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How to Recognize Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a devastating disease that effects millions of people every year. Recognizing alcoholism in yourself or someone else can be difficult. Alcoholism is defined as a disease that allows a persons use of alcohol to interfere with their life and the basic functioning of their daily tasks, needs and responsibilities.

The clinical way of looking at alcohol is by examining the amount of alcohol a person consumes. A women who drinks more than seven drinks per week or more than three drinks a day and a man who drinks more than 14 drinks per week or four drinks in a day would be considered an alcoholic. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor.

Warning signs of alcoholism may vary form person to person. Usually though these warning signs will be obvious. The following list outlines some of these signs.

– misses a lot of work or school

– losses interest in family, friends or activities

– depression

– drinking to cope with any problem

Insomnia

– being toxicated often

– moody

– drinking related health problems

These are some of the noticeable warning signs. More serious behaviors can also serve as a wake-up call. Risky behavior like drinking and driving should be taken seriously.

Alcohol when taken in moderation is a nice way to relax or enjoy a social engagement, where when alcohol becomes a problem it can effect everyone who is close to the alcoholic. Some things that can tell a person they may be having a problem with alcohol are:

– worry over not having alcohol or money to buy it

– hiding alcohol so others do not know you have it

– often wishing to be drunk or get drunk faster

– unable to stop drinking once started

– hearing others comment on your drinking

Alcoholism should always be taken seriously. If you or someone you know has a drinking problem professional help is available in every community. Recognizing the problem is the first step to finding a solution.

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Type 2 Diabetes – Is Cathodal Direct Current Stimulation A New Treatment for Diabetic Foot Ulcers?

Diabetic foot ulcers occur when part of the skin covering an area of the foot dies. This is caused by damaged blood vessels and indirectly by nerve damage…

  • blood vessels throughout the body suffer when blood sugar levels are abnormally high.
  • nerves are damaged when blood vessels are unable to supply them with enough oxygen and nutrients. Damaged nerves are called diabetic neuropathy, in which there is numbness and tingling in a stocking-glove distribution. Feet are particularly susceptible, but the condition is also seen in the hands, arms, and legs. Diabetic neuropathy can lead to wounds because often people with diabetes do not feel sharp objects under their feet.

Healing is slower than in non-diabetics. Some tissue may die from lack of oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Infections can then set in and when the infection progress through to the bone, it is called osteomyelitis which must be treated with intravenous antibiotics and can result in the need for amputation.

In March of 2017, the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice reported on a new technique for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers involving dead tissue. Investigators at the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and several other research facilities in Tehran, Iran, tried electrical stimulation to help diabetic foot ulcers to heal. The technique, known as cathodal direct current, stimulates the release of molecules that encourage new blood vessel growth.

Thirty people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetics and who had foot ulcers were assigned to either an electrical stimulation group or a non-treatment group. By the end of twelve weeks, healing molecules were measured at almost ten times the amount seen in the non-treatment group.

Among the most common medical problems experienced by people with Type 2 diabetes are problems related to their feet…

  • when you walk around or when you exercise, do so in comfortable shoes. Shoes with rubber soles are often recommended over leather soles as the rubber helps absorb shock.
  • wash and carefully dry your feet every day. If you notice a cut or scratch on your foot, apply a mild antiseptic and cover the area with a dry sterile bandage. If the area does not heal within a day or two, call your doctor.
  • file your toenails straight across so they are even with the skin on the edge of your toes. If you suffer an ingrown toenail or other foot problems, see a podiatrist as ingrown toenails can become infected and cause serious problems.
  • numbness, shooting pains and a pins-and-needles type of pain in your feet are signs of nerve damage. When Type 2 diabetics begin to feel numbness and tingling, medication can be given to allow red blood cells (carriers of oxygen) to pass through the blood vessels more quickly.
  • people with Type 2 diabetes also need to walk to encourage circulation. When pain from walking becomes too much to tolerate, take a break until the pain subsides and then walk some more.

Controlling your blood sugar is the best preventative measure of all because of the serious complications of Type 2 diabetes linked to high blood sugar. Maintaining your blood sugar within your normal range also accelerates the rate at which your body heals.

Foot ulcers require immediate attention and can be difficult to heal so do not hesitate to contact your health care professional who will be able to help you.

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9 Effective Heat Stroke Prevention Tips

Heat stroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion as it can cost you your life. People with heat stroke may suffer from fever, seizures, or may also go into a coma. However, heat stroke is predictable and preventable. There are two types of heat stroke; one is classic or non-exercise-induced the other is exertional or activity-induced. Everyone is susceptible to heat stroke, from athletes to couch potatoes. And, the best defense against any heat-related illness is its prevention. If you take proper precautions and know the warning signs, you can easily prevent the risk of heat stroke. Keep a close watch on the elderly and infants, people on certain medications, athletes, and outdoor workers.

Warning signs:

  • Pale skin
  • Fatigue, weakness
  • Dizzy or nauseous
  • Sweating profusely
  • Rapid pulse
  • Fast, shallow breathing
  • Muscle weakness or cramp

In severe cases, you may observe warning signs as shown below.

Seek treatment immediately if any of these warning signs are present:

  • Skin that feels hot and dry, but not sweaty
  • Thumping headache
  • Frequent troubles of vomiting
  • Confusion or loss of consciousness
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty while breathing

Steps To Prevent Heat stroke During Hot Weather:

  1. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing.
  2. Protect against sunburn. Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool itself, so put on a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect yourself in the outdoors. Make sure you apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15. Put on the sunscreen generously, and you can apply it again after every two hours or more often, particularly if you are swimming or sweating a lot.
  3. Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated will help your body sweat and maintain a normal body temperature. Also, because you lose salt through sweating, you can replenish salt and water with some sports drinks.
  4. Don’t drink caffeine, sugary or alcoholic beverages to rehydrate, it can speed up dehydration.These drinks may interfere with your body’s ability to control your temperature. Also, icy cold drinks can cause stomach cramps.
  5. Open windows and use fans or turn on air conditioning.
  6. Don’t overexert yourself. Try to schedule exercise or physical labor on cooler times of the day, such as early morning or evening.
  7. Never leave anyone in a parked car, particularly when parked in the sun, the temperature in your car can rise 20 degrees F (more than 6.7 C) in 10 minutes.
  8. Take extra precautions with certain medications that can affect your body’s ability to stay hydrated and dissipate heat. For instance, some blood pressure and heart medicines, diet pills (amphetamines), laxatives, some psychological health medicines, seizure medicines, thyroid pills, and oral hypoglycaemic drugs.
  9. If you suspect heat stroke:
  • Move the victim to a cooler location,
  • Remove or avoid wearing heavy clothing,
  • Fan the body
  • Use a cool sponge or clean cloth to wet it down
  • Encourage the affected person to drink cool fluids.
  • At the hospital, the patient probably will be given fluids
  • Heatstroke treatment centers work on cooling your body to a normal temperature to prevent or reduce damage to your brain and vital organs.
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Lessons From The Conditioner Bottle

The other day I was in the shower and faced a situation we all face at some point. My bottle of conditioner was almost empty and I needed to use the remaining bit.

So I did what many of us have done – I turned it over and began to tap the top of the bottle against my palm to get to the conditioner from the bottom of the bottle.

But nothing came out!

So I tapped a little harder. Still nothing.

Determined in my quest to condition, I began banging the bottle against my hand with such force that I darn near bruised my palm.

Typical male behavior.

After doing this longer than I care to admit, I was left with an embarrassing lack of conditioner, a sore hand and an increasing sense that my efforts were, in fact, futile.

And then it hit me. If I put the bottle back on the shelf, upside down, time would do what my efforts could not.

All I would have to do it set it up right, give time a chance to do the work for me and the results would surely follow.

When I came back the next day the magic of gravity and time had done its work!

The elusive conditioner had moved, as if by magic, to the “top” of the bottle. I turned the bottle over, removed the lid, extracted the conditioner and conditioned the few hairs I have remaining.

So why am I writing this article and why in the world would you care about my story?

Because the lesson of the conditioner bottle affirms a truth that is perhaps the #1 secret to succeeding online.

Too strong? Read on and see if you agree with me.

The lesson of the conditioner bottle is this:

When a system is set up right time does the work for you.

Simple, yet powerful, and oh so true.

Here is the most important phrase of all from my little shower story:

“All I would have to do it set it up right, give time a chance to do the work for me and the results would surely follow.”

Take a moment right now and think about the 5 people you consider to be the most successful online.

It might be Frank Kern, Ryan Deiss, Jimmy Brown, Jack Humphrey, Yanik Silver, Jeff Walker or one of many other online marketers. It might not be a big name marketer but someone you admire who is doing their job very well and with integrity.

Got your list? Good.

Now review that list and see if there are any names on it who do not have an automated marketing system.

  • A way to capture leads
  • A way to email those leads
  • A selling funnel that closes the sale

I’m willing to bet that every name on your list is a person who has taken the time to set up an automated marketing system that puts time on their side.

After all, “When a system is set up right, time does the work for you.” I live by those words every day. And I encourage you to do the same.

Think about the things you have been trying online that have not been working. Don’t beat yourself up – we have all been there and tried things that have not worked. That’s part of the process.

Now think about this. What if you flipped your marketing upside down?

What if you set up a system, a real and proven system, that would put time on your side?

How would that change your situation?

What would it look like if you became the person who woke up in the morning with new sales orders in your email inbox?

Pie in the sky? Not at all. If I can do it you can do it.

Start thinking about how we can “flip the bottle” in your online business and then get ready to take the next step.

Thanks for reading. Be well.

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Diagnosing Sciatica

If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffers from Sciatica, you know all too well how it can negatively affect your life. But what is Sciatica? How is it diagnosed? Can it be healed?

What is Sciatica?
Many folks confuse sciatica to be a diagnosis. It’s not. It’s a symptom of a different problem. But finding the problem can be…well, a problem. Think of it this way: You pull out a string of Christmas lights to put on your tree. You plug it in to be sure they work…but they don’t. So you check the fuse. It’s good. Now what? You systematically start looking at each bulb to find the one that is missing or burned out. It’s a painstaking process of hit and miss. That’s the same kind of problem doctors are facing—albeit much more intricate and critical—when they are trying to pinpoint the cause of sciatica.

Since sciatica can be caused by a number of conditions anywhere along the roots of the five sciatic nerves, finding the source of one’s sciatica can be quite difficult. The roots stem from the lumbar and sacral nerve lines which string down the spine in the L4 to the S3 vertebrae regions. Just about anything can go wrong in that area and cause sciatica to manifest itself in your buttocks, leg, knee or foot. You’ll know it when it occurs because it hurts! But moderate to severe pain is not the only challenge. Numbness, tingling, pins and needles and muscle weakness are signs of sciatica as well.

The most common culprit behind sciatica is nerve pinching. Nerves can get pinched in a variety of ways ranging from lumbar misalignment, a sacroiliac joint misalignment, Piriformis syndrome, greater Trochanteric Bursitis and most commonly, disc herniation.

How is Sciatica Diagnosed?
The standard protocol no matter what kind of doctor is consulted is for an examination to be performed first. If the sciatica does not extend below the knee, it is less likely that it is due to a disc problem, and it’s more likely that it’s due to a lumbar misalignment, a sacroiliac joint misalignment, Piriformis syndrome or Greater Trochanteric Bursitis. However, it is more likely due to a disc lesion if the sciatica extends below the knee.

Once the examination is performed the next steps differ depending on what type of doctor is doing the examining. If it’s a chiropractor, it is most likely that after the examination he will take an x-ray to rule out any kind of pathological process (such as bone cancer), and then treat the patient with chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy. If the patient does not respond favorably within a week or two to this conservative approach, then the doctor will request pre-authorization from the insurance company for an MRI. It is unlikely that an insurance company will approve an MRI until after conservative treatment has been tried first and failed.

If however the patient is complaining of neurological symptoms such as numbness in the leg or weakness of any of the muscles of the leg, particularly the inability to walk on their heels (a condition called foot-drop), or loss of control of bowel or bladder function, then those neurological signs justify immediate approval and performance of an MRI. To not do an MRI in such a case could constitute negligence and could jeopardize the patient’s life, if not their ability to walk normally for the rest of their life.

An MD will approach things a little differently than a chiropractor. An MD will likely first prescribe some pain killers and anti-inflammatory medicine. If that doesn’t work then they’ll prescribe physical therapy. If the therapy doesn’t work then they’ll order an MRI. Unless of course the patient demonstrates neurological signs and symptoms in which case the same urgency exists as in the above paragraph.

It is important to note that X-rays do not show whether or not a disc is bulging or ruptured. They only show the disc space, showing if it’s normal-sized, or thin. If it’s thin, it could show some signs of arthritis. Occasionally an inflamed disc can show up on an x-ray as somewhat thicker than usual.

MRI’s and CT’s both show discs and will differentiate a normal healthy disc from an unhealthy one. They will also show if a disc is bulged or herniated and will show how well hydrated it is. Generally speaking, CT’s are best to show hard tissues such as bone, and MRI’s are best to show soft tissues like discs and nerves. So if arthritis or fractures are suspected by the ordering physician, a CT is ordered. If a disc bulge or herniation is suspected, then an MRI is ordered. Bone cancer, cord tumors, bone abscesses, meningeoceles and other diseases can be detected by MRIs and CTs.

Can Sciatica be cured?
The more correct question is, “Can sciatica be relieved?” Remember sciatica is a symptom not a diagnosis. So whether or not sciatica can be relieved depends on whether or not the cause of the sciatica can be fixed.

The good news is that since the most common cause of sciatica is an impinged nerve usually resulting from a herniated or bulging disc, the answer is yes: Sciatica can be relieved with a fairly high success rate depending on how the problem is addressed. Many successful tactics can be implemented by your chiropractor or MD. They range from spinal decompression to surgery on the extreme end to core muscle strengthening, stretches, yoga and acupuncture on the more conservative end.

If the diagnosis is something other than a disc problem, the treatments can vary quite a bit…more than can be covered in this article.

Conclusion
The cause of sciatica can be very hard to diagnose. Seek help today if you or someone you know is suffering. Visit your chiropractor or MD, based on your preference. To do nothing may cause irreversible damage that may affect your ability to walk. Rest assured, help is out there. Relief is within reach.

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I Keep Choosing The Wrong Partner

Do you find yourself choosing a similar wrong partner over and over? This is what Laura asks about:

"How can I get past the point of losing destructive and abusive relationships over and over just because I grow up in an abusive and dysfunctional family? Is it better to just remain single and grow with God and be a good mom and not gravitate toward craziness ? "

Laura, there are a number of issues here that need to be addressed.

1. We tend to pick people like our parents and then try to have control over getting love from them.

The wounded part of you may believe that if only you can get an abusive, unloving person to love you, then it will really mean something. More than wanting a loving relationship, the wounded self wants control over getting love.

The problem is that this will never work. We can not have control over making an unloving person being loving. As you were growing up in your abusive family, you could not allow yourself to experience the truth of this. To survive, you had to convince yourself that there was something you could do to get love from your parents. This is a huge false belief which you are continuing to operate from in your current relationships.

2. Others tend to treat us the way we treat ourselves.

Given that you come from an abusive family, it's likely that you have learned to treat yourself the way your parents treated you and the way they treated themselves. Until you learn to love yourself rather than abandon yourself, you will continue to attract abusive relationships.

3. Staying single may not be the answer

Most of us want to share love and we are lonely when we do not have anyone with what to share love. It may not be loving to yourself to remain single.

An addition, many of our deepest issues that need healing come forward in relationships. The challenge is finding a partner who is open to learning with themselves and with you so that the two of you can journey together through your healing process. The more you open to learning with your feelings and your Guidance, the more you will be able to attract an open person with what you can learn and grow.

The real challenge is to become the kind of person with what you want to share love. This, more than anything, will break the cycle of attracting the wrong partner. I suggest that you take some time to do your Inner Bonding work to develop your spirit connected loving adult self who can take loving care of your inner child. You will see that the more you learn to be loving to yourself, rather than abandon yourself, the more you will attract loving people into your life.

4. You may not be able to do this alone

When you grow up with no role models of loving yourself, you might need some help in learning how to do this. Reaching out for help in learning how to connect with your personal source of spiritual guidance, and what it looks like to love yourself is an important part of taking loving care of yourself. We all need support in shifting out of self-abandonment and into seeing and defending our beautiful essence. When you are able to define your intrinsic worth as love, and are able to see that your ego wounded self is not who you are, you will have a much easier time taking loving care of yourself.

We take care of that which we value, so the more you see and value your beautiful essence, the more you will naturally take loving care of yourself, and this will be reflected in your relationships.

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New Treatments for Advanced and Metastatic Melanoma

Melanoma, the deadly skin cancer, is on the rise. In the United States in 2010, there were estimated 68,130 new cases of invasive cancer and 46,770 of in situ melanoma. In the same year, 8,700 people were predicted to die from this malignancy. Melanoma is curable if it is detected early and can be surgically removed. When melanoma has spread to lymph node(s) or when it is more than 4 mm thick, there is a chance of metastasis (spread to distant organs). Melanoma could spread to the following organs: lung, liver, brain, bone, intestine, pancreas, adrenal, kidney, spleen, heart, and thyroid. Imaging tests such as Pet CT and brain MRI may be done to look for metastasis. Most patients with metastatic melanoma die within one year. The 2-year survival rate is only 10-20%. Current treatments include chemotherapy, of which dacarbazine is the most commonly used. Over the past decades, many drugs and vaccines have been tested, with no success. The last drug approved was interleukin-2 in 1998, but it is so toxic that physicians rarely use it nowadays. Neither it nor the other approved drug, dacarbazine, has clearly demonstrated improved survival. This year, two new drugs are being introduced. The first drug is Yervoy (ipilimumab), which was approved by the FDA in March 2011. The second agent is vemurafenib; it has finished its clinical trial and awaits approval.

Yervoy is an antibody that blocks T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). This blockage increases T-cell proliferation, which results in a more active immune system to attack the melanoma cells. A recent clinical trial enrolled 502 patients with previously untreated metastatic melanoma. The patients were randomly assigned to either dacarbazine chemotherapy plus Yervoy, or chemotherapy alone. Overall survival was significantly longer in the group receiving Yervoy plus dacarbazine than in the group receiving dacarbazine (11.2 months versus 9.1 months). At one year, 47% of the Yervoy patients are alive, in comparison with 36% in the chemotherapy only group. At two years, 29% of the Yervoy patients are alive, in comparison with 18% in the chemotherapy only group. At three years, 21% of the Yervoy patients are alive, in comparison with 12% in the chemotherapy only group. Yervoy can result in severe immune-mediated adverse reactions due to T-cell activation and proliferation. These immune-mediated side effects may involve any organ system. The most common severe adverse reactions are enterocolitis, hepatitis, dermatitis (including toxic epidermal necrolysis), neuropathy, and endocrinopathy. Yervoy costs $120,000 for a complete course of treatment, which consists of four infusions given over a three-month period.

The second promising new drug, vemurafenib, targets a mutation in the gene BRAF (Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf). About 50% of melanoma cases have this mutation. The clinical trial enrolled 675 patients with previously untreated, metastatic melanoma with the BRAF mutation. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either vemurafenib or dacarbazine. At six months, overall survival was 84% in the vemurafenib group and 64% in the chemotherapy group. Common adverse events associated with vemurafenib were joint pain, rash, fatigue, hair loss, squamous-cell carcinoma, photosensitivity, nausea, and diarrhea. In the study, 38% of patients required dose modification because of toxic effects. This drug is being considered for future potential approval by the FDA in melanoma patients. The price tag is unknown at this point.

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Everything About HEPATITIS C and Its Cure

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis C Virus or HCV. Nearly 3.5 million people suffer from this disease in the US alone. Nearly 70% to 80% of the acute infection cases do not display any sort of symptoms at all. This disease is termed as the silent or invisible disease because there aren’t any symptoms in a majority of cases and even if there is the symptoms are rather common.

The disease causes liver disease and in several cases the liver cirrhosis. Chronic infection can be cured in more than 90% of the cases and in some cases where there is liver cirrhosis is extreme a transplant is required.

Symptoms:

Hepatitis C is known as a silent or invisible disease because most victims don’t show any symptoms at all and if they most of its symptoms are so common that one doesn’t realize that are suffering from Hepatitis C until much later. Nearly 70% to 80% of the patients do not show any symptom at all. The symptoms are mild and flu like with fever along with the ones mentioned below:

-Jaundice: This is the most common symptom, it includes yellow eyes and skin along with dark colored urine.

-Stomach pain: as mentioned above the symptoms of this disease done stand out and symptoms include something as common as stomach pain.

-Joint and muscle pain: Muscle and join pain is another common symptom that most patients suffer.

-Itchy Skin: If you have been suffering from itchy skin for over six weeks along with any of the above mentioned skin please consult a doctor.

-Abnormalities in urine and bowel movement

-Loss of appetite: Again a very common symptom that is induced from a variety of reasons including stress. But if you suffer from loss of appetite with jaundice and the other symptoms please do get yourself checked.

-Nausea: Vomiting and squishiness, another common symptom which when combined with stomach ache can give a wrong diagnosis.

-Fatigue: Tiredness. Again another symptom which when accompanied with the above four symptoms may be assumed as an after effect of Jaundice.

Ways it can spread:

You can get this disease if you:

– Share drugs and needles

-Have unsafe sex with multiple partners who have STD and HIV infections and rough sex.

-Use used needles that is previously used by person suffering from Hepatitis C. -From a mother to her child: A pregnant mother can pass this infection to her unborn child.

-Blood transfusion: if you receive blood from a person infected with this disease.

Precautions:

What doesn’t cause Hepatitis C:

– Hugging

-Kissing

-Coughing

-Sneezing

-Sharing utensils or glasses

-Sharing food and water

-Casual contact

-Breastfeeding your baby if you are detected with Hepatitis C, but please ensure that your nipples aren’t cracked and bleeding.

What not to share:

-Anything that could possibly have your blood on it, which includes razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers etc.

-Don’t share needles or similar equipment’s with others. Also if you are doing drugs, that too injectable street drugs please opt for a treatment program.

-Do not donate blood, organs, tissue or semen.

-Anything that could possibly have your blood on it, which includes razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers etc.

Be extra careful with:

-Open wounds, blisters, cuts or sores and cover them with bandages, and do not let it come in contact with others.

-Dispose of tampons, sanitary napkins, tissues, used bandages, and anything else that might have your blood on it.

-Clean spilled blood from surfaces with a bleach.

-Thoroughly wash hands and any object that comes in contact with your blood with soap.

Sex and Hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C can spread through sexual intercourse, but it’s a rare phenomenon. In fact, according to CDC, if you are monogamous, the risk is rather low extremely rare that they don’t even recommend the use of condom. Also, Hepatitis C doesn’t spread through oral sex. But if you have multiple partners, it is advisable that you protect your partner with the use of a condom.

Cure –Harvoni®:

Hepatitis C Medications:

Hepatitis C is an infection in the liver caused by the presence of the virus called HCV or hepatitis C virus. Just as there are different blood groups, this disease is also categorized into genotypes numbered from 1 through 6. According to statistics, about 75% of the HCV affected patients have are diagnosed with the genotype 1 HCV. There are no vaccinations available in the case HCV and can only be prevented from cautious activities when near already affected patients. It can be prevented by avoiding contact with infected fluids, or sharing needles as the disease can spread through physical contact. There are many drugs that are prescribed by specialists who treat for HCV. One among those is harvoni® which is a suitable drug for HCV genotypes 1, 4, 5 and 6. HARVONI® is a combination of two antiviral medications named ledipasvir and sofosbuvir. These prevent the multiplication of the Hepatitis C virus within the body. Before the physician is prescribing the medicine to HCV affected person, he/she will consider several factors like the treatment history in case he has already been treated for this disease, level of virus within the body, allergies to any of the components in the drug and extent of damage to the liver. In case this medicine has to be combined with another drug called ribavirin, it might affect pregnancy. The drug when prescribed separately does not affect the unborn baby and does not pass on to the infants through breast milk. Also it is not researched whether this drug is safe for children below the age of 18 years. The prescribed dosage for the drug is one pill a day and the most commonly suggested treatment cycle is a period of 12 weeks and the patients is advised to take the medicine at the same time every day.

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Suffering From an Autism Food Allergy?

An autism food allergy is a very serious problem. In fact, autism induced by allergies has recently been identified and occurs when a child's diet affects his or her autism symptoms. The children who are at the highest risk of an impact from an autism food allergy are those who have regressive autism. Regressive autism is the form of the disorder that occurs when the child's first symptoms appear at around the age of two after having developed normally until then. Other autistic children at risk are those with behavioral and neurological problems in conjunction with serious digestive problems.

Kids with an autism food allergy struggle to digest essential food proteins such as gluten and casein. Gluten is a protein found in many kinds of grains, such as wheat, and is frequently added to food products during the manufacturing process. Casein is a protein found in milk and is also added to other foods as they are manufactured.

Some children with food allergies are able to properly digest gluten and casein. These proteins are digested only partially and leave a byproduct to which the children react in a very similar way to the drug morphine. This substance is able to slip through the wall of the digestive tract, a condition known as 'leaky gut syndrome', and circulates through the bloodstream and into the brain.

When a child has an intolerance to gluten or casein an altered protein can also be found in the urine after the child consumed food containing these two compounds. It is believed that this occurs as a result of the creation and absorption of the morphine-like chemical created by the body of the child when trying to digest gluten or casein. The child may then be in a "spaced out" way. Furthermore, it can create some of an addiction in these children, causing them to crave foods containing gluten and casein.

Because children with an autism food allergy struggle to digest food properly, they are also unable to remove toxins and chemicals as efficiently as they should from their body. This can include not only waste in the traditional sense of digestion, but also fertilizers, pesticides, cleansers and detergents, pollution, artificial flavorings and colorings, preservatives, chemical food additives, and other forms of chemical that can build up and become toxic over time .

Symptoms of an autism food allergy usually appear within an autistic child at around the age of three. Although the symptoms may come about as a result of intolerance to pollutants in the food, others will react to chemical additives, and again others will react to the basic composition of the food. Although reactions can be caused by essentially anything, the most common allergies are to foods such as corn, citrus fruits, wheat, dairy and sugar.

Although the symptoms of an autism food allergy may not be obvious to those around the child, medical testing and observation shows frequent diarrhea, bloating, low blood sugar, excessive sweating, redness in the ears and face, rhinitis (runny nose), the inability To regulate the body temperature, and dark circles under the eyes are common.

The only way to treat an autism food allergy is to pinpoint the food of foods that are causing the problem and then eliminate it from the diet entirely. It is important to note that this will not cure autism, however symptoms will often improve substantively when a diet free of those items that cause a reaction is followed. Parents will still be faced with the same issues in socializing and communicating with autistic children even after an altered diet is introduced, and change will still need to be carefully managed.

To discover which foods your child reacts to, an exclusion diet is a good way to determine what items are potentially contributing to their autism symptoms and digestive issues. However, before starting an exclusion diet ensure you consult a qualified health professional to ensure your child continues to receive adequate nutrition.

Once you have the go ahead, start by eliminating the common culprits ie wheat, dairy, sugar, corn and citrus fruits for a two to four week period and then slowly reintroduce the removed items one at a time and monitor behaviors and digestive changes carefully.

This process can help identify those food items that are problematic for your child. An alternative is to have blood testing done to look for antibodies that are produced when an allergic reaction takes place. Your doctor should be able to arrange this for you or refer you to the appropriate professional.

There is currently a study about to get underway being carried out by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston that will be scientifically studying the effects of gluten and casein on autistic children which should help answer the autism food allergy question.

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Lyme Disease – Diagnosis and Treatment

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi. Ticks can transmit the bacteria by biting humans. Deer ticks spread Lyme disease in the northeastern and upper Midwestern United States, while western-blacklegged ticks are responsible for its spread along the Pacific coast.

A deer tick is any of several ticks of the genus Exudes that are parasitic on deer and other animals and transmit the infectious agents of febrile diseases, such as Lyme disease.

Lyme disease and its symptoms can occur at any age. It is most common among young children and those who work or reside in wooded areas because they are more likely to be exposed to the ticks. Expanding skin rash and flu-like symptoms are the earliest symptoms seen. A circular rash may develop at the bite’s site but many individuals do not get the rash. If Lyme disease goes undetected or is not properly treated, problems involving the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart may arise. Symptoms may appear weeks after exposure to infection or it mat take months or even years. Other symptoms may include; fatigue, headache and neck stiffness. There may be fever and chills. Swollen lymph nodes and muscle and joint pain are common. As many as 25% of patients have only flu-like symptoms and no other symptoms. Skin rashes may later appear in other areas. Pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs could appear quickly. Paralysis of the facial nerves is not uncommon. Other neurological symptoms may include poor memory and difficulty in concentrating. Heart problems may include palpitations and eye problems usually include conjunctivitis or even deep tissue damage. Joint problems are common in all stages of the disease. If treatment is not started early enough late persistent Lyme disease symptoms may include; chronic fatigue, joint problems, heart symptoms and nervous system problems such as weakness or numbness in the arms or legs and difficulties with memory.

Lyme disease may be diagnosed based on the symptoms, the medical history, and the possibility of exposure to ticks. Blood tests may confirm the diagnosis if the disease is suspected, however, blood tests are often not reliable to diagnose this condition. Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis produce similar symptoms and must be considered.

Conventional medical treatment of Lyme disease should be prompt to prevent permanent damage. Antibiotic treatment for 3-4 weeks with doxycycline or amoxicillin is generally effective in early disease. Intravenous ceftriaxone or penicillin for 4 weeks or more may be needed in cases that were not treated early in the course of the disease. Treatment failures are not uncommon and re-treatment may be necessary.

Complementary medical approaches are used at this center to combat Lyme disease. Auricular Medicine (advanced ear acupuncture) is used to help evaluate the energetic status of the various body organs. Auricular Medicine can also be used in treating the organs affected and to support other vital organs that may be involved in the disease process. Homeopathic remedies may offer an invaluable complementary approach to help the body fight the involved bacteria and its symptoms.

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About Acapulco

Mexico's first great resort destination, Acapulco is a stunning beautiful city located around a bay on the Pacific Ocean, with miles of easily-accessible beaches. It's truly in the tropics, with palm trees and other exotic plants everywhere. Views across the bay are gorgeous, the sunsets are legendary, and the city lights at night are lovely from every vantage point.

What to do? Swimming (but note that some beaches have rough surf and undertows), working on your tan, eating and drinking at the wide variety of restaurants and clubs … and staying up late (or all night) to go dancing at the discos. Scuba diving, fishing, boating, and other water sports are available, as are golf courses and tennis courts. The shopping is great fun, although do not expect the best bargains in Mexico in this tourist-oriented city. Famous divers jump off extremely high cliffs into the sea at La Quebrada … that's something to watch, not to do! Most of all, Acapulco is a place to relax.

I've been to Acapulco both as a child and as an adult. Of course, the city has changed a lot; The quaint little motel just a block from the beach where we stayed when I was a kid is long gone, replaced with newer, taller buildings.

I adored the city as a child, and I continue to like its natural beauty and its beaches. Although it is now a huge city and very tourist-oriented, I still think Acapulco is an outstanding place for a beach vacation. The glittering celebrities are more likely to go to the newer resorts – Cancun and others that were small towns or fishing ports when Acapulco was the rising star.

If you explore the central market and other places away from the obvious main tourist areas, you can get a real connection with the people. Many of the tourists nowdays are Mexican, and you can chat with them on the beach. Do not speak Spanish? No problem! Smiles go a long way, and many Mexicans know some English.

The weather in Acapulco is very nice all winter, hot and humid in the summer. Good thing the beach is there!

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Cuba Is One Of Five Healthiest Countries in the World

"Healthy countries" is not the most popular information subject for mass media. Newspapers typically write about viruses, diseases or epidemics affecting the whole region at once. The American magazine "Foreign Policy" has published the rating of the five healthiest countries and explained its choice.

Japan

On the whole, the Japanese live longer than representatives of other nations – their average lifetime makes up 86 years. The secret of the Japanese health consists in bodily exercise and food products with a low content of cholesterol. The Japanese diet includes fish, rice and sea-weed which lower the risk of heart diseases and cancer.

Fitness clubs have come in fashion in Japan. Sound health of several generations of this nation is maintained and improved due to a special state program which provides exercising before and during the workday. This program is advanced by the Government.

The largest Japanese mobile operator already offers "Fitness Phone", a service of measuring daily physical exercise, to lovers of the advanced technologies.

Nowadays, population health is programmed by the "western" food with its traditionally high content of fat: 7 million of the Japanese are suffering from diabetes, which spreads in Asia quicker than that in other parts of the world.

France

France has the lowest rate of heart diseases which are considered the main reason of mortality. Specialists explain this fact by slow eating and daily consumption of a glass of wine. The French cuisine is traditionally rich in fats and carbohydrates, but it is ateen slowly, a little at a time and washed down with a moderate amount of wine.

It is worth mentioning that in 2002 the World Health Organization declared France the healthiest country of the European Union. Despite the fact that many of the French die of cancer and other severe diseases, the average lifetime in France makes up 75 years for men and 83 years for women, and goes on increasing.

Nowadays, obesity is declared a major problem, and a high rate of mortality caused by cancer and cardiovascular diseases is registered in France. The leadership of this country concerned the low rate of cardiovascular diseases is running the risk of becoming a negative leadership.

Iceland

Iceland has the lowest child mortality rate and the best antenatal care in the world. Figures speak for themselves: 2 deaths of children under five per one thousand of newborns. In the USA this rate makes up 7 children.

The Icelandic Government pays for a wide range of services of mother and child medical care. Beside, it assures maintenance of 80 per cent of the mother's salary during three months.

However, nowdays the Icelandic population also suffers from obesity. The country annually consumes an enormous amount of sugar per capita, mainly due to an exaggerated passion for carbonated beverages.

Sweden

Sweden may boast of the highest probability of survival in case of a cancer disease, as well as of an almost 100% rate of child immunization.

Almost 14% of the state expenses go to healthcare and make up 85% of expenses on medical care. Beside, the 9-million population is served in modern hospitals and clinics equipped with the latest medical equipment.

The Swedes believe that a comprehensive social assistance which provides everything from professional development support to street illumination lowers the population sickness rate.

There still is a problem of queuing: the Swedes have to wait for reception and operations. The attempts to transfer small medical institutions to private ownership do not result in any evident progress.

Cuba

The island of freedom may rightly be proud of a low child mortality rate and a medium lifetime. The rate of six doctors per one thousand of Cubans is the highest rate in the world.

According to the experts, a big number of doctors can not guarantee the population health, however, in Cuba it contributes to efficiency of measures on disease prevention. Thousand of Cuban doctors annually go abroad on study tours. Due to professionalism and the state support of healthcare Cuba achieves results even Europe may be envious of.

On the other hand, the focus on prevention and early diagnosis leads to the lack of drugs in the country. Beside, it is expected that openness of the Cuban society and increase in purchasing capacity of big layers of population will stimulate the "import" of European and American diseases connected with dieting and food.

It is also worth mentioning that according to the Public Organization "March of Dimes" the healthiest countries from the genetic point of view are France, Austria, Australia, Switzerland and Russia.

8 million children with severe genetic defects are born every year. It makes up 6% of the total number of newborns. The number of newborns with severe genetic effects in the most developed countries makes up from 397 to 425 per 10.000 children.

The Russian rate makes up 429 per 10.000 newborns. The USA with its rate of 478 per 10.000 children occupations the 20th place, right after Cuba. The list is enclosed by Benin, Saudi Arabia and Sudan (from 779 to 820 per 10,000 newborns respectively). Among the post-Soviet countries the worst indicators are registered in Tajikistan (752), Kyrgyzstan (735) and Azerbaijan (631).

We should remember that our health is affected not only by environment, the level of medical and genetic consulting and the healthcare level on the whole. A great deal depends on every one of us: his / her culture, education and lifestyle.

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Google AdSense – Your Highway to a Golden Goose of Cold Hard Cash

The Internet offers several programs for the bold and innovative netizens to make money through skillful employment of various tools. Google AdSense business is one such program to generate income and profits for you. Let us examine some smart moves to enhance your income from Google AdSense business.

The Magic potion

The magic potion to double your income from Google AdSense business is to get more click throughs. You can achieve this by increasing the traffic to your website or work, increasing the click through rate directly. The following tips are designed to help you achieve the click through rate without much hassle.

1. Your website to match your AdSense

Take a good look at your AdSense ads. The borders, if any can be removed and background colors matched to that of your website. Consider the color of the links in the ad and match them to other links you have on your page.

2. Placement

The placement of the ad is as important as the look of the advertisement. Look for ample white space around the ad and placement on top of the page.

3. Add a Google search bar

Google AdSense business gives it to you for free. When the visitor uses the search box from your page, your AdSense ID gets embedded in all the searches irrespective of the numbers.

4. How does it benefit you?

When the visitor clicks on any sponsored link from your page, you make the income. Similarly, if he uses the back button to click another ad, the profit is yours.

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Steroids – Distorting the Worlds of Muscle and Fitness

Nothing has been more distorted to muscle building information than the low profile prevalence of steroid use. What else can explain the vast amount of lousy and even useless training techniques for natural trainers that have become the prevailing wisdom in the bodybuilding industry? There's an ongoing discord between fantasy and reality in what constituents an effective natural muscle winning routine. That discord is most likely attributable to the obvious yet often unaddressed contrast between the physiology of a steroid user and that of a non-user.

This contrast is the only explanation for bodybuilding's longtime miring in misinformation; A muddling that's often rejected in almost humorously contradictory recommendations and advice.

Here's a list of strange observations I've made over the years that I think can be linked, either directly or indirectly, to some of that misinformation:

O In 1988, I attended a bodybuilding seminar put on by one of the top. Olympia contenders of the time. When asked by an audience member about a specific workout routine, the pro bodybuilder answered that the workout schedule in question would be worthless for putting on muscle mass. Within a month, I saw that exact workout / recovery schedule being recommended in a bodybuilding magazine by the then-Mr. Olympia.

O In the '90s, that same Mr. Olympia had a morning workout television program for mainstream fitness. During an episode, I heard him talk to Geraldo Riviera about the evils of "anabolics" (code-word for stereoids). He was apparently trying to dissuade youngsters from using them. Yet he admitted within other mediums that he used them regularly (of course he used them; he was a pro bodybuilder).

O During the aforementioned seminar in 1988, that Mr. Olympia contender told the audience that when he began bodybuilding, he was able to put on "ten solid pounds of muscle per year". He went on to reveal that in his advanced stages in the sport, he was lucky to add "two pounds of muscle a year". These words were from an elite professional bodybuilder who admitted to regular steroid use. Yet we're treated to claims of gaining "twenty pounds of muscle in twelve weeks" from average Joe's on the Internet. (No wonder I do not see pictures with these claims).

O In the late eighties, there was a bodybuilding book that claimed you could gain 30 pounds of muscle in six weeks from doing "super squats" and drinking a lot of milk. That book should have been titled 'How to become an over-trained gasbag within a month and a half'.

O I've actually heard a top professional bodybuilder say he did not believe in over-training; Only "under eating and under sleeping". So, even though our bodies are designed to burn and renew a finite amount of energy each day, just stuffing them with more food than they can process and sleeping until we're drooling on our pillows will compensate for excessive muscle teardown? A very misleading statement.

O In the early '90s, a bodybuilding guru was espousing an extremely high calorie diet for gaining muscle. I think he was the guy who started the "no such thing as over-training – just under-eating and under-sleeping" nonsense. Anyways, in order to make sure we could all take in our recommended 10,000 calories a day, he'd sell MCT oil to everyone. Just dovese some on your meals and add a whopping 120 calories per tablespoon so you can be in an "anabolic state". The funny thing was that he recommended doing aerobic exercise each day to burn excess calories. Now let's see, I think I'll spend money on extra calories so I can try to burn them off every day before I turn into Jabba the Hut. Yeah … that makes a lot of sense. Yet there were write-ups about this guy in magazines as if he were a genius.

O I read an old interview of Arnold Schwarzenegger in which he estimated that anabolic steroids only had bodybuilders like him a five percent edge over what they'd accomplish without them. Did he expect readers to believe that? Why would anyone risk their health for such a meager boost? If that were true, could not he find a way to make up that little five percent in a less destructive manner?

O Back when the andro thing was big, a bodybuilder who worked in a supplement store tried to talk me into buying some. He said he earned five pounds of muscle in three weeks from using it. I knew he wanted to get super big, so I immediately wondered why he was not continuing to cycle it so that he could gain umpteen pounds for the year. I told him "I'm not impressed; I can gain or lose five pounds of water weight in a single day". Within a few months, he did a steroid cycle. I surprised what happened to his belief in andro.

O A competitive, steroid-built bodybuilder who works out at my gym sidelines as a personal fitness trainer. I witnessed him simultaneously train two people on a leg workout that had those unfortunate clients wobbling for the door as if he turned their underpinnings into wet noodles. He'd coaxed them to perform set after set of forced reps on a leg press machine. They were shaking their heads in disbelief as he bore an expression of self-indulged smugness. I guess he forgot to tell them they'd need to make secret trips to Mexico in order to recover from such a "workout."

Some of these are kind of humorous, but not that last one. I've seen too many people hand over their hard-earned money for instruction in natural bodybuilding from those who do not build their own bodies naturally. That's money being paid oftentimes to merely feed the ego of someone that probably knows less about your body than you do. In the case I described above, he sure does not know enough about bodybuilding to realize that the simplistic "harder you train – the more you gain" mantra most often leads to wasted time and disappointment.

My advice to natural bodybuilders: Seek unorthodox methods for making muscle gains. The routines that keep getting regurgitated in main bodybuilding and fitness magazines are usually not the most conducive to long-term muscle gains.

I have lousy bodybuilding genetics, as anyone who's seen my website or blog pictures will attest. But I finally started making impressive natural gains when I went against conventional wisdom and stopped adhering to the distortions of muscle building created by steroid use. Lest you want to be confused or disillusioned by the strangeness of bodybuilding as illustrated above, I recommend you do the same.

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Fear of the Dentist: Overcome Dentist Phobia Now

You can overcome your fear of Dentists and procedures with the help of self-hypnosis. This approach offers excellent results, easing away panic and anxiety you feel at the very thought of someone working on your teeth or the idea of an extraction. This approach works whether you have a fearful response to the appointments or a phobia.

Phobia of Dentist

Your phobic condition can be very problematic because you are completely overwhelmed with anxiousness and fearful emotions. This occurs when you think about a visit to the dental chair and you do everything in your power to avoid this environment. This can lead to significant problems.

Failing to maintain regular cleaning appointments and checkups is a damaging habit that needs to stop. You are at risk for developing tooth decay, gum disease and other health problems when you neglect your teeth. Your phobic response  needs to be addressed.

Fear of Dentist

Even if you have a simple fear of dental procedures, you are less likely to make the necessary appointments. This can lead to teeth problems that make each visit  worse. As the condition of your teeth and gums diminish, you may feel great discomfort, making the next visit less likely.

Phobia Self Help

Some self-help approaches are comprehensive. The comprehensive approach uses advice from your dental care provider, a therapist and possible support and intervention. Some people use sedative before each of their appointments. There are some drawbacks to taking medication.

The sedative can interfere with any prescriptions that your dental care provider might prescribe. You have to rely on someone else to transport you to and from each appointment. Going back to work on the day of the appointment is not likely, so you lose a day’s work for a simple procedure or cleaning.

Self-Hypnosis

Self-hypnosis is a viable approach because it addresses your fear head-on. You do not have to visit a hypnotherapist in person because there are many sessions recorded on MP3 or CDs for you to consider. These convenient compilations are ideal for the treatment of the fear of dentist appointments. Following are some quick ideas to consider.

Steve G Jones, M, Ed has created an excellent recording available here – Read here – that can help you overcome your anxiety and fearful emotions.

Another outstanding composition by renowned hypnotherapsits, Duncan McColl offers help for phobias and fears. This recording is available here – More info. Other helpful recordings can be found here – Justbewell.com. Just click on the links for more information.