Kesihatan Sepanjang Hayat - Health for a Life Time

Elliptical Trainer Equipment

2011-09-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

The trend today is to lose weight quickly, drastic action to reduce weight and allow you to start a new life, but we all know that you need to continue to work and monitor what you eat if you want to maintain what you have in your diet .

Excersice equipment elliptical trainer which is a type developed and upgraded gym machines, it is built with a view to stimulating the muscles involved in aerobic excersice, like walking or running, but is designed in such a manner that eliminates the pressure usually placed on different joints in the body so that only the muscles working and the pressure is not involved, this removes the risk of joint damage or injury resulting from this activity.

Significant benefits for consumers elliptical trainers is that this machine is perfect for excersice, and not only cardiovascular exercise will help decrease the risk of significant injuries but also help to focus on the area you are interested in developing. Elliptical trainer is designed to develop upper and lower bodies of people who use, using a special body of mounted over coach.

Most elliptical trainers on the market that plans to increase heart rate more than they are directed at building muscle mass and power, such as treadmill these machines have been found to have a higher capability in enhancing the fitness guide and is also very effective in caloric expenditure, which means that elliptical trainer is one of the most practical machine that you can use if you want to lose weight and exercise as you do. The uniqueness of the elliptical trainer is that it is almost no risk of any orthopedic injury, and you avoid the risks involved in the stress on any part of your body.

The market has many different models and elliptical trainers it is very important to determine what features you need before you start shopping, there are various prices for the elliptical trainer, but we can confidently say that the whole is not a cheap machine for buying.

Some elliptical trainers have the option of electricity to them, adding a lot more options that you may want to use, if you plan to use a lot of coaches that you might want to consider buying that has some advanced features, such as programs of preparation and work different muscle groups, and monitor your progress over time.

If you are interested in just getting some types of exercise machines for your home, you may need a machine that is less sophisticated, but it is a shame to buy something that will be used every day only to find that other models have the features you could benefit from the additional medium that you spent, and this is the main reason you need to research the market before buying a machine.

So, do your homework, determine what features are important to you, make sure your purchase is protected, and enjoy your elliptical trainer.

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Blood Sugar

2011-07-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

Within each, there are those of sugar in the blood, that a certain amount each day and should be every day. If the amount of sugar in the blood is low in some, they may experience irritability, weakness, fatigue, headaches, tremors, nervousness, and control hunger.

When blood sugar is too high insulin in the body. Blood sugar is not something you play, you can hit the whole body, and when it is low enough, you could have a serious problem on your hands.

Aloe has been used in studies of glucose in the blood and came back with the right answers. He was conducting tests and research has been done, aloe vera can help with blood sugar levels.

Today, more than half of our population is overweight. There are also more cases of diabetes. Both problems are caused by blood sugar levels, and even some of the most dangerous. When blood sugar in balance, we need to train more energy.

We also note that we do not feel so slow and lazy feeling when our blood sugar levels have increased. Maintain blood glucose levels balanced is important for our health and aloe are able to do so. Minerals and trace elements in Aloe are used more problems in the body.

Aloe contains the appropriate assistance to minerals, trace elements and vitamins that levels of glycemic control. That study was, if a diabetic to take medication, took a tablespoon of aloe juice with him while he was doing this diabetic, took another nothing but his medicine.

Diabetic, took a tablespoon of aloe juice had a balanced blood sugar, while the person who has nothing but the medicine experienced lower blood sugar.

Some information on Aloe Vera

Aloe has a long history as a remedy for various diseases. Gel and latex: Commonly known as Aloe vera can be separated into two basic investment products. Aloe vera gel is the leaf pulp or juice, a thin clear jelly-like substance of the leaf, from which to obtain the inner leaves.

The gel contains carbohydrate polymers, and various other organic and inorganic compounds. Aloe latex, commonly known as "aloe juice", an extract from the yellow pericyclic tubules is directly under the outer skin of the leaves. For use as a laxative, the juice is often dried aloe granules that are exposed to the air to produce dark brown.

The separation process is not always complete, so aloe latex can be found in some aloe gel. It 'best to make the gel as pure as possible, because aloe latex contains some things that are used to powerful laxative.

Processed Aloe is difficult to maintain stable, a problem that can lead to differences in effectiveness. The best source of aloe gel would be the same from a broken leaf of the plant.

Aloe Vera Gel for the treatment of wounds, burns and skin irritations used. Most consumers can also be used as a drink for the use of aloe in skin care products, but aloe.

Aloe products for internal use have used for constipation, coughs, wounds, ulcers, diabetes, cancer, headaches, arthritis and many other conditions were. Aloe is different for each type of things have been used over the years and is now sold on the open market. People generally buy aloe know exactly what they will use it for, and buy a little 'just to be safe.

Aloe is now one of the few plants that can cure many diseases that can be found on the surface of the earth.
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Jogging

2011-07-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

Jogging is alternative way to burn fat and lose weight, but also makes your heart and lungs stronger. You can run almost anywhere and almost every time you want to do it easily. For this reason there are so many people who do.
The problem is that most people do not know at first how to start properly and it does so usually at the end is false. There is nothing to stop dozens of people before you have enough time for them, something good will be asked to do so.
Take a look at some things that can be a little 'easier to start a jogging routine without running into the ground.
The first and probably the most common mistake made when you start a jogging routine is that they start too fast. It goes too fast and at the end of the breath out of breath after 5 or 10 minutes. This is an instant recipe for failure, and many people in a few days at the end.
Some people are a bit 'stronger can continue for some time to think about whether to stay with it long enough, will start to relieve themselves. In general, what happens is always difficult, because even though they may be in better shape, continue to put more pressure on the road so it seems, no progress.
If you are about to go into a routine of jogging is the best thing you can buy a heart rate monitor first cooling always the first step. With one of these, you can set a pace that is comfortable for you, and you can maintain this level in your jogging. This means that for you "guess" is not about the pace, and you will feel your lungs burn when you're done.
The key here is always between 50% and 70% is to update your maximum heart rate. It 'easy to do with a heart rate monitor, so you can keep a tight grip on your heart rate as you go. You can speed up, if it gets a little 'weak, and slower when you go a bit'. It can also slow to a crawl if the heart rate is too high, and a new rhythm of jogging once it falls below 50%.
The way to tell you where your heart rate should be between 50% and 70% is obtained using the following formula:
Subtract your age from 220 This is your maximum heart rate. Well enough to multiply by 0.50 and 0.70, and you your heart of the area of destination. An example of this formula.
Suppose you have 40 years
220 minus 40 equals 180
0.50 is equal to 90 180 times
180-126 is equal to 0.70 times
Looking at this example, you can see that if you are 40, heart rate 90-126 entertained while you jog.
The fact is that it's not going too fast, enjoy the benefits of jogging, it is as long as you move, that counts. AND 'cheaper, a mile in about 15 minutes, as it covers in 7 minutes, then evacuated to cover.
If you stay within the limits of the functions of the heart rate, you can begin to devote more time and miles to jog as you are jogging, and something you look forward, rather than something that can be scary.

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Steps To Helping Your Asthmatic Child

2011-05-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

The first and most important is to determine the responsibility for asthma in your child. Parents of asthmatic children suffer a range of conflicting emotions. Strongest is the natural care for their child. They are the best treatment, or is it something that you do not think or do not know? Then there are doubts about the care or under protective gas. If this non-asthmatic siblings do you treat your children well? Maybe there is a debt that asthma can be taken over and it is your fault that your child has the condition.
Responsibility for the situation and eliminate the myth immediately. You do not want your child. There is no one to blame or judge of a type not exceeding a capacity inherited someone good enough for sports or singing. You can also recharge by informing you about the status. Do not waste time worrying if better treatments or medications for your child. More information. Using the medical profession, the library and the Internet. The best prescription is knowledge.
The next step is to be aware of the health of your child. A problem with a sick child is their inability to clearly explain how they feel. A child with asthma can not come to you in the middle of the night and called breathing or persistent coughing. Instead, they serve their condition deteriorate until their lungs long enough to have pressure on the stomach. At this point you can mention that they are sick.
Some children take a break when she breathes hard and never mention shortness of breath.
If you think your child has asthma, you probably looking for the classic symptoms: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, changes in color of skin, nails, lips and a feeling of oppression in the chest. But be aware that there are other signs that a problem may include nausea, lethargy and loss of appetite low. Also note if your child is likely to send because they feel short of breath expire.
If possible, take a look at your child's breathing during sleep. So you can see when they are relaxed breathing. Then you will be able to tell if their breathing works.
Next make sure your child is taking inhaled. Many medications for asthma inhalers, and is often understood as a child and the order of the breath required for these drugs difficult. How long will your child learn, blew her nose right? I know that a child, they held their breath as she held her lips tightly together that they breathed through the nose past. Many children feel that they do not hold your breath for the period and at the end of a dramatic sigh. If your child has asthma drugs through an inhaler, it is often better to take it with a brace or use Aero-board.
They must be prepared for an asthma attack. What to do. If your child has an asthma attack, remain calm and resist the urge to hug your child. All this is perfectly natural, it will reduce their chest and breathing harder for them.
If you are driving your child or an ER doctor, while having an asthma attack, you still have loops in their child. Do not expose your child. Imagine what would happen if, before an accident.
Effective with asthma, you need to understand the disease and your child to understand. You might be tempted to your doctor about all the decisions to leave, but it's so much more you can not just medicate. You can check the status of changes in the family environment of nurturing your child to breathe if they improve performance and win. The more you know about asthma, the more effectively you can control.

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Basic Things You Need To Know - Acne

2011-04-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

For those that are dealing with acne, having the necessary knowledge about where it comes from and how to treat it is the first step in solving this very difficult and often scarring condition. It is not easy to find a way to work through acne when you do not know if a product will work how it will work or what is causing the acne on your face. In fact, it is plain old frustrating. Yet, the good news is that you can learn and you can succeed with acne treatments.

What Causes Acne?

The first thing to understand is what is causing your acne. Now, some people are more prone to it than others and this may or may not be linked to family genes and just environmental issues. But, what causes these little infections on your face happens for a very specific reason. Acne is caused by bacteria that are attracted to your face. They are attracted to it because your skin is oily and warm. And, there are dead skin cell to feed on. They get onto your face, into your pores and make themselves at home. Your skin becomes irritated and there comes that frightening pimple.

What Will Make It Go Away?

There are several acne treatment options for you. First, acne control can come from natural acne treatments such as eating a well balanced diet and taking supplements that are geared towards acne treatment. These will include a good assortment of vitamins and minerals that are known to help with acne control.

Next, you can move on to treating the infections in your skin. To do this, your doctor may provide you with antibiotics. Or, there are also natural skin care treatments that can help as well. In either case, the bacteria that are there need to be destroyed. Finally, you can work on exfoliating your skin to remove all those dead cells that the acne is feeding off of.

There are many acne products that can help with these steps. The goal is to understand why it is happening to you then you can gear your acne treatment right at it and see results. Remember, though, it took time for your face to become in this condition and it will take time for the acne to heal fully as well.

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Makan lebih buah dan sayur

2011-03-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

Pengenalan
Buah dan sayur merupakan sumber utama yang membekalkan vitamin, mineral, serat dan antioksidan yang penting untuk kesihatan. Buah dan sayur
juga mempunyai kandungan kalori dan lemak yang rendah serta tidak mengandungi kolesterol.

Mengapa perlumakan buah dan sayur?

Buah dan sayur perlu keran ia mempunyai pelbagai kebaikan antaranya :

Serat dapat mengurangkan masalah sembelit.
Vitamin dan mineral membantu mencegah penyakit.
Potasium menguatkan fungsi otot.
Antioksidan melambatkan proses penuaan.

Selain itu ia juga boleh dijadikan sebagai snek berkhasiat kerana ia rendah lemak, rendah kalori dan tidak mengandungi kolestrol.

Kita perlu mengambil 3-5 hidangan buah dan sayur setiap hari.

Contoh hidangan

Satu hidangan sayur-sayuran

1/2 cawan sayuran berdahun hijau tua dengan batangnya bleh dimakan atau
1 cawan sayur mentah atau ulam-ulaman

Satu hidangan buah-buahan

1/2 biji buah jambu batu bersaiz sederhana atau
1 biji buah oren, epal, pir yang sederhana atau
1 biji pisang yang sederhana atau 1 potong betik, nenas

Tips Meningkatkan Pengambilan Buah-buahan dan Sayur-sayuran.

Makan pelbagai jenis buah segar.
Jadikan buah-buahan sebagai gantian makanan ringan (snek).
Utamakan buah-buahan segar berbanding buah-buahan dalam tin.
Makan buah bersama kulit untuk mendapatkan lebih serat.
Minum jus buah-buahan segar tanpa gula.
Makan sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan yang terdiri daripada pelbagai warna.
Pilih sup sayur, kurangkan mengambil sup berkrim.
Amalkan pengambilan ulam-ulaman.

Panduan mengekalkan kandungan nutrien buah-buahan dan sayur-sayuran.

Cuci buah dan sayur sebelum dimasak atau dimakan.
Elakkan merendam buah dan sayur selepas dipotong.
Elakkan memasak sayur-sayuran terlalu lama.
Masukkan sayur apabila air telah mendidih atau minyak telah cukup panas.
Gunakan lebihan air rebusan sayur untuk dijadikan stok sup anda.
masak bahagian sayur yang keras terlebih dahulu.
Simpan sayur dan buah daripada cahaya dan haba.

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What is Mesothelioma?

2011-03-24T02:01:00.001-07:00

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of asbestos cancer that develops in the mesothelial cells. These cells form tissue that surround or line the lungs, heart, and stomach. The mesothelial cells protect these organs by producing a lubricating fluid that allows them to move smoothly.

Asbestos is the overwhelming cause of mesothelioma in the United States. Typically the asbestos exposure occurred in an occupation or work environment over a prolonged period of time. However, it is also well-established that bystander (working near others using asbestos products) and household exposures (exposure from family members and their work clothes in the home) are known causes of mesothelioma. There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos.

7 Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

2010-10-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

by: Chalene Johnson

1. Drink less. Avoid calorie-laden beverages like alcohol, egg nog, peppermint lattes and hot chocolate. Permanently attach a bottle of water to your hand from Thanksgiving until January 1st. One cocktail is fine. But keep in mind, alcohol usually makes you less attractive, less articulate, less responsible, and more likely to overeat. Cheers!

2. Bake less. One of the sneakiest ways calories creep up on us is via the mixing bowl! Avoid volunteering to bake your famous snicker doodle cheesecake and you’ll instantly cut down on unneeded stress and calories.

3. Be fashionably late. This accomplishes two things. One, the less time you spend at the party, the less time you spend with a plate of cheese stuffed mini-quiche and uncomfortable small talk with the boss. Two, the more guests there before you, the less food available when you arrive.

4. Throw away leftovers. I know your Mother would “gasp” at such a wasteful suggestion. I’ll let you in on a little secret, that half-eaten pumpkin pie is not exactly what the local food bank had in mind. Toss it and get over it. Your neighbor brings over a delicious plate of cookies. Take a nibble and toss the rest! She’ll never know the difference and your thighs will thank you.

5. Amp up your workouts. Many Americans excuse themselves from healthy eating and regular workouts because, “it’s that time of year”. Poor choice. Rather than skipping workouts, intensify yours. Holidays are when you really need the mood enhancing, stress busting effects of exercise more than ever. You deserve it. You’ll be more proficient because of it, so make time to do it!

6. Enjoy a taste. Some do well by swearing off “forbidden” foods, but for many of us that notion only leads to bingeing or a feeling of deprivation. If that’s the case, allow yourself the treat, just make it a small portion and account for it during your next Cardio Party!.

7. Scrap the “dieters mentality”. I forbid you to say these 5 little words ever again, “I’m starting my diet tomorrow.” This mentality leads people to believe that healthy eating is all or nothing. Have a cookie or two, but catch yourself before you slip into the “Oh, I’ve blown it so now I might as well have 10 more!” way of thinking. That mentality is the root of all yo-yo dieting. Think of your eating as a way of life, not a diet. Enjoy the occasional treat, but do so in moderation.

About The Author

Chalene Johnson is an internationally known fitness personality and owner of Powder Blue Productions, a leading company in the fitness industry. Chalene is the creator of Turbo Kick™, PiYo™ and the designer of Turbo Wear™, the latest trend in Fitwear. http://www.turbowear.com. Chalene and her fashions have been featured in numerous fitness publications, newspapers and videos. For more information about Chalene or her programs visit http://www.turbokick.com or contact 800-315-2505.

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Good Stress and Bad Stress

2010-08-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

by: Constance Weygandt

We cannot exist without stress. Stress is the body’s response to a perceived threatening situation. It is meant to protect us. Positive stress allows us to perform at higher levels and to face challenges in life. We have all heard of situations where individuals perform unimaginable feats of strength and courage to save the life of another person. That is positive stress. This type of stress provides us with the extra physical and emotional resources needed when our life or the life of someone we love is threatened. On a smaller scale, positive stress creates great athletes, allows us to ace a test, speak in front of an audience or obtain a job promotion. We can face and overcome all sorts of situations due to positive stress. Normally when the situation ends our stress levels return to normal.

However, negative or bad stress has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Research has shown that 90% of office visits to the doctor can be attributed to stress related symptoms. Most modern stress can be attributed to how we perceive a situation. Even though we may not be presented with an actual physical threat, our blood pressure rises, our heartbeat quickens and our breathing becomes more rapid. Chronic stress occurs when we are subjected to a host of perceived, constant, little threats. Some of these can be driving in heavy traffic, debt, problems in the workplace, problems at home and unrealistic expectations. Chronic stress affects our organs and creates a magnitude of health problems. Some of the effects of chronic stress are heart attack, digestive problems, asthma or trouble breathing, ulcers, headaches, muscle tension and hair loss in women. Stress also affects the regulation of insulin levels which can lead to Type II Diabetes. Some of the symptoms of chronic stress are heart palpitations, shortness of breath, back or neck pain, insomnia, skin problems, fatigue, weight loss or gain and high blood pressure. An overload of stress basically upsets the balance in our bodies and weakens our immune system. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of chronic stress and learn what to do about them.

About The Author

Constance Weygandt is an author, speaker and balance mentor. For more information on health and fitness or to receive her newsletter, visit her at http://balancedwellnessonline.com.

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Cancer Treatment

2010-07-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

by: AllMed Healthcare Management

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 1.4 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2005. The victims are fairly evenly divided, with males having a slight lead at 51 percent. The causes are seemingly too complicated to unravel. The effects are unfortunately too obvious.

The rise in cancer patients, combined with new access to medical research and technology, enable cancer victims to take self-education to new heights. Through their efforts, patients are often confused by the nuances between protocols for scientific experiments and the medically accepted protocols for treatment. While the two sound the same, they serve different ends. Experimental protocols are simply mechanisms for following scientific research that can be replicated and compared against an already standardized treatment to prove validity. This process may require several experiments and studies before treatment is sanctioned as a proven method that can be used on patients. Typically, insurance payers will not begin to pay for treatment until protocols have reached the medically proven stage.

The four major types of cancer treatments available today include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and biologic therapies. New treatments, such as hormone therapies with Tamoxifen and transplant options involving bone marrow, are being added to these standard procedures on a regular basis.

This widespread availability of cancer experimentation and treatment options causes confusion not only among the lay community, but among physicians and payers as well. Every day, new options appear on the horizon that show promise, but only a few become treatment protocols. As the literature about cancer research and treatment burgeons, it's increasingly difficult for anyone but an Oncology specialist to stay current with which treatments are sanctioned and which are still considered experimental.

Having access to Board-Certified Oncologists and Hematologists as part of the independent review process can help payers ensure patients receive the best medical care possible as approved by their contracts. AllMed Healthcare Management's panel of Oncology and Hematology specialists know the latest cancer treatment options and can help you, the payer, stay abreast of these advancements—now and in the future.

About The Author

AllMed Healthcare Management Founded in 1995, AllMed (http://www.allmedmd.com, http://www.allmedmd.com/blog/index.htm) is a URAC-accredited Independent Review Organization (IRO) serving insurance payers, providers, TPAs and claims managers nationwide. Reviews are conducted by board-certified physicians in active practice. AllMed's growing customer base includes premier organizations, such as Educator's Mutual Life, IMS Managed Care, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, HealthGuard, several Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Allianz and many other leading healthcare payers.

info@allmedmd.com

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Its OK To Be Fat Forever

2010-07-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

by: Nancy Hill

I know, you're probably thinking you have to diet to lose weight. But nothing could be further from the truth. With rare exceptions, most people were born into normal weight bodies. But then we learned to diet.

Dieting causes the body to go into survival mode. Dieting itself sparks the intense biological urge to consume large quantities of high calorie foods. It causes the body's instinctual drives to override all intellectual controls. It primes the body to maximize food intake and minimize energy burned.

Diets have set us up to fight against our own physical survival, the body's most basic instinct.

As a comparison, think of how difficult life would be if you had to go to the bathroom on a rigid schedule. What if you only allowed yourself to urinate 3 times a day?

At 8 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. you could release exactly 5 ounces. You'd measure it - of course - to be sure it was the right amount. If you needed to go more, you would force yourself to wait until the next scheduled time. And too bad if you needed to go at 10 am, hold it until noon.

You would be miserable. Your body would have a very difficult time complying with an arbitrary schedule. It would probably get ugly.

Overeating because your body refuses to starve doesn't make you a failure. It means you're human.

* It doesn't make you diseased.

* It doesn't mean you are flawed forever.

* It doesn't doom you to being permanently sick and trying to recover for the rest of your life.

* It means you did the best you could at the time.

* It means you can forgive yourself and move on.

Eating is the most natural thing we do and your body knows exactly what it needs to live at it's very best. All you have to do is practice listening and ACT on the information. Your body knows what to do. Just as it knows how to breathe, reproduce, and heal.

Think of how children live, we can learn a lot from them…

* They rest when they are tired.

* They run, jump, swim, dance, and play as much as they can because it feels good and it's fun.

* They are picky about what they eat. They'll go hungry rather than settle for something they don't love.

* They eat when they're hungry.

* Once they feel full, they have to be tricked or bribed into eating even one more bite of food.

* They drink when they're thirsty.

* They love their bodies and they don't care how their thighs look or if their tummy isn't flat and tight.

* They don't have to think about all this. It just comes naturally and easily as a part of being human.

All of these natural instincts live in each of us, too.

We all have the inborn ability to take care of ourselves. We just have to remember. We just have to get back in the habit of listening to our bodies…of following their wisdom. Remember, a normal body weight is your birthright. It was stolen from you. Now you get to take it back.

So stop thinking of yourself as forever fat. You are not doomed to either being overweight or to being on a perpetual diet. Let overeating and overweight fade into the past. They served you well to keep you alive. Once you stop dieting and accept the body you were born with, you can return to your unique, normal weight.

I'm not suggesting everyone is going to be model-skinny. The endless, tyrannical pressure to be very thin is a big part of the problem. Some bodies are meant to be soft and curvy. Others are naturally sharp and angular. We are variously stocky, tall, fleshy, muscular, sinewy, short, etc. There is wonderful beauty in diversity.

Accepting and loving the unique beauty of your body will heal you and set you free. Be like a child and delight in the body you have. Cherish the power in your muscles. Enjoy the feeling of being alive here on this planet. Let go of having to look a certain way. Be yourself. Let someone else try to be like the models or celebrities. The world will be a better place if it gets to have the real, unique, special person that YOU are.

Believe in your own healing. Believe that you can live easily and naturally at your own ideal weight. That faith is a huge part of what will set you free. Eating normally is completely natural. Deep down you know how to do it.

About The Author

©2006 Nancy Hill has helped thousands break free from the nightmare of dieting with her ebook, "Undieting - 11 Simple Steps to Reclaim Your Body and Your Life." Get your free Undieting Newsletter subscription at http://www.undieting.com and discover how intuitive eating makes it easy to live at your ideal weight without ever dieting again.

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Ephedra and Weight Loss

2010-07-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

by: Joe Rodriguez

Ephedra has been used in ancient China for thousands of years as a treatment for allergies and asthma, but more recently has been touted as a weight loss product here in North America. From the Ephedra Educational Council web site:

"More than 15 million consumers a year benefit from Ephedra, with only a minute fraction reporting problems to the FDA. Any risk of inappropriate use must be balanced against the health benefits accruing to millions of Americans. The nation's obesity epidemic creates a personal and public imperative for weight control, and 98 million Americans must not be denied an option for improving their health without conclusive scientific evidence."

Many people ask if taking ephedra will help them achieve the weight loss they desire. Ephedra can certainly encourage weight loss when it is taken in conjunction with a proper diet and exercise program aimed at losing pounds. There is absolutely no substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Using ephedra on its own is not likely to allow anyone to change their weight significantly. Ephedra does seem to have an appetite suppressing effect, as well as a thermogenic effect. Ephedra stimulates the central nervous system which allows the body to burn more calories by increasing metabolism.

Anyone wishing to lose weight must follow the very basic principle of calories in versus calories out. In order to lose any weight, more calories must be used in a day than are consumed. This will allow for a caloric deficit resulting in the body using its own stored source of fuel as energy. A 3500 caloric deficit will result in one pound of weight loss.

Dieting alone may result in more muscle tissue being lost while the body is relying its own stores of fat and muscle as energy. Using ephedra while losing weight has been reported to aid the body in maintaing lean muscle mass while burning more fat for fuel. Since one pound of muscle burns approximatley 50 calories per day as opposed to 2 calories per day for every pound of fat, it is easy to see that the more muscle that is maintained, the quicker the weight will disappear. This will also decrease the likelihood of regaining the weight at a later time. People say a good way of maintaining lean muscle mass while still burning fat is use the ECA stack method.

About The Author

Joe Rodriguez owns and operates www.ephedratalk.com where products similar to the old ephedra diet pill products have been made available.

ephedratalk@gmail.com

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Calcium is important.

2010-07-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Calcium is one nutrient that is sometimes overlooked. However, it is one of the most important nutrients your body needs. Calcium plays an important part in body functions and some development. Knowing how much calcium you need daily and where to get it from can ensure that you will lead a healthier life and live longer.

by: Troy Francis

What does Calcium do for us! Well, calcium does many things for your body. Everyone knows calcium is great for the bones. It also plays a role in keeping your muscles and nerves working properly. It also helps blood clot and keeps your heart functioning properly. Lacking calcium in your diet can greatly affect your health for years to come.

When your body does not get enough calcium it begins to take calcium from the bones. When this occurs, the bones become deficient and problems can start such as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that mostly affects older people. Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones get thin and brittle. However calcium is important at any age. In children calcium is important to help with bone growth. Pregnant women calcium intake is also very important. Along with other nutrients the baby needs calcium to grow. So, more calcium intake is important during pregnancy.

Here are some basic guidelines for calcium. Intake 1,300mg a day for children age 1-10, 1,600mg a day for age 11-25. Pregnant and breast feeding mothers should get 1,500mg a day. Don’t worry about taking too much calcium. Intakes of up to 2,500mg are still a safe level. Most of the Excess calcium is easily removed form the body.

We suggest the follow as a good guideline for calcium foods. Try to get at least three to four servings a day of dairy products. Most greens are good sources of calcium. Make better choices when buying foods with added calcium can help you to make sure you are getting enough calcium.

Calcium is often overlooked as an important nutrient. It is up to us to make sure we are getting enough. Remember it is quite easy to add calcium foods into our diet. Soft bones are most often contributed, because of a lack of calcium intake. http://www.exercise-diet.com

About The Author

Copyright Troy Francis. Troy is a writer and personal trainer for Exercise-Diet. Please, feel free to republish this article. We only ask that you leave the resource box and link. You can see more great articles on Weight Loss, Diet, Exercise, Health and much more by going to: http://www.Exercise-Diet.com/.

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Cranberry Juice For Cavities?

2010-06-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

Be Careful Of What You’re Buying

by: Dave Saunders

Researchers at the University of Rochester have published information showing that the cranberry may be effective at preventing tooth decay. The research focuses on the inhibiting effect of some compounds found inside the cranberry against a key bacterium blamed in the formation of cavities.

“Scientists believe that one of the main ways that cranberries prevent urinary tract infections is by inhibiting the adherence of pathogens on the surface of the bladder. Perhaps the same is true in the mouth, where bacteria use adhesion molecules to hold onto teeth,” says Dr. Michel Koo, an oral biologist and food scientist at the university's medical center.

While this may sound like good news for those who are looking for natural ways to support their body, it’s very important to understand what’s in cranberry juice before making a purchase. Always remember to read the labels. Most cranberry juice is cranberry flavored apple juice. Sometimes it is also mixed with grape juice. Other ingredients may even include high-Fructose corn syrup. Towards the end of the ingredient list is found cranberry concentrate.

While, drinking apple juice and grape juice is probably a dietary improvement for most people, juices that are made with so much processed sugar are clearly little more than cranberry flavored juices. They’re unlikely to contain significant amounts of the compounds that make cranberries useful in the prevention of tooth decay and tend to contain large amounts of the compounds that are blamed on tooth decay.

Purer forms of cranberry juice have a very strong flavor. Some people can develop a taste for unsweetened cranberries, while other people can only handle cranberries when blended with some other juice. If choosing a cranberry blend, be sure to read the ingredient label and avoid juices that are sweetened with processed sugars and diluted with juices that are mostly the sugars that lead to cavities.

Further research will be necessary before cranberries can actually be promoted as a preventative for tooth decay. However others sugars such as Xylose, are already used in “sugarless gums” because of their proven ability to inhibit bacterial development on the surface of teeth. Such gums are of course called sugarless because they do not have sucrose and glucose which are the sugars associated with cavities.

Cranberries have also been shown to have beneficial effects for people with chronic urinary tract infections. The compound believed to be responsible for this is a simple monosaccharide sugar called Mannose. Identified in Harpers Biochemistry as one of eight sugars necessary for normal cellular function, Mannose has also been shown to prevent bacterial infection and development.

These necessary monosaccharide sugars can all be found in a single dietary supplement. It also contains the other sugars identified in Harpers Biochemistry, based of their importance in biological functions. This can provide a more convenient choice for people wishing to improve their diets by increasing their nutrient intake while limiting the intake of food compounds which are not beneficial to good health.

About The Author

Dave Saunders is a certified nutrition and health educator and the host of a weekly telephone presentation on nutrition. Receive free nutrition tips by registering for his newsletter and announcements list at http://www.glycoboy.com.

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Tekanan Darah Tinggi

2010-05-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

Ketahui Tekanan Darah Anda
CEGAH KOMPLIKASI

Apa itu Darah Tinggi

Darah Tinggi bermakna apabila bacaan tekanan darah (BP) menunjukkan bacaan sistolik 140 mmHg atau lebih dan / atau diastolik 90 mmHg atau lebih atau anda mengambil ubat darah tinggi
BP >140 mmHg / > 90
BP > 140 / > 90 mmHg

Kepentingan Mengawal Darah Tinggi Kerana:

Membawa kepada beberapa akibat buruk seperti strok, serangan jantung, kerosakan buah pinggang dan sebagainya.
Rawatan di peringkat awal adalah lebih baik bagi mengawal penyakit darah tinggi dan mengelak komplikasi.

Faktor Risiko Penyakit Darah Tinggi

Berat Badan berlebihan atau obes
Apabila umur semakin meningkat
Sejarah penyakit darah tinggi dikalangan ahli keluarga terdekat seperti ibu, bapa atau adik beradik.
Mempunyai tekanan darah tinggi semasa hamil.
Merokok.
mempunyai penyakit seperti diabetes, kegagalan buah pinggang dan tiroid.
Tidak bersenam
Stress atau tekanan.
Kesan sampingan ubat-ubatan.
Pengambilan garam dalam makanan yang berlebihan
Pengambilan alkohol yang berlebihan

Komplikasi
Rawatan awal dan berterusan dapat mencegah komplikasi darah tinggi seperti berikut:

Penyakit jantung koronari
Serangan jantung
Strok angin ahmar
Kegagalan fungsi buah pinggnag
Pengerasan arteri (atherosclerosis)
kerosakan mata yang boleh menyebabkan kebutaan.

Pemeriksaan Darah Tinggi
Pemeriksaan oleh Pegawai Perubatan, Penolong Pegawai Perubatan, Jururawat secara berjadual perlu dilakukan bagi pesakit darah tinggi. Antara jenis pemeriksaan yang mesti dilakukan:

Pemeriksaan tekanan darah
Pemeriksaan jantung sperti Echocardiography (ECG) dan X-ray dada
Pemeriksaan mata
Strok/angin ahmar
Pemeriksaan buah pinggang seperti urin protein, urin albumin, serum creatinine, dan urin microalbumin
Jenis alat yang boleh digunakan
Cara penggunaan alat yang betul
Kekerapan pemeriksaan
Keputusan tekanan darah hendaklah dibawa dan berbincang dengan Doktor, Penolong Pegawai Perubatan atau Jururawat

Cara berikut boleh menurunkan tekanan darah dan mengawal darah tinggi

Amalkan cara hidup sihat - bersenam secara konsisten sekurang-kurangnya 3 kali seminggu 20 minit setiap kali.
Amalkan pemakanan yang sihat dan seimbang, kurangkan garam dan lemak, lebihkan sayur dan buah-buahan serta pilih makan segar.
Sasar dan kekalkan berat badan yagn unggul.
Jangan mengambil alkohol dan minuman keras.
Tidak merokok.
Makan ubat darah tinggi megikut nasihat doktor.

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Reduce Salt

2010-05-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

Salt is a substance that gives a salty taste to food. It is available in fine or coarse form, and is added to food or is a hidden ingredient in soy sauce, ketchup, preserved soya beans, mayonnaise, cheese, salted fish or in seasoning powder and stock cubes.

Do we need salt?

Salt is need to:

Control the balance of body fluids
Maintain proper muscle and nerve control
Help maintain normal blood pressure

REMEMBER!!!

Execessice salt intake can increase the blood pressure of certain individuals at risk.

How much salt is needed?

We need less than 6 grams (1 teaspoon per day), including hidden salt.

Tips for Reducing Salt Intake

Use natural ingredients such as lime juice and spices.
Reduce the use of salt, artificial flavouring, soy sauce and preserved soya beans in cooking.
Reduce the consumptjin of processed food such as tinned food, sausages, burgers and instant noodles.
Reduce the use of mayonnaise and cheese in food preparation.
Reduce the salty snacks such as crips and salted nuts.
Reduce preserved food such as salted fish, salted eggs, shrimp paste, fermented shrimp sause, fermented anchovy sause, pickled fruit and pickled vegetables.
Read food lables and avoid buying food which are rich in sodium chloride and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Limit salt intake to 1 teaspoon per day.

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Healthy Nutrition For Children

2010-04-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

by: John Gibb

When growing up, it’s important to have healthy nutrition for children. Since their bodies are in a state of constant growth, a lack of vitamins and minerals can result in poor growth processes and problems later in life. It is important for your child to eat a variety of healthy foods, balance the food they eat with regular physical activity, and choose a diet with the right nutrients.

For instance, a child’s growing body requires high levels of calcium and iron, sometimes even more than adults. Iron is crucial to a child’s development since it is used in developing strong muscles and producing blood, while calcium helps bones and teeth grow strong. These substances can be found in various foods, but it can be more helpful to get your children a supplement to help aid these needs.

Children of schooling age require around 1600 to 2400 calories per day, depending on their age and activity level. Once the growth spurt occurs, girls tend to require an additional 200 calories per day and boys need an extra 500 calories. No more than 30% of your child’s diet should come from fats. To maintain healthy nutrition for children, this can help to prevent obesity and other health problems. It is also important for your child to get a daily variety of vegetables. Requiring two to four servings of vegetables per day, children can meet these guidelines by eating such vegetables as salad greens and legumes. These vegetables contain nutrients key to a child’s development.

Children should also have 2-4 servings of fruit per day, and 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice or pasta. 2 to 3 servings of meat, beans, or nuts per day are also key to help a child develop properly. Following these steps, healthy nutrition for children can be a breeze. Just be sure to get all their daily requirements covered and your child will thank you later.

About The Author

John Gibb

For more information on nutrition, be sure to check out http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com.

This site is dedicated to giving nutrition advice, reviews of the best supplements we personally take, and helpful nutrition articles.

You may use this article as long as you leave the link intact.

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Why Have Healthy Nutrition?

2010-04-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

by: John Gibb

While many people know that there are benefits to having a good nutritional plan, few regard it as being very important. Many people wonder, why have healthy nutrition?

In a world where fast food is quicker, simpler, and sometimes better tasting, its easy to get tempted by what the corporations have to offer us. Gone are the days of eating every meal at home. Regarding this, we need to keep a more watchful eye over our nutrition intake to make sure our body can be in the best working order.

Why have healthy nutrition? The benefits are many. The human body needs various nutrients and minerals to keep it functioning in tip-top shape, and the only way this can be accomplished is by maintaining a healthy diet including vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are necessary to the body for many different reasons; they are crucial for obtaining energy, helping your body grow, and repairing worn out tissues. If your diet lacks certain necessary vitamins, your health may suffer. Therefore, the primary benefits of healthy nutrition are mainly that it keeps your health up.

A sound nutritional schedule is recommended by doctors when a patient is inflicted with any of a number of diseases. Keeping your nutrition up when afflicted with such diseases as cancer or aids can be key to your survival. These are just a few of the benefits of a healthy nutrition. In addition, keeping fit by exercising while maintaining a healthy nutritional plan can result in higher levels of energy, higher self esteem and a generally better feeling of well-being.

As you can see, there are many answers to the question “Why have healthy nutrition”, and all of them point to a better way of life. While the temptations of fast foods and junk can be great, some simple will-power and restraint can help you achieve levels of health you didn’t even know were possible.

About The Author

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-suplement-guides.com.

The site dedicated to nutrition.

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Nutrition And Healthy Eating – What You Should Know

2010-04-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

by: John Gibb

Many people think that they can achieve a healthy lifestyle simply by maintaining a diet that prevents obesity. While keeping trim is one aspect of being nutritionally sound, there are many other factors that figure into getting your body working in the best possible shape.

Your body needs plenty of nutrients to stay in its best condition, and a diet simply isn’t enough. A combination of receiving nutrition and healthy eating can result in great things for your health. For instance, your body requires a daily amount of calcium. If you cannot achieve these daily guidelines, the calcium levels in your blood will drop. This will disrupt nerve communication and hinder blood clotting. If you neglect your calcium levels long enough, the bloodstream will begin to sap the very calcium that makes up your bones. This results in brittle bones, the onset of the dreaded osteoporosis.

Also, it’s important to get your daily vitamins. Vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and K are all necessary on a daily basis to maintain your health. They contain antioxidants that help your body fight off the negative effects of free radicals – molecules that attack the cell membranes in your body. A lack of these vitamins can result in a range of symptoms, from things as simple as chapped lips to long-forgotten diseases such as scurvy, caused by a lack of vitamin C.

Of course, nutrition and healthy eating go hand in hand; while vitamins and minerals are required, it is also important to get the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Without enough protein, your body is unable to repair damaged tissues, or create new tissues. Carbohydrates are key in providing your body with the energy it needs for your day-to-day tasks. Fat is also important, as too low a fat level can be detrimental to the body.

Now that you have an idea of some of the nutrients daily, you need get off your butt and start exercising. Exercise will do wonders for your whole body, mind, and even spiritual state if pursued long enough.

About The Author

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-suplement-guides.com.

The site dedicated to nutrition.

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Attaining Healthy Nutrition Habits: How You Can Do It

2010-04-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

by: John Gibb

Question: What nutrients does my body need to maintain healthy nutrition habits?

Answer: There are plenty of nutrients that can help your body become the picture of health. Vitamin A is a key nutrient that can be found in fruits and vegetables. Aiding cell reproduction, Vitamin A helps vision, promotes bone and tooth development, and helps to maintain healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes. A lack of this vitamin can cause such woes as night blindness, poor bone growth, dry skin, and weak tooth enamel.

Doctors recommend 10,000 IU a day for an adult male, and 8,000 per day for adult females to maintain healthy nutrition habits.

Vitamin C is another one of the most important vitamins for maintaining your health. 60 milligrams per day are recommended for adults of both sexes. This vitamin works as an antioxidant, protecting your body’s tissues from the damage of oxidation. Vitamin C also has been found to be an effective antiviral agent, protecting your body from various sicknesses.

A key factor in attaining healthy nutrition habits is to keep your mineral consumption at its proper levels. The word “mineral” describes any non-carbon based compound that serves a function in the body. Some build bones and teeth, while others perform such tasks as regulating muscle contraction. Minerals are classified into two groups based on the human body’s need for them.

Major minerals are minerals that our bodies require in amounts greater than 100 milligrams per day. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorous and magnesium.

Minor minerals are minerals our body needs less then 100 milligrams per day of. Iron, zinc, and iodine all fall under the minor minerals category.

Proper usage of these minerals combined with a diet that fits your life style can lead you well on your way to attaining healthy nutrition habits.

About The Author

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-suplement-guides.com.

The site dedicated to nutrition.

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7 Langkah Bijak Mengurangkan Gula

2010-04-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

1. Minumlah air kosong berbanding minuman manis seperti air berkarbonat, air sirap dan kordial.

2. Hadkan penggunaan gula, susu pekat manis, susu isian pekat manis dan krimer manis kepada 1 sudu teh sahaja untuk setiap cawan minuman.

3. Elak atau hadkan penggunaan gula dalam masakan. Sediakan kuih dan kek yang rendah kandungan gula.

4. Elakkan mengambil snek dan minuman yang bergula di antara hidangan utama dan sebelum waktu tidur.

5. Gantikan pencuci mulut seperti kuih, kek dan bubur dengan pilihan yang lebih sihat seperti buah-buahan.

6. Baca label dan elakkan produk makanan dan minuman di mana gula tersenarai di bahagian awal senarai ramuan.

7. Pilih produk makanan dan minuman yang dilabel "rendah gula" dan "bebas gula”.

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Eczema - MIRACLE or Purely Coincidental

2010-04-08T18:29:00.001-07:00

Eczema - MIRACLE or Purely Coincidental

by: Kacy Carr

Infected persons of the skin disease/disorder eczema are in the millions, it is an uncomfortable road ahead for any sufferer while treatments are carried out to control the symptoms.

One of the offending symptoms is that of intense itching; a sufferer finds contentment in scratching the offending area where they sometimes use an instrument like a hairbrush, which can be very dangerous therefore making the condition worse. In some cases the whole of the body is massacred and abused by this disease from head to toe. The skin of the patient is crusted with scaly patches creases and cracks. Areas behind the back of the knee caps in between the elbows even the private parts I found to be the worse nook and crannies infected by eczema.

Unaware with his/her compulsive scratching the patient has not realised that they have caused the cracked skin to become an open wound, which is now vulnerable to infections. Adults have a far better chance in controlling eczema than that of kiddies. Young children do not understand how serious this complaint can escalate into if attacked by the human hands.

This skin disease can be so severe at times where patients are wet wrapped and admitted to hospital. Eczema if brought in contact with certain substances can irate the skin of the sufferer even more, causing the ailment to flare up and react in many different nasty ways. Please check with your local GP on these irritants that causes more pain and suffering to the patient.

Steroid creams are prescribed in severe cases and is very commonly used to ease and control this vicious skin disorder. We also have herbal remedies and cures. I state most importantly before buying over the shop counter that you consult your doctor.

Is it a miracle?

I entered the house of God on the day of my little baby sons christening. His face covered with spots and his red raw weeping neck made me feel helpless as a mother. My little boy was ravished from head to toe with eczema.

Onto my little baby with no name at the time I blessed him while at the same time sprinkling a little holy water onto his neck.

The eczema was still with him for many years, but his neck was cleared of the eczema from that very day. I sometimes now wish I had had held him by the heel just like Achilles mother.

I will never know was this a miracle or just a coincidence. What I do know is that you believe in what you want to believe so I end this article with a thank you to GOD.

If you have any concerns please check my health page at http://www.benidormbeaches.com

About The Author

Kacy Carr

I have seen cases of eczema that would make you cry, But there are remedies that can help ease the pain and mental stress. Please go to my health page for help and advice at www.benidormbeaches.com.

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Pendarahan Darah Haid Yang Berlebihan(Menorrhagia)

2010-04-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

Menorrhagia bermaksud pendarahan darah haid yang lebih dari 80ml setiap kitaran haid. Agak sukar untuk menentukan pendarahan berlebihan secara objektif, akan tetapi kalau pendarahan haid itu menyebabkan kualiti hidup seseorang wanita itu terjejas, ia boleh diklasifikasikan sebagai menorrhagia. Ini termasuk terpaksa menggunakan dua tuala wanita sekali gus, atau pendarahan yang hingga melimpah mengotori kain atau tilam.

Sebab-Sebab

Kebanyakkan kes tidak mempunyai sebab-sebab tertentu.Di antara sebab-sebab yang boleh dikenal pasti adalah:

Gangguan hormon menyebabkan pendarahan rahim
Polip pangkal rahim atau rahim (ketumbuhan bukn kanser dari selaput rahim atau serviks)
Endometriosis (selaput dalam rahim yang terdapat di luar rahim secara
tidak normal)
Fibroid (ketumbuhan dari otot rahim)
Kekurangan atau berlebihan rembesan hormon tiroid dari kelenjar tiroid

Sebab-sebab lain:

Akil baligh atau permulaan haid
IUCD (Alat mencegah kehamilan di dalam rahim)
Cystic glandular hyperplasia (masalah selaput rahim yang tebal)
Penyakit radang pelvis (PID) yang kronik (Hyperlink PID)
Sindrom Polycystik ovari (PCOS)

Sebab-sebab yang jarang:

Masalah kelenjar pituitari atau rembesan hormon prolactin yang berlebihan.
Penyakit hati atau ginjal
Penyakit darah
Kanser Endometrium (kanser selaput rahim)
T.B. endometrium (T.B. selaput rahim)

Sesetengah ubat-ubatan boleh menyebabkan pendarahan haid yang banyak seperti ubat yang boleh mencairkan darah atau kemoterapi (untuk kanser).

Diagnosa

Sejarah pesakit perlu ditanya oleh doktor supaya dapat mencari sebab-sebab pendarahan haid (seperti di atas). Anda akan ditanya berapa tuala wanita (pad) yang digunakan sehari termasuk simptom-simptom lain (seperti kekurangan darah dsb). Anda mungkin diminta mengisi satu borang carta yang boleh menolong memberi gambaran ringkas kadar darah haid yang anda alami.

Ujian darah boleh mengesan anaemia (kurang darah), yang boleh disebabkan oleh pendarahan yang banyak dan berlebihan. Ujian Ultrasound rahim boleh mengesan fibroid, polip atau kanser. Jikalau doktor anda tidak dapat mengesan sebab-sebab pendarahan, anda akan dirujuk kepada pakar ginekologi untuk rawatan lanjutan.

Rawatan

Rawatan termasuk ubat-ubatan dan pembedahan.

Asid Tranexamic adalah ubat yang paling mujarab. Ia boleh mengurangkan pendarahan haid dan diambil pada hari-hari haid sahaja. Ia tidak mengurangkan masa pendarahan tetapi lebih mengurangkan kuantiti pendarahan. Ubat-ubat lain seperti anti-radang (Mefenamic acid - Ponstan) juga boleh digunakan. Ia mungkin kurang efektif berbanding asid tranexamic tetapi boleh mengurangkan sakit senggugut.

Pil perancang boleh mengurangkan pendarahan haid berlebihan, sakit sengugut dan pada masa sama menghindar mengandung.

Pembedahan pula termasuk pembedahan membuang rahim (hysterectomy) atau membuang selaput rahim (endometrium). Prosedur membuang selaput rahim ini dipanggil ablasi endometrium. Ablasi ini merangkumi pembakaran dengan tenaga elektrik atau gelombang mikro. Mereka yang menjalani pembedahan hysterectomy tidak akan mengalami pendarahan haid lagi, akan tetapi keperluan membuat pembedahan ini perlu diimbang kosnya yang mahal dan kesan sampingan lain.

Ablasi endometrium adalah pilihan yang baik jikalau pesakit tidak mahu menjalani pembedahan histerektomi. Rawatan ablasi yang menggunakan gelombang mikrowave boleh didapati di kebanyakan hospital-hospital besar di Malaysia.
Sumber : www.infosihat.com

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Snack Food Industry - Our Childrens Secret Adversary

2010-03-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

by: Leah Salmon

Is the snack food industry really our children’s secret adversary or are we just happy with the easy life. 9 times out of 10, what do we bribe our children with when they misbehave? What do we sometimes carry around with us to keep them quiet in public places? What do we promise them for good behaviour? Drugs, or as they are better known, sugary salty fatty snacks.

This may come as a shocking description of things like chocolate, crisps, milkshakes, fizzy drinks etc, but my aim isn’t to shock, rather inform people of what these things really are. Cigarette packets have clear warnings about their effects, as should most of the junk food and snacks that are consumed in this country at obscene rates a year. Not everyone can be versed in the intricacies of nutritional therapy, but is it asking too much to exercise caution and read the labels on the products we buy to feed ourselves and our children? The Concise Oxford Dictionary’s definition of Junk is “discarded articles, rubbish, anything regarded as little value, a slang term for narcotic drugs” a fitting description of the highly addictive, poisonous substances they are, why should we feed our children and ourselves these things.

Now lets see the effects of just 10 of the hundreds of additives that are in ourselves and our children’s snack foods, so you are better informed the next time you go to increase the profit margins of companies whose only concern is money and power, and never consider the sometimes irreversible damage they are doing to ourselves and our children. If it’s a suspected carcinogenic, it means there are definitely studies out there which confirm these suspicions and if it’s banned in baby food, it doesn’t make it safe for you.

Aspartame – This sugar substitute is 200 times sweeter than sugar, banned in babies food, it enhances the stimulatory effect of flavourings such as Monosodium Glutamate, adversely effects nervous system and is a suspected carcinogenic (cancer causing agent).

Xylitol - A sugar substitute (bulk sweetener) found in some chewing gums. It is toxic to the brain, liver, and urinary passages in high doses and can cause diarrhoea.

Monosodium Glutamate – This is an all purpose seasoning used to enhance the flavours of food – it is a well known neurotoxin (toxin affecting the brain) found in crisps, seasonings and many take away foods.

E100 Curcumin – A food colouring for creamy yellow colouring - Used in sweets, fish fingers and yoghurts and linked to possible gene damage.

E110 Sunset Yellow – A yellow food colouring - Used in jams, cakes, ice-creams and yoghurts to name a few and is a suspected carcinogen that can induce an allergy to sunlight, which would be detrimental to melanin dominant individuals who need sunlight.

E133 Brilliant Blue – A blue food colouring - Used in fruit and apple & black Current Drinks, can cause allergic reactions

E154 Kipper Brown – A brown food colouring - Used in sweets and sausages, now a branded carcinogen which has been banned in several countries. (Remember, shops stock food from many foreign countries)

E466 Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt – Used in orange and lemon drinks, ice cream and dessert toppings to name a few. Another suspected carcinogen which can cause stomach bloating and gas.

Extract of Quillaia – Used in fizzy drinking to help them froth up and can cause intestinal damage.

E422 Glycerol – Used as a sweetener in many sweets and chewing gum, can cause many side effects including nausea, headache, thirst and bowel disturbances.

What does all this mean for ourselves and our children? It means that from a young age, our mentality, fertility, hormone levels, concentration levels, behaviour, emotions, major organs of elimination, brain activity, ability to learn and ability to live holistically are all shot to pieces by mutated, irradiated, heavily denatured foods and snack food products, all in the name of self gratification and money.

If you think these drug foods don’t affect you think again, all of the following can be attributed to their consumption: irritability, depression, dental problems, dehydration, mucus, frequent colds, hyperactivity, Chrones disease, cravings, diabetes, high blood pressures, kidney and liver problems, constipation, diarrhoea, skin eruptions, foul smelling faeces and urine, thrush, tiredness and even harsh foot and body odour to name a few. Don’t our children deserve better than this? Are we going to be responsible for their heath problems later in life? Shouldn’t we try and give them the best chance possible to be healthy and holistic in this polluted world?

Our sickness is big business, so we can’t expect to get much help on our quest for health. Chemical producers sell their chemicals to food companies who produce junk food. Food companies sell their products to consumers and in the process, advertising, marketing and packaging companies all get rich. Even dentist benefit from half the population having decayed teeth, plaque build up and gum disease. This is not conspiracy theory or an exaggeration of our situation; these companies have absolutely no regard for your health.

For the most part, chemicals approved for use in our foods by the Food & Drug Administration have never really had their effects tested on humans, some countries even ban some of them. Scientist know the detrimental effects of the pesticides, fertilisers, preservatives and additives which are in our food, but once the foods have been irradiated (exposed to large amounts of radiation to kill germs and bacteria) and refined, they produce new mutant chemicals which all combine together and they have no real idea of the effects of these new substances.

Holistically, we now probably don’t know what certain foods taste like in their natural state. A banana milkshake, for example, used to consist of milk, bananas and sugar blended together. Now there are over 10 different ingredients in them, most of which are chemical additives. I wouldn’t advise drinking dairy milk and sugar ordinarily, but the original recipe is miles better than the artificial soup they have now. It is important that our children appreciate the natural tastes of fruits and vegetables, not just seasoning. The younger the child, the easier it is to feed them holistically, because for the most part they don’t know the difference between mashed carrots, brown rice and broccoli with or without seasoning, get them used to that, don’t get them hooked on addictive foods and an early age. Even older children can be persuaded. Be the example and show them the benefits. It really works, you can improve their diets, take it step by step, slowly replace foods if it makes it easier, find out which ones they like and let your children help you.

Try some of these simple alternatives, to make steps towards better health, especially for our children:

Before you feed them, are they just thirsty? Get your children drink plain water – hunger pangs can sometimes result from dehydration. So instead of them eating sweets or junk which will further rob their bodies of water and nutrients, let them drink water. Water will also increase their concentration and help their digestive system.

At their main meals, try to balance proteins with carbohydrates, not enough proteins may make them crave carbohydrates. Include a fibre as often as possible, as it is filling to them so they want need to snack as much.

Instead of fizzy or cordials - Honey water – 1 tbsp of honey to a glass of warm water, stir until dissolved then cool. Add lemon, ginger or stevia (herb) if required).

Ice Tea – Use 4 of your favourite herbal tea bags and a handful of raisins and stew in 1 litre of boiling water for 20 minutes then leave to cool. Add lemon or honey if required.

Instead of regular crisps : gluten free crisps, nuts & seeds (sources of minerals) and rice, oat and corn cakes (good sources of fibre). All can be eaten with humus.

Replace sweets with fresh fruit, if you buy dried, soak them first and only eat a few, they are also quite high in sugar.

Banana Milkshake – Blend 200mls of rice, oat or almond milk, 1 ripe banana, 1 tablespoon of honey, a bit of nutmeg and a few drops of vanilla essence, for 90 seconds. Lovely.

About The Author

Leah Salmon of Davidel has practiced and studied nutritional therapy and herbal medicine for over 8 years. She writes articles for various magazines and ezines and also teaches on natural healthcare for the family. for more information on natural healthcare visit www.davidel.com.

info@davidel.com

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Depression

2010-03-04T17:54:00.000-08:00

Depression

by: Dr Deryck Pattron

INTRODUCTION

In any given year about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness. The economic cost for this disorder is US $40 billion per year, but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. But much of this suffering is unnecessary. Most people with a depressive illness do not seek treatment because they do not recognize that depression is a treatable illness.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depressive is a mental illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Depression is not the same as a passing blue mood nor is a sign of personal weakness.

TYPES OF DEPRESSION

Depressive manifest itself in different forms, but there are three common types of depression. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity and persistence.

1. Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.

2. Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression. It involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good. Many people with dysthymia may also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.

3. Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression).

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND MANIA

Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time.

DEPRESSION

* Persistent sadness, anxious, or "empty" mood

* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism

* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex

* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"

* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain

* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts

* Restlessness, irritability

* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION

Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is involved in the onset of depression.

* Hereditary

* Environmental e.g. possibly stresses at home, work, or school

* Drug use and abuse

* Poor nutrition

* Psychological predisposition associated with one or more of the above combinations.

DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

* Women experience depression about twice as often as men.

* Many hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women, particularly such factors as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause and menopause.

* Many women also face additional stresses such as responsibilities both at work and home, single parenthood and caring for children and for aging parents.

DEPRESSION IN MEN

* Men are less likely to suffer from depression than women.

* 3 to 4 million men in the United States are affected by the illness.

* Men are less likely to admit to depression, and doctors are less likely to suspect it.

* The rate of suicide in men is four times that of women, though more women attempt it. In fact, after age 70, the rate of men's suicide rises, reaching a peak after age 85.

* Depression can also affect the physical health in men differently from women.

* Although depression is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease in both men and women, only men suffer a high death rate.

* Men's depression is often masked by alcohol or drugs, or by the socially acceptable habit of working excessively long hours.

* Depression typically shows up in men not as feeling hopeless and helpless, but as being irritable, angry, and discouraged; hence, depression may be difficult to recognize as such in men.

* Even if a man realizes that he is depressed, he may be less willing than a woman to seek help.

DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY

* Some people have the misconception that it is normal for the elderly to feel depressed. On the contrary, most older people feel satisfied with their lives.

* Sometimes, though, when depression develops, it may be dismissed as a normal part of aging.

* Depression in the elderly, undiagnosed and untreated causes needless suffering for the family and for the individual who could otherwise live a fruitful life.

* Loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities, or extremely prolonged grief after a loss.

DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN

* The depressed child may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that the parent may die.

* Older children may sulk, get into trouble at school, be negative, grouchy, and feel misunderstood.

* Because normal behaviours vary from one childhood stage to another, it can be difficult to tell whether a child is just going through a temporary "phase" or is suffering from depression.

* In such a case, if a visit to the child's pediatrician rules out physical symptoms, the doctor will probably suggest that the child be evaluated, preferably by a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of children. If treatment is needed, the doctor may suggest that another therapist, usually a social worker or a psychologist, provide therapy while the psychiatrist will oversee medication if it is needed. Parents should not be afraid to ask questions: What are the therapist's qualifications? What kind of therapy will the child have? Will the family as a whole participate in therapy? Will my child's therapy include an antidepressant? If so, what might the side effects be?

DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND TREATMENT

* The first step to getting appropriate treatment for depression is a physical examination by a physician.

* Certain medications as well as some medical conditions such as a viral infection can cause the same symptoms as depression, and the physician should rule out these possibilities through examination, interview and lab tests.

* If a physical cause for the depression is ruled out, a psychological evaluation should be done, by the physician or by referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

* A good diagnostic evaluation will include a complete history of symptoms, i.e., when they started, how long they have lasted, how severe they are, whether the patient had them before and, if so, whether the symptoms were treated and what treatment was given.

* The doctor should ask about alcohol and drug use, and if the patient has thoughts about death or suicide. Further, a history should include questions about whether other family members have had a depressive illness and, if treated, what treatments they may have received and which were effective.

* A diagnostic evaluation should include a mental status examination to determine if speech or thought patterns or memory have been affected, as sometimes happens in the case of a depressive or manic-depressive illness.

* Treatment choice will depend on the outcome of the evaluation.

* There are a variety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to treat depressive disorders.

* Some people with milder forms may do well with psychotherapy alone.

* People with moderate to severe depression most often benefit from antidepressants.

* Most do best with combined treatment: medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life's problems, including depression.

* Depending on the patient's diagnosis and severity of symptoms, the therapist may prescribe medication and/or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for depression.

* Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is useful, particularly for individuals whose depression is severe or life threatening or who cannot take antidepressant medication.

* There are several types of antidepressant medications used to treat depressive disorders. These include newer medications, namely the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the tricyclics, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

* The SSRIs and other newer medications that affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine or norepinephrine generally have fewer side effects than tricyclics.

* Sometimes the doctor will try a variety of antidepressants before finding the most effective medication or combination of medications.

* Sometimes the dosage must be increased to be effective.

* Although some improvements may be seen in the first few weeks, antidepressant medications must be taken regularly for 3 to 4 weeks (in some cases, as many as 8 weeks) before the full therapeutic effect occurs.

PSYCHOTHERAPIES

Many forms of psychotherapy therapies exist which may be used to help depressed people resolve conflicting feelings. Some of these psychodynamic therapies are given below:

* "Talking" therapies help patients gain insight into and resolve their problems through verbal exchange with the therapist, sometimes combined with "homework" assignments between sessions.

* "Behavioral" therapies help patients learn how to obtain more satisfaction and rewards through their own actions and how to unlearn the behavioural patterns that contribute to or result from their depression.

* Interpersonal therapies focus on the patient's disturbed personal relationships that both cause and exacerbate the depression.

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED

* Set realistic goals in light of the depression and assume a reasonable amount of responsibility.

* Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities and do what you can as you can.

* Try to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better than being alone and secretive.

* Participate in activities that may make you feel better.

* Mild exercise, going to a movie, a ballgame, or participating in religious, social, or other activities may help.

* Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time.

* It is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a significant transition change jobs, get married or divorced discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.

* People rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-day.

* Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.

* Let your family and friends help you.

HOW FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAN HELP DEPRESSED PERSONS?

* The most important thing anyone can do for the depressed person is to help him /her get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

* Encouraging the individual to stay with treatment until symptoms begin to abate or to seek different treatment if no improvement occurs.

* Offer emotional support. This involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement.

* Do not ignore remarks about suicide. Report them to the depressed person's therapist.

* Encourage participation in some activity that once gave pleasure e.g. hobbies, sports, religious or cultural activities, walks, outings, etc.

* Keep reassuring the depressed person that, with time and help, he/she will feel better.

WHERE TO GET HELP

* Family doctors

* Mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or mental health counselors

* Community mental health centers

* Hospital psychiatry departments and outpatient clinics

* Family service and social agencies

* Private clinics and facilities

* Employee assistance programmes

FURTHER INFORMATION

Blehar MD, Oren DA. Gender differences in depression. Medscape Women's Health, 1997;2:3. Revised from: Women's increased vulnerability to mood disorders: Integrating psychobiology and epidemiology. Depression, 1995;3:3-12.

Ferketick AK, Schwartzbaum JA, Frid DJ, Moeschberger ML. Depression as an antecedent to heart disease among women and men in the NHANES I study. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2000; 160(9): 1261-8.

Frank E, Karp JF, Rush AJ (1993). Efficacy of treatments for major depression. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 1993; 29:457-75.

Lebowitz BD, Pearson JL, Schneider LS, Reynolds CF, Alexopoulos GS, Bruce MI, Conwell Y, Katz IR, Meyers BS, Morrison MF, Mossey J, Niederehe G, Parmelee P. Diagnosis and treatment of depression in late life: consensus statement update. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1997; 278:1186-90.

Robins LN, Regier DA (Eds). Psychiatric Disorders in America, The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, 1990; New York: The Free Press.

Rubinow DR, Schmidt PJ, Roca CA. Estrogen-serotonin interactions: Implications for affective regulation. Biological Psychiatry, 1998; 44(9):839-50.

Schmidt PJ, Neiman LK, Danaceau MA, Adams LF, Rubinow DR. Differential behavioral effects of gonadal steroids in women with and in those without premenstrual syndrome. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1998; 338:209-16.

Vitiello B, Jensen P. Medication development and testing in children and adolescents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1997; 54:871-6.

About The Author

Dr Deryck Pattron is a Public Health Scientist attached to the Ministry of Health in Trinidad.

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Awareness on Varicose Veins

2010-02-24T17:45:00.000-08:00

by: David Chandler

Varicose veins are those irregular shaped veins that are most commonly found in the legs particularly in the calf muscle area. Varicose veins are found mostly on older women and recent survey and research indicate that it is found in largely in men than women.

Known cause of varicose veins

Varicose veins are found mostly in humans and not in any animals. This is because we walk upright than the animals. You should know that veins are responsible for pumping the blood back to the heart and arteries are responsible to pump blood to the different parts of the body. Gravity plays an important role in pumping the blood back to the heart through the veins. Sometimes the pressure in the veins is not sufficient to pump the blood back to the heart and some blood may collect in the veins. If you stand for a longer period this would appear clearly. Constipation, overweight, and pregnancy may also cause this condition. This leads to varicose veins.

Symptoms of varicose veins

Varicose veins are the first to appear before you see any other problem from them. Zigzag lines on the surface of the skin are the first appearance of the varicose veins. As days progress, you will feel the pain on these areas when you see these zigzag lines of veins. For some people swelling of the ankles and feet is possible. The skin on this surface may be sore and red.
Factors that affect varicose veins

Some factors influence the varicose veins. Some of the factors are age, sex, genetics, obesity, and the position of your legs for longer periods. Ageing causes wear and tear of the veins and this causes improper functioning of the valves of the veins. It is known that women are the most affected by varicose veins. It is so since women are subjected to frequent hormonal changes. Pregnancy, pre menstruation, and menopause are some of the factors in women that influence varicose veins. Varicose veins could be inherited from your parents. People who are overweight might get varicose veins since they impart more pressure on the veins due to their weight. People who are working while standing for a longer time may experience varicose veins.

Medical advice on varicose veins

Self-help would help you to prevent and complicate the varicose veins in you. Many self-help measures can be adopted to prevent varicose veins from getting worse. Most of the people would be very concerned about the varicose veins since it spoils their look. If the self-care measures that you take are not effective then you can consult your doctor for some other medications or therapies that might help you recover from varicose veins.

About The Author

David Chandler

For more information visit http://www.VaricoseVeinsInfoCenter.com.

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Quit Smoking: 21 Shocking Smoking Facts, The Tobacco Companies Don't Want You To Know

2010-02-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

by: Ben Adams

Smoking is a global problem. It is estimated that one in three adults smoke, with over 1 billion people smoking worldwide. The majority of these smokers reside in countries on the low end to the middle of the socioeconomic spectrum. Of this majority, about 80% live in low and middle-income countries. The total number of smokers worldwide is expected to keep on increasing each year.

The worldwide popularity of tobacco use varies by social class, historical era, and culture. Historically, smoking had been a pastime of the rich. However, this trend has changed dramatically in recent decades. It appears that financially advantaged men in wealthier countries have been smoking less in recent times.

The World Health Organization has been studying smoking trends and statistical patterns across the globe and has uncovered the following statistics:

1) Eastern Europe has a particularly high rate of smoking, with up to 59% of adult males smoking. Also, significantly more women smoke in Eastern Europe than in East Asia and the Pacific Region.

2) Most people who smoke, begin smoking before they are 25 years old. Worldwide observations suggest that people are stating to smoke at a much younger age. World Health Organization studies reveal that the majority of smokers in affluent countries; begin in their teens.

Smoking In The US

How do Americans compare to the rest of the world when it comes to smoking? It may come as no surprise to hear that Americans are no better than anyone else. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics:

3) In the US, it is estimated that 25.6 million men (25.2%) and 22.6 million women (20.7%) are smokers. These smokers face a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Here are the latest estimates for smokers’ aged 18 and above:

4) Studies reveal that smoking popularity is significantly higher among people with 9-11 years of education (35.4%) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6%).

5) There appears to be a correlation between a country's standard of living, level of education, and income and the number of people who have quit smoking. The more and better-informed people are, the more likely they are to quit smoking.

6) People living below the poverty level (33.3%) are much more likely to start smoking.

7) Among whites, 25.1% of men and 21.7% of women smoke.

8) Among black or African Americans, 27.6% of men and 18% of women smoke.

9) Among Asians, 21.3% of men and 6.9% of women smoke.

10) Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2% of men and 12.5% of women smoke.

11) Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 32% of men and 36.9% of women smoke.

12) A shocking…1 out of every 5 five deaths is caused by tobacco

13) It is estimated that Tobacco is responsible for 400,000 deaths in the US every single year.

14) Cigarettes are responsible for about 25% of deaths from residential fires, causing nearly 1,000 fire-related deaths and 3,300 injuries each year.

15) Tobacco is blamed for many serious cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases

16) Nicotine and tobacco are some of the most potent carcinogens and are responsible for the majority of all cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, esophagus and bronchus.

17) Smoking tobacco is known to produce cancer in the pancreas, kidney, bladder, and the cervix

18) Because tobacco reduces blood flow, nicotine addiction has been proven to cause impotency.

19) If you smoke, the risk of respiratory illnesses is high. This could lead to pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, which are responsible for some 85,000 every year.

20) Children and adolescents who are active smokers will have increasingly severe respiratory illness, as they grow older

21) Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and fetal growth retardation. It also causes about 5-6% of prenatal deaths, 17-26% of low-birth-weight births, and 7-10% of pre-term deliveries.

If you don't want to quit smoking after reading these shocking figures, you really need to get your head examined. You know in your heart, what's the right thing to do. Make a firm decision to quit today, and stick to it!

About The Author

Ben Adams is author of: 'Quit Smoking Now! Secrets Of An Ex Smoker'. It's an excellant step-by-step guide for anyone who wants to kick the habit of smoking. Download your FREE copy here: www.quit-smoking-treatment.com/free_ebook.html

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2 Ways to Start Burning fat Quickly

2010-01-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

by: Adrian Bryant

1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.

As soon as you wake up in the morning workout for at least 30min to an hour. Studies show that working out in the morning has been shown to burn up to 3x as more fat as opposed to working out at any other time during the day. Here’s Why:

During the day your body’s main source of energy is the carbohydrates that you get from eating your meals. As you sleep at night for 6+ hours your body uses up all those carbohydrates as energy for various bodily functions that go on even while you sleep. When you wake up in the morning your body doesn’t have any carbohydrates as energy to use and it will look to burn body fat instead for energy.

For you to take advantage of this morning fat burning opportunity you have to exercise first thing in the morning. Don’t eat breakfast because if you do you’ll just give your body some carbohydrates as a source of energy instead of the body fat that you want to burn for energy.

Another great thing about working out first thing in the morning is that your metabolism gets revved up after your morning workout. Morning workouts keep your metabolism elevated throughout the day. An elevated metabolism throughout the day only means that you’ll burn more calories and lose more weight. If you workout at night you may still burn fat while you workout but as soon as you go to sleep your metabolism will slow down and you’ll miss out on all the extra fat that you can burn during the day if you had exercised in the morning. When you sleep your metabolic rate is always at its slowest.

Other reasons why its good to exercise first thing in the morning is that you get the workout out of the way, and working out in the morning will also reduce your level of stress throughout the day.

Advanced Tip: Want to burn even more fat? Add another workout to your daily routine 4-6 hours after your morning workout. Keep your already high metabolism higher by adding a 2nd workout during the day. If you're seriously thinking about adding a 2nd workout to your daily routine then try to do your cardio workouts in the morning. Mostly fat calories are burned doing cardio at a moderate intensities. Make your 2nd workout of the day a workout with weights. Mostly carbohydrate is burned doing weight-training workouts. The muscle that you build from weight training will also help you burn fat. 1lb of Muscle burns 50 calories a day or 1lb of fat every 70 days. Not only will you be burning more calories, you’ll look better – whatever your weight is.

2. Eat Breakfast

Another way to keep your metabolism revved up all day long is to eat breakfast. After you workout in the morning as discussed earlier, just have breakfast and you’ll give your body the perfect 1-2 combination to jump start your metabolism.

Eating breakfast in the morning is what gets your metabolism started. Don’t skip breakfast and wait until mid-morning or afternoon to eat, your metabolism will run slower causing you not burn any extra fat.

Think about this way-Your metabolism is a fireplace that’ll burn fat all day long for you if you operate it correctly. When you eat breakfast you are basically throwing a log onto that fireplace to get it started burning fat.

Eating breakfast will help stop those cravings you may have later on in the day and along with working out in the morning, eating breakfast will also keep you energized throughout the day and lower stress levels.

Advanced Tip: Instead of eating only 2 more meals during the day like lunch & dinner, try to eat 4-5 more small mini-meals spaced 2-3 hours apart during the day. Remember the fireplace? By eating these mini-meals you'll be throwing just the right amount of "wood" on the fireplace to keep your metabolism burning calories throughout the day. Don't shut down your metabolism by eating big lunches or dinners, keep that metabolism of yours burning fat all day long.

Morning Checklist

1. Workout for at least 30min after waking up in the morning

2. Eat a healthy breakfast

3. Burn fat & lose more weight during the day

Use these 2 tips to reveal that six-pack, fit into that dress for an upcoming event like a wedding or reunion, or to impress that special someone. Whatever your fitness goal is these 2 tips above will surely help you reach them.

About The Author

Adrian Bryant is a Personal Trainer and creator of NowLoss: The World's Best Weight Loss Program. Be sure to check out his web site at http://www.nowloss.com. Adrian Bryant has helped many people reach their fitness goals in his 10+ years of personal training. Adrian holds a B.S. degree in Exercise science from Longwood University.

nowloss@cstone.net

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Klinik 1Malaysia

2010-01-07T23:34:00.000-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Penubuhan Klinik 1Malaysia di seluruh negara tidak akan menjejaskan pendapatan doktor dan klinik swasta, malah memberi manfaat kepada kedua-dua pihak khususnya rakyat berpendapatan rendah.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata kewujudan 50 klinik yang beroperasi sepenuhnya bulan ini bukan saja memudahkan rakyat mendapat perkhidmatan kesihatan awal, malah pesakit dirujuk kepada doktor swasta untuk rawatan susulan.

Pada masa sama, Najib mengarahkan Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai mengadakan perjumpaan dengan Persatuan Perubatan Malaysia (MMA) memastikan pendapatan pengamal perubatan tidak terjejas berikutan usaha kerajaan itu.

“Tidak terjejas, sebab pesakit dari Klinik 1Malaysia akan rujuk kepada mereka (klinik swasta). Jika pesakit ada hubungan dengan mana-mana doktor swasta, kita akan rujuk kepada mereka.

“Klinik ini untuk memudahkan rakyat mendapat pemeriksaan biasa seperti memeriksa tekanan darah dan kandungan gula. Untuk pemeriksaan lanjut, mereka boleh pergi ke klinik swasta atau hospital kerajaan.

“Saya tidak anggap Klinik 1Malaysia sebagai situasi menang-kalah, tetapi situasi menang-menang, rakyat mudah dan doktor swasta akan dapat pelanggan macam biasa,” katanya pada sidang media selepas melancarkan Klinik 1Malaysia Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, di sini semalam.

Turut hadir, Liow dan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

Pelancaran klinik itu adalah yang pertama dilaksanakan, sekali gus menandakan pelancaran 44 klinik sama di seluruh negara yang sudah beroperasi setakat ini, manakala bakinya menjelang akhir bulan ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata, pelancaran klinik itu amat signifikan kerana ia dilaksanakan dalam tempoh singkat iaitu dua bulan selepas pembentangan Bajet 2010 pada 23 Oktober lalu dengan peruntukan RM10 juta untuk 50 klinik.

Peruntukan untuk setahun itu membabitkan kerja ubah suai dan peralatan dalaman bangunan selain ubat-ubatan. Klinik itu beroperasi setiap hari mulai jam 10 pagi hingga 10 malam yang dikendalikan seorang penolong pegawai perubatan, seorang jururawat terlatih dan seorang pembantu perawatan kesihatan yang bekerja dua syif.

Najib tidak menolak kemungkinan menambah lebih banyak Klinik 1Malaysia khususnya di kawasan bandar yang padat penduduk akibat penghijrahan ke bandar.

Katanya, buat masa ini, kerajaan akan menentukan keberkesanan perkhidmatan itu selain pendekatan baru yang boleh diguna pakai untuk meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan sebelum membuat sebarang ketetapan penambahan.

“Klinik ini kebanyakannya di bandar sebab di luar bandar sudah ada 2,000 klinik desa yang ditubuhkan sejak merdeka. Kadar caj juga sama sebanyak RM1... sangat murah, paling murah di dunia,” katanya.

Ketika melancarkan Klinik 1Malaysia di Rumah PPR Taman Putra Damai, Lembah Subang, Najib menasihatkan rakyat sentiasa memantau secara berkala bacaan tekanan darah (BP) dan paras kandungan gula dalam tubuh kerana ia menjadi punca penyakit darah tinggi serta kencing manis.

Selain itu, katanya, kewujudan klinik berkenaan akan membantu Kementerian Kesihatan mengurangkan kesesakan di hospital dan klinik kesihatan.

Sumber : Berita Harian

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Antioksidan dan Kesihatan Anda

2009-10-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

ntioksidan seperti Vitamin E atau beta karotena, secara sendirian tidak dapat menghindarkan penyakit jantung, melawan kanser, membasmi penyakit mata atau menghalang penyakit Alzheimer seperti didakwa sesetengah pihak.

Anggapan yang mengatakan antioksidan baik untuk kesihatan berpunca dari kajian yang mendapati mereka yang mengambil makanan yang kaya dengan antioksidan mempunyai kesihatan jangka panjang yang lebih baik. Namun begitu ujian yang menggunakan pemakanan tambahan tunggal memberikan hasil yang sangat mengecewakan.

Antioksidan menstabilkan radikal bebas, hasil sampingan proses penjanaan tenaga oleh badan kita, yang membahayakan. Radikal bebas boleh merosakan sel tubuh, membuat kolesterol LDL menjadi lebih teruk dan membuat kacau di merata tempat dalam tubuh kita. Tubuh kita tidak mengeluarkan antioksidan, ia memerlukan pelbagai jenis antioksidan yang terkandung dalam makanan untuk membantunya meneutralkan radikal bebas.

Para penyelidek antarabangsa telah membuat kajian ke atas lebih dari 1,000 makanan untuk menentukan tahap kandungan antioksidan di dalamnya. Mendahului senarai ialah acaiberi, blueberi, blackberi, walnut, strawberi, cranberi, raspberi, elderberi, bunga cengkih kisar, delima dan anggur merah.

Kesemua makanan tadi mengandungi antioksidan dari jenis yang berbeza.
Memilih hanya satu makanan yang kaya dengan antioksidan tidak dapat
membantu anda untuk kekal sihat. Anda perlu memakan beberapa jenis untuk mendapatkan pelbagai jenis antioksidan.

Sumber : home.net.my

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Back Extensions Exercise

2009-09-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

by: John Gibb

If you’re looking for a way to strengthen your lower back, back extensions may be the exercise for you. If you’ve recently injured your back you’ll want to consult your physician before attempting such an exercise. If you find this exercise is a bit too challenging for you at first, you can start out in an incline positioned until you are more comfortable with the exercise. Or, if you find this exercise too easy for you, you can do it in a declined position or use platted weights in front of the chest or behind the neck.

For this exercise you will either need a back extension machine, or a bench that allows you to securely position your feet so that the rest of your body won’t move during the exercise. You will be lying on your front side and everything about an inch below your hips should be on the bench or back extension machine.

From this position fold your arms across your chest. Now, begin the movement by bending at the waist. You should continue this movement until you feel you’ve reached the full motion of your range. This will be different for everyone, so it’s up to you to determine. From here, raise your body back up slowly and hold your body at this position for a second. Repeat this movement to meet your specifications.

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Massage Los Angeles

2009-09-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

by: Caroline Colby

Massage therapy has been used in many cultures for thousands of years. Massage is the systemized manipulation of soft tissues to relieve pain, instill a feeling of well being and normalize tissue position. Los Angeles, always a hotbed of exciting ideas, has been an area with a thriving massage therapy industry for years.

Searching the Los Angeles yellow pages under for massage therapists can yield an interesting selection of businesses. Chiropractors, often the most conventional massage providers, abound in the metropolitan area. Many provide traditional chiropractic manipulation and massage therapies in combined treatment plans.

Prenatal and baby massage is becoming more and more popular and chic in the Los Angeles area. Prenatal massage therapy relieves the discomfort and stress that a pregnancy can cause. Celebrity moms-to-be are fueling the trend, but the positive benefits of this type of massage make it a popular choice for many expectant mothers. Baby massage is another area of rising popularity, with many new moms using the massage sessions as yet another way to bond with their child. Not only does the massage strengthen the bond between mother and child, it helps the baby eliminate toxins and aids in the development of joints and muscles.

Day spas are also more popular than ever, and a relaxing massage is usually a focal point of the experience. Day spas abound in Los Angeles with many specializing in various holistic treatments including several types of massage. A day of beauty treatments may include a seaweed wrap, steam shower and a Swedish massage. As more and more busy women try to find ways to relax and pamper themselves, this trend will continue to grow.

With the ever-growing emphasis on wellness and natural treatments, the popularity of massage therapies in Los Angeles continues to grow. This trend shows no sign of slowing down, and as competition increases, Los Angeles folks can look forward to more innovative, relaxing experiences.

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Air Purifiers – Will They Be Able To Help You?

2009-09-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

by: William Bell

The market for air purifiers has become big business these days. More and more people are buying them, or those reading this report are probably in the process of selecting an air purifier for the home. It is without doubt that we are living in a world where air pollution is becoming more of a problem. For some it can be worse than others, having a huge impact on their quality of life. We have written this report to look at some of the issues surrounding air purifiers in order to keep you better informed.

What does an air purifier do?

Allergens that exist in the air come in many forms. They may be dust particles, pollen, from pets or hazardous gases and smoke particles. These can cause misery for some people, which is where the need for an air purifier comes in. Air purifiers come in many different designs, but all work on the basis that they will remove high percentages of these allergens from the air. Air purifiers might use ionic filters, charcoal adsorbents or mechanical filters. Many people who suffer from such conditions as asthma, emphysema, allergies, chronic bronchitis, or any one of the many other respiratory illnesses, will probably tell you that they have benefited greatly by installing an air purifier in their home.

Do they work?

There is much controversy surrounding the effectiveness of air purifiers. To date there has only been limited testing into the benefits. Users will claim great results, but some experts have raised concerns of possible placebo affect due to claims that many air purifiers are ineffective at removing pollen, pet dander and some pollutants. It is also an area where the amount of money you spend could have big affects. The cheapest air purifiers on the market may be pretty much useless. The main controversy at the moment surrounds the ionic air purifiers, which people doubt the effectiveness of creating negative ions. Also these types of air purifiers omit ozone, a harmful pollutant.

What do I need to look out for?

When purchasing an air purifier you should look for one that uses HEPA filters. The HEPA filters have to meet stringent requirements and must be able to filter a minimum 99.97% of pollutants from the air. You should watch out for anything that describes itself as being “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-type” as it his highly unlikely that these would be genuine HEPA filters. Also look for the CADR of the particular air purifier you are looking at. This stands for Clean Air Delivery Rating and is a good indicator of how effective one air purifier will be compared to another.

Is there anything else I can do?

It is probably a good idea that you consult your doctor. They should be able to give you sound advice on whether your particular condition is likely to be improved by purchasing an air purifier. It might be an idea to invest in some good filters for any air vents that you have in your home, and spend some time making sure cracks in old door frames or windows are sealed properly. Many people also find positive results just through dusting and hovering more often, and getting rid of old mattresses and covering the new ones with covers that protect against dust mites.

As we said previously, many people find they really do benefit from having an air purifier so it is worth taking your time to look around and find out what all the options are.

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Aromatherapy While Traveling

2009-09-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

by: Sharon Hopkins

Whether you are on business trip, a romantic holiday, a family trip or simply want to experience outdoor life, aromatherapy essential oils come useful along the way. Take along carrier oils for diluting the essential oils.

Are you going away on business trip? Whether you have to meet clients, give presentations, hold seminars, business meetings, etc, one can surely feel stressed out. Take along with you lavender, peppermint, marjoram and Neroli essential oils.

- Massage your body with 1 drop of marjoram and lavender oil each mixed with sweet almond or calendula oil after a warm bath to lessen the jet lag effect.

- Are you jittery before a big presentation or a meeting? Inhale few drops of Neroli oil to settle all the butterflies and ease all the nervousness.

- For headaches or migraines, concoct 1 drop of peppermint & lavender oil each with 1 tsp of sweet almond oil and massage it on your forehead, temples, sides and base of your neck. It will ease the headache away and let you stay alert. Few drops of lavender oil on your pillow will allow for peaceful night of sleep.

- Eating out and upset stomach go hand in hand. Massage 1 drop of peppermint & lavender oil each with 1 tsp of sweet almond oil on your stomach to help you with indigestion. Or you can try a peppermint tea.

Holidaying with your sweetheart or going for your honeymoon? Make sure you smell desirable all the time. Rose & jasmine oil are considered romantic oils.

- 1 drop of rose and jasmine oil each in 100 ml of jojoba oil makes a nice personal perfume for your holiday.

- A single drop of Ylang Ylang with its oriental scent is heady potent seduction perfume.

- For a romantic bath, add little of your personal perfume to the bath gel or water. You can use the perfume as massage oil on your partner.

Out with the kids. Calendula oil, lavender oil, chamomile essential oil and tea tree oil are some of children's oil that comes handy.

- Inhale a drop of lavender or peppermint oil from kerchief or tissue to ease the nausea and travel sickness.

- Got a tired kid on hand. Get your child to relax and inhale lavender oil.

- For small babies, apply lavender oil on your neck and shoulders so when you carry your little one around, the fragrance stays with baby.

- Stomach upset or colic trouble - 1 drop of chamomile mixed with 1 tsp of sweet almond oil rubbed clockwise on tummy will ease the stomachache.

- Lavender oil rubbed on the body helps to keep insects away.

- Few drops of calendula, lavender & chamomile oil is good for cuts and bruises.

- Aloe Vera gel or lavender oil applied to sun burn will soothe the pain.
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Gall Bladder Back Pain

2009-08-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

by: Saurabh Jain

The gall bladder back pain is usually caused due to the inflammation or improper functioning of gall bladder, which is a small pear-shaped organ on the underside of the liver, in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Its main function is to collect and store bile, which is used by the body to digest fats. Bile is made in the liver cells (hepatocytes) and consists of water, electrolytes, bile acids, phospholipids and bilirubin. It assists in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K.

Causes Of Gall Bladder Problems

Gall bladder diseases and problems are fairly common and affect both men and women. The symptoms can vary from indigestion and nausea to vomiting and pain in the right upper abdomen. This pain also radiates to the lower back, resulting in gall bladder back pain. Other symptoms include:

1.Fever due to inflammation in the gall bladder

2.Abdominal bloating

3.Severe heartburn and gas

4.Jaundice

5.Diarrhea

Some of the gall bladder problems are caused by:

1.Production of toxic bile by the liver

2.Inadequate production of bile

3.Excess amount of cholesterol in bile, leading to the formation of gall bladder stones

4.Infection in gall bladder

5.Hormonal changes during pregnancy

6.Blood disorders or infections

The lower back pain can be attributed to a gall bladder disorder problem that results in gall bladder pain called biliary colic. Biliary colic occurs when gallstones block the small duct that drains bile to the small intestine. Gallstones or biliary calculi are small stones formed from a mixture of cholesterol, bile pigment and calcium salts. The formation of gallstones is a very common disorder and affects approximately 15% of the people at the age of around 50. However, in most cases, complication and infections don’t arise until gallstones block a bile duct, which then leads to severe pain lasting from 30 min to several hours. In such circumstances, you must undertake an ultra sound test to confirm the presence of gallstones and then get the proper treatment with the help of a doctor.
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Now That’s Junk Food!

2009-08-13T18:48:00.001-07:00

According to Joanne Larsen MS RD LD, junk food is a slang word for foods with limited nutritional value. “Every person has their own list of foods they call junk foods.” She writes, “I would include foods that are low in nutrient content. Generally, they offer little in terms of protein, vitamins or minerals. The term ‘empty calories’ reflects the lack of nutrients.”

I can’t agree with her more, but it’s time for consumers to include diet chemical sweeteners as “junk foods.”

Chemical sweeteners are loaded in toxins and devoid of all nutrition. Methanol is found in aspartame, and chlorine (three out of four parts sucralose) is found in Splenda®. Methanol and chlorine are what I call “real junk foods.” The human body in no way feeds from manufactured methanol or chlorine as a source of nutrition.

The manufacturers of both aspartame and sucralose argue the methanol and chlorine, in their respective products, are found in nature. While this may be true, they do not tell you the whole story: isolated, man-made methanol and chlorine are found in nature only as environmental toxins and carcinogens. Natural forms of these chemical elements, such as chloride, are always in combination with other natural elements, preventing their toxic effects from harming plants and animals if ingested.

Man-made methanol and chlorine are created from laboratory chemicals and inserted into manufactured food products to “fool” the body into believing the ingested elements are natural. But, the body has no real nutrients in which to feed from, making these chemical food products “junk food.”

So, if you and your kids want to avoid a junk food diet and keep away from toxic foods, include diet chemical sweeteners on your list of foods to avoid.

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Feeling Depressed? Eat more Protein

2009-08-13T18:47:00.001-07:00

On January 5th 2006 researchers annouced their studies, they learned that protein p11 plays a key role in depression. Protein p11 appears to regulate signaling of the brain chemical Serotonin. In so many studies done before Serotonin has been linked with depression and also anxiety disorders. The funny thing is Serotinon is what nearly every anti-depressant is made to regulate, including Prozac.

Whats the difference between protein p11 and Prozac you ask?

Prozac uses compounds called SSRIs, which increase levels of Serotonin in your body. These compounds interact with 14 different serotonin receptors. Prozac stimulates some of the receptors that cause negative side effects, p11 does not interact with these receptors.

So is this the end all cure all?

Maybe, some people react differently, If you do not experience any positive effects from anti-depressants then you can try Paxil. Which aims at the future of antidepressants targeting the 5-HT receptors, which cause very few side effects.

!Entreprenuer Alert!

Since p11 is a natural (organic) chemical it can not be patented! Using p11 in future antidepressants will soon be huge. The funds to get such a business started are unknown, but you could do some research and some deep pocket investing to be the first to jump on this market.

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Pain Relief from Neck and Shoulder Pain My Top 5 Favorite Ways

2009-08-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

When you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain at your computer, there are simple actions you can take to help you feel better.

It is very important to understand how your body reacts with the design of your computer work area. Of equal concern is choosing products to help you rather than create additional pain. It can be just as simple as adjusting or rearranging your equipment and furniture.

Monitor Height Placement

If you bend your neck back to see the monitor, it is too high. If you bend your neck down, your monitor is too low.

Let your head rest naturally and it will tilt slightly forward. You have left the office too many times with sore muscles!

When looking straight ahead, your line of sight is the imaginary horizontal line from your eyes to the screen. Your eyes naturally gaze down 15 – 20 degrees below your line of sight. Adjust the height to easily view the information on the screen where your eyes naturally gaze.

Center Keyboard with Monitor

If your keyboard is placed directly in front of your body and your monitor is situated to the right or left you will be forced to twist your neck to view the screen. Ouch! This twist will tense the muscles in your neck.

The longer you work with your muscles tensed the higher risk of developing neck and shoulder pain.

Adjust Your Chair Armrest Height

How often do you feel as if your neck is almost touching your shoulder? Too often, right!

Let’s not make it easy to tense your shoulders. If your armrests are too high, you will be raising (and tensing!) your shoulders up and creating pain.

Due to the tendency to lean to the side with armrests too low you may also create pain in the elbows and ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is the one you feel all the way down into your pinkie finger when hitting your elbow. Watch this one!

Adjust your armrests so that your shoulders are completely relaxed and elbows rest comfortably on armrests.

Eliminate Your Chair Armrests Altogether

Do your armrests prevent you from getting close to your keyboard because they hit the edge of your desk? This is a source of mental stress many of us have experienced.

You will also create tense neck and shoulder muscles due to the straight arm reach to the keyboard and mouse.

So in this case, remove the armrests.

Move Mouse Closer To Your Body

Moving and clicking your mouse frequently when it is too far away can create shoulder pain - use a shorter footprint, ergonomic keyboard without the right hand numeric keypad or a mouse that is placed at the center of the body.

You may also try a keyboard with the numeric keypad on the left, your keyboard and monitor will be balanced more easily.

As always, REST, REST and MORE REST every 10 minutes for 10 seconds and every hour for five (5) minutes.

Stand up and stretch often as this will relax your mind and body, improve circulation and create more productivity.

Go Live in Comfort!

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Panduan Penjagaan Influenza A H1N1

2009-08-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Panduan Menilai Tahap Kesihatan Diri di Rumah

Anda perlu mendapatkan rawatan SEGERA di hostpital jika anda mengalami mana-mana tanda dan gejala berikut:

Masalah Pernafasan
sesak nafas, semut, warna bibir bertukar menjadi biru/ungu.
Batuk berdarah atau kahak berdarah
Sakit dada berterusan
Cirit-birit atau muntah yagn kerap
Demam berterusan melebihi 3 hari atau demam berulang selepas 3 hari pulih
Berkelakuan tidak normal, keliru, kurang responsif kepada rangsangan atau sawan.
Rasa pening apabila berdiri
Kurang Kencing.

Penjagaan Kesihatan Diri Di Rumah

Jika demam makan ubat paracetamol mengikut dos yang disyorkan.
Demam yang telah reda tidak bermaksud anda telah sembuh tetapi boleh membuatkan anda berasa lebih selesa. Patuhi arahan pada label ubat. Dapatkan nasihat pengamal perubatan tentang ubat yang disarankan, sukatan yang sesuai, kesan sampingan ubat dan bila pengambilan perlu dihentikan.
Berehat secukupnya.
Banyakkan pengambilan cecair (termasuk air mineral, bubur, isotonik, jus buah-buahan dan sup bagi mengelakkan dehidrasi.
Sekiranya mengalami tanda-tanda kecemasan segera dapatkan rawatan doktor.
Pastikan pengudaraan yang baik di rumah (contohnya membuka tingkap di bilik, dapur, tandas dan bilik mandi).

Nasihat Untuk Pesakit dan Ahli Keluarga Bagi Mengawal Jangkitan Di Rumah

Amalkan Etika Batuk

Pesakit mesti mengamalkan etika batuk yang betul. Gunakan tisu atau sapu tangan apabila batuk atau bersin. Cuci tangan dengan sabun dan air atau bahan pencuci tangan berasaskan alkohol. Buang tisu yang telah digunakan ke dalam tong sampah.

Tingkatkan Penjagaan Kebersihan Diri
Pesakit dan semua ahli keluarga mesti mengambil langkah2 berikut:

Kerap cuci tangan dgn sabun dan air atau bahan cuci berasaskan alkohol.
Keringkan tgn dgn tisu atau tuala yan berasingan utk setiap ahli keluarga.
Cuci pinggan mangkuk dan peralatan lain serta permukaan yang kerap disentuh, dgn menggunakan bajan pencuci yagn biasa digunakan dirumah.

Jangan Kongsi Peralatan PEribadi

Peralatan seperti pinggan mangkuk dan kain seperti tuala, cadar dan selimut tidak boleh dikongsi oleh ahli keluarga pesakit. Semua barangan ini perlu dicuci dgn sabun dan air.

Menjarakkan Diri

Pesakit dinasihatkan supaya tidak meninggalkan rumah sehingga mereka benar2 sembuh, lazimnya 7 hari.
Pesakit seboleh2nya diminta tinggal di bilik berasingan.
Ahli keluarga, khususnya yang cenderung mendapat komplikasi (khususnya ibu hamil) seboleh2nya hendaklah menjarakkan diri daripada pesakit sekurang-kurangnya 1 meter utk mengelakkan jangkitan.
Sekiranya pesakit terpaksa keluar rumah contohnya, untuk mendapatkan rawatan beliau hendaklah memakai penutup mulut dan hidung (mask), mengamalkan etika batuk yang betul dan kerap mencuci tangan.

Sumber : Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Selangor

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A(H1N1): Mangsa ke-4 meninggal dunia

2009-07-29T18:00:00.001-07:00

Ramli Abdul Aziz, 45, dari Taman Chempaka dari Peringgit Jaya menunjukkan gambar anaknya, Nur Syazwana Ramli, 20, yang meninggal dunia kerana Influenza A H1N1 semalam. Kes itu menjadikannya mangsa keempat yang meninggal dunia akibat pandemik itu di Malaysia setakat ini

PUTRAJAYA: Seorang wanita rakyat Malaysia berumur 20 tahun mati akibat Influenza A (H1N1) pagi semalam, menjadikannya mangsa keempat yang meninggal dunia akibat pandemik itu di Malaysia setakat ini.

Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican berkata wanita itu disahkan menghidap Influenza A (H1N1) selepas meninggal dunia pada pukul 9.40 pagi semalam.

"Wanita berkenaan mula demam, sakit tekak dan batuk sejak 16 Julai, bagaimanapun beliau hanya pergi mendapatkan rawatan selepas sakit selama 11 hari di Hospital Melaka pada 26 Julai.

"Pemeriksaan dan ujian awal mendapati beliau mengidap jangkitan kuman dalam darah yang dijangkiti daripada paru-paru, beliau kemudiannya dipindahkan ke unit rawatan rapi (ICU) kerana mengalami sesak nafas dan memerlukan bantuan alat pernafasan," katanya dalam sidang media di sini hari ini.

Tambah Dr Ismail, wanita berkenaan mengalami berbagai kompilasi klinikal iaitu septisemia disebabkan oleh pneumonia, kegagalan buah pinggang dan kegagalan fungsi paru-paru.

"Mangsa akhirnya telah meninggal dunia disebabkan oleh pneumonia teruk yang dijangkiti daripada persekitaran," katanya.

Ditanya mengapa kementerian tidak mendedahkan kes berkenaan semalam, Dr Ismail berkata pihak hospital berkenaan hanya mengetahui mangsa dijangkiti H1N1 selepas kematiannya.

"Saya hanya dimaklumkan mengenai kematian wanita berkenaan pada awal pagi tadi," katanya.

Berhubung sama ada kementerian akan mengambil tindakan kepada pihak hospital yang gagal mengesan jangkitan H1N1 dengan segera hingga menyebabkan kematian, beliau berkata pihaknya tidak mahu menyalahkan mana-mana pihak.

"Kita tak mahu salahkan sesiapa, tapi apa yang penting ialah kita mahu nasihatkan kepada pesakit supaya lebih peka dengan masalah kesihatan mereka...dapatkan rawatan awal jika ada tanda-tanda jangkitan.

"Malah kita juga nasihatkan supaya para doktor lebih berhati-hati dan mengambil serius mengenai tanda-tanda H1N1 apabila pesakit datang berjumpa dengan mereka," katanya.

Mengenai situasi semasa, Dr Ismail berkata sejumlah 47 kes baru H1N1 dilaporkan di seluruh negara dan kesemuanya merupakan kes jangkitan tempatan iaitu 27 daripadanya merupakan kejadian dari enam kluster baru, 10 kes dari lima kluster sedia ada dan 10 kes lagi merupakan kes-kes terpencil.

Jumlah terkumpul kes itu setakat ini meningkat kepada 1,266.

"Daripada 1,266 kes yang dilaporkan tersebut, 574 atau 45 peratus merupakan kes import dan 692 atau 55 peratus adalah jangkitan tempatan.

"Daripada jumlah ini, 1,233 kes atau 97 peratus telah sembuh, 24 kes atau dua peratus yang menerima rawatan antiviral di hospital manakala sembilan orang atau satu peratus lagi sedang menerima rawatan antiviral di rumah," katanya.

Beliau yang kesal dengan perkembangan terbaru mengenai H1N1 berkata semua pihak harus memainkan peranan masing-masing bagi memastikan jangkitan virus berkenaan dapat dikawal.

Dr Ismail yang sebelum itu mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Teknikal Pandemik Influenza A (H1N1) berkata mesyuarat hari ini mengambil ketetapan bahawa semua pengamal perubatan sama ada di hospital atau klinik termasuk swasta hendaklah mempunyai tahap syak yang tinggi kepada kes-kes pneumonia yang disebabkan oleh H1N1.

Katanya kes-kes pneumonia terutama yang teruk hendaklah diuji kemungkinan jangkitan H1N1.

"H1N1 boleh menyebabkan severe pneumonia terutama jika jangkitan pada individu yang berisiko seperti gemuk, diabetes, penyakit respiratori kronik dan individu dengan imuniti rendah.

"Semua kes pneumonia yang teruk yang disyaki disebabkan oleh H1N1 juga hendaklah diberi rawatan antiviral influenza dengan dos diganda," katanya.

Beliau berkata ujian makmal untuk H1N1 setakat ini hanya boleh dibuat di Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan (IMR) dan Hospital Sungai Buloh.

Malah katanya ujian makmal tersebut akan diperluas kepada hospital kerajaan negeri, dan untuk itu latihan dan kemudahan akan dibekalkan kepada hospital-hospital terlibat.

Sebanyak 21 hospital swasta telah diberi bekalan antiviral influenza untuk digunakan bagi merawat pesakit-pesakit H1N1 atau yang disyaki.

Dr Ismail juga berkata jawatankuasa teknikal di peringkat negeri juga akan diwujudkan, di mana Pengarah Kesihatan Negeri akan menyampaikan keputusan mesyuarat teknikal pusat kepada semua pihak yang terlibat termasuk doktor-doktor swasta.

Mengenai situasi global, Dr Ismail berkata sejumlah 169,753 kes dengan 1,125 kematian dilaporkan di 159 negara setakat pagi ini.

Sumber : mStar Online

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Coconut Oil - More Than The Average Saturated Fat

2009-07-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

by: Sherri L Dodd

Origin: Southeast Asia, South America, New Zealand and India

Description: Known as Sanskrit “the tree which provides all the necessities of life”, the Coconut Palm yields 50-75 coconuts per year and not a part of it goes unused. Coconut water contains sugars, fiber, protein, anti-oxidants and a variety of vitamins and minerals. The sap from cutting the flowers from the tree is used to make a drink called “toddy”. The fibrous husk from the tree, the coir, is used in many things including ropes, mats, brushes and potting soil. If you no longer need a coconut tree, the apical bud of an adult tree can be eaten as “palm-cabbage”, and the “heart of the palm” is a delicacy in gourmet salads. The ‘no longer’ clause due to consuming these will kill the tree. And of course, there is the white meat of the nut that can be eaten directly or used to make coconut milk, coconut cream, and coconut oil of which we will focus today.

Benefits: Researchers have increasingly revisited the health benefits of coconut oil. The findings have associated it with many healthful benefits starting with weight loss due to the medium length of the fatty acid chains (aka MCT’s). Though it is considered a saturated fat, coconut oil is a different structure from the notorious saturated animal fats, and even offers benefits not available in the longer chained plant oils. The medium length of the coconut's fatty acid chain enables rapid breakdown in digestion as well as ease of use when burned for energy. These same MCT’s, along with monoglycerides, are found primarily in coconut oil and breast milk and contribute toward well-being, which includes a role in thyroid health. It has tested well in helping prevent hypothyroidism due to its evasion of rancidity. Studies show that rancidity is harmful to the thyroid as well as many cells throughout the body. (The plant oils used by mainstream food manufacturers have a high propensity toward rancidity and must be processed through hydrogenation into trans-fatty acids.)

Another benefit of using coconut oil is that it supports the suppression of Candida (aka, yeast) in the digestive system. While yeast commonly inhabits your digestive system, it is kept controlled due to the body’s presence of probiotics (aka “good” bacteria). In the event the person starts taking antibiotics, prescription medications, birth control pills or maintains a poor diet and experiences daily stress, Candida yeast begins to fiercely outnumber the good bacteria, causing evidence of infection. Also, digestive disorders such as Crohn's disease and IBS can have positive results from one consuming coconut oil. The MCTs will not only be easily digested, but will also assist in the absorption of the nutrients from other foods.

Blurb: While time may be limited on the amount of pampering a mother can do for herself, there are steps that can be taken to look our best and coconut oil is here to help. Coconut oil is used for treating damaged hair, dry scalp and pimples, moisturizing dry and aging skin, and enabling anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral effects throughout the body. It has also shown great reduction of keratosis polaris, rosacea and psoriasis. You do not have to pay absorbent fees for beauty products. Instead, buy a large jar of the solid oil and use it directly on the appropriate area as well as ingesting it for overall well being…it tastes great and goes down smooth!

Coconut Oil (1 Tbsp)

Calories: 119

Fat: 14g (Sat. Fat 12g)

Information found at http://www.coconut-info.net and http://en.wikipedia.org

About The Author

not a part of it goes unused. Coconut water contains sugars, fiber, protein, anti-oxidants and a variety of vitamins and minerals. The sap from cutting the flowers from the tree is used to make a drink called “toddy”. The fibrous husk from the tree, the coir, is used in many things including ropes, mats, brushes and potting soil. If you no longer need a coconut tree, the apical bud of an adult tree can be eaten as “palm-cabbage”, and the “heart of the palm” is a delicacy in gourmet salads. The ‘no longer’ clause due to consuming these will kill the tree. And of course, there is the white meat of the nut that can be eaten directly or used to make coconut milk, coconut cream, and coconut oil of which we will focus today.

Benefits: Researchers have increasingly revisited the health benefits of coconut oil. The findings have associated it with many healthful benefits starting with weight loss due to the medium length of the fatty acid chains (aka MCT’s). Though it is considered a saturated fat, coconut oil is a different structure from the notorious saturated animal fats, and even offers benefits not available in the longer chained plant oils. The medium length of the coconut's fatty acid chain enables rapid breakdown in digestion as well as ease of use when burned for energy. These same MCT’s, along with monoglycerides, are found primarily in coconut oil and breast milk and contribute toward well-being, which includes a role in thyroid health. It has tested well in helping prevent hypothyroidism due to its evasion of rancidity. Studies show that rancidity is harmful to the thyroid as well as many cells throughout the body. (The plant oils used by mainstream food manufacturers have a high propensity toward rancidity and must be processed through hydrogenation into trans-fatty acids.)

Another benefit of using coconut oil is that it supports the suppression of Candida (aka, yeast) in the digestive system. While yeast commonly inhabits your digestive system, it is kept controlled due to the body’s presence of probiotics (aka “good” bacteria). In the event the person starts taking antibiotics, prescription medications, birth control pills or maintains a poor diet and experiences daily stress, Candida yeast begins to fiercely outnumber the good bacteria, causing evidence of infection. Also, digestive disorders such as Crohn's disease and IBS can have positive results from one consuming coconut oil. The MCTs will not only be easily digested, but will also assist in the absorption of the nutrients from other foods.

Blurb: While time may be limited on the amount of pampering a mother can do for herself, there are steps that can be taken to look our best and coconut oil is here to help. Coconut oil is used for treating damaged hair, dry scalp and pimples, moisturizing dry and aging skin, and enabling anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral effects throughout the body. It has also shown great reduction of keratosis polaris, rosacea and psoriasis. You do not have to pay absorbent fees for beauty products. Instead, buy a large jar of the solid oil and use it directly on the appropriate area as well as ingesting it for overall well being…it tastes great and goes down smooth!

Coconut Oil (1 Tbsp)

Calories: 119

Fat: 14g (Sat. Fat 12g)

Information found at http://www.coconut-info.net and http://en.wikipedia.org

at: 14g (Sat. Fat 12g)

Information found at http://www.coconut-info.net and http://en.wikipedia.org

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Aromatherapy - a World Of Fragrance

2009-07-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

by: Angie Kocsi

Aromatherapy, a word that derives from ‘aroma’ meaning fragrance or smell and ‘therapy’ meaning treatment is based on an ancient principle that the spirit and the body should be in harmony. The ancient Egyptians used aromatherapy thousands of years ago. Hippocrates claimed that the secret to good health was to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage each day.

Aromatherapy, the healing art of using essential oils extracted from aromatic plants for therapeutic purposes is enjoying a modern-day revival. Extracted from fruit, flowers and trees, blends of these essentials oils can be incorporated for the healing properties and create a particular aroma.

Each essential oil used in Aromatherapy can be used either alone or in combination with other oils to promote health and a sense of emotional well being. A full Aromatherapy treatment combines the beneficial properties of essential oils with a warm relaxing massage, bath or inhalation.

While essential oil are considered to be safe to use, they are very powerful, highly concentrated substances which should be treated with a great deal of respect.

Some of the most common essential oils and their effects:

Chamomile: Soothing and harmonizing

Clove: Warming

Fennel: Clearing

Eucalyptus: Balancing and stimulating

Grapefruit: Refreshing

Jasmine: Soothing

Lavender: Calming and healing

Lemon: Cleansing and stimulating

Orange: Calming and energizing

Before beginning any Aromatherapy treatment, it is important to understand how each essential oil works. Do not use any oil that you are not familiar with. Certain oils should not be used during pregnancy or when breast feeding.

Consult your local professional for advice on which Aromatherapy treatment best suits your needs.

Spas in Canada © Copyright 2005

www.spasincanada.ca

Contact the spa team by email: spas@spasincanada.ca

About The Author

Angie Kocsi is co-founder of Spas in Canada. After many years enjoying the great spas in Europe and drawing upon her knowledge of the corporate world, along with a successful career in Public Relations and International Marketing www.spasincanada.ca was created. Contact the spa team by email: spas@spasincanada.ca.

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Selsema Babi

2009-07-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Soalan lazim mengenai selsema babi.

1. Apakah Selesema Babi?

Selesema Babi adalah penyakit respiratori akut yang berjangkit daripada babi dan disebabkan oleh virus influenza A.
Di kalangan babi, virus ini tersebar melalui titisan air dan hubungan secara langsung atau tidak langsung. Ia juga boleh tersebar melalui babi yang asimptomatik (tidak mempunyai sebarang gejala penyakit tetapi membawa virus Selesema Babi).

2. Berapakah subtypes (jenis) Virus Selesema Babi yang wujud?

Virus Selesema Babi sentiasa berubah seperti virus influenza yang lain. Terdapat 4 subtypes utama virus influenza A yang diasingkan daripada haiwan ini iaitu H1N1 (virus yang biasa ditemui pada babi), H1N2, H3N1 dan H3N2. Babi boleh dijangkiti virus Avian Influenza (Selesema Burung), virus influenza bermusim manusia, serta virus Swine Influenza (Selesema Babi).
Babi boleh dijangkiti lebih daripada satu jenis virus pada satu masa. Ini menyebabkan gen virus tersebut bercampur dan menghasilkan virus influenza yang mengandungi gen daripada pelbagai sumber, dikenali sebagai virus yang bercampur (reassortant).
Walaupun virus Selesema Babi pada kebiasaannya adalah spesis yang spesifik dan hanya menjangkiti babi, namun, virus ini boleh menyebabkan penyakit di kalangan manusia.
Terbaru, virus influenza yang diasingkan daripada babi telah dikenal pasti sebagai virus H1N1.

3. Di manakah kes jangkitan terhadap manusia pernah terjadi?

Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia telah menerima laporan kes Selesema Babi dari Amerika Syarikat dan Sepanyol.

4. Apakah tanda dan gejala Selesema Babi pada manusia?

Tanda dan gejala Selesema Babi pada manusia adalah serupa dengan gejala selesema manusia termasuk demam, batuk, sakit tekak, sakit-sakit badan, sakit kepala serta badan berasa sejuk dan lesu.
Terdapat juga sesetengah kes yang mengalami cirit birit dan muntah.

5. Adakah babi dan produknya selamat untuk dimakan?

Ya. Tiada bukti mengaitkan Selesema Babi boleh dipindahkan melalui makanan sekiranya daging atau produk babi disediakan atau dimasak secara betul. Virus Selesema Babi boleh dihapuskan dengan suhu masakan 160°F/70°C, sejajar dengan panduan am bagi menyediakan daging babi dan daging lain.

6. Bagaimana manusia boleh dijangkiti?

Manusia selalunya dijangkiti Selesema Babi melalui hubungan langsung dengan babi atau persekitaran yang dijangkiti virus Selesema Babi. Terdapat juga kes di mana manusia yang dijangkiti tidak mempunyai sejarah hubungan secara langsung dengan haiwan ini atau persekitarannya. Jangkitan manusia kepada manusia yang telah dilaporkan adalah terhad kepada hubungan secara langsung.

7. Adakah terdapat vaksin bagi melindungi manusia daripada jangkitan Selesema Babi?

Tiada. Vaksin influenza bermusim yang dihasilkan mengikut cadangan Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia tidak mengandungi virus Selesema Babi. Tidak juga diketahui sama ada vaksin bermusim boleh menyediakan perlindungan silang bagi mencegah jangkitan virus Selesema Babi.

8. Apakah rawatan bagi Selesema Babi?

Kebanyakkan kes Selesema Babi yang dilaporkan sebelum ini pulih sepenuhnya daripada penyakit itu tanpa memerlukan rawatan dan antiviral.

9. Berapakah tempoh masa jangkitan Selesema Babi daripada manusia kepada manusia yang lain?

Mereka yang dijangkiti virus Selesema Babi boleh menyebarkan penyakit ini selagi mereka mempunyai gejala penyakit dan boleh berlanjutan selama 7 hari daripada tarikh mendapat jangkitan (onset).
Kanak-kanak, terutamanya yang masih kecil, berpotensi menyebarkan penyakit ini pada tempoh yang lebih panjang.

10. Apa yang boleh dilakukan untuk melindungi diri anda daripada sakit?

Elakkan penyebaran kuman penyebab penyakit respiratori seperti selesema.
Ambil langkah-langkah berikut:

Jika anda batuk atau bersin:
-Lindungi hidung dan mulut anda dengan tisu atau sapu tangan
-Buang tisu yang telah digunakan di bakul sampah
-Basuh tangan dengan sabun dan air bersih
Amalkan kebersihan diri. Basuh tangan dengan kerap menggunakan sabun dan air, terutamanya selepas anda batuk. Pembersih tangan berasaskan alkohol sangat berkesan.
Cuba elakkan berhubung rapat dengan mereka yang sakit.
Jika anda sakit kerana selesema, duduk di rumah dan hadkan hubungan dengan orang lain bagi memastikan anda tidak menjangkiti mereka.
Elakkan daripada menyentuh mata, hidung atau mulut anda.
Segera dapatkan rawatan di kemudahan kesihatan berdekatan sekiranya anda mengalami tanda dan gejala penyakit setelah pulang dari negara atau kawasan yang dijangkiti Selesema Babi.

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Learn How To Quit Smoking

2009-07-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

by: Colin Williams

What do I mean by LEARN, shouldn’t I be telling you to go buy some nicotine gum or some quit smoking NRT products. Hey! It’s not that hard for anyone to stop smoking and NO you don’t really need a pill, potion, patch or gum. As a matter of fact I believe you only need one thing to help you quit smoking and that’s Knowledge, because knowledge is power.

Some historians claim that tobacco has been apart of our history since around 6000BC, however a little closer to our end of the time line in the pre- Columbian Americas the native Americans cultivated tobacco for ceremonial pipe smoking. Explorers like Christopher Columbus, Sir Walter Raleigh and France’s Jean Nicot after whom nicotine was named began to popularize the use of tobacco as the new fashion throughout Europe. The process of smoking was learnt back in the early 16th century and it’s still learnt the same way today. In the US every day 3000 new non-smoker kids become smokers! Each and every person has had to learn how to smoke.

You LEARNT how to become a smoker in the first place. You practised the draw-back and various smoking techniques over and over, including all those body image traits until you finally achieved that great `smoker status' . You convinced yourself how good and cool it was - right! You just taught yourself how to be a smoker even when the first few cigarettes nearly made you vomit.

You may be asking yourself right now, how can I learn how to stop smoking. The answer is easy, if you want to become a non-smoker, then you need to learn how to THINK as non-smoker. The reality is that gums, patches or NRT’s won’t change your smoker mindsets, knowledge and understanding is the key!

Listen ...'If you think the way you always thought, you'll have what you always had.'

Answer this... Who talks to you the most? Your partner? your boss? your neighbour? your friends? your dog or cat? No Way......YOU TALK TO YOU THE MOST!!!

Nicotine Addiction is approximately 20% physiological and 80% psychological. Think about it, the chemical affect of the drug doesn’t have to work very hard to keep you addicted because you will reinforce your perceived satisfaction with just about every cigarette through your thoughts and words.

The bottom line is this – the nicotine addiction IS NOT your friend or buddy, it's a lying parasite that basically wants to kill you. Have you ever wanted to quit smoking or maybe you know and love someone who is struggling to give up smoking?

I can show you a quit smoking process that will change your life forever. You’re only problem will be deciding what to do with all that extra cash. Imagine the freedom of waking up every morning and thinking “I’m a non-smoker” now that’s cool!

To learn more please visit http://www.quitsmoking-4-life.com

About The Author

Colin R. Williams is a Quit Smoking Personal Coach, Seminar Presenter and the author of Quit Smoking…NOW - It’s Easier Than You Think! Colin is passionate about helping people to stop smoking and break the chains of nicotine addiction – forever. He illustrates a powerful quit smoking principle that can’t fail, without using pills, potions, patches, gums, hypnosis, Zyban or NRT’s. For more information visit http://www.quitsmoking-4-life.com

colin@quitsmoking-4-life.com

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The Real Way To Get Big

2009-07-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

by: Leonard Rogalski

I for one am tired of it.

All the so-called experts and guru’s claiming that they know how you have to train to get big and strong.

Yea right, and all ya gotta do is buy this particular supplement that we’re promoting.

Now I’m not going to beat around the bush, I am going to assume that if you are reading this, you want to get big and you want to get strong.

I am also going to assume that you are pretty darn skinny and you probably are young most likely in college.

I don’t mean to insult anyone, but if you aren’t in the single digits of body fat, then this program isn’t for you.

It is for the guy or gal whose metabolism is so fast and so thin that the wind will blow him or her away if he or she misses one meal.

THE PROGRAM

ALL YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING ON THIS PROGRAM IS THE BASIC’S

Squats, dead lifts, stiff legged dead lifts (please do these with some bend in the knees despite what the name says) over head presses with dumbbells, bent over rows or one arm rows, incline presses, chins and pull ups, good mornings and slant board sit ups.

That’s it no concentration curls triceps kick backs etc.

THE ROUTINE

MONDAY

Squats 10x3 that’s 10 sets of three reps

Bent over rows 10x3

Over Head presses with dumbbells 10x3

Good Mornings 10x3

Chins as many as you can do

Slant board sits ups go until you feel you only have one or two reps in you then stop

WENSDAY

Dead lifts 10x3

One arm rows 10x3

Incline dumbbell presses 10x3

Stiff legged dead lifts 10x3

Pull Ups as many as you can do

Slant board sit ups go until you have one or two reps left in you

FRIDAY

Squats 3x3 three sets of three reps with a light weight

Dead lifts 3x3 same as above

Weird lifts

What I mean by weird lifts is simple, farmer’s walks, go out and chop some wood, load up and wheel barrel with weight and see how far you can go with it.

Anything that gets you out of the gym and using your muscles doing ANYTHING BUT LIFTING WEIGHTS

DIET

Forget about all of those weird supplements get your self a good multi vitamin and eat plenty of good food, like chicken breasts, lean steak, fish, whole wheat bread, peanut butter, vegetables, etc.

You can throw a little bit of junk in there but keep 90% of you diet comprised of good wholesome food.

TIPS

Watch you waist, once it goes up two or three inches start cutting back on the food a little bit. Also on you days off do some fast walking, it is good for you, and it will help keep you leaner while you gain weight.

Remember this is a basic outline, feel free to modify it to suit you ability and experience level

Good luck and happy training!

For more cool stuff please check out www.originalproducts.ws

About The Author

Leonard Rogalski

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND AM HAPPY TO SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE WITH THE PUBLIC, ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU KEEP MY WEBSITE LINK ATTACHED TO MY ARTICLE.www.originalproducts.ws

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Using Yoga For Weight Loss

2009-07-09T19:28:00.001-07:00

by: Michael Paetzold

Yoga can be put to good use for taking off excess pounds through the power of creating a state of mental and physical well being. The basic tenets of Yoga promotes a healthy lifestyle and when combined with a calorie reduction can help to speed up your weight loss. It will increase your metabolism by increasing the caloric burning process. All weight loss is based on using more calories than you take in. It will also allow you to increase your ability to concentrate and focus.

Your thyroid regulates your metabolism and is responsible for the chemical processes that transform food into energy. Yoga uses a series of twisting poses that will help to stimulate the work flow of the internal organs. This will cause your metabolism to increase and burn more calories which will eventually cause you to have a lower body weight. Another side effect is that it will help to improve your circulation and increase your energy level.

The various back bends combined with the forward bends will help to stimulate the metabolism. The poses that affect the neck region can be helpful in stimulating the thyroid if the weight problem is caused by a hormonal imbalance. Poses that will help the most for this include the camel, rabbit, plow, bridge and head stand. Going quickly between the various poses can help to accelerate the weght loss. Beware though that those seriously overweight may find some of these poses extremely difficult and should start slowly with the easier poses and add others as they become more confident in the easier ones.

You can use standing poses to increase muscle strengthening such as the warrior. These will help to create higher endurance and increase your caloric usage.

Remember that a gradual approach is best with all Yoga practices. The long term effects on your weight loss regime will become evident and even more so the inner peace and general well feeling that Yoga will promote within you.

About The Author

Michael Paetzold is the webmaster of http://innerselfimprovement.com where you will find information to improve the inner you. Weight loss, better self image, time management and much more are addressed there.

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Apple Wax

2008-06-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

Be Careful while eating apples

Please don't eat the skin of the apple because it's coated with wax.
Check before you eat many of the fruits.
WAX is being used as preservative Purposes and then cold stored.
You might be surprised especially apples from popular countries are more than one year old, though it would look fresh. Because wax is coated preventing bacteria to enter and prevent it from getting dry.
Please Eat Apples after removing the wax as demonstrated below. Please follow this and let others know ..........

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About Green Potatoes

2008-05-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

Green = vegetables = good, right? Not when it comes to potatoes.

Here's an important piece of information that my mother taught me
years ago, but fewer and fewer people these days seem to know about.

Green in potatoes indicates the presence of a rather harmful toxin.
When you see patches of green in your potatoes as you peel them, cut
out the green parts entirely and discard them. What is the green?
Actually it's chlorophyll. Not bad for you at all. But the chlorophyll
indicates that the potato has been exposed to sunlight. And where the
potato has been exposed to light is where a natural toxin in the
potato (solanine) becomes concentrated at harmful levels.

So, never store your potatoes on the counter. Always keep them in a
cool, completely dark ple.

According to the Wikipedia, deep-frying potatoes at a high temperature
effectively lowers the level of toxins. But boiling them
has no effect. Best to stay on the safe side and just cut away
the green parts. The NIH website mentions that the potato sprouts can
also have concentrated solanine, so those too should never be eaten.

Health for a Lifetime only at : http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

Healthy Diet For Your Child

2008-05-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

by: Martin Smith

It is the belief of most parents that children are eating a relatively healthy diet, but if not, they throw up their hands and give up. Children are then plied with multivitamins. Though this is not a bad thing to do, many children think they are candy especially now that they come in gummi candy, gumballs, and cute animal and cartoon characters.

This is extremely serious because if they are with a kids reach, they could be taking more than you know about. If there is the remotest chance your child has ingested too many, immediately call Poison Control and get them to the emergency room.

If your child overdoses with multivitamins with iron your child could become seriously ill or die. All manner of medications must absolutely be kept out of the reach children. If you think your child needs them generic multivitamins are fine but for the most part, children get a lot of their vitamins in their diets.

If your child is either allergic to dairy products or won’t eat them, calcium will need to come from other sources. A consultation with your child’s pediatrician is important. One vitamin daily is all a child needs even if his diet has been questionable for that week.

The absorption of other vitamins could be blocked if there is too much of any one vitamin. For example, too much calcium can prevent the absorption of other vitamins such as iron. Healthy food choices are not a child’s priority you can expect to be giving your child vitamins well into their teens.

Before buying vitamins you should know that opinions about vitamins with iron for children vary greatly. One belief is that you should, in fact, be giving vitamins with iron. Another philosophy is that never should a child be given vitamins with iron in them.

In infancy my own child showed signs of iron deficiency as an infant. Always check with your child’s doctor; my child’s doctor put him on iron fortified vitamins and he is healthy now. A disease called Hemochromatosis is caused by too much iron in the blood.

The iron becomes unusable by the body and it is not washed out of the body easily. It is almost always a fatal disease and can cause serious health issues. Calcium helps build strong bones and muscles and is a very important part of your child’s diet.

Calcium is a mineral. Kids who eat ice cream, yogurt, and cheese or who drink milk usually get enough calcium from their diets. Some do not like dairy products, still others are allergic to them. Children can be assisted in getting what they need by consuming calcium fortified juices, cereals and vitamins.

Drinking fluoride treated tap water and bottled water and/or using fluoridated toothpaste is enough for most children. Your child should not be given fluoride supplements without checking with your pediatrician. Your child’s teeth could be permanently stained if they get too much fluoride.

This defeats entirely, the purpose of the treatment of water and the use of toothpaste meant to protect your child’s teeth. Infant multivitamins in liquid form is available and usually administered with an eye dropper.

The drops contain vitamins A, C, and D and may have added iron. Also they may have other vitamins and minerals such as thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B-12. Chewable children’s vitamins are available in the forms of cartoon characters and/or animals. Now vitamins are available in gummi candy and gumballs.

Try buying gum ball vitamins or cartoon characters if your child is difficult about taking vitamins. Your child should always be supervised while he’s taking his vitamins. My son never gets to take his vitamins on his own, I give them to him.

He may or may not take it or he could take too many. Children’s vitamins could be a very good thing but too much of a good thing could be fatal. They should not be left in the reach of children. Eating what is right is not your child’s top priority so giving him vitamins may offset some of that.

Adjustments to child’s diet should always be discussed with your child’s pediatrician, it’s better to err on the side of caution. It’s fine to have fun shapes but your child could think they are candy and they should be kept out of reach of children or locked in a cabinet.

About The Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Vitamin C and Herbal Supplements, and more! http://www.1st-vitamins-n-supplements.com.

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

Anger and Anatomy

2008-05-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

by: Shannon Munford

They say that youth is wasted on the young. I’m only 34 years old so depending on the crowd I’m in I still consider my self to be pretty young. One of the traits of the young and strong is that they rarely think about their health. That’s why they can drink to excess, take up arms in the sexual revolution, sky dive, bungee jump and never think “Hey this may kill me!” Don’t get me wrong I like a little adventure and I try to keep in shape, I work out, try and eat right but that’s just so I can continue to see my shoes below my stomach. The truth is I don’t really think about my mortality much. Heart Disease, Cancer, Chronic Pain are not things that stay on my mind.

The reality is everything you do today will determine the type of life you live tomorrow. This is true when it comes to anger and what it can do to your body. I’m not a doctor and I honestly can’t stand the sight of blood. If my wife cuts her finger washing dishes you will find me running in terror into the other room. Medical terminology puts me to sleep and I don’t know an artery from an adrenal gland but I have to admit and you probably do too that there is a direct link between our emotions and our bodies.

Just think about it. What happens when we are sad? We cry. When we are nervous? We sweat. Our emotions can cause actual physical changes from headaches and tight muscles to ulcers and acne. Our emotions are even responsible for the stimulation and activation of our reproductive systems.

Anger is an emotion than can work havoc on our physical bodies. According to Dr. Don Colbert, the author of “Deadly Emotions” anger and hostility can cause an individual to release the hormone adrenaline and norepinephrine into their blood stream. Norepinephine, try saying that, 3 times fast. Norepinephine, norepinephine, norepinephine, oh well lets move on. Both hormones raise blood pressure, increase the heart rate and elevate the cholesterol level in the body. Our breathing becomes shallow, we may sweat, and you may see a vein pop out in the middle of our foreheads. If these conditions continue over an expanded periods of time individuals could be at risk of heart attack or stroke.

We also find that the sudden rush of adrenaline into or blood stream can cause or bodies to perform extraordinary acts of strength. That reminds me of another television series. Do you remember the original Incredible Hulk, The one with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno? Whenever I watch poor, skinny Bill Bixby try to lift the burning car off of his dying wife I sadly ask myself, “ How come his adrenaline doesn’t kick now?” In fact it was experimenting with adrenaline and radiation that got him in trouble. It was that adrenaline/radiation cocktail that turned him into and out of control raging green Hulk. Adrenaline has the same affect on us too. No, it won’t turn you green but it may cause you to exhibit some fairly dangerous behavior.

Roger a former client of mine seemed to be a really nice guy. He smiled a lot, had a decent job and appeared to be overall pretty pleasant. As he recounted the story of how he was ordered into my class it was apparent that a rush of adrenaline fueled by anger and fear was responsible for his otherwise out of character behavior.

Roger was on vacation in Lake Havasu, California. At 45 he just wanted to enjoy a nice quiet weekend on the Lake with his family. As he docked his boat that day he was a little tired and a lot sunburned. Roger noticed his nephew, a persistent hothead in an argument with another vacationer. As the argument escalated into a physical altercation, Roger rushed to the aid of his nephew in an attempt to break up the fight. He suddenly found himself in the fight and in self-defense Roger landed a right hook on the jaw of his nephews opponent. Roger witnessed him falling to the ground and noticed a hurried blur running towards him from behind. Without thinking, Roger through up his hands and backslapped the approaching individual. When Roger was able to calm down and turn around he discovered that he had struck the victims girlfriend smack in the mouth. She lay about 30 feet from the spot where she was hit. A quiet vacation on the lake had quickly turned into a night in jail and a charge of woman beating.

The physical and psychological affects of anger can propel even the most docile individuals into an aggressive attack. It is to late to take and anger management class when you are provoked. You must understand yourself and how you react to various triggers in life before a confrontation arises.

About The Author

Shannon Munford is the founder of Daybreak Counseling Service, a anger management education center in Los Angeles, California. He provides quality anger management education for adults, adolescents and couples. You can reach him at 310-995-1202 or visit www.daybreakservices.com.

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

Neurologi Semasa Hamil

2008-05-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

Neurologi Semasa Hamil

Saya sedang hamil. Perlukah saya makan dua kali ganda daripada sebelumnya?

Anda tidak perlu makan sebanyak itu kerana wanita hamil memerlukan tenaga untuk tumbesaran janin, uri, rahim dan payu dara. Tenaga juga diperlukan untuk penyimpanan lemak dan proses metabolisme untuk mengekalkan kesemua tisu baru ini. Tubuh badan anda menjadi lebih efisien semasa hamil dan berupaya menyerap lebih banyak nutrien yang anda makan. Dengan memakan 2 kali ganda daripada biasa, belum tentu anda akan mendapat bayi yang sihat, sebaliknya anda mungkin mengalami peningkatan berat badan yang berlebihan.

Bagaimana saya perlu makan semasa hamil?

Pemakanan yang baik sangat penting untuk mendapatkan bayi yang sihat. Sesuatu kehamilan memerlukan 300 kalori tambahan sehari untuk mengekalkannya pada tahap yang sihat dan secara puratanya, wanita bersaiz biasa boleh menjangkakan peningkatan berat badan sebanyak 12 -15 kg sepanjang kehamilan. Bagaimanapun, kalori tambahan ini mestilah yang berkhasiat. Wanita hamil memerlukan diet yang seimbang, lengkap dengan protein, buah-buahan, sayur-sayuran dan bijirin tulen, dan gula serta lemak yang sedikit.

Diet harian mestilah merangkumi:

6 - 11 sajian nasi/bijirin atau roti.
3 . 5 sajian sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan (sekurang-kurangnya satu kaya dengan vitamin C manakala satu lagi kaya vitamin A).
2 . 4 sajian susu atau hasil tenusu.
3 . 4 sajian daging, ikan dan makanan protein yang lain termasuklah legum atau kekacang.
6 . 8 gelas air dan satu minuman ringan atau secawan kopi sehari untuk menghadkan kafein.

Elakkan memakan makanan yang mentah atau tidak dimasak dengan sempurna, atau makanan dimasak yang mungkin telah tercemar di gerai atau restoran yang tidak bersih. Masakan sendiri adalah yang terbaik.

Diet yang diubahsuai secara khusus adalah untuk bakal ibu yang menghidap diabetes dan anemia.

Adakah semua bakal ibu memerlukan jumlah kalori yang sama?

Setiap bakal ibu perlulah merujuk kepada doktor mengenai keperluan pemakanan yang tertentu.

Wanita yang berlebihan berat badan mungkin lebih sihat jika mengurangkan pengambilan kalorinya.
Wanita yang kurang berat badan perlu makan lebih banyak.
Bakal ibu dari golongan remaja yang masih membesar dan mempunyai keperluan pemakanan yang lebih tinggi dari biasa memerlukan kalori yang lebih.
Ibu hamil kembar mempunyai keperluan pemakanan yang lebih untuk setiap bayi.
Bakal ibu yang menghidap diabetes dan wanita yang menghidap diabtetes semasa mengandung perlu mengawasi paras gula dalam darah dengan teliti.

Bagaimana makanan yang saya makan dibahagikan di antara keperluan saya dan anak dalam kandungan?

Doktor tidak memahami sepenuhnya bagaimana pembahagian zat makanan di antara anda dan bayi dalam kandungan dilakukan. Keperluan zat makanan anak diperolehi dari diet dan nutrien yang tersimpan di dalam tulang dan tisu ibu. Dahulu, janin yang berkembang telah dianggap sebagai 'parasit sempurna' yang mengambil semua zat makanan yang diperlukan dari ibunya tanpa mengambil kira diet ibu. Ini bermakna, jika diet ibu kekurangan zat tertentu contohnya kalsium, ia tidak mendatangkan masalah kerana janin dengan mudah dapat mengambil mineral berkenaan dari simpanan tulang dan gigi ibunya. Kini pakar percaya bahawa janin yang sedang membesar adalah paling terjejas sekiranya diet ibu kekurangan zat.

Berapakah jumlah berat badan yang perlu saya tambah semasa hamil?

Anda perlu menambah berat badan dan jangan risau apabila kelihatan bertambah besar. Sebenarnya, bagaimana berat badan anda bertambah adalah lebih penting daripada berapa banyak tambahan berat berkenaan. Penambahan berat badan semasa kehamilan mestilah berlaku secara beransur-ansur.

Berapa berat badan yang perlu ditambah semasa kehamilan bergantung kepada saiz badan, tahap aktiviti dan secekap mana anda menukarkan makanan kepada tenaga.

Jika anda kekurangan berat badan, anda perlu menambah berat badan sebanyak 12 hingga 18 kg. Jika berat badan anda biasa sahaja sebelum hamil, anda perlu menambah antara 11 dan 16 kg dan jika berat badan berlebihan, anda hanya perlu menambah antara 7 dan 11 kg. Jika anda hamil kembar, anda perlu menambah berat badan sebanyak 16 hingga 20 kg.

Ingatlah bahawa saranan peningkatan berat badan berubah-ubah mengikut masa. Oleh itu adalah penting untuk menumpukan perhatian kepada khasiat pemakanan anda berbanding pertambahan berat badan.

Bagaimana saya hendak menghilangkan lebihan berat badan yang bertambah semasa hamil?

Amalkan pemakanan yang sihat dan bersenamlah selalu semasa anda hamil dan selepas bersalin.

Kebanyakan berat badan yang terkumpul akan hilang sebaik sahaja anda melahirkan bayi. Berat bayi adalah lebih kurang 4 kg (bergantung kepada bila anda melahirkannya). Cecair amnion, uri, cecair badan tambahan dan darah di dalam badan pula menambah berat badan sebanyak 3.6 hingga 5.4 kg. Rahim dan payu dara yang semakin membesar mungkin menambah berat sebanyak 2 hingga 4 kg. Oleh itu tidak banyak baki berat badan yang tinggal untuk disingkirkan selepas bersalin.

Artikel Kesihatan untuk Rujukan dan Manfaat Kita bersama khas dari :
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Pertolongan Cemas

2008-05-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

Pengenalan ?

Pertolongan cemas merupakan penjagaan awal untuk mereka yang cedera atau sakit. Ia merupakan khidmat penjagaan yang diberikan oleh seseorang yang mengambil berat terhadap keselamatan mangsa yang malang. Ia dilakukan sebaik sahaja berlaku sesuatu kemalangan atau kecederaan. Khidmat segera ini dan perhatian yang diberikan sebelum tibanya ambulans membawakan perbezaan yang ketara di antara hidup dan mati ataupun di antara penyembuhan keseluruhan atau sebahagian darinya. Pertolongan cemas memiliki batasannya yang tersendiri, kerana bukan semua penyelamat merupakan ahli paramedik ataupun doktor, namun begitu ia merupakan satu elemen yang penting dan amat diperlukan di dalam sistem perubatan yang menyeluruh.

Apakah yang perlu dilakukan ?

Jangan panik. Anda perlu bertenang
Fikir.
Lakukan perkara yang sepatutnya dilakukan mengikut tertibnya yang logik. Apabila memberikan pertolongan cemas, laksanakannya mengikut kemampuan anda.
Jangan cuba untuk menjadi wira. Hubungi atau dapatkan bantuan secepat mungkin.

Adalah amat penting bagi setiap pengamal pertolongan cemas melaksanakan tindakan mereka dengan pantas. Tindakan segera ini adal ah perlu untuk menyelamatkan nyawa dan anggota badan. Seorang mangsa yang tidak boleh bernafas dengan baik, atau mengalami pendarahan berlebihan, perlukan bantuan segera. Jika pertolongan cemas itu pantas dan berkesan, mangsa tersebut akan memiliki peluang yang lebih cerah untuk pulih. Cuba bertenang dan fikirkan semua tindakan anda. Pengamal pertolongan cemas yang tenang dan terkawal telah terbukti dapat mengawal keadaan dengan cekap dan berkesan.

Bagaimana mendapatkan bantuan ?

Untuk mendapatkan bantuan perubatan, hubungi ambulans segera dengan mendail 999. Jika anda berada di samping mangsa, dapatkan orang lain untuk menelefon bantuan. Jika anda bersendirian, anda perlu tinggalkan mangsa buat seketika untuk membuat panggilan telefon.

'AMARAN PERUBATAN' (MEDIC ALERT)

Ada individu yang menderita akibat sesuatu keadaan perubatan tertentu yang boleh menyebabkan mereka menghadapi gejala dan tanda-tanda penyakit yang serius pada bila-bila masa.

Sebagai bantuan dan makluman, mereka mungkin memakai sejenis pengenalan perubatan, biasanya dalam bentuk sejenis rantai atau gelang yang khas. Alat ini dikenali sebagai gelang Medic Alert atau Amaran Perubatan. Pada gelang ini tercatat identiti pesakit, keadaan perubatan yang tertentu dan keterangan-keterangan lain seperti alahan, dadah yang diperlukan atau alamat konteks perubatan yang boleh dihubungi.

Pelbagai keadaan perubatan yang boleh dimaklumkan oleh alat tersebut termasuklah penyakit jantung yang khusus, diabetes, epilepsi atau gila babi, asma dan alahan-alahan yang serius.

Mengapa pertolongan cemas ?

Mereka yang memberikan pertolongan cemas sentiasa berusaha ke arah:

Menyelamatkan nyawa mangsa
Mengelakkan komplikasi atau keadaan dari menjadi bertambah buruk.
Membantu pemulihan
Menenangkan perasaan mangsa dengan membuat mereka berasa selesa dan memulihkan kesakitan.

Mereka yang memberikan pertolongan cemas mestilah tahu apa yang perlu mereka lakukan dalam keadaan-keadaan yang berbeza. Kesilapan dalam memberikan rawatan boleh memburukkan lagi keadaan mangsa.

Maklumat yang diberikan di dalam artikel ini membolehkan anda memberikan pertolongan cemas yang berguna dan berkesan.

Bilakah diperlukan ?

Pertolongan cemas diperlukan di dalam keadaan berikut:

Sakit dada yang teruk atau sakit di bahagian abdomen
Pendarahan yang teruk atau tidak dapat dikawal
Luka terbakar yang teruk
Tercekik
Patah tulang atau terseliuh
Kecederaan yang teruk
Serangan jantung
Renjatan haba
Pengambilan dadah yang berlebihan
Keracunan
Renjatan
Tidak sedarkan diri

Apakah asas pertolongan cemas yang perlu saya ketahui?

Sepatutnya, anda perlu tahu cara-cara untuk

Membantu mangsa secukupnya (bantuan keselamatan asas)
Mulakan prosedur pernafasan (pertolongan cemas primer)
Hentikan pendarahan
merawat renjatan
merawat kecederaan mata
merawat luka terbakar

Teknik SAFE

Pada setiap keadaan kecemasan, lakukan teknik SAFE yang bermaksud:

S - Summon / Shout for help (Dapatkan bantuan)

Dalam kebanyakan kes, lebih daripada seorang pembantu diperlukan

A - Approach with care & Assess the situation (Lakukan pendekatan dengan berhati-hati dan menilai keadaan tersebut)
Kemungkinan wujudnya bahaya di kawasan sekeliling tidak dapat dipastikan dan boleh membahayakan penyelamat dan seterusnya menambahkan lagi masalah. Peningkatan bilangan mangsa akan mengurangkan keupayaan bantuan perubatan yang ada.
Bahaya boleh jadi di dalam bentuk wayar elektrik hidup, risiko letupan atau kebakaran dari tumpahan minyak, haiwan berbisa dan lain-lain

F - Free from danger (Bebas dari bahaya)
Mangsa mesti dibebaskan dari segala bahaya atau perkara yang menimbulkan bahaya tersebut perlu dialihkan atau dibuang dengan penuh hati-hati. Contohnya, matikan enjin kereta, alihkan wayar elektrik yang hidup menggunakan batang kayu, halau haiwan berbahaya seperti ular, dan lain-lain lagi

E - Evaluate casualty's condition (Menilai keadaan pesakit)

Pertolongan Cemas Primer ?

Lakukan perkara-perkara seperti berikut apabila anda mendekati mangsa yang mengalami kecederaan teruk

SALURAN UDARA - periksa samada saluran udara mangsa dan pastikan ia
samaada tidak dihalang oleh lidah, bendalir rembesan atapun bendasing. Cara yang perlu dilaksanakan untuk memberi bantuan terhadap saluran udara ialah dengan meletakkan mangsa berbaring menelentang dengan tegak dan mulut mangsa dibiarkan terbuka.
GUNAKAN dua jari untuk membersihkan mulut dari sebarang halangan yang boleh dilihat.
KELUARKAN gigi palsu hanya jika alat tersebut longgar.
ELAK dari memasukkan tangan terlalu dalam kerana ini boleh menyebabkan halangan yang tidak dapat dilihat termasuk pada saluran udara.
BERNAFAS - periksa samaada mangsa masih bernafas, jika tidak, berikan bantuan pernafasan.
EDARAN (circulation) - periksa samaada nadi mangsa masih berdenyut. Jika tiada, lakukan tekanan pada dada (kompresi dada)

Bagaimana untuk memberhentikan keadaan tercekik?

Jika mangsa tercekik disebabkan makanan ataupun objek-objek lain dan mangsa berhenti bernafas, lakukan bantuan pemulihan pernafasan
Anda harus berasa yakin bahawa anda akan dapat mengeluarkan objek yang menyumbat kerongkong mangsa sebelum memasukkan jari atau tangan ke dalam mulut mangsa.
Tanggalkan pakaian untuk mendedahkan bahagian dada
Ikut arahan untuk memberi bantuan pemulihan pernafasan

Bagaimanakah caranya untuk menghentikan pendarahan?

Gunakan tekanan secara langsung ke atas anggota badan dan tangan
Tekan pada luka dengan beralaskan kain yang bersih atau bahan lain yang sesuai. Ini akan meminimakan sebarang jangkitan.
Pegang tangan ataupun kaki pada paras jantung. Teruskan tekanan sehingga pendarahan berhenti ataupun sehingga pasukan ambulans tiba
Jangan alihkan kain yang digunakan walaupun ia telah basah dengan darah. Anda perlu tambahkan lagi lapisan kain dan kenakan tekanan yang mampan.
Gunakan juga tekanan secara langsung untuk menghentikan pendarahan di bahagian-bahagian lain.
Seorang yang mengalami pendarahan boleh mati dalam masa satu minit jika saluran darah utama terpotong. Jangan tunggu. Hentikan pendarahan dengan serta-merta.

Bagaimanakah caranya untuk merawat renjatan

Dalam situasi pertolongan cemas, rawatan bagi renjatan mestilah dilakukan dengan segera sebaik sahaja selepas disahkan keadaan renjatan itu dan setelah punca kemalangan dialihkan.
Baringkan mangsa dengan telentang serta angkat kaki mangsa untuk meningkatkan aliran darah ke otak
Pastikan tubuh mangsa diselimuti untuk mengelakkan kesejukan ataupun kehilangan haba
Longgarkan pakaian yang ketat dan tali pinggang untuk mengurangkan jerutan di kawasan leher, dada ataupun pinggang.
Jangan berikan sebarang cecair kerana ia tidak dapat diserap dengan mudah jika diberi melalui mulut
Hubungi ambulans dan bawa mangsa ke hospital secepat mungkin

Bagaimanakah cara untuk merawat kecederaan mata

Cara yang paling baik bagi mengeluarkan bendasing dari mata adalah dengan membiarkan ia keluar bersama air mata, tetapi kadangkala adalah perlu untuk membasuhnya keluar
Basuh mata dengan menuangkan air dengan banyak keatas mata
Jika bendasing itu dapat dilihat dan berada di permukaan mata, cuba keluarkannya dengan perlahan-lahan menggunakan hujung bucu sapu tangan ataupun dengan menggunakan putik kapas.
Jika bendasing tersebut terbenam di dalam mata, jangan cuba keluarkannya. Tutup mata tersebut menggunakan lapikan mata yang steril atau menggunakan kain yang bersih dan minta bantuan perubatan dengan segera
Jangan sekali-kali gunakan sebarang bahan kimia. Ia boleh menyebabkan kecederaan mata yang serius.

Bagaimanakah cara untuk merawat luka terbakar

Di dalam kes terbakar yang teruk, minta bantuan perubatan dengan segera
Buangkan semua aksesori dan pakaian yang mengecut dari kawasan yang terlibat.
Rendamkan kawasan yang terlibat ke dalam air sejuk dengan segera ataupun kenakan tuala yang basah dan lembab di kawasan tersebut. Anda juga boleh menuangkan air ke bahagian yang terbakar itu atau letak di bawah air sejuk yang mengalir. Teruskan rawatan ini selagi kesakitan masih dirasai.
Untuk luka terbakar yang disebabkan oleh bahan kimia, tuangkan air di atas kulit atau letakkan dibawah air yang mengalir. Kemudian tutupkan kawasan tersebut dengan kain yang bersih untuk mengelakkan gangguan oleh udara.
Jika luka terbakar tersebut adalah besar, tenangkan mangsa dan lakukan rawatan untuk renjatan

INGAT!

Bertindak dengan segera, setiap saat boleh membawa perubahan
Jangan gerakkan mangsa yang mengalami kecederaan leher atau belakang kecuali dalam keadaan yang sangat diperlukan
Dapatkan seseorang untuk menghubungi ambulans dan doktor sewaktu anda sedang memberikan pertolongan cemas
Jangan tarik pakaian mangsa luka terbakar
Bertenang dan tenangkan mangsa
Jangan paksa mangsa yang tidak sedarkan diri untuk mengambil sebarang cecair

Kit Pertolongan Cemas ?

Setiap rumah perlu memiliki satu kit bantuan kecemasan yang mudah diambil oleh orang dewasa tetapi tidak boleh dicapai dengan mudah oleh kanak-kanak. Peti tersebut mestilah teguh dan kalis air. Kit bantuan kecemasan boleh mengandungi isi kandungan yang berbeza, bergantung kepada keperluan. Kit bantuan kecemasan peribadi mestilah disimpan di kawasan yang bersih dan kering serta tidak mudah dicapai oleh kanak-kanak. Isi kandungannya mestilah diperiksa dalam satu jangkamasa yang tertentu untuk memastikan ia masih ada dan lengkap, belum luput tarikh dan berada dalam keadaan baik.

Satu kit yang asas mengandungi:

Krim antihistamin untuk melegakan rasa gatal
Sebatian antiseptik (untuk membersihkan luka-luka kecil)
Tablet parasetamol atau aspirin untuk sakit kepala, demam dan melegakan kesakitan ringan (aspirin tidak harus diberikan kepada kanak-kanak di bawah umur 16 tahun)
Pembalut luka (bandage)
Plaster (sepeket)
Pita bergam untuk membalut
Crepe bandage (untuk rawatan terseliuh)
Pembalut elastik
Pembalut tiga segi
Losyen calamine untuk ruam yang gatal
Kapas steril (1 gulung)
Pembalut luka atau dressing
Gause parafin (untuk luka terbakar)
Gause steril
Dressing untuk luka (2 saiz)
Basuhan mata
Lampu suluh
Selimut (untuk mengekalkan kepanasan ketika kesejukan)
Hidrogen peroksida ataupun alkohol untuk disapu
Putik kapas (untuk meletakkan ubat)
Pin (untuk menetapkan bandage)
Gunting yang tajam tetapi mempunyai hujung yang tumpul (untuk kegunaan pertolongan cemas sahaja)
Penyepit yang tajam di hujung(untuk membuang selumbar)

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PEMERIKSAAN SENDIRI PAYU DARA

2008-05-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

Sejak dari dahulu lagi, risiko kanser payu dara di kalangan wanita adalah 1 bagi setiap 8 orang. Lebih awal kanser payu dara dikesan, lebih besar peluang untuk rawatannya berjaya. Pemeriksaan sendiri payu dara merupakan satu kaedah yang sangat mudah, penting dan berkesan untuk mengesan kanser payu dara di peringkat awal.

Risiko

Telah mengalami kanser pada sebelah payu dara.
Sejarah keluarga yang pernah menghidap kanser payu dara. Risiko lebih tinggi bagi ibu, anak, adik atau kakak ahli keluarga yang mendapat kanser payu dara. Risiko anda mendapat kanser selepas umur 30 tahun meningkat 2 hingga 3 kali ganda.
Wanita yang tidak pernah melahirkan anak dan telah berusia lebih 30 tahun.
Wanita yang mengalami haid lebih awal (sebelum umur mencapai 12 tahun) atau lewat putus haid (selepas umur 55 tahun).

Pengurusan sendiri

Bilakah anda perlu melakukan pemeriksaan sendiri payu dara?

Sebulan sekali.
7-10 hari dari permulaan haid yang akan datang.
Jika anda tidak lagi datang haid, lakukan pemeriksaan tersebut pada hari pertama setiap bulan dan catatkan dalam kalendar sebagai peringatan anda.

Bagaimana cara melakukannya

Semasa mandi

Angkat sebelah tangan. Dengan menggunakan satu jari, gerakkan secara mendatar perlahan-lahan ke serata tempat bagi setiap payu dara. Gunakan tangan kanan untuk memeriksa payu dara sebelah kiri dan dan tangan kiri untuk memeriksa payu dara kanan. Periksa sama ada terdapat gumpalan/ketulan keras, menebal di payu dara anda.

Berdiri di hadapan cermin

Dengan mengangkat kedua-dua tangan ke atas kepala, pusing perlahan-lahan dari sisi kanan ke sisi kiri.
Cekak pinggang anda, tekan turun perlahan-lahan ke bawah untuk menegangkan otot dada dan menolak payu dara anda ke hadapan.

Perhatikan dengan teliti segala perubahan seperti saiz, bentuk dan kontur setiap payu dara. Lihat sama ada terdapat kedutan, lekukan atau puting tersorot ke dalam.

Dengan perlahan-lahan, picit kedua-dua puting dan perhatikan jika terdapat lelehan keluar. Periksa sama ada lelehan tersebut kelihatan jernih atau mengandungi darah.

Berbaring

Untuk memeriksa payu dara sebelah kanan, letakkan bantal di bawah bahu kanan dan tangan kanan diletakkan di belakang kepala. Tekan jari anda mendatar dan bergerak perlahan-lahan dalam bentuk bulatan kecil, bermula dari bahagian pangkal payu dara. Selepas satu pusingan, bergerak 1 inci (2.5cm) ke arah puting. Lakukan putaran untuk memeriksa setiap bahagian payu dara termasuk puting. Ulangi kaedah yang sama pada payu dara sebelah kiri dengan meletakkan bantal di bawah bahu kiri dan tangan kiri diletakkan di belakang kepala. Cuba rasakan sama ada terdapat sebarang gumpalan di bawah dan di sepanjang atas tulang selangka.

Penting

Dapatkan nasihat dari doktor jika terdapat:

Sebarang gumpalan.
Sebarang perubahan pada gumpalan yang timbul.
Sebarang perubahan pada tekstur kulit, lekuk, bengkak atau kedutan pada kulit.
Puting tersorot ke dalam.
Terasa sakit pada payu dara.

Amalkan Tabiat Baru

Amalkan pemeriksaan sendiri payu dara seperti yang disyorkan. Ketahuilah tentang payu dara anda sendiri. Pemeriksaan sendiri bukan sekadar untuk mencari gumpalan tetapi juga untuk memerhatikan sebarang perubahan yang mungkin berlaku.
Amalkan makanan yang rendah lemak.
Bersenam secara tekal.
Kurangkan pengambilan makanan bergaram, makanan disalai dan makanan yang mengandungi nitrit dan nitrat.
Jika anda berumur 50 tahun ke atas, dapatkan ujian mamogram setiap tahun atau sekurang-kurangnya setiap 2 tahun sekali. Ini penting terutamanya bagi mereka yang berisiko tinggi.
Susukan bayi anda dengan susu badan. Ini akan dapat mengurangkan risiko kanser payu dara terutamanya sebelum putus haid.
Berjumpalah doktor jika terdapat perubahan pada payu dara anda.

Tentangi:

Rasa risau terhadap gumpalan pada payudara atau perubahan yang luar biasa. Selalunya cuma 1 dari 10 gumpalan payu dara yang merupakan kanser.
Rasa malu untuk membiarkan payu dara anda diperiksa oleh doktor.
Pertambahan berat badan.
Pendedahan kepada sinaran/radiasi. Pakailah apron diperbuat dari plumbum ketika mengambil X-ray gigi.

Nikmatilah

Gaya hidup sihat tanpa merasa risau tentang kanser payu dara.

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Pencegahan Dadah - PART 5 of 5

2008-04-21T06:17:00.000-07:00

Pencegahan

Pencegahan primer melibatkan bantuan kepada individu untuk mengelakkan diri dari ketagihan. Ini haruslah ditujukan kepada kanak-kanak dan golongan remaja yang berisiko. Salah satu pendekatan yang baik ialah dengan menekankan terhadap kesan buruk penyalahgunaan dadah dan alkohol.

Pencegahan sekunder terdiri daripada mencari kesan-kesan yang merbahaya yang dibawa oleh bahan yang disalahgunakan itu sebelum sebarang gejala penagihan muncul. Mengekalkan kewaspadaan terhadap tanda-tanda awal penagihan dadah atau pengalaman lampau yang boleh menjurus kepada penagihan adalah cara untuk mengesan lebih awal tabiat penagihan atau penagihan semula. Oleh kerana penagihan adalah gangguan kronik yang boleh berulang, setiap individu masih memiliki risiko mengulangi semula tabiat buruk mereka ataupun membawa masalah baru dengan menggunakan bahan-bahan lain.

Akhir sekali, pencegahan tertier melibatkan rawatan kesan perubatan dari dadah yang telah disalahgunakan dan membantu penagih dadah supaya dapat menerima rawatan bagi mengatasi ketakupayaan mereka seterusnya.

Secara ringkasnya, cara yang paling biasa digunakan untuk mencegah penagih dari mengulangi tabiat mereka adalah melalui pemantauan yang kerap dan berterusan, kaunseling, dorongan keluarga dan manipulasi sekitaran. Ini kemudiannya diikuti dengan mencegah mereka dari bergaul semula dengan rakan-rakan lama mereka yang turut sama terlibat dan juga mencegah mereka daripada memperolehi bekalan dadah dengan mudah. Memantau perkembangan individu yang terlibat adalah amat penting.

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Komplikasi Dan Ujian Dadah - PART 4 of 5

2008-04-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

Komplikasi

Penggunaan dadah dan alkohol yang berlebihan dan berpanjangan boleh memusnahkan pelbagai organ dalam badan. Alkohol terutamanya, mampu merosakkan hati, otak dan jantung. Hati yang telah dirosakkan oleh alkohol kurang berupaya untuk membuang sisa-sisa toksik yang terkumpul di dalam badan. Individu yang berada dalam keadaan koma hepatik menjadi lemah, mengantuk, pengsan, bingung dan biasanya tangan mereka akan menggeletar. Koma hepatik boleh membawa maut dan perlu dirawat dengan segera.

Penagih dadah terutamanya yang berkongsi jarum suntikan yang kotor boleh mengalami kerosakan pada otak, hati, paru-paru, tulang dan sistem imun. Kuman yang berjangkit dari jarum yang tidak steril itu kadangkala boleh menjangkiti otak dan menyebabkan meningitis serta otak bernanah. Virus hepatitis yang juga boleh merebak melalui perkongsian jarum, boleh menyebabkan kerosakan hati. Kebanyakan penagih dadah akan mula menyuntik dadah secara subkutanus (di bawah kulit) yang boleh menyebabkan kerengsaan pada kulit atau kudis. Apabila dadah telah disuntik ke dalam vena ( salur darah ), parut boleh terbentuk pada tisu yang terlibat dan menjadikan salur venanya tersumbat. Seterusnya masalah dengan sistem imun pula akan muncul. Oleh kerana HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) boleh merebak melalui perkongsian jarum, ramai penagih dadah akan dijangkiti penyakit AIDS

Penggunaan dadah yang berlebihan boleh membahayakan nyawa kerana ia boleh menyebabkan gangguan pada pernafasan dan seterusnya boleh membawa maut. Ini disebabkan oleh bekalan darah ke otak telah berkurangan, menyebabkan koma dan seterusnya membawa maut.

Ujian - Ujian

Penyalahgunaan dadah yang masih di peringkat awal jarang-jarang dapat dikesan melalui pemeriksaan fizikal. Penyiasatan yang biasa dijalankan termasuklah mengesan bahan yang disalahgunakan itu di dalam air kencing ataupun di dalam darah. Namun bagitu, ujian air kencing ini adalah tidak sensitif bagi mereka yang mengambil dadah secara bersela (tidak berterusan). Kes penyalahgunaan alkohol pula boleh dikesan pada nafas atau darah individu yang terlibat. Pengesanan pada rambut pula adalah berguna bagi mengesan dadah yang telah disalahgunakan untuk jangkamasa yang panjang.

Artikel dipetik dari Kementerian Kesihatan untuk Rujukan dan Manfaat Kita bersama khas dari :
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Tanda- Tanda dan Gejala Dadah - PART 3 of 5

2008-04-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Tanda- Tanda dan Gejala

Berikut merupakan ciri-ciri penyalahguna dadah dikesan:

a) Gejala fizikal

Berpeluh
Meremang bulu roma
Pening kepala
Menggigil (tremor)

b) Gejala psikologi

Keresahan
Insomnia - tidak dapat tidur
Kerisauan
Gangguan emosi dan perasaan

c) Gejala perlakuan

Sentiasa ponteng kerja
Penurunan prestasi kerja
Digantung atau dibuang sekolah
Mabuk semasa memandu yang boleh menyebabkan kemalangan
Ditahan kerana mengganggu ketenteraman awam
Mencuri

Di antara dadah-dadah yang sering disalahgunakan termasuklah kanabis (ganja), amfetamin, ekstasi dan heroin. Gejala-gejala yang biasa dipamerkan oleh penyalahguna dadah adalah:

Gangguan koordinasi
Mata merah
Insomnia - tidak dapat tidur
Hilang selera makan
Penurunan berat badan
Kemurungan
Cakap banyak
Tidak dapat mengimbang diri
Loya dan muntah
Mengetap gigi dan rahang
Peningkatan tenaga
Kerap menggosok hidung
Berpeluh berlebihan
Mengantuk
Menggunakan tandas terlalu lama

Walau bagaimanapun, sesetengah dadah menghasilkan gejala yang khusus. Contohnya, mempamerkan simptom yang dikenali sebagai cocaine bug iaitu rasa sesuatu merayap di atas kulit. Ekstasi pula mempamerkan gejala yang ganjil iaitu rasa tersangat dahaga.

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Faktor - Faktor Risiko Dadah - PART 2 of 5

2008-04-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

Faktor - Faktor Risiko

Penyalahgunaan bahan merupakan masalah yang berlaku dalam setiap lapisan masyarakat. Ia juga melibatkan golongan berpendidikan tinggi, ahli-ahli profesional di samping mereka yang tidak berpendidikan dan penganggur. Terdapat pelbagai faktor yang boleh meningkatkan risiko penyalahgunaan dadah:

Faktor biologi

Salah satu tanggapan yang salah mengenai konsep kehidupan moden ialah, jika anda sakit, terdapat pelbagai pil atau ubat-ubatan yang mampu 'memulihkan' anda. Malangnya pil tidak boleh menyelesaikan semua masalah anda. Selalunya, perubahan dalam pengambilan diet, gaya hidup, pergaulan dengan rakan gaulan ataupun etika kerja boleh membawa kepada perubahan yang positif dan kelainan yang berpanjangan berbanding dengan ubat-ubatan.

Faktor psikososial

Kehidupan moden sangat sibuk dan merumitkan. Bagi kanak-kanak dan golongan remaja, tekanan untuk membesar dengan cara yang mereka rasakan betul adalah amat mencabar. Tekanan bertambah setiap hari pada setiap individu. Kadangkala arus kehidupan yang terlalu pantas menyebabkan ramai yang kurang mampu untuk menanganinya. Tiada siapa yang memiliki imuniti terhadap tekanan atau stres dan kerungsingan. Tekanan yang biasa dihadapi termasuklah tekanan dari sekolah, tekanan untuk berjaya di dalam permainan dan sukan, tekanan untuk memuaskan hati orang lain dan juga tekanan untuk sentiasa diterima ramai.

Faktor sosial

Masyarakat zaman ini disogokkan dengan imej yang ditonjolkan oleh media seperti televisyen, radio, video dan internet. Adalah amat mustahak untuk menyedari bahawa apa yang ditonjolkan di dalam media ini hanyalah imej rekaan semata-mata dan tidak melambangkan kehidupan yang sebenar. Walaupun pengiklanan mahukan kita minum minuman yang tertentu serta memakai seluar berjenama seperti yang diiklankan, pilihannya masih lagi terletak di tangan kita sebagai pengguna. Begitulah juga keadaannya dalam memilih untuk menjadi perokok ataupun peminum arak.
Gaya hidup mereka yang mewah dan terkenal seperti yang ditonjolkan dalam dunia hiburan mampu menggoda kita semua untuk mengecapi populariti sedemikian rupa. Tekanan untuk menjalani kehidupan yang dikatakan 'berarus deras' ini sangat menggoda kepada kebanyakan masyarakat zaman ini.

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Penyalahgunaan Dadah - PART 1 of 5

2008-04-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

Pengenalan

Penyalahgunaan dadah adalah penggunaan dadah yang bertentangan dengan kepentingan rawatannya. Hari ini istilah yang lebih sesuai digunakan ialah penyalahgunaan bahan, yang merangkumi alkohol, tembakau, kokain, marijuana (ganja), dadah-dadah perangsang, LSD dan inhalan ( bahan yang disedut ). Perkataan bahan ini lebih sesuai berbanding dengan penggunaan perkataan dadah kerana dadah merupakan bahan kimia pembuatan. Manakala kebanyakan bahan yang disalahgunakan itu dihasilkan secara semulajadi (seperti candu) yang tidak boleh digunakan oleh manusia (seperti menghidu gam)

Penerangan

Sebarang dadah boleh digunakan secara sah dari segi perubatan sekiranya ia dipreskripsikan atau diberikan oleh doktor. Contohnya pesakit kanser yang dirawat dengan morfin untuk menghilangkan penderitaan sakit kansernya hingga beberapa tahun, tetapi ia tidak mendatangkan kesan ketagihan padanya.

Begitu juga dengan mengambil minuman beralkohol bersama rakan-rakan serta orang dewasa yang merokok diterima secara terbuka oleh masyarakat. Namun begitu, penyalahgunaan dadah lebih ditakrifkan sebagai satu perlakuan yang tidak berfaedah serta tidak diterima oleh masyarakat umum. Penggunaan bahan (samada dadah atau alkohol) untuk mengubahsuai atau mengawal emosi atau keadaan minda secara tidak sah dan membahayakan diri sendiri dan orang lain dianggap sebagai salahguna. Penggunaan steroid anabolik di kalangan atlit dalam jangka masa yang panjang boleh mendatangkan kesan yang merbahaya. Secara amnya kesan-kesan sampingan yang mungkin berlaku termasuklah kemalangan atau kecederaan, pitam, keganasan, pembunuhan dan juga bunuh diri.

Asas Saintifik

Penyalahgunaan dadah bukan sahaja melibatkan cara tindakan atau fungsi dadah tersebut, ia juga merujuk kepada gangguan fungsi serta maladaptasi yang disebabkan oleh penggunaan yang salah terhadap ubat-ubat tersebut. Otak merupakan organ utama yang mengawal keseluruhan fungsi tubuh, emosi dan tingkah laku normal seseorang itu. Dadah dan alkohol boleh mengganggu fungsi asal otak dan boleh mengakibatkan gangguan di dalam pergaulan dan prestasi kerja serta membawa kepada tindakan memusnah sesuatu. Gangguan fungsi ini dipengaruhi oleh sifat-sifat bahan kimia dan kesannya yang terdapat di dalam dadah yang diambil. Personaliti penagih dadah tersebut memainkan peranan dalam menentukan sama ada mereka telah menyalahgunakan dadah atau tidak.

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Diarrhoea In Children

2008-04-20T07:00:00.001-07:00

What is diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea is a condition whereby children will pass motion more frequently than usual and their faeces is usually liquid.
Diarrhoea is spread by germs from faeces entering the mouth.
The germs can be spread by water, food, hands, eating and drinking utensils, by flies and by dirt under the fingers.

Why is diarrhoea dangerous?

Diarrhoea is dangerous. If not treated, it can kill.
Most often, diarrhoea kills by dehydration, which means that too much fluid has been drained out of the child’s body.
Fluids and nutrients lost during diarrhoea should be replaced.

When a child has diarrhoea, give more fluids than usual

Suitable drinks to prevent a child from getting dehydrated are:

Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) mixed with the recommended amount of cooled boiled water.
Breast milk.
Porridge (diluted mixture of cooked cereals and water).

To prevent dehydration, one of these drinks should be given to the child every time he/she passes watery stool:

Soups
Rice water
Fresh fruit juices
Weak tea
Young coconut water
If nothing else is available, give cooled water.

The amount to be given is:

If your child is less than 2 years old, give ¼ - ½ cup, in small amounts but frequently.
If your child is more than 2 years old, give ½ - 1 cup, in small amounts but frequently.

If the child vomits, wait for 10 minutes and then begin again, feeding the drink to the child slowly in small sips at a time.

Extra liquids should be given until the diarrhoea stopped.

ORS - A Special Drink

A special drink for diarrhoea can be made by using a packet of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
This drink is used by doctors and health workers to treat dehydrated children. But it can also be used at home to prevent dehydration.
ORS is available in health centres, clinics and pharmacies.
To make the drink:
Dissolve the contents of the packet in the amount of cooled boiled water as indicated on the packet.
If you use too little water, the drink could make the diarrhoea worse. If you use too much water, the drink will be less effective.
Stir well, and feed it to the child in small sips from a cup.
After 24 hours, throw away the leftover of ORS solution.

When a breastfed child has diarrhoea, it is important to continue breast feeding

When a breastfed child has diarrhoea, breast feeding should be continued, and if possible, more frequent.
If the child cannot suck, it is best to squeeze out the breastmilk and feed it to the child from a clean cup and spoon.

Medical help is needed if diarrhoea is more serious than usual

Parents should get help from a health worker as soon as possible if the child becomes dehydrated.

Signs of dehydration are:

Sunken eyes
Extreme thirst
No tears when the child cries
Passing less urine which is darker in colour
Has high fever
Will not eat or drink normally and vomits frequently
Pass stool with blood
Has persistent diarrhoea
Diarrhoea continues for more than 2 weeks

In the meantime, keep giving the child liquids to drink.

A child with diarrhoea needs food

Diarrhoea can lead to serious malnutrition unless parents make special effort to keep feeding the child during and after the illness.
A child with diarrhoea usually has less appetite. Coax the child to eat frequently by offering small amounts of his or her usual foods.
Children who eat solids should be given softrice or congee initially and then add well cooked meat or fish. Add 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls of oil to congee and vegetable mixes.
When diarrhoea lessens, fruits like bananas, papayas and pineapples are also good for the child.
Food should be freshly prepared and given to the child 5 or 6 times a day.

A child who is recovering from diarrhoea needs an extra meal everyday for at least a week

Extra feeding after diarrhoea stops is vital for a full recovery.
Give the child an extra meal a day for at least a week. This will help the child to catch up on the food ‘lost’ while the child was ill and the appetite was poor.
A child is not fully recovered from diarrhoea until he or she has at least the same weight as before the illness began.
Breastfeeding more frequently than usual also helps to speed up recovery.

How to prevent diarrhoea?

Give only breastmilk for the first 4 – 6 months of a baby’s life.
At the age of 4 – 6 months, introduce clean, nutritious, well-mashed, semi-solid foods and continue to breastfeed.
If milk powder solution or fresh cow’s milk has to be used, feed it to the child from a cup with a clean spoon.
Water should be boiled and cooled before use.
Immunise your child against measles. Measles frequently result in serious diarrhoea. Immunisation protects your child against this cause of diarrhoea.
Always use sanitary toilet.
Wash hands with soap and clean water before preparing or eating food, and immediately after using the toilet.
Cover food and drinking water to protect it from flies.
Food should be well-cooked. If possible, prepare it just before eating. It should not be left for long or it will collect germs.
Dispose refuse in bins or bags if it is to be collected, or bury it to stop flies from spreading diseases.

PROGNOSIS DEMAM DENGGI - PART 5 of 5

2008-04-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Apakah prognosis bagi demam denggi?
Pada umumnya, prognosis bagi demam denggi dan demam denggi berdarah adalah baik jika rawatan sokongan diberi lebih awal.

Adakah terdapat kaedah saringan tertentu atau suntikan untuk denggi?

Malang sekali, vaksin untuk penyakit denggi masih belum ada. Namun begitu, beberapa kemajuan telah dicapai dalam proses penghasilan vaksin yang mampu melindungi manusia dari keempat-empat jenis virus denggi. Produk berkenaan mungkin boleh didapati di pasaran dalam beberapa tahun lagi.

Bagaimana cara untuk mencegah denggi?

Berikut adalah langkah-langkah pencegahan utama:

Perlindungan dari gigitan nyamuk.
Elak dari melawat atau berkunjung ke kawasan berisiko tinggi pada siang hari.
Musnahkan tempat-tempat pembiakan nyamuk.
Hapuskan nyamuk Aedes dewasa.

Lindungi diri anda dari gigitan nyamuk

Untuk mengelak dari gigitan nyamuk, seseorang itu perlulah mengetahui tabiat makan nyamuk dan menggunakan bahan penghindar nyamuk pada kulit yang terdedah apabila perlu. Pakai pakaian yang menutupi kebanyakan bahagian tubuh kerana ini boleh melindungi dari gigitan nyamuk. Pasangkan jaring nyamuk dan skrin pada tingkap untuk mencegah nyamuk dari memasuki rumah.

Elakkan dari membuat lawatan ke kawasan berisiko tinggi di waktu siang

Jalan terbaik ialah mengelak dari bertandang ke kawasan berisiko (kawasan bandar) di siang hari. Ini adalah kerana nyamuk Aedes bukanlah serangga malam. Waktu puncak ia mencari makan ialah di awal pagi dan awal senja.

Musnahkan tempat pembiakan nyamuk

Cara lain untuk mencegah denggi ialah dengan memusnahkan tempat pembiakan nyamuk. Nyamuk Aedes membiak dalam tempat-tempat takungan air seperti tayar buruk dan bekas menyimpan air. Anda juga perlu selalu menukar air dalam pasu bunga dan bekas air minum haiwan peliharaan untuk mencegah nyamuk dari membiak. Apa yang anda dan keluarga perlu lakukan ialah:

Tutup dengan rapat semua bekas air seperti baldi, bejana air dan tong-tong atau masukkan ubat pembunuh jentik-jentik ke dalamnya.
Salin air dalam jambangan bunga setiap minggu.
Buangkan air dan basuh pengalas pasu bunga setiap minggu.
Periksa saluran air hujan (saluran bumbung) setiap minggu dan buang daun-daun kayu atau sampah sarap lain yang menyekat aliran air.
Bersihkan persekitaran rumah anda. Buangkan semua bekas atau benda yang boleh menakung air seperti tin-tin kosong dan botol ke dalam beg plastik dan letakkan dalam tong sampah yang bertutup.

Hapuskan nyamuk Aedes dewasa

Anda boleh menggunakan penyembur serangga bagi membunuh nyamuk dewasa di dalam rumah. Melakukan semburan menyeluruh bahagian rumah. Untuk lebih berkesan, semburan perlulah dilakukan ke seluruh bahagian dalam rumah. Anda juga boleh menggunakan ubat nyamuk untuk mengelakkan anda dan keluarga dari digigit nyamuk.

KOMPLIKASI DENGGI - PART 4 of 5

2008-04-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

Apakah komplikasi yang mungkin timbul?

Komplikasi demam denggi ialah:

Demam Denggi Berdarah.
Sindrom Renjatan Denggi.

Apakah ujian-ujian yang boleh dilakukan untuk mengesan penyakit ini?

Pemeriksaan darah digunakan untuk membantu dalam diagnosis demam denggi. Kiraan sel platlet yang rendah (trombositopenia) dan kepekatan hematokrit (hemokonsentrasi) yang tinggi lazimnya dikesan.
Ujian serologi menawarkan kaedah yang paling cepat dan ringkas untuk mengesahkan diagnosis klinikal demam denggi. Pengasingan virus merupakan kaedah diagnosis yang paling boleh dipercayai.

Apakah rawatan yang diberi untuk demam denggi?

Tiada rawatan khusus untuk demam denggi.

Dalam kes demam denggi dengan atau tanpa renjatan, cecair yang diberi secara oral sudah memadai untuk menggantikan kehilangan cecair badan akibat demam kuat, anoreksia dan muntah-muntah.
Ubat antipiretik mungkin boleh digunakan untuk meredakan demam. Walau bagaimanapun, salisilat (sebatian yang mengandungi analgesik untuk melegakan kesakitan, antipyresis - mengurangkan demam dengan menurunkan suhu badan dan aktiviti anti keradangan seperti aspirin) perlu dielakkan kerana ia diketahui boleh menyebabkan pendarahan. Pesakit perlu diawasi dengan rapi bagi mengesan tanda-tanda awal renjatan.
Untuk pesakit-pesakit sindrom renjatan denggi, penggantian awal dan segera plasma yang hilang dengan plasma, penambah plasma dan/atau larutan elektrolit dan cecair akan menghasilkan kesan yang menggalakkan.

Rawatan bukan farmakologi

Rawatan termasuk:

Meningkatkan pengambilan cecair.
Meningkatkan bekalan oksigen.

Pesakit demam denggi perlu berehat dan minum lebih banyak air untuk segera sembuh. Pesakit yang mengalami renjatan ketika demam perlu diberi cecair secara intravena (melalui salur darah vena). Oksigen juga perlu diberikan. Untuk pesakit demam denggi berdarah, penggantian cecair badan yang hilang mungkin mampu menyelamatkan nyawanya. Bagi sesetengah kes, pemindahan darah perlu dilakukan bagi mengawal pendarahan.

Rawatan farmakologi

Tiada ubat khusus bagi merawat demam denggi. Rawatan adalah untuk menghilangkan gejala yang timbul.

Apakah jenis pemantauan yang perlu dibuat?

Apabila sahaja pesakit disahkan mendapat demam denggi adalah menjadi tanggung jawab doktor yang merawat untuk memaklumkan kepada pihak berkuasa kesihatan mengenai perkara ini kerana denggi merupakan penyakit yang perlu dilaporkan. Laporan ini penting supaya tindakan lanjutan seperti di bawah ini dapat dijalankan:

Kawasan dan persekitaran di mana pesakit disyaki dijangkiti perlu dilakukan pengasapan (fogging) oleh pihak berkuasa.
Memantau kawasan yang menjadi tempat pembiakan nyamuk aedes supaya ianya tidak merebak ke tempat lain. Jika tempat pembiakan ditemui pemilik rumah akan didenda.
Apabila pesakit telah keluar dari hospital, beliau dan ahli keluarganya perlu mengambil langkah-langkah pencegahan dan bertindak untuk mencegah penyakit ini dari berulang. Ini kerana pesakit yang pernah mengalami denggi jika ia mendapat semula penyakit ini, kesannya adalah amat teruk.

GEJALA DENGGI - PART 3 of 5

2008-04-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Apakah gejala denggi?

Demam denggi ialah sejenis penyakit arboviral yang kompleks merangkumi demam denggi, demam denggi berdarah dan sindrom renjatan denggi.

Demam Denggi

Ciri-ciri klinikal demam denggi berubah-ubah mengikut umur pesakit:

Bayi dan kanak-kanak mungkin mengalami demam yang sukar dibeza-bezakan beserta dengan kemunculan ruam.
Orang dewasa dan kanak-kanak yang lebih tua mungkin mengalami sama ada sindrom demam yang tidak serius ataupun demam kuat yang mengejut, sakit kepala yang teruk, ruam dan sakit di belakang mata, otot dan sendi.
Pendarahan kulit adalah fenomena lazim.
Kadar kematian amat rendah.
Penyakit ini lazimnya bermula dengan peningkatan suhu badan yang mendadak, diikuti gejala-gejala lain yang tidak khusus seperti merah muka dan lain-lain gejala demam denggi yang tidak spesifik.
Rasa tidak selesa di bahagian ulu hati (epigastrik), sensitif di bahagian rusuk kanan dan sakit di bahagian abdomen merupakan fenomena biasa demam denggi berdarah.
Demam selalunya berterusan selama 2-7 hari dan suhu badan boleh meningkat setinggi 40-41oC dan mungkin diikuti dengan kekejangan dan pendarahan.
Dalam kes-kes yang sederhana teruk, selalunya semua tanda dan gejala penyakit hilang selepas demam sembuh.
Pesakit biasanya sembuh secara spontan atau selepas diberi terapi cecair dan elektrolit (ion berasingan seperti natrium, klorida, potasium, bikarbonat dan lain-lain)

Sindrom Renjatan Denggi

Bagi kes-kes yang serius, keadaan pesakit merosot dengan mendadak selepas demam beberapa hari. Tanda-tanda kegagalan peredaran darah dapat dilihat:

Kulit pesakit menjadi dingin, lebam dan padat dengan darah terkumpul, sianosis sirkumoral (circumoral cyanosis) dan pesakit merasa tidak selesa. Seterusnya, melarat ke tahap renjatan yang kritikal.

Renjatan dicirikan oleh denyutan nadi yang lemah dan cepat, tekanan darah rendah (hipotensi)(keadaan ini menurun secara tidak normal), kulit menjadi dingin serta lembap dan terasa tidak selesa. Pesakit yang mengalami renjatan adalah dalam keadaan bahaya dan boleh mengancam nyawa jika rawatan bersesuaian tidak diberikan segera. Jangka masa renjatan adalah pendek. Pesakit mungkin meninggal dunia dalam tempoh 12 - 24 jam atau sembuh dengan cepat

PENYEBAB DEMAM DENGGI - PART 2 of 5

2008-04-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

Apakah penyebab demam denggi?

Penyakit demam denggi berpunca dari 4 jenis virus denggi yang dipindahkan kepada manusia melalui nyamuk Aedes yang telah dijangkiti.

Pada asasnya terdapat 4 jenis virus denggi iaitu flavivirus DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 dan DEN-4. Semua nyamuk Aedes berupaya bertindak sebagai vektor virus denggi sebelum memindahkannya kepada manusia. Walau bagaimanapun, vektor utama virus ini ialah nyamuk Aedes Aegypti. Vektor lain adalah seperti nyamuk Aedes Albopictus yang merupakan vektor virus denggi di kawasan bandar.

Apakah faktor yang meningkatkan risiko denggi?

Pada asasnya, mereka yang tinggal di kawasan endemik denggi dan terdedah kepada nyamuk Aedes menghadapi risiko dijangkiti demam ini.

Kumpulan yang berisiko tinggi mendapat penyakit denggi ialah:

Penduduk dan pelawat kawasan endemik denggi.
Kanak-kanak berumur 15 tahun ke bawah. Penyakit ini menjadi lebih teruk dan sering membawa kematian kepada kumpulan ini.

Bagaimanakah kedudukan penyakit ini?

Kadar insidens demam denggi dan demam denggi berdarah di Malaysia adalah masing-masing 118.3 dan 5.1 bagi setiap 100,000 penduduk. Manakala kadar kematian atau mortaliti demam denggi dan demam denggi berdarah pada tahun 1998 adalah masing-masing 0.22 dan 0.23 bagi setiap 100,000 penduduk.

Insidens global demam denggi telah meningkat dengan mendadak dalam beberapa dekad kebelakangan ini. Kini demam denggi merupakan endemik di lebih 100 buah negara rantau Afrika, Amerika, Mediterranean Timur, Asia Tenggara dan Pasifik Barat Sebelum tahun 1970, hanya sembilan buah negara mengalami epidemik denggi. Bilangan yang merupakan peningkatan 4 kali ganda di sekurang-kurangnya 41 buah negara dalam tahun 1995. Perangkaan yang lain adalah seperti di bawah . Seramai 2500 juta manusia - iaitu 2/5 penduduk dunia - sekarang ini menghadapi risiko demam denggi. Tanpa rawatan yang bersesuaian, kadar kematian akibat demam denggi berdarah mencapai 15% atau lebih.

APA ITU DEMAM DENGGI - PART 1 of 5

2008-04-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Apa itu Demam Denggi?

Demam denggi ialah sejenis penyakit bawaan nyamuk yang menjadi masalah utama kesihatan awam antarabangsa dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini. Jenis demam denggi yang lebih merbahaya ialah demam denggi berdarah. Ia merupakan punca utama kematian kanak-kanak di kebanyakan negara hari ini.Demam denggi dibawa oleh nyamuk Aedes kepada manusia melalui gigitannya.

Bagaimanakah penyakit ini merebak?

Demam denggi didapati berlaku di kawasan bandar dan sekitarnya di negara-negara rantau tropika.

Sesiapa sahaja yang digigit nyamuk yang membawa kuman virus denggi menghadapi risiko yang lebih tinggi mendapat denggi. Demam denggi menyerupai demam selsema dan ciri klinikalnya berbeza-beza mengikut umur pesakit.

Pemindahan penyakit:

Virus denggi dipindahkan kepada manusia melalui gigitan nyamuk Aedes yang membawa virus denggi.
Nyamuk berupaya menyebarkan penyakit berkenaan dalam jangka masa 8 - 12 hari selepas menghisap darah manusia (perumah).
Nyamuk betina yang dijangkiti virus denggi boleh memindahkan virus tersebut ke generasi seterusnya melalui pemindahan transovarial (melalui ovari).
Manusia masih merupakan perumah gandaan utama bagi virus denggi walaupun terdapat kajian menunjukkan di beberapa bahagian tertentu di dunia, monyet boleh dijangkiti dan menjadi sumber virus bagi nyamuk yang belum dijangkiti.
Virus denggi dari perumah pertama (mangsa pertama) hanya dapat menjangkiti/dipindahkan ke perumah kedua 18 jam sebelum suhu badan meningkat dan sekurang-kurangnya 3 hari selepas timbulnya gejala penyakit.

Bagaimanakah terjadinya demam denggi?

Vektor demam denggi adalah nyamuk Aedes betina.

Nyamuk yang telah dijangkiti membawa virus denggi di dalam badannya. Virus ini kemudiannya dipindahkan kepada manusia semasa proses menghisap darah. Sebaik sahaja seseorang itu digigit, virus denggi akan memasuki dan beredar di dalam aliran darahnya, maka bermulalah penyakit ini.

TEKANAN & STRES - PART 3 of 3

2008-04-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Pelbagai krisis atau perubahan hidup mempunyai kesan yang berbeza ke atas kesihatan. Amat berguna bagi kita mengetahui kesan-kesan krisis ini supaya persediaan yang wajar dapat dibuat untuk menghadapinya. Untuk mengukur kedudukan anda pada skala di atas, jumlahkan skor yang didapati bagi setiap peristiwa yang dialami sepanjang 12 bulan yang lepas.

Skor	Kebarangkalian jatuh sakit
300	80%
200 - 299	50%
150 - 199	33%

Jumlah skor ini akan dapat meramalkan sejauh mana kesihatan anda secara keseluruhannya boleh dipengaruhi oleh perubahan-perubahan yang berlaku dalam kehidupan anda. Langkah-langkah yang berkesan untuk melawan tekanan ini perlu diambil untuk mengurangkan kesan dari perubahan tersebut.

PENGURUSAN SENDIRI

Bersenaman secara tekal (20 minit setiap sesi, sekurang-kurangnya 3 kali seminggu). Senaman dapat meningkatkan kesihatan fisikal dan emosi
Mengamalkan tabiat yang sihat seperti pemakanan sihat dan tidur yang cukup
Terimalah diri anda seadanya dan cuba menyukai diri sendiri. Bersikap realistik terhadap keupayaan anda dan tetapkan matlamat yang boleh dicapai. Cuba lakukan sesuatu yang dapat menimbulkan rasa kepuasan.
Seimbangkan masa kerja dan bermain. Peruntukkan masa untuk hobi dan rekreasi.
Dapatkan sokongan dan bantuan sebelum anda merasa tenggelam punca. Kongsi masalah dan perasaan dengan seseorang yang anda boleh percayai (pasangan hidup, ahli keluarga, rakan-rakan dan pemimpin agama)
Bersikap positif dan belajar menerima kelemahan diri. Jangan merasa gusar mengenai perkara-perkara yang di luar kawalan anda. Berfikir secara positif dan renungkan kembali pencapaian dan kejayaan yang dimiliki apabila merasa tertekan.
Luahkan perasaan anda dengan menangis atau ketawa semahunya.
Bina silaturrahim yang baik dengan ahli keluarga dan rakan-rakan. Biarkan diri anda merasa disayangi, dihargai, dihormati dan mempunyai tempat mengadu. Bersikap jujur dan bertimbang rasa dalam sesuatu perhubungan.
Ubahsuai persekitaran anda untuk menyingkirkan unsur-unsur yang menyebabkan tekanan. Pilih persekitaran yang selesa dan bersesuaian dengan diri anda
Tingkatkan kemahiran anda. Bersedialah untuk membuat sesuatu keputusan dan menangani masalah dengan berkesan. Lengkapkan diri anda bagi menjawat pekerjaan atau kerjaya yang memuaskan.
Uruskan masa anda dengan baik. Senaraikan perkara-perkara yang perlu dilakukan mengikut kepentingannya. Elakkan dari menerima kerja yang terlalu banyak
Bijaksana dalam membuat keputusan. Pertimbangkan buruk baiknya sebelum memutuskan sesuatu.
Rehat dan tenangkan diri anda dengan melakukan perkara-perkara seperti mandi wap, berurut, meditasi, membuat renungan (membayangkan pemandangan yang menenang dan merehatkan) dan menarik nafas sedalamnya akan merehatkan otot-otot dalam (mengecut dan merehatkan gentian otot)
Membantu mereka yang memerlukan. Menolong seseorang akan dapat mengubah tumpuan dan perhatian kita dari masalah dan kerisauan yang dihadapi.

AMARAN: Membantu diri sendiri adalah sangat berfaedah, tetapi ia bukanlah pengganti kepada bantuan profesional. Masalah tingkah laku dan emosi boleh memudarat dan membahayakan.

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

TEKANAN & STRES - PART 2 of 3

2008-04-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

APAKAH PUNCA-PUNCA YANG LAZIMNYA MENIMBULKAN TEKANAN

Personaliti

Kesempurnaan, di mana anda menetapkan standard yang terlalu tinggi atau mustahil untuk dicapai
Keresahan
Berperasaan negatif (marah, kecewa, rasa bersalah)
Bercita-cita terlalu tinggi

Persekitaran

Keadaan yang sesak
Suasana bising
Persekitaran tempat tinggal atau kerja yang teruk atau tidak terurus

Gaya hidup dan pekerjaan

Beban kerja yang terlalu sedikit atau terlalu banyak
Desakan masa atau tekanan untuk mengejar masa
Jaminan kerja yang tidak kukuh
Tidak diberikan penghargaan yang sewajarnya dalam sesuatu kerja seperti kenaikan pangkat, kekecewaan dan bosan dengan tanggungjawab sekarang
Dikehendaki melakukan kerja-kerja atau tugasan melampaui kebolehan dan keupayaan sebenar
Pengurusan masa yang tidak baik

Keluarga

Masalah kewangan
Masalah hubungan
Perubahan dalam keluarga seperti kehilangan orang yang dikasihi samada disebabkan perceraian atau kematian.

ADAKAH SESUATU PERUBAHAN ITU AKAN MEMBUATKAN ANDA JATUH SAKIT?

Jadual perkadaran krisis kehidupan

Peristiwa	Kadar	Skor
Kematian pasangan hidup Perceraian Perpisahan Hukuman penjara Kematian ahli keluarga yang rapat Cedera atau jatuh sakit Perkahwinan Dibuang kerja Berbaik semula (merujuk) dengan pasangan hidup Persaraan Perubahan kesihatan ahli keluarga Kehamilan Masalah seks Pertambahan ahli keluarga yang baru Penyesuaian semula perniagaan Perubahan status kewangan Kematian teman karib Perubahan tugas kerja yang berbeza Perubahan pada bilangan pertengkaran dengan pasangan Pinjaman bank atau gadai janji yang besar nilainya Tempoh tamat gadai janji atau pinjaman yang menyebabkan hak milik diambil alih Perubahan tanggunjawab di tempat kerja Anak meninggalkan rumah Masalah dengan ipar-duai Pencapaian peribadi yang luar biasa Pasangan mula bekerja atau berhenti kerja Permulaan atau tamat persekolahan atau kolej Perubahan keadaan hidup Perubahan tabiat diri Masalah dengan majikan Perubahan waktu atau suasana bekerja Perubahan tempat tinggal Pertukaran sekolah atau kolej Perubahan aktiviti rekreasi Perubahan aktiviti keagamaan Perubahan aktiviti sosial Pinjaman bank atau gadai janji yang sederhana nilainya Perubahan tabiat sosial Perubahan dalam kebiasaan berkumpul ahli keluarga Perubahan tabiat makan Percutian Perayaan Perlanggaran undang-undang yang kurang serius	100 73 65 63 63 53 50 47 45 45 44 40 39 39 38 38 37 36 35 30 30 29 29 29 28 26 26 25 24 23 20 20 20 19 19 18 17 16 15 15 13 12 11

TEKANAN & STRES - PART 1 of 3

2008-04-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Stres

Dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, kita terdedah kepada pelbagai bentuk tekanan atau stres. Tekanan berlaku apabila unsur-unsur yang mendesak atau menekan melebihi keupayaan kita untuk menanganinya. Tekanan yang sederhana boleh menjadi suatu bentuk dorongan yang kuat. Ia dapat menolong tubuh dan minda kita untuk bekerja dengan baik dan menyumbang kepada kesihatan mental. Cara kita menangani tekanan yang dihadapi amat penting dalam menentukan kesihatan mental dan fisikal.

Kehidupan moden hari ini sememangnya penuh dengan tekanan. Tekanan luar biasa yang berpanjangan dan keterlaluan merupakan sesuatu yang merisaukan. Ia mempunyai kesan-kesan psikologi yang negatif dan memberi kesan buruk kepada fungsi jantung, sistem penghadaman dan rangka otot. Ini akan membawa kepada beberapa penyakit seperti ulser perut, tekanan darah tinggi dan migrain (sakit kepala yang amat sangat). Jika tidak dirawat, tekanan yang dihadapi akan membuat kita merasa tidak berdaya dan tidak berguna. Perasaan ini mungkin berkekalan. Justeru itu, amat penting bagi kita mengenali gejala-gejala yang berkaitan dengan tekanan dan memikirkan kaedah atau sistem terbaik yang bersesuaian dengan diri kita bagi mengurangkan tekanan

APAKAH TANDA-TANDA AMARAN SESUATU TEKANAN

Gejala Fizikal	Gejala Mental
Degupan jantung yang cepat	Merasa hilang kawalan atau ditenggelami oleh peristiwa yang berlaku
Banyak berpeluh	Risau dan bimbang
Terasa loya	Gagal menumpukan perhatian atau membuat keputusan
Bernafas kencang	Merasa tidak sihat
Cirit birit dan terasa hendak membuang air kecil	Sukar untuk tidur
Kaki dan tangan terasa sejuk	Keinginan seks menurun
Selera makan berubah	Terasa amat letih
Gangguan keseksualan	Meminum lebih banyak alkohol dan semakin kuat merokok
Sakit-sakit badan yang tidak jelas puncanya	Perubahan perasaan atau fikiran seperti kemurungan, kekecewaan, sikap bermusuhan, rasa tidak berdaya dan kegelisahan
Penyakit seperti lelah, sakit kepala dan timbul ruam kulit.

APAKAH KESAN AKIBAT TEKANAN YANG BERPANJANGAN ?

Tekanan darah tinggi
Lelah
Masalah kulit yang semakin teruk (jerawat)
Serangan jantung
Masalah sinus
kehilangan fungsi seksual dan pembiakan
Strok
Masalah berat badan
Gangguan tidur
Cirit-birit atau sembelit
Serangan migrain
Gangguan kebimbangan
Ulser perut
Sakit kepala
Kemurungan

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

TALASEMIA RAWATAN - PART 4 of 4

2008-04-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Rawatan

Talasemia minor
Rawatan tidak diperlukan.

Talasemia major

Pemindahan darah yang berkala diperlukan supaya kanak-kanak membesar dengan sihat. Pemindahan darah boleh mengubah sesetengah manifestasi penyakit ini, tetapi pengumpulan ferum daripada pemecahan hemoglobin akibat pemindahan darah boleh merosakkan organ hati, jantung dan endokrin. Suntikan Desferral (agen pengkelat ferum) membantu mengikat lebihan ferum dan mengeluarkannya melalui air kencing.
Mengambil tambahan Folat (asid folik) harian.
Pemindahan sumsum tulang untuk pesakit yang sesuai.

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

TALASEMIA - PART 3 of 4

2008-04-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

Penjagaan sendiri

Ingatkan kanak-kanak supaya mengelakkan makanan dengan kandungan ferum yang terlalu tinggi seperti daging merah dan makanan lain yang kaya ferum seperti hati. Ingatlah bahawa ferum dalam daging lebih mudah diserap berbanding sumber-sumber ferum yang lain seperti bijirin dan roti.
Sesetengah makanan seperti jus oren boleh meningkatkan penyerapan ferum manakala yang lain seperti teh, hasil tenusu dan kopi boleh mengurangkan penyerapannya. Bagaimanapun, jika anda menggunakan Desferral, anda disyorkan mengambil 250mg vitamin C selepas memulakan infusi untuk meningkatkan keluaran ferum.
Kanak-kanak dinasihatkan untuk mendapatkan imunisasi mengikut jadual terutama pelalian Hepatitis B untuk melindungi mereka daripada jangkitan akibat pemindahan darah seperti Hepatitis B.
Sesetengah kanak-kanak yang lebih tua terutama yang telah baligh cenderung mendapat ulser kaki terutamanya di keliling buku lali. Ini disebabkan kekurangan bekalan oksigen pada kulit akibat anemia dan peredaran darah yang lambat apabila seseorang itu berdiri atau duduk. Dengan itu mereka yang mengalami ulser ini dinasihat mengelakkan diri dari terhantuk buku lali dan memakai stoking dengan melipat bahagian atasnya atau memakai gelung dari kain khas yang tebal untuk melindungi tulang kering.
Tingkatkan peredaran darah sebaik mungkin di bahagian buku lali. Ini boleh dilakukan dengan meninggikan kaki melebihi paras jantung. Tidur dengan kaki ditinggikan sedikit dan meletakkan kaki di atas kerusi /sofa ketika berehat, contohnya semasa menonton televisyen.
Kebersihan dan kesihatan individu mestilah memuaskan dan kebersihan perlu dipelihara terutama di tempat Desferral disuntikkan/dimasukkan ke dalam badan.
Jangan lambat mendapatkan rawatan susulan di hospital atau pemindahan darah. Adalah penting bagi pesakit mengekalkan paras hemoglobin purata sehampir normal yang mungkin supaya tumbesaran yang hampir normal juga diperolehi. Tumbesaran dan perkembangan pesakit mesti diawasi dengan teliti.

Talasemia merupakan penyakit yang memerlukan pemahaman tentang genetik dan fisiologi. Adalah penting untuk individu yang mengalaminya dan pembawa ciri ini menjadi ahli Persatuan Talasemia yang aktif bagi menimba pengetahuan dan maklumat terkini daripada mereka yang berkelayakan

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

TALASEMIA - PART 2 of 4

2008-04-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

Talasemia Alfa

Ia disebabkan kehilangan 1 gen atau lebih daripada rantaian globin alfa.
Tahap keterukan talasemia ini bergantung kepada bilangan gen alfa globin yang hilang. Sesetengah individu mungkin memerlukan pemindahan darah sekali-sekala sementara yang lain memerlukan pemindahan darah yang berkala (berterusan). Sesetengahnya pula langsung tidak memerlukan pemindahan darah. Kesemua ini bergantung kepada tahap keterukan penyakit tersebut.
Ia boleh menyebabkan kejadian lahir mati akibat hydrops foetalis (sembab yang teruk di keseluruhan badan bayi yang dikaitkan dengan anemia teruk) jika tiada globin alfa yang dihasilkan semasa hayat janin.

Hemoglobin E/ Talasemia Beta

Hemoglobin E mempunyai struktur yang berubah dan kadangkala menunjukkan ciri-ciri yang berubah/berlainan.
Hemoglobin E/Talasemia Beta adalah keadaan yang biasa berlaku di Malaysia terutamanya di kalangan orang Melayu.
Dalam kes ini, individu mewarisi 1 gen Talasemia Beta dan 1 gen hemoglobin E yang abnormal masing-masing daripada ibu atau bapa.
Ia boleh menyebabkan masalah terhadap individu berkenaan dan pemindahan darah yang berterusan/berkala mungkin diperlukan ataupun tidak.
Darah individu yang menghidap hemoglobin E/ Talasemia Beta mengangkut oksigen lebih baik berbanding individu dengan Talasemia Beta sahaja. Oleh itu mereka boleh bertahan dengan paras hemoglobin yang lebih rendah.

Penyebab Talasemia Beta major

Talasemia major berlaku apabila gen yang cacat diwarisi daripada kedua-dua ibu dan bapa. Jika ibu atau bapa merupakan pembawa ciri Talasemia, mereka boleh menurunkan ciri ini kepada anak-anak mereka. Jika kedua-dua ibu bapa pembawa ciri tersebut maka anak-anak mereka mungkin merupakan pembawa atau mereka akan menghidap penyakit tersebut seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam rajah .

Faktor risiko dan langkah pencegahan

Mereka yang mempunyai sejarah keluarga menghidapi Talasemia major atau merupakan pembawa kepada ciri ini adalah sangat berisiko.

Bagaimana kita dapat mencegah Talasemia major?

Menjalani penyaringan bagi mereka yang mempunyai sejarah keluarga menghidap Talasemia.
Jika anda mempunyai ciri Talasemia dan ingin berkahwin, anda perlu bersikap terbuka dan berbincang mengenainya dengan pasangan anda. Bakal pasangan anda perlu menjalani ujian darah untuk mengetahui sama ada beliau juga mempunyai ciri Talasemia atau tidak.
Jika kedua-dua pasangan membawa ciri Talasemia, mereka perlu mendapatkan nasihat dan keterangan lanjut mengenainya dengan menghadiri kaunseling genetik. Kini terdapat ujian yang boleh dilakukan semasa awal kehamilan untuk mengetahui sama ada janin menghidapi Talasemia major ataupun tidak.

TALASEMIA - PART 1 of 4

2008-04-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

Talasemia

Talasemia ialah satu penyakit yang diwarisi iaitu penyakit kekurangan hemoglobin dalam sel darah merah. Hemoglobin merupakan bahan yang mengangkut oksigen dan memberi warna merah kepada darah.

Setiap tahun, lebih kurang 100,000 bayi di seluruh dunia dilahirkan mengalami talasemia major. Talasemia major paling kerap berlaku di kalangan mereka yang berketurunan Itali, Greek, Timur Tengah, Asia Tenggara dan Afrika.

Nama lain bagi Talasemia Major Ialah Talasemia Beta Homozigus, Anemia Mediterranean dan Anemia Cooley.

Gejalanya;

Keletihan yang teruk.
Sesak nafas.
Jaundis.
Limpa membesar.
Kecacatan tulang (muka berupa mongoloid).

Jenis-jenis Talasemia

Talasemia Beta

Ia disebabkan oleh mutasi yang terjadi dalam gen globin beta.

Individu yang mewarisi satu gen Talasemia Beta dari ibu atau bapa dikenali sebagai Talasemia minor atau trait (ciri). Talasemia trait bukanlah suatu penyakit dan individu yang mempunyainya boleh meneruskan kehidupan yang dikira normal. Mereka merupakan pembawa kepada gen yang abnormal ini dan selalu digelar 'pembawa Talasemia yang sihat'. Mereka mempunyai paras hemoglobin yang rendah sedikit daripada biasa. Kekurangan ini selalunya lebih ketara ketika hamil. Sel darah merah mereka juga bersaiz kecil sedikit daripada biasa.

Individu yang mewarisi dua gen Talasemia Beta, satu gen abnormal daripada ibu dan satu daripada bapa dikenali sebagai penghidap Talasemia major. Ia merupakan penyakit yang biasa terjadi di Malaysia.

Individu Talasemia major menghasilkan rantaian beta globin yang sedikit berbanding normal.

Sumsum tulang mereka tidak dapat menghasilkan sel darah merah yang mencukupi kerana ia tidak dapat menghasilkan hemoglobin yang mencukupi.

Kanak-kanak yang menghidap penyakit ini selalunya mengalami anemia diantara 6-18 bulan selepas dilahirkan.

Mereka memerlukan pemindahan darah yang berkala untuk meneruskan kehidupan.

Kanak-kanak yang tidak dirawat biasanya akan sakit ketika berumur di antara 2-4 tahun. Mereka menjadi pucat, tumbesaran terbantut dengan kecacatan tulang dan limpa membesar

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

Weight Loss in Children

2008-04-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

by: Cass Hope

What is “too young” to begin a weight loss program with children? Is there actually such a thing? There are many different opinions on the topic of child obesity but one thing everyone can agree on is that it is becoming an epidemic in North America. Many reports show that obesity now kills more people in a year than smoking does.

So whose fault is it? I don’t think there is any one area of blame but a combination of many. The fast paced lives that we lead have created more of a demand for “quick” meals whether they are pre packages or fast foods. The consumption of junk food is at an all time high with more and more variety that are all very attractive to our kids. Parents often think they are doing something nice for their kids when they give in to the demands of “I have to have that” when they see the constant advertising of attractive and yummy treats on television. Lack of exercise, face it many kids to day are just plain lazy. So is a weight loss program the answer for overweight and obese kids? My answer is definitely yes. If however you ask me is the answer to put these kids on a diet…my answer is definitely NO!

So what is the difference? Weigh loss means changing the way your child eats in a very positive way. Tell them to eat more fruits and vegetables because they are healthy for them. Keeping the junk food out of the house is the best way to make sure they are not eating it. I don’t mean that an occasional treat is not ok but the key word here is “occasional.” Watch their fat intake. Pre packaged foods and fast foods are very high in fat especially Trans fats which are very dangerous. More and more companies have realized this danger and are offering Trans fat free foods. Get your child involved in physical activities. Today our children’s lives often revolve around television, video games and computers. The common negative denominator here is that they all involve just sitting. These are all excellent ways to help our children with their weight.

There is a big difference between healthy weight loss and a diet. A diet is something negative that makes children feel focused on their size rather than their health. Diet does not mean healthy it means getting thin any way possible, which is exactly the opposite of what we want our kids to believe. What you teach your kids when they are young about eating habits is the seed you plant for their future and giving our children good health is in my opinion our responsibility.

(for web reprints please ensure this URL is hyperlinked)

About The Author

Cass Hope is a registered massage therapist who has studied and counseled in nutrition. Cass regularly contributes to online and offline publications dealing with weight loss and nutrition. She is currently sponsoring this site: http://www.naturalsuccess.info

article@naturalsuccess.info

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

FDA Approves Lasik Eye Surgery

2008-03-06T02:31:00.000-08:00

by: Ron King

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new custom lasik procedure in September of 2005. This new procedure can now treat many patients who were previously ineligible for the surgery.

Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness occurs when the eye is too long and light rays focus in front of the retina, instead of focusing on the retina. Some of the symptoms of nearsightedness are blurred distant vision, eyestrain, and squinting, along with having a difficult time seeing at night.

Although nearsightedness can be easily fixed with glasses or contact lenses (when not too severe), many people don't like to hassle with either one. With this new lasik procedure, folks will now be able to have pure vision.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is the effect of the eye being shaped like a football, instead of round like a baseball. This deformity -- where the light rays focus on two points on the retina instead of one -- results in blurred vision, double vision, and shadows on letters when reading. Until recently, this deformity has prevented some people from even getting contact lenses. Breakthroughs in contact lenses have only helped those with slight astigmatism.

However, with this new lasik procedure, patients can now have their eyes repaired to normal, or at least be repaired enough to comfortably wear contact lenses. Either way, their vision is enhanced and many are happy just to get rid of the glasses and finally be able to wear contacts, or possibly nothing at all.

Farsightedness

Farsightedness happens when light rays focus behind the retina instead of on the retina, resulting in blurred near vision. Some patients with severe farsightedness have to step back from what they are reading and others require magnifying glasses to see something that is right in front of them. People with farsightedness can see you 30 feet away, but when you get right up close they can't see you! This can be embarrassing and cause the afflicted person much insecurity along with the feeling that they are going blind.

Farsightedness is easily remedied by wearing glasses to read and see things up close, but it's very inconvenient to constantly be taking your glasses on and off. Not only is it inconvenient, you take the chance of leaving your glasses behind. Some patients keep their glasses on a chain so they won't lose them, but this makes them feel old. Now, lasik surgery is another option for these patients.

New Laser Technology

The FDA recently approved the new Visx STAR Excimer laser system. This fantastic breakthrough in technology allows doctors to do more than they ever could before, giving them the ability to reshape the eye to correct astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness. Before this marvelous breakthrough these patients were not good candidates for lasik eye surgery. They now can join the rest of the vision impaired and have the option for lasik.

Recent FDA studies show that over 98% of all patients receiving these new procedures were seeing 20/40 or better 6 months after surgery. Over 84% were seeing much better than 20/20 after 6 months. Now that's reason to celebrate!

New breakthroughs in lasik eye surgery technology are happening all the time. Now people don't have to be inconvenienced by the hassle of glasses or contacts. All they want to do is to be able to get up in the morning and see normally. These breakthroughs in lasik technology are giving them an improved quality of life that once was unattainable.

About The Author

Ron King

Visit http://www.lasik-4u.com to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer with a http://www.ronxking.com .

Health for a Lifetime only at :
http://kitasihat.blogspot.com

SCHIZOPHRENIA

2008-03-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

I. Apakah Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia adalah nama diberi kepada sekumpulan penyakit jiwa dimana terdapat gangguan dalam perasaan, pemikiran dan tingkah-laku seseorang itu.

Ia adalah penyakit yang menyebabkan kehilangan upaya dan mengganggu dengan kehidupan seharian seseorang itu.

Sesiapa sahaja boleh menghidap Schizophrenia dan ia berlaku dengan kadar 1% dikalangan penduduk umum.

Ia tidak berjangkit dari seorang kepada seorang yang lain.

II Bilakah Ia Berlaku?

Tidak kira umur tetapi biasanya dalam lingkungan umur 12 hingga 45 tahun.

III Bagaimana Kita Dapat Mengenal Penyakit Ini?

Kelakuan yang pelik dan ganjil.
Bercakap atau ketawa seorang diri.
Cuai dengan rupa dan kesihatan diri.
Gangguan tidur malam.
Pertuturan sukar diikuti.
Sangkaan palsu yang orang-orang lain akan mencederanya atau mengawal dirinya.
Berkeliaran.
Cuai tentang kerjanya dan lain-lain.

IV Apakah Rawatannya?

Berikut adalah rawatan untuk Schizophrenia:-
Pengubatan yang berterusan iaitu tablet dan suntikan.
Rawatan Electroconvulsive therapy.
Aktiviti kerja.
Sokongan keluarga.
Bercakap dengan seseorang yang terlatih.
Apa Yang Perlu Dilakukan Sekiranya Seseorang Menghidap Gejala-Gejala Di Atas?
Bawa ke doktor yang berdekatan

TEKANAN DARAH TINGGI - PART 2 of 2

2008-03-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

Apakah Akibat Tekanan Darah Tinggi?

Jika tekanan darah anda kekal tinggi, ia boleh menyebabkan komplikasi seperti:

Serangan jantung
Angin ahmar
Kegagalan jantung
Kerosakan buah pinggang

Jika Tekanan Darah Anda Optima (130 / 80 mmHg)

Anda perlu terus mengawal tekanan darah anda, dengan cara:

Memeriksa tekanan darah anda secara berkala;
- 2 kali setahun jika kadarnya normal
- lebih kerap jika didapati kadarnya tinggi atau jika anda mempunyai ahli keluarga mengidap darah tinggi, angin ahmar atau serangan jantung.
Tidak merokok
- Nikotin dari asap rokok akan memasuki darah dan menyebabkan jantung berdenyut lebih cepat. Nikotin juga menyempitkan saluran salurnadi halus dan memaksa jantung mengepam lebih kuat.
Makan secara sihat, dengan mengurangkan pengambilan :-
- Garam
  Garam berlebihan di dalam darah boleh menyebabkan lebih banyak air terpaksa disimpan di dalamnya. Ini akan meningkatkan tekanan darah.
- Lemak
  Lemak berlebihan akan terkumpul di sekeliling dinding salurnadi dan menjadikannya tebal dan kejang.
Kekalkan berat badan unggul.
Bersenam secara berkala.
Elakkan pengambilan alkohol.

Jika Anda Menghidap Tekanan Darah Tinggi :-

Makan ubat secara berkala seperti yang dinasihatkan.
Jangan berhenti makan ubat tanpa nasihat doktor/pegawai farmasi.
Jumpa doktor anda secara berkala bagi mengawal tekanan darah anda.

TEKANAN DARAH TINGGI - PART 1 of 2

2008-03-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

KETAHUI TEKANAN DARAH ANDA - ELAKKAN KOMPLIKASI

Apa Dia Tekanan Darah?

Tekanan darah ialah tekanan yang dikenakan terhadappembuluh arteri semasa peredaran darah ynag disebabkan oleh denyutan jantung.

Bagaimana Tekanan Darah Diukur?

Tekanan darah ada dua ukuran dan biasanya dirakam seperti berikut:-

120 / 80 mmHg

Nombor atas (120) menunjukkan tekanan ke atas pembuluh arteri akibat denyutan jantung. Ia dipanggil tekanan sistolik.

Nombor bawah (80) menunjukkan tekanan semasa jantung berehat di antara pengepaman. Ia dipanggil tekanan diastolik.

Masa yang paling baik untuk mengukur tekanan darah adalah semasa anda rehat dan dalam keadaan duduk atau baring.

Tekanan Darah Berubah-ubah

Kadar tekanan darah tidak sama sepanjang masa. Ia sering berubah-ubah mengikut keperluan badan anda. Jika tekanan darah anda tinggi, doktor anda akan memeriksa semual tekanan darah anda untuk beberapa kali bagi menentukan kadar tekanan darah anda yang sebenar.

Apa Dia Tekanan Darah Tinggi?

Jika kadar tekanan darah sentiasa lebih tinggi daripada kadar biasa untuk suatu jangkamasa yang lama, maka keadaan ini dikenali sebagai Tekanan Darah Tinggi.

Tekanan darah optima
130 / 80 mmHg

Tekanan darah tinggi

Lebih daripada 130 / 85 mmHg. Misalnya, jika tekanan melebihi 180 / 110 mmHg kadar tekanan darah anda adalah terlalu tinggi.

Kenapa Anda Perlu Mengetahui Tentang Darah Tinggi?

Tekanan darah tinggi kebiasaannya tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda dan gejala. Anda mungkin mengalami tekanan darah tinggi dan pada masa yang sama merasa diri anda sihat. Hanya satu cara untuk mengetahui sama ada anda menghidap darah tinggi atau tidak adalah dengan memeriksa tekanan darah anda secara berkala.

Memastikan rumah selamat

2008-03-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

Rumah yang selamat boleh mencegah kemalangan di kalangan ahli keluarga. Kemalangan kerap berlaku di dapur, bilik air dan ruang tamu dan biasanya melibatkan kanak-kanak dan orang tua

Pastikan rumah anda selamat

Dapur

Pastikan semua bahan kimia, ubat-ubatan dan benda-benda tajam seperti pisau, disimpan di tempat yang selamat dan tidak boleh dicapai oleh kanak-kanak
Pastikan alas meja tidak terjuntai dan tidak boleh ditarik
Pastikan lantai dapur kering

Bilik air

Pastikan lantai bilik air tidak licin
Bahan-bahan pencuci disimpan di tempat khas yang tidak boleh dicapai oleh kanak-kanak
Semua bekas takungan air hendaklah sentiasa ditutup

Ruang tamu

Pilih perabot yang tidak berbucu tajam dan bukan diperbuat daripada kaca
Susun atur perabot tidak menghalang pergerakan
Pastikan permaidani tidak mudah bergerak dan permukaan rata
Pastikan tiada barang seperti permainan, buku dan surat khabar bersepah di lantai
Tutup semua soket dinding dan pastikan tiada wayar yang berjuntai

Making time for Exercise

2008-03-01T04:17:00.000-08:00

by: Gavin Walsh

By now you know that exercise is good for you, and that you should do something on a regular basis. What’s the best time for you to exercise? Anytime. Honestly. For example, when you’re sitting and watching TV, stretch your muscles. Never stretch so hard it hurts. Rather, stretch to the point of mild tension and hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds.

A healthy exercise program includes three kinds of exercise: aerobic activity, muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise. You can start your exercise program without investing in any elaborate equipment. For example, you can do simple exercises at home or at your desk at work, including sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups. For basic body weight exercises, weight-lifting equipment isn’t required. Head for the kitchen and pick up the soup cans you have in the cupboard.

AEROBIC ACTIVITY CAN BE FUN

Aerobic activity is defined as prolonged continuous movement of large muscle groups. Translated, that means do something that keeps you moving. Ideally, do it for 20 minutes straight. If you don’t have that much time, two 10-minute aerobic activity sessions will benefit you almost as much. The good thing about aerobic activity is that it includes many of the sports you probably already enjoy. Walking, biking, hiking, dancing, swimming, even basketball are all examples of aerobic exercise.

Another good thing is that you can easily accomplish those two 10-minute sessions with things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking around the neighbourhood after work or parking your car farther away. You could even turn shopping into an aerobic activity. Shopping is walking, so don’t stop for 10 minutes straight and you’ve worked in one of your daily sessions! Check with your local mall for mall walker programs, and you’ll have company. Aerobic exercise is definitely good for cardiovascular health and fitness. And here’s something else you’ll like: Aerobic activity can help you lose fat weight.

PLENTY OF GOOD EXERCISE ALL AROUND THE HOUSE

If you do housework or yard work, you’re doing yourself a favor. The stretching and lifting housework entails is good exercise. So is work you do outside. Yard work uses many muscle groups, especially activities like planting and working in the garden. Raking uses your arm and back muscles. Digging gives your arms and legs a workout. And gardening provides a bonus: You’ll have more fresh vegetables and fruits to add to your diet.

IS ONE TIME BETTER THAN ANOTHER TO EXERCISE?

It’s really up to you. You can exercise in the morning, afternoon or evening. Lunch breaks offer an excellent opportunity to get out of the office and exercise. Use your coffee break to take a short walk around the office. Get rid of the day’s stress by fitting in an exercise session after work. Whatever time you choose, make sure you stick with it. For some people, it’s easier to stay with an exercise program when you do it with a friend or co-worker.

MAKE TIME TO STAY HEALTHY

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself. If you’re basically healthy, get going right now. If you’re 40+ or have any health problems, consult your Doctor first.

About The Author

Gavin Walsh is a Fitness Expert based in London, Uk. He runs his own Personal Training and Fitness Consultancy company, www.gavinwalsh.co.uk

gavin@gavinwalsh.co.uk

Cholesterol – What Is It and Are You At Risk?

2008-02-28T21:12:00.000-08:00

by: Paul MacIver

Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol found in the body tissues and blood plasma of vertebrates. It is the essential part of the outer membranes of human body cells, and it circulates in the blood.

Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources. About three-quarters of the body’s total cholesterol is produced within the body, while only one-quarter comes from cholesterol in food.

Higher concentrations of cholesterol are present in body tissues which have more densely packed membranes – i.e. the liver, spinal cord, brain, atheroma, adrenal glands and reproductive organs.

The liver is the most important site of cholesterol biosynthesis. It is secreted from the liver in the form of an acidic secretion known as ‘bile’.

Diets rich in animal fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy products are a rich source of dietary cholesterol. Organ meats, such as liver and kidney, are extremely rich in cholesterol content, but foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol.

High cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions. Recent studies have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes called lipoproteins, are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels.

Cholesterol gets attached to these lipoproteins. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol out of the bloodstream for excretion, while the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carries it back into the system for use by various body cells.

LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol, because elevated levels of it are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. LDL deposits cholesterol on the artery walls which leads to the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis.

The levels of both HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol may also determine risk for heart disease; however current medical opinion is that the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol is much more important than the level of cholesterol.

Methods to control your cholesterol levels:

Lower your consumption of foods containing saturated fats - fried fast foods, butter, cream, cheese, and fat on meat - to help reduce cholesterol. Add more plant foods to your diet – vegetable oils, nuts, legumes, breads, cereal grains, fruits and vegetables. A low cholesterol diet, combined with regular exercise is the best way to lower cholesterol levels.

Medications can also help lower cholesterol levels. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, ‘Statins’, such as lovastatin (Mevacor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) are the most effective and widely used medications to lower LDL cholesterol. Other medications include nicotinic acid (niacin), fibrates such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), resins such as cholestyramine (Questran), and ezetimibe, Zetia. These medications should be taken after consulting the experts.

About The Author

Paul MacIver writes articles on cholesterol and various health related topics. For further information on cholesterol visit http://reduce-high-cholesterol.info or http://howto-lower-cholesterol.info to read about lowering your cholesterol naturally. You are welcome to reprint this article only if this resource box is included, and links are intact.

Natural Ways To Lower Cholesterol

2008-02-27T07:04:00.000-08:00

by: Gray Rollins

High cholesterol levels can greatly increase the risk of heart disease including potentially fatal heart attacks. Heart disease can be caused by a number of factors but lowering cholesterol can have many positive effects and reduce risk. High cholesterol causes hardening of the arteries. Blood flow is then reduced to the heart which may result in chest pains or a heart attack. Lowering the possible causes of hardening or blocking the arteries will help maintain a healthy heart.

For severely high cholesterol it is recommended to seek consultation with a physician for the best course of treatment. Traditionally, this is treated with prescription medication. However, the majority of people can lower cholesterol naturally without the use of prescription drugs. Natural remedies are abundantly available. With a few changes in eating habits and lifestyle, one can easily lower cholesterol.

Eating foods that are low in fat will help as well as avoiding those with high fat content, especially foods containing trans-fat. Spreads such as butter and margarine have high levels of trans-fat. Packaged foods and frozen foods generally contain high levels also. Potato chips, crackers, baked goods and fast foods are all types to avoid. Instead concentrate on foods that are low in fat and high in fiber. Foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and garlic are great to use in your daily diet.

Lifestyle changes are important if you are not leading a fairly healthy life. Smoking can increase the chances of having high cholesterol. Quitting not only will help this but will also reduce several other medical risks. Regular exercise will help promote a healthy heart. Partake in some form of aerobic exercise several times each week.

Vitamin E may help reduce fatty formations on arteries. Artichoke leaf extract helps produce bile while assisting in eliminating cholesterol from the body. Chromium is a proven method of maintaining correct blood sugar levels, which will help control cholesterol. Niacin in high doses has shown benefits for reducing cholesterol. However, if taking other medications, consult a physician as niacin can react adversely to other medications.

High cholesterol is a condition that affects many people throughout the world. It can increase chances of heart disease and potentially shorten life. Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating healthy and exercising can reduce these risks significantly. Adding supplements can also help reduce cholesterol levels. Although the risks of high cholesterol are serious, it is easily controlled.

About The Author

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for http://www.fixcholesterol.com. To learn more about lowering your cholesterol, visit http://www.fixcholesterol.com/loweringcholesterol/.