Isess99 Health and Fitness

Archive for the ‘Womens Health’ Category

The air that we breath contains the basic gas oxygen and other gases that enters our bodies through the lungs. Oxygen then transfers to the bloodstream and goes into all our cells. Our respiratory organ is very vital and although there are no foods that predispose us to lung illnesses, people could be prone to develop lung disease if they are undernourished. How do we take care of our lungs in terms of nutrition?

It is interesting to note that there is currently no ideal or specific diet that would keep the pulmonary healthy. The only lung condition with a recommended and specific diet is for those acutely suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. People suffering from this disease tend to be malnourished because they use more of their energy as their respiratory muscles work a lot because of breathlessness.

To keep our lungs healthy, proper diet, good hydration, 6-8 hours of sleep, and no smoking are advised. Although there is no single, preferred food group that is ideal for lung health, knowing the best foods to eat is the key to getting the right mix of nutrients for your lungs. The following dietary practices consist proper nutrition:

- Fish, lean meat, poultry, or dried beans, as well as iron and zinc for protein and energy.

- Plenty of vegetables, fruits, and root crops for vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

- Use olive oil for cooking as it is a good source fat and provides additional dietary energy.

- Make milk and other food items rich in calcium and protein mainstays in your diet for bone and overall growth.

- Avoid excessive intake of fatty and salty foods as a hedge against hypertension, particularly among high-risk individuals.

The air we breath is becoming more and more contaminated making people’s goal of staying healthy more and more difficult too. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is the ‘contamination of the indoor and outdoor environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.’  These substances can impair health that can cause discomfort to humans, animals, and the environment.

As the new year begins, let us take our part in reducing air pollution. These acts could be low profile, but if done by every single person could contribute to massive enforcing of a clean and healthy air. Here are some simple tips that we could observe in cleaning up the air: (now that’s a new year’s resolution for the environment this time.)

Reduce what you throw. Remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Use fuel efficiently. Avoid using wood, charcoal or kerosene for cooking. Instead, use LPG or electricity.

Avoid burning waste like dried leaves. You could instead compost dead leaves which is good as fertilizer for your garden.

Use your engine responsibly. Use less energy by making sure that your vehicles comply with emission standards. Try also joining a carpool or commute when possible.

Conserve electricity. Turn off appliances or lights that are not being used.

Do not smoke in public places, or don’t smoke at all.

Christmas is fast approaching! The cold air, colorful lights blazing brightly in the city, Christmas carols being played in the radio and almost everywhere, and the holiday shopping rush all tell us that indeed, the holiday season is in and it is the best time to celebrate and be merry. This season is also the best time to reunite with your family and friends through parties, gatherings, and reunions (the best reason also to renew relationships!). And with celebrations come the scrumptious menus exuding a feel that is oh so inviting it makes devouring food so heavenly. So before you head on to that next party or reunion, read on some easy tummy workout to help you beat the holiday bulge!

The Ab Tightener. Start by crunching up, your left knee bent at 90 degrees and your right leg hovering about 2-4 inches above the ground. Then raise your right leg so that it is perpendicular to the floor. Hold for a few seconds, then return the leg to its original hovering position. Do 10 on your right, keeping your shoulders off the floor throughout, then do 10 more on your left.

Plank with Knee Raise. Position in the basic plank, with your left leg lifted slightly and toes pointed. Tighten your tummy to bend your left leg, and lift the knee toward your armpit. The bent leg should be parallel to the floor, with the knee pointing to the side. Repeat 10 times on the other side, and switch to the other.

The Japanese people is well known to have the greatest longevity circles in the world and has the world’s largest number of centenarians- 50 out of 100,000 people (in Okinawa, Japan) are over 100 years old. Many attribute their long life expectancy to the Japanese diet. What’s more, Japanese women reportedly have the lowest percentage of obesity (only 2.9%) in the world.

The Japanese diet, particularly in Okinawa, is low in saturated fat and calories and high in sea foods, seaweed, fruits, and vegetables. This is due to the widely practiced cultural tradition of hara hachi bu (eat until you are only 80% full). Okinawa, Japan also reports 80% lower incidence of cancers like breast and prostate, compared to most developed countries including the US. There is also low incidence of heart disease, stroke, and the average body mass index or BMI (an estimate of an individual’s relative body fat calculated from his height and weight) is 18 to 22, with low body fat levels.  It is also reported that Okinawans have a reduced risk of inflammation and autoimmune disease, which are the main cause of aging.

Based on the Okinawan experience, the aging process can be controlled best by watching those calories and concentrating on wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables are the main focus of the Okinawan meal and the more brightly colored they are, the better. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of of bioflavonoids and other antioxidants known to help neutralize free radicals. Moderate food serving sizes of quality over quantity is advised and eating slowly so as to savor the flavors of the food are recommended. The Japanese diet, alongside a healthy lifestyle will definitely help us increase our chances of living longer.

Each year, many people suffer from physical injuries severe enough to require a visit to the emergency room. The treatment needed for the injury depends on its severity and, in case of injuries resulting from sports, how active a patient wants to be in the future. The healthcare provider in charge can discuss the treatment options available for the patient.

Whether or not a patient needs surgery, using the appropriate medical diagnostic equipment is necessary to maximize the healing process of the injured part of the body. Sports, being the second leading cause of injury, can bring about injuries like stress fractures, kneecap pain and foot problems. This is specially true with high-risk sports like soccer, basketball, lacrosse and skiing.  The appropriate medical diagnostic tools help spot areas needing aggressive therapy and it could also spare troublesome treatments. Medical tools such as scales, measuring devices, stethoscopes, heart rate monitors, hand dynamometers, muscle testing equipment and many more have to be obtained through a reputable and trustworthy medical equipment provider to make sure that the products are of high quality standard, effective and innovative at the same time.

Rehabilitation exercises are also important afterwards whether or not a patient undergoes a surgery. This procedure will help regain flexibility, reduce pain, and prevent arising problems in the future. The healthcare provider can show the best exercises or physical activity that a patient needs, and how long and how often they should be performed.

The overwhelming need to take alcohol is indeed difficult to deal with accompanied by severe agitation and anger management issues. Convincing the person to follow a series of treatment is not easy  as well. Rehab could be an unpleasant experience but letting the person suffering addiction know that it is a sickness that needs to be cured through the help of some treatment centers could be his/her deciding point.

An Alcohol Detox conducted by a trained personnel allows the body to rid itself of toxins and drug residues, thus eliminating the physical craving for the substance. Get help with a reliable rehab center to optimize the treatment of the an alcohol addict that will also specifically address the special needs and behavioral skills needed to live a life of sobriety. There is also an Inpatient Alcohol Treatment program that help the addict stay comfortably within home like comforts of the addiction therapy facility. This way an addict is being monitored by medical and nursing staff and away from stressful environment thus maximizing their treatment towards sobriety.

Arthritis is inflammation in and around the joints. It shows as joint pain, tenderness, and swelling. It can cause stiffness and limit movement in the joint. Some people with arthritis maybe unable to participate in some hobbies or sport; others with more severe forms can be bedridden or homebound. Studies also show that arthritis hits women more because estrogen makes susceptible women from autoantibodies against their own tissues, thus causing autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Roughly 60% of people affected by arthritis worldwide are female, and the more common forms of arthritis occur more often in women.

Arthritis needs long-term management by a qualified rheumatologist ( a specialist in conditions affecting muscles, joints, and fibrous tissues).  The goal of the treatment is simple- to reduce the pain and inflammation of acute attacks and slow down the progression of the diseases. Medications are available to treat various forms of arthritis. Analgesics, for example, include paracetamol, acetaminophen, and other over-the-counter medications for pain relief. However, they do little to reduce swelling. A new prescribed way to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis is provailen.  Provailen is an all natural herbal supplement that is being used to help control the symptoms of arthritis. Several provailen reviews will attest that it helps eliminate the pain caused by various forms of arthritis and also helps with any inflamed joints, as well as swelling. Many people find relief with provailen as it uses natural ingredients and attacks the entire disease. And because it uses natural ingredients, it should not have any adverse effects to any medications and is more affordable than many prescriptions.

To avoid the onset of arthritis, it is best to live a healthy lifestyle and be engaged in meaningful physical activities. Exercise also helps strengthen the muscles around the joints, increase flexibility, and burn the extra body weight that puts you at greater risk of osteoarthritis.

When starting a family, it is important to know the helpful facts in currently available family planning methods to help you make an informed choice. Family planning is defined as achieving  desired family size and proper birth spacing. It saves mothers’ lives by avoiding high-risk and unintended pregnancies and promotes children’s health through spacing. It also improves the quality of life of women, their partners, and their children.

Family planning is not just about popping a pill everyday but first and foremost, it is about a couple receiving adequate, appropriate and accurate information to enable them to make free and well-informed decisions. Informed choice requires full information about the risks and benefits of the methods available. On the other hand, if you have issues with infertility or maybe not ready to have a child but wants to conceive when you are ready, then it is best to consult with a reputable reproductive health facility about the choices that you can take as a responsible future parent.

It is always best to consult a trained service provider before making the decision on what method to use. Your provider should be able to assess your reproductive needs and current medical conditions, and discuss appropriate methods based on your needs. Since the efficacy of most methods is client-dependent, a full understanding and knowledge of correct use is very important. A very good help to couples who are having difficulty bearing a child is to consult with a doctor about the benefits of frozen egg donor that help achieve patients the same clinical success rates as traditional egg donation programs. In such cases, you would want to deal with a reputable bank who has a good track record of successful pregnancies. In most cases, starting to talk with a doctor will help you get good advice if you are looking for egg donation. Using an egg bank with frozen egg donor has many benefits including substantially lower cost, high success rates, convenience as there is no need to synchronize the recipient and donor cycles, and it allows recipient to control the donor selection process.

A reputable facility would give its recipients full access to all the information available for every egg donor within their frozen donor egg data base. You will also be assisted by highly experienced clinical staff is throughout the egg donor selection process and in finalizing your egg donor selection. There are a number of choices that a couple can take in starting a family, it is best to consult with the health experts in raising a healthy child and ultimately a healthy, happy, and fulfilled family as a whole.

Each year, a number of people especially athletes and physically active ones suffer from sports injuries severe enough to require a visit to the emergency room. Any physical activity involves some risks, but injury rates are highest in high-impact sports like basketball, baseball, gymnastics, football, soccer, and cycling. Injuries become more severe as the person gets older and play at higher levels of competition.

Sports, as defined, is highly physical. Therefore, a top consideration in choosing a sport is the person’s physique. Through the years, the speed, contact, and intensity of sport and exercise have increased, so more and more active people are getting injured. According to health experts, the most common cause of injury is going too fast, too soon, and too far, however, it can be prevented if the body is brought along slowly. It is advisable to prepare before engaging in any exercise program. Before starting your workout, always warm up first, stretch, and focus on the muscles that will be used in your exercise routine. Injuries can be prevented by modifying your activities to accommodate your abilities, and at the same time taking effective and safe supplements like creatine that is beneficial in bodybuilding.

Creatine has been proven to help maximize body performance and increase power and endurance especially for high-intensity and repetitive activities.  This is especially beneficial because as the body ages, a person my find losing flexibility or the body can no longer tolerate the same activities it once did. It is indeed important to learn and use the correct technique and practice it. Just like the Olympic athletes, you should work long and hard to maximize movement patterns and allow for efficient movement. In addition to good technique, you should take in a reliable supplement like creatine that has given many healthy benefits for physically active people. A total-body workout, a balanced program, combined with the right supplement will indeed improve your fitness and reduce your chance for injury.

Because of many newly emergent diseases in the previous years, more and more people become health conscious and are even more willing to spend on medical insurance and health care services. Many are on the look for food supplements that they think can help improve their health. It is easy to succeed in this venture, but finding the perfect supplement that can provide safe, positive results and are relatively cheap and available can be quite a strain for consumers.

One very common and popularly favored food supplement is omega 3 fish oil. Sine 1930s, it has been known to be a vital substance for proper growth and health. However, most of its health benefits were discovered in 1970s and was then popularized in the early 1990s. It has been proven that regular intake of omega 3 fish oil could reduce blood pressure, arthrosclerosis and heart rate. Studies have also been conducted about the supposed effects of the supplement on coronary heart disease although further studies must be made to prove this claim. Omega 3 was first associated with human health with a study about the Inuit or Eskimo people of Greenland. It was found out that even though these people’s diet includes very high fat content (whale, seal and salmon meat) they are very healthy and do not suffer from diseases that are otherwise caused by over consumption of fat. Ever since, continued studies are carried out to find other health benefits from the substance. Some of these additional researches suggest that this food supplement may help enhance or even cure conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, alcoholism, bipolar disease, depression and arthritis.

Experts also advice that we should follow a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, s well as fish fish in omega-3 fatty acids. Your total cholesterol should be kept under 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Your low-density lipoprotein or LDL (the so-called ‘bad cholesterol’), should be kept below 100, while high-density lipoprotein or HDL (the ‘good’ cholesterol), should be at least 40. Diet, exercise, and medication can help control cholesterol levels. Indeed, if you follow a plan and take your medication, heart disease does not have to be a death sentence. More importantly, prevention is better than cure. AS early as now, it is recommended to get the supervised exercise, stress management and lifestyle adjustments to help you live even at the prime of your life. Even at the onset of aging, you are rest assured that you have the protecion of the right lifetime partner.