How to Prevent Heat Stroke in Your Dog

Spring has arrived, albeit a little later than most of us would like, and summer is fast approaching. Almost all humans and animals enjoy the warmer weather. However, it is important to ensure that dogs are protected against the effects of heat stroke, particularly if you live in a location of high humidity.

The following tips should help you to prevent heat stroke in your dog:

1. Never Leave Your Dog in a Car

A simple, but often ignored rule, is to never leave your dog alone in a car. In a matter of minutes, your dog can succumb to the effects of the heat and every year this causes numerous fatalities. If you must leave your dog, ensure that you have left a window open or the air conditioning on. However, this is not a failsafe option, because the air conditioning could fail or the dog could inadvertently hit the switch and turn it off. Ideally, if your dog must remain in the car, somebody should stay with him, or her.

2. Ensure That Your Dog Has a Shady Spot

If your dog is out in the garden or yard, it is imperative that he, or she, has a shady area in which to cool off. If there is no shade and you cannot create some, then it is a good idea to keep your dog indoors.

3. Have a Supply of Water at All Times

Obviously, in your home it is crucial to have a regular supply of clean, cool water. However, it is also a good idea to carry a bottle of water with you when out for a walk or traveling. This is especially important if you have a breed that originates from cold climes, such as the St Bernard, because their thick coats will cause them to overheat very quickly.

4. Buy a Kiddies Pool

If you have children, then you may already have a kiddies, or paddling, pool. If not, it may be beneficial to purchase one for your dog. These small pools, give your dog a wonderful place to cool off.

5. Keep a Close Eye on Your Dog

In the warm weather, it is a good idea to keep a close watch on your dog. If he, or she, seems to be suffering from the effects of the heat, you should make efforts to cool him, or her, off immediately. If your dog seems to be suffering from heat stroke place him, or her, into a bath of cool (but not icy cold) water and call your vet.

6. Watch Out for Sunburn

Yes, dogs can become sunburned, too. If your dog has a light colored coat, then he, or she, is susceptible to sunburn, so it is advisable to keep him, or her, out of the direct sunlight as much as possible.

7. Cooling Devices

If you live in an area of extreme heat and humidity, it is well worth investing in some …

Anticoagulant-Rich Diet For Stroke Patients

Eating food with anticoagulant properties is a good way to supplement your medication for stroke patients. Anticoagulants are agents or substances used to prevent or reduce the formation of or ability of blood to clot.

Anticoagulant medicines, like Warfarin and Aspirin, are usually taken to prevent unnecessary blood clotting in the body. Natural anticoagulants help in thinning blood while providing a nutritious way of avoiding stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.

Fruits are good sources of anticoagulants. Nutritionists recommend 2-3 servings of fruits a day for better health. Drinking fruit juices is a convenient way to meet this daily requirement as these are concentrated.

Special care is given by nutritionists to stroke patients when it comes to natural anticoagulants, especially those who are under Warfarin medication. Consuming food with natural anticoagulants may require patients to check their International Normalized Ratio (INR) often as these might affect the dosage of their Warfarin. Consulting your nutritionist first on how you can incorporate natural anticoagulants is always a primary step.

GRAPES, APPLES, PINEAPPLES, & SPICES: GREAT ANTICOAGULANTS

Grapes contain phytonutrients called flavonoids that reduce platelet clumping and harmful blood clots. Grapes also have a flavonoid-type compound called resveratrol, which is more common in grape wine. It is actually recommended by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that a glass of red wine be taken after evening meals.

Purple grape juice’s antiplatelet activity, on the other hand, shows stronger than aspirin. This was reported at the 47th Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology. Drinking two cups of purple grape juice a day for seven days achieved a level of platelet aggregation reduction greater than some levels previously reported for aspirin.

Apples also contain phytonutrients like those found in grapes. According to a study made by UC Davis School of Medicine, drinking a 12-ounce glass of 100% apple juice (non-sweetened) every day for 6 weeks aids in delaying or breaking down LDL or bad cholesterol, which also causes stroke.

Pineapples are well-known as great sources of fiber, which acts like a broom in removing toxins in the blood and bad cholesterol. This is often the reason why it is recommended to people with high blood pressure.

Besides being a great fiber resource, pineapples also have enzymes called bromelain, which is a natural anticoagulant. Bromelain works by breaking down fibrin, the protein substance in blood that causes clotting.

Besides fruits and vegetables, nature has other anticoagulants in the form of herbs and spices. Ginger, for one, helps make blood platelets less sticky. If you don’t like eating meals with ginger, your other options are curry powder, cayenne powder, paprika, thyme, cinnamon, dill, oregano, turmeric, licorice, and peppermint.

There are many reasons why you need to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet. Enjoying natural anticoagulants together with your medication to avoid another stroke is one of them. Consult your nutritionist on how best you can incorporate an anticoagulant-rich diet with your current medication, and …

Benefits of Sublingual B12 Vitamins

Having a healthy body is important for any individual and for one to attain good health, several factors must be observed. There are also vitamins and minerals that the body needs so that it can function properly. One of the essential vitamins is the vitamin b12 which is in charge of the regulation in the nervous system including the brain; it is also responsible for concentration, memory, growth and development as well as the production of red blood cells and so much more.

Some of the symptoms of vitamin b12 deficiency are digestive, heart and nervous disorders like memory loss, depression, confusion, fatigue, headaches among others. Vegetarians are the ones usually deficient because vitamin b12 is usually found on animal products. With the vitamin b12 being important, symptoms that are caused by the deficiency of this vitamin must be immediately addressed. Several products and supplements of vitamin b12 that come in the form of tablets, pills, injections and patches are all over the market. However, there is a faster way that the body can absorb this important vitamin and that is through the sublingual b12 vitamins.

The benefits of taking sublingual b12 are as follows:

1. Faster and Better Absorption

The bottom part of the tongue has several blood vessels that are directly linked to the blood stream so the sublingual b12 vitamin is absorbed immediately and as a whole. Since the dose is absorbed as a whole, a higher nutritional value is achieved through the sublingual b12 compared to those in tablet form.

2. Immediate Effect

Another good thing about the sublingual b12 is that the effect can be felt right away, again because of its direct connection to the blood stream. You can immediately feel the surge of energy level.

3. Convenient to take

The sublingual b12 vitamin is one of the easiest ways of taking in this important vitamin. You can just leave it under the tongue and let it melt on its own. No more painful injections or expensive patches. The tablets that need some time to take effect can also be set aside as well.

When the sublingual b12 vitamin is present on ones routine, improvements like sharper memory, better mood and focus and increased energy levels can be observed. These are beneficial when one has to perform duties and responsibilities. And of course, a daily dose of sublingual b12 vitamin promotes good health, fights off diseases and can prevent b12 deficiency intense effects from depression to irreversible nerve and brain damage when the body is deprived of vitamin b12.…

Eating A Plant Based Whole Food Diet

Fascinating findings. A woman who enjoys a plant based whole food diet, has a lower stroke risk according to a new study. Even if she has a history of heart disease or stroke, this way of eating… lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains… can reduce her chances of suffering with a stroke.

Strokes happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, or reduced, depriving this vital organ of both oxygen and blood… within minutes the brain cells start to die. Considered a medical emergency, doctors will tell you that prompt treatment is vital; acting at once can minimize the damage to your brain and any complications you might deal with later on.

The good news is that strokes can be prevented, and many fewer people die of them today than was the case even 15 years ago. Better control of the risk factors (high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol) is one reason for the decline.

For the current work on stroke, the team examined a group of just over 31,000 women who were heart disease free and 5,680 who had previous heart problems, both groups ranging in age from 49 to 83 years old.

Researchers measured the amounts of foods rich in antioxidants that the subjects’ ate and drank using a food frequency questionnaire. Over 11 years later, there had been over 1,300 strokes among the women who didn’t have heart disease; 1,007 strokes among those who did have earlier histories of heart disease and stroke.

The level of antioxidants consumed in the diet appears to impact stroke risk. Subjects who didn’t have a heart disease history who ate lots of antioxidants had a 17% less chance of suffering any sort of stroke in comparison to those who consumed the least amount of these beneficial nutrients. These results remained the same even after the team accounted for things that could impact stroke risk – like a lack of exercise, being a smoker and other lifestyle choices.

For those who had a history of either heart disease or stroke, the numbers were even more startling – those who consumed the highest amounts of foods rich in antioxidants had a 45% drop in risk of a hemorrhagic stroke (where bleeding occurs in the brain] than those who ate a diet with the least levels of antioxidants.

We know that antioxidants are thought to sop up free radicals in our bodies that can cause heart disease, stroke as well as other serious diseases. Other sources besides fruits, veggies and whole grains include tea and chocolate. Making sure you get these beneficial antioxidants from the foods you eat is an important take-away message from the research.

Most specialists will tell patients to eat more fruits, veggies, omega-3 fatty acids, nuts – and fewer saturated fats.

While the study shows promising benefits to a plant based whole food diet, the work does need to be repeated in men and other female populations. In …

Stroke Awareness – What You Need To Know

This article provides a brief description of a stroke and related information that could be of service to a sufferer or their family and friends. For more detailed information please contact your physician or local support group.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a loss of brain function due to a decrease in blood flow to part of the brain caused by a blockage or a leakage. A stroke is classed as medical emergency as it can cause brain damage or death. Strokes are the primary cause of disability in the United States and Europe and the second most common cause of death worldwide.

What causes a stroke?

There are several risk factors for a stroke, these include advanced age, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and cigarette smoking. If a person has suffered a previous stroke or a Transient ischaemic attack they have a higher chance of having a stroke in the future. A Transient Ischaemic attack also known as a mini stroke, has similar symptoms but the effect usually lasts less than 24 hours. If a person has a stroke risk factor, early detection and management of this factor can reduce the risk of a stroke.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Stroke symptoms all come on suddenly and can include;

• Dizziness, loss of balance and movement control

• Difficulty speaking or understanding words

• Blurred or loss of vision in one or both eyes

• Weakness or numbness in the face, arms or legs, especially if it affects one side of the body.

The FAST test is the quick and easy check to be used if a stroke is suspected. It is as follows;

• Face – is the smile drooping on one side

• Arms – raise both arms up, is one arm weak?

• Speech – is the speech difficult to understand, slurred, slow or jumbled?

• Time – if you suspect a stroke, act fast and call emergency services or hospital

What are the treatments available to a stroke victim?

Strokes fall into two categories, ischemic and hemorrhagic. An interruption of the blood supply causes an ischemic stroke, while abnormal vascular structure or a rupture of a blood vessel results in a hemorrhagic stroke. When a person suffers a stroke they should be admitted to a specialist stroke unit with the treatment they are prescribed dependent on the type of stroke that they have suffered.

The immediate treatment for ischemic stroke includes drugs and or surgery to break up any blood clots present in the patient and to make blood less likely to clot. In contrast the drugs prescribed to treat a hemorrhagic stroke aim to increase clotting and stop bleeding and surgery may be required to remove blood from the brain that can cause swelling in the brain and result in brain damage.

A stroke can be fatal and if a person recovers from one, they may suffer physical and …

What to Do About Medications and Sauna Use

Saunas and medications are things that do not necessarily go well together. It will be best for one’s sauna safety to watch for one’s medications before using a sauna.

In some cases saunas and medications can cause a person to be unable to lose heat with ease. This means that the heat that a person can retain when in a sauna may not easily escape the body. Beta-blockers and diuretics are among the most common medications that can cause this to happen.

The body will end up overheating with ease if a person uses a sauna and one of these medications. This can cause a person to feel a substantial fever and to experience a rapid heart rate at a consistent level. These effects can be very dangerous to the body.

Another thing to see about some medications is that they may cause a person to become drowsy. Falling asleep in a sauna is a very dangerous and sometimes deadly thing to do. It will help for one’s sauna safety to avoid a sauna when using medications that can cause drowsiness.

Antihistamines are some of the most harmful things to see when looking into saunas and medications. Antihistamines can cause a person to be more susceptible to heat stroke. This can cause a person to easily suffer heat stroke when in a sauna.

The best thing that a person can do here is to consult one’s doctor with regards to saunas and medications. It will help to talk with a doctor about one’s medications to see if a person can use a sauna while using them. A simple talk with one’s doctor can make all the difference when it comes to sauna safety. It can be a person to see if a sauna is right for one’s needs or not.…

Enjoy Retirement – Plan Ahead

I am writing this article because over the last several years I have watched several different friends and family members lose their quality of life through illnesses that are avoidable through good nutrition.

We all know someone that has been affected by Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes or Cancer. These 4 diseases are of the top ten causes of death in our country and often can be avoided with good nutrition.

Did you know that being overweight is associated with:

90% of type 2 diabetes

80% of heart disease death

30-50% of kidney failure/diabetes

50% of high blood pressure and stroke

How about Arthritis? 1 in 3 Americans suffer from Arthritis or Chronic Joint Pain and it is projected that by 2050 1/2 of all Americans will suffer from weak bones-unless we change our diet and lifestyle. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability over the age of 15. Why are our kids getting Arthritis? The answer poor nutrition. We are not getting the vitamins and minerals we need from our diets.

How are we going to enjoy our retirement if we are having a hard time walking?  Start protecting yourself now.  Get the vitamins and nutrition you need to lose weight and maintain your weight. We all could use vitamin supplements.  Calcium, Vitamin D and magnesium are important for healthy bones.  Vitamin D is the engine that drives Calcium to our bones and joints where it is needed. Magnesium aids in absorption. 

Protect your heart.  Your heart is your most important muscle. Make sure you get good daily nutrition, and moderate exercise. The American Medical Association says that 25 g of soy protein a day can help reduce your risk of heart disease. For less than $1.50 a day you can be on your way to a heart healthy meal with Formula 1 Nutritional Shake mix.  Start your day the heart healthy way.  Look for vitamins with Omega-3 and Neptune Krill Oil.…