Dealing with the Cold and Flu is an annoying process that nobody wants to deal with. They can really put a damper on your day to day routines as they force you to lock yourself away so that you can recover. It is simply a miserable experience with a lot of sneezing, coughing, and in the case of the flu more severe symptoms like an upset stomach and joint pain.

So when you catch one of these illnesses you obviously want to recover as fast as possible so you can get back on with your life. Both the cold and the flu are caused by viruses that get into your body, usually through the nose or mouth, and start stirring up trouble. Both illnesses share many of the same symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, sore throat, and congestion.

However they are not the same by a long shot. The flu takes things one step further by adding additional symptoms such as a high fever, chills, joint pain, an upset stomach and more. And if it does not go away or get treated it could lead to more serious problems such as pneumonia.

Your body is well equipped to fight off the viruses that cause both the cold and flu, but you still have to do your part and allow your immune system to fight to it's full capabilities. Eating the right kinds of foods such as fruits and vegetables allows your bodies immune system to remain strong and able to fight back. You also need to get plenty of rest so that your immune system has the energy needed to fight a war against the virus.

While your body is capable of fighting off the cold or the flu, sometimes the steps you take just are not enough, or maybe they simply do not act fast enough. In situations like those you need to look towards modern medicine for help.

When it comes to the common cold, there really are not a whole lot of options for medical treatments. There really are not any medicines designed to cure the cold or anything like that. The best you can really do is use decongestants and anti-histamines to fight off the symptoms while your body takes care of the cold itself.

Now, for the flu you have more options as the flu is often treated with anti-viral drugs that will help your body kill off the virus that is causing all the problems. You can often gets these drugs from your doctor. If you are not a big fan of using drugs, then you can go a similar route to the cold and just get something for the symptoms and allow your body to kill off the virus itself.

With the Cold and Flu there are a lot of things you can do to aid in your bodies recovery, but in the end it is mostly what your body is capable of doing. So even with all the advances in modern medical science, you should still rely on the tried and true method of just drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest.

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With the flu season ever approaching you will want to prepare yourself. The worst thing that can happen during the holiday season is to get bogged down with the flu. There is simply too much going on for you to be stuck at home sick. But what can be even worse is having your kids be the ones to catch the flu. Because then it you have to stay home and take care of them.

Sometimes Children and Flu vaccine do not mix, as there are often a lot of complaining to be had when you try to get them one. So all in all, your child getting the flu is not something you want to deal with. But there are some methods you can use to minimize the risk of them even getting sick.

1. Keep active. Exercise is a great way to boost the immune system, so having your kid remain active and stay in shape allows their immune system to run at peak capacity. Now exercise does not necessarily mean thirty minute workouts or going to the gym. Simply having them run around playing with friends is great exercise. But if they are going to be playing out in the snow make sure they are bundled up tight.

2. Fruits and vegetables. Another method for boosting your child's immune system is to feed them plenty of fruits and vegetables. These types of foods contain various vitamins and minerals needed for a strong immune system. So simply by changing up their diet you can spare yourself of trying to mix Children and Flu vaccine.

3. Rest. Getting plenty of rest is yet another major component of keeping your children healthy. While exercise is important, recharging after an action packed day is equally as important. If they do not get enough sleep, their body will not be as recharged as it should be and will not be able to fight off the flu as well as it should.

4. Keep their hands clean. Kids love running around and they love to get their hands on things. There are a lot of germs out there and while you do not have to be all OCD over it, you should make sure they wash their hands regularly to prevent them from picking up something particularly nasty. When germs invade their body, it is the immune system that fights them off, but if their immune system is busy fighting off the various small time germs they have picked up, it makes it easier for the flu to move in and take hold. So keeping their hands clean can go a long way towards preventing that.

5. Flu shot. Lastly, and probably the most dreaded preventative measure for any parent is the nightmarish flu shot. As I have said above, Children and Flu vaccine rarely mix well and there is often a lot of complaining to be had. But as painful as it might be, ultimately it is in their best interest. Simply getting a flu shot is probably the best method out there for protecting them against the flu.

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"Stress kills" is a common phrase that most people think of as a figure of speech, but recent discoveries show that stress can actually have a negative impact at the cellular level. We all have stress in our lives; our jobs, friends, families, hobbies and more are all screaming for our attention, and that's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The good news is that earning how to handle it can not only give you a happier life, but a longer one as well. With that in mind, here are some of the best ways to relieve stress.

Your mindset plays a major role in relieving stress. That explains why two people can experience the same situation in opposite ways. The one that responds negatively, and lets the situation make them upset doesn't have the right mindset. On the other hand, someone with a positive mindset may not seem upset at all. The positive person may even laugh about the situation, much to the other person's confusion.

How you frame a situation can make a big difference. You can think of this as giving a creative label to whatever is causing you stress. For example, if you were just fired, don't focus on it being a loss of income (which is an issue that needs to be addressed, but not obsessed over), think of it as having a whole new world of opportunity in front of you. What things would you really like to do now that you are no longer restrained by your job?

Put things into perspective. This is easier said than done when you are in the middle of stressful situation, but it can really help you to relax. The classic question to ask is "how much will this really matter twenty years from now?" It may be hard to do in the midst of a tough spot, but if you can do it, then you will realize that things usually aren't as bad as they seem. Being stuck in traffic is stressful, but does it really matter in the bigger scope of things?

Exercise puts your body under stress, but it's the good kind of stress. Furthermore, physical activity will help you to relieve stress. Of course you will get the best results if you engage in activities that you enjoy, but just about any exercise will produce positive health effects, including stress relief. Whether it's going on a leisurely walk, hitting the gym, or a night of dancing; exercise is a great way to feel better.

These are some of the best ways to relieve stress, but they are only the beginning. There are many other techniques out there, and any one of them could be just the thing you are looking for to get the stress monster under control. The key is to seek out the methods that work best for you, and then use them as often as you wish.

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This topic causes a lot of confusion and one of the reasons is that, up until fairly recently, the two were considered to be the same thing.

Before 1987, the term ADD was used to describe people who had a hard time concentrating, keeping still and focusing, among other symptoms. In that year, ADD was renamed as ADHD and this longer term was broken down into the following three categories:

1) Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive type

2) Predominantly Inattentive Type

3) Combined Type

The second category (Predominantly Innattentive Type) is what we now refer to as ADD. Its symptoms include concentration and listening problems, difficulty in following conversations, and losing, misplacing and/or forgetting things on a regular basis.

In Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD (which is what we now commonly refer to as ADHD), the individual may be chattery, restless, extremely impatient, fidgety all the time. He/She may also tend to interrupt when it is not appropriate and/or grab things from people (this refers more to children than to adults).

A person suffering from the combined type of ADHD will have symptoms from both categories.

So, one of the primary differences of ADD vs ADHD is the added component of hyperactivity in ADHD. The symptoms of ADD are more common in females and usually appear in children before the age of 7. Sometimes trying to figure out if the symptoms are really just a child's behavior may be difficult. A good rule of thumb to follow is. . .if these symptoms are always present on a consistent basis, ADHD could be the culprit.

ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder affecting both children and adults – it is not a psychiatric disorder. In children, this disorder can hinder functional abilities and carry over into adulthood if not treated properly. The treatment for this disorder ranges from various types of behavioral therapies, at-home "training", exercise, proper nutrition, and medications.

The causes of ADHD could be learning disabilities, earlier traumas, psychological problems, or even some medical conditions. Children with ADD (the inattentive type ADHD) are often overlooked as they don't really create any problems at home or at school. But when left untreated, they tend not to do well in school and get in trouble for not following directions.

Relationships can also prove difficult for children and adults with ADD. Kids and adults with ADHD (the hyper-impulsive type) are often regarded as "moody" and tend to overreact emotionally to certain situations. This can be seen as disrespectful or arrogant.

On the positive side, children with ADD and ADHD are frequently enthusiastic, incredibly creative and imaginative, with boundless energy. Many children with this disorder are marvelously talented, both intellectually and artistically. Therapy and medications can help these individuals to harness these positive aspects and put them to good use.

For more information on ADD vs ADHD and the facts about each, feel free to check out http://adhdstrategies.com.

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Many people think that cholesterol is bad for you… period. But that is inaccurate. The truth is that you need this substance and it is produced in your body. What is a problem is that age and cholesterol both tend to go up.

That means that as you age, you naturally tend to see your cholesterol levels go up. That trend is especially true with women.

Age and cholesterol can be a problem for men and women but post menopausal women might be at higher risk.

Prior to menopause, women tend to have lower LDL, or bad cholesterol levels then men of the same age, but after menopause women's LDL levels often go higher.

You have both good, HDL, and bad, LDL, cholesterol in your body. The trick is to keep the good cholesterol at high levels and the bad cholesterol at low levels.

HDL tends to act as a cleaner and will keep your arteries flushed out. That is why it is so important to keep your levels balanced.

No matter what your age, or gender, there are many things you can do to make sure you keep your cholesterol levels in balance and at a healthy level.

It isn't rocket science and it isn't new but it is important. You also need to talk to your doctor.

You need to find out what your current levels are so you know what the appropriate course of action will be.

Once you've talked to your doctor, you can also start implementing some of these tips:

1. Eat better. All you need to do is stop eating so many foods that are high fat. Things like beef, dairy and fried foods.

Now, don't think that means you have to give up every food you love, in many cases you may not need to. Sometimes, just cutting back a little bit can make a big difference.

Instead, start eating fewer servings of those bad for you things. You can cut back on the amount of times per week that you eat meat, for example.

Also, it isn't all just about cutting back on some foods, but also about adding others. There are some foods that will help you lower your bad and raise your good cholesterol levels.

Things like nuts, brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables and fish are some of the most common things you can substitute in your diet and start seeing results.

2. If you aren't currently getting some regular exercise, now is the time to start. Every time you move your body it can be good for you.

You don't need to go extreme or hardcore, and you should always check with your doctor first, but just get moving.

As you get stronger you should, and probably will want to, add more varied exercises to your routine.

Hey, we can't do anything about getting older. And as we age, we all know that some things will change. But, we aren't totally at the mercy of those extra years.

We do have things we can do to mitigate the effects on age and cholesterol levels and you can start right now…as soon as you see your doctor, of course.

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What is the collagen-acne scars relationship? Let's start by describing some of the acne forming process. Basically, as an acne cyst forms, the neck of the sebaceous gland opens up and gets filled with bacteria, cells and sebum that are unable to pass through to the skin's surface. Eventually this cyst explodes, projecting the matter into the dermis and, because it is recognized as a "foreign matter", it is attacked by white blood cells which fight off infection.

What most often follows is the loss of tissue as collagen is destroyed in the dermis. As these cells are eliminated, the cells above on the superficial level of the skin receive no support from below. And that is when that area of the skin collapses, resulting in a soft saucer-shaped depression (what many refer to as a pock mark) or jagged ice pick scar (which is deep and narrow). Unfortunately, this kind of scarring occurs often on the face and affects both men and women.

Another important fact to consider in the collagen-acne scars connection is that aging can affect your collagen levels and therefore, scar visibility. After you turn 40, 1% of your dermal collagen is lost annually. This extra loss of collagen together with reduced skin tone as you age can make scars become a lot more apparent.

So, those are some of the ways that collagen is related to acne and scarring. Collagen is also used in the treatment of acne scars. Acne scars are often the result of long-term infection and inflammation of the skin's glands. This condition results in an uneven skin surface with peaks and valleys. There are various treatments for acne scars, and filler injections, such as collagen, could be the most sensible one for you. Fillers help to raise the valleys so that there is less of an indentation around the peaks. This leads to the appearance of a smoother skin surface.

Collagen fillers are just one type of fillers. Others include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapetite, and polymethylmethacrylate beads. While collagen fillers usually last from 3 to 6 months, other types can last from 6 months and longer – with some even being permanent. Which type you can use depends on your skin and your scars. If you have just a few acne scars and they are relatively shallow, collagen might be a good fit. There's a way to quickly evaluate if this is an option for you (although of course you will talk to a professional regarding treatment possibilities)–stretch the scarred area. If it flattens out when you stretch it, collagen is a worthwhile consideration. Many people prefer to go with the collagen choice because it is less expensive than other options.

However, if you have deep ice pick scars, you would probably want to go with another procedure like chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, punch grafting and others.

The above information about collagen-acne scars does not substitute medical advice given by a health professional.

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How do you go about getting ADHD testing for your child or yourself? Quite a bit of information must be collected in order for a medical professional to make the official diagnosis of ADHD. Some data is obtained through clinical interviews. In these interviews, you will be asked to complete behavior checklists or questionnaires for yourself or your child to give the professional more detailed information about the problematic behaviors. Obviously, it's important that you be as honest and objective as possible when filling out the forms so that a correct diagnosis can be made.

Further evaluations through observation and psychological and educational testing may then be performed. If your child is being evaluated, you and his teachers (or other important adults who observe your child's behavior in various settings) may be interviewed. A physical exam might also be suggested – this can be used to rule out any medical causes for the possible symptoms of ADHD. A family medical history is also helpful.

Here are a few questions you might want to bring up at the ADHD testing process:

1) Are there other medical or psychological conditions that may be the cause of what appear to be ADHD symptoms?

2) Could something else altogether be causing these symptoms or behavior problems?

3) Are there any environmental or situational factors that may make the symptoms worse or better?

4) Are learning disabilities a possibility?

More questions will probably come up as well. It's very important to ask any questions that educate both you and the doctor about what may be going on to cause the problematic behaviors. If and when a diagnosis of ADHD is made, you will most probably want to ask a bunch of additional questions regarding treatment options, parent education, and family support.

What kind of information should you have ready and available for the health care provider during the ADHD Evaluation?

It's a good idea to bring copies of any official records you may have such as medical, psychological and school/employment records. Also bring copies of any previous evaluations. Be prepared to give detailed developmental and social histories including pregnancy and birth history if at all possible. You'll want to have information available about any other professionals who were involved previously and that may have suggested that testing be done – this could include counselors, social workers, therapists, physicians, pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and teachers.

Most health care providers will actually send you a questionnaire to complete before the appointment so that you are ready to present them as soon as you arrive. Make sure to mark down any questions or comments that you have about particular questions, especially if there was some reason that you felt you couldn't answer them accurately.

When your child is the one in question for ADHD, make sure that you partake in a good interview. It's absolutely crucial that somebody sits down with you, as parents and spends at least 45 minutes to an hour with them.

ADHD testing should be involved and take a bit of time – it's extremely important to be able to get the correct results from these evaluations in order to come up with accurate solutions.

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The interest in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) tends to focus mainly on children, which makes information about adult Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms a little bit harder to find.

Although ADD is definitely a hot health concern in today's society, the disorder was not much heard of when the adult of today was a child decades ago. While many people are now worried about whether their child has ADD or ADHD, we are also realizing that many adults with the disorder have not been examined or diagnosed and have just tried coping with what they believed to be just undesirable personality traits.

How are adults being diagnosed today Do not be surprised to learn that many are now diagnosing themselves, after having learned the symptoms to look for in their children. As you review the list of symptoms, the parent often sees similarities in their own present or past behavior.

The challenges of adult ADD symptoms are similar to those of a child's, although they may be manifested a bit differently. Having trouble sticking to one task or staying organized and often procrastinates, just as a child with ADD does. The ADD adult might have a hard time maintaining relationships and controlling their moods, just like an ADD or ADHD child. The difference between the ADD adult and the ADD child is that the asult typically has more sophisticated coping mechanisms than the child.

Below is a self-test, keep in mind that this is not diagnostic. It is only a source of understanding for the adult trying to determine if he/she has ADD / ADHD.

If more than 10 of the following points fits what you experience on a constant basis, then it is possible that you do have ADD:

– "Thin-skinned" or touchy – with quick or exaggerated responses to real or imagined "insults"
– Frequent mood swings
– Procrastination
– Tendency toward exaggerated outbursts
– Tendency to worry needlessly and endlessly
– Tendency toward being argumentative
– Often overwhelmed by tasks of normal daily living
– An internal sense of anxiety
– Lack of attention to detail
– Impulsive job switches
– Many traffic violations
– Need for high stimulation activities all the time
– Spending way too much time at work to do what others do easily
– Difficulty in keeping an organized work/home environment
– Impulsive spending habits
– Frequent distractions during sex
– Frequently misplace/forget/lose the car keys, purse or wallet or other day-to-day items
– Family history of ADD, mood disorders, learning problems, or substance abuse problems
– Trouble following the proper channels or instructions
– An attitude of "read the directions when all else fails"
– Always late or in a hurry
– Bad financial management and frequent late bills
– Inconsistent work performance
– Chronic sense of underachievement
– Difficulty sustaining friendships or intimate relationships
– Transposing numbers, letters, words
– Addictive personality

Adult ADD symptoms can be treated naturally without medications by controlling diet and exercise. It is always best to consult with your physician with any issues you may be experiencing to get a professional opinion.

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Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), is a hot topic when it comes to kids' health these days. Because ADD symptoms in children can appear to just be normal "kidlike" behavior and because they differ from one child to the next, the disorder is sometimes hard to pin down. ADD is usually diagnosed in early childhood, before seven years of age, and is seen in children of six to eleven years old.

The three major symptoms which could trigger you to have your child checked out for ADD are inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity. These symptoms are then divided into two categories of behavior: inattentive behavior and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. Children can show symptoms from just one category or from both. Kids with ADD take up a lot of physical activity.

Examples of symptoms used to define ADD in children who fall unter the "inattentive behavior" category:

1. They have a hard time paying attention to detail

2. Maintaining attention in studies and activities is difficult or impossible

3. They rarely follow instructions given by parents and children.

4. They make careless mistakes in homework or often avoid schoolwork altogether.

5. They tend to forget daily activities

6. They tend to forget/lose things like books, pencils, etc.

7. They find it difficult to organize daily tasks and activities.

8. They are easily distracted by irrelevant sounds and sights.

9. They repeatedly bounce from one activity to the next, forgetting the previous one altogether in the process. This obviously creates problems for teachers and parents.

10. However, they are able to give undivided attention to the activities of their choice so there is a degree of choice in their behavior.

Following are the ADD symptoms which fall under the hyperactive/impulsive category:

1) They are often restless and fidget a lot. They are constantly in motion, even when sitting down.

2) They talk excessively and, when asked a question, blurt out the answer before the question has been asked.

3)They often intrude in other people's activities.

ADD symptoms not only differ from child to child but also (sometimes greatly) from girls to boys. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADD, though it's not yet understood why and there is a bit of controversy surrounding this difference. While girls often daydream and generally just find it difficult to pay attention in classroom, boys suffering from ADD are more likely to be on the hyperactive side.

Boys are less likely to listen to teachers and elders. It's important to note that not all the children who are hyperactive and inattentive in school or at home suffer from ADD. If the above-mentioned symptoms of ADD are pretty constant for more than six months, it's probably a good idea to let your doctor know. ADD symptoms in children are constantly being researched and studied in order to develop suitable therapy and treatments.

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