The School Authority

For most hopeful parents, when they discover that they’ll soon have a child, they tend to become over-excited: they immediately go to the grocery store and buy lots of nutritious food and proceed to the department store to purchase some appropriate dresses for the soon-to-be mother. Unfortunately, this excessive anticipation makes them neglectful of one important thing: fetal heart monitoring.

It is suggested that women must undergo electronic fetal heart monitoring while being pregnant, while going through labor, and while delivering her child. This procedure is important to observe the heart rate of the baby and the strength and duration of the contractions of the mother’s uterus. The results of fetal heart monitoring can indicate if the baby (or fetus) is healthy or if he has some problems.

A fetal heart monitor (usually called Doppler fetal monitor or Doppler fetal heart rate monitor by some users and manufacturers) is used to detect the heart beat of the fetus for prenatal care. It uses the Doppler Effect to give an audible reproduction of the baby’s heart beat. The term used to describe the general use of Doppler monitors is Doppler auscultation.

There are two types of fetal monitoring: the external and the internal.

External monitoring may be done by simply listening to the baby’s heartbeat using a special stethoscope. This stethoscope usually comes in the form of two flat devices, called sensors, which are held in place with elastic belts on the belly of the pregnant woman. One of these sensors uses ultrasound to observe and monitor the baby’s heart rate. The other sensor, on the other hand, measures the duration of the uterus’ contractions. Connected to a machine, these sensors transmit information which will be recorded and may be heard on an audio or be viewed on the screen.

While external monitoring may be done anytime during the pregnancy, internal monitoring, on the other hand, can only be conducted after the cervix has dilated to at least 2 centimeters (cm) and after the amniotic sac (inner membrane that surrounds the embryo) has burst. When these two conditions have begun, internal monitoring may be done continuously. In this procedure, a sensor is attached to the woman’s thigh using a strap. A thin wire, called electrode, is inserted through the vagina and cervix up to the uterus. The electrode will be connected to the scalp of the baby. Through this, his heartbeat may be heard. The information is transmitted to the machine which may either present it in an audio file or in a chart. Apparently, internal monitoring does not use ultrasound for monitoring unlike the other method.

Although the intention is good, providing a wheelchair to someone who is immobile can be problematic. There is, in fact, a popular belief that giving a wheelchair to a sick loved one may signify a tragic loss of hope of recovery.

Indeed, people confined to their wheelchair may move from place to place without needing any assistance. Unfortunately it does not treat their sickness and disability. Although the patient can move on wheels, his wheelchair will not enable him to overcome vertical obstacles. It therefore turns out that what you provide your loved one is not really “freedom,” but an improved version of confinement and, worse, a euphemism for motionlessness.

On the other hand, we do not deny the importance of wheelchairs. Wheelchairs allow the ill to find a new environment outside where the world is refreshing, bright and full of vibrancy and optimism. Patients can also breathe fresh air and receive enough vitamins from the sun. But the comfort it provides is not full. The motion of people ― including the sick ones ― should not be limited to left to right and front to back; they should also be able to travel upward or downward whenever they need to. Fortunately, through the intervention of science and technology, this is now possible through a wheelchair lift.

Wheelchair lifts are very beneficial to sick people, most especially to immobile patients, and to their family and caretakers. These are powered devices that raise (or lower down) a wheelchair and its occupant in order to defeat any vertical obstacle, say a stairway. They may be installed on the van (wheelchair-accessible vans), or can be simply put up on your staircase (wheelchair ramp). The former, however, is more expensive than the latter.

Wheelchair-accessible vans are vehicles with an installed wheelchair lift. Some sections of the vehicle are modified in order to cater the wheelchair and its user. Common modifications include the lowering of the floor of the car and the addition of ramp so the chair can be easily rolled into the vehicle. Others prefer to install a powered lift that picks the wheelchair from the ground level to the height of the car’s floor.

A wheelchair ramp, on the other hand, is an inclined plane that is added to the stairs. Ramps of this type could be permanent, semi-permanent or portable. Permanent ramps are cemented in place for perpetual usage. Semi-permanent ramps, alternatively, rest on the ground or cement pad and are best for patients with huge hopes of recovery. Lastly, portable ramps, which are lightweight and foldable, can be transported anywhere.

Bringing food in an airplane is actually a good idea. Foods served on flights do not seem and taste “real”; but rather processed and mechanized. They can either give you too salty foods like cocktail nut, too unsatisfying meals like a petite sandwich, or they could at least offer you candies that will give you short-lived sustenance. This does not even take into consideration the expensive prices of these frustrating meals. So the question is what should you bring? One good recommendation is a pack of cherries.

Cherries are known in the medical world to have a lot of nutritional benefits. They are used in making various therapeutic products ― even medicine. They contain fiber that can keep you filled up and enough carbohydrates to keep you kicking. However, bringing raw cherries on board could be a little bothersome. Imagine the hassle that you have to experience: you get a plastic or a Tupperware full of fresh cherries, you eat them giving small juice squirts around your lips (even on your clothes), then you have to go the bathroom to clean up the mess and dispose the waste if there are any. Luckily, there is now a solution to this dilemma: dried cherries.

Dried cherries can be of good help during airplane travel. Aside from keeping you full, they would also enable you to keep jet lag at bay. According to different studies, cherries are rich in a compound called melatonin. This compound is absorbed into one’s blood stream and aids a traveling person to regulate his biological clock. Ingesting dried cherries would therefore make you feel more awake even after your travel. Melatonin can also be helpful for late-night workers who were used to work in the day to adjust to their new schedule. There are also researches which say that melatonin can help people with insomnia to sleep early at night. It has been found out that dried cherries contain more melatonin than fresh cherries.

Dr. Reiter, a nutrition researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center, advises people who are about to travel toward the east to eat at least a handful of dried cherries 30 minutes before going to sleep. Once they arrive at their destination, they should eat dried cherries of the same amount also 30 minutes before trying to sleep until they become more at ease with the schedule and time-table. If travelers are heading the other way round, that is on the west, they should also follow the procedure; however, eating the cherries the night before departure is most recommended.

Female hair loss is a very frustrating problem. Usually the most difficult thing is to identify the correct cause of this condition. Hair loss in women can be caused by various factors: stress, improper nutrition and crash diets, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, harsh medication, other illnesses or a polluted environment.

Androgenetic alopecia is another, separate form of hair loss in both men and women.  Researchers consider that it’s caused by several factors – both genetic and environmental. Even if the exact mechanism of this dysfunction isn’t completely deciphered, most specialists agree that androgens, especially the dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are responsible for this unpleasant condition.

In men, androgenetic alopecia creates a certain pattern (being also called ‘male pattern baldness’): the hair starts thinning and falling at the temples, after a while affecting the crown of the head. In time, the victim can become completely bald or he may keep a little hair around the head.

For women, the situation is different. Their hair starts thinning and falling gradually all over the head, without having a well-defined pattern. It rarely leads to complete baldness.

While for men losing their hair is somehow acceptable from a social point of view, for women this experience is extremely devastating, resulting in anxiety, fear and even depression. The situation is worsened by numerous hair loss myths that are circulating everywhere, increasing our confusion and our lack of hope.

Some of these myths are: young women can’t experience hair loss; hair loss is caused by frequent shampooing; if you shave your head, the hair will grow back thicker… and the list can go on. This way, instead of finding a real solution and applying it properly, many victims of hair loss are losing time by chasing these myths and jumping from one sinking iceberg to another.

So what exactly can we do when experiencing such a problem? Should we go to a dermatologist immediately and perform various blood tests or there are other ways of dealing with our condition?

Female hair loss treatment is a complex matter. It totally depends, as stated above, on the cause of the dysfunction. To make sure that you’re exploring all the possibilities, you can do the following:

Start by analyzing your lifestyle. First, eliminate emotional causes: did you experience recently severe emotional traumas – the loss of a relative, unemployment, a divorce or a severe illness? Then, analyze your hair care procedures: are you dying/perming/blow drying your hair? While these procedures don’t cause hair loss by themselves, they can aggravate your existing condition. After that, look for hormonal causes: birth control, pregnancy, menopause and other hormonal-related situations can make your hair thinner. Severe diseases can also result in hair loss. In this case, your hair can fall out as a result of the disease itself or as a consequence of the medication (especially chemotherapy). Also, don’t forget to take a closer look at your alimentation and eliminate unhealthy products like sugar, bread, fried products and products containing preservatives. Have enough sleep and rest when you feel the need – exhaustion can easily affect your immunity and your overall well-being, having a negative impact on the state of your hair, skin and nails.

After exploring these potential causes, consider addressing a good dermatologist, especially if you suspect that you might suffer from androgenic alopecia. Follow the specialist’s advice, but also don’t be lazy and stay informed – you can find many useful resources on the internet. And don’t forget about your positive attitude – it can do wonders by making you stronger and accelerating all healing processes in your body!

Quitting smoking in some people’s minds can be one of the hardest challenges that people face. In fact, when things are looked at more clearly, quitting smoking should be one of the easiest actions and pieces of behaviour that people should take. There are numerous benefits to quitting smoking that it shouldn’t really be much more than an afterthought to quit smoking straight away and to start living the many benefits that quitting smoking brings.

The fact of the matter is, in Australia for example, a packet of cigarettes can cost upwards of $17. If you smoke a packet of cigarettes a day, seven days a week the grand weekly cost comes to $119. Not only will you have not smoked 175 cigarettes in your first week of not smoking, but you will have saved in excess of $119. The fact of the matter is cigarette prices are also increasing in other areas of the world. So if it’s not at $17 in your part of the world yet, it soon will be. If the financial repercussions and reasons aren’t enough to sway you. Let’s start talking about the health implications of smoking.

If you look at the figures more than 50% of smokers will prematurely die of a smoking related illness. You could die of throat cancer! The way of course they treat throat cancer for smoking is to attempt to remove the part of the throat that is infected, and if that doesn’t work, not only will you not have an ability to speak, you will soon die as the cancer cells spread to other parts of the mouth, face, heart and brain were you will roll over eventually, ending the huge amounts of pain, both physical and emotional that cancer brings.

Most people simply think that it can’t happen to them, that via smoking they will die an early die, leave their children and family behind in misery because they decided to continue smoking dead tobacco leaves because during the day, they used to find at times, was ‘stressful’ or ‘boring’. No amount of boredom, no amount of stress should really ‘force’ someone into smoking dead tobacco leaves, to develop a deadly addiction and then to die.

There is really never a perfect time to do anything in life. And smoking is no different. Regardless of whether you’re about to quit your job, or whether its highly stressful at the moment or whether its before you have a wedding – there is no time like the present to quit smoking. Within 24 hours of quitting you will notice many benefits straight away. Your breathing will be easier, both metaphorically and literally. And the guilt will start to dissipate, allowing you to start to enjoy life again without that background voice making you feel negative and guilty. That old story of smoking will be over with, and with that, a new day, a new life and a new beginning. Quit smoking today.

Orthopedic pillows are designed to adjust the position of the body to a more suitable posture while lying in bed or sitting. They intend to fit in to the orthopedic guidelines so that a person may have the right placement and support for his one or more body parts. People who lay down appropriately and comfortably will have a healthier lifestyle and a better sleep. That is why this type of pillow is considered therapeutic: it can relieve different aches and conditions like snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia, blood circulation problems, acid reflux, sciatica pain, whiplash, lower back pain, and more.

Traditionally, pillows are made from materials like fiber and foam. But now, there are pillows sold on the market that are made from new materials like memory foam, a heat sensitive polyurethane that can obtain and retain the shape of the body that lies upon it.

There are different types of orthopedic pillows that you can choose from. Each of them has a specific function that aids a certain body part when lying down. Some of the usual models include the cervical pillow, the neck pillow, the wedge pillow, the lumbar pillow, the knee pillow and the body pillow.

Cervical pillow. This type of orthopedic pillow, also called as contour pillow, has a curve that adapts to the contours of the head, neck, and shoulders for those who sleep on their back or on their side. There are claims that cervical pillows ease headaches, neck aches, stiff neck, and frozen shoulders. It also prevents sleeping disorders like snoring and sleep apnea.

Neck pillow. This pillow has a shape of a horse shoe that fits the contours of the neck. It is also called travel pillow because it is portable and is usually used in car seats. This pillow supports the neck straight while sitting up during traveling.

Lumbar pillow. For those people who work many hours per day sitting at a desk, this pillow is especially necessary. It is shaped like a half-moon and conforms to the shape of the body’s lumbar area, supporting it and preventing back ache and slouching.

Knee pillow. Probably, this pillow has the most unconventional shape for a pillow. Shaped like an hourglass, it is placed between the legs to raise the lower body and keep a straight sleeping position. Wedge pillows can be transformed into knee pillows when they are opened out and turned into a leg spacer. This pillow enhances blood circulation in the legs.

Body pillow. This is the longest among the group. It has total support for the entire body from the head to the knees. This pillow is recommendable for side sleepers.

Clinical studies show that snoring is present in about 40 percent of men and about 25 percent of the women population. Generally, snoring is not a concern unless it interferes with the sleep of the others. Yes, your loud snoring actually causes your partner trouble falling asleep. Hence, only few are aware that a simple problem like snoring might already be a sign of a severe medical condition called sleep apnea. It is an event where a person stops breathing for about 10 seconds at a time throughout the night causing dangerous falls in blood-oxygen levels. Below are some ways to alleviate, if not stop your snoring problems.

1. You must avoid sleeping flat on your back. Improve your sleeping posture by lying flat on back during sleep, the soft tissues that are at the base of the throat along with your tongue have a propensity of sliding backwards, thus obstructing air passages. Sleeping with your head raised may take some of the pressure off the airway, making breathing easier and reducing snoring.

2. Follow a regular sleep routine, regulate your sleep, this means you should sleep nearly at the same time every day. If one has relatively unbalanced sleeping pattern during the week, this might result in the possibility of developing severe respiratory instability during sleep. Getting at least seven hours of sleep per night is a good help.

3. Exercise regularly. Exercise does raise stress hormone and adrenaline levels in the body, but then falls down dramatically hours after the workout. It makes you feel tired, which will make you want to sleep so that your body can replenish its reserves. With proper exercise and a healthy diet, one can slowly but surely beat the symptoms of insomnia as the body fights back the bad effects caused by lack of sleep.

4. Watch your diet. Extra weight puts forth pressure on the muscles and soft tissues in the chest and neck that increases chances of snoring. Losing excess weight will aid in decreasing fatty tissue accumulations around air passages. Thus, this is one of the best snoring remedies attainable if given with much discipline with respect to having regular exercise and eating a healthy balanced diet. Foods like pears, thyme, horseradish, onions, garlic, leeks, scallions, lobster, and seaweed can help you stop snoring by increasing your throat muscle tone.

5. Do not smoke. Smoking causes the muscles to relax while also creating congestion of the nasal passages and the lungs. This bad habit results to swelling of the mucous membrane in the nose, swelling of the tissue in the throat, and blockage of the small vessels in the lungs therefore increasing chances of noisy sleep. To note, compared to the actual smokers, persons exposed to second-hand smoke experience more harmful effects than the usual.

6. Avoid alcohol. If it is impossible for you to quit alcohol drinking, you may at least try limiting your alcohol intake especially when you are about to sleep. Too much alcohol causes too much relaxation of the airway during sleep thereby causing you to snore even more.

Whiplash is an injury to the muscles, ligaments, vertebrae, or nerves of the neck that is caused when the head goes beyond the normal range of movement. This is usually triggered by a powerful force that suddenly throws the head forward and then rapidly back. Vehicular and athletic accidents are the usual causes of this injury. Some of its symptoms include neck pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, headache, and muscle spasms. If the accident has injured the neck gravely, the person may experience numbness in the arms, legs and face. The sooner the symptoms appear, the larger the possibility that the damage is great.

There is no single treatment for whiplash that is accepted by all doctors. Necessary treatments depend on the severity of the harm done. Normally, medical personnel give the patient pain medications, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The injured is also asked to wear a cervical collar for two to three weeks to avoid any movement which might worsen his condition.

People who suffer from whiplash injury can also attend physical therapies and exercises to help them cope with the muscular damage and correct their neck motion. It has been observed by many doctors that patients recover soon when they engage in healthy exercises a day or two after the accident. Self-care is also suggested, most especially if the patient is recovering at home. Hot compact may be applied on the nape to relieve muscle tension.

If there is tenderness at the back of the neck, which typically happens, one can apply ice or an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel on the inflamed portion for 10 to 20 minutes every hour. The pain caused by muscle spasms can be lessened by cold packs after every heat treatment. Doctors also recommend running a warm shower in the neck and shoulders for 10 to 20 minutes twice a day. It would also be better if the patient sleeps without pillow; it lessens the pressure in the neck and promotes healing.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol can be ingested by the patient to reduce nape pains and headaches. However, most people feel that the former is more effective than the latter. Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is available in different drug stores. Other types of these drugs like naproxen, diclofenac and tolfenamic require prescription from a doctor. Since these medicines are very strong, they tend to have some side-effects, one of which is constipation. Moreover, patients with complications such as heart failure and asthma are discouraged from taking these medications.

A finger pulse oximeter, usually called the finger oxygen monitor, is a device that allows one to observe and measure his hemoglobin’s oxygenation in a non-invasive way. Oxygenation is the per cent of hemoglobin that is combined with oxygen molecules. Typically, this medical tool is used to determine and monitor the saturation of oxygen in one’s blood.

How does it work? Simple. You just have to place a sensor on your finger and the device will do the rest of the work for you. The finger oxygen monitor will pass lights through your skin. These lights have both red and infrared wavelengths. The changing absorbance of each wavelength is measured. The ratio of these measurements determines the percentage of oxygenation. The information will be presented on the screen of your oximeter.

A finger oxygen monitor is necessary when the oxygenation of a patient is unstable, just like in the emergency or intensive care units. On the other hand, you need not to be in a critical stage to use a finger pulse oximeter. Through this medical gadget, anyone can measure and monitor his oxygenation anywhere, anytime.

Oxygen is vital to a human being. For people up in the air or down below, and even for those who are engaging in strenuous activities, this device is essential. They can monitor if they are getting enough oxygen despite their altitude or activity. If they discovered they have scarce oxygen in their blood, they can stop right away and take medical actions; if they notice that they have enough, then there’s a reason for them to go on and achieve their goal.

On the other hand, this oxygen monitor could intimidate people, especially those who have no sturdy or formal medical education. To be sure that what you are doing is “by the rule,” it is best that you are familiar with the instructions and specifications that are provided when you buy this device. Manufacturers usually include the basic information on how to interpret the findings. Read these materials and do make sure that you have understood them before using the oxygen monitor. If, however, you still feel hesitant, you should consult a medical professional to assist you in the procedure.

When you use the finger oxygen monitor, it is preferable that you attach the sensor to either your index or middle finger. Also be sure that the gadget fits well― not too lose and not too tight. Usually, it is attached to the finger for about 30 to 90 seconds. However, this length varies from person to person. When the procedure is done, always clean the oxygen monitor using alcohol.

A combination of sugar, saliva, and bacteria produces acids that attack teeth and may lead to its decay. Statistics show that tooth decay, also known as cavities, ranks 2nd among the most prevalent diseases in the United States. While cases of people (both young and adult) having cavities increase in an alarming rate, it is comforting to know that this kind of dental problem can be easily prevented. Here are the best ways to avoid such condition:

Floss everyday.
There are a lot of food debris caught between your teeth every time you eat. If these debris are not removed, they can actually lead to tooth decay. Flossing every day is the best way to remove food debris between the teeth.

Be with the right mouthwash.
While many mouth wash help diminish mouth odor, they also help decrease bad bacteria that causes tooth decay. They contain cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite, or zinc that may in turn serve as an antibacterial agent.

Do tooth brushing.
According to the National Dental Association, brushing your teeth regularly after each meal and/or three times a day can keep plague at a minimum. It is important that you brush your teeth properly at least twice a day with toothpaste enriched with fluoride. Fluoride help keep your teeth strong.

Choose your food.
Yogurt contains yeast that eats up present bacteria in the mouth. Any apples or other rough skinned fruits or vegetables will help eliminate food particles trapped in your teeth causing plague build up. Parsley, coriander, basil, rosemary, thyme, wintergreen, cardamom seeds, cinnamon bark, clove, fennel or anise seeds are also great breath fresheners. Eating healthy foods of complex carbohydrates and low sugar content is also advisable since they help decrease chances of getting tooth decay, avoiding expensive cosmetic dentistry prices.

Visit your dentist.
Visit your dentist at least every six months for cleanings and checkups to keep your mouth free of plaque buildup and other problems that may lead to tooth decay and tooth loss. The extent of some serious oral cavities can be seen by a dentist only through dental x-ray. Regular checkups and cleanings are key factors in preventing tooth decay and maintaining good oral hygiene.