Top 4 Considerations When Choosing a Chiropractic Office

I get many new patients in my chiropractic office who have been suffering or feeling like they have been slowly getting worse for many years with various ailments. When I ask them what they have tried to do to overcome this, I find out that they have ALL tried several things which resulted in limited improvement. My next question is what was your diagnosis when you sought the help of the practitioner that wasn't able to help you? Blank stare. This is a problem - if you cannot be shown with certainty what the cause of your problem is and understand it please seek the help of someone who can. Without finding the cause, it is impossible to have a solution.

You have to be your own health advocate because no one cares more about your health than you do, so knowing the cause (diagnosis) of your problem should be paramount before agreeing to any type of potential solution.

When a patient of mine is relocating and is choosing a new chiropractic office in their new town or city, these are the questions I tell them to ask before going:

1) Will there be objective testing (thermography and x-ray) done at your initial visit and periodically throughout your care so that you can see your results? Will there be a recovery plan laid out in order to get you to where you want to be?

2) Does the office specialize in one or two things? You want someone who is proficient at adjusting if you are looking for spinal correction and it should be the only focus. An office that throws everything (multiple therapies) at you in hopes something works is hoping and guessing - there should be no guessing.

3) Does the doctor advocate some active participation in your care - e.g. provides you with home rehab instructions? Maximum recovery in the shortest amount of time requires that you to do a little bit of work in your recovery.

4) Does the office seem to be up to date? Look around the office and see if there appears to be investment in the equipment, office space, and the team of people who work there.

Getting the answers to these questions that satisfy you, is the most important thing when trying to find the right solution to your problem. Today, with the technology available, there need not be any guessing in your health. Seek a chiropractic office that fits with your goals and be confident once you have considered these questions above. Your recovery and quality of life depends on it.

Be Well,


Dr. Jon

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9282401

5 Things Regarding the Sunshine Act

The Physician Payment Sunshine Act, signed into law by legislation in 2010 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, enforces physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and medical supply manufacturers to report all monetary transaction and payments to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. These reports are then made freely available to the public over accessible and easily searchable websites and databases, giving individuals the ability to know whether or not their physician prescribes drugs and/or medical devices and products based upon need alone or manufacture pressure.

The Act is planned to go into full effect by 2014, but since its implementation there has been considerable pressure and about 30 lawsuits presented to overturn the law. However, controversial the Sunshine Act may be, there are additional benefits that will affect your life in more ways than one.

• Not only will the Sunshine Act protect individuals from paying for prescriptions that they don't need or getting involved with financially thrifty physicians, the Act will also aim to improve the relationships and reduce potential conflicts that physicians and teaching hospitals may have with manufacturers.

• According to a Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited survey for Forbes Insights, over half of doctors that participated in the survey have relationships with the industry and 72% of the doctors claim that the new regulations under the Sunshine Act will not have adverse affects on their relationships.

• Although the Sunshine Act was devised to protect patients and provide more affordable care, the methods in which companies will try and fall into compliance with the regulations will be a costly and time efficient manner. Training courses to provide individuals with the knowledge of the regulations are available to aid in these difficult transitions.

• All U.S. manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies must make annual reports detailing payments to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who also must submit annual reports to Congress and annual reports to each state.

• Many physicians and teaching hospitals meet regularly with pharmaceutical companies or manufacturers in order to further their health care education and discuss new methods of service. Many of these meetings occur over lunch or at seminars, while a majority of doctors get informed about new practices and medical products at seminars paid for by manufacture and pharmaceutical companies. With the Sunshine Act, these sorts of transactions, including lunches, will have to be recorded and reported.

Drug and medical device manufacturers are required to produce these reports in order to show a greater transparency between the physicians and their respective manufacturers of the products that they prescribe. However, reports have surfaced that show that these regulations may have little effect on prescribing practices of the physicians. Many physicians are afraid that gifts, trips to education seminars, or even free meals by manufacturer representatives will create the appearance of bribery and therefore decrease their respect among patients. Although reports will detail every transaction, the intent of the transactions will not be apparent to the public eye, where only the worst is presumed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7224468

How to Use Alcohol for Health

By David D Collie

Since the beginning of man there has been an attraction to ferment foodstuffs to produce alcohol. Alcohol is the most misused drug in the world with its excessive use causing untold misery to families, individuals and communities. It's financial and social costs are huge and it causes a greatly increased death rate from accidents and health related illnesses. Yet its widespread use is still condoned by most communities in the world and there seems little hope of that changing. Prohibition tried many years ago in America did not work.

For years the "French Paradox" where a nation with a high intake of saturated fats also had a low rate of coronary heart disease puzzled the medical world. One explanation was they also had a high red wine intake. While it is problematical that this is the only reason it did lead to a number of studies on the effect of alcohol on health. The end result of these studies shows quite conclusively that a moderate alcohol intake does reduce the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. This article discusses this in more detail and outlines how alcohol can be used to give a positive health outcome if is consumed in moderate amounts.

This article is not written to encourage people to drink but it is saying drink in moderation and the benefits are likely to outweigh the negatives. Doctors have known for years that the occasional drink could be better for health than complete abstinence. Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown by many studies over recent years to have better health and longevity outcomes than total abstinence or heavy drinking. In terms of alcohol type, red wine has been marginally better than beer which has been marginally better than spirits.

While some of these differences can be put down to antioxidant type compounds there does seem a beneficial effect from the alcohol itself as a number of studies show

Some of these studies are. 

• Alcohol Benefits Begin at 33: Dr Chris Power - Lancet 2004
• Reaping Alcohol's Benefit: National Institute of Health - June 2004 Clinical & Experimental Research
• Moderate Alcohol Consumption could help protect women against Osteoporosis: St Thomas Hospital- July 2004 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
• A glass of wine a day keeps prostate cancer away: Janet Stanford - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, Seattle. USA
• Regular drink helps the heart after surgery: University of Heidelberg, Germany - Oct 2004 Heart
• Glass of wine for longer life: Leisure World Cohort Study - Sept meeting 56Ih American Academy of Neurology
• Alcohol may fight heart attack damage: Dr Rod Korthuis - University Missouri-Columbia ( published study)
• Alcohol helps older women's grey cells: Dr Graham McDougall - University of Texas 5 year study
• Compounds found in wine could inhibit Alzheimer's: Dr Michikatsu Sato Govt Alcohol R&D Centre,.Japan - Journal of Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry Vol 67

How many drinks provide just the benefits and not the harm? It depends on whether a person is most at risk of heart disease, diabetes or breast cancer. But there is one bottom line: Five or six drinks only on Saturday night will provide no benefits, while a drink or two a night might.

The analysis by the National Institutes of Health sorted out a plethora of sometimes conflicting research on alcohol's effects. The review was prompted by cardiologists' complaints that patients suddenly were asking if they should start imbibing, and how much. Other research is overturning the dogma that people at risk of diabetes should abstain; still more links even light drinking to breast cancer.

Adding confusion, people are vulnerable to more than one disease as they age. A 50-year old woman with breast cancer in the family might get very different advice on alcohol than one who's pre-diabetic with high cholesterol.

The review states we are not encouraging anybody to start drinking alcoholism remains a major health problem, and people with liver disease may not tolerate even moderate drinking.

Instead, the review is aimed at people who already drink some and concludes that to get alcohol's potential health benefits, how much those people can consume must be customized by their age, gender and overall medical history.

As population-wide advice, consuming two drinks a day for men and one a day for women is linked to lower mortality and unlikely to harm, the review found men shouldn't exceed four drinks on any day, and women three - bingeing is simply bad.

But review's disease-by-disease findings provide better details: 

• Studies consistently show that in people 40 or older, consuming one to four drinks daily significantly reduces the risk of heart disease, the nation's leading killer. In contrast, five or more drinks daily markedly increase the heart risk.
• However, frequency seems the key; consuming smaller amounts several times a week - one or two daily or every other day - is most heart-protective. It apparently takes low, regular alcohol exposure to help raise levels of the body's so-called good cholesterol, the HDL type, and to thin blood.·
• The alcohol-breast cancer link remains controversial. Some studies suggest a small increase in risk that roughly 9 in 100 non drinkers may get breast cancer by age 80, compared with 10 in 100 women who consume two drinks a day. Per person that's a tiny risk. But women whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer, or those taking post-menopausal estrogens replacement are at greater risk from alcohol. Those women must weigh the fear of breast cancer against their risk of heart disease in deciding whether to avoid alcohol.
• One to two drinks a day several days per week seems to lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, a disease rising at epidemic proportions. Low levels of alcohol apparently help the body use insulin to process blood sugar better. The benefit was seen among the overweight and those with "metabolic syndrome," a cluster of pre-diabetic weight-related symptoms that include high blood pressure and poor cholesterol.
• There's no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but what about while breast-feeding? Nursing mothers who want an occasional drink should consume it several hours before the next feeding, enough time to metabolize the alcohol so little reaches the infant. And contrary to folklore, alcohol does not aid lactation but temporarily decreases milk production.

How much is a drink a day? 140 ml of wine, 340 ml of beer or 42 ml of distilled spirits is generally accepted as the standard. That is a glass of wine or a small bottle.

A study recently in Spain showed a significant weight loss from the consumption of red wine in moderation. Of all the alcohol types red wine seems the most desirable. This likely because of the presence of resveratrol in red wine, a compound that has been shown to have definite health benefits and is available in many health food shops in a capsule formulation.

So to sum up, heavy drinkers have the worst outcomes but moderate drinkers, that is, 1-3 drinks for men and 1-2 for woman on a daily basis, have a better life expectancy and health outcomes than total abstainers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6767526

Learn How to Alkalize Your Body For Good Health!

To determine acid alkaline balance we are confronted by the strange term pH levels. pH stands for "Potential Hydrogen". It is all about hydrogen ion concentrations. When the level is increased the substance becomes more alkaline and when it decreases, more acidic. The range runs from 0-14. A reading of 7 which is supposed to correspond to water is neutral. Sadly not all water has a pH of 7, but that is another story!

The Human blood is slightly alkaline with a pH reading of between 7.35 and 7.45. Proteins in the diet break down to make strong acids. These include uric, sulphuric, phosphoric and nitric acid. Weak acids like citric acids have a different affect on the human body. Lemon juice is composed of citric acid. Lemons grow on trees and undergo a photosynthesis process. This means the lemon tree absorbs minerals from the earth and transports them to the fruit. The lemon juice breaks down to make carbonic acid which again breaks down to form carbon dioxide and water which are easily excreted from the kidneys. However, the minerals stay and these alkalize the system thus increasing the pH level of blood, urine and saliva. Drinking water does not always provide an alkaline medium. Often municipal supplies are treated sewerage which lack the minerals to reach the desired level of alkalinity or it is bottled water. Water is put in plastic bottles, which break down leaching phtlates into the liquid and making it unnecessarily acid. Phthalates are estrogen mimics and are often confused with PCBs. PCBs (PolyChlorinated Biphenyls). These were considered carcinogenic and supposedly banned in the 1970s. To overcome the problem of over acidic water, it always a good idea to add a slice of lemon or lime in order to alkalize it!

The problem is most people are overly acidic. One reason for this is excessive protein intake. These animal related proteins form strong acids and they steal minerals from the body as the acids need to be buffered to safely pass through the kidneys without damaging them. Sulphuric acid, for instance combines with calcium to complete the buffering process. The calcium comes from the bones, and so we see excessive acidity robs the body of these important minerals which have repercussions later in life. As a result the bones weaken and we encounter deficiency diseases like osteoporosis and consider it part of the aging process when in fact the problem is dietary. By the same token, as people age it seems they they shrink in stature. This happens as the acids in the body leach out vital minerals, unless of course the person realizes the hazard and focuses on eating foods that maintain the alkaline balance.

The dangers do not rest simply with an excess of animal products in the diet. Sugar, simple carbohydrates and saturated fats have the same affect. White sugar is not a food at all. In the refining process all goodness has been stripped from the long chains of glucose and the result is that the sugar in this form is difficult to absorb. These are alkaline foods but as the system cannot break them down effectively the digestion is interrupted and this leaves them in the intermediate acid state and not the desired alkaline one! The same thing applies to wheat and grains. It seems that gluten and some of the preservatives added to white flour make it very difficult to digest, so once more the conversion process does not complete itself and you are left with an acid forming food.

As they body becomes more and more stripped of minerals, it becomes more and more acid and reaches a stage where it simply can no longer heal itself! In this overly acid state it can no longer absorb the minerals and vitamins necessary to reverse its overacidity. At this point serious health issues come to make themselves apparent. The lowered pH creates hormone imbalances, cardiovascular discrepancy, weight gain and sometimes weight loss, bladder and kidney problems immune deficiencies, a buildup of free radicals that cause cellular destruction, a stressed liver, poor digestion, Candida and yeast infections as well as cancers and tumors. To put it bluntly an overly acidic system is a principal cause of disease. However, a low pH can be increased and the health hazards of over acidity reversed.

Cancer is on the rise and it seems 1 in 3 people are now plagued by this life threatening illness. All cancer patients are far too acid and they also lack oxygenation. This is one reason why a sensible exercise routine is so important. In the absence of oxygen, sugar ferments into lactic acid which intensifies the quandary.

So how do we reverse an overly high level of acidity in the body? A good idea would be to buy a digital pH meter. They are easily available from Garden Centers and aquarium suppliers and they are relatively cheap. You need to monitor urine and saliva levels. During the night your body goes through a breaking down, catabolic process. Acids from the previous day decompose; then they are stored in the bladder. The urine voided first thing in the morning is always acidic. Your pH meter will demonstrate this to you. However, as we move out of the catabolic cycle just before midday, the urine will start alkalizing. It should be giving a reading close to 7 at 2pm. If it is substantially below 6.8 you are too acid and need to take steps to reverse the issue.

Make sure that you eat a diet that comprises 80% fresh vegetables and only 20% protein. This is in inverse proportion to the regular diet. Make certain you eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Cut out sugar and acid forming foods like fried potatoes and pasta. Stop buying things in packets, add lemon to your water and begin to work on those negative emotions that are poisoning your system. Learn about cosmetics and stop covering yourself in toxic petroleum products which are all far too acid. Stop cleaning your teeth with regular toothpaste, and use sea salt instead. By all means take a mineral supplement, but be sure the minerals themselves come from an organic source. This means they come via a pesticide free vegetable source. The body simply cannot absorb minerals from an inorganic source. Unfortunately you might have to forego some of the "goodies" in life. Coffee and alcohol are both powerful acid forming agents as are cigarettes. We do really have to ask ourselves the question, "what price do you pay for good health?"
Use your pH meter to monitor your progress and make changes so that your urine has a pH of above 6.8 come 2 o'clock in the afternoon. It will take a little effort, but you will feel substantially better when you discover a diet that puts your pH in the alkaline side of the equation and you come to realize good health is really priceless!.

Bottled Tea Vs Brewed Tea - Which is Healthier?

As busy as our daily personal lives are, it is often a comfort to know that some things can easily be obtained without taking too much of our precious time. Some of these are take-outs, drive-thrus and yes, bottled drinks.

And your favorite bottled tea is no exception.

Bottled tea has emerged only in the recent years. Many companies are offering this interesting drink in an assortment of flavors such as black, green and even strong herbs like ginseng. The growing popularity of bottled tea is credited to the fact that people do not have enough time to spare doing the traditional brewing and also the convenience of being able to drink tea anytime and anywhere is a consumer buying factor. It has become very extraordinarily popular and is a favorite thirst-quencher especially in the hot summertime. Even children who dislike the taste of the traditional brewed tea enjoy cold bottled teas in sweet fruity flavors.

Many tea lovers are curious to know whether it is as healthy as brewed tea or even healthier.

The honest and blunt answer is 'no'. Although tea in general is known for the presence of polyphenol--a powerful antioxidant that is known to fight the process of aging and kill certain cancers--bottled tea contains lesser amount of it compared to brewed loose tea leaf. This is so because most bottled teas have water and high sugar content and some have been processed to preserve and lengthen their expiration date. This processing contributes to the lowering of the amount of polyphenols and other health elements that are naturally present in unprocessed tea leaves. Other bottled teas have also been mixed with fruits and other flavors to give them a fruit-juice appeal to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Moreover, a study suggests that the level of polyphenols in bottled tea is 10 to 100 times lower than the traditional brewed tea. So if you want to take full advantage of the health benefits in tea, brewing loose tea leaves is still a better and healthier choice.

However, don't get too dismayed by quitting to drink bottled tea altogether. If you still could not resist drinking it, continue to do so. It still contains a certain amount of antioxidants that can be compared to eating fruits and vegetables. Just don't fail to read the label and check the contents of the tea to help you make a better choice. The higher antioxidant benefits, the better.

Whether it's brewed or bottled, tea in general still remains to be one of the healthiest beverages around and will surely stay that way for generations to come.

Essential Oils Guide - Healing With Aromatherapy

From ancient times essential oils and aromatherapy have been used for so many purposes. Just imagine the ancient Egyptians and using them in their sacred rituals, or for healing, or for bringing harmony into people's lives. Just imagine the ancient Greece where in the "asklepion" one would go to heal and always be helped with the help of sacred scents, or (still in ancient Greece) the "onirikon" where one would go to be healed with the help of information brought forth from dream state and where would always be helped by oils and scents and fragrances to get in tune with the higher planes of consciousness.

All this is real, documented historical fact. Ancients knew about it. Then why don't we know so much about it? Or rather why is it we don't find such topics important?

On the one hand nowadays we're more attached to material values, have more stress in our lives, and are more driven by ambitions and material desires. The life of the ancients was simpler, more in touch with their inner selves and with their consciousness. Those were times of simplicity, of living in harmony with Mother Nature and the Universe, which was the house of the Gods. Everything was integrated, everything was a whole.

But we can return to that inner natural state of Being.

In the present time, we can make use of aromatherapy and with the help of an essential oils guide be able to learn the various uses of the wonderful presents nature has prepared for us. Whether lavender, or lemon, or cinnamon, or rose and rosemary, whether bergamot, geraniums, rosemary, eucalyptus, oregano, peppermint or neroli, all can help in different aspects of our inner, physical or relational life. Why not make use of essential oils when they can relief pains, free old forgotten emotions bring harmony into one's life and relational life, bring harmony and balance between mind, body and spirit?

This is we we've decided to create a small essential oils guide, in order to help you all find guidance in the world of aromatherapy.

You should first know that essential oils are concentrated oils extracted through various processes from plants, flowers, bark and other parts. The best and purest of them of the them are also called 100% pure essential oils. The extraction process involves distillation of the plant through water or steam. It is said that essential oils are to be found at molecular levels inside the structure of the plant. So by various technical means they are extracted and turned into the liquid form we know and can easily use in our daily lives, and adapt to our needs.

Know also that there are two options to obtaining the necessary oils: you could buy essential oils or make them yourself. Making essential oils requires deeper knowledge and is recommended only to the truly passionate, as for more people the option of buying them is best.

Each one of us could have in our homes an essential oils guide, just as we have so many pharmaceutical medicines, which although useful lack in an important aspect: they lack the natural strength of life that can only be found in natural products

Essential oils are however very potent, being considered the super-concentrated essence of a plant. This is why dilution is necessary in order to make use of them. Whether in our household, or to heal emotional imbalances, or simply to relieve the stress that sometimes builds up in our lives bringing much unhappiness both to us and our loved ones.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Aromatherapy and Essential Oils.

What is Cholesterol?

only when people get older that they realize the way that they abused their bodies really does affect their health. They suddenly start considering, among other things, cholesterol levels. These numbers, along with weight and blood pressure, become very important, if they are going to continue a healthy life. But a lot of people ask what is cholesterol, and what harm does it do?

They suddenly realize that their life spent consuming alcohol and fatty foods has got to be put in check. Controlling cholesterol levels is extremely important, if they want to keep healthy, and their body working as it should. If they have high levels of cholesterol, you are very liable to suffer a heart attack.

As a rule, it is only the elderly who have to worry about cholesterol. But maybe, if you consider it at an early age, there might never be any need for medication or surgery. It is a good idea that you understand the basics of cholesterol, and how it can be controlled without medication. And hopefully you will be able to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, and therefore a healthy future. There is bad cholesterol known as LDL, and good cholesterol, HDL.

So what does bad cholesterol do to you? While all cholesterol is carried about the body by lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins move within the bloodstream and allow the cholesterol to build up on your artery walls. This cholesterol starts to form plaque, and makes your arteries hard and inflexible. This can lead to a blockage of the arteries, followed by a heart attack or stroke.

There are medications prescribed for dealing with high cholesterol, but initially your physician will suggest a low-fat diet, and increase the amount of exercise you do. If this fails to lower your levels, then medication will be prescribed. The diet, exercise, and medicines all have the same goal, that is to lower the amount of LDL present in your bloodstream, thereby lowering the risks of your arteries becoming blocked.

If medicines have not been successful in removing the blockages from your arteries, then an invasive procedure might be required. The most common procedure is used angioplasty. This is where a small device is inserted into the artery, moved to where the blockage is, and then a small balloon is inflated to in order to open up the blocked passage. Though this surgery is invasive., it is unlikely that you will have to stay in hospital for more than a few hours afterward.

The only way to discover your cholesterol is to have a blood cholesterol test. This test is usually carried out every five years, unless you are regarded as high risk, then it might be every year. It is a lipoprotein profile, and involves fasting before the blood is taken. This test measures your total cholesterol level, and the LDL and HDL levels. Take some time to find out what these numbers mean.

Top 5 Reasons For Insomnia

Ever wondered what the main reasons are that hold you back from a great nights sleep? Here are my top 5 reasons for insomnia and problems getting to sleep.

1 Stress and Anxiety.

Stress and anxiety play a huge part in our everyday lives and that is why I have listed them as the number one reason why people can have insomnia.

We have all suffered from insomnia the day before a big event, whether it's an exam, job interview or big family occasion. You lie in bed the night before and just can't get to sleep, you toss and turn and sleep evades you. What is the result of this? The next morning when you should be fresh and at the top of your game to handle the big event, you are suffering from sleep deprivation and as a result your enjoyment or performance is affected. Not a very nice way to handle a job interview or enjoy your wedding is it?

If you have stress on a constant basis because of your job, money worries or any other reason it can lead to chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia is very damaging as it impedes the way we function and decreases our enjoyment of life.

2 Environmental disturbances

There are many environmental issues that can affect the way we sleep. They range from lighting, noise, temperature and many more. To enable you to have a great night's sleep you need to be aware of just how much your environment is disrupting your sleep and what you can do to eliminate the disruption.

3 Food and Drink

What and when we eat and drink greatly affects the way we sleep, and can cause insomnia. With all the modern 'conveniences' we seem to be eating more and more processed food as a part of our normal routine. Processed food and alcohol have large amounts of sugar in them. These are stimulants and can keep your body active while you are trying to go to sleep.

4 Medical conditions

There are many medical conditions that can affect your sleep. The medication we take to deal with our symptoms can also disrupt our sleep. So when you look at how medical conditions affect your live, you can't just look at the condition, you also have to examine everything associated with it.

5 Lifestyle choices

Lack of exercise, excess eating and irregular sleeping patterns are in the top causes of insomnia. Sometimes we are not aware of just how much our lifestyles are affecting sleeping patterns, and what we can do to insure we get a good night's sleep. By making lifestyle choices we are not only affecting our sleeping pattern but also our health.

This has been a brief look at the top 5 reasons why people can have difficulty sleeping. People with sleeping disorders or insomnia don't have to continue to live this way. By dealing with the issues that are causing you to have disrupted sleep you can easily increase the quality of sleep that you get. Simply take the time to examine what is affecting your sleep and then make the necessary change.

If you want more information on how you can get into a great nights sleep, please visit All Natural Insomnia Remedies:

All Natural Insomnia Remedies!

8 Effective Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu

Even with all our modern technology, there is still no effective cure for the common cold, or flu. As such, we should focus our efforts on prevention, rather than treatment. Colds and flu can affect you for days, sometimes weeks, and really mike life miserable. Avoiding this misery is actually relatively simple, and comes to down to basic health common sense. Follow these 8 tips and you could drastically reduce the number of times you get a cold or the flu.

1. Regularly wash your hands with hot water and anti bacterial soap. Cold and flu viruses tend to be passed around by direct contact. Washing your hands before mealtime, and more frequently when you are around sick people, will minimise your chances of getting infected.

2. Use strong disinfectants on objects and areas that are frequently touched or handled. In particular focus on door knobs, handles, telephones, and faucets. Viruses can be spread from one person to another by touching the same surface or object.

3. Turn your head away when you sneeze. Most people think it is polite to simply cover their mouth with their hands. Try to use a tissue to cover your mouth. Using your hand simply spreads the virus on to your hand. After sneezing you should throw the tissue away and wash your hands thoroughly. This will kill the virus and stop it from spreading.

4. Do not share cups or any item which touches the mouth. This includes toothbrushes, and cutlery. Saliva is a very efficient way to spread viruses, so not sharing these items with others limits your exposure.

5. Get lots of fresh air into your home on a regular basis. This is particularly important if it is cold and you are using central heating. It tends to dry the air out and makes you more vulnerable to viruses. Opening the window and letting in fresh air will help purge any airborne viruses.

6. Make sure you are getting enough vitamin C. It is proven that vitamin C is a virus killer, and is good for boosting the immune system. Even if you already have a cold or flu, taking vitamin C can shorten its duration.

7. Eating a balanced and healthy diet is a sure fire wire to prevent illnesses particularly colds and flu. The right diet will fuel your immune system, and thus help fight off infections.

8. Get plenty of sleep, at least 8 hours per day. Not getting enough sleep leaves you run down and open to infections. If you are regularly getting enough sleep, your immune system will be in good condition, making you far more resistant to cold and flu viruses.

James Culvers enjoys writing articles related to health, as well as his other interests. You can read his latest work on oval area rugs and bedroom area rugs at his new website.

7 Easy Inexpensive Ways to Take Years Off of Your Appearance

Every time we turn on the television, we are bombarded with commercials and infomercials showcasing the latest and greatest anti-aging miracle products. The products range from cosmetics to plastic surgery. Many people spend small fortunes on products to help them maintain a youthful appearance. However, you don't have to break the bank to look and feel your best. Following are seven inexpensive ways you can take years off of your appearance and keep it that way.

1. Update your hairstyle. Short to mid-length hair tends to be more youthful in appearance. Try adding some short or side swept bangs to highlight your face. You also want to consider having a professional highlight or color your hair in order to brighten your appearance and conceal unwanted grey hairs.

2. Use anti-aging products that help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. There are many great and inexpensive products available today it's just a matter of preference. Also you want to make sure you use moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher.

3. Next, have your eyebrow professionally done. A well groomed set of eyebrows can do wonders for the face.

4. Lighten your lipstick color. Dark lipsticks tend to get stuck in the cracks of your lips and show off your age more. Pink and brown lipsticks are great colors to bring out your lips. Add a little gloss for an even more dynamic effect.

5. One of the most important things you can do to take years off or your appearance and increase your confidence level ten fold is to take care of your teeth. There is nothing more beautiful than a pretty white smile. There are many over the counter products you can use to whiten your teeth. Make sure to also visit your dentist regularly.

6. Exercise at least three times a week. This is key to looking and feeling younger. Exercising will help you maintain good posture, alleviate stress (which causes wrinkles), increases blood flow and keeps you in good shape.

7. Lastly, get a good night sleep. At least eight hours a night is recommended. A good night of sleep works wonders on alleviating dark under eye circles.

Following these steps will immediately take years off of your appearance and leave you looking and feeling fantastic!

Swine Flu - From Pigs to Humans

The Swine flu infection which originated in Mexico has caused a worldwide health threat in 2009. The symptoms and treatment associated with this virus are very similar to a typical influenza. However, there is no vaccine currently. Travelers should consult with a travel doctor before departure.

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a viral infection that typically causes illness in pigs. This virus is a close relative of the common influenza virus. Pigs can transmit the virus to humans, but this is an uncommon event. Until the 2009 outbreak developed, this infection occurred in the U.S. only once or twice per year.

How serious is the 2009 swine flu outbreak?

Epidemiologists, who study worldwide disease patterns, do not know yet how much damage this infection will cause. Health experts around the world are concerned and are following the situation hour by hour. The outbreak, which started in Mexico, has migrated to the United States and has also been reported in Europe, South America and Australia. Governments are bracing themselves for a swine flu pandemic, which means a worldwide plague of illness. However, the disease may reverse course and fade, much as happened with other viral threats, such as the SARS virus in 2003.

Why is the infection attacking humans now?

Viruses, like all germs, are constantly under pressure to mutate in order to adapt to new environments. These mutations, which occur by chance, become permanent if they offer an advantage to the virus. The new strain of swine flu can attack humans and easily spreads from person to person. This has been a very favorable development for the virus at the expense of its human hosts.

How is this infection transmitted?

The new influenza strain is highly contagious. It is primarily spread through the air from coughs and sneezing from infected individuals, but it can also be picked up from contaminated surfaces, such as a doorknob. Although some governments have banned pork products from countries with swine flu activity, health experts state that you cannot contract this infection in this manner.

What are the symptoms?

Swine flu symptoms cannot be distinguished from typical influenza or other viral infections. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, body aches and fatigue. These symptoms are termed non-specific by doctors meaning they could be caused by any of a variety of illnesses. While recovery is generally expected, the disease can become more serious. Fatalities have occurred.

How is it diagnosed?

Physicians suspect this infection based on your symptoms and your own particular circumstances. For example, if you just returned from Mexico City and developed flu symptoms, your physician will certainly suspect swine flu. Most of the worldwide swine flu cases that we are reading in the newspapers have not been confirmed with a diagnostic test. Most of these individuals are assumed to be infected with this infection. There are special tests that can be performed to establish the diagnosis, but these are usually only done by health authorities who need to confirm the spread of the virus.

Is treatment available?

The CDC advises that Tamiflu and Relenza are both effective treatments, particularly if administered early in the disease course.

Can swine flu be prevented?

Although there is no human vaccine for this virus, common sense measures can reduce your risk of infection. Avoid contact with ill people who may have the flu. If you must be in close quarters with an infected individual, then the sick individual and all contacts should wash their hands frequently with soap and water, not hand sanitizers. All sneezing and coughing should be covered followed immediately with a vigorous hand washing. Exercise more caution if you are in contact with an individual who was potentially exposed to this virus. This person could be unknowingly infected and could transmit the virus to others.

Do international travelers need to be protected?

Swine flu has cancelled thousands of vacations in April 2009 and list will grow steadily. Travelers are urged to consult with their travel doctors before departure for the latest information on worldwide swine flu trends. Your physician may advise you to modify your itinerary to minimize your risk. For example, if you absolutely must go to Mexico for an important business trip, then you might postpone watching a bullfight until your next excursion south of the border.