What is a Stroke?

What is a Stroke

A stroke is a potentially deadly occurrence that happens when an artery leading to the brain becomes clogged or breaks.

It commonly leaves the victim with either minor or major disabilities because brain cells die and cannot be repaired. The most common type of stroke is called an Ischemic stroke, which means it is caused by a clog in the artery.

Depending on where this occurs in the brain, many different types of damage is potential. There are ways to prevent Ischemic stroke and it is important that you do everything that is necessary so that you do not suffer from life altering disadvantages.

The right and left side of the brain control different parts of you. The two sides control the opposite side of the body so if paralysis occurs it will likely only be to one half of your body.

If you have a stroke that affects the right part of your brain you will be at risk of losing vision. On the other hand, strokes affecting the left side may cause speech problems as a result.

Any brain cells that die will cause memory loss and paralysis that may take over parts or the entire side of your body.

cholestasys helps to reduce high cholesterol levels High cholesterol is a leading cause of stroke because bad cholesterol clogs arteries.

It is also related directly to developing heart disease, which makes you susceptible to heart related problems, which include stroke and heart attack.

Your doctor can test your cholesterol levels at any time in your life, and it is necessary to have this done before it is too late. Being overweight, smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and genetics can all be causes of elevated levels that may cause you harm or a stroke.

Exercise and restrictive diet are the first suggestions that the doctor may give to bring your cholesterol level down to a manageable level.

It may also be necessary to restrict your diet to get rid of sugars and saturated fats because they can cause elevated levels of bad cholesterol.

There are also medications that the doctor may put you on if other methods of cholesterol control are ineffective.

Your best friend when it comes to health is a doctor. Annual physicals and check ups can keep any risk factors in check, which include anything that puts you at risk for stroke.

cholestasys helps to reduce high cholesterol levels High cholesterol is known to be a risk and should be kept under control to prevent heart disease and stroke from happening.

www.ALifeAfterAStroke.com

Tame that mane for glossy locks this summer

Tame that mane for glossy locks this summer
Thoughts of summer may conjure up glorious dreams of natural honey highlights and beautiful surfer chick waves. But in reality, high humidity can cause frizz, and the heat of the summer sun can do irreparable damage to your crowning glory.


To ensure that your hair stays manageable, glossy and healthy this summer, just follow our top tips:

• Give your hair a break. Sunshine can dry out your hair, so try washing it a little less often to avoid stripping out its natural oils. If you can, opt for an easier style that can dry naturally and give your hair a breather from hairdryers, hot curlers and straightening irons.

• Try a hair mask to give parched summer locks a moisture injection. Smooth it over your hair after shampooing and leave for 5-10 minutes for super-silky results. You can get them in most supermarkets, or why not make your own? Mix together 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of honey. Massage it into your hair, wrap it in a towel or shower cap and leave for 15 minutes before shampooing.

• Use a sunscreen on your hair to prevent hair damage and colour fade. Many people don't realise that hair can get sunburned just like the scalp. The only way to deal with severely burnt hair is by trimming away damaged sections. Not ideal for your summer hairstyle! You can buy special sunscreen for your hair, but if you don’t have any to hand, just run your skin sunscreen through your locks and secure with a soft grip, or if it's long, pull it back into a ponytail or chic chignon. Shampoo well afterwards to avoid build-up.

• Quit smoking to rejuvenate your locks*. Cigarette smoke can make your hair look dull, so going smokefree could help give you back a natural, healthy shine. And without smoke, your hair will smell fresher too.

• Wet your hair with tap water before you swim in the sea or in chlorinated water. If your hair is wet before you go in to swim, the less salt water and chlorine it will absorb. Even better, why not wear a retro bathing cap - think how good Keira Knightley looked in 1930s style bathing gear in 'Atonement'.

* If you would like to find out more about going smokefree and the free support that is available, visit the NHS Smokefree website or call one of the freephone helplines:

NHS Smoking Helpline: 0800 169 0 169
NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline: 0800 169 9 169

"In time of swine flu, add sanitizer, tissues to school supply lists"

By Elizabeth Landau
CNN
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(CNN) -- Even 6-year-olds at Hamilton Central School in central New York came to school prepared for swine flu. Jessica Poyer, a first-grade teacher, noticed in the spring that kids had begun bringing their own hand sanitizer, tissues and water bottles.
Guidelines on when schools should dismiss the student body because of H1N1 were released Friday.

Guidelines on when schools should dismiss the student body because of H1N1 were released Friday.

Poyer, also the mother of two young children, thinks about swine flu, also known as influenza A H1N1, every day, both at school and at home. She knows that some schools nationwide have had to close because the disease was widespread, and she has mixed feelings about the school closures.

"I hate to close schools, because it interrupts learning, but we leave it up to health professionals," said Poyer, who lives in Deansboro, New York.

Federal health officials, releasing guidelines Friday, suggested that closure of schools this fall be rare. "There are measures we can take to protect the students, protect the staff, and to allow learning to continue," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A key change in the new guidance is that people with H1N1 should stay out of school for 24 hours after their fever is gone, regardless of whether they are taking medication such as Tamiflu. Before, the recommendation was seven days, Frieden said. Video Watch a report on the new recommendations »

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/07/swine.flu.h1n1.schools/index.html

Novartis starts testing swine flu vaccine (AP)

AP - Swiss drugmaker Novartis has begun injecting its swine flu vaccine into people in the company's first human tests, a spokesman said Wednesday. The vaccine is being tested in a yearlong trial of 6,000 people of all ages in Britain, Germany and the United States, Novartis spokesman Eric Althoff told The Associated Press, adding that the vaccine will likely be on the market before the trial finishes.

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Flu Vaccine: Who Needs it?

Flu Vaccine: Who Needs it?

Many people think that flu is nothing more than a cold gone real bad. That is not the truth because unlike common cold, flu is a very serious illness.

In fact, there are some groups of people for whom flu can prove to be fatal. Physicians have confirmed that in recent times the number of flu cases being detected in clinics has gone up. In the face of this it has become clear that flu vaccination is a good thing and should be administered as early as possible.

For example, people over the age of 30 are able to move around and do not suffer much if they are administered the flu vaccine. This is in sharp contrast to younger people (over 30) who do not receive a vaccination and suffer from body pains, high fever, and are often bed ridden for more than a week. The worst part of flu is that you are unable to eat properly thus compounding your weakness.

Without flu vaccination, the patients are likely to feel very bad not only physically but emotional and mentally as well. This condition can last for up to two weeks leaving behind a much-weakened individual. It should be noted that during follow-up these patients were quick to ask as to when they could get their flu shot because no one would want to go through that nightmare experience again.

Seasonal flu can be a very devastating time for someone in good condition. For the elderly or the infirmed, flu can even cause death. There are several categories of people that need to be vaccinated against flu.

These include people in the health care industry, anyone over 50 years of age, children between 6 months and 5 years, pregnant women, and anyone who is residing long-term in a nursing home or other healthcare facility.

Children between 6 months and 18 years of age that are on aspirin therapy also need flu vaccine. Anyone suffering from a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and so on should also be vaccinated. Anyone suffering from immune system disorders or respiratory disorders also needs flu vaccine. The same applies to anyone living with any of the above category of individuals.

Note that the flu vaccine is not a guarantee that you will never catch flu. What the vaccine will do is to lower the problems that arise once you catch it. Flu patients tend to be bedridden and can lose on work time for weeks.

The vaccine can cut down this time to a couple of days. If you are afraid of needles then you can get the nasal spray form of the flu vaccine. A flu vaccine can lower the chances of getting flu by as much as 92%.

Do not use a flu vaccine on yourself if you have had a bad reaction to the same shot or spray earlier, if you have an allergy to eggs, or if you have had Guillain-Barre syndrome in the 6 weeks since your last flu shot.

Paul Cass

www.HealthAndBeautyInformation.com
www.ALifeAfterAStroke.com

What should you do if you think you are having a stroke?

A stroke is a very serious injury to the brain. It is almost life threatening in most cases. There are so many different ways to react to this devastating disease but you have to stay calm and think about what you need to do to keep your body safe from having more problems later on down the road.

A stroke is something that is going to injure the brain. You may not realize that you having a stroke when it happens. However it is something that you will know about later on when it is done. The people that are around you at the time of your stroke may not know that you having it either. You may not be able to call 911 on your own and you might have to rely on someone else to help you with this. Your family and friends think that you are just confused or something else is wrong.

This is the one reason that everyone should know and understand the signs of a stroke and what to do if you think that you or someone that you know is having a stroke. It is important so that you can react fast and get the necessary help there that will save a life. Do not wait, it may be too late.

You should not wait for the symptoms of a stroke to get worse. If you believe that you are having a stroke or someone is having a stroke, you need to call 911 immediately and get them he health care that they need. It is important to make sure that they get to the hospital so that they are in the right hands to take care of them. Making that choice to make the call to 911 can save a life even if it is not a stroke that they are taking it is better to be safe than sorry later on down the road.

Getting regular check ups from your doctor is another thing that will help to save a life. You need to make sure that you and everyone that you know is getting the help that they need to keep them safe. You should see a doctor on a regular basis so that they can find out if you are at risk for a life-threatening stroke and if you should be on medication for things like high blood pressure or heart disease. It is never too early to find out if you are at risk.

When you are prepared and have all the knowledge that you need you will feel better and you will have the tools to make sure that you are around for a long time to come.

3 TIPS TO HELP MANAGE EVERYDAY STRESS

Often at times stress will manifest when we carry over
yesterday’s concerns into our present day concerns can
accumulation will almost always end up in a high stress
level.

Therefore, we must be able to “dump” all of our
concerns from the previous day or days and concentrate
wholly on our today with that in mind here are a couple
of tips to help destress.

Busting Stress Tip 1

Resolve right now to release every thought from yesterday
and be only mindful of the now…. this thought only...this
breath...this moment. Take in three very deep breaths and
slowly release each one.

At the same time feel each and every concern, each and
every problem, and each and every unresolved moment, begin
to dissolve. You can deal with them at a later time. For
now, you are only to be in this very moment.

Now go to your inner quiet place. Go deep inside to a place
where you feel that you are at peace and then just relax
and breathe in deeply and enjoy the feeling of being at one
and at peace within yourself.

Use this special time and place to be calm. Free your mind
and body of all worry, all regret, all disappointment, all
anger and grief.

Busting Stress Tip 2

Next, think of one particular act, such as rocking your
baby, taking a quick stroll, raking the leaves, and do that
one simple thing. All the while, your mind is quiet and
calm and you are in your own special place within.

Practice this act of quiet and calm each day and you will
see that you will accomplish so much more. At the first
sign of being stressed, go back to this mindful, quiet
place and start all over again until you have reached your
inner place of calm.

Stress Busting Tip 3

The very best thing that you can do for yourself is to eat,
drink and rest to your health!

Stress is easily brought on by not eating and drinking
properly. When you don’t get the number of hours of sleep
that you need each night, you are only setting yourself up
for additional stress.

Limit the amount of salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol in
your diet. Drink plenty of clean, pure water each day and
do at least moderate exercise each day. This will breathe
new life into your skin, hair and will nourish all of your
vital organs.

Take time to breathe properly! Take deep belly breathes to
send pure oxygen to all of your body.

Laugh and then laugh some more. It is food for the soul!
Spend time doing the things that please you most. Engage in
healthy and fulfilling relationships and work on problems
that would erode the closeness that you have with someone
special.

When we are content and living a balanced life everyday
stresses seem to pale in comparison. We are better equipped
to deal with the unexpected.

Paul Cass
www.HealthAndBeautyInformation.com

Effectively Treating Arthritis

Your Health and Effectively Treating Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that affects thousands of people
each year. In most cases doctors will be agreeable to
prescribe medication to you for both the disease and for
the pain that is associated with all forms of arthritis.

There are many natural and alternative ways to treat
arthritis and the symptoms associated with it.

One of the first things that you may want to consider is
looking at your diet and what you are putting into your
body. Studies show that there may be a direct correlation
between what you eat and your risk of arthritis.

These studies showed that those people who ate a diet that
was rich in certain vitamins and antioxidants had a reduced
risk of pain associated with arthritis as well as further
progression of the disease.

The vitamins and antioxidants in question are as follows:

· Vitamin E.

Studies show that a dietary supplement of Vitamin E helps
to reduce arthritis inflammation.

· Vitamin C.

Vitamin C helps to slow all forms of arthritis as well as
reduce knee and joint pain.

· Beta-carotene.

Beta-carotene works the same as Vitamin C in reducing
inflammation and slowing down arthritis.

· Lutein (antioxidant).

Studies show that lutein lowers the risk of knee
osteoarthritis.

· Lycopene (antioxicant).

Lycopene is another antioxidant that is effect for
osteoarthritis of the knee.

Exercise is also very important in the treatment of
arthritis. Many people with all forms of arthritis avoid
exercise due to the pain but it is important to keep as
mobile as possible and to incorporate some form of
beneficial exercise into your daily routine.

Exercises that work well with all forms of arthritis
include Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Both of these exercise methods
but little strain on your muscles and limbs, therefore
giving you the movement that you need.

Living with the chronic pain of arthritis and
osteoarthritis takes a great deal of courage and
perseverance.

Paul Cass

www.HealthAndBeautyInformation.com

An Overview To Exercise During Pregnancy

Exercise During Pregnancy

Many expectant mothers realize that healthy nutrition and
balanced active lifestyles enable them to have healthier
pregnancies and newborns, and to get through the birthing
process and labor more readily and easily.

The level of your continued efforts will depend a lot on
your pre-pregnancy fitness levels.

Exercise stimulates all the body’s systems and holistically
speaking doing the right types of exercises can actually
assist in the childbirth process, with all its challenges
and obstacles.

Respiratory, muscular, circulatory, nervous system, lifting
mood, positive hormones, balanced system can all benefit
the reproductive processes, outcome.

Not over-exerting yourself is key and depending on the
types of sports, workouts that you prefer or are required,
trimester, timing, fitness levels, condition and risk
factors, your medical practitioner and fitness instructor
will be able to advise and customize an exercise during
pregnancy type workout, full-body, aerobic, stretching,
toning, sculpting, breathing, relaxing will be alternated
for optimal benefit.

Exercise also assists with mood and generally more positive
feelings of being energized, more positive and not being
victim to the physical signs and discomforts that threaten
to overwhelm and control during the passage of nine months,

It helps with painful joints, swollen ankles, keeps blood
pressure in check. So whether in the gym, using equipment,
or at home, taking a pre-natal yoga class, swimming,
walking daily or at least 3-4 times a week, will leave you
feeling more like yourself and less like a shapeless,
oversized blimp.

As to which types of exercises is most suited, safe and
gives the maximum benefit, will depend pretty much on the
individual, as no two women or pregnancies for that matter
are or will be the same.

Ensure that you discuss your medical condition and risks
with your medical care-giver or gynecology team before
starting a new regimen or workout, or the level of strain,
intensity and duration you and your pregnant body, fetus
will be able to handle comfortable, without putting anyone
or anything at increased risk.

There is a myth and misconception that pregnancy and
exercise do not mix, for it increases the risk for a
miscarriage, there is no scientific evidence to support
this hypothesis.

Paul Cass

How to deal with having a stroke

How to deal with having a stroke

It is not always easy to deal with someone that has gone
through a stroke in your life. If you or someone that you
know has been the victim of a stroke, then you must know
that this is one of the hardest times that a person can go
through. It is very unpredictable and there are no side
effects that will be the same. It is important to make sure
that you are giving the right amount of support and care to
anyone that has known the devastation of a stroke.

There are negative emotions that a person is going to have
to go through when they are the victims of a stroke.
Feeling sad about the ability to do something that you once
could do so well is torture for some. This is going to be a
normal emotion and one that many people will go through.
You need to learn how to accept this and anyone that is
helping a stroke victim out should also know that this is a
sensitive area that has to be dealt with the right way.

The following will be some of the emotional feelings that a
person can go through when they are trying to help someone
get over a stroke. You should pay attention to these
problems and treat them as you can with each person that
you are dealing with.

* Emotional stability, sudden laughing or crying

* Anxiety

* Grief at the loss of mobility

* Humiliation

* Depression

* Memory loss

* Confusion

A person that is suffering from a stroke will have
different on the area of the brain injury. People who have
had a strong on the right side of their brain will tend to
experience memory problems, time disorientation and
emotional highs and lows. They may also be less able to use
abstract thinking and talk too much.

People that have had a stroke on the left side of their
brain may have more problems with their speech and reading
abilities as well. They will also be more cautions and get
frustrated a lot easier. The left-brain injuries are more
often from depression. This is not exact but it is a good
theory for why people that are depressed go through such a
terrible time with their physical and emotional pain.

Remember to have compassion, love and understanding when it
comes to helping someone that has dealt with a stroke. This
is the best way to get them back on track and keep them
motivated for a fast recovery. You want to get them through
the hard times and keep them ready for the better times
that are coming.

Take Care

Paul Cass

High Risk Woman Not Undertaking Prevention For Breast Cancer: Study

The Benefits of a Yoga Class

The Benefits of a Yoga Class

When you first begin studying yoga, no matter what kind you
choose, you have the option of taking a class or trying it
on your own at home. Many beginners feel out of shape and
uncomfortable and opt to work out at home instead of in a
class setting, but this can actually be detrimental in the
end. There are many benefits to taking a yoga class, so be
sure to consider this option if you are thinking about
starting a yoga workout routine.

Classes provide stability. Our lives are busy, and it might
be difficult to fit a yoga class into your schedule, but if
that is the case, it is also probably difficult to fit in
exercise at all. By taking a class, you become more
motivated to actually work out if you paid the money for
instruction, you will feel as though it would be stupid to
skip class.

Your instructor can also keep you motivated to
come back by being fun and knowledgeable. If, after three
classes, you dread going, consider a different workout
option or a different class in yoga.

Your instructor's expertise is a great benefit as well. He
or she can help you perform the correct poses because a
teacher can see your body while you cannot. Even if you
work out at home in front of a mirror, you cannot
completely see your body.

If you get into bad habits, poor posture will stick with
you and can actually harm the body.
Difficult poses can even be dangerous. By going to a class,
you can be sure that you are getting the maximum benefit
from your routine and you can stay safe.

A yoga class also brings together many people with a common
interest. In your class, you should be closely paying
attention to the teacher. However, after class, you may
find that you have other things in common with class
members as well. You can trade healthy recipes, for
example, with others in your class who like to cook with
body happy foods.

You can also learn about yoga events and
news if you join a class. Go a step farther and take a
class offered at a gym, so that you buy a gym membership.

This will give you access to exercise equipment and other
classes as well, in case you find that yoga is not for you.
Learning yoga can be a fun experience; by taking a class
you can make sure that it is most beneficial to your health
needs.