What You Should Know About Mixing Medications and Diet

"...Medicine is dominated by a conservative inertia in which, for what they conceive of as medical-legal safety, 95% of the entire pack moves forward slowly, and together, to incorporate advances in science...." The Doctors' Medical Library 2004 Ron Kennedy, M.D., Santa Rosa, California.
I had a call the other day from a potential client in a serious situation. He was young and had been diagnosed with CAD (Coronary Artery Disease), suffering from extremely high blood pressure and cholesterol, his doctor had put him on a medication that was suppose to lower and control these symptoms, and he had been on this medication for over 2 years.
During this time, this 24 year old man had developed a blockage in his hand that had become inflamed and eventually ruptured, causing the possibility of amputation. The situation was brought under control using anti-inflammatory means, but he remained on his cholesterol medication without adjustment even after this incident.
About 6 months later, this young man was suffering from another blockage, but this time, it was in a critical area that couldn't be treated without specialization and the local doctors did not have the experience to treat him. These doctors told him that there was no one in the four state area that could serve him, he was desperate and afraid, and turned to me for help.
When he first called, I asked him some questions to help me understand his situation. How old are you?(25) Do you suffer from high blood pressure or high cholesterol? (yes) Does your family have a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes or insulin resistance? (yes) Does your family have a history of bowel problems, colon cancer or colon polyps? (yes, my twin brother) What is your Ethnic origin? (English) Are you physically active? (yes, when I can be) Has your doctor put you on any medications? (yes, and he named it) At the time that you were put on this medication, did your doctor recommend a glycemic, low fat, low sodium diet? (no)
What kinds of foods have you been eating while on this medication? (regular foods, meats, vegetables, potatoes, you know, stuff in restaurants and stuff that is easy to fix at home) With the condition that you currently have, do you suffer from loss of vision or do you have blurred vision? (yes) Are you suffering from migrain headaches? (yes, contantly) Are you sufffering from the loss of motor skills, do you have difficulty walking, chewing, swallowing, lifting, pushing or pulling? (yes) Are these symptoms constant, or do they come and go? (constant) Is this blockage behind your right eye? (yes) What has your doctor recommended? (they have recommended that I be treated elsewhere, because they do not have a specialist here) Have they recommended a place you should go or a specialist that you should see? (no, they haven't told me what kind of doctor I should see) My recommendations were for him to seek help immediately, within the next week.
I suggested that his doctors give him a letter of recommendation to see a Cerebral Neuro-Vascular Surgeon. He and his friends got on the Internet and found a specialist that could fit him in in the next few days in Texas. My fear was that the situation had gone on to long, and that he was in imminent danger. I told him that when he returned from his surgery, that he should call to make an appointment with me so that we could get his blood pressure and cholesterol under control, so this would not happen again. He asked me why this had happened in the first place, he had taken his medications like they had been prescribed. I explained that when medications are used in the body, they have to not only act, but they are also acted upon.
When you use medications designed to reduce something in the body, you shouldn't add things that would cause the medications to have to compete or work harder to accomplish the goal.
A cholesterol medication that controls the fat in your blood, and then to eat fat, or things that create fat...A diabetic medication to control blood sugar, and then to eat sugar or carbs that convert to sugars...A medication used in the treatment of gout, then to eat things that are high in acid or create acid...These kinds of things can make the medications ineffective, and a waste of time and money. he said that he had been on this medication for two years, and that the cholesterol numbers had never been affected by the medication. I told him that there is a way to lower his cholesterol effectively, using a restrictive diet, exercise, and a few supplements along with his prescription, and that as soon as he returned with relative health, we would start him on his program.
For most people, when they become ill, they go to their doctors in search of a quick fix, a pill or a shot that will make things better instantly, that doesn't require any effort or discomfort on their part. The sad truth of the matter is that "possession' requires "responibility", and "responsibility requires "action".

Get Fit By Getting Fat

Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose fat, build muscle, and recover faster from your workouts. In addition, it has myriad health benefits, including being good for your heart.
Good fats include: polyunsaturated (especially Omega-3's), such as those from fish and nuts, as well as monosaturated fats, such as those from peanut butter, olive oil, egg yolks, and fish oil.
Bad fats include saturated fats from things such as animal and coconut fats. Then there is the worst kind of fat the man made kind, trans fatty acids which can be found in our typical, of no redeeming value, junk foods such cookies, chips, fries and margarine.
Limit, if not stay completely away from, the bad fats and try to get about 30 - 35% of your calories from the good fats.
"Studies show that higher-fat diets make more sense for fit people than low-fat diets," says Liz Applegate, Ph.D., author of Encyclopedia of Sports & Fitness Nutrition. "In one study, endurance athletes ran up to 24 percent longer before they fatigued when they ate a diet that was above 30 percent fat compared to one that was below 20 percent," she says.
More importantly to most readers of this newsletter, researchers are now beginning to realize the fact that a nutrition plan high in the good fats helps the body to burn fat. Omega-3 fatty acids increase the size of your cells' fuel-burning furnaces so your metabolic rate rises and you burn more calories every minute of every day.
Omega-3's also help your body's sensitivity to insulin. This helps your body store less fat. In addition, the fat you do store is more readily and easily converted into energy and burned during activity.
This keeps your blood sugar levels stable and keeps you away from those famed sugar crashes and cravings and irritable mood swings.
Another important exercise effect is that Omega-3's also help your body produce testosterone, the hormone responsible for building new muscle. The late Dan Duchaine has called the essential fatty acids the most anabolic legal food supplement one can take to build muscle.
Of course, more muscle equals more calorie burning equals less body fat.
Fat can also help you recover from your workouts. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble and are very important antioxidants in the muscle-building, bone-repairing category.
As I mentioned above, fat also helps your heart. Omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats help lower bad LDL cholesterol and help prevent blood clots, making your heart able to do it's job with less stress.
On a personal note, I suggested my favorite essential fatty acid supplements to a friend of mine recently who has always suffered from high cholesterol, despite working out five plus times a week and eating a very healthy diet.
I'm going to quote the email she sent to me. I love getting stuff like this.
"I was at a demo this morning, from 10-2, and it was at a gym that was having a members appreciation day, so they had other tables set up.
This guy who had a table next to mine was doing blood pressure tests and cholesterol tests.
When it slowed down and bit he asked me if I wanted my cholesterol done. I told him it would probably be pretty high, it's been over 230 for the last few years.
I told him about the marine oil supplements I was taking and told him I have been taking them only about 7 weeks or so, and he told me he'd check my cholesterol, to see if the supplements are bringing it down any.
I got a reading of 150!!!
He thought maybe he did it wrong, so he did it AGAIN, on my other hand, (pin prick and blood taken) and it read 150 AGAIN!! Exactly!
He got all excited and asked me for the n3inc website!
I told him I have not changed my diet OR exercise -- the only thing I am doing different is taking ResQ 1250 and ResQ LDL-X.
I hear testimonials like this time and time again from people who take high quality EFA supplements. Making sure you get a proper supply of the good fats will go a long way toward a healthy life and the fit, toned sexy body that you want.

The Truth About Smokers "Pleasure Paradox"

Smokers love excuses. Nothing makes them happier than, 'I can't quit because…'. They really believe their own excuses.
But all these excuses are cop-outs. There's no reason to smoke. Smoking doesn't have any redeeming benefits. It's 100% harmful, poison.
But many smokers don't want to hear that. In fact, they already know it's poison. They just haven't yet discovered how to quit. Reading the truth, in a non-aggressive, non- threatening way, helps to get started on the quit smoking path.
So the excuse, 'I enjoy them', 'they give me pleasure', needs to be looked at carefully. Do they really enjoy them, or are they making a 'Can't quit' excuse.
In reality, the pleasure comes from the experiences associated with smoking. It doesn't come from smoking itself.
In fact, smoking becomes the 'avoidance of displeasure', rather than the 'gaining of pleasure'. Smoking brings temporary relief to the withdrawal symptoms that smoking caused in the first place.
Have you always smoked ? Or do you remember back to a time you felt peace and confidence, before this addiction took hold of you ? Any pleasure comes from temporary relief of withdrawal symptoms. That's the sad truth.
Where's the pleasure in loss of taste ? A build up of tar and other chemicals causes a gradual loss of taste. Smokers sometimes don't notice since it happens over years.
Then they can't taste expensive restaurant meals, and think multiple cigarettes before, during and after the meal provides the answer. Sound familiar ?
In fact, good company and conversation provide the pleasure, which a smoker mistakenly associates with his cigarette.
What else causes us to associate pleasure with cigarettes ?
Unfortunately, over many years, cigarettes have featured prominently in movies. Famous, beautiful people seem to love their cigarettes.
Have you noticed how most romantic movie moments used to involve two people lighting up cigarettes together ? Luckily that's less common in modern times, but who can forget Bogie and others in the classic old films.
Cigarettes still get advertised around the world, associated with something pleasurable. Once again, romance, freedom, open countryside, tranquillity.
This psychological conditioning prevents thousands of people quitting. The myth of 'pleasure' is stronger than the reality of physical nicotine dependency.
Ever heard a smoker say they can't wait for their children or grandchildren to get started smoking ? Of course not ! They know it's harmful, and usually openly admit they'd like to quit. They even agree with policies that restrict smoking in public places !
They admit they found the taste awful at first. But persevered so they could seek the pleasure they hoped to emulate. Nature makes poisons foul-tasting for good reason - a warning not to use that substance.
Smoking actually removes pleasures previously taken for granted.
We've already covered taste. How about fitness ? How about the ability to run more than a few yards without gasping for breath ? How about your non-smoking friends and family, who must breathe passive smoke, and find their clothes foul smelling in the morning ?
So the biggest pleasure in quitting smoking actually comes from regaining past pleasures ! Unless you're a lifelong smoker, you've forgotten the simple pleasures lost.
But here's some good news. Those pleasures can come back. When you quit, your senses eventually return to normal.
Once again, you can taste and enjoy food. Taste starts to return after only a few days. Over time, your fitness will improve. Your habits will change as your non-smoking personality starts to emerge e.g. no cigarette between meal courses.
The pleasure of non-smoking far outweighs any imaginary pleasure from smoking. Regaining life's simple pleasures is a worthwhile goal, and good reason to quit smoking right now.

"How To Get Fit And Slash Your Health Insurance Costs"

Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of this article. I want you to get so healthy, you'll never need to make a health insurance claim. You'll save money by increased fitness. You'll save money with a long no-claims insurance history. And you'll look and feel much better.
There's three sides to your maximum health and fitness. Diet, and Exercise. But that's only two ! Let me split Exercise into Aerobic exercise and Aneorobic exercise.
Get all three right. Get the right balance. And you'll get as fit and healthy as your body and genetics will allow.
Whole forests of paper have been filled with advice on each of these fitness factors. Just go into your local bookstore, and see shelves of diet advice. Shelves of exercise advice.
Funny how so much contradicts itself, especially for diet e.g right next to each other on the shelf, you'll find a book advocating low carbs & low fat; another saying high fat is okay if you keep the carbs low. Yet another focuses on high protein, and says carbs don't matter...
* Diet
Let me give you this simple diet advice. Stick to low fat, low carbs and high protein. Many medical and weight loss studies over the last 10-20 years prove this approach. Many other diet myths come from way back in time, and look just plain wrong when analyzed with modern methods.
* Aerobic Exercise
Couch potatoes don't realize how easily they can start feeling fit and healthy. Just walk somewhere 3-4 times per week, for around 20 minutes each time.
Ideally, do some more demanding aerobic exercise. I do a lot of cycling, because it's great low-impact exercise. And I get to see beautiful scenery while I ride.
Running provides even more intensive aerobic exercise, but careful of your joints. Maybe you prefer hiking, to see the local countryside ? Or take up a sport like rowing or tennis. You also get to meet new friends by taking up exercise as a sport.
* Anaerobic Exercise
Many people work on their diet. Many people take aerobic exercise. But many people ignore anaerobic exercise, or weight training.
What makes weight training so important ?
As you get older, muscle mass decreases. Muscle burns fat. So as you lose muscle, it gets harder to keep the fat off. Equally important, weight training can reshape your body.
No matter how much aerobic exercise you do, you'll still be a pear shape (a smaller pear shape) if you started out a pear shape.
Using weights you can flatten your stomach, tone your thighs, bulk up your chest and shoulders, and reshape your body any way you want.
Weight training is incredibly beneficial to your general skeleton strength and conditioning. Older women can reduce the effects of osteoporosis, and older men can maintain their strength and agility.
This short article can do nothing more than provide an introduction to the three keys to your health. Follow these and you shouldn't need to make a health insurance claim.
Slash your health insurance costs with a long no-claims bonus. Slash your health insurance costs with any insurer who rates your fitness.

Tips for Staying Young Eternally

What is something that goes up but never comes down? Your age!
Aging is something that humans would love to conquer. Everyone seems to be obsessed in staying young. Of course, nobody wants to be the senile old man who depends for other person for everything. Nobody would want their bones to become denser, their skin loose and wrinkled, their knees buckling every time they stand up, their sights becoming blurred or worse becoming blind. Nobody would want to have those persistent backaches or have a losing combat with Alzheimer's disease. Aging does not mean that you have to be frail, weak, bitter and depressed.
While some of the many evils of aging requires doctors' attention. Relaxing and maintaining a positive outlook in life is effective in combating aging. Stress will help you age. Unhealthy habits and laziness will help you age. Vices will not do any good for you.
Here are some tips to help you win the war on aging and getting there gracefully.
1. There is a big difference between growing old and growing up. Anybody can grow older even if he is doing nothing. The best idea is to grow up and find the opportunity to change for the better.
2. You have to have a goal or a dream. So many people are like walking zombies. They do not know where to go.
3. Have no regrets.
4. Laugh and find humor everyday. An aging person with a young, positive attitude will never feel old. "To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent that is to triumph over old age. "- Amos Bronson Alcott
5. Be adaptive and learn to accept change. Willingness to grow personally is a hallmark of one with a young outlook.
6. Remember that you are as young as you feel. "When it comes to staying young, a mind-lift beats a face-lift any day."-Marty Bucella
7. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive, do not put out a mailbox on the highway of death and just wait in residence for your mail.
8. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all that you can afford. When they are in college, that is all that you can afford. When you are on retirement, >that is all that you can afford!
9. Surround yourself with what you love. Make your home your refuge.

Health and Medical Advice on the Internet: Use It Wisely

Health and medical advice on the Internet: Use it wisely to overcome illness and find more happiness in your life.
I've got a bit of a problem with depression and anxiety. I've been tackling these problems for several years without the use of modern medicine. Tai Chi, meditation, martial arts (exercise), and positive interaction with other people seem to keep a lid on my illnesses most of the time. I don't like the idea of medication's side effects, and I don't believe the answers in life are often found in the easy path (E.G. taking a pill), but rather on the hard path of effort and determination. This is not to say that I don't feel medicine is not effective, not at all, I just feel all the options should be looked at before making big decisions to do with one's health.
Health of body and mind has always been one of the most important issues in life for us humans. Seeing a doctor is usually the best option when one comes down with an illness or ailment, but people have always tried alternative routes to recovery: E. G. the 'home doctor' books of old. Maybe you don't like sitting in a room waiting with a bunch of other sick people-you might catch something there! You could be housebound, or maybe you feel like hearing several opinions as you've found past experiences with some doctors have been tainted by poor judgments. Well, the Internet is here with a multitude of options to help you get better.
Medical advice and data abounds on this household tool in the form of self-help sites, searchable medical encyclopedias, support groups, live chats with doctors, and you can even have professional consultations on-line (for a fee). My advice is to just be wary of the type of language that the site is expressing. Many sites will have extensive lists telling you of all the symptoms in the Universe: everybody on Earth could be construed as being ill in some way! This can cause people with a propensity for hypochondria to start diagnosing themselves with all sorts of diseases. In my case, reading about all the symptoms of depression actually made me feel more depressed as it made me focus on my weaknesses (without too many optimistic perspectives or treatments expressed on some sites).
Look for sites that look at things in a positive light. Maybe search out some alternative therapies as well so you can get all the possible different approaches that can be taken to tackle your illness. Some websites can be very helpful with interactive features like 'Ask the doctor", on-line questionnaires, and question and answer archives that give you an idea of what others have asked and the solutions they were presented with. There is heaps of information on both prescription and over-the counter medicines so you can make your choices in an informed manner. You can often find information specific to groups, like children, the elderly, men and women.
Just remember your body is your temple and you must be wary of many variables not often foretold in literature. Beware of medicines from other countries as they may be different or have different names. Keep in mind only you know your personal history, all people are different, and always get several opinions. Watch out for sites with grandiose claims as miracles come from higher powers and not from companies who might just want to get rich quick!
I do acknowledge the fitness and diet sites as being very useful as well. You can devise your own fitness plan derived from lifestyle information, and forums and newsgroups give you many opinions on which road to take. You can have your diet analyzed by on-line trainers, some of which send free newsletters and even send you emails of encouragement to help you towards your goal.
So, there's a whole new world of on-line health advice and information for humanity to access right from home. Get all your options and remember your attitude is often the first real step to overcoming physical, mental, and spiritual adversity!

How to Overcome the Overwhelm of the Holiday Season (And Reduce Holiday Stress)

The Holiday Season can be a wonderful time of year, filled with lovely decorations, gift exchanges, visits with friends and family and delicious meals. But for many of us, the Holiday Season can also be quite overwhelming with all the added activities such as decorating our homes, selecting, buying, wrapping and exchanging gifts and hosting friends and family while we prepare multi-course elaborate meals! The question is, "What can we do to Overcome Overwhelm during the Holidays?"
1. Simplify Your Life
Holidays that are full of complexity are neither fun nor comfortable. Complexity can easily contribute to feeling overwhelmed. We can be invited to numerous events and want to host others ourselves. These activities can be very wonderful experiences, but there can also be too many to prepare for and attend in a short time. You may also have to consider selecting, wrapping and delivering gifts, decorating the house, and, potentially, traveling to visit friends and family across the country. Keeping the holidays simple with a manageable number of events to attend and/or host, can greatly contribute to Overcoming Overwhelm during the Holidays.
2. Practice Extreme Self-Care
In our fast paced world, often our physical bodies become the last priority. We drag our bodies around nonstop and we can be indifferent to signs of exhaustion. When we practice extreme self-care, our mind, body and spirit are much more likely to assist us in our other efforts by providing strong support including energy, enthusiasm and presence. With extreme self-care our energy is up, our confidence is high and we feel much more positive. Some examples of self-care activities include sufficient sleep, quiet time, exercise, healthy food, and joyful recreation. Often during the holidays, some of our self-care activities are put on hold with all the hustle and bustle of the season. Taking proper care of ourselves during the Holiday Season can contribute greatly to Overcoming Overwhelm during the Holidays.
3. Celebrate the Unique You
Sometimes there are "should" or "must" dos on our to-do list that we really don't enjoy doing or don't leverage our best skills. We can end up delaying or not completing these activities. Or if we take these items on, they can contribute to frustration or overwhelm. Instead, we can consider whether there is someone else who can take care of the item for us or determine if the activity really needs to be done now.
There are many events and activities that we can participate in during the holidays on top of regular life activities. If we don't know what we really want during the Holiday Season, then it will be much harder to say no to invitations that do not align with our desires. A great place to start is to clearly define our preferences in writing. By sharing our vision of the ideal Holiday Season with our life partner, asking him or her what their desired Holiday Season looks like and integrating these two collaboratively, you have a plan the two of you can action and support together for the Holiday Season. Celebrating the Unique You, by respecting and celebrating your desired Holiday Season, can greatly contribute to Overcoming Overwhelm and experiencing more power, serenity and joy during the Holiday Season.

Lose Weight the Healthy Way

It's definitely no fun to lose weight -- put it back on, lose weight, put it back on, and so on. Just as you learn the rules of a new diet, you find yourself trying to get around them. What if all you had to do to lose weight was to eat less?
You may think it can't be done. However, experts say it can. Of course it sounds simpler than it is, but it's no more difficult to commit to healthy eating habits than it is to follow the diets most of us have tried.
In the end, it will actually be easier because you will feel less restricted as you begin to learn how to eat right instead of how to follow the rules of the newest popular diet. Here are a few tips to help you started:
Eat smaller portions, including items with protein, fat, and fiber in each meal. This combination is the one that researchers have found effective in helping to keep hunger pangs away.
Drink two full glasses of water with each meal. It will help you feel full and keep your body hydrated.
Eat breakfast. This critical meal jump-starts your metabolism for the day. But avoid empty calories like those found in doughnuts, many cereals, and sugar-laden pastries. They will only leave you feeling tired and hungry by mid- morning. For best results, eat items with plenty of protein and fiber.
Don't count calories or weigh food. Simply use the palm of your hand as a portion control guide. Most of us are fully aware of what a 'too large' portion looks like. We also know how it makes us feel. You should never feel bloated or stuffed-eat only until you are not hungry. You really aren't giving up anything if you save the rest for later. If it helps, think of it as taking a break when you set food aside for another time.
Give up something. It might be your nightly glass of wine, chocolate bars, or regular soft drinks. Then, commit to doing without the item for one full year. You'll find that you'll feel better without the sugar, caffeine, or alcohol. You certainly won't miss the calories as your waistline begins to shrink.
Identify your comfort food. What is it that you reach for in times of stress? Pizza, fried chicken, or a burger with fries all seem to top the list of foods people reach for when feeling down, anxious, and tired. Instead of reaching for food to comfort you, engage in a favorite activity. Go golfing, take a walk through your neighborhood, or hop on your bicycle for a quick spin.
Be aware that food is often used as substitute for other types of satisfaction. Take a look at your job, your family life, and your spiritual connections. Work to improve areas that are causing you discomfort and you will see the desire for unhealthy food fade away. Maybe it's time to start looking for a new job, go back to college, or find a church.
Taking control of your weight is more about taking control of your life than anything else. Don't allow yourself to make decisions based on food. Why be chained to someone else's diet rules when you know yourself better than anyone else. Put that knowledge to work, and watch your weight disappear.
If you want to make weight disappear faster, and to help keep those pounds off, be sure to exercise regularly. Walking 30 minutes daily is something most people can achieve and keep it up right into the senior years.

Cure Arthritis? Right!

Arthritis sufferers are daily bombarded with new, better, more exciting treatments. Try Enbrel! Try Humira! Miracle drugs! Get your NSAIDS! Get your DMARDS! Pump more chemicals into your system. Side effects? What side effects? You have a choice; accept the side effects or get sicker and sicker.
In order to allay our fears, the drug companies publish the results of their clinical tests. This double blind study proved that that lethal chemical reduced your swelling more than another, equally lethal chemical.
Do they think they're playing with babies? Yes. That's exactly what they think. Arthritis is such a horrible, debilitating disease that we'll try anything to reduce the symptoms. And that's exactly what these awful drugs do. They reduce the symptoms, temporarily. As the symptoms creep back, your rheumatologist increases the drug or experiments with other lethal concoctions to reduce your swelling or pain. We're told there's NO cure for arthritis. We're told that no one knows the cause. Really! More that thirty years ago we sent men to play golf on the moon. But we can't pin point even one cause for this crippling disease?
It's time for a reality check. The drug companies will continue to pump out really expensive chemicals, ostensibly helpful. Our doctors will continue to serve up the concoctions fed to them by the drug compaines. Unless we refuse to go along with this travesty. We don't need a revolution. We don't even need to take on our doctors or the drug companies. We only need to pool our resources and conduct our own quiet experiments.
We need to experiment with our habits. Just take one aspect of our life and alter it for one month. For example, are you a heavy coffee drinker? I'm pretty well wired to the ceiling by mid-day. Cut coffee from your diet for one month. Document any changes to your system resulting from this. You may, of course, suffer withdrawal symptoms but you may also experience a very welcome reduction in arthritic pain and swelling.
That's just one suggestion. We have lots more. Feed-back from our brave experimenters will eventually allow us to make real recommendations. The revolution has started!

Glucosamine Chondroitin & Arthritis

Many millions of people are affected by pain and suffering from Arthritis and research has shown that Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulphates combined have given these people new hope and relief from their painful ailments.
Many medicines are available to reduce pain, but some of them have serious side effects, some that have even proven to be fatal.
Both substances are Natural complex sugar like molecules that the body uses to rebuild cartilage and restore movement to Arthritic joints. It is important to remember that Glucosamine and Chondroitin are an amazingly safe and easy to use mixture, especially when compared with other forms of treatment.
Loss of cartilage can result in damage to the bone and the development of Osteoarthritis, which ends up as pain and disability. Cartilage is the key to healthy joints, and maintaining a healthy cartilage throughout life is critical to healthy joints and continued movement of joints.
As we age, or as the result of injuries, our ability to renew cartilage diminishes, causing damage to bone ends as they rub together. Glucosamine and Chondroitin can actually help to rebuild cartilage, therefore, improving joint health.
Taking the two compounds proves to be a very easy way of maintaining joint health and helping to alleviate pain and disability.
Cartilage rebuilding is a slow process, but with the right amounts of Glucosamine and Chondroitin benefits to mobility and pain relief can be seen within two to six weeks, it is recommended though that it should be taken daily for at least three months.
Engagement in mild or moderate exercise on a regular basis, would help in providing joint mobility.
Most users would need something like 1250mg to 1500mg of Glucosamine a day and about 1000mg to 1200mg of Chondroitin a day.
You should check with a Physician or Natural Health Care provider before commencing treatment.
Glyconutrients contain Glucosamine along with seven other sugars or polysaccharides.

Why Air Purifiers Are Not Always The Answer To Indoor Air Quality Problems

Air purifier filters are not always the answer to air quality problems.
Solving the problem is a much better approach than masking the symptom.
The following are the basic approaches to improve indoor air quality; Eliminate or control the pollutant source. Dilution of the contaminants through ventilation. Removal or reduction of the contaminants through filtration or purification with the use of air purifier filters or air purifiers.
Proper ventilation in a building is a must!
Before the energy crunch in the 1970's, fresh air in buildings was not really an issue.
When energy costs started to rise, we started making our buildings more energy efficient with better insulation and sealing techniques that made the building tighter, reducing the amount of fresh air into the buildings and increasing indoor pollution.
After indoor air quality issues came to the surface, we learned how to reduce energy costs while not compromising the health of the occupants, through the practice of building science.
Great strides have been made in this area, leading to more comfortable, healthier, safer homes.
The goal of good ventilation is to bring in the right amount of fresh air, not too much or not too little.
This is accomplished by using mechanical ventilation (exhaust fans, energy recovery units, etc.) that are sized to the volume of the house and/or according to lifestyle.
Mechanical ventilation not only dilutes contaminants but also removes excess moisture that can become a mold problem if not properly addressed.
Moisture can show up as high humidity (under-ventilated bathrooms, indoor pools or hot tubs and very tight homes) or water that enters a building either from the outside (rainwater) or from undetected plumbing leaks.
Addressing these problems using the right approach, elimination or control of the source (in this case repair the leak from the outside or finding and repairing the plumbing leak) makes more sense than trying to rid the mold with air purifier filters or air purifiers.
Pollutants such as formaldahyde and benzene can be produced from certain furniture, carpets, plywood and drapes.
Other sources of benzene are gas cans, gas powered lawn mowers that are stored in garages that are attached to the house.
If elimination of these sources is not an option an air purification device would be the obvious choice.
Toilets, air conditioning coils, heating/cooling ducts and humans are producers of bacteria. The right plan in these cases would be an air purifier device.
Carbon Monoxide is caused by incomplete combustion of appliances that depend on combustion to operate.
ELIMINATION IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER WHEN IT COMES TO CARBON MONOXIDE!
FIND THE PROBLEM-FIX THE PROBLEM!
Leave this to a company that is well-versed in carbon monoxide.
Pet and human dander are controlled through proper humidity control (mechanical ventilation) and air purifier filters.
By using the combination of source control (elimination), ventilation (dilution) and good air purifier filters and/or purification system ,your environment will be much heatlthier.

6 Easy Techniques To Cope With Night Shift Work -Without Any Expensive Doctors Or Medicine

People working the night shift poses a huge challenge for their sleeping system, because of the improper light exposure/ activity levels. The exposure to light sets our body temperature rhythm and controls our melatonin levels. If you work a night shift, you're remaining active while your body thinks it's time to sleep.This put a strain on your sleeping system, and it's also difficult on your emotional life as it limits your social activities with friends and family.
And because of the lack of light during work, many night shift workers feels drowsy during work, some night shift workers even doze off when driving home in their cars. Highlighted below are some recommendations for you to get quality sleep and feel less drowsy during work.
1. Routine
Maintaining a "regular sleping schedule during the weekends is important. By sleeping the same way during the weekend that you do during the weekdays, you ensure that your body temperature rhythm becomes adjusted to this setting, you'll get better sleep and higher energy levels in the long run.
2. Short nap
Due the lack of sunlight in your schedule, your body will try to sleep longer than other people. But chances are you still want to interact with your love ones during the day, so if you still feel un-rested and drowsy after your sleep, take a short 10-45 minute nap during the day. The brief period of stage 2 sleep will charge you physically -allowing you to stay more alert during the day.
3. Exercise before work
Exercise will create a rise in your body temperature rhythm, this makes you more awake and alert during work. As you experienced high temperature at work, you will get low temperature after work, that will make you easier to fall asleep and sleep deeply.
4. Bright light during work
Exposing yourself to high intensity light while working the night shift,would let you becomes more energetic as the light raises your body temperature. As you feel more energetic during your work, your would feel tired after work, thus allowing you to have quality sleep after work.
Best way to combat fatigue at work is to have an artifical bright light generator (talk to your boss about it -it is good for productivity) that can generate 5000-10000 luxes of light.
5. Avoid that Morning Sun
Try to avoid light when you leave work by wearing dark sunglasses, this will lower the chance that your body will get confused and think it's time to wake up. Also make sure that you sleep in a dark room after work, and that your sleep isn't interrupted by bright light. Bright morning light is a major cue for your body that it's rise and shine time and this will limit your sleep drastcially.
6. Do not sleep immediately
Do not sleep for the first 3 hours when you reach home (usually 6-7am in the morning) as it is interrupted by morning activity around the house. The first 3 hours of your sleep contains the largest portion of your deep sleep, so you shouldn't go to bed right after your work.But wait until everyone in your house leaves for work and the children have eaten breakfast and are in school -this way you can wind down abit after work and get to sleep.
In conclusion, shift work will always be strenunous on the sleeping system. However, by using the suggestions highlighted in this articles you should be able to increase the strength of your sleeping system, get better quality sleep and enjoy a higher level of energy.

Body Fat Distribution Factors

Most men and women put on weight differently. But on what makes fat settle in a preferential way, there is little evidence.
Scientists ascertained that the specific body shapes are: the android shape, or apple shape, common among men (fat deposits on the middle section of the body, mostly on the abdomen) and the gynoid, or pear shape, more common among women (fat deposited on hips and bottom). There is also the third type of body shape: the ovoid shape, not differentiating between men and women. With this type we can speak of an over-all general coverage of bodyfat.
Thinking of many cases of exceptions, I try to find out in what follows if there is a strict specific fat pattern distribution for men and women and what are the factors influencing fat distribution. And I find this interesting not in as much as the aesthetic side is concerned but from the health perspective.
Being overweight or underweight are characteristics depending on many factors: you are genetically overweight if you have a family history of overweight parents/relatives. Also, the nervous system plays an important role in balancing the body weight: serotonin and endorphins send signals to the brain that induce the need to eat or on the contrary. There is also the CCK hormone which transmits the brain signals on the state of satiety - it decreases hunger.
While generally, body weight is influenced genetically, hormonally and by the body maintenance condition (the activity routine), it seems that the fat distribution is influenced by age, genetic inheritance, race, but to a greater extent by gender specific hormones. They are responsible for the distribution of fat in certain zones of our bodies: thus, estrogens which are responsible of the typical female sexual characteristics will influence the fat deposition in the pear format, favouring its laying on the hips, thighs, and belly, while testosterone will "lead" fat mostly towards tummy and upper body.
Latest studies show that men's tendency towards the gynoid format has increased in the past 30 years (one study shows a growth of 2 inches in men's hips in the past 30 years). According to researches as John R. Lee, M.D (specialist in natural progesterone therapy), Dr. Jesse Hanley and Dr. Peter Eckhart, it seems that modern life exposes people to increased amounts of estrogen and estrogen-like substances (xenoestrogens or foreign estrogens). Sources of these substances can be plastics, plastic drinking bottles, commercially raised beef, chicken and pork, personal care products, pesticides, herbicides, birth control pills, spermacide, detergent, canned foods and lacquers. The problem is that increased estrogen levels in men not only make their hips fatten but are the main risk factor for disease such as prostate enlargement and cancer.
Also, for women, the android pattern fat distribution should raise questions with regard to hormonal imbalances, such situations being a potential cause for health problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
We've seen how health related problems can affect body fat, now let's take a look at how fat can induce health problems.
It is clear that increased body fat affects health, the news is that its distribution on the body influences the state of health of specific organs.
According to its placement, fat can be subcutaneous (under the skin) or visceral (around organs). The greatest concern is generated by visceral fat that can interfere with the good functioning of vital organs. There is a relationship between overall fat deposits and specific fat deposits: fat around the body middle section is associated with visceral fat, so, abdominal fat is the most serious health risk.
The waist to hip ratio is a method of determining whether there are excessive amounts of upper body fat. It is obtained by dividing the waist measurement by the hip measurement. The upper limits are:.95 for men and .80 for women. Any exceeding values should be alarming.
Apple-shaped fat individuals are exposed to a greater risk of developing obesity-related diseases, as the fat is intra-abdominal and distributed around their stomach and chest. They risk: Cardiovascular diseases and hypertension Type 2 diabetes Respiratory diseases (sleep apnea syndrome) Some cancers Osteoarthritis
The pear-shaped overweight persons are at greater risk of mechanical problems, as most of their body fat is distributed around their hips, thighs and bottom.
Both apple-shaped and pear-shaped obese persons are likely to develop psychological problems and alteration of the quality of life.
In any case, extra-weight cannot create but problems. Fact is that the main role in acquiring extra-fat is the food intake that the body cannot burn for various reasons (such as a decreased metabolic rate, low activity level or the physical condition), and, consequently, it creates fat deposits. The solution is a classic one: diet and exercise.
However, in shedding extra weight there are men-women differences. The process appears to be harder for women.
The total mass of the body is made up of fat mass and fat-free mass. The fat mass can be of two types: essential and excess. Essential fat is found in bone marrow, in various organs, and throughout the nervous system.
Women are at a disadvantage, as their physiological processes (childbearing and hormone functions) require a plus of essential fat, the "sex-specific fat". Thus the total percentage of body fat is higher, moreover, this part of essential fat is hard to dislodge. Secondly, women have less calorie burning muscle than men, which makes it more more demanding for the female to achieve a trimmer figure. Now, girls, don't use it as an excuse!

Eating Instinctively

I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating healthily. I strongly believe that the body has the capability of transmitting the brain accurate information regarding its nutrition necessities: a moderate amount of food, and only foods that are benefic for health.
The problem is that most of these natural eating instincts are lost on the way. Usually, during the growing process, adults project their unhealthy habits on children, offering them a range of foods that are not always best choices. As adults, we have formed our eating habits, more or less healthy and usually worry about our children's eating habits, but their instinct is often correct.
My theory has as starting point my own experience as a child, when I recall rejecting foods that I found too greasy or too deeply fried. Observing babies and children behaviour towards feeding might give us an idea about what eating instinctively means. Small children that did not have the time to get influenced by adults, have the natural eating instinct unspoiled. Contrary to adults' opinion about eating, they want to eat many smaller meals and only when they are hungry.
To support my thesis, I resort to the recommendation made by specialists in baby nutrition who advise on feeding babies at request, not forcing a program on them, thus a meals program will be generated by their inner scheduler according to their needs.
So, from children we learn that one should eat when hungry and in the amount striclty required by body necessities, not driven by social cues such as eating out with friends even if not hungry or taking a lunch break just because it's noon.
Another reason supporting the theory towards a simpler way of eating is that based on the foods offered by nature. Every living creature finds its subsistence resources in nature. Theoretically, foods of natural origin in their unspoiled state should suffice for ensuring men a healthy existence. I am not a sustainer of some paleolithic diet or anything like this, but we cannot not make reference to the simple way of eating of old times. It is a fact that in modern times modern and more complex diseases have developed (such as the increased incidence of tooth decay, allergies, various diseases of the digestive system such as diverticulitis), most in tight connection to modern diets. Man was not built for so many refined and super-refined processed foods. The great discovery - cooking - was just a means to make foods more digestible, but nowadays we experience an extreme version of modern eating, one abounding in processed foods and pre-prepared meals.
Eating in a balanced proportion raw foods (vegetables, fruit) and cooked meals is definitely healthier. Also healthy choices are those of foods in an unrefined state, as close to natural as possible.
Towards a healthier way of eating a reconsideration of our diet is needed. The thing is, it is harder to re-educate ourselves than to acquire from scratch, as first we need to forget everything we know, get rid of all the unhealthy habits and then to rediscover eating and it is even harder to resist so many temptations scatered all over, just at hand to grab!

Aetna Health Insurance For Your Protection!

Aetna health insurance has long been a highly recognized insurance company. Millions of people have put their trust in Aetna health insurance over the years. Aetna individual health insurance has been a top choice of employers who want to obtain sufficient coverage for their employees. Medical costs these days are spiraling higher than ever before.
Aetna has risen to the occasion and created some effective new plans to meet today's Aetna individual health insurance needs. For instance, the Aetna Health Fund is in gaining popularity. The employer puts an amount of money in a fund and the employee spends from it until it is gone. After that the employee pays out of pocket for medical expenses, up to a certain amount. Any amount that is left over at the end of the year can be rolled over to the next year. This is just an example of the innovative new ways Aetna individual health insurance can be suited to your needs.
Preventive care is a high priority with Aetna health insurance. Regular check-ups can determine health problems early on before they become life threatening. While this may be common sense, that's not necessarily the case with all insurance companies. Your health is in good hands with health insurance Aetna.

Fortis Health Insurance Is a Name You Can Trust!

Fortis health insurance has been a widely recognized name in the insurance since 1892. It has proven itself and won the trust of people around the world. Fortis health insurance is committed to providing the best solutions possible to meet your insurance needs.
There are a great variety of plans available. Fortis short term health insurance is of great use to those who are temporarily uninsured. Students can find Fortis short term health insurance tailored especially for them. From complete coverage to a specific prescription plan, Fortis health insurance will have what you are looking for.
Fortis health insurance is a driving force behind the new Health Savings Accounts, known as 'HSA's. An HSA works like an IRA, except that the money is used to pay health care costs. The money deposited and the interest earned are tax-deductible, and the money can be withdrawn to pay medical bills, tax-free. This is becoming a very popular method of helping pay for your current medical needs, and safe-guarding for your future.
Fortis health insurance is changing its name to Assurant Health. Rest assured that there will be no change at all in the high quality service and dependability that people around the world have come to expect from Fortis health insurance.

White Asian Skin Against Tanning

The paler the skin, the higher the class
Pale skin has had an exciting evolution. Greek and Roman women used to do anything possible to whiten their face skin; the whiter their face skin was, the more beautiful they were considered. Sun tanning was out of the question. By using lead paints and chalks women put themselves in great danger because that ancient beauty treatment could cause death by slow poisoning. It was only too late when this was discovered.
The obsesssion with white, "porcelain"- like skin evolved beyond cosmetic reasons, becoming more related to social classes. Skin color became that visible definer separating working classes from the ruling classes. A tanned skin disclosed a life of outdoor labor; those wishing to be accepted in high-life had to conform to this requirement: white, not tanned skin. The paler one's skin, the higher the class. To achieve this, men and women had no limits; any method, safe or not, was used, as being pale was extremely important.Asia: white skin is considered a symbol of femininity
The tanning obsession and later, the sunless tanning craze took over the world. Still, there are white "spots" on the worldwide tanning roadmap. Asian people are not so excited with golden skin. And this has a lot to do with their millenary culture, somehow reluctant to these trends.
What do Asian females have and others don't? There are few differences to take into account. Teams of scientists and dermatologists who have studied eight Asian cities (Sendai, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Guangzhou, Shanghai and Harbin, China; Calicut and New Delhi, India; and Manila, Philippines (representative of Malay skin) have some interesting findings to reveal: Hyperpigmentation (dark spots) has an earlier onset than wrinkles and laxity (loss of firmness) on Asian skin (compared to Caucasians). The Japanese have the lightest skin tone; thus, Japanese women have low melanin and skin redness. The Indians have the darkest skin tone, and therefore high melanin content and skin redness. Asian skin has a better behavior during cooler months; because of reduced sun exposure, Asian women's skin has better biomechanical properties such as elasticity and structures (collagen). Skin becomes yellowish with age and this is more visible in Chinese and Korean skin than other racial groups. Japanese skin has the best condition (least deterioration with age), while Indian skin has the worst.
In fact, there are more differences across populations depending on regions, age, geographical location, climate, skincare habits.
White, whiter, the whitest - this may be lethal
In Asian countries, pale skin has had the same significance for centuries: sophistication, innocence, feminity and high social standard. That is why Asian women have always been looking for skin care products to whiten their skin. They used to prepare "skin whiteners", by grinding pearl from seashells into powder and swallowing it. Today's cosmetics are safer and more reasonable. New skin whitening products appear every year, posing less dangers to women's health or life.
Still, these whitening lotions, serums, correctors and essences may involve risks worth taking into account. According to Asian dermatologists, the danger comes from mercury. If safety allowance limits are exceeded, mercury (the best known whitening agent) may cause death. Unfortunately, some products include high doses of mercury, which are damaging to the central nervous system and the kidneys, and especially to the development of the brain in a foetus or a child.
So, pale skin is not the happiest choice for an Asian woman, after all. Neither is dark skin. So, what should they do? Using proper skincare products and sunscreeen (if exposed to real sun or indoor session) is the best choice for life, not only for Asian women but also for anybody who cares about skin and health.

Youth People Obsessed With Sunless Tanning

Darker-complexioned teens will always seek a tanning bed or booth. Because they want a perfect and perpetual tan.
Younger, healthier, sexier, thinner
Many teenagers are either obsessed with tanning or addicted to a darker-complexion. According to psychologists, a cosmetic ideal obsession or an emotional addiction might be the cause. "Younger, healthier, sexier, thinner" - is the message a bronzed complexion is sure to send out. The medical community is trying to confront this trend by educating teenagers that too often and too intense tanning can be risky. It's nothing wrong to be tanned, on the condition of: gradual and moderate indoor tanning session using without exception proper sunscreen indoor or sunscreen/sunblock outdoor avoiding childhood sunburns
Thus, skin cancer risks are avoided. Are kids complying to medical warnings? According to Associated Press, only a third of 10,079 preteens and adolescents surveyed in 2002 said they had regularly used sunscreen during the former summer. About 10 percent admitted that they had used a tanning bed. And there is more. Most of those surveyed said they have suffered at least one sunburn during the previous summer.
Another significant study comes from Boston University. Researchers questioned about 10,000 children of nurses across the United States participating in the Nurse's Health Study. The study started up in the late 1980s. The conclusions weren't so positive. Only 34 percent of the teenagers - aged 12 to 18 -, reported using sunscreen regularly, and 83 percent had suffered at least one sunburn. 36 percent of surveyers had endured three or even more sunburns during the previous summer. Teenagers were familiar to tanning beds: 14 percent of the girls surveyed had used a tanning bed, rising to 35 percent among 17 year old girls.
Representatives of American Academy of Dermatology are puzzled since indoor tanning is so unnecessary. It's not associated with playing sports or other outdoor activities. It is practiced exclusively for cosmetic reasons.
So young, so careless
Modern indoor salons gave up here and there traditional tanning beds and began to offer safer alternatives such as spray-on tanning or tanning booth which do not include UV light. Despite these better choices, youth would rather go to tanning beds using UV radiation because it is cheaper. They got there wrongly believing that tanning beds are safer than real sun exposure. They seem careless even if they are aware that UV rays delivered indoor are as dangerous as those outdoor.
It's obvious that relatively few teenagers are aware that sunburns increase their risk of skin cancer. Yet they continue to use tanning beds regularly. What happens during childhood is crucial; an early sunburn history is the foundation of potential further cancer. Nationalwide warning campaigns in the United States didn't show too many improvements in teens' attitude. But things have to be changed drastically, since melanoma is rising to critical range. In the past years, at least 13 states have begun to regulate teen tanning (bed or booth exposing) by: requiring parental presence asking written parental agreement for teenagers under 18.
The state of California asks for a doctor's prescription; otherwise, indoor tanning sessions are forbidden for kids under 18. Moreover, a bill in Maryland requires all three: parental presence, written consent of parents and medical approval ! The sooner teens learn to protect their skin, the better. Skin cancer is mostly incurable.

Storing, Handling And Using Essential Oils

Pure Essential Oils are a natural product and contain no preservatives or additives. A few of them can also be quite dangerous if not handled correctly. Some basic procedures should therefore be observed in order to ensure safety but also the quality of the oils in storage.
Storing essential oils:
Many Essential Oils are flammable and/or act as strong solvents. Eucalyptus Oil for example can be used to remove glue from old stickers or to strip paint.
Essential Oils are best stored in amber glass bottles with a tight lid. It is also advisable to fit bottles that don't have a dripolator (orifice reducer) with a child proof cap for safety reasons.
Sun light (UV) and high temperatures are the main enemies of essential oils. Amber glass bottles offer good protection from UV. Essential Oil containers are best kept in a dark, cool place with temperature fluctuations kept to a minimum.
Keep essential oils safely locked away from children at all times.
Stored at low temperatures, some oils will tend to solidify. This is no cause for alarm as they will turn liquid again once they reach room or in some cases body temperature. Most likely to solidify are the absolutes, vanilla, rose otto and fennel.
Under good conditions essential oils can be stored for periods of 6 months to several years. Some oils like myrrh, sandalwood, frankincense and patchouli will even improve or "mature" with age, very similar to a good wine.
The shortest shelf life have all citrus oils with grapefruit generally being the first to deteriorate. Once these oils start to turn cloudy or smell rancid they should be disposed of.
Handling and using essential oils:
When taking essential oils from the bottle, avoid contaminating the oil. Don't touch the top of the bottle or the inside of the lid. If you are using pipettes to transfer the oils, try to obtain disposable ones that you can throw away after use. Never use the same pipette for different oils. Used pipettes can also be stored for a short time in clip-seal plastic bags to use again later.
Avoid contact of essential oils with the skin as they can cause irritation. Using latex gloves and wearing protective glasses is recommended when handling essential oils.
Essential oils must never be used internally. For application to the skin, dilute the essential oil with a good quality carrier oil e.g. jojoba, almond or olive oil. 3% essential oil with 97% carrier oil is a safe ratio.
Diffusers and oil lamps need only 2-3 drops of essential oil to scent a room for many hours. The cup on the oil lamp should be 3/4 filled with clean water, add to it the 2-3 drops of essential oil. Only then light the candle in the burner. Remember some essential oils are highly flammable, so be careful when using an essential oil lamp.
Observe these points and you will get a lot of enjoyment out of your essential oils.

Will This Year's Flu Paralyze The US And Canada?

According to the Associated Press on August 26th, the US and Canada may have to close schools, restrict travel and ration scarce medications if a powerful new flu strain spurs a worldwide outbreak, according to the federal planners for the next pandemic. It will take months to brew a new vaccine that works against the kind of super flu that causes a pandemic, although government preparations include research to speed the production. Federal plans have long been awaited by flu specialists, who say that it is just a matter of time before the next pandemic strikes and the nation is woefully unprepared for it!
There have been three flu pandemics in the last century, with the worst in 1918, when more than a half a million Americans and 20 million people worldwide died. Pre-baby boomers most likely heard about it from their parents and boomers from their grandparents.
The specialists say that the next one could be triggered by the recurring bird flu in Asia, if it indeed mutates in a way that lets it spread easily among humans. Bird flu has caused recurring outbreaks in recent years and has killed 27 people already this year in Asia. Until now, human infections have been traced to direct contact with infected poultry or poultry waste, and millions of chickens and other fowl have been slaughtered in attempts to stem the disease.
In a recent report, Dutch researchers found that cats can not only catch the bird flu, but can also spread it to other felines. Dr. Klaus Stohr, the influenza chief of the World Health Organization, states that there is not enough evidence yet to prove that cats can spread the deadly virus to humans, but has urged scientists to examine household cats and other mammals whenever researchers investigate human bird-flu infections. The cat research is of considerable concern because it illustrates the virus continuing adaptations in mammals, said Dr. Nancy Cox of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Cox adds we need to do a lot more in the veterinary arena in order to understand what other animals can be infected and can transmit the virus. Last winter Thai veterinarians reported that the bird flu had killed three house cats. That was a big surprise as domesticated cats have long been thought resistant to infection from influenza A-type viruses.
As pointed out above, the US is woefully unprepared for it and public health experts worry that such a bug might come so fast that there will not be enough time to prepare adequate vaccine to keep the risk to a minimum.

How Endometriosis Affects Conception

Endometriosis is a common, yet poorly understood disease. It can strike women of any socioeconomic class, age, or race. It is estimated that between 10 and 20 percent of American women of childbearing age have endometriosis.
While some women with endometriosis may have severe pelvic pain, others who have the condition have no symptoms. Nothing about endometriosis is simple, and there are no absolute cures. The disease can affect a woman's whole existence--her ability to work, her ability to reproduce, and her relationships with her mate, her child, and everyone around her.
What is Endometriosis?
The name endometriosis comes from the word "endometrium," the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. If a woman is not pregnant, this tissue builds up and is shed each month. It is discharged as menstrual flow at the end of each cycle. In endometriosis, tissue that looks and acts like endometrial tissue is found outside the uterus, usually inside the abdominal cavity. Endometrial tissue residing outside the uterus responds to the menstrual cycle in a way that is similar to the way endometrium usually responds in the uterus.
At the end of every cycle, when hormones cause the uterus to shed its endometrial lining, endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus will break apart and bleed. However, unlike menstrual fluid from the uterus, which is discharged from the body during menstruation, blood from the misplaced uterus has no place to go. Tissues surrounding the area of endometriosis may become inflamed or swollen. The inflammation may produce scar tissue around the area of endometriosis. These endometrial tissue sites may develop into what are called "lesions," "implants," "nodules," or "growths."
Endometriosis is most often found in the ovaries, on the fallopian tubes, and the ligaments supporting the uterus, in the internal area between the vagina and rectum, on the outer surface of the uterus, and on the lining of the pelvic cavity. Infrequently, endometrial growths are found on the intestines or in the rectum, on the bladder, vagina cervix, and vulva (external genitals), or in abdominal surgery scars, Very rarely, endometrial growths have been found outside the abdomen, in the thigh, arm, or lung.
Physicians may use stages to describe the severity of endometriosis. Endometrial implants that are small and not widespread are considered minimal or mild endometriosis. Moderate endometriosis means that larger implants or more extensive scar tissue is present. Severe endometriosis is used to describe large implants and extensive scar tissue.
What are the Symptoms?
Most commonly, the symptoms of endometriosis start years after menstrual periods begin. Over the years, the symptoms tend to gradually increase as the endometriosis areas increase in size. After menopause, the abnormal implants shrink away and the symptoms subside. The most common symptom is pain, specially excessive menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) which may be felt in the abdomen or lower back or pain during or after sexual activity (dyspareunia). Infertility occurs in about 30-40 percent of women with endometriosis.
Rarely, the irritation caused by endometrial implants may progress into infection or abscesses causing pain independent of the menstrual cycle.
Endometrial patches may also be tender to touch or pressure, the intestinal pain may also result from endometrial patches on the walls of the colon or intestine. The amount of pain is not always related to the severity of the disease. Some women with severe endometriosis have no pain; while others with just a few small growths have incapacitating pain.
Endometrial cancer is very rarely associated with endometriosis, occurring in less than 1 percent of women who have the disease. When it does occur, it is usually found in more advanced patches of endometriosis in older women and the long-term outlook in these unusual cases is reasonably good.
How is Endometriosis Related to Fertility Problems?
Severe endometriosis with extensive scarring and organ damage may affect fertility. It is considered one of the three major causes of female infertility.
However, unsuspected or mild endometriosis is a common finding among infertile women. How this type of endometriosis affects fertility is still not clear.
While the pregnancy rates for patients with endometriosis remain lower than those of the general population, most patients with endometriosis do not experience fertility problems. We do not have a clear understanding of the cause-effect relationship of endometriosis and infertility
What is the Cause of Endometriosis?
The cause of endometriosis is still unknown. One theory is that during menstruation some of the menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes into the abdomen, where it implants and grows. Another theory suggests that endometriosis may be a genetic process or that certain families may have predisposing factors to endometriosis. In the latter view, endometriosis is seen as the tissue development process gone awry.
According to the theory of traditional chinese medicine, endometriosis is a disease which is caused by the stagnation of blood. Blood stagnation may occur due to one or more abortions or lower abdominal or pelvic surgeries.
Additionally, engaging in sexual intercourse during menstruation may very likely over time cause blood stagnation. Emotional trauma, severe stress, physical or emotional abuse can all lead to the stagnation of blood.
Additionally, diet may be a precipitating factor. The constant, long term ingestion of cold foods can congeal blood and thus contribute to the stagnation thereof. Cold foods include raw vegetable, ices, ice cream, ice in drinks, frozen yogurt, etc. Remember, cold congeals. Think about what happens to a normal glass of water when put in the freezer. It turns to ice.
The blood is affected similarly. That is to say, it congeals, doesn't flow smoothly and can form endometrial adhesions, chocolate cysts, uterine fibroids. Whatever the cause of endometriosis, its progression is influenced by various stimulating factors such as hormones or growth factors. In this regard, investigators are studying the role of the immune system in activating cells that may secrete factors which, in turn, stimulate endometriosis.
In addition to these new hypotheses, investigators are continuing to look into previous theories that endometriosis is a disease influenced by delaying childbearing. Since the hormones made by the placenta during pregnancy prevent ovulation, the progress of endometriosis is slowed or stopped during pregnancy and the total number of lifetime cycles is reduced for a woman who had multiple pregnancies.
How is Endometriosis Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of endometriosis begins with a gynecologist evaluating the patient's medical history. A complete physical exam, including a pelvic examination, is also necessary. However, diagnosis of endometriosis is only complete when proven by a laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope (a tube with a light in it) is inserted into a small incision in the abdomen.
The laparoscope is moved around the abdomen, which has been distended with carbon dioxide gas to make the organs easier to see. The surgeon can then check the condition of the abdominal organs and see the endometrial implants. The laparoscopy will show the locations, extent, and size of the growths and will help the patient and her doctor make better-informed decisions about treatment. Endometriosis is a long-standing disease that often develops slowly.
What is the Treatment?
While the treatment for endometriosis has varied over the years, doctors now agree that if the symptoms are mild, no further treatment other than medication for pain may be needed. Endometriosis is a progressive disorder.
It is my opinion that by not treating endometriosis it will get worse. Treatment should immediately after a positive diagnosis is made. The pain associated with endometriosis can be diminished by using acupuncture and herbal medicine. I have treated many women with endometriosis and have successfully alleviated pain and slowed down growth and recurrence of endometriosis.
For those patients with mild or minimal endometriosis who wish to become pregnant, doctors are advising that, depending on the age of the patient and the amount of pain associated with the disease, the best course of action is to have a trial period of unprotected intercourse for 6 months to 1 year. If pregnancy does not occur within that time, then further treatment may be needed. Again, these patients should consider herbal medicine to aid in the process of conception.

St Johns Wort and Depression

The bright yellow flower of the St Johns Wort (hypericum perforatum) with it's ray-like petals, represents the power of the sun that forces away the darkness. This already points to the anti-depressant effects of the St Johns Wort which are highly respected, even in conventional medicine.
St. John's Wort, a perennial plant, has been used for hundreds of years to treat depression, unrest and anxiety disorders as well as nerve pain. For a long time, doctors and herbalists alike have known about its use as a sedative, but also as treatment for wounds, burns, insect bites, stomach ulcers and more. It is still used widely today and it's effectiveness has been proven to a point where some insurance companies are now covering the treatment.
It is not a powerful drug -- when used to treat depression -- in the sense of bringing a quick recovery, but shows excellent long term results in many patients. The herb assists body and soul in the healing process and helps to build a solid foundation for a complete recovery.
St John's Wort was tested in a double-blind study of 105 male and female patients in the 20 to 64 year age group, suffering from mild to moderate depression. They were divided into two groups and monitored over a period of four weeks. One group were given 300mg of St Johns Wort extract three times daily, and the other received a placebo. All of the patients had psychiatric evaluations before the start of the study and after four weeks of treatment.
The results revealed that, 67% of the St Johns Wort group had responded positively to the treatment without any adverse side effects whereas only 28% of the placebo group showed any signs of improvement.
St Johns Wort is available as tea (flowers and leaves), liquid extracts and pills or capsules. It is normally taken thrice daily and it will take one week or more to notice any improvement in the condition.
Treatment can be continued for long periods of time as the herb does not normally produce any side effects. But St Johns Wort can interact strongly with other medication e.g. cancer and HIV drugs, contraceptive pills and others. So it is vitally important to consult a medical specialist first before starting a course of treatment.
One effect of St Johns Wort is, that it makes the skin more sensitive to light. It is therefore important to keep out of the sun as much as possible while using the herb.
There is growing evidence to suggest that St. Johns Wort is a safe and effective, natural remedy for the treatment of mild to medium depression.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.

Poor Dental Health May Point To Other Health Problems by Stewart Wrighter

Have you had your dentist ask you questions like, 'Are you snoring or sleeping bad?' or 'Do you suffer from halitosis no matter what you eat or do?' or 'Do you suffer from acidity?' Would be surprised if your dentist points you to a sleep apnea clinic rather than an invisalign? Do not because very often poor dental health is actually a pointer to other medical conditions that you might be suffering and not knowing about.

Mouth odor which is so terrible and everyone hates, could be the result of poor digestion, bad eating habits, gastroenteritis, and many other similar problems. High acidity also causes yellowing of teeth, plaque and even cavities. Snoring is another example where oral health points to underlying health problems -- in this case it is respiratory disorders.

Recent studies show that even heart diseases could be detected through the analysis of the condition of your oral health. Tooth infections and abscesses can influence the immune system to such an extent that the heart would be affected as well. When there are acute and continuous recurring infections of the jaw bone in particular, it is often a pointer that the heart is under threat as well.

This is why it is important to visit your dentist at least every six months so you would not only ensure the health of your teeth but also your health overall. The dentist would be able to tell you whether what you are suffering from is owed to poor dental hygiene, poor eating habits or other ailments in the body that reflect in the oral health problems.

It is very important therefore that you maintain good oral health and take the trouble to immediately remedy any problem you find with your teeth or gums. Most people still suffer from dentist phobia and would do anything to postpone a visit. If you are among this bracket of people, please note that you are doing yourself a great disservice. You might be hiding some very serious medical condition.

There are a few things that you should always do to ensure that your teeth stay healthy and disease free.

1. Brush your teeth two to three times a day -- generally the best habit is to brush immediately after a meal. However, brushing 2-3 times a day would suffice. Brushing usually helps to remove any remaining food particles from in-between teeth and also wash away any acidic remnants from the food you consumed.

2. Flossing is a must -- flossing is once again a very important daily activity which you should never ignore. Flossing, like brushing would ensure that there are no shreds of food remaining in between the teeth, which would later decompose and create mouth odor.

3. Avoid sugary foods -- as a general rule refined sugar is not recommended for good health. Generally speaking this creates acidity and gastric problems. When sugary matter remains on the teeth it weakens the enamel and causes cavities.

It is very important that you pay attention to the health of your teeth and mouth in general for neglecting this aspect may impact negatively the rest of your body.

Are LIfe And Health Insurance Worth Spending Extra Money On? by Jeff Schuman

Everybody needs life and health insurance. Life will throw you many curves along the way that may require coverage. Not having coverage can be a very big mistake.

That is why you need to understand why life insurance and health insurance is so imperative. Below are the reasons that these two types of insurance are definitely worth the money

1. Unexpected things happen - Life is full of unexpected things happening. You never know when or if something will happen to you and being prepared is essential. The life insurance will protect and help your family if something happens to you.

The health insurance will protect all of you from a lot of problems you don't need. Don't ever assume that nothing will happen to you because this is a big mistake. Making this mistake can cost you everything, literally.

2. Prevents financial ruin - Life insurance will prevent financial ruin for your family. The health insurance will prevent everyone from this very real problem.

You don't want to face financial ruin at any time in your life. You most especially don't want to cause this with your family. This insurance will protect both of you from having to deal with this.

3. Coverage for you - If you should die unexpectedly, the life insurance is going to help your family. You will use health insurance all the time for every day medical coverage.

The time that this insurance will really be worth the money is if you end up with a health condition. For example, if you are told you have cancer, without coverage, you could very easily end up broke.

With the insurance you will get the health care needed without having to go broke to achieve it. Just be sure when you purchase coverage that you get the one that is right for you.

4. Medical expenses are cheaper - At some time in your life, there may be times that you need medical help. Having coverage will make your expenses cheaper. This is something that anyone can benefit from.

Medical problems can happen at any time, so be sure you are prepared. Don't assume you won't ever need it because this can be very costly for you in one way or another.

Now that you can see why life and health insurance are essential, you need to both now. The sooner you have these two types of insurance, the sooner you will be prepared for anything. Don't wait until coverage is needed because by then it will be too late to get it.

Keeping Fit Has Never Been So Much Fun by Stewart Wrighter

These days, it is quite normal for people to want to be in on the keep fit craze. Getting to this standard, however, takes some kind of discipline and the work outs can become rather tedious. Would it not be a great idea to use something that is fun but still makes us get up there and have a go? Well, those in the know have started working out with a pitching machine to not only hone their skills with baseball and softball, but to get themselves in better shape at the same time. Indeed, pitching machines have become so popular that even families are integrating them into those quality time hours so that the kids and adults can all have a go.

The great thing about this kind of equipment is that it is not costly these days. In times gone by, this kind of equipment was relegated to clubs and sports outlets where many people would be involved and they would certainly pay to use this kind of facility. Nowadays though, they have come down quite a bit in price and are well within the reach of most of us.

Along with the batting cages, which helps when there is a lone player having some practice, this set up is the perfect way to work off some of that excess energy while getting into shape at the same time. Of course, the nets also keep the house safe from those stray balls which will inevitably aim right for the house on the odd occasion!

Kids love it because this is a sport that is very popular in school. By having this at home they can practice as much as necessary and they may just go on to do this as a profession when they get older.

Apart from the serious side of the game, this equipment is also great for family gatherings too since there is always a team or two in the making. Women against men; adults against kids; the combinations are endless and they bring a lot of fun along with them. However, there is a serious side to this equipment too.

Players in the leagues use this kind of equipment to keep in practice in their down time. There are plenty of videos and other lesson plans which gives an insight into the sport and many are connected to star players who give out some hints and tips on how to play the game. Indeed, many novice players will certainly love to see the greats in action and pick up the tricks of the trade.

Social clubs and public facilities also have these pieces of equipment too since they have to keep everyone entertained. But the good thing about having them is that every now and then, someone will surely see some potential in a new or young player which could just catapult them into the big time.

Whether it is just for fun and games, or whether it is for some serious practice, this equipment is well worth the time and money spent to set up.

With Super Sea Veg, You Don't Have To Weight To Be Thinner by Timmy Vic

I literally get testimonial after testimonial telling me that Super Sea Veg has had an incredible side effect upon people – they begin to lose weight without even trying after only 2-3 months. Now, I'm not surprised by this result, but I am happy to hear from men and women who have been blessed to be helped in this way.

Why am I not shocked by this terrific side benefit of our dietary food supplement that contains a proprietary blend of 12 edible sea plants? Check out three of the reasons below:

1. Super Sea Veg Increases Energy Levels

What better way to lose weight than to have your body constantly telling you, "Let's get off this couch and get moving!" You don't have to run a marathon to lose those 15 pounds that have been nagging you, either. Just walking every night for 30 minutes around your neighborhood will have a positive effect… and Super Sea Veg will give you the oomph you need! You'll actually FEEL like being more active! The secret has to do with your thyroid gland which controls your entire metabolism! Think Japanese! They are often thin with lots of energy, and they eat sea plants daily.

2. Super Sea Veg Lowers Your Desire for Bad Foods

What are "bad" foods? Quite simply, they're probably not what you think. They aren't fatty foods. They are processed junk that's filled with all sorts of ingredients that shouldn't be given to any living creatures… let alone humans. When you take Super Sea Veg, your desire to consume this kind of horrible stuff is diminished. And you end up losing weight.

3. Super Sea Veg Encourages Your Body to Heal Itself

The seaweed and other edible sea plants found in Super Sea Veg are specially formulated to help your body help itself. You'll find that, over time, your body will have less and less of a need to store fat, to retain water, etc. That's because you're finally feeding yourself the nourishment you need!

If you're struggling with the scale, "weight" no more. Order your Super Sea Veg today!

Aerobics: The Beginning Of A New Exercise Format by Andy Guides Jr

The definition of aerobics is with oxygen. Aerobic exercise is a combination of physical exercise, strength training and stretching. It is recommended that individuals get between 30 minutes to 1 hour of aerobic activity a day.

Aerobic exercise has many health benefits besides weight management.

Exercise reduces the systemic inflammation that can lead to the development of heart disease. In addition, exercise helps to increase good cholesterol while decreasing bad. It also makes the heart pump more efficiently, thus becoming stronger. Having a stronger heart allows for a healthier lifestyle, controls weight, and leads to a sense of well-being. Theses changes can help control blood pressure levels.

Another benefit of exercise in people with Type 2 diabetes is that it makes the efficiency of the body better by increasing tissue sensitivity to insulin. In addition, more glucose is produced and pressed out of the blood stream. The blood will enter the cells and decrease the amount of glucose in the blood. By allowing glucose to metabolize in the body and letting normal blood sugar levels be maintained, aerobic exercise minimizes the risk of developing diabetes.

Incorporating exercise into a daily routing reduces obesity by controlling weight, helps to reduce and control body fat, and improves body muscle strength and flexibility.

Aerobics also helps with the over all quality of life by improving sleep, reducing fatigue, increasing energy levels, improving mood, reducing depression, stress and anxiety. It increases endorphins, which make the outlook on life more positive, prevents certain cancers and may help to increase longevity all while being happier.

In order to get the most benefits out of aerobic exercise, it is important to get the heart within target heart range. This is done by the calculated age method. Starting with the number 220, age is subtracted and that number is multiplied by 70 percent. Although this method is not totally accurate since people are at different levels of fitness ability, it does give a safe starting point. The American Heart Association recommends a range between 50 percent and 75 percent of maximum heart rate. Exercising at a target heart rate is the best way to get the most out of daily exercise and reap its benefits.

In 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper developed a series of exercises listed in his book, Aerobics, that he knew would help to prevent coronary artery disease. These exercises were running, bicycling, swimming and walking.

Aerobic dance came about shortly after Dr. Coopers book was published, by a woman named Jackie Sorenson. She developed dance routines that were found to improve cardiovascular fitness.

Howard and Karen Schwartz started a gymnastic like sports in 1983 called sportaerobics. By the year 2002, sportaerobics had gone through many changes to become gymnastique discipline which is what we know it as today. It is a competition where 6 athletes compete in 105 second gymnastic routines and are judged based on their artistic performance and technical merit.

Including aerobic activity into a daily routine, will lead to a longer, happier, and healthier life.

Helpful Tips For Choosing A Reliable Antiaging Clinic by Andy Guides Jr

It is vital for any person to carefully select the physician in case of antiaging treatment. One should select such professional who can follow safe methods for solving the issues you want addressing. It is also required that one should do thorough research and search for the best professional before choosing any one for their anti aging solution. One should follow some simple points that will help the person to select the best clinic.

The main tip to consider is to make a visit to the clinic and gauge it personally. Do not rely on the anti aging clinic just on the basis of hearsay. On your visit, have a full-fledged and a descriptive discussion with the physician or dermatologist over your problem. Next, do make a point to take a second opinion so that you can get a neutral point of view that would also be without any bias.

Do not just restrict yourself to the appraisal of a single anti aging clinic in your local neighborhood. Be deft enough to explore more so that you have a wider choice to choose from. Collect all the relevant brochures from all the clinics that you are visiting so that you can read them and ponder over them later at home.

There is really no need to select the only clinic that is in close vicinity. Search also for such professionals who are available at far places but offer quality services. By doing research, one can have the best choice among the several clinics you will locate. One can also collect all the printed material and the brochures that will help to understand the solutions and the services a particular clinic provides.

When one has selected any particular clinic for anti aging, one should enquire about the credentials and the claims of the physician to check them out. One can also check for the several certifications that one has, as this will help one to make sure the physician is well qualified and trained in the process. To gain complete confidence in the doctor becomes all the more important if an individual is planning to get plastic surgery done.

When one is visiting the clinic of the professional, one can ask the manager about the details of clients who have got any anti aging treatment done from them. This can again give an idea of the level of skill of the practitioner. One can approach these clients to find out how they felt after they had the treatment done from a particular doctor.

One more important part to know is the cost. One should get this in written form, as it will help to clarify the process: i.e. listing exactly what you're paying for. Good service comes at high price so one should be ready to pay the cost as this is not something you would wish to skimp on.

What Are Asbestos Silicates by Wendy Moyer

Asbestos silicates, commonly called "asbestos," are rocks that resist water, fire, and corrosion. The word itself means "unquenchable" in Greek. It refers to six different types of naturally-occurring crystalline structures.

Asbestos silicates are comprised of extremely light microscopic fibers. These particles are so light that if they are broken off from the source they can stay afloat for extended lengths of time.

There are substantial deposits of asbestos silicates in the United States, South Africa, Russia, and Canada.

What Is Asbestos Used For?

Because asbestos is so abundant and cost so little it has been used extensively in the construction industry for fireproofing and insulation since the time of the Industrial Revolution. For the most part it has been reconfigured into flexible fibers that are then woven into a variety of products.

Asbestos has been, and is still being used for roofing products, flooring, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, and fireproofing. The flexible asbestos fibers are also integrated into cement, tile, adhesives, and mastics in order to increase these products' tensile strength.

Asbestos started being used extensively during the Second World War to fireproof naval vessels. Between then and the early 1970s the fibrous material was used in many thousands of products that ranged from construction materials to cigarette filters.

Its use only began to decline in 1973, after the hazards of using asbestos became widely known.

This potentially dangerous material has never been banned in the United States. In addition, developing countries are using more of the material because it is so readily available and inexpensive.

What Types of Asbestos are Used Commercially?

Of the six varieties only three are used commercially. The most widely mined is "white asbestos," or chrysotile. The second most available type is called "brown" asbestos. It is one of the most hazardous forms of the material.

The most hazardous of all the asbestos silicates is "blue" asbestos. Blue asbestos fibers are still being used to make asbestos-cement products.

What Dangers Are Associated With Asbestos?

Because the material is so light, when the spear-like fibers break off from their host, they create a very fine dust which lingers in the air. When a person inhales this dust he or she often breathes in literally thousands of these particles with every breath that they take.

The sharp particles may then embed themselves in the cell walls of a lot of their internal organs. Over the course of time these fibers first irritate and then scar the organs.

Then, perhaps decades after the asbestos fibers were first inhaled, the scarred organs can ultimately cut off the supply of oxygen to that person's body. As a result the victim slowly suffocates.

Alternatively the irritation caused by the asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma cancer. This incurable disease can affect the stomach, lungs, and sometimes the victim's heart.

As far back as the 1920s medical literature detailed the potential dangers associated with being exposed to asbestos. Manufacturers have known since the 1930s that their products could injure and kill their employees. However they ignored and sometimes suppressed that information.

Since the 1960s mesothelioma attorneys have been proving that companies were guilty of causing their workers to acquire asbestos related diseases. And many thousands of families and individuals have received substantial mesothelioma settlements from companies who did not warn their workers or the public of the dangers associated with asbestos.

Laser Eye Surgery Can Provide Perfect Sight To Those Who Have To Wear Glasses by Andy Guides Jr

Laser eye surgery and LASIK surgery are one and the same. This is a procedure that can take less than perfect vision and make it near perfect again. There is a very high success rate with this surgery and most people that have it are able to see very well without using corrective lenses. LASIK surgery was introduced to the public in 1990 and ever since it has been very popular for those that can afford it.

Most vision problems can be corrected with laser surgery but especially the problems of hypermetropia and myopia or those that are far and near sited. When one has good vision light enters the eye by way of the natural lens. The light refracts or bends so that it hits the retina, which takes that image and focuses it so that you can see clearly. Wearing glasses makes sure that the light hits the retina in the right place so that the vision becomes clear.

A person that cannot see far has an issue with the light falling short of the retina and instead it falls on the cornea. All laser surgery requires is that the cornea be reshaped so that the light can refract on the retina. In the case above the laser removes material in the middle of the cornea, which becomes thinner and no longer stops the light from getting to the retina. Those having the opposite problem of not being able to see up close also has part of the cornea removed with the laser Instead of the middle material the laser cuts away from the edge of the cornea so that the light no longer over shoots the retina.

A patient is given a painkiller that is applied to the cornea of the eye before surgery. The eyelids are taped open and a metal tool called a speculum is applied to keep the eyelids apart. The surgeon makes a small makes a small cut on the cornea that creates a flap. The laser then removes the material from the cornea that makes it impossible for the light to focus in the correct area. The flap is put back where it belongs and stitched back into place. The procedure does not take long and though there may be some discomfort there is not any extreme pain involved. The laser is pre programmed and automated so there is little chance that there can be any mistakes.

A person who has had the same eyesight for a long period of time is a perfect person for the surgery. Usually young people's prescriptions change frequently so they might not be able to get the surgery. A person with a thinner than average cornea cannot have the surgery either because removing material from a thin cornea can damage it permanently. Those with the vision loss due to age called presbyopia and those with an astigmatism can have the surgery done.

Health insurance usually will not pay for laser surgery. There are those doctors that will accept payments but most want to be paid the entire amount before surgery commences. Make sure to find a doctor that has done many surgeries. Do not go to a doctor that advertises a cheap rate and has not done many surgeries. Laser surgery will cost about USD $1500 at the least and $3500 at the most so watch out for added expenses after surgery by a doctor charging less.

This type of surgery is major surgery. It will take some preparation to have it and if you wear contacts you will not be allowed to wear them for a while prior to surgery. This may be just a few days or up to a month or so. Afterwards eye makeup must be avoided and a guard is placed over the eye to protect it while sleeping. There are drops to be put in the eye periodically to prevent dry eye and a chance that you may have to take an antibiotic to prevent an infection. Some people see relatively well right after surgery but it might take some time with others however, approximately ninety percent of people having laser eye surgery are able to see clearly without having to wear corrective lenses.