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Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Sometimes young people try illegal drugs to fit in or just out of curiosity. But some often try it to escape reality for awhile to get “high”. A “high” is the feeling that drug users to describe certain feelings that are experienced after taking drugs. These feelings may be described as happy or spacey feelings. Persons experiencing stress and anxiety take illegal drugs to feel better, to forget about issues or certain problems. Many individuals turn to drugs as a treatment for depression and other emotional and mental problems. One of the drugs used to attain “highness” is lysergic acid diethyiamide (LSD). It is a hallucinogen that is used as a recreational drug, and as a so-called “tool of transcendence.” This drug is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It can be painted on small papers and can be licked or swallowed. Many individuals use this drug to detach themselves from the the real world. LSD us an illegal drug in the United States and other countries around the world. People refer to this experience as “tripping out.” This drug is popular influence in the sixties and seventies. LSD remains a potent drug, as well as a risk to physical and mental health. The potency of this drug is unpredictable and may cause thoughts and feelings to be distorted. Taking 100-200 millionth of a gram of LSD may cause a person to experience a “trip” that may last up to 12 hours. While experiencing a “trip” users tend to see hallucinations of colors, light patterns, and many users claim to have experienced news insights about their personality. One of the effects of LSD is having flashbacks of a user’s previous hallucinations. LSD users often experience panic, confusion, sadness, and scary images. Physical changes may include increased heart rate, sweating, loss of appetite, dilated pupils, dry mouth, and shaking. LSD develops addiction because a number of users who take this drug repeatedly end up taking up higher does to achieve the state of “highness” they had previously achieved. LSD mixed with other drugs may contribute to severe health effects that may lead to mental health problems. Illegal drugs should not be the answer to depression and anxiety. These drugs may lead to addiction and in return develop many physical and mental problems. There are many ways in eliminating and depression and anxiety. The following methods have been proven to be very beneficial in relaxing the mind and therefore relieve mental and emotional troubles: · Journaling or keeping a diary · Exercising regularly · Having a pet · Yoga · Music therapy · Tai chi · Meditation People who are suffering from drug addiction should consult specialists that may help them overcome their drug addiction. Drug addiction treatment may include counseling, cognitive therapy, and psychotherapy. Behavioral therapies offer people many strategies that may enable them to cope with their drug cravings, and teach them to avoid drugs and other harmful substances. People should bear in mind that turning to illegal drugs to treat depression is not an option.

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Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Category: health fitness |  Tags: | Leave a Comment

Feeling tired all the time? Feel like sleeping after your lunch break? Ever experienced that there are days that you’re energy is so low? Probably you are overworked or always under stress? You may be experiencing fatigue. Fatigue is a common health complaint. Around 20% of Americans experienced excessive fatigue that is enough to interfere with their normal life. However, one of the hardest terms to define and a symptom of many different conditions. Fatigue, also known as weariness, tiredness, lethargy, exhaustion is generally defined as a feeling of lack of energy and motivation. It is not the same as drowsiness, but the desire to sleep may accompany fatigue. Fatigue is a symptom, rather than a specific disease or disorder. People who are fatigued feel tired all the time in both body and mind. A person suffering from fatigue has slowed reflexes and reduced interest in engaging in daily functions. Excessive fatigue is also a known risk factor for workplace and car accidents. Fatigue can trigger from a variety of causes such as undiagnosed medical conditions, unhealthy lifestyle choices, workplace issues, emotional concerns and stress. It can also be caused by a number of factors working in combination. Many diseases and disorders can trigger fatigue, including flu, anemia, sleep disorders, tuberculosis, hepatitis, chronic pain, heart and lung problems. Malnutrition, obesity and vitamin deficiency can also rouse fatigue. Excessive workload, the lack and too much of exercise can also make a person worn out and experience fatigue. Common lifestyle choices such as too much sleep, alcohol, drugs, sleep disturbances, and poor diet are also factors. Individual circumstances such as events that impact a person can also cause fatigue. These may include personal illness or injury, illnesses or injuries in the family, unhealthy personal relationships, too many commitments or financial problems. Decrease in blood pressure could also mean a slowdown in the amount of work the heart is doing, which can lead to a feeling of fatigue. Sometimes, the drug works not only on the heart, but also on the central nervous system. Muscle relaxants work to decrease the contraction of muscles. This relaxation can lead to total body relaxation, which may cause an individual to feel fatigued. To battle fatigue, take out some of the stress of the day. Take a midday stroll or get up 15 minutes earlier to give yourself more time to start your day. Whether you walk, do gardening or take a swim — or do anything that gets you moving, you’ll likely notice you have more stamina. Try to include at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity. While 30 minutes is the minimum recommendation, you may need up to an hour of moderate activity daily to maintain fitness and a healthy weight. Set priorities and learn to say no. Put aside a time each day to do something you enjoy. Fatigue can be a normal and important response to physical exertion, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep. However, it can also be a non-specific sign of a more serious psychological or physical disorder. If fatigue is not relieved by enough sleep, good nutrition, or low-stress environment, an evaluation by a doctor is advised. Because fatigue is a common complaint, sometimes a potentially serious cause may be overlooked.

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Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

Newlyweds who dream of having their own family may find it frustrating that after more than a year of unprotected lovemaking, the dream remains far from becoming a reality. Infertility has blocked the path to a fulfilling family life, of motherhood or fatherhood. And the question of about when the baby will come becomes a stressful thing to deal with for couples who are experiencing the problem of infertility. Infertility is the inability of a man or woman to conceive or the inability to carry a pregnancy to full-term. Doctors may offer a whole new language of medical terms but it still boils down to feelings of inadequacy and failure which may lead to stress and depression. News of pregnancy from relatives or friends may cause a feeling of resentment and jealousy. Knowing more about infertility can help you what steps to consider in dealing with the condition. Pregnancy results when a woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm. Any interference before during or after this process may cause infertility. Male Infertility There is no truth to the belief that infertility is always a woman’s problem. Infertility cases can be due to problems with the man, the woman, or a combination of male and female factors. and even due to unknown causes. Male infertility is often associated with problems with the sperm. This may exist from birth or may have developed later in life due to injury or illness. There are men who produce too few sperm while others do not produce any at all. Some men produce enough sperm but lack the motility to penetrate the egg. Sperm count and sperm production are greatly affected by the kind of lifestyle a man has. Alcohol, drugs, and environmental toxins can temporarily reduce sperm quality and cause infertility in men. Female Infertility Ovulation problems account for most infertility in women. Without ovulation, eggs cannot be fertilized. Signs of problems with ovulation include irregular menstrual periods or no periods. Just like with men, lifestyle factors, such as stress, diet, or athletic training, can affect a woman’s hormonal balance. In rare cases, a hormonal imbalance from a serious medical problem such as a pituitary gland tumor can cause ovulation problems. No matter what the cause of these hormonal imbalances, still, the end result may be infertility. Another important factor in female infertility is age. When a woman reaches the age of 35, she may tend to have difficulty conceiving due to a lot of factors, including infertility. And when she reaches menopause, her monthly periods stop for good and she can no longer produce eggs which are indispensable for pregnancy to occur. Other problems such as blocked fallopian tubes can also cause infertility in women. These blockages on one or both ends of the fallopian tubes prevent the egg from traveling through the tubes into the uterus and may even result to pelvic inflammatory disease known as endometriosis, or an ectopic pregnancy. Seeking Infertility Tests Healthy women who are below 35 years old should wait for a year before worrying about infertility. Worrying will only make the problem worse as it may lead to stress and anxiety. If a woman is above the age of 35 and unable to achieve conception within 6 months, she should consult a physician. In seeking infertility tests, a medical evaluation is required to determine the reasons for a couple’s infertility. This process involves physical examinations, as well as medical and sexual histories of both partners. If there is no obvious problem, like improperly timed intercourse or absence of ovulation, tests may be needed to help determine the cause of the couple’s infertility. Tests of a man’s semen is needed to look at the number, shape, and movement of sperm. Hormone tests are also done to help determine if the male is the cause of the inability to conceive. The woman is tested for her ovulation by keeping track of changes in her morning body temperature and in the texture of her cervical mucus. Another tool is a home ovulation test kit, which can be bought at drug or grocery stores. Ovulation tests can also be done in doctor’s clinics with the use of blood tests for hormone levels or ultrasound tests of the ovaries. If the woman is ovulating, more tests are needed to determine what contribution she is making to the couple’s infertility. Treating Infertility There are a number of infertility treatments which can be as simple as taking oral medications to more complex treatments, such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). IVF is the most common treatment which involves taking medications to produce many eggs, then surgically removing the eggs and fertilizing them in a petri dish. ICSI is the most common variation of IVF which treats male infertility. If there are inadequate numbers of normal sperm or if the motility or morphology are low after the eggs are retrieved, one normal-looking sperm is injected into each egg. This technology has already produced thousands of babies in recent years. Coping With Infertility Couples with infertility problems are going through intense stress which can lead to anxiety and depression. Examining the people in your life and making sure they provide you with support can help relieve the pressure of infertility situations. Consult your doctor about joining a support group to relieve feelings of isolation. Studies have shown that women who attend support groups have significantly improved pregnancy rates as compared to women who do not attend a support group but receive similar medical treatments.

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Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

Obesity is a condition that has become a major health concern affecting many individuals in the United States. This condition refers to the build-up of excess body fat that may impair health conditions. Several medical studies show that obese individuals are prone to health risks like cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, sleep apnea, and many more. These health hazards have prompted individuals to include a weight-loss program in their lifestyles. However, people who want to lose weight tend to exercise too much and eat unhealthy food. These conditions may bring do more harm than good. Understanding the cause of obesity might enable overweight individuals to treat their health problems. According to clinical studies, major causes of obesity among Americans are too many calories in food regimens coupled with inactivity and overeating. Acknowledging these two factors may help overweight or obese people lose weight and improve their health. Many specialists health specialists argue that weight-related problems and obesity can be caused by high calories in diets coupled with inactivity. A study conducted by the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in February, 2004 showed that Americans consumed more calories than they did 30 years ago. The study found out that from 1971 to 2004, American women increased their calorie consumption from 1542 calories per day to 1877. The men on the other hand, at the same time frame, increased their calorie intake from 2,450 to 2,618. With the rise of calorie intake also came the decline of physical activities. However, less than 1/3 of adults engage in the appropriate amounts of exercise. In addition, 40% of adults in the United States do not participate in any physical activity while 43% of adolescents spend more than 2 hours in front of the television. It is recommended that individuals should accumulate at least 30 minutes among adults and 60 minutes among children of moderate physical activity three times a week. More are recommended to prevent weight gain or to lose weight. Statistics also suggest that overeating is another reason why people tend be overweight or obese. Overeating is an eating abnormality where the consumption of food intake is inappropriately large for energy use. Triggers of overeating may include depression, stress, boredom, anxiety, and prolonged dieting. People with eating disorder feel that negative feelings may temporarily disappear through food consumption, often these food escapades are done in secret. This disorder can be treated with the help of health professionals coupled with the support of family and friends. Obesity can be avoided and treated through proper exercise and healthy diets. People who want to lose weight tend to over-train and deprive themselves of healthy food. These habits may impede weight loss and cause additional health concerns. Proper exercise coupled with the right diet is essential in weight-loss and weight-control. In addition, exercise may eliminates depression because physical activities promotes the release of endorphins. Endorphins are substances that is released by the brain and is the body’s natural pain-reliever. These substance may elevate the mood and promote a state of bliss. Many health specialists refer to this phenomenon as the runner’s high. For overweight or obese individuals, it is never too late to partake in regular exercise and healthy diets. Exercise is good for different people of all ages, sex, and weight. It is necessary to maintain improved overall health and enhanced well-being. Individuals who decide to include a regular program of physical activity should consult doctors and other health professionals for advice. This is important because a lot of individuals tend to workout too much or workout improperly, which may do more harm than good. Understanding proper workout and including a healthy diet in one’s lifestyle may lead to improved health and overall well-being.

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Saturday, December 13th, 2008

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also called impotence, is characterized by a man’s failure to have an erection or keep an erection long enough to finish the sexual intercourse. Severity of ED varies among men, with some having total inability to achieve an erection while others have irregular ability to attain an erection. Other men with mild ED can still sustain brief erections. Impotence is one of the reasons why men fail to perform well in bed. This condition is considered as a horrible experience among men, it can be very stressful and may damage the male self-esteem. Low self-esteem is one the reasons why men are not able to show their full potential and complicate relationships. Sexual failure among men is not something that is openly discussed, they often feel embarrassed and keep it to themselves. However, it is important to know the cause and treatments of impotence to nourish and maintain a healthy self-esteem and self-worth. Conditions of ED can occur at any age, but it is more common in elderly men. In fact, majority of the male population experience occasional difficulty having or maintaining an erection. In many situations, it is a temporary condition that may disappear with minimal or no treatment at all. Aside from the aging process, ED can also be caused by psychological or physical factors. Psychological factors is commonly caused by anxiety, stress, depression, and dissatisfaction with a partner. Physical factors, on the other hand, can include any ailment that prevents the nervous system from responding to arousal. Injuries to the spinal cord, damage to the nerves in the genital area because of diabetes or surgery may cause ED. In addition to these factors lifestyles that involve excessive alcohol ingestion, smoking, or unhealthy diets may lead to impotence. However, there are many herbal remedies that are out in the market that are proven to treat ED. These alternative medications are available in different dosage and may include Tongkat Ali and horny goat weed. These two herbs are considered as the world’s most effective aphrodisiacs. Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longfolia) is a flowering plant that can be found in Malaysia and Indonesia. Historically, this plant in its natural habitat was used a herbal folk treatment for various sexual health problems like sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction. It has also been used throughout time as a natural sex enhancer. Many scientific studies have proven that Tongkat Ali helps boost libido and testosterone levels, which in return may improve sexual performance. On the other hand, horny goat weed (Epimedium) works by improving the blood flow to the penis, which then enhances sexual pleasure and performance. It also helps men increase their stamina, last longer during sex, and reduce premature ejaculation. Despite the existence of these products, men are still encouraged to talk to doctors and other medical specialists so that they can weigh the advantages and disadvantages of these herbal remedies. Erectile dysfunction can be treated but it should be done under close supervision of medical professionals. Improving sexual health by changing lifestyles, improving diets, or including exercise programs in routines should be prioritized rather than seeking medical or alternative help.

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