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‘Health’ Category

Getting Help for Depression

February 12, 2012 by Napauzi

At some point in their lives, many people will begin to suspect they are suffering from clinical depression. Usually depression will be prompted by stressful life events like a divorce, loss of a job, or a death in the family, but for some people there is no clear cause or trigger. Sometimes depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, or even a reaction to boredom. Whatever the reason, depression needs to be treated promptly, before symptoms get worse and cause further interruption in the afflicted person’s life.

If depression is suspected, reading about the symptoms on a reliable website can help to verify the diagnosis, and then medical help should be sought quickly so that recovery can begin. Prompt treatment is very important, since depression can get much worse and harder to reverse over time. If you try to fix your problems yourself, without expert help, you may not find much success and then learned helplessness could set in. Learned helplessness occurs when the sufferer begins to believe nothing can help them and there is no way out of their situation. It can be very detrimental to future treatment, because without belief that help is available, those who suffer from learned helplessness may not seek treatment at all or not be able to cooperate when they do receive help.

Most people know that when depression is left untreated, suicide can be the end result. What they don’t know is that people who commit suicide often do not give any obvious warning signs before doing so. Many times, suicide attempts involving letters or phone calls confessing the desire to commit suicide are more a cry for help (for depression) than an actual attempt. When a person truly wants to commit suicide, they will usually do so with no such warnings; therefore, if someone you know seems to be suffering from depression, getting help now is the best course of action. They can be helped before their depression spirals out of control and they begin to secretly contemplate suicide.

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Get Healthier Hair

February 9, 2012 by Napauzi

Is your hair constantly breaking, leaving uneven dead ends? Is it dull, dry, and difficult to manage? Do you wish you had strong, healthy and shiny hair like the models on shampoo commercials? If so, you might have been trying all sorts of products with minimal or no success. This is because your hair needs to be healthy in order to be beautiful and manageable. Having healthy hair is not about using the right shampoo or buying the most expensive styling products. Healthy hair starts from within, with the foods you eat to nourish all the parts of your body.

Like fingernails that become brittle and crack easily, or skin that is dull and sickly, hair also reflects the state of your general health. In order to restore health to your hair, you will need to start feeding your body the nutrients it needs for growth and protection of healthy cells. The main vitamins for hair growth are the B vitamins, especially biotin, also known as B7.

You can get your B vitamins from a variety of sources. Eating a balanced and healthy diet is always the best way to make sure you’re getting the proper nutrition, but many people also choose to supplement with vitamins in pill form. This can be great for many reasons, such as those days you get a little too busy to eat as well as you should, or for those who aren’t nutrition experts and just want to be extra sure they’re getting enough vitamins. Keep in mind when you purchase your vitamin supplements to get one containing between 5000 and7500 micrograms of biotin, as this is the recommended dosage for this vitamin. In fact, make sure you are getting all of your recommended daily allowance (known as RDA) for all of the B vitamins. This will not only help your hair grow faster and thicker, but will keep you healthy overall.

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Get Your Vitamin D

January 19, 2012 by Napauzi

Vitamin D has always been promoted as a protector of bone health, but recent research has shown it may be important for other reasons as well. For one thing, it can help to boost your immune system. Another reason to get enough vitamin D in your diet is to fight depression. If you’re feeling run-down and tired lately, get sick frequently, or think you may have a mild case of depression, then making sure your diet contains vitamin D is essential.

Most people know vitamin D has long been added to milk, but what if you’re a vegan or simply don’t like the taste of milk? There are definitely other ways to get this important nutrient into your system. Your body actually produces its own vitamin D when you’re exposed to sunlight. When your mother used to say, “go get some fresh air and sunshine”, she was actually right. Exposure to sunlight every day can help your body produce vitamin D and help ward off depression.

Like people, some mushrooms also produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Therefore, adding certain kinds of mushrooms to your diet can help you get the vitamin D your body needs. Since mushrooms are usually grown in the dark, you will have to check food labels to find the ones grown under UV lights. These are the ones that contain vitamin D. Some brands of orange juice are also fortified with vitamin D, but this is another time you will have to check food labels to be sure. Some brands of cereal are also fortified with the vitamin. Look for varieties made from whole grains, without a lot of added sugar.

If you truly have a difficult time getting vitamin D in your diet, and you live in a high-latitude area or one that gets little sunshine, there are a couple of ways to get the vitamin into your system regardless. There are UV lights you can purchase, and like a pet lizard or snake, you will just need to sit under this lamp for a few minutes to an hour a day. Also, you can take vitamin supplements. As with most supplements, it is best to get these nutrients from food sources, but they are a good backup plan if you have difficulty doing this through diet alone.

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Curing the Winter Blues

January 12, 2012 by Napauzi

It’s that time of year for the winter blues. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, when the Earth tilts away from the sun and we suffer from the effects of less sunlight, depression and the “blahs” can set in quickly. Since depression can have a negative effect on our work and personal relationships, it’s important to try and ward it off before it even begins. There are a few things you can do to cure your winter blues and keep your mood boosted during the cold months of the year.

Obviously, the best thing would be to take a vacation somewhere warm and tropical. Luxury family holidays have always been the best pick-me-up in the winter. You can return from a week on a tropical island feeling relaxed, looking tanned and glowing, and get back to your regular life feeling refreshed and energized. Usually a week’s worth of sunshine, fresh air, and the soothing sound of waves crashing on the shore will be all your mind needs for a quick reset.

If a vacation is out of the question, you need to at least get enough sunlight to ward off depression. It has been scientifically proven that the shorter days in the winter contribute to that blah feeling, but it’s not about the cold or snow. It’s about sunlight. Purchase a special light designed to fight depression and spend some time every day soaking up the rays. You can mount it by your desk or computer and get the rays you need while you work, or you may want to set it up at home, and relax under it reading a book. You might even purchase a sound machine with ocean sounds – it sounds silly, but many people find it soothing and relaxing to mimic the effects of a beach vacation.

The last thing you should try is exercise. Yes, it is cold outside and the idea of going out in it may be daunting. However, once you move around and get your blood pumping, you will warm up nicely. Then you can enjoy the positive effects of the chemicals released during exercise. It will boost your mood and leave you feeling energized and ready to face the rest of the day.

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How Electronic Cigarettes Actually Work

January 10, 2012 by Napauzi

Electronic cigarettes are quickly becoming a popular alternative to regular cigarettes, but many people are still confused about how they actually work.

When most people think about something being “electronic” they picture something that has to be turned on with a switch. With a cigarette they may picture it generating heat somehow, perhaps like flipping a switch to turn on a flame. That is actually pretty far from the truth.

An electronic cigarette, or smokeless cigarette as they are sometimes called, runs off of rechargeable batteries. There are no switches, on or off buttons, or complicated settings of any sort. In order to activate the atomizer, all you have to do is take a puff off it the cigarette. A sensor inside tells the atomizer to turn the liquid inside into water vapor, which is what you “smoke”. There is an LED light on the end of the cigarette, but this is only for appearance to add to the feel of smoking a regular cigarette. It lights up when you take a puff, but is not meant to indicate heat or flame.

The battery in an e-cigarette can last up to a week for a casual smoker, or about five hours for someone who smokes heavily. Like a cell phone, how long the battery lasts will depend upon how often you use the device. An e-cigarette starter kit comes with a charger. The device works very simply, and the only thing you really have to do is recharge it regularly and replace cartridges when they are empty. Cartridges last about the same length of time as a pack of regular cigarettes, so you can use that to estimate how often you would need to purchase more cartridges.

Finding the best e cig is a matter of personal taste. Reading reviews can help to narrow down the choices. Some people may prefer the taste of a certain brand of products, while others may appreciate a long-lasting battery more. What you will choose will ultimately depend upon price and the features that matter most to you.

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Healthier Choices for a New Year

January 8, 2012 by Napauzi

Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions have to do with health. People commonly vow to quit smoking, stop drinking alcohol, or exercise daily. People also commonly quit these resolution after about two weeks. Why? It could be that they’re making too many huge changes all at once. Rather than driving yourself crazy trying to completely overhaul your lifestyle all at once, why not try to make a few smaller changes? Maybe “getting healthy” is overwhelming if you’re not a perfectionist, but getting healthier is within reach.

For instance, many people last about a week when trying to quit smoking. It’s a huge change. Aside from the nicotine addiction, missing the actual habit of holding something in your hand and putting it in your mouth can leave you feeling strange and uncomfortable when you try to go cold-turkey. If you want to get healthier but can’t quit smoking altogether, try switching to electronic cigarettes. You can lower your nicotine intake by selecting a brand that contains less of the drug than your regular cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are also better because you technically don’t smoke them; instead, you inhale water vapor. They also don’t contain all of the added chemicals and tar found in regular cigarettes. Try reading an electronic cigarette review to see how customers are enjoying this great product.

Another way to get healthier, without kicking a habit entirely, is to switch from hard liquor to wine. Yes, it may take a bit of time to get used to the different taste, but you acquired a taste for liquor at some point, too. Red wine, in particular, carries some health benefits when consumed in moderation. It’s certainly healthier than hard liquor, but you can still enjoy a relaxing drink in the evening.

If you wish you could exercise more, but either don’t have the time or simply hate it, try at least going for a walk each day. Any exercise is better than no exercise, and getting some sunlight can ward off depression as well. Walking is a great exercise for those who hate running or don’t want to spend hours in the gym. You might not look like a bodybuilder after a few months, but you will still be healthier than you would have been if you’d spent that time lying on the couch.

The bottom line is to not overwhelm yourself with huge changes, but do what you can.

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Solutions for Acne Problems

December 16, 2011 by Napauzi

Acne can wreck your self esteem, impact your social life, and can even be physically painful. If you’re wondering how to get rid of acne there are several different solutions you can try. What works for you will ultimately depend upon what was causing the acne in the first place. Most people try several different acne treatments before they find the one that works for them. Sometimes one treatment alone will not do the trick, and multiple preventive methods need to be utilized.

The old expression, “you are what you eat” is actually quite true. If you eat unhealthy junk food that lacks nutritious value, it will show in your skin. If it helps, remind yourself that your skin is actually an organ. Just like drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will cause cirrhosis of the liver, or smoking cigarettes will cause tar to build up in your lungs, eating unhealthy foods will damage your skin over time. Lower the amount of sugars and empty calories you consume, and instead fill up on nutritious fruits and vegetables, and you will begin to see a difference in your skin.

Common topical treatments for acne usually include the ingredients benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Each of these chemicals penetrate the skin and work differently to prevent and cure acne, so you may need to experiment to discover which type of product works best for you. Often the solution is to use a face wash containing benzoyl peroxide followed by a toner containing salicylic acid. This way your skin will benefit from the unique properties of both ingredients.

Lifestyle changes can also help cure your acne. Acne is often caused by hormone imbalances that are related to stress, so getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and taking any other necessary measures to reduce stress can also reduce breakouts. Some people also find that high levels of caffeine stimulate their stress hormones and aggravate acne.

If you try diet, lifestyle changes, and topical treatments and still suffer from a significant amount of acne, it may be time for a visit to a dermatologist to discuss more aggressive options. For tougher acne problems you may need laser treatments, birth control pills, or the prescription medicine Accutane.

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Neck Injuries and Cervical Stenosis

December 4, 2011 by Napauzi

If you’ve injured your neck in a car accident or some other type of accident, you may initially feel fine. Then days, months, or even years later you may start to suffer the effects of your injury. Trauma to the neck area can cause a variety of injuries, but one that may not show up for a while is cervical stenosis. This condition is caused by compression of the spinal cord in the neck region, and pain can range from mild to very severe. Sometimes an injury to the area will cause mild damage to the vertebrae around the nerve cord, and symptoms will not be noticed until much later, after the vertebrae degenerates further.

These types of injuries to the neck are seen often in sports medicine. A practice called “spearing” or leading the tackle with the head, was actually banned in football due to the high number of very damaging neck injuries that occurred as a result of the tactic. Any athlete who participates in a contact sport is at risk of damage to the neck and spinal cord. Usually these injuries are diagnosed with imaging techniques such as x-ray, where the trauma and compression of the cord are clearly visible.

If you suffer a traumatic injury to the neck, you should be aware of the symptoms of cervical stenosis just in case they arise at a later time. Other than persistent pain in the neck, you may feel numbness or tingling in your shoulders, arms, and hands. Another similar symptom is a pins and needles sensation in the arms and legs. You may also sense a loss of balance, which may cause you to walk or stand awkwardly. Clumsiness in the hands is another common symptom. In severe cases, you may have difficulties with bladder or bowel control.

If cervical stenosis is the diagnosis, it may be controlled with anti-inflammatory medications or painkillers. You may wish to seek other methods for managing the pain as well, such as massage, acupuncture, and either a heating pad or an ice pack, depending upon what appeals to you. The only permanent solution, however, is surgery to relieve the pressure on your spinal cord.

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Prevent Hepatitis and Liver Disease

December 2, 2011 by Napauzi

One of the primary causes of liver disease symptoms is infection with hepatitis. There are three main strains of hepatitis, known as hepatitis A, B, or C, with other strains (D and E) being less common. Hepatitis is caused by a viral infection passed through bodily fluids such as blood and fecal matter, and causes inflammation of the liver.

The easiest way to prevent hepatitis is through vaccination. Currently there are two vaccinations available, for hepatitis A and B, but a shot to protect against hepatitis C has not yet been developed. The incidence of hepatitis C in blood banks has been greatly reduced in recent years, but anyone who receives a blood transfusion or works with blood products in labs is at risk. There have also been cases of hepatitis C being passed through sexual contact. For this reason condoms are recommended to protect against hepatitis infection, although it has not been proven that condoms offer 100 percent protection.

Hepatitis A is usually passed through water or food products which have been contaminated with fecal matter. For this reason, hand-washing is important before preparing food. It is not possible to know if the food you eat in a restaurant was prepared by someone with hepatitis A, or whether they washed their hands, so eating at establishments with high health ratings is your best bet for preventing infection with this virus. Hepatitis A can also be contracted directly from an infected person through kissing or sex (particularly anal sex). Since a vaccination does exist, that is probably your safest method of avoiding the disease.

Hepatitis B is also spread through bodily fluids. The vaccination lasts for approximately five years, so anyone who works in the health care industry or child care (where they come into contact with feces and other bodily fluids) should regularly schedule a vaccination. Using condoms during sexual activities can help prevent infections that way, and wearing gloves while handling trash or other items which might contain bodily fluids is also important.

If you experience any liver disease symptoms or suspect you might have contracted any form of hepatitis, see your doctor for testing and prompt treatment. Until then, prevent spreading it to others by always washing your hands before preparing food, using condoms during sex, and not sharing food or engaging in any other activities in which your bodily fluids are shared with others.

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Vitamin Supplements for Healthy Skin

November 29, 2011 by Napauzi

Everyone knows that vitamins can be helpful for everything from preventing heart disease and cancer to having more energy. There are also many vitamins which promote strong and healthy skin, hair, and nails. Most of us automatically reach for a cream of some sort when we suffer a breakout, and we use makeup to cover bothersome spots or give ourselves the appearance of a healthy glow. It is actually healthier, and even easier, to feed our skin the nutrients it needs for good health. With the right vitamins many common skin problems can be avoided or alleviated. While it is best to get these nutrients straight from food, supplements can be an acceptable way of getting these essential vitamins into your system.

There are three main vitamins for healthy skin. These are Vitamins A, E, and C. Their specific usage may vary according to what type of skin problems you are suffering; usually, you will want to supplement with all of them since they are beneficial in other ways as well. Identifying your particular needs can be helpful, though.

If you suffer from acne, you will want to get more Vitamin A into your body right away. There are actually Vitamin A creams you can use topically, as well as supplements in pill form. One word of caution: an overdose of Vitamin A can actually be harmful. In fact, too much of this vitamin can cause birth defects if you overdo it while you’re pregnant. As long as you’re taking the recommended dosage, you will be safe. Just don’t overdo it, thinking you will cure your skin problems faster. You will just end up causing another health problem for yourself.

Vitamins C and E are great for anti-aging regimens. This also come in pill form, although many beauty product manufacturers have begun including them in topical creams as well. Vitamin C, in particular, is good for the immune system and can help your body ward off infections. Since some forms of acne are infections deep under the skin, making sure to get plenty of Vitamin C in your diet may be helpful with that problem as well.

Above all, remember that supplements are called such for a reason: they should supplement a healthy diet. It is a great idea to take them in order to maximize the effects of a healthy, nutrient-rich diet, but they should not be a substitute for eating well.

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