Tanning Bed Safety – No Rules Of Any Kind Of Tanning

No matter how much information we see about the possible dangers of too much time in the sun, there are those people who love the way they look with a tan. Some of them will even use artificial light during the off season to keep that golden glow all year long. At the minimum, follow some simple tanning bed safety guidelines if you are going to go to a tanning parlor.

We have known for many years that too much exposure to the sun can have a long term detrimental effect on our overall health and the health of our skin. While the damage may not show up for decades we can develop skin cancer and premature aging to name just two.

In order to decrease these risks in the future use these tanning bed safety rules (as well as any rules that the individual tanning parlor may have in place):

1. Limit the amount of time you spend in a bed when you are first starting out. A good salon will make it part of their policy to limit how much time you can spend when you first start out.

They will force you to increase your time incrementally over a few weeks. It may be frustrating to be able to go for only two or three minutes at a time when first starting but it is the safest way to go.

While all exposure to UV rays can be damaging to your skin, and could lead to future skin cancer, the more often you burn your skin the more likely you are for long term damage.

Avoiding getting burned is one of the best ways to make the whole process "safer".

2. Make sure you use the eye protection provided (or bring your own). Also, keep your eyes closed. The eye protection is only your first line of defense, your eye lids are your second line of defense. Use both.

Your skin is not the only thing that is vulnerable to too many UV rays. Your eyes are too. If you don't protect them you may find that skin cancer is the least of your concerns.

3. Allow a minimum of 24 hours between tanning sessions. Again, a well run tanning parlor will make that part of their rules and won't let you tan more frequently.

This may seem unnecessary but your skin can actually keep tanning for a long time even after you are out of the sun. Until you know how much exposure you really got and how your skin will react you need to allow yourself plenty of time in between visits.

4. Wear sunscreen even in the tanning booth. I know this may seem counter intuitive, but you can still get a tan even while wearing sunscreen, you are just cutting down the amount of these harmful rays that are making it through to your skin and thus minimizing the damage.

5. Make sure the beds are kept clean and sanitary. You don't want to get more than a tan when you visit your local tanning parlor.

Tanning bed safety guidelines like these are the best way to keep yourself as safe as possible when doing something that isn't that safe. Don't compound your risk, follow these rules.


 

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Temporary Hair Color – Don’t Commit – It Doesn’t Have To Be Permanent

Sometimes we don't want to "commit" to a permanent new hair color and for those of us temporary hair color is a great option.

There are many reasons we might use temporary hair color. Sometimes we just have a social event that we want to channel our inner rebel for. Others we want to add a little color but we are afraid we won't like it and don't want to make full time commitment.

There are several types of color that can be added and will wash out, as well as the exact way you apply this type of hair color as well as how long it will generally stay in your hair.

Of course, your exact hair color when you start as well as the texture of your hair, will determine how long it is likely to stay in your hair.

Here are a few options:

1. Wash in type of hair color. These can literally be washed into your hair when you are in the shower. They usually last for a few weeks. You can find various colors available and since it is so easy to apply you don't have to worry about messing it up.

The downside to this type of hair color is that it might be more difficult to only add it in specific areas of your hair. So, if you just wanted to add highlights rather than doing your whole head of hair, it might be more challenging with this type of hair color.

2. Gel. This adds hair color to your hair and it is easier to control just what part of your head gets the color and which part does not. For that reason, gel is the perfect option if you only want to add some highlights and you aren't interested in doing all parts of you hair.

This type too, tends to wash out in anywhere from one or two shampoos to one or two weeks. Read the label carefully and you will likely get an idea of how long it is likely to stay.

3. Sprays. This too can allow you to only add color to one part of your hair, though it will be more difficult than using the gel to add highlights since the spray can go pretty much anywhere and it will be hard to control.

4. Another thing to keep in mind when trying to find a good temporary color is that one of the biggest advantages for these types of hair colors is that they may be less toxic.

All the more reason to carefully look over the label before you buy it. Also consider how long the product will remain in your hair. If you do want something for just a few days, focus on a product that will allow you to wash it out in one or two washings.

Today, we have a lot more options when it comes to "spicing up" our looks. We are no longer stuck with the idea of having to grow old gracefully, or even boringly. We can add virtually any color we want for pretty much any time frame we want.

Have fun with the many options of temporary hair color. You pick the color and how long you want it in your hair. Isn't it nice to have options?


 

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Stress Reduction Techniques: Reduce Chronic Stress And Improve Your Health

If you are suffering from chronic stress there is no need to feel bad. Modern life means that everybody needs stress reduction techniques.

Research has shown that practicing stress reduction techniques can improve our health in many ways. Chronic stress – that is, constant or recurring exposure to stressful situations, even at a low level – has been found to contribute to health issues from heart attacks and digestive disorders to rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer.

So let's look at some simple chronic stress reduction techniques now.

1. Relax!

It sounds easy and probably people are saying it to you all of the time, but how do you actually do it? The answer is to take yourself to a quiet place where you can be alone for a few minutes. Focus on your breathing, exhaling fully to a count of ten. Then mentally travel through the body contracting and relaxing each muscle in turn, from the face to the toes or vice versa.

If you can be lying down while you do this, great. Maybe you even have time to take a nap after. If not, it can be done seated in your office cubicle or on a bench in the park, or in a limited way, even standing.

2. Exercise

Regular exercise is one of the best stress reduction techniques that you can adopt. It strikes a double blow against stress, working off the adrenaline that is produced by the stress response and improving our general health and resistance to the kind of diseases that chronic stress can cause or exacerbate. The benefits can even spiral upward because feeling a little fitter and better about our lives makes us less likely to suffer from the effects of stress.

So think of something that you enjoy doing and do it at least three times a week. Even if it is just a 20-minute walk, the important point is to get your body moving, preferably in a relaxing atmosphere. The park works better than the gym for many people, when your focus is on stress reduction techniques rather than muscle tone (although of course you can work on that too!)

3. Surround yourself with affection

Affectionate relationships and soothing physical contact with other living beings can have a hugely beneficial effect on stress levels. If you are somebody who does not often kiss or hug your family and friends, consider taking steps toward changing that.

If you live alone, consider getting a pet. A dog is probably the most affectionate pet that you can imagine, and you will also have to take it for walks, so that takes care of your exercise requirement too. But if you can't have a dog for any reason, consider a cat, or even a small caged animal like a hamster. Whatever you choose, be sure to spend plenty of time relaxing and playing with your pet. Just stroking an animal has been shown to be one of the most effective stress reduction techniques.

But you can still do more. Have photos of people you love around you, and smile at them often. You can do this at home and at work. You can also keep a photo in your purse or wallet where you will see it each time you go to take out your credit card. Don't forget to smile at the photo every time, because smiling and laughter are also great stress reduction techniques.


 

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What Physiotherapy Has to Do with Cardiac Surgery

One may feel fatigued and sore after cardiac surgery; it is only natural. On the other hand, it seems altogether strange to think of embarking on a course of physiotherapy afterwards instead of just resting. Yet, that is just what is recommended.

Types of cardiac surgery include bypass surgeries, angioplasty, stents, heart valve replacements, and even heart transplants. Patients having all of these surgeries can benefit from physiotherapy. Patients who have other cardiac problems can use the help too; they include victims of heart attacks, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, chest pain, and cardiomyopathy.

Physiotherapy will usually begin within a couple of weeks of cardiac surgery, if not sooner. The first step is for nurses or doctors to administer a stress test to determine how much exercise one can handle. This involves walking on a treadmill or riding on a stationary bike while having one's vital signs monitored.

When the data is gathered and analyzed, a program of physical therapy will be put into place. For safety's sake, it is often the routine to bring cardiac surgery patients into the hospital or an outpatient clinic for their exercise at first.

Under the watchful eyes of nurses and physiotherapy personnel, cardiac surgery patients will be looked after as they perform their exercises. This way the professionals will be alerted if the cardiac surgery patient is having troublesome symptoms. The exercises done are cardiovascular exercises like walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike.

After the initial period of the monitored physiotherapy has passed, cardiac surgery patients will be sent to do their exercising at home. Before they go, though, they will have been taught warm-up and stretching exercises, and when to stop. Generally, they should exercise three to five times a week unless they are having problems.

Swimming is another form of exercise that is especially good for cardiac surgery patients. It is a cardiovascular exercise that is not hard on the joints, so it will often be kept up longer. The only thing to remember is that all wounds must be completely healed first.

Physiotherapy for cardiac surgery patients is often not carried out by physiotherapy staff. Nurses in hospitals and clinics who are trained to deal with these areas of rehabilitation for cardiac surgery will do the work. However, physiotherapists sometimes help, and the principles are the same.

The physiotherapist will instruct the patient about what activities are acceptable in the weeks and months after surgery. During the first six weeks, there will only be a few activities allowed, such as light housekeeping or going to movies, for example. From then until the third month, more activities will be added. You may be able to return to work, at least part-time, you may be able to drive. After this time, your physiotherapist will work with you to ease you back into all your old activities.

If a patient has cardiac surgery and then does nothing to regain strength, that patient will soon weaken. Physiotherapy offers a means to stay in shape, or get into shape. It lends more purpose to the cardiac surgery by making the patient much healthier than before the surgery ever took place.


 

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Issues About Warts

Warts can be an aggravation; warts can be deadly. There are a number of issues surrounding this topic. All result in the common sense that preventing warts is the best method of dealing with them, and that if you do experience an outbreak it should be treated as promptly and thoroughly as possible. If warts reoccur, as they often do, that too should be addressed and dealt with.

Although it is far from being a minor consideration, on the lesser end of the scale is the fact that warts are an annoyance. For anyone who experiences an outbreak of warts, they can range from embarrassment to social stigma. For young people especially, having visible warts on the face, hands, feet, or other parts of the body can result in ridicule from one's peers. Warts are unsightly. That point in itself is a good reason to try to avoid acquiring them, or to have them promptly treated if they do occur. Adults should not act as if a child's or teenager's warts are "no big deal," for the distress they cause is very real.

Another factor about the serious nature of warts is that they are contagious. If a person has warts, it is unfair and irresponsible to put other people in the position of becoming infected. This irresponsibility shows when someone who has warts freely shares infected towels, washcloths, other clothing items, and especially shoes.

It is very unfair to not be concerned if the virus which causes warts is transmitted to other people. This point also holds true for those who knowingly have this contagious problem yet willingly pass it on to other people by such means as using public swimming areas, showers, locker rooms, etc., without taking proper precautions as wearing sandals or some other type of protective item which can guard against it being transmitted. People who do not have warts are then in the position of having to safeguard themselves against the risk of infection.

By far the worst and most serious issue about warts is irresponsibility with physical and sexual contact which can transmit genital warts. As this form of warts is considered to be a sexually-transmitted disease, directly linked to causing cancer, one's personal conduct plays the largest role in the extent of one's risk factors. Simply not engaging in a promiscuous lifestyle with multiple partners significantly reduces one's risk of acquiring this form of warts.

As is evidenced by debates in recent news, this subject has become more a political issue than a medical issue. It would appear to be more common sense to safeguard children's health by discouraging children against sexual activity instead of providing them with a vaccine which will make unrestricted sexual activity safer. Many who disagree with this viewpoint, however, consider it to be a matter of "forcing values" onto children. Not taking common sense into consideration has already led a number of youngsters to die of complications from this vaccine, primarily blood clots.


 

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Organic Night Anti-Aging Cream – Help With Reducing Wrinkles

The battle against aging is often difficult and tedious. It takes a lot of work to erase the ravages of time, but there are effective products that make winning the battle much easier. One product that has been getting a lot of positive attention lately is organic night anti-aging cream.

There is no denying that aging is a natural process, but that doesn't mean you have to sit idly by as it takes its toll on your appearance. Just as there are things you can do to speed up the aging process (smoking, poor diet, engaging in risky behavior), so too are there things that you can do to slow the aging process down. Organic night anti-aging cream is one of those things.

Organic anti-aging cream slows down the aging process of the skin, and it also does a lot to reverse some of the damage that has already been caused. A further benefit is that it doesn't contain synthetic or chemical ingredients like parabens, which are a common ingredient in other creams.

As a rule, your skin will absorb, to some degree, whatever touches it and this includes topical skin care products. Furthermore, your skin loses moisture throughout the day, making it drier at night, and more readily able to absorb things. Another reason why nighttime products work so well is that they can sit and do their job for several uninterrupted hours.

The labeling laws for the use of the word 'organic' vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You most likely also have your personal definition of the word, but that may or may not match with a particular manufacturer's use of the word. There are many different certifying agencies for organic products, and some of them use the term loosely. You will have to do a bit of investigating to make sure that any product's claims match your expectations.

People who have tried organic night anti-aging cream have loved it! The reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Good reviews are nice, but what really counts is how well the cream works. Users of the cream have found that it gives them smoother, younger looking skin, and that's good news for you. While we are talking about using a product at night, you need to know that you won't always see results overnight. You need to follow the instructions carefully, and then you will start to notice an improvement after a few days.

How does an organic anti-aging cream compare to one with chemical ingredients? The answer is that it compares very well. Of the studies that have been done so far, most of them show organics to be as good as the synthetics, and in some cases the organics produced better results. However, none of that really matters because you are unique. The only way to see how good an organic night anti-aging cream will work for you is to try it for yourself.


 

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Stress In The Workplace: What Causes It And How To Handle It

Stress in the workplace is one of the most common causes of all types of health problems in our society. Millions of dollars are lost in revenue due to stress-related sickness absence. So what causes stress in the workplace and what can you do if you are suffering from it?

Identifying the causes of stress in the workplace is the first step. Make a list of all of the things that cause you stress at work and identify which are the most stressful for you. This might not be what other people would expect. For example, we generally think of work pressures as being imposed from above, but it is possible that a difficult relationship with a subordinate could be causing you more stress than your boss.

Then consider ways to reduce that stress, starting with the most stressful thing first. That may sound counterintuitive but the longer you put something off, the more stressful it becomes.

There are three main categories of stress at work:

1. Stress caused by overwork

Stress that is caused by pressure of work can be minimized by good time management. This may sound like a clich but it does work. Divide up your day into sessions where you can concentrate on different things. Split tasks up into steps and schedule the different steps.

Tackle the important, difficult or unpleasant tasks early in the day, when your energy and ability to concentrate are at their peak. This will also stop them hanging over you all day, adding to your stress.

Take one task at a time and really give it your attention, knowing that your other tasks are not neglected but will be covered effectively when their turn comes.

If you have a lot of deadlines, take a little time to think about how you handle them. The stress of having a deadline tends to improve our performance so it is not necessarily a great idea to try to do everything ahead of time. You may just end up spending more time on it without achieving such a good result. However, there probably are some other tasks that you could schedule earlier to free up time around the deadline.

2. Stress caused by other people

Stress in the workplace that is caused by relationships can be handled in a number of ways. First, you may need to let go of a desire to control the person or your relationship with them. Everybody doesn't have to love you. You can still work effectively with somebody even if neither they nor you have any wish to become best friends.

Second, assertiveness training can help, especially if you are feeling bullied or manipulated, or if you have a tendency to lose your temper and be aggressive to others. Assertiveness will teach you to be clear about what you want and negotiate your way to getting more of it without resorting to aggression.

3. Stress caused by the environment

Environmental factors can have a major effect on stress in the workplace and often, we are not aware of them. Once identified, it is usually possible to fix them or protect ourselves from them. Check this list and consider which of them may apply to you:

– a workplace that is unsafe, noisy, smelly or dirty
– unreliable equipment
– long hours spent in the same physical position, especially at a computer or driving
– excessive heat or cold.

Anxiety about job security can also be a major contributor to stress, although it is more of a life issue than a workplace issue. If you are suffering from this, the best thing that you can do is to improve your confidence in your work performance by working smarter, not harder. This can be achieved by combining all of the techniques that we have mentioned to reduce stress in the workplace.


 

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New Hair Products – From Bald To Color

What new hair products are coming on the market this year? Are there any big changes or new products that you just can't live without?

There are many trends that are coming up, not just new hair products but trends as well. As I'm sure you've seen over the past several years one very prominent trend is that balding men, and even those that aren't balding, are shaving their heads.

Today, for many men, bald is beautiful. This one trend has really taken the pressure off a lot of guys. You can't do much (well, you can't really do anything) about your genetics so if you are predisposed to losing your hair, you are probably ecstatic about this particular trend.

Another trend that seems to be growing in popularity is hair color. I know, you're probably saying to yourself that hair coloring has been around for a long time. Even the "unnatural" colors have been very popular for a long time.

What is a little new though is the age of the women who are adding the more "funky" colors to their hair.

It's not uncommon to see a younger person, man or woman, to have some sort of hair color other than blonde, brunette and redhead.

Today, we see older women going with the blues and purples and greens too. I personally know two women who have added an unusual color to their hair. These are middle age, suburban housewives who have chosen to add some color to their hair.

One has added blue and green and the other has added green. It's different, that's for sure, but it is fun and both of them really enjoy the way it looks.

It's kind of nice that even an older woman can still explore and experiment with her look. Today we are far less restricted by overly rigid societal pressure… and I think that is good.

Another very important change in hair care is that more and more products are touting all natural in their hair care products.

Today, we are more concerned with what we put on our hair because we realize that it can still end up in our bodies. The pressure to clean up and focus more on only all natural products when creating a new hair care product is becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Years ago, most top brands got a lot of flack for testing their new products on animals. It has become the norm to not test on animals which is a great move forward but today that is not enough.

Today, the top brands have to also offer all natural versions of their products, or at the minimum, less potentially toxic ingredients in their products.


 

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What Is Physiotherapy?

If you have a musculo-skeletal problem or injury, you might be given a referral to a physiotherapy clinic. If you have gone to one before, you know what to expect. If you are new to this service, you might ask, what is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is also known as physical therapy. That answers the question of what is physiotherapy for many people. However, if you have not had any dealings with this form of treatment, you need to know more.

A type of health care, physiotherapy concerns itself with providing physical healing methods for many different kinds of injuries and illnesses. Some of these techniques are done in a hands-on manner, by using massage or manipulation of the musculo-skeletal system. Knowing what is physiotherapy is crucial to getting this kind of help.

Education is a part of what is physiotherapy. A physiotherapist will teach a patient how to care for their injuries. He will teach exercises to do at home so that therapy can continue beyond the walls of the clinic or hospital. He will teach ways to overcome difficulties that cannot be cured.

Another part of what is physiotherapy is rehabilitation. Patients have injuries from sports, car accidents, or assault. These injuries can be treated through physiotherapy. Given the right treatments and an injury that will respond to treatment, much progress can be made. Full functioning may be regained. It may even be possible for them to go back to work rather than being laid up at home.

An answer to what is physiotherapy is what kinds of treatments physiotherapists use. Heat, ice, and ultrasound are used to relieve pain and stiffness. Massage, chiropractic, and other hands-on methods are important. All these methods tend to promote better health, both physical and psychological.

Equipment for helping patients regain their strength and mobility are a part of what is physiotherapy. This equipment may allow a person who is partially paralyzed to get the most exercise possible. This is crucial in maintaining the integrity of their spines and muscles.

What is physiotherapy? It is a carefully planned and executed treatment strategy. It is based upon assessments of the conditions that patients suffer. If all goes well, the patient will return to their original condition. If this is not possible, the goal is for the patient to reach a goal that is the best movement and lack of pain that is possible.

People who are referred to a clinic may ask, what is physiotherapy? However, they will be given quick answers to this question. After an initial evaluation, they will be scheduled for treatments like ultrasound or acupuncture. They will be assigned exercises to do at home. A good physiotherapist will begin treatment right away.

People, who ask what is physiotherapy, often do not consider the preventative side of the field. It is a part of the work of practitioners of physiotherapy to encourage exercises and postures that will help patients avoid physical injuries and conditions requiring their services. An excellent physiotherapist will have fewer return patients, but the flow of people needing physiotherapy continues.


 

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Is It A Wart Or Is It Something Else?

The outermost layer of the skin is called the epidermis. As the skin covers all parts of the body, warts can be found virtually anywhere on the body. Unfortunately, there are also a number of other types of growths which can appear on the skin in a similar manner. In order to affect the best means of treatment, it is important to determine whether a particular growth is a wart or whether it is something else. Being able to treat a growth for what it is obviously is relevant in selecting the best treatment; but another important factor is that some types of growths can be much more dangerous than most common warts. In taking both of these points into consideration, the earliest possible diagnosis is essential.

A wart is a benign tumor. As the word "tumor" can lead people to scurry off to their doctors, presenting it in this manner can be helpful. The reason for this is that many common warts, benign in themselves, can easily be confused with the malignant growths that are skin cancers. If you have a wart, or a cluster of them, do not be too hasty to dismiss them as harmless. There is a possibility that it could be a skin cancer, and many types of skin cancer are deadly. The significant rate of deaths from skin cancer is usually attributed to the fact that the cancer is not diagnosed and treated in time, and spreads quite rapidly.

For everyone in general, but most especially people who have had a lot of exposure to the sun, any new growth on the skin should be treated as suspicious and checked by a physician as soon as possible. You may indeed have nothing more than an annoying wart, but prompt medical attention to determine this is very important. Most skin cancers are usually one-hundred-percent curable if they are diagnosed and treated in time.

Another growth on the skin which is frequently mistaken for a wart is the common callous. A callous is a hardening of the skin, usually rough to the touch. Callouses occur in areas where there is the most pressure or friction to the skin, such as the heels of the feet, or the areas of the fingers if the person does a lot of writing or other similar detailed work.

Clavi commonly known as corns are smaller, more localized forms of callouses. They are most common on the feet, especially when one wears improperly-fitting shoes. They can bear a striking resemblance to warts, but they are not contagious to other people and will not spread to other parts of the body.

All types of warts are a problem to those who suffer from them, and can be as much of a problem to anyone who acquires warts from another person or infected surfaces. But in the interest of your health, before making a decision about the best treatment for your warts, it is a very good idea to first know for certain that it is indeed a wart and not any of the other types of growths that can appear on your skin. Although the black spot of the blood supply to a wart is a sign that that's what it is, for the sake of your own peace of mind it is best that you not try to diagnose it yourself. A physician is the most competent judge as whether a growth is a wart, or whether it is something else.


 

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