YOUR HEALTH

Overdose of Vitamins – See Reverse Effects of Excess

2008-09-04T01:45:00.001-07:00

Author: Dr John Anne

From infancy to toddlers, children to adolescents, and, from young adulthood to maturity, we, as people, at large, are confronted and instilled with the benefits of vitamins. In some cases, individuals will conceive the notion that by increasing recommended daily dosages of a particular vitamin or vitamins, or, engaging the overdose of vitamins, in general, will enhance their respective levels of optimum achievement. However, such assumption can lead to serious complications, some, in posing considerable risks, such as a coma of a permanent nature or even death, brought about due to an overdose of vitamins.
Vitamins are a healthy supplement to people's daily diets, particularly, in compensating for the lack of clinically recommended daily vitamin allowances through inadequate eating habits, or, in other terms, a balanced diet, when taken as directed. However, upon a person increasing their daily vitamin intake by exceeding the recommended dosage and allotments, such overdose of vitamins is unhealthy.
Where children of younger ages are concerned, a misinterpreted or unintentional overdose of vitamins, particularly in those multiple vitamin formulation containing iron, poses hazardous factors. Within the natural and biological hemoglobin makeup, as a molecule contained in the blood, iron is the transportation component of oxygen to cells that are living. Small and normally recommended doses or supplements of iron permits the body's ability to restore the hemoglobin count. Unfortunately, when a larger than recommended or prescribed dosage of iron is administered to a young child, the effect of this overdose of vitamins can devastatingly result in either a permanent coma or death. In the event of an overdose of vitamins through iron, antidotes, through the practice of alternative methods, to include alpha lipoic acid, Dimercapto propanesulfonic acid or a sodium salt, known as unithiol, can be administered if determined and diagnosed in time.
Issue in the overdose of vitamins, where iron is involved, has its impact on both elderly men and women, as well as with women who are menstruating. In the demographics of individuals, due to either a natural and biological loss of blood or a lowered level in the body's production of red blood cells, will seek out a supplement to either propagate or, as the expression goes, pump up, the red blood cell counts. If the respective individuals ingest the recommended or prescribed amount of iron, as a dietary supplement, it can be beneficial. However, if an excessively higher amount of iron, which would result in an overdose of vitamins, is taken or administered, the body's absorbing abilities of zinc would be impeded. Zinc is a mineral that serves a dual purpose within the body, as in healing wounds and regulating the immune system.
Individuals who exceed the ingesting of vitamin A, as a supplement, by extremes not in accordance with either recommended or advised doses, is posing serious risks that fall into the scenario of an overdoes of vitamins. Such dangers to one's body can include serious damage to their liver, along with headaches, impaired vision and loss of hair.
Hampered mobility, numbness felt in either or both the hands and area of the mouth can possibly be a result as to an overdose of vitamins, where a higher than recommended or counseled amount of Bitamin B-6 is taken by an individual.
Many individuals believe that loading their respective bodies up with vitamin C can be a preventative towards the common cold, as well as a booster to the immune system. While normal, recommended and prescribed levels and does of vitamin C supports these matters in its effectiveness, overdose of vitamin in this case, leads to bouts of diarrhea and abdominal pain and stress.
Vitamin D, through the body absorbing it through normal sun exposure or sun bathing, in any amount, will never amount to an overdose of vitamins. By way of ingesting vitamin D, as a supplement, in an amount that exceeds the daily-recommended dosage, can cause complications in muscle functionality, along with the same ill effects to the tissues of the heart.
Recommended for lowering levels of cholesterol in particular individuals, Niacin can be effective. Ingesting Niacin, in a dosage amount to achieve such purpose, can also act as an overdose of vitamins, in presenting jaundice, along with damage to the liver.
For more helpful information read about Home Remedies at Herbal Remedies website. Also read about Breast Enlargement Products.

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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_477709_17.html

Ten Mistakes Women Make When Having Sex With a Man

2008-09-04T01:43:00.001-07:00

Author: Rod Phillips

You see a lot of articles about what men can do during sex to make it better for the woman, but there's a lot less information - and opinion - on the mistakes women make. So, to set the record straight, here's our list of ten things for women to avoid.
1 Expecting him to think like a woman
We've all seen loads of books with titles like "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" which highlight an unfortunate difference between the sexes. Men and women don't think the same way - and while we're not going to get into why this happens, it's important to remember that fact when you're in a relationship. In general, men are not as romantic as women, they don't see romance as a necessary prelude to sex, and they can divorce sex from their feelings in a way that perhaps most women can't. So there will be plenty of times when a man wants sex even if he isn't feeling romantic and connected to his partner.
For him, the physical pleasure of sex is a reward in itself. He doesn't need to be seduced into feeling desire (though he may appreciate it if you do seduce him!), at least most of the time, for his sex drive is a pretty constant part of his maleness. I think that's what women don't understand.
They know how elusive and emotional their own sex drive is, but they don't appreciate how different it is for a man. Think of it this way: men can enjoy sex with their partner whether they are feeling loving or not; in fact they often find their feelings of love for their partner when they have sex with her. By contrast, women often say they need to feel loving before they want sex - or at least before they are prepared to give themselves heart and soul to a man.
2 Not showing your sexual energy
Women who were brought up to be demure "good girls" (i.e. non-sexual) may find it difficult to express the essence of their feminine energy during sex. And a lot of women also have problems expressing their anger, an emotion which can add real spice to the sexual union between men and women. This lack of sexual energy might appear as a reluctance to initiate sex, a reluctance to be the active partner, a reluctance to make noises or thrust, or simply an overall tendency to wait for the man to lead and direct what happens during sex.
But believe me, ladies, your man will really like it when you express your passion - whether that means you getting on top for woman on top sex, moving in a way that will give you the greatest pleasure, kissing him passionately, or being assertive about what you want in bed.
3 Being too gentle when you touch his penis
Men like a firmer touch than women, especially when it comes to their penises. If you ever have the pleasure of watching him masturbate, you'll see how much pressure he uses on his penis - especially as he nears orgasm. If you're doing it for him, ask him to tell you what you're doing right and what he'd like done differently. He'll really appreciate your efforts to give him more pleasure.
4 Not experimenting with sex
The saying has it that men think about sex ten times an hour - or is it a hundred? Yes, of course that's an exaggeration, but it isn't much of one. While some women have a high sexual desire, it's true to say that women in general are much less sexy than men when they're not in the bedroom. Men fantasize all the time - about the things they see, what they'd like to do, how they'd like to do it, and so on. With such an active sexual imagination, it's not hard to understand why a bit of variation in the bedroom routine can keep a man sexually happy.
It doesn't have to be way out stuff like bondage, either. For example, try changing sex positions once in a while: take the initiative and get on top of him or let him enjoy rear entry for a change. Talk dirty to him if you've never tried that before; explore and play with new parts of his body, such as his anus and perineum, during foreplay - or even during the main event. Seduce him into a "quickie" by leaving a trail of clothes across the floor into the bedroom. Greet him at the door in sexy clothing. Phone him at work and tell him what you'd like to do to him later that day.....well, you get the idea - use your imagination!
5 Expecting him to read your mind
Yes, we know it's difficult to express your sexual desires directly. But men don't think like women. They don't read clues, they don't get hints. So stop communicating indirectly, and tell him what you want. And give him feedback when you get it! That way, he'll know exactly what he's supposed to be doing, how you feel about it, and whether to do it again. For example, if you like what he's doing during sex, let him know with your moans of pleasure.
6 Criticizing him
I think one of the reasons women can be so critical of their man is that they've never learned the art of direct communication. Than means stating clearly and directly what you want, how you want it, and whether you got it - and how you feel about it afterwards. Men appreciate that style of talk - they know where they stand and it removes the uncertainty for them.
Criticism is an indirect way of saying that your needs are not being met - but if you read number 5 above, then maybe you've begun to understand that your man won't know what you want unless you tell him. If you're judging his love for you on the basis of his ability to anticipate and meet your needs without you saying what they are, well, I'm afraid you aren't likely to be very satisfied. And it won't be his fault.
7 Letting him take responsibility for your orgasm
A lot of us think that a man somehow has a responsibility to "give" a woman an orgasm during sex. After all, that's how a lot of us were brought up - that a man somehow has to look after "his" woman. And that idea extends to making sure she has an orgasm during sex.....but the truth is that women are responsible for their own orgasms. So while it might be nice for your man to help you get there, if you don't make it to orgasm through his efforts, you can always take matters into your own hands.
8 Controlling him by withdrawing sex
One of the most unhealthy things you can do in a relationship is to use sex as a weapon. This is basically a statement that you feel powerless, that you think withholding sex is the only way you can get what you want. Rather than trying to exert some influence over your man by denying him the pleasure of your body, try communicating directly what you want and don't want. (That might even extend to simply saying you don't feel emotionally close enough to your partner to want sex.)
9 Thinking he'll feel the same way about your body that you do
It just isn't so. Men don't attach the judgments to women's bodies that women do. So, for example, even if he thinks your butt really is a bit on the large side, it won't matter to him the way it matters to you. In fact, he probably quite likes it. And he certainly won't be put off making love, or want the lights off, because of it. While you waste time and emotional energy wondering if you're completely undesirable because of some aspect of your body, he'll never give it a second thought. It's women who judge their bodies, I think for the sake of comparison with other women, not men.
10 Not making up with sex after an argument
Well, yes, I know that a lot of couples do make up with sex when they've had an argument, but in fact many more don't. As I said above, most women think that they need to be feeling loving and emotionally close before they want sex. Yet I've met a lot of couples in my work as a sexual therapist who have found that taking the risk and jumping into bed can work really well as a way of getting close again.
Even if you don't feel sexy or loving when you start making love, after a while the simple act of being physically connected in bed can really change the way you feel about each other. The other way of settling an argument (that's talking, seeking understanding, and thrashing out how you feel) is fine: but once in a while try a more direct method of getting your feelings back on track - just go to bed together!
Rod Phillips

About the Author:
Rod Phillips is a writer for Sex Techniques And Positions . Send your comments and ideas for better sex to tips@sex-techniques-and-positions.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sexuality-articles/ten-mistakes-women-make-when-having-sex-with-a-man-74632.html

Iron-rich Food for Anaemia

2008-09-04T01:42:00.001-07:00

Author: Casey Yew

Anaemia is the most common disorder of the blood. Anemia is caused by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen. The lack of blood cells or hemoglobin causes insufficient oxygen delivered to the body tissues and organs. As a result, you would feel tired, lack of stamina and dizziness. In more severe case of anaemia, you can feel shortness of breath. Very serious anaemia can lead to heart failure in elderly.
The main causes of anaemia are: - Reduced production of red blood cells often caused by deficiency in nutrients and hormonal imbalance. - Too much destruction of red blood cells which may be a condition that is hereditary - Severe blood loss that may be caused by heavy menstruation, accidents, gastric ulcers and aspirin overdose.
The most common type of anaemia is iron-deficiency anaemia. Excessive blood loss, whether acutely hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss, is the cause of iron deficiency. Our body takes a long time to replenish severe loss of iron in blood. Women during their menstruating years are prone to anaemia. People who have experienced in any form of major blood loss, such as accident or child birth, may get anaemia too.
Women have higher risk of getting anaemia during pregnancy. Pregnant women need more iron to create more blood circulation in the body. For this reason, pregnant women are given supplement of iron to cope with the iron deficiency. Illness such as cancer, leukemia, AIDS and stomach ulcers can cause anaemia. Malnutrition can also lead to anaemia as poor diet does not suffice the body's need for nutrients and minerals.
To cope with anaemia, you can eat more iron-rich food to increase the iron in blood. Iron from meat sources is better absorbed than iron from plant sources. Iron absorption is affected by phytates, calcium and vitamin C. Vitamin C-rich foods help the absorption of iron. You should eat plenty of vitamin C-rich food together with iron-rich foods.
Certain foods, such as tea, coffee, wheat bran, rhubarb, chocolate, soft drinks, red wine, ice cream, and candy bars, have been found to hinder iron-absorption and they should be avoided. You should avoid smoking as smoking lessens the level of vitamin C in your body.
It is crucial that you see your physician for a correct diagnostic since not all anaemia is caused by iron deficiency. Another type of anaemia, Perniciuos anaemia, is caused by vitamin B12 deficiency due to the inability to absorb it from food. This type of anaemia is usually found on vegans because vitamin B12 is only found in animal foods. This problem can be solved by taking vitamin B12 supplements suitable for vegans or eating fortified vegetarian products.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/ironrich-food-for-anaemia-79172.html

About the Author:
Food for Health. Food For Weight Control. Food as Medicine . Everything About Food Nutrition Such As Vital Vitamins, Dietary Minerals, Fibre, Fat and Carbohydrate.

Chronic diseases and pregnancy

2008-09-04T01:40:00.001-07:00

Author: Yana Mikheeva

Speaking about health before pregnancy, we mean way of life, nutrition, physical activity, habits, and also possible chronic diseases, such as heightened blood pressure or diabetes. If you have such diseases, then you just have to visit a doctor beforehand. You know, this may complicate pregnancy, bring harm to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor which medicinal preparations and in which doses you take. Doctor will recommend you tests and observations you should pass, for example, X-ray photography. Try to discuss all questions you have for the moment.
It is much simpler to think over a strategy of treatment before pregnancy and then worrying about complications.
Diabetes
Diabetes - it is a disease, appearing as a result of lack of insulin in organism, this hormone is produced by pancreas. If you have diabetes, it will be more difficult for you to become pregnant. Moreover, diabetes can influence passing of pregnancy seriously. First of all, it can become a reason of miscarriage or giving birth to a dead baby. Secondly, women suffering from diabetes can give birth to babies with inborn defects.
You can reduce risk of such complications due to constant control of sugar content in blood during pregnancy. If you don't care of your state, then diabetes while pregnancy may turn out to be dangerous both for you and your future baby. Majority of complications, connected with diabetes, are displayed during first trimester, i.e. during first 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Pregnancy may cause complications of state while diabetes, what will require increase of insulin doses. This can be easily determined with help of test on sugar content in blood. Majority of doctors recommend taking a special care of this disease development during at least 2-3 months before conception. This will help to reduce probability of risk of miscarriage or other problems. Probably, you will have to pass tests on sugar content in blood several times per day, to control disease completely and avoid possible complications. Past experience shows that women, suffering from diabetes, had serious problems with conception and passing of pregnancy. But die to complete and constant control even women-diabetics can count on successful result of pregnancy and delivery.
If in your family there were cases of diabetes or you have slightest suspicions as for your own health, pass tests before pregnancy surely.
Asthma
About 1% of pregnant women suffer from asthma. It is impossible to predict influence of pregnancy on asthma. Half of women, suffering from this disease, notice no changes during pregnancy, about 25% feel even slight improvement, and the rest (25%) observe worsening of state.
Majority of anti-asthma remedies are safe for pregnant, but it is still better to consult a doctor as for preparation to take. Almost all who suffer from asthma know what may become a reason of fit, so avoid contact with allergens before getting pregnant and during whole pregnancy. Try to control your state yet before pregnancy.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause complication both of mother's and unborn baby's health. For women it is connected with risk of refusal of kidneys work, probability of hypertensic crisis or headache. Increase of a future mother's blood pressure may become a reason for decrease of blood inflow to placenta, what will lead to delays of fetus development, i.e. a baby will weigh less, than normal while birth.
If you had high blood pressure before pregnancy, then you just have to take care of it during all 9 months. Probably, gynaecologist will send you to therapeutist's or family doctor's observation with this purpose.
Before making a decision to become pregnant, women, suffering from hypertension, should consult a doctor. Some remedies against high blood pressure are safe for pregnant, some are not. On no account quit taking pills and reduce dose without a doctor's prescription! This can be dangerous. If you plan giving birth to a baby, ask you doctor about remedies you are taking against high blood pressure, and about safety of taking these medicines during pregnancy.
Heart diseases
During pregnancy load on heart increases about 50%. If you have sick heart, it is necessary for your doctor to know about it before you become pregnant.
Some heart diseases, such as mitral valve prolapse, can seriously complicate passing of pregnancy. Probably, you will even have to take antibiotics before delivery. Other heart diseases, such as inborn heart disease, may seriously influence state of health. In this case pregnancy and delivery are sometimes contra-indicated.
Consult your doctor as for heart diseases before you become pregnant.
Kidneys and urinary bladder diseases
Infections of urinary system, in particular urinary bladder, often appear during pregnancy. If you don't cure disease in time, infection may pass to kidneys, causing pyelonephritis.
Infections of urinary bladder and pyelonephritis may lead to premature birth. If you ever suffered from pyelonephritis or repeating infections of urinary system, this should be determined before pregnancy.
Stones in kidneys also may complicate passing pf pregnancy. This disease is accompanied by severe pains in lower part of belly, so it is quite difficult to diagnose it during pregnancy. Moreover, stones in kidneys may become a reason of appearance of infections of urinary system and pyelonephritis.
If you ever had some only infection of urinary bladder, you should not worry a lot. But you still should inform your doctor about it. He will decide whether you need to pass more careful observation before pregnancy.
Thyroid gland diseases
Thyroid gland diseases may appear both because of excess or lack of thyroid hormone. Excess of hormone is called thyrotoxicosis. In this case metabolism in human organism is speeded up. This may be caused by Graves' disease. Thyrotoxicosis is usually cured with help of operation of medicinal remedies, reducing content of thyroid hormone in organism. If you don't cure this disease, there's rather high level of risk premature birth and giving birth to a baby with low weight.
You can carry our treatment during pregnancy too: there're quite safe preparations, which pregnant women may take.
Lack of thyroid hormone - hypothyroidism - is usually caused by disease of autoimmune origin. In this case thyroid gland is damaged by anti-bodies, which are produced by your organism. While hypothyroidism taking of thyroid hormones is prescribed. Not cured hypothyroidism threatens with sterility or habitual noncarrying of pregnancy.
If you have thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism, you need to pass through observation before pregnancy, to determine doses of medicinal remedies, necessary for treatment. In the process of pregnancy your necessity in preparations may change, and then you will have to pass another observation.
Anemia
Anemia means that there's lack of haemoglobin in your organism. There're several reasons and in connection with this several kinds of anemia. Symptoms of anemia are weakness, giddiness, lack of air and pale skin.
During pregnancy necessity of organism in iron and iron-containing substances increases. If in the beginning of pregnancy you suffer from lack of iron in blood, anemia increases this lack. So you need to take vitamins and preparations, containing full choice of microelements, necessary for organism.
One of specific types of anemia - sicle-cell disease, which is passed genetically: it is mainly spread among black population. If you suffer from sicle-cell disease, your organism is deprived of oxygen. Passing of this kind of anemia can be very painful, and it also may serve as a reason for other diseases and complications during pregnancy. Sicle-cell disease cannot be cured and may be passed to your baby. Women, suffering from sicle-cell disease, have very high percent of miscarriages and infections of urinary system. They also may suffer from high blood pressure and painful hypertension strokes.
Another kind of anemia - thalassanemia is also passed genetically. If some of your relatives suffers from thalassanemia or you suppose you can have it, check it before pregnancy.
Lupus
Lupus is a vascular disease of autoimmune origin. This means your organism produces anti-bodies that may destroy your organs or influence functions of these organs negatively. Lupus can affect different organs, including joints, kidneys, lungs and heart.
This disease is hard to diagnose. One woman of 700 in the age from 15 to 64 years suffers from lupus. Among black women it is met more often, in one case of 254. As a rule, lupus more often strikes women, than men, especially women of genital age, i.e. from 20 to 40 years.
Lupus treatment is highly individual and usually means taking if steroids. It is better not to become pregnant during fit of this disease, as miscarriages are extremely often among women suffering from lupus. Risk of giving birth to a dead baby also increases.
Babies, born from mothers, suffering from lupus, can have rash. They also can have different heart diseases. Premature birth and delay of pre-natal development of fetus are also quite possible.
If you suffer from lupus, consult your doctor before pregnancy definitely.
Epilepsy and epileptic seizures
Epilepsy - is a chronic disease, characterized by different kinds of seizures (fits). Most often epilepsy is displayed by big and small epileptic seizures. Chance of giving birth to a baby with epileptic disease can be 1 of 30 for women, suffering from epilepsy. Such babies have risk of in-born diseases, probably, connected with medicines, which a future mother took during pregnancy.
If you take medicines against epilepsy, it is very important to consult your doctor before pregnancy. Discuss doses and type of medicines, which you take, as many preparations, relieving seizures of epilepsy, cause in-born diseases in babies. However, there are safe remedies for fetus, for example, Phenobarbital.
Seizures can be dangerous both for mother and fetus. So it is especially important to take remedies precisely according to a doctor's prescription during pregnancy. On no account reduce dose or quit taking medicine yourself, without a doctor!
Migraine
About 15-20% of all pregnant women suffer from migraine. Many women notice improvement of health during pregnancy. If you are going to take pills against headache during pregnancy, check with your doctor how much they are safe for you and future baby.
Cancerous growths
A question of probability of cancer's influence on pregnancy depends on the fact which organ it stroke and how wide is growth. Breast cancer is most often form of cancer, met among women. If you had breast cancer, this will not influence pregnancy anyway, and pregnancy, in its turn, will not cause breast cancer.
Many doctors advice to wait 2-3 years with childbirth after breast cancer treatment. It is very important to discuss case history and method of treatment with your doctor yet before pregnancy. Situation may become quite complicated, if you are pregnant and pass treatment at the same time. Many medicines and remedies against cancer are not safe for future mother and baby.
Other diseases
We examined only some chronic diseases. However, any disease can be dangerous for future baby. So if you suffer from some chronic disease or have to take medicines constantly, discuss it with your doctor.
General rule is following: it is better not to take medicines or pass any medical treatment at the moment of conception and on early stages of pregnancy. Laying of all organs and tissues of a baby takes place during 1st trimester of pregnancy, and during this period you need to protect a future baby from harmful influences of medicines or observations. You will feel better and calmer, if you solve all these problems before pregnancy.

About the Author:
Yana Mikheeva is the creator of Baby Health Directory - Pregnancy, Birth, Parenting and Baby Care resources. Are you going to get pregnant? Visit our friendly resource and read information on pregnancy and parenting, painless childbirth, growth and development of a baby, baby health, safety, signs of pregnancy.
She also has All about women site where you can find articles on various subjects, such as: diets, receipts, health, cellulite, figure, aromatherapy, wholesome food, psychology of relationships, pregnancy, parenting, fashion and many others.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/women's-issues-articles/chronic-diseases-and-pregnancy-21975.html

Top Ten Tips to Get Your Baby Sleeping Better

2008-09-04T01:38:00.001-07:00

Author: gladys906

Having a new baby is an incredibly exciting time, but it can also be filled with a great deal of anxiety. One major source of that anxiety is if you have a baby who isn’t sleeping well. Sleep deprivation will quickly wear you down, and your baby will be exhausted and irritable as well. When this pattern goes on for months, a once happy little family can rapidly turn into a tired and cranky crowd. Much of this angst can be eliminated by helping your baby learn to sleep independently. A baby who sleeps who sleeps independently is usually a baby who sleeps through the night and takes nice, long naps on a consistent basis. Enabling your baby to learn how to sleep better should be a simple and gentle process, and most often your baby even have to shed a tear. This article will provide you with some important tips from the baby sleep book, Sleep Baby Sleep, and will help get you started on your way to having a better sleeping baby and a well-rested house. #1 Establish a Consistent Nighttime Routine One important aspect to getting your baby to sleep through the night is to have a consistent bedtime ritual. A solid evening routine will help your child understand that it is time for sleep when the routine is complete. A typical schedule might include a bath, some quiet time, a final feeding, and then a good-night kiss. Though your particular routine may vary, it is important make sure you have some kind of consistency at bedtime. #2 Help your Baby Learn how to Fall Asleep Independently Each time your baby is ready to sleep, no matter what time of day or night it is, you have a brand new opportunity to help your baby learn how to fall asleep without your help. If you try your hardest to seize each of these opportunities, your baby will be sleeping through the night sooner than you can believe. Keep in mind though that this is a process, and not an overnight miracle. Be consistent in your efforts and you will quickly teach your baby how to fall asleep without your help. #3 Put your Baby to Sleep Awake If you get only one idea from this article, it’s that you need to try to put your baby to sleep while he is still awake. In other words, try to avoid having your baby fall asleep before you put him down. Be sure that your routine includes putting your baby in the crib or bassinet before she is asleep. If you put your baby to bed awake, she will more readily learn how to fall asleep without your help and your baby will sleep much better. #4 Establish a Daytime Nap Routine Sometimes figuring out a good daytime routine can be even more challenging than the one at bedtime. Out of sheer exhaustion and the desire to get a few minutes to yourself, you might be inclined to do absolutely anything to get your baby down for a nap. The problem with this is that your baby will begin to need that particular method in order to nap (for example, driving around, rocking, nursing, etc). You won’t be happy if your baby can only take a nap in the car, or nap only if you lie down beside her, or only if you rock her to sleep. Instead, try to get your baby napping by falling asleep alone, and you’re likely to wind up with a great little sleeper on your hands. #5 The Family Bed – should you or shouldn’t you? A family bed is not a bad thing, and many families the world over would have it no other way. If it’s something you want and have planned for, then by all means do it! On the other hand, if you have wound up with a family bed only because your baby cannot fall asleep any other way, then it might time to rethink your situation. A family bed could last for years, and if unwanted, often results in frustration and resentment and chronic sleep deprivation. #6 Waking up Throughout the Night Most, if not all, babies wake up several times throughout the night. Even a baby who is already sleeping through the night wakes up numerous times during the night. The key is that if your baby knows know how to fall back to sleep on his own, he won’t need you to put him back to sleep. So, don’t rush in as soon as your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. Instead, give it some time and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that your baby falls back to sleep on his own. #7 Getting Baby on a Schedule Most people thrive on some sort of a schedule, and babies are no different. Your child is likely to function much better if he becomes familiar with the same events that happen throughout the day. If you get your baby on a schedule with a regular agenda, she will quickly figure out when it is time for sleep and will fall asleep much easier. Keep in mind though that everyone needs a little flexibility built into their life, so make sure that you are not too inflexible with your baby’s daily routine. #8 Avoid using Aids to Help your Baby Sleep Many exhausted parents resort to external aids to get their babies sleeping (for example, constantly using a pacifier, driving your baby around, and rocking or nursing your baby to sleep). Though your baby might initially fall asleep sleep quicker with these external aids, you are ultimately making your job much more difficult. The problem is that it helps you avoid teaching your baby how to fall asleep alone. Instead, take the time to get your baby falling asleep without any help, and he will fall asleep faster and sleep better. #9 Be Consistent The more regular you are in how you put your baby to sleep, the quicker and easier it will be for your child to learn how to sleep independently. No matter how tired you are, or how much you might be dreading the night ahead, a consistent effort will pay off quickly. Be patient with yourself, as it is not always easy to keep with your plan when you are intensely sleep deprived. Just be as consistent as possible, and you will see results. #10 Take Time for Yourself It’s so easy to forget about yourself when you have a new baby. But playing the parent role 24/7, and having no time of your own could cause you to grow resentful and feel deprived. Instead, make a conscious effort to ensure that you get some time for yourself. You’ll feel rejuvenated, happier, and you’ll have more energy to devote to your family. You can and will be an amazing parent even though you get a little bit of downtime, and there’s no better time to do it than when your baby is sleeping soundly. Enabling your baby to sleep independently is truly a priceless gift that you’ll give to everyone under your roof. Your baby will be much happier if he is better rested, and so will you!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/top-ten-tips-to-get-your-baby-sleeping-better-524692.html

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Child Stress Management Without Stressful Parenting

2008-09-04T01:37:00.001-07:00

Author: Eren

STRESS FREE MANAGING OF STRESSED CHILDREN & TEENAGERS IN PARENTING

(Based on author’s site www.geocities.com/chlstrs )

Parents' child related stress extends to coping with children's. Child stress is very common.

Pregnancy rates high on the official stress-scale and mothers sometimes suffer also 'baby blues'. But, also, parents have to be alert to child stress symptoms and cope with their children’s stress –as well as to avoid becoming stressful themselves in doing so. This is common in parenting.

Parents did not use to have advice on child stress. National and international help and guidance to parents in child rearing and welfare only became available after the second world war. Parts of Africa and Asia entered the 21st century with help mostly, often only, from religious and charitable organizations. In western countries the UNICEF’s international efforts only gained generality in practice in the 1950s (when it was first theorised by Selye as the body’s [i.e., physiological] reaction when threat or danger is felt -a general adaptation syndrome which exceptionally at its most extreme is capable of leading to a nervous breakdown) . There had not been any parenting advice on child stress. The parents' job in dealing with child stress is not easy.

>> This is the gist of the generally agreed suggestions on child stress which may help...

A baby is born with fears: fear of falling and fear of noise. A child, right from the beginning, is susceptible to stress in those respects. This continues until the baby gets generally used to noise and learns to walk.

Young children may not have the vocabulary to express their fears. Teenagers feel misunderstood or have other sounding boards. In parenting these make a child’s stress, or the symptoms of child stress, difficult to notice.

Additionally, some child stress symptoms are unrecognisably mild.

Stress is caused, mostly, by a feeling of being unable to cope. This is so also in child stress. This feeling often arises from a situation the child is not used to and develops into child stress. Assure stressed children, and help.

Mild child stress also has symptoms. It may be in the form of irritability or mood changes on the part of the child. This may indicate lack of protein or carbohydrates (potatoes, pulses, sugar -fruits). Lack of these often causes mild stress. A stressed child may be lacking those.

Withdrawal indicates severe child stress. The stressed child may be being bullied.

Child stress symptoms vary as the child grows up. Being difficult indicates unsatisfied creativity. Enable difficult children creativity. Obsession or compulsion often is a guilt feeling. It may tempt to guilt transference. Suggest symbolic gestures, deeds to rid of it. These kinds of child stress are more suffered by children after they cease to be babies.

Babies dislike being alone and my suffer child stress. Be within sight as their protector.

Similarly, it causes the younger child stress if the child is alone in an unfamiliar environment. Accompany a young child to a new environment. Stay with the child, if possible, at first until the child is reasonably familiar with it.

Children’s fear of the dark is because one can best concentrate then. The child's imagination comes into play about a horror movie or scary story. Teach the child to slightly open his eyes and concentrate on something in the bedroom. A night light helps reduce such child stress.

If separation or re-marriage has taken place, that may be the cause of the child’s stress surfacing in the form of fear of the dark. Talk to the child, explain, assure.

(But, if the child says that he can't see well enough in the dark, it may be night blindness often caused by vitamin 'A' deficiency [eggs, cheese, whole milk -or cooked carrots]) .

Also pubescence related guilt can cause child stress. Assure the child that it is normal and part of growing up.

Many teenagers suffer from child stress. Be a good listener to the teenager sufferers of stress. Show that you do understand. Don't talk down, do not make light of teenagers’ dating problems. Teenagers like to be taken seriously and to be trusted.

Child stress is caused, both, the younger children and the teenagers also by what they regard as failure. On achievement oriented tasks, it is important in parenting to ensure to explain a child or that it is okay to try again.

These are the views of the experts on child stress. In parenting bear them in mind.

>> Coping with child stress may cause stress also to parents. Parents can not as easily cope with their children suffering from child stress if they themselves become stress sufferers.

Experts’ advice in parenting on easier coping with child stress is this: The adults raising children, first, should try to avoid stress for themselves. In parenting, especially if already having to cope with child stress, do rest. If at home, rest mid-morning. If you are at home and parenting young children, you should rest also for half an hour after lunch, or an hour before children return home.

If you cannot cope well, or if child stress appears severe, do consult a parenting or child stress expert.

Child stress is often contributed to because the parents ‘don’t understand’ the child. Don’t simply criticise or forbid children. Explain. Make allowance for the child’s age. Do not assume that having told the child ‘a million times’ the child necessarily understood or even that can, yet, understand what an adult can. It may lessen a child’s stress sometimes for parents to recall their own childhood...

(Verse by teacher the late Orhan Seyfi Ari...)

"Sometimes such fools we were, sometimes smart kids

Sometimes Satan's tools, sometimes with saintly deeds"

The author has a website at: http://www.geocities.com/eoa_uk

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/child-stress-management-without-stressful-parenting-147247.html

About the Author:
The author's favorite site is: Teacher of Teachers

Very Early Pregnancy Symptoms That Could Help Confirm Your Suspicion of Early Pregnancy

2008-09-04T01:35:00.001-07:00

Author: Hannah Bajor.C.N.M.,M.S.N. Pregnancy Success & Health Coach

There are many very early pregnancy symptoms and how can you tell if they are a sign of pregnancy? The more of these symptoms you have that are listed below then the higher probability there is that you are pregnant. Read through the list below and see how many of these very early pregnancy symptoms you have.
Very Early Pregnancy Symptoms:
Most pregnant women have some very early pregnancy symptoms. On the rare occasion some women have no symptoms of early pregnancy except that them miss their menstrual period. Some women are so busy in their lives that they are unaware that their menstrual period was due and forget they did not get their periods.
You missed your menstrual period could indicate you are pregnant.
You menstrual period was late and you only had some mild spotting instead of a proper menstrual flow.
You are experiencing morning sickness and/or vomiting first thing in the morning could indicate pregnancy.
Your food suddenly tastes differently and you now dislike certain foods.
You are suddenly craving certain foods is a very early symptom of pregnancy, which indicates you are depleted in minerals.
Your breasts are tender and seem to be enlarging.
The brown part of your nipple (the areola) is becoming darker and bigger.
You notice your energy level is lower and you are feeling tired all the time.
You have more mood swings than normal, which can be a result of sudden hormone changes that occurs in pregnancy.
You are making more trips to the bathroom to urinate and there is not pain associated with urination is a common very early symptom of pregnancy.
You start to experience headaches that can be a direct effect of hormones as a symptom of early pregnancy.
Diagnosis of Pregnancy:
If you are sexually active and have one or more of the above early symptom of pregnancy then purchase a home pregnancy kit. Test your urine first thing in the morning when your urine is more concentrated to see if you are pregnant or not. These pregnancy tests are very sensitive and very accurate; a positive test means you are definitely pregnant. A negative pregnancy test may not conclusive especially if you performed it incorrectly or not testing an early morning urine sample.
Now what:
If you believe you are pregnant, seek medical or midwifery advice to confirm pregnancy and discuss your pregnancy plans.
If you are taking prescription medications, notify your health care provider immediately that you are pregnant to seek advice about your medication.
While you are waiting for your appointment, start taking a daily multivitamin which has at least 400 micrograms of folic acid in it to prevent congenital abnormalities.
Take adequate mineral supplements to prevent pregnancy complications.
Eat good nutritious food and make sure you increase your protein intake.
Stop all alcohol intake and stop smoking cigarettes or drastically reduce, your baby’s life depends on you.
Also see medical or midwifery advice if you are not pregnant and you menstrual period does not come within the next month as you may have an underlying medical condition.
Pregnancy Statistics:
65% of all pregnancies are unplanned.
25% of all pregnancies ends in a miscarriage.
25% of women choose to terminate their pregnancy.
Finding out you are pregnant can be a very welcoming experience in your life or it can also be a time of tremendous stress for you. My book "Birth, A Conscious Choice" offers amazing insights and comfort into pregnancy, miscarriage, adoption and termination of pregnancy. It is not just for pregnant women but for anyone who has had an issue with their mother or a pregnancy related trauma. For pregnancy products, pregnancy one on one coaching and pregnancy information view
http://www.PregnancySuccessCoach.com
You may also be very interested in an amazing message that was telepathically dictated to me for humanity from my son when he was seven-weeks old. Yes you read correctly! I have the ability to communicate with baby’s emotions from inside and outside the womb. Down load this AMAZING MESSAGE FREE at
http://www.PregnancySuccessCoach.com/Message_For_Humanity.html
If you wish to ask me a personal question about your pregnancy or an issue in your life then visit
http://www.PregnancySuccessCoach.com/Ask_Hannah_Section.html
Hannah Bajor. C.N.M.,M.S.N.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Pregnancy Success Coach

About the Author:
Hannah Bajor, C.N.M.,M.S.N. The Pregnancy Success & Holistic Health Coach has rightly earned her title! During her twenty-year active midwifery career Hannah has delivered over a thousand babies and cared for thousands of women before, during and after pregnancy. She has specialized in high-risk pregnancies and as a midwife has seen almost every possible complication during pregnancy.
She has a master’s degree in nursing and is a certified bereavement counselor for miscarriages and baby loss. She holds numerous certifications in the field of energetic healing. She is author of two highly acclaimed books: "Birth, A Conscious Choice" and "Sex Education For Students".
Having personally experienced a miscarriage, unsuccessful infertility treatments, and a near death experience following the birth of her second son. As time passed, Hannah was driven to take her midwifery skills, her intuitive ability, and her knowledge about the energy anatomy of pregnancy and her formula for increasing fertility on an international scale. She is now in great demand for her international one-on-one coaching telephone practice and workshops. Her coaching and workshops serve to heal and empower women experiencing infertility, pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, adoption, abortion and post partum depression.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/very-early-pregnancy-symptoms-that-could-help-confirm-your-suspicion-of-early-pregnancy-472664.html

Sex Education Among Children in India

2008-09-04T01:33:00.001-07:00

Author: Chanchal Malviya

SEX EDUCATION AMONG CHILDREN

The reason we boast sometimes on Indian culture, is because it has rich values, values that are of high morale and unique to the world. Values are something on which our life thrives. We find organizations thriving on values, families stand united on its values, and the very humanity stands on human values. Without values, an individual would have no identity. We deliver value when we execute pride in holding our national symbols. We deliver value when we show respect to our elders. We owe value when we look at each female with the respect as high as that for a mother. And it is these values, that brings in us courage to hold against the odds. It is these values that help us to go ahead in life along with our family, with our friends, with our colleagues, with the society and with the nation all together. No doubt, values are as important as our life itself.

One of these great Indian values is about educating our children to hold against the most devastating erotic feelings towards opposite gender, the so called ‘Sex’. Sex is a powerful temptation and it requires very strong values to hold upon it. However, it is now days challenged by educated section of society, particularly the followers of western culture, in the name of exposing the mystery to the curious and immature child.

The conclusion made by these literates is that it is a prevention methodology, which would make the next generation safe from the perils of Sex. Universally, prevention is better than cure, goes as a law, but the question remains – Is sex education a prevention, cure or an experiment the result of which is either not known or is deliberately being forced in the society? What if you have educated a child in sex and he fails to hold his temptations thereafter? What would you call that situation – the prevention failed or the medicine failed? Let us try to understand prevention in a better way. If I am not mistaken, prevention is a boundary, a boundary that tells you what lies on the other side. At a broad level, there are three types of boundaries:

• First, we are completely aware what lie on the other side of the boundary. For example, nearly every one knows the after effect of smoking.

• Second, we are partially or unaware of the negative factors and accept the boundaries as a part of cultural values, with the awareness of the positive factors within the boundary. For example, if we do exercise, we say it is a preventive measure from bad health. The details of bad health may not be known in completeness to the doer, but there is a straight conception that fits to his mind – exercise is good for health.

• Third, we are completely unaware of positive or negative factors on either side of the boundary. For example, doing some rituals as a religious practice.

If Sex education is a prevention boundary, it should find a place in one of the above category. First, why do we need this education? A simple answer is that we do it sometimes. Second, how do we do sex (even with our spouse): in privacy or publicly? Do we discuss it out openly with friends and expose our spouse to them? If answers to these questions is ‘No’ and convincingly ‘No’, then the first boundary lies with the adults itself – how can they talk sex with their children or students, when we cannot practice it before them? We have to understand a very important aspect here. If we dare to talk such things with children, we are breaking away the boundary of respect and regard straight away (they or we not able to talk sex with each other signifying that there is some regard that produces this shyness or hesitation). We are undoubtedly introducing a concept that would teach our children to go beyond this boundary and easily practice sex, the barriers being broken and broken by teachers and parents first. During childhood, sex is a curiosity and hence is not known to them completely. All they know is that it is considered wrong by elders and is practiced between parents. Curiosity can take shape of temptation and temptations would lead to doing the wrong, if children are not taught of values that can help them prevent the temptation. Talking to them about sex would kill their curiosity and give birth to educated temptation. Thus, sex education so seeming to be an experimented cure, would necessarily lead to side effect of practicing sex as an educated practitioner. Sex education would in fact as a catalyst in producing sexual practices, and can in no way be a preventive measure. This education has no relation with feelings like temptations. Temptations can be only held by practice of cultural values, may be as a fear to breach the respectful barrier. Preventive measures are healthier and positive aspects, and can be talked and propagated positively towards everyone. Holding to values and teaching our children to remain in boundaries is actually a preventive measure and would protect majority of them from committing the hazard.

The proposed solution is still experimentation – the world is yet to see a generation that would be protected from practicing sex early during childhood and teenage after getting educated on sex. The proposed solution of sex education is thus very much risky and it can totally devastate the society if it fails to deliver the purpose, provoking children to enter premature sexual relations.

The intuition and notion of sex education as a solution started to create the awareness towards the deadly disease ‘AIDS’. It is a disease born out of sex and can spread out of various reasons which includes unsafe sex, blood transfusion, etc. The first unseen and politicized mistake is acceptance by the society that people need to be aware of this disease and should adapt to safe sex practices. At this point it seemed unquestionably correct, as adults were to be educated for usage of condoms. Unfortunately, this was the stepping stone towards growing errors. The ground error is that it is accepted that adults cannot hold from doing extra-marital and pre-marital affairs. And the true solution negated is – people not educated on values and importance of holding on values. It is here values plays its importance and Indian value in this term is very much known to the society – no extra-marital affairs and no pre-marital affairs – complete honesty with the partner and thus complete dedication towards their home leading to a life that is happy and supported by your relations and respected by outsiders – No possibility of AIDS in existence.

But more ground fact is that above values cannot be achieved unless it is inculcated in people when they are still ripe, when they are as young as children. Childhood is a state where you shape up your character. It takes huge effort for adults to change their nature, but not for a child. Values inculcated in children can help them grow to a brighter and healthier personality. This seems to me so simple to execute, simple because it can very easily get passed on to following generation as family values. In fact, it is still a part of Indian culture, which by the weapon of sex education, being totally devastated under the umbrella of the word ‘EDUCATION’. What is wrong in asking our children to respect elders and consider every woman as respectable as our own mother and sister? It is all about building this strong and positive perception in our little gems. In fact, would we dare to call our little angels as angels and gems, the moment we realize that he has adopted to means like sex which is not suitable to his age, which his mind would not absorb to the fullest of the concept, where there would be every chance for him to slip towards experiencing it because now the education is exposing the vulnerable erotic and ecstatic feelings which is yet in abnormal form of curiosity in the child – would we still dare to call our children as angels and gems. Will he not start challenging his patience by thinking the same about his relations? Will he then enjoy respect and regards towards any of the opposite gender? And I wonder why it is not thought that once sex goes into the education stream of children, children would by natural manner start talking about it among them. A child boy will talk to a child girl about their sex knowledge – a boundary that protects every child (at least most of them), from sexual pitfalls at early age would be totally destroyed. Is this what our modern parent expects from their children? As long as children do not talk about sex, they would fear to break the boundary and majority of the generation can be saved. But once, this is broken, majority of the generation would be devastated.

I sometimes ponder, why is human so weak to not realize the problems of practices like sex education? Why didn’t they look at societies which has already experimented this as a solution? We can very well go into the western education system where sex is a compulsory education and try to quantify and derive statistics on whether it has actually helped children from doing sex. The facts would be un-amazingly opposite to what is being proposed. They are exposed to sex as an adoptable practice, they are aware of how to protect from sexual disease, for instance by using condoms, and they simply enter into actually doing it. Why don’t we realize a simple thing, children would experiment everything if they are given the freedom? As responsible adults, we are to guide children about wrong and right and not expose them to the wrongs and the means to do the wrongs without getting harmed.

It would be surprising to understand that foundations of such human weaknesses are laid down by modern western thinkers, who adopt the theory and practice of allowing children to do what they wish. These thinkers believe that children require information about everything that they see and hear and if not provided they will get it from wrong sources, and hence, as responsible parents and elders we should share with them all problems like sex, deaths, hazards, etc. Truly speaking, there is a very thin boundary between good and bad, between right and wrong, so thin that once you cross, there is nearly no regret, no comeback. People often start smoking or drinking, with an attitude to taste – how it feels – and the boundary is broken. Next time, it is not the first time and they do it with the intention that it would be the last time and the action repeats. Why can’t we straightaway put into the minds of our children to keep away from these things by letting them realize that it is bad – very bad? Some parents agree to this as the impact of smoking is quite visible to them. How can it happen that all other behaviors of life don’t have similar negative impacts? It is seriously required to define the boundary of right and wrong in all that we do. For instance, philosophers and psychiatrists are now provoking people to talk sex with children. They believe that they will learn it from wrong sources and stealthily, which would create negative behavior in them. How silly? Why can’t children be allowed to consider it wrong as long as they are children? Why aren’t they allowed to learn about such things as they grow in boundaries and learn to practice it only in right manner at right time? Why are these great thinkers so eager to take away the opportunity of self – development from these children, which nature has provided them? Nature doesn’t allow children to do sex and hence it is wrong for them as long as they are children. What is wrong in telling them that it is wrong and bad when actually it is wrong at their stage? They automatically will learn its importance and usage when they grow and such children will respect sex and practice it religiously as a part of married life.

Accepting that children would learn sex from wrong sources, is actually an acceptance to the happenings in the society around – cultural degradation in social environment remains unchallenged and in fact attains maturity by allowing the upcoming generation to get educated on it and practice it untimely. Children would grow physically weak, and to much greater extent mentally weak if they endeavor to unfold their temptations through sexual education. The next generation is being challenged for their superiority of behavior and the induced sex education would surely overthrow the master culture of respect and regard.

We need to help our children to enhance their resistive power, their tolerance power, their patience, their understanding to respect and regard the values taught by parents and teachers. We cannot simply accept that our children would learn from wrong source about habits that are tempting, if we do not allow them to learn from us. We cannot make our children so weak that they go for anything that fulfills their mental desires and curiosity. We need to develop in them right from their childhood a habit to hold on temptations, so that they get matured enough to handle toughest situations in life. Indian culture have always taught children to grow up by practicing patience, yoga, respect towards elders, and all positive aspects that can create a great individual. Isn’t it necessary for our society to have stable families with respectable practices?

If Indian values and practices that taught children of such high attitude are considered as Stone Age by modern tutors, this would be unfortunate for the country. It is so simple to understand that people of Stone Age were used to living in nudity, and if we have grown rich in knowledge and understood the importance of clothes in societies, we have to respect clothes. Clothes are the first indication of boundaries against sex and children are to be protected from media which breaks this boundary. Let us promise to help our upcoming generation to become strong mentally, brace enough to fight these petty temptations and grow powerful in their thinking so that they are capable of doing great tasks.

SEX IN HINDUISM

Swami Vivekanand said, “In west, every woman other than mother is a wife. Among Hindus, every woman other than wife is a mother.” I do not know other religion, than Hinduism, which teaches values of so high regard. Such high values exist because sex was never neglected in Indian philosophy – it was rather researched to be a powerful source of energy in any individual. It was understood that any energy has to be utilized in the boundary of natural law and hence, sex was to be practiced by recognized partners, only for specific purpose and within age boundaries. It was recognized that mastering sex required immense control on the self and practicing it only with partners required even greater control on self. Going beyond this to practice it only for the purpose of reproduction, to meet the purpose of nature, was even tougher. Thus, this natural power of every creature was considered as a natural power and as usual, every natural power in Hindu philosophy holds a Deity in its name. Thus, ‘Kamadeva’ (Deity of lust) came into being. Sex became a concept of worship and anything worship-able was never misused.

Sex as a study went deep to unfold all its secrets for Ayurvedic practitioners. But for the common people, it remained a respectable action. This is one major reason, why we do not find any major disease related to sex known in Indian societies. People often quote examples of ‘Khajuraho’ as a symbol of Hindu sex – which is very wrong – why was such sensual images created in caves? Were such caves a general practice of production? How many books of Hindus describe Sex as openly as ‘Khajuraho’? The answers to these questions, clarifies, that there must have been some purpose behind ‘Khajuraho’ which is lost in the past.

Hinduism has never taught utilizing any natural power in negative fashion – unlike modern science. And sex is one such power that exists in Hinduism within natural human boundaries.

It is often seen that one bad belief by virtue of its natural capacity draws another bad belief. If Sex education among children is an attempt to molest the future of nation, the Long Leaders by virtue of their devastating attitude build one after another similar attitude – producing Reservation into system that can eradicate the unity of the nation and prove the critics that Casteism is a part of not only Hinduism, but also of Hindu nation – in which case, the concept of Secularism would be lost and immediately the Hindus would get attached to it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/sex-education-among-children-in-india-200963.html

Four Big Problems That Fat Men Deal With Everyday

2008-09-04T01:32:00.001-07:00

Author: Janet Martin

Around 60 percent of all Americans are considered to be obese or overweight. As a matter of fact, the US Centers for Disease Control has categorized such condition as an epidemic. One is considered to be obese or overweight when he or she weighs more than the ideal body weight as determined by factors like height and age among others.

But being excessively fat is not just about having excess pounds nor is it just about the dreadful diseases that come along with all the extra weight. Most people tend to forget the fact that when fat pockets are formed in many areas of the body, life can become downright uncomfortable and strained.

This is especially true for men who are fat and have accumulated fat pockets around their belly, hips, thighs, or even arms. The following are some of the biggest problems that men with fat deposits have and would most likely want to solve within the shortest possible time.

Difficulty Breathing

The bodily mechanisms that allow people to breathe are directly linked to a person's body shape. In a recent study, men who have large waistline due to fat pockets have troubles with their breathing. For this reason, males with bigger belly or waistlines are more susceptible to heart and pulmonary health conditions.

Difficulty Walking And Running

Fat pockets can considerably weigh down a man's body. Everybody knows that the flab in the stomach, or any other part of the body for that matter, can prevent a person from walking, running or even moving about freely. Men who have fat deposits have inhibited movements. Besides, having fat pockets can often result to chronic fatigue, which means a person will easily feel tired.

Profuse Sweating

Another issue that can generally ruin a fat man's day is excessive sweating, which can leave pools of sweat in many conspicuous areas of the body. These sweat pools normally cause embarrassment to a person. Profuse sweating can mostly be found in the armpits and tummy area due to the high concentration of fat pockets in those areas. And contrary to popular belief, excessive sweating does not necessarily mean increased metabolic rate in the body.

Unsightly Appearance

Men with fat deposits are stereotyped as squat and ugly. Add to this the fact that most men with flabby belly, arms and thighs are depicted as older and unscrupulous characters in popular Hollywood films. It is true that having fat deposits can significantly drag down a man's image and, in effect, self-esteem.

In a society that is firmly fixed to the idea that a man's body tells a lot about him, having fat deposits anywhere in the body is a big no-no. But instead of going against the current, men should instead try to lose their flab. It will be beneficial not just to their overall health but to their image and self-esteem as well.

As always, to solve most of the problems associated with fat deposits in men, an optimized exercise and diet plan must be adopted into one's lifestyle. While there are surgical procedures that can easily remove fat pockets in the body, such procedures have the risks of running into complications.

In the end, the male body is as susceptible as a female's when it comes to the development of fat pockets. A man should consider health and aesthetic factors to help him realize that having lumps of fat anywhere in his body is simply bad for him. Apart from a healthy diet and right amounts of exercise, men can also use transdermal products, like Dermacut, which are especially formulated to reduce or eliminate fat pockets in men. For information about how to cut fat pockets, visit http://www.dermacut.com/.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/men's-health-articles/four-big-problems-that-fat-men-deal-with-everyday-419911.html

About the Author:
Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine. http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.

The Importance of Iron During Pregnancy

2008-09-04T01:30:00.001-07:00

Author: Jyoti Primalani

Hemoglobin becomes very important during pregnancy. Since your baby is also the beneficiary, you will need extra iron to see you and your baby through. Typically, the average woman needs 15mg, but now that she is pregnant, the iron requirement increases to 30-50mg, especially from about the 20th week on.

Iron Facts

Many women have an inadequate level of iron in their system to begin with, and the lack becomes more pronounced during pregnancy

Iron is very vital for the fetus; it is the only nutrient which the fetus depends totally on the mother for the supply.

Iron is needed for the formation of red blood cells; sufficient stores of iron from the start of the pregnancy to the end is vital.

The average woman cannot depend on diet alone. The demand doubles during pregnancy and so iron supplements are added to compensate for the insufficiency.

There are two types of iron, heme and nonheme iron, categorized this way because the former is derived from meat and the other from non-meat sources. Heme iron is more readily absorbed than nonheme iron.

Vegetarians have to be careful in planning their menu to make sure they get a sufficient dose of this mineral.

Iron Deficit

• Insufficient store of this mineral is the likely cause of incessant fatigue; it also

increases the incidence of illnesses and fainting spells

• Lack of iron will put a strain on the maternal heart

• Lack of iron will also endanger the mother should she face excessive bleeding

during delivery

• On the other hand an iron overdose can be disadvantageous as well.

Supplement fundamentals

• Iron supplements are useful; they help to manufacture hemoglobin, which will in turn help you to maintain the energy required during pregnancy.

• Iron tablets come in several forms and under various trade names: ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate

• Absorption of iron is enhanced by vitamin C. Ideally supplements should be taken with fruit juices

• Certain foods and medications including high calcium foods, caffeinated drinks and antacids inhibit iron absorption. Avoid taking your supplements with these items at the same sitting.

• In the later months of pregnancy, when the blood volume has expanded, women may have to take additional supplements apart from their prenatal vitamins as the iron dose won't suffice then.

• Do not exceed the recommended dose of this mineral unless advised by your doctor - iron can suppress zinc levels.

On the Flipside

• Iron in excess can cause dry stools leading to constipation. The reverse happens with some women; they get diarrhea

• Diarrhea or constipation, it makes sense to change the form: you can switch from tablet to liquid as liquid is known to be easier on the tummy

• You may also try switching to either one of the three compounds (e.g. ferrous fumarate to ferrous gluconate) and see if it works for you

• The strength of the dose counts. Sometimes the strength may need reducing. If that is decided then make sure you compensate by increasing your intake of iron-rich foods everyday. Small amounts of iron are found in most fruits, vegetables, grains and meat that you consume daily. Work on increasing this mineral by eating iron-rich foods along with your supplement.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/the-importance-of-iron-during-pregnancy-133840.html

About the Author:
Jyoti Primalani, a homemaker and a mother, officially writes for http://www.welcomebabyhome.com , a pregnancy and parenting site. Articles are simple-to-read, relevant and concise for today’s busy parents and parents-to-be.

A Folic Acid Overdose?

2008-09-04T01:29:00.001-07:00

Author: Vincent Platania

For the average healthy human there should be little to no fear of overdosing on the vitamin supplement folic acid. The daily recommended amount of folic acid is four hundred micrograms (mcg.) and those who could become pregnant, are pregnant or lactating should take between six hundred and eight hundred mcg. daily. As always there are a few exceptions to this rule, but none of them will cause an extreme amount of harm if treated.
The upper tolerable limit (UL) of folic acid is one thousand mcg. It has been set here primarily for folic acid’s tendency to ‘mask’ vitamin B12 deficiency. At daily doses of around one thousand mcg. laboratory machines have difficultly detecting a deficiency of the B12 vitamin. There are also two other reasons a UL has been set.
Folic acid appears to inhibit the working ability of some certain types of epilepsy drugs when present in doses of one thousand mcg. In very rare cases some people have developed an allergic reaction to folic acid in doses as low as one thousand mcg. The number one symptom being itchiness. It appears that one thousand micrograms is the magic number with folic acid.
Most folic acid supplements have a dosage of four to five hundred mcg. so if you do say accidentally take one too many folic acid supplements in the day you probably won’t get much higher than one thousand to twelve hundred mcg. in your system for the day. Of course this depends on the kind of folic acid supplement you are taking.
There have been studies done on folic acid toxicity with dosages as high as fifteen thousand micrograms daily for up to a year in one study. The results were somewhat mixed in that the first study done of this type showed symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, behavior, concentration and digestive disorder for all volunteers, while the subsequent studies found little or no symptoms at such a high dosage.
If you are concerned that you may be getting too much folic acid in your diet, don’t be. It’s hard to the recommended amount in the daily diet let alone an overdose. Unless of course you have an abnormal fondness for snacking on liver throughout the day.
Liver of course has one of the highest concentrations of folic acid at between one hundred seventy to one hundred ninety mcg. per three ounces.
High doses of folic acid are prescribed by doctors for treatment and as a preventative measure in some cases. Folic acid is very good as correcting forms of anemia, so in addition to other medications folic acid in high daily doses may be prescribed to help jump start the creation of healthy red blood cells.
Women who have previously given birth to a child with a neural tube defect may be prescribed a folic acid supplement with four thousand micrograms in it. Folic acid is involved in the replication of DNA and RNA so it is essential to a developing fetus.
Visit http://www.stanley-home-products.com

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_138871_23.html

Lemon Cleanse - Flush Out All Diseases!

2008-09-04T01:26:00.001-07:00

Author: Judith Maynard

The importance of a lemon cleanse can be best highlighted by taking this user feedback as an example.
A person who was on a lemon cleanse had the following remarks afterwards - "I was extremely apprehensive of this lemon cleanse because it meant major changes in my lifestyle and eating habits. I could not go out on parties and enjoy evenings with friends and family. No more good food, actually a cleanse meant that I could not eat any solid food for ten days! Can anyone imagine starving for ten days? But then I realized that my body was behaving quite erratically over the past few weeks. My weight was constantly fluctuating and I used to have severe headaches in the middle of the night. My insides were constantly filled with gas and I used to be uneasy. So my doctor advised the cleanse to which I agreed after some arguments. I knew it was for my good only. The first few days were actually very difficult with my throwing up the toxins. But one week into this and a strange new feeling came over me. Life took on a whole new meaning and I felt cleaner than I had ever felt before. I am grateful that I took that cleanse, which I tend to every six months, because the benefits are much more than the initial symptoms."
This is type comment is not uncommon, there are thousands of others who bought a similar colon cleanser and changed their lives by taking this one essential decision. Detoxification of the body is crucial to maintain good health because as time passes, waste is accumulated in several internal organs such as the colon, gall bladder and liver. This waste is highly dangerous if not removed and hinders the natural biological processes of the body. A lemon cleanse id highly effective in releasing the body from these harms as it quickly flushes away the toxins in a matter of days.
The actual cleaning procedure is quite simple, but it is maintaining the other aspects of the whole plan which is difficult. Ingredients required are juices of fresh fruits if available of frozen juices, lemonade and lots of water. Apart from the cayenne powder and grade B maple syrup is also required. To begin the cleanse, one has to first maintain a diet of two to three days. No solids are to be taken and only fruits and vegetables have to be eaten. Vegetables can be eaten in the form of soups, or they can also be boiled. Lot of fluids and water have to drunk. Then on the day of the diet, not a single food item has to be ingested but water as usual. In the evening, after about one hour on an empty stomach, one whole pint of lemon juice is to be drunk in intervals of fifteen to twenty minutes. This has to be sandwiched with water also. To control to feeling of nausea, maple syrup with the cayenne powder is to be had. This procedure though difficult will produce quick results overnight. At about three of or four in the morning, the bowel movements will start and the urge to visit the washroom will be felt. It is then the unloading of the toxic materials must be done.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/lemon-cleanse-flush-out-all-diseases-548336.html

About the Author:
PART 2 - For part two of this article, head on to Lemon Cleanse where you can also find shocking stories on the Colon Detoxification .

The Hidden Dangers That Stop You From Losing Weight

2008-09-04T01:23:00.001-07:00

Author: Cindy Papp

You already know that losing weight will be better for your health. You also know that you will feel better, look better and have more energy. So what's stopping you from sticking to that weight loss program?
Let's face it... losing weight is hard. Temptation is everywhere from your television set with sexy people eating huge, greasy hamburgers to the smell of donuts or fast food French fries filling the air as you drive down the street. You can't get away from it. But do these subliminal messages lower your willpower or is there another force at work?
The truth is that weight loss has to be more than just eating fewer calories - if only it were that easy. Thousands of people every day eat less and still don't lose weight. And it's not just a matter of willpower.
Stress is an overlooked factor for weight gain as well as keeping it on. Stress causes the release of cortisol, a hormone that increases blood sugar and can cause you to store fat around your midsection. This is only the beginning, though.
When people are stressed, it's very easy to reach for the comfort foods. They make you feel better, but this feeling is only temporary and usually followed by lethargy and then sleep. Unfortunately after eating these foods, you may feel more stressed, tired and even mad at yourself for not sticking to your weight loss program.
Stress may also cause you to go for fast foods. It is very normal to want to save time thinking that will take away some of your stress. But healthy foods can be just as quick and can actually help you handle stress better! Why is this true?
The food you eat can make you feel great or it can make you feel cranky and stressed, which works against any weight loss program. Good examples are caffeine and sodium which raise your blood pressure or sugar which can cause you to get the blues. Many processed and junk foods contain these substances in high amounts which can alter your feelings and even make life seem harder and more stressful.
In addition to theses substances, added chemicals preservatives along with lack of nutrition in your food can cause your body to create too much insulin and cortisone, which can cause fat around your mid-section, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even depression.
The bottom line is that certain foods can lead to feeling more stressed, make it harder to lose weight and cause food cravings. Not paying attention to the foods you eat can lead to a cycle of stress, weight gain and living an unhappy, unhealthy life.
On the other hand, the right nutrients in your food can help your body produce the hormones serotonin and dopamine, both of which are important to feel happy and relaxed. These nutrients that help you can be found in whole grains, brown rice, bananas, and tomatoes.
Other nutrients like green superfoods, such as sprouts and Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) help for weight loss. Your brain needs EFA's for healthy brain function, and if you don't get them in your diet, depression can set in. Certain proteins keep your body balanced and strong without harmful trans fats. Getting the right amount of both of these nutrients also helps you feel satiated easier, which can result in fewer foods cravings.
A body cleansing program may also help with your weight loss goals. A body cleanse or colon cleanse can help your body get rid of the chemicals from junk foods that may have built up over the years.
Many people report felling more relaxed, happier and less stressed after a body cleansing program. A cleansing diet is excellent for any weight loss program. Additionally, if you read the testimonials from any colon cleanse or body cleanse website, you will see the hundreds of people who report the loss of food cravings.
Pay attention to these tips when you start any weight loss program; pay attention to what foods you are eating, get plenty of whole food nutrition, and find a good cleansing program to help you stay on track. You might find that losing weight is easier than you thought.

About the Author:
Cindy is a Certified Nutritional Counselor and has been in the field for 15 years. Find the healthy way to lose weight or how to use a colon cleanse to help you before you use another weight loss program.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-hidden-dangers-that-stop-you-from-losing-weight-548389.html

Stop Drinking Advice...A Definition of Alcoholism

2008-07-24T02:16:00.001-07:00

Author: EdPhilips

People have been drinking from brown paper bags for years now throughout the western world, although it is difficult to say from when it has been part of our culture. The terminology alcoholism though dates back to 1849 and has been attributed to Magnus Huss, who was a pioneer is related alcohol to serious health conditions.
The word alcoholism itself was not actually recognized in the US until the late 1930s, through the formation of the alcohol support group known as Alcoholics Anonymous or AA as it is sometimes referred to. AA does not actually give alcoholism a concrete definition, but recognizes it as something between an allergy and an illness with a team support method of accountability and responsibility being a way to control alcoholism.
The first Doctor to classify problems in chronic alcoholics was E. Morton Jellinek from New England. He defined an alcoholic as being a person who through the consumption of such large quantities of alcohol, had resulted in dramatic effects on his or her bodily and or mental health. These changes would also end up affecting the alcoholic's personal relationships and or their employment capabilities.
He therefore concluded that treatment was necessary and nothing much has changed since then except that the definition has been slightly altered by a number of medical affiliations. The word alcoholism is currently referred to by the American Medical Association as a particular chronic primary disease.
There are though let's say a minority in the medical profession who just will not accept that alcoholism is actually a disease, so critics like Herbert Fingarette and Stanton Peele only use the term heavy drinking in relation with the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.
So due to the fact that alcoholism does not actually have a concluded definition, the disease itself is not always easy to detect. It is extremely difficult to really pick out the differences between an alcoholic and somebody who just drinks on a regular basis. If you need a more detailed review regarding the disease of alcoholism then you should start off by having a look at the stopdrinking.org blog which is packed with useful information.
Discover how to Stop Drinking Alcohol found at http://www.stopdrinkingadvice.org/guide written by Ed Philips and get free advice to help you Quit Alcohol Today.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_564749_17.html

Antibodies for Biomedical Research

2008-07-22T12:59:00.001-07:00

Author: pacificimmunology

Antibodies are an unparalleled tool for use in biomedical research because they bind with high affinity and specificity to a variety of molecules - most notably proteins and peptides. They are used in procedures where characterization, quantification, localization or verification of a protein is necessary.

Due to an antibodies' ability to bind tightly to a desired molecule, they have been used for in-vivo therapeutic applications. Successful applications have included Genentech's Herceptin® drug for specific types of breast cancer and IDEC Pharmaceutical's Rituxan® for use against certain B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

What are antigens and immunogens?
The terms antigen and immunogen are often used interchangeably, and for nearly all purposes the difference is immaterial. In essence, they describe two forms of interactions between a molecule and the immune system. An immunogen refers to a molecule that elicits an immune response in an organism's immune system, whereas an antigen refers to a molecule that is able to bind to the product of that immune response. So, an immunogen is always an antigen, but an antigen may not necessarily be an immunogen.

What are epitopes?
An epitope is the specific sequence of amino acids on an antigen to which the antibody binds. For any given antigen, there are likely to be multiple epitopes against which antibodies will be produced. For antibody production, epitopes that are easily accessible for antibody binding are preferable.

In general, most ideal antigenic epitopes are hydrophilic, surface orientated and flexible. This is recommended because in most natural environments, hydrophilic regions tend to be located on the surface of proteins, whereas hydrophobic regions tend to reside in the interior of the protein. Similarly, antibodies can only bind to epitopes found on the surface of proteins and tend to bind with greater affinity when those epitopes are flexible enough to move into accessible positions.

Antibodies and the immune response
It is useful, in the context of antibody production, to understand the role that antibodies play and some of the mechanisms surrounding their use. After an organism's immune system recognizes a molecule as foreign, B-lymphocytes begin generating antibodies that are unique to that immunogen.
More important, a separate B lymphocyte generates an antibody for each individual epitope on the antigen's surface; thus there will be several different antibodies that bind with high affinity to any given immunogen.

In some cases, such as with viruses, the binding action of the antibody is sufficient to disable the pathogen. In other cases, such as with bacteria, the antibodies bind to surface proteins on the bacterium's surface, thereby signaling to other components of the immune system that the pathogen should be destroyed.

After the pathogen has been disabled, the B cells that generated the antibodies remain in the blood stream, acting as a type of memory protection against further invasions from the same immunogen.
For antibody production purposes, it is important to remember that each B cell generates exactly one highly specific antibody, and that any given antigen is likely to have several antibodies that bind to the various epitopes on its surface.

About the Author
With 35 years of experience in generating polyclonal antibodies, Pacific Immunology Corp. is a leading global provider of custom antibody production services. Through continual refinement of techniques, protocols and reagents, Pacific Immunology has developed the capacity to consistently generate high affinity Peptide and Monospecific antibodies at reasonable prices.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_241482_23.html

Natural Pain Relief Revealed

2008-07-22T12:56:00.001-07:00

Author: keith

The Title Natural Pain Relief Revealed may sound almost hostile to the subject of pain relief based on natural remedies. In fact, the real truth about natural pain relief is like a breath of fresh air. Because of numerous personal horror stories, along with the heroic efforts of natural healers to educate the populace at large; it has become well known that pain medications like aspirin, Tylenol, Vioxx etc., are dangerous, and should not be looked to as the first choice to relieve pain.
Unlike natural pain relief remedies, NSAIDs which is short for (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen, for example, put people at risk for problems such as gastro- intestinal bleeding as well as liver dysfunction. This is not an issue with natural pain relief remedies.
Understanding Pain:
Do you like pain? Probably not, but is pain a friend or a foe? We feel pain in many different areas of our bodies and identify this pain in such terms as: joint pain, headache, cramps, etc. Though we dislike pain, we should recognize it as a warning sign, a friend of sorts, warning us of problems. Pain is an alarm system informing us of a problem that needs our attention. Do you think of natural remedies as a remedy when experiencing pain? Most people do not think of natural remedies for their pain relief. Sadly many people would not be informed enough to take natural remedies for either severe acute or chronic pain.
Millions of people suffer from some form of debilitating pain and are taking NSAIDs or some other drug for pain relief, totally unaware of the sources available for natural pain relief. Now natural pain relief as opposed to drug pain relief emerges in a clearer light when we understand that, according to the Federal Drug Abuse Network, aspirin, Aleve, and other anti-inflammatory drugs were implicated in the deaths of 16,000 people in the United States in the year 2000.
Pain Relief With Natural Remedies:
We have mentioned some of the drugs used for both acute and chronic pain, but are there really natural substances that can provide natural pain relief, and if so is this natural pain relief comparable to the pain relief received from drug medication?
The answer to both of those questions is YES! There are extremely effective natural pain relief remedies that work just as good or better than drug medications, without the side effects, or the expense.
For instance, millions of people are experiencing relief from arthritis by using a Glucosamine, MSM, CMO, Combination, or some variation thereof. The Glucosamine, a natural substance, works toward natural pain relief over time by actually rebuilding the cartlidge that has worn away in Osteo-Arthritis, that is causing the sensation of pain in the first place. The MSM, which is a natural form of organic sulfur, works towards natural pain relief by relieving inflammation and swelling. It does this by increasing the oxygen supply in the soft tissue, the nerves here is the source of the pain. Finally the CMO is a derivative of the substance of DSMO, (Dimethyl sulfoxide) a natural substance from wood.
DSMO
DMSO, deserves a little more attention as to its role in natural pain relief. It has an extensive history in natural pain relief. As a matter of fact, some 11,000 articles, worldwide, have been written on DMSO. Moreover, in 125 countries throughout the world doctors consider it a weapon in their arsenal for natural pain relief. They prescribe it for a number of ailments, including pain, inflammation, and interstitial cystitis. DMSO is one of the Superstars of natural pain relief.
So what is the truth about natural pain relief? All things considered, natural pain relief is far superior to drug pain relief. But there were three of the natural pain relief Superstars left out. These are three of the many. Either of these will stop Virtually Any Pain and without the side effects of drugs.
Keith Henry is Director of

phase 3 ministries

,a medical missionary herbalists, and a Naturopatheic Doctor Candidate.
Prior to purchasing anymore drugs for pain, make sure you check keith Henry's excellent pain report

3 Natural Remedies That Will Stop Virtually Any Pain

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_565267_17.html

Allergies - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

2008-07-22T12:53:00.001-07:00

Author: peterhutch

Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable and rapid. Strictly, allergy is one of four forms of hypersensitivity and is called type hypersensitivity. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.
Why Do People Get Allergies?
The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it can be passed down through your genes. (Thanks a lot, Mom and Dad!) However, just because a parent or sibling might have allergies, that doesn't mean you will definitely get them, too. A person usually doesn't inherit a particular allergy, just the likelihood of having allergies.
What Causes Allergies?
A healthy immune system is balanced between the activity of 2 types of white blood cells, called Th1 and Th2.
Genetic or environmental factors can cause a Th2 dominated response to develop which can lead to allergies.
The use of immunizations and antibiotic therapies and increased pollution leads to Th2 dominance.
Once an imbalance in T cells develops, it tends to be continued by production of chemicals (cytokines) that keep the imbalance in place.
Allergic reactions occur when the immune system misidentifies harmless foreign substances and reacts to them as if they were as harmful. These substances are called allergens. Common pollens, mold spores, house dust mites, cockroaches, and animal dander (shed skin, fur, or feathers) are among the allergens that most frequently cause problems. Allergic reactions to allergens such as insect venom, latex, and certain types of food or medications are more rare.
Allergy Symptoms
For allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, watery/itchy eyes, or sneezing that occur infrequently, most individuals can be treated sucessfully with an oral non-sedating antihistamine such as loratadine (Claritin), desloratadine (Clarinex), fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal) or or an antihistamine nasal spray such as azelastine (Astelin) to be taken on an as needed basis when allergy symptoms arise.
Allergy Treatment
An effective allergy treatment is a concern for anyone suffering from seasonal allergies or asthma. Like many other medical conditions, allergies are affecting a growing portion of society. Serious diseases like cancer, heart disease and stroke seem to be rising at about the same rate along with allergies.
Topical nasal steroids. This class of allergy medications is probably the most effective at treating nasal allergies, as well as non-allergic rhinitis. There are numerous topical nasal steroids on the market, and are all available by prescription. Some people note that one smells or tastes better than another, but they all work about the same.
Allergies to Pets
Studies show that approximately 15 percent of the population is allergic to dogs or cats. An estimated one-third of Americans who are allergic to cats (about two million people) live with at least one cat in their household anyway. In a study of 341 adults who were allergic to cats or dogs and had been advised by their physicians to give up their pets, only one out of five did. What's more, 122 of them obtained another pet after a previous one had died.
Read about Green Tea Benfits Also Read about Green Tea Benfits Directory and Green Tea Benfits, Health Benfits

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_570434_17.html

Enzymes And Probiotics Are Keys To Health And Digestion

2008-07-22T12:49:00.001-07:00

Author: Robert Palmer

The gastrointestinal system, a complex network of organs and glands which extracts nutrients and water from the food that we eat so that they can be used by the body, processes the food in six phases. First, it mentally prepares the stomach for the meal that we are about to eat. Then, it takes food into the body, followed by moving that food through the GI tract. Next, it breaks down the food with both mechanical and chemical processes and then absorbs the digestive food into the vascular and lymphatic systems for distribution to the cells. Finally, the indigestible substances and waste products are eliminated from the body. Digestion itself is divided into two categories, those being mechanical and chemical. Mechanical digestion is the physical movement that assists chemical digestion. After the initial breakdown by chewing, food is churned by the smooth muscles of the stomach and small intestine, allowing it to mix with the enzymes that start the chemical reactions. Chemical digestion, on the other hand, is a series of chemical reactions that break down large carbohydrate, lipid, and protein molecules into smaller molecules that can enter blood vessels. In order for optimal digestion to occur, all of these processes must work together. If any part of the system under or over-performs, physical problems will most likely occur.
Enzymes are extremely important to digestion because without them digestion could not take place and the food we eat could not be absorbed into our bodies to be utilized. Enzymes, which are complex proteins that are produced by living cells and can be found in digestive juices, start chemical reactions in the body. They act on food by breaking it down into simpler components that can be used by the body for energy. If digestive enzymes don�t work adequately, inadequate digestion will result which is thought to be a significant cause of food allergies. When food is not digested completely it can initiate allergic reactions in the body, causing inflammation and immune sensitivity and lead to chronic inflammatory conditions and certain types of arthritis.
There are many enzymes that are part of the digestion process. However, there are three main enzymes that are involved in digestion. These are amylase, protease, and lipase. Other enzymes, including sucrase, lactase, and maltase are very important for secondary function in digestion. Amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, can be found in saliva and pancreatic secretions. It initiates digestion of dietary starches and breaks down starch into several simpler molecules. Disaccharides including lactose, maltose, and sucrose, are broken down into simple sugars by lactase, maltase, and sucrase. These simple sugars can be absorbed through the small intestine to help with energy production. Proteases, which break down protein, cause protein digestion to begin in the stomach. The stomach�s acidic environment activates the protease pepsin, which is deactivated in the alkaline environment of the intestine. Proteins are further broken down by pancreatic enzymes into amino acids in the intestine. Lipases break down fat into essential fatty acids. Fat digestion speeds up in the second part of the small intestine with the help of the pancreatic lipases. These lipase enzymes are responsible for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Animal enzymes, especially those that are derived from pig enzymes are very similar to human digestive enzymes. Animal enzymes are much more sensitive to pH extremes; therefore many animal enzyme formulas sold as dietary supplements contain bicarbonates to protect the enzymes from stomach acid. Plant derived enzymes, on the other hand; come from fungal and botanical sources. They are able to survive a broad range of pH differences and provide a larger range of activity in the gastrointestinal tract. Plant enzymes are often preferred by those who wish to avoid animal-derived products.
Along with these, there are many other dietary supplements that are effective in supporting digestive health, specifically probiotic supplements, which offer numerous health benefits. Probiotics are non-toxic, live bacteria that are necessary for life and do not cause disease. The most commonly studied probiotics are those from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium group. Because these two probiotic groups have the ability to break down lactose, they are known as lactic acid bacteria. These probiotics can be found in many foods and dietary supplements. In our intestines we have colonies of bacteria called microflora, which is associated with good health when they are normal. However, changes in intestinal health are often associated with a weakened immune function and an imbalance in the natural microflora is often linked with various diseases such as yeast infections and colon cancer. By orally ingesting probiotic bacteria, we help to support the composition and metabolic activities of the microflora found in the large intestine. These microflora help the digestive process through fermentation, protection against disease-causing bacteria, and stimulation of certain immune system components. Probiotic bacteria have also demonstrated anti-cancer properties in many studies. Results have shown that people taking L. acidophilus fermented milk have a much larger number of intestinal Lactobacilli, which in turn decreases the risk factors associated with colon cancer.
Lactose is an important sugar that is converted to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria. Many people have lactose intolerance as a result of genetics, gastrointestinal disease, or a decline in the amount of intestinal lactase levels that are associated with aging. Lactose intolerance is caused by an inability to digest lactose because of a failure of small intestine cells to produce lactase (the enzyme needed to digest lactose). Those who are deficient in lactase accumulate non-absorbed lactose in the GI tract, drawing water and electrolytes into the gut. This leads to bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and malabsorption of nutrients. Lactic acid bacteria support the breakdown of lactose by enhancing the activity of lactase, therefore improving digestion and tolerance. Although probiotic bacteria usually survive passage through the stomach, they do not permanently colonize in the body. Therefore, to ensure optimal support of the digestive system, these probiotic bacteria need to be replenished. To do so, they should be ingested regularly in order for their health-promoting effects to continue. Digestive enzymes and probiotics can be found at your friendly online vitamin store.
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Please visit VitaNet Health Foods, VitaNet sells digestive supplements to boost health. Please link to this site when using this article.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_188041_23.html

When your Doctor says it's Optical Migraine

2008-07-22T12:45:00.001-07:00

Author: migraineman

For some reason, doctors are still giving the diagnosis of optical migraine. And when doctors aren't using the term, patients are diagnosing themselves. Not only is it causing confusion, it's making it even harder for people to get proper treatment.
So what exactly is the problem? The problem is that “optical migraine” is not a standard term. That means that one doctor may mean one thing, and another doctor may mean something else. Though standards of treatment are being developed around the world for migraine treatment, those diagnosed with vague terms are being left out in the cold.
That's right, you may not be getting the best available treatment if you don't have a specific diagnosis. All migraine attacks are not created equal – they're often treated differently.
So what is an optical migraine? As I said, the term can mean different things. In my experience, the most common symptoms involve visual disturbances. Maybe you see flashing lights, zig zags, or you have blurred vision. This is usually in one eye. Sometimes there can even be a partial loss of eyesight.
This is called “aura”, and is common in migraine. However, unlike a “typical” migraine, a headache never develops. A more standard term for this is Migraine Aura without Headache, or Typical Aura without Headache.
More often you'll experience the visual disturbances, and then a headache will developed. This is called simply Migraine with Aura. About 15-20% of migraineurs get aura symptoms before a headache.
These tend to be the most common types of migraine that may be diagnosed as optical migraine. However, if there are visual symptoms, there are other possibilities. It may be wise to get a second opinion, to make sure there is no eye disease involved. Left untreated, damage could be done to your eyes.
There is also danger of transient ischaemic attack (TIA), which is sometimes called a mini-stroke. If a TIA has occurred, you need to investigate treatment right away.
If you do have one of these types of migraine, treatment will be similar. Still, it may help to ask your doctor to be more specific using the classifications from the International Headache Society. There is a short version of the classifications which can be printed here. Bring these to your doctor and ask her about them.
Though it's important to talk to your doctor (and maybe even get a second opinion), you can find tools for understanding if your symptoms are migraine here.
Remember, you are responsible for your treatment. Make sure you're getting the best treatment possible by insisting on a specific, clear diagnosis. Your actions will not only help you, but others who come after you.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_470585_17.html

Therapy for social phobia

2008-07-22T12:39:00.001-07:00

Author: Jennifer B. Baxt, LMHC, LMFT

Who would have thought that a member of a species that tends to be more social in nature would have such an intense shyness or fear of socializing with other members of its own species? It may seem strange, but there are a lot of people out there who are shy of other people and some of these people are so shy of other people that they can’t even make friends. If not corrected, a person can develop an anxiety or an intense fear of socializing with other people. They will have little difficulty with socializing with their own family members, but when it comes to being around people they are unfamiliar with socializing can be one of the most difficult things for them to do.
How is social phobia treated? Therapy or counseling is often recommended for anyone who may be suffering from social phobia. This phobia can often make life complicated and can get in the way of a person’s ability to succeed in life. This is why consulting a professional is highly recommended if someone wishes to overcome their phobia. Of course, this can be difficult for someone who has an intense fear of meeting and socializing with new people. Some, with the help of caring family members, can eventually make it in to see a therapist or counselor in person; however, there is another option for people who are too uncomfortable meeting someone new. There is phone counseling, but online therapy is fast becoming a way for people suffering from this kind of phobia to get the help they require. In most cases, when people with this phobia are unaware of the online therapy now available, they try to stay home as much as they can, will avoid any social events when possible and will tend to avoid seeking the help they need, because they believe it will require them to meet with a therapist in person.
Someone with social phobia can avoid this discomfort if they have a computer and internet connection at home. All they have to do is make the commitment to remain in constant communication with their online therapist. A quick search on the internet will bring up a few different sites of therapists who will be able to help the patient overcome their fear of socializing. Online therapy is probably the easiest way for a person with this phobia to get the help they need. They can converse with the therapist in a way that eliminates the uncomfortable atmosphere. Now, while it is easier for the patient because they are not speaking with the therapist in person but from the comfort of their own home, it might still be a little uncomfortable for the patient to be open with someone they have never met and are unfamiliar with. In most cases, this discomfort is minimal and is worth trying to push it aside to make their lives easier out in the social world. This could almost be considered the first step toward pushing the phobia away and coming closer to being able to feel more confident in one’s self in the social world.
Jennifer B. Baxt, LMHC, LMFT offers online audio/video counseling as well as works with children, individuals, couples, geriatric patients, depression, bipolor, anxiety and substance abuse. Please contact Complete Counseling Solutions via email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com or visit our website http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com for any further information.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_476501_41.html

Things To Know About Skin Care Natural Beauty Product

2008-07-22T12:37:00.001-07:00

Author: ray

Every now and then, most women around the world are looking for skin care natural beauty product to make them more beautiful inside out. Having a delicate skin is very crucial to all women because by having so, it will make them look more feminine and lovely. With the current weather, exposure to air pollution and sunlight can only damage your skin even further. That is why you need to take very good care of your skin so it will not look dull and unhealthy.
Before we go to the skin care natural beauty product, you can make a routine to take care of your skin using some simple tips in natural ways in order to make your skin healthy and softer. Study has proven that if you take 2 litres of plain water per day can help provide moisture to your skin. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables can also help to brighten your skin. You also need to have enough sleep per day at least 8 hours. By having enough sleep, your skin will rejuvenate more naturally. Take some additional supplements including vitamins, minerals and Omega 3 fat acid. Do some exercise can also help to reduce your stress, this will help in the growth of your skin.
When you have a skin care natural beauty product and apply it to your skin, you can see that your skin become more beautiful if you follow exactly the steps needed of taking care of your skin. Basic things that most skin care natural beauty products do are cleansing, refreshing and moisturizing your skin every single day. Moisturizing cream is very important to prevent your skin from dryness and you need to use this cream often. It also helps to brighten your skin further more. This is one of the simple way to obtain radiant skin that you always wanted.
When you wash your face with face foam, don't forget to spread it around your neck and upper chest. Do this every morning and night. During the day, dead skin cells are gathered, sweat and make up combine with air pollution can only block your pore causing your face become dull. One of the skin care natural beauty product tip is to wash your face every day.
After washing your face, apply toner to remove the remaining foam that maybe left on your face. Toner can help to widen or open up your pores. After that, apply some moisturizer to make your skin softer after having expose to sunlight, bad weather condition and air-conditioner that has make your skin looks dry. Apart from using moisturizer cream, drink a lot of water like mentioned before can boost your skin to become even healthier.
The usage of skin care natural beauty product to remove dead skin cells from all over the body can make you look more nicer. It also accelerates the growth of new skin cells and improve blood circulation. To make your body skin even brighter, apply some lotion that can protect your body from sunlight. If you apply the lotion twice per day, in 6 weeks time, you can see the difference in the color of your skin.
To have most of the skin care natural beauty product and use it daily, you can be sure all of your skin from face to body will become softer, look more radiant, brighter and whiter. You have to make it a routine in your life to make this happen.

Discover the benefits of the best skin care line that is made of breakthrough natural ingredients and the dramatic results you can get. To get rid of wrinkles, fine lines and damaged skin visit: http://www.best-skin-care-line.com

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_582607_17.html

African American Women and Hypertension - Are You At Risk?

2008-07-22T12:36:00.001-07:00

Author: Alvin Hopkinson

It has been discovered that hypertension is most prevalent amongst African Americans that any other population within the United States. The disease is not easily detected; therefore it remains dormant for many years; as African Americans rarely commit to regular doctor visits.
Unfortunately, before African Americans seek medical attention, the blood pressure has elevated to life- threatening levels. One of the primary target campaigns conducted by the Department of Health is to research and reduce the devastating effects of African American Women and Hypertension.
Overall, African Americans develop hypertension at an earlier age than whites; thereby subjected to a variety of serious health problems at alarming rates. Studies have proven that there is an 80percent higher death rate amongst African Americans due to stroke associated with hypertension.
There is a 50 percent higher death rate due to heart disease associated with high blood pressure. More so, there is a 320percent higher death rate associated with end- stage kidney disease. Many African Americans live with hypertension for so long; it has already begun to damage organs of the body.
African American women between the ages of 18 and 45 are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. As noted, the disease is a significant cause for heart disease and stroke in these women at such a young age. Simply treating high blood pressure will reduce the risk of further complications and illnesses.
Treatment for African American women with high blood pressure can vary from lifestyle changes to medications just as anyone else. Because the risk to develop the disease is so much higher, however, it is so important to adhere to the treatments. African American women do not engage in a sufficient amount of physical activity. Research discovered that African American women are too involved with other activity to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.
In addition to exercise, other lifestyle modifications include loosing weight if overweight or obese, decreasing alcohol intake and eating a low- sodium diet. It is recommended that the African American woman include natural remedies in their diet such as herbs and vitamins while reducing fat and cholesterol. Natural supplements such as potassium and magnesium can also reduce blood pressure.
Blood pressure levels may increase if the African American woman is taking any type of oral contraceptive. A physician should offer the patient alternate methods of birth control. For instance, hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women has proven to minimize affects on blood pressure.
Physicians will often treat the hypertension with more than one medication. One of the drugs given to African American women is the Diurectic or Water Pill. Some of the over-the-counter drugs actually complicates hypertension causing the pressure to elevate and interferes with the prescription medication.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African American women and hypertension is presenting itself in higher rates than in White or Hispanic women. More over, there is a higher risk for severe high blood pressure in African American women due to unhealthy lifestyles as well as contributing genetic or environmental factors.
It is recommended that the African American woman visits a physician to check blood pressure levels regularly. It is also beneficial to have a personal checking device at home. Because the risk for hypertension is so high amongst this population, they are more at risk to fall victim to heart disease, stroke or kidney failure. It is recommended that African American women make serious lifestyle modifications to reduce the inevitable chance of developing hypertension.
Alvin Hopkinson is a leading and avid researcher of various high blood pressure treatments. He runs a content-packed website that provides free tips to lower your hypertension and unbiased reviews on common blood pressure medications. Grab your FREE report on how to lower blood pressure naturally and visit his site at http://www.minusbloodpressure.com

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_582610_17.html

Clearing The Autism Stereotypes

2008-07-22T12:34:00.001-07:00

Author: Jonathan Sullivan

As with anyone with a physical or mental disorder, autistic people deal with a wide range of reactions from others, from full support to uncaring ignorance. Unfortunately, even those who support autistic family members, co-workers, and friends may not understand autism very well. This leads to stereotypes, which can result in hatred, embarrassment, or other unhappy situations. By becoming educated about autism, you can help others in your community cope with this disorder.
It is most important to note that not all autistic people are the same. Other diseases and disorders have their own sets of rules, but autism is such a complex medical condition, that everyone reacts differently to it. Autistic people are usually rated on a functional scale, with high-functioning people being able to hold jobs and low-functioning people needing 24-hour-a-day care. Symptoms include behavioral challenges, uncontrollable movements, speech and communication difficulties, and emotional inadequacies. Some show all symptoms, while other show few, and still others may have most under control to the point where you cannot tell they have autism at all.
Because every person is different, no one thing can be said about autism and be true overall. However, most autistic people have trouble communicating emotions. This does not mean that an autistic person does not feel. He or she simply cannot express this feeling. It also does not mean strong relationship bonds are not possible. On the contrary, many autistic people are happily married and in love. Forming relationships is more difficult for most, but can be accomplished over time.
Many people believe that being autistic coincides with being a genius in some aspect. While it is true that some autistic individuals have extraordinary math, music, and art skills, this number is nowhere near the majority-in fact, relatively few autistic people function outside of the normal range in any skill. This stereotype is perpetuated in the movies and on television, because the story of a talented person fighting disadvantages (such as autism) makes a good plot. However, this is not the norm, so nothing more than the best they can personally do should be expected from an autistic person. However, it is important to note that autism is not a form of mental retardation. Some autistic people are mentally retarded as well, but most are not and should not be treated as such.
In the end, the most important lesson to take away from your studies on autism is one of tolerance. You will probably need to be patient when dealing with autistic people, but by understanding a little more about the disorder, perhaps this will be easier. Learn what you can and spread the knowledge to those you know to help create a more tolerant setting for autistic individuals in your community.
To learn about early signs of autism and mild autism, visit Autism Diagnosis.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_582622_17.html

How To Lower Cholesterol

2008-07-22T12:33:00.001-07:00

Author: Jan Richards

The human body produces oils and other substances that circulate in the bloodstream. An example is insulin, which is secreted from the pancreas in response to the increase in the amount of sugar coming from the food that the person eats. The cells then absorb this, which gives the individual calories that are used as energy.
Another substance that the body produces naturally is cholesterol. This is also ingested in the food people eat. There are two types of cholesterol namely LDL and HDL.
LDL is better known as bad cholesterol. The reason why it is bad is because too much of this in the system may put the person at risk of suffering from either a heart attack or a stroke.
HDL in simple terms is good cholesterol because its job is to regulate the flow the bad one so this can be filtered out of the person's system. There must be a balanced between the two so the individual is healthy.
Whenever people get a blood test, the patient will see a breakdown of the LDL and HDL in the system. Though not that significant as the first two, doctors pay attention to two other figures namely the total cholesterol and the triglyceride level.
In order to be given a clean bill of health, the patient must stay within a certain range. Those who have less than 200mg/dl in total cholesterol are safe. The same goes for someone who has less than 150mg/dl in the triglycerides.
So what happens if the person goes beyond the limit? In simple terms, the individual is at risk of developing high blood pressure or a heart disease. The good news is that the person can still prevent such a thing from happening.
There are four simple ways to do it and this must be done gradually before something bad really happens to the individual.
The first is to change the diet. This means eating less of those that are high in saturated fats such as red meat and dairy products. This should be changed for fish, fruits, nuts, oatmeal and vegetables.
Studies have shown that those who eat oatmeal regularly are able to reduce the LDL and trigylecerides level in just 2 weeks. Imagine what could happen if this is done even after just a month?
The second is exercise. The body has stored fat after how many years of not engaging in any physical activity. Changing the eating habits can only go so far and sweating it out will increase the metabolic rate thus helping reduce the patient's cholesterol levels.
The third, which doesn't happen often, is for the individual to take supplements to aid in the reduction of cholesterol. Examples of these are bible acid resins, ezetimibe, fibric acid, niacin and statins.
These are available in different brands and studies have proven this can lower the cholesterol from 15% to 30% when this is taken in regularly. Should exercise and dieting not work, the patient must remember that the intake of these drugs has certain side effects. The doctor should explain this before even prescribing this so the individual can choose from the wide range of drugs that can be used to lower one's cholesterol.
Prevention is the best way to combat any disease. A regular checkup at the doctor's office will surely save money instead of being confined in the hospital.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_584827_17.html

Causes of Morning Breath

2008-07-22T12:32:00.001-07:00

Author: R. Drysdale

It’s typical to equate an offensive odor on the breath in the mornings with everyday halitosis: the causes of morning breath may indeed be similar; however, the problem is different and usually much easier to deal with. Essentially, the bad smell is caused by the metabolic activity of anaerobic bacteria—bacteria that live in the absence of oxygen, breaking down protein molecules to fuel their own cellular processes and giving off bad smelling gases such as hydrogen sulfide as waste products. These bacteria do well while you are sleeping.
Sleep can produce a sort of transient halitosis. During sleep, our mouths become inactive, we don’t drink liquids, and even saliva production slows down. Even if the sleeper is breathing through the mouth, this has the effect of drying out the oral tissues rather than delivering oxygen - another contributing factor. In these conditions, anaerobes flourish, multiplying, metabolizing, and releasing hydrogen sulfide and other volatile sulfur compounds throughout the night. These are the causes of morning breath.
Upon waking, though we may notice a transient halitosis at first, we get up and begin moving our mouths more. We talk, eat, drink, brush our teeth, swallow more often. Saliva production picks up and most of the offensive bacterial causes of morning breath are rinsed away or swallowed. Many people use a mouthwash upon rising, though this may not even be necessary. For the rest of the day, everything’s fine, and it’s not until we sleep once again that anaerobes have a chance to get the upper hand and start multiplying.
The transient halitosis known as morning breath is different from chronic problems with oral malodor: though many of the same bacteria may cause it, they are not present in the mouth in abnormal and unhealthy numbers. When odor persists throughout the day, it’s a sign that the offensive bacteria have somehow displaced normal oral bacteria. Unlike the bacterial causes of morning breath, these abnormal bacterial populations can be very hard to dislodge and often require a much more aggressive, long-term approach.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_584865_17.html