The Healing Arts: A Firetender's Lesson Part Three Holding A Sacred Trust

Nobody knows how far back the Chips' lineage goes. It's fair to surmise that it went way back, perhaps thousands of unbroken years along with the Sioux. The records start in the early 1800s with two boys from different families who were orphaned at an early age. They were adopted by a Grandmother, who raised them as brothers. One's name was Woptura (Wo-p-tuch-ha). The other one's name was Curly, who, as he got older became known as Crazy Horse.

Woptura was recognized early on as carrying the Medicine. Some say he is one of the Immortals. It was he who made the medicine bundle that Crazy Horse wore in his hair that kept him impervious to bullets in war. (Crazy Horse did have his jaw shot through by the jealous husband of a lover, but that was the only such wound he suffered in his time, and never in war.)

The day that Crazy Horse was lured into a nearby fort and held captive, family legend has it that Woptura rode behind him, furiously trying to catch him to give him back the bundle upon which he had been making repairs. He was too late. Crazy Horse, unprotected for perhaps the first time in many years, had been killed.

Woptura lived in very turbulent times. Around the turn of the century, all the Sioux children were taken from their families and put into Missionary Schools. Speaking the Native languages was forbidden, and all practicing of the medicine ways, songs, ceremonies, and rituals was banned at the risk of heavy punishment by the government.

An old man by now, Woptura went underground and kept the medicine ways alive. John Fire Lame Deer states that all Lakota Medicine people today trace their lineage back to Woptura. It was Woptura, most believe, who originated the Yuwipi ceremony.

Woptura had a son who inherited his Medicine. He was named Charles Horn Chips. Chips was the best the government agents could do when the family tried to explain that woptura was the thin, fine particulate film that lies on the very top of pond water. Others described it as the very fi! ne powde r from ground buffalo horn. Even today, some members of the family spell their name Chipps to distinguish themselves from the government designation.

Charles Horn Chips had a son named Ellis. Ellis did not inherit the powers yet he was a tremendously accomplished Singer who went on to create the Sioux National Anthem. Ellis, living on the Pine Ridge Reservation, married a woman named Victoria from the Rosebud Reservation, about 75 miles East, and they had three sons.

When it was found that the youngest, Godfrey, would talk to the Spirits during Yuwipi Ceremonies (as offered by Horn Chips), Ellis obtained government permission to remove him from Grammar School and take on the full-time duty of training him in the Medicine ways. To the best of my knowledge, Godfrey was the last Medicine Man to have been granted that privilege. The edict, which I saw, stated that if father and son, or Godfrey alone were found in town on a school day, they would both be jailed. Ellis brought his son from Medicine Man to Medicine Man for his trainings, while also teaching him all that he himself had learned while assisting his Father.

It was quite a while before I became familiar with this history. For the longest time, all I knew was that this family, whom I was quickly learning to love, carried something very powerful and special when their intent was focused on the good of others, and it was in their blood.

I had been brought to some people to be shown an example of Spirit in action. They allowed me to learn and participate with them in the sacred ceremony and ritual of their people. They were extremely controversial amongst their people. Ellis had been told by Spirit in the 1980's that the Cannunpa was for everyone. They were the only Traditionals at the time who welcomed seekers of all colors and orientations into what had once been almost exclusive territory to people with Native American blood. By way of explanation, Charles offered, There's a lot of Indian spirits around, and not enough indian ! bodies t o come back to.

Not once was I told what or how to believe. I was always directed to continue to cultivate my own relationship with Spirit, to build my own medicine, to find how Spirit spoke to me so that I could then help others. If I ran into their Lakota spirits in the process, well then, it wasn't for me to swallow what I was told about them, it was my challenge to build a relationship with what was really there.

And this was why, when I was asked about Sundance, even at that early juncture in my relationship with the Chips, I knew it wasn't Godfrey's request.

Next: A brutal reality.

Russ Reina shares over 35 years of experience in the healing arts through his web site http://mauihealingartist.com. It is a potent resource for those wishing to deepen their abilities in connection and develop their powers as healers. For a powerful free tool to explore your inner world, please check out his adjunct site http://thestoryofthis.net

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

Listen to Your Heart

If I were your (sweet) heart I would most likely be yearning for your attention right now. To make my point, I invite you to take this allegorical trek with me. Pretend that your heart - your one and only sweet heart that lives inside your chest - could actually talk to you. What would it have on its mind right now?

The heart of the problem

We treat our hearts like the wheels on a Daytona 500 racecar. But when it wears out we can't pull into the pitstop and snap on another one. We've only got one. Like other internal organs, we often ignore our hearts. We live our lives satisfying our desires, and forming habits that endanger the health of our heart, and our lives as well.

Unhealthy heart habits you can avoid

Now I speak to you from the heart (literally). You pretend you do not realize how your actions hurt me day by day. You neglect to exercise. Haven't you seen the volumes of scientific evidence that tell you how much I benefit from aerobic exercise?

Will you wait until you feel that burning in your chest, then you go for an aspirin? That might be too late. And how about all those chemical stimulants you subject me to every day? The caffeine in your coffee makes you feel good, but it makes me work harder. And the alcohol. That affects me too. Narcotic drugs... oh, those are even worse. You don't even go there.

From the first time you tried smoking, I knew you were not thinking about me. Don't you know that I suffer whenever your other organs are damaged. It's more difficult to pump blood through damaged lungs and clogged arteries. You are killing me. When will you cut down on your animal fat and cholesterol intake? You're killing me, and you need to realize this fact: When I die, so do you.

Help change the statistics - Exercise

Research is showing that approximately 1,200,000 new and recurrent coronary attacks occur per year. Don't you realize that heart disease (696,947) is the leading cause of deaths in America. And most of this could be prevented b! y regula r physical exercise.

Compare this to the number of deaths from cancer (557,271), stroke (162,672), chronic lower respiratory diseases (124,816), accidents or unintentional injuries (106,742), and diabetes (73,249). And I (your heart) suffer whenever any of those other conditions happen as well... I die from strokes too (cry, cry, cry).

Tell me, can't you control your blood pressure and lose some weight? I don't want it to have to end like Nellie did. She grew up a beautiful young girl of normal weight. Then she became lax in her eating habits and did not exercise. For years I overworked myself pumping blood past body fat and through partially clogged arteries.

She thought about her weight and how she looked, but never about me. Her main concern was how she could fit into her favorite dress again. I couldn't take the neglect anymore. I attacked her one morning. She died at age 45.

Now, I don't want to have to fail you that way. I am your one and only sweet heart. I've been working for you from before you were born. I have been taking care of you even while you sleep. Take care of me, please. Won't you?

Ple-e-e-ease... just listen to your heart, now!

References:
Das, S.R., et. al., (2006). Increased Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Diabetes in Dallas County. American Heart Journal, May; 151(5);1094-1100.
Luddington, A., Diehl, H., (2002). Health Power. Hagerstown: Review & Herald
National Center for Health Statistics; Deaths-Leading Causes, URL: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm

Copyright ? 2006 by Bentley Thompson

Bentley writes about lifestyle-related conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases. He advocates the anti-diabetes diet which he describes on his website. You may visit his website and blog using the following URLs: http://www.anti-diabetes-diet-supplements.com/ and http://choosehealthtoday.blogspot.com

Breaking the Cholesterol Myth

Have you seen the latest drug commercial? You know, the one where the guy is walking down a spiral stair case with numbers printed on each step gradually going lower. He?s talking about how your doctors have told you that now you need to get your cholesterol even lower than you did before. It?s a myth; and a dangerous one at that.

Let?s start with just a bit of very basic biology.

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is part of a group of compounds called sterols. Cholesterol is primarily produced by the liver, however, every cell in the human body is also capable of making cholesterol.

What is the role of cholesterol? Cholesterol is used by the body to form cholic acid which is then used to make bile salts. Bile salts are necessary to digest fat. In addition, cholesterol is necessary for the production of adrenal and reproductive hormones such as DHEA, pregnenolone, progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, aldosterone and cortisol. Cholesterol is also used to make the skin impervious to water and other substances that may be harmful to the body as well as to bind with toxins in the blood which will then reduce inflammation protecting the nerves, brain tissue and heart.

Biology lesson over. We can now understand why cholesterol is important. So why has it been give such a bad rap?

The myth started when scientists determined that there was a correlation between cholesterol in the blood and heart disease. If you had the wonderful opportunity to take any sort of research classes in school, you might remember that a correlation doesn?t mean anything. It simply means two things are present at the same time. This is like circumstantial evidence, just because someone is found holding the gun, doesn?t mean they pulled the trigger.

Working to lower cholesterol as a way to treat heart disease is kind of like getting a bunion removed because you have a headache.

It?s important to note that cholesterol levels that are too high should be addressed. But what is too ! high? I t used to be that what were considered normal were readings between 0 and 200. Anything above 200 was said to indicate heart disease. This was recently lowered to 0 to 169. But why was it lowered? Statistics show that heart disease rates are not improving. Despite statin drugs that are designed to lower cholesterol, people are still dying of heart attacks and more and more individuals are being diagnosed with some form of heart disease. The drug manufacturers certainly don?t want to admit that their drugs aren?t working as intended (even though they are somewhat successful at lowering cholesterol), so they decide that it?s because the cholesterol levels are not low enough. If they drop the normal ranges, then they can sell more drugs and pass the buck for the continuing trend of heart disease.

The natural health experts are still out but there seems to be an unwritten agreement that levels between 175 and 230 are ideal. Levels below 150 or above 250 may indicate the need for more attention but do not necessarily indicate heart disease. There are better methods for determining the risk of heart disease; the ratio between LDL and HDL for example. Better yet is a test gaining popularity and much media attention for something called C-reactive Protein. While it isn?t healthy to have extremely high cholesterol, it also isn?t healthy to have very low cholesterol.

A short word about statin drugs
Despite no scientific evidence showing that statin drugs reduce the risk of heart disease and despite evidence that they are not as successful in the real world for treating cholesterol as they had shown to be in the studies, statin drugs are one of the most commonly over-prescribed drugs in the US. Statins have many side effects, including increasing the risk for heart disease. Statins deplete CoQ10, an important co-enzyme for cardiac health. In addition they lower antioxidant levels, cause headaches, fatigue, memory loss, difficulty sleeping, and, of course, liver damage.

It?s impor! tant to be proactive with your health. Don?t let your doctors be the complete authority just as you wouldn?t trust the salesman to give you all the details when making a large purchase. Do your own homework.

Nicole Bandes is a Certified Herb Specialist that has been helping others to regain their health and vitality since 1999. Nicole?s weekly column allows her to share her knowledge to simple questions regarding the use of natural supplements and keep her readers educated on the latest news regarding natural supplements.

The Fitness Stress Test

It is recommended that adults over the age 35, who never have exercised before, obtain medical clearance. This is necessary for the protection of the individual?s health and from any fitness professional?s legal perspective. Also, the questionnaire consent/waiver form in Appendix A should be completed for further legal protection and for the medical doctor's perusal.

VALUE OF A STRESS TEST

A stress test should be completed by all mature adults and individuals age 35 or older who are sedentary. Individuals who possess one or several coronary risk factors, such as high HDLs, a smoker, high BP, or if the individual has not seen a physician within the last 5 years should undertake a stress test.

A stress test becomes even more crucial for those over 65 as it is difficult to determine the over 65's tolerance for activity. It also is necessary to determine presence or absence of myocardial ischemia (a temporary deficiency of blood supply to the heart caused by an obstruction), either prior to an exercise program, while in relatively good health, or as a post-coronary test to indicate damage levels and a therapeutic program. A stress test is not a substitute for complete history and yearly physical examinations, but it is a viable test that can pick up on problems that would preclude a person's participation in an exercise program or indicate required modification of a program in accordance with physical problems.

Fitness professionals or physicians should explain in advance to the individual to be tested what is involved. This helps to increase motivation and for the individual to exercise for longer and with less anxiety. The individual will need to:

-Wear proper clothing (tracksuit) and comfortable running or walking shoes.

-Refrain from eating for 2-3 hours prior to the test, so that digestion does not interfere with optimal blood flow.

-Refrain from smoking for at least 1-2 hours, since smoking can impair cardiovascular capaci! ty.

< p>WHAT OCCURS

The stress test conducted by the physician can be performed with a motorized treadmill, bicycle or arm ergometer. Often if the individual suffers from lower body maladies, or if a return to work after an illness involves strenuous upper body activity, the arm ergometer may be used to produce a more accurate test.

The stress test is designed to challenge the body to a safe but necessary level to reveal irregularities that are unlikely to show when at rest. Usually an undiagnosed heart disease appears only during vigorous exercise. The narrowed coronary arteries may supply enough blood to the resting individual, but, as oxygen needs rise, electrocardiographic abnormalities indicate a problem. The physician will look for evidence of ischemia and its effects in rhythm disturbances (tachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmias), aortic and mitral valve disease, significant hypertension, and myocardial disease.

The stress test usually will not take more than 10 minutes. Exercise for longer will measure endurance rather than aerobic capacity (VO2max). During any physical activity, the body responds as follows:

-Heart rate increases

-Systolic BP increases

-Diastolic BP remains the same or decreases

-Cardiac output increases

-Systemic vascular resistance decreases

-Coronary blood flow increases

-Myocardial O2 demand increases

The client is tested at 85-90% of predicted maximal heart rate, although some doctors do not advance the test this far as they feel it is unnecessary to do so ? usually as a safety precaution. Doctors even may stop the test once the client reaches his or her target heart rate. There is one serious drawback to this approach. There is variability in maximal heart rate of individuals within each specific age group. For example, the predicted heart rate of a 60-year old at 85% maximum heart rate is approximately 132 bpm. Because there is a standard deviation, some individuals being in b! etter he alth and others in worse health for any age group, or at least less tolerant to exercise strain, it is possible that some people may have a maximal heart rate well above or below 132 bpm. If an individual's heart rate is above or below the age-specific level, the result will be unreliable in that it is difficult to determine the safety or severity of the test. The strain may not be enough, or too much. Therefore, it is necessary for the physician to motivate the client safely to his or her limits to determine the proposed intensity of the exercise program, and for the client, or the client?s personal trainer, to know at what level the body was stressed sufficiently.

VO2max is another important consideration of the stress test and this correlates well with physical fitness at least in a cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular sense. The amount of oxygen consumed by the myocardium is dependent on oxygen demand: heart rate, contractility, and wall tension. The individual will exercise until the oxygen demand by the myocardial cells exceeds the ability of the stenotic coronary artery to deliver oxygen. In other words, exercise continues until the coronary reserve has been exhausted. At this point, ischemia is induced and exercise must be terminated. During the exercise test, if the individual experiences pectoral angina, intense dyspnea or unusual changes on the electrocardiogram, or significant rhythm change due to a heart block or ventricular disturbance, an unsupervised exercise program may be contraindicated.

The test may be stopped for reasons other than reaching a VO2max upper threshold or having chest discomfort; fatigue, dyspnea, and musculoskeletal problems may cause the mature adult to discontinue exercise. The test also will be terminated if the blood pressure drops as the work increases. Blood pressure is recorded before the test, at an exercise peak, and at recovery. Diastolic BP should remain constant, but could increase slightly because of ! anxiety. It then could decrease once the test begins. Systolic BP usually increases by 60+/-25 mm Hg in males 50-64 years of age, and by 40+/-20 mm Hg in women in the same age group. For example, if the systolic BP fails to increase, or initially increases then drops by more than 20 mm Hg during exercise, then it may indicate severe left ventricular dysfunction. Should the systolic blood pressure fall more than 30mm Hg, then an unsupervised exercise program may be contraindicated.

Sometimes the stress test shows heart complications when, in fact, extrinsic factors are responsible, and this will cause a false-positive result. These include:

-Hypertension

-Fasting

-Drug use (e.g., antidepressants) - the physician will take into account the effects of any medication the individual may be taking

-Malfunctioning ECG recording equipment

-And a host of other minor heart complications that should not stop an individual from participating in an exercise program.

It will be up to the physician to remove the causative agent and re-test the patient. This especially is necessary to discover if the patient is asymptomatic or has the potential for a high exercise capacity. A false-negative test resulting from an extrinsic factor is even more disturbing as this would indicate failure to diagnose the presence of abnormal coronary arteries. It then is up to the physician to rely on other test procedures and for the individual or the fitness professional to monitor progress carefully and to supply the physician with any information in regard to physical difficulty during exercise.

If the test is performed properly, and there is a negative ECG response to exercise, the test does not indicate coronary disease necessarily. Rather, it implies a risk factor that must be taken into consideration when an exercise program is created, and that there must be close monitoring of the individual?s health and fitness level.

CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR A STRESS! TEST

-Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)

-Uncontrolled congestive heart failure

-Acute inflammatory cardiac disease, e.g., active rheumatic heart disease, myocarditis

-Acute asthma or pneumonia

-Blood pressure greater than 240/120 mm Hg and uncontrolled

-Acute renal (kidney) disease

You may publish this article in your newsletter, on your web site, or other publications, so long as the article?s content is not altered and the resource box is included. Add byline and active link. Notification of the use of this article is appreciated, but not required.

Brian D. Johnston is the Director of Education and President of the I.A.R.T. fitness certification and education institute. He has written over 12 books and is a contributing author to the Merck Medical Manual. An international lecturer, Mr. Johnston wears many hats in the fitness and health industries, and can be reached at info@ExerciseCertification.com.

Visit his site at http://www.ExerciseCertification.com for more free articles.

How to Survive a Heart Attack

Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Common symptoms of a heart attack are:

- Chest pain that does not clear up after resting or taking angina medications. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

- A feeling of a crushing weight against the chest and profuse sweating.

- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

- Nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats.

- A feeling of indigestion or heartburn.

- Fainting.

- A fear of impending death (angor animi).

Other symptoms of a heart attack are:

- Shortness of breath.

- Dizziness, weakness, and fainting.

- Abdominal pain.

If you think you are having a heart attack get help immediately. Each year up to 460,000 people die of heart disease in an emergency department or before reaching hospital. That's up to 60% of cardiac deaths.

The first 3-6 hours are critical. By getting help early you greatly increase your chances of survival and greatly lessen permanent damage to your heart.

Take 1/4 tablet of aspirin and make sure that the emergency health providers know so that an additional dose isn't given. And tell the emergency health providers that you think you are having a heart attack.

Kevin Davies is webmaster of preventingheartfailure.com and author of Preventing Heart Failure eBook. In this eBook you'll learn how to significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. To buy Preventing Heart Failure please visit http://www.preventingheartfailure.com

Acid Reflux Symptoms

The typical cause of heartburn or acid reflux is when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. If your lower esophageal sphincter is not normal, stomach contents may flow back into your esophagus and cause heartburn. Stomach acid flows into the esophagus (called acid reflux), causing the burning sensation. Acid reflux is caused by stomach spasms which cause acid.

Many believe that acid reflux symptoms affect the heart or mistakenly diagnose acid reflux as a heart related problem. In fact acid reflux has nothing to do with the heart - it is a digestive problem. Indeed for most people, a proper eating habit may help fixing the heartburn problem. Eating high-fiber bread instead of white bread, and exercising for 30 minutes at least once a week, decreased the odds of getting heartburn. Keeping a daily diary for a week can help keep track of specific food items and circumstances related to episodes of heartburn.

One is solution to eliminate acid reflux is to stop smoking. After a meal, when the stomach is full, smoking increases the chances that you will suffer from acid reflux. Loss of weight can also reduce stomach acid reflux. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to heartburn in their third trimester as the growing uterus puts increasing pressure on the stomach.

Here are some easy things that doctors recommend:

Wait at least three hours before going to bed after eating.

Sleep with your head at least 8 higher than your stomach so that gravity can help keep stomach acids from coming up into your esophagus.

Avoid exercising or bending over right after eating.

Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of the three, traditional, big ones.

Acid reflux tends to be more of a problem at night, while you are lying down or sleeping. Having the head and shoulders higher than the stomach lets gravity work to keep acid from refluxing.

If heartburn is a continual or severe problem, it's a good idea to see your doctor. In patients with acid reflux, the he! art valv e pressure is usually low, which is the root of the problem. Some people have only an occasional acid reflux symptom. For others, however, acid reflux and regurgitation are persistent, chronic symptoms that return several times a week, if not every day.

Medical evaluation of heartburn is recommended for individuals who experience persistent symptoms several times a week. If acid reflux (heartburn) occurs on two or more days per week despite the measures discussed above, you should consult your family doctor. For chronic reflux and heartburn, the doctor may prescribe medications to reduce acid in the stomach.

Susanne Garris is a stay at home mom. But that doesn't mean she isn't at work. Susanne works as a research assistant and freelance writer on a variety of subjects. Her private research is devoted to blogs you can find at: http://www.acid-reflux-symptoms.blogspot.com

Acid Reflux Symptoms

The typical cause of heartburn or acid reflux is when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. If your lower esophageal sphincter is not normal, stomach contents may flow back into your esophagus and cause heartburn. Stomach acid flows into the esophagus (called acid reflux), causing the burning sensation. Acid reflux is caused by stomach spasms which cause acid.

Many believe that acid reflux symptoms affect the heart or mistakenly diagnose acid reflux as a heart related problem. In fact acid reflux has nothing to do with the heart - it is a digestive problem. Indeed for most people, a proper eating habit may help fixing the heartburn problem. Eating high-fiber bread instead of white bread, and exercising for 30 minutes at least once a week, decreased the odds of getting heartburn. Keeping a daily diary for a week can help keep track of specific food items and circumstances related to episodes of heartburn.

One is solution to eliminate acid reflux is to stop smoking. After a meal, when the stomach is full, smoking increases the chances that you will suffer from acid reflux. Loss of weight can also reduce stomach acid reflux. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to heartburn in their third trimester as the growing uterus puts increasing pressure on the stomach.

Here are some easy things that doctors recommend:

Wait at least three hours before going to bed after eating.

Sleep with your head at least 8 higher than your stomach so that gravity can help keep stomach acids from coming up into your esophagus.

Avoid exercising or bending over right after eating.

Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of the three, traditional, big ones.

Acid reflux tends to be more of a problem at night, while you are lying down or sleeping. Having the head and shoulders higher than the stomach lets gravity work to keep acid from refluxing.

If heartburn is a continual or severe problem, it's a good idea to see your doctor. In patients with acid reflux, the he! art valv e pressure is usually low, which is the root of the problem. Some people have only an occasional acid reflux symptom. For others, however, acid reflux and regurgitation are persistent, chronic symptoms that return several times a week, if not every day.

Medical evaluation of heartburn is recommended for individuals who experience persistent symptoms several times a week. If acid reflux (heartburn) occurs on two or more days per week despite the measures discussed above, you should consult your family doctor. For chronic reflux and heartburn, the doctor may prescribe medications to reduce acid in the stomach.

Susanne Garris is a stay at home mom. But that doesn't mean she isn't at work. Susanne works as a research assistant and freelance writer on a variety of subjects. Her private research is devoted to blogs you can find at: http://www.acid-reflux-symptoms.blogspot.com

The Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise

There are two main types of exercise. Aerobic and Anaeobic exercise. Let's start with the first one. Aerobic literally means with oxygen. Aerobic exercise has an important distinction; it burns fat as its main fuel. Can anyone find a use for this? Anaerobic means without oxygen. Anaerobic burns sugar as its main fuel. Despite popular myth, exercise doesn't have to be drastic to provide massive physiological benefits. Even light exercise will burn fat.

Light exercise clears out lactic acid (a waste product in the body) and stimulates cells to regenerate. To ensure you're exercising aerobically (burning fat) rather than exercising anaerobically, it's important to ensure you do several things as you exercise.

The most important is to breathe deep as you exercise. Breathe in deep into your stomach through your nose, hold it and then exhale hard through your mouth.

Secondly, make sure that you exercise at a level that's comfortable. Exercise at a level of 7/10. You should still be able to carry on a conversation while you exercise. Do this for at least 45 minutes a day and notice your energy explode.

Do you think you don't have time to do this? There is always time. Use the time you would have spent sleeping to replenish your body. I guarantee that you'll need less sleep. Use the time in your lunch break to exercise. The increase in productivity will have you more on the ball, and save you time through the dramatic increase in productivity. See, with the increased oxygen from aerobic exercise your brain speed and efficiency increases. Ride a bike, walk, swim or play sport.

Rebounding (or cellularise as it's now known) is one of the best forms of aerobic exercise around. If you have access to a rebounder, use it. Use any break you have whilst working to engage in some form of movement and deep breathing.

Exercise also strongly benefits the heart. It literally makes it a larger and stronger organ. Deep breathing makes the lungs stronger and larger. Research is now linking ! exercise to helping benefit and prevent almost every type of disease or ailment. Movement of any joints promotes blood flow and creates energy. Sitting down all day actually robs the body of energy. If you sit down all day it?s absolutely vital that you promote blood flow, circulation, energy, brain flow and the strength of your heart.

Dr. Edward Steiner has dedicated over 15 years to understanding nutrition and articulating complex information simply. He has worked internationally with indivduals who wish to improve their lives through the proper use of exercise and nutrition. He has condensed the best information he has discovered in 15+ years into one place at http://www.energyboostnow.com.

Reverse Heart Disease With A Heart Healthy Diet

The condition of your heart is definitely linked to a heart healthy diet.

A heart healthy diet begins with the types of food on your plate and the ability you have to maintain an ideal body weight.

In addition to weight loss, the following heart healthy diet ideas are important for the maintenance of heart health and for reversing heart disease:

1)Reduce the amount of red meat in your diet. Red meat is high in artery-clogging saturated fat. It is best to stick to a red meat free diet which includes healthier protein options like chicken, fish, egg whites, tofu and beans.

2)Steer clear of all trans fatty acid products. Trans fatty acid is found in certain margarines, salad dressings and processed floury goods such as crackers and cookies. Read the label and avoid products containing partially hydrogenated fat.

3)Serve up a colorful plate. Each meal you eat should include a variety of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain elements called phytochemicals which help to prevent and even reverse disease processes like heart disease and cancer.

4)Fill your diet with lots of high fiber foods. This heart healthy diet tip includes slow-cooking oats, bran, beans, fruits and vegetables.

5)Pass on refined flours and sugars that rank high on the glycemic index. Keep to lower glycemic, more wholesome foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.

6)Include omega-3 fatty acids in your heart healthy diet. Omega-3 fats can be found in oily cold-water fish, nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil, omega-3 eggs and in fish oil supplements.

To learn more about trans fatty acid products visit: http://hearthealthydietideas.blogspot.com

Sherrie Le Masurier is a freelance writer and former personal coach who writes extensively on nutrition, fitness and family health. For more heart healthy diet tips visit http://www.hearthealthydietideas.blogspot.com and http://www.healthandwellnessmatters.blogspot.com - Copyright.

Benefits of Walking

Walking

Walking can be an easy yet effective way to burn calories. Walking is great because it requires no equipment, except a comfortable pair of shoes. Walking can burn calories alone with toning leg muscles. Many people take just plain walking for granted, but it is a very effective and cheap way of losing weight.

Here are a few tips on how to walk to achieve the maximal benefits.

PACE:

Go at a pace which your heart rate is within your target heart range. You should do this at least 3 days a week for 20 minutes. If you can walk everyday that would be great also. Walking has a very low risk or injury. Walk faster to burn more calories in a shorter time.

TREADMILLS:

Even though I perfer walking on regular ground a treadmill can be a very effective way to burn calories. One advantage of a treadmill is you can do it inside and the incline can be adjusted. If you raise the incline slightly you can burn more calories.

MOVE YOUR ARMS

Swinging your arms also helps burn calories while walking . Make sure your arms are between 90 and a 145 degree angle at the elbow. Make sure the arm is locked so the pivotal part of your swing is at your shoulder.

We are a group of personal trainers certified through AFFA. Our goal is to provide good Health and Fitness advice.

Preventing Heart Disease: What to Eat

About 12.6 million Americans currently have heart disease.

1.1 million Americans will experience a serious heart event this year.

One in four Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. Every 34 seconds one American will die as a result of cardiovascular disease.

No other disease claims as many women's lives as cardiovascular disease. One American woman dies each minute as a result of cardiovascular disease.

Around 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this years. That's one stroke every 45 seconds.

HEART DISEASE IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST KILLER OF AMERICANS. IT KILLS AS MANY AMERICANS AS THE NEXT 5 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH.

One important step in reducing your risk of heart disease is to change your diet.

These are what you should consume more of:

1. Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and fish.

These foods contain monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are good for the heart.

Monounsaturated fatty acids help increase the level of good cholesterol.

There are three chemical subgroups of unsaturated fatty acids called essential fatty acids. These are omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oils (docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaneoic acids), plants and seeds (alpha-linolenic acid) and have significant benefits. For example they improve your good cholesterol levels, reduce your overall heart disease risk and may reduce your chances of developing an irregular heart rhythm.

The American Heart Association and other experts recommend that you should get most of your unsaturated fats from omega-3 fatty acids

Omega 6 fatty acids are found in corn, safflower, soybean, and sunflower oil. However a high consumption of omega-6 fatty acids will result in weight gain and will give you a higher risk of getting certain cancers and some chronic diseases.

Omega-9 fatty acids are found in canola and olive oil. They may also contain chemi! cals tha t block the harmful affects of omega-6 fatty acids.

Eating fish twice a week will improve your good cholesterol, lower your chance of dying from heart disease, and improve your blood pressure. Choose oil fish like salmon, mackerel, or sardines as they are the most healthy and are high in omega-3. Avoid fish that are high in mercury like shark, king mackerel, tilefish or swordfish. Fish is the best source of protein and is better for your cardiac health than chicken or lean meat.

The amount of polyunsaturated fat that you eat should be up to 10 percent of your daily calorie intake. The amount of monounsaturated fat that you eat should be up to 15 percent of your daily calorie intake.

2. Oats, lentils, potatoes, apples, pinto beans, citrus, black beans and barley.

These foods contain soluble fiber that helps increase your levels of good cholesterol. Soluble fiber may also reduce blood pressure.

When you increase the amount of soluble fiber in your diet you should also increase the amount of water that you drink.

3. Wheat bran, whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes, and fruit and vegetable peels

These foods contain insoluble fiber. Eating insoluble fiber may help with weight lost and lower your risk of heart disease.

4. Soy products (not soy sauce).

Soy products are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, as well as providing all essential proteins.

5. Green tea.

Green tea is rich in chemicals that protect against bad cholesterol.

6. Coffee.

Coffee contains phenol, a chemical that helps stop oxidation of bad cholesterol.

7. Potassium-rich food like bananas, oranges, pears, prunes, cantaloupes, tomatoes, dried peas and beans, nuts, potatoes, and avocados.

A potassium-rich diet can help you achieve healthy blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of you having a stroke by 22 to 40%. However too much potassium can cause stomach pain, muscle weakness and in rare cases, dangerous heart events.

8. ! Water

Many heart risk factors are made worse by dehydration. In a 2002 study it was found that if you drank five or more glasses of water a day you had lower risk of a fatal heart event than if you drunk two or fewer glasses a day.

9. Alcohol.

One or two glasses of alcohol a day will help protect your heart. However heavy drinking will harm your heart.

The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

The DASH diet is a diet that is clinically proven to significantly reduce blood pressure. It emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. It recommends:

- Avoiding saturated fat and choosing monounsaturated oils such as olive or canola.

- Choosing whole grains over white flour or pasta.

- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

- Eat nuts, seeds, or legumes daily.

- Eat modest amounts of protein, preferably from fish, poultry or soy products.

To get the DASH diet click here or point your web browser to :

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/newdash.pdf

You can also find information on lowering your blood pressure here or by pointing your web browser to:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/hbplow/hbplow.pdf

Kevin Davies is webmaster of preventingheartfailure.com and author of Preventing Heart Failure eBook. In this eBook you'll learn how to significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. To buy Preventing Heart Failure please visit http://www.preventingheartfailure.com

Staying Healthy in Summer

Seasons change, and your body and mental outlook change with them. And because human beings are a part of nature, our bodies react to the season in predictable ways. Oriental medicine combines knowledge of seasonal characteristics with your unique health situation to balance your energy (chi) to help you adapt and thrive during this season of luxurious growth. Here are some things to consider for staying healthy as you enjoy summertime.

The Fire Element
Every season is associated with one of the Five Elements, and for summer, the element is 'Fire.' Summer weather is typically hot, and relatively damp. For example, the muggy feeling you experience during summer comes from heat causing dampness to condense and rise as it gets hotter. As on the outside, so on your inside: in summertime, there is a tendency for dampness to accumulate within your body.

Summer Health Problems
During summer, some typical heat-related problems are: rashes, headaches and feelings of irritation. For example: Blood pressure may rise from too much heat trapped in the body; damp-induced blister rashes, or boils can erupt on the skin; and if you have eczema, you may experience more occurrences of it in the summer.

Summer Health Tips
It's important to drink enough water and eat the right foods to ensure you're meeting your body's summertime needs.

• Drink more water. Because it's hot and you perspire a lot during the summer, the average amount of water you should drink in a 24-hour period is 48 ounces ? this includes all fluids, such as, juice, soda, and other beverages. (Note: 48 ounces is the equivalent of 6 eight ounce glasses.) When you are sweating more than usual ? as on some days in the summer ? drinking more is advisable. It's important to pay attention to how you feel, and drink more when you're thirsty.
• Monitor your intake of salt. An imbalance of salt in your body ? too much, or too little ? can readily occur when temperatures are hot. You will know you're getting too! much sa lt if you find that rings you wear get tighter, and socks or shoes that fit you comfortably during cooler weather, leave lines or wrinkles on your feet or ankles because of too much fluid in those areas.
• Eat cooling foods. Cucumbers, mung beans, and watermelon are particularly good foods to eat in the summer. They help to keep your body cool, and because of their diuretic properties, they also help to offset excess salt intake.

Stay Healthy
So enjoy your summer and help ensure your health by being conscious of a few simple things you can do for yourself and your family:

• Drink enough water.
• Monitor your salt intake.
• Eat cooling foods.

Get Help If You Need It
If you experience any heat-related symptoms that don't clear up quickly, call a qualified Oriental medicine practitioner for an appointment to get a prescribed formula of medical herbs to help alleviate your symptoms and address the problem ? before it becomes more advanced.

Kitty Bradshaw is a licensed acupuncturist, with an advanced clinical degree in Oriental Medicine. Studying and working with Oriental Medicine since 1986, Kitty combines Traditional Oriental Medicine with Taoist healing methods to offer healing possibilities beyond the level of standard health care. Her deep understanding of Chinese medical herbs, combined with her intuitive abilities to diagnose and treat difficult problems, has helped many people regain and maintain their health.

For a FREE phone consultation to find out how Oriental Medicine can work for you, go to http://www.biom.net to contact Kitty and sign-up for BIOM's complimentary newsletter.

Holistically Healing Heartburn

Millions of people suffer from the symptoms of heartburn every day. Those with acute cases of heartburn may have a condition called acid reflux or gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Any form of heartburn is an unpleasant experience, to say the least. The splashing up of stomach acid into the esophagus and throat can be quite painful and potentially dangerous. In extreme cases, where the esophagus is continually damaged by the reflux of stomach fluids, a condition called Barrett?s Esophagus can develop. This condition is a precursor to esophageal cancer.

Barrett?s Esophagus occurs when chronic acid reflux or esophagitis is not controlled. Through constant inflammation and damage, the normal cells that line the esophagus called squamous cells turn into specialized columnar cells. Columnar cells are not normally found in human beings and can become cancerous.

The physical cause of heartburn is the improper functioning of the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). This ringed muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, relaxes in order to allow food to enter the stomach. This muscle then retracts in order to keep the digestive fluids where they belong. It is when this muscle is too relaxed or damaged, that the stomach fluids can escape up into the esophagus thereby causing acid reflux.

There are many possible causes of acid reflux. The foods that we eat play an important role. Food that is too acidic can aggravate this ailment. Not chewing food properly, eating meals that are too large and lying down within three hours of eating can all contribute to acid reflux.

Certain foods and beverages can cause the LES to become lazy. These culprits include smoking, drinking alcohol and prescription drugs. Raw onions and garlic, fried foods, chocolate and foods that are too spicy can also cause the LES to relax.

There are two ways to treat this condition. They are the allopathic medical and the holistic approaches to disease. The allopathic medical way is to prescribe c! ertain d rugs such as H2 receptor antagonists, which include Tagamet and Zantac, or PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors) like Nexium and Prilosec. These medicines slow down the production of stomach acid and are the two main types of pharmaceutical acid suppressors.

This pharmaceutical approach is dangerous in that it impedes the proper digestion and assimilation of food. There are also numerous harmful side effects associated with these drugs. Drugs only treat the symptoms of a disease or condition. They are not intended to cure. If the drug companies created drugs that cured they would soon go out of business.

The alternative way to treat acid reflux is holistically. Holistic by definition means considering a whole thing or being to be more than a collection of parts; Treating the whole person rather than just the Symptoms of a disease.

Using alternative remedies, which are natural and have no side effects, is certainly the safest and most effective approach. These treatments are also far less expensive than drugs. Holistic treatment, unlike drugs, can actually cure the condition or disease.

In order to develop acid reflux, we must first have an acidic system. By treating the whole body, acid reflux will disappear. What we eat and drink determines the PH of the body.

Vegetable juices, like raw potato, celery and cabbage are very alkaline in nature and are helpful in correcting an acidic stomach. Papaya juice contains the digestive enzyme papain, which has a soothing effect on the stomach and aids in the breaking down of protein.

Slippery Elm, bladderwrack and marshmallow, belong to a category of herbs called demulcents. These herbs aid digestion by decreasing inflammation and by soothing the affected areas. They form a protective barrier against stomach acid and other digestive irritants.

There are many holistic ways to cure acid reflux. Meditation can be of great help. Start by doing deep breathing exercises for ten minutes. Keeping the eyes closed, visuali! ze you s tomach, LES, esophagus and throat as young, pink, tender and perfect. Continue to breath and picture yourself in perfect glowing health. See yourself eating slowly in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoying your food. Picture the food being digested and assimilated in a perfect manner. Feel all the parts of your body working in perfect harmony together.

Yoga can also be very beneficial to the body as a whole. Loosing weight and regular exercise are important as well. Drinking copious amount of pure water not only flushes the system of toxins, but dilutes stomach acid during periods between meals.

The holistic approach to healing is the medicine of the future. We can all be a part of that future now.

? 2006 Wind Publishing

For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

Mr. Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease, by natural means and has written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies.

For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

LCarnitine For Health & Muscle Growth: What You Need To Know About LCarnitine

L-carnitine is a nutritional supplement that has been touted by body builders and other athletes as a safe and helpful way to create bigger and more efficient muscles. Some physicians and researchers have looked at L-carnitine to prevent muscle wasting in people who need kidney dialysis; alternative medicine purveyors suggest that L-carnitine may stop cellular aging. In order for you to make a healthy decision about using L-carnitine, we?ve put together some information any potential buyer should have.

What is L-carnitine, anyways?

L-carnitine is a modified amino acid, produced in the liver. Most amino acids form the building blocks of proteins, which in turn provide much of the structure and function of the body. L-carnitine is different than amino acids in that it doesn?t form a part of a protein; instead it serves as a delivery van, moving fats into specialized parts of our cells, where they can be used for energy.

Several conditions can result in lowered L-carnitine levels, including:

-rare genetic (hereditary) conditions -loss of L-carnitine during dialysis (the mechanical process used to clean the blood in patients whose kidneys can?t manage it) -certain persons (for example, premature babies) who may not get enough L-carnitine in their diets and cannot make adequate amounts in their livers

Where can I get some?

Most people synthesize (make) enough L-carnitine for their needs in the liver. You can also get significant amounts in your diet from:

-ground beef -pork -milk -fish

Even strict vegetarians generally make enough that they don?t need to eat meat to have the needed L-carnitine ; they can also get small amounts from sources like avocado, whole wheat bread and asparagus.

Should I be taking L-carnitine supplements?

People who have a liver condition that doesn?t allow L-carnitine to be synthesized need to take L-carnitine supplements in order to survive; this is also the case for people who are born with kidneys that excrete L-carni! tine in large amounts.

Because L-carnitine is so important in creating energy, many people swear by it to enhance their athletic activity. They feel that this is particularly important in their muscles, which often need lots of energy in order to increase in size (as in body building) and to function over long periods of time (in marathon runners).

Unfortunately, studies to date have not shown conclusively that supplementation improves athletic performance or muscle bulk. Some research suggests though that larger studies need to be done to see if there is an effect on certain types of exercise or certain sub-groups of athletes.

There is a little more evidence that L-carnitine may be useful for people with conditions that lead to loss of L-carnitine, for example:

*Aging. Some studies suggest that energy and memory losses may in part be due to decreased levels of L-carnitine in older rats and mice; L-carnitine has been shown to partially reverse these changes. Large studies are planned to see if L-carnitine has this effect on aging humans

*Heart damage. Several studies in humans suggest that L-carnitine supplementation after myocardial infarction (heart attack) may help the heart repair damaged cells and help it function better. L-carnitine even seems to help people who are having angina - the pain that sometimes precedes heart attack.

*Muscle loss from kidney disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of L-carnitine in dialysis patients to prevent and treat carnitine deficiency that is caused by kidney disease and dialysis. While it does not work for all patients who experience muscle weakness and loss, it is available as an alternative if standard treatments aren?t working.

The Short Answer...

Unless you have one of a few specific conditions, it?s not yet clear whether L-carnitine will help you with your goals. Since for some people (including those with seizure disorders, who have Alzheimer?s disease, or who are pregnant and nursing) L-c! arnitine supplements may be dangerous, your best bet might be to wait until more information is available.

Sources Used:

Brass E., ?Supplemental carnitine and exercise,? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 72, issue supplement 2, p 618S-623S, 2002

Davini P, et al ?Controlled study on L-carnitine therapeutic efficacy in post-infarction,? Drugs Under Experimental and Clinical Research, Volume 18, issue 8, p 355-365, 1992

Hagen T., et al. ?Feeding acetyl-L-carnitine and lipoic acid to old rats significantly improves metabolic function while decreasing oxidative stress,? Proceeds of the National Academy of Science, Volume 99, issue 4, p1870-1875, 2002

National Kidney Foundation, ?Adult Guidelines for Maintenance Dialysis: L-carnitine,? update 2000

Sakurauchi Y, et al., ?Effects of L-carnitine supplementation on muscular symptoms in hemodialyzed patients,? American Journal of Kidney Disease, Volume 32, p258-264, 1998.

Sein, H., ?Carnitine and its precursor, gamma-butyrobetaine,? In: Kramer K, et al, eds. Nutraceuticals in Health and Disease Prevention, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc, p 217-256, 2001

Wachter, S. et al, ?Long-term administration of L-carnitine to humans: effect on skeletal muscle carnitine content and physical performance,? Clinica Chimica Acta, Volume 318, issues 1-2, p. 51-61, 2002

Copyright (C) Shoppe.MD and Ian Mason, 2004-2005

Learn more about health, diet and exercise at our weight loss forum.

PhenForum.com is a popular discussion forum for weight loss programs, diet advice, and tips to help you burn fat.

All the best,

Ian Mason

The Truth Behind Heartburn Myths

Heartburn is a medical condition manifested in an uncomfortable sensation in the chest. This happens when acid goes back up into a person?s esophagus. Heartburn is often related to gastroesophageal reflux disease. There are a number of medical studies to pinpoint the causes and possible treatments for heartburn, but there is still no single solution for this ailment. As such, there have been a number of myths and fallacies behind this condition.

Most people believed that particular food or drinks could cause heartburn. This is not the case. Heartburn is caused by biological dysfunction. Of course having a good diet is always a good thing, but do not expect that heartburn will be gone in a snap if you change your lifestyle or the food you eat.

Excess acid is the main cause of heartburn. This statement is somehow incorrect. Studies show that individuals with heartburn have normal counts of acid in their stomach. Heartburn actually happens if acid has gone in the wrong direction as, it goes to the esophagus instead of into the stomach.

It is common knowledge that heartburn causes harm in one?s esophagus. Actually, heartburn caused by acid reflux could also increase the risk of asthma and chronic cough. It could also cause sore throat and discomfort in your throat and vocal cords.

Heartburn is not caused by stress. A lot of people blame stress for every ailment. Although there may some amount of truth to this, it is rare that stress is the main cause of heartburn. But it is advised not to go through a lot of physical stress that can cause ulcers that may in turn lead to heartburn.

Most people sit up during sleep to prevent heartburn attacks at night. There is no need as medical experts suggest that sleeping on one?s left side is the recommended position during sleeping time. This will allow acid to clear out faster in your esophagus. You can also sleep on a slightly high pillow as it allows the acid to stay in your stomach rather than being reverted back to the esophagus, whi! ch would consequently cause heartburn.

There is a solution to heartburn. When you drop by your doctor for advice, he would prescribe medication. There is also over the counter drugs that you can purchase to relieve the symptoms of heartburn. Medication coupled with proper diet and clean lifestyle would surely help you in dealing with heartburn.

Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering Self Help CDs - Visit Health Resources for more articles.

Acid Reflux Symptoms

The typical cause of heartburn or acid reflux is when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. If your lower esophageal sphincter is not normal, stomach contents may flow back into your esophagus and cause heartburn. Stomach acid flows into the esophagus (called acid reflux), causing the burning sensation. Acid reflux is caused by stomach spasms which cause acid.

Many believe that acid reflux symptoms affect the heart or mistakenly diagnose acid reflux as a heart related problem. In fact acid reflux has nothing to do with the heart - it is a digestive problem. Indeed for most people, a proper eating habit may help fixing the heartburn problem. Eating high-fiber bread instead of white bread, and exercising for 30 minutes at least once a week, decreased the odds of getting heartburn. Keeping a daily diary for a week can help keep track of specific food items and circumstances related to episodes of heartburn.

One is solution to eliminate acid reflux is to stop smoking. After a meal, when the stomach is full, smoking increases the chances that you will suffer from acid reflux. Loss of weight can also reduce stomach acid reflux. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to heartburn in their third trimester as the growing uterus puts increasing pressure on the stomach.

Here are some easy things that doctors recommend:

Wait at least three hours before going to bed after eating.

Sleep with your head at least 8 higher than your stomach so that gravity can help keep stomach acids from coming up into your esophagus.

Avoid exercising or bending over right after eating.

Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of the three, traditional, big ones.

Acid reflux tends to be more of a problem at night, while you are lying down or sleeping. Having the head and shoulders higher than the stomach lets gravity work to keep acid from refluxing.

If heartburn is a continual or severe problem, it's a good idea to see your doctor. In patients with acid reflux, the he! art valv e pressure is usually low, which is the root of the problem. Some people have only an occasional acid reflux symptom. For others, however, acid reflux and regurgitation are persistent, chronic symptoms that return several times a week, if not every day.

Medical evaluation of heartburn is recommended for individuals who experience persistent symptoms several times a week. If acid reflux (heartburn) occurs on two or more days per week despite the measures discussed above, you should consult your family doctor. For chronic reflux and heartburn, the doctor may prescribe medications to reduce acid in the stomach.

Susanne Garris is a stay at home mom. But that doesn't mean she isn't at work. Susanne works as a research assistant and freelance writer on a variety of subjects. Her private research is devoted to blogs you can find at: http://www.acid-reflux-symptoms.blogspot.com

Lowering Cholesterol For Busy People

Cholesterol Dictatorship

Don't you have enough this brainwash? You should? You must be frustrated to hear over and over what you should or what you shouldn't eat, like you don't know yet? But you do know very well, and if you still have problems with high Cholesterol? you are not alone.

You are bombard with the advice on nutrition, but one thing is left out which makes that advice obsolete?

Food is not the answer for most people!

Food is either: synthetic or over processed, over pesticides and over radiated - in short - building materials are missing?

The Secret Is Out

Our population is hunted by high Cholesterol including small children thanks to the same foods, which are so glorified.

How anyone can consider food as reliable nutrition source, where the meat and the poultry are treated with hormones?

I found it almost ironic that so many experts keep sending message that you can keep Cholesterol low just on nearly empty diet. Please... don't consider isolated synthetic Vitamins and Minerals a healthy solution. It is not, and never will be.

In reality, not many people can afford to shop in the Health Food Stores, so they are relaying on the food chain industry.

The trust is wrongly placed?

Over processed food is difficult to digest, and as the result fat is more difficult to utilize, and the consequences are devastating: Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Diabetics and Strokes are the results what food can do?

So? what is the solution? I like to tell you about wonderful solution to this problem later but first, regardless how high or how low is your Cholesterol level one thing is certain? Prevention is the key to longevity.

Yes, yes there are zillions of products on the market but... You are still hoping for something better and you should?

Fat paranoia... again and again you are told to avoid fats just to keep Cholesterol normal but? it is not the fat it is your liver that should be processing fats and if your liver is ! congeste d, it won't happen. And don't forget about the sugar? You don't want to miss this info?

Avoiding bad fats it is always a good choice but sometimes it is difficult so? what you can do? You need nutrients to utilize those good fats and bad fats even when you sleep.

Your peace of mind is priceless?

And the best part is that you don't need 100 different supplements to get better, you need only one and the guessing is not involved.

Low LDL (bad Cholesterol) it is not enough to keep you away from Heart Disease. Know your Risk Factor first, and discover breakthrough details on Self-Healing and how to wakeup the Doctor within you?

One Stop Self-Healing Web Site

Freelance writer from Europe: Bo Jeune-Fille Background: Alternative Medicine and Biochemistry. For more tips on Self-Healing visit http://www.best-lowering-cholesterol-links.com
Ask@best-lowering-cholesterol-links.com

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary heart disease is a condition that arises from increased amounts of atheromatous plaques that gather within the arteries. Many people who develop this condition may not begin showing symptoms until years after they have initially developed the disease. The most dangerous symptom of this disease is a heart attack, and this will generally occur after the atheromatous plaques break apart and begin restricting the flow of blood into the heart. Coronary artery disease is a common cause for sudden death.

This condition is known for having varying extremes. Certain people can be defined as being asymptomatic, and will have an early form of the disease where the flow of blood is not blocked. Doctors who perform coronary angiograms at this point may not be able to detect the disease because the lumen within the artery has not been reduced in size. However, the atheromatous plaques will grow into the walls of the arteries, and once they cause the lumen to expand, the blood flow will be restricted. Many researchers believe that this process took many years to occur, but there have been some cases where the plaque would rupture, and the progression of this disease would increase much faster than normal.

If the atheromatous plaques do not block more than 70 percent of the artery, patients will typically not begin showing the symptoms that are associated with the disease. Once the atheromatous plaques block more than 70 percent of the artery, the patient will begin showing symptoms. The heart will begin working harder to increase the amount of blood that flows to it, and the lumen may nearly become completely blocked. A patient who is in this situation will typically have suffered from multiple heart attacks, and may have angina as well. The restriction of blood flow to the heart is called ischema, and the cells will starve because they don't have oxygen.

There are a number of things responsible for the development of coronary artery disease. Smoking or being overweight is a common cause, ! while a lack of vitamin C can also lead to the development of this condition. There is also evidence that this disease is genetic in nature. Someone who comes from a family where many members have developed coronary heart disease will be much more likely to develop it themselves. People who have large amounts of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins have an increased chance for developing this condition. Angina is defined as the pain a patient will go through when they have an advanced form of the disease.

Coronary artery disease is very common in the West, and has been called the number one killer of Americans. The best way to avoid it is to avoid smoking and reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body. People who are overeweight will want to exercise and avoid foods that are rich in saturated fats. Those who live a sedentary lifestyle will want to go out as much as possible to be physically active. It is also important to make sure you consume decent amounts of vitamin C.

Michael Colucci is a writer for Coronary Artery Disease which is part of the Knowledge Search network.

Belly Fat The Silent Killer!

Ask any expert and they?ll all agree that EATING is what keeps your metabolism in ?fat burning? mode, while hunger forces the body into starvation mode, causing it to use it's fat supply sparingly. Your body does this as a self-defense mechanism. If you don?t provide food to supply yourself energy, fat is then used in its place. When this happens, the body instinctively burns the fat at a much slower pace...the stomach being the last place fat is used up.

During your restful night, the lack of food consumption triggers this starvation mode; consequently, your metabolism slows down. This is the reason that you've heard for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast will kick-start your metabolism as it recognizes that there is no longer a need to conserve the fat for energy. Thus, your body begins to use your fat source again at a normal pace.

So, if eating is what causes your body to continue to burn fat, the key is to learn what foods cause you to lose the weight, not gain it. FYI, there are secret ingredients that manufacturers use that cause Food Addiction, (you're addicted to their products so you continue to purchase them) shut down our Appetite Control, (you're able to eat much more than you normally would/could/should) and cause us to gain weight, mainly Belly Fat! This is extremely beneficial for the manufacturers because you buy more, eat more and the ingredients are cheaper than the healthier additives; thus, increasing profits again. It's certainly a win, win, win situation for the companies who choose to pois.on our foods with cheap substitutes. Not only are these ingredients highly addictive, but also, they lurk in foods that manu.facturers call ?all natural,? ?healthy,? ?low-fat,? and ?low-carb.? They pump fat precisely to the stomach area and are difficult to digest. Belly fat can?t be burned as easily as other body fat because it is not used as an immediate source of energy. Notice that although we consume tons of ?low-fat,? and! ?low-ca rb? foods, it is a known fact that obesity is at an all time high. This is not a coincidence.

Shockingly, belly fat directly affects our vital organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys and can be linked to most major health problems. You must learn how to avoid gaining and storing this dangerous type of fat...called visceral fat. By slightly adjusting your food choices, you could easily redirect your destiny. You can live a healthier, longer life while losing what's left of your tummy bulge and increasing your self-confidence and desirability. Belly fat causes major health problems that range from heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, obesity and as a result, sometimes Death! The key is to choose name brands that are completely safe and/or beneficial to your health. In most cases, there's no need to give up your favorite items, just choose them wisely.

One example of food poisons associated with major health problems is sodium. We take in an average 4000mg-7000mg/day when it's necessary and recommended to take in only 200mg/day to keep fluids in balance. Too much sodium (table salt) weakens your bones, causes stomach cancer, and causes cell repair mechanisms to shut down. It also has caused kidney damage in test mice and is known to cause kidney stones, high blood pressure and be.lly fat. HINT: Purchase your meats and cheeses from the deli in order to avoid much of the sodium used for preservation. Purchase enough for ONLY 1 week. Since it doesn?t contain the harmful preservative, sodium, that plagues our health, it's unable to retain its freshness for extended periods of time.

Remember, approximately 85% of the way your body looks is based on what you eat and don?t eat. Only 15% revolves around exercise. Surprised? Isn't this great news? THE BETTER NEWS! You don?t have to give up sweets or eat less! You can automatically lose weight and gain health by making better choices of the brands of foods you eat. Yes, you've got it! Usually, it?s! just a matter of choosing one brand over another...without calculating or counting...It's really that EASY!

Get informed today on foods that cause you to lose weight and additives that inject dangerous fat into your system. Remember one thing... just because a manufacturer produces one healthy product doesn?t mean they will be consistent with all of their products.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One (1) MAGIC Carb - (minus) 2 Fat Storing Ingredients = (equals)No Cellulite! No Flab! No Belly Fat! Bobbie Wright, a representative for the Mr. Louisiana Body Building Contest, has a PROVEN system to transform almost any meal into a Fat Busting Program. No Dieting! No Exercise! No Pills! Read 1st Chapter FREE by writing us @ eatyourweighthin@sendfree.com or visit http://www.eatyourweighthin.com

Herbs for Heartburn

While there are many herbs for heartburn relief, taking herbs for frequent heartburn symptoms that have not been evaluated by your doctor may not be the best treatment plan. If you suffer from heartburn occasionally, then you are not alone. According to a recent survey, 25% of people living in the United States suffer from heartburn every month and about 12% have symptoms every week. Frequent heartburn is defined by most practitioners as heartburn that is experienced three or more times per week. But, because symptoms are so bothersome, individuals that experience heartburn only several times more month may feel that there symptoms are frequent.

Using herbs for frequent heartburn may not be enough. Changes in lifestyle and dietary habits are usually necessary, even among people who are taking prescription medications that are designed to prevent heartburn symptoms. It can be very helpful to keep a food or heartburn diary for a month or two. This can help you determine many things. First, you will be able to see how many times per week you have heartburn symptoms. You may not realize how often you actually have heartburn.

Second, it may help you see what foods are heartburn triggers in your case and you may be able to avoid those foods. Eating foods that are highly acidic often leads to symptoms of heartburn. Herbs for heartburn relief, as well as over the counter medications attempt to neutralize or reduce the amount of stomach acid. If you begin taking over the counter products or herbs for frequent heartburn relief, your heartburn diary will help you determine what products work best for you. If you find it necessary to consult your physician, he or she will want to know what herbs for heartburn or other over the counter products you have tried. If nothing works, you will definitely want to consult your physician.

Your heartburn diary may also help you determine what other factors lead to heartburn in your case. Overeating, for instance, commonly leads to heartburn. ! Fennel tea or other herbs for heartburn relief may help after overeating. Taking a leisurely stroll is a better idea than lying down after a large meal. Other forms of exercise may bring on or worsen symptoms.

Some companies that sell herbs and other natural products have concoctions that include a combination of herbs for frequent heartburn prevention as well as heartburn relief. A combination of herbs for heartburn relief may be more effective than just one type of herb. Fennel and mint oils are commonly recommended, but some doctors advise that mint of any kind can bring on heartburn. Whenever you are buying herbs and other natural products, you should choose an established company that sells a number of different products, not just herbs for heartburn relief.

For more information about heartburn and other common digestive problems, visit www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton writes informational articles for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Visit us at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com

Have You Tried Everything and Still Feel Sick and Tired? The Benefits of Reflexology

Western medicine ideology is rooted in the language used by doctors and researchers. Their choice of words reveals their belief systems and the models they use to understand the way they think medicine works.

Western medicine perceives the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged against invaders and tumors. What they fail to realize is that diseases are not separate from the person. In fact every disease can be more accurately called an expression of the patient's lifestyle, beliefs, and energies. Cancer is not a tumor, for example: it is a systemic disorder that can only truly be cured by helping to support the body, not by attacking it with chemical bombs. The tumor is merely one physical expression of the systemic disorder, and simply removing the tumor does nothing to cure the disease.

Western medicine's approach to cancer has focused on getting rid of the physical symptoms -- cutting out tumors with sharp instruments or attempting to shrink tumors with chemotherapy. But a critical analysis of these methodologies shows that treating tumors does little or nothing to actually improve the quality of life or the lifespan of cancer patients.

The body is designed to heal itself provided it has the proper support to do its job.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced chee), or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body. Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, and remedial massage.

Body malfunction, stress, injury or dis-ease, is the result of the body being in a state of chemical and neurological imbalance, and vital energy pathways are bl! ocked, w hich prevents the body from functioning effectively. Reflexology is an effective method to restore and maintain the body's natural equilibrium and encourages healing. The practice of Reflexology has been around for thousands of years.

Reflexology is a holistic non-invasive therapy that helps restore and maintain the body's natural state of equilibrium and facilitate healing. In reflexology, the feet, hands and ears are viewed as mirror images of the body, with reflexes corresponding to every part and organ of the body. Stimulating these reflexes encourages natural healing. Reflexology is beneficial for all ages.

Effects of Reflexology

Reflex treatment helps to clean the organism by stimulating the natural emunctories : intestines, kidneys, lungs, sinuses, skin?

Reflexology is under the Hering law (American homeopathe): The natural healing of organ malfunctions, seen through symptoms which evolve from the interior to the exterior, from above to below and from the present towards the past. In this way cures for elimination attacks can be established the next day or shortly thereafter which are of either a physical or psycho-emotional order. These treatments are followed by a great vitality and relaxation.

Benefits:

Reduced stress and deep relaxation,
Improved circulation,
Improved elimination of toxins,
Revitalized energy,
Stregthens immune system,
Creation of an overall state of wellness,
Restoration of the body's equilibrium,
Restoration of the natural functioning of all systems,
Preventative health care

Common ailments relieved:

Headaches, Migraines
Arthritis,
Bronchitis,
Back pain,
Heart problems,
Blood Pressure reduced,
Chronic Pain reduced,
Better Sleep/No Insomnia,
Fatigue,
Diabetes,
Indigestion,
Sciatica,
PMS,
Asthma

What to expect when you visit a Reflexologist:
A regular session lasts for about 60 minutes, wi! th the f irst session being slightly longer since a thorough case history questionnaire is required. The interview takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the client's condition and the indications for Reflexology. The client remains fully clothed throughout the session.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Food that's Good for a Healthy Heart

Here's a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and blood pressure are crucial heart disease risk factors, many people who suffer chest pain or even heart attacks have levels that are perfectly normal. This puzzle has prompted researchers to scour the body for other cardiovascular villains. Several have emerged in recent years, but the one that stands out the most is inflammation.

The latest studies suggest that chronic inflammation of the lining of arteries is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. What causes this inflammation is not clear, but the good news is that (1) the advice that is given for lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides also works fine for fighting inflammation; and (2) you can tackle all 4 culprits with the help of dietary weapons - http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/nutrients.htm In fact, you can plan your war against heart disease in your kitchen. Here is how:

1. Think like an artist when you choose fruits and vegetables: Eat those with the brightest colors. They have the most heart protective antioxidant pigments. A diet high in fruits and veggies also provides another important heart benefit, salicylic acid, which is the same anti-inflammatory compound created when aspirin is broken down in the body.

2. Increase food sources of omega-3 fatty acids which target high triglycerides in the blood. Good sources of omega-3s include fish such as sardines, mackerel; nuts and seeds; green leafy vegetables; grains like wheat, bajra; legumes like rajma, cowpea, and black gram.

3. Reduce the amount of meats you eat, especially red meats, and always select lean cuts. Use meat as a seasoning for vegetable dishes rather than the focal point of a meal.

4. Cut down on salt and instead use herbs and spices like ginger, garlic, turmeric and fenugreek liberally in your cooking; the first three are naturally anti-inflammatory and the last has soluble fibre which helps sweep away cholesterol from the ! arteries .

5. Shift to groundnut, mustard, rice bran and olive oils which contain monosaturated fatty acids that help lower (bad) LDL and maintain levels of (good) HDL cholesterol. Drastically limit margarine, vegetable shortening, butter and all products made with partially hydrogenated oils.

6. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains (wheat, brown rice, oats), beans and pulses, are also great sources of soluble and insoluble fibre, which trap LDLs and usher them out of the body.

About The Author

Get helpful information on vitamins, amino acids, herbs, minerals and other nutrients for a healthier life - http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/.

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What Makes Your Blood Cholesterol High or Low

Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat.

People with heart disease or those who are at high risk for developing it typically have too much LDL-cholesterol in their blood. Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important.

Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat. Patients with heart disease or those who are at high risk for developing it typically have too much LDL-cholesterol in their blood. Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important.

Heredity. Your genes influence how high your LDL-cholesterol is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood. One specific form of inherited high cholesterol that affects 1 in 500 people is familial hypercholesterolemia, which often leads to early heart disease. But even if you do not have a specific genetic form of high cholesterol, genes play a role in influencing your LDL-cholesterol level.

What you eat. Two main nutrients in the foods you eat make your LDL-cholesterol level go up: saturated fat, a type of fat found mostly in foods that come from animals; and cholesterol, which comes only from animal products. Saturated fat raises your LDL-cholesterol level more than anything else in the diet. Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high levels of cholesterol and a high rate of heart attacks in the United States. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you eat ! is a ver y important step in reducing your blood cholesterol levels.

Weight. Excess weight tends to increase your LDL-cholesterol level. If you are overweight and have a high LDL-cholesterol level, losing weight may help you lower it. Weight loss also helps to lower triglycerides and raise HDL.

Physical activity/exercise. Regular physical activity may lower LDL-cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol levels.

Age and sex. Before menopause, women usually have total cholesterol levels that are lower than those of men the same age. As women and men get older, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about 60 to 65 years of age. In women, menopause often causes an increase in their LDL-cholesterol and a decrease in their HDL- cholesterol level, and after the age of 50, women often have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.

Alcohol. Alcohol intake increases HDL-cholesterol but does not lower LDL-cholesterol. Doctors don't know for certain whether alcohol also reduces the risk of heart disease. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle, lead to high blood pressure, and raise triglycerides. Because of the risks, alcoholic beverages should not be used as a way to prevent heart disease.

Stress. Stress over the long term has been shown in several studies to raise blood cholesterol levels. One way that stress may do this is by affecting your habits. For example, when some people are under stress, they console themselves by eating fatty foods. The saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods contribute to higher levels of blood cholesterol.

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. This world renowned, medically approved program will give you results you'll love and all the support you need! Estimate your healthy body weight, tons of recipes, articles, ezine and more information on how to lower your cholesterol at http://weight-loss-health.com.au

Ever Tried to Defined The Meaning of Beauty?

Beauty is a word just like any the word. Looking it up in Webster's II New Riverside Dictionary it means A quality or combination of qualities that delights the senses or appeals to the mind. Nice words. It really doesn't say anything about defining beauty.

When it comes to defining beauty one might envision that famous model walking down a catwalk with a frown on her face and a some fancy designer clothes on her back. Or maybe that guy in the latest action movie shirt-less that just takes your breath away, making your heart pound in your chest. Handsome equals Beauty just depending on the person thinking about it.

Still, what is the meaning of beauty?(Don't bother looking it up again.)

What is missing is questions to think about when asked what defines Beauty?
How about a woman's joyful smile lighting up her face with the thought that finally, she is pregnant?
Or how about children seeing snow for the first time, ever?
Or rain needed to save a crop to a farmer?
Or even snowcapped mountains at sunset to a skier,
Or dew on a prized rose at first morning light to a gardener?
How about the eye's filled with tears of the woman you just asked to marry you , again after 25 years?
What about love?

Beauty is so many things to so many people who are all so different. The Dictionary left out a few words when it defined Beauty. It left out what appeals to the heart. The next time you might be asked if something is beautiful, ask yourself, does it appeal to my heart? If it does, you just defined beauty.

Copyright 2005 Kim Snyder, owner Overallbeauty.com.
Great lover of all natural beauty care and products.
Never happy without trying to make the world a little prettier for all.
Visit her at http://Overallbeauty.com
Visit to see the latest in cosmetics and so much more.
Attn Ezine editors/website owners Free feel to preprint this article in its entirely in your ezine or on your website. As long as you leave the links in place. Do no! t modify the
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High Blood Pressure The Silent Killer

High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because you can have it for years without being aware of it. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. Blood pressure consists of two numbers: the top number indicates Systolic pressure; the amount of pressure your heart generates when pumping blood out through your arteries. The bottom number indicates Diastolic; the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest. Some causes of high blood pressure are kidney disease, thyroid disease, abnormal blood vessels, preeclamsia, sleep apnea, and adrenal disease.

Many of the signs and symptoms for high blood pressure are often ignored. They can include a dull ache in the back of the head, excessive perspiration and muscle cramps, weakness, frequent urination and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Though many people experience these symptoms they may experience all of the symptoms at all times and may attribute the symptoms to another cause. Always check with your doctor if you have any of above the symptoms.

There are many risk factors for high blood pressure. Be sure you know your family history and risk factors so you can make informed choices when it comes to your healthcare. Some of the risk factors are:

AGE: your risk increases with age.

RACE: High blood pressure occurs more frequently in blacks than any other racial group

SEX: High blood pressure is more common in men than women before the age of 60. However after the age of 60 the reverse is true.

FAMILY HISTORY: Some families have a history of high blood pressure

OBSEITY: The greater body mass you have the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues.

INACTIVITY: Lack of physical activity increases your risk.

TOBACCO USE: Nicotine constricts your blood vessels an! d forces your heart to work harder.

SODIUM: People who are sodium sensitive have fluid retention and increased blood pressure when using sodium.

LOW POTASSIUM: If you don?t consume or retain enough potassium, you can accumulate too much sodium, which raises the blood pressure.

EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL: Over time heavy drinking can damage your heart muscle, which can lead to high blood pressure and other complications.

STRESS: High levels of stress can lead to temporary increases in blood pressure.

Excessive high blood pressure can lead to a stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel, which supplies blood to the brain, bursts or is blocked by a blood clot. Within minutes the nerve cells in that area of the brain are damaged, and they die within a few hours. As a result, the part of the body controlled by the damaged section of the brain cannot function properly. Before having a stroke you may have one or more transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), which are a warning signal that a stroke may soon occur.

The symptoms of a stroke can be any or all of the following: Numbness, weakness, or paralysis or the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Vision problems in one or both eyes, double vision, or loss of vision. Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding with trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and a severe headache.

Remember to monitor your blood pressure, and to speak to your doctor if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above. If you have a history of high blood pressure be pro-active and take your blood pressure often. Blood pressure monitors can be purchased at pharmacies. You can also have your blood pressure taken at a pharmacy at no charge.

Contact your doctor immediately, or go to the closest hospital if you have any of the above symptoms!

Libby Sustacheck has over twenty years of experience in the healthcare field working with such industry giants as Kaiser Permanente and Aetna. She has assisted m! any org anizations with their wellness programs, and has a solid understanding of the needs of employers and their employees. Her experience includes delivery of successful smoking cessation programs.

Libby has participated in health fairs and specialized health screenings in addition to being a featured participant at Health Conferences.? Evonne Smith, Wellness Coordinator, Cox Cable. Located in San Marcos, California, Total Health Solutions provides health education to employers, and individuals in San Diego County. Owner, Libby Sustachek, has 20 years experience in the healthcare industry, a BA in Psychology, an MA in Health Education, and experience in providing excellent customer service in all aspects in the wellness arena.

You can read more from Libby at http://www.healthsolutionsandyou.com Or contact her at info@healthsolutionsandyou.com

Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease With Lipitor and Pravachol

Results of a new study comparing the effectiveness of Pfizer Inc.,?s Lipitor with Pravachol, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, was recently published in the New York Times. The study details the clinical observation that Lipitor was significantly more effective than Pravachol in lowering patient?s LDL cholesterol levels. However, the study did not comment on the overall effect that Statin drugs have on patient health, or the research that indicates Statins may actually increase your risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Statin drugs have been proven effective in the reduction of LDL cholesterol in most patients. However, the bio-chemical reactions that the drugs use to decease cholesterol also inhibit the production of an important nutrient that is essential for good heart health; specifically CoQ10.

Lipitor and Pravachol work by inhibiting the body?s ability to make an enzyme called HMG-CoA. This enzyme is the precursor to two compounds, cholesterol and CoQ10. Because the intent of Statin drugs is to inhibit cholesterol production, this method of suppression is very effective in reducing cholesterol levels. However, by suppressing the manufacture of HMG-CoA, and subsequently CoQ10, the body actually becomes more susceptible to heart attack, angina, congestive heart failure, and many other pulmonary-related diseases.

CoQ10 is found in every cell in the body and is necessary for proper energy utilization, resistance to disease, and cardiac health. The compound is so necessary that it?s chemical name is actually ubiquinone, because of its ubiquitous presence in the body. By suppressing the mechanism that makes CoQ10, Statin drugs such as Lipitor and Pravachol put patients at significant risk of heart disease, as well as reduce overall resistance to cancer and other diseases.

CoQ10 is used by the heart and other muscles to facilitate contraction as blood is pumped through the body. If the body?s source of CoQ10, is lowered, either through Statin drugs or environmental factors, the h! earts ab ility to contract is greatly diminished. This subsequently results in significant cardiac complications; including angina, heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia and heart attack.

In addition to its contribution to proper heart function, CoQ10 is also a significant ant-oxidant. When our ability to product CoQ10 is reduced, our body?s immunity to cancer, pollution and disease can be greatly diminished. This has been documented in a number of studies where CoQ10 levels have been measured in people with specific cancers, degenerative diseases, or HIV.

The relation between HMG-CoA, cholesterol, and CoQ10 has been well documented and is freely available. Subsequently, the solution to reduced CoQ10 levels has been made extremely simple. The solution is simply dietary supplementation with CoQ10 if you are taking a Statin drug. Much of the diminished CoQ10 supply can be made up through dietary supplementation. In fact, CoQ10 supplements can be purchased in the supplement section of your local health food store.

CoQ10 is essential to proper heart health and resistance to disease. Statin drugs such as Lipitor and Pravachol inhibit the body?s ability to product CoQ10. If not addressed, this can increase a patient?s risk of heart disease and other cardiac conditions. However, supplementation of CoQ10 by the use of a dietary supplement can balance the effects of Statin drugs and ensure that the patient?s risk of overall heart disease does not increase while his/her cholesterol levels decrease. If you are currently taking a Statin drug to reduce your cholesterol, talk to your doctor about supplementation with CoQ10 to ensure your continued good health.

About The Author

Barrett Niehus is a principal for IP Ware software http://www.freetrainer.com as well as a technical specialist for Compound Solutions, http:///www.compoundsolutions.com in Escondido, California.

The Basic Facts of High Blood Pressure

The heart is a tough operating mechanism which moves blood around the body through a very advanced system called arteries and capillaries; the blood is then carried back to the heart by means of veins. Blood pressure is the thrust of this blood in the body pushing up against the inside walls of the arteries as the heart is pumping.

As the heart compresses it will drive this blood into the arteries which makes an increase in pressure. This increase in pressure is noted as systolic pressure.

When the heart decompresses and fills with blood, the pressure in the arteries then declines which is noted as the diastolic pressure. When the blood pressure is evaluated in the arm, it is both of these pressures which are evaluated.

Blood pressure is always applied as a systolic and diastolic pressure number, and is an important measurement. The measurements are always written one preceding or before the other number, such as 120/80 and always stated in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

The systolic pressure is the 1st or top side number, and the diastolic pressure is the 2nd or lowermost number (for example, 120/80), so if your blood pressure is 120/80, it is translating to 120 over 80.

Blood pressure will have a wide range with a variety of people. For example, the top reading which is when the heart contracts (systolic) can change from 90 to 240 mmHg and the bottom pressure which is when the heart relaxes (diastolic) can often change from 40 to 160 mmHg.

Blood pressure can also vary significantly depending on what you are doing during the day. The lowest blood pressures usually happen when you are sleeping or if resting all the muscles. Standing for periods of time, or if you're performing any form of exercise, any anxiety and problems, or nerviness can also create increases in blood pressure.

That means in one day the blood pressure could change by up to a 30 to 40 mmHg systolic reading with like changes in the diastolic pressure. This is why it's so crucial to have the b! lood pre ssure taken under the same conditions each time.

For the bulk of the waking hours, the blood pressure remains about the same whether you are sitting or standing still, so ideally, the blood pressure should be 120/80 or lower when the body is rested.

If the blood pressure is steady and remains high at 140/90 or higher, this may indicate a disease called Hypertension which essentially means high blood pressure. When the blood pressure is high, the heart has to work more to get the blood through your arteries. These then take a beating from having the blood pressured into them, and the danger of a stroke, heart attack, or even kidney troubles then become that much of a greater risk.

High blood pressure is a serious disease because it has the heart working much harder. If the heart has to work harder for extended periods, it will become large. If the heart is slightly enlarged, it can and should still work alright, but if it becomes greatly enlarged it won't work alright. High blood pressure can also cause damage to the arteries which can lead to arterial disease.

The higher the blood pressure is the more risk you have of acquiring heart disease and stroke. This means somebody with a blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg is at greater risk than someone with a blood pressure of 120/70 mmHg. And is the reason it is so important for all to lead a wholesome lifestyle to make sure their blood pressure is as low and as healthy as it can be.

If you put up with Hypertension, it can be treated. Modest cases of Hypertension can usually be treated through lifestyle changes such as the diet, or increasing the workout levels. Some find dropping weight is all that is needed to lower their high blood pressure.

Severe cases of Hypertension will need prescription medications such as diuretics and beta blockers. Diuretics aid the body in getting rid of any excess fluids and salt. But, from individual experience, keep course of the potassium levels also. Beta blockers will lower the heart rate and ! the hear ts output of blood. These then lower the risk of developing heart and brain problems.

James is now writing articles on many different subjects. But they are based on extensive research. For more info on high blood pressure visit great hbp tips.