Depression. What is it? Why would a normally healthy, optomistic person get depressed? If things go wrong, don't you just talk yourself out of feeling sorry for yourself? So what if your 23 year marriage ends, and your soon-to-be ex-husband moves in with your best friend; you are left to cope with 2 devestated teenagers; you loose your father and father-in-law to cancer; you have extreme job challenges; and, your new condo, purchased without REALLY knowing what to look for (just don't buy a home with a laundry room upstairs over the living room!) and you develop a roof leak, and a laundry leak into the living room. AND, you are the primary care giver for a very needy Mother.

You can handle all of this, right? And, when, the next year, you loose your Mother and Grandmother to cancer too, it doesn't send you over the edge, does it? Particularly when you also have Multiple Sclerosis, which has been misdiagnosed for over 35 years, and the worst thing for MS is stress and anxiety. You can handle everything, right?

Well, I found that I couldn't. Consider the following list of symptoms that one should review if you think that you might be suffering from depression. OR, if you, like me, are convinced that you CAN HANDLE IT, if the rain would just stop; or, if the roof would just stop leaking (I've already tried to get it fixed 2 times, and it hasn't yet worked; I now have a gallon bucket sitting in the front hallway to catch the water leaking from the hole in the roof); or, if the kids would just stop being "normal" teenagers, when you no longer have a husband to help you in the day-to-day coping with teenagers.

Here is a checklist of symptoms of depressive illness:
1) Loss of energy and interest.
2) Diminished ability to enjoy oneself.
3) Decreased -- or increased -- sleeping or appetite.
4) Difficulty in concentrating; indecisiveness; slowed or fuzzy thinking.
5) Exaggerated feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiety.
6) Feelings of worthlessness.
7) Recurring thoughts about death and suicide.

I remember clearly my "last straw". I read the list, above, and was sure that these 7 symptoms did NOT describe me. Then, with all of my water problems at home, I went to work in my 4th (top) floor office that just happened to have a flat roof. While on the phone arguing with the roofer who claimed that my roof shouldn't be leaking, and my telling him that it still was leaking, and if he didn't believe me, he could just come over and see my bucket full of water in my entry way, when I heard the familiar "pitter-patt" noise that freaked me out at home. I looked up at my office ceiling just in time to see water beginning to gush out of the ceiling tiles, around the hanging lights, and pour into my office. That did it. I went home. That night, I awoke thinking that I heard the "pitter-patt" in the upstairs laundry room, dripping water into my living room. I got up, turned off the water to the washing machine; stuffed all of my towels around the washer, and stood with my back against the wall in my first ever anxiety attack, thinking that if this was what my life had become, why would I even want to continue living it?

This event scared me into going to my Doctor. He had a great little "depression" test for me. Knowing my fragile state, he asked me the statements, and, based both on my answers and on the detailed symptom impairment document that I had started preparing for him, prescribed an antidepression medication for me.

I learned two critical things that day - three, really. The first one is that it is critical to have a Doctor that you trust, that knows you, and that LISTENS to what you are saying. Secondly, since he knew about my MS, he told me that Depression was a frequent secondary symptom of MS. (At that time, I hadn't done my MS symptom research yet; the Disabilitykey Workbook, found at www.disabilitykey.com is the ultimate result of all of my symptom and system - Long Term Disability and Social Security Disability Insurance - research for myself.) Third, I learned that no matter how strong your personality is, and no matter how positive a person you are, Depression is NOT something you can get over by just "thinking positive thoughts"; by "keeping a stiff upper lip". If you truely think that you are suffering from Depression, there is nothing wrong from talking to your Doctor, and seeking his advice.

All that I have discussed so far happened over a dozen years ago. I am still taking antidepression medication, and it does help. I have searched high and low for the original test that my Doctor used on me, and finally found one at one of my favorite resources, called the "Institute for Algorithmic Medicine" (that's academic talk for medical condition tests). The test is "The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale". As you read the following questions, ask yourself where the statement ranks on the following scale:

1) A little of the time for me.
2) Some of the time for me.
3) A good part of the time for me.
4) Most of the time for me.

I fell down-hearted and blue.
Morning is when I feel the best.
I have crying spells or feel like it.
I have trouble sleeping at night.
I eat as much as I used to.
I still enjoy sex.
I notice that I am losing weight.
I have trouble with constipation.
My heart beats faster than usual.
I get tired for no reason.
My mind is as clear as it used to be.
I find it easy to do the things I used to.
I am restless and can't keep still.
I feel hopeful about the future.
I am more irritable than usual.
I find it easy to make decisions.
I feel that I am useful and needed.
My life is pretty full.
I feel that others would be better off if I were dead.
I still enjoy the things I used to do.

This little test, with your self rating for each statement, and with your symptom impairment documentation, so that your Doctor knows more about you and what is going on in your life, s/he can best decide what to do to help you better achieve a higher quality of life. Perhaps antidepression medication isn't what you need, something else would be better for you. But, if you don't learn, document, seek help, and discuss with your Doctor, s/he can't help you help yourself.

Many of you are probably asking yourselves how I can just put myself out there; just put into these bloggs what is going on in my life. I'm doing this, sharing these experiences so that you can know that I have been there; I've done that; I've got the t-shirts! For more about me, check out the "about us" section in the website: www.disabilitykey.com.

About The Author: Carolyn Magura

Disabilitykey.com (www.disabilitykey.com) is a website designed to assist each person in his/her own unique quest to navigate through the difficult and often conflicting and misleading information about coping with disabilities.

Carolyn Magura, noted disability / ADA expert, has written an e-Book documenting the process that allowed her to:

a) continue to work and receive her “full salary” while on Long Term Disability; and

b) become the first person in her State to qualify for Social Security Disability the FIRST TIME, in UNDER 30 DAYS.

Click here ("www.disabilitykey.com/products.htm) to receive Carolyn 's easy-to-read, easy-to-follow direct guide through this difficult, trying process. If you are disabled, don't let this disabiling process disable you. Read Carolyns Disability Key Blog (www.disabilitykey.com/disabilitykeyblog.shtml).

My grandmother used to be up at the crack of dawn—not because she had to, but because her body clock had shifted to a different time frame with increasing age. My step-mother used to complain that after Dad retired, he woke up every morning before six. The connection seems inevitable—older people do not need as much sleep as younger folks do. While changes in sleep patterns may explain this situation to some extent, they do not address a fundamental problem–lack of sleep is not only unhealthy but potentially dangerous to the senior population.

a) The body chronically deprived of sleep is a walking time bomb. Consider some of these statistics from the National Sleep Research Project.

b) Seventeen hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood-alcohol level of 0.05%.

c) Research estimates that fatigue is involved in one in 6 road accidents. The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster and the Chernobyl nuclear accident have all been attributed to human errors in which sleep deprivation played a role.

d) As well, sleep compromises the immune system; it decreases your resistance to infections. A study at San Diego’s Veteran Medical Center discovered that reducing a person’s nightly normal sleep time by half decreases the activity of T-cells—the cells that destroy bacteria, viruses and tumor cells.

e) Young adults who are sleep deprived may be increasing their risk for diseases that accompany old age.

f) A recent study at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggests that sleep deprivation in older adults can lead to earlier death. The study involved tests that measured EEG sleep assessments. Results showed that those with low percentages of REM sleep were at the greatest risk. REM is an active period of sleep characterized by interval brain activity and rapid bursts of eye movement. REM is the brain wave stage of dreaming sleep (the theta stage) that is characterized by increased creativity, memory, healing and integrative emotional experience (what is usually called the “Ah-ha!” moment of insight and connection). There is no doubt that REM sleep contributes to the development of human imagination and consciousness.

There are, however measures that one can adopt to promote restful sleep. Like anything else, proper sleep can be encouraged through the maintenance of familiar and soothing routines— a ritual that is sometimes referred to as “sleep hygiene.”

1. Exercise: An exercise routine (30-40 minutes) four to five times as week is excellent not only for sleep promotion, but for cardiovascular health, weight maintenance, osteoporosis and diabetes as well. It’s like killing 5 birds with one stone! Both aerobic and resistance training can increase energy expenditure and lean body mass. As well, exercise is a natural mood enhancer because repetitive movement helps the body release its natural store of endorphins—the good feeling hormone.

2. Alpha and Theta-Wave CDs and relaxation music: Listening to soothing music or CD’s that help entrain your brainwave activities can definitely help you access Alpha and Theta brainwave states more readily. New technology is providing us with more accessible ways to tap into our subconscious mind and allow us to mould our behavior and emotions inside out.

3. Reduced liquids: Cut down on liquids in the evening as this will prevent frequent bathroom visits that interrupt sleep.

4. Reduced caffeine: Do not consume caffeinated products after 2 in the afternoon. Double check your medication as well; some drugs also disturb sleep. Anti-depressants, for example, can disturb normal sleep patterns and some barbiturates suppress REM sleep which can be harmful over a long period. Decongestants can also act as stimulants and beta blockers are known to cause insomnia.

5. Turn digital clocks away from your line of vision. Studies show that even the tiny luminous rays from a digital alarm clock can be strong enough to disrupt a sleep cycle. The digital light turns off a “neural switch” in the brain, causing levels of a key sleep chemical to decline within minutes.

6. Hot Bath: Researchers who studied female insomniacs (aged 60-70) found that those who had a hot bath before sleep spent more time in deep, slow brainwave sleep.

7. Avoid heavy, late meals that sit heavily in your stomach.

8. A glass of hot milk just before bedtime will also give your brain the amino acid tryptophan which the body converts to sleep-inducing chemicals.

9. Consult a doctor or dentist if you have a problem with sleep apnea, which can be controlled by a simple plastic appliance that fits in the mouth.

10. Last but not least, for those who are sleepless because of unresolved issues or problems—learn to make amends where changes can be made and lean to walk away (mentally and perhaps physically) when things cannot be changed. Pray and place everything in the hands of the Universe. Know that you are more than your problems.

Copyright 2006 Mary Desaulniers

About The Author: Mary Desaulniers

A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is now doing what she loves--running, writing, helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can subscribe to Mary's newsletter by contacting her at http://www.GreatBodyafter50secrets.com or visit her at http://www.greatbodyat50.com/SpiritWorks.php

Has your doctor advised you to reduce your cholesterol level? That is no surprise considering how many people have high cholesterol these days. To help lower your cholesterol, here are 10 simple tips you can use live a healthier life.

For most health related issues, diet and exercise are two of the most crucial components. What you eat is critical to lowering your cholesterol levels, so let's focus on that for now.

One thing you should know is the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol. Simply think of HDL as "healthy" and LDL as "lousy." HDL actually helps carry cholesterol out of your blood vessels while LDL allows it to deposit inside your artery walls.

The good news is that you can change your cholesterol largely by changing your eating habits. Let's take a look at some of the tips you can start applying today:

1. Have a nice sandwich on whole wheat bread or a pita with some lean turkey and lots of fresh veggies such as lettuce and tomatoes. Skip the hot dogs, bologna, and salami, and hold the mayo. All of those things are processed foods that are filled with fat and cholesterol.

2. Fish such as salmon is good. Look for wild red salmon varieties, which are very high in Omega-3 fatty acids (good fat.) Also, flax seed is a good source of Omega-3s.

3. Avoid trans fats! Not only do they raise the lousy LDL cholesterol, they can also lower your HDL levels! Stay away from foods like margarine, shortening, and processed foods containing partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Most products you find in the grocery stores should have the amount of trans fats indicated on the nutritional information.

4. Nuts are good for you. Look for walnuts mainly but also try almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, and pecans. Nuts are high in fat, but it's the good kind. (Also, use natural peanut butter instead of the normal kind which contains unhealthy trans fats.)

5. Cut down on the sweets (desserts) and try to eat only the healthier ones like angel food cake, graham crackers, Jell-O, and fat-free frozen yogurt.

6. Eat foods that are high in fiber. For instance, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, beans, and some cereals are good. (Look for the boxes that say "may help lower cholesterol.")

7. Use the grill instead of the deep fryer. If you're going to have steak or burgers, grill them at home and use lean meat. This practice avoids the grease, is fun, and the meat tastes great.

8. Watch your salad dressing. Most of them are full of trans fats and cholesterol. Olive oil is good, and maybe add vinegar or lemon juice. Also, skip the bacon bits, croutons, and egg yolks.

9. Go overboard on fruits and vegetables. They contain no cholesterol and they have lots of nutrients like antioxidants.

Here are some examples: green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, oranges, mangos, papaya, pineapple, tomato, garlic, onions, spinach, water chestnuts, bananas, apricots, blueberries, and kiwi.

10. Avoid fast food like french fries and anything else from the deep fryer. Those foods will quickly raise your cholesterol so keep away from the burger joints if you can.

These are some simple tips to keep in mind that can go a long way in improving your health. Also remember to get plenty of exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, or playing sports. You will have lower cholesterol in no time and your heart will thank you for it.

About The Author: Jim Scotty shares useful tips on reducing your cholesterol levels through healthy eating and exercise. Get the free 42-page guide to "Lower Your Cholesterol" by visiting http://www.aboutcholestrol.com.

Are you one of those people who can drop off to sleep anywhere? Do you find that you are going to sleep at inappropriate times? Are you constantly fighting to stay awake during the day despite having a good night’s sleep? If so, you may be suffering from a condition called Narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy is a condition in which the sufferer has episodes in which he/she suddenly falls asleep. These episodes are uncontrollable and can last for anything from a few minutes to hours after which the person will awake feeling refreshed and fully alert. There are usually several episodes in a day.

Often, these attacks occur following a meal but they can happen at any time during the person’s waking hours.

The condition does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity or socio-economic background. It does normally become evident between the ages of 15 to 25 but can affect young children as well as the elderly.

Imagine the effect this condition can have on the lifestyle and the quality of life of the person. The person may be in class or in a meeting with colleagues when he suddenly just drops off to sleep. He may be at a party, crossing a street, having sex or, worse still, driving a vehicle when one of these episodes occurs. As you can see, the results of this illness could be catastrophic for both the sufferer and for the people around him.

The cause of Narcolepsy is unknown but it is agreed that it involves a malfunction of the neurotransmitters, the part of the brain that controls sleep and awake states. It is also possible that hormones such as melatonin may be maladjusted, thus failing to do their job which is to control normal sleep patterns.

There are also three auxiliary conditions associated with Narcolepsy. These are called cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.

Cataplexy involves sudden, temporary muscle weakness and is the most common secondary condition to Narcolepsy. Cataplexy is believed to occur during intense emotional states such as anger or excitement. During a Cataplectic attack, the person is totally aware and has total recall of the attack later on.

Hallucinations occur quite frequently in people with Narcolepsy and can be visual, audible, or tactile. These hallucinations can be terrifying for the person as they are similar to bad nightmares. Historically, people with these hallucinations accompanying Narcolepsy were misdiagnosed as having Schizophrenia.

Sleep Paralysis describes the feeling of not being able to move immediately before falling asleep and upon wakening. It usually lasts anywhere from a few seconds to half an hour and is generally accompanied by hallucinations.

Because Narcolepsy is not curable, the condition is treated symptomatically. This involves a strict sleep regime such as proper night-time sleep, avoidance of shift work and alcohol, and taking short scheduled naps throughout the day

The main drug therapy used in Narcolepsy is stimulants. Sufferers of this condition are also encouraged to drink more coffee and caffeinated drinks to help control their need for sleep.

In treating the auxiliary conditions of cataplexy, hallucinations and sleep paralysis, the person is often prescribed antidepressants

Prevention of the attacks is obviously a very important factor and can be assisted by simply following a sensible sleep regime at night, taking daytime naps where possible, avoiding heavy meals, and the intake of more caffeine.

Emotional support is another important factor. The person needs to have friends and family who can understand what is happening and not become upset by it, thus increasing the stress and anxiety that the person is probably already feeling. Obviously, if the person is married or in a relationship, their partner needs to be very understanding and supportive.

In summary, Narcolepsy is characterized by uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep. This may be accompanied by muscle weakness, hallucinations, and/or sleep paralysis. There is no cure and treatment is symptomatic. It is important to take preventative measures to avoid these episodes so that you can live a reasonably good lifestyle.

Copyright 2006 Anne Wolski

About The Author: Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for over 30 years and is also co director of http://www.magnetic-health-online.com which is a health information portal of many interesting articles by people in the medical industry, as well as http://www.pharmacybyweb.com which has online physicians who can answer your medical questions.

How many weight-watchers use 20+ TABLESPOONS of sugar in their coffee or tea? I guess the answer to that is zero. Why? Because all weight-watchers know that sugar has a high calorific value and is therefore detrimental to weight loss. Also using that amount of sugar will create liver problems eventually. So my question is: ‘If high levels of sugar are bad for us, and we all seem to know that is true, why do we drink soda that contains 20+ TABLESPOONS of sugar in each can?’

It is hard to assess how many people ruin their weight control program by drinking soda (carbonated water, fizzy drinks or soft drinks, depending upon which country you live in, are all forms of what I refer to as soda), judging by the sales of these drinks I guess the answer is most weight-watchers fall into this trap.

A young man that I know was heading down the road to obesity in his early twenties and being an accountant he was aware that his job didn’t include physical exercise that help burn off calories. Like most twenty something people he didn’t like the idea of going on a diet so he decided to cut soda and fast foods from his diet. Result, in less than six-months he was 26 pounds lighter, feeling healthier and looking trim. That was eleven years ago and he still remains trim today, he eats well but adamantly refuses to go back to fast foods or soda.

It doesn’t matter what brand of soda you drink, or whether it is labeled “light” or “diet” they all contain massive amounts of sugar and are unhealthy.

Finally we should not leave this article without taking a look at hyper-activity in children. There is little doubt that high sugar dosage is often the cause of children becoming hyperactive, it also leads the behavioral problems. Consequently it is advisable to take a long, hard, look at what your child’s sugar intake is particularly including soda.

The healthiest drink is water; it will also quench your thirst better and for longer than soda, and it is also rated at zero calories, which should make it the weight-watchers drink of choice. For your children you may find it beneficial to make them smoothies using fresh fruit as an alternative to soda.

This article is copyright © David McCarthy 2006. It may be reproduced in its entirety with no additions providing it contains a link back to www.recipesmania.com.

About The Author: David McCarthy is a prolific article writer on the subject of food and health and is webmaster of http://www.recipesmania.com a site dedicated to freely sharing knowledge about all things food from recipes to health to weight loss program.

The thought of going bald has always been a private nightmare for most men. We dare not think of it. Maybe just the thought would cause our hair follicles to shrivel up and die.

It’s the 21st century and we’re no closer to defeating the common cold much less hair loss. Or are we closer? Let’s take a look at the facts first.

1. If you’re going bald there’s a 95% chance it’s hereditary.

2. Minoxidil and Propecia are the only FDA approved drugs to treat hair loss.

3. Neither Minoxidil or Propecia is 100% guaranteed to work.

4. By doing nothing your 100% guaranteed to continue losing hair.

Those are some pretty harsh realities. I rather get the bad news outta the way first. Since DHT is responsible for causing hair loss we’ll look at ways to slow down it’s production.

NATURAL TREATMENTS:

A. Green Tea - Thought to effect the 5a-reductase type I enzyme, which converts testosterone to DHT.

B. Flax Seed Lignans - Is suggested to have beneficial effects on hair loss

C. Saw Palmetto (herb) Effective at blocking the formation of DHT and appears to block the androgen receptors which are found on the hair follicles. It blocks Type 1 and Type 2 forms of 5 alpha-reductase and has shown to be more potent than Finasteride.

D. Zinc - Recent studies have shown that certain formulations of topical Zinc can inhibit DHT in the skin, leading to reduction of oil and possibly helping hair regrow. Do NOT overdose. Doing so can accelerate or cause hair loss

E. Vitamin B6 - Combined with Zinc, Vitamin B6 was markedly able to inhibit the conversion of Testosterone to DHT in the skin. There are now studies that show that specific types of B6 alone will inhibit DHT creation and androgen receptor activity. One important factor is the source of B6 to use. Some sources actually INCREASE creation of DHT. If you don't know what form of B6 you're getting, it may be best to leave it alone. It is important to get enough though, because according to the same studies, a deficiency of B6 will increase DHT creation as well.

F. Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids - Contain anti-inflammatory properties that are useful in maintaining healthy hair. By increasing these levels of essential fatty acids one can slow down hair loss.

G. Horsetail (herb) - Rich in amino acids, silica, and phytosterols, which condition & strengthen hair as well as reduce buildup of oils in the scalp.

H. Ginger (herb) - Ginger has circulatory agents that help stimulate the hair follicle's growth cycle. Additionally Ginger is rich in fatty acids which are recommended for hair loss, and the thinning of the hair shaft

I. Rosemary (herb) - Rosemary has been shown to promote increased circulation as well as help remove dandruff and sebum accumulations on the scalp.

J. Sage tea (herb) - Contains potent antiseptic and astringent components makes it a useful conditioner for the hair. Additionally, it thickens and strengthens compromised hair shafts

K. Capsicum (herb) Stimulates hair growth by 50% and increases blood flow to the scalp as well as histamine release to stimulate cell division. It is excellent at accelerating new hair growth.

L. Ginger - Ginger has circulatory agents that help stimulate the hair follicle's growth cycle. Additionally Ginger is rich in fatty acids which are recommended for hair loss, and the thinning of the hair shaft.

Be aware that there is no scientific proof that these foods will stop hair loss. But they can help to maintain what you have now and slow down your hair loss. Also using more than the recommended daily dose of these foods may be counter productive.

The key here is the amount consumed. Almost anything is toxic if consumed in large doses. including salt and even water! As long as you follow the recommended dosage by the manufacturer or retailer, and the recommended doses are not exceeded by combining too many different supplements, then the chance of toxicity will not be a factor.

THE SEARCH FOR COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS:

Thanks to the web we have more access to hair loss treatments. Although this is a good thing it leaves the consumer on a wild goose chase trying to figure out what product will work for them. Although GOD created every man equal, man didn’t create every hair loss treatment that way. So we’re left to fend on our own and research countless web sites all selling their miracle hair growth product.

We goto forums and see what worked for Tom Dick and Harry. But who do they work for? I’m not saying that every member of a hair loss forum is actually the owner of www.wehavethebesthairlosstreatment.com. But I wouldn’t put it past some unscrupulous advertisers. You also research articles such as this one to find unbiased information on hair loss treatments. And yes I do admit I use this venue to attract potential customers. But I believe in the product I sell. You are more than welcome to visit my site. With that said lets take a look commercial treatments.

Avacor- Product contains herbs such as saw palmetto and Minoxidil which they call Loniten. At $235 for a three month supply it’s one of the most expensive products out there. The product comes with a money back guarantee. Although they claim that the product has a 90% success rate it has come under backlash from a popular hair loss forum. Read the actual article at www.hairlosstalk.com/newsletter/article294.htm. There are also complaints posted on www.ripoffreport.com. Just type the word Avacor on your search.

Follicare – This product seems fairly new. The hair growth treatment includes a topical spray that contains Minoxidil, shampoo and a nutritional supplement. The topical should remain on your scalp for 4 hours before washing your head. Expect to pay $100 for a two month supply. They claim a 95% success rate and offer a money back guarantee. Their site is www.follicare.com.

Hair Genesis - Botanically derived treatment designed to prevent pattern hair loss in both men and women. The topical treatment serum is designed to use directly on the affected scalp while the goal of HairGenesis oral SoftGels is to treat the problem systemically, and block the negative progression of pattern hair loss before it has a chance to damage the hair follicle. The site claims it’s best to use both products. Of course at a higher cost. Hair Genesis does NOT cure hair loss. It improves your hair follicle which in effect makes it thicker. So the theory here is the hairs on your head will be thicker giving your scalp the impression of more hair. A three month supply will run about $200. For more info visit www.hairvitamins.net/hair_genesis/faq.htm

RK19 – This product removes DHT inflammation and revives your dormant hair follicles. DHT inflammation is believed to stop your hair follicles from growing and accelerate your hair loss. It comes in 2 bottles. One is an anti-inflammatory and the other a nutritional supplement. The cost is only $99 for a 6 month supply and comes with a 90 day money back guarantee. The Hair Transplant Network verified RK19’s results. For more info on HTN’s verificationi click here http://s2.phpbbforfree.com/forums/endbalding-about4.html. To purchase RK19 visit www.endbalding.com

This is only a small list of what’s out there. If you have any information on these products or comments you can email me help@endbalding.com

FUTURE HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS:

Stem Cells - Research on bald mice can grow hair after being implanted with a type of stem cell could lead to an eventual cure for baldness according to a group of scientists. Many scientists have been researching whether hair follicles contain "blank slate" stem cells that can give most humans a full head of hair for life. Don’t count on this treatment any time soon. It’s still several years away.

Hair Cloning - The principle behind hair cloning is to produce new hair follicles from certain cells. At its simplest, a few healthy hair follicles can be excised from a biopsy. The follicles are then get dissected to isolate a small ball of cells at the base of each follicle called the dermal papilla. For the average full grown scalp hair there are about 200-400 cells in each dermal papilla. These few cells can be cultured in incubators to make several hundred thousand cells within 6 weeks or so. The cells are then implanted into the patients bald skin where the dermal papilla cells induce new hair follicles to develop.

The process is not fully understood, but we do know that dermal papilla cells send out chemical signals called cytokines that tell the skin to produce a new hair follicle. A new hair follicle is made from epithelial cells, but the *development and cycling* of the follicle is determined by dermal papilla cells. You must have both dermal papilla cells and epithelial cells together to form a hair follicle. Just one or the other cannot form a follicle on their own.

Since there are so many factors involving the development of hair follicles in order to bring about new hair follicle formation the actual development is a long way off. For the entire article read www.hairlosstalk.com/newsletter/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=240

Maybe in our lifetime science will find a cure for hair loss. Hair loss is not a crippling disease. It’s a lifestyle. If you’re comfortable with the way you look then you’ve won. If on the other hand it’s affecting you emotionally that you need to use medication, then try different hair loss treatments and see what works for you.

Always consult your doctor about any treatments you’re interested in. And take the time to look for any side effects on the product you’re looking to purchase.

About The Author: William Cortes is a freelance writer and owner of Endbalding.com http://www.endbalding.com which sells an anti-inflammatory treatment that stops DHT inflammation and revives hair follicles.

Diabetes is something that can be treated and even prevented very effectively with exercise. Most people are aware of the many other benefits of exercise but the one that could have the greatest impact on the health-care system is the prevention and relief of this health problem.

Diabetes comes in two main types. These are type I and type II.

Type I occurs when your pancreas is producing too little insulin or in some cases not producing any at all. If you already have type I you of course have the daily task of injecting insulin into your body in order to control your glucose levels.

This is not an enjoyable thing to do. If you currently do not have type I diabetes then learn to prevent it through exercise and healthy living. The alternative may be daily injections for the rest of your life.

The second main type of diabetes is known as Type II. Many people also refer to it as adult onset diabetes.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of Type II it's due to you pancreas not being able to make enough insulin to control glucose levels. It can also occur when your cells do not respond properly to insulin.

This is commonly known as insulin resistance.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with insulin resistance is through exercise and good nutritional habits. A large number of people with this type of diabetes are over-weight.

Therefore, weight control is a must. If you are not active, over-eat and become obese, you have a very high risk of being afflicted with type II. In most cases, simply adding in exercise, including both weight training and cardiovascular exercise, along with good eating habits is enough to prevent type II diabetes.

Only in rare cases will this not work, and medication is needed.

With type II diabetes there are a number of other health problems that can then occur, including; high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Exercise has a very positive effect on Type II for improving insulin sensitivity.

Ninety percent of all people with this health problem actually have type II, and exercise will help your body to process glucose at a quicker rate, lowering any high blood sugar symptoms you may have.

The intensity of your exercise session also plays a role. A more intense exercise program will help your body to utilize glucose quicker. However, high intensity does not mean faster. There is a difference.

Obviously before beginning any type of exercise program, regardless of what type of diabetes you have, you should check with your doctor. There are many differences between exercise for different types of diabetes that you need to be aware of before starting.

There can be certain dangers resulting from injecting insulin just before you begin to exercise. One situation that can occur is the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during the exercise session.

Here are some general rules to keep in mind when exercising if you are type I: allow for enough rest between weight training sets to avoid high blood pressure symptoms; avoid lifting heavy weights or going to failure on each set; when doing cardio, avoid high impact exercises such as running outside; always ensure that you have carbohydrates in your system before you start and a supply of them nearby as well.

You may begin to feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious or become irritable if you allow your blood sugar levels to get too low. Having a carbohydrate snack or drink nearby will help prevent these symptoms very quickly.

Blood glucose analyzers are very effective tools to use when exercising. You can test your blood sugar to ensure it's not at a level below 80 - 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl.

During your post-exercise recovery period, around three to five hours after you complete your exercise session, so-called diabetic diets can be beneficial. Diabetic diets should consist of a good amount of carbohydrates to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise has its greatest impact on people with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and sound nutritional habits work considerably well for type II diabetics.

Consistency is critical in the prevention of type II diabetes. You can't expect to exercise now and then, and prevent it. You need to make exercise part of your life if it's going to be effective.

About The Author: Patrick Mckeeman has very quick, easy & effective health & fitness solutions for you. For extensive information on diabetes & exercise please go to: http://www.man-health-fitness-solutions.com/diabetes.html

When you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain at your computer, there are simple actions you can take to help you feel better.

It is very important to understand how your body reacts with the design of your computer work area. Of equal concern is choosing products to help you rather than create additional pain. It can be just as simple as adjusting or rearranging your equipment and furniture.

Monitor Height Placement

If you bend your neck back to see the monitor, it is too high. If you bend your neck down, your monitor is too low.

Let your head rest naturally and it will tilt slightly forward. You have left the office too many times with sore muscles!

When looking straight ahead, your line of sight is the imaginary horizontal line from your eyes to the screen. Your eyes naturally gaze down 15 – 20 degrees below your line of sight. Adjust the height to easily view the information on the screen where your eyes naturally gaze.

Center Keyboard with Monitor

If your keyboard is placed directly in front of your body and your monitor is situated to the right or left you will be forced to twist your neck to view the screen. Ouch! This twist will tense the muscles in your neck.

The longer you work with your muscles tensed the higher risk of developing neck and shoulder pain.

Adjust Your Chair Armrest Height

How often do you feel as if your neck is almost touching your shoulder? Too often, right!

Let’s not make it easy to tense your shoulders. If your armrests are too high, you will be raising (and tensing!) your shoulders up and creating pain.

Due to the tendency to lean to the side with armrests too low you may also create pain in the elbows and ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is the one you feel all the way down into your pinkie finger when hitting your elbow. Watch this one!

Adjust your armrests so that your shoulders are completely relaxed and elbows rest comfortably on armrests.

Eliminate Your Chair Armrests Altogether

Do your armrests prevent you from getting close to your keyboard because they hit the edge of your desk? This is a source of mental stress many of us have experienced.

You will also create tense neck and shoulder muscles due to the straight arm reach to the keyboard and mouse.

So in this case, remove the armrests.

Move Mouse Closer To Your Body

Moving and clicking your mouse frequently when it is too far away can create shoulder pain - use a shorter footprint, ergonomic keyboard without the right hand numeric keypad or a mouse that is placed at the center of the body.

You may also try a keyboard with the numeric keypad on the left, your keyboard and monitor will be balanced more easily.

As always, REST, REST and MORE REST every 10 minutes for 10 seconds and every hour for five (5) minutes.

Stand up and stretch often as this will relax your mind and body, improve circulation and create more productivity.

Go Live in Comfort!

About The Author: Wendy Young, a Certified Ergonomic Expert and founder of http://www.ergopro.com has helped thousands of people reduce pain from their computer work since 1991. She offers a free newsletter on increasing comfort and reducing pain in the workplace at http://www.ergonomics-safety.com.

Currently, there is no one single medical test that will definitively diagnose audlts with autism. Instead, the diagnosis is made on the basis of observable characteristics of the individual.

Here is an overview of some of the different diagnostic standards:

I. Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)

The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) is a clinical diagnostic instrument for assessing autism in children and adults. The ADI-R is a semi-structured instrument for diagnosing autism in children and adults with mental ages of 18 months and above. The instrument has been shown to be reliable and to successfully differentiate young children with autism from those with mental retardation and language impairments. The ADI-R focuses on behavior in three main areas and contains 111 items which specifically focuses on behaviors in three content areas - they are:

Quality of social interaction, (e.g., emotional sharing, offering and seeking comfort, social smiling and responding to others);

Communication and language (e.g., stereotyped utterances, pronoun reversal, social usage of language); and…

Behavior (e.g., unusual preoccupations, hand and finger mannerisms, unusual sensory interests).

(ADI-R) Scoring

The interview generates scores in each of the three content areas. Elevated scores indicate problematic behavior. For each item, the clinician gives a score ranging from 0 to 3. A score of 0 is given when "behavior of the type specified is probably present but defining criteria are not fully met"; a score of 2 indicates "definite abnormal behavior"; and a score of 3 is reserved for "extreme severity" of the specified behavior.

ICD 10 (World Health Organisation 1992) Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnosis requires that single words should have developed by two years of age or earlier and that communicative phrases be used by three years of age or earlier. Self-help skills, adaptive behaviour and curiosity about the environment during the first three years should be at a level consistent with normal intellectual development. However, motor milestones may be somewhat delayed and motor clumsiness is usual (although not a necessary diagnostic feature). Isolated special skills, often related to abnormal preoccupations, are common, but are not required for diagnosis.

Diagnosis requires demonstrable abnormalities in at least 3 out of the following 5 areas:

1. Failure adequately to use eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture and gesture to regulate social interaction;

2. Failure to develop (in a manner appropriate to mental age, and despite ample opportunities) peer relationships that involve a mutual sharing of interests, activities and emotions;

3. Rarely seeking and using other people for comfort and affection at times of stress or distress and/or offering comfort and affection to others when they are showing distress or unhappiness;

4. Lack of shared enjoyment in terms of vicarious pleasure in other people's happiness and/or a spontaneous seeking to share their own enjoyment through joint involvement with others;

5. A lack of socio-emotional reciprocity as shown by an impaired or deviant response to other people's emotions; and/or lack of modulation of behavior according to social context, and/or a weak integration of social, emotional and communicative behaviours.

Diagnosis also requires demonstrable abnormalities in at least 2 out of the following 6 areas:

1. An encompassing preoccupation with stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest;

2. Specific attachments to unusual objects;

3. Apparently compulsive adherence to specific, non-functional, routines or rituals;

4. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms that involve either hand/finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole body movement;

5. Preoccupations with part-objects or non-functional elements of play materials (such as their odor, the feel of their surface/ or the noise/vibration that they generate);

6. Distress over changes in small, non-functional, details of the environment.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) Diagnostic Criteria

A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction;

2. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level;

3. A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with other people (eg: by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people);

4. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

1. Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus;

2. Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, non-functional routines or rituals;

3. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (eg: hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements);

4. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (eg: single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder, or Schizophrenia.

International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) issued by the World Health Organization

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR AUTISM DISORDER (ICD-10) (WHO 1992)

At least 8 of the 16 specified items must be fulfilled.

a. Qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction, as manifested by at least three of the following five:

1. failure adequately to use eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture and gesture to regulate social interaction.

2. failure to develop peer relationships.

3. rarely seeking and using other people for comfort and affection at times of stress or distress and/or offering comfort and affection to others when they are showing distress or unhappiness.

4. lack of shared enjoyment in terms of vicarious pleasure in other peoples' happiness and/or spontaneous seeking to share their own enjoyment through joint involvement with others.

5. lack of socio-emotional reciprocity.

b. Qualitative impairments in communication:

1. lack of social usage of whatever language skills are present.

2. impairment in make-believe and social imitative play.

3. poor synchrony and lack of reciprocity in conversational interchange.

4. poor flexibility in language expression and a relative lack of creativity and fantasy in thought processes.

5. lack of emotional response to other peoples' verbal and non-verbal overtures.

6. impaired use of variations in cadence or emphasis to reflect communicative modulation.

7. lack of accompanying gesture to provide emphasis or aid meaning in spoken communication.

c. Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by ate least two of the following six:

1. encompassing preoccupation with stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest.

2. specific attachments to unusual objects.

3. apparently compulsive adherence to specific, non-functional routines or rituals.

4. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms.

5. preoccupations with part-objects or non-functional elements of play material.

6. distress over changes in small, non-functional details of the environment.

d. Developmental abnormalities must have been present in the first three years for the diagnosis to be made

To see more on this topic see http://www.autismtoday.com/.

About The Author: Born in Oklahoma, in 1951, Karen L Simmons had her first book published in 1996. The book, Little Rainman, Autism Through The Eyes of A Child was written to raise awareness about the early detection signs of autism and has sold over 10,000 copies worldwide to parents and educators of these special children.

For more information see www.AutismToday.com

Cholera is a disease which affects the small intestine and is caused by bacterium vibrio cholera. It is an acute diarrhea illness which causes lots of problem to your entire system. Sometimes the symptoms are very mild which are not even detected sometimes till the time it gets severe. It is transmitted mainly due to ingesting drinking water which is contaminated due to loss of cleanliness, eating half cooked meals or not properly cooked food like fish.

Some of the basic symptoms which can be seen during the attack of cholera are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and dehydration. It may not be that serious disease but death can also occur due to the loss of fluid which causes dehydration and also loss of life. When such kinds of disease are left untreated then there is high rate of death. Sometimes the situation is so bad that death can occur within matter of hours. Your body plays host to this disease for nearly two to five days.

Some of the precautions you can adhere to while suffering from this disease is to have boiled water or treat it with chlorine or iodine, other boiled beverages such as coffee and tea are very good too, make sure to have food which are cooked thoroughly, undercooked meals is not good in this kind of condition, avoid having salads which are not cooked and some of the basic precaution which can be taken.

Cholera can be treated easily without much of a hassle. If the loss of salts and fluids are replaced immediately then major part of treatment gets over in that time. They can be done by oral rehydration solution and if it is an epidemic it cannot be stopped immediately. Although Cholera can be controlled easily, unless you take proper precautions, this condition could escalate into something serious. Please contact your physician immediately on experiencing any irregular conditions in your body or any of the symptoms mentioned above.

About The Author: Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites, such as http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com, which have lot of information on home based natural cures and remedies as well as to know about cholera which can target any person any time.