Bird Flu: Should You Stock Up on Medicines?

Writen by Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

The bird flu virus called H5N1 can kill you. There is no bird flu epidemic in humans, but there could be. You can get bird flu only from birds. Since humans spend more time with humans than they do with birds, humans are at very low risk for bird flu. The concern is that H5N1 could mutate and be spread from human to human. This could cause an epidemic that could kill millions of people throughout the world.

At this time the only drugs we have to threat bird flu are Tamiflu and Relenza. On the first sign of chills or coughing during an epidemic, you would be instructed to take one Tamiflu pill twice a day for five days. This shortens the course of the disease by one day, which seems insignificant but could save your life. You could also take the drug prophylactically if you were exposed to people who have the flu. Relenza has to be inhaled , so you would take it only after you became sick.

If you hear that bird flu has mutated and is causing an epidemic among humans, you will want to get Tamiflu pills and have them ready if you need them. At this time it does not make sense to stockpile the drugs as there may never be a bird flu epidemic, the drugs are very expensive, and they have a limited shelf life.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Barbell Exercises That Suit Beginners

Writen by Richard Mitchell

The aim for beginners to weight training must be to lay the foundations for the intensive workouts that their bodies will eventually be subjected to. Obviously successful bodybuilding involves bringing together disparate elements such as nutrition and rest but choosing the right exercises is crucial. In this article we’ll outline the barbell exercises that will enable new bodybuilders to develop the general strength and body conditioning needed.

Initially beginners should aim to complete two sets of ten to twelve reps but after a few weeks, when you have developed sufficient control and basic strength, experiment with one set of six to eight reps to failure. This will maximize your muscle growth and give you the impetus to move on to the next stage of development. Before long you’ll find the use of this single piece of equipment restricting, so later in this series of articles we’ll pull together a muscle boosting program that utilizes other equipment to take you to the intermediate level. In the meantime, get to work with these exercises in order to get used to working your muscles.

Start off training four days per week and work body parts on the following basis not forgetting to incorporate rest days:

Day 1 – Biceps, Back, Abs

Day 2- Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs

Day 3 – Quads, Forearms, Calves

Day 4 – Triceps, Chest, Abs

The exercises recommended for beginners are as follows:

CHEST: Bench press

SHOULDERS: Upright row, military press, front shrug

TRICEPS: Lying triceps extension, lying triceps extension with EZ curl bar

BICEPS: Standing curl, EZ standing curl

LOWER BODY: Squat, reverse lunge, calf raise

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

How to Recognize When Death is Near

Writen by Terry Price

Did you know that the less you brush your hair the better? There is an old recommendation that says if you brush a hundred strokes a day this is what you need to do to have healthy hair. Many years ago people washed their hair only once a month or once every three weeks, and usually only if they were wealthy and had a lot of time on their hands. They believed that serious brushing was needed each day to remove the dead skin from the scalp and to evenly distribute the scalp oils down the hair shaft. If they didn’t brush so many strokes a day, the oil and debris would build up on the scalp and would leave the hair looking dirty and unkempt. They usually applied a substitute oil to their hair, as the ends would become extremely dry and brittle. Hair regrowth was restricted though as scalp massage wasn’t widely practiced. Without a proper scalp massage, healthy growth was hampered.

Hair regrowth is much easier today, though, as we wash our hair much more frequently. Our shampoos are slightly acidic preventing swelling of the hair shaft which causes cuticle damage. With the help of a wide range of conditioners with balsam left in and rinsed out, it fortifies and protects our hair strands.

We know nowadays though, that when we brush too much, we can actually cause severe damage as brushing actually wears away the hair cuticle and its protective covering. As a result, when the cuticle becomes weakened the hair mats and tangles. The inner cortex of the cuticle eventually wears down and causes serious weakening of the hair. Once the cortex goes completely, the hair is likely to split or break off. For proper hair care, invest in a wide-tooth comb and detangle or comb out before bedtime. Using a few common-sense procedures when it comes to your hair regrowth will leave you with beautiful hair for many years to come.

By Terry Price- Remember to visit http://www.hair-loss-baldness-solutions.com/baldness.html –Men, have you ever considered a toupee? http://www.hair-loss-baldness-solutions.com/119-toupee-men.html

Alzheimer and Home Nursing

Writen by Kadence Buchanan

Having had the experience of loosing my grandmother due to the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) I have been really reluctant to speak about my beloved grandmother’s condition for a long time with anyone else except her personal home nurse. This woman appeared to my child eyes as a representation of an angel, since she was able to take care of my grandmother who has always been taking care of me. Her love and devotion to her profession, made me consider her as the next Maria Teresa that one day I would proudly admit to have met. Today, after conducting some research on the subject of nursing, I understood that a home nurse taking care of Alzheimer’s disease patient is a very difficult issue and it can be a huge burden. Especially if the nursing is offered by a close family member, this act of caring and love can become too hard for one to bear and can be too time consuming even for those we would love to take care of, like our parents. Thus, researching and finding a nursing home for those we love but sadly suffer from AD has to be a conscious decision.

Preparing for such a crucial stage in one’s life is advised by experts, who support that when one feels that there is not yet a need to do anything-grandparents or parents are still young enough-then it is time to start planning ahead in order to avoid a crisis situation later. Even if you may never need a nursing home, it is wise to act in a proactive manner just in case something happens. As many can attest, having to make a decision during a crisis situation can be an extremely difficult, stressful and painful process for everyone involved.

First, begin by researching your area’s library and learning as much as possible on the Alzheimer’s disease and current methods of treatment. By finding out as much information as possible, one is not oblivious to the possibility that this disease may appear in the future and it is always better to be knowledgeable than ignorant and to be proactive. It is also a good idea to begin creating a list of nursing homes that operate in your area and are certified to treat Alzheimer’s disease patients. You local Alzheimer’s Association, or an elder law firm, can give you such information as a list of the facilities that offer dementia care or at least a dementia unit.

In case you are searching for a facility that will be able to host your beloved family member or friend as soon as possible, then it is advisable to check the following. First of all, try to estimate how the clinic’s appearance and general look made you feel when you entered its premises. Extremely important is if they are license accredited and also if you and your family will be allowed to visit your beloved one as often as you like. The facility’s location, cost of service and type of services provided, have to be explicitly checked in relation to the needs and schedules. Finally, check how the doctors, nurses and administrative personnel working there react to your questions and observe their behavior to Alzheimer patients that they already treat. Instances of socialization, encouragement and methods should be provided by the clinic’s staff to devote strength and energy in diverse activities, while keeping the focus on improving the patients’ overall experience.

Apart from the annual cost, there is one more thing one has to consider before deciding if the nursing home is appropriate for a loved one with Alzheimer’s; their overall happiness. Many people do quite well in nursing homes, while others suffer from depression. But keep in mind that usually the safe surroundings of most facilities for Alzheimer’s care have their own activity director and many times the direct care staff are also trained to participate in activities with the residents with dementia. Taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s is a difficult situation that you do not have to go through alone. Remember to ask for experts helps and rely on others.

Complete Guide to Meditation – With Meanings Explained

Writen by Alevoor Rajagopal

Let us set about understanding ‘pranayama‘ and meditation after we drew down our expectations from them. Some people expect the impossible from these. The uninformed anticipations like diabetes cure or ‘kevela kumbhaka’* (do not worry what it is, at this stage) helping to defy death, bring disrespect to this simple, pristine health practice. It is not a path to salvation or god.

1. Pranayama and meditation help in bettering your breathing, hypertension and respiration ailments.

2. Pranayama invigorates internal organs to function as they are designed to. Example: lungs and heart.

3. Pranayama along with meditation helps gain control over mind and thus able to concentrate more.

4. Important of all, it calms down arousing thoughts and frustrations.

The tendency to call pranayama a technique should be refrained at. The word technique dilutes the practice to something, like a ready made formula that when applied, results in a quick fix solution. Yet it is known to have resulted in helping patients suffering ailments like asthma and palpitations. But it is not an out of the box, all-in-one remedy.

What is Pranayama?

It is a conjoin of two words prana and ayama. Prana stands for breath and ayama for dimension. This is not the same dimension as in measurement. So, pranayama is a conscious and definite way of breathing for expected results. The breathing cycle in pranayama can be divided into three steps.

1. Puraka

2. Kumbhaka

a. Antar-kumbhaka

b. Bahya-kumbhaka

3. Rechaka

Inhalation or puraka of breath is slow enough to feel the air filling your lungs and alveoli to their entirety. In the normal course we do not feel this as our breaths are shallow. Here in practicing pranayama, we make an attempt to fill in completely & deeply and see lungs expand to maximum. We watch the inhalation to be peaceful from beginning till we are full.

Exhalation or rechaka is again equally slow as the inhalation is and we should watch that it is complete. With this we feel the empty lungs contracting to minimum.

Retention or kumbhaka has two varieties such as internal retention or the ‘antar-kumbhaka’ and the external retention or ‘bahya-kumbhaka’. The former is important as it gives our alveoli time sufficient enough to exchange the oxygen the puraka has brought in and the excretes like carbon dioxide and moisture back to breath. Notice, without the breath being retained at least for a while inside our lungs, we will not be making justice to our own selves.

The normal volume of air handled per cycle of breathing is measured and is around 200 – 300 ml. But with the watchful and conscious pranayama, it is found to increase upto 500 ml in healthy adults.

Method of pranayama practice

The excerpts of methodology explained in good books and perfected over the centuries by proponents are here for you. Here is a tip to you before you are begun with the practice. Pranayama is something to start with a firm faith in it. Do not take it just for the heck of a dekko (trial). Here we go!

Practice to chant ‘OM’. The sound of OM can be divided tripartite.

1. ‘

10 Tips To Improve Your Diet

Writen by Ron Swerdfiger

Over my 10 years experience as a personal trainer, I have come to learn a lot about how important a solid diet and training routine really are. Here are ten great tips to improve your diet, and help you reach your ultimate goals.

1.) A post-workout shake should have: Dextrose, MaltoDextrine and Whey Isolate.

2.) Fats are not a bad thing, but there is a difference between good and bad fats. Essential Fatty Acids should come from: flax seed oil (about 3~4 teaspoons/day), fatty fish, Fish oil, avocado, Salmon, nuts and flex seeds (which you have to grind up)

3.) Keep your fat intake to under 60 grams each day and limit your saturated fat intake. Avoid hydrogenated Oils, high fructose corn syrup, refined carbs (like white bread) and trans fat completely.

4.) On the glycemic index, low glycemic carbs are the best as they will leave you full and less likely to cheat
Low GI = 55 or less
Medium GI = 56 – 69
High GI = 70 or more
link to glycemic index http://www.glycemicindex.com/

5.) Good sources of Protein include:
-tuna
-salmon
-chicken breast
-egg whites
-lean beef
-turkey breast
-95% lean ground beef
-sirloin steak
– filet mignon
-lean minute steak
– Skim milk
-Oats, nuts, etc

Bad sources of protein:
-Ribeye
-Prime Rib

Good sources of Carbohydrates include:
Starchy and complex
-yams
-sweet potato
-potato
-brown rice
-oats
-wheat or whole grains

6.) Drink a 1 – 1.5 gallons of COLD WATER, since your body needs to heat up, thus increasing your metabolism.

7.) Have 6-7 small meals daily each about 2 hours apart.

8.) Right after working out your body is craving protein and carbs, so drink a protein shake with dextrose (can count as one of your meals). The protein should be Whey Protein Isolate, since it is fast absorbing. It is best to mix with water for faster absorption instead of milk (since milk has casein which is digested slower).

9.) 1 hour after your post workout shake have a solid meal.

10.) Cereal should have an overall sugar content of less then 5 mg (like Cheerios and Rice Chex), good source of insoluble fiber 1-2g (so you feel more full and is good for your colon), no high fructose corn syrup, no fat, and carbs around 26-30g.

Of course there are probably a hundred other tips just like these you should also take into consideration as well, but we’ll save those for another time.

For an Online Personal Trainer and other Fitness information visit http://www.worldfitness.ca.

Elliptical Trainers – Not Perfect After All

Writen by Mike Singh

Elliptical trainers are the hottest of the hot in fitness equipment. They are easy to use, and provide a great workout. Using an elliptical machine will give you a great cardio workout, similar to that of running, and will tone your lower body as well. And, because the impact is less than that of walking, even those of us with not so great knees can use an elliptical trainer without pain. Many people are finding the elliptical trainer to be such a great workout that they aren’t interested in doing anything else. However, no one machine can give the perfect workout. So, how does the elliptical machine stack up against other ways of working out? Well, if you take a closer look, you’ll find that elliptical training has distinct advantages, but a few disadvantages too.

One of the great benefits of elliptical trainers is that it provides an aerobic workout through a weight bearing exercise. Running does this, of course, but working out on an elliptical trainer provides an impact to your joints comparable to walking. In addition, many people report that working out on an elliptical trainer feels like less work than working out on a treadmill. Plus, if you use the upper poles on the elliptical machine, you are working your upper body as well. With a treadmill, you get no upper body workout.

Serious Runners Take Note

But, what if you are training for a marathon? Here’s where a treadmill has a real advantage over the elliptical. If you are training to be a runner, you need to run. The gliding motion of the elliptical machine won’t provide you training comparable to running in terms of preparation for a race.

Another issue you should consider is your need to build muscle. If you are looking to build bulk, you will still need to lift weights. Elliptical trainers provide great cardio workouts, and are great for toning your legs and arms, but they won’t build bulk. For a complete training regimen, it is best to alternate using the elliptical trainer with weight machines and free weights a few days a week.

Impact Is Not All Bad

One final issue about elliptical trainers – the very thing that makes them great also has its own disadvantage. Elliptical trainers are so popular because they provide a low impact workout. But impact has its advantages, especially if you don’t have knee problems. Your body responds to the shock of the impact of exercise by building new bone cells, thereby increasing your bone density. So, if your knees are healthy enough to withstand the impact, running will protect your bone health in the long run.

The most important issue when it comes to any exercise is longevity. You need to find an exercise that you can stick with. If you have joint or knee problems, an elliptical trainer can allow you to workout more easily than other weight bearing exercises. But, if you love to run, and are healthy enough to do so, the elliptical trainer might not be for you. It is beneficial to try out both machines, and, if you’re buying a machine, be sure to check out elliptical trainer reviews as well as those on treadmills. Be assured that both can help you improve your cardiovascular health, lose weight, and gain overall fitness.

Mike Singh is a fitness instructor, who provides unbiased health & fitness products reviews and elliptical trainers reviews for consumers looking for quality information. Checkout the largest collection of brand-name elliptical trainer reviews, and low carb diet recipes online!

How to Cure and Prevent Varicose Veins Naturally

Writen by Michael Russell

To prevent and maintain varicose veins, you need to strengthen the walls of your veins. There are several natural treatments available today that will cure and prevent varicose veins without the use of drugs or chemicals.

The herb horse chestnut provides hope for those people with varicose veins. Horse chestnut has in it a natural chemical called aescin, which strengthens vein walls and prevents leaking.

In a study of 22 people with varicose veins, 22 percent of people given horse chestnut had decreased vein leakage, compared to an increase in vein leakage in the people who were given a placebo.

It is recommended that people interested in using horse chestnut to cure varicose veins take two to four 500-mg capsules of the herb daily.

Another thing found to help cure and prevent varicose veins is antioxidants. Antioxidants contain bioflavonoids that strengthen veins. People with varicose veins should eat antioxidant-rich foods, which include fruits and vegetables. The more colorful the fruits and vegetables, the better.

Acupuncture can also help varicose vein problems. Acupuncture reduces the size of varicose veins with no side effects. In one study, five treatments of acupuncture reduced the pain in most people with varicose veins.

Believe it or not, pineapples also contain a natural chemical that treats varicose veins. The chemical, called bromelain, reduces the swelling and soreness that are caused by varicose veins. Bromelain can be taken in capsule form.

Onions, apples, and black tea have also been found to help varicose vein problems. These foods have a chemical called quercetin, which is an anti-inflammatory. Quercetin also comes in capsule form. It should be taken together with bromelain for optimum effectiveness.

Another, simpler way of preventing and treating varicose veins is to simply put your feet up for 10 minutes per day. The idea is that your legs should be raised higher than your heart so that blood can flow away from your veins and give them a chance to get stronger. To do this, lie back and put your feet up on a coffee table or chair.

If this 10-minute-per-day break is hard for you to fit into your schedule, you can purchase a mattress wedge that raises the foot of your bed by several inches. This way you can help your varicose vein problem while you sleep.

Another solution is to wear compression stockings or an anti-embolism hose. You must get these fitted because if they are too tight they can do more harm than good. Compression stockings and anti-embolism hoses restore veins and help them function properly.

If these natural solutions fail to help a varicose vein problem, there are other, more invasive procedures, including: laser and low-level radiofrequency energy, sclerotherapy, TriVex, and endovenous ablation. These procedures may remove varicose veins but they can be expensive and inconvenient..

The above-mentioned treatments are simple, pain-free ways to deal with varicose veins. They can always be used on their own or as a complement to varicose vein removing procedures.

Arthritis And Your Diet

Writen by J Hall

In 2002, 43 million American adults (about 1 in 5) reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Another 23 million people reported chronic joint symptoms but had not been told by a doctor that they had arthritis. These data indicate that arthritis is one of the nation’s most common health problems. As the U.S. population ages, these numbers are likely to increase dramatically. Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions but the two most common are:

OSTEOARTHRITIS – generally attributed to wear and tear and involves deterioration of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. Usually occurs in people over the age of 40 and appears first in the larger joints (hip, shoulders, etc).

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS – thought to be an autoimmune disease – literally where self attacks self. The white blood cells which usually attack foreign invaders begin attacking the delicate joint tissue causing inflammation, degradation and pain. This condition can also occur in children and will usually be seen in the smaller joints such as fingers and toes first.

Conventional medicine addresses these problems usually using steroid treatments or Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen. While these may relieve the pain of arthritis they do nothing to halt the progression of the disease and can cause many unpleasant side-effects especially in the gut. Nutritional therapy on the other hand aims to halt or reverse the devastating effects of joint pain and swelling.

DIET – The role of diet in arthritis is a widely researched subject and many sufferers have responded incredibly well to identifying foods that may be triggering symptoms. These can be different for different people but there are 10 in particular that seem to be the most common. These are:

1. All dairy products including sheep’s or goat’s cheese, butter and milk
2. Corn and all corn products ie. corn flour or corn oil
3. Meat – many people find that adopting a vegetarian diet can help as meat is very acidic and can cause inflammation
4. Wheat, oats and rye
5. Eggs
6. Citrus fruits
7. Potatoes
8. Tomatoes
9. Nuts
10. Coffee

In order to identify which, if any, of these foods may be causing or contributing to problems it is necessary to cut them all out for 4 weeks and then reintroduce each one, one at a time, noting whether they have any negative effects.

Foods which can be beneficial to sufferers include:
Oily fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, trout, herring, anchovies and sardines – these contain omega 3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory. Don’t eat more than a couple of times a week because of toxins in the fish.
Ginger – either cooked or brewed with hot water and drunk as tea. Has an antiinflammatory effect.
Vegetables in the diet – helps the system to stay alkaline.

Best Products for Acne Control

Writen by Jimmy McDonald

Acne is a problem that is more than skin deep. The best treatment for acne will involve nutrition and herbs both internally and externally. In addition to these two elements, the control of acne requires thorough, gentle cleansing. Therefore, there are three steps to beautiful clear skin – internal treatment, external treatment, and cleansing.

The best internal treatment for acne will be one that contains herbal medications. These require no prescription. Many other medications for acne control do require a prescription, and can only be used for severe cases. In addition, many of these prescription medications have serious side effects. Some, like Accutane, have been found to cause depression, and even suicide. Herbs, on the other hand, are natural, gentle, and effective.

The external part of a good acne control system must have certain characteristics as well. For one thing it needs to not be a drying formula, and yet it needs to control the oil in your skin. It should be able to be used on either a severe case or a mild case. It should contain botanical ingredients that heal and strengthen the cellular structure of your skin. The cleanser should remove extra sebum, the natural oil in your skin, which contains the bacteria that cause acne.

The other part of a good quality acne control system is a lotion or gel to treat the blemishes after cleansing the face. This product should be able to unplug the pores. It also should fight the bacteria that causes acne. It should also be formulated with a transdermal delivery system so that the helpful, natural ingredients are absorbed into the skin thoroughly.

Why do you get acne? The actual outer layer of skin is dead, but under this thin layer called the epidermis, the cells are alive and multiplying. Normally your skin is shedding the old cells and replacing them with new ones. The problem happens when too many dead skin cells clump together with the natural skin oils, called sebum, and cause the pores to get clogged.

Acne is a skin disorder that actually starts two or three weeks before the blemish appears. The beginning is the clogging of the pore. The natural bacteria that live on the skin begin to multiply inside the pore since the excess oils can’t get out. Since the body is fighting bacteria, white blood cells arrive on the scene, and inflammation is the result.

Obviously, frequent cleansing is an important step in acne control, since the extra skin cells and oils need to be removed in order to keep them from clogging the pores in the first place. But washing too often can be drying to the skin. For these reasons, skin cleansers need to be very gentle.

Written by Jim McDonald, a writer for http://www.natural-acne-treatment.info/, an informative website about Acne Control and natural effective treatment methods.