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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Anxiety and Panic Attacks

By Jack Collins

Anxiety and panic attacks are related but have their own unique symptoms. Both conditions cause problems if the symptoms become extreme. If they do, then that's the time to find treatment.

Anxiety is normal and is simply a reaction to stress. It is something that can help someone deal with tense situations in different areas of one's life, such as at work, school, or just something that requires facing a crowd of people. But if anxiety becomes a fear of everyday situations, it has become a life-changing disorder.

Panic attacks and anxiety differ in the fact that, while anxiety usually builds to a point, panic attacks can hit at any time with no warning. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of overwhelming fear of something that cannot be named. There is rarely any obvious reason for the feelings of panic, and is much more intense than the feelings of anxiety or being overly stressed.

One out of every 75 people in the world will have a panic attack at some point in their lives. The good news is that most of these adults will never have another panic attack. However, these statistics show that panic attacks and anxiety are the most common emotional disorders, even more so than bipolar disorders, ADHD, depression, OCD schizophrenia, phobias, and alcohol abuse. In addition to this, people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders rarely go looking for help with their problem.

There are some similarities between the two disorders as well as the fact that anxiety can lead to panic attacks. If you experience enough anxiety about something, it can easily become serious and intense enough to work into a full blown panic attack. This is why if you notice yourself starting to be overly anxious about something, or just life in general, it is time to seek help in getting it under control before it becomes too much for you to handle.

Panic attacks and anxiety are not pleasant and can actually become quite debilitating. However, anyone who suffers from either or both of these should take heart in knowing that there is help available to enable the person with this disorder to lead a normal life. All it takes is asking for the help you need.

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Need a Good Night's Sleep? Consider the Best Cures for Snoring

By Lacy Kasmond

Continuous nights without sleep have forced many people to ask the question: What is the best cure for snoring? Have you discovered that snoring strains your relationship with your spouse? Do you find it also causes problems for you throughout the day. If so, it is because a good nights sleep is necessary for your physical and emotional health. This makes finding a cure for snoring very important to you and your sleep deprived partner.

Numerous snoring cures have been tried and re-tried over the years. The best place to start finding a cure is to talk with your doctor about the options available to you. A medical professional should be able to determine what is causing your snoring problem. Ultimately, if you have any serious medical condition that is causing you to snore, you need to get it treated, Why? Because snoring, left untreated, can lead to serious health problems.

Think about it. It is counterproductive to search for the "best cure" for snoring if you don't know what's causing you to snore in the first place. You could possibly have an issue with a soft palate. Or it may be problem tonsils are causing you to snore. If these issues are the culprit, your doctor may be able to perform a minor surgical procedure to correct the problem and this may be your best cure for snoring. The chances are no natural remedy will cure these medical conditions.

You might be diagnosed with a deviated septum. A simple surgical repair may relieve your snoring by unblocking the air passages through your nose. It takes a doctor to tell you if this is your problem and how it can be solved.

You probably don't want to hear it, but sleep apnea is another possibility. Your doctor will probably ask your mate if there are intervals during the night when you make no sound. If so, this is a likely symptom of sleep apnea. Please take this diagnosis very seriously if your physician tells you this is the cause of your snoring. Sleep apnea can be a serious medical condition. Why?

Simply put, sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing during the night, which in turn forces bursts of air through the air passages which results in snoring. Testing at a sleep study lab is required to confirm sleep apnea. For persons diagnosed with sleep apnea the best cure for snoring involves using a CPAP mask to breathe properly during sleep.

Remember, you can't find the best cure for snoring without knowing what is causing the snoring in the first place. Sure, everyone would like a non-evasive natural solution to their snore problem. But sometimes snoring may be caused by a medical condition that can best be treated to a doctor.

That being said, always tell your doctor you would prefer a natural treatment, if available. If surgery is recommended, you should feel free to get a second opinion from a specialist. But in the end, the best cure for snoring may require a medical procedure, and this should not be discounted just because you instinctively hoped for a simpler remedy. Your health and welfare are are at stake. Both you and your sleep partner need a good night's sleep!

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Looking Back At Health Insurance And Health Care In 2008

By Ethan Kalvin

That there has been an elevated level of interest in health care and health insurance across the country should come as no surprise. So it could be expected that 2008 brought an unusually large amount of legislation activity to the issues, clearly led on by public persuasion.

On the food front, California became the first state to ban the use of trans fats in restaurants. Under the law, all businesses classified as food facilities will be required to stop using shortenings and oils containing trans fats. Then in May, McDonalds announced they would stop using trans fatty oils in their french fries and baked goods in all of their restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. And finally chocolate got a good rap. It was determined that dark chocolate does have health benefits, including lower blood pressure and better blood circulation.

On the state level there was much activity. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, after pushing aggressively for a comprehensive health care reform, vetoed legislation that would have provided a single payer system. It was his second veto in three years of a similar plan. Across the country in Florida, Governor Charlie Crist was able to pass a law that will provide residents with affordable coverage through a new Florida health insurance program. Meanwhile, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle axed the state's universal health insurance program for children, due to budget constraints. And in Massachusetts, due to skyrocketing costs, lawmakers were forced to raise premiums for the state-subsidized health insurance program.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Barack Obama committed to making health care reform one of his top priorities. As the President-elect, he moved swiftly in that direction, naming former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle as his choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Daschle has long considered health care to be of greatest importance. U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy relinquished his seat on the Senate Judiciary committee in order to work on a comprehensive health care plan, stating that, "This is the opportunity of a lifetime."

Federally, a law was passed that prohibits discrimination based on genetic information received by health insurance companies. And the health insurance industry also agreed to support a universal health insurance mandate which would include a plan that would prohibit denial of coverage to any person with pre-existing conditions. So 2008 was a very active year for health care and health insurance. That says something about the importance of the subject in the minds of the American people.

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Air Popped Popcorn - A Healthy, Low Fat Snack

By Tom Fischer

Hot Air poppers can be used to make one of the healthiest, fibre rich snacks of all time, air popped popcorn. Air poppers do not require oil to pop the kernels, therefore the popcorn will have practically no fat, cholesterol or sodium whatsoever, while being rich in dietary fiber and manganese.

What it the method of making Air Popped Popcorn?

Air popped popcorn is naturally popped corn kernels popped in an air popper machine. An air popper machine is a standing popcorn machine about 30 centimeters tall, which has a kettle with an opening on its top, where you add the popcorn.

After adding the kernels, you place the hot air popcorn popper under power. This is where the chilrden start having fun, as the unit circullarly revolves hot air in the kettle, which sends the kernels round and round the side wall of the kettle. All of this can be watched, as the spout of the popper is usually see-though. The kernels pop due to the intense hot air they are being circulated in, and as the kettle starts to fill, the popped pieces of corn pour out through the spout of the air popcorn maker into a bowl.

And there you have it, the healthiest snack ever, hot air popped popcorn. Of course, you can than flavor the popcorn to your liking, but be aware that all added ingredients change the calorie count of your snack. Some famous quick seasoning fixes are:

- nutritional yeast for a cheese popcorn flavor

- garlic powder

- onion powder

- onion powder

- sugar and cinnamon (2 teaspoons cinnamon per 1/3 cup sugar)

Hot air poppers usually pop almost every kernel in under 3 minutes, making the popping process very efficient. Air poppers are very inexpensive as well, a Presto hot air popper costs around $20. You can get retro design vintage air poppers nowadays as well for as low as $40.

You can buy popping corn at any grocery store, usually in the same aisle as microwave popcorn. It's very cheap compared to microwave popcorn, so your initial "investment" into the hot air popcorn popper will be offset in a short while, not to mention the fact that air popped popcorn is so much healthier than microwave popcorn.

Nutrition information of one serving of air popped popcorn (1 cup, 8 g)

- 31 calories

- NO saturated fat

- ZERO cholesterol

- just 1 mg sodium

How to use your air popcorn popper safely:

- Hot unpopped kernels can shoot out through the spout while they are still being circulated with hot air, so standing right in front of the air popper while the corn is still popping is not advisable.

- Hot air emitted by the popcorn popper can cause skin burn.

- It is advisable not to use bowls made of metal as serving bowls, since metal heats up rapidly under the emitted hot air. If you do use a metal bowl, let it cool off for a minute after you turn the popper's power off.

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Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

By Heather-Jane Hunter

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in or around the anus. Women often encounter hemorrhoids during pregnancy due to the increased flow and pressure of blood to the lower half of the body.

While hemorrhoids can occur in any women throughout pregnancy (or at any time in her life), they are more likely to affect women who have previously had a case of hemorrhoids, particularly is prevention techniques are not applied. Hemorrhoids can come about as a result of immense straining during childbirth or at any time in the pregnancy cycle. While hemorrhoids can disappear soon after the child has been born " dont assume this will happen as in some cases hemorrhoids will in fact worsen after child birth and can lead to medical complications.

Another factor that can trigger hemorrhoids during pregnancy is constipation. Straining to pass stools can cause hemorrhoids. This is bigger threat for pregnant women than non-pregnant women due to pregnant women already having additional pressure on their veins.

Pregnant women who notice one or more of the following symptoms are likely to have hemorrhoids. Symptoms such as stools coated or showing signs of bright red blood, bloody toilet paper, pain while standing or sitting, pain during bowel movement, an external lump of skin around the anus, or an itchy anus or anal canal.

You can save yourself a lot of pain and struggle through employing a few tricks to prevent hemorrhoids. These include things such as avoiding sitting or standing for hours on end, dont lift heavy weights of strain to pass stools, eat foods which are high in fiber, drink at least 8 glasses of water per day, and get some regular exercise.

Hemorrhoids can be very painful indeed. Below are a few useful tricks which can be applied to relieve hemorrhoid pain:

1. Soaking your anus in warm water several times a day

2. Applying ice to your anus several times a day

3. Cleaning the anus well after bowel movement (always use the softest toilet paper available)

These 3 tips have been proven to reduce hemorrhoid pain significantly. If you really want to experience good pain relief however, the best way to do that is to focus on curing the hemorrhoids entirely. Many different techniques are used these days including applying gels and creams to the hemorrhoids, surgically removing hemorrhoids, and using natural hemorrhoid remedies.

The method you choose to use to cure hemorrhoids will most likely depend on the severity of your hemorrhoids. In cases of extremely severe hemorrhoids, sometimes surgery is the only option. Most other cases can be effectively and quickly treated using natural treatment methods.

If you need more information about hemorrhoids, including how to effectively treat hemorrhoids, what works and what doesnt " please check out the resource section below.

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Get Rid Of Your Acne

By Lucy Collins

Saying good-bye to acne is possible and it's a lot easier that what you may believe.

Acne is just one of those simple annoyances that we have to deal with throughout our lives. Fortunately getting rid of acne is not as touch as everyone makes it out to be, you just have to find the right way to treat your acne, and then how to prevent it from ever coming back!

Here are some acne fighting tips. First of all, when you have acne on your body your first reaction may be to touch the area or pop the pimples. Do not do it! It will only make the area more irritated and susceptible to infection. Leave it alone, and let your body heal itself.

Along with leaving that nasty pimple alone, do not squeeze or pop that pimple! If you continue to pick and play around with that pimple, all of that grease is going to spread like wildfire, and instead of just one annoying pimple, you could end up with two or three more annoying pimples.

Your first line of defense against acne is for you to wash your face regularly with a mild soap or even dedicated acne treatment soap. While you may be hesitant to believe it, simply washing your face two or three times a day may well be the only treatment you need to remain acne free. It is essential however that you avoid overly harsh types of soap, remembering that a mild soap, capable of cleansing your pores, is all that is required.

For those sufferers who are adamant that they require some form of over the counter medication, I would recommend something such as Benzoyl Peroxide. The reason this does help is simply because it assists in removing dead skin cells which in turn makes it easier to remove dirt and grease from your skin pores. More often than not you'll find some acne treatment lotions contain Benzoyl Peroxide and these lotions can be applied to your face at least once each day.

You should stay away from oily skin products such as many makeups. Some makeups are terrible for acne and can cause serious breakouts over a short period of time. There are oil free makeups made for people with acne prone skin that you should use.

Your diet is also very important when it comes to treating acne. Eat a well-rounded diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and meals with lots of anti-oxidants. Also drink lots of water to help keep your body hydrated.

As with all treatments, some work for you and some don't. However, if you follow the advice I have mentioned in this article, you will without doubt, notice an improvement and in most cases, a total cure. To sum it all up, leave those pimples alone, keep your face clean and cut back as much as possible of all that junk food.

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Pulsed Electro-magnetic Therapy - 7 Tips You Need Before Buying

By Bryant Meyers

PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) Therapy is relatively new to North America, but is becoming more and more popular based on the fact that it flat out works... AND, there are hundreds of clinical studies validating its benefits (type in "pemf" on pubmed.com).

The Clinically Proven Benefits of PEMF Therapy include

Helps with All forms of Pain

Better Sleep

Better Circulation

Regenerates the Nerves

Accelerated Wound Healing

Increased Immunity

Improvement in Bone Density

Pulsed Magnetic is used by more than 400,000 people and 4000 athletes in Europe and currently there are several Athletes and celebrities using it like Shaquille O'Neal, Terrell Owens, Lance Armstrong, Muhammad Ali, Roger Moore and many others.

Before you buy ANY PEMF there are 7 tips you need to know

Tip #1: Make sure you get a device with a FULL Body mat. Smaller and cheaper local applicator will not give you nearly the same benefits. Plus the companies that sell the full body mats usually do come with a local applicator. But the magic lies (pun intended) in the full body treatment. I have found 5 companies that offer such devices: the MRS 2000, Bemer 3000, QRS Quantron, Magno-pro and Curatron.

Tip#2: It is critical to use only machines with low intensities between 0 and 50 uT (Micro tesla). ALL the top companies (MRS 2000, QRS Quantron and Bemer 3000) found that the lower intensities work better than the stronger intensities. Here. MORE IS NOT BETTER. In Fact, it's the opposite. The lesser field strengths actually worked better in clinical studies.

Tip#3: Try to find a device with frequencies that are close to nature. The best frequency range is around .5 to 15 Hz. Nature produces pulsed magnetic frequencies in this range (ie, Schumann frequncies, 7.83, 14.2 Hz, and the polar frequencies 11.2 Hz). Further EEG studies show that brain wave patterns are in this range .5 (delta) to 15 (high Beta).

Tip#4: Make sure the devices switches polarity every few minutes. This is important because the body will get used to either a constant north or constant south pole polarity

Tip#5: Make sure the unit has a good warranty. Because these devices are around $3000 to $4000 on average, it is very important to make sure you are under warranty for at least 2 years, 3 years is better.

Tip#6: Check to see if you will be supported AFTER you buy. Everybody is different and you may need a little help to insure you get the full benefit of the machine.

Tip#7: Try to find a device with Chinese Organ Clock OR a machine that gives you different frequencies at different times of the day. For instance, you don't want to be put to sleep in the morning or energized right before bed. Invigorating frequencies early in the day and relaxing ones at night are a must. Most machines DONT offer this.

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How to Avoid Anxiety and Panic Attacks

By Ed Lathrop

When anxiety takes hold and the one suffering from it is unable to get rid of it for what seems to be an eternity, every day can become frightening. While being helped by the medical community is an option for these sufferers, many times they see this as a last resort and seek out natural anxiety cures.

People who are going through anxiety disorder often hide this fact from the world because they are often afraid others will think they are going insane. Of course, this is not at all true, seeing as anxiety disorder is a condition of the nervous system and not the mind. Still, many are unaware of this fact because the adrenaline that runs through their bloodstreams tricks them into thinking their problem is insanity.

Figuring Out Anxiety and Beating It At Its Own Game

A lot of people suffer from anxiety disorder and a lot of people have recovered from it. Unfortunately, most anxiety sufferers do not realize this disease is so widespread and because of this they are afraid to tell anyone. This only makes matters worse.

The first step in curing anxiety is realizing it is, indeed anxiety. Anxiety shouldn't be fought because fighting is the gasoline fueling the engine of anxiety. Anxiety sufferers must come to grips with the fact it is a nervous illness causing this problem. Instead of trying to slug their way out of it, they need to realize the anxiety can do no more harm if they refuse to fight it. Not-fighting will ease the severity of the anxiety and bring about a cure.

As well as fighting anxiety, another mistake panic sufferers make is trying to run away from it. Like fighting, running away causes more adrenaline flow and so more of the horrible feelings anxiety and panic attacks bring on. Trying to always be on guard against anxiety is the same as running away. It will will tend to make an anxiety attack more intense and longer lasting.

Trying to Fight it Off

Not running away or fighting the symptoms of anxiety means you are fulling realizing these symptoms are occurring. So, to realize they are happening, studying the feelings anxiety and panic brings on is helpful because this is the opposite of fighting or running away. When we don't fight anxiety and we don't run away from it, we will not be adding any adrenaline to our bloodstreams. Therefore, we will not be manufacturing more frightful feelings anxiety is known for bringing on.

I say this with one caveat; if you are experiencing alarming sensations such as chest pains, don't play around with them. See a medical professional who can administer the proper treatment for such a thing. He or she can tell you if anxiety/panic attack is what is bringing on the symptoms you are experiencing, or if it is something else.

Let Anxiety Whither Away

In conclusion, when an panic suffer learns how to prevent making the panic more intense, he or she is in recovery. The recovery won't come overnight. However, the anxiety and panic will quickly lessen in severity because without additional fear of anxiety's symptoms, adrenaline flow will be dying down instead of flaring up.

At this point, a full recovery will be inevitable. Just be sure you realize scaled down attacks of panic and anxiety will come back to visit you from time to time. Accept this fact and you will become totally free of anxiety disorder in the future. When in the future? Don't put a time-line on it. This would be fighting.

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Selecting A Wrinkle Cream That Works

By Jen Hopkins

Most women like to look good, as do many men. But as we get older, we start to look older. One of the things that happens as we age is that we start to develop wrinkles. Women have been using creams made of herbs and other ingredients for centuries to try to eliminate the appearance of wrinkles. Today there are thousands of different wrinkle creams available that all claim to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. With so many choices, how do you pick the best wrinkle cream?

One way to select a good wrinkle cream is to check the ingredients. Good creams use high quality ingredients. Beware of products containing ingredients that may cause rashes or side effects. Make sure the wrinkle cream you choose contains high quality ingredients that are proven to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

There are several factors that can contribute to the formation of wrinkles. One of the biggest is overexposure to the sunas ultraviolet rays, either from sunbathing, spending a lot of time outdoors or going to the tanning salon. The amount of elastin and collagen in the skin naturally decreases with time, which is another major cause of wrinkles. You may also develop wrinkles as a result of gaining weight quickly.

When you are looking for a good quality wrinkle cream, try to find something that increases the amount of elastin and collagen in the skin. By increasing these substances, the appearance of wrinkles can be significantly reduced. If the wrinkle cream you are considering buying does not say that it increases the amount of elastin and collagen in the skin, then it probably doesnat.

It is also important that the wrinkle cream you choose contains Vitamin E. A deficiency in Vitamin E is one of the things that can lead to the development of wrinkles in the skin, so it makes sense to be sure that your skin receives an adequate amount of this vitamin. Receiving enough Vitamin E can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the skin.

Good wrinkle creams are usually not cheap. You may need to be willing to spend a bit of money to find a product that actually works. High quality wrinkle creams are usually not inexpensive. The cost of the ingredients used in making the product results in a higher cost for consumers.

Vitamin A is another important ingredient to look for when purchasing wrinkle cream. This nutrient is an antioxidant that helps smooth and soften the skin. Vitamin A can make the skin look healthier. When selecting a wrinkle cream, you should do plenty of research. Search the internet for customer reviews. Products that have worked well for other people will probably work for you as well.

Briefly, I would say a good quality wrinkle cream is one that contains quality ingredients mixed in correct proportion. A good cream will never cause any side effects. It will definitely remove wrinkles very effectively. I therefore suggest you to a bit of research to identify the best quality cream in the market to get the best results.

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Natural way to be Migraine Free

By Michael Byrd

"I've got a headache." We normally hear this phrase, not from one but many people, and this is not something that we should make fun of and neglect because it's just a headache. There are over twenty five million Americans who suffer from migraine, and 75% of these people are women. The fact that a large range of people suffer from migraine should alarm us that this has become a serious matter. Thankfully, there are natural remedies for us to have immediate relief and a long term permanent relief from migraines.

Migraine could last between 6 and 48 hours. It could sometimes leave the person bedridden and unable to function well. There are many symptoms of migraines, but there is always intense throbbing pain included, but it is usually on just one side of the head.

Although the specific causes of migraines are still unknown, some thought that it might be because of inflammation, which comes from stress, hormonal changes especially during the times of puberty, menstruation or ovulation, MSG, alcohol, caffeine or eating certain kinds of foods like chocolate.

We have two types of migraine headaches, the common migraine and classic migraine. About 80% of people get common migraine without an aura. This is less painful than the classic variety with auras. Just for you to know, an aura is an array of visual disturbances that occurs shortly before an onset of a headache. These auras can sometimes be accompanied by nausea and vomiting as well.

Ocular migraines are often confused by classic migraines. Though they are likely to be similar, it only occurs with one eye and followed by a headache and usually less violent. Their symptoms are just temporary and are not harmful to the eye. As for ocular migraines, it can interfere with your eyesight in reading and driving.

Those who suffer from migraines can find relief by lying down in a cool, dark and quiet place, or by applying cold compresses or an ice pack. The headache they are feeling will usually ease down after a nap or a good night of sleep.

If you are already free from migraine, it is the time for you to know and apply the prevention program. A simple change of lifestyle is just what you need for a permanent elimination of migraines. It begins with living a life with lesser stress. It might be a little hard to have a change of lifestyle at first, but an effort of doing this will be well worth it.

There are two steps for you to follow, which is to start a regular moderate exercise program and to switch to a healthier migraine-free diet. One important thing to follow is to avoid any food that might trigger your headache symptoms. This includes caffeine, chocolate, sodas, alcohol, processed grains and sweets. These kinds of foods can be addictive. You may have to wean yourself off from them gradually.

You have to learn to enjoy eating a whole food diet with lots of nutritious vegetables, whole grain, fruits, lean protein and water. This is an essential step in your migraine-free diet. To reduce inflammation and to eliminate the pain, a high quality of omega 3 fish oil supplement is needed.

It is fortunate that most people who suffer from migraine find the prevention program naturally by these simple lifestyle changes. It is really a good relief to be migraine-free!

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