Healthy lifestyle Journey

Archive for the ‘Dept Of Health’ Category

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint is a crippling disease that affects the entire joint including the articular cartilage, bone, and soft tissues. It is the most common form of joint disease, and the main cause of musculoskeletal disability in the aging population group. OA is a very frustrating and painful condition that affects an individual’s freedom of movement.

Osteoarthritis of the knee causes a roughening and thinning of the cartilage, the semi-hard tissue that sandwiches (cushioning) between the upper and lower leg bones. Knee cartilage is called ‘meniscus’ and forms a disk-like shaped cushion protecting the leg bones from impact during hinged movement. In the beginning stages of OA of the knee, and in progression of the disease, the meniscus develops cracks and gradually wears away. Physical symptoms resulting in pain, stiffness, grinding noises are noticed as bone rubs against bone.

Recently, a ten year nutritional study was conducted on 300 healthy, middled aged adults, who had no physical signs of knee joint pain or injuries. The study participants amounts and frequency of fruit consumption, as they are notably high in antioxidant vitamin C nutrition and water content, were estimated upon entry into the study period.

Ten years later, the study subjects were tested for cartilage volume, bone mass, cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The lead investigative author of this published study, Yuanyuan Wang, Dept. of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia used MRI as a reliable visual tool to measure the results. MRI is currently the best, and most non-evasive, method of viewing joint structure in normalcy or in stages of disease.

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This decade-long study indicated the impact of increased vitamin C levels on OA disease of the knee, by a lessening of bone marrow lesions, and reduction of bone size, both are important predictors of this disease, by 50 percent.

In a similar study conducted by Dr. Timothy E. McAlindon, a rheumatologist at Boston University Medical Center, published the results of an 8-year dietary investigation performed on 556 elderly individuals. McAlindon found those, whose knee x-rays showed signs of early stages of OA, were not as likely to experience the full-blown progression of the joint disease eight years later if their dietary intake and blood levels of vitamin D were higher than the recommended daily amount. Most of the participants in this study supplemented with vitamin D.

Dr. McAlindon, and other colleagues involved in this particular study, theorized that vitamin C may help repair and maintain collagen, a major component of cartilage. They also maintain a recognizable fact, among medical researchers, of vitamin D’s positive, hormone-like affects on bone cells and growth, and that vitamin D may affect the surrounding bone material in joints as well. They agree that supplementation of vitamin D may be warranted for people who, geographically, live where they can not freely partake of it from the sun year round.

And, while I am in agreement with the importance of these promising new investigative studies, that focus on basic nutrient’s protective and slowing down powers in relationship to joint disease with their increased intakes, why does adequate hydration levels seem to be, largely, ignored?

According to Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., Author of “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water”, states, “that arthritic joints and their pain are to be viewed as indicators of a water deficiency in the affected joint cartilage surfaces. In some arthritis pain, a salt shortage may also be a factor. The cartilage surfaces of bones in a joint contain a lot of water. The lubricating property of this ‘held water’ is used in the cartilage from the two opposing surfaces to freely glide over one another during joint movement”.

While more dietary studies are certainly welcome, and would definitely be helpful in confirming earlier test study results, how might including the investigation of what most people drink every day have on the beneficial effects of nutrient therapy? Especially, as it is estimated that around three-quarters of the human population is walking around in a state of chronic dehydration. The reason seems to be because there are so many different types of home prepared (or manufactured) beverages competing with our voluntary choice in what to be drinking instead of pure water, and it is commonly considered not unimportant knowledge by most people, medically educated or not.

When a certain individual may not seem to be benefiting from nutrient therapy, alone, in the prevention of joint disease, how might increasing their pure water intake level effect the overall out come? As Dr. B points out, in his wildly popular self-help book, in his simplistic, educated, and 20 plus years of clinical experience using water as a medicine, water seems to be the glue-like fluid substance that binds all this other stuff together. Without adequate water levels inside the body, the healing effects of nature’s basic nutrients will not be fully enjoyed or experienced.

If you are not getting enough sleep (and many millions of us are not), you need to zero in on why this is happening and what you can do about it.

Click for Natural Sleep Secrets Cure Insomnia

Some nights you feel like you never close your eyes. Or you fall asleep just fine, but then you wake up and watch the clock. If this sounds familiar, a good night’s sleep regularly escapes you. This can mean more than just some next-day grogginess. Too little sleep that results in ‘tossing and turning’ can affect your health, relationships, and job, and can even put your safety (and those around you at risk).

Tossing and Turning
Not getting enough sleep doesn’t just make you tired. It also:

* decreases your ability to concentrate

* decreases your reaction time

* increases your memory lapses and forgetfulness

* increases your likelihood of accidents and injuries

* increases moodiness

* increases your susceptibility to illnesses

BENEFITS OF SLEEP
While you may think of sleep as merely a time of rest, researchers have found it is actually an action-packed period when many processes vital to your health and well-being occur. New evidence, for instance shows that sleep is critical for helping you strengthen your memory and ability to think clearly. Sleep also affects mood and plays a pivotal role in the normal functioning of your body’s endocrine and immune systems, which regulate the release of key hormones and help protect your body from disease.

IMPACT OF SLEEP LOSS
Too little sleep is found to be associated with a variety of serious health problems, including hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes, heart disease, alcohol use, and depression. Being sleep-deprived can also result in difficulty concentrating and making decisions, as well as forming new memories.

Lack of sleep can damage your health in other ways as well. Drowsy driving is likely the cause of more than 100,000 police-reported car crashes and more than 1,500 deaths every year. Sleeping poorly costs employers in lost productivity and also increases the risk of workplace accidents.

Click for Natural Sleep Secrets Cure Insomnia

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LATE AT NIGHT AND ‘EYES WIDE OPEN’?
Some Causes of Insomnia…

* Stress and Anxiety

* Depression

* Using Stimulants (including over-the-counter and prescription medications)

* Grieving over the loss of a loved one

* Chronic Pain (caused by a medical condition)

* A change in your environment

* Sleep/Wake schedule interruptions

* Medication side effects

* Menstruation, pregnancy or menopause (in women)

* A Change in your Schedule

* Environmental noise

* Extreme temperatures

SO, HOW MUCH SLEEP DO YOU NEED?
While sleep needs vary from person to person, to be fully alert the next day sleep experts recommend adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. However, the ‘quality’ of your sleep also counts. To be refreshing, your slumber needs to be continuous, not disrupted by repeated awakenings. You also need enough sleep to avoid sleep dept – this is the collective effect of not getting adequate sleep over time.

If sleepiness is interfering with your ability to carry out your daily activities, you probably need more shut-eye!

STATES AND STAGES OF SLEEP
While you are asleep, you usually pass through a repeating cycle of five phases of sleep: Stages 1,2,3,4 and REM (rapid eye movement-also know as ‘dream sleep’). It takes 70-90 minutes to move through one cycle of sleep. Typically, you will have four to six cycles a night. At the end of each cycle you are nearly awake before beginning the cycles again.

Stage 1:
Light sleep, drifting in and out

Stage 2:
Helps refresh your body

Stage 3:
entering deep sleep; stages 3 and 4 are the most restorative cycles

Stage 4:
deep sleep, your body produces more cells and breaks down proteins; if awakened, you may feel groggy or disoriented

Stage 5:
REM (Dream Sleep) stimulates the parts of your brain used for learning; breathing is more rapid, irregular, and shallow; heart rate and blood pressure rise, males may develop erections

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP – Nine Tips to Help You Sleep Better

1. Relax Before Bedtime. Train yourself to associate restful activities with sleep and make them a part of your bedtime ritual. Try a warm bath, deep breathing, guided imagery or reading.

2. Get Regular Exercise. Exercise 30 (or more) minutes every day. Be sure to exercise at least five t six hours before going to bed

3. Steer Clear of Caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant. Don’t consume caffeine in the evening, including: coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, teas, diet drugs and pain relievers which contain caffeine.

4. Make It Dark and Cozy. Have soft, comfortable bed linens and curtains to block out outside lights.

5. Limit Alcohol. Alcohol can rob you of deep sleep and keep you stuck in the lighter, less restful stages of sleep.

6. Keep the Room Temperature Pleasant. Feeling too hot or too cold can disrupt your sleep or prevent your from falling asleep.

7. Don’t Just Lie There. The anxiety of not being able to fall asleep can actually contribute to insomnia. If you cannot sleep, get out of bed and calmly do something else until you feel tired.

8. Get Up With the Sun. Sunlight helps your body’s internal clock reset itself each day.

9. Set A Sleep Schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.

IDENTIFYING A SLEEP PROBLEM
While everyone has occasional sleepless nights, you need to tell your doctor about it if you are having difficulty falling or staying asleep at least three times a week. Your sleeplessness may be a type of insomnia, but it could also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition or other types of Sleep Disorders.

Click for Natural Sleep Secrets Cure Insomnia

Since education is one of the things this country would like to promote, a US Department of Education student loan is available to students attending colleges in the United States. Student loan servicing is available for pretty much any American college student, and the rates and terms are much better than most other financial institutions. There is more than billion spent each year to make sure potential scholars can get a US Dept of Education student loan.

Even though student loan servicing from the federal government is easy to apply for and carries very good rates and terms, the payments still become too high for many graduates to deal with. A US Department of Education student loan is still a loan, after all. Luckily, students do not have to begin the repayment of a US Dept of education student loan until six months after graduation. This gives them time to formulate a plan for repayment.

Many students and graduates already know how to easily manage the repayment of their US Department of Education student loan, but not all. The best method, for those who don’t already know, is a Department of Education loan consolidation. Consolidating a US Dept of Education student loan has several benefits, including a reduction in monthly payments by as much as 60 percent. Department of education loan consolidation also locks in the interest rate, which leaves borrowers unaffected from changes in the market. Getting a department of Education loan consolidation also helps to improve credit ratings and offers flexible repayment options.

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After borrowers consolidate their US Department of Education student loan, they can stretch their repayment term from ten years to an additional 20 years depending on the amount of their debts. Graduates can also borrow money to combine their various US Dept of Education student loan accounts into a single loan. It is like taking a new loan to pay off all or a part of the original debt.

More and more students are taking out a US Department of Education student loan, and more and more are consolidating those loans. In some cases, like with the Federal Perkins Loan and the Health Professions Students Loan, the interest rates are already quite low and fixed. In this case, Department of Education loan consolidation might not be beneficial. Their consolidation could lead to increases in the interest rate and add to the total cost of the loan. Before looking into student loan servicing, it’s a good idea to weigh the options and get advice from loved ones.

Those who decide in favor of a Department of Education loan consolidation should try to shop for the best consolidation deal possible for their loan. Getting a US Department of Education student loan is a great benefit to many students, and consolidation is very helpful when it comes to paying it off.

For more resources about Loan consolidation or even about School loan consolidation and especially about Student loan please review these links.

The purpose of nursing is to support people in getting and staying well through educating, collaborating with and advocating for the health of the public.  This definition covers a variety of roles from health education, consultation and screening (community, workplace) to primary (schools, clinics), secondary (long-term, clinic) and tertiary (institutional) care.  Nearly everyone at some time in their life needs and can be served well by consulting a professional nurse.

Registered nurses (RNs) make up the largest health care occupation.  There are about 2.6 million nursing jobs (US Dept Labor) in the US and 14.5 million worldwide (WHO).

Even though ninety seven percent of the population, who can effectively use nursing expertise, is not in an institution; sixty percent of nurses work in tertiary institutional nursing roles. This is why when people think of nurses, they think of hospital care.

Thirty percent of nurses work in areas at the cutting edge of the future of health care.  They are in independent practice, homes, community clinics, schools, work settings, and provide information via the internet or phone.

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Health reform is shifting the perspective for overall health care from illness treatment to health promotion.  Health improvement, promotion and wellness are the primary focus of professional nursing.

The demand for nursing is growing.  Yet, I propose to you that the largest area of growth or shortage is not in institutional settings. There is an increasing public demand for non-medical, holistic health strategies that can be appropriately and effectively filled by nurses.

The largest expanding need for nurses is not in hospitals. It is in the community.

Health care trends indicate that the aging population desires more knowledge on how to stay or become well, continue to live independently and use less restrictive or expensive health treatment.  Increasingly people are paying out of pocket for alternative solutions to get and stay healthy.

As the allopathic health care system becomes more diverse, specialized and costly; people are turning to the internet for knowledgeable guidance to navigate the myriad of options, treatment approaches and costs.  The internet is a poor substitute for quality nursing assessment and guidance.  Some nurses are becoming Nurse Navigators to address this expanding need.

The emerging trends foretell an environment that is ripe for experienced nurses, who are willing to shift their old hospital based paradigm toward creating new caring delivery models for direct service to clients and patients seeking improved quality of health throughout the life span.

From prenatal care to hospice care, demand for the (he)art and science of nursing is increasing.  The door of opportunity is wide open for nurses in health reform.

The Institute for Vibrant Living natural health research dept. has released this report on the natural health benefits of olive oil:

Olive oil has been heralded as a health-boosting substance for thousands of years and recent scientific studies have further substantiated its beneficial qualities.

Most doctors now recommend lowering total fat and calories in your diet by substituting butter, margarine and vegetable oils with healthy fats like olive oil.

What exactly is olive oil?

This is the oil that results from pressing tree-ripened olives. The fruity, flavorful oil is especially healthy because it contains mostly monounsaturated fats.

There are so many brands and label descriptions, what do they all mean?

First and foremost, olive oils are graded based on the acidity of the pressed oil…

Extra virgin olive oil is cold pressed and has 1 percent acid. It is the oil that comes from the first pressing of the olives and is considered the finest, having the freshest, fruitiest flavor.

Virgin olive oil also comes from the first pressing and has about 3 percent acid.

Fino is a blend of extra virgin and virgin oil.

Light is an oil that has passed through a fine filter to remove much of the sediment.

Olive oil or ‘Pure’ are a combination of refined virgin and extra virgin oils.

Some more helpful olive oil labeling definitions…

“100% Pure Olive Oil” is often the lowest quality available in a retail store: better grades would have “virgin” on the label
“Made from refined olive oils” means that the taste and acidity were chemically controlled.
“From hand-picked olives” implies that the oil is of better quality, since producers harvesting olives by mechanical methods are inclined to leave olives to over-ripen to increase yield.
Cold pressed means the oil was not heated over a certain temperature (usually 80 degrees Fahrenheit) during processing, thus retaining more nutrients and undergoing less degradation.
First cold pressed means the fruit of the olive was crushed exactly one time – i.e., the first press. The cold refers to the temperature range of the fruit at the time it is crushed – there is no international reliable definition of “cold pressed”.
The label may indicate that the oil was bottled or packed in a stated country. This does not necessarily mean that the oil was produced there. The origin of the oil may sometimes be marked elsewhere on the label; it may be a mixture of oils from more than one country.

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What about the USDA grades we see on the labels?

The following USDA grades were established in 1948, and are based on:

Acidity
Absence of defects
Odor
Flavor

The grades are defined as follows:

U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy possesses a free fatty acid content of not more than 1.4% and is “free from defects”
U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice possesses a free fatty acid content of not more than 2.5% and is “reasonably free from defects”
U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard possesses a free fatty acid content of not more than 3.0% and is “fairly free from defects”
U.S. Grade D or U.S. Substandard possesses a free fatty acid content greater than 3.0% and “fails to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C” (You’ll be hard pressed to find grades C and D on store shelves.)

Tip: Exposure to light and heat can turn olive oil rancid and that will destroy the antioxidant properties. Always buy olive oil in darkly tinted bottles. When you get the oil home, put it in a dark, cool place for storage to protect its healthy properties.

So, besides all of these ratings, which olive oil is best?

Actually, all of the various olive oils have benefit for use. You should experiment to find the ones that have the taste and texture you prefer.

Take note that Extra virgin olive oil is one of the few oils that can be eaten without chemical processing. Fresh pressed olive oil can be eaten immediately and will retain its natural flavors, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other healthy properties of the ripe olive fruit.

Olive oils in general, impart delicious aromas and flavors to foods of all kinds while providing possible significant health benefits, such as:

Promoting healthy bones.
Increasing “good” cholesterol and lowering “bad” cholesterol.
Reducing high blood pressure.
Inhibiting the growth of certain cancers.
Contributing to the elasticity of arterial walls, which in turn can provide protection against heart disease and stroke.
Helping the body to maintain a lower weight.
Helping to control blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Unlike other fats, which are associated with a higher risk of colon cancer, olive oil helps protect the cells of the colon from carcinogens. A study published in a recent issue of Food Chemistry Toxicology suggests that antioxidants in olive oil reduce the amount of carcinogens formed when meat is cooked.

The body uses the healthy fats in olive oil to produce natural anti-inflammatory substances. These anti-inflammatory agents can help reduce the severity of both asthma and arthritis.

They can also keep membranes more fluid and enable the body to move waste products more easily.  A lower incidence of osteoporosis and dementia is found in areas of the world where people consume large quantities of olive oil.

Using olive oil is a delicious way to promote good health. Only Mother Nature herself could have produced something so healthy and delectable. Take advantage of this natural miracle to enhance your family’s health.

Bon appetit!

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Many Americans today find themselves in large,seemingly insurmountable amounts of debt. They ignore the problem until it threatens their financial health and has huge negative effects on their life. Learn how to take control now and eliminate your debt by following these seven easy steps – and the best part is that it won’t cost you a dime to do so!

1. Use Common Sense

People fail to realize how much they have already spent, and before they know it, they’re maxing out their credit cards on a monthly basis. The best way to know just how much money you are spending is to pay for everything in cash. This means using credit cards only for emergency purposes, such as unexpected car expenses and medical emergencies. By paying with cash, you will gain a higher appreciation for every hard-earned dollar.

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2. Stop Impulse Buying

Do you really need that item? Instead of buying it now wait a week and see if you still want it. If you want to freeze your debt, you must freeze your spending.

3. Develop A Plan

There is an old saying in the financial world: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This advice applies to everyone, including family households. Start by developing a road plan that will take you to debt-free zone. You need to know how much your total debt is and how long it will take you to pay it off given your current payment plan. The next process involves establishing a budget. List all your revenues and keep track of your expenses. This will give you a better idea of how much money is coming in, how much money you’re spending on different activities, and whether or not you can sustain your current spending habits. Once you know exactly how much you’re spending, it’s time to cut back on unnecessary expenses. Take a close look at each expense and determine which ones can be eliminated. You can then use that extra money to lower your debt. Cutting back takes a lot of willpower. If you find it difficult to do so, I suggest you set up expense jars. They work in a very simple manner: Set up a jar for each main activity, such as movies, clubbing, restaurants, fast food, gas, and so on. Every month, put cash into each jar according to your budget. Once the money is gone, stop that particular activity. If there is money left over, apply it to reducing your debt. As rudimentary as it may seem, this technique works wonders.

complet the reading www.ewealthsuccess.co.cc

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