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Risk Management and Obesity

If you work in the medical field you are probably familiar with the phrase Risk Management. Outside of caring for the patients, risk management is perhaps the most important issue facing a medical practice today. In recent years, American's of all ages have gotten heavier and health care professionals around the country seem to be struggling with obesity related risks. Managing these risks properly may prove to be the key in keeping a successful practice free of lawsuits.

Obesity can affect a medical practice in a number of ways. In order to protect itself from potential litigation, a medical practice needs to focus risk management efforts on creating a safe environment for patients of all sizes. The first step is creating awareness in the office. Talking to employees about the obesity epidemic is a good start. Statistics show that two out of three patients are obese and that number is expected to rise in the future. Encourage everyone working at the office to lead by example and cut down on their own unhealthy habits. Making sure the staff is trained in the correct methods for moving obese patients in the case of an emergency is also important.

Ask members of the staff to check for a maximum weight rating on all of the exam tables and waiting room furniture. Obese patients sometimes have limited mobility and may walk with the assistance of canes or walkers so thoroughly examine carpeting and other flooring in the office for signs of wear. Make sure that any loose wires or electrical cables are securely covered so as not to become a tripping hazard. If wheelchairs are present in the office, make sure that they are in proper working order and check for a maximum weight rating. Taking these steps will dramatically reduce risks in the office. Helping obese patients lose weight quickly and safely should also be a focus for risk management. The longer a patient is obese, the more at risk they are for developing other illnesses. Obesity has already been linked to osteoarthritis, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, certain types of cancer and a variety of other ailments.

Doctors everywhere know that do-it-yourself dieting and fad products do not work for the vast majority of their obese patients. Impressive new methods have been developed within the medical community to address the needs of millions of overweight American's. Physicians are communicating with their obese patients about the scientific options for weight loss. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming and each has pros and cons associated with it. They range from meal planning with a dietitian and a customized exercise regimen with a personal trainer to prescription appetite suppressants or bariatric surgery. One of the more appealing options has come in the form of a comprehensive program offered by Smart for Life Weight Management Centers.

The Smart for Life Weight Management Program was developed and is administered by doctors. It has proved successful for thousands of patients because it focuses on helping them to change their eating habits for life. Instead of focusing only on weight loss, Smart for Life has added a weight maintenance portion for patients who reach their goal weight. By addressing the downfalls of other weight loss approaches, the Smart for Life team feels that they have come up with a winning combination that will appeal to the masses.

Smart for Life has discovered the six most common reasons a person will fail on a diet. Many weight loss systems over the years have addressed one or more of these issues but Smart for Life is the first to have developed a system that addresses them all. A person may fail due to the following reasons:

1.) They are not losing weight fast enough to stay motivated

2.) They are too hungry to stay compliant with their nutrition plan

3.) They are not monitored on a regular basis and therefore do not feel accountable for their progress

4.) The nutrition plan they have been given is not convenient

5.) Their individual risk factors are not continuously monitored by a medical professional.

6.) They are not including long term lifestyle change as a priority.

The Smart for Life Weight Management Program was designed to deal specifically with each of these items. Patients on the program see an average weight loss of twelve to fifteen pounds per month which helps them to stay motivated. To control hunger through the day, a patient will eat six specially formulated organic cookies. Each cookie is full of nutrients, amino acids and, fiber to naturally suppress hunger while supplying the body with the protein and healthy fats it needs to maintain energy. Going with an organic formula means that the cookies have a higher nutrient content, more protein and, no pesticides or chemicals. The dinner meal consists of six to eight ounces of healthy protein (some patients will consume additional protein during the day depending on their gender and unique nutritional needs) and two cups of vegetables.

Another aspect that is critical to the program's success is accountability. Each patient receives a one-on-one consultation with a physician, nurse practitioner or doctors assistant before starting. The consultation includes analysis of blood work BMI and an EKG. Appropriate long term and short term goals are also discussed. Most patients will also be put on vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure proper nutrition.

Accountability does not end there. Each week the patient comes in to have their weight, pulse and, blood pressure monitored. Every fourth week, the patient meets with one of the providers to discuss their progress. This cycle continues until the patient gets close to a healthy BMI. At that point, their caloric intake is increased and their exercise routine enhanced. Patients are weaned off the organic cookies and encouraged to continue eating six small healthy meals during the day. As part of weight maintenance, patients still come in to have their vital signs checked on a regular basis.

The cookies are a convenient meal form because they require little to no planning. A single package contains all six cookies needed for the day. Offered in a growing variety of flavors these cookies provide a safe and healthy alternative to prescription based appetite suppressants. With an average weight loss of twelve to fifteen pounds per month the Smart for Life Weight Management Program is comparable to bariatric surgeries without the associated health risks and co-morbidity rates.

From a risk management point of view, it makes sense for doctors, nurses and doctors assistants to refer their patients to programs like Smart for Life. Practitioners also need to make sure that they are adequately documenting their recommendations in these situations. There have been cases recently where doctors have been found at fault for not helping their obese patients to lose weight. In the case of Lawrence Smith's family vs Doctor Franklin Price, a Cleveland internist, a jury levied a $ 3.5 million judgment against Dr. Price for not doing enough to keep Lawrence Smith from developing coronary heart disease which led to a fatal heart attack. Through documenting appropriately medical professionals can avoid future accusations of "not doing enough to help" their obese patients.

Programs like Smart for Life can further lower the risk to primary care physicians, family practice doctors and OB / GYN practices by helping patients to lose weight before they develop weight related illnesses. More importantly, a program like Smart for Life helps patients keep excess weight coming back which lowers longer term risks.

Medical professionals will have to adapt in order to manage their obesity related risks. Legal precedent and a rising national obesity rate have heightened the need for changes in patient care and office protocol. Even with the safety net of risk management practices around the country will face litigation in the future. Referring patients to healthy, medically supervised weight loss programs may prove to be the difference between winning and losing the cases centered on obesity.

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Skin Wrinkle Treatment

Psoriasis medication

There are various kinds of topical medications, which are available for the treatment of psoriasis, which includes anthralin, corticosteroids, as well as salicylic acid. Most of the times, doctors employ a trial-and-error method, for striking upon a treatment, which could work. This way, they might switch over the treatment periodically in case it does not work.

Treatment in case of psoriasis takes into account various factors like type of psoriasis, the severity, the size of the area involved, as well as the response of the patient towards the initial treatment.

Also, over a period of time, the affected skin may become resistant towards the treatment, particularly in case, topical corticosteroids are administered. Apart from that, a psoriasis treatment, which works well in case of one person, may have little or no effect in case of the other. It is due to this reason, that a trial-and-error method is employed. The following are some of the common types of medications which are typically administrated to people suffering from psoriasis:

1. Anthralin
Anthralin tends to reduce the enlargement of the skin cells along with the inflammation. Many a times, an application of anthralin cream, ointment, or paste for once every day for the treatment of chronic psoriasis lesions, might be recommended. Thereafter the medication should be washed off the skin for the prevention of irritation.

2. Retinoids
Topical retinoid is a synthetic form of vitamin A. Retinoid tazarotene is available in the form of gel or cream, which is applied on the skin. In case if it is used alone, the medicine would not act as fast, as in case of topical corticosteroids, however, it does not lead to the thinning of skin or any other side effects, which are associated with the use of steroids.

3. Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids tend to reduce the inflammation as well as the turnover of the skin cells. It also, suppresses the immune system as well. Topical corticosteroids are available in various strengths and are generally applied on the skin for twice a day. In cases, in which the objective of the treatment is to inconvenience comfort, medium-potency corticosteroids may be prescribed for the treatment of broader skin areas. Apart from that, low-potency medication is administrated on delicate areas of the skin.

Along with that, bath solutions as well as moisturizers may prove to be helpful as well, but they are quite strong enough for improving the skin. It is due to this reason; they are generally combined along with stronger remedies. Apart from that, several other medication techniques can be employed.

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Dealing With Divorce – Depression Can Build Your Character

One of the major problems relationships experts encounter is dealing with divorce depression. Initially, it might be difficult to apply whatever they proffer. But it is important that you act accordingly. These are experts with ample years of experience and it could cause you some pain and emotional discomfort if you disregard what they tell you.

The reasons behind your divorce remain fresh in your mind. This is what causes depression. The never ceasing "why, when and what" questions keep burning holes in your mind. And probably stop you from getting some sleep or doing anything else even when you are awake.

It is important not to focus entirely on what you did or did not do. No one is perfect. You need to think of what your ex-partner did to make the relationship unbearable. What was the problem? The false accusations? The infidelity? The reckless spending? The beatings?

After a divorce, it so easy to lose track of what destroyed the relationship in the end. Do not let this rule your thoughts. Also there's no problem with reflecting on the good times and lingering on the happy memories. Just do not get talked up in an emotional tug-of -war where you want your ex back. It will only worsen your condition. And this will not help in dealing with your divorce depression.

It is important to remind yourself about the problems that put your relationship in jeopardy in the first place. So that you can learn from them and not make the same mistakes in future.

You can also use your social circle to build up your character after divorce. Family and friends care about you. Spend time with them. Never take them for granted and ignore them in your hurt and pain. There are better things to do than sleep, watch TV, eat excessively and think of what-could-have-been?

Dealing with divorce depression can be a revealing experience. Towards seeing how strong you really are. If you remember that your happiness and emotional fulfillment does not depend on someone else, it strengthens your character and mental state.

And what this does is that it shows for people to see. If you are self-assertive, happy and confident you will catch the eye of the opposite sex. Just make sure you take the lessons from the past to make that right decision for the future.

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Phobias Explained

In an earlier article Phobias What are They I told you about the way Jane reacted when confronted with a snake. What follows is a brief introduction to the model I use to explain phobic reactions and why they are so very real for the individuals that experience them.

All phobias are apparently irrational, but in truth they are not. They are in fact based upon primitive self survival knowledge / instinct. In order to stay safe we ​​must be aware of dangers in our environment. Natural dangers are: –

Heights – you could fall off

spiders – some spiders are poisonous

snakes – some are poisonous

being enclosed – the cave roof could fall down or you might be trapped in a confined space

dogs or other animals – could save you

Vomiting – a sign of possible dangerous disease or just plain unpleasant

darkness – not possible to see dangers

open spaces – there are dangers all around in the World.

etc. etc.

The list is intensive All these phobias have one common element, possible threats to life. Other phobias may be connected to life threatening or fear inducing situations. Fears of such things as buttons, birds, touching, nakedness, etc. all are linked emotionally to some situation in which a sense of fear or panic was induced.

For instance the fear of buttons could well stem from an early childhood experience of having a button tangled in long hair. Or of being unable to remove a coat or cardigan causing a young child to panic.

All phobias seem to stem from some significant experience. This significant event is linked to our basic, primitive, fears and fixed permanently in the mind Many people are unable to recall the event as it is back in very early childhood.

Another factor of phobias is that they can grow just like snowballs, each time the phobic reaction occurs it strengthens the fear. This is because each experience is linked emotionally to the previous one. When the reaction is triggered you are reacting mentally to all previous feelings of fear in the same context. Your mind has created a structure to deal with the fear and each time you go through a similar experience the structure grows larger and stronger.

Imagine it this way.

The mind stores all experiences good, bad and indifferent with the emotion experienced at the time. The first experience of a fear is linked to the second and subsequent events of the same kind. Thus the phobia can grow and grow becoming more powerful with age. Phobias are emotional events and our brain is set up to react to fears before logic can assists us.

A simple diagram can give an idea of ​​this structure. Imagine a nest of squares. The smallest square is in the center and each subsection square is larger and contains the previous ones. Links connect the squares together The diagram represents how the brain builds an experiential structure. The central square represents the first experience. This is then embedded in and linked to the second event and then linked and embedded to the third. This causes the emotions from each event to be linked together. Each new experience triggers the emotions of all past experiences and the new one is added to the structure. To remove or reduce a phobia what needs to be done is to break the links between each emotional memory or override the structure with a new one.

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How You Can Lower Anxiety Without Drugs

Worrying has been on my mind these days- or, to be more precise- I’ve been plagued by worry a lot lately. And as fate would have it, so have many of my clients. Being a Highly Sensitive Person(HSP for short) and working with so many HSP’s in my practice, I am keenly aware that one of the major downsides to having this personality is the tendency to be anxious a lot of the time.

I thought I’d share some good tools and resources with you to help you conquer anxiety in your own life…

Step #1: Do the thing that scares you the most until it doesn’t scare you anymore

This tool is one of the greatest to squelch fears for good and is touted by innumerable anxiety experts to get the upper hand on the anxiety monster in your head. The basic idea here is this:

DO THE THING THAT IS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOUR MIND IS TELLING YOU TO DO.

This is most easily demonstrated by using the example of someone with a phobia. Let’s say that Sue is terrified of flying on an airplane and has massive panic attacks every time she steps onto an airplane to go on vacation or for work. The cure?

SUE NEEDS TO FLY ON AIRPLANES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND FACE HER FEARS HEAD-ON (this is known in the field as “exposure therapy”).

As David Burns, MD points out in his book, When Panic Attacks, this is the most challenging treatment of all when it comes to snuffing out anxiety. I describe it as ‘jumping right into the freezing cold water’ versus ‘inching your way into the freezing cold water one body part at a time’. In short, it’s fast, incredibly exhilarating and downright terrifying, but once it’s done, you can kiss that anxiety goodbye.

In the book I just mentioned, David Burns gives a hilarious example of treating a woman with an elevator phobia with the highest stakes version of exposure therapy called “flooding”- which is full-force immersion into one’s worst fear- facing the fear and waiting it out until it dissipates) who was cured in 20 minutes! In short, Dr. Burns walked the client to an elevator, encouraged her to go in and ride up and down, feel the panic, ride it out, and then meet him on the floor he was waiting on at the end.

As she was riding up and down in the elevator, the woman met some handsome young men who were moving offices and enjoyed flirting with them while simultaneously telling them that she was in the elevator as treatment for her elevator phobia and her shrink was waiting for her on the third floor while she cured herself!

Step #2: Set Aside A Specific Time to Worry and Stick to it

I absolutely love this technique because it injects humour into the situation. You see, us anxious worrywarts tend to be very serious about things. I’m guessing if you can relate to what I’m saying here, you were most definitely a serious baby and crawled around with a furrowed brow looking like a French Existentialist philosopher, asking yourself this question about all you see around you: “What is the purpose of all of this?” If there is one thing I’ve learned by now about anxiety is that HUMOUR is anxiety’s ‘kryptonite’ and the more you can make light of things, the less anxiety will have the upper hand. When I’m in an anxious state I will often ask my hubby, “What’s funny about this?” and he always manages to find something we can laugh about. Works every time.

There is a great web resource I found called Anxiety BC that contains loads of helpful resources. They even have a 24-hour anxiety crisis line you can utilize. On this site, I watched a helpful little video about Generalized Anxiety Disorder, where an expert gives the following tip:

SET ASIDE A TIME AT THE END OF EVERY DAY FOR 20-30 MINUTES FOR WORRYING AND TELL YOURSELF THAT YOU’RE ONLY ALLOWED TO WORRY DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

Say you decide that you will worry from 9:30-10:00 pm every evening. Throughout your day, when a worry pops up, jot it down in your ‘worry notebook’ to review at 9:30 and tell yourself you’ll address it then. You have to try this one out to see how incredible it is. I use a similar technique where I have clients make a ‘worry jar’ and every time a worry comes up, I tell them to write it on a scrap of paper and put it in their worry jar.

Then, on the same day each week, they go through the scraps of paper, one worry at a time and see if it’s still a worry to them. In almost every case, they find it funny to see what they were worrying about (especially the worry notes they wrote in the middle of the night!), and realize that these weren’t legitimate concerns to be so upset about.

However, sometimes a particular worry keeps resurfacing and that brings us to the last and perhaps most important step…

Step #3: Take concrete actions on worries that you have control over

Another great resource I discovered is a book by a psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety disorders named Reid Wilson. It’s called; Stopping the Noise in Your Head: The New Way to Overcome Anxiety and Worry and I highly recommend it. In this wonderful book filled to the brim with real-life examples of people overcoming their fears, Wilson differentiates between what he calls “signals” and “noise” and what to do with each one.

In essence, signals are worries that we can take concrete action on to lessen the fear associated with them and noise is the worries that roll around in our head that are out of our control or are irrelevant. The key is to figure out which one each worry is that pops up and treat it accordingly. I’ll give you an example to show how this works in real life.

Working with ‘Signals’

One of my clients wakes up most nights in a cold sweat with this thought: “We don’t have enough money now that I’ve left my husband. How will I support my kids?” She brought this worry to a session we had and we examined it and decided that it was a ‘signal’ because she could take concrete action towards lessening her fear. We looked at several practical steps she could take to lessen the probability that she wouldn’t be able to pay for everything she and her two children needed. Here are some things she planned on taking action on for homework to lessen her fear around money:

• Talk to a lawyer about getting a divorce and what that would provide in terms of alemony and child support from her ex

• Set up a meeting with her financial advisor to make the money she has coming in work for her as productively as possible

• Make a spreadsheet of a realistic budget for her current situation

The next time she came to see me, she reported happily that her ‘money worries’ had greatly decreased and she was sleeping soundly once again to her great relief.

Learning to ignore ‘Noise’

The other kinds of worries fall into the category of ‘noise’ and are pretty much useless to spend any time on, as they are not productive. Again, I will give an example to illustrate:

Another client of mine had the same worry crop up over and over:

What if there is an earthquake?

I’ve worked with this particular one multiple times because I live in the Pacific Northwest which is most definitely an earthquake zone and the probability of there being an actual earthquake is significant. However, even though earthquakes are a scary thought to everyone I know, we don’t have a whole lot of control over if and when they happen and our worrying about them has zero effect on preventing them from happening so it’s really a waste of our thought-producing efforts.

Side note: In Stopping the Noise in Your Head: The New Way to Overcome Anxiety and Worry, Wilson points out that according to research on the human brain, each of us engages in FOUR HOURS of self-talk per day! Based on this finding, I highly recommend that you not waste any of those hours on self-defeating thoughts about external events over which you have no control such as earthquakes.

How can you differentiate between a ‘signal’ to take action and ‘noise’? Well, ‘noise’ thoughts generally begin with these two words: “What if… ?” If you find yourself “what if-ing” a lot, you’ve probably got to turn down the ‘volume’ of your noisy intrusive thoughts. How do you do this? When you have the thought, try saying to yourself:

BE QUIET NOISE- I’M CHOOSING TO IGNORE YOU

And continue to go about your business without acting on those silly thoughts.

Here’s wishing you a lot less worrying and lot more fun!

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A Guide To Great Sleep, Natural Aid Options And Helpful Gadgets

Are you looking to get a great sleep. Natural aid products can help you finally get the rest you need for the entire night? The good news is that when you use remedies to sleep, natural aid products will not give you the side effects that you can get from prescription sleeping pills. In fact, you can get very ill from the side effects of sleeping pills if you are not careful.

The fact is that you do not have to put anything in your body if you do not want to nowadays. There are plenty of remedies that are natural. Sleep aid gadgets do not have any side effects and fall into the natural aids and remedies category and there are many products on the market that can help you get the rest you need.

To Wear During Sleep: Natural Aid Options

There are a number of products to wear that help sleep. Natural aid gadgets that you wear can come in the form of masks that block out both light and all sounds. Look for one that has a thin comfortable elastic strap that won’t slip around. It should also completely muffle the ears and eyes without feeling too heavy. They should be light weight, breathable, durable and flexible. Ones that fit to your head with a Velcro strap are the best.

If someone’s snoring is keeping you up suggest they wear a chin strap or “snore clips” which are anti-snoring devices that clip on the nose.

Music To Induce Sleep: Natural Aid Options

There are all kinds of gadgets on the market that play music or tones intended to put you to sleep. There are white noise machines that play ocean surf, rain or bubbling brook sounds that can help you fall asleep. You can also get other forms of sound products to help sleep. Natural aid can come in the form of a clock that has a function called gradual sunset. Gradual sunset is a light on the clock that gets dimmer and dimmer signifying it is time for you to fall asleep.

Of course there are many subliminal CDs and also music of recorded affirmations and nature sounds that are widely available and that are used by millions to get to sleep every night. You can get self-hypnosis CDs that can help you mesmerize yourself into a state of bliss.

Bio Feedback for Insomnia

Nowadays you can get small hand-held computers that can help treat insomnia by recording your sleep patterns and helping you develop a regular sleep pattern. These types of devices set your bedtime and prompt you to get out of bed if you are not sleeping. It then automatically adjusts your bed time for you so that you get a good night’s sleep.

Using biofeedback devices is only effective if you remember to turn the devices on in the first place. They are usually the size of a small cell phone and a bit expensive at $100 each.

If you are having difficulty getting adequate sleep, natural aid can be a really successful option. If you have any questions or queries then you should always consult your doctor before using one. This is especially true if you are feeling uncomfortable about using a remedy to sleep, natural aid or herbal supplement..

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How to Achieve The Perfect Wet Shave

Most men tend to view shaving as a pain in the face! That type of attitude can lead to careless cuts, riveting razor burn, and infectious ingrown hairs. It just does not have to be that way! Take a minute to think about what you are doing when you shave … you are scrabing an extremely sharp blade across your skin in an effort to remove the hair growing out! That can not be good for you if you are doing it wrong.

As anyone who's ever had a professional barber shave knows, with right tools and methods, shaving can easily go from a daily hassle to a daily indulgence. We are here to make sure you are equipped with both to re-create that barber experience at home.

First things first, always shave after (or during) a nice warm shower. Water hydrates the skin to ensure the blade will glide smoothly over the surface being shaved. Warm water dilates the blood vessels on the skin's surface, which in turn opens and relaxes pores and makes the hair follicle more pliable. Therefore, the soft hair will bend as the razor passes and allow the hair to be cut at a better angle … achieving a closer shave. There are several face cleansers available that will help you clean the "canvas" you will be working on.

Prep

There is only one thing to say here. Pre-shave Oil! Pre-shave oils are an essential part of achieving the perfect shave. They work to protect the skin and soften the beard. You do not need much. A couple drops should do (about the size of a nickel). Rub the oil between your hands to warm it up then massage it into the beard using upward motions to lift the whiskers off your face. After you finish, wash your hands to remove the residue before picking up your razor.

Lather Up!

This is where the fun begins. First, make sure you have a high quality shaving cream. Preferably one with a high fat and glycerin content, which make for good lather and protection. You can certainly use your fingers, but we strongly suggest a high-quality badger-hair brush. Wet the tip of the brush with some warm water and, using two fingers, embed a small amount of shaving cream into the center of the brush. Give it a couple seconds to let the warm water heat up the cream. Then, work up a good lather by rubbing the brush in circular motions all over the beard. Once you look adequately like Old St. Nick … you are ready to shave.

Shave

Warm the blade with some hot water to make sure it is ready for action. You do not have to start in any one location, but it's generally easier to start from the outside and work to the inside. Go with the grain and do not apply too much pressure to keep from over irritating the skin. Razor strokes should generally be about two inches in length. Rinse the blade with hot water between strokes to keep it warm and free of shave gunk.

For an extra close shave, you can re-lather and go at it again using either a sideways motion or against the grain stroke, depending on the sensitivity of your skin. You do not have to worry about getting ingrown hairs at this point because the hair has already been trimmed back and will not tuck up under the skin.

Here's the last little secret … rinse thoroughly with COLD water. The first splash might be a little shocking, but after the initial chill the cool water will soothe any irritation, close pores, and refresh the skin.

Moisturize

Okay, so you just scraped a small layer of skin off your face. What next? Add back a little moisture and nourishment to regenerate the skin. A nice alcohol-free antiseptic mister toner (we like hydrosol rose water) works wonders to soothe and invigorate when the skin is fresh shaven. Follow with patting on a thin layer of aftershave balm to complete the process.

Congratulations … you are now a shaving guru!

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Surprising Statistics on People Looking For Treatment of Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts are fast becoming a major concern for a growing number of women worldwide.

According to Quantcast, a reputable internet research company online (results as of April, 2010), the number of people actively looking for an effective cure or treatment of ovarian cysts online, whether it be their own or their loved one’s condition, are not limited to a small segment of the population. In fact, it has become more diverse as these figures reveal:

1. 55% of people looking for an ovarian cyst cure are female, while the rest are male (doing the research in behalf of their wife, mother, sister, relative or significant other).

2. 35-49. These figures represent the average age of the people who are concerned about this disease, whether they be follicle cysts, corpus luteum cysts, endometriomas, cystadenomas, dermoid cysts, or polycystic ovaries. They compose the middle-age bracket.

Interesting to note though is that the age bracket before them (18-34) is fast catching up.

3. 66% of curious researchers are reported to have no kids in their household. This however, does not necessarily mean that they don’t have any children of their own.

4. People primarily with Hispanic and secondarily Asian descent, are said to be the common visitors who frequent sites related to alternative or natural treatment for ovarian cysts (aside from the usual surgery in the form of laparoscopy or laparotomy, birth control pills, or hormonal treatment).

5. 49% of women who frequent these sites are college graduates. 44% haven’t graduated from college. While only 7% have made it to graduation school.

6. While ovarian cysts are a worldwide health challenge, the leading countries where most concerned patients come from are the United States (48.4%), India (12.3%), and Australia (9.7%). South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel and Singapore each respectively range between 0.7 to 7.6% The rest of the countries make up the remaining 11.4%

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Foods to Eat to Lower Cholesterol

OK you've been to the Doctor and he has confirmed that you have high cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance called a lipid that is found in all body cells and that is produced by the liver. Extra cholesterol is not needed and it mainly enters our body when eating foods of animal origin. Cholesterol travels to cells through the bloodstream, by means of lipoproteins.

The important bit to remember here is that there are two types of cholesterol. Good – HDL and Bad LDL.

LDL or bad cholesterol glues itself onto the walls of your arteries, making plaques that turn them hard and narrow preventing blood flow.

HDL or good cholesterol removes LDL from your blood and deliveries it to your liver for disposal. The more HDL you eat, the less LDL you'll have in your blood the better will be your blood flow and all things being equal the longer will you live.

Its not all bad you can take steps to regain your health by following a low cholesterol and low fat diet. Following a healthy diet will ensure that you lower your bad cholesterol level. Additionally, this type of diet will make you feel healthier and give you more energy.

There are some surprises among the foods to eat to lower cholesterol. Avocados are high in fat and often seen on the banned list for those with heart problems and yet the are high in HDL Cholesterol. Eighty six percent of the fats in Advocados are good unsaturated fats. In line with Advocados are Olives and naturally Olive Oil. These are leading foods areound the Mediterranean basin where bad Cholesterol levels are at some of the lowest in the world.

Nuts are my favorite and a surprise to many people as again the have a high fat content, but its a good fat. Walnuts, Almonds and Pistachios are among the best. Omega-3 fats and antioxidants in nuts work to reverse the arterial damage caused by saturated fats. Eating these after a meal can help reduce the potential damage done during the meal.

Soybeans in fact soya in general are considered as something of a miracle food helping to prevent obesity, lower LDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. Beans of all kinds come high up the healthy table.

Apples, Oranges, Lemons, Pomegranates reduce cholesterol plaque buildup and increases nitric oxide production (nitric oxide helps reduce arterial plaque) especially the white coating under the skin of the fruit. Try and have the fruit blended instead of squeezed. If you are serious in your search for Foods to Eat to Lower Cholesterol you will not miss this opportunity. Juiced you are throwing out the best part of the fruit. Blended for a few seconds and you have all the health giving ingrediants on tap.

Animal products are in general bad and vegetables and fruits are good for the seeker of Foods to Eat to Lower Cholesterol. Fish particularly the so called oily fish, and Fish oil are particlularly good. A study found that people with type 2 diabetes who consumed high doses of fish oil over several weeks lowered the size and concentration of several lipoprotein subclasses in their bodies.

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Mechanical Failure – Know Your Enemy

Mechanical failure is the term used to describe an element or component's failure to continue functioning due to one or more of several modes of mechanical failure. These modes include buckling, corrosion, creep, fatigue, fouling, fracture, impact, thermal shock, wear, and yielding. Many of these do not immediately result in catastrophic or ultimate failure, but are considered mechanical failures nonetheless due to their irreversible nature.

Modes of Mechanical Failure

Buckling – Just as the knees may buckle, if a structural column were to do the same, this would be nothing less than a mechanical failure of that column. Buckling is caused by high compressive stresses "sandwiching" the vertical column between its 2 ends, thereby giving it no other alternative than to buckle outward at its weakest point.

Corrosion – Commonly known as rust in materials such as iron and steel, corrosion is the often unwanted and destructive chemical reaction engineered materials have with their surroundings, leading to a reduction in material cross section and ultimately its load bearing capacity.

Creep – Being a "time-dependent" deformation, creep occurs very slowly over a long period of time and may or may not lead to an ultimate failure. It can occur due to high stress levels that are lower than the yield strength of the material but are high enough to cause slow deformation. Creep will always increase with temperature, making it a bigger concern for components that will be subject to high temperatures. The behavior of ice when subject to higher temperatures is an extreme example of creep.

Fatigue – This is the cumulative result of repeated cyclic loading. Once a certain threshold is crossed, small cracks begin forming on the surface of the material, which due to repeated loading cycles, eventually leads to failure. Shapes such as squares and those with sharp corners contain higher stress concentrations, thereby aiding in fatigue. A well-used lever arm such as a lug wrench that finally breaks after many years of hard use is an example of fatigue.

Fouling – This is the impediment or obstruction of a mechanical component's functions due to a significant amount of growth or collection of undesired material on its surface. The buildup of plaque on ones teeth and marine life on ship hulls are examples of fouling. Increased drag and the consequent increase in fuel usage is a direct result of fouling on ship hulls.

Fracture – Many of us may know all too well this mode of failure via a broken arm or leg. There are 2 types of fracture: Brittle and Ductile. Brittle fracture is a more or less sudden and complete breakage of a brittle material, whereas ductile fracture – also known as rupture – displays considerable plasticformation before fraction.

Impact – Just imagine a sledge hammer coming down on a ceramic tile and you'll get the idea of ​​what kind of failure mode this is. Impact is a reliably high force delivered to a localized area over a short time period. Obviously, such a blow is significantly more devastating than a smaller force delivered over a longer period of time.

Thermal shock – I'm sure we've seen this one in action before. Thermal shock is the expansion or contracting of a material due to a sudden and extreme temperature change, and can be illustrated well by pouring boiling water into a cold glass. This is also the cause of extensive road damage due to repeated freeze / thaw cycles of trapped water.

Wear – Components that are in direct contact with moving parts are subject to wear. This is the gradual removal or erosion of surface material and consequentially, cross sectional area, leading to eventual failure. Worn carbon brushes are a good example of wear-induced failure.

Yielding – Yielding occurs when the imposed load exceeds the load bearing capacity of the structural element / s. It is when structural deformation goes beyond elastic and into plastic deformation – meaning that the deformation or damage is irreversible. Yielding may or may not lead to catastrophic failure but is always irreversible.

Some, such as corrosion and fouling , may not be considered mechanical failure technically, but are included because they often lead directly to it. Engineers must take all these different modes of mechanical failure into consideration when designing structures, as well as an appropriate factor of safety. Factors of safety must be balanced so as to provide safe and durable structures but also to keep them as cost-efficient as possible.

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Find Out How To Get Rid Of Canker Sores

Canker sores can be really painful and irritating. They normally form after you get a small blister in your mouth such as biting your cheek while chewing on your food.

What are some ways to get rid of canker sores?

One thing you can try is to change your toothpaste or mouthwash. There is an ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate that can be harsh on the protective layer of mucous in your mouth. Choosing a toothpaste or mouthwash without sodium lauryl sulfate may help your canker sore faster.

Another method is to use protective pastes that you can purchase from your local pharmacy. You apply these pastes over the canker sore and it will form a protective seal over the canker sore and prevent the pain. The active ingredient is Benzocaine which is also used in sun burn and first aid creams.

Apple cider is another suggested remedy. Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in your mouth and tilt your head so that the liquid rests on the canker sore. Keep it there for as long as you can and the spit it out. You can repeat if necessary but try not to take any food for at least 30 minutes.

You can also try hydrogen peroxide by swishing it around in your mouth for a minute. Do not swallow it. Another way to use hydrogen peroxide is to mix it with an equal amount of water and wet the solution on a cotton swab. Then gently dab the canker sore and you should find relief shortly.

Another suggested method to get rid of canker sores is by placing a wet tea bag on the sore. Black tea contains a substance called tannin that soothes the pain.

Although canker sores can last anywhere from a few days up to two weeks, try any one of these suggestions and you should get relief from the pain and heal faster. Many people prefer the natural remedies suggested above rather than over the counter medicine.

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Is Attention Deficit Disorder A Learning Disability?

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD you may be wondering if he has a learning disability.

When we talk of the term 'learning disability' then what we generally mean is that it is a perceptual disability – such as autism or visual processing disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder (With or Without Hyperactivity) should not be treated as a learning disability.

Anyone who has ADD is perfectly capable of understanding and using the information presented to them.

ADD does not really obstruct the learning process although it can sure feel like it at times.

It is often mistakenly lumped together with other learning disabilities into 1 category. A person who is suffering from ADD can take in the information he sees and then he can process it and even store it in his memory just like any other person.

Then what's the problem, you may ask. The problem with a person with ADD is attracting and holding his attention for long enough so that he can absorb the information to begin with.This leads to all kinds of problems, at school, at home and for adult ADD sufferers, in the workplace as well.

Once he is able to focus and concentrate, his performance in school, at home and in the workplace all dramatically improve.

But sometimes ADD or ADHD can co-exist or be mistaken for a learning disability or some other processing disorder. Dyslexia, auditory, vision and speech problems could all be mistaken for ADD, or a child might have ADD and one of these problems as well. A thorough check-up by a pediatrician will help immensely.These problems must first be rules out before treatment for ADD is thought.

Once you are sure that your child is indeed suffering from ADD, then you need to consider all the various treatment options, such as medication, supplementation, brainwave entrainment, behavior modification or a complete holistic treatment option that combines many of the methods above.

But no matter what treatment option you choose, here are some tips that will benefit ALL kids with ADD:

1. A regular daily routine- bath time, mealtimes, bedtimes, homework time and so on occurring at the same time each day. This repetition and familiarity helps a child remember what needs to be done when.

2. "A Place for everything and everything in it's place" is a good motto for someone with ADD. Help your child get organized and stay organized.

3. Having a homework diary helps the child with ADD to remember what homework needs to be done as well as what assignments and other school events he may need to prepare for.

4. In the classroom, a teacher who invites interaction with the ADD pupil will find that he understands and retains the material far better than if she had just delivered a lecture.

And most of all, do not loose hope. Educate yourself about ADD and learn all you can about managing it as well as possible, then teach these copying skills to your child, and he is sure to thrive.

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How to Be a Good Badminton Player

To become a good badminton player, beside Physical Skill, you also must have a Mental Strength. Mental Strength is very crucial especially when come to the tournament. Besides these, Sport Nutrition is also important especially for the player preparing for the tournament.

1. Physical Skill:

Let’s start with the most fundamental of badminton skill, ie: Strokes, Steps/Footwork, Stamina, and Strategy.

Strokes:

The basic technique of badminton strokes includes Overheads forehand and backhand clear / smash / drop, drives, lifts, net shot. You are higher recommended to learn from the badminton demo video(see link at the bottom of this page). With the video, it will save you a lot of time learning all the basic strokes.

After you have learn the basic strokes, the next step you have to do is practice and practise. Without the ability to execute all the different strokes, one will not be a complete badminton player.

Steps/Footwork:

Steps/Footwork is always comes together with stroke. A good badminton must have a good coordination of footwork and strokes. This includes foot, body, arms, swing coordination.

Stamina:

A badminton can last anything from 15 minutes to 1 hour plus and there can be more than one game within a day. A completed badminton match is best of 3 games, that means you got to play at least 2 games continuously. Without good stamina, a badminton player will be unable to successfully execute his/her desired strokes or even cannot finish the game. Again, stamina need to be build over the time via regular training, workouts or exercises. Regular workout will also help to improve your game by increasing your arm strength.

Strategy:

With good badminton skill and stamina is not enough, you must also have a good strategy to win a game. you have to make the correct shot at the correct time, either a drop-shot, smash, or clear? This is also important to identify the weakest point of opponent. This is especially crucial for doubles game, you should identify your opponent weakness and attack the opponent who is weaker. This is the most simple strategy. If your opponent is weak on his/her backhand clear, then you should hit the shuttle towards his/her backhand more. To go one level higher, it is also important to make the correct choice for a series of return and to lay out a game plan for whole match. This is so called the strategy of a badminton game.

2. Mental Strength:

Besides physical skill, a good badminton player must have good mental strength as well. Mental strength is the ability to make the correct decision even when under pressure or at the crucial moment. For example, when one is down to 5-19, or reaching the match point, 20-20. The player must stay focus to the game regardless whether he/she is leaving behind, leading, or under huge pressure due to the internal or external factor (eg: audience). A good badminton player must also be able to change strategy during the game on different situation. A good badminton player will not go down without a fight and should be able to keep his pace and the accuracy of his shots until the very last point in the game. A good example would be the game in between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan during the Malaysia Open 2006. Lin Dan was already leading 20-13 in the rubber game and this was a really difficult situation for Lee Chong Wei, But he handled the pressure well and showed a great fighting spirit, slowly clawing back in to the game. And Finally, he won the game by 23-21.

You also have to keep yourself calm in the court and with high EQ. Many incidents, good or bad, can happen during a match either outside or inside the court. For example, bad line calls, umpires decisions or insulted by the audience or even opponent coach. See The Athlete’s Mind Guide(refer link below this page) .

3. Sport Nutrition

Beside physical skill and mental strength, Sport Nutrition (refer link at the bottom of this page) is also important especially for the player preparing for the tournament. On a day-to-day basis, you have to take care of your nutrition by consuming a well balanced diet comprising carbohydrate, fat, protein, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and water. A Nutritionist can extend help in achieving this. Water should be consumed in just adequate amounts before, during and after play, ideally at the amounts required to quench the player’s thirst.

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What is the Link Between Depression and Omega 3?

Depression and omega 3 are very much related to each other since omega 3 fats prevent and cure many illnesses related to mental health. These illnesses or conditions include prolonged depression, teenage depression, postpartum depression and many other forms of this psychological condition.

DHA is an omega 3 fatty acid which is required for proper development of the brain and the eyes. It is a very essential constituent of all infant nutrition formulas as it has been found that mother's milk contains large amounts of this fat and other fats.

DHA not only acts as a building block of the brain but it also plays a vital role in proper nerve transmission and other activities related to the nervous system. It occurs hyperactivity in growing children which is becoming an alarming condition especially in the Western world.

Doctors and psychiatrists around the globe have recognized the connection between depression and omega 3 fatty acids. They advise patients suffering from anxiety and even bipolar disorder to increase their intake of fats through diet or nutritional supplements. The results of treatment with omega 3 fats were very satisfactory and successful.

It is very important to add at least 3 to 4 sources of omega 3 fats to daily diet. These sources can be fish, flax seeds, soybeans, navy beans, walnuts, tofu, enriched eggs and shrimps. Alternately fish oil capsules can also be consumed on a regular basis to receive good amounts of omega 3 fats.

Fish oil capsules are actually a good choice for most people out there since we can not eat fish regularly. Furthermore, some people are unable to digest fish or are allergic to it. Flax seed oil is also an excellent alternative for such people.

But flax seed oil provides a third omega 3 fat known as ALA. ALA is a long-chain fatty acid which is broken down into EPA and DHA inside the body. This metabolic process is a little slow and it's difficult for most people to absorb ALA because their necessary enzymes required for this breaking down into smaller molecules are malfunctioning.

Because of these reasons and many other health advantages offered by fish oil, doctors recommend eating fish and taking fish oil capsules instead of trying other food sources. These capsules are easily available on the market and are good for people of all ages. They can be used for the treatment of depression and other psychological problems.