Quit Smoking: 21 Shocking Smoking Facts, The Tobacco Companies Don't Want You To Know

Quit Smoking: 21 Shocking Smoking Facts, The Tobacco Companies Don't Want You To Know
 by: Ben Adams
Smoking is a global problem. It is estimated that one in three adults smoke, with over 1 billion people smoking worldwide. The majority of these smokers reside in countries on the low end to the middle of the socioeconomic spectrum. Of this majority, about 80% live in low and middle-income countries. The total number of smokers worldwide is expected to keep on increasing each year.
The worldwide popularity of tobacco use varies by social class, historical era, and culture. Historically, smoking had been a pastime of the rich. However, this trend has changed dramatically in recent decades. It appears that financially advantaged men in wealthier countries have been smoking less in recent times.
The World Health Organization has been studying smoking trends and statistical patterns across the globe and has uncovered the following statistics:
1) Eastern Europe has a particularly high rate of smoking, with up to 59% of adult males smoking. Also, significantly more women smoke in Eastern Europe than in East Asia and the Pacific Region.
2) Most people who smoke, begin smoking before they are 25 years old. Worldwide observations suggest that people are stating to smoke at a much younger age. World Health Organization studies reveal that the majority of smokers in affluent countries; begin in their teens.
Smoking In The US
How do Americans compare to the rest of the world when it comes to smoking? It may come as no surprise to hear that Americans are no better than anyone else. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics:
3) In the US, it is estimated that 25.6 million men (25.2%) and 22.6 million women (20.7%) are smokers. These smokers face a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Here are the latest estimates for smokers' aged 18 and above:
4) Studies reveal that smoking popularity is significantly higher among people with 9-11 years of education (35.4%) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6%).
5) There appears to be a correlation between a country's standard of living, level of education, and income and the number of people who have quit smoking. The more and better-informed people are, the more likely they are to quit smoking.
6) People living below the poverty level (33.3%) are much more likely to start smoking.
7) Among whites, 25.1% of men and 21.7% of women smoke.
8) Among black or African Americans, 27.6% of men and 18% of women smoke.
9) Among Asians, 21.3% of men and 6.9% of women smoke.
10) Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2% of men and 12.5% of women smoke.
11) Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 32% of men and 36.9% of women smoke.
12) A shocking…1 out of every 5 five deaths is caused by tobacco
13) It is estimated that Tobacco is responsible for 400,000 deaths in the US every single year.
14) Cigarettes are responsible for about 25% of deaths from residential fires, causing nearly 1,000 fire-related deaths and 3,300 injuries each year.
15) Tobacco is blamed for many serious cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases
16) Nicotine and tobacco are some of the most potent carcinogens and are responsible for the majority of all cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, esophagus and bronchus.
17) Smoking tobacco is known to produce cancer in the pancreas, kidney, bladder, and the cervix
18) Because tobacco reduces blood flow, nicotine addiction has been proven to cause impotency.
19) If you smoke, the risk of respiratory illnesses is high. This could lead to pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, which are responsible for some 85,000 every year.
20) Children and adolescents who are active smokers will have increasingly severe respiratory illness, as they grow older
21) Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and fetal growth retardation. It also causes about 5-6% of prenatal deaths, 17-26% of low-birth-weight births, and 7-10% of pre-term deliveries.
If you don't want to quit smoking after reading these shocking figures, you really need to get your head examined. You know in your heart, what's the right thing to do. Make a firm decision to quit today, and stick to it!

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Cosmetic Dentistry: Part 4

Cosmetic Dentistry: Part 4
 by: Samuel Murray
Crowns.
Many people who have discolored teeth opt to use a "crown" as a remedy. Just as the name applies, this is a prosthetic device that covers the tooth. Sometimes a tooth may have a large filling and there is very little tooth left to support the filling. This would be an effective treatment for that situation. They are often used in conjunction with the dental implants we discussed above. A crown makes your tooth stronger as well as prettier!
Bonding.
Bonding is a cosmetic treatment for teeth that involves placing tooth colored bonding material directly to the surface of the tooth using resin. First the tooth is prepared by slightly etching the enamel. This is done in order to give the bonding material "mechanical retention" allowing the bonding material to adhere to the tooth properly. Then the bonding material is applied, shaped and sculpted. A ultraviolet "laser" light is used to harden the resin material. When the process is complete the tooth is polished to a high shine.
Bonding is also used now for "fillings." In fact, it is favored over the old silver (amalgam) fillings because the bonding resin can be matched to the rest of your tooth color. The downside to bonding, is the expense. Bonding is more expensive to silver. The bonding material is also porous making it a poor choice for smokers as it will yellow.
This is considered a permanent procedure because of removing small amounts of the natural tooth enamel.
Enamel shaping.
This process is often done in conjunction with bonding. The enamel is sometimes removed or reshaped. Shaping allows the dentist to sculpt chipped, cracked or broken teeth using bonding material as discussed above. In both procedures the catalyst is usually done with a laser light which insures that the material is securely merged with the natural tooth material.

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Adaptogens for Life - The Science Behind the Discovery of Adaptogens

Adaptogens for Life - The Science Behind the Discovery of Adaptogens
 by: Mair Gauthier
Modern civilization has produced an unusually stressful environment to humans and animals,with extreme high demands on our physical and mental abilities. The last one hundred years have brought unique new challenges for all. It doesn't take much reflection upon the obvious and not so obvious sources of stressors today to realize the average person endures a lifetime of extraordinary physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual stress.
Unfortunately the continual assault of these daily modern stressors can have severe consequences on our health and well-being. Are you aware that 80% of all illness and disease today is stress related? That 25% of all prescriptions written are due to issues stemming from the root problem of stress. That one of the three top selling drugs in North America is a tranquilizer and 2/3 of all visits to family physicians also stem from stress. What can be done about it? The answer is, Prime One! Dr. Brekhman's signature daily adaptogenic herbal formula made with the seven most powerful Adaptogens known to man.
What are Adaptogens? Adaptogens are biologically active substances found in certain herbs and plants, which help the body and mind of humans and animals adapt to the change and stresses of life.
The world-renowned Russian research scientist, Dr. Israel I. Brekhman PhD, is hailed world-wide as the father of extensive Adaptogen research. He was a professor of medicine, and a physiological pharmacologist. The Soviet Union and The Russian National Parliament bestowed on the good doctor the Order of Lenin, The Lenin Medal for valiant work, as well as the coveted Certificate of Honour, these awards came to him for breaking the genetic codes of plants, uncovering the molecular structures of their phyto-chemicals and his lifetime work with Adaptogens.
He also held 40 patents, published 22 monographs, several hundred scientific articles, and wrote many books. Dr. Brekhman pioneered a vast "top-secret" scientific effort funded by the Russian government involving 1200 of their best scientists. Directed by Dr. Brekhman this scientific community applied scientific methodology to the study of plants. They explored plant biological codes and analyzed their molecular structures. Entire populations of towns, schools, hospitals and factories became his test subjects. In one case study, for example they analyzed an entire town and all its inhabitants including the animals for twelve long years. This lead to one of the most massive, sustained and successful programs of human and animal testing in recorded scientific history.
After 45-years of consistent research and thousands of clinical trials, the final patented formulation, Prime One was created and consists of seven adaptogenic herbal extracts. The primary herb is 'Eleutherococcus' also known as Siberian ginseng. This phenomenal herbal blend was subsequently found in clinical trials to have surprising synergistic qualities – so that the blend of these seven herbs together was significantly more effective than any of the single herbs taken alone.
Prime One contains rare trace minerals, co-enzymes, metabolites, anti-oxidants and vitamins. These phyto-nutrients address entire classes of body functions. They enhance human resistance to a broad variety of physical, emotional, metabolic and environmental stresses, and fill a nutritional void addressed by no other dietary element.
In 1962 Eleutherococcus, the prototype Adaptogen was declared an official herbal medicine by the USSR Minister of Health and was included in their National Drug Guide, the pharmacopoeia. Also, "Brekhman's formula was used on par with diabetes medications to help balance blood sugar levels". Morton Walker medical journal report Innovative Biologics, July 1994
Why are Adaptogens important to our health you might ask? Well, stressors such as: toxins, pollutants, oxidants, and chemicals in processed foods, radiation, depression and fatigue – are now thought to be the cause of DNA mutations that produce cancer. Adaptogens are the missing nutrients from nature that protect us from the chemical hormonal assault of such stressors. The frequency of cancer was 3.3 times lower in the animals taking the Adaptogens than in the control group of animals not given Adaptogens.
But the paramount question for each of us concerned about health is whether we can find a way to reduce, undo and buffer these damaging chemical effects of stress. That is precisely what Adaptogens are all about.
The soviet scientific community tested these particular plant extracts, on large groups of people under physical and mental stress. Russian cosmonauts, top athletes, aircraft pilots, military personnel, truck drivers, factory workers, were all given Adaptogens. They found dramatic improvements in performance, fewer errors, less illness, less accidents and calmer functioning.
The Russians spent more than 500 million dollars in Soviet government sponsored monies backing this massive secret research. Dr. Brekhman's, Prime One, is one of the most researched, scientifically sound nutritional food supplements in the natural products market place today bar none!
Initially, for political reasons, Adaptogens were kept a highly guarded secret from the rest of the world for some time. Perhaps only in the Soviet Union could such an undertaking have been considered. Only in a totalitarian state could this massive testing have ever been carried out. Certainly, it would never have found adequate funding or the amount of test subjects in Canada or the United States, as was done in Russia on such a massive scale.
Other countries such as Germany, Japan, and Sweden, independently conducted their own research and testing validating the research and results of Brekhman's work. The Medical Molecular Biology Institute of Heidelburg, Germany, published an important double blind study in the 1990's testing one of Brekhman's Adaptogens, Eleutherococcus Senticosus. This study employing flow-cytometry showed a powerful strengthening of the immune system. Those who received the plant extract during the clinical trials had their immune system markers reveal all T-lymphocyte subsets, including cancer killing cyto-toxic t-cells showed 40 to 80 % increase. Excerpt from a German Study done in 1990 on Eleutherococcus Senticosus as an Immunodulatory Agent
In 1984 a very important scientific paper by the renowned Soviet molecular biologist, Dr. Igor Totoroff, showed that these plant extracts (found in Brekhman's formula) had wide ranging effects in different organ systems and could suppress excess cortisol production during stress thus controlling the wide spread damage known to occur from excess cortisol production. These adaptogen extracts also showed increased energy production within human cells. In fact, leading scientific research centre's world-wide are currently conducting ongoing studies and clinical trials, revealing new and amazing benefits for the human body from the use of Brekhman's formula.
One can't help noticing in various medical journals and health publications these days where scientists and leading health professionals are reporting that a human body is as young and as healthy as its immune system allows. In light of these health facts, Prime One is the much-needed answer for our health and well-being.
Dr. Brekhman's research was a key factor in the success of the Soviet Space Program. His formulas restored the natural balance of the cosmonauts' bodies and protected them against the stress that is inherent in space flight, such as motion, vertigo, weightlessness and inactivity. Brekhman's Adaptogen formulas became known as the Soviet "Right Stuff".
These Adaptogens were exclusively used by the top Russian Sports figures that dominated in the sports sector, world-wide for decades. Not the least of Brekhman's accomplishments was achieving sports success for world-class Russian athletes, as well, other athletes from Eastern Bloc countries. Soviet Olympic and elite athletes have routinely for decades included Brekhman's adaptogenic formulas in their training programs to give them a well-documented optimal edge in competition.
More recently, Dr. Brekhman's formula was administered to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster with success and great benefit, so significantly that Dr. Vladimir G. Sprigin, PhD., Principal Scientific Fellow at the Russian Academy of Sciences, wrote a letter to AMS Health Sciences, right after the terrible tragedy on Sept 11, 2001, stating; "Because of ongoing events I would like to tell you that you have in your hands the miracle remedy for the people that passed through such physical and emotional stress"; I remember how effective Eleutherococcus (the main Adaptogen) was for this purpose after Chernobyl Catastrophe and you have the preparation that is at least 6 times more powerful".
Vladimir G. Sprigin PhD.,
Russian Academy of Sciences
Shortly after the 911 tragedies, world wide associates donated $200,000 worth of Prime One and Prime One Concentrate to the New York Firefighters, and ERT Ground Zero Rescue workers and their working animals. The fire fighters and ERT workers reported that, "Prime One helped them cope with the stressors at hand, giving them the advantage of working more than normal hours with less exhaustion despite the unfamiliar stressful circumstances".
Phil Cappadora, Firefighter, NY City
Kevin Gallagher, President,
Firefighter's Union, New York City
Best selling author Pete Bilac wrote a book about Dr. Brekhman and Adaptogens titled "Managing Stress through the Miracle of Adaptogens. Pete credits Brekhman's Prime One formula for saving his sons life. Pete's many books are currently available in any of the Chapter's bookstores.
One of the world's leading Biochemists, Dr. Stephen Fulder PhD states in one of his many articles on Adaptogens, "The soviets almost universally used Adaptogens to reduce convalescence, to return patients to health more quickly after heart attacks and other illnesses. It became standard treatment for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer. Perhaps Adaptogens had their most widespread impact in the area of Russian sports and the Brekhman formulas were routinely used on par with diabetes medications".
Dr. Steven Fulder PhD., Oxford, England
International Authority on health and wellness
Research has convincingly shown that Adaptogens are a powerful protection against radiation. They increase non-specific resistance to stress. Inhibits free-radical oxidation, accelerates rehabilitative processes, protects vital organs from stress, and has potent anti-viral properties, and has been found to be very effective in helping normalize blood sugar levels. It has been proven that the chemical hormonal assault on the body from stress lowers the immune system responses. The effects from stress upon the immune system are dramatic, immediate and well documented.
The good news is that Prime One, Dr. Brekhman's signature Adaptogen formula is now available world wide through The Adaptogens for Life Group. Prime One is sold through Network marketing as per Dr. Brekhman's request. It was his wish for all the peoples of the world, to hear by word of mouth of his work and have access to his formulas.
"It has always been my dream to create a special formula to prepare people for life and to protect them from stress."
Dr Israel I. Brekhman 1921 - 1994
Dr. Israel I. Brekhman remains a visionary whose dream to enhance human health and to prevent disease talks to a new generation today.

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Fat Burners: Why You Are Being Ripped-Off

Fat Burners: Why You Are Being Ripped-Off
 by: Johnny Lavot
Fat burners have become very popular in today's society, especially in America. It seems that everyone is looking for a "quick fix" to their problem...and that is why they turn to those "awesome" fat burners where you can just pop a pill and "lose 30 pounds in 10 days!"
However, do these fat burners actually work? Do they actually provide any benefits? Do the $40-$100 price tags justify any benefits that they may have? Here we will investigate some of the claims that they make such as
-increased thermogenesis
-decreased appetite
-fat loss without exercising
-increased energy
However, before I go into any more detail about fat burners, you must understand two important concepts:
Total Daily Energy Expenditure and The Law of Thermodynamics
(don't worry -they're quite simple).
Everyone has a set number known as "Total Daily Energy Expenditure" or TDEE for short. Your TDEE is how many calories your body uses per day to keep itself going. Pretty much everyone's TDEE is different, and it changes everyday depending upon how much work your body does that day or if you gained more muscle mass, etc... This number can be affected by such things as how much muscle mass you have, genetics, what you do during the day, etc.
You can get a rough estimate of you TDEE at http://www.weight-loss-resources.com/calculators/dailycalories.html
Once you understand TDEE, there is another simple concept to understand. This concept is known as The First Law of Thermodynamics (don't worry - our application of it is simple). This law states:
1. If you eat less calories than your TDEE, you lose weight (this weight can be muscle or fat or a number of other things, but that's for another article)
2. If you eat more calories than your TDEE, you gain weight (once again, this can really be anything)
3. If you eat the same amount of calories as your TDEE, your weight stays the same
So, in order to lose fat, you must create some sort of calorie deficit between your TDEE and the number of calories you eat. However, the deficit cannot be too large - otherwise your body will go into starvation mode. For more information on this topic you can check out www.burn-the-fat-feed-the-muscle.com.
The Fat Loss Claims of Fat Burners:
--Increased Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis is essentially a fancy word for TDEE. Saying that a product will increase thermogenesis is like saying it will increase your TDEE - which would mean that you burn more calories per day. Many of the products in these fat burner's will increase your rate of calorie expenditure, but not by very much - the results are minimal.
Here's an example: A while back I saw an ad touting that their "green tea extract" increased thermogenesis by 4%. Sounds spiffy, eh? Now, let's take a somewhat normal number for TDEE - 2000 calories/day. 4% of 2000 would be 80 calories per day. If a pound of fat is 3500 calories, this means that you could get rid of an extra pound of fat about every 44 days by taking this supplement!
This small deficit could be easily accomplished many other ways though. For instance, you could eat 10 less wheat thins for a day, replace soft drinks with water, or not add mayonnaise to your sandwich at lunch.
Decreased Appetite
When trying to diet (actually, just achieve a calorie deficit), many times people complain that their appetite is holding them back - therefore companies that produce fat burners like to claim that their product "reduces appetite".
It's true, many ingredients in products may reduce your appetite. But do you really need these special herbs or ingredients to do that?
In my opinion, nature provides everything. Here are some strategies:
1. Drink water. If you get some sort of craving for something, just drink some water. This will help to decrease your appetite by filling up your stomach, it's natural, and you need water to function properly anyway.
2. Eat fiber. You can either eat foods with fiber in them, like vegetables, or you can just buy some of that powdered fiber at the store (it actually doesn't taste that bad), and take some with your meals. Fiber cannot be digested, so it will decrease the actual capacity for your stomach to hold food. Plus fiber pushes food through your digestive tract faster than normal. This can cause roughly 15%-20% of the food you eat to not be digested - resulting in a smaller amount of calories that your body actually digests. Fiber also provides too many other benefits to list here.
3. Eat foods that are low in calories, but high in satiety. These are foods that have a low amount of calories per amount of food that you eat. For instance, a stomach full of jello contains less calories than a stomach full of peanut butter.
Fat Loss Without Exercise
It's possible to lose some fat without exercising. However, when you do this, you're setting yourself up for failure in the long run. Muscle is an integral part of permanent fat loss. When you cut calories without lifting weights or exercising, part of the weight you lose will be muscle as well as fat. When you add weight lifting/exercise to your routine, you essentially signal your body to keep your muscle. For more information on this topic of "weight loss and weight lifting", check out our free 7-day fat loss e-course. The second lesson involves the effects of weight lifting on fat. So, in essence, you can lose weight without exercising - but it's kind of a waste of time.
Increased Energy & Focus
Many fat burner's contain ingredients like caffeine or vinpocetine, which they claim to help increase your energy and focus. In many cases, some (a rare few might I add) of these compounds can and have been proven to do this - but (this is from personal experience) mostly by a minimal amount. Probably the best way to gain focus and energy is the way nature intended - through exercise. Ever gotten that endorphin high after a great workout? You'll be surprised at how "high" you get and at how clearly you can think.
Fat Loss & Water Loss
Due to some of the ingredients in fat burners, they can make you lose weight - but not necessarily the correct type of weight. Some ingredients such as caffeine can be classified as mild diuretics. This can be deceiving, as the weight that you may have lost from the "fat" burning supplement may not be fat at all, it may just be water.
So, all in all, fat burning supplements do provide some benefits - that is, if the ingredients actually DO support their claims. However, many times, even though they do provide benefits, the benefits are many times small compared to what can be accomplished through intelligent dieting and exercising. It is up to the buyer whether the price tags justify the benefits that these supplements may provide.

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New Advances In Early Breast Cancer Detection

New Advances In Early Breast Cancer Detection
 by: Brenda Witt
In November 2003, the American Cancer Society stated that breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 44. In the United States, there are approximately 200,000 new cases of breast cancer and more than 40,000 deaths; making the U.S. one of the countries with the highest death rate due to breast cancer. Perhaps the most alarming statistic is 1: 8 women will eventually develop breast cancer over their lifetime.
One of the most powerful steps a woman can take to reduce her risk for developing breast cancer is to educate herself about the petrochemicals, or xenoestrogens that are in her environment and work to eliminate or reduce them. Petrochemicals are "hormone disruptors" and it is through the unbalancing of your hormone system that can lead to problems. These xenoestrogens are found in cosmetics, lotions and fingernail polish and polish remover. They are obviously found in pesticides and insecticides. What you may not be aware of is that petrochemicals are found in plastics. If food is placed in a plastic container and reheated in the microwave, the plastic melts into your food and you ingest it. The harder the plastic, the more resistant it is to this process but the potential for accidental xenoestrogen ingestion is still present. Simply put, do not reheat food in plastic containers in the microwave.
Conventional screening methods all examine structure. For example, mammography uses X-ray to examine breast tissue. Any structure that has grown large enough to be seen by X-ray could be detected by mammography. However, mammography can have a high false positive rate. In fact, only 1 in 6 biopsies are found to be positive for cancer when found by mammography or clinical breast exam. This leads to increased psychological stress, physical trauma and financial concerns.
Other risks of mammography include the radiation exposure, although this has been debated by doctors for many years. Recently published in Radiation Research, 2004 the author suggests that the risks associated with mammography screening may be FIVE times higher than previously assumed and the risk-benefit relationship of mammography needs to be re-examined.
There exists a technology that can detect a breast issue YEARS before a tumor can be seen on X-ray or palpated during an exam. This technology has been approved by the FDA as an adjunctive screening tool since 1982 and offers NO RADIATION, NO COMPRESSION AND NO PAIN. For women who are refusing to have a mammogram or those who want clinical correlation for an existing problem, digital infrared thermal imaging may be of interest.
Thermal cameras detect heat emitted from the body and display it as a picture on a computer monitor. These images are unique to the person and remain stable over time. It is because of these characteristics that thermal imaging is a valuable and effective screening tool.
Breast thermography has undergone extensive research since the 1950s. There are over 800 peer-reviewed studies on breast thermography with more than 300,000 women included in large clinical trials. An abnormal thermogram is 10 times more significant as a future risk indicator for breast cancer than a first order family history of the disease. A persistently abnormal thermogram carries a 22-fold higher risk of future breast cancer.
Medical doctors who interpret the breast scans are board certified and endure an additional two years of training to qualify as a thermologist. Thermography is not limited by breast density and is ideal for women who have had cosmetic or reconstructive surgery. It is recommended that since cancer typically has a 15 year life span from onset to death, that women begin thermographic screenings at age 25.
Thermographic screening is not covered by most insurance companies but is surprisingly affordable for most people. For more information or to find a certified clinic in your area, go to www.proactivehealthonline.com.

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My First Thermographic Experience

My First Thermographic Experience
 by: Brenda Witt
I had been a bit nervous all day wondering what my thermogram procedure would entail. Would I need to undress completely? Would I be given one of those paper gowns that opens in the front and barely covers me? Would there be any heat coming out of the camera? I had been avoiding a mammogram after reading the latest information about the risks associated with X-ray; knowing that I was potentially putting myself at greater risk by not taking charge of my health. It was my massage therapist who told me about thermography as an adjunctive tool for breast cancer screening and now I find myself lost in my thoughts as I am driving to my thermographic appointment.
As I entered the lobby, I noticed that the temperature was cool and refreshing. The paintings on the wall were bright and cheerful with many colors that caught my eye. I felt at ease right away.
I was quickly greeted by the thermographer. She guided me to her office and there I felt all the tension melt away. She showed me around the office explaining the need for a cool temperature and allowing me to browse her collection of literature, leaflets, handouts and brochures. It smelled like my grandmother's garden in the spring. Just a hint of orange blossom, honeysuckle, green apple all mixed with a light touch of rain forest greeted my nose. The plants were lush and healthy and soft music was playing in the background. The lights were dim and I could almost imagine myself back in grandma's Arizona room.
The thermographer asked if I had any questions and of course I said no, trying to show her that I was calm, relaxed and not a bit nervous. She smiled knowingly and asked me to please step behind the room divider and change into a robe she set out for me. The robes were soft cotton and tied in the front. She then asked that I fill out the paperwork. She explained that I would need to do my best to keep my arms away from the side of my body so I could cool down and she could get a more accurate image. Lynda then read over my information and asked me questions about my health in general and specifically breast health. All the while, I was grateful for the full coverage of the cool, cotton robe and remembered to keep my arms away from my body.
Next, I moved to the scanning area where I was shown the six different positions required for the scan. She then asked me to sit on the stool and turn my back to her. At this point, she asked me to drop my gown. I was told to keep my hands on my waist while she took my thermal picture. I learned that it usually takes 12-15 minutes for the temperature of my skin to come to equilibrium with the temperature of the room. Once my temperature stabilized, the scanning began. During the scan, she asked that I raise my hands above my head and remain still; allowing me to rest my hands back on my waist between the different poses. The camera did not emit any heat and never touched my body. The total scan time was about 5 minutes.
Once we were done, I changed back into my clothes and thanked Lynda for a soothing and comforting experience. Before I left the office, I picked up a few of the breast health brochures to share with my family, friends and colleagues.
Thermographic screening is not covered by most insurance companies but is surprisingly affordable for most people. For more information or to find a certified clinic in your area, go to www.proactivehealthonline.com.

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