Living with an alcoholic some dos and don ts

One of the commonest questions anyone working in the addiction field is asked is “How can I stop my wife/husband/partner from drinking so much?” Unfortunately the short answer to that is – you can’t. They will stop when it suits them, whether that is because they hurt so much or because circumstances change. That is painful to hear, but nevertheless it is true.

There is some good news, however, and that is if you can’t actually stop them drinking then there are things that you can do, or stop doing, that will make it more likely that they will take action and/or seek help for their drinking. Below I have listed a number of things that you should avoid doing as they often have the opposite effect to intended, making the situation even worse. I will discuss the things that you should do in another article.

Don’t protect the drinker from the naturally occurring consequences of drinking. If they embarrass themselves don’t make excuses, or if they fall don’t pick them up. Only intervene if there is a danger of the drinker being injured. For most people this kind of ‘tough love’ is a difficult thing to do, just ignore a loved one when they are drunk goes very much against the grain. However, protecting the drinker means that they never suffer the consequences and so are never aware of the severity of their drinking. Since many believe that problem drinkers only seek help when they are hurting, so protecting the drinker only delays that time coming and that it could be argued is more cruel.

Don’t protect the drinker from other consequences. If they take time off work through being too drunk or too hungover, don’t phone the boss and give an excuse. The problem drinker is only too happy for someone else to accept responsibility whereas they need to accept responsibility for their own behaviour if they are to change.

Don’t collude with the drinker. If they spend all their money on drink don’t lend them money or pay their debts. Again this is protecting and delays recognition of the extent of the problem.

Don’t join in and drink along with the drinker. It may seem a natural thing to do – “if you can’t beat them join them” but this just makes the drinking behaviour appear to be normal, which of course it’s not. Besides if you try and keep up you could end up needing help yourself, and one drunk is more than enough for any household.

Don’t scream and shout and nag about the drinking behaviour. This just provides an excuse to drink even more. That is, the logic that is used here is “I drink because you nag” rather than “You nag because I drink”. Yea, I know that is not logical but hey this is not about logic, its about drinking.

Don’t make threats and give ultimatums. Unless you are actually prepared to carry out these threats and ultimatums they will lose any power to influence the drinker. In fact, they may even provide an excuse for drinking, especially if there is a pattern of drinking to avoid stress and painful circumstances. Therefore you could be left feeling even more frustrated than before.

Don’t cry and sulk and withdraw to punish the drinker. The drinker can again view his as behaviour best avoided by getting drunk, perhaps with the immortal words “No wonder I drink, look at you!”.

Don’t try and have a meaningful conversation about the drinkers behaviour or your lives together when the drinker is intoxicated. It is easy to get lured into a conversation – don’t. Wait till the morning or when they are sober.

Ayurveda alternative medicine from india

For the past few decades, the field of medicine has been largely influenced by the medical philosophy of the Western world. The emphasis of Western medicine has been predominately curative, relying on chemical preparations and invasive surgery as means of treatment.

In contrast, Eastern medical and therapeutic philosophy focuses on the more metaphysical side of human illness and treatment. Its practice is hinged on the use of a variety of methods ranging from the use of medicinal plants and herb, massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, pulse reading, and other alternative healing methods. These methods are now gaining acceptance even in modern societies, in a large measure, due to the increased awareness about the healing arts of China and India. There are volumes of literature on traditional Chinese medicine. But what also deserves wide recognition is the folk remedies and traditional practices in India which are also ancient and effective, at least, according to those who have tried them.

Ayurveda, a healing system native to India, is a centuries-old practice that has recently been given attention by Western science. Like traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda practitioners adhere to a particular medical philosophy that regards illness as an imbalance in the body and influenced by internal and external factors, similar to the Chinese principles of yin and yang. Ayurveda also takes into consideration a patient's emotions and state of mind alongside the study of infections that make the body sick. It places a high importance on the patient’s sense of taste and diet.

In Ayurveda, it is believed that the healing of a person must take into consideration three elements found in nature: air, water, and fire. Each of these elements has a deep philosophical background. These elements also govern the major functions of the body. Ayurvedic theory rests on the belief that the balance of the three elements is the basis of health. Any imbalance, blockage, or weakening in these elements causes illness. It is the task of the Ayurveda practitioner to determine and restore the patient’s elemental harmony. In other words, an infection or ailment is the result of an imbalance in the patient's natural internal or elemental harmony. These imbalances can be caused by internal or external factors, and may be aggravated or alleviated by the patient's emotional state and, in some cases, mental health.

The primary concept of Ayurveda is that the restoration of imbalances in the body requires a very personalized concept. Treatment can involve the use of natural oils, minerals, herbs, metals, and even animal ingredients. Similar to how herbal medications are administered in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda medications are given base formulas that are modified by the physician according to the patient's needs. This process makes getting a treatment for an infection different from Western medicine, where the formulas are constant and only the dose is altered based on the patient's metabolism and constitution. As mentioned earlier, diet and taste play a central role in Ayurveda. However, unlike Chinese medicinal doctrine, the taste and quality of the food plays a much larger role in traditional Indian healing arts. Different tastes correspond to different conditions in the body. These tastes are taken into account by an Ayurveda physician before prescribing an appropriate treatment. For example, food with a bitter taste is generally considered to cool the body, dry out moisture, and work to remove toxins. This concept also extends to the herbal and animal ingredients that are used in Ayurveda medication.

Ayurveda also prescribes a particular form of massage known as “Panchakarma” for the treatment of emotional distress. This practice is highly similar to acupuncture except that no needles are used. The strokes, presses, and body manipulations used in Panchakarma supposedly stimulates energy flow throughout the body, a process that is necessary to ensure good health. Problems arise when the energy flow is disrupted, clogged, or stalled. Massage is often prescribed in conjunction with a diet plan and herbal remedies to relieve problems such as sinusitis, conditions associated with stress and anxiety, and other problems that Ayurveda practitioners see as symptoms of emotional disharmony rather than just purely physical ailments.

Types of schizophrenia

:

Catatonic type schizophrenia

Patients with this subtype of Schizophrenia may exhibit extremes
of behavior including catatonia. Some may allow their posture to
be rearranged, holding the new position (catalepsy or waxy
flexibility). Others may imitate sounds (echolalia) or movements
(echopraxia) of others. At times, some patients may explode into
an excited, activated state marked by purposeless ad repetitive
movements.
The catatonic type is rare today, and probably reflected an
advanced stage of schizophrenia before the advent of modern
treatment methods.

Disorganized type schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia that is characterized by a disorganized
behavior and disorganized speech. Their affect may be flat or
inappropriate.
This type involves a disturbance in behavior, communication, and
thought. Usually these patients show a variety of eccentric
characteristics such as unusual clothing or peculiar gestures.

Paranoid type schizophrenia

Delusions and auditory hallucinations predominate in patients with
this subtype of schizophrenia while their affective and cognitive
functioning remains relatively intact. This type of patient often has
highly elaborate delusions of persecution or personal grandeur.
However, the patient may appear rather normal until he or she
becomes entangled in typical argumentativeness and
suspiciousness.

Residual type schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia that is characterized by a previous
diagnosis of schizophrenia, but no longer having any of the
prominent psychotic symptoms. There are some remaining
symptoms of the disorder however, such as eccentric behavior,
emotional blunting, illogical thinking, or social withdrawal.

In the residual type of schizophrenia, the patient has had at least
one episode of schizophrenia. If delusions or hallucinations are
present, they are not prominent, and are not accompanied by
strong affect.

Undifferentiated type schizophrenia

This subtype of schizophrenia applies to patients who fail to meet
the criteria for the other subtypes but clearly suffer from this
mental disorder.
The patient suffers from pronounced psychotic symptoms, which
may not fit in any other specific category or more than one.

Are you drinking enough water

You probably already know that it’s important to drink enough water. A minimum of eight glasses of water a day is recommended. You should aim for more if it is really hot, or you are working out and sweating a lot. Getting enough water in your body will prevent you from getting dehydrated.

According to WEBMD the early signs of dehydration are increased thirst, dry mouth, sticky saliva and reduced urine output with dark yellow urine. You may also experience a lack of energy and a headache.

None of these sound very fun. I know it is hard sometimes to drink that much water; especially when sodas and coffee tempt us. However, to stay healthy and feel great, we should strive to drink those eight glasses of water a day.

Here are a few tips to help you remember to drink the water, and to make it a little more pleasant or interesting.

1. Keep a Log

This can be as simple as a little piece of paper on the fridge, or a page in your day planner. Just make a little checkmark, or dash on the piece of paper every time you drink a glass of water. The log will help you keep track of how much water you have had in any given day. You’ll also be surprised how motivating it is to try to get those eight little checkmarks on there every day. Another idea would be to use little stickers instead.

2. Add Some Lemon Juice

I tend to get bored with drinking just water after a few days. Change things up and add a little flavor by adding a teaspoon or less of lemon to your water. You can also try some other fruit juices. Just make sure you are still drinking mainly water. Just a splash of juice should be enough to make things interesting and give the water some flavor without adding a lot of sugar and calories.

3. Try Some Club Soda

If you are craving the fizz of a soda, try some Club Soda. Most brands have a little too much fizz for me. I end up watering them down with – guess what – water. If you want to get really fancy, check your local grocery store for flavored club sodas. Alternatively, you can also add a splash of fruit juice to your watered down club soda.

4. Drink Some Water When You Feel Hungry

Unfortunately many of us have gotten so out of tune with our bodies that we feel hungry when we are actually thirsty. If you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first. You may just be thirsty.

5. Carry A Water Bottle

It’s much easier to drink water when you have it readily available. Carry a bottle of water around with you in the car, at work, while running errands, in the yard, and even while you are working around the house. You’ll be sipping away the water without even noticing it.

6. Drink More If You Are Working Out

We already touched on this, but it bears repeating. Make sure you drink a few extra glasses of water if you work out, or if you spend some time outside while it’s hot. Your body uses and needs more water when it sweats a lot. So don’t forget to fill back up on water during and after your exercise.

Just pay attention to how much you drink and implement some of these ideas if you don’t get the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.

What you should know causes of hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids involve the response of the blood vessels in the area of the rectum to pressure. This pressure can come from various sources and typically will cause pain and irritation. There are various reasons for hemorrhoids, and knowing them can help in making lifestyle changes and minimize the pain they cause.

Constipation is the main cause of hemorrhoids. This causes bowel movements to put strain on the rectal area, thereby putting pressure on the blood vessels and causing swelling and irritation. Strained bowel movements can cause bleeding from the blood vessels in the rectal area as well. Preventing constipation is an important step in preventing and minimizing the effects of hemorrhoids.

Pregnancy is the next leading cause of hemorrhoids. Pregnancy can also cause an increase in the pressure of the blood vessels in the rectal area. Hormonal changes are known to make blood vessels work harder which can cause swelling and irritation. Hemorrhoids due to pregnancy are usually temporary, but can be an important consideration in becoming pregnant.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency is the third leading cause of hemorrhoids. This condition occurs when the blood vessels in the area of the rectum are weakened, causing pressure, swelling and irritation. The pressure can be magnified with sitting or standing for long periods. Exercise and smoking in concert with CVI can cause irritation of the rectal blood vessels for those that are overweight.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, known as IBS, can cause hemorrhoids, especially in cases when IBS is dominated by constipation. Diarrhea is also known to put extra pressure on the rectal blood vessels. Portal Hypertension, which is an increase in the pressure of the blood vessels running from the intestines to the liver, can cause hemorrhoids due to the increased blood flow and pressure.

Any type of hemorrhoid can cause irritation, pain, and bleeding in the areas of the anus and rectum. It is important to identify the cause of your hemorrhoids for future preventative measures. You may want to look at dietary and lifestyle changes to help reduce symptoms.

Depression 411

Negative thoughts regarding relationships, career, health, and personal issues are considered harmful for our mental health. Thinking of bad situations beforehand is also regarded as unnecessary, since the person's way of thinking affects his or her outlook in life. These trail of thoughts can cause a pessimistic way of thinking that could seriously affect a person's otherwise healthy way of living.

By consistently thinking and feeling down, a person might be already experiencing depression. A person dealing with this condition may also feel irritable for no apparent cause, together with lack of energy and concentration. Depression is not a one time event. If a person has experienced depression at some time in his/her life, the chances of a recurrence are high. Some people exhibit depression in various ways. Symptoms of such can be the following: consistent feelings of sadness, tension, and irritability; change in appetite with considerable gain or loss of weight; restlessness; change in sleeping patterns; decrease in pleasure of doing usual hobbies and interests; lack of decision making skills; feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness; and thoughts of suicide and death.

People suffering from this kind of feeling may not seek help from other people, even from their own family members. Depression is believed to be an illness in a person's mental health, and treating this would be very critical since this could affect not just the sufferer, but everyone and everything in their life. Other people dealing with depression sometimes attempt to harm themselves convinced that these negative feelings will never end. This is why everyone should be aware of the symptoms of depression and know that it is a treatable illness.

Depression results from a number of factors, depending on the person and his surroundings. Family history plays a vital role in having this mental health issue. Another factor triggering it can be trauma and stressful situations. Death, financial problems, relationship breakups, and changes in your life (be it a new job, school graduation, or getting married) can contribute to feeling depressed. Some people also possess the trait of pessimism, where they usually have a negative outlook on life or having low self esteem. Physical health conditions also cause depression. Serious illnesses including cancer, HIV, or heart disease can trigger depressive thoughts since these health conditions make the person weak and stressed out. By feeling depressed, these medical conditions might make things even worse than it already is. Other psychological disorders including anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and particularly substance abuse can easily make a person feel depressed.

Being depressed can really make the person feel bad, inside and out. But by taking the first step, which is to get proper treatment, depression can deliberately be healed. There are several medications specifically designed for the treatment of depression (also known as anti - depressants). Another way to take away feelings of depression is through psychotherapy. By expressing feelings and sharing it with a therapist, depression can be eased. Types of psychotherapy includes the cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps in identifying thought and behavior patterns related to feeling depressed. Interpersonal therapy, on the other hand, deals with the connection of depression and troubled relationships. A longer therapy process would be the psycho-dynamic therapy, which links depression to certain events and conflicts that a person has experienced especially during childhood. Group therapy is more on interaction with other depressed people, sharing rough experiences with the therapist and offers counseling as well.

Improving your state of health with statins and good cholesterol

Cholesterol levels are one of the determining factors of good health. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that can be found in animal tissues and is considered as an important component of the human body. It is manufactured in the liver and disseminated in the body through the blood. Food products that are high in cholesterol are meat, poultry, shellfish, and dairy products. Cholesterol has a good side and bad side and understanding them is essential for maintaining the body's proper functions.

Some cholesterol are essential in digesting fat from food, producing hormones, building cells, and for other physiological processes. Too much bad cholesterol, however, may raise the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol levels does not bring any obvious symptoms until it has caused serious damage including hampered blood flow due to hardened arteries. It is also responsible for the development of coronary artery disease, enlarged left heart, and heart failure. In addition to these ill effects, high cholesterol levels are also responsible for erectile dysfunction among men. There is no clear cause of high blood pressure but health experts suggest that smoking, having a high fat diet, excessive alcohol drinking and other factors may contribute to the development of this condition.

Individuals who are 20 years of age and above are encouraged talk to their doctors to see if their cholesterol levels need to be tested. For individuals with no risk factors, routine screening usually begins at the age of 40 for men and 50 for women. Female patients should be screened as soon as they stop having regular menstruation.

High cholesterol that cannot be lowered with exercise and diet can be treated with the use of statins. Statins are a class of drugs that are used to lower the body's bad cholesterol levels. They work by blocking a substance that the body needs to produce cholesterol. Statins may also work by reabsorbing cholesterol that has been stored in the plaques of the artery walls and prevent further blockage of the blood vessels. It is often prescribed by doctors to patients who have a history of heart attack and other health ailments are associated with high cholesterol levels. Statins include well-known medications such as lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and others.

Statins and other over-the-counter medications can be purchased from reputable online drugstores like BUYMEDSONLINE. CA, an online drugstore which offers high-quality medicines at very affordable prices which can be accessed at the comfort of one's home. Compared to traditional drugstores, purchasing medicines online saves one from the long queue or closing times. People who want to purchase medicines online should bear in mind that purchasing via the Internet may require research because there are certain online drugstores that do not give customers their money's worth. There are reports that some online drugstores deliver cheap but counterfeit drugs.

Good health should never be compromised. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle that involves doing moderate physical activities and eating nutritious food --- a person could effectively prevent the development of high cholesterol levels and other physical ailments.

Understanding asbestos

Lung cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the world. In the USA we have seen many cases of asbestos that are simply destroying entire families. Not only in states with a huge history in the construction industry, have show thousands of cases of asbestos victims, but over the last 15 years, mortality from lung cancer has more than tripled.

One of the most dramatic and serious problems with lung cancer is the most common and take 15 to 20 years to develop after exposure. Asbestosis, or scarring of the lung tissue, also takes 15 to 20 years to appear. This means that when asbestos starts to reveals it's presence the people responsible of the damages based on asbestos may be already out of business or not even alive.

Althoug many companies are already aware of the dangers of asbestos, removing asbestos from older buildings is a difficult, dangerous and expensive process, and clearly not a job for amateurs. There is good reason for all these precautions. Removing asbestos from public buildings must be done by a licensed contractor who is registered with the state. Obviously this sort of rules and conditions in the law, change of each states in the USA.

So why do we still have buildings with asbestos?

Well, the main reason is that depending on the extent of the work, removing or abating asbestos in a public building can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, a very, very expensive kind of work for any company to afford.

In all the parts of the US, building owners are required to perform in-depth surveys of their property and report to the construction inspectors. If asbestos qualifies for removal, the building owner must contact and hire an authorized asbestos removal company, which will take care of this dangerous quemical, including removing it, transporting it and destoying it. In many cases if buildings are going to be destroyed, there are not allowed to to be demolished if there is friable asbestos present. Also, any sort of schools or educational center are required by AHERA, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, to be inspected and have a management plan prepared, which is to be maintained and available for public inspection.

Now the interesting thing is how health experts are so keen in having different points regarding asbestos.. According to an university research , 2.3 of every 98,000 people living in buildings made from cement containing asbestos are liable to develop lung cancer. And it has been proved that health damage due to exposure to asbestos will certainly increase rapidly in the coming months and years. Healthcare maintenance workers and engineers can be unknowingly exposed to asbestos from many possible areas and sources. Engineers can be exposed while working in furnace rooms where boilers are insulated with asbestos, or when making repairs to old piping or doing minor renovations.

Asbestos is commonly found in ultramafic rock, including serpentine, and near fault zones. The amount of asbestos that is typically present in these rocks can be usually less than 1. So how really asbestos arrives to our lungs? Well, asbestos fibers can be released into the air when asbestos materials are destroyed. Objects with asbestos that remain in one piece represent little or no risk for our health.

Calculating your body mass index is your health at risk

Physical health can be measured (with certain exceptions) through the appropriateness of a person’s weight to his height; where the body weight refers to the measure of one’s heaviness and the height is the measure of his tallness. For instance, a woman measuring 5 ft high (1.52 m), with a medium body frame should weigh between 103 lbs to 115 lbs (46.72 kg to 52.16 kg) to be considered healthy.

Another example: a man standing 5 ft 8 in (1.72 m) tall, with a large body frame is healthy if he is weighing between 144 lbs to 163 lbs (65.32 kg to 73.94 kg). Otherwise, if their weight is lower than the desired body weight for their height, they are considered underweight. And if, in turn, their weight is higher than the desired body weight for their height, they are said to be overweight.

Body Mass Index is an indicator of surplus body fat and has since replaced the height-weight charts as mentioned in the above examples. It is a mathematical ratio of height to weight that is used to determine body composition (or body fat percentage) to assess a person’s level of health risk. Calculating BMI is as follows:

BMI = Weight (in kg) or BMI = Weight (in lbs) x 700

Height (in m)2 Height (in inches)2

For example, the calculation for someone weighing 80 kg (176 lbs) and 1.60 m (63 in) tall is:

BMI = 80 = 31.2 or BMI = 176 x 700 = 31.1

1602 632

People with a BMI of 25.1 to 29.9 are considered overweight, and people with a BMI of 30 or above are considered obese. Thus, from the example above, a person weighing 80 kg and is 1.60 m tall is obese. A high BMI assumes a higher percentage of body fat, which places a person at greater risk for developing chronic diseases and other serious illnesses.

BMI Weight Category

19 and under Underweight

20-25 Normal (Healthy)

26-29 Overweight

30 and above Obese

Body weight categories according to BMI

However, for some people, the BMI is not a reliable indication of health. A highly muscled individual who is very fit and healthy may have a somewhat heavy body weight because muscles pack on a lot of pounds. This person may have a high BMI that improperly puts him or her in the overweight or obese categories. Likewise, thin individuals who have a low body weight with very little muscle and a higher percentage of fat may have a normal BMI, which would be an incorrect indication of healthiness.

If you are overweight or obese according to the calculations shown here it is imperative that you undertake a weight loss and fitness program and start bringing that weight down. Remember that for every 10 pounds that you are over your ideal weight, the risks to your health increase and for every 10 pounds that you lose bringing you closer to your ideal weight, the risks to your health decrease.

Know the side effects of vasectomy male birth control

Of all the many variations of birth control options available for both men and women, choosing for the best one to use and practice is the common dilemma of most people. Birth control methods basically range from non-prescription options, which one can buy and use without prescriptions from specialists; prescription methods, the ones that require doctors' recommendation before usage; sterilization; and the natural/abstinence birth control practices.

Despite the wide variations of contraceptive methods to choose from, most sexually active males prefer the sterilization method as their means of birth control. Vasectomy, which is the medical term for male sterilization, is favored by most men today because it is permanent and its efficiency rate is higher compared to other forms of contraception. In this kind of sterilization process, the tubes in a male's scrotum are tied or sealed so that the sperm cells cannot get through the semen.

However, there are reported claims of side effects in vasectomy procedures. Some doctors and medical specialists even contradict to the efficiency and safety of this kind of permanent contraceptive method. Even though some of the noted adverse effects are not supported by clinical studies, it is still best to be informed on the procedures' possible complications before choosing this kind of permanent birth control method.

The following are three of the negative side effects of vasectomy male birth control method:

1. Susceptible to cancer

Unknown to most males, cancer is one of the adverse side effects brought by vasectomy. This happens when a man's body reacts negatively to the changes in his reproductive organ. There are instances when a man's immune system confused the sperm as a harmful substance. As a normal reaction of the body, antibodies are then automatically released, thus, making the arteries clogged. Note that when arteries are clogged, cancer cells are more likely to develop.

2. Occasional swelling and pain

Aside from being highly susceptible to cancer, occasional swelling and pain are also another known side effects of vasectomy birth control. Although these are regarded as non-serious effects of the said minor operation, swelling and pain are very convenient complications for most males.

Common causes of swelling and inflammation are the fluid hydrocels and the abscesses that occasionally develop when infection occurs. It is a good thing that the pain caused by inflammation and swelling can be remedied by regularly taking antibiotics and immediate consultation to a specialist.

3. Impotence or decreased sexual drive

Of all the reported complications associated with vasectomy, impotence or decreased sexual appetite is perhaps the most dreaded side effect of most men. Nothing is more frustrating to a man than not being able to satisfy or provide the sexual and intimate needs of his partner.

Decreased interest in sex, however, is not basically caused by physical reactions or changes of the body due to the operation. It is, rather, more of a psychological side effect that is associated with the stress and worries experienced by a man during the process of the vasectomy procedure. Best recommendation for this condition is psychiatric therapy or counseling that is to be conducted by an experienced therapist or doctor.

Five simple steps to stopping a binge

When you have a negative feeling, the thought of comforting and drowning yourself in food sounds like a wonderful idea. Your mind will be taken off of dealing with your emotions and food will heal all. This is the truth for about the first five minutes of binge eating. After that, you will continue to eat, but not because you are hungry. You will start to notice that your original feelings of sadness or other reasons will come back, along with new feelings of guilt because you just consumed so much food. Is there a way out of this crazy cycle?

Of course there is! Here are five steps that you can start implementing into your daily life to conquer a binge. The first step is to feel deserving of yourself. You need to feel that you are worthy enough to change your binge eating habits. Only after you do this and improve your self-esteem can you win the war over Binge Eating Disorder.

The second step is to throw out all foods in your house that you like to binge on. Remember, if the food is not readily available to you, it will be harder to binge. This also means when you go grocery shopping. When you don’t purchase foods that you binge on, it will be easier to conquer a binge while you are at home. You want to make it as hard as you can.

The third step is to buy a journal. In your journal, you are going to record all binges and what feelings were present during the binge. Record all details including the time, day, what you ate, how much you ate, and how you felt before and after the binge. Journaling is a great tool because this will provide insight to you as to why you turn to food like you do. This will help to narrow down your binges so that you will be able to see any similarities that happen when you binge.

The fourth step is to find a way to relax yourself. This is most important to do when you feel a binge coming on. Relaxation is very important in clearing your mind and turning away from the binge. Listen to nice, classical music, take a warm bubble bath, pamper yourself, go for a walk on a nice day, mediate, or picture yourself somewhere else where binging isn’t a part of your life. Another thing that you can do for relaxation is to go for a nice drive. Maybe you live by the ocean or a lake. Maybe you have some great scenic roads. Just remember not to take any money with you and try not to drive by anywhere that has food. You want to make the binge go away and you don’t want to be tempted to give in.

The fifth and final step to stopping a binge is to talk about it. Talk to a friend or anyone else that you can trust about how you are feeling. If you are upset, vent your frustrations out to them. Just having someone listen will be very helpful to you. You will feel that a weight has been lifted from you after you get everything off of your chest.

By: Kristin Gerstley

endbingeeating. com

Lower inhibitions lower performance impotence and alcoholism

Alcohol is known to effectively lower a person's inhibitions. It is because of this effect that alcohol is also believed to bring out one's sexuality, increase one's sex drive, and even improve one's sexual performance. The truth of this, however, cannot be actually verified. Although, one thing is for sure about alcohol and its effects on a man's system. Too much alcohol intake or excessive alcoholism can eventually result to impotence or erectile dysfunction. Simply put, this is a man's inability to achieve an erection when sexually stimulated. It is not, therefore, always true that alcohol increases or improves one's sexual performance. When alcohol intake is already too much, it can have the opposite effect on a man's functioning. Moreover, when excessive alcoholism happens for a long period of time, it can eventually cause harm in the neural components in different parts of the body including the reproductive organ. When neural pathways are the ones damaged, it can cause a more severe and permanent effect such as chronic impotence.

To be able to understand how excessive alcohol influences the physiology of an erection, it is necessary to first understand what occurs in a man's body when an erection happens. The process all starts with a certain stimulant or a combination of various components causing a man to feel stimulated. The source of stimulation can either be something that is seen (visual), heard (auditory), felt (tactile), smelled (olfactory), or a mixture of any or all those factors. The brain processes this information, causes a release of certain hormones or neurotransmitters that will then trigger some activities to occur within one's body. These activities include the dilation of nerves in a man's penis which allows the blood flow to reach that area. The surge of blood results to what is commonly known as an erection. Technically, it is the contraction of the muscles located within that area. Some mechanisms also control the maintenance of this occurrence to make it last for a certain period of time. The maintenance of an erection is as important as its initialization during situations like sexual intercourse. However, that will no longer be included in this discussion.

A better understanding of the physiology of an erection can help in a better understanding of the physiology of erectile dysfunction or impotence. Impotence results when any of the processes mentioned earlier necessary for achieving an erection is disrupted by certain, varying factors. In the case of alcoholism as a cause of erectile dysfunction, it is only important to understand the effects of alcohol to any person. Excessive alcohol causes intoxication and temporarily impairs the functioning of the brain. Since the brain primarily controls the functioning of other parts of the body, a partial impairment within the brain can also be manifested in other parts of the body. This, then, can include a man's ability to achieve an erection or to maintain an erection for a desired length of time. On the other hand, when the level of alcohol intake is only at a low or moderate amount, it may have good effects such as a decrease in the inhibition level of a person which is sometimes needed especially during situations when one has to forget or remove his or her fear and anxiety.

As mentioned earlier, when excessive alcoholism or alcohol intake is prolonged for a long period of time, it may already cause a more severe level of impotence or erectile dysfunction. Like most health problems, impotence has its own corresponding treatments or cure. Among the available options is a treatment called impotence drug therapy. Simply put, it is basically using prescribed medications within a certain period of time to cure the problem of erectile dysfunction. The more important thing to remember with this kind of treatment is that the amount, frequency, and length of use of the medication is mainly prescribed by an expert physician. Also, a strict adherence to the given prescription is needed to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. This is the method of treatment that is mostly recommended since a scientific study or evidence is already available to show the proof of the medication's effect. However, other methods of treatment is still available such as the use of natural or home-made remedies and undergoing psychological counseling.

Don t let the weather take your breath away

There are several weather related conditions that increase the risk of asthma attacks. Hospital admissions for breathing problems often increase as pollen counts rise and there have been many well-documented asthma epidemics following thunderstorms. In these cases many of those admitted were hay fever sufferers with no previous history of breathing difficulties.

A combination of thunderstorms and high pollen counts can trigger asthma. When thunderstorms develop they draw up air over a large area. If there has been a dry spell of five or more days there will be plenty of pollen lying around that will be drawn up with the air. As clouds are created ice forms around each pollen grain. The grains circulate within the cloud, going through several freeze and thaw cycles. This shatters the grains, breaking them into even smaller pieces. When it rains the shattered pollen plunges downwards. The pollen is now smaller, more concentrated and effectively more allergenic because the smaller particles can get deeper into the lungs.

Smog is also a weather related asthma trigger. Despite its name it is seldom a mixture of smoke and fog. It is the effect of heat and sunlight on car fumes and solvents producing high levels of ozone at ground level. Although ozone high in the atmosphere blocks dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun, ozone at ground level affects those with respiratory problems. Elevated levels of ozone and nitrogen dioxide seem to make lungs more sensitive to allergens and can also be an irritant.

Often the people most at risk are those who have not been diagnosed with asthma. They do not know what to expect and have no medication. If you work in or near a city the worst storms are those that occur in the afternoon or evening when ozone and pollen levels can be high. The situation is worsened if there is little or no wind to sweep away the pollutants. If you are asthmatic or a hay fever sufferer and thunderstorms are expected in your area, make sure you are using any preventive treatment and that you carry your reliever medication with you at all times. Stay inside if possible and avoid strenuous exercise.

Heat and humidity are other factors that can trigger asthma attacks. Stay indoors, ideally in air-conditioned areas and keep your inhaler nearby. If you cannot avoid the heat try to reduce other factors like tobacco smoke and dust. Often it is not the heat itself that affects people with asthma, it is the allergens that are present in greater numbers when the weather is hot.

Pollen counts vary throughout the year, but many plants do pollinate heavily during the summer months. Molds reproduce by releasing spores that can be allergenic, especially during damp, warm weather. Dust mites breed heavily during hot, humid weather.

If you are susceptible to exercise induced asthma you will also need to take care when the weather is cool and dry.

Even when the weather is calm there are potential problems. Airborne pollution like smoke and other particulates can build up in areas where the air is not moving the pollution away.

If you want to keep track of your triggers there are many websites that give details of allergen distribution and air quality forecasts. If you do not know what triggers your asthma or allergy it is vital that you find out as soon as possible.

Keep away from the foods that cause gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation, pain, sourness and swelling of the joints, also reducing their mobility. It mostly it affects the joints of the lower body limbs, such as toes, heels, ankles and knees, but it can also affect the joints of the upper body. Gout sometimes affects skin and soft tissue like muscles and tendons, causing swelling and rigidity. There are many factors that contribute to the occurrence and the development of gout, such as genetic predisposition to the disease, renal insufficiency, inappropriate diet and lack of proper exercise. Among all these triggers of gout, the quantity and the type of food consumed seem to play a very important role.

In the past, gout was referred to as “the disease of kings”, as it mostly affected rich people. The high incidence of gout among the rich, noble families in the past is explained by the fact that they had better access to expensive, exotic foods that in present are known to facilitate the development of the disease. Today, many people are still confronted with gout as a result of improper diet, unaware of the damage that some foods cause to the organism. Apart from foods that cause gout, another important factor in the development of the disease is obesity.

Gout is mainly caused by the crystallization of a substance called uric acid in the bloodstream, causing arteries to block. In normal quantities, uric acid is neutral to the organism. However, when in excess, it may cause a lot of damage. Uric acid is a residual product formed in the synthesis of purine. Purine is a substance that resides in fat meats, fish, some dairy products and vegetables. Foods that cause gout are rich in saturated fats and purines, therefore contributing to the excessive secretion of uric acid. Among the foods that cause gout, the most dangerous are considered to be red meats and some fish. Beef, pork, lamb and seafood should be avoided when suffering from gout. Furthermore, healthy people should control their intake of such foods in order to prevent the acquiring of gout. Other foods like chicken meat, low dairy, grains, green vegetables and fruits are well tolerated among people who suffer from gout.

In order to ameliorate the symptoms of gout, foods that cause gout should be excluded from the diet in favor of healthy food. Also, the consumption of alcohol should be reduced, as it increases the amount of uric acid produced by the organism. Smoking can aggravate the symptoms of gout too, slowing the natural process of healing and interfering in the right circulation of the blood.

By drinking plenty of water you will help the body in eliminating the excess of uric acid. It is strongly recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Also, try to reduce the amount of saturated fats from your diet and eat more carbohydrate rich foods such as cereal, pasta and bread. Consume plenty of fruits, as they contain lots of important vitamins and minerals. Fruits like apples, oranges, nectarines and lemons should be a part of your daily menu.

Shea butter lip balm no petroleum jelly

Natural Lip Balm Vs the Other Kind

Lip balm has been around for over 100 years. But it took a wrong turn right at the beginning. The inventor of lip balm, Dr. C. D. Fleet, started an unfortunate trend by using petroleum jelly in his Chap Stick lip balm, and it's only become clear in recent years just how ineffective petroleum jelly is as a lip balm. At best, since petroleum jelly isn't absorbed by the skin, it provides only a short-term fix for dry, chapped lips. And since it keeps the skin from breathing, it can -- if used frequently -- actually make your lips more chapped. If you’re looking for a lip balm that can actually heal chapped lips you should consider lip balm made with shea butter. Shea butter's effect on the skin is different from that of petroleum jelly. Instead of lying inert on the surface of the lips, it is absorbed by the skin cells. Because it improves the moisture retention capacity of your lips, your lips become dry and chapped much less frequently.

Why Shea Butter Lip Balm Works

In early adulthood, all of our skin cells -- including those in our lips -- begin to become more porous and less elastic. If shea butter -- a substance that both moisturizes the skin and restores the skin cells' elasticity -- is applied to the lips, then not only are the cells hydrated, but they gradually regain their natural elasticity so that they are better able to keep moisture from escaping. Because unrefined shea butter contains both a high moisturizing fraction and an extraordinarily high healing fraction, it is a wonderful agent for revitalizing our skin cells so that they get back their moisture retention capacity.

Why Petroleum-based Lip Balm Doesn't Work

Petroleum-based lip balm doesn't pretend to fix the problem that causes dry chapped lips. Instead, it basically acts as a band-aid -- slightly moisturizing the surface of the lips and trapping the moisture there, thus temporarily making the lips less dry. But to keep your lips moist using petroleum-based lip balm, you need to frequently reapply the lip balm. Well you might as well just lick your lips all the time -- that has the same temporary effect, it's a lot cheaper, and it doesn't run the risk that bacteria will be trapped between the greasy lip balm and the skin, causing further irritation and even infection.

Cause of Chapped Lips

Chapped lips are, of course, the result of our lips being too dry. Everyone experiences dry chapped lips at one time or another, but some of us have a severe and chronic problem. The explanation for severe and chronic dry lips is that our skin has lost its moisture retention capacity. As a consequence, our lips become easily chapped. The chapping further reduces the moisture retention capacity and this vicious circle results in the problem becoming chronic and increasingly severe. Whether you just have occasional chapping or chronic and severe chapping, shea butter lip balm is a good choice since it enhances the skin’s moisture retention properties.

The hazards of secondhand smoke

Secondhand smoke poses serious harm even to non-smokers. Secondhand or passive smoking refers to the involuntary smoking or inhalation of tobacco smoke. Smoke from this process usually contains a mixture of smoke given off by a tobacco product coupled with the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. Tobacco smoke may stay in the air for hours after cigarettes have been consumed and it can be involuntarily inhaled by non-smokers. Secondhand smoke may seem harmless, but it can actually contain many toxic chemicals that are carcinogenic or and other substances that can cause cancer.

There are actually two kinds of secondhand smoke, namely the side stream and mainstream smoke. The former is the smoke that may drift in the air from a burning tobacco product. The latter, on the other hand, is the smoke that a smoker exhales. Regardless of its term, these types of second hand smoke contain 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which are carcinogenic. Formaldehyde, arsenic, cadmium, benzene, and ethylene oxide are some of the substances that may cause cancer. These dangerous components may stay in the air for hours and may harm one's health in many ways.

Shown below are some of the chemicals emitted during cigarette smoking:

Ammonia – This chemical may irritate the lungs.

Carbon Monoxide – This chemical causes breathing difficulties by reducing oxygen levels in the blood.

Methanol – This chemical is highly toxic when inhaled or swallowed.

Hydrogen Cyanide – This chemical interferes with proper respiratory functions.

In addition to these negative effects, studies show that babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy have heightened risks to be born prematurely and with low birth weight. Children whose parents smoke may have twice the risk of developing getting asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, and allergies. Quiting smoking may improve the health of smokers and the people around them. Secondhand smoke may also trigger asthma attacks, aggravate allergies, and weaken the immune system, making one vulnerable to colds and other respiratory ailments like bronchitis and pneumonia.

Secondhand smoke is harmful to everyone, but it is especially hard on children. A study conducted by the American Lung Association revealed that secondhand smoke is responsible for 150,000 to 300,000 cases of pneumonia and bronchitis of children under 18 months of age yearly. About 15,000 of these infants need to hospitalized. Because of the health effects of secondhand smoke, smokers are advised to refrain from smoking near other people especially children and pregnant women. Cigarette particles may stick to clothing, smokers should change clothes before holding or hugging children.

Individuals who are having a hard time cutting the habit may try using quit smoking products that are now available in the market. These products, however, cannot do all the work. The best way to quit smoking is to avoid being with smokers or being near establishments that sell tobacco products. no doubt, quitting the habit entails determination, discipline, and commitment. Using these products, however, can help a smoker cut the habit by making them more comfortable and complacent to adjust to life without cigarettes. Many 'quit smoking products' are available over the counter, it is best to seek the approval of health professionals to clarify side effects and drug interactions that may be developed while under medication. With the right tools and attitude, quitting smoking and reducing the health effects of secondhand smoke can be done with ease.

Difficulties in diagnosing appendicitis

Appendicitis has been labeled as a very difficult to diagnose internal disorder. The symptoms of appendicitis are often vague and unspecific, thus rendering the process of diagnosis very difficult. Appendicitis rarely generates outwardly visible clinical manifestations and doctors often require additional tests in the process of diagnosing the disorder. In order to confirm the presumptive diagnoses of appendicitis, doctors rely on blood analysis, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound tests. However, even modern medical procedures have a certain degree of imprecision and doctors are faced with a real challenge when it comes to diagnosing unspecific cases of appendicitis.

Although it can occur at any age, appendicitis is common in very young children and teenagers. At early ages, children experience serious difficulties in coping with appendicitis and in many cases they present with complications by the time they receive an appropriate medical treatment. Children perceive more intense symptoms of appendicitis and they often experience a wide range of uncharacteristic clinical manifestations. While older children are able to communicate their distress, very young children and babies are unable to express themselves and thus they are more difficult to diagnose with internal disorders such as appendicitis.

While the most common clinical manifestations of appendicitis in adults are intense abdominal pain and discomfort (at first in the umbilical region, later spreading to the right lower side of the abdomen), nausea and fatigue, children may experience additional symptoms such as irritability, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Considering the fact that appendicitis often involves bacterial infection of the vermiform appendix, children commonly experience high fever, intense sweating and chills. Infants and very young children may experience exacerbated appendicitis symptoms.

Although children often experience intense, visible symptoms of appendicitis, such clinical manifestations mimic those of various other internal disorders and thus they aren’t reliable in the process of diagnosis. Considering the fact that some medical techniques such as computerized tomography (CT) and ultrasound tests aren’t always appropriate for diagnosing very young children and infants, doctors usually perform more elaborate physical examinations (abdominal and rectal examinations) along with blood analyses instead. If all clinical manifestations and blood tests results point to appendicitis, doctors usually recommend medical intervention.

The medical treatment for appendicitis requires surgical intervention. The medical procedure for removing the diseased appendix is called appendectomy and nowadays it can be performed safely and with minimal scarring. Timely performed, appendectomy can prevent the occurrence of serious complications (rupturing of the appendix, sepsis, abcess) and doctors recommend this surgical intervention to most young patients diagnosed with appendicitis.

It is very important to ask for medical guidance as soon as you spot any signs of abdominal pain and discomfort in your child. Abdominal pain, vomiting and fever are common signs of childhood appendicitis and you should quickly inform a doctor of the presence of such manifestations in your child.

Insoluble fiber and weight-loss

Many fruits and vegetables are known for numerous health benefits. Diets composed of five to nine serving of fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk of chronic ailments and other physical difficulties. Vegetables and fruits are made of insoluble fiber can supply the body of necessary nutrients like vitamins and minerals that are vital for the development and maintenance of the human body. Many research suggests that nutrients in plants may slow the aging process, lessen the risk of cancer, prevent urinary tract infection, and help lose weight.

Vegetables and fruits are low in fat in calories--these factors are essential in effective weight control and weight loss. Low-calorie diets enables are essential in achieving and maintaining one's ideal weight. In addition to their low-calorie content, vegetables and fruits are low in sodium which means that they help reduce water gains. Sodium is a component of many processed foods, it causes the body to store water in the body. People on the average may be holding up to five pounds of additional water because of high sodium intake. Reduction in sodium intake can help lose water weight, if more vegetables and fruits are consumed, sodium intake naturally lowers.

A diet composed of vegetables and fruits, coupled with exercise can promote weight loss and also reduce the risk of many medical conditions. Insoluble fiber in these food passes through the body quickly, bringing with them cancer-causing substances through the digestive system faster. In addition, insoluble fiber helps prevent constipation because these food exits the body faster.

Here are other health benefits of fruits and vegetables in one's diet:

· Reduce risk for stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases.

· Reduce risk for type 2 diabetes.

· Protect against certain cancers, such as mouth, stomach, and colon-rectum cancer.

· Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

· Reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and may help to decrease bone loss.

Insoluble fiber from fruits and vegetables are not “cure all” for weight control. However, a nutritious diet, coupled with exercise, and lots of water these food can help individuals lose weight. Eight glasses of water a day are recommended a day because food high in fiber get water from the intestines. By adding insoluble fiber in one's diet, individuals may help avoid bloating and promote overall health.

Buying nutritional food that is high in insoluble fiber is important in improving one's health. When shopping for nutritional food, buyers should remember the following:

· Buy fresh products twice a week. Many vegetables lose their nutrients during prolonged refrigeration.

· Avoid wilted vegetables and bruised fruits.

· Buy small, young vegetables.

· Choose whole grain products for greater nutritional content instead of "enriched" breads.

· Buy from larger stores or health food stores for whole-grain flours and hard-to-find nuts and seeds.

Controlling one's weight is easier with lots of fruits and vegetables. One ought to remember that these food will not solve all weight problems, but it is a step to which leads to the right direction. Regular consumption of fiber has many advantages that may lead to improved health and ideal weight.

Trouble sleeping why not ask your grannies

Sleep is a basic necessity of life. It is as important to our health and well-being as air, food, and water. When we sleep well, we wake up feeling refreshed, alert, and ready to face daily challenges. When we don't, every part of our lives can suffer. Our jobs, relationships, productivity, health and safety. Those around us are also put at risk. Definitely, excessive loss of sleep or sleep disorders take a serious toll on one's productivity and quality of life.

According to the 2002 National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a recent poll on sleeoing in America found that 74 percent of American adults are experiencing a sleeping problem a few nights a week or more; and that 39% get less than seven hours of sleep each weeknight. The statistics also show that more than one in three Americans or 37% of respondents are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with their daily activities.

In the past century that was relatively less stressful compared with the average schedule of a worker, the number of hours of lost sleep grew steadily. Though our society has changed and evolved our lives into a more complex and rigorous task, our brains and bodies have not adjusted to those changes. Based on health and productivity statistics, sleep deprivation is affecting us all and we are paying the high price.

Though a lot of us have suffered from sleep deprivation, as every sleep researcher knows, the surest way to hear complaints about sleep is to ask the elderly. More than half of men and women over the age of 65 years complain of at least one sleep problem. Many older people experience insomnia and other sleep difficulties on a regular basis.

As we get older, our sleep patterns change. In general, older people sleep less and experience more fragmented sleep. They also spend less time in deep sleep and dream sleep than younger people. There are several factors that may contribute to these sleep disorders, namely:

· Poor Sleep Habits

· Medical Illness

· Medications

· Depression or Psychiatric Disorders

· Sleep Disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder

· Retirement and Boredom

Irregular sleep-wake patterns can affect an individual's circadian rhythm and make it hard to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Other behavioral issues, such as consumption of alcohol before bedtime, increased wakeful time in bed, or daytime napping, can also affect a person's ability to sleep. Certain chronic medical conditions are common in older people. Some of these conditions, including heart failure, arthritis, heartburn, menopause and Alzheimer's disease, can affect sleep. These conditions can make it hard to fall sleep or may cause the person to awaken frequently. This will ultimately affect the duration and the quality of sleep of the elderly. Some medications may impair a person's ability to fall asleep or stay asleep and may even stimulate wakefulness at night.

Old age is characterized by many life-events, both positive and negative. Life changes such as the death of a loved one, moving from a family home, or physical limitations due to illness can cause significant stress and sleep difficulties. Retirement often leads to a lot of downtime with less daytime activity and can lead to an irregular sleep-wake schedule and chronic sleep problems.

Every person's sleep needs are different. If one is getting less sleep than when they were younger, but still feel rested and energetic during the day, it might just be that the person need less sleep. However, if a person noticed that lack of sleep is affecting his or her daytime activities, a visit to the doctor is essential. There are steps that can take to improve a person's sleep quality, whatever age we might be, but help is most especially needed among the elderly.

Phentermine - a name you can trust

:
Weight control is not just a problem for those who are highly overweight or obese but everybody needs to be conscious about it. Today, it is a huge problem and is affecting the societies and masses at large. If we take example of US itself, more than 40% of the adult population has been categorized as overweight or obese. Obesity has taken shape of an epidemic and has engulfed people from all age groups, children to old people. According to Health department in US, obesity is included in the top ten diseases which are having serious impact on health of the people in the country. Also, obesity is the highest contributor to the healthcare costs.


We seriously need to have an answer to this problem of obesity before it takes a severe shape. People try various methods like diet control, work-outs and exercises, but there has not been anything more successful than weight loss diet pills. Diet pills have provided a major breakthrough in helping to control the weight effectively. These diet pills act as appetite suppressant and are responsible in curtailing the intake of calories.


Phentermine is amongst the most commonly used diet pills. Over a period of time is has become immensely popular because of is high success rate. A lot of obese people have trusted Phentermine and have been benefited. Before getting started with diet pills, it is essential for you to share your medical history with the doctor which would enable him to prescribe the most suitable option.


Diet pills like Phentermine are quite easily accessible and one can buy it from any of the authorized pharmacy stores. The most convenient and the best way to buy Phentermine would be to order it through an online pharmacy. Prior to making a buying decision about Phentermine it is advisable to go through the information related to its usage, side affects, reviews of existing users to avoid any kind of problem later on.


To achieve consistent positive results for a longer time, it is recommended to combine the usage of diet pills with healthy low-fat food and regular exercises. If taken in the correct manner and discipline diet pills can create wonders and help you achieve the desired shape and free you from the worries of obesity and related ailments.