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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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Two of the greatest challenges many people have when they try to get in shape is monotony and boredom.  The Wii Fit changes all that.  Wii Fit is getting people in great shape because the exercises are fun, diverse, and entertaining.

I recently saw my friend Larry who I had not seen in over a year.  The last time that I saw Larry he was looking in great shape and well below his 43 years.  In fact, he looked so good I inquired about what he was doing.

“Well,” he exclaimed, “I’ve enrolled in this new exercise class at the gym and it gets me in great shape.”  I like to get my workouts at the workout room in my house or outside in the sun so I do not belong to a gym.  But, after I last saw Larry, he almost had me convinced.  Whatever program he was on was certainly working.

That was then.

When I saw Larry last week, he was back to his former self if not a little heavier.  He lamented about his physique which had been so great the previous year.

“What happened with the program?” I asked him.

He replied, “It just got too routine and boring.  Plus, driving to the gym was taking too much time.”

Larry is proof that getting in shape sometimes is much easier than staying in shape.  Workouts become tedious, routine, boring, expensive, and take up a whole lot of time.  However, staying in shape is so important for vitality and longevity in your life.

This is where Wii Fit Plus comes in.

Wii Fit Plus adds variety to your routine.  There are several forms of exercises from which to choose:  warm ups, cardio, strength, yoga, and more.  One day you can work your respiratory system with a great cardio workout and the next you can build up your muscles with strength training.  Following that, you may wish to choose yoga or a variety of mini routines that you can setup to focus on certain areas.

I love the pre-set routines offered by Wii.  You can choose workout durations of 20, 30, or 40 minutes that are different everyday.  This is about the amount of time that it would take to get to the gym and back.  With the Wii Fit Plus, you are already done with your workout in that amount of time.

But probably the best feature is the automatic goal setting and progress tracking.  At the gym, you work with your trainer to create a plan.  Then, you often carry that piece of paper around with you and have to manually track your progress.  Not with this game though.  The Wii Fit Plus tracks your progress so that you can see where you have been and, most importantly, where you are going.

It is no small wonder that the Wii Fit Plus (make sure you get the Balance Board option as it adds many new balancing workout) is a regularly one of the top rated Wii games. It provides you an opportunity not only to get in great shape, but to stay in great shape.

Wii Fit Plus has been selected as one of the Best Christmas Gifts for 2009. It makes a great Christmas Gift for Her 2009 and for him as well. The author of this article, Richard Mas, is a retail specialist and senior editor at The Christmas Store Online.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/wii-fit-plus-review-a-great-fun-way-to-stay-in-shape-1364353.html

Are you searching for remedies and treatments for acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion? Are you presently taking prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments and antacids in a hope to cure your symptoms?

You do realize these drugs do NOT cure your problems and in some cases long term use of them only leads to further complications down the road. Have you ever read the warning label that comes with the specific drug you are taking?

This Unique method explained in the Acid Reflux Diet guide, completely cures your acid reflux and gives you permanent relief: Click here for Acid Reflux Diet Guide instant download

If not, I highly suggest you do. What you are going to find out is not pretty. How do I know that? I took those drugs for all too long and the side affects of those drugs distressed me greatly. I am not going to tell you exactly how I was hurt so badly, it is simply way to embarrassing.

When you finally decide enough is enough and you want to take control of your life once again, there is only ONE way to end the pain forever. And that is by adjusting your diet to the point you are no longer eating foods that cause you pain and discomfort.

The fact of the matter is that there are foods that cause harm and there are foods that provide relief. Until you gain this knowledge you will suffer with these dreadful symptoms the rest of your life.

Is it worth it? Of course it’s not. When you take everything into consideration, the expense, the side affects, the pain and suffering you have to endure; it is certainly not worth it at ALL. When you are finally ready to take that big step and get back to living a normal pain free life once again the “Acid Reflux Diet” can provide you all the answers you have been looking for.

This is an all natural, safe and effective approach to solving your health problems: Acid Reflux, Heartburn and Indigestion permanently and ending the pain once and for all.

Click here to read a comprehensive review on the Acid Reflux Diet Program.

This author writes articles about:

acid reflux diet review
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There is a dietary supplement that relieves acid reflux and heartburn just as good, if not better than the prescription medications, over-the-counter treatments and antacids normally used to fight these symptoms. In addition to the instant relief you receive from it, there are also other major benefits to switching to it instead of what you are presently taking.

This Unique method explained in the Acid Reflux Diet guide, completely cures your acid reflux and gives you permanent relief: Click here for Acid Reflux Diet Guide instant download

First, it does not generate any side affects these drugs are so well know for. Second, when you compare the cost of it to these medicines, it is virtually free. Third, unlike the drugs, you will not develop a resistance to it and be forced to constantly increase your dosage to get the same relief that you did when you first started taking these drugs.

These pharmaceutical companies get you in a wicked spiral that you just can’t get out of when you first start taking these medications. First, they and the doctors tell you there is NO cure for acid reflux, heartburn or indigestion. This is simply NOT true.

Next, they don’t inform you of any of the side affects and finally they hook you on the drugs and keep you come back spending your hard earned money for a few hours of relief. They sure are not going to inform you of the dietary supplement that works just as good as those drugs because they can’t make any money on it. They can’t get a patient on something that has been around for thousands of years. So why bother with your basic health.

All that being said, you really should only use the dietary supplement in emergency situations. What you should be doing is curing your problem permanently by learning which foods and herbs provide the healing powers you require and which foods do damage to your stomach, esophagus and digestive track and leave you in this perpetual spiral of pain and poor health.

Do You Want to Finally Stop That Awful Pain Using Nothing But Natural, Safe and Effective Methods to Cure Your Acid Reflux and Get Rid of Any Heartburn? You Can Learn How To Live a Pain Free Live Forever.  Just Click Here To Read an Honest and comprehensive Review on the Acid Reflux Diet Program.

This author writes articles about:

acid reflux diet review
acid reflux diet program
acid reflux natural cures

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It’s just unbelievable yet true! Fish oil supplements are now among the most popular health supplements in the world. This is because fish based oil has been identified as a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids that are known to provide a host of benefits to our body’s overall health. Before buying your own fish oil supplement, however, it is best that you conduct a personal fish oil review.

It is important to conduct a fish oil review because fish based oil products are now proliferating in the market and they are definitely not created equal. While some manufacturers voluntary submit themselves to quality tests and strictly follow pharmaceutical standards, there are also those who manufacture their pills via the cheapest possible means without regard to quality or safety.

Another good reason to conduct a review of fish based oil products prior to making a purchase is the fact that some fish oils contain very high levels of metal toxins like mercury. This means that choosing the wrong source of fish oil could lead you to more harm than good and your health could deteriorate rather than improve as a result. This is why you have to be very vigilant in choosing your fish oil supplement.

The most important factor you should consider in doing a fish oil review is the purity of the oil content of a particular fish based supplement. The best pills are those that contain pure Omega 3 fatty acids, preferably without any additives. And the best way to ensure that your supplement contains pure ingredients is to buy the ones that are considered pharmaceutical grade.

Strictly speaking, of course, there are no such things as pharmaceutical grade fish oil pills because health supplements in general are not required to undergo the same standards of quality as pharmaceutical drugs. Probably the highest standards that the health supplement industry can speak of are the likes of International Fish Oil Standards (IFO). There are, however, a few manufacturers who voluntary set their own standards based on those of pharmaceutical drugs and it is best to purchase supplements from these manufacturers.

The best way to check these things is to read the labels and any other source of information in regard to these products. Take special note of their Certificate of Analysis as this will show the exact amounts of trace minerals and mercury contained in the pills. This certificate will also reveal whether the supplement indeed contains the ingredients and nutrients that it claims to have as indicated in the label.

In conducting your own fish oil review, you should also check the manner in which the fish-oil content of the pill was purified. So far, molecular distillation is considered to be the most effective way of removing toxins from fish oils, or at least reducing them to levels that are safe for human consumption. Other methods and processes may not be as effective or as safe.

You should also check if the supplement has a special coating. Many manufacturers coat their pills with enteric and while this type of coating does not seem to have any negative side effects, neither has it shown any significant benefits and is more often used only to mask the rancidity of the fish oil. It may be better to choose supplements with water-based coating, which has been proven to be a lot safer than enteric.

In conclusion, the process of conducting your own fish oil review may be time-consuming and may require a lot of effort on your part. But in the long run, you will see its value when you start to enjoy the benefits from fish based oil and at the same time avoid the common risks that are associated with it. Your health, after all, is well worth the time and effort that it takes to review these products.

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Having your own vegetable patch or fruit garden was once commonplace, but fell out of favour as the food industry become more commercial and supermarkets began to take over. In recent years however, more and more people have started explore growing their own produce again. Here we give 5 reasons why you might consider starting your own kitchen garden.

- Freshness

Fruit and vegetables taste better and are healthier if eaten as soon as possible after picking. Most fruit you buy from supermarkets and the like is picked well before it is properly ripe, to extend shelf life, and this usually has an impact on flavour. Growing your own lets you taste the freshest possible produce as it’s meant to taste.

- Quality

Commercially grown crops are often selected for their high yields, uniform appearance and long shelf lives rather than for quality and taste. When you grow your own, you can concentrate on the quality rather than the economics.

- Price

Much supermarket fresh produce is hugely overpriced, despite their advertising claims. Growing your own from seed is about as inexpensive as you can get, and even growing from small plants you buy is likely to provide you better food at a lower cost. With many plants, you can use the seed from one growing season to provide plants for the next – a self sustaining cycle that will cost you only time and effort to keep going.

- Provenance

More and more people have concerns about how our food is produced, with chemical pesticides and GM food a particular worry. With your own vegetable patch, you know exactly where your food is from and how it was grown.

- Variety

There are literally thousands of different varieties of fruit and vegetables, but supermarkets tend to concentrate on only the most profitable and easy to sell. This means that our choice is often limited to a few select varieties of apple, for example, rather than the hundreds of traditional kinds that exist. Growing your own lets you pick the varieties you like the most, and experiment to find new ones you’ll rarely see on sale.

There is of course a downside to all this – it takes time and effort. In these increasingly busy times, we might not think we have the time to spare, but starting small with a few herb plants on your windowsill, or even the odd tomato plant, will give you a taste of growing your own and might even be enough to hook you into it for life!

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The prickly ash plant is a tall shrub that is often described as a small tree. It can usually be found growing up to a height of twenty feet. The shrub can be distinguished by its barbed stalks and branches. The leaves of this plant are covered with fine hair-like material when they are young. As the leaves mature, they become smooth and develop spots of resins on the outer surface. When crushed, the leaves give out a fragrance that is similar to that of the lemon. The shrub is responsible for bearing green colored flowers. These appear in bunches on old wood before the leaves. Reddish-brown casings can be found on the wood, which house black seeds that are spicy to taste. The prickly ash shrub can be found in the region that ranges from Canada to Virginia and Nebraska.

The Native American tribes used prickly ash for toothaches and infection. Subsequently, it appeared in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1829 to 1926. It was also found in the National Formulary from 1916 to 1947 as a treatment for rheumatism. This herb was often used in the South during cholera and typhus epidemics. There, it was able to produce positive results. Prickly ash is often used in combination with a variety of other herbs.

Samuel Thomson, a nineteenth-century herbalist, considered prickly ash to be a valuable natural stimulant. It helps with problems such as rheumatism, cold hands and feet, ague, and fever. This herb is responsible for stimulating circulation, which is essential for a healthy body. Prickly ash can also help circulation that is impaired. This is the case in cold extremities and joints. Additionally, this herb can help with arthritis and lethargy because of its stimulant action and because it shows promise as way to enhance the immune system and relieve exhaustion.

Prickly ash can be used as a poultice to help speed up the healing of wounds and preventing infection. Also, it helps increase the production of saliva. This helps to eliminate mouth dryness. The bitter and sweet qualities of this herb are responsible for helping to heal deficiencies in the heart, lungs, spleen, and intestine. These qualities also help to strengthen them. As an example, prickly ash has been used to treat ulcers, asthma, and colic. Prickly ash is also used to aid digestion. Additionally, it helps in relieving feminine problems such as premenstrual cramps. This herb also is used to treat skin diseases.

The bark and berries of the prickly ash plant are used to provide alterative, anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, astringent, blood purifier, sialagogue, and stimulant properties. Primarily, prickly ash is extremely beneficial in dealing with poor circulation, fevers, paralysis, mouth sores, ulcers, and wounds. Additionally, this herb is very helpful in treating ague, arthritis, asthma, blood impurities, cholera, colic, uterine cramps, diarrhea, edema, gas, gastric disorders, indigestion, lethargy, liver disorders, rheumatism, primary tuberculosis, skin diseases, syphilis, thyroid problems, and typhus.

In order to obtain the best results when supplementing with this, or any herb, it is important to consult your health care provider before beginning any regimen while on prescription medications. For more information on the many beneficial effects provided by prickly ash, please feel free to consult a representative from your local health food store with questions.

More information on prickly ash is available at VitaNet ®, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/boost-your-health-with-prickly-ash-1347871.html

Losing fat is a very difficult task for many peoples who do no want or dont have time for regular exercising. Of course there people who so scared of getting fat and so they go ahead and starve themselves just to keep in shape. There are various aspects that lead one’s body to accumulate fat. These aspects may incude:

Blood Sugar Levels

Low amounts of calories in the body trigger bloodsugar levels. This is often characterised by feeling tired, irritability, restlessness and anxiety. All these cause one to have a craving for something sweet and rich in carbohydrates. This is beccause the body needs glucose which is needed to provide energy for the bodily functions yet the supply is minimal. The brain and the central nervous system are the main beneficiaries of glucose. The brain is known to consume close to 2/3 of the glucose supply when one is active or one is asleep. This urge to eat sweet foods is the mechanism of the body to get one to eat in vast amounts. As one consumes more and more food, the blood sugar raises to very high levels triggering insulin to start deploying glucose to the muscles and liver areas. This is good for the proper functioning of the body. However, some people tend to overeat. Overeating leads to glucose being directed in the fat cells to be stored as a reserve. This reserve is hardly utilised and thus more accumulation will result in one getting fat.

The Serotonin Levels

Serotanin is obtained from tryptophan. It is used as a nuerotransmiter for the brain and the nervous system. A good level of serotanin in the blood ensures that one feels okay and the sleep pattern proceed in the required form. Everyone has in one time or the other been awoken from sleep by hunger pangs; this is a result of low serotanin levels disrupting the sleep to inform you that you need carbohydrates. One may argue that the carbohydrates will make them fatter but this situation indicates low calorie levels that require carbohydrate intervention.

It is therefore that bodybuilders need to take a light carbohydrate say a snack before sleep in order to ensure better sleep patterns through appropriate levels of serotanin.

The Muscle Protein and the Metabolism Issue

When the body is deprived of energy, the muscles are often broken down to create glucose for the body especially the brain. Some people have heard that ketone bodies are at times broken down to provide energy for the brain. This is not entirely true as the brain will continue to only utilise glucose and hence the muscles will still be used for that.

The body however does not advocate for muscle breadown and so it will tend to slow down the matebolic in order to reduce most energy requirements for as long as possible. As the muscles breakdown, the energy requirements are lowered, fewer calories are burnt and hence they are stored as fat.This explains why low calorie diets are discouraged while one is trying to cut excess weight.

The Lipoprotein Lipase Issue

The body has the system of recovery whereby it can gain back the weight it lost in months in just a few days. This is enble through an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase which is developed whenever one undereats for long periods of time.

After that period is over, they work by converting whatever meal you take to fat.

Malnutrition of the Borderline type

This type of malnutrition occurs in candidates who are overzelous to diet down their weight. It has several characteristics such:

Water retention which is dangerous since it may be interpreted as weight and thus further efffort will be put in order to fight weight gain.

Iron deficiency resulting to borderline anemia is also a common phenomenon. Lack of various nutrients causes the body to trigger hunger in an effort to suppplement these nutrients from food.

Poststarvation-Hyperphagia

Another factor is Poststarvation hyperphagia. This is a heightened hunger feeling that is particularly hard to ignore. This makes one eat alot leading to further fat deposition.

Dane Fletcher is the world’s most prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is currently the executive editor for BodybuildingToday.com. If you are looking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit www.BodybuildingToday.com, the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

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