Anxiety Treatment Clinics

Friday, September 23rd, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Anxiety

Just like Depression and Bipolar Disorders, Anxiety Disorders are a type of Psychological Disorder. A Psychological Disorder is basically a pattern of behavioural symptoms that affects many facets in a person’s life. Because it affects many facets in a person’s life, it may prevent a person who is suffering from the disorder to actually act as a normal part of society. Thus, it is important to get them treated right away to help them get over their problem. But what sets an Anxiety Disorder apart from all the rest of the Psychological Disorders?

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Well, an Anxiety disorder is characterized by too frequent and too intense bouts with Anxiety. Common symptoms would be a constant feeling of stress and worry, a constant fear of things that are not rational, a feeling that danger is just around the corner, constant feelings of panic, and an all-around feeling of anxiety for extended periods. Of course, anxiety is a normal emotion; one that is welcome for most people. However, for people with Anxiety disorders, these bouts are simply too frequent and intense that it prevents them from performing a lot of the basic functions of society.

Thus, it is advisable that anybody who is suffering from the said disorder must get checked in an Anxiety Clinic to get professional help. An Anxiety Clinic is a type of psychological disorder treatment facility that actually focuses on providing professional care to people with Anxiety Disorders. They try to help their patients by exposing them to several forms of therapy which include individual sessions with a psychiatrist, group sharing sessions, and a host of other fun activities.

Most of the popular anxiety clinics require their guests to stay within the compound for (usually) at least three weeks or until they get completely well. This allows the experts in the industry to prevent any anxiety triggers to cause their patients much more trouble. Being in a controlled environment makes the patient more comfortable in the facility and thus more comfortable with getting treatment. This is in line with studies that show that most people who suffer from Psychological Disorders are only open for treatment when they feel totally relaxed and comfortable in the place where the treatment is administered.

This is why it is very important to choose an anxiety clinic for your loved one very well. More than just the price or the types of treatment sessions they provide, it is also quite important to ask them how they feel within the treatment facility to ensure faster progress.

Opening Your Own Massage Clinic

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Main
Finally having your license to perform massages for the public is quite an accomplishment! You are now ready to start your own business. Here are some basic tips that can help you as you begin this new adventure. Keep in mind that every situation is different. However, there are some practical ideas that remain the same anytime a new business is launched.

Don’t even consider practicing until you have your business license and have been approved. You will need to review the regulations in your part of the country and fill out the required forms. Many of these forms will probably be available online. You must find a location to set up your clinic. Look for a location that is easily located and seen by the public. A background check, zoning referral, fingerprints and other important documents may be needed.

Another important aspect of opening your new clinic is advertising. It’s important to remember that while people have varying ideas about advertising, the main key is to let people know about your new business. It’s especially important in the early stages of your business so people can learn about your business, what you offer, where you are located, how to reach you, etc. Plan to spend as much as you can on advertising, within reason. In order to get the word out as quickly and least expensively as possible, be sure and hire an advertising agent who is efficient and effective.
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Once you have permission to open your business, you can start looking for the furniture and equipment you will need. You will need an adjustable massage table, warm lights and other important items. One of the most important ingredients to a good massage clinic is the atmosphere. It’s important for your clients to be able to relax and enjoy their massage. Soft music playing in the background, a heater in the winter to keep the room toasty warm, and of course, a convenient place to change their clothes – these are some of the key elements that can be a part of your new massage room.

Finally, your main objective is to build a clientele that schedules regular visits with you. Be sure and have an attractive business card handy for customers. As they come back more often, be sure and get feedback about the visits, how they felt after they went home and if they would like for you to do anything differently. It’s important to communicate with your customers on a regular basis as this type of business usually grows through word of mouth.

Starting a massage clinic will require hard work, perseverance and patience. Your business will grow, however, as you begin to make contacts. You may experience ups and downs, but through it all, you will eventually be able to enjoy a business that will be both successful and profitable.

Advancements in Dental Technology

Monday, September 19th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Dental care

Dental lab technology advancements designed to meet both the cosmetic as well as curative dental needs of patients are extremely useful, but not without certain repercussions. Unfortunately, many labs are unable to keep up with advancements because of a variety of factors, the main one being lack of monetary funds.

Even though, advancements can be extremely expensive, it is imperative that labs across the nation keep abreast of the many transformations in dental surgery technology today. The increase in demand for quality dental service must be met, and it can only be done by ensuring that professional service of the highest quality is provided always.

A high demand specific need is dentures. Similarly to prosthetics for those that lose limbs, dentures replace bad teeth with new man made ones. Only the most cutting age technology can enable a false tooth to look, fit, and feel like a real tooth. In order for dental labs to fulfill the demand, they must improve technology to keep up with the changing needs and times. Computer aided manufacturing, is a technology that has completely transformed the precision and accuracy of denture design.
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Marketing manager for a leading lab, James Madsen, states that advancements in design aided by computers, and denture manufacturing is a crucial first step in reaching the era where accuracy is achieved without fail.

He also stresses that it is important to turn to modern techniques, tools, and technology in order to manufacture products that are in keeping up with modern times.

Perhaps because so many baby boomers are entering their golden years, the demand for dentures is greater than ever. Unfortunately, for many, replacing natural teeth with false ones is a worrisome and stressful decision. Many fear that dentures will be painful, uncomfortable, and not feel or look like their teeth. Miraculously, a new product has come onto the scene that may change the minds of many people. Dentures manufactured of ceramic are strong, and similar to one’s own teeth.

There are also a large amount of individuals opting for cosmetic dental surgery today. This places pressure on the industry to create new techniques and advanced surgery methods. Because of the ripple effect, labs are also being pressured to advance similarly the technologies and methods that they employ. Because of this, all dental care professionals are expected to improve their skills for the benefit of all patients.

According to Los Angeles California dentist Maxine Miller, dental labs are no longer simple service providers. They also play an important role in gaining the confidence of their patients as well as making them feel secure with the procedure they are having. Clients must feel that their physical safety is well guarded when they are having procedures done. Patients will find their dentists more trustworthy when the products and services offered are the most reliable and cutting edge.

Lower Back Pain Medication

Saturday, September 17th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Back pain

From a frustrating ache to an agony so incredible to the point that altering positions while sleeping is really a problem, it just proves that you’ll require an immediate back pain medication.

There are numerous opportunities that go hand in hand with it such as accidental injuries to the muscle groups, ligaments or disks that have happened throughout an activity such as having to lift heavy mass of items.

It could even be caused by a pinched nerve, swelling infection, backbone arthritis, unusual tumors, thinning osteoporosis along with bone scoliosis. Nonetheless, there are several that their own amount of weakness is factored genetically which makes it prone to stress.

Back pain medication can certainly range between making use of analgesics which reduces inflammation, restores appropriate function as well as prevents injury recurrence. Most sufferers recover even in the lack of residual function loss. Nonetheless, when there is no apparent lowering of the twinge following seventy two hours of self- care, it is already a must to speak to a doctor.

Here is a list of basic back pain medication you could perform at the comforts of your own personal residence:

Different temperatures
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Employing hot and cold compresses have never been scientifically proven for back pain medication but it has been tested to allow increased mobility for many people. After having a trauma, patients ought to utilize a bag of ice covered with towel to the delicate sport for up to 20 minutes each day. After 2 to 3 days, a heat pad will then be utilized for brief periods to relax muscles and escalate the flow of blood.

Retire in a relaxed manner

In 1996, a Finnish study said that persons that carry on together with their respective works without being able to have bed rest ahead of the onset of injury have much better muscle overall flexibility compared to those who did for one week. Others furthermore claim that such back pain medication results to secondary complications such as psychological depression, decreased tone of muscle as well as blood clots in the legs. Within the evenings, individuals should lay on a single side together with a cushion placed between the knees.

Sweaty calisthenics

Carrying out an exercise is the most successful manner if you desire speed inside your back pain medication. It’s important specifically for individuals who have skeletal irregularities to preserve and build strength muscles. If you don’t know of any, you could ask your medical professional for reference. For sure the list that they’ll provide consists of swimming as well as walking as you would expect. There’s also motion therapies to develop correct posture.

Therapeutic pins

Acapuncture is a type of lumbar pain medication that involves the insertion of needles. It is the size of human hair strand across the precise points through the entire body. Experts of this think that it triggers the release of naturally transpiring painkilling components called peptides. Additionally, it keeps the body?s flow of energy normal again.

Dendritic Cells and Their Significance to Immune Responses

Thursday, September 15th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Health care

Dendritic cells are comprehensive antigen cells which can instigate immune responses that invade human pathogens. In reaction to the stimuli, these cells undertake an overall genetic process that permits them to terminate cell activators. Furthermore, these cells can also activate the T cell enhancer. Additionally, the current study regarding these cells covers microbial risks in the immune system.

The immune system of a particular mammal has developed to react to various kinds of stress patterns. However, the resolution to trigger an immune reaction is created by antigen-presenting cells. These cells will greatly affect the stimulation of the dendritic cells. On the contrary, the APC’s activate the first response to fight the parasite pathogens in the human body.

This is applied to prevent and to limit all possible infections and diseases. As a matter of fact, the dendritic cells have the ability to clear all harmful infection in the body. Moreover, it can enhance the brain functions and even improve memory. However, during the immune reaction, some tissue can be damaged.

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For that reason, it is essential for the antigen-presenting cells to be initiated. In addition, DC’s play an important part in the immune system. They are highly adaptable and multipurpose. It can be incorporated in the process of the instigation of the adaptive immunity. There are many professional services that can assist you in managing this element of maintaining tissue. In addition to hosting drives to collect everything from platelets to highly specialized specimens, you will have assistance with the storage and transportation, as these services provide conditioned facilities for the monitored upkeep of the substances that are important to your facility.

In addition, they are also in the distinction of controlling T cells needed for the preservation of the body system. This will definitely permit to undertake a comprehensive genetic procedure to activate and obtain a response to a bacterial stimuli. Some of them include lipopolysaccharide, and the double stranded viral RNA. Correspondingly, an immature DC’s are exceptionally phagocytic and will absolutely mull over antigens that are presented.

However, the kind of adaptive reactions created by the DC’s are similar to the kind of response that is originally incorporated. Although these cells can determine other pathogens through the pattern of recognition receptors. It usually interacts with a particular organism structure. As a result, sequential cell structures are not present in a particular animal cell, and symbolizes a monogram microorganism.

Comparing High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Autism

High Functioning Autism (HFA) is often used to refer to someone which can not be officially identified as having autism. There isn’t a precise agreed upon characterization to explain High-Function Autism. This may be a particularly grey area to describe, and whilst it can be a phrase commonly tossed round it is a complex one to pin down.

Different from classical autism that is pretty clear cut in key elements whereby these children usually are non-verbal, unengaged and also not able to succeed inside the common diagnostic examining. Children having High Functioning Autism might present with specified qualities categorised in autism though may have the capability to speak, read and write. Their particular cognitive potential appears to be greater in comparison with individuals with classical autism.

Its written that children having HFA have better IQ results when compared with individuals with classical autism. This on the other hand ought not to be viewed as an genuine description with IQ for all with classical autism mainly because their own capacity to reply to information and also communicate is weaker as a consequence could create unreliable low rating.

High Functioning Autism is very much the expression utilised in as a result conveying the particular level a child could work on the Spectrum. At this time there also appears to be a fine line relating to outlining a child having HFA compared to Asperger’s Syndrome. It is often reported that a child which developed usual language behaviours in early years but exhibited social deficits typical to that associated with autism where consequently referred to as having Asperger, s Syndrome. Then the child which experienced late speech development (although they could have caught this up on in the future years) had been subsequently identified as HFA. Then again, experts at the moment are thinking about if speech progression is the simplest way to identify both.
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Children having High Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome are generally “limited within brain regions that will permit individuals to recognize subtle cues, ” and quite often misunderstandings, literal interpretation, and/or sensory over stimulation can bring about overreactions, frustration, a small frustration building up a tolerance, tantrums, aggressiveness, showing up to have volatile temperament, self stimulation (stimming), anxiousness, despair, or even self harm. Most of these children may have interpersonal relationships that might come across to be “rude” by people, and quite often individuals on the spectrum find it hard to understand why they’re not necessarily liked or perhaps regularly come to feel rejected.
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ASPECTS OF HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM

Relatively better IQ when compared with individuals connected with classical autism

Not able to recognise emotional desires and also needs connected with other individuals

Could possibly lack sociable politeness for instance returning greetings

Could seem exceedingly dreamy and removed Make minimal eye contact which often leads people presume that they are shy, uninterested or maybe evasive

Moderate delay with speech development

Employ minimal emotional information within their interaction Tend not to recognize very simple social cues

Liking to schedule along with structure; OCD (obsessive compulsive) inclinations

Slight to mild difficulties with motor skills and also co-ordination often viewed as clumsiness

Demonstrate sensory dysfunctions which include wanting to smell everything, along with blocking ears to a number of noises

Therefore you will need to keep in mind High Functioning Autism is not really an official diagnostic expression. IT can often identify children who may have a few of the traits connected with autism yet failed to develop vocabulary on the standard scale. This kind of diagnosis however, can help in leading someone to acquire ideal therapies/treatments and also educational facilities. Treatment plans should really be basically comparable to that connected with Autism. Earlier detection plus intervention is really important and treatments/therapies should be considered to enhance social capabilities, individual communication, behavior, along with peer interactions. There isn’t a fast solution or solution having said that efficient treatment plans can offer greater results regarding children within the spectrum.

What are the Main Sources of Fats

Friday, September 9th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Weight Loss
Sources of fatsVegetable oil, lard, butter, olive oil, cholesterol and many other folks too numerous to mention – fats are using us all day, daily – or so it seems. So what are these folks, what is their target and how do they have an effect on well being?Think of fat and you virtually invariably imagine becoming obese and low-fat diets. Fat, even so, are an crucial aspect of the diet and the oft-missed fact is that most of us aren’t eating ample of them!

Is this too good to be true? Actually no, it isn’t. the uncomplicated answer is that in the common Developed diet regime, we eat too wee fat overall, but actually the astray sorts of fat – and earlier than you think “here we go again”, up to date medication has got it entirely wrong – which most of us necessity is more natural and saturated fat and Much less of the synthetic plastics have any idea as hydrogenated vegetable oils or trans-fatty acids.

But, we’re receiving ahead of ourselves – first details initially:-
What are fat? Fats (or more correctly, fatty acids) are an important aspect of the diet. Contrary to significantly of which we seem to hear, these folks are not confined to meats and pet solutions, but are additionally promote in practically all seeds, nuts and many seedlings on their own – imagine olive oil for an instance.The way in which we applies to fats typically belies their accurate functions – ldl cholesterol, for example is not only the essential substance for both man and natural female hormones, it also has vital curing functions. Various fats, similar to the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA are basic to mind and nerve function.
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good fats and bad fats

In reality, the reason the body decides to keep fat is typically that it has all the carbs (sugars) it should for its power supplies and as a consequence, it tranfroms the extra to fat and, at a similar time prevents the “burning” of stored fat for fuel. (for much more on doing so, see the situation comedy on insulin resistance).
Even so, as already talked about students have numerous sorts of fats.

Most of the most commonly mentioned are outlined below, click on on every single connection for much more data:-

Cholesterol – Public enemy variety one. Or is it – uncover why cholesterol is not the baddie it has been forced out to be and why you need it!

Important fatty acids – Otherwise have any idea as “mind food”, these fats can’t be forced in the body and need to be in the diet regime. However, in a lot of circumstances they are almost toally missing, initiating a lot of wellness (and psychiatric / sociable) problems.
Concentrated animal fatRed meats, dair items, lard dripping and suet – a formula for illness or the implies to prevent it?
Vegetable oilsAll oils are not made equal. Uncover why some vegetable oils are far better than other folks.
Hydrogenated oils (unsaturated or poly-unsaturated fats)Margarine, shortening and other “low-cholesterol” fat. Learn why these have induced much more injury to wellbeing in contrast to any various class of oils or fat.

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Sports First Aid: Reasons to Get Trained Up

Thursday, September 8th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Critical Care

First aid can be very useful in a variety of situations. However, having proper training can be especially useful when it comes to sports. Sports first aid is one of the most useful types of first aid you can get trained in if you are regularly involved in sporting activities, and here are a few reasons why.

Accidents are Common in Sports

One of the main reasons to learn sports first aid is because accidents are quite common in sports. All sports are different, but compared to everyday life there is generally more chance of injuries occurring during sports activities.

Even in a sport such as football, injuries occur all the time. If you are in such an environment on a regular basis then it makes sense to know what to do when something goes wrong.

Provide Vital Assistance

Unless you play a sport professionally, it is likely that you will have to wait for help to arrive before the injured person receives first aid. If you are out in the countryside partaking in an activity, far from the nearest hospital, then sports first aid can literally be a lifesaver if applied immediately. Knowing what to do in the moment can save lives, and you can also help to provide support to the person who has been injured and comfort them until help arrives.

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Save a Career

Careers can be ended by some sports injuries, and if you react in the right way at the right time then you could be doing your part to help save the career of your colleague. Even relatively minor injuries can have lasting consequences if they are not dealt with properly with appropriate sports first aid techniques.

Anyone Can Get Trained

You don’t have to be partaking in the sport to get trained in sports first aid. If you are actually partaking in the sport then it is a great idea to have first aid knowledge, but even if you are involved in a different way then you can get trained up. Coaches, training staff and even spectators can all learn the skills needed in first aid situations, and anyone around the sport environment can get trained to offer their help.

Conclusion

Get Trained in Sports First Aid

It can be a very good idea to get trained up in sports first aid whether you are a player, coach or you are simply spectating. First aid can really help in any situation, from minor injuries to more serious accidents, and learning the skills is a very good idea.

How to Get Rid of Tartar

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Dental care

The first thing that people often notice about you is your smile-and teeth full of tartar wouldn’t make for a great smile. Tartar aren’t just unsightly to look at, they also contribute to the formation of teeth cavities and gum diseases. Fortunately, there are some things you could do to get rid of tartar.

Brushing your teeth regularly is one way to avoid and get rid of tartar build-up. Some people might wonder why they still have tartar when they do brush their teeth at least three times a day; this is probably because they don’t do it right. Brushing your teeth twice a day isn’t enough; you have to brush your teeth for at least two minutes to get rid of those tartar-causing particles. If you smoke or is fond of coffee and colas, you might want to use tartar-fighting toothpaste. Toothpastes that contain pyrophosphate can help prevent teeth discoloration.

Floss your teeth regularly. Brushing may help prevent tartar build-up on your teeth’s surfaces but most toothbrushes can’t reach all those nook and crannies in your teeth-you have to floss them to get to them. So floss always-make it a point to incorporate flossing into your daily dental hygiene routine.
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Eating too many sweets is a no-no if you want to prevent tartar build-up. But did you know that sweets aren’t the only things you should avoid? Coffee and sodas are also bad for your teeth. Smoking is also a no-no. Smoking contains chemicals which build-up on your teeth. In fact, smoking might just be the worst thing you could do for your teeth. So if you want to do away with those tartars, quit smoking.

Use disclosing tablets to find out which areas still have tartar build-ups. Disclosing tablets work by highlighting the part of your teeth where there are tartar build-ups by staining them red. And knowing where those tartar build-ups are, will definitely help in removing them.

Have your dentist clean your teeth regularly. Some people might think that seeing a dentist isn’t necessary, as there are a number of products available to get rid of tartar, but a cleaning from the dentist doesn’t just remove tartar build-up. Aside from removing tartar, dentists also polish your teeth making t hem smoother, thus making it harder for tartar to adhere to your teeth.

Make sure that you brush, floss, and eat right. And drop by your dentist at least once every six months. Good dental hygiene practices and regular visits to your dentist will keep tartar build-ups at bay.

Panic Attack Disorder: Is It Dangerous?

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Anxiety

How will a person know that he or she is suffering from anxiety panic attack symptoms? Imagine this scenario:

your boss gave you and your partner a project to work on a week ago. This morning, he sent you an e-mail requesting that your project should be on his table before noon of today. The project has not yet been finished and you are still in the stage of making revisions. You suddenly feel a huge wave of fear and your body starts shaking. The room starts to spin and you feel like you cannot breathe. Your heart feels like it’s about to burst out of your chest, and you feel like throwing up.

A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear and terror that strikes without warning. An attack could even repeat, and the time is unknown. For onlookers, this could look very serious as the person who suffers from this could look like he or she is having a “crazy” fit, a moment wherein he or she has lost all rational thought. There are times when these attacks could mimic the signs of a heart attack. Often, there is no specific or clear reason why a person develops a panic attack. Studies have even shown that attacks may even occur while a person is asleep.

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Repeated panic attacks could be a sign that a person is suffering from a disorder. The attacks could be triggered by a specific situation wherein a person could have suffered from a panic attack before. These situations would usually be triggered when the person feels like he or she is endangered and may feel like he or she cannot escape. When people also tend to have obsessive worries and unwanted thoughts could also trigger a panic attack. These attacks could have anxiety as the root cause of the problem.

What are the different signs and symptoms of someone who is suffering from a panic attack? A person who suffers from these attacks would usually suffer from racing heartbeats, dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme terror that could be paralyzing, difficulty in breathing, trembling, chest pains, and fear that he or she is going crazy or about to die. These symptoms arise unknowingly, and the level of fear that is involved is one that is extremely out of proportion, something that would normally be okay. People who have panic disorder may even develop phobias, but not exactly due to certain objects, but from the fear of suffering from another attack.

For people who are suffering from them, there is no need to feel ashamed. People could actually get help for panic attacks. It is possible for such people to continue living normal and healthy lives, as long as they get the needed treatment from certified people. There are a lot of therapies available for treatment, and it would be of great help to consult a doctor who specializes in treating panic attacks. Panic disorders are highly treatable. People who do suffer from these disorders could get help from professionals and at the same time, have their own self-help strategies.

The Benefits of Massage to Aid Vacation Relaxation

Friday, September 2nd, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Main

Are you planning on a late summer vacation and feel as though the stress of the summer is just starting to catch up to you? Have you been looking forward to this vacation for weeks, and now just need to find a way to de-stress? Well, if any of these things are true for you, you may want to consider a relaxing massage when you get to your final travel destination.

Everyone that has ever had a massage knows that it feels good. Lying on a massage table with soft music playing and aromatherapy candles burning can be an incredibly relaxing experience. But, massage doesn’t just feel good, it actually has many incredible health benefits. There is research that shows that massage touch can be a good treatment for injuries, help with chronic pain and alleviate stress and every day tensions on your muscles.

Other incredible benefits of massage include:
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*Improve your mood
*Reduce fatigue
*Increase your circulation
*Alleviate back pain
*Increase range of motion
*Enhance immunity by encouraging lymph flow
*Increase joint flexibility
*Lessen anxiety
*Relax tired and over-used muscles
*Improve sleep quality
*Decrease stress and tension

Just one hour of massage can help to make all your troubles melt away, and start your vacation off on the right foot. If you are looking for relaxation during your vacation, you should consider finding a spa or massage therapist near to your hotel, or see if your hotel has a spa of which it is affiliated. Even better, some hotels and inns offer in-room massage by a Licensed Massage Therapist on staff. If this is an option for you, even better! Vacations should be all about relieving stress and with the hassles of traffic, airline travel, rental cars and planning your itinerary, the stress and worry can really build up in your neck, back and shoulders. To start your vacation on the best possible note, a massage is a very wise option!

If you are interested in starting your vacation out with a massage, there are a few things you can do before you arrive at your destination. Call your hotel or inn and check with the front desk to find out what massage options are available to you. Is there a spa located within walking distance to your hotel? Are there Licensed Massage Therapists within the hotel that can come to your room? If so, consider making an appointment before you go on your vacation, so you will be sure to secure a time that suits you. If you’ve been planning your vacation for ages and looking forward to the relaxation it will provide, don’t forget to plan for that much-needed massage as well. With a massage to start off your vacation, you can be sure that your mind and body will both feel fully relaxed and refreshed; ready to start your well-deserved vacation off on the best foot!

Diet, Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease

Sunday, August 28th, 2011 No Commented Categorized Under: Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the Western world and affects people increasingly as they get older. Being our number one killer, it gets a lot of attention in the media and from our health services. The received wisdom is that we should all stop smoking, drink less and avoid saturated fat. Meanwhile those with established cardiovascular disease, and those thought at risk of future cardiovascular disease, are put on drugs to modify their blood cholesterol and blood pressure. While the advice to stop smoking and to drink less is undoubtedly grounded on good evidence the other cornerstones of modern-day prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease are more controversial.

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease covers a number of distinct conditions and therefore there are a number of possible causes. The main cardiovascular conditions that can cause early death are:

— Atherosclerosis, perhaps the best known, when arteries clog up. This narrows the arteries and creates conditions in which the artery ultimately becomes blocked.

  • If the artery is a coronary artery, one of those that provide oxygen for the muscles around the heart, then a heart attack follows.
  • If the artery is a carotid artery supplying oxygen to the brain then a major stroke occurs.

Heart attacks have a posh name, myocardial infarction. Basically myo stands for muscle, cardio for heart and infarction to tissue destruction due to lack of oxygen. Which neatly sums up what happens when a coronary artery is blocked.

Aneurysms, which are ballooning blood vessels that occur when the blood vessel walls becomes too weak to cope with the local blood pressure. If an aneurysm bursts then a haemorrhage occurs and the lack of blood and the oxygen it carries to vital organs such as the heart and brain can be fatal.

— Heart failure occurs when the muscle that makes the heart beat becomes ineffective. This is due to a previous heart attack in about 2 out of every 3 cases. It can also be caused by failure of the valves in 4% of cases, very high blood pressure, also 4%, alcohol and viruses, again 4% of cases. The remaining 20% have unknown causes. It is more common than aneurysm related death, but less common than death from heart attacks and strokes resulting from blocked arteries.

Arrhythmias are heart beats that become irregular, extremely fast or slow as a result of abnormal electrical activity in the heart. They are very common, but normally only prove fatal when a serious prior event such as a heart attack has already taken place.

So what causes cardiovascular disease?

The conditions described above are clearly worth avoiding. The main changes that occur in the body to cause the problems above are narrowing of arteries, weakening of blood vessels and damage to the heart muscle. Narrowing of arteries due to atherosclerosis is the most important factor in all of this, causing nearly all heart attacks and about 85% of strokes (15% are caused by haemorrhage). What exactly are the causes cardiovascular disease? Below I list and then examine those factors that are well-known, and those that have strong evidence to support them.

  • Blood Cholesterol levels, specifically cholesterol carried in the blood by low density lipoproteins
  • High blood pressure, specifically by causing damage to the lining of blood vessels.
  • Dietary cholesterol intake from foods such as eggs and prawns.
  • Intake of saturated fats from foods such as red meats and cheese.
  • Intake of damaged fats such as artificial trans fats.
  • Ratios and overall intake of polyunsaturated fats.
  • Blood sugar levels.

– Blood Cholesterol levels are rather more complex in their effects than most people are aware. While low cholesterol levels are associated with a reduced incidence of heart attacks they are also associated with a greater risk of death, with depression, cancer, stroke and atrial fibrillation. This should give us pause when considering the importance of lowering cholesterol levels in people with anything other than established cardiovascular disease. For most of us a level th at is classified as borderline-high such as between 200-240 dL/L (5.1-6.2 mmol/L) would probably be an optimal level. There is evidence that higher levels protect against many types of strokes, especially haemorrhagic stroke where bleeding from blood vessels causes death. The above should not be surprising if you consider the role of cholesterol in the body. It is an integral part of all our cell membranes, and is a precursor for many of our hormones, including vitamin D, which increasingly is being associated with reduced risk of many serious diseases.

– High blood pressure is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However the risk from high blood pressure is also dependent on the quality of the blood vessels. Damage to blood vessels is normally repaired, and if we consume the right diet it is likely that our blood vessels will repair themselves more quickly.

– Dietary cholesterol was the initial target of Government advice. However it turns out that cholesterol from foods such as prawns, liver and eggs do not raise cholesterol levels in most people and even if they did this may not be so bad a thing. In fact these high cholesterol foods are some of the most healthy in the diet containing a large amount of important micronutrients such as vitamins A, D and E as well as minerals such as iron (liver), iodine (prawns) and antioxidants (eggs and prawns).

Saturated fat has become increasingly the bad guy in Government campaigns of late, but is it so bad? Saturated fat has been in our diet ever since we evolved into human beings, you’d have thought our bodies would have learnt how to deal with it by now, and in fact there is plenty of evidence that suggests just that. A review in 2011 of 21 intervention studies carried out over the previous decade found no reduction in risk of death from cardio-vascular disease after interventions to reduce or replace saturated fat with carbohydrate or polyunsaturated fats. Clearly typical foods that contain saturated fat are no worse for us than those containing carbohydrate or polyunsaturated fat.

– Damaged fats have increasingly come under the spotlight over the last two decades. They are fats that have been heated to very high temperatures in their manufacture (or during cooking). When heated above about 160C, the molecules that they are formed from become changed into forms that the human body does not recognise. Foods such as margarines and most packaged goods containing vegetable fats contain these damaged fats. They are clearly linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Ratios of polyunsaturated fats to various other types of fat have been investigated by quite a number of studies. Most show that polyunsaturated fats when increased as a total proportion of calories reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Without boring you with the detail, this is most likely due to the presence of omega 3 fats such as those found in oily fish. Omega 3 fats have a potent effect on risk of cardiovascular disease and outperform statins in many studies.

Blood sugar levels get a lot of attention in those with diabetes, but very little in those without this condition. Basically if you wander around with blood sugar levels that are too high, your risk of cardiovascular disease is greatly increased. It is very important to make sure your diet does not lead to chronically raised blood sugar levels. For many this will mean reducing what is called the glycaemic load of their diet. In short try to moderate your intake of sugary drinks, cakes, sweets and puddings as well as starchy items that breakdown into sugars before being absorbed from your digestive tract. These include bread, rice and potatoes.

What does this mean for my diet and lifestyle?

A diet that reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and the damage it causes through heart attacks and strokes would follow the general principles below:

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  1. Reduce the amount of junk food you eat. This is a very general point, but junk food generally has too much salt, sugar, additives and trans-fats. All of these make cardiovascular disease more likely. Examples include foods from takeaway burger joints, ready meals from supermarkets and drinks of fizzy pop.
  2. Eat more fruit and especially vegetables. Again this is a big food group, but many fruits and vegetable contain nutrients that help protect and repair your blood vessels from damage. Examples include tomatoes which when cooked provide a high dose of lycopene to quell oxidative damage to blood vessels, cooked beetroot which can release substances that relax your blood vessels and plants of the allium family, such as garlic, onions and leeks prevent blood clotting and narrowing of arteries.
  3. Try and incorporate some omega 3 fats into your diet. The most effective way of doing this is through oily fish such as mackerel, herring, trout, sardines, pilchards, kippers and tuna (not the canned stuff). One issue with these fish is that they can accumulate high levels of toxic heavy metals and pesticides in their fatty tissues. This is the reason pregnant women are sometimes advised to moderate their intake of them. One way to get round this is by using fish oils that have been processed to remove these contaminants. For vegetarians, omega 3 can be obtained from seaweed extracts. Linseed oils may also be effective in those with the ability to convert its omega 3 fat into a more potent form.
  4. When it comes to cholesterol and saturated fats I wouldn’t worry too much. If they come from good sources such as pasture fed cows, free range organic chickens then you will probably derive more benefit than harm from them. As stated above the evidence linking cholesterol and saturated fat intakes with heart disease is not consistent and is skewed by the massive interest of the drug companies in funding studies that attempt to make the link to justify their drug sales.

I’ve not covered exercise in this article, but regular daily exercise is very effective at reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Any exercise will be beneficial if it builds progressively on your current capabilities. For some this may mean walking an increasing distance at increasing speeds each day. Some resistance training is helpful for those who are already at a basic standard of fitness. For those with existing cardiovascular disease care should be taken, but it will be very beneficial as long as your body responds to the training without a crisis event. Consult a doctor or other professional involved personally with your healthcare if this is the case. For those who are already fit and wondering what is best for their cardiovascular health, then the general rule is to build fitness steadily and recover well from hard sessions. Normally what makes you fitter will also be good for you, if training is wearing you down it is good for neither your fitness or health.

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