| Saturday, November 29, 2008 |
| Living With a Painkiller Addiction |
The threat of painkiller addiction can be very real for anyone who has suffered an injury and is suffering from chronic pain. Many doctors do not consider the possibility of addiction and will just prescribe addictive, opiate painkillers to people without considering the consequences. This can lead to problems down the road and possibly even result in drug addiction.
The problem with using opiates to treat pain is that they do not really treat the pain at all. In fact, what they do is to simply dull the brain. There are pain signals that travel through the body to the brain, telling the brain "Hey! I'm hurting! There is a problem here!" The opiate painkillers do not actually do anything to treat the source of the problem, and they do not actually do anything to divert the pain signals either. What addictive narcotics do is they simply dull the brain so that it no longer minds the pain signals that it is receiving from the source of your pain. The effect is a bit like making your brain drunk without getting your entire body drunk. This is similar to putting a rag in an alarm clock when it comes to silencing the pain.
So opiate painkillers (these are the kind that are addictive) do not really medicate our pain, they simply drug our brain and make it care a bit less about the pain signals in our body. Other medications, such as nsaids like Ibuprofen, reduce inflammation and can actually reduce the level of pain in your body right at the source.
So if you become addicted to painkillers, then you will have to figure out a number of things in order to recover. The first step is to get your body clean and free from the chemicals that you are hooked on. Coming off addictive painkillers can be really nasty, so it is advisable that you go to a treatment center that has a detoxification area so that you can be medically supervised during withdrawal. Most treatment centers will also treat your withdrawal symptoms in some way and make it more bearable for you to endure.
The second thing you will have to do in order to overcome painkiller addiction is to find a new way to manage your chronic pain. As mentioned above, there are alternative medications that are not addictive that can actually work better than opiates in some cases, because they do more right at the source of the pain. In addition to this, you might try a pain clinic, where they can treat your pain locally on a daily basis. There are also things such as TENS units and holistic remedies as well that might be able to help you manage your pain without opiates.
The final piece of the puzzle when overcoming a drug addiction is to create a new life for yourself without chemicals. Yes, that is a huge challenge and the idea of doing so is really a tremendous effort. If you have been addicted to painkillers for a long time then you are going to have to focus on your recovery and learning a new way to live for a long time as well. We did not become addicted overnight so it takes time to build up a successful recovery. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:39 AM |
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| Wednesday, November 26, 2008 |
| Your Most Powerful Beauty Weapon |
Without question, your most powerful tool in your beauty arsenal is the knowledge of properly applying makeup to the eyes. When people look at you, eye contact is always sought out for non-verbal communication purposes. Your eyeshadow and your lashes are something they will instinctively notice first. Showing your eyes off to their maximum potential with the proper use of eye makeup is the key to getting noticed. Eyeshadows have a tremendous range of color. However, their basic consistency can be narrowed down to two basic types: either a cream formula or a powder formula. Each has distinct characteristics. In terms of coverage power, creams will usually win out, as they can usually be applied in one stroke. Powder eyeshadows on the other hand tend to last longer and provide a more subtle look. A common trick used by many women is to apply a matching tone of eyeshadow powder over a base of cream eyshadow to increase its staying power. This leads us to what is arguably the ultimate in eyeshadow products: Cream-to-powder eyeshadow products that go on as cream and then dry to a powder consistency. The best of both worlds, eh? Another option for you to try is to use an eyeshadow primer, which will give your eyes a smooth foundation which will ease the application of your eyeshadow. It will also enhance the staying power of your eye makeup - for those really long days that turn into nights on the town. Ultimately the choice is up to you, the wearer. Try both cream and powder formulas of eyeshadow makeup, and see what works best with your skin type. As with other types of cosmetics, there is usually more than one way to create a beautiful you. Experimentation with your eye makeup is what leads to your own style. It is one part science, and one part art. Mix the two wisely and create a look that defines you. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:39 AM |
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| Saturday, November 22, 2008 |
| Could I Have Binge Eating Disorder? |
Binge eating disorder is characterized by the consumption of unusually large amounts of food at one sitting. Lasting from 30 minutes to nearly two hours, these episodes are often carried out to overcome feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, or even boredom as opposed to any real hunger. The episodes end with physical discomfort (fullness, bloating, nausea, or even gastric pain) and are accompanied by feelings of shame or guilt.
The condition is more common in women than in men (by nearly two to one) and is also more common in the age range of forty to sixty. For more than one million binge eaters in the US, it is believed to be a way that some people handle emotions when they aren't equipped with the skills to engage in other coping strategies for dealing with sadness, stress, or overwhelm. Many women report using their eating behavior to "stuff down" feelings they would rather not deal with. They also have a deep seated belief that behaviors such as yelling when angry or crying when frustrated are extremely undesirable. Instead, they eat to distract themselves and attempt to temporarily cover up these emotions.
Naturally people with this disorder keep it hidden from friends and family, eating in secret, and living with shame and embarrassment. The negative association with food often spills over to daily life, and guilt can be experienced during normal meal times as well, increasing the suffering of the binge eater. It's important to realize that the condition is not about food. Going on a diet will not help, and can just further frustrate those who have the disorder.
The end result is often obesity (and the co-existing health problems that occur when excess weight is present), low self-esteem, feelings of being out of control, and even malnutrition (because the large amounts of food consumed rarely contribute nutrients but are often high in salt, fat, and sugar). Being out of control with food is just one symptom, and often there are other areas of life that are out of control as well.
The best course of treatment is carried out with a certified mental health counselor such as a licensed social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist, many of whom specialize in eating disorders such as binge eating disorder. Your therapist may or may not prescribe medications (often for depression) as well.
One item to note is that binge eating disorder differs from compulsive overeating in that the episodes are virtually limited to binges; contrarily, compulsive overeaters are thinking about food constantly and may be grazing throughout the day, planning their next binge and eating up until that time. Likewise, bulimia has some of the same characteristics but is differentiated by the action of purging after consuming large amounts of food (either by exercise, vomiting, or laxative use).
If you suffer from chronic bingeing, seek help from a qualified health professional for diagnosis and treatment. The key to overcoming this disorder is finding ways to deal with negative emotions that are predominant in your life, developing other ways to handle stress, and learning to have a healthy relationship with food. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:38 AM |
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| Wednesday, November 19, 2008 |
| The Dangers of Body Piercing |
Body piercing has been around for centuries in different countries and cultures. In the West its popularity has fluctuated but it is clear that at the moment body piercing is becoming increasingly popular, fashionable and more sociably acceptable in both men and women. However, as well as being fashionable there are a number of dangers associated with body piercing that many people either aren't aware of, or underestimate, therefore piercings should be undertaken with much thought, consideration and care with the correct advice and done professionally. At the moment body piercers do not need a license although they must register with the Environmental Health Department. If you are considering getting a piercing make sure you check that the place you go to is registered if only because this means that they are regularly subjected to inspections and registrations which minimizes the risk of complications, and it is more likely to have insurance cover should anything go wrong. Some of the problems or complications associated with body piercings are: - Irritation
- Pain
- Swelling
- Loss of sensation if nerve endings are damaged
- Scarring
- Allergic reactions
- Deformities
- Excessive bleeding if a large vein is pierced by mistake.
Piercings are so popular that it is estimated that 1 in 10 adults are pierced in places other than their ears:
- 33% in navel
- 19% in nose
- 13% in ears
- 9% in tongue
- 9% in nipple
- 8% in eyebrows
- 4% in lips
- 2% in genitals
- 3% in other places.
However according to research released by experts at the Health Protection Agency and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine a third of these people have problems while 13% require medical attention. Among 16-24 year olds alone it is thought that 1 in 100 piercings leads to a hospital admission due to complications creating a substantial burden on the NHS. The piercings that are most likely to cause problems are: - Tongue (50%)
- Genitals (45%)
- Nipples (38%)
Tongue piercings cause the most problems because if the jewelery becomes loose it can cause breathing problems or block the air way, also if the jewelery is accidentally bitten it can break or chip teeth so that you require reconstructive dental work, and it can cause gum recession. Lip and tongue piercings are at particular risk of infection due to food debris that gathers in the mouth which harbors bacteria. Health and Safety: - Body piercers must wear gloves and a new pair for each customer.
- Equipment should be properly sterilized.
- Jewellery should be sterile.
- Single-use disposable, sterile needles should be used.
- The area should be numbed although anesthetics are not usually given.
- Guns should only be used to pierce ears and not other parts of the body.
- The premises must be kept in hygienic condition.
If you feel that your piercing has gone wrong and become infected, scarred or not healed properly because of something the piercer did or did not do, such as failing to use sterile equipment or keep a hygienic environment, you may be entitled to compensation towards any medical treatment you required to resolve the problems and towards any discomfort or embarrassment that you suffered while the piercing was recovering. It may be helpful to take photos of any damage for use as evidence. Aftercare and Treatment: The basic procedure for any piercing is pushing a hollow needle through the skin, the underlying tissue and then the skin on the other side. This is an invasive procedure creating a wound that is open to infection and like any surgery requires aftercare and healing time. Correct aftercare and treatment instructions should be given to you by the piercer so that you can look after your piercing and avoid infections. The body actually heals more quickly if it is left alone and usually takes about 30-90days (1-3months); twisting and turning the jewelery doesn't help because it disturbs the new skin growth. New skin can grow quite quickly once the piercing has been protected from infection and irritants including:
- Facial products containing certain chemicals.
- Shape or size of jewelery.
- Friction or motion of jewelery.
- Pressure on the jewelery such as sleeping or lying on it.
- Tap water- the fluid can cause ulceration of the wound bed.
Firstly simple things such as eating a balanced diet including Vitamin C and minerals, especially zinc, can help keep you healthy and fight off infections. Hot compresses, such as a hot liquid or a heat pad set to medium, can be placed on the piercing for 10-15minutes once an hour until bedtime as this increases blood circulation which carries nutrients and oxygen to fuel the new skin growth and it helps build the immune response. However, an absorbent pad such as gauze should be placed between you and the compress so that it doesn't become sweaty. Healing process: In the first week small dry scabs should form (these should be left intact); you should avoid putting soap, tap water, make up or skin products on the piercing. After about 1 week the inside of the piercing sheds the dried scabs and cellular waste material leaving growing new skin which is delicate. Jewelery shouldn't be moved or changed until solid healthy skin has developed in the healed area; otherwise the delicate new skin will be damaged causing scars to form. Protective barriers such as occlusive dressings and 3M Nexcare Tegaderm can provide a moist healing environment that protects the piercing while you are bathing or swimming. This should be removed roughly every 72 hours so that perspiration does not build up underneath. Often the jewelery can cause problems because it is poor quality or you are sensitive to it and have allergic reactions. Cheap nickel or brass commonly triggers allergic reactions and in some cases antibiotics may be needed. Alloys of gold, copper, silver and trace metals can also be irritating and prevent complete healing, therefore it may be better opting for more expensive but good quality jewelery such as titanium which is inert and used in internal surgery. If you catch an infection then you must eliminate the reservoir which is often the jewelery. The American Society for Testing Materials or ASTM was originally set up 100years ago by engineers to standardize steel used in railways. Now it is used for standardising many other things as well. A standard is a document which is developed and established within consensus principles of an organization which meets the requirements of ASTM procedures and regulations. It is usually developed by the people who have a stake in the standard's development or use. It is recommended that titanium used in jewelery should meet ASTM standard F67, F136 or better, whereas steel should meet ASTM F138, F1537 or better and it should only be worn temporarily and only in healed piercings. 24 karat gold and platinum alloyed with Iridium or Ruthenium are biologically inert but they are heavy, soft and easily scratched and damaged. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:39 AM |
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| Saturday, November 15, 2008 |
| An Introduction to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) |
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by a lack of sunlight. It is most prevalent in the winter months when sunlight levels are low with December, January and February being the worst months for it. Approximately 7% of the UK population suffer from serious SAD whilst a further 17% suffer from a mild form. In this article I will be helping you learn a little more about this condition by providing you with an introduction to seasonal affective disorder.
To begin I will first describe how sunlight affects your body's production of the hormone melatonin. When the sun goes in at night this acts as a signal for your body to start producing and releasing melatonin. Melatonin makes you feel sleepy and helps your body shut down for the night. Then in the morning when the sun comes back out, the light acts as a trigger for your body to stop producing and releasing melatonin which helps you wake up. This is your body's normal process for regulating sleep cycles.
In the winter months sunlight levels are much lower with the sun coming out later and going in earlier. For some people these winter sunlight levels are not enough to stop the body from producing melatonin completely which can lead to the onset of seasonal affective disorder. SAD brings with it a number of undesirable symptoms including; problems concentrating, problems sleeping and varying levels of depression.
It is unknown why seasonal affective disorder only affects certain individuals but for those it does affect there are treatments available. Light therapy is one of the most effective options with research suggesting that 85% of SAD sufferers will benefit from this type of treatment. It involves using a specially designed light box and then being in a close vicinity to it for about two hours a day. For example, you could put the light box in your living room for two hours every evening.
I hope this article has given you a good overview of seasonal affective disorder. If you seem to feel extra tired or slightly down during the winter months you may even have a mild form of SAD yourself. Thankfully, it is treatable in the majority of cases with light therapy being a very good option. If after reading this article you feel you may have developed this condition then go and discuss your concerns with your doctor. SAD does not have to ruin your winter and with their advice it can be properly treated. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:37 AM |
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| Wednesday, November 12, 2008 |
| Facial Exercises - Tone the Muscles in the Face |
As more people are beginning to understand that fitness is more than just eating right and exercising on a regular basis, more people are realized that the facial muscles also need exercises with particular facial exercise is. There is no doubt that most of the time we hold expressions for a very long time, whether it's smiling, frowning, or the worry lines. The extra movement of those facial muscles actually etch an expression into the face. This is because these are the muscles that we use most frequently, and as we age, the rest of them do not get used, and began to droop.
Gravity takes its toll, you may find that your chin begin to droop, and you have a double chin, that your cheekbones are more prominent, that your eyes lids sag, the bags under your eyes sag, and your whole face seems to elongate. This is normal gravity pull, but you can counteract it with facial exercises.
Just as people are realizing that exercise and toning the body as they age keeps them healthier, more people are recognizing that facial exercises can tone the muscles in the face. You're going to find a lot of marketing plans for facial exercises, facial exerciser, and even classes that include yoga to exercise the muscles on your face. Most of the time, these exercises should also include relaxation techniques. One of the reasons your facial expression is etched into the muscles on your face is that it's held for very long time. This is why the relaxation techniques are just as important as the actual facial exercises.
If you were to read up on facial exercises you're going to find that many of them include relaxation techniques. The best thing you can do to understand how the facial exercises work is to try a few of them. Stretch your face as long as possible with your mouth and eyes wide open, and then close your eyes and relax. You're probably going to find that this actually feels good, do it several times in a row, and you are exercising your facial muscles.
If you're interested in more facial exercises, and facial toning exercises as well as relaxation techniques, you can look it up on the Internet. There are many helpful beauty Internet sites that are now posting facial exercises and actually posting the results. Of course, just as with your body, you can overwork certain muscles on your face, so be careful of those facial exercisers that only work a portion of your face. All over body health is what it's all about and it includes your face. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:39 AM |
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| Saturday, November 8, 2008 |
| The Best Natural Cure For Depression |
Depression is a disease that can happen to anybody. Lots of people in the United States are at risk of having this problem. When it occurs, they often want to acquire antidepressants. But it has been discovered that these drugs have side effects that can further deteriorate your condition.
Laughter is not often mentioned when discussing natural ways of treating depression. When you laugh at yourself and at situations, you are inevitably keeping away depression. But when you entertain sadness for a long time, you are increasing the risk of having it and this can lead to other worse situations.
Keeping to yourself is often counter productive when it comes to dealing with depression. Fortunately, the internet is available to help you reach out to others. There are chat rooms or discussion rooms on any subject on earth. When you engage in such discussions, you are improving your spirit and mood.
One of the unknown ways to deal with depression is to read jokes. This is not very popular out there. Jokes will make you laugh, enliven your spirit and change your negative mood to positive one.
Taking some time off your busy schedule can also help keep depression away. Try visiting some interesting places that will make you look at life and situations from another angle. When you are at the place, avoid brooding over your problem.
Even though depression is a deadly disease when left untreated, it is good to know that it can be treated. You can use prescribed antidepressant or any of the natural methods such as exercise and counseling.
Talking with a counselor is highly recommended when you want to deal with depression in you or in a loved one. The aim of the discussion is to discover the source of the problem and proffer solutions.
Positive thinking can also do a lot of things for you. Dealing with depression is no exception. When you think and look at events and situations positively, you are inevitably keeping away depression. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:36 AM |
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| Wednesday, November 5, 2008 |
| How to Read a Prescription For Glasses |
If you go to an eye care professional for all of your optical needs, then reading your eyeglass prescription is something that you may never have to worry about. However, if you ever plan on trying to order a pair of eyeglasses online without visiting the optician's office it's imperative that you know how to properly read your prescription it you want to get a pair of glasses that you can see out of.
You prescription will often be delivered as a pair of numbers - one number under the Latin abbreviation of OS (your left eye) and the other under the Latin abbreviation OD (your right eye). The farther away either number is from zero in either direction (plus or minus) the worse your eyesight is and the more correcting your vision will need for you to be able to see clearly.
If the numbers in your prescription are in the positive it means that you are farsighted, or that you have problems with seeing things close to you; if the numbers are in the negative it means that you are nearsighted or that you have difficulty viewing objects that are far away.
If you suffer from astigmatism you'll see three numbers in your eye glasses prescription - the first of which will represent both of the numbers seen in a prescription of a person who doesn't have astigmatism, the second number will represent the severity if the astigmatism - the larger the number here the greater you are effected by the astigmatism. The third number in the prescription of a person who suffers from astigmatism will be between zero and one hundred and eighty and this number reveals the location of the astigmatism. For proper corrective treatment of astigmatism, the technician making your lenses needs to know the location of the astigmatism in degrees as well as the level of severity.
Each of the numbers that you see in your eyeglass prescription is crucial to the final result, the numbers may be whole numbers or they may be fractional (like 1.25, representing one and one quarter) and the exact number is required for you to be able to see clearly. The numbers represent "diopters" which is the unit of vision correction from which your lenses will be manufactured. If you are off by even a fraction of a point when relating the information of your diopters, your glasses may not be as precise as they need to be to properly correct your vision. When relating all of the numbers and symbols of your eyeglass prescription for an order it's imperative that you be precise or you will receive a pair of glasses that won't properly correct your problem.
There are other considerations when contemplating ordering prescription glasses online that don't necessarily have to do with your prescription itself, but that could seriously affect the corrective properties of your glasses. The most common number not represented in your prescription that you'll need to know when ordering glasses online is the distance between your pupils, or your PD. There's a good chance that your PD will be imprinted somewhere on your old glasses, if you've still got them - if you don't the number isn't all that difficult to get. You'll need a ruler that measures in millimeters and a mirror. All you do to get you PD is to look straight ahead into the mirror and hold your ruler directly below your eyes to measure the distance between the centers of your pupils. The most common distance for a PD is between 58 and 70 mm, so if your distance is either well under 58 or well over 70, you might want to measure again.
Reading your prescription and ordering glasses without visiting the optician is certainly possible, but if you have any questions about what you're reading it's highly advisable to visit your eye care professional to be certain that you get it right - eyeglasses are expensive and you certainly won't be able to return a custom pair, so make sure you get everything right before you make anything final. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:39 AM |
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| Saturday, November 1, 2008 |
| Lifestyle Changes After Bariatric Surgery |
Majority of people will admit they may often times splurge on chocolates or find it easier to stop by a fast food joint instead of cooking a healthier meal at home. Not only do the foods taste good, they are more convenient if the person's daily routine is busy. Simply by snacking on chocolate or bringing hamburgers home for dinner is the common route people take. Even for people who do not have a jam-packed routine, they may not have the energy to eat healthier. This is especially true for morbidly obese people. When deciding if Bariatric surgery is a good choice for assisting in weight-loss, people need to have full knowledge of the challenging commitments they will have to endure.
Lifestyle changes are one of the biggest commitments the individual will have to face. Just because the surgery is done does not mean the weight will be shed. If old habits such as diet persist, the surgery may not have any positive result. Fortunately most patients have tried every other weight-loss option and take Bariatric surgery very serious and do make the necessary lifestyle changes. To make the changes less difficult many patients will start transforming their lifestyles for the better before the surgery occurs. This way they already have better eating and exercise habits which have become normal.
Changing one's eating habits is the most crucial lifestyle change. There are some rules that patients should follow to keep losing the weight. Protein should be eaten first during every meal. It helps the body feel fuller so that the person will not continually eat. It also helps to build tissue in the body. It is also important to avoid snacking. This actually makes people even hungrier. Constantly eating is the culprit as to why someone becomes obese, so breaking the habit will lead to more weight-loss success. One other diet change is water intake. Constantly drinking water is extremely important. Even though sugary and caffeinated drinks taste better, they need to be avoided since it can lead to Dumping Syndrome which has unpleasant symptoms.
Exercise is another change of lifestyle that needs to happen in order to lose weight after Bariatric surgery. It may be difficult in the beginning right after the surgery, but simply moving one's body more each day will increase the odds of a successful outcome. Eventually walking at least 30 minutes a day is all it takes to continue losing weight.
Once the surgery is done, it is up to the individual on how much weight they are going to lose. Changing one's lifestyle and staying motivated will create not only amazing results, but an overall healthier life which the person will be able to enjoy for many years to come. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:36 AM |
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