Minggu, 30 November 2008

Vitamins To A Healthier You

Do we really need to take vitamin supplements to stay healthy? Or can we get enough of the nutrient I need just by eating a balanced diet?

Well, my friend, it isn’t easy. You can ask anyone who hates eating their green leafy vegetables and who balks at the though of eating broccoli for dinner.

Vitamins, multivitamins and supplements have been proven to provide a vast range of health benefits for your entire body.

A 2002 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study supports this claim. This conference, composed of experts from top research universities, experts from government agencies, and health advocacy organizations came to the conclusion that most Americans do not get the optimal level of important nutrients though diet alone. They recommended that multivitamins can well compensate for any gaps so that the necessary amount of nutrients needed by the body are met.

Not only are vitamins an accessible and affordable way to meet dietary requirements, they also provide other cost benefits.

A study entitled “Multi-Vitamins and Public Health” illustrated this. The results of the study indicated that in older adults, a daily regimen of taking vitamin supplements could provide more than $1.6 million in Medicare savings over the next five years. In addition, there are possible savings because of lesser hospitalizations for cancer, infection and heart attack.

Vitamins, Essential Minerals, Anti-oxidants and Herbs

In this day and age, we are faced with pressures brought about by the modern world, in addition to the presence of free radicals. These put our bodies under so much pressure.

Vitamins can help as they ensure that we are ready to face the world and the pressures it brings. There is a wide variety of vitamins and antioxidants that can combat sickness and infection. Vitamin C ensures overall health and immunity. Vitamin E also enhances overall bodily health as well as cardiovascular and immune functions.

Essential Minerals include calcium (for muscle and bone health), magnesium (for healthy nerves and heart) and zinc (which boosts immune functions, cardiovascular, prostate and eye health).

Antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10, selenium and many others serve to defend our bodies from free radicals. Coenzyme Q10 helps in the producing cellular energy as well as ensuring heart and liver health. Selenium shows promise in reducing certain degenerative diseases such as cancer. It also promotes immune functioning. There are so many more that offer amazing health benefits.

Add to this list herbs that possess medicinal qualities. These should also be included in your armada to fight against sickness and free radicals. Chief among the herbs is garlic, which provides cardiovascular, cholesterol and blood pressure support. Ginseng on the other hand, gives energy and enhances endurance. Gingko biloba show promise in enhancing brain and memory function as well as providing support in the circulation of blood to extremities and the brain.

Indeed, there is supplement for almost any health concern.


About The Author

Linda Polansky writes about http://www.buyvitaminsmart.com/Categories/Nutritional%20Bars.html, http://www.buyvitaminsmart.com/Categories/Whole%20Foods/Black%20Cherry.html and http://www.LatestCouponCodes.com

Kamis, 27 November 2008

Helping Men Understand Female Sexual Dysfunction

Media blitzes around male sexual dysfunction drugs such as Viagra have focused attention on a problem that is by no means limited to older men. In fact, women seem more likely to have sexual complaints during their young adult and middle-aged years.
Experts agree that while menÕs sexual dysfunction is often physical in nature, womenÕs sexual function issues tend to be more complicated. Men who understand the differences and work with their mates toward a positive resolution are a big part of the solution, according to Jeffrey Albaugh, an advanced practice urology clinical nurse specialist at Northwestern Memorial HospitalÕs Wellness Institute in Chicago.

Many women suffer

A landmark study on sexual dysfunction prevalence that was published in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) in 1999, reported that 43 percent of women ages 18 to 59 experience some kind of sexual complaint Ñ often referred to as sexual dysfunction.

Lead author Edward Laumann, Ph.D., the George Herbert Mead Distinguished Service Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago says: ÒThirty-two percent of women in the sample reported that they lacked interest in sex for at least several months in the past year.Ó

That percentage, he adds, is similar worldwide among women in that age group. In general, women tend to report higher dissatisfaction and dysfunction than men.

About 25 percent of the women surveyed reported being unable to achieve orgasm, 15 percent said experienced pain during sex, 20 percent said sex is not pleasurable, 20 percent had trouble self-lubricating (a problem that worsens with age, according to Laumann), and about 11 percent said they are anxious about performance.

Sexual dysfunction defined

There are four different categories of female sexual dysfunction: desire disorder, sexual arousal disorder, orgasmic disorder and sexual pain disorder.

While hormonal problems might be to blame in some cases, the causes for female sexual dysfunction range from psychological to physiological. Medications, diseases (especially heart disease), surgery, hormones, lifestyle and even pelvic floor muscle problems can come into play.

Unlike their male counterparts, females have no specific Food and Drug Administration-approved medications available for sexual dysfunction. There is a clitoral pump device called the Eros, and there are creams and herbals designed to increase blood flow and sensation. Physical therapists are among the health practitioners who can help women regain pelvic floor function and a more satisfying sex life. Still, researchers are looking for the magic bullet that helps to restore desire and more.

Susan Kellogg, Ph.D., a certified registered nurse practitioner and director of sexual medicine at the Pelvic and Sexual Health Institute of Philadelphia, says the complexity of womenÕs sexuality is vast and each womanÕs case is individual.

ÒIt has to do with the vascular, nervous and muscular system of the genitals and pelvic floor, but it also has so much to do with the context in which a woman makes love and feels [while making love],Ó Kellogg says.

Talk to your mate about the problem

Men should encourage their female partners to seek medical care because some sexual problems in women are linked to heart disease, high blood pressure and other health issues. Still, treatments for sexual dysfunction can only go so far. Often couples need to repair emotional damage that can snowball when one partner has a sexual dysfunction. The bottom line: They need to talk.

Men whose partners have a sexual dysfunction should realize that they are not the only ones who feel like theyÕre losing out sexually. Women who arenÕt performing as they would like to also might be missing sexual intimacy, grieving or feeling frustrated, sad, guilty or incomplete, says Chris Fariello, Ph.D., a licensed marital and family therapist and director of the Institute for Sex Therapy at the Council for Relationships in Philadelphia.

This is not the time for blame or belittling, Albaugh says. Men who approach their female partners should convey empathy and caring. ÒYou love this person. ThatÕs the first and foremost thing to convey. Because you love [her], thatÕs why youÕre striving for intimacy Ñ which is communication at the deepest level,Ó he adds.

Think out of the box and be willing to learn

Part of replenishing a healthy sex life with your partner is understanding the female sexual response cycle and how a womanÕs cycle is different from that of many men. ÒThe female sexual response cycle starts with emotional engagement. For men, it can be more of a physiologic thing,Ó Albaugh says.

Men might think that penis size and duration of penetration are what matters, when in fact most women derive their orgasms from clitoral stimulation, and the penis does not stimulate the clitoris, he says. While vaginal orgasm can occur and the feeling of the penis in the vagina may be pleasurable, the duration of sexual relations and the size of the penis arenÕt necessarily what make men better lovers.

Intimacy and sexuality are ever-evolving and always need attention, Fariello says. ÒWhen we first get into a relationship itÕs just about, kissing, groping, hugging, touching Ñ all these wonderful things. [Later on], that repertoire tends to become more limited. It comes down to kissing, touching and maybe intercourse and, then eventually, maybe penetration and orgasm and thatÕs it,Ó he adds.

ÒFor many couples, itÕs going back and relearning intimacy and how to enjoy each other in many ways Ñ many of them sexual.Ó

Fariello recommends that couples move away from a goal-focused model of intimacy and toward a pleasure-focused model. ÒIn the pleasure-focused model, it doesnÕt matter if the penis works or if a vagina can be penetrated. There are many other ways of creating pleasure in a relationship,Ó he says .

Author: Lisette Hilton [muzi.com]

Rabu, 26 November 2008

Acne Vulgaris, the 8 Stages of Acne, Skin Care, Adult Acne, and Scar Removal Options.

What is Acne Vulgaris? This is a medical term used to describe most cases of acne. It really isn't as bad as it sounds! Vulgaris doesn't mean that the acne is vulgar, only that it means that it is common.

Be aware that there are many factors that contribute to acne. First, research indicates a propensity for acne may well be inherited. Parents who had acne in their teenage and young adult years may have children who are likewise prone to having acne in their teen and young adult years.

Next, clogged skin pores are certainly a major contributing factor for acne out-breaks. When pores become clogged with an excess production of sebum and mix with dead skin cells or makeup that isn't sufficiently cleaned from the skin, problems start to develop. When skin pores are clogged, bacteria are produced and pus starts to form causing a pimple, a white head or a black head.

The most commonly accepted causes for acne are hormonal imbalances. Hormones in boys and girls may become unbalanced during puberty, during menstrual cycles, when starting or stopping birth control pills, during times of extreme stress, and at other times as well.

All of the above situations can cause the body to over produce a male hormone which causes the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. The sebum combines with dead skin cells to block pores and acne develops. So, basically, it still comes back to blocked pores.

Other causes for acne include a lack of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that the body needs to maintain a healthy skin. Vitamins A, E and B6 are especially important in maintaining healthy skin as are zinc, essential fatty acids (EFA), Chromium and Selenium.

Most diets of teenagers and young adults do not contain these vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in sufficient quantity to maintain healthy skin and to help prevent the onset of Acne.

Acne: The 8 Stages:

Full blown, Stage 8 acne doesn't usually develop overnight. Acne is progressive condition. Acne is one of the diseases that are so common that it is sometimes just disregarded as a serious problem...like the common cold. It has been estimated that 95 of people will have at least a mild case of acne at some point in their lives.

Acne, much like the common cold, is usually treated by the sufferer with over-the-counter medications that alleviate the symptoms of the disease in the belief that it will simply go away all by itself....eventually. And, it usually does but not always.

Most people throughout their life will have the occasional pimple, zit, white head or black head.

Although these pesky little outbreaks do seem to appear at the most inopportune times, they really aren't a serious problem that requires medical attention. A little over-the-counter acne facial wash to help prevent another outbreak will usually take care of the problem. It isn't a big deal. This kind of acne is referred to as Stage 0 and really nothing to be concerned about unless the acne progresses to subsequent stages.

Acne stages are graded from 0 through 8. Zero is the least severe and 8 is the most serious of the stages. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: There will be white heads and black heads with some mild inflammation. The outbreaks will start to occur more frequently. Using products that contain Benzyl Peroxide are in order.

Stage 2: There will be some papules in addition to the white heads and black heads. Papules are skin lesions that are solid and raised but usually small. This is still considered to be a very mild case of acne. Treatment can be continued using over-the-counter products that contain Salicylic Acid.

Stage 3: Stage 3 is the same as stage 2 but with more frequent occurrences.

Stage 4-5: Pustules begin to appear. Now, it's time to schedule an appointment at a dermatologist.

Stage 6-7: Nodules and cysts are forming. Scarring is going to start happening at this stage. Your dermatologist will begin to take more drastic action.

Stage 8: Breakouts are almost continuous and include nodules and cysts. There are modern technologies that will help and your dermatologist will advise you.

Acne Skin Care:

As we know, our hair follicles secrete sebum. Sebum makes its way up the hair follicles to the skin pores where it lubricates and protects the skin. Sometimes there are oil glands which get overworked, get enlarge, and produce too much sebum. The sebum can get trapped in the hair follicle.

When this happens the pores get clogged and black heads or white heads form and the bacteria start to multiply at an alarmingly fast rate.

Once you understand this process, you can see the reasoning behind the advice about caring for skin that has black heads, white heads and pustules on it.

The first piece of advice about caring for acne infected skin is to never pick at the pimples. Don't try to pop them and drain them. This will not cure them no matter what anybody tells you. Popping them will only serve to make them worse...not better.

However, there are things that you can do that really will help.

The first thing you can do is to wash your face with a mild soap or a sulfur based soap. Wash your face with just your finger tips. Don't ever use a wash cloth as it holds germs and bacteria. Rinse your face with clean water several times to ensure you remove all traces of soap, and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub your face with the towel and never use the same towel twice without it being clean.

Take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement every day and drink at least 8 full glasses of water (not soda) every day. The vitamins and minerals will supply nutrients that are absent from most diets and the water will help to hydrate the skin as well as to flush toxins out of your system.

If you use over-the-counter acne medications, be certain that you follow the directions carefully and that you use a good sunscreen when you are outdoors as some acne medications make the skin more prone to sunburn.

Adult Acne:

Acne is not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Once a person survives the teenage years, you would think that they don't have to deal with the embarrassment of acne any longer, right? Well....not exactly.

The sad truth is that about 25 of women will have acne at some time in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. Although there has never been a real cause established, it is believed that most adult acne is caused by the same thing that causes teenage acne...hormonal changes.

A doctor will sometimes prescribe hormonal treatments that will clear a case of adult acne right up. As with teenage acne, adult acne is not caused by diet. Stress has often been cited as one possible cause of adult acne but that assertion has never been verified.

Treating adult acne is a bit more difficult than treating teenage acne. Adults have the concern of drying out their skin that teenagers don't normally have to deal with. Adults don't want pimples; but, they don't want wrinkles, either. A dermatologist should be consulted if the acne is long lasting or is severe.

There are many treatments that are available to adults who suffer from acne. Most of the effective treatments are only available by prescription. Adults should not use over-the-counter acne medications that are intended for the treatment of teenage acne. These products tend to dry the skin and adults need to be concerned about wrinkling as well as acne.

A case of adult acne is not a happy occurrence to say because those ugly bumps always seem to occur at the most inopportune times and while a teenager may be embarrassed by acne, an adult is even more devastated.

Fortunately, there are treatments and a dermatologist has a lot of weapons in his arsenal to fight adult acne.

Acne Scar Removal Options:

Life hardly seems fair sometimes! First, a teenager or a young adult must suffer through acne, treat it, and have to live with it...sometimes for years. Then the acne is gone; but, the scars are there as a painful reminder of the mental and emotional agony the acne sufferer had to endure.

You're right, life doesn't seem fair; but, acne is one of those sad facts of life that some if not most of us have to deal with. The good news is there is help; unfortunately, it isn't free or cheap!

There are two basic procedures that are used to remove ugly pits and scars left over from a bad case of teenage or young adult acne. Laser resurfacing is the least expensive of the two available acne scar removal procedures. Dermabrasion is the second procedure.

Laser resurfacing can be done in the dermatologist office instead of a hospital so that provides a much greater financial savings. A laser is used to remove the top layer of skin and also to tighten the middle layer of skin.

The dermatologist will use a local anesthetic to help reduce the procedure pain. It usually takes several days for the skin to heal after a laser resurfacing procedure is completed. Very often, multiple resurfacing treatments must be done to achieve the desired results.

The second procedure used to remove acne scarring is called dermabrasion. In this procedure, a rotating wire brush is used to remove the top layer of skin. The body continually produces new skin and the new layer will be smoother than the layer that was removed. It usually takes between 10 days and 3 weeks for the skin to heal after a dermabrasion treatment. Once again, multiple treatments may be required to eliminate the scarring.

Acne may seem to be a devastating condition but with proper skin routine, vitamins, and over the counter products, most cases will not be severe. Remember, proper cleansing goes a long way towards minimizing outbreaks, so don't be afraid to cleanse your face 5 - 6 times a day of more if needed.

Fight acne by being smart. Take as many preventative steps as possible to avoid situations that create the opportunity for acne to develop. If acne does afflict you, consult a qualified medical professional before deciding on a course of action.

By: Stephen M. Seabrook, MBA
President Nice Specialty Gifts, L.L.C.
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