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6 Tips to Read Before Having Your First Acupuncture Therapy

December 9th, 2011 Comments off

It is believed that acupuncture can help with a lot of different health problems, for example, a wide variety of pains, headaches, diseases, mental problems etc. Even though it is not actually scientifically proven that acupuncture can be useful for treating all of those health issues, this therapy has become popular because people report that it has helped them.

Most of the people who are interested in trying out acupuncture are also usually a bit worried and maybe even scared because they don’t know exactly what to expect from this strange Chinese therapy. Let me give you a few tips that you should read before paying a visit to the acupuncturist.

1) Don’t be afraid – it is almost never painful.

In 95% of the cases, it doesn’t hurt when the needles are inserted in your body if you are relaxed. It is mostly because acupuncture needles are much thinner than the regular sewing needles. Also they are never inserted deep and in some cases (mostly Japanese acupuncture) the needles just touch your skin without any insertion at all.

2) Don’t worry – you are not going to lie there naked.

Acupuncture points are all over your body and which ones will the acupuncturist use depends on the diagnosis. It is very popular to use points on your back, feet and ears. Usually you have to uncover just a small area of your body. You can expect that the acupuncturist will use approximately some 15 to 30 needles. Read more…

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Information About Surgery To Stop Snoring

November 23rd, 2011 Comments off

Snoring is a common problem which a lot of people suffer from. This condition can be dealt with by using one of the many available approaches. Making use of home remedies is one such approach. One can also use the various available stop snoring devices. Remedies like these are however of no help in cases when the condition is critical. This is certainly the time when a surgery to stop snoring comes into picture.

Prior to going for the surgery it is essential to consult a medical professional to confirm whether you actually require surgery to be done. The proper decision would be made by the doctor on very carefully analyzing your condition. There is a likelihood of you being subjected to a sleep test. This test would involve making you fall asleep with the help of sedatives. The doctor would thus be able to diagnose the actual reason that is making you snore.

The surgical procedure that would be preferred would depend on the cause that is leading to snoring. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is considered to be one of the most frequently carried out surgical procedures. It is also referred to as UPPP. It basically involves the removal of the tissues of the throat to clear it of any blockage that may exist. Snoring is most of the times actually caused due to such a blockage. Parts of the uvula and the soft palate are basically removed in this procedure. The tonsils are also often removed in this procedure.

One of the other types of surgical technique is uvulopalatoplasty. It is also called as LAUP. Laser is used in this technique. When snoring is resulted due to the blockage of the air passage by the uvula, this technique is usually used. Thus the uvula is basically cut in this procedure to prevent it from coming into contact with the throat and thus causing snoring. Read more…

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Try These 4 Festive Tips To Improve Your Mood

November 17th, 2011 Comments off

Christmas is normally a time that is associated with happiness and joy. However, this is not always the case. For some people, the cold weather, the lack of family and friends or even seasonal affective disorder (a form of winter depression that is often abbreviated to SAD) can have an adverse effect on their mood. If you are suffering from the winter blues then I am here to help with 4 tips to improve your mood this Christmas.

1) EAT SOME MOOD BOOSTING FOODS:

The foods you eat can have a major effect on your mood. Eating too many low quality foods can cause your blood sugar levels to surge and then fall rapidly leaving you feeling tired and moody. This is a particular problem over Christmas when tasty treats are constantly on offer. Eating the right foods can have the opposite effect and make you feel positive and upbeat. For example, studies have shown that drinking tea can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Research has revealed that dark chocolate, nuts and salmon also have similar mood boosting effects.

2) EXERCISE REGULARLY:

Exercise can help improve your mood in multiple ways. For starters, it causes your body to release endorphins and serotonin (2 substances that can boost your mood). In addition to this, it is a great way to clear your mind by allowing you to temporarily escape from the stresses of day to day life. Read more…

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How To Stay In Shape This Christmas

November 12th, 2011 Comments off

I often have clients approach me and ask for my help to get in shape for a certain event. Weddings, birthdays and holidays are the usual kind of thing, But in the past few years Christmas, has become a date top of the priority list for people to look and feel their best.

When you think about it, its easy to see why. You get dressed up in your best clothes in front of colleges and friends and often see family that you may not have seen in a long while. Who wouldn’t want to look as good as possible?

With this in mind I have put together a quick list of ‘Dos and don’ts’ for you to read, because if you start early enough, there’s no reason you shouldn’t go into 2011 holiday season looking and feeling your best.

DO – Get adequate sleep. I can’t stress this enough, late nights spent rapping presents or attending Christmas party’s will have a powerful effect on the hormones we produce whilst we sleep (mainly testosterone) which help burn fat and repair muscle. Read more…

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Advantages Of Cord Blood Banking

November 4th, 2011 Comments off

There are several advantages to cord blood banking. It has been proven to be a better alternative than regular bone marrow transplants. This is true especially in children. Sometimes finding a match with a bone marrow donor is impossible. Although it has been around for a while most people believe it is a new idea. Research in this area is rapidly advancing and researchers soon hope to be able to use the cord for several other alternatives as well.

This type of storage was developed in the 1990s. The first documented use of these cells was in the late 1980s to a young boy. His transplant was successful and opened up the doors for more research to begin.

The process of collecting this is fairly simple. The expecting mother should contact the bank we she wants the blood to be stored before her thirty fourth week of pregnancy. When looking for a cord bank there are two options to choose from. The first is a public bank; there is a list of public banks available on The National Marrow Donor Program website. The second is a private bank. Both are similar but the cost and privacy rules tend to be the deciding factors for most. Read more…