Friday, June 29, 2012

End Tiredness Program - Your Way To Ending Tiredness

It does not hurt to get some help once in a while. When you feel like you cannot bear your fatigue anymore, you can get help from materials that offer a great deal of information about tiredness. You can find good resources online such as the End Tiredness Program and other materials.
Most programs talk about how to keep the energy level high. This usually includes topic such as diet and sleep. Why is diet important in keeping your energy up? First, the body gets energy from food in most cases. Whether we like it or not, we have to eat to stay healthy and strong. The reason why people are afraid of food crisis is because this crisis will surely lead to difficult living situation. Second, your diet is important because there are two kinds of food - those that can give you energy and those that can steal your energy. Foods that give your energy are healthy foods. This is because they are filled with the right nutrients the body can use for different processes. Examples of these are organic products and produce such as fresh fruits, fresh root crops and fresh vegetables. You can never really go wrong with them. On the other hand, there are those foods that steal your energy. They do this by slowing down the body processes. Examples are foods rich in fat. Fat cells are extremely difficult to break down and the body will have to exert a lot of energy and time for them. This will not only slow down the digestion but it will also slow down the absorption of essential nutrients. Third, the way you eat your food influences the energy that you get from it. For instance, eating a lot does not always mean that you will get a lot of energy. This is actually a common mistake people do. It is better to eat a little than to eat a lot to allow the body to process everything effectively.
Aside from your diet, sleep is also a main topic of tiredness programs. There are several basic facts about sleep that everyone should know. First, sleep should always be in 90 minute intervals. That's right. When you divide your total sleep hours by 90 minutes, there should be no remainder. This is because one cycle of sleep is equal to 90 minutes. It is very important to complete every cycle because each cycle has a specific part of the body to restore. Imagine having one cycle disrupted. This will mean that one restoration process did not finish. Second, you should avoid eating before bedtime. The body should be resting when you are asleep. If you eat before sleeping, your digestive system will have to work overtime. This overtime work will slow down digestion and will also disturb your sleep. Third, it is best to sleep at the same time every day. You should make it a routine and a habit. This will help you body adjust more to your sleeping patterns and need. This will also make you feel more energetic for the next days.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Chronic Indoor Allergens - 5 Common Irritants Found In Indoor Air

If you see particles in your air, mostly likely you have those same particles in your lungs. Here are 5 of the most common irritants found in indoor air.
Dust Mites---These micron sized bugs are invisible to the human eye, but every indoor space has them. They make their homes in dark, moist, warm places and feed on dead flakes of skin both from humans and animals. They are typically found in upholstered pieces of furniture and in bedding.
If you are not sensitive to them you will probably live your whole life without ever knowing they are there. They do not bite. However, if you are allergic to the protein in their feces (which they leave everywhere) you will most probably experience congestion, watering eyes and other allergy symptoms.
Prolonged exposure to this allergen often triggers the onset of asthma particularly in children. The bugs as well as their droppings (yuck) are lightweight and can become airborne with normal activities such as making the bed, plopping down on the sofa, or even plumping the pillows. Since pets shed dander, pet bedding provides an excellent source of food and a haven for these mites as well.
Mold and Mildew Spores---These spores are nature's way of returning matter to its natural state. They do not become destructive unless they find moisture. It is impossible to keep them from coming indoors, but keeping typically moist areas (under kitchen and bathroom sinks, showers, and basements) dry can prevent their numbers from exploding and triggering allergy and asthma flare ups. Large amounts of mold can cause problems for those who have been previously healthy.
Pollen---These spores are the earth's way of replenishing trees, flowers, yes and even weeds! Tree pollen can start to fly as early as January, and weed pollen can last as late as November into early December.
These spores can travel on the wind for miles and the can attach to clothing, hair, packages, and pets and easily make their way into indoor air.
Pet Dander---If you're thinking you don't have pet dander because you don't have a pet, sit down before you continue reading. Many homes have dander left from a home that had pets previously.
Hanging your coat, sweater, or bags next to someone who has a dog or cat is often enough to transfer dander from their home to yours. So shaking out your sweater or coat can result in airborne dander, and all your precautions by not having a pet are literally up in the air.
Household Dust---A lot of this stuff can form dust bunnies that hide under the bed or in corners. It is a collection of many particles that are specific to your home. Generally it includes lint from fabrics, small pieces of paper, dirt from the outside, human and pet hair, and in many cases small shaving of metal from door hinges.
If you are doing any work on your interior add drywall and/or plaster dust and you've got enough particulates to start a dust storm. So many people are allergic to it because it contains so many allergens all in one place.
Cleaning regularly is a good way to reduce the number of allergens that are available to go airborne. Another pro-active, yet non-invasive way to eliminate particulates is to eliminate them while they are airborne.
High efficiency particle arresting filters are the best type for the job because they can take out particles as small as.3 microns in size. This will drastically reduce the amount available for you to breathe. And breathing easier is a good start to a healthier lifestyle.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Youth Drinking Trends and Ways to Encourage Healthy Habits

Alcohol doesn't necessarily carry the same stigmas associated with illegal drugs. However, studies reveal that more American youths die from alcohol abuse than from all other forms of drug abuse combined. With deteriorating affects on the brain, stomach, and liver, the affects of alcohol are highly damaging to the developing body of a teenager. Of course, there are long-term effects of alcohol abuse, but equally as dangerous are the immediate consequences of binge drinking. Binge drinking is a form of heavy, episodic drinking that has proven to be a trend among college-aged individuals. Recognizing the phenomenon, the National Advisory Council provided the following definition:
"A 'binge' is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 gram-percent or above. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about 2 hours."
When binge drinking, the body's defenses are overwhelmed by the depressant effects of alcohol resulting in impairments in speech and reflexes. Aside from the physical effects, the influence of alcohol will leave people unable to make rational decisions thus leading to unfortunate consequences. Studies reported by the national campaign, "Above the Influence" expose that approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking related incidents (with nearly 2,000 of the deaths due to car accidents.)
Another threat to underage drinking is alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is a serious-sometimes lethal- condition resultant from binge drinking. The consequences of consuming large amounts of alcohol in brief periods of time can immediately affect one's heart rate and breathing and may eventually lead to coma or death.
When examining the trends in youth drinking, a direct correlation can be drawn between habits and environment. The pressure to drink irresponsibly is perpetuated by the atmosphere. In college, young adults are experiencing their first taste of independence (a sensation which is intoxicating in and of itself.) It can take time to develop healthy habits for self-governing and, in the meanwhile, young adults should be made aware of the possible consequences of their actions.
There have been multiple gestures made by governmental organizations to encourage self-promoting habits among the nation's youth. For one, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion employed April as "Alcohol Awareness Month" in an attempt to have a pro-active influence on future choice making. In correspondence with Alcohol Awareness Month, the National Health Information Center distributed a toolkit including strategies to cut back on or cease drinking altogether. Some of these strategies included:
* Keep track of your drinking and set a drinking limit.
* Try to avoid places where heavy drinking occurs.
* Ask for help from a doctor, family, or friends.
* If you keep alcohol in your home, keep only a limited supply.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Treating Whiplash Neck Pain

Whiplash is a medical condition that is actually quite common. Chances are, you've experienced it at one time in your life, even if it were only a mild case. It can occur from someone suddenly and unexpectedly pushing you hard from behind. Or, as is most often the case, it happens from someone hitting your car from behind. Regardless of the cause or the severity, it can be painful.
Although there is pain and discomfort associated with whiplash, it is not life-threatening. However, some of the pain can linger for years. That's why it is important see a pain specialist as soon as you are injured.
What Exactly Is Whiplash?
When a person is struck from behind by another automobile, it causes the seat to push the torso and body in a forward motion. Since the head and neck are not supported, they hyper extend backwards. Once the initial impact is over, the neck and head recover and are then thrown into a hyperflexed position.
Simply put, whiplash occurs when the lower neck bones are hyperextended in one direction while the upper neck bones are hyperextended in the opposite direction. This causes the neck to form an unnatural neck curve. This irregular curvature causes muscles, ligaments, tissue and nerves to become damaged. An examination and x-rays can verify the condition.
Symptoms Of Whiplash
Whiplash can affect many different areas of the body. The individual can experience dizziness, a ringing of the ears and complications with their vision. Fatigue is also common. Pain can be found in the jaw, neck, shoulder, upper back and arms. There can also be stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Arm strength can diminish, as well and headaches are quite common.
Over time, symptoms can expand to include depression and anxiety. Frustration can result from the aggravation of being in constant pain and not being able to find relief. The individual will likely have trouble sleeping, too.
What Can Be Done To Help
Although the usual initial course of action involves the use of a cervical collar to immobilize the neck, this should only be used temporarily as prolonged use can actually extend the healing time.
A pain specialist can provide you with exercises that are designed to strengthen and rehabilitate the injured area. Bringing the neck back to it's intended level of curvature is also important. A chiropractor can work with you to reposition the neck into the correct alignment. Following a proper level of treatment, it is quite possible to obtain a full recover

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Various Problems Found in Children With Ear Deformities

Children with ear deformities must deal with circumstances that other children who do not have the same set of circumstances do not have to cope with. Having an ear that is deformed can be a challenging condition that can lead to cruel taunts and teasing by the child's peers.
Your family doctor can help you to find a doctor who specializes in treating children with ear deformities. There are corrective treatment methods that are surgical in nature but also those that are non-surgical. Some of the common deformities that youngsters can suffer from include microtia, prominent ear, lidding, cup ear, lop ear, conchal crus and helical compression. If you suffer from a minor ear malformation then finding the right doctor to treat the condition can mean the difference between having it treated well or not having it treated at all.
Children with ear deformities can suffer from any number of conditions. Once you can better understand what your child has you will then be able to help your son or daughter deal with the circumstances of it. From there you can find a doctor who can treat the medical condition and return your youngster's ears to a normal appearance.
Prominent ears are sometimes referred to as cup ears or lop ears. This deformity is such that the ears project or protrude from the head more than the distance that is considered normal for the human ear. The average normal projected distance for the ear is roughly in the range of 15 to 18 millimeters. That goes for children, teenagers and adults. Overprojection of the ear is something seen in children with ear deformities but is something that can be successfully treated by a skilled surgeon.
Constricted ear is a deformity that is evidenced by the partial absence of cartilage and skin in the vicinity of the ear. In this case a lidding of the superior helical rim is what is obvious. The doctor can come up with an appropriate treatment method to improve an ear with a constricted deformity.
Microtia is a deformity of the ear that is seen at birth. It is the absence of the majority of the exterior ear (projecting portion of the ear from the head) known as the pinna. A person who suffers from microtia may have a small vestige of the auricle or pinna and a tiny portion of the earlobe may be present. However in most cases the external auditory canal as well as the tragus will not be there at all.