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Pepper Spray Antidotes – What to Do If You Accidentally Sprayed Yourself

Pepper spray is one of the most effective and easiest to conceal self defense products in the market today. With crime rates increasing each day, this personal protection spray will definitely help you in deterring any attacker.

Pepper spray contains oleoresin capsicum, a byproduct of cayenne pepper, one of the hottest peppers in the world. When sprayed, it works to temporarily incapacitate an attacker through a painful and burning sensation in the facial region especially in the eyes and more often than not causes momentary blindness. However, it will not inflict permanent damage on your attacker.

When using this self defense spray, you need to understand its concept and how it is used properly. Carrying a pepper spray (or any other self defense device for that matter) without knowing how to use it is just like carrying nothing at all. Your ignorance will certainly put you in graver danger. It is vital that you learn the correct way of using pepper spray if you want to be able to successfully and efficiently protect yourself.

However, accidents do happen when we less expect them. Learning how to deal with unintentional contact with the pepper spray is just as important as knowing how to use it. If you sprayed yourself by mistake, here is what you should do:

· First things first. Don’t panic. Go outside so you can breathe fresh air. The spray works to cause difficulty in breathing so you need to get some fresh air to breathe easily.

· Take off clothing contaminated with the spray. The technique is to get rid of the stuff which was sprayed on by the pepper spray since its tendency is to seep through clothing. Remember that the spray is oil-based so don’t counteract it with another oil-based product such as lotions and creams.

· Do not rub or scratch your skin. This will only worsen the situation by smearing the spray all over your face causing you extreme burning sensations. Avoid scratching it if you don’t want the pepper to seep through your pores and under your skin.

· Wash the affected exposed area with mild detergent and water to help neutralize the effects. You can also use milk, baking soda and honey to eliminate the stinging sensation on your fingers and facial region. Applying baby shampoo sometimes works too.

The effects of pepper usually lasts for about 45 minutes so you need to get yourself distracted within the time frame to reduce the harsh effects of the spray. By using the above-mentioned antidotes, you can effectively lessen the period of discomfort the spray caused you. Remember that you will not be permanently damaged in any way so don’t be extremely alarmed.

Knowing the right way of using the self defense spray will not only effectively shield you from an attacker but will also protect you from your ignorance. Accidentally spraying yourself when attacked is something that you should undeniably avoid at all cost. Though most sprays come with safety caps, other factors such as panic and fear will certainly affect your concentration and agility. Most attackers will use the element of surprise so the best that you can do now is prevention and constant practice.

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Treatment For Macular Degeneration – Easy and Simple Steps That Help

There is a myth about macular degeneration that there is no type of treatment. But the real fact is you do have choices of treatment for macular degeneration. And the good news is you may help your vision with two simple steps to stabilize your vision. Be sure to combine those two techniques and you may find that your eyesight will improve progressively.

With macular degeneration there are actually two different types that people may suffer from. The first type is wet macular, which is actually caused by the growth of new blood vessels that are abnormal and will lead to severe loss of vision. And the most common is dry macular degeneration which is generally related with aging, excessive weight, poor diet, hypertension, drug effects, unprotected sun exposure, bad habit such as smoking and life style. Both types can be avoided or improved with the two below steps.

Step 1: Treatment for macular degeneration with better nutrient

Certain vitamins and nutrients such as zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamins A, C and E will actually help with your vision. Adding in a serving of these different choices each day may help with slowing down the macular degeneration you are experiencing. Look into omega-3 fish oil, and also CoQ10 that has l-Carnitine in it.

Drink a daily juice that you make from organic fruits and vegetables. These are the following ingredients: collard greens, leeks, ginger, beets, cabbage, garlic, carrots, parsley, apples, celery, kale, grapes, spinach, lemon, raspberries, wheat grass and chlorophyll.

Cut down on the amount of caffeine that you drink every day. Stop eating foods that have been deep fried. Also you will want to limit the amount of alcohol that you drink each day.

Step 2: Treatment for macular degeneration with eye exercises

Choose special eye exercises that are created to strengthen the eye muscles, they also help stimulating the vision center of the brain. The basic eye exercises you must follow are those that train the eye muscles ability to focus objects at different distances. For example you can do by covering your left eye with one hand then change your right eye view from a near distance object to another long distance object. Keep moving the view several time and allow 2-3 seconds rest between view changing, do it slowly and don’t forget to breathe in and out deeply while you rest. Continue the exercise with the left eye with the same manner.

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PRK Vs Lasik

More than 100,000 people in the United Kingdom use means of laser treatment for eyes, every year. Surgery can help in correction of vision by cutting cornea and giving right shape of the eyes. Between 80 and 98 percent of the treatments improve the view as no longer glasses or contact lenses needed.

There are currently two popular methods of laser eye surgery. Most often in the form of a laser treatment is Lasik. In Lasik, a small cut is to create a corneal cap. Laser treatment can be. May vision loss from 20 to 30 second during the procedure. LASEK the epithelium is removed before the cornea with a new laser. Treatment of eye laser takes about 15 minutes total.

For many patients is a much LASEK LASIK treatment is desirable. After LASEK, the patient experience of pain May mäßig about 24 hours after the operation. The high light sensitivity is also often regarded as the first couple of days and you will be asked to wear sunglasses outdoors during the last three months. Blurred vision May or a week and lasts about one month before the point of view of patients’ seat ‘and the final results of surgery are known. Lasik with the treatment, there is very little postoperative discomfort and the results of surgery are obvious much more quickly. Vision should be much less than in the first period after LASEK unclear and should reassure blurriness within 48 hours. Lasik patients will probably be able to see the day after the treatment.

In a minority of patients, we recommend more Lasik PRK LASEK or if the patient is a thin cornea. KPR was the forerunner LASEK and works with an excimer laser to remove a thin layer of cells on the surface of the cornea with the reform of the eye. No cutting is necessary. The main difference between PRK, LASEK and PRK, that the cells be removed and the epithelium will grow after the treatment, which for several days. In LASEK, the epithelium is removed with a low-alcohol solution, and then immediately after the surgery. A contact lens for several days, in order to keep the job.

KPR has been more than ten years and until now does not seem to be the long-term effects. LASEK is also known as low risk. This is in large part because of the cutting unnecessary surgery in one of these laser treatments for the eyes. Lasik despite its advantages, as the risk of laser eye surgery. The possible complications include corneal ectasia, where the accumulation of pressure occurs after the weakening of the cornea. It also requires a surgical intervention to a rapid degeneration in May, which would otherwise occur in the eyes.

The effects of laser eye surgery is permanent, but the process can not prevent a further deterioration with age.

Laser Assisted Sub-epithelial keratectomies (or LASEK) is a method for laser surgery is performed to correct this problem of light refraction of the cornea. It was designed specifically for people with astigmatism, hypermetropia (view) and the short-sightedness (myopia). LASEK is a technology that combines laser in situ keratomileusis supported (LASIK) and Photo refractive keratectomies (KPR), with the hope of reducing the incidence of complications of LASIK with flap. It is especially useful for patients whose cornea is too thin for LASIK.

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Getting to Know Your Tokay Gecko: Identifying the Male and Female Tokays

If you’re planning to breed Tokay geckos in the future, you really wanted to buy at least one male and one female. However, there are certain things you need to know before you put them together in a tank. Male and female geckos have distinct characteristics and similarities. Knowing all of them will help you raise your pet in the safest possible way.

Characteristics of a Male Tokay Gecko

Let’s start discussing about male geckos. The most distinguishing feature of male geckos is their strong attachment to their territory. Just like soldiers, they protect their territories with all their might even if that would mean risking their life. Tokays are considered to be the most dangerous in the entire family of pet geckos not because they are poisonous but basically because they love to bite especially if they feel threatened. So here’s a VERY important reminder: DON’T put two or more male geckos in one tank as it can result to a deadly fight. So be careful! It’s okay to combine one male with multiple females but never multiple males and one female.

As to the physical characteristics, male geckos have brighter color than the female. With Tokays, males usually have grey skin with orange spots. This is true with all other geckos and most animals. Remember, they use their color to attract mates. So the brighter their skin tone is, the more favorable it is for them. If you hear its very familiar sound that goes like ‘Tuc-ko’ or ‘Gec-ko’, you can expect that it’s coming from a male gecko. They do it to get the attention of their mates or mates-to-be.

Characteristics of a Female Gecko

Just like most animals, female geckos are loving mothers. They will do their best to protect their siblings from any possible threat, with the help of their partners of course. Female geckos are not very territorial and because they are the ‘apple of the eye’ of male geckos, they can be combined with lots of male geckos for breeding. But of course, you want to assign a separate tank for your female gecko before and after the mating season so you can carefully watch over its health. Remember, healthy siblings are a product of a healthy mother.

Unlike male geckos, females have darker colors. The mere fact that they’re females makes them special enough to find a mate so they don’t really need to have an attractive-looking skin. As to the size, they’re usually smaller than their male counterpart.

Other Differences

There are some other major characteristics between a male and female gecko. In the Tokay family, males have small amount of engorgement at the base of their tail. This is because of the presence that hemipenes – the bi-lobed reproductive organ of the gecko. On the other hand, female geckos have noticeable femoral pores, preanal, and postanal tubercules.

Knowing these things will surely help you with the entire raising and breeding process. They may look the same at the first glance but basically, they have differences that must be given special attention by the owner.

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How to Perm Your Own Hair at Home

There are some things you should consider before doing your own perm at home. If your hair is color treated, fine and fragile, damaged, doesn’t have good elasticity, or if you’ve tried perming your hair before and it didn’t take well, I would strongly suggest that you go to your professional stylist to get your perm and not do it at home. If you try to do it at home, it could cause severe fading of your color and/or hair breakage if you use the wrong perm or time it incorrectly.

Once you’ve decided that your hair is healthy and you can perm your own hair at home, you’ll need to decide what kind of a perm you’d like. Are you going for a completely new style? Do you just want to add a little texture to the style you have? Do you want something super curly? A perm is great if you have naturally straight hair and you want to be able to do more styles with it. A perm makes hard to curl hair more versatile and easier to manage. You’ll still be able to wear it straight if you’d like, but if you like to shake things up a little sometimes and go curly, the perm will make your hair more pliable and will help it to hold whatever style you can dream up. It also works well if your hair is too curly. Perming your hair using a larger rod will reshape your curls into something more manageable.

Now that you’ve decided how you want your hair to look, you’ll need supplies! The things you’ll need to do a perm at home are perming rods, wrapping papers, a plastic tail comb, plastic hair clips, old towels, a perming kit, and a good friend! Wrapping a perm can be challenging by yourself. The type of perming rods you’ll need depend on what shape curl you want. It’s mostly common sense: A skinnier rod will give you tighter curls whereas a larger rod will give you bigger curls. If you’re not sure what size to get, you can do some experimenting to get an idea. Pick up some perming rods in the size you think you’ll like, and after shampooing your hair add some styling product and wrap up a section or two of your hair Let it dry and then remove the rod. The size curl you see will be a good indication of what your perm will look like. You can also do a test curl if you want to pick up an extra perming kit. Instead of doing your entire head, just do one rod and see how it turns out. You can adjust the size of the rod your going to use from there.

Ok! So you’ve decided on a style, you’ve got your supplies (and your friend), now where to start? Here is How to Perm Your Hair 101:

1. Start with freshly shampooed hair Do not use a heavy conditioner on your hair before perming! This can keep the perming solution from absorbing into your hair Section your wet hair into 4 sections by doing a part right down the middle of your head (like you’re going to do pigtails), and then doing another part from about halfway back down the side of your head to the back of your ear. Clip up these sections with your plastic hair clips.

2. Starting at the top of one of the back sections, take a section of hair to wrap. Remember to never take a section that’s larger then the length or the circumference of the perming rod. Doing so will cause your hair to overdirect and/or pull which can cause breakage. It’s always better to take a smaller section than one that is too wide.

3. Comb the section of hair out straight and cover the ends of your hair with the wrapping paper by folding it in half around your hair If you’re having a hard time with this part, keep a water bottle handy. Spraying some water on the ends of your hair will help the protective wrapping papers “stick” where you want them. The most important thing to remember during this process is to make sure your ends are completely covered with the paper to protect them and keep them from splitting during the perming process.

4. Starting at the end of each protectively wrapped section, roll each section of hair around the perming rod. The most common way of doing this is to roll the hair under around the rod and secure it with the band when you reach the scalp being careful not to let the band cut into the hair If the band is too tight or causing too much stress on the hair it can cause breakage when the perming solution is applied. There are other ways you can roll your hair around the perming rod depending on what type of curl you’d like, but I would suggest sticking to this common procedure, at least for now. Continue this process until your entire head is rolled (or the section you want permed if you’re not doing all of your hair to suit your hairstyle), starting at the top of each section and working your way to the bottom.

5. Now you’re ready to apply the perming solution. There are basically two types of perms you can buy. One is an alkaline perm, and the other is an acid perm. An alkaline perm is for harder to perm hair such as gray or resistant hair that isn’t colored or damaged. An acid perm is a gentler perm and is recommended for easy to curl or color treated hair Follow the directions in your perming kit as to how to mix and apply the perming solution. This process basically breaks the disulphide bonds in your hair that give it it’s shape. Be sure and completely saturate all of the rods with the perming solution evenly and completely or you’ll end up with an uneven perm. You may need to get two perming kits if you have a lot of hair.

6. If directed, cover your hair with a plastic cap and set your timer for the duration indicated in the instructions. If you’re not sure how long to leave the perming solution on, you can do the “S-Test”. To do this, partially unwrap one section of hair from the perming rod. Gently push the hair towards the scalp until it bends. If you can see a prevalent “S” shape in the hair then your done. Once the perming solution has processed, you’re going to need to gently rinse your hair thoroughly. DO NOT REMOVE THE PERMING RODS.

7. After your hair is thoroughly rinsed with water, gently blot your hair in the rods until it’s only damp. Paper towels work well for this step to soak up the excess moisture. Now it’s time for the neutralizer. The neutralizer will reform the broken bonds of your hair into the new shape indicated by the perming rods. Following the directions in your perm kit, saturate the hair with the neutralizing solution. Save some of the neutralizer, you’re going to need it in a bit. Normally this stays on for five minutes.

8. Once you’re all neutralized, you can start gently unwrapping your hair When your hair is completely unwrapped, apply the remaining neutralizer to your hair making sure every strand is saturated. Rinse your hair with cool water, and you’re done!

Some things to remember after perming:

Do not shampoo your hair for 24-48 hours after perming! All of your hard work may be for naught if you forget and your perm falls out. If you have problems with frizziness, it’s OK to apply a little gel or something to tame it down. Rinsing your hair with just water is also ok.

Once you start shampooing your hair again, be sure and use a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to replenish what was lost after perming.

Try to avoid wrapping your wet hair up turban style in a towel and instead blot your hair dry. This will avoid stress and breakage on your new curls.

You CAN wear your hair straight after perming if you’d like. Although letting your hair dry naturally is best, it won’t hurt your perm to blow your hair out straight and/or using a straightening iron. Just make sure and use styling products for dry hair that will protect it from the heat of styling aids.

Never color your hair before perming! Always perm first if you’re going to do both. The perm will fade out your color. Also, it’s best to wait 2 weeks between each procedure.

Your new perm should last you between three and five months before you’ll have to touch it up. I hope this has been helpful! Remember, if you’re not confident in perming your own hair at home by yourself, you can always go see your local stylist!

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Pros and Cons of Cold Laser Therapy Treatment

Cold Laser Therapy, also known as low level laser therapy (LLLT), is a relatively new medical field that came about in the mid-1960s, shortly after the invention of the first working laser. It was radical in that it focused on the non-destructive medical capabilities of laser light, whereas pre-laser studies concerning the medical uses of light centered on its thermal, destructive powers. LLLT involves using low power lasers to inhibit or stimulate cellular functions.

The Pros of Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy began with the pioneering studies of Endre Mester, a Hungarian researcher at Semmelweis University in Budapest. In 1967, Mester showed the potential for stimulating tissue repair using low level laser light. One of his main goals was to use the procedure to successfully treat diabetic ulcers.

Later research by scientists who came after Mester revealed that cold level laser therapy had variety of potential medical benefits. As of today, people are still finding and verifying new ways of using cold laser light to treat physical ailments. Low lever laser treatments can alleviate neck pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and various musculatory ailments. Studies are still being conducted to determine whether or not cold laser therapy has the potential to aid in hair growth and wound tissue healing. LLLT is also painless and non-invasive, and negative side effects to it have ever been recorded.

The Cons of Low Level Laser Therapy

One of the cons of LLLT is that it is still very much a nascent field, and the lack of official scientific methodology often results in some studies being conducted without proper scientific procedures. Many companies who advertise the benefits of certain types of low level laser treatment, in other words, sometimes don’t have actual scientific evidence to back up their claim.

And while the benefits of low level laser therapy in the treatment of things like muscultory pain are proven, there is insufficient evidence to prove that the treatment is effective for hair growth or scar healing. This is precisely why the FDA has officially approved of some cold laser treatments, while at the same time it still considers the overall field of cold laser therapy as experimental.

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Fat Loss For Busy People – The Warrior Diet

The Warrior Diet: fatloss for busy people.

In today`s society, most of us lead extraordinarily busy and hectic lives, so the idea of trying to remember what to eat or not eat at exactly what time is a prospect that often turns off people to dieting. I am definitely in the same boat, with classes at odd times during the school year, and a full and part time job on my breaks so I hate having to worry about what my next meal is going to be.

Enter the Warrior diet!

The basic premise of this diet is that you only eat one big meal per day and nothing else, except maybe a piece of fruit in the morning. This is an incredibly flexible diet that almost anyone can fit into their schedule. Most people end up eating their large meal at either lunch or dinner, but you can eat whenever you want to. I love eating like this during especially busy days since I actually feel more energetic during the day without food in my stomach, and then I`m ready for a big meal

Don`t worry about your metabolism slowing down.

I think many people tend to get caught up in the idea of eating multiple meals per day as “healthy”. This is a mainstream media and bodybuilding myth perpetuated by supplement companies who want nothing more than you eating protein shakes and popping pills six times a day. Now I`m not saying that eating 6 meals per day is not effective, I just think most people tend to eat too much at these smaller meals, and it requires a lot of discipline and planning to be effective. If anything, your body will go into overdrive to maintain your lean body mass, while living off of your fat stores during the period you aren’t eating. You lose more fat, your body works better: a win-win situation!

Elite military units do it: You can too

A good example is the US Army Ranger School. These guys are forced to go days at a time eating little to nothing, then come back and essentially “make up” their calorie deficit. Now I admit this isn’t the greatest example since they actually lose muscle mass during their training, but that is because they aren’t doing any heavy resistance training (i.e. weights), and they are in an extreme survival scenario eating foods with low protein and vitamin content. You and I don`t have that problem, so don`t worry about it.

Why eating all your calories in one meal is actually healthy

Think about it. Our caveman ancestors almost certainly didn t have access to food 24/7, eating snacks every couple of hours “To keep their metabolism up”. I really don`t think it`s healthy to have food constantly in your stomach. If your gut, liver and stomach are constantly working to process food, when are they going to rest? It seems very natural to have one big meal after a period of fasting. Now I wouldn t recommend eating like this every single day, but maybe 3-5 times a week is definitely doable.

A caveat before you try this

Be careful not to overeat while on the Warrior diet. Eating all your calories in one meal can be a lot of fun and you can be a little less strict on the types of foods you eat. However, I would definitely try to fill up on veggies and lean meats as the base of the meal first, and then move on to starches or high carb foods like bread or potatoes. This will help you keep calories in check and insure you get an adequate amount of protein.

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The Secret To Weight Loss And Feeling Great

The general belief is that there is some magic secret to losing weight, looking better, and feeling great. The myths people believe are that a complicated diet must be followed and you have to spend all waking hours at the gym. The reality is actually quite simple, although most don’t want to believe the truth. Most people don’t want to look for the answers, but rather hide behind a set of complicated excuses.

So what’s the big fitness secret that is so incredibly simple? Eat better and go to the gym. Sorry, it really is that simple. Does eating better need to be a highly complex process with all sorts of hard to find foods? Not by any means, rather increasing fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed food is a great way to start. Fruits and vegetables have been what mankind has been eating since the dawn of time; not a diet rich in fast food. It is also a really good idea to avoid things that are carbohydrate heavy like pasta and bread. Lean meats are preferred and it is best to avoid super sugary sauces if possible.

What about going to the gym? Ideally, most people should aim to be at the gym three to four times per week, and perhaps a day or so of cardio. Most of us leave fairly sedentary lives, spending far too much time sitting down. This is largely in part due to spending most of our working hours seated.

There are a multitude of gyms and it is best to find the right type of gym for your personality. Group fitness classes are growing in popularity right now, and they are a great alternative to some of the traditional “big box” gyms. Group fitness classes, like Crossfit, are a great way to meet new people and get a total body workout.

Although it isn’t often associated with weight, loss sleep is a very important factor. It is best to get eight or more hours of sleep every night. We all have busy schedules, but our bodies need time to rest and recover, and sleep is a great way to this. Do your best to try to get as close to eight hours of sleep, and cat naps are also very beneficial.

It is important to remember that big changes in the body don’t happen overnight. No one goes from 50 pounds overweight to being completely toned with an amazing body in an instant. It takes time, but if you can stay disciplined and focused, you will see results. Remember that it isn’t a complicated process and there are three important factors to abide by: eat healthy, go to the gym, and get plenty of sleep.

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The Pros and Cons of Medical Aid Schemes

As you explore the pros and cons of medical aid schemes, you will come to realize they are a necessary evil. Even though amount of money that you pay for premiums can be upsetting, it is simply too risky to be out there without any coverage. You can get hurt one time or have one medical problem but end up spending all your savings to pay for it. If you don’t have any savings, you may end up paying for years to get those bills all squared away.

Pros:

The more competition there is the more you are going to find a great deal. Your goal should be to find great coverage and a decent price. This allows you to find the most benefit from medical aid schemes. It doesn’t make sense to pay for crappy coverage but that can occur if you don’t compare offers. You can do this by getting free quotes from providers you call or looking around online.

Peace of mind is important to have in your life, and you can get it with a medical aid scheme in place. There is no way to know for sure when you may need to see a doctor or be admitted to the hospital. You don’t need the additional stress of worrying about how you will pay for it. Any help you can get from your plan is going to mean less you pay out of pocket.

Better medical care is also available to those medical aid. They tend to be able to see the better doctors and stay at the more expensive hospitals with the latest technology. They can afford to go see specialists that help them get to the core of what ails them. They also have the opportunity to get help paying for medicine that can help them to get better as well.

Cons:

There is usually a waiting period with any new medical aid scheme. That period of time is usually 3 months but it can vary based on the coverage provider. It can be tough to swallow if you end up with medical bills during that period of time. What is even more upsetting is that you do have to pay your premium during this period of time.

Your coverage likely isn’t going to cover everything. Therefore, even if you have medial aid you may still end up with co-pays, deductibles, and overages that you are responsible for. There could be procedures and medications that your coverage won’t pay at all. For those elements, you have to pay all of it on your own. If you need ongoing medicine the cost can add up for you over time.

It can be tough to be able to keep those premiums paid. Yet if they don’t get paid then coverage can lapse. It can be hard to get the coverage again and that means you would be out there with nothing. With the cost of everything increasing many people simply don’t have enough funds in their budget for it all.

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The Importance of Hospital Billing in the Medical Community

The medical industry is comprised of many divisions and sections which all work together to offer patients a positive experience. This is true whether services are provided through an emergency care center, doctor’s office or any of the many types of medical help offices available. While many will focus on procedures performed at various hospitals and treatment centers, medical service administrative functions are equally as important, including hospital billing.

Hospital billing brings together charges based upon patient stays or procedures performed at a hospital. By coordinating with doctors’ offices throughout the community, this financial department can ensure a smooth relationship between doctors and patients. Because the medical billing process can be complicated, it is important for all entities involved to check information and avoid any discrepancies the patient might find.

While many hospitals employ their own accounting departments, the practice of outsourcing accounting services has risen over the years. This practice can save money while offering a more streamlined process to keep errors to a minimum. Outside sources work hard to provide state-of-the-art technology that can keep transaction costs down while eliminating problems such as fraud. Finding a service that can balance the complexity of a medical network can be a cost saving option that is valuable in economic down times.

In order to maintain a smooth accounting process, doctors should be willing to coordinate their own billing practices with the medical community. If they choose not to participate, errors might occur due to inconsistencies between accounting sources. Doctors should consider being on the same system as community hospitals in order to experience the best value for money invested.

Many healthcare practice management companies exist to provide integrated accounts receivable services for medical communities. Offering professional services with highly experienced staff and management, they often provide a group package at considerable savings that can encompass the entire community’s needs for consistent accounting and collections. Through proven success with the companies they represent, healthcare billing services enable doctors and medical services to focus on their patients’ needs and provide excellent health care.

Medical accounts receivable services will cover all aspects of hospital billing. This includes insurance transactions and follow-up as well as self-pay with follow-up and third-party payments. All aspects of the process will be scrutinized and followed through so that patients can enjoy a more relaxed experience at potentially trying times. Allowing for a more personal patient/doctor relationship, the right hospital billing service can work with the medical community to put an end to financial headaches while making doctors’ practices and hospitals’ procedures more profitable.

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Violent Crime Trends in the U.S.

The nature of violent crime is the loss of life, or the maiming and/or destruction of a life to such a degree that the victim seldom, if ever, recovers fully from the incident.

Another aspect of the nature of violent crime is, in this writer’s view and experience within the system, the lack of and/or failure of, for whatever reasons, of rehabilitation. The thought process among those who deal with violent offenders particularly Correction Treatment Specialists is that most violent offenders cannot be, rehabilitated. That mind set has become an overwhelming “nature” of violent crime.

The extent of violent crime has crossed all boundaries of society to include social, biological, psychobiological, and environmental issues that run the gamete from education to poverty. As a result of the extensiveness of violent crime, the criminal justice system is hemorrhaging a plethora of theories to explain the whys and wherefores of violent crime.

Within the biological spectrum, the main issue is believed to be, genetically based criminal tendencies in that these tendencies may be passed on from one generation to the next. Additionally, it is believed, that within this theory “at least some human behavior is the result of biological propensities inherited from more primitive development stages in the evolutionary process”. Frank Schmalleger, Criminal Justice Today, Chapter 3.

Social issues seems to be the most ardent factor affecting violent crime although, in this writer’s opinion, social issues only fan the fires of biological and psychological factors. The most common social issues believed to affect violent crime are where a person lives in a community, i.e. the wrong side of the tracks, poor education or lack thereof, poor parenting or lack of parenting, minimal resources to enrich life, etc. Take these social issues and apply them to individuals with underdeveloped or absence of cognitive skills, bad role models, little or no accountability to authority for inappropriate behavior, minimal or no absolutes established as a compos for acceptable social behavior, and learned behavior within the family and home, and you have an atomic bomb named “violent crime” painted on it.

Unfortunately violent crime is no longer a definitive issue of the poor and uneducated but has extended to well known media personalities, i.e., OJ Simpson, Robert Blake, Mike Tyson, just to name a few.

Today’s trend in violent crime according to an FBI report June 4, 2007, “crime is inching higher in the U.S.” The nation’s murder rate rose slightly last year but the number of robberies skyrocketed by 6 percent, preliminary FBI data released Monday show. The statistics were part of an overall 1.3 percent rise in violent crime across the country in 2006 – the second straight annual increase. However, car thefts, arsons and other property crimes dipped for the second straight year, the data show.

As of this writing, the United States ranks number 9 on the list of 65 for crime at 0.301318 per 1,000 people.

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6 OXO – The Effects of 6 OXO and How It Changed Supplements

6 OXO (R) is no longer on the market and sadly the day of steroidal anti-estrogens is setting into the sunset, luckily there is a new generation of plant based testosterone boosters that rival these strong products and give even 6 OXO a run for its money. 6 OXO was once the most potent testosterone booster on the market and it was a pioneer for its time. Sadly, like most hormonal items, professional sports was to be the ultimate downfall for this wonder supplement.

What is 6 OXO?

6 OXO has many names on the market, 6-keto-androstenedione, Androstene3,6,17 trione, 4-Androstene-3,6,17-trione, 4-AT and a even 4-etioallocholen – 3,6, 17-trione. All of these refer to the same chemical compound that is a steroidal testosterone booster/anti-aromatase agent. First identified in cow adrenal glands it was further found to be a natural metabolite of androstenedione metabolism in humans and most mammals. This makes 6 OXO a perfectly legal dietary supplement under the current DSHEA law and since it is not androgenic, not at all an anabolic steroid. What 6 OXO does is reduce an enzyme in the body that turns your testosterone into estrogen. By blocking this enzyme two major things happen, first it causes you to keep more of your testosterone and second, the body senses a lack of estrogen and causes the testes to release more testosterone.

6 OXO has been well studied in men and the original manufacturer of 6 OXO, Ergopharm Inc actually paid for quite a few studies in both men and rats. The most telling one was done by Incledon, which studied 6 OXO in doses of 300mg in healthy men, then measured the effects. The Incledon study found a boost of testosterone of about 200% with a slight reduction in estradiol, which means it was very effective at boosting testosterone while reducing estrogen. This was the first really well tested testosterone booster on the market. Baylor University did a follow up study and found very little difference in supplementing with 300mg of 6 OXO and 600mg of 6 OXO on the effects of both testosterone and estrogen, meaning the sweet spot for most men is around 3-400mg. 6 OXO came in 100mg capsules in bottles of 60 pills, meaning at 300mg a single bottle would last only 10 days, making it a very expensive, yet effective supplement. 6 OXO was proven to be naturally occurring in humans and many animals used for food, but that didn’t stop this most effective supplement from getting attacked by the FDA and the federal government.

The manufacturer, Proviant/Ergopharm was consistently being hounded by reports of people and athletes testing positive for androstenedione. This makes total sense since 6 OXO is made from andro and also is a metabolite of androstenedione. This means that 6 OXO both contains trace amounts of the schedule III prohormone and also is checked for when a standard blood panel is submitted for steroid drug testing. This misclassification of 6 OXO lead to it coming under heavy fire from the industry, the anti-doping establishment and other sports lobbying organizations as an enemy of the state. This safe and effective supplement became villainized as the cause of many a failed drug test. In 2009 the situation came to a head when Phillies baseball player J.C. Romero tested positive for steroids and claimed that he used only 6 OXO that he bought from a local GNC outlet. Even though the bottle contained on it a very strict warning, Romero still claimed that he had been duped and wrongly sold the product. Sadly this was the final straw in a very ugly government crackdown on the ingredient and the FDA and DEA raided Proviant in 2009, causing the final demise of the company. The major supplement retailers discontinued the product, further hurting Proviant and the lawsuit from Romero put the nail in the coffin. 6 OXO, arguably one of the safest and most effective products on the market was no more.

Finally, the product 6 OXO was found to contain trace amounts of androstenedione, the famous “andro” in the Mark McGwire controversy. These trace amounts are technically illegal, but it is very unlikely that the manufacturer intentionally spiked the product with this ingredient since it didn’t produce results at even 100X the contaminated amount. What probably happened is that small amounts of material didn’t react during manufacturing. Charges were threatened against Pat Arnold the maker of 6 OXO, but as far as I know, no charges were ever brought against him. Pat Arnold was the chemist behind “The Clear” and “The Cream” which were illegal steroidal drugs allegedly given to professional athletes to help them cheat at sports.

After it’s own lengthy battle over the main ingredient in 6 OXO, LG Sciences released a new product designed to take up the former product’s reins as the king of testosterone boosters. Formadrol Extreme is the product and it has all of the glory of the former 6 OXO product and some new twists that make it possibly even more effective at boosting testosterone. Formadrol Extreme has two aromatase inhibitors similar to 6 OXO but even stronger at reducing this testosterone killing enzyme. These two aromatase inhibitors are joined by Ellagic Acid, which is shown in preliminary studies to be a natural SERM, meaning it can block another form of estrogen effect and boost testosterone. Finally, a potent ginger extract is included to rev up the testes and cause them to produce more testosterone. This combination has actually produced results in one person that was even higher than the original 6 OXO and in an unfunded test, one person successfully used Formadrol to recover from a cycle of anabolic steroids and double his testosterone levels. These preliminary results meant that Formadrol has all of the testosterone boosting effects of 6 OXO and yet is non-steroidal, meaning you won’t test positive on a drug test. Sadly 6 OXO is gone, but a new challenger has arisen to take it’s place and like everything, nature hates a vacuum. LG Sciences has not only replaced 6 OXO but has done one better, giving even stronger results at boosting testosterone levels without being a metabolite of androstenedione. This makes Formadrol the new king of testosterone boosters and the only product on the market to meet all of my criteria for reducing estrogen and boosting testosterone.

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Usage of CPF Medisave in Malaysia Hospitals and Medical Centers

Less than 1 year since our initial posting, the Singapore Government acted fast and in Feb 2010, the Ministry of Health (MOH) declared officially that Singaporeans will be able to use CPF Medisave for payment in 12 hospitals/medical centers in Malaysia starting 1st March 2010. The nearest of these 12 hospitals/medical centers to Singapore is the Regency Specialist Hospital located in Johor Bahru (Regency is just an hour’s drive from Singapore or just 25 minutes away from the Johor Bahru CIQ).

With the medical bills in Malaysian hospitals expected to be some 20%-35% cheaper compared to Singapore hospitals, this is good news for Singapore citizens who now have an alternative in managing escalating health care costs. To top it up, these 12 hospitals and medical centers in Malaysia are actually owned by 2 health care group in Singapore: Health Management International (HMI) and Parkway Holdings. Expect a certain standard of medical health-care and facilities to be provided.

For example, Regency’s patient care facilities and medical equipment are comparable to Singapore hospitals. It has the latest state of the art medical and diagnostic equipment including a 64 multi-slice Computerized Tomographic (“CT”) Scanner and 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imager (“MRI”) from General Electric (“GE”). In addition, its new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (“Cath Lab”) adds to the comprehensive range of cardiac care treatments for those experiencing acute coronary symptoms in need of cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, stent, balloon or pacemaker implantation.

The listing below shows the 12 medical centers and hospitals currently approved by the Ministry of Health for usage of CPF Medisave.

HEALTH MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL (HMI)

Referral centre: Balestier Clinic and Health Screening Centre (221 Balestier Road, #03-04 ROCCA Balestier)

Referred to:

1. Regency Specialist Hospital (Johor Baru)

2. Mahkota Medical Centre (Malacca)

PARKWAY HOLDINGS

Referral centre: East Shore Hospital (321 Joo Chiat Place)

Referred to:

1. Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre (Kuala Lumpur)

2. Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur

3. Pantai Hospital Cheras

4. Pantai Hospital Ampang

5. Pantai Hospital Klang

6. Pantai Hospital Ipoh

7. Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh

8. Pantai-Hospital Penang

9. Pantai-Hospital Batu Pahat

10. Pantai-Hospital Sungai Petani

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Shocking Dangers of Bad Goldfish Care (Part 4): Goldfish Swimbladder Disease

Goldfish Swimbladder Disease (also called “Goldfish Flipover Disease”) is so common in goldfish that it is has to be high on the goldfish problems to avoid.

Here’s the scenario: you awake one morning and your goldfish is floating on top of the tank. It seems to be on its side or floating upside down. As you look on, the goldfish is still “breathing” and you can see it is alive. However, it seems to be swollen. It’s almost like looking at an inflated balloon.

As the goldfish lies there, you look on confused. Why is he or she like that? Why can’t they swim down? Will they be OK?

Here’s a fact: this goldfish problem needs to be urgently addressed. You have a limited amount of time before stress and the inability to feed mean the end of your goldfish.

So what’s going on exactly?

A goldfish has small air sacs that it uses for buoyancy. By using these air sacs, a goldfish can dive down, submerge or come back up to the surface. Under normal circumstances the buoyancy organs work fine.

However if the digestive tract get blocked or the goldfish constipated, then the sacs can become over-inflated. And the goldfish loses the normal control they have.

Aquarium goldfish suffer from several problems that can lead to Goldfish Swimbladder Disease:

  • Water quality is not optimal. Nitrate or ammonia levels may be high: these can cause the capillaries to the air sacs to dilate
  • “Thermal shock” can cause Swimbladder problems
  • Over-feeding
  • Receive a poor diet lacking in fibre

The lack of fibre from being fed exclusively a flake or pellet diet is often the cause of Goldfish Swimbladder Disease. Goldfish do not actually have stomachs. The food is absorbed as it moves along the digestive tract.

If goldfish are not getting enough fibre, this can become blocked. They experience a build up of gas and have constipation-like symptoms.

In humans, this would be inconvenient. In goldfish that have much smaller air sacs, this can be life-threatening. Once they float to the surface because of the excess air, they stay there – unable to move. They cannot breath, swim or eat easily.

That’s why I developed the Swimbladder Resolution Protocol. Here’s a brief version of it:

  1. Stop feeding your goldfish for three days
  2. This allows the gas to pass through
  3. Gradually start to feed them again
  4. Only feed them vegetables and fruits in small chopped-up quantities
  5. You should notice that after about a week the goldfish “rights” itself

Please be aware that “fancy goldfish” varieties are much more prone to Goldfish Swimbladder Disease. That means you must pay particular attention to give them a varied diet.

I especially recommend peas or spinach as the vegetables to be included in their diet. This will not just resolve Goldfish Swimbladder Disease, but also keep your goldfish healthy.

Avoiding and treating Goldfish Swimbladder Disease can often be achieved by keeping the digestive tract clear with a varied diet.

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Penis Health Creams Reviewed – What Penis Vitamins Can Do and What They Cannot

Daily penis care plays a big role in men’s sexual health. Maintaining healthy penis skin can leave the skin smooth, supple and responsive and may boost receptiveness to sexual stimulation. Using the right penis health cream can have long-term benefits and increase sexual pleasure in men of all ages.

However, men who are looking to improve their penis health often find themselves stuck with useless, yet expensive products that do nothing to live up to their advertising claims. Smart consumers should be aware of what to look for in a penis health cream, and they should have realistic expectations about what penis vitamins can do for men’s health.

What penis creams can’t do:

Although it is tempting to believe claims that vitamins and other ingredients can make the penis longer, thicker, or harder, or that they can make men last longer in bed, the truth is that no cream or vitamin formula currently on the market can do these things. Companies that advertise penis enhancement creams are simply cashing in on a consumer demand that they cannot fulfill.

What penis health creams can do:

The good news is that there are penis vitamins and other nutrients that really provide lasting benefits and can improve sexual satisfaction. With the right ingredients, men can improve the tone and texture of the penile skin, prevent premature aging of the dermal tissue, boost sensitivity, maximize circulation and support the natural healing properties of the skin. By doing so, responsiveness to sexual stimulation is increased, and men can enjoy the more fulfilling sex that accompanies a healthy, youthful penis.

Penis vitamins – ingredients with real benefits

The following vitamins and other nutrients have been shown to improve the overall health of the erogenous skin:

• Vitamin A – Helps to maintain a youthful appearance, speeds healing, and fights bacteria that can cause inflammation, rashes, and foul odors.

• Vitamin B5 – Increases overall healing and works to facilitate penile cell metabolism, an important factor in cellular health.

• Vitamin C – A powerful antioxidant that fights aging, speeds healing, promotes healthy circulation and protects the cells against environmental damage.

• Vitamin D – The so-called “miracle” vitamin that stimulates the body’s healing properties, helping to maintain smooth, clear skin and responsive nerve cells.

• Vitamin E – Creates a natural moisture barrier that maintains the penile skin’s natural hydration and self-lubricating properties.

• Acetyl-L-Carnitine – An amino acid with protective properties that help to prevent nerve cell damage that can result from vigorous intercourse or masturbation.

• L-Arginine – Another amino acid that is a major factor in circulatory health, helping to relax the blood vessels and allow for healthy oxygenation of the skin and nerve cells.

• Alpha-lipoic Acid – A natural antioxidant that helps to protect the skin cells against oxidation (a process which causes cellular damage and can result in aging, a wrinkled appearance, and even skin cancer).

• Natural moisturizers – Natural moisturizers are recommended over man-made products that can contain skin irritants and other harmful chemicals. While aloe, lanolin and olive oil are generally effective, shea butter is recommended for most men, due to its superior healing properties. In addition, shea butter is appropriate for all skin types.

Which health creams contain all of these penis vitamins, minerals and other ingredients?

In the search for an effective penis health cream that actually lives up to its advertising claims, it was found that most creams on the market are geared toward individuals who are looking for penis enhancement. However, these products do little to live up to their promises. Only one penis health formula – Man1 Man Oil – was discovered to contain all of the vital ingredients described above and to provide real benefits for long-term penis skin health.