The Neti Pot

About the Neti Pot

A neti pot is a small vessel, usually made of ceramic, metal or plastic, used to rinse the nasal passages. The technique originated in India and has become popular around the world. Originally used to clear the nostrils before yogic breathing, use of the neti pot has become part of regular self-care for many people with sinus and allergy issues.

Benefits of Nasal Irrigation

Nasal irrigation (also known as "nasal lavage") is a commonly recommended technique for those suffering from sinus congestion, allergy symptoms and dry nasal passages. Rinsing the nasal passages with saltwater helps thin mucus. It also clears the nostrils of irritants, allergens and infectious agents. Irrigation also eases dry, irritated nasal passages, a common symptom in cold climates.

Neti Pot Solutions

Most neti pots hold about 8 oz. (1 cup). The pot is filled with a solution of non-iodized salt and water; a good ratio is 1/4 tsp. to 8 oz. water. The rinsing procedure is done twice, once for each nostril, so you may want to mix the full amount at once: 1/2 tsp. salt to 16 oz. (2 cups) water. Always use finely ground salt, such as regular table salt. The water should be about skin temperature. Some people use baking soda in their neti pot water, and others add essential oils. If essential oils are used, no more than 1 drop per cup of water should be added. Several companies market "neti pot solutions," but these mixes do not provide any additional benefit. Salt and water are all that is necessary.

Using the Neti Pot

Stand over a sink or in the shower. Tilt your head to the side, bringing your ear toward your shoulder and then tilt the head forward. Insert the neti pot in the upper nostril, and allow the water to flow into and through the nose; it should exit through the bottom nostril. If water enters the back of your throat, increase the forward tilt of your head until the drip stops. After the rinse is finished, lean forward and allow any water to flow out. Blow your nose gently and thoroughly. Repeat the procedure on the other side. The neti pot can be used daily.

Blocked Sinuses

If your sinuses are clogged, the water may not pass through the nose at first. If this happens, wait a few moments, and then remove the neti pot. Bring your head back to center, and lean forward to let any water remaining in the nostrils flow out. Sometimes, it takes a few tries for water to flow freely through the passages, but even the local irrigation provided by the water entering 1 nostril is helpful.

Pain with Using the Neti Pot

Using a neti pot should not hurt. If you have a burning sensation or other pain in the nostrils during use, check the water temperature. Water that is too hot or too cold can cause discomfort. Reassess the salt mixture; if there is too much or too little salt, a burning sensation will result. If you experience pain in the sinuses or a headache after using the neti pot, make sure to clear your nostrils thoroughly after use, by leaning forward and blowing your nose. If the sensation persists, consult a health practitioner.

Cautions

Keep your neti pot clean, and always use clean water in your solution. Neti pots, like toothbrushes, should not be shared. If you are experiencing fever, severe headaches, bright green nasal discharge or a productive cough, consult a physician or qualified health practitioner before using the neti pot. These can be signs of serious infection. Those with sinus anomalies should consult a specialist before using a neti pot.

Tags: nasal passages, water flow, your head, allow water, allow water flow, before using, before using neti

Flowers To Make Wedding Bouquets

Wedding bouquet flowers vary immensely.

The bouquet is the focal point of a bride's ensemble during the wedding. Depending on the theme of the wedding, the flowers used are various with differing colors, scents, textures and symbolic meanings. Knowing about some of the different flowers for wedding bouquets gives you the ability to decide on the type of bouquet that fits you best.

Baby's Breath

Baby's breath is airy and delicate.

Baby's breath grows as an annual springtime flower that is popular in commercial cultivation for bouquets. It serves as a filler plant for bouquets of all varieties, especially wedding bouquets. Symbolically, the meaning of baby's breath is purity and devotion. This makes it a truly romantic and meaningful flower to incorporate in a wedding bouquet.

Lilies

Lilies convey a wide range of meanings.

Lilies of various colors make attractive and meaningful additions to a wedding bouquet. For example, white lilies denote purity, weddings and innocence. Other colors have various meanings that add blessings to your wedding such as good luck and fortune, health and beauty. Lilies also come in a variety of cultivars, shapes and sizes such as tiger lilies, day lilies, rice lilies and others. This makes choosing lilies for a wedding bouquet a creative endeavor.

Orchid

Orchids add exotic flair to wedding bouquets.

Orchid flowers are exotic in appearance and lend to the texture and appearance of a themed wedding bouquet. The orchid symbolizes beauty and love. In Chinese culture it symbolizes a blessing of many children. This makes it an excellent flower choice if you are wanting to add cultural symbolism to the already beautiful bouquet.

Rose

A popular wedding flower is the classic rose.

Perhaps the most timeless choice in bouquets, the rose comes in a seemingly endless array of colors, shapes, sizes, scents and textures. Creating a wedding rose bouquet opens a door to experimentation with long-stemmed red roses, delicate tea roses, or grandiose blossomed roses of virtually any color. They can even be dyed to suit the colors of your wedding theme. Roses symbolize love, romance, weddings, sensuality, beauty and admiration.

Tags: wedding bouquet, This makes, wedding bouquets, scents textures, shapes sizes, your wedding

Use Koso Rays

Koso rays are the connection between humans and other worlds and dimensions. This connection is unproven, as of 1010. Adherents believe that koso rays will connect humans, also knows as starseeds, to other worlds and allow them to let go of their human desires for things like television and politics. There are a variety of koso rays, all of which have different uses.

Instructions

1. Sit upright and focus on your breathing. Do not think about anything else.

2. Picture an image in your brain. This image should be three-dimensional, and it should be alone. So, if you are thinking about a computer keyboard, you should not think about the monitor or CPU or the desk. Rather, you should think of just the keyboard.

3. Slowly eliminate the image from your mind once you are focused on nothing else. The result should be a completely blank mind for your koso ray.

4. Choose a kosa ray to call upon. You don't have to limit yourself to just one -- you can call on all of them if you want.

5. Mentally say something like "I call upon the kosa ray!"

6. Focus the kosa ray on the task it applies to. So, if you are sick and want to use a blue, healing kosa ray, focus it on your sickness and symptoms. If you are about to get in a fight, focus the red fighter's kosa ray on the person or animal you are going to fight.

Tags: call upon, focus your, koso rays, other worlds, should think

The Effects Of Caffeine

Caffeine is everywhere in our society. It is in our most popular beverages, our medications, and even in our desserts. The vast majority of people consume caffeine in some form on a daily basis. Caffeine has effects both good and bad. In small quantities it is considered a safe stimulant. In large quantities it can make a person sick. Abuse of caffeine over long periods of time can lead to severe health problems and even death.

History of

Caffeine was consumed by people in prehistoric times. They realized they became more alert when they chewed or ate certain beans and leaves. Later people realized they could get that alert feeling from caffeine much more quickly by brewing the beans and leaves in hot water. Ancient civilizations in China drank tea. Ancient civilizations of Persia and Egypt drank coffee. Ancient Mayans brewed cocoa. The use of caffeinated drinks spread throughout the world. In the early 20th century, Coca Cola became popular. This start the era of the caffeinated soft drink. Caffeine is now one of the most widely consumed drugs in the world.

Type

The most obvious way to consume caffeine is by drinking coffee. A 5-ounce cup of regular coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine. A cup of tea has about 50 mg of caffeine. A 12-ounce soft drink ranges from 34 mg in a Coca Cola to 55 mg in a Mountain Dew. Energy drinks advertise their caffeine content to young consumers who think more caffeine is better. An 8.2-ounce Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine, while a 16-ounce Monster Energy has 160 mg. There is also caffeine in chocolate and cocoa, but it is small compared to other caffeinated drinks. Milk chocolate has 6 mg of caffeine in a 1-ounce bar, dark chocolate 20 mg and hot cocoa 4 mg for a 5-ounce cup. Many over-the-counter medications contain caffeine. A cold tablet has about 30 mg of caffeine, while an Excedrin Extra Strength has 65 mg. Caffeine tablets contain the strongest concentration of the drug. A Vivarin tablet contains 200 mg of caffeine.

The Facts

Caffeine is a stimulant. It affects the central nervous system making people who consume it more alert and energetic. It is also known to make people feel better and improve their mood. Caffeine increases blood flow in the brain, so it is often used to help people stay awake or concentrate. In small amounts, caffeine is considered harmless. In large amounts, it can cause irritability, nervousness and insomnia. Caffeine is not stored in the body but takes several hours to metabolize. People can feel caffeine's effects for up to 6 hours after consuming it.

Benefits

Moderate caffeine use of between 200 mg and 300 mg is considered safe. For a short time it can make people more productive and aware. Studies show that people can increase their physical and intellectual workload with the help of caffeine. Many athletes use caffeine to get more out of their workouts, while ordinary people use it to help them wake up in the morning. Caffeine is used in the treatment of certain breathing disorders and premature infants. People also like caffeine. The legal stimulant is used daily by about 90 percent of the adults in the United States.

Risk Factors

It does not take long to build a tolerance to caffeine. More and more of the drug is then needed to achieve the same amount of alertness. Caffeine addiction is common. People who consume large amounts of caffeine on a regular basis suffer withdrawal symptoms like headaches and irritability when they don't take caffeine. Some doctors argue that caffeine can increase a woman's chances of having a miscarriage. A chronic addiction to caffeine is called "caffeinism." This is manifested by a physical and psychological dependence on caffeine and severe physical problems ranging from heartbeat irregularities to difficulty breathing. Caffeine is associated with stomach ulcers and acid reflux disease. Deaths have even been associated with extreme caffeine use.

Tags: about caffeine, amounts caffeine, Ancient civilizations, associated with, beans leaves

Light Eyes In Photography

Getting the right light on your photo subjects can be a daunting task. The retinas in the eyes pick up light sources that you aren’t even aware of, and too much light can give the eyes a harsh glowing red eye look that is very unappealing. There are several tricks of the trade that will help you avoid this situation, leaving your subject’s eyes bright and natural.

Instructions

1. Make sure there is plenty of natural light in the room for the eyes to pick up. You can do this by opening curtains and shades. Also have the lights in the room on, but make sure none of them shine directly into your subject's eyes.

2. Purchase a flash attachment for your camera that has a tilt base. You can adjust the direction of the flash and point it above eye level, below eye level, or bounce the flash off of an adjacent wall

3. Set up a large umbrella and point its underneath side at a 45-degree angle to the subject. Shine a light directly into the umbrella; the light will deflect back to your subject and highlight the eyes naturally.

4. Ask the person you are photographing to look slightly off to the side of the camera if you are using an on-camera flash. This will avoid the flash going off directly into their eyes and will avoid the red eye look.

5. Positioning your subject close to a window will highlight the eyes and will give quite an appealing natural look to your photographs. Just make sure the sun is not shining in so bright that it makes your subject squint.

Tags: your subject, directly into, eyes pick, eyes will, highlight eyes, make sure

Ergonomic Chairs

About Ergonomic Chairs

Ergonomics is an important factor of the workplace today. Because more and more jobs depend on the use of the computer and other technology, there are risks from repetitive motion, no matter how slight. Ergonomic chairs help workers prevent injury as well as provide some comfort in the workplace. They are also designed to keep the worker productive. There are different styles of ergonomic chairs today, and they all have the basic functions to satisfy the needs of an ergonomic workplace.

Identification

The ergonomic chair is a chair that is designed with the user in mind. The term ergonomics means the science of designing a workspace to fit the size and needs of the user to create a comfortable, efficient and productive working environment. It should have built-ins that allow the user to customize the chair when she needs.

Function

The function of the ergonomic chair is to prevent injury, especially repetitive stress injury, which is commonly seen in an office environment where there is much repetitive work and limited range of motion. Examples of this type of work are typing, using a computer mouse, computer use and answering phones. Ergonomic chairs function in different environments where a chair may be needed, but especially an office, which can include a receptionist area, a graphic designer's workspace, space for accountants, lawyers and even those using the computer mostly at home.

Types

There are many different types of ergonomic chairs, but most of them have the same basic options. Many different styles are made, but many look like traditional office chairs that you may have seen in a doctor's or dentist's office decades ago. There are modern styles to fit a modern decor as well. The most common styles are the ones that are seen generally in office cubicle environments, which are similar to the image at the top of the article. There are other types of ergonomic chairs that are quite different from more commonly used ergonomic chairs. See "Additional Resources," below, for a link explaining the kneeling ergonomic chair, exercise ball ergonomic chair and the recliner chair.

Prevention/Solution

In order to prevent an injury--especially repetitive stress injury--by using an ergonomic chair, make sure that you adjust the chair to your specific size and needs. Adjust the seat so that your feet are flat on the floor, but your thighs should remain level with the chair seat. Your arms should be at the same level and able to rest on the desk (not press on the desk or have to stretch to reach). If you are too short for the feet to be flat on the floor at the same time that your arms are at the same level as the desk, there are foot rests available to solve that problem. There should be good back support, comfortable but enough that it prevents slouching and bad posture, especially since most professions using this chair spend a significant amount of time sitting. A backrest is very useful to help this. Arm rests should also be adjustable to your comfort level, but not to encourage you to lean on them since the tendency is to lean on one side more than the other. This can result in an uneven strain on the body.

History

The history of ergonomics goes back centuries ago, long before the 1700s. In the 1800s, Wojciech Jastrzebowski coined the term "ergonomics." People have always noticed that certain conditions make work more efficient and less injury-prone. But it is not until fairly recent times that the term ergonomics has been a widely used and understood term. In the early 1900s, manpower was the hugest source of production for companies and factories. Because speed and efficiency were so important, methods were created to improve productivity, which meant improving conditions for workers and devising ways to prevent injury. World War II created another reason for more in-depth study of ergonomic methods and concepts, as military equipment and weaponry such as airplanes and tanks were designed with the needs and efficiency of the soldiers in mind. The slightest injury or split second of a wasted movement could cost injury or even lives. The term has evolved along with its concepts and more widespread use and awareness.

Tags: ergonomic chair, prevent injury, term ergonomics, chairs that, designed with

Homemade Steam Distillation

Homemade Steam Distillation

Distillation removes impurities and organisms from drinking water. In many areas where ground water is contaminated with iron-sulfide or other odor producing chemicals, distillation is used to convert unpalatable liquid into pure drinking water. Commercial steam distillation and reverse osmosis units are an expensive investment. However, if you need a large amount of drinking water, they can be worth the money. If you need only a small amount of drinking water, you can make your own with some basic equipment.

Instructions

1. Fill the pressure cooker to within three inches of the top. Secure the lid.

2. Place the pressure cooker on top of a stove burner.

3. Attach one end of the plastic tubing to the pressure valve on the cooker's lid. Firmly press the opening of the tube over the pressure valve until the end of the tube is slightly above the lid.

4. Place the bucket on top of the counter next to the stove.

5. Coil the free end of the plastic tubing inside the bucket. Leave enough of the end of the tube out of the bucket to rest inside your clean water container.

6. Fill the bucket with ice. Cover as much of the tubing as possible.

7. Turn the heat on under the pressure cooker.

8. When steam begins to escape from the end of the tube, reduce the heat on the stove sufficiently to maintain a low simmer in the cooker.

9. Turn the stove off when you have distilled three-quarters of the water you put into the pressure cooker.

10. Clean the apparatus as soon as it has cooled.

Tags: drinking water, pressure cooker, amount drinking, amount drinking water, Homemade Steam, Homemade Steam Distillation, plastic tubing

South Beach Diet Food Delivery

About South Beach Diet Food Delivery

Arthur Agatston, is a medical doctor who created the South Beach Diet in an effort to prevent strokes and heart attacks. He claims that many other diets are only created for short-term weight loss, while his diet focuses on converting to a healthy lifestyle, with weight loss as the added benefit. The South Beach Diet is different than most diets because this plan is geared towards improving overall blood chemistry, while trimming the waistline at the same time. In his book, "The South Beach Diet," he explains how the glycemic index works and why it is important to keep it under control.

He also goes into detail about what types of good carbs and fats are needed by the body. The diet has three phases. The first phase is very strict. During the first phase of the diet. a person is very limited by what she can eat. No carbohydrates are allowed during the first phase. You are allowed to eat normal size meals several times a day. The main foods allowed during the first phase are lean meats like salmon and chicken. Low fat dairy is also allowed such as, part-skim mozzarella cheese sticks. Phase two is a more liberal phase of the diet. During this phase, healthy carbs like vegetables are added in gradually. Lean meats, eggs and proteins are the main staples during this phase. However, healthy desserts, such as chocolate-dipped strawberries are allowed. Phase three is the maintenance phase and by far the most liberal phase. The same healthy meals are recommended as well as a few treats.

South Beach Diet food delivery is a program which is set up by food delivery companies in many areas across the nation. Many of these delivery companies also deliver food for other diets such as, The Zone or the Atkins Diet. You simply place your order and the food is delivered right to your door. The cost of this service varies depending on the area that you live in. In most cases, the price ranges from $150 to $350 each week.

Benefits

The South Beach Diet food delivery service has many benefits. The meals are pre-made for each phase of the diet. This can help make things easier for you, because there will be no cooking needed on your part. The main purpose of this diet is to achieve a healthy weight and literally change body chemistry, as well as control cravings. A person who follows this lifestyle plan will have a healthy stronger heart, lower cholesterol and a reduced risk of developing diabetes.

Time Frame

The delivery is set on a weekly basis and it can be customized depending on your overall goals. For instance, some people stay on phase one for longer than the recommended time frame. Phase one is meant to last two weeks. Phase two lasts up until you reach your goal weight. The length of time a person stays on phase two depends on how much weight they need to lose and how long it takes. Phase three is simply a phase which is meant to help maintain your weight loss by sticking with the heart healthy lifestyle.

Warning

Be sure to check out the facility of the diet food delivery company if possible. Some food delivery companies will ship out of state, but if the company is in your area, you may want to make sure the food is being prepared properly in a sanitary environment. This is typically not a problem, because most companies are required to have health inspections by the health department, but if you want peace of mind you might want to do more investigation yourself. Always speak to your doctor before starting any diet or weight loss program.

Prevention/Solution

Staying on the maintenance program is the best way to prevent gaining the weight back. This diet is meant to be a lifestyle change rather than a temporary fix. If you find that you don't like the particular food delivery service for one reason or another, you always have the option to cancel and find another company to delivery your food.

Significance

The South Beach Diet food delivery program can offer an advantage. When the food is delivered directly to your door, you are more likely to stay on track and stick to the diet. This is a health investment that will pay off for the rest of your life.

Tags: Beach Diet, South Beach, South Beach Diet, food delivery, first phase

What Is A Rosemary Pea Plant

The seeds from a rosemary pea plant add a bit of color when used in rosaries and jewelry. Red in color with a black spot on one end, the plant also goes by the name "crab's eye."

Origin

The rosemary pea plant, Abrus precatorius, is native to tropical areas and is quite common in the African regions and in India. People traveling to those areas have taken the plants to other regions.

Description

This plant wraps itself around trees and shrubbery and produces small flowers that are violet in color. Three to five of the red seeds will emerge from each of the flowers.

Uses

Rosemary pea plants supply the ingredients for medicinal treatments. Tea made from the leaves is used to treat fevers, coughs and colds. The roots of the plant are used to treat jaundice and gonorrhea. The seeds are made into into a paste that is used to relieve stiffness in the shoulders and back.

What's in a Name

According to PlantzAfrica.com, the botanical name, Abrus precatorius, comes from the Greek word abrus and means delicate, while precatorius means "to petition." The plant has many common names, such as crab's eye, rosemary pea plant, rosary pea and precatory bean.

Warning

While the rosemary pea plant has many medicinal uses, it is also quite poisonous. If swallowed, the seeds cause burning in the throat, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain. If the burning continues, it can lead to lesions in the mouth and esophagus.

Tags: Abrus precatorius, plant many, rosemary plant, rosemary plant, used treat

Pros & Cons Of Goji Juice

A web search into the pros and cons of goji juice reveals many claimed pros and few cons. The reason for so many pros is that many of the sites on this topic are from who sell or distribute this product. This does not mean that the claimed pros are all untrue, nor that there are no cons.

What is Goji?

Such an exotic name indicates an exotic product. Goji is another name for Chinese wolfberry. It comes from two closely-related species, Lycium barbarum and L. chinense, both from the family Solanaceae, which includes the potato, tomato, eggplant, chili plant and tobacco. Its ellipsoid, 1cm to 2cm long, bright orange-red berry was used for thousands of years in China for medicinal purposes. Now, some advertisers hail it as "the biggest discovery in nutrition in the last 40 years."

Himalayan Goji Juice

Wolfberry has been marketed in the West as a health food since the early 20th century. Goji juice started to gain popularity after Canadian-American writer and nutritionist Earl Mindell learned about the goji berry in the Himalayas. He decided to create a juice to bring its benefits to the West. He partnered with Free Life International, a multi-level marketing company founded in 1995 and based in Connecticut. In February of 2007, Mindell was inducted into the California Pharmacy Hall of Fame.

The Real and Claimed Pros

One advertiser lists at least 38 benefits of goji juice. These include countering premature aging, regulating blood pressure, making you look and feel younger, preventing cancer, regulating weight and blood sugar, helping memory and digestion, alleviating dry cough and enhancing libido and sexual functions. No scientific evidence is presented, even if some of the claims about being rich in certain vitamins and minerals are proven, though not necessarily in amounts that surpass other fruits.

The Few Cons

The biggest con about goji juice is that it is expensive at a retail price of $50 for a 30 fluid ounce bottle. There have also been complaints about goji causing gout or being too toxic, and quite a number complaining about this or that claim not being true, an offshoot perhaps of too many good things being claimed by the marketers. It is also a possibility some complaints are competition-generated. At the very least, though, goji juice is not known and not likely to have negative impacts on health.

Marketing Under Scrutiny

If there exists such a term for a product as being "over-marketed," this would probably best describe goji juice. This is not in the sense that it has been offered widely or advertised extensively but rather that it has been claimed to have too many health benefits without showing scientific evidence. These claims have been so far-reaching that they have had to come under the scrutiny of the Food Standards Agency in Europe and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States.

Tags: goji juice, about goji, claimed pros, scientific evidence, that been

What To Do When You Hate Your Job

It would be wonderful if everyone could absolutely adore their jobs. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes, a person despises his job. When you hate your job, you may feel like it will never get better and that you are stuck with no other options; this is far from the truth.

Give Yourself a Break

Take a couple of days off from work where you have no contact with your employer and you are not around anything that has to do with your job. Give yourself time to think and time to take a breather. You may feel overwhelmed but, after a break, you may have a different perspective and a clear mind to make the appropriate decisions.

Contemplate What You Hate About Your Job

There can be many reasons why you hate your job. Maybe you do not like your boss, you have an inconsiderate co-worker or you feel like you do not have enough responsibility. Whatever the reason is, when you pinpoint what exactly about your job makes you unhappy, you can begin to make the appropriate changes.

Make Decisions and Changes

After you know what makes you unhappy you can begin to deal with the situation. For example, if you do not feel you are getting enough responsibility talk to your boss and see if you can give you more important tasks. If you feel, as a whole, that the job or field is no longer for you, it may be time for you to change jobs.

Make Financial Changes

When you hate your job and are considering leaving, you should begin saving more money and cutting back on spending. Should you need to take a pay cut or you lose your job, you know you have an extra financial cushion just in case.

Look For a New Job

Look on several job websites for a position that you believe better suit your needs and begin applying. Some sites to consider are careerbuilder.com, monster.com, indeed.com and Craigslist.com. You may also want to view usajobs.gov for jobs offered by the Federal Government. Send out your resume and talk to people you know that may be able to help you find another job.

Avoid Complaining

If you approach your boss about making changes, avoid making it sound like you are complaining about the position. In addition, do not complain about your position, work, co-workers or boss to anyone else. You may feel tempted because you are so unhappy with work, but your complaints could get back to the wrong people.

Tags: hate your, your boss, about your, enough responsibility, feel like

Open A Massage Therapy Business

Massage therapists often focus on areas that need special attention.

Massage therapy can provide relief for a variety of conditions: overused muscles, sports injuries, excessive stress and specific ailments. Massage therapy also promotes overall health. In addition, many people utilize massage therapy simply for its relaxation benefits. There are more than 80 types of massage (also called modalities). They include acupressure, Swedish, deep tissue, reflexology and sports massage.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the massage therapy profession is expected to see 19 percent growth between 2008 and 2018. This growth is due to several factors: growth of upscale spas, which tend to include massage in their services; more recognition of workplace massage; a growing number of older people who use massage to promote a healthy lifestyle; and more use of massage among young adults.

Instructions

1. Examine state massage therapy requirements. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has prepared a state-by-state summary of massage therapist certification and continuing-education requirements. In addition, the AMTA website provides a list of states that regulate massage therapy practices (see Resources).

2. Find a massage therapy school. Massage therapy schools are affiliated with one of two national certification boards. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has associated schools in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Advanced certification opportunities are also offered through the NCBTMB (see Resources).

Other massage therapists receive their education and certification through schools affiliated with the American Massage Therapy Association. The AMTA also offers continuing-education courses (see Resources).

3. Purchase massage equipment. Massage therapists primarily utilize two pieces of equipment: the massage table and massage chair. Portable massage tables are light enough to be carried from client to client and come in several price ranges. Spa massage tables are larger, include comfort padding and reclining capability, and are more expensive. Finally, portable massage chairs can be used for seated massages at a client's location (see Resources).

4. Visit spas and upscale hair salons. Day spas and exclusive beauty salons often include a private room dedicated to massage therapy. Learn about each facility's client services, and suggest specific massage modalities that would enhance the clients' experience.

5. Consult with chiropractic offices. In some cases, chiropractic doctors retain massage therapists to enhance service to their patients. The chiropractor's receptiveness may depend on the types of massage offered by the therapist. Visit several offices to increase your chances of success.

6. Search for alternative-medicine specialists. Medical practices that utilize alternative-treatment methods may be willing to include a massage therapist on their staff. Gather information on the practice, and schedule an appointment with the practice's manager if you feel there's an appropriate fit.

7. Explore seated-massage opportunities. For seated massages, clients sit in a special portable chair while their head, neck and upper torso are briefly massaged. Seated massages offer a chance to diversify your client base and perhaps break into a market that is difficult to reach.

For example, visit each office within a large office park. Talk about the benefits of seated massage, and offer discounted group massages during a lunch hour or at another convenient time.

Tags: massage therapy, affiliated with, American Massage, American Massage Therapy, Association AMTA, include massage

Aortic Valve Replacement Procedures

Aortic valve replacement is a surgical procedure used to repair dangerous malfunctions in the heart's largest valve. The most common reason for aortic replacement in the U.S. is stenosis, or failure of the valve to open or close properly. Techniques for valve surgery include mechanical replacement, biological replacement and a newer technique called the Ross procedure.

Determining Suitability for Treatment

You are a potential candidate for aortic valve replacement if you have stenosis, or if an improper seal in the closed aortic valve allows blood to leak back into the heart. Both of these conditions can lead to excessive strain on the heart, and if left untreated may result in heart failure or cardiac arrest. If you are physically able to withstand the stresses of surgery, valve replacement is the preferred method of treatment.

Mechanical Replacement

The particular type of replacement surgery chosen will depend on the particulars of your condition and the preference of your cardiologist (heart specialist) and cardiothoracic surgeon. If durability of the replacement valve is a main concern, you may undergo mechanical replacement. In this procedure, your surgeon will remove your damaged aortic valve and replace it with a man-made substitute. Numerous types of mechanical replacements exist, and they are put in place in a number of different ways, but their overall function is essentially the same. Most importantly, they do not wear out over a human lifetime, so you will only have to receive a single replacement valve.

The most common dangerous side effect of mechanical replacement is the formation of blood clots on the surface of the valve. To avoid this possibility, you will generally take a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin) for the rest of your life. Even with this treatment, your risk for stroke will increase.

Biological Replacement

Biological valve replacement comes with a much lower risk of blood clot complications, but they are also far less durable. If you undergo this form of treatment, your surgeon will replace your damaged aortic valve with a valve obtained from a pig or cow---called a xenograft---or from a human donor. Due to factors including the pressure exerted on these biological replacements by the heavy flow of blood to the aorta, their effective lifespan is limited. If you receive a biological replacement past the age of 40, it will typically last 15 years or so without losing function. If you are younger, the valve will degrade at a faster pace.

The Ross Procedure

If you are 50 or younger, you may be a candidate for a newer replacement technique called the Ross procedure. In this method, your faulty aortic valve is replaced with your own pulmonary valve, which controls blood flow to the lungs. As a secondary procedure, your pulmonary valve is replaced with another pulmonary valve from a human donor. Over time, your aortic replacement grows in strength, and the procedure can be a long-term solution. In roughly 10 percent of cases, leakage occurs as a side effect in the repaired aortic valve.

Tags: aortic valve, valve replacement, mechanical replacement, pulmonary valve, your surgeon will

Open Carpal Tunnel Surgery Recovery

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury of the wrist that causes pain, numbness, weakness and tingling as a result of the compression of the median nerve by inflammation in the carpal tunnel. Severing the carpal ligament in traditional or mini-open release surgery relieves these symptoms but requires extensive recovery time and physical rehabilitation.

Open Release Surgery

Open release surgery requires a 2 inch incision in the hand and wrist. Through this incision, the surgeon is able to view the carpal ligament completely, and sever it to open the carpal tunnel. Traditional open release surgery results in a larger scar and a longer recovery time than the mini open approach.

Mini -Open Procedure

Mini-open release carpal tunnel surgery is accomplished with a more precisely targeted incision of only 1 inch. This incision provides enough of a view of the carpal ligament for the surgeon to sever it. Mini-open release surgery offers the benefits of open release surgery with a minimal scar and lower risk of complication than endoscopic surgery.

Recovery Time

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms disappear immediately for some individuals, while gradually lessening during the recovery process for others. Depending on the individual situation, recovery time may be a month or longer. During this time, it is necessary for the patient to avoid strenuous activity in order to avoid prolonging the recovery phase.

Rehabilitation

During recovery from open release carpal tunnel surgery, patients must undergo consistent physical therapy. Wrist and hand exercises help to improve dexterity in the hand and prevent loss of wrist strength after carpal tunnel surgery. Stretching also prevents stiffness in the hand as a result of scarring.

Considerations

Patients are often unable to resume previous employment and must avoid the activities that caused the irritation after having surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Surgery carries a risk of complications including infection, nerve damage and a chance that the carpal ligament will grow back together, necessitating a repeat of the surgical procedure.

Tags: carpal ligament, carpal tunnel, carpal tunnel surgery, recovery time, release surgery, tunnel surgery

Pick Vegetables That Promote Healthy Skin

Trying to promote healthy skin with vegetables in your diet? It’s easy to pick vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals that are great for your skin. Follow these steps to find and incorporate the best vegetables for healthy, radiant skin.

Instructions

1. Do you have dry, flaky skin? Get more vitamin A in your diet. Some of the best vegetables for your skin are those that are dark green and orange in color as they are rich in Vitamin A, an anti-aging antioxidant. Make a note of which of your favorite vegetables are green or orange. Eat a lot of leafy greens regularly for glowing skin.

2. Fight wrinkles by eating foods rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C reduces free radical damage to the skin caused by sun and pollution, which causes signs of premature aging and wrinkles. Foods high in vitamin C include red and green bell peppers, broccoli, kale and guava.

3. Vitamin E is another antioxidant that fights the signs of aging and wrinkles. Combined with vitamin A, it’s effective in preventing some skin cancers. Load up on vitamin E foods like spinach, tomatoes, prunes, peaches, asparagus, and avocados.

4. If you are targeting specific issues with your skin, you may want to get more of certain vitamins and minerals. For example, if you are trying to get rid of acne, foods that are rich in zinc or vitamin A are ideal choices. Some foods that are rich in vitamin A include sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, and cantaloupe.

Tags: that rich, your skin, aging wrinkles, best vegetables, foods that

Kill Michigan Fleas

Fleas are parasitic insects that are difficult to kill.

Fleas are tiny parasites that feed on blood of animals and humans. Fleas go through four stages of life -- eggs, larvae, pupae and adult, so Michigan residents have to eliminate fleas during all stages to successfully kill them. One female flea can produce up to 400 eggs, making it hard to get rid of fleas once they infest your house. According to Michigan State University's Entomology Department, flea populations peak during Michigan's humid summer months.

Instructions

1. Bathe pets with flea shampoo. Use a flea comb on pets over white paper towel that makes it easy for you to see the fleas as they drop off pets. Shake fleas from the paper towel into a container filled with water or alcohol. Michigan State University suggests using a spray or flea powder containing pyrethrin or pytrethroid on cats and dusting dogs and their bedding with 5 percent carbaryl. Apply flea treatment such as Frontline Plus or Advantage that can kill both adult fleas and eggs. Put a flea collar around your pet's neck.

2. Vacuum floors and upholstery to get rid of fleas and eggs hiding in carpet or on furniture. Vacuum thoroughly in areas your pets spend a lot of time. Take bag-less vacuums outside immediately to empty and clean. If your vacuum takes a bag, remove it right after vacuuming, put it in a garbage bag and set it outside. Steam clean carpets and upholstery to remove any remaining eggs or larvae. Launder bedding, pet beds, and stuffed toys in hot water to kill fleas and eggs that have taken shelter in those areas

3. Remove pets and people from your home to set off a flea bomb or fogger once a week for three weeks. These canisters of insecticide vapor are activated in closed rooms of your house. If you're unable to be away from home for several hours you can spray your home with flea spray or a home treatment spray from your veterinarian. For long-term control, Michigan State University recommends a ready-to-use compound made with methoprene that keeps flea larvae from growing into the pupa stage.

4. Flood your yard to drown fleas and run a sprinkler or water your plants and lawn regularly to get rid of the larvae. Buy diatomaceous earth, which is made of crushed seashells with sharp edges that cut and kills fleas without harming pets. Sprinkle it around your yard. Treat the yard with granules of Bifen G which is activated by rain. It will begin working when rain washes the diatomaceous earth away.

5. Place flea traps around the house that have sticky pads covered by grids that fleas fall through. The Michigan Humane society suggests applying a spray formulation of chlorpyrifos as a light mist to treat large yards, carpeting, upholstered furniture and mattresses. Small yards can be dusted with malathion or diazinon, which are available in garden departments.

Tags: fleas eggs, Michigan State, Michigan State University, State University, around your, diatomaceous earth

Cures For Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer occurs when cells in the stomach mutate and begin to grow uncontrollably. Stomach cancer often cause indigestion and a loss of appetite, as well as nausea, pain and vomiting. Stomach cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the world, and is often deadly, especially after metastasis.

Difficult to Cure

Stomach cancer is typically very difficult to cure unless it is diagnosed early on. This is often difficult to do because the early stages of the cancer have few symptoms.

Surgery

Surgery often aims to remove the cancerous tissue, and usually involves cutting out some of the stomach. If the tumor has spread, other tissues, such as that of the pancreas, may also need to be removed.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses toxins that poison cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used to shrink tumors before surgery or to help reduce pain and other symptoms.

Radiation

Radiation therapy uses X-rays to damage the cancer cells. It can be used to shrink tumors before surgery or as a treatment for patients who are unable to undergo surgery.

Palliative Surgery

In the event that the cancer has spread from the stomach to other tissues, it is unlikely that surgery will cure the cancer. In these cases, surgery can, however, relieve pain and other symptoms.

Tags: Stomach cancer, before surgery, cancer cells, other symptoms, other tissues, pain other, pain other symptoms

Diet For Vata

According to the practice of Ayurveda, a traditional medicine used in India, a dosha that has become aggravated should be balanced by adhering to a lifestyle and diet that opposes it. Vata characteristics include dryness, coolness, lightness, roughness and constant movement. The way to balance it with diet is to include foods that are moist, oily, soft, heavy, smooth and warm.

Include Fat

Fat-free diets are not for someone who needs to balance Vata. Vata-balancing foods should contain a little ghee (clarified butter) or be prepared with olive oil. Avoid heating olive oil to high temperatures, as it may not be as effective in healing an imbalanced Vata dosha. Olive oil is best used when drizzled over warm vegetables, cooked grains or soft flatbreads. Ghee, on the other hand, can be heated and still retain its effectiveness. Do not hesitate to use Ghee to saute foods.

Cooked Foods

Warm or hot cooked foods are good for balancing Vata. Hot cereal, rice pudding, pureed or hearty soups, cooked fruit, and warm or hot beverages such as warm milk are comforting and healing components of a Vata-balancing diet.

Helpful Spices

Spicy foods are also generally fine to include in the diet as they are warming and enhance digestion. Using small portions of turmeric, coriander, dried ginger, black pepper, cumin and saffron is a healing and tasty option. Notice what you are cooking, however, and add the spices you think will best complement your meal.

Three Tastes

Sweet, sour and salty tastes should be included in a Vata-balancing diet. Do your best to incorporate them with your daily meals. Salted, toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds are a good snack. Milk, citrus fruits, and dried fruits are also helpful to add to the diet.

Vegetables

The best vegetable choices are carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, green beans, softer leafy greens, asparagus, radishes, onions, cucumbers, and zucchini squashes. Vata-balancing spices help make these vegetables more digestible, especially when the vegetables of choice have been chopped and cooked well.

Nuts and Grains

Nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts and cashews are good snack choices for someone with an imbalanced Vata dosha. Grains such as oats, wheat, and rice are helpful meal components. Basmati rice, in particular, is an ideal Vata-balancing food. It can be flavored with some salt and ghee. Wheat, especially in fresh whole wheat flatbreads, can be made more flavorful when drizzled with melted ghee. Combine whole wheat flatbreads with cooked vegetables for an excellent Vata-balancing meal.

What to Avoid

The following might aggravate the Vata dosha: Dry foods such as crackers and dry, cold cereal; raw foods such as salads and sprouts; bitter, astringent, pungent tastes; nightshades and larger beans; refined white flour and sugar;

vegetables such as celery, cabbage, tomatoes, cauliflower, mushrooms and potatoes; fruits such as apples, pomegranates, and pears; smoking, alcohol and junk food.

Tags: Vata dosha, foods such, good snack, imbalanced Vata, imbalanced Vata dosha, Vata-balancing diet

Mild Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that results in impaired muscle coordination and movement of the body. While the severity of the disease can greatly vary, the disease is difficult to treat and can best be remedied by early detection and treatment. Mild cerebral palsy can be especially difficult to diagnose due to the diminished symptoms, often making it difficult to diagnose until later in life.

History

Cerebral palsy is a condition that results from brain injury either during pregnancy, during birth or shortly after. Patients with cerebral palsy have trouble with muscle coordination and body movement. Cerebral palsy is a blanket term because, unlike other disorders such as Down's syndrome, there can be many causes. In addition, the severity of the condition is variable and each case is unique both in the areas that are affected as well as the actual deficits that manifest.

Identification

Mild cerebral palsy results from brain damage that only results in minimal impairment. This often makes the disease difficult to diagnose, as the deficits and limitations may go unnoticed. In fact, many cases of mild cerebral palsy go undetected for years until the parents notice their children struggling to reach many milestones of advanced development. These delays in development usually arise from the physical complications of cerebral palsy.

Effects

The defects of cerebral palsy can manifest themselves in different ways, because the condition makes it difficult for the brain to relay certain messages and communications with muscles. In some cases an affected child will "toe-step," walking on his or her toes instead of moving flat-footed. Other symptoms can include difficulty in holding and lifting objects with one particular hand. The latter can be especially frustrating to parents because other actions that include the same muscles, such as holding a pencil, will not be affected. It is important to remember that the limitations created by cerebral palsy are neurological in origin and the child cannot simply "fix" them.

Considerations

Successful treatment of cerebral palsy depends heavily on early diagnosis and intervention. For some symptoms, corrective surgery can help alleviate the problem. In other cases, such as with toe-stepping, a plastic boot or other device can help correct the problem and train the muscles to work properly. Finally, physical therapy can sometimes be used for deficits that cannot be treated by surgical or device-related measures. As with all cases of cerebral palsy, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome.

Misconceptions

In many ways, cases of mild cerebral palsy can be more difficult than more severe cases. The mildness of the symptoms often masks the cause of the disease, causing both the affected child and the parents to become frustrated with "clumsiness" and other physical problems. Since many cases of mild cerebral palsy involve no mental limitations, it can be difficult for the child to receive special considerations because he or she has no educational difficulties. In addition, a child who appears normal in every other way may struggle with atheltics and gym class, hurting his or her self-esteem. For parents of an afflicted child, it is important for both the child and the parents to remember that not every person is well-coordinated and that an affected child can still perform beyond his expectations.

Tags: cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy, affected child, cases mild, cases mild cerebral, Cerebral palsy, difficult diagnose

Be Pregnant If Your Man Is Infertile

It's not the norm, but more than one dismayed woman has found herself pregnant after her man has been declared infertile. At this point of course, she may safely assume that her man is in fact not sterile. To understand how this can happen, one needs to know a little bit about male infertility.

Identification

Infertility is diagnosed in a man when sperm count is below 20 million per milliliter of semen, or when poor motility or sperm shape is not conducive to egg fertilization. The possible causes of male infertility are numerous, including surgical sterilization, hormone imbalance, defects in the reproductive tract or abnormalities in sperm production.

Misconceptions

A diagnosis of infertility in a man does not necessarily mean that he cannot impregnate a woman. Rather, it means that conception is very unlikely. The difference between unlikely and impossible has confused countless couples who assumed they could not conceive. For a couple wishing to avoid pregnancy, it's important to understand whether the man has no sperm, just a few sperm or sperm of low quality, and whether the condition is permanent.

Prevention/Solution

Plenty of men deliberately render themselves infertile by undergoing surgical sterilization, or vasectomy. During a vasectomy the vas deferens--the tubes between the testicles and the urethra--are clamped or severed so that sperm cannot exit the body. Vasectomy is 99 percent reliable as a method of contraception. However, that leaves a 1 percent pregnancy rate to be explained.

Considerations

While most post-vasectomy babies turn out to have been conceived shortly before the vasectomy, actual vasectomy failures do happen. Instances of postoperative regrowth of the vas deferens have been reported, as has the formation of auxiliary sperm pathways. On rare occasions, a man will have an extra vas deferens that is overlooked during surgery. More commonly, pregnancy results from residual sperm in the semen of the post-operative vasectomy patient.

Time Frame

Vasectomy patients are routinely informed that they cannot be assured of infertility until the absence of sperm is verified by an examination of a semen specimen. Typically a couple is advised to use other contraception for 10 to 20 weeks, at which point the man's sperm count is checked. Sperm count is usually checked again after a year.

Tags: have been, male infertility, sperm count, surgical sterilization

Hearing Aids

Most people have heard of a hearing aid or know someone who uses one. However, some things about the hearing aid and its usage are not common knowledge such as how a hearing aid works, why they are so expensive and who really needs one.

Function

A hearing aid is a prosthetic device inserted into the ear in order to help a person hear well. A hearing aid consists of an outer shell, or casing, microphones or sometimes dual microphones on the top of the hearing aid that pick up sound. Internal parts that the sound travels through like a digital processor or amplifier (in more advanced hearing aids) where the sound is examined by a computer chip that determines what type of sound came in. The hearing aid then reacts by either turning parts of the sound up or down to help clarify the sound for the user. The computer in the hearing aid is programmed with the type of hearing loss specific to the user. After the processor adjusts the sound, it is then put through a receiver that is down in the user's ear canal and the sound is heard.

Potential

The need for, and benefits of, a hearing aid is determined by an audio-metric test that is designed to detect hearing loss in the range of human speech. Hearing aids are designed to enhance the range of hearing for conversation or speech; there are noise ranges that would be very uncomfortable to amplify with hearing aids. For the deaf community, hearing aids provide a means of hearing certain loud noises so they can be safer and more aware of their surroundings.

Process

A specialist will determine what style of hearing aid would be best according to the hearing test results and the user's physical characteristics like ear size, dexterity and lifestyle. Once the style is chosen, a custom mold of the ear canal is taken, the hearing aid is then programmed with the results of the user's hearing test, and the user is shown insert and remove the hearing aid and adjust it for sound quality and volume. This process takes about an hour. When a custom mold is taken, usually the hearing aid takes about 2 weeks to be made, and it is then fitted.

Benefits

When wearing a hearing aid, the user stimulates the parts of the brain responsible for hearing, and as these parts are usually damaged, it takes some time to rehabilitate the hearing in the brain. A hearing aid does not reverse hearing loss or cure it, and it does not stop hearing loss from occurring. What a hearing aid does is help users hear well and to stimulate the region in the brain responsible for hearing in order to maintain the ability to understand conversation or speech. Like with any prosthetic, there is a rehabilitation period and a retraining period for that part of the body. It's about a 6-month process to fully adjust to wearing hearing aids.

Considerations

There are many types of hearing aids available. Modern hearing aids literally mean getting a computer for your ears. The more advanced the computer, the better the sound quality. Make sure to see an experienced and certified hearing specialist that specializes in determining the need for hearing aids and the fitting of hearing aids.

Tags: hearing loss, hearing aids, hearing aids, brain responsible, brain responsible hearing, conversation speech

Meat Processing Plants

The development of the slaughterhouse, or meat processing plant, was designed to provide safe meat for the consumer to eat. Meat processors have a difficult job: kill the animal and process the meat in a sanitary way. Conditions were terrible and unregulated in the early days of the industry. As new methods of processing meat were developed and the government began regulating the industry, conditions improved and became safer.

History

Early maps of London show numerous slaughterhouses in the city. They were open-air markets that produced many concerns about public health. Slaughterhouses were evident as early as the sixteenth century and were hidden from public view in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries because of horrible working conditions. Over the years, conditions improved thanks to unions and government regulation. The American Association of Meat Processors had a facility in 1908 called The Chico Ice and Cold Storage Company, and was one of the first places in the United States for farmers to store fresh meat. It was owned by H.K. Eames who, in 1917, added another room with a butcher block so farmers could butcher their own meat. This was the beginning of the modern meat processing plant.

Significance

In 1928, the first American facility was built to provide meat and poultry farmers space to store the processed meat in freezers or coolers. Supermarkets began to rent freezers to store their food. In 1934, a company named Rex Coal and Ice Company was one of the first to offer cold storage and meat processing. In the 1930s, locker food storage companies and meat processing equipment companies formed an association called Frozen Food Locker Manufacturers. It was later renamed The National Frozen Food Institute Supplier Group.

In 1939, the Iowa State Fair grounds had an exhibit of a cold meat storage plant. It had chilling and aging controls that insured quality meat and less spoilage, and trained meat cutters that delivered products customers requested. Curing and smoking services, improved sanitation, and trained meat cutters were some of the added services.

Function

The slaughterhouse is controlled by the type of animals processed and its location. In some places, it is controlled by civil law or even religious laws such as Kosher processing.

After they arrive, the animals are herded into holding pens. Animals are made unconscious by a jolt of electricity up to 300 volts to the back and head. Another method is the captive bolt pistol that stuns the animal into unconsciousness. Yet another way is to use Co2 inert gas stunning. Animals are hung upside down by one leg on the line and cut apart to process the meat. The carcass is inspected by government inspectors for safety. In the United States it is done through The Food Safety Inspection Service, and in Canada through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Features

Meat processing houses prevent contamination by using steam, hot water and organic acids to reduce bacterial growth after the meat is cut. The meat is also chilled to prevent further bacterial growth. Often waste products like lard and bone are sent to rendering plants. Sometimes lard is used for production of biodiesel oil or heating oil. Waste is sent to a waste treatment plant. One of the largest slaughterhouse plants in the world is the Smithfield Packing Company in North Carolina. The major American meat processing plants are located in the Midwest and High Plains areas.

Effects

In the 1990s, immigrant and Latino workers became more prevalent in meat processing plants in the United States. Some workers were not legal citizens and did not have proper paperwork. This allowed the companies to pay cheap labor and have poor working conditions. Often, if workers tried to organize for better conditions, they were raided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It was part of a program to round up and deport undocumented workers. It was also a way to stop workers from organizing. Conditions in the meat processing industry have improved over the years, but serious problems still exist that must be addressed and corrected.

Tags: meat processing, United States, bacterial growth, Company first, conditions improved

Massage Therapy For Chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Massage therapy for chronic rheumatoid arthritis treatment is designed to ease painful symptoms and provide other positive effects as well, such as stress relief and relaxation. Massage therapy can be very beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis patients, but the practitioner must be familiar with the disease and know exactly avoid causing the sensitive client any further discomfort.

Identification

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks parts of a person's body, in this case the joints, which become inflamed and swell. The most common difficulties involve the hands and feet, although rheumatoid arthritis can affect elbows, shoulders, neck and jaw, ankles, knees and hips. Other areas of the body can also be affected, including internal organs, and tear and salivary glands. The condition can make people feel ill or fatigued, and it can cause a fever. It is different from the more prevalent osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease seen especially among older people.

Benefits

Massage therapy for chronic rheumatoid arthritis can improve quality of life for the individual affected. It not only reduces pain and inflammation, but can increase circulation, enhance flexibility and mobility, and relieve muscle aches. It also is an excellent therapy for relieving stress and reducing blood pressure.

Considerations

Massage therapists who work with rheumatoid arthritis patients must be knowledgeable about the disease, because this disorder makes joints very sensitive. Massage on inflamed areas will mainly involve light stroking, and the therapist also works with passive movement to relieve stiffness.

Hot Stone Therapy

Another technique for chronic rheumatoid arthritis treatment is placing heated stones on specific body points to relieve pain and stiffness, and to relax muscles. These stones are polished rocks, hardened lava or basalt stones, which are rich in iron and absorb and retain heat very well. The therapist may gently stroke or massage affected areas with the heated stones.

Expert Insight

Massage therapy decreases pain and improves gripping ability for people whose arthritis affects their hands, according to a study conducted at the University of Miami School of Medicine (see Resources). These people received massage therapy on their hands once a week for 4 weeks, and also performed daily self-massage on their wrists and hands. Another study, published in the "Journal of Pediatric Psychology," showed a decrease in stress hormone levels, anxiety and pain in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis who received massage therapy from their parents each day (see Resources).

Tags: rheumatoid arthritis, Massage therapy, arthritis patients, chronic rheumatoid, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, heated stones, massage therapy

What Is First Aid And Cpr

First aid and CPR are skills learned over the course of a few hours that can save the lives of many people. Classes in each are taught around the country by trained instructors from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross and the American Safety & Health Institute.

Significance

Most injuries occur at home, on a playground, in the workplace, and away from immediate medical help. Most victims of sudden cardiac arrest are at home when their hearts stop. In both cases, the people immediately near the victim become a key link in what the American Heart Association calls the "chain of survival." Having the skills to do something until trained emergency medical services personnel show up is critical. Indeed, according to the Mayo Clinic, it is "far better to do something than to do nothing at all."

Facts

The American Red Cross says that about 166,000 people in the United States die of sudden cardiac arrest each year. The American Heart Association estimates that at least 350,000 people suffer a heart attack each year, and that 94 percent of those will die before getting to a hospital. CPR done by those nearby can help improve those rates. The term first aid covers a wide swath of potential interventions in an immediate medical emergency. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) labels first aid as "medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred."

Types

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is used when someone has stopped breathing and his heart has stopped. CPR is a combination of chest compressions and administering breaths to the victim that is designed to artificially replicate circulation and breathing in a person who is unable to do so for himself. First aid can be as simple as managing minor bleeding, flushing debris from someone's eye, splinting broken bones or managing more severe injuries until help comes. First aid courses cover what to do for someone suffering from such emergencies as allergic reaction, fainting, stroke, seizures, bleeding, head injuries, broken bones, animal and bug bites or electrocution.

Time Frame

You can learn CPR and first aid in an afternoon or a couple of evenings. The American Heart Association's Heartsaver First Aid, CPR and AED program, which covers basic first aid and CPR skills, takes about 6 1/2 hours of classroom and hands-on time to complete. The American Red Cross's first aid and CPR program takes roughly seven hours to complete.

Potential

Statistics suggest that most people suffering a heart attack die before they get to a hospital. By knowing CPR, the bystander witnessing a cardiac arrest who knows when and use CPR becomes a key link in the chain of survival. Likewise, by knowing basic first aid, someone can help keep a person alive, or minimize the effects of an injury, until someone with advanced skills arrives.

Tags: American Heart, American Heart Association, Heart Association, American Cross, cardiac arrest, basic first

What Causes Landslides In Southeast Asia

Landslides can be caused by a number of factors, including deforestation and increased rainfall.

Landslides can wipe out entire villages and mountainsides in many parts of Asia. Although many landslides have natural causes, these natural causes may be made worse by building patterns and deforestation. Landslides can kill hundreds of people and damage crop production.

Deforestation

Deforestation can reduce a hill or mountainside's ability to remain in place. Plant roots help prevent saturated soils from sliding down a steep slope. Deforestation can be a contributing factor to some landslides in Southeast Asia

Typhoons

Typhoons and other tropical cyclones bring very heavy rainfall in very short periods of time. In some cases, soil on the sides of hills and mountains can quickly become over-saturated and begin to slide downhill.

Torrential Rains

Southeast Asia is tropical and sub-tropical. There are distinct rainy and dry seasons. During a particularly wet rainy season, the land can become over-saturated in much the same way that it can during a typhoon.

Earthquake

Earthquakes, especially earthquakes when the land is over-saturated from either a typhoon or torrential rains, can trigger a landslide by shaking already loose soil down a hill or mountainside.

High Tides and Tsunamis

Unusually high tides can sometimes weaken the base of a hillside that may already be weak from over-saturation or deforestation. Tsunamis, or tidal waves, can also move quickly inland, weakening the base of hills and mountainsides. These weaker bases can play a part in a landslide.

Flooding

Flooding can, much like very high tides and tsunamis, weaken the base of hills and mountainsides and help contribute to landslides. In some cases, deforestation can lead to increased runoff into rivers and increases in flooding.

Tags: Southeast Asia, base hills, base hills mountainsides, become over-saturated, high tides, hill mountainside, hills mountainsides

Bad Cholesterol

These days, it seems that information about the importance of maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is everywhere. Keeping your cholesterol levels in check is an important component of good overall health. There are different types of cholesterol, and understanding the difference between them is the first step in managing the levels. Below is some basic information about the different types of cholesterol and how they affect your health.

Identification

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is found in fats in your bloodstream and in cell membranes throughout the body. You need some cholesterol in your body, as it is not only a part of a healthy cell, it also is found in hormones. It helps to make vitamin D, and supports necessary functions in the body such as digestion. Blood is watery and cholesterol is fatty. The two do not mix. Since cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood, lipoproteins are necessary to help move it throughout the body. Lipoproteins consist of a fatty outer covering with proteins inside. Lipoproteins are like an envelope that holds and carries the cholesterol between the cells and through the bloodstream. There are many types of lipoproteins, but the two that are important for your health are low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

Significance

HDLs are known as "good" cholesterol. Having a high amount of this cholesterol is beneficial because it carries the cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver. After reaching the liver, the cholesterol can be passed from the body during excretion. Having a high level of HDLs is considered good, as it can help to protect against heart disease.

LDLs are considered "bad" cholesterol. If there is too much LDL circulating in the blood, it can build up in the artery walls. Eventually, this can lead to plaque buildup. This buildup can become a hard and thick deposit, and lead to the development of clogged arteries or atherosclerosis. This puts you at a high risk for heart disease and stroke. As the arteries become clogged, the heart no longer receives the needed amount of blood and the oxygen it carries. In addition, pieces of plaque can break off and cause a clot. If the clot blocks an artery, you can suffer a heart attack. If the clot blocks blood and oxygen flow to the brain, the result is a stroke.

Healthy Levels

Your doctor can perform blood tests to determine your level of good and bad cholesterol, and hence your risk for disease. Having an LDL cholesterol reading of 160 mg/dl puts you in the category of high risk for heart disease. If you are at risk for cardiovascular disease your LDL cholesterol reading should be less then 100 mg/dl or even lower. Your doctor can help you to determine a healthy level for you.

Sources of Cholesterol

Cholesterol comes from two sources. One source is from the food you eat. The other is from your own body. The liver is the main producer of cholesterol and can make up to 1,000 mg per day. Your body produces all the cholesterol you need, so it is not necessary to consume it. Animal-based foods are the highest in cholesterol. Consuming products such as egg yolks, meat, poultry, whole milk and dairy products can raise your level of bad cholesterol. Foods high in saturated fats and trans fats are the most important to limit, as they raise the blood cholesterol levels the most. In contrast, plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, seeds, grains and nuts do not contain cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that you consume no more then 300 mg a day for healthy individuals, and as low as 20 mg a day if you are at risk for heart disease.

Lifestyle Choices and Bad Cholesterol Levels

There are other situations that can affect the level of cholesterol in the body. If you have a high level of bad cholesterol, add exercise into your life. Regular aerobic exercise increases the levels of HDLs.

Smoking reduces the levels of HDLs. As your levels of good cholesterol go down, there is a higher chance that the LDLs will create blood clots. If you are overweight, you are also at a higher risk. Being overweight raises the levels of LDLs.

It is essential to have yourself tested to determine your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol in itself does not have symptoms. If you do not have the proper blood tests, you will not know that your cholesterol levels are high until after heart attack or stroke, which may be too late. The National Institutes for Health recommends that everyone over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol levels checked every 5 years. Your doctor may recommend more frequent testing if your individual situation warrants it.

The Role of Genetics

While there are many lifestyle choices which can help you to control your cholesterol levels, there are some factors not within your control. One is genetics. There is a condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia. This condition involves a defect in a gene, and is present at birth. It is passed down through the generations. Individuals with this genetic defect do not have the ability to remove bad cholesterol from the blood. This causes high levels of LDLs (as high as 600 mg/dl) even at birth, and patients can suffer heart disease at an early age.

Treatment

The first stage in treatment is to make the necessary changes to your lifestyle. Paying attention to your diet, getting regular exercise, stopping smoking, and managing your stress should be tried first, unless your bad cholesterol levels are dangerously high. If making changes to your lifestyle are ineffective, your doctor will prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication.

Tags: cholesterol levels, your cholesterol, heart disease, your cholesterol levels, good cholesterol

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is difficult to diagnose without conducting a thyroid panel and lab work. Doctors often misdiagnose the disease, although one out of ten doctors spot the symptoms and conduct further tests to diagnose the disease. Many people suffer from mild hypothyroidism, although they are undiagnosed and just believe they have a slow metabolism and "can't lose those extra pounds," when in reality the weight gain is no fault of their own.

Effects

Hypothyroidism has a profound effect on the body. The hair may fall out and striae (stretch marks) may form quickly, especially around the stomach, because of rapid weight gain. The patient may cease to learn or have learning difficulties. The skin will be dry and dull. Lethargy prevails as the body grows weaker; sufferers have no energy and suffer from chronic fatigue. Intolerance to cold will be present in sufferers, as well as irritability, memory loss and abnormal menstrual cycles (or none at all). Decreased libido is also a symptom.

Types

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism differ in that, with hypothyroidism, the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) level sky-rockets because the thyroid is weak and releases little or no hormone. Hyperthyroidism is the opposite: the thyroid is overactive and produces too much hormone. Patients suffering from hypothyroidism tend to be overweight due to their underactive thyroid; hyperthyroidism patients tend to be thin due to their overactive thyroid.

Identification

By conducting blood work called a Thyroid Panel, doctors can see just how much of an underactive thyroid the patient has and will act to rectify the hormone deficiency by prescribing hormones that the patient has to take every day for the rest of their lives. Taking these hormone pills is especially important to patients who find themselves pregnant to keep taking their hormone pills, because there is a risk that the baby may be born retarded due to hormone deficiency in the vital stages of fetal development.

Expert Insight

Once diagnosed with hypothyroidism a consultation will be made with an endocrinologist to discuss the disease further, take more blood tests and look after the health of the patient. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped organ in the neck, controls the metabolism. Liver, kidney and heart problems may be associated with thyroid disease.

Size

Hypothyroidism may cause the sufferer to develop a goiter due to the thyroid's dysfunction. Benign goiters can be treated with radioactive Iodine therapy to reduce their size, whereas cancerous goiters need to be removed completely.

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Hyaluronic Acid Supplements

Dietary supplements have been used as part of many alternative treatment plans for years. Some do nothing to help the individual, while others are actually recommended by some doctors. Hyaluronic acid is one such supplement, but if you don't suffer from problems in the joints and other connective tissues, you've probably never heard of it.

Identification

Essentially, hyaluronic acid is a dietary supplement said to reduce the accumulation of fluid and decrease inflammation in the joints and connective tissues of the body. It is also believed to promote healthy skin through hydration. Typically, it is found in tablet form and taken in a 40 or 50 milligram dosage twice a day, but can be given hypodermically to the affect area. The tablets are not a prescription medication, so bottles of hyaluronic acid can pretty much be found anywhere that sells vitamins and supplements, this would include pharmacies, big box stores and supplement dealers like GNC and Vitamin World.

Significance

Due to the supposed advantages of hyaluronic acid, people suffering from arthritis and osteoarthritis may find relief from symptoms that often accompany their condition when they begin taking this supplement. Interestingly, it is also finding some use in the beauty industry. As mentioned before, hyaluronic acid is believed to promote healthy skin. This idea has now translated into a supplement used to counteract aging. While it may be of some benefit to your skin, there are no substantiated clinical studies to back the claims that it actually works as an "anti-aging" formula.

Effects

Depending on who you speak to, the benefits can run the gamut. However, the most effective use is really on the joints. People have experienced great results from hyaluronic acid, more so as injections than as supplements. In fact, one study showed that 80 percent of those people treated with hyaluronic acid injections found significant relief in pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Considerations

There are no serious side effects of hyaluronic acid in oral or hypodermic form. Though a fairly small amount of those people taking hyaluronic acid orally experienced a rash or skin irritation, most have reported no issues. Of those people using hyaluronic acid hypodermically, a rather small percentage experienced a skin irritation in the area of injection.

Warning

Currently, the only form of hyaluronic acid approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an alternative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is hypodermic. The supplement has not gone through the appropriate trials or studies to have a determination made by the FDA. And since hyaluronic acid is considered a dietary supplement, it probably never will.

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