The weather's not all that heats up in the summer. This can also be the season of love, whether you're single and looking for a relationship or in a committed partnership.
"Summer's a great time to develop a new relationship or to spice up the one that you already have," says Terri Orbuch, Ph.D., author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great. "Summer brings with it such a sense of optimism."
Here's how to make this the steamiest summer ever in terms of romance.
1. Make the weather work to your advantage. Open your doors and windows to the warm breezes, put flowers everywhere, and inhale deeply. "Summer has such wonderful smells," Orbuch says. "And positive smells can increase the attraction between two people."
2. Shed those winter blues and resolve to be optimistic. "Just waking up to sunshine can have a positive effect on mood," Orbuch says. "And that optimism rubs off on other people as well." It's natural to want to be close to someone who's got a sunny, positive outlook on life, so strive for an upbeat attitude.
3. Summer's the perfect opportunity to show a little more skin, so make every inch count. Wear strapless tops in flattering colors, flirty sundresses, strappy sandals, and, of course, bathing suits. And there's nothing wrong with adding a fun, floppy hat to your outfit.
4. If you can afford it, take a weekend share in a summer rental with a group of singles. "A summer house is a great way to meet people," says Brooke Wise, MBA, founder of Wise Matchmaking. "You're all in a house together by the beach, and weekend relationships can turn into serious relationships when the fall comes."
5. Use your creative juices to add an element of surprise into activities that can increase passion and romance. Plan a couples massage night, go to a wine tasting together, or stay up late watching erotic videos together.
6. If you're going out on a first date with someone, schedule something that takes advantage of the gorgeous weather. "Plan a picnic outside, or go to an arboretum," Orbuch says. "It's a little out of the ordinary and chances are it will help you reach your goal, which is a second date."
7. If you're single, take advantage of outdoor activities, like rooftop bars, movies in the park, and hiking clubs.
8. If you're a couple, take advantage of slower work schedules to do something together that you've been putting off due to lack of time. "Plan a getaway to a bed and breakfast," Wise says. "Or take a picnic to the park, just the two of you."
9. If you're a couple and you're feeling as if things are getting ho-hum and stale, plan something exciting together. Take a road trip, go up in a hot air balloon, or take a plane ride that lasts for at least two hours before you reach your destination, Wise says. That way, you'll feel far enough away from the kids to really relax together. (There's no time like the summer, when the kids are out of school, to leave them with grandparents for a few days.)
10. If you're single, save up and go on a singles trip, Wise suggests. "A trip to a faraway land, where you're traveling with others who are single, is a great way to meet someone," she says.
View the original article here
Friday, 17 June 2011
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Alarm Clocks for a Gentler Wake-Up
If you're tired of being jolted from your sleep by the sudden sound of a jarring alarm clock, there's a more pleasant way. Try beginning your day with a simulated sunrise, emanating from a natural light clock or enticing aromas to soothe you into the world of the awake.
How it Works
Usually starting 30 minutes before your set wake-up time, the light from a natural light alarm clock starts to mimic sunrise, gradually getting brighter. On some models, you can set a timer that allows you to wake up gradually over a period of time as short as 10 minutes or as long as an hour and a half. At the same time, natural sounds such as those of a jungle, rainforest or ocean, wind chimes, or songs from a selected radio station, start out at low volume and gradually reach a pre-set higher volume. So with a 30-minute wake-up, if you need to be out of bed by 6:30 a.m., the light and music start at 6:00.
Plug In
Natural light alarm clocks have built in radios with speakers. Some also come with docks for iPods, iPhones, and USBs. There are even brands that contain aromatherapy beads that wake you to the soothing scent of lavender or familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee. In some models, you can add your own essential aromatherapy oils.
Pick a Style
A variety of designs from robotic to light box to lamp-like. Some are spherical, presumably to resemble the sun. Others have a more clinical appearance, and when they are not lit, could be mistaken for a personal humidifier or vaporizer with a built-in clock.
Choose Well
If you have a hard time getting up no matter how well an alarm works, look for a natural light clocks that also comes with a snooze button or even a beeper that goes off when all else fails. The bottom line is: do some research to find a wake-up light that works best for you. Be sure to try out the sound effects before you buy. Not everyone likes to fall asleep or wake up to simulated sounds of birds chirping or rain falling, or to the smell of perfume and flowers. On the other hand, if you don't get good radio reception where you sleep, you may need those nature sounds or that iPod dock.
Sleep Tight
Just as natural alarm clocks help you wake up to gentle sounds and gradually increasing light, some can also be set to provide gradually decreasing light and sounds to help you fall asleep at night. Some models include white noise and low-intensity night light options.
Sources:
Shattell, Mona M. "Peaceful Awakenings: Taking the "Alarm" out of the Alarm Clock" Issues in mental Health Nursing, 2007 28:1271-1272. Web 11 May 2011
http://uncg.academia.edu/MonaShattell/Papers/304141/Peaceful_Awakenings_Taking_the_Alarm_out_of_the_Alarm_Clock
TMJ: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a jaw disorder that at its most basic may cause minor pain and at its most involved may include myriad overlapping conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Because pain in the jaw can result from so many things, it's critical to have a thorough physical exam to figure out the root cause before a diagnosis is made. Yet doctors admit that much of the time, TMJ has them stumped. Here's what to know about this mysterious malady:
TMJ is fairly common. About 35 million people in this country suffer from some form of TMJ problem. And while it can affect anyone, most TMJ sufferers are women of childbearing age.
TMJ can have a multitude of symptoms. A person with TMJ typically experiences jaw pain upon chewing or opening the mouth. This pain can radiate to other areas, including the ears, neck and shoulders. The person may also experience a popping, clicking or grating sound when opening or closing the mouth, jaw stiffness or an inability to open the mouth all the way, a bite that doesn't feel aligned, and difficulty speaking and swallowing. But jaw trouble isn't always present-there are other signs of TMJ that may at first glance have little to do with the jaw. These include headaches, difficulty hearing, dizziness, and vision troubles.
Doctors aren't always sure what causes TMJ. A common cause of TMJ is arthritis, which may simultaneously affect other areas of the body. TMJ also may result from injury. Or it could be a result of genes, your own particular hormonal mix, infection, and even certain dental treatments.
Hypersensitivity to pain is typical in TMJ sufferers. Doctors believe this characteristic of TMJ patients is linked to the fact that they frequently suffer from other chronic pain conditions.
TMJ's progress varies from person to person. Many TMJ sufferers have mild or moderate symptoms. These often resolve on their own or after the patient practices self care such as eating soft foods, avoiding opening the mouth wide, and applying heat or ice. Unfortunately, some TMJ sufferers experience a progressive worsening of the condition and long-term pain. In such cases, jaw surgery may be recommended.
Sources:
The TMJ Association, www.tmj.org
Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Scientists closer to unearthing mysteries of cot death
The findings could improve understanding of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and lead to better screening and preventions.
The body automatically cuts off breathing when you swallow in order to stop food going down the "wrong way" into the windpipe and lungs.
Ordinarily this happens for just a fraction of a second and even when you do choke, breathing is restored once the blockage is coughed up.
But scientists believe there may be a fault in this "reflex" in some babies that causes the breathing to stay off too long and this could be a cause of the mysterious cot death.
Now they have identified how this reflex works and believe further study could discover why it goes wrong – and how to prevent it.
Professor Paul Pilowsky, of Macquarie University, Sydney, said: "Until now, the centres in the brain that coordinate breathing and swallowing were poorly understood.
"But our research has finally teased apart the two mechanisms in the brain, demonstrating how they work together when something goes down the wrong way.
"The eventual hope is to have the ability to manipulate these two systems separately to prevent the excessively long breathing arrest that may cause SIDS."
The mechanism is vital to everyone, but babies in particular as they have a tendency to regurgitate liquids after feeding and saliva tends to pool in their throats.
The two parts of the brain are the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), which is the area that receives sensory information about the presence of airway irritants, and a combination of the caudal nucleus ambiguus and the other is the Bötzinger Complex (BötC).
To understand how the central nervous system controls breathing and swallowing, the team recreated the brain and body's response to a choking in rats using electrical stimulation of the nerve using an electrical charge.
About 300 babies aged under one die of cot death each year in the UK.
No single cause has been identified.
Most cases occur when the baby is under the age of six months, and can happen anywhere, not only in a cot.
The risk is greater in boys, premature babies and those of low birth weight and babies whose parents smoke.
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) did not believe there was any evidence to support the latest theory.
The scientific adviser Prof George Haycock said: "No doubt the work will interest other specialists in the field of experimental physiology but there is no good reason to believe that it has any real relevance to SIDS in human infants."
The findings were published in The Journal of Physiology.
Cuts forcing patients to wait for treatment, NHS admits
In some cases hospitals are being told to delay treatment in order to save money, while in others GPs are telling patients they cannot be operated upon until their conditions worsen.
The Primary Care Trust Network, an umbrella group that represents health service managers who buy treatment, admits the moves are “undesirable” and will be “unpopular” with the public.
But managers insist they are only acting “reluctantly” as a result of “financial constraint”, and deny allegations by private providers that they are biased against them.
It comes as the NHS struggles to make an unprecedented £20billion of savings over the next three years, at the same time as the Government imposes a radical reorganisation of commissioning and management structures.
Already, NHS patients can be treated for non-emergency operations such as hip and knee replacements in private hospitals in order to speed up treatment.
But it is claimed that Primary Care Trusts, which currently commission care, are finding ways to delay referrals and reduce demand for services in order to save money.
An official tribunal called the Co-operation and Competition Panel is looking into allegations that NHS managers are trying to reduce the amount of business private providers receive.
In a submission to the panel, the PCT Network denied it was discriminating against the private sector – but it did admit that managers are rationing treatment to save money.
This includes increasing waiting times between referral and treatment, to slow down the number of patients being treated and thus the amount of money being spent in the health service, and increasing the threshold of pain or illness that patients are in before they qualify for treatment, so that fewer have to be seen.
Its letter, written by David Stout, Director of the PCT Network, says: “From the information we have received from PCTs, it is the case that in a context of financial constraint, a number have reluctantly decided to temporarily reduce activity levels this year to help contain costs, by asking providers to extend (or not further reduce) their waiting times (while keeping them within the constitutionally required 18-weeks) or imposing in-year caps on (in effect deferring) activity.
“PCTs, working with their practice-based commissioners, are also rightly reviewing referral thresholds and guidelines, and adopting a variety of different referral management processes to help maintain adherence to these, to ensure that patients who need and will benefit most from secondary interventions are prioritised for treatment.”
But he added: “Where choice of provider is appropriate, patients are still being offered this once a decision to refer has been taken, albeit with a longer waiting time or higher treatment threshold.
“For this reason, while the PCTs acknowledge that these actions are undesirable and may be unpopular with patients and providers, they do not believe they are breaching the rules which require commissioners to be transparent and non-discriminatory and to promote choice of provider where appropriate.”
David Worskett of the NHS Partners Network, which represents private firms that treat NHS patients, told the BBC: “It is absolutely the case that in this period of transition that independent sectors are facing significant difficulties. The practices seem to be bias against the independent sector.”
Eyebrow Plucking, Waxing, and Threading
The toil of achieving the perfect set of eyebrows is enough to make anyone weary. Yet millions of women (and men, too!) show up at the salon every few weeks to be threaded or waxed—while others stay home to take on the challenge with tweezers. Many would agree that no method of eyebrow shaping is perfect, but what are the pros and cons of each?
Plucking
This method of eyebrow shaping is the most economical way of grooming your eyebrows. You can buy tweezers at any drug or beauty store, which are ideal for removing coarse hair or small groups of hair. However, tweezing can be time- consuming and oftentimes takes precision and skill to get the shape you want.
Additionally, your skin's reaction to this very act can be unpredictable, potentially resulting in hyperpigmentation, folliculitis, scarring, ingrown hairs, and distorted follicles.
Waxing
Like plucking, waxing removes the hair from the hair shaft proving-and it could 2-3 weeks before hair begins to grown back. Although this method is the most expensive, it's considered to be the most effective as well because unlike plucking, waxing removes larger quantities of hair from the hair shaft. Instead of opting for a DIY home waxing kit, though, allow an experienced operator from a sanitary beauty salon to work her magic on you. She will provide quicker and more precise results.
Also, keep in mind the waxing-zones that are off-limits. They include areas where there are moles and warts as well as skin that's irritated, sunburned, or broken. The same potential effects of eyebrow plucking (hyperpigmentation, folliculitis, scarring, ingrown hairs, and distorted follicles) can exist for waxing. However, experts say this mode of hair removal may reduce regrowth because repeated waxing helps to destroy hair follicles.
Finally, if you're using a retinoid skin treatment that is systemic or topical, refrain from waxing for at least months after you've stopped treatment. This way, you'll avoid any possible skin tearing or scarring.
Threading
This ancient technique involves the use of a lengthy, twisted loop of thread that is rapidly rotated across the desired hair. Then, the tight coil pulls or breaks off the trapped hair. Some consider this method to be very painful while others are barely bothered. And interestingly, side effects are similar to plucking and waxing.
Conclusion
While no method is without fault, each has merit, too. A talk with your dermatologist can help you further determine which will yield the best results and be gentlest on your skin.
Sources:
Nonlaser Hair Removal Techniques
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1067139-overview
How to Use a Neti Pot for Asthma
The neti pot, a tried-and-true method that's effective in relieving nasal passages, is also a do-it-yourself asthma remedy that can be used to rinse your nasal passages and prevent related respiratory symptoms.
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin followed a small group of people suffering from allergic asthma who tried using some form of nasal irrigation, such as that accomplished with a neti pot, to help themselves feel better. Their findings, released in the Wisconsin Medical Journal in April 2008, revealed that some participants reported significant relief after using this treatment in relieving asthma symptoms.
Try the neti pot for yourself and see if it helps to treat your own allergic asthma symptoms. You can buy one for $20 or less at most health food stores, drug stores, or websites selling natural remedies. Once you have the container, which looks almost like a small tea pot with a long, narrow spout, you'll either need a store-bought nasal saline solution or you can make your own with a combination of warm water and non-ionized salt.
Here's how to use this easy asthma remedy:
Fill the neti pot with your saline solution.Lean your head sideways over your sink area.Direct the spout of the neti pot into the nostril that's on top.Let the water slowly drain into the cavity and then flow out the other nostril.Turn your head the other way and repeat in the other nostril.Clean or sterilize the neti pot after each use.The mucus and other allergens trapped in your nose should come out with the saline, helping to clear your passages. For asthma that's allergic in nature, this can help prevent related respiratory symptoms.
While many doctors believe that most neti pot usage is harmless, there are possible side effects. For instance, you could find yourself coping with irritated nasal passages, a stinging sensation, or even nosebleeds after using. This can often be avoided by adjusting the water temperature and salt levels. Side effects could also be a sign that you need to reduce the frequency of this treatment.
Keep in mind that you may need to use this tool daily over the short term just to treat a presenting problem, but once you have the symptoms in check, you should scale back to using the neti pot just a few times a week to maintain the effects.
Scientists at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) also warn that using a neti pot too often-such as every day for longer than a week at time-or not cleaning it well after each use can change the balance of your nasal chemistry and could put you at increased risk for getting a sinus infection. Therefore, if you experience this complication, you may need to reduce or even stop using your neti pot.
Sources:
Li, James T. "What is a Neti Pot? And Why Would You Use One?" Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). 22 Dec. 2009. Web. 2 Feb. 2011.
Rabago D, Guerard E, Bukstein D. "Nasal Irrigation for Chronic Sinus Symptoms in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, and Nasal Polyposis: a Hypothesis Generating Study." Wisconsin Medical Journal. 107; (2008):69-75. Web. 2 Feb. 2011.
Simple strategies can reduce BPA levels
Families that switch to a diet high in fresh, organic foods and make other simple changes in the kitchen can reduce their levels of the potentially harmful chemical bisphenol A (BPA), suggests a small study out this week in Environmental Health Perspectives, published by the National Institutes of Health.
Some studies have linked BPA to reproductive abnormalities and a heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
In the new study, researchers at the Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute tested levels of BPA in the urine of five families of four that had a high likelihood of regular exposure to BPA as a result of consuming canned foods, canned sodas, or frozen dinners; eating meals prepared outside the home or drinking from polycarbonate water bottles; or microwaving in plastic.
On the first two days of the study, the families ate their normal diets and provided urine samples that were tested for BPA. For the next three days, the families consumed only freshly prepared organic meals and snacks, avoiding any foods packaged in cans or plastic and using only glass and stainless steel food storage containers. Then, on the final two days, they returned to their normal diets.
The study found that when the families ate the fresh-food diet and avoided exposure to cans, plastic packaging, or polycarbonate bottles, BPA levels in their urine dropped on average by over 60 percent, and when they returned to their normal diets, their BPA levels soon returned to to original levels.
The study also measured levels of another endocrine-disruptor found in plastic packaging: the phthalate bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, or DEHP for short. Results showed that markers for DEHP also dropped by more than 50 percent during the change-in-diet phase.
A previous Consumer Reports investigation found that found that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods we tested contain some BPA, and that children eating multiple servings per day of canned foods with BPA levels comparable to the ones we found in some tested products could get a dose of BPA near levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies.
Sources:
Food Packaging and Bisphenol A and Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure: Findings from a Dietary Intervention [Environmental Health Perspectives]
—Andrea Rock
Spring Ahead Without Falling Behind on Sleep
When Daylight Savings Time arrives, you can reset your alarm clock, your computer clock, and your wall clock, but it's not so easy to reset your internal clock.
The hormone melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland in your brain, regulates your sleep-wake cycle by responding to daylight. When you set the clock back from daylight savings time in winter, and it gets darker earlier, you gain an extra hour in the day. Use it wisely, and you might even gain an extra hour's sleep. But when you turn the clock ahead again in the spring, you lose an hour and you will most certainly lose it as sleep time. It will be harder to get up in the morning and harder to stay alert throughout the next day. And it could take a few days to get over that, especially if you already have trouble getting a good night's sleep.
If you normally fall asleep easily, one way to handle that lost hour is to go to bed an hour earlier than you have been, and get right into the new cycle. For example, let's say you normally go to bed at 11 p.m. At 10 p.m. on the evening when you will officially turn the clock ahead (technically at 2 o'clock in the morning), simple turn the clock to 11 p.m. and go to bed. If you fall asleep within a reasonable amount of time and get up at your normal time the next day, you won't have lost any sleep and it will be much easier for you to cycle into the new time zone from thereon in.
If it usually takes a while for you to fall asleep at night, or you are just better at making gradual adjustments, prepare for the time change in advance. Starting three or four nights prior to turning the clocks ahead, go to bed 15 or 20 minutes earlier. You will be easing yourself into a schedule that actually puts you in bed an hour earlier than you are used to. When 10 p.m. rolls around and you change it to 11, you'll be ready to go to bed.
These three steps can help you adjust quickly to daylight savings time by helping you get into bed and fall asleep whatever time works best, and wake up feeling refreshed the next day.
1. Take a warm bath or shower just before bed. The drop in temperature when you come out of the bath will help your body relax, and you'll be better able to fall asleep a little earlier.
2. If the time change has you waking up in the middle of the night, try to go right back to sleep. If, after 20 minutes, you are still awake and not feeling drowsy, get out of bed and do something calming and restful, such as reading or knitting.
3. Get up and out right away in the morning. Exposure to sunlight early in the day will help your inner clock adjust to the new sleep-wake cycle.
Sources:
Loyola University Medical Center. "The Dangers of Daylight Saving Time." 10 Mar 2010. Web. 24 Feb 2011
http://www.lumc.edu/Template/luhs/newsrelease/reportdetail.cfm?autonumber=973441139
University of Michigan/Sleeps Disorders Center
http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=636
Want to lose weight - get a good night's sleep
Scientists have found that you can double your chances of reaching your target weight if you get between six and eight hours sleep a night.
If you have any more, you will become too inactive and if you have any less your stress levels will increase along with cravings for unhealthy food.
The research in Portland, USA, by Kaiser Permanente, a health care consortium, found that people trying to lose at least 10lb were more likely to reach their goal if they had lower stress levels and slept moderately.
Nearly 500 obese adults with an average age of 55 took part in the study.
They were asked to attend 22 counselling sessions, reduce their diet by 500 calories a day and increase the amount of exercise they took to at least three hours a week.
They also had to keep a diary of their habits, including their sleep patterns and stress levels.
After six months, 60 per cent of the participants had lost at least 10lb.
Researchers found that the successful dieters were more likely to report that they had slept between six and eight hours each night.
Almost three quarters of dieters who had both low stress levels and six to eight hours sleep a night were likely to achieve the 10lb weight loss target.
They were also twice as likely to be successful as participants who reported the highest stress levels and got six or less hours sleep a night.
"This study suggests that when people are trying to lose weight, they should try to get the right amount of sleep and reduce their stress," said lead author Dr Charles Elder.
"Some people may just need to cut back on their schedules and get to bed earlier. Others may find that exercise can reduce stress and help them sleep.
"For some people, mindbody techniques such as meditation also might be helpful."
The study has been published in the International Journal of Obesity.
Could Neurofeedback Retrain Your Brain?
Picture the scene from TV. A patient suffering from some mental malady is holed up in a windowless office, electrodes placed strategically about her head, while a screen records responses to various stimuli. It's fiction, but the premise is anchored in scientific accuracy.
The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) defines neurofeedback therapy (NFT) as a form of biofeedback that "uses monitoring devices to provide moment-to-moment information to an individual on the state of their physiological functioning." Essentially, neurofeedback works to alleviate irregularities in the brain such as depression, ADHD, and autism, by conditioning the patient's brain through a variety of patterned stimuli.
Before any patient undergoes NFT, a doctor will provide an objective brain assessment to determine her psychological status. During the procedure, electrodes are placed on the scalp of the patient and are connected to a computer which will record the brain's activity.
Once the brain's activity is fed into the computer's software, subtle messages are sent from the machine into the patient to regulate abnormal brain patterns. According to the ISNR, depending on "various principles of learning, and practitioner guidance, changes in brain patterns occur and are associated with positive changes in physical, emotional, and cognitive states." The messages sent from machine to patient will vary depending on the condition of the patient.
Although the procedure may sound extremely complex, the intended results are not. NFT seeks to teach a brain with a particular abnormality how to behave normally.
Neurofeedback is very expensive and not many mental health professionals offer it. However, recent research has found the benefits of the treatment for people who suffer from:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorderAutismEpilepsyDepressionAnxietyPost-traumatic stress disorderSleep disorders
If you think you could benefit from NFT, discuss an action plan with you doctor. She will provide you with the necessary information concerning the risks, the benefits, payment plans, and what you can expect from the procedure.
Sources:
Allen Press (2008, February 28). Neurofeedback Helps Those With Autistic Disorders
VitaminWater flu-fighting claims “dangerous”
That’s the complaint from the National Consumers League. The nonprofit organization this week urged the Federal Trade Commission to promptly put an end to the “unfair and deceptive” ads for the drink, including one that says “flu shots are so last year.”
If that means you should skip the flu shot and drink VitaminWater instead, we beg to differ. While some VitaminWater drinks contain vitamin C and zinc, our recent report on flu supplements found those nutrients were unlikely to offer any benefit in flu prevention or treatment. In contrast, the flu shot is proven to reduce the risk of catching the flu by about 70 to 90 percent in healthy adults, and it’s now recommended for everyone 6 months and older.
So if you drink VitaminWater, do it for the taste; not for warding off the flu.—Ginger Skinner, web associate editor
Read more on how to prevent the flu.
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