Tag: Reduce

  • Relief for a Sore Penis – Healing After Aggressive Sex

    Relief for a Sore Penis – Healing After Aggressive Sex

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    A good roll in the hay or an especially sensual round of solo action can lead men to unbelievable ecstasy, followed a glow of satisfaction and a sense of relaxation and well-being. However, it can also lead to soreness, aching and a lingering feeling of discomfort – not the takeaway most men are looking for from the experience. While a sore penis after sex is common, and in general nothing serious, knowing how to prevent the pain from happening, and how to relieve it when it does occur – can improve men’s overall penis health and even enhance the sensations they feel during the proceedings.

    What causes penis pain?

    Penis pain can occur for a number of reasons and can even be related to more than one of these factors:

    • Chafing – while the sliding, gliding and thrusting of sex feels tremendous in the moment, there is actually a lot of heat being generated by the friction. Most men won’t notice this when it is happening, unless things are particularly dry, but when the heat of the moment is over, this chafing can lead to red, raw-looking skin, or even the appearance of a rash. Over time, friction from intercourse or masturbation can cause the skin to overcompensate during healing, and a thicker layer of keratinized dermal tissue may be the result. Since this callus-like tissue can actually block pleasurable sensation, preventing it from occurring through regular moisturizing and use of a lube is highly recommended.
    • Irritation – the penis skin is fairly delicate, and exposure to a partner’s body fluids, as well as lubes, latex, or other substances which may come into play can cause the skin to become irritated. Redness, itching, burning and even swelling may ensue. Avoiding known irritants is important here, so if a reaction seems to occur any time a particular product is used, eliminating this from the process is a good idea.
    • Blunt force trauma or torsion – in a heated moment, it is natural to get overly enthusiastic, but abrupt moves can lead to sudden impact with a partner’s pelvic bone or with a sudden twist or turn that can cause penis pain and even rupture the penile tissue. Taking care during play sessions and avoiding sudden, forceful moves may take some of the excitement out of the process, but it can also prevent a world of hurt later on.

    How to relieve a sore penis

    When soreness and injuries do occur, pain relief may be the first thing on a man’s mind. In some cases, all that is needed is a little time off, but in others, some TLC at home can do the trick. Applying cold compresses (not too cold, or frostbite can be a real danger) or using an over-the-counter oral pain reliever may help to take the edge off while things heal. It is always a good idea to check with a doctor before trying any self-care techniques, however, especially in the case of sudden injury or for men who are being treated for other medical conditions.

    When professional help is needed

    If a penile injury is accompanied by a popping sound and/or sharp pain; if bruising or bleeding occurs; or if a man experiences an erection that does not dissipate after several hours, prompt medical attention is necessary to treat potentially serious issues.

    Extra support for a stressed, sore penis

    Aside from pain relief and waiting out the healing process, men can take some proactive steps, not only to promote healing, but also to prevent a recurrence of the problem:

    • First of all, using a lubricant – and a little bit of common sense – for future sessions can also help to prevent injuries from friction, accidental impact, or sudden bending or twisting.
    • Second, in order to heal properly, the penile tissues need to work harder than normal. Repairing damaged tissue requires essential nutrients that men can obtain through a penis vitamin cream. (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) that is fortified with vitamins and amino acids, as well as natural emollients for extra relief. After the healing process is complete, continuing to apply a quality penis health cream can help to reduce the degree of cellular damage that can result from rough treatment.

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    Source by John Dugan

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  • Family Medicine And Family Physicians

    Family Medicine And Family Physicians

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    To become a family physician, men and women go through a four-year degree program, they study in an accredited family medical medicine residency program, and an additional three years of training before becoming board certified. A family physician is your one-stop healthcare expert. They treat everyone in the family and they exam, research, and diagnose medical conditions from head to toe. This type of care is called integrated care where a family doctor devises individualized health plans to treat mom, dad, and children of all ages. Family doctors treat a wide range of health conditions and they can be your primary care physicians at any point in your life. Unlike other specialties, family medicine involves coordinating all types of healthcare issues, from a common cold, pregnancies, to treating an acute or chronic illness.

    Family physicians must practice at the highest level of medical care throughout the world. They are required to become re-certified around every six years, through American institutions like The American Board of Family Medicine, The American Academy of Family Physicians or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, all of which have reciprocity agreements throughout the globe for family medicine training. A few of the advantages in being seen by a primary care physician, includes the following:

    • family doctors have all of your personal and family medical history because they have been treating you for years.

    • physicians that have seen generations of family members can help in researching various genetic diseases, like cancer, if it appears more than once in a generation.

    • doctors involved in family medicine environments can perform minor surgical procedures without the added cost of seeing a specialist.

    • they improve the lives of the underserved in America and abroad.

    Research and clinical studies have proven that US and worldwide primary care physicians have been responsible for lowering the world mortality rates in diseases, such as in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, low birth weight issues, obesity, and many other illnesses and health conditions. The statistical results associated with the care provided by family physicians, have proven that they help to increase life spans and control diseases from spreading. Their participation in healthcare has reduced healthcare expenditures, they help to lower hospital admissions, emergency room admissions, and they help to reduce surgical costs.

    A family doctor focuses on preventive care, community oriented care, global health, plus they diagnose and manage a wide range of health problems to improve the quality of care in local, rural, urban, and large city health. Even if people are generally healthy, patients benefit by keeping a relationship with their primary care physicians. The physicians support individuals to stay healthy through dietary programs, they encourage their patient's to exercise to stay physically and mentally healthy.

    One of the main reasons that family medicine works, is the relationship that patients have with their doctors. This specialized and confidential relationship is great for individuals who feel comfortable in talking about their medical health with their physicians. Physicians around the world, are available to answer their patient's questions in a way that forms a trusting bond. This bond creates a trusting relationship, whereby patients will listen and follow their healthcare provider's advice and directions, thus decreasing chances of spreading contagions .

    Family medicine is all about treating the whole person, not just their symptoms. A family physician has a profound effect on the physical, mental, environmental, emotional, and spiritual health of each of their patient's. Physicians with an intimate knowledge of their patients can help introduce the healing power of hope, love, faith, and trust, as life presents challenges that can evoke depression, fear, grief, and anger. Also, if a physician's patient requires the need to see a specialist, a family doctor will help coordinate your care. Patients can often feel frustrated and confused when they have to manage the healthcare system on their own. With a family healthcare provider on your side, the whole medical care journey is made easier and less frightening of the unknown.

    Refugees have always fled to foreign countries, including the US for a chance of better opportunities for themselves and their family. The present global news events are following refugees today, who are fleeing from their native countries for various reasons. Before being accepted for resettlement, all refugees must pass medical screening examinations, which is often performed by primary care physicians. The physicians perform a thorough examination of a variety of health problems that involve the mental and social health of the refugees. The family doctor's check for infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, the refugee's overall musculoskeletal system, and parasites, thus providing immunizations. The information that they gather is shared with that country main health agency, which in the US Is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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    Source by Ryan A Buffington

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  • Fractures & Sprains – When There Is No Doctor

    Fractures & Sprains – When There Is No Doctor

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    Oops it could happen anytime, anywhere, without advance warning, even to the fit, the active, and the healthy. A slip or a fall and – ouch – you’re landed (sometimes literally), with a fracture or a sprain. An expert orthopaedic surgeon outlines emergency procedures to help a victim until he can be got to a doctor.

    The basic mistake that people make in the handling of fractures and sprains is that both are given the wrong kind of importance. Sprains tend to be treated as a minor disability that time and home remedies will heal; fractures, on the other hand, generally result in the pressing of all panic buttons. Both approaches are faulty.

    “A neglected sprain could result in permanent instability of the joints which may require a major operation later,” warns orthopaedic surgeon. A sprain occurs when soft tissues such as ligaments, joint capsules, muscles and tendons are stretched beyond their limit, mainly as a result of lifting heavy weights, exercising in fits and starts or playing a strenuous game like badminton after a long interval.

    On the other hand, people over-play fractures. Because of the immediate and often unbearable pain they generate they are looked upon as a dire emergency and it is believed that if urgent treatment is not given, it will result in the permanent disability or loss of the limb. So, in sheer panic, the patient is rushed to the nearest doctor who, if inexperienced or incapable or plain mercenary, may perform an unnecessary operation “because it could develop into gangrene.” A corollary myth is that all fractures require surgery when in fact most fractures can be treated without an operation.

    When is it a fracture and when is it a sprain?

    When a person suffers a fracture, i.e. a break in the bone, he experiences a shooting pain, and the affected limb is incapacitated. In a sprain, the pain may not be so powerful. The exception is a spinal column sprain which could cause severe pain and result in a stiff back.

    In children, it’s usually the elbow and legs that suffer fractures whereas in adults, it’s the thigh, hip and spinal column. The parts most likely to suffer a sprain are the ankles (especially in women who wear high-heeled shoes), wrists, lower back and the neck.

    Don’t…

    “Till a definite diagnosis is made by a good orthopaedist, don’t give in to the temptation of resorting to a home remedy such as using a turmeric powder pack, it may only worsen the condition,” advises orthopaedic surgeon.

    And do’s…

    Both, sprains and fractures are best treated by lightly pressing an ice pack on the area to reduce the swelling and/or bleeding. Next, tie a firm bandage on the affected part, preferably reinforcing it with a handy splint like a foot-rule or a wad of newspapers or cardboard. The victim should be reassured and kept calm and made to rest while arrangements are made to take him to the doctor. Pain-killers may be given.

    However, if the accident occurs on the road or playground, the victim should be lifted by four to six persons, their bodies serving as cushions as far as possible and made to rest nearby. If the upper limbs or neck is injured, the victim can be helped to walk to a cab or other available transport. However, if it is the legs that are injured, he should be either carried or placed on a stretcher, if it’s available, all the time making sure he does not exert pressure on the affected limb.

    A child is less tolerant of pain and his agitated parents could alarm him further. Calmly reassure him with a drink until he can be got to medical attention. Tincture of iodine, or an antiseptic ointment or lotion could be used in case of an abrasion or cut.

    Any upper limb injury should be put in a sling (available at the chemist or you can make one at home).

    Making a sling

    A square metre of cloth (in an emergency a bedsheet or even a towel could do) cut diagonally across will make two slings. Support the hand by placing the widest angle pointing towards the elbow. The other two ends will go around the neck and are tied into a secure double knot at the nape.

    Head injuries

    Head injuries are usually caused by violent road accidents or by a fall from a height. This is a serious problem which requires quick action. The patient may become unconscious immediately or may gradually lose consciousness. If he is unconscious, do not let him lie flat on his back or he could choke if he swallows his saliva or blood (if he is bleeding in the mouth). Slowly turn him on to his side in ahead low position (without a pillow), so the secretions if any can flow out. Call the doctor or get an ambulance.

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    Source by Andy G

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  • The 2 Fatal Mistakes Online Business Owners Make With Customer Service

    The 2 Fatal Mistakes Online Business Owners Make With Customer Service

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    Customer service can make or break your business, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to an eCommerce business in particular. When someone comes to your website to make a purchase, you have to realize that they are choosing you over thousands of other stores on the web.

    What are you going to do to not only close the deal, but make sure they are satisfied after the delivery?

    Having excellent customer service will be key, but you have to avoid these two common mistakes to make sure you can keep your new customer coming back time and time again.

    1. Not Being Accessible

    People have issues trusting stores on the internet these days. With so many scams out there, you have to show that your company is a trustworthy source for whatever it is you happen to be selling. One of the ways you can do that is by making your customer service department very accessible.

    This doesn’t just mean listing a phone number in the header, which instantly adds credibility, it also means having other options that you can be reached through, like live chat, email, and even social media. By making yourself accessible, you give people reassurance that you’ll be there should any problems arise with their order.

    And, in today’s world where a lot of people don’t have the time to speak on the phone, live chat is definitely the way to go in most situations. Have a chat box automatically pop up on the website so people can get in touch with you without searching for a hidden “Contact Us” link.

    2. Not Following Up

    The second biggest mistake an online business can make when it comes to customer service is not following up with buyers after they have made a purchase. You should invest in an email list and autoresponder to make sure that every customer is emailed a “thank you” for their purchase email, a delivery confirmation, and then a follow-up email a few days later to see if they like what they are getting.

    This follow-up email is also the ideal time to ask for a review, which can help boost your reputation even more. If they happen to be unsatisfied with the product, you greatly reduce the risk of chargebacks or returns just by offering to make it right for them up-front. Instead, you might be able to settle with store credit or an exchange.

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    Source by Jon Allo

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  • Journey of a Drug: Design to Market Seller

    Journey of a Drug: Design to Market Seller

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    Where do the medicines we take from chemists come from? How do the doctors know which drug is good for which disease? How the medicines really are able to cure a particular ailment they have been prescribed for? Do these questions come to your mind, whenever you buy any medicine?

    Come, let us today know about the medicine development from the beginning …

    The development of medicine is called a Clinical Research and has different Phases. Phases of the clinical research are the steps of experiments with a health intervention in an attempt to find enough evidence for a process which the scientists think would be helpful in medical treatment.

    The pharmaceutical study starts its journey from a drug design and drug molecule discovery which further progresses into animal testing and then human studies to see the drug's effectiveness.

    Drug undergoes many trials- Preclinical, Phase 0, Phase I, II, III and IV. Sometimes combined trials also are undertaken to reduce the time of development, like Phase I / II and II / III.

    Pre-Clinical Study

    When the drug molecule is identified, it undergoes many in vitro ( test tube or cell culture ) and in vivo ( animal ) experiments. These experiments are conducted to know the preliminary efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of the various doses of the drug. Many drug molecules are designed at a time and these pre-clinical studies let the pharmaceutical companies decide which molecule has a greater potential in further studies.

    Design of the Studies:

    Trials are always conducted by following the set of steps, called the protocol, developed by the researchers to find the specific questions related to the medical product. Information from the prior studies become the base for the researchers to develop research questionnaire and objectives:

    • Participant selection
    • Number of participants
    • Duration of the study
    • Controlled or not
    • How and what dosage will be given
    • What and when the data will be collected
    • Review and analysis time

    Phase 0 Study

    It is also called micro-dosing trials, 10-15 human subjects are taken and single sub-therapeutic doses are administered to gather the pharmacokinetic ( PK ) data of the drug. This enables the company in deciding to go or no go for the further development of the drug, based on more relevant human data instead of animal data.

    Such trials exceed the speed of promising drug development by establishing whether or not the drug acts on humans as expected in pre-clinical studies.

    After the company decides to take the molecule of the drug forward in development, it will have to submit the data of its preliminary studies to the FDA called Investigational New Drug ( IND ) application filing.

    Phase I Study

    Also called First-in-man studies as these are the first stage of human testing studies. These are the studies which are designed to determine the maximum dose that can be administered without showing adverse effects.

    Contract Research Organizations ( CROs ) conduct such studies in the clinical trial clinics where medical staff provides full-time attention to 2-100 healthy subjects enrolled for the study and collects the data.

    These studies determine the safety ( pharmacovigilance ), tolerability, pharmacokinetics ( PK ) and pharmacodynamics ( PD ) of the drug. The design of Phase I studies is dose-ranging also called dose escalation studies conducted in controlled clinics called Central Pharmacological Units ( CPUs ).

    Usually, healthy subjects are hired but sometimes terminally ill patients like of cancer and HIV and also those who have already tried and failed to improve on existing medications.

    There are two divisions for Phase I study:

    Phase Ia: Single ascending dose

    Phase Ib: Multiple ascending dose

    Phase II Study

    More than 100 diseased subjects are enrolled for a longer period study, to know the benefits of the drug along with its safety which includes genetic testing. These studies are also called as "Proof of Concept or Pilot" studies.

    This is the phase when the drug's development can fail due to toxicity or less than expected results.

    Two divisions of this phase are:

    Phase IIa: Pilot study, to determine the clinical efficacy or the biological activity.

    Phase IIb: Dose-finding study, to check the biological activity with minimal side-effects.

    A combined trial determining the efficacy as well as toxicity are Phase I / II trials.

    Phase III Study

    These are pre-registration trials means the data of this study is submitted to the regulatory agency through New Drug Application (NDA) for its registration. Also called Pre-marketing or Pivotal trials.

    Such studies are multicentral, randomized, in large diseased population ( more than 500 ) with much longer duration of treatment and short follow up period, to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of the drug.

    Even if the regulatory submission is pending, the drug is received by the patients in case it's a lifesaving drug until the drug can be purchased.

    'Label expansion' that is drug can treat an additional disease, other than the disease for which the drug is already approved, may also be the reason for running the Phase III trial.

    It is said that for FDA ( United States Food and Drug Administration ) and MHRA ( United Kingdom's Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency ) needs at least two trials of successful trials data to register the drug.

    After these trials, the drug is approved for market selling.

    Phase IV Study

    These are Post Market Safety Monitoring studies done after the drug is registered. Also called Late Phase or Confirmatory trials.

    This kind of study determines the long-term adverse effects on the much larger population for a very long duration (at least 2 years). If harmful effects are detected in this study, then the drug is disapproved and the company has to retrieve the drug from the market as it can no longer be sold.

    The entire journey of the drug from a molecule to a market selling product takes around 15-20 years.

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    Source by Nidhi Sharma

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  • Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About a Pain Doctor

    Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About a Pain Doctor

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    In all likeliness, you must have heard of the term ‘pain doctor’, otherwise also known as a pain specialist or even as a pain management specialist. Pain doctors help in managing pain and focus on pain medicine, which is all about preventing and treating different kinds of pain. Here are some of the things you need to know.

    What Are the Qualifications of a Pain Doctor?

    A pain doctor can be a medical doctor, also known as MD, or can be a doctor of osteopathy, specializing in pain medicine. Apart from treating pain-related disorders, they also treat symptoms that may have triggered pain. They also work with patients who have to deal with pain owing to a particular condition, such as post-operation related pain. In terms of services, many torment doctors have their clinics, where they offer comprehensive care for most pain-related conditions, or else, they may also work as consultants to healthcare providers and doctors. The role of pain doctors is an extensive one, where they offer counseling to patients, perform procedures as required, prescribe medicines and even offer emotional support. In a number of cases, where is caused due to a certain condition or diseases, the physician may refer the case to a pain management specialist, while keeping a check on the primary treatment. Apart from a medical degree, which is an obvious must, physicians are required to have a state license in the US.

    What Are the Areas of Specialization?

    torment management doctors can treat most conditions, not limited to back and neck torment, chronic torment, cancer torment, arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, pelvic torment, headaches, fibromyalgia, and orofacial torment. Many torment doctors are a part of different organizations, such as the American torment Society.

    How Are Patients Treated?

    Patients experience pain owing to a number of reasons, and therefore, the diagnosis and treatment also differs. Doctor usually suggest tests before starting off and may consider the family history of the patient, along with other relevant factors such as lifestyle and diet habits. Also, a detailed physical examination will be done to understand the pain conditions better. As for the treatments, the approach determines the next step. Some treatments are planned in a way that patients can live better, despite the pain, while others are more focused on reducing the extent of pain.

    Common Treatments:

    Pain doctors may use different kinds of treatments, such as injections in form of corticosteroids, and medications. Along with that, implantable devices such as stimulators are also used, besides physical therapy, surgery and trigger point injections. Lifestyle changes, meditation, hypnosis and relaxation are some of the other things that doctors may use to help a patient.

    If you are suffering from chronic pain, consider seeing a pain doctor or ask your primary healthcare physician to offer help. The idea is to start treatment early, which may help in dealing with the symptoms better, and yes, do follow your doctor’s instructions for movements, actions and other things, especially if certain lifestyle changes can reduce your pain considerably.

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    Source by Hampry Gomes

    Views: 0

  • Cure Stuttering Effectively With DAF And GILCU

    Cure Stuttering Effectively With DAF And GILCU

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    Stuttering as a speech disorder poses a lot of beliefs and theories concerning its origin and characteristics. One of them is the belief that stuttering is a result of the mismatch between a person's speech capacities and the demands the person receives from the environment. A person may constantly receive pressure around very fluent people. This may lead to the breakdown of his / her speech systems because the pressure he receives is just too much of what his speech system can accommodate. This makes concerned individuals look for ways on how to match these two factors and ways on how to cure stuttering.

    There are a lot of myths and devices that promise instant cure for stuttering. Unfortunately, these are hoaxes and only provide temporary cure. But, with the help of techniques that are taught and implemented by certified speech pathologists, stutterers will be able to eliminate their moments of stuttering and communicate effectively. A lot of techniques are well-received by researchers in this field.

    How To Cure Stuttering With GILCU?

    Stutterers and concerned families have always been in the search for ways on how to cure stuttering. Speech pathologists incorporate different fluency techniques during therapies that promise to reduce and then completely eliminate the abnormal repetitions, prolongations and stoppages or blocks present in a stutterer's speech. With the help of the techniques, stutterers are also able to eliminate the physical concomitants or movements that they involuntarily do. Two of these techniques that aim to treat stuttering are Gradual Increase in Length and Utterance (GILCU) and Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF).

    How to cure stuttering with GILCU? GILCU, as what it stands for implies, involves the structured plan of the application of fluency techniques. The fluency techniques taught to patients are introduced and then applied in the patients' speech in a gradual manner. The patients will first apply the techniques with syllables then proceed with words, then to phrases and in turn to sentences. The patients, who seek ways of how to cure stuttering, will need to master first applying the techniques in the shortest utterances before proceeding to longer and more complex ones.

    GILCU is incorporated in the Fluency Shaping treatment plan because it targets the over-all fluency of the person. This is also a convenient and effective technique because it doesn't bombard the stutterer with a lot of techniques at once. This gives the patient the chance to adapt and incorporate the techniques needed according to his / her own capacities. GILCU answers people over their concern on how to cure stuttering effectively.

    How To Cure Stuttering With DAF?

    DAF is another technique used by speech pathologists for people who are concerned on how to cure stuttering. Delayed Auditory Feedback, as the name implies, alters the auditory feedback system of the stutterer to lessen the dysfluencies. It is based on the belief that stutterers are not able to immediately implement corrections when what they wanted to say is different from what they have said. How to cure stuttering with DAF?

    With DAF, a device is placed on the patient's ears. This device modifies the feedback system by delaying the sound heard by the stutterer by 50-75 milliseconds. This will make the stutterer prolong syllables and reduce the rate of utterances, thereby lessening the sudden dysfluencies created because of pressures for rapid speech. The delay caused by the DAF is decreased over the course of therapy to increase the pressure imposed on the stutterer. Its goal related to how to cure stuttering, is to practice the speaker to not hurry his / her speech and give him / her ample time to construct his ideas and produce them well.

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    Source by Samuel Keith

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  • Why Customer Concentration Impacts a Business Sale Transaction

    Why Customer Concentration Impacts a Business Sale Transaction

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    Few owners recognize the major impact that customer concentration has on the sale of their business. Customer concentration represents a significant obstacle and will affect the salability, valuation, and deal structure of a business-for-sale transaction. Not only will it create problems in qualifying buyers but it will impact the ability for any prospective purchaser to obtain third party financing to complete the acquisition. Determining if customer concentration is present in an enterprise is a critical element of the succession planning process.

    Customer concentration is a situation when one customer represents a significant portion of revenues or when the business has a very small customer base. Based upon the expert one consults, the exact percentage for a concentration to exist varies. In most cases it is recognized when one customer represents more than 10% of sales or when the top five customers comprise greater than 25% of a company’s revenue. In either situation, a huge risk is created from the lack of diversification and steps to mitigate it should be taken years in advance of a planned business exit.

    When evaluating a business sale it is important for an owner to recognize that their client base has a significant impact on the enterprise value of the company. A broad and diverse base of customers where there are a large number of clients contributing to the business’ revenue will achieve a higher transaction value as it reduces the risk that a sizable decrease in earnings will occur if any one customer is lost or a particular industry segment that the business serves encounters economic distress.

    In addition to a lower sales price, businesses with customer concentration issues are more difficult to market for sale. For main street business transactions (those with adjusted earnings of less than $2mm) third party financing is used in the majority of cases. Businesses with high levels of customer concentration are very difficult to get financed. Lenders may provide only partial financing, offer sub-optimal terms, or decline the loan altogether. In situations where third party financing is not available, the pool of available buyers is significantly restricted and the terms of a deal could be heavily weighted on a contingent earn-out based on retaining the revenues derived by the largest customers. “Typically we want no customer concentration over a 10% level when considering financing an acquisition. Higher levels are possible with much more explanation and supporting documentation but remain a major concern” states Steve Mariani, President of Diamond Financial Services.

    Lastly, customer concentration will have a direct impact on the deal structure for the business sale transaction. Buyers will strive to bridge the customer concentration risk through a variety of delayed ‘performance based’ financing methods. For example: Assume both parties agree on a transaction price of $900,000 based upon $300,000 of adjusted earnings (a 3x multiple). If the key account in question represents $75,000 of the $300,000 this would represent $225,000 of the transaction price. A buyer will strive to isolate the $225,000 component to ensure that revenue is maintained post sale. After a period of 12 months, if the customer and income are still in place the seller would receive the funds. If the identified client and corresponding revenue was lost during this period, a pricing adjustment would be made.

    In situations where the buyer is unable to obtain transaction financing due to customer concentration issues, the seller might have to accept a “contingent earn-out” for the revenues derived from the largest customers, or worse, they may also have to finance a major portion of the “non-contingent purchase price” negotiated with buyers.

    Contingent payouts could be structured in a variety of methods:

    Earn-Out:

    Earmark part of the purchase price with payments made over a period of time contingent upon the retention of specific customers or achieving specific revenue targets.

    Escrow:

    A percentage of the acquisition price will be held in an escrow account for a specified time.

    Seller-Financing:

    The seller would be responsible for financing a major portion of the purchase price through a seller note. The seller note could be structured with contingencies for revenues derived from the largest customers.

    With any of these deal structuring techniques, the seller cannot be expected to guarantee the revenue in perpetuity and if the transaction price is based upon retaining one or more key customers, the seller may require more active involvement in maintaining the client relationship during the term of the agreement. Obviously, this brings an additional complexity to the transaction.

    In most cases, buyers will look to discount the amount they are willing to pay for a business (with high customer concentration) unless they receive assurances that the risk is low. While the obvious strategy to reduce customer concentration risk is to diversify and increase the business customer base, there are a number of situations where customer concentration either does not pose a significant risk or could be mitigated.

    Customer Contracts:

    Having a contract in place will not eliminate all of the risk of losing a key customer, but it will provide the buyer with security that the revenue and profits will continue after a change in ownership takes place. When customer contracts are involved, the ability to assign or transfer will be important to understand. In many cases, a stock sale vs. asset sale is elected to preserve these contracts.

    Barriers to Entry or Exit:

    Businesses could have intellectual property, product expertise, or patents that create competitive advantages barring competition. Others are located in geographically remote areas where the supply benefits discourage customers from changing the relationship. Lastly, there could be significant capital requirements for manufacturing and tooling or agency approvals (pharmaceutical or government contracting industry) that creates a barrier to entry from potential competitors.

    Providing a Variety of Products and/or Services:

    Having a broad relationship with a key customer where the relationship is not based solely on one product, one location, and one individual decreases the risk that a singular change will fundamentally impact the future revenue stream and continuity of the account.

    Economies of Scale or Synergies:

    The acquisition may be pursued by a strategic buyer where they are bringing new products/services to the enterprise, a broader geographic distribution footprint, or economies of scale in production. Any of these elements would assist in reducing the concentration of revenue risk that an identified key client would represent to the future organization.

    Summary

    Businesses which have high levels of customer concentration are inherently risky and it is important for the owner to appreciate this concern from the perspective of a potential acquirer. Ultimately, the buyer seeks only to retain the customers which have contributed to the success of the business and are factored in the valuation and transaction price. From the position of a buyer a few logical questions and concerns would be:

    1. How does the value of the company change if a customer representing 10% or more of revenue and/or profits is lost in the first year?
    2. How easy would it be for the client representing the customer concentration concern to leave the business?
    3. What unique situations exist within the business to preserve the customer relationship in the years ahead?
    4. What are the logical steps and corresponding costs to mitigate the customer concentration risk?
    5. How do I achieve a win-win transaction? Protecting me, the buyer, against the risk of a near term revenue loss while providing the seller with the proper remuneration for the fair market value of their business?

    While the risk may not be able to be totally eliminated, there are a number of situations where customer concentration is more palatable and a proper explanation should be provided to the buyer at the earliest opportunity. Getting out in front of this potential challenge is critical to achieve a win-win deal. When good communication exists, and two fair and reasonable parties are at the table, there are a number of structuring options available, when necessary, to mitigate the risk and negotiate a fair and reasonable transaction price. Obviously, the best approach for a prospective business seller would be to develop and implement plans to reduce any customer concentration elements years in advance of a business exit. Eliminating this type of risk is just sound advice for any small business owner regardless of whether a sale is contemplated.

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    Source by Michael Fekkes

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  • Telecommuting: How It Supports A Green Lifestyle

    Telecommuting: How It Supports A Green Lifestyle

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    These days people are more interested in saving time energy, and ways to make their lives easier and more productive all at once.Our world is changing fast and sometimes it is hard to keep up.

    Being a Baby boomer in a world filled with so many technical challenges to learn and keep up with can be a little intimidating. It is important though to familiarize yourself and try to keep up to date with how to stay connected without losing yourself in the mix. But working from home has improved my overall attitude about work, and has helped me to be more productive, and creative while at the same time helping to do my part in working towards a Greener way of living.

    How I am benefiting from working at home

    First I am saving money on gas every week! And although the price of gas has gone down, I am taking that money that I saved, and putting it towards investing in my business. I choose my own hours to work and by working in blocks of time, I can manage to get many things accomplished in an allotted amount of time, and also take breaks and a walk or do some yoga stretches in between.

    Eating a healthy meal through the day is important to me being vegan, and health conscious of what I am feeding my body as well as my mind. I can eat at leisure setting a block of time, just for eating as well as for breaks and I still get everything accomplished in an efficient and timely manner. Still being professional and at the same time taking good care of myself, so I can work at my optimum best.

    Telecommuting can ease the stress of having to commute back and forth to work in bad weather. It will definitely save some wear and tear on your vehicle and tires and save the time it would take to get back and forth from work. It can also save you money on dry cleaning costs!

    Another great reason to work from home and help support a green lifestyle, because dry cleaning uses Perchloroethylene, a toxic chemical that is very harmful to our environment, and if you are concerned with helping reduce toxins you can look up where to find a green dry cleaner in your area instead.

    Working from home enables you to work for longer periods and more comfortably by being in surroundings that are stress-free and conducive to your overall benefit. Create a workspace free of clutter. Make sure you have some water to keep hydrated. Have all of the tools and implements you may need close by to help you work efficiently, and so you do not have to keep getting up and down. Turn off all distractions unless some soft music in the background helps. And enjoy creating those masterpieces!

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    Source by Debbie Frye

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  • 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