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June 2, 2005 15:43 - Motivation's Effect on Mental and Physical Health

Many studies have been done to research the effects of motivation and mental health. As the implications of helping those with negative self-esteem, depression and anxiety are immense this is certainly an area of research that deserves a great deal of attention.

Psychology Online reports on a study investigating the differences between INTERNAL and EXTERNAL MOTIVATION. The report states that "Although our society is largely extrinsically-motivated by external rewards such as money, fame and power, research has indicated those who are intrinsically-motivated by inner desires for creativity, fulfillment and inner satisfaction are psychologically healthier and happier."

How can this help you?

The study of health psychology seeks to understand how our ability to cope with stress can help us to prevent illness and promote health. Some of these coping mechanisms are naturally inborn but may be taught to those who lack them. Motivation is one of the tools that researchers are trying to use as a combatant of negative stress reactions.

Motivation is something that we use every day. It's what enables us to survive - to get food because we're hungry, to go to work to pay the bills or to educate ourselves in order to pursue a higher goal in life.

How we respond to life's demands can affect our overall health. How are you classified?

The same report on Psychology Online identified those who respond to life with negativity or anxiety as most likely to deal with the physical affects of anger, guilt, nervousness, frustration and fear. These emotions can cause hypertension and high blood pressure which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Other complications include ulcers, arthritis, asthma and kidney disease.

Some therapists suggest that by using positive self-talk and trying to restructure the WAY we look at events can offset the physical and mental effects of dealing with negative or stressful events in life.

Interestingly, people who tend to focus on themselves as the controller of their fate - in fact 'self-motivated' - are more likely to feel a sense of control when stressors affect them. Instead of blaming something or someone else they have the motivation to deal with a problem and look for a reasonable solution. This positive behavior helps them to achieve goals and find personal contentment.

Therapists try to teach patients how to emulate this positive reaction to stress and use their motivation as a source of empowerment. Learning to manage stress and using motivation to set goals, work through a problem or fix it can in turn promote better mental and physical health.

To learn more about health, look at these other great articles now!

Yours in Health

Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)

June 6, 2005 14:51 - Myths About Skin Cancer - Are You Really Safe?

Sara spends much of her summer near the beach. She lives in a mild climate and is very athletic. She loves to swim, bike and play games outdoors. Sara knows the dangers of the sun and so she opts for tanning salons to get her 'golden glow' while being sure to apply sunscreen every day before heading out.

Joseph lives in a cooler, northern climate. The summers can be very humid, but most of the year is mild or even below freezing during the harshest winter months. The beach has never been much of a draw for him and he spends most of his time doing indoor activities or at his job. Joseph doesn't worry about sunscreen and only had one sunburn that he can remember and that was when he was a child.

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Which of these examples do you most associate yourself with? Did you know that Sara and Joseph are both at risk of developing skin cancer? We have all heard the warnings about the dangers of sun exposure. We know all about the importance of wearing sunscreen and hats. But are YOU protected from skin cancer? Consider these myths and facts:

MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun

20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to four hours in the sun. Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVB rays, 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states that "UV-A penetrates more deeply into the skin than UV-B, can cause skin cancer, and may suppress the immune system."

MYTH TWO: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection

85 percent of UV rays can even make it through on cloudy days. That means you are equally at risk in the car, walking the dog or letting your children out to play at any time of year - even when you're not at the beach. Of course, you are usually less attired at the beach and so covering up is recommended even when wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water and should always be applied every two hours or after getting wet.

MYTH THREE: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will Protect You

Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that most people receive about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better care now will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage already done.

MYTH FOUR: Having a Tan Means You're More Protected

Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop cancer, but tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated tanning injures the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.

So how do you plan to protect your family this year? Some suggestions are to limit exposure to the sun - especially for infants. Examine your skin for early signs of damage. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours after that. Teach your children good safety habits and be sure you and they are covered up when outdoors. Have fun and be safe.

Yours in Health

Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)

June 7, 2005 17:48 - Living a Healthy Life

People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe me? Just tune-in to any source of advertising...you're instantly bombarded with the latest diet schemes and "Hollywood" food fads.

Here in America, we have built a thriving industry trying to control our weight and treat the consequences of over-indulgence. The cost of weight loss and obesity related health care treatments is staggering...Americans alone spend around $114 billion every year! And even with all this interest in losing weight, we continue to pack on the pounds like never before...

- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese...up about eight percent from earlier estimates.


- Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or almost nine million are overweight...triple the rate in 1980!
- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese.

For Americans, modern life may be getting TOO easy. Our cushy lifestyle means we expend less energy and consequently need fewer calories to sustain our normal body weight.

Think about it for a moment...

Entertainment no longer requires energy expenditure. In fact, it's usually quite the opposite. We now entertain ourselves in the comfort of our own home while watching TV and munching on our favorite snack. Whether it's television, computers, remote controls, or automobiles, we are moving less and burning fewer calories. Common activities that were once a part of our normal routine have disappeared...activities like climbing stairs, pushing a lawn mower or walking to get somewhere.

And please do not misunderstand me...I appreciate comfortable living just as much as the next person. But, here is the problem...

With all of our modern day conveniences and "cushy" style of living we have not adjusted our caloric intake to compensate for our decreased caloric expenditure. We consume more calorie rich and nutrient deficient foods than ever before. Consider a few of the following examples comparing what we eat "today" vs the 1970's (U.S. Department of Agriculture survey):

- We are currently eating more grain products, but almost all of them are refined grains (white bread, etc.). Grain consumption has jumped 45 percent since the 1970's, from 138 pounds of grains per person per year to 200 pounds! Only 2 percent of the wheat flour is consumed as whole wheat.

- Our consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased, but only because French fries and potato chips are included as vegetables. Potato products account for almost a third of our "produce" choices.

- We're drinking less milk, but we've more than doubled our cheese intake. Cheese now outranks meat as the number one source of saturated fat in our diets.

- We've cut back on red meat, but have more than made up for the loss by increasing our intake of chicken (battered and fried), so that overall, we're eating 13 pounds more meat today than we did back in the 1970's.

- We're drinking three times more carbonated soft drinks than milk, compared to the 1970's, when milk consumption was twice that of pop.

- We use 25 percent less butter, but pour twice as much vegetable oil on our food and salads, so our total added fat intake has increased 32 percent.

- Sugar consumption has been another cause of our expanding waistlines. Sugar intake is simply off the charts. People are consuming roughly twice the amount of sugar they need each day, about 20 teaspoons on a 2000 calorie/day diet. The added sugar is found mostly in junk foods, such as pop, cake, and cookies. In 1978, the government found that sugars constituted only 11 percent of the average person's calories. Now, this number has ballooned to 16 percent for the average American adult and as much as 20 percent for American teenagers!

Unfortunately, it would seem that the days of wholesome and nutritious family dinners are being replaced by fast food and eating on-the-run. We have gradually come to accept that it's "OK" to sacrifice healthy foods for the sake of convenience and that larger serving portions equate to better value.

It's time recognize that we are consuming too many calories and time to start doing something about it! Each of us can decide TODAY that healthy eating and exercise habits WILL become a normal part of our life!

We can begin by exploring our values, thoughts and habits... slowly and deliberately weed-out the unhealthy habits and activities and start living a more productive and rewarding life. And remember, it has taken a long time to develop bad habits, so be patient as you work toward your goal!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

To see more articles please click here now!

Yours in Health

Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)

June 12, 2005 15:30 - What You Should Know About Cosmetic Surgery - 1 of 2

Cosmetic surgery is now so common, it’s almost commonplace. Cosmetic surgical procedures are used to correct everything from disfigurements that are the result of an accident to physical features that are perceived to be less than perfect. In some cases, cosmetic surgery can help to correct not only a physical trait but help to raise a person’s self-esteem as well.

There are a number of different cosmetic surgery options.

The most common cosmetic surgical procedures involve redefining some aspect of the body, while others involve enhancing the skin through a variety of measures. Liposuction is a very popular cosmetic surgery option.

This procedure allows the physician to suction the fat off various portions of the body to reveal slimmer and trimmer physique.

Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure in which the nose is reshaped. Some patients request this surgery because they perceive their nose to be either too big or an unattractive shape. In other cases, the procedure may be necessary to help a patient breathe better.

Implants is a term that is used frequently in regard to cosmetic surgery, however; besides it’s obvious application to the breast area implants are also used to enhance other body parts. The chin and cheekbones are two areas where are implants are frequently used to redefine a patient’s profile.

To read more about medical topics read these articles now!

Yours in Health

Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)

June 14, 2005 16:40 - What You Should Know About Cosmetic Surgery - 2 of 2

There are a variety of cosmetic surgery procedures that can be done to enhance the breast area. Implants are used frequently to increase a patient’s bust size. While the subject of breast implants received much bad press several years ago due to the fact that silicone breast implants were proven to be unsafe, the products used today are considered to be much safer. Lifts are often necessary to correct breasts that sag and droop. Augmentation may be utilized in order to align the breasts so that they are the same size when there is a situation where one breast is smaller than the other.

While some patients wish to undergo cosmetic surgery in order to increase their bust size, others have a breast reduction in order to reduce their breast size. This is often necessary when a woman has very large breasts that may cause health issues such as back pain and strain on the neck and shoulders.

The cosmetic surgery frequently referred to as a tummy tuck is similar to liposuction in that it removes excess fat from the area around the stomach and waist. Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight may find it necessary to have this procedure performed as well as an arm lift or buttock/thigh lift. When an individual loses large amounts of weight, particularly at a rapid rate, the skin generally begins to sag and no amount of exercise is able to tone the sagging skin. These types of cosmetic surgical procedures can tighten the skin.

While there are a variety of cosmetic surgery options available today that can correct almost any skin or body problem, it is important for patients to have realistic expectations. First, some cosmetic surgeries will leave permanent scars. The prospective patient must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of having a permanent scar against living with the issue that drove them to consider surgery. Secondly, it is very important that the patient realize that cosmetic surgery does not produce overnight results. Some surgeries will not produce optimal results until at least a year after the surgery was performed. Finally, as with all surgeries, cosmetic surgery does come with inherent risks and dangers.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

To learn more about cosmetic surgery, you can read the full article here

Yours in Health

Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)

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June 18, 2005 11:21 - Low & High Blood Pressure Causes, Treatments & Medications - 1 of 3

This is the first in a three part mini series on blood pressure problems and treatments ...

According to the American Heart Association, one in three individuals has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Unfortunately, a staggering number of those individuals, almost one-third, may not even realize that they have high blood pressure.

The disease can go untreated for years because in many cases there are virtually no signs or symptoms. This is a dangerous and serious situation because high blood pressure that goes untreated can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure and other serious, and possibly fatal, medical conditions.

Despite how serious a medical problem high blood pressure can be, many people fail to understand blood pressure, how it works and why it is so important to keep it in check. Taking the time to understand these simple facts is the first step toward taking control of your blood pressure.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Yours in Health

Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)



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June 26, 2005 17:54 - 3 Facts Everyone Should Know About Stem Cells

Topics covered in this article include: where do stem cells come
from, stem cells, cord blood, embryos, embryonic, fertilize,
fertilization.

Cord Blood

Cord Blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and
placenta following birth.
Cord Blood is routinely discarded with the placenta and umbilical
cord.
The blood in the cord is a rich source of stem cells.
Stem cells are the building blocks of your blood and immune
system.
Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into other types of
cells in the body, and thus give rise to all the tissues, organs
and systems in the body.
The stems cells in a child's cord blood are genetically unique to
the baby and its biological family.

Due to stem cells ability to differentiate into other types of
cell tissue in the body, treatments can be developed for diseases
such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Diabetes to name a few.
Stem cells found in the cord blood are a valuable biological
resource that researchers can use to investigate the potential of
future applications for cord blood stem cells.

Cord Blood Banking

Cord Blood Banking is the process whereby umbilical cord blood
stem cells are saved for potential medical uses.
Cord blood banking includes the processes of collection,
processing and storing of the umbilical cord blood.
Collection involves drawing the cord blood from the umbilical
cord, using either the syringe or bag collection method, after
the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut.
Processing involves the testing of the cord blood to determine
whether it meets eligibility standards and removing and red blood
cells or plasma that will not be needed in transplantation.
Storage involves storing the cord blood unit in a vinyl or
plastic bag in which it is frozen in liquid nitrogen.

There are two types of cord blood banks.
Firstly there are the family banks, which store the umbilical
cord for one's own family use.
Secondly, there are the public donor banks, which store the
umbilical cord blood for unrelated or non-family use - which is
public use.
Every parent has the option of saving their baby's cord blood for
their family use, while only a small number of people may be able
to donate their baby's cord blood stem cells.

Cord Blood Stem Cells

There are three sources of stem cells: bone marrow, peripheral
blood (that is the blood that circulates through the body) and
umbilical cord blood.
Cord blood stem cells, however, are different from other types of
stem cells.
By freezing these cells, any aging or damage to these cells is
prevented, that usually occurs later in life.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells are also more proliferate than
adult stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on topical health matters.