Health and Fitness - Health Insurance on the Job Concerns

The more I read about these potential denials by employers regarding health care coverage and their myopic viewpoints toward their hard working employees I cannot help but think that at the back of these mindsets there appears to be a level of such greed and callous ungrateful thinking that it boggles the mind.

Disney has to be one of the richest enterprises in the world. If it were not for employees who perform the major running of these tourist attracting enterprises, where would Disney be?

Time and again greed and ungratefulness appear to show itself when employees need fair salary, coverage and benefits they certainly deserve.

Ask a member of the higher echelon of any large enterprise to cut down on anything they signed up for and it would certainly be a different scenario.

While it is true that higher officials in any company, business or enterprise does serious role playing in the laying out of operational procedures, keeping up with needed changes and on and on and on and on. Without men, women and kids taking the needed steps to bring about daily completion of these needed efforts, in one day, just one day it could all come to a screeching halt.

Imagine, no food preparation, or sanitary/hygiene needs not done. Trash collections. Changing the bedding in a room vacated by a visitor. Getting it ready for the next guest. The list is endless. The costumes one needs to wear in the course of their work day not prepared. Too many times these jobs are considered unimportant by those who might never get their hands dirty in order to achieve what is required in daily job descriptions. But without these operational procedures functioning every single day by their employees, what then???

Yet the powers that be do not appear to want to provide for the employees health insurance. They allege it costs too much.

I have this sense that behind the scene of American employment tactics are those who may be trying to bankrupt the disability programs of this country and bring health and well being coverages to a screeching halt. Much like what is called Third World country indifference to the needs of their working peoples. Expendable human lives. This is the perception by many in our country.

Let the taxpayers carry the burden of responsibility. To hell with the employee.

An employee shows up everyday. Does his/her job and goes home.

It appears to be the Never Ending Story of corporate greed and total disregard for the welfare of their employees. There are more where they came from, people looking for work to support themselves and their families. So the beat goes on.

What a really sorry state of affairs this country is in where corporate America and the rights and needs of American employees is concerned.

Will the exploitation of American rights ever end??? I really do not think so. Not while there is a network of highly placed wrongdoers behind the scenes (the shadow government) calling the shots.

Ginger Ferrer

(Fitness) Health Thoughts, Living on the Health Minimum Wage?

Random thoughts taken from valuable sources, what many nutrition experts consider to be the most important nutrients and health habits a person should have to help them stay healthy long term. We would categorize them into the following areas.

Dietary Fiber - Fiber is extremely important to your health in a number of different ways.

According to the National Institutes of Health one of the common causes of constipation is not enough fiber in the diet.

Fiber promotes cardiovascular health plus in studies has been indicated to help lower harmful cholesterol levels when combined with a healthy diet. But what most people don't know about fiber is all the various varieties there are of dietary fiber.

The point is with all the healthy benefits of dietary fiber most people don't get enough everyday - it is recommend that people get 25-30 grams of fiber per day. So if they're not getting it through their diet it pays to take a supplement. No wonder so many people are constipated.

Let's talk next about enzymes - did you know that enzymes control virtually all the chemical processes and reactions in your body - everything from digestion to breaking down old cells to generating new cells.

There is no doubt that enzymes are probably the most under-rated nutritional substance. Essentially because nobody talks about them. Most manufactures are not putting them in their foods or supplements. Most manufactures proudly state that their cereal is Vitamin Enriched. However, when was the last time you read a label that said our product is Enzyme Enriched!

However, with the importance of enzymes the question begs to be asked, Where do I get adequate enzymes from? It certainly isn't from our foods. Processed and cooked foods destroy all enzymes. Sure our body has the ability to manufacture certain enzymes, but just like anything else it could sure use a supplement boost. The best foods for getting enzymes are fresh raw fruits and vegetables, but the problem is less than 20 percent of all people eat even the minimum recommended amount.

Perhaps an enzyme supplement would be advisable.

And why would someone only want the minimum amount of health? That is like living off the minimum wage - not a pleasant thought.

Antioxidants - Gee, how important are antioxidants. With all the environmental pollutants, smoke, chemicals etc that our bodies are exposed to on a daily basis we just can't underestimate the importance of antioxidants. Antioxidants as you know deactivate dangerous free radicals. Free radicals are essentially what causes iron to rust and an apple to turn brown after cut. The next time you cut an apple in two put lemon juice on half the apple and none on the other half - notice how the one half without the lemon turns brown much faster. This is because the lemon juice is an antioxidant protecting the apple half.

Now think about what oxygen free radicals are doing to your body without an adequate supply of antioxidants.

So antioxidants are extremely important, however, what you may not know is that a variety (or network) of antioxidants almost always is more effective than just the same amount of individual antioxidants. So a variety of 15 different antioxidants would typically work better than the same amount of one single antioxidant.

Micronutrients or plant nutrients - these are present in virtually all plants here are some examples:

Cauliflower contains the micro- photonutrient sulforaphane. In research done at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, sulforaphane lowered the occurrence of breast tumors in lab animals by almost 40%.

In peppers you have micro- photonutrient capsaicin-it has been found to work as an anticoagulant, thus possibly helping prevent heart attacks or strokes caused by blood clot.

Lemons contain limonene, a compound shown to have anticancer properties in laboratory animals. Limonene also appears to raise the levels of beneficial enzymes in the liver.

And of course this is the tip of the iceberg as micro-phytonutrients are present in most plants, researchers are still uncovering all their many health benefits.

A couple more good health tips.

Clean Water - One of the most valuable things you can do for your health is to assure you drink at least 8 glasses of good clean pure water each day. This doesn't include soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, tea, etc. This helps flush wastes from the body, keeps the cells hydrated and some experts believe it can even help keep healthy blood cholesterol levels down.

Finally Exercise - One can't underestimate the role regular exercise plays in long term health. It is important when starting an exercise to do something you enjoy and don't over commit and over do it. I.E. never bite off more than you can chew. You want to develop a good habit of exercise and the only way to do that is to start very slowly.

For example your goal for the first week may be to do 1 sit-up per day or walk to the end of your driveway and back. This may seem too easy, but our main concern is that we develop a good habit of doing some exercise everyday. And if you can do it for 21 straight days a good habit will develop.

One last thing to consider - too often most people think about what are the minimums in each area required for health. Why would someone only want the minimum amount of health?

That is like living off the minimum wage - not a pleasant thought.

Health & Fitness Guide

Health and fitness matters a lot for the healthy living being. With the growing age of the universe and the developing countries, people are more into business and works and have totally ignored their personal physical and mental life. Nowadays the routine is nothing more than a 12-hour job and sleepless nights just for the sake of earning money. But it is important to configure that money values only when the body is healthy and the living being is normal. Anyhow many countries stress on the physical heath and exercises, making the fitness valuable and prior to all people of all ages and either sex. Health and fitness is a thing to be maintained by all age groups and adults need to maintain it more. Health and fitness values for patients as well, the heart and the bones patients tend to give more attention to their health and fitness.

Health and fitness does not merely mean for the appearance and the figure look out but it does play a strong role in maintaining the senses and activities of the routine life. The health and fitness if carried properly answers a lot of questions related to diseases, body disorders and organs functions, not only this it can also cure to several mild disorders and relief stress. There are lots of clubs and exercise places located in cities where you can and give sufficient time to your body. Body needs care and rest, if you are unable to manage to go specific place and sort out hours for yourself, you can carry out exercises that are unsaid, work outs at your home and office and make your body fit with essential foods and diet that makes the body best maintained and healthy. The healthier you are the longer gets your life. Kids too need special attention regarding their fitness and diets. The necessary point to note is that people needs knowledge regarding health and fitness, this is available best at the internet as people are more comfortable to seek guidance on internet regarding any topic and when it comes to health and fitness, people seek for personal guidance, which is best available at internet along with supervision of experts and doctors of health and fitness.

A proper diet and fitness guidance is served in Health and fitness articles and is found abundantly regarding any topic and under any conditions. You can now get contact with experts who throw their information on Internet. Health and fitness arises with several questions, these are all answered by health and fitness related articles. People from different regions have conditional problems regarding health and fitness, gyms, yoga center; diet plans and experts advice is available on Internet through variety of articles. Health and fitness though need to be concerned by doctor directly as Internet is a place where many websites claim to be big and trusted but they aren't in real. You can affirm any knowledge or new thing seen on Internet by doctor and then follow it if it suits you.

9 Pioneers of Fitness

In composing any list of important people in almost any field, everybody will have his or her own favorites. Also, in weight lifting, body building, physical fitness, aerobics, just to name a few areas, there are so many people who have contributed so much that it is difficult to pare the list down adequately. I have attempted, however, to include people who have repeatedly come to my attention since my first contact with weight training at age 16 in 1961. I have tried to put the emphasis on people who I felt were somewhat pivotal in the areas of weight lifting, body building, aerobics or general physical fitness. I am sure that many readers will have their own favorites.

Eugen Sandow The Non Pareil (1867 - 1925) Born in Germany, Eugen Sandow has often been called "Father of Modern Bodybuilding". Like Charles Atlas, as a youth, Sandow was a great admirer of Greek and Roman statues depicting athletes and gladiators. Sandow is considered to be a pioneer in bodybuilding because he measured statues to determine exact proportions and then worked to develop his own body parts to match them. In his late teens, while performing in strongman shows, he was spotted and taken on by legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld. His big splash in America was at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. His intelligence, natural charm, and cultured appearance combined with his astounding physique and strength made him a star. Women actually paid him money for the privilege of feeling his muscles. For the men, he wrote widely on health, fitness, and bodybuilding. He, like Bernarr Macfadden and Charles Atlas offered a mail order course teaching his students how to achieve health and fitness. He eventually opened a progressive fitness club in London which stood in stark contrast to the dank, dark, and sweaty gyms of the day. Through his personality and innovation, he made exercise and physical fitness popular for a broader audience than had previously been reached.

Bernarr Macfadden (1868 - 1955) Born Bernard Adolphus McFadden in the state of Missouri, Bernarr Macfadden changed his first and last names because he felt that the new names had a greater appearance of strength. This was not the only strange activity of the man who advocated regular fasting, and some very esoteric health practices for the day and whose wife called him a kook. He combined his own personal views of fitness training and health practices into an entity he referred to as "Physical Culture" which became the title of his first magazine. He eventually became a bit of a publishing mogul, but was usually considered to be skirting the edges of reality in his obsessive approach to physical fitness. However, he inspired young men like Charles Atlas and brought the idea of health and fitness as a way of life to a broader portion of the public.

Charles Atlas (1892 - 1972) was born Angelo Siciliano in 1892 in Acri, Calabria, Southern Italy. In 1905, his parents emigrated to America with young Angelo. A few years later, he had changed his first name to "Charles" when he won a photo competition in a magazine run by the creator of "Physical Culture", Bernarr Macfadden. Young Charles was inspired to improve his physique.by Greek statues he saw at the Brookly Art Gallery. His first attempts at fitness was with improvised barbells made of sticks and stones. His observation of animals in the zoo, however, led him to base a series of fitness actions on their apparent means of maintaining their fitness in captivity. He called his discovery Dynamic Tension and went on to market his program to thousands of boys and men. On the path to becoming "Charles Atlas", he posed for statues of Atlas. Some of which were exhibited in the museum where he found his initial inspiration. At the time of his death, he was still exercising daily and running every other day. His course on Dynamic Tension had been the inspiration for over three million men and boys.

Bob Hoffman (1898 - 1985) Bob Hoffman is considered by many to be "Father of World Weightlifting" and was the founder of York Barbell. He was an athlete, nutritionist, weightlifter, coach and philanthropist. Although an exceptional athlete as a young boy, the mature Bob Hoffman was never a great weightlifter or coach. However, his vision, sense of purpose, and personal belief in the value of weightlifting led him to create York Barbell, a company which was long recognized as the leader in the manufacture of weightlifting equipment and which is still in existence today. while many felt his writings and opinions were "over the top", his personal bravery and willingness to face adversity was shown not only in his later life as he espoused and defended his positions, but also during World War I where he was awarded three Croix de Guerres with two palms and a silver star from France, The Belgian Order of Leopold by Belgium, the Italian War Cross by Italy, and the Purple Heart by America.

Jack LaLanne (1914 - present) Francois Henri LaLanne, better known to the American public as Jack and considered the "godfather of fitness", had a widely viewed TV show in the 1950's. Interestingly, his show was probably seen and followed by more women than men, and he may have been instrumental in promoting the idea that women could "get fit". Unlike many of the earlier proponents of fitness, Jack LaLanne studied his field very carefully and introduced what he felt his studies told him was the proper way to do things. He is still active in fitness today, marketing a wide line of fitness and nutritional products.

Joe Weider (1922 - present) Joe Weider is probably one of the most easily recognized figures in the field of bodybuilding today. He has been credited with not only being a driving force in the fields of body building and fitness, but has helped the careers of innumerable bodybuilders, not the least of which was a young Austrian named Arnold Schwarzenegger. He began his own fitness career by building his first barbells out of junked car wheels and axles. At age 17, with a stake of $7, he began his publishing career by rolling out the first issue of "Your Physique" in 1939. In 1968, he changed the name of the magazine to Muscle Builder, and in 1982 changed it again, this time to "Muscle & Fitness". Together with his brother and partner, Ben Weider, Joe Weider founded the International Federation of Body Builders (IFBB). His publications now include such diverse offerings as "Shape", "Men's Fitness", "Living Fit", "Prime Health and Fitness", "Fit Pregnancy", "Cooks", "Senior Golfer", and "Flex". Weider now offers a broad range of books on fitness and bodybuilding, nutritional supplements, and bodybuilding and weight lifting equipment and accessories.

Kenneth Cooper (1931 - present) A doctor (MD) and former Air Force officer, Dr. Ken Cooper is probably most widely known for his book, "Aerobics" which was published in 1968 and which was a driving force in getting me interested in fitness. Dr. Cooper's down-to-earth description of what he called the "Training Effect" as well as a formatted process by which one could achieve health and fitness coupled with vivid descriptions of what the personal effects would be for someone pursuing a fitness program, made his book a success. In fact, some have speculated that Kenneth Cooper's simple little book, "Aerobics", may have been the impetus which put physical fitness into the minds and hearts of millions around the world. Today, Dr. Cooper is the head of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.

Richard Simmons (1948 - present) Flamboyant is one word commonly used to describe the bouncy, incessantly cheerful aerobics guru, Richard Simmons. It has been estimated that Richard Simmons has helped and encouraged people around the world to lose over 3,000,000 pounds through a combination of healthy eating and energetic exercise. Simmons has produced several programs, such as "Disco Sweat", "Sweatin' to the Oldies", and "Stretchin' to the Classics" that all include his humor and signature high level of excitement. He has created instructional products and programs that range from gentle stretching for the elderly to highly intense aerobic workouts. My wife, who hates exercise, loves Richard Simmons and actually got to where she could follow some very intense routines although she had to begin by sitting on the couch and just making the hand movements.

Jane Fonda (1937 - present) Many would not recognize the famous star of such films as "Barbarella" and "Coming Home", and daughter of actor Henry Fonda, as a fitness pioneer or guru. For many years she was better known as an actress with a sexy body, a big name, and intense political views. However, beginning in 1982 and continuing into the mid 90's, Ms. Fonda released several fitness videos which became very popular, particularly with women. In fact, today, many people who know of Jane Fonda know her more as a proponent of fitness, health, exercise, yoga, and aerobics than as a famous movie star. While Jane Fonda made no immediate contributions to the science of health and fitness, she, like Richard Simmons, was able to elevate its stature among a large female audience and helped make it fashionable to work out, sweat, be fit, AND feminine. Jane Fonda may have helped move the public awareness of the value and virtues of exercise and fitness to the point where many people now consider a physically fit woman to be a sexy woman just by virtue of her fitness.

Well, there you have it. Nine people who in some way positively affected, altered, or enhanced the fields of body building, weight lifting, aerobics, or physical fitness in general.

Understanding the Definition of Health Related Fitness

Being a Health and Fitness Professional, it is my job to understand terms and definitions which are commonplace to this industry, as well to keep abreast of evolving trends. Through my experience, I have found that a number of terms deserve a little more clarification than that which they are granted.

Aside from clarifying the definition of Health Related Fitness, this article intends to shed some light on a few of the associated terms, and to show their respective distinctions.

Is it simply all in a name?

The fitness world seems to use the concept Health Related Fitness like a generic fitness principle - interchangeable with others like "Physical Fitness", "Health and Fitness" or simply "Fitness."

While all of these terms can be included under the broad term Health and Physical Fitness, they individually refer to different aspects - both generic and specific. Unfortunately, references to these and other fitness-related terms are often vague, while consistency in their intended use is meager at best; there is a kind of "generally accepted" use for them, but individuals often rely on own interpretation, and this can lead to confusion.

With that said, does Health Related Fitness simply infer fitness by means of good health? Not quite. That is why we need to understand a little more behind these words before digesting the definition.

How did the term Health Related Physical Fitness come about?

That is a good question. One could probably ask what is this concept all about - can we not simply use the terms "Fitness" or "Physical Fitness" instead?" Why Health "Related"?

The main reason stems from the fact that most health and fitness terms are used inconsistently and often refer to different concepts or notions. Subsequent to the 1996 report from the US Surgeon General (Physical Activity and Health; a report of the Surgeon General), there was a move to try and address the alarming rise in obesity levels among the general American public. Studies and initiatives required standardization among clinicians, health practitioners and fitness trainers to grapple with the task at hand. Enter "Health Related Physical Fitness", a working term to address the general state of health among the public.

The definition of Health Related Fitness

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the main authority in this field, ineffective definitions with unclear and subjective wordings, as well as definitions containing terms which themselves require defining, have contributed to confusing the term "Physical Fitness."

There exists no reliable guide for Health and Fitness Professionals to measure "Physical Fitness", because the term has been so loosely and inconsistently defined. It is therefore that one should consider the concept of Health Related Fitness. The definition therefore centers on the 5 Components of Physical Fitness which relate to "good health." These Components are:

• Cardiorespiratory Fitness
• Body Composition
• Flexibility
• Muscular Strength
• Muscular Endurance

On the other hand, Skill Related Fitness Components are:

• Balance
• Reaction Time
• Coordination
• Agility
• Speed
• Power

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the definition of Physical Fitness emphasizes the difference between Health Related Physical Fitness and Athletic Ability Physical Fitness. Its point-of-departure is the "health" of the US nation, which is often referred to as the "public health perspective." In that respect, the 5 Health Related Fitness Components are more important than those related to Athletic Ability (or Skill Related Components).

Although the concept of Health Related Fitness has an integral association with "good health", the 5 Components are addressed individually by health professionals to allow for their measurement.

Now that we have a deeper understanding of the term, what purpose does it serve?

Continuing from where the definition left off, the objective of measuring the 5 Components is to advise clients about their own particular Health Related Fitness, and to use data obtained from the tests to design appropriate exercise programs which can then be evaluated.

The 5 Components contribute evenly to make up a holistic Health Related Fitness, which is of direct interest to the health of the ordinary citizen, in that the concept is normative. In other words, it is a standard which allows for consistent application.

It is therefore important for those working in the health and fitness industry not to mistake "overall physical fitness" with "Health Related Physical fitness."

To conclude, let us consider this distinction between Physical Fitness and Health Related Fitness

One needs to bear in mind that regular physical exercise can improve overall Physical Fitness, as well as Health Related Fitness. However, overall fitness is a generic term and is up to subjective interpretation, while Health Related Fitness can be assessed.

The distinction therefore, between these two terms, exists in that Health Related Physical Fitness can be measured according to a set of established comparative norms.

This is where the "rubber hits the road." The guidelines set out by the ACSM enable health professionals to work with clients to assess and measure their response to exercise and prescribe appropriate exercise programs. A client's progress can then be monitored and adjusted where necessary in order to obtain the desired fitness goals.

What Are the Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis in Children?

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis in children usually depend on the affected nerve and this may result to several neurological symptoms. Multiple sclerosis symptoms may resolve overtime but this will resurface again. This is due to the fact that the disease comes with a partial or total remission period. Problems in coordination and balance, abnormal sensations in the skin and vision problems are some of the common symptoms of this condition and this can be experienced, not just by adults, but by children as well. Some of the symptoms that can be experienced include pricking or tingling sensations, numbness, eye-related discomforts and muscle weakness.

Early Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

It is hard to determine if a child is suffering from multiple sclerosis. This is because the symptoms of the condition are similar to other health conditions. However, when the disease starts to progress and it begins to interfere with other body functions, you, as a parent, will be able to identify the condition. Some of the most commonly observed early symptoms in children include the following:

· Blurred or double vision

· One of the eyes loses its vision

· Eye movements causes pain

· Eye movements are uncontrollable

· Difficulty when walking

· Difficulty in maintaining coordination and balance, also known as ataxia

· Muscle spasms and weakness

· One side of the body is weakened

· Muscle stiffness and muscle tone is lost

· Twitching of the muscles

· Tremors

· Tiredness and fatigue

· Bladder problems like inability to completely empty the bladder or urinary incontinence

· Bowel problems like bowel incontinence and constipation

· Vertigo and dizziness

· Pain in the legs and arms

· Abnormal speech patter

· Problems with memory, concentration and attention

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

Multiple sclerosis is considered as an incurable disease and the treatments available are focused on alleviating and managing the symptoms alone. The commonly used medications for this condition include corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, and interferons, Natalizumab, Glatiramer and Mitoxantrone. Aside from these medications plasma exchange procedure may also be administered along with physical therapy for the management of the symptoms.

Performing regular exercises, getting sufficient amount of sleep and rest and maintaining a healthy diet is also necessary when suffering from such condition. An expert dietitian can devise a diet plan that is suitable for a child suffering from this condition. Increased body temperature and excessive heat can aggravate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Although not all children may experience this, it is still wise to be very cautious to prevent the symptoms from worsening.

As a parent, it is also important that you are aware of the factors that can trigger the symptoms of multiple sclerosis in your child. For this, make sure to discuss it thoroughly with your physician so that you are aware of the safety measures that you can do for your child. Being aware of the trigger factors can also help you alleviate or minimize the symptoms experienced by your child, as well as prevent the exacerbation of the symptoms and the condition itself.

Beating Multiple Sclerosis

There is a cure for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. It may affect multiple areas of this system at different points in time. More women are likely to develop MS than men and it prevails mainly in people of European descent (Northern Europe). Usually MS affects people who are younger than 50 years of age.

People who suffer from this disease experience muscle weakness in their limbs and poor coordination and balance. It may lead to difficulty in walking and standing while some MS patients will develop paralysis. Most of them however report on abnormal sensory feelings like numbness and/or tingling (needles) sensations. They also may suffer from hearing or vision loss (all the way to blindness). Involuntary actions Nerves (like intestines and bladder) are often effected causing constipation and urinary retention. Many MS sufferers experience bladder and kidney infections or even blood infection.

According to western medicine a cure for multiple sclerosis does not yet exist. There are medications used to treat the disease but they have a slue of side effect including appetite suppression and impact on moods and energy level. Patients are encouraged to follow a healthy diet and regular aerobic exercise in order to enhance their quality of life (improve muscle strength as well as bladder and bowel control)

It is no wonder that people who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis are looking for a cure in places other than western medicine. We keep hearing continuously that the research for a cure is just on the threshold of the final discovery but the people who suffer from MS do not have to wait any longer. Ayurvedic medicine is curing Multiple Sclerosis and many other chronic diseases for years with incredible rate of success. You have to go to New Delhi, India to get this treatment but it is working without a doubt.

Many people will not even consider a trip to India because of the cost and the fear of the sanitary condition that they might have to endure there. In reality none of their fears are really justified. The treatment duration is about three weeks. The Ayurvedic Hospital in Delhi is very clean, the water are purified and the food is wholesome and fresh. You are practically isolated from the surrounding environment. The hospitalization cost is very low (about 10% of a hospital cost in North America). The best price available is during the summer months (July and August). It is the hot season but you have there an AC room and the saving is substantial.

Health and Fitness - 2 Important Goods in Life

Health and Fitness are 2 of the most important things in life.

By being physically fit, it can make a person look lean both inside and out.

In today's world there are loads of sports like football, skiing etc. to keep fit and have a good health and fitness but
if you really want to get more muscles, you should do additional physical and special muscle building exercises.

You can prevent many injuries and diseases and help your overall health and fitness just by doing physical exercises
because that way the muscles get stronger and don't get injured so fast.

Science has proved that people who have a healthy lifestyle and are doing regular physical exercises for their health and fitness simply LIVE LONGER.

Let me stress that again. Just by building muscles and doing exercise 2 to 3 times a week you may live 10 years LONGER!!
Also the chances are much lower that you will have to have your own home nurse and cannot care for yourself.

There are Japanese people that have been very active during their live with Karate, Kendo, Kug-Fu et cetera, who are still snowboarding every year. With 77 YEARS!! Just because they had an eye on their health and fitness in their lifes.

-By doing some sports like basketball, jogging, and so on you keep yourself fit.

-By doing physical exercises and building muscles you can prevent injuries and can

do some crazy stuff as snowboarding with 77 years :)

So my tip for you is to just do something for your health and fitness

throughout your life and you'll be
leading a way longer and way cooler life than those so called couch potatoes.

I hope through this article I was able to get you off your chairs
and show you how important doing something for your body is.

I wish you all the best on your way to a better human.

Fitnesscasting - The Commercial Application of Podcasting for the Health and Fitness Community

Fitnesscasting is the commercial application of podcasting for the personal fitness industry. Fitnesscasting is the distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer personal health and fitness training and information delivered over the Internet, for on demand listening.

This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand health and fitness information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful and appealing. This mix presents the health and fitness industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its audience through this new medium. Those individuals, who are already seeking health and fitness information actively, will use RSS subscription technology built into each podcast feed, to receive information immediately as it is updated by each organization. With one click of a button, a user can subscribe to a feed that may be interesting, and any related information that is ever updated to that feed will be automatically processed to their personal aggregator. An aggregator is able to subscribe to a feed, check for new content at user-determined intervals, and retrieve the content.

To take this process one step further, podcasting publishes each feed with the capability to be transferred to any portable audio or video device. So with the growth of the ipod and all the other portable media devices, you have the ability to grab fitnesscasts and place them on your portable player for listening or viewing. Most users attach their portable players to their computers daily or weekly, and once the player is attached they automatically receive the new Fitnesscast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of Fitnesscasting tremendously over the next few years. There are numerous formats that can be used in developing a fitnesscast. Audio and video workouts give the power to the listener or viewer to receive on-demand health and fitness training. In addition, podcasts are being placed on portable video devices to offer exclusive training workouts for those clients who may travel a lot, or want to workout in the comfort of their home or on their own schedule.

The best thing about fitnesscasting is that the opportunities are endless. Here are some examples of how podcasting will benefit the fitness industry. Most Americans have heard of 6 minute abs or the home jazzercise videos, in fact, these have sold extremely well in our society. With as busy as people are in today's society, some individuals do not have the opportunity to make it to a gym as much as they would like. However, these same individuals are not looking to give up their workout routine, they just need it custom fitted to their likings. With fitnesscasting, you have the ability to utilize this medium on-demand at the convenience. In addition, with audio and video ipods you can take these fitnesscasts with you when traveling.

Another example of its use could be in large scale gyms. All gyms have trainers who help their patrons' workout and develop their bodies, yet, sometimes there are either not enough trainers or time schedules do not match up. With fitnesscasting, you have an audio or video of a trainer giving you instruction, at the touch of your fingers and on your time schedule.

The options are wide open for the development of fitness programs that are cutting edge, and highly opportunistic in terms of converting listeners and users into consumers and revenues.

The popularity of portable on demand information will grow even greater as wireless internet services continue to flourish across the country. These portable devices will no longer have to be connected to the internet; they will receive information wirelessly as it is updated. In addition, as cell phones and portable devices continue to merge together, the market grows larger.

For organizations that have members worldwide, the distribution of company information is very important, and once again this offers each institution a method of on-demand delivery which is convenient to all.

There are numerous uses for Fitnesscasting, and over the next few years it will explode in popularity. It is beneficial to organizations as well as the consumer, and it will be seen as a great tool in any health and fitness organizations' operations.

Phoenix Arizona Public Relations Health and Fitness Writer Make the Grade

In Phoenix Arizona with their excellent weather all winter we see so many health and fitness folks who watch their foraging and fight to stay fit forever. Indeed you can see them in the early mornings in Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Iwatukee and other suburban areas walking and jogging.

It is neat to see so many working to stay fit and trim. And you can imagine that a public relations writer could have a field day writing articles, press releases and public relations articles in such a place. In fact they could make so much money, well they might even have time to write 50 screenplays or more and actually produce at least one award winning play over a 20-year period.

However if you are a buyer of public relations articles or need an article or two for a newsletter or for content on your company website on Health, Medicine, Fitness, Medication, Medical Science Discovery then you might be paying too much in such markets.

For in stance if you live in Phoenix Arizona then why pay the exorbitant prices that specialty writers charge in a high demand market like that? You can simply look up Ezine, Free Articles, Free Article Content or Ezine Articles on Google and pick them up for FREE. Why pay a Public Relations Health and Fitness writer for something like that? Of course if you want to waste your money, well be my guest. Consider this in 2006.

Health And Fitness Software - What Should I Be Looking For

The right fitness software can be one of the most successful tools for achieving your personal weight, health and fitness goals. This software includes everything you need to lose the unwanted pounds and keep them off.

You will see where extra calories are creeping in and where you can cut down to get back in shape. A typical program includes a journal to record your feelings/thoughts on a daily basis in addition to your food consumption.

It also has a database of websites that you can access for information about fitness, health and nutrition.

The most important feature of any software for fitness is the tracking of your weight, blood pressure, body fat and any other statistics recommended by your physician. The nutrition section of the program will help you track daily meals.

You can choose from a wide variety of menus or create a personal database of meals by choosing the ones that contain the essential vitamins and minerals. There is also a section for recipes so that you can still enjoy home cooking without overindulging and defeating the purpose of having the software.

You can create exercise routines that suit your personal tastes and style. By using this type of program, you can print off the exercises and take them to the gym, if that is where you like to workout.

These features are ones that you should make sure are included in any software package you wish to purchase. Many websites allow you to try the fitness program free for thirty days and download it to your computer.

Health and Fitness Goal Setting

Why do so many people set goals but never achieve them? The reason is because they never have a strategy to follow.

Use the S.M.A.R.T Way to achieve your Health and Fitness Goal.

S.M.A.R.T.

Specific

Your goal needs to be stated in great detail and very specific, for example, instead of saying "I want to lose weight in the next four months", you should be very specific with a realistic weight loss number, such as "I want to lose 12 pounds in 12 weeks"

Next step

Action plan, what are you going to do on a weekly and daily basis to achieve this goal.

For e.g. I will exercise in the morning at the gym with my personal trainer in st johns wood before work at 7.30 am.

"Keep it simple but consistent"

Measurable

For e.g. - heightened awareness of how certain clothes fit.

Attainable

Establish goals which are important to you and can be achieved in small attainable steps. For e.g.

Set aside gym time during the week

Make nutritional changes.(drink 8 glasses of water a day)

Realistic

Realistic goals that can be achieved in a certain time period ensure success For e.g. lose 1-2 pounds a week, not ½ stone.

Time - oriented

Committing to a specific time frame increases successful goal achievement. Commit to achieve a specific goal by a certain time and do your best to achieve it in that time frame.

If that time period ends without achieving that goal, don't lose the passion. Step back and take an honest look at what happened, then set up another plan to achieve that goal in a safe and specific time frame

Health and Fitness - Meditation For Beginners

Recently, as more people in the West are becoming aware of the importance of health and fitness, they are practicing Eastern traditions like Yoga and Tai Chi, which emphasize meditation. Once they learn how to meditate they are discovering the incredible health and fitness benefits meditation provides.

The health and fitness benefits of meditation include:
* Energy alignment of the entire body
* Internal cleansing of the body
* Improvement in health of major organs
* Less stress/anxiety
* Clear mind
* More oxygen to the cells
* More energy
* Positive mood

The most important reason to meditate is because it just makes you feel better. And if you don't understand what feeling good will do for you, you have missed the point of life.

Enlighten yourself

Beyond the health and fitness benefits of meditation the real reason for meditating is to enlighten yourself. You do this by blending with your soul.

You don't have to call it a "soul" if you don't like that word, call it whatever you want. All that is important is that you realize there is an energy force that is separate from your body that keeps you alive in your body.

This energy source is a much greater, and broader part of you than you can begin to comprehend conceptually, but it is only important to acknowledge that it exists. You can get in touch with it through meditation.

Meditation, through breathing techniques, will teach you how to quiet your thinking mind and concentrate your attention on your inner-being. When you are able to do so (as with anything this takes consistent practice) you will feel the amazing benefits of meditation. I can't really describe the peaceful, positive feeling of meditation in words, you really have to experience it for yourself.

How To Learn The Techniques

There are endless meditation instruction books, CD's and videos available on the internet to teach you how to meditate. Amazon has some great material if you just type in the keyword phrase "meditation."

You tube also has many free instructional videos to teach you many different meditation techniques as well as Yoga and Tai Chi. You can also enroll in Yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation classes in your local area.

Other Things to Help You

The environment you are in can be a vital aspect of your meditation. When you get good at meditating you can do it anywhere anytime, but when you start, and for ideal conditions, it is good to have a very relaxing place to be.

Many people even make there own meditation area or room in their home. Others always meditate out in nature. Do whatever you need to do to find a place where you can relax.

Then it is sometimes best to use either a CD or DVD of guided meditation with someone instructing you, or to pick out music that relaxes you. It is very beneficial to be able to meditate in silence, but many find it much more difficult than with music or an instructor.

Health and Fitness - Dealing With Lower Back Pain

The most crippling type of pain is often lower back pain. This is because if your back pain is strong enough it can keep you from doing anything other than lying in a bed. Lower back pain is also a common health affliction that affects millions of people worldwide.

No matter what your health and fitness levels just about everyone has had some type of lower back pain at one point or another in their life. And the type of pain can vary from very mild to severe to crippling.

Many people, at the onset of back pain will often dismiss the issue and pretend that it will go away on its own. However, this is not usually the case as most types of back pain require some type of treatment from a chiropractor, doctor, or masseuse.

Often when the problem is ignored it only gets worse. The best way to deal with your lower back pain is to learn more about the causes so you can work towards focusing on the correct treatment.

What Causes It?

Everyone lives a different lifestyle and so the cause of one's back pain can be from a plethora of different causes. If you are aware enough of your body and your lifestyle you should be able to pinpoint the cause of your pain.

There are a few causes that are especially common, however, they include:
* Poor posture
* Daily work habits
* Obesity
* Genetics
* Riding in a car for a long period of time
* Poor diet health (sugar increases pain)
* Bad mattress
* Poor health and fitness commitment
* Working at a computer all day
* Lifting or exercising incorrectly
* Weak muscles

How Do I Treat The Pain?

Your treatment method for lower back pain will vary, depending on the cause of the pain, the type of pain you are experiencing and the severity of it. In the case of chronic pain, medication or surgery may be suggested.

For most other types of back discomfort fitness exercises have always shown to be one of the most effective forms of treatment and the way to prevent future occurrences. Exercise never fails as it helps to work out and stretch the muscles in your back to prevent them from becoming tight and sore.

Always make sure you do your fitness exercises correctly, however, as further serious injury could occur if not. If you have severe back pain it is best to consult with your doctor or chiropractor about the types and ranges of motion you can and should perform to heal your back pain.

The Mental Health Component

Practicing Yoga or Tai Chi has also been very effective at eliminating and preventing further back pain. These exercises, along with stretching your back, will teach you the mental visualization techniques that are necessary for healing as well.

Never underestimate the power of focusing your mind. Without a clear deliberate mental intent to heal your back pain it will be tough to get the strength to perform the actions necessary to get rid of your pain. Once you have gotten rid of the pain it is necessary to always make diet health and fitness a top priority in your life to prevent further issues.

Diet Health and Fitness - For Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is so common and easily induced that 80% of adults have experienced the condition. However, lower back pain can be avoided or eliminated by following the proper diet health and fitness regimen.

If and when you experience pain or soreness in you back for more than one day you should visit your local chiropractor or doctor for x-rays. This is critical as most back pain will not go away on its own and will most likely worsen if ignored.

Most lower back pain is caused by injury, overuse of the back and/or muscle strain. After the initial and chronic pain has healed the best thing you can do for back pain treatment is to begin a fitness program of exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of your lower back.

A simple search in you tube will provide free videos to learn some of the many different types of lower back pain exercises. However, for optimal health and fitness you should try to perform a variety of exercises that will strengthen your entire body, as well as your lower back area.

Back Health And Fitness - Diet And Weight Maintenance

The first thing I would recommend to dull your pain is that you avoid eating any refined sugar (white sugar), as sugar greatly amplifies any pain within your body. Try to eat as healthy a diet, mostly organic fruits and vegetables, as you can. Don't overlook your diet health when you have pain or an injury. Your diet plays a very important role in the internal healing of injuries.

Staying slim is essential to avoiding and reducing back pain as well as being healthy in general. Any excess weight is extra strain on your back and aerobic exercise is your key to maintaining a healthy weight. Aerobic exercises like biking and walking are low-impact and can be easy on the lower back.

Back Health And Fitness - Strengthening

Strength building is important for keeping your back conditioned. When working out you want to strengthen the areas that support your back like your:

* Abdominals
* Hips
* Legs

Unless you are already experienced in the area of fitness and strength training it would be a good idea to do so under the supervision of some type of trainer, doctor or physical therapist.

Back Health And Fitness - Stretching

Most people, especially males, will overlook stretching as an important part of their health and fitness regimen. Stretching is just as important as the exercises you do so make sure that you spend the proper time stretching every day.

Your flexibility can only change gradually so it is important to stretch every day in order to consistently gain flexibility. Increased flexibility will drastically reduce your chance of injury and will enhance your muscle strength and power.

But, like strength training, stretching should also be done with some type of expert supervision or guidance so you don't overdo it and hurt yourself. Hopefully some of these recommendations can reduce your pain and help you avoid any future occurrences.

Achieve Weight Loss, Health and Fitness Success

Health and fitness is not about dragging yourself into doing things you don't like. When you think about being healthy, you would probably equate it with everything boring. Like eating "boring" foods, and doing "boring" exercise, and even being a "boring" person. If this happens to be your mindset, then you would be confined to a negative idea of being healthy. Consequently, you don't have the motivation or interest of doing effort for a health and fitness plan. And even if you do try to diet or exercise, you'd eventually end up being discouraged or losing interest. It's basically about how you think and how you perceive something which motivates you into being successful (or not) in a certain goal or pursuit.

Many people may not see the total picture of being fit and healthy. You may have noticed that a large number of people are primarily concerned about losing weight. And so there is a barrage of quick weight loss diets and other schemes in the market. People want to lose weight because they want to look good. But if they resort to rapid weight loss schemes, they often put their health and well-being at risk. There are countless of fad diets out there, but they could end up depriving you of essential nutrients. Nutrition is a major component in achieving optimal wellness.

If you happen to be undernourished with essential nutrients, then you might as well anticipate that your health would suffer. And what good would losing weight be, or looking good is if you are ill. If you go on unhealthy dieting, your mind and emotions could be effected. You could end up being moody or irritable, or unable to gather your thoughts or concentrate well. So when it comes to losing weight, see the bigger picture of health and well-being rather than just looking good. In this manner, you would reap better results-health and fitness from the inside out. Being healthy from the inside out nourishes the total you.

You would look trim, yet enjoy vitality and be free from illness at the same time. Think of yourself in this manner- a healthy person looking your best and feeling your best. Only then would you realize that health and fitness is a worthy goal. And as you think of it as a worthy pursuit, you would be willing to exert necessary effort for it, even if it takes time. Some people neglect having a wellness and fitness scheme. But as you grow older, you have to realize that your body's processes begin to slow down. Eventually you would begin to feel aches and pains and other symptoms which are indications of your body breaking down.

But a wellness and fitness scheme practiced early on can make the later years less agonizing. And in fact, "health and fitness" should be more than a transitory program for losing weight. Rather, health and fitness should be a lifestyle. When you think about health and fitness, think of yourself as a better and happier person. Where you look your best and your body functions to its optimum. Where you are as productive as you would want to be at work and enjoying healthier and happier relationships. Think of the countless positive rewards and you will have the best motivations for weight loss, health and fitness.

And when you have the right motivations, the more chances for you to be successful in achieving your goals.

Health and Fitness Can Be Improved at Your Local YMCA

Americans have the bad reputation of being some of the most unfit people in the world. This could be largely due to the rise of obesity in the United States. There is much opportunity to eat an unhealthy diet in the US with all the fast food available. This leads to obesity and lack of physical fitness.

Good exercise is known by everyone as a very vital thing to maintain good health. And this is more ideal when this taken along with a good nutritional plan. Americans have been encouraged to lose weight and get more physically fit. YMCAs have stepped in to help adults with their health and fitness.

Most YMCAs have swimming facilities and a fitness center. They have become a convenient place for people to visit before or after work to do their fitness routine.

One of the things that makes YMCAs popular is the fact that this gives people more time to do exercises. This is even more convenient to busy people who do not have the time of the day or works odd hours. The people who are occupied much of the day, and who only have certain times to spend in this kind of activity.

Because YMCAs give more time to people to exercise, they become more and more fond of it. In fact, more and more YMCAs are opening up in the United States now. This is because Americans appear to be addicted in this activity for they want to have a thin shape and maintain their beauty. Most YMCAs offer a multitude of activities. Examples of these are swimming, racquetball, spa, tennis, weight training, and bicycling.

No doubt, YMCAs will help people to achieve their want for a beautiful body. Here, people achieve beauty in a healthy manner. No need to undergo into liposuction to trim those fats. Rigorous exercise is enough to burn them all in good shape. In addition, YMCAs are also a place where one can meet and mingle with different types of people, hence a place that is also good for socialization. This is also one of the reasons why more people are exercising at the YMCA, and why they make this activity as part of their life routine.

Health and Fitness: A Huge Industry in Need of Writers

Think about how much you read about and spend on health and fitness.

Do you ever exercise? Take supplements? Go on a diet? Visit the doctor sometimes? Most of us do all four. And how many books, magazines, tapes of videos related to health and fitness do you have in your home?

This is a colossal industry, and seems to be growing bigger all the time. This is particularly true right now, as the baby boomers grow older and are looking for ways to maintain and improve their health.

Whether the subject is exercise, weight loss, prescription drugs or alternative remedies, there is a massive demand not only for products and services - but also for articles and promotional copy to promote those services.

Just do a few searches on Google.

A search for the word "health" yields 615,000,000 results.

"Fitness" yields 90,400,000 results

That's over 700 million web pages that have been written about health and fitness. It's a phenomenal figure.

And each and every one of those pages had to be written by someone.

Now think of all the magazines that focus on health and fitness. The books. The videos. And all that advertising and direct mail.

Do you get the idea? Here is an industry that is constantly in need of writers.

Whether your interest is in writing articles or in writing direct marketing copy, you can be sure of finding work.

Your next step is to find the right niche. Which area in health and fitness best suits your interests and experience? What would you like to write about?

And do you want to write articles, or are you more of a sales person...and better suited to direct marketing copywriting?

If you want to go where the money is, I always recommend the latter. Why? Because a good direct marketing copywriter will always be paid more.

Whatever kind of writing you want to do, take a look at this market. It is truly colossal, and provides freelancers with wonderful opportunities to find good work and make a decent income.

What Is A Private Health Insurance Rebate?

A rebate is defined as the amount deducted from a required payment and that is returned to the payee. Rebates are famous strategies of most companies to attract clients or investors. Of course, given a choice between a company that does not offer rebate when you purchase a specific product from them and another brand that does otherwise, you would tend to choose the latter.

Among the many companies that offer rebates are insurance and real estate businesses. They are categorically able to do so because of the high rate of revenue they get from their sales. For example, if you sign up for an insurance claim, you can come in agreement with the company that for your contributions you would be given back a specific portion of your payments.

Private health insurance providers are popular in the rebates they give their clients. If you have signed up for a health insurance, there are various rates of the rebate that you are entitled to. Most of the time, the amount of the rate depends on your age or the age of your beneficiaries.

An example is the Private Health Insurance Rebate, known as well as the Federal Government 30% Rebate, which is introduced by the Australian Government. For this rebate, the rate ranges from at least 30% if you are 65 years and younger. For contributors who are 66 to 69 years old, the rebate increases to 35%. At most, the rebate can reach up to 40% if you are 70 years old and up.

The Australian Private Health Insurance Rebate is something you can claim if you hold a Medicare card, often the green and the blue one. Claiming it is relatively easy. You just have to sign an application form and indicate how you want the rebate to be claimed. You can opt to claim it in cash form from any designated Medicare office. But if you want, you can also choose to claim it as a reduced premium. It means that the rebate gets deducted from your contributions, thus you pay less. Or, you can claim it as part of your tax return where all the rebates are given to you at the end of the year, in cash form, on top of your tax return.

Rebates are great but only so if you know how to claim them and make use of them wisely enough. So ensure that you have the right knowledge about getting a private health insurance rebate before you get one for you or for your family.

What Is A Pediatrician?

Are you a parent who has a child suffering from a disease or even a simple illness? How do you treat your child? Do you just give them over-the-counter medicines and take care of them through home remedies? Or are you the type of parent who is more comfortable and assured when you bring your child to the doctor?

Definitely, most parents would prefer to bring their children to the doctor so that they are ensured that whatever illness there is to treat would be cured in no time. There is a variety of doctors in the medical field that you can consult depending on your child's condition. But in general, it would be better to bring your child to a pediatrician at the onset of the illness.

Pediatricians are more commonly called a "child's doctor". They have broad specialties as they can provide medical care and assistance to a number of physical, mental and even psychological needs of children. Pediatricians can hold and provide health care for patients of different ages ranging from infants to teens and even young adults.

Known for their superb patience and generally caring nature, pediatricians not only help in treating and controlling infectious diseases. They do not only provide medical advices and administer procedures for the cure of several illnesses. At most, pediatricians' works extend to actually helping children and young adults to maintain a healthy lifestyle and, in the long run, reduce mortality rate. They also effectively aid children in understanding their conditions that is a good way of helping them cope with their situations.

As child care is extremely difficult and complicated, pediatricians need to undergo rigorous training and studying. They have to understand not only the nature of different diseases that can affect children but also the very make-up of a child's body. The anatomy of a child is rather different, sometimes even weaker, than that of an adult. Therefore, pediatricians have to make sure that they administer procedures and prescribe medicines that are not that strong and harmful for children.

Seek the best possible pediatric care for your child. There is nothing greater than one that would not only ensure that the illness is vanquished but that would guarantee your child's safety for a long period of time. Be sure to not always resort to home remedies. Go to a pediatrician as soon as possible for better and quicker actions. A pediatrician is the right doctor to consult issues about your precious baby.

My Experience With Tria Hair Removal

Today I will be reviewing one of my absolute favorite products on the market currently: the Tria home hair removal system. I do reviews for many different products, but this one really stands out in my eyes as one of the most innovative products in the beauty industry in the last several years. The Tria lets consumers get the exact same results that you would expect to get from a salon quality laser hair removal center, only in the privacy and comfort of your own home. I personally have been using the Tria for around 7 months, and am beyond pleased. Today I'll give you some information about the product as well as give you my personal experience with this beautiful little piece of machinery.

First off, I happen to be a man, and have been looking for a practical solution to hair removal for many years now. I had been shaving my chest, stomach, and arms pretty much my entire life, mostly because of aesthetics, and to cut down on heat during the summer. Shaving is time consuming, costly, and causes nasty side effects like razor burn and ingrown hairs (both of which I happened to experience quite frequently). Eventually, I decided I wanted something that would at least cut down on the frequency at which I had to remove hair, so I switched to waxing. This was better on the time issue, but happens to be beyond painful, quite expensive, and not permanent. I still did it out of necessity, but always longed for another option. I had briefly explored the idea of going to a salon for laser hair removal, but never did it simply because of the fact that it would have been so incredibly expensive for me based on the thickness of my hair and the large amount of areas that would have required treatment.

I then saw a television commercial about a year ago for the Tria. Tria is a laser hair removal gun that is FDA approved for home use. It is a one time fee, and can be used indefinitely until the desired result has been achieved.

So far, I have used the Tria on my chest and stomach for a period of about 6 months. I started noticing a thinning of the hair and slower grow back at around the 3 month mark. Now at 6 months, the hair is nearly gone completely, which is fantastic to say the least. Keep in mind that I have unusually thick and course hair, which means it's possible others will see results even quicker than I did (even though Tria's website says to expect results in 6 to 8 months).

Overall, I am very pleased with the Tria, and would highly recommend it to anyone who has a need for permanent hair removal. I personally have not had a problem with the device at all, but it does come with a 1 year warranty to provide some extra peace of mind.

I hope this review helped, and thank you for reading!

6 Aspects of Patient Safety in Hospitals

Patient safety in any hospital or medical treatment facility is one of the greatest concerns around the world and yet there are many facilities who default on their safety promises to their patients.

Some of the things which contribute to patient safety are:

• Fire Safety
• Hygiene
• Security
• Waste Management
• Equipment
• Positive Patient Identification

Fire Safety

As some hospitals are very large facilities, it is necessary to have a properly functioning fire system in place that meets industry standards and is up-to-date on inspections. Patients at a hospital cannot confront a greater risk to their health than a fire occurring while they are incapacitated in a hospital bed. Fire escape exits also need to be clearly marked and the procedures for a fire-risk emergency displayed to the public.

Hygiene

At any one moment, at least 1.4 million people globally are suffering from infections caused by improper hygiene in a hospital, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Proper hygiene would consist of making sure that all surfaces such as walls, floors and counter/table-tops are always clean and sterile, that fresh linen of hospital beds are used frequently and all medical staff sterilise their hands in the proper manner, before and after seeing to each and every patient.

Security

Security safety is important for various reasons. Things such as secure-area intrusions, theft, fighting and kidnapping are not uncommon and occur due to poor security measures. Locked doors to sensitive areas, personnel identification, secured medical supplies and properly trained security staff is necessary in order to avoid such mishaps as mentioned above.

Waste Management

Disposing of dangerous waste material is crucial to ensure no patients or any unsuspecting person in a medical facility comes into contact with it. Contact with a used needle could transfer diseases such as aids to someone who is accidentally pricked for example. Disposal of medical waste needs to be handled on a daily basis and according to a strict procedure. All medical waste should be destroyed at once.

Equipment

Hospital equipment needs to be properly functioning and those who are operating the equipment need to be properly trained and certified to work with it. Many a time there has been an occasion where death or injury due to medical negligence has happened as a result of alleged equipment "malfunction", only to find out that the staff member operating it had not received the correct training.

Positive Patient Identification

Patients at any hospital need to be correctly marked and have their full patient file on hand in the hospital should any procedure be undertaken or drug administered. It is not uncommon that people have had unnecessary surgeries performed on them or an incorrect drug administered as a result of mistaken identity.

How Long Do You Need To Study To Become an Osteopath?

When you are younger and your teacher in school asks what you and your classmates would want to be like when you grow up, you would notice how many of the others say that they want to be a doctor. Maybe you have had that same dream, too. You know very well that medicine is a field that one can enter only with the right mixture of intelligence and passion. It is a complicated industry, where people's lives are at stake all the time.

Over time, people have chased after and worked hard for that dream. You might say that there are so many doctors in the world right now. But you do not of course consider the medical industry as too crowded because of the various specializations that doctors focus on. One specialization that doctors have been increasingly considering is osteopathy. This entails a study time frame that is just as rigorous as the other specializations have.

If you want to become a doctor of osteopathy (DO), you need to have a bachelor's degree in a science course. This is usually a four-year course in biology, chemistry and physics. Upon passing the medical exam, you can enroll to another four-year osteopathy program. Of course, you must find a great medical school that offers the course and an impressive curriculum for it. The four-year osteopathy course is commonly divided into two, where the first half deals with the framework of the field and the other half is for actual clinical rotations.

Usually, after the four-year course, you would be required to undergo a year more of practical training where you would be allowed to observe and help out in an osteopathic clinic or hospital. If you decide to take on an even more specialized osteopathic field, then you are looking at two to three more years of training and studying.

Totaling all of the years you would have to spend studying osteopathy, you would find out that you are looking at 11 to 12 years of study. Considering this in terms of your age, you are bound to become a full-pledged osteopath when you reach your 28th birthday. That is, provided you start at 16. Training to become an osteopath is indeed long, difficult and costly. But if you look at your goal that awaits you at the end of the line, maybe it all is just worth the fight.