Health

Preparing for a Move to an Assited Living Facility

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There comes a time in our lives when the chores of daily living become just get too much for us. Whether it is because of elderly age, medical conditions or just a chance to downsize many people choose to make a move from living in their own homes to living in one of the many assisted living facilities. Assisted living centers are a great place for many elderly people who wish to still have a degree of independence without having to worry about various daily chores such as mowing the lawn or taking care of the maintenance of a house.

Moving to an assisted living center might not seem like a huge change but it can be just as stressful as moving from one house to another. If you or a loved one is prepared to make the move to an assisted living center here are a few tips that you can follow to make that move a bit easier.

Familiarize yourself with the center. Many assisted living centers allow you to tour the centers before you move there. Consider touring the center and familiarizing yourself with the services, community centers and activities that the center provides. This way the place isn’t completely new when you move in.

Start preparing for the move early. Moves can be stressful and nothing is worse than preparing for a move at the last minute. Once you’ve made the decision to move to an assisted living center start making the necessary preparations for the transition. This can include selling or giving away items you will no longer need at the center as well as transferring records and packing up items.

The move to an assisted living facility will still be a bit stressful but following some of the above tips can help make the move as stress free as possible.

Filed Under: Medical Care Facilities Tagged With: Assisted living, Community centre, Facilities, Health, Housekeeping, Old age, Senior Health, United States

Electronic Cigarettes: More Choices for Your Health

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Smoking has been on the rise since 1998. More and more people are picking up the habit, but more people are gaining new health problems from it. Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer, asthma, blood clots and many other diseases. The cause of these diseases isn’t the nicotine itself, but other ingredients in cigarettes.

Regular cigarettes contain more than 590 additives and when burned, the additives change into 4,000 different chemicals. Since a cigarette ignites the additives when you smoke it, you get to inhale all of the chemicals. The primary reason cigarettes contain these additives is because of the tar used in chemicals like ammonia and carbon dioxide. If you are concerned about keeping yourself healthy, you have new choices when it comes to smoking.

The new electronic cigarettes are a good alternative. Not only are they cheaper, but they don’t have those 4,000 chemicals in them. They produce a simple nicotine vapor, giving them the nickname of “personal vaporizer.” Since they produce no second-hand smoke or smell, they can be used anywhere without increasing everyone’s risk of disease. They are perfectly safe to use on airplanes, buses or in your hotel room.

To make sure they everyone knows your electronic cigarette is not a regular cigarette, you can get a wide array of stylish designs and colors. Some electronic cigarettes have green lights instead of the normal ember color at the end, which helps people distinguish the difference from afar.

Some people think that there is too much nicotine in electronic cigarettes and that it may be increasing addiction, but the truth is that the nicotine is regulated in the electronic cigarette cartridge. It is made to emulate a regular cigarette, which has very small amounts of nicotine in it. There are also cartridges for people who are looking to quit that slowly decrease the amount of nicotine in each cartridge.

Filed Under: Medical Care Technology Tagged With: Cigarette, electronic cigarette, Health, Nicotine, Passive smoking, Specific Substances, Tobacco, Tobacco smoking

Enjoy Your Career and Your Life with Travel Nursing

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There’s no doubt about it that we have to work in order to live an enjoyable life. In today’s tough economic circumstances, it seems that many people take a job just to have a paycheck. But how many of us actually enjoy our jobs? Does this sound familiar? Are you in a dead end job because it pays the bills? Do you wish you could travel and experience new cities? If you want to have a fun job in the medical field, with flexibility and freedom, then it’s time to look into travel nursing. Travel nurses make really great money, but they also receive some of the most lucrative benefits in the industry. Here are some of the benefits of this career:

- Great pay. Travel nurses bring in an excellent income. In fact, as a travel nurse you’ll probably make more money than a regular, full-time nurse. Along with a nice paycheck, travel nurses may also receive money for meals and housing.

- Flexibility. When you take on travel nursing, you can travel to many different locations, so you never get bored or complacent. You can live in exciting cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, or other interesting cities around the country.

- Health benefits. Many travel nurses also receive excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance. You could probably get a 401(k) and life insurance as well.

If you’re looking for a fun and exciting career, then you definitely need to consider becoming a travel nurse. Start getting paid what you’re worth while enjoying the world and having the flexibility and freedom you desire. And the best part about being a travel nurse, besides the fun experiences and great money, is that you still have the opportunity to make a difference in the world. You can help those who need medical attention, which also provides you with a fulfilling career.

Filed Under: Medical Care Professionals Tagged With: Employment, Health, Health care, Los Angeles, New York City, Nurse, Nursing, Travel nursing

Improve Your Health by Jumping Rope

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Children jump rope to play and have fun. They donâ€™t think of it as an exercise program. Adults who want to lose weight can take a lesson from them. Adults should view jumping rope as a playful, enjoyable activity that helps them lose weight and get into shape.

There are many benefits for choosing to jump rope for your workout program. You lose weight and improve your cardiovascular system. You save money because jump ropes are cheaper than treadmills or elliptical machines, are readily available at retail stores, and are long lasting.

When you first start a workout program, jump rope for two minutes and rest for two minutes. Gradually increase the length of time to your workout program. Once you can jump for at least five minutes, add different steps to your repertoire.

The basic step is a double bounce for each rope rotation. When you conquer that step, add the heel-tap step. To do this step, jump and land on your right foot while you tap the heel of your left foot on the ground in front of you. On your next jump, switch feet.

When you are ready for another challenge, add the toe-tap step. This is identical to the heel-tap except after each jump you alternate tapping your toes behind you on the ground.

The knee lift is another step you can add to your routine. This is a modification of the basic double bounce step. Do one bounce step. On the second bounce, lift one knee so that your thigh is parallel to the floor. Do another bounce step and on the second bounce lift the opposite knee.

When you have mastered these steps, add the jumping jack step. Jump once and land with your feet spread about two feet apart. On the second jump, bring your feet together as you land. Repeat.

Want to master a challenging trick? Do the front cross. To do this, jump one normal jump. Then, cross your arms in front of you, jump through the loop, then uncross your arms and continue jumping.

Filed Under: Medical Care Programs Tagged With: Business, Foot, Health, Physical exercise, Shopping, Skipping rope, Sport, Weight loss

Issues with Prescription Drugs for Weight Loss

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Weight loss is a serious problem for a majority of Americans. The 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index showed that 63 percent of all adults in the country were obese or overweight. According to the index, one out of every four Americans is obese and nearly four out of every 10 Americans are overweight.

Prescription drugs are one of the tools available to doctors in the weight-loss battle. Experts, however, warn that it’s important to understand that simply making a choice from a prescription drugs list isn’t likely to have any effect on your weight. Instead, the battle against obesity must include a healthy diet and regular exercise. Extra weight is accumulated over many years of little exercise and poor eating habits for most people. Removing the weight often requires a lifestyle change to ensure that any weight loss success is more than temporary.

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say there are a number of issues for the doctor and patient to consider before turning to prescription drugs. It’s important that the patient has first tried to lose weight through diet and exercise. If the extra weight is serious and has led to other complications, such as elevated blood pressure, Mayo Clinic diet experts say that prescription drugs can be helpful in some cases where other methods of losing weight have not been successful. However, they recommend that prescription drugs for weight loss be used only for patients who need to lose at least 5 to 10 percent of their body weight. Additionally, patients should be aware of any potential side effects from the weight loss drugs. The popular weight loss drug Meridia, for example, was shelved in 2010 after studies linked the drug to serious heart attacks. Finally, cost can be a factor as well. Some weight loss drugs are very expensive and are not covered by traditional insurance plans.

Filed Under: Medical Care Research Tagged With: Body weight, Food and Drug Administration, Health, Mayo Clinic, Obesity, Patient, United States, Weight loss

Get Rid of Belly Fat to Improve Your Health

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Waist circumference is a reliable test to measure you health. The smaller your waist, generally the healthier you are. Too assess whether or not your health is at risk, measure your waistline.

To do this, lie down on the floor. Wrap a soft tape measure around your natural waistline, which is above your hipbone but below your belly button. Measure your waist without holding your stomach in or holding your breath. For men, your waist should be less than 40 inches. For women, it should be less than 35 inches. If it is larger, you are at risk for heart disease and other physical problems.

To get rid of belly fat, drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Water increases your bodyâ€™s ability to metabolize fat. Your liver deals with metabolizing fat. If you do not drink enough water, your body makes your liver do the work you kidneys should do. This overworks your liver so it canâ€™t do a good job metabolizing fat. Drinking plenty of water gives your body enough fluids so your liver can do its job.

Some people think that there are magic foods — such as avocados, nuts, olives, and chocolate â€“ that will help them lose belly fat. While these foods do have good fat (monounsaturated), they are high in calories. If you eat too much, you will gain weight instead of losing it.

Increase the amount of whole grains in your diet. A recent study showed that a diet rich in whole grains eliminated extra fat from the waistline. Whole grain foods change the glucose and insulin response of your body making it easier to use stores of body fat. Reduce refined grains and eat a diet that includes more whole grains — and eat five servings of fruits and vegetables.

People think that they have to do hundreds of sit-ups or crunches to flatten their belly. Those exercises will strengthen your stomach muscles but wonâ€™t reduce belly fat. Only by eating a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and exercising at least an hour a day will you truly lose your belly fat.

Filed Under: Medical Care Research Tagged With: Abdominal obesity, Adipose tissue, Fat, Health, Shopping, Waist, Weight loss, Whole grain

Lose Weight by Eating Smaller Portions of Food

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To maintain optimal health, you need to control the serving sizes of the foods that you eat. Nutritionists recommend that you daily eat at least 3 cups of vegetables, 2 cups of fruit, 6 ounces of grains, and 5.5 ounces of meats and beans.

Controlling portion sizes is critical to a successful weight loss program. Large serving sizes result in weight gain. Smaller serving sizes help you to lose weight.

When you sit down at the dinner table, it is difficult to really know what constitutes a cup serving or what is the correct serving size for meats and grains. Here is a simple guide that will help you determine the appropriate size for your servings.

A cup serving is equal to the size of a baseball. Half a cup is equal to the size of a light bulb. One ounce is the size of a golf ball. Three ounces of meat is the size of a deck of cards. Three ounces of fish is the size of your checkbook. One tablespoon (for measuring salad dressings, butter, peanut butter oils, or mayonnaise) is the size of a poker chip.

When eating a baked potato, choose one that is the size of a computer mouse. When eating lunchmeat, it should be the size of a compact disc. Muffins and biscuits should be the size of a hockey puck. One-and-a-half ounces of cheese is the size of three dice stack on top of each other.

When eating dinner, mentally divide your plate into fourths. Vegetables should take up half of your plate. One-fourth of your plate is for your meat and one-fourth is for whole grains. Keeping your different servings within these dimensions will also help you maintain proper serving sizes.

Sweets and special treats should be kept within portion control, too. A piece of chocolate or a brownie should be the size of a package of dental floss. A slice of cake should be no bigger than a deck of cards. One serving size for a cookie is equal to the size of 2 poker chips.

Filed Under: Medical Care Research Tagged With: EAT., Health, Playing card, Portion control (dieting), Programs, Serving size, Shopping, Weight loss

8 Tips for a Clear Complexion

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Your face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders are the places where your skin has the greatest amount of oil glands. It is not surprising that this is where you have the most pimples or blemishes. Since nobody likes to have them, here are 8 tips that you can to do prevent or get rid of most of your acne problems.

Drink plenty of water. This keeps your skin hydrated. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin A and E because these are known to keep your skin healthy.

Do not use facial scrubs with harsh chemicals. Avoid frequent and vigorous washing because it can irritate your skin and make your acne worse. Wash your face twice daily with mild soap and warm water.

Use oil-free soaps. Oil-free soaps won’t cause whiteheads, blackheads, or clog your pores.

For women, use oil-free moisturizer because they won’t clog your pores. Even if you have acne, a good moisturizer adds needed moisture to your face so that your glands won’t have to work hard to compensate for dryness.

Do not use oil-based cosmetics. Use an oil-free foundation instead. Don’t use greasy hair products. When your hair touches your forehead and face, it leaves oil on your skin that clogs pores. Pulling your hair away from your face helps clear up your blemishes.

Don’t touch your face. Your hands carry oils and germs and sweat that can worsen acne. Keep your cell phone from touching your face, too.

Resist the temptation to pop or squeeze your pimples. This delays healing and pushes infected material into the skin causing additional inflammation. It can also lead to scarring.

If your acne is severe, consult a dermatologist. He will prescribe acne medicine that will help clear up your face. Be sure to use as directed to get the best result. Remember, medication won’t work overnight. It usually takes up to eight weeks of daily use for you to see improvement. It may take up to six months for your skin to be totally clear. Be patient and follow your doctor’s orders.

Filed Under: Medical Care Research Tagged With: Acne vulgaris, Beauty, Health, Moisturizer, Pimple, Shopping, Skin, Skin Care

Natural Cold Remedies

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Millions of people get colds every year. Instead of using over-the-counter medicines, many turn to natural cold remedies. There is growing evidence that these alternatives provide relief that isnâ€™t found with the over-the-counter medicine.

But first, stay healthy. The saying â€˜an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cureâ€™ is true. Eat a well-balanced diet. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Get 8 hours of sleep each night. Keep your stress level down. Do something daily â€“ even if it is small â€“ that brings joy into your life.

Here are four natural cold remedies. Taking Echinacea reduces the chances of catching a cold and shortens the length of having a cold by almost one-and-a-half days. If you are allergic to ragweed or certain flowers, consult your doctor before taking it.

If taken as soon as cold symptoms appear, zinc lozenges can shorten the duration of a cold and ease your symptoms. Take the lozenges every two to three hours. Do not take them for a long period of time as it may induce a copper deficiency in your body.

Some studies show that Vitamin C can reduce the duration of a cold by as much as 24 to 36 hours. When you feel yourself coming down with a cold, eat more oranges, drink more orange juice, or take Vitamin C tablets.

Garlic seems to stimulate the immune system, may help fight viruses, and lower your risk of catching a cold. It works best when consumed raw â€“ crushed, diced, or minced. If you donâ€™t like the taste of garlic, take garlic supplements instead. Take them at the first sign of a cold to reduce the severity and duration of your cold symptoms.

There are also two common sense practices that help you to avoid spreading colds. Wash your hands with soap for the length of time that it takes you to sing the alphabet song. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Make sure you cough into your sleeve instead of your hand. This reduces the odds of passing your germs to someone else.

Filed Under: Types Of Medical Care Tagged With: Common cold, Conditions and Diseases, Echinacea, Health, Nutrition, Shopping, Symptom, Vitamin C

Understanding Depression

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At times, everybody experiences sadness, emotional hurts, an injured self-esteem, or struggles to get along with others. This is normal. However, when feelings of being worthless, hopeless, or helpless last for weeks and keep you from functionally normally, your sadness may be more substantial. It could be depression.

Depression is when you have five or more of the following symptoms:

*Insomnia or excessive sleeping every day
*Indecisiveness
*Daily loss of energy
*A depressed mood most of the day, especially in the morning
*Diminished interest in almost all activities nearly everyday
*Recurring thoughts of suicide or death
*A sense of restlessness
*Significant weight gain or weight loss
*Daily feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Researchers have studied the causes of depression. They have found that the hippocampus of people with a history of depression is smaller than people who have never been depressed. A smaller hippocampus has less serotonin receptors which means its capacity to receive Serotonin (known to be a calming brain chemical) is diminished.

Scientists have also discovered that depressed people produce excessive amounts of the stress hormone called cortisol. They believe that cortisol has a toxic effect on the hippocampus, which in turn cause depression in some people.

Studies have found that depression seems to run in families. This suggests that if you have a family member suffering from depression, there is a possibility that you can get it, too. However, scientists have not been able to identify any genetic reasons why depression runs in some families.

Chronic illness such as diabetes, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis sometimes causes depression. It is difficult for sick people to cope day-in and day-out with their illness. The realization of having never ending pain or sickness is difficult to bear and for some people can then lead to depression.

There are other factors that may increase the chance of depression. These factors include previous abuse, certain medications, personal conflict with friends or family members, substance abuse, or major events such as the death of a loved one, divorce, starting a new job, or moving to a new city.

Filed Under: Medical Care Research Tagged With: 5-HT receptor, Depression, Disorders, Health, Hippocampus, Mental health, Mood, Substance abuse