Observational Studies Produce Inconsistent Results
Authors of a new study published in the January 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association show that results can differ enormously depending on the type of statistical analysis each study uses.
According to HealthDay News, “Randomized, controlled studies are considered the gold standard of medical science. In such trials, patients are randomly assigned to receive either the treatment or a placebo. The participants are then monitored for a certain period of time to determine the results.”
This type of study is done less frequently due to the drastic cost difference. Since randomized controlled studies cost much more, many times researchers tend to go with the less costly approach. Most observational studies take place in a natural environment such as a hospital.
Therese A. Stukel, lead author of the new research told HealthDay, “We need to be more skeptical” of observational studies. You can’t just can’t throw a standard model at it and assume you’re going to get a correct result. None of this stuff is written in stone.”
The study analyzed 122,124 senior citizens on Medicare that had been hospitalized as a result of a heart attack between 1994 and 1995 and were eligible to receive cardiac catheterization; “a procedure in which a tube or catheter is inserted into a vessel in the arm or leg and then on into the heart or coronary arteries.”
It was found that those who received the procedure were younger and suffered less severe heart attacks than their older counterparts.
“The bottom line is there are plenty of situations where standard methods work, and typically they work when we’re selecting patients to two treatment groups where the groups are the same and the risks are the same,” Stukel told HealthDay. “The classic situation where they don’t work is where you’re looking at surgical vs. non-surgical treatments where you need to be healthier to survive surgery and you need to survive long enough to get the surgery so, if you die early, it may look like you weren’t chosen for the trial.”
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Metabolism – 7 Success Strategies to Boost Metabolic Rate and Burn More Fat
Ever heard this statement, “Oh I can’t lose weight, I have a slow metabolism.”? Or “She’s so slim, she must have a fast metabolism.”? When it comes to weight loss, the word ‘metabolism’ comes up a lot, but few understand exactly what it is, how it works and how a thorough understanding of the metabolism can help us lose weight.
Let’s start, in lay-terms, with what the metabolism actually is…
Our metabolism (or metabolic rate) is the rate or speed at which the body burns, or “turns” food into energy (i.e. carbohydrate, fat or protein). It ALSO describes how the body uses fat or protein to make protein, necessary to maintain our lean tissue. Hormones control these intricate processes, particularly the part that determines how much lean muscle we make and most importantly keep!
Confused? You needn’t be – just take on board that your metabolism is simply the efficiency at which your body can use food . Its “efficiency” can also be improved upon.
So can we change the rate at which we burn food? Is it under our control?
Well, the short and loud answer to that is YES! Sure, we are all different, but the key is to work WITH your metabolic rate, and not against it. By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll know how to “rev up”, work with, and keep your metabolism gently ticking over in a higher gear.
Keep the home fire burning!
In YeartoSlim, our virtual weight loss program, we say: Think of your metabolic rate as a fire or flame. It may help to think of this deep in your belly! Ideally, you need that flame flickering gently all day. Now, if a fire is left unattended, and not refuelled, it will go out.
It’s the same with eating. Going for hours with no food means your metabolism (or flame) slows right down. When you do finally eat, not only do you run the risk of overeating because you are over hungry, but food is not used or burned as efficiently – rather like trying to re-start a fire by putting coal on it, but with no flame! In the case of your body, more food or calories are likely to be stored – as fat!
So, the first thing to remember about “revving” up your metabolism is to aim to eat every 3 hours or so, and feed, feed, feed the metabolism! This way you will burn MORE energy (i.e. calories)than your body has been used to, and help you on your way to successful weight loss.
Simple steps to a faster metabolism
Let’s look at the typical eating strategies from 2 different “sports”; a ‘lean’ athlete eats regularly to stay lean eg. 5 small balanced meals a day; he knows that’s the best way to burn body fat. A Sumo wrestler on the other hand, eats one huge meal at the end of the day to PUT ON lots of fat. He knows his metabolic rate is at its slowest, and much of the excess he eats will be stored as fat.
So… do you want to look like a lean athlete or a sumo wrestler? Work with your body – not against it.
Follow our 7 Success Strategies to Boost your Metabolism and help you burn more body fat.
1. Think like a lean athlete not a sumo wrestler.
2. Aim to eat around every 3 hours or so.
3. Avoid LARGE meals – full stop!
4. Always balance the amount of carbohydrate with protein in your meal – aim for a 1:1 ratio.
5. Avoid carbohydrate-only meals to balance your blood sugar levels effectively.
6. Try exercising before breakfast and take your metabolism to a higher gear for the rest of the day. This could be a 20 minute walk, a home exercise circuit or a swim.
7. Find time in the week (preferably 3 regular slots) to do some resistance training that challenges individual muscles. Examples are weight training, circuit training, Pilates or using a body ball. You will build and keep lean “metabolically active” muscle tissue, helping you to burn more calories while you are sitting here reading this!
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Lucy-Ann Prideaux MSc BSc RNutr and Claire Raikes are co-founders of YeartoSlim, a natural weight-loss eProgram which denounces diets, calorie-counting and ‘weigh-ins’ in favour of sound nutritional education, inspiration and motivation. Sign up now for the FR’EE MINI COURSE at YeartoSlim.com YeartoSlim.com.
“Finally, the first step-by-step roadmap to weight loss success. Guaranteed to get you off the dieting ‘merry-go-round’!”
A Relaxing Way of Schooling
Yoga, which is more than 5,000 years old Indian tradition, has become immensely popular in the United States of America. Americans have discovered the art of relaxation through yoga.
Since its popularity is soaring by the day, a number of “yoga schools” have mushroomed all over the USA to provide the advantages of yoga to the millions of Americans.
A number of yoga classes are conducted through adult education programs and at various yoga centers located in different states. You can get information about yoga centers on the internet. There are many private yoga teachers who conduct classes to give you personal attention.
Though you may be very keen to do yoga exercises the key is enrolling in a right yoga class which has an expert yoga instructor who will look into your personal needs. It is also important that you must know your limitations and goals.
Though the advantages and disadvantages of yoga are well known, very little is known about the yoga instructors. Therefore, before plunging in to yoga classes you have to find the right yoga instructor for it is his/her handling the yoga exercise(s) that either benefits you or may harm you in the long run.
There are a number of important aspects that you should look for in a yoga instructor. The instructor should at first glance identify whether you are doing the right yoga pose and if not he/she should be able to modify or correct the pose. He/she should warn the students which yoga exercise should be done and not to be done depending upon your physical and mental condition. Yoga exercises which are uncomfortable and causing excruciating pain to you should never be done. An instructor should encourage the students to know their limitations and advise remedial measures for improving them.
It is extremely important that you check the credentials of the instructor over and over again, as a wrong choice may cause you more harm in doing yoga exercises which the instructor himself may not know. Look for a qualified yoga instructor.
You should find out the number of students in your yoga classes that you are going to select. A class with less than 30 students is preferable so that the instructor can give you personalized attention.
You may join a class on experimental basis to gauge the expertise of the yoga instructor before deciding on the choice of yoga exercises.
There are different types of yoga classes and if you are a beginner in yoga you must look for a beginner’s class. Do not ever start with advance yoga classes. You should also look for the type of yoga classes that are being conducted which are suitable for stretching and relaxation.
You need to know where you want to take yoga classes. If you are looking for fitness through yoga then you can join a yoga class held at a fitness facility. If you are looking to be a yoga expert yourself then you should look for a place which is solely dedicated to yoga classes only and possibly teaches the “higher” or mental yogas.
If you are having any physical handicap or respiratory problem it is advisable to get yourself medically examined. Even if you are not having any disability, medical check up is advisable before undertaking any yoga classes.
Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 26 years experience. She can be reached at Creative Communications: mailto:creativecommunications@cox.net creativecommunications@cox.net or by visiting everythingmenopause.com everythingmenopause.com and howtoconquermenopause.com howtoconquermenopause.com and everythingandropause.com everythingandropause.com
What Is Strength Training And What Are The Benefits
We know that strength training is good for us, but do we know what it is and why it is beneficial? Well here is a brief introduction on why health professionals advice us to do strength training two to four times per week.
What is strength training? It is specifically to build muscle and increase strength involving weight or some other type of resistance. Strength training can be performed at any age. There is a big misconception that strength training must be done between a certain age group. This could not be further from the truth. It is true that strength training should be done carefully and gradually, however it can be done at any age.
Strength training helps with the range of movement in your joints. By continuing to workout your muscles in a consistent basis, your joints develop endurance and flexibility. Although there may be some soreness at the initial strength training sessions, once your body continues to carry on towards your fitness goal, the soreness will begin to dissipate.
Strength training is beneficial for your bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If done correctly, strength training can help with burning calories, weight loss, stronger bones, lower cholesterol, and mood. Strength training is also a great stress reliever allowing many individuals to cope better with everyday stress.
In order for one to get the full benefits of strength training a consistent program, similar to the one below, should be followed:
Cardiovascular exercises – Should be performed at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. Examples – walking, running, biking, elliptical machine, etc. NOTE: It is not considered an effective cardiovascular exercise until the individual breaks a sweat.
Strength Training – 2-4 times a week, upper and lower body and abdominal should be worked out consistently while allowing rest periods of muscle groups. Same muscle groups should rest for a period of 48 hours. In other words, if the upper body is getting worked out then the following day or the day after that, the lower body should be trained.
Balanced Meal- Your meals are your fuel to carry out your exercises in the best possible way for you. This means that you should be eating 5-6 small balanced meals a day. Every meal should include both protein and carbohydrates. This may be fish, chicken or turkey along with vegetables, and grains.
Water – It is essential for your body to be well hydrated. Our bodies are composed of 70% water and therefore you need to consume plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body going strong throughout your active days. The water you drink literally becomes you.
Rest – It is imperative that you get plenty of rest in order to allow your muscles to recuperate from your workout regiment. Sleep is essential for the normal functioning of all the systems of our body. So getting proper rest at nights will help your muscles bounce back and give its optimum in your next training session.
In other words, one thing that strength training has to offer, when done consistently and in proper form, is a healthier lifestyle.
I am a Certified Personal Trainer whom is branching out as a fitness writer. My articles are written on fitness.
Cepacol
There are a number of popular commercially available mouthwashes on the market today that contain bacteria killing ingredients. Examples of these are Listerine, Cepacol, Scope, Therabreath and many others. Typical ingredients for killing bacteria are chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, and sodium chlorite. The idea is simple: because uncomplicated bad breath is caused by the proliferation of bacteria in the mouth, an effective mouthwash will kill off these bacteria, prevent them from proliferating, and maybe even neutralize the bad smelling compounds that they produce.
If you suffer from halitosis, an antibacterial mouthwash will be an integral part of your oral care routine. In choosing such a product, there are a number of things you should watch out for. Products such as Cepacol and Scope contain cetylpyridinium chloride, an ingredient that has been shown to kill odor producing bacteria and slow the formation of dental plaque. Other brands contain chlorhexidine, another chemical proven to have the some effects. Unfortunately, formulations contain other ingredients that tend to interfere with the action of these antiseptic agents, so the effect in your mouth may not as pronounced as it might. Ingredients such as alcohol and glycerin also tend to dry out the tissues in the mouth and the tooth enamel, which leads to halitosis and sensitive teeth in some people.
The Cepacol brand name is perhaps better known for its sore throat remedies, and again, cetylpyridinium chloride is the ingredient added to kill off bacteria that are causing infection or simply colonizing the mouth and throat. As an antibacterial mouthwash, it seems to work moderately well when used consistently and incorporated with a regular routine of tooth brushing, flossing and professional dental care. If you achieve less than wonderful results, however, consider trying an antibacterial mouthwash that doesn’t contain alcohol or glycerin.
Though products like Listerine and Cepacol have been on the market for many years, they have not solved the problem of bad breath, and ongoing scientific research continues to explore the causes of bad breath and the effects of antibacterial mouthwashes. In recent years new theories have led to approaching the problem in new ways, and promising products have appeared on the market. They include the Therabreath products, which incorporate sodium chlorite and zinc, and 2 Phase Mouthwash, which uses olive oil to mop up bacteria in the mouth. If you are searching for an alternative to well known products such as Cepacol and Listerine, it’s worth researching the theory behind these new products and the claims that they make about their ability to control bad breath.
R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to
badbreath-cure.blogspot.com Bad Breath Cure, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.
Weight Control Program Tips: Lose Weight Safely
Losing weight is one of the major health concerns
nowadays. That is why more and more people have been
painstakingly involved in various weight control
programs to lose a few pounds. However it can only lead
to depression if the program does not suit its purpose.
It is because these programs often cause misconceptions
that build up high hopes, which can even add up or be
the factor that can cause further weight gain if the
chosen weight control program is not suited for the
individual. Some people want to lose weight fast which
in reality is difficult since it may take a few months
before the body adjusts to the new diet intake. There
are several weight control programs. Some can help.
Some make matters worse. To serve as a guide in
choosing the right weight control program, the
following information and tips can be of great help.
Successful weight control programs usually start on
instilling a positive attitude towards weight gain. One
may lose the desired pounds but he can once again go
back to the old habits of diet and can once again
regain the lost weight. Losing weight can be easily
done if the mind is in total in control of the body.
Successful people who obtained the desired weight used
positive mental attitude and optimum self-control to
push through the difficulties and temptations that can
interfere with the chosen weight control program.
Weight control is not only meant to get the curvy
figures shown in ads and magazines. It is also meant
to avoid the danger of several diseases that can
abruptly end one’s life. These diseases may include
hypertension or high blood pressure, cardiovascular
diseases, gallbladder disease, diabetes,
osteoarthritis, respiratory problems and other forms of
cancer.
In choosing the right type of weight control program,
safety must be of utmost consideration. The diet must
not just be trimmed down but it must also include the
nutrients needed by the body to keep on going. The
recommended daily allowance must be there including
minerals, vitamins and proteins. The diet must have
less calories and fats which can be 30% of the total
daily calories content of regular meals. Skipping of
meals is not advisable since it can only create more
cravings which can again add up to the overall weight.
Food types that are high in fiber must always be on
stock since it can be of great help in the chosen
weight control program. These types of food may include
vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals and fruits. Low
calorie raw vegetables are also preferred. Keeping a
list of the food or juice taken can help the individual
to assess the eating habit so as to make the necessary
changes needed for successful weight control.
Commercial weight control programs can also be chosen
but be sure to have access to the vital information to
be considered such as the fees and costs involved. The
dietary supplements or the types of food to be taken
must not have any negative effects on the metabolism of
the individual. Some diet supplements may cause
allergies and other side effects which can endanger the
health or the overall well-being of the individual.
The maintenance of weight is considered as the most
difficult stage since there must be constant and
persistent applications of what should be done.
David Arnold Livingston is an advocate for great health and shares resources at:
yrweight.com/ yrweight.com/
Allergy Treatment – What to Know
If you suffer from allergies and are looking for allergy treatment, then you likely know that allergy treatment comes in a variety of forms. For one, allergy treatment can come from small lifestyle changes, such as a commitment to eating different foods or to avoiding certain situations. Allergy treatment can also come in the form of medicine, such as a shot or a pill. Here is a brief overview of these two most common types of allergy treatments:
Lifestyle change:
If you suffer from allergies, chances are good that the allergy is treatable if you change certain things about your lifestyle. While changing your lifestyle is not a long-term solution to allergy treatment, it can provide some relief to you. For example, if you suffer from an allergy to your pet, then you can easily cut out any interaction with the pet, or you can put the pet up for adoption. Likewise, if you suffer from an allergy to a certain food, then you can begin to avoid any encounters with that food.
Medicine:
You can use medicine as part of your allergy treatment if you suffer from a chronic allergy, such as an allergy to pollen, food or other airborne stimuli. The two types of medicine that are available for allergy sufferers are allergy shots (which are taken once a month in most cases) and allergy medicine, such as Claritin or Benedryl. Allergy treatments help to alleviate the symptoms, but cannot reverse the allergies within your body permanently.
Again, changing your lifestyle to suit your allergy will not act as a substitute for true allergy treatment., In fact, allergies, unlike some illnesses, are not permanently treatable. Instead, you must find solutions that will make you more comfortable. Some of these solutions do involve lifestyle changes. Others involve carefully monitoring some of your behavior, such as your food intake.
About the Author
Tamra Cantar is a freelance writer on topics of interest and has a website dedicated to providing the visitor with useful information and resources on allergies and allergy relief. Visit allergy-treatment.easyallergyrelief.com/ EasyAllergyRelief.com for more information on allergy treatment and allergy relief.
The Frustration Of Having A Stutter
Are you one of the many people who suffer with the speech impediment known as stuttering or stammering? Does your stutter/stammer cause you to become very frustrated at times? Have you attended speech therapy in the past in the hope that it would help improve your speech? I am a person who has overcome a stutter and I now help other people to achieve fluency. In this article, I write about the frustrations and emotions that people who stutter have to deal with.
When I had a stutter, it created many different forms of emotions within me. I was actually ashamed of having this speech impediment and did not want to discuss the problem with anybody. My family, especially my parents, even to this day are unaware of most of the difficulties that stuttering caused me, during my time at school and in my late teens. Even when I had a really bad day at school, I would not talk about what had happened with my parents. I would instead just go to my bedroom and attempt to forget it.
I also felt quite sorry for myself. I always believed that I was a decent person and did not think that I deserved to have this horrible stutter. There were many people in my class who in my opinion deserved to have the stutter much more than I did, however in truth I would not wish a stutter on anybody.
Having a stutter made me feel less of a person than that of what I considered to be normal people. I was not able to socialise with the ease as what everybody else seemed to, and had many traumatic experiences in the classroom when attempting to read out of a book for example.
Even though I had a stuttering problem, I could at times talk quite well. I could not understand why I was able to talk to person A but not person B. This caused me many frustrations.
When I was about sixteen, I started to drink alcohol. This had a major impact on my speech as I could talk perfectly well when I was drunk. This proved to me that there must be a chance of me being able to overcome the stutter.
Speech therapists and negative national associations, have for years attempted to convince me to accept my stutter and have told me that there is no cure for stuttering. How can this be right, if I was constantly drunk, I would be fluent, there is a cure in itself. Of course it is not right or healthy to be constantly drunk but I am sure you know what I mean.
I found certain tasks very hard to accomplish when I had the stutter. Making and answering telephone calls was especially hard for me. I look back now and can not believe that I coped with working in an office environment for six years, at a time when I had the stutter. I remember travelling to work feeling sick in my stomach through the stress and fear.
Ordering drinks and food at the bar, introducing people to each other, attending meetings and job interviews were other aspects of my life which were made all that more harder by my inability to talk fluently.
My advice to people who have a stuttering problem is to not give up, believe in yourself and your own ability to one day achieve fluency. Do not listen to negative people who try to convince you that there is no cure for stuttering. Most of the people who say this to you will have never had a stutter and will have no idea how our brains work.
Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:
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Knowing Types of Acne – Can Assist With Treatment
There are plenty of people who have acne and are completely unaware of it. Looking for the signs that lead to acne can be very beneficial in helping you to choose how to remedy this condition; when you are aware of the condition, you can take the necessary steps toward treating it.
It is a fact that some people seem to suffer from acne more often than others do, having said that it is possible that most people have suffered from it at one point in their life and have probably been afflicted by the unsightly, often embarrassing signs of the various types of acne. These can range from mild acne and be in the form of blackheads and whiteheads or could be the most severe type, cystic acne, which is a cyst near the skin’s surface with the bacteria lodged deep.
If we are to prevent or cure acne, we have to be able through acne awareness, to recognize the various types of acne and also what causes the condition to form. We also need to know what treatment works, as it may not work on all types, as in some cases, it is possible to aggravate the problem rather than helping to cure it. Typically acne will start as a small lesion or spot on the skin then as the bacteria develops under the skin it turns into a a blackhead or whitehead, which can be removed by keeping it very clean or in persistent situations, by squeezing.
A more persistent and inflammatory condition which is often referred as pimples, results in a raised bump on the skin of varying sizes, and often contains a pus material. Out of all he different types of acne cystic acne rates as the most severe; unfortunately this can easily be confused with a pimple. The major difference is that the pus contains bacteria which is embedded deep under the skin and they are painful to the touch. Fortunately they tend not to appear on the face, but are extremely common on the back and neck. The best way to prevent aggravating the cyst, is to wear light clothing which will allow the blemish to heal will help, the urge to squeeze them should be resisted as it usually results in intensifying the pain and pushing the bacteria deeper under the skin.
Acne Does Not Discriminate By Gender Or Age
It doesn’t matter whether you are old or young as with many types of acne there is little restriction by age or gender of who will suffer from it , it is usually associated with teenagers when hormonal changes are rapid and almost constant, however, acne has been known to return later in life. Sufferers have also been known to have acne into middle age for no apparent reason.
It is generally presumed that certain types of acne are the result of the appearance of abnormal levels of testosterone, which eventually results in the disappearance of the problem, as the sufferer grows older, however the condition can even persist as the person matures. Common causes of many types of acne include oily skin, the use of oil-based cosmetics and hormonal changes which could be due to a variety of reasons.
There are many types of acne medications available over-the-counter but without knowing the type of acne that is appearing, finding the best acne skin care product can be difficult.
As you can see, the problem of acne is not uncommon and there are steps that can be taken to
make your life a lost easier when dealing with it.
Arnold Hexden, reviews and writes articles on the subject of acne and and various other conditions check out his other articles at dazahealth.com dazahealth.com
Meditation And Relaxation – An Object Meditation Exercise
Object meditation is an extremely popular form of meditation, but it is also the one type of meditation that causes more trouble than any of the others and this trouble stems from the selection of the object used as the focus of your meditation.
Each meditation exercise that you perform will have a goal. You may, for example, be having trouble sleeping and decide to meditate before going to bed with the objective of falling asleep shortly after your head hits the pillow. Alternatively, you may decide to meditate before leaving home and heading off to work for a meeting with your boss who frightens the life out of you. In this case the object of your meditation might be to give you the strength and confidence to face this particular meeting.
In both cases you should try to pick an object that is associated with the goal of your meditation and so here you might choose something like a picture of waves lapping onto a tropical beach at sunset and an iron or steel rod.
So far so good. However, at this point, you also have to be very careful that the object which you choose doesn’t conjure up images that are likely to intrude into your meditation. This is especially true where the images that are likely to appear are negative in nature. For example, if your boyfriend dumped you during a beach party on a holiday to Hawaii then picturing a tropical beach at sunset is probably not a good idea when you are trying to relax in preparation for bed.
Think carefully about the object, real or imaginary, that you wish to use as the focus of your meditation and then try the following exercise.
Choose a comfortable pose and start your meditation exercise with a series of deep, relaxing breaths.
If your chosen object is in your line of sight, you can keep your eyes open but, if the object is being visualized, you should close your eyes and bring the object or scene into your mind’s eye.
Take a moment to observe your emotional reaction to the object, if any. If at this point thoughts or associations threaten to interfere with your meditation then simply acknowledge them and then brush them to one side.
Continue to return your concentration to the object itself and observe the image closely, noticing any changes in the object. Does it, for example, change size, orientation or color as you observe it? Let your imagination go to work at this point, but keep your focus on your chosen object.
As you continue your meditation notice how various changes to the object, which are being created within your imagination, make you feel.
Once you feel yourself calm and relaxed you are ready to end your meditation and, at this point, you should simply dismiss the object and return to concentrating on your breathing as you slowly bring the other objects around you back into your vision and regain an awareness of just where you are.
Finish by stretching slowly before getting up.
Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health-related publications discussing the problems of sleep and giving detailed advice on using such things as daily meditation to help in help-me-to-sleep.com” target=”_blank curing insomnia. For more information about help-me-to-sleep.com/meditation/” target=”_blank daily meditation please visit Help-Me-To-Sleep.com