Stop Drinking Alchohol!!!

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to see your doctor, contact a support group, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal. If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor's help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.

Stopping your use of alcohol can improve your general health and quality of life. It can also increase the quality of life of the people you live with and those who care about you. You decrease your chances of developing serious health problems associated with alcohol abuse or dependence. You reduce your chances of injuring yourself or others in alcohol-related accidents. You might also improve relationships with your parents, children, and spouse or other close loved ones. Not drinking also is a good way for you to model responsible behavior for younger people, particularly children and teens. It can Prevent or reduce health problems that are made worse by alcohol use, such as liver damage and also prevent harm to unborn baby if you are pregnant. The legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse alcohol can be reduced too. You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to contact a support group, see your doctor, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal. To start, follow these steps to stop drinking alcohol.

Identify your reasons.
Make a list of the reasons you want to stop drinking alcohol. You might want to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make the list complete. Keep this list so that you can renew your commitment from time to time.

Make a plan.
Set a date to stop drinking. Complete a plan to stop drinking alcohol. Post it in a place where you can see it often, such as on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might want to put it in more than one place. You also might want to put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful.

Evaluate your progress.
In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Try a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time.

Continue your new behaviors.
After trying this plan for 30 days, try it for another 30 days. Like anything else in life, it is not easy to change behavior, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice new behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become habits. If you try this plan but are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol.

Avoid stumbling blocks.
Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your current life revolves around alcohol use.

Attend a self-help group.
Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not fit your needs.

Reward yourself.
Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.

Good Bye to Bad Mood!!!!

No one can live a long and healthy life without the will to go on; sometimes mood swings can make us feel that life is too much for us. A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness. Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health.

A Laughing Matter

"Laugh Therapy," has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer. Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being - in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people liver longer and healthier lives. So read your favorite comics, watch your favorite comedies, and laugh it up!

Hands-On Healing

Human touch increases the production of endorphins, growth hormone, and DHEA, all of which lengthen your life span and lower the negative impact of stress. Studies have found that patients who are regularly touched recover faster than those who are not touched. So give someone a hug and feel both of your moods improve.

Boost Your "Youth Hormones"

You don't need pills to flood your body with a rejuvenating flood of growth hormones. Research has found that doing squats and leg presses will greatly increase your natural production of the "youth hormone". Increased growth hormone translates to an elevated mood, among other physical benefits. Keep it up with weight training, knee bends, push-ups, and rowing.

Take a Bracing Breath

Breathing correctly is important for dispelling the toxins and wastes from your body; in fact, it is estimated that we expel only about 30 percent of toxins in our bodies through the bowels and bladder-the rest is all respiratory. Breathing is also a great way to clear your mind, boost your energy, and improve your mood. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic, breathing daily with mind-body disciplines such as tai chi, yoga, qigong, and meditation.

Smell the Joy

Research has shown that smell has a definite impact on our bodies and minds. When you stimulate the olfactory nerves inside your nose, you activate the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with moods and memory. This concept is instrumental to aromatherapy, a natural health tradition that makes use of the healing powers of plants with strong scents. Aromatherapy recommends treating depression with jasmine, eucalyptus for exhilaration, and grapefruit to increase alertness and joy. Just put a dab of the essential oils from these plants on your temples, back of your neck, or acupressure points. Another option? Boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.

Feel Fine with Flowers

There is a reason that flowers are the traditional get-well gesture. Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods; they can uplift a patient's mood and even combat stress. One study found that during a five-minute typing assignment, people sitting next to a flowering bouquet were more relaxed than those who sat near foliage-only plants.

Healthy Aging

Getting older is a natural part of life. How you will feel as you get older depends on many things, including what health problems run in your family and the choices you make. If you take good care of your body and learn positive ways to deal with stress now, you can slow down or even prevent problems that often come with getting older. It’s never too early or too late to change bad habits and start good ones. No matter when you start, a healthy lifestyle can make a difference in how you feel and what you can do.

The changes you'll go through as you get older depend on a number of things. One is your family history (genetics). If your family members have diseases or ongoing (chronic) health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, then you may have a greater chance of having those problems yourself. But just because your risk is higher, it doesn't mean you will definitely have the same problems. In fact, the lifestyle choices you make can help reduce your chances of getting illnesses that run in your family. And even if you do get a family illness, choosing to exercise, eat right, and learning to deal with stress can keep the illness from destroying your ability to enjoy your golden years.

One of the most important things you can do for your health at any age is exercise. Exercise keeps your body strong, and it helps with how you feel. People who stay active are less likely to get depressed. Exercise can be anything from walking to gardening to working out at the gym. The important thing is to be active almost every day. No matter what your age or condition, there is a type of exercise that's right for you. Always ask your doctor whether it is safe for you to start an exercise program.

Your mental and emotional health are also important. Protect or improve your emotional health by staying in touch with friends, family, and the community. People who feel connected to others are more likely to thrive than those who are not. And try to keep stress at a minimum. In addition to getting regular exercise, you can take charge of how stress affects you by taking 20 minutes a day to just relax.

Protect or improve your memory and mental sharpness by keeping your brain active through learning, doing crossword puzzles, or playing cards or strategy games. Depression can be a serious problem for older adults. If you think you may be depressed, seek help—antidepressant medicine and counseling can help treat depression.

High blood pressure: Risk factors

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without a single symptom. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

High blood pressure typically develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

High blood pressure has many risk factors. Some you can't control. High blood pressure risk factors include:

Age.
The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age. Through early middle age, high blood pressure is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after menopause.

Race.
High blood pressure is particularly common among blacks, often developing at an earlier age than it does in whites. Serious complications, such as stroke and heart attack, also are more common in blacks.

Family history.
High blood pressure tends to run in families.

Other risk factors for high blood pressure are within your control.

Being overweight or obese.
The more you weigh, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood circulated through your blood vessels increases, so does the pressure on your artery walls.

Not being physically active.
People who are inactive tend to have higher heart rates. The higher your heart rate, the harder your heart must work with each contraction — and the stronger the force on your arteries. Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being overweight.

Using tobacco.
Not only does smoking tobacco immediately raise your blood pressure temporarily, but the chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls. This can cause your arteries to narrow, increasing your blood pressure.

Too much salt (sodium) in your diet.
Too much sodium in your diet can cause your body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure.

Too little potassium in your diet.
Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in your cells. If you don't consume or retain enough potassium, you may accumulate too much sodium in your blood.

Too little vitamin D in your diet.
It's uncertain if having too little vitamin D in your diet can lead to high blood pressure. Researchers think vitamin D may affect an enzyme produced by your kidneys that affects your blood pressure. More studies are necessary to determine vitamin D's role in blood pressure.

Drinking too much alcohol.
Over time, heavy drinking can damage your heart. Having more than two or three drinks in a sitting can also temporarily raise your blood pressure, as it may cause your body to release hormones that increase your blood flow and heart rate.

Stress.
High levels of stress can lead to a temporary, but dramatic, increase in blood pressure. If you try to relax by eating more, using tobacco or drinking alcohol, you may only increase problems with high blood pressure.

Certain chronic conditions.
Certain chronic conditions also may increase your risk of high blood pressure, including high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnea.

Sometimes pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure, as well. Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children may be at risk, too. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidneys or heart. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits — such as an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise — contribute to high blood pressure.

Kurangkan Stress!!

Peningkatan penyakit-penyakit kronik seperti diabetes, darah tinggi, sakit jantung dan obesiti bukan lagi satu perkara asing di negara ini.

Pakar-pakar kesihatan sependapat bahawa kesihatan yang baik, ‘kebebasan’ dan kenikmatan hidup datangnya dari aktiviti gaya hidup sihat dan merupakan jalan terbaik memperoleh dan mengekalkan tahap kesihatan anda dalam keadaan yang baik. Berikut merupakan 10 daripada bermacam-macam cara untuk anda mencapai kesihatan yang optimum dan mengurangkan tekanan.
Berhenti merokok.
Merokok boleh menyumbang kepada pelbagai masalah kesihatan seperti batuk akibat merokok, masalah pernafasan, masalah hati, hipertensi dan kanser. Sukar untuk berhenti? Lakukannya demi orang tersayang kerana perokok pasif juga mengalami kesan yang sama! Berhenti merokok akan memperbaiki kesihatan dan menjimatkan wang anda.

Tarik nafas dalam-dalam.
Kira hingga sepuluh sebelum anda hilang sabar atau naik berang. Kurangkan stres dengan senaman, meditasi dan yoga. Ajaklah seseorang untuk menemani anda.

Jaga gigi anda.
Berus dan flos gigi anda. Ia menghapuskan nafas berbau, mengelakkan plak serta meningkatkan keyakinan diri. Pengambilan bakteria baik Lactobacillus acidiphilus NCFM® setiap hari membantu mengimbangi mikroflora usus, memperbaiki penghadaman dan nafas berbau. Malah bau yang nyaman semestinya memberikan anda lebih semangat untuk berhadapan dengan orang ramai.

Minum, minum dan minum air!
Banyakkan minum air untuk menahan selera makan anda. Anda mungkin kehilangan berat badan kerana ia mengurangkan pengambilan makanan. Minum sekurang-kurangnya 2 liter atau lapan gelas air sehari untuk memastikan tubuh dapat berfungsi dengan baik. Air membantu membersih dan membuang toksik dan mengekalkan kecantikan kulit.

Bersarapan!
Tidak mengambil sarapan atau mengurangkan pengambilan kalori tidak membantu mengawal berat badan dalam jangka panjang. Ambil sarapan secara sihat dan makan malam yang ringan kerana metabolisme memuncak pada waktu pagi dan menurun menjelang malam.

Pilih makanan yang sihat
Ambil perhatian semasa memasak atau makan di luar. Elakkan daripada mengambil makanan bergoreng dan karbohidrat ringkas. Pilihlah salad, mi sup, sayuran atau bubur ikan, buah-buahan dan teh herba.

Gunakan tangga
Pilihlah untuk menaiki 50 anak tangga berbanding eskalator. Ia juga mampu melegakan stres. Mulakan dengan berjalan selama 50 minit sehari.

Selingkan senaman semasa bekerja
Setiap sejam bekerja, ambil 5 minit rehat dengan membuat regangan, berjalan atau bermeditasi. Cara itu boleh meningkatkan aktiviti fizikal dan produktiviti serta rasa lebih baik sepanjang hari. Vitamin B juga membantu mengekalkan tenaga dan meningkatkan prestasi di tempat kerja.

Senaman bangkit tidur
Sebelum bangkit dari katil pada waktu pagi, lakukan 5 kali senaman perut. Tambahkan bilangannya setiap hari sehingga mencapai 50. Selain membakar lemak, otot abdomen anda menjadi padat dan cantik .

Berjalan
Berjalan adalah senaman terbaik dan mudah untuk mengelakkan osteoartritis. Manfaatnya termasuklah menguatkan otot kaki, pinggul dan torso, memperbaiki keanjalan dan postur serta menguatkan tulang. Berjalan menggunakan pedometer untuk mengira langkah mungkin lebih menyeronokkan. Ia dipakai pada tali pinggang sepanjang hari dan akan menunjukkan jumlah kalori yang dibakar selepas berjalan.

Pemakanan yang seimbang dan senaman adalah dua faktor utama untuk mencapai kesihatan yang optimum. Senaman berterusan membantu mengawal obesiti yang menyumbang pelbagai penyakit seperti jantung, diabetes, peningkatan paras trigliserida dan sakit sendi. Mengekalkan kecergasan dan berat badan sihat membantu memanjangkan jangka hayat dan meningkatkan kualiti kehidupan. Makanlah berdasarkan ilmu di dada dan bukan atas selera dan nafsu sahaja!