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Safe and effective medications are as close as your computer screen. Your doctor’s prescription for your viagra 100mg or cialis 20mg can be filled online with the ease of a few moments of your time and the medications that can address the male ED symptoms can be delivered in a short time right to your home.

Let the convenience and the great internet pricing be your advantages and get the medications you need with no inconvenience to your busy schedule. This is the best time to be shopping online for the medications that your doctor prescribes for you.

A person with necrotizing fasciitis needs to go to the hospital for treatment as soon as the condition is suspected. The person will usually be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Early treatment of necrotizing fasciitis is critical. The sooner treatment begins, the more likely the person will recover from the infection and avoid serious consequences, such as limb amputation or death.

Treatment may include:

• Surgery that removes infected tissue and fluids to stop the spread of infection.
• Medicines (antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin) to kill the bacteria causing the infection.
• Procedures to treat complications such as shock, respiratory problems, and organ failure.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which can help prevent tissue death and promote healing.

Surgery

Surgery (surgical debridement) is almost always needed to remove the infected dead tissue resulting from necrotizing fasciitis. This can also reduce the number of bacteria in the body, remove toxins, and stop the spread of infection. Most people need several operations to fully control the infection.

Removing limbs (amputation) or organs may be necessary to save the person’s life, depending on how severe the infection is and where it has spread.

Medications

Intravenous (IV) antibiotics such as clindamycin and penicillin are used to kill some kinds of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis (usually streptococci and staphylococci) and stop the production of toxins that cause the illness. More than one antibiotic (broad-spectrum therapy) may be needed, especially when the person has diabetes or injury to the intestines.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may be used along with surgery and antibiotics to help treat necrotizing fasciitis. IVIG boosts the body’s immune system and reduces the effects of bacterial toxins. It is not yet clear whether treatment with IVIG helps cure necrotizing fasciitis.

Oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which provides your body with high levels of oxygen, may help control infection, promote healing, and reduce the need for surgery.2, 3 For this treatment, the person with necrotizing fasciitis is placed in a chamber and the air in the chamber is enriched with oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not routinely done to treat necrotizing fasciitis.

Treatment for complications

Other types of treatment for complications caused by necrotizing fasciitis may be needed. The kind of treatment depends on what part of the body is affected and what problems the infection is causing.

Shock, kidney failure, and breathing problems caused by damage to the lungs (respiratory distress syndrome) are the most common complications of necrotizing fasciitis. Many people who have necrotizing fasciitis will need dialysis to treat kidney failure. And about one-half will need a machine (ventilator) to help with breathing until their health improves.

Media reports have popularized the term “flesh-eating bacteria” to refer to a type of very rare but serious bacterial infection known as necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis is an infection that starts in the tissues just below the skin and spreads along the flat layers of tissue (known as fascia) that separate different layers of soft tissue, such as muscle and fat. This dangerous infection is most common in the arms, legs, and abdominal wall and is fatal in 30%-40% of cases.

Although necrotizing fasciitis may be caused by an infection with one or more than one bacterium, in most cases the term flesh-eating bacteria has been applied to describe infections caused by the bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes. The term flesh-eating has been used because the bacterial infection produces toxins that destroy tissues such as muscles, skin, and fat. Streptococcus pyogenes is a member of the group A streptococci, a group of bacteria that are commonly responsible for mild cases of sore throat (pharyngitis) and skin infections, as well as rare, severe illnesses such as toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis. Most infections with group A streptococci result in mild illness and may not even produce symptoms.

Sometimes, other bacteria or even a combination of different bacteria may produce necrotizing fasciitis. A case was reported in 2012 of a young woman who suffered a zip-lining accident on a river in West Georgia. She contracted an infection with the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, which produced a necrotizing infection that resulted in the loss of a leg and part of her abdomen.

The symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Blisters may be seen in the involved area of skin. Fever, nausea, vomiting, and other flulike symptoms are common. Another characteristic of necrotizing fasciitis is that the symptoms develop very rapidly, usually within 24 hours after a wound in the skin has allowed the bacteria to invade the tissues beneath the skin. The pain is described as being more severe than would be expected from the appearance of the wound. Late symptoms can include death (gangrene) of affected areas with scaling, discoloration, or peeling of the skin.

Many of the people who have developed necrotizing fasciitis have been in good health before developing the condition. People with chronic medical conditions (for example diabetes and cancer) or who have weakened immune systems are at an increased risk of developing necrotizing fasciitis. Recent wounds (including surgical incisions) and recent viral infections that cause a rash (such as chickenpox) also confer an increased risk.

Necrotizing fasciitis is treated with antibiotics, and early treatment is critical. Hospitalization, usually with treatment in the intensive-care unit (ICU), is required. Surgery to remove infected fluids and tissue may be necessary, along with medications to treat shock and other potential complications.

What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?

Spinal muscular atrophy is the name given to a group of genetic muscle- wasting disorders. SMA affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle. These nerve cells are called motor neurons and SMA causes them to die off. Without motor neurons, the brain cannot deliver signals to the muscles. Unable to fully use them, the muscles of a person with SMA will waste away. The larger muscles closer to the body – such as the hip and shoulder muscles – may be more affected than the smaller muscles of the hands and feet, and usually the legs are weaker than the arms. Muscles in the face and throat may experience weakness as well. Depending on what type of SMA a person has, there may also be a loss of reflexes. In the more serious cases of the disorder, the muscles responsible for breathing and swallowing may be severely affected.

The term SMA is used to describe a wide spectrum of disabilities with great variation in age of onset and severity of weakness. In the past, researchers and physicians have classified SMA in a variety of ways.

Are There Other Symptoms?

Depending on the course of SMA development, loss of reflexes or presence of tremor in the hands and fingers may be noted. Problems such as scoliosis (curvature of the spine) may occur because the normal growth of the skeletal system relies to an extent on normally functioning muscles. Intelligence and sensation (the senses of heat, pain, touch, etc.) are not affected in any of the forms of SMA.

In  many  types  of  SMA,  the  respiratory  muscles  are affected in some way. Respiratory difficulties, including an increase in the frequency and severity of chest infections and episodes of choking and respiratory distress may be experienced and can be quite serious.

Who Can Be Affected By Spinal Muscular Atrophy?

Most types of SMA can affect either males or females. The age of onset depends on the type of SMA involved. SBMA almost always affects adult males.

Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Anyone’s Fault?

No. Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder. It is often seen in families with no previous history of the disorder

Is It Contagious?

No. Genetic disorders are not contagious.

How Is SMA Inherited?

Spinal muscular atrophy is passed from generation to generation.

What About the Less Common Forms of SMA?

SMA Type IV and some other rare cases of SMA may be transmitted through other patterns of inheritance as well, so it is important for parents and families to seek genetic counselling for clarification of how the disorder is transmitted within their family.

What Causes Spinal Muscular Atrophy?

The body is composed of hundreds of thousands of small units known as cells (for example brain cells, kidney cells, etc.). Movement of the body is actually started in the brain where nerve impulses carrying messages are conducted down the spinal cord and then out to the muscles. Cells called motor neurons, situated in the spinal cord, send signals to the muscles to tell them to move. These cells are in a part of the spinal cord known as the anterior horn, hence their other name – the anterior horn cells. We are born with more of these cells than are required. As part of the normal development of the body, a certain number of the motor neurons die back. In SMA, loss of motor neurons means that some voluntary muscles lose their connection to the spinal cord. Without this connection, such muscles are unable to function, leading to a weakening of the limbs and chest wall movement.

Genes are the basic functional units of heredity that tell the cells and tissues of the body what specialized functions they will perform. They are found in the nucleus of the cell as tiny segments of DNA on structures known as chromosomes. There are thousands of genes located on the 23 pairs of chromosomes inside each of the billions of cells within the human body.

(For more information on genes and genetics see the Info.MDC sheet “What is Genetics: Genetics, Genetic Testing, and Gene Therapy”) The gene associated with SMA – that when deleted causes breakdown of the brain/muscle connection – has been found to be the survival motor neuron gene located on chromosome 5.

The significant majority of cases of SMA are caused by the deletion or mutation of the SMN (survival motor neuron) gene located on chromosome 5. Two versions of this gene exist: SMN1 and SMN2. These genes differ by only five basepairs, and these five basepairs are considered translationally silent. The SMN protein is ordinarily involved with the metabolism of a compound known as RNA.

How do these genes lead to SMA? It has been found that almost all cases of SMA are the result of missing or mutated copies of the SMN1 gene, but that the severity of the disorder then is related to the total copies of SMN2 in the nucleus. In other words, the absence of SMA1 causes SMA, while the quantity of SMA2 modulates the severity of the disorder.

In  X-linked  spinal  bulbar  muscular  atrophy  (SBMA), the disorder is caused    by a mutation on the androgen    receptor gene found on the X chromosome. In this disorder, the genetic mutation appears to involve unstable trinucleotide repeats in a gene that is responsible for the production of (androgen) male hormones receptor proteins. In general, the greater the number of repeats, the greater the severity of the disease. In individuals who are not affected, there are between 11 and 31 repeats of cytosine, adenine and guanine (CAG). Alternatively, in those who have SBMA, the number of repeats has been found to be between 40 and 60. It is believed that the number of repeats tends to increase in subsequent generations (genetic anticipation).

At the present time, SMA Type IV is less common and less clearly understood than other types, but it is also felt to be the result of a genetic error.

How Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy is usually made by a physician. A family history and a complete physical examination may provide the doctor with information about an individual’s history of muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakness in the trunk (upper body), arms and legs. It is important to determine whether the muscle weakness is due to SMA, other early childhood conditions or another neuromuscular disease. Physicians use diagnostic tests to aid in making an accurate diagnosis.

In Type I (infantile) SMA, genetic studies are often not considered until after the death of the affected child, when the opportunity to obtain a DNA sample may be more difficult. It is important that physicians and others responsible for the child’s care communicate to all involved the necessity of a blood sample from the affected child in order to carry out prenatal diagnosis in later pregnancies. Arrangements to obtain and store DNA samples can be

made through any Canadian Genetics Centre. The same approach can be used for prenatal diagnosis of the milder types of SMA, if desired.

Which Diagnostic Tests Are Performed?

1. A muscle biopsy is a test where a small piece of muscle tissue is surgically removed and examined under a microscope. This test may show changes in the muscle that are characteristic of SMA.

2. An electromyogram or EMG is a procedure in which small electrodes (needles) are placed into a muscle. The presence of a particular form of electrical activity in the muscles detected by this test suggests the possibility of SMA.

3. With recent advances in genetic research in SMA, it is now possible to perform prenatal (before birth) diagnosis for many couples who have had a child with SMA and who are having another child. This DNA based diagnosis is also replacing the muscle biopsy for the diagnosis of an infant or child with possible SMA in many centres. There are several Canadian laboratories that perform this test. Your genetic counsellor can give you up-to-date information.

Who Are The Members Of The Health Team?

Individuals with SMA or SBMA and their family may be referred to a neuromuscular clinic at a specialized hospital or rehabilitation centre in their province or a local team of health professionals may follow them.

Treatment will vary with age and with the severity of weakness, but the following health professionals will give you an idea of whom you may be in contact: The physician (neurologist, pediatrician, physiatrist and/or family physician) will guide the treatment program and will monitor the person’s overall condition, including feeding and respiratory problems. Referrals may be made to other health professionals, such as a dietician, respirologist, or genetic counsellor.

The orthopedic surgeon will monitor bone and joint development, especially in the hips and spine. Children with SMA are at risk for curvature of the spine and may require back bracing or eventual surgery. A referral may be made to an orthotist for the provision of leg braces, standing frames or walking devices.

The physiotherapist (PT) will teach parents chest physiotherapy techniques that will help prevent respiratory complications. Families will also be taught a stretching and exercise program in order to try to prevent joint contractures (abnormal shortening of muscle tissue) and to maintain the best possible muscle strength. The physiotherapist helps clients develop individual exercise programs that include the type and amount of activity that is best for them.

The occupational therapist (OT) can help clients learn how to adapt to physical limitations and attain their optimum level of achievement in activities of daily living. He/she may construct splints to be worn at night by the client to keep the joints in a good position. For the very young infant, the OT may use foam and straps for positioning the baby in a side-lying or sitting position to allow a better view of the family and the environment. As well, the OT assists with feeding problems, if they are present. For the older baby and child, the OT may choose a special seat to provide good posture and alignment. For all clients, the therapist will also be involved in choosing therapeutic equipment to enhance function at home, school or the workplace. There is a wide range of equipment available-from mobility aids (such as scooters and motorized wheelchairs) to self-care equipment (such as bathtub lifts) and technical aids (such as computers).

The OT/PT, in conjunction with an infant development worker, may have suggestions for activities to enhance intellectual development.

The role of the nurse, whether in the clinic or the community, is to work with the family to understand the disorder and its management. The social worker, in conjunction with the nurse, provides support to the individual and family coping with the effects of SMA.

Finally, SMA is a rare disorder. As a consequence, other families with children who have SMA can themselves be sources of much useful and practical information.

How Can Families Help?

Education and information about SMA and issues related to living with a disability are important in the life of any person living with SMA. Parents are often their children’s main source for information about the disorder. As difficult as it may be, questions need to be addressed openly and honestly. Adults affected with the disorder and their families may also have questions and concerns. Therapists, physicians and MDC Services personnel are available resources.

A balanced, nutritional diet is essential to achieve the maximum function of muscles. As well, excessive weight gain by people affected by spinal muscular atrophy is not recommended. The extra work that weakened muscles must do to lift excess weight only makes these muscles seem weaker than they actually are. Lots of fruit and fibre are important in the diet since constipation is also a common problem. Parents may need to provide their child with information about healthy nutrition and how it affects him/her. The ongoing support and understanding of family where nutrition is concerned is important.

SMA does not affect an individual’s intelligence. Children should be encouraged by their parents and teachers to learn to the best of their ability. Providing a stimulating environment and challenging activities can help foster a life-long love of learning.

It is important to treat family members with SMA the same as others in the family. For example, children with SMA need discipline just as their siblings do. Chores that are physically suitable for them should be a part of their day. Extracurricular activities are as important for those with SMA as they are for anyone else and they should be included wherever possible.

People with SMA need and deserve to be as independent as possible. They need to experience the same sense of responsibility, competence and achievement, as do the other members of the family. The family provides the environment in which these attitudes and experiences are free to develop. Friendships are important, as well. Regular interaction and playtime with siblings and children in the neighbourhood and at school help a child learn necessary social and problem -solving skills. Parents can go a long way towards encouraging their child socially and participating as a family in social and recreational activities. Adults also benefit from a social network that is satisfying to them and understanding of their needs. Family and friends play an integral role in the emotional well- being of those with SMA. At school, encouraging the child with SMA to take part as normally as possible within the school environment is very important. Rules and subsequent consequences should be the same for all children within the classroom. Realistic expectations about academic performance and any modifications to a child’s educational program need to be resolved as they become evident. Parents’ relationships with teachers and school administration pave the way for open discussion and positive resolution of any problems that may arise. Information about the child’s disorder will benefit all of the staff who work at the school. MDC can provide families with assistance, if desired, in keeping teachers up-to-date about SMA and related issues.

In the work environment, it is the responsibility of the adult with SMA to negotiate employment conditions with his/her superiors and co-workers.

Family members can provide support, encouragement and suggestions as specific needs are determined and instituted within the workplace.

All people with SMA may face frustration as they deal with physical and attitudinal barriers within the community where they live, work and go to school. While many adults may be comfortable advocating on their own behalf, children and adults can benefit from the ongoing support and empathy of their families.

What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I?

Also known as infantile progressive spinal muscular atrophy, this disorder usually appears within the first six months after a child is born. Weak from birth, the child will probably be unable to sit independently.

This weakness is also apparent in the chest muscles leading to symptoms such as poor cough, poor feeding, and an increased breathing rate. Children with SMA Type I often have more frequent chest infections. The disorder is almost always fatal within two years and is considered to be the most common genetic cause of infant mortality.

Age of Onset: usually around the time of birth

Prognosis: poor

Symptoms:

1. Neonatal hypotonia.
2. Generalized muscle weakness is severe, with some infants being almost completely immobile.
3. Weakened muscles affect crying, sucking, breathing and swallowing.
4. Frequent chest infections.
5. Survival beyond the third year of life, while occasionally seen, is rare.

What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II?

Also known as intermediate SMA, this disorder can be recognized within the first year to eighteen months of life. It is not as severe as infantile SMA. Weakness is slower to appear than in SMA Type I, but the symptoms are very similar. In fact, it may be impossible to tell the difference between these two forms in the first year. The child is often able to sit independently, but usually unable to stand or walk on their own. The spine and also the respiratory muscles can be involved in the disorder.

Age of Onset: 6 months to 3 years

Prognosis: depends on the degree of respiratory involvement

Symptoms:

1. Possibility of neonatal hypotonia
2. Frequent respiratory infections may complicate the course of this disorder.
3. Life expectancy may be shortened.
4. Motor milestones delayed
5. Scoliosis

What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type III?

Juvenile SMA is a milder form of SMA that starts at a later age than either Type I or II. Although symptoms sometimes appear in a mild form as early as 1 year old, most children with this disorder are diagnosed between 2 and 12 years of age – and occasionally a diagnosis is not made until adulthood. Running, rising from the floor and climbing stairs become increasingly difficult as the child grows older. Also, walking is usually possible for many years after the diagnosis is made, though the gait may be affected

Age of Onset: usually 5 to 15 years or earlier

Prognosis: good; life expectancy is often normal

Symptoms:

1. Weakness may be noted in youth or even adulthood
2. Much more variable than either Types I or II
3. Motor difficulties are usually progressive, but may be marked with periods of stability.

What Is X-Linked Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy?

Also known as SBMA or Kennedy’s disease, X-linked spinal bulbar atrophy is a relatively rare disorder that almost always affects men. Symptoms can occur from the late teens to middle age. Like SMA Type I, SBMA often affects the motor neurons that control the tongue and throat, resulting in difficulty with chewing and swallowing. In addition, people with SBMA experience varying degrees of muscle weakness and wasting, especially of the facial muscles.

Age of Onset: 15-59 years of age

Prognosis: good; life expectancy is not affected

The genetic mutation related to SBMA is in the androgen receptor gene that results in changes to male hormones (androgens). As a result, men affected with this disorder may show symptoms related to androgen insensitivity or deficiency such as breast development, testicular atrophy (wasting), reduced libido, impotence and infertility. These symptoms may become evident before muscle weakness is experienced. Androgen sensitivity is not expressed in all men with this disorder.

Many men with SBMA also experience fasciculations (small, local muscle contractions under the skin). Intelligence is normal. Although SBMA is slowly progressive, life expectancy is usually unaffected.

Number of deaths for leading causes of death (Data are for the U.S. and are final 2009 data)

• Heart disease: 599,413
• Cancer: 567,628
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 137,353
• Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 128,842
• Accidents (unintentional injuries): 118,021
• Alzheimer’s disease: 79,003
• Diabetes: 68,705
• Influenza and Pneumonia: 53,692
• Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 48,935
• Intentional self-harm (suicide): 36,909

Testosterone-Treated Patients Exercised More in Studies

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

April 17, 2012 — Treatment with testosterone may help heart failure patients feel better and exercise more, preliminary research shows.

The finding comes from four small studies of people with heart failure. The researchers analyzed the results from all of those studies and found that those who took testosterone supplements were able to exercise longer than those who didn’t.

Testosterone occurs naturally in men and women. But testosterone levels decline with age, which can contribute to decreases in muscle mass and strength.

Though patients in the trials appeared to benefit from supplemental testosterone, larger and longer studies are needed to prove the treatment is safe and effective, says researcher Justin A. Ezekowitz, MD, who directs the Heart Function Clinic at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

“We definitely don’t want patients or their loved ones rushing out to buy testosterone supplements online, or physicians to misinterpret the findings,” Ezekowitz says.
5 Million in U.S. Have Heart Failure

Heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization in people over the age of 65 in the U.S.

About 5 million Americans have heart failure, and each year about half a million more get diagnosed with it, which means their hearts have a reduced capacity to pump blood efficiently.

When this happens, the heart can become enlarged, fluid may build up in the soft tissues and organs, and people typically become exhausted with exertion.

“Patients with heart failure don’t feel very well, in part because they can’t exercise,” says Clyde Yancy, MD, chief of cardiology at Chicago’s Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and a spokesman for the American Heart Association.

“The idea of a novel treatment approach that can help improve exercise capacity is very intriguing,” he says.

The studies included nearly 200 patients, most of whom were men. They were 67 years old, on average.

About half the patients received testosterone by injection, patch, or gel, for as little as three months or as long as a year. The other half got a placebo.

The study appears in the journal Circulation.
Testosterone Patients Walked Farther

In two studies, the severity of heart failure improved more for patients who got testosterone treatment, compared to those who got a placebo.

When the trials were considered together, testosterone-treated patients scored 50% better on a six-minute walking test that checks exercise capacity.

“The improvement in exercise capacity was striking,” Ezekowitz tells WebMD. “Patients in the testosterone group were generally able to walk longer than those in the placebo group.”

But Yancy says the improvements seen in the four studies are better characterized as modest.

The testosterone-treated patients walked, on average, about 59 yards more than the other patients during the six-minute walking tests.

“That is the equivalent of one more lap up and down the hall,” he tells WebMD. “That is not a huge improvement, and it is not clear that this is enough to help patients feel better long term.”
Testosterone Safety Questioned

Yancy says it is also not clear if testosterone is a safe, long-term treatment for heart failure.

“We really don’t understand the risks of taking extra testosterone in patients with heart failure, and given the small number of patients in these studies and the short follow-up, there is reason for concern,” he says.

He adds that too few heart failure patients are taking existing treatments that could help them feel better and improve their ability to exercise.

“If more patients were treated with appropriate available therapies, exercise capacity would not be such a big issue,” he says.

SOURCES: Toma, M. Circulation, April 17, 2012. Justin A. Ezekowitz, MD, MSc, assistant professor and director, Heart Function Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Clyde Yancy, MD, professor of medicine and chief of cardiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. News release, American Heart Association. WebMD: “Heart Failure Overview.”

An every day ratio of dark bitter chocolate could help prevent heart diseases, according to a study realized by a team of Swiss researchers. The Swiss researchers say that the anti-oxidants from chocolate could prevent the blood veins to become smaller and less wide.

The research team came to this conclusion after testing on a group of 20 volunteers, which were smokers without health problems. The subjects were asked not to eat any types of aliments rich in anti-oxidants such as apples, onion and cabbage and after that they were given 40 grams of different types of chocolate.

Two hours after consuming the chocolate, the echo-graph showed that black chocolate, with a cocoa percent of at least 74%, significantly improved the blood flow. Additionally, ulterior tests showed that the risk of encountering blood accidents and blockages has been decreased to half of the initial risk. However, white chocolate did not achieve similar effects. The researches that performed the study say that dark chocolate contain the biggest quantity of anti-oxidants for one gram than any other products like red vine, green tea or forests fruits.

Chocolate is indeed an aliment that has many anti-oxidant elements in it. But it also contains fats and glucoses in huge quantities. So, it can cause weight problems if excessively consumed.

The best thing to do is to adjust your chocolate portion to your actual weight and to the amount of physical effort you make everyday. Persons that are involved in a great deal of effort can consume chocolate without fearing weight problems. But the ones that don’t, like people working in offices, sitting all day on a chair and not doing any kind of sports are confronted with a big problem if they eat too much chocolate. If the organism doesn’t call for sweets, like it does when we are cold, tired or worn out, then the chocolate use should be reduced to a minimal portion a day.

Here are several ways to fire up one’s metabolism:

1. Build up on lean, mean body mass. It is only natural that metabolism decreases along with age, but it is possible to counter the effects. The amount of muscle a person has is a very strong determinant in the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So it goes without saying that exercise is essential. Build strength and resistance by working out at least twice a week, preferably with weights. Do easy exercises in between workouts. Simple tasks such as walking the dog and using the stairs in place of the elevator can already take off calories. The key is to match the amount of eating to the amount of activity one has. Here are some guidelines in getting the right exercise:

For strength training

-Increase the amount of repetitions of a particular exercise.
-Add the level of resistance
-Utilize advance exercise techniques if possible

For cardiovascular training

-Insert intervals between exercises
-Perform cross-training and combine the exercises
-Add up on resistance and speed

2. Eat breakfast. A lot of people are ignoring the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Surprisingly, the ones who eat breakfast are thinner than the ones who do not. Metabolism can slow down considerably if breakfast is taken during mid-morning or if one waits until the afternoon to eat.

3. Avoid sugar. Sugar enables the body to store fat. It is recommended that a person consumes food that helps sustain an even level of blood-sugar. Additionally, progressive execerise 2-3 times a week should be in order to stabilize blood sugar.

4. Eat spicy foods. Hot cuisine with peppers can increase metabolism.

5. Sleep more. According to research, it is riskier for people who do not get enough sleep to gain weight. Also, muscles are regenerated during the last couple of hours of slumber.

6. Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced whenever the body burns fat. Majority of bodily functions involves water, and lack of water causes the body system’s operations to decrease its speed, and produces unneeded stress as a result.

7. Eat smaller meals. It is advisable to consume 4 to 6 small meals that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart.

8. Never skip meals. People tend to skip meals in order to lose weight, which is a big mistake since it slows down metabolism.

9. Plan meals in detail. Always prepare the right amount of food to be consumed at the designated intervals. Do not commit the mistake of eating meals in sporadic patterns.

9. Ditch the stress! Stress, be it physical or emotional, triggers the release of a steroid called cortisol, which decreases metabolism. Also, people tend to eat excessively when stressed.

10. Guzzle up on green tea. It can be used as a substitute for coffee. Tea has the ability to stimulate metabolism, and unlike coffee, it has no undesirable side effects when too much is consumed.

11. Include more energy foods in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains.

Achieving the desired body weight is never impossible if one has the determination and patience needed to stabilize the metabolism level, which plays an important role in weight loss. A person needs to realize that eating right and working out is not just a passing fancy, but a way of life.

Pick the one that works for you. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that is based on the connection between the muscles and organs in the body, breathing techniques and the combined effects on the mind. The goal of yogic practice is to restore balance to the body and your emotions through postures, stretching and breathing exercises.

2. Focused Muscle Relaxation teaches the student to tighten and relax groups of muscles in turn until the entire body is in a state of relaxation. It is easy to learn and can be mastered quickly and effectively with good results.

3. Meditation has become one of the most popular techniques to achieve relaxation. It is not tied to any religious belief, and can be learned alone through self-study or in groups. Meditation changes your brain waves, and alters the response to stress in your mind, your emotions, and your body.

You can start and end your day with a brief meditation, and eventually, you may find it so helpful that you will employ this technique wherever you are, and whenever you feel stress.

4. Guided Imagery uses affirmations and relaxing images to calm and focus your mind and body, and control your breathing so you are more relaxed.

It is easy to learn and the more you practice the better and faster your brain will response to the cues, putting you into a state of relaxation more quickly every time.

5. Biofeedback is a method of relaxation that helps you to control your responses to and change how your body and mind react. Your brain ‘learns’ how to adjust as you use monitoring equipment to track your heart rate, muscle tension, blood pressure, and skin temperature.

6. Deep Breathing – Learning to breathe, deep into your abdomen and to slow your body down sounds easy, but it takes a bit of practice.

However, you can do it anywhere. On a bus, train or plane and once you’ve learned it you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

Because the increased oxygenation of your blood brings more clarity to your brain, you will double the benefit by being able to solve problems better, as well!

Other forms of exercise, like cardio-vascular workouts, running and walking will increase the release of certain ‘good’ chemicals in your brain, thereby relieving stress, frustration and anger and helping you to sleep.

If you suffer from stress-related insomnia, you should consider trying one or more of the solutions we’ve outlined here. It will help you get the sleep you need to function well, and to keep you healthy and balanced.

Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused.  Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.

Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines.  However, you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its benefits.  And you don’t even have to be in a special place to practice it.  You could even try it in your own living room!

Although there are many different approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same.  The most important among these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus.  This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.

The negative thoughts you have – those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and unwanted spam– are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind, and shutting them out is allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.

Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input – no sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch – and try to detach themselves from the commotion around them.  You may now focus on a deep, profound thought if this is your goal.  It may seem deafening at first, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more aware of everything around you.

If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions – you need not worry.  The principle here is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration.  This may be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.

If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that would be a good starting point.  While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight.  In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.

Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense.

The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere.  It may be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in.  You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release).  You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses.

Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine.  Pleasing scents also help in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.

The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra.  This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic value.

You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.

The principle here is focus.  You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.

One sample routine would be to – while in a meditative state – silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be aware of any tension on any part of your body.  Mentally visualize releasing this tension.  It works wonders.

In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort – remember we’re relaxing).

Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial physiologic effects to the body.  And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of such.  So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!