I love where I live. Maine is called Vacationland for a reason, with many state and local parks and trails for a runner to explore.
Unfortunately, one of the dangerous parts of taking advantage of such a setting is that you have to check yourself over for ticks.
A few days after running a local trail race, I noticed that one of my bug bites near my hip looked a little scabbed over. Closer inspection revealed that it was actually a small tick!
Large ticks I don’t worry about. They are easy to spot and don’t carry lyme disease. Deer ticks do carry lyme disease, though, and if they latch on to you for 24 or 36 hours then you have a chance of contracting it.
This feller was a little too small (especially after I tore him with the tweezers while removing him) to tell if he is a deer tick or not, so I had to make a visit the Doctor’s office.
If you ever find a tick dug into you and live in an area where lyme disease is rampant, then here are a few simple steps that you can take to protect yourself:
Remove the tick with tweezers, and make sure that you get the head out of your body. Put the tick into a small tupperware container (if you have rubbing alcohol available, then put some in with it.) Clean the area you were bit with some rubbing alcohol or some other sterile liquid. Get into the doctor’s office right away with your tick, within 48 hours at the very latest but preferably within 24.
If the tick was on you for longer than 24-36 hours and you get to the doctor’s office within 48 hours of removing it, then they will probably give you a dose of antibiotics which will kill the lyme disease bacteria if it is present in your bloodstream. They will then send the tick off to be examined to determine first if it is a deer tick, and if so they will check to see if it is carrying lyme disease.
Depending upon what they find, you may need to get tested for lyme in 4 to 6 weeks. The tests are notoriously bad, and are very inaccurate earlier than that.
If you catch it quick enough, there isn’t much to worry about, but if you allow lyme disease to develop and progress through stage 2 or stage 3 then you may be subject to arthritis, partial paralysis, and other unpleaseantries.
How do you prevent it in the first place?
The easiest way is to just avoid getting bit by the ticks in the first place. Here are a few tips:
Wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck the pants into your socks when in areas that deer can be found such as meadows or trails. Wear white clothing that the ticks will be visible against. Check yourself and your friends for ticks after your run or hike and remove any ticks that you find. If a tick does bite you, then get it out of your body as soon as possible, and if it’s likely that it’s been on you for longer than a day follow the steps I listed above.
Don’t let fear of lyme disease or ticks keep you from enjoying a good trail run; while it can be bad if you let it go untreated, a few simple precautions can keep you safe.
Tending to your mind body and spirit will certainly help you stay healthy and live a balanced life style. It seems though that everyone has their own ideas of what a balanced life style means. What works for one person may be abhorrent to another. The one size fits all idea is crazy in this day and age. Individuality is always the key. When you find something that work for you stick with it until it starts to not feel good anymore. I know of an eighty-five year old man who still swims every morning and can walk miles. He eats a simple diet by choice and is incredibly fit. He’s very small in stature but enjoys his life which as well as his exercise routine includes weekly Japanese lessons which he has been taking for years. He’s also a church goer so in my opinion is enjoying a healthy lifestyle because he nurtures his mind body and soul.
Doing what makes you happy is the key here. If someone makes a New Year’s resolution to get fit, stop smoking or lose weight, if they are doing it because they feel the “should” they are very likely to give up before too long. Likewise if a child leaves school early in their education because they hate it and they have bad grades, they may well go back to school at a later date to study something that interests them. If this is the case it is much more likely that they would be much more successful at their studies because it’s been their “choice” to return.
When we are inspired to do something it is always more enjoyable and we achieve better results than if we are motivated to do something. Motivation suggests being coerced into something from an external force, whereas inspiration suggests an internal desire. Internal inspiration is what creates masterpieces and inventions whereas external motivation may come from a fear of failing or unpleasant consequences.
The things you choose don’t really matter, it is more that they are your choices and not things imposed upon you by someone else. If I told you that you had to sit for 20 minutes twice a day and meditate to lower your blood pressure and you got bored easily and hated having to sit still, meditating would be a chore. It may even cause you stress and irritation, something that is certainly not an environment conducive to lowering your blood pressure.
The more happiness you can create in your life the healthier you are likely to be. If you are inspired to try any of these activities it’s a good indicator that they may enhance your life. If not, why not come up with your own list? Inspiration of any kind comes from your inner wisdom and it’s always a good idea to listen to that. No one knows what is best for you more than you so be guided by your inner knowing and see how these suggestions can help you relieve stress, and bring balance into your life.
Nurture your mind
Write a poem
Meditate
Do crossword puzzles
Play scrabble
Play internet games to distract your mind from your worries
Eliminate negative thoughts for 1 hour each day. (This is actually a big challenge – try it)
De-clutter your room, desk or home and you will find it helps to clarify your thinking
Nurture you body
Do some gardening
Have a massage or facial
Take a long relaxing bubble bath
Try aqua aerobics
Go for a hot air balloon ride
Go for a swim
Nurture your spirit
Read something inspirational
Take picture of happy family events
Spend time with people that share your spiritual views
Write out 3 wonderful things about yourself everyday
Release your anger by imagining the person you are having a problem with sitting opposite you
Pray
Let nurturing your mind body and soul be something that you find inspiring, fun and a joy and you will find yourself living your best life.
Enjoy!
Gaynor
Stay Beautiful in Your 30s
Aging, career highs and lows, even pregnancy can lead to some changes in your complexion and well-being. You may start noticing a few fine lines around the eyes and mouth, dullness in your skin, or adult acne.
Problem: Wrinkles around the eyes
The eyes have it – thinner, more-sensitive skin, that is. While regular facial moisturizers can keep the skin supple, eye creams usually contain lower concentrations of active ingredients and fewer preservatives, so they are gentler.
Make sure the cream you choose includes the basics, such as sunscreen and antioxidants. If you need a little extra help, look for ingredients like caffeine and magnolia extract to reduce puffiness; coneflower to cool and soothe or vitamin K to lessen dark under-eye circles.
Skin care is retarding the ageing process. Here are a few tips for proactive anti-aging skin care:
1. Exfoliate. The 30s is the decade when cell turnover begins to slow down, leading to dull, uneven skin tone. Counter this with regular exfoliation and moisturizing treatments that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)
2. See spot treatments. Pregnancy may cause hormonal upheavals that can result in melasma, also called “mask of pregnancy” ( dark patches on the skin). Use gentle skin- lightening products that can contain vitamin C and licorice extract.
3. Take your vitamins. A single multivitamin provides you most of the vitamins and minerals you need. Doctors may also recommend calcium supplements.
4. Get moving. Strengthen your bones and muscles with weight training.
5. Drink a lot of water: Skin care can’t be any simpler than this. Water helps in flushing out the toxins from the body, hence keeping it clean and making it less prone to disease. Around 8 glasses of water (per day) is recommended by all doctors.
6. Avoid the use of strong, chemical based products on your skin. Natural skin care products are a good option. Use of organic skin care products (home made or commercial) can be a very effective anti-aging skin care measure.
7. Keep your makeup clean. Replace the sponges in your compact on a regular basis. Now and then, toss the whole works and start fresh — the average shelf life for cosmetics is 6 to 12 months. Don’t buy products so expensive that you’ll be heartbroken if you have to throw them away.
8. Do not overuse skin care products. Excessive and harsh application, both are harmful.
9. Protect yourself from the sun — use sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10 and 2.
10. Don’t — I repeat — don’t smoke. Your skin is a large organ and it needs a lot of circulation. Smoking impairs that dramatically. That’s why smokers’ skin looks dull and gray. Instead of having oxy-generated blood delivered to the surface of the skin, they’re getting poisons and oxidants.
11. Many studies have been done over the years demonstrating the healing and physiological properties of bovine colostrum. Colostrum helps the immune system to function more efficiently, maintain peak performance and fight acne causing bacteria.
Colostrum supplies growth factors (hormones) as well as stimulating the endocrine system to keep producing its own supply of hormones. Research strongly indicates that the combination of growth and immune factors in colostrum works together to create a potent anti-aging effect, including tighter skin, and regrowth of cells and tissue of organs that normally decrease in size with age.
Daily supplementation on Bovine Colostrum allows the body to have improved resilience against any type of stress. Overall health and well being is accomplished when the body has all of the necessary factors it needs for defense, healing and repair.
If you have special skin issues, such as stubborn acne, rosacea, or extremely sensitive or oily skin, the best thing to do is to seek out the advice of a professional dermatologist.
Pretty, healthy skin is well within your grasp, with a little bit of awareness, determination and persistence on your part. The results are definitely worth it. Live juicy and be happy with your largest organ!
Note: None of the information in this article is scientifically based, but it does work, based on the personal experiences of myself and many others.
For more info on Bovine Colostrum, Visit :
http://www.BuyBovineColostrum.com
There are a numbers of diseases in which the eyes are at risk of harm. Diabetes is a disease that has the capability to cause visual problems and even blindness. Knowing this, your doctor will want to monitor your eyesight regularly.
The way in which diabetes affects the eyes is; that while the pancreas can’t produce the insulin required to balance the sugar, this break down of sugars and starches affects the flow of blood effectively. With a decreased flow of blood to the nerves in the eyes, the flow of oxygen is diminished. When an organ does not receive adequate oxygen, it begins to kill off nerve endings that are required to sustain the organ’s function. This also affects the eyes.
Depending on the type of diabetes you have your doctor will want to make every effort to ensure you are taking care of all your vital organs and again, this includes your eyes. The lack of oxygen can cause eye diseases such as retinopathy which causes damage to the retina, or it may cause cataracts, or glaucoma. Diseases such as this may ultimately cause blindness if left untreated.
Symptoms may not be immediately obvious, therefore when you are diagnosed with diabetes, it is imperative to have them looked at often. It isn’t until the symptoms have gotten so bad many people see their doctor. By the time they are seen, the damage may already be irreversible.
Knowing some symptoms ahead of time could be of great help. If you are unsure what to watch for, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor or optician. That’s what they are there for.
Some ways to help prevent your eyes from being affected by diabetes is to:
1. Have your eyes tested regularly
2. Do what is required to keep your sugar balance in check. If this becomes a problem you should have it checked and your eyes should be a part of what they check.
3. Good nutrition. A healthy diet as prescribed by your practitioner can help immensely. Not only in the balance of your sugar, but it also allows for healthy flow of your blood and carries the oxygen required to the organs effectively.
4. Exercise. Doing what you can to keep the blood pumping can help too. Your practitioner can help you devise a plan that will suit you best.
5. Avoid smoking and alcohol. These can cause poor circulation in your blood and minimize the flow of oxygen your organs so desperately need. Your body is already dealing with a sugar imbalance problem; don’t give it more to fight against.
When should you see your doctor?
If at any time you have questions or concerns you should see your doctor. You can ask for help if you experience any blurriness, seeing of spots or see lights flashing, (any abnormal disturbances) and for certain, if at any time you should lose the vision of an eye or both, see your physician immediately. Even if it’s for a short period of time, this could be a sign you don’t want to ignore.
With all the things you need to deal with having diabetes, whether type 1 or 2, it’s always best to take care of your self and see your practitioner often. The best form of prevention is action. Don’t leave things to chance and don’t ignore symptoms you are experiencing, even if it seems silly. There is simply nothing silly about losing your eyesight.
Take care of your eyes; they depend on you, as much as you depend on them.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is designed for educational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice. Nor is it a diagnosis or treatment.
Let’s face it, not all body creme lotions are created equal. In fact, most of them don’t even contain the right ingredients to keep your skin youthful and smooth. Here are 7 useful tips that’ll help make sure you get one that’s effective.
TIP #1. Make sure the body creme lotion you get contains EFFECTIVE INGREDIENTS in HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. You can use a product that contains all of the best ingredients in the world, but unless they are used in effective amounts, then they won’t do much good. Since the skin on your body is much thicker than the skin on your face, more of each ingredients is required to be effective.
TIP #2. Don’t let price dictate what kind of product you get. I know, I know, price IS important. But spending very little on a product that won’t work is a WASTE OF MONEY. Spending a little more to get the results you want just makes more sense. If you’re looking for an anti-aging solution for less than $10, then you might as well just not buy anything and save your money!
TIP #3. Don’t discount the products made by brands you’ve never heard of before. I’ve found that anti-aging body creme products made by less-popular companies tend to be more effective than those made by huge brand-name companies. Just because big companies spend millions on advertising, it doesn’t mean they create quality products. If anything, the smaller companies are more motivated to create better products because if they don’t, they go out of business!
TIP #4. Look to see if the body creme lotion you’re looking to get was put through clinical trials before being released to the public. Unlike drugs, skin care products do not have to be tested and their effectiveness and safety does not have to be proven. Companies that actually put their products through clinical trials tend to be more aware of it’s safety and effectiveness. It shows that they actually CARE about it’s quality.
TIP #5. Skin care products made with all natural ingredients produce better and safer results. Not only do natural ingredients produce better results, they also are accepted by the skin easily and pose very little threat of negative reaction.
TIP #6. Don’t go looking for a body creme lotion at your local drug store or department store. Chances are, you won’t find effective anti-aging products at your local drug store or department store. Products at these kind of stores are chosen based on popularity and number of units sold as oppose to effectiveness. On the Internet, you can actually learn about a product before you buy it.
TIP #7. Make sure the body creme lotion you get contains ingredients that address the 3 major causes of aging skin. These major causes are:
1. Loss of collagen and elastin protein
2. Diminishing levels of hyaluronic acid
3. Damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress
It is important for Labrador Retrievers as well as other breeds to have good health. There are many ways on how to maintain their good health in general. Different types of foods claiming that they contain the important nutrients needed by your dog, vaccinations to prevent various and life-threatening diseases and regular exercise to stimulate them physically are some of the measures to maintain your dog’s good health. In addition to that, keeping your dog’s teeth and gums clean and healthy is also beneficial to his health. More animals are now diagnosed with severe dental problems so it is important that you should ensure good dental care for Labrador Retrievers.
Here are some of the problems that could possibly affect your dog:
Plaque
Plaque is a collection of food particles and bacteria formed along the gum line. This is normal to dogs especially those above three years of age. However, it should be removed if it is already too thick and is covering the teeth. Plaque causes bad breath, wounds in the gums and loosening of the teeth. Plaque can be removed at home using toothbrush and toothpaste while some vets may use buffalo leather for dogs to chew on. This buffalo leather contains enzymes to prevent accumulation of plaque.
Tartar
Another why reason why plaque should be removed is that, plaque, if combined with minerals in the saliva form tartar which sticks strongly to the teeth. Aside from causing bad breath, tartar can also irritate gums leading to inflammation called gingivitis. Redness of the gums adjacent to the teeth indicates gingivitis. This usually appears to dogs five years of age.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the result when plaque formed into tartar is not removed. Tartar builds up under the gums, separating it from the teeth causing more bacterial growth. Periodontal disease is very painful and can lead to loose teeth, abscesses and bone loss or infection. This usually affects older animals. In addition to bad breath and missing teeth, signs of periodontal disease also include pus around the tooth, gums that bleed easily, loss of appetite, drooling and difficulty chewing.
To avoid the above stated problems, good dental care is a must not just to Labrador Retrievers but to other breed as well. Regular home cleaning is important. Clean your dog’s teeth and mouth with cleaning implements specifically designed for dogs. Include oral exam in your regular vet visit and follow veterinary dental advice.