2010 August | Quality of Life

Cellulite Removal Techniques

Research shows that 90% of all women suffer from cellulite, while few men claim to have this problem. There is a great debate as to what actually causes cellulite. While there are some beliefs that it involves toxins under the fatty layer of the skin, recent research focuses on genetics as the main cause. Whatever the cause, the actual cellulite is a result of the fibrous septae (or strands) that connect the skin, located on top of the fat layer, to the fibrous tissues, under the fat layer. The depressions of skin between the fat is what causes the “cottage cheese” look on a person’s body. No matter what the cause of cellulite, there are multiple ways to get rid of this problem.

One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of getting rid of cellulite is liposuction. This procedure may be conducted on the abdominals, hips, thighs, calves, arms, buttocks, back, neck, or face. It may be performed on more than one section of the body at one time. Liposuction is not a solution for losing weight. It is a way to sculpt and smooth out areas of the body affected by cellulite.

Other types of treatment are non-surgical and non-invasive. Diet and exercise are one of the most natural ways to get rid of cellulite. Eliminating sugars, caffeine, alcohol and smoking can help reduce the toxins in the body and aid in fat elimination. Eating more fruits and vegetables along with increasing the amount of water drank on a daily basis will boost the body’s immune system, therefore speeding up the ability to break down fatty tissues. Changing to a healthier way of eating will automatically decrease the amount of fat in the body. Along the same lines, introducing exercise, especially cardiovascular types such as aerobics or running will reduce fat cells in the body. Working up a sweat will speed up metabolism and increase the body’s ability to burn fat after the act of exercising is complete.

Filed Under: Health, Surgery, Treatment Tagged With: Adipose tissue, Cottage cheese, Health, Weight loss

Controlling Food Intake

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Many people are struggling with weight problems. They may not understand that what they eat is effecting the size of their bodies. Controlling their food intake can make a world of difference in controlling a person’s size. Many people who need to reduce their food intake, just need to change the habits that they have formed. Instead of eating when they’re stressed, they can do other things such as exercising or turning to a hobby that they really enjoy. Just changing these few habits, may make if huge difference in how they control their food intake and how their body may appear.

Another thing that can help with reducing food intake, is to replace any unhealthy food with goods that are better for their bodies. They may decide that they don’t want to snack because the foods that they used to snack on are no longer available. When this happens very juicing how much they eat, and helping themselves to stay at a good and healthy weight.

Adding healthy foods can also make the snacking that they may be doing better for them so that they’re not gaining as much weight. Also, they may choose to eat foods that are more filling and better for them. This can help them to not be quite as much as they may have before and it can also help their bodies to feel full which will make them feel happier. They may also enjoyed cooking more because they know that they’re eating better and feeling better.

Another idea to help control food intake, we is to it exercise more often. This will help them to feel more energy and become a little more active. They may not want to eat as much because they are not thinking about food as much and being more active. This also may help them to feel happier and better about themselves which in turn would help them to not eat as much.

Filed Under: General, Health Tagged With: Eating, Food, Snack food, Weight loss

Addiction and Substance Abuse for Adults

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Substance abuse occurs when a person over uses a particular drug to achieve a certain result. Substance abuse and addiction can be cause by a number of different factors. One of the main causes of substance abuse is due to genetic factors. If there is a family history of substance abuse, there is a greater chance you could one day battle drug abuse or addiction. There is also an increased risk of substance abuse and addiction for someone dealing with a mental illness. Those who are one pain medications for certain injuries or illness can also become addicted if medicine use is not properly monitored. One of the most prominent causes of addiction and substance abuse is peer pressure. It can be difficult to “just say no” when the people you are around are pressuring you.

There are many signs and symptoms to look for in someone you think may be dealing with addiction or substance abuse. Not every person who is suffering from substance abuse or addiction exhibits the same symptoms; however, there are a few common ones to look out for that are prominent in most addiction cases. A common symptom is increased irritability and trouble sleeping. Those dealing with addiction may also exhibit slow and inhibited movements and speech. At times they may appear confused or disoriented. Look for sudden weight loss or weight gain, as this too can also be an indicator of addiction and substance abuse.

When a person becomes addicted to a substance they begin to build up a tolerance and more and more of that substance is required to achieve their desired outcome. Once tolerance sets in, it can be extremely painful and difficult should a person decide to stop overusing. Some withdrawal symptoms can range from mild chills, aches and pains to full on hallucinations and psychosis. Many people who are dealing with substance abuse are afraid of withdrawal and its symptoms, thus avoiding recovery.

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab, Treatment Tagged With: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental disorder, Substance abuse

Diet and Lifestyle Changes While Planning a Pregnancy

Planning a pregnancy can be one of the happiest times in the lives of a husband and wife but it can also bring some stress and a lot of other lifestyle changes as well. Those lifestyle changes include a new diet, a new sleeping pattern, new medicine pattern and much more. When a woman becomes pregnant they need to change their diet almost immediately because they will be eating for more than one for the next nine months and the food they put into their body should be as healthy as possible so that the baby grows nice and strong while in the womb.

Visiting a doctor prior to getting pregnant is vitally important because the doctor we be able to tell you whether or not you can carry a baby to a healthy full term. The doctor will also help you understand what types of diet and lifestyle changes you will need to make before and during the pregnancy. Whatever your height is, the doctor will recommend an ideal weight for you to target while living with the pregnancy. If you reach this ideal weight your pregnancy should be much safer and easier to deal with. Women that are underweight and women that are obese can experience fertility problems if they are not at their ideal weight.

Fertility is also influenced negatively by the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products. Any woman wishing to get pregnant needs to quit smoking immediately if they wish to have a child. Women that are pregnant should also not drink one sip of alcohol during their pregnancy and should reduce the amount of prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, and illegal drugs they are using during the pregnancy. A new diet should take effect prior to conceiving the child because it will make the fertility process a whole lot easier.

Filed Under: General, Health Tagged With: Obesity, Pregnancy, Pregnancy and Birth, Reproductive Health

Healthy Foods for the Colon

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Maintaining a healthy colon is one of the most important aspects of living a long and healthy life but this part of daily life is more often than not overlooked by thousands of Americans each year. It is estimated that there will be over 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States come the year 2010 and over 50,000 people will succumb after a battle with colorectal cancer in the country in 2009. Having a healthy colon can help to maintain a healthy weight, provide you with more energy, will eliminate toxins from the body and will flatten the stomach of the person with the healthy colon.

When it comes to keeping your colon healthy the first step in doing so includes eating a healthy diet. This diet should not last one week, or two weeks, or even a couple of months. Instead, this diet should last your entire lifetime if you want your colon to always be healthy enough to keep the rest of your body healthy too. One of the best food groups to include in your healthy diet is fiber. Fiber helps people have more frequent and healthier bowel movements as it absorbs excess undigested food when moving through a person’s system. Fiber cannot be digested, which means that it will be less in fat and calories than other foods we might eat. Eating a good amount of fiber can help to keep a person’s weight down and prevent the onset of diabetes.

Fiber is divided into two main categories, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is fiber that can dissolve in water while insoluble fiber is fiber than cannot dissolve in water. Soluble fiber helps to regulate the blood sugar of a person while insoluble fiber helps to move waste through the intestine while removing toxins from the person’s colon. Insoluble fiber also helps to balance the acidity levels of the person’s large and small intestines.

Filed Under: Health, Rehab, Treatment Tagged With: Colorectal cancer, Dietary fiber, Intestine

Getting X-Rayed In The 21st Century

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In today’s world, getting x-rayed is often a necessary component of most hospital stays and of healthcare in general. Interestingly, the technology is not dramatically different than the first x-ray machines, which were in use in the early 1900s. But, today, getting x-rayed is much safer, much more accurate, and far easier than it was in the past. Let’s examine some of the reasons why.

Picture Quality

The advent of digital technology has benefited x-ray picture quality tremendously. Though traditional film can and still does produce accurate images, using film has some disadvantages. For one, developing an x-ray film takes about a minute, whereas with a digital x-ray, the image pops up on the user’s computer screen almost instantly. So if a retake of the image is required, with film, the patient must wait until the film comes out of the processor. And, since digital picture quality has advanced so rapidly, the accuracy of digital x-ray now rivals that of film. This is particularly important for diagnosis – the better the picture, the more accurately that a physician can ascertain the health of the structures he sees. X-rays are used to diagnose everything from broken bones to pneumonia to cancer, so digital developments have greatly changed healthcare.

Radiation Safety

The worry that x-rays are dangerous due to the levels of radiation involved is a legitimate concern, but in practice, it’s largely unnecessary. Recently, CT scans have come under fire for the high amounts of radiation a patient receives, but with simple x-rays, a person only receives a tiny amount of radiation. Though in theory, even the smallest fraction of radiation can affect cells, there is no real evidence linking normal x-ray exposure to any harmful effects. The one patient that draws the most concern is the pregnant woman; fetuses are the most susceptible of all humans to radiation. Also, any patient of reasonable reproductive age is shielded if possible with lead shielding.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Health care, Technology, X-ray, X-ray computed tomography

Helping a Loved One with a Brain Tumor Diagnosis

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When someone is diagnosed with a brain tumor, it’s a very scary time. Many tumors are benign and not cancerous, but even some of the benign ones need surgery to remove them. That’s especially true if the tumor is growing rapidly and/or causing symptoms like headaches and blurred vision. Depending on where in the brain the tumor is located, there may be other symptoms in other areas of the body. Since the brain and nervous system work so closely together to handle all of the body’s functions, it’s possible that a brain tumor will cause much more than just brain or head symptoms. Keep that in mind when you receive a diagnosis or are trying to help a loved one with a diagnosis.

A person with a brain tumor may be in pain, and can have all sorts of other problems. His personality can also be affected. If you want to help someone with a brain tumor, it’s necessary to understand that he will have good and bad days. He may also be angry or frightened, and these feelings are normal and expected. Getting angry and frustrated with what he may not be able to do is also normal and expected, but try not to show these things to the patient. He is suffering enough and likely uncomfortable with what is taking place in his life.

He may also be facing surgery – and possibly a cancer diagnosis, as well. Just being there is often very helpful. People who are ill and frightened generally don’t want to be left alone. They want to know that someone is there for them and that they have people who will care for them in their time of need. Even though a brain tumor can cause some confusion, most people have a clear understanding of what’s taking place with their condition and diagnosis. If you’re caring for someone who’s confused at times, just help guide him through those times as much as possible. Surgery – if it’s an option – will generally clear up that problem and restore understanding and normal function.

Filed Under: Health, Rehab, Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: Brain tumor, Conditions and Diseases, Surgery

Self Esteem And Mental Health

In today’s stressful world, maintaining good mental health is crucial. It’s the information age. Our ability to earn a living increasingly depends on how versatile and adaptable our minds are. As technology and globalization transform the workplace, the winners will be those who can reinvent themselves as needed. To handle this kind of reinvention, we need to trust our minds and firmly believe that we deserve happiness and prosperity. We need high self-esteem. But what is self-esteem? In the media, and in popular culture, self-esteem has become trivialized, with a blurred definition. Some view it as a “feel good” philosophy that entails praising or loving everyone. But real self-esteem is much more than that.

A Definition

To paraphrase Nathaniel Branden, a psychologist who has been writing about self-esteem for decades, self-esteem is the condition of trusting our minds and believing that we deserve happiness. Such a philosophy is perhaps innate, but for most people, it must be worked on, due to the negativity that most of us encounter as we grow up. Branden argues that we must practice what he calls the “pillars” of self-esteem in order to maintain and build it. These pillars include concepts like self-awareness, self-responsibility, assertiveness, and integrity. Working on these pillars allows a person to increase his self-esteem.

The Rewards Of Self-Esteem

The person with high self-esteem take pleasure in being alive. He trusts his mind, and is able to act quickly, learn easily, and adapt to a changing world. His belief that he is worthy of happiness makes it easy for him to find and experience joy. Such a person experiences good mental health as a natural consequence of his high self-esteem. And though no one is immune to the unpredictability of life, with a strong foundation of mental health, one can more easily handle life’s ups and downs.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Health, Mental health, Self-esteem

Can Headaches Mean a Brain Tumor?

Having bad headaches can be very scary. In addition to the pain they cause you, there’s always the possibility that they could be a symptom of something serious. For most people, headaches are caused by things like sinus pressure and stress. There are other common causes, as well, and most of them are simple. They aren’t dangerous, even though they may be uncomfortable. Over-the-counter medications usually treat them quite effectively, although some types of headaches may need prescription medications to control pain. A lot of people who have migraines use prescription treatments given to them by their doctors so they can get through the worst of their headaches.

If you have headaches that don’t respond to treatment, it may be wise to have them checked out. While it’s unlikely that a brain tumor is causing them, it’s also not impossible. Before you panic and assume the worst, go and get a formal diagnosis. Find out what is causing the pain you’re experiencing. That’s especially important if you’re also dealing with blurry vision, dizziness, fainting, odd smells that are unrelated to your surroundings, or other anomalies. Usually there are other explanations for these things, but making sure is a good idea.

If you are found to have a brain tumor, ask questions. Find out what the next step is. Some tumors require surgery, and some do not. Many of them are benign and not malignant, or cancerous. Even cancerous brain tumors can be treated effectively in many cases. While it’s certainly a scary and trying diagnosis, it’s not a death sentence and shouldn’t be thought of as such. There are many options for people who have brain tumors. Some of these ‘cure’ them, and others only buy more time – but new developments are being discovered and worked on all the time. Giving up hope is not the right choice. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a brain tumor or only with headaches, there are treatment options that you can explore and that can give you a better quality of life. Be sure to ask your doctor about all your options.

Filed Under: General, Health, News & Events, Tumor Tagged With: Blurred vision, Brain tumor, Conditions and Diseases

Tips For Increasing Your Mental Health

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Most of us think about our physical health a lot. We go to the gym, run, try to eat healthy, and get checkups at the doctor’s. But, how many of us take the same care with our mental health? Isn’t mental health just as important as physical health? Obviously, yes: the health of our minds makes a tremendous impact on our lives. Unfortunately, few people have a regimen for maintaining or increasing mental health. But there are many things we can do to improve our mental health if we accept that good mental health is not an automatic condition. We can take an active rather than a passive role towards our mental health, and set goals regarding it, just like we would set a running race goal.

Staying Positive

The power of thinking positively has been the subject (and even title) of many books because it is really an effective concept. If we keep our thoughts and words positive and avoid negativity and criticism, we really do make it more likely that good things will happen to us. If this idea seems doubtful, consider an archer aiming at the bulls-eye of a target that is several meters away. If the archer thinks positively, saying to himself something like “I’ll hit the bull-eye” or “this is a great shot for me” versus saying “I’m a bad shot”, which statement do you think will make it more likely that he’ll hit the target? This concept extends to all areas of life, not just athletics or games involving physical skill. It’s therefore helpful to try to catch ourselves if we’re indulging in “doom and gloom” thinking, and to replace such thinking with more affirmative thoughts. An additional benefit is that we feel better if we’re kinder to ourselves, and thinking positively versus criticizing ourselves is much kinder.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Australia, Health, Mental health