Be Careful With Gym Germs

In this blog I keep reminding that sports is an essential part of us all being healthy. You may choose running, baseball practices, athletics or just workouts at the gym. But we also need to be careful when “getting ourselves healthy” by protecting our bodies from germs that are all around us. Especially when we’re talking about gym workouts. So, why is it so important to keep it all hygienic and how do we reduce the risk of collecting germs at the gym? This is what I am going to tell you in this article.

Germs? So What?

Skin infections in athletes are extremely common. Recreational athletes as well as participants in organized sports are prone to fungal, viral and bacterial skin infections. Sweat, abrasion and direct or indirect contact with the lesions and secretions of others can make every athlete’s skin vulnerable to skin’s “guests”. One the most serious infection might be an MRSA – the potentially deadly staphylococcus infection that is resistant to most antibiotics, which can give you very painful “pimples”. I’m sure you do not want to spend last warm days in the emergency room having all the lesions surgically cleaned and stitched. Along with the MRSA goes herpes, fungal infections, jock itch, boils, impetigo, ringworms and many other not so attractive bacteria that will not make you laugh at all.

How do I get germs and bacteria at the gym?

Sneezing into one’s hand or blowing one’s nose without washing with an antibacterial cleanser afterward may spread dangerous bacteria to others. Another way is a contact with secretions from other athletes through benches, towels, mats, lockers and so on. If you plan to work out in a gym or use a locker room, before choosing a facility, you should quiz the management about the cleaning agents used (they should be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency) and daily cleaning schedule for all surfaces and equipment. If exercise mats are not cleaned between classes - bring your own. Antibacterial wipes or spray bottles should be provided and used by everyone to clean equipment after a workout.

How to Avoid?

Follow these 10 tips to avoid bacterial lesions lanced and cultured:

1. Wash your hands as often as you can before and after training.

2. Try not to touch your face, eyes or mouth after you touched any equipment at the gym.

3. Do not share towels, water bottles, shoes, soap etc.

4. Take off your sweaty clothes as soon as you’re done practicing.

5. Change athletic socks and underwear daily.

6. Bring a towel to your gym so you could wipe your sweat off after you have used the equipment.

7. If you are taking a yoga or Pilates class, use your own mat. If it’s a shared one don’t forget to clean it before use.

8. Wear shoes in the shower or changing room as you can find athlete’s foot there.

9. Wipe off your gym equipment after you used it. Air out your shoes, gloves and carry bag, clean your clothes and take a shower immediately after you finish exercising as germs thrive in moisture.

10. If you don’t feel well better skip your training for preventing of sharing germs with others at the same time allowing your body to rest and recover.

Germs are everywhere and you cannot put armor on for keeping ourselves away from them. But we should do everything to reduce the risk of contacting bacteria and germs as much as we can.

Erectile Dysfunction. How to Avoid

This is already a fourth post in the group of posts dedicated to the problem of erectile dysfunction. Every man knows that this can happen and everyone thinks it won’t happen to them. Erectile dysfunction isn’t an unavoidable condition. Actually, it is not normal and you can prevent it by following few simple rules.

1. Exercise and maintain a healthy weight

Sitting all evening on the couch is linked to erectile dysfunction. You can reduce risk of ED by running, swimming, or going into any other active sport. Be careful with bicycle riding as it puts excessive pressure on the perineum, which can cause ED. All of the exercises plus healthy meals will protect you against being overweight. And that is a very important part in the set of preventing impotence. Excessive weight can give you many health problems, including diabetes, which can lead to damaging nerves throughout the body and penis nerves as well.

2. Stop smoking

Read this if you smoke: smoking can negatively influence blood flow to the penis by harming blood vessels. Also, nicotine makes blood vessels contract, which can hamper blood flow to the penis.

3. Party – YES, Drinking – BETTER NOT

Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all. Small amount of alcohol won’t hurt you, but chronic drinking can cause liver damage, nerve damage and other health conditions that can result if erectile dysfunction. Although, the rule for anabolic steroids is much more strict. Avoid that kind of drugs, as they can shrink the testicles and sap their ability to make testosterone.

4. Watch your testosterone levels

In the age of 40 a man’s testosterone level is lower by 1.3% comparing to the age of 39. And it is a stable picture for your future. If you feel like having a low sex drive, moodiness, lack of stamina, or trouble making decisions you might have a testosterone deficiency. Visit your doctor to check it.

5. Healthy food – wealthy sex life

Use the same diet that one chooses for keeping his heart tip-top.

Don’ts: only few fruits and vegetables, lots of fatty, fried and processed foods. Why? This kind of “diet” can impede blood flow to and within the penis. And as you know this blood is needed for the penis to become erect.

Do’s: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, hearth-healthy fats including nuts and olive oil, fish, and wine. Researched showed that ED is uncommon among men who eat the above mentioned diet.

6. Avoid 3 highs: high blood pressure, high sugar levels and high cholesterol

All of the 3 highs can damage blood vessels, including those that bring blood to the penis. Eventually, this can cause erectile dysfunction.

Check your cholesterol levels and blood pressure regularly. If you have diabetes – keep it under control. You might also want to check your blood pressure between doctor visits. Some stores and fire stations offer free screening; blood pressure monitors are also sold for home use. If you loose control of it all – get it treated.

Blood pressure drugs can make it hard to get an erection. But doctors say many cases of ED that get blamed on these drugs are actually caused by arterial damage resulting from high blood pressure (also called hypertension).

7. More love and positive emotions and you’re good!

Psychological stress boosts levels of the hormone adrenaline, which makes blood vessels contract. That is a bad factor for healthy erections. Do everything to ease tension, curb stress and feel more love and positive emotions. It will surely give your sex life a big boost.

Don’t let yourself harm your erections! It is all in your hands! Keep it all positive and healthy, and you won’t have any unwanted health conditions.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Related posts:

Erectile Dysfunction. Causes

Erectile Dysfunction. Symptoms

Erectile Dysfunction. Introduction

The Main Causes of Liver Damage

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are the main causes.
- Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

2. Not urinating in the morning.

3. Too much eating.


4. Skipping breakfast.


5. Consuming too much medication.


6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming overly done foods also add to the burden of liver.
- Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.


We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to "schedule." Yes, our body has a schedule.

Our Body Elimination Schedule

- Evening at 9 - 11pm: is the time for eliminating unnecessary/ toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.

- Evening at 11pm - 1am: is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.

- Early morning 1 - 3am: detoxification process in the gall bladder is also ideally done in a deep sleep state.

- Early morning 3 - 5am: detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.

- Morning 5 - 7am: detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel. –

- Morning 7 - 9am: absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.

Generic Equivalents of Brand Name Drugs. Part 2

According to the Generic Health blog, this year has already recorded the buyouts of $25.1 billion of generic drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. Generic drug industry holds the 57% of the pharmaceutical market and is expected to capture the 76% of the pharmaceutical market by 2015. Generics are getting more and more prescribed by doctors and upon patients requests. Many people come to their doctors to change brand drugs to their generic equivalents. But not everyone knows if all of the brand drugs have generic counterparts and what are the names of their copies. In the first part of Generic Equivalents of Brand Name Drugs I gave a short description and generic names for Viagra, Cialis, Zocor, Zithromax, Plavix and Levitra. This time I will talk about drugs that belong to the Cardio and Blood group of drugs and I took as an example medications from US-ePharmacy.com online store.

1. Brand Name: Altace = Generic Equivalent: Ramipril

Active ingredient: ramipril

Short Notes:

Generic Altace treats high blood pressure, certain heart problems and improves survival

Generic Altace reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death

2. Brand Name: Avapro = Generic Equivalent: Irbesartan

Active ingredient: irbesartan

Short Notes:

Generic Avapro controls high blood pressure

Generic Avapro helps prevent a stroke or heart failure

Generic Avapro treats certain kidney problems in some diabetic patients

3. Brand Name: Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac = Generic Equivalent: Diltiazem

Active ingredient: diltiazem hydrochloride

Generic Cardizem is a calcium-channel blocker. Cardizem was first manufactured by Biovail Pharmaceuticals. However, the patent has since expired and generic Cardizem is now available. Generic Cardizem is manufactured by a number of drug companies, including Teva Pharmaceuticals, Watson Pharmaceuticals, and Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

Short Notes:

Cardizem is a calcium-channel blocker

Cardizem affects the amount of calcium found in your heart and muscle cells

Cardizem reduces the amount of work the heart has to do

4. Brand Name: Zestril, Prinivil = Generic Equivalent: Lisinopril

Active ingredient: lisinopril

Short Notes:

Zestril is an antihypertensive drug, which controls hypertension

Zestril improves survival in some patients after a heart attack

5. Brand Name: Norvasc = Generic Equivalent: Amlodipine

Active ingredient: amlodipine

On Oct. 3 2005, the FDA approved first-time generic formulations of amlodipine besylate tablets made by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Generic Norvasc belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers. Amlodipine is used for the treatment and prevention of angina resulting from coronary spasm as well as from exertion. Amlodipine is also used in the treatment of high blood pressure.

Short Notes:

Norvasc affects the amount of calcium found in your heart and muscle cells

Norvasc results in relaxation of blood vessels

Norvasc lowers hypertension

Talk to your doctor before taking any drugs. If you plan low budget for medications, ask your doctor to prescribe you generic versions of the drugs you are using. You may look up some of them at my blog. For more information on the above mentioned medication check drugs.com. Take care!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Generic Norvasc 10 mg for as low as $65.60 per 60 pills at US-ePharmacy.com online store

Related Posts:

Things You Should Know About Generic Drugs

Viagra, Cialis or Levitra?

Erectile Dysfunction. Causes   

What Heart Data is Your Doctor Keeping From You?

Tips On Reducing Cholesterol  

Things You Should Know About Generic Drugs

We have talked a lot about shopping online for medications you need. In my previous posts Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying RX Online and Safety of Your Personal Information I listed pros and cons on purchasing drugs online and wrote how to be careful when you decide to use online pharmacies instead of your local ones. As you know, all online pharmacies provide with generic medications. In this post I will give you answers to 5 important questions, which you should know about generics.

What is a generic drug?

Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs in every way: strength, dose, side effects, safety, intended use and even the level of absorption into blood. Pharmacological effects of the generic drug are the same as those of their brand-name counterparts. Generic versions of brand drugs are sold only after brand manufacturer loses the patent due to its expiration.

Are generic drugs safe?

Yes. Generic drugs are 100% safe. Each generic is laboratory-tested to ensure that it has same active ingredients, safety, and blood level as the brand-name drug. All generics must pass stringent “bioequivalency” tests in humans and must meet the same standard that branded drugs do. Since 1984, no generic drug has been approved in the U.S. unless it has passed all needed tests. Is it safe to purchase drugs from the online store you found? Find that out! Ask their support if the pills they offer are manufactured by licensed factories and are FDA approved in the country of manufacturing. Is it safe for your credit card? It is if the online pharmacy website has a protection of your credit card data. You can see that in the URL for the shop's order page - if it starts with https://, rather than usual http:// then don't worry about your money.

Why are generic drugs cheaper?

When a brand manufacture first decides to develop a drug, he has to prepare everything for it be developed, protected and marketed in the US. This includes a market research, patent and so on. As patent expires, manufacturers apply to FDA to offer generic versions to the US market. Generic manufacturers don’t have to pay for developing a drug, its patent protection, TV ads, so they can afford selling their product at reduced prices.

What is the difference between generic and brand medicine?

Generic and brand medicine has three main differences: price, packaging and manufacturer. The main difference although is the packaging – the appearance of the containers as well as the shape and color of the pills. Generic drugs cannot look like brand ones due to trademark laws, so they are manufactured in a different from their counterparts color and shape.

Although brand name manufacturers make about half of generic drugs, generics, which you can find at online pharmacy stores, are mostly manufactured at Indian factories. Such Indian factories are being regularly inspected by visiting regulators from the FDA of the United States, Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, and other countries. The biggest Indian manufacturers are Cipla limited, Ranbaxy India Limited, etc.

Is a generic drug as effective as its brand counterpart?

Generic drugs produce the same effects in the body as the brand-name drugs, because both contain the identical active ingredients. Generics have been shown to be as safe as brand-name drugs and work no differently in children or the elderly.

The American Medical Association, the largest organization of medical doctors, states that generic drug products are acceptable for use by the American public. Most hospitals routinely use generic drugs for treatment of their patients.

It is recommended to discuss the choice of generic medicine with your physician, as well as the possibility to receive equivalent generic medications for your prescriptions.

So, you can save your money and still take care of your health and the health of your family. 45 % prescriptions nowadays are filled using generic drugs. Generics provide you with an option to receive high quality medications at affordable prices and with the least time spent on it. To protect your family and yourself from health or money loss, check carefully the online store you are going to use for generic purchases. Take care!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check the avialability of generic counterpart of the brand drug you are looking for at the relialbe Royal Pharmacy.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is a disease in which cells become malignant (cancerous) in one or both testicles.

The testicles (also called testes or gonads) are a pair of male sex glands. They produce and store sperm and are the main source of testosterone (male hormones) in men. These hormones control the development of the reproductive organs and other male physical characteristics. The testicles are located under the penis in a sac-like pouch called the scrotum.

Testicular cancer occurs most often in men between the ages of 20 and 39, and is the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 34.
Risk factors for testicular cancer

The exact causes of testicular cancer are not known. However, studies have shown that several factors increase a man’s chance of developing this disease.

• Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism): Normally, the testicles descend from inside the abdomen into the scrotum before birth. The risk of testicular cancer is increased in males with a testicle that does not move down into the scrotum. This risk does not change even after surgery to move the testicle into the scrotum. The increased risk applies to both testicles.

• Congenital abnormalities: Men born with abnormalities of the testicles, penis, or kidneys, as well as those with inguinal hernia (hernia in the groin area, where the thigh meets the abdomen), may be at increased risk.

• History of testicular cancer: Men who have had testicular cancer are at increased risk of developing cancer in the other testicle.

• Family history of testicular cancer: The risk for testicular cancer is greater in men whose brother or father has had the disease.
Symptoms of testicular cancer
Most testicular cancers are found by men themselves. Also, doctors generally examine the testicles during routine physical exams. Between regular checkups, if a man notices anything unusual about his testicles, he should talk with his doctor. Men should see a doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• a painless lump or swelling in a testicle
• pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
• any enlargement of a testicle or change in the way it feels
• a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• a dull ache in the lower abdomen, back, or groin
• a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum

These symptoms can be caused by cancer or by other conditions. It is important to see a doctor to determine the cause of any of these symptoms.
Although the incidence of testicular cancer has risen in recent years, more than 95 percent of cases can be cured. Treatment is more likely to be successful when testicular cancer is found early. In addition, treatment can often be less aggressive and may cause fewer side effects.

Most men with testicular cancer can be cured with surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. The side effects depend on the type of treatment and may be different for each person.

Treatment of Testicular Cancer
The three types of standard treatment are described below.

- Surgery to remove the testicle through an incision in the groin is called a radical inguinal orchiectomy. Men may be concerned that losing a testicle will affect their ability to have sexual intercourse or make them sterile (unable to produce children). However, a man with one healthy testicle can still have a normal erection and produce sperm. Therefore, an operation to remove one testicle does not make a man impotent (unable to have an erection) and seldom interferes with fertility (the ability to produce children). For cosmetic purposes, men can have a prosthesis (an artificial testicle) placed in the scrotum at the time of their orchiectomy or at any time afterward.
Some of the lymph nodes located deep in the abdomen may also be removed (lymph node dissection). This type of surgery does not usually change a man’s ability to have an erection or an orgasm, but it can cause problems with fertility if it interferes with ejaculation. Patients may wish to talk with their doctor about the possibility of removing the lymph nodes using a special nerve-sparing surgical technique that may preserve the ability to ejaculate normally.

- Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is a local therapy, meaning that it affects cancer cells only in the treated areas. External radiation (from a machine outside the body), aimed at the lymph nodes in the abdomen, is used to treat seminomas. It is usually given after surgery. Because nonseminomas are less sensitive to radiation, men with this type of cancer usually do not undergo radiation therapy.

- Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. When chemotherapy is given to testicular cancer patients, it is usually given as adjuvant therapy (after surgery) to destroy cancerous cells that may remain in the body. Chemotherapy may also be the initial treatment if the cancer is advanced; that is, if it has spread outside the testicle at the time of the diagnosis. Most anticancer drugs are given by injection into a vein.

It is important that men with testicular cancer should discuss their concerns about sexual function and fertility with their doctor. It is important to know that men with testicular cancer often have fertility problems even before their cancer is treated. If a man has pre-existing fertility problems, or if he is to have treatment that might lead to infertility, he may want to ask the doctor about sperm banking (freezing sperm before treatment for use in the future). This procedure allows some men to have children even if the treatment causes loss of fertility.

Follow-up treatment
Regular follow-up exams are extremely important for men who have been treated for testicular cancer. Like all cancers, testicular cancer can recur (come back). Men who have had testicular cancer should see their doctor regularly and should report any unusual symptoms right away. Follow-up varies for different types and stages of testicular cancer. Generally, patients are checked frequently by their doctor and have regular blood tests to measure tumor marker levels. They also have regular x-rays and computed tomography, also called CT scans or CAT scans (detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine). Men who have had testicular cancer have an increased likelihood of developing cancer in the remaining testicle. Patients treated with chemotherapy may have an increased risk of certain types of leukemia, as well as other types of cancer. Regular follow-up care ensures that changes in health are discussed and that problems are treated as soon as possible.

Regular Self Examinations can identify growths early

Pains You Shouldn’t Ignore

Pain is a signal that something is wrong internally. So, ensure you do not ignore pain and seek medical attention. Do not sacrifice your health by saying you cannot miss that meeting or date. But you know what, if you end up in the hospital for two week, how many meeting would you have missed?


Pain in the Head
Headache is a classic sign of a brain aneurysm {Brain aneurysm is abnormal bulging outward of one of the arteries in the brain}. Headache could also be as a result of cold.

Pain in the Chest, Throat, Jaw, Shoulder, Arm, or Abdomen
Pain in the chest could be as a result of pneumonia or a heart attack. Note that heart conditions typically appear as discomfort, not pain. "Don't wait for pain”. Also, discomfort in the upper chest, throat, jaw, left shoulder or arm, or abdomen accompanied by nausea is often associated by heart disease. A feeling of pain that spreads to your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back is an indication of angina.

Pain in Lower Back or Between Shoulder Blades
Arthritis cause lower back pain. Although it is possible that it is due to heart attack or abdominal problems.

Severe Abdominal Pain
Your abdominal pain might be as a result of some gastrointestinal problems in your gallbladder and pancreas, stomach ulcers, and intestinal blockages or even a ruptured appendix.

Burning Feet or Legs
This is a sign of peripheral neuropathy {this is a tingling or burning, sometimes compared to the loss of sensation}

Vague, Combined, or Medically Unexplained Pains
People have vague complaints of headaches, abdominal pain, or limb pain, sometimes in combination." "Various painful, physical symptoms are common in depression.

Please do not ignore pain in any part of your body for any reason at all!

Remember that “Pain is inevitable, Suffering is optional.”

Erectile Dysfunction. Causes

In my previous post Erectile Dysfunction. Symptoms I promised to write to post that will cover causes of ED. So, here we go. I will post my research on what can lead to having problems with erections.

ED is a common thing among older adults. But this does not mean that your sex life will be over after your 40. ED is not considered normal at any age and can be prevented and treated at any age. Most of us are misinformed that erectile dysfunction is an unavoidable part of aging. At age 40, about 5% of men experience ED. At age 65, this number grows to between 15% and 25%. 

What are the causes of Erectile Dysfunction?

Physical Problems. This includes loss of blood supply to penis, injury to nerves, etc.

Chronic Disease. The most influential condition for your sexual life is diabetes. Nearly one out of every two men with diabetes experiences ED. Other chronic diseases include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis. These conditions can lead to insufficient blood flow or nerve impulses throughout the body. Erection problems can also be linked to problems with the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

Medication

Many medicines may have ED as a side effect. To this group of medications belong certain blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and antihistamines. If you recently began taking medications and start feeling erection problems, talk to your doctor so he could change the dose or type of you medications.

Lifestyle

Drinking too much alcohol, smoking, or using illegal drugs can lead to erectile dysfunction. These bad habits may damage the blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the penis. Another lifestyle change that is opposite to the cause of ED is exercising and loosing weight. Each man has to use 2,5 hours per week for exercising, experts say. But be careful with bicycling. Research suggests avid cyclists suffer more ED than other athletes because of the shape of some bicycle seats. If you want to ride for many hours each week look for seats designed to protect men’s important areas.

Does your wife tell you not to wear those really comfy and cool underwear cause it’s tight and can be another cause of ED? Well, tight underwear is not to blame. It only may be a factor in producing a low sperm count.

Psychological

Experts say stress, depression, poor self-esteem, and performance anxiety can short-circuit the process that leads to an erection in 10-20% of men. These factors can also make the problem worse in men whose ED stems from something physical.

Surgery

Sometimes it is to blame surgery which damage nerves and blood vessels near the penis while treating prostate or bladder cancer. In some cases, the nerve damage is permanent and the patient will need to take medications to achieve an erection.

Next post will be dedicated to different treatments of erectile dysfunction. Be healthy!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tired of looking for reliable online stores? Check one of the top online pharmacies Royal Pharmacy. You won't regret!

Five Reasons Why A Mother's Milk Is Better Than A Cow’s Milk For A Newborn Baby

A young medical student is given his final examination on human reproduction.

After reading Question 1; "Give five reasons why a mother's milk is better than a cows milk for a newborn baby?"; he recalled four and quickly wrote them down in his exam book.

1. A mother's milk is more nutritious; it contains better balance of fats, carbohydrates and proteins for the newborn;

2. A mothers milk contains a mix of vitamins that more closely aligns to a human baby's needs.

3. A mothers milk contains immunological agents that will help the newborn fight bacteria, viruses and other infections.

4. Breast feeding is more nurturing and better developmentally for the child.

Stumped, frustrated and running out of time, he searched his mind for a fifth reason. After pondering the question for an agonizing five minutes, he quickly scribbled a fifth response:

5. The milk is delivered in a warm and "really cute" cup.

He got an "A" in the exam.

This is a very smart student.lol

Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way

Beginning to breastfeed more or less immediately helps ensure that the baby takes to the breast and receives colostrum or "first milk." Colostrum is rich in immunological cells, antibodies, and other protective proteins, and serves as the baby's first natural immunization.

One of the continuing impediments to breastfeeding seems to be lack of acceptance of breastfeeding in public. Although many jurisdictions give women the right to breastfeed in public, some women are still asked to stop on the strength of one complaint.

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.

5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants.

6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming- in - allow mothers and infants to remain together - 24 hours a day.

8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

10.Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Well, this is the final article to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week.
Happy Breastfeeding Ladies!!

Image Source: www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org

Christina Aguilera Thanks Breastfeeding

New mum Christina Aguilera says her slim line post baby figure is down to breastfeeding.

The singer, who gave birth to son Max Liron, on January 12th, her first baby with husband Jordan Bratman, three months ago, insists breastfeeding hungry Max is "like a workout in itself."

She told US TV show Access Hollywood: "I think they say that when you're breastfeeding, your weight kind of slims down. It's a little easier. It's like a workout within itself. It's very tiring actually and you find yourself snacking more often."

Even celebs breastfeed their babies!

Source:www.breastfeeding.com

World Breastfeeding Week: 1 - 7 August 2010

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

Breast feeding is beneficial to both the mother and child. Breastfeeding offers protecting against a variety of diseases. These are some benefits as a result of you breastfeeding your child:

Breastfeeding protects your baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems, and ear infections
Studies from around the world have shown that diarrhea, lower respiratory illnesses, and ear infections happen less often in breastfed babies, and are less severe when they do occur.

Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies.
Scientists think that the fatty acids and immune factors such as IgA in breast milk prevent allergic reactions by stopping large foreign proteins from getting into a baby's system. (Proteins in cows' milk are one of the most common allergens, which is one reason that babies who are fed cows' milk-based formulas tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies.)

Breastfeeding may boost your child's intelligence
Several studies have found a possible connection between breastfeeding and higher IQs. So if you want an Albert Einstein or Obama for a child, breastfeed your baby.

Breastfeeding may protect against obesity later in life
Experts think that breastfeeding may affect later weight gain for reasons such as: Breastfed babies are better at regulating their feedings, leading to healthier eating patterns as they grow.

Breastfeeding may protect your baby from childhood leukemia

Breastfeeding may protect your baby from developing type 1 diabetes
Breastfeeding for more than six months appears to reduce a child's risk of developing insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes.

Breastfeeding may protect preemies from infections and high blood pressure later in life
Breast milk seems to offer special protection for premature babies.

Breastfeeding may lower your baby's risk of SIDS{Sudden Infant Death Syndrome}

Breastfeeding helps you lose weight
Nursing your baby can help you shed pounds more quickly, especially during the first year. This is because your body burns calories while it makes breast milk.

Breastfeeding can lower your stress levels and reduce postpartum bleeding
Because nursing triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin in your body, you're more likely to feel relaxed while breastfeeding. Oxytocin also helps your uterus contract back to size after birth, resulting in less postpartum bleeding.
Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of some types of cancer
Numerous studies have found that the longer women breastfeed, the more they're protected against breast and ovarian cancer

Breastfeeding may protect against osteoporosis later in life
Two studies show that breastfeeding may actually improve a woman's bone density in the long run and reduce the risk of hip fractures in old age.

Are these not enough reason to breastfeed your child exclusively?
So, to women who feel breast feeding is a burden, you are not doing yourself and your baby any good.

NO GIFT IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN BREASTFEEDING!!!

Reference: www.babycentre.com

Man and Woman: Healthy Relations in Marriage

Couples who work on their sex lives in marriage are more connected with each other and do not suffer from depression and heart problems, experts say. This is a very important part of couple's life. This post will be dedicated to the statistics on how often married people have sex, what are the reasons they don't have it as often as they want to and why it's so important to have intimate relations during marriage. 

The frequency of sex among married couples depends on how old they are. One survey looked at the sex lives of married people by age. So, how often do usually married people have sex? Result of the survey was as following (note, survey only included married people):

1. Age 18-29 years - 112 times a year, or a little over twice a week

2. Age 30-39 years - 86 times a year, or about seven times a month

3. Age 50-59 - they had sex 69 times a year, or a little under six times a month.

Also, studies show that married people have more sex than single people. Comparing to single people, which usually sleep alone and have sex averagely six times a month,  married people 18-29, who have a sexual partner in bed with them every night, have sex over nine times a month.

Keeping the sexual spark alive in a marriage or is hard to be done. The daily routines of life — careers, children or financial responsibilities — influence couple's passion and sex flame. There's less time for sex and intimacy each day. Another reason for worsening of sex life includes physical conditions such as sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular conditions, arthritis and rheumatism, and a host of other problems. But if you take time to maintain healthy and satisfying sexual relations it will feel much easier. 

If you don’t have as frequent sexual intercourse with your wife as average American couples do - don't worry. Whatever the reasons for trouble in the bedroom - whether emotional or physical in nature - many such problems are easily treated. Moreover, troubles in a couple's sexual relationship are often signs of other problems, and can serve as a warning sign for still bigger troubles ahead. When you have a difficulty with either getting an erection or keeping one for long enough to allow penetrative sex – you might be suffering from erectile dysfunction. Visit your doctor, make some tests. Erectile dysfunction is a sign of potential heart problems. But your doctor will prescribe you the treatment that is best for your body and that will help you forget about erection problems in your sexual life. 

Keep your intimate relations under control! People who have a good sex life feel better - mentally and physically -, experts say. In my next post I will continue with how to keep your sex life exciting just like one you had before marriage.

Related Posts 
Viagra, Cialis or Levitra? 
Erectile Dysfunction. Introduction 
Erectile Dysfunction. Symptoms 
Shopping At Online Pharmacy: How To Save Your Money and Health 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Generic Viagra for as low as $0.01 per pill at US-ePharmacy.com online store.