Internal Medicine and the Doctors

Internal medicine is a field in the medical profession in which the professionals diagnose and treat patients who might have adult diseases which they have studied and trained in. This field is rather broad which is why there are some sub-specialties for those who are educated and trained here. They are basically considered as primary care physicians but they cannot be labeled as pediatricians and general practitioners. A good part of their education and training, which is about seven years, is dedicated to learning about prevention, diagnosis and the treatment of diseases that affect adults.
Common Diseases
The common diseases that internists treat are quiet numerous. Their practice covers a broad aspect of the field and these diseases often fall under cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, pulmonology and many more. There are about 13 subspecialties that fall under this field and there are some that have more patients than others. Cardiologists initially study internal medicine for about seven years as the foundation of their subspecialty. There is an additional three to five years in order to focus on the education and training or the cardiologic field. Included in this field are the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease that concern the heart, the blood vessels and the circulation of the blood around the body. Heart diseases, difficulty in breathing and chest pains are usually brought to the attention of the cardiologist.
Endocrinologists have the same foundation as all other internists; about seven years of education and training in medical school. An additional two to three years is necessary to subspecialize in this field. Those who practice here focus on the function and circulation of the human body's hormones. The endocrine system covers a large area of the human body including but not limited to tissues and all other glands common and specific to both the male and female bodies. Internal medicine practitioners who specialize in endocrinology cover most parts of the human body since these parts function with the use of hormones. Gastroenterology covers the digestive system of the human body.
There are a few major parts of this system, including but not limited to the oral cavity, the stomach and the colon. The practitioners of this subspecialty cannot perform any form of surgery on the patient, especially those related to their field unless they have studied surgery separately. Infectious disease is another broad field in which internists can practice with the addition of a few years into their education and training. Their education and training focus on infections that are caused by fungi, bacteria and other sources. They mainly prescribe and are knowledgeable in antibiotics which may be specific to the kinds of infections that plague the human race.
Pulmonology includes, but is not limited to the lungs and the other aspects of the respiratory system, which may include the heart. The internal medicine specialists of this field help to prevent, diagnose and treat most of the diseases found here. Pneumonia, asthma and other respiratory diseases and conditions are covered here.

Unnoticeable, Yet Effective

Braces are becoming less of a taboo in today's society. Just visit any middle school or even some high schools and you will see a good number of kids proudly displaying their wired teeth. Gone are the days when kids used to hide these devices. Some of them even look forward to the days when they get to choose a new color for their bands. Now, with that being said, there are still those who choose to go a slightly different route when it comes to fixing their oral issues. They choose to use Invisalign. There are many people who shun this option, because they believe it costs too much. However, if they would consider the benefits, they might change their minds.
One of the most noted benefits of Invisalign is that's it made of clear material. This allows it to be unnoticeable, for the most part. Being able to hide the device may not necessarily be a concern to school-aged children, but it is definitely a concern for many adults, especially those who have careers that force them to communicate with people on a day-to-day basis. For some people, the traditional style of braces is not a feasible option. In their minds, it draws too much unnecessary attention to their teeth. So, without the clear option, their only other choice would be to go the rest of their lives with teeth they are not happy with.
This isn't to say that career-oriented adults are the only ones who lean more towards the invisible option. There are many school-aged children and young adults who take this course of action as well. Even though traditional braces are becoming more accepted by the younger generation as a whole, it doesn't mean that all of them feel that way. In high school, particularly, concern about image preoccupies many teenagers.
Along with the aforementioned examples, Invisalign devices are also beneficial because they are removable. If you ask anyone who has had regular braces what has been the hardest thing about them, most of them will mention the cleaning process. In order to properly brush and floss through all of the wiring, it could take 15 to 20 minutes. Because Invisalign devices can be easily removed, the wearer doesn't have to deal with that hassle.
Many people still prefer traditional braces, and metal braces still have their place and provide many benefits. However, for those who want something a little less obvious and that is less of a hassle, Invisalign is a great and effective option.

The Benefits Of Using Veet Hair Removal Cream

Have you used Veet hair removal cream before? Does Veet hair removal cream work? Veet is the most popular brand out there and majority of users find it to be really effective. Veet works by softening the hair to make it easy for removal with their curved spatula. The spatula is specifically designed to fit in most body parts such the armpits, legs or bikini line. Before your first usage however, apply a small amount on your skin first to see if you are sensitive to it. If no irritation occurs, then it is safe for you to use.
The advantage of using Veet hair removal cream is that you experience none of the irritations that come with shaving such as razor burns or accidental nicks and cuts. With the specially designed spatula, you can easily scrape off the hair even in hard to reach places like the bikini line without fearing that you will accidentally cut yourself. Most Veet hair removal cream reviews state that the regrowth hair is not as rough as in the case of shaving as well. Veet has antiseptic and nourishing solutions in its cream that leaves soft, smooth and hairless skin once the treatment is completed.
The best part of all, Veet hair removal cream is painless, unlike waxing. Of course waxing is the best hair removal solution around because it removes the hair straight from the root. But it is painful and using hot wax can cause minor irritations, especially on sensitive areas. For best results, you need to see a professional waxing therapist because most DIY kits are not very effective and painful to use. This cream at times are really convenient to use, easy to carry around and most of all, does not leave a lot of mess for you to clean up after.
Now Veet hair removal cream also comes in a spray can form. You just spray on the area to be treated like your legs and leave it on for a few minutes. Then use the accompanying sponge to "wash" away the unwanted hairs in the shower. No razor burns to contend with, just soft, smooth hair free skin. There is also another variation that offers a tingly cooling feeling on the skin. Isn't that better than hot wax or sharp razor blades? For best results, exfoliate the treatment area a day before with a body scrub. Nothing too rough, of course. This will help prevent ingrown hair and slough off all the dead cells on the surface so that the cream is better absorbed.
Veet is indeed the best hair removal cream currently on the market. It is also not as expensive as other forms of treatment. As with any DIY treatments, practice makes perfect. So if you don't see the results you want after the first treatment, it does not necessarily mean the treatment was not effective enough. It could be because you did not do it right. Maybe you have to leave the cream on a little bit longer. So next time consider using Veet hair removal cream for hair removal.

Type 1 Diabetes - 3 Great Tips for Teens

Diabetes mellitus also known, as diabetes is a common life-long health condition in which the amount of glucose in the blood is too high. The levels of the glucose in the blood is too high because the glucose in the body is not turned into energy which means it only stays in the bloodstream. This is because a diabetic person's body is not producing enough insulin or no insulin is being produced at all. If the glucose level is to high, problem such as kidney failure, heart disease, foot damage, and eye complications can result. Diabetes is definitely on the rise among teenagers because studies show that there are over 215, 000 young people below 20 years old who are diagnosed with diabetes. These teens are mostly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes which is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes and juvenile diabetes. Type 1 diabetes means that the body doesn't make enough insulin or none at all because the body's own immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Diabetes is a challenging disease, but it's definitely more challenging for any teenager to have this disease. If you're a teenager who's recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you can follow these 3 great tips that will help you with your diabetes management:
1) Consult a Certified Diabetes Educator
One of the most important things that you must do if you're diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is to learn all of the things that you need to know about the disease that's why it's very important that you consult a certified diabetes educator as soon as you can. Consulting a certified diabetes educator will let you learn and understand all of the things you need to know about your treatment options and other best ways that will help you see improvement in your diabetes management.
2) You Must Make Lifestyle Changes
Making necessary lifestyle changes will absolutely help you see great improvements in your health and will surely help you live a longer and healthier life. It's very important that you try your best to exercise, make healthy food choices and make sure stay at a healthy weight. These are some of the changes that you need to make because these might sound pretty challenging, but you will definitely help yourself a lot if you'll choose to do these things.
3) Be Optimistic
Diabetes is a struggle for anyone, but you should bear in mind that you should not allow this chronic disease to stop you from living a normal, healthy and happy life. You should be optimistic at all times because this will definitely help you stay motivated and encouraged to do the things that you need to do in order to help you with your diabetes management. Remind yourself at all times that you are not alone and you can surely get help from your family, friends and support groups. Optimism will surely bring great changes to a life of a teenager with type 1 diabetes.
Follow these three great tips and you can assure yourself to live a healthy, happy and long life. It will be a challenge to follow these tips but keep in mind that all of your hard work in managing your diabetes will surely pay off. Good luck and best of health to you and your family!

Fibromyalgia - It's the Small Things

Let's be honest there is nothing small about Fibromyalgia, but finding relief or comfort while living with Fibromyalgia can be reduced by doing a few small things.
When you think about it most things in life are nothing more than a grouping of small things. Fibromyalgia is nothing more than a grouping of symptoms, and finding relief is a grouping of items that can help you overcome this illness.
In my practice I learn a lot about people and their lives. Throughout the years I have found small things that patients can do that can make a whole world of difference in their lives. While most of you have heard about eating right, or exercise as ways to reduce the influx of symptoms with fibro, there are quite a few more that I've learned that I will share with you today.
1) De-Clutter YOUR Home or Work Space
Nobody likes clutter, and often times this can lead you feeling stressed out and make your fibro symptoms worse. Everybody has a room or a drawer in their home or office that is just full of clutter and is disorganized. This is a great place to set a small goal for yourself, not only are you going to be clearing up space, but you'll also begin to feel better because you are getting exercise!
Remember to move at your own pace, each person who has fibro has to take things at a different pace than others, depending upon how your fibro affects you. So take your time, I can promise you the clutter is not going to go anywhere!
Do some light stretches before you start, and begin to move things around, throw them away, or put them in their place. My wife constantly reminds me "A place for everything and everything in it's place" and this holds very true. I find after someone who has fibro de-clutters a room, or a drawer that they begin to feel rejuvenated and optimistic.
Your home should always make you feel comfortable and at ease. A cleared out space, nicely organized can make a world of difference for you mentally and with your fibro symptoms!
2) A Creative Outlet
I've noticed in building a fibro community that there are a lot of talented people that inhibit it! Whether it be musically, writing, painting, or any of the other arts, patients of mine have found great relief through expressing themselves creativly.
Many patients of mine started out writing a "pain journal" for their doctors, detailing when and where there pain started and how it affected them. Before long they realized that while writing they were finding a way to feel better about themselves or their lives emotionally and began to write other pieces.
This is a great thing to do for yourself, it allows you to not only express yourself, but feel good while you do it. Everybody feels a surge of pride once they create something, they can look at it and say to themselves "I did that!" and this is a great feeling. We all know that when you have fibromyalgia feeling good mentally is a big part of the struggle. By allowing yourself time to dabble in the creative arts, you can begin feeling better about yourself, and help kick fibro right out the door!
While this isn't a cure - there is no illness that you can cure by painting as far as I know - this is one of those little things that you can pick up that can go a long way in helping you feel better, and improve your quality of life.
No matter what it is. Be it painting, model building, or even a hobby such as gardening and cooking these can go along way in helping you begin to feel better. Stress is a major factor in everyday life now-a-days, and more so in fibro patients who not only deal with the normal stresses of day to day life, but also the stress of this illness. It has been proven again and again that dabbling in the creative arts can help reduce stress, and start allowing you to feel better.
3) Daily Structuring and Routine
Life is chaotic enough without adding to it! Some days it feels like there is so much going on that you can't seem to keep a handle on anything. When you add in suffering from Fibromyalgia this becomes not only more important but down right crucial!
In this sense a daily agenda, a few lists, and a whiteboard can go a long way. Waking up every morning and making a list of things you hope to accomplish that day, and working that into your schedule between soccer practices and meals can make you feel not only good but accomplished. If you go one further and cross of your list at night you may find that you accomplished all you set out too and more!
Though you cannot be too hard on yourself if you have an "off" day or your fibro flares up too much and you are unable to cross off everything on your list. Don't knock yourself, even people without fibro have a difficult time in completing their lists too!
Remember when creating your daily lists, or structuring your day to make sure that you do not overtax yourself. So many people (myself included) can sometimes feel like they are superhuman and make lists that are just too complicated, or too full to fulfill regardless of how much coffee they drink!
Work some of these items into your routine, follow it daily. Devote enough time just to yourself, maybe here you'll read a book, work on an art project, anything that you like doing. Even if it is just sitting in your favorite chair and enjoying the silence. Always make sure that you include something that helps you relax.
All of these ways will help you reduce stress, and begin to feel better. The most important thing to remember is to move at your own pace, do things your own way, and you'll find that at least mentally you'll begin to feel a lot better, and even more optimistic!

The Dangers Lurking in Your Mascara

Busting The Myth On The 5-Second Rule
Did you know that most mascara contains chemicals associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity? Or that the parabens in your shampoo are linked to cancer? Did you know that the Teflon on your non-stick pan can disrupt your immune system? Did you know that the canned tomatoes you put in your chili tonight are laced with endocrine disrupting bisphenol A? Scary but true.
There are thousands of chemicals that make their way into your body everyday. Most people are familiar with pesticides on our food. Or even the chemicals we breathe in just walking down a busy street. But what about the chemicals in our personal care products, cleaners and on the very chair you sit on?
I've written about chemicals in our personal care products before. Since writing that article, I've done even more research into what those chemicals actually do us. It's not pretty.
Since there are thousands of chemicals we come into contact in a day, let's take just one as an example today. Let's look at polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. PBDE's are better known as flame retardants. While they provide us safety from being engulfed in flames while we sleep, there is growing evidence they are part of the increasing rates of autoimmune and other diseases. Proponents argue these chemicals have no effect on us because we have such small exposure. Yet the Center for Disease Control tells us that PBDEs may indeed impair the cells of the immune system in animal studies, and can affect the thyroid, liver and brain development. And honestly, when viewed in the totality, our exposure is not so small.
Consider your contact with this single chemical in a single day: your mattress pad, your sofa, your child's pajamas, the upholstery in your car, your office chair, your carpet, your TV, your computer, your cell phone, your e-reader and on and on. Again this stuff, it's everywhere.
So what? Do you really ingest this stuff? Yes. PBDEs are not molecularly bound to the products they are applied to and thus are known to flake off and end up in the dust in our home which we breathe in. A 2004 study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology of 17 homes, found crazy high concentrations of PBDEs in household dust and dryer lint. This dust gets kicked up and we breathe it. Or we drop that organic blueberry on the floor and apply the 5-second rule, popping it in our mouth without a care in the world. While the EPA has gotten manufacturer's agreement to stop producing two particularly potent forms of PBDE, it still leaches out of products manufactured prior to 2004, and still circulates in our water, soil and air.
We Can't Live In A Bubble
I know this kind of information can get overwhelming. But don't throw up your hands just yet. Keep a cool head about you and let's get strategic.
1. Keep it clean. With PBDE's all over the place, it pays to do some deep scrubbing of your house every few months. Remove the dust on a consistent basis and you reduce your exposure. Of course, cleaners contain their own chemicals. Opt for natural cleaners like Bon Ami, vinegar, baking soda or even the awesome essential oil based Thieves cleaners by Young Living oils.
2. Read those labels. When buying your mascara and other self-care products, it pays to know what's in them. Things to avoid include phlates (fragrance), parabens, FD&C color pigments, Quaternium-15, Polyethylene Glycol among others. Of course, you can always shortcut the process and visit the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Database to find out what products to use and which to avoid.
3. Don't forget to detox yourself. As you are detoxing your home, don't forget to detox your body. Those chemicals have been storing up and causing your fatigue or even illness. A cleansing diet full of green leafy vegetables, alkaline foods, herbs and spices will promote your detox process and reduce the impact these chemicals have on your current and long term health.

Ways to Personalise a Rise and Recliner Chair

The benefits of owning a rise and recliner chair are well-known as a way in which to support our bodies, limiting muscle aches and pains as well as being a comfortable addition to any living room. The number of illnesses that can become significantly less of a pain with the help of reclining chairs is huge, but nobody wants to look at a chair as simply a clinical solution, it should also be a stylish chair that fits into the decor of your room. Many rise and recliner chair providers have a number of ways in which you can personalise your chair.
Firstly, there are a vast amount of chairs that you can pick from. Each chair has its own particular features, for instance a waterfall style back allows for 3 individual back cushions, some have larger head cushions for a more comfortable feel in that particular area, or you can go for a traditional button back cushion for that timeless-classic look. This is the first opportunity for you to personalise your chair as these are its fundamental designs.
The next step is where the fun really begins! Choosing accessories and material for your chair is where you can really let your personality shine through. These kinds of chair are available in hundreds of different leathers and fabrics, so you can pick whatever material or colour would go best with your living room and fit in with the rest of the decor.
One of the great additions that you can add to rise and recliner chairs is a massage system. The ultimate comfort lies in a massaging chair, and a massage system can really help those aches and pains feel much better, particularly when it focuses on a specific area of the body.
Another technological advancement that is available with some rise and recliner chairs is a full hazard sensor strip. These strips can be fitted around the bottom of the chair, and the moment that a hazard is spotted, such as a reckless pet cat, the motor of the chair will immediately stop and it will then reverse a short distance. This could certainly prevent a few unfortunate accidents from happening!
A little extra that can add the finishing touch to a chair is a head cover or arm covers. These can be matched to the material and colour of your armchair, keeping these parts of the chair in pristine condition as well as adding that stylish look and feel to your reclining chair.

Some Information You May Need to Know About Hospice Care

Many people consider end of life care so their ailing loved ones may spend the rest of their days in comfort. Here is some useful information about hospice services everyone should understand.
Death may be a normal part of life. People may accept this fact, but it still does not make it any less frightening. Patients, suffering from terminal illnesses, usually do not like the idea of spending their last days in a hospital. It may be hard for them to handle the fear or situation without the presence and support of their family. This is why several facilities offer end of life care or hospice service to patients at the final phase of their illnesses.
How hospice service can help the patient?
Hospices view death as a natural process. Their services do not hasten or prevent death. They do not offer any procedures for extending life or curing diseases. Their main goal is to provide comfort to their patients. It aims to give patients quality life until their last days.
Their focus is on the patient and not the disease. They try to make the patient comfortable and relaxed during their remaining days. It is more heartbreaking to see someone suffering or having a hard time as they die. This kind of care will serve as support system to help those who are about to die. It can provide medical services, spiritual resources, and emotional support. Some may provide counseling and therapy.
What are the hospice care settings?
This program may be provided at homes, hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing facilities. This will depend on the patient or the family. In-home hospice care home is a common choice for many patients. They may want to spend their last days in their own home. Others may want to die in a hospital with several equipment attached to their body.
Home hospice care may include a primary caregiver or key team member. This is the family member who has the most time to spend with and take care of the patient. They will be in charge with hands-on care and supervision of the patient. Doctors, nurses, or other health professionals may visit your home from time to time. Home health aides, spiritual counselors, volunteers, and social workers are other people that may help you in the program.
How hospice service can help the family?
Hospice care understands the needs of families and friends. It can also address the psychological issues families may encounter during the suffering and death of a loved one. They may provide bereavement services and counseling after the patient's death. Families can join their programs to help them move on with their lives. These services may help and support the family during their times of grief.

Ayurvedic Treatment - World's Oldest Medical System

Ayurvedic treatment originated from India as a traditional healing system. Ayurvedic treatment is known to mankind for over 5000 years now. Even though it is the oldest treatment in the world it is still quite popular for curing all kinds of ailments. The treatment involves processing herbs and ingredients from Mother Nature and curing illness. Ayurvedic treatment has now become popular outside India as people reap its unique benefits.
Ayurvedic Hospitals and resorts are a popular destination for tourists in India. People buzz around these places to take benefits of the healing nature of Ayurveda. Besides cure, Ayurveda also provides rejuvenation and relaxation therapies. One resorts to Ayurveda for peace of mind and cleansing of toxins from the body.
The benefits of Ayurvedic medicines are metabolic, stress-relieving, beautifying, rejuvenating, and relieving from effects of chemotherapy. The ailments in the body are called 'doshas'. The aim of Ayurveda is to get the person rid of those doshas and balancing them out. The different techniques and procedures used to balance doshas are massage and medicines. Another few techniques include pouring herbal liquid and oil on the body, smearing the body with herbal leaves and powders and using Ayurvedic 'rasayans' or compounds prepared internally.
The exact treatment of Ayurveda is decided after consultation with an Ayurveda specialist. A diagnosis is performed after which the doctor explains the span of treatment and the methods of treatment which the person requires. It is usually a couple of weeks to get a full course treatment and in some cases it may be more, depending on the seriousness of the illness.
The best place of Ayurveda treatment is the state of Kerala in India. Ayurveda doctors in Kerala have good knowledge and most of them are families which are involved in the treatment. These families come from a lineage of Ayurvedic doctors and acquire their knowledge from what their ancestors left behind. Therefore these families have authoritative knowledge if Ayurveda. Kerala is also a hub because Kerala is situated in a good climatic location which is favorable for most medicinal plants and herbs to grow. Ayurvedic treatments are available at ayurvedic hospitals, wellness centers and ayurvedic resorts.
The best time to undergo an Ayurvedic treatment is during the rainy season which is from June to September in India. The atmosphere during this time is cool, and dust free. During this time body pores open and penetration of oils and medicines in the body becomes easier. One must undergo treatment of Ayurveda which is the world's oldest Medical System.

Run Like a Kid

I have never been a big fan of running. I think it comes from my being an athlete when I was young and every time you messed up or the team was being punished for not playing well we had to run for what felt like days.
I also am the type of person who loves to lift weights. I really enjoy getting in the gym and seeing how many reps I can do. Setting goals and meeting them and continuing to see myself get stronger and stronger and the weights get larger and larger. I really enjoy this time. Which also means I am not a big lover of cardio and let's face it running is cardio.
I know that cardio is very important and I do it regularly, but I prefer the high intensity of a plyometric workout like Insanity or any of the plyo workouts in P90X. These test me and quite often leave me bent over sweating on the floor. So when it comes to running I just would do sprints and try and "get it over with" as fast as I could.
That was until I was put on Wake Island for so very long with my only time to get outside in the evening so even I could not sprint every day. I first came up with the plan to do sprints one day, bike the next, and kayak the third and then repeat. It worked for a short time, but after the second bike ride it was obvious that the roads on Wake are just not in good enough shape for you to get a good ride in (at least not without jarring and bouncing the mess out of you) and that the weather was going to be a real factor in if I could get out in a kayak or not.
So I started to put in some regular runs. At first it was the same as it had always been in that it was a struggle to keep my focus and to "feel" like I really got in a good workout. However then it all started to change. As I continued to run and up my distance my body started to improve and how I felt when I ran started to change as well. I started to get that feeling you see on a kids face when they just take off and run for no reason, the feeling of pure joy and happiness. At first I thought it was just a fluke a onetime thing, but as I continued to run I repeatedly would feel that pure sense of joy, just like when I was a little kid and would run just for the heck of it without a care in the world.
I know that this sensation is what people call the "runners high" and it is the brain chemistry releasing endorphins. I also know now that I have been running regularly that it is also the same feeling that you felt when you were a kid and would run "just for the fun of running" because you were happy.

Fitness Is a Choice

I often have wondered why some people struggle so much with their fitness while others seem to follow the same advice and get amazing results. After helping people for the past three years I believe it all comes down to something as simple as saying that "Fitness is a Choice".
We all look at others; famous people, friends, co-workers and wonder how they are able to be in such great shape when we are struggling so much with our own. Take for example someone like the action film star Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. This guy has what appears to be a fantasy life. He has tons of money, is very famous because of his movie roles, and lives a life most people only dream about. He is in unbelievable shape and on the outside it appears that he has the easy life. However when you start to look closer and see what is really happening; this guy is working harder than most people could ever even think of. He works out 5 to 6 days a week no matter where he is at (no excuses for traveling or working a lot of hours) and eats clean and healthy no matter where he is at. He has "made fitness a choice" in his life and that it is important and for him it is. We see the results of all the hard work and assume it is easy for him.
So it all comes down to you either choose to make fitness a priority in your daily life and make a "real" commitment to it or you don't. It is just that simple between being successful at getting into and staying in shape or looking at others and wishing you had what it takes to achieve what they have.
I know that I have taken my fitness seriously and that when I made a commitment to it I was not just hoping or wishing it would happen I was willing to "put in the hard work" to make it happen. I have been working out regularly (regularly being 5-6 times a week) for three years now and I know what it takes. I am just like you. When I have a long day at work and then all evening running around with three teenagers activities followed by a project that has to be done that night and I get only three to four hours sleep that when the alarm goes off I just like you want to lay there and get "just one more hour of sleep"; on those crazy nights I go ahead and get up and do my work out. Why? Because I have "made fitness a choice" in my life and I am committed to it.
When you realize that your fitness and health are just as important in your life as making sure your teeth are brushed, doing well at your job to earn a living, that you have taken a shower, that you help and support your family; then you will have finally realized "what it takes" to be successful and will become "one of those people" that you use to look at and wonder how they stay in such good shape because you will be that person.

Using Proper Medication For Panic Attacks

Even though panic attacks do not pose any real physical threat, they can cause a lot of discomfort and stress to the person suffering from them. Panic attacks are common amongst people suffering from panic disorders and can be treated using proper medication and therapy. Therapies usually focus on changing the behavior patterns or thinking patterns. When both medication and therapies are combined, it has been noticed that relapses are a lot rarer.
There are numerous types of medications available for treating a panic attack or for suppressing the symptoms of an attack. Medications help not only in reducing the severity of an attack, but also in calming the person down and reducing the chances of a subsequent attack.
A common class of medication is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac are some of the most commonly used SSRIs. SSRIs are essentially used for treating depression and they affect the chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which are used by the brain nerves to send messages. Nerves actually release neuro transmitters so that they can be received by other nerves. In case these neurotransmitters are not taken up by any other nerve, then the nerve which was responsible for the release reuptakes them. SSRIs basically prevent this reuptake, so more serotonin and neurotransmitters are available for uptake by other nerves.
Tricyclic anti-depressants (TCA) like Norpramin, Tofranil and Anafranil were used to treat panic attacks before SSRIs were available. The success rate for both SSRIs and TCAs has been pretty much the same. However, studies have shown that SSRIs are safer and patients have a better tolerance level for them. Benzodiazepine is another class of medicine which is used for relieving nervous tension. Ativan, Valium, and Xanax are some of the commonly used benzodiazepines. These medicines are prescribed for immediate use and need to be taken on a daily basis to suppress attacks.
Irrespective of the medicine being used, there is always a risk of side effects, so it is important to consult your doctor before you take any. Also, pregnant women should avoid these medicines because they can harm the fetus. In most cases, medication takes about 6 weeks to have some effect. If there is no improvement after this period, then the dose is increased or the medication is changed. Usually, the treatment period lasts for about a year, and the medication is decreased gradually after this.
Sometimes, certain patients suffer from panic attacks after being removed off the medication. In such cases, the medication is continued for a few more weeks, under the guidance of the physician.

The Importance of Accredited First Aid Training

Accidents and injuries are often the unexpected visitors. You cannot predict when and where it is going to happen. However, it is this unpredictability and the consequences that add to the human cautiousness while encountering such situations. The very idea of first aid comes from such cautiousness. Be it a minor injury or a major accident, first aid is the primary procedure one should resort to. This may include simple to trained techniques for sustaining the life of a person till he or she is aided with proper medical care. It is significant to note that first aid is applicable to injured animals also.
The whole procedure of first aid can be said to have a threefold aim. This includes saving the life, reducing the severity of harm and ultimately aiding towards recovery. Though many of such techniques can be studied with the help of books or via internet, it is always advisable to undergo first aid training classes if you want to understand the procedures in a scientific manner. Though the basic techniques of rescue breathing and chest compression may be taught by the trainer, it is necessary to ensure that the training covers other areas like physical assessment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation etc.
The student can opt for one or more areas of application from a list of many. The various categories may include wound care, injury from poison and animal bites, bleeding control, home aids, bandaging, offering emergency drugs etc. The courses may also come under the categories of infant first aid, outdoor aid courses, pet aid courses etc. However for the best result, it is necessary that they should undergo training under a certified trainer or an accredited training school. This can help to a great extent in getting placed as first aid practitioner in good organizations.
Thanks to the availability of online courses, one can undertake first aid training classes through the internet. For this you may have to register with a recognized school or trainer. There are lots of such health training institutions offering all the course details on their online portals. Most of such course fees are reasonable and you can start with the practice without any further delays. You can also ensure credibility of such courses by contacting the trainer in person or by approaching the previous students. This can help to a great extent in avoiding problems with your training and certification at the end.