before beginning any new course in medication. This can help the fluid to drain out of the Eustachian tube and nose.

Waiting Out

Unfortunately for many of us the only cure is time and this can take up to 9 months. Lying on your side when you sleep, and drinking plenty of water while maintaining a good diet however can help to speed up the process.

Source : http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14712/1/How-to-Drain-Ear-Fluid.html

Angina and Its Types

2008-12-29T22:20:00.000-08:00

Angina is pain in the chest that occurs when the heart does not get the required amount of oxygen in the blood. Angina pain is most commonly caused due to accumulation of fats and cholesterol that block the arteries and obstruct the flow of blood. This leads to slow circulation of blood. When the blood reaches the heart slowly, the heart works harder to satisfy the body’s need for blood. This leads to spasmodic attacks of intense suffocative pain.

Angina pain is characterized by chest pain and tightening in the rib area and one feels short of breath. It can be called as an indication for further heart problems as heart is not performing its due functions properly.

In many cases, angina can also be taken as a warning for heart attack. It may lead to pain in other areas of the body such as jaws, shoulders, neck and arms.

Types of Angina
There are 4 types of angina:

Stable Angina
This is the most common heart condition characterized by feeling of squeezing behind the breastbone, pressure on jaws, back and arms. It is recognized after several episodes have occurred.

The level of activity or stress can almost become predictable that provokes it.

Unstable Angina
It may occur all of a sudden as a result of some activity or in bouts. It may be provoked by any thing and result from a lesser activity than before. It is quiet dangerous and needs prompt medical action.

Variant or Prinzmetal Angina
This type of angina is caused by vasospasm, a spasm that narrows that coronary artery and thus the flow of blood to the heart is lessened.

Microvascular Angina
In this kind of angina, pain is experienced but there are no artery blockages. The pain results from the poor function of tiny blood vessels that nourish the heart, arms and legs.

Causes of Angina
Almost all types of angina are caused by one or another reason mentioned here. There are various causes for angina pain.

It can be caused by increased need of oxygen for circulation
Intake of diet with high fat content
Blockage of arteries due to settling of fat and clotting in blood that hampers the flow of blood and oxygen
Exposure to emotional and stressful conditions

Symptoms
All these types of angina exhibit the same symptoms with slight variation. It is possible that a patient experiences all the symptoms of angina while others may experience only some of them. Some of the most common symptoms that are experienced in all types of angina are:

Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Chest pain as tightness and squeezing or burning
Feeling of indigestion
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Fainting

Angina Treatment
All types of angina can be treated by controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels as the main reason for angina pain is blockage of arteries by fats and cholesterol. Also, weight control is important as fat and obese people are more likely to suffer from angina attacks. In this regard, physical activity is very necessary to keep your weight in check and burn the extra amount of calories you consume.

Also, it is important to avoid stress as it can be a trigger for angina pain. Apart from this, medications such as nitroglycerin and glycerin trinitrate tablets are prescribed to treat angina pain and prevent further attacks. In the same way, taking calcium channel blockers and inhaling amyl nitrate helps to treat and prevent angina.

However, if these modes of treatment do not work, surgery such as coronary artery bypass surgery or artery stent are performed to treat angina and clear the plaque or blockage from the arteries.

Changes in lifestyle, eating a healthy diet free from fats, along with physical activity can also help in preventing angina. Medicines should only be taken after consulting a doctor. It is important to control angina at early stages or it can result in additional problems. However, it may require some advanced medical treatment to help a specific type of angina pain.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_types_angina.html

Types of Heart Diseases

2008-12-29T22:17:00.002-08:00

Any disease or condition that affects the working of the heart can be called as heart disease or diseases. Being the most important part of the body, heart pumps blood and oxygen in the body and makes you live a healthy life. A heart disease is a serious problem as it can affect the normal functions of the body and lead to an early death.

There are numerous types of heart diseases. Some may be fatal, others may not be life threatening but prove equally dangerous if not controlled on time. Some heart diseases are easily recognized while others are not. Thus, to deal with any type of heart disease or condition, it is very important to be aware of it and know about the types of heart diseases that one may have.

Some Important Types of Heart Diseases are
Angina
Angina is a particular type of chest pain. Angina pain is often felt in the chest, arms, shoulder or back. Angina pain is felt more when the heart works faster during the exercise or mental exertion. It goes away with rest but leaves you weak and sweaty.
It is important to get angina pain treated as it may occur more frequently if it’s left untreated. The most common reason why angina pain occurs is the reduced flow of blood to the heart due to high blood pressure or high cholesterol. In most of the cases, angina is the first sign of a heart disease.

Heart Attack
Heart attack, also known as acute myocardial infraction is a very common type of heart disease and a very deadly one too. The main cause of a heart attack is coronary thrombosis or blockage of blood vessels of the heart. When the heart does not receive proper amount of blood to pump, a heart attack may result.

In a heart attack, the heart actually stops working for a few minutes, this condition is known as cardiac arrest. A heart attack is also called the death of a part of heart muscle. The most common symptom of heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. However, many of the patients also suffer from silent heart attacks and do not feel any pain if they suffer from diabetes or any other condition. A heart specialist should be immediately consulted in case of any doubt.

Arrhythmia
It is a type of heart disease in which the heart rate or the rhythm of the heart beat is not normal or consistent. An arrhythmia can also be defined as the change in the regular heart beat pattern. It may seem that the heart is skipping a beat or beating very fast or very slow.

Atherosclerosis
It is a heart disease in which the blood arteries harden due to build up of excess cholesterol and other fatty substance in the body. This excessive cholesterol and fat becomes deposited in any artery of the body and lead to obstruction in the blood flow. It can give rise to a number of other heart diseases.

Rheumatic Heart Disease
It is a chronic heart condition that results from heart damage due to rheumatic fever. This type of heart disease involves damage to the heart and its membranes that primarily results from a complication of rheumatic fever. This condition is characterized by changes in the myocardium or scarring of the heart valves that reduce the ability of the heart to pump blood to the body.

Myocarditis
It is the inflammation or the degeneration of the heart muscle. Usually it results due to a complication from viral, bacterial or parasitic infectious diseases such as polio, influenza or others.
Some of the symptoms of myocarditis include chest pains, irregular heart beat, arrhythmia and breathlessness. It may result in sub-clinical to sudden death.

Other Types of Heart Diseases include
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) - Caused by artery narrowing and reduced blood supply to the heart.
Tachycardia - Abnormally rapid heartbeat (over 100 beats per minutes).
Ischemic Heart Disease – Heart disease resulting from reduced flow of blood to heart.
Heart Murmurs – Heart murmur is the sound heart makes when it is beating abnormally.
Pulmonary Heart Disease – Heart disease resulting when there is some lung complication and the blood flow to lung is slowed down that increases lung pressure and results in enlargement of heart muscle.
There are numerous types of heart diseases. However, it is possible to avoid them and live a healthy life even while suffering from them. A balanced diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle can help you in living a normal life even with heart diseases.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_types.html

Stroke Symptoms Resemble a Heart Attack

2008-12-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

There are various diseases or disorders that are not accurately diagnosed at first sight or they are misdiagnosed. Most of the time, it is because the symptoms of one disease or condition are similar to symptoms of some other disorder or condition.

This can be very dangerous in case of conditions where prompt treatment or help is needed for immediate and correct diagnosis is very important. Stroke and heart attack are two such conditions that have similar symptoms and it needs proper diagnosis to actually identify the condition.

Heart attack and stroke both need urgent medical attention. Both conditions are related to heart, the most important organ of the body that pumps and circulates blood into the body.

Stroke
Stroke usually occurs due to blockage in the blood vessels. Blood vessels get blocked by accumulation of excessive cholesterol or fats that slow down the flow of blood.

If any blood clots are present inside the blood vessels there is a greater chance of stroke as they can block the passage of blood.

Cholesterol plays a major role in stroke as it blocks the supply of blood to brain. When the blood does not reach the brain it causes lack of oxygen that leads to numbness. This numbness and lack of oxygen can cause a stroke in any part of the body. In addition to this type of stroke, hemorrhaging may also occur in the brain due to rupture of a blood vessel and blood clots.

Key Symptoms of Stroke Are
Turning numb in the face, leg or arm suddenly. This may happen on only one side of the body
Difficulty in speaking and comprehending all of a sudden
Poor vision all of a sudden in one or both eyes
Headaches with no real reason
Numbness or pain in any part of the body
Usually, in a stroke, one may be initially diagnosed as having a heart attack. This is because a stroke victim may not respond when shaken. This happens in the case where the victim has fainted. In some cases, a stroke victim may complain about pain or numbness in any part of the body.

Heart Attack
The reasons behind heart attack may be same as those for stroke. Cholesterol and fats play a major role in blocking the blood vessels. As a result, the blood does not reach the body and the heart is not able to perform its function of pumping the blood that leads to heart attack.

When a heart attack occurs, the arteries that supply blood to the cardiac muscles get blocked and deprive the heart of oxygen. Thrombosis or blood clots also play a major role in causing a heart attack.

Key Symptoms of Heart Attack Are
Feeling of sore muscles
Squeezing or pain in any part of the body. Though in a heart attack pain is largely confined to the chest, left arm, and part of the face (usually the left side)
Lack of response if shaken physically
Apparent loss in breathing or irregular breathing
Lack of blood circulation
If a stroke occurs in the chest or near the chest area, people believe that it is heart attack. Also, due to the similar causes and symptoms of the conditions, people are unable to distinguish between stroke and heart attack.

In spite of the apparent differences between a stroke and a heart attack, it is most likely that there would be confusion in diagnosis. This is because a patient cannot speak up for himself. Pain or numbness in the body cannot be expressed, and thus no one can determine exactly what is happening.

Thus, it can be said that stroke symptoms resemble a heart attack and in such a case, immediate medical care is recommended. Only with the right kind of tests and diagnosis, the right condition can be identified and proper treatment can be given.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_strokesymptoms.html

Living with Heart Disease

2008-12-29T22:14:00.001-08:00

Living a healthy life is very important as health is vital for a long and prosperous life. Healthy life means a life free of all tensions and diseases. On the other hand in this day and age, a life completely free of diseases and tensions is not possible. However, it is possible to live a healthy and content life even while going through the perils of life.

Heart disease is a very dangerous and life-threatening situation. If this condition is not controlled or looked after, it can result in death too. However, it is also possible to live a healthy life with heart disease. With proper medication, counseling and an improved life style, millions of heart patients are enjoying a healthy life with their families.

Tips on Living with Heart Disease
Living with heart disease requires some changes in your lifestyle. You cannot live as before as it led to unhealthy consequences. You need to bring changes in your lifestyle that would help to strengthen your weak heart. Here are some tips on living with heart disease

Eating the Right Foods
Eating the right foods is very important for living with heart disease. Only eat what your doctor has recommended for you. Avoid eating high cholesterol, fatty and sugary foods. They can add to the problem.

Diet is very helpful in improving heart’s condition so it should be properly monitored and only healthy meals should be eaten.

Exercise
Exercise should only be done when your doctor permits. The heart becomes weak and it may not bear strenuous exercise. It could also result in some other severe problems for the patient.

After the patient is stable, the doctor may advice some light exercise that may help to strengthen the heart. In most of the cases, walk is the best exercise for heart patients.

Control Exerting Activities
Heart patients should control their physical activities and avoid any strenuous jobs as it may put too much load on the cardiac muscles. It will lead to exertion and the heart will not be able to pump blood as efficiently; causing further problems.

Heart disease means that the patient needs to be extra careful and take care of himself. With a weak heart, the patient might not be able to perform functions as before. It is important to take things easy unless your doctor says otherwise.

Maintain a Balanced Weight
Maintaining a balanced weight is very important as obesity and overweight increase risk of heart disease and attack. Obesity and overweight are accompanied by other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Intake of calories and fats should be controlled to maintain a normal weight. They can be balanced with light exercise too. The intake of calories should be balanced with their expenditure to avoid weight gain and other complications.

In case you are overweight, losing only 10% of your weight can help you lower the risk of heart disease.

Some other tips on living with Heart Disease
Stop smoking as it is a major risk factor for heart disease
Stress is a big risk factors for heart disease and stroke, thus it should be avoided
Avoid going out in too much heat or humidity as it can lead to dehydration and weakness
Take some time for yourself to relax; meditation is very good for heart patients
Get adequate sleep and rest; heart patients need more rest than people who are not suffering from heart conditions
Remain physically active as it can help you recover quickly but do not take up any exhausting activity
Choose low fat and low calorie foods that are easy to digest
Medication is also very important and should be regularly taken on doctors advice
Living with heart disease is different and difficult too. It cannot be the same as before because of the fact that one has lived through a life-taking condition. Thus, great care should be taken to live a health life and ensure that the condition does not aggravate.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_problems.html

Heart Disease Prevention

2008-12-29T22:11:00.000-08:00

Before we start the discussion on heart disease prevention, let us first have a look into the major causes resulting in heart diseases. Some of the most common factors that cause heart diseases are:

Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Cigarette Smoking
Diabetes
Obesity
Lack of exercise
Unhealthy diet / nutrition
Behavior change

Thus, it is very clear that if these are the risk factors for heart disease, then it must be possible to prevent heart diseases by controlling the risk factors. Most of these factors result from unhealthy lifestyle and diet that leads to artery blockage, stroke and other heart problems.

With latest research, it has been established that heart diseases cannot necessarily be prevented through drugs or surgery alone. The main cause is stress in men and menopause in women, as the research shows. Thus, if these causes are worked out, heart disease prevention is possible.

Heart Disease Prevention – Some Ways and Means

A regular doze of aspirin and simple amino acid can also prevent heart disease. These medicines are blood thinners known as anticoagulants. They help in the smooth flow of blood, preventing any heart disease.
Exercise is one of the best and most enjoyable ways of preventing heart disease. Regular exercise helps the heart to become stronger so it can pump more blood around the body with less effort.
Smoking avoidance not only reduces the risk of developing heart disease, but also the risk of many other serious illnesses, like cancer and emphysema.
Normal blood pressure helps in preventing heart disease. High blood pressure plays a very crucial role in causing heart disease as it narrow downs the arteries that causes slow down of blood circulation. When there are obstructions in the blood flow, it can cause over working of the heart and lead to various heart diseases.
Alcohol avoidance is another step to prevent heart diseases. People who drink heavily are more likely to die of heart disease than those who do not. Therefore, alcohol consumption should be moderate.

Eating habits are another important factor. Eating well can help prevent heart disease for a long time. Cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity, all result from over eating. Thus to prevent heart diseases, eating habits should be carefully monitored.

No one food can provide all the nutrition you need, so you must eat variety of foods every day from the following four food groups:

Bread, other cereals and potatoes
Fruits and vegetables
Low-fat milk and dairy foods
Meat, fish and alternatives such as beans and lentils

Heart is a very important part of body and it should be properly cared, for a healthy and prosperous life. Eating nutritious diet, regular exercise and a healthy life style can help prevent heart disease for a long time.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_prevention.html

Preventing Vascular Disease

2008-12-29T22:09:00.000-08:00

Caused by atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, vascular disease or disease of the blood vessels can seriously affect the supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients to body from the heart.

Vascular Disease
A severe condition of the arteries, vascular disease narrows and hardens the arteries due to accumulation of fats and cholesterol that block the flow of blood to different parts of the body. The parts of the body that do no get adequate supply of blood to function suffer from tissue damage or death as a result. Thus, it is important to prevent vascular diseases for normal functioning of heart and body.

Anyone with an unhealthy lifestyle, imbalanced diet and irregular physical activity can get vascular disease. In many cases, the susceptibility of the patient to vascular disease is genetic too where an individual may inherit vascular diseases from parents or siblings. However, there are numerous other risk factors that can lead to vascular disease if they are not properly controlled.

Preventing Vascular Diseases
It is possible to prevent vascular disease if the high risk factors are controlled. If proper preventive measures are taken, even patients with a family history of vascular disease can avoid it. Some of the ways for preventing vascular disease are:

Preventing Vascular Disease Through Diet
Preventing vascular disease begins with taking the right amount of nutrition. A diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and fiber and low in saturated fats, sugar and cholesterol greatly helps to prevent vascular disease.

Avoiding Tobacco Smoking
Smoking is a significant risk factor for vascular disease, including lower extremity vascular disease, aortic aneurysms and carotid artery disease and stroke. Tobacco usage greatly contributes to the amount of build-up or blockage in arteries and decreases the amount of oxygen supplied to your tissues.

A severe lack of blood flow to the legs can cause gangrene which requires amputation of all or part of the foot and leg. It is vital that you stop tobacco smoking to prevent vascular disease.

Controlling Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is the primary and most important symptom of hypertensive vascular disease. High intake of salt is mainly responsible for hypertension and it should be avoided if an individual has a strong family history related to vascular diseases, so that vascular disease can be prevented for as long as possible.

Regular Exercise
Exercise is frequently recommended to patients with vascular diseases. Exercise training programs show their results in physiological changes such as improved peripheral utilization of oxygen and oxidative metabolic capacity that leads to greater functional capacity and less cardiac effort.

Blood flow is observed to increase during and after active exercise. Thus, exercise is imperative for preventing vascular diseases.

Monitoring Your Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It increases the risk of developing coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease. Medical management directed at optimizing glucose control is essential.

Diabetic patients should keep their blood sugar levels in control as low levels of blood sugar can prevent the numbness and blockage of blood vessels.

Cholesterol Levels
Blood cholesterol level is very closely related to vascular disease. If cholesterol is very high, it builds up in walls of the arteries. Over time, this buildup causes the hardening of arteries i.e. a vascular disease. This condition then causes arteries to become narrowed, slowing blood flow to the heart. The narrowed blood vessels reduce the flow of blood to the heart. Thus to prevent vascular disease, the first step should be controlling your cholesterol level.

Keeping your Weight in Check
Overweight and obesity are also established risk factors for vascular disease. Losing weight helps a lot in staying away from vascular diseases. Strategies for reducing weight include changing of behavior, physical activity, and changing diet, including reducing salt, increasing dietary fiber and eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables.

Prevention is better than cure, so by changing lifestyles and adopting healthy habits it is possible to prevent vascular disease. Rather than taking medicines and expensive treatment, the emphasis should be on taking a preventive approach.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_preventing_vasculardisease.html

Men and Heart Disease

2008-12-29T22:06:00.000-08:00

According to an estimate, heart disease is the most common cause of death among men in the US. Nearly half a million of men die in US annually due to various heart diseases while more than 5.8 million men have already suffered a heart attack or angina pain.

Heart disease is more likely to occur in men than women. Among men, mortality rates for heart disease are higher than the rates for all forms of cancer combined. Additionally, more than 70% of premature heart disease deaths (i.e., before age 65) occur among men.

Heart disease has been rated as the number one killer of both men and women. However, men are more likely to suffer from heart diseases due to high risk factors. It is reported that a man is vulnerable to heart diseases from the age of 45.

Men and Heart Diseases – Facts and Figures
In 2002, 340,933 men died from heart disease making it the leading cause of death for men in the US.
About 8.9% of all white men, 7.4% of black men, and 5.6% of Mexican American men live with coronary heart disease.
The average age of a first heart attack for men is 66 years.
Almost half of the men who have a heart attack under the age of 65 die within 8 years.
Results from the Framingham Heart Study suggest that men have a 49% lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease after the age of 40.
Major risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, diabetes, physical inactivity and poor nutrition.
Studies suggest that a 10% decrease in total cholesterol and obesity levels may reduce the development of coronary heart disease by as much as 30%.

Heart diseases comprise of various disorders and ailments of the heart as classified by the International Classification of Diseases. These diseases range from acute rheumatic fever, chronic rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and any other heart condition or disease.

Causes of Heart Diseases in Men
Men tend to develop heart disease at an earlier age than women. Various reasons have been given for this fact:

Lifestyle plays a major role in causing heart diseases in men. If this factor is controlled, the risk of heart diseases in men can be drastically reduced.
Recent studies have also shown a correlation between anger and heart disease, indicating that young men with lots of hostility and anger were more likely to have a heart attack before age 55.
The most widespread form of heat disease in men is coronary heart disease. In this disease, blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart become clogged.
Arteriosclerosis is a major factor here as the walls of arteries harden due to the accumulation of fats and other substances.
High blood pressure also poses major risks for both heart disease and stroke.
Over 3 million American men suffer from angina. Angina or chest pains are usually associated with the early stages of heart disease. Heart attacks have similar symptoms to angina attack and stroke; however chest pains last longer and are more intensely felt.

More than half of men who die from heart attacks do not experience any symptoms. African American men are 26% more likely than Caucasian men, and almost twice as likely as Hispanic men to die of heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association, the risk factors for heart diseases include:

Being male
Old age
A history of heart disease in the family
Smoking
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Alcoholism
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Stress
The symptom’s of heart disease vary in men and have a more dramatic onset than in women. And although men statistically have heart-related problems ten years earlier than women, they are more likely to recover from them.

Even though with proper preventive measures and education, there has been a decline in the mortality rate of heart diseases, yet men aged 35 to 44 are still at high risk for heart diseases. Thus, it is high time that men take care of their heart and health as heart diseases are very dangerous and can prove fatal if they are not treated on time.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_men.html

High Risk Factors for Heart Diseases

2008-12-29T22:04:00.000-08:00

There are numerous causes behind any disorder or dysfunction that occurs in a human body. With research, it has been established that behind every disease and disorder there are some risk factors that lead to it. Similarly, it has also been acknowledged that if these risk factors are controlled, these diseases and disorders can be avoided.

One such disorder that is caused by several risk factors is heart disease. Heart diseases are not caused by one, but numerous high risk factors that lead to various complications. High risk factors for heart disease are bound to result in heart complications if they are not controlled on time and you do not take proper care of your health.

Being the most important organ of the body, heart performs the crucial function of pumping blood and oxygen into the body. Without a healthy heart there is no chance of survival for you. Thus, it is advised that you keep an eye on the high risk factors for heart diseases and avoid them to live a long and healthy life!

High Risk Factors for Heart Diseases
Some of the high risk factors for heart diseases include hypertension, stress, smoking, high cholesterol, lack of exercise and obesity. If these conditions persist for a long time, they are at high risk of causing heart diseases.

Cholesterol
Cholesterol buildup takes place over a period of time. Accumulation of excessive fat leads to deposits of cholesterol in the arteries. This can cause blockage in the arteries and impair the flow of blood into them. Due to this, the heart may not be able to pump blood in the body and brain. This may lead to various heart diseases.

Smoking
Smoking is another high risk factor for heart diseases as it weakens the heart. This directly interacts with the working of the heart muscles and destroys them. Just one cigarette can prevent the heart from using oxygen properly for up to 24 hours. It contains enough poison to rough up the side of a blood vessel wall in the heart that can lead to narrowing of the blood vessel and cut down blood flow to the heart.

Stress
It has been proved that people who take stress are at high risk of getting heart disease. Stress is one of the main causes of artery constriction that causes hindrances in the blood flow. This leads to buildup of blood pressure leading to various heart diseases. If you take too much stress or work in a stressful condition, you are vulnerable to heart disease.

Hypertension
High blood pressure or hypertension increases the pressure on the heart leading to exertion and overwork. Due to cholesterol and fat deposits, the arteries become narrow. This affects the flow of blood to the heart and leads to elevated pressure of blood. Too much high blood pressure can cause various heart diseases and weaken the heart muscles.

Obesity
Obesity is too much weight gain or excessive accumulation of fat in the body. Obesity is one of the most unhealthy conditions once can suffer from and it is also one of the highest risk factors for heart diseases. Obesity can lead to high cholesterol as well as high blood pressure and cause heart complications too.

Physical Inactivity
Physical inactivity can lead to weight gain and obesity and both are high risk factors for heart diseases. Physical activity and exercise keeps you fit and healthy while inactivity can lead to fatness and other complications that eventually lead to heart problems.

Diabetes
Diabetes is among the high risk factors for heart diseases especially in case of people suffering from adult-onset or Type 2 diabetes also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes. It has been estimated that 65% of the diabetic patients die due to heart diseases. It is important to keep a check on your diabetes as controlling blood sugar level can reduce the risk for heart diseases.

Weight
If you are overweight or obese, the risk of having a heart attack is high. Being over weight means accumulation of fats and cholesterol in the body that lead to heart disease.

Overweight is an unhealthy condition that can supersede to obesity. Obesity is accumulation of excessive fat in the body. Overweight and obese people should try to slim down, as this will reduce their cholesterol levels.

Some Other High Risk Factors For Heart Diseases Are:
Male sex
Old age
Family history of heart disease
Race such as African Americans, American Indians, and Mexican Americans are more likely to have heart disease than Caucasians
In addition to the above mentioned conditions, there are others too that can increase your risk for getting heart diseases such as abnormal sleep patterns and duration of sleep, medications that have side effects, drugs, stress etc.

In order to prevent heart diseases, it is recommended that you control these high risk factors and take good care of your health and heart. Removing causes of stress and depression, exercising, eating a healthy diet and avoiding high-cholesterol foods, controlling your diabetes and avoiding obesity are all helpful in preventing heart diseases.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_highriskfactors.html

High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease

2008-12-29T22:02:00.000-08:00

The blood is pumped into the arteries by the heart and transported to other parts of the body. When the heart beats, the force inside the arteries which pumps the blood is called blood pressure. If blood pressure increases too much and exceeds the limit, it causes complications and lead to heart problems.

In other words, blood pressure can be defined as the force of the blood that pushes through the arteries while passing through the body. Every time the heart beats, the blood is pumped into the arteries. When the blood pressure increases, it means that the pressure in the arteries is above normal that is also called hypertension.

Causes of High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease
Constant high blood pressure can lead to heart diseases. High blood pressure can be caused by either poor eating habits or lack of physical activity leading to high cholesterol level, blockage of arteries and enlargement of the heart.

High blood pressure and heart diseases need to be addressed immediately. Only if these conditions are taken care of on time, a patient can avoid further complications. Otherwise they can prove fatal and life threatening.

Facts about High Blood Pressure and Heart Diseases
High blood pressure is one of the main causes of heart diseases. Coronary artery disease is the build up of the fatty matter in the walls of the arteries and it causes the arteries to narrow and passage of blood is blocked or limited.
It can give rise to the formation of clots in the blood thus leading to heart attack.
People with high blood pressure are more likely to have heart diseases as the extra pressure of the blood puts force against the arteries, with time this force can damage the arteries.
Damaged arteries are unable to provide the required amount of oxygen to other parts of the body and thus when the blood reaches the heart late; it may lead to different problems.
Measuring Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is recorded as:

Systolic Blood Pressure
It is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills the arteries with blood.

Diastolic Blood Pressure
It is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between the beatings.

For a normal adult, blood pressure should be less than 120/80 mmHg. A systolic pressure between 120-139 and a diastolic pressure between 80-89 mmHg is considered as high and needs to be closely checked. Hypertension can be dangerous because if it persists, it can lead to heart diseases.

Preventing High Blood Pressure
It is possible to avoid high blood pressure by making some healthy changes to your diet and living an active life. Some of the tips for preventing high blood pressure include:

Low salt intake in meals
Low cholesterol and low fat foods
Use of vegetables and whole grains like rice, pasta, bread and cereals
Increased use of poultry and fish while reduction in intake of red meat as it contains more salts and cholesterol
Use of aspirin and any other anticoagulant medicine to keep a steady flow of blood and avoid blood clotting that could cause high blood pressure
Remaining stress free
All these tips can help you in preventing high blood pressure and in turn heart diseases. High blood pressure and heart diseases are connected in such a way that one disease can lead to another causing further complications. Thus, it is advised that you take proper measures to keep your blood pressure normal.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_highblood_pressure.html

Prevalence Of Heart Attacks

2008-12-29T21:59:00.000-08:00

Heart attacks occur when the blood flow to the heart is severely reduced or cut off, resulting in death of heart muscle cells, called an infarct.

Heart attack is a severe condition which if not controlled on time can also prove fatal. It has been estimated that heart attacks are very prevalent in the US and world over. Prevalence of heart attacks refers to the estimated population of people who are suffering from managing heart attack at any specific time.

Causes of Heart Attacks
Hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply the blood to heart is an underlying problem. In a few cases, blood clots block the flow of blood while at other times; the narrowing is caused by atherosclerosis. Whatever the reason, all these eventually lead to heart attacks.

Contraction of the coronary arteries also causes a heart attack. High cholesterol, triglycerides, or homocysteine; angina pectoris and diabetes are all linked with an increased risk of heart attack.

Prevalence of Heart Attacks
Government agencies periodically carry out surveys and the prevalence rates of heart attacks are calculated from these surveys. These rates are applied as the population changes and a new heart disease survey is done and new rates are established. It is significant to know that the prevalence rates do not change until a new survey is conducted.

According to the research conducted by the World Health Organization, the rate of heart disease is coming to a decline in general and people these days have a much more chance of surviving a heart attack than they had in the past.

The greatest decline in heart attacks was observed in three North European areas i.e. North Karelia (Finland), Kuopio (Finland) and Northern Sweden. The decline is attributable to a massive reduction of risk factors in these countries.

There was a decrease of 7% a year in Finland and New Zealand, 6% in the United States, and 5% in Australia. Studies have found that both genders in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia had experienced significant rise in the rates of coronary events. Risk factors were found to be rising, however, in countries like China, which has experienced a corresponding increase in heart disease.

Males in Glasgow, Belfast, Warsaw, Newcastle (Australia) and in some parts of Finland had the highest rates of heart attacks. Females in Glasgow were found to have a much higher rate of heart attack. One in two deaths among women in America is related to heart according to the American Heart Association.

The majority of heart attacks in women occur after menopause and the mortality rate associated with a first heart attack is considerably higher in women then in men because it occurs at a later age.

Risk factors that Contribute in the Prevalence of Heart Attacks
Age is an important factor determining the possibility of heart attacks. The prevalence of heart disease increases with an increase in age.
Two out of three adults aged 65 and older have been identified with a heart disease.
Children whose parents experienced heart attack are more likely to suffer from it.
African Americans have higher blood pressures than Caucasians and consequently a higher risk of suffering from heart attacks.
Heart attack risk is higher among the Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and few Asian Americans. This is due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes.
Most people with a strong family history of heart attacks have one or more other risk factors too. Just as age, sex, and race cannot be controlled, similarly, family history also cannot be controlled completely.
Nearly 5.52 million out of the 15.3 million deaths from heart attacks occur in developed countries, while 9.77 million deaths occur in developing countries.
While death rates are decreasing in many industrialized countries, where heart attacks account for 50% of all deaths, they are on rise in Eastern Europe, where they are responsible for 58% and in developing countries, where they make up 23% of all deaths. There are numerous explanations as to why heart attacks are on the rise in developing countries.

Studies have proved that short people are more at risk to heart attacks. However, using data from a 13 year follow-up of over 13,000 people, a study has determined, after adjusting for age and level of education, that people in the lowest height quartile had no more risk of a heart attack, as compared with those in the highest category. However, this is not a risk factor.

These prevalence details clearly show how people from all over the world of various age groups are likely to suffer from heart attacks. However, it is also possible to control the incidents of heart attacks with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_heartattackprevalence.html

Life After A Heart Attack

2008-12-29T20:37:00.000-08:00

A heart attack is a life-changing incident. After a heart attack, several precautionary measures should be taken by the patients as well as the caregivers. Patients are required, at their earliest to undergo risk assessment to evaluate their risk of further heart damage and see a specialist for further instructions on diet and lifestyle.

Life after a heart attack is very different from the life that you led before this incident. You will need to curtail several of your outdoor as well as indoor activities and adopt some habits that you didn’t even like. However, all these changes are necessary in order to live a long life with a healthy heart.

Some of the changes that you may need to bring in your life after a heart attack are as follows:

Modification to Lifestyle
Lifestyle changes play a very important part. The most important thing in this regard is adequate rest and healthy diet. You will need to stop partying late into night, eating lots of junk food, quit smoking and any other drugs. Alcohol consumption also needs to be cut down. Ask your doctor about how much wine you can take with a meal.

Exposure to secondhand smoke should also be avoided as it impairs heart functions and exercise tolerance in heart attack survivors.

Use of Medication
Doctors should be consulted about appropriate medicines for this condition. Aspirin or some other clot-preventing medication should be taken everyday, if aspirin is not recommended. There are various other medicines that are recommended depending on your condition.

Regular Exercise
Staying fit and active after a heart attack helps you live longer and also improves the quality of life. Sporting activities are mostly recommended that can be varied in intensity and can be taken lightly when needed. Swimming is also a good way of staying fit and active.

Even if a patient is not into sports, moderate exercises that help in breathing harder i.e. aerobic exercises are just as beneficial. A doctor should always be consulted before starting an exercise program. Enough water should be taken before, during and after the exercises to stay hydrated.

Diet Control
Diet control plays an important part in keeping your heart healthy. Lowering the cholesterol level is of prime importance for patients who have suffered a heart attack. Studies have proved that lowering cholesterol level can reduce the risk for another heart attack.

Losing weight helps a great deal in reducing cholesterol. Sea-food should be added to the diet, for it helps in losing weight, lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol. Studies have shown that people who follow such dietary routines may live longer.

Herbal Treatment
Herbal treatments are becoming popular day by day. Preliminary clinical tests in China suggest that astragalus, an herb, may benefit people after they have suffered a heart attack. As these studies did not aim at showing any survival or symptom reduction benefit, further research is needed to determine whether astragalus would benefit people with heart attacks or angina.

Added Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements like amino acid, vitamin C, co-enzyme Q10, selenium, vitamin E, N-acetyle cysteine, fish oil, chondroitin sulfate, etc. are known be helpful in reducing the risk of a second heart attack.

Stress Management
Stress management decreases the rate of heart attack or death in people with coronary heart disease as suggested by some studies. Constant mental pressure weakens the mind and the heart. Thus, if you manage your stress, you can avoid a second heart attack and live a more comfortable life.

Resume Your Relationship
After a heart attack, relationships can become strained. It is important that you try and get back to normal and healthy relationships. Patients are normally hesitant about going back to active sexual relationships because of the myth that resuming sex can cause another heart attack, stroke or sudden death.

Recent studies have showed that there is really no reason to stop sexual activity after a heart attack. However, physicians recommend waiting for at least two weeks after heart attack or surgery before returning to normal sexual activity.

Rehabilitation Centers
Patients can join rehabilitation clinics where they are helped to resume their normal lives. Rehabilitation clinics are widely popular as they boost the confidence of patients and their families.

They also provide tremendous help for brining changes in lifestyles and dealing with doubts and concerns that people have regarding life after heart attack. If all these suggestions are followed properly, it is possible to live a full, high quality life even after a heart attack.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_heartattack_life.html

Heart Diseases - Causes, Symptoms, Risks and Treatment Options

2008-12-29T20:33:00.000-08:00

Heart is the most important organ in the body and pumps blood to all other parts of the body. Heart diseases are caused due to the blockage of the arteries narrowed by the accumulation of fats and cholesterol. This way the heart does not get its required amount of oxygen and blood that leads to pain and heart stroke.

Heart diseases may arise due to a number of reasons. If the heart does not perform its functions properly, the functions of the entire body are affected. When people talk about heart diseases, they only think in terms of heart, the muscle.

On the contrary, there are numerous heart diseases that range from:

Narrowing of the arteries
Coronary disease
Heart failure
Abnormal heart rhythms
Heart muscle disease
Angina
Congestive heart failure etc
However, it should be noted that any of these heart diseases is equally dangerous and can prove fatal if it is not treated properly within the required time frame. There are a variety of reasons for these heart diseases and there might be an individual cause for each of these diseases.

Causes of Heart Diseases
Most of the heart diseases result from the build up of fatty materials within the walls of the arteries, as well as the lack of oxygen supply to the heart. The blood becomes thicker and thus, leads to slow circulation
The clots start forming in the blood further complicating the matter and leading to slow heart beat
Heart diseases are also a result of too much hectic lifestyle and poor eating habits
Eating too many fatty and fried foods may also lead to high cholesterol and finally heart disease
Too much stress and tension

Symptoms of Heart Diseases
Unusual breathlessness when doing any physical activity or getting breathless all of a sudden.
Angina or chest pain or tightness around the chest
Fatigue after doing some activity even a simple one
Severe pain that comes on without warning accompanied by sweating, fainting and shortness of breath
Feeling of choking
A bluish tint on fingers or nails indicating lack of oxygen in the body

Heart Disease Risk Factors
There are certain risk factors for heart diseases, some of them can be controlled, and some cannot be controlled. The uncontrolled risk factors are:

Male sex
Older age
Heart problem in family history
Working in a demanding position
There are certain conditions that can be controlled to avoid heart diseases:

Smoking
High cholesterol
Tension
Physical activity
Obesity
Treatment for Heart Diseases
Medicines
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is given to widen blood vessels to improve the flow of blood to the heart and normalize heartbeat.

Antiarrhythmia drugs are used to treat abnormal heart rhythms resulting from irregular electrical activity of the heart. They help to stabilize the beating of the heart.

Aspirin is also given to decrease the pain as well as to inhibit the blood clots and ensure the quick flow of blood. Being an anticoagulant or a blood thinning medicine, it helps in the regular flow of blood. Along with aspirin, Thrombolytics, or clot buster drugs are injected into the veins to break up the blood clots that cause heart attack.

Surgery
Sometimes, due to intensity of the problem when the medicines do not work, surgery is the only option left.

Angioplasty is the non-surgical procedure to open blocked arteries. The bypass surgery is performed by replacing the blocked arteries with the substitute arteries taken from some other part of the body.

Another kind of surgery to treat heart diseases is heart valve surgery in which an incision down the center of the breastbone is made and the abnormal valve is replaced.

There may be different reasons for heart problems and diseases in different people. However, lifestyle and diet play an important role in heart diseases. Medicines and surgery are treatment options but only when advised by a doctor.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_heart_diseases.html

Daily Exercise for Cardiovascular Health

2008-12-29T20:29:00.000-08:00

Daily exercise is very important for health as it not only helps in weight control but also protects the human body from various medical problems. Regular exercise can consist of any activity that you like and could be carried out according to your age and stamina. Exercise has also proved very beneficial for cardiac health as it strengthens the heart and builds immunity in the body.

Along with diet, exercise is the other most important factor to maintain cardiovascular health. Exercise helps in preventing heart diseases and helps in reversing them too by making your heart stronger.

It has been found that strictly adhering to exercise regime significantly lowers the risk of heart diseases and other illnesses. It keeps body in healthy condition and helps in warding off heart diseases.

Daily Exercise for Cardiovascular Health

If you are suffering from cardiovascular disease, consult your physician before adopting an exercise. Your physician will advise you an exercise program keeping in mind your health and the condition of your heart. You will be instructed on the frequency, duration and intensity of exercise.

The exercises should be designed to help improve the cardiovascular health and help in remaining healthy.

Warming Up and Stretching
Cold muscles should be never stretched. First, warm up for 5-10 minutes at low intensity. To prevent injury and give better performance, warming up must be done before the workout.

Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic means oxygen producing and such an exercise includes the production of oxygen. It includes running, biking and swimming etc. that increase the heart rate.

When the heart rate increases, it means that blood circulation is taking place, providing oxygen to body. It should be regularly continued to maintain heart health.

Anaerobic Exercise
It comprises of short-lived, intense bursts such as sprints and weight lifting. It is good for improving muscle strength and flexibility as it helps in maintaining a healthy heart and avoiding injury.

Some guidelines on how exercise helps cardiovascular health:
A combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises improves cardiovascular health as well as muscle strength.
Cardiovascular efficiency along with lung functioning improves with exercise as blood pumping process increases with heart beat.
Exercise relieves stress and tension that are a danger to cardiovascular health.
Exercise increases the range of motion and flexibility that come handy to fight cardiovascular diseases.
Exercise is an essential part of life. It helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases and gives you a long and healthy life. To maintain a healthy heart, exercise should be made a regular part of life.

However, people with cardiovascular problems should first get approval from their physicians regarding the exercise and ask about the kind of exercise that would suit them and their heart. Only when exercise is done within the prescribed limits, it helps you; carelessness and inattention to exercise can cause further complications.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_exercise_cardiovascularhealth.html

Depression and Heart Disease/Attack

2008-12-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

According to latest research, 1 out of every 3 people who experience heart disease/attack; suffer from depression. Especially people who are known be weak hearted are more at risk of feeling depressed after heart attacks. Depression is a mental state characterized by feelings of sadness and pessimism followed by loss of appetite and interest in life.

It has been reported that people who live without their families are more likely to undergo depression while suffering from heart diseases. It is because the fear of death along with the fear of being lonely causes depression. However, depression was also reported in some people who lived in large families and had lots of people caring for them.

Being depressed while suffering from a heart disease or recuperating from a heart attack can make recovery more difficult and slow. Thus, to live a happy life, it is better to treat depression as it can further aggravate heart disease.
Depression and Heart Disease/Attack

A patient is liable to feel downcast or gloomy after suffering from a heart disease or an attack. This especially happens to people who have been in pretty good shape and this heart attack or discovery of suffering from a heart disease comes as shocking news. Also, it is not possible to completely get cured from a heart disease or an attack as these conditions live on forever though they can be improved with medicine and diet. One has no choice but to live with it. This often brings one into a state of depression.

Depression as the result of a heart disease/attack may be expressed in different ways. Up to 65% people experience depression after having a heart attack.

Symptoms of Depression After Heart Attack
Depressed moods that are marked by sadness
Loss of interest in things that were previously absorbing
Weight loss or gain through appetite changes
Disturbed sleep patterns
Agitation/ Irritation
Fatigue
Guilt or feelings of worthlessness
Inability to focus
Inability to take decisions
Suicidal thoughts
In addition to the above mentioned symptoms, there may be others too. The occurrence of these symptoms depends on the intensity of the heart disease or the attack. A depressed person is likely to have all the symptoms of depression. It means the patient should see a doctor immediately if they last for more than 2 weeks.
If these symptoms are not treated on time, they may become more intense and lead a person to suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Curing Post Heart Attack Depression
It is important to understand that depression is curable. Depression is believed to be caused by an imbalance of hormones in the brain. This imbalance of hormones is triggered by the frightening and near fatal experience that one had. As a consequence, it triggers a number of glands that secrete an imbalanced proportion of hormones.

However, this imbalanced secretion of hormones can be controlled by counseling and medication. As the patient begins to recover, the horrors of the heart attack begin to recede and with proper guidance and medicine and patient can come back to normal.

Success in Treating Depression
Up to 90% of the time, treatment for depression after a heart attack is effective. However, there are some cases in which medication and counseling are not effective. In such cases, a doctor advises the patients on the activities they should adopt to divert their attention. This helps them with boredom and thinking on their condition.
Heart diseases and attacks are no doubt a severe blow to an individual’s mind set, however, it is something that can be helped and an individual can live a normal and healthy life as before after making changes in lifestyle. There have been numerous such cases where successful treatment of patients suffering from heart diseases and attacks has been reported.

Depression and heart diseases need to properly addressed and a patient should be looked after carefully and not left alone to suffer.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_depression.html

Coronary Artery Diseases

2008-12-29T20:16:00.000-08:00

Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles get hardened and narrow. The arteries may harden and narrow due to the build up of plaque in the inner walls. Due to the deposits of plaque, the blood flow is affected and the amount of oxygen needed by the heart is affected causing heart disease.

Coronary heart disease refers to the deposits of plaque or cholesterol in the inner walls of arteries that block the flow of the blood, and due to which the oxygen supply to the heart is affected. This may lead to formation of blood clots and lead to heart attack.

Coronary Heart Disease Signs and Symptoms
Coronary heart disease varies both in symptoms and severity. Sometimes, it may produce no symptoms; at other times it may cause pain of varying degrees. It may also result in a heart attack.

If the arteries are blocked but do not cause any pain, it is a kind of silent attack.
If the coronary arteries cannot supply the blood to meet the oxygen demand of the heart; it may result in pain and cause angina.
Sometimes, shortness of breath or extreme fatigue is symptom of coronary artery disease.
A heart attack results when an artery to the heart muscle is completely blocked and the part of the heart muscle linked to that artery becomes numb.

Causes Of Coronary Artery Disease

The arteries that carry oxygen rich blood away from heart to all parts of the body should be clean and slick. If the artery walls are injured they become more vulnerable to coronary disease.
Atherosclerosis is the slow buildup of deposits called plaques inside the walls of the arteries. Plaques are deposits of fat, cholesterol and calcium and may lead to coronary disease.
Due to accumulation of plaque, the arteries become narrow causing blockage in the flow of blood and it may also lead to clot formation.
Eating high cholesterol and fats may also lead to deposits of fats in the arteries and coronary artery disease.

Risk Factors For Coronary Artery Disease

The risk factors that can be controlled to prevent coronary artery disease are
Smoking
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
Alcohol consumption

The risk factors that cannot be control and may lead to coronary heart disease are
Male sex
Hereditary and race
Age factor

Treatment and Prevention
To treat and prevent coronary artery disease, several approaches and therapies can be used.

Lifestyle
The first thing to do is to change the life style that has lead to artery disease.
Smoking and alcohol should be avoided
A healthy diet should be taken which is made up of fruits and vegetables, with smaller portions of meat.
Regular exercise plays an important part in preventing coronary artery disease.

Medications
Sometimes, medicines are also given by the doctors if the lifestyle change is not enough
Cholesterol lowering drugs are given that can help in lowering the level of bad cholesterol that is LDL, and protect against coronary artery disease.
Aspirins are given to make the blood thin and help in flow of blood.
Beta blockers slow the heart rate and decrease blood pressure; they also reduce the risk of heart attack.
Calcium channel blockers are also used to relax the muscles around the arteries and help vessels to open more increasing flow of blood.
Coronary heart disease is the disease of the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart and if due to some reasons the blood and the oxygen does not reach the heart, it may lead to heart diseases.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_coronary_artery.htm

a favorite part of the holidays

2008-12-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

HO! HO! HO!

Dropping in to wish ya a Happy New Year !

Ya know what one of my favorite parts of
the holidays are?

The SMELLS!

The smell of pine.

The crisp, fresh smell of Winter.

and of course...

The smell of gooey cookies, fresh apple pie and
piping hot homemade bread wafting through the air.

Mmmm...makes a southern boy smile :-)

How 'bout you?

So, I thought I would *smell up* your
home for the holidays too!

Here's a new favorite recipe at our home.

My wife has made this for the past couple years.

It's simply called Beer Bread. My wife RAVES
about how easy it is because there is no kneading
required because the beer does all the work.

Cool huh? It smells divine and tastes sooooo good!

Here's the recipe and we are hoping you
enjoy it and think of us when your home
smells like freshly baked bread too!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

*********
Beer Bread
*********

For one large loaf you will need:

3 cups self rising flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
1 level teaspoon dried chives
1/2 to 3/4 cup of sharp cheddar cheese
One 12 ounce can of room temperature beer (I used Budweiser and it worked very well)
2+ tablespoons butter, melted

Grease metal loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle with cornmeal (can be made without the cornmeal too if you prefer) and set aside. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl except for the beer and cheese and mix well. Pour beer into dry mixture, then add cheese before stirring. Stir with large wooden spoon until all ingredients are mixed well.

Spoon batter into loaf pan and spread so there are no "high spots" in the batter. Then bake for approximately 60 minutes, longer if necessary. Top should be a light golden brown and a knife can be inserted into center of bread to check to see if it is done. Bread is done when knife comes out with crumbs instead of batter. :)

Once done, remove bread from oven and place loaf pan on cooling rack, then generously brush melted butter on top of bread.

Chronic Angina Therapy - EECP Enhanced External Counter Pulsation

2008-12-26T23:05:00.000-08:00

The number of people suffering from angina is increasing day by day. Angina is the name given to tightness or pain in the chest behind the breastbone. It is mainly caused by the blockage of the arteries due to accumulation of fats and plaques. The walls of arteries lead to blockage in the flow of blood and formation of clots. If not treated on time and with care, it can cause severe problems leading to heart diseases and eventually death.

There are various treatments for angina. However, for some people the standard methods of treatment do not work and they become severely restricted in their activities. For such people other forms of therapies have been introduced, one such therapy is EECP - Enhanced External Counter Pulsation.

EECP – Enhanced External Counter Pulsation
EECP is a mechanical procedure in which the patient’s legs and calves are wrapped by inflatable cuffs like that of a blood pressure device. During the time in which patient lies on a bed, the leg cuffs are inflated and deflated with each heartbeat.

This procedure is carried out with help of a computer that triggers off the ECG so that the deflated cuffs inflate with the heartbeat in a sequence which pumps the blood upwards towards the heart. This is done to help regulate the flow of blood in the body.

The EECP therapy gently yet precisely compresses the blood vessels in the lower parts of the body thereby increasing the flow of blood to the heart. The waves of pressure are timed with the heartbeat so the increased flow reaches the heart at the moment it relaxes; when the heart pumps again the pressure is released. Thus, it helps in pumping of the blood from heart.

It also helps in opening some of the blood vessels to open small channels that become extra braches and help in passage of blood by becoming natural bypass.

Who Needs EECP
People who are prime candidates for EECP are those who:

Have a chronic stable angina
Do not get the required amount of relief by taking nitrate tablets
Cannot go for other forms of treatment such as surgery or angioplasty
Advantages of EECP
It is very effective in treating chronic stable angina
It improves the symptoms of angina and produces exercise tolerance
It is also helpful after surgery or treatment
EECP benefits the heart in two ways; first the pumping action of the leg cuffs increases the blood flow to the coronary arteries. With each heartbeat, the inflation of the cuffs helps more blood to flow in the arteries. This immensely helps with the angina symptoms.

Second, with the beating of the heart, EECP deflates the cuffs and creates a vacuum like action that reduces the work of heart muscles and leads to enhanced and smooth blood flow in the arteries.

EECP is very effective in treating angina pain as it helps in the circulation of blood without any surgery or extensive treatment. It decreases the frequency and intensity of angina while at the same time reduces the need for medicines. EECP also increases your ability to exercise and gives you more energy and strength to carry out your daily routine activities.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_chronic_angina_therapy.htm

Cardiac Rehabilitation - Building a Better Life after Heart Disease

2008-12-26T23:04:00.000-08:00

Cardiac rehabilitation may be called a program based on building a better health for people who have experienced cardiac arrest or a heart attack. It is very necessary to follow a customized program of exercise and diet to regain ones health. Cardiac rehabilitation helps in regaining strength to avoid further complications by reducing the risk of heart problems through proper guidance.

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation can be called a medically supervised program specially designed to help patients suffering from heart problems to build a healthier life by recovering and improving their overall mental and physical health. It aims to prevent another heart attack and keep conditions from getting worse. It works to provide better quality of life.

Need for Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation is needed while a patient is recovering from a heart attack or trying to prevent another attack. It aims to provide knowledge on how to moderate ones life according to the limitations of the body. If one is adjusting to a life after heart attack, cardiac rehabilitation helps make you feel better and makes things seem brighter.

By working out and adjusting to the new life under a trained eye, it becomes easy to survive and lead a better life.

Goals of Cardiac Rehabilitation
The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to slow down or even try to reverse the progress of cardiovascular diseases and in turn reducing the risk of further heart damage, attacks and death resulting from such diseases.

Counseling for the patients so they can better understand their problems and manage them
Designing an exercise program for patients
Providing proper guidelines for the patients to enable them to return to work
Lending emotional support
Helping patients in making them understand the modifying factors such as smoking, alcohol, lack of physical activity and intake of proper diet
Creating a sense of well being and optimism regarding the future in the patient
Aspects of Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation has 4 main components:

Medical Evaluation
The healthcare team thoroughly studies the medical history and assesses physical abilities and limitations of the patient. They check whether there is a chance of any serious problem and how to prevent them. It helps in constructing a program suited to individual situation.

Physical Activity
If you have a heart problem, physical activity is better than lying down and resting. A cardiac rehabilitation program will design a proper exercise plan for you, keeping your condition in mind. It will help in remaining fit and making your heart stronger.

Lifestyle Adaptation
Knowledge about proper diet and nutrition will help you keep a healthy heart. Weight loss is better than being fat or obese. To take a balanced diet, learn what to eat and what to avoid as it will help in maintaining a good health.

Mental Support
Adjusting to a new lifestyle may prove difficult for some people. It needs some specialized people to work out with the patients and advice them on how to regulated their life and manage a new lifestyle.

Patients may experience anxiety and depression which needs professional advice. Cardiac rehabilitation helps you rebuild your life, both physically and emotionally. It may seem very hard in the beginning and cause difficulties in adjustment, but its basic purpose is to help one deal with changes in life.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_cardiac_rehabilitation.html

The Importance Of Beta Blockers

2008-12-26T23:01:00.000-08:00

Beta Blockers also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta blockers are medicines that affect the response of the body to certain nerve impulses. This, in turn, decreases the force and rate of the heart's contractions, which lowers blood pressure and lessens the heart's demand for oxygen.

Beta Blockers Include
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL)
Propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA
Beta blockers are used mostly for the management of:
Hypertension
Angina pectoris
Tachyarrhythmia
Hypertrophic subaortic stenosis
Migraine headache (prophylaxis)
MI (prevention)
Glaucoma (ophthalmic use)
CHF – congestive heart failure (carvedilol and sustained-release metopolol only)
Hyperthyroidism
It has been proved that unless suggested otherwise, beta blockers should be considered a basis of therapy to improve symptoms of mortality and to decrease hospitalization. Numerous studies and researches carried out to test its effectiveness support the safety and success of beta-blocker therapy.

How Beta Blockers Work?
Beta-blockers reduce the stress on the heart by decreasing its workload. They work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. As a result, the heart beats slowly and with less force, thereby reducing blood pressure. Beta blockers help the blood vessels to relax and open up that improves the flow of the blood.

Studies show the value of beta-blockers in avoiding second heart attacks.

Heart Mortality in Patients
Beta blockers are effective medicines for reducing mortality and heart attacks in patients with asthma, diabetes mellitus, severe peripheral vascular disease and moderate or severe left ventricular failure.

Current guidelines for treatment of CHF (Coronary Heart Failure) now include beta blockers as standard therapy for patients with mild to moderate heart failure.

Hyperthyroidism Treatment
Beta blockers play an important role in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Propranolol and atenolol are effective for this purpose. These drugs do not have any effect on the thyroid gland itself, but rapidly stop the effects of high hormone levels on the heart, nervous system and other organs.

Beta blockers help in controlling the heart racing, palpitations, shakes and some of the psychological problems that occur with hyperthyroidism.

Helps Burn Victims
Direct evidence has not been found, yet it’s acknowledged that beta blockers help in reducing mortality rate of burn victims. Beta blockers soothe hypermetabolic states in children with burns; their usage in adult cases showed beneficial results that prove beta blockers improve burn outcomes.

Hypertension Treatment
Beta blockers are considered to be the most successful drugs for hypertension. They are very helpful in reducing the cardiovascular complications of hypertension.

Some of the indications when beta blockers should be used in hypertension include myocardial infarction or angina, or heart failure.

Treatment of Open-Angle Glaucoma
Beta blockers are used to treat open-angle glaucoma. They lower the pressure inside the eye by reducing the fluid in the eye. They are very effective and usually well-tolerated by most people.

Beta Blockers and Migraine
Use of beta blockers as a treatment for migraine is very common now. Propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol are the forms of beta blockers taken for migraines.

It was observed that patients suffering from angina and migraine, when given propranolol, found their migraine improved.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Beta blockers are commonly used in the treatment of patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, also called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

These beta blockers reduce the inotropic state of left ventricle, decrease diastolic dysfunction and increase left ventricle compliance, thereby reducing pressure gradient across left ventricle outflow tract. They also decrease myocardial oxygen consumption and decrease the heart rate, reducing myocardial ischemia potential.

Tachyarrhythmia
Beta blockers are extremely effective in treating tachyarrhythmia. The forms of beta blockers found to be effective in such cases are esmolol, metoprolol, atenolol, and nadolol.

Angina Pectoris
Beta blockers are widely used for the angina pectoris. Angina pectoris is a syndrome characterized by chest pain that results from an imbalance between the supply of oxygen and its demand. It is most frequently caused by the failure of atherosclerotic coronary arteries to perfuse the heart under the conditions of increased myocardial oxygen consumption.

The therapeutic effect of beta blockers in angina pectoris can be attributed to an inhibition of betal receptor mediated stimulation of heart rate and myocardial contractility, resulting in an improved oxygen demand and supply balance in the myocardium.

Reduces Fracture Risks
A new study also suggests that taking a beta blocker may also reduce the risk of a broken bone. Taking a beta blocker together with a diuretic may further reduce the risk of bone fracture.

Beta blockers are used for a number of ailments. However, it is important to note that beta blockers should not be taken without a doctor’s recommendations to avoid side effects. Some beta blockers need to be taken only once a day, others more often. Whatever the dose of beta blockers may be, its importance in the treatment of various diseases cannot be denied.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_betablockers.html

Angina Pectoris

2008-12-26T23:00:00.000-08:00

Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to heart diseases. Angina pain occurs due to the blockage in the arteries which occurs when the fats accumulates in the walls of the arteries and affects the flow of blood.

Angina pectoris is the temporary chest discomfort that occurs when the heart does not get the required amount of blood it needs. It can also occur due to blockage of one or more arteries and due to uncontrolled high blood pressure. The pain is felt like a fullness, squeezing or pain in the centre of the chest. The pains can extent to jaws, throat and shoulder blades.

Angina pectoris attacks when the heart gets a short or restricted supply of oxygen and blood. It may be caused due to the fat deposits inside the walls of the arteries that block the regular flow of blood and when this condition persists for too long, it leads to angina attack.Causes and Symptoms of Angina Pectoris.

Causes and Symptoms Of Angina Pectoris
It can be brought on by a number of factors.

Physical exercise
Psychological stress
Extreme cold
A heavy metal
Lack of blood oxygen in the heart
Symptoms
A squeezing on the chest or heavy sensation
Shortness of breath
Numbness in arms, shoulders, elbow or hand.
Sweating
Why Does Angina Pectoris Occur
There may be a number of factors responsible for angina pectoris, they may be either hereditary or they make occur with age due to imbalanced diet or hectic life style.

A family history
Hypertension
Smoking
Male sex
Diabetes
Obesity
Lack of physical activity
One can get angina pectoris attack resulting from a number of reasons and it can be avoided by improving the life style and the eating habits. If not treated on time, it may lead to other severe problems.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_angina_pectoris.htm

Angina and Heart Diseases

2008-12-26T22:56:00.000-08:00

Angina or chest pain has now become a common ailment that is caused by different factors. Sometimes, it requires immediate medical treatment while at others; it is not too severe and can be controlled with medicine and rest. In some cases, heart diseases are also confused with angina pain and vice versa. However, it is always better to consult a doctor on how to deal with it, what causes it and what can be done to prevent it.

Angina
Angina is the chest pain that occurs when the heart does not get its required supply of oxygen in the blood. In most of the cases, this lack of oxygen is caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. Angina pain is also considered a part of heart diseases.

Angina pain often feels like a squeezing, pressure and tightening across the chest. It may often reach till the neck, jaw arms or back. Patient may suffer from indigestion, heartburn, nausea, weakness and sweating. In case of angina and heart problems, it is advised to consult a physician and get proper treatment.

Heart Diseases
Heart diseases, is a broad term that can be applied to any of the heart problems such as:

Coronary heart disease, a disease of the heart caused by the accumulation of fatty plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium.
Ischaemic heart disease, characterized by reduced blood supply to the organ.
Cardiovascular disease, a sub-umbrella term for a number of diseases that affect the heart itself and/or the blood vessel system, especially the veins and arteries leading to and from the heart.
Cor pulmonale, a failure of the right side of the heart
Hereditary heart disease, caused by unavoidable genetic factors since birth.
Hypertensive heart disease, heart disease caused by high blood pressure, especially localized high blood pressure.
Inflammatory heart disease, that involves inflammation of the heart muscle and/or the tissue surrounding it.
Valvular heart disease, that affects the valves of the heart.
Causes of Angina
Angina often occurs as a result of some strenuous activity or due to some severe emotional stress. In such conditions, the heart needs more blood oxygen as compared to normal circumstances and the narrowed coronary arteries are unable to provide it. This causes pain and feelings of discomfort.

Angina can also be caused due to a number of other reasons such as indigestion or heartburn.

Angina and Heart Diseases
The most common cause of angina has been declared coronary artery disease, when the cholesterol deposited in the walls of the artery causes formation of cholesterol that leads to narrowing of arteries and angina pain.
When the arteries become too narrow, they can no longer meet the heart’s demand of blood oxygen and it leads to angina; if something is not done on time it may increase further and cause heart problems.
Heart problems are caused by blockage of arteries and accumulation of cholesterol in the body. If this persists, it may lead to heart attack and other problems that may be life threatening. When the arteries are blocked more than 50-70%, it leads to heart diseases.
Angina can be called a type of heart related chest pain. Angina pain occurs when the heart does not get its required amount of blood and oxygen due to a variety of reasons. Angina pain can be called as a warning to a serious heart attack. If angina pain is not taken care of and it is not controlled, it can lead to other heart complications.

Due to lack of oxygen in the blood, if other parts of the body do not get their required amount of oxygen, it can cause a stroke or the patient may go into coma.

If angina pain occurs without any prior problem or any warning, it can be quiet dangerous and may need immediate hospitalization. It is imperative that you get medical treatment as soon as possible so that angina pain does not get out of hand and causes further health deterioration.

Source : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_angina.html

Heart Disease Alternative Therapy

2008-12-26T22:54:00.000-08:00

Heart is the most important part of the cardiovascular system. Its primary functions are to deliver oxygen and vital nutrition to cells throughout the body and to aid in the removal of cellular waste products. Heart diseases and stroke are among the most common heart and vascular problems that affect most of the people over the world.

Referred as silent killers, these conditions are responsible for 43% of all deaths in the world. The most effective way to treat heart diseases is medication and adopting a healthy life style that is based on balanced diet and adequate exercise.

Along with this, heart disease alternative therapies are used to treat heart diseases and recover from stroke. These heart disease alternative therapies use natural ways to help patients in recovery.

The various alternative therapies available to prevent/cure heart diseases are as follows:

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a Chinese therapy for heart diseases. It offers valuable therapeutic benefits for stroke patients and treats pain or disease by inserting the tips of needles at specific points on the skin. The patients receiving acupuncture therapy are evaluated by three measurement systems: the Motor Assessment Scale for stroke patients, Sunnaas Index of ADL and Nottingham Health Profile.

The patients opting for acupuncture show significantly improved quality of life as compared to other patients. The results of acupuncture therapy indicate that ‘acupuncture gives an additive therapeutic benefit when given to stroke patients during their rehabilitation program’. Acupuncture does not cause any side effects apart from slight dizziness.

Herbal Therapy
Commonly used herbs such as garlic, ginger and even green tea can be very effective medicines and alternative therapy for treating heart disease. Since ancient times, herbs have been used for their healthy and medicinal effects. Nowadays, most of the medicines contain herbs and plant extracts due to the healing powers they possess.

Researchers are now focusing on finding herbs that contain hypolipidemic, anti platelet, anti tumor, or immune-stimulating properties. These herbs are helpful in preventing and treating chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. It has been proved that many herbs consist of potent antioxidant compounds that offer protection from chronic diseases, saving millions of lives.

Many of these compounds are known to protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation, inhibit cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes, inhibit lipid peroxidation, or have antiviral or anti tumor activity. The essentials oils and other agents present in these herbs and spices slow down mevalonate synthesis and restrict cholesterol and tumor growth.

Traditional Chinese Medicine
A traditional Chinese herbal preparation known as Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) is known to treat patients suffering from coronary heart diseases. It has shown significant recovery in patients who were administered with this drug for 15 days.
Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) is known to effectively remove the oxygen free radicals from the blood stream thus reducing the lipoperoxide (LPO) injury and regulating the apolipoprotein metabolism in the patients. Thus, it is an effective Chinese alternative therapy for heart diseases.

The Sunshine Remedy
According to latest research, a dose of sunshine can save the heart attack victims. Patients who recover in the sunniest part of intensive care unit are most likely to survive their stroke. Lack of adequate sun light is known to cause depression and melancholy, while on the other hand, sunlight is known to cheer and give a new lease of life to patients.

Sunlight alters the way brain responds to a mood chemical known as serotonin. It is not known why the sun affects heart attack victims but it is effective heart disease alternative therapy for lifting the mood and causing cheerful feelings.

Vegetarianism
According to researchers, vegetarians suffer from significantly lower mortality rate resulting from heart diseases as compared to non-vegetarians. The main reason behind this is the low cholesterol level found in vegetables as compared to meats that contain high animal fat.

For most of the people suffering from heart diseases, it is recommended that they increase their intake of vegetables and cut down fats and meats from their diet. Red meat especially contains lots of fat that can lead to high cholesterol level. High cholesterol level is attributed as the primary risk factor for heart problems.

Sumber : http://www.always-health.com/heartdisease_alternativetherapy.html

Why Is My Baby Crying

2008-12-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

Babies cry for many reasons. They might cry because they are hungry, wet or just uncomfortable. When your baby cries, he or she is trying to tell you something. Since babies can’t talk, crying is the only way they have to tell you that something is wrong. It’s your job as a parent to figure out what that is, and sometimes that can be a really hard job.

Babies cry the most during the first three months of their lives. This is probably because with some practice, you will become better at figuring out what your baby wants. For example, when my son was a baby, he often cried for attention. Once I realized that he often just wanted to be held, it was a lot easier to get him to stop crying. Most of the time, all I had to do was pick him up.

The most common reasons that a baby cries is because she is hungry, or because she needs to be changed. When your baby starts crying, it is a good idea to check her diaper first. If her diaper doesn’t need to be changed, there’s a good chance that the baby is hungry. Try offering the breast or bottle and see if she takes it.

Babies will also cry if they are in pain. The baby’s cry is often louder and more urgent in this case. This type of crying is often caused by colic. Colicky babies sometimes respond well to white noise, such as a vacuum cleaner or staticky television set. Babies may also cry if they are wearing clothing that is itchy or pokey, if they are feeling sick, or if their teeth are starting to come in.

For teething babies, try letting the baby chew on a toy that is made for teething. These toys often have liquid inside and can be frozen in the freezer. The cold feels good on the baby’s sore gums. Also, keep some Baby Orajel handy, even before you think you need it. This is a medication that numbs the baby’s gums to keep him them from hurting.

Sometimes babies cry because they can sense that the people around them are anxious or stressed. They may also cry if they are startled, or even if they are just bored. Babies require a lot of interaction with people. Your baby might just need to be held or rocked. Other things you can try to help soothe your baby are singing to him or putting him in a baby swing. Some parents find that their babies cry less if they put them in carrier that is strapped to the parent’s body. And if all else fails, there aren’t too many babies that don’t fall sound asleep if you take them for a ride in the car.

Source : http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/9387/1/Why-Is-My-Baby-Crying.html

Do you need to lose weight ? signs that you may

2008-12-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

Almost every day, millions of people all over the world say to themselves “I need to lose weight.” Are you one of those individuals? While many of the individuals who tell themselves that they need to lose weight do need to lose weight, not all do. So, the question that many ask themselves is “do I really need to lose weight?” If that is a question that you have asked yourself before, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the many signs that you may need to lose weight is if you are obese. Many individuals do not realize that there is a difference between being overweight and being obese. While different healthcare professionals have different definitions for obese, it is often said that those who are thirty or forty pounds overweight are obese. If you are obese, you shouldn’t only be worried about your appearance, but your health as well. Obesity has been linked to multiple health complications, including the early onset of death.

Another one of the many signs that you should lose weight is if you have been told that you need to do so. Whether your physician recommended losing weight or if someone that you know on a personal level has, it is advised that you at least take their suggestions into consideration. Unfortunately, many individuals are embarrassed or become upset when they are told that they need to lose weight. What you need to remember is that the individual mentioning your weight to you likely isn’t as concerned with your appearance as they are with your health.

Another sign that you may want to think about losing weight is if you are finding that your clothes no longer fit you. Of course, it is normal for some individuals to gain weight or to have their weight fluctuate, but you may want to think about joining a weight loss program or developing your own weight loss plan if you find that your clothes no longer fit or are difficult to get into. Unfortunately, many individuals do not just have a small weight gain. Small weight gain often leads to more, which could have a negative impact on your health. It is also important to mention the cost of new clothes, which you may not be able to afford.

If you find many simple tasks or activities, like walking up a flight of stairs, difficult, you may want to think about losing weight. Of course, becoming out of breath from simple activities may not necessarily just be a weight problem, but there is a good chance that it is. When you lose weight, even just a little bit of it, you will likely find it easier to do many of the activities that you love or even the tasks that you need to do, like take your kids to the park.

The above mentioned signs are just a few of the many signs that you may need to lose weight. Should you wish to lose weight, you are advised to proceed with caution. There are a number of weight loss products on the market, like diet pills or exercise equipment, which do not work. To save yourself money and to protect your health, you may want to consider consulting with your physician before starting any weight loss program, even one that you develop yourself.

Helping Your Teen Lose Weight

2008-12-26T20:37:00.000-08:00

Following healthy habits are the essential key to teen weight loss. Without such a habit, teenagers may find it difficult to maintain their healthy weight.

The way today's food consumption is being looked at in this country, healthy eating has surely been put at the wayside. Teenagers of today really have a myriad of delicious food choices to eat. But sad to say, most of them belong to the unhealthy food group. It is now easier for teenagers today to get fat because of the convenience brought about by fast food.

Parents today live in a very busy world where time is spent more on work. Such parents may not have the time to prepare food and sometimes must rely on the nearest pizza or hamburger place to provide the nourishment for their children. But this should not be. Fastfood is considered to be one of the reasons why most teenagers are getting fatter. Fastfood is considered junk food since they are not able to supply all the nourishment that growing kids need. But fast food can really be fattening with the great amounts of fat and carbs that they contain. It is a bad choice if you wish to help your child stay at a healthy weight as he or she grows up.

Your concern to see to it that your teenagers grow up to be healthy and fit individuals is the first step in keeping their weight down. Always bear in mind that teenage obesity is a dangerous and a growing problem in this country. But you can do something about it. You can make effective use of your concern about your teenager's weight by putting it into action. You can help show your teen the way by following a practical plan for success. There's no easy way for teen weight loss. The most important thing that you can do is letting your teenager adopt healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Here are some tips:

1. Start with a heart-to-heart talk.

If your see that your teen is getting overweight, chances are, he or she is also concerned about the excess weight. Aside from bringing in lifelong health risks such as high blood pressure and diabetes, the social and emotional consequences of being overweight can have a devastating effect on your teenager. Talk to your teenager about it. Try to offer support and gentle understanding and make him or her verbally aware that you really are concerned. Try also to add in a willingness to help your teen take control of the weight problem that he or she is facing.

2. As much as possible, resist looking for quick fixes.

Make your teen realize that losing and maintaining an ideal weight is a lifetime commitment. Encouraging fad diets may rob your growing teen essential nutrients essential to his or her continuing development. Buying weight-loss pills for your teenager and other quick fixes won't be able to address the root of the weight problem. The effects of such quick fixes are often short-lived and you teen may likely balloon back. What you should be able to teach is adopting a lifelong healthy habit. Without a permanent change in unhealthy habits, any weight loss program will only remain a temporary fix.

3. Promote and encourage doing more calorie-burning activities.

Just like adults, teens also require about an hour of physical activity everyday. But that doesn't mean sixty solid minutes of pure gut-wrenching activity. You can plan shorter, repeated bursts of activity throughout the day that not only can help burn calories, but also become an enjoyable, fun and worthwhile affair. Sports and hiking can be probable options.

Can You Make Money as a Beauty Consultant ?

2008-12-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a new job or a career change? If you are, do you regularly find yourself examining the latest fashion and beauty trends? Do you regularly find yourself giving beauty advice, even unasked advice, to those that you know? If you do, have you ever thought about working as beauty consultant? If you haven’t, you may want to do so, as a beauty consultant can be a nice, fun, and relatively easy way to make money.

Speaking of making money as a beauty consultant, there are many individuals out there who wonder if it is really possible to make money. If you work as beauty consultant, there is a good chance that you will likely end up starting your own business. While it is always risky and sometimes tricky getting your own business up and running, it is more than possible for you to make money as a beauty consultant. If you would like more information on how you can go about doing so, you may want to continue reading on.

Before examining how you can go about making money as a beauty consultant, you may be wondering exactly what one does. When it comes to beauty consultants and the tasks that they perform, you will find that it varies. Different beauty consultants often offer different services. In most cases, a beauty consultant will advise an individual on what type of makeup they should wear or how they should wear their hair, everyday or just for a special event. In some cases, you may also find beauty consultants who go as far as show a client how to properly apply their makeup or even doing so for their client’s special occasion.

When it comes to working as a beauty consultant, many hopeful beauty consultants wonder if any experience is required. As previously mentioned, many beauty consultants start their own businesses, but beauty salons or even beauty supply stores hire others. If you are interested in starting your own business and working for yourself, you do not necessarily need to have any prior beauty training or experience, although it will likely help. However, if you were interested in working for an existing beauty salon or supply store there is a good chance that there may be some education requirements or work experience requirements.

One of the next commonly asked questions is how money is made. As it was previously mentioned, beauty consultants often advised their clients on how they should dress, wear makeup, or wear their hair, often for a special occasion. If you are interested in working as a beauty consultant, you will charge your clients for using your services. Different beauty consultants charge their own fees, so you can do the same, but you may want to see what your competition is charging. This will give you the opportunity to make sure that your rates stay fair and competitive.

Of course, to make money as a beauty consultant, you need to have clients or customers. What is nice about working as a beauty consultant is that you can target all individuals in general, but there are also groups of specific individuals that you may want to think about targeting. These individuals are often referred to as your targeted market. As previously stated, many individuals hire fashion
consultants for special occasions or special events. These special occasions and events may include starting a new job, a job interview, a wedding, an elegant dinner, an important business meeting and so forth. These are the individuals that you may want to spend most of your advertising dollars on.

The above covered points are just a few of the many that you should first familiarize yourself with before you jump right in and open up your own beauty consultation business. You may want to do additional research and to do that you can use the internet or visit your local bookstore for guides on how to start your beauty consultation business.

homeschooling online

2008-12-26T20:34:00.000-08:00

If Johnny is fascinated by the blinking cursor and struggles to master the movements of the mouse, you may want to look into some of the recent developments in homeschooling techniques. Gone are the days when parents had to buy material from vendors and then pass it on to their children with explanations. Today, you get the full course details, material and test papers online.

Children love to sit with the computer. In addition to making them feel like an adult, the computer also makes use of the visual and sound medium to make learning fun and easy. Streaming video and audio show various scientific processes in great detail. The colorful pictures and the various techniques used help to effectively bind the data to the child's memory.

Many online resources have a fun testing center that aims to measure the knowledge and skill level of your child. Complicated math and science problems are dealt with deftly and elegantly. A visit to an e-library can also be fun, especially when there is an audio clip that reads out the passage to you.

E-learning has just begun to revolutionize the world of studies. If harnessed properly, a child can assimilate an astonishing amount of information from that great resource sitting right there at your table - your P.C.

A Dozen Ways To Increase Your Happines

2008-12-26T20:32:00.000-08:00

Being happy isn't as hard as it appears to be at times. Below we will cover a dozen things that will increase your sense of happiness and make your life more fulfilling.

* Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, keep away from clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem inevitable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well with

* Being thankful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Taking time to thank those who provide even the smallest thing will help you realize how abundant your life is.

* News is stressful. Get less of it.

* Being part of a spiritual group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations encourages inner peace.

* Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste.

* Laugh and laugh vigorously everyday. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.

* Communicate your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you.

* Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.

* Working hard brings great personal contentment. It gives a sense of being capable in finishing our tasks. Work on things that you feel are valuable of your time.

* Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new each day. Learning also makes us increase our horizons.

* Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.

* Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.

What You Should Know About Digital Hearing Aids

2008-12-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

There are digital hearing aids available without a doctor's prescription or testing. Some of the aids you can buy that go in the ear canal are digi-ears, which range from $300 to $700 and have various additions. They're versatile to fit either ear, so if you bought two of the same type, you wouldn't have to worry about which aid would fit each ear if you got confused.

Many different digital hearing aids are available. Some of them include a two channel value aid, which is a low cost aid, a mid-level four channel aid that provides feedback reduction and a speech amplifier, and the best level (also a four channel aid), which offers echo suppression and layered noise reduction. All of these aids come with a wax remover. (Wax seems to be a problem for hearing aid wearers and must be kept to a minimum for the best reception).

You may want a carrying case for your digital hearing aid, to keep it safe by the bedside or in the nightstand while you sleep. The carrying case can help protect it from insects or dust or even a naughty cat who likes to knock things off furniture! Keeping your digital aid clean and dry is important for proper function and long-lasting use.

Digital aids use microprocessors to process sound for you to hear and should adjust volume according to sound levels. There are different frequency levels an aid must allow for; each level will have its own amount of hearing loss. This makes the correct purchase of an aid even more important. An ill fit, improper adjustment, or neglect to the proper levels you will need help with are reasons you should be properly tested and should use a professional to help you choose the right aid for you. Your lifestyle and budget are, of course, two other important factors to consider. You'll want to work with a quality hearing aid supplier, purchase an aid made by a reputable company, and go through the proper medical channels to help you make the best decision.

Almost any company that sells hearing aids will now have digital aids available for purchase. Digital aids can reduce or eliminate feedback while the person wears them. They have gain processing, which reduces microphone noise and environmental sounds. Speech recognition is more accurate with less annoying interruptions to filter through to hear what someone is saying. If you've ever held a large seashell up to your ear, you should recall the loud whitenoise it makes.

Suppose you had to walk around every day with that noise in your ear, making it hard to decipher what anyone is trying to tell you at any time of the day or night. Digital aids have been improved to overcome that type of obstacle. They have been improved to help cut down on the equipment a person used to be burdened with when wearing a hearing aid. Digital aids are more easily adjusted with more built-in capabilities than ever before. They even include signal generators to increase accuracy with your fittings.

Overview of Mental Health Counseling

2008-12-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

Mental health counseling or clinical counseling is a practice in psychology that helps relieve psychological disorders or distress by promoting personal development. It also practices psychotherapy, consultation, forensic investigation specifically forensic testimony, formulation, implementation and evaluation of plans and programs for treatment of psychological dysfunction and research. Because of the nature of this field, it is usually monitored as a mental health profession.
Mental health counseling has its roots from the later part of 19th century. And as the field of psychology grew, branches began to develop, among them is counseling psychology and clinical counseling- both are useful in mental health assessment and counseling.

While closely associated with clinical psychology, there are still marked differences between the two practices.

For one, counseling psychology is used by psychotherapist and counselors to help patients with milder psychopathological concerns. On the other hand, clinical counseling deals with more severe and advance forms of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and psychosomatic disorders. Examples of disorders that could be treated by counseling psychology are the stress-related disorders. In essence, these are just minor mental health illness that requires very little (if there is any) medical interventions.

This method tries to address minor psychological concerns and make use of counseling techniques. This is possible since patients subjected under this method are still in control of their mind. For example, people who are distressed due to problematic circumstances could seek the professionals who could render counseling psychology.

Counseling psychology focuses more on the personal problems of the person that hamper his mental health. It helps him resolve problems by using non-directive methods, therefore a counseling psychologist would only open options that will help resolve the problem without being suggestive or authoritative. Also, counseling psychology is more focused on rational thinking instead of unconscious functioning.

Second difference is that counseling psychology adheres to humanistic or person-centered approach. Third, it has a different view on the developmental problems associated with mental disorders.

On the other hand, clinical psychology deals more on severe psychological disorders such as clinical manic depression like unipolar and bipolar disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as exhibitionism, fetishism and sadism, phobias, traumas and substance-abuse or dependency.

Because of a more comprehensive and intensive nature of this field, clinical counseling makes use of psychological assessment tools that further confirm the symptoms of disorders among people with disrupted mental health. Mental health assessment is a medium for evaluating symptoms that a person presents. This gives insights to mental health professionals that will guide them in the preparation, administration and evaluation of treatment methods that are apt to the mental health needs of a patient. The process of assessment requires the use of interviews, physical examinations and clinical observations. Also, assessment tools such as intelligence, symptoms questionnaires, personality and neuropsychological tests are widely used. All these contribute significantly to the diagnostic impressions that will be formulated after all data are collected and studied.

Despite of these differences, counseling psychology and clinical counseling are proven to be very effective as mental health counseling methods. Both advocates the use of talk treatment that could either help resolve the problem for the mental health patient or open up indications that may be pointed out as causes of the development of the disorder. In effect, both types of counseling make mental health therapy and recovery feasible.

Natural Weight Loss Remedies - Thermocerin

2008-12-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

Frustrated with your weight? Don't think that changing your diet and exercising is going to really cut it? Turns out you're not alone. Literally thousands of people are trying to find natural weight loss remedies to trim down. Being over weight, now regarded by many as a medical condition, is actually something YOU can cure. With a little help, you may be able to kick start your weight loss program with the natural weight loss remedy Thermocerin.

Going into this you already likely know there is no such thing as a miracle solution. Hard work is the key, after all you likely did not put the weight on over night, so it isn't going to come off over night either. But, there's actually more to it - a reason your body objects to losing weight - biochemical and biological reasons. In short form, your fat cells are working against you.

The first thing you do when you go on a diet is reduce your caloric intake. That makes your body panic, and it starts thinking you're starving it. So instead of going WITH the program, they store the fat for later, just in case. How annoying. This reaction is caused by fat receptors. They want to go into hoard mode. So you need to find a way to turn the fat receptors off and release fat into your bloodstream and burn it.

The product Thermocerin claims that it teaches your body thermogenesis - tells your fat cells to shut up and get on the same page towards weight loss, not retention. Thermogenesis means your body produces heat or energy through a chemical reaction. The more energy produced, the higher your metabolic rate and the more fat gets burned. So, if your metabolism is higher due to more energy being generated you are benefiting from the thermogenic effect - the increased burn off of calories and fat. It also goes hunting to find stored fat and burns it out was well.

So what's in Thermocerin? The short answer is polyphenols(plant chemicals creating pigment) from green and white tea plants plus Capsaicin (active component in chili peppers) and Yohimbe.(antioxidant properties).

Will it work?

Anecdotal evidence suggests it will, but with any product that has a combination of herbs in it, natural or not, you should make certain to do your research first. This is even more important if you happen to have an allergy to herbs. So make sure you read the fine print and look things up on the Internet.

Contact Lenses Or Glasses

2008-12-26T20:24:00.000-08:00

As you probably already know, there are quite a few differences between contact lenses and eye glasses. Glasses have been around a lot longer than contacts, although most people prefer to wear contacts instead of glasses. Contacts have become popular over the years, proving to be the best alternative to wearing bulky glasses.

When you compare contacts against glasses, there are several things that stick out like a sore thumb. The first difference in the two is the field of vision. Glasses offer good front vision, although their peripheral vision is quite poor. Contact lenses on the other hand offer you a great field of vision, including peripheral. You won’t be hindered to just looking straight ahead, as contact lenses allow you to look anywhere you want without any problems.

Another major difference is the weight. Glasses are uncomfortable weight on both your ears and your face. They also need to be tightened on a frequent basis, along with adjusting. Contacts on the other hand don’t weigh anything at all. When you wear contacts you don’t need to worry about tightening them or worry about them constantly sliding your face - which can be very annoying.

Glasses are also known to fog up frequently, and they are very distracting during any kind of sports you play. Contacts however, don’t fog up. You can carry out any activity you choose without having to worry about them all. They won’t fall off or slide down your nose when you run, nor will they limit what you can do when you play sports.

Another bad thing about glasses is the fact they need to match what you wear. If you have casual frames, they may not suit your evening attire. The colors may also clash, which is a bad thing for those who crave style. Unlike glasses, contact lenses will compliment everything you wear, for the simple fact that they don’t stick out.

Although there are quite a few differences between the two, they do have a few things in common as well. Both glasses and contacts require cleaning and careful handling. You’ll need to spray your glasses and wipe them off a few times each day. Contacts need to be cleaned as well, before you put them in and soaked in solution when you aren’t using them. You may also need to use eye drops as well throughout the day when wearing contacts, especially if your eyes start to dry out.

Glasses and contact lenses can both correct astigmatism as well. If you have astigmatism, you can wear either glasses or contacts. Astigmatism is an odd cornea shape that impairs vision, common with older people. Although most people think that only glasses will correct this problem, contacts can fix the problem as well.

The best thing about both contacts and glasses is the fact that they are both affordable. You can get contacts and glasses at very affordable prices. Considering the fact that you will probably be wearing them for the rest of your life, they will be the best purchase that you’ll ever make. Over the years, you’ll get your money back and then some for each day you wear either of them.

No matter which one of the two you decide to go with, you are sure to get the vision you need. If you aren’t lucky enough to have perfect vision, contact lenses and glasses are the perfect way to correct your vision. If you’ve been living with not so great vision, contacts and glasses are the ideal way to do the things you love - with perfect vision.

Manicures

2008-12-26T20:22:00.000-08:00

"Manicure" is a word that is typically familiar among women. However, it is actually quite common for men to indulge in manicures too, especially before an important event such as a wedding or business opportunity. People often get or give themselves manicures for various reasons. Sometimes it's to simply be pampered, as getting a professional manicure is often a very relaxing experience. Other times it's to get ready for special events, or to simply look one's best on a daily basis.

Manicures can be done at the home or in a salon, with most people choosing to head to a salon. This is because salons provide several options for the ultimate manicure. For example, you can choose from hundreds of shades of nail polish or choose a customized manicure. French manicures are often a popular choice among women obtaining a professional manicure. Other popular options include American manicures, diamond nails, gel nails, and having cute, trendy designs painted on your nails. If you don't know the difference between these types of manicures, this article will help you choose which on is right for you.

An American manicure closely resembles the French manicure. It's beautiful, subtle, and classy all at the same time. The major difference is that the American manicure is thought by many women to look more natural than the French look. American manicures usually do not contain a color base, but are painted clear or an opaque white prior to painting the tips. The tips are still painted white, but don't appear as bright as French manicures. Diamond nail manicures are a slightly more expensive form of manicure, but for very good reason. The concept formed from creating a base coat made from real diamonds, which bond to form a hard, protective coating over the actual fingernail. This provides a glamorous look while helping the nails to grow rapidly. Some places may not use a base coat containing actual diamonds, but the concept and look remains the same. Gel nail manicures are done using an acrylic base over the top of the actual nail, providing strength to enhance the growth of the nails. It should be known that eventually this layer begins to break off, but some women prefer to keep up this form of manicure to keep their nails hard and strong.

For those opting to do their manicures at home, it's possible to achieve the same professional look for a lot less. Look for professional manicure kits. You can choose from a French, American, or classic (a color is applied to your entire nail) manicure kit. If your nails are long enough, you can purchase the kits with adhesive strips to help you perfect the white line that is painted over the tips. If you have short nails but wish to make them look longer, you will need to purchase artificial tips and the supplies needed for these manicures - acrylic powder, bonding solution, professional nail cutting scissors, and a buffer. Sometimes you can purchase the acrylic kits already containing these items. However, be careful when choosing an acrylic kit. Choose one from a reputable manufacturer, or visit a beauty supply store where the kits are the same ones used in nail salons.

Facts about How Your Hair Will Look After Hair Transplant Surgery

2008-12-26T20:20:00.000-08:00

Before you have hair transplant surgery, you might want to know how it will turn out. The truth is that every head of hair is different from all others and you cannot know exactly how it will turn out. However, with a few facts at your disposal, you can get an advance idea of how your hair will look.

1. The more hairs per graft that are used in your hair transplant, the less natural your hair will look. Many doctors still use grafts that contain up to eight hairs. These do not look as conspicuous as the hair plugs of earlier decades, but they do not look as natural as they can, either. Try to find a doctor that uses grafts that contain one to four hair follicles.

These smaller grafts, also called follicular unit grafts, are ideal in restoring a receding hairline. If your doctor uses the follicular unit grafts for your hairline, it will look much more natural than with the larger plug-like grafts. This is important because your hair transplant will be noticeable if the hairline is not done well.

2. Your hair transplant site will be fuller if you have higher density in your donor sites. The density is based upon the number of hair follicles you have in each section of your scalp. If you have a high number of hair follicles per square centimeter than most people, more grafts can be done, so your hair will look fuller.

3. Your scalp laxity will also affect the fullness of your resulting hair transplant site.This refers to the flexibility of your scalp. How loose your scalp is helps to decide how many grafts can be done just as hair density does.

4. Coarse hair will cover more area. When your hair transplant is done, the surgeon will be able to use fewer hair follicles per graft if your hair is coarse. That is because coarse hair provides more coverage. However, finer hair will tend to look more natural, if thinner.

5. Straight hair does not cover scalp like curly hair does. If you have straight hair, you can be sure that your hair transplant surgery will be a challenge to your doctor. Curly hair appears to provide even more coverage than it actually does because it stands up from the head.

6. The way your hair color compares to your skin color will have an effect on the look of your hair transplant. If you have a hair color that is similar to the color of your skin, you are in luck. Your scalp will not betray any lack of coverage that happens to be present.

If, on the other hand, your hair and skin color contrast distinctly hair follicles show up more.If there is even the slightest lack of coverage, it will be evident. Just imagine a very light-skinned person with jet-black hair. This person's hair follicles will stand out in a very obvious way.

No one ever knows how hair transplant surgery will turn out until they see the results. All of the basic problems can be dealt with if a skilled surgeon is involved. However, knowing the possibilities will make it easier for you to know what questions to ask.

Heart

2008-12-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

The heart one of the most talked about part of your body. The heart used metaphorically describes love as well as a great hurt like broken heart. "My heart over flows with the love I have for you," says a young lover to his sweetheart. The emotions that we express with our heart are only part of the human makeup. The other part consists of having a healthy heart.

The heart is a real part of your body organs and functions to keep you alive and healthy. It is a noted fact that not only emotions affect your heart but also your food, your lifestyle, exercises, and stress all play a pertinent part in heart health. The American Heart Association provides much information about heart care. The Cleveland Clinic and other medical centers provide information and steps you can take to have a healthy heart.

Exercise is very import part of a healthy heart care. We know that not everyone can go to the gym or has the room in their home for gym equipment. We have some suggestions that will help your heart health.
- Set in a comfortable chair loosen your clothing for comfort.
- Start with your feet and ankles; rotate them so that you feel the strain.
- Work up to your legs raising them up and holding them for about five minutes.
- Work your hands and arms one side then the other.
- Next, work your head up and down then back and forth.

About 20 minutes a day will help you relieve stress in your life and let you relax. This is a good way to improve on heart health. The next thing is your diet plan remember it is not what you eat but how much and how often. We suggest you stay away from the normal things that people talk about like fats, too many sweets, and things that you know will harm you.

The heart is measured by taking your blood pressure with results letting your physician know your condition. When reading your heart first the doctor looks at the Systolic level because systolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle cannot contract vigorously which is a pumping problem? The diastolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle cannot relax or fill fully which becomes a filling problem. The heart must be able to pump vigorously and then relax to refill with blood to have a healthy heart.

The fact is that the nations' number one killer heart disease; has piece meal data nation wide. AHA has put together some prime information and published it while the U.S. Government has not attempted to track heart disease. The AHA feels strongly that the government should get involved.

Yes, the heart is the soul of our existence. For many we think of the heart when we are in love or at a time of loss love. As we grow older then we venture to look at the real heart the arteries, veins, and the effects on our heart by the things we do. Take heart and enjoy your life.

Ginseng

2008-12-26T20:14:00.000-08:00

Out of all of the herbal supplements on the market today, Ginseng is the most widely used. In earlier times Ginseng went by a different name, "man root." because the root resembled that of the shape of a man. To this day many people believe in the powers of Ginseng as they believe that it has healing and mystical powers. The Ancient Chinese thought that when a plant resembles a human body part that it would have a healing effect on that part of the body. In other words if a plant resembled a hand it would have the ability to heal the hands. But since Ginseng resembles the entire body it is thought that is can bring balance and well being to the whole body.

Ginseng contains complex carbohydrates, is an anti inflammatory, an anti oxidant, and has anti cancer elements. Notice today that many energy drinks contain Ginseng which is because it is known for creating energy, this was brought to the forefront by the Chinese but Americans have a different plan for Ginseng which is use it for mental lucidity and treating stress. There has been a growing relationship between Ginseng and its ability to strengthen physically as well as mentally and maintain good balance.

It was the Russians who actually made that discovery however the Asians have discovered that Ginseng helps mental improvement, eliminates anemia, and helps prevent diabetes, neurosis, coughs, asthma, and TB. Further they found that it can be very beneficial to the liver and can also reduce the effects significantly of a hangover.

There has been more recent research on Ginseng than on any other herbal supplement, ever. The concern is that many times when people purchase Ginseng at various stores it may have been over processed and therefore not as effective. The best way is to make sure that you are purchasing authentic Ginseng and in order to do that you may have to purchase the Ginseng root. Oddly enough, with all of the research and studies that have been conducted on Ginseng the FDA has yet to endorse it. It is known that people who suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, bleeding or clotting disorders, or diabetes should not use Ginseng unless they speak with their physician first.

While it is true that Ginseng is most widely recognized as a medicinal herb it is also used quite frequently in teas and in cooking. Most people are aware of the infamous Ginseng tea but many are not aware that Ginseng is sliced and put into soups and often boiled and mashed, added to stir fry dishes, and added to boiling water when making rice. It is much more common for cooking in Chinese, Korean, and Asian foods.

Often Ginseng is used when cooking chicken and mushroom dishes. Many people also use it in desserts for some added zing. It is often used in soups, salads, and even jellies. It seems that most people who enjoy the benefits of Ginseng for cooking are vegetarians but it might be becoming more popular since people are now learning the true benefits of this very popular herb.

The Venereal Disease and The Babe Deviation

2008-12-26T00:39:00.000-08:00

Women who contracted sexually transmitted diseases or suffered the infection in the urethra before or while the birth period had the potential for four times was higher gave birth to the baby with the physical deviation or was mentioned gastroschisis.

In the case gastroschisis, the intestines or the organs in the baby grew outside the body. Was like this results of the study of the researchers of the Utah University, the USA.

The researcher also said factor the age of the mother also became some factor main in the case gastroschisis. The woman was below 20 years old had an opportunity 11 times bigger gave birth to the baby with gastroschisis than the woman was above 25 years old.

“If the adolescent had sex and was pregnant, they were risky getting sexually transmitted diseases. They did not think about the consequences of their action so as to be gotten by the big problem in the age group ini” the leader of the research of Marcia Feldkamp said.

Source : Media Indonesia June, 28, 2008

School Eliminate Senile - Celebrities Trigger Young People's Right To Vote More Effective - Baby Could Distinguish Music

2008-10-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

versi bahasa indonesia (dibawahnya)

School Eliminate Senile

EDUCATION and the work with the pressure of could protect someone from senility that became the sign of the illness of the beginning alzheimer. The researcher from San Raffaele University, Milan, Italia, Dr Valentina Garibotto and his team researched 242 sufferers alzheimer, 72 cognitive disturbance sufferers light, and 144 people who did not have the problem of the memory.

The power capacity remembered and cognitive the subject of the research was tested. At the same time, their head was checked to know the change and damage in the brain. The researcher followed the development of the subject of the research for 14 months. In this period, 21 people who had the cognitive disturbance light was known was attacked alzheimer.

In the circle that had the disturbance of the power remembered that was same, they who were educated higher and the more defiant work significantly experienced fewer changes and damage in the brain.

There were two explanations. The brain could become stronger because of education and the work challenge. Or the genetic factor that enabled the person to gain education and the achievement of the work was higher, it was decisive the level of the durability

Source : Media Indonesia, October, 24, 2008

Celebrities Trigger Young People's Right To Vote More Effective

The SUGGESTION from celebrities to young people to use the right to vote in the general election evidently effective. Was like this results of the survey Washington State University, the United States, against 305 students. The celebrities circle had the strength motivated the involvement of the community, aside from their understanding of a rumour, to write the researchers in the journal of Mass Communication and Society.

The study that was chaired by Erica Austin researched the influence of the campaign get out the vote that involved several selebritas, like the sensational singer Beyonce Knowles, Cristina Aguilera, and Sean 'P Diddy Combs' in 2004. The survey referred to the measure of opinion 2004 that found 44% the new voter who was registered aged 18 and 25 years.

The percentage of the young people's participation in the general election in the USA in 1996 and 2000 of 40%. In 2004 to 49%. Austin and his team believed in the increase in relation to the Beyonce campaign and friends.

The campaign was carried out by celebrities increase succesfully the feeling of satisfaction of young people and helped convinced them.

Source : Media Indonesia, October, 23, 2008

Baby Could Distinguish Music

The BABY was at least five months old evidently could distinguish clear and sad music. Was like this the findings of Ross Flom from the Brigham Young University, Utah, the United States.

The findings increasingly reinforced the opinion that stated the capacity of the human brain to know emotions was begun since beginning periods of the life.

Flom and colleagues observed the behaviour 96 babies when several musical kinds dialunkan. The babies heard three choices of the song from one musical kind, both that was cheerful and sad, repeatedly.

The researchers then turned songs from the different musical kind. Most babies showed signs knew musical kinds when clear songs were turned after sad songs, but was not the reverse.

Source: Media Indonesia, October 22, 2008

Sekolah Hilangkan Pikun

PENDIDIKAN dan pekerjaan dengan tekanan dapat melindungi seseorang dari kepikunan yang menjadi gejala awal penyakit alzheimer. Peneliti dari San Raffaele University, Milan, Italia, Dr Valentina Garibotto dan timnya meneliti 242 penderita alzheimer, 72 penderita gangguan kognitif ringan, dan 144 orang yang tidak punya masalah ingatan.

Kemampuan daya ingat dan kognitif subjek penelitian diuji. Di saat yang sama, kepala mereka diperiksa untuk mengetahui perubahan dan kerusakan pada otak. Peneliti mengikuti perkembangan subjek penelitian selama 14 bulan. Dalam kurun waktu tersebut, 21 orang yang memiliki gangguan kognitif ringan diketahui terserang alzheimer.

Di kalangan yang punya gangguan daya ingat yang sama, mereka yang berpendidikan lebih tinggi dan pekerjaan yang lebih menantang secara signifikan mengalami lebih sedikit perubahan dan kerusakan pada otak.

Ada dua penjelasannya. Otak bisa jadi lebih kuat karena pendidikan dan tantangan kerja. Atau faktor genetis yang memungkinkan orang meraih pendidikan dan prestasi kerja lebih tinggi, yang menentukan tingkat keawetan otak,'' kata Garibotto.

Sumber : Media Indonesia, 24 Oktober 2008

Selebritas Pacu Hak Pilih Anak Muda

ANJURAN kalangan selebritas kepada anak-anak muda untuk menggunakan hak pilih dalam pemilihan umum ternyata efektif. Demikian hasil survei Washington State University, Amerika Serikat, terhadap 305 mahasiswa. Kalangan selebritas memiliki kekuatan memotivasi keterlibatan masyarakat, terlepas dari pemahaman mereka terhadap suatu isu, tulis para peneliti di jurnal Mass Communication and Society.

Studi yang diketuai Erica Austin itu meneliti pengaruh kampanye get out the vote yang melibatkan beberapa selebritas, seperti penyanyi sensasional Beyonce Knowles, Cristina Aguilera, dan Sean 'P Diddy' Combs pada 2004. Survei itu merujuk kepada jajak pendapat 2004 yang menemukan 44% pemilih baru yang terdaftar berusia 18 dan 25 tahun.

Persentase partisipasi anak muda dalam pemilu di AS pada 1996 dan 2000 sebesar 40%. Pada 2004 menjadi 49%. Austin dan timnya meyakini peningkatan itu terkait dengan kampanye Beyonce dan kawan-kawan.

Kampanye yang dilakukan selebritas sukses menurunkan rasa kepuasan diri anak muda dan membantu meyakinkan anak muda tentang peran mereka dalam sistem politik. Keterlibatan anak muda meningkat dan mereka menjadi paham isu-isu sosial,'' bunyi laporan Austin.

Sumber : Media Indonesia, 23 Oktober 2008

Bayi Mampu Bedakan Musik

BAYI berusia sekurangnya lima bulan ternyata telah mampu membedakan musik ceria dan sendu. Demikian temuan Ross Flom dari Universitas Brigham Young, Utah, Amerika Serikat.

Temuan itu kian memperkuat pendapat yang menyatakan kemampuan otak manusia mengenali emosi dimulai sejak masa-masa awal kehidupan.

Flom dan rekan-rekan mengamati perilaku 96 bayi ketika beberapa jenis musik dialunkan. Bayi-bayi itu mendengar tiga pilihan lagu dari satu jenis musik, baik yang ceria maupun sendu, secara berulang-ulang.

Para peneliti lalu memutar lagu-lagu dari jenis musik yang berlainan.
Sebagian besar bayi-bayi itu menunjukkan tanda-tanda mengenali jenis-jenis musik saat lagu-lagu ceria diputar setelah lagu-lagu sendu, tetapi tidak sebaliknya.

Translation from http://terapi-air-putih.blogspot.com

Stress Trigger Your Allergy - Sit For A Long Time Affected Sperm - Why Pir Got Rotten Fastly

2008-09-17T20:40:00.001-07:00

Stress Trigger Your Allergy.

For you that have allergy, better avoided stress because of triggering your allergy. Was like this results of the research of Dr Janice Kiecolt-Glaserdan and friends of the Ohio University, Columbus, the USA.

The research involved 28 men and the woman who had the allergy. From results of this research, was expressed by the person that experienced stress high more will be easy to be affected by the allergy and increasingly was difficult to be cured.

“They must control the stage stress to prevent allergy,” said Janice.

According to this research, stress will increase your allergy as far as 75%. Was like this pulam the trigger stress not in the work, but in the house affair. To avoid stress could be done with various methods, among them with various methods, including arranging time exactly.

According to Dr Ronald Glaser, that also the research member, body endurance someone will take part in influencing the level of the attendance of the allergy in the body.

Source: Media Indonesia, August 16, 2008

Sit For A Long Time Affected Sperm.

For Men should not sit too long in the desk chair or the vehicle, because that could influence the quality of your sperm.

Andreas Jung and his colleagues in University Giessen, Paris, proved that after researching 30 healthy men who were asked to sit calm for 90 minutes.

According to the research, the temperature of the seat that was occupied that achieved 39.7 levels celcius. In fact, the temperature that was good for the production of sperm was in 37 levels celcius or 1 – 2 levels above that.

“The increase of the temperature could of 1 or 2 level influence the quality of men’s sperm ,” Andreas's words.

Results of the same research concluded sat for 3 hours or more in the desk chair or the vehicle will disrupt the man's capacity in the process of the production.

Andreas called to the man so that always moved and for a prolonged period did not sit in the seat because in this way, your future will be rescued.

Source: Media Indonesia

Why Pir Got Rotten Fastly?

Why pir faster rotted if compared with apples?

Evidently this problem starting point was the difference of pores in to two this. Was like this results of the team's research of Catholic University of Leuven headed by Pieter Verboven.

Pir had small pores and mutually connecting. Moreover, the content of water more. As a result, air that was needed cells pir to breathe was hindered entered so as gradually the cells will change color to chocolate or we mentioned rotted.

On the other hand, apples had the cavity in bigger pores and were not closed water so as air more was easy to enter and apples cells more were easy to breathe. The cells needed breathed to produce energy in the form of sugar that gave the sweet feeling in. “If we knew the method to keep pir well, we could predict it will be better,” said Verboven

Translation from http://terapi-air-putih.blogspot.com

Bad Impression Before Sleep - Colon Cancer And Overweight - Be Careful to Clean Your Ears Hole

2008-09-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Bad Impression Before Sleep

Do not ever give your child the bad impression before he went to bed. Was based on the research, the bad impression will before the sleep be recorded strong your child as far as him got up. That will aggravate the atmosphere of his heart all day.

Dr Jessica D Payne and his friends from University Harvard Medical in Boston, Massachussetts, carried out the research into 88 pupils. They were given 2 different pictures. The first picture put forward the vehicle in front of the door to the house, whereas the picture to two took the form of the vehicle accident.

Some of them were asked to see the two pictures the following morning, whereas another part saw the two pictures that were same in the night by sleep. They were asked to remember the picture came back after 12 hours.

The result is, The child who saw this picture tonight can remember the picture and can have a bad impact his tomorrow day.

Source: Media Indonesian, August 30, 2008

Colon Cancer and Overweight.

Was like this revealed Yutaka Yamaji from the Tokyo University, Japan. His research just recently showed that the wound on the intestines that triggered the cancer emerged resulting from someone the weight surplus.

Yutaka researched obesity relations with the occurrence of intestines cancer as well as the influence of the weight reduction and the growth was abnormal the intestines. From 8,000 patients who were researched, most underwent therapy colonoscopy and 2,500 including undergoing similar therapy a year later.

The polyp emergence kolorektal (the trigger of intestines cancer) or the increase in therapy kolonoskopi was related to the increase in the patient's weight.

Therefore, the decline in the weight will cause the reduction of the number of polyps kolorektal so as the occurrence opportunity of intestines cancer also small increasingly.

Source: Media Indonesia, August 31, 2008

Be Careful to Clean Your Ears Hole

Don't too much often picked ears because the liquid of the ears membrane will be lost. In fact, the liquid protected the eardrum from the bacteria.

Dr Peter Roland from Texas University, Dallas, the USA, researched 100 people who picked ears for a week. Some of them carried out the activity for 2 times in a week.

Results of the research, showed they who often picked ears were disturbed by his listening because the bacteria entrance to the eardrum. On the other hand, they who rarely carried him out did not experience the disturbance of listening.

“Liquid in the ears membrane protected the eardrum from the bacteria. Moreover, the liquid stifled the loud voice from outside,” said Roland.

Roland also made a plea in order to not use the ears match from cotton because of being easy to absorb this ears liquid.

Translation from http://terapi-air-putih.blogspot.com

Pure Water Therapy

2008-07-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

The Lord gave us water that many. Without spending money for the medicine, the tablet, the injection, the diagnosis, the doctor's pay, etc.Only drank the drinking water, the illness below this could be cured. You will not believe before carrying him out. Below this the list of theillness that could be cured by this therapy
1. Headache
2. Asthma
3. Hosthortobics
4. Hypertension
5. Bronchitis
6. Diabetes
7. Anemia
8. TBC
9. The eyes illness
10. Rheumatism
11. The inflammation of the Brain
12. The bleeding in the eyes of
13. StrokeIt was paralysed that
14. The kidney stone
15. The Red eyes
16. Obesity
17. The Urethra illness
18. Menstruation was not arranged
19. Arthritis
20. The surplus of Vein Acid
21. Leukimia
22. The inflammation of the Mucous Membrane
23. Have a stomach-ache
24. Cervical cancer
25. The disturbance of the Heart
26. Dysentery
27. Breasts cancer
28. Drunkenly, had a headache, suffered from vertigo
29. The haemorrhoid
30. Laryngitis
31. The cough
32. Constipation

How does It work? Drink the normal drinking water with the true method, purified the human body. That made the large intestine work with more effective by means of forming new blood, in the medical term was known as aematopaises. That mucousal fold to the large intestine and the small intestine was activated by this method, was the fact that was not denied, like the theory that said that fresh blood just was produced by mucousal fold ini.Bila the clean intestines, then the food nutrient that was eaten several times in a day will be absorbed and with the work mucousal fold, the food nutrient was changed into new blood. Blood was the important matter in curing the illness and maintaining the health, and because that water was preferably consumed regularly.How does this therapy carry out ?

1. In the morning when you just got up (in fact without the toothbrush before) drink 1.5 litre water, that is 5 to 6 glasses. It would be better if his water was measured out beforehand totalling 1.5 litre. Knew that our ancestors named this therapy as "usha paana chikitsa". After that you might wash the face.

2. The matter was very important to be known that should not drink or eat anything one hour before and after drinking 1.5 water litre.

3. Also was researched thoroughly that might not drink the alcoholic drink the previous night.

4. When necessary, used water boiled or water that already filtered.

Is it possible to drink 1.5 Water Litre at the same time ? For the beginning, possibly will be felt was difficult drank 1.5 litre water at the same time, but gradually will be used to it also. At first, when the exercise, you might drink 4 glasses previously and the rest of them that 2 glasses were drunk two minutes afterwards. Initially you will urinate 2 to 3 times in one hour, but after several old, would again normal. According to the research and the experience, illnesses along with was known could be cured with this therapy in time like was written below this:
1. Constipation - 1 Day
2. The TB of the lungs - 3 months
3. Diabetes - 7 days
4. The surplus of Vein Acid - 2 days
5. Blood pressure - 4 weeks
6. Cancer - 4 weeks

Note : To be suggested that the inflammation sufferer/was sick the pivot and rheumatism melaksakan this therapy of three times a day, that is the morning, the afternoon, and the night one hour before eating - for one week, after that twice a day until his illness recovered.We please with really, the method above was read and practised thoroughly. Spread widened this message to friends, the relative, and the neighbour - because this was the dedication in humanity. With the Lord's blessing, anyone preferably underwent the healthy life. WHEN you participated in the SPREADING of this INFORMATION you LIKE A Doctor THAT cured THOUSANDS EVEN MILLIONS OF HUMANKIND.

Translation from http://terapi-air-putih.blogspot.com