Sleep Secrets to use during Pregnancy and Beyond

Most of us have experienced a sleepless night or two, at times an inevitable part of life due to traveling, stress or perhaps health issues.  For many women however, becoming pregnant is the beginning of a sleepless night series without end.  Like being held hormonally hostage, a good night’s rest is now a distant memory and the magical sleep secret seems to elude, possibly forever.

Whether in the first trimester of pregnancy or in the middle of the 9th month, sleep is no doubt a more challenging experience but there are many things that one can do to make it bearable and more importantly, make sure that sleepless nights do not become a pattern or possibly a chronic sleep problem that will further complicate life once a new baby arrives.  Sleep is incredibly important while expecting, for Mom and baby’s health and to set up an essential routine that all new Mother’s need during pregnancy and beyond.

Here are a few secrets to a healthy night’s sleep that you can get started now:

• Eat healthy well-balanced meals (at least 5 servings of Fruits and Veggies daily) in the morning to avoid nausea and several hours before bed so digestion does not interfere with restful sleep
• Prioritize and establish a sleep routine, going to bed and waking at the same time each day to train your body, helpful once baby arrives
• Exercise for about 30 minutes each day – you will sleep better at night
• Sleep on your left side to improve the flow of blood and nutrients to your fetus and to your uterus and kidneys
• Try a pregnancy pillow-When sleeping, lie on your left side with your knees and hips bent. Place pillows between your knees, under your abdomen and behind your back. This may take pressure off your lower back
• If you can’t sleep, try to quietly take your mind off of it by reading, writing, knitting, drinking herb tea or take a warm bath
• Avoid taking medication as it will be shared with your baby and is usually never a solution

*Be sure to tell your Doctor if you are concerned about sleep issues and make sure that exercise is safe for you since all pregnancies are so different

Wake up Beautiful:Naturally

Well, I guess this may sound like a contradiction, I know most of us don’t feel like entering a beauty contest when the alarm goes off in the morning So you have the best mattress and bedding, naturally but there a few things that can be done, with ingredients found in your very own kitchen that just might make your am a little brighter. Just take a few moments before bed and you are sure to wake up feeling like sleeping beauty herself!

Electronic Medical Records: Health Care made Simple

No doubt about it, if you have visited a hospital or medical facility lately you probably have a good idea of how complicated the entire process has become. Signing page after page of legal terminology that is meant to protect your safety and privacy as well as the hospital’s liability gives one a glimpse of the sheer volume of paperwork that any healthcare facility must manage. Just imagine what goes on behind the scenes. The last thing that a patient should be forced to worry about is their medical records so Optimus  EMR  has responded to this need with an innovative Electronic Medical Records Software.

Optimus EMR has designed a solution that organizes and enhances patient care, increases the efficiency of reimbursement and reduces operational expenses. The ability to empower staff to manage diverse and complex clinical activities increases profitability, reduces costs and most importantly, Electronic Health Records clearly reduce Facility risks.

This allows patients to concentrate on their healthcare and a recovery plan and not worry about the accuracy and availability of their clinical records. In addition, with the increasing population of senior citizens, Optimus EMR has developed a comprehensive long term care software solution. This Nursing Home Software works for organizations and chains of all sizes and needs, featuring three different starting points! The time to improve the health care experience is now, proactively reducing costs and ensuring patients an efficient and organized medical experience.

 

 

Quitting Smoking: What’s Really New?

Are you as sick as I am of hearing about yet another guaranteed smoking cessation program? I think it has reached the point where I block many of these claims out, unless I can see and understand for myself why it works. Like most things in life however, especially health zapping bad habits, one must be truly motivated to make that change in order for it to really work.

The reason for giving up those toxic little treats may differ, whether it is a pressing health issue, Doctor’s orders, lifestyle change, it doesn’t matter. The point is, beating smoking is never easy. I have found that there are really no magic cures. Rather, what is needed is a very determined attitude and a strong resolve to quit. One must enter into this positive smoke-free transformation with an open mind, remembering all of the wonderful things that a life free of cigarettes will bring to smokers and their families!

Educate yourself. Instead of blocking out all that we don’t understand, learn about your body, mind and the environment in which we all live. This might be the incentive that you need to make a few changes that will enhance your life and the quality in which you live.

Mobility Works for everyone:Vans made for the Handicapped

Although I consider myself to be an enlightened individual, I am reluctant to admit how much I still take my own mobility for granted. It is relatively easy for most of us to hop in the car and go without giving it a second thought. But what if those last minute trips to the store were not so simple? Or even worse, what if there was an emergency?

Luckily, there is MobilityWorks, a national chain that provides vans for wheel chairs and serves the disabled community with wheelchair accessible lowered floor minivans, full-size handicapped equipped vans and a commercial line of fleet vehicles to thousands of individuals and business clients each year. MobilityWorks stands out as the leading handicap van and adaptive equipment retailer in the United States and the largest conversion manufacturer of commercial vans for transporting disabled riders.

Unless one lives with a mobility challenge or has personally transported someone with limited mobility it is hard to imagine how important it is to have the ability to move around as needed. Decreasing one’s reliance on others allows for a new-found freedom that is both challenging and liberating for disabled folks! MobilityWorks makes the world accessible to everyone by customizing vehicles to suit the rider!

Beating Smoking:A new way to a healthy life

How many times do smokers make that promise to quit smoking, one more time, one more program, and yet, most of the time, one more failure. I hate to sound so hopeless but the statistics are not optimistic. Even in our increasingly health conscious society, millions of people try to quit smoking with less than a ten percent success rate. Ironically, in order to be successful at anything we must be brimming with hope and promise, approaching the change with a positive attitude.

Beating smoking is without a doubt, a major lifestyle change. Most of us are aware of the enormous health benefits of quitting the habit however this is simply not enough. Perhaps everyone has a different reason for giving up cigarettes but one thing remains constant in the success stories that I am aware of: the willingness to try something new.

Approaching this addiction beast with an open mind will allow one to absorb new concepts and one of them just might take hold! Let’s face it, smoking is no longer cool, in fact many cities have outlawed the practice altogether. When was the last time you saw a runner holding a cigarette or a soccer Mom driving to practice with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. Maybe they know that health and smoking don’t mix and because most of us want to be around for awhile enjoying a quality life, make beating the smoking habit a priority!

Bradford Drug and Alcohol Treatment for your family’s health

These days it seems like everyone is interested in making those positive changes to improve their family’s health, educating themselves on the latest techniques to insure a long and productive life. One problem that is often overlooked for a variety of reasons is addiction perhaps because many people don’t view alcohol and drug addiction as medical conditions for which effective treatment is available. The good news is that help is accessible so the sooner that treatment is obtained the better chance there is for long term recovery, both physical and mental.

Bradford Health Services offers Atlanta drug abuse rehab centers that residents turn to for innovative addiction treatment which offers a follow up or “continuing care program” that many attribute their recovery to. The reason that many shorter term addiction treatments fail is because once the residential portion is complete, many addicts don’t have the strong support system needed for longer outpatient success. Whatever the demon, any major lifestyle change requires replacing the bad habits with good healthy ones. Not an easy task!

Most of us know that a life free of alcohol and drugs is imperative to a happy, healthy existence but in a world filled with increasing stress and pressure, it is easy to get caught in the downward spiral of chemical dependency. Bradford offers various programs and services that help patients and their families with their individual needs. An Atlanta Drug Rehab like no other, Bradford has been treating addiction for decades. Whatever the addiction, there is healing and there is always hope, you just have to take the first step!

 

Blucigs for the new generation of smokers

Like many folks, I came from a generation when smoking was not the health hazard that it has proven to be today. There is no disputing, inhaling the toxic fumes from a cigarette will eventually make you sick and kill you not to mention the fact that you will no longer look cool or even be accepted in many places including several nearby cities in which controversial smoking bans have made headlines recently.

If you have reached the point in your life where you want to quit but need some help, consider trying Blucigs, An electronic cigarette has about the same amount of nicotine as a pack of regular cigarettes allowing you to inhale a flavorful vapor instead of a poisonous cloud of smoke. Blucigs are the ecig alternative that so many turn to for support. Convenient and stylish, you will be amazed that there really is a quit smoking option that works.

What have you got to lose? Without your health what else do you have?

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound HIFU Provides New Hope for Prostrate Cancer Patients

Most men with early prostate cancer typically have no symptoms which makes the fact that nearly one-quarter of a million men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer each year even more staggering and begs the question, what can be done to treat those afflicted. HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and is a revolutionary outpatient procedure used to treat localized or organ confined prostate cancer . The minimally invasive procedure uses the power of ultrasound waves (acoustic surgery) to quickly and efficiently destroy the prostate gland, along with any cancer it may contain, while lowering the risks associated with more traditional prostate cancer remedies.

The High Intensity Focused Ultrasound treatment is delivered through a specialized probe inserted into the rectum using a process very similar to light being focused onto paper with a magnifying glass. From the probe, a high intensity ultrasonic beam is focused onto the prostate monitored with computer control along with simultaneous ultrasound imaging to identify the prostate.
In this process the prostatic tissue,including the prostate cancer is heated to about 90 degrees Celsius and destroyed. Organs and tissue adjacent to the prostate are unharmed. The destroyed prostatic cancerous tissue is eventually expelled during urination. The HIFU procedure itself usually takes 2-3 hours to complete and after about an hour in the recovery room, the patient is typically able to walk away and resume his life. Anesthesia is not required, but is often recommended. The treatment can also be combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

The first commercial HIFU machine, called the Sonablate 200, was developed by the American company Focus Surgery, Inc. (Milipitas, CA) and launched in Europe in 1994 after receiving CE approval, bringing a first medical validation of the technology for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). HIFU treatment of prostate cancer is currently an approved therapy in Europe, Canada, South Korea, Australia, and elsewhere. Clinical trials for the  United States  Sonablate 500 are currently ongoing for prostate cancer patients and those who have experienced radiation failure.

Police Neighbor

Thanks to Roman May

My neighbor just came over to return a cupcake pan she had borrowed for her daughter’s birthday. We got to talking, like we always seem to do, and she mentioned to me that they are getting ADT security soon. I was surprised to hear that because I’ve always felt so safe where we live, but she said it was her husband’s idea. He is a police officer, so that kinda makes me concerned. If he wants to get an alarm system, than he probably is right about that. He knows the ins and outs of what goes on in this town, and he sees crime and violence every day. She said it would surprise me some of the things he sees going on in our little town. When my husband gets home tonight, I’m going to mention it to him to see what he thinks. Now that she brought it to my attention, I’ve got it on my mind and think that maybe it would be a good idea for us as well. We’ll see.