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How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Posted by admin in Health | Travel - (6 Comments)
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Traveling often puts stress on the body and the immune system, resulting in sickness and overall fatigue.  This can happen whether you are traveling for work or for fun.

When you travel for business, you are often busy with meetings and appointments that do not always allow you to get enough rest.  If you travel internationally for business, you have to adapt to a new time zone and variations in food.

Even traveling for pleasure can leave your body in a tired state from the extra activity.  If you have pre-existing health issues, it can be a concern to travel in a foreign country where you are unsure of the medical care.  Here are some tips to help you deal with health problems that result from travel and ways to avoid others.

Jet Lag

Jet lag is most noticeable when you travel a long distance and can make you feel tired and nauseous.  The best way to deal with it is to avoid alcohol and caffeine before and during the flight.  Drink plenty of water to keep from being dehydrated.  Adjust to the local time by staying awake even though you may want a nap.  Before you leave for your trip, begin to change your schedule to what it will be at your destination by staying up later or getting up earlier, depending on where you will be going.

Altitude Sickness

This becomes a problem when you travel to high altitudes and suffer from lower amounts of oxygen.  To prevent this issue, drink a lot of water to keep from getting dehydrated.  Adjust to high altitudes slowly.  You can visit a higher altitude during the day and go back to the lower altitude at night.  Altitude sickness can be dangerous so pay attention if you feel dizzy or light-headed.

Eating and Drinking

If you are not sure about the water quality in a foreign country, avoid drinking tap water.  Instead, drink either bottled water or other canned beverages.  Foods to avoid when traveling include:

  • Raw fruits and vegetables
  • Raw meat, fish, or eggs
  • Dairy products from local markets
  • Food that has been left sitting out for several hours

Stick to eating at well-known restaurants rather than trying out unknown eateries unless you have done your research.  Not all countries have regulations on how these places operate.

Other Concerns

Pack plenty of bug spray if you will be spending time outside.  Some areas have insects that are disease-carriers.  This can also be a problem when swimming in local waters unless they are treated like in hotel pools.  Many parasites live in the waters of Asia, Africa, and South America.

Traveling has its own set of hazards, but you can stay healthy if you are prepared for your destination.  Check with your doctor if you have any health issues that may be concerning while you are away from home.  They can give you advice on how to cope in a foreign location.  Then you can relax and enjoy your trip.

contributed by Sara Minter, a guest blogger and writer who focuses on nutrition, health and medicine for several online health magazines and blogs.  She is especially interested in the intersection of convention and alternative treatments as well as health supplements and vitamins.

 

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altitude sickness, healthy travel, jet lag

New Populations of Drug Addicts

Posted by admin in Health - (0 Comments)
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There are numerous quality drug and alcohol treatments centers located across this country and many of them focus on specific addition substances while there are other programs that are broader in treatment orientation. This is due to the nature of specific drugs and chemicals that are commonly abused and regular elements of addiction in this country. And surprisingly, the list of abused substances is growing, not declining. This is due largely to the increase in prescription medication use and misuse. While the war on drugs sees periodic decreases in illicit drugs like heroin, it is commonly accepted that this is due to a great extent on the transference of abuse to prescription pain medications . And as a consequence, treatment programs are adjusting to the increase in the variety of drugs that cause addiction.

And while there don’t seem to be any specialist treatment centers that are specific to Valium or certain prescribed opiates, a growing concern for their abuse is causing rehab centers to be aware of new populations of addicts. The drug store cowboy archetype of the past has been replaced by PTA attending mothers, grandmothers and professionals from all walks of life. Growing numbers of the population are on various prescription medications and many of them have dependency potential and are easily abused and this can and does lead to knew forms of addiction.

Treatment counselors, doctors and various programs have always had a huge challenge in dealing with addiction, but the growing numbers of potentially abused drugs is helping the population overall, but also adding to the number of addicts and complicating addiction issues. However, the research continues and efforts in prevention and treatment remain strong. And one of the ways to address addiction is to make greater efforts to prevent it and this includes dealing with all of the individual circumstances that can lead to addiction potential. And this refers to the life circumstance and behavioral issues, not the biological and genetic issues.

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Sports Trainers and Athletes Know the Benefits of Hot Tubs

Posted by admin in Health | Sports - (0 Comments)
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If the daily stresses of life are enough to bring most of us home with painful muscles and sore joints, think about the professional and amateur athletes and what they go through on an hourly basis during training season.  Years ago I attended a party for the Phoenix Cardinals.  This involved many people dressed up in their afternoon party wear, while the guys on the team had a two hour practice in the distance.  After the “show” was over the members of the team came over to sign autographs and speak with their fans.  When questioned as to what he was planning to do next, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald stated he was going for a long soak in the hot tub.

Along with the simple relaxation one will find when soaking in a hot tub found at choosehottubsdirect.com, the healing properties of water have been known about for centuries.  Modernmedicine is also recently become well aware of this, and the extra added whirlpool of jets have helped many athletes over the years, not only find relief from soreness, but in the healing of their sports related injuries as well.  What the medical community is now supporting, trainers have utilized these soaks on their players for a very long time.

For the athletes, the hot water reduced the pain and promoted circulation.  Increasing blood flow to injured areas of the body will speed up the healing process.  Now not only has the world of scientific method supported this, they have begun to use this hydrotherapy for other physical and mental ailments as well.  In some cases, diabetics experienced a decrease in blood sugar levels by having nightly soaks.  Those who have suffered the physical effects of a stroke will fine relief, will find their “normal” sensations returning to them as they sit in a hot tub.  And many of the mental afflictions suffered by people today such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders are positively affected by warm water sits.  Hot tubs are not just for relaxing anymore, although that is an extra added bonus.

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Holistic Health and Hot Tubs

Posted by admin in Health | Home & Garden - (0 Comments)
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In today’s world, some may confuse health with appearance.  Seemingly those with slender builds are healthier, or those who are vegetarians are healthier, or those who practice yoga.  However, what is to be said about the yoga practitioner who finishes up a class and then heads for a Big Mac, or the vegetarian who never exercises, or the slender person who smokes cigarettes and drinks five pots of coffee?  Ads are all over the radio, the television and the Internet, for products that will magically ‘melt away’ fat.  People will binge with eating and then head to the gym out of fear or guilt, but then quit going…until the next time the eat too much.  However, slowly people are discovering that it is not one element in ones life that promotes healthy living, but all elements combined.  A holistic approach that not only involves eating healthy and fresh food, but daily exercise, and daily relaxation.  Many are purchasing home spas or hot tubs such as those presented at choosehottubsdirect.com and enjoying the benefits of a life well lived and a life well rounded.

For those living in large cities, it is apparent that the world, though many steps are being taken towards the repair and the care of the environment, is still a toxic place to live.  In a large city one must outweigh the benefits of running, with the detriments of running during rush hour when pollution is at its peak.  One must consider where the fruits and vegetables in the stores are coming from, and what products were used on the farms in which the produce is grown.  One must find a balance, for just working out without taking the time to alter ones diet, is not balanced.  One will not find external health, until one gains internal health, and vice versa.  And one will not find physical health without mental health as well.  Meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, and hydrotherapy serves to balance the mind and keep the body in top shape.  The focus on inner health, will often have the result of just feeling better, and without realizing one will ‘look’ better, but at that point, that will most likely cease to matter.

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Get the Most from a Spa

Posted by admin in Beauty | Health | Travel - (0 Comments)
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In the hustle and bustle of modern life, many people find themselves overwhelmed by stress and desperate for a little relaxation and pampering. The pressure and anxiety created by the current economic crisis to say nothing of the stresses brought on by the holiday season is affecting not only the mental health and peace of mind of individuals, but is proving detrimental to their physical health and well-being.

One of the biggest myths about the modern spa resort is that it is too expensive for the average person. This leaves many people to believe that they will never experience the relaxation and rejuvenation that spa resorts can provide. The reality is that a good spa vacation can be affordable. You just have to know how to get the best deal.

One obvious trick is to plan your spa travel for off-season or avoid the weekends in favor of weekdays. Research your destination to discover when the spa of your choice is at a premium and schedule you visit for the opposite times. Less demand means lower costs for you.

Another tip is to do your research. Many spas offer special packages or discounts at certain times of the year or for certain audiences. Learn to work your club memberships and frequent flier points. Ask your friends and hit the internet to find the best deals available. It might be worth rescheduling your vacation to match the dates of the best package.

Most importantly, you need to be aware of what is (and isn’t) included in the price of the spa package you choose. Be aware of what treatments, meals and classes are part of the deal and what might cost extra. Careful budgeting ahead of time will prevent costly oversight once you’re at the resort.

Lastly, make sure that you schedule all your treatments when you make your initial spa reservation. Even if you’re traveling during offseason, you can never be sure you’ll get the appointment you want if you wait to book it when you arrive. It would be a shame to spend all that time budgeting and then find you can’t get in to the treatments you came for.

In this time of stress, anxiety, and pressure, it might be worth a second look at your budget to see if you can’t find a way to have that spa vacation after all.

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