COPD Stages

Writen by Elizabeth Morgan

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD kills countless people in the United States every year and it has no cure. Caused mainly by smoking, the early identification of this disease helps is crucial in controlling the symptoms. Also, the medicine prescribed for the disease largely depends on the stage the disease is in.

In the initial stage of the COPD, any obvious symptoms may not be visible in the patient’s body. However, the patient may experience symptoms such as cough or excessive sputum. Often, the patient experiences minimal shortness of breath. If detected in the early stages, COPD can largely be controlled by immediately stopping the consumption of tobacco. This stage is called stage 0. This stage is considered as the “Risk Stage”

In stage 1, the patient may experience severe breathlessness on a regular basis. But, it will not affect his daily life, as the periods of breathlessness are short lived. This is considered to be a mild stage. In this stage, the lung function of the patient is equal to or better than 50% of the lungs function of a healthy adult of the same age. Here, functions of the lungs are tested with a spirometer. Mild COPD can be treated with short acting inhaled beta-agonists.

In stage 2, the performance of the lungs drops down to 30% to 40%. This is the stage where the disease actually starts affecting daily life as the periods of breathlessness are more frequent and continue for long durations. This stage is considered to be a ‘moderate’ stage and can be treated with one or more bronchodilators or inhaled anticholinergics.

In stage 3, the performing level of the affected lungs drops below an alarming 35%. As the intensity of the disease increases, the quality of life decreases rapidly. The patient is now affected more and more by severe breathlessness. This stage is considered to be severe. In many cases, it can be life threatening. Severe COPD can be treated with one or more bronchodilators, inhaled glucocorticosteroids, and inhaled anticholinergics.

The earlier the symptoms of COPD are detected, the better it is for the patient. Although COPD cannot be completely cured, it can certainly be controlled well, if detected. The best advice to avoid the probability of COPD is — Don’t Smoke!

Eight Tips for Managing Pain

Writen by Bruce Bailey

Perhaps the hardest part of having arthritis or a related condition is the pain that usually accompanies it. Managing and understanding that pain, and the impact it has on one’s life, is a big issue with most arthritis sufferers. The first step in managing arthritis pain is knowing which type of arthritis or condition you have, because that will help determine your treatment. Before learning different management techniques, however, it’s important to understand some concepts about pain.

No. 1: Not All Pain is Alike
Just as there are different types of arthritis, there are also different types of pain. Even your own pain may vary from day to day.

No. 2: The Purpose of Pain
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong, or that you need to act. If you touch a hot stove, pain signals from your brain tell you to pull your hand away. This type of pain helps protect you. Chronic, long-lasting pain, like the kind that accompanies arthritis, is different. While it tells you that something is wrong, it often isn’t as easy to relieve.

No. 3: Causes of Pain
Arthritis pain is caused by several factors, such as (1) Inflammation, the process that causes the redness and swelling in your joints; (2) Damage to joint tissues, which results from the disease process or from stress, injury or pressure on the joints; (3) Fatigue resulting from the disease process, which can make pain worse and more difficult to bear; and (4) Depression or stress, which results from limited movement or no longer doing activities you enjoy.

No. 4: Pain Factors
Things such as stress, anxiety, depression or simply “overdoing it” can make pain worse. This often leads to a decrease in physical activity, causing further anxiety and depression, resulting in a downward spiral of ever-increasing pain.

No. 5: Different Reactions to Pain
People react differently to pain. Mentally, you can get caught in a cycle of pain, stress and depression, often resulting from the inability to perform certain functions, which makes managing pain and arthritis seem more difficult. Physically, pain increases the sensitivity of your nervous system and the severity of your arthritis. Emotional and social factors include your fears and anxieties about pain, previous experiences with pain, energy level, attitude about your condition and the way people around you react to pain.

No. 6: Managing Your Pain
Arthritis may limit some of the things you can do, but it doesn’t have to control your life. One way to reduce your pain is to build your life around wellness, not pain or sickness. This means taking positive action. Your mind plays an important role in how you feel pain and respond to illness.

Many people with arthritis have found that by learning and practicing pain management skills, they can reduce their pain. Thinking of pain as a signal to take positive action rather than an ordeal you have to endure can help you learn to manage your pain. You can counteract the downward spiral of pain by practicing relaxation techniques, regular massage, hot and cold packs, moderate exercise, and keeping a positive mental outlook. And humor always has a cathartic effect.

No. 7: Don’t focus on pain.
The amount of time you spend thinking about pain has a lot to do with how much discomfort you feel. People who dwell on their pain usually say their pain is worse than those who don’t dwell on it. One way to take your mind off pain is to distract yourself from pain. Focus on something outside your body, perhaps a hobby or something of personal interest, to take your mind off your discomfort.

No. 8: Think positively.

What we say to ourselves often determines what we do and how we look at life. A positive outlook will get you feeling better about yourself, and help to take your mind off your pain. Conversely, a negative outlook sends messages to yourself that often lead to increased pain, or at least the feeling that the pain is worse. So, “in with the good, and out with the bad.”

Reinforce your positive attitude by rewarding yourself each time you think about or do something positive. Take more time for yourself. Talk to your doctor about additional ways to manage pain.

Bruce Bailey, Ph.D.

How Mood and Food Affects Weight Loss

Writen by Gary Gresham

Your mood and food can trigger urges that can cause overeating. Eating for some people can be a way of suppressing or soothing negative emotions. These emotions could be stress, anger, anxiety, boredom, sadness and loneliness.

The connection between mood and food turn these emotional eaters toward comfort foods in times of trouble. They do not necessarily eat more food but they turn to more unhealthy foods.

Starchy, sweet, salty and fatty foods can seem to provide comfort but are usually short-term fixes. They can also lead to a long-term habit of unhealthy eating in response to negative feelings. This leads to weight gain and even more negative emotions that can be a never-ending cycle.

Understanding the reasons that cause you to crave unhealthy foods can help you avoid giving in to your cravings. Knowing some signs that trigger emotional overeating can help you recognize the path before you take it.

How your body reacts to these moods may indicate that some foods might have a seemingly addictive quality for many people. Scientists are studying the possibility that sweet and fatty foods might actually relieve anxiety.

For some people, eating comfort foods can be a distraction. While you are eating, your thoughts may be focused on the pleasant taste of the food, but the distraction is only temporary.

When you are finished overeating, you return to your problems and have now added the additional burden of feeling guilty about overeating.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid the unhealthy consequences of emotional overeating:

1. Learn to recognize if your hunger is real. Are you really hungry or is it emotional overeating?

2. Monitor your eating for the next several days, making note of how much and when you eat, how you are feeling and if you are really hungry. A pattern will begin to develop and you can recognize the negative triggers to overeating.

3. If you feel the need to eat because of your mood, try taking a walk, go to a movie or call a friend to distract you. This gives you a second chance for the feelings to eat to pass.

4. Don’t keep starchy, high fat, high calorie, comfort foods in the house.

5. If you feel you just have to have something to eat between meals, make healthy choices. Keep fresh fruit, pretzels or low fat, low calorie foods available.

6. Try to eat your meals at the same time every day and stick to the basic food groups. Fill up on whole grains, vegetables and fruits, as well as low fat dairy products and lean meats.

When you eat like this you are more likely to feel full longer and avoid the need for emotional eating. Emotions can trigger cravings for food but you can take steps to control those cravings.

The correlation between your mood and food can affect your eating habits and ultimately your weight loss. Learning to recognize the signs is the first step to success.

Copyright © 2005 Treadmill Info.com All Rights Reserved.

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5 Tips to Dealing With a Severe Anxiety Disorder

Writen by John Mancini

Anxiety is a part of life for everyone. It is quite normal to feel anxious over certain circumstances however it becomes a problem when a person is anxious over seemingly small, trivial or non existent factors. This is known as an Anxiety Disorder and is a recognized mental illness. Recognized or not, it is still sometimes misdiagnosed as paranoia, depression or many other illnesses but they are all quite different. it is true that virtually any Anxiety Disorder can include these as symptoms but the underlying problem is a very specific one that should not be overlooked by patient or by doctor. Patients who may be suffering are very unlikely to come forward themselves and seek help because the nature of the problem means they can not approach people with this kind of problem. There is help for sufferers of even the most sever Anxiety Disorder though.

1- Psychological treatment should be sought from a registered psychiatrist. Finding a professional who has a lot of experience with patients who suffer from severe Anxiety Disorder is the best option. A Psychiatrist will understand the problem perfectly and will help the patient work through their anxiety. Remember, a patient suffering from a severe Anxiety Disorder is unlikely to want to visit a doctor of any sort, but a Psychiatrist with the appropriate experience will know how to overcome this problem.

2- Medication can be prescribed that will help patients who suffer from severe Anxiety Disorder. Most trials have been conducted on monotherapy treatment, which means the use of one drug but often it is necessary to combine more than one drug to get the best effects. Antidepressants are administered although it is very much a case of trial and error as to exactly which one will prove the most effective.

3- Benzodiazepines are another regularly used medication that is proven to help some sufferers of severe Anxiety Disorder but again there isn’t any single one that is proven to work while others don’t.

4- Polypharmacy is the combination of several drugs and has proven to be much more effective for people who suffer from severe Anxiety Disorder. By combining Antidepressants with benzodiazepines and possibly a mild stimulant the patient will find it much easier to face problems that would have normally led to heightened levels of anxiety.

5- Combing psychiatric assistance with prescribed medication is by far the best solution. Often the drugs only mask the symptoms and the patient can grow immune to their effects so by using a psychiatric program as well the patient will really benefit.

Bad Breath: Think You Don’t Have Bad Breath? Guess Again!

Writen by Whozylee Aris

Bad breath can rule your life and what others think about you. We’ve all spoken to someone with bad breath. Chances are you looked away, smiled politely and tried to get away as quickly as possible from the offensive odor. More than likely you were embarrassed for that person, who seemed to be clueless about their bad breath. Even the most stunning, funny, charming person in the world can develop bad breath (halitosis) and make people within range cringe and look away. You could be delivering a speech on how to cure some of the most wide-spread and growing diseases, but if your breath smells, people will focus on that offense and not the achievement you’re speaking of. This is a sad, but true, reality of bad breath.

Don’t Have Bad Breath? How Sure Are You?

Do you have bad breath? If you answered no, how do you know this? Did you cup your hands, blow into them and take a big whiff? Blowing in your hands will keep them warm, but it is a myth that it predicts bad or clean breath. So many factors can lead to bad breath that just because you didn’t have bad breath last week doesn’t mean you haven’t developed it this week. For example, perhaps you have a cold this week. Did you know that post nasal drip and excess mucous, as well as allergy/sinus medications, can all lead to bad breath?

Breath Mints Aren’t That Mighty

Most people are accustomed to adding “fresheners” to anything foul smelling. If a room smells bad, we spray air freshener. To keep bathrooms smelling good all day, we use plug in fresheners. To keep old clothes smelling nice, we use fabric softeners with strong fragrances. Sometimes the freshener can be more offensive than the foul smell, or the combination of the two makes the matter even worse. This is true with breath fresheners. People think that a “mint” will dissolve their bad breath, which is completely false. Just because you have a strong “medicated” taste in your mouth doesn’t mean your bad breath is gone. You can’t “taste” good or bad breath. Makes sense, right?

Bad Breath Can Strike Anyone at Anytime

If you don’t suffer from this today, it can plague you tomorrow. A great way to tell if you have bad breath is to wipe a piece of gauze on your tongue and smell it. You may even find a yellowish color on the gauze. Did you know you can’t smell your own bad breath? The fact is, you can’t smell your own bad breath, but others can.

Acetaminophen May Effect Liver Blood Tests

Writen by Ron Swerdfiger

Acetaminophen often refereed to as Tylenol, when taken at the highest recommended dose may trigger an abnormal result on an otherwise healthy blood test, according to new research.

The finding means, a perfectly healthy person may think they are sick when hearing the results of a common liver blood test.

In the study, 106 participants took four grams of Tylenol, equivalent to eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets, each day for two weeks. Some took Tylenol alone, and some took it with an opioid painkiller. Placebo pills were given to 39 others.

40 recent of the people taking acetaminophen had abnormal blood test results which could signal liver damage.

Dr. Paul Watkins of the University of North Carolina says, “This was a very surprising finding.”

When treating this type of liver problem, doctors are trained to examine what drugs the patient is taking and recommended stopping drugs that may effect the liver.

Ironically – acetaminophen is not on that list of suspect drugs – but a number of common prescription drugs are

Dr Watkins says the study calls attention to the possibility that some blood tests are ineffective.

Researchers recommend not to exceed four grams a day or the equivalent to eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets.

And heavy drinkers should take no more than two grams a day

The study appears in the current Journal of the American Medical Association

For an health and Fitness news, visit http://www.worldfitness.ca

Depression: Hiding Behind the Facade

Writen by Samantha Weaver

When suffering with severe clinical depression throughout my youth I became accustomed to hiding my feelings, my sadness and ultimately myself from the world. I built up a fa

Brazilian Butt Fill(tm) — Trademarked

Writen by Sara Goldstein

Dr. George Lefkovits, a board certified plastic surgeon in New York recently trademarked his unique buttock augmentation procedure (the Brazilian Butt Fill

Hair Removal: Threading, Friction and Epilators

Writen by Michael Russell

Friction, Threading and the use of rotating epilators are other methods of hair removal.

Friction – Friction is not a very popular method of hair removal although some people find it effective on fine hairs of the legs and arms. In this method, a rough surface, like a mitt or a pumice stone, is used to rub away hair on the skin’s surface. A mitt with rough strips on a smooth surface is often used. Friction is inexpensive, fast, basically painless and can be done at home. This also exfoliates and smoothes the skin. Most say this method is good for fine hair on the legs while others use it between shaving or waxing sessions. The effects last a short time, a few hours to a few days and a pigmented area often called the dark ’shadow’ is often visible. This can also cause skin irritation if rubbed too hard and is not for use on sensitive areas like the face, arms or bikini area.

Threading (Khite) – This method is called khite in Arabic and fatlah in Egyptian. It’s not a commonly used method in the West but it is primarily for removing hair at the root and is used mainly on facial hair, especially in the eyebrow area. Rows of three to five stray hair strands are pulled out with twists of cotton thread. Traditionally, the practitioner holds one end of the cotton thread in his teeth and the other end in his left hand. The middle part of the thread is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The practitioner then uses this loop of thread to lock in a series of unwanted hairs and yank them by the root from the skin. There are also devices made that can hold the thread during the procedure. A more modern procedure eliminates the use of the practitioner’s teeth. Threading is inexpensive, neat, accurate and fast. This method is considered a little less painful than plucking or tweezing for many people. Threading is deemed good for cleaning the eyebrows and facial hair. Similar to plucking, results can last up to two to four weeks. Unfortunately, you cannot do it yourself and it is a little difficult to find a good professional practitioner outside urban areas. Many states call for a licensed cosmetologist to do hair removal like threading. Threading can result in pain and itching. In some cases, this results in side effects which include folliculitis, which is a bacterial infection of hair follicles causing reddening or puffiness of the skin and changes in skin pigment.

Rotary Epilators – Rotary epilators are devices that are akin to electric razors. The difference is that, instead of a cutting blade on the rotary head, the epilator has rows of tweezers which yank hairs out by the root. This tool is good for the hair on legs and arms. The hair-free effect can last from several days to a few weeks. However, this device can be hard to use on the backs of legs. Others become sore, especially on the body’s sensitive areas and the epilators often prove to be difficult to use on fine hairs. Also, the hairs to be removed must be grown long enough so that the tweezers can grasp them. To aid in this procedure, the skin must be pulled tight to avoid pinching. Like plucking, this can also result in irritation and ingrown hairs.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Hair Removal

Flowering From Within

Writen by Satish Dholakia

Imagine 10,000 seeds hidden in a box in your closet. If these seeds had voice and life, what would they say? “give me the soil, Allow the sun…let me flower….” Similarly, you have so much potential, that is unexplored yet. Healing is a path to get in touch with your true potential.

What is healing?

Remember that time when you opened your eyes for the first time? Freshness in your eyes and an enthusiasm to connect with life and everything around. May be you visited planet earth to celebrate life. Restoring your spiritual integrity, becoming sound and whole again and letting go off all your non-supportive energies is what we call your healing process.

All the secrets are held within the seed.

Can we look at the seed of an apple and see the tree, the fruits, and the blossoms?

The seeds of our soul’s destiny lie dormant within. As the light of understanding, the warmth of compassion and the waters of willingness nourish these seeds, the soul’s inner purpose awakens. The path is revealed.

Heart holds the key

The eyes are blind. One must look within the heart. So do not believe the eyes, trust your heart and remember to look through it, and then you will come to know things unbelievable. And unless one comes to know the unbelievable, one has not known at all.

Healing is the master key

Healing is the master key. It can open the doors of the infinite and it can unlock the mystery of the unknown. But just by possessing the key nothing is attained, unless one uses it.

Copyright © Inner Cosmos – flowering from within, chakra energy healing school in Los Angeles – California

Love and Blessings, Satish
http://www.chakramagic.com
http://www.innercosmos.com/

Healings are offered by Satish Dholakia, a dedicated spiritual healer – teacher and Master NLP practitioner from Mumbai, India. Not bound to any traditions or philosophies, he prefers to heal and teach from the spontaneous flow through him. Clairvoyant and Clairaudient since a child, he spent years in communion with the divine, sharing his psychic gifts with an open heart. Satish founded Inner Cosmos in Mumbai, India in 1991 currently offers energy healing classes and private sessions in Los Angeles, California. Group classes are offered internationally upon request.