Best Home Remedies Blog

It’s common for Teen Treatment to look different for every individual teen, but this is especially true for Teen Grief and Loss Treatment.  This treatment helps teens through the grieving process, following the loss of someone close to them; usually, a parent, sibling, other relative, or friend.  Many times, there’s an array of different symptoms and aspect of grieving teens’ experiences, based on the nature of the loss and other related factors.  Sometimes, the symptoms of Depression, anxiety, and general emotional distress, can lead teens to seek relief in unhealthy ways, as they feel at a loss as to how to deal with the strong thoughts and emotions they’re experiencing.  Because each teen and each death is different, Teen Grief and Loss Treatment should be as individually based as possible, making special efforts to design a treatment plan that addresses the specific symptoms and needs of the teen.  While talk therapy and Behavioral therapy treatments are nearly always integral to these treatment plans, Experimental Treatment Approaches can also be extremely effective resources to implement.

Experimental Treatment Approaches continue to grow more traction in Teen Treatment centers as a supplementary way to provide the most holistic, precise treatment available to teens in need.  Some of the most common Experimental Treatment Approaches include, but are not limited to: Equine Therapy, Drama Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, and even Surf Therapy.  One of the most significantly helpful aspects of these therapeutic approaches is that they help to draw in teens and engage them in a somewhat indirect way, which sometimes allows teens to be more open and willing during the treatment process.  This can be especially true within the scope of Teen Grief and Loss Treatment, as often, teens are experiencing levels of pain that reach so deep that they’re not even fully aware of them, and can be very intimidating for them to address.  At times, this can make it difficult for teens to thoroughly address their experience only in Talk Therapy sessions.  When Experimental Therapy sessions are used in combination with Talk Therapy, teens can sometimes feel more comfortable with treading into the unknown territory of their thoughts and emotions, which in turn, allows for their other traditional therapy sessions to be more productive overall.

It’s important to keep in mind that the unique nature of Teen Grief Treatment is such that it may have a less definite beginning and end than some other types of treatment.  One of the questions teens commonly have is when they’ll start feeling better and/or less affected by this loss they’ve experienced.  The best answer to this question is frankly, a difficult one, which is the grieving process may last a significant amount of time.  Teen Grief and Loss Treatment, then, is not an effort to help teens get over the loss, nor is its purpose to help end the grieving period; rather, it’s to help guide teens through the grieving process, and ensure that they feel supported throughout every aspect of their own individual grieving processes.

About the author – Robert Hunt is a recovering addict of 20 years.  He has devoted his life to helping others suffering from chemical addictions as well as mental health challenges.  Robert maintains many blogs on drug addiction, eating disorders and depression.  He is a sober coach and wellness advocate and a prominent figure in the recovery community.
Follow me on Twitter @RecoveryRobert

If you want to get ahead in life, you need to be able to get as much sleep as possible. The human body needs to feel refreshed and recharged and sleep is the body’s way of doing this. If you fail to get the required amount of sleep each day, you will not be at your best. If this continues over a lengthy period of time, you will find that your performance starts to slip and you will struggle to be your usual self. The importance of sleep should never be underestimated and it is important that people give themselves the best chance of getting enough sleep.

Here are some top tips for the best night’s sleep ever.

Cut Out Caffeine In The Late Afternoon And Evening

Most people are aware of the fact that caffeine late at night is a bad idea when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. This has seen many people cut out the caffeine in the evening or switch to a decaf alternative. However, you may not be cutting out caffeine early enough. There has been considerable research which indicates that caffeine at around 4pm can have an impact on your ability to sleep. If you want a good night’s sleep, caffeine such as coffee or high caffeinated drinks may be a great way to get you going in the morning, but they do not represent a good idea from the afternoon onwards.

Block Out Light

If you are looking for effective and continuous sleep, it is a good idea to block out as much light as possible. Many people find that they are fine at blocking out light from inside the home but it is the light from outside their property that causes them trouble. If this is the case, you should look to invest in effective shutters and window frames. Reducing the impact of external light entering your bedroom will help you to get more effective sleep.

Make Sure The Room Is Cool

The temperature of a room is also important when it comes to falling asleep. While many people like to feel cosy, it is important that the overall temperature of the room is cool. This is where having windows open during the day to promote freshness in the room can help you to fall asleep soundly for an effective night’s sleep.

Choose The Right Foods

If you like to have a snack late at night before you go to bed, you may be harming your chances of enjoying a good night’s sleep. Some foods will lay heavy on your stomach and may not allow you to settle. If you are looking to fall asleep effectively, try snacks like:

• Cottage cheese
• Banana slices
• Milk
• Yoghurt and cereal

All of these snacks will help you to fall asleep without creating a situation where you are unsettled or your stomach is unable to digest the foods effectively.

your stomach’s growling late at night, try a small bowl of cottage cheese with banana slices, another dish that serves up tryptophan. Other combos of healthy carbs and protein, such as milk and graham crackers or yogurt sprinkled with cereal, will also do the trick.

Try Yoga

Sometimes you need to relax and make sure that your mind has cleared itself of all of the stresses of the day. This is where engaging in some quiet and calming yoga late at night will help to put you at rest. Yoga helps to steady your breath and it will lower the tension in your muscles without causing your heart rate to race. All of which should put you in a better place with regards to falling asleep.

Step Away From your Smartphone

With work and your social life being such an integral part of your day, it is natural for people to check in before they go to bed. This is bad for two reasons. You may end up spending a considerable amount of time on these devices. Secondly, the bright screen will inflame your senses and will make your mind active. This can make it more difficult to relax and place yourself in the position where you will be more likely to fall asleep. If you want a good night’s sleep, stay away from your smartphone or tablet before heading to bed.

Develop A Proper Bedroom Routine

Parents understand the importance of developing a bedtime routine for their kids and this is the same for adults. If you carry out the same tasks before going to bed, your body will start to recognise the pattern and prepare itself for bed. This means that you will be in a better position for falling asleep and enjoying a good night’s relaxation.

Sleep is very important for making the most of life and there are many steps you can take to ensuring you receive a good night’s sleep.

My name is Nicola and i have interests in health & fitness, technology, family matters and interior design.

What kind of exercise decreases your blood pressure, normalises your weight, improves mood and subjective wellbeing, and even increases Vitamin C concentrations inside your body? Why of course it’s yoga! Yoga is a wonderful form of exercise that has become increasingly embraced as a great way to exercise one’s body and unite it with the mind and spirit.

Indeed, there are now various types of yoga classes that have emerged as a result of yoga’s recent revival. The different types of classes cater for different body types, motivations, and skill levels – for example, Bikram Yoga is great for weight loss while Hatha Yoga is better for de-stressing.

If you don’t know your Hatha from your Bikram, and your Iyengar you’re your Ashtanga, here are three types of yoga that we highly rate:

Hatha: the yoga of postures

Although ‘Hatha’ means forceful in Sanskrit, hatha yoga classes, at least in the beginning, are known for being gentle, basic classes akin to a slow-paced stretching class. In essence, Hatha yoga concentrates on the practice of postures and breath control as a way for the individual to achieve a balance between their body and mind.

Hatha yoga differs from most common forms of yoga in that it is based on six rather than the eight limbs of yoga, with a particular focus on the third (Asana) and fourth (Pranayama) steps. If you want to start off gentle and reap benefits such as toning your internal organs, preventing hypertension, and opening up energy channels, Hatha yoga is a clear choice for you.

Bikram: the yoga with heat

If you want to get even more specialised, you might want to try Bikram yoga. Bikram is a system of yoga derived from Hatha yoga by Indian yoga teacher Bikram Choudhury. Popularised from the 1970s, Bikram yoga essentially consists of a series of twenty-six stretching and strengthening postures with two breathing exercises. Sounds easy, right?

The trick is that all this is done in a room ideally heated to 105°F with a humidity of 40%. It’s a worthwhile price to pay though, considering all the benefits. Bikram is scientifically proven to work your whole body, that is, both your regular joints, muscles, and ligaments, and also your internal organs and glands. This is great for anyone looking to lose weight as well, as Bikram Yoga suppresses the appetite.

Anti Gravity: the yoga you’ve never heard of

How can a type of yoga be against gravity? Despite its name, Anti Gravity yoga is actually not as silly as it sounds. Invented by aerial performer and Broadway choreographer Christopher Harrison, Anti Gravity yoga combines with various exercises in Pilates, calisthenics, and aerial acrobatics, all while done in a hammock-like apparatus.

Like normal yoga, Anti Gravity is great for increasing strength and flexibility – and it helps you see the world from a different view. It also has the added bonus of being beneficial for anyone with back issues, as you can hang freely from the hammock, allowing your spine to lengthen. Oh, and it’s lots of fun too! Cirque du Soleil might be calling soon!

Samantha Morris is a university student and freelance writer who is interested in healthy living and taking good care of her body. She’s definitely keen to take a yoga class sometime soon after this festive season to keep in shape!

No matter where you look, be it Seattle or Edmonton, optometrists are helping people overcome problems with their eyesight. There have been a lot of technological advancements in recent years that are responsible for fixing a variety of complicated sight issues. There are now solutions to almost every eye problem out there.

Because of the success of modern eye treatments, many people are slacking on their eye care, or forgetting it altogether. This is a bad idea. Lots of eye problems can be prevented with healthy eating and cleaning habits. Those that can’t be prevented are generally worsened by poor hygiene or other factors. Here are four preventative measures you can take to stave off issues with your eyesight.

1. Eat Eye-Healthy Foods

There are tons of different foods that contribute to happy and healthy eyes. Carrots have a lot of Vitamin A, which is crucial for proper eye function. Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens are great sources of Vitamin A, as well as other nutrients that are important for eye function, making them the most important foods you can eat to maintain eye health. We says that avocados, eggs, sunflower seeds, garlic, and salmon are also foods that promote healthy eyes.

2. Maintain Proper Eye Hygiene

There are many preventable eye problems that originate with a lack of hygiene. Most of these issues involve the infection, inflammation, and irritation of different parts of the eye. For example, trachoma, or granular conjunctivitis, is the leading cause of blindness in the third world. However, trachoma can be completely prevented with proper hygiene.

Proper hygiene is actually pretty easy. Your eyes do a good job of protecting themselves and flushing out unwanted molecules, bacteria, and dirt on their own. Still, there are a couple of things that make it easier for your eyes to do these things. Make sure that you wash your face with soap and clean water every day. If you wear contacts, remove and clean them at night, or as directed by your doctor. Also, wear glasses or sunglasses outside or in dirty environments to keep dirt away from your eyes.

3. Properly Treat any Issues that Arise

There are a few significant eye problems that result from improper treatment of lesser issues. It is common for a scratch on the eye or an eye allergy to get exacerbated with rubbing or scratching. This can open up your eyes to infection and further inflammation. Instead of scratching, treat the itchy eyes with eye drops and/or antihistamines.

If you have an eye infection, avoid eye drops with steroids in them to treat itchy eyes. Although steroids treat redness and swelling effectively, they also inhibit your eyes’ ability to ward off infection. If you think you may have an eye infection, you should see a doctor before treating it yourself.

4. See Your Eye Doctor Regularly

Eyes are complicated organs. There is a lot that can go wrong with them. Most eye problems get sorted out on their own, but some of them can impair your eyes and your vision very quickly. If you are having eye pain, incessant itchiness, or worsening vision, you should see your eye doctor immediately.

If you aren’t experiencing any eye issues, it is still a good idea to see your eye doctor with some regularity. For readers in your 20’s, an eye appointment every two years should be sufficient. However, as your vision starts to change more quickly (usually in your late 30’s) yearly eye exams become necessary to maintain or adjust your prescriptions.

There is no reason for you to experience preventable eye issues. Make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep your eyes clean and healthy with proper hygiene and regular visits to your eye care specialist. By doing these things, you can almost eliminate the likelihood that you will develop any kind of preventable eye problems.

Firstly what is a meditation retreat and how can it help you? Meditation is the ultimate ‘you time’. When your life is jam packed with a busy itinerary and stress levels are high; here’s a little opportunity to get off the treadmill, make a change and recuperate. Going to a meditation retreat takes us out of the daily grind that wears us down and offers you valuable time that you so badly need.

Relieve your stress

Scientific studies have shown that meditation has huge health benefits that affect your body, blood pressure, breathing, stress levels and metabolism – all of which are significantly important for your well-being. Would you like to be able to control your stress levels? Then a meditation retreat can kick start that process for you. Are you after a long term investment that you reap the benefits of years down the line? Meditation is perfect for you. You do nothing, and you’re rewarded with wide-ranging health benefits. Sounds too easy right?

Imagine what rewards you might accumulate from not just one session of meditation, but a period of time where meditation is your main focus in life. A meditation retreat might be something to consider, especially if life is all too much or feels a bit out of control.

What happens?

Meditation is a way of letting go of your worries and allows you to release yourself from the constant activities, ideas and emotions of the mind and the body. It is a way to clear out the stress, to clean up the emotions and to use your inner space to become calm and refreshed in order to restart your life with a new perspective. There are many different meditation techniques to help you attain this state of being. Deep meditation is the most common type that is used in all techniques, upon arriving in this state there is a sharp boost in the alpha rhythm of the brain; decreasing the breathing rate and oxygen consumption.  Not only that,  but your heart rate also slows down dramatically causing your blood pressure to decline, as well as your levels of lactate (this is associated with stress around the body). Overall you will feel calmer, less stressed and some people can even feel slightly dizzy after their first experience.

It’s hard to grasp the concept of physically removing oneself from ordinary distractions of everyday life because we all lead such busy and hectic lives.Though these retreats may promote different styles of meditation they all aim to send their participants home with the same tools that they have learnt: a foundation of spiritual practice that they can maintain long after they’ve returned to the racket of the outside world.

It is incredibly liberating when you don’t have to talk for a period of time, yes it is a bit freaky but no phones, no TV or newspapers is an idyllic picture for many people. Why not try it? It will take out many of life’s risks – just time for you to find yourself. By allowing yourself the opportunity to tune into your own mind and body for even a tiny moment on a small, but regular basis then in turn we will be rewarded by our bodies being able to function at full capacity. Whether your retreat is part of your annual calendar or even just half a day at a compassion meditation centre when you are feeling particularly stress – whatever works for you!

Where’s best to go?

If you are after a crowd free, serious peace seeking area then look no further, with the added advantage of 78 luxurious hotel rooms, or if you fancy something slightly more individual then why not book a villa with vast window for taking in all the breathtaking mountain views. All equipped with TVs and minibars (unusual for retreat destinations as they are normally cut off from everything) this is the ideal place to get started with your meditation. Located in Uttaranchal, India, the Ananda hotel in the Himalayas is picturesque with scenery from wall to wall. It is a 100 acre states in the foothills, and is set at 3,000 feet and has sweeping views over the Ganges River and nearby temples. You have many facilities here; from indulgent spas to several yoga and meditation pavilions set among acres of natural wildlife, you really are able to totally immerse yourself. At this retreat you will be offered one-to-one guided meditation sessions for those beginners who are unsure of their individual needs, from Buddhist techniques to yogic breathing; from indoors to outdoors the choice really is yours.

However if you fancy something a little more isolated then why not submerge yourself into a two mile long island just off of the Isle of Arran, on Scotland’s west coast, it’s called the Holy Isle for a reason; with walking paths along the scenic rugged coastline and though the islands secluded coves. With 65 beds available, some basic rooms and some more dorm-style rooms, if you are after luxury you won’t find it here, all are monastically furnished with basic amenities. However if this does intrigue you then they regularly practice the art of Kagyu meditation, which is focused on silent breathing and to deepen their understanding of meditation – not ideal for beginners!

Fancy something more refreshing and invigorating, all whilst under a warm sun? Then try Simple Peace, in Assisi, Italy. The ancient Umbrian city overlooks thousands of olive groves and monasteries for ultimate meditation surroundings. The Husband and Wife who run the establishment both found meditation after meeting and completely turned their lives around, giving up their jobs to open up a meditation resort – how inspiring! With ten modest rooms to choose from all oozing with history, each room has its own terrace view over the valley below.

Whether you fancy any of these retreats or prefer to find your own, be prepared to have lots of ‘you’ time cut off from the world completely, some may find this invigorating and some may find this challenging, especially for those who are attached to their iPhones and tablets. Try to find your inner self and really expand your self-growth, I promise you, you won’t regret it.

Karen enjoys having time to relax outside her busy worklife. When she is looking for some quality time to herself she seeks advice from expert teachers in mindfulness courses for a more in depth introduction to the practice and benefits of being mindful. When she’s not managing her two businesses, she loves to spend time outdoors with her grandchildren and taking her 3 dogs for walks.

When a woman finds out she is pregnant for the first time, she will read as many books and articles as well as speak with her family and friends in order to get the best advice on what she should not do or eat while she is pregnant; the reason for this is because most if not all first time Mommy’s to be what to ensure that they do everything right for their baby’s well-being as well as their own.The same thing can be said for Mothers who are breastfeeding; while there is not a whole lot that should be avoided while breastfeeding but there are some things that many first time Mothers are not aware of when choosing to breastfeed their baby.

In this article, I will explain what should be avoided and how to make breastfeeding a better experience for both the Mother and the Baby together.

Nursing Tips – What Not To Do

Above anything, when deciding to breastfeed your baby, a woman must never give up! Breastfeeding can be a bit frustrating at times for numerous reasons that will vary from Mother to Mother but there are so many benefits to breastfeeding that many believe outweigh the frustrations that may be encountered during the breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding have so many benefits that are very helpful to and for the mother and the baby. They include:

• Delaying or Altogether Preventing Allergies that potentially form in Infants and Young children who are not Breastfed.
• Breastfeeding helps with Proper Jaw, Teeth and Facial Development in Babies that are Breastfed.
• Increases the Immune System in Infants.

• Helps to Lower a Child’s Risk of Obesity.

• Helps to Lower the risk for Many Forms of Infant Illnesses.

• Has been Prove to Lower the Risk of SIDS also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

• Has been shown to Provide Protection for the Mother against Breast, Cervical, and Ovarian Cancer.

• Can greatly Lower a Mother’s Risk of Osteoporosis.

• Allows for a Mother to Returning to her Pre-Pregnancy Weight

In the event that you or your child has a medical condition that prevents you from breastfeeding, there are alternatives that allow you to provide your baby the best nutrition he or she needs but if you are able to it is highly recommended that you try to breastfeed for at least the first six months of your baby’s life in order to give him or her the best start as much as possible.

It is well-known that Formula is nowhere near comparable to that of the perfect human food that a Mother can provide to her baby – breast-milk is a super food, if you will for your baby. If you find that you are having difficulty in the process of breastfeeding or having any pain that is associated with breastfeeding, the absolute best thing that you can do for your little bundle of love is not to be persuaded by your well-meaning family or friends, but rather contact a professional breastfeeding counselor or lactation consultant for guidance in this process; they will have the best advice and tips to thoroughly do all that you can to get through the rough patches that some women experience during breastfeeding. Additionally, you should know that it is highly recommended to cease the process of breastfeeding your baby if you are ill. It is well-known by many that anything you eat, drink or medications you ingest can be passed onto your baby through your breast milk.

Foods To Avoid While Breastfeeding

Most, if not all, Breastfeeding Mothers will be told or they will hear that there is a list of foods and drinks that are a must to avoid while breastfeeding; such things like: Caffeine (Coffee, Tea, or Soda), Food that Produce Gas such as Broccoli and Nuts (These can potentially cause an Allergic Reaction in your Baby), and Spicy Foods. There are some recent reports that were the result of research conducted that make claims that much of this is simply just not true; however, it is still better to be safe than sorry and these restrictions are still in place until further research can 100% prove these findings.

It can be said that only about 1% of what a Mother consumes, whether it is caffeine or a prescription medication or OTC Cold Medication, will make it to their breast-milk that is given to their baby. It is recommended that, unless your little one has a severe allergy with symptoms that can without a doubt be pinned down to a specific cause, it is best for Mothers to eat a wide variety of foods as a way to introduce a variety of flavors and different foods that will reduce chance or incidence of your baby developing any allergies later on and when the time comes for solid food the baby will not be resistant to trying different flavorful foods such as fish.

Also, regardless of what you might hear or be told, it is not necessary to avoid caffeine but it is important that you limit your caffeine intake to 500mgs a day; any more could potentially disrupt their mood and the amount of restful sleep that he or she should have.

Breastfeeding is a beautiful time spent between Mother and Child; it is important to understand that there are some women who have the desire to breastfeed their baby but were not as fortunate as they hoped. If you are able to, it is highly encouraged that you do so for as long as you can for as much as you can produce.

Author Bio

Carrie is a professional Doula and mommy blogger who writes extensively for websites particularly breastfeeding blogs. Her specialize subject matter include nursing tips, baby nutrition and natural children care.

I never did think I had brain damage. –Leon Spinks

In one of the greatest upsets in boxing history, Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali and won the World Heavyweight Title on February 15, 1978 in Las Vegas Nevada. His career boxing record was a total of 46 fights, 26 wins, 14 wins by KO, 17 losses and 3 draws. He also competed in the Olympic games in 1976 and won Gold for Boxing as a Light heavyweight. While in 1974, he won the Bronze medal in the World Amateur Championship as a Light Heavyweight in Havana Cuba. Now, you have to assume that being a professional boxer, Mr. Spinks has been hit in the head a great number of times. And often enough, those punches were delivered by some extremely strong individuals.

Mr. Spinks admits that he never thought he had brain damage and that is exactly the error in thinking most of us would fall victim to. It is extremely difficult to judge head trauma yourself… as after all, it was your brain that’s been rattled. Not to mention, boxers and non-boxers alike have died from receiving single punches perfectly placed. Can you recall the last time your heads received a good knocking? If you can’t.. that in itself is a problem. But if you have been and can remember, chances are you suffered some form of brain damage even if it was only minor.

Anyone can suffer from brain damage, and beyond being struck or hit in the head, you can suffer from it due to other causes as well. But sadly, many people are unable realize they’ve been so severely injured. For example, High School Football players colliding repeatedly in games and practices, hitting and rattling their heads frequently and often. Humans are tough enough to perhaps withstand a single or a few good blows, but repeated hits over a course of time can cause severe brain damage, and can even lead to further problems such as Dementia years later.

The biggest issue with brain damage beyond not being able to physically see something is wrong without an MRI is that often the symptoms can be bearable which keeps people from actually getting checked out. In order to help understand how serious an issue this can be and to protect yourself and loved ones in the future, read the following on statistics, types, causes, and symptoms of Brain Damage.  You may be surprised as to what you may find. Because after all, Mr. Spink thought he was safe… and that man has probably taken thousands of punches directly to his head. Any other person would obviously think brain damage would have occurred.

Brain Damage Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Nearly 1/3 of injury related deaths are due to a form Brain Damage
• Every year, around 230,000 hospitalizations occur due to a form of Brain Damage
• Around 2% of the U.S population has to live with disabilities due to Brain Damage
• Every 15 seconds an American sustains serious Brain Damage
• Roughly 50,000 patients die every year as a result of Brain Damage
• For children aged up to 14 there is an estimated 2,700 deaths, 37,000 hospitalizations, and 435,000 emergency visits every year

Types of Brain Damage

There are two types of Brain Damage that can occur: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). TBI occurs when the head is struck with some degree of force. The damage done is also dependent on the total force, location of the strike, and number of strikes. Of course, whether someone was wearing a helmet, or is simply thick skulled, also determines the amount of damage done. ABI occurs in every other scenario when force is not the cause of damage.

Due to the brazen nature and high risk behaviors of males, they are typically more at risk and especially those between the ages of 15 and 24 are most vulnerable. The most susceptible however are children and the elderly as you could imagine. Shaken Baby Syndrome for example occurs when an adult shakes a baby, usually out of frustration that the child won’t stop crying. As a result, the child’s brain rattles inside their skull and becomes permanently damaged.

Common Causes For Brain Damage

Common causes for Traumatic Brain Damage:

• Car Accidents
• Sport Injuries (Boxing, Football, and Rugby top the list for the most common)
• Falling (Slipping in the shower, on ice, on wet floors)
• Accidents (Essentially any accident where your head is struck such as falling off your bicycle)
• Physical Violence

Common causes for Acquired Brain Damage:

• Being exposed to toxic or poisonous chemicals and substances
• Infections from diseases
• Choking, drowning, or be strangled (Anything that cuts air off to the brain)
• Strokes
• Heart Attacks
• Brain Tumors
• Aneurysms
• Neurological Illnesses
• Abuse and use of illegal narcotics

Symptoms of Brain Damage

It’s easy enough to understand the various ways your brain can become injured; however it is a much more difficult task being able to notice the symptoms of Brain Damage. Especially when attempting to notice it in yourself. If you fear you have brain damage, be sure to ask friends and family if they’ve noticed anything different about you. And if your worries and fears only continue to grow, be sure to get checked out by a medical professional. There are four types of symptoms of Brain Damage to be aware of: Cognitive, Perceptual, Physical, and Behavioral/Emotional.

Cognitive Symptoms

• Inability or difficulty when processing information
• Inability or difficulty expressing thoughts or emotions
• Inability or difficulty when attempting to understand what others say
• Decreased attention span
• Reduced or impaired decision-making skills
• Loss of either long-term or short-term memory

Perceptual Symptoms

• Changes to vision, hearing, or sense of touch
• Spatial recognition (depths are off visibly)
• A loss of a sense of time, unable to tell how much time has passed
• Odd smells and tastes noticed
• Loss of balance
• Inability to deal with pain as well

Physical Symptoms

• Constant headaches
• Easily becoming mentally fatigued
• Easily becoming physically fatigued
• Paralysis
• Tremors, shaking, and seizures
• Sensitivity to light
• Odd sleep patterns
• Irregular or slurred speech
• Loss of Consciousness

Behavioral/Emotional Symptoms

• Increased irritability and a lack of patience
• Inability to deal with stress
• Constantly feeling tired and sluggish
• Reduced or increased reactions to emotions
• Inability to recognize a disability (balance, speech, sight, etc)
• An overly aggressive attitude

Most Common Symptoms Overall

• Confusion
• Fatigue, lethargy, and changes in sleeping patterns
• Easily becoming lost or confused
• Constant headaches
• Persistent pain in neck
• Slowness overall of actions
• Stark mood swings
• Becoming dizzy easily
• Easily distracted
• Increased sensitivity to sound and light
• A loss of senses (smell, taste, touch)
• Constant Nausea
• Listlessness
• Tinnitus (sharp ringing in ear)

The author of this piece is Damien S. Wilhelmi. If you enjoyed this article you can follow me on Twitter @CustParadigm. When I’m not writing about traumatic injuries for a local Brain Injury Attorney in Colorado, I’m generally reading what I can to keep on top of the laws surrounding this issue.

No one ever said: “it’s easy to quit smoking.” And while there doesn’t seem to be one magic strategy that works for everyone, there are a number of techniques that have helped many people successfully quit; one is bound to work for you! The hardest part is the earliest days where the nicotine withdrawals and cravings put your willpower to the test. What seems to work best for people is finding a distraction to help them through the cravings. Studies show that these cravings only last for 3 to 5 minutes, so it’s just a (not so simple) matter of getting through a few of these cravings every day.  Here are some things you can do instead of giving in to temptation:

Go somewhere you cannot smoke. This might be a library, museum, movie theater, church, or a particular restaurant. This atmosphere will force you to wait out a craving. Even the heaviest smokers can sit through a movie without stepping out for a cigarette.

Take a shower. Unless you’re a shower smoker, this is probably another place you won’t light up. Not only is a shower long enough to get you through a craving, you come out with that clean feeling which generally pushes off the next craving for at least a little while.

Wash your hands.You can’t smoke with wet hands. This might be just the time window you need to get through a mild craving.

Do something with the kids. Family time is always good and you’ll be a lot less likely to smoke with little ones around. Throw the ball around with them, or tell the kids a good joke. You’re not a smoker now, and they’ll appreciate the extra time you can spend with them.

Count the money you’re saving. Cigarettes are not just costly on your health, they put a big hole in just about anyone’s wallet. Next time you want a cigarette, think about the slowly building stack of money you’re saving now that you’ve quit.

Learn an instrument. Pick up the guitar, or the banjo, even your harmonica, and play around for a couple of minutes until the urge passes. Not only will you survive the craving, imagine how much better your Jimmy Page riffs will sound after you’ve started playing for twenty minutes a day.

Start vaping. E-cigarettes can be a great alternative to smoking. There’s no smoke involved, which saves your lungs from the chemicals in burning tobacco, and there is now a wide range of choices in flavors, packaging and nictoine levels.

Chew something. Pick something healthy such as sunflower seeds, sugarless gum, ice cubes or even raisins. When a craving hits, stuff your face!

Go for a bike ride. Hopefully you haven’t forgotten how to ride. You can do so for as long as you want, and the urge to smoke will be minimal as you check out the scenery and work the pedals.

Do push-ups. Drop and give yourself twenty. Start by using your knees if you have to. Imagine the trade-offs if you do five push-ups for every cigarette you’d usually smoke!

Brush your teeth. Give it the full, recommended two minutes. If that’s not long enough to get you through a craving, take a deep breath and notice how clean your mouth is. That’s what it will be like to be a non-smoker.

There are plenty ways you can spend your time instead of smoking. The key is to distract yourself for long enough to where you no longer need a cigarette. Keep at it, it DOES get easier.

Jennifer Quentin is a freelance writer and student living in Ogden, Utah. When she is not spilling her ideas onto paper (or the web), she enjoys hiking with her Cocker Spaniel, Mookie. She has recently quit smoking herself and has turned to vaping. She suggests reading the blog of Pink Spot Vapors if you are interested in quitting cigarettes.

If you are losing your hair, you may hope to discover a way to get the hair to regrow. Many before you have started out on the same quest. Today science, nutrition and naturopathy offer us more answers than our forebears on the question of hair regrowth. Chinese medicine also offers some insights that are now more widely known.

The short answer is: it depends!

Why are you losing hair?

The first thing hair regrowth depends on is what is causing the hair loss. Another key consideration is whether follicles that should be producing hair, and are not, are resting or dead. Resting follicles may reactivate with appropriate nutrient support, while follicles that have been shut down (destroyed) cannot be revived and are now “dead”.

Types and causes of hair loss

Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body that hair is present. The most common place where undesirable hair loss occurs is the head (scalp). Hair loss can occur in patches or individual strands. Eventually, small patches of hair loss can “join up” to look like universal baldness.

A common pattern for hair loss is male pattern baldness, either from the forehead back, or centre of the scalp (crown of the head) outwards. Hair loss from the forehead backwards is also referred to as a receding hair line.

Though some men can be quite embarrassed by their thinning or receding hair, many women find it very attractive in men and a sign of virility. This may be due, in part, to a common cause of hair loss: hormonal triggers. We now know that dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is metabolized from testosterone, when produced in excess, can cause follicles to shut down thereby rendering them no longer able to produce hair. Perhaps female intuition made the association between the two long before the medical world caught on!

Other causes for hair loss in both men and women include: fungal infections, pulling the hair (severe hair styles such as braiding), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, chemical exposure, stress, a shock or trauma, serious illness, certain pharmaceutical medicines, autoimmune responses, and nutrient deficiencies.

Some of these are clearly within our control.

Understanding the cause of your hair loss will help you work out your best hope for hair regrowth.

What’s normal hair loss and hair growth?

It’s normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day from the head. That is just a tiny fraction of the number of hairs we have on our heads – an estimated 100,000 hairs. Hair loss becomes a problem when we start to lose more hairs than are replaced each day. This can occur when the follicles that create the hairs start to slow down or stay longer and longer in the resting phase between releasing old hairs and starting to grow new ones. The resting phase of hair growth is a normal part of the cycle, and necessary. When the resting phase becomes prolonged nutrient therapy may be of benefit, depending on the reason the follicles are reacting in that way.

Nutrients for hair regrowth

Important nutrients for maintaining the health of the hair, skin and nails and encouraging hair regrowth include:  silica, zinc, biotin, copper, Vitamin C and manganese, among others. An ingredient in Chinese herb Fallopia multiflora has also been found to be of assistance.

It may be necessary to work with a naturopath, doctor or Chinese medicine practitioner to work out the cause and remedy for your hair loss. Supplementation that fails to trigger hair regrowth will help make the remaining hair look shinier, stronger and improve its colour. These outcomes may not be the primary aim of your regime but are very nice additional benefits of your increased focus on hair health.

Katherine West is a health freak and freelance writer who in 2003 studied for a Diploma of Nutrition. She is also into yoga and pilates.

If you’re heading off to a tropical destination this winter, you’d best take some precautions to protect your skin. If your skin hasn’t been exposed to strong sunlight for a while, the sudden change to spending days in the sun with most of your skin exposed can be very damaging. To make sure that you come back from your trip, not only invigorated from getting some time off work and spending time outdoors, but also with great looking and healthy skin, have a look at following tips. They can help you enjoy the (hopefully) sunny weather at your holiday destination while keeping your skin in good shape.

Prepare Your Skin

Make sure that your skin is in good health before you leave on your trip. If your skin is very dry or oily or you have any other skin problems, they will probably get worse when your skin suddenly gets exposed to strong sun rays every day. To keep your skin healthy, make sure that you maintain a healthy diet, regularly moisturize and take care of any skin problems as soon as they appear. If you have serious skin problems, you might want to see a dermatologist for advice or treatment.

Take Plenty of Sun Protection

Make sure that you take good quality sunscreen and after-sun moisturizer, a hat, some long-sleeved shirts, and perhaps a UV-protective lycra or similar if you plan to spend some time in the water. You’ll likely be able to buy all of these at your destination as well, but taking them along saves you the trouble of finding all these items at a reasonable price.

Avoid Midday Sun Exposure

In most places the sun is at its strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM, so try to avoid staying in the sun for longer durations during these times. It won’t always be possible to stay in the shade during these times, especially if you have day trips and such planned, so make sure to always take sunscreen so you can reapply regularly and take a hat as well. Don’t forget about your ears, feet and hands when applying sunscreen, because they tend to get a lot of sun exposure. You might also want to take a long-sleeved shirt to cover yourself up once in a while.

Don’t be Too Afraid of the Sun

While it is important to be careful about getting too much sun exposure, especially in places where UV rays are very strong, unless you are highly sensitive to the sun you don’t need to stay out of the sun completely. Some sun exposure is actually healthy since it helps your body keep vitamin D levels up, which are very important for your health and are difficult to get through food.

Keep Taking Care of Your Skin After Your Trip

Once you get back from your trip, you should keep looking after your skin. Many people do really well on their holidays, staying out of the sun when UV rays are strongest and regularly applying sunscreen and moisturizer, but then stop taking care of their skin once they get back home. While sunscreen protects your skin from the sun, it can also make it look a bit dull. Scrubbing your body can help make your skin look better again after your trip. Also don’t stop moisturizing, since your skin will likely be quite dry after many days of constant sun exposure. If you have developed any permanent sun spots after your holiday, you could consider having them removed with laser treatment.

Zane Schwarzlose is a writer at Zimmet Vein and Dermatology in Austin, Texas. Zane tries to stay out of the sun as much as possible.