Valentine's Day Resolution: Take Care of Your Heart

Valentine's Day Resolution: Take Care of Your Heart
Aah, Valentine's Day. What a great holiday. Did you know
that the origin of this holiday is not really known? There
are lots of suggestions by historians...but no one really
knows for sure. Try doing a web search for "the history of
Valentine's Day" and you will see. Yet, it is such a
popular holiday. A chance to celebrate and be grateful for
the love that we have in our lives is truly special!

So what are your plans? A romantic dinner? Flowers?
Popping the question? It's all so exciting, isn't it?

Here's an idea: why not take care of your real, blood
pumping, heart and appreciate it on this wonderful day?
For without it, we would not be enjoying this or any other
day! Or better yet, why not get together with your honey
and make a plan to make sure that both of you are in good
health to celebrate many more Valentine's Days?

The American Heart Association celebrates the whole of
February as Heart Health Month. During February, the
organization strives to educate people about how to stay
well and keep their hearts in shape. They challenge people
to address general wellness factors and give them ideas on
how to do it. In general, they urge awareness of how to
recognize heart problems and strokes, what to do if you
have symptoms, how to assess personal risk factors, get
regular medical check ups, regular exercise, healthy eating
habits and no smoking.

Ok. We all know we should exercise, eat "right", have
regular medical checks and lower stress levels. Let's look
at some of the current dietary and exercise recommendations
specifically aimed at maintaining a healthy heart. After
all, the more research the medical folks do, the more they
change what the "right" things to do are!

Exercise is pretty simple: at least 30 minutes of
moderately rigorous exercise most or all days of the week.

Interestingly, the type of exercise makes little difference
in terms of heart health. Weight training has proven to be
heart healthy as well as more aerobic activities. No
matter what you enjoy, just stay moving!!!

Diet is not so simple. Some of the newer recommendations
include:

Eat LOTS of vegetables, some fruit, whole grains and lean
protein. Add Omega-3 fats, which come from fish oil, nuts,
seeds and some oils. Eat much less processed foods because
they contain trans fats which are more harmful to the heart
than saturated fats! Fry food much less often. Frying food
changes the structure of fat molecules (trans fats) and
degrades protein. The heart needs B-vitamins to keep it
healthy. Processed grains (white flour, rice, etc) lose
60-90% of the vitamins in processing. Eat brown and
unprocessed where possible. Keep desserts and sweets to a
minimum. Add a multivitamin, just to make sure to get
necessary nutrients (especially B vitamins).

Wellness Issues:

Learn to cope with stress, communicate better, manage anger
etc. Repressed emotions are terrible for the heart as well
as overall health (and cause relationship problems too)
Stop smoking Control alcohol intake Be aware of direct
relatives who have had heart disease or Type 2 diabetes (a
risk factor for heart attacks) If you have Type 2 diabetes,
follow your physician's instructions! Keep your body fat at
normal levels.

So, this Valentine's Day, when you are feeling your most
romantic....show your partner how much you love him/her by
making resolutions to become more heart healthy by the time
the next Valentine's Day comes around. Taking care of your
body so you will be around for your partner a long time is
soooo romantic ..... and sexy!

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About the Author:
Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years
and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds
certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and
Personal Fitness Training. She is also a professional
engineer and mom. To see more articles by Ainsley visit
http://www.bodyformind.com or the blog at
http://www.bodyformind.blogspot.com

Six Symptoms to Help Diagnose Females With ADHD

Six Symptoms to Help Diagnose Females With ADHD
Unfortunately many girls, and women, who could benefit from
treatment for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder) may be going undiagnosed. We diabetics know that
dealing with our diabetes plays a large role in our lives.
We have to monitor our blood sugar levels, take our
medicines at the proper times, eat on a regular schedule
and many of us have to deal with injections several times a
day. For most of us it may be a nuisance at times, but
quickly becomes very routine. When other health problems
are added in, it becomes more problematic. For the ADHD
person, especially children and teenagers, adding on the
burden of all that diabetes entails may seem overwhelming.
Imagine being a female diabetic with ADHD and no one is
aware of your struggles. That may be the case for many of
our young females today.

ADHD specialist Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D. of the Chesapeake
ADHD Center in Silver Spring, Maryland believes that ADHD
in girls is often missed. As the grandmother of a young
teen with ADHD, I cannot imagine him having to deal with
the demands of diabetes. When I read that many young girls
may be going undiagnosed, my heart went out to the number
of them also dealing with diabetes. So I did a little
research. Following are some things to look for if you
think your daughter could be one of them.

1. ADHD is often missed in females because they often
suffer in silence. They are not as rambuctious as boys and
are therefore not as likely to be noticed as having a
problem by parents and teachers. They are much less likely
than boys to have behavior problems in the classroom.

2. Females are more likely to be hypertalkative than
hyperactive. They are more likely than boys to be talking,
humming, singing, etc at inappropriate times.

3. Females with ADHD often do pretty well in elementary
school. It's later when their hormones start to fluctuate
that their problems in school may become more evident.
About the time their hormones start to fluctuate, they are
entering middle school or junior high school where they are
faced with greater demands for organizational and time
management skills. Thus you may see their grades start to
drop.

4. As their hormones start to fluctuate, females are also
at the stage where social relationships become very
important. If they start having trouble "fitting in" this
can be very traumatic for them. They may turn to food for
comfort which can wreak havoc for the diabetic.

5. In their early teens, females with ADHD usually become
disorganized, messy, forgetful, easily distracted and are
very likely to procrastinate.

6. Girls may have more difficulty keeping up with life's
daily demands therefore becoming very argumentative and
emotional.

All of the above items can, at one time or another describe
the typical teenager, making a diagnosis even more
difficult. But, if you notice several of these symptoms,
do your daughter a favor. Take her to a doctor who
specializes in ADHD. Your family doctor or pediatriction
may not be trained to look for these symptons. If your
child is diabetic and ADHD you owe it to her to get help
for her. Both of these diseases require constant medical
supervision. Make your child's life easier by helping her
deal with her ADHD. Both you and she will be glad you did.

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For more of Linda's writings and recipes, go to
http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis: Getting it Right

ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis: Getting it Right
Your absolute first step with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD) before considering medication and ADHD treatment is
to ensure a proper assessment and diagnosis.

Why is this so important?

There are a number of variances within ADHD and other
medical conditions that share symptoms. It is extremely
important to know exactly what you're dealing with before
you seek treatment. It's like treating the common cold
with antibiotics - they don't have any effect and the cold
won't go away, likewise you'll be putting things in your
body that you simply don't need. However, with ADHD an
inaccurate diagnosis and mistreatment has much more
significant risks because ADHD doesn't go away like the
common cold. It affects every aspect of your life.

So your absolute first step is to ensure a proper
assessment and diagnosis.

Where do you go for your assessment and diagnosis?

Ideally you want to get a proper assessment and diagnosis
performed by an expert in ADD/ADHD. For children and teens
with ADD this is often easier simply because there are more
pediatricians and child psychiatrists comfortable with ADD
than there are adult psychiatrists comfortable with adult
ADD.

If you're an adult looking for a specialist who is an
expert in ADD, then the best place to start is with your
family doctor, or primary care physician. The next step (if
your doctor doesn't know who to send you to) is to contact
your local medical school, or the biggest medical school
close to where you live. Speak to the secretary of the
department of psychiatry and ask about who is working with
adult ADD.

I also recommend asking around your community. You might
be surprised to find out who you already know that has
dealt with ADHD, they may know of some local experts.

What to expect from the assessment and diagnosis:

Whoever you go to, you want to make sure a thorough history
and a physical examination is conducted. Generally speaking
you will want to spend at least 45 minutes to an hour on
the thorough history. Some doctors may break this up into
several appointments, but just know that diagnosing ADHD in
about five minutes is generally poor medical care. The
doctor will likely give you some questionnaires, ask about
background information, and schedule another visit.

The physical examination itself is very important. If
you're seeing a psychiatrist for an ADHD diagnosis, it is
also important to see a physician for the physical exam
portion. Psychiatrists generally do not do the physical
exams.

The physical exam is important because it helps to rule out
other conditions. For example, if somebody has a hearing
problem, and they are not paying attention - it's because
they can't hear properly. So the proper treatment is a
hearing aid, not an ADHD medicine. Right? There are many
background conditions that can cause people to believe
there is an ADHD condition when there really isn't.

To begin treating ADHD without a proper diagnosis simply
results in treating the wrong thing. The problem doesn't
get resolved, in fact things can become worse, and you're
left with a medicine cabinet full of medications for
improper diagnosis. Take the time to find a qualified ADHD
specialist and obtain a proper diagnosis and assessment.
It will mean all the difference with your treatment
experience and success.

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Dr. Kenny Handelman is a Board Certified Psychiatrist in
Canada and the USA. He is an expert in ADD & ADHD and helps
kids, teens and adults to improve their lives, and build up
their strengths. For a free special report on medication
for ADD/ADHD, please visit: http://www.MedicationMastery.com

Cure Bad Breath Simply and Quickly using Our Tips

Cure Bad Breath Simply and Quickly using Our Tips
Suffering from bad breath can be attributed to a myriad of
causes. In some cases bad breath can be the fault of a
medical condition, but more times than not all that you
need to do to cure bad breath is to step up your oral
hygiene procedures. If a medical condition is not the cause
of your bad breath problem, then you likely need to just
floss and brush more frequently.

Why Do You Get Bad Breath?

The most likely cause of most bad breath problems is the
waste product called volatile sulfur compounds. This, in
turn, is created by anaerobic bacteria in your mouth from
the food that always gets stuck between your teeth while
eating. That is why just brushing your teeth after every
meal can go a long way to curing bad breath just by itself.

Any leftover food stuck in your teeth after eating
naturally increases the amount of food available for the
bacteria to grow. It also adds to the attractiveness of
the environment in which bacteria prefer to live. The
proteins found in meat cause much of the bacteria to
flourish in your mouth, so those who are on a vegetarian
style diet are less likely to need to cure bad breath.

How Keeping Your Gums and Teeth Clean Can Cure Bad Breath

The bacterium responsible for bad breath lives in the
plaque that accumulates around, as well as on, your teeth.
It has also been known to go below the gum line and cause
problems that may need serious dental attention if the
problem is left unattended for too long.

When you brush your teeth thoroughly after eating, you get
rid of any bacteria that are lurking in your mouth and this
action will help to cure bad breath. Flossing daily is
also important as it helps to eliminate plaque and bacteria
that have settled onto your teeth and below the gum line.

You need to keep in mind that in order to cure bad breath
caused by bacteria, you must remove the food supply so that
they cannot spread and take over your mouth. Flossing your
teeth is an important factor in keeping your breath clean
and fresh. It cannot be stressed enough how important this
part of your daily dental routine is.

Your first action when you realize that foul odor is
emanating from your mouth should be to make an appointment
with the dentist in order to undergo a complete and
thorough cleaning of your teeth. Once this is done, you
should speak to the oral hygienist to ask for tips and
advice that will help to cure bad breath, keeping your
mouth as clean every single day as when it is
professionally done.

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You will find many more tips on the causes and how to cure
bad breath at our website at
http://www.yourbadbreathcure.com - Visit us today.

Hindrance To Quitting Smoking: Physical or Psychological

Hindrance To Quitting Smoking: Physical or Psychological
When overcome by the desire to go back to, or continue with
smoking, is it more of a physical thing that is the
hindrance to quitting smoking, or is it more of a
psychological thing that is the hindrance?

It is believed that smoking stimulates the flow of "feel
good" chemicals in the brain including endorphins. It is
also commonly understood by many that tobacco has nicotine
and it is believed to be addicting. Nothing new!

So we all probably understand that there is a physical
component to hinder a person from quitting; more for some
than for others. However, is it really "THE" reason that
people can't seem to quit smoking?

Whenever I share my thoughts about people who are falling
short of the mark, I always include with it; "There is no
condemnation here". Condemnation is not what it is about.
At the same time, it is also true, that we must get real
and be honest because this is no game. With regard to
quitting smoking; yes, there is a physical component but it
is important to acknowledge that people quit smoking all
the time anyway.

In my opinion, overcoming the physical component is not
rocket science. There are many aids and medical assistance
available to help with that. Getting cleaned out may not be
easy for some, but so many people have done it, so it can
be done. Also, one of the characteristics of someone who
has successfully quit smoking is that they are willing to
experience the discomfort of withdrawal in anticipation of
the reward. It is a delaying of satisfaction instead of
getting instant gratification (a level of maturity) in
anticipation of the reward of satisfaction later on (I hope
I didn't loose you here because I know that some people may
be feeling a little offended right now).

Stay with me here! I am interested in helping people in a
bigger way than just providing information about how to
stop smoking by controlling the smoking behavior itself.
This is why my writings will not appeal to everyone; and
that's OK. Not everyone is going to be ready for what I
have to say; and that is OK. You are where you are and I
encourage you to find what suits you based on where you are
at. There are many resources and I encourage you to take a
look at them and find something that will help you right
where you are today.

What I am primarily all about is Personal Development. I am
aware of developmental issues that make it very hard for
many people to quit smoking. I teach things regarding
personal development that are not well understood; even by
most experts. My writings are geared for people who are
ready to take it to the next level and deal with issues at
the "cause" level. If this is not you, then don't feel bad.
It's OK. Personal development is a process and it can't be
forced. But I know there are people who are looking for
something more. If that is you; then please stay with me.

In all of my writings you will hear me teach about these
developmental issues. As I said, it is not for everyone but
if you are ready to take it to the next level of
understanding, then it is for you. Smoking is so much a
part of who a person is that to quit smoking would be like
discontinuing a part of yourself. Consider this.... Many
people who have struggled to stop smoking eventually did.
Why after so many years of struggling where they suddenly
able to just stop smoking?

This is one indication of what I was saying. Is "THE"
hindrance that makes quitting seem so impossible, really
the physical aspect. Possibly for some who have so much
nicotine in there system that the withdrawal process scares
them. But personally, I believe that for the far majority
of people, the physical aspect is not the real hindrance
that makes quitting seem impossible. I think that many
people do believe it is when it isn't because of their
current understanding. What they truly believe is going to
be real to them. Now then; if there is something else that
is the real hindrance that makes quitting seem impossible,
how will they every discover it if they believe it is the
physical that is the real hindrance?

My main purpose with this article, is to get you to
consider the possibility that there may be something more
to quitting smoking than the physical aspect. Are you open
to consider the possibility that smoking may be a part of
who you are and therefore there just may be developmental
issues to consider?

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Frank Andrews is the author of two self-help books. This
developed as the result of being a student of personal
development for over 25 years. Having worked through many
of his own personal struggles, he now provides information
to help others. You can find free quit-smoking information
on his website at: http://www.AnswersToQuitSmoking.com