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5 tips on staying awake while driving

Falling asleep while behind the wheel is commonplace. More than half of US drivers confess to being drowsy at some point when they got behind the wheel. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration places the annual figure of crashes caused by persons falling behind the wheel at 100,000 based on police reports. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety puts the number at three times that, with the injuries and fatalities being in the tens of thousands.

If you wish not to be part of the statistics and dealing with a
brain injury lawyer Vancouver sent over, it is vital you remain awake when behind the wheel. Those who get behind the wheel when drowsy often have the confidence that they can stay focused on the road despite the sleepiness. In this situation, mind over matter will not work, even if you roll down the windows and put the music on blast. Heavy eyelids, zoning out and moodiness should tell you things are dire.

Here are tips for keeping you awake when behind the wheel.

Take a powernap: When you get behind the wheel, and you’re sleepy, recline the chair and take a nap. If where you are does not allow, find the nearest public parking where you will not be bothered and take a much-needed rest. Equally, should you start driving and feel overpowered, find a spot, pull over and nap. It’ll save your life.

Have someone with you: Driving long distances will wear you out. It is best if you drive with some who can take over from you when you get tired. Even if they aren’t drivers, make sure they are people who can keep you engaged and are firm enough to get you to pull over when you’re struggling to remain awake.

Watch what you eat before getting behind the wheel: Carbs and sugar will have you feeling drowsy after their energy wears off. If you know you’re about to take a long drive, opt for other alternatives. That includes low-calorie foods and those that release energy into the body gradually. Don’t forget to hydrate throughout the journey.

Drink caffeine: With this tip, you will join the millions of people worldwide relying on caffeine to remain awake. However, do remember that as your body metabolizes it, it will wear off at some point. The crush comes quite suddenly; learn to notice the signs and know if to have more or to rest.

Avoid alcohol: The idea that a bit of alcohol (perhaps a shot) will jolt you awake is false. If anything, it will all the more increase drowsiness once it wears off. Don’t try cheating your body with quick fixes; it will fight back, and quite hard.

Stay safe.

Curing Cancer


It was Socrates who once said that if there is an illness there must be a cure for it somewhere and we haven’t found it yet. Those words are very true when it comes to cancer. While there is no cure for it, there are many people actively engaged in finding it.

One of the places where cancer is being looked into and carefully investigated is France and in particular this cancer center in France. It is no wonder that this is the case since France for many years was home to some of the greatest people who dedicated their lives to the study of radiology to the point that they themselves died of radiation. I am thinking here about Madame Curie and her husband Pierre. In fact, Marie Curie died of cancer resulting from radiation when she was in her sixties, but her contribution to the science and radiology in particular will never be forgotten. She was the first woman ever to receive a Noble Prize and inspired many more to walk in her footsteps.

These days, cancer care in France is more advanced than ever as there are many teams actively working on the research particularly in the capital city. It is no wonder then because they have a lot of inspiration to draw from such as Madame Curie herself. Every day brings them closer to solving the great mystery of cancer, and every day they are able to cure or at least postpone the more advanced forms of it.

Although at this stage there is no complete cure for cancer, the disease itself can be prevented if spotted on early. As a matter of fact, the earlier it is spotted, the higher the chances of curing it. Some lifestyle modifications are also known to affect the chances of developing cancer and they include diet as well as the amount of physical activity a person engages in.

How to Stay Healthy This Winter

Unless you live in a warm place, winter can be a rather dreadful time in our lives. Lack of sunny days and generally bad weather contributes to our bodies lacking vitamin D as well as suffering from a reduced desire to spend time outdoors enjoying various activities such as walking or jogging. If you think that you start feeling down know that there are some steps you can take in order to feel better:

1. Take a supplement that contains vitamin D and supplement with fish oil. Most people don’t consume enough fish to be able to get this from food, so supplementing at this stage is a wise move. You might want to include other minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium that are vital to the way your body functions.

2. Tidy up your house. Even if you don’t exactly feel like doing it, once you start it chances are that you might actually enjoy it. If you lack space in your home, then consider renting some storage space such as self storage reno to help you to get that extra space you might be lacking in your home. Doing so might actually improve your energy levels because you will have a chance to do something good for your home as well as for your family.

3. Get a dog. It is proven that those who have dogs are healthier. Why is this the case? A dog, unless it is a lap dog, needs a certain amount of exercise per day. Bad weather is not an excuse here and dogs enjoy a playful walk regardless of weather, so if you have been thinking about getting a pet you might want to do it right now even though the weather might be dreadful. Your faithful companion will brighten your life and will ensure that you have some exercise every day.

3 Tips For Preparing Yourself For An Upcoming Surgery

If you’ve got a surgery on the books, whether it’s something that you’re needing to have done for your overall health, something that’s a bit emergent, or something that’s elective, it’s important that you prepare yourself correctly for this event. Undergoing surgery can be very hard on both your body and mind. By preparing adequately, you should be able to have a more favorable outcome and heal quicker following your procedure. So to help ensure you’re able to do both of these things, here are three tips for preparing yourself for an upcoming surgery.

Educate Yourself

Ideally, you’ll have been able to research your surgeon beforehand and choose one who has a good track record for successful surgeries rather than being sued for medical malpractice claims. With this bit of research out of the way, Samantha Costa, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, recommends that you now educate yourself about the procedure you’re about to undergo. Your doctor will likely have given you some information about what’s going to happen, but you should also do some informed, scientific research regarding any questions you might have. Especially if you’re nervous about your surgery, gaining more knowledge regarding the procedure can help you feel much calmer and more at ease.

Follow Any Instruction You’ve Been Given

In addition to providing you with information about the surgery you’ll soon be having, your doctor likely also gave you some guidelines for how to prepare in the days or hours leading up to the procedure. To have the most ideal outcome, EverydayHealth.com advises that you follow any and all instructions given to you by your doctor or surgeon. This usually includes things like getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, stopping smoking or drinking, and either eating or not eating in the hours just before you go into surgery.

Think About How You’ll Deal With Pain

After your surgery is through, it’s likely that you’ll have at least some type of residual pain from the procedure you’ve just undergone. Depending on what type of surgery you have, how long the surgery takes, and the lifestyle you normally lead, the pain and irritation you experience will vary. Despite this, it’s important that you think about and discuss with your doctor what your options for pain management are. According to WebMD.com, some of the options you might want to consider include medication, massage, cold or heat, and relaxation techniques.

For many people, having surgery can be a scary and intimidating experience. So to help ensure that you’re able to face this hurdle with a positive attitude and give yourself the best chance of achieving a full recovery, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare for any upcoming surgical procedures you might have.

 

 

4 Reasons You May Be Depressed

While there are many well-known reasons why people are triggered into depression from money problems to grieving the death of a loved one, sometimes the source of your feelings of helplessness can be more difficult to pinpoint.

If you’ve been feeling depressed and can’t seem to identify with the most well-known causes, then it may be something that you haven’t considered yet.  Here are some little-known potential causes for why you may be depressed.

The Weather

Seasonal affective disorder also known as SAD occurs in about 5% of the population.  When the body has difficulty adjusting to a new season it can affect your internal chemistry.

Usually SAD is most common in the winter time when the trees are lacking leaves, and the sky is covered in a shroud of grey.  However, for some people, the summer is what strikes them as being particularly depressing.  Try to observe when you feel the most depressed and if it seems to improve when the weather changes.

Cigarettes

Most smokers will tell you that they smoke when they’re stressed or depressed.  However, if you look closer at the situation, perhaps it’s not quite what they may think.

For some people smoking causes depression and anxiety because of the effect that nicotine has on the brain.  If you feel frequent mood swings and turn to cigarettes to reel them in, then it’s time to ask yourself whether this could be working against you.

Lack of Sleep

Failing to get enough rest does more than just make you feel sleepy.  Many people who don’t get enough sleep agree that it can cause them to be more irritable and more susceptible to irrational behavior.

Getting enough sleep will decrease your chances of reacting to stressful scenarios and give you better tools for remaining calm under pressure.

If you don’t get the sleep that your body requires, your body doesn’t have the opportunity to replenish itself.  When your brain doesn’t function at its best, it’s more likely to fall into depression if you’re triggered.

Alcohol

Alcohol is widely accepted as an acceptable social activity in most situations.  However, when drinking moderately changes into drinking heavily, it can quickly start to spiral out of control.

Drinking regularly can cause severe mood swings leading to depression.

Additionally, it can cancel the effects of antidepressants.  Therefore, if you’ve already been diagnosed with clinical depression and your meds aren’t working, it could be because you’re drinking alcohol.

Doctors don’t recommend mixing alcohol with antidepressants in order for them to be the most effective.

Since alcohol is a depressant, it will make even the most positive of people capable of thinking dark thoughts. It’s best consumed in very small doses!

 

 

 

3 Ways To Ease Pain Cause By A Minor Car Accident

If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you know how much damage can be done to both your physical body and the body of your vehicle. Even from just a small accident, it’s easy for your body to get knocked around or injured in a way that leaves lasting pain in certain areas. When this happens, it can be hard to know what you can and should do to help alleviate that pain and get your health back to normal. To assist you in this area, here are three ways you can help to ease your own pain that’s been caused by a minor car accident.

Heat and Ice

For minor injuries, whether they’ve been sustained in a car accident or in some other way, one of the first things you can and should do is to apply heat and ice to the area. According to Nicola V. Hawkinson, a contributor to Spine Universe, you should first apply heat for about 15 minutes every hour or so so that you can reduce swelling and inflammation. After you’ve done that for about a day, you can then apply heat to the area for 15 minutes every two to three hours. When doing this, make sure you’re being safe about getting your skin too cold or hot and that you’re only using heat or ice for the prescribed amount of time.

Gentle Movement

In many small car accidents, you might get some extent of whiplash to your head or neck. You could also get strains in your muscles, which can be painful to work through. In situations such as these, WebMD shares that one of the best things you can do to help relieve this type of pain is to participate in gentle, active movement of the area that’s been strained. By moving these areas early after you’ve gotten injured, you reduce the chances of becoming too stiff and can help to work those muscles in a more natural and impactful way.

Alternative Treatments

In the event that you try the above-mentioned therapies or attempt to reduce your pain in other tried-and-true ways, you may then want to consider some alternative treatments. According to Shannon Johnson, a contributor to Healthline.com, some of the most helpful alternative remedies for pain or injury sustained in a car accident can include things like chiropractic care, massage, or acupuncture. Depending on your medical insurance, some of these treatments might even be covered for you or be available at a reduced cost.

If you’ve recently been in a minor car accident and are having some residual pain, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you ease that pain and get back to your normal self.

3 Essential Tips For Overcoming an Injury

Suffering an injury is never a positive experience no matter how you look at it.  Dealing with pain can affect every area of your life from your sleep to your productivity, to even affecting your emotional well-being.

In order to make a recovery and move past the injury, it’s important to take the right measures.  By following the correct methods, you can hopefully give your body the tools that it needs to make a full recovery.  Here are some of the best ways to do so.

Determine Where the Problem Is

If you’re feeling pain, but you aren’t sure exactly what’s going on, try to listen to your body and be present with where the pain is coming from.  Pay close attention to whether it hurts when you make a certain movement, or perhaps you can’t move a part of your body at all.

When determining where the problem is, move slowly and gently so as to avoid further injuries.

Once you have an idea of where your pain is originating from, it’s important to receive professional medical attention.

A professional will be able to determine exactly what occurred and what kind of plan they propose to get you back on your feet.

If your injury happened gradually rather than in one sudden blow, your doctor will be able to decipher whether you’ve been making a habitual improper movement which caused your pain.

Ice Properly

Experts recommend the acronym CBAN for handling injuries, which stands for cold, burn, ache and then numb.  The process involves placing ice over the affected area, protected by a cloth.  Hold it there for approximately 5 minutes until you feel a burning sensation, followed by an ache, followed by numbness.  Once the affected area feels numb, remove the ice.

It’s important that you remove the ice before you experience damage from the ice.  Pushing it too far could result in further injury, which is the opposite of what you want to happen.

Allow Yourself Time To Rest

It’s essential that you ease back into your normal activities slowly.  Your body needs the time to come back and rebuild itself.

There will be times when you feel frustrated and desperate to get back to a full recovery.  However, it’s important that you not give in to your impatience and rest for as long as possible.

The only way that you’re going to make a full recovery is by discontinuing use of the affected area and following the treatment program recommended to you by your doctor.

Rushing too quickly into your previous routine risks delaying recovery and potentially causing additional damage.

When the time comes that your doctor gives you clearance to engage back to your normal activities, take it slowly rather than going too hard too soon.

 

 

 

How to Look Better Before the Summer

I know that you might think that you have plenty of time to take care of your body before you hit the beach, but in reality losing weight and making sure that you look good sometimes takes time depending on how many pounds you have to shed in order to look great in a bikini. The good news is that if you start the process right now, you might still make it before the summer so that you can enjoy your body to the fullest. Here are some ideas that can help you to look better in your bikini:

1. Get a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). This is something that can help you to start looking better instantly. There are a lot of celebrities out there who support this trend as the surgery becomes more and more popular with time as more and more people around the world decide to have it seeing how effective it can be. Lifting your butt can be already the first step to looking and feeling better. Make sure that you choose the credentials of the place you choose to use so that you know that you get the best treatment possible. Even if you are skinny, a Brazilian butt lift can still help you to look better by making you rounder in the hips. Kim Kardashian definitely knows how true it is.

2. After getting your Brazilian butt lift you shouldn’t just let yourself go. It is now to maintain what you gained with the help of the surgery by eating healthy and exercising regularly. Don’t think that only because you have had a cosmetic surgery you can eat whatever you want and that you don’t need any exercise whatsoever. As a matter of fact, exercising on a regular basis is really good for your butt, but you might want to wait a few weeks after you have done it before you can go back to your regular exercise regime.

3. If you are still struggling losing weight, a 10-minute meditation session for weight loss might just do it for you. Even after having a Brazilian butt lift it can be still beneficial for you to meditate regularly and feel good about yourself.

5 Tips For Filing A Disability Claim

If you’ve recently become disabled, you may find yourself scrambling for answers on how to make sure that your disability claim is accepted.

You’ve probably heard horror stories about claim after claim being denied by insurance companies.  The sad truth is that the odds of your claim being accepted are usually not in your favor.  Only a small portion of disability claims that come in are accepted, so it’s important to make sure that you’ve got all of your bases covered.

Here are some of the best tips to ensure that your disability claim is successful.

File As Soon As Possible

Don’t wait until things get dire to take action.  Some applications take a considerably long time to process, and even more if you need to appeal.

The longer that you wait, the less credible that your claim will appear to whoever is handling your case.  In their eyes, if you are indeed suffering, you should have filed immediately rather than taking the time to wait.

Consider Hiring An Attorney

Having a disability is difficult enough as it is.  Trying to handle all of the paperwork and obstacles involved with filing a claim can be overwhelming.  You may want to consider bringing in a professional to ensure that your application is as thorough and organized as possible.   The better prepared your claim is, the higher your chances are of winning.

Having a good disability attorney by your side will ensure all of your questions are answered, your paperwork is filled out correctly, and that your case is followed thoroughly by checking that it’s been accepted.  Although it requires an initial investment, it’s worth the money to know that you have better chances of winning the money you’re entitled to.

Keep Records Of Everything

When it comes to filing a claim about your disability you can never be too thorough.  Save records of all of your appointments and treatments.  Make sure that you save any proof of prescriptions for medications.

Keep track of your daily condition and whether you’re experiencing frequent pain or discomfort.  Keeping a thorough record can strongly support the validity of your case.

Get Your Doctor On Board

Make sure that your doctor provides you with all of your medical records and a letter detailing your medical condition.  The letter should outline why you are unfit to work as well as the progression of your well-being.

The more your doctor cooperates with you, the better your chances are.

Stay Positive

Even though it can be easy to give in to feelings of pessimism and self-doubt, you should try to remain positive through challenging moments.

Worrying and doubting the outcome won’t do you any good.  Instead, you should keep your chin up and focus on getting a strong case together.

 

 

Things To Look For In a Family Doctor

Whether it’s just you in your family or you have children, choosing a doctor is no small task.  Putting your trust in someone with your well-being is a big commitment.  The last thing you want is to find yourself relying on a doctor who can’t do their job properly.  If you have children, you should be even more careful about making the right choice.

When getting ready to start your search, make sure that you look for the following things.

Experience

Although everyone has to start somewhere, it’s ideal to find someone who has a lot of experience under their belt.  Knowing how to make the right call and diagnose with thoughtfulness and consideration for every possible symptom is essential.

A good doctor with a lot of experience knows not to jump straight to conclusions but to take their time looking at all possibilities. Their wide range of history working with a vast amount of cases will ensure that you have the best care possible.

Don’t be afraid to ask how long they’ve been practicing and whether they have experience working with all of the ages in your family.  That way you know all of you are in good hands.

A Good Listener

One of the worst feelings, when you’re at a doctors appointment, is feeling like you’re being rushed or not listened to.  You want a doctor who will take the time to hear you out even if they already know what you’re going to say.

Not only should they not speak over you during your appointment, but their body language should also be attentive.  They shouldn’t be distracted by technology or writing things down the entire time.  It feels good to know someone is looking you straight in the eyes and hearing what you have to say and informing you of what their take on it is.

Proximity

Although it may not seem that critical initially, proximity to your doctor is essential, especially when you have kids.  There’s nothing worse than having to sit through traffic with a sick child who is miserable in the car.

It’s ideal to have your doctor within 5 miles of the house so that making an appointment isn’t a big task.

They Accept Your Insurance

Always make sure to ask if they accept your insurance ahead of time.  There’s nothing quite as frustrating as getting to the desk at the end of your appointment only to find that they don’t accept your insurance policy and you have to pay out of pocket.

You may want to ask your insurance company for a list of doctors in your area that they work with to begin your search.

 

 

Diabetic Neuropathy Supplements Reported as the Better Choice for Neuropathy Patients

With over 110 million individuals either living with diabetes, pre-diabetic or suffering from metabolic syndrome in the US alone, the scare of neuropathy or nerve damage development in diabetes is a constant scare. Out of every six people with pre-diabetes one will end up with neuropathy. Around 60-70 percent of diabetics will suffer from a type of neuropathy as reported by the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Those with symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy usually have the nerves ferrying and distributing messages from the spinal cord to the brain and the entire body either diseased or damaged. According to a recent research on neuropathic developments, diabetic neuropathy supplements are having arguably the best effect on the condition.

Intricate network

Without a doubt peripheral nerves are critical and make up a complex network connecting most of the body with the brain, from internal organs, skin, muscles and the spinal cord among others. From the spinal cord, peripheral nerves fall into lines within the human body known as dermatomes. If a nerve is damaged, the result is an effect on a number of dermatomes that can be clearly established in certain parts of the body. As the nerves are damaged, there’s an interrupted communication between areas of the body and the brain.  As a result, muscle movement is impaired, normal sensation is diminished across the legs and arms causing serious pain.

Foremost diabetic neuropathy supplements

NutriNerve is one of the foremost diabetic neuropathy supplements designed for the management of painful tingling and burning sensations related to neuropathy. It addresses the root of the problem as compared to treating the symptoms as many treatments do.  A natural supplement and formulation of Aaron Vinik M.D., Ph.D., F.C.P., FAC.P., the Strelitz Diabetes Neuroendocrine Center at Eastern Virginia Medical School, NutriNerve patented formula attacks the condition at the cellular level. This allows the body to restore and rebuild health to the nerves while repairing signal transmission to the nerves and enhancing microvascularity.

Dr. Aaron Vinik, as reported in Medscape Medical News, elaborated that while the only approved agents for symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy treatment within the United States are pregabalin and duloxetine, they hardly have an effect on nerve conduction and manifest active mechanisms that aren’t related to the diabetic neuropathy pathophysiology; they address pain relief only.

However, NutriNerve, which contains a-lipoic acid among other diverse diabetic neuropathy natural supplements, enhances lots of neuropathic symptoms if treated at the required length of time. This makes NutriNerve, according to Medscape Medical News, a hugely effective treatment for patients who suffer from painful diabetic symptoms and neuropathy like burning, tingling and numbness. Accordingly, the skin is not as dry, nails not as brittle and there’s observable growth of hair.

Encourages the body to heal itself

As a unique diabetic neuropathy supplement, NutriNerve has been specifically formulated to ensure the body is able to begin healing itself, support health of the nerves and lower the suffering and pain any neuropathic patient goes through.

Nerve pain is crippling and the diabetic can have his or her mobility severely limited.  In a four year study, NutriNerve active ingredients if taken two times a day provide the patient with clinically meaningful change and improvement that delays neuropathy progress and the body easily tolerates the treatment.

3 Tips For Being Safe While Running Outside

Running is a great way to get some exercise for your body and keep yourself healthy. However, choosing to run in the outdoors can also open you up to some potential hazards. Not only do you need to prepare yourself physically for your run, but you also need to ensure that you’re being safe so that you can return home from your run without being harmed. So to help keep yourself fit and happy, here are three tips for being safe while running outside.

Keep Your Hearing Clear

One of the biggest threats to runners who choose to run outdoors is cars. Because drivers may not be paying close enough attention to all that’s going on around them, it’s important that you know how to protect yourself from being hit by a car while on your run. A big part of this, according to Lauren Hargrave, a contributor to Active.com, is to keep your hearing clear. Not only will this help you become more aware of the cars that are driving around you, but it will also help you stay alert to anything else that might seek to cause you harm. If you do choose to run while listening to something, try to just use one earbud and keep your other ear open.

Get Yourself Seen

In addition to you being able to hear what’s going on all around you as you run, you also want to do everything in your power to ensure that the people in your vicinity see you and know that you’re there. To do this, Christine Luff, a contributor to VeryWellFit.com, recommends that you white or other brightly-colored clothes while you’re running, You should also try to wear reflective materials as well, especially if you’re going to be running in the early morning or late evening hours. This reflective clothing will make it easier for drivers on the road to see you.

Be Smart About Your Routes

In recent years, we’ve heard more and more new stories about people disappearing while out for a run. And while you might think that this type of thing would never happen to you, it’s better to be safe than sorry. To help you in being safe, it’s important that you are smart about the running routes you take. According to Beth Risdon, a contributor to Women’s Running, changing up your routes, staying in well lit and well traveled areas, and telling someone where you’ll be running and for how long can all help to keep you from being caught in a scary situation brought on by someone else’s questionable choices regarding you.

If you’re a bit outdoor runner, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay away from any danger out there.