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Four Effective Hair Loss Solutions

More than one hundred million Americans struggle with hair loss. Although more common in males, about forty percent of sufferers are female. But regardless of sex, almost all cases of baldness (about 95 percent) are caused by genetic factors. In other words, most folks are destined to lose their locks from birth. With that said, there are steps you can take to slow, stop, even reverse the process. Here are four proven hair loss solutions.

Transplant

Oftenought by patients with advanced cases of alopecia (baldness), transplantation is a surgical procedure performed in a doctor's office. The operation involves removing a section of permanent hair from the back of the scalp and using it to fill in areas with no or thinning locks. Although these transplanted strands soon fall out, about 60 percent of them will grow again, leading to a thicker, fuller hairdo. Because the surgery itself is performed by a doctor and takes many hours to complete, it can be quite pricey. It is actually not at all uncommon for patients to spend over $ 10,000 on the procedure. With that said, most people are satisfied with the results.

Medications

While there's certainly no shortage of home remedies, only two drugs are considered hair loss solutions by the FDA. Minoxidil is a topical treatment that slows or stops alopecia in about 40 percent of users. Affordable and broadly available, it is the only over-the-counter treatment for the common condition. The only significant drawback of using minoxidil is that it must be applied for life.

The second FDA-approved medication is a prescription pill called finasteride. Considered by some users to be slightly more effective than minoxidil, it must also be taken indefinitely. We should also note that finasteride has not been approved for use by women. In fact, one study found it to be no more effective than placebo for female users.

Hairpiece

Easily the oldest solution on our list: wigs. Wigs have been around since the ancient Egyptians. Just as they were back then, hairpieces are fashion accessories that can also be used to conceal total, substantial, even partial baldness. Affordable and easy to find, they can be purchased at most salons and even some drugstores.

Hair Extensions

Whether they are clipped, sewn, glued, fused, or taped in place, extensions can add volume to any hairdo. Although often applied for a fashionable effect, extensions can also be used to cover and conceal thinning areas and bald spots. But because some systems can damage remaining strands, it is important to tell your stylist that you are losing your locks. She can then select extensions that will not endanger your natural hair.

All of the hair loss solutions we discussed today are open to any person struggling with alopecia.

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Join the Free Online Chat Bandwagon

Before I knew about the free online chat thing, life was like hell for me. You won’t believe I was so beleaguered with my so called friends’ comments that at one point I was even contemplating the idea of suicide! My problem, well I have stammering problem. Its been there since childhood, initially my parents assumed it to be just simple childhood problem which will go away with growing up years, but guess that wasn’t meant to be. As a result I was the subject of jokes and humiliation in my school, in my neighborhood. Wherever I go, my deficiency will go with me. So it’s natural I didn’t have a normal childhood unlike my other friends.

As my friend circle was minimal, I was into myself most often. I don’t know whom I should give credit to, the constant jabbering of my so called friends or I had this special inclination towards art, but gradually I was involved into painting as well as writing. During my University days, my writings would regularly get published in the college journal. But I would send all my writings in a pseudo name. Guess by that time my mindset was convinced that I have got a chronic problem of stammering and if others know I am the one who is writing all these, they might even reject my writing. Sounds stupid; but that’s what I was then! Even today after so many years whenever any of my article is published, it’s on my false name. I am working as a free lance technical content writer today. Life is smooth as far as my work is concerned. I regularly interacted with my clients through online and participate in lots of forum discussions. But there was some deep unknown void inside me which was troubling me from a long time.

One weekend, while browsing net for some content which I had to write for a client’s website, I came across an advertisement where free online chat was promoted for a prominent website. I was about to close the advt, when an idea came to my mind. Why not try for this free online chat? As they are free, its not gonna cost me a single thing. And who knows I might impress someone with my words as I am at my best while playing with words.

So I logged onto a dating site and created my profile there and joined the free online chat bandwagon. Must say from the first day itself I felt as if I have reached a different place, where it doesn’t matter what deficiency I have. With so many guys chatting on free online chat, I was convinced of its success rate. Soon free online chat becomes a ritual for me; my days wouldn’t be completed without chatting on this free online site. Now some good news, few days back I met a nice guy who was like me regular to this free online chat. He liked me for my expressiveness and I liked him for his cheerfulness. We are good friends now but you never know there might be something more in store! As of now I have found a new meaning to live life just like any other girl of my age and its all because of free online chat. So thanks a million!

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Power Tools History

Since the ancient Egyptians began using a hand-powered lathe centuries ago, man has striven to make arduous building and assembling tasks easier, quicker, and more efficient through power tools. We’ve come a long way from those sand-covered turning machines, but the end goal is no different from our desert-dwelling ancestors. Today, nearly every home in every industrialized country houses and uses power tools.

Even though the concept of the power tool has been around for a long time, it wasn’t until the late 1800’s when the first modern-era power tools became possible. The advent of electric motors made highly-efficient stationary and portable power tool technology a reality, and high-speed assembly lines made power tools both affordable and profitable.

The Bosch company was at the forefront of power tool technology in those early years. Founded in 1886 Germany by Robert Bosch, the company initially focused on automobile components with integrated electric parts, and was responsible for such developments as the first low-voltage magneto ignition. Before long, companies in other industrialized nations began developing the first electric power tools, and Bosch introduced its first power drill in 1932. Today, Bosch still engineers and manufactures automotive parts, and its power tool division has grown to include nearly every household and assembly tool on the market – including power drills, belt sanders, circular saws, and more. As part of the company’s growth, it has acquired other successful power tool manufacturers that started during the same early 20th century era.

In 1923, American inventor Raymond DeWalt introduced the world’s first radial arm saw, a sliding circular saw that could make long cuts with accuracy. One year later, he founded the DeWalt power tool company in Baltimore, Maryland; another company that has grown substantially over the last 85 years. At the forefront of portable power tool technology, DeWalt’s power tools are revered by carpenters and homeowners alike for their long-life, durable cordless battery-styled power drill, circular saws, and other power tools; and the company currently manufactures over 200 types of power tools worldwide.

Founded in 1915 in Japan, the Makita Corporation has also staked its reputation on cordless, battery-powered power tools – most notably, the hand-held drill, which Makita introduced in 1978. Nine years later, the company had a full arsenal of cordless, professional-grade power tools for contractors. Today, Makita manufactures over 350 different power tools, both portable and stationary, and the pronounced teal color emblazoned on all of their tools is often mimicked by others trying to capitalize on Makita’s reliable name.

The early 20th century proved to be a hotbed of power tool advancements, and many companies worked hard to develop profit-turning innovations that moved their products off store shelves and into people’s homes. While the term power tool traditionally conjures thoughts of electric drills and sanders, machines like the pipe threader and utility pump are also considered power tools. This is the area the Ridgid company focused on when it was founded in Elyria, Ohio, in 1923. Still a leader in the plumbing tool industry, Ridgid now has a power tool division that focuses exclusively on contemporary power tools and has released its own saws, drills, and even air tools.

A.F. Siebert founded the Milwaukee Electric Tool Company one year later in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Known for manufacturing heavy-duty power tools, Milwaukee is best know for the ‘Sawzall,’ one of the most widely-used reciprocating saws in the world. Like their power tool manufacturing competition, Milwaukee currently produces portable and stationary power tools like circular saws, drills, band saws, grinders and sanders – over 500 different models in all. Unlike their competition, many of Milwaukee’s power tools are released in both 120 and 230 volt models, drawing the line between household and commercial/industrial power.

Best known for the Skilsaw they invented in 1924, the Skil power tool company evolved out of the Michel Electric Handsaw Company when they entered the power tool market. Fueled by the ingenious circular saw invention, the company elevated itself to the upper echelon of the small power tool industry with jig saws, grinders, sanders, and a whole slew of handheld, cordless power tools. In 1996, the Bosch company purchased Skil but still keeps its power tools on shelves worldwide as one of the most popular power tool lines on Earth.

The Delta company has changed hands several times since it was founded by Herbert Tautz in 1919 in his Milwaukee, Wisconsin garage. Tautz focused on small tools but when Delta was purchased by Rockwell in 1945, the company made a profitable shift to the stationary tools – like planers and bench sanders – it’s renowned for today. Delta isn’t the only name this line has carried, however; Rockwell enveloped the company on takeover before selling it to Pentair, which re-introduced the Delta name before selling out to Black & Decker in 2004.

A veritable power tool power house, the Craftsman brand was coined by the Sears company in 1927. At first, the company primarily manufactured common hand tools like hammers and screwdrivers; but soon jumped on the power tool bandwagon and is now one of the top-selling producers of all power tools, both stationary and portable.

S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker founded the Black & Decker small machine shop in 1910 in Baltimore, Maryland; and the duo found their niche in the power tool industry by inventing the electric drill seven years later. The pistol-grip and trigger style drill became popular and is now a staple on construction sites and in households alike. Realizing the profit potential of power tools, Black & Decker has grown and acquired several other popular power tool brands, including DeWalt, Porter Cable, Delta, and Kwikset.

As industrialized nations become increasingly technology-driven, power tool production stands to increase as lightweight, powerful, and longer-lasting batteries try to match the power and reliability of corded power. Versatile contemporary models and thousands of accessories continue to make everything from woodworking to metal machining easier, more efficient, and more profitable for manufacturers, contractors, and homeowners alike. As power tools have become affordable for nearly everyone, only the hammer has resisted an electric redesign destined to change the way we work forever.

Thank You For Taking The Time To Read This Article.

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Causes of Dental Implant Failure

Statistics have shown that risk of dental implant failure is about five percent for lower jaw implants and ten percent for upper jaw implants. But one of the most confusing aspects of dental implant failure is that in one person having multiple implants, sometimes all but one of the implants will be successful. There has been no way, to this point, to determine what causes selective dental implant failure.

Some dental surgeons have suggested that this kind of dental implant failure is the result of bacteria present in the jawbone before an implant is inserted; when the implant is screwed into the bone, it unleashes the bacteria and turns them loose in the tissue surrounding the implant. As long as the other implants are placed in bacteria free bone, they will heal cleanly and quickly, but the germ-infected implant will eventually become inflamed, never healing correctly, and the implant will eventually fail.

Dental Implant Rejection

Dental implant failure is not the same as dental implant rejection. Dental implants are made of titanium, a metal which, because of its "inert" nature, has been used for nearly forty years in hip replacements. Titanium causes no adverse reactions in human tissue, and when it is commercially pure, no allergic reactions.

A dental implant, however, can become contaminated at the factory where they are made, even though all dental implant manufacturers must comply with strict FDA quality standards. Or it could get contaminated in the dentist's office during the implantation procedure, although all dental surgeons and periodontists are also expected to follow the highest sanitation practices.

Whatever the underlying cause of a dental implant failure, the failure is most likely to surface shortly after the implant procedure. Anyone experiencing excessive discomfort or bleeding after an implant procedure should contact their dental surgeon immediately.

Additional Caused For Dental Implant Failure

But dental implant failure can also be the result of the patient's neglect of aftercare. The dental surgeon will provide a clear set of instructions on caring for the new implant, and it is essential that the instructions be followed. If, in spite of maintaining the implant properly, the patient still develops swelling or tenderness around the implant, it could be a sign of infections and the dentist should be consulted as soon as possible.

A dental implant failure can also occur if the implant has been improperly located. A poorly placed implant will be disturbed by the mouth's biting motion; and people who know they grind their teeth in their sleep should ask their dentists if they are good candidates for dental implants. In most cases the dentist will simply supply you with a mouth keep your teeth grinding at a minimum.

And if, in spite of your best efforts, you experience dental implant failure, you can simply have the implant replaced when the cause of the failure has been determined and eliminated.

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An Easy Introduction to Salt Therapy

It is no question that the pharmacy industry grows every day. Any symptom you are feeling can easily be treated with a pill or a daily dose of medicine. It’s very easy to get caught up in how easily problems we have with our bodies can go away. But taking pills or medicine sometimes is not the best option. With reoccurring illnesses or problems in the body, by taking the same drug one too many times, your body can build an immunity to it, requiring larger doses to have an effect. Natural treatments have been becoming popular once again because they can be done safely and effectively at home, and with fewer risks.

A well-known natural treatment is salt therapy. Salt therapy has been around as early as the twelfth century. This natural and non-invasive treatment involves inhaling microscopic salt particles, targeted at cleansing the respiratory system. The salt’s negatively charged ions (which can be found in places like the beach or waterfalls) are found to reduce the amount of mucus and inflammation in the lungs. This effect improves respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, bronchitis, sinus infections, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and many more. By liquefying the mucus and the inflammation going down, the airways become more cleared for the patient. It is also easier to cough and expel what is unwanted out of the lungs.

Salt therapy does more than just cleansing the respiratory system. According to one study published on PubMed, “It inhibits the growth of bacteria and, in some case, kills them. Phagocyte activity is also increased. It has beneficial effect on the well-being of the patients, and a relaxation effect on the central nervous system. It can prevent, or at least decrease the frequency of the respiratory tract inflammations. It produces better lung function parameters, diminishes bronchial hyperreactivity, which is the sign of decreasing inflammation.” By killing the growth of the bacteria, it’s much more difficult for it to spread and infect the body. Due to this, you will find yourself getting fewer colds and infections because of how strong your body has become. Overall, these additional bonuses of salt therapy will only continue improving your quality of life.

Since salt therapy is drug-free, it makes it a wonderful option for children, especially fussy ones. They won’t even notice the salt particles they’re breathing in because they’re so minuscule, making it extremely easy to have them do this treatment. There have also been studies taken on children with asthma and the effects of salt therapy on them. PubMed concluded that “The treatment group showed a statistical improvement in most parameters of quality of life questionnaires.” and “Our pilot study suggests that salt room with halo generator, may have some beneficial effects in mild asthmatic children.” More and more studies show the positive influence and improved quality of life salt therapy had on the patients. Beside recent studies, salt therapy has been used for centuries as folk medicine. Europe has many salt sanatoriums, the treatments being covered by the health ministry in some of the European countries.

Salt therapy can do a lot for you and can also be used easily at home. This treatment isn’t limited to only those who are affected by a respiratory illness. It can help you from preventing many different illnesses before they affect you by strengthening your immunity. It’s safe, it’s affordable, and it doesn’t come with any potential side effects like most prescription drugs do. Go natural and try salt therapy today!

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Your Food Relationship – Achieve Your Diet and Fat Loss Goals Faster

Food – none of us can go without it! But how does the way in which we think about food impact our diet? Are you someone who just sees food as body fuel, or do the different tastes, textures and nutritional values of food excite you? In today’s health conscious world, I would think that most of us fall into the latter group. If you want to achieve your diet goals quicker, then you need to clearly understand you relationship with food.

Eat and Burn

In its simplest form, food gives our body the calories it needs to run on a daily basis. When there are too few calories, the body looks to its own reserves. When there are too many calories, the body puts them away in storage (i.e. as body fat). On a purely mathematical level, so long as we burn as much as we consume, we are not going to produce excess body fat. So yes it is possible to eat junk food and stay thin but we also know that what food we eat can be as important as how much food we eat.

Food Fanatics

Not all foods are created equal. It would be nonsense to say that a caramel flapjack and an organic apple containing the same number of calories are of equal health benefit. At the ‘eat and burn’ basic level then yes they might provide our body with the same number of calories but substance is surely just as important. We have all learned that the organic apple is bursting with healthy goodness, whilst the flapjack will be laden with sugar and other nutritional nastiness.

The food world has gone crazy over the past few years. Every other program on television is a cooking program. But why are we so obsessed? It is just body fuel at the end of the day…

I have to admit, I am a modern day ‘foodie’. I love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen and I strongly believe in the health benefits of natural food. In my eyes, there is nothing wrong with this, food has the fantastic ability of making us happy so let’s take advantage. However, you need to be aware of your root relationship with food. There is definitely a risk of obsessing over food. Such obsession may manifest itself as punishing yourself for eating ‘junk’ food, a lifetime of calorie counting, or possibly worse. We each have unique relationships with food and to get the most from food we should strip away the layers and get to the bottom of what and why. Why did you have to eat popcorn whilst watching that movie yesterday evening? Why did you have to drink alcohol when socialising last week? It is good to sit back and think about our food choices so we understand why we made them and can enjoy those choices instead of feeling guilty about them!

Strategies to Avoid Food Obsession and Achieve Your Diet Goals

As we are dependent upon food for survival, all of us have a relationship with food.

Here are a few ideas to help you find out, change, and nurture your food relationship.

  • Make a Black, Grey, White list of foods you commonly eat. Black for the least healthy, White for the most. Then keep it in your kitchen, making sure that your cupboards are full of those foods on the White list (typically fresh fruit, vegetables, unsalted nuts and seeds, whilst trying to cut out those on the Black list (basically anything processed containing sugar, as well as alcohol and if you follow the Paleo diet, then all grains too). To take things further, you can keep a score board to measure how many food items from each colour group you are eating – monitoring your results forces the truth upon you, so there is nowhere to hide!
  • Work out what type of food personality you are. Do this by clearly identifying what you enjoy about food. For me, I know that eating healthily will make me feel happy but so does the odd treat. I have a soft spot for beer and ice cream (not together though!), so I indulge in these things every now and again. It may be that you enjoy a certain type of cuisine, or need to eat every two hours. Being aware of your food personality will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses in your diet, which you can then address sensibly instead of obsessively.
  • Be wise about food availability – possibly the most important factor in keeping a healthy diet is to always have the healthy food readily to hand. Most people resort to less healthy foods because they are so accessible. A little bit of effort on your part and healthy food can be fast food in any hectic lifestyle. Prepare your healthy food in advance and keep stock levels high (i.e. always have fresh fruit and vegetables at the ready).
  • Equally, if it isn’t in your house in the first place then you can’t eat it! If you don’t have very strong willpower, avoid the lethal step of bringing junk foods into your home. Too often I have picked things up and thought it would be saved for a rainy day but the evenings are full of temptation and before you know it that treat is in your belly. I know that keeping sweet food in the house can undo my healthy eating, so it’s best kept out most of the time.

Free Your Food, Do Not Trap it with Rules

The key to making healthy eating a lifestyle choice and not a short term diet is to make it fun and enjoyable, not boring and burdensome! I think adopting a ‘rule free’ food psychology is more realistic than to simply ban certain foods altogether. To be truthful, we all fall off the healthy eating bandwagon. In my eyes, this can be a good thing providing that you that you do enjoy your treats (e.g. cake) that you consume otherwise what is the point!? Don’t worry and just get right back on track instead of dwelling on that junk food.

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Why You Need to Manage Stress

Stress has been found to be a major factor in some of the most chronic diseases such as hypertension, stroke and cardiac arrest. Oftentimes, a person under a high level of stress can experience lowered immunity against infections and further lead to other more serious medical conditions.

During very stressful situations, the brain increases its production of chemical elements such as epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine which can all affect the body's normal processes. Extreme levels of these chemicals in the brain can contribute to elevations in blood pressure, increased heart beats, rapid cell reproduction and weakening of the body's immune system.

Stress can also cause the digestive process to be disrupted, as the stomach releases more acid due to the increase in anxiety that usually companies pressure. If stress levels are not deleted to a minimum, ulcers and other digestive issues may occur. Sometimes, a person may also experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), where irregularities in the bowel movement may result.

It is not uncommon also for people who undergo a lot of stress to have problems sleeping. This may further increase the person's susceptibility to diseases, as the body does not get the amount of sleep it needs for regular functioning.

High levels of stress can also affect the normal functioning of the brain. There may be difficulties in one's ability to focus, to reason and to conduct ordinary, daily tasks due to stress. It may also lead to anxiety and panic attacks and can also result in depression. In very worst cases, depression can even lead to thoughts of suicide.

Another effect of stress is rapid hair loss. People who are often subjected to stress may find themselves losing hair faster than before.

With all the adverse effects of stress, it is imperative then, that you learn how to manage stress on a daily basis. Do not let stress affect your life so much, that you are unable to function properly. If you feel that the stress factors are getting too much for you to carry, and you have too many responsibilities to take care of ,. analyze the areas in your life that you can give up on. Learn to prioritize, and learn to say 'no'.

Do not take stress lightly. Seek the advice of a qualified doctor or therapist who may suggest ways on how you can effectively reduce stress and live a happier, more fulfilled life.

Grab your copy of an awesome 34 page FREE eBook about "Dealing With Stress" by going to: http://www.StressExercise.org

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Why Herbal Dietary Supplements Are So Popular

Herbal dietary supplements are commonly used today by an increasing number of people to treat various health conditions and diseases. As the name suggests, herbal supplements are those that contain herbs or botanical ingredients.

Herbal dietary supplements are so popular because they provide a natural and healthy solution for improving one's health and quality of life. Many people are under the impression that herbal dietary supplements are new additions to the health industry. However in reality, the use of herbs and medicine go back to prehistoric man.

Guidelines that supplements should follow

There are certain guidelines that herbal dietary supplements have to fulfill by its manufacturers. They should be taken orally to supplement the diet by increasing one's daily daily intake.

Most herbal dietary supplements contain one or more vitamins, herbs, minerals and amino acids to maintain the body's nutritional balance. Different supplements are available in different forms like capsule, powder, pill, gel caps, liquids and concentrate soft gels for quick and easy absorption of the supplement in the body.

Not a meal on its own

However remember that herbal dietary supplements are in no way a conventional food or meal supplement that can be taken on its own. It is to be included in your diet with your regular food, as a nutritional and beneficial supplement.

With there being different types of herbal supplements, more than 4 billion people take some form of herbal supplements in their day to day life. The most common reasons for people to take these supplements include prevention of some disease or illness, to help with weight loss, for improvement of one's energy levels and to cure insomnia or to help one relax and sleep.

Herbal supplements are also taken to manage any symptoms that arise due to illness, injury or disease and to increase one's life longevity. Sometimes it is also used as a part or alternative to traditional medicinal treatments or even as an alternative to the more expensive treatments.

Consult your doctor

Some people use herbal supplements only because they are a convenient means of adding some vitamins, minerals and herbs in their diet. Then again, there are people who take these supplements just to improve their performance in their physical, emotional and mental well being.

So you can see that herbal diet supplements are indeed very beneficial in improving your health and general well being. However just like any other medication, it is always better to consult your doctor or doctor about taking these supplements, especially if you suffer from other health ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure.

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Dental Clinics And Their Procedures

If you have already decided that you are going to have dental work done, but are not sure about where to go consider learning first about different procedures of dental clinics. Ask yourself if the clinic you are looking at offers all the things that a dental clinic has. You should have access to a large staff of certified professionals. Some clinics have fifteen dentists on staff. The clinic should take pride in their work.

Some clinics not only have pride in it, but make it their passion. The facility should be up to date, clean, soothing, and provide all the luxuries expected of this kind of service. Many clinics are not just up to date but state of the art. They are not just soothing, but downright relaxing with the staff offering reflexology and foot massage in order to ease those pre-surgical jitters. The advanced sterilization methods ensure that the tools, surroundings, and laboratory are germ free. A number of luxuries are provided for those periods where people must wait, including soft blankets, child care services, snacks and refreshments, Internet access, and a welcoming waiting area.

But the accessories should not be why someone picks one dental clinic over another. It is the work performed that makes or breaks this type of operation. Customers and clients from around the world have reported that over a wide range of procedures the quality of work is second to none. Here are some of the procedures that many clinics offer.

• Teeth whitening

• Dental implants. This is used to replace missing teeth in situations where there is no need or desire to create a bridge. The implant itself is an anchor piece that replaces the natural tooth root. A replacement prosthetic is added after the implant is healed.

• Crown or porcelain veneers. These are similar procedures, with the crown being thicker, requiring the tooth to be reduced. A porcelain veneer, on the other hand, is a thin laminate once bonded to a tooth can restore color, shape, and overall function to the teeth.

• Bridges. For replacing missing teeth in such situations where the surrounding teeth need to be crowned because of damage. Because the bridge is anchored via crowns this takes two office visits to complete.

• Bonding

• Gum Lifts. This is done to help improve the overall look of the smile. In most cases it is only needed around one or two teeth. A simple procedure that takes a single visit to perform. Healing takes about twelve weeks.

• Dentures. Considered inferior to implants for a number of reasons, these still may be preferred in conjunction with crowns where clasp retention can help hold them in place.

• Tooth colored fillings. There are a number of options for tooth colored fillings, including composite, glass ionomer, porcelain, artglass, belleglass, or composite inlay. The latter are designed for larger cavities and can be an alternative to a Crown.

• Full mouth reconstruction

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The Most Important Weapon for Women's Self-Defense

I've been reading a lot of articles recently about women's self-defense, and what women need in order to protect themselves recently. Collapsible batons, pepper sprays, tazers, and even guns are all regularly espoused as the most important thing a modern woman needs to carry at all times in order to ensure her safety.

But there's a problem.

Presumably, the authors who write these articles are based in countries and / or states where those weapons are legal and legitimate. My take on this is slightly different because I live in the UK, where any and all weapons (or items carried with the intention of using them as weapons) are completely illegal. The only weapons a student here can be responsibly encouraged to use are improvised weapons. Ie – those which are found during an encounter, or an innocent item like a handbag which can become and a weapon there and then.

So, what do women really need in order to become efficient at self-protection?

Mindset.

I recently wrote that the most important attribute for any fighter, martial artist, or self-defense student to develop is a strong, combative mindset. This is especially important for women, for a couple reasons.

Many women seem to defeat themselves before they begin simply because they feel as though they could not possibly defend them against a man. It's understandable because women, by their very nature, are not as comfortable with violence as men, who begin with competitive rough-and-tumble play at an early age and are encouraged to take up tough physical sports and interests more often than females are. They are also, on average, physically smaller and / or weaker than a man. But despite being understood, this fear is unfounded.

Imagine a 200lb man holding a cat. Now, someone throws ice-cold water over them both, and the man tries to hold onto the animal. What happens? The man fails to hold onto the cat, and gets injured in the process because the frenzied feline goes nuts with its teeth and claws in its determination to escape. The cat weighs probably 8-10lbs.

What's the stop women from doing the same? You're a lot bigger than the cat. You have teeth, you have nails. You have a variety of weapons. Learn to use these instead of relying upon charged weapons, which you may not always have with you (and may not always have time to deploy anyway).

But what if you still do not think you can fight back?

If you're a woman reading this, think of your children. If you do not have them, think of your friend's children, or your pets, or anything else you love. Now imagine them being attacked by a man wearing a mask. What are you doing to do?

There is a tale of a woman who was attacked in her home and, due to fear of fighting back, becoming a rape statistic. Moments later, the attacker turned his back on her and headed toward an adjacent room, where the woman's young daughter was screaming. Seeing what was about to happen, the woman leapt into action, grabbing a pair of scissors from the sideboard and introducing them to the intruder's neck. He died at the scene.

Would not you have done the same?

For many women, the idea of ​​protecting themselves seems alien and impossible, yet the idea of ​​protecting their child is primal and instinctive. It happens without being given a second though. Why can not you apply this to your own safety, as well as that of loved ones?

My point here is that although carrying some kind of weapon or personal safety device might be a sensible option, do not let it blind you and become your only sense of security. It is not enough. In order to maximize your safety, you have to get your mindset right. You have to train yourself physically and learn to use your natural weapons until you reach the level where you know you can defend yourself, whether you have the luxury of a rented weapon or not. You have to give yourself permission to fight back for your own safety in the same way that you would protect someone else's.

Neither of these things are a quick or easy process, but they are essential. Do not look for quick fixes. If you are genuinely concerned about your wellbeing, put in the hours.

You should only rely upon yourself.

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DASHing Toward Lower Blood Pressure

Regular check-ups with your physician will allow you to keep on top of your current blood pressure. As you age, it’s common for blood pressure to be become consistently high; this is known as hypertension. There are several risk factors for hypertension you can control, such as quitting smoking, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy weight. However, there are several factors which you can’t control, such as age, family history of hypertension, and ethnicity (African Americans are twice as likely to have high blood pressure as Caucasians). You can reduce your risk of high blood pressure by focusing on the things you CAN change!

The DASH Diet

Lowering your intake of sodium is one of the key recommendations from the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans in lowering blood pressure. Although sodium is a necessary mineral, it is often over-consumed. The recommended daily sodium intake for healthy adults is no more than 2300 mg, which is the amount in one teaspoon of table salt. For adults 51 or older, African Americans, those with hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease, that amount is reduced to 1500 mg per day.

You don’t need to cut salt completely out of your diet to have a positive impact on your blood pressure. Pairing decreased sodium with increased potassium has a greater impact that reducing sodium alone. Potassium is found in fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Sodium and potassium work together in many functions of the body, including maintaining blood pressure. The system works best when your intake of sodium and potassium are balanced, but in this world of processed, fast food, sources of sodium are consumed far more than sources of potassium.

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet isn’t so much a diet as it is a balanced way to eat. It focuses on reducing processed foods and refined grains (lots of sodium), while simultaneously increasing fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, and plant proteins (lots of potassium).

Positive Changes

Foods that are great sources of potassium include bananas, raisins, orange, potato, dried beans and peas, salmon, sunflower seeds and yogurt. Opt for fresh over canned, if possible. If you’re using canned beans or legumes, look for low-sodium versions and be sure to drain and rinse them thoroughly before using them.

Soups, breads, canned foods and frozen meals are often packed with sodium. The next time you are in the supermarket take a look at the nutrition label and choose the foods with the lower sodium numbers. Some boxes to pay attention to are cereals, crackers, pasta sauces, canned beans and vegetables, and frozen meals. Low sodium on a label means the product has less than 140 mg of sodium per serving; very low sodium means 35 mg or less per serving and salt or sodium free means less than 5 mg sodium per serving AND does not contain sodium chloride.

The research on the relationship between potassium and blood pressure is so convincing, the FDA has required the amount of potassium per serving to be listed on the newly revised nutrition label as a percentage of the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Although the new label hasn’t been fully implemented yet, some brands have already made the change, so look at both the sodium AND potassium values on processed and packaged food to get a larger picture of how the food may impact your blood pressure, and take them into consideration when finding where they fit best in relation to the DASH diet.

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Giardia and Companion Cats and Dogs

Giardia is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that can infect both humans and their companion pets. It is transmitted through ingestion of the cyst form of the Giardia species. There are several species of this parasite that companion pet owners need to be aware of. When categorized into spacific species, there are two that are infectious to humans, two infectious to cats, four infectious to dogs, and one to rats.

So what causes giardia infection? If your pet or you ingest the cyst form of giardia, once in the small intestines, will release one or two trophozoites. These are the next stage of the giardia life cycle. At this stage they are more mobile. They attach themselves to the intestinal wall and reproduce by division. Many of them also encyst as they go further down the intestines.

Giardia infection can have intermittent intervals in the signs they show. Most companion pets will have diarrhea off and on. The feces can be formed but most of the time it will appear pale and or greasy. Other signs associated with giardia include anorexia, dehydration and lethargy. Your pet may also show be painful and you may notice them trying to have a bowel movement with no success. In severe cases when untreated the owner may notice fat, mucus, and or blood in the diarrhea.

If you see any of these, you will want to have your companion pet evaluated by your veterinarian. Take a sample of your pets stool with you. For diagnostic purposes your veterinarian will want to do one or more fecal tests. A definitive diagnosis can be made when the trophozoite or cyst are seen under the microscope. There is also a site test made by IDEXX Laboratories that can also give a quick diagnosis.

Depending on your veterinarians findings and the severity of infection,they may want to hospitalize your pet and place a IV Catheter for intravenous fluids, to assist with re-hydration. There are a few medications that are highly successful when treating Giardiasis. Fenbendazole and Metronidazole are usually the drugs of choice for treatment. Your veterinarian may add other medications to the treatment protocol if necessary. If your pet is painful, they may consider pain management and or anti inflammatory medications. They will discuss these details with you before starting any treatment regime.

Treatment can take anywhere from a few days to a week, each individual case varies. Also this is assuming that there are no other conditions that need to be addressed at the time. Upon discharge you may have medications to give to your pet. Remember to ask your veterinarian if it can be taken with other medications they may already be on and to complete them all.

Giardia is hardy and can remain inactive in the environment. It is susceptible to drying out. What companion pet owners need to do is limit the availability of standing water to their pets. Do not allow them to drink out of ponds or rivers. Owners should pick up contaminated stool as quick as possible so it is not ingested again or by another pet. These are a few tips for containing possible giardia sources.

Speak to your veterinarian about whether or not your companion pet is a candidate for the Giardia vaccine. Depending on your pets medical history they may consider adding it to their vaccine protocol as a precaution for future infections.

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Obese Or Overweight? It May Not Be Your Fault!

Obesity The Scale of the Problem

Since 1980 the number of obese adults has nearly tripled, over half of all men and a staggering two thirds of all women are now exclusively overweight or obese, and these numbers are rising rapidly. The rise is such that the problem has been officially reclassified as "The Obesity Epidemic" and has donned the nickname "Globisity".

Obesity is rapidly overtaking smoking as the major cause of avoidable premature death, diabetes alone, which has been proved to have a very close relationship with being overweight or obese, currently claims more lives that smoking.

These shocking figures that refer to the health of the population have been known for some time but until recently little has been done to attempt to stem the flow of Obesity.

The Financial Cost

In recent years though the financial cost of Obesity and related diseases is becoming clear in the UK alone where the figures are easier to calculate thanks to the National Health Service it has been revealed that Obesity is costing the Health Service in excess of £ 6.2 billion per annual, Diabetes alone is currently costing over £ 1 million every hour.

To put these figures into better perspective we should note that Smoking only costs the Nation £ 1.4 billion. And these figures are set to rise in line with the rise in obesity and the related diseases.

It has been thanks to these "financial bombshell" figures that have prompted the Government to release substantial funding to enable proper research in the subject of Obesity in an attempt to stem the tide. The results so far have started to ring alarm bells.

Current Research, the results

Research is beginning to show that in many cases being overweight or Obese is the direct result of substance abuse, in our case the substance being processed foods, which can be just as psychologically addictive to the user as would be the narcotic of choice to the habitual drug user, or alcohol to the alcoholic, or indeed cigarettes to the smoker.

How can simple food be addictive, you may well ask? Well simple food is not addictive imagine a Country where all you could eat was plain rice, beans and vegetables would there be much Obesity, I think not!

The truth is that only highly processed foods are addictive, and those that are the most addictive are also those that are most dangerous to our health, energy laden, full of sugars, and fats, with added salt and other flavor enhancers, scientifically engineered to be addictive one might argument, almost designed so that we not only want to but are able to consume far more than we need, and in many cases more than we want.

Clinical research has shown that the brain of the Overweight or Obese person is in many respects similar to that of the habitual drug user, and will have far less D2 receptors (pleasure receptors) that that of a normal test subject, or the levels of dopamine (the bodies natural pleasure giving drug) released into the body as a reward are reduced in the Overweight or Obese person as they would be in the Habitual Drug User. Even more worrying the higher the Body Mass Index of the test subjects the fewer D2 receptors or lower levels of dopamine released for any given stimuli.

One of many clinical trials involved giving squirts of either Chocolate Milkshake or squirts of a tasteless fluid to a large trial group while subjecting them to an MRI brain scan to determine the levels of Dopamine released when a squirt of the tasty chocolate milkshake was administrated, it was predicted that those who released the lower depths of the pleasure giving dopamine would be those who were most likely to put on most weight over the coming year as they would be more tempted to overest to compensate for this deficient reward no prize for a correct guess these generating the lower levels of dopamine shown substantial gain gain over these with high levels of dopamine.

There have been numerous clinical tests to substantiate these claims, which in truth is no surprise, the big food manufactures have been researching and exploiting this knowledge for years.

Conclusion.

So now that we have established that if you are overweight or obese it may not be your fault, but I am afraid that you do not really help, you are still overweight or obese and this is a very dangerous problem that you must resolve, It is clear that this recent research will go a long way to improve future treatment of the condition, but as yet no safe and effective weight loss drug is currently available. There are however several ways that we can teach and trick the body into thinking that the …

But that is another story.

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Some Procedures on How to Remove Skin Tags

Removing skin tags varies with each person. How to remove skin tags is often done at the doctor's office, although this can be costly and a bit painful. They generally freeze the skin tag off and leave behind a nice little scar to remind you of where the skin tag once was, an undesirable thing, especially if the skin tag was somewhere quite noticeable, such as on the face. Removing skin tags using natural remedies is simple and affordable. This is an especially good option for those who are a little more pain-conscious.

Removing skin tags at home are not without its risks. People who want to do it usually use a scissor to cut off the growth, but this can lead to infections and bleeding as well. Removing skin tags with a natural remedy is quite simple. Removing skin tags is not an issue. There are several removal methods available.

Tie a small string around the tag then Cut the excess string off so it does not show, and go about your business as usual. In about 15 minutes the skin tag will begin turning blue and in 24 hours time it will have turned almost black. Cut or snip the skin tag right at the base.

Doctors remove skin tags with sharp scissors, a sharp blade. These need a lot of care and the risk of infection is more likely. Doctors have yet to isolate the exact cause of skin tags, although they have several theories and have discovered several conditions that make their appearance more likely. Females are more prone than males to skin tags, but both genders tend to notice their occurrence more as they get older. hopefully this helps you in how to remove skin tags.

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Sistency And Pre-Shot Routine In Pool: Warmup Stroking Pattern

A big part of putting yourself into a trance of consistency is your stroking pattern during your warmup strokes. An entire book, Pleasures of Small Motions by Bob Fancher Ph.D. was written with this aspect of your game as being THE most important part of performance on the pool table. There is some merit to this.

If you take a look at videos of Efren Reyes at various stages throughout his long career and pay attention to his pre-shot stroking pattern, you’ll notice how little variation there is in what he does as the years go by. Every top player develops their way of taking warmup strokes and that becomes very helpful or necessary in creating rhythm inside of their game.

The coordination of your eyes to the movement of your cue is very important and you ought to put some effort into finding a way of doing it that works for you. Once a player “gets in stroke” that also means that their arm and grip are warmed up along with their eye movement sequence as it relates to the warm up strokes and final delivery of the cue. If you do all of the previous components of your pre-shot routine, get your bridge set firmly, and THEN get into your stroking/eye movement pattern, your likely hood of success on any given shot will increase 10 fold.

There is no magical one correct way of organizing your practice strokes or some magical number of practice strokes for you to take, yet when you find one that does work for you, that becomes your magical result producing sequence. You might be in “dead punch” and only take one or two practice strokes every shot. This is possible with superior attention to detail in your shot set up process. Three, four, five, or six warmup strokes may be your magic number, or 15. Somewhere in the single digits should get the job done though, and it can vary a bit on shorter easier shots compared to longer tough shots.

One general guideline is to look at the cue ball as your cue tip is going into the cue ball, and look back at the object ball as you pull away from the cue ball. Then before your last backswing, lock your eyes up at the object ball and THEN start your last back swing and then deliver your actual stroke. There can be so much variation that I give this as a GUIDELINE, yet work on it, look at your favorite pros, and come to settle on something that works for you…

My grandpa always marveled at local players who ‘sawed too much wood” meaning just stayed down taking practice strokes forever before each shot. As you improve, your pattern should become more refined without the need to stay down forever on a shot. With the disciplined adherence to all the components of pre-shot routine, finding a good pace will find it’s way to you.

Good luck with that and see you soon…

Max Eberle