basic health tips

FIRST AID SOLUTION

2009-08-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

Every family has tried remedies when it comes to first aid measures. The following are a few I’ve learned about and/or used over the years.

For burns, of course, the wonderful aloe vera plant is unsurpassed. Simply cut one of the plant’s thick leaves and smear the juice of the aloe vera plant directly onto the burn. Since aloe vera plants grow very well indoors, it’s advisable to keep one handy. Do not use butter or lard, as the old wives tale dictates. Do, however, hold the burn under cold water for several minutes to stop the burn in its tracks. Burns are serious and should be taken seriously. They must be cleaned property and handled carefully. If a burn becomes infected, contact a physician.

Bee stings can be treated with ordinary mud. If mud is not available, grab a handful of soil and spit in it, then smear it onto the bee sting. Trust me, it works. A wet aspirin, or St. John’s wort also can be placed over the bee sting. Warning: many people are allergic to bee stings. If a bee sting swells more than to the size of a dime, turns red around the sting area, or difficulty in swallowing or breathing occurs, contact a physician immediately. Bee stings can be deadly.

Insect bites can be neutralized with meat tenderizer. Don’t ask me why, but it works! Avon’s product, Skin So Soft, also seems to work as a deterrent for mosquitoes. It smells nice, to boot.

Acne, which often strikes during the teen-age years, can be lessened with the use of oranges and lemons. The acid in the fruit helps the skin exfoliate, which in turn, keeps the skin in better condition. Wash face, then run a piece of fresh citric fruit over the entire surface. Leave on for a few minutes, then wash off.

Dry skin can strike at any time, but most especially during the colder, winter months. When skin is subjected to cold out-of-doors weather, then plunged into the drier, indoor conditions, it can become dry and irritated. Hot baths also dry the skin. For overall dry skin, try cooler baths and add oatmeal to the water. I suggest making up small packets of oatmeal using white gauze, and then simply holding it under the running bath water, or throwing it into the bathtub as it fills with water.

For hands and feet that dry and crack, use vitamin E lotion, avoid hot baths, and allow only minimum exposure to hot and cold. Do use a callus file when necessary–allowing callus to build up is asking for your feet and hands to eventually crack.

Headaches are cased by many things. If medication is not available, I find a hot bath and a darkened room to be the most effective. However, if a second party is available, hand and foot massages are excellent for reducing headache pain. If headache pain persists, contact a physician.

How Long Can a Person Live Without Food

2009-07-13T21:19:00.001-07:00

Several factors determine how long a person can live without food. The reasons why can be psychological, necessity or forced. The answer to how long a person can live without food depends on a person's body and weight, your state of mind, your will power and climate and hydration rate.

* First, you need to know who's asking and why they want to know.
* Are they an adventurer in survival training?
* Are they planning a protest with a hunger strike?
* Is it a question for a biology quiz?
* Is there an eating disorder?

There are three main factors that influence survival without food: water, body weight and your overall health.

The most important need for survival is water. Doctors confirm the average person lives about 4 to 6 weeks without food. However, the body can last only a couple of days without water. When you don't get enough water to stay hydrated you become lethargic, dizzy, confused, and eventually die. Mahatma Gandhi went on a hunger strike at age 74, protesting for India's independence. He survived 21 days even though he was of slight build. He allowed himself sips of water to survive. On the other hand Jewish hostages of the holocaust basically starved to death even though they consumed food. The amounts they ate were witnessed to be only between 300 and 600 calories a day.

In biology the rule of thumb for survival is the rule of three. In other words 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water or 3 weeks without food leads to death. But the statistics for total starvation are insufficient. One report of political prisoners in Northern Ireland showed that survival without food lasted between 46 and 73 days for 10 individuals. Terminally ill patients often refuse food and water in an attempt to end their lives. They live anywhere from 10 to 14 days.

With ample body fat, an person can last longer without food. If the person is obese,they may last between 4 and 25 weeks. The length of time is often dependent on the rate of metabolism to burn stored fat and energy. The rate of how long a person can live without food depends on many factors.

2009-07-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

Health tips for travellers

2009-07-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

Nothing can spoil a holiday more than feeling off-colour, and nothing can dull the pleasure of your holiday memories more than getting ill far from home. There are a number of health issues that you should be aware of, particularly if you're from the northern hemisphere.

However, while there are risks anywhere, South Africa has a relatively salubrious climate and our levels of water treatment, hygiene and such make it a pretty safe destination.

Inoculations

If you're an adult, you won't need any inoculations unless you're travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in South Africa.

It is recommended that you have the required inoculations four to six weeks before you travel to South Africa (a yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation - after which it remains valid for 10 years).

Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants. Booster doses for tetanus and measles can also be administered.

Medical facilities

Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are world-class, but you will find that in rural areas the clinics and hospitals deal with primary health needs, and therefore do not offer the range of medical care that the large metropolitan hospitals do. Trained medical caregivers are deployed round the country, so help is never far away.

The sun

We have a warm sunny climate and you should wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 10am and 4pm, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not.

Even if you have a dark complexion, you can still get sunburned if you are from a cooler climate and have not had much exposure to the sun. Sunglasses are also recommended wear, as the glare of the African sun can be strong.

Can I drink the water?

High-quality tap (faucet) water is available almost everywhere in South Africa, treated so as to be free of harmful micro-organisms, and in any area other than informal or shack settlements, is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap.

In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places.

Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put you at risk of waterborne diseases - especially downstream of human settlements. The water in mountain streams, however, is usually pure and wonderful.

In the Cape, particularly, the water contains humic acid, which stains it the colour of diluted Coca-Cola - this is absolutely harmless, and the water is wonderful. You may also find this colouring in tap water in some areas. It's fine - it just looks a bit weird in the bath.

Do I need to take malaria tablets?

Many of the main tourist areas are malaria-free, so you need not worry at all. However, the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal do pose a malaria risk in the summer months.

Many local people and some travellers do not take malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals recommend you do. Consult your doctor or a specialist travel clinic for the latest advice concerning malaria prophylaxis, as it changes regularly.

Whether you take oral prophylaxis or not, always use mosquito repellent, wear long pants, closed shoes and light long-sleeved shirts at night, and sleep under a mosquito net in endemic areas (the anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark). It is advisable to avoid malarial areas if you are pregnant.

Lose Weight, Not Your Health

2008-09-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

The latest trend of ultra slim size is driving people, especially women to the path of death and destruction of their health and general well being. A lot of women have taken weight loss to the extreme often resulting in death or permanent disability of their intellect and body. What was meant to be a program of renewal and regeneration of the individual has been unwittingly turned into a macabre dance of doom and unquantifiable damage to the society that would have been enriched by the war against obesity and all obesity stood for. Many have died while looking for health and wellness and longevity. What an irony of life and fate. So many women have believed the advertisers flaunting very slim models as the ideal picture of womanhood that so many of them have invested fortunes trying to be like them. Many have paid the supreme sacrifice while on the path of weightloss and slim appearance. Weight loss and fat loss do not have to take your life away. Common sense should guide you on all health matters when you have decided not to listen to doctors and other knowledgeable health professionals. Many have also failed to heed the warnings contained in various papers on health issues scattered all over the place especially the internet. In the guise of providing weight loss products, many companies and organizations have manufactured pure poisons and promoted them to high heavens as being capable of helping people lose weight almost immediately. Many have believed them and are now in their graves and their fellow compatriots [others who are still taking these concoctions] are on their way to joining them in the grave where they will lose all weight and fat when their bodies decay and are reduced to skeletons. What is wrong with being robust if you are healthy and exercising? The whole essence of weightloss is to be healthy and live longer. Any other reason is the figment of your imagination. Many think that being slim and thin makes you sexy. This is not always the case for there are a whole lot of fat persons that are still very sexy and upbeat about life. And these fat persons are still desirable to the opposite sex. You can look around you and confirm what I am telling you now. My position is that you should be healthy so you can enjoy the bounties of life. You can choose to be fat and overweight or you can choose to be slim and thin. The choice is yours at all times. However, in your present state, do you enjoy life and good health? If you are fat and overweight, will you enjoy fully the bounties of life and nature? If you are ultra slim and thin, can you enjoy the provisions of the almighty? These are two extremes and the positions require a movement towards the centre. Being very slim and sickly looking will not help you enjoy life. Reducing yourself to skin and bones is even more sickening than being overweight. You might find your bikini size but can you honestly look in the mirror when you are nude and be proud and happy with what is left of your body? Even bikinis are meant to cover something not empty spaces. Do not jeopardize your health and well being by trying to be thin when you are at risk of damaging your body system and health. I am all for weight loss and good health. However, you should lose weight in an orderly manner. You must remember that the essence of weight loss is to be healthy. You can and should lose weight to fight obesity and the other diseases and conditions that follow being overweight like diabetes and heart conditions. But you must pursue weight loss with the right frame of mind and supplements. Lose weight to be healthy and look younger but not to die pursuing weight loss. To do that is a waste of life. Choose to lose weight with the right supplements and products that have been certified by notable health professionals and clinically proven as to its efficacy and efficiency. To do otherwise might result in unpleasant circumstances. The choice to lose weight, not your life is entirely yours.

When It Comes to Health, Adults Shortchange Kids

2008-08-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

The problems of childhood obesity are not exclusive to American soil. Both the U.S. and many European countries face this crisis. Various solutions have been proposed and executed. Everything from promoting exercise to teaching children about the origin of their food to banning candy or sweets on school campuses.
Now the European Commission has put forth a new initiative. A recent BMJ article, European Commission plans free fruit and vegetable scheme in schools, highlights the commission’s desire to get kids off to a strong start regarding healthy eating habits. Although various countries have enacted similar plans, the commission’s concern is that these plans have holes in them including:
They only cover a small regional area
They only provide healthy food on a short-term basis or every once in a while
There are no guarantees that the program will continue
The commission wants to fix this by providing money to countries that voluntarily participate. The catch: each participating country must match the money provided by the commission with the exception of some needy areas.
Although I think that efforts to promote healthy habits among children is worthy, I think that this program, and others like it, are really band-aids for the real problem: us adults.
As most of us have humbly learned, children learn from example. And so the logical explanation for obesity and unhealthy eating habits among our children is nothing less than our own example. Because of our misguided actions and decisions, governments around the world are having to shell out money to fix our screwed up results.
Not only have we picked up shudder-inducing eating habits (and hey, I definitely include myself in the “we” I blame) but we have allowed the marketing industry to become corrupt-a-kid renegades. The combination of our desire for a quick drive-through burger, endless commercials, and colorful “fruit” roll-up boxes depicting one beloved cartoon character or another has proven too much for our impressionable children.
If we really want to curb the obesity issue and teach our kids how to eat we have to shun convenience and instant gratification for something else: good food. We have to pull out the cutting board and cut the orange instead of handing over a packet of sugary fruit chews. We have to plan meals instead of watching TV. We have to pass up the quick candy bar we crave so that our kids don’t get into the habit of thinking that it’s okay to fill our bodies with sugar.
I cringe at these words. Alas, I am a sugar-addict and I too know how easy it is to order a basket of fries or reason that a few sips of soda won’t hurt. But I know that each time I hear about another government program aimed at preventing what I’ve helped start I’m going to cringe even more.

public water is dagerous to your health

2008-08-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

reHave you ever wondered why the skin of most of the famous celebrities in the world shines all the time? Why they have fewer pimples, red spots and blackheads on their faces? The secret behind their glowing skin is WATER. All experts agree that next to the air we breathe, water is the most important thing we will ever put in our bodies. It is surprising that so much time and money is being spent on supplements, organic foods and natural remedies, but little attention is being given to the quality of water we consume, which is cheaper but the most powerful thing, created by God as the solution for most of the diseases. Water is the natural solvent and has many astounding effect. It’s truly said, “An Apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” But the trend has been changing in this modernize world and I believe, “A glass of water a day, keeps the doctor away.” Every function inside the body is regulated by and depends on water. Water must be available to carry vital elements, oxygen, hormones, and chemical messengers to all parts of the body. Without sufficient water to wet all parts equally, some more remote parts of the body will not receive the vital elements that water supplies. Water is also needed to carry toxic waste away from the cells. If we will not drink water regularly, then our body might get affected by dehydration. If the dehydration persists and is not corrected naturally with water, it becomes symptom-producing and, in time, develops into a disease condition. This is why people who take antacids to silence their bodies’ thirst pain become more vulnerable and eventually develop other serious complications of dehydration. Water therapy has been used for centuries to heal the sick. Hydro- and hydrothermal therapy are traditional methods of treatment that have been used for the treatment of disease and injury by many cultures, including those of ancient Rome, China, and Japan. No matter what the specific health or fitness goal, one cannot achieve the maximum benefit from any health program without drinking the right kind of water in the proper amount. It is essential to drink plenty of pure water to detoxify. Many health care professionals are encouraging patients to undergo detoxification regimes. These programs encourage the body to unload its stores of accumulated environmental toxins. As the body ingests foods, water contributes in the breakdown and absorption of nutrients and is a key element in the removal of wastes. There are many diseases, which you can cure with the help of this free-cost therapy. Some of the major diseases cure by water is: Headaches Obesity Kidney Stone Joint and Back Pain Anxiety and Depression High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Fatigue Insomnia Cravings Allergies and Asthma Arthritic Pain Constipation Pimples and Dark circles Drinking sufficient quantities of water is a necessity for optimal physical functioning, but it can also play a major role in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Chronic fatigue, depression, eczema, rheumatism, gastric disorders and urinary infections are but a few of the many disorders that can result from not drinking enough water--and which can be treated by raising our intake of this vital liquid. TECHNIQUE It is very simple to become water therapy expert. You do not have to go to any clinic for getting fake slimming water. Just follow these steps carefully: 1. Early in the morning, without taking breakfast or any other eatables, take 6 glasses of water (1.5 kg), and drink each glass at a stretch. 2. After drinking water, urinate 6 times in the first hour after this therapy. Go to washroom every 10 minutes, without any delay. 3. Now take one glass of Luke warm water and drink it. You can add few drops of lemon for taste. 4. Now wait 15 minutes, before starting your break-fast. Follow the same schedule at night, before going to bed. Points to be noted: • I request you to use boiled water for this therapy; else the result might give you adverse affects. • Do not break the routine of this therapy for about three months. • Sometimes, you will feel the sensation of vomit. This is normal and you do not have to go to doctor for it. • During this therapy, do not consume high-cholesterol food items. • This therapy does not mean to stop drinking water whole day long. You have to continue drinking atleast 8-12 glasses of water, regularly, along with your water therapy process. “Although the quality of water in Pakistan is more than worst; but still, in order to survive, we have to consume water. In order to have a safe drinking water, boil it for about 30 minutes, and then consume it. Do not allow your children to consume any drinking items from vendors; as such water might be vulnerable to their health. At last, Keep smiling and be fit. For more information about school health programs, suggestions, more diversified articles visite :www.healthliving22.blogspot.com or email:heathliving22@gmail.com