Time to Take Responsibility For Your Own Health

Here is the bottom line. Health is full of vested interest and information can be easily selected to support a particular view. We need to be questioning of the pronouncements of governments and experts. They do not always know what is best for your health even if they are well meaning.

The person primarily responsible for your health is you. You are best placed to make decisions about your health based on your own circumstances. There has been a tendency over the last 30 years to see governments as having the primary responsibility for our health. This is seen in calls for the government to "do something" about problems like obesity and smoking to name but two.

Personally I do not have a huge amount of faith in the recommendations of government departments and some of the "experts" that they draw on. Regular readers will be familiar with my view on the response to the advent of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus and how billions of dollars were wasted and needless fear was generated. As it turned out many of the experts recommending mass vaccination of the population had financial ties to manufacturers.

There is now a push to vaccinate boys against the H.P.V. virus. This vaccine has been approved for use in girls. Whilst it has been promoted as a vaccine against cervical cancer, it is in reality a vaccine against four strains of a virus, which is implicated in the development of cervical cancer. The push for extending the use has come from the manufacturer (as is their commercial right) but it is easy to whip up fear when one plays the cancer card in any health story. At this point rational assessment can go out the window.

Against this backdrop two circulars from government health departments crossed my desk in the same week. The first from the W.A. health department was about a plan to get women who missed their third dose of H.P.V. vaccine to have it. The dosage schedule was zero, two and six months.

This is from the circular " While the optimal schedule is to administer Gardasil * at 0,2 and 6 months, the Australian Chief Medical Officer has stated that delayed administration especially of the third dose is expected to give at least comparable and most likely superior immune responses..."

Run that by me again! If delaying the dose gives a better response then how can the current schedule be optimal? Or if the current schedule is optimal then how cannot sticking to it give a better result? Go figure!

The other interesting piece of advice came from the Federal Health Department. A new campaign has been launched to encourage smokers to quit. Readers of my website will have seen my article on how a major analysis of over 800 studies showed that 70% of people quit with no aids or assistance. It also highlighted that most studies compared stop smoking aids with each other rather than against no aid and that manufacturers funded many of the studies. Questions were raised as to why this information was not promoted more widely to encourage and empower people to stop smoking.

Yet the letter from the Chief Medical Officer tells me "... smokers are about twice as likely to quit with smoking cessation drugs than cold turkey alone" and quoted one study, which had shown this. So here we have the government urging use of drugs when for at least 70% of people none are needed.

Exactly why this is the case is a mystery to me. The key point is that government recommendations may or may not be in your best interests.

Gather input from a variety of sources. Be aware that vested interests may be involved. Be questioning of "experts" and always consider your own circumstances. The person best equipped to make decisions about your health and that of your family is YOU.

* Gardasil is the trade name of the H.P.V. vaccine

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School's Out For Summer

Yes, school's now out for another long summer and it's at this time of year, when children are spending more leisure time outdoors and with friends, when they are likely to suffer from those common illnesses/afflictions. However, if you take some preventative action, then you may be able to avoid some of these and if the inevitable happens, then here's how to treat them:

Sunburn

Sunburn is the most obvious. Everyone needs moderate exposure to the sun every day since it's the source of Vitamin D, however, excessive exposure can lead to sunburn, skin damage and the possibility of developing skin cancer in later years. They say that most damage is done to a person's skin in their first 18 years of life, therefore, if your child is going to be out in the sun for more than 20 minutes (10 minutes if they are very fair-skinned), then make sure they wear protection: that they wear a hat (preferably wide-brimmed), a cotton T-shirt to cover the back and shoulders, and apply a sunscreen of SP30 or above.

Sunstroke

This is caused when someone is exposed to extreme heat, so make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluids during the summer months and not exposed to excessive amounts of heat for long periods. If they have too many layers of clothes on and/or are running around in the heat all day then this can also cause sunstroke. Symptoms include: hot, dry, flushed skin, which then goes pale or purple; shallow or rapid breathing; high pulse and high body temperature; headaches; and dilated pupils. If you suspect your child has sunstroke, then get them into a shaded area immediately to cool down and give them plenty of water. You should also consult a doctor.

Allergies

There are many types of allergy seen in small children (and adults too). The most common include: grass, molds, pollen, certain chemicals, dust, insects, poison ivy, animal hair and certain foods or food additives. Symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, difficulty breathing, cough, skin rash and diarrhea. Treatment depends on what the allergen is and how bad their reaction to it. Keep them away from the source and the symptoms should disappear. If you can't (e.g. in the case of grass or pollen allergy) then you can give them some over-the-counter antihistamine.

Should your child be unfortunate enough to have a severe allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock i.e. wheezing, problems breathing, tongue swelling, etc, then either call 9-1-1 or drive them to the nearest medical center/hospital immediately. A tip here: if you have some antihistamine handy, give them that before leaving for the emergency room. I gave my son half of an adult's antihistamine when he went into anaphylactic shock and when I got to the hospital, the doctor told me I probably saved his life.

If your child has any serious allergies and is going to be spending the day at a friend or relative's home or in day care, then make sure whoever is responsible for him/her is aware of the allergy and that you leave medication with them.

Eating Outdoors

Bacteria thrive in a warm and moist environment. Therefore food poisoning and diseases due to food infection is more common during summer days when your family are out enjoying picnics and barbecues.

Cold food should be kept in a cooler with the lid down. Limit the number of times you open it, so that it keeps cool longer. Also, pack your cooler in such a way that you are keeping raw and cooked foods separate and there is no cross-contamination e.g. between cooked meat and fresh fruit.

Hot food should be grilled thoroughly so that it is cooked throughout. It should then be kept hot until eaten - keep it at the side of the grill or wrap it in foil in an insulated container until it's ready to be eaten.

The same applies for both hot and cold food - it should be thrown out after being exposed to the air for two hours (one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees).

Avoid buying any food from outside vendors and instead carry around fruit and other healthy snacks in case they feel hungry (and of course plenty of water and fruit juices to keep them hydrated).

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are not only extremely annoying, but will leave you with itchy, red bumps and there is also the possibility that they may be carrying the West Nile virus. If your child is going to be taking part in outdoor activities in the early evening, keep their skin covered as much as is practical and then make sure that you use mosquito repellent on any part of their body that is not covered.

If your child does get bitten, you can apply calamine lotion or a bicarbonate of soda paste to the affected area to relieve itching and swelling. There are also some excellent over-the-counter remedies available for mosquito bites.

Deer Ticks

If your children are going to be playing in a wooded area or long grass, then make sure that they are clothed as much as possible, with their shirts tucked into their shorts, etc. Again, spray repellent on any exposed area of skin.

Examine your child closely and if they have been unfortunate enough to pick up a deer tick, then you should remove it carefully with tweezers, ensuring that you get the whole tick. Then wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

Deer ticks carry Lyme Disease and can make you very sick; therefore, if your child develops any of the following symptoms, then you should take them to a doctor immediately: pain and swelling; red streaks leading from the area; swollen glands; fever and chills.

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Looking Youthful for a Lifetime? Possible

Is it enough that you have good skin now? Or would you want to improve the state of your skin without having to undergo surgery or any other forms of operation, be it major or minor? For some, it is enough just to be beautiful for one day, while for others being beautiful for a lifetime is the key. Impossible? It doesn't have to be. If you know what to do in order to preserve youth and get a lifetime's worth of healthy looking skin, it is definitely possible. You can start with the eyes, which are called the windows to the soul.

They are called such not just for the literary connotation. They are the windows to one's soul because there are a lot of subtexts expressed by the eyes. For example, when you are sleepy, your eyes may appear droopy. If you have not had enough sleep, eye bags can give you away. In fact, dark circles, fine lines, and eye bags all lead to one thing: you are not getting healthy rations of vitamins, and your lifestyle is not healthy. You may be a party animal, but if you balance it with exercise and the right foods, such problems will not persist.

According to eye cream reviews, there are different products that help prevent, correct, or remove such problems. These products do not have to be expensive, but of course there are those established names that ask for a higher price. Some of them have expensive products because they have been tried and tested to work, but not all of them are like this. Some of them would just want to give the illusion that they are included in the elite products so people will think that they actually work. Fancy packaging is another factor that affects the price, and eye cream reviews recommend that you avoid such products to save on cost.

But of course it is also not right to invest in a product that is plainly packed but asks for a very high price, unless you can see the ingredients in their right dosages on the label. If you are unsure of what product to buy, look for clues on different eye cream reviews out there. Even when you do not know what brand to buy yet, just read the reviews and for sure, at the end of the day, your mind will already be set.

Mark A. Robbins is a tele-marketer of products over the internet, but also doubles as a writer for an independently owned blog that writes eye cream reviews and other skin related articles.

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7 Tips For Super Health

What is real health and how do we get there? Getting down to your target weight, exercising every day, eating a balanced diet - is that health? Here are 7 Super Health tips that I've gained from my health journey.

Super Health Tip # 1 - Become Your Own Doctor - Get a 2nd Opinion - Your Own. Three critical facts about today's doctors. First, they have little, if any, training in nutrition, or how to prevent or cure diseases. Second, they treat your symptoms, not the cause, and third, statistics show that 94% of them get paid for prescribing drugs. 3 good reasons for a 2nd opinion.

Super Health Tip # 2 - Balance is Critical. A stool Has 3 Legs - just one or two and you fall over. What you eat determines 70% of your health. Exercise determines 20% - do something. Your health environment, both internally, the way you think and feel, and externally, your social network, is 10%.

Super Health Tip # 3 - Discover Super Foods. Whole foods provide better nutrition, more energy, and build a stronger immune system. Eat whole grains and seeds in cereals and breads, and wheat germ, bran and brewers yeast. Eat fruits and vegetables and drink green smoothies, fruit smoothies with 2 or 3 green veggies added. I have my green smoothie recipe on my site.

Super Health Tip # 4 - Invest In You. You educate yourself, spend thousands on your home and cars. Invest in your body - for the best results over your lifetime. Take nutrition courses - read some health books. Learn what builds health and what causes degenerative diseases (tip: it's what you eat). Read The China Study to revolutionize your life.

Super Health Tip # 5 - Discipline Yourself - No-one Else Can. Become a closet health nut year by year. Don't broadcast it - live it. Many people care more about their cars than their body - and spend more time planning their vacations than they do caring for the temple they live in. Don't be one of them. Incorporate what you learn into your lifestyle.

Super Health Tip # 6 - Health is a Journey. Your body is miraculously resilient. You can recover from obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction, and from abusing your body. Your health is always determined by what you do in the previous 3 months of your life. Commit to and become healthier, and live into your 80s and 90s, and even 100s with joy, zest, and bounding energy.

Super Health Tip # 7 - Become a 95% Vegetarian. The evidence is now conclusive. The fat, cholesterol, triglycerides, and carcinogenic protein from meat and dairy products clogs us up, restricts our blood flow, decreases the oxygen to our cells, makes us sluggish, causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and cancer. Cut out 95% of meat and dairy. Fruits, vegetables and grains taste heavenly when your tongue isn't filtering them through layers of fat, grease, salt, and sugar. The sensational Eating DVD documents it all.

by Terry Kent, founder of The Health and Nutrition Center

To your health,

Terry "Super Health Tips" Kent

Terry Kent, BA, MST, is a popular Health and Nutrition author and speaker and the founder and host of http://www.thehealthandnutritioncenter.com/. He has taught many people how to reverse their Cancer, Heart Disease, and Diabetes by simply changing what they eat, and he is helping lead the fight to reverse, prevent, and cure these and all degenerative diseases. Access his videos, reports, and articles on health, nutrition, and reversing and preventing disease while building super immune strength and losing weight naturally without fad diets. Go now to http://www.TheHealthAndNutritionCenter.com/eating-dvd.

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The Secret Of The Hemp Taboo

Knowing the history of hemp and the politics behind its stigma may allow you to better understand, as I have, the underlying reason for it being taboo (and illegal) in many corners of American society - despite the fact that it is one of the most versatile and nutritious plants for skin care today.

As a former police officer and special agent, we were suppose to be sworn enemies of hemp and its kissing cousin, marijuana.

But the more I learned about hemp's benefits and studied the origins of hemp, the more I realized, that like many things the government says are bad, help can actually be really good for you. Plus being the rebel that I am, I really wanted to buck the system, be a pioneer and spread the benefits of our products anywhere I could.

The word "hemp" is used to describe a number of varieties of the cannabis plant, particularly varieties such as industrial hemp and feral ditchweed that were bred over time for industrial and home uses, such as fuel, fiber, paper, seed, food, medicine, and oil.

In the 1937 hemp was made illegal and hemp for industrial and medical use was taxed through the roof. It was a big scam, in part, perpetrated on the American people (kind of like alcohol prohibition) by industrialists like Randolph Hearst. The threat to his lumber holdings (his newspapers invented the term "reefer madness") and Andrew Mellon's fear that it would replace oil as a fuel (he owned Gulf Oil and was Secretary of the Treasury at the same time - no conflict of interest there), and his investment in DuPont's new synthetic fiber's, nylon success was tied to it replacing hemp, among a slew of other special interests, led to hemp being heavily taxed until it the tax was found to be unconstitutional in 1970 congress repealed the tax and made it illegal.

If they were truthful and the special interest didn't interfere, it would probably be legal to grow today in the U.S. today. That truth being, the amount of THC in hemp (the active ingredient in marijuana that gets a person "high") is only around 1% and the high concentration of CBD (cannabidiol) in the hemp counteracts the THC, making it useless to smoke, and not the scourge on America as purported by the U.S. Government.

Finally, in the late 1990s, Canadian officials were able to pull their heads out of the sand long enough to see the amazing benefits of this weed and approved it for production and industrial usage. China, our number #1 economic competitor, also understands the advantages of hemp (and the profits associated with it) and is the #1 supplier of it to the world.

Enough of the politics of hemp. Lets discuss the merits of hemp and whether putting hemp on your skin will cause you to get high, arrested, or carded at bars because you look so young.

The seeds from hemp (what our oils are derived from) contain important essential fatty acids (EFAs). These naturally heal and soothe the skin and are becoming widely accepted for its benefits in skin care.

EFAs are classified in two basic categories:

1. Omega-6 oils, which include Linolenic and gamma-linolenic acid, an essential skin lipid that promotes regeneration at the cellular level, a process that slows down with age;

2. Omega-3, alpha linolenic acid, which moisturizes and heals skin irritations and wounds.

Along with being excellent moisturizers, both EFAs are known to reduce inflammation and skin irritations, helping those who suffer from acne, psoriasis and eczema.

But, until the U.S. government wakes up or gets out of the pockets of those special interest groups that really control hemp, businesses will import hemp from Canada and China (who is known to export some very shoddy and at times toxic products) and lose the tax revenue from this truly cash crop.

Of course, hemp seed oil will not cause you to get high or fail a drug test. However if you do fail a drug test, feel free to use hemp as an excuse if it helps. Why should you be punished by the greed and ignorance of others? Here is to your healthy skin.

Kevin Kenneth Konczal is the owner of San Diego based Mug For Men Skin Nourishment and owns Vizunworks, a boutique marketing agency and has been involved in the health and nutrition industry since the 70's.

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Learn the Exercise of Breathing

It's likely that as you go about your day, the last thing on your mind is how to breathe. If you have COPD including bronchitis, emyphysema or asthma, your doctor may have told you to do breathing exercises. Inhale, exhale. That's all there is to it, right? Not quite. As a therapy practitioner who teaches specific techniques, many people who have COPD are often surprised to learn that there is a medically preferred way to perform breathing exercises for increased oxygen saturation. If you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, it's vital that you practice breathing exercises.

Improper breathing can come from something as common as having a stressful job. Being under stress causes a shallow, chest breathing style of inhaling. If you have ever had a customer service position where you have to tell the customer you can't deliver what your boss promised them, then you know what I mean. Serious stress.

Diaphragmic breathing, a breathing exercise, won't come up very often in dinner conversation, but it's one of the best ways for reducing anxiety and fatigue from a day's activities. And it doesn't cost a dime. It's a simple process. Just sit in a comfortable chair and utilize deep breathing. Concentrate on filling your belly with air first, followed by allowing your chest to expand. The diaphragm is a muscle under your lungs and above your stomach. Extending it down towards your tummy is how you stretch it out and as a result, fill your lungs to their capacity. It's a good idea to be in a quiet place when doing this. Images of nature, hobbies or relaxing music will chase the anxieties away and replace them with hope, joy and fulfillment.

If you're on your lunch break, be sure to keep an eye on the clock because the next thing you know is you've dozed off and the boss is looking for you. No stress there! At night it will be easier to sleep and the degree of your sleep will be deeper resulting in feeling rested and alert to tackle your day. If you are feeling tense at night before going to sleep, try tensing up the muscles in the feet and release, followed by tensing your calves and release, next thighs and release. Keep going up through the abs, chest, shoulders, back and even your face. Remember to keep using the diaphragmic breathing technique the whole time. A friend of mine who uses this tells me she doesn't just sleep anymore. She just about passes out & wakes up a new person.

The human body is full of muscles. The food they consume is oxygen molecules in the blood. The more air you consume, the more oxygen molecules there are for muscles to absorb, produce more energy, and become less sore after a workout. Before they attached computers to car engines they didn't automatically adjust to higher altitudes when driving in the mountains. Your 300 horse power hot rod had all the performance of an Italian motor scooter. So perform breathing exercises all you can as often as you can and you'll feel like you're driving at sea level every day.

The best part is you don't need to see a doctor, get a prescription, pay a co-pay, or take breathing exercise lessons in a class. Drug companies want us to rely on their products to make our lives better. With information and a little practice, nearly everything we need to accomplish is tucked away inside of us just waiting to be utilized.

Host of Functional Fitness on PBS, Suzanne Andrews produced the #1 Best selling Functional Fitness COPD to help you breathe better and develop stronger breathing muscles. Free Preview Now

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Health Benefits From Balinese Massage

Balinese massage is a popular type of Oriental massage therapy which focuses in bringing deep relaxation, whole body wellness, and unclogging of blocked qi pathways. This therapy includes the use of gentle long strokes, reflexology, aromatherapy and acupressure as its total package for healing and soothing the client's body. Skin rolling, kneading, and gentle stretches are also utilized during therapy sessions of this technique.

This Indonesian traditional form of massage therapy, like all types of therapeutic massage developed in Asian countries, follows the simple concept that the life force or qi holds the balance between health and wellness. With this type of therapy, unblocking the pathways for the energy inside the body is crucial in attaining good physical and emotional condition. The methods used for this process is through applying pressure on the meridians with acupressure therapy. The therapist conducts various techniques with his or her hands while applying a varying force of pressure on key areas. Blood and oxygen flow in the body are improved with every sessions of this therapy as it helps in unblocking the pathways.

Special oils are used during therapies in which they possess healing properties, vitamins and minerals that are helpful in treating and preventing physical and mental problems. During the therapy, these oils are used in their warm temperature to help nurture their calming effect on the body. These oils have specific scents that have varying healing, calming, and energizing abilities. Essential oils are usually used for this kind of special massage oils used for Balinese massage therapies. Massage therapists choose three or a blend of essential oils to be used on the patient in a massage therapy. The client also has the liberty to decide on his or her own regarding the selection of the massage oils. Proper selection of these oils plays a huge role on the success, benefits and effects of the therapeutic massage. The patient should be careful though in picking his or her preferred oil as some oils can cause skin irritations, especially to sensitive types of skin. There's no need for worries though as the therapist can always assess and assist the client in choosing the right essential oil for the therapy.

Balinese massage is good for treating:

• Stress - acupressure on pressure points, reflexology and simple Swedish massage strokes such as effleurage and petrissage helps in relieving stress within the body.

• Muscle pain - acupressure acts as a deep therapeutic massage technique which improves the condition of stiff muscles groups. The body benefits by being relieved from chronic and acute muscle pain. Gentle strokes also helps in stimulating and soothing muscle problems that causes various types of body pain.

• Sleep problems - Balinese massage improves the sleeping pattern of the client by calming the body and setting the mind in a good condition, thus allowing proper sleeping pattern to occur.

• Anxiety and depression - nerve stimulation from the effleurage and reflexology sends messages to the brain thus manipulating the emotion to succumb to a better mental condition. Balinese massage is good in treating and removing anxiety as well as depression.

I write for TIR Massage Stone about performing hot stone massage therapy and obtaining a proper hot stone massage kit.

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