20 Aug 10

Alcohol Treatment Center or Worse?

More than one young person has moved away to college thinking he or she has survived the worst of the drinking scene. These thoughts are quickly left behind once school begins. The idea that a high school graduate with a drinking habit will find the college scene easier is a farce. The age group with the most drinking problems is 18–29; this means that college freshmen who drink are entering the most challenging period of their lives when it comes to alcohol. And they thought it was going to get easier.

The statistics are sobering: each year, 50 percent of homicides in the United States are alcohol-related, as well as 40 percent of assaults and more than 100,000 deaths. If you are a going to drink, you are entering a battlefield. The statistics supply the warnings. In the United States, more than 40 percent of those who begin drinking at the age of 14 or younger become alcoholics.

If you are already a heavy drinker, or think you are headed in that direction, reconsider your options. Do you want to add to the statistics? Or would you rather lead a life free of alcohol abuse? Would you like to get up each morning, struggle out of bed with a hangover, and barely make it through the day? Or would you like to start establishing habits that will keep you healthy for the rest of your life?

If you are addicted to alcohol, consider an alcohol treatment center. You may feel embarrassed by the idea of checking into a facility. You may think that you can kick the habit by yourself. If you could, you would have done so by now. A treatment center should be a very real possibility for you, and a life-destroying drinking habit is far worse than rehab.

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20 Aug 10

Credit Counseling May Provide Income for Medical Necessities

Many people do not have insurance to pay for medical procedures, treatments, drugs, or medicinal necessities required to achieve and maintain good physical condition.  This can be the case for any one of many different reasons.  Some may have lost jobs that provided such coverage. Others are working at lower-paying jobs and cannot afford the premiums, or receive no coverage from the new employer.

Any of the situations mentioned above can also lead to the need for credit counseling. However, taking advantage of such services may enable a consumer to afford medical insurance. Still, admitting that credit counseling is necessary may be the last thing a person wants to do.

Credit counselors are not there to judge, though.  They are there to help a person regain control of his or her finances. There are many companies which provide credit counseling, so if a person is made to feel uncomfortable, intimidated, or belittled, he or she should find another one with employees who are more empathetic.

During the credit counseling sessions, the person seeking the help should be totally honest. No debts or financial obligations should be held back, because the only way the credit counselor can help is by having full knowledge of the situation.  As part of credit counseling, a person can be shown places where income may be “hiding,” and advised on how to bring that money into play. These may include such things as cell phone bills, cable or satellite service, and other areas.

It may not be necessary to cut those things out all together; rather, simply lowering the service packages to the lowest ones available can save money. Even that small amount may be sufficient to allow a person to either purchase a basic health insurance policy or at least start saving the extra money and using it only to pay for medical expenses.

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19 Aug 10

August Top Links

Bpoilspill

Sporn

Carwrecks

Tim Tebow s Rookie Hazing Haircut

Heat feature

Stephen Colbert Announces Retirement and Unretirement Vid

Pirates Mathematically Eliminated From Major League Baseball

Football Player Too Big to Play

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18 Aug 10

Tan Safely Without the Sun

Tanned arm
Image via Wikipedia

Many people want a golden glow of a tan even though it can lead to health care costs in the future. It is possible to achieve a dark tan without ever stepping foot into a tanning salon or to a beach with instant tanning products. Instant tanning lotions, sprays and airbrushing techniques have come a long way since the days of looking orange and unnatural and can have someone look tan and healthy in no time at all.

Each type of products has different benefits. Depending on your skin type, start with a color that is just a shade darker than your normal skin pigment so that your tan looks natural. Then you can slowly apply more color to get the perfect tan.

Tanning sprays can be easier to use than lotions and airbrushing but it can be hard to reach certain areas if there is no one to help you. However, tanning sprays can make it easier to see the results so you get a more even tan.

Tanning lotions allow you to achieve a more natural tan at a slower pace. Many tanning lotions have gradual tan capabilities that start out slow, allowing the user to look as if they tanned outdoors naturally. The drawbacks on tanning lotion is that it is necessary to use gloves in order to keep the palms of your hands from tanning and areas such as ankles and elbows can look unnatural due to the skin being harder and dryer.

Airbrush tans are typically done at a tanning salon and the look can be beautiful and natural. The cons of getting a spray tan at a salon is that they are usually more expensive than what you could do at home. However, the look of these tans can outweigh the cost; especially if it is for a special occasion.

No matter what type of indoor tanning you choose, they are all safer than the sun and can help ensure the fight against skin cancer.

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18 Aug 10

Healthcare with No Insurance

Not everyone can afford health insurance or has the option of purchasing it through employment. There are other alternatives to help ensure that you won’t go broke if an emergency occurs where you’ll need health care or hospitalization.
Many states offer their own insurance options for those that live in the state. There are even plans for short term insurance plans if you have recently become unemployed or have a lapse in your preexisting insurance plan. The plans can vary greatly and some can be costly but it is a good idea to check them out to see if they are a good fit for your own personal situation. COBRA is a plan that is famous for gap insurance for people between jobs or recently unemployed.
If you and your family have a very low income you may qualify for medicare or medicaid. Both programs help out in medical and health care costs and are provided at no cost to the recipient. You will have to apply for both programs to see if you and your family qualify but if you do, they can defray costs considerably. Medicare is not based on income and is usually for those that are at least 65 years of age. Medicaid is available to everyone regardless of age but is based on income statistics for your family. Both have co-payments that have to be paid but are very helpful in paying for medical and health care costs.
Regardless of how you get insurance, it’s best to have it in case the need arises. With a little research and determination you can find a program that you can afford and is right for your individual circumstances. Don’t be afraid to reapply if you are turned down for a program. Some programs automatically turn down first time applications.
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17 Aug 10

The Dangers of Self Diagnosis

Since the dawn of the Internet, people have had the ability to go online and research various conditions and some use self diagnosis to determine the cause of their aches and pains. While this can be helpful in some cases, it can be damaging to use on a regular basis.
One reason is that self diagnosing can be incorrect and this can cause the real issue to get worse while treating something that is not wrong. By not seeing a professional, there may be a real issue that needs addressing that doesn’t get looked at before it gets worse. Also, many conditions have the same effects that others do, leading to the wrong diagnosis. Not only can someone be treating something that isn’t wrong with them, in the meantime the real cause of their symptoms is going untreated and possibly worsening.
This is especially important with certain ailments that can be caused by serious issues such as cancer, tumors, kidney malfunctions, bacterial infections and liver problems. These are examples of sicknesses that need addressing by a trained and professional physician, not on a computer screen. In addition, a doctor will be the one who has to prescribe medicine to you unless you get it online as well and that can be dangerous if you don’t know the correct diagnosis or the correct dosage of a product. Even if you have the issue before, it can be best to see your physician so that they can determine why you are getting the same ailment more than once.
While online research can help address many problems, it is always best to be backed up by a doctor’s visit to be certain your diagnosis was correct. You can also let your doctor know what you found in order to help them but only a valid test can help you set your mind at ease that you are getting the proper treatment.
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15 Aug 10

Migraine pain and relief

Headaches plague everyone now and then, but when a headache leaves you wanting to crawl into a darkened room and never return, you might be experiencing a migraine. These headaches affect millions, and there is no cure. But understanding migraines and finding the right medication can help sufferers find relief through managing their migraine pains.

Unlike other headaches, migraines are a neurological condition. But while some migraines are purely neurological, while others are mixed migraine and tension headaches. Aside from a splitting pain in the head or an extreme throbbing on one side of the skull, other symptoms might include nausea, dizziness and sensitivity to light or sound. In some people, vomiting may also occur as a migraine symptom. As a result of a migraine, sufferers often have trouble concentrating and an inability to find the right words. Migraines can last anywhere from six to forty-eight hours, and even after the migraine subsides it may leave sufferers with a feeling of mental dullness for days.

Some people know when a migraine is coming because of an aura. An aura is a sight distortion, which may show as spots, a temporary blind spot or even as tunnel vision. This signal can come as early as twenty four hours before the migraine itself sets in.

Because there is no cure for migraines, it is important for a sufferer to keep track of what he or she was doing prior to the migraine coming on. Certain aspects of the environment can act as triggers, and keeping track of those triggers can help a sufferer avoid them later on. Common triggers include stress, bright sunlight or a glare, changes in wake-sleep patterns, intense physical exertion or a change in the environment. Some medications may also aggravate migraines.

Taking a list of these triggers and your migraine history to the doctor’s office can help her find the right medication to help you suffer less. The doctor might prescribe a combination of a pain relieving medication and a preventive medication.

Migraines can be chronic, but that doesn’t mean that the pain isn’t treatable. If the first medication you try doesn’t help, don’t give up. Relief may be right around the corner.

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13 Aug 10

Coping with hair loss and baldness

Anyone can have hair loss, from women to men and even children. Up to 85% of men will experience some form of hair loss by the time they are fifty and sometimes hair loss can start as early as in a person’s twenties. The reasons for hair loss are only outnumbered by the possible solutions toted by everything from the doctors’ office to the television.

Baldness is technically considered excessive hair loss from your scalp. The medical term is alopecia. Sometimes it can start with a few extra hairs on the comb, or more hair than usual coming out in the shower. But keep in mind that combing your hair too much will not make your bald, nor will wearing too many hats.

Some types of alopecia, like pattern baldness – which affects both men and women – are permanent, while others are only temporary.

Anything from inflammation to heredity can cause hair loss. After illness or surgery, stress can cause hair to fall out. Hormones can also affect hair loss, and some women notice it after having a baby. Certain hairstyles, like ponytails pulled too tight, can also cause traction hair loss. This is usually reversible, as long as it is caught early. It’s important to see a doctor is sudden clumps of hair appear in your shower or sink, as this may be linked to other underlying medical conditions.

No cure yet exists for pattern baldness, the most typical kind of alopecia. But doctors do have ways to slow down the process. Certain medicines like minoxidil and finasteride can be prescribed by a doctor to help a patient cope with hair loss. It takes about six months before any real results can be seen.

Surgery is often considered cosmetic, as the point is to make up for the lack of hair. Two main surgeries are used for this process. One is a hair transplant and the other is called a scalp reduction. A scalp reduction stretches the scalp, removes a hairless bit of skin, and replaces it with a bit of skin that has hair.

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12 Aug 10

The importance of fiber

As you eat s’mores around a campfire, think of Sylvester Graham who campaigned for “roughage” or fiber in the diet. Luckily, his crackers are delicious and can help deliver this all important dietary compound. Fiber is a dietary necessity, and multiple studies have shown that this compound can help lower a person’s risk for serious diseases from colon cancer to high blood sugar.

Dietary fiber means the parts of fruits, vegetables, grains and other plants that the human body cannot quite digest all the way (meat and dairy products do not contain this product). Fiber can either be soluble, meaning it dissolves into water, or insoluble. Most fibrous foods contain both. Soluble fiber soaks up water, like the inside of a kidney bean, and as a result often gives food a mushy texture. Insoluble fiber does not soak up water, like the outside of a popcorn kernel. This makes food rather chewy and in some cases rather tough.

Fiber is important because it affects how food is processed throughout the digestive tract. For one, fiber serves as an important laxative. Without enough fiber in the diet, a person may have a hard time going to the bathroom on a regular schedule. Insoluble fiber helps with colon health by decreasing the time waste spends in the colon itself. It also helps to trap carcinogens within the stool and keep them out of the colon, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, helps to reduce cholesterol levels.

The average American today eats about eleven grams of fiber a day. The National Cancer institute suggests that the number be increased to between twenty five and thirty grams daily. The best way to get that bigger number? Eat more fruits and vegetables.

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11 Aug 10

Healthy Eating Habits

An old saying goes “you are what you eat,” but healthy eating can be a challenge that many of us who struggle with in our fast paced and modern society. Too often, the pressures to eat badly catch-up to us and leads us to make decisions we know we should not, like eating that doughnut during a meeting or eating an entire bag of potato chips while watching television. These tips provide some healthy guidelines for making good decisions regarding the food you eat.

Eat regular meals
Regular meals are an important part of any healthy diet. They can help keep your metabolism going – breakfast has a huge impact on starting your metabolism – and help you feel satisfied throughout the day. Skipping meals because you don’t have time to eat can lead to being overly hungry later, and that feeling of starvation does not always lead to health conscious food choices.

Watch your portions
When a restaurant gives you a helping of pasta, don’t assume that they gave you a serving. Learn to recognize the right portions for different food. A piece of meat the size of your palm, for example, counts as about one serving.

Keep track of your liquids
The average American gets a fifth of their daily calories from drinks, not what they eat. Making smart drink choices can help to lead to a healthier lifestyle, especially if calories are a concern. Get juice that says 100% juice on the label to get the most out of those calories. You can also try adding some water to the juice to dilute it and the number of calories in a glass. When out on the town with friends, try getting light beer instead of cocktails. Your waistline will thank you.

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