2011 February

Going Green with Electric Cigarettes

Electric cigarettes are one of the hottest recent trends among lots of people. E-cigs are basically a device that look and feel like cigarettes, without any of the negative effects regular cigarettes have on a person’s body. They contain no tar at all, no burning substances, and zero second hand smoke. Some electronic cigarettes even come well equipped with a safety feature which makes sure a person does not consume too much nicotine. Other E-cigs actually have electronic chips built right into them which allow them to shut off if the electronic cigarette delivers too high of an amount of nicotine in too short of a period of time. Some of these E-cigs even come with nicotine free types of refills which allow the person to virtually annihilate their consumption of nicotine. Also, the refill cartridges that are used for these electronic cigarettes are way less in price than regular tobacco cigarettes. Purchasing the refill cartridges for E-cigs can actually suffice as an extremely low cost way to smoke instead of regular cigarettes.

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Smokeless cigarettes allow a person to now be able to smoke virtually anywhere they please. This means being able to smoke electric cigarettes indoors, and never having to worry about impending smoking bans. E-cigarettes can even help to improve what is known as the working conditions that smokers are subject to. With smoke-free cigarettes people can get their fix for nicotine in libraries, restaurants, airports, clubs, and bars. Non-smokers have nothing to worry about when hanging around people who use these electric cigarettes. It is because of the fact that E-cigs do not burn tobacco; anyone can conveniently smoke anywhere and indoors. What is even better is not worrying about the other nasty elements, and accidents that come along with smoking regular cigarettes.

These are things like burn holes that can occur in furniture, carpets, and even car seats. There probably has always come a time where traditional smokers wish they didn’t have to deal with poisonous residues or ashes. The solution has been solved with these electric cigarettes. The E-cigs turn on by themselves each time a person inhales using them. Also, when a person inhales from electric cigarettes it leaves the area smelling good, and the area becomes odorless very shortly after. No more stained walls have to be looked at, and this is all thanks to the fact that it is water vapor coming out of these electric cigarettes and not actual second-hand smoke.

By Health Care on February 10, 2011 | Quit Smoking | A comment?

Five Ways To Eat Healthy And Still Have A Social Life

I bet that if you got a dollar for every time you heard someone unceremoniously exclaim “THAT’s what you’re eating?”, you’d be on your way to being seriously wealthy by now. Feeling like the alien among the human masses can be part of the terrain when you are a raw fooder, vegan or even just a healthy eater.

So ingrained in our social culture are food and drinking practices, that doing anything differently can feel like you are waving a red flag at a herd of bulls and shouting “come and mow me down guys, pronto!”. Social situations can suddenly become fear-inducing occasions which make you want to pee your pants or run in the other direction. Gone are the days where you would grab a glass of vino and scoff down a beef canap? between drags of a cheeky smoke (only socially of course). However, that doesn’t have to mean your social life has to be thrown out the window. You really can enjoy a full and satisfying social calendar with a little foresight, preparation and most of all, confidence in yourself. Here are 5 tips to make it easier:

1. Let’s start with the most important factor in enjoying a rich social life – confidence.

As with any aspect of life where you might be doing something a little different, it’s the confidence you do or don’t exude that can influence not only how you feel but also how others feel about you. If you rock up at your social events and enjoy healthy food that you love, quietly confident in your choices and decision to stay true to what serves you best, you are going to feel better about yourself and attract less unwanted attention. You may still get curious glances and questions from interested friends and family, maybe even some unwanted ones, but you will be limiting the number and severity of these comments just by your contentment with your choices.
2. Pick the social events and people you wish to invest your time and energy in.

If you are trying to heal and live a healthy and happy life, then the first thing you need to do when making any decision is to check in with you. Consider how you are feeling, what it will mean to you if you do or don’t socialise,
whether it will be good for you to push yourself out of isolation and get yourself into a new environment? Will it better for you to rest and be quiet? Just because you want to maintain a social life does not mean you have to continue to go to the same types and number of social events as you used to. Often changing your diet is the first step on a path of self reflection and it is perfectly fine to allow yourself time to go inwards and to say no to some invitations.
3. Let go of ideas of how things “should” be and how others “should” act.

No one will ever do anything exactly as you think they should do because
they are not you! Some people are just going to be difficult or make rude comments or try to put you down. Do not buy into their behaviour. It is usually just masking their own insecurities and lack of self worth. If you are at a loss for how to respond to negative people, you can always just say “I feel best when I eat this way”, or “I don’t like how alcohol makes me feel”. It’s very difficult to argue with a closed statement that says only how you personally feel.

4. Set your non negotiables

Make a list of your “non negotiables” to stay happy and healthy at social events, and then stick to it. Maybe that means staying vegan, eating only raw foods, not going to an event hungry or eating only food you bring with you. Maybe it means you will allow yourself to bend a little on your normal eating habits to feel comfortable. Whatever it may be, get very clear on your “absolute minimum” list, and then consider what you need to do make sure these things happen. Do you need to take a fresh veggie juice with you or do some research to find local stores that sell produce or meals you can take with you? Do you need to call ahead to friends, family or restaurants to check what food options will be available? Do you need to make a shopping list and buy items in advance so that you have yummy and healthy food choices ready for you at a moment’s notice? The key is to actually make your list and then put it into action!

5. Be your own chef

We all know just how much poor food choices can severely drain our energy
and mood. Taking your own food that is incredibly delicious, beautifully presented and totally in line with your dietary choices can make all the difference in how much you enjoy a social event. If you love the food you bring you are not going to feel deprived so while it will suffice to bring carrot sticks and hummus, try taking something which is going to thrill you so that you can’t wait to dive into it at the event.

Even better, take an impressive veggie dish along with you to share with the other guests. Usually people will pounce on a beautifully presented vegetable dish so just be sure to put aside an extra container for yourself! Alternatively you can call ahead to the host/ess or restaurant to ensure there will be food choices for you, or you can eat a delicious meal or snack before you go. Whatever you decide to do, make sure there is food you can eat or that you are not hungry. I imagine you might be sporting a rather glum face if you get to a party and as everyone enjoys their feast of roasted meats, and sugar and flour heavy desserts you sip your non-filtered warm tap water!

At the end of the day, ask yourself this question: what am I willing to do to be healthy? Now go for it!

By Health Care on February 9, 2011 | Nutrition | A comment?

Teen and Child Suicide

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Teenagers pose a greater risk of completed suicides because often they act impulsively without considering all of the consequences. Suicide affects the entire community in which it occurs family, friends, teachers, neighbors, acquaintances; everyone is touched by the loss of any one to suicide. Suicide can be preventable and with knowledge of signs, and symptoms and what to do, people’s lives can be saved. Currently more men die when attempting suicide but more women overall attempt suicide. In the United States, approximately 18 per 100,000 males complete suicide each year, and four per 100,000 females complete suicide each year. Several risk factors correlate towards a person committing suicide, including severe illness, depression, hopelessness, substance abuse, and problem gambling.
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If you are concerned about someone you know that maybe suicidal, seek help immediately. Warning signs that can indicate imminent risk include:

· Threatening to hurt or kill self

· Looking for ways to kill self; seeking access to pills, weapons or other means

· Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide

· Hopelessness

· Rage, anger, seeking revenge

· Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking

· Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out

· Increasing alcohol or drug abuse

· Withdrawing from friends, family or society

· Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time

· Dramatic changes in mood

· No reason for living, no sense of purpose in life

The next step if you are concerned about someone can be the hardest. Ask the question. “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It will not be easy and you may feel embarrassed or scared that by asking you will give them the idea to kill themselves. By asking, you can start the conversation that can lead to your child or teen getting the help they need. Suicide is how someone maybe seeking to solve a problem and when you ask about their intentions you may be giving them a new way to cope with and solve their problem. Listen to them allow them to express their feelings, thoughts and ideas, now is not the time to tell your child or teen what to do but to hear them out and help them seek help.

Hopelessness about the present and future are strong predictors for suicidal ideation. All suicidal ideation and threats need to be taken seriously. Question the individual asking, what they feel the problem is and what could help them to solve it, get them actively engaged in thinking about solutions to their problems that do not involve killing themselves.

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If your child shows signs that make you concerned about their safety get help as soon as possible, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room or psychiatric hospital, call a local mental health professional, or your pediatrician. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Help and hope are available.

By Health Care on February 8, 2011 | Mental health | A comment?

Stop Anxiety By Adopting Coping Skills For The Stress In Your Life

You can stop anxiety with one ancient method that is proven time and again to alleviate stress. It originated in China and is used there today on a regular basis before and during work hours. We could learn a lot from the Chinese.

Did you know that in China, they begin their day with Tai Chi? They also perform it during breaks throughout the day, as opposed to the Western tradition of having coffee and a donut. As a matter of fact, employers are incorporating it into their daily traditions.

Tai Chi helps to tone the body and minimize the stress that builds up over time. In case you are unaware, anxiety frequently stems directly from stress build-up.

If you want to stop anxiety, it is crucial that you learn coping skills for the stress in your life. Otherwise, you will be fighting a constant uphill battle. You need to eliminate the cause of your anxiety, which is far easier to do than stopping the anxiety directly. Besides, if you get to the root of the problem, you can prevent anxiety from ever striking in the first place.

How does Tai Chi work and how is it effective?

Tai Chi is deceptive in it’s apparent simplicity. It involves going through a series of slow moves while in a standing position. The participants step, raise their knees, raise their arms, turn, move into and out of certain poses usually in pure silence. All the while, they concentrate on the slowness, on their breathing and little else.

It looks much easier than it actually is. Not that the moves are difficult, but holding the poses and moving so slowly puts a surprising amount of strain on all of your muscles. That is why Tai Chi is such an excellent workout, especially for people who do not like running and walking or are unable to do so.

The benefits are many.

Participants become stronger. Their circulation is improved. Their bodies become toned. Their breathing becomes more effective.

On top of that, their minds become restful. Stress is no longer a strain on the body.

When you are under stress, your breathing rate changes. It can speed up and become shallow which cuts down on your oxygen intake. Your muscles become tense and your posture loses form. This stress causes strain on your body, exposing it to any number of problems from physical illness to anxiety.

You do need some stress in your life to survive, but you don’t want it to be your enemy.

  • Healthy stress motivates us, makes us create and succeed.
  • Unhealthy stress makes us less effective in our lives.

Tai Chi is a great coping skill for stress. It helps to put your body back into proper alignment by improving your breathing and oxygen intake. It improves how you use that oxygen, and makes your thinking processes more proficient.

Nothing creates more stress on a person than lack of oxygen. If you can learn to identify when you first feel that you are under a strain, you can stop anxiety from getting a foothold by practicing Tai Chi.

By Health Care on February 5, 2011 | Anxiety | A comment?

How to Get Rid of Acne

A lot of teenagers experience acne. Not just this, a lot of people continue to suffer with it even in adulthood. It is largely a result of excessive secretion from the oil glands. However, you can get rid of acne quick and fast if you follow certain simple tips and tricks.

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How to Get Rid of Acne

Here are a few simple and easy ways to prevent and cure pimples:

  1. Drink a lot of water. Drinking plenty of water can help you get rid of toxins and other chemicals in your body. Not just this, water can also keep your skin smooth and supple.
  2. Do not pick those pimples – It is the most common mistake that a lot of people do. Picking pimples is not going to remove them. On the contrary, it is going to worsen the situation. So, keep your hands off your pimples.
  3. Wash your face at least twice a day – Washing your face helps remove dirt and grime from the skin pores. However, it is equally important to keep in mind that you must not indulge in excessive washing. This can have an opposite effect and make your skin produce more oil which can aggravate acne.
  4. Eat SensiblyHaving foods that are rich in fats or sugars can aggravate acne. While fatty foods can result in excess oil secretion, foods that are rich in sugar can increase level Insulin level in your body which is known to aggravate acne.
  5. Do Not Use Oil Based Make up – Using oil based make up can be bad for your pimples and acne. It can clog pores and this can make bacteria thrive. Since out goal is to reduce oil secretion and keep your skin pores clean, it is important to avoid heavy or oil based make up.
  6. Exercise RegularlyLight exercise can help increase blood circulation in your body and this is simply great for your skin.
  7. Have Strawberries – I know you loved them as a kid. Fruits and berries are rich in antioxidants that can help flush out toxins from your system. They are great for your skin and can help cure pimples faster.

In addition to the above, there are some highly effective and all natural skin care products that can help cure acne inside out. Mere topical applications can not really help cure pimples from the root since acne is not just a skin deep problem.

By Health Care on February 4, 2011 | Acne | A comment?

Apnea Devices: A Review

Sleep or night apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders today. The reasons sleeper’s apnea is becoming more prevalent are simple; as a society, we are generally overweight and do not maintain good sleep habits.
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Sleep disorders like apnea and chronic snoring during sleep are caused by a blocked airway during sleep. The soft palette blocks the back of the throat cutting off the airway. This causes mild to severe snoring. In severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea, a person breathing actually stops- a very dangerous health condition.

It is not a good idea to simply live with snoring or sleep apnea. If you are suffering from these conditions, you are not getting healthy sleep – and the oxygen deprivation caused by snoring and is very hard on your internal organs, particularly your heart. The cells of your organs – like the muscle cells in your heart need oxygen to stay healthy.

Depriving your body of oxygen during the night is bad for sleep and bad for the health of your internal organs. This is the number one reason that you should not ignore snoring and sleep apnea. Fortunately, there are sleep apnea devices that can really help.

There are many sleep apnea devices that can be used to treat the symptoms of sleep apnea and chronic snoring. A CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure machine (sometimes called an apnea machine) provides continuous positive air flow through the use of a pressurized mask. A CPAP device cannot be purchased without a prescription from a doctor, but is a good treatment for sleep apnea.

A device that works for some is the chin strap, or snoring strap – a device that is worn over the jaw and keeps the jaw pulled forward and forces the sleeper to breathe though the nose. The theory is that this keeps the airway open. While the effectiveness of this device is questionable, it does seem to work for some.

Another device that some find helpful is a back pillow – a device that you wear on your back that prevents you from sleeping on your back – you must sleep on your side or stomach. This type of device may be somewhat effective, but surely are not very comfortable and would not appeal to most sleepers.

A snore pillow, or apnea pillow is a good, first-try type of apnea device that can really help in the treatment of sleep apnea, for those with mild to moderate apnea. The pillows work by adjusting the position of the head to minimize the blocking of the airway. The sleep apnea pillow devices come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can really help those suffering from mild to moderate snoring and / or sleep apnea.

Snore pillows are made of memory foam, and typically have a dished or curved shape that cradles the head in a straight alignment – this helps to keep the airway open and minimize the symptoms of sleep apnea and /or heavy snoring while you sleep.

There are many devices available that will minimize the effects of sleeper’s apnea or being a snorer. For your good health, it is important that you take action to get better sleep and keep yourself healthy.

By admin on February 3, 2011 | Sleep | A comment?

Why Autism Awareness Matters

Let me start this article by telling you this true little story which happened to me recently. It’s a pretty typical example of the level of awareness that most people have regarding families who are raising kids with special needs. The fact that I have special needs kids is not usually discussed when I meet someone for the first time, so I cannot even remember why in the world it came up during the situation I’m about to describe, but it did. I was at a social event in honor of a cherished friend and was simply making conversation with a couple of ladies who didn’t know anyone. My mom and dad always taught us to look for people who seem alone in the room and make them feel comfortable. So basically that’s what I was doing and the topic of kids and school came up. For some reason I explained that two of my children have special needs. One of the ladies (who was very nice, by the way) replied, “All kids have special needs.” As I just explained, this event was all about honoring one fine lady, so I felt it was neither the time nor the place to try and educate a total stranger and create even a hint of awkwardness. Because of this I very politely smiled and said, “Well, yes, that’s true. Every child does have very unique and individual needs,” and then changed the subject. Inside my heart was breaking.
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You see, that mindset completely demeans and dismisses the extreme effort made on the part of parents whose children really do have special needs. Even more than this, it devalues the courage and immeasurable work on the part of the kids themselves. Before I had kids with special needs I was so completely ignorant of this. Because of our situation I am now intimately aware of how many everyday, mundane, “simple” things in life most of us take for granted because they come naturally to neuro-typical children. While most parents are signing their kids up for every sport or activity under the sun, parents of kids with special needs are having specialists come into their home for 2+ hours each day so their kids can learn to use a button, a toothbrush, pretend, use a single word, on and on and on. Did you know that there are 17 steps taken for using the toilet? Each of which must be taught one by one, over a period of months, to a 4/5/6 year old child with special needs who doesn’t just pick up on it the way most two-year-olds can? Most kids are able to learn the rules of baseball or soccer at age 7, but kids with special needs are trying to learn the most basic social rules so they can tolerate being in public situations…like walking into a grocery store with mom.

We are currently facing some behavioral issues with our 10 year old that we have no problem resolving with our 5 year old who is neuro-typical. Even though we’ve had lots of parent training in the past, it has become necessary to again reach out for professional support. In order to access a behavioral therapist we need to attend this parent training (which we’ve done before) because of some new requirements that have been enacted. The class took three weeks and lasted 4 hours each week. After this, a teacher will spend an hour in our home to consult with us on a customized behavior plan, and then we will be placed on a waiting list for the specialist we originally requested. All of this investment because verbal communication is simply that difficult between us and our child with special needs. Every ounce of your time and energy as a parent of a child with special needs is spent learning how to communicate with them. Imagine your own child speaking a completely different language than you. In addition the rules of social engagement are entirely different in each of your minds, so the risk of misunderstanding is multiplied exponentially.

In 2009 this was our routine for three months (3x per week). I would awaken my 1 and 3 year old from their nap to pick up my 7 and 9 year old about 10 minutes early from school. The five of us would drive one hour to drop off the 7 year old at her socialization program, then the rest of us would cross town to drop of the 9 year old at her program. Both programs were conducted in older parts of little towns so the parking was always difficult and it’s no thrill to keep getting little ones in and out of car seats. The two little ones and I would find somewhere to spend about 45 minutes before crossing town to pick up the 7 year old, then back across to get the 9 year old, and then we would end up at home about 4 hours after leaving the house. Was I glad to do it? Absolutely! But keep in mind I was not going to all this effort so that my kids could participate in some sort of elite sporting, academic or artistic endeavor. We did this so that they could develop basic skills in hopes of having success relating to peers on a playground or at a birthday party. Our efforts were rewarded when their teacher reported tremendous improvement in their ability to interact with not only peers, but also the teachers and aids. This is but one of many, many examples of what it means to have special needs.

My goal here is not to make you feel sorry for any parent, spouse, or child of a person with special needs. I’m so happy that my girls have us for parents. We love them more than life and we wouldn’t trade them for the world! We are the very best parents for them that exist on the planet! And we are happy and eager to do whatever it takes to build a relationship with them and set them up for success in every area of life.

So what’s my point?

All I’m trying to convey is this. Don’t devalue the definition of “Special Needs” because of a lack of awareness of what that implies. Unless someone is raising a child of their own with special needs, they cannot possibly understand the meaning of the phrase. And I wouldn’t want or expect them to! But if the next time you meet a parent of a special needs child an enormous amount of awestruck admiration for them rises up in your heart, then my goal in writing this will have been met.
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This is a lesson for all of us. As a pastor people come to me with all kinds of problems and I’ll be honest, when we started out in the ministry I used to hear what some people considered to be a problem or a trial and I would think it was the emotional equivalent of a hangnail. It would just frustrate me and I would think they were such a wimp. (And that was back in the days before I knew what a real trial was myself!) But I had to learn that I am in no position to judge the trial or pain of another human being. Even now, with all we’ve been through, when someone comes to me with a problem that seems heavy to them but by comparison not as major as some things I’ve faced, I genuinely take it to heart and offer up my most empathetic prayer and embrace. I believe in doing so that’s loving people with a generous heart. And a generous heart will never withhold compassion, support, encouragement, or empathy. There’s no problem too small for God to care about. If it matters to you, it matters to Him! Healing will flow through a generous heart. And the same healing that flows through me to others, will flow to me and my children.

A Special Note for Special Parents:
If we get offended by someone’s ignorance then we are blocking the very healing process God is working out in our family.
Turn that pain over to Jesus. He ALONE is acquainted with every pain of humanity. When He hung on that cross He actually took on Himself the very pain I felt in that room with that lady. So when I give it over to Him, He literally knows what I’m talking about because He experienced the actual event Himself, on my behalf! He did that so that I CAN give it to him (if I choose to). Why would I bear it in my own soul if He bore it for me? If we harbor those hurts, then we hurt the healing process.
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By Health Care on February 2, 2011 | Autism | A comment?