Technology is a new reproductive science uses the physician’s medical and surgical energies in a way that works cooperatively with a woman’s natural reproductive function. Created at the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha, Nebraska, it is touted as a revolutionary breakthrough for helping couples who desire to achieve a pregnancy naturally.

This article is a review of information from a new DVD called New Hope For Infertility With NaProTechnology, that does an excellent job of presenting some simple facts about the differences between NaProTechnology and the Artificial Reproductive Techniques (ART) that are currently in widespread (e.g., In Vitro Fertilization [IVF]) use.

NaProTechnology is not just an alternative for couples who object to ART for moral reasons, but rather, it should be considered the rational choice anyone who is in serious need of medical and possibly even surgical attention for a real medical problem affecting reproduction.

Best of all, because the focus of NaProTechnology is diagnosis and treatment, it avoids the need for conception to occur by any means other than the natural way It goes without saying that once a medical problem has been diagnosed and treated, this has important health benefits that can be realized during the pregnancy and well beyond. For the same reasons, women who get pregnant as a result of NaProTechnology are frequently able get pregnant again.

Here is a summary of what is presented – Artificial Reproductive Technology:

1. ignores the underlying causes of infertility;
2. is associated with a multiple pregnancy rate of 35.4% (CDC Data);
3. is more than twice as likely to result in a child with a major birth defect: 9% versus 4.2% (New England Journal of Medicine);
4. recent studies suggest that ART may also be associated with higher rates of low birth weight infants, cancer, and even developmental issues;
5. ART sometimes requires “selective reduction,” which involves selectively “reducing” (i.e., killing) additional babies in the womb when there are too many.

NaProTechnology and The Creighton Model System The Creighton Model System is a standardized gynecologic charting system that is an integral part of NaProTechnology. Without the Creighton Model System, the physician who practices NaProTechnology would have inadequate information for the diagnosis and treatment of reproductive problems. Usually, a couple would start this program by learning how to chart the menstrual cycle according to the Creighton Model system. A medical consultation with a physician who is trained in NaProTechnology can be conducted at the same time.

Frequently, the evaluation of infertility will include a targeted hormone evaluation of the menstrual cycle and an ultrasound series to evaluate ovarian function (this cannot be done without the Creighton Model System). A surgical evaluation is sometimes needed as part of a complete investigation.

The bottom line is that these techniques result in a “functional” and/or “structural” diagnosis that can then be addressed medically or surgically and the end result is natural conception.

Unfortunately, because of ART, we are led to believe that there is a “quick fix” for infertility. In reality, ART, doesn’t address the cause of infertility at all and does nothing to correct medical problems that might also affect the outcome of a pregnancy. Even worse, the conceptual, perinatal, and developmental implications and dangers associated with conception in a laboratory, it seems, are only now becoming appreciated.

According the Pope Paul VI Institute, NaProTechnology success rates are 1.5 to 3 times better than IVF (23.5% versus 38.4%-81.8%).

More information on this new DVD can be found in the NaProTechnology Communications Update at: www.saintmaxworldwide.org/projects.asp

Ever heard of vocal cord dysfunction?Not many have. Vocal cord dysfunction is a respiratory condition characterized by adduction of the vocal cords. The result is a limitation of airflow at the level of the larynx that is often mistaken for asthma. The symptoms are very similar and can actually occur alone or along with asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants. This is characterized by difficulty in breathing. The symptoms of asthma include: Coughing. Wheezing … a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe. A tight feeling in the chest. Shortness of breath causing a feeling like you can’t get enough air in or out of your lungs. Narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and hence increased resistance to airflow. Rapid and considerable changes in airway obstruction. Frequent nocturnal episodes and low morning peak flow values.

A person with vocal cord dysfunction on the other hand, particularly those who do not have asthma, usually display the following symptoms: Experience an abrupt attack with a quick recovery. Are generally able to speak during an attack, but often have a hoarse voice. May improve when he or she pants or sings (yes, sings). Experience more difficulty breathing in than breathing out. The harsh, high-pitched sound of air coming into a tight airway may be heard at the throat. May have a dry cough. May not respond to standard asthma treatment. Generally there are no nocturnal episodes. It’s easy to see how these two respiratory conditions might be misdiagnosed.

While there are other illnesses which can also mimic the symptoms of asthma the way vocal cord dysfunction does, these are generally much rarer. Vocal cord dysfunction is often caused by postnasal drainage or reflux disease, and will generally improve with the treatment of these conditions. Another clinical clue that it might be vocal cord dysfunction instead of asthma may be that patients often respond poorly to beta-agonists or inhaled corticosteroids. Treatment for VCD often involves high-dose inhaled and/or systemic corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and in severe cases hospitalizations, tracheostomies and intubation.

To summarize, while the exact cause of vocal cord dysfunction is not clearly evident there are some subtle differences that distinguish it from asthma. Primarily, you’ll want to note if your breathing attacks are nocturnal or not, if they respond to standard asthma treatment, and if your attacks come on suddenly followed by a quick recovery.

As always, never try to diagnose yourself. For the best treatment, keep a close eye on your symptoms and share your observations with your physician.

Enzymes are intriguing in their ability to help elevate the level of human health and wellbeing. Enzymes are proteins that are an essential part of the environment. Life itself, without enzymes would be impossible. Enzymes are required for all chemical processes that enable life to be possible. There are no vitamins, hormones or minerals that can exercise their valuable effects within the body while the participation of enzymes is lacking.

Notwithstanding their essential role in all physical functions, it is recently become fully appreciated what the complete significance of enzymes in human physical condition and ailments is. The MUCOS Pharma Company has been a pioneer in the area of systemic enzyme treatment. They have been an example to others for the last half century by having smoothed the path to clarify the utility of enzymes, and their uses as an oral systemic treatment.

The question has been posed: Why does Wobenzym work so effectively? The answer resides in the realization of the type of enzymes that Wobenzym is made from. The enzymes are called proteolytic enzymes; these are enzymes which cuts other proteins around it. When the body is in its normal physiological state, these proteolytic enzymes sustain homeostasis within the healthy body; in addition they break down abnormal proteins that can occur during a variety of diseases. Therefore, in fundamental research and numerous clinical trials that have been performed over the course of many years under the patronage of MUCOS Pharma, Wobenzym has been discovered to cause the degradation of detrimental and atypical immune complexes which can precipitate a range of autoimmune diseases. In addition, immune complexes can also clot the blood, which can possibly activate an assortment of diseases. These studies are a matter of public domain, and may be readily retrieved.

As researchers continue to gain knowledge of the correlation between enzymes and good health, larger numbers of physicians are recommending Wobenzym for a variety of ailments. It’s a straightforward piece of information that systemic enzymes are necessary to our health. Systemic enzymes are utterly indispensable in order to keep your body in good health and as an aide to an active lifestyle. Your body utilizes systemic enzymes to realign the inflammatory system reaction and modify repair processes to help your body to recuperate from injury and sickness. You are fortunate because you are able to restock your supply with the enzymes that occur naturally which are ingredients of Wobenzym.

The areas in which Wobenzym is recommended are: for healthy joints, to improve mobility, to make circulation more robust, to increase the healthy aging process, utilized to normalize inflammation and to help with recuperation from sports injuries. Unlike other medicinal items that are available, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which proffer rapid but momentary solutions, Wobenzym enables your body to restore itself to health. Of all the products that are currently available Wobenzym is the most meticulously researched systemic enzyme supplement in order to ensure the continuation of your good health.

Granted, I tend to stick with warm blooded carnivors as my prey, but don’t think I can only get at dogs! Any animal on the planet is susceptible to my infection. My greatest power is not well known among the human population. I am uncureable! “Till death do us part” as they say. Once i have found my way into a humans system, I almost invariably kill. The only thing you can do to stop me is prevent me. Vaccination is my worst enemy. If I am caught in time, vaccinations will sometimes lead to my demise instead of yours, but don’t count on it.

I only generally jump from one host to the next through biting. “Why don’t we stop biting each other?” you ask? Because you can’t! I can make you crazy. I ensure my generation to continue by causing you to be a vicious animal. Now that I think about it, I am downright cruel! But now that I have scared you, I must come clean. Humans are not my favorite friends. It’s hard to make you crazy. For the most part, if you are bitten by a rabid animal, you will die unless treated quickly, and that is where it stops. Occasionally I hop to another person through kisses, but for the most part, I tend to stay out of your way. But none the less, be careful!

You are able at this point to make the most of one of the most important and abundant natural resources of our planet – Water. The majority of our body is comprised of about 70% water and our brain is composed of about 80% water. A large portion of our body’s functions are regulated by water, the pH balance, the waste removal system, the body’s temperature are all affected heavily by our water intake, both the amount and the quality.

You can drink normal tap water, but then you will be losing out on almost all its benefits and you will also be receiving many things that you would not get in ionized water, unfortunately none of those things are beneficial to your health, in fact they can endanger your health. Water ionizers are different to water filters because the water you get from an ionizer has undergone an improving scientific alteration, while a filter merely filters out harmful elements from your tap water.

Water undergoes a scientific process to become alkalized, micro-clustered and ionized. This process occurs within the actual ionizers. This is a unit that is attached to your kitchen water supply and will dispense ionized water at the touch of a button. The unit is easy to attach and the benefits it will provide you with are immeasurable. The water enters the water ionizer chamber and undergoes the process of electrolysis or ionization. This process causes approximately 70% of the water flowing into the ionizer to become OH- , which is alkaline water. The other approximately 30% of the water is converted to OH+ , which is acidic water. The acidic water can be collected and utilized around the house and used on plants, while the alkaline water is for drinking and cooking.

Alkaline water, produced by the water ionizer, helps to enhance the taste of food cooked in it and it enhances all the natural benefits of drinking water. Ionization also changes the molecular structure of water, leaving it with just 6 or 7 molecules per cluster as opposed to the average 12 or 13. This allows our body to become hydrated more quickly. This faster hydration helps to regulate our temperature. The alkalinity of the water can help to move our body’s pH level closer to the level that it should be.

The additional hydration of water from water ionizers can also help the digestion system to digest our food better and help our waste removal system to function better by helping the organs to function more efficiently. This allows the body to get rid of more toxins in our body, which can leave us healthier and can help us to lose weight as the high intake of ionized water has been linked to the gradual decrease in fatty deposits in the body.

A water ionizer is a good investment to make because it can eliminate the contaminants from the water flowing into your house, while also ensuring all the valuable minerals are still passed through to you. The unit is small and easy to use and the investment you make in will be repaid many times over in the benefits you receive by drinking this improved water.

The most common sign of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is swollon lymph nodes, mainly in the neck. This is not painful, however some of the other expected symptoms are. These other symptoms are unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, itchy skin, low grade fevers, and night sweats. As these are common symptoms of any infection, the only accurate diagnosis is through lymph node biopsy and blood testing.

Unlike Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer. In the united states, 5% of cancer victims are due to Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Signs of this disease are similar to that of Hodgkin’s, with a few differences. As well as in the neck, swollon lymph nodes are common in the underarm and groin. And in addition to itchy skin, patients will notice unexplained red patches. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma must be tested for as well, using things such as X-rays, MRI’s, CT scans, PET scans, and Lymphangiogram, which are pictures of the lymphatic system taken with x-rays after a dye is injected to differentiate the lymph nodes and vessels. These tests are due to the simple fact that the symptoms are common in many other, less critical, conditions.

HIV/AIDS kills. In 2004, it was responsible for 3.5 million deaths globally. Thats not even the worst of it. 6.4 million people newly contracted the virus in the same year! Instead of diminishing the deadly condition, we are multiplying it. This needs to stop. It’s as if 3.5 million wasn’t enough dead in 2004, so we decided to boost the numbers for 2005. What are we thinking?!Mothers can share AIDS with their infants during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, and there is no way to stop it short of not becoming pregnant. But here is the list of preventable HIV/AIDS transmissions: – Penetrative oral, vaginal, or anal sex (Unprotected) – Blood transfusion – In health care settings – Drug injection. So if these ways are all preventable, why is HIV/AIDS still such a major problem? The human race needs to wise up, stop sharing needles, screen blood transfusions, and USE CONDOMS. Let’s beat AIDS before it beats us.

The U.S. government’s annual bill for healthcare spending – $3,925 per person – significantly exceeds that of all other nations. Despite this, our current health care system is increasingly failing both patients and medical practitioners. Of 13 nations, the U.S. is last for neonatal and infant mortality, last for years of potential life lost, 10^th for age-adjusted mortality, 11^th and 12^th for female and male life expectancy respectively. Chronic degenerative diseases – heart disease, cancer, arthritis, obesity, etc. – are at epidemic levels and create the ideal long-term customers to grow the medical industry.

Looking for a culprit? Consider that pharmaceutical company profits are so large they outstrip every other American industry by far. Americans spend over $500 billion on drugs. The drug companies claim that they need large earnings ($124,835,595,000 in 1999, for example) to conduct their research, but just one of every five dollars the drug industry collects actually goes to drug research. Some drug companies spend twice as much annually for marketing and advertising. From the years 1996 to 2001, pharmaceutical companies spent $3 billion on consumer advertising. Many of the advertised pharmaceuticals are not (contrary to popular belief) FDA-approved, and the information contained in the advertisements is often misleading and not entirely accurate. Now there is even a new wave of drugs being marketed to alleviate the side effects of other drugs being marketed (e.g. Nexium^TM to relieve digestive problems created by pain killers).

Pharmaceutical companies have enormous influence on physicians through the billions of dollars of marketing resources. Drug companies in the U.S. spend, on average, $10,000 each year per physician to influence their behavior through subsidizing studies in major journals, aggressive marketing by drug reps (in some instances trained exactly how long to shake a doctor’s hand), advertisements and sponsorship of medical education programs for doctors and medical residents. (Such support of education and science subtly brainwashes physicians into thinking symptom-based medicine is sound knowledge and science as well.) Is it any surprise that two thirds of visits to doctors’ offices result in a drug being prescribed? Some patients may be on numerous medications prescribed by various specialists while not one of them knows, or could even predict, the health consequences of the interactions. (I recently discovered that my elderly mother, suffering from a variety of ailments, including dementia, was on 17 different medications. Not only did she not know what she was taking or when she did, neither did any of her physicians.) Little wonder pharmaceutical toxicity is one of the major factors contributing to medical care being the leading cause of death in the U.S.

[Why Modern Medicine is the Greatest Threat to Health]

http://www.wysong.net/health/hl_884.shtml

Aside from profiteering and marketing, the most fundamental flaw in the system is philosophical. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies think about names of diseases and removal of symptoms, not cure or prevention. They chase, but the race is rigged so they never catch.

Enabling such a system to prosper and flourish is a public that also has a flawed philosophy. They want to live life as they choose, carpe diem, thinking only of momentary relief, pleasure and convenience. When something goes wrong with their health they don’t want instruction on how to change lifestyle, but rather want to use the power of money (preferably the government’s) to buy their way out with a silver drug bullet that immediately takes the problem away. We spend much for dying, little for living.

American health will continue to slip and our economy will continue to be drained by a failing healthcare system until the underlying flawed philosophies are changed. Medicine must change from naming diseases and treating symptoms to prevention and cure. Yes, that means the medical care system should be trying to put itself out of business, not create a growth industry of illness.

On the other hand, people must change by taking the responsibility for controlling their own health destiny. As it stands, the public has become a pawn of commercial medical interests.

Ultimately health is something we do to ourselves, not something others do to us. When that fact is faced, the medical-pharmaceutical complex will shrivel to a cottage industry and the public will be the better for it.

[Br Med J, 2003; 326:416]

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/326/7386/416/b

[N Engl J Med, 2002; 346:498-505, 524-531]

http://content.nejm.org/content/vol346/issue7/index.shtml

Commonly called beaver fever, “Giardiasis”, is a disease contracted from contaminated food or water, generally in the wilderness or 3rd world countries, or a daycare, as it can be passed on by personal contact. Giardiasis infects somewhere in the vicinity of 200 million people worldwide, and is transferable between animals and humans.

If you do come down with giardiasis, these are some of the symptoms that you may have to endure: – Diarrhea – Stomach cramps – Loss of appetite – Lethargy – Upset Stomach – Bloating – Flatulence. These symptoms generally start a fortnight (2 weeks) after infection occurs. A common problem with the condition is that generally, symptoms can go away, and then reappear in a cycle. This makes it difficult to determine whether or not you are still contagious.

However, only about a third of the infected will show symptoms, thus making spread easier. The body is able to defeat the infection on its own, but antibiodics can always help. Antibiodics for adults: metronidazole, albenzazole and quinacrine.

Antibiodics for children: Furazolidone and nitazoxanide.

Enlarged Adenoids are a problem, as they restrict breathing through the nose. They can also result in recurring ear infections, as they block the eustachian tube. Have you ever had your tonsils removed? Well then, chances are you also had your adenoids removed in a procedure known as “adenoidectomy”. Generally done in the same sitting as a tonsillectomy, an adenoidectomy is the surgical removing of the adenoids. The surgery is done through the mouth, and under a general anaesthetic. This operation is also done if the patient has recurring infections, sleep apnea, or distorded speech.

The after affects of this surgery are the same as after a tonsillectomy, Sore throat. Trouble speaking and swallowing, as well as minor swelling can also occur. Basically, after this operation, you get to lay in bed for a few days, suck on popsicles, and eat ice cream.

Have you ever wondered what causes that warm glow inside, the sense of peace and exhilaration when walking through the woods or sitting by the ocean and watching the sunset? How about the beauty of a fresh snowfall clinging to trees, the smell and feel of the first warm day in spring, or the vistas of unspoiled prairies or mountain ranges? Watching animals in the wild or even the behavior and antics of our pets can affect us similarly. Virtually everyone is touched by such experiences even though we seem to be increasingly alienating and isolating ourselves from nature. Biologists call this phenomenon biophilia – defined as the human need for and love of natural places.

As you canoe a beautiful, crystal clear stream, is not the mood changed when you come upon an old tire lurking in the depths? How about the beer bottle you trip over on your “wilderness” backpack adventure? Do the plastic bags entangling your bare feet as you stroll the beach not spoil the mood? What becomes of the view of the open prairie or desert with billowing factory smoke in the distance? Is the wonder of the ocean sunrise diminished by offshore derricks interrupting the horizon? Do you like the dead silence of the forest pierced with the distant sound of a chain saw?

The interjection of human activity into these natural settings spoils them. It can change the mood from peace, wonder and personal reflection to disgust, anger and a sense of futility. Tripping over a pop can in nature is like interrupting a beautiful symphony by starting up an un-muffled Harley Davidson.

On the other hand, the chaos of centuries of forest refuse strewn about is a thing of beauty. In contrast, human refuse and junkyards are ugly and repulsive. The reason for this double standard is that we are, at our core, part of nature – not synthetics. Just as birds of a feather flock together, we bind to our own kind as well. Nature is our kind; synthetic and industrial artificiality is not.

Everything in nature is connected. Neurons and blood vessels course through the body interconnecting every single tissue with what is sensed from the external environment. As we breathe, lung tissue connects to the atmosphere. Seeing and hearing is the nexus of light and sound, via chemical reactions in the tissues of our eyes and ears, to the rest of the body. Smelling, tasting and touching similarly reach out for contact.

When we feel the wind in our face, the crunch of snow underfoot, listen to a bubbling stream, breathe the aroma of a forest, marvel at the flight of geese in formation, or gaze in awe into the nighttime infinite heavens, we are connecting.

Joining with nature is like coming home, harmonizing with the world, connecting to that which is familiar, touching our very origins.

Biophilia obviously speaks to protecting nature, but is also key to understanding illness since health is balance and balance requires connection to our source of life – nature. There is a direct proportionality. Break the interconnections with nature and illness will result in lockstep. Restore these balances by returning to nature, and physical, mental and spiritual health is the reward. Nature is indeed both a treasure and a lifeline. We should treat it as such.

*Further Reading:

[The Wysong Optimal Health Program™]

http://www.wysong.net/optimal_health_page1.shtml

[Preserved Wetlands Are Not a Waste]

http://www.wysong.net/healthletter/hl_sep95.shtml

He was told during a private father and son discussion, away from distractions.

As parents we’ve reinforced to him that he doesn’t have a disability, just a different way of processing information and viewing life. He exhibits minor smatterings of this disorder and medically, he’s totally fit and healthy and has never been on medication (though this had been suggested).

We often re-affirm how smart he is and discuss with him the many different types of genius each person has. In his case, it’s the amazing cartooning style he has and his black and white sketches and although totally colour blind, his paintings using colour are also unique and beautiful.

I recently asked his permission to write about him and ASD as my intention was to write how we dealt with this as a family, and that someone else might also benefit from it. He kindly gave me his permission and here’s what he says:

• I don’t really understand things – I look around and see what everybody else in class does but I can’t understand what’s going on (in maths class).
• I get very upset and stressed with myself and feel stupid with what’s going on around me in class and I hate myself for it.
• I always suspected that there was something different about me. It was confirmed when my parents finally told me.
• I feel good that I’ve been told, but not good about the ASD. Now I feel more stupid and dumb as well as disabled.
• The fact is I fall under ASD but I would rather know than not, it explains why I have difficulty with certain things.
• Dad could’ve told me in a different way about the ASD, he should’ve just got straight to the point. He (dad) told me in a roundabout way as did mum and I’d rather have been told more to the point and then had it explained to me more.
• It makes me angry when I tell other children about the ASD because they think I’m joking and say there’s nothing wrong with me. It’s sort of good to know they don’t believe me because it makes me feel more normal.
• ASD makes me angry because I have to deal with the fact I have ASD.
• When I think, I move my fingers, it clarifies things for me.
• I really need help with mathematics.
• All I want now is to become very intelligent.
• Flowers essences have helped me to calm down, release stress and to think better.
• My advice to other parents of ASD children is to give them more attention, not just from the parents but also from teachers. Give them extra tuition with subjects they have trouble with, and tell them there’s nothing wrong with them, they just think differently.

What we did that worked for us:

Never making idle promises. When he was very little and something had been promised it became his reality, when the promise didn’t eventuate all hell broke loose;

If old fashioned parenting didn’t work, something new was tried. Yelling and screaming makes things worse not better;

Set firm boundaries which were explained and why, and then enforced them;

Willingness to try new/alternative health therapies, I’ve tried many, some with great success;

Turned to brain exercises by visiting a brain gym® instructor. Brain gym (educational kinesiology) enhances learning and performance in all areas. We noticed a difference in our son almost immediately and followed up with teachers and after school care coordinators who also noticed a difference;

Flower essences;

Some coaching but only when he was in the right head space;

Listening and noticing changes however subtle (he’s quite introverted);

Chose an age where we felt he’d understand what ASD means without adding too much technical information.

Several weeks ago he was one of the top ten Community award winners for water-saving strategies. We met the Lord Mayor as well as the other nine water-saving families of the city at an awards ceremony. Today we found out he’s also been awarded a Young Star Award in the category of Community and have been invited to an awards evening in the coming weeks. He’s also in the running for the overall Young Star Award to be awarded in June 2006. To say we’re proud of him is an understatement.

It’s been hard work and at times very tiring, particularly the very early years, and has required a ton of patience, thinking outside the square and consistency with our parenting techniques.

Reflecting on my life now I simply couldn’t imagine life without him in it. He’s opened my heart and expanded me as a human beyond my wildest imagination and for that I shall always be thankful.

Michaela Scherr Transformational Coach

Allergies of various types make millions of people’s lives miserable everyday and the allergies control at least some aspects of the sufferer’s lives. This is unnecessary since measures can be taken to keep your allergies under control. There are different types of allergies, determined by what causes the allergy. The most well known allergies are dust mite allergy, mold allergy, hay fever or pollen allergy and pet allergy.

Each of these different types of allergies creates a different reaction within the sufferer and has different sources, but allergy control measures can be applied to all of them. There are a variety of measures that you can put into effect, but they are intended to be back up measures for the allergy control products that it is advised you buy. There is a very large selection of products available currently. These products will help to reduce the allergic reactions of the sufferer by a large margin.

When focusing on the bedroom, there are eight main product types which are manufactured to decrease the effects of allergies. The bedroom should be the first area to be re-equipped since it is in there that the allergy sufferer spends a large portion of their time and it should be a refuge from the effects of allergies as opposed to aggravating the suffering. The different types of products are roughly divided into two groups, bedding products and air products.

In the group of bedding products there are the categories comforters, pillows and mattress pads. Comforters come in a variety of types and a variety of fills including down and a fiber fill. Most people with an allergy problem would automatically avoid down, but it is warmer than a fiber filled comforter, but you need to ensure that the comforter is hypoallergenic. People believe they are allergic to feathers, but they are in fact allergic to the dust and protein that attaches itself to the feather so if the down has been properly cleaned then it is not a problem. Fiber filled comforters are preferred by those in warm climates or during summer.

There are is a wide range of choices for people who would like a hypoallergenic pillow , whether it is foam, natural or synthetic. This choice is dependent on what you require from your pillow and your level of allergy. Mattress pads were the greatest thing ever invented by the bedding industry for an increase in comfort and support. Some of mattresses are created for hygiene, some are created for softness and some mattress pads are for back and joint support, but for allergy sufferers the important factor is whether they are hypoallergenic. The feather beds provided by Pacific coast are created to be an allergy control product. They come in every size to suit you and they are incredibly comfortable.

In the group of air products there are Air Purifiers, Dehumidifiers, Humidifiers, Steam Cleaners and Vacuum cleaners. These products all cater for different needs and different types of allergies. A dehumidifier would be the best option for a person suffering from a mold allergy, but a humidifier would be beneficial to a person with sinus troubles as a result of their allergies.

Dehumidifiers and humidifiers perform opposite functions, but they still perform well as allergy control products. Dehumidifiers lower the humidity level of the area around it in order to inhibit the occurrence of mildew, mold and damp. They are essential for any allergy sufferer who wishes to stop mold spores from growing within their house or in the basement and also wishes to keep the level of humidity low enough to ensure that dust mites are kept at bay.

Humidifiers come in two types, warm mist or cool mist humidifiers. These will both keep the air around them hydrated to a comfortable level to ensure that your allergies are not exacerbated. Warm mist humidifiers are more useful in cooler climates while cool mist humidifiers are better used in a warmer environment. The determining factors are ease of cleaning and noise levels.

Air Purifiers are very important allergy control products. They should be used in with either a humidifier or dehumidifier in order to get the best from them. A good quality HEPA air filtration device is an indispensable element to ensuring that an allergen free and healthy home is maintained. Air filters literally filter out harmful pollen and particles that will cause an allergic reaction in you. In order to ensure that you can select a high quality product we have circumspectly chosen the finest air purifiers to present for you to select from out of the numerous products we have tested.

Steam Cleaners often look like a vacuum cleaner but that is where the similarity ends. The use of a steam cleaner ensures that you can sanitize, deep clean and deodorize in one simple procedure without using any of the chemicals that can be found in supermarket cleaning equipment. For allergy sufferers, there is the built in benefit that the heat of the steam penetrates deep down into any material being cleaned and therefore the dry steam instantaneously kills any and all dust mites, viruses, molds, and fungi that may be there.

A HEPA vacuum cleaner is a highly effective allergy control product that will suck up all the allergens and dust which have become settled onto furniture floors and carpets. These settled allergens are the ones which keep getting stirred up and therefore consequently inhaled by people due to movement within a room.

One allergy control product will help you to lower the allergen level in the area of your bedroom, but it is recommended that you utilize a combination of products in order to bring the allergen level to it’s lowest possible point and therefore bring your allergic reactions to an absolute minimum.

Every week countless numbers of people rededicate themselves to starting a new diet and exercise program, only to find that they have fallen off their program by the end of the following week. This scenario plays out all too often especially for people who are attempting to keep their fitness program based at home or the office.

The problem here is not where the program is being attempted, but the fact that there actually is no program to follow. No matter what the endeavor, when one sets out to accomplish something without a well thought out plan or a ‘roadmap’, the chances for success are slim to none. Health and fitness programs are a prime example of this.

Without a fitness plan, there is no guidance, accountability or direction. Therefore most actions are random and unfocused. This creates an element of uncertainty where one is guessing at what they should be doing. Self doubt is present as the individual isn’t even sure that what they are doing is right for them.

Additionally, unrealistic expectations run high in most people who embark on a newfound fitness lifestyle. Changes are expected to occur too fast. When results don’t come quick enough discouragement sets in and motivation starts to diminish. The stage is set for another failed fitness program.

Knowing the key components to a home or office fitness program is the first step in defining the necessary elements for achieving lifelong health and fitness success.

The following tips can help you refine your approach to executing your home fitness program by helping you create a mental and physical environment that is conducive to permanent success.

1) If your program happens to be the focus of this year’s resolution, rename your New Year’s resolution your New Life resolution and think of what you are doing as something you will do forever, not for a month or two. Focus on long term benefits, not short term changes.

2) Tell others about it. You will hold yourself more accountable for following through and staying true to yourself. Others will be more likely to support or even join you in your new quest for a better quality of life.

3) Realize that exercise is one of the most unselfish acts. What better gift can you give your loved ones than you being alive and healthy for the rest of your life? Not taking care of your self is actually the selfish act.

4) Incorporate nutritional habits that will work for you, not against you. Constantly ask yourself, “Is what I’m about to eat or drink conducive to the goals I am committed to achieving?” Remember, a fad diet is just that. The one method that works more than all others combined is, take in less calories than you burn.

5) Realize you do not need to spend two hours in the gym every day to get into great shape. There is a lot you can do at home or at the office in 30 minutes. There are many exercise DVDs and small, economical and portable pieces of fitness equipment to provide you with endless workout programs. Gather the tools that suit you best before you start your new program. If you are still unsure, hire a personal trainer to consult with you on starting a home fitness program.

Living healthy and fit is, first, a psychological exercise as you have to think about what you need to adjust in your life and daily habits before you can actually take the actions that will result in the changes you desire.

Spend time on your adjusting mindset by asking yourself what things are most important to you in life and how health and fitness are related to the things that matter most to you. Then take the actions which are in line with your values and goals.

• Chemicals
• Thermal and ultraviolet burns
• Foreign bodies
• Overuse of contact lenses
• Toxins – Vitamin deficiency
• Dry eye, sometimes due to inadequate eyelid closure
• Exposure to chickens infected with Newcastle disease

Lets take a quick look at the three most common types of conjunctivitis. The first is viral conjunctivitis. This type is transmitted by contact with a variety of contagious viruses. These required viruses need not be any harsher than the common cold virus, as these cases are generally associated with upper respiratrory tract symptoms.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by the infected’s own skin or respiratory flora due to pyogenic bacteria. Another common way to spread infection, generally by females, is through sharing of facial lotions or eye makeup. And lastly, it is possible to share this kind of “pinkeye” through contact with other people and/or their environment.

The last form that we will be looking at is allergetic conjuctivitis. This type generally follows a seasonal pattern, and is more common among those with allergic conditions. Unlike the others, allergetic conjuctivitis tends to take over both eyes, and is accompanied by swollen eyelids. It is caused by reactions to such substances as perfume, drugs, cosmetics, contact lenses, or protein deposits.

Your hospital stay during gastric bypass recovery will be anywhere from two to six days, depending on the success of the surgery and how quickly your body heals. After you go home, take your time before returning to your normal routine. Slowly increase your level of activity over a period of several weeks, and follow your doctor’s instructions on what activities are permitted.

Health Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although no results are guaranteed, most people lose between 60 and 80 percent of their excess body weight within 18 months. Many will regain some of the weight but in long-term studies, most people keep at least 50 percent of the excess weight off for five years or more.

After gastric bypass recovery, co-morbid conditions, such as weight related heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, lower back pain and knee problems, usually improve or completely disappear. However, since the surgery causes your body to absorb fewer nutrients, it is important that you take the proper dietary supplements to prevent development of any serious deficiency-related diseases. Your doctor will probably require post-operative and follow up visits for the first two years after gastric bypass recovery to monitor your overall health and progress.

Cosmetic Considerations After Weight Loss

One of the more unpleasant results of losing large amounts of excess weight is having entirely too much skin after the fat is gone. This excess skin tends to hang loosely and very unattractively around the face, neck, breasts, upper and lower abdomen, flanks, armpits, back, buttocks, upper arms, forearms, thighs, legs and calves. The younger you are, the more likely you are that the skin will eventually tighten up and look normal. Older people will need to consider cosmetic surgery to get rid of all the loose, flabby skin.

Besides looking horrible, all this extra skin can also cause hygiene problems, shin irritation, infections, etc.–not too mention making it almost impossible to find clothes that both look good and fit properly. The most common cosmetic operations people have done are:

Tummy Tuck – This procedure removes excess skin around the waist and tightens the abdominal muscles.

Breast Reduction, Breast (Implants) and Breast Lift – Losing weight causes breasts to sag severely and get smaller, since some of the size is due to the fat underneath the skin. Implants or a breast lift can help restore a natural shape and firmness. In a few rare cases, a woman’s breasts may still be too big and need to be reduced to improve appearance.

Male Breast Reduction – This procedure removes excess skin and corrects chest droopiness in men.

Face Lift, Eyelid Surgery, Neck Lift and Forehead Lift – Many people opt for facial plastic surgery to correct the sagging caused by time and then exacerbated by extreme weight loss.

Thigh Lift and Buttock Lift – These procedures basically lift, tighten and remove excess skin in the thigh and buttocks.

Arm Wing Removal, Arm Lift and Arm Reduction – These surgeries remove the unsightly wings often seen on older people, or lift and reduce the excess on the rest of the upper arm and in rare cases the lower arm.

Liposuction – A popular solution, liposuction removes stubborn fat in localized areas and “sculpt” the body.

The results of these cosmetic procedures can dramatically improve the quality of life for gastric bypass patients and some of them are covered by health insurance if considered medically necessary.

When you eat food, it passes through the esophagus and enters into the stomach, where gastric acids soften the food and begin to dissolve it. Next, this semi-liquid mixture enters into the small intestine, where most of the calories and essential nutrients are absorbed by your body. Finally, whatever is left passes into the large intestine and eventually through the colon as it is expelled from the body. Gastric bypass surgery restructures the stomach and intestinal system, resulting in intentional malabsorption and limiting the patient’s ability to eat large quantities of food.

Common Gastric Bypass Procedures

The most common gastric bypass surgeryis a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The surgeon will create a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples. Next, he will connect this smaller pouch directly to the middle of the small intestine (called the jejunum). This causes the food to bypass the lower part of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (called the duodenum).

Historically, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was does as an open procedure, which means the surgeon makes a large incision in the outer stomach wall to access the abdominal cavity. Today, the laparoscopic procedure is more common for those who qualify. This method is performed by making up to five small incisions in the outer stomach wall and using extremely small instruments and a tiny camera to guide them.

Risks and Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Typically, the surgery requires a two to six day hospital stay, depending on which procedure you have done. Usually, you can return to normal activities within three to five weeks. The type of work you do may require a longer convalescence period.

Some of the benefits of gastric bypass surgery are:

• Most people lose between 60% and 80% of their excess weight over a two to three year period.
• The majority of patients manage to keep at least 50% of their excess weight off permanently.
• Other obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are often minimized or eliminated.

There are also several serious risks with gastric bypass surgery, such as:

• Peritonitis, a severe infection caused by a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity from a ruptured staple or stitch.
• The possibility of a blood clot breaking away from the surgical area and getting caught in the lung (called a pulmonary embolism).

However, recent studies indicate that only about 2% to 3% of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients die within 90 days of the procedure. (Source: “Gastric Bypass – Let the Morbidly Obese Beware”, by Neil Osterweil, Senior Associate Editor, MedPage Today.)

Common Side Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery can also cause several less serious short- and long-term side effects, such as:

• Dumping syndrome, which can occur when food moves too quickly through the small intestine. This disorder causes nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and possibly diarrhea soon after eating and is generally caused by eating highly refined foods, like sugars.
• Developing gallstones or a nutritional deficiency, such as anemia or osteoporosis.
• The connection between the stomach and the intestines can narrow, causing nausea and vomiting after eating.
• Patients can develop stomach ulcers or a hernia.
  –The bypassed part of the stomach can enlarge, causing bloating and hiccups.

Of course, any surgery has some risks associated with it. That is why it is essential that you consider all of the benefits and risks associated with gastric bypass surgery and talk them over with your doctor and perhaps even a mental health professional.

A cancer diet needs a good balance of minerals because minerals are needed by all cells for proper function. Patients are often found to be mineral deficient, so this is an area of the diet that needs particular attention.

There are two classes of minerals. Macrominerals, such as the well known calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus, and microminerals, such as boron, chromium, copper, iron, iodine, germanium, sulfur, silicon, vanadium, zinc, manganese and molybdenum.

The good news is we will get most of the minerals we need, provided we are eating a diet based on a wide variety of fruits and veggies, with the addition of nuts, seeds and grains.

Where we can get in to trouble is that minerals are washed out of soils with constant rain, and modern fertilizers don’t usually contain the wide variety of minerals we need. Organic gardeners usually use rock minerals on their soils and this results in organic produce have a much higher and broader range of minerals.

Germanium is one micromineral that cancer patients are often low on. It is essential for immune function and is critical to tissue oxygenation. Cancer grows rapidly where there is low oxygenation of cells. Germanium is found in broccoli, celery, garlic, onions, rhubarb, sauerkraut and tomato juice as well as aloevera and ginseng.

Iodine deficiency has been linked to breast cancer in more than one study. Seasalt contains iodine and a variety of minerals rather than the isolated highly processed iodine additive in table salt. Asparagus, garlic, lima beans, soybeans, sesame seeds all contain natural iodine along with the nutrients needed for good absorption.

Large amounts of brassicas eg brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower, along with peaches, pears and spinach can block absorption of iodine, so ensure there is a balance of iodine rich foods in your diet.

Selenium has been linked to cancer. Selenium and Vitamin E work together to attack free radicals. Selenium is critical for pancreatic function, and pancreatic enzymes are critical to the bodies ability to fight tumour activity. This mineral is generally found in meat and grains, however countries such as New Zealand and much of America is known to have selenium deficient soils.

As there have been several studies showing that good selenium levels have significantly reduced the risk of cancer, this is one mineral you want to have enough of.

Food sources that should be included frequently in a cancer diet are: brazil nuts, broccoli, brown rice, brewers yeast, chicken, kelp, onions, salmon, seafood, tuna, wheatgerm and whole grains. Garlic, chamomile, ginseng and parsley are all easy to use concentrated forms that can be added to the diet daily.

A couple of warnings:

Be very careful about self-dosing with minerals as several of them will block absorption of others if the dose is too high.

Again, eating a variety of foods, with particular notice taken of those that have high mineral levels is the safest way to go. If you wish to explore mineral supplementation further, talk to your naturopath or nutritionist. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the importance of these vital elements to your well being.

The occurrence of tics throughout the day usually occur is spasms. These spasms occur nearly every day or intermittently throughout a span of more than one year. The syndrome will change in the quantity, frequency, type and location of the affecting tics.

Vocal tics can be subdivided into various categories, including: – Repetition of words after reading them – Spontaneous utterance of socially questionable words (Usually Racial and ethnic) – Repetition of one’s own previously spoken words – Repetition of words spoken by someone else after being heard by the person with the disorderBesides the vocal tics mentioned above, there are many other categories which don’t always involved word repetition. Tourette Syndrome vocal tics don’t even have to be words, they can be represented by almost any possible short vocal sound. The most common of these types of tics are sounds produced that resemble throat clearing, short coughs, grunts, or moans.

Motor tics can be a numberless variety of actions which can include: – Contorted facial grimacing. – Knuckles banging together – Itching – hand-clapping – Scratching Tourettes Syndrome is indicated when a person exhibits both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics over the period of 1 year, with no more than three months of consecutive living tic-free. These Tic disturbances can easily impair and or distress the individual from functioning normally. The diagnosis cannot be involved with substance abuse or another medical condition, and must be before the age of 18.

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The term stuttering is most often associated with involuntary sound repetition. An example of involuntary sound repetition, would be: – Trying to say the word “ken”, but instead saying “k-k-ken”Often times these individuals will put words together. An example would be: – “Llllllets g-g-go home”Not only is stuttering involuntary sound repetition it also contains the unnormal hesitation or pausing before speech. This pause or hesitation is commonly called a “block”. Alot of the variables that make up ‘true’ stuttering cannot be heard or seen by a listener. The things that cannot be observed include:

- word and sound and situational fears

- shame

- anxiety

- tension

- “loss of control” feeling during speech

Often times the most difficult aspect of the stutter or stammering disorder is the emotional state of the individual. The dissorder affects about 1.5% of the world’s adult population, and approximately 5% of children. A greater rate of stuttering has been observed in Africanand West Indies adults. These rates can be as high as 10%. Men around the globe make up about eighty percent of all stutterers. Part of this huge difference between male and females is attributed to the fact that women are so much more likely to outgrow or recover from the disorder.

Presently there is no known cause for the disorder. There are several theories for the disorder; they can be divided into 3 categories. There is no known cause for stuttering. Theories about the causes of stuttering can be ided into three categories: ‘The “Monster” study’, ‘Genetics’, and ‘Childhood development’.

Fast Facts:

- Stuttering usually begins in early childhood, when a child is first developing his or her speech and language skills

- The majority of stutters develop between the ages of two and five

- Stutters can developed later in life, however are usually through a stroke or other type of brain trauma

- 50% to 70% of all stutterers are related to another stutterer

- Most children go through a stage of disfluency in early speech

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