Bedbugs are parasitic insects that, according to the U.S. Armed Forces Pest Management Board, typically reach from 5 mm to 7 mm in size when fully grown. Adult bedbugs that have recently fed are the largest type.
Types
According to Bedbugger.com, bed bugs have six life stages: five stages as nymphs and one final adult stage.
Size
The smallest bedbug is the newly born nymph, which is less than a millimeter in length. The largest bedbug is the adult, which can be up to 7 mm long.
Considerations
Bedbugs that have recently fed on blood increase in length and thickness. Their bodies, normally oval-shaped, extend into a swollen oblong.
Significance
Bedbugs' small size and flat body allow them to hide in narrow crevices, making their detection and elimination difficult.
Misconceptions
According to AskTheExterminator.com, it's a common misconception that bedbugs are invisible to the naked eye. During the adult stage, they averages a thickness of 5.5 mm, quite large enough to be observed. They are especially visible when filled with blood, which gives them a red-brown color.
Tags: adult stage, have recently, that have, that have recently
The safest way to make iodine from a tincture is with kelp. Kelp and other sea vegetables have the highest plant sources of iodine. The George Mateljan Foundation states that kelp has 276.7 percent of the recommended daily value of iodine in 20 grams, or 1/4 cup powdered kelp. Tincturing kelp turns it into an herbal iodine tincture.
Making kelp tincture is relatively easy to do. Make sure the source of kelp is organic and from as unpolluted waters as possible. Traditionally, tincturing is begun on the new moon and harvested on the full moon.
Instructions
Start the Tincture
1. Have on hand a clean, quart-sized Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. A Kerr or Ball canning jar with a seal and rim is best.
2. Pour organic kelp powder from a reputable supplier into the jar. Fill the jar halfway with kelp.
3. Pour inexpensive 100 proof vodka over the kelp powder. Vodka is the menstruum which will pull the essential oils out of the kelp and into the tincture. Pour vodka until there is a two-inch "float'" of vodka above the level of the kelp powder.
4. Observe as the kelp expands. Close the jar, shake it, and allow the kelp to settle. Add more vodka until there is a two-inch "float" again.
5. Repeat Step 4 over the course of an hour. Keep adding vodka until it looks like the kelp will no longer expand.
6. Label the jar "Kelp Tincture" and mark the date you started it. Keep the tincture jar on a countertop or other visible place. Over the next three days, shake the jar every time you pass by it.
Macerating the Herbs
7. Pour the contents of the entire jar into a Vitamix or blender on the third day after the tincture was started. Use a spatula if needed.
8. Give the kelp tincture a good whirl for a few minutes. Pour the kelp back into the jar. Use the spatula to get the kelp off the bottom of the blender.
9. Add more vodka to get the two-inch float above the kelp mash. Screw on the lid. Shake well, and allow the kelp to tincture for a solid two weeks. Shake the jar once a day. Mark a calendar as a reminder.
Harvesting the Tincture
10. Gather together a clean, medium-sized glass or porcelain bowl and a clean, 100 percent cotton dish towel or nut milk bag. Try to avoid metal or plastic bowls, if at all possible. Lay the dish towel open in the bowl.
11. Pour the contents of the jar onto the dish towel in the bowl. Grab the ends of the dish towel, and wring out the tincture into the bowl. Squeeze as hard as you can to get every drop of tincture possible.
12. Discard the kelp in the compost pile.
13. Use a funnel to pour the tincture into amber glass bottles with eye droppers. Close the bottles.
14. Label the bottles "Kelp Tincture," and mark the date it was bottled.
There are generally only three options available for unplanned pregnancies. Keeping the baby, adoption and abortion. As more and more people view abortion as the unnecessary end to a life, they are seeking out alternatives to abortion. Below, you will find information on keeping your baby and on adoption.
Misconceptions
The most popular misconception about abortion alternatives is that there is none. When a woman has an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy, things can seem hopeless. You may think that there is no other option than to get rid of the unborn baby. Often times, however, women who have abortions are often left feeling a lifetime of regret and sorrow for the life they terminated. The only alternatives are to either keep your baby and raise it yourself or put your baby up for adoption; neither of which are going to be easy but it will allow your baby the chance to live a full and happy life.
Another misconception is that women who give up their babies for adoption never see or hear from them again. While in some cases (closed adoption), this is true, there are other types of adoption which provide the birth mother more options of at least knowing about the future well-being of her child.
The Facts
There are three types of adoption: Closed (no contact), semi-open (no contact but you receive updates and pictures of your child), and open (contact allowed with the child but adoptive parents retain all parental rights). If you find yourself in a situation where you know you cannot provide for your baby and/or wish your baby to have a better life than what you can provide, then you should consider one of these types of adoptions.
There are millions of couples who want to adopt an infant or newborn child. Many of these couples cannot have children of their own and wish to give their love and support to a child. How can you know that a couple is going to take good care of your baby?
First, most adoption agencies are diligent when choosing who becomes adoptive parents. Prospective parents are undergo background checks, and are evaluated according to financial status, mental stability tests, and the like. This helps alleviate a birth mother's worries about the care for her baby. Birth mothers also often get to choose for herself the couple that she will give her baby to. She will often get to converse with them, get to know them, discuss their views and beliefs to ensure that they match her own.
Risk Factors
The same risk factor applies when considering adoption over raising the baby yourself. You cannot predict the future. Of course, you want to protect your baby as much as possible but there will be situations in your life and in an adoptive parent's life that is beyond your control.
If you decide to place your child with adoptive parents and later learn that your child is not being cared for properly, contact the original adoptive agency. You can also hire a lawyer to help you.
Benefits
Choosing to raise your baby or find adoptive parents for him or her means that your baby will live and that is the best benefit of all. By allowing your baby the chance at life, you are giving the world a chance to eventually see what he or she has to offer.
Effects
The long-term effects to raising a baby yourself isn't different from any other parent's. There will be difficult times, but there's rarely a parent out there who says that it wasn't worth the struggle. The love you feel for your child lasts a lifetime and that overshadows any difficulty in raising them.
The long-term effects of adoption are often debated. Pro-abortion advocates say that adopted children often feel resentment and that birth mothers often feel a great deal of shame. However, after talking with several mothers who gave their child up for adoption and talking with several adults who were adopted as a child or baby, I've found a general consensus among them. They thank the birth mothers for realizing their plight and for allowing their baby to live a better life. Not a single adoptee stated that they would've rather been aborted. The adoptive parents also stated they felt more complete and felt like their lives had more meaning after they adopted their child.
Tags: your baby, adoptive parents, your child, baby adoption, baby chance
More and more children today are being diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). While children with ADHD will have issues with paying attention and generally are always in motion, symptoms can sometimes be misinterpreted and the children blamed as being willful or "bad seeds."
Socialization
Children with ADHD, especially at younger ages, have trouble getting along with other children. They can be aggressive and have little impulse control like waiting their turn in line.
Quiet Time
Children with ADHD don't like quiet time. They seek out greater stimuli (e.g. loud music) and tend to talk or sing constantly.
Inability to Sit Still
As the name suggests, these children are hyperactive. When sitting in a chair, they constantly tap their pencils or rotate their seats--if they can even remain in their seats.
Procrastination
Because children with ADHD are constantly looking for new sensory stimulation, they have trouble completing tasks on time. They constantly find other things to do before doing what is being asked of them.
Attention to Detail
Children with ADHD find the slightest noises or details fascinating. This is usually problematic unless their detailed attention can be directed toward something that is a requested task.
Tags: with ADHD, Children with, children with, Children with ADHD, children with ADHD, have trouble
People with autism typically have a delay in speech or social skills, mixed with some behavioral symptoms. The severity of abilities and behaviors varies widely on the autism spectrum. A person with high-functioning autism can function in more typical settings than someone with a more severe form of autism.
Misconceptions
The symptoms of autism can range from classic autism to high-functioning autism to Asperger's syndrome. Often the stereotype associated with autism is of a child rocking in a corner or banging their head against the wall. There is the belief that people with autism do not want to interact, when in reality they have not been taught and it does not come instinctively. People with autism have a delay in their ability to communicate or socialize. They rely on strict routines, are slow to process information, struggle with sensory processing, demonstrate a lack of intuition in social situations and display repetitive behaviors. Not all people with autism have all of these attributes, but most struggle with a variety of these symptoms.
Features
So, what is high-functioning autism? Generally a person with a higher functioning ability in autism responds quickly to interventions, such as behavioral or speech therapies. They are able to interact at a higher level with typical peers. People with high-functioning autism make huge gains in their road to recovery. For example, a person with high-functioning autism grasps language skills or can be taught to respond appropriately to social situations.
Identification
How can you tell if someone has high-functioning autism? As a child, there are usually language delays in a person with high-functioning autism. While they do learn and grasp new things, there is delay in the process. There may also be behavioral challenges that can often be tied to the language delays. A child with high-functioning autism may use tantrums or screaming in new situations or unfamiliar territory. This can come out of fear of respond or out of frustration that they do not have the language skills to cope. A person with high-functioning autism may also display repetitive behaviors such as a hand flapping or pacing a room. Some of these behaviors are comforting and others are a result of high sensory issues. While a person may be high functioning in some areas, there may be other areas of low functioning. For example, a person with autism may excel in one academic area higher than peers, yet be slow to grasp social innuendos or subtleties in conversation.
Prevention/Solution
The earlier a child gets intervention for high-functioning autism, the better the chances for recovery. Which therapies a person gets or uses depends greatly on the symptoms. Common treatments for high-functioning autism may include speech and occupational therapy, behavioral therapy and special diets. Opportunities to role play real-life settings are very effective too, such as play therapy, role model videos and social skills classes. These all provide people with high-functioning autism the opportunity to learn play and interact. The effectiveness of each therapy is debatable, but what is a known fact is the earlier the intervention, the better.
Potential
Many people with high-functioning autism progress to a level where their autism symptoms are hardly noticeable. Others even have the autism label removed as they become closer to their typical peers. The potential to progress on the spectrum of autism is without limits. There are setbacks, however, in each therapy and the road to recovery is a long one with lots of hard work. No two people with high-functioning autism are alike, thus the results in progress differ widely too. However, many have reached a potential higher than ever predicted by doctors or psychologists.
Tags: high-functioning autism, with high-functioning, with high-functioning autism, person with, with autism
Proper care and maintenance of your nebulizer are crucial to keeping it working as long as possible. Maintenance tasks like cleaning and changing out the air filter on your nebulizer are especially important when you or a family member is already in respiratory distress. Follow these steps to clean your nebulizer air filter quickly and easily and keep your machine in top form.
Instructions
1. Clean the filter as often as necessary. The timing will depend on how often you use your machine. If you use your nebulizer every day, you should clean the filter about once a week. If you use it only on occasion, then once a month is probably fine.
2. Locate the air filter. This is usually right behind the hose connection on the compressor, so gently pry the cover off to expose the filter underneath. The filter should be fairly small, about the size of a quarter in most machines.
3. Wash the filter in warm, soapy water. Gently squeeze the filter a few times to get the soap deep inside the filter. Then run the filter under tap water for a minute or two until the water runs clear and stops bubbling from the soap.
4. Shake off the excess water, then lay the air filter out on a clean, dry kitchen towel for an hour or two to air dry. You need to make sure that it's completely dry to avoid mold and mildew from forming in your machine.
Tetracycline is an antibiotic commonly used to treat young people for acne. From the 1950s until 1980, it was given to children. The age is significant, since tetracycline will deposit in teeth that are still forming, leaving a dark stain that can be striated or cover the whole tooth. Tetracycline administration before the age of 8 is no longer done. The stains are medically harmless but unsightly. Teeth whitening is an insufficient treatment, since the stains are deeply embedded in the tooth enamel. Instead, (translucent) veneers are the standard approach to cover the stains.
Instructions
1. Find a dentist with experience in veneers to hide tetracycline stains. This is actually not so easy. You may want to go directly to a cosmetic dentist.
2. Attempt teeth whitening (with the traditional carbamide peroxide) if your case is mild (it does not go deep into the tooth). According to Dr. David Hall, you should insist on dentist-supervised, at-home tooth whitening, where you can take the trays home and do it yourself. The cost savings over having the doctor do it for you in the office is tremendous.
3. Have veneers cover up stained teeth in the front of the mouth. The dentist will cement them in place after shaping the teeth a little.
4. Have a dental crown made to cap the surface of any back tooth that is particularly stained.
Lyme disease affects over 20,000 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is particularly prevalent in the Northeastern United States and in a few states in the Midwest, although cases have been reported throughout the country. If you are concerned that you might have Lyme disease, prompt treatment is recommended to avoid chronic problems due to the infection.
Identification
The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, commonly found in mice and deer, causes Lyme disease infections. A tick bites an infected animal and then bites a person, transmitting the bacterium through the bite. Because ticks are often difficult to see, it is possible to be infected and not even realize it until you develop the symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms
Erythema migrans, commonly called a "bull's-eye" rash, is usually the first symptom of Lyme disease. The rash consists of an outer red ring, a clear middle ring and a red center area. The rash usually appears within a week or two of a tick bite, but it may take up to 30 days to appear. As the days go on, the rash may start to enlarge and you may notice secondary rashes on other areas of the body. Approximately 80 percent of people who are affected by Lyme disease develop the rash. Although the rash may feel warm if you touch it, it is not usually itchy or painful. If you have darker skin, it may be hard to spot the rash and you might mistake it for a bruise.
The rash usually disappears in about a month and can be accompanied by headache, muscle aches, fever, chills, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. Untreated Lyme disease can spread to other areas of the body, such as the heart, nervous system or joints, and may cause arthritis or cognitive deterioration. Bell's palsy, a temporary form of facial paralysis, can result from untreated Lyme disease, as can meningitis. Approximately 5 percent of untreated patients will develop chronic problems, such as numbness and tingling in hands or feet, trouble concentrating and shooting pains.
Risk Factors
People who spend time in the woods or in overgrown, grassy areas are more likely to come into contact with carrier ticks. Even if you don't take walks in the woods, your dog or cat can carry the infected ticks on its fur. You can be infected when your pet brushes against you and exposes your skin to the tick. Using a tick-control product on your pets can help reduce this possibility. Insect repellent is recommended if you spend a significant amount of time walking in grassy areas or in the woods.
Diagnosis
Viewing your rash will allow your doctor to make a Lyme disease diagnosis. If you can't see your doctor immediately, take a photograph of your rash and bring it with you when you do see your doctor. If the rash has already resolved or you never had a rash and your doctor suspects that you may have Lyme disease, he will order a blood test to detect Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies. It can take a while for these antibodies to develop and more than one test may be needed before a diagnosis can be made.
Treatment
Oral antibiotics are used to treat the early stage of Lyme disease and prevent complications from occurring. Antibiotics are usually given for three to four weeks, depending on the age of the patient and the type of antibiotic used. If Lyme disease is detected after the early stage, an intravenous antibiotic may be used for two to four weeks.
Tags: Lyme disease, your doctor, rash usually, antibiotic used, Approximately percent, areas body, Borrelia burgdorferi
A woman with large breasts who experiences back pain throughout her life may consider getting a breast reduction surgery. This would be done to alleviate back pain, as well as reduce her cup size considerably. The healing process could be lengthy, but may be worth it in the end. Complications could also arise, however, depending on the initial cup size and past health history.
Breast Reduction Defined
According to medterms.com, breast reduction is the "Surgical reduction of breast size in order to reduce the weight of the breasts and relieve symptoms from unusually large, pendulous breasts. The surgical procedure is also known as reduction mammaplasty." During the surgery, fat and skin are removed from the breasts. They are then reshaped into smaller breasts, and the nipple and areola are repositioned. The opposite procedure is called breast augmentation, or enlargement mammoplasty.
Pros
There are several positive outcomes to breast reduction surgery. According to sexdictionary.info, this procedure can make women more confident about their bodies and increase self esteem. Daily life and sports are also easier, as severe back pain is relieved. The procedure also reduces the pain and scarring bra straps cause when they dig into the shoulder skin. According to medterms.com, breast reduction surgery can cure the chronic skin irritation called intertriginous dermatitis, which is caused by the contact of the breasts and the lower chest wall.
Cons
Breast reduction surgery can also cause negative effects. There is always a chance for incision infections, as well as improper healing. The nipple area can become permanently numb, and breastfeeding infants can become more difficult, or even impossible. An article on medterms.org states that it is not recommended for underdeveloped girls to have the procedure done, as their breasts may continue to grow. There is also scar tissue that remains after healing is complete. The vertical line under part of the breast usually remains noticeable.
Considerations
It is important to consider the pros and cons of breast reduction surgery before having the procedure done. Some women have one breast that is much larger than the other and have reduction surgery strictly for cosmetic reasons. Your doctor may advise for or against seeing a plastic surgeon, depending on the severity of each individual's back pain, her breast size and specific health complications, if any.
Expert Insight
Fredric H. Corbin is a medical doctor who specialized in breast augmentation and breast reduction. Currently, he is a clinical instructor in plastic surgery at Western University of Health Sciences. In an online question-and-answer session, Dr. Corbin wrote, "If you haven't had a recent physical, it would be a good idea to get one. Do not keep pertinent physical and mental information from your plastic surgeon. Honesty is definitely the best policy when speaking with your doctor because it could ultimately affect your end result."
Tags: reduction surgery, back pain, breast reduction, According medterms, According medterms breast, breast augmentation, Breast Reduction
Lying in bed for a long period of time is generally depressing and boring for most patients. To lighten up their feelings, patients often ask for a change in position and surroundings. The only way to do this is to safely transfer the patient from bed to chair or wheelchair. Being transferred on a chair enables the patient to execute some slight movements that is beneficial in improving circulation. As for being transferred on a wheelchair, it serves as a way to transport a weak patient on hospital areas (such as x-ray or ultrasound rooms) to complete some laboratory examinations. It is also beneficial in transporting the patient for a change of scenery that will help brighten his mood and increase his chance for socialization. This type of transfer should be done with extreme caution. Proper handling of the patient and proper body mechanics of the handler must be applied in order to execute the task in the safest way possible. If the patient has enough body strength to move, it is best to make him help you with the maneuver.
Instructions
Transfer a Weak Patient from Bed to Chair/Wheelchair
1. Assess the patients’ overall strength and check for cognitive impairment. Examining the strength of the patient will help you set up a good plan for the maneuver -- whether he is strong enough to participate in the procedure or not. Checking the cognition of the patient will help you realize if he has the capability of understanding or following instructions.
2. Inform the patient about the procedure. If the patient wants to be transferred on a chair, explain the details of how the maneuver is done. And if there is a need for him to be transferred on a wheelchair, explain the purpose and destination of the transfer. Informing the patient about the actual maneuver will facilitate cooperation and will make him feel that he is being respected rather than being controlled.
3. Position the chair or wheelchair next to the bed facing the foot of the bed. Bring the chair as close as possible to reduce the distance of the transfer. If a wheelchair is used, make sure to lock its brake and fold the foot rests, as soon as you position it near the bed.
4. Adjust the height of the bed in its lowest position; this way it will be easy for the patient to step down on the floor, thus, decreasing the risk of injury from falling. Lock the brake of the bed and then assist the patient in doing side lying position, facing the direction of the transfer.
5. Lower the side rail of the bed and gradually raise the head of the bed up to a tolerable level. Constantly check the state of the patient when doing this procedure – make sure that the patient is not feeling dizzy or nauseous.
6. Place one arm under the shoulder of the patient and the other arm supporting the patients’ thigh on the opposite side (you are facing the patient when doing this maneuver). Count to three and then carefully swing the legs of the patient over the side of the bed and assist him in lifting his trunk and shoulders until he is in sitting position.If patient is strong enough to do some movements, allow the patient to participate on the maneuver. Ask patient to use the leg on the outer side of the bed to scoop the leg on the other side. Than carefully swing both his legs on the side of the bed and then assist him in lifting his trunk and shoulders until he is in sitting position.
7. Place your arms around the torso of the patient for support. Put one arm of the patient over your shoulder; while his other arm is extended on the bed, to help support the position. Instruct the patient to scoot over the edge of the bed until feet is flat on the floor.
8. Widen the distance of your feet, with right foot forward, and the left foot back for an easy shift of your weight as you lift the patient. Maintain the position above, with your arms still supporting the torso of the patient. One arm of the patient should still be on your shoulder and his other arm should still be extended on the bed (palm flat on bed).
9. Position your right foot alongside the patients’ left foot (the side to where the little toe is at) and position your leg on the level on his knee. The positioning of your foot and leg provides stability by preventing slipping of the patients’ foot and knee buckling when he is lifted to standing position.
10. Slightly bend your knees and lean your body. Then instruct the patient to get ready for a push from one arm that’s extended on the bed, as you lift him up to standing position. Count to three as you assist the patient to standing position and he is pushing off from at the same time.
11. Raise patient to standing position and keep your back straight as you do this maneuver. Pivot the patient so that his back is positioned in front of the chair or wheelchair; instruct him to grasp on the armrest for additional support, and then slowly assist the patient as he lowers himself on the seat of the chair. Remember to bend your knees, while keeping your back straight during the assist.
12. Help the patient in positioning himself properly when seated. Make sure that his buttocks are entirely rested on the seat and his back firmly resting on the back support. When in a wheelchair, place his arms on the armrests and his feet on the footrests.
13. Document the safe transfer of the patient. It is important to always record procedures that are performed on the patient, especially when it is executed in a hospital setting.
Tags: standing position, assist patient, chair wheelchair, will help, assist lifting, assist lifting trunk, back straight
Whether you're studying for an exam or trying to pay attention in a mundane business meeting, maintaining mental focus sometimes seems impossible. Finding ways to maintain mental focus is key to success in a fast paced world that often requires this type of intense cerebral attention.
Instructions
1. Eliminate distractions. When possible, remove yourself from the distraction. Turn off the ringer on the phone, go to a quiet room, get a babysitter or put your child down for a nap. Try not to allow distractions that can not be controlled to discourage you to a point to where they inhibit all progress. Taking a small amount of time to fix the situation will always produce at least a minimally better result.
2. Retain your goals. Keeping your goals in mind will inevitably make you focus harder. This is especially true when you cannot remove yourself from distractions. Focusing on your goal will prioritize what is more important and place good pressure on your shoulders.
3. Take a mental break. Although children generally have shorter attention spans, they do have some techniques that should be followed. Allowing your mind to wander for a little while will better enable you to focus when the time comes.
4. Train to maintain. Just as athletes train their bodies to maintain endurance, so should we with our minds when it comes to maintaining mental focus. Performing tasks that require mental focus often will train your mind to align to this specific zone quicker and for longer amounts of time the more you practice. Playing games such as chess or any type of task that requires you to maintain mental focus will slowly build your ability to concentrate.
5. Eat a healthy brain diet. Generally speaking, foods that burn slower will allow you the mental energy to maintain focus for longer periods of time. Studies have shown that the brain performs better when you eat slow burning calories such as oatmeal, trail mix and fruit. However foods that are high in sugar produce a counter affect as they burn quickly and often leave you feeling drained. As with any other aspect of health, maintaining mental focus has a lot to do with your diet.
6. Visit your doctor. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication or make a suggestion of an over the counter supplement that may boost your brain's focus capacity.
Massage is a healing science that can be used on clients from infancy through old age. Overall, massage therapy is a very large field. However, it can be split into many smaller facets that massage therapists can pursue via continuing education or getting certification. One of the fastest growing of these facets is prenatal massage. Most prenatal massage certification programs focus on all areas of pregnancy--starting with prenatal care and going all the way through to two years after birth.
Finding a Program
Before starting your prenatal massage certification, find a school or massage institute that offers the needed courses. Most massage therapy programs provide some amount of prenatal training as part of their coursework for general massage certification. However, there are much fewer schools and institutes that offer specific certifications on prenatal massage. Check the schools in your area to see if they offer the certification. If not, you may need to travel to a nearby state. Certification can be done in as little as 3 full days through some programs. Other programs are more spread out--over a month or longer.
Prenatal
The first module of most prenatal massage certification programs actually deals with massage during pregnancy. In this module, massage therapists learn use massage to help expectant mothers have healthier pregnancies. The coursework especially involves learning about the physiological and psychological changes that make massaging an expectant mother different than a regular client. This includes massage positions, massage methods and the precautions necessary with a pregnant client. This module also addresses the unique challenge of draping a pregnant client, as well as massage tools and tables that make an expectant mother more comfortable during a massage treatment.
Labor
Another common module for prenatal massage certification specifically deals with massage during labor. This is especially common in massage doula training. Labor massage focuses more directly on pain management to help mothers deal with pain during the actual birth process.
New Mother
The next module of prenatal massage certification usually trains massage therapists on work with new mothers. This area of training focuses on helping heal and restore the muscles of the back and abdomen, to help mothers relieve postpartum pain, and also help new mothers regain their posture. Many also address musculofascial massage treatments to help lessen the scarring left by cesarean section.
Other Requirements
Most prenatal massage certification classes require hands-on practice sessions. This will usually be done with a mix of working on other students in the class as if they were pregnant, and working on actual mothers to be. Most will also require some type of final testing--either written, hands-on, or both--to receive your final certification.
AHomemade herbal baby balm can protect baby's bottom from getting dry or chapped, soften and sooth little feet and hands and help to heal minor burns and bug bites. Grown-up skin can benefit from baby balm, too.
Instructions
1. Grind the comfrey, lavender, calendula, rose petals and chamomile to a fine powder in a blender or coffee grinder. You also can use a mortar and pestle.
2. Heat the base oil in a double boiler on low heat. Stir in the powdered herbs and heat on medium heat for 30 to 60 minutes. Allow the herbs to be completely infused into the oil. Pour the mixture in a glass or stainless steel bowl.
3. Put the vitamin E oil, jojoba or tree tree oil, essential oil and grapefruit seed extract in a glass or stainless steel bowl.
4. Place a disposable coffee filter in a strainer. Hold the strainer over the bowl of oil. Strain the warmed herb mixture into the essential oil mixture. Carefully squeeze the paper coffee filter, but be careful not to break the filter.
5. Warm the beeswax in the double boiler on low heat until it melts. Carefully pour it into the mixture into the bowl, stirring constantly with a whisk or egg beater until the balm is creamy.
6. Sterilize the containers in boiled water. Spoon the balm into the sterilized jars and attach the lid firmly.
Essential oils have been used for centuries in a number of natural remedies for their powerful healing qualities. Sometimes healing with essential oils is as simple as taking in the strong aroma, helping to reduce stress and tension, relieve mild depression, energize the body and improve concentration. If you need a little natural boost, a few tips can help.
Instructions
1. Use lavender to help calm the nerves, clear the mind and improve thinking. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be safely applied directly to the skin, so keep a bottle with you and massage a few drops into your wrists whenever you need a boost in concentration.
2. Make a skin soothing and mentally stimulating body oil which can be applied in the morning for improved concentration all day long. In 1/4 cup of almond oil, add 8 drops of bergamot essential oil, 5 drops of sandalwood essential oil and 3 drops of jasmine essential oil. Store your energizing oil in a cool, dark location.
3. Add a wonderful scent to your home while improving concentration. In a glass essential oil diffuser, add 5 drops of rosemary essential oil and 1 Tbsp of water. Light the candle underneath the glass bowl, adding more oil and water as the solution evaporates. Breathe deep and enjoy the energizing aroma.
4. Take time out for an energizing bath. Add 15 to 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a warm bath and soak for at least 15 minutes. Eucalyptus is known to help energize the mind and body, so a morning soak is sure to keep you mentally focused all day long.
Nobody likes the idea of a bed bug infestation. However, these tiny invaders can be found, in abundance, all over the world. Once in a home, they invade warm, dark spaces (like beds), searching for warm-blooded creatures to supply their daily meals. Once the invasion begins, a chain reaction of breeding begins and has the potential to get out of hand quickly.
Egg
Over the course of her lifetime, a typical female bed bug has the capacity to lay 300-500 eggs, typically at a rate of approximately five per day. Beds are often prime locations for egg laying, as females prefer to deposit eggs into dark crevices and rough, uneven surfaces. These tiny eggs (roughly 1/25 of an inch) will hatch after an average of ten days.
Nymph Stage
Freshly hatched bed bug larvae are known as nymphs. When they first hatch, these tiny creatures are a pale beige color. Upon hatching, nymphs will immediately begin searching for food. Nymphs will die quickly if they are not successful in finding a blood host. They typically find a meal in the humans which share their space. After feeding, the nymphs develop a reddish color and begin their growth stages.
Molting
During the larval phase, bed bugs will generally take a blood meal every 24 hours. As they continue to feed and grow, they shed their exoskeltons to make room for the new exoskeletons beneath. This growth process is known as molting. Past the nymph stage, bed bugs will go through an additional four stages of molting before becoming full-fledged adults.
Adult
After a few weeks of feeding and molting, larvae become fully grown adult bed bugs. Once bed bugs reach the adult stage, they can be surprisingly resilient, sometimes living for several months without a single blood meal. In ideal conditions, they are known to be hearty and thrive for long periods of time, perpetuating a vicious cycle of feeding and reproduction that can be a nightmare to eradicate.
While several hormones raise blood sugar levels---such as glucagon, epinephrine and norepinepherine---the only one known for lowering blood sugar is insulin. What is insulin, how does it work and what happens when we have too much or too little?
What Is Insulin?
Insulin regulates blood sugar levels. Most of the food we eat is turned into sugar (glucose) to be used as fuel by our bodies. The pancreas produces insulin, among other hormones, to deal with how much sugar is in the blood. If the body has too little sugar, it can becomes hypoglycemic; too much, diabetic.
How Insulin Works -- It's All About the Glucose
Insulin is a metabolic hormone that lowers blood glucose by pushing sugar from the bloodstream into the cells. An efficient pancreas adjusts the levels of insulin depending on how much glucose is in the blood. If the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, the sugar can't enter the cells. It stays in the bloodstream causing high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia (diabetes).
Normal blood sugar levels range from 80 to 120 mg of glucose per 100 cubic centimeters of blood. Anything above 160 mg or below 65 mg results in either high or low blood sugar (LBS) and is considered abnormal. In the case of LBS, hormones, such as glucagon, work to raise glucose levels. Other "fight or flight", or "counter regulatory" hormones (epinephrine and norepinepherine) kick in when the body senses danger. What's too high or too low can vary depending on how a person feels after eating, or not eating.
Carbohydrates: Simple or complex?
There are basically three parts to food: carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are absorbed in the form of glucose. How quickly, depends on whether carbohydrates are simple or complex. Simple or fast-acting carbs (foods containing refined sugars, fruit and juices) are made of short-chain molecules and are broken down into glucose quickly, while complex carbs (vegetables, legumes and whole grains) are made of long-chain molecules and take longer to break down.
The Liver's Job
Endocrinologist Barrett Chapin, Ph.D, explains that the liver maintains constant blood-glucose levels in two ways: by breaking down glucose molecules in glycogen after a meal is metabolized (to be stored in the body for later use) and by converting protein and fat into glucose to be used while fasting, or when stored glycogen levels run out.
Diabetes and Hypoglycemia
Insulin insufficiency can cause two types of diabetes: Type 1, formally known as juvenile or early onset diabetes, is typically treated with insulin injections to raise glucose levels in the cells. Type 2 is insulin-resistant and is generally treated with alternate remedies.
Too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells is hypoglycemia, or LBS. We depend on glucose for energy. The cells in the body store glucose in the form of glycogen. The cells change glycogen into glucose as needed. While other parts of the body can store glucose, the brain and eyes cannot. They completely depend on glucose in the blood, so the brain and eyes are most affected by LBS. Symptoms can range from mild headaches, blurred vision, shakiness, confusion, poor coordination, to seizures, coma and even death.
Treating Low Blood Sugar
To balance blood-sugar chemistry, co-authors Edward and Patricia Krimmel of the "Low Blood Sugar Handbook" suggest eating small meals rich in complex carbohydrates and proteins at regular intervals, minimizing refined foods and stimulants and avoiding stress.
Tags: blood sugar, Blood Sugar, glucose blood, into glucose, blood sugar levels, body store
You don't have to break the bank to buy your boyfriend a Christmas gift this year. Thoughtful presents or those straight from the heart don't cost much money but are priceless when it comes to measuring the effort or time spent during assembly. Surprise the love of your life with a special, handmade gift this season instead of a commercial, store-bought piece.
Baked Treats
Impress your boyfriend with a batch of your signature cupcakes, brownies or a fruit and nut cake. Ice the baked treats in white and red to incorporate traditional Christmas colors, and embellish each with a marzipan Christmas tree, wrapped gifts or other decorations that depict the holiday season. Serve the prepared item in a clear serving tray so it draws attention. Add variety to his palate with home-baked ginger cookies, chocolate brownies, double-chocolate cupcakes and muffins, along with a jar of flavored coffee nestled in a basket.
Coupon Book
Give your boyfriend a coupon book that lists a romantic activity for each night of the week, month or time frame you are willing to extend it to. Cut wide lengths of scented paper for coupons, and write a romantic activity over each. Leave a few pages empty for him to come up with a romantic activity of his choosing. Punch holes through the corners of the strips, and extend ribbon to join them in the form of a book. Alternatively, cut strips slightly narrower, fold and place them in a glass jar.
Handmade Items
Give your boyfriend a handmade gift that he can keep forever and remember you by. Knit your guy a sweater, scarf, mittens or cap to keep him warm during the cold months ahead. Personalize the piece by knitting his and your initials in a heart across the front. Write him a poem that depicts the intensity of your love, or paint him a beautiful portrait he can proudly display at home or work. Macrame a plant hanger, crochet a wall hanging or sew him a little stuffed toy for his bed. He will love the effort you put into the gift especially for him.
Couple's Calendar
Surprise your boyfriend with a personal calendar for the upcoming New Year. Print out a dozen 8- by 10-inch romantic photos of the two of you for the calendar. Paste each on a sheet of colored or plain paper, along with a calendar grid underneath. Write the month across the top with a glitter pen, and embellish each page with decorative romantic stickers and accents. Draw a heart to mark special events such as birthdays and anniversaries, and select a "date night" every two weeks for the two of you to plan an evening out. Punch holes through the sides of the pages, and join with decorative ribbon.
Tags: your boyfriend, romantic activity, along with, boyfriend with, embellish each, gift this
Cancer cells spread by invading healthy cells and destroying them in order to create more abnormal cells, thereby allowing the cancer to grow larger and more menacing. These cells spread throughout the section of the body where it began, healthy cells becoming damaged and then changed into malignant cancer cells. This is known as metastasis, and it is how cancer spreads from one organ to another. If left unchecked, it eventually spreads throughout the body. Even though a certain type of cancer may spread from one organ to another, it is still referred to by the type it was originally. For example, if it begins as lung cancer and then spreads to the liver, it is still referred to as lung cancer and is treated as such. Doctors who diagnose the cancer prefer to do so early in the disease because it is easier for them to diagnose where in the body the disease began.
How Cancer Spreads
Cancer can spread in several ways. One is in the bloodstream, traveling through the veins. The most common way is through the lymph nodes, because the cells can flow through the liquid that runs through the lymph channels, which is why surgeons usually remove the nearby lymph nodes when they remove cancerous tumors. If even one cancerous cell gets into the lymph channels, the cancer will return but likely in a different place. Cancer can also spread by moving through the abdominal cavity or other open spaces in the body.
Cancer Needs a Blood Supply
All forms of cancer require access to the bloodstream in order to survive in the body. They are, however, much more likely to spread through veins rather than through the much larger arteries, so it is unlikely that cancerous tumors will grow near arteries. Malignant cells can break off from the original tumor and travel through the veins to a new location, where they implant and begin to grow. Some cancers also grow by spreading gradually in the area of origination, never venturing far beyond the original location.
Accidental Cancer Cell Implantation
In rare cases, metastasis can be initiated by accidentally dripping a sample of the cancerous cells into a healthy portion of the body. This is usually done during exploratory or biopsy surgery, where extractions of tissue are taken and some of it drips back into the incision again. This is called implantation or inoculation metastasis. To prevent this from happening it is best to remove as much of the cancer as possible during the initial surgery. Removing all of it is preferable if the tumor is small enough. Internal cancers rarely spread to the skin, but skin cancers will often move inward to invade the internal organs of the body. The liver is particularly susceptible to metastasis.
Tags: through veins, Cancer Cell, cancerous tumors, cells spread, from organ, from organ another, healthy cells
Candida, or fungal skin infections, are common after using antibiotics when the natural healthy bacteria of the body is reduced significantly, allowing yeast to grow out of control. Common forms of candida include thrush, nail infections, yeast infections, jock itch and moist, itchy rashes. Tea tree oil, with powerful anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties can help to clear-up candida naturally.
Instructions
1. Treat the most common form of candida fungal infections, athlete's foot, by placing a bit of pure tea tree oil on a cotton ball and applying to affected areas one to three times daily to kill the infection. To prevent athlete's foot from returning, apply the oil to your feet after walking barefoot in any public place. Additionally, you can help to remove dead skin cells from your feet which harbor bacteria and fungus by mixing 4 or 5 drops of oil with a heaping tsp. of baking soda, massaging the feet and then rinsing thoroughly.
2. Use tea tree oil to help combat vaginal yeast infection, another common form of candida. Mix just 1 part oil with 20 parts pure, clean water and dampen a tampon in the solution. Keep the tampon in overnight, and repeat each night until your symptoms subside.
3. Get rid of nail fungus once and for all, maybe the most difficult form of candida to treat. Apply a generous amount of tea tree oil to the affected area three or four times daily, making sure to get under the nail, around the cuticles and over the top of the nail itself. For difficult infections, mix 1 part oil with 5 parts water and soak the nail for 10 minutes each day.
4. Soothe candida skin infections by soaking a cloth in a warm water solution of 1 part tea tree oil and 5 parts water. Apply to the affected area for 10 minutes, two or three times per week, diluting the solution if you experience irritation. For larger skin infections, add 15 drops of tea tree oil to a warm bath and soak for up to 15 minutes, two or three times weekly.
5. Clear away thrush, candida which occurs in the mouth and throat by making a tea tree oil gargle. Mix 3 or 4 drops of oil for every 2 tbsp. of water and gargle for 30 seconds, two or three times daily.
Tags: three times, form candida, skin infections, times daily, affected area, athlete foot
Nurse practitioners can choose to work in holistic nursing.
Nurse practitioners are highly trained advanced-practice nurses with a master's or doctoral degree. Nurse practitioners can choose to work in many nursing specialties, such as psychiatrics, pediatrics, adult care and acute care. Nurse practitioners looking for alternative jobs may find them in settings outside of regular hospitals or clinics, or in areas that take a different approach to nursing.
Holistic Nurse Practitioner
Holistic nurse practitioners work in hospitals, private complementary medical clinics and hospices. Holistic nurse practitioners view patients from a whole perspective, taking into account their physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs. Holistic nursing blends Eastern and Western styles of medicine to create a different type of nursing paradigm. Nurse practitioners can be certified by the American Holistic Nurses Association after receiving training in holistic nursing.
Traveling Nurse Practitioner
Traveling nurse practitioners perform many of the same functions and duties as staff nurse practitioners; the main difference is that they don't stay in one place for long. These nurse practitioners work for private nursing companies that procure positions for them all over the United States for different periods of time. A nurse practitioner could work in one place for three weeks before being transferred to work elsewhere for three months. This alternative is perfect for nurses who want to see the world and have a career at the same time.
Correctional Nurse Practitioners
Working as a nurse practitioner in a correctional facility such as a prison or a jail provides nurses with an alternative type of nursing experience. Nurse practitioners who work in prisons can monitor their patients closely as long as they remain in the facility, a task that is much more difficult in other situations. A nurse practitioner at a correctional facility has a lot of control over the quality of care that her patients receive.
Chemotherapy is designed to treat your whole body in an effort to kill cancer cells. By its very nature it is toxic and has many side effects, the most well-known being nausea and hair loss. There are many other side effects, one of which is called "chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy" or CIPN. A peripheral neuropathy is a disease of the nerves in the arms and legs. It can take many forms; numbness, pain, a burning sensation and, less often, muscle tremors. This is a distressing side effect, but it helps to identify and manage it. The more you know about muscle tremors after cancer treatments, the better you will be able to deal with this complication.
Why it happens
As the chemo goes into your system, it cannot always differentiate between the cancer cells and healthy tissues. As it attacks the tumor, it may also attack nerve function. Tremors most often begin in the feet, followed by the hands. Legs and arms may also be affected.
Treatments that cause muscle tremors
The American Cancer Society lists the following classes of chemotherapy drugs as the ones most likely to cause nerve damage: the platinum drugs, Thalidomide, Tacanes, Epothilones, Alkoids and Bortexomib. These are all generic classes of treatments that have many brand names. There are other possibilities: the tumor itself, stress, exhaustion and vitamin depletion may also cause muscle tremors. Your own health history may also contribute to the tremors, including your age and a family history of neuropathy.
Solutions
The problem of muscle and nerve damage after cancer treatment needs more study, but there has been research.
Vitamin E, calcium and magnesium have all been studied for protection of nerves from damage caused by the platinum drugs. Medicines normally given to prevent seizures are also being studied. Some patients see improvement when given certain amino acids and proteins before and after treatment. Another strategy is to adjust the treatment into more frequent smaller doses, or as a very slow infusion. Oncologists can also delay the treatment when nerve damage is apparent and space it out over a longer period of time.
What you can do
If you find that your muscle tremors caused by cancer treatment are worse during certain conditions, avoid those conditions, like extremes of heat and cold, tight clothing or shoes that pinch. Avoid alcohol, since it also can cause nerve damage. If being on your feet a lot makes foot tremors worse, sit down whenever you can, and take good care of your feet. If you're a diabetic, make sure you control your blood sugar. Make sure to talk to your doctor and nurse about this condition and be exact about the frequency and severity of your muscle tremors. You may be directed to physical therapy or occupational therapy for help in accomplishing daily tasks.
What's Ahead
Muscle tremors caused by cancer treatment may go away when treatment stops. This can occur as soon as treatment stops, but at times takes as long as two years. If you have severe muscle tremors, you and your physician need to work with your treatments to find the best possible cancer drug and time frame, and weigh the pros and cons of each.
Tags: muscle tremors, nerve damage, cancer treatment, also cause, cancer cells, cause muscle
The South Beach Diet is built around eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, olive or canola oil, and meats such as poultry or fish. The diet focuses on eating the right carbohydrates rather than avoiding them. Here's lose weight with the South Beach Diet.
Instructions
1. Sign up for the South Beach Diet by visiting the website (see Resources below). Click the "Sign Up Now" link at the homepage to enter your email, address, height, current weight and your target weight-loss goal. Buy the book about the diet online or at a bookstore if you prefer.
2. Start with Phase 1, which lasts for two weeks. Eat foods such as chicken, turkey, fish and shellfish or tofu. Eggs, low-fat cheese, nuts, beans and vegetables should also be a part of your diet during this stage. Avoid eating bread, rice potatoes, pasta, fruit or sweets during these two weeks.
3. Slowly reintroduce carbohydrates into your diet after you've completed the first phase. Fruit, whole-grain breads and pastas are the right choices to add to your meals daily for one week. Continue until you can eat two to three servings of these carbs a day. Unlike Phase 1, there is no time limit for Phase 2. You can stick with Phase 2 until you've reached your weight-loss goal.
4. Move to Phase 3, where the focus is on combining everything you've learned from Phases 1 and 2. Try different recipes using "The South Beach Diet Cookbook" or another cookbook that uses the same healthful foods. Overall, your goal is to maintain or lose more weight and manage your health.
Tags: Beach Diet, South Beach, South Beach Diet, Lose Weight, Lose Weight With, Weight With South, weight-loss goal
Chiropractors can keep quite busy as the population ages and more people develop back pain, tendinitis and other age-induced ailments. However, like other health businesses, chiropractic can be highly competitive. Hence, chiropractors need to advertise and market their services. Whether a chiropractor is just starting out or has been practicing for years, there are some free and low-cost marketing techniques that every chiropractor can use to promote business.
Referrals
Referrals are one of the easiest ways to market chiropractic services without spending any money. The best way to get referrals is to make a sign and place it by the reception desk. Create a message that says something like, If we have helped you, let us help your friends or family members. We are now accepting referrals. Have the forms printed with Referrals at the top, then have lines that ask for the name, address and phone number of these people. Over time, referrals can bring in a significant number of new patients.
Write Articles
Another free chiropractic marketing idea is article writing. Chiropractors have expertise in helping people heal their aching muscles or bones and are in a unique position to write an informative article about the profession. The article can be sent to the local newspaper, area magazines or various websites, according to the article Chiropractic Marketing at chiropractors.org. Write the article to give readers a solution to a particular problem--for example, Secrets to Healing That Nagging Lower Back Pain. Include your name and contact information.
Gift Bags
Chiropractors can also make up gift bags filled with pamphlets of 10 or 12 conditions that they treat in their office, according to the article 25 Bright Marketing Ideas at chiroeco.com, an online chiropractic magazine. The gift bag can include a pen with the chiropractor's name and phone number, a stress ball, brochure, and a gift certificate for a free examination. Keep the gift bags up front so the receptionist can give them to patients, who may give them to friends or family members.
Seminars
You can also hold seminars for people with a particular type of pain. Hand out information about the seminar to patients. Have them invite their friends or associates. You can also post fliers around town promoting your seminar. Another idea is to contact the newspaper or television station in your area. Speak with reporters. Ask them if they can write about your seminar, or invite you to appear on the news to discuss it, respectively.
Tags: Chiropractic Marketing, Marketing Ideas, according article, Chiropractic Marketing Ideas, family members, Free Chiropractic Marketing
Stomach ulcers are most commonly thought of as an adult condition; however, infants too can suffer from stomach ulcers and acid reflux for a variety of reasons. Because your little one lacks the words to explain what he or she feels, so parents and caregivers must learn recognize the signs and symptoms of ulcers in babies.
Colic-Like Symptoms
Often the earliest symptoms of ulcers in babies mimic symptoms of colic. These symptoms might include extended crying fits that worsen in the afternoons, evenings and during the night, lifting and lowering of the head and legs to help the baby pass gas, refusal to eat or fussiness while eating and difficulty falling and/or staying asleep.
Symptoms During and After Eating
Babies suffering from stomach ulcers may refuse food, even when hungry, or request several small snacks during the day instead of regular meals. Other symptoms include an increase in "burping-up" and/or vomiting and the child may arch the head back dramatically during and after eating.
Unusual Symptoms
There are often several symptoms of ulcers in babies that one would not automatically assume to cause their stomach pain, such as ear and sinus infections or frequent sore throat and runny nose.
Sleep Symptoms
Because acid reflux usually worsens while laying down, your baby may express symptoms while sleeping, and these include frequent waking, crying spells during the night as well as coughing, gagging or choking while laying down.
More Severe Symptoms
As the ulcer worsens, symptoms may become more severe and babies may attempt to gag themselves with their hands, the child may lose weight, drool excessively and may even express difficulty breathing and/or swallowing.
Tags: acid reflux, during night, from stomach, from stomach ulcers, laying down, Signs Symptoms Ulcers
Mind Clearing is a technique used in Healing Touch to promote energy flow and relaxation. The main goal of this procedure is to clear the mind allowing the patient to reach a state of peacefulness. It can be used anytime to assist a person in mental or emotional stress. Learn this calming technique by following the steps below.
Instructions
Part One of Mind Clearing Technique
1. Stand behind your client and center yourself. Visualize energy being pulled up from the earth through your spine and spreading throughout your body. When you feel the calm flow of energy, proceed to the next step.
2. Begin by holding your fingers gently at the throat just above the sternum. As with all steps, hold the position for thirty seconds to one minute or until you feel the area of focus becoming filled with energy.
3. Continue the Mind Clearing procedure by placing a hand (fingers to the ceiling) on the back of the neck while three fingers of the other hand (palm comfortably sideways with fingers facing towards you) rest in the center of the client's forehead between the eyebrows.
4. Place both hands under the base of the skull where the back of the head meets the neck. Carefully and gently stretch the neck and hold for 10 to 30 seconds.
Part Two of Mind Clearing Technique
5. Cap the top of the head with both hands resting (fingers down) towards the back of the client's cranium. Your thumbs should be resting on the temples.
6. Rest three of your fingers on either side of the client's head just above the ears on the indentations of the skull.
7. Use four fingers of each hand to form a line on the inside of the eyebrows below the hairline peak.
8. Spread the fingers out to where they are now forming an inverted "V" from the outside of the eyebrows to the peak of the hairline.
9. Position your fingers on the jaw around the area where the joint separates when yawning.
10. Stroke across the forehead and down the cheeks meeting at the chin with both hands.
11. Cup the cheeks with your palms holding the jaw gently.
12. Conclude the Mind Clearing meditation by lightly touching your partner's shoulder or kissing their forehead (when appropriate).
Tags: Mind Clearing, both hands, Healing Touch, your fingers, Clearing Technique, Healing Touch Mind
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is transmitted via skin-on-skin contact, usually sexual. It is the number one sexually transmitted disease. There are over forty types of HPV, which can affect the skin of the penis, vulva, anus and linings of the vagina, cervix and rectum.
When someone contracts HPV, they are often not aware they have the infection. In 90 percent of cases, the body fights off the disease within two years. However, if the body does not fight off the disease, depending on the type of HPV, the individual may develop genital warts or cancer.
HPV Prevention
The primary way to avoid contracting HPV is to be in a committed, monogamous relationship with someone who has had no other or few sexual partners, thus reducing the chance of either partner being exposed to HPV.
Though they do not necessarily remove the possibility of being exposed to HPV, properly used condoms also may help reduce the chances of being infected by a sexual partner.
Currently there are two vaccines on the market that help prevent HPV: Gardasil and Cervarix. Both Gardasil and Cervarix help prevent the two types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and some other genital cancers. Gardasil also helps fight two types of HPV that cause genital warts. It is recommended that girls aged 11 to 12 receive one of these vaccinations. There is also a movement to vaccinate boys.
It is also recommended that all sexually active women, especially those over 30, receive a yearly pap smear and get tested for HPV and abnormal cervical cells so early treatment can commence if necessary.
Genital Wart Treatment
When treating genital warts, two creams (Imiquimod and Podofilox) can be applied as treatment. A physician may also use trichloroacetic acid to burn off the warts or remove them via cryotherapy. Electrocautery, where an electric current is used, is an option. Surgical or laser removal are also options.
Cancer Treatment
If an individual has low-grade, pre-malignant lesions, the doctor usually allows them to heal on their own and closely monitors them. If the pre-malignant lesions are high-grade, the doctor may remove them surgically, with lasers, cryotherapy or with electrocautery.
If the lesions are malignant, they will be surgically removed and then the patient will be treated with radiation or chemotherapy.
Tags: genital warts, being exposed, Gardasil Cervarix, help prevent, pre-malignant lesions, recommended that, remove them
Reduce the itching from mosquito bites and prevent infection.
"There are over 2500 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world; about 200 species occur in the United States," according to the American Mosquito Control Association. Without adequate protection, such as wearing long pants and using a mosquito repellent, you may end up getting bitten. Your skin may become very itchy and swollen. You must not inflame your skin by scratching the site, which can also cause an infection. Try a few simple home remedies to make your skin feel better and relieve the itching.
Instructions
1. Apply ice to your itchy area. The ice numbs the area, taking away the itchy feeling. Hold the ice on the skin for five minutes. Reapply as often as necessary when you start feeling itchy.
2. Take an oatmeal bath. The oatmeal is soothing to the skin and can calm the itching. You can find oatmeal bath treatments at many drugstores.
3. Place calamine lotion on the itchy areas. Just dab some lotion on the affected areas to temporarily calm the itching. You can reapply as often as necessary.
4. Use antihistamine products. These come in both oral and topical form. Follow the directions on the bottle to decrease the itching.
5. Apply a hydrocortisone product. Rub the product into the affected area so that it is completely absorbed into your system.
Tags: calm itching, oatmeal bath, often necessary, your skin
Oral antibiotics are one method of treating gonorrhea.
Transmission of gonorrhea within the male homosexual community has been on the increase since 2008, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of 2008. Simple strains can often be treated easily; other strains are more challenging because of antibiotic resistance. Gonorrhea tests often do not detect the disease, which can thrive for a long time before being treated.
Tests
A routine urine test is not designed to detect oral or rectal gonorrhea in gay men. Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, originally were used just on genitalia but are now approved for use on oral and rectal sites as well.
Treatments
Treatment for gonorrhea depends on the stage of the disease. If it's a simple case detected early, a short round of antibiotics is typically effective. But if the patient's disease is more advanced or he's resistant to certain drugs, alternative methods will be needed. Also, the area infected-the penis, rectum, or mouth-also influences the drugs prescribed.
Injections
The CDC recommends injections of ceftriaxone, which is effective in all three infected areas. Spectinomycin is used when the rectum or penis are infected.
Oral
Oral treatment is administered to patients with mild symptoms who were recently infected with the disease. Antibiotics are typically taken for 48 to 72 hours. If additional treatment is required, antibiotics can be administered for seven to ten days.
Notification
People who learn they have gonorrhea must inform those with whom they've had sexual contact. Otherwise, incidents of the disease will rise in the gay community.
Medicines and natural remedies can help reduce the appearance of scars.
Once your skin has been damaged to a certain extent, a scar forms after the tissue repairs itself. Scars can form in response to cuts, bruises, burns and sores. If you need an over-the-counter scar remedy, different products are available.
Oils and Creams
Remedies in the form of oil are available in over-the-counter treatments for various stages of scarring. Oils work to improve the appearance of old and new scars, as well as stretch marks.
In addition to protection from sunscreen added to the treatment, some products include onion extract to reduce the appearance of raised scars.
Gels
Over-the-counter scar remedies in gel form are available from a variety of skin-care product manufacturers. Gels also work as topical analgesics and antiseptics. Many scar gels are silicone-based, and some are clear and odorless. Gels form a sheet that dries over the skin.
Other Over-the Counter Remedies
Silicone sheets are a latex-free, reusable, washable, clinically proven scar treatment. Not only do the sheets minimize the formation of new scars, they also shrink, flatten and fade new and old scars.
Other topical over-the-counter scar remedies include sprays, topical treatments and serums. Each of these types of remedies is available from various manufacturers.
Home Remedies
Scar remedies can be made from products that you either already have or can purchase. Aloe vera can prevent the formation of permanent scars when a piece of the plant is cut off and the gooey innards are spread over your skin. As a natural bleaching agent, lemon juice lightens scars and blemishes. Honey is a natural scar remover that leaves your skin glowing.
Tags: your skin, appearance scars, available from, form available, reduce appearance, scar remedies
Kidneys play an important role in the body. Located in the middle of the back on either side of the vertebrae, they produce urine, which is liquid waste caused by daily metabolism, and ensure that harmful waste is discarded from the body and essential ones are kept. Kidney function, or renal function as it's commonly referred to, is vital to the maintenance of the human body. Though small in size, the two kidneys receive one-fifth of the blood pumped from the heart. Without proper care, kidneys can cease to function.
Significance
About the size on an adult fist, kidneys process 200 quarts of blood daily, removing waste and extra water that will eventually become urine. Waste in the blood is caused by the natural breakdown of foods and dying cells. The body consumes what it needs from the food and discards what it doesn't need into the bloodstream. With the aid of ureter tubes, urine is then transferred to the bladder where it is eventually discarded through urination. Without the reprocessing function of the kidneys, waste would build in the blood, causing sickness or even death. With children, problems either develop in the womb or early in life, although some diseases don't reach maturity until adulthood.
Kidney Failure
Kidney failure can be brought on by a number of factors. The most common are diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes prohibits the use of glucose, which is a form of sugar. If left in the bloodstream, it can be lethal, usually resulting in diabetic kidney disease. Nephrons in both kidneys loose their filtering abilities during most kidney diseases. It usually takes years before there is even a sign of the disease. High blood pressure erodes small blood vessels responsible for filtering waste in the kidney. A prescription can often be prescribed to lower blood pressure.
Toxic Abuse
Kidney failure can also be prompted by toxic damage. In addition to being extremely sensitive to alcohol, solvents and fuels are also harmful. Drugs can also halt proper kidney function. Cocaine causes the blood to spasm, which can sometimes lead to high blood pressure. It also has the potential to decrease blood flow to the kidneys, as well as to the brain and heart. It some cases, it's been believed to also cause early hardening of the arteries. Some chemotherapy drugs have also been known to have similar effects.
Dehydration
When the body looses more fluid that it consumes, it often results in dehydration. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure, which restricts the amount of blood reaching the heart. If fluids are not replenished, the results can be traumatic. Frequent urination induced by alcohol can also lead to dehydration.
Risk Factors
Kidney disease can also be hereditary or brought on by external physical damage. When a kidney no longer functions, it's known as End-stage renal disease (ESRD). Weakened kidney function usually goes unnoticed even to those who possess two healthy kidneys, resulting in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). According to American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), there's an estimated 20 million people with CKD and another 20 million at risk for developing CDK. In addition, there is also the high risk of either a heart attack or stroke.
Tags: blood pressure, high blood, high blood pressure, Kidney failure
Tahitian noni juice has been touted as a miracle elixir that can cure a wide variety of maladies, including lupus. Sadly, the truth does not live up to the hype.
Noni Claims
NoniMania.com reports that the Noni juice distributors were making claims that the product was a cure-all for numerous diseases, including lupus.
Media Coverage
When caught in a sting by CBS news making these claims, the distributors could not provide any scientific proof of their claims, but would not admit that they were fraudulent.
Expert Insight
Dr. Jeffery Galpin, an immunologist who reviewed studies about noni juice, concluded that their claims could not be backed up and were blatantly false. At best, Tahitian noni juice helps support the immune system by providing antioxidants.
Legal Action
California's Attorney General issued an injunction against the company in 1998, forcing Noni to stop making claims that it could cure lupus and other diseases.
TNI Comments
Noni International officials say these distributors were breaking company rules. They prohibit distributors from making therapeutic or medical claims. Tahitian Noni International makes no claims on their official website, TNI.com, that noni juice cures lupus.
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Noni fruit and juice have been around for centuries, but a recently renewed interested in this plant is uncovering many significant health benefits. The key to noni's ability to help or heal certain medical conditions seems to be the presence of the alkaloid, xeronine. This nutrient activates enzymes that enhance the digestive process and better enables protein molecules to enter the cell walls. This is the fundamental way the body is nourished, as each cell is then empowered to perform certain functions for the betterment of the entire body. Therefore, the health benefits associated with noni juice hinge on the presence of xeronine and its positive effect on key bodily systems.
Improves Digestion
Noni juice both supports and stimulates the digestive process, promoting a more efficient breakdown of food into usable forms of nutrients. The laxative properties of this juice aid in the elimination of waste products, cleansing the colon and effectively maintaining a healthy environment in the lower intestine. Since digestion is enhanced, noni juice may also be able to control weight by eliminating cravings because the body is better nourished.
Supports the Immune System
Since noni juice increases the absorption of food, vital immune-supporting nutrients become more readily available to the body. In addition, noni juice improves the removal of waste products from the body, thereby limiting the cells' exposure to toxins that enter the body's system as a result of polluted air or water in the environment.
High in Antioxidants
Antioxidants are by-products produced when the cells in the body use oxygen. Known as free radicals, these substances cause cellular impairment throughout the body. Major diseases like cancer and diabetes are believed to be the result of oxidative damage. Noni juice contains a high percentage of antioxidants, which are able to disarm and destroy free radicals.
Pain-Relieving Properties
Noni juice is used successfully as an analgesic, relieving pain without side effects. This may be possible because of the interaction between xeronine and the cells. Xeronine creates a positive atmosphere for normal cellular functions, and this in turn, may promote a general feeling of wellness, which decreases the pain messages to the brain.
Shrinks Swollen Membranes
This property of noni juice makes it effective in relieving the discomforts of nasal congestion and hemorrhoids.
Anti-inflammatory
Noni juice decreases cellular inflammation, which contributes to the development of certain health problems like heart disease and cancer. The anti-inflammatory property also makes it an effective analgesic by removing the cause of the pain on a cellular level.
Antibacterial
While not a substitute for antibiotics, the active nutritional components in noni juice, specifically anthraquinones, scopoletin and terpenes, can destroy bacteria and fungus.
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