4 Tips for Changing Your Wellness Routine As You Age

Getting older is an inevitable but unpleasant experience. While you may not be able to do anything about your age, you can ensure that you maintain good wellness habits throughout your life. Of course, individuals should alter and adjust their lifestyles to suit their evolving physical and mental situations. Given that fact, today we’ll review some key tips that health-conscious people can use to change their fitness routine as they age. Check it out here: 

Identify New Priorities

It’s unreasonable to think that your health priorities in your 20s will remain the same over the next fifty years. The truth is that individuals at different stages of life face different challenges and risk factors. While building muscle may be a big part of your fitness journey in your youth, you may find you need to focus more on losing weight in middle age. Of course, men and women experience the aging process differently as well. And your personal situation can have a big influence on how you take care of yourself. Single people will likely have different health concerns than individuals with children. 

Talk to a Doctor

One of the best ways to ensure you’re always ahead of the health game (so to speak) is to schedule regular appointments with your doctor. Not only can doctors provide useful advice, but they can also offer treatment options for many common conditions. Plus, they can answer any questions you may have. Whether you’re a 30-year-old woman who wants to know more about a fimbrioplasty procedure, or a 60-year-old man with chronic foot pain, your doctor will be able to give you helpful information on just about any medical subject. 

Collaborate

Sticking to any wellness routine can be a challenge. Doing so all on your own can be particularly difficult. If you’re thinking about switching up your fitness regimen, then consider collaborating with others. Exercising with friends and family members can be a fun way to try out new physical activities. As can joining a fitness class! You may also decide to speak with other health-conscious people about their favorite healthy recipes and restaurants. Variety is the spice of life after all.

Personalize It

So many people seek to follow cookie-cutter diet and exercise plans. While that may work for some, most people prefer to develop wellness habits that actually suit them. As such, don’t be afraid to include some of your favorite activities, foods, and practices within your wellness routine. The long-term benefits of staying healthy are tremendous, so make it a priority to personalize your wellness regimen as much as you need to!

This is a guest blog entry.

Top 3 Best Fluoride Water Filters

Water is important for life. It is therefore essential to keep it free of toxic substances. One of the most prevalent elements found in municipal and city water sources is fluoride.

To eliminate this, use a water filter that controls the quantity of fluoride in your drinking water. A fluoride water filtration system removes fluoride from the water, ensuring better health. This blog contains a list of the 3 best fluoride water filters.

Best Fluoride Water Filters
 

Home Master RO Fluoride Water Filter System

This is the overall best filtration system. If your tap water quality isn't up to the mark, the Home Master TMAFC Artesian Under-sink RO water filtration system is a permanent option for purifying your water. It purifies the water without eliminating essential minerals.

You can have as much water as you need, thanks to its excellent flow rate. All chloramines, chemicals, heavy metals, dissolved solids, and other pollutants are filtered out to almost 99%. This system's water is clean and crisp.

Pros

• Filters are work very well for 2,000 gallons
•  Eliminates chemicals, heavy metals, impurities, and more
• Restores natural magnesium and calcium minerals
• High-flow system
  

Cons                                                                                     

• It takes up a lot of room underneath your sink.

Aquagear Fluoride Water Filter Pitcher
This is the best fluoride water filter system if you don’t have a big budget. With this system, you can get pure water, free from any impurities. You will only be able to make 6 liters at a time, though.

The water tastes great and is free of lead, fluoride, chlorine, mercury, and other toxins. The filter only has to be replaced every 150 gallons despite eliminating so many impurities. However, this is the best water filtration system that you get from a small investment.

It is surely a value for money! Check Latest Price

Pros

• Very Affordable and eliminates fluoride effectively
• Every filter is good for 150 gallons
• Removes mercury, lead, chromium, and many more contaminants
•  Lifetime guarantee

Cons

• Can make only 6 liters water at a time

Big Berkey Fluoride Water Filter

When you require more than a pitcher of clean water but don't want to install an under-sink system, you will need a large-capacity countertop filter. With a stainless-steel countertop water filtration system that can hold 2.25 gallons of filtered water, the Big Berkey BK4X2 does the work here.

Two fluoride-specific filters are incorporated for optimum fluoride removal, reducing total fluoride in your water by up to 95%. The system's primary filters each last 3,000 gallons, which is outstanding by any standard.

Cysts, parasites, germs, herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, radon 222, nitrates, and just much any other form of contamination are removed. Only the essential minerals are left behind. The outcome is clean, pleasant water that can beat all others in a taste test. This is a premium range system, but the price is worth what it provides.

Pros

• Has the capacity to Hold 2.25 gallons of water
• Filters great for 3,000 gallons each
• Eliminates everything but beneficial minerals
• Nesting design makes it smaller when not in use

Cons
•    Very expensive water purifying system

This is a guest blog entry.

6 Tips to Increase your Energy and live a Healthier, Happier, more productive Life

Do you feel lethargic most mornings? Do you rely on caffeinated beverages to help power you through the day? If yes, it's time to stop relying on these quick fixes and develop an energy management plan. Getting started could seem a little scary at first, but once you notice the benefits of a healthier, happier and more productive lifestyle you'll be energized to keep going.

It is important to remember that our energy is a limited resource, just like our money in a bank account. Everyday we start with a certain amount to spend, which depends from person to person based on factors, such as sleep, stress levels, medical conditions, age, and lifestyle. Throughout the day, we perform multiple activities, which can be compared with transactions, to withdraw energy from and deposit energy into your account. It is true that we may not always have control over activities that consume our energy, we can take steps to deposit more energy into our accounts. We will now look at some important tips that can help you increase your energy to live a healthier, happier, more productive life.

Eat nourishing food

As you might have already guessed, nourishing food is very important for our well-being. According to researchers, a balanced diet that is high in vegetables and fruits, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy is what we need for optimal energy. So it is true to some extent, we are what we eat. It is important to consume a variety of foods from different food groups so we can get a range of nutrients to energize us throughout the day. Opt for fresh vegetables and fruits and vegetables. Choose a healthy protein source, such as fish and legumes. Try to consume 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, pasta or rice. If this sounds a little too much or you think you won’t have the time for all this because you are already too busy, you should look for an alternate source, such as Spirulina. Spirulina has many health benefits and contains all the essential vitamins and nutrients that will help you lead a healthier and energetic lifestyle.

Get seven to eight hours of sleep at night

A lot of people need to work on this. Getting enough sleep is a very important and a very healthy habit. Most of us already know that we need at least seven hours of sleep every night, so what prevents us from getting it? Work on the things that you think are your biggest sleep disruptors. Remember that sleep deprivation can cause serious health problems and also have a negative impact on our mood, motivation, energy and stress levels. Start prioritizing sleep in order to set yourself up for a productive, energized day.

Keep company with good people

Take some time out to spend it with the people you enjoy being around. A good connection with those who radiate positivity and have similar interests will energize and excite you. On the other hand, people who you can’t relate to or people who complain often, make poor choices or have negative outlooks will only drain your energy account. Carefully choose the company you keep.
Avoid news overdose

News can help us stay connected to what's happening around the world and it can be entertaining, educational, and even uplifting. Unfortunately, you might agree, the news frequently carries with it stories of suffering. Frequently reading about such stories can distort our view of the world and cause us to focus on our worst fears instead of noticing the good that surrounds us. We understand that it is not possible to avoid all such stories altogether, but we can try to minimize our exposure whenever possible, especially during times of trouble, struggle and unhappiness.

Get regular exercise

We often find ourselves feeling sluggish halfway through the day and often get tired by performing simple everyday duties, such as household chores and grocery shopping. According to research, we should get at least 150 minutes of exercise every week. It doesn’t matter what you believe, this will add to your energy account instead of subtracting from it. Exercise strengthens our muscles, boosts endurance and helps relieve stress and tension. This helps us to do more work efficiently during other activities and physical tasks.

Do something meaningful everyday

It is important to remember the things that you feel passionate about. You may have a special talent that you'd like to share with others or to practice more often. Take some time out to do something you enjoy every day, even if it's something as simple as listening to your favoarite music or cooking a healthy meal. Working on the things that matter the most to us helps bring out the best in us, by utilizing our energy.

This is a guest blog entry.

4 Facts about Medical Billing and Coding You Never Knew

While a prevalent and crucial set of career roles within the medical industry, healthcare information specialists like medical billing and coding professionals are not well known to the outside world. For their function, their job perks, and even the other things that are expected of them in their role, medical billing and coding specialists can be a mystery to many people who do not have intimate knowledge of the healthcare industry. So, if you’re one of the many who want to know more about these two professions, stay tuned! There’s more to learn right here, with four facts you may have never known.

Fact #1: Medical Billing and Coding are Separate Jobs

While they are often mentioned together and are, in fact, trained or categorized under the same wide umbrella, medical billing and medical coding are different. Together, they’re known as medical records and health information specialists, but the difference lies in what specific information they’re meant to manage.

Medical billing, as the name implies, focuses on the back end of transactional medicine: filing insurance claims, verifying patients’ information, and even appealing claims to make sure that healthcare facilities are paid for services rendered. Whether that payment comes from the insurance companies or from the patients themselves, this whole ecosystem of information is built on privacy and accuracy. The former is regulated for patients’ and providers’ protection, especially from social engineering and fraud, while the latter is ensured because it means the difference, at times, between full coverage and none at all. When you have been a patient dependent on said insurance coverage, you can imagine for yourself how nerve-wracking it might be to receive the wrong bill, or a bill that looks right, but bills a patient way more than they need to be paying. As a medical billing specialist, it’s your job to make sure that this doesn’t happen, and that all three parties (the patient, the provider, and the insuring entity) are made whole at the end of the day.

Medical coding, on the other hand, doesn’t deal with the billing side, but rather focuses on the organization and accuracy of treatments documented, as well as documentation of other things, like patient conditions, that can affect treatment and are reproduced not only in billing — but also on a medical report. Just like a medical billing professional, a coder in the healthcare industry is charged with the burden of accuracy: if a code is incorrectly used, it means that someone may be wrongly paying thousands of dollars out of pocket or receiving an inappropriate treatment. Utilization of coding protocols, like the ICD-10, makes coding a part of a huge standardized system that makes the speed and efficiency of modern medicine possible.

Fact #2: You Can Work Anywhere You Like, Anytime You Like

If you’re looking for an office job, something that has a steady 9 to 5, you might see medical billing and coding as professions that suit you. However, if you’re looking to work from home, choose hours that you want, or even travel for work — well, you’re still looking in the right place. Along with being a steady day job, medical billing and coding specialists can also find employers that allow remote work, which is very common. If you take on a career in the field, you may even be given the option to work hours of your choice — because of how independent the work is, it’s not imperative to work according to someone else’s needs, as long as a certain number of hours is met per week. In addition to all this, there are positions as medical coders or billing specialists that take a person traveling from city to city, much like traveling nurses do. In any case, no matter what lifestyle you’re trying to maintain, these two jobs are good options — because they offer stability to those who want it, and offer freedom to those looking for that instead. It’s a versatile career path, to say the least!

Fact #3: You Can Fast Track to the Medical Job You Want

Like any other industry, it helps when you have education and/or experience. But it’s no secret that doctors require years of school on top of a four-year degree. Meanwhile, nursing also has some steep requirements in a lot of fields. But with medical billing and coding, your profession is easily accessible: you can get professional training for your chosen career in as little as 11 months in some medical billing and coding programs. On top of that, when you’ve received your training and certification, you have a job that possesses upward mobility. When you continue to hone your skill set on the job as a coder or billing specialist, you can eventually get the experience you need to apply for other medical professions as well, with a basis of knowledge that can only improve your candidacy overall.

Fact #4: You’ll Feel Good About Your Work

Medical industry professionals of any kind are in a unique position to help people in need. Although you may not be treating the sick and injured with your own two hands, you’re a crucial part of the healthcare industry. Your work in medical billing and coding can mean the difference between someone paying way too much for important care, or them receiving the best possible treatment with reasonable coverage. However you decide to contribute and be a part of the industry, just remember: you make a difference just by doing your job! If you’re looking to get started, find out how you can facilitate the healing process in just 11 months, right here at Ultimate Medical Academy.

This is a blog entry by David Young.

How Can You Decide If Your Parents Need Specialized Home Care?

Credit: Vlad Sargu Via Unsplash

One of the trickiest parts of growing up is watching your parents grow older and the vulnerability of them needing on-going support. It seems like time passed in the blink of an eye. Once upon a time, your parents were pushing you around in a stroller. The next thing you know, you are helping them move around in their wheelchair.

Your parents have most likely helped you through thick and thin, and it is time to do the same for them. Realizing that your parents need retirement or specialized care home does not mean you do not care about them and want to give up the responsibility. It is simply accepting life as is and moving forward. Sometimes it may be challenging to support your parents 24/7, but you must figure out how they can remain safe, what their care needs are, and what the best environment is to meet these needs. 

Here are some ways you can decide if your parents need retirement home care.

Explore Your Nursing Home Options

Before you go ahead and talk to your parents, identify the extent of their needs and figure out what the potential home options are. If you find the home beforehand, you can provide your parents with all the information they need. Call a couple of places and find out all of their services, care levels, and costs, if required. Retirement homes such as Sagecare offer specialized care for seniors with dementia, and will be able to guide you through the entire process.

If you discuss your concerns with the home, they will give you proper advice and inform you if they think your parents need to move to an assisted facility, memory support care, or even independent living. If they have Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they need regular care because memory loss can affect people in different ways. It is a good option to consider places like Sagecare, where there is high staffing to resident ratio, enabling them to provide constant care.

 Credit: StartupStockPhotos Via Pixabay

Have “The Talk” with Your Parents

Remember when you were a teenager, and your parents had to give you “the talk” about the birds and the bees? You probably remember it being awkward. But this talk is different. It is still a challenging task, but it doesn’t have to be weird.

Sit down with your parents and introduce the nursing home idea. Tell them why you think they need to become residents of a care facility. Do not make the decision and drop your parents off there. Ask for their opinion and if they disagree, try to explain your point of view. Some parents may agree right away, while others may get disheartened and have a tough time accepting it. Whatever the possible reaction is, you need to do your best as their child. Involving your parent into the process and identifying the unmet needs, eases the transition as they can relate to your anxiety and need for providing care successfully for them. 

 Credit: Kampus Production Via Pexels

Observe Every Move

One of the best ways to figure out if your parents need senior care is by observing their actions. If you are not around to see what problems they may be facing, you might not be aware that they need help or what kind of help.

Please note whether they can eat properly, walk around without help, and take the proper medication on time. If your parents are struggling to perform daily tasks, are behaving differently, or need reminders to take medication, they might require help. Assisted living can provide round-the-clock comprehensive care.

The final decision to go ahead and move your parents to a retirement home can be a daunting task. But, if you choose the right place, your mind will be at ease, and your parents will be safe too.

This is a guest blog entry.

Signs That You Need Braces

The use of braces is common for both children and adults. With the help of this dental procedure, crooked teeth can get fixed. Apart from the regular braces with wires, you can also consider the use of Invisalign braces. Regency House Dental, a private dental clinic in Cheltenham for over two decades, suggest this procedure. Once you see the signs that braces are necessary, consider using them.
 

Use of braces among children
 

Most parents have their children use braces to fix the problem at a young age. It’s better to start young while the issues are still easy to solve. The problem is that it might be difficult to tell if children need braces. When they have crooked or crowded teeth, they might still be baby teeth. There’s no need to do anything about the problem yet. However, apart from these signs, you can also check if your children are breathing through the mouth. If so, it can be due to a dental problem.
 

Another sign is when you hear their jaw clicking or making other sounds. Children biting their tongue or thumb sucking might also have dental problems that braces can fix. If you notice these problems, go to the dentist and ask for recommendations.
 

Braces for adults
 

Apart from children, adults might also need to use braces. Adult braces are becoming more common these days, and there are positive results. Crooked and crowded teeth are the primary reasons. You may also need them if you have difficulty flossing in between the teeth or you keep cutting your tongue because of your teeth.
 

When you have difficulty closing your mouth or pronouncing certain sounds because of your teeth’s position, braces can also solve them. Notice your jaw when chewing or upon waking up in the morning. If you notice weird noises, you can consider using braces. Otherwise, there will be stress or fatigue on your jawline. 

Seeing a dentist
 

Children should start seeing a dentist for the first time on or before the age of seven. At this point, the dentist can determine if braces are necessary. It’s better to identify the problems sooner. The best age to start braces differs from one person to another. The treatment should be between the ages of 9 and 14. These are the ages when they begin to form their permanent teeth. However, the dentist will decide the right time since it’s just not possible in some instances.
 

It's also not too late for adults to try using braces. There are valid reasons why they didn’t do one during childhood. It could be due to the cost or inconvenience. Visit the dentist and see if braces will still work for you. After the diagnosis, you will receive a referral to go to an orthodontist. However, in many instances, a referral isn’t necessary to get braces. 

It takes a while to see the results. Once you already fixed the problem, you will feel more confident. With Invisalign braces, it won’t feel uncomfortable. People won’t even notice you’re wearing one. You might have to spend a bit more, but it’s worth the price.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/U1gvhqVQ2kQ

This is a guest blog entry.

What You Should Know About CBD Hemp Flower

If you are just finding out about hemp flowers now, you may have gotten word about the increasing popularity of this impressive form of alternative medicine. You may also be wondering if CBD hemp flowers have a potential benefit for you and your conditions. If so, here you will find some important information you will need to make an enlightened decision about this plant for your needs.

The good news is you are starting with research and basing your decisions off of information from Pure Hemp Farms. This is always important to getting the best results from your alternative health plans. Information will lead you to the right products and manufacturers for your needs.

Health Benefits Of CBD Hemp Flowers

As a rule of thumb, anyone selling hemp flowers and products will be marketing a specific content of CBD, also called cannabidiol. CBD is an cannabinoid or a substance natural to the cannabis plant called Cannabis sativa. Recently, CBD has been purported to contain a wide variety of health benefits.

If you are looking for a good product for treating any of the conditions CBD has been found to address, you will need to begin by looking at the true CBD content. This is often provided on product labels, always favor those manufacturers who have their products tested by third-party laboratories

Some of the health benefits provided by CBD include:

Neuroprotective Effects – this means that CBD can work to preserve and restore conditions of neural structures and the general health of the brain.

May Relieve Symptoms of Various Health Conditions because of the special way that CBD interacts with the body, there is evidence that CBD may be an important part of treatments that address dystonia, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and many more. It has also been found effective for treating those with bipolar disorder.

Proven Effective Relief for Child Epilepsy

A CBD based product called Epidiolex has already been formulated and released to the market for addressing children’s epilepsy in two forms. CBD soothes the nervous system and can mitigate the harshness of seizures.

May Have Potential as Anti-Cancer Treatment

While we are still waiting for clinical evidence to support the claim, there has been considerable speculation that CBD could be a worthy treatment for cancer. It is already an important supplementary treatment as CBD has been found to soothe the nauseousness that typically accompanies chemotherapy.

May Relieve Acne

It has widely been believed that CBD helps to control the production of sebum and can help to lower inflammation and the visual effects of acne.

Some of the other health benefits accredited to CBD include:

Relief of Chronic Pain

Relief of  Anxiety and Stress

Relief of  Insomnia

Relief of High Blood Pressure

Has been used to Treat Heart Disease

Relief for Treat Drug Addiction

Treatment for  Diabetes

How CBD Hemp Flower Can Be Used

Smoked

If you buy the dried CBD flower, you can smoke it the same way you would a cigarette. Simply crumble the flower into a cigarette rolling paper and roll the cigarette into a tube around the dried herbs. The best thing about smoking CBD herb is that the effects can be felt very quickly.

Incorporated Into Food Recipes

Another good way to enjoy all the benefits of CBD is by incorporating your CBD herb into your favorite recipes. From salads to baked goods you can lace almost any recipe with this delightful flower that doesn’t feature an unpleasant or very strong flavor. This route of delivering the CBD substance to the body is going to take a little longer as the CBD will have to pass through the powerful metabolism of the liver.

Possible Side Effects of Use of CBD Hemp Flower

It should be noted that using CBD will result in some side effects. One of the most concerning is the way that CBD supplementation will affect the function of the liver. As the CBD use changes the enzymes of the liver inflammation can be the result and this can cause damage to the liver.

Some of the other possible effects of using CBD flower include the following:

Dizziness

Vomiting

Red Eyes

Nausea

Fluctuations of Mood

Dry Mouth

It is also important to never take CBD products if you are already taking a specific type of medication to treat that condition. If you are considering supplementing a current medicinal plan, you should discuss your plans with your general practitioner.

Your doctor will be able to provide advice and supervision for your new form of supplementation. Furthermore, you will be able to discuss the process and monitor the progress with professional advice and insights. If you notice any of the side effects begin to present themselves, it is time to stop taking CBD and consider another way to address your conditions.

Conclusion

While it may seem fun and challenging to grow your own CBD hemp flowers, there are some good reasons to trust the superior production methods and legal status of professional producers and product manufacturers. But if you know what you are doing, growing your own CBD flowers may be a good idea for you.

Remember that when trying natural or herbal treatments, the results are always better if you are following a healthy diet and lifestyle. Smoking, drinking and high amounts of processed foods will counteract the benefits of CBD. Furthermore, the best results will come in time after you have made CBD supplementation an intrinsic part of your life.

This is a guest blog entry.