Disease Prevention and Treatment - Share Wisdom

A Chemotherapy/ Radiation Survival Basket

Unfortunately, I have a number of people in my life who have been affected by cancer. As most people know, chemotherapy and radiation can be particularly grueling on an individual. When a family member of mine had to undergo chemotherapy, I wanted to do something special to lift their spirits. I went shopping and bought a tiny gift for every day of their treatment. I wrapped each one individually and wrote a note saying something like, "I wanted you to have something special to look forward to after each treatment. Here is your own Chemotherapy Survial Basket. Open one gift a day. I love you!" It turned out to be a huge success. I have done it a number of times now, for various friends and family, and it truly seems to put a positive spin on a difficult situation. If you know someone who is going through cancer treatment, give this idea a try. I hope it makes someone smile! Suggestions for gifts: magazine, candy, movie, Tim Horton's dollars, crackers or cookies, lottery scratch tickets, slippers, a joke book, a crossword puzzle or word search book, a humourous figurine, a book on tape, a gaurdian angel pin, a diary, gum, body lotion, a relaxation tape, etc.

How I Stopped My Gums from Bleeding with Vitamin C

My gums would bleed when I brushed my teeth. I started taking 500mg a day of Vitamin C in a caplet form. Within a few days, my gums stopped bleeding. I know that a Vitamin C deficiency is the cause of this, because when I stop taking Vitamin C, my gums start bleeding again. Most people get their Vitamin C from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, I go through phases where I eat poorly and don't get my proper dosages of Vitamin C through these natural sources. I therefore take a 500mg caplet of Vitamin C each day. The following quote from the National Library of Health talks about the benefits of Vitamin C and states that bleeding gums can result from a Vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is essential for the healing of wounds, and for the repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth... Vitamin C deficiency can lead to dry and splitting hair; gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and bleeding gums; rough, dry, scaly skin; decreased wound-healing rate, easy bruising; nosebleeds; weakened enamel of the teeth; swollen and painful joints; anemia; decreased ability to ward off infection; and, possibly, weight gain because of slowed metabolic rate and energy ex

4 Proven Methods To Reduce Colds and Illness by More Than 80%
1. Wash your hands 7 times a day. A study at Ryerson University found that washing your hands 7 times a day made you four times less likely to get colds and other illnesses - this represents a 75% reduction in getting sick. It is especially important to wash your hands when you are out in public. You can be exposed to colds and viruses directly by shaking people's hands, or indirectly by touching items such as money, pens, door knobs, hand rails and gym equipement. 2. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose when your hands have not been washed. 3. Try to keep at least 2 feet between yourself and others. 4. Keep yourself warm especially your feet, neck and nose to reduce your chance of illness by 10%. Chilling causes a constriction in the blood vessels in the nose, and this reduces our resistance to infections within the nose.

Get Rid of Cold Sores Quickly With Abreva
I highly recommend using Abreva to get rid of cold sores on your lips and mouth.. Abreva is a non-prescription (over the counter) ointment that is sold in a small tube. I apply Abreva with a Q-Tip to the infected area when I get the first tingling feeling coming on. Cold sores that would normally last 7-10 days now last only 3-4 days using Abreva. Abreva makes cold sores much more bearable - it dries up the cold sore and the infected area is smaller, less ravaged, and less painful. If you have oral cold sores, try Abreva.

Use a Lumbar Roll To Prevent Back Pain and Sciatica
Most people at some point in their life, have low back pain and sciatica (pain going down the leg as a result of pressure on the sciatic nerve). Often, the main cause of this is improper lifting or a prolonged position of poor sitting posture. In the case of poor sitting posture, the specific problem is the slouching that people do as they sit. They need to keep their low back in more of a straight position. You can simply prevent back pain by using a lumbar roll - this will support the lumbar lordosis and maintain the alignment of your entire spine in the normal anatomical position. Lumbar rolls are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased at a drug store or any health supply store. When you buy one, get one with a strap so that you can fix its position on your seat so every time you move, it doesn't end up on the floor. I've used a lumbar roll for over 12 years each time I drive and it really does work. They come in all shapes and sizes and foam densities. There are softer and harder ones, full rolls, D shaped rolles, and half rolls. Some people just hate the feeling of a roll at first but I suggest they try it for at least a week before giving up on it. At first, I found it was "too much" but quickly it felt just right. Everyone's tolerance is different, but if you have the patience to figure out what is best for you, you'll be very happy in the end. An alternative to the roll is a full back support with an air bladder in the lumbar area that can be pumped

Preventing an Information Age Injury
Many of us spend too much time using a computer. With so much time being devoted to such sedentary pursuits, a comfortable workstation and healthy computing habits are essential. Here are some helpful tips to keep you healthy: Always be aware of your posture and avoid a lot of bending and twisting. Make sure your workstation is flexible and invest in a chair that allows you to adjust the backrest, armrests and height. Make sure that the mouse and keyboard height is approximately at the same level as your elbows. Try using a split keyboard which is more ergonomic than the traditional keyboard. This will ensure a more natural sitting posture. To avoid neck strain, position the top of the screen at eye level directly in front of you, and centered on your body. As with any activity, take regular breaks from your work before you feel fatigued. Stretch your wrists, neck and back at times throughout the day.