Archive for the ‘ Prevention & Wellness ’ Category

Stress Management


Getting stressed is a perfectly normal reaction if you have too many things coming at you at the same time. But always getting frazzled and cracking under pressure isn’t the way to handle it. You need to apply some stress management tips to toughen yourself up in the face of pressure and to keep yourself from breaking down.

One of the biggest causes of stress is the workplace. From worrying about job security, dealing with heavy workload, and going through the daily commute, your job carries with it a lot of pressure.

Studies have shown that stress can have a severe negative impact on your health and well-being. Heart problems are just one of the physical manifestations of the tension you feel. If you bring your stress home as well, it can also severely impact your personal relationships.

Before your life reaches this point due to stress, you must take action to keep it from happening. Instead of always resorting to dealing with stress negatively, there are other means for you to approach stress in a healthier way. Here are a few stress management tips to help you overcome stress.

Stress Management Tip # 1: Take a break. Yes, that’s right. To be able to cope with stress better, you need to step away from what you’re doing and get your energy together. Working under pressure and completing your duties while you’re stressed will only wear you down and could also affect your performance. Removing yourself from a stressful situation, even for a brief moment, will help you breathe more easily and give you a fresh perspective.

Stress Management Tip # 2: Pamper yourself throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate and lengthy. You can do it by enjoying a hot soothing cup of herbal tea, particular ones with calming properties, or buy yourself a small massager to soothe your aches and pains.

Stress Management Tip # 3: Be organized. If you’re juggling too many things all at once, you tend to forget how to schedule your work properly. Make a list of everything you need to do, and then arrange them in order of urgency and when they need to be completed. This will help you stay focused on the things that need to be done right away instead of turning your attention to the ones that aren’t as urgent.

Stress Management Tip # 4: Say “no” to more responsibilities. You already have too much on your plate and not much time to work on them, which is why you’re getting frazzled and stressed. You don’t need more responsibilities. But don’t worry; this won’t make you look irresponsible and incapable. If you have a hard time saying “no” to extra work, simply think of all the work you need to do and the time you don’t have to accommodate more work.

Stress Management Tip # 5: Get help. You might want to talk to a friend or a loved one to help you vent out your frustrations or perhaps even distract you from what’s causing your stress. Acknowledge that you’re not capable of doing everything, and don’t be afraid to get help around the office too.

These stress management tips don’t sound too hard, do they? Once you get stress under control, you’ll be able to work more efficiently and then go on to enjoy a happy and fulfilling life.



Michael Lee has dramatically changed countless lives with his powerful self-improvement advice. Get free self-help success secrets and audios now at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/articlelist.html and be the next big success story!

Acupuncture


Acupuncture has been practiced in China for at least 2,000 years or so and some say it is more possibly like 3,000 years or so. You may be thinking about a career in acupuncture. When just starting out, one needs to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture and what it’s like to work in the field of acupuncture.

It’s important to get a complete picture of all the treatments offered by the acupuncture school to acquire the skills needed to be well-rounded and well-versed for your patients. Smaller classes tend to encourage greater discussion between students and teachers, and can foster improved learning. Acupuncture school education and training requirements can total from between 2500 to 4000 credit hours.

For naturopathy schools that offer acupuncture programs see the: List of Accredited Natural Medicine Colleges in North America. Keep in mind that depending on the school, students may be required to study herbal medicine or may be offered herbal courses as electives. Acupuncture schools that offer courses in traditional Chinese medicine often include other aspects of traditional medicine, like anatomy, body therapy, massage therapy, and sciences.

Choose an acupuncture school that offers consultation services for its graduates; these schools allow graduates to consult with their instructors regarding care of their patients. Choose an acupuncture school that offers an extensive library of materials focused on traditional Chinese medicine. You want to opt for a school whose program emphasizes courses in traditional Chinese medicine; acupuncture is just one part of traditional Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture scholarships may be available; check this out as soon as you make the decision to enroll in a program – don’t wait. Talk to the financial aid counselors at the acupuncture school or college you are considering and see if they have any suggestions for scholarships, grants or loans. Before you commit to learning about any alternative medical technique, be aware that many of them have not been scientifically evaluated; do your homework.

Economic burden may be lessened with financial aid in the form of federal student loans. If you have a naturopathic school in your area, give them a call; they will undoubtedly know the licensing requirements. If you visit an acupuncture practitioner to learn more before you commit to acupuncture as a career, make sure to choose a practitioner who is licensed by a recognized national acupuncture organization.

Before you commit to any acupuncture school or to any acupuncture training you can purchase “Fundamentals of Chinese Acupuncture” by Andrew Ellis, Nigel Wiseman, and Ken Bosson. 484pp, illustrated, Harcourt, 1991, paperback; this text book is used in many acupuncture schools and acupuncture programs and will give you an idea if you want to pursue acupuncture as a career. You may not need a license to practice acupuncture in your state; get the facts first on which states require licensing. Consider contacting local organizations and health organizations to see if they know of any scholarships available.

Acupuncturists can expect to make about $45,000 per year starting out and can usually double that amount after a few years experience. Make sure to learn all you can about your state’s licensing requirements for acupuncturists before you do anything else. Our advanced medicine has proven the effectiveness of many treatments that have been practiced in other countries for many centuries; as a result, more and more insurance companies are covering alternative treatments like acupuncture.



For more information on choosing the best acupuncture schools and finding the best acupuncture school financing go to http://www.AcupunctureSchoolsTips.com a nurse’s website specializing in acupuncture schools tips, help, facts, free resources, including information on acupuncture schools list

Healthy Parenting


It’s the same story every year – you worry about whether the new teachers will understand your child. Will the teacher adapt to your child’s individual learning speed? Will she be able to recognize your child’s special aptitudes and talents? You don’t want to be the overbearing, interfering parent, but you still want to know these things.

You certainly cannot hold your child’s teacher accountable for every classroom nuance. After all, teachers are qualified educationalists, and we have to trust their judgment to a fair degree without questioning it. So what’s the solution? How do you stay on top of how your child is faring under his or her teacher? The answer is – build a good parent teacher relationship.

Parent teacher relationships are like many other relationships – once they are in place, they can overlook quite a few social gaffes. And like all other relationships, building a healthy parent teacher bond involves a certain process of breaking the ice, winning mutual trust and staying in touch.

Your objective here is obviously not to build a rip-roaring friendship – though that often happens. The primary purpose of building such a relationship is to have informal access to your child’s progress at school, and that may not happen merely by attending local PTA meetings.

Is such relationship-building really necessary? After all, you are busy and have lots of other things to do. Also, you as a parent are obviously entitled to inquire with teacher about your child’s academic performance. However, that is not all you need to know about how your child is faring at school.

You need to know how your kid is doing at the emotional level You may need to be able to make requests for special attention by the teacher You may require the teacher to offer instinctive evaluations You may need to communicate your own insights on your child’s mental make-up and ask that these be factored into the teaching process You may need to advise the teacher on your own parenting style and ask that it be supported in class, as well



Once of the main reason why most parents do not make efforts to build a healthy parent teacher relationship is the fear of vulnerability. Such parents worry that revealing too much about themselves will expose them as inefficient and ineffective parents, thereby laying them open to a teacher’s professional criticism.

The fact is – parents are as human as we are, and are often parents themselves. They may have their own insecurities in that role, and are therefore perfectly capable of understanding yours. On the other hand, you will never know of or benefit from this human side if you do not tap into it.

The only way to break the barrier of formality is to initiate and maintain a healthy working parent teacher relationship. If you aren’t the gregarious type who is comfortable with breaking the ice in person, you can take the help of interactive parent web sites designed to help parents interact with their children’s teachers.

Many parents find staying in touch with their children’s teachers in this manner quite comfortable. While signing up for such a parent web site, ensure that it also helps you connect with other parents and keeps you updated on after-school activities.



Priya Florence Shah writes for Parentella, a private communication platform for parents and teachers that enhances conversations between parents and teachers by creating groups for parents. Visit us for a private, safe, and secure experience in communicating with your child’s educationists.

Disease Prevention


Please feel free to use this article as long as credit is given to the resource box.

Keywords: Disease Prevention, Health Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Universal Coverage, Health Care, New Middle Aged Group

© Copyright Arthur Levine 2007

Words: 843

There is now a substantial portion of the population in the United States, which is unhappy with their health insurance coverage or lack thereof. There are approximately 46 million uninsured in the US.

Members of the New Middle Aged Group are particularly interested in their health insurance options because many of them lose health care benefits upon retirement. Medicare, which is available at age 65, does not cover everything, and individual or family health care insurance policies are very expensive and for the most part payable with pre tax dollars.

Health care costs in the US keep rising, and in most years health insurance premiums do too often at double-digit rates. .

Disease Prevention expenses as a portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDC) accounts for some 16% of the budget with only 4% spent on Disease Prevention while 50% of Diseases are preventable.

According to the Congressional Budget Office by the year 2020 health care spending which, is already more than $2 trillion dollars (16% of GDP), could easily exceed 25% of GDP.

Americans 65 and older represent about an eighth of the population and one third of health care spending. By 2030 older Americans could account for nearly half of health care spending according to a study by the Centers for Medicare Services.

Government statistics indicate that health care spending by Americans between 1970 and 2005 has increased on average 9.8% per year for private health insurance and 8.9% for Medicare beneficiaries according to the New York Times.

The Republicans by and large favor a private insurance plan called Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to solve the Health Care problem. An overview of this program is that it allows businesses or individuals to contribute a certain amount of money tax free to a HSA (Health Savings Account) and take catastrophe or major medical insurance for the balance. The good part is that it encourages individuals to become Disease Prevention conscious because most of their medical expenses are coming out of their HSA, from which the balance of funds can re rolled over like savings from year to year. In major companies where the program has been instituted savings have been substantial. The drawback is that it tends to draw in young healthy people, and does little to help the aging, sick or uncovered portion of the population.

The Democrats by and large favor some form of Universal Health Care funded by the federal government. The good part is that everyone would be covered. The drawback is that there is no inducement by individuals to practice Disease Prevention because the government is picking up the tab and this might result in a new massive federally funded program that over time cannot be adequately funded by the government as it grows in light of demands from our other entitlement problems such as, Medicare, Medicaid and Prescription Drug Insurance.

Today we find ourselves at the crossroads of escalating Health Care Costs and Health Care funding requirements that have brought us to the point of a collision.

The solution may lie in combining some form of both of these programs utilizing the platform of Health Savings Accounts, which would be federally funded to the extent needed to subsidize them so that everyone could be covered including those with pre existing conditions either through a series of federal corporate or individual tax credits, or with direct contributions in the individual’s name to fund the program, but it is not just about the cost of health care. It’s about finding a solution.

The solution to our health care needs may well lie in practicing Disease Prevention nationally.

The costs of funding this combined approach might be substantially less than under a straight Universal Health Care plan because people would have the incentive to practice Disease Prevention once they understand that it is their money that they are spending on their health care, which can be rolled over from year to year similar to an IRA, and because catastrophe insurance is generally less expensive then the current all inclusive small deductible type insurance program being offered.

To this end, a Disease Prevention Program should be made available to everyone that will help them maintain a better state of health, and enable them to minimize their health care expenses in keeping with good medical practice and the utilization of best care options.

We have to show people how to practice Disease Prevention at the same time that we seek to cover them with Health Insurance if we want to produce a program, which in the long run can be self-funding through medical cost savings.

*****



To find out how to look, act, and feel younger, and to stay healthy by practicing Disease Prevention in your fifties and sixties plus please visit http://newmiddleagedgroup.blogspot.com

Acupuncture


If you’re just starting out you’re probably learning all you can about the field of acupuncture for a career and all about acupuncture schools and how you’re going to pay for it. You’ll need to learn how and where you can earn a certificate or degree in acupuncture and what it’s like to work in the field of acupuncture all at a reasonable or low cost. Besides licensing you can also be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Practitioners who have this certification can use the title Diplomate of Acupuncture. The professional abbreviation is Dipl.Ac.

Check to see if your state is on the national list of about 50 acupuncture schools with accredited programs if you don’t know already. California have many acupuncture schools to choose from, while Wisconsin has only one school; some states have no schools. It’s important to get a good picture of all the treatments that are offered by the acupuncture school so that you acquire the skills needed to be well-rounded and well-versed for your patients.

Depending on the school, students may be required to study herbal medicine or may be offered herbal courses as electives. Acupuncture school education and training requirements can total from between 2500 to 4000 credit hours. It’s best to choose an acupuncture school that offers an extensive library focused on traditional Chinese medicine.

Once you’ve picked the school it’s important that you have a wide selection of study resources available so you can have all the literature that is essential for a broad learning experience. Acupuncture schools sometimes offer the science and philosophy of acupuncture too. And you want to find an acupuncture school that offers smaller classes.

Acupuncture is particularly effective at relieving or treating chronic muscle pain, stress, and PMS just to name a few symptoms. It’s also used for arthritis, headaches, migraine headaches, quitting smoking, weight loss, fertility, fibromyalgia, depression, insomnia, face lifts as in facial acupuncture, back pain, high blood pressure, pregnancy, cosmetic purposes, anxiety, Crohn’s disease and asthma. There is also a veterinary acupuncture branch for dogs and other animals.

If you need financial aid try contacting local philanthropic organizations and health organizations to see if they know of any scholarships available. Sometimes these organizations actually have scholarship money leftover that is unused and will accept an application for it. Talk to the financial aid officers at the school and see what suggestions they have for grants, scholarships and federal aid.

There is federal money available for education. Also there is money set aside for online degree programs. Check and see if your school has any of its classes available online and if so apply for these funds. There are education loans and student loans available if you are unable to get full or partial scholarships or grants.

Each state and each discipline has its own strict rules about how alternative medicine practitioners are to be professionally licensed. Take a look at the acupuncture schools in your state first. Naturally it will considerably cut down on your expenses if you can attend school closer to home. If you visit an acupuncture practitioner to learn more before you commit to acupuncture as a career, make sure to choose one who is licensed by a nationally recognized acupuncture organization.

Also, in order to qualify for federal aid make sure to enroll in a school that’s accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). The internships in acupuncture take place in acupuncture clinics or clinical settings, usually in the third year of school. Also if you have an acupuncture school or naturopathic school in your area, email or give them a call; they’ll know the licensing requirements. Or check with your state’s professional licensing division to see if licensure is required in the state you plan to practice in.



For more information on choosing the best acupuncture schools and finding the best acupuncture school financing go to http://www.AcupunctureSchoolsTips.com a nurse’s website for acupuncture schools tips, help, advice including info on acupuncture schools list