Prairie Health Journals

Ten Ways to Give Up Smoking, And One That Works

Over the years I’ve tried many times to give up smoking. Along the way I’ve subjected myself to some of the ‘recommended’ methods. If you are thinking about giving up, here are some ways not to go about it.

Try to cut down
This is the cowards way out – and you know it. “I’ll just have one now, and no more till twelve o clock” you’ll say. Then you’ll hit a stress situation at ten-thirty and have two cigarettes to calm you down. But they don’t count do they?

Use patches
These are just an excuse to flash your body at people. You’ll all do it – lifting up your shirt or blouse to show off your “battle bandage”. And you’ll still need something to do with your hands, so you’ll have a cigarette.

Use nicotine gum
You’ll need to masticate constantly to get any kind of buzz. Your gums will hurt, your jaw will ache, your mouth will taste like a stale ashtray and you’ll look like a cow. You’ll be better off having a cigarette.

Use hypnosis
Do you really want to stand on your head every time somebody says “cigarette”?

Use acupuncture
Someone you don’t know will stick large needles into your body. In any sane society the practitioner would be jailed for torture.

Try exercise
Within five minutes you’ll be red faced, wheezing for breath and coughing up phlegm. Real exercise buffs will look at you with such pity that you’ll need a cigarette.

Try isolation
Lock yourself away, talk to no one, avoid all social contact. You’ll be so bored you’ll need a cigarette. continue reading »

What You Should Know About Back Pain Treatments

Treatment for back pain does not give instantaneous feedback or results. First step taken by individuals is alleviating back pain through ice or heat and medications. If this doesn’t show effects medical evaluation was the next step. The symptoms of the patient along with the period of back pain are taken into account for treatment. Patients with acute back pain need not worry as the period is short and it resolves by itself. Sub-acute needs attention, as the period is longer than acute. Back pain has to be treated if it’s chronic which means the presence of pain for more than 3 months. Pain for day’s together, awakening during sleep in the night because of pain, Dysfunction of bowel or bladder, fever and infections with unusual symptoms are warning signs to start treatment.

Back pain treatments that are done at home like applying ice above the strained muscle relieve pain and heat can be applied to relax the stiff muscles. Bed rest for two days is recommended and after rest normal activity can be done.

The commonly prescribed medication for pain relief is ibrufen and also acetaminophen but the advice of a physician is a must for all medications. For Acute back pain narcotic and non-narcotic pain relievers are prescribed. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also suggested. Oral steroids are also used but they have after effects like headache and weakening of bones. Chronic back pain, which occurs due to damage of nerves, is treated by tricyclic antidepressants and nortriptyline. Side effects like constipation, dryness in the mouth and lethargy are possible.

Steroid injections are injected in the membrane of nerve roots to reduce the pain instantaneously to a certain extent. Physical therapy is normally practiced to reduce pain, bring back normal activity, boost functions and avoid recurrences. Massage therapy influences the increase of circulation of blood in the affected area. Massage therapy has various devices to be used and techniques that can be followed. Electrotherapy is also very effective as it passes mild currents on the skin and stimulates contraction of muscles, strengthening of muscles and increasing the level of neurochemicals on the area. Ultra sound reduces pains and muscle spasms as the sound in the form of waves penetrates into the skin and makes the soft tissues to vibrate. It also creates gentle heat, which in turn increases the flow of blood in the body. Acupuncture helps in reducing back pain without medication and the side effects are less. Thin –hair needles are inserted inside the skin for less than 30 seconds. But frequent sessions have to be undergone.

Surgery is undergone for chronic back pain with symptoms like compression of spinal cord, weakness of muscles and problems in bowel or balder. The herniated disc, which presses the nerves, is removed by discectomy. Spinal cord gets compression by the lamina and this can be removed by Laminectomy. Bone grafting is also done for spinal instability.

Exercise strengthens bones and minimizes injury risk. Regular exercise rectifies physical problems and prevents from new ones. For back pain exercise helps in speedy recovery and makes the back muscles strong. The soft tissue around the spine, which includes the ligaments, the muscles and tendons, gets benefited through stretching. Different muscles when stretched gains flexibility and also maintain mobility. The muscles targeted to stretch are Hamstrings (back part of leg), Piriformis (back part of thigh bone and the spine), Psoas Major (front part of lower spine) and the Gluteus muscles (around the buttocks). Muscle flexibility increases if stretching is done daily and frequently. Aerobics with walking, bicycling and water therapy minimizes pain throughout the body. Prevention can be done through maintaining weight, healthy diet, awareness of suitable body mechanics and avoiding same posture for longer duration.

Balanced Weight Loss Diets

Composition of energy value and preparation of food ration is called a diet. A balanced diet is necessary. More fruits and vegetables and a variety of diet should be taken. The best method is to follow a diet plan. Diet plan should be followed strictly for weight loss. Otherwise, health problems like tension, heart attack, cholesterol and diabetes may occur. Diet planning should be followed regularly otherwise it will lead back to obesity. . A balanced weight loss diet is one that provides all nutrients necessary for the body.

While on weight loss program, soup is a supplement and vegetables can be substituted according to taste. Vegetables like asparagus, peas, corn, turnips, cauliflower etc. can be added but beans should be avoided because they are high in calories.

Food containing low calories and low saturated fats should be taken. This makes the body healthier and wards off diseases. Proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins should be taken in regular quantity. Carbohydrates should be less in quantity. Dairy products rich in fat should be avoided. All these measures help people live longer.

A balanced weight loss diet is the diet that gives all the necessary nutrients. Weight loss diet does not ask you to starve. We should take food to gain energy and keep ourselves active. Weight loss diet replaces damaged tissues and cells through proteins, vitamins and minerals that we take in. The more active we are the more energy we need. So it is essential to eat a well balanced diet. A right combination of cereals, vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt etc should be taken. Enough food provides energy for the body but more food stores it as fat to put on weight.

DAY1: Lots of melons is recommended the first day. Chances are that you lose 3lbs.
DAY 2: Stuff yourselves with all vegetables-unlimited amount or type.
DAY3: Mix fruits and vegetables-except bananas and potatoes.
DAY4: Eat as much as eight bananas and three glasses of milk.
DAY5: Eat 10 oz of lean beef and six tomatoes. Increase water intake to clean the body of uric acid.
DAY6: Eat unlimited amount of beef and vegetables.
DAY7: Take brown rice, all vegetables and fruit juice.

High protein and low carbohydrates food should be taken. Dairy products and fat products should be avoided. Cholesterol leads to heart problems and carbohydrates change into fats. Vegetables, chicken, grains, fish and nuts, which are protein rich and low in calcium, add to diet plans. Regular exercises and walking is a must. This helps in burning excess fat. A balanced weight loss diet provides the nutrients necessary for your body.

Quality as well as quantity of food should be taken close care of. Some tips are:- Milk can be used in place of cream in coffee and eat vegetable salads and drink fruit flavored water.

Advantages of weight loss diet foods:

A diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables not only gives vitamins, nutrition and minerals but also acts as a good antioxidant which wipes out free radicals and plays an imperative role in making us healthy and younger thus enabling us to lose weight in a natural way.

What do most women feel is the perfect size penis and why (8 in length and 6 inches girth)

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with penis size? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about penis size.

Most of this information comes straight from the penis size pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you’ll know what they know.

Asking yourself if size does actually matter is probably not the wisest thing to do. For many men this kind of thoughts lead to depression, drinking bouts, hangovers and hands that stretch toward that bottom drawer that has a gun in it (just joking). But since the answer to this question is one of the big mysteries of mankind, everybody is free to speculate about a possible answer.
The average penis size is 6 inches, which is a bit reassuring for some and quite worrying for others. However, studies have actually provided an answer to the age-old question. It’s not the sort of data you would find just everywhere, but the average size is below what women think of as perfect. I agree that 6-7 inches are perfectly available for successful copulation, which is one of the purposes of sex, but it’s not enough for pleasure.

The perfect size that makes women smile with delight is 8 inches in length and 6 in girth. It’s not that much above the average, but it does make a tremendous difference. Men should take note of this because it is important. Knowledge is a huge bonus, but that’s about all it will ever be. A bonus. If you don’t have the right size, the knowledge is only there to compensate for what’s lacking. Don’t kid yourself that women don’t mind your average size! You had better bring the right-sized penis to bed or else prepare to acquire god-like knowledge about sex.

Ending 1 (PSP): Not sure what to do about it? Boy, do I have the answer for you! There’s nothing easier than to use the excellent ProSolution Pills. You want a bigger penis? You’ll get a bigger penis. And all in a nice, hassle-free way that will make you a better lover in a matter of weeks.

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Ending 3 (PH): But there’s no need to stand for this. You can change the situation very fast with the Penis Health exercises. Not only will these exercises give you the bigger penis you want, but also better control and improved erections. Prepare to amaze your partner with the new size and control.

Ending 4 (PE): Believe it or not, the solution to this problem is a small patch. You can wear it at work, at gym, in the shower and in the board room. It stays hidden under your clothes and slowly pumps into your body an unique blend of herbs that helps increase the size of your penis. No longer will you have to compensate for being average and your partner will love this.

Cosmetic Dentures or Dental Implants

How do you know what is best for you and your future? Cosmetic dentures or dental implants both solve the same problem: fixing your missing teeth. You need to look at the big picture.

Cosmetic Dentures

Cosmetic dentures are simply replacements of missing teeth. The false teeth can replace all the upper teeth or all the lower teeth (known as full dentures), or parts where groups of teeth are missing (called partials). The prosthetic teeth can be made from plastic or even porcelain. Today’s cosmetic dentures not only function, but also look aesthetically pleasing.

Cosmetic dentures are removable, nonpermanent structures which use denture adhesive to keep them in place during the day. You remove them and clean them at night.
Dental Implants

By contrast, dental implants are a permanent solution to the problem of missing teeth. They are attached to the jawbone by the use of implanted anchors. The anchor sits below the gum line.

Titanium posts are attached to the anchors. These posts function like the teeth roots. They sit above the gum line.

Finally, a prosthetic tooth crown is attached on top of the post.

Because the implant is made of titanium, it integrates with the jawbone (called osseointegration), forming a functional and structural bond that can withstand the high-stress force that chewing creates.

Advantages of Dental Implants over Cosmetic Dentures

When comparing cosmetic dentures and dental implants, dental implants are the preferred solution because they have several advantages:

· Aesthetics – dental implants are the closest thing to your natural teeth because they are anchored in your mouth in a duplication of the way your natural teeth are anchored in, so they look, act, and feel like the real thing.

· Confidence – dental implants look and feel like your natural teeth so they make you feel confident because you feel natural. They also don’t impede speech because they fit in your mouth the same as your natural teeth do.

· Facial stability – because dental implants provide the same support for your face as natural teeth, they can reduce or eliminate wrinkles that you may have gotten when teeth were missing. Also, they stabilize the face by holding it up so it doesn’t appear sunken. It’s almost like a face lift because sunken faces make people look much older then they actually are.

· Functionality – dental implants improve your ability to chew food because they can withstand almost as much biting and chewing force as natural teeth

· No teeth are sacrificed – dentures may require some teeth to be pulled, and partial dentures may use neighboring teeth as anchors, thus necessitating that some of those teeth be altered to support the partial denture

· Reliability – since dental implants look and function just like natural teeth, they offer you the ability to relax and feel more confident without worrying whether they will fall out. You just care for them like your natural teeth. You don’t need special cleaners or adhesives.

When looking into dental implants or cosmetic dentures, look for a cosmetic dentist that offers both accuracy and precision in both the diagnosis of missing teeth as well as the treatment solution. Dr. Djawdan in the Baltimore area is the first and only cosmetic dentist who offers I-CAT dental CT scan and 3-D imaging software in his office. The combination of these tools allows him to completely envision the placement of your implants in a realistic, three-dimensional setting and create a surgical map which guides him in placing the dental implants.

Cosmetic dentures can look very good when they are designed correctly. However, when looking at the big picture, you can see that dental implants are the preferred treatment because of their advantages over cosmetic dentures.