Category: Health Articles

  • Why Is Medical Coding Essential in Healthcare?

    Why Is Medical Coding Essential in Healthcare?

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    Nowadays, there are a lot of health care professions out there, but medical billing is on the list of top professions. Around 20 years back, there were not many job opportunities in the healthcare industry. Now, there are lots of job opportunities in the healthcare market. And this has increased the demand for medical coding professionals. Let’s find out why medical coding is essential in healthcare.

    What is medical Billing and Coding?

    What do you do when you are sick? You go to a medical doctor. At the doctor’s office, you deal with a doctor and his assistant. But you may not have noticed but there is another professional in the process who ensures you get the best treatment. They work in the background but are just don’t pay attention to them because of our health problems. The role of these professionals is to make sure your medical claims are billed and processed properly.

    There is a difference between medical billing and medical coding as different individuals handle them. For this purpose, individuals train and prepare for the job. Let’s find out the difference between their roles.

    The primary role of a medical coder is to decode the procedure or service mentioned on the documents given by the doctor to the patient. Next, he decides on the right type of procedure and diagnosis code for submission. Actually, the medical coder takes their time to assess and code the data to ensure the billing is free of errors.

    Next, the medical biller uses the right codes to enter the claims and then submits them to the relevant insurance provider for billing. For updates, the biller keeps in touch with the insurance provider to ensure the approval of the claims. In case of any discrepancies, the medical biller may update the patient on what is going on.

    Career Opportunities

    If you want to ensure that the medical institutes run efficiently, the importance of medical coders and medical billers can’t be denied. The billing and coding professionals are an integral part of the system to ensure that the records are updated and handled properly.

    Recently, there has been an increase in job opportunities for trained medical coding and billing professionals. As the life expectancy and population increases, the demand for these pros will keep on going up, says the reports released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Actually, these professionals are appointed at nurse care, medical billing companies, rehabilitation facilities, insurance companies, private clinics, and hospitals, just to name a few.

    If you want to join this field, make sure to get certificates by undergoing proper training. Usually, these pros need to undergo post-secondary training.

    It’s not hard to achieve this feat. All you need to do is sign up for a medical billing and coding program. As soon as you have gone through short training, it’s time for you to apply for your desired job at a nearby medical facility.

    So, this was a description of the importance of medical coding in healthcare.

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    Source by Shalini M

    Views: 0

  • Reiki Healing Can Ease Your Pain

    Reiki Healing Can Ease Your Pain

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    I was looking through a newspaper the other day and one thing that caught my eye was an article about the opioid crises. In this article, addiction specialist Dr Robert Lefever, spoke about how so many people are hooked on drugs that are designed to take pain away.

    When this happens, someone will end up taking them for years instead of a matter of days or weeks. He didn’t blame the drugs companies, though; he pointed the finger at the doctors that are happy to keep prescribing them.

    A Powerful Figure

    In the western world, a doctor is often perceived as an all-powerful, all-knowing figure. Therefore, if a doctor tells someone to do something, it is unlikely that they will question what they are being told.

    The fact that is has come out of this persons mouth can be seen as a sign that it is the right thing to do. Thus, if someone is in a bad way and a doctor prescribes then more pills, pills that are designed to take their pain away, why would they bat an eyelid?

    Another Part

    When it comes to drugs or even healing modalities, the placebo effect is often spoken about. Quite simply, this relates to the effect that one’s mind has when it comes to the impact that a drug or healing modality has on them.

    In other words, what they take or what is done to them is not the only factor involved in the healing process. The way that their mind perceives what they are given or what is done will also play a part in how effective something is.

    The Connection

    So due to how one perceives their doctor, this person can also play a part in what effect something will have on them. Someone can then find that they feel better simply for being in their presence.

    And, if this person was to give them a load of sugar pills but told one that they were powerful pain killers, they might find that they feel better after they have taken them for a while. It could be said that the placebo effect is always at work and this is because the mind can’t be cast aside.

    A Number of Solutions

    This doctor didn’t just talk about on what is not right or say that doctors need to change their approach, he also spoke about a number of other options that should be offered instead. There was acupuncture, transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS), and Reiki.

    I was familiar with the first thing, hadn’t heard of the second thing, and had experienced the benefits of the last thing. From my own experience, I can say that Reiki can be used to take pain away and to heal the body.

    A Real Example

    A little while ago, I had a minor operation and once the anaesthetic wore off, I experienced a fair amount of pain. Fortunately, I had learnt Reiki healing many, many years ago and was able to use this healing technique on myself.

    I placed my hands on the area where I felt pain and my hands soon felt incredibly warm. I did this for about half an hour and from that moment onwards, the pain was not as strong as it once was.

    It’s not a Magic Wand

    I continued to use Reiki on this area for a number of days and for the same amount of time each time, which caused the pain to diminish even more. It was then not that I did it once and then everything was fine – I was consistent with it.

    In the same way that a pill needs to be taken on a regular basis to work, Reiki healing also needs to be experienced on a regular basis to have a big impact. That is, of course, unless it doesn’t, and one or a few sessions is enough.

    Final Thoughts

    After reading this you may believe that Reiki healing can assist you and be open to giving it a go or you may be sceptical. If you are sceptical, I can relate to what you are experiencing as I can also be very sceptical.

    However, the best thing may be for you to give it a go and to see what happens. If you are in pain, and this pain has been with you for a while, it must surely be worth a go?

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    Source by Oliver JR Cooper

    Views: 0

  • The Secrets of Juicing: How To Heal Your Organs

    The Secrets of Juicing: How To Heal Your Organs

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    Do you ever feel like you want to eat more vegetables, but don’t know how to incorporate them in your diet? Well, juicing is the answer, people. Juicing is a great way to add a boatload of nutrients to your diet in a quick and efficient way. Drinking freshly made raw juice can help give your body extra fuel and a healthy boost.

    Making the jump to juicing is an investment. We are going to let you in a secret, though. If you don’t want to buy a juicer, you can make fresh smoothies and get the same benefits (plus a bunch of dietary fiber) by blending all of the ingredients. But if you’re the kind of person that likes a smooth and light juice, go ahead and get a juicer.

    Let’s be clear: juicing is not the only way to stay healthy. It also doesn’t balance out the junk food or processed foods you eat. Juicing is just a great way to channel your life in a healthy direction. Considering that most health officials say that it is good to get about 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, juicing can almost guarantee you those servings.

    There are some awesome benefits of juicing, the number one being that it can help to nourish and heal your organs. Different vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial for your heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and your skin. These organs are vital in carrying out your body’s primary functions. If one or more of your organs is functioning improperly, your body will suffer. This is where juicing or cleansing can come to save the day.

    Not everyone is aware of all the benefits of every fruit and vegetable. It’s pretty hard to retain all that info. So we’ve decided to give you a few juice recipes that’ll help out your major organs, because they deserve all the help they can get. All you have to do is process the ingredients in a juicer and drink the juice. It’s that easy.

    Heart Health Juice: 1 Apple, 1 Beet, 6 carrots, ½ Lemon (peeled), and 2 Oranges (peeled).

    This juice is packed with vitamin C, which helps nourish tissues and build cells.

    The Eye Opener: 2 Apples, 10 Carrots, and 2 Oranges (peeled).

    Quick Tip: when you make this juice, or any juice, you can use fruits and veggies that are about to spoil, so you don’t waste them.

    The Best Juice for Your Liver: 2 Beets, 2 Carrots, 2 Celery Stalks, 4 handfuls of Parsley, 1 Jalapeño, 6 Radishes, and 4 Plum Tomatoes.

    This juice has a little kick from the radish and pepper, but it helps your liver flush toxins out of your body.

    Summer Breeze: 4 fresh Basil leaves, 1.5 cups Blueberries, 2 pinches Cayenne Pepper, ½ Lime (peeled), and 5 cups Watermelon (diced).

    This juice has all the best flavors of summer. Here’s a secret, the watermelon rind is great for smoothing out roughage in your colon.

    Skin So Health: 3 fresh Basil leaves, 10 Carrots, ½ Lemon (peeled), and 4 Peaches.

    This juice helps rejuvenate your skin. Add a little organic coconut oil to the juice for an added benefit.

    When you are juicing, you can always add water because that’ll help your digestion, speed up your metabolism, and give your cells some extra fuel. Share some of your favorite juice recipes with us and don’t be afraid to get a little creative.

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    Source by Vinnie Stevens

    Views: 0

  • Choosing the Best Suboxone Doctor

    Choosing the Best Suboxone Doctor

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    Addiction is a growing problem in the world today and it is very important that you find a solution as soon as you notice that you have an issue. For opiate addiction like prescription drugs or heroin, the Suboxone is the first drug that you may consider. The drug is effective in the treatment of opiate addiction symptoms. It works well because it is a partial opiate. This only means that has an opiate effect that is controlled. It is effective for people who are going through opiate withdrawal.

    The treatment aids in decreasing the pain of the withdrawal symptoms and detoxify your body from any opiates that may be in your system.

    Why you need to choose a Suboxone doctor

    Suboxone is a very powerful drug, which has to be prescribed by a doctor who has been approved to administer it. You need to choose the right doctor near you. Before doing this, it is necessary to talk to your primary care provider who is very established in the treatment of addiction. This is the best person to direct you to any specialized doctors that you may need in the course of your treatment to ensure that you get well quick.

    There are different directories that you can use to do a quick search and find the best doctor for your problem. You need to ensure that the provider is reputable and a doctor and he should also have a history of treating patients with your kind of addiction. There are doctors who choose to manipulate the process while others overcharge the services. Shop around to get prices and compare before making a decision.

    The best thing to do is to list around three of the best providers. You need to ensure that they are in your area. Many of the clinics have very strict regulations about how many patients can be treated at one given time. There are many clinics that have to operate at full capacity and therefore you need to look at as many as you want before finding one that is ready to accept new patients.

    The cost

    The treatment prices can vary from one doctor to the next. It also depends on how much of the treatment you really need. Most insurance companies do not cover addiction so you may have to pay a great part of the fees or even the entire amount. This can be an expensive thing but can also save you a lot eventually because of the potential health implications that may befall you because of using drugs. The price is also worthwhile because you will not have to spend any more money on drugs.

    Some of the doctors allow insurance, but they are rather hard to locate. It is for this reason that you should do as much research as possible to land the best deal ever. This may be the medication that you need to finally deal with the habit that can be very destructive. It is always better to deal with any kind of addiction sooner than later.

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    Source by Shalini Madhav

    Views: 0

  • Drug Rehab Centers – Treatments Offered

    Drug Rehab Centers – Treatments Offered

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    Many treatments are offered in drug rehab centers. Most of the treatments start with detoxification and progress from there. Some may be prescribed medication to help them as they work through other different forms of treatment. This can include counseling and behavioral therapy. What treatment is offered in drug rehab centers will depend on the training of the personnel, the facilities the center has, and the center itself. For drug-addicted patients, no one treatment is effective for all of them. The treatment that they receive is not based on the drug they are addicted to but based on the capacity and needs of the patient.

    Detoxification

    Generally, this is the first step, which involves cleansing their body of all toxins, especially the substance or substances they are addicted to. When in detoxification, there is a withdrawal phase from what they are addicted to and it is unpleasant. In some instances, it can be fatal. When the patient is undergoing detoxification, they are closely observed and may be prescribed certain medications to help them during the toughest parts. This process of detoxification can take as long as three weeks but may take longer. It depends on the individual.

    Formal assessment

    After detoxification, the drug rehab centers will do a formal assessment. The assessment includes recommendations about other treatment that will be needed. It is often a complex process. Substance abuse will often involve treating both psychological and physical illnesses and symptoms. In addition to being weaned off the substance that the patient was addicted to, if they use drugs to deal with the symptoms of a psychological disorder must also receive treatment for that disorder. This is necessary if they want to have a chance of not having a relapse into substance abuse.

    Group therapy and individual counseling

    Both of these can play a role in treating psychological illnesses. These illnesses may also be helped by legal prescription medications. One type of counseling that is usually offered in drug rehab centers is behavioral therapy. Those that are addicted may have developed a habit of taking these drugs in a certain setting or at a certain time of day. With behavioral therapy, the counselors attempt to help the patient realize that they can break these habits and function without the drug they are addicted to.

    Along with the different treatment options these centers offer various treatment settings and lengths of time spent in the drug rehab centers. The drug rehab centers also need to have the capacity to treat withdrawal symptoms while the patients go through detoxification so they may provide hospital-level care. The treatment they receive can be done as an outpatient, inpatient, or on a residential level, long term of a year or more, or short term of six weeks or so.

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    Source by Lora Davis

    Views: 0

  • CBD Oil for Dogs: A Miracle Medicine for All the Dogs Out There

    CBD Oil for Dogs: A Miracle Medicine for All the Dogs Out There

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    Having a sick pet at home can be very stressful for their owners, as one spends all their time searching for the medicines and treatments for them. There are several treatments and medicines available, but it is not necessary that they will be effective on all kinds of dogs. Also, these medicines usually have a lot of side effects too which can lead to reduced functionality in a dog.

    But in recent times, there is one medicine that is doing rounds in the pet world and that is CBD. There are several benefits of CBD on a pet’s health, especially it helps in promoting homeostasis which is important for balancing temperature and gives a therapeutic effect.

    What is CBD?

    Before understanding all the benefits of the best CBD treats for dogs, let’s know what CBD is.

    • CBD is cannabidiol and is extracted from the cannabis plant.
    • The species of the cannabis plant that is used to extract CBD is hemp.
    • There are several cannabinoids that can be extracted from the cannabis plant and this is one of them.
    • Cannabidiol will not get pet high.
    • Lower amounts of THC.
    • It is non-psychoactive in nature.
    • It has no known toxicity level, which means no overdose.

    How does CBD help?

    Every mammal has an endocannabinoid system which handles various processes like immunity, sleep cycle, memory and other functions of a body. Dogs also have the same endocannabinoid system which can interact with endocannabinoids which are released by the brain. But to supplement this supply of endocannabinoid from the brain, one can introduce it externally. This is why it is effective in dogs too, and one can use CBD oil for dogs without any side effects.

    What are the benefits of the CBD?

    There are several benefits of using CBD for dogs. Let’s list some of the very effective ones:

    • Anti-inflammatory

    Cbd helps in evoking immune responses and that is why it can reduce any kind of inflammation. It can help in reducing pain caused due to any kind of arthritis, bowel irritation etc.

    • Pain-killer

    Cbd helps in stopping the absorption of anandamide, which is the natural pain killer. With increased levels of anandamide in blood it helps in reducing the pain sensations.

    • Anti-convulsant

    It helps in restoring abnormal working of neurons. Abnormal working of the neurons usually leads to seizures and tremors, thus CBD helps in reducing seizures.

    • Anti-anxiety

    CBD has an anti-anxiety effect and reduces stress and various phobias. Cbd targets serotonin receptors which helps in increasing the serotonin level which curbs any kind of anxiety and fear in all kinds of organisms and in this case dogs.

    • Anti-emetic

    CBD is helpful in controlling vomiting and nausea in dogs. As it is very common to have nausea while undergoing certain treatments like chemotherapy, CBD can help in this situation and also curb loss appetite.

    • Anti-cancer

    Malicious tumors are common in pets and it means the dog needs to undergo chemotherapy, which leads to various side-effects. Now it is proven that CBD also has anti-cancerous properties that it can slow the growth of the tumor and even reduce its size in some cases.

    All in all, one can say that CBD is a miracle medicine for pets all around. They show exemplary effectiveness among dogs in treating their problems which otherwise would take a lot of medicines and hours with a veterinary. So do not think before choosing the best CBD dog treats to help them in their health troubles.

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    Source by Shalini M

    Views: 0

  • Can You Cure Foot Pain, Back Pain and Fatigue With Shoe Inserts?

    Can You Cure Foot Pain, Back Pain and Fatigue With Shoe Inserts?

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    I’m always on my feet it seems like. I have a job that is pretty demanding, walking and standing on my feet, eight hours a day. Some days I walk five to seven miles. I know, there are plenty of other jobs out there that are way more demanding than mine. However, doing a job like mine in dress shoes or any low-quality shoe can kill your feet. And this can lead to significant foot pain, back pain and worse. It can knock your quality of life down a few notches, and that’s precisely what it did to me.

    With foot pain came back pain, exhaustion and me having to cancel my workout routine.

    I mean, it wasn’t too long ago, I’d spend eight hours a day, working on my feet, before coming home and having to soak in the tub with Epsom salts. It was the only relief I could find. All of the pain and discomfort was rooted in the shoes I was wearing. They were nice looking, but not pleasant to walk around in all day.

    Eventually, thinking I was going to have to quit my job (I did before going back.), I asked around and found out about some top of the line shoe inserts. I also bought new shoes.

    With the new shoes, I felt 100 times better being on my feet. It was unreal. However, the shoe inserts made the most significant difference in my life. With top of the line shoe inserts, I could literally walk all day and have zero issues. I mean, after work, I felt zero pain and had no issues with my feet or back. Not only was there no pain, but no exhaustion either. After work, I still had plenty of energy and could go to the gym without any problem. It was amazing.

    The best thing is that I can use the same inserts in all of my different shoes and enjoy the same benefits.

    I never would have guessed that such a simple change could make so much of a difference in my life.

    If you suffer from foot pain, back pain and your quality of life is suffering simply because of being on your feet, I highly suggest trying a pair of high-quality shoe inserts. They could change your life.

    Additionally, regular exercise, weight-training and a healthy diet might help you, too. Being physically fit can make certain types of labor easier on your body. However, always check with your doctor before starting any new workout routine and diet.

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    Source by Elvis Jackson Jr.

    Views: 0

  • How Excessive Exercise Might Negatively Affect Your Health

    How Excessive Exercise Might Negatively Affect Your Health

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    A great deal of people engage in cardiovascular and several other activities primarily in order to lose weight. Then again, carrying out excessive workouts of any kind could cause the body to begin reacting in a negative way. This brings to memory the proverb that says – too much of anything is bad. And workout is no exception here.

    Training is a great thing and it would appear that training even more ought to provide a lot more benefits. In the truest sense, it really does give a little extra gains, until it is taken just a little bit too far. At this juncture, your body may start responding otherwise.

    This is correct besides the fact that training is acknowledged to be more of a “healthy stress.” However, your adrenal glands are unable make a distinction between them.

    Stress and Cortisol

    Excessive physical exercise induces a hormone called cortisol. This hormone tells your body to hang onto its fat stores. The body secretes cortisol anytime it is under any sort of tension.

    The stress might be from the school, place of work, unhealthy eating, too little sleep, family issues, and a number of other things. They can easily stress your body and cause it to release cortisol. The regrettable thing is that the body also looks at physical fitness as a stressor.

    Consequence of Excessive Physical Exercise

    If you push the body way too hard for a long time it may result in higher cortisol levels, adrenal fatigue, and even elevated food cravings.

    Stress, regardless of its source, has a way of influencing neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters, including dopamine, GABA, and serotonin, are our feel-good, anti-anxiety brain chemicals. Stress and excessive extreme training reduces the quantities of these types of neurotransmitters. This usually brings about debilitating weariness, sleep disorders and also depressive disorders.

    Continually high amounts of cortisol may have detrimental impact on fat loss. It could also raise your associated risk of a range of health issues.

    Female Athlete Triad

    For the women, excessive physical exercise can equally result in the “female athlete triad”. This is a condition of, the likely stoppage of her menstruation, eating problems, and brittle bones or bone mineral loss. A mixture of workout and calorie restriction typically leads to these kinds of symptoms.

    Decreased Immune Effectiveness

    Moderate physical fitness helps to enhance your body’s immune system whereas too much physical exercise tends to suppress it. Excessive workout raises the body’s exposure to infections. Likewise, there is the elevated seriousness of minor infections and also the decreased production of immunoglobulins.

    Decrease of Testosterone

    Also, it is a reality that cortisol and testosterone clash with each other. Testosterone is important for the development and preservation of skeletal muscle, bone, and red blood cells. They equally assist in weight reduction as they are very metabolically active.

    Workout depth (which is over 50% of maximal oxygen intake) of extended period sets off the sympathetic nervous system and results in cortisol overproduction. On the flip side, this stops the discharge of testosterone.

    The reduced testosterone, for males, could easily cause decrease in libido. This might however be a combined consequence of both bodily exhaustion as well as the reduced testosterone levels.

    In the event that you have been working out too much, the very first course of action is for you to truthfully recognize and acknowledge this reality. You have to admit to yourself that you are really struggling with this problem.

    One other idea that may assist you to cut back on the amount of your training routines will be to stick to a training schedule. This schedule should vary your exercise load and equally incorporate obligatory rest periods.

    Nevertheless, it will be necessary to seek help from a healthcare professional for the treatment of both the psychological and physical symptoms.

    On the other hand, this is not suggesting that you should give up on performing exercises but rather that you have to get the right amount.

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    Source by Marcus J Michael

    Views: 0

  • Grief Healing Insights For Living With Purpose And Joy

    Grief Healing Insights For Living With Purpose And Joy

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    When unwanted grief knocks at your door and enters your life, you must discover your own personal voice and authority.

    “For those men who, sooner or later, are lucky enough to break away from the pack, the most intoxicating moment comes when they cease being bodies in other men’s command and find that they control their own time, when they learn their own voice and authority.”

    ~ Theodore H. White

    Four essential grief healing insights for living with purpose and finding your own authority to heal are vital to a wholesome life of happiness and joy.

    1-Believe And Take Action

    Henry Ford highlights a personal truth about challenges of life each face. You are governed to a great degree by what you believe about personal challenges. It is important you believe you can. Don’t let the naysayers cause you to believe otherwise. Take time to list four things you believe you can do to reconcile your grieving and find more happiness and peace. Begin doing them today.

    “Those who believe they can do something and those who believe they can’t are both right.”

    ~ Henry Ford

    Never accept: I can’t as a viable answer to your unique condition.

    2-Find Your Own Courage

    Courage doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have fears. It simply means you have the gumption to face your trials. It is important you believe in your inner self and find your own empowerment.

    “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.”

    ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Too many have their opinions and form their own judgement about what a person is made of and what they can and cannot do. Given your situation – which they may not fully understand – they have formed and often voiced what you can and cannot do under fire. They don’t know what you can do once you set your mind and heart on a healing course of action. Believe you can!

    3-Trust Your Inner Strength To Carry-out Your Dreams

    “Trust your own inner guidance. Have faith that your steps are carrying you toward your dreams. Keep your eyes on the heavens and believe that your feet will carry you well.”

    ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

    Your inner strength has not always been challenged until now. Trusting in your own empowerment requires you to dig deep – perhaps deeper than ever before.

    “It is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed.”

    ~ Ram Dass

    How you will proceed along your grief healing journey is up to you. Nonetheless, the steps you take can begin your healing. Take thirty minutes to evaluate the healing steps that are essential to use the inner strength you have effectively.

    4-LIVE With Purpose

    Grief and loss experiences take you full circle as you appraise your condition. Finding positive and beneficial opportunities and possibilities are essential to your healing.

    “Don’t dwell on what went wrong.

    Instead, focus on what to do next.

    Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.”

    ~ Denis Waitley

    Live your best life; it’s not your age, not your predicament, it is the energy you muster towards finding the answer needed to find your healing solutions that is most important.

    Believe in yourself. Find your own courage. Trust in your inner strength. Live each day of your life with purpose. Begin today.

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    Source by Duane Marchant

    Views: 0

  • Breathing To Heal – How Yoga Helps Arthritis

    Breathing To Heal – How Yoga Helps Arthritis

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    Arthritis is common but not well understood. It is not a single disease but a way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 different versions of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages suffer from this malady, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.

    Common symptoms include joint swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go or stay the same for years. They can be mild, moderate or severe but may progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain and an inability to do daily activities. It can cause permanent joint changes which may be visible, such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be seen on an X-ray. Some types of arthritis also affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin as well as the joints.

    Yoga is a set of practices with origins in ancient India. The word yoga comes from a Sanskrit work meaning "to yoke" or "to unite." It focuses on unifying the mind, body, and spirit, and fostering a greater feeling connection between the individual and his / her surroundings. Its main goal is helping individuals realize balance. Beyond this, yoga has several secondary goals, such as improving physical health and enhancing mental well-being and emotional strength.

    In addition, yoga is associated with increased mental energy as well as positive feelings (such as alertness and enthusiasm), fewer negative feelings (reduced excitability, anxiety, aggressiveness) and sleep issues. In summary, yoga is associated with a wide range of physical and psychological benefits that may be especially helpful for persons living with a chronic illness such as arthritis.

    As with any physical activity, it is important to take proper precautions such as checking to see that a doctor hasn't placed any limitations or restrictions on an arthritis patient. If a medical professional has specific concerns, get them in writing and give this information to the yoga instructor. A qualified yoga teacher generally starts a beginner with a gentle, therapeutic class. It is important that the class is led by an instructor who can guide one through safe and healthy poses.

    Wear comfortable clothing that allows for full movement of the body. If it is too loose, the instructor will be less able to guide proper alignment but it should also not be restrictive. Clothing specially designed for yoga is available, but unnecessary. Yoga is traditionally practiced barefoot, though it may be possible to wear socks at the start of class, until the body warms up. Mats are used in modern yoga practice to provide cushioning and prevent slipping. Some studios supply mats for general use.

    The general rule for arthritis patient is that if it hurts, stop. The old adage of "no pain, no gain" does not apply to yoga. When doing certain poses, arthritis patients should keep them relatively small and be aware not to hyper-extend the neck, keeping the head in line with the rest of the spine. For those with arthritis of the hip, be cautious when doing "hip openers" or poses with extreme external rotation of the hips.

    Generally, there will be pain if one is going too far with a pose, but sometimes the effects are not felt until the next day. It is important to start slowly and expand the practice as the body dictates.

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    Source by Sherry Lynn Daniel

    Views: 0