Wednesday, July 15, 2009

care equipment health

Medical and Health care Equipment for Hospitals and Homes
By Sarah Freeland Platinum Quality Author


Medical Technology increases day by day as the human go further to search some interesting about universe. Human beings have the highest IQ from any other living thing. Thus, they are important persons who develop technology for their usage. Technology in the medical field is also increasing quickly as the need is also increasing. People related to medical field said that need of medical equipment are recently increase from last five years as the technology is also increase. Recently some new cases of patience are come outsides. Technology consultants certainly have acquired knowledge about what kind of medical and hospital equipment would be appropriate.

The research section is carried by scientists of the medical field. They research for new problems and crises. Many scientists would be needed to successfully bring a new medical device to fruition: system design experts, risk management experts, and device registration experts. Managers do not have time to round up all the necessary consultants. People have to take care of their health own. Doctors only give you ideas of prevention not prevent you from the diseases. You have to save you and your family from disasters. Keep your house clean. In today world only a healthy person become wealthy person. In medical technology instrument are important for big surgery. In big hospital medical instruments are mostly used. Technology is mainly used fro making advanced medical instrument.

Many families have concerns about their health. They may worry more about their children. Everybody is concern more about their health that’s why they are more interested to purchase healthcare equipment for their safety. In the previous time Home healthcare supplies are mostly used by those families who have small children and aged people, but today these are used by young one also. Home healthcare equipments include some equipment for exercise

The good news is that you can find a variety of home healthcare products and systems online. Many of these systems provide effective coverage for your home at prices that will surprise you. Of course, you will need to find the system that will best meet your needs. You may, for example, be concerned about your baby health you can find it in low rates. If you want to make your child future secure than you have to use Home healthcare supplies. A good supplier can only supply you good quality. They some times ask for higher money and some times they sell you in lesser price. It is often easier to shop online.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

toenail fungus laser treatment

Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment - Is it Worth?
By Dr. Eswararamanan VR Platinum Quality Author


Toenail fungus a very ugly fungi that affects almost 25 million persons around America. The toenail fungus causes the toenail to be very hard and thick and turn yellow. If you've a fungus infection and you are thinking about different treatments, there are a few things to consider.

There's no flawless fix for fungus nail or toenail fungus. There are some oral medicines for toenail infection, like Lamisil, and these are said to treat the infection about 10 percent of the time. A new recent treatment for this fungus is the use of lasers. So far there were a few studies that show very promising conclusions. These lasers work from killing the fungus but also leaving the nail and other foot tissues un-damaged. Many big companies are looking to get in on the action.

How exactly do the lasers work? These lasers are aimed at the fungus in the toenail that basically vaporizes it while leaving your skin unharmed.

Does it work? Around first clinic studies earlier this year, almost 90 percent of the patients were able to grow out a regular appearing nail after just one laser treatment. After that treatment, the toenail should grow usually in one year if there's a healthy bed to do so. The success rate here is similar to the oral fungal pill.

Is the laser treatment Agonizing? Is it Safe? The laser has absolutely no affect on regular and healthy skin tissue, there's no pain. The studies taken so far show absolutely no side effects from taking the laser treatment to get rid of the fungus.

How long will it take? Only ten minutes are needed for treatment, per toe.

So... how safe is it? There are absolutely no health or age restrictions. In recent clinical studies there were no bad reactions, harm, ailments or side effects. As you might know, the ability to use the medication accessible today for treatment carries with it the possibility of kidney failure, lasers don't.

Will my insurance cover it? The laser treatment of for toenail fungus isn't covered by most insurance companies or plans as it's thought of as aesthetic. The cost can be anywhere from $200 to $500.

It's credited to your operation fee if you want to go forward with treatment. The treatment is usually a fee of $50. If your infection is resistant or if it is not responding to regular toenail growth, the nails might need the next laser treatment therapy. This sometimes happens when all of your toenails are extremely infected. You may need additional treatments in this case.

If the toenail lasers, which did recently finish small clinical trials really work, they will show a recent way to cure toenail infections by killing the fungi while keeping the toe whole and healthy.

Currently, there's no sure fix. The fungus are so smart that popular fungus pills, which move the risk of liver cause injury to, are totally successful under 50 percent of the time. And medications that you physically put on your toes work less than 10 percent of the time.

Drug companies like Schering-Plough are working on recent pills and ointments and lotions to fight the toenail fungus.

pain relief options

The 7 Best Ways To Use Your Subconscious for Pain Relief
By Ben Plumb Platinum Quality Author


Your subconscious has influence over 7 different factors that could be causing your pain. Here's what you need to know about them so you can try to get relief.

The most effective way to use the subconscious for pain relief is to use visualization statements to encourage it to attack the pain process from multiple directions.

Visualization statements represent the specific language that your subconscious wants you to read back to it to help ease your pain. They’re simple and are targeted directly at the main factors that could bring you relief.

You can obtain these statements by learning how to communicate directly with your own subconscious mind. The process is straightforward and can be done at home by working with a facilitator over the telephone. You you need no special skills and no previous experience in working with the subconscious.

This approach may be helpful in addressing back pain or pain in the neck or other extremities, arthritis pain, fibromyalgia pain, or neuropathic pain (nerve pain).

Reducing the Pain Signal

• Pain Relief Factor #1 – Brain and Body Chemistry. Chemical reactions move pain signals along a pathway from your body to your brain. By focusing your subconscious on potential weak points on the pathway, you may be able to reduce the signal enough to get relief.

Avoiding Body System Triggers of the Pain Signal

• Pain Relief Factor #2 – The Musculoskeletal System. Your muscles, joints, tissues, ligaments, tendons and a number of other structures can be a source of back pain, arthritis pain, or other conditions. When you give your subconscious specific visualizations about these structures, it may be able to provide relief.

• Pain Relief Factor #3 – The Immune System. When your immune system is malfunctioning it could be implicated in arthritis pain, fibromyalgia pain, or other conditions that cause pain. By using visualizations you may be able to address the malfunction effectively enough to ease your pain.

• Pain Relief Factor #4 – The Endocrine System. A hormonal imbalance could be contributing to your pain. The organs that produce hormones may be weak, or the levels of hormones that they produce may be out of balance with one another. Through your subconscious you may be able to relieve the imbalance enough to ease pain.

Avoiding Lifestyle Triggers of the Pain Signal

• Pain Relief Factor #5 – Emotions. By visualizing a weakening of the connections between fear, anger and other emotions to your pain, you may be able to reduce the number of pain signals that are triggered. In addition, you may be able to weaken the strength of those signals once they are generated.

• Pain Relief Factor #6 – Food. Certain foods may be contributing to your pain. You can then try to use the subconscious to expose what may be the most prominent offenders--the nightshade vegetables, dairy products, wheat, or others. You can then try avoiding them to see if that eases your pain.

• Pain Relief Factor #7 – Sleep. If you're in pain you probably can't get enough sleep. This causes a vicious cycle--sleep deprivation makes the perception of pain worse, which further prevents sleep. Visualizations about a comfortable position to sleep in, and about other factors, may help you to break this cycle.

Engaging the Subconscious

If you can learn to engage your subconscious, you most likely will be able to identify which of these seven factors apply to you. You can then use visualization statements to give your subconscious the daily reinforcement it needs to possibly take the edge off your pain.

Monday, July 13, 2009

buy online tramadol

Pain Medication You Can Legally Order Online
By David Altfeder


Millions of American live with pain. Chronic pain, daily pain, short term severe pain. Of all the medications sold by online pharmacies, by far the most common type is pain relievers. You might think then that online pharmacies are a great source of pain relievers.

Well, did you know the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States (DEA) has busted and close over 5000 online pharmacies? Did you know that many online pharmacies sell counterfeit medication? Did you know it is a federal crime for you to order prescription drugs from outside the United States?

It is true, online pharmacies are a great source of pain relief medication. This article teaches you to order pain medication legally, from within the United States, with a legal prescription. It’s the only way to go!

First, the caveats: You cannot legally order medication from outside the United States, even if you have a prescription. We always hear about the elderly taking buses to Canada to buy cheap medicine. The fact is, as of this writing, this course is illegal. Also, you cannot legally order medicine from a pharmacy without a prescription. Many online pharmacies (including my own) have physicians on staff who review your medication request and write you a prescription if they think it’s safe. In addition, NEVER order narcotics through the mail. Forget codeine, Tylenol #3, oxycontin, demerol, percodan and percocet. You can be charged with a federal crime for buying these substances. Lastly, regardless of the medication you buy, be sure to read the package insert (or a monograph on my web site). Drugs interact with each other and with your body- the package insert will tip you off to potentially dangerous behavior with respect to the medication you ordered.

The following are quick summaries of common pain relief drugs you can order through the Internet with very little risk:

Fioricet (butalbital)

Fioricet is a combination drug. It is made up of acetaminophen, caffeine and butalbital. Acetaminophen is the same medication in Tylenol You know caffeine from coffee (or even your favorite candy bar.) Butalbital is a mild barbiturate. It relaxes you.

Medical Science does not have an explanation for the reason this combination of drugs works so well, but the fact is Fioricet (and its generic form butalbital) is highly effective for tension headache. Presumably, it relaxes the muscles in the head and neck which typically tighten during tension headaches.. This is the top selling drug at our pharmacy month after month- it really helps headaches!

Soma (carisoprodol)

Soma is a muscle relaxant. It acts by blocking electrical signals among nerves in the reticular formation of the brain and in the spinal cord. Carisoprodol, combined with rest and physical therapy, is prescribed for the short term relief of painful muscle conditions- particularly muscle spasm (where the muscle tightens and does not relax). Most back strains result in muscle spasm, so patients find carisoprodol highly effective in relieving back pain.

Celebrex (celecoxib)

Celebrex is used in the treatment of symptoms of arthritis. This includes joint pain, stiffness, swelling and inflammation. The medication does not cure arthritis, but does provide symptomatic relief. It s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which relieves pain and inflammation. The drug works by blocking the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins contribute to the pain and swelling associated with arthritis.

Ultram (tramadol)

Ultram is used for treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain. It binds to the opiod receptors on nerves (the same mechanism used by narcotics), but it has a far lower potential for dependency. It’s the closest medication to a narcotic you can order legally in the US online. It is not a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug) and does not carry the risk of stomach ulceration and internal bleeding which can accompany the use of such medications. It is often prescribed for pain associated with shingles, fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases.

Ulracet

Ultracet is a combination of acetaminophen and tramadol. It is typically prescribed for the short term (up to five days) relief of moderately severe acute pain. It is often prescribed for post-surgical pain or after dental procedures.

The ultram mechanism as described above is very similar to the mechanism employed by narcotics. Acetaminophen of course is the active ingredient in Tylenol. It works by increasing the threshold to pain (i.e. it takes more pain stimulus to cause the sensation of pain). These two drugs work by different mechanisms, and they combine to be more effective than either drug alone.

Pain relief medication can be ordered safely online, but one should exercise appropriate caution before doing so. Specifically, it’s important to determine whether you need to see a physician before ordering pain medication. If you have a sudden onset of pain which is not readily explained, you should consult a physician first. If in doubt, go to the emergency room. If however you are a patient who has been diagnosed, and pain is a recurring problem, you can conveniently order pain medication online- typically at a lower cost than the combined cost of a doctor’s appointment and the medication itself.

Copyright 2005 DeepDiscountPharmacy.net

David Altfeder is the owner of http://www.onlinepharmacyzone.com and http://www.buyfioricet.biz . He has written a series of articles on medication, medicine, health and the pharmacy industry.

generic buy

Brand-Name Drugs, Generic Drugs, and Illegal Prescription Drugs
By Rick Hendershot Platinum Quality Author


If you've thought about buying prescription drugs on the internet you may have found the whole experience rather confusing. Here are some questions you might have wondered about.
  • Are generic drugs as good as brand-names?
  • Are drug copies such as "generic viagra" safe to use?
  • Does it matter if a drug is not "FDA approved"?
  • Are you breaking US law if you buy non-FDA-approved drugs on the internet?

These are just some of the questions many people have about online pharmacies and online drugs. The purpose of this article is to answer some of these questions

1. What is a Generic Drug?

In the US and many other countries, a "generic" drug is a copy of a brand-name drug. It has identical active ingredients as the brand-name version, and so it is the same as the brand-name version in dosage, safety, strength, quality, performance, and intended use.

A generic version of a brand-name drug is not just similar to its brand-name counterpart. It is identical in all its important characteristics. It must not look like the brand-name version, and it may have a different flavor. But the amount of important active ingredients is the same,and therefore it has the same therapeutic characteristics as its brand-name counterpart.

2. Does every Brand-Name Drug have a Generic Counterpart?

No, every brand-name drug does not have a generic counterpart. This is especially the case with newer drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. These brand-name formulations are patent-protected for 20 years from the date of the submission of the patent. That means that no other drug company can introduce a "generic" version of any of these drugs while its patent is in effect. This allows the original developer of the brand-name drug to recover research and development costs.

When the patent for a specific drug expires, other companies -- including the original developer of the brand-name drug -- can apply to the FDA to sell generic versions.

This also explains why legitimate generic drugs are cheaper than their brand-name counterparts. A generic manufacturer does not have to recover research and development costs and can therefore sell them for less. This also has a tendency to drive down the price of the brand-name version as well.

3. Do Generic Drugs have to be FDA-Approved?

Yes, all prescription drugs, including all generic drugs must be FDA approved. In order to be sold to the public, generic drugs must pass the same FDA inspections as their brand-name counterparts. They must be manufactured to the same high standards, and the facilities where they are produced are subjected to the same inspections. In fact, an estimated 50 percent of all generic drugs are produced by the same company that produces the brand-name version of the drug.

4. Is there such a thing as a Non-FDA-Approved Generic Drug?

No, technically speaking, there is no such thing as a non-FDA-approved "generic" drug. As outlined above, legitimate "generic" drugs must have the same characteristics as their brand-name counterparts, and must pass through the same FDA approval process in order to be sold to the public.

When an offshore company copies a brand-name drug before its patent expires it cannot get FDA approval because it is breaking US law.

5. Problems with Offshore Copies of Brand-Name Drugs

There are two major problems with so-called "generic" drugs that are not FDA approved.

  • It is illegal to sell these drugs in the US (and other countries) because they are ignoring US and international patent laws
  • It is dangerous to buy and use these drugs, because they are not subject to inspection and regulation. According to some sources, "many of these generics are created in unsanitary, make-shift labs and over half of these medications tested are cited for being unsafe for onsumption." In many cases they are found to contain "little to none or too much of the active ingredient."

6. How Can You Be Sure You are Buying FDA Approved Drugs?

  • The website should say "FDA Approved" or "FDA Approved Pharmaceuticals"
  • Websites offering "generic" versions of newer drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Propecia are selling non-FDA-approved versions of these drugs. These drugs have not been around long enough for their patent to have expired, so the "generic" copies are illegal copies.
  • Never buy from a website that has no phone number to call or physical address you can verify.
  • The online pharmacy should have knowledgeable licensed consultants able to answer your questions.

For FDA-Approved prescriptions, visit Online FDA-Approved Prescriptions - Men's Health, Women's Health, Pain Remedies, Quit Smoking, Weight Loss & More... Next day delivery available.

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Buy Prescription Drugs Online: Save Time And Money
By Wain Roy Platinum Quality Author


Get online, point your cursor, click and order. Open your door and find the ordered products at your doorstep. Buying prescription drugs online is now very easy and popular. Ordering discount prescription drugs from an online pharmacy not only saves time and money but also gives you the convenience of purchasing medicines from home. The number of online pharmacies is growing rapidly and there are thousands of websites offering prescription drugs for sale. Consumers nowadays are replacing their trip to corner drugstores with just a click onto the Internet where they find websites selling prescription drugs and health products at a discount price.

You should be extra cautious while purchasing medicines from an online pharmacy. Investigate to ensure that you are dealing with a licensed pharmacy before making a purchase. Safe online pharmacies always ask for a prescription from a licensed physician. They also have a pharmacist to answer all your queries and provide you contact details in case you face any problem. A typical online transaction includes a doctor’s prescription, an online pharmacy and satisfied customers.

One of the most interesting things people have witnessed while ordering prescription drugs online is getting detailed information about drugs. Users can find out easily what drugs to use, the drug side effects, and their possible interactions. There are even online discussion groups dedicated to specific drugs. Before purchasing drugs online, it is important that one consults the doctor. Prescription drugs should be obtained only after the doctor prescribes it.

Research has revealed that one in four Americans have searched online for prescription drug information. 64% of American households are regular consumers of prescription drugs. Above report suggests that the primary reason for online drug purchase is convenience. A recent study has shown that sale of drugs through cross-border Internet pharmacies to consumers in many countries has seen a significant and rapid growth. The top best selling drugs are Lipitor, Zocor, Nexium, Prevacid, Advair Diskus etc.

Ordering prescription drug online is a very simple process. While filling up the order form, you can either attach your prescription with it or you can fax it to the online pharmacy. Once you have placed an order, under normal circumstances your drug will be delivered at your door within 7-14 days. For the best buy in prescription drugs, opt for generic medications from an online pharmacy. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients and work just as effectively, but cost much less.

Internet pharmacy usually refers to a registered licensed pharmacy that has a retail outlet and also sells or supplies medicines and provides professional medical services over the Internet. Many reputed Internet pharmacies allow patients to consult a licensed pharmacist from the privacy of their home. Licensed pharmacy websites on the Internet provide consumers with a convenient, private way to obtain needed medications at an affordable price.

Online pharmacies offer the same drugs dispensed in the United States that are manufactured by the same pharmaceutical companies. Only difference is the cost. That's because pharmaceutical companies have one set of prices for drugs in the United States and cheaper set of prices for drugs in other countries. That's why the typical online pharmacy is based in Canada. Online Canadian drug pharmacies have emerged as the leaders in the industry.

Walkers And Walking Aids - When Do They Become A Necessity

Walkers And Walking Aids - When Do They Become A Necessity?
By Stephanie Maddox


The idea of using a walking aid will cause some to feel a loss of independence, others may fear the "shocked glance" of a passerby, and many, far too many, simply cannot or will not accept the fact that an injury, age, or other medical condition truly demands the use of some type of walking aid. Human nature, memories, and ego all play a role in clouding this decision- making process. The difficulties associated with "admitting to themselves" that getting help is no longer a choice, it has become a necessity, is an idea that some will completely reject and others fail to fully appreciate. This barrier, this denial of the obvious, must be overcome.

The fundamental question one must ask, the bottom line, in any discussion or decision- making process regarding the use of a walker or walking aid is very simple: "Is a serious fall inevitable?" Not something minor, not just a simple stumble and fall to the knees accompanied by a few bruises, but an uncontrollable fall into furniture or a stacked grocery aisle, or the loss of balance while going up or down a stairway. The very real possibility of a serious fall, resulting in serious injury, must either be recognized by the individual himself, or by someone who cares enough to proactively intervene.

Should you, or a loved one, have any type of short or long-term physical condition which brings the fear or likelihood of falling while completing the un-extraordinary daily routines we all must deal with, some type of walker or walking aid will very likely bring the help you need. As importantly, if the concerns mentioned above are applicable to someone you care for, perhaps a family member; the subject of a walker or walking aid must be brought up and very frankly discussed. To do less would be uncaring or irresponsible, for the inevitable fall will come. If that fall brings serious injury, there is nothing that hindsight will do to help with the recovery, further loss of independence, or agonizing guilt that will be the result.

There are multiple types of walking aids, including canes, folding walkers, rolling walkers, some equipped with baskets, seats, still others with hand brakes. These devices are carefully engineered and designed to provide precisely the right amount of help and assistance for those with physical challenges. There are devices to accommodate every height, weight, or limitation. However, none will help, none will prevent the inevitable fall, if they are not used by those in need.

As you consider whether or not a walker or other walking aid is a necessity, carefully weigh the recommendations of your medical providers, which will help assure the device you chose is the best suited to the need. Of course, seeking a doctor's help and advice, then finally making the decision to find that device may prove difficult; but, once made, will bring a much safer, healthy, and more independent lifestyle to the one in need of assistance; and peace of mind to all those who love and care for them.

Walkers

Walkers
By Noah Lam


Walkers are specialty equipment that are becoming more visible and prominent as our population ages. Our elderly are still active enough and are not quite ready to be confined to a wheelchair. As we age our balance might not be as strong as it use to be. In addition, walkers are not just for the seniors, but rather for any one that needs additional stability when walking. Some children have difficulty on walking and walkers aid in that development.

Basic walkers have 4 legs, in which a person has a frame on 3 sides of them for stability. With each step forward they need to lift the entire walker up and forward and then walks forward into the frame.

Two wheeled walkers have two front caster wheels on the front legs, and plastic ski glides, glide caps or walker balls on the rear legs. The walker balls are sometimes made from tennis balls with different patterns other than the usual yellow or green tennis balls that you use to play with. Sometimes a person does not have the strength or dexterity to lift a walker. The two wheels in the front and glides in the rear provide an easier of movement, and still create the stability for the user

Four wheeled walkers are sometimes called rollators. Most rollators have a seat to provide a place to rest on short or long walks. Some have hand brakes to slow or stop the walker from moving, and others require that you push down on the handles to stop the walker from moving forward.

Posterior walkers are usually used by children who are learning to walker. These walkers are used in reverse from the conventional walker. The walker is actually behind the person. Basically the person walks forward and then pulls the walker behind them for stability, and usually the wheels are setup for one-way direction so that the walker does not go backwards.

Gait Trainer are used to help train a person to avoid scissoring, the crossing of the legs. These walkers provide prompts to aid in training a person to walk.

Height positioning of a walker is crucial for proper usage. In general, the height of the grips should line up with the wrist. Positioning the handle too low and the person will be hunched over in an uncomfortable position. Too high of a position, and the person will have a harder time transferring his or her weight. Height adjustments can be made by sliding the legs up and down and positioning the push bottom mechanism in the correct position. You should consult the vendor or read the manual for your particular walker.

Walker sizes range from Pediatric to Bariatric (a capacity of 1000 lbs).

There are a variety of accessories that make the walker useful to a person. Baskets to hold your stuff, Cup holders to hold that cold beverage during the summer months and that Starbucks Premium coffee during the winter months. Trays are available when you want to have a meal or play cards with your friends.

An Introduction to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

An Introduction to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
By Thomas Parker Platinum Quality Author


Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by a lack of sunlight. It is most prevalent in the winter months when sunlight levels are low with December, January and February being the worst months for it. Approximately 7% of the UK population suffer from serious SAD whilst a further 17% suffer from a mild form. In this article I will be helping you learn a little more about this condition by providing you with an introduction to seasonal affective disorder.

To begin I will first describe how sunlight affects your body's production of the hormone melatonin. When the sun goes in at night this acts as a signal for your body to start producing and releasing melatonin. Melatonin makes you feel sleepy and helps your body shut down for the night. Then in the morning when the sun comes back out, the light acts as a trigger for your body to stop producing and releasing melatonin which helps you wake up. This is your body's normal process for regulating sleep cycles.

In the winter months sunlight levels are much lower with the sun coming out later and going in earlier. For some people these winter sunlight levels are not enough to stop the body from producing melatonin completely which can lead to the onset of seasonal affective disorder. SAD brings with it a number of undesirable symptoms including; problems concentrating, problems sleeping and varying levels of depression.

It is unknown why seasonal affective disorder only affects certain individuals but for those it does affect there are treatments available. Light therapy is one of the most effective options with research suggesting that 85% of SAD sufferers will benefit from this type of treatment. It involves using a specially designed light box and then being in a close vicinity to it for about two hours a day. For example, you could put the light box in your living room for two hours every evening.

I hope this article has given you a good overview of seasonal affective disorder. If you seem to feel extra tired or slightly down during the winter months you may even have a mild form of SAD yourself. Thankfully, it is treatable in the majority of cases with light therapy being a very good option. If after reading this article you feel you may have developed this condition then go and discuss your concerns with your doctor. SAD does not have to ruin your winter and with their advice it can be properly treated.

Seasonal Affective Disorder- Try Natural Light

Seasonal Affective Disorder? Try Natural Light Therapy
By Robert William Locke Platinum Quality Author


Thousands of people every year go into a sort of depression, once fall comes. This is called SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Thousands more suffer from jet lag which is the curse of modern day travel. These two problems are closely related in that their causes are similar. There is one solution for both problems and that is the use of light therapy.

How can a light therapy lamp help in getting over jet lag or indeed in help a person to overcome SAD? As the days get shorter and shorter as winter approaches, the SAD sufferer will go into a sort of depression because s/he needs light. When there is snow, people tend to suffer less from SAD as there is so much more light.

The precise cause of seasonal affective disorder isn't known, but genetics and your age may be factors. In fact most sufferers are women around the age of thirty but it can strike anybody in the age range 15 -55.The general recommendation for most people with seasonal affective disorder is to begin treatment with light therapy in the early fall, as soon as the earliest symptoms start. Light therapy in seasonal affective disorder is independent of time of day or circadian phase.

Sunlight and natural light are essential to our natural biological rhythms. Once there is a change in these rhythms, then our bodies have difficulty in adjusting. Shorter days and long haul flights upset our natural clocks. Table-lamps are ideal at twilight when the light begins to fade.

If your doctor suggests you try light therapy, you may use a specially made light box, or a light visor that you wear on your head like a cap. Generally, light therapy takes about 30 minutes each day throughout the fall and winter, when you're most likely to be depressed. If light therapy helps you, you'll continue using it until enough sunlight is available, typically in the springtime.

How many times has a holiday or a business appointment been ruined by jet lag? It can last for days after arrival. Every time we cross a few time zones quickly, then we are likely to suffer from this condition. It can have negative effects on your judgment in a business deal and can also make you feel even more depressed when you are trying to get used to your normal routine, once back at home.

Your body clock will not be able to keep with the plane as it crosses several time zones very quickly so it will end up out of sync with the destination time. In addition changes to night and daytime come very quickly and the rhythms which normally decide our eating and sleeping routine are all out of gear. In addition, the rhythm of our body temperature will be skewed as well.

The best way to recover from jet lag and a SAD, is to invest in a sad light box or table lamp. No faddy anti-jet lag diets which you have to start way before the journey and continue afterwards. Some people take sleeping pills which can lead to fatal blood clots. Melatonin has been known to be effective. But the best, most natural way is the sad table lamp.

Light Therapy as a Treatment for SAD

Light Therapy as a Treatment for SAD
By Mike Zimmerman


The use of light therapy as a treatment for SAD syndrome, properly named seasonable affective disorder, is well known to, and generally recommended by, the medical profession. Millions of poor souls are affected by seasonal affective disorder and while most of us look forward to Christmas all they experience is depression and a craving for starchy and sugary foods.

Sufferers become lethargic, feel tired even after sleep, and can suffer physical pain in the joints and abdomen. They can feel despair, guilt with nothing to be guilty about, and severe anxiety. Frustration and irritability for no apparent reason are also common. To some it is mild and to others it can be very severe to the point of suicide. It is not, therefore, a condition to be ignored and light therapy definitely helps in most cases.

OK, perhaps they do enjoy Christmas with their families, but the depression is not helped by the weight that they can put on through the excess of sugars and starches that they consume through no fault of their own. Not for them New Year resolutions to keep off the sugars and starches. The credit card bills at the end of January do not help either.

So how can light therapy help SAD disease, as people call it, though it is actually a syndrome and not a disease? It can’t be ‘caught’ or passed from one person to another and it occurs in varying degrees. It is sometimes referred to as SAD disorder and Winter Blues, but what you call it is irrelevant. Professional psychologists agree on the use of light therapy as a treatment for SAD, and lamps are available that provide the full effect of natural sunlight.

It is very important to understand that this is a very real condition, with potentially very serious consequences if not treated properly. Many sufferers feel isolated due to them feeling not fully understood by most people. It is not something they can just ‘snap out of’ or be resolved by them ‘pulling themselves together’. It must be recognized by sufferers and their families that light treatment as a therapy for SAD can help their symptoms and, in the most severe cases, save lives. Not only life itself, by the treatment of potential suicides, but also the quality of life of the millions of less serious cases.

Some sufferers are lucky enough to work in an environment where their exposure to sunlight can be maximized, but others do not. Office workers with desks beside a window can adjust their seating as to achieve this, but those working in windowless environment, which is the case in most manufacturing units, are unable to. Many with the potential to suffer from this disorder escape it through an outdoor life, or holding a job that involves predominantly outdoor work, such as the armed forces and construction industries.

With fewer daylight hours in winter, it is theoretically possible for an individual to have weeks with very little exposure to natural sunlight. Perhaps this is a slight exaggeration, but not everybody works only five day weeks. SAD is not a condition considered by employers in their provision of facilities for the disabled, probably because it is either not though of as a disabling condition, or because of the general ignorance about it.

Melatonin is a hormone found in all humans, and is produced in higher levels by the body in the absence of sunlight. Melatonin is known to have something to do with the sleep-wake regulation, and people tend to get sleepier with higher levels of melatonin. It makes sense, since it is produced at sundown, and its production declines with dawn. So melatonin production may have a lot to do with SAD disease. It is as uncertain as is the knowledge of the effect of melatonin in the body, but it is under investigation. Do not, therefore, as some suggest, use melatonin as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder, since it may in fact aggravate it.

Far better, as the medical profession agree, is to use light therapy. Light therapy as a treatment for SAD is the simplest available, and is also portable. Light therapy can be used at home and in the workplace. It is just a shame for the sufferers that it has not been given the publicity and the research that it should, due it being a seasonal disorder.

10 Advantages of Light Therapy

10 Advantages of Light Therapy
By Lee Dobbins Platinum Quality Author


Weakness and disease are inescapable facts of life. You could fall prey to a pathogenic bacterium that could eat away your skin. You could catch a deadly virus that could lodge in and weaken your lungs. You could be sick because of sunlight, or you could be sick because of depression related to the weather.

Sickness is inevitable, but suffering is optional. There are many therapies available to cure sickness, or to alleviate the pain of its symptoms. You can take medicines or be injected with them. These medicines are engineered in the laboratory to destroy infectious agents by either breaking open their cell walls, or targeting pathogenesis-related genes in their genetic material.

You can also be given vaccines to protect you from future infections. Vaccines are actually a mild version of the pathogen, and mimic the presence of the pathogen in your body. It is this mimicry that, in turn, triggers a mild immune response, which leads to your body producing cells that will keep you from succumbing to infections when you grow older.

Surgery is the last resort when trying to cure a disease. Parts of damaged organs can be removed, so that they do no further harm to the body. Whole organs may also be transplanted into you to ease the body of its burden of trying to use an organ destroyed by pathogens. You may be fitted with prosthetics, given chemical treatments, or tumors can be taken away for biopsy.

Thanks to modern technology and discoveries in science, these are not the only ways that diseases can be treated. Laboratory research has found that certain frequencies of light can actually kill pathogens or even rejuvenate cells. As a result, laboratories and clinics now specialize in research and applications in light therapy.

Certain wavelengths of light can have different effects on living organisms. Ultraviolet, or UV light, for example, can destroy bacteria. Lasers can change the configurations of molecules. Alternating periods of light and darkness can cause different plants to fruit or flower, and can change sleep rhythms in humans as well.

Light therapy exploits these properties of light and uses them to create regimens that can help cure, or alleviate the pain brought about by certain diseases. Light therapy can also be used for cosmetic purposes, and is often used in psychiatry to relieve weather-related depression.

Also known as phototherapy, light therapy involves exposing subjects to specific light wavelengths using light emitting diodes (LED), lasers, fluorescent lamps, or bright lights emitting all the colors of the spectrum. Such procedures will be prescribed for a short period of time, and are non-invasive. That is, they will not involve surgery or other penetrating therapeutics, and can thus ease the anxiety of the needle-fearing, scalpel-phobic patient.

What are the advantages of using light therapy?

- Light therapy is a non-invasive method that can kill acne-causing bacteria. Acne removal can be painful if done in a dermatologist's clinic, with only piercing equipment and syringes. Thanks to advances in light therapy, these bacteria can be destroyed when the light penetrates their cell walls, thus stopping them from causing more acne.

- Lack of light, as well as the gray air of winter, can trigger depression. Light therapy can treat depression disorders by giving patients various amounts of light, awakening the brain into thinking that the less gray seasons of summer and spring have come. This prevents patients from taking anti-depression medications, which can have side effects.

- Light therapy can work into the body's sleep rhythm, or circadian rhythm. Research shows that our sleep habits are governed by light, and light therapy exploits this fact by giving patients varying amounts of light at designated times of the day. This keeps patients from taking tranquilizers to get a good night's sleep. It can also alleviate the pain of jet lag for frequent travelers.

- Light therapy can treat skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema at a much faster pace than other therapeutics. Ointments and shampoos need months, even years to fully take effect.

- If you are miles away from the beach, but still want to get a tan, you can go to an accredited tanning salon for UV light therapy. At safe doses, UV light can give you the tan that you want without you worrying about overexposure to the sun's harmful rays.

- Light therapy users claim that light rejuvenates their cells and gives them a more youthful, glowing look. This means less spending on expensive ointments and elixirs promising to turn back the clock on skin.

- Light therapy has been shown to be largely effective for at least ninety percent of patients.

- Light therapy can be done at home, with special light boxes. Although expensive, rising demand can lower the prices of such light boxes.

- When done with the supervision of experts, light therapy can be controlled, and its effects monitored accordingly. That is, the amount of light, its intensity, and frequency can be measured and adjusted easily.

- Light therapy is safe for many patients, if placed under the control and supervision of accredited experts.

If you think that light therapy is for you, consult with your doctor, and find out what clinics are accredited and certified in your area. If you fear needles and scalpels, but want to get cured and get better, then light therapy might just be the answer you are looking for.

Light Therapy for SAD: What Lights to Buy

Light Therapy for SAD: What Lights to Buy
By Anne Clarke Platinum Quality Author


So how do you treat Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Because ordinary light bulbs and other types of lighting are not like the sun, they are not powerful enough to be a treatment for SAD. However, there are many kinds of lights that can help. Several lights are especially designed to treat SAD. The individual suffering form Seasonal Affective Disorder should use exposure to these lights before trying the other options I mentioned previously.

He or she will need exposure to the light from these lamps, for up to four hours every day. The lighting created to combat SAD is incredibly bright light. It is at least ten times the intensity of ordinary domestic lighting. Often setting it on a table or high surface—the light must be able to shine directly into the eyes. The light treatment consists of the individual sitting about two to three feet away from the source of light. This method has been proven safe, even though one does not have to stare directly into the light.

Treatment should be used on a regular basis in the winter. Therefore the SAD treatment lights must be used daily. Ideally the light therapy should begin when the first signs of autumn appear or as soon as the sufferer of the disease begins to experience the symptoms of SAD.

Within four days the patient or affected individual should notice the symptoms disappearing. However, the person must be sure not to use any sunglasses anything else that would block light to the retina.

Certain kinds of light boxes emit more intense light than others. In a case such as this, the individual may not need to be exposed to the light as long per day. Check the instructions on your light box to determine how much light you will need to relieve yourself from the symptoms of SAD. There are many lamps available which you can use on a trial basis. It is recommended by the SADA that someone suffering from SAD test the light box they want to buy first—to see if the symptoms improve before making your final purchase.

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Signs and Possible Lighting Solutions

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Signs and Possible Lighting Solutions
By Anne Clarke Platinum Quality Author


The symptoms of SAD that you will experience if you are in fact, affected by the disease, will occur annually every winter—as soon as the days grow shorter and the dark hours increase. Depending on where you live, symptoms will begin approximately between late September and last up to the end of April.

The following are some of the telltale symptoms of SAD:

1)Trouble Sleeping:

Very often the patient or affected individual will suffer from a persistent desire to sleep and will have difficulty staying awake at all. However, despite taking naps, if the patient or affected individual does take naps, he or she will also suffer from extreme fatigue. This is because often the patient or affected individual will experience very interrupted sleep, with many moments of wakefulness breaking up his or her sleep cycle. Often this symptom will be accompanied waking very early in the mornings.

2) Lethargic state of mind:

There is in many cases, in addition to the fatigue, a sufferer may also exhibit signs of having trouble carrying out his or her obligations. The daily routine of the individual will be disrupted by a lack of desire to do anything, he or she may feel a bit guilty because of their unexplained unproductive nature, but this is typically ignored as a result of the illness.

SAD, if the case is extreme enough, has cost people their jobs and affected their families as well.

·3) Depression:

The patient or affected individual will experience depression. This is the very most common symptom of SAD. Especially feelings of guilt, low self-image, hopelessness and misery, or the depression can take a different route and numb him or her completely, the apathetic state of depression can be very destructive as well.

·4) Overeating:

Overeating is a very common symptom of SAD. The affected individual experiences cravings, primarily for foods containing sugars and other forms of carbohydrates, this usually results in weight gain and can therefore perpetuate the symptom of depression.

·5) Anxiety:

a)Social anxiety:

The sufferer often tends to avoid social contact with almost anyone, they also experience irritability and frustration concerning social situations.

b)General anxiety:

Inability to cope with stress, (often stress relating to problems perpetuated by apathy and inability to perform everyday tasks), by loss of libido, and decreased physical contact with anyone, even his or her significant other.

On the flip side, the sufferer will often experience short periods of what is called hypomania, which means over-activity during the spring and summer. However, this kind of anxiety (if you would call it that) vanishes in the spring along with all of the other symptoms of SAD.

In the category of sub-syndromal SAD, symptoms such as tiredness, lethargy, sleep and eating problems occur, but depression and anxiety are absent or mild. So just because you do not demonstrate all of these symptoms, you could still be a victim of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The good news is that there are lights and lamps that will help with your SAD significantly without the use of drugs or therapy. There are many such lamps and kinds of lighting to choose from. And it is absolutely worthwhile if you actually do have this unpleasant illness.

The Benefits of Home Medical Equipment

The Benefits of Home Medical Equipment
By Jane Worthington Platinum Quality Author


Living at home with the need of constant medical care can be rough to deal with. With home medical equipment, you will be able to monitor your own health and not have to worry about racing to the doctor's office every time you think something is wrong only to find out you are fine. With your own medical equipment you will be able to monitor your own health, saving yourself from those pesky and expensive hospital visits that were simply uncalled for. Depending on the severity of your condition, odds are you should be able to monitor yourself with simple instructions.

Medical devices can be expensive and hard to get your hands onto. When buying medical supplies for your home, the cost is generally lower as the units themselves are cheaper and made on an individual scale. In other words, they are not created to run an entire floor of a hospital. Your health is something that should never be left up to chance. With home equipment to monitor your well being you will never have to leave your health up to chance again. It is also nice to have for emergencies. If an accident should strike, sometimes waiting for the ambulance is the difference between life and death, and being able to act immediately is key.

Home medical equipment such as EKG/ECG machines, patient's monitors, dental equipment, defibrillators, densitometer, blood analyzer, pulse oximenters, ultra sound, stress test, or power chairs and tables can be very beneficial to have at your home. The medical equipment doesn't have to be for you, perhaps you are looking after a loved one and do not want to take any chances with their health. There are a million reasons to have your own medical equipment, such as long lines at the hospital for something as routine as a blood pressure test.

Caring after your loved ones or your self is no easy task and anything and everything that can help to make this process easier for all involved is a good thing. That is why medical devices and equipment for personal use can be the answer to all your prayers. Having home medical equipment is becoming rather routine these days. People are realizing what it is they need to keep themselves safe and healthy and are going out and buying their own medical equipment and learning how to use it properly. Maybe it is time you did the same.

Home Medical Supplies -Equipment

Home Medical Supplies -Equipment
By Rolf Rasmusson Platinum Quality Author


Home medical supplies:

Without the home medicals supplies I was able to find and buy through the internet my care-giving responsibilities would have been extremely difficult. I found many resources with great information and how to help as well as phone numbers to call for additional help and information.

Learning about the various home medical supplies and equipment, and their proper use has been a blessing to us.

Providing home health care can be daunting to say the least. Supplies and equipment must be readily available so caregivers may provide the services that used to be handled by hospitals and nursing care facilities.

Items such as electric wheelchairs, electric scooters, scrubs, oxygen therapy and lifting types of equipment products are now necessary for many.

Medical supplies and equipment are available from premier providers on the Internet and we have made them our partners. We understand the needs of caregivers (myself being one of them) which is why we have associated ourselves with the finest companies.

You will find an assortment of completely unique items tailored for your circumstance as well as the basic products and equipment you will need. If you cannot find what you need please contact us and we will be happy to do whatever we can to insure that you find it.

If you are providing care and require health-related products you will appreciate the convenience of ordering online. You will find excellent products to assist you in providing treatment and therapy including ostomy and oxygen therapy.

Those requiring physical therapy equipment can order electrotherapy products and exercise devices. You can also stock up on standard items such as bandages, gloves, nutritional supplements, syringes and hundreds of accessory items.

Anyone that accepts the responsibility of providing care in their residence is accepting a major responsibility and will require a great deal of support.

We believe that it is helpful for those making this selfless commitment deserves to have access to any resources that will make the job easier. As we locate these resources we will make them available to you. Home medical supplies certainly provides us some added peace of mind.

Natural Lighting is So Much Better Than Artificial Light

Natural Lighting is So Much Better Than Artificial Light
By Graham Baylis Jr Platinum Quality Author


Sunlight is a free resource and is one which could be utilized more in our homes and offices. By making use of this free light, we can cut our electricity costs and reduce carbon production. In this modern age of electrical consumption, anything we can do to reduce this is worth while. Having lots of strategically placed electric lights might be aesthetically pleasing, but it will make a big difference to your electricity bill. Also, electric lighting isn't nearly as pleasing or as pretty as sunlight.

There are so many benefits of natural light, it has been proven to reduce the occurrence of seasonal affective disorder or SAD, which can be a real problem for sufferers during winter months in Northern climes. Of course you can buy special daylight light bulbs which can relieve the problem, but it would be better to make use of natures gifts. Natural light also enhances mood, which in turn makes people happy and happy people make for a productive workforce and a healthier population. There are several documented health problems with artificial light, some of which include headaches, tired eyes and depression.

Natural light enhances your home as it makes the rooms look bigger, brighter and more airy. You can improve the flow of natural lighting into your home by use of skylights. Skylights can be fitted relatively easily and you will be able to regulate the amount of light received by using blinds, shades or curtains. The angle and size of the skylights dictate how much light you will receive. Thought must go into which rooms would benefit the most and obviously you would not want your east facing bedroom to have huge skylights as this will wake you up very early during the summer months.

However, careful placement and use of skylights that open for extra ventilation can make a bedroom feel really light and fresh. Your kitchen and bathroom can be transformed by using skylights. These rooms can become can become rejuvenated and in fact your bathroom can have an ambiance similar to that of an expensive spa by careful placement and use of skylights. Entrance halls can be made to look more welcoming and sitting rooms can look bright and elegant. Virtually every room in your home can be improved by making use of sunlight.

There are many different types of skylight and you must discuss with your contractor what would suit your needs best and what is actually possible to do. Think about what you want to achieve from your skylights and as well as enhancing the rooms which are used the most, try to lighten the darkest rooms first. Do take care when putting skylights into bedrooms, after all nobody really wants to be woken up at first light during the summer months, as this can be around 4am in the UK. By making the most of daily sunlight, your home can be transformed by careful use of skylights. Not only will you and your family benefit but your houseplants will thrive too.

Different Types of Wheel Chairs

Different Types of Wheel Chairs
By Jeanette Pollock Platinum Quality Author


There are a lot of types of wheel chairs out there. Some may look familiar, while others just seem so bizarre. However, the variety in designs of wheel chairs is just natural, considering that different people need to do different things.

Wheel chairs empower people who have experienced some disability because of life. People, who are unable to walk, whether through the ravages of time or through accidents and incidents, make use of wheel chairs in order to make their lives a little easier.

Here are the different types of wheel chairs:

1. General -this type of wheel chair is the most common type of wheel chair in existence today. With a foldable metal frame and sling supports for the back and the seats, you most often see this type of wheel chairs in hospitals.

The design of this wheel chair has gradually improved over the years, becoming safer for use and more flexible to the needs of the passenger.

Variations on the wheels of this wheel chair also allow it to do just about anything and go anywhere. Useable either alone or with a friend, this wheel chair has proven to be one of the most versatile types of wheel chair around.

2. Self-propelled -this wheel chair is specifically designed to give the user independence. Self-propelled wheel chairs can be pushed by the rider themselves. This type of wheel chair makes use of large wheels in order for the user to reach them and push him/her along.

Some self-propelled wheelchairs even incorporate designs that allow the user to go up and down stairs and inclines unassisted.

Some people have developed designs of this type of wheelchair that incorporate features which enable just about any person with nearly any disability to propel him/herself.

This type of wheelchair is preferred by individuals with a strong sense of self. They feel that no accident should hinder their will to live and their independence.

3. Motorized -these wheel chairs are powered by motors and do not need the manual efforts of the user in order to move. This type of wheel chair is probably the most convenient for the users.

Although it does not really come with the sense of accomplishment that a manual wheelchair brings, it does have its advantages.

A motorized wheel chair, especially a very high-tech one, can gather people's admiration. Sometimes, a disabled person needs that boost of confidence more than the sense of accomplishment a manual wheelchair provides.

This type of wheelchair also helps conserve a person's energy. This allows the user to do more activities and be more active in his/her life.

Although the costs of a motorized wheel chair are obviously higher than manual wheel chairs, the new breakthroughs in technology may be worth it. Motorized wheel chairs are now more mobile and easier to use.

And people are always looking for convenience, right?

4. Sport wheel chairs -these wheel chairs are specifically designed to be used by people in playing their favorite sports.

Hey, just because you can't run doesn't mean you can't play, right?

These wheel chairs are made for three things: speed, sturdiness, and maneuverability.

Like a finely tuned car, these wheel chairs were made to compete.

The wheel chairs are customized to each person, making sure that the wheel chair does not hinder the person's athletic abilities.

And that, my friend, is empowerment.

What are the Pros and Cons of an Electric Wheel Chair

What are the Pros and Cons of an Electric Wheel Chair?
By Mike Jezek



Trying to decide whether or not you should get an electric wheel chair as opposed to a manual wheel chair? Before I list the pros and cons on electric wheel chairs, here are a few things you should know about electric wheel chairs.

Ideally you want to get an electric wheel chair from a company that is a licensed supplier that offers good service. This is important in case your wheel chair breaks down. You can choose between a rear wheel drive, mid wheel drive and a front wheel drive wheel chair. If you want speed, get the rear wheel drive. If you want good turning ability, then get the mid wheel drive or front wheel drive. Just be sure to take each version for a test drive.

Here are the pros of owning an electric wheel chair:

The Pros:

1. Perfect for people with limited or no body mobility including those who rely on a wheel chair as their primary method of getting around.

2. Increases the quality of one’s life.

3. Great for speed in getting to where you need to go as opposed to self-propelling yourself.

4. Excellent choice if you do not have one someone to push you – increases your self-reliance.

5. Nowadays, motors on electric chairs are very quiet.

6. You can get around without requiring a helper to push you.

The Cons:

1. Electric wheel chairs can be expensive as prices range from $1,000 to $3,000. Some electric wheel chairs even cost $10,000!

2. May require service repairs.

3. May not need it if you’re going to be in a wheel chair for a short period of time.

4. Can be hard to transport them in vehicles.

Ultimately, when choosing between an electric wheel chair or a manual wheel chair (click here for manual wheel chair pros and cons) – you will have to determine what you can afford, the primary uses of the wheel chair, how long you will be in it and your physical condition.

Folding Wheel Chairs

Folding Wheel Chairs
By Alison Cole


A folding wheelchair is a perfect solution for patients and people with physical disabilities. It can be folded into compact packets during transportation. A folding wheel chair provides greater maneuverability and stability while traveling. The main advantage of a folding chair is that it can be carried around without removing the wheels.

There are wheelchairs specifically designed for hospital and nursing facilities.

A wide range of folding wheelchairs are offered for sale in the market at affordable prices. They come in variety of sizes, shapes, and style. Customized folding wheel chairs are also available. Standard features of folding wheel chairs include plastic handgrips, durable upholstery for seat and back, padded arm rest, front caster outriggers, solid tire wheels, optional air-supported back, integrated seat sling strap, caster angle and many more. Many folding wheel chairs have swing away or lift off footrests, variable axle and adjustable seat and backrest height, fabric or solid side guards, and height adjustable arm rests. There are folding wheel chairs with anodized or polished frame and custom built upholstery.

There are different types of folding wheel chairs. Lightweight wheelchairs, ultra light folding wheelchairs, heavy-duty wheelchairs, and stroller wheelchairs are few among them. Most wheelchairs have multiple seat-heights, angle-adjustable backrest option, and standard quick-release axles. Ultra light folding wheelchairs are also available. Folding wheel chairs with extra wide seat are made to order. Stroller type folding wheel chairs come with padded head-wings, snap-button seat-depth, and foam wedge.

The prices of a folding wheel chair may vary according to the make and model.

Wheelchair Carrier, Compax Travel Chairs, and Convaid are among the leading manufacturers of folding wheel chairs. A number of the manufactures of folding wheel chairs offer free shipping, money back guarantee, and online services to their customers.

What are the Pros and Cons of an Electric Wheel Chair

What are the Pros and Cons of an Electric Wheel Chair?
By Mike Jezek


Trying to decide whether or not you should get an electric wheel chair as opposed to a manual wheel chair? Before I list the pros and cons on electric wheel chairs, here are a few things you should know about electric wheel chairs.

Ideally you want to get an electric wheel chair from a company that is a licensed supplier that offers good service. This is important in case your wheel chair breaks down. You can choose between a rear wheel drive, mid wheel drive and a front wheel drive wheel chair. If you want speed, get the rear wheel drive. If you want good turning ability, then get the mid wheel drive or front wheel drive. Just be sure to take each version for a test drive.

Here are the pros of owning an electric wheel chair:

The Pros:

1. Perfect for people with limited or no body mobility including those who rely on a wheel chair as their primary method of getting around.

2. Increases the quality of one’s life.

3. Great for speed in getting to where you need to go as opposed to self-propelling yourself.

4. Excellent choice if you do not have one someone to push you – increases your self-reliance.

5. Nowadays, motors on electric chairs are very quiet.

6. You can get around without requiring a helper to push you.

The Cons:

1. Electric wheel chairs can be expensive as prices range from $1,000 to $3,000. Some electric wheel chairs even cost $10,000!

2. May require service repairs.

3. May not need it if you’re going to be in a wheel chair for a short period of time.

4. Can be hard to transport them in vehicles.

Ultimately, when choosing between an electric wheel chair or a manual wheel chair (click here for manual wheel chair pros and cons) – you will have to determine what you can afford, the primary uses of the wheel chair, how long you will be in it and your physical condition.

Choose High Fiber Foods

Choose High Fiber Foods
By Brandon H. Masters Platinum Quality Author


What do you really know about the good effects of high-fiber foods? There are a lot of benefits to these foods and many people cannot name them all. One is that instead of breaking down and all being absorbed by your body, fiber actually stays pretty solid as it moved through your system and for that reason acts as a cleanser, removing other waste materials from your digestive walls. High-fiber foods are known to have positive effects on cholesterol levels. There are two kinds of cholesterol - good and bad. Bad cholesterol can lead to heart ailments as it blocks blood flow to the heart, while the other can help in the opposite direction. So the best plan is to have enough of the right kinds.

Do you know where cholesterol comes from? It is created in the liver as a waxy substance that your body will use to create adrenal and sex hormones. This wax-like substance also is used in the creation of bile salts and helps the body to produce vitamin D. But the wrong kind can do more harm than good. You see, the bad LDL cholesterol sticks inside your arteries. It will gum them up, and eventually can slow down or even block blood flow to your heart, leading to heart ailments. The good HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, actually works it's way through and cleans up the arteries, keeping your heart healthy. The National Institutes of Health recommends HDL levels over 40 mg/DL and LDL levels below 130mg/DL.

How do you get your cholesterol levels in the right range? If your cholesterol levels are not where they should be, getting them back in check is as easy as adding more fiber to your diet. And this does not mean you have to eat a number of extra green leafy salads every day, although you could. But if that's not your style, you can also add a fiber supplement to your daily intake. Most supplements on the market have both soluble and insoluble fibers that can do both the jobs you need accomplished - bringing down the bad cholesterol, and raising the good cholesterol levels in your body. Studies of those who used such supplements show a difference in just three months.

In addition, there have been studies on this topic in the Hispanic community. 150 Hispanic men and women who took extra soluble fiber saw major decreases in their LDL levels. Researchers believe the reason for that is soluble fiber aided in removing bile and LDL from the body as waste through bowel movements.

How Much is Enough?

Experts recommend adults consume 20 to 35 grams of fiber in their diet, every day. Unfortunately most people are not heeding the message, taking in only half of that amount. Some believe the fact that Americans do not take in as much fiber is one of the reasons we have higher rates of health disease than countries that have high-fiber diets.

How do you get more fiber in your diet? It's easy, just think like a vegetarian. Not that you have to completely switch to that lifestyle, but the majority of the foods they eat are high-fiber food items. They eat a lot of plant products, and the cell walls of plants are what make up fiber. Meats and other animal products do not have fiber. You have to be careful when you pick up a loaf of bread or other baked good. They may be deceiving. Those made with white flour are not as high in fiber because it has been removed in processing.

Generally you have a complete eating pass when it comes to high-fiber foods. Most of them are very low in calories, and since they don't break down as much as other foods, may actually take more calories out of your system than they leave in.

There are two kinds of fiber you should ingest - soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber breaks down in water, in your stomach, and becomes a gelatin-like substance. Meanwhile, insoluble fiber doesn't break down. It makes its way through your digestive tract in solid form, as it goes collecting any waste stuck on the walls, and removing it from your body. A good combination of both fibers will keep your body in great working order.

Wheel Chairs with Attitude

Wheel Chairs with Attitude
By John Gibb Platinum Quality Author


If you’re in the market for wheel chairs, and really, why else would you be here, then I hope you have considered the many options that are available in motorized scooters and power chairs. There are many style options available to the average consumer today that haven’t been traditionally available in the past.

In addition to the many styles and mobility options that are available, there are many payment plans that are available to enable the average consumer in getting the chair that will best suit their lifestyle needs as well as their mobility desires. The old wheel chairs of yester year don’t offer the maneuverability that the modern scooters and power chairs offer, not to mention they aren’t nearly as practical as they can’t really handle that many terrain options.

If you have a younger child or teen that needs a wheel chair or mobility device of some sort, you may find that a power chair of mobility scooter is a great option as far as wheel chairs go. These allow your child to have a certain ‘coolness’ factor that wheel chair bound children haven’t been able to have in the past. The sad truth is that children look at wheel chairs and see a handicapped person; they look at a mobility scooter and see someone that has a pretty cool ride.

For the elderly, these electric wheel chairs offer maneuverability and freedom from the isolation that attempting to move from place to place with a manually powered wheel chair simply does not accommodate. Isolation is one of the worst pitfalls of age, these chairs allow those who would have been home bound by their limitations to get out into the world and congregate with others. This freedom more than anything is well worth the price tag these specialized wheel chairs command.

I hope that if a wheel chair is one of your needs, you will strongly consider the freedom that a motorized wheel chair or power chair offers.

Home Health Care Costs

Home Health Care Costs - Charges You Should Know
By Arman Hansen


People facing the need of home health care for their disabled or elderly family, are often also faced with difficult financial struggles. While a lot cheaper than a hospital stay, home health can get expensive. Here are some of the things to think about when considering health care from home.

The number one cause for home health care needs is the elderly. More and more elderly are wishing to live independently as long as possible. With this comes the need for home health. These visits can range from monthly to daily. Sometimes it becomes necessary for around the clock care. In these cases, the costs for health care from home can really start to rise. It's imperative to understand these changes and charges up front so you're not surprised when things start happening. Most of the associations which provide such services charge per hour rates. This is a great way to keep track of how much you're spending on the care.

Obviously the more experienced and established agencies are going to charge more for their care providers. This is when you do your homework. You have to understand how much you actually have available to spend on the care. Then look for a company that can provide what you need at a cost you can afford. Many require contracts up front so you should be familiar with the limitations and needs of the patient. Your loved one's doctor is a great place to start when figuring who to use and for how long.

Home health care supplies can get costly as well. Many patients need constant upkeep of tubing and medications. Wheelchairs and adjustable beds are often necessary. Opting for health care from home sometimes means turning your spare bedroom into a mini hospital room. There are medical supply companies that deliver these items directly to your home. The nurses can also recommend good local companies for these needs. They're used to dealing with them and know who you can trust.

Getting help paying for the costs of home health care may not be as difficult as you think. With the elderly, there is usually Medicare or Medicaid. Some elderly have retirement funds and other forms of income. Social Security and Disability pay are available for elderly and disabled. Sometimes in the event of injury there is an insurance settlement that will cover home health expenses. For terminal patients of any age, Hospice is a great non profit organization that covers all expenses. If none of these are an option for you, check into local branches of the National Association for Home Health. They will be able to lead you in the right direction and get you started with help.

Finding Home Care For Your Aging Parents

Finding Home Care For Your Aging Parents
By Carol Marak


Most seniors want to live out their lives at home. Finding home care for mom or dad can be difficult. One way to obtain access to quality in home care services is over through the Internet by searching keywords like in home care and the local city your aging relative lives.

Home care organizations include home health agencies; hospice; homemaker and home care aides; staffing and private-duty agencies; companies specializing in medical equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, and drug infusion therapy. Several types of home care organizations may merge to provide a wide variety of services through an integrated system. You can locate local home care organizations by visiting local registries and independent providers. Whichever way you choose to find help for an aging relative to help them stay in their homes longer, you must remember to complete a thorough back ground search on the agency before allowing them into your relative's home.

Some very important factors to consider when searching for Home Care In home services are: the quality of care, availability of needed services, personnel training and their expertise, and how the services will be paid. Before starting a search, it is important to determine which types of services you need. You definitely want the buy-in from your aging relative that they believe it's needed. You may consult with the relative's physician, a hospital discharge planner, or a social service organization, such as an Area Agency Office on Aging, for assistance in evaluating your needs. It's also a good idea to have an assessment completed in order to identify the type of home care provider most appropriate for the relative.

What to look for when choosing a Home Care Agency! Here are a few good tips on choosing one:

1. How long have they been in business in the community?

2. Does the home care agency have literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources? Another good resource that gives helpful information about the Senior Provider is to ask for their annual report, if they have one.

3. Find out how the home care agency select and train its employees and caretakers? Does it protect its workers with written personnel policies, benefits packages, and malpractice insurance?

4. Are nurses or therapists required to do an assessment to evaluate your aging relative's home care needs? If so, find out what the assessment includes? Do they consult the patients physicians and include you, the family member?

5. How do they handle emergencies? What procedures are put in place for and emergency? Are their caretakers available to the aging relative 24/7?

6. Do they insure patients privacy? If so, how?

7. Get references and CALL them - such as doctors, hospital discharge planners, patients or their family members who has contracted for the services and check with community leaders who are familiar with the provider's quality of service.

These tips are very helpful when searching for in home care. We used these for my parents, since we lived at a distance and they required daily help. Don't be afraid to ask questions and do as much research on them as you possibly can.

I hope this helps.

Carol Marak

www.WorkingCaregiver.com

Caregiver Resources - Find Local Senior Services for Families & Seniors in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio

http://WorkingCaregiver.com delivers resources for family caregivers, primarily senior care services for elder care.

Bottom line - I Help Lessen the Struggle with Senior Care. Let me find the best senior care resources for your aging relative. It's a fact, just ask, I'll show you!

How do I know? Believe me, when it comes to aging concerns, senior care, and dealing with siblings; I've been there... done that. It's true. I've researched and researched aging and health topics for my parents until my fingers, eyes, and ears turned blue. Just imagine; I'm at work, sitting at my desk trying to be productive... and here's what happened... the phone rings, it's my sibling, she's yelling at me, "to do this, research that, call the doctor for help, mom's fallen and broken her hip, they're not eating, they're sick, mom's passed out, call your brother and get him to help!" Sound familiar at all? That's just the tip of the iceberg. While at work, you know what was all around me? Colleagues dealing with similar issues.