5 Ways to Fight Asthma in your Home

 

One of the most common diseases in first-world countries with symptoms often beginning in early childhood, asthma is a foe to be respected but not to be feared. This article is useful for those who have asthma and those who are reading to prevent it. Since it attacks children and is generally developed in our homes, there are a few things you need to know about asthma.
Asthma is a prevalent inflammatory disease of the airways that was known as long ago as ancient China and Egypt. Symptoms come in episodes distinctive for asthma and most commonly feature coughing, shortness of breath and overall tightness in the chest area. Asthma is a serious disease if left untreated and can lead to death.
If you or anyone you know have these symptoms, please contact your GP as soon as possible.
Because of the rising air pollution and lowered allergens resistances, asthma is on the rise especially in the USA and other developed countries. In 2014, around 24,000,000 people had asthma in the USA alone. Furthermore, the number of asthma diagnoses has increased by almost 60,000,000 cases in the period between 1990 and 2013 along with asthma being the underlying cause for around 490,000 deaths worldwide.
As you all probably know, asthma does not have a cure, but the symptoms can be dealt with, and it can be somewhat prevented. For those that do have asthma, it is imperative to use the inhaler correctly and to take any prescriptions your physician has prescribed for you regularly.
However, the causes of asthma are both genetic and environmental meaning that are ways to improve the quality of life for those who have asthma as well as a chance to prevent it from occurring in our children. I have been battling with asthma almost my entire life, and I think it is safe to say that the key is to improve the air in your home, the overall cleanliness and to avoid known allergens.
Try the following tips to improve the air in your home:

 

1. Get rid of the dust

Dust makes breathing difficult even for a healthy person so getting rid of it should be your first step. I am not implying that you should develop an overprotective cleaning disorder or that you will ever be able to clean all the dust. For visible results try to vacuum and dust your home as often as you feel it should be done but no less than once a week.
Vacuuming is especially important if your floors are covered with rugs or carpets. Dust in its own right is not as dangerous as the dust mites, tiny insects that primarily live in the dust. They are known to be found in bed sheets and pillow casings so you wash them on the highest temperature settings every few weeks. In kid’s rooms, try to have as few as stuffed animals as possible as they collect dust quite rapidly. A strong and quality vacuum cleaner is an absolute necessity for asthma patients; here’s a guide to best vacuum cleaners for your home.

2. Air conditioning

Air filtering is one of the most important factors you need to consider when dealing with asthma. Air conditioning units filter the air as a part of their basic operational methods. This is something that is clearly visible if you have ever washed the filters on your AC unit. The dark colors mainly come from dust particles and nicotine smoke.
Be careful, however, with overcooling a room in the summer. Extreme changes in the temperature are known catalysts for asthma attacks. Also, use the kitchen and bathroom exhaust systems because odors such as those from cleaners and other chemicals are an asthma hazard. Proper maintenance of all venting units in your home is a must and probably best left to be done by a professional.

3. Be careful with opened windows

Even though your instinct tells you that keeping an open window will increase the flow of air, the truth is that you are best off keeping your windows shut and relying solely on the AC unit. As I have mentioned earlier, the main triggers for asthma are air pollution and known allergens, such as pollen. Keeping the windows open is basically inviting the allergens in your home. Regularly check the air quality index, as it will tell you how likely your allergies are about to be triggered.
Since asthma can be purely genetic, some people do not suffer from pollen allergies and in that case it is advisable to leave a window open. The nights, being naturally colder, are an excellent time to keep an open window since a decreased temperature in the bedroom means there is a higher chance of getting a good night sleep. I have had some pretty severe night-time asthma attacks and have realized that if I keep the bedroom temperature at around 16-18C, I can mainly prevent them (asthma is a subjective disease, and this might not work for you).

4. Humidity

With winter approaching, humidity becomes an issue in most homes. Cold air does not sustain humidity very well, and after warming up a room, the humidity drops as low as 10%. Dry air is quite hazardous for the respiratory system, especially one that is already battling with asthma. The best choice of action is to use a humidifier, preferably one with a monitoring system that tells you the exact level of humidity in a room.
On the other hand, too much humidity creates an even bigger problem for those who have asthma. Too much humidity creates a very habitable place for mold, a known allergen and a cause of asthma. In damp areas, such as basements, I recommend using a dehumidifier, as well as getting rid of any existing mold. For the optimum settings, humidity should be kept at around 30% to 50% (here is where the humidity monitoring system comes in handy).

5. Avoid any kind of smoke

If you have asthma, smoking  is out of the question, but passive smoking can be as equally as dangerous. If you have asthma or someone else has it in your household, try to throw out the nicotine smoke completely. Not only will it make for a much better environment for the asthma patient but it also might convince the smoker to stop.
Furthermore, any kind of smoke is dangerous when you have asthma. This means that if you have the option of choosing, you should avoid heating your house with wood or coal stoves and furnaces. The carbon monoxide that is being produced from the exhaust pipe is not only lethal in high doses but very unpleasant coupled with asthma even in small doses.

Living with asthma

I know that living with asthma doesn’t seem very fair, and you probably feel excluded from normal life activities, but it’s really not the end of the world. If you are careful and you follow your physician’s instructions, your attacks could become very rare. Try to live your life as healthy as possible and your friends and family, whom you should definitely inform, are the only ones that are going to know you have asthma.
Do not let asthma run your life, feel free to enjoy some recreational sports, try a walk in the park (outside of the pollen season, of course) and breathe freely as if you own the entire world.
Featured photo credit: www.sbs.com.au via sbs.com.au

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5 Signs You’re Drinking A Little Too Much

Photo credit lifehack.org

A glass of wine with dinner, just one more beer for the road, a misty memory of the evening before. How do you know if the amount you are drinking is starting to get out of control?
Here are the five key signs that you are drinking to excess.

1. I need a drink…

You can’t say no to a drink, you crave alcohol and cannot wait for that 6 o’clock glass of wine or bottle of beer.
There is a point when having a social drink is not enough, you just need to have a drink. What started as a way to relax and put a stressful day behind you is now something you must do to relax.

 

2. I need to drink more to feel the same buzz…

Just that one drink is no longer enough, you need at least two or three beers to get the same effect or you find you are no longer putting the bottle of wine back in the fridge. As with any addiction you body will build up a tolerance and there is a risk you can slip into alcohol dependency.
There are different levels of dependence and it may not necessarily involve drinking excessively, you can start with a psychological dependence, the ‘I need a drink’ feeling  or believing ‘I cannot relax without a drink’. Sadly this can all too quickly become a physical dependence where your body will show physical symptoms including shaking, sweating or nausea if you do not have alcohol in your system.

3. I have a drink most days…

Social drinking is perfectly acceptable, but when you find you are drinking most days, you need to consider if you have a problem. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states ‘”men should not exceed 4 drinks per day or a total of 14 per week and women should not exceed 3 drinks a day or a total of 7 per week”. The American Heart Association suggest even lower levels stating that “men should not exceed 2 units/day and women should not to exceed 1 unit/day to stay healthy.”
You need to be particularly careful when you drink at home, a single unit of alcohol is classed as a measure of spirits, half a pint of average strength lager or two-thirds of a 125 ml glass of wine. Outside of the controlled measures of a bar, it is easy to find yourself serving much more than a unit and slip into drinking more than you think you are.

4. I drink alone…

Finding yourself reaching for a drink when you are by yourself could be a sign of a problem. Research has shown that drinking alone can be linked to heavier drinking and a greater risk of addiction.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a drink at home, but be aware when you find you are regularly drinking when you are alone.

5. I don’t have a problem with drink… Honestly…

Denial can be a big sign, if you find you cannot admit you are drinking too much. When you hear yourself saying ‘I’m not that bad…’ or ‘I just have a drink or two,’ consider if this really is the truth.
This is where friends or partners can be vital to help you. Admitting you have an issue is a massive step but can be helped by those around you helping you see your drinking is becoming an issue. If your partner or friend is in denial your role in helping them recognise and acknowledge the issue is vital. You can be pivotal in getting them on the road to recovery.

What are the risks of alcohol?

There are many health risks associated with long-term alcohol abuse. These include high blood pressure, risk of stroke, liver disease, fertility problems, impotence and an increased risk of cancer.
To understand the risks of drinking, the following is what will happen to your body as you drink more alcohol:

• Moderate drinking – 1 – 2 units

You may notice an increase in your heart rate and your blood vessels expand. You will become more sociable and talkative.

• 4 – 6 units

The alcohol starts to cause a reaction within your brain, with your judgement and decision making gets affected. You may start to feel more reckless and uninhibited. Your coordination and reaction time are reduced.

• Heavy Drinking –  8 – 9 units

Your speech begins to slur and you may suffer from blurred vision. The alcohol is unlikely to be out of your body overnight so you will most likely wake with a hangover.

• Excessive Drinking – 10 – 12 units

Your coordination will be seriously impaired and you are at a serious risk of having an accident. You may feel drowsy and depressed due to large amounts of alcohol in your bloodstream.
Of course, in addition, you need to consider the cost of alcohol and the large numbers of empty calories contained.

How to get back in control…

If you realise you are drinking too much you can take steps to recover, the first stage is to acknowledge you are drinking too much and to be willing to make a change. If you are at an early stage, you can look to reduce your alcohol intake and give your body time to recover.
Having a break from alcohol can help you greatly. Research by University College London has seen individuals who gave up alcohol for four weeks notice improvements to their liver function, blood pressure and cholesterol levels and were also at lower risk of developing diabetes and liver disease. A break from alcohol can be useful to ‘reset’ your drinking levels and detox. Your body and your wallet will thank you!
However, if you are alcohol dependent, you may find that a sudden reduction may cause withdrawal symptoms including nausea, sweating, a craving for alcohol and shaking. Here it is best to seek professional advice before attempting to cut down on your intake. In this way, you can be advised of a sensible programme to reduce and then eliminate your dependency safely.

Enjoy life, in control

Nobody is denying that a drink with friends or family is a great way to enjoy an evening, or that a glass of wine with a meal is anything but positive. However, it is all about recognising how much is too much and to enjoy yourselves without needing alcohol.
Learn more about drinking in popular culture with the sober drinking game, where you can learn what famous people from William Shakespeare to Dudley Moore said about drinking!

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This Easy Breath Test can Help Discover the Cause of your Recurrent Abdominal Cramps

Living a healthy life has become an impossible thing in today’s ecosystem. With the polluted environment, people’s eating habits and diet have also become worse, which is affecting the digestive tract and making them sick with several gastrointestinal disorders. Well, it happens sometimes even when you are taking a healthy diet, rich in vitamins, protein, and minerals. Despite all this, your gut starts reacting badly to some of the meals you have.
This type of condition is generally recognized as the food intolerance. For instance, when a human body is intolerant to a specific sugar, and when you eat a food containing that specific sugar, then your digestive tract doesn’t absorb the sugar and it then passes it to the stomach where it’s malabsorption causes flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and several other symptoms of gut function disorders.

Why Doctors Suggest A Hydrogen Breath Test?

Is it your gut flora behaving abnormal or is it a specific sugar causing the problem? All can be diagnosed by a hydrogen breath test.  A healthy human body doesn’t produce hydrogen unless it is from the malabsorption of carbohydrate.
These are the bacteria in the colon, which produce hydrogen when comes into the contact with the unabsorbed carbohydrates. When the digestive tract finds difficulty in absorbing the sugar or carbohydrate in the small intestine, this unabsorbed sugar is passed into the large intestine where bacteria break down the sugar and produce hydrogen, which is absorbed in the blood and reached to the lungs. Humans thus breathe out hydrogen, where it is measured for the diagnosis.

What is the Hydrogen Breath Test?

This test helps in diagnosing the type of malabsorption you have. You can determine the intolerance to any sugar, such as fructose, lactose, sucrose, or sorbitol. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth can also be diagnosed through the same test. Bacterial Overgrowth occurs when a huge count of bacteria from the large intestine started moving into the small bowel and causes gut functional disorders, such as bloating, abdominal cramp, etc.
So, if you are facing the symptoms of gut functional disorders, such as bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation, etc., then you need to go for this non-invasive breath test.

Things to Consider Before the Test:

If the doctor has recommended you for the breath test, then he will definitely provide you with guidelines to follow before performing the test.
you should take this seriously and follow the pre-test requirement mentioned in the test kit manual. If you have gone through some medication or some surgery, then it is good to consult with the medical professional before the test.

Mandatory Pre-test Preparations

Here, we are listing a few pre-test preparations below, which are mandatory to consider:
1.    Stop taking antibiotic two weeks before the test.
2.    Avoid eating the food, containing carbohydrates before two days of the test.
3.    Avoid heavy and flavored meal a day before the test.
4.    Stop eating and drinking and smoking 12 hours before the test. Fasting before the test is necessary for correct diagnosis.
5.    Avoid smoking until the test is completed.

What is the Test Procedure?

In this test, you will have to blow the balloon exhaling your breath into it. After that, a small amount of sugar, such as fructose, lactose, sucrose, or lactulose is given to you for ingestion.
After ingesting this, the breath sample is collected again. This process will be repeated every 15 to 30 minutes. Once the test is completed, the different breath samples are analyzed and examined to interpret the results. If you experience any symptom of gut functional disorder during the test, this is also considered by medical professionals to interpret the test result.
The plus factor of this test is that you can order the test kit home and perform the test yourself for various carbohydrates. However, the test sample can be diagnosed by medical professionals only.
Featured photo credit: www.rcemlearning.co.uk via rcemlearning.co.uk

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15 Amazing Food Artworks By Singapore based Artist Li Ming

Singapore based Food Artist Li Ming, a mother of two has put a very big smile on her sons’ faces. To do that, she has made over 100 food artworks into cartoons.
Li Ming told Dailymail that the reason she was making those cartoon food artworks because her son, Ivan, had difficult time to coping with school, and also another younger son, Lucas, also wants to bring his custom meal to his kindergarten too. It doesn’t look like that she will stop making those delicious meals any time soon.
Image Credit: Flickr Via  dailymail / Demilked

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When You Eat Pickles Often, Something Surprising Will Happen To Your Brain

 

Food for thought might just have a whole new meaning to it and in a more literal sense. We all hold a widely held conception that fish helps our brains develop and this study shows exactly that, but there might be a new super brain food on the block that could help your brain work better and it is readily accessible everywhere. Pickles.
However, not all pickles can have such a positive impact on the brain. A study done by the college of William and Mary in Virginia revealed that naturally fermented foods such as dilled pickles can provide you with a huge boost of serotonin which is a chemical responsible for managing our moods.
For people who have had an experience with depression or anxiety disorder, pickles could be just the thing to boost serotonin levels in your body like what most pharmaceutical antidepressants aim to do.

Gut and Anxiety

According to Dr Michael Gershon, author of The Second Brain, the gut is actually somewhat like our body’s second brain having as many neurotransmitters as the brain! However, unlike our brain that controls what we feel and how we make decisions, the gut makes decisions from swallowing, digesting to nutrient absorption and elimination.
What’s also fascinating about our gut is that it communicates with our main brain with very profound results as researchers are finding more evidence that problems in the gastrointestinal system send signals to our brain triggering a bout of mood changes which explains why people with bowel disorders suffer from depression and anxiety much easier.

Pickles And Euphoria

The GABA neurotransmitter is a bunch of neurons in our brain that controls motor movements, vision and they also regulate anxiety. And by putting a pickle into your mouth, it actually does a lot to your gut as well as your brain. Fermented foods such as dilled pickles have healthy bacteria in them called probiotics and there is much research done on the relationship between anxiety disorders and probiotics.
In one research done by the University of College Cork, Ireland, rats were used to study the potential benefits of introducing probiotics into their systems during a stressful situation such as maternal separation. Researchers studied that probiotic treatment is able to regulate their behavior and their abnormal immune response. Results like this fully support the hypothesis that probiotics have the potential to change our moods as well as strengthening our immune systems.
Researchers studied that probiotic treatment is able to regulate their behavior and their abnormal immune response. Results like this fully support the hypothesis that probiotics have the potential to change our moods as well as strengthening our immune systems.
To further prove the point that pickles actually does make people less stressed out, a study done by Maryland University studied the dietary habits of 700 students and found out that people who had fermented products in their diets suffered less social anxiety.

Eat More Fermented Products

Other than dilled pickles, there are also alternatives to look out for to get those good bacteria into your gut so that you keep your mind stable as well. Foods that you can consider are Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Dark chocolate, miso soup, Tempeh and Kimchi.
On top of the digestive benefits of eating fermented products, there are a few things to take note when eating these foods that are also pretty high in sodium. Eating pickles as a snack is good and having just one is fine. Researchers from Turkey were actually found out that people with gastric cancer ate more pickles than cancer free participants in the survey. So it’s best not to eat too much of a good thing and have it in moderation.
Featured photo credit: Homemade Preserves via pixabay.com

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6 Fruits To Boost Gut Bacteria For A Healthier Digestive System

 

 Photo credit lifehack.org

Research is clear: a healthy gut leads to better health overall–mind, body and soul. Gut health is directly related to the composition of your gut bacteria and affects your risk level for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other health issues. In fact, the brain and gut are so tightly wired together that scientists refer to it as the body’s “second brain.” It’s that important!
Gut bacteria, or microflora, need a stable environment in which to grow and flourish. The ideal pH in the colon is between 6.7 and 6.9. The colon needs to be slightly acidic to inhibit the growth of undesirable bacteria. Cultivating and keeping the “good gut bacteria” flourishing is paramount to living a full and vibrant life. The foods we eat drastically affect this delicate bacterial balance. Therefore, ensuring that our diets regularly contain foods that generate good gut bacteria is important.
The easiest way to ensure a healthy gut is by eating fruits high in fiber and that foster the proper intestinal balance.

Fruits that help improve gut bacteria and digestive health

1. Bananas

Fiber is essential to stimulating the production process of good gut bacteria and is equally important to your overall digestive health and function. Not only are bananas rich in soluble fiber, they also contain a prebiotic compound (non-digestible fiber) that passes through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and remains undigested since they cannot be fully broken down. Once they pass through the small intestine, they reach the colon where they’re fermented by the gut microflora. In short, bananas work to maintain harmony among microbes in the bacterial community.

2. Blueberries

Blueberries help to diversify our gut bacteria. They destroy harmful gut bacteria and also happen to yield one of the best fiber-per-calorie ratios on the planet. Since most berries are packed with tiny seeds, their fiber content is higher than most other fruits.

3. Kiwi

Kiwi is a fat-free, nutrient-dense source of energy. One cup of sliced kiwi contains 110 calories, no fat, two grams of protein, more fiber than a bowl of bran flakes, and half as much sugar as a cup of raw pineapple. The fiber in kiwi is also good for binding and removing toxins from the colon which assists in preventing colon cancer.

4. Apples

In addition to being a fiber-rich food, scientists have recently shown that important health benefits of apples may stem from their impact on bacteria in the digestive tract. In studies on laboratory animals, intake of apples is now known to significantly alter amounts of two bacteria (Clostridiales and Bacteriodes) in the large intestine. As a result of these bacterial changes, metabolism in the large intestine is also changed, which provides a multiplicity of health benefits.

5. Raspberries

Similar to blueberries, raspberries are chock-full of soluble fiber. The fiber and water content in raspberries help to prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive tract. Adequate fiber promotes regularity which is crucial for the daily elimination of toxins through the bile and stool.

6. Pears

For nutritional reasons, we’re often advised by health experts to consume the skins of fruits.  Recent studies have shown that the skin of pears contains at least three to four times as many phenolic phytonutrients as the flesh. These phytonutrients include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory flavonoids, and anti-cancer phytonutrients like cinnamic acids. It’s also important to note that when it comes to our gut health, pears are fiber-rich fruits and the pear’s skin has been shown to contain about half of the pear’s total dietary fiber. Even with its high fiber content, it is considered one of the easiest foods to digest.
The health of your gastrointestinal system is extremely important to your overall well-being. It is primarily responsible for the critical functions of the body’s digestive and immune systems. Beneficial bacteria in your digestive system have the capability of affecting your body’s vitamin and mineral absorbency, hormone regulation, digestion, vitamin production, immune response, and ability to eliminate toxins, not to mention greatly improving your overall mental health.

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Get To A Healthier You!

 

What does it take for us to get to the point where we finally say “I need to make a dramatic change to improve my health.”?
It’s not easy for us to admit that we’ve been winging it health-wise. We get busy, lazy, and easily distracted and ignore the fact that we need to make a desperate change for the better. We become submissive to our willpower, succumb to temptations, and end up eating what we shouldn’t, then we overindulge and delve into laziness! Simply because we have no plan of action to get us started or to keep us going.
Have you ever tried to start a self-care regime but then ended it quickly because you let daily stresses and bad habits take over? I know how it is to think “I will get started on taking care of myself tomorrow… or next week… because right now I am going to eat this donut!”
As a procrastinator myself, I know that what actually happens is that next week comes around and I’ve not even begun to get started, because getting fast food on the run and being a couch potato is much easier. And it’s all because we haven’t yet readied our mindset to begin a better way of existing.
For many people, taking care of themselves is time consuming. It is way too easy to abuse eating the right way. Taking vitamins is just one more thing to do and exercising is hard to fit into our busy lives. Sound familiar?
Trust me, I’ve been there, I am there, and I get it!
So, If you are one of the many people stuck in a bad cycle of abusing your health, what do you do? How do you break the bad cycle and where do you begin to make it better? I want to help you to have a place to start, with a plan that you can stick with and to be able to fall back on if or when the bad habits set back in.
I’m not going to bore you with all of the technical and physical reasons of why you should eat better, exercise, and drink 8 glasses of water a day, so on and so forth, because you already know that! Right? You’ve already heard it and read about it over and over!
I would, however, like to motivate you to start your new self-care habits by helping you to make a plan ahead of time. That way, you can be on your way to starting a life-long habit of extreme self care!

 

Examining The Who, What, When, Where, How, And Why To Getting To A Healthier You!

This is the beginnings of setting a goal for yourself. Genuinely answer the question “Why” you want this change to take place. Write down your answers and refer back to it when you need to. We all have different reasons to want better health.
Do you want to get better health because you are packing on a few extra pounds, or maybe you a have been getting out of breath when you walk a significant distance? Or perhaps you simply want to turn back a few years to feel younger and more vibrant? For me, my reason is for my first grandchild who is on his way. I want to embrace this well-awaited journey with health, balance, and a lot of energy — plus to not look and feel like a grandma.
We all have different reasons for wanting better health. You may have one particular reason or a whole list. Remember, it is not always about weight, though that is possibly a good part of it, along with exercising, stretching, and finding time to relax with some well-needed R&R!
A healthier way of living is an ongoing need for every one of us. It is simply feeling better health-wise and being mindful of how you treat yourself! It is about having more energy, or possibly conquering depression or anxiety. It is about living a higher quality of life for yourself and for those who love you.

Get Started By Asking Yourself These Six Questions

Write your answers down (some examples are included). Personally, I like to make notes of things like this in my cell phone.

1. WHO?: Who do I want to have support me during this transitional change? Or, would I rather keep this journey to myself and do it on my own? Another “Who” question could be “Who am I doing this for?” (i.e. my first grandchild on the way.)
2. WHAT?: What do I need to have on hand to help me in this process?(i.e. fruit, blender, yoga mat and yoga DVD, etc.)
3. WHEN?: When do I plan to start this? (i.e. I will start on my next day off as to get started without stress and distractions.)
4. WHERE?: Where do I see my self a few months from now? (i.e. balanced, rested, thinner, and stronger.)
5. HOW?: How will I go about this transition? (i.e. I will change my eating habits to the following… I will make my exercise habits as the following… I will balance my inner self by…)
6. WHY?: Why am I doing this? (i.e. I want to feel fit like I was in my younger years, healthier, more energized, able to keep up with demands and stresses.)

Notes:

• Your answers may not be as condensed as my general examples above.
• We all have different answers to these questions.
• We all have different reasons for wanting to become healthier.
• Your answers and reasons may change in the future!

Also:
If, or when you get off track health-wise, refer back to these six questions and answers to get yourself started once again.
Get started A.S.A.P. without procrastinating! Go to the grocery store to get what you need. If you have decided to, get support from your family and let them know you have a change in the process. Plus, tell them not to judge or criticize you! Make your plans and get excited about it!
Remember to consult with your physician if you deem it necessary. Most importantly, let your reason “why” drive you through!
Featured photo credit: pixabay via yourlifefully.com

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Parents Of Successful Kids Do These 10 Things In Common, Science Finds

Photo credit lifehack.org

Every parent wants their kids to be successful. It is the purest wish a parent can have. Making this wish a reality is an entirely different matter.
So what ensures a child’s success? Are some kids genetically predisposed to do better than others or are the parents completely on the hook for ensuring their children achieve their goals? It’s the old nature versus nurture debate–which has been raging since the beginning of time.
Regardless to your inclination on the subject or which side of the debate you find yourself –there is no denying that successful parenting plays a major role in producing stellar kids. Parenting that is ineffective–regardless to the natural intellect and aptitude of a child–can result in behavior issues, delinquency, criminality and academic problems. Good parenting is an essential requirement for producing high achieving children.

What Successful parenting looks like

There is no set recipe for raising kids. Psychologists have found a few common threads of successful parenting:

 

1. Kids are assigned regular chores

Research shows that when children are given chores at an early age it cultivates in them a sense of responsibility, self-reliance and mastery.
At a Ted Talk event, Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford University and author of “How to Raise an Adult”  conveyed the idea that kids raised on chores go on to be collaborative coworkers, more empathetic– as they truly understand and have endured struggles. They also are able to work on tasks with minimal hand-holding.
When using chores to build your child’s character, researchers caution that chores and allowance be kept separate. Studies show that external rewards can actually lower intrinsic motivation.

2. High expectations are established 

Having realistically high expectations for kids is essential to successful parenting. More often than not, children rise to the expectations set for them. The trick is to set the bar high enough that your kids do have to stretch for it but keeping it in the realm of possible.
For example, kids who have parents that expect them to go to college–usually do. Parents manage the child in a way that nurtures academic achievement while their kids work to maintain good grades so they can go to college. Establishing realistically high expectations points your children in the direction of success.

3. Good coping skills are developed

Children have to be taught to manage anger, delay gratification and properly handle conflict in order to achieve success. A lack of healthy coping strategies can lead to health and well-being concerns in children.

4. Children are given room to fail

A parent’s job is to manage and minimize risk–not to eliminate it. Successful parenting involves understanding that failure is a big part of success. And while this may sound counter-intuitive, research shows that more is gleaned from failure than success. Hanging back and giving children room to fail is very difficult for most parents but is essential. Successful failures assist in developing your child’s character, resilience and overall competence.

5. Social skills are developed

In today’s world, social intelligence is just as important as intellect. A study spanning 20 years and involving the tracking of 700 kids found that those that are socially competent were more likely to earn a college degree and have a full time job by the time they turned 25.
Successful parenting ensures that kids learn to be cooperative in their peer-to-peer relationships, helpful and able to empathize with others intuitively and without prompting.

6. Quality time is spent early in a child’s development

The number of hours moms spend with kids between ages 3 and 11 does little to predict the child’s behavior, well-being, or achievement. It’s the quality of the time spent that counts. “Helicopter” or “Tiger” parenting is not the intended approach. Parents should work to keep the environment and interactions engaging and stimulating but not stressful.

7. Developing tenacity and “grit” in children

Encouraging kids to stick with things that are difficult or unpleasant sets them up for success later in life. Mental toughness and a “can do” attitude are critical for children to have firmly in place well before reaching adulthood. A child without a “fighting spirit” is unlikely to develop this trait later in life and commitment and the ability to handle sustained effort long term will always be an issue.

8. Assist children in developing a strong sense of self

This is done by establishing balance as a parent. Over-parenting hinders a child’s  development of independence and permissive parenting robs kids of integrity, direction and the ability to focus and commit. Children need to be able to identify their own strengths, weakness, preferences and dislikes.

9. Parent with the end in mind

Most people parent with the mindset of dealing with the current situation and getting it under control as soon as possible; seeking the quickest solution. Successful parenting keeps in mind how we want our child to be as an adult, we should strive to be more thoughtful in the way we parent. Try to pause and capitalize on some of those small teachable moments that present themselves daily remembering that the best way to teach certain behaviors is by modeling them.

10. Practice the three “F’s” of successful parenting: Firm, Fair and Friendly

Consequences for unwanted behavior should be clearly stated and should be suited to the unwanted behavior or the punishment should fit the crime. Harsh punishments are unnecessary especially coupled with the other techniques mentioned previously. Even though the child has misbehaved keep the tone of the communication firm yet friendly and open.
Successful children turn into successful adults and neither hap

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Study Says Kids Who Don’t Conform Easily Are More Likely To Be Successful

 Photo credit lifehack.org

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably had some moments when you just truly didn’t know if you could keep going. You were ready to throw your hands up and say, “Screw it! The kid can do whatever she wants!” Kids are stubborn. Sometimes, they just won’t stop climbing into the toilet, and sometimes, they’d rather sulk at the dinner table like a brat than just eat one more bite of peas.
Don’t worry, Mom and Dad, there’s good news. Next time you’re wondering whether you can make it through one more day, consider this: A new study shows that stubborn kids tend to turn into successful kids.

How the research was done

This study followed over 700 kids from the time that they were as young as 8, to well into their 40s. This research is possibly the most expansive that exists on the subject. The study seeks to explain the relationship between attitudes and behaviors of students in late childhood and their success as an adult. The participants were studied, and the research determined personality traits in the kids such as pessimism, defiance, and stubbornness.

The surprising results

At the end of the study, guess who earned the highest salaries? The adults who were stubborn and resistant as kids. The adults who, as kids, just wouldn’t play by the rules or do as they were told. So, if getting your kid to put their shoes on to leave the house is the world’s hardest chore, don’t worry. They’re going to be able to repay you one day with big paychecks.

Explanation for such results

The writers at Time reported on this story, and offered their insight – and it makes sense. Kids who aren’t willing to settle for something they don’t want aren’t going to grow into adults that will settle for less prestigious jobs. In the classroom, these kids are more competitive. During salary negotiations and job interviews, they’ll be more likely to fight for their financial interests. In a nutshell, a kid with a strong will is likely to become an adult with a strong will.
So, how do you know if your kid is strong willed? According to the Time article, “Strong-willed kids have strong gut reactions that they’ll battle for even when it’s illogical, say professional therapists. They go after what they want at any cost.”
Some therapists claim that strong-willed kids are less likely to succumb to peer pressure, and if they are steered in the right direction, they can be among the biggest achievers of their generation. As parents, if you can keep your kid motivated, they will end up being motivated leaders of their community.

What This Means For Your Kid

The research is quite conclusive. Even if it’s unable to explain the correlation between stubbornness and success, does the why really matter, though? As long as you know that your kid is strong-willed, you know that you’re in a good position to raise a winner.
Also, it doesn’t take into account the career paths, life decisions, or other mid-life choices these kids made. It is simply examining a starting point and an ending point. It’s possible that all the stubborn kids became career criminals because of their defiance of authority. It is possible that these kids were more willing to advance their career at the expense of their coworkers, but there is no evidence to support this. The point is, we only know one thing for sure: personality traits are a much better predictor of a child’s future financial success than IQ or intelligence.
So maybe the next time you’re having an epic battle over refusing to clean their rooms, take a moment to be thankful for their strong will.

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6 Tips to Launch a Successful Dental Career

 

Becoming a dentist is not a very easy task. It needs a lot of hard work and dedication.
If you choose to become a dentist, you will have to work extra hard but remember that there are countless benefits of choosing the dental industry. It can open you to a lot of opportunities and you can get the chance to work in several different fields.
You can work one on one with patients while providing dental care to people on a daily basis. You need to go through years of education and training. After that comes the period of certification but once you get it, you can make most of your career. If you want a successful dental career, then you have to provide the best oral care to the patients.
Here are some tips for having a successful dental career.

1. Making the Practice Unique:

If you to run a successful dental place, then it is important that you establish you practice and create your reputation as one of the best in your area. You also need to identify the unique element of your practice, market it and protect it as well. Whether you are offering a variety of health services or you have certain specialty cannot just attract customers but also retain them.
To get the best out of your unique attributes you need to promote them regularly. You can promote them in your dental advertisements or while interacting with patients. You can look for unique and efficient methods for advertising like brochures, newsletters, and social media content.

2. Creating Office Culture:

Once you have determined the attributes that set you apart from other dental practices you can look forward to discovering the office culture. You do not need to develop a new office culture because it already exists.
Components such as your personality, expectations, systems, behaviors and communication of staff members together create the office culture. Knowing the unique method of things you can enhance the productivity while attracting good staff and the patients will continue to come back to your office.

3. Expanding the Services:

You can expand your clientele by looking for ways to increase your services. Expanding the services can result in improving the value of your services and also develop a reliable reputation among your contemporaries.
It is possible that the size of your office is a hurdle in the potential productivity. You can also buy the latest and best equipment. You can buy all the new supplies through online services as they can provide dental supplies worldwide.

4. Flexible Financial Options:

You want to retain the customers then it is important to provide a broad range of choices when it comes to payment. The patients will be more willing to get the treatment recommendations if there are more payment options. They are more likely to return for dental care if that is the case.
Apart from insurance coverage, credit, cash, personal check and special financing can make sure that individual financial circumstances do not interfere with the decisions regarding dental health.

5. Do not forget the Engage:

To make your dental practice a success you need to have a certain number of clients which are loyal and will always come to you for their oral check-ups. It is important to retain customers because it is less expensive as compared to getting new clientele.
If you want to have loyal patients, then you cannot just rely on giving common services. You need to improve the services, offer convenient hours, easily accessible location, etc. to gain the loyalty and trust of the customers. The digital age has provided several opportunities to dentists so that they can reach the potential patients.

6. Upgrading the Scheduling System:

The scheduling system can do much more than just booking the appointments. It helps in creating a better flow of patients and increases the productivity as well. It is highly helpful in decreasing the stress of patients and the staff.
It can help in making the services more efficient, and the patients will always be satisfied. It is important that the dental practice is efficient, flexible and keeping the scheduling software updated.
Professional training and continuous education are essential elements of running a successful and profitable dental practice. Apart from training, it is essential that the staff dealing with patients on the phone and during the visits is trained in how to interact with the patients.
Featured photo credit: Jenn and Tony Bot via flickr.com

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5 Apps That Are Essential for a Successful 2017

 Photo credit lifehack.org

The new year is back in full swing and for a lot of people that means new goals. The problem with long-term goals is that they are often hard to keep track of and tend to be forgotten after a too-little too-short effort.
Technology has slowly been changing that with apps and productivity hacks. There are dozens of new apps coming out every day all designed to make our lives easier and our goals a little more likely to be accomplished. Here are my five favorites for 2017.

Letterspace

Letterspace is an interesting concept and it is fairly unheard-of. Essentially, this is a note-taking app but offers a lot of features that make it useful for everyone.
One great thing about it is the use of hashtags. You can take down notes, and then tag your notes with hashtags. As you do this, you can organize and pull up notes for different things. As long as you tag notes with hashtags then you will easily be able to sort and find notes that are important to you.

 

Toggl

If you have an issue with time, then Toggl is the app for you. Toggl is built to be able to keep track of time. Whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur trying to keep track of where your day is going, Toggl is a great option.
Toggl was built with the idea that measuring how you spend your time is the best way to improve how you spend your time. It is incredibly simple and is already used by millions of people. It also comes with extensions for browsers in addition to phones.

Workflow

Another relatively unheard-of app is called Workflow. The Workflow app is essentially designed to eliminate wasting time with repetitive tasks. It helps you create buttons on your phone that you can then click to do a certain task. So if there are certain tasks on your phone that are taking up large amounts of time or even tasks that you do fairly often, you can create a button that allows you to do that task with a single click. Sure, it is only 30 seconds saved. But if you do it with most of your tasks, all that time adds up!

Wunderlist

One of my personal favorites is Wunderlist. Wunderlist is an incredible app for keeping track of all your to-do list items. Think of it like a very organized sticky-note pad that makes exciting sounds when you cross off an item. Wunderlist also allows you to build things into groups. For example, if you are trying to keep track of tasks at work, home, and a non-profit you participate in, you could make a list for each one.
Because Wunderlist is available on Mac, PC, Apple, and Android, and is also on the cloud, your list is always close by to add items to or check items off.

Google Drive

You really can’t create a list of useful tools without including Google Drive. Sure, it has been around for years, but it is still one of the best free tools on the planet for organizing your information.
Think of Google Drive as a giant online filing cabinet. You can put anything in folders including pictures, documents, videos, music, and more. It takes up no room so you can do folders within folders within folders if you would like. It is also extremely cheap if you want to upgrade the memory to meet your individual needs.
All of these apps have the unique ability to save time, manage tasks, and make life easier. Utilizing them will simplify life and give you freedom to do more things that you care about.

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4 Things You Should Be Doing To Protect Your Home

 Photo credit lifehack.org

Everyone wants to keep their valuables and important and original documents safe from theft and damage. There are two ways to do that, one is to rent a locker in a bank and the other is to get a house safe. While probably a bank locker can be considered more secure, however, it can be a recurring burden on your monthly or quarterly budget.
However, getting a house safe is a more feasible option as it is a onetime investment. So you need to consider it as an investment while selecting one.

What should you consider while selecting a home safe?

The purpose of having a home safe is concealment. Not everyone should be able to view or access it. So, first of all, you need to select a place which is hidden and only you know where it is. Usually, in cases of a break-in, the burglars don’t want to stay for longer time in the house in order to avoid getting caught. This is a fact shown by many surveys.
So by keeping a safe hidden in a cabinet or cupboard which is less obvious can be useful.  The other features or qualities you should consider while selecting a safe are as follows:

 

Fire Proof:

There are documents or valuables which are too important to risk being lost in case of fire. So select a safe which is fire proof. Although most of the safe out there is fire proof but the extent to which they can resist heat is different. Some are better at this than others.
Fire is a factor which cannot be pre-estimated or told. It is very hard to declare a building or an area to be prone to fire as the circumstances that lead to fire can be or cannot be natural. So if such an accident occurs to you or near you, then you would definitely want your valuable documents or items to be safe and sound.
There are some companies that are so sure of their safe to be fire proof that they give you a warranty that is covered by insurance. If you can you should opt for such safe so you are covered in that regard.

Water Proof:

Thieves are not the only ones to whom you can lose your valuables, nature can do that too. In the case of natural flood or flooding of the plumbing, your important things can be harmed, so you should consider it as a major factor in your selection.
There are areas which are prone to natural floods and these floods are recurring. If you live in such an area then you should definitely look for a waterproof safe. Water might not damage your jewels that much as it can harm or damage your documents and expensive electronic equipment. So if you plan to store your camera or external hard drives etc. in the safe then select a one which is waterproof.

Impact or shock Proof:

You need to know that your safe should also be impact or shock proof. In the case of storms or earthquakes, your safe can experience an impact like falling of a heavy object on it or falling down with a jerk. The safe should have the capability to resist any damage from the result of such event.
This can also happen if somebody is trying to break into your safe by throwing it from a height or using a hammer. If this is a case then definitely you should select a cabinet safe which is impact proof.

Security:

There are a number of different types of security mechanisms used in safe these days, some are just good old combination safe, some are digital code operated, while others are biometric fingerprint and electronic ones.
You need to identify the level of security you want and the budget you can spare for the purchase of the safe. Do remember, they don’t come cheap so better consider it as a long-term investment or a one-time buy before setting a budget.
If you consider the explained features in a safe, I am sure you will be able to select a house safe which befits your requirements and budget.

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Boundaries Empaths Should Set to Protect Themselves and Stay Mentally Healthy

 Photo credit lifehack.org

Empathy is what makes us human. The more we are sensitive to other people’s feelings and needs, the greater the chance of harmony and creating a beautiful world. Every empath knows that love, mercy and hope are the divine qualities that keep our world running.
But sometimes empathy is what slowly and silently kills us. Being a people-pleaser takes its toll. It is tiring to be polite to people who take your love for granted and treat you like a doormat. It is painful to care for someone unconditionally and feel the thorn of betrayal or insensitivity. It kills when your empathy, instead of being reciprocated, is repaid with negative energy.
Letting other people take advantage of our kindness is a trap we empaths often fall into. But there’s a simple way to get out of it. You do not need to change your personality into someone who is harsh and rude. You do not need to swap your soft and beautiful heart for a heart of stone. You do not need to compromise your ethics or beliefs at all.
Instead, you need to direct all that love and kindness and care that can change the world at yourself, at your needs and desires. And the easiest way to do this and emerge mentally and physically healthy is to erect firm boundaries. You need to realize that to make this world a better place, you need to be perfectly fit, happy and satisfied. You need to prioritize your needs in order to remain in good shape and high spirits. By doing this, you create a positive and uplifting frame of mind that allows you to function better  and be attune to other people’s needs.
In short, you need to take care of yourself, to take care of the world. 
These are some of the boundaries you can set to protect yourself from negative energy and emerge healthier and more empathetic than before.

 1. Learn to say no

Learn to say no, especially to those who don’t value your time or respect you. Even if you feel duty-bound to help that person, remember that it is you and your needs that must always come first. Ask yourself: if I’m sick, how will I help those who need me? Politely reject people when the going gets tough. Take on fewer responsibilities.

2. Trust your gut

Keep an eye out for those energy-suckers who always sulk and find reasons to complain. Listen to your heart. If something doesn’t feel right, leave immediately. If you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you, dissociate yourself instead of making up an excuse for them.

3. Take a break

Go on regular holidays, shopping sprees and detoxes. If you’re overworking, take the next weekend off and go for a long drive, even if you have made some prior commitments. Find a hobby that recharges your spirits and helps you to think out of the box and assess situations objectively. Every once in while, take a well-deserved break and–for goodness sake–do not apologize or feel guilty for enjoying yourself.

4. Heal yourself with self-love

It all boils down to this. Be more selfish, and less selfless and realize that there’s nothing wrong in doing so. Schedule some ‘me time’ for yourself, every single day, and guard it zealously from energy-suckers. Pamper yourself with treats–whether it’s indulging in Swiss chocolate, going for a bath with essential oils and aroma candles, or simply being in the moment and feeling beautiful for being who you are.
What are you waiting for? Share these tips with your wonderful empath friends and help create the beautiful world that you dream of!

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4 Essential Ways to Help Protect Your Children From Pneumonia

 

Fall and winter bring chilling temperatures, less sun, and more rain. You’ve probably heard that colds aren’t caused by rain or cold weather. But believing this common myth may be better for you – and this becomes critical if you have children.
Don’t worry, here are a few effective ways you can help protect your children from pneumonia during the cold seasons.

Is Catching a Cold When it’s Cold Really Just a Myth?

Is it just a popular myth that you’re more likely to catch a cold when exposed to cold temperatures? Maybe not — doctors found evidence that cold viruses infect you easier during the colder seasons. They found preliminary evidence that exposure to cold temperatures suppresses your immune system. They also found that the rhinovirus (major cold-causing virus) can multiply easier in your body when your body temperature is lower (it’s most optimal for the virus when your body is at 91 degrees Fahrenheit).
They ran studies on mice cells and found that when the airways are exposed to cold air, the immune cells are less able to send signals between themselves to coordinate blocking the rhinovirus from replicating itself.
Don’t let your guard down because you’ve heard the myth is wrong. In fact, you should protect your children and yourself even more, when it’s cold out because your immune system has a harder time fighting cold-causing viruses.

Why Cold Prevention is More Important for Children

Simple colds and flus can turn into pneumonia – and children are more susceptible to developing pneumonia from these and other respiratory infections. According to the American Lung Association, children are generally at high risk for pneumonia. Pneumonia is the leading cause of hospitalization among U.S. children. Worse, pneumonia is the cause of 15 percent of worldwide deaths of children below 5.
Your children most likely won’t die from contracting a cold this winter, but being aware and proactive in protecting your children from colds and flus during the cold seasons helps lower any risk.
Here are four things you should be doing:

1. Give Your Children Daily Vitamin C Supplements

What’s a famous go-to when you have a cold? Orange juice – because of its vitamin C content. Scientists have now found proof justifying this traditional remedy. Researchers found that vitamin C boosts your immune cell count and your immune cells’ ability to capture invading viruses. It also boosts production of virus-fighting molecules (called interferons) made by your immune system. Vitamin C has also been found to directly lower virus replication. When researchers gave animals vitamin C, it boosted their defenses against both viruses and bacteria, which can both cause pneumonia. They also found that your body uses up vitamin C when fighting off pneumonia – so at the very least, keeping your vitamin C stores up helps your immune system fend off pneumonia-causing germs.
How do these findings play out in the real world? Natural News interviewed Dr. Andrew Saul, Ph.D. who advocates for finding natural cures before seeing your doctor. He testifies that he was able to cure his pneumonia within three hours of a non-stop vitamin C therapy. But, his testimony is a bit biased since there’s some personal gain (in terms of his self-cure books) involved.
Natural News also tells of another patient using the same non-stop vitamin C therapy. The New Zealand native was near death, being attacked by both leukemia and pneumonia. The therapy reversed both diseases and he eventually walked out of the hospital on his own!
But both “miracle cures” involved non-stop intravenous vitamin C of very high doses. Unless you’re a trained healthcare professional, it’s not a remedy you can easily resort to whenever you get the sniffles. It also may be dangerous, and you should ask your doctor before ever trying it.
Instead, bulletproof your children’s and your immunity by taking vitamin C supplements with them every day. It’s better to prevent colds and flus from taking hold than resort to overboard remedies when you’re already sick in bed. (As a bonus, taking vitamin C supplements before or after your daily workout helps prevents oxidative damage and stress caused by free radicals created when you exercise!) All you need to do is make sure your children pop a vitamin C pill before you send them off to school and you can rest assured they’re safer from colds and flus.
If your children find it hard to swallow pills, you can give them a glass of vitamin C-packed lemon water with their everyday breakfast instead.

2. Install a Chimney

If you cook your children’s meals on a wooden stove, you could be increasing their risk for pneumonia. But if you invest in a chimney for your stove, you’ll help lower their risk. Researchers found that households with chimneys installed to their wooden stoves have a 30 percent lessened risk of severe pneumonia in toddlers. The chimneys also lowered carbon monoxide exposure (which can harm your children’s nervous systems) by 50 percent.
Why? According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), open fires for cooking are a major cause of children’s pneumonia. Experts found that smoke exposure can aggravate the condition of children with mild pneumonia. In fact, in the study, the smoke exposure made it more likely that medical intervention would fail, which led to 35 percent of the infected children dying. But using a chimney helps keep indoor pollution from cooking away from your children’s lungs.
Robert Hanflig, the owner of Pellet Stove Parts, advises that choosing the right chimney is vital for keeping smoke out of your home’s air. A chimney’s draft (vacuum function) is drastically lessened if it’s not 2 feet taller than any raised part of your roof that’s 10 feet from the chimney. If you have a flat roof, the chimney must be at least 3 feet above it.

3. Get Your Children Vaccinated

Vaccination is unanimously recognized as the most effective way to prevent childhood pneumonia. The NIH reports that vaccination prevents 1,075,000 child deaths by pneumonia annually. They advise vaccination for Hib and pneumococcus in children, as these are the two leading causes of children’s pneumonia deaths.
But vaccines can have staggering side effects, which include thousands of medically recorded cases of seizures and encephalitis. Although it’s unlikely that your children will experience any side effects, the risk is still there. Instead, you can choose to boost your children’s cold and flu defenses with vitamin C and other immunity-boosting supplements, like antioxidant-rich green tea and coffee bean extracts.

4. Give Your Children Hand Sanitizers

Touching infected surfaces then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth later is one of the most common ways cold-causing germs enter your body. Why? People wipe their noses with their hands all the time then touch doorknobs, desks, and other common fixtures. Cold-causing viruses usually survive for 24 hours outside of a host, but depending on the surface, some viruses can survive for a whole week! If your children touch an infected surface, these germs are now on their hands and only a nose-scratching or an eye-rubbing moment away from entering their bodies.
Hand sanitizers can be expensive, but teaching your children to use them often can help prevent these cold- and flu-causing pathogens from entering their bodies. Researchers studied the hands of participants after they used a hand sanitizer and found greatly lowered numbers of infectious viruses on their skin. They concluded that using hand sanitizers after your hands come into contact with public objects can help protect you from exposure to these germs, but since it doesn’t completely disinfect your hands of cold-causing viruses, it’s not foolproof.
The cold seasons bring risk to your children of developing pneumonia. While no method can assure your children 100 percent protection, implementing these four ways effectively lowers their risk significantly. According to Justin Eichler, lead editor of Posta news, children of certain ethnicities are more susceptible to dying from pneumonia (like Maori and Pacific Islanders whose risk are about six times higher). If your children are of these higher-risk ethnicities, you should strongly consider getting them vaccinated, which offers the most protection from pneumonia.
Featured photo credit: langll via pixabay.com

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Can You Spot The Woman In This Painting? Art Is Really Amazing!

German artist Jörg Düsterwald paints nude women into natural backgrounds. That is, he camouflages models with body paint using the female body as the medium for his creative expression. In addition to disseminating his work through photography, Düsterwald exhibits his work live at various events.

Can you find the woman in painting?

Artist: Jörg Düsterwald; Photographer: Tschiponnique Skupin

Artist: Jörg Düsterwald; Photographer: Tschiponnique Skupin

Artist: Jörg Düsterwald; Photographer: Tschiponnique Skupin

Featured photo credit: Tree via upsocl.com

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