Dangerous Medical Conditions Caused by Smoking

Dangerous Medical Conditions Caused by Smoking
There are many smoking-related health problems. Long-term
cigarette smoking can lead to all kinds of medical
conditions, one of which is heart disease. We often hear
about heart disease being related to smoking but what
exactly is it and how does smoking cause it?

Heart disease often relates to coronary artery disease in
this context. Coronary artery disease is a condition where
a major blood vessel which leaves the heart with
oxygen-rich blood is constricted. This means a clot or
closure is more likely and either of these can cause a
heart attack. That is where the phrase "having a coronary"
comes from.

Being a heavy smoker for a long time increases the odds
enormously of that happening to you.

One reason for this is that cigarette smoke contains carbon
monoxide, which binds with hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the
molecule found in red blood cells which transports oxygen
through the body, including to the heart. The less oxygen
the heart receives, the more chance of a heart attack.

Nicotine is another substance which reduces blood oxygen
and contributes to other potentially harmful conditions. It
increases blood clotting which can put you at risk of a
heart attack. Nicotine is also responsible for more subtle,
dangerous effects. It encourages the growth of fatty
deposits on the arteries. This constricts blood flow and
hardens the blood vessel.

Smoking decreases the amount of high density lipoprotein,
or HDL, which is the "good" type of cholesterol. Losing
this encourages fatty deposits to grow. This condition,
which is a major factor in heart attack risk, is called
atherosclerosis.

If an artery is reduced in diameter, this increases blood
pressure, making it more likely that a weakness in the
artery wall, or "aneurysm", will rupture. That in turn
causes a stroke, when the brain starved of oxygen. This is
why you often hear about strokes and heart disease in the
same sentence.

If an artery is hardened, it is not so able to withstand
the usual stresses and strains of its function. A blood
vessel acts like a hose but is different too. A blood
vessel carries fluid like a hose but unlike a hose it is on
all the time. The fluid can only be carried if there are no
holes in the blood vessel. If the blood slows or stops,
this can cause immediate health issues, even if it is only
a temporary slowing down or stoppage. Tissues need to
receive blood constantly, else they quickly die.

Cigarette smoking also has the overall effect of
contributing to heart disease. It causes physical effects
that lower health. Shortness of breath, reduced oxygen and
other effects which make exercise unpleasant and harder.
Lifestyle choices associated with smoking reduce overall
fitness.

Lack of exercise resulting in increased body fat percentage
and weight gain increases the risk of heart attack and
heart disease even more. The body is unable to cope with
strains which would otherwise be minor. It cannot withstand
serious biological shocks when a heart attack occurs. This
means the attack is likely to be fatal.

Long term, one pack a day smokers have up to four times the
chance of developing coronary heart disease than
non-smokers. Quitting immediately improves your odds. Your
circulation improves after three months and after a year
the odds are half that of a smoker. After five to fifteen
years, you have the same odds as someone who has never
smoked.

It's never too late to stop smoking.

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Get much more information about the dangers of smoking, and
why it's a good idea to stop smoking, at
http://www.onlinestopsmokingtips.com . Lots of resources to
help you quit, encourage you while you are quitting, and
more.

Do I need additional vitamins daily, YES or NO?

Do I need additional vitamins daily, YES or NO?
It's an old farmer's wisdom: "What you sow you will
harvest". This little known fact has more impact on our
health than most people are aware of. If the basic
conditions fail, so will your health.

What you sow you will harvest. Round about 1875 the use of
fertilizers has been started, which is now common with all
kinds of farming. Fertilizers, I never knew before, have 11
minerals and trace elements. If you start with sea farming
instead, you will get the full spectrum of 92 minerals and
trace elements, but ....... no money can be made with these
and fertilizers together with the necessary pesticides are
bringing big profits. The only question is, where does our
body gets the missing 81 minerals and trace elements? Did
you know that with sea farming you don't need to use
pesticides at all? With the wide spread use of fertilizers,
people are using now pesticides as well. They only have a
different nametag. They call them medicine! But don't
forget, they can be poison to your body as well.

You might think: "So what do you try to tell me, that I
don't need any medicine if I eat well?" The answer is
"YES". When you give your body the full spectrum of
vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes in the right
combination as nature has designed it, your immune system
can do the job, keeping you healthy at all times. It has
been this way for ages and always will be! But don't tell
the pharmaceutical companies, they want to make us believe
it's all in our genes. They will tell you what is in their
best interest and the keyword again is "MONEY". Remember,
the healthiest people live in the Hunza Valley with an
average age of 100 - 110, where no western doctor can be
found within miles. The best book to read about the
subject; what kind of food to eat to enjoy health, stay
energized, a lean body, good looking, a sharp mind and no
moods is the China Study.

Now it makes sense to me, that I am feeling so much better
after changing my lifestyle step by step. Having my blood
checked on essential nutrients, so I know for sure I'm not
taking any risk. Staying healthy is as simple as 1-2-3. If
you know what to look for and how to get it. The next
disasters knocking on your door are called "GMO foods and
the Codex Alimentarius".

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Helping people to preserve and maintain an optimum health
status, that's my goal. Find out more about the protest
song I recorded about the Codex Alimentarius (food rules)
at: http://www/uitdaging.net/Health_Protest_Song.html

Bad Habits Can Affect Your Overall Health

Bad Habits Can Affect Your Overall Health
Bad habits can often have adverse effects on your health.
They can make you feel unwell and cause long-term affects
on your physical condition. If you want to live a long and
healthy life, there may be some bad habits you need to
overcome.

Many of the bad habits that make you feel poorly are
related to diet and nutrition. A growing number of people
in the US are becoming obese. This is mainly due to the
fact that they have developed the bad habit of overeating,
as well as eating to much "junk" food.

This can lead to numerous health problems and diseases.
Heart disease, diabetes, bone and joint distress, and many
other physical conditions can result. Even some forms of
cancer occur more often in obese people. Moreover, very
obese people are often bedridden and cannot care for
themselves.

Some people do not have the habit of overeating. They just
eat the wrong things when they do eat. They may eat fast
foods at every meal. This can literally make you sick and
cause weight gain as well. The high quantities of fats,
sugars, and starches in fast foods make them very unhealthy.

Other foods can be bad habits as well. Fried foods cause
health problems such as raising cholesterol and clogging
arteries. Foods that are low in fiber lack a substance the
body needs to function well. It is a bad habit to avoid
high fiber foods. Foods high in sugar are bad habits, if
not addictions. They affect the metabolism in drastic ways,
causing an imbalance in energy and insulin, which can lead
to diabetic conditions.

People have trouble knowing what kinds of electrolytes they
need. Some people have bad habits when it comes to salt.
They will salt all the food on their plate as soon as they
sit down, without even tasting it first. Too much salt can
lead to hypertension and even high blood pressure.

Even if you eat right, you will be weak if you do not
exercise. Living a inactive lifestyle is a bad habit. You
may not have much choice about how much movement is allowed
at your job. That does not mean that you cannot get out and
get your heart beating before or after work.

In fact, if you do not have time to exercise outside of
work, you probably have another bad habit in the health
area. Overworking is a cause for several illnesses. High
blood pressure, heart disease, and others can plague you if
you do not stop and take time to relax at home.

A discussion of bad health habits would not be complete
without reference to smoking, drinking, and drugs. Each of
these has dire health risks that are known by most people.
If you smoke, you might get lung cancer. You might also get
COPD, another breathing disorder. If you drink, you might
have liver failure. Drugs can do all kinds of damage,
including damage to your brain and heart.

Others care about your health, as you should care, too. It
may be difficult, but kicking your bad habits and making
yourself healthy again is a worthy goal to aspire to. Why
not start today?

----------------------------------------------------
The author is a graduate of Mississippi State University
and maintains a health blog at
http://theluckyberry.blogspot.com

Big Implants in Breast Augmentation

Big Implants in Breast Augmentation
My approach to selecting a size for one's breast
augmentation is that it is the patient's choice. It is not
for me to judge someone's taste or desires. Breast size is
a very personal issue and it is, to some degree, a bit like
art. Beauty (breast size) is in the eye of the beholder. My
goal is to make the patient happy. I usually do this by
asking the patient to show me pictures of what size they
think looks good and then I try and match that size concept
in the surgery. The only preoperative measurement that
carries much weight to me is the base diameter of the
patient's breast. I have found few women want a breast
implant that goes too far to the side and gets in the way
of arm movement. Therefore, I keep the breast implant size
to no greater than the existing breast base width. If the
size is going to exceed the breast base width, that is one
good reason to go with a high projecting breast implant so
that one's breast volume comes forward and less to the side.

In the majority of breast augmentation in my practice, I
find that most women select sizes that would be viewed as
'reasonable'. That breast implant size range seems to be
between 300cc - 450cc for about 85% of my patients. The
remaining 10 - 15% of my patients are anywhere from 450 -
700ccs. For a larger women, in both height and weight,
these breast implant sizes are still 'reasonable'. For
smaller women, these breast implant sizes would be
considered quite large.

While, on the one hand, it is not my concern when a patient
opts for a very large breast implant, I always feel
compelled to make them aware that there are some long-term
consequences to that choice that they need to be aware of.
First and foremost, it is easy to increase the size of the
breast but it is difficult to go the other way. Going down
in size later may mean the need to do skin reduction and
create scarring to maintain a good breast shape. Secondly,
the larger the breast implant, the more loss over time the
patient will have of their remaining breast tissue,
otherwise known as pressure atrophy. In many large breast
implants over time, the patient will only be left with skin
and a breast implant with little breast tissue in between.
Lastly, the weight of a very large breast implant over time
may cause the entire breast to sag, weakening the skin
support of the breast under its own weight.

Patients who choose large breast implants also need to
appreciate that a woman's perception and goals of her
breasts will change throughout her life. Like that tattoo
of 'Bill' put on your arm at twenty, you may not even know
Bill by the time you are forty.

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Dr Barry Eppley runs a private plastic surgery practice
through his hospital-based medspa locations at Clarian
Health in Indianapolis. To learn more about the latest
trends in plastic surgery, spa therapies, or skin care, go
to his daily blog, http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com .

Are You A Slave To The Scale?

Are You A Slave To The Scale?
Do you wake up and weigh yourself? That's fine but does it
determine what mood you're in and set the pace for your
day? Are you in a good mood or bad mood depending on the
scale? Is the tone of your day based on the number
reflected on the scale? Break the ties that bind you from
being a slave to the scale.

For people that diet and are on a quest for weight loss, we
just can't stay away from the scale. It is as though we
can't start our day without hopping on this device that
sits on the floor that we stand on. There we are, giving
our power to the scale standing on the scale staring down
at the display waiting for the verdict. For some it is a
compulsion for others it is mere curiosity. The problem
occurs when the results begin to dictate our mood, our
self-worth, and our self-esteem.

What is our compulsion with the scale? For some it's a
measurement of success. It is a form of validation when we
have been eating healthy on our diet program and regularly
working out. Why do we need a little box that sits on the
floor to give us the validation we want? You know what
you've done, how you've stuck to your diet, exercised, and
resisted temptations throughout your day. The scale
doesn't give you the compliments or "way to go" for those
aspects of your daily successes. The scale is just that -
a scale that measures your body weight including temporary
body fluctuations.

Scales don't tell you how much fat you are losing. A
regular scale doesn't reflect your muscle or water weight
either. Our weight can fluctuate from day to day. Water
retention from sodium, retention of bodily waste, hormonal
changes, bloating, and other temporary bodily adjustments
all register on the scale either up or down. Rather than
jump on and off the scale many times throughout the day so
often to count as aerobic activity, weigh yourself once a
week (or once a month) at the same time of day on the same
scale.

If you weigh yourself every day, you can be frustrated
because weight can swing two to three pounds up or down due
to temporary body functions and changes. You'll get a more
realistic picture of your weight loss if you weigh once a
week.

There are very good reasons for this. Your weight
fluctuates all the time, at different times of the day and
month, depending on if you have just eaten, if you are
dehydrated, etc. This can be misleading and cause much
frustration. When you weigh yourself, if you have lost
weight, also give yourself credit for what you have gained
in losing weight. Gains include feeling better about
yourself, being in control over food rather than food
controlling you, and being closer to your weight loss goal.
If you haven't lost weight, or have put a small amount on,
use this as motivation to keep going. Increase your
exercise and activity, check what you're eating and the
portions.

It is interesting how those little numbers representing
your weight can dictate your entire day. The scale can
make you feel thin and great or large and awful. Do not
weigh yourself several times a day. It makes no sense and
can lead to scale neurosis.

For true validation of your weight loss and healthy
lifestyle changes, take body measurements. Seeing proof of
decreasing measurements is a more accurate way of
acknowledging your success. Another great way to validate
yourself is by your clothes. Are you clothes fitting
better, getting baggier or wearing a different size? Both
of these are true gauges and great pats on the back that
you deserve.

Take your focus from looking down to the scale on the floor
and look up. Look at all of the tremendous changes you've
made in your life, how great you feel physically and
emotionally. Put it in perspective and don't think about
weight as the only issue. Reflect on how great you feel,
how you look, do you have more energy, and all of the many
things that have changed for the better in your life since
you started making healthy changes. Those are the ultimate
measures of your success!

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Cathy Wilson is a certified life coach specializing in
weight loss. Cathy lost 147 pounds seven years ago. Her
passion is to help clients achieve weight loss and life
goals. Cathy works with clients to create a weight loss
life plan custom to each client. Cathy is a member of the
International Coaching Federation, International
Association of Coaches, and Obesity Action Coalition.
Visit Cathy's website:
http://www.LoseWeightFindLife.com

Constipation - Causes, Symptoms and Ayurvedic Treatment

Constipation - Causes, Symptoms and Ayurvedic Treatment
In the general sense, constipation is defined as the
difficulty in performing the right kinds of bowel
movements, which are essential in voiding the toxic waste
materials of digestion. When constipation occurs, the
person is not able to pass stools properly and in the right
kind of frequency. This means, the toxins are getting
retained within the body, which can lead to a host of
complications within a short time.

Constipation - Causes from an Ayurvedic Point of View

Ayurveda treats constipation as a problem arising due to
the predominance of the vata dosha . In fact, all people
with the vata constitution have this problem to some extent
or the other. From an Ayurvedic point of view, dietary bad
habits are the main cause of constipation. The following
are some of the dietary factors that lead to constipation:-

1. Eating at different times each day

2. Eating too late than the normal time

3. Eating food that is difficult to digest

4. Eating food without roughage (or foods that contain
fiber content)

5. Eating mostly dry foods

6. Drinking too many beverages like tea and coffee

7. Drinking too many cold drinks

8. Not drinking enough water

Apart from these, Ayurveda has also pinpointed various
environmental and behavioral factors that can lead to
constipation. The following are these environmental and
behavioral factors:-

1. Vices like smoking

2. Staying awake till late at night

3. Sleeplessness or insomnia

4. Mental worries and tensions

5. Feelings of guilt and fear 6. Age

Constipation - Symptoms from an Ayurvedic Point of View

Depending on the constitution of the person, there are
different observed symptoms of constipation. The following
are some of the symptoms:-

1. Vata dosha symptoms - The first symptom is a browning of
the tongue, which cannot be cleaned easily. These people
also have occasional feelings of uneasiness in their
stomachs with flatulence. Stools are hard to eliminate, and
food takes a long time to get digested properly.

2. Pitta dosha symptoms - The person will observe slightly
yellowish stools and there will be a burning sensation in
the anus as they are eliminated.

3. Kapha dosha symptoms - The colon feels heavy and there
is low digestive fire. The person will feel lethargic most
of the time. The person will also eliminate faint colored
stools which are almost white in color. There is a strong
feeling of gas and flatulence. Bad breath (halitosis) is
also a common problem in this type.

Constipation - Ayurvedic Treatment Methods

Triphala is the best herbal mixture for the permanent
treatment of constipation. This mixture of amala , behera
and harada in the proportion of 2:1:1 has excellent
laxative properties. The mixture must be given in doses of
about one teaspoonful at night, preferably taken with water
that has been slightly warmed. Triphala has many benefits
in all types of constipation and for people of all dosha
types, but it is found that triphala also acts amazingly in
case of obstinate constipation, such as in people with old
age that develop this condition.

An alternative for triphala is abhayarisha, which is
supposed to be taken in quantities of 30 ml twice a day,
for a period of one month.

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Read about Triphala Colon Cleanser and Constipation
Treatment at http://www.herbalcureindia.com

Choose from the many weight loss programs available today

Choose from the many weight loss programs available today
Nowadays, there are many weight loss programs catering to
both men and women, and each has a slightly different
approach. There is a general recognition of the fact that
weight problems are both physical and psychological in
nature. Because of the dual nature of weight problems, the
solution is seldom as simple as just eating less. For
example, Weight Watchers and several other well-known
weight loss programs require you to come in for a weigh-in,
often public, and receive various types of counseling. That
is in addition to tracking what you eat during the day and
adding it up according to a special system.

Other weight loss programs take a pro-active, behavioralist
approach by asking you to identify your eating habits and
patterns. Under what circumstances do you tend to overeat?
Which foods do you eat when you are overeating? By
answering these questions, you can identify and anticipate
your own weak points and problem areas, and a specialized
system is designed for you, taking these into account.

This type of weight loss program is particularly successful
because it is realistic, aknowledging that not everyone is
alike, and that a 'one size fits all' program may fail to
help a certain percentage of the clientele. Also, because a
program like this teaches you to avoid pitfalls, it is
infomation that can be used throughout your life, not just
when you are 'on a diet' or actively following the program.

Not all weight loss programs incorporate exercise, but they
all should. Exercise is probably the single most important
factor in weight loss - more important than how much, or
how little, you eat. Exercise boosts your body's metabolism
rate, so that you burn more of the calories you ingest.
Exercise also builds muscle, which continues to burn fat
and calories even after you have finished exercising.
Finally, exercise just makes you feel better about yourself
and the world.

Happy people may eat heartily at times, but they are less
likely to binge eat or to eat out of boredom. In short,
exercise can help accelerate your weight loss in many
different ways. It doesn't really matter what type of
exercise you do, as long as you to it regularly. Studies
vary regarding this particular subject - some recommend
intense exercise a few times a week, while others say just
the opposite - that you should exercise every day, but at a
lower intensity. The bottom line is that you should do what
feels good to you, and what fits into your schedule.

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