Sex, Health, Diet Info

Animal and insect bites and stings are relatively common minor injuries. Usually, they will heal on their own and will not cause serious or permanent damage, but they can be serious and it is important to know appropriate first aid measures.

What are the possible complications of bites and stings?

Many animal bites result in puncture wounds – deep wounds that penetrate the tissue underneath the skin and cause internal damage. The germs from the animal’s mouth can then be carried deep into the wound and may cause serious infections.

The adder is the only poisonous snake in the UK, and although the venom can be fatal, the number of recorded deaths is very small indeed.

There is one serious complication of insect stings. A small percentage of people can develop a life- threatening allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock, where airways become swollen and reduce the air getting to the lungs. The symptoms of anaphylactic shock are red, blotchy skin with raised areas, swelling of the face and neck, puffiness around the eyes, wheezing and difficulty breathing, rapid pulse and loss of consciousness. Anaphylactic shock is a very serious condition and requires immediate hospital treatment.

What should I do if someone has been bitten or stung?

First, assess the seriousness of the bite or sting.

Serious bites and stings

If the bite is large and/or bleeding heavily, take the person to the nearest GP or hospital, or call 999 for an ambulance

If the person has been stung in the mouth, give them ice to suck on and phone 999 for an ambulance

If you suspect the person is going into anaphylactic shock, call for an ambulance immediately. Check the person’s ABC (see box bellow) and if necessary (and you are trained to do so), perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation

You should be aware that coming into contact with blood and body fluids may expose you to infections such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV. If the bite is bleeding, do not touch it with your bare hands. Ideally, put on a pair of disposable, preferably sterile gloves: if you do not have a first aid box to hand or you do not have disposable gloves, use another type of barrier, such as a thickly folded dish towel or clean handkerchief, and wash you hands thoroughly before and after touching the person.

Minor animal bites

Wash the wound with warm water and soap, if possible

Pat the wound dry, and cover it with a plaster or small dressing, or any piece of clean, non-textured cloth that you have to hand

If the person has been bitten by an animal, check with its owners about current immunisations. The person who has been bitten should see their doctor about a tetanus immunisation. Afterwards, keep an eye on the wound for signs of infection (redness, swelling and heat concentrated at the site of the wound).

If the person has been bitten by a snake, keep the wounded area below the level of the heart and do not allow the person to walk around, as this will spread the venom through the body. If you can, immobilise the injured area using strips of cloth and padding tied into a splint. Call an ambulance.

Minor insect bites and stings

Bites from insects such as mosquitoes, fleas or flies usually do not require medical attention. Even stings from bees, wasps or hornets, although painful and frightening, are not usually serious.

If the stinger it still there, remove it by scraping a credit card over the surface; do not try to remove it with tweezers – you may squeeze more venom out of the venom sac into the wound

Apply a cold compress (any clean cloth soaked in cold water will do) to reduce the pain and swelling

A paste of baking soda mixed with water can help to relieve the pain.

If the pain and swelling do not go away, or if it gets worse over the next day or two, the person should see a doctor

As mentioned above, if you suspect the person is having an allergic reaction to a sting (anaphylactic shock) you must phone for an ambulance immediately.

What can I do to prevent bites and stings?

There are several measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of being bitten or stung:

Do not approach wild animals, especially if they seem injured

Avoid strange cats and dogs

Do not wear strong perfume, which will attract bees and wasps

Use an insect repellent

Take care when eating and drinking: bees and wasps are attracted to sweet, sugary foods. Take particular care when drinking from cans of soft drink: always use a straw or pour the drink into a cup or glass

If you come across a wasp or bees’ nest, do not disturb it

Avoid dense forested areas in hot weather and in the height of summer.

Take a walking stick if you intend to walk through long grass or undergrowth: your stick will disturb a snake or other biting animal before you do

Wear protective clothing: long socks and long-sleeved garments will provide protection from bites and stings

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Why would you consider showering in unfiltered water if your tap water must be filtered before you drink it or cook with it? Perhaps you have already installed a filter in your kitchen or you only drink bottled water, but if you have not installed a shower filter, you may not be bathing in clean water.

It’s a simple matter to install a shower filter on a shower head or faucet, and it will allow you to eliminate hundreds of contaminants normally found in tap water. Chlorine is one of the most important contaminants that could be present in your shower water. Fortunately, it is a simple matter to remove this detrimental chemical by using a shower filter. In the heat generated by a shower, chlorine and chloramine are both vaporized.

Chlorine is easily inhaled or absorbed through the skin and can result in breathing difficulties, particularly for those who suffer from asthma. In addition, it can dry your skin and hair, and may cause skin irritation and brittle hair. If there is a a high concentration of chlorine in your water supply, the chlorine can bond with other compounds to form chloroform. This can make you feel tired after showering. If you find yourself in this situation, your shower water can be made safe to use by installing a shower filter.

Many contaminants are invisible, so people do not think about them. Bacteria, heavy metals and sediment are among the contaminants that may be present in your tap water. Other dangerous contaminants may be present in your water unknown to you until you install a filter and find that your skin and hair feel so much better.

High-end car washes often filter the water they use so that a residue is not left on car windows. Why would you subject your skin and hair to this residue when you shower? These contaminants can be eliminated from the water by using a shower filter.

When you do not utilize a shower filter, you expose yourself to a variety of dangers. Contaminants in water can enter your body during a shower through skin absorption or inhalation, as well as when you drink the water.

Many contaminants are vaporized by the hot water in a shower, and others can be absorbed through your pores, which open in the warm shower water. As a result, showering may actually expose you to more detrimental elements than you are exposed to when you drink the water. These will be eliminated with a shower filter, providing you with clean, healthy water.

Select a shower filter that is pH balanced, and your skin will thank you for it. They are available in a number of styles, with some even including a hand held sprayer or massaging shower head. You won’t have any trouble finding a shower filter that matches your needs as far as styling and features.

While filtered water is vital for your well-being, it has to be convenient or people will not use it. Once the shower filter is installed, just shower normally. There is no change in routine required for you to realize the benefits of showering in water that is truly clean.

Find Shower Filters at discount prices or learn more about Shower FiltersArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/shower-filters-for-a-healthy-chlorine-free-shower-1364163.html

New medications are currently produced and introduced to the market to cater for the imposing obesity ailment in humans… The medications are in fact of herbal origin; extracts of plant parts and the purified active principles, which are presented in the form of pills, drinks, ointments and gels, with the view of reducing the body fat through excessive burning or undue release.

The slimming effects are successful in many cases, though the goal can be achieved through regular and moderate feeding with low calorie food and strenuous body exercise.

Overweight and obesity is related to an aggregate of technological, social, economic and environmental changes, including increase in sedentary activities, such as radio listening, TV watching or simply lazing about.

Obesity literally means that the body fat has accumulated to more than 25-33 % of the average content in a healthy body, and may lead to reduced life expectancy. It is also associated with diverse diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, hiperlipidema, osterioarthertis as well as difficult breathing. Child obesity is often carried over into adulthood and may be difficult to treat later.

Obesity also increases the risk of death in current or former smokers as opposed to non-smokers. The increase in the body fat induces insulin resistance in diabetic persons, and increases the risk of thrombosis.

Anti-obesity drugs will help to reduce the appetite, or inhibit fat absorption. However, surgery may be necessary in certain cases so as to reduce the stomach volume or bowel length. This will inherently reduce the ability of absorbing nutrients from consumed food.

However, some people have a family tendency to gain weight through genetic factors which explain the dramatic increase in rates of overweight and obesity.

There are cases where both of the above treatments may not be successful, when obesity is endemic through gene expression. This kind of malicious kind of obesity cannot be strained through either bodily exercise or excessive intake of slimming action medications.

Now, recent evidence has led to  the discovery of a gene , Ad-36,called E4OBF-1.which causes precursor cells to differentiate into fat cells, and hence promotes obesity in humans as well as animals.. The viral gene is said to be responsible for triggering this process. When the expression of the E4 ORF-1  is blocked in cells infected by Ad-36, the cells failed to differentiate into fat cells. This is a proof that this gene is both necessary and sufficient for fat cell differentiation.

It is hoped that one day, researchers may be able to block E4  ORF-1 in humans to prevent Ad-36-induced obesity.

The gene also makes cells more responsive for insulin, in which drugs that mimic this part of the gene’s action may be useful in treating type 2 diabetes.

In spite of this genetic factor, one has to continue, through medication and exercise to fight it off, in at least to keep thing steady

http://www.slimmingactionimproved.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/obesity-and-treatments-1356859.html

Have you been wondering lately that you want to change your lifestyle and you want to stop smoking? Have you had enough of your nasty habit and you just want to put at end for good? You can still stop smoking and become a quitter. If you do, you will definitely enjoy all of the amazing health benefits of quit smoking and these would be as follows:

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1. Your Lung Function Will Improve

One of the health benefits you will enjoy when you stop smoking would be having healthy lungs. If you stop smoking your lung function will improve and you will not have a hard time breathing anymore. Moreover, you will also stop coughing because you are not giving your lungs some bad effects that it’s slowly killing it. After a few months that you’ve already stopped smoking, you will definitely feel the extreme change to your lungs and you will definitely breath and feel much cleaner and healthier than ever.

2. You Will Reduce The Risks Of Getting Life Threatening Diseases
One of the excellent health benefits of quit smoking would be reducing the risks of getting life threatening diseases. You are guaranteed to reduce the risks of getting diseases like cancers and other illness. If you would be able to stop smoking, you don’t need to worry about getting cancerous diseases that will certainly affect your life.

3. You Will Have A Healthy Heart

When you smoke you are definitely affecting your heart a lot. Your heart will pump the blood correctly to your body if you would quit smoking. The heart is the most important organ in our body, so if you want to live a longer life, one of the things you should remember is to have a healthy heart. You can definitely achieve this by proper diet and especially when you quit smoking.

These are just some of the health benefits of quit smoking. Keep in mind that no matter what kind of challenge you will face in quitting smoking, just try to keep your faith and your determination alive and everything else good will just follow. Good luck to you and may you live a healthier and better life!

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This author writes about Help Quit Smoking Cigarettes at Health Benefits of Quit Smoking

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/smoke-assist-health-benefits-of-quit-smoking-1342637.html

Asbestos is fibrous mineral that as both extreme positive and negative characteristics. The positive side evolves from its incredible ability to resist heat, but the negative side is all about the dangerous health implication it can have. In this article, we take a look at one lung problem known as asbestosis.

Mention asbestos in a conversation about health and one word comes to mind – Mesothelioma. “Meso” is a rare form of cancer that is associated with exposure to asbestos in a dust like form in the air. The asbestos gets down into the lungs and cannot be expelled. The asbestos eventually gets into the lung-blood interface and causes mutations leading to cancer. This does not always happen, however. Sometimes, asbestosis is the result.

Asbestosis is the name given to a condition that arises when asbestos is breathed in, but does not cause Mesothelioma. Instead, the asbestos fibers become lodged into the surface of the lungs. Slowly, but surely, that area heals over the asbestos and causes scarring. The scarring then prevents that part of the lung from functioning normally.

One small asbestos fiber is really not a problem and isn’t classified as asbestosis. The problem is most people don’t breathe in one fiber. They breathe in hundreds or thousands. This lead to widespread damage to the lungs. The scarring inhibits the ability of the lungs to expand and contract. This, of course, then limits your ability to suck in air and breathe out.

Are there any typical symptoms with asbestosis? They should be very obvious. The first is a shortness of breath. The inability of the lungs to contract and expand simply translates to a lack of oxygen. This can also manifest as chest pain and a reduction in the ability to pursue physical activity given the lack of lung volume.

Is asbestosis terminal? No. It is not a cancer like Mesothelioma or lung cancer. Once exposure to asbestos is terminated, the health problem should stabilize.

Thomas Ajava is with GalvestonMesotheliomaAttorney.com – your online resource for finding a Galveston Mesothelioma attorney to handle your case and answer your questions.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/asbestosis-the-slightly-lesser-evil-of-breathing-asbestos-in-1339049.html

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The benefits of better physical conditioning are presented daily in the media. The social norms for body image are influenced everyday by what we read and view, either on T.V. or the internet. Yes, primary motivators to better conditioning are improved health, decreased healthcare costs, increased energy, and heightened self image. Perhaps the number one reason to get in better shape is found in the bedroom.

Here then are mind and body tips that can lead to better sex:

Eat Differently

Notice this does not say “loose weight” or “go on a low carb diet”. It says Eat Differently. This means two things. One is portion control and two is meal frequency.

Portion Control

Simply put most of us eat too much. That, in part, is a function of how much we are served either at home or while eating out. Many of us grew up with parental instructions to be members of the “clean plate club”. What we did not know was that eating everything on our plates, given the portions that we are served, is making us fat! Eating to a holiday meal coma state (think Thanksgiving) is not healthy and will put on weight. Conversely eating until you are satisfied and then putting the fork down will yield dramatically different results. It’s not about banishing all the food you enjoy from your diet. It is about learning to moderate the amount of food you eat. This leads to the next point.

Meal Frequency

So if you are eating less at these meals won’t you get hungry? Yes you will. This means you will need to eat. Experts in diet and nutrition suggest eating 5-6 times per day. The pattern would be:

Breakfast

Mid-morning snack

Lunch

Mid-afternoon snack

Dinner

Post dinner snack/dessert

When combined with the Portion Control rule you will train your body to eat less at one sitting, your body will expect smaller increments of food more frequently, and the end result will be weight loss. This statement assumes that your 5-6 meals are not comprised of cheeseburgers, french fries, and chocolate shakes! Eating more fruits and vegetables and following a low-fat diet is a great start. The Eat Differently suggestion still incorporates sound dietary principles such as limiting the amount of fat, carbs, sugar, salt, etc.

What is the net effect on sex? Simple really. Eat better, loose weight. Less weight stimulates the sex hormones.

Workout For The Pelvic Region

Activity that sends increased flow blood to the large muscle groups gives the genitals better circulation. This means working the thighs, buttocks, and pelvis. The exercises that can accomplish this are as simple as a brisk walk (20 minutes per week), yoga, cycling, Pilates, and jogging. The result of this increased circulation is better arousal, and better orgasmic function. As always you should consult you doctor before engaging in any exercise regimen. The primary byproduct of this exercise will be a return of sexual desire.

Reduce Stress

One of the best ways to kill sex is being over stressed. How can you perform when the demands of the job and family are creating havoc on the brain? Three great stress reducers:

Breathing: yes breathing. Deep, relaxing, purposeful breathing. It oxygenates the blood and wakes up the brain.

Exercise: there’s that word again. Singularly one of the best stress reducers there is.

Music: when dealing with stress, the right music can actually lower your blood pressure, relax your body and calm your mind.

Stop Buying What The Media Is Selling

Paris, Angelina, Nichole. What do they weigh? How much should they weigh? What do they eat? These are the headlines of the mass media everyday. They have the potential to pollute the mind into believing that the body image of the “stars” should be our body image. True sexuality is found when you and your partner allow yourselves to abandon the stereotypes. If either partner is worrying about a bulging this or a sagging that how can sexual intensity be realized? Condition your mind to accept your body as it is. Body image can be more destructive to sex than many other factors.

While not a complete list of suggestions to improve your sex life, the preceding tips should improve your health, reduce your stress, and in turn make your sex life more fulfilling.

One of the advantages of reaching midlife is that we are finally finished with all those issues that make childhood and adolescence such a pain in the neck, such as needing set bedtimes as well as  regular dental and eye checkups; having to worry about using protection during sex and about cigarette smoking; getting all those shots to prevent diseases and wearing helmets to prevent sports injuries; needing to eat all our vegetables and avoid sugar as well as not missing gym class. What a relief to let these issues fade right along with our memories of tetherball on the school playground!

Not so fast. Would it surprise you to know that you still have to be aware of each and every one of the above so-called “child/adolescent” health issues?  

For instance, what about set bedtimes? The obvious reason that we needed enforced, regular  bedtimes each night was so that we would get enough sleep. Being tired and sleepy the next day in school caused everything from lousy concentration to crabby moods. Now that we’re in midlife, many of us believe that sleep is no longer an issue. This is not the case at all. It’s still essential to our health and wellbeing. Recent studies have shown that not only do sleep disturbances often indicate a serious health problem, but that lack of sleep can actually cause health problems, such as weight gain. Polls have shown that nearly two thirds of adults over the age of sixty-five have sleep complaints, but that less than 15 per cent of them have been formally diagnosed with a sleep problem. Why? Because we don’t mention sleep problems to our health care providers. Our mothers were right — we still need to be concerned about our bedtimes.

Once we’ve gotten the glasses we need and all our baby teeth are gone, we no longer need to get regular eye and dental checkups as we did in our younger years, right? Again — no. Although our vision does remain stable from young adulthood until we need bifocals, there are common eye diseases that begin to occur in midlife, and that can lead to blindness if not diagnosed.  And even though we no longer have our baby teeth,  other dental issues take the forefront upon reaching midlife, such as gum inflammation which has been shown to be associated with diabetes and heart disease. So, continued regular dental and eye checks are as important as in our younger years. 

And what about sex at midlife and beyond?  We’ve moved from groping and being groped in the backseat of the car to more sophisticated maneuvers in a comfortable bed, and finally, finally no longer have to worry about pregnancy. So we don’t need protection; or so many of us think. Although it’s true that once menopause arrives one can’t get pregnant (warning: make sure you have completed menopause before assuming this as diagnosing menopause can be tricky),  protection is still needed during sex because of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Yes, we can still get those, and in some cases are even more prone to becoming infected after menopause, even after a hysterectomy. And even though we’re past the childbearing years and our reproductive organs seem to have no further use, we still need regular pelvic exams and Pap smears. It is also important at that exam to discuss with our healthcare providers the need for testing for STIs; if there is a new partner or the worry that the current partner is not monogamous, this testing is a must.

STIs are not the only threat held over from our adolescent years; so is cigarette smoking. Many women in midlife think that there is no reason to stop smoking cigarettes at this age, since they wrongly assume that the damage is already done from all the prior years of smoking. This is not the case. No matter how many years one has smoked, stopping can prevent further damage to the heart, blood vessels, and lungs, and in some cases can reverse some of that damage.  

Also relevant to the lungs is the fact that asthma can begin in midlife, where once it was thought to only begin in childhood.  The two major causes seem to be occupational exposure to substances that damage the lungs, and the recreational exposure to air pollution by adults who run predominantly outside. So, a new onset of shortness of breath at this age — even if it occurs only with exercise — does not necessarily mean heart disease; remember that we can develop asthma now.

Did you think you were finished with all those horrible shots you had to have in childhood and adolescence? Sorry, you’re not. There is a recommended immunization schedule for adults in midlife and beyond, just as there are for children. At certain ages over 50 and at certain intervals, you’ll need shots against the flu, certain types of pneumonia, tetanus, and in some instances, shingles and hepatitis.  Ask your primary care provider about these.

And did you pack away your helmet when you gave away your bike with training wheels? Probably ok to have done this since now you will need a bigger size helmet. But you do need a helmet. A recent report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that sports-related injuries in the Baby Boomer population was on the rise, with over 1 million injuries in this age group in 1998 alone, most of the injuries being due to bicycling and basketball.  The same report said that the many head injuries associated with bicycling were probably due to the fact that Baby Boomers use helmets less than younger people do.

The fact that exercise and proper nutrition are as important in midlife and beyond as in childhood may not come as a surprise. Regular exercise at this age has been shown to increase longevity and wellbeing, postpone and possibly prevent dementia, strokes, heart disease, and diabetes, and aid in the treatment of depression. Important to know as well is that several different types of regular exercise are recommended at this age, including aerobic (cardio) exercise, weight-bearing exercise or strength training, and exercises to improve balance and flexibility.

What we eat as we get older is every bit as important as it was in our younger years. One particular healthy way of eating, the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to stave off dementia, prevent heart disease and diabetes, maintain a healthy cholesterol level, and improve longevity. One study showed that this diet even improved sexual function in certain women! This diet is exactly as expected given its name: lots of natural whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, and nuts, lots of fish and olive oil, moderate amounts of wine, and limited amounts of foods containing refined sugar. Controlling the portions of the foods we eat is even more important at this age. Our metabolic rate decreases with age, making it easier to gain weight while eating the same amounts of food as in our younger years.  

So, as you are rummaging through your mother’s attic looking at your old dolls, baseball bat and Ouija Board, and breathing a sigh of relief that you no longer have to worry about being picked for a baseball team or that your best friend copied your paper doll’s dress, don’t get lulled into complacency about your health. Although you once may have thought that taking care of yourself  health-wise would get easier as you get older, you know now that that’s not true. Make your appointments for regular checkups, get more than 5 hours of sleep a night, use protection when having sex, particularly with a new partner, stop smoking no matter how old you are, get the recommended immunizations, be careful and wear your helmet and seatbelts, and exercise regularly and eat well. Your mother’s recommendations from your childhood continue to apply!

©2008 Janet Horn, M.D.

Author Bio
Dr. Janet Horn is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, with training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She spent many years on the fulltime faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she published articles in medical journals on her research interests, including sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and women’s health. She was also the primary author of several chapters in medical textbooks.  She started her solo private practice in 1990 while continuing to teach as an Associate Professor of Medicine on the part time faculty at Hopkins. She has been selected by Baltimore Magazine as one of the “Top Doctors in Baltimore” and by the Maryland Daily Record as one of the “Top 100 Women in Maryland.”   She is included in the books Consumer’s Guide to Top Doctors (in the US) and Best Doctors in America, Southeast Region.  She is the co-author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond, which will be available this September from New Harbinger Publications.