2012年4月19日星期四

HOW SEASONS AFFECT MOODS


Most people experience some sort of change in their mood and behavior when the seasons turn. Shifts in the amount of available environmental light over the seasons may have a profound effect on your body chemistry. Some individuals notice a decrease in energy levels and require more sleep as the light decreases. Other potential behavioral changes include isolation from family and friends, or an increase in the consumption of food and caffeine.

Human Seasonality

The strongest evidence of human seasonality comes in the form of winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Individuals with SAD usually suffer from depressive episodes beginning in late fall or early winter, and start to feel better when spring or summer approaches. Living in a northern locale with harsh winters and extended darkness can affect your levels of melatonin, a hormone that impacts sleep. When daylight hours decrease, melatonin levels increase, which can cause fatigue and depression for some.

Extended darkness also disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm because decreased exposure to sunlight tells the body to be asleep when it should be waking up. Light provides you with environmental cues that influence pupil dilation, alertness, heart rate and melatonin levels. In fact, the light that enters the retina of the eye actually sets your circadian rhythm.

This response to the seasons can happen in reverse when the weather turns warm and sunny, and your body starts receiving extended exposure to light. Some individuals experience insomnia, or become more anxious, irritable and hyperactive during the spring and summer. This condition is called Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Treatment

Each person's circadian rhythm is different, depending on their genetics and environmental circumstances. Plus, with increased urbanization, people tend to spend more time working indoors in windowless offices than they did in past eras. The resultant lack of sunlight can cause a decrease in the body's levels of vitamin D, serotonin and dopamine, which can affect brain chemistry.

Light therapy, or photo therapy, has been found to be extremely helpful for alleviating some depressive symptoms. Light treatment uses artificial lights to imitate light from the outdoors, thereby triggering changes in the brain that can help elevate serotonin and dopamine levels. You can also use dawn simulators that mimic sunrise to help you wake up without feeling groggy. Thirty minutes of daily exercise can also help balance your brain chemistry and increase your energy levels. In milder cases of SAD, the addition of extra omega-3 fatty acids to an already balanced diet has been shown to relieve some depressive symptoms.
If you notice that you experience a seasonal pattern of winter depression and feel that your symptoms are severe, seek help from a professional. Try to keep a journal of behavioral changes so that you can provide accurate information about your symptoms to your doctor. Practice a healthy lifestyle every day so that you can enjoy every season of the year.



Watching television commercials, you may think that depression occurs as often as seasonal allergies, but an important distinction exists between depression and the occasional blues. Depression is not brief or situational. Depression feels as though a dark cloud has descended on you, and it just won’t lift. Although indecision is one symptom of depression, being indecisive does not necessarily mean that you are depressed.
If you have recently ended a relationship, you might feel sad or despondent, but because those feelings were triggered by a specific event, you likely do not suffer from clinical depression. It’s natural to feel miserable or heartbroken for a time after a relationship ends. Other symptoms must be present before a diagnosis of clinical depression can be made.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, depression may be indicated if you experience five or more of the following symptoms for two or more weeks: inability to make decisions; loss of concentration; sadness most of the time; loss of interest in pleasurable activities that you previously enjoyed; a significant weight loss or weight gain; sleeping too much or too little; moving or talking more slowly than normal; loss of energy and libido; and thoughts of harming or killing yourself.

Depression is not the only cause of indecision. Certain personality traits contribute to indecision, particularly if you have commitment issues or lack self-esteem. People who lack self-esteem constantly second guess themselves and frequently ask others for their opinions. For instance, unable to decide what pair of shoes to buy, you might take a picture of the shoes on your cell-phone and send it to 10 friends, asking them for their opinions. In that case, you need external confirmation for your decisions. Women have a greater tendency to ask for the opinions of others when making decisions. Of course, that is not true in all cases.

Committing to a decision can be overwhelming for some people, even causing them to avoid the situation entirely. Known as avoidance, this trait is more typical of men rather than women. Some men believe that if they don’t think about a problem, it doesn’t exist. For instance, you may ask your boyfriend to attend your cousin’s wedding, an event where he would be meeting your extended family for the first time, and he says that he will let you know, but he never gets back to you. This is an example of avoidance.

If you suspect you suffer from depression, seek professional care from a licensed mental health professional. Indecision alone is not a reason to seek professional help.

RESOLVING MOLLUSCUM


A virus causes the skin infection molluscum contagiosum, resulting in lesions that resemble tiny belly buttons -- rounded, dome-shaped spots with a dimple or indentation in the center. Molluscum contagiosum occurs more frequently in people with damaged immune systems who can't fight off the virus but also can occur in healthy adults or children. In some cases, the lesions itch and become irritated, although they may cause no discomfort. The lesions can resolve on their own, although some cases require medical treatment. Always consult a doctor to confirm if you have the molluscum contagiosum virus and they can provide the proper treatment plan.
In adults, molluscum contagiosum often affects the genitalia and spreads through sexual contact. An adult who develops this infection should have testing done for other sexually transmitted diseases as well. In children, close contact such as sharing towels can spread the infection. You can spread the infection on your own skin by scratching the lesions; new lesions can develop along the scratch marks.

In healthy adults and children, the body often fights off the molluscum contaiosum virus on its own without further treatment. Don't pick at or scratch the lesions because this can spread the virus or cause a secondary bacterial infection. If the infection persists or worsens, freezing the lesions with liquid nitrogen, administered by a dermatologist, can help. Topical applications of products that cause the immune system to recognize the infection and get rid of it also might help. These treatments are similar to those used for warts, but molluscum contagium is generally easier to get rid of than the more stubborn wart virus. All these items are by prescription only and cannot be obtained for in-home use. Your dermatologist will recommend the best treatment for your needs. Reinfection can occur if you're exposed to the virus again.

HOW TO TRIM WARTS


Warts -- small, rough growths that often affect the hands and feet -- can be difficult to treat. Viruses cause warts, so just cutting off a wart won't cure it. Removing the top layer of a wart by trimming off the dead skin can make it easier for medicine to penetrate and treat the infection. This is best done by medical personnel in an office, not at home. You can use over-the-counter medications called keratolytics that dissolve the dead layer safely at home. See your doctor to receive effective treatment for warts.
Your doctor can trim the top of a wart or totally remove it in the office, using sterile equipment to reduce your chances of developing an infection. You still need follow-up medication to kill the virus after this treatment. Doctors can trim a wart with a very tiny sterile blade, or they can numb the skin with a local anesthetic and cut deep enough to remove the wart. Removing the wart allows medication to treat the virus by penetrating more deeply into the skin.

Alternately, your doctor can destroy the top layer of the wart by applying liquid nitrogen -- a much stronger application than those you can buy over-the-counter. She also can apply acids or products that cause cell death to the top of the wart. Another way to get rid of the wart is to inject substances that are toxic to the virus or that cause the body to “wake up" and recognize the infection and attack it. Creams that help the immune system recognize the wart and destroy also have benefit.

Warts usually require follow-up treatment to destroy the virus even after trimming or removal. Ridding yourself of warts may take several office treatments plus applying creams or other treatments at home between visits. Warts on the hands and feet can take many sessions to clear. Trying to cure a wart yourself may be ineffective and result in an increase in the size of the wart.

HOW TO LOOSEN TIGHT AIRWAYS


A tightened airway can result when the smooth muscular layers of your lungs spasm, swell and constrict your airflow. An episode can be mild and manageable or severe, requiring immediate medical treatment. Tight airways usually are caused by colds, viral infections, allergens or irritants that trigger lung inflammation. Your airway narrows as it swells, reducing the amount of available air. Complications from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, also can constrict your airway.
Symptoms of a tight airway can include shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. In severe cases, a person suffering from a tight airway might have a bluish tint to his skin or experience confusion, rapid heartbeat or chest pain. Intercostal retractions, which occur when your skin sinks in between your ribs during inward breaths, also can signal a constricted airway.

Physicians often use medication to treat tight airways. Albuterol, the most commonly used medication for this purpose, enters the airway via an inhaler and loosens the airways and increases airflow by relaxing the smooth muscles of the lungs. Albuterol is a type of drug known as a short-acting beta 2 agonist, which provides quick relief and remains effective for several hours.

Ipratropium, another type of inhaler, loosens airways and relaxes lung muscles by regulating your body's inflammatory process. Some inhalers contain both albuterol and ipratropium. Typically, this combination is used to treat patients who do not respond well to a single prescription inhaler. Long-acting versions of both albuterol and ipratropium can treat people suffering from chronic asthma or COPD.

When medications such as albuterol and ipratropium prove unsuccessful, doctors frequently turn to corticosteroids, which can be administered orally or as an inhaler. Corticosteroids mimic hormones that your body produces naturally and work to calm the lung inflammation responsible for tightening airways. Prednisone, cortisone and hydrocortisone are examples of corticosteroids.

Successful management of diseases such as asthma and COPD is highly individualized based on patient needs and should be done under the careful direction of a physician.

HOW TO COLD SMOKE SIDE PORK BACON


Cold smoking is a process of smoking meat for a long period of time at a very low temperature, usually anywhere from 40 degrees F to 100 degrees F. At such a low heat threshold, the meat — in this case, bacon — doesn’t cook. Instead, it picks up a deep, smoky flavor.

Selecting Woodchips

Choosing the type of woodchips you want to use is often your first order of business. As with herbs and spices, each type of woodchip offers its own distinct flavor. For sweeter or tangier tasting bacon, use apple, cherry or maple chips. If you want an earthier or heartier flavor, try oak or hickory. Better yet, mix a couple types of chips together to create your own zesty creation.


Soaking Woodchips

No matter what type of chips you choose to use, soak the woodchips for about half an hour before use. The moisture helps to kick out more smoke than dry chips. If you don’t have woodchips on hand, you can use hardwood sawdust. But presoak the sawdust as you would the woodchips.

Smokers

If your budget allows, you can cold smoke bacon — or any other meat, for that matter — in a smoker. These devices take the guesswork out of smoking, keeping the temperature and smoke at a constant level. For more frugal folks, you can use a standard grill. In this case, you need to prep the grill before smoking. First, light a few charcoal briquettes and get them hot. Remember, you’re not cooking the meat, so you want to keep the heat low. From there, sprinkle a cup or two of presoaked woodchips atop the briquettes once they’re glowing. Place the bacon on the grate and cover.

Smoking

For bacon, you usually smoke it at about 80 to 100 degrees F. Any higher and the surface layer of the meat seals, defeating the purpose of smoking. Smoke for 4 to 8 hours, checking the smoker or grill every hour or so to ensure the chips are still kicking out a good amount of smoke.

Handling

Slice and refrigerate the bacon after it's been smoked. Since you didn’t cook the bacon during the smoking process, prepare as you would normally prepare bacon — frying on the stovetop until done.

TOMATOES & LUPUS


ystemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, is an autoimmune disorder that can affect various parts of your body. Nearly all people with lupus experience some type of joint pain or swelling. Although some experts suggest that avoiding foods from the nightshade vegetable group, including tomatoes, can help reduce joint pain, there is no scientific evidence to support that claim.

Identification

Lupus is a chronic disease in which your autoimmune system begins to attack healthy tissue. Lupus can affect different organs, including the skin, kidneys, brain and lungs. Many people with lupus have joint pain, and some will develop arthritis. The most common joints affected are the fingers, hands, wrists and knees. Common symptoms include chest pain, general discomfort, fatigue, fever, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms can depend on the part of your body lupus is affecting.

Tomatoes and Inflammation

Nightshade vegetables include eggplants, white potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. Dr. Norman F. Childers, author of "Childers Diet That Stops Arthritis," founded the Arthritis Nightshades Research Foundation in 1980. He has suggested that these types of vegetables increase inflammation in the body, causing an increase in symptoms in people with lupus. Dr. Childers reported he would experience achy knees after eating nightshade vegetables. When he stopped eating these foods, his pain disappeared. However, no scientific research has backed up his claims.

Recommendations

The Lupus Foundation of America recommends keeping a journal to track food consumption and flare-ups of symptoms. If you notice a correlation between a certain food, such as tomatoes, and your lupus symptoms on multiple occasions, consider eliminating that food from your diet. Eating a healthy diet with grains, fish and vegetables can help reduce inflammation in your joints. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids can be especially important for people with lupus. Omega-3 fatty acids not only help to reduce inflammation but also to protect you from heart disease, which is more common in people in lupus.

Precautions

Talk to your physician if you are concerned about your diet with lupus. Although scientific evidence does not suggest diet affects lupus, some people are more sensitive to certain foods or may have food sensitivities. The only food that people with lupus should avoid is alfalfa. The amino acid L-canavanine, found in alfalfa, activates the immune system and cause lupus flare-ups. You might also want to reduce your sodium and fat intake to minimize fluid retention and high cholesterol, possible side effects of corticosteroids, which are often prescribed to treat lupus.

Can Taking Calcium Supplements Cause Bunions to Enlarge? Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/556472-can-taking-calcium-supplements-cause-bunions-to-enlarge/#ixzz1sTU3zcC8


Bunions are a painful foot condition that disfigures toes and makes walking difficult. Bunions are much more common in women and can make many self-conscious about how their feet look. Bunions grow over time due to calcification, but the process is not correlated to how much calcium you ingest from food or supplements. Consult with your doctor or podiatrist if either of your big toes is chronically inflamed or painful.

Importance of Calcium

Calcium is an essential macronutrient, meaning that it is needed in relatively large amounts each day. The dietary reference intake for adults is between 1,000 and 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily, depending on age and gender, according to “Contemporary Nutrition: Functional Approach.” Calcium is used by your body for bone strength, electrical conductance, muscle contraction and numerous biochemical reactions. The typical American diet usually provides adequate amounts of calcium, due in part to fortified foods, so deficiency is relatively rare. However, many Americans are deficient in magnesium and vitamin D, which impact how calcium is used by the body.

Types of Supplements

Calcium is widespread in a variety of foods, including dairy products, meats, vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts. Consequently, calcium supplementation is often not needed if your diet is relatively balanced. Calcium supplements can be purchased in numerous formulations, some of which are better absorbed than others. For example, calcium carbonate is the most popular and least expensive supplement, but it’s poorly absorbed, according to the “PDR for Nutritional Supplements.” Calcium citrate is better absorbed because of its higher acidity, but the tablets often contain less elemental calcium. Other forms of supplementation include coral calcium, calcium gluconate, calcium lactate and calcium phosphate. Taking more than 500 milligrams of elemental calcium at a time is not recommended because your body cannot absorb much more than that at once.

Bunions

A bunion is a noticeable bump or callus that forms over the distal joint of your big toe when the toe is continually forced to point towards the second toe. Bunions are characterized by a crooked big toe, inflammation, redness and pain, especially with weight-bearing or joint pressure. Bunions are much more common in women and are usually caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow in the toe box. Consequently, most bunions are best considered as chronic joint sprains. With time, bunions calcify due to the chronic inflammation. If not corrected in the early stages, a surgical procedure that breaks the joint, shaves off unwanted bone and resets the big toe may be needed.

Recommendations

Bunions are not caused by ingesting too much calcium or by taking too many calcium supplements. As noted, your body can only absorb so much calcium at a time, and it excretes what it can’t use. Having too much calcium in your bloodstream due to hormonal imbalance or too much acidity may lead to calcification of soft tissues and bone spur formation over time, but these issues cause leaching of calcium from your bones and are not impacted much by dietary calcium, according to “Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism.” If you want to reduce your risk of bunion formation, wear shoes that are supportive and have plenty of room for your toes.

What Do I Make for Dinner for a Person with Acid Reflux? Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/556489-what-do-i-make-for-dinner-for-a-person-with-acid-reflux/#ixzz1sTTwpMUo


Sometimes your stomach can work for you, and other times it works against you. The latter is the case when you have acid reflux, a condition that causes stomach acid to come up and into your esophagus, resulting in extreme pain and a burning sensation in your throat. When you have a loved one who experiences acid reflux, you must shy away from preparing certain foods known to cause the condition. You can make a meal that’s stomach-acid-friendly and tasty at the same time.

Foods to Avoid

Certain foods are known to cause increased stomach acid production when eaten. Since increased acid production can lead to acid reflux symptoms, you will likely wish to avoid preparing these foods for dinner. For the main course, this includes fried or high-fat foods, such as fried chicken or cuts of meat with visible fat or marbling. Tomato-based foods, such as spaghetti sauce, chili, pizza or salsa, can also aggravate acid reflux. Spicy foods and foods prepared with garlic and onions should be avoided, too.

Meal Size

In addition to preparing certain foods, the size of a meal can affect stomach acid production. Those with acid reflux can control their symptoms by eating several small meals evenly spaced throughout the day. With this in mind, you could prepare small plates that provide filling protein, whole-grain carbohydrates for energy and fruits and vegetables that are nutritious, yet won’t cause acid reflux.

Sample Dinners

For acid reflux sufferers, the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recommends starting the meal with a green salad topped with vinegar and oil dressing. Serve a broiled, skinless chicken breast or fish with a side of brown rice or whole-grain pasta and steamed vegetables, such as broccoli, squash or carrots. To incorporate carbohydrates, you can serve a whole-grain roll with a teaspoon of margarine, if desired. For dinner, think of healthy and colorful options such as a berry and frozen yogurt parfait or a serving of ice cream sherbet for a refreshing end.

Different Triggers

Your guest or guests with acid reflux will likely appreciate you took the time to prepare a stomach-friendly meal. Each person with acid reflux has different foods that trigger uncomfortable symptoms. For this reason, you may wish to ask your guest if there are specific foods that tend to disrupt her stomach. By anticipating these foods in advance, you can ensure you prepare an unforgettable meal.

WHOLESOME FOODS FOR A BABY


Starting your baby off with the right type of diet is one of the best gifts you can give him. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until your baby reaches the age of 4 to 6 months before starting solid foods. When you do introduce solid foods, sticking to healthy and nutritious foods can help build a lifetime of good eating habits and might prevent childhood obesity. The incidence of this serious and often lifelong health problem in the United States has tripled since the 1980s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Homemade Baby Food

Ready-to-eat baby foods offer convenience for busy parents, but they're not as nutritious as baby foods you make yourself. Making baby food doesn't require much time and effort. In most cases, your baby can eat the same food you eat, just blended to a smoother consistency by adding a little water or mashed with a fork. Commercial baby foods often contain starches used as filler that add nothing but empty calories to your baby's nutrition. Large commercial manufacturers add starches such as flour to more than half of their most popular fruit, vegetable and dinner products labeled as second- and third-stage baby foods, the Center for Science in the Public Interest reports. If you use commercial baby food, choose products with no added sugars or starches.

Vegetables and Fruits

You can mash cooked vegetables and fruits such as bananas to a consistency suitable for your baby, increasing the texture as your baby gets older. While fruit is healthy, it does contain more sugar than vegetables. Certain vegetables contain high amounts of nitrate, a chemical found in soil and well water that can cause anemia, or low iron levels, in very young infants, particularly those under age 3 months. Don't give your baby home-prepared spinach, beets, green beans, squash or carrots without talking to your pediatrician first, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. Give pureed peas, corn or sweet potatoes first. Commercial baby food manufacturers test their products for nitrates. If you have well water, you might want to test your water for nitrates.

Healthy Juices

Babies under age 6 months don't need any juice, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics; breast milk or formula should meet all their fluid needs. Many commercial juices have added sugar, which can promote both obesity and tooth decay and might also cause diarrhea. Choose juice made with no added sugar and limit your child's juice consumption to 4 ounces per day, KidsHealth recommends.

Whole Grains

Give your baby whole-grain cereals rather than refined grains whenever possible. Use brown rice rather than white, which has much of the nutritional value stripped. Whole grains contain more fiber than refined grains, and fiber helps promote regular bowel movements. Whole grains also retain more of the nutritional value of the grain than their white counterparts.

Protein

Grind small pieces of baked chicken or well-cooked ground beef or pork to a fine consistency when your baby first starts eating solid food, to avoid choking. Babies don't need fried foods or added fat; grilling or frying at high heat can also produce potentially carcinogenic chemicals. Remove the skin and cut off fatty parts before grinding. If you buy commercial baby meats, avoid products with added starches or salt.

HOW TO SPOT SIGNS OF TROUBLE IN YOUR TEENS


The teenage years are filled with temptations, peer pressure and raging hormones, and many teens struggle during these years. The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that of respondents between 12 and 20 years old, 26.3 percent had used alcohol, while 10.1 percent of respondents between 12 and 17 were current drug users. Your teenager may try to hide the signs that he's in trouble, but paying close attention can help you help him.

Emotional

His moods can be altered if he's using drugs or alcohol, is depressed or is struggling with some other issue. He may seem sad and worried all the time, or may move to the other end of the spectrum and seem very agitated all the time. He may cry more easily or seem withdrawn, sulky and anxious. Most teenagers struggle with self-esteem, but constantly criticizing his own actions and appearance is a sign he's struggling.


Physical

Changes in his sleeping and eating habits are signs of a problem. Teenagers are often hard to get out of bed, but be concerned if he's spending more than 10 hours a day sleeping, or just seems to never want to get out of bed. If he's using drugs, his eyes may frequently look red or glazed over. Losing his appetite, or binging on food, can be a sign of drug use or depression. Drugs or depression can also make him seem panicked or jittery. Pay attention to his clothing too; if he only wears long sleeves even on hot days, he may have bruises or self-harm marks he's trying to keep covered. Wearing only one color clothing or refusing to wear certain colors may be a sign he's involved with a gang.

Behavioral

His school performance will likely change if he's dealing with a problem. His grades may drop, he may be late or skip classes and his teachers may begin contacting you over a change in his schoolwork. He may become combative and argumentative with authority figures. He may also not want to spend much time with his family, but this on its own isn't necessarily a warning sign that he's in trouble; it's normal for teens to push their parents away a little as they try to gain independence. If he starts to give away his possessions or talks about death or suicide, he may be considering taking his life, and you need to seek medical help immediately.

Social

His friends are a major influence in his life, so if there are changes with them there may be changes with him. If he stops hanging out with his normal group of friends, or starts hanging out with a different group of people who seem to be involved in dangerous behaviors, he may be in trouble with activities like drugs and alcohol. On the other hand, if he withdraws from all social interactions and spends most of his time alone, he may be struggling with depression.