Saturday, December 29, 2007

Copyright 2006 Anne Wolski
Anyone suffering from a disease of the lungs knows how distressing the shortness of breath can be. Emphysema is a particularly acute lung disease in which the damage is permanent so it is important to take all steps possible to avoid these conditions in the first place.
Inside the respiratory system, there are very small sacs of air called alveoli and the passages that lead to these sacs of air are called bronchioles. In pulmonary emphysema, the bronchioles become permanently distended with air. This condition reduces the number of blood vessels because of the loss of elasticity in the lung tissues. Consequently, the ability of the lungs to provide oxygen continues to decrease and the person becomes breathless very easily.
The condition is more common in men and usually appears after the age of forty. It is thought that women may be protected by a hormonal factor but this has not actually been proven. This condition can cause disability and eventually death. The main cause of emphysema is cigarette smoking. However, exposure to pollution and dust on an ongoing basis can also bring on the disease. This becomes a risk factor in some industries where there are large amounts of dust. Also, people who suffer from chronic bronchitis may also suffer from emphysema. If these people are also smokers, it makes the condition even worse.
Not all smokers contract emphysema and it also occurs in non smokers. Some feel that the white cells in the lungs produce a substance called elastase. Smoke or dust interferes with the cells causing them to release this elastase. If this happens, it may attack the lung tissue.
When a person suffers from chronic bronchitis, the airways become blocked with mucous because of irritation by smoke, dust and other pollutants. This makes it difficult to breathe as the person must overcome the resistance of the mucous. Inspiration of air then results in distension of the alveoli. The elasticity of the lung tissue may also be weakened by bacterial infections which are common in chronic bronchitis.
Subcutaneous emphysema can also result from a broken rib that punctures the lung or from whooping cough.
The most recognized symptom of emphysema is breathlessness. This can be accompanied by a cough that can be brought on by the smallest amount of action. Simply laughing or talking can make the person breathless. There may also be discomfort after a meal because the lungs have expanded. Sometimes this can result in loss of appetite and resultant weight loss.
Some patients become cyanosed due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. This bluish discolouration is most noticeable on the lips and under the fingernails.
Emphysema can also affect the heart. The lungs become resistant to the flow of blood as the alveolar walls thicken. This means the heart has to work harder to force blood through the lungs, putting extra strain on the heart.
The progress of pulmonary emphysema may be slowed with treatment but it cannot be cured. Some bronchodilator drugs give relief, particularly if the patient also has chronic bronchitis. Breathing pure oxygen from a cylinder allows enough gas to enter the blood stream.
Surgery to reduce lung volume is a new, experimental treatment in which parts of both lungs are removed, decreasing the hyperinflation of the chest and improving breathing.
Emphysema can sometimes be slowed but lung damage cannot be repaired, so it is better not to begin smoking.

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Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. She is a co-director of http://www.magnetic-health-online.com an information portal with many interesting medical articles and also of http://www.pharmacybyweb.com which has online physicians who can help you with any questions you may have.


Fitness Tips For Future Generations
Copyright 2006 John Perry
In her book Smart Moves, Dr. Carla Hannaford (http://www.ladderoflearning.co.uk/Z/books/hannaford.php) tells us why we must move to fully activate our learning potential.
I personally have written articles and e-books on the topic of full body exercise to enhance flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, energy levels and weight loss. These exercises can be performed by 5 year olds to professional athletes.
Both Dr. Hannaford and I are talking about training the nervous system in an effort to enhance mental and motor functioning. I come at it from an exercise standpoint. I teach how to use your hips and butt to train your brain for smooth, coordinated movement patterns. Ultimately, this will allow the performer of the exercises to move his or her body as it is intended to move and the brain to function at a higher capacity. This produces an energetic, happier, healthier and more stimulating lifestyle!
Did you know approximately nine million children over the age of 6 in the U.S. are considered obese and 2% receive help for some type of learning disability? Let me tell you what you as parents can do to help.
I am now going to lay out 5 tips that you and your children can start doing today that will make all the difference in their motor and mental functioning. You will be doing what my slogan from my website promises; "training and teaching today….educating for a lifetime".
1) I recommend that your family instill dynamic flexibility into your day. These are exercises designed to enhance balance and flexibility of your muscles and joints. You are actually moving while you are stretching, not the "hold for 10 seconds" variety of the past.
Two good examples of this type of stretching would be: 1. a walking lunge, with rotation to the leg that is forward, alternating legs with each step 2. The "inchworm", in which you start in a push up position, walk your feet to your hands, keeping your legs straight and then walk your hands back to the push up position…like an inchworm. These dynamic stretches improve balance, strength, coordination and most importantly, flexibility.
2) Combine family time and play time. While on walks with the family, instruct the children to skip, hop, balance on 1 leg, "tightrope walk" the curb or bear crawl in the grass (like follow the leader). This will stimulate the child's' nervous system and be fun at the same time. Let each family member take turns deciding the activity; this will bring out creativity in your children.
I realize the younger the child, the shorter the attention span tends to be. I recommend letting them lead the activity but gradually steer them back to more exercise related tasks.
3) Have your children drink plenty of water. A half an ounce of water per pound of body weight would be good. If your child weighs 70 pounds for example, then 35 ounces a day would be a good start. Unfortunately, a lot of children, and adults, are dehydrated a big percentage of the time.
Adequate water intake will allow normal muscle, brain and other organ functioning. It will help their alertness, creativity, social skills and success in schoolwork.
4) Have your children eat 3 meals and 2 healthy snacks a day. Breakfast is a must! Get them up earlier if that is what it takes! Meals should include proteins, carbohydrates and 8 ounces of water or juice. A good rule of thumb is for every gram of protein, have 3 grams of carbohydrate. Make sure you include fruits and vegetables, which are carbohydrates.
If you, as parents, follow this eating pattern, the more likely your kids are going to adhere to it as well. Healthy snacks include fruits, nuts and cereals. Bon appetite'!
5) Limit T.V. to 1-2 hours a day…for starters. Children's brains go into a lower level of functioning while watching T.V., a "passive" mode if you will. Active thought and reason do not occur.
Children's (and adults') brains need to be stimulated by the world and people around them. Their brains, muscles and joints will be much better off when the T.V. is turned off and they are moving or at least engaged in participatory conversation! I know, I know, I am a fan of reality T.V. too; but, please give it a try!
6) Bonus: Use the internet to learn more about exercise and how it can improve your health and mental status. You and your children can learn from the exponential amount of information available on the internet. This can also be good, quality family time.
As you can see, all of these things can be done very easily and immediately. Introducing them to your family will be fun, maybe a little challenging, but, definitely rewarding.
The bottom line is to get your children moving to stimulate their body and brain. It is the best thing you can do for their physical and mental health!
"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

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Want to improve the mental, physical and financial aspects of your fitness? Go to http://www.hiptobefit.com/intro John B. Perry, P.T., C.S.C.S. is a fitness and biomechanics enhancement expert. He has a fitness newsletter website, writes e-books and articles, produces fitness videos and performs seminars and teleseminars on Health, Wealth and Fitness.


CAN LOSING WEIGHT IMPROVE YOUR SEX LIFE?
Copyright 2006 Eva Moffat
If you are overweight / obese it is possible that you feel your sex life has gone forever.
Your libido or sex drive as it is more commonly known has diminished, maybe so much so that you have no interest in sex anymore.
Being overweight can make you feel unattractive. You will compensate for this by telling yourself you don't care. Making excuses eg I'm too old for such things
It never seems to occur to us that if we lose some weight, we may well become the sexpots we were when we were younger.
I'm not saying lack of sexual desire is caused only be being overweight. There are other possible reasons.
Other possible causes may be:
· People with Diabetes
· On medication for High Blood Pressure
· Women of child-bearing years, despite the sophisticated contraception available now, may still fear becoming pregnant again.
· Older people have the mistaken idea that sex is for the youngsters, and now they have reached a certain mature age, they consider themselves past it.
· Men may have problems in their plumbing departments
· Being Depressed or Stressed
· Etc.
If you have lost interest in sex, could any of the above reasons be what is causing your problem?
So what if you have shaken your head at all the above reasons think of approaching your GP about your problem. He may refer you to a sex therapist, once he/she has checked you out for other reasons for your lack of interest in sex.
There is no need to be embarrassed, it's more common than you may think. Do you think it's only you? All your friends have perfectly normal sex lives. But who knows what goes on behind the walls of other people's homes.
If you are overweight what would be the advantages of losing weight?
· The obvious, you'd look and feel better
· You might well save your own life because of the various conditions being overweight may trigger eg
· High Blood Pressure
· Diabetes
· Heart Attacks
· Strokes etc
So losing weight has a lot going for it.
Who knows, you might even get your sex drive back again and this is irrespective of your age.

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Eva Moffat an ex-nurse is a weight loss specialist who optimises her own health through Nutritional Supplements. If you are struggling with health or weight loss issues, find out how she can help you too at
http://www.weight-loss-4-you.com or E-Mail: eva.moffat@onetel.net