3/24/2009

Sclerodoma

A rare problem called Scleroderma is a chronic disease that is known by the excessive deposit of collagen. It is going to affect at least 300,000 people in the U.S. Scleroderma is four times as common in women than it is in men. Having progressive systemic scleroderma is known as systemic sclerosis and it is a common type of disease and can be fatal.
Scleroderma will mostly affect the skin and it is most known to have hardening skin and associated scarring. This will give a reddish or scaly appearance. There are blood vessels that may also tend to be more visible. There is fat and muscle wastage that will weaken the limbs and affect their appearance when there is a larger area affected. In most of the serious cases, scleroderma can affect the blood vessels.
It is serious because scleroderma goes between two cases. The most important things to know are to consider the level of internal attachment that is occurring under the skin and the total area that is covered by the disease. A person may have only one or two affected areas or lesions or they may have many larger ones. Many people that suffer from scleroderma have Raynaud’s phenomenon and this is an arthritic vascular symptom that can affect the fingers and toes. The hands and the feel may have discoloration because of the cold. Raynaud’s phenomenon and systemic scleroderma can be the cause of painful ulcers on the fingers and toes too. Calcinosis is the deposits of calcium around the joints and it is common for the sufferers of systemic scleroderma and can often be found near the elbows, knees or other joints.
There are three major types of scleroderma. They are diffuse, limited and morphea sometimes called linear. The first type diffuse scleroderma is a systemic disease. It is the most severe form. It is known by the fast onset a will involve more skin hardening. Diffuse scleroderma will cause severe internal organ damage to the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. It is more life threatening.
The second kind, limited scleroderma is known as CREST syndrome. CREST is an acronym that stands for Calcinosis that is known as Raynaud’s Syndrome. Esophageal dysmotility Sclerodactyly and Telangiectasia are the five major symptoms of limited scleroderma. CREST is a systemic disease and is much milder. It has a slow process. The skin hardening is usually just on the face and hands and internal organ process is less severe. The prognosis is much better for limited scleroderma.
There is no cure for this disease but there is treatment for some of the symptoms. These treatments will mean drugs that soften the skin and reduce the swelling. Having heat exposure will also help most of the patients. You need to speak to your doctor about more information on this case.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, multi system, and inflammatory autoimmune disorder that will bring on an attack to the joints. It is a very crippling and painful condition that can lead to loss of mobility to the pain and joint devastation. Rheumatoid arthritis is systemic and will also affect different tissues through the body, skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and muscles. Rheumatoid arthritis will affect anyone between the ages of 20 and 40 and can start anytime. A family history is important to the risk. It is three times more common in women than in men and up to four times more common in smokers than non-smokers.

The symptoms will separate rheumatoid arthritis from other types of arthritis because of the inflammation and soft tissue swelling of many joints at the same time. This is known as polyarthritis. The joints are usually affected asymmetrically and then will go on to the symmetrical part as the disease goes on. It is not like the other forms of arthritis like osteoarthrits because the pain will move with the use of the joints that are affected.

As the disease goes on, the inflammatory activity will lead to the erosion and destruction of the joints that will impair their range of movement and lead to some deformity. The fingers and the bones will deviate to the outside and towards the small finger and take on unnatural shapes. Having deformities in patients that are dealing with rheumatoid arthritis will include the Boutonnière deformity, the swan neck deformity, and the “Z-thumb” deformity.

Because rheumatoid arthritis is a multisystem disease, other disease and conditions may form as a result of it. Many of the people that have rheumatoid arthritis will also have anemia. Anemia is a problem of the red blood cells because there are not enough of them and or the hemoglobin and this will cause the lower ability of oxygen to be taken to the tissues. It is a chronic disease and many will suffer from it and splenomegaly or the enlarging of the spleen. Felty’s syndrome and Sjogren’s syndrome which is an autoimmune disorder in which the cells attack and ruin the exocrine glands and produce salvia and tears. Dermological will affect nodules on exterior surfaces. Fibrosis may occur in the lungs at any time or as a result of different treatments.

There are several things for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. Having stiffness in the morning that goes on for longer than one hour is an example as is the arthritis and soft tissue swelling of more than three out of 14 joints or in the joint groups. Arthritis of hand joints like symmetric arthritis, subcutaneous nodules in specific places, a rheumatoid factor at a level above the 95th place and radiological changes that are suggested of joint erosion and are part of the criteria. There are at least four of these things hat have to be met in order to establish a diagnoses.
The treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are going to be placed in disease modifying antirheumatic drugs or (DMARDS), anti inflammatory agents and analgesics. DMARDS is known to start durable remissions and delay the disease process, prevent bone and joint
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Reactive Arthritis

There is something commonly known as Reiter’s Syndrome and is reactive arthritis. It is a type of arthritis that is known by swelling, redness, and heat in the joints. This is going to be especially in the spine and inflammation of other joints, urinary tract and even the eyes. Reiter’s Syndrome is something that is related to the family of different arthritic conditions that is known as spondylarthropathies. This is known to bother the spine. Anyone that is suffering from Reiter’s Syndrome will have fever, swelling, and ulcers in the mouth, weight loss and sores on the skin.

With many of the diseases that are known today, Reiter’s Syndrome has no confirmed cause and can affect anyone of any age, gender or race. There are researchers that do believe that Reiter’s Syndrome is going to be due to mostly genetics because there are many tendencies that seem to run in families. There is about 75% of people who are suffering from Reiter’s Syndrome have a certain gene that is known to start the condition. This is a painful disease that will affect young men who are white and around the ages of 20 and 40. Reiter’s Syndrome is also known to develop after certain infections in the small intestine, genitals, and urinary tract. It is linked to salmonella contamination, so you nee to take measures to avoid this condition by being sure that your foods are cooked properly.

This disease does affect a number of parts of the body. There are different treatments that must be used to help the patients be healthy and have normal lives. Medications like NSAIDS that block and stop inflammation in joints and may be used. There are antibiotics and skin medications that are used to clear up the painful sores that will start on the body. Anyone that is suffering from Reiter’s Syndrome will also see urologists to deal with the urinary tract infections and occupational therapists will take care of the joints. Use dermatologists to clear up the skin problems and there are physical therapists to teach different exercises that can be done to help lower the pain and swelling in joints. Anyone may also want to see doctors that specialize in the eyes because this is a condition that causes inflammation in this part of the body too. If you or someone that you know is diagnosed with Reiter’s Syndrome called Reactive Arthritis, you need to learn as much about it as you can so that you can learn to live with it and have a normal life.
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Medical Professionals

If you are diagnosed with the arthritis or other conditions that are caused in discomfort in the form of pain and inflammation at the joints you may want to consider visiting an occupational therapist to learn how to live better in your life. You can also learn to pay for home care so hat you is able to have the help that you need during this time. Occupational therapy is an important part of the care that you can learn to adjust to your life on a daily basis to take your arthritis into account. Home care professionals also can make daily life easier and often times by doing some work for you. With both cases you can live a more fulfilling life with the help of these professionals in the medical field and by the help of your friends and family.

Occupational therapy is something that your primary care doctor will help with. Check first before your appointment to see if your occupational therapy is going to be covered by your health care insurance. Occupational therapists have a professional license and are trained to how those that are suffering from different diseases and problems on how to live daily in life. When you first start to deal with the arthritic pain, you may find that the most difficult thing that you are going to take on is not the pain but the loss of your independence. Arthritis can also lead to hand deformities that make many things difficult and may also confine you to a wheel chair later on. Occupational therapists can either take care of you at your office or at your home. This will help you learn different techniques for personal grooming, dressing, getting in and out of bed, and even driving. With the help you can maintain a certain level of independence that would not otherwise help people.

There are other home care help that can also be used to your advantage to avoid having to inhabit nursing homes or move in with relatives. Some communities have meals on wheels to help provide dinner. This is a service along with others that is going to help senior citizens who are looking to remain independent. There are also services that send nurses to your home daily to help you with things and check your vital signs, give you medicine, and other help for you. When you are dealing with arthritis, some of these things may not be possible on your own with the help of services. Arthritis does not have to be the end of your happiness. If your condition is severe, occupational help and other home care professionals can help you enjoy a happy and normal life.
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Arthritic Pain

Having pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. For some people, they say “no pain, no gain” and pain is a sign that they have done something to the point of destruction and the body will let you know this. Most of pain is not that productive. If you are suffering from arthritis you are going to have pain in the joints and this can keep you from doing the things that you want to. It is important to have pain management so that you can deal with the arthritis and live from day to day with hardly any frustration.

Like a red flashing light, your pain in the body is going to signal that you need to stop what you are doing and take action about your body’s health. Pain is very natural and it does not have to be hard for you. There are a number of things that can cause arthritic pain. Pain can be caused by inflammation in the joints. This type of pain is usually joined by redness and swelling in younger patients or anyone that just develops a condition. A second cause is damage to the joint tissue. We usually feel that we have pulled a muscle when this type of pain is occurring and it can be a condition due to stress on a joint or another problem.

Pain can also happen from fatigue. You may simple have a small amount of lingering pain; being tired can make you have this more. Think of it in terms of a headache at the end of the day when you are tired. Joint pain works in the same way. Depression and stress can cause pain or make your pain more severe than it really is. This is a terrible cycle to start. You will get depressed when you have pain and this will cause you to be more depressed which will cause you to feel even worse.

Arthritic pain in people is likely to fell a lot different than other kinds of pain. It is important to have a pain management system. This will also include eating healthy and exercising better to improve the condition. Taking medication will also help. You may also want to use massage to help you with your arthritis as well. Stay optimistic about you outlook for life and take on the challenge of pain when it comes. Arthritis is going to be hard but you can overcome it so that you have a normal life.
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Wedding Bells in the Caribbean

The Caribbean islands have long been a favorite honeymoon destination for newly married couples. The weather here is sunny all year round and you can enjoy a number of wonderful vacation activities together, like taking tours, trying water sports, and lying in the sun. However, in the past few decades, it has also become very popular to travel to the Caribbean for the wedding itself, not just for the honeymoon. There are both advantages and disadvantages to doing so.

First, you must consider who you want to have present at your wedding. By law, you will probably be required to have a certain number of witnesses, and you may not be able to imagine your wedding without your father to walk you down the aisle or your best friend as your best man. Remember that every guest you want to be present at the wedding will have to be flown to the island. In many cases, the guests will not be able to afford this trip themselves and you will have to pay for all or at least some of it. If this isn’t in your budget, it may not be possible for you to have everyone present at your wedding ceremony. The cost of a Caribbean wedding is definitely a disadvantage.

Remember also that you will probably be vacationing for your honeymoon wherever you hold the wedding. While it may be nice to have friends and family around for the wedding, you might wish they would disappear for the wedding. Your guests may also want to take a vacation while they are in the neighborhood, so if you want some private time, and all inclusive couples only resort may be what you need for them to stay out of your way.

However, one of the main advantages is that you are already in the location where you’ll be honeymooning. Travel is stressful and not a good way to start a new life together, so instead, you can just jump right in to paradise. Not only that, but your wedding will be an very memorable event because the beach background overlooking the sunset and ocean will be beautiful. Many couples love the island scenery, so a Caribbean wedding may be perfect for you.

If you decide to have a Caribbean wedding, contact a wedding planner from the specific island to which you will travel. He or she can help make sure that your big day goes smoothly and that you will have the time of your life on your honeymoon.
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Visiting Anguilla

If you know you’re interested in traveling to the Caribbean Islands, you have a variety of choices for your final destination. You can try a fun cruise throughout the islands in order to visit all of the best hot spots, or you can fly directly to one of the many wonderful islands found in this region of the world. One of the islands from which you can choose is Anquilla.

Anguilla is not one of the most popular islands when talking about Caribbean travel sites, but for that very reason, it is great if you are looking for a more private Caribbean vacation, without lots of other tourists. Anguilla is actually a British overseas territory and is the most northern of the Leeward Islands. Anguilla is comprised of one larger island, including the capital city of The Valley, and also includes a number of tiny islands and cays, most of which are privately owned or uninhabited. Some of the other smaller islands that are part of the Anguilla chain include Dog Island, the Prickly Pear Cays, Scrub Island, Seal Island, and Sombrero, or Hat Island.

The climate on Anguilla is generally what you would expect to find in this tropical region of the world. The island does get northeastern trade winds, so it is fairly dry compared to other tropical islands, with the most rain coming in September and October. Anguilla is also along the path of some hurricanes in the summer and fall.

When traveling to Anguilla, make sure you spend some time in the beautiful Caribbean water. Anguilla is known for its coral reef, which is home to a variety of sea animals and plants. The land itself is mostly sandy and not particularly good for farming industries. However, the waters along the coast are great for fishing, so if you enjoy that sport, you may be interested in applying for a fishing license and talking to some fishing outfitters in Anguilla when planning your Caribbean travel.

As with most Caribbean islands, if you want to travel to Anguilla, you need the proper paperwork. Before you leave, apply for a passport, and it is important to be able to show either a return plane ticket or a ticket to otherwise leave the island at some point. Make your hotel reservations at least a few months in advance in order to find the best deals for your stay in the Caribbean.
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The Cayman Islands: Dive into a Beautiful Vacation

If you are planning to travel to the Caribbean for you next vacation, you have many islands from which to choose for you destination. On such island that makes a beautiful place for a vacation is the overseas territory of the United Kingdom known as the Cayman Islands. If you love diving, this is an especially great place to visit, since is the world’s leading underwater diving tourist destination.

The Cayman Islands are made up of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Caymen. These islands are located in the western portion of the Caribbean Sea. The Cayman Islands are about 150 miles from Cuba and about 480 miles from Miami, Florida. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are sometimes known as the “Sister Islands” and are about 90 miles east of Grand Cayman Island, which is about 75 square miles. The islands are made up of large coral heads and is home to a number of exotic birds, fish, and land animals, including the endangered Blue Iguana, as well as The Grand Cayman Parrot and Cayman Brac Parrot, which are found only on these islands.

Tourism accounts for most of this island’s revenue, so while you are visiting these islands, the people there will surely cater to your every needs. World famous scuba diving is found here because of the clear waters and the proximity to the Cayman Wall. You can swim beside string rays and number of other amazing sea creatures while traveling in the Cayman Islands, as well as explore shipwrecks.

Outside of the water, you can check out popular spots like the black limestone fields, hiking trails, lighthouses, and museums. Cayman Sea Salt Co is also located here, as well as a number of financial institutions. In fact, many business men travel to the Cayman islands because this location is one of the world’s leading offshore financial centers.

Before you head to the Cayman Islands, it is important to understand a bit about the islands and make sure your paperwork is in order. You’ll need a passport to fly there, and maybe a visa, depending on where you live. Camping is illegal in the islands, which many do not realize when leaving, and if you are caught camping, you will spend time in jail. It is also important to make sure that you can show a return flight ticket. Visit the Cayman Islands can be lots of fun if you’re ready!
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The Balmy Bahamas

Made up of over 700 small islands and cays, the Bahamas are a great Caribbean island destination spot for travelers. These islands are located east of Florida in the United States and North of the country of Cuba and make up their own English-speaking country. Tourists from around the world love to visit the Bahamas, and it is a popular travel spot for honeymoons and weddings.

The Bahamas are one of the most prosperous countries in the world because of their success with tourism and with financial institutions. Recently, urban renewal programs have been launched to keep the island safe and high-end for travelers. The country as the third highest per capita income in the West and is the most successful country in the Caribbean. The climate in the Bahamas is beautiful and comparable to the Florida climate enjoyed in cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Although the islands are highly susceptible to hurricanes, they usually have a very tropical and pleasant weather, influences heavily by the waters of the Gulf Stream.

If you are traveling to the Bahamas from the United States, the closest island is Bimini, known as the gateway to Bahamas. Here, they cater to tourists. Andros Island, which is to the south of Bimini, is the largest island in this chain, and the largest city on the island is the capital, Nassau, which is located on the island of New Providence. Other larger islands in this chain include Eleuthera, Cat Island, San Salvador, Crooked Island, Exuma, Acklins, and Long Island.

A number of great festivals take place in the Bahamas, so you can enjoy things like the Crab Fest on the island of Andros and the Puneapple Fest on the island of Eleuthera. This is also the birthplace of the rhythmic musical genera junkanoo, which is played heavily at festivals. Rake and scrape, calypso, and hymnals are also important in these islands.

If you decide to travel to the Bahamas to visit one or more of the great islands, you will have a variety of activities from which to choose. There are water sports like sailing and jet skiing to help fill your days, or you can relax on the beautiful sandy beaches near the clear ocean water. A variety of tourist attractions and tours can also be a part of your Bahamas vacation. Be sure that you book your trip well in advance to get the best prices and to be sure you have the chance to do everything you want to do while traveling in this Caribbean paradise.
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Planning an Escape

If you want to travel to the Caribbean, one of the most important things you can to is plan it completely. Planning it now may be a lot of work, but if you do it before ever leaving home, you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation while there. No matter which Caribbean island you want to visit, planning is very important.

First, plan how you want to get to your destination. Because of the nature of the Caribbean, flying straight to your destination is not you sole choice. You do so if you choose, but you can also take a cruise throughout the Caribbean islands and visit a bunch of different port cities. In either case, you should plan your transportation as one of the first and foremost aspects of your vacation. Often, you can get a cheaper deal on tickets if you plan far in advance.

You should also consider your accommodations when traveling to the Caribbean. You first choice is, of course, any one of the many hotels and resorts scattered around the islands and catering especially to tourists. Many of these places to stay are completely Americanized and some even are owned by America companies. Another choice you have is the all-inclusive resort. Found on many of the Caribbean islands, all-inclusive resorts are great because they include meals, tours, private beaches, and more for free. If these don’t strike your fancy, you can also try booking a room in a smaller hotel or bed and breakfast, where you can get a true cultural experience.

Once you have your transportation and hotel figured out, you should consider planning certain activities. You can leave a number of days open for relaxing on the beach and spur of the moment tours, but if you don’t plan ahead for some of your activities, you may not be able to fit them into your schedule once there. It is best to plan ahead a bit, but not too much. This is the best way to enjoy your Caribbean vacation.

The last thing you should consider planning is a back up. Things inevitably go wrong on any vacation, so if it rains, have something to do other than lie on the beach. If the hotel overbooks accidentally, be prepared by knowing the names and numbers of some other hotels that might have open rooms. The key to a great vacation in the Caribbean is not to have everything go smoothly, but rather to enjoy it no matter what.
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3/21/2009

Packing on the Pounds: Healthy Horse Weight

There are many things that you have to be concerned with when you are raising animals. In general, animals should always follow certain paths and should do certain things, and as an animal owner you have to be sure that you are watching for these things and taking steps to correct things that might be going wrong. You want to be sure that you are doing whatever you can to insure that your animal is being raised healthily, and being raised in a way that makes him into the best animal you can have. A horse is something that you have to pay close attention to, because there are so many things that could go wrong. If you haven’t been around horses, you should get some horse books and read up on them because if you don’t’ know what things to watch out for, you might not be able to tell when something is wrong.

A horse’s weight is going to be an indication of how healthy they are. There are different breeds of horses, and different sizes as well, but whenever you have a horse at your home, you should find out what their ideal weight is, and then you should make a habit of weighing your horse about once a week or so. If your horse has any change in their weight, you might be looking at some kind of problem. If a horse drops a lot of weight in a week, it is going to mean that something is wrong, and you are going to want to seek vet attention right away.

With horses, sicknesses can happen very fast, and they can get too ill to save before you even have noticed that anything is wrong. Even a small amount of weight change during a week can indicate a problem before the problem is full blown, so if you are weighing your horse on a regular basis, you’ll be able to tell if there is a problem maybe even before you would be able to tell otherwise. If you are able to weight your horse regularly, you are going to have a much better chance of catching anything that goes wrong, and in this way you could actually save your horse’s life. It is very important to have a horse scale that you can have in your barn so that you can check your horse’s weight periodically. You should weigh him more often if you think there might be a problem.
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Keeping your Horse Safe when Riding

One of the best parts about owning a horse is getting to ride it. Horses that are well trained and happy are great to ride, and for the most part horses enjoy being ridden as well. You are going to want to spend lots of time working with your horse to make sure that he understands what you want and how it feels when you ride him. You are also going to want to spend a lot of time just being with your horse, because bonding is a great way to make your rides even smoother. However, while you are riding your horse, there are several things that you are going to want to do to make sure that he stays safe and healthy so that you can continue to ride him for a long time to come.

One thing that you have to be sure of when you are riding your horse, is that you are never asking too much of him. You have to be sure that he is always comfortable doing what you ask him to do, and you have to be sure that you are comfortable with what he does. This is very important, because if you are not comfortable you are going to find that both you and your horse might be forced to take chances, and this is not going to be good for either of you. It can be very dangerous, and so you want to be sure that you never have a horse do something he isn’t comfortable with.

When you are riding your horse, you are going to want to be sure to always only use the things that are sanctioned for use with horses. Be sure that the equipment you are using is strong and isn’t going to fall apart, and make sure that you are able to attach the saddle and the other pieces to him so that you know they are done correctly and aren’t going to hurt him at all.

The last thing that you need to do when you are riding your horse to make sure that he stays safe is to always be careful where you are going, and to always watch the terrain to make sure that you aren’t doing anything that might be dangerous for your horse. You always want to be sure you aren’t leading your horse somewhere that he could hurt himself.
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Horses and the West Nile Threat

West Nile Virus is a very real danger for most mammals, including humans. If you have a horse, you could be at even more risk, since farm animals are very susceptible to this disease. In most cases, the West Nile virus is transmitted through mosquito bites, and in many cases, this disease is fatal. As your horse’s caregiver, it is your responsibility to protect your horse from the West Nile virus and to treat your horse is he or she becomes infected. Remember, owning a horse is a huge responsibility. Horses are just like children—they often cannot care for themselves, so it is your job to provide your horse with everything he or she needs, including treatment when sick.

First, consider vaccinating your horse to prevent West Nile virus. The vaccination for this disease was released in 2003 and can really protect horses, especially those at a high risk for contracting West Nile virus. There are some downfalls as well, however, such as the cost. By talking to your vet, you can learn how often your horse will need the shot and how much it will cost. If you have insurance for your horse, these costs may be covered.

Killing the mosquitoes found in your neighborhood is also a crucial way to protect your horse from developing West Nile virus. To do this without introducing harmful chemicals into the environment, discourage mosquitoes from breeding in the first place. Remove trash and other places where standing water is a problem, and talk to your vet about natural mosquito repellents. Fans also help to deter the mosquito population, and at the very least, don’t turn on lights in the bard or stables after the sun has gone down when possible.

Remember to protect yourself as well. Humans can also get the West Nile virus, and so if you take care of your horse, it is crucial to recognize this danger. Wearing long clothing and using bug spray, especially in the evening, can prevent mosquitoes from biting. You can also put up screens in the doors to the barn if the problem is very bad.

Mosquitoes are most active dusk to dawn, and so your horse will have less of a chance of being bitten if you stay inside during the evening and night. Although a night ride may be fun, if the mosquito population in your area is high, it is best to stay indoors. If you are unsure about how to prevent mosquito bites and your horse seems to have an abundance of them, talk to you vet. Keeping your horse safe should be a number one priority.
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Hormones and Drugs for Stallions

Knowing what to give your stallions when it comes to hormones and drugs is very important. You are going to want to know several things before you get started dealing with your stallions and hormones or other drugs, so you should be talking to a vet or another horse expert to see what they have to say about these things before you start. Hormones and other drugs can be very useful, but also unnatural and dangerous, so consider your options carefully.

First of all, it is important for you to think about what are good hormones and other drugs, and what are bad. If you are considering using hormones and drugs so that your horses are stronger or faster for racing or working, you should know that this is very dangerous to do and is going to have the potential of making your horse sick or even killing your horse. Also, if you are involved in horse racing, giving your horse drugs of any kind is usually illegal anyway.

However, there are good hormones and drugs that you might consider giving your stallion for many different reasons other than simply making them faster and stronger.

First, there are hormones and drugs that you can give your horses that will help them to replace something in their body that they aren’t getting from what you are feeding them. If you know that your feed has some kind of deficiency, you are going to want to consider giving them hormones or drugs to replace these. Talk to your vet first, to determine what is good for your horse, and if you can, you should change your food before you give your animals drugs to replace things. These types of hormones work in the same way that many supplements for humans work.

Also, you might sometimes need to give your stallion’s hormones or other drugs in order to keep them healthy. This should always be at the discretion of your vet, and you have to make sure that you understand why your horse is being given these drugs.

If your horse has a condition that requires you give him hormones or other drugs on a regular basis, you might want to learn how to do this yourself so that you can do it without a vet trip. Make sure that your vet shows you the proper technique, and be sure that you know exactly what you are doing before you do it.
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Helping Mother and Baby: When your Mare has a Foul

Helping a mare through pregnancy can be any extremely rewarding experience, but remember that it is also a lot of hard work. If you’ve decided to allow your mare to become pregnant, make sure that you can be responsible for this medical condition, as well as an extra life. Breeding horses is a great career if you have the time and effort.

First and foremost, mares are pregnant longer than women. In general, a mare will carry her foul for about 11 months. During this time, care and regular checkups from a vet are crucial. You may even want to find a vet specializing in this particular field. As your mare’s due date approaches, make sure to keep a watchful eye. Keep your vet’s number on hand and call whenever the horse goes into labor so that the vet can arrive to help with the birth. In some cases, a vet may not be needed, but if you are inexperienced, or if the birth takes longer than a half hour, you vet should come to help with the birth.

Cleanliness is important. You don’t have to hose out the entire barn and use a disinfectant, but make sure that you can clean bedding in a clean stall available for your mare. Also, it is important to tie up the horse’s tail so that it doesn’t get in the way. Don’t tie this too tightly, and leave it free was soon as the birth is over. Of course, after the birth, rinse the mare’s hindquarters and remove any soiled bedding, replacing it with fresh bedding.

If you see anything unusual going on with the birth, it is best to call you vet right away. Remember, a horse birth will look very different from a human birth, so before you mare goes into labor, make sure that you talk to your vet about what to expect. Afterwards, it is also important to let the mare care for the foul. Instinct will lead a mare to do the proper things for her new baby, and interfering may confuse or anger the horse. Keep your distance, and if you think something may be wrong, call the vet.

You new addition to the family should be walking and drinking milk from the mare rather quickly. Remember, this is a very tender time in both horses’ lives. Keeping them away from other animals for the first week or two may be a good idea. Afterwards, it is best to talk to your vet about the vaccinations and special food your foul may need to grow strong and healthy.
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3/20/2009

AA Travel Insurance for Your Insurance Needs

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By logging into a comparison website and providing some information about yourself and your insurance needs, you will embody provided with travel insurance quotes that answers your needs. Detect if AA is one of them. If sensible is, wherefore you can check them out thoroughly. You penetrate, insurance providers suggestion otherwise types of insurance policies.
They differ in terms of coverage, exclusions, deductibles, etc. You must know what you necessity to embody invisible and if in plight, you can ' t pride thoroughgoing your becoming coverage, you must gang up the aim that covers supremely of your needs. Closest sense this, you can ad hoc check out the price of the policy. If you can ' t transfer honest, gaze for other option plans. Perhaps you can still treasure one that is neighboring to your opportune insurance policy.
Evident would reproduce best to natter to someone with a great scholarship about travel insurance consequently that he or jail bait can support you in the selection step. An cause can equal of great use to you. Peer if AA has a fitted aid that you can talk to about your insurance needs. Attached careful consideration of the variant factors in selecting the ethical travel insurance provider, you can come forth at a benchmark. You can and announce straightaway if AA has the just travel insurance game plan for you.
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3/19/2009

Understanding mutual funds in the newspaper

We’ve all seen the financial pages in the newspaper. Usually we flip past it on the way to the comics, the horoscope, of if you’re like me, to the sports section. But what do all those squiggles and arrows mean anyway, and now that you’re thinking about investing in mutual funds, can you see how your fund is doing every day in the morning paper?

The answer is, of course, yes. And not only that but mutual fund listing are a bit easier to read with less complicated jargon that reading the stock prices next to it. Most major daily newspapers have the mutual fund section separate form the rest of the stock and bond information. There is usually a large, bold headline showing where the fund are listed.

Now that you’ve found where the mutual funds are listed, let’s try to decode all this information. Your fund will be listed alphabetically in the column under the name of the company that manages it. You’ll see three column next to each fund name. In the first column, you’ll see “NAV”. This is short for “Net Asses Value.” Don’t panic, this is just a simple mathematical formula that shows what each share in that mutual fund is worth. To determine how much your shares in that mutual fund are worth, just multiply the amount of shares in that fund that you own by the NAV.

The second column says Offer Price. This is what you would pay right now if you wanted to buy more shares. Often, you’ll see a NL in this column instead of a price. I bet you can figure out what that means. Yep! It means it’s a no-load fund and you would pay what the NAV is if you wanted to buy more shares. Not so scary anymore, is it?

The final column is the change column. This information is the same essential thing that you would see if you were reading the stock page: a + in this column shows that the value of your fund has gone up since the last day’s close, and a – shows that it’s gone down.

And that’s it! While the mutual fund page in your newspaper may look bizarre, once you break it all down you can see that it’s all pretty basic. So start checking your funds today and you can watch your money grow!
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Types of mutual funds

So, you’ve decided to jump into the mutual fund investment game. While mutual funds have shown themselves over time to be a safer bet than regular stock trading, there is always the chance you could lose your shirt. But the type of fund you choose will have a lot to do with the amount of risk you take on and the kind of return you’re looking for. For starters, mutual funds are usually broken down into six main categories.

Equity mutual funds allow you to invest in typical shares of common, everyday stock.

Fixed income mutual funds allow you to invest in corporate or government securities that usually offer a set rate of return on your investment.

Balanced mutual funds allow the investor to take on a fund that includes both stock and bond options.

Maybe the safest form of mutual funds are known as money market mutual funds. They offer a high degree of stability for your principal, as well as high liquidity if you need to back out.

Bond mutual funds are popular since they invest in tax free as well as taxable ones.

And finally, sector/speciality funds are used to help diversify your holdings within a particular industry.

Each of these types of funds can be both aggressive and risky with a high level of reward possible, or they can be safer and lower risk. It all depends on which fund you choose.

To break things down further, equity funds are usually divided up into four different categories: Growth and Income mutual funds, International mutual funds, growth mutual funds and aggressive growth mutual funds. Each different type of fund has a particular goal in mind. For some, it’s to aggressively pursue income, even in risky situations, while others seek to preserve the initial investment and only take smaller chances.

As you can see, the mutual fund landscape is filled with so many options, it can make a newbie’s head spin. But fear not, there is almost limitless information available on which mutual fund is right for your particular investment strategy. Not only do most mutual funds and those that run them have their own website, there is endless advice as to which fund is right for you on the Internet, as well. Don’t forget to utilize publications like the Wall Street Journal, as well as friends and family who might have had particular luck with a specific fund. Welcome to mutual fund investing!
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Tips to invest for retirement

People choose mutual funds for investing for many different reasons. Some people start very early (the smart ones) with dreams of a second house in the German Alps or a thatched roof pub in the English countryside. For some, mutual funds are a practical and easy way to save for the college education of their kids, or even grandkids. But without a doubt, the most popular reason for mutual fund investing is saving for retirement. With social security looking less and less helpful, many realize that investing to save for retirement isn’t a choice anymore, but a must. Here are some tips for those that are looking ahead to their golden years with mutual fund investing.

First off, the earlier you start saving for retirement, the better. Convincing a 25 year old recent college graduate that they need to put some of their income away to save for college can be almost impossible, but trust us, the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.

Take a financial inventory of your life. If you have several retirement accounts from jobs you’ve had since you were 30, you can easily combine them now into one savings account. You can also figure in the value of your home, your possessions and your savings to get an idea of how much net worth you have and how that can relate to your ability to save for retirement.

While this may sound like a basic idea, setting goals in a big part of saving for retirement. Get together with a financial expert and decide what age you want to retire at and how much money you’ll need per year and how long you expect to be retired for. Knowing all this will help you plan long term for your retirement.

Try to open an emergency account. This account, which should be all cash, can be for emergencies that you may face while you’re trying to save for your retirement. The main purpose is that in case something goes wrong, you won’t take the money you’ve been saving for your retirement out and use it. That money needs to be kept where it is so you can keep marching towards your retirement goals.

While saving for retirement can be difficult, using various investment tools including mutual funds can really help. Combine that with solid advice from your broker and you will be well on your way to celebrating your retirement years in style.
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Selecting a mutual fund

When you first get into investing, you have to have a clear idea of what it is you want to accomplish. Most people have long term financial goals like saving for retirement or saving for a second home or maybe to put the kids through college. You also have a time frame. You have 20 years to make this money, or if you get into investing at a younger age, you could have 40 or 50 years to spend investing before your goal comes due. These are all vitally important questions that you need to have answered before you start investing. They will tell you what sort of fund to select for your portfolio. Here are a few general tips for selecting a fund that’s right for you.

If your goal is to have the most growth to your capital that you can get, than an aggressive growth mutual fund or an international growth mutual fund is for you. These kind of mutual funds invest in stocks that are hot and have a great potential for hitting it big. The chance for your capital to increase is very high, but the risk involved in these stocks is also extremely high. They are only recommended for long-term investors who can afford to take a hit if need be.

If you’re looking for a high amount of capital growth, but you aren’t ready for that degree of risk, try growth mutual funds, specialty or sector mutual funds or international mutual funds. They tend to look more towards long-term success in common stock, not a quick hit. The risk is still considered high with these mutual funds, but it’s not as high as the previous option.

If your goals are a bit different and creating current income is a big part of what you want to do, than growth and income mutual funds are right for you. The risk level with these mutual funds are ranked high to moderate and they invest in common stocks with a good possibility for dividends and appreciation of your capital.

If your main goal is to create a high amount of current income and capital appreciation isn’t a concern, then fixed income mutual funds and equity income mutual funds would be the right choice. The risk is considered moderate to low, but the potential for current income is very high.

Selecting the right mutual fund for you is a very important decision. You must have a clear idea of your goals to make the right choice. Once you know your position, you can be well on your way to enjoying success in mutual fund investing.
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Tax and distributions

Most investors would agree that mutual funds are a great way to help create a nest egg, save for retirement or for your kids’ college education. There are, however, an entire series of taxes that are levied against investments of all kinds, including mutual fund investments. While they may not always seem fair, they are a fact of life and the more you know about all the various forms of taxes, the better prepared you’ll be to deal with them.

While there are fees associated with some mutual funds when you open the account, and taxes for capital gains as the money appreciates within the mutual fund, there are also a series of taxes associated with the distribution of earnings from the mutual fund back to you. These distributions can take on several different forms, such as capital gains, income dividends and interest. A mutual fund is legally obligated to give out all of the investors income and the money that the fund made. But what exactly is an income dividend?

Income dividends usually include dividends, capital gains and interest that is earned by the mutual fund company minus the expenses and fees are taken out. The distribution associated with capital gains is usually made once per year to the shareholders. These capital gains come from a year of good performance by the mutual fund. When a mutual fund company pays out dividends to their shareholders, the NAV or net asset value of your mutual fund will go down, but you can also take that dividend pay out and buy more shares if you’re happy with the performance.

There are ways to help avoid the tax liability of reinvesting your dividends back into your mutual fund. Most distributions done by mutual fund companies is done near the end of the year. If you don’t want to spend the payout on Christmas presents, you can reinvest the money, but you should do it after the record date. This will help you avoid extra tax liability on your dividends.

Paying taxes on your distribution is a pain. But if your mutual fund is performing well, a small tax on your earning won’t hurt so bad. This is another reason why intelligent, well managed investing is so important. Not only do you have to worry about your fund going up and down in price, but also tax liability. That’s why it pays to invest wisely and use a disciplined approach.
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3/12/2009

Yoga as exercise

Yoga is a meditation exercise that has been around for centuries and came about from the traditions of Buddha and Hindu. There are many people who have let go of the religious aspect of the yoga exercise program, but has used it because the techniques include a lot of benefits. You will find that there are ways that you can use the stretches and strength building exercises for you to work on your self image. You will be able to burn the fat, increase your flexibility, and also build muscles. There are lot of other exercises that you can also go in joint with yoga. When you combine yoga with some other cardiovascular exercise, you will be able to make your body healthier than ever.

Yoga is traditionally seen as a routine of exercises that will rejuvenate the body. That is, although yoga is a difficult workout, it should make you energized as opposed to draining your body and making your feel tired. Therefore, when pairing yoga with other forms of exercise, do yoga first. You may be able to use yoga as a warm up. You will want to do this before you start any cardiovascular or any strength training exercises. You will find that warming up is very important to any work out.

Yoga will teach your breathing techniques that will prepare you for some other exercise. Yoga can also teach breathing to prepare you for other exercises. In yoga classes, students must often learn breathing techniques that help calm the spirit and focus the mind. With these techniques you will be able to breathe fully and there will be more oxygen going to your brain and throughout the other parts of the body. By practicing yoga, you will be able to do cardiovascular exercises for a longer period of time, since you will not be so quickly out of breath.

Since yoga will help you to increase flexibility, you will be able to prevent some injures when you are doing other sports or exercises. Yoga can be viewed as an entire exercise regimen focused on stretching muscles. It also helps minimize and prevent injuries because yoga allows you to find your limits. This is important when practicing any sort of physical activity.

You should always speak with your doctor when you are starting any exercise routine. You will find that yoga is the safest way to practice yoga in the comfort of a class and with a certified instructor. You should ask your teacher for some tips on how you can improve on your yoga skills and use it to help you become better at other sports and exercises. You will be able to benefit from the yoga workout session.
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Getting familiar with Yoga equipment

For those who are into learning yoga, you will find that there are a few things that you might want to purchase to help you learn yoga and get the proper training. When it comes to the yoga equipment you will want to make sure that you are safe and performing the moves or poses correctly. This means that you will want to go shopping for some yoga equipment. There are a few things that you will need to pick up.

First a foremost, it is important for anyone practicing yoga to have a good mat. Mats come in all shapes and sizes, so you have many choices when making a purchase. Look for a mat that is large enough for you when you are sitting. The mat should be dense, but not to the point where you sink in or wobble while doing your poses. Mats that are lined with non-slide material are your safest bet, as they will protect you even when you are doing more complicated poses. However, make sure that it is washable and many can be cleaned in the machine washer. Remember, yoga is exercise, so wash your mat every few sessions to prevent the spread of bacteria and other germs.

You will also find that there are a number of things that you can buy and use in your daily sessions. Many things can be used to correct your posture. Blocks made especially for yoga students are available in most stores. Made of dense foam, they can be used to help learn specific positions. These are light and strong so that you can easily take them to and from your class. Bolsters can also be used for the same purpose, and although they are heavier, they more easily conform to the shape you need.

Next, you may consider purchasing a bag to carry your equipment. You will find that mats are large and difficult to carry, but there are easily able to be carried when you get some special yoga bags. Again, remember to find a material that is not only durable, but also washable, so that you can prevent the spread of germs.

More advanced yoga students may wish to consider other props to help with stretching and correcting postures. You can also get a yoga sling and hang it from the ceiling. This will help you to do some of the inverted positions. Yoga ropes also come in handy here, and sets of ropes can be mounted to your walls and ceilings to help your posture and flexibility. If you think that they sound overwhelming like your moving too fast, you can also get some sandbags will handles. These can be used to create a bigger stretch when you are doing certain poses.

You will want to purchase some books and videos on yoga so that you can continue to learn the art of yoga when you aren’t in class or if you just want to learn more about yoga in general. When it comes to learning new poses you will find that it is easier if you have an coach or instructor to help and show you the correct way. You will watch videos and books to help with your performance, but they also make great gifts for most yoga students.
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During Yoga with the family

Yoga happens to be a type of exercise that many people find to easily fit into their schedule. There are lots of benefits to doing yoga and you’ll feel a lot better about yourself. You will be less stressed, sleep better, and lose some weight. You’ll also become stronger and more flexible. This is a great way for you to bond with your children as well. You will find that it is it just as fun and beneficial for children too. Your child may not be able to do all of the poses; however, you will be able to get the children away from the TV and active.

Your child may not have what it takes to pay attention through a whole session, but you should allow the child to join you and bond and have fun. Children love the different skills they learn, such as balancing, and being upside down is always fun. You may also want to think about allowing the child to put their own spin on yoga. They are young and it is just important that you get them interested in trying new things.

The local yoga class will offer you some tips on how to get your children involved and may also allow you to bring your child with you. In these classes, they will learn much of the same things you learn in a beginner’s class. You may even want to consider brining them to an adult class of yoga if they are of age. However, remember that it may not be appropriate if the class has members of both sexes. It’s a judgment call here, but if your child is yearning to start learning yoga, try your best to include him or her in a class.

Your child will be able to benefit from yoga at home as well. There are books and videos specially made for children and young adults to learn yoga as well as meditation. Always monitor your child to be sure he or she is being safe, and talk to your child’s doctor to be sure the yoga routine is appropriate for your child’s physical well-being. Speak with some of the parents that are in your class and ask them if their child is interested so that you can get a group of children together and show them how to properly get into yoga.

When you do yoga together, you will be able to get to know one another and bond. You will be able to see each other as friends. Yoga is a way for you to add healthy activity to your child’s life. Even if you two don’t stay with the yoga classes or routine at home, you can at least come together and find other ways to include health awareness in your child’s daily life.
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Eight Limbs: Ashtanga Yoga

Did you know that Ashtanga means literally “eight limbs? It is a reference to the eight elements that will help define your lifestyle. You will find that your limbs will cover all the attitudes that you have towards that world. Make sure that your attitude towards yourself and the art of yoga considers the eight limbs.

This is better known as power yoga, but you will find that if you do some specialized form of Hatha yoga you will be able to use the third and forth limbs when it comes to poses and breathing exercises. You will find that it will provide an intense workout.
Six series of poses within Ashtanga yoga allow for steps of progression in skill, strength, and flexibility. After learning the order of poses from an instructor (the first series includes 75 poses and can take two hours to complete), students often practice Ashtanga independently. This will allow you to progress at your own pace, but also master each series one at a time.

With 75 poses in the first series alone, Ashtanga yoga can be difficult to learn, especially with the Sanskrit names.

There are many famous athletes will prefer Astango yoga since it is a full body workout. With meditation downplayed and the poses emphasized, "power yoga" focuses on building flexibility, stamina, and strength, tied into breathing control, with breathing synchronized with the poses. With each breath you will do one pose. The focal point of the eyes is also controlled, to create a unified control of the looking point, the breathing, and the bodily position.

"Intense" describes Ashtanga yoga as a whole. Ashtanga yoga stresses breathing and poses to produce some heat from the inside so that you can detoxify the body. You will be able to cleanse the body including the organs and muscles. Make sure you have time for a shower after the Ashtanga yoga lesson! The results include improved circulation and a body that's both strong and lithe.

With a warm environment you will find that Ashtanga yoga will help you to get comfortable and learn to be flexible. You will want to do a proper warm-up and relaxing session so that you can go this form of yoga without harming yourself. You will find that the demands of this exercise yoga means that you will have to become cautious. You don’t want to overwork or strain your muscles. You might do some physical damage. There are people who just should not and can not do this form of yoga.
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Drishti Yoga

Yoga happens to be a form of exercise that came from some eastern religions, but it is also based on mediation. You will find that the yoga origins are translated in English from Sanskrit. When you are beginning with your yoga, you will find that it can be a difficult time for you. You will learn the power of drishti once you have become an advanced student. Most teachers will stress that the drishti will help you to improve the way that you carry yourself and your posture. You will also be able to get a better understanding of how yoga works on the mind and body.

With the ancient yoga teachers you might have heard things like wherever the gaze lies, your attention follow. Have you ever heard the expression, “Keep your eye on the ball”? This is the same principle. In yoga as a religious practice, as well as to benefit our health, the ultimate goal is to calm the mind. Yoga will help you to relieve stress and you’re your body and mind focus and see things more clearly. You will find that it will help you on many levels. By fixing your gaze on a single point (a drishti), you can hone the skills you need to bring your mind to a single point as well. Drishti seeks to block out external distractions so that the mind is wholly focused on itself.

When it comes to drishti, you will want to learn how to focus on your breathing. If you keep your eyes open as you meditate, you can also use an outside source, like the tip of you nose or the flame of a candle. When practicing yoga, simply choose a point in the room on which to fix your gaze and your mind. You will want to make sure that you choose something that you can find natural. This can be very helpful when holding poses for an extended period of time. For beginning students, the drishti will be the instructor. Remember that as you advance, your understanding of the use of drishti will advance as well.

You should not feel like your eyes or strained or that it interferes without yoga routine. For those who are religious, they will see the activitiy as a way to work on the mind and the body. You willl find that some types fo yoga have some drishti used poses. You will try things like the downward facing dog and you’ll fix your gaze upon your navel. Your teachers will explain the use of drishti and how to blend it in with your routine. They will tell you some recommend on how you can use your poses to help you improve yourself overall.
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3/10/2009

Tummy Tucks and Breast Implants: Kinds of Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is very popular in the United States and throughout Europe, especially for those often in the public eye, like actresses and models. You may know about some of the more traditional procedures, but cosmetic surgery, also called plastic surgery can help to achieve a variety of different looks all over a person’s body. Before you go under the knife, learn about the different kinds of cosmetic surgery and how it can help you.

First and foremost, there are the types of plastic surgery that everyone talks about. At the top of that lift is the breast implants. The technical name for this procedure is mastopexy, and is helps people—mostly women—lift and reshape their breasts. This sometimes goes hand in hand with a mammaplasty, which is enlarging the breasts by inserting saline or silicone gel pieces under the skin. Another popular form of cosmetic surgery is the rhinoplasty, which is otherwise known as the nose job. Tummy tucks, technically called abdominplasty, are common too.

There are also some less well-known cosmetic surgeries that people have every day, including ones to change a person’s sexual organs. Other less common cosmetic surgeries inclue buttock augmentation (enhancement of the buttocks), chin and cheek augmentations (enhancements around the face), rhytidectomy (face lifts), and otoplasty (reshaping of the ear). In most cases, these surgeries are done purely for cosmetic reasons—hence the name cosmetic surgery.

Liposuction, or suction-assisted lipectomy, is classified as yet another kind of plastic surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon removes fat from a person’s body. On the other hand, collagen, fat, and tissue filler injections are another kind of plastic surgery that adds fat to a small area of your body where it may be lacking. Chemical peels are probably the least drastic of the cosmetic surgeries you can receive. A chemical peel is meant to reduce acne, scars, wrinkles, freckles, and age sports by applying a layer of acid to your face and allowing the top layer of your skin to peel and form fresh new skin.

Before considering any of these cosmetic surgeries, talk to your doctor. Not all cosmetic surgeries are safe or will work for all people, and there are some real horror stories of patients who have had failed surgeries. Most of the time, surgeries work, but in the end, surgery is always a risk. Only you can decide if your looks are worth that risk.
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The Nose Knows Best: Rhinoplasty

In the world of cosmetic surgery, you can fix everything from your eyelids to your breast. In fast, no part of your body is safe! Of course, most of the time, cosmetic surgery is done for cosmetic reasons only—hence the name—but it can also help to improve the quality of your life in other ways. If you are considering plastic surgery, the key is to learn are much as possible about the process so that you are fully aware of the procedure and can make the best decision possible for your health. One of the most popular kinds of cosmetic surgeries that you can try is rhinoplasty, otherwise known as the nose job.

Rhinoplasty has a long history and was first performed around 500 BC by a man names Susrutha, who is considered to be the father of plastic surgery. Many of the same procedures he used are still used today. The first rhinoplasty was done in the western world in the late 1800s. Today, it is done all over the world with great success.

The surgery starts with general or local anesthetic, depending on what the doctor and patient prefer. Once the area is numbed and the patient is asleep, the surgeon makes tiny incisions inside the nostrils. The cartilage and bone in the nose are then reshaped according to the patient’s preferences. This is done to improve both the look of the nose and the ability to breath. If preferred, a straight septoplasty can be preferred. This is when the bone and cartilage is changed just to improve breathing, but not to improve the cosmetic look of the face.

Rhinoplasty surgeries are very common in the entertainment industries. Perhaps the best known nose jobs in the world include Michael Jackson’s surgery; His sisters Janet and La Toya Jackson also got nose jobs. Jennifer Grey, the star of the movie Dirty Dancing also got a nose job that is highly infamous in the world of plastic surgery.

As with all plastic surgeries, there are a variety of things that could potentially go wrong with a nose job. They are simply not for everyone. Before you approach plastic surgeons regarding your nose, you should consider if the high cost, pain, and risk are worth the end results. In some cases, a rhinoplasty can be a great thing, but they do not work for everyone. In any case, talk to your doctor about the procedure and the risks involved so you can carefully make the best decisions regarding the look of your nose.
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Lifting Your Spirits—and Your Face!

Facelifts are one of the most common cosmetic surgeries available to the public, with thousands done every year in the United States alone. As we age, the skin on our faces loosens and wrinkles. That is simple a fact of life. For those who are aging less gracefully than others, a face lift can be done. Talk to a cosmetic surgeon today to learn how a face lift can work for you. Most frequently, face lifts are done in conjunction with other types of cosmetic surgeries.

Facelifts cannot stop you from aging. Once you have a facelift, your skin will still continue to age, so you may not see the results you hope for. This is not your doctor’s fault—this is life. Medicine can only do so much to improve our looks. At your initial consultation, your doctor will go over how the face lift will work for you and talk to you about the results you will see. In most cases, you will be able to see a digitally enhanced version of your face as it will appear after surgery. Make sure that your doctor answers all of your questions.

The actual face lift begins with a few small incisions—at the temple near the hairline, below the earlobe, and behind the ear in the hair. The muscles and sagging tissues in your face will be tightened and excess skin will be removed. The result is a lifted face, hence the name. Your doctor will then stitch the incisions. In some cases, small inquisitions will be made used the chin as well to lift the neck.

Facelifts usually take about two to three hours to complete and can be done in a hospital or in your doctor’s surgical office suite. An anesthesiologist will provide either light sedation or deep sedation, depending on your preference, and in most cases, you can return home that day night. The amount of pain you will experience depends on the amount of cosmetic surgery being done, and this also affects the amounts of swelling you will see and recovery time.

Remember that a face lift is still a surgery, even though they are usually done casually in the United States. There are still very real risks involved, and you will need at least two weeks to fully recover. Face lifts are not for everyone, including people who have health risks. The best candidates are those with good skin elasticity, non smokers, and those who have taken the time to think through the process and expect realistic results.
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Questions to Ask Your Doctor

When you are interested in cosmetic surgery, also called plastic surgery, you should see a number of doctors in order to choose the one that is right for you. A crucial part of the process is the consultation. During this initial contact with the person who will eventually sculpt your new face, you should ask a number of questions. It is important to learn about every aspect of your surgery so that you are well prepared. You can never ask too many questions!

First, ask your doctor to give you a timeline. You don’t have to talk about specific dates. In fact, that’s something you can work out with the secretary later. What you should talk about is how many hours the procedure will take, how many days you will need to recover, and when you will have to come into the office before and after the surgery for appointments. Most doctors like you to come in again once or twice before the surgery to plan out specifically and exactly what will be done. After the surgery, which is take a varying amount of time depending on the work to be done, you will usually need at least a week to recover. For more extensive procedures, it will be longer. Doctors usually like one check up to make sure everything is going ok, and after that it will be up to the specific doctor. It is important to ask for this kind of timeline so that you know when you can return to work and when you have to schedule visits to the office.

You should also ask about pain. Some it this will be difficult for every person, but certain procedures are more painful than others. If you are worried about pain, ask your doctor what can be done about is and if you’ll need prescriptions to handle the pain. If you will, you should check with your insurance company to see if they are covered.

Another good question to ask is how you will look at the end. Most doctors have computers that can show you an image of the progress that will be made. You’ll take a photograph of your body and the area in question, and a doctor will enhance it using the computer. You should be able to clearly see the changes you want.

Make sure that all of your questions are addressed during the initial consultation. Before you leave, ask the secretary for specifics on when you could have the procedure done and how much it will cost. Write down the answers to all of your questions so that you can compared doctors easily when you are at home and choose the best one for your cosmetic surgery.
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Kinds of Chemical Peels

Chemical peels fall under the classification of cosmetic surgery because they use dangerous chemical solutions to cause the skin to blister and peel. Why would anyone want that kind of a surgery? In the end, the new skin grows back to be less wrinkled or blemished, so it is a procedure that many aging women prefer. Although some chemical peels can be purchased and done by almost anyone, it is preferable to get your chemical peel done by a professional plastic surgeon or dermatologist to make sure everything stays safe and your skin ends up looking the best it possibly can. There are a few different types of chemical peels.

One of the most popular kinds of chemical peels is know as an AHA Peel, or an alpha hydroxyl acid peel. This is the mildest form of the chemical peels and works by using carboxylic acids, like the glycolic acids found in sugar cane or lactic acid, found in sour milk. Many people use this kind of acid mixed with facial wash or creams in lesser-concentrated forms as part of a daily skin care plan. When you use this acid in its concentrated form, is can reduce fine lines and uneven coloring, smooth rough and dry skin, improve your skin’s texture, and help battle acne. You may need multiple treatments to get the results you desire, and after each treatment, you’ll experience stinging, redness, and mild irritation for a few days.

Another popular kind of chemical peel is the tricholroacetic acid peel, in which the chemical is much stronger than in an AHA peel. Usually, concentrations of 20% to 50% are used, with concentrations above 35% being most rare because there is the risk of scarring. This kind of a chemical peel is used for smoothing fine lines, removing blemishes, and correcting skin discoloration, especially for this with darker skin pigmentation. As with the AHA peel, the treatment takes several days to heal, and you must use special care with skin products to maintain the results.

The strongest type of chemical peel is the phenol/croton oil chemical peel. The improvements on a patient’s skin when using this type of a chemical peel are drastic and long lasting in most cases, and a single treatment is all you need to get the effects you want usually. This type of chemical peel smoothes out deep wrinkles, removes precancerous growths and blemishes, and corrects any kind of blotches on the skin related to sun exposure or aging. It also permanent removes freckles in some cases and has been known to permanently lighten the skin. Because this procedure is so drastic, you’ll need protection from the sun for the rest of your will have to allow for several months for it to heal.

There are other kinds of chemical peels available as well. Talk to your dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon if you are interested in learning more about how these chemical peels can work for you and your skin.
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3/09/2009

Yoga and meditation

Yoga is developing as a part of life. It is a way that you can integrate body poses and breathing exercises with added meditation to give a peace of mind to have peace with the world.

Meditation comes from intense concentration, where the individual focuses so thoroughly on a single object that he or she thinks of nothing besides his or her awareness of that object (Some religions may find that their idea of prayer could fall under this definition). Yoga will take things a little bit further by making meditation the highest point of the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

These "eight limbs" define Yoga as a lifestyle: your attitude to the world around you is followed by your attitudes towards yourself, physical posturing, breathing exercises, withdrawing the senses, concentrating, contemplating, and finally enlightenment. You will go into an state of bliss that will result in the use and development of the other seven. Meditation combines withdrawing the senses, concentrating, and contemplating to be the final state that can be accomplished before bliss.

At any rate, meditation calms the mind and offers a number of health benefits even before enlightenment. With regular mediation will help reduce all the stress and anxiety. It will also lower your blood pressure and it will decrease your risk of a heart attack. It can improve concentration, clarity of thought, and release your creative side.

With some research, mediation with yoga will increase the matter of the brain’s cortex, and it will help with cognitive, emotional, and sensory date of the brain. Meditation may also slow natural shrinkage of the frontal cortex due to aging. The 20 participants on average meditated for 40 minutes a day. Actually, most change happens in the brain’s right half.

Meditation really isn’t easy though. Clearing the mind of extraneous thought is difficult, and all thought even more so. Learning how to do meditation will take some time and hard work.

You will want to sit somewhere with your back and head straight, to start out. You will find that you will want to learn some basic breathing exercises first to help you. You will then want to close your eyes, breathe in through your noses and exhale through your mouth. You will want to focus on your breath. You will be able to get cool air to enter through and the warm air leaves. You will want to make sure that you focus on the way that you breath. You will want to redirect all of your wondering thoughts and then just focus on the warm air leaving. You should start off with some short meditations that last a few minutes. Most beginners will start off counting their breaths so that they can focus on the breathing, but you will only want to count to four and then start over again.
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Vinyasa Yoga

There are a number of class types of yoga, including Vinyasa yoga. You will find that this specific type of yoga you will be able to do poses that flow into one another and it is a consistent breathing meditation. The type of breathing-oriented posed yoga is rapid and dynamic. It is another way of saying that you are into Power Yoga.

In reference to poses, Vinyasa can describe the poses performed between repeats of "Downward Facing Dog" in a Sun Salutation: Plank, "Four Limbed Staff", and "Upward Facing Dog".

To get into the Plank pose from a downward-facing dog, you will have to bring your torso up until your body is straight and your shoulders are directly handling over your wrists. It’s like the push up position. Press down firmly through your forearms and hands, widen your shoulder blades, and press back through the heels, regardless of whether your heels touch the floor or not. You will want to make sure that your neck stays inline with your spine, but once you have mastered it, you can perform the pose with one leg lifted at a time.

From Plank, enter the Four Limbed Staff by bending your arms straight back, hugging your upper arms to your sides. Then you will want to lower yourself to the floor with your forearms and upper arms at a ninety-degree angle, while keeping your body level throughout the pose. Push back on your heels while pressing into your palms. (Beginners can leave their knees on the floor until they build the strength to hold up their bodies.) Then you can try shifting the pose while leaving one leg up from the advanced plank pose, but that is only once you've mastered the pose


To progress into Upward Facing Dog, tuck in your toes to roll over your feet as you come forward. Don't let your thighs touch the floor. Make sure that you keep your legs tense and off the floor, but you will also pres into the floor with the tops of your feet and with your palms. Make sure your shoulders remain over the wrists, and drop your hips. Beginners might find it easier to transition by dropping their thighs to the floor, flipping their feet over one at a time, then raising their legs again to move into Upward Facing Dog.

These are just beginning yoga poses will require you to concentration if you would like to master it. You will also find that these are difficult for a person to master. You will want to get it a good go at learning how to do yoga. You will find that there are many difficulties that you will have with Vinyasa yoga.
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Practicing Yoga safely While Pregnant

If you are a yoga student and just recently found out that you are pregnant you may till be able to do these exercises. Contrary to what many people think, Yoga is good for both you and your unborn child. You will not hurt the baby, but you will be able to create a healthy environment for the baby if you learn to do the yoga poses correctly. You can also begin to do yoga when you are pregnant. There are some poses that you will want to avoid, but if you learn to avoid the harmful poses and master the poses that are suggested as prenatal yoga. You will want to learn about these poses before you begin to do yoga. You will want to ask your pediatrician about whom you will be able to contact. Be sure that you know what you are doing, because you don’t want to hurt yourself or the baby.

Yoga is beneficial because it is a mental exercise as well as a physical one. Those who try to learn and use yoga as a meditation tool, they are able to relax and control their breathing. This will help you during labor, especially if you are opting to give birth without the use of drugs. You will learn how to stay calm in your later stages of your pregnancy, since many new mothers can easily frustrated.

You will want to learn the rules that you will need to follow when practicing yoga when you are pregnant. First, stay hydrated, stopping often for water breaks. If you get too overheated, your core body temperature rises even more, which can harm the baby. For this reason, “hot” yoga is dangerous and should be avoided while you are pregnant. You will also want to eat some extra calories since you are eating for two, however, you will want to exercise to burn the extra calories from yourself and the baby.

You will want to make sure that you avoid certain poses because they can be harmful towards the baby. Lying flat on your back, for example, can cut of blood flow to your brain and to the uterus, making you dizzy and causing developmental problems for your baby. After your first trimester you will not want to because it’s just not safe. Also skip positions that are inverted, or those that require great amounts of balance. Remember that your stomach is growing every day, so you will never be able to fully get used to your new shape and stay balanced. Keep in mind that you don’t fall because it can hurt yourself or the baby. If the position includes major twisting or stretching in the abdominal region, they may also not be best for you and your baby. Finally, avoid transitions in which you must stand quickly from a laying or sitting position, since this can be uncomfortable and cause you to be dizzy, as well as restrict blood flow to your uterus.

There are a lot of positions that you will find to be helpful, however, most pregnant women will either practice yoga or they will do things to stretch their body. You will want to talk to your yoga instructor on what they recommend for your and your unborn child. You should also speak with your medical doctor and ask them if yoga will help you and your baby to stay healthy.
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Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga was developed by Bikram Choudhury. You will find that you will go and do yoga in a room that this 95-105 degrees hot. You will find that the room is also high in humidity. This will increase your body flexibility and it will lower the risk of muscular injury. The sweat from the heat of the room you will be able to get rid of all the toxins of the body. When you subject yourself to hot temperatures will help you to get toned and loss the weight. You will also find that it is strengthen the immune system.

This type of hot yoga will include about 26 poses and it will also including two breathing exercises. You will find that each breath exercise is performed twice within an hour an half. The room is carpeted and has mirrors. You will find that it is a very intense workout. You will find that the benefits of bikram yoga will help you to relieve chronic pain and even certain symptoms from some diseases.

Since this yoga master, born in 1946, is still living, he can file lawsuits. And he does. He refuses to allow his name to be attached to generic yoga practiced in a hot room, demanding that instructors of Bikram yoga follow his proscribed yoga methods and be properly certified from his institute, the Yoga College of India, founded in 1974. He has tried to copyright his series of 26 poses and tries to claim rights over all sequences that have substantial similarity. There are some people who are bothered by his methods of self-expansion (such as opening franchises of yoga studios). You will notice that he is an instructor at a yoga college in Mumbai, India, but he also teaches at other worldwide locations.

Many people will use the term “hot” yoga so that they are able to avoid a lawsuit. Any yoga that takes place in a hot room might be called Hot Yoga; it may or may not precisely follow Bikram Choudhury's precise proscribed methods. If you want to take a hot yoga class you will want to make sure that you go to a certified studio to teach you’re the method correctly. If you want to take a Bikram yoga class, make sure the studio you choose for your class is certified to teach the method.

When taking a Hot Yoga class, you must have your own mat and towel to handle the profuse sweat. Most students also choose to wear little clothing, to avoid overheating. You want to drink plenty of water and water only. You will find that it can make you dehydrated if you don’t drink water. Also, you will want to avoid eating within two hours prior to class. You should drink well over eight glasses of water on days you have Hot Yoga classes.

If you are an expecting mommy, you will not want to practice hot yoga. It will raise your body temp and it is not good for the baby. You will also find that you are going to have to have a high tolerance to heart and become accustomed to exercise and doing yoga. You don’t want to start off with this type of yoga, because you may find that it is difficult for you to learn and focus when in the hot environment.
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Dress Attire for yoga class.

If you are thinking about starting a yoga class you will want to consider what you wear to the class before you go. You will find that yoga involves many different moves or positions while in a single routine. You will need to dress so that you will be comfortable and it won’t create problems for you if were to stretch or move a certain way. You will find that if you don’t wear the correct type of clothing you may not get everything that you would hope to get from a yoga class. You will find that there are many clothing companies that have a variety of clothing for those who are practicing or learning yoga. As you know yoga is increasing in popularity in the past few years and it is considerate for these companies to offer you the clothing.

Choose yoga clothing that is comfortable for your body when you are moving. Clothing that is too tight may “ride up” and shift in uncomfortable ways as your limbs rub against one another, for example. You will want to wear clothing that you feel good in and that you feel good about your body. You will want to feel comfortable no matter what size you are so that you can feel less self conscious if you think that your pants are too tight or such. In all honesty, everyone is probably too engrossed in class to notice what you are wearing, but poor clothing can be a mental block and prevent you from learning.

You will also find that poor clothing choices can be quite embarrassing. Remember that yoga involves inverting your body in many cases. Don’t go with too loose of clothing because the sag or fall of the clothing may show off more than you want to. Not only is this embarrassing for you, but you will also notice that everyone else will feel uncomfortable. Clothing that is too tight can be stretched too far and rip during class. Tight clothing can also be too revealing if there are members of the opposite sex enrolled in your yoga class. Always be respect towards those who are around you and always wear things that are comfortable.

Yoga is an exercise, and like all exercises, you will sweat. Take this into consideration when choosing the fabric that you want to wear. Also, think about the fact that some fabrics will absorb the sweat so that you can remain dry during the workout, but still burn those calories. If your clothing is wet, it could be dangerous to attempt some positions, and the same is true if your clothing is too loose.

If you aren’t sure what clothing you will want to wear to your classes, you will want to do some of the basic moves and see how you feel or look in the clothing. You will want to choose outfits that are comfortable and that you feel good in. You will want to also ask your teacher for any suggestions. You will find that your clothing is very important when it comes to beginning a yoga class.
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