Here’s All You Need to Know about Adaptogens

It’s a word you hear a lot nowadays – in blog posts, on health websites and in common conversation – but what exactly is an adaptogen? 

While the term may be buzzy right now, it’s actually been in the medical field for over 70 years, and the herbal medicines to which it refers have been used by people for millennia. If you’re feeling out of the loop, don’t fret. This article will offer basic information about this hot new class of medicine.  
 

What Exactly Is an Adaptogen?
 

In 1947, a scientist and toxicologist named N. V. Lazarev sensed a renewed interest in traditional medicinal practices, and decided to try and classify one such group that he saw as helping reduce stress and promote homeostasis. He coined the term adaptogen, which scientists and traditional medicine practitioners still use to this day.
 

The definition of adaptogen hasn’t changed much over the years. It still refers to non-toxic plants that are used to help the body resist a variety of stressors, including chemical, physical and biological stress. 

They have enjoyed a recent surge in popularity with people looking for natural ways to center themselves.
 

What Are Some Examples of Well-Known Adaptogens?
 

Some adaptogens you’ve probably already heard of, like ginseng. Others, which have been popular in places like East Asia for centuries, are only now making their way into the western mainstream. If you’re interested in the calming, centering effects of natural adaptogens, here are a few to look out for.
 

Chaga
 

Chaga is a large coal-like fungi that grows on birch trees. It has been used by several cultures – North American Indigenous cultures, Russians and East Asians, to name a few – to help with several ailments. You can order chaga powder online – it comes in pre-portioned packets that you can add to hot water, coffee or smoothies.
 

Siberian Ginseng
 

Siberian ginseng, also known as Eleuthero root, is a rich source of polysaccharides – long chain polymeric carbohydrates that support your body’s natural immune defenses. It can also help you relieve stress. Sometimes powdered and paired with chaga (see above), the two make a potent adaptogen.  
 

Reishi
 

Another type of fungi, Reishi has been revered in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It is known specifically as a calming adaptogen. Like chaga and Siberian ginseng, Reishi is popularly enjoyed in beverage form, mixed into liquid.
 

Ashwagandha
 

Ashwaganda is a member of the nightshade family and has been a staple of Indian medicine for over 3,000 years. It has a pungent, barn-like aroma, and has been studied for its potential anti-cancer, cortisol reduction and anti-stress properties.
 

Have There Been Studies?
 

There have been numerous studies on the efficacy and nutritional value of various adaptogens. One influential overview cites several benefits, like immune system regulation, nervous system improvement and anti-fatigue effects. As scientific interest in adaptogens continues to gain momentum, expect to see more studies, more headlines and more dialogue surrounding these calming plants.
 

Hopefully this article has helped demystify adaptogens. Ultimately, it’s a scientific word for a very straightforward concept: plants, used for ages in traditional medicine, that can reduce stress and benefit the body in several ways.

This is a guest blog entry

What Help Is Available to Children in Hospice?

The scariest thing for most parents is to imagine their child in hospice.  There are so many unknowns, with answers that you find online seeming vague or noncommittal.  Parents want to ensure that their children are well taken care of and given the support they need.  Luckily, hospice can grant a lot of these wishes.

Here are the top things children’s hospice can offer and how to ask for them.

Community For The Children
Having to be in hospice can make most patients feel lonely or uncomfortable.  The best way to ease this is to build a sense of community.  Most hospice care facilities offer communal spaces and areas where young patients can enjoy other children's company and get to feel a sense of normalcy.  This sensation can be hard to come by for children with severe illnesses and disabilities, so any ounce of normalcy can mean the world.  Those caring for the children help build up this feeling of togetherness and let the kids relax.

Around-The-Clock Care
Although many families try to take on the care for fatally ill children on their own, they often find themselves at a loss for what to do and when.  We can go into this with the best intentions, but unfortunately, those intentions can't mean everything turns out according to plan.  Instead of putting the stress of remembering medication, timing appointments, figuring out sleep schedules and diet while also having a life of their own, family members can let professionals swoop in.  This plan doesn't mean that the family doesn't get to participate in the care; it's encouraged that they do. It just means that hospice professionals can make that gesture easier.

Peace of Mind for Parents
Parents of sick children want to do the best for their kids.  Any slight mistake or misstep can set a child back or leave them in pain- taking that pressure off of the parents’ minds is the best way to ensure they get to enjoy these precious days with their child.  It can be scary and traumatic to go through, but these hospice centers often also offer support for family members to learn how to cope and grow through this.  There's rarely a happy ending to these stories, so everyone involved in the family must get to heal.

Great Days
Children in hospice don't want to sit around and cry and be scared; they want to live how children usually do.  Most would rather spend their short and precious time getting to have fun and live.  Hospice allows them to have fun, interact with professionals and kids alike, and have more happy days than you would expect. Of course, no one lies to these kids or promises them anything that can't be kept, but they must be treated with the kindness and dignity that everyone deserves.  Kids need more than just medicine and schedules; they need to know they're loved and cherished and that the impact they make on the world is good.

This is a guest blog entry.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. Unfortunately, not all people realize that their situation is suitable for a claim due to a lack of information. For you to file a claim due for medical malpractice, you need to understand it first.

Medical malpractice refers to when a health care provider or professional fails to provide the appropriate treatment, or gives substandard treatment and fails to take the appropriate action, causing the patient injury, harm, or even death.

Medical malpractice generally involves a medical error. Such an error could range from health management to medication dosage, treatment, and even aftercare. 

There are medical malpractice laws that enable patients who fall victim to malpractice to recover compensation. Through these laws, a claimant may get compensation for any harm resulting from substandard treatment. Here is a more in-depth explanation of the concept of medical malpractice.

Basics of a Medical Malpractice Claim

Medical malpractice is quite delicate; dissatisfaction with your treatment’s outcome does not mean you can file a medical malpractice claim. There are specific aspects that must be satisfied in order for your experience to count as malpractice. 

First, you need to cross-check your experience with a medical malpractice law firm for a successful claim. Consulting with a qualified lawyer saves you from either giving up on a potentially fruitful claim or following up with a frustrating and expensive lawsuit with no chance of a successful outcome.
Here are a few basics of a medical malpractice claim:

An Existing Doctor-Patient Relationship

Before you sue a doctor for medical malpractice, you are required to prove that you had a physician-patient relationship. This is mainly an issue when dealing with a consulting physician. A consulting doctor does not always treat you directly but this does not free them of responsibility. Such cases and scenarios are easily maneuvered through by a medical malpractice law firm.

Proof of Negligence by the Medical Practitioner

Negligence means that compared to what a competent practitioner in the same situation would do in the same position, the practitioner acted in a manner to degrade the profession. That said, a doctor is not required to be perfect. The expectation is that they perform their duties with reasonable skill and care.
Therefore, a qualified attorney is required to show how the doctor in question deviated from the required medical standard of care.

The Medical Practitioner’s Negligence Was the Cause of Injury

Patients are sick before they seek a doctor. So, did the doctor’s negligence cause the harm, or was it the illness? For example, if a lung cancer patient passed away, was it cancer or malpractice that caused it? You have to prove that it was “more likely than not” that malpractice was the cause in such scenarios.

Even the confusing cases are a lot easier to prove when in the hands of an attorney. They provide clarity including getting a secondary medical expert to provide insight on your case.

The Medical Malpractice Specifically Led to Damages

So, the doctor or practitioner in question failed to perform within the expected standards. Did the failure cause any harm to the patient? Damage isn’t always physical as most people assume. Here are some other types of injury that could arise from medical malpractice:

• Mental anguish
• Loss of work
• Loss of earning capacity
• Additional medical bills
  

What’s Next After Medical Malpractice

If you feel you or your loved one has fallen victim to medical malpractice, the first step is to file a lawsuit in a court of law. It’s best to get a lawyer to do this for you. Before the commencement of the trial, you will share information with the defendant. Such information includes dispositions, interrogations, and documents.

Not all malpractice claims make it to court, you could end up settling out of court. Attorneys are often responsible for such settlements. There are high chances that your defendant will have a lawyer or even a legal team of their own. This could get very intimidating if you approach them as an individual; hire an attorney to tackle this for you.

If you decide to go to trial, you will have to prove without a doubt the defendant’s malpractice. Finally, the jury or judge will pass a verdict. If you win, the judge decides the damages given in reparation. The defendant may file an appeal to reduce their obligations. The two probable outcomes are damages for you or the defendant winning.

This is a guest blog entry.

When Medical Conditions Should Be Part of a Criminal Defense

Imagine being charged for a crime you had no control over. Defense against such a criminal charge may be one of the hardest courtroom battles you have to face. It not only requires vast knowledge in the criminal defense field, but also high levels of court experience for you to stand a chance and avoid an unfair ruling or penalty.

There are often common errors in regards to whether or not medical conditions should be part of a criminal defense. Without the help of a criminal defense lawyer, you may find it very difficult to navigate the jargon and complexities of criminal defense. However, here are some of the instances in which medical conditions may be used as defense in court.

What Medical Conditions Can You Use as Criminal Defense?

1. Insanity Defense

If you committed a crime as a result of a persistent, cyclic, or an episodic psychiatric disease at the particular time of the criminal act, you can employ the insanity defense,  hence arguing that you were not responsible for your actions, rather, your state of mind caused you to behave as you did.

2. Mental Illness

This refers to a condition or disease, other than senility, epilepsy, mental deficiency, or alcoholism, which significantly impairs a person’s perception of reality, thoughts, judgment or emotional process. In simpler words, mental illnesses can grossly impair the victim’s behavior.

Examples of some of these medically recognized mental disorders are bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and major depressive disorder.

If you are clinically proven to be suffering from any of the above, it can influence the conviction and save you from unfair rulings.

3. Learning Disability

This is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the ability to read, write, or do math, which are foundations to one’s ability to learn. Such a disability can be used in criminal defense.

4. Autistic Spectrum Disorders

This is a developmental disability which causes great social, communication, and behavioral challenges. These challenges often affect the decision-making process and its effects range from mild to severe.

What Cannot Be Ranked as a Disorder?

Not all disabilities of the brain are regarded as mental disorders. For them to be considered as such, and be used in a criminal defense, these disabilities have to give rise to a disability or disorder of the mind as well.

1. Incompetence      

            
Mental incompetence is the inability of a defendant to carry out major decisions regarding their own affairs. This could be due to a number of mental or physical inhibitions. The defendant in this case is unable to understand the nature of their trial and he/she is often institutionalized until they regain sanity and are able to stand trial.

Keep in mind that incompetence is very distinct from mental illness. It is possible that some defendants may be competent to stand trial despite suffering serious mental illness.

2. Mental Retardation (currently known as Intellectual Disability)

This is a permanent condition in which intelligence levels are severely impaired. It is often accompanied by a great deal of limitations in adaptive functioning. This is quite different from mental illnesses. Unlike the common myth, the majority of those with mental illness have no intellectual deficits. On the contrary, some are highly intelligent. It is possible, however, for a person with mental retardation to also have a mental illness.

What Impact Do Medical Conditions Have on Verdicts?

The court is often considerate on cases in which the perpetrator was under the influence of the disorders that ail them. It is therefore important to know how to deal with criminal charges if you suffer from the mentioned disorders.

All that must be a lot to process, especially when dealing with the stress that comes with facing criminal charges. Worry not however, you can seek counsel from a criminal defense attorney in Dallas and get all the legal representation you need to avoid unfair conviction.

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Protect Your Skin from Hard Water if You Can’t Afford a Water Softening System

Everyone knows that that hard water can be tough on your pipes and your washing appliances like your dish washer. The hard calcium, magnesium, and other mineral and metal deposits can build up and cause serious clogs. If the hard water is this bad for your home, you can only imagine the ill effects it has on your skin. According to Skinkraft.com, water that contains a high amount of undissolved minerals isn’t a serious risk to your overall health, but it will leave a greasy residue not only on your dishes and clothing after the washing cycle, it will also have a negative effect on your skin condition too. Because hard water is filled with minerals as opposed to pure water, it will leave a buildup of soap which can clog pores and inhibit our natural ability to release the oils we produce. This can inevitably lead to bad acne and/or eczema. What’s more, hard water will leave you with persistent dry skin as it inhibits the natural moisturizing of the skin. You will eventually begin to look older than your age while the dry skin leads to wrinkles and fine lines.   

So how do you go about getting rid of hard water? The one truly effective approach is to install one of the many water softener systems on the market today. These systems are connected to your plumbing system and usually use salt to soften your water, ridding your H20 of all those unwanted minerals that are doing damage to your pipes and your otherwise healthy skin. But these are trying economic times and what if you just don’t have the cash budgeted for a new water softener system? If that’s the case, you should be aware of the ill effects hard water can have on your skin and then you can make a plan to do something about them. 

Long Term Effects of Hard Water

Says Skinkraft.com, since hard water is filled with iron, calcium, magnesium, and other “free radicals,” they are known to break down the skin’s natural collagen which is what keeps it firm. This can lead to premature aging while fine lines emerge and the loose skin begins to sag. Exposure to hard water for prolonged periods of time can result in extreme cases of eczema and other aggravating skin conditions.    

Short-Term Effects of Hard Water

Short-term effects of hard water on the skin will result in itchy, dry flakes that are a constant cause of irritation. Your hair will also dry out and appear dull looking. This can lead to an annoying itchy scalp condition.  

How Can You Protect Your Skin from the Ill Effects of Hard Water?

The simplest, most cost-effective solution for fighting the ill effects of hard water to is use an over-the-counter water softener solution which can make the soap easier to rise. This will eliminate at least some of the soap residue that can build-up on your skin. You can also invest in soap-free cleansers that are said to be gentle on the skin, and you can make certain to keep your showers very short, avoiding extreme cold and hot temperatures. Skinkraft.com stresses the importance of using warm water on the skin, but at the same time, avoiding frequent face washing. When you are done, you should gently dab your face with a clean dry towel rather than an aggressive “rub down.” As a final dry skin preventative, you should use a moisturizing body lotion on the skin so that it can trap your natural oils and moisture thereby preventing further drying of the skin. Anyone with overly sensitive skin should look into moisturizers and body washes/soaps, that are said to be free of fragrances.  

An Easy Test for Gauging Your Water Hardness with Soap

Fill a drinking glass with 350ml of water, then add 10-12 drops of liquid handwashing soap. Rinse the mixture with a spoon vigorously. If very few soapy bubbles result, it means you have hard water. You can repeat the test to check for hard water severity by slowly adding more and more soap to the water and continue stirring. If very few bubbles continue to show up and the water also looks cloudy, you just might have a case of severely hard water.  

Even if hard water is said not to have any prolonged ill effects on your overall health, it can still be a constant source of irritation to the skin, and this can’t be good for your overall well-being. There are a number of ways to combat hard water using over-the-counter methods that come with little cost, but the only real solution is the installation of a water softening system. If you can’t afford to pay full price for one right now, perhaps you can find a reputable company that will allow you to pay for your service over time.  

This is a guest blog entry.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Electric Massage Devices

The usage of electric massage devices is highly appreciated by people all over the world. This is partly because these devices come handy and are compact in design. Moreover, they are easy to use and give relief to people in pain within a few minutes of utilization. However, most people disregard the questions that come within the use of these massage devices such as ‘they are effective, but are they safe?’ or ‘do they create skin problems?’? To find out the answers and strike off ambiguity, let’s look at the advantages and the disadvantages of these electric massage devices.

Advantages Of Electric Massage Devices

1. Electric Massage Devices Freshens The Person

Through electric massagers, along with reducing chronic pain, anxiety is reduced as well as skin elasticity. This makes him/her feel relieved and fresh. Don’t you want to feel refreshed after a long tiring day and relax your body? Electric massage devices are perfect for that because you will feel like a different person after you get this procedure done on your body! Does it surprise you? It has been proven through research that a massage gun can efficiently lighten up the body and treat the sore muscles. You will have no more worries and pain in the back anymore! Feel younger and look younger after investing in a massage gun for yourself!

2. Undependability

By having an electric massage device, you don’t have to depend on anybody else to give massage to your body; you can help yourself out by giving a massage without the need of another individual. It is always a hassle to get out of bed and go to a massage parlor every time you want to feel relaxed. Some people think about getting a massage done and when they have to get out of their bed, they change their mind. They think that they might as well sleep and rest at home. If you do not want to depend on any other person to give you a massage so that you can feel relaxed, then you should go for it and get a massage gun for yourself. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself and investing in yourself. You are one of a kind and you deserve nothing but the best! So, what are you waiting for? Order yours now!

3. Highly Portable: Can Be Carried Anywhere

These massage devices are light in weight and occupy little space thus they can be carried anywhere without facing too many hassles. This ensures you will get quick massages frequently.

4. Stimulates Blood Circulation

When you have these massaging devices a hand away, you can get a good massage whenever you want, while staying at home. By taking frequent massages, your blood circulation becomes stimulated and you automatically start working better. When blood circulates in the body thoroughly,  a person is able to maintain a healthy body from inside as well. Even if you are looking fine from the outside, it is important to do things that are good for your inner body that you cannot see. Flowing of blood is very important for health and marinating a healthy well-being of a person. You will face health problems such as clotting of blood in certain places of body if the blood is not circulating properly. So, invest in a massage gun and make sure that you do not have to face any blood circulation issues ever again!
Disadvantages Of Electric Massage Devices

5. Crosses The Affordability Border

Some of these electric massaging devices are super costly which is why not everybody can afford them. In the same price of buying these devices, a person can have several trips to the masseuse to get the massage. It is not rocket science that massage guns are affordable. It costs way less to purchase a massage gun because it is a long-term investment. You will not have to pay for getting a massage again and again. There are travel costs too when you have to travel to a destination to get a massage done on your body. Overall, purchasing a massage gun will save you lots of money and time. 

6. Chances Of Carotid Artery Dissection

If these massaging devices are constantly used on areas such as the side of the neck and inside the throat, a stroke can possibly happen.

7. Painful In Case Of An Injury

If there’s some kind of blood clotting or injury, these electric massagers won’t prove to be of great help. Similarly, if a bone has been broken and the massaging device is used onto them, it will aggravate the situation even more.

8. Avoid Electric Products As Much As You Can

It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time, it is an electric product that can prove to be harmful if isn’t used with 100% attention and focus. A person is likely to get an electric shock if they lose their attention while getting massaged by them.

Summing All of It Up

 
Who wouldn’t like to be massaged after coming home after 10 hours of hard work? However, don’t overlook what might come your way just because of enjoying a few moments of relief. Everything in this world has good side and a bad side to them, and electric massage devices are no exception either. Therefore, one has to evaluate between its advantages and disadvantages to reach to a proper decision!

This is a guest blog entry.

Learn All About the Porcelain Veneers Brisbane Treatment

We’ve come a long way from replacing teeth simply because they’ve lost their sheen to having advanced robots that can perform complex dental procedures. In-between these times, the world of dentistry has witnessed several revolutionary innovations and improvements over traditional procedures. One such novel procedure among the many pertains to the invention of Porcelain Veneers.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain Veneers are a form of prosthesis that is attach to the front of the teeth to elevate the aesthetics of that smile. They were first created by a Californian Dentist named Dr Charles Pincus in 1928 who wanted to provide his patients, the majority of them being Hollywood stars, with an attractive smile.

Although the veneers had a temporary life span back then due to its weaker teeth bonding method, it was after the development of a new etching technique in 1959 by Dr Michael Buonocore that it was used by J.R. Calamia and R.J. Simonsen together in 1982 to perfect the method. It additionally involved applying a special compound to the teeth which helped form a strong bond between the adhesive compound and the veneers to the teeth.

After their contribution and several remarkable advancements in the bonding technique and the creation process of the dental veneers, today we have amazingly thin porcelain veneers that can last between 10 to 20 years while offering an impeccably flawless smile.

Prerequisites for Porcelain Veneers Brisbane Treatment

Getting the Dental Veneers is quite simple and you can also get them on the same day of your visit to your dentist in healthy cases. While there are no special requirements that you must attain to get the treatment, ideally, having the following conditions met can help you make the porcelain veneers last you longer:

• The condition of your teeth should be healthy for easier and better bonding.
• Any dental cavities or infections should be first treated or cleaned before getting new porcelain veneers.
• There should be no other underlying dental conditions that could create problems for your ne porcelain veneers later on.

Procedure for Porcelain Veneers Brisbane Treatment

Getting the Porcelain Veneers Brisbane Treatment is quite simple and it follows the below-mentioned procedure when you obtain them from a reputable and experienced dentist or dental facility.

• The procedure will begin by examining your teeth and when no implicating dental conditions are found, or if they are found. Regardless, your teeth will be cleaned thoroughly.
• Your dentist will then ask you to let them make a mold of your respective teeth in question which needs Porcelain Veneers Brisbane Treatment.
• Using the mould, your dentist will construct your custom porcelain veneers with great accuracy so that it matches the shape and dimensions of your teeth and mouth.
• The front enamel of your specific teeth will then be buffed away to apply the custom porcelain veneers that will be laced with bonding adhesive on its side that will be affixed to your teeth.
• The Veneers are now in place and you now have an impressively alluring smile.
  

Six Benefits from Porcelain Veneers Brisbane

This versatile solution to improve the appearance of your smile offers the following benefits:

Dull or Discolored Teeth

Make your dull teeth look perfectly stunning even if they have discoloration or stains. The porcelain veneers will conceal it properly only to offer you a perfect looking radiant smile.

Cracked or Chipped Teeth

One of the best advantages of the porcelain veneers Brisbane treatment is that it offers marvelous flaw correction of your smile. Your chipped or cracked teeth will be concealed masterfully with porcelain veneers to make your smile look fantastic.

Decayed Teeth

Whether you have damaged or decayed teeth that have lost their enamel or degenerated teeth, porcelain veneers can restore their glory to again make your smile appear simply splendid.

Irregular Teeth

Another impressive advantage of getting the porcelain veneers Brisbane treatment is that they can correct the irregularity of your slanted or misaligned teeth without needing invasive procedures. This makes it a wonderful solution to have a new smile without needing painful dental treatments.

Gapped Teeth

Porcelain Veneers could also correct the gapping between your teeth to save them from extraction and to save your gums from becoming infected easily. The veneers will be placed strategically to make your teeth appear and feel correctly aligned so you can experience better dental comfort.

Smile Makeover

The porcelain veneers are one of the primary components in all types of Smile Makeover treatments. By getting the customized porcelain veneers, you can redefine the appearance of your smile so it can match your vision of a perfect smile.

Final Words

The porcelain veneers are to date one of the quickest and best ways to increase the luminance of your smile. A personalized porcelain veneers Brisbane treatment can effectively gain you the smile you may desire without involving any hassles or complication whatsoever.

This is a guest blog entry.

Why Exercise is So Important

It’s easy to get intimidated by the word exercise. You may think of all those fitness influencers effortlessly working out, or even just people at your local gym knowing what they’re doing. Exercise is for everyone and it’s important to move your body. If you’re thinking about starting your fitness journey, here’s a boost to get you going.

Physical Health

It pretty much goes without saying that exercise is good for your physical health, but we may as well cover some of the basics to get you motivated. Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of getting chronic conditions, like diabetes or heart diseases. Even some kinds of cancers. It can also help you sleep better. You may be tempted to go all out with a new exercise routine, but you might injure yourself. If you experience medical negligence, there are people who can help.

Start Small

You don’t have to torture yourself at the gym or slog out a 5k run. You can start small. When you begin exercising, you want to find things you actually enjoy doing - that way you’ll keep doing them and form a habit. Whether it’s going out for a walk every day, dancing around your kitchen, or trying yoga - find the activity that works for you. It’s ok if you’re nervous to try something new, everyone starts like that. Even those fitness people you see had to start somewhere.

Mental Health

While you’re probably aware that exercise helps your body, did you know it also helps your mind? Physical activity has a huge impact on your mental wellbeing. It can improve your mood and self-esteem. It can also make you feel less stressed and anxious. You shouldn’t view exercise as something you have to do, but something you want to do to make yourself feel better.

Socializing

Exercising can also help you feel connected with people. Even for those people who prefer to work-out alone, they feel like they’re part of a community. Whether you take part in online fitness classes or simply nod at your fellow runners - you’re all doing something together. Or, if you do need the motivation of another person to help get you started, exercising gives you a great excuse to hang out with a friend.

Exercise is not about looking a certain way, but feeling a certain way. Moving your body can make you feel better in more ways than one. What motivates you to exercise?

This is a guest blog entry

3 Myths About Adolescent Eating Disorder Treatment, Debunked

Residential eating disorder treatment is generally considered to be the most effective way to effectively treat bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and other disorders, But some people may feel apprehensive about going into treatment. Before entering a residential treatment program, many adolescents and families have heard some myths about what residential treatment is like and maintain some fears about what they’ll face. After all, there will be new responsibilities, a new location, a new schedule, and separation from the day-to-day schedule they are used to. 

Despite these fears or hesitations, there's nothing to worry about; in fact, in addition to providing solid psychological and medical residential treatment programs, residential eating disorder programs are increasingly comfortable and homey. Modern residential eating disorder treatment facilities are nothing like the sometimes negative media portrayal – they’re places of healing and growth, not institutional, cold hospital-like settings. Here are some common concerns people have about entering a residential treatment facility, and reasons not to be worried about them.

1. It will be like a prison

In the media, mental health treatment centers are portrayed as sterile, fluorescent-lit hospitals where clients are held involuntarily. This perception of residential treatment facilities, often based on outdated and old-fashioned ideas about mental health treatment from movies like Gia or Girl, Interrupted, is truly out of date in 2021. The simple fact of the matter is that residential treatment programs are often luxurious and comfortable, and residents are NEVER held involuntarily.    

Normally speaking, residential treatment for adolescents with an eating disorder is strictly structured, however, creating a focused space where clients can address the underlying symptoms that influence the eating disorder as well as work on a positive relationship with food and eating. This means that a comfortable, home-like setting is to be expected since a feeling of comfort and safety is key to eating disorder recovery.

2. I’ll have to retake my grade in school
 

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and most other eating disorders often (but not always) first appear during adolescence. This means a statistically large amount of cases will appear in people who are still in middle school or high school, stretching out into college years. These are important periods in students' development and their college prep. Of course, this can be a huge concern for both students and parents.

Thankfully, adolescent-focused residential treatment centers normally include a scholastic program as part of their daily routine. For long-term residential stays, there is normally a time set aside each day for maintaining the client’s educational path. At the highest quality residential treatment centers, they’ll have certified education professionals to teach lessons and provide tutoring in line with the client’s educational track. They will also coordinate coursework and lessons with the client’s school and parents, ensuring that eating disorder treatment won’t interfere with their education.


3. I’ll be away from home for so long

Another common fear regarding residential treatment programs is that the client will be stuck in treatment for months or years on end. While treatment can take a long time to achieve a full recovery, residential treatment is usually not needed for that length of time. Even for 30-day sessions, though, there might be fears that it will become a dreary, repetitive routine. Thankfully, most quality programs include various excursions and exposure therapies that take clients out of the facility, for learning experiences, and mental well-being.

For example, as part of nutritional and meal-planning purposes, a group of residential eating disorder clients might take an excursion to an open market and do a little shopping in preparation for a meal. Excursions to visit the movies, a live show, nearby attractions like parks, or even to the mall not only make the time fly by faster but also provide a way to put recovery lessons into everyday practice.
 

Residential Treatment Programs Can Be More

The modern eating disorder treatment experience is one that can be personally and academically fulfilling. It’s certainly not the desperate, boring, difficult experience many people imagine it to be. If you or a loved one has received a diagnosis of an eating disorder, don’t wait. Seek out a quality adolescent residential treatment facility today and get started on a happier, healthier life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CARRIE HUNNICUTT
 

With 20 years of behavioral health business development experience, Carrie combines world-class marketing, media, public relations, outreach and business development with a deep understanding of client care and treatment. Her contributions to the world of behavioral health business development – and particularly eating disorder treatment  – go beyond simple marketing; she has actively developed leaders for her organizations and for the industry at large.

A New Way; Emerging Treatment Methods for Binge Eating Disorder

Ever since it was added to the official list of eating disorders in the DSM-V (the diagnostic manual for mental health disorders), the need for binge eating disorder (BED) treatment has become obvious.  BED is the most common form of eating disorder, but treatment is still in its relative infancy as compared to treatment for other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. A binge eating recovery center that offers personalized programs and non-traditional methodology can often make greater strides in treatment than a one-size-fits-all treatment program, and for that reason eating disorder treatment centers are employing new, evidence-based, and holistic treatment methods to help their clients.
 

Although Western medicine has its place in eating disorder treatment, as it does in all forms of modern medicine, more holistic and alternative treatment methods have increasingly become centerpieces of eating disorder treatment. As complementary components to a more traditional talk-therapy methodology, they’re often used at full continuum of care facilities. Check out a few new approaches to BED treatment that are helping people make strides in their recovery.
 

Animal Assisted Therapy
 

The presence of our furry, domesticated friends brings calmness, trust, and comfort to people all around the world. Their presence can also be a boon to people engaged in mental health treatment, including treatment for eating disorders like BED. Because of this, some eating disorder treatment centers are beginning to incorporate treatment methods employing cats, dogs, and especially horses.
 

Working with horses allows these magnificent animals to become close to clients. Their sense of calmness and strength may transfer to the client, and the sense of responsibility gained from taking care of the animal can give them a better sense of their capability. Many people who engage in animal-assisted therapy for the first time have come to swear by it.
 

Massage Therapy
 

Massage therapy and chiropractic massage is a form of relaxation therapy used at many modern binge eating disorder recovery centers that can release serotonin and dopamine in the brain–these brain chemicals prompt positive feelings like contentment and relieve the mood. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on how massage affects a person’s psychological outlook; one result, in particular, shows great promise for eating disorder recovery.
 

The NCBI published the results of a study that was performed on 19 women with anorexia nervosa. The group of 19 was split in two; one group received standard therapy and the other received both the standard and additional massage therapy sessions. The ones who had had both talk therapy and massage therapy reported a lower rate of body dissatisfaction than the control group. This indicates that as part of an integrated treatment program, massage therapy can help lead to even more positive outcomes than therapy alone.
 

Yoga
 

One of the most tried-and-true alternative health and wellness treatment components used for eating disorder treatment is yoga. Yoga’s well-established in psychological, medical, and addiction-treatment circles as a physical and mental tool.
 

In a study titled “Body Awareness, Eating Attitudes, and Spiritual Beliefs of Women Practicing Yoga,” the authors came to the conclusion that:
 

“Qualitative data reported improvements in body satisfaction and disordered eating due in part to yoga and its associated spirituality.”
 

Yoga, in addition to being an ideal form of self-aware meditation, is also perfect for mindful movement. Many people with eating disorders also engage in excessive exercise – sometimes beyond the point of suffering an injury. Yoga provides a way to stay active without the high-impact exercise that becomes problematic for too many people with eating disorders.
 

New Approaches for Better Outcomes

A quality binge eating disorder recovery center in the modern age will employ multiple forms of therapy and therapeutic activities. This can include yoga and mindful meditation, traditional talk therapy, dedicated therapeutic techniques such as CBT and DBT, and many more. Binge eating treatment shouldn’t necessarily be old-fashioned – a new way has emerged, which incorporates both traditional and alternative approaches.

This is a guest blog entry. 

How to Recognize an Eating Disorder When You See One

Eating disorders are serious mental health disorders that can affect people of every age, race, ethnicity, and gender. Someone who has an eating disorder may exhibit a range of signs and symptoms that range from obvious to subtle. People close to someone with an eating disorder may not be prepared to recognize the more subtle signs; this can prevent them from reaching out to help the person who is struggling with the eating disorder
 

For this reason, we’ve listed some basic information about eating disorders, the signs you may see when these disorders are present, and what steps you can take to get help for yourself or a loved one.
Signs of Binge Eating Disorder
 

A binge eating disorder is actually the most common form of eating disorder in the United States, although it doesn't get as much recognition as others. People with binge eating disorders engage in binge eating episodes, where they compulsively eat large amounts of food in a short time. They may engage in dieting behaviors, but they do not engage in purging behaviors, such as vomiting.
 

If you suspect that your loved one may have binge eating disorder, keep an eye out for:

• Episodes of eating large quantities of food in secret.
• Frequent dieting.
• Extreme concern with weight and/or body shape.
• Unexplained weight gain.
• Keeping stashes of junk food, or hiding food.
• Discomfort about eating in a public setting.

People with binge eating disorder may feel out of control during episodes of binge eating, and they might begin to organize their schedule to accommodate these binge eating episodes. Binge eating disorder can lead to many of the negative symptoms of obesity such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
 

Signs of Anorexia Nervosa
 

Anorexia is a well-known restrictive kind of eating disorder where people severely restrict their caloric intake, leading to extreme weight loss. They are typically preoccupied with their body weight and may experience a distorted body image. Some of the most common signs of this disorder and behavioral symptoms include:

• Obsession with body weight, appearance, and avoiding weight gain
• Prolonged or extreme weight loss.
• Frequent dieting and counting calories.
• Chewing and spitting.
• Wearing baggy clothes to hide body shape.
• Always feeling cold
• Lethargy.
• Lack of normal menstrual cycles in women.
• Intense fear of weight gain.
• Extreme or compulsive exercise
• Becoming isolated or withdrawing from social engagements.

People with anorexia nervosa face a long list of negative symptoms. It is the most dangerous form of mental health disorder, with the highest death rate and suicide rate of them all. People with anorexia nervosa might also experience gastrointestinal problems, anemia, dizziness, thinning hair, muscle weakness, and a variety of other physical problems.
 

Signs of Bulimia Nervosa
 

Bulimia nervosa is similar to anorexia nervosa in that it often includes body image distortions and a fear of gaining weight. However, rather than restricting food intake, people with bulimia try to prevent weight gain by purging the food they eat, often during binge eating episodes similar to those in binge eating disorders. The most common way to purge is self-induced vomiting, but other methods like laxative abuse or excessive exercise are also common. Sometimes, the person will use several purging methods. Some of the signs of bulimia nervosa include:
 

• Obsession with weight and body shape.
• Evidence of binge eating episodes, such as large amounts of food disappearing or watching the individual eating large amounts of food at one time.
• Discomfort at meal times.
• Unusual rituals involving food.
• Keeping breath mints on themselves at all times, and other ways to hide the smell of vomit.
• Calluses on the fingers and knuckles.
• Evidence of purging, such as disappearing after meals, spending too much time in the bathroom, and laxative packages.
• Rapid or sudden tooth decay.

Bulimia nervosa can have many negative health effects, including thinning hair, dry skin, muscle weakness, and a range of other issues.
 

Recognizing Eating Disorders in a Friend or Family Member
 

If you believe your loved one may have an eating disorder, make sure you research their symptoms and maybe even talk to a professional before raising the issue with them. Many eating disorders cause the person great stress at mealtimes, especially when others are present, so keep your eye out during shared meals. In fact, many people discover eating disorders during the holidays, when family gatherings are common. Make sure you don’t jump the gun – a conversation about a person’s potential eating disorder is not an easy one.
 

Getting Treatment for Eating Disorders
 

Treatment for eating disorders is available in a variety of forms, including residential treatment, outpatient day treatment, and partial hospitalization programs. Residential treatment programs are conducted in inpatient facilities that provide all the resources people with eating disorders need to get better, with 24/7 medical, psychiatric, and therapeutic care.
 

Reach out to an expert such as an eating disorder counselor or the admissions staff at an eating disorder treatment center if you want to help yourself or your loved one attain a full recovery. They can help you diagnose the disorder, arrange treatment, and enter an eating disorder treatment facility, as well as arranging transportation and financial considerations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CARRIE HUNNICUTT
 

With 20 years of behavioral health business development experience, Carrie combines world-class marketing, media, public relations, outreach and business development with a deep understanding of client care and treatment. Her contributions to the world of behavioral health business development – and particularly eating disorder treatment  – go beyond simple marketing; she has actively developed leaders for her organizations and for the industry at large.

 

What should I do after a slip and fall in a restaurant?

If you slip and fall in a restaurant, forget about feeling foolish or embarrassed by what the other diners might think when they see you sprawled on the floor. You should concentrate on understanding just what happened to you and determining what injuries you have suffered.
 

You might have slipped and fallen because the floor was wet. This is quite a common occurrence in restaurants and bars, where people spill their drinks and the staff might take too long to get the spill cleaned. Maybe there were too many people crowding a small hallway and you might not have been able to see a small step up or down or a change in flooring material.
 

First Things First: Get Medical Attention

Some people might suffer a sprained ankle due to a slip and fall accident in a restaurant, but others have fared much worse, suffering life-threatening injuries. If you are having a hard time determining how badly injured you are, stay put. Call 911 or have someone call for you. Don´t attempt to stand up until medical help has arrived.

If your injuries are minor and you can walk out of the restaurant on your own, get checked out by a medical professional as soon as you leave the premises. Keep the medical records and bills for your injuries. Don’t put off getting checked out or the insurance company might interpret it as though your injuries were not serious enough to warrant immediate attention.
 

Talk to the Manger
 

Whoever is responsible for the restaurant should be appraised of your accident. If your injuries allow it, make sure that the owner or manager, or responsible party knows what happened. Don’t ask someone else to report this for you. Also, don’t make statements such as “I think I’m fine” or “It’s probably nothing”. Stick to the facts. Have them put your statement in writing and give you a copy.
 

Document the Accident
 

Use your cellphone to take pictures of the accident. If possible, have someone take pictures of you where you fell. You want what you were wearing to come out clearly. You want to avoid the restaurant manager saying that you fell because your clothes snagged on something or you were wearing shoes that made walking difficult for you.
 

Also, take pictures of security cameras to show that the accident was captured on the restaurant’s video feed.
 

Get Testimonies from Witnesses
 

If other patrons around you saw what happened, gather their testimonies. Also, ask for their contact information. Ask around to find out who was standing close enough to witness your fall. Tell them you might need to get in touch with them later. There is no need to explain anything else to them at this point. Just let them know you might be in touch soon.
 

Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
 

You will need experienced legal help to be able to prove that there was negligence on the part of the restaurant. This means that they knew about the issue and took no action to correct it or to let you and other patrons know they needed to be aware of an issue when they were walking by.
 

Your Jacksonville slip and fall lawyers have had to deal with plenty of slip and fall accidents in restaurants and other premises. That is why they recommend that you seek legal help as soon as possible after the accident.
 

Start working with your personal injury attorney by telling them the full account of what happened, gather all the medical records and bills related to your injuries, if you have written testimonies and an accident report from the restaurant, give them that as well.

Your lawyer will explain your legal options and design a strategy to build a strong case and obtain the damages you are entitled to.
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Image via Pixabay
 

This is a guest blog entry. 

Bodily Injury Liability 101

 

No matter how careful you are in every area of your life, there is no way to avoid every single fall, bump, or accident. The problem is that in many cases we manage not only to hurt ourselves but to hurt someone else. For this reason, and being aware that accidents are a part of life, both general liability insurance, and automobile insurance include bodily liability coverage in their policies. Its purpose is to help you pay for the costs that come with having caused injuries to someone else.
 

Bodily Injury Defined
 

A narrow definition of bodily injury coverage includes three main areas which are personal injury to the body, disease, and sickness. A broader definition goes much further and includes such items as:

• Shock
• Disability
• Mental injury
• Mental anguish
• Death

What is the biggest problem associated with a personal injury?
 

Personal injuries are generally associated with secondary problems that may last much longer than the original injury itself. These secondary issues can have a negative impact on the life of whoever suffers from them, making daily living difficult. These may include:
 

• Past and future medical expenses
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Diminished ability to carry out a previously held job
• Inability to work
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish

How can your insurance policy help you face the possibility of having to deal with those issues?
Insurance policies reflect the fact that the issues listed above are a reality. Thus, they include different types of coverage that aim at protecting you (and your bank account) every day. These types of third-person liability coverage are:
 

Bodily Injury
 

This coverage offers financial protection to others when you are found to be at fault for an accident or an injury to a third party. It is understood that you may end up causing harm to somebody else either directly (such as when you harm them with your car), and indirectly (such as when you have left objects lying around and someone trips over them and gets injured).
 

Property Damage
 

This section of the coverage is used to offer financial protection in cases where things get damaged. If you destroy or damage someone else’s property, such as their car during an accident, your insurance would help cover the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property.
 

How can you protect yourself from bodily injury claims?
 

Before you face an accident where you are at fault or damage someone else’s property, you should protect yourself with a general liability insurance policy. If you are the owner of a small business, this coverage is that much more crucial, since one single claim could end up ruining your business and forcing you to close your doors forever.
 

According to lawyer Kenneth King, it is more important to focus on the things you have to do to stay afloat in these economic circumstances than having to constantly worry about unexpected accidents and their effects on your business. Protect yourself and your livelihood: get a bodily injury policy now. It will offer you protection for third-party medical bills, legal fees, lost wages, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and even funeral costs.

In California, bodily injury liability insurance must cover $15,000 for bodily injury or death and $30,000 for wrongful death. That is what’s known as the “15/30” insurance.       
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Image via Pixabay

This is a guest blog entr.

Inside the OR: The Ten Most Essential Items

Every OR is meticulously designed to ensure that anything a surgeon could need is readily available throughout every procedure. Here are just ten of those essential items. 

1. Anesthesia

Anesthesia literally translates to ‘loss of sensation’, and it enables surgeons to perform complex, lengthy, and otherwise incredibly traumatic and painful procedures on patients who are not conscious of what is going on. This transformed surgical practice, and enabled much more complicated procedures to be developed without worry for the patient’s ability to survive. 

2. Lights

Any complex and intricate task requires excellent lighting, and this is never truer than it is within the OR. Plenty of bright, adjustable lighting must be used in order to ensure that the incision sites are not afflicted by shadows, and that the surgeon’s own hands do not get in their way. 

3. Retractor

These days, innovation continues to change the face of surgery, with many improvements being made with the Lone Star retractor. For instance, June Medical has worked to design a cam lock system, which offers the surgeon much more control and ensures that fewer personnel need to be present in the operating room – thus lowering the risk of infection. 

4. Smoke Removal System

Surgical smoke produced via cauterization can be highly damaging to surgeon’s lungs, and an effective removal system is essential to ensuring that medical professionals do not suffer long term health consequences as a result of inhalation. 

5. ECG Machine

A lot can go wrong during an operating, and close monitoring of the patient at all times is essential to ensuring that they are able to wake up from the operation without any complications or setbacks. An ECG, or electrocardiogram machine, enables everyone in attendance to monitor the patient’s heartbeat for sudden spikes or lulls, and ensure that they are coping well under anesthesia. 

6. Scalpel

The scalpel is one of the most recognisable symbols of the OR. With this, the surgeon can make precise, neat, and definitive cuts into the patient’s tissue, and ensure access to the site requiring medical attention. 

7. Sterilisation Equipment

Keeping all reusable implements clean, and ensuring that no germs are transferred from one patient to another within the OR, is an incredibly difficult job. All operating rooms need to be equipped with excellent facilities for sterilizing reusable implements, and ensuring that nothing touches the patient unless it has been scrupulously cleaned first. 

8. PPE

Personal Protective Equipment is essential not only to keeping the surgeon and those working within the OR safe, but also the ensuring that the sterile field is maintained, and that the patient is not exposed to any harmful microbes throughout the procedure. From masks to caps and gowns, all surgeons need to be appropriately dressed before entering the sterile field. 

9. Surgical Table

This is where the patient will lie throughout the surgery. It is designed to be easily adjusted to suit the height of the surgeon, and the nature of the operation, and ensure that everyone involved is always able to gain easy access to the site upon which the procedure is taking place. 

10. Backup Power

Many factors are at play during a surgery – all of which could, in worst case scenarios, backfire during the course of even the most routine procedure. One of the most devastating possibilities, however, remains loss of power, which would plunge the room into darkness and prevent any of the machines monitoring and supporting the patient from working. 

A backup source of power is, for that reason, essential, and no surgery should proceed without it.

This is a guest blog entry.

All about Gender Identity

Gender Identity is a timely and relevant topic that deserves proper discussion and attention. As we all have known, gender identity only has distinctions which are the male and female. However, it still has a wider spectrum of perceptions that must be discussed thoroughly considering the modern influences of this generation. Given that, here is a brief discussion of gender identity and linking ideas for us to gain more awareness about this relevant topic. 

Defining Gender Identity 

Gender identity refers to one’s personal sense of their own gender. It can correlate with what sex is assigned to one when born or differ from it. Also, gender expression reflects the gender identity of a person but not all the time. For example, in this modern time, people may express their appearances, attitudes, and behaviors assigned to a specific gender role; however, these do not essentially reflect their true gender identity. 

Moreover, each society has its own set of gender categories, which serves as the basis for self-identity. As mentioned previously, there are two main categories of gender which are the female and male. Females express femininity and males express masculinity. Now, gender identity has been known to form at the age of three. After this age, making changes to it can be difficult, and failed attempts to reassign it results in gender dysphoria. 

Age of Formation 

Different theories were made and used to determine the exact age of the formation of gender identity. It has been a tough journey for researchers since children still lack language at an early age. Communicating and investigating children in terms of their gender identity did not come easily However, researchers claimed that gender identity mostly forms at the age of three. This is the age where children are starting to be aware of themselves, their identity, likes, and life. This is the age where their level of consciousness, not only about themselves but also in the surrounding increases. Moving forward, let us now proceed to the factors affecting the formation of gender identity. In this way, we can widen our perspective about this topic and gain more knowledge on how to deal with it.
 

Factors Affecting the Formation of Gender Identity 

Lots of people are not yet completely aware of gender identity, especially the factors affecting its formation. This leads to confusion and hard times in coping and understanding it. Given that, below are the brief discussions about these factors. 

Nature vs. Nurture 

The very first factor that affects gender identity formation is nature vs. nurture. Nurture refers to the environmental or social factors, and nature pertains to the biological factors. Beginning with nurture, human beings are born to be social-making interactions not only with fellow human beings but also with nature, society, and other elements. With daily exposure to a specific kind of nature, gender identity can be formed. For example, when a child is exposed to a setting that consists of feminine attributes, the child will be more likely to become feminine. Although biologically, the child is male, exposure to femininity can alter gender identity. One big example of this is when a boy is born with siblings that are all female. The tendency of the child to think and feel feminine will increase as his exposure to his female siblings is dominant.

 
On the other hand, the nature or biological factors affecting gender identity is also important. The females have feminine attributes, while the males have masculine attributes. Once a child has been made aware of what biological features he or she has, these attributes can be nurtured over time.

For a wider discussion, below are specific factors: 

Biological Factors

This is considered as the most important factor for gender identity, for it comes naturally. Any feminine features will lead to femininity, and masculine features will lead to masculinity. Examples of unchangeable and inner features are the reproductive system containing the ovaries and vagina for the female and sperm for the male. As our world continues to be more modernized, altering physical features representing gender identity has been made possible through surgeries and operations. This is where the idea of transgender and trans-sexuality follows. 

Transgender and Trans-Sexuality 

Due to confusion, other people choose to alter their gender identity by undergoing major surgeries removing or changing the features that show their old identity. Countries such as Thailand are only one of the well-known countries that host surgeries for transgender purposes. Due to advancement in technology, that surgeries like these are becoming successful and even undergoing further development and improvement. In this way, people who wish to change their gender identity can have a higher assurance that they will never hide who they truly are. They will have the confidence to show what and who they really are as long as it does not create any negative effect on other people. 

Environmental and Social 

The next set of factors is environmental and social. Here, we are going to discuss the specific factors that affect the formation of gender identity of one’s self. 

Parental Establishment 

Since a child is born, the parents are there to look and care for him or her. Whatever the parents do and show to their child will be copied and admired by the child. This is what we call the parental establishment or simply the influence the child’s development not only in gender but also in other area. 

Parents must show the proper respect connected to a gender. If the child is a female, then feminine influences must be established. On the other hand, if the child is a male, then masculine influences must be established.

Society and Groups 

Another factor is society and groups. Any gender influence learned by a child from society and groups will then contribute to shaping the individual and can avoid leading him or her into confusion in the future.

This is a guest blog entry.

Why do New Year’s diets fail?

Every January there is a massive influx of diet culture and New Year’s resolution diet based media. It could be gym based, how sleep affects your weight, Veganuary, or just a good old “cut out carbs” based diet.

On one hand, January can be the perfect time to start introducing healthy new habits; everyone loves the feeling of a fresh new year, a brand-new page. Just like the first page of a notebook. It can give you the boost you need in order to kick start the year in the right way, chances are you’ve eaten and drunk your fill over Christmas, so your body might be craving veggies.

Veganuary is also becoming bigger every year, originating in 2014, it’s the trend where you try becoming Vegan for the month of January. Due to its impact, both supermarkets and restaurants have been known to run promotional adverts to coincide with the movement.  

According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute “weight loss” was the second most popular New Year’s resolution in 2017, with only 9.2% then feeling successful in achieving this.  One of the main factors stopping people from succeeding is purely that they get too hyped up about it at the beginning and set themselves unrealistic expectations.

Old habits do tend to die hard. If you’ve been eating a lot of chocolate every day for an extended period of time, then stopping immediately, especially just after Christmas because it can be a bit of a shock for your body. It can also trigger you if you’re an emotional or stress eater. You suddenly feel like you can’t do something which has been bringing you happiness, therefore you’re more likely to then binge. Try just reducing the amount you eat on a daily basis so you can still feel like you’re in control.

Another problem with a new diet resolution is the word itself. “Resolution” is such a demanding word. It creates such an inflexible idea of what you need to do in order to achieve success. Automatically making you feel that if you slip up once then you have failed and may as well give up.

A different method of approach can be to change one thing in your diet, say rather than doing Veganuary and making it your whole month, alter it to Meat Free Monday. This way, you can make more sustainable changes within your life. Also, probably carry it on for longer, rather than just shocking your body one month, you’re making more sustainable changes that with benefit your health in a much more long term fashion.

Adopting a new habit can be an effective way to aid your weight loss, if that’s your aim.  Rather than cutting something out and feeling like you’re missing out on something, adding something into your daily life can have the same affect and make you feel better. For example, making sure you get your 10,000 steps in every day can increase your calorie output, especially if you work a desk job.

This is a guest blog entry.

The Basics to Taking Good Care of Your Teeth

Our mouths are living organisms that need looking after, from our gums to our teeth and our tongues. Despite dental care being an essential part of our daily hygiene routine, most people fail to take proper care of their teeth. This is mainly because they don’t have a solid understanding of the subject. We hope to change that with our article today. Read on to find out all the basics to taking good care of your teeth.
 

Brushing Your Teeth

First things first, let’s talk about brushing our teeth. We should brush our teeth at least twice a day, every day – without exception. It’s important to use a fluoride toothpaste when doing so, and not to spit the toothpaste out after finishing. This is because the fluoride provides a protective covering for our teeth. Rinsing after spitting means that all this gets washed away. Furthermore, when brushing our teeth, we should use small circular motions, plus back-and-forth strokes. Don’t forget about the gums, either! Lightly bring your toothbrush around these areas because food can sometimes accumulate here. We also suggest gently brushing your tongue (or using a tongue scraper) to help your mouth stay clean and ensure your tongue is healthy. Finally, make sure to change your toothbrush’s head every 3 to 4 months because, otherwise, it will become ineffective and unhygienic.

Insert Image Here: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/tooth-dental-care-white-white-teeth-2414909/ Image Source: Pixabay.com.

Flossing Your Teeth

Most people will proudly announce that they don’t floss their teeth, and they haven’t had any problems. This is because you can’t see the damage that is done until it’s too late. Flossing removes the plaque from in between your teeth which a toothbrush can’t reach. If this plaque is allowed to fester, it will eventually cause tooth decay and gum disease. These are painful, serious dental issues that can lead to further complications down the line. As such, everyone needs to floss at least once every day. You can either use tooth floss or interdental brushes for this. Gently slip your flossing tool of choice between your teeth, then use strokes which go side-to-side, up-and-down. This should dislodge any plaque which is lodged between the teeth.

Visit Your Dentist

As well as staying on top of your dental hygiene, it’s also important to regularly visit your dentist. They will be able to identify any problems you might have missed when cleaning and then provide treatment. No matter how brilliant you think your dental hygiene is, this step cannot be missed. Head online and search for a specialist in your area, like this dentist in Plymouth for example. This is the best way to ensure your teeth are top-notch. Also, your dentist can provide you with expert advice on your specific dental needs. For instance, they will be able to tell you how your diet is affecting your teeth. If you don’t realize you are drinking or consuming too much sugar, they will highlight this, so you know to cut down.

These are the basics of taking good care of your teeth. Remember to always stay on top of your dental hygiene routine!

This is a guest blog posting.

Things One Should Do For Good Dental Health

When it comes to our body and mind, we are very active in maintaining our health. However, in the same scenario, most people neglect to maintain their good dental health as well. Most people think that brushing two times a day would be more than enough in their daily routine to maintain their dental health and will not cause any problem to their teeth. However, this is not true and people who are not attentive to their oral health are most likely to go through many health issues due to it. Maintaining good dental health is very necessary for various reasons. It not only helps us retain the natural look of our teeth but also helps in making sure that there is no accumulation of bacteria in our teeth and does not lead to other health issues as well. Following a few habits and routines can easily help you in maintaining your great smile and can keep you away from many health problems as well. Let's have a look at a few of them.

Brushing and cleaning

It is one of the most basic routines that most people follow to maintain good oral health. Brushing twice a day and gargling with fluoridated water is one of the best practices one should always follow. It makes sure that you are cleaning your teeth from any kind of bacteria and accumulation for the same. Those who do not follow these practices have more chances of tooth disease and weak roots due to bacteria and non-hygiene or teeth. It also prevents any kind of bacteria accumulation between the teeth.

Visit your dentist

This is one practice that everyone should do without any kind of negligence. Visiting your dentist like in All On 4 Perth can make sure that your teeth never go through any kind of oral issues. A regular visit with the doctor makes sure that any occurring issue is detected at the earliest so that it does not emerge as a bigger problem later and leads to the removal of a tooth. Also, regular visits will also provide you regular cleaning of your teeth and a proper checkup, providing you better oral health and also increasing the life of your teeth.

Do not use tobacco products or alcohol

It is common knowledge that you should avoid consuming alcohol and other types of tobacco products as they can seriously damage your teeth on a larger scale. Consuming these things leads to the accumulation of bacteria in between the teeth, which further increases the chances of fungal or bacterial infection in one's mouth. Therefore, these can damage your teeth and also leads to a lot of pain and other problems as well.

Other diseases

If you are suffering from any other types of disease or problems like Diabetes etc, even that could lead to serious dental problems. For example, people with diabetes have high sugar content in their blood, which could lead to a lot of side effects in the body and lead to gum disease. Make sure that if you are suffering from any such issues, then it would be a lot better to keep them in check and maintain them to a level so that it does not affect your health in any way.

So here are some of the best ways through which one can easily maintain their oral health and make sure that they are not facing any issues throughout their life. These are just some of the basic routines and are very easy to follow as well. So make sure to follow these routines and maintain your charming smile throughout your life.

This is a guest blog entry.

Tips For Buying The Best First Aid Kit

Nobody wants to get hurt, but one can have no control over the injuries. A person can get hurt while doing typical daily chores. In such times, usually, people go looking for a first aid kit to find bandages. Hence, a first aid kit must be within your reach.

Furthermore, one can always call emergency services. But until the time they arrive at the spot, it can be very late. In those moments, a first aid kit comes to the rescue. You can prepare a first aid kit from a plastic bag, considering that it contains all of the essentials. However, it must be nimble. It should be easy to find and to carry wherever you need. 

Is just a kit enough? 

The first aid kit must have the medical supplies you need for your household because you might not have the time to get these in case of emergency. However, a few items are mandatory in every first aid kit, such as a thermometer. One can buy all of the things needed for a first aid kit from the local drug store.

You can also buy a pre-assembled first aid kit from your pharmacy or drug store. When searching for a first aid kit, it’s important to buy from a brand you trust. You can purchase first aid kits from Aero Healthcare, an industry-leading supplier and manufacturer of medical equipment and first aid supplies.

Necessary items for every first aid kit  

 
Everyone needs to have necessary medical supplies with themselves; therefore, here are some essentials that are a must-have in a first aid kit:

● First aid manual:

A first-aid manual is a necessity in a first aid kit because you may or may not know how to use all the items of the kit. Furthermore, a manual can assist you well.

● Triangular bandages:

Bandages are necessary for minor cuts and injuries. Triangular bandages can wrap the wounds.

● Adhesive bandages for assorted sizes: 

These types of bandages are helpful to cover minor cuts and injuries on the body.

● Sterile scissors:

Any shard items of the first aid kit should be sterile because, if not, these items can cause an infection. A clean scissor comes in handy for cutting tape and clothes.

● Adhesive tape:

When there is a minor injury, adhesive tape works well to hold the gauze.

● Latex-free gloves:

While dressing a wound, it can be prone to infection. There is hardly any time to wash or sanitize the hands, so there are higher chances of getting infected. Hence, in that situation, latex-free gloves can be a life saver.

●  Thermometer: 

A thermometer is an essential item in a first aid kit. When a patient is ill, one can monitor the temperature with the help of a thermometer.

● Instant cold compress:

These can help to deal with sprains, sore joints, and aches.

● Aspirin:

Aspirin is needed in case of chest pain. However, it is advisable that one must always read the warnings, especially when a child is injured.

Mentioned above are some of the essentials for a first aid kit. However, the list can vary depending on the requirements. 

Conclusion

Another thing to keep in mind while buying a first aid kit is that the box or whatever you are using to contain all the items must be waterproof. In injuries, time is always considered crucial; a slight delay can cost someone's life. It would help if you always had medical supplies ready. Hence, with a first aid kit, one can stop the bleeding and start the treatment on the spot

This is a guest blog entry.