Health

How to Cope as a Carer

There are many carers in the world, from nurses and mothers to those who dedicate their whole life to caring for a loved one who has been injured in an accident or who suffers from some form of dementia. Caring for others is the kind of work that is high in satisfaction, but even so, carers need to take care of themselves as well, because the job is emotionally and often physically demanding.

Very often, we see tragic circumstances where the carer gave their all – basically their life – for their loved one and died first, leaving the person they cared for without any support. In the case of a retarded child, this can have a terrible effect on them. Their carer insisted on doing all for the child for many years, thinking that such independence was a good thing.

In reality, it simply made their child depend on them completely so that once they were gone, not having them was a bigger emotional shock than it should have been. So the first thing every carer should know is this; they need to have a good support network to help them and the person they care for.

Even when the work of caring is relatively easy – you may not have to lift them in and out of bed, for instance, it is still essential to take care of yourself. Being a carer can be emotionally stressful, especially when you see a loved one’s mind being stolen by dementia. Such stress can cause you to become physically ill so that you simply can’t care for your loved one they way you want to. So here are some tips on caring for yourself when you are a carer:

(more…)

Fitness, Health

5 Benefits of a Good Posture

These days we rarely hear Grandma – or anyone else – telling us to sit up straight like they might have done years ago. And with the increasingly sedentary work and lifestyle most of us are living, bad posture seems to affect most of us. However, good posture certainly contributes to healthy living and here’s how.

  • Good posture helps you to breathe properly. This ensures a good supply of oxygen in the body. Try inhaling deeply while slouching, then sit up straight and inhale. You’ll easily notice that the latter allows you to inhale much more deeply.  When you have enough oxygen in your bloodstream you are much healthier.
  • It helps your brain to function properly with better concentration and clarity of thought. Studies show that the brain needs 20% oxygen to perform optimally.
  • Good posture improves your image. People look at you and think you are attractive, alert and healthy. When you see a person who constantly slouches, you’ll wonder if they are sick, in pain or feeling emotionally stressed.

(more…)

Beauty

What Happens During IPL Skin Rejuvenation Procedures?

We all like to know ahead of time what is going to happen to us, especially when a new procedure has been scheduled that we have never had before. Knowing ahead of time allows our minds time to process the steps and we don’t feel nearly as nervous. If you don’t know what to expect you can often feel quite stressed out, even with something as simple as IPL Skin Rejuvenation.

So here is a brief rundown of what to expect when you go for your first IPL skin rejuvenation procedure. But firstly, it is essential to choose a reputable practitioner who has been fully trained and is highly experienced with many happy patients. This may be a simple treatment but it is still a medical procedure and should be treated as such. Letting just anyone do it can cause a whole host of problems.

When you choose the doctor and discuss your needs with them they will advise you on the best skin care treatment for your type of skin. IPL Skin Rejuvenation is not suitable for every skin type. However, once you get the go ahead and make that appointment, here is what you can expect to happen.

(more…)

Health, Lifestyle

Health Benefits of Sunshine

If you see a child with very pale skin you will probably think they are healthy because their mother has been very careful to slap on the sunscreen and only allow them outside in the early morning and late afternoon when the sun is not so hot. However, you would be wrong.

People who don’t get enough sun on their skin can be very unhealthy. The main way we get Vitamin D is by the action of the sun on our skin. Vitamin D is important in itself, but it is also necessary as an aid to absorbing calcium which makes bones and teeth strong and healthy. This is even more important for children, whose bodies are still growing.

There are many other health benefits of sunshine on the skin: –

(more…)

Beauty, Health

How to Have Happy Hands

Most women spend time caring for their facial skin, but often neglect their hands to a great extent. Even having decorated or polished nails won’t cover up hands that are wrinkled and old looking. And since the state of our hands can give away our age to some extent, anyone who wants to look younger should give their hands some TLC.

Here are some tips to keep your hands happy

  • Wear cotton gloves outside if you are working in the garden or mowing.
  • Wear rubber gloves while washing up and when using harsh chemicals for cleaning.
  • Don’t put your hands in really hot or icy cold water as this will turn them red and the hot water will take all the natural oils out of them.
  • Wear sunscreen on the backs of your hands – and lower arms – when driving for long periods. Don’t put it on your palms as it can make your hands slippery. You can also wear fingerless gloves while driving to protect your hands from sun damage.

(more…)

Beauty

Who is Best Suited to Having Liposuction?

Just like any other cosmetic procedure, there are some people who are better suited to having liposuction than others. These people will get the best results and are the preferred patients of cosmetic surgeons. Most such surgeons will refuse treatment for those who they don’t consider good candidates, since they don’t want to risk getting a poor reputation from someone whose procedure did not do what they expected.

So who are those lucky people that are suitable candidates to have their fatty lumps removed and their body beautifully contoured ?

  • People whose skin is very firm and elastic. Elastic skin has the ability to bounce back after those fatty cells are removed. If your skin is wrinkled and sagging, it will sag even more after liposuction. Even if it is not sagging now, skin that doesn’t have much collagen is likely to sag after treatment. That is why older people whose skin is often lacking in collagen and elasticity may be refused treatment. It’s just as well; you wouldn’t want a big sag where a bump once lived.

(more…)

Health, Lifestyle

What is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep Apnoea is a medical condition that prevents your body from getting the kind of sleep and rest that is needed for optimum health.  It’s not just having insomnia; many sufferers don’t even know they have it and may even think they sleep well. At the same time, they’ll always feel tired and wonder why.

What is happening during those night hours if you have sleep apnoea? Your breathing is being obstructed so that you actually stop breathing for tiny periods of time while you are asleep. This often happens mostly during that deep sleep cycle and your body is then deprived of the oxygen you need while at the same time having too much carbon dioxide in the blood.

That sounds very bad and it is, but the brain recognizes the fact that there is not enough oxygen in the bloodstream and goes to work to waken you so that you start breathing again. You may not know that this happens because you are not likely to come fully awake. You’ll just come out of that deep sleep cycle and will once again sleep lightly and breathe more regularly – until it happens again.

The trouble is that this can happen hundreds of times per night, so is it any wonder you feel constantly tired?

(more…)

Health

My Gums Bleed – What Can I Do?

Oral health is an extremely important thing which people should be aware of and well versed in. Unfortunately, a lot of people simply don’t visit the dentist as often as they should, and this can lead to a lot of different tooth and gum diseases – some of which can be very painful and degrading.

Bleeding gums are a relatively common gum disease in the modern world. A lot of people throughout the world suffer from bleeding gums every day, and they simply don’t know how to deal with them. If your gums bleed, the following should help you understand what you can do and how you can get your oral health back:

What Causes Bleeding Gums?

Bleeding gums can be caused by a number of things, but the most common cause is undoubtedly oral disease and infection. When you eat, small particles of food can get stuck between your teeth. Sometimes, you will feel them, and will dislodge them. However, at other times, you won’t notice that you have food stuck there, and it will stay there until you brush or floss.

While sitting between your teeth, old food will start to break down. It will become a food source for bacteria, and can become acidic. This can cause the gums to become red and swollen. When you brush or floss swollen gums, they can start bleeding, causing significant pain and discomfort.

(more…)

Health

Where To Go For Drug Rehab

Many countries suffer from a drug addiction problem and most of them have some kind of treatment centres that help with drug rehab.  In Australia, many addicts go overseas for treatment because it’s cheaper than that found at home, however that is not the only reason. In some states of Australia it is difficult to get in, with long waiting times caused by not enough beds in treatment centres.

This is particularly so in Victoria, where many users are forced to travel to Sydney for treatment or be at risk of suicide. This is also difficult for them due to the cost of travelling and if their family goes with them for support, there is the additional cost of accommodation, unless they happen to have a friend or relative they can stay with.

The kind of rehabilitation centre is important too, with those that offer accommodation being the best option. This allows the addict to stay away from the temptation to go back on drugs, easy to fall into when you know you can get a fix just down the street. Being right away from people you know who are sellers, gives a better chance of recovery.

(more…)

Beauty, Health

A Guide to Getting Braces

A lot of teens don’t like the idea of getting braces on their teeth, but the expertise of a dentist who will then refer you to an orthodontist is needed to ensure your teeth are aligned properly and are straight. Otherwise there will be a lot of dental problems for you later on. You may even have some now, if your teeth are crooked or if your bite is incorrect.

In addition, there are sure to be plenty of others in your age group also having similar treatment, so you won’t stick out like a sore thumb; you’ll be in good company. So what’s the first thing that will happen?

  • The first appointment will be for an examination only. You may have to take x-rays from the dentist; if not, they will most likely be taken at this time. Then the orthodontist will discuss with you and your parents what the problem is and the treatment necessary, how long it will take and what it will cost.

(more…)

Health

How to Beat Insomnia – and Why You Should

Most people know the feeling of waking up and having to get going on their day’s activities after a poor or restless night’s sleep. Not only does a bad night make you feel tired and unable to cope with things all the next day, it can cause serious problems with your life and your health.

For instance, being tired prevents you from concentrating and focusing on the activities you need to do. Driving the kids to school? They are at risk when you can’t concentrate properly on the traffic, or when your decisions to act come more slowly than they should for safety. If you work at certain jobs driving machinery or operating equipment the same applies. If you are too tired to concentrate, things can go wrong too easily. The results can be costly at best and dangerous to your health are worst.

However, constant insomnia can also cause less noticeable health problems that sneak up on you unawares until they become too big to ignore. These can negatively impact your life and the lives of your loved ones if they are not dealt with. Health experts agree that these problems include risks of –

(more…)

Health

12 Ways to Beat Killer Stress

While we do need some kinds of stress in our lives, constant stress can be not only debilitating, but very dangerous. Health professionals have linked stress to many diseases, from ulcers to heart disease, stroke and more. Acceptable forms of stress are short-lived stress that helps us accomplish certain goals important to us, e.g. exercising for health – which is a form of stress on our body – and stress that saves us from danger. For instance, jumping out of the way of a run-away vehicle is good stress, even though it may leave you trembling.

Dangerous stress is that which goes on for months at a time, such as a stressful workplace or a situation that you can see no end to. Being constantly under physical or emotional stress is bad for your health, but even if you can’t see a way out of the situation you may be able cope with it by employing the following tips.

(more…)

Fitness, Health

Should People with a Disability Play Sport?

As we have seen when watching the Paralympics, people with disability certainly can play sport and so, of course they should. In fact, this is one of the things they can do that they not only gets them out of the house, but is beneficial to them both physically and mentally.

Once they are focussed on what they can do – playing the game – instead of what they can’t do, they find their self esteem shoots up and their enjoyment of life increases exponentially. And if they win what a great way to celebrate being alive. If you’ve even pondered this question, you only have to watch the winners of gold medals to know what a great thing it is for them to play sport.

(more…)