Where do people with chronic illness stand when it comes to medicine and religion. I know that there are chapels in several major hospitals. Do the doctors believe that it helps to have religion or prayer when dealing with diseases that don’t follow normal medical treatments? MS is so unpredictable it is my opinion they do think it helps the patients’ frame of mind.

I never really believed in religion. Several months after I got my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis prayer became an important part of my life. I now wonder how I ever did without it. I get a sense of relief knowing that I don’t have to carry the weight of the whole disease on my shoulders. I once heard that a problem shared is a problem halved.

Living with a debilitating disease presents problems that some medical people can’t relate to. They may no the theory of the disease but the feelings about it are foreign to them. When having a High Power to believe in it makes life a little more bearable. My day starts by asking for help to get through the day and the end of the day is a thank you. If I didn’t have that I am sure I would lose my mind on those days where my arms and legs don’t want to cooperate. Then there are the days when I have vertigo so bad that I feel like I have a major hangover.

The best thing about having something to believe in is that I am never alone the Higher Power is always with me and will never leave me. I remember a time when I was first diagnosed and felt so depressed and angry. I kept thinking why me? A very wise person said to me “Why not You.” Stronger people get bigger problems. Now, I am no stronger than anybody else is. I know that my strength comes from people, prayer and believing that by keeping my mind alive that I have a chance a being around long enough to see a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Stress has three stages: (1) the alarm or shock reaction, (2) the resistance or numbing reaction, and (3) the exhaustion state. These stages are not always in neat, organized form. Our reactions to stress can be strong or mild. The stages can take place in a few days or may take longer. Each of us will react differently, depending upon how our mind and body experiences and deals with information.

Of particular importance is the resistance or numbing stage. During times of severe, unusual, and prolonged stress, our mind cannot make sense of what has happened, and so it does not want any more information. When our body sensations are too intense or too numerous, the brain sends a message to close the gate; and the messages from the body to the brain are blocked. Lacking a power surge device, we simply shut-down.

Although shutting down is the result of overload. There are other contributing factors. Many times we do not want to deal with something so frightening. The current events may remind us of other things that happened in our past, even though they are seemingly unrelated. We feel helpless and scared. Most of all, we do not know what to do or what will happen next.

This creates a complex situation. As organisms, we need balance and homeostasis to survive. That means we need to relieve the symptoms of stress over load. However, if we go for an extended period of time without the required neural-chemical conditions, our mental and physical health is jeopardized.

Although logic suggests the numbing stage could provide time to figure out what has just happened and what to do about it, the down time means we have numbed all of our senses. We do not see as clearly. We do not hear as well. Our reflexes are slower and less accurate. The body’s signals for food and water go unnoticed. We forget to take care of ourselfwhen we do not feel those signals.

The surprise is that often we think we are doing great and that the shocking event did not affect us. Well, the only thing is that we suddenly realize we can’t understand the salesperson when he says our bill is $4.27. We just stare at him. Maybe we forget what we were thinking about one minute and then realize we weren’t thinking of anything after all. If we pay attention, we find clues that we are not, as on the mark, as we thought.

HOW ARE YOU?

Please take a minute now and check how you are doing. Taking care of yourself is important, especially during stressful times. Sometimes when we have stress, we forget to remember about ourself. This minute is just for you.

Inhale and exhale very slowly… One more time. Breathe slowly. Let your exhale be longer than your inhaling. Sometimes when we are stressed and worried, we forget how important it is to exhale…

Notice how your body feels. Is your head clear or swarming? You may have noticed some weariness today, or a numbness. Are you less able to sit still? Do you feel as if you are sitting on the edge of your chair, ready to leave?

You may be wanting to have time alone, or do not want to leave someone’s side. Maybe you feel fine and then discover that you forgot your pin number at the bank. Your head may seem crowded and, yet, you can’t find your thoughts. Maybe everything seems urgent; maybe nothing seems very important at all. Tears may surprise you in the middle of a song or quiet moment.

If you read enough bodybuilding magazines, you may think that you don’t have a chance of building a good body without taking lots of expensive supplements. The truth is, you don’t need any—especially if you eat a healthful diet with the right amount of calories and nutrients. This is not to say that supplements do no good, just that they are not necessary. And most of them really are a waste of money.

Let’s start with the simplest and cheapest, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients will not help you with your workouts unless you are deficient in them and are remedying that deficiency. Most nutrition experts say there is no evidence active people need more vitamins and minerals, but there are dissenting opinions, especially regarding antioxidants. To play safe, you can take a multi-vitamin and mineral pill that provides no more than the recommended daily allowance. This will cover you in case your diet is lacking in something, and in case active people do need more. Do not supplement beyond the RDA for minerals, which can be toxic in high doses. If you eat fortified cereals or energy bars, make sure you add in the supplemental nutrients you get from them when deciding if you need more.

Energy bars and sports drinks are considered to act as supplements. You do not need these, but they can be convenient. (Endurance athletes may need sports drinks, but weight trainees don’t.) Energy bars can be useful as a snack or meal replacement when you don’t have time to get regular food. Remember, you don’t want to miss a meal or go too long without eating. An energy bar holds up well in your pocket or briefcase, which is more than you can say for a banana. A protein bar is a protein supplement, not a true energy bar. Energy comes from carbohydrates, although a mixture of macronutrients works best. Both energy bars and sports drinks add to your intake of calories, so be sure to count those in. By sports drinks, I mean hydration beverages of about 6% carbohydrate, like Gatorade. There are also energy drinks that have all kinds of things in them and are usually quite expensive. Read the label and decide if you want to put that in your body.

Most of us don’t need separate protein supplements. There are a lot of these on the market, usually in powdered form. If you are on a low calorie diet (which I don’t recommend) or if you are a strict vegetarian (vegan) you may want to try a supplement. Whey with a little casein is best. Soy protein is also good. It is hard to get a lot of protein without getting a lot of fat as well, unless you eat dozens of egg whites, so protein powders may be helpful there. Always read the label to see what you’re getting, consider the rest of your diet, and remember that 1 gram protein per pound of body weight (2 g/kg) a day is all your body can assimilate—and that should be taken throughout the day, not all at once.

If you want to gain weight and just can’t do it with real food, you may want to check out the various weight gainer supplements. These are usually high calorie meal replacements. Some are ridiculously high in calories. You may want to use one for a few hundred calories, but not for thousands. These do not replace real food. Read the label and see what you’re getting overall, not just the calories.

Of all the specialized muscle building supplements, the only one we know works is creatine monohydrate. The sports medicine literature now has quite a few studies, most of which show it is effective in increasing performance for strength athletes, such as weightlifters, shot putters, and sprinters, but not for endurance athletes. Creatine adds some muscle, and some weight, and helps you work out harder. It is far less popular among women than among men because of the weight gain involved. About 20% of those who take it see no effects, and some stop taking it because of gastrointestinal problems. It appears to be safe, but has not been proven for really long-term use, and most people cycle it, either a month on and a month off, or only when getting ready for sports season. I do not recommend creatine except for advanced lifters who have reached a plateau. It should not be taken by anyone under 16 and athletes from 16-18 should only take it under medical supervision. If you use the loading protocol described on the label, you should see results in a week. If you don’t, you’re not going to. Do not take more than the recommended dosage. It won’t help, and it may hurt. Do not take this or any other performance supplement without first consulting with your doctor.

Most of the other supplements that got a lot of early press have not panned out. Studies that showed muscle building properties from chromium picolinate were done by the patent holder, and nobody else has been able to get the same results. The amount of pyruvate used in the studies that seemed promising is not practical for normal use. Results with supplemental L-carnitine have been mixed, and if it works at all, it would probably be with endurance exercise. HMB has seemed to help recovery in some studies, but not others. It seems safe, so if you want to try it, it’s probably ok, but expensive. Claims have been made for ribose, but I haven’t seen anything convincing yet. Human growth hormone has medical therapeutic uses but it is expensive and has extreme side effects. The studies showing it works for improving body composition all used an injectable version. There is no evidence that capsules meant to encourage the pituitary to produce more do anything at all. Ephedra is not used for muscle building, but rather for fat loss and “leaning out.” It can be dangerous and I recommend you avoid it. There are better ways to lose weight.

If you use any muscle building products, buy from a reputable manufacturer and don’t shop for the cheapest. Always read and follow the instructions and warnings on the label. Twinlabs and EAS do not want to kill you. Some people like the products that are mixtures of many ingredients. From a reputable manufacturer, they are probably safe and may be effective. See what’s in them, and decide if the extra ingredients are worth the cost.

Remember, none of these products or supplements replaces a healthful diet, adequate rest, and consistent exercise. Always read the label and consult with your doctor before using them.

For children older than ten years, having some basic first aid knowledge can help save lives when adults may not be available. Many youth groups offer to teach first aid to children, particularly the boy and girl scouts.

But, if your kids are not part of these types of groups, you should tell them how to do first aid or let them take classes in first aid instruction.

Basic First Aid

Your children can be taught such basic first aid techniques as treating minor wounds or insect bites to caring for a person who has been severely injured. Children are capable of accomplishing many tasks that will result in a safer environment for them and their friends.

1. Kids often get bitten by animals. Animal bites might be from domesticated dogs or cats, or more seriously, from poisonous snakes or other wild animals.

A) Children are most commonly bitten by dogs or cats. If your child is bitten by a domesticated pet, clean the wound well with soap and water. Apply alcohol or tea tree oil to wipe off any microbes from the wound. Ensure that the family pet, whether it is a dog or cat, has had all the required shots, especially the rabies shot. There may be times that your child might need to be seen by a physician to get a tetanus booster shot, especially if he or she has not been vaccinated during the past five years.

B) You should prevent a wild animal bite. Wild animals generally run away from humans because of fear, but if cornered and threatened, animals can and will bite. If an animal acts out of the ordinary and does not run away from humans, you should assume something is wrong and keep your distance.

It might be infected with rabies, which is a dangerous viral sickness involving all mammals, including people. Rabies infection occurs only when saliva enters the bloodstream via bites. The most dangerous rabies carriers are skunks and raccoons. If your child is bitten by a wild animal, treat the wound as you would treat a bite by a cat or dog. Clean the bite and surrounding area with soap and water followed by an application of tea tree oil or rubbing alcohol. Take your kid to the physician right away! Wild animal bites can be especially dangerous because of rabies. Common practice, when treating someone whose been bitten by a while animal, is for the physician to administer a series of anti-rabies shots. The rabies shot for people is different from the rabies shot for your dog or cat. There is a series of painful injections done abdominally for the prevention of rabies in humans.

C) Reptile and snake bites can be very dangerous. If poisonous snakes are in the area where you live, tell your children about this, since some poisonous snakes can kill very fast, specifically a child. Instruct your children on why touching snakes can be dangerous. It is better to prevent than cure. Also, if you reside in some areas of America or Australia, you have to be careful of lizards. For example, in the US, the guilla monster is a very dangerous lizard in the deserts of the southwest. While it’s not poisonous, it does have deadly bacteria in its mouth to aid in digestion of its food. There is no known cure or antibiotic for these fatal bacteria if they get into your child’s bloodstream. Children growing up in the American Midwest may encounter snapping turtles, but these are very dangerous creatures. A large snapping turtle has a bite strong enough to remove a finger. Wash a snake bite wound with water only if you are sure the snake is not poisonous. If you reside in a location with deadly snakes, learn about snake identification on your own with your children. This is absolutely necessary. If your child is bitten by a poisonous snake, immediately take him or her to the ER to receive the venom antidote.

2. Children are commonly scratched or cut wherever they play. Children are often accident prone, and getting cut by falling out of trees, off bicycles, or just on the ground when playing is fairly common. Scratches are minor wounds that break skin without damaging the muscular tissue below. Wash scrapes and scratches with soap and water and them apply tea tree oil or rubbing alcohol with a clean cotton swab. You can have a serious or a minor cut. Some cuts that are deeper than scratches may require the same treatment. Larger cuts must be cleaned using soap and water and then rubbing alcohol or tea tree oil should be used for treatment, followed by placing a Band-Aid over the wound. Deep cuts requiring a trip to the emergency room often result in stitches.

3. Kids often get burns. The severity of a burn is rated by the degree. The mildest are first degree burns and usually happen with children who accidentally touch a stove.

If you have a first degree burn, it will sting for a little bit, but it can be treated simply by soaking the affected area in cold water. A second degree burn is more serious and often results in skin blisters. These burns should be held under cold water as well but should also receive medical care. The most severe burns, third degree, affect the skin as well as the underlying muscle. Under the worst circumstances, third degree burns can result in a lost limb. If there is any chance that your child has suffered third degree burns, take him or her to the hospital right away.

4. It can be dangerous for kids to choke. Instruct your older children on performing the Heimlich maneuver. The Heimlich maneuver removes objects lodged in the trachea, like candy, food, or toys, by forcing the air in the lungs quickly up through the windpipe. This can help save someone’s life. One of the top causes of death for children is choking so it is necessary to be familiar with the Heimlich maneuver.

What is the Best Option for Diabetics to Treat Heart Disease?

In order to open up their clogged arteries, angioplasty has been recommended by some doctors for those diabetics with heart disease; this has been the case for years. Angioplasty is highly priced and a balloon is used for widening blocked coronaries. During or after the surgery, there is up to a five percent risk of heart attack and a two percent mortality rate, even though the procedure is generally regarded as safe. Sometimes the artery clogs up during the operation; if that happens, then bypass surgery has to be done.

The results of this study indicate that medications can be used to treat heart disease in diabetics just as effectively, if the disease is considered to be mild or moderate. Frequently doctors and patients searching for a “fast treatment” decide to use angioplasty to help with diabetic heart disease, but this procedure is risky because there is a one out of twenty chance of a heart attack. There may be a greater risk of problems for Diabetics certainly if they have an underlying kidney problem or another type of problem that is related to diabetes. Elderly people, women and people with medical ailments may have a greater risk.

Heart Disease Treatment for Diabetics

To treat heart disease in diabetics there are several medications available, which is very fortunate. Typically statins are used to bring cholesterol levels down and decrease the basic risk of heart attack.

Various medications called ACE inhibitors support blood pressure reduction and can also be used as a remedy for heart disease in diabetics. While the type of medication prescribed is based on the needs of the individual, the results of this study imply that utilizing the correct combination of medications may reduce the risk of heart attack and deaths related to heart problems just as well as angioplasty does.

Diabetics With Heart Disease:  The Conclusion?

If heart disease is a major problem for you, the best option may be angioplasty, but if heart disease is a minor problem, medications could be used safely as an effective treatment for your symptoms. To decide which option is the best choice for you, speak with your doctor.

I don’t have hard evidence, but I bet this concept alone could add a healthy year or two to your life as each becomes an occasion for a healthy doctoring adventure. Slow down and doctor it. How about exchanging three scoops of ice cream for two scoops with half a banana covered with lecithin or chopped cantaloupe?

Soon the fresh vital foods will squeeze out the others. Let every step back become a zone for promoting your health! More food for thought: these concepts can apply to other aspects of life, too!

Slow down and doctor it up. Doctor up your destiny!

See more: Diet Pills Planet

Over the years following the discovery of pheromones, scientists did more research into it and learned that a certain sort of pheromone was common to both men and women. The female pheromone is known as Androstenol and the male pheromone is known as Androstenone. The effects are the same even when the pheromone is specific to either sex.

When pheromones are released through the sweat glands, they give off a slight sweet scent that can be detected by the Vomeronasal Organ (VNO), also called the Jacobson’s organ, which is found in the nose. Pheromones will send signals to the brain that will trigger many different responses while emitting no odor.

The pheromones and androstenones in men have been proven to have effects on women of both a physiological and psychological nature. A study was conducted that demonstrated the effect that male sweat has when exposed to women. They assembled a group of male volunteers and had them use unscented soaps when showering; they also asked them to stop using deodorant for a month.

Sweat was extracted from the armpits of the volunteers and then combined together by the researchers. So that the subject’s reactions are generalized as opposed to a reaction to one specific male volunteer, the extracts are combined. Eighteen female subjects, ranging in age from 23 to 48 years of age, will then have the extract applied underneath their noses. The women were asked to use a fixed scale in order to rate their moods after six hours. And sure enough, when exposed to male pheromones, the subjects’ moods were uplifted, with stress and relaxation intensified. The female subjects were not aware they were being exposed to male sweat instead of alcohol or perfume.

Dr. Winifred Cutler claims that those who wear pheromones feel more attractive sexually because they are known sexual attractants.

Scientists have proven that, so far, humans will use pheromones the same way that animals will to attract a mate. In addition to heightening sexual responsiveness, it will also elevate sex appeal and romantic feelings towards the opposite sex. When it comes to heightening attraction between two people, it is also helpful, as it promotes a feeling of calmness and trust that is essential to fostering a relationship.

See more on Human Euphoria Pheromones

This kind of infection is the one that is most frequently seen. Let’s examine the causes and the symptoms, as well as what can be done to help prevent them.

I realized as I headed to the bathroom for the third time that hour, that I was experiencing the symptoms of still another urinary tract infection, or UTI, but I know that I am not alone in experiencing these. The most frequently diagnosed infection is a urinary tract infection, and women are more likely than men to develop a UTI; half of all women will develop at least one UTI in their lifetimes. Only rarely do men or children develop UTIs, but the symptoms and outcomes of these infections can be quite severe. Women who are pregnant have a higher risk and should be watched carefully for symptoms, because infections can be very dangerous to the mother, sometimes causing premature labor, as well as to the infant, who may as a result be born with a lower birth weight.

How do people get UTIs and what makes them occur so commonly? Essentially, a UTI can be explained as an infection that occurs in one or more organs of the urinary system, which includes your kidneys, ureters, urethra, and bladder. A number of factors, including kidney stones (which block the urinary tract, increasing the number of bacteria and the amount of toxic materials that build up and cannot be eliminated), increase a person’s risk of developing a UTI. Persons whose immune systems have been compromised as a result of diabetes, cancer, a virus, or a medication that lowers their immune system are more vulnerable. Additionally, in women, sexual activity increases the chance of an infection. In men, prostate enlargement increases the likelihood of a UTI.

How can you be sure that you are experiencing a UTI? The majority of people develop very specific symptoms, but the nature of the symptoms sometimes differs a bit depending on whether the bacteria are located in the upper or lower urinary tract. Feeling one or more of the following symptoms may indicate that you are suffering from a lower UTI: a burning feeling during urination, frequently feeling the need to urinate but not being able to produce very much urine, dull pain in the lower abdomen, or a slight fever. Upper tract UTIs feature symptoms of much greater seriousness; persons suffering from these may develop high fevers that are often associated with backaches, chilling, and vomiting.

If you develop any of these symptoms, see your primary care provider. When you examine your urine visually, you will find it is cloudy, and it may even smell bad. You will probably be asked to provide a sample of your urine collected in midstream, which will be taken to the laboratory so that the bacterium causing the infection can be identified. After the organism has been identified, a test known as an antibiotic sensitivity assay needs to be done to identify which antibiotic would be most effective in killing the infecting bacterium. Giving a person an antibiotic if their infection is resistant to that medicine is pointless.

The best method of treatment includes taking the right antibiotic to treat the infection and taking it until it is completely gone, as well as taking proper measures to prevent further recurrences of UTIs. Antibiotics that are commonly used to treat this problem include generic amoxicillin and nitrofurantoin. If your symptoms don’t improve or resolve, you may need another round of medication. Although it is difficult to prevent a UTI, there are some things you can do to lower your risk or prevent further infection including: flushing out bacteria and toxins by drinking lots of water, emptying your bladder completely, and urinating when you feel the need to instead of holding it. In addition, be sure to carefully clean your genitals on a regular basis, as well as prior to and after having sexual relations. If UTIs are not properly treated, they can result in serious harm to the kidneys and even blood poisoning, so treatment is essential.

Taking five Propecia tablets to mimic the effects of Proscar is not wise because various other ingredients are present in these drugs. So how do the two drugs differ? Proscar is used in the treatment of an enlarged prostate in males. For men, Proscar stops testosterone from transforming into a chemical called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. It has been proven that Proscar is effective in preventing or delaying prostate cancer in approximately 23% of men who were thought to be candidates to develop this kind of cancer. But Propecia is used to treat a condition referred to as male pattern baldness. Propecia functions by working in conjunction with the normal growth and shedding of hair in men. Within three months of beginning treatment with Propecia, the loss of hair should slow or stop altogether. If Propecia is working well for you, you need to think about not letting the prescription run out. If for any reason you no longer take the medication, most likely the hair loss problem will return within a year, and it will be similar to the problem that was present before medical intervention.

Finasteride is a prescription medication and must be prescribed by a physician or obtained via online pharmacies. Just like many medications, Propecia and Proscar both have several side effects. While the body adjusts to the medication, men may experience loss of libido, decrease in semen and hypersensitivity and minor rashes. Therefore, in order to be able to make an informed decision, you would have to examine the advantages and disadvantages of these medications.

Chronic pain is a lot more complex. Pain lasting for over six months is considered chronic. It is typically combined with sleep problems, loss of appetite or loss of interest in food, weight gains and losses, lower sex drive and depression, just to state some of the side effects.

On a daily basis, over 51 million American men, women, and children, live with disruptive chronic pain. 53% state that pain negatively affects their job, via lower productivity and the inability to work a whole day, and even their chances for promotions. More than half state that pain negatively affects their personal lives and day to day affairs, and 2/3 claim that pain affects their capacity to work out as well as affecting their sleeping. Finally, more than two thirds stated that the pain results in moodiness, stress, and less motivation and drive.

While the vast majority of those who experience pain eventually consult their physicians about it, almost half put it off due to the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the medical community toward pain.

It was thought for quite some time that pain was an unavoidable part of the aging process, leading to the under-treatment of most pain. The reason for this is due to the fact that doctors learn how to treat illness and not their symptoms.

People are always looking for ways to lessen their pain. Around half of people are taking prescription drugs, while the other half treat themselves buying prescription drugs at online pharmacies. Still, 88% of these individuals had some kind of side effect from the medication, with sleepiness and nausea being the most common.

This means that 62% of the majority of prescription-medication users are not taking there medications correctly.

Pain is very personal and varies from one to another. It is impossible to quantify pain. Diagnostic testing, x-rays, MRIs, range of motion tests, etc. typically can show the probable causes of the pain, but they can’t tell how much pain you might have.

Pain scales in which your rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being the absence of pain and 10 being the worst imaginable pain, can assist in the quantification and treatment of pain. However, pain ratings are subjective and a rating of 5 may have a different meaning for two people who suffer from the same condition. This is why pain scales are useful to measure a person’s pain and shouldn’t be compared to someone else.

What are your options?

Learn about it. Educated yourself as much as possible about the pain you are experiencing and what your choices for treatment are. The lengthy amount of “issues” that can occur is one of the biggest problems with chronic pain. Think about stress. The body has a more difficult time healing when it is under stress. Experiencing pain every day can increase your stress levels. And so begins a tricky problem–living with stress causes more stress and your pain tolerance decreases as a result of stress. This might by why we witness so many chronic pain sufferers that don’t get relief from the usual treatments. Also, 85% of people in pain don’t look for different methods of pain management.

Look for alternative treatment methods. There are tons of options that vary from the norm. You might get relief from a massage, acupuncture or a chiropractor evaluation. Don’t rule out any methods just because you are not familiar with them.

Join a chronic pain group that is for people with similar problems. You will be shocked to learn how many people also have the same condition. You might get some helpful suggestions from people with similar past experiences.

Remain active. Stress and pain perception can be reduced with regular exercise. Do you have problems completing your normal workout? Work within your threshold for pain or experiment with something new like the gentler exercise of Tai Chi. You should not let pain keep you from functioning, as you will only feel worse.

Record information about it. You should record when each pain episode occurred and what may have caused it. What kinds of activities or things alleviate or lower your pain? It might be something you eat or do, perhaps it’s even increased stress. Documenting the situations that cause you pain can help you avoid them in the future.

Be truthful with yourself. Pain does not reflect someone’s strength. It can be anywhere from debilitating to just annoying. Understand and accept the limitations you have. You have to learn to try to live with the pain and continue with your life.

Pain is a genuine problem and there are many of us who suffer from it. Pain can occur on a chronic basis or just every so often, as well as being either physical or psychological. Remember that pain means that there is a problem.

There will always be pain in the world, and you aren’t alone.