Ways To Keep Up Your Mental Balance

The continual stresses and strains that people need to cope with as they go about their daily lives mean protecting not only their physical but also emotional health. Unfortunately, this isn't such an easily accomplished feat unless sufficient time and effort is directed to that purpose. Mental or emotional health isn't just about staying free of depression or anxiety, but rather encompasses an entire range of positive feelings like a sense of contentment and zest for life. It also means you're blessed with a more fulfilling life and retain the energy - in other words, resilience - to bounce back from adversity. These well-thought-out tips to stay mentally stable will assist in a big way to get you out of that emotional rut that you might unintentionally have allowed yourself to slide into while struggling with everyday problems to get on with the business of life.

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Obesity In Pregnant Women Places Their Infants In Harm's Way

Recent times have seen a conspicuous spike in the prevalence of overweight and obese women of childbearing age, sparking concern over the future health risks awaiting their infants. A fresh article appearing in the journal Nursing for Women's Health dwells on the fact that obesity in pregnant women can not only imply possible pregnancy complications and birth defects but also contribute to adult obesity in infants that obese mothers give birth to. Researchers Merrie Rebecca Walters, RN, and Julie Smith Taylor, PhD, RNC, WHNP-BC, concluded that maternal obesity can be responsible for birth anomalies like neural tube defect and heart defects in newborn infants. Corrective measures that expectant mothers can choose include strategies like slimming down and breastfeeding.


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New Study Indicates Exercise Fights Back The Detrimental Effects Of Weight Regain

The curse of obesity is descending in ever-increasing intensity upon America's adult and children population, raising health concerns like diabetes and cardiovascular afflictions that are progressively assuming pandemic proportions. Although obesity in itself poses a serious health risk, much of the threat is represented by a swarm of risk factors collectively labeled as the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Shedding weight means you scale back on these risk factors, which can be an extremely challenging task. Researchers working at the University of Missouri report that exercising during weight regain can effect improvements in metabolic heath, thereby reducing obesity-related health dangers. These benefits embrace all-round improvements that include driving down the cholesterol and blood pressure counts.


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Help Your Child Recover From A Pet's Death

It must be agonizing comforting your inconsolable kid sobbing uncontrollably after a pet has passed on. Children perceive death in different ways depending upon his or her age group. For example, toddlers have no clue of what death exactly means and can usually be persuaded to accept a new pet. On the other hand, it's more difficult to console teenagers who can recognize the real implications of death much like adults. Symptoms of depression that your child is indeed seriously affected by a pet's death include constant crying, dysfunctional behavior at school and withdrawal from social contact. You can help out significantly in such unfortunate situations and assist your child step over the grief by not concealing your own true distressed feelings and not making up stories that cloud the actual nature of death.


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The Flip Side Of Antidepressants And Natural Alternatives

It's rather convenient and tempting to seek relief from the emotional and physical strifes posed by the exacting demands posed by modern lifestyle by turning to antidepressants. However, apart from receiving only a moderate degree of the much-needed respite, certain other issues swing in like anxiety, sexual dysfunction, insomnia and, more ominously, drug addiction. Fortunately, a fair number of natural therapies for depression exist for those willing to explore alternatives to prescription drugs. These natural alternatives include counseling, acupuncture, nutritional supplements like vitamins and minerals, and full-spectrum light therapy. But if you feel the need to go on an antidepressant, try to follow certain precautions like getting to bed early and avoiding alcohol and intoxicants such as recreational drugs.

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Study Finds It's Never Too Late To Quit Smoking

A report appearing online in BMJ recently brings good tidings for smokers who have progressed to early-stage lung cancer. The findings highlight the importance of the concept that it's never too late to give up smoking. Smoking, according to the American Lung Association, is the primary reason for lung cancer. Medical research repeatedly suggests that as soon as a person kicks smoking, the body commences repair work to reverse the damage caused by chemicals inherent in tobacco smoke. Scientists associated with the University of Birmingham in England concluded that people opting for smoking cessation following cancer diagnosis did significantly earn a better survival rate in comparison to those who resignedly continued to smoke.


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Prediabetes - The Precursor To Diabetes

Prediabetes indicates a condition where the blood sugar levels spike to above normal but don’t yet intrude into the range of diabetes. However, the condition merits close monitoring as it can potentially spill over into type 2 or full-blown diabetes. For escaping this unfortunate eventuality, it's vital to consider instituting certain lifestyle changes. Changes like getting daily physical exercise and regular checkups for blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Making a consistent effort in maintaining optimum health and working toward a strong immune system pay off hugely in averting diabetes. After all, taking time off from your tight schedule to direct some attention to your physical well-being does mean you live a more fulfilling and disease-free life.

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Nutrition Directly Influences Our Immune System

This is a fairly involved account of how our immune system functions and the role nutrition plays in influencing it. Simply stated, the immune system swings into action mainly through T cells, B cells and antibodies, which strike and neutralize viruses and bacteria that infect the body. However, a depleted state of nutrition or acute physical activity, according to biomedical researchers from the LIMES Institute at the University of Bonn, can switch on the natural immune defense system, via the insulin signaling pathway, into a state of high alert. That is to say, a situation of hunger or reduced energy level translates into stress for the body's cells, resulting in a heightened state of immunological protection. Much as what would have happened if our body were really to be invaded by harmful microorganisms.

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Losing Back Pain Through Natural Cures

Back pain presents you with more suffering than any other bodily pains, according to Dr. Art Brownstein, a physician who authored Healing Back Pain Naturally. The reason is the pain emanates from complex muscles placed close to the spinal cord. Common prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications can produce alarming side-effects or be physically detrimental. Fortunately, you can treat and prevent back pain using absolutely natural means. For example, stretching correctly and consistently can provide substantial relief. So does acupressure and suitable herbal treatment. It is highly recommended that you maintain a stress free life and drink plenty of water for improved results.

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Exercising For An Enhanced Lifestyle

Finding it almost impossible to squeeze time out to visit the gym for workouts? Well, things needn't have to look that dismal if you possess the right amount of willpower. It's not necessary that you drive yourself down to the point of physical collapse with exercise in order to reap its benefits. Research shows even light exercise can go a long way in improving your well-being. These impressive tips can work wonders in getting you up and going without the attendant stress and tension one might expect of a rigorous exercise program. The main idea is to stay focused and motivated while enjoying the whole thing so you're not swept over by a compelling desire to throw in the towel at any point of time - especially when the benefits start kicking in.

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Self-Help Tips To Afford Relief From Intense Back Pain

In most instances, a back pain will clear up by itself in course of time. However, it's ubiquity in America renders it the fifth-leading reason for visiting the doctor's chamber. In fact, all of us have, at one point in our lives or the other, experienced acute back pain which might or might not have subsided on its own with the passage of time. It needs to be realized that back pain can be brought on by injury such as pulling a muscle or medical conditions like arthritis or obesity. However, most types of back pains disappear if you take corrective measures like using ice or sleeping in the
correct posture. Despite that, if the affliction refuses to scale down substantially even after committed efforts on your part, and you notice issues like numbness or blood in urine, waste no time in seeking immediate medical attention.


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For Women - Recognizing Symptoms Of Cardiac Arrest

It's a sadly underplayed fact that women are as much at risk from heart afflictions as their male counterparts. The fairer sex is more inclined to downplay a nagging heart condition and therefore more likely to hold back on seeking much-needed medical help. To exacerbate the situation, physicians display a studied lack of willingness in the application of, for women suffering from cardiac emergencies, effective medical procedures such as surgery and administration of beta-blockers,ACE and aspirin. Despite these perils, you wouldn’t be off-the-track to keep in mind these warning signals of an imminent heart attack like shortness of breath and nausea. There's one life to live, after all - you ought not to let it slip through...

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Making The Most Of Your Next Doctor's Visit And Asking The Right Questions

It's usual for patients to feel distracted and edgy while visiting a medical practitioner for a routine checkup or seeking relief from a recent health issue. They might get jittery and experience what might be described as the “white coat brain lock”, which throttles the ability to ask questions. On top of that, the very limited time that physicians spend on a single patient, 17.5 minutes on an average, means even less interaction. However, the situation can hugely be redressed provided certain steps are followed by patients - steps like getting to the appointment early and bringing along a friend or family member. Also, be sure to make certain important health queries if you're consulting a new doctor or looking for treatment for a specific medical condition.

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Humor - The Right Kind - Can Lift You Off Bad Moods

Dutch scientists have unearthed that a good laugh helps us defeat negative emotions. The way it does this is by switching off negative moods by way of actuating positive ones associated with mirth, and more importantly challenging us to perform the cognitive work necessary to "get" the joke. In fact, research has shown that the bigger the effort involved in comprehending the joke, the more effectual it is in lifting melancholy. There's a caveat, however, in the sense that the humor shouldn't assail personal sensibilities or self-esteem. Does make abundant sense to laugh away your blues - don't you think?

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Practical Tips To Self-Improvement

If you ever felt besieged by a entrenched desire to yank yourself on to the road to self-improvement in order to make life
more fulfilling and successful, then you've landed on the right spot. These practical tips are geared for this exact purpose. However, most people decide to stay on in the rut that they've dug themselves into for the rest of their lives because of the fear of change or the obvious comfort zone they're so used to despite their inner yearning. Well, time to blow the whistle on this false sense of self-complacency and self-doubt and get in on the act to squeeze something better out of life before it ebbs out. Hopefully, you don't want to miss out on these tips...

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Shopping For Pure Pleasure - Without Overspending

Consumers tend to find more satisfaction from "experiential purchases" - ranging from massages to family vacations - than material things, according to researchers Thomas Gilovich and Travis J. Carter, associated with Cornell University. They found shoppers, when it comes to material things like flat-screen televisions or music players, often regret their original buying decisions - comparing their purchases to those of other people or fretting about better deals they missed. This is not the case with buying experiences - which is much more subjective.

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Simple Tips To Keep Your Brain Shipshape The Natural Way

Keeping your mental faculties in top shape can yield unfathomable benefits in terms of social and financial well-being - not to mention the obvious health benefits. That's exactly what these 10 easy tips help you to do - the natural way. Like, for example, it's imperative to pursue an active lifestyle and exercise regularly. Getting the right amount of sleep, eating healthy and not smoking also help. To be sure, these dos and donts help keep your brain in fine fettle for the rest of your life without having to fret too much about mental dementia that descends on most people as the years catch on.

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Laughing Away All Those Black Moods

Dutch researchers have come up with an interesting find - that jokes, of course not the hurtful kind, can provide relief from negative emotions. The researchers found that a joke works not simply because the humor shifts our focus away from negative thoughts but because of the cognitive work involved to comprehend the joke. Participants in a study conducted by the Dutch researchers exhibited less distress over negative and non-humorous pictures displayed to them after having been exposed to positive and humorous ones. Come to think of it - haven't we all heard of laughter being the panacea for all ills – oh sorry – the best medicine?


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Pain Relief - The Natural Way

For those unable to find pain relief through analgesic tablets or prescription drugs, it makes sense to switch over to more natural ways to deal with their discomfort. Therapies like complimentary medicine and alternative medicine can offer substantial benefits for not only minor afflictions such as a headache but also life-threatening ones such as cancer. Nontraditional remedies like acupuncture, massage and biofeedback can all be used with good effect, but you need to find out which ones work best for you. Why live with pain and fashion out a drab existence when life has so much more to offer? Time to strike out and strike down pain...

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Managing Stress Without Tears

It's true that stress is an inalienable part of life that can stretch our capacity to endure and adapt to the fullest. Stress can take the shape of financial worries, career dilemmas and family responsibilities - just to name a few. Still, there are quite a few things you can do for getting back some of that control in your life. The key to managing stress is taking charge of your thoughts and emotions as also the way you deal with your environment along with its myriad problems. It's entirely possible to get some semblance of order back into your life provided you stop playing the escapist by procrastinating or avoiding social contact. Instead, find out healthier ways to manage stress to break free into a more meaningful and successful existence in an uncertain world.

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