Are You Healthy Enough To Exercise? Ask Your Doctor First!

We hear about the importance of regular exercise daily. People who may be overweight or malnourished, who face the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other life threatening illnesses are especially encouraged to include some kind of exercise regimen into their daily lives. Unfortunately, most people do not heed this advice much to their detriment. A sedentary lifestyle is so much easier...and it is painless. Until it catches up to them.

After years of physical inactivity, adopting an exercise program can be quite difficult. Jogging, weight lifting, swimming, and other strenuous physical activity can be quite painful if the body is not accustomed to such activity. While exercise is good for the body and mind, it can be harmful or even fatal if a person is not well or fit enough to tolerate a new strain on the body.

Exercise is very beneficial and necessary to maintain sound health and optimum performance, but it can be deadly if a person is not healthy enough for this type of activity. When making a decision to begin incorporating exercise into your lifestyle, it is important to schedule an appointment with your doctor for a physical examination. If you have not exercised in some time, it is wise to proceed with caution. Your doctor will inform you of any health issues to consider or remedy before you begin an exercise regimen.

One should not be discouraged however if one's health is not what it should be for a desired exercise regimen. There are many different kinds of exercises one can do that are conducive to one's present condition. Hiring a professional personal trainer, at least for the beginning workout sessions, can prove to be of great benefit since they are trained to determine what areas of the body might need the most work, and exercises can be appropriated accordingly. Beginning an exercise plan without proper education and planning can result in injury. Injuries can be enough reason for discouragement, and this provides the perfect excuse to abandon a new fitness regimen.

A healthy diet and lifestyle can enhance the benefits of an exercise regimen. Calories, carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients are depleted during a rigorous workout, and they need to be replenished. Improved appearance, higher energy levels, and an overall feeling of well-being and good health are the desired results. When the body becomes accustomed to exercise, it is surprising how inspired one can become to advance their level of fitness.

A new exercise regimen should begin with short sessions and low intensity. As you progress, you can exercise for lengthier periods and increase the intensity. So get off that couch, turn off the television, see your doctor, put on your running shoes, and get with it! Just consider your current condition. If you are not in any condition to avoid potentially disastrous results, see the doctor first!

The Basics Of A Health Exam

uch can be learned about a patient's condition by listening to and observing the patient's body. A few routine tests can be instrumental in saving someone's life. It is important to one's overall health and well-being to adhere to regularly scheduled physical examinations. Here is what you can expect when reporting for a routine physical examination.

To begin with, your doctor will need some general information about you, so you will have to complete a health history form. You will be asked about allergies to medications, past surgeries -if any, and possibly questions about alcohol, tobacco, and drug consumption. It is important to be completely honest with your answers. This information is confidential, and it can be helpful in determining the causes of any conditions that might be present or that might be avoided. Even if you have a regular doctor who knows you well, you may be required to update this form annually. Your or your family's medical history can change with each year - a parent or a sibling may develop something that might also affect you. Sometimes we can be suddenly stricken with an unexpected health issue or illness. The information on this form can assist doctors in determining if there might be symptoms of impending complications.

After your paperwork is done it is then that you will first meet with a nurse and they will take down some general information about you. They will gather data about your height, weight, and blood pressure and in many cases take urine or even draw blood. These may seem menial, however there is a lot of information that can be learned not only from the blood and urine analysis tests and the blood pressure check but even from the information contained in weight and height. Any significant change in these can provide an indication of a health problem as well.

When your doctor first comes in the room he or she will discuss with you the information that they have gathered so far and ask more probing questions about any health area that they feel may be an issue. Then as they begin the exam, the doctor will not only listen to your systems but they will also look and feel to check if everything seems normal. Most doctors have a patient wear a gown so that they can see the areas that they are checking on because there are skin issues and discoloration issues that can indicate problems.

Overall, a routine health exam can help to identify some serious health issues. When caught early enough many serious health issues can be treated more successfully and many can even be cured.

Oximeter Saves Debt Ceiling Debate

The United States is going through a tough time both politically and economically. The housing market is still not in recovery mode, while unemployment is hovering around 9 percent still. What makes this situation even more challenging is that the debt ceiling will hit its limit on August 2, 2011, and with no raise in its limit, the United States will go into default on its debts. According to experts, a default would send shock waves across the World since the United States is seen as a safe investment bet. Some experts even went on record to state that a run on money market accounts could also be possible a default was to occur. Recently, a group of bipartisan senators have come together and put together a package that is designed to cut the spending of the government, which is what the republicans want to see before they approve to raise the debt ceiling. The cuts in spending will affect millions of Americans who are on Medicare, Medicad, and Social Security.

We have focused this article on the spending cuts associated with the healthcare systems of the United States. Our research has revealed that even though millions of dollars are expected to be in healthcare, certain things are not on the chopping block. One item is the oximeter. An oximeter is a medical device used to measure the blood saturation and pulse rate of an individual. With further research into the issue, it was revealed that an oximeter is not being cut from the list of approved devices because this country is suffering from near epidemic number of respiratory illness cases. These respiratory illness cases can be linked to various causes ranging from pollution to smoking. A large number of Americans are on supplemental oxygen on a daily basis. These Americans are required to check their oxygen levels on a daily and sometime hourly basis, and to do so require them to have an oximeter. A modern oximeter is smaller than most cell phones, and runs on standard AA batteries.

The economy is going through a roller coaster of a ride; with every dip more and more people feel the pain. The President and Congress are pushing for a resolution for the debt ceiling limit to be raised, but it is coming down to the wire. Unfortunately both parties are sneaking in their own agendas in hopes to get the bills passed.

The Importance of Individualized Health Care

Health care these days is a system of managed care. Due to the volume of patients needs, health care is inundated with symptoms and complaints that exceed the limited time capacity of health care professionals. It has been my experience, that mainstream health care is overseen not by the patients' medical providers but by a larger "all-seeing eye" focused on the bottom line. It is felt within every procedure, therapy and treatment protocol; --your insurance company. Without having the direct contact or history of the patient these decisions are made. They dictate what seems to me, that which is in the best interest of corporate insurance companies and not in the best interests of the patient. Who knows better than the person who comes into direct contact with the patient, the healthcare provider? With the many and often multiple needs of the patent and a condensed time in which to manage their care, it is a wonder more mistakes aren't being made. To address a large and ever growing number of people in need we, in the health care field, are overworked and underpaid. It is easy to overlook and by-pass an important piece in the equation in the health care puzzle; individualized quality care.

How did profits become more important than people? In an ever changing world of high finance, opportunity and the push to strive for more. we have created a giant monster. This monster is controlling us and largely dictating how we practice (which is the job of licensing boards.) Practitioners have the wisdom of understanding to know best how to manage what was once compassion in action. Our choice to serve and help others has been tainted by policies and procedures, much of which is not within our own understanding of best practice. The larger umbrella called managed care effects us all; patients and providers alike. In my experience working with insurance companies as a contracted provider, I, like many, in the process of trying to help others, am limited by narrowly defined codes and reimbursements, limiting effectiveness in treating patients with the services they require. This need for treatment sometimes necessitates patients having to go outside of the managed system where they often find a larger dollar amount dangling over their heads. It seems freedom of choice, by most standards has a price tag. Those that can afford choice can exercise this freedom while others can't due to the oppressive paralysis of inability to choose based on economics.

The other side to managed care is inconsistency. I have heard this from patients time and time again. Individualized attention seems to be lost. It's been my experience that some patients are bounced around by other practitioners having conflicting advice, different unresolved treatments and they feel the frustration of having to discuss yet again their health history, sometime within the same medical office or organization. Patients want to be heard, treated respectfully and get solid answers. I believe part of the answer lies in patient choice. This ability to choose gets lost within the shuffle and patients feel helpless to change the power of thinking to choose. A proactive patient is an empowered patient. While this may be a threat to some, it is best for the patient to think outside of the box; to be able to consider all options.

7 Home Grown Remedies to Tackle A Dry Cough

A dry cough can be a major irritant especially during seasonal changes, and often leaves you sleepless at nights if it turns acute. This is more so as acute dry cough also leads to chest complications and even bleeding from the throat because of ruptured throat capillaries. As the condition worsens, you normally tend to rush to your nearest pharmacist to buy allopathic anti-cough syrup to get relief.

There are some very effective home remedies to tackle dry cough and you will be surprised to note that the cough syrups you buy are often formulated on them. Simple ingredients like basil leaves, the extract of Ajowan or Bishop's Weed or even asafetida are all effective home grown dry cough remedies. The following remedies also work in treating dry cough:

• Warm Water: As soon as you develop a cough, try wetting your throat repeatedly with warm water so that it soothes throat congestion and leads to dilatation of the air passage. The quantity of warm water consumption depends on the cough's severity. Even gargling with medium to hot water repeatedly helps.

• Warm saline solution: Salt is known to be a healer for ages and works effectively in combating micro organisms that cause dry cough because of its antiseptic properties. Repeated warm salt solution gargles or at least thrice daily reduces dry cough and provides relief.

• Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera, a well known medicinal plant which is used to manufacture a number of skin ointments primarily, also combats dry cough effectively. Mix Aloe Vera juice with honey to formulate syrup that soothes the throat and also acts as an expectorant. It clears the chest if there are deposits of mucus in it and also alleviates asthmatic conditions.

• Lemon and honey syrup: Lemon is rich in Vitamin C and effectively cures dry cough. Extract the juice of a whole lemon, mix it with warm water and honey and drink it from time to time. The measurements are three-quarters of a glass of hot water, juice of one whole lemon and a teaspoonful of honey.

• Garlic and honey paste: Garlic is also known to have various medicinal properties and cures a plethora of diseases including dry cough. Take dry garlic and crush it to form a powder and take a spoonful when you have a coughing fit to get instant relief. In order to.

4 Health Issues You Should Be Aware Of

Men and women around the world today are waking up to the fact that they have to take responsibility for their own health. Even though there are many illnesses and diseases that you can contract because of environment or from contact with people, keeping yourself healthy is a good way to lower the risk of contracting an illness or fatal disease. Here are four health issues that you should know about:

• Cardiovascular diseases: This is the No. 1 cause of death and each year at least 12 million people die because of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). There are many kinds of CVDs, including strokes, valvular heart disease, coronary heart disease and rheumatic heart disease/fever. There are many factors that contribute to you being in the high-risk group, among them diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and stress. Many of these can be controlled by medication and a major change in lifestyle. Some factors cannot really be controlled, like old age and if the heart condition is hereditary. However, by eliminating as many risk factors as possible and managing those you cannot the best way possible, you can lower your risk of suffering from heart diseases.

• Diabetes: Diabetes has become a very real problem among men and women today. It occurs when your body is not able to produce enough insulin, the hormone which helps break down sugar in the blood into energy. Type 1 diabetes is when the pancreas breaks down and stops producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when the body cannot use the insulin produced to convert sugar into energy, hence blood sugar levels rise. Most people suffer from Type 2 diabetes. A history of diabetes in your family puts you in a high risk group so you need to take extra care. Other factors include ageing, obesity and stress, a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates and pancreatic ailments.

• Anxiety disorders and depression: Some people worry about little things more than others and this can take a toll on them. Those who cannot handle stressful moments end up suffering from anxiety that can lead to heart problems, cancer and diabetes. People suffering from long bouts of depression also run the risk of ending up with debilitating health problems.

• Cancer: This is one disease men and women are most anxious about. It is a disease that can caused by cigarette smoking, obesity, bad eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, radiation and other environmental toxins and contaminants. The latter can affect and heighten abnormalities genetically in cells. These abnormalities are mostly acquired but some can be hereditary though that accounts for a very small percentage.

These are just a few health issues you need to take seriously. Most illnesses today are treatable and with a healthy lifestyle you can have a long and fulfilling life. Stay away from smoking, alcohol and stressful situations and make it a habit to get an annual medical check-up as a preventative measure.

How to Increase Your Height

Although the self-image of people should not be affected by their looks and stature, unfortunately all too often it is. It takes an exceptionally strong self-perception not to be affected by people's opinions about what you look like.

For men in particular, lack of height threatens their confidence greatly. Because of the stereotypes society promotes about big, strong men and small, weak women, anything different from this makes them uncomfortable.

Although this stature-thing affects mostly men, there are plenty of tiny women who envy those of their sex who are tall and willowy.

What can be done for small or short people? Do they just have to accept their lot in life? Or is there a way for them to be taller?

Basically there are three approaches.

• Make the most of your height.
• Take the 'drug' approach with its accompanying risks.
• Use natural means to increase your inches.

First we discuss what it is that makes some people short, some tall and some very, very tall.

In the centre of the human brain is a small but vital gland called the pituitary gland. Apart from affecting virtually every other gland in the body, it secretes a hormone called the human growth hormone. It is usually known to most people as HGH.

Quite apart from being the main deciding factor in how tall or short we grow, it has the following positive effects on our bodies:

It is involved with the growth process of all parts of the body except the brain.

• It is involved in the strength of our bones.
• It is involved in the breakdown and use of fats.
• It is involved in the synthesis of proteins.
• It increases the mass of muscles.
• It plays a large role in the liver functions, insulin and the processing of sugars.
• It keeps the bodily processes co-ordinated and on an even keel.
• It stimulates the immune system.

When these functions falter and grow less efficient, we have a process called aging!

So, you can see that not only is HGH highly prized because of what it can do for people who would like to be taller, it is also sought after as an anti ageing remedy.

Unfortunately many of the roles and processes influenced by HGH are still unknown, but it is known that too much HGH does have a detrimental effect on the health. There are some things that can happen if the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone. This is frequently caused by a tumour on the pituitary gland:

• The obvious one is gigantism.
• Thickening of the bones of the fingers and toes and jaw.
• Headaches.
• Impaired vision.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Reduced sexual function.

The three approaches that shorter people can try are, firstly to dress in ways that accentuate height, take steps to improve their posture and the way they move. Believe it or not, this makes a big difference.

The second way is to use synthetic HGH. This is not recommended unsupervised medically, and, in fact, it is illegal in the USA. Doctors usually use this method only if the health of the patient makes it necessary, and not just to make them taller.