Cancer treatment focuses on eradicating fast-growing cells. This is the reason behind the undesirable side effects of cancer treatments on the gastrointestinal tract, like nausea and vomiting. A healthy diet can help you to feel better and withstand the side effects of your cancer treatments; but you will still need to cope with the nausea.
Instructions
1. Plan ahead so you won't have to endure shopping for groceries while you're nauseous. Prepare protein-rich entrees and freeze in meal-sized portions. Stock your pantry with convenience foods like peanut butter and canned meats.
2. Consume the bulk of your calories in the morning, before you receive your cancer treatment. If you feel nauseous later in the day, sip on liquid meal replacements.
3. Eat frequent meals and snacks instead of the typical 3 meals a day. Large meals can overwhelm the taxed gastrointestinal system; several snacks can boost your caloric intake to tissue-rebuilding levels.
4. Prepare cold meals. Eat foods like cottage cheese, cold cuts, pudding, yogurt and milkshakes that don't fill the kitchen with nausea-triggering odors.
5. Make a habit of eating a nutritious bedtime snack. Your GI system quiets after you fall asleep, limiting queasy feelings. Stick to simple, easy-to-digest foods and beverages such as warm cocoa prepared with milk or chicken and rice soup.
6. Set aside favorite foods for a later date if you find they don't set well during your treatment. Forcing yourself to consume foods can set you up for a food aversion.
7. Stick to beverages if your nausea triggers a vomiting episode. Your body can go for a day without eating, but dehydration sets in quickly after repeated vomiting. Drink clear broth, and eat popsicles and gelatin until you feel like trying a small amount of solid food again.
Tags: cancer treatments, During Cancer, During Cancer Treatment, foods like, Nausea During, Nausea During Cancer, Relieve Nausea
Restless leg syndrome is the second most common sleep disorder after sleep apnea. Typically, most symptoms worsen at night and can greatly interfere with quality of sleep. Nearly all individuals diagnosed with restless leg syndrome have nocturnal mycolonus, also referred to as PLMD (Periodic Limb Movement Disorder), which is a neuromuscular disorder that causes repetitive contractions of muscle groups.
Valerian
Valerian has been shown to help combat the symptoms of RLS. In one such study, 37 people with RLS were given 800mg of valerian a day and the results were promising: "The results of this study suggest that the use of 800 mg of valerian for 8 weeks improves symptoms of RLS and decreases daytime sleepiness in patients that report an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score of 10 or greater." (Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Mar/Apr 2009, N.G. Cuellar etal, Does Valerian Improve Sleepiness and Symptom Severity in People with Restless Leg Syndrome?)
Reflexology
The idea behind this form of massage therapy has been in existence for centuries, however it was Dwight Byers and Eusebia Messenger, who in the 1970s, founded the National Institute of Reflexology. Reflexology is a form of massage therapy which focuses on "reflex points" in the feet. These "reflex points" pertain to areas of the body. Reflexology is often used to help alleviate RLS since the sciatic nerve ends in heel area of the foot and the sciatic nerve effects the entire leg.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an important nutrient that is involved in hundreds of metabolic enzymes, including the communication of nerve signals in the brain and throughout the body as well as helping to relax the muscles. Supplementation with magnesium 250mg at night can help alleviate several of the symptoms associated with restless leg syndrome.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms of restless leg syndrome by treating areas, or segments, in the spine which control the legs. Frequently the sciatic nerve is treated via acupuncture because it is a nerve that affects the whole leg.
Iron Supplementation
For those suffering with RLS, low-levels of iron in the blood have been shown to be a causative factor. Measuring the levels of the iron storage protein ferritin will indicate the stored levels of iron. If low iron levels are suspected, 200mg three times daily can provide significant results within two months.
Homeopathic Remedies
Zincum metallicum, or more commonly known as zinc, is used to suppress the sensation of tingling nerves and twitching muscles. Sulfur is recommended for those who experience a restless sensation in their legs. Causticum is frequently recommended for those experiencing aching symptoms in their legs as well, and Arsenicum album for accompanying trembling in the legs.
Tags: help alleviate, sciatic nerve, been shown, form massage, form massage therapy, levels iron
Tay-Sachs Disease (TSD) is a genetic disorder that destroys the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in a decline in mental and physical function, such that a person with TSD is ultimately unable to breathe or swallow. The disease is rare in the general population, and pretty much only seen in certain ancestry groups, such as people from French-Canadian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent or those from eastern and central Europe.
Types of the Disease
There are three types of the disease. The most common form is infantile TSD that manifests at approximately six months of age. This leads to a rapid mental and physical decline in the infant. The second form is juvenile TSD, which becomes apparent between the ages of 2 to 10. Finally, there is late-onset TSD, which occurs in patients in their 20s to early 30s. Because of the myriad symptoms presented, late-onset TSD is frequently misdiagnosed, but unlike the other two forms, it is usually non-fatal.
Causes of Tay-Sachs
Tay-Sachs disease is caused by mutations in the hexosaminidase A (alpha polypeptide) gene (HEXA), an autosomal gene that is located on chromosome 15. In its normal function, HEXA produces the alpha subunit of the enzyme beta-hexosaminidase A. The enzyme is a key component in lysosomes in the brain and spinal cord that allows for the break down of GM2 ganglioside, a lipid-based substance.
Without a functioning HEXA gene, the GM2 ganglioside in the body accumulates, eventually reaching toxic levels within the body. This, in turn, leads to the death of neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing the symptoms seen in Tay-Sachs disease.
Symptoms of Tay-Sachs
In infantile TSD, the initial symptoms do not appear to be obvious. The baby develops normally for about three to six months, before it becomes apparent that the child is not developing as rapidly as he or she ought to be. As the child grows, the symptoms become more apparent, taking the form of seizures, listlessness, irritability and a delay in mental and physical responses. In late-onset and juvenile TSD, the symptoms are less pronounced. These include a slower motor performance or an unsteady gait, slurred speech and hand tremors. In the diagnosis of Tay-Sachs disease, doctors look out for the "cherry-red" spot in the retina that can be detected with an ophthalmoscope.
Effects
Infantile and juvenile Tay-Sachs disease is always fatal and there is no cure. In the later stages, children with the disease are unable to hear, speak and have difficulties swallowing. This eventually leads to paralysis of muscles and death. In late-onset TSD, the disease generally is not fatal but causes muscle twitching and possibly mental illness.
Infants and children with the disease generally live up to five years after the symptoms begin to appear. With adults, the life expectancy is unknown because the disease has only been recently identified as of 2009.
Prevention and Treatment
Because Tay-Sachs disease is genetic, there is currently no treatment for the disease as of 2009. Even with the best of care, children suffering from the disease usually only live until the age of 4. Adult sufferers with late-onset TSD can rely on medication to slow the progress of the disease but cannot reverse its effects. Anti-convulsion medication might help control seizures, and a proper diet can help to keep the airways open and slow the disease.
In terms of prevention, a genetic test can be done on both biological parents to ensure that neither are carriers of the disease.
Ear wax can by annoying and sometimes painful. If you have a large build up it can cause hearing loss, itching and even a blockage. There are a number of home remedies out there for removing ear wax, some are fairly safe but some can be very dangerous. As with any home remedy, be cautious and if you are having severe problems it is always best to consult with a physician.
Function
Ear wax does provide a valuable service. The glands in your ear canal produce wax to clean, moisten and protect your ear canal making it a self cleansing organ. Typically, it handles the job pretty well on its own and should not need any additional cleansing by you. If you find you are prone to excessive wax and have the need to clean your ears frequently, it is best to use a sea water ear spray which is very mild and efficient.
Prevention/Solution
The safest home remedy for removing ear wax is the following method:
Purchase paraffin oil or mineral oil at your local drugstore.
Warm a few tablespoons over a lit candle to soften.
Fill an eye dropper with the melted wax.
Lie on one side with one ear on a towel.
Drop a few drops from the eye dropper into the ear facing up.
Remain still for about 5 minutes to allow the oily wax to penetrate into the ear and ear wax.
Turn over to your other side, allowing the wax and oil to drain onto the towel.
Prevention/Solution
After repeating the above process for a few days, the ear wax build up in your ears will be softened. Now it is time to flush and remove the softened wax. Warm a few tablespoons of water to just above body temperature; you do not want the water hot!
Again, lying on your side, use your eyedropper or a bulb syringe to flush your ear with warm water. Turn over to the other side and allow the water and undissolved wax to fall into the towel. At this point you can rinse your ears with diluted apple cider vinegar to restore the natural pH.
Misconceptions
Ear candling has become a popular home remedy for the removal of ear wax. Ear candles can be purchased at most health stores, but they are really dangerous and not recommended. The process involves placing the candle inside the ear canal, lighting the wick on the opposite end and as it burns it draws the wax from the ear. This process requires two people as the lit candle can very easily light hair and clothing on fire and the hot wax can be very harmful to your ear.
Warning
Do not ever use a cotton tip swab, hair pin, finger or other implement to remove wax from your ear. You will most likely push the wax further into the canal and compact it worse.
Tags: your ears, home remedy, other side, Prevention Solution, Turn over, Warm tablespoons
Diabetics need to pay special attention to their diet to avoid adverse health effects. Knowing which foods to avoid is not as difficult as it might have been. This is because the two main food groups you need to avoid, fats and sweets, are the very same foods that the average person should eat only sparingly.
Fats
Excluding high-fat foods such as avocados, salad dressing, butter, and cream cheese can help you avoid the complications of diabetes. There are many low-fat and fat-free versions of some of these foods that can easily be substituted.
Sweets
Sweets are an obvious forbidden food for diabetics. Like fats, however, there are also a number of low-fat and fat-free options for delicious and filling desserts such as pudding and ice cream.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate intake should be closely monitored in a diabetic diet as many foods that are high in carbohydrates can result in a high blood glucose level. Choosing fruit over fruit juice is necessary as fruit juice tends to have high levels of carbohydrates as well as sugar. Grains and pasta should also be avoided for this reason.
Portion Control
The American Heart Association recommends that no more than 30 percent of calories should be ingested from consuming fat. Depending on the severity of a person's diabetes, this share should be decreased even further.
Dietician
According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, it may be beneficial to consult a dietitian to gather a clearer picture of which foods to eat and their portion sizes.
Tags: foods that, fruit juice, low-fat fat-free, which foods
This article will give you a few foods that you should eat more of to start losing weight today!!!
Instructions
1. Practice eating more pasta. You can eat all the pasta you want and still drop the weight as long as the pasta is 100% wheat. Whole grains contain good sources of fiber so it takes a smaller amount to make you feel full.
2. Consider eating more fish. Fish is not only healthy for your heart, skin, nails, and hair because of the healthy fatty acids, but the vitamin D in them may help curb your appetite. The best types of fish to eat are salmon and mackerel.
3. Eat more eggs. Eggs will provide you with protein and they will curb your appetite and help you to consume less food than those who may consume a lot of calories.
4. Make it a point to eat more healthy snacks. Things like nuts, dried fruit, nutri-grain bars, or sliced cheese will make it less likely that you will wolf down your lunch and dinner if you eat them in between meals.
5. Eat healthy fats. These are not only good for your body and heart, but they can help you slim down as well. They will help you feel full throughout the day and help you absorb vitamins better.
Tags: curb your, curb your appetite, eating more, feel full, your appetite
Traditonal auriculotherapy is a form of acupuncture that treats health problems by stimulating pressure points on the ear with needles or electrical currents. 2006 clinical research at Turkey's Selcuk University indicates it may be effective as a weight-loss technique.
The term auriculotherapy, however, has also been applied to the practice of ear stapling. Proponents of the technique claim that having your ears stapled for up to three months will constantly stimulate your appetite-controlling pressure points. You'll eat less and lose weight naturally.
Getting Traditional Auriculotherapy
To find a traditional auriculotherapy practitioner near you use the directory at the Auriculotherapy Certification Institute. Although The U.S. National Institute of Health approved auriculotherapy as a mainstream medical practice in 1997, you're more likely to find a chiropractor or acupuncturist to treat you than an M.D.
Getting Ear Staples
Having your ears stapled is a surgical procedure. Don't undergo auriculotherapy without first discussing the risks with your doctor. If possible, arrange to get the procedure from a medical doctor or chiropractor trained in acupuncture.
If that's not an option, says the University of Alabama Birmingham Health System, talk to several auriculotherapists about their references, experience, and sanitation practices before choosing one. Ask to see their sanitation equipment.
All auriculotherapists should use surgical-grade sterile staples, sterilize both their equipment and work area in between patients, and wear fresh sterile gloves during a procedure. Only by seeing for yourself the conditions under which you'll get your procedure can you minimize your risk of infection.
The procedure itself is similar to having your ears pierced, except that the staples will go inside your upper ear. The University of Missouri Extension reports that a specific commercial auriculotherapy company charges $75 to staple one ear.
After Ear Stapling
The staples will remain in your ears for up to three months. After that, ear staplers say, your body will be desensitized to them. They'll have to be moved to new pressure points if you want to keep using them. That will cost another $50 to $100 for each ear, and will expose you to more risk.
Keeping your ears clean while they're stapled is essential. Disinfect them twice daily with hydrogen peroxide. Avoid touching your staples when cleaning your ears. Disturbing them could cause an infection or irritate your cartilage. Deformed cartilage is a real possibility with ear stapling.
Considerations
The Mayo Clinic's registered dietitian Katherine Zeratsky says there's no research supporting the effectiveness of ear stapling for weight loss. If you're serious about dropping some pounds, Zeratsky suggests discussing a weight-loss plan with your doctor.
Tags: your ears, pressure points, acupuncture that, ears stapled, having your, having your ears
Yeast infections are never fun to endure. Yeast infections are caused by fungus found on the skin, and other parts of the body. Women are most likely to have a yeast infection in the vaginal area. Men can also get yeast infection in the genital area. The great thing is that yeast infections can easily be cured. When noticing the first signs of a yeast infection, it is good to seek the attention of a physician if you have never had a yeast infection before. A common therapy for yeast infection is through the use of yogurt because it contains good bacteria such as L. Acidophilus which helps keep the vaginal area in a balanced environment. A few of the symptoms of a yeast infection include a thick, odorless whitish vaginal discharge and uncontrollable itching and burning and a burning sensation when urinating.
Instructions
1. Use yogurt. Apply the yogurt to the affected area and do this twice a day until the infection is gone.
2. Ingest yogurt internally so that it can work through the body and eliminate the bad bacteria from the body.
3. Use distilled vinegar, which is known for being antibacterial and anti-fungal. Fill a bathtub with warm water mixed with 1 cup of vinegar and soak in the vinegar solution for about 15 or 20 twenty minutes. Afterwards, bathe normally in warm water, minus the vinegar. Dry the affected area with an absorbent towel.
4. Try Tree Oil Cream, which can be applied to the affected area and will relieve the yeast infection. Follow the directions on the bottle to ensure that it is used properly.
5. Buy vaginal suppositories, which are available as an over-the-counter medication that comes in different dosages.
6. Try garlic vaginal suppositories by peeling a clove garlic and wrapping a piece of gauze around the garlic. The thin type of gauze is best to use for this process. Fold the gauze in half to form what would look like a tampon. Insert the garlic, vaginal suppository inside the vaginal area. Remove the suppository every 3 or 5 hours and insert a new one. Repeat the process for about 3 to 5 days or until the infection is gone.
Bronchial asthma is a pulmonary disorder that affects 15 million Americans each year. It is characterized by an obstruction and inflammation of the bronchial tubes that causes difficulty in breathing and wheezing. Bronchial asthma is usually triggered by an external stimulus such as an allergy, exertion or psychological stress.
Instructions
1. Treat cold asthma primarily by sedation of the lung and elimination of the phlegm. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, asthma is primarily caused by persistent coughing in addition to fluid in the lungs and the retention of phlegm. The Qi passage is blocked, which impairs the functioning of the lungs and produces the symptoms of coughing, rattling and wheezing.
2. Use the following acupoints as the primary locations for the treatment of bronchial asthma with acupuncture: Chize LU 5, Feishu UB 13, Fengmen UB 12, Lieque LU 7 and Tanzhong REN 17.
3. Add Dazhui DU 14 and Shenzhu DU 12 for patients with body aches and headaches. Shangxing DU 23 and Yingxiang LI 20 may be added for a stuffy or runny nose.
4. Sedate the points and leave them in place for half an hour. Stimulate Renzhong REN 17 until the sensation of needling reaches the sides of the chest. Insert a needle into the Chize LU 5 acupoint in the direction opposite the flow of Qi.
5. Keep Feishu UB 13 and Fengmen UB 12 sedated for two minutes. These two points also should be cupped for best results.
Diabetes and hyperglycemia are commonly associated with elevated blood sugar. It is the result of the pancreas not sufficiently releasing insulin. High blood sugar can be very tough to deal with at times, and it can also cause very negative side effects to the body. Some of these include nerve problems, vision problems, stroke and heart disease. That is why it is of paramount interest to keep blood sugar levels under control.
Instructions
1. Watch your simple carbs. Simple carbs are those that cause blood sugar levels to elevate at a rapid pace. Anything that is refined falls into this category. Some examples would be candy, doughnuts, cupcakes or anything that has refined sugar or white flour in it.
2. Eat balanced meals. Eat meals that have a balance of protein, carbs and fat in them. These types of meals are digested slower and they don't cause a spike in blood sugars. An example would be a salad with a chicken breast and a whole-grain bun.
3. Eat multiple meals. Eating a small balanced meal every few hours will do a number of things. It will give you sustained energy, it will keep your hunger under control and it will help stabilize blood sugar. Aim for three meals and two snacks throughout the day.
4. Get some exercise. When you are exercising, your muscles are using glycogen, which is the stored form of carbohydrate, for energy. This helps keep blood sugar stabilized and it can also increase your body's reaction to insulin release. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. Some examples would be fast-paced walking, weight training, swimming or cycling.
5. Choose good carbohydrates. Regardless if you are eating them with meals or with snacks, eat complex carbohydrates. Complex carbs are high in fiber and they digest at a slower rate. Some examples would be whole grains, oat bran, fruits, vegetables and beans. The Mayo Clinic recommends getting 25g to 30g of fiber per day.
Tags: blood sugar, examples would, Some examples, Some examples would, blood sugar
Joint pain is one of the hallmarks of arthritis. The swelling, stiffness and inflammation that accompany this, sometimes debilitating, disease are the main causes of arthritis pain. Fortunately, there are now many ways to relieve arthritis pain.
Instructions
1. Take some aspirin. Aspirin is the tried and true standby of arthritis pain relief. It has been used for this purpose for decades and remains one of the most effective ways to relieve the pain of arthritis. In fact, many arthritis patients start out with aspirin when they first get the disease.
2. Try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the primary culprit in arthritis pain. Readily available anti-inflammatories, such as Motrin and Aleve, may provide pain relief for mild to moderate arthritis.
3. Get a prescription. If over-the-counter medications don't work for you, you probably need something stronger. Your rheumatologist or family doctor can prescribe a variety of drugs, such as Bextra and Voltaren, that are aimed at relieving arthritis pain.
4. Rub in a topical ointment. You can get plenty of good pain-relieving creams over the counter. Look for ointments containing capsaicin (derived from cayenne pepper) for the best results.
5. Start exercising. Even though it may cause you more pain in the short term, exercise is remarkably effective at relieving arthritis pain over the long term. This is because exercise increases blood flow to the joints and strengthens the surrounding muscles.
6. Use ice packs on painful, tender joints. Ice can help to reduce inflammation (taking pain away with it) and can also temporarily numb the area. You can use ice packs as often as you see fit.
7. Soak in warm water. A hot tub or warm bath can relax your muscles and increase blood flow throughout your body, resulting in a lessening of pain.
Eczema, an irritating skin condition, affects 10% of infants and 3% of adults. Most children grow out of it, but up to 60% can experience flare-ups throughout adulthood. This article will describe eczema skin symptoms so you can diagnose first-time infections and recognize flare-ups and trigger factors.
Instructions
1. Notice increased itching and scratching on face, knees, elbows, hands or feet. Itching often occurs before any rash presents.
2. Identify a rash in the itchy area, which is the most common eczema skin symptom. Eczema often changes the pigment of the affected area: fair-skinned people may see a reddish rash become brown; on dark-skinned people the area may become lighter or darker. The skin under the rash usually becomes dry, thick and scaly.
3. Watch for a rash that worsens into blisters that, if left untreated, will ooze and crust over. Many dermatology and medical websites post photographs of eczema patients' rashes and blisters for comparison with your own skin.
4. Search for a history of allergies and/or asthma in the family because eczema often accompanies these conditions.
5. Recognize trigger situations that can cause recurring flare ups of eczema skin symptoms. Reaching a body temperature that is too hot or too cold, contact with a new soap or detergent, exposure to pet dander, fighting a cold or chest congestion and experiencing stress can all predispose an eczema sufferer to another outbreak.
6. See a physician or dermatologist for an official diagnosis.
Kyanite is a polymorph of aluminum silicate. There are two other minerals with the same composition, andalusite and sillimanite. Which mineral is formed is dependent on the temperature and pressure at the time of formation; kyanite is usually formed at the highest temperatures and pressures.
Appearance
The name kyanite originates from the Greek word kyanos, which means "blue." It can be found in a striking blue color, but also can be gray, white or green, and very rarely, black. It has the singular characteristic of combining varying hardnesses in the same crystal. Scratched one way it has a hardness of 4.5, and at 90 degrees from this it has a hardness of 6.5.
History
Some of the earliest specimens of kyanite were found in Switzerland, and initially it was thought to be sapphire, after a mistake was made by the French mineralogist Saussure. Early in its history kyanite was recognized for its high temperature stability and was sought for the manufacture of spark plugs and as refractories used to line furnaces at the beginning of WW1.
Largest Source
The world's largest producer of kyanite by far is the US. It can be found in a number of states including California, Georgia, Nevada, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. US production of kyanite is more than that of the rest of the world combined.
International Sources of Kyanite
After the US, there are a number of significant producers of kyanite around the world. India, Brazil, China, and Australia are the main other sources, but minor amounts are to be found in many other countries, although usually in the other mineral form of andalusite.
Non-industrial Uses
Although kyanite is mostly used for industrial purposes, it also can produce some very nice jewelry when found in its blue form. The New Age movement puts particular importance on kyanite as having calming effects.
Dance and injuries go hand in hand. Lack of flexibility, improper stretching and excessive activity can cause injuries. Even stress can cause the muscles and tendons to tighten up and often results in an injury. Every type of dance requires the preparation of every muscle in the body before exercising. Therefore, it’s important to stretch properly before any practice or performance.Despite a complete warm-up and stretching, some dancers are just prone to injury. The constant jumping, extension and straining of the muscles can cause common dance injuries such as muscle strains and cramps, ankle sprains, knee injuries and back pain. Rehabilitating any injury properly will have you back on your feet in a reasonable amount of time.
Instructions
Ankle Sprains
1. Rehabilitate an ankle sprain with rest, ice, compression and elevation (R.I.C.E.) until the swelling disappears. By far, the most common dance injury is an ankle sprain. An ankle sprain is a small tear in the ligament in the ankle. And even the smallest tear can swell a good deal. Make sure to use ice for only 15 minutes at a time and elevate your ankle above your heart to encourage proper circulation. Reapply the ice every 3 hours.
2. Wrap your ankle in the ace bandage for added stability and to help reduce swelling. It’s safe to resume dancing when your ankle feels stable. Try using an ankle support brace to protect the ligaments and tendons. Ankle injuries usually happen more than once so make sure to resume your dance workouts gradually to prevent a repeated injury to your ankle.
3. Make a trip to the doctor to access the severity of the sprain if you still feel pain after a 3 to 4 days. Do not resume dancing until your doctor gives his approval.
Knee Injuries
4. Use R.I.C.E. for knee injuries, too. Knee injuries to dancers are usually caused by extensive turnout of the knees (such as during plies). Knee injuries usually take the form of damaged cartilage, which is often caused by jumping and landing. Knee injuries typically feature swelling or pain.
5. Make sure the swelling is gone before resuming partial activities. Rehabilitating a knee is tricky because bending the knee is such an integral part of dancing.
6. Stabilize your knee during dance practice with a brace if necessary and remember to stretch gently but completely before and after your workout. Warmed up muscles and tendons are less likely to be injured during exercise.
Back Injuries
7. Watch out for back pain. Many dancers can be leaping around the floor one minute and in the next minute, they are holding their back in excruciating pain. Back injuries are common for dancers and feature an ache that often prevents the dancer from even standing upright. The back muscles often spasm, a reflexive action that the body uses to protect the joints of the back.
8. Use the heating pad to ease your pain and take anti-inflammatory medication for discomfort. If you can walk and bend a small bit, you probably have a grade 1 muscle tear. If your pain doesn’t ease after a few days or if you feel sharp pain in your back or have swelling, visit your doctor for a complete assessment.
9. Begin gentle stretching to increase your mobility once your back is feeling better. Gradually increase the length of your stretching sessions until you reach your full range of motion. With any back injury, plan to rest for a week or two to fully recover.
Muscle Strains
10. Rest and apply ice for 15 minutes every 3 hours to relieve muscle strains. Muscle strains are a common dance injury that are caused by overstretching of the muscle. A few days of rest will usually ease the pain of a muscle strain.
11. Avoid activity until your muscle is strong again. Other than gentle stretching, dance exercise and stretching needs to be put on hold until your muscle has recovered.
12. Stretch completely but carefully after straining a muscle. A flexible, warmed-up muscle is less prone to injury. A series of stretching and then strengthening exercises are best when rehabilitating a muscle strain.
Muscle Cramps
13. Stop dancing immediately if you feel a muscle cramp. Muscle fatigue, dehydration and lack of flexibility cause muscle cramps. Cramps can seize up your leg, back, neck or any other muscle of the body and can be excruciatingly painful.
14. Gently massage the area where the cramp is located. Once the immediate pains eases, gently and completely stretch the area. Many cramps occur at the end of a period of exercise. Make sure you are warming up before dancing and that you perform complete stretches after your workout.
15. Consider the cause of your cramps. Muscle cramps have an underlying cause and frequently are caused by lack of fluids, salt or potassium. Drink plenty of water, eat properly, and make sure you hydrate during your dancing, too. If your cramps are frequent or painful, see your doctor.
Tags: your ankle, ankle sprain, common dance, until your, your back, your doctor
Everybody has heard the familiar bark of a drill sergeant either through movies or maybe as the ROTC jogs past you on campus. To the untrained ear, the drill sergeant is just yelling at these cadets to run faster. However, there is a theory behind these cadences, songs or chants that a military jog uses. By regulating a cadence, anyone can run faster and harder than they ever imagined.
Instructions
1. Learn a military cadence. These will all be monotonous chants and songs. Find one that you can learn and memorize for the duration of a long jog.
2. Download military cadences to an MP3 player if you do not think you can memorize one. There are countless cadences available either for free or for a small charge. Load these up onto your player before jogging. Run with the US Army Rangers by downloading cadences for free (see link in Resources below).
3. Begin jogging at your normal pace. Include your MP3s or memorized songs and sing along. Start slow if you have to or write down the lyrics on a small piece of paper and fold it in a pocket to keep with you. The important thing is to chant the lyrics as you run.
4. Adjust your running speed and power to fit the cadence. A successful cadence will help you slide into a pace and not think about the distances you are running. Some military cadets claim the effect is similar to a trance you put on your body. Before you know it, you have run further than you imagined. This is thanks to the unconscious regulations on breathing.
5. Change the song you sing and see how it affects your pace and your breathing. Every cadence was developed, written and practiced to help runners achieve maximum results. Find some that fit your needs and your running style, or make up your own.
In the book "Eat Right 4 Your Type," Dr. Peter D'Adamo explains the biochemical interactions between red blood cells and the foods we eat. According to D'Adamo, each of the four human blood groups carries genetic markers that indicate a specific kind of diet. The plan is simple: If a food is recommended for your type, you may have as much as you like. According to D'Adamo, not only will you lose weight, you will experience an improvement in your overall health.
Blood Type
First, you will need to know your blood type. If you are a blood donor, it will be noted on your donor card. If you are not, ask your primary health-care provider for the information. If the information is not in your medical records, you can request a blood typing test.
Blood Type and Genetics
Once you have determined your blood type, you will be able to outline your diet plan. Theoretically, type O blood is the oldest of all blood types. People with type O blood were the original hunters and gatherers. Their diet plan is subsequently high in protein.
Type A blood is believed to have developed next and historically represents the first farmers. It is based on fruits, vegetables and grains.
Type A was followed by the development of Type B, the blood group associated with nomadic travelers and the only type that can tolerate dairy foods.
The newest of the blood types is AB, with recommended dietary guidelines that fall in between type A and type B.
The Plan
Diets based on blood type divide foods into three groups: beneficial, allowed and not allowed.
Type O's are given a basic high-protein diet. Meat is allowed, carbohydrates are not allowed, and dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli and spinach are listed as beneficial.
Type A's are put on a primarily vegetarian diet, with vegetables, tofu, seafood and legumes. Wheat, meat and dairy products are not allowed.
Type B gets the biggest variety, with vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy and grains on the allowed list. Forbidden foods for Type B include corn, sesame seeds and peanuts.
AB blood types are encouraged to eat seafood and white meat, dairy products, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and to avoid red meat, corn, lima beans and kidney beans.
Warning
This theory behind this type of diet is highly controversial. To date there have been no peer-reviewed scientific studies that demonstrate a direct correlation between an individual's blood type and her ability to digest specific foods.
Tags: blood types, diet plan, meat dairy, type blood, According Adamo, allowed Type, blood type
The best exercise for losing weight is one that you can perform for at least 30 minutes a day, so that you're burning more calories than you are taking in. Walking, running, cycling and swimming are exercises that people of all ages can enjoy.
Weight-Bearing Exercise
Running and cycling are good ways to exercise for weight loss
The best way to lose weight is to increase your weight-bearing exercise. This would include walking, running, bicycling and working out on an elliptical trainer.
Weightlifting
Lifting weights builds muscle
Another way to increase weight loss is to lift weights to build stronger muscles, as this burns calories. You should alternate between upper and lower body parts when lifting weights.
Intense Exercise Burns More Calories
Walking or running on hills burns calories fast
To lose weight, you have to expend more calories than you eat. One way to do this is through intense exercise, since the more intensely you exercise, the more energy you burn. You can increase intensity either through increasing speed and increasing the resistance.
Other Aerobic Exercises
Swimming is a good way to lose weight
Many other aerobic exercises burn calories and help you lose weight. Swimming, aerobics classes, yoga, tennis, soccer and any sport in which you increase your heart rate will help you lose weight.
The Best Exercise to Lose Weight
The best exercise to lose weight is the one that you enjoy, which will encourage you to do it every day. Try a variety of exercise routines to find the one that works best with your schedule. The key to losing weight through exercise is consistently exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, alternating between aerobic exercise and weightlifting.
Tags: lose weight, burns calories, calories than, help lose, help lose weight, increase your, least minutes
Juicing as a method of dieting can help you get all of the nutrients you need from fruits and vegetables, even if you aren't a big vegetable lover. By juicing, you can pack more nutrients from different fruits or vegetables into one juice, rather than eating them all separately. Taking in the right nutrients can help you rejuvenate from the inside out, leaving you with glowing, resilient skin.
Fruit Juice
Fruit combines the benefits of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants with a sweet taste that is easy to drink. Certain fruits are more beneficial to the skin than others. Blueberries, for instance, are chock-full of anti-oxidants that can help regenerate skin more naturally. They taste great juiced and blended with other fruits, such as watermelon and pineapple---both natural diuretics that can help relieve puffiness in the face. Fruits that are high in vitamins A, C and E are also beneficial.
Vegetable Juice
Vegetable juices can be a little harder to get down than the sweeter fruit juices, but they are so beneficial for healthy skin. You can always add sweet fruits, such as watermelon, to the vegetable juice to make it a little tastier to drink. Vegetables such as spinach are packed with tons of vitamin C; paired with carrots and cabbage, they can help get rid of acne. Carrots are also sweet and a great addition to a vegetable juice.
Diet
When taking part in a glowing skin juice diet, you simply need to switch out certain meals for juices. Try switching your regular breakfast meal with a fruit juice, and then enjoy a vegetable juice as your late-afternoon snack. You can add protein powder to the juice, which also is beneficial to your skin. Try a juice diet for two weeks to see the glowing results in your skin.
Tags: also beneficial, fruits such, fruits such watermelon, fruits vegetables, juice diet
Naturally get rid of insects in your home or yard using essential oil remedies.
There's no need to use toxic insect repellents, especially if you have children or pets that could get hurt around these substances. Essential oil remedies can be used in place of chemical pest control products and will do just as good a job, if not better, of keeping your pest problems under control. You won't have the added worry of having toxins in your home, either.
Ants
Ants aren't very hard to get rid of if you know what really bothers them. They are mostly repelled by anything that smells like mint. Purchase essential oils such as spearmint, peppermint or wintergreen. Mix about 10 drops of the oil with water in a plastic spray bottle and use that around the areas you've seen ants. If they're heavily concentrated in one area, use the straight oil and drip it where the ants are coming in, and they won't cross the line of scented oil.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are repelled by citronella, which is a lemon-scented citrus essential oil. You can also use lavender, pennyroyal or lemongrass. Mix 10 drops in a spray bottle with water and spray it on your body before you go outside.
Fleas
Fleas are not easy to get rid of, but there are some oils that will help you. Eucalyptus oil, orange, lavender and anything mint-scented will help keep fleas away. Mix 10 to 15 drops with water in a plastic spray bottle and use on your pet's bedding, the carpet and furniture where pets like to lie. It's even safe to spray on your own bedding and carpet.
Flies
Repel flies by using citronella, lavender, rosemary, sage, geranium or juniper oils. Mix about 10 drops with water and spray it into the air to keep flies at bay in your home or around your patio outdoors.
Tags: with water, drops with, drops with water, spray bottle, your home
When you're dieting and exercising to lose weight, you'll want all the motivation you can get to stay on track. One method you can use to follow your progress involves making a calories burned chart. You don't have to spend a lot of time creating the chart and can use it to help you reach your weight loss goal.
Instructions
1. Choose a journal to keep your calories burned chart in. To better separate entries, you'll probably want a weight loss journal with lined paper.
2. Print out an online chart to help you record your numbers. You can find the number of calories burned during different activities online. Use the chart on Positive Health Steps to find out how much you burn while walking, running, playing sports and other activities.
3. Separate the calories burned chart into different physical activities. Set up a row for activity name, time performed and number of calories burned during that time frame. Use your reference chart to calculate the number of calories you burned.
4. Input your calories consumed. To compare calories burned to calorie consumed, track the number of calories in the food you eat on your calories burned chart.
Tags: calories burned, burned chart, calories burned chart, number calories, calories burned, number calories burned
The mortar and pestle were important tools for apothecaries.
Mystery and intrigue surrounded apothecaries of the Middle Ages, but by the colonial era in the 17th and 18th centuries, the trade had developed into a sort of medical profession. Colonial apothecaries prescribed pharmaceutical and natural remedies for illness, aided in childbirth and performed minor surgeries, including tooth extractions. Apothecaries, or their apprentices, had several of trade tools on hand for house calls.
Mortar and Pestle
An apothecary usually made his own medicines and treatments. This he did by grinding herbs, plants and other substances by using a mortar and pestle. The apothecary might prepare his remedies in his shop, but some treatments might require fresh preparation. The mortar and pestle were so recognizable to the trade that some apothecaries marked their shops with signs bearing the image of these tools.
Surgical Instruments
Apothecaries treated injuries, including broken bones. They also helped with childbirth and so carried forceps and surgical knives to aid in the procedure. Another common surgical tool was the lancet, a small knife used to cut abscesses or draw blood. Bloodletting originated in ancient Greece and Egypt to treat fevers, headaches and other inexplicable ailments. By colonial times, the procedure was almost 2,500 years old. As an alternative to placing a lancet into the vein of an ill patient, apothecaries used leeches to drain blood.
Dental Instruments
Colonial people cleaned their teeth with gargles, scrapers or roots shaped into brushes. Tooth decay and other oral problems commonly ailed them. An apothecary or his apprentice performed many tooth extractions with specialized tools. These included: Tooth Keys, which looked like colonial door keys for removal of lower molars; Goat's Foot elevators to lift a tooth from the bone; and Pelicans, named because this tool that used leverage to loosen an infected tooth resembled the bird. Unfortunately for colonial patients, anesthesia was not used in tooth extractions until the mid-1800s.
Medical Manuals and Textbooks
Apothecaries learned their trade by working for several years as an apprentice, by observing in hospitals, by attending lectures, and by consulting medical manuals and textbooks. Many of these books that date to the colonial era still survive in the National Library of Medicine. Apothecaries carried manuals to consult on the treatment of diseases, surgical procedures, medical theories, the uses of certain drugs and medicinal recipes.
Tags: tooth extractions, mortar pestle, mortar pestle were, pestle were
Translating handwriting into clear, usable computer data is no easy task.
Handwriting recognition is the translation of handwritten documents into digital data that can be used by a computer. Typically, this data is then translated into digital text. There are two general types of handwriting recognition: offline recognition and online recognition.
Significance
Handwriting recognition software is typically used in PDAs and touch-screen computers, such as tablet computers, so users may input handwritten text and forgo the use of keyboards. For people using languages which use characters other than European type, such as Asian or Middle Eastern, handwriting recognition allows a more natural method of character input. For example, to input Japanese characters via a keyboard, users typically must translate the sound units of the character into their European alphabet counterparts, type those on a keyboard and then select by mouse the correct character from a variety of choices presented. Handwriting recognition avoids this problem by allowing the user to directly input the character.
Offline Recognition
Offline handwritten character recognition is related to the letter codes that can be used in computers and text-processing applications. Once the images of handwritten characters have been entered into the computer, certain software applications automatically convert these images into the appropriate letter codes, a type of data usable by text-processing applications. This data is considered static. One of the principal drawbacks with offline recognition is different people have a different handwriting style, making offline handwritten character recognition comparatively difficult. The term "offline" has nothing to do with the Internet; "offline" refers to the fact the handwriting scanned and translated in this process was first produced outside of a computer.
Offline Method of Input
Offline character recognition usually requires users to scan documents containing handwritten text. The computer software must then extract individual characters from the scanned document to be translated into a letter code. There are several methods for achieving this extraction, though all of them have certain limitations leading to errors, the most common being two or more characters are mistaken for a single character and translated as an image rather than a letter code.
Online Recognition
As with offline recognition, online recognition requires the automatic conversion of handwritten text into letter codes usable within computer and text-processing applications. However, online recognition makes use of text derived from a device such as a digitizer or PDA, and the resulting data is regarded as a dynamic representation of handwriting.
Online Method of Input
Online recognition relies on input via a touch-screen device, such as a stylus, and software which can interpret the movements of the pen across the writing surface and translate these into digital text.
Acceptance
The public has had a significant amount of time to get used to handwriting recognition as a method of entering data into computers; however, the keyboard input is still regarded as quicker and more reliable. Handwriting recognition software and hardware developers are working to eliminate the difficulties inherent in handwriting recognition, but accuracy still remains a problem as of June 2010.
Tags: character recognition, Handwriting recognition, handwritten text, into digital, letter codes, text-processing applications
High blood pressure is the first step leading to heart disease and, if left untreated, can result in more-dangerous health conditions such as a heart attack or stroke. The American Heart Association states that 74.5 million Americans have high blood pressure. People with very high blood pressure rely on prescription medications to control it. However, people who are prehypertensive (a blood pressure reading of 130/90 or lower) may be able to lower their blood pressure with natural remedies. Here are natural remedies to lower high blood pressure.
Instructions
1. Eating salmon is one way to reduce blood pressure.
Add fish oil to your daily diet. Eating more cold-water fish or taking fish oil supplements will decrease inflammation and thin the blood, which results in lower blood pressure. Salmon, halibut, tuna, mackerel and sardines are excellent food sources. Another option is to take 500 to 1,000 mg of fish oil supplements each day.
2. Take coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements. CoQ10 makes the heart beat stronger, increases oxygen in the blood, increases blood flow and strengthens blood vessel walls while relaxing the blood vessels to lower blood pressure. Taking CoQ10 along with certain prescription blood pressure medications improves the effectiveness of the medication. The recommended dose of CoQ10 is 50 to 100 mg per day, and it is available in tablet or capsule form.
3. Dandelion leaf is a natural diuretic that lowers blood pressure.
Use dandelion leaf to reduce blood pressure safely. Dandelion leaf works the same as a diuretic to reduce blood volume, which lowers blood pressure. It also contains potassium, an essential nutrient that is generally lost when using synthetic diuretics. Dandelion leaf is available in capsule form and as a tea.
4. Take hawthorne capsules or tea to reduce high blood pressure. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that the herb hawthorne improves blood flow, prevents the buildup of plaque in arteries, acts as a mild diuretic and relaxes blood vessels.
5. Walnuts are a good source of arginine.
Add foods rich in arginine to your diet. Arginine (also known as L-arginine) is an essential amino acid that works to dilate arteries to improve blood flow and thin the blood. Arginine is a component of many foods, including nuts, lean red meat, poultry, fish, seeds, soy foods, legumes and dairy products. It is also available in supplement form.
6. Exercise daily to control weight and lower blood pressure.
Start an exercise program to maintain a healthy weight. The AHA states that exercise on a daily basis assists in maintaining a healthy weight, which is important in lowering blood pressure. The AHA suggests exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week with at least 15 minutes each day being some form of cardiovascular exercise.
Tags: blood pressure, high blood, blood flow, Dandelion leaf, high blood pressure, natural remedies
Even though we cannot see them at birth, baby teeth are already present below the gums. These teeth take generally six to eight months to break the surface, but some babies will be teething as early as 3 months old.
Baby Teeth
While baby teeth are the "starter" teeth, they do serve an essential role in development.
Falling Out
Because they fall out, baby teeth are also termed deciduous teeth. The roots begin to disintegrate around 5 years old and fall out in preparation of adult teeth. Most adults have a full set of permanent teeth by age 21.
The Difference
Baby teeth and adult teeth are genetically the same, the only difference being size. As your mouth grows, your teeth must grow as well.
Purpose
Each tooth has a purpose. Incisors act as a knife and shovel to cut food and move it toward the back. To crush food, premolars are flat for chewing. With a long root structure, canine teeth are meant to pull and tear.
Care
All tooth enamel is the same and must be cared for. A dental checkup is recommended within six months of the first tooth appearing.
Lap-Bands are filled by injecting saline solution into a port
A Lap-Band is a silicone band that is placed around the stomach to limit the amount of food a person can eat in order to facilitate weight loss. Doctors adjust the tightness of the band by injecting saline solution into the band through a port that lies just below the skin.
Post-Surgery Pain
After Lap-Band placement, patients often feel some pain over the port site for several days. This pain is usually not severe and is usually well controlled with pain medication.
Pain During Fills
Doctors fill the Lap-Band with saline solution by injecting it with a fine needle through the port. Patients report that fills are not very painful and usually hurt less than getting an intramuscular injection or having blood drawn.
Erosion
Occasionally the Lap-Band causes erosion of the stomach. Symptoms of erosion include pain over the port site along with redness and swelling. Treatment usually involves removing the band.
Infection
If the port area becomes infected, patients may experience pain there. Infection must often be treated by replacing the port or removing the band.
Types of Bands
The Lap-Band is a specific type of adjustable gastric band. Other types of bands include the Realize band. Because the Realize band port is not attached to the stomach with sutures, patients may experience less pain at the port site than Lap-Band patients.
Tags: port site, saline solution, injecting saline, injecting saline solution, over port
Our feet take a beating on a daily basis. The primary cause of foot pain is injury to the foot, shoes that don't fit properly and overuse of our feet, according to the Mayo Clinic. (See Additional Resources.) Other conditions, such as arthritis and structural defects, can lead to foot problems. If our foot function is impaired, it makes life very difficult.
Reflexology
Try reflexology to soothe your foot pain. Reflexology consists of pressure therapy. This technique has been used for thousands of years in India, China and Egypt as a means of banishing pain and curing and preventing disease. Reflexology is based on the premise that certain reflex points (or nerve zones) travel from the bottom of our feet to the very top of our head. These points include all of our vital organs. When pressure is applied by a trained reflexologist to energy lines, or the meridians, on the sole and the sides of the feet, this can determine the cause of someone's illness and pain.
Acupressure
Another approach is acupressure. Michael Reed Gach, director of the Acupressure Institute of Berkeley, Calif., and author of Acupressure's Potent Point (See Additional Resources), recommends pressing on the top of the foot in the valley located between the second toe and the big toe to relieve pain in the big toe. Keep pressing on this spot for 60 seconds. If you are having foot cramps, press the upper arch of the foot, approximately one thumb's width from the ball of the foot. Do this for one minute.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy, as unlikely as it may sound, might help reduce your foot pain. Judith Jackson, author of Scentual Touch: A Personal Guide to Aromatherapy, recommends soaking your feet in 10 drops each of lavender and juniper essential oil, which you add to 2 quarts of warm water. Soak your feet for 10 minutes.
Apis, Sulfur, Graphite
If your feet are swollen and are stinging and burning, take a dose of Apis three times a day, recommends Dr. Andrew Lockie, author of the book The Family Guide to Homeopathy. Lockie notes that sulfur will help if you have burning feet, especially at night. If your feet burn when you walk, he recommends taking Graphite 6C three times daily. These products are available in health stores. He advises using these remedies for three weeks. If they don't help, see a homeopath or physician.
Stretching
Stretch the foot first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed and before you put any pressure on it. Another technique, this one recommended by Holistic-health-coaches.com (See References 2), is to place a rolling pin or tennis ball beneath your foot and use the arch of your foot to roll it. After you master this, stand up and do the exercise.
Shoes
Get yourself some shoes that fit well and are comfortable and provide you with support. Add insoles. According to Holistic-health-coaches.com, supportive insoles/arch supports, along with exercise, will lessen your foot pain over time.
Tags: your foot, your feet, foot pain, your foot pain, Additional Resources, Cures Foot, Cures Foot Pain
If you've ever gotten a nasty sunburn or grabbed a hot pan off of the stove, you know how badly even mildly burnt skin can hurt. Depending on the severity and cause of your burn, the method of treatment can range from simple to complex, so determine your type of burn before you attempt to treat it.
Severe burns
There are three degrees of burn that can affect various parts of the body. Burns are rated on a medical scale in degrees from first to third.
Only first degree burns can be treated safely at home.
If you suffer from a second or third degree burn, which may feature blistering, extensive skin peeling or a large, gaping wound caused by the burn, you must seek medical attention immediately as these burns cannot be treated at home.
Promote healing
To promote the proper healing of a burn, it is extremely important to remain hydrated. Drink plenty of water, as burned skin tends to become dried out. Dry skin will have a harder time healing and takes longer to heal than does healthy, supple skin.
Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and fiber will also help the burn heal faster. If your insides are running on all eight cylinders, your outside will naturally heal more quickly.
If the burn is localized, you may want to apply a petroleum-based antibacterial tincture to its surface area. A triple-antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin will not only keep invading bacteria at bay, but it will promote healing because the petroleum compounds in the ointment seal water into your skin. Cover the area with a bandage and redress and treat the burn every day until the burn is healed completely.
If the burn covers a large portion of your body, such as with a sunburn, applying a moisturizing cream or lotion not only feels good, but it aids in the healing process by keeping the affected area moist.
In addition to eating healthily and slathering on lotions and ointments, get plenty of rest. Skin repairs itself extensively during sleep, so getting plenty of zzz's is crucial to helping skin heal in a timely fashion.
Pain relief
If pain is an issue, take some acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to help ease the discomfort.
Applying special creams and salves to a burn can also ease pain. In a spray bottle, combine one part white vinegar or lemon juice to three parts cool water and spray directly on the burn. Pain can be effectively relieved for several hours with these simple sprays, which are all natural and non-toxic.
Other easy pain-relief healing options include spreading cold cream (such as Noxema brand) or placing wet tea bags directly onto the burn. Alternatively, you may also steep tea and place into a spray bottle for easier application.
There are many myths circulating about conceive a girl.
There is much folklore and myths to help couples choose the gender of their baby they hope to conceive. As odd as they may seem, desperate parents-to-be will try almost anything in hopes of having a baby girl. When the couple achieves success, this helps perpetuate the myth, though they have no factual, scientific backing.
Timing
Timing might be everything. According to several myths, your chances of conceiving a girl are highest if you have sex in the afternoon, or when the moon is full. Having intercourse only on even days of the month is another wives tale to choosing the baby's gender. The Chinese have an ancient calendar that was used to help the mother choose the sex by dictating what month to have sex in, which was factored by the mother's age.
Sex
Some old wives tales state the position of sexual intercourse will determine the baby's gender. For a girl, the missionary position should be used, or the woman should be on top. If the woman initiates sex, and or has an orgasm before her partner, the woman will conceive a daughter.
Shettles Method
The Shettles method is used to conceive either a girl or boy. It is a technique developed by a doctor who believes that having sex at just the right time in the right position can help the parents decide what gender they would like to have. To have a girl, intercourse should occur 2-1/2 to 3 hours before ovulation, but no later. The man should not penetrate the woman entirely. The Shettles method calls this "shallow" sex. According to this technique, male sperm are fast and die quicker than sperm that result in females. Following the method helps aid the female sperm fertilize the egg first.
Bizarre Tales
There are some myths that are just odd. One states that if your youngest child has a hairline on the back of the neck that comes to a point, or looks like a duck tail, then a girl will come next. Women used to believe that placing a pink ribbon under the pillow would help increase the odds of having a girl -- while others believe that if the mother is the dominating personality in the relationship, a girl will be conceived.
Diet
Changing your diet could also help your chances of conceiving a girl. According to some folklore, female sperm favors a more acidic environment. The acid is believed to kill sperm that make baby boys, so that the female sperm are the only ones left to fertilize the egg. A mother-to-be should eat plenty of foods that are highly acidic, such as oranges, to help her odds.
An aneurysm refers to a condition where there is a bulging in the wall of an artery. Arteries, which carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to various areas in the body, can enlarge and burst, leading to serious internal bleeding, and even death.
Identification
The wall of the aorta has three layers; the tough outer layer, a middle layer formed by smooth cells and a thin inner layer. The type of aortic aneurysm depends on the location in the aorta, the shape of the aneurysm and the conditions under which it occurred.
Types
A true aortic aneurysm is one that penetrates all three layers of the aortic wall; a pseudoaneurysm occurs when just the tough, outer layer is involved.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
The most common type of aortic aneurysms, they occur in the section of the aorta that is in the abdomen; most abdominal aortic aneurysms are caused by atherosclerosis.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms
Thoracic aortic aneurysms are most common in patients with connective tissue disorders, prolonged high blood pressure, or patients who have had previous injuries to that area.
Dissecting Aneurysms
When there is a tear in the wall of the aorta, three layers separate from one another, causing the wall to weaken and enlarge.
Fusiform Aneurysms
A fusiform aneurysm causes a localized widening or dilation of the artery. It looks like a symmetrical bulge, leaving the wall susceptible to rupture.
Tags: three layers, aorta three, aorta three layers, aortic aneurysm, Aortic Aneurysms, aortic aneurysms, most common
Bipolar disorder is a heterogeneous mental illness. This means it can present itself in many different ways. The two most recognized forms are mania (elevated mood and activity) and depression (decreased energy and mood). Individuals who suffer from bipolar disorder will experience significant psychological swings in both directions. Diagnosis is characterized into four distinct categories: bipolar 1, bipolar 2, cyclothymia and bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified). The following represents the established criteria for diagnosing bipolar 1 disorder.
Primary Source
The criteria most often used for the diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder comes from the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," 4th Edition (DSM-IV-TR), published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Secondary Source
The secondary source used for diagnosing bipolar 1 disorder is the "International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems" (ICD-10) and is published by the World Health Organization.
Criteria
According to the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV-TR), a patient must experience at least one manic or depressive episode before he can be diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder.
Considerations
While the APA reports that most bipolar 1 patients meet the criteria for diagnosis after experiencing a depressive episode, the first bipolar experience does not always have to be depressive. Though not common, diagnosis of bipolar 1 can be made upon a single manic, hypomanic or mixed episode as well.
Methods
While using the established APA criteria, the diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder also depends upon an assessment of the individual that specifically evaluates the presence of particular bipolar signs or symptoms and the duration of each as they occur.
Tags: bipolar disorder, diagnosis bipolar, American Psychiatric, American Psychiatric Association, criteria diagnosis, depressive episode
A tummy tuck is a procedure where excess abdomen skin and fat is removed. The abdominal muscles and skin can become stretched due to multiple pregnancies or excessive weight gain. As a result, abdominal muscles will begin to protrude due to loss of tightness. The abdominal skin will become slack as a result of loss of elasticity. People may choose to receive a tummy tuck in order to regain a tighter looking stomach. It is important that if you want to lose weight, to do so prior to getting a tummy tuck. When you lose weight after a tummy tuck, this can result in the appearance of excess skin.
Expectations
After the procedure has been performed, your stomach will either be stapled or sutured shut. Protective gauze will be wrapped in order to prevent infection from occurring. Drains may be placed during surgery. The drains help to prevent seromas from developing. Seromas are fluid filled sacs that can develop within your incision. If your surgeon doesn't place drains, you will need to to visit your doctor so that fluid can be removed with a syringe.
Time Frame
You may need to wear drains for several weeks. Your doctor will advise you on how you must empty the drains, and it is important you follow these instructions in order to prevent the possibility of infection. After your surgery, you will have to wear what is known as an abdominal binder. This will need to be worn for up to six weeks, depending on how your sutures are healing. It is important that you wear the abdominal binder, as this can help support the abdominal area while healing, as well as minimize fluid retention. Stitches are usually removed within a week or two after your surgery.
Swelling
Getting a tummy tuck is major surgery. Since the abdominal muscles are stretched, realigned, as well as skin being removed and sutured, you can expect to feel pain. Pain varies from patient to patient, but any discomfort can be alleviated with medication prescribed by your doctor. Swelling will be significant and according to the Mayo Clinic, swelling can last from six weeks to three months.
Activities
After your receive a tummy tuck, you will be in no condition to do your usual activities. You will need to rest for a few days in order to reduce symptoms associated with pain. It may help to have your legs slightly elevated while in bed (place two pillows under your legs) to help minimize strain on your abdominal muscles.
Recovery
Recovery time varies from individual to individual. Recovery time also depends on whether you received a full tummy tuck or partial tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck is more invasive since the surgical incision expands completely across the abdomen and reconstruction of the abdomen is done both above and below the navel. A partial tummy tuck has smaller incision scars and is done on areas that are below the navel. For a full tummy tuck, healing and fading of scars and bruising can take up to three months. A partial tummy tuck may take up to two weeks to heal.
Risks
As with any major surgery, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) does come with some risks. It is common for your doctor to have you sign a consent form so that you are aware of potential complications. These risks can include, unsightly scarring, bleeding, infection, fluid retention, skin loss, poor healing, blood clots or an allergic reaction to anesthesia. Other complications can include nerve damage by accidental severing of nerves, swelling of the legs or undesired results. It is important that if you begin to experience a fever (above 101 degrees F), chills, and nausea/vomiting that you seek immediate medical attention, as this can be a sign of infection.
Tags: tummy tuck, abdominal muscles, full tummy, full tummy tuck, important that
A carrot poultice is used to treat illnesses and infections.
A carrot poultice works as an alternative healing therapy for sore throats. It can also be used to draw toxins from the lymph glands by stimulating the lymph system. The poultice helps cleanse the blood in the body by helping new white blood cells form, which in turn kill harmful viruses and bacteria in the blood that cause infections. With serious throat infections, healing herbs are mixed into the poultice to help soothe and treat the infection more aggressively.
Instructions
1. Wash two or three carrots and peel them, if you prefer.
2. Place the grater onto a glass cutting board and grate the carrots into a poultice. Do not use wooden or plastic cutting boards because the orange carrot juice will stain them. You can also process the carrots in a food processor.
3. Place the carrot poultice into the bowl and add 10 drops of goldenseal tincture and 15 drops of echinacea tincture. Mix gently.
4. Place the poultice into the center of the cheese cloth and fold the ends of the cloth in towards the center as if you were folding a letter to fit in an envolpe. Then take the ends and fold them under to create a square compress to place on the neck area.
Tags: carrot poultice, into poultice, poultice into
Infertility is a common issue for couples trying to conceive, affecting approximately 10 to 15% of couples in the United States. Infertility can cause a great deal of emotional stress, as well as require extensive medical care to rectify. Learn about the types of infertility, the causes and the ways to overcome infertility below.
Identification
Infertility is defined as a couple not being able to conceive while having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year. There are many causes of infertility in both men and women, as well as possible treatment options to allow for successful conception. When a couple suspects they may be infertile, the first thing to do is to see a doctor. Most likely, the couple will be referred to a reproductive endocrinologist, who specializes in infertility. The RE will proceed to assess the couple and perform tests of their reproductive systems. When the cause of infertility has been identified, the reproductive endocrinologist will propose a course of action for treatment.
Types
The two main types of infertility are:
- Primary Infertility, in which a couple has never been able to conceive.
- Secondary Infertility, in which a couple has already conceived in the past and carried to full term, but is suddenly unable to conceive again.
There are a few more classifications that break down the types of infertility even further. For example, there is "Combined Infertility," which is characterized by both the male and female partner having fertility disorders, thus increasing the difficulty in conceiving. About 15% of infertile couples are said to have "Unexplained Infertility," which means that neither partner has shown any abnormalities in their reproductive system, but still cannot conceive. This can be due to many reasons, such as poor quality of the woman's eggs, sub-optimal ovulation timing and the egg not reaching the fallopian tubes.
Significance
There are many causes for male and female infertility. For males, the most common causes are low sperm count or function, poor delivery of sperm, general health issues (obesity, alcohol/drug abuse and emotional stress, to name a few), and overexposure to certain environmental elements, such as pesticides or lead. For women, most commonly infertility stems from fallopian tube blockage, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, ovulation disorders and early menopause. A woman may also experience infertility from benign uterine fibroids or pelvic adhesions.
Prevention/Solution
There are many treatments for the variety of fertility issues in men and women that vary from lifestyle changes to medication and/or surgery.
In men, it is common to use hormones or surgery to improve sperm count and function. In extreme cases of blockage or poor ejaculation, sperm can be taken directly from the testicles (called surgical sperm aspiration) and injected into an egg in a laboratory (in vitro fertilization). Removing a toxin from the environment, making lifestyle changes or correcting or managing a medical issue can also improve a man's infertility.
Since female infertility is much more complicated and multi-faceted, there are many possible treatments, depending on the cause of the infertility. For women with disorders that interfere with ovulation, the most common treatment is medication, such as Clomid (a drug that stimulates ovulation) and Metformin (a drug that has been shown to boost ovulation in women with PCOS). Surgery is also an option, especially for blockages or damage to the fallopian tubes. Lastly, many women rely on assisted reproductive technology (ART) to become pregnant. The most common forms of ART are:
- In vitro fertilization: The most effective technique, this consists of removing eggs from a woman and fertilizing them in a laboratory with a man's sperm sample (the male partner's or a donor's). This is commonly used when both fallopian tubes are blocked or endometriosis, unexplained infertility and ovulation disorders.
- Intra-uterine insemination: This procedure injects a man's sperm (the male partner's sperm or a donor's) into the uterus at the time of ovulation to fertilize a waiting egg. In most cases, it is used when a man is incapable of producing viable sperm or has poor sperm motility..
Time Frame
Many couples struggle with the decision of when to seek medical help when they are having difficulty conceiving. According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, if the woman is under the age of 35, a couple should seek medical assistance after trying to conceive for 12 months without success. For women over the age of 35, couples should see a doctor if they have been unable to conceive after six months of trying. The reason for the difference in time frame is that, as a female ages, the quality of her eggs decline and she should not wait as long to seek medical advice.
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