Type II diabetes is not as severe as Type I but should still be closely watched. Your pancreas produces insulin continuously and blood sugar levels increase after eating. Insulin production also increases; it unlocks your cells to absorb more sugar. This provides your body with the added energy and keeps a normal blood sugar level.
Your liver plays a role in keeping your blood sugar level as well. It stores any excess glucose and stores it in your liver until it is needed. In Type II diabetes, your pancreas makes the insulin but your muscles and body tissue becomes resistant to the insulin, or your pancreas doesn’t create enough insulin.
If your cells become resistant to insulin, they refuse the command to open the door for sugar. Why they become resistant is still uncertain. Researchers do know that excess weight, inactivity, and plenty of fat cells are important factors.
Treatment for Type II diabetes varies and some are able to control their diabetes with diet and exercise. Others may need to take medications, but in both cases, changes in your lifestyle and watching your blood sugar is important in treatment. Most Type II diabetics should consider recording their blood sugar level for a set amount of time to find out when your blood sugar levels rise and fall. Then you can decide how many times you will need to test your levels, Some may need testing once a day, or as little as only one time a week.
Several items can affect your blood sugar level. Food will always raise your levels for one to two hours after eating. Exercise and physical activity will lower your blood sugar levels. Aerobic exercise is good, but even simple tasks as cleaning house, gardening, or being on your feet all day will also lower your blood sugar levels.
Medications you take for other medical conditions can have an effect on blood glucose levels as well. Medicines to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and steroids may also raise blood sugar levels. Some high blood pressure medications can change your blood glucose and changes may need to be made to keep your levels evened out.
Illnesses also affect your blood sugar levels. A cold or other illness can raise hormone levels in your body and raise your blood sugar levels. While this does promote healing it can be a problem with someone who has diabetes. A fever can also speed up the metabolism and uses even more glucose and change the amount of insulin your body needs. If you are sick, you should check your levels more frequently.
Small amounts of alcohol can cause your blood sugar levels to fall. However, alcohol can also increase blood sugar levels. If you do drink, then drink in moderation and monitor blood sugar levels both before and after your consumption of any alcohol.
There is no specific diet for diabetes. It also doesn’t mean you have to eat only bland foods. You will need to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, foods low in fat and calories, fewer sweets, and fewer animal proteins.
Consistency is important in diet and keeping your blood sugar level at a constant level. The same amount of carbohydrates and the same portion sizes should be eaten at nearly the same time of each day. It is hard to keep motivated to stay on a specific diet to keep your diabetes under control. Enlist help from family and friends and realize you and your health are worth the effort it takes to stay motivated.
Exercise is important in controlling Type II diabetes. Everyone needs exercise, that is part of a healthy lifestyle. People with diabetes are no exception. The same exercise program that is good for your heart health and keeping your cholesterol low is good for diabetes control. Walking, jogging, hiking, cross-country skiing, and swimming are all great choices of exercise. Start out with a minimum of 30 minutes a day. If you have not been exercising, start out gradually and build up slowly. Listen to your body, start out with stretching, and warm up exercises.
Keep your weight normal; if you are overweight, it’s time to lose weight. Sometimes weight loss is all that is needed to control Type II diabetes.
July 28, 2007
Controlling Type II Diabetes
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome has not yet been determined. Research has been looking into it for a longtime. Some think that an infection can cause it, but there is no definite medical proof. The two main groups of people at risk for having chronic fatigue syndrome is those between 15 and 20 years old, and between 33 and 45. Two thirds of the sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome are women. Those are typical years for CFS but it can occur within any group and in any society. Some people have CFS and are not diagnosed.
This illness causes disabling tiredness that is severe and happens after any physical or mental activity. Sometimes rest will ease feeling tiredness, but even if they get a full night of sound sleep, they may still feel tired and exhausted. A teenager who suffers from CFS will have muscle aches, pains, and difficulties with memory and concentration. Some will have pains in their stomach as well.
Chronic fatigue syndrome can last anywhere from three to five years, but some experience a much longer lasting illness.
Teenagers with chronic fatigue syndrome can have the feeling of tiredness after even low levels of physical or mental activity. They may also experience sore throat, tender lymph glands, headaches, and just a general feeling of being unwell. They may become dizzy when they stand and experience some sensitivity to some foods that never bothered them before. They may also become more sensitive to smells, bright lights, alcohol, and cigarette smoke.
There isn’t one specific sign that will a doctor the teenager they are examining are suffering from CFS. Many have been misdiagnosed or thought to have other problems such as thyroid problems, eating disorders, drug or alcohol use, cancer, depression and kidney disease. These other ailments will need to be ruled out before a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is handed down. Blood tests, and other concentration tests should also be done. MRI’s are rarely needed for the diagnosis. These are expensive and probably won’t tell the doctor anything new.
What is the difference between depression and CFS? Teens who have CFS still want to take part in activities with their friends and still can enjoy them. Depressed teens don’t get pleasure from activities they use to enjoy and stay away from people. They have to push themselves to do things. Teens suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome want to do their normal activities but are usually exhausted afterwards.
It’s difficult for teens with CFS to attend school and many schools are trying to be as helpful as possible with these teens as well as other teens with disabilities. They may have fewer classes each day, work more at home, or are given extra time to get their assignments in. Some also are tutored to help them keep up with their classmates.
Counseling and support groups can help teenagers who are going through this difficult period of their life. A counselor can provide both information and support not only for the teen but also for the entire family.
Here are some ideas that you and your teenager can do to ease symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Try to get them involved in some activity every day. Spending time in bed will not help!
Keeping a regular sleep routine can also help. Avoid staying up excessively late and sleeping in the next morning.
Keeping a normal daytime routine is also important. It’s important teenagers paces themselves and avoids extra physical or emotional stress.
Help them keep in contact with their friends. It’s important for them to feel involved and not become loners and withdraw from the world around them.
Teens with CFS should avoid being around smokers and second hand smoke.
As a parent you can make sure, your teenager is getting a nourishing and balanced diet.
Some of your family and friends will not understand a sufferer of chronic fatigue syndrome. It would be helpful to find some literature so they can learn about the disease and help them to give the support the sufferer needs. They won’t look sick, so sometimes it’s hard for others to know how bad they feel.
July 27, 2007
Baby Boomers and Bone Health
One of the most important concerns, especially for women, is osteoporosis. The term osteoporosis means a porous bone that means fractures can result in these weak and thin bones. It is estimated that without a change in lifestyle, 12 million people will have osteoporosis by 2010.
Baby boomers are not concerned about osteoporosis because they think it is a problem only for senior citizens. This is a gender related health issue. For women the risk for osteoporosis dramatically increases as their ovaries begin to reduce production of estrogen. Bone loss can happen long before a woman begins to feel the effects of perimenopause.
Osteoporosis causes more than 1.5 million fractures a year. A fracture can mean complications especially from a hip fracture. When mobility is limited, it can mean a loss of appetite, circulatory problems, skin problems, and even depression. Unless baby boomers are made aware of the problems associated with osteoporosis, it will continue to increase in numbers throughout the population.
Osteoporosis can be a concern for men but normally not until after they are sixty. They don’t experience the sudden drop in hormone levels, but as their testosterone decreases, less new bone is formed. The disease does develop not only later in life, but also progresses at a much slower rate. Some lifestyle issues can affect men’s bone health.
Primary risk factors for osteoporosis are age, sex, and not enough calcium intake. However, you should consider other risk factors. For instance, if you have a small frame it puts you at a higher risk, also Asian and Caucasians seem to be more at risk. If you have a female member of your immediate family that has already developed osteoporosis or have suffered from bone fractures, that could put you more at risk. Other risk factors include women who go through menopause at an early age, medications for thyroid or steroids, inactive lifestyle, smoking, and drinking caffeinated drinks.
How can this disease be prevented? Is there a way to insure you don’t develop this condition in your senior years? You can help protect your bones against this disease. Stooped posture, fractures, and body pain are not a normal part of growing older. The two most important means of prevention are nutrition and exercise.
The body does not make calcium; it has to be included in your daily diet. When your body is not taking in enough calcium, the body takes the calcium it needs from your bones. This increases bone loss and influence how rapidly the disease progresses.
Lactose intolerance can result in a person not taking in enough calcium. Dairy products have calcium but also have lactose. Lactose intolerant patients may experience stomach problems like cramping, bloating, and diarrhea. One way to be sure you are getting enough calcium is by taking supplements. You also can take in calcium in nondairy products. Foods high in calcium are sardines, salmon, shrimp, cooked raw broccoli, turnip greens, almonds, tofu, and collards. Also available at any grocery store are products specifically made for lactose intolerant people. Lactose free milk can be found in the dairy section and another good source of calcium is hard cheeses. Also available are medications that if taken before consuming dairy products will help your body cope with the lactose it is taking in.
Vitamin D also helps with calcium absorption. This important vitamin exists in the skin and is released when exposed to the sun. Sun exposure for 10-15 minutes a day will help your body convert Vitamin D into calcium. This should be done when the sun is high but remember to protect your skin from the UV rays of the sun. You shouldn’t rely on sun exposure as your major source of calcium. If you are protecting your skin, you also are blocking what you need to produce calcium. In the grocery store, you will also find some juices and cereals enriched with Vitamin D.
Baby boomers need to start thinking about their bone health before they become seniors. A little prevention now could save you from pain of fractures in the future.
Baby Boomers and Health Problems
You may have promised yourself that you would never end up looking like your parent; overweight, inactive, and with various health problems. Some of us have already broken that promise. Many of baby boomers have a dual role of taking care of children and elderly parents. These time constraints mean lunches and dinners are often fast-food choices, and there is little time for any physical activity other than it takes to keep their home or job running smoothly.
Studies show that sixty percent of the population is either obese or overweight. This means heart health is in trouble in our nation. Just being overweight can cause problems with your heart. The heavier you are, the more at risk for cardiovascular disease you are. Being overweight also increases your chances of high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The higher these numbers are, the more risk you have of developing a clot large enough to block the blood flow to the heart.
Studies show that even if you have normal sized arms and legs but have a bulging belly, you are still at risk for heart disease. Research shows the larger your belly is, the more risk you have of having a heart related problem.
Reducing your waistline and bringing down your weight can play a big part in decreasing your risk of heart disease. One way to do both is through regular exercise. Research has proven exercise does more than just give you a better looking body, it’s also important in keeping your heart healthy. Statistics tell us, people who exercise regularly have a 50 percent lower risk of having chest pains or a heart attack. People who exercise regularly live longer even if they smoke. In fact, they may live longer than a nonsmoker who doesn’t exercise.
There are many benefits of exercise to your heart health. You will probably lose weight, or keep a lower weight, lower your cholesterol, and maintain a lower blood pressure. Exercise also affects the heart by keeping blood vessels healthy. Regular exercise will reduce your heart rate and blood pressure, and that will reduce demand on the heart. If you already have cardiovascular disease, you can help keep your heart rhythm normal and expand smaller blood vessels to keep blood flowing around an area that may already be clogged.
Doctors tell us, exercise is the best prescription you can follow for a healthy heart. If you are not used to exercising, start slowly. Try taking a walk around the block once a day, then twice a day, or stretch your walk out to two blocks. It’s important to listen to your body and not overdo it when you begin. Starting slowly will help your heart, encourage you to do more, and exercise will make you over-all healthier.
Another form of exercise for baby boomers to consider is the practice of Yoga. Yoga is low impact and concentrates on breathing and relaxation techniques. Any one of any size or age can start doing Yoga and have an impact on their health. Adding in the relaxation methods used in yoga practice and you can bring down your blood pressure and release stress that may be harmful to your heart. Yoga has proven to be effective in relieving stress, calming nerves, and promoting heart health. Many fitness clubs now offer yoga classes with certified trainers that can help beginners start yoga safely. Yoga practice urges you to listen to your body and build up to working to your full capacity. Special needs can be discussed with the trainer and routines custom-made to fit your body.
If there are no classes available, check out yoga tapes and other low impact tapes that will guide your new exercise routine.
It doesn’t matter which exercise you start with, what’s important is to make it a regular part of your life. Walking is the easiest and least expensive way to start exercising. Be sure to buy a good pair of walking shoes to protect you feet and you’re all set. Many malls allow walkers to walk inside during bad weather; some park districts also have indoor walking tracks available to the public.
Before starting any physical exercise routine, contact your doctor. He may also recommend the exercise for you.
Alzheimer’s Disease
One of the most common forms of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s robs you of intellectual and social abilities and interferes with regular life. This disease usually affects senior over the age of 65. As the population ages this number is expected to quadruple.
Now, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. There is progress being made by researchers to improve the quality of life for those who have Alzheimer’s. Drugs are being discovered and studied which may lead to treatments of the disease.
If you have been a caretaker of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, or have a loved one suffering with it, you know that it takes patience and love to keep you and them going.
If you think a loved one may be showing early signs of Alzheimer’s, what do you look for?
One of the most prominent signs is forgetfulness. It starts out with occasional forgetting simple directions or recent events. It progressively gets worse until the patient may forget even family names and objects they see every day. They also may repeat things they’ve already told someone, and put objects down and forget where they placed them. On the other hand, they might put something away so they will remember where they put it, and put it in such an illogical place that no one can find it.
Early Alzheimer’s patients have trouble in conversation in finding the right word to say. They may have a hard time following conversations or expressing their feelings. Eventually their reading and writing ability will also be affected.
Abstract thinking is something else that these patients have. They may suddenly be able to deal with numbers, especially in balancing the checkbook. Disorientation causes them to lose track of time, and it is easier for them to get lost. They may feel they are in unfamiliar surroundings even if they are home.
They have trouble with everyday problems, such as knowing that food has been on the stove too long. They eventually have problems dealing with planning, judgment, and decision-making. Familiar tasks become a struggle, even the basic activities like dressing or remembering to bathe.
One of the most distressing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is the personality changes that affect them. They have extreme mood swings and that is often accompanied by depression. They may begin distrusting those around them, be increasingly stubborn, and withdraw from family and friends. As they get progressively worse, they may become defiant, stubborn, aggressive, and take part in inappropriate behavior.
One report tells of a wonderful woman, good mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. When her family was forced to put her in a nursing home, she became aggressive to other patients and began using language she never would have dreamed of using before she fell ill. The staff had a hard time in restraining her in the nursing home. They found she was sneaking in to other patient’s rooms, uncovering them, and leaving them. This was so unlike the mother and grandmother they knew, they had a hard time even visiting. Most of the time, she wouldn’t remember her daughter being there that morning, and her family finally put an erasable board in her room so her visitors could right their name and the date they visited. That allowed family to know who was there and when.
Unfortunately, families don’t often recognize the onset of Alzheimer’s because it starts out slowly. There usually are no sudden changes in their personality to alert family members there is a problem. As the symptoms gradually get worse, or they realize memory is fleeting for their loved one, they may not realize until the patient is far into the advanced stages of this disease.
How the disease progresses and what the average survival rate will be depends on the individual. The average survival rate is eight years. Some live fewer years, and some could live up to 20 years with the disease. People with Alzheimer’s eventually will no longer be able to take care of themselves. This leaves loved ones with the burden of deciding whether to place the patient in a long-term care facility or try to take care of them at home. It’s a difficult decision and everyone must realize that it takes considerable attention, love, and patience to deal with the problems that come with Alzheimer’s disease.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
One of the most exhausting conditions that affect adults with anxiety disorders is post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition usually follows someone who survives a physical or emotional event that was terrifying to him or her. Brought to the forefront by our veterans, it was often called “shell shock” or “battle fatigue.” It’s been found to occur in both men and women who have had serious car accidents, survived a natural disaster, bombings, a plane crash, or violent personal attacks. Abuse in childhood also can cause post-traumatic stress disorder. How severe the disorder will be is determined by the length and severity of the event that caused it.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can be triggered by an event that happened in the person’s life, in the life of someone close to him or her, or something they witnessed. Many citizens of New York have been treated for PTSD after the events on 9/11. PTSD has already appeared in those who were affected by the devastating hurricanes that occurred in the South.
People who suffer from PTSD will have extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress if they are placed in a situation that reminds them of the event. Some may relive the situation repeatedly in the form of nightmares, or “flashbacks” during the day. Other symptoms may include sleep problems, easily startled, and have problems feeling loving and affectionate. Depression, a constant jittery feeling, or a feeling of being numb or detached from your surroundings is also signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Anyone suffering from this disorder also stay away from places or situations that bring back bad memories and are sometimes more aggressive, irritable, or even violent.
These symptoms can also be found in other anxiety disorders so it is important to talk to your doctor for a diagnosis. Post-traumatic stress disorder will only be diagnosed if the symptoms have lasted longer than a month. It usually starts about three months after the event happens, but has been known to occur years after a traumatic event. Some will not be able to remember the event unless they are in therapy. Many block out events until something later brings the memories to the surface.
This disorder can occur at any age, including childhood. Depression, substance abuse, and anxiety are signs of PTSD. Some will recover in six months, for others, it may be a much longer period.
What is the treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder? Treatments will vary from person to person according to their medical history, overall physical health, and age.
The extent of how the disease has progressed is something else to consider. Your doctor should also understand your tolerance for specific medications and your preferences. Someone with PTSD is also susceptible to other anxiety disorders such as substance abuse and depression. Treatment is critical and can include medication, therapy, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback. Antidepressants or medications for anxiety are used and psychological treatment both may be used to fight this disorder.
In this era, mental disorders do not carry the stigma they did in previous generations. It is common now for people to admit to taking antidepressants or having therapy. Support groups have sprung up that help them get through the recovery period. Some of the most successful programs are based on the 12-step program from Alcoholics Anonymous.
If you or someone you love is displaying any of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, try to get them to a medical professional. This disorder can lead to severe drug or alcohol abuse, depression, and even suicide. Emotional support from family and friends can help those who suffer from PTSD.
Treatment is available to all that need it. Veterans, if you are suffering from PTSD go to local veterans office. If you can’t afford to get the proper therapy or medication, contact your local mental health agency. State funded programs are available for those who qualify as low-income and don’t have a large income.
If someone you love suddenly is extra irritable, have violent outbursts, have trouble with socializing, and working, find them some help. If they are having flashbacks when they hear different sounds, smell some odors, or have feelings the event can happen again, they need help to work through the event and get better. Medication can help but finding the underlying cause of the trauma may be the most helpful in handling post-traumatic stress disorder.
July 6, 2007
History of Migraines
How long have migraines been around? Contrary to the beliefs of many, migraines are not a new disease, only a newly-named. In fact, based on the symptoms, it appears that migraines are among the oldest diseases known to mankind.
Conditions that have been linked to migraines were described in detail in Babylonian writings dating back to 3000 BC, and papyrus scrolls dated from around 1550 BC that were found buried alongside a mummy in Thebes contain even more detailed accounts that are remarkably similar to what modern migraine sufferers describe. Even the Father of Medicine himself, Hippocrates, described what are clearly migraines in 460 BC, when he described a shining light that was typically seen in one eye and followed by severe pain that started in temples and worked its way to encompass the rest of the head and down into the neck. Hippocrates was also well ahead of his time by being the first to correlate head pain with exercise and seven sexual intercourse. Of course, Hippocrates also attributed migraines to vapors making their way up to the head from stomach and thought that the headache pain could be relieved by throwing up.
The Ebers Papyrus, named after George Ebers who obtained it, dates back to at least 1200 BC is an encyclopedic compilation of various prescriptions and medical treatments, including one for shooting pains in the head consistent with modern day migraine headaches. According to the instructions on the papyrus, Egyptians were to use a strip of linen to tie a clay crocodile holding grain in its mouth to the head of the patient. On the linen were written the names of those gods that the Egyptians believed could cure their ailments. As in so many things, the Egyptians may have been preternaturally aware of modern techniques because it is believed that this procedure could possibly have brought relief to the headache sufferer by compressing the scalp and collapsing the blood vessels that were causing the pain. At the very least it made more sense than the previous Egyptian cure for head pain, which was to simply rub a fried fish on afflicted side of the head.
Plato is considered one of the all-time great thinkers the world has ever produced, up there in the pantheon of great philosophers. And yet he seems to have been so wrong about so many things, including migraines. As far as Plato was concerned, head pain was caused by people paying too much attention to the body. In fact, Plato seems to be in that camp that thinks migraine sufferers are a bunch of whiners and that it’s all in their heads, but not in their expanding and constricting blood vessels. It may be time to start second-guessing this whole idea of Plato being really, really smart.
Hua T’o was a Chinese surgeon in the second century who is given credit for the invention of anaesthetic drugs among other things. He was also perhaps the first to take to acupuncture needles to cure migraines. In one particularly infamous and, hopefully, quite rare case, when Hua used a needle to carve a tumor out of patient suffering from pain between his eyes a canary flew out. The man not only lived, but was cured of his pain.
Hildegard of Bingen was a medieval nun and mystic who began experiencing visions at an early age. Her visions eventually led her to write several books on health and medicine and natural remedies. Both her written accounts and the illustrations she drew that reflected her visions have led the belief that those visions may have been the result of migraine auras. Her visions were detailed and vivid, as were her descriptions and she has built a significant following who consider her to be the first migraine-inspired artist. The typical treatment of migraines during Hildegard’s time during the Middle Ages basically consisted of opium and vinegar solutions applied to the skull, with the vinegar thought to have been used to open the pores of the scalp so that the opium would be more quickly absorbed.
Centuries, if not millennia, from now people may be reading a history of migraine treatment and shake their head when they reach the 21st century. Could treating with the ingredients found in medication one day be laughed at in the same way as we might laugh at the idea of treating it by rubbing a fried fish on our head?
Achieving a Balanced Scent with Essential Oil Combinations
Increasingly, aromatherapy is one of the most fashionable types of alternative medicine in the world today. Perhaps one of the reasons it is so popular is that it is quite helpful for a number of different applications. In the world of medicine, there are a number of different applications. Women use it to ease labor pains on a regular. You don't have to be sick to benefit from aromatherapy, though. It can simply help you to focus your mind. It can improve your memory, improve your mood, it can even invigorate you after a long night. Making your own essential oil combinations can help you to take your daily aromatherapy rituals one step further.
If you intend to make essential oil combinations of your own, you must first understand a number of things related to essential oils. First, essential oils are classified according to notes. Top notes, on a general basis, are essential oils that tend to evaporate rather quickly. For the most part, essential oils that are classified as top notes tend to have anti-viral properties. Top notes are almost always quite fresh. They usually have properties that make them seem uplifting. They are also lighter scents than most. If you go to purchase essential oils that have been classified as top notes, they are usually quite inexpensive. They act very quickly. They usually have very little substance, and the first whiff of a top note essential oil will give you a good impression of the oil itself. Top notes do not last as long as some others. Middle notes tend to be most helpful in giving a sense of body to whatever essential oils blend they are being used in. They do a good job of balancing the blends, which is one of the reasons they are so popular.
For the most part, when you go to smell an essential oils blend, the middle notes will not always hit you at once. It may take a few minutes before you even notice them in any essential oils blend. Middle notes are warmer style fragrances. They have soft overtones that make them perfect for blending. Essential oils that are called base notes tend to be heavier than any other notes. They have a very solidified scent. Base notes stay present for a much longer period of time than any other oil, and they can truly help to slow down the level of evaporation most other essential oils experience. These are very intense experiences. Their rich nature tends to be relaxing for most, and they also tend to be the most expensive of all aromatherapy essential oils. In order to achieve a perfect scent balance, there are several things you should keep in mind. Remember that top notes hit hard to begin with, but leave quickly. Try balancing them evenly with a blend of middle notes and base notes. Remember that you want your final blend to be emotionally enjoyable.
You can start your first essential oils blending experience by choosing a combination of essential oils that you like and use on a regular basis. It is important to remember to choose at least one top note, one middle note, and one base note. While you can just choose a combination of scents that you think would work well together, if you are unsure about these kinds of things, stick with the basic notes formula. It will be a process of experimentation and learning no matter what you do at this stage. Grab a small glass jar for your next step. Dip a cotton swab into the first essential oil. Put it in your glass jar. Do this again for each essential oil that you have chosen. Don't forget to write them down as you add them. Once you have placed all of your swabs in one jar, leave it for a few minutes. Come back and smell it. Does it work for you? If so, you are ready to put the lid on the jar and leave it for several hours. Open it and smell it again. If you still like it, you are ready to blend the oils. Once you have blended equal parts of each essential oil in an airtight container, put the lid on it and leave it for at least forty-eight hours. When you reopen the jar, you will have the scent you created.
Technorati Tags: essential oil
Adult Allergy and Asthma
More than 50 million Americans are affected with allergy-related conditions every year. Some of these allergies, such as mild seasonal hay fever can be controlled with over-the counter medicines or with no treatment at all. Other allergies can interfere with your life, reduce your enjoyment in life, and become life threatening. If this is the case, you should see a doctor for a comprehensive review and allergy testing.
When our immune system identifies a substance that is normally harmless as damaging to the body, it triggers the immune system to defend our body. Sometimes the body aggressively attacks normally harmless substances such as dust, mold, or pollen.
The body reacts to the release of the antibodies in various ways. Allergic reactions can attack any part of our body. It can attack the stomach, the nose, throat, sinuses, and lungs. Some of the reactions your body might experience is nasal stuffiness, discharge, sneezing and nasal itching. Sometimes itching in ears or roof of the mouth accompanies the other symptoms.
The eyes can be affected with conjunctivitis or red, itchy, and watery eyes. Skin can be red, itchy, and dry, hives or itchy welts can appear on the skin as well. Asthma is a common form of allergic reaction. Asthma causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.
Several substances can cause allergic reactions. In fact, there are hundreds, but the most common allergens or triggers include things we meet often.
Pollen, we can hardly avoid pollen if we spend any time outdoors at all.
Molds can be anywhere, and in your home without you realizing it.
Household dust and dust mites, common in most homes.
Animal dander, urine, or oil from their skin. Many of us have pets and don’t realize what they can do to someone with severe allergies.
Industrial chemicals, these are common in household cleaners.
Foods, such as peanut allergy are often life threatening.
Feathers can cause allergic reactions if you are in a home with a bird.
Insect stings can sometimes be fatal; a bee sting can kill if that person has an allergic reaction to bee stings.
Cockroaches and the waste they produce.
Anyone can be affected by allergies, any race, age, gender, or social status. Allergies seem to be more common in children but an adult can suffer an allergic reaction even after years of remission. Allergies run in families even though it isn’t yet understood why that happens. Allergies can develop gradually over a period and can be caused by hormonal changes, stress, perfume, smoking, and other substances in the environment.
You can discover what allergens you have a reaction to in one of two ways. The first is to have a blood test that measures the antibodies to specific allergens; the other is the skin patch test method. Several well-known allergens are diluted and either injected into the skin or a small amount place under the skin by a puncture or scratch. If a welt appears or a red area on the skin it might mean the patient is allergic to that allergen.
Treatments for allergies will vary and are determined on your age, overall health, and medical history. Consideration will be given when deciding therapy on how bad the disease is, your tolerance of medications, and your preferences. Occasionally a person may only need to change their lifestyle and be sure, their home is dust and mold free.
For some it may mean a change of diet, especially if their allergies are food related. Several different food allergies are common. Reactions can be avoided by staying away from the ones they are sensitive to. For those who are lactose intolerant, many over-the-counter cures will allow you to cope with lactose products. You can enjoy an ice-cream cone without worry.
A peanut allergy can be especially harmful and all items with peanut or peanut oil should be avoided. Most candy makers now print on their packaging if the candy has been made in the same factory where peanut products have been used. This is a potentially life threatening allergy. Always check packaging of all candies to be sure there won’t be a trace of peanut or peanut oil in the product.
Allergies are annoying but controllable if you discover what you are allergic to, and avoid those allergens.
Technorati Tags: Asthma
Benefits of Cardio Interval Training
In a long-term study of the health of the people of in the United States, the U.S. Public Health Service documented the chances of developing heart disease among various groups in the population. Long before the any symptoms appeared, epidemiological research could identify high-risk groups.
Among the highest risk factors are male sex, age over 35, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high levels of certain blood fats, and a family history of cardiovascular disorders.
Other researchers have added to this list another risk factor: the compulsive, hard-driving, highly anxious personality. The greater the number of severity, the greater the person’s overall risk.
These threats to the heart can be divided into two main categories: those beyond individual control, such as age, sex, and heredity, and those that can be controlled, avoided, or even eliminated. Among those in the second category are what cardiologists call “the triple threat.” These are the high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and high cholesterol levels in the blood.
If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, your risk of having a heart attack is twice that of a nonsmoker. If you smoke, have hypertension, and eat a diet high in fats without any exercise at all, your risk is five times greater than normal.
The Healthy Heart
If these risk factors endanger the heart’s health, what enhances its well-being and improves its odds of working long and well?
Obviously, quitting cigarettes and eating a low-fat diet will help. The next best thing you can do for your heart’s sake is to give it what it needs: regular exercise or a complete cardio interval training.
The heart is a muscle, or, more accurately, a group or “package” of muscles, similar in many ways to the muscles of the arms and legs. And just as exercise strengthens and improves limb muscles, it enhances the health of the heart muscles as well.
Since World War II, several large-scale statistical studies have evaluated the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular disease. One well-known survey compared 31,000 drivers and conductors of some bus companies. The more sedentary drivers had a significantly higher rate of heart disease than the conductors, who walked around the buses and climbed stairs to the upper level.
The why and how behind these statistics were bet explained by classic experiments with dogs whose coronary arteries were surgically narrowed to resemble those of humans with arteriosclerosis. Dogs who were exercised were had much better blood flow than those kept inactive.
The exercise seemed to stimulate the development of new connections between the impaired and the nearly normal blood vessels, so exercised dogs had a better blood supply to all the muscle tissue of the heart. The human heart reacts in the same way to provide blood to the portion that was damaged by the heart attack.
To enable the damaged heart muscle to heal, the heart relies on new small blood vessels for what is called collateral circulation. These new branches on the arterial tress can develop long before a heart attack — and can prevent a heart attack if the new network takes on enough of the function of the narrowed vessels.
With all these facts, it is now boiled down to a single question: What should be done in order to prevent such dilemmas?
Some studies showed that moderate exercise several times a week is more effective in building up these auxiliary pathways than extremely vigorous exercise done twice often.
The general rule is that exercise helps reduce the risk of harm to the heart. Some researches further attested the link between exercise and healthy heart based from the findings that the non-exercisers had a 49% greater risk of heart attack than the other people included in the study. The study attributed a third of that risk to sedentary lifestyle alone.
Hence, with employing the cardio interval training, you can absolutely expect positive results not only on areas that concerns your cardiovascular system but on the overall status of your health as well.
This particular activity that is definitely good for the heart is a cycle of “repeated segments” that is of intense nature. In this process, there is an interchange periods of recuperation. It can both be comprehensive activity and moderate motion.
Consequently, the benefits of merely engaging into this kind of activity can bring you more results that you have ever expected. These are:
1. The threats of heart attack are lessened, if not eliminated
2. Enhanced heart task
3. Increase metabolism, increase the chance of burning calories, therefore, assist you in losing weight
4. Improves lung capacity
5. Helps lessen or eliminate the cases of stress
Indeed, cardio interval training is the modern way of creating a healthy, happy heart and body.
Technorati Tags: health
Benefits of Boxing Training for Fitness
You may improve your health and have a physically fit body by getting into boxing training fitness programs. This is the best way for you to have a stronger body and gain confidence. Boxing workouts can help you to be at your best fighting form as well.
Many people see positive results from boxing trainings. You may build stronger and more defined arms and legs. These programs and classes also help you to gain a sense of inner strength and emotional balance.
Boxing training classes got across to the mainstream of physical fitness training a few years back. They have seen the benefits on the cardiovascular and toning of the muscles by these boxing training workouts. Tae bo work out videos also popularized these boxing and kickboxing exercises.
Cardio boxing training classes and the innovative variations of the sparring jabs, power punches, defense, and fitness has all blends of aerobics exercises. You will learn the proper execution of the punch and kick combinations for a more intensive workout that can help you become stronger and more confident.
The combinations you perform on the blocks, jabs, and kicks are executed to an imagined opponent. You may see classes where participants throw punches and kicks on the air. You will also find training camps that have quality equipment such as punching bags and you may also have the option of getting a partner that has padded hands.
You may also enjoy more benefits aside from the physical aspects of boxing trainings. Cardio kick boxing workouts allow you to burn out 350 to 500 calories in just an hour. It also helps maintaining the heart rate at 75 percent to 85 percent regular beat. This has been proven to be good and is the recommended range if you are exercising or into training.
Moreover, these boxing training classes improve your speed, resistance, and strength. Flexibility and the reflexes of the muscles are also enhanced. Repetitive motion on arms by sparring and jogging while you punch helps your arms and legs gain strength and power.
These workouts also enable your joint movements to build very efficient fitness results.
These movements require you to develop balance and coordination that enables your body to be stable and maintain a good form.
These physical benefits you gain from boxing and kickboxing are just few of the many benefits that they can provide. You will be able to learn more about defense mechanism skills, which you may use in case of unwanted instances. You will also feel the satisfaction when you punch or kick. Relaxation and self-motivation is also developed.
You will feel a sigh of relief and feel that you are released from stressed. It also helps you to get rid of that anger that is inside of you. Once these things are releases, you may feel lightness into your body and peace of mind as well.
Many aerobic and fitness experts recommend boxing training lessons for beginners. It allows you to workout on your desired pace and body condition. Boxing classes let you to push yourself to the limit as long as you are safe and well conditioned.
Positive results await you with boxing training. You will enjoy a physically fit body and will keep you in better shape. You have the option working out and exercising at your preferred level and skill. Enjoy the fun of these boxing training programs.
Technorati Tags: fitness
RSS Feed (xml)
