Ways to Maintain Your Mental Health

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving society, there are many factors that may have a negative effect on your mental health. These include hectic work schedules, a busy family life, natural disasters, life-changing events, and ever increasing exposure to screen time, among others. The natural aging process also influences mental changes, such as decreased mental functioning and slower processing speed (although certain lifestyle habits can help delay or prevent these types of age-related changes in mental abilities from occurring). In this article, we will explore some of the most essential and beneficial strategies for maintaining your mental health.

Eat Nutritious Meals

A new and rapidly-developing field called “Nutritional Psychiatry” emphasizes the important role that nutrition plays in sustaining optimal mental health. Research shows that individuals whose diets consist of healthier foods are less likely to experience psychiatric symptoms or mental disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, dementia). This healthy diet includes food such as lean meats, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruit, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and fish. In contrast, people who eat more processed foods (such as chips, hamburgers, pizza, white bread, flavored beverages, beer, etc.) have a higher risk of experiencing mental health problem.

Eating processed foods is associated with increased concentrations of inflammatory substances that can damage cells throughout the body – and brain. In other words, the same types of foods that are linked to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer may also impair your mental health. A consistent diet of processed food is associated with high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP): a marker of inflammation. Increased CRP levels are generally observed in the brains of individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease. High levels of this protein have been found to increase the risk of developing dementia as well. Healthy food such as legumes and fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that have active components which disrupt the activity of inflammatory substances that can damage brain cells. Research indicates that a nutrient-rich diet supports optimal mental clarity, focus, performance, memory function, and a heightened mood.

Perform Exercise on a Regular Basis
 
Exercise is as essential as proper nutrition. Regular physical activity has proven to be beneficial toward enhancing memory function while reducing anxiety and depression. In particular, exercising releases mood-, mental performance-, and energy-enhancing neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) such as adrenaline and dopamine, as well as endorphins, which are mood-enhancing hormones.

This process supports enhanced mental health.

Heightened levels of these neurotransmitters and endorphins improve the body’s ability to maintain mental stability in response to emotional distress that may be experienced during future incidents. Exercise has a sustained effect on anxiety levels and mood. This helps individuals who exercise on a regular basis display more emotional stability and enhanced mental resilience to intense situations.

Kids playing sports regularly show more resilience against stressful events.  The same degree of mental composure is not always observed in people who are not physically active. As little as thirty minutes of daily exercise provides these types of benefits toward your mental health.

Try Alternative Approaches

When you believe that self monitored measures are not adequate, it is time to see a professional.  The world of medications and therapy has developed over many decades although some individuals either do not like the side effects of the medications or do not find them helpful.  Talk therapy can be significantly helpful for many individuals.  Now there are various smartphone apps that help addressing anxiety, insomnia, and other mental health symptoms. 

Epidemiological studies show that about one third of people with depression do not respond to several trials of medications and therapy.  For them, other non-medication interventions such as deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) can be beneficial.  dTMS involves use of magnetic pulses to stimulate neurons in the brain. This type of deep stimulation helps target psychiatric symptoms such as depression, as well as cognitive impairments such as memory problems, language issues, and decreased processing speed. It even targets mental difficulties that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical research shows that dTMS reduces psychiatric symptoms in many neuropsychiatric conditions. 

There are different types of transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols, but dTMS is well tolerated and has improved efficacy with treatment resistant depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).  Shorter duration of the sessionis also an added benefit, especially for people who have busy schedules.  A session lasts for about 20 minutes, which allows people to return to their daily activities with little delay. It is an FDA approved procedure backed by multiple clinical trials. 

The key to maintaining your health is incorporating healthy habits into your lifestyle. 

Remember,habits that can have a negative effect on your physical health can also disrupt your mental health. A nutritious diet nourishes both your body and mind, and regular exercise releases natural substances that further enhance mental health.  If needed, seek professional help to see if you can benefit from technologically advanced treatments with deep TMS.  It is necessary that you approach your health in holistic manner and implement lifestyle changes that improve your physical and mental health because one is incomplete without other.

Author bio: Dr. Manish Sheth is Licensed and Board Certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. He has experience working with patients who have various conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, anxiety, ADHD, and various mood disorders. He is the founder of AchieveTMS.com

How are the electronic cigarette companies helping people to shift from tobacco smoking?

Did you know that it was stated by Public Health England in the year 2015 that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking? This declaration led the entire UK to completely endorse these vaping products as the best and the most effective forms of smoking cessation aids. It was later on added that although vaping is not 100% safe and free of risk but if considered as an option against tobacco cigarettes, they’re certainly much safer. Moreover, the e-cigarette companies are promoting e-cigs as smoking cessation tools and people are being asked to take to vaping in order to be able to quit smoking.


While you can vape e-liquids or e-juices, you can also find CBD oil and vape pens from Vsavi from the wide array of collections that they have. Keeping in mind the fact that CBD oil doesn’t produce the ‘high’ feeling which is usually common with THC which is also found in cannabis plants, it is common that CBD is also now being accepted as a vaping element.

What does a successful ex-smoker has to say about quitting tobacco?

The first thing that you have to focus on while quitting smoking is to use the vaporizer in the right way. When you take a single puff on  your cigarette, this will contain higher level of nicotine as compared to an e-cig and hence you have to determine the total number of puffs which you require taking in order to inhale the right level of nicotine. If you fail to get that required amount, the ex-smokers will continue to crave for the stimulant and this can soon make them reach out for a cigarette.

There are various types of vaporizers and the best ones for stopping smoking are the ones where you are allowed to adjust the level of nicotine that you inhale. This will let you minimize the amount of nicotine over time. Experts always suggest that at the first, you should rather keep it simple instead of experimenting with several flavours and other fancy devices for vaping. Remember that the familiar and simpler it feels, the effortless the transition will be.

You’ve got to control your health

Despite all this that you came to know about the benefits of vaping over smoking, no-one is suggesting that you should take to vaping e-cigs for a long term. Once an ex-smoker weans off of nicotine, he/she should begin to work on putting aside the vaping devices to take proper care of his/her health.

So, if you’re someone who is trying to quit smoking with the help of vaping, you can take into account the above listed ways of weaning yourself away from the habit of smoking.

This is a guest blog post.

Tips to Finding a Good Rehab Center in NJ

Overcoming an addiction is not easy if you don’t get professional help. In NJ, there are several rehab centers offering treatment services to addicts. Although there are several centers to choose from, finding the perfect rehab center for you or a loved one depends on many things. When looking for the best rehab center, there are certain things that you need to consider for you to make the right decision.

That is because rehab services are different depending on what type of addiction you want to deal with.

Some of the things to look for when searching for rehab centers in NJ include:

How long it has been in existence

The high demand for rehab services can make it easy for someone to take advantage of you. That's why it is better to go to a rehab center that has been in existence for a more extended period of time, let’s say five years. According to experts, a rehab center that has been operating for a longer period of time is more likely to be capable of handling your addiction problem compared to one which has just been opened recently.

Reports also have it that many new rehab centers in NJ end up being shut down due to unethical practices. Note that the high demand for rehab services should not point you to a rehab center that you know nothing about.

Types of treatment offered

Addictions are dealt with differently. As there are institutions that use medical procedures, there are others that use a more spiritual and mental approach. Depending on what type of addiction you want to fight, you will know which rehab center to go for. However, it is advisable that you find professional advice on which type of rehab center and treatment will work for you. It is better to know which kind of help you need because it will give you an easy time of knowing where to find help.



Location

The location of a rehab center plays a huge role. Addicts live a very stressful life, and there is nothing better than finding a rehab center that is ideally located. In most cases, people prefer going to rehab centers that are located in private and quiet neighborhoods. That is because such patients require a peaceful place where they can let go of their stress. A good location should also give the patient freedom to meditate peacefully without triggering a relapse.

How long the treatment will take

After being assessed by a physician and the problem identified, the physician is likely to know how long treatment should take. Note that, there are different ways of dealing with addiction. There are rehab centers that will take a matter of days to solve your problem while some addiction cases require the patient to be admitted.

Whichever the case, it is important to know how long you or your loved one can take before the problem is solved. You should also note that it is not a must for a patient to stay in a rehab center to receive treatment. Most rehab services tend to diversify how they treat patients with respect to their condition. That is why you will find rehab centers offering treatment to patients without requiring them to leave their homes.

Conclusion

Finding the best rehabilitation center for you or your loved one involves more than searching the internet. You need to make a few confirmations before starting your search. However, the best way to start looking for the perfect rehab center is to first identify the problem. After that, you will slowly get to find out the best type of treatment and then finally find where to get the treatment.

This is a guest blog entry.

Choosing the right bike for touring and for health purposes

Traveling on a bike is an incredible feeling plus a different means to mix travel with the cycling the sport. Bike touring has unique equipment needs beginning from the most vital item: the bicycle itself. If you desire to have it correct from the start, it is significant to discern how choosing the right bike for touring goes well with your needs.

What are some of the cycling benefits?

Weight control and obesity

Cycling is a decent way to reduce or control weight, as it increases the metabolic rate, burns body fat and builds muscle. If you want to lose weight, biking must be combined with an excellent eating plan. Cycling is a contented form of workout, and one can adjust the intensity and time– it can be built up gradually to suit your needs.

Muscle tone and strength

Cycling shall build muscle, particularly the glutes, calf, and quads. The extra muscle mass one grows, the stress-free it is to burn fat. Conditional on how you cycle it can likewise tone plus build the upper body. If one frequently stands in the saddle, the shoulders and arms shall get a decent work-out as well.

Better-quality cardiovascular function

Biking is an aerobic activity, which implies your lungs, blood vessels and heart all have a work-out. With time, cycling shall decrease the blood pressure plus the resting heart rate. Cycling a bicycle fast, or on mountains, is the sort of vigorous physical activity of which numerous people do not get adequately.

Cycling diminishes cancer risk and heart disease.

Cycling upsurges your heart rate and gets blood pumping in the body, plus it burns down calories, off-putting the risk of one being obese. Therefore, it is amid a collection of forms of exercise recommended as being a healthy means to cut the risk of developing serious illnesses like heart disease or cancer.

Augmented energy

Riding builds muscle strength, overall physical endurance, and stamina; consequently, for several new cyclists, it is an unanticipated advantage to have extra energy for everyday activities. Walking up the stairs shall no longer be a strenuous exercise with the extra fitness and strength built with consistent cycling.

Arthritis, bone injuries, and cycling

Cycling improves coordination, strength and balance. It may likewise aid to inhibit fractures and falling. Cycling your bicycle is a relaxing form of exercise for those people with osteoarthritis as it is a low-impact exercise that places little stress on your joints. Biking does not precisely help osteoporosis (the bone-thinning illness) because it is not a weight-bearing sort of exercise.

Mental ailment and cycling

Mental health disorders for example stress, anxiety and depression can be abridged by steady bike riding. This is owing to the consequences of the workout itself and because of the pleasure that riding can offer.

Choosing the right bike for touring can help to guard you from grave ailments for example stroke, several cancers, heart attack, obesity, arthritis, diabetes and dejection. Bike riding is healthy, delightful and a low-impact sort of exercise for everybody.

This is a guest blog entry.

Top 20 Things You Should Know About Common Pain Relievers

Pain is nothing but the agitation of the nerves which is the body’s way of saying that some part of it needs immediate attention and care. The concept and application of painkillers and pain relievers has been around for over two thousand years. Back in the olden times, people used the essence of the bark of a willow tree to cure fever and pain. With the passage of time, modern medicines have come a long way and now a wide array of different pain relievers have been developed for commercial use.

What are pain relievers?

Pain relievers are medicines that help decrease and reduce headaches, sore muscles, arthritis and other such bodily pains and aches. Medicines and drugs like Dolo 650 are effective pain relives that are over the counter medicines or OTCs.

20 things to know about common pain relievers

1. Effect: pain relievers are fundamentally drugs, some of which help reduce pain caused by inflammation. Conditions like arthritis are often related to inflammatory pains which can be subsided by the use of painkillers and pain relievers.
2. Strain on the gut: pain relievers are hard on the stomach walls and can cause irritation from continued use. Apart from the most common OTC, aspirin, Dolo and another drug of the same type have been prominently observed. The side effects of medicine like dolo 650 is mentioned at docprime and are due to longer term use or heavy use of such medicine. So occasional use of pain relievers is often completely safe.
3. Other pains: pain relievers are generally associated with pain caused by inflation. For other pains which are non- inflammatory based, acetaminophen is recommended to ease pains in a different way.
4. Specific COX- 2 inhibitors: developed in the year 1990, this is a new class of pain relievers that are said to be just as effective but have a positive side which would spare the stomach from irritation. Though easy on the gut, this line of drugs can put a strain on the heart. Because of this, dosages of 200mg each day is set as the maximum becaue under this limit the heart bears little strain.
5. Common OTCs: Dolo 650 side effects are not very severe as it is one of the common OTC’s which are less expensive than the branded one and work just as well. Buying generic pain relievers is a great choice for normal occasional use.
6. Extra help: if a person finds themselves in a position where he or she needs to take pain relievers every day for a long time, then they should take some complementary medicines to counteract the strain put on the stomach due to continuous consumption of pain relievers.
7. Pain relievers and aspirin: if a doctor has recommended and prescribed aspirin from the heart, then taking pain relievers before the aspirin will help prevent clots from forming in the blood due to the properties of aspirin.
8. Time difference: if one happens to be taking multiple medicines along with pain relievers, then he or she should wait 8 hours after taking a pain reliever before administering other medication.
9. Blood pressure: pain relievers tend to increase the blood pressure of the patient who takes the drug. This is most prominent in people who already have high blood pressure but can also be seen in those with normal blood pressure also.
10. Kidney problems: pain relievers, when taken in heavy doses for a continued period of time can be very hard on the kidneys
    and in some extreme cases can even lead to kidney failure.
11. Effectivity: different people have different side effects of pain relievers. This is why consulting a doctor before taking any is a smart choice.
12. Different drugs: there are a plethora of different pain relievers on the market. Knowing which one is the best for a person is important to get the best results.
13. Allergic reaction: reading the key components of pain relievers is a vital part of buying one. There are different components and a person may have an allergic reaction to a specific type of pain reliever.
14. Types of pain relievers: there are two types of OTC pain relievers. Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. The first is used for fever related pain and pains from non-inflammatory sources and the later is for pain caused due to inflammation.
15. Safe amount to take: NSAIDs and other pain relievers are safe for everyday use but it is wise to stick to the lowest required dosage. Staying below 3,000 mg each day will help avoid any major future complications.
16. Prescription: one does not need to have a prescription to buy pain relievers OTC but is it important to make sure that you have consulted a doctor before taking any.
17. Side effects: the major side effects of pain relievers are nausea, drowsiness, and constipation. This is why a doctor should handle and manage the medication closely.
18. Safest drug: for most of the older adults and elderly, the safest pain reliever is acetaminophen which is commonly known as paracetamol.
19. Immunity: after taking any pain relievers, the immune system of the body tends to weaken. It is important to take rest and be careful after taking pain relievers as the immunity of the body breaks down.
20. Avoiding alcohol: alcohol and pain relievers should never be taken at the same time. The combination of the two can prove to have disastrous consequences on the body and should be avoided at all costs. 

For those who are taking pain relievers or are considering taking this type of drug; they should be aware of these common aspects and traits of pain relievers and the act of consuming them. No matter what the cause of the intensity of the pain, it is crucial to get a doctor’s point of view and have a check up before self-administering any kind of pain reliever. Being aware of these common aspects of pain reliever will help people avoid any major problems in the future and can make their way to a speedy recovery.

This is a guest blog entry.

Top 5 CBD Affiliate Marketing Programs You Should Consider Investing in

For those who are unfamiliar, CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It is one of the many compounds you find in a Cannabis plant. No, it is not an illegal drug, and in fact, the World Health Organization has recommended not to schedule it as an internationally controlled substance. CBD is an entirely natural product that almost has no side effects when ingested. It is used to treat epilepsy, relieve pain, drastically reduce anxiety and help with depression.

The CBD industry is projected to become a 22 billion USD industry by 2022 according to marketing experts at Brightfield Group. With this growth, comes great opportunity. More than being able to enjoy the wonderful benefits of this natural drug, you too, can enjoy the profit it brings.

Here are the top five CBD affiliate marketing you should consider investing in:

1. Hemp Bombs

Hemp Bombs is undisputed in offering the best opportunities to affiliate marketers. They provide the best pricing, customer experience, and has one of the best websites that’s proven to convert customers. More than having a user-friendly website, Hemp Bombs also provides high-quality content that you can share for promotional purposes. CBD articles are essential to educate customers about its benefits and remove the stigma of Cannabis. Other educational materials can also be found at https://trustedcbdoil.com/.

Here are more benefits of joining Hemp Bombs:

• Commission rate starts at 20%
• They provide weekly payouts
• Cookies are stored for 90-days
• A chance to earn from sub-affiliates

Best selling products include tinctures, pain rub, gummies, vape juices and CBD capsules.

2. CBD Essence

CBD Essence’s major selling point for affiliate marketers is their cookie storage time which lasts up to 180-days. When cookies are stored longer, your earning capabilities increases as well. They also offer high-quality products and customer service. More than the service, they are also proud of their friendly interface that promotes a seamless online shopping experience for their customers.

Here are more benefits of joining CBD Essence:

• High converting website
• They offer free shipping to entice more customers
• Prompt monthly payments
• 180-day cookie period

Best selling products include pastes, pet CBD, edibles, tinctures and capsules.

3. CBD FX

CBD FX is a known and certified CBD manufacturer and seller. They manufacture CBD oil, shots and capsules. What’s good about CBD FX is their dedication to selling quality products to their consumers. They offer almost every CBD products in the market, so it’s a one-stop shop for customers which means more chances of conversion. CBD FX also provides their customers a Certificate of Analysis for each product they sell. The certificate shows the customer that they received a full-spectrum CBD product.

Here are more benefits of joining CBD FX:

• 20% affiliate commissions
• 10% potential earning from sub-affiliates
• Personalized coupons and URLs
• Sign-up bonus of up to $25

Best selling products include pen kits, CBD wax dabs, CBD shots, oils and vape juice.
 

4. Diamond CBD

Diamond CBD is another affiliate marketing company that offers high-quality CBD products. Their team manually selects the plants they use for their products from farms in Kentucky and Colorado. They say that they don’t use any synthetic compounds and it’s all pure organic and natural CBD. More than using social media to promote products, they also do offline events that put their customers, front and center — which means more opportunities to earn.

Here are more benefits of joining Diamond CBD:

• 30-day cookie
• Monthly payouts
• 20% commission
• Positive consumer reviews

Best selling products include gummies, creams, wax dabs, edibles and beverages.

5. CBD Pure

Another industry leader, CBD Pure is one of the leading CBD oil providers. Their affiliate commission rate is unmatched and the highest in the industry.  CBD Pure’s parent company has over ten years of marketing experience in consumer products. They also offer a 90% money-back guarantee to their customers which is the reason why a lot of customers trust in their product.

Here are more benefits of joining Diamond CBD:

• 40% commission (highest in the market)
• 30-day cookie
• No pesticides and herbicides on their plants
• Monthly payouts
• 5% commission on sub-affiliates

Best selling products include oil, tinctures and softgel capsules.

Conclusion

The CBD market is the next gold rush, and with a projected billion dollar industry in a couple of years, you don’t want to get left behind. These affiliate marketing companies have been around for a couple of years and have amassed a massive customer following. Signing up is the easy part, what's challenging is turning those promotions into profits. If you’re not sure which company to go for, you can always try them all and see which one you prefer.

This is a guest blog entry.

5 Tips for Staying Healthy As A Professional Truck Driver

Professional truck drivers live a very unique lifestyle. This style of living consists of long hours on the road and away from home. As a professional truck driver, you may have noticed how the job can take a toll on your health. In fact, too many truck drivers put their health second to their driving duties. As a result, they suffer from numerous health problems. Taking some time out for jogging won’t kill you. Fortunately, there are methods for living a healthier life. Here are some tips for staying healthy as a professional truck driver.

Find Ways To Exercise Daily

Professional truck drivers often underestimate their chances to exercise regularly. Of course, you spend long hours sitting each day. However, you also make frequent stops along the way. Take advantage of these pit stops. Use the time to move your body. You can do something as simple as performing 20 push-ups outside your truck. There is also the option to get in a quick, 10-minute walk. Other exercise times may include food runs and bathroom stops. Find ways to exercise daily to stay healthy as a professional truck driver.

Set Aside Time To Rest
Another way to stay healthy as a professional truck driver is to allocate time to rest. Truck driving is not a typical 9-5 job. On the contrary, you may be required to begin a shift at 1:00 AM. With this in mind, it can be difficult to get enough sleep. You must set aside at least 8 hours a day for sleep. As a trucker, this is a crucial tip to follow. Without enough rest, you could put your life along with others' lives at risk. According to this Guide to California Truck Accident Laws, you could face consequences like tickets, loss of job or CDL license if found to be at-fault in an accident. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, get the recommended amount of sleep each day. It will keep your mind and body feeling energized. Hence, designating 8 hours for rest is essential to staying healthy.

Eat When You Are Hungry

To stay healthy as a professional truck driver, you must eat when you are hungry. Truck driver or not, waiting until you are starving is abusive to your body. When you wait too long to eat, your body's blood sugar levels drop. Then, your body signals that you are starving. Severe dips in blood sugar could lead to diabetes in the future. Your career can be negatively impacted by such a diagnosis. It can be difficult to keep up with blood sugar checks while on the road. Fortunately, it is preventable. The simple solution is to eat regularly so that you do not starve yourself and mess with your sugar levels.

Grab Healthy On-The-Go Foods

While eating frequently is important, you must fuel your body with healthy foods. You will not benefit from eating when you are hungry if you are eating tons of junk food. Many truck drivers are under the impression that the only on-the-go food options are unhealthy ones. Nowadays, there are plenty of nutritious food options to eat health while traveling. Choose an apple instead of a bag of chips. Purchase unsalted trail mix instead of a bag of M&M's. Simple food swaps will keep your body and mind working properly throughout long shifts. Even if you choose to eat more frequently, healthy food choices will keep you sustained throughout the day.

Exercise Your Mind

You can also maintain a healthy mind through exercise. While driving for several hours per day, your mind can also fall short of activity. Life on the road does not always permit the chance to do a crossword puzzle, read, or solve math equations. Luckily, there are other ways to exercise your brain while on the road. As long as you do not get distracted, you can listen to audiobooks. If this do not sound interesting to you, turn to music. Music can stimulate your brain as well. Start by varying your genre preferences. Open your mind up to new songs and artists. Get creative in exercising your mind to stay mentally healthy and strong as a professional truck driver.

Professional truck driver should follow these tips to take care of their physical and mental health. Contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be difficult to maintain. Firstly, find ways to exercise each day. Allocate enough time for sleep. Eat when you are hungry. When those times come, choose healthy food options. Lastly, ensure your mind gets enough exercise while on the road too. All of these tips will contribute to your health while driving for a living.

This is a guest blog entry.

5 Bad Habits We Should Give Up In Order To Lose Weight

Losing weight seems to be a rather delicate topic nowadays. Advising someone to start working out or eating healthier might come across as a direct and personal attack. And, though it’s true that the media has hardwired our brains to think that being skinnier is always better; the point might come where our weight starts to interfere with our health; then, rather than an aesthetic socially induced choice, it becomes an issue that might tamper with our happiness, our health, and our life.

It’s always important to ask ourselves this question: Why do I want to lose weight? Whatever the answer is, it should always revolve around us and how we feel about ourselves without taking into account what others (unless it’s a health professional) might think.

Nevertheless, even if we actually want to lose weight, there are several bad habits that are  ‘normal’ companions to our everyday life and may end up sabotaging our own goals. And the worst part is that in a lot of cases we’re not even aware of it.

Here are 5 bad habits that are stopping you from losing weight successfully:

Not enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is what gives us the energy to function the next day. If we don’t charge up our own batteries, our body will try to store extra fat the next time we eat, because, as amazing as nature is, it “thinks” that this will become a habit and it needs to have enough energy to compensate for our lost sleep.

Not having enough sleep also affects the secretion of cortisol, which is the hormone that regulates our appetite. In other words, we’re setting our own bodies in survival mode and we will feel hungrier because we don’t have enough energy to go through the day.

Losing sleep might not be something we’re doing because we want to. It can be induced by stress, depression, long working hours, amongst other factors. However, no matter what’s happening in life, we have to keep in mind that we need to take proper care of ourselves. Before the paying the bills or dealing with any stressful situation, we need to always prioritize our well-being by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Not eating in a healthy way

This does not only refer to what we eat. The way we eat also plays a huge role in how our weight is managed. We all know there are certain types of food that will make us gain weight. But even if we’re eating only “healthy” food, not doing it properly can still tamper with our weight-loss plan.

Bad habits such as skipping breakfast, overeating at dinner, or doing our grocery shopping without having eaten first, are small and simple things that without us even noticing, will have a negative effect on the way we lose or gain weight.

Just as with sleep deprivation, skipping breakfast sets our body on survival mode, making it use the reserved energy it might have and forcing it to store more fat the next time we eat. Eating more than enough will force the stomach to grow bigger which leads to us needing more food to feel satisfied. Even buying food while being hungry becomes a massive willpower test that, if we’re being honest, not many of us can overcome.

We need to make sure we always have healthy snacks at home for those situations where it’s not either lunch or dinner time, but we still need to eat something. Keeping a bag of any kind of nuts at home, as well as fruits, will always be an amazing alternative to chips or junk food in general.

Leading a sedentary life

It’s always important to remain active. Having a 9 to 5 office job will certainly never be demanding enough to be considered as exercise. If we go straight to the couch to watch TV right after we get back home from work, we will not only be getting our bodies used to do nothing, but we will be providing it with a lot more energy than what it actually needs and consumes. Thus, we start the path that leads to gain weight.

There are many activities and workout routines that we can follow to help us lose weight, but it really is a combination of quite a few things that will fit together as pieces of the puzzle to a healthy fit lifestyle.

Alcohol and soft drinks

We can’t always turn away from a couple drinks after work, or a soda with popcorn when we go to the movies, but it should never become a habit. Being able to enjoy a weekend with friends while having some beers or cocktails is never a sin, but when we start to do it a bit too often, we might not only be gaining an immense amount of calories without even noticing, but we could also be abusing our food intake when abusing alcohol.

Our sugar intake with drinks becomes a lot more dangerous because we can’t really feel it, plus, continuous alcohol intake makes our body and digestive system slower, making it harder to process the sugar and a lot harder to process the existing fat,

Eating more than what’s necessary

More than eating too much, what we should think about is: Is it really necessary? We can’t always be loyal to our diet or our workout routine, and sometimes it will be OK to “cheat” but instead of going out of proportion with it, we can evaluate and make healthier choices within an unhealthy one.

For example: Next time we’re getting a hamburger with fries and a drink, we can stop for a second and say no if we’re asked whether we want extra bacon with it, or choose water instead of cola, or simply getting a normal portion instead of having it large. It all comes down to smaller healthier choices that little by little will start to make a difference not only in our appearance but also in our habits and decisions.

Losing weight is something that will always require some effort, dedication, and discipline. If we never let go of the bad habits, we will be going around in circles without any improvement. You don’t have to turn your life over right away. It doesn’t mean we can never again get ice cream during the week or getting takeout after a long day at the office. But we need to be actively taking measures to ensure that we actually achieve our goals. By doing so, we will not only be benefiting our own body, but we will also have a happier, healthier, and longer life.

Did you find this article helpful? If you’d like to suggest any other bad habits we should give up when wanting to lose weight, feel free to leave a comment below.

This is a guest blog entry.

The Pros and Cons of Fasting Diets

There always seems to be a new dieting craze year after year. Once it was the juice cleanse, now it’s the fasting diet, but do they actually work? The short answer is that it depends on the diet. The juice cleanse has been proven largely ineffective by many studies over the years, whereas the fasting diet’s success in helping you lose weight is both due to its extreme nature and due to the cellular processes that fasting induces.

As with any diet, it is your lifestyle habits outside of whatever meal plan you choose that will dictate your ongoing success. Low-calorie and fasting diets, however, provide a stepping stone to your losing the weight and hitting your desired weight quickly and easily. Then, once you have reached your goal, you can find ways to help you stick to your weight through exercise and calorie control.

The Pros of Fasting Diets

Fasting can be quite good for the body and your lifestyle, but only when done with all the facts at hand. Just like anything if taken to the extreme, you can experience incredibly negative side effects.

Before we get into that, however, here is a quick rundown of the benefits:

Can Change Your Cellular Process
Your cells react to fasting in many interesting ways. One of the most interesting reactions to fasting is that it forces your cells to go into autophagy, which means your cells purge themselves of unhealthy toxins they have built up over time and even increases their cell repair process.

Can Help Burn Fat Directly
Fasting can also put your body into ketosis, which burns fat faster than many other options on the market. This means through fasting, you can finally burn off that belly fat that has been plaguing you for ages.

Health Improvements
You can see a variety of health improvements through fasting, especially when done on a specific diet that is designed to introduce the process of ketosis. Some health improvements of those on fasting diets include:

• Reduction Insulin Levels and Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
• Reduction Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
• Reduction Cholesterol Levels
• Reduction Cancer Risk
• Reduction and Improve Alzheimer’s
• Reduction Longevity

More studies need to be done on human subjects in order to verify the findings of current studies of fasting in relation to these health benefits, but so far the scientific evidence is in favor of the practice.

The Cons of Fasting Diets 
 
Like all diets, there are cons, but regarding fasting, these are limited with the benefits far outweigh any disadvantages.

Common Side Effects of Fasting Diets
Some common side effects of these fasting diets include:

• Lethargy
• Hunger
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Nausea

Fasting diets should also never be done for more than 12 weeks at a time, though intermittent 5:2 diets can be done for longer. Regardless of what your strategy, always work with others to ensure your health remains safe while you lose their weight.

Low-calorie diets, such as the intermittent 5:2 diet, has risen in popularity recently because of its simplicity. Reducing your calorie intake for two days a week can help you gain the many benefits above.

This is a guest blog entry.

4 Viruses Travelers to Asia Should be Aware Of

Each region around the world has their own collection of exotic and not so exotic viruses that travelers might be vulnerable to. Some are ones that you can get inoculations against before you travel whereas, for others, there’s no known protection.

It’s fair to say that most visitors to Asia don’t pick up anything untoward, but nonetheless, it’s good to understand what viruses are present in Asia.

Here are four viruses that travelers in Asia should pay attention to.

Dengue

Dengue and the resulting dengue fever are a collection of viruses that are all carried by mosquitoes.

Dengue fever has two forms. The first is regular dengue fever and the second is hemorrhagic fever, which includes bleeding as a secondary symptom.

Travelers with dengue will usually exhibit three main symptoms: fever, headache, and joint/muscle pain. Swollen glands and a body rash in the latter stages are not uncommon too.

While some medicines prescribed by a clinic or hospital will lessen the severity of the symptoms, there is no cure currently for dengue fever. Additional medicine and a hospital stay are required with hemorrhagic fever because it affects the platelet levels in the blood and is potentially life-threatening. Usually, hemorrhagic fever only occurs in the second or subsequent dengue infection.

To protect against all kinds of disease, it’s sensible for China expats to buy travel or health insurance. This will cover a hospital stay for illnesses that require it, such as hemorrhagic fever.

Zoonotic

The zoonotic viruses are highly infectious and originate from animals like bats. It can be transmitted to humans through a scratch or bite. There’s a selection of viruses that get transmitted from animals to humans, which include the Nipah and Hendra viruses.

For travelers who plan to go spelunking in caves or visit caves as part of a tour group, it’s worth considering whether you need any booster shots before you travel.

Gastrointestinal

Almost one-third of diseases reported by travelers across multiple GeoSentinel websites who returned from a trip to SE Asia were gastrointestinal by nature. The most common issues related to this included Salmonella, Campylobacter, and diarrhea.

The main issue with eating food in SE Asia is the level of cleanliness of the food, its preparation, and who is preparing it. Not every cook washes their hands thoroughly before preparing meals. Cooks at street stalls often receive banknotes as payment and go back to preparing street food without washing their hands. Therefore, bacteria on the banknotes is transferred to the food preparation area. Standards of food hygiene and a better understanding of how to achieve sensible food standards is an ongoing development issue in the region.

Be aware that unprepared food must be actively chilled and covered. Bacteria multiply in the sweltering heat of Asia. A rapid turnover of food at a busy, organized street food stall can be safer than a restaurant that doesn’t get much trade. The stall’s food might be refrigerated and fresh that day.

Zika

The Zika virus is not that common, but it occurs both in dense urban areas and rural ones too. There are a few cases a year, but the virus is particularly virulent. Zika was first seen in Africa and then traveled to Asia in the 1950s. There are no major outbreaks at present in Asia, but the odd case pops up. The virus itself is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is common within the Asian continent.

To prevent dengue, avoid being outside during the evening and wear long pants or a skirt when you do. Get a mosquito net over the bed if your accommodation occasionally has mosquitoes flying around. Also, use common sense about food choices. Where possible, stick with places that didn’t cause you an upset stomach the last time you ate there.

This is a guest blog entry.

Cholesterol, Explained

When was the last time you were at a dinner and someone refused to eat a certain food because it contained “high cholesterol”?

We all have cholesterol. In fact, we need it to function healthily. Here are some common questions and answers about this popular but often misunderstood substance in our bodies.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a white, fatty substance found on the walls of arteries. There are two main types: one is made by your liver, the other comes from the foods you eat.

What does it do?

Your body uses cholesterol to make sex hormones, build tissue, and produce bile.

What is “bad” cholesterol?

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, otherwise known as “bad” cholesterol, make up most of your body’s cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol on the walls of your arteries logically make the artery narrower and less efficient in transporting blood. This is a risk factor for more serious heart issues down the road.

What is “good” cholesterol?

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, otherwise known as “good” cholesterol absorbs excess cholesterol and delivers it back to the liver, which then excretes it from the body. In other words, good HDL helps get rid of the bad LDL.

Am I at risk of cholesterol problems?

There are several risk factors associated with cholesterol, some of which you can control, some you cannot. Let’s break it down into these two categories.

Risk factors you cannot control:
-    Family history of high cholesterol
-    Familial hypercholesterolemia
-    Age – the older you are, the more at risk you are
-    Sex – more men than women have cholesterol problems

Risk factors you can control:
-    Diet high in saturated and trans fat
-    Not enough exercise
-    Obesity
-    Smoking

Should I get my cholesterol checked?

The American Heart Association recommends anyone age 20 and above to get their cholesterol checked once every 4-6 years. If you have a familial history of high cholesterol, talk to your doctor.

Does high cholesterol affect children?

We often think of cholesterol as an “old people problem.” Risk increases with age, but children are not exempt from high cholesterol problems.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a serious genetic disorder that can put a child at high risk for heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends testing children who have a parent or grandparent that had cardiac issues and other conditions.

What are complications from too much cholesterol?

Since excess cholesterol means a narrower artery for blood to travel through, a blockage can cause a variety of serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

What are symptoms of high cholesterol?

Unfortunately, high cholesterol doesn’t announce itself with visible symptoms. That’s why it’s important to get tested on a regular basis.

What do my cholesterol readings mean?

You may be concerned if you see your test results and it says you have a high level of total cholesterol. However, instead of looking at a single number, doctors now look at the bigger picture when assessing a patient’s cholesterol. Factors that affect your health include the ratio of HDL versus LDL as well as your triglyceride levels.

What foods cause high cholesterol?

The production of cholesterol is stimulated by foods that contain high amounts of saturated and trans fats. Saturated fats are found in animal products like meat and dairy.

What foods should you eat if you have high cholesterol?

People with high cholesterol levels should avoid foods high in saturated fat. Instead, they should eat foodhigh in fiber, such as grains, beans, and vegetables. They should also quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and be encouraged to exercise and maintain a healthy weight.

What medications are used to treat cholesterol?

There are many drugs available that can help lower your cholesterol levels. Common medications include statins like atorvastatin and simvastatin along with aspirin, ezetimibe, and bile acid sequestrants.

Since each medication has its own unique characteristics and side effects, you may react well to one and badly to another. Some medications, such as statins, are to be taken for the rest of your life. This can run up quite a bill! You can save on medications by ordering them online from a reputable international or Canadian pharmacy referral service like Rx Connected that has undergone rigorous approval procedures.

Are eggs bad for you?

In the past, eggs were demonized because they contained a lot of cholesterol. It seemed to make sense that to lower your cholesterol, you should eat less of it.

Now, we know that diet doesn’t affect cholesterol levels as much as the liver. How much cholesterol the liver makes is, in turn, affected by saturated and trans fats you eat. Eggs are not high in saturated and trans fats; therefore, most doctors say that eating an average of an egg a day should be fine for most healthy people.

The Bottom Line

High cholesterol can run in families, but if you fall into this risk category, there are many simple, everyday things you can do to lower your chance of illness. Eating well and exercising are not only good for your arteries, but your overall mental and physical health will benefit as well.

Research for this article was taken from the Center for Disease Control, the American Heart Association, Harvard Health Publishing, and the National Health Service of the UK.

This is a guest blog entry.

Seven Tips for Reducing Anxiety for Men

Anxiety can have serious adverse effects on all aspects of your life. Whether it is putting a strain on your interpersonal relationships with loved ones or making going to work a chore and a drudgery, anxiety can be a very destructive force in many ways.

Today, we are going to look at seven tips to help you reduce your anxiety and begin living a fuller life.

#1 - Exercise More

The positive effects of exercise are off the charts. Studies have shown that a regular, balanced exercise routine can result in benefits to your mood, anxiety levels, and your general outlook on life.

As with anything in life, it is essential to make sure that your exercise is balanced. There is such a thing as too much! However, if you suffer from anxiety, getting into a healthy exercise routine can help relieve some of that suffering.

#2 - Verbalize It

Sometimes as a man, it can be hard to verbalize how we are feeling. Even when dealing with severe anxiety, it can be tempting to try and “handle it” on your own. Some men think that expressing how they feel is a sign of weakness.

However, the truth is the opposite. It takes bravery to face your feelings. Getting those feelings out, instead of bottling them up, can make them more manageable.

There are many ways to approach this. However some of the best methods include talking to trusted loved ones, journaling, or consulting a trained professional. 

#3 - Try Natural Remedies

Nature is full of solutions to the problems that the modern man faces. You must know where to look.

There are some who posit that inflammation in the body causes much of the anxiety people are forced to deal with today. This inflammation prevents the body from operating at peak efficiency which can lead to a host of problems including, potentially, anxiety.

A little research will show that there is a plethora of natural anti-inflammatory treatments and supplements available.  Some of those include Omega 3 + DHA, Vitamin D3, Curcumin (aka turmeric), and organic CBD salve.

CBD oil has shown promise and potential as a natural anti-inflammatory agent.

#4 - Get Enough Sleep

The bed is your friend. Study after study has shown that most humans require a solid 7-9 hours of sleep per night. When your body does not get the amount of sleep that it needs, it compromises your health in a lot of different ways. A lack of sleep can also create stress and anxiety.

Most of the time, people do not sleep 7-9 hours per night because they have too much going on.
However, the key here is realizing that your health and well-being must take precedence. If you are serious about wanting to reduce your anxiety levels, making sure you prioritize sleep is essential.

#5 - Eat Clean

There is an old saying, “You are what you eat.” And while it may seem a bit cliché, there is still a ring of truth to this ancient wisdom. What we put inside our body in the form of food is the fuel that our bodies use to keep us going.

Look at your overall diet. What are you eating? What are the fallback foods that might be less than good for you?

If food is your fuel, make sure that you are giving your body the best ammunition available. Anxiety can flourish when our bodies are not operating at peak potential. If you are not feeding your body quality fuel, you won’t be able to produce at that higher level, and as a result, anxiety has a way better shot at controlling your life.

#6 - Practice a Positive Mindset

Our thoughts are far more powerful than we give them credit for. Negative thoughts can lead to destructive habits and the proliferation of anxiety.

We are not talking about some vague “good vibes” type of thing. Instead, we are talking about real, solid mindset. What do you think about more than anything else? What do you dwell on? Are you being grateful and looking on the bright side?

Anxiety can’t hang around for long if you are continually bringing your mind back to positive thoughts.

#7 - Learn to Say “No.”

Sometimes anxiety finds its root in too many “good things.” If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed with all the millions of things you must accomplish, chances are your anxiety is stemming from that amount of pressure you are putting on yourself.

We must fulfill our responsibilities. However, we do have the power to say “no.” There are seasons of life where we can’t handle as much as maybe we would like to. Realize that it’s ok and permit yourself to say “no” when you need to.

This is a guest blog entry.

What You Need to Know about Dental Health in the UK

The UK population may behave differently to America when it comes to Dental Health. For those looking to get clued up on the latest facts, figures, and statistics, this article comprises everything you need to know about dental health in the UK, and the habits citizens have when it comes to their teeth. The UK’s NHS system should, in theory, enable the UK to have better access to dental care. Knowing how you measure up to the rest of the world is a great way to compare how well you look after your teeth and understand the importance and effects of oral care. Therefore, these top facts about dental health in the UK have been collected to encourage you to maintain a good oral hygiene routine.

1. 1 in 3 UK adults have tooth decay

Firstly, the fact that over a third of adults have tooth decay is a revealing statistic as it shows how well the UK population are looking after their teeth as they age. The fact that over 1 in 3 adults have tooth decay shows that people are not caring for their teeth correctly.  Tooth decay is caused by plaque causing cavities in the teeth; plaque can be formed due to brushing your teeth incorrectly or eating sugary foods. It can also cause nasty symptoms such as pain, inflammation and even bad breath. There may be many reasons that people are not looking after their teeth as well as possible such as a lack of education about dental health, misinformation or time constraints make it difficult to establish a routine.

To avoid tooth decay, you should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, reducing the amount of plaque-causing bacteria which can remain on your teeth after eating. You should also floss at least once a day to stop plaque forming in the narrow gaps between your teeth. Toothbrushes can only reach about 65% of your teeth’s surfaces. Therefore, it is vital that you floss to reduce the chances of tooth decay and cavities. If you are particularly prone to plaque and decay, which can be genetic, then investing in a dentist recommended mouthwash may be able to protect your teeth throughout the day whilst also freshening your breath. However, you must ensure that you do not use mouthwash for at least half an hour after you brush your teeth. This can wash off the fluoride from your teeth and leave them exposed to bacteria.

2. 27% of the population only book dental check-ups when necessary

A poll researching why people avoided the dentist found that 42% of people that didn’t go to the dentist were scared of pain. However, most procedures are undertaken with local anesthetic and so are completely pain-free. Visiting the dentist with your child early in their life can help them to be less scared of the dentist as they become an adult. An additional 21% avoid the dentist because they worry that they will need further treatment. However, many conditions can be prevented if they are found by your dentist early, lessening the probability of major treatment.

Many people believe that you should only visit the dentist if you are in pain or see a change in your teeth such as staining. However, a lot of diseases and even cavities can be undetectable in their early stages. Regardless of whether you are in pain, you should visit the dentist at least once a year, and even twice a year on their suggestion. Routine dental check-ups can help prevent major diseases as professionals can find problems that you may not notice. Dental practices have the right equipment to check early warning symptoms. They can also advise you on your personal oral care routine, such as the best way to floss.

It is necessary for your practice to invest in reliable dental supplies from knowledgeable companies. From filling materials to ultrasonic baths, the relationship between the practice and supplier is important to fulfill their patient’s needs and enable dental professionals to perform their work to the best of their ability. To do this, dental suppliers like Kent Express provide a friendly and collaborative service that is able to provide practices with the best equipment for their needs, staying in communication with these for the duration of their relationship. For instance, their Ulticlean Ultrasonic Bath is state of the art and has a 4-litre capacity, showing how dental suppliers like these can help to provide you with both the best of technology and dental care.

3. People who consume fizzy drinks have 62% more tooth decay

On average, people that consume 3 plus glasses of fizzy drinks per day have 62% more tooth decay, including fillings and tooth loss. This is because the sugar in fizzy drinks is one of the largest reasons for tooth decay- with each sip you take, the sugar can affect your teeth for 20 minutes afterward. Therefore, drinking a lot of fizzy drinks means that your teeth are being constantly attacked. This can lead to a build-up of plaque which can eventually cause cavities that need professional work. However, fizzy drinks are particularly bad for you as they are also highly acidic. This acidity erodes the enamel of your teeth and exposes the softer and more sensitive dentin underneath. Unfortunately, enamel does not grow back, and so the effects of fizzy drinks are for life.

To avoid the problems of fizzy drinks, you should cut your consumption as much as possible. When you do drink fizzy drinks, you should drink them through a straw as this stops the liquid from being in contact with your teeth for such a long period of time. Additionally, you should also wash your mouth out with water after the drink as this neutralizes the acidity of the drink. This lessens the chance of weakening your enamel.

4. Only half of the UK are happy with their teeth

Next to the poor statistics about appointment attendance, only half of the UK are happy with their teeth. This has led to a surge in cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance of people’s teeth. From the 1980s and the start of advertisements focused on pearly whites, there has been more interest in how our teeth look rather than how healthy they are. Our lifestyles could also be a cause for our teeth looking less than perfect. Substances such as coffee, wine, and even orange juice can cause staining to our teeth. While this does not damage them, it can give teeth a yellow or brown appearance. This has led to an increase in cosmetic braces and whitening procedures. In fact, the teeth whitening is becoming increasingly popular. In the US, although their market is set to grow, as is the UK oral health market. The oral health market is a good indicator of how happy we are with our teeth as it includes products such as whitening toothpaste and whitening strips. This shows that there is an increase in dental practices in both the USA and the UK.

5. People with no natural teeth have decreased

However, there are facts which bring good news too. Although many adults have teeth removed, the percentage of people with no natural teeth has decreased. While 28% of people had no natural teeth in 1978, in 2009 only 6% of respondents were edentate. These averages show a change in our dental care in general, showing that fewer people have major tooth problems such as tooth decay. This could be through a variety of reasons such as more accessible education about dental care enabling more people to have a good oral care routine. Although we now consume higher amounts of sugar and fizzy drinks, the Faculty of Dental Health found that ‘the oral health of the population, both children’s dental decay experience and the decline [in] adult tooth loss, has improved steadily and substantially.’

6. There are 35,000 dental practitioners in the UK

There are currently around 35,000 dental practitioners working in the UK, compared to 14,000 in 1970. This growth in numbers is in direct correlation with an increase in good dental health care and more regular visits to the dentist. In the 1970s, only 44% of people with at least one natural tooth visited the dentist, compared to 61% in the 2010s. An increase in dentists is therefore incredibly positive as it ensures that more people can have access to dental health services.

7. Only 56% of children visit the dentist before their 3rd birthday

Children’s dental health is, in some ways, much more complex. Although Americans are known for visiting the dentist earlier, the statistics are not much different, with 34% not visiting the dentist in their first two years. Visiting the dentist early, before the age of 3, is important to help children get used to dental practices. By doing so, children will be less worried about the dentist as they get older. If they are worried about going to the dentist, there are many methods that you can try to soothe their fears such as making it seem like a game. Getting advice from practitioners is also vital as early as possible as this will help you to look after your child’s teeth to the best of your knowledge as they get older. Going to the dentist will enable you to get tailored advice to your child’s individual needs. It will also help you to learn the expectations as your child gets older so that you can notice immediately if there is a change or if something is wrong.

Although many adults believe that your child’s milk teeth are not important, this is completely untrue. In fact, the health of their milk teeth can have a great impact on the teeth growing under them. Due to this, it is vital that you take your child to visit the dentist at an early age to help prevent lasting problems in the future.

8. The number of children with plaque has decreased

However, the number of children with plaque has decreased by 10% in 10 years. The reasons for this could include better education about oral care routines, a decrease in sugar in snacks for children and visiting the dentist regularly. This could also be in correlation with the cosmetic dentistry trends, such as orthodontic treatments such as having braces, as this shows an increase in people focusing on their teeth and their care.

However, even though the number of children with plaque has decreased significantly, there were 45,000 hospital visits for children aged 0-19 in 2016/17. This was the largest reason for admission between the ages of 5 and 9. Therefore, children’s dental education still has many improvements to be made, with over half of 8-year-olds having tooth decay. Although there are healthy drinks and snacks available, food advertising sometimes label unhealthy drinks as healthy, such as Ribena and other fruit juices that are high in sugar. This can lead to parents and children making the wrong choices for their dental hygiene. However, one-third of children are worried about smiling due to the condition of their teeth. This proves that children’s oral health should be handled more seriously from a younger age.

Although it may sound as if dental health in the UK is not positive, when compared with results from the 1970s and before, there is a definite correlation between improved dental care and modernity. Through the better resources and education that we have in the 21st century, the UK’s dental health has improved rapidly. However, as seen from the statistics, there are still many ways that our oral care needs to improve, whether you live in the UK or USA. From using mouthwash to visiting the dentist regularly, by making one change to your oral health, you will be able to help improve the statistics and continue the growth in dental care awareness. This will be for the benefit of your dental health and overall health, too, so is certainly a good investment of your time.

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Reduce Dental Anxiety?

It is estimated that 15% of people have dental anxiety. The good news is that you can take steps to overcome this anxiety and get your teeth the care they need.

Find The Right Dentist

Most dentists will be sympathetic of your anxiety but that doesn’t mean to say they all are. You need to find a practice that gives you the highest possible level of service, such as this Heatherton dentist.

This will ensure that you feel comfortable when you finally open your mouth for your checkup.

It’s important to talk to as many of your friends as possible to find a dentist you will feel comfortable with. You should also talk to the dentist before you make an appointment. This will do more than help to alleviate your fears; it will also ensure the dentist is aware of the issue and can help you through your appointment.

Tell Friends

Getting the courage to go to the dentist by yourself is hard if you already have a dental phobia. That’s why you need to share your fears with a close friend or two. They will be able to accompany you and even hold your hand in the chair if necessary.

Breathe

Before you visit the dentist it’s a good idea to learn some breathing exercises. This can be as simple as breathing in slowly, holding for several seconds and then slowly letting it back out.

By focusing on the breathing you will be distracted from the procedures the dentist is doing.

Test Run

You may find it beneficial to book an appointment and visit without actually having a checkup.

Simply visiting the dentist and talking to them can help you to be less nervous on the next visit. Of course you’ll need to speak to your dentist to confirm this is acceptable; you may need to pay for an appointment that you don’t really use.

Keep Stress Levels Low

When you make your appointment consider what time of day will be the least stressful for you. You don’t want or need the pressure of having to go somewhere else afterwards.

It is also important to give yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment. Although sitting in the waiting room can make you feel anxious this is not as bad as the feelings of anxiety you’ll experience when you realize that you’re running late.

To combat the waiting room anxiety you should consider taking a music player or even a good book. This will help to keep your mind occupied until your appointment.

Create Hand Signals

It is important to have some simple hand signals that you can use to tell your dentist that you’re okay or that they need to stop. Ideally you should devise this before you visit the dentist but you may prefer to discuss it with them.

These signals will help you to feel in control during your appointment which can alleviate much of your dental anxiety.

Providing you take it one step at a time it is possible to overcome your fear for good.

This is a guest blog entry.

The Top 5 Pieces of Advice for Men Living with Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction is a very common condition in men which prevents them from having or maintaining erections. The major causes of ED are physical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even sleep disorders. Medication taken for health conditions can also result in erectile dysfunction. In this article, you will discover our top 5 pieces of advice for men living with ED.

See a Doctor

Erectile dysfunction is a very common occurrence among men. 42 percent of men over the age of 50 suffer from erectile dysfunction. While this percentage is high, what is shocking is that most men with this condition do not seek medical advice.

More often than not, a doctor can diagnose erectile dysfunction simply by taking a patient’s history and then completing a targeted physical exam. While there are countless drugs advertised on the internet for ‘curing’ erectile dysfunction, seeing a doctor remains the best option for treating ED.

Have Patience with Drugs

While there are numerous treatment methods for erectile dysfunction, drugs are prescribed by doctors more than others. If you get a prescription drug to treat erectile dysfunction, it means that the drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and works as stated.

Remember that stress and anxiety make symptoms of erectile dysfunction worse. So, if you are taking medications for ED, it is best to give the drug time to work. These drugs work, but erections don’t always happen on command.

A Healthy Lifestyle Can Change a Lot
 
Certain activities or lack of activity can have an impact on ED, so before trying medications or natural remedies for ED, a man could consider making some lifestyle changes.

• Exercise Regularly: Exercising is one of the most active ways of treating health conditions. Regular exercise improves blood pressure and blood flow which are important factors for erections. According to studies, men who walked for 30 minutes daily were 41 percent less likely to have erectile dysfunction.
   
• Quit Smoking: Men who are living with ED are advised to quit smoking which is one major cause of erectile dysfunction. Over a short period of time, the nicotine in the cigarette causes the blood vessels to constrict which is necessary for getting an erection. In the long-term, nicotine contributes to hardening of the arteries that can cause erectile dysfunction.
   
• Reduce Your Alcohol Intake or Stop: Alcohol is a depressant, not an aphrodisiac or a libido enhancer. Excessive consumption can interfere with the ability to achieve an erection at any age, and even occasional drinking can make erectile dysfunction worse in older men.
   
• Reducing Stress: A man can have issues with sexual performance if he is overly stressed. Stress can come from a variety of circumstances including work, finances, and relationship troubles. Finding ways to cope with these issues can help reduce stress and may improve ED.
   
• Stick to a Healthy Diet: Eating certain foods and avoiding others can help reduce or treat erectile dysfunction. According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, men whose diet contained plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish — with little red meat and processed grains — were less likely to experience erectile dysfunction.

Your Partner Can Be the Game Changer

It is important for the partner of a man with erectile dysfunction to talk about the problem with him. The care and concern of a partner is often the reason a man seeks medical advice and counseling.

Having a conversation with your partner should be the very first step to take if you begin showing symptoms of ED. Your partner should be aware of the situation –most relationships have ended because of a lack of communication about such conditions. Start with your own feelings about the situation, and what can be done.

Partners can give valuable support throughout the treatment process. With a good understanding of the problem and how the treatment should work, couples can work together to bring about a positive result for their relationship.

Erectile dysfunction: A possible warning sign of serious disease

Erectile dysfunction is a major cause for worry, however, men should know that ED is barely a warning sign for an even more serious condition. According to Dr. Timothy Boone, the chairman of the department of urology at the Methodist Hospital in Houston most men do not realize that ED is a warning sign of potential cardiovascular disease.

People with diabetes are at greater risk of developing atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The condition is caused by a buildup of plaque on the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrition to the heart. This plaque can restrict blood flow and poor blood flow is the number one cause of ED.

The levels of sugar in the blood has a direct effect on the body’s production of Nitrous Oxide (Nitrous oxide is responsible for maintaining an erection, it keeps the penis firm). This means that the level of nitrous oxide will drop if blood sugar levels are not well managed.

According to Dr. Boone’s statistics, nearly 80 percent of men living with diabetes develop ED, compared to nearly 25 percent of those who do not have the disease. Normally, erectile dysfunction occurs in men over age 65, but it tends to occur on average 10 to 15 years earlier for men with diabetes. Erectile dysfunction affects more than 300 million men worldwide between the ages of 40 and 70.

In the past, people believed that 90 percent of erectile dysfunction cases psychological and 10 percent physical, however, those figures are reversed. So, if one shows symptoms of ED, you can try erectile dysfunction tablets on special occasions, but it is best to run go for tests to decipher the actual cause of erectile dysfunction. Addressing the cause of ED will not only increase your chances of reversing the effects of ED but ensure you live a healthy life.

This is a guest blog entry.

4 Ailments You Probably Haven't Heard of (From Scalp Psoriasis to Wolman Disease)

If you think there are more – and worse – diseases threatening humankind today, you are not mistaken. Doctors and researchers uncover new illnesses and potential health issues every day. They also work hard in finding new and better solutions for these diseases as well as existing, known ones.

Some ailments are not discussed as frequently as the others, even though they are quite common.
That is why in this article, we are going to take a look at four ailments you probably haven’t heard of.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a form of inflammation that affects the skin. It is not contagious, but it can still cause discomfort; it can develop into a more serious health issue too. You can spot symptoms of psoriasis from the itchy and elevated skin the ailment produces.

Psoriasis is also a common cause for dry scalp. Dry scalp and other scalp issues caused by psoriasis can be treated with a specialized shampoo and regular treatments. While Psoriasis is an ailment that can be cured easily, it is considered a chronic skin disease and must be taken seriously.

Chagas Disease

Chagas disease is an illness that doesn’t get enough coverage today, even though it is considered very serious. In 2008, more than 10,000 people died of Chagas disease, and millions have been infected so far. There are even more than 200,000 US residents with this disease.

Chagas is a disease carried by kissing bugs that are now common in North America. Chagas is the name of the doctor that uncovered this disease over a century ago. Swelling and prolonged fever are the symptoms of this ailment.

Wolman Disease

Wolman disease has similar symptoms to Chagas, and the two often lead to heart problems as well as other more serious symptoms. In the case of Wolman disease, the problem lies in the absence of certain enzymes needed to break down fats in the body.

Wolman disease, when left untreated, can cause severe vomiting and swelling – especially around the stomach.

Brainerd Diarrhea

Brainerd diarrhea is a severe type of diarrhea that could last for up to a year. Those with Brainerd diarrhea can have more than 20 episodes of diarrhea a day, making Brainerd a serious health issue that can be incapacitating.

The name itself is taken from the name of a town in Minnesota where this illness was first discovered. Many cases have been reported, with the most recent ones being recorded in 2018.

These ailments may be unpopular, but they are very serious and require special handling. Now that you know about them and how to spot their symptoms, you can prepare for them better.

This is a guest blog entry.

Hemp Seed Oil Vs CBD Oil: Understanding the Difference

Many people get CBD oil and hemp seed oil confused and it is very easy to do so. Both oils come from the same plant but are made from different components within the plant, therefore, they have a different effect. Two of the most popular natural oils - CBD oil and hemp seed oil - are often used to mean the same thing, although they are not. Each of them is unique in their own way and can be consumed in different ways. If you are confused between the two, read on to discover what each oil is and what its uses are.

What Is Hemp Seed Oil?

One of the biggest differences between CBD oil and hemp seed oil is where it comes from. A hemp plant is a form of cannabis and is grown usually for industrial purposes. These kinds of plants often contain a low level of the two commonly known cannabinoids, which are THC and CBD. THC is the cannabinoid that is known to many as the chemical that gets you “high”. Hemp seed oil is extracted from a hemp plant by squeezing out the seeds produced by the plant. This technique of deriving oil is often used with many other well-known oils such as coconut or olive oil. The hemp seed oil does not contain any THC, so if you see a product under the name hemp seed oil that does contain THC, it is branded wrong. Always be careful about this when looking for hemp seed oil.

What Is Hemp Seed Oil Used For?

Hemp seed oil can be mixed in with many foods to give various health benefits. As hemp seed oil contains a lot of vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, it can be used as an alternative to fish products, which is great for vegetarians. It is also used in many products that you may not have been aware of. Hemp seed oil can be found in many soaps, shampoos, and other cosmetic products.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD (cannabidiol) is an oil that contains a large concentration of CBD. This is extracted differently compared to hemp seed oil and is from hemp plants that are cultivated especially to contain a high amount of CBD. This means THC levels will be minimal, having no effects on the user taking the CBD oil. CBD oil should not give you the feeling of being “high” but it does have many health benefits and is commonly used for treating anxiety.

What Is CBD Oil Used For?

CBD oil comes from a hemp plant, and although it doesn’t have the same effects as hemp seed oil, it does contain many of the same vitamins and fatty acids. This means it can be added to many foods to help with overall health. Both oils are known to have a nutty flavor due to the hemp plant. CBD oil has been used in various studies to show its effectiveness for a range of health conditions. It helps with anxiety and can alleviate the symptoms associated with this condition. It can also reduce pain. For those with chronic pain or suffering from cancer, CBD oil may be used as natural pain relief.

Many people get these two oils confused and may even be attempting to sell one oil as the other. If you are looking for hemp seed oil to improve your diet and cooking, ensure it does not contain THC. If it does, it is not true hemp seed oil. CBD oil should only contain a trace amount of THC, not enough to have any effect, and can be used to treat anxiety and other conditions.

This  is a guest blog entry.