Health And Beauty Tips

Health care gains start soon — bigger ones later

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:40:00 +0000

WASHINGTON – The first changes under the new health care law will be easy to see and not long in coming: There'll be $250 rebate checks for seniors in the Medicare drug coverage gap, and young adults moving from college to work will be able to stay on their parents' plans until they turn 26.

But the peace of mind the president promised — the antidote for health care insecurity, whether you favored or opposed his overhaul — is still a ways beyond the horizon, starting only in 2014. Insurers then will be barred from turning down people with medical problems, and the government will provide tax credits to help millions of working families buy coverage they can't afford now.

Health care overhaul will bring real change, but it's going to happen slowly.

President Barack Obama plans to sign the main legislation Tuesday in the White House East Room after a bitterly divided House approved it Sunday night. That will cap a turbulent, yearlong quest by the president and congressional Democrats to remake the nation's health care system, fully one-sixth of the U.S. economy.

Obama's signature will start the Senate considering a package of changes the House also has approved. But the main overhaul will already be officially on the books.

Still, if Obama wants to actually preside over the expansion of coverage to more than 30 million people, he'll first have to persuade a majority of Americans to re-elect him in 2012.

"For people who have the greatest need, a number of things will start quickly and make a difference," said DeAnn Friedholm of Consumers Union. For others, 2014 may seem like a long way away. "Some people may be frustrated that it's going to be several years, but that is the reality of what it takes to make these significant changes," she added.

The main reason that Obama's plan phases in slowly boils down to cost. The Medicare cuts and tax increases to finance the bill start early; the subsidies to help people purchase coverage come later. That combination keeps the cost of the overhaul under $1 trillion in its first decade, as Obama promised. Republicans call it an accounting gimmick — but in past years they also resorted to it.

Here's a look at some of the major impacts for consumers:

• COMING SOON:

Roughly a third of people in their 20s are uninsured, so allowing young adults to remain on their parents' plans until 26 would be a significant new option for families.

Adult children would not be able to stay on a parental plan if they had access to employer coverage of their own. But they could get married and still be covered. (Grandkids, however, would not qualify.) Regulations will clarify to what degree young adults have to be financially dependent on their parents.

Other reforms starting this year would prevent insurers from canceling the policies of people who get sick, from denying coverage to children with medical problems, and from putting lifetime dollar limits on a policy.

These changes will spread risks more broadly, but they're also likely to nudge insurance premiums somewhat higher.

Obama's plan also includes an important new program for the most vulnerable: uninsured people who can't get coverage because of major medical problems. It's intended to provide an umbrella of protection until the broad expansion of coverage takes effect in 2014.

The government will pump money into high-risk insurance pools in the states, making coverage available for people in frail health who have been uninsured for at least six months. The premiums could still be a stretch, but for people who need continuing medical attention, it could make a dramatic difference.

"For people who have not been able to get anything, who have expensive chronic illnesses or other conditions, it could be a lifesaver," said Friedholm.

There is a catch, however. The $5 billion Obama has allocated for the program is unlikely to last until 2014. In fact, government experts have projected it could run out next year.

Among seniors, the plan will create both winners and losers. On the plus side, it gradually closes the dreaded "doughnut hole" prescription coverage gap, improves preventive care and puts a new emphasis on trying to keep seniors struggling with chronic diseases in better overall health.

But it also cuts funding for popular private insurance plans offered through the Medicare Advantage program. About one-quarter of seniors have signed up for the plans, which generally offer lower out-of-pocket costs. That's been possible because the government pays the plans about 13 percent more than it costs to cover seniors in traditional Medicare. As the payments are scaled back, it could trigger an exodus from Medicare Advantage.

"It's not all black and white; sometimes it's gray," said James Firman, president of the National Council on the Aging. "Overall we think this plan is very good, and will provide some significant benefits for seniors. There will be some pain among some people in Medicare Advantage plans."

The prescription coverage gap will be totally closed in 2020. At that point, seniors will be responsible for 25 percent of the cost of their medications until Medicare's catastrophic coverage kicks in, dropping their copayments to 5 percent.

• COMING LATER:

The real transformation of America's health insurance system won't take place until 2014.

Four breathtaking changes will happen simultaneously:

• Insurers will be required to take all applicants. They won't be able to turn down people in poor health, or charge them more.

• States will set up new insurance supermarkets for small businesses and people buying their own coverage, pooling together to get the kind of purchasing clout government workers have now.

• Most Americans will be required to carry health insurance, either through an employer, a government program or by buying their own. Those who refuse will face fines from the IRS.

• Tax credits to help pay for premiums will start flowing to middle-class working families, and Medicaid will be expanded to cover more low income people. Households making up to four times the poverty level — about $88,000 for a family of four_ will be eligible for assistance. But the most generous aid — including help with copayments and deductibles — will be for those on the lower-to-middle rungs of the income scale.

When all is said and done, the majority of working-age Americans and their families will still have employer-sponsored coverage, as they do now. But the number of uninsured will drop by more than half. Illegal immigrants would account for more than one-third of the remaining 23 million people without coverage.

Cost could be the Achilles' heel of the whole effort.

"I hope it is not repealed, because we do need to extend coverage to most of our population," said Gail Wilensky, who ran Medicare for President George H.W. Bush and remains a leading health care adviser to Republicans. "But it could well be substantially modified. It expands coverage, but it does very little to take on two other major issues: improving quality and leveling the rate of growth in spending."

Salt-loving mayor seeks to trim it from NYC diets

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:07:00 +0000

NEW YORK – New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — who is known to shake salt on his pizza — is focusing on sodium as the next unhealthy enemy in his crusade to coax people into eating better.

Bloomberg's health department has already banned trans fats in restaurant meals and forced chain eateries to post calorie counts on menus. On Monday, the city set guidelines recommending maximum amounts of salt for a variety of restaurant and store-bought foods, with the goal of cutting salt levels in food by a quarter overall in five years.

"I use a lot of salt," Bloomberg admitted Monday. Despite any personal eating habits he may have, the mayor is fixated on nutrition as a public health concern.

"We're trying to extend the lives and improve the lives of people who live in this city," he said.

Unlike the city's trans fat ban and calorie count rule, the salt initiative is voluntary.

The recommendations posted on the city health department's Web site call for substantial reductions in the salt content of many products, from a 20 percent drop in peanut butter to a 40 percent decline in canned vegetables.

The targets include a 40 percent reduction in breakfast cereals and flavored snack chips, and a 25 percent reduction for cold cuts, processed cheese and salsa.

Not even the mayor's favorite foods — popcorn and hot dogs — were spared: The city wants food manufacturers to work on reducing salt by 30 percent in popcorn and 20 percent in wieners.

Health officials say Americans now eat about twice the amount of salt they should. Too much sodium contributes to high blood pressure, which can cause heart attack and stroke.

New York City's program is modeled in part after a similar initiative in Britain that has been under way since 2003.

Seventeen national health organizations and 25 other city or state health agencies have endorsed New York City's effort, called the National Salt Reduction Initiative.

Food industry representatives reacted cautiously to the program Monday.

"It's something I'm sure our members will be taking under consideration," said Nevin Montgomery, president and chief executive of the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association.

The guidelines suggest that manufacturers lower salt content gradually over several years so consumers won't notice, and they aren't asking for big changes in every category.

For example, under the city's standards, by 2014 no restaurant hamburger should contain more than 1,200 milligrams of salt. Nearly every burger sold by McDonald's already meets that guideline, although there are exceptions like the double quarter pounder with cheese, which has 1,380 milligrams of salt.

ConAgra Foods Inc., which makes products including Chef Boyardee canned pasta meals, Healthy Choice frozen dinners and Swiss Miss hot chocolate, has pledged a 20 percent reduction of salt in its consumer food products by 2015, in part because of consumer demand. The company, based in Omaha, Neb., said its initiative would eliminate about 10 million pounds of salt per year from the American diet.

Even though there will be no penalties for companies that ignore the guidelines, health officials say they think some manufacturers may be motivated to make changes.

"They all fully recognize that sodium is a major health problem that they need to address," said the city's health commissioner, Dr. Thomas Farley.

What's in health care proposals for 5 Americans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:56:00 +0000

As Congress gets closer to a final health care bill, many Americans want to know: What's in it for me?

The answer is: It depends.

On your age and household income. Whether you own a business and whether it's big or small. Whether you're insured now and who provides that insurance. In the end, it will depend on how House and Senate negotiators will merge the proposals, and how their vision gets translated into regulations.

Five Americans shared their stories with The Associated Press. Here's an educated guess on how the health care package taking shape in Congress might affect them.

26 operations, 13 kidneys: hope to few with little

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:15:00 +0000

WASHINGTON – Twenty-six operations put healthy kidneys into 13 desperately ill people: Doctors in the nation's capital just performed a record-setting kidney swap, part of a pioneering effort to expand transplants to patients who too often never qualify.

"A whole new doorway of hope opened," says Tom Otten, a suburban St. Louis police officer who traveled halfway across the country to Georgetown University Hospital to give a stranger a kidney so his wife would get one in return.

Relative after relative failed to be the match his wife, Irene, needed. Tests finally showed her body wouldn't tolerate a kidney from 95 percent of the population.

In Washington, Roxanne Boyd Williams was a similar long shot. A sister's kidney had saved her in 2005, but it failed this year. This time around, the 30-year-old mother's immune system also had become abnormally primed to attack any new organ.

Dr. Keith Melancon, Georgetown's kidney transplant director, offered a rare option. If both women could receive a close-to-perfect donor kidney — one that few of their immune system's elevated antibodies recognize — he'd filter from their blood enough of the remaining antibodies to allow the new organ to survive.

A kidney exchange widens the pool of potential organs. That's when patients find a friend or relative who isn't compatible with them but will donate on their behalf, and the pairs are mixed and matched.

Like falling dominoes, Tom turned out to be Roxanne's needle in the haystack. Another young woman was Irene's. Roxanne's father came from Florida, the answer for yet another impossible-to-match grandmother.

"It's a large gift to give somebody, something so selfless," Williams says, her hand clutching Otten's as the two meet a week after surgery. "God bless you."

The chain reaction — multiplied by three altruistic donors, people offering a kidney to anyone — turned into a 13-way transplant, during six marathon days of surgery at Georgetown and nearby Washington Hospital Center. It's believed to be the largest exchange of its kind in a movement that could reduce the nation's long and growing wait for a donated kidney.

Five patients got kidneys only because of the blood-filtering.

And strikingly, 10 of the 13 kidney recipients are black, Asian or Hispanic — important because minorities are far less likely than white Americans to get a kidney transplant from a living donor, the best kind.

"You are going to die a lot earlier sitting on that dialysis machine than if you get transplanted," says Melancon, whose goal is to pair domino kidney exchanges and the blood-cleansing treatment called plasmapheresis to narrow the troubling disparities.

Of the 88,000 people on the national waiting list for a kidney, just over one-third are black, yet they receive only about 13 percent of living-donor kidneys. Blacks are disproportionately struck by the kidney-killing twin ravages of diabetes and hypertension, leaving those on dialysis with fewer donor candidates among their own family and friends.

For everybody, fewer than 17,000 kidney transplants are performed a year.

"These procedures really multiply the number of transplants that can be done," Melancon says, predicting the two together could enable up to 4,000 additional transplants a year. "It's really almost a religious experience when we start doing this, because it's miraculous, it really is."

The Associated Press documented weeks of the complex logistics, the ups and downs as Melancon's team planned initially for a 16-way transplant, juggled donors and recipients for best matches and had to drop some — including one with heart problems that aborted his surgery.

Lieberman resists Medicare buy-in plan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:10:00 +0000

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats who thought they had a workable compromise to move ahead on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul learned otherwise from Sen. Joe Lieberman, who is threatening to join Republicans in opposing a bill if it expands Medicare.

The Connecticut independent, whose vote is critical to the bill's prospects, expressed his opposition to the plan to allow uninsured individuals as young as 55 to buy Medicare coverage in two instances Sunday: first in an interview with CBS, and more strongly later, according to Democratic officials, in a private meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Lieberman's opposition is one of a handful of major obstacles for Senate Democrats in a make-or-break week for Obama's signature issue. Disputes over tougher abortion restrictions and the importation of lower-cost prescription drugs from other countries also threaten to derail Democratic plans to complete the bill by Christmas.

Reid needs 60 votes to overcome Republican objections and has been counting on Lieberman to provide one.

But appearing on CBS, Lieberman said of the Medicare proposal, "Though I don't know exactly what's in it, from what I hear, I certainly would have a hard time voting for it because it has some of the same infirmities that the public option did.

"It will add taxpayer costs. It will add to the deficit. It's unnecessary," he added of a provision that Reid last week hailed as part of a breakthrough between liberals and moderates.

Democratic aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lieberman later told Reid he would support a Republican-led filibuster against the bill if it contained the Medicare provision or permitted the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies.

The same aides added that Lieberman had responded differently last week when Reid asked him privately about the proposed Medicare provision. "He voiced support for the idea," said one official. Lieberman's public comments last week were also generally favorable. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to comment publicly.

In an interview that aired Sunday night — but was recorded last week — Obama voiced optimism about his call for sweeping legislation to expand coverage while cracking down on the insurance industry.

"I think it's going to pass out of the Senate before Christmas," he told CBS' "60 Minutes."

Republicans say that's unlikely.

"With the American people as overwhelmingly opposed to this bill as they are, for the Democrats to basically, arrogantly take the position that we're going to ignore public opinion and jam this through before Christmas, I think that's really a stretch," said Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

If Lieberman follows through on his plans, he leaves Democrats with few options. Most obviously, they could strip out the provisions he opposes, and hope liberals overcome their inevitable unhappiness and vote for the bill. For that approach to have any chance of success, Obama would have to lobby heavily in its favor.

Democrats are have some political leverage, however. Lieberman lost the Democratic nomination for re-election the last time he ran, in 2006, then won a new term as an independent. Even so, he retains his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, a post he holds at the pleasure of the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Ben Nelson of Nebraska also expressed concern about the legislation.

"I'm concerned that it's the forerunner of single-payer — the ultimate single-payer plan, maybe even more directly than the public option," Nelson said of the Medicare proposal. By single-payer, he meant national health insurance run by Washington. Unlike Lieberman, Nelson participated in negotiations last week between liberals and moderates that produced the general framework that included the Medicare provision.

Nelson also is seeking stricter abortion restrictions than are currently in the bill.

"The whole reason we're doing this bill is to bring down cost, first for the American people in health care, and secondly for the deficit," said Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri. "So until we get the numbers back from the Congressional Budget Office, we're all on hold."

Asked if she would vote against the bill if it raised health care costs overall, she said, "Absolutely."

Lieberman, Nelson and McConnell spoke on CBS' "Face the Nation." McCaskill was on "Fox News Sunday."

Papaya Anti-Aging Mask

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:41:00 +0000

sep

Papaya Anti-Aging Mask for Radiant Skin

Labels: Beauty Guide

Papaya enzyme mask is easy to make and works great skin. Using this mask twice per week will result in beautiful radiant skin. It also fades the acne scars. Papaya is great as an exfoliator thanks to its enzyme papain. Its obvious that the key tobeautiful skin is to exfoliate, exfoliate and exfoliate some more! Papain enzyme is used in skincare products widely in market.

Milk Mask for Dry Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:40:00 +0000

sep

Milk Mask for Dry Skin

Labels: Beauty Guide

This recipe makes a mask for twoIngredients: * 1 tsp powdered milk* 1 tbsp runny honey* 1 tsp aloe vera gel* 2 drops essential oilPreparation:This is a classic milk mask for the face. Mix ingredients well, apply to face, let sit for 15 minutes, wash off with warm water. This recipe is enough for two. (Note: The original recipe called for 1 tbsp pulverized almonds, but I have removed it from the ingredients...

Highlight your lips with color-rich lipsticks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:18:00 +0000

Lipsticks bring out your smile and can make your lips look totally kissable. No makeup has to power to transform like long lasting lipsticks and most women say they feel naked without it. A necessary part of a polished look and often the last thing a woman will do is apply lipstick before leaving the house. No other cosmetic is easier to apply and lip liners, lip gloss, and lipsticks help make a woman feel sexy and self-assured. If you can color in a coloring book, you can color your lips and with enough practice you won't even need to use a mirror.

Lipsticks are composed of pigment, which determines its color; wax, which gives lipstick its shape and emollients or oils which moisturize and carry the color. The five basic formulas are sheer, shimmer, cream, matte and long-lasting. Flavored lip-gloss and moisturizing glosses are also desirable for a different twist and shiny lips. Lip liners shape your lip and make it easier to apply the lipsticks.

The lips are an extremely vulnerable part of the body, and lipsticks should provide protection. A good lipstick will moisturize the lips and shield them from the sun. These days the most lubricious lipsticks contain moisturizers like Vitamin E, collagen and amino acids and some contain sunscreen for protection. Women over 50 usually look better with a cream lipsticks rather than a matte or gloss and in a pinch your lipsticks can double as a blush. Carry a stash of different lipsticks in daring shades in your purse for different occasions, outfits, and moods.

LINK>>>>>>>>>>>

Get that beautiful back Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:16:00 +0000

Ayurveda is a great way to get that glow on your back. There are certain herbs which act as detoxifying agents and can be used as cleansers. A combination of the h

There is no escape from exercise, if you really want a sexy back. Here is an exercise for your lower back: Lie flat on your back. Bend one knee at 90 degrees then slowly bring it towards your chest. Grasp with both hands. Hold for a count of three, then relax and let go.
There is a price to pay for everything. So if you want a good skin, you will have to watch what you eat. Some of the foods you need to be careful not to go overboard on are rice, fish, curds, salt, radish, sesame, jaggery. Moderation is the keyword, Ofcourse, heavy, oily and spicy foods should be kept to a minimum.
Your lifestyle too affects the skin. You need to have a healthy lifestyle to get a healthy skin. What are the things you should avoid? For one - forget about that leisurely afternoon sleep. Your mental state affects your looks too. If you store feelings of anger or are easily irritable, it has a negative effect on you and your skin.

erbs amalki, haritaki, and vibhitaki can be used for detoxification. LINK>>>>>>>>>

Hanging & Storing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:14:00 +0000

Prevent clothes from slipping off wire h Hang jeans on children's clothes hangers. The children's hangers are shorter thus making them stronger than regular hangers. The jeans do not weigh the hanger down and cause it to break.

Leather & Suede
• Grease on suede: Sponge with cloth dipped in club soda or vinegar. Use a suede brush to restore nap.

• Leather and suede gloves - a piece of stale bread will remove fresh spots on leather and suede gloves. Just rub the spots with the bread.
• To restore scuffed or pressed suede, brush over with light sand paper.

Miscellany

• Coat straw beach hats and bags with clear varnish. It will stop the straw splitting and give longer life.

• If you get a white mark from deodorant on your shirt or dress after putting it on, wipe the mark with a foam pad.

• You can tie-dye a T-shirt with Kool-Aid. Mix a solution of kool aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak.

• To clean up buckles on belts, use an old toothbrush and tooth paste, then wipe off with a damp rag or rinse under cold water. The buckle will shine like new

Pantyhose

• Hairspray can be spritzed on the toes and heels of a new pair of pantyhose to strengthen the threads and extend the life of the pantyhose.
• If you're hard on pantyhose, put a spare pair in a ziplock bag to keep in your purse.

• To eliminate static cling from pantyhose, rub a damp fabric softener sheet over the hose.
Shoes

• Get salt deposits out of leather shoes by mixing equal parts vinegar and water to get the salt out. To dry put them under a chair and hook the heels on the chair rung. Polish with saddle soap or a product made for leather.

• Use a wool mitten with vaseline on it to remove scuffs from shoes.

• To make dull, hard-surface shoes look new again, wipe with Armour All.

• Polish shoes with Pledge furniture polish. Makes shine last longer. Spray & buff dry. Also helps repel water stains in winter.

• To clean patent leather, first wipe with a wet sponge and then rub with a dry cloth. Next, take a piece of flannel cloth and dip it in olive oil.

Rub the leather till it shines! Never let regular shoe polish get on patent leather. It will permanently ruin the patina.

• Use baking soda instead of powder in your shoes to absorb moisture and odors.

• Don't throw away shoe polish that's hardened and broken in the tin - place it in the bottom of a warm oven for a couple of minutes and it'll be soft enough to use.

• To shine patent leather shoes or handbags, rub with unbeaten egg white. Allow it to dry, then polish with a soft cloth.

• After you've dyed a pair of shoes, give the heels a coat of clear nail varnish. It prevents the new color from scraping off.

• To clean buckles on shoes, use an old toothbrush and tooth paste, then wipe off with a damp rag or rinse under cold water. The buckle will shine like new.

Static Cling

• Lessen static cling with hairspray, especially on nylons and synthetics.

• Rub lotion on legs and socks to help with static. Static usually builds up when the weather is dry and the lotion helps to moisten things up.

• Carry a dryer sheet in a baggy and whenever you find yourself clingy run the dryer sheet over your clothes.

• Rub a damp, used dryer fabric softener sheet over pantyhose to eliminate static cling.
• For static, put your socks on and then spray (lightly) with hair spray.

Zippers

• Zipper not wanting to stay closed? Spray it with hairspray containing lacquer and let it dry. It should hold all day long. Do not allow hairspray to get on the rest of the garment while applying.

• Zipper sticking or hard to open and close? Run a lead pencil up & down the zipper on both sides several times. The graphite in the pencil lead will make the zipper much easier to pull up and down.

• Chap Stick can be used to get a zipper moving again. Just dab a bit onto the teeth, then work the zipper up and down until it moves.angers by wrapping rubber bands around the ends of the hangers. LINK>>>>>>>

Facials Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:13:00 +0000

Throughout the seasons, our skin can become dry and dehydrated, and our blood vessels become more visible. A thorough skin cleansing becomes a necessity, and there is nothing more effective than the application of a deep cleansing facial mask. Facial masks are a wonderful way to make your skin glow, even out its tone, and help it appear more youthful. And you can make healthy, all-natural facial masks right at home. Follow our simple Facial Mask Recipes to create this enriching experience for your skin in the comforWhat is a Facial Mask?

A facial mask is a simple and effective dermo-cosmetic process which helps maintain youthful skin, while also preventing premature aging. Masks increase blood circulation, the dilation of the pores, and the removal of toxins, which the mask helps eliminate. In general, ingredients are more concentrated than those in lotions or cleansers, so they produce more noticeable benefits in a shorter amount of time. LINK>>>>>>

Benefits of Using Facial Masks

Not only are facial masks wonderful for pampering body and soul, but also these cosmetic preparations applied to the face will tighten, clean and refresh the skin. They are much like "take-home spas," relieving stress, enhancing well-being, and allowing a little bit of pure indulgence in luxury while offering an enhanced sensory experience. The final result is a renewed, rested and youthful appearance.

Think of facial masks as the ultimate nutrient delivery system. Because a mask is much thicker than a moisturizer or topical treatment and because of its extended application time and the inner warmth generated, which opens the pores, passage of nutrients into the skin occurs far more quickly and efficiently. When necessary, masks can also remove excess oil and environmental debris and pollutants much more gently than astringents, toners or scrubs. Although, masks can also help replenish necessary skin oils, especially during the harsh winter months.

How Often Should I Use Facial Masks?

To avoid excessive drying out of the skin, facial masks shouldn't really be used more than once a week, which is the ideal. Think of masks like exercise - you won't get the benefits if you only use them every few months. If you can't manage a mask session that often, though, don't worry. The change of seasons at the end of summer (when skin is often thirsty after sun exposure) and at the end of winter (when skin is flat and dingy) are the two prime times to make an effort. Finish off by using a warm, wet flannel cloth to remove the mask and it will act as a gentle exfoliant, leaving skin instantly brighter and clearer-looking.

What Type Of Mask Should I Use For My Skin Type?

As far as what type of mask to use, if you have oily skin, go for a clay or mud mask to absorb excess oil buildup. If you have dry skin, try a creamy, hydrating mask. If you have sensitive skin, use a light, gel mask. And if you have combination skin, you may need more than one mask to spot-treat different problems, says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in New York and author of Beautiful Skin: Every Woman's Guide to Looking Her Best at Any Age. For example, zap zits along your t-zone with a deep-cleansing mask and keep your cheeks soft with a more moisturizing formula. You'll get the best results if you choose a mask that targets your specific skin type and addresses any problems you have.

How to use facial masks:

1. Wash your face and neck
2. Put some protective cream around your eyes and mouth
3. Put a mask on your face and neck and do not keep it on for longer than 20 minutes
4. Rinse it off with warm boiled water or mineral water
5. Apply a moisturizing cream.

Facial Mask Recipes

As a general rule, cucumber and mint are natural refresheners; oats exfoliate; cream cleanses and softens; lemon juice tones and refreshes. Mix and match these ingredients, add a few other items from your pantry, and voila! You have a great mask that you can make in minutes. See our recipes below for facials that are sure to become staples in your weekly beauty regimen.

Refreshing Masks

Tomato Facial Mask

Terrific for normal skin. Cut a small sized raw tomato into two halves and gently rub both halves on your face in a circular motion. After the tomato face pack has dried, rinse your face completely, tone and moisturize.

Easy Egg White Mask

Improves skin tone. Massage egg white all over your face. After mask has completely dried, rinse your skin thoroughly, tone and moisturize. Leaves your pores feeling taut and refreshed!

Peachy Honey Mask

Works like magic and tastes great! Mash 1 large skinned peach (or nectarine) and 3 tsp. honey together, and add 2 tbsp. yogurt until you have a workable paste. Pat evenly over your face and neck and around your eyes. Lie back and relax for about 10 minutes. Rinse well with warm water, tone and moisturize.

Cool as a Cucumber Facial Mask

This mask is perfect for any skin type; for best results, apply weekly. Place 1 cup oats and 1 tbsp. wheat bran in a blender and grind to a fine powder. Add 2 tbsp. buttermilk, 2 tbsp. whipping cream, 1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tbsp. plain yogurt, 1 tsp. fresh mint leaves, and 1/2 medium diced cucumber. Blend until consistency is smooth. Apply to freshly cleansed face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, tone and moisturize.

Exfoliating Masks

Exfoliating Oatmeal Mask
Wonderful for sloughing off dried skin! Mix 3/4 cup dry oatmeal with approximately 1/3 cup warm water into a paste and spread on face. Lie down and let it dry. Wash off with warm water, tone, and moisturize.

Nutty Avocado Honey Mask

First mash and mix 1 ripe avocado with 1/2 tsp. honey. Add 1 tsp. almonds to mixture and continue to mash until creamy. Apply mixture to a clean face and relax for 15-20 minutes. Massage gently to exfoliate before rinsing with warm water.

Cornmeal Concoction Face Wash

Mix 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1 egg white, 1 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, and 2 tbsp. milk. Gently massage on face, avoiding eye area, let dry and wash off with warm water.

Hydrating

Egg and Honey Hydrating Mask

This mask is wonderful for refining and smoothing scaly skin. Mix together 1 tbsp. honey, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 tsp. almond oil and 1 tbsp. yogurt. Massage into skin and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse well with cool water, tone, and moisturize.

Banana Facial Pack

Lovely and soothing mask-smells scrumpious! Combine 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp. almond oil, and 1 ripe banana in a bowl and mash into a paste with a fork. Apply to face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water, pat dry, tone and moisturize.

Moisturizing Beer Mask

Don't take that last sip! In a blender, combine 1 tbsp. beer, 1 heaped tsp. plain yogurt, 1 tsp. olive oil, 1 egg white, 1 tsp. lemon extract, and 1 tsp. almond extract. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds. Wet face with warm water and apply mixture evenly. Let sit for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water, then splash with cold water. Tone and moisturize.

Oily Skin

Avocado and Mud Mask

To give oily skin the slip, try this sebum-absorbing clay mask. Clay or Fuller's Earth mud is available in powder form at any health food store. Mix 1 tbsp. dry clay with 1 egg yolk, 1/4 of a mashed avocado and enough witch hazel to create a smooth mixture. Apply to face (avoid eye area) and let dry completely. Rinse well with warm water, pat dry, tone and moisturize.

Sebum-Reducing Soy Facial

Excellent for oily or spotty skin. Mix 2 tbsp. of strained soybean curd with 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice in a blender for 30 seconds. Massage paste into the skin and let dry completely. Rinse well with cool water, tone and moisturize.t of your own home.

Natural Beauty Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Not everyone wants a complete makeover as some like to preserve a more natural appearance. Let's face it, many men are attracted to the low-maintenance, "girl-next-door" look and accomplishing that can be just as challenging as looking model-perfect.So, how do you achieve a desirable look without the heavy use of cosmetics and makeup? Our natural beauty tips and advice will help you do just that, and put you on the path to a beautiful, unaffected, you.

Practice a Healthy Lifestyle

Natural beauty is akin to an overall healthy appearance. Start with a better lifestyle. Your own attitudes and daily life reflects in how you look to others. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

Eat a proper, well-balanced diet. Food that's good for your body helps your internal organs function properly and shows on the outside as well. The trick is to read the labels carefully and eat healthy foods with minimal preservatives. Good nutrition is key to your outward appearance and longevity.

The best skin in the world will not overcome a flabby body. Get in good physical shape if you've been slacking off. Set some reasonable fitness goals to get your body fit and trim. Begin with short-term goals and set new ones once they're achieved.

Skin Care Tips

Water plays a crucial role. For radiant skin, drink plenty of water to keep it hydrated and supple. Seal in water externally after a shower by applying lotion to damp skin.

Look for all-natural, organic and herbal recipes for basic skin problems. Whether it's dry skin or blemishes, you can target the areas that need it most, foregoing chemicals that can be irritating to your skin.

As you age, you'll hit some bumps along the way. Care for your skin as you do your most prized possession and you'll see the benefits quickly, as well as years from now.

Don't want leathery skin? Lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by reducing exposure to the sun's dangerous rays.

When enjoying outdoor activities, apply a sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 and re-applying when necessary.
Wearing Makeup, Naturally
If you wish to wear makeup, utilize only the best cosmetics brushes and beauty tools to enhance your finest features and cover flaws.

This allows you to apply only the amount that is needed while blending in any excess color.

Apply a tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation with a damp sponge. Either one will allow your natural skin tone to show through while covering minor imperfections.

Creme or liquid blush blends more naturally than powder. Apply to the apple of your cheeks, outwards, into your hairline to prevent makeup lines.

Don't want to overdo your eyes? You can now enhance your own eyelashes without adding clumps or colors. New, clear mascara is available to separate your lashes and give them luster and shine.

Reduce Stress

Stress is an unfortunate fact in today's fast-paced lifestyle and often reflects in your skin and eyes. Make it routine to relax and pamper yourself, daily if possible. This will give you time to slow down and plan the following day.

Become aware of the facial expressions you often make when stressed-out.

If you raise your eyebrows often, you could very well end up with permanent wrinkles on your forehead. If you squint because you don't understand something, lines between your brows may become evident.

Don't expect to live without facial expressions, they're part of you. What you can do is be aware of those expressions you make when nobody is looking. Replace those with something else, such as fidgeting and ease up on your face. LINK>>>>

Make Your Face Look Slimmer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Use your make up blusher cleverly to slim down chubby cheeks
Purchase two shades of blush, one of a deeper shade and one that's lighter. To ensure the shades go together, purchase a compact with two coordinating shades.
- Apply your usual foundation make-up or powder to cover any imperfections and even out your skin tone.
- Apply the lighter shade of blush in circular motions onto the apples of your cheeks... how do you to find your apples? Just smile!
- Next, following the line of your cheekbones, apply a sheer sweep of the deeper shade of blush.
- Blend, blend and blend. The key with this trick is to create dimension, but you do not want a very obvious demarcation between your natural cheek color and the blush (i.e. think stripes!).
- Sweep a small amount of the lighter shade across your nose and/or forehead as desired to add an extra "glow" to your complexion. LINK>>>>

Beauty Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:08:00 +0000

ncrease your sex appeal, groom your looks and look sexier

They say that there's a sex kitten simmering within every one of us. Well, if you feel a stab of envy every time you browse through a Cosmo or an Elle, it's about time you took that step -towards looking utterly sexy and sensuous. But assuming that you don't possess an hourglass figure, designer clothes or a million dollar smile, how can you unleash the sex kitten within you?

Well, looking sexy is a simpler feat than you might think.!

Love Your Body type.
You need to feel proud of your body type and make a note of your best features. Nice legs, a great bust line, slim shoulders, nice toes, attractive eyes? Figure it out, literally. Then capitalize on those assets.

The Sexy Ensemble.
So what if your hips stretch for miles? How about concentrating on your neckline, then and getting the sexiest set of plungers ever? Basically you need to get together a wardrobe that camouflages the bulges and accentuates all the curves, but most of all makes you feel comfortable. LINK>>>>>>>>>

Tonsils

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:07:00 +0000

What are tonsils and adenoids?

The tonsils are two clumps of tissue, on either side of the throat, embedded in a pocket at the side of the palate (roof of the mouth). The lower edge of each tonsil is beside the tongue...way in the back of the throat. The adenoids are a single clump of tissue in the back of the nose (nasopharynx). They are located (in the adult) on the back wall of the throat (pharynx)...about one inch above the uvula (the little teardrop shaped piece of tissue that hangs down in the middle of the soft palate).

What are tonsils and adenoids?

What function do tonsils serve? Aren't they important?

Should the adenoids be removed also?

Will he/she outgrow the problem?

How are tonsils removed?

What are the complications of tonsillectomy? LINK>>>>>>>>>>>

Mental Health Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:05:00 +0000

General Mental Health

Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia

Activities and Dementia
It is important to choose activities that the demented person can manage. All human beings, including people with dementia, have a fundamental psychological need to be occupied. However, the nerve pathways in the brain which carry motivation may be damaged in a person with dementia.You may therefore, have, to help them get started. Many people with dementia also have problems concentrating. They may be unable to concentrate on anything, such as a TV program or reading the paper, for very long. This means that activities have to be adapted to meet their very special needs.

Administering Medications to a Confused Person
An effective way to administer medications to a person with dementia (confusion) is to crush the tablets (if it's a medication that can be crushed safely) and mix the powdered medication in a small amount of applesauce or pudding.

Bathing a Person with Alzheimer's Disease
Try to make sure that all bathing materials (soap, shampoo, washcloth, towels) are within easy reach, so that you will not need to leave the patient unattended even momentarily. Safety issues also become more important. To lessen the chance of the patient slipping or falling, try placing a rubber mat or decals on the floor of the bath tub. Grab bars and shower seats may also be helpful. They can be purchased at most any medical supply store. You may want to lower the temperature of the hot water in your heater to reduce the chance of scalding.

High-Fat Diet May Raise Alzheimer's Risk
A high-fat, high-calorie diet may double a person's risk for Alzheimer's disease, especially if the person is genetically predisposed to the disorder.

Importance of Consistent Care of Person with Dementia
It's important that care to a demented person be provided on a consistent basis. Changes in routine have a negative effect by increasing confusion and agitation.

Music and Alzheimer's
Doctors say the right kind of music, golden oldies, can help Alzheimer's patients interact with others better.

Noise and Dementia
Speak gently and distinctly to a confused person. Loud voices only add to the person's confusion and may make the person agitated.

Preparing a Person with Alzheimer's for Visitors
Talk about and show pictures of the people who are coming to visit.
Have the person with AD watch and/or help with preparations.
Persons with AD may recognize faces of family members and friends but may be unable to recall names. Name tags are helpful.
Have a "quiet" room if things get too hectic and have someone familiar stay with the demented person so he or she doesn't feel isolated or left out.
Prepare for distractions beforehand (e.g., use of photo album) to divert attention if problem behaviors occur.

Radio, TV and Alzheimer's
A radio and television left playing in the room with a person who has Alzheimer's can help calm and reorient them.

Some Foods May Cut Alzheimer's Risk
Eating nuts, leafy green vegetables and other foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamin E may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's.

Trial Alzheimer's Vaccine
A safe, effective vaccine for people with Alzheimer's may be on the horizon.
Researchers are working on a vaccine that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against the beta-amyloid protein found in the brain-clogging plaques involved in the disease.

General Mental Health

Depression

Headaches

Natural Stress Relief

Seizure Disorders

Stroke LINK>>>>>>>>>>>

Polio Prevention Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Polio

Polio [PO-lee-oh] is a viral disease that can damage the nervous system and cause paralysis.
The polio virus enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person.

Polio is preventable by immunization.

Since polio immunization has become widespread in the United States, cases of polio are rare. However, polio remains a problem in many parts of the world.What is polio?

Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a disease that can damage the nervous system and cause paralysis. Since polio immunization has become widespread in the United States, cases of polio are rare. However, polio remains a problem in many parts of the world.

What is polio?

Who is at risk for polio?

What are the signs and symptoms of polio?

What is the infectious agent that causes polio?

What is the treatment for polio?

How can polio be prevented? LINK>>>>>>>>>

Hearing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:03:00 +0000

People with hearing loss find it difficult to talk with friends and family. They may also have trouble understanding a doctor's advice, responding to warnings, and hearing doorbells and alarms.

Hearing loss comes in many forms. It can range from a mild loss in which a person misses certain high-pitched sounds, such as the voices of women and children, to a total loss of hearing. It can be hereditary or it can result from disease, trauma, certain medications, or long-term exposure to loud noise.

There are two general categories of hearing loss. Sensor neural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss is permanent.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves cannot reach the cochlea. The cause may be earwax build-up, fluid, or a punctured eardrum. Medical or surgical treatment can usually restore conductive hearing loss.

One form of hearing loss, presbycusis, comes on gradually as a person ages. Presbycusis can occur because of changes in the inner ear, auditory nerve, middle ear, or outer ear. Some of its causes are aging, loud noise, heredity, head injury, infection, illness, certain prescription drugs, and circulation problems such as high blood pressure.

Presbycusis commonly affects people over 50, many of whom are likely to lose some hearing each year. Having presbycusis may make it hard for a person to tolerate loud sounds or to hear what others are saying.

Tinnitus, also common in older people, is the ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in the ears frequently caused by exposure to loud noise or certain medicines. Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease, so it can accompany any type of hearing loss.

Tinnitus can also be a sign of other important health problems, such as allergies and problems in the heart and blood vessels. Tinnitus can come and go, or it can persist or stop altogether.

Some people may not want to admit they have trouble hearing. Older people who can't hear well may become depressed or withdraw from others to avoid feeling frustrated or embarrassed about not understanding what is being said. It is easy to mistakenly call older people confused, unresponsive, or uncooperative just because they don't hear well.

Hearing problems that are ignored or untreated can get worse. If you have a hearing problem, you can get help. See your doctor. Hearing aids, special training, certain medicines, and surgery are some of the choices that can help people with hearing problems.

Hearing Loss Defined

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Causes and Prevention

Treatment and Research

Frequently Asked Questions

Hearing Loss Defined

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Roughly one-third of Americans over 60 and 40 to 50 percent of those 75 and older have hearing loss. LINK>>>>>

Malaria Prevention Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:00:00 +0000

What is malaria?
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite. Patients with malaria typically are very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Four kinds of malaria parasites can infect humans:Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae.Infection with any of the malaria species can make a person feel very ill; infection with P. falciparum, if not promptly treated, may be fatal. Although malaria can be a fatal disease, illness and death from malaria are largely preventable.

Is malaria a common disease?
Yes. The World Health Organization estimates that each year 300-500 million cases of malaria occur and more than 1 million people die of malaria. About 1,300 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the United States each year. The vast majority of cases in the United States are in travelers and immigrants returning from malaria-risk areas, many from sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Is malaria a serious disease?
Yes. Malaria is a leading cause of death and disease worldwide, especially in developing countries. Most deaths occur in young children. For example, in Africa, a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds. Because malaria causes so much illness and death, the disease is a great drain on many national economies. Since many countries with malaria are already among the poorer nations, the disease maintains a vicious cycle of disease and poverty.

Wasn’t malaria eradicated years ago?
No, not in all parts of the world. Malaria has been eradicated from many developed countries with temperate climates. However, the disease remains a major health problem in many developing countries, in tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

An eradication campaign was started in the 1950s, but it failed globally because of problems including the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides used to kill them, the resistance of malaria parasites to drugs used to treat them, and administrative issues. In addition, the eradication campaign never involved most of Africa, where malaria is the most common.

What is malaria?

Where malaria occurs

How people get malaria (Transmission)

Who is at risk

Preventing malaria

Traveling and malaria

Symptoms and diagnosis

Treating malaria

Malaria drugs LINK>>>>>>>>

Flu Prevention Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Useful tips about the Flu

The rewards of eating 5 or more fruits and vegetables daily are worth the effort, proven to be strong weapons to fight the forces of flu and colds.
- Keep tissues handy for coughs and sneezes. Then dispose of tissues in a "no-touch" container. This is a container that is emptied without touching the contents.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or arm NOT your hands, and teach children to do the same. Droplets from coughing or sneezing can contain viruses that can cause other people to become sick. If you cough or sneeze into your hands, everything that you touch with your hands may expose others if they come in contact with those same surfaces.
- Clean children's toys frequently to cut down on the number of germs, especially toys that can be put in the mouth.
- If you are sick with a cold or flu, stay home and away from other people if possible. You will prevent the spread of your illness to others and also protect yourself from the more serious side effects of the flu or colds.
- Don't stack coats in the workplace, childcare facilities, or other public areas. Stacking of coats can pass on cold or flu germs as well as ringworm and lice.
- In the workplace, avoid sharing common items such as phones and computer keyboards. If you have to share, then wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Enclosed areas should be ventilated periodically to get rid of germs in the air. Consider opening a window in your home in a room that is not occupied to let some fresh air in.
- Wash your hands frequently throughout the day. Always remember to turn off faucets with a paper towel. Teach your children the same healthy habits.
- Caution! Flu germs found lurking under the mistletoe. If you have a cold or the flu, stay away. If you are healthy, consider yourself warned.
- Bring a hand sanitizer to work with you and use it periodically, especially if you have a cold. You may want to apply a hand moisturizer or lotion to combat dryness of your hands.
- Nail biters beware! The flu virus enters the body through the nose, eyes and mouth. This is a good time to break the habit.
- Mark your calendar for October 2005 and look for information on getting the flu vaccine for you and your children.
- Don't worry. Be happy. Recent studies show that stress can weaken resistance to illness in some people.
- Is shaking hands really necessary? Consider a pat on the back or a respectful nod. And a kiss on the cheek? Think about it!
- Have children in diapers? Remember to wash their hands as well as your own after diaper changing.
- Do you know the right way to wash your hands? Wash your hands with soap (bacterial soap is not necessary) and water for about 20 seconds. What is "20 seconds"? Sing the Alphabet Song, or Yankee Doodle, or Happy Birthday. Rinse hands, dry with a paper towel and turn the faucets off using the paper towel. Get your children in this habit while they are young.
- Drink plenty of fluids when you are well and when you are ill. Your body can easily become dehydrated when you have a fever. Extra fluids will keep the mucous more liquid, which can help prevent bacterial complications such as ear infections and bronchitis.
- Be a germ detective. Where are germs hiding in your bathroom? Faucet handles, toilet seats, flush handles on toilets and doorknobs should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
- Consider using paper towels for drying hands after going to the bathroom. A hand towel that everyone in the family uses is an easy way to spread germs, particularly if someone already has a cold or the flu.
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away…NOT! An apple and 4 or more fruits and vegetables, some protein, and a little fat can help you stay healthy any time of the year.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as blankets, pillows or clothing with someone who has the cold or the flu. Germs can live for a short time on them.
- Anti-viral medication can prevent the flu for some people or shorten the duration of illness for those who already have symptoms. It must be given within 48 hours of exposure or start of symptoms and a doctor must prescribe it. It may be beneficial for those who are at high risk of complications from the flu.
- Did you know that a person can pass the flu germ to other people starting a day before he or she becomes ill? And some people can have the flu but have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms and still spread the flu to other people? Maybe a shopping center isn't the best place to take your new baby.
- Get some fresh air daily. Your lungs will thank you for it. LINK>>>>>>>

Women's Health Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Women's Health Info

Gynecology

Alcohol Consumption and the Ovaries
Heavy and chronic drinking can lead to inadequate functioning of the ovaries, resulting in hormonal deficiencies, sexual dysfunction, infertility, menstrual irregularities, and early menopause.

Alternatives to Postmenopausal Hormones
All women can adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking, regular exercise, and good nutrition. In addition, other prescription drugs, such as statins or beta-blockers, are available to lower blood lipid levels or blood pressure levels. A healthy lifestyle can also help decrease a woman's risk of bone loss. In addition, health professionals also recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements as a means of preventing osteoporosis. Other drugs, such as raloxifene, tibolone, alendronate, and risedronate have been shown to prevent bone loss. These drugs increasingly are becoming the treatment of choice for osteoporosis in many postmenopausal women. The investigational drug PTH (parathyroid hormone) is another prevention approach being evaluated in clinical trials.

Counter PMS
Eat right to counter PMS symptoms.
Studies have shown that certain foods can help ease PMS symptoms. These include complex carbohydrates such as pasta, vegetables and whole grain breads and cereals. Avoid foods that contain caffeine -- cola, coffee and chocolate can all trigger PMS symptoms.

Device to Treat Fibroids Wins Approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a medical device to shrink non-cancerous uterine fibroid tumors, sparing women from painful surgery to remove them.

The device, meant for women who no longer intend to become pregnant, could also save many from having to have hysterectomies, where the entire uterus is removed.

Made from a material called Embosphere Microspheres, the product is used in less invasive surgeries that involve uterine artery embolization (UAE), designed to block blood flow to the tumors and shrink them.

In clinical trials sponsored by the maker of the device, Biosphere Medical Inc., 132 women with uterine fibroids were treated at seven hospitals throughout the United States. After six months, 65 percent of women implanted had a 50 percent or more reduction in bleeding attributed to the fibroids.

As a condition of approval, the company is required to follow study participants for at least three more years to gauge the long-term effects of the treatment, including whether the fibroids tend to return, the FDA says.

Easing Hot Flashes During Menopause
To help ease hot flashes during menopause:
Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing made of natural fibers.
Limit your intake of beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol.
Avoid eating rich and spicy foods.
Drink lots of cool drinks, especially water.
Avoid drinking hot beverages.

Easing the Emotional Ups and Downs of Menopause
To ease the emotional ups and downs of menopause:
Exercise regularly for energy and to relieve stress.
Seek out and talk with other women who have or are going through menopause.
Avoid stressful situations whenever possible. Incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily life. Meditation, yoga and massages can help ease the stress and emotional turmoil you're going through.
Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet and check with your doctor about taking vitamin supplements.

Easing Vaginal Dryness During Menopause
To ease vaginal dryness during menopause:
Avoid using deodorant soaps or scented products in the vaginal area.
Use water-soluble lubricants during intercourse.
Avoid using oils and petroleum-based products, these can lead to infection.

Hormone Therapy Doubles Dementia Risk
Combined hormone therapy for women doubles the risk of dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.
Combined hormone therapy also does not protect against mild cognitive impairment, a less severe loss of mental function, and it increases the risk of stroke.

Hormone Trial Halted Due to Cancer, Heart Risk
Researchers announced that they have halted one of the largest and best-designed studies of hormone replacement therapy because women taking the hormones after menopause had a greater risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots than those who did not take the drugs.
More than 6 million women in the US currently take estrogen/progestin combination therapy for a variety of reasons, including relief of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. The hope--and the hype--has been that such hormones would also confer a number of other advantages, including a reduced risk of heart disease. The study suggests that when women take the drugs for more than about 5 years, the risks of the hormones clearly outweigh the benefits.

Non-Prescription Remedies and Menopause
Many women find relief from short-term menopause-related changes with non-prescription remedies, such as estrogen-containing foods (soy products, whole-grain cereal, seeds, certain fruits and vegetables) and creams, certain herbs such as black cohosh, and vitamin E and vitamin B complexes. Researchers are studying the safety and efficacy of these therapies. Local non-hormonal therapy is available for vaginal dryness and urinary bladder conditions.

Pap Test Guidelines Revised
The American Cancer Society has revised its guidelines on Pap tests, recommending for the first time that women at low risk for cervical cancer don't need them.

The revisions are designed to spare women from unnecessary, invasive medical procedures.

The new guidelines say testing isn't needed for young women who are not sexually active; women 70 or older who have had normal Pap tests in the past; and women who have had hysterectomies for non-cancer-related reasons. They also recommend that sexually active women begin getting Pap tests within three years of the start of sexual activity, but no later than age 21.

The problem with Pap tests, according to the experts who wrote the new guidelines, is that they detect non-cancerous lesions, causing doctors to perform additional tests that needlessly worry patients, cost money and sometimes have harmful effects, such as reduced fertility.

Risk Factor for Gynecologic Cancers
A big risk factor associated with gynecologic cancers is not bearing children.

RU 486
After years of waiting, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally approved the abortion pill - aka mifepristone (or RU 486) and within the month, doctors may be able to prescribe the drug to women in their first seven weeks of pregnancy. But getting RU 486 won't be as easy as, say, getting your Rx for allergy pills filled. The FDA has ruled that each prescription must be accompanied by an RU 486 brochure. Also, physicians who prescribe it must be able to perform a surgical abortion or make prior arrangements with a doctor who can in case the mifepristone regimen fails, as it does in about 5% of cases. Treatment with the drug (sold as Mifeprex) involves three doctor visits. Here's the breakdown:

Step 1: The patient takes three mifepristone tablets, which block the action of progesterone, the hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy.

Step 2: Two days later, the patient takes another drug to start the uterine contractions that will expel the fertilized egg. (Pain, bleeding and discomfort are possible side effects.)

Step 3: The patient has a follow-up visit with her doctor two weeks later to confirm the abortion is complete.

STD and Cancer
Get out your condoms: Doctors have recently linked chlamydia, a very common STD, to an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. While human papillomavirus (HPV) has long been recognized as the leading cause of this cancer -- which currently strikes 13,000 women a year -- the role played by chlamydia was less clear. Chlamydia is the most prevalent bacterial STD, with 4 million to 8 million new cases diagnosed each year. Unlike HPV, it can be treated with antibiotics, but since the infection often produces no symptoms, many women carry the disease without knowing it. This finding gives doctors new reason to screen women for chlamydia as part of their annual gynecological checkups.

STD Complications
Some STDs can spread into the uterus (womb) and Fallopian tubes to cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which in turn is a major cause of both infertility and ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. The latter can be fatal.
STDs in women also may be associated with cervical cancer. One STD, human papillomavirus infection (HPV), causes genital warts and cervical and other genital cancers.
STDs can be passed from a mother to her baby before, during, or immediately after birth; some of these infections of the newborn can be cured easily, but others may cause a baby to be permanently disabled or even die.

Tampons and STD Diagnosis
STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) testing just got easier and a lot less embarrassing. South African researchers have begun using tampons to diagnose the sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis, which causes itching and vaginal discharge and can increase a woman's chances of having a premature or low birth weight baby. Some 1,000 women inserted an ordinary tampon for 15 minutes. The tampons were then stored in a saline solution and transported to a lab where they were tested. The tampon test was highly effective at not only detecting trich, but chlamydia and gonorrhea as well.

Gynecology

Pregnancy and Birth

Postpartum LINK>>>>>>>

Weight Gain Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:54:00 +0000

How to Gain Weight

Eat More Than You Burn

Pay close attention to how many calories you are ingesting and how many you burn. Use a pedometer to measure your daily activity and keep a food journal to measure your daily categories. Track any changes you make to your activity or your diet so you can measure the effectiveness of your weight gain program.Snack Away

Cheese, Peanut Butter, fruit, pretzels, oatmeal, a glass of milk - all this can be yours! Plan ahead and bring a snack with you for mid morning and mid afternoon. Chances are you can use the energy boost any of these snacks will provide and you will be getting closer and closer to achieving your weight gain goal! Once you have attained your goal weight, you don't have to eliminate snacks, just introduce celery or popcorn and you get your snack, without so many calories!

Frozen Shoulders

Visualize and Aim For Your Goal

Don't obsess over your BMI or your weight number. Focus on a weight at which you are comfortable and is within rough healthy guidelines. You and your doctor can assess the right weight range for your height and frame and once you have, visualize a more healthy you at that goal. Keep it in mind if you are struggling or just sick of your weight gain program. Make sure you surround yourself with supportive people and not those who will be insensitive to your unique health or self worth issues.

Be Consistent

Healthy weight gain is not a quick fix. You need to be patient and consistent. This doesn't mean you have to eat the same thing day in and day out. Be creative, invent new dishes, spice up old favorites and indulge yourself in some high calorie treats. There is nothing wrong with an ice cream prescription for what ails you!

Build Muscles

The most common way that men combat being a "skinny guy" is with weight training. Not only do you gain weight, but you get bigger muscles, more definition and you feel great. Stick to free weights and big muscle groups. Work hard and fast but don't over train. With an extra calorie boost and the energy that comes with it, you will bulk up in no time!

More Meals, More of the Time

Don't try to binge three times a day. Don't try to eat huge meals. Eat several small meals a day, of high calorie, nutrient rich foods. Even though this may increase your metabolism, but it will be an easy and slow weight gain, your ideal goal!

Vegetarians can Gain Weight Too

Just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you can't create a successful weight gain program. Vegetarians and Vegans often have trouble consuming sufficient calories and nutrients but you can gain weight in a healthy way and maintain that healthy weight. Look to lactose free weight gain supplements and try to integrate more foods like avocado, cheese, nuts, rice, pasta and legumes into your diet. Use olive oil and other natural fats in your cooking.

Be Creative

Like weight loss, a weight gain regimen can be tedious if you don't get creative. Introduce new recipes and ideas into your program. Go back to basics in your cooking - make some delicious home made fried chicken if you never have, or make some cheesy lasagna or baked macaroni and cheese. Also, vary your activity. Even if it means you need to eat more, you don't have to live a sedentary lifestyle!

Keep Track

Document your progress and your process. If you are under the care of a physician, they may want you to keep track anyway, but you need to get to know your body. You may be one of those lucky few who can keep all that caloric data and calorie burning in your head, but if you are like the rest of us, you should write it down! You can track which foods and what number of calories is the most effective for your slow and healthy weight gain. You can also write down which food gave you the most energy and which made you feel the best.

Be Healthy

When people think of how to gain weight, they imagine eating piles of pizza, cakes and cookies. Truthfully, you should maintain as healthy a diet as possible with full servings of fruits and vegetables, lean protein and carbohydrates. Some of these foods are not going to have the caloric kick to spark your weight gain, but your health is about achieving a balance - hence trying to gain and maintain a healthy weight in the first place. Be healthy - but don't be afraid to indulge.

Weight Gain Aids

If you are working out a lot and building muscle, or if you are suffering from a wasting disease, or even if you have a super fast metabolism, you just may not be able to eat enough to gain weight. This is when calorie supplements and weight gain supplements like weight gain shakes come in handy. They can give you the boost you need without the hassle of another big meal. Look out for weight gain pills though, they probably don't contain the caloric punch of a powder supplement that can be mixed in with other foods or liquids.

Plan Ahead

Plan your meals for the week ahead of time to ensure you have all of the necessary ingredients and healthy weight gain foods in the house. Don't be tempted to run to the corner store for a snickers bar, have some peanut butter on whole grain bread or an extra piece of your extra cheesy lasagna to support your weight gain program. Also stock up on a variety of ingredients for weight gain shakes and weight gain smoothies which can make a huge impact on the success of your weight gain program.

How to Gain Weight

Exercise and Weight Gain

Health Risks of Being Underweight

Weight Gain Diets

Weight Gain Supplements

Calorie Supplements LINK>>>>>>>>>

Vomiting Prevention Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Vomiting

Vomiting can be an exhausting and unpleasant experience, caused by a number of conditions. The term 'vomiting' refers to the forceful ejection of contents of stomach through the mouth. Popularly known as 'being sick' or throwing up', vomiting is a reflex action caused by stimulation of vomiting center in the brain stem.

Causes of Vomiting
1. Stomach irritation: Irritation of the lining of stomach is the commonest cause of vomiting.
A multitude of reasons may cause this:

Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Peritonitis
Appendicitis
Ulcers (Gastric and Duodenal)
Tonsillitis (especially in young children)
Excessive drinking
Excessive intake of contaminated food

2. Motion sickness
3. Head injury
4. Certain diseases like meningitis, fever, whopping cough, jaundice etc
5. Pregnancy (Morning sickness)
6. Deliberate vomiting (by putting finger in the mouth)

First Aid:

* Avoid solid foods as they will make you more sick and induce further vomiting.
* Take plenty of bland fluids - water, diluted milk or squashes but no aerated or alcoholic
drinks.
* Suck ice cubes if you find it impossible to keep fluids down.
* A teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda diluted in a teacup of water or milk can also be helpful.
* As the patient feels better, he can shift to semi solid diets like soups, custards, daliya etc.
* Work back to normal diet over three to four days. LINK>>>>>

Is Tea Harmful?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:51:00 +0000

Nobody knows exactly, where or when, the first cup of tea was brewed. According to folklore, Emperor "Shen Nung" who reigned over China in 2732 BC discovered the stimulating effect of tea accidentally when wild tea leaves fell into his pot of boiling drinking water.

Chinese have probably been drinking tea in some form or the other since the fourth century AD and considering that wild tea grew in many parts of Assam, it is not unknowingly that tea drinking in India too is as old as in China. The raw material for tea manufacture normally consists of two young leaves and an unopened leaf bud-the famous "two leaves and a bud" formula, but, plucking of longer shoots containing 3 or even 4 leaves is not uncommon. The freshly harvested tea shoots can be processed into the various kinds of tea, namely,black tea, green tea, oolong tea and instant tea. In the manufacture of black tea(the usual tea that we drink),the material undergoes "fermentation" while in the production of green tea, delicate and subtle in flavour,fermentation is purposely omitted.Oolong tea leaves get an intermediate treatment,considered to be "semi-fermented".Instant tea,like instant coffee,is a dehydrated product containing only the soluble constituents of tea.

There is hardly any drink that is not a food too, in terms of calories it provides-tea is no exception. A cup of tea, containing 2 tbsp of milk and a tsp of sugar, yields about 40 calories. Milk contains casein, which makes the tannin in the tea insoluble, thus removing some of its astringency(acidic effect).Apart from the milk and sugar generally added, the tea infusion contains marginal quantities of vitamins and minerals, but no significant quantities of extractable proteins, carbohydrates or fats.

Tea is fairly rich in most of the B group vitamins. Apart from these, it is also a good source of vitamin E and K and Beta-carotene (changes into vitamin A in our body).Tea contains traces of minerals like Copper, Flouride and Manganese too. Fluoride helps in avoiding cavities in the teeth.

The accumulating scientific data on tea and its constituents - the vitamins, caffeine and tannin- and on its antibacterial activity provides a new picture of this popular beverage. Over the past few decades, the list of physiological disorders for which tea is contra-indicated has been steadily decreasing. On the other hand, caffeine is sometimes prescribed therapeutically for the treatment of hypertensive headaches and tea is a legitimate means of supplying this medication. Tannin destroys bacteria and virus, thereby inhibiting the growth of dental plaque. But at the same time, tannin inhibits the absorption of iron, calcium and zinc from the food, when tea is consumed along with food.

Low Calorie Diet Tips

Hair Care Tips

Health Chart Guide

Exercise Tips

Body Fat Percent Tips LINK>>>>>>

Nail Care Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Nail Damage and Prevention:

1. The simplest way to avoid nail damage is to wear gloves.
2. If you can't wear gloves, you could at least use a long handled mop-this allows you to keep your hands off water and your nails will definitely benefit.

3. If you do get your hands wet, remember to rinse them well and dry them carefully after the work is done.
4. Then apply ample amounts of a moisturizing cream.
5. You must also take certain other precautions:
A. Use a pencil to operate the dial;
B.Use a tin-opener to open tins;
C.Use gardening gloves;
D.Avoid contact with strong chemicals;
E.Use moisturizers liberally.
6. Wear Polish-It works as a barrier for your nails and use acetone-free nail polish remover.
7. File in one direction only-Filing back and forth is bad because this frays and weakens the nails. File your nails in one direction only for the best results.
8. Keep your nails short.
9. Manicure after a bath. It is best to do your manicure after a bath because your nails are soft.

Pamper Yourself-Manicure & Pedicure:

Cosmetics to Disguise Nail Defects:
If your nails are deformed, the first thing to do is to visit your dermatologist-a number of nail problems are temporary and improve as the new nail appears and only a very few are permanent. The appearance of your nails can also be improved considerably by the use of cosmetics-for instance, ordinary nail enamel can camouflage a number of nail defects. A broken or split nail can be mended using what are called nail-mending fluids. To do this, a piece of thin tissue is placed over the crack or break in the nail. The nail mending fluid is then applied. When the product dries and sets, the nail can be painted with the nail enamel.

Common Nail Problems:

1. Brittle Nails:
Brittle nails and flaking of nails are very common due to excessive dryness of the nail plate. The nail plate is made up of dead keratin cells held together by a natural glue of fats and water. Any loss of fats and water causes the cells to separate and results in flaking and brittleness of the nails.
A.Many of our domestic chores remove the natural fats from the nails resulting in brittle nails, so do wear gloves.
B.Nail polish removers also have a dehydrating effect. If you have brittle nails avoid removing your nail polish too frequently. You can use a colorless polish or a base-coat or a top-coat, because then you can keep touching it up quite happily, without having to use the remover very frequently.
C.Regular massage around the nail-base with cream can have a good effect on brittle nails.
2. Hangnails: Hangnails are tears in the skin of the nailfolds and the cuticle. The cuticle and the nail folds have a tendency to stick to the nail plate as it grows forward; the stretched cuticle may eventually tear. Sometimes the skin of the nail folds also cracks, particularly if it is dry. Nervous nail biting habits, chewing nails, and picking the cuticle all encourage the development of hangnails.
A. To avoid such conditions, keep the cuticles soft by massaging in creams and regularly loosening it from the nail-plate.
B.Clip off existing hangnails.
C.Avoid pulling off slivers as this can be very painful and can even cause infection of the nailfolds.
3. In-Growing Toe-Nails: If the toenail is not cut properly, it penetrates into the nail-fold as it grows, causing redness, swelling and pain.
A. Donâ€™t cut them too short;
B.Don't ever cut down the side of the nail;
C.Always follow the shape of the toe;
D.Once the pain has started, try to push the nail-fold away from the sharp edge of the skin.
4. Fungal Infections of the Nail: When fungus infects the nails, they become thickened, broken and discoloured.Fungal infection can be easily treated- griseofulvin is given for milder infection and ketoconazole for more severe types-but let your doctor treat you.

Low Calorie Diet Tips

Hair Care Tips

Health Chart Guide

Exercise Tips

Body Fat Percent Tips LINK.....