The Real Dangers of Mosquito Bites

August 24th, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in Health Research

Mosquito bites are seldom considered pleasant. In fact, depending on your particular reaction, they are quite unpleasant. The result can range from annoying itching to extremely painful. For some folks, a mosquito bite isn’t just a nasty irritation; it can mean a very serious illness.

Most areas in the world don’t’ really have to be worried about most of these diseases because they affect large populations elsewhere. But remember that just because you live in an area where these diseases are rare, it doesn’t guarantee they won’t be contracted.

In order to survive and reproduce, the female mosquito needs to drink blood. They have specially designed mounts, able to pierce the skin and directly ingest blood. Just like a disease can enter your body through the using of dirty needles, the diseases can be carried via the mosquito from one host to another. Odd, but the mosquito is actually immune to these diseases it spreads; but the animals and people it bites are not.

Malaria is most commonly known and one of the most dangerous diseases spread by the mosquito. It is actually a parasite that infects the liver and eventually spreads to the blood. Without treatment, malaria causes major organ damage and on occasion, death. While it is preventable and treatable, 300 million people are infected, and one million people die of it every year, because treatment is not readily available all around the world.

The most commonly known and dangerous disease spread by mosquitoes is malaria. This is a parasite that infects the liver and eventually spreads to the blood. If left untreated, it can cause major organ damage and even death. While it is preventable and treatable, 300 million people are infected and 1 million people die of it every year around the world because the treatment is not readily available.

A less known disease is dengue fever. There are different types of this disease and symptoms vary from a simple skin rash to uncontrollable bleeding and death. The fatality rate is low and there is no cure. The range of this disease is growing and expanding each year as mosquitoes adapt to new climate areas around the globe.

Some illnesses caused by mosquitoes are quick acting, however others, like elephantiasis affects the victim during their entire life. Children in areas of Africa and India most often contract the disease, but most children don’t develop the symptoms.

Instead, the disease slowly damages the kidneys and lymphatic systems as they grow. Symptoms, including damage to the extremities and reproductive organs begin to appear once the child reaches adulthood.

West Nile Virus is rare, but is becoming an increased threat in all countries; even those which are developed. The disease causes few or no symptoms and in 90 percent of the people who contract it, it can still make others severely ill causing fatigue, pain, shaking, and possible death. The effects of the disease stay with the patient long after the main symptoms are gone.

While still fairly rare, West Nile virus has become an increasing threat even in developed countries. While the disease causes few or no symptoms in 90% of the people who contract it, it can make others severely ill causing fatigue, severe pain, shaking, and possibly death. The effects of the disease can affect patients long after the symptoms are gone.

Is there a way to avoid these bites? Yes. And although most of these diseases can be treated easily, the best cure is to never have been bitten at all. If you are going to be in an outside area where there is water or forested areas, be certain to take a good mosquito repellent along whenever you are going outside, especially in watery or forested areas. If you are going to be around your house and in the yard, put out citronella candles and other insect repellent. Also eliminate all standing water from your yard by eliminating birdbaths, rain gutters, and standing water in ponds.

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Finding Your Health Diet: Free Video

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Health Video Reviews

This clip discusses the answer to the question “What is the healthiest diet?”, saying that we know it’s a plant-based diet, but how much emphasis is on starches versus vegetables. Two medical giants, John McDougall MD and Joel Fuhrman MD, discuss and debate the question.

Overall Rating (1-5): 4

Entertainment Rating: 4

Intriguing discussion about what a healthy diet should really include.

Instructional Rating: 4

Some interesting theories and ideas about the role of starch and vegetables in the diet.

More information: http://youtube.com/user/headveg

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Weight Loss That Doesn’t Suck: Have fun getting fit!

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Weight Loss

Weight loss does not always have to be hard work or boring. There are lots of ways you could find to get rid of a few pounds without feeling like you are torturing yourself. In fact it is important to try and make it fun, rather than hard work, so that you can keep yourself motivated.

Getting your partner involved is one of the easiest ways to achieve it. Having a workout buddy means there is someone there to encourage you to get exercising when you are lacking motivation. They will also see the results of the exercise and let you know how well you are doing. If you are overweight, you often see the same image of yourself even when you have lost some weight, so having someone else point it out can be a great boost.

5 ways to make exercise more interesting

1. One of the great calorie burners that you can practice for free is sex! Getting romantic with your partner could not only help you lose weight, it could do wonders for your relationship.

2. Massages can be great for moving the toxins out the body and if done properly - ie. not just a 5 second light rub, but a full body deep massage - can be hard work for the person giving the massage. Take it in turns with your partner and get them to first you a massage to get all those toxins moving and then swap and give them a massage. You might be surprised how many muscles you use doing what appears to be a simple task.

3. If you do not have a punch bag at home, you might consider getting one. You can imagine the bag is someone you dislike, or a boss that makes your life impossible at work, or even imagine all of that unwanted weight in the punch bag and get to work on it. The simple exercise of visualizing what is causing you stress and anxiety and then releasing all of that aggression into the punch will get rid of both calories and stress.

4. Exercising your pets can get you out of the house as well as burning calories. If all you usually do is open the back door and let them relieve themselves, think about going to the park or the beach. Rather than keeping dogs on a short leash, let it out a little so that they are taking you for a walk rather the other way around. This will make you walk a bit faster than usual and burn off extra calories.

5. Dancing is great fun and lift your mood as well as being a form of exercise. Put on your favorite record, turn it up as loud as your neighbors can stand and dance like you´ve never danced before. No-one is watching so you can wriggle your behind, play air-guitar, jump up and down and go crazy. As long as you are doing more than just calmly shuffling your feet from side to side you will burn some calories.

So you see, exercising does not have to be boring and if you can get your partner involved, even better!

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Men and Substance Abuse

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Did you know that men are twice as likely to be addicted to alcohol and other substances as women? Substance abuse of any kind is in itself, quite frightening, and unfortunately, it can lead to other dangerous behaviors. It’s important to be informed so you can be sure your family is protected.

But we wouldn’t be covering the whole issue by saying just that men are more likely than women. While it is a fact that men are more likely to abuse alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana, women are as likely to become addicted to many hard drugs. Actually, they are more likely than men to become addicted to prescription drugs like pain medications.

Let’s take a look at what specifically makes men more likely to abuse substances like drugs and alcohol. Actually, it is in part due to the many physical and psychological differences between men and women.

Some substances have a different effect on men than on women. One example is cocaine, which has been shown to have a great effect on men. Scientists think this might be the difference in whether men or women get addicted, but there is no way to tell for sure, because the effect of drugs is very difficult to measure. One can measure the physical effects, but it is quite difficult to determine exactly how different drugs make each gender feel.

When a man first uses a drug, he has the likelihood similar to that of a woman as far as becoming addicted. What this indicates is that while there are differences in what drugs to do each gender, the real determining factor is what prompts a person to start or try the drug; no what gets them addicted.

One a man starts using a drug; he generally has the same likelihood of becoming an addict as a woman. This means that while there may be differences in what drugs do to men and women, the biggest determining factors are what cause them to start, not what gets them addicted.

Men usually have more access and more offers to try a drug. They start using substances like alcohol, marijuana and tobacco, often while they are in their teens. Men in this age group have a certain feeling of invincibility and are actually more likely to participate in reckless behavior than their female counterparts.

Also, more men become and stay addicted to substances because they are more likely to relapse when they try to quit. One significant study showed a significantly higher number of men relapsed during a six month rehabilitation period.

Researchers at first thought the differences may be due to less drug use by women in the first place added to the fact that women may have had ore support. But the data didn’t show that any of this had an effect. What did seem to matter is whether or not the person fully participated in the group therapy part of recover; a segment more adapted for women.

When you determine that someone you know is abusing substances, or if you suspect they might be, you can try to get them into a treatment program. No program is perfect; there are many men who have to overcome substance abuse. Be sure to talk with a doctor or a counselor about programs specifically for men that may be available.

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Fighting Fevers: How to deal with sickness

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

When we run a fever, it is our body’s way of eliminating a problem. Usually, the best and most normal way to treat a fever is to simply wait it out. However, sometimes a fever can be uncomfortable and quite painful, so it’s good to understand a few things that can help lower a temperature and make the person suffering, a bit more comfortable. This is important because fevers make a body feel achy and exhausted. If you can offer some relief, the patient will rest better and be on the road to recovery much quicker.

Usually when someone has a fever, it is accompanied by any number of other ailments. The most common are: headache, chills, no appetite, vomiting, nausea, digestion issues, to name just a few. The reason for this is that the fever itself is usually not the problem. It’s merely one symptom of a larger ailment, and the symptoms that accompany the fever will present themselves dependent on what the larger problem is.

Usually a fever is a pretty good indication of an infection. However, fevers are also caused by too much sun, an allergy, reaction to an immunization, or because of extremely hot weather. Always keep a close eye on anyone who has a fever. Be sure to take their temperature often to be sure the fever isn’t getting higher.

Also, it’s very important to keep the person hydrated. Chances are the patient won’t want to drink anything due to the fact their stomach is upset. But keeping fluids in their system will assist the body and help it to work more efficiently regulate body temperature so the person will begin to recover quicker.

Extra support is needed if the patient is vomiting or has diarrhea. It is extremely important in those cases to replace fluids to be sure the patient doesn’t dehydrate. Sometimes, a person that can’t drink or keep down water will be able to tolerate flattened soda such as Sprite or 7Up.

In most cases, administering acetaminophen will help to reduce the fever as well as take away some of the aches and pains. Remember - Never give aspirin to anyone with a fever; especially children.

Keep the patient as cool as possible. Although people with a fever usually feel chilled and ask for blankets to keep warm, it will actually have the opposite effect. Blankets keep in the heat, and trap it near the body which prevents the temperature from dropping, and can also raise it. You can offer them a cool room with light clothing or offer them a lukewarm sponge bath or regular bath if they feel up to it.

Most fevers respond well to treatment at home, however, there are cases that sometimes require trained medical help. Always see a doctor for a fever higher than 104 degrees, or one which has sustained for several days.

Also, if the patient is confused, has a rash, convulsions, a stiff neck, difficulty breathing, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or finds it painful to urinate, it’s vital to consult with or see a doctor as soon as possible.

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Free Iyengar Video: Pranayama Video

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Free Yoga Videos

BKS Iyengar explains the high importance of concentrated breathing techniques in yoga practice.

Overall Rating (1-5): 2

Entertainment Rating: 2

Excerpt from a talk by BKS Iyengar, explaining and demonstrating breathing techniques.

Instructional Rating: 2

Interesting, but the clip is too short to take away any real information.

More information: http://youtube.com/user/frikaloopa

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Weight Loss for Lazy People: Easy ways to get fit fast!

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Weight Loss

Exercising does not have to mean spending lots of money on equipment or gym membership which you will probably never use. There are little exercises you can do as you go about your daily life that can all add up and help you lose some of those extra pounds.

10 easy exercises

  1. Walk instead of taking the car or the bus. If you leave a little earlier you can include simple walking exercise in your day. If your destination is too far to walk all the way, get off the bus, park further away than you normally do and use the distance remaining for some walking exercise.
  2. Squeeze those stomach muscles by tucking in your stomach. In this way you will exercise the muscles in your stomach and can be done when you are sitting, driving or walking.
  3. Breathing exercises, if done properly can also exercise your mid-section muscles. If breathing correctly and not shallow breathing, you should feel the muscles working each and every time you breathe in and out.
  4. Don´t leave your phone in your bag or within easy reach. Leave it somewhere where you will have to get up to get it if it rings. Such a simple little thing will make sure you are not sitting down all day and get your body moving, even if only for a short while.
  5. In the same way, don´t use the remote control. Get up and change the television or music player manually. That way you get the blood circulating and avoid becoming a couch potato.
  6. Use the stairs instead of the elevator for a quick heart boosting exercise. You might not want to do this if you need to get to the 19th floor, but you can only get off at least one floor below and walk the last stretch. As you practice you can increase this and get off at the 18th, then the 17th….
  7. Flex your muscles whenever you find yourself waiting. It could be at the bus stop, in an elevator, at the coffee machine - anywhere! You can clench and release your buttock and stomach muscles, or raise yourself up on your toes and down again.
  8. Sit properly in your chair - when you slouch not only are you heading for a back and neck ache, you will also give yourself a flabby figure. Sit up straight, tuck your tummy in and you will look thinner and feel better.
  9. Carry a ball or a frisbee around with you in your bag or car. Whenever you get the chance and are in an open space such as the park or the beach, throw it as far as you can and fetch it. Not only will it get you to exercise, it can be a great stress-reliever as well.
  10. Stretch whenever you can - this can be simple stretching exercises such as bending down to pick something up or reaching over to get something instead of walking over to it. This simple exercises will not only exercise your muscles, it will make you feel less tense aswell.

You can also make up your own little exercises and fit it in to your daily work and home routine. Try it, its easy and fun and will make you feel better.

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Healing Foods: Nothing beats a home-cooked meal

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Can our lives get any busier? It seems we’re always on the move, running form one place to another for our own work, our husband’s, or with our kids. This type of schedule makes it really tempting to stop at the first fast food place on the way, instead of waiting to get home and cook something.

Why not? Fast food is fast, cheap, offers a good variety and they are convenient. Usually you’ll find at least one on every corner. This may seem like a great answer, but the next time you’re tempted to stop and pick up something fast or through a window, think for a moment about how much better home cooked meals are for your family.

Like most restaurant chains, fast food restaurants build up their name by providing the same foods, or similar) at all their establishments. That way, no matter where you are: at home or in a town far away, you’ll find your favorite dish. This is how they keep their repeat customers coming back.

The concern with these fast food chains is the method they use to provide that same product at every store. This is done by mass producing food at factories that are usually very far from where you’re actually going to eat. In order to keep the food appetizing, appearing fresh and tasty, it’s filled with plenty of preservatives, coloring and flavoring. Then, the food is frozen until it is shipped or purchased: Sometimes for very long periods of time.

Fast food manufacturers designed it to be just that - fast. But it’s also designed to taste in such a way to hook your appetite and keep you coming back for more. Chains focus on taste and speed; pushing the customer’s health completely aside, because it lacks fiber, is high in fat, calories, sugar, salt, and fat.

Although there have been a rash of lawsuits which have supposedly caused such fast food chains to provide more healthy options on their menu, these items are usually more expensive and still, they really aren’t very healthy.

One example is a salad. This always seems like a good choice, but keep in mind most chain restaurants use cheese, bacon, high fat dressing, croutons and other unhealthy ingredients.

But before you drag out the frying pan to begin your own home cooked meal, remember that just because you cook it at home doesn’t mean it isn’t “fast food,” Prepared, boxed or prepackaged meals are usually fairly easy to prepare, and as a result, many have the same problems the fast food chains do - high in fat and calories; low in nutrition.

One idea, if you really want to have something you can quickly pull from the freezer and heat up, is to cook meals for the coming week and freeze them for later in the week. At the same time, especially if you involved the kids, you can put together lunches and snacks for those times when you get the fast food urge. If you absolutely must use prepackaged foods, use it in moderation and always read labels and ingredients lists, not just fat and calories, to be sure you really are making healthy choices.

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Vegan Lifestyle Video: Finding Compassion

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Health Video Reviews

Rev. Heng Sure, PhD, talks about compassion, humanity, friends and family.He gives personal examples of examples of compassion that he has experienced in his own life, and describes the human experience and need for compassion using the principle of ubuntu: people become people through other people. He suggests taking this further, and applying it to all creatures through a vegan lifestyle.

Overall Rating (1-5): 4

Entertainment Rating: 4

Interesting talk about veganism from the angle of compassion for living creatures.

Instructional Rating: 3

Some interesting ideas and theories worth exploring.

More information: http://youtube.com/user/headveg

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Pet Health Insurance… Are you kidding?

August 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Have you ever considered that your pet needs the same medical protection that you have? Most of us agree that health insurance for ourselves and our families is a good investment. Whether we need it or not, it’s always there in case of a serious accident or illness. But what about your pet? Do you have his health care insured as well?

Although pet health insurance is a relative new concept to most folks, companies have been writing such policies for more than 20 years. In the past, the insurance was only offered by small insurance companies catering to pet owners who were very rich and very dedicated. But now, major insurance providers are offering individuals pet health insurance policies as an option to their own policies. Good idea? Or is it just a waste of money.

Actually, with the rising cost of vet care for pets as well as people, insurance for your four legged friend may not be such a bad idea. Vets have had to raise their prices in order to cover the rising costs of their business, making it more costly to keep your pet healthy.

Indulging pets has actually become fashionable. Whereas pets used to have a specific role, now you’ll find them considered as part of the family. Dog bakeries, clothing, accessories, housing, kennels, and even dog weddings attest to that fact. It’s only natural that as attached as we have become to our pets, the thought of losing them or seeing them ill or in pain becomes difficult.

Even 20 years ago, most pets that were seriously ill were usually put down. Not only was there limited technology for treating animals, but those which were available, were very costly. Now there are more procedures and better technology and so more can be done to be sure pets live longer and are healthier. Unfortunately, like most things, they are accompanied by higher costs.

Statistically, pet insurance might actually cost you more money in the long run than the service it provides. But, just like regular health care for people, it does protect your pet in the event of an illness or accident that could quickly add up to the thousands of dollars. Having at least part of the expense covered makes it more likely that a pet will not be put down.

Of course, pet health insurance is not for everyone. You have to weigh the pros and cons and decide if the extra expense is really worth it to you and your family. It could cost a considerable sum of money, but it may also save your pet’s life.

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