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Archive for February, 2008

What exactly is Adhd?

Friday, February 29th, 2008

Everyone hears a lot about attention deficit problems these days and the condition has even become a staple of media entertainment (mainly sitcoms), appearing as a humor-based topic on shows like Desperate Housewives and the animated series, South Park. But what exactly are attention problems beyond how we might normally conceptualize them?

The condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, can be summarized in a variety of ways, but essentially, the condition is simply one that is denoted by characteristic hyperactivity, short attention span, and high impulsivity. It is also a medical condition for which the diagnosis is occurring far more frequently. And, though this may not be surprising to some, the disorder is one that predominantly affects one particular gender.

How prevalent is ADHD? It may affect between from five to ten percent of younger children with the condition being diagnosed far more frequently in males versus females (up to 10 times more
often).

Very often, an ADHD patient will show symptoms of other conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Those with ADHD also tend to have a certain degree of emotional instability and a
reduced level of maturity comparable to their peers. Again, this is no surprise to parents and teachers. Unfortunately, as well, learning disorders are also fairly common among those with
attention deficit problems.

Many of the same parents and teachers who must deal with attention problems in children on a daily basis, however, might be surprised to learn that many adults have attention deficit issues also (though prescription drug treatment and counseling for ADHD is typically aimed at adolescents and children). Very often, the adult with ADHD is not even aware that he or she has the condition. And, in fact, many older persons with ADHD are not diagnosed with the condition until relatively late in life.

Presently, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is believed to be genetically transferred and passed on by heredity. And popular conceptions about the disorder take the position that it
is the result of biochemical abnormalities within the brain.

Coincidentally, this mirrors current views regarding bipolar disorder, a medical and psychiatric problem that seems to be caused, at least in part, by neurochemical deficits.

What should you do if you suspect your child may have ADHD, or suspect that you or another adult may have the disorder? Seek appropriate help, possibly from an internist, or a psychiatrist or other mental health practitioner who is trained to diagnose the disorder and evalute its severity. And do it soon. ADHD can be a difficult condition to live with, but, with proper intervention, its severity can be managed.

The author of this article is Timothy Moore, who, in addition to being a former food stamp caseworker, medicaid caseworker and AFDC caseworker, is a former disability claims examiner. He publishes information at disabilitysecrets.com Social Security Disability Claim Secrets which features a helpful and informative disabilitysecrets.com/questions.html Social Security Disability faq and also publishes a website about vitaminstuff.com Vitamins, Herbs, and Alternative medicine topics.

Cosmetic Surgery - Chemosurgery

Friday, February 29th, 2008

Chemosurgery consists of the application of an acid to the skin. The acids that are used today are a 50 percent solution of phenol, one of the chloracetic acids for a lesser exfoliation (the phenol peel), or one of the fruit acids, such as glycolic acid, which can be used by the patient at home.

The phenol peel is probably the treatment of choice for wrinkles around the mouth. Anatomical segments may be peeled, or the entire face may be treated. At one time, there were reports of some cardiac irregularity during the procedure. Since then, the EKG monitor has been used and no further reports have been made. The face is carefully cleansed and the patient is heavily sedated.

As the surgeon applies the phenol solution with an applicator, the patient experiences a stinging sensation. A waterproof adhesive tape mask is applied in overlying strips and left in place for 24 to 48 hours. The patient has marked pain during the first 16 hours. Following removal of the tape, thymol iodide powder is applied to dry the weeping surface. Today, many physicians prefer to use Vaseline in place of adhesive tape and Neosporin powder in place of thymol iodide. After removal of the mask, there is intense redness, which my take as long as six months to subside.

Complications following this procedure are similar to those following dermabrasion and are more apt to occur. The patient must protect her face from the sun as long as the redness persists. Keloids (thick red raised scars) may result, which have to be treated with prolonged injections of cortisone. Perhaps these complications can best be avoided by following the advice of dermatologist surgeon Harold J. Brody, chairman of the American Academy of Dermatology’s Task Force for Chemical Peeling Guidelines. In a January 1995 Vogue magazine interview, Dr. Brody advises those interested in a chemical peel to be sure to seek out an ethical, board-certified physician through the American Academy of Dermatologists because “dermatologists and dermatological surgeons are the only ones specifically trained during their residency for this procedure.

Scars are permanent in nature, but in some instances they can be made less conspicuous by redesign of tissue. Procedures such as Z-plasty or W-plasty are used to change the direction of the scar and also lengthen the scar so that there is no contracture. Keloids may be improved by the injection of cortisone or the application of pressure by paper taping or elastic pressure. These techniques may be used singly or in combination.

The length of time the improvement will last varies with the individual factors mentioned with regard to immediate recovery and also the amount of stress experienced; general health; maintenance of a constant weight; avoidance of excess exposure to the sun and overindulgence in alcohol, smoking and drugs. There may be some relaxation at the end of six months that may be improved by minor surgery. If they are not undertaken too frequently, repeat procedures of chemosurgery will produce equally satisfactory results.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to cosmetic-surgery-guided.com/ Cosmetic Surgery

Dieting Strategy — Stop Diet Drop Out

Friday, February 29th, 2008

Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of diets, requires a new dieting strategy. Exchange it…and watch diet drop out rates plummet.

What is Diet Drop Out?

To stop a diet plan before reaching your goal or before reaching a pre-defined time limit is called diet drop out. Not one diet succeeds at keeping diet drop out rates low. One or more of the following strategies are used by diet plans in attempts to eliminate diet drop out:Shorter Dieting Sessions

This is a strategy that more often back fires, setting the stage for weight gain. Subjects placed on shorter dieting sessions experienced weight loss at a faster rate than those following longer sessions.

Fast weight loss (over 3-4 pounds/week) is unhealthy and negates any progress made on lowering diet drop out rates.

Severe Calorie Restriction

This strategy follows the same principle as faster dieting sessions. Allow dieters to lose weight fast, and they won’t have time to drop out. Unfortunately, severe calorie restriction also causes weight gain.

Diet Holidays

This strategy allows dieters to take long breaks or “holidays” from following the diet. However, the opposite result is often observed. Diet drop out rates increase because many dieters never start the diet again.

In order to provide a strategy that works, diet plans should ask dieters why they drop out. Then simply provide a solution for the reason dieters drop out, problem solved.

Why Dieters Drop Out

When dieters are asked what is the hardest part about dieting, the response is surprising. Most dieters say that following strict diet menus, not exercise, is the hardest part.

A good strategy for decreasing diet drop out rates would address the menus. This is exactly what Exchange It accomplishes…giving dieters more control over what they eat.

The exchange process involves substituting healthy food choices for harmful ones. For instance, substitute a healthy fat, like Omega-3, for saturated fats. This allows you to eat more fats, and still remain on your diet.

To learn more about Exchange It! and other new dieting strategies, click…

weight-loss-professional.com/best-weight-loss-program.html Exchange & Other Dieting Strategies

To Healthy Living!

Michael A. Smith, MD

Chief Medical Consultant
Diet Basics Website

Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content rich website dedicated to your weight loss success. Quickly becoming known as the net’s primary resource for weight loss issues, his weight-loss-professional.com/what-is-rss.html RSS Feed and weight-loss-professional.com/weight-loss-news.html News Blog are received by thousands of e-zine websites, medical centers, and individuals. The interactive content is original and informative, challenging readers to act and maximize their weight loss efforts.

To Healthy Living!

How Correct Nutrition Can Improve the Health of Your Hair

Friday, February 29th, 2008

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. Beyond this, hair loss can result from general nutrient deficiency. One of the problems with nutrition and hair however is that we can’t programme nutrients to do what we want - and hair growth is not a priority so nutrients may be used up in other areas first.

B vitamins (especially B6, biotin and inositol) have all been found to be important in hair growth, so a heavy duty B complex is recommended. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they destroy B1 and other B vitamins. Other important nutrients are manganese, magnesium, silica, kelp and vitamins C and E.

Stress worsens hair loss. It can reduce scalp blood flow, in addition to interfering with digestion and absorption. If stress is a consideration support the adrenals with vitamins B5 and C or glandulars.

Healthy hair needs good circulation and blood supply. Standing on your head - to raise body over head will boost circulation to your scalp, but ONLY attempt this if you are very healthy and fit! A more practical approach is an Indian head massage — it increases blood flow and circulation in the scalp, helps transport minerals to the scalp and is wonderfully relaxing. Organic cider vinegar massaged into the scalp opens up the pores. If you are actually losing hair from the root (as opposed to brittle hair) then the cider vinegar can help unclog sebum glands that sometime block causing the follicle to die off as hair cannot get through.

Essential Fatty Acids promote healthy hair, and water obviously is vital to avoid dehydration. Filtered or bottled water is best - glass bottles preferable to plastic to avoid taking in plasticisers.

Thinning, dry hair can be a sign of protein deficiency. Increasing protein (possibly as protein shakes) can restore vitality and sometimes colour. But if protein intake is good, another possibility is low hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is needed to digest protein. If you’re low in HCl, proteins are not digested properly, so the minerals they contain are not released. Mineral deficiencies could also be due to absorption problems in the gut. A ‘leaky gut’ can result from food intolerances, so if you suspect poor digestion, consider a food intolerance test when other symptoms suggest this.

Zinc has, in some cases of alopecia, been found to restore bodily hair growth as well as on the scalp.

Iron is often suggested after a study attributed hair loss in non-menopausal women to lack of iron.

Keratin - the hair protein - is predominately sulphur - which is probably why biotin is so useful as this is also predominately sulphur. MSM may be helpful for the same reason.

High copper has been associated with hair loss especially in women on HRT or who have taken the Pill. Good liver health will help keep copper down. Mercury, lead and cadmium toxicity have also been associated with hair loss.

Hair loss can also be due to hormonal imbalance especially post-menopausally, or with polycystic ovary syndrome. (PCOS can lead to elevated testosterone and hair loss). Herbal medicine can help here — some PCOS clients have had good results from taking saw palmetto and agnus castus. Horsetail (a good source of silica) may also help, but a herbalist should be consulted if you wish to take herbs.

Hormone imbalances promote copper retention. A thyroid self-test may be useful as thyroid activity is reduced in the presence of high copper. Calcium and copper often rise together. The balance of copper and zinc together is a better guide to copper levels than copper alone. Smoking and high consumption of chocolate, white wine and coffee can tip it the wrong way. B3 and zinc are good antagonists to copper. Essential fatty acids also help hormonal balance.

So how do you assess you mineral status? Hair Mineral Analysis can provide a detailed mineral analysis, plus personalised supplement programme designed to address imbalances. Learn more about Hair Mineral Analysis and discover how to how check your levels of nutrient and toxic minerals on my website below.

Joy Healey is a qualified nutritionist who studied for three years at the prestigious London Institute For Optimum Nutrition, founded by Patrick Holford a leading authority on health and nutrition.

4-hair-mineral-analysis.com 4-hair-mineral-analysis.com
For more information on Hair Mineral Analysis

Easy Mole and Wart Removal

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

So you want to know something about mole and wart removal, but you aren’t sure if it is something that you can do at home? Well the short answer to that question is sure, you can do it at home. The long answer would let you know that if you attempt to remove a mole or wart and you do it the wrong way you could end up with a scar that would last for a long time or even a lifetime. The problem could be compounded if the mole or wart removal takes place in a conspicuous area.

Before we get into the how and why of mole and wart removal you should know that sometimes moles are your bodies way of letting you know that something is wrong. If you have a mole that changes size, shape or color or if it bleeds sometimes it may be a sign of a more serious problem and should be checked out. If, on the other hand, the mole and wart removal is cosmetic in nature then you can go ahead and get rid of the bugger. Here are some ways that you can remove moles and warts, and some reasons why they may not be the best idea.

First you could try just cutting it off. Most people that have done this in the past will tell you that it doesn’t really hurt all that much. I know that in the case of warts, there are no nerve endings that run inside the wart so there is no real pain. But if you aren’t cutting below the surface the wart will just come back, and that is painful and tends to bleed. Not to mention the fact that you are exposing yourself to the possibility of a nasty infection if you do not use sterile equipment.

Doctors are more than willing to take care of them for you by slicing, dicing, freezing and burning them off of your body. They can also prescribe something that could help to get rid of them, but these things carry their own side effects and problems, as well as the money that you have to spend to go have them do the work for you.

If you really want to remove moles and warts once and for all, without side effects and without leaving a mark behind on your body then going with the natural mole removal is the way to go. There are plenty of suggestions for natural mole removal online if you do some searching.

Natural home mole, tag and wart removal can be dangerous if you do not use all natural methods. Don’t risk an infection and a scar that will last for the rest of your life. Visit our website for a special report on natural mole, tag and wart removal at moleswartstags.info/ moleswartstags.info/

View our special report on moleswartstags.info/ Mole, Wart and Tag Removal online.

Choosing Wisely – Foods That Help Lower Bad Cholesterol

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

High cholesterol has become one of the most common health concerns among people of all ages. Now, more than ever, healthcare professionals are repeatedly stressing the importance of choosing the right foods to help lower bad cholesterol and maintain the good. While the food you eat isn’t the only consideration here, (exercise plays a part in it as well), it can play a bigger role than you may think.

HDL is what is considered the good cholesterol and LDL is known as the bad. The objective is to keep both your HDL and LDL at certain levels, which has probably been stressed by your doctor during each visit. Newer cholesterol recommendations urge people to keep their overall cholesterol below 200 milligrams, which is a bit lower than has been specified in the past. The good cholesterol, or HDL, should be above 40 milligrams, with a new sliding scale set for bad cholesterol or LDL. People without known heart disease factors should keep their LDL below 130 milligrams, while those with more than one risk factor for heart disease such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, or low HDL cholesterol levels should keep their LDL levels below 100 milligrams.

There are several ways to lower your overall cholesterol levels, and selecting foods that keep the cholesterol in your blood low is a good place to start. There are several foods that can help you do this, and numerous ways to prepare them that will start you down the right path. It may be difficult, but it will be worth it in the end.

Start by using only low or nonfat fairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Regular dairy products are high in saturated fats, which will raise your cholesterol levels. The more you use low or nonfat products, the more used to it you will become.

Limit your intake of saturated fats. No more than 5 percent of your daily calories should come from this. That equals about 10 to 11 grams a day.

Avoid foods with added trans-fat. This fat comes from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil that is often found in fried or processed foods such as crackers and baked goods.

Base most of your meals around beans, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Minimize your intake of low saturated fats such as the dairy products mentioned above.

Include soy protein in your diet in place of animal protein. Recent studies have shown that 25 grams of soy protein a day can actually help to lower cholesterol.

Limit your sugar intake. Sugar turns quickly to fat, which will not help to lower your cholesterol one bit. While it is okay to eat them sometimes, keep it to a minimum.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Visit tricori.com tricori.com: tricori.com online pharmacy & tricori.com online drug store (*You may reprint this article as long as you keep this resource box intact and all links clickable.)

Natural Heartburn Relief

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

Heartburn is a digestive problem and, despite its name, has nothing to do with your heart. It occurs when stomach acid rises and comes into contact with your esophagus or gullet and causes painful irritation. Many of us suffer from heartburn occasionally after eating.

There are actually several causes of heartburn, some of which can only be treated by your doctor. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, seek your doctor. Note also that the symptoms of a heart attack can be similar to heartburn or indigestion. If in doubt, get medical help immediately.

If you are sure it is just heartburn, try these natural heartburn relief remedies and tips:

1. Certain foods can cause heartburn. Only you can determine if you are affected by these. Common culprits are drinks containing caffeine including tea, coffee and most sodas. Fried and fatty foods. Tomatoes and tomato products such as salsa, pizza sauce and soup. Alcohol. Citrus fruits and juices such as oranges, lemons and limes. Avoid the foods that cause you problems. Keep a heartburn record for a few weeks to see which foods cause you problems.

2. Eat smaller meals more frequently. A full stomach will put extra pressure on the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus. Stop eating when you are ¾ full. This is also a good weight loss technique!

3. Don’t eat within three hours of bedtime. Give your body time to process the food in your stomach before lying down. If you experience heartburn after lying down, elevate your head with another pillow.

4. Chew gum after a meal. This has had miraculous results for some sufferers. The theory is that this increases saliva generation without filling your stomach further. You can also get the same effect by chewing a few raisins or other dried fruit. Do not swallow, just chew and keep in your mouth for 5 minutes or so.

5. Try a teaspoon of dark brown sugar as soon as you experience symptoms.

6. Avoid drinking fluids after eating, especially alcohol.

7. Relax after meals. With today’s hectic lifestyles it’s tempting to jump up immediately after meals. This is a big no-no. Stay seated in an upright position for at least 10 minutes.

For more natural heartburn relief tips and success stories visit 365health.info/heartburn.php 365health.info/heartburn.php

Home Care to Reduce Bad Breath

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

The demand for remedy of halitosis is increasing manifold as the awareness of halitosis among masses is growing day by day. The options for treating halitosis are also growing surprisingly with the increase in its awareness. Market is flooded with a number of products with various claims of eliminating the bad breath problem.

Bad breath can be quite embarrassing at any given point of time. Bad breath is caused by the presence of oral bacteria. However, there are other causes of bad breath too, like onions, garlic, smoking, dryness of the mouth, and gum disease. More people suffer from xerostomia, which is, basically, dryness in the mouth. It occurs during sleep or if you have been speaking for a longer time. The saliva is a special kind of mouth moisture that kills oral bacteria.

You can use commercially available breath fresheners or mouth washes for temporary relief from bad breath. However, most of them are temporary and act by masking the smell producing layers of tongue, once the effect wears off, the bad breath will resurface with renewed vigor.

Using anti-bacterial mouth rinses may provide you better results in controlling bad breath. Always avoid alcohol containing mouth rinses as alcohol is a drying agent and will worsen the problem sooner or later.

Evidence suggests the most effective products are generally unavailable in drugstores and usually found on the internet pharmacies.

Top of the brand home breath tests and antibacterial rinses, toothpastes, gums, mints, and tongue gels are always costlier like any premium product; but unlike the well-known inexpensive brand names, they can really control your problem to a marked degree.

However, you need to be extra cautious in finding remedies on internet as there are chances of you getting ripped off for a higher price or you may not simply find the right medication. In such cases, you will have to do trial and error exercises to find the best pharmacy.

Never forget to brush your teeth after meals and a regular flossing at least once in a day will remove putrefying food debris from between the teeth, especially at the gum line and posterior of the tongue.

Gently cleaning the tongue surface twice daily with a tongue brush, tongue scraper or tongue cleaner will help you keep your tongue and teeth in good shape and health.

It is always prudent to go for the permanent solution of the problem rather selecting a short-term measure. It is already discussed that some temporary solution offering products may aggravate the problem instead curing them. Thus always say a no to the temporary solution and go for a remedy, which eliminates the problem from its root forever.

Bad breath can certainly be cured. We provide more tips on resolvebadbreath.com fighting
halitosis from resolvebadbreath.com/halitosis-cause.html understanding
the halitosis causes to finding resolvebadbreath.com/halitosis-remedy.html remedy
to reduce bad breath

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - An Historical Text

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a book of 195 separate phrases that are designed to be easy to memorize. Because it is a work that is every bit as much a part of modern yoga as it was a part of the birth of yoga, this particular book is held in very high esteem in the yoga world.

Some Background

The origin of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is the topic of some debate among both historians and practitioners. For instance, there are some people out there who credit the writing of this set of sutras to a grammarian named Patanjali. Later, though, a timeline was constructed that showed that to be unlikely. Within the yoga community, though, many say that Patanjali was actually just a compiler and that before the work was written, the Sutras were simply memorized and passed down between teacher and student. Timelines do, though, suggest this text was constructed in about the second century B.C.

The name of this text is named using Sanskrit words: yoga, you probably know, is a mindset wherein you are able to gain mastery of feelings and thoughts alike. Sutra literally means “thread.” This thread is basically the connection between the sutras in the work. In fact, some people call the Patanjali Sutras the Yoga Aphorisms in English. It is not an altogether incorrect loose translation.

Understanding the Text

The sutras in the text are divided into four books. Fifty one of the sutras are contained in the book called Samadhi Pada, fifty five of them are in Sadhana Pada, fifty five are also in Vibhuti Pada, and thirty four of the sutras can be found in Kaivalya Pada.

The book Samadhi Pada contains sutras that are most considered fundamental to yoga. It emphasizes that yoga is about discipline and that it is the ability to master your feelings and thoughts. Many of the most famous yoga sutras come from this particular book.

In the Sadhana Pada, there is much about practice since the Sanskrit word “sadhana” actually does mean practice. This chapter is where Kriya Yoga and the eight limbs of yoga first appear. These aspects reflect the idea that yoga is both selfless and spiritual.

The Vibhuti Pada can be translated “power.” The roles of the sutras in this particular book are to describe and help the yogi to achieve full awareness through yoga. It is essentially about attaining higher levels of awareness of one’s self.

Finally, the Kaivalya Pada means, again in Sanskrit, “isolation.” What this book is really about, though, is achieving liberation, according to the principles set within it. Yoga teaches to concentrate on self and attaining higher levels of consciousness, and this book uses 34 sutras to pursue this idea.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a staple for many, and describe the ideas upon which the yoga tradition has passed through more recent (from the 2nd century BC), history.

Rebecca Prescott presents more information on the yogatohealth.com/The_Influence_of_The_Invocation_To_Sage_Patanjali.html” target=”_new invocation to sage patanjali here, as well as some yogatohealth.com/Yoga_Tips_-_Common-sense_Advice_for_Beginners.html” target=”_new yoga tips for beginners.

The Benefits of Gingko Biloba

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

The Gingko tree can be traced back millions of years to the prehistoric era. With a plant that has existed as long as it has, it may be its ability to retain its genetic information generation after generation so well that also is beneficial to humans as a supplement.

Gingko Biloba as a supplement has been around for quite sometime, but it still isn’t fully understood how great the long term benefits could possibly be. One thing is for sure though the benefits that are known of are very promising.

Gingko biloba is known to its memory enhancement capabilities. This process is simple in allowing for increased blood flow to reach the brain, thus allowing for more oxygen, allowing the cells to function at a faster pace. Relaxation of the blood vessels is key here, allowing for the blood flow to increase. Enhanced memory isn’t the only positive effect from this process. With the relaxation of blood vessels, comes reduced blood pressure and ginkgo biloba is also a common supplement used by those who need to get their blood pressure down.

If you’re looking to retain some information better, or to be able to recall it faster, why not get the help of a plant that has been doing for millions of years.

Gingko biloba is available online, but one important thing to keep in mind when shopping is to pay attention to what you’re buying. You want to make sure that you the supplement you are using Ginkgo has less than 5ppm Ginkgolic acid as any more can cause unwanted side effects.

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