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Basic Dental Prevention Saves Lives

Do you put on a seat belt when you drive?

If so, why?

My guess is that it is either because you are compelled to do so by law, or (if you live in the U.S.) you believe the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), who claim that seat belts save about 13,000 lives a year, nationwide.

The few seconds it takes you to snap on your seat belt buckle reduces the chance of dying in a car crash by 45%, and of being injured by about half. Nevertheless, seat belts are not likely to play a big role in saving your life, because chances are you won’t find yourself in a serious automobile accident. Let’s face it, fortunately, most people never find themselves in that circumstance.

On the other hand, gum disease (either gingivitis or periodontal disease) affects up to 80 percent of the population.

In other articles, you may have heard that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. The shocking reality is that this is probably the least notable consequence of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is a significant risk factor for stroke, heart disease, certain respiratory problems, low birth-weight infants, and some forms of cancer.

While very few people will die in a car crash, a great deal more will die from a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. Addressing periodontal disease via preventive techniques can significantly reduce your chances of dying from any one of these afflictions.

If this simple logic is not enough to convince you of the need to brush after meals, floss daily and eat a healthy diet, it may help you to know that over the past few decades, there have been hundreds of peer-reviewed medical studies published in journals showing periodontal disease to be a risk factor for heart attacks.

While periodontal disease is certainly not the only factor in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases or cancer, there is definitely a link. The modern thinking regarding the connection has to do with the long-term inflammatory nature of gum disease. In simple terms, periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and bone supporting the teeth. As with most any infection in the body, this leads to inflammation.

Often having no symptoms that are detectable by the patient, bacteria from periodontal disease can affect blood vessels on the walls of your heart. If you have gum disease, the bacteria can easily invade the blood stream through one of many open portals. Let’s face it, it is a relatively short trip from the mouth to the heart after all.

Bacteria in the blood may also stimulate liver production of C-reactive proteins and fibrinogen. Both these substances have been linked to heart attacks.

Persons who successfully treated their periodontal disease have also been shown to experience improved cholesterol levels and demonstrated lowered blood pressure. Most readers will recognize these as factors frequently associated with cardiovascular disease.

The bottom line: while we generally don’t hesitate to …

Vitamins For Bodybuilding

Vitamins are essential food factors that are chemical in nature and are found in certain foodstuffs. Some vitamins are synthesized commercially. Lack of vitamins in our bodies causes vitamin deficiency diseases.

There is a minimum amount of vitamins that our bodies require daily to remain healthy and undertake internal functions. Our body organs use vitamins in combination with minerals to effect important processes within the body. Such processes result in growth, development and metabolism.

We can effectively employ the use of vitamins to achieve overall fitness bodybuilding. Since vitamins are mainly obtained from the healthy foods and drinks we consume, we can tailor our diets to provide our bodies with sufficient vitamins that will help in bodybuilding. Since it is the muscles in our bodies that we aim to build, we should understand that the muscles are made up of cells in which chemical reactions takes place continuously. For the reactions to be sustained, adequate supply of vitamins must be maintained. Without this, we will be susceptible to diseases and this in effect means that we cannot undertake any bodybuilding program or bodybuilding exercises.

For effective health and bodybuilding routine, we require the following vitamins in adequate supply:

Vitamins A, E, K and D – These vitamins intake may not be necessary on a daily basis as they are normally stored in our body’s fatty tissues. They are also stored in the liver. They are usually referred to as fat soluble vitamins since they cannot dissolve in water. However, we need to obtain them occasionally for their storage to be possible. Vitamin A is required for proper vision and prevention of blindness while vitamin E is required for prevention of sterility and in the development of the muscles. Vitamin D is responsible for the development of bones and it prevents the occurrence of rickets. Vitamin K is an important blood formation agent and helps in blood clotting.

Vitamins B and C – These are water soluble vitamins and are therefore required on a daily basis and in adequate supply. They are not stored in the body. Vitamin C is responsible for the prevention of scurvy and helps in fast healing of wounds.

Other vitamins such as B6, B3, B12 and others are also required by our bodies for different processes. They also help in the prevention of other diseases and conditions.

While these vitamins are required in small daily amounts, they are very important in achieving bodybuilding, regardless of whether it is a fitness bodybuilding, bodybuilding program or for achieving a lean body. We need to daily eat varied foods rich in them. Alternatively, we can obtain them from various food supplements in the market. We however need to be careful with the supplements as some do not contain the vitamins indicated that they contain.

Most effective bodybuilding routines incorporate the use of vitamins by advising on the type of foods one is required to eat while undertaking such a program. These programs are developed by professionals …

How To Recognize A Stroke

The immediate symptoms of stroke are inability to hold or pick up objects and a contorted facial expression. These signs may appear all of a sudden under any circumstance. Stroke is the third largest cause of all deaths in the United States. Stroke happens when blood fails to reach the brain due to a blood clot in the blood vessel or a ruptured blood vessel.

When the blood supply to the brain is stopped, the brain is deprived of its life sustaining supply of oxygen and other nutrients, rendering it unable to function normally. Recovery from stroke, though difficult but possible, depends on how fast it is diagnosed and medically treated. Based on how the blood supply to the brain is stopped, strokes are classified into two categories.

The Ischemic stroke is caused when the blood supply to the brain is stopped by a blood clot in the blood vessel and if the blood supply is stopped by a ruptured blood vessel, it is a case of Hemorrhagic stroke. The end result of both these types of stroke is the same; deprive the brain of oxygen and nutrients. Unlike in the past, recovery from stroke is possible to some extent these days.

Clot bursting drugs are the most effective treatment for an Ischemic stroke if they are given to the patients within three hours of the first symptoms of stroke. Other preventive measures for Ischemic stroke include taking anti-coagulant drugs to keep the blood thin and removal of blocked blood vessels or angioplasty.

Surgery becomes necessary in most cases of hemorrhagic stroke either to remove the affected blood vessel or to insert coils to strengthen the blood vessel and to stop it from rupturing. Recovery from an attack of stroke depends on how fast medical treatment is provided to the patient.

The sooner the treatment, the less will be the damage to the brain. A stroke generally results in permanent paralysis of parts of the body, loss of speech and memory. Eyesight can also be lost in some cases. Continued physical exercise helps a great deal in the recovery process.

Courage and determination from the patient’s side are crucial to make the recovery fast and significant. Those who look after stroke patients need to be healthy themselves because caring for the paralyzed and physically disabled stroke patients is a laborious task.

Get as many reliable people as possible involved in taking care of the patient so that one doesn’t get too strained by doing everything on his/her own. As far as possible, encourage the patient to be independent and get him/her perform those duties which the patient liked to do before the stroke.

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How To Get Into The Zone On The Putting Greens

Becoming a great putter is easy to do and it is also your surest, quickest way to lowering your golf scores. Many golfers struggle with their putting which is so unfortunate because it really isn’t that difficult to become great at it. Solid fundamentals in your setup and your putting stroke will be a huge help to putting better. Golfers who have great fundamentals don’t always make all the putts they should though, and here’s why:

There is a mental component to great putting that needs to be addressed if you are serious about putting really great. Getting into the zone on the putting greens means your putting stroke and game seem to be somewhat effortless. Things are just easy and the ball rolls well on the greens. More often than not your putts are falling into the hole. You just wish you could have this great touch every day. Or maybe you see someone else putt like this and wish you could do it just one day. Regardless of which of the two scenarios describes you, it is very helpful to do a few things which can help you get into the zone.

Great putting mechanics are important and getting into the zone will be easier when you have good fundamentals in your putting stroke. Once you’ve worked on your technique, it can then be helpful to work on your feel and your touch on the greens. You should really never be thinking about your putting stroke out on the golf course and especially if you are in a match or some kind of competition. This is the time when you hopefully have practiced your putting beforehand so now you can start to trust it and let things flow naturally.

The putting stroke rhythm and tempo should be smooth and consistent. It’s very helpful to keep the same rhythm and speed of your stroke on each putt. It’s also a great idea to make your practice strokes as if they were actually your real putt. This will get your mind more focused and you can start to judge the speed of your putts better.

Sometimes I notice golfers will want to make putts so badly they will try too hard or try and force the ball into the hole. Trying too hard can make a golfer hit their putts too hard or steer their putting stroke, instead of allowing the putter to swing or putt through the ball. A golfer who has missed a lot of putts may do the opposite and simply stop trying hard. They may make careless mistakes because of not taking the time to read their putts. The best way to putt is to try just right. This concept is easy to follow once you get the hang of it. To get into the proper feel of trying just right, imagine trying too hard and not trying hard enough and sort of capture the feel …

Outsmart Your Stomach This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we love to eat way too much! We end up tired, bloated, and plagued with heartburn and gas. This year, combat the digestive troubles of Thanksgiving Day with vitamins and supplements that speed up the process combined with a few tricks that will enable you to eat more and suffer less.

First we must understand how the body digests what we eat. If we eat the hard to digest foods first, then it will slow down the digestion process and make you feel fuller a lot faster. This is good if you’re trying to eat less, bad if you are just getting started on your favorite meal of the year. Eating the easy to digest foods first will leave room for the harder to digest foods later.

Start by cleaning out your colon with soluble fiber. Soluble fibers combine with water to form a gel the slides through your intestines, getting them cleared out for the big meal. Drink plenty of water to keep things moving throughout the day.

Fruits, vegetables and sugars should be the first things that you eat off of your plate because they digest very quickly, in as little as 30 minutes. Some may interpret this as an excuse to eat dessert first, which would probably work if the dessert doesn’t have a lot of fat in it! Remember to drink a room temperature or hot beverage with your meal instead of a cold drink that can make things move much slower. Room temperature water, coffee or hot cider should do the trick.

The next thing to eat would be your bread and stuffing. Mix in cranberry sauce if you can to make things keep moving quickly. Chew all of your food for a long time before you swallow so that you don’t make things harder on your digestive system. Grains and starches can take two or three hours to digest, so make sure that you thoroughly chew before you move on and take as much time as possible to eat your meal.

Proteins and fats are bigger molecules that take a lot longer than three hours to digest. Eat these last and conservatively to keep from getting so full that you feel bad.

One reason you feel bad and tired after a big meal is that excess food stresses the body and it becomes like a toxin in your system. The liver and immune system take the biggest hits after overeating. Try to control your portions so that you don’t consume more than 3-4 cups of food during any three hour period.

If your body is depleted of vitamins and minerals, it will function at a slower pace. Vitamin C removes excess toxins before you eat so that your body is more prepared to handle a big meal. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, or ubiquinone) activates your body’s enzymes and makes digestion much more efficient. Your body makes less and less ubiquinone as you age, …

What Is an Ischemic Stroke?

An Ischemic (‘is-skeem-ic) stroke is the death of an area of brain tissue (cerebral infarction) when the artery to the brain is blocked. The brain is dependent on its arteries to bring fresh blood from the heart and lungs.

The blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain, and takes away carbon dioxide and cellular waste. An ischemic stroke is most often the result of blockage of an artery, most commonly a branch of one of the internal carotid arteries.

Blockages are most commonly blood clots (thrombi) or pieces of fatty deposits, (plaques) due to atherosclerosis. Another common cause of ischemic strokes is a lacunar infarction: a small artery deep in the brain becomes blocked by a combination of fat and connective tissue-not a blood clot. Lipohyalinosis and usually occurs in older people with diabetes and poorly controlled high blood pressure.

Lipohyalinosis is different from atherosclerosis, even though both may cause blockage of arteries, only a small part of the brain is damaged in lacunar infarction. An ischemic stroke can also result from any disorder that reduces the amount of oxygen or blood supplied to the brain, such as severe blood loss or very low blood pressure.

On rare occasions a stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is normal, but does not contain enough oxygen. This can occur in anemia, suffocation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Usually these disorders cause widespread damage and a coma results. Symptoms occur suddenly and may include weakness, muscle paralysis, loss of feeling on one side of the body, incoherent or nonexistent speech, vision problems, dizziness of loss of co?�rdination and balance. Ischemic stroke is by far the most common kind of stroke.

About 85-88% of all strokes are ischemic. Strokes can affect people of all ages, including children. Many people are older (60 years and above). The risk of stroke increases with age and are more common in women than men. Also African-Americans more commonly have strokes than white Americans. Many people who suffer a stroke have other co-existing conditions which put them at higher risk. Some of these conditions are: high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, smoking or diabetes. This is not an all-inclusive list. There is no way to totally prevent a stroke, but controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and weight are helpful.

Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke. All strokes are medical emergencies. Blood supplies are blocked and medical treatment is needed for a good outcome.…

Things to Do During a Heat Storm

During the June 2009 heatwave, the state of Texas was able to record its highest recorded temperature which was 104 degrees. The states which mostly experience this phenomenon are Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska and California. The adverse effects of this prolonged period of excessively hot weather may include power outage due to excess usage of air conditioning, crop failure, possible massive wildfires, and death. It can cause damage to millions of properties. Because of the ongoing climate change, weather forecasters are expecting more of this heat storm.

What are the things a person must do during a heat storm?

1. The elderly, young children and people with chronic health conditions are strongly advised to stay inside as much as possible. Heatwave can cause mortality. This may be due to, cardio, respiratory or any heat related cause.

2. Prior to a heatwave, it is advisable to be prepared. People in the middle and higher class conditions have little or no problem at all with this. They only need to have a better ventilation system such as air conditions. Some people also find solution in going to malls. Mostly, it is those living in poverty in highly urbanized areas who are the ones greatly affected. They do not have an adequate ground cover which makes them the best candidate for hyperthermia.

3. Drinking plenty of water is also recommended. It makes our body maintain being cool and refreshed. During this time, people are more into eating ice cream and other frozen goodies. Still it all boils down to making oneself comfortable. People also experience psychological stress because of heatwaves.

4. When the person you are with is already suffering from a heat stroke or heat exhaustion, there are some first aid tips you need to know. You have to call an emergency hotline first. While waiting for them, you must ensure that the one suffering from heatstroke is cool and comfortable. Change his or her clothing if necessary. Loosen up his/her clothing to make sure he/she breaths properly. Make sure he/she has enough water to drink or sip. If he/she is experiencing heat cramps, transfer him/her to a cooler place and gently massage his/her hands or feet.

5. Sunburns are frequent during heat storms. Refrain from going out during the heat of the day.

Heatwaves are predicted to increase in terms of intensity, regularity and period in the United States and the rest of the countries. This makes some environmental agencies greatly anxious. As a result, some US municipalities are encouraged to setup heatwave alarm systems and emergency procedures for vulnerable individuals. Heat stroke happens when the body temperature reaches 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The smaller the person is, the faster his body temperature goes up. People can die because of heat stroke. In the US, heat storms kill a bigger number of people compared to other natural calamities such as tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Natural calamities might …

Type 2 Diabetes – Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?

We all know smoking is damaging to the body. It’s impossible to escape the research and information that has been done on the subject of smoking… tobacco products will negatively affect your health, including your diabetes care. However, many people still continue to smoke even though they know the immense health issues that come along with it.

While smoking has several adverse effects on non-diabetics, these effects have been found to be even worse in people who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Among other things, smoking:

lowers blood flow in your arteries and blocks increased flow when it is required,

increases pain in the legs and hearts of people diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and coronary artery disease (CAD),

increases your blood pressure,

increases the grouping of platelets that can lead to a plug or clot that can blocks the arteries, and

can also lead to increased atheromatous plaques which are the changes in the arteries in your heart and other areas, like the brain and legs that precede closing of the blood vessels.

If you have diabetes and kidney disease, smoking puts you on a faster track for complications such as stroke and heart attack.

To kick the smoking habit you will need to implement some lifestyle modifications.

1. One way to get rid of the craving when you feel like you need a cigarette is to chew gum. Yes, it sounds very simple, and it is. Many people simply want something in their mouth out of habit. You could try carrot sticks or chewing gum.

2. Think about the type of trigger you have when you are wanting a cigarette. Then, you’ll be able to replace the habit with something healthier. For instance, if you want a cigarette every time you feel stress at home, go out and take a walk. Then you will be replacing the negative habit of cigarette smoking with an action that will help you become healthier. Taking a walk will help increase your endorphins and burn off the extra adrenaline that accompanies stress.

3. Of course, you could also purchase a nicotine patch or try nicotine gum. These methods work for some people but not for everyone. Try one of them out for a week or two and see if it helps you alleviate your desire to smoke. Then, you can gradually lower the number of nicotine patches or gum you are using until you don’t need them anymore.

4. When you feel a craving to smoke a cigarette coming on, take 10 deep breaths. Make them very slow breaths, close your eyes if possible and then raise your head before opening your eyes. This will help send more oxygen to your brain so you can really think through what’s going on instead of immediately running to grab your cigarettes.

5. Many people have found acupuncture, hypnosis and other alternative treatments have helped them to stop smoking. …

Hair Vitamin Health: How to Double Your Hair Growth Hair For Beautiful Hair

Men or women seeking to double their hair growth efforts should look to no other way than essential hair nutrition. People underestimate the value of what optimal nutrition can do for the inside health because we are often sold on the gels, lotions, and oil treatments for hair care. Yet, none of those options affect the actual hair growth or hair growth rate. The only the thing that changes the way hair grows out of our scalp, is to increase the biotin levels of your hair follicle.

Biotin is an essential vitamin that was discovered in the 1940s which has very important functions in the human body. Aside from stabilizing your blood sugar and breaking down the fats you eat, biotin triggers hair growth in our follicles. A lack of biotin in our system can reduce the growth rate it, but also create much thinner hair than normal. This is evident is many post-pregnant women who experience hair loss within three months after their delivery.

About 40% of hair loss is due to nutritional vitamin deficiency. So, if you are experiencing even moderate amount of hair loss for any reason and you are not ill or experiencing any procedures that might lead to hair loss, then you need to consider your diet as the main place to look. Make no mistake, your diet and the nutrients you provide to your hair is important for you to address to maintain healthy hair.

Unfortunately, we don’t always get the best nutrients in our modern day Western diet because most of our foods are processed to last their long journey from the farm to your table. Though the processing lowers costs, food often needs to be synthetically enriched. Yet, biotin in a finicky vitamin and doesn’t make it through the processing phase.…

Why Migraine Auras Should Never Be Ignored

The recent case of CBS reporter Serene Branson’s reportage of the Grammy Awards and her getting “tongue-tied” on air (whose video has gone totally viral on the web) has put the spotlight on migraine, specifically, that migraine phase that involves “auras”. Many initially thought Branson suffered a stroke, only to be corrected later by her UCLA doctors upon the release of her medical exam results. Branson had what is technically called “migraine with aura” a specific phase of a migraine attack in which the person suffers visual disturbances or hallucinations. Branson’s case is very interesting because it is a rare case of an actual video recording of a migraine aura attack, demonstrating to the general public what actually happens to a person when such an attack takes place.

Many women like myself are silent sufferers of long-term migraine. Usually, we pop a pill or painkiller, the symptoms go away, and we move on with our lives. And often, that’s alright: for the most part, migraines do not cause any lasting neurological damage. But that neglectful attitude, it turns out, may be dangerous: migraine can be an indication of some serious underlying condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, those who have had migraine with auras are more likely to suffer a stroke in the future.

Even now, the causes of migraine is not known. But the results of recent studies show that migraine auras have a strong connection with constricted blood vessels in the brain. And constricted blood vessels puts one at high risk for a stroke.

So how does one manage this kind of migraine?

For one, be aware of your migraine triggers. It helps to keep a diary of when, where, and the circumstances surrounding each of your migraine attacks (especially indicate if the attack is with or without aura), and how the pain went away. Such a “migraine diary” is especially useful in migraine that have food triggers.

Management of your migraine is very important, especially in terms of actual physical pain and the economic impact of loss of productivity. While popping pills can help in the short-term, the long-term management is more important. There may not be a “silver bullet” to defeat migraine, but you can make it “smaller” and less intrusive in your life. All it takes is some patience and work.…