Archive for the ‘Health Stuff’ Category

We all know that contraceptive pills, albeit having certain side effects, are generally safe for use everyday. That is why FDA regulates medicines in the first place, all medicines in the market need to be screened and regulated before public usage.

Yaz, a newer oral contraceptive pill manufactured by Bayer, has been under a lot of fire lately with more than 50 different lawsuits (around 50 have been dead) because of its hazardous side effects. What is worse, Bayer has proactively advertised the pill to consumers already before corrective action has been taken. Now, the FDA has ordered them to spend $20 million on corrective advertising alone.

Yaz Problems have been underscored with advertising. But generally, Yaz has a tendency to form blood clots leading to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart strokes and gallbladder stones formation.

One would have thought that prescription drugs in the market are safe, but 50 deaths over a single drug is alarming! I hope the FDA is stricter with its rules and regulations next time. Studies have proven that a single ingredient called Drospirenone is present in Yaz that makes it hazardous. It can increase blood potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia, which can result in the Yaz heart problems and other side effects.

Look who went from “fat” to fabulous in just a month!

Among the Kardashian sisters, stars of their own reality show, Khloe, the youngest among the three Kardashians, is the last person who you would think would appear in a lifestyle and fitness magazine not once, but twice, wearing hot bikinis. Life has certainly turned around for this newlywed, as she has lost 25 pounds last summer in the span of 28 days.

Just look at her before and after pictures:

Those are her pictures when she was a size 10 and size 6, respectively. Still, criticisms are still being thrown at her, the two from Spencer Pratt and Janice Dickinson. According to an online article at LifeandStyleMag, “Supermodel Janice Dickinson attacked the star saying, “There’s no way she would become a fashion icon. Khloé looks like a heifer.” And Spencer Pratt recently said, “Khloé still needs to work out more. I recommend she go to theheidimontagworkout.com so she can get fantastic curves like my wife’s.”

Khloe has learned to accept this and even has fought back. For one thing, she tells that she will never be like her sisters, who are petite and delicate-boned, being only 5” and 5″’2”. She is a tall woman at 5’10”!

“Way before, I was a size 10. Then I went to an 8, and now I’m a 6,” Khloé tells Life & Style. “I don’t think with my bone structure I could get much smaller than a 6. This is my body — and I love it.”

Celebrities have always been under the microscope, papparazzis noting and taking pictures of the slightest weight gain or belly bump. That is why most celebrities are on a perpetual diet. It must be really hard for them, keeping up with odd and long hours filming on the set, the pressure of needing to look glamorous all the time and to be disciplined with eating (and having to find time to exercise). No wonder most of them take diet pills to help them lose and maintain their weight. One of the widely-used and most-accepted is xenical. Xenical is a prescription drug that helps block about one-third of the fat in the foods you eat from being absorbed by your body.

I am willing to bet that there about 9 out of 10 people who have made the resolution to lose weight, get fit, eat healthier or have a better eating habits at the start of the new year. In fact, I am pretty sure thay gyms and health training centers are brimming with new applicants and renewed subscriptions. Sales of this kind of dip station might be hitting the roof as well.

Count me in on the 9 out of 10 people. Less rice, cut off soda – God Help me!

“No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.”
~Oscar Wilde

Surgical procedures that enhance one’s beauty and figure have been accepted by the public after research has proven that there are areas in one’s body that will never lose cellulite unless it is forcibly removed by procedure. That is why there are women whose arms never went back to its shapely figure even after diet and workouts. While many have turned to traditional liposuction and tummy tucks to help them reshape their bodies, there are micro-laser assisted procedures that are non-invasive, doesn’t require anesthesia and would allow you to go back to normal activities almost immediately after the procedure! That is what sono bello procedures are famous for.

For example, laser body contouring procedures like LipoLite and SmartLipo are FDA-approved micro-laser liposuction systems. A micro-cannula with a laser fiber is inserted under the skin into the fat layer. The laser then targets fat cells, liquefies them with gentle suction. It has an advantage over the traditional liposuction as it results in less blessing and bruising and stimulate collagen formation which helps the skin tighten up after the fat has been permanently removed.

There is also VelaShape that is a non-surgical procedure also requires no downtime and is a virtually painless treatment for body reshaping and cellulite reduction.

With the recent tragedies of flooding and earthquakes (not to mention volcanic eruptions) occurring left and right, is no better time than now to orient people to make sure they have emergency and survival kits which have medical supplies. Survival kits usually are prepared to make sure to last for 72 hours and even if you can buy these commercially, know that you can assemble your own. Items may be stored in a 32-gallon trash can, suitcase, duffle bag, backpack, footlocker, or individual pack. Note this must be waterproof.

Emergency Needs

• Battery Powered Radio
• First Aid Kit & Manual
• Sleeping Bags & Blankets (wool & thermal)
• Manual Can Opener
• Waterproof/Windproof Matches
• Non-Perishable Foods
• Flashlight
• Water Storage (1 gal./day)
• Water purification tablets
• Utility Knife
• Emergency Candles
• Extra Eyeglasses/Contact Lenses
• Essential Medications
• Extra Clothing

Suggested non-perishable food items: Ready-to-eat goods in unbreakable containers, canned meats, juice, fruits & vegetables, powdered milk, infant care foods, crackers, peanut butter, freeze-dried & dehydrated goods.

Sanitation Kit

• Plastic Bucket w/Tightly Fitted Lid
• Plastic Bags & Ties
• Disinfectant
• Improvised Toilet Seat
• Paper Cups & Plates
• Personal Toiletries
• Baby Supplies
• Aluminum Foil
• Paper Towels
• Personal Hygienic Needs
• Plastic Utensils
• Soap

Other Emergency Needs

• Pen & Paper
• Money
• Address & Phone Numbers
• Work Gloves
• Basic Tools

Standard First Aid Kit

• First Aid Manual
• Aspirin or Pain Relievers
• Laxatives
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Diarrhea Medicine
• Petroleum Jelly
• Soap
• Salt
• Gauze
• Band-aid
• Triangular Bandage (36"x36"x52")
• Elastic Bandage
• Cotton Balls
• Cotton Swabs
• Safety Pins

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You will never know how pain will start. Usually, people these days complain of tension headaches, back pains, shoulder pains and neck pains and they don’t know what is the root cause of all of these? It maybe a variety of causes, like stress, office environment/work-related (sitting in front of the computer for too long), arthritis, overexhaustion and then some. However, you might be surprised that your sleeping position and the pillows (and bed) you use might be the main culprit of the dull ache you have been experiencing!!

There are many types of orthopedic pillow out there in the market. However, it is always best to ask your doctor for recommendations because not all those who claim they have “orthopedic” pillows have actually followed the standard procedure of making supportive type pillows.

For one thing , they must follow the TriCare: Circle of Health Pillow Selection Guide, where most CoreProducts pillows are based from. The circular nature of the TriCare figure shows the three stages of care – accommodate, correct and maintain – and represents the continuous nature of good health. They are color-coded designed to help health professionals and their patients identify which Core pillows are suitable for the patient’s stage of care. Accommodation and correction represent two stages of a three-stage system of care. The third stage, maintenance, fulfills a circle of health.

The neck pain pillowthe Tri-Core Pillow, aligns the spine and supports the neck in its natural position, whether you sleep on your back or your side. If you suffer from back pain and sleep on the side most of the time, there is a specific pillow that will align your cervical spine so that you won’t strain your neck and shoulders.

The most common back pain treatment is R.I.C.E., which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Chronic pain can be debilitating. It does not only cause physical pain but also psychological and mental pain. Imagine having the pain consume you every minute of everyday- you cannot focus on anything else but the pain that sometimes you become forgetful, depressed and even temperamental. Who wouldn’t? You might probably have heard about tramadol- it is the generic form of Ultram, is an analgesic utilized to treat or forbid pain. The usual dose, tramadol 50mg, is enough to treat chronic pain.

Examples of pain include:
Low Back Pain
Neck Pain
Shoulder Pain
Frozen Shoulder
Fibromyalgia
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Cancer Pain
Canine Pain
Ear Pain Relief
Foot Pain

Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer pain are the usual culprits of pain. In cases like those noted, pain management would not be sufficient.
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Being healthy doesn’t equate to being thin. These days being thin has just become a requirement to looking good and doesn’t necessarily mean feeling good. Who knows how many diet pills are really out there and which ones are really beneficial for people. The bad thing about diet pills is not really the pill in itself but people who really don’t need them are the ones popping it one after another. There are many side effects of diet pills and they are serious ones. That is why there is also a strong disclaimer and recommendation on their packaging to consult a doctor before taking them (which of course are rarely followed).

Treatment for Symptoms of side effects are very confusing if full disclosure of what type of pill was taken in and the dosage (frequency and how many).

If you think you are suffering from a brain disorder, you should probably get your brain diagnosed now. Inquire about the services offered by The Amen Clinics and have your condition treated.

Tune. Run. Connect. It’s more than just listening to music while running. With NIKE+, you get to accurately measure your running performance through real time audio feedback. From time, distance to calories, the information you want is just a few clicks away in your Nano, while listening to your very own music playlist. Thanks to the NIKE+ Sport Kit, which contains a sensor for your NIKE+ enabled shoes and a receiver for your Nano, that makes it all possible. It’s reasonably priced at P1790 too! And an additional perk for us online buffs? You also get to synchronize your Nano online, record and show off your running performance to the online community (visit www.nikeplus.com.ph).