Killer Heels Reach A New High.

Thursday 20th May 2010

Killer heels have certainly reached a new high if this photograph is anything to go by. Shoe's that were reserved for the likes of strippers and dominatrices are now the latest trend to spiral it's way into the high street.

It is now the in style for any self respecting red carpet A' Lister to step out in heels as high as six, or even seven inches.

Thanks to this burst in popularity we have seen many runway models falling hopelessly as they try with all of their skinny might to keep upright, and why we all try to suppress our sneers and disbelief we now know why the killer heel got it's rather apt nickname.

The killer heel record was previously held by the late Alexander McQueen and his ten inch armadillo heel, however Romanian designer Mihai Albu has gone two inched further with his 12 inch stiletto.

I remember the days when a high heel was set at about 3 - 4 inches, and even that was too much for my feet to deal with. So one has to wonder where the killer heel will stop. In the next three years will women be forced to walk with stilts in the name of fashion? Personally I hope to see celebrities wearing sensible flats and flip flops for the summer season, how satisfying would that be...

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The Baby Food Diet

Wednesday 19th May 2010

With the warmer weather fast approaching, the stars of stage and screen are looking at new and bizarre ways to lose weight, but would you ever consider trying the baby food diet?

Reece Witherspoon and Marcia Cross have allegedly tried this new celebrity fad diet which entails consuming 14 jars of baby food throughout the day, to replace breakfast and lunch, and eating a normal dinner in the evening.

The advantages of this diet is the low calorie intake. Some baby food jars contain as little as fourteen calories each, are vitamin packed, and are free from additives. But a closer inspection of the diet reveals that such a low intake of calories is not healthy for the average adult. Besides, baby jar foods are bland, mushy and rather awful to eat, so why would you want to eat them in the first place?

Many nutritionists have slammed the new celebrity diet as outrageous and unhealthy for any adult to undertake. The cornerstone of any weight loss plan is to gain a sense of satisfaction from the foods you are eating and to get a sensation of feeling full after every meal. The key to losing weight is balance and eating the right foods, something that this diet cannot offer.

To put yourself through this diet and opting for puréed foods will not work if your goal is to lose weight. Nobody is going to be able to sustain themselves for a long period of time on baby food.

What is the craziest fad diet you have tried? Let us know in the comments box.

See you again tomorrow.

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Age Gap Concern

Monday 17th May 2010

A recent study conducted by German researchers found that women who marry men seven to nine years their junior or senior could be upping their odds of dying sooner.

Exchanging vows with a significantly younger man raises a woman's risk of death by 20%, according to the study published in Demography.

The study, based on data from almost two million Danish couples, indicates that marrying an older man may also shorten a woman's life, and that the healthiest choice for a husband might be a man around a woman's own age.

The study authors also stressed that, as a whole, marriage is not bad for life expectancy. In fact, both men and women experience a bump in longevity when they get married, relative to unmarried people.

The study found that men also got health benefits from choosing a younger wife. While men who married older women increased their risk for death, men who tied the knot with a woman seven to nine years younger cut their risk of death by 11%.

That notion suggests that older men and women who found younger partners were able to do so because they were healthier than average and therefore already faced a longer life expectancy. The theory relies on the idea that a younger spouse would boost the older partner's social and psychological frame of mind on the one hand, while being there to care for them in old age - all contributing to increased longevity for the older mate.

It seems to me that there are more factors in longevity than the age of your partner, but who knows, I am not the expert!

That's all for today, thanks for stopping by and see you again on Wednesday.

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How To Sleep Better

Monday 3rd May 2010

Good morning. I trust you all has a good weekend!

I'd like to kick this new week off by showing you this great article I found, let me know what you think!

We pay a high price for getting an insufficient amount of sleep, individually and as a society. Lack of sleep is directly linked to poor health, with new research suggesting it increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Quit smoking. Smoking has a tendency to cause the muscles around your airway to become overly relaxed and more likely to collapse as you sleep. Sleep experts say that we need 8 hours of sleep per night. However, the latest research shows that women average 6 hours and forty minutes of sleep during the week and 7 hours on the weekend. Besides the extra work that women have to contend with (helping with homework, laundry, cooking, etc.) and the many concerns that keep them from sleep, women are also be kept awake by - small children who wake during the night, teenagers coming home late, aging parents who get up during the night. Stress and sleep deprivation is like a classic chicken and egg debate. Is stress the one causing your insomnia or is lack of sleep to blame for your anxieties? Whatever the answer to this problem is, you need to look deeper into your life. Try to determine which is causing your stress. Once you have learned what is making you anxious, the best thing to do is to keep away from it. However, if your family, friends or work is the one causing you to lose sleep, you cannot simply ignore it. Thus, talking with someone, like a professional shrink, could help you deal with your problems. But just because your partner snores doesn't mean that he has sleep apnea. For a positive diagnosis to be made there has to be periods of cessation of breathing during the sleep. This diagnosis can be confirmed by an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram. These are usually carried out in special sleep laboratories where you are monitored by special equipment as well as a sleep technician. The first step in getting one of these tests arranged is to visit your doctor. With all of the materiel on hand, and the pattern before me, I set out to construct the best sleeping bag possible. My wife was not to happy as I managed to break every sewing machine needle in the house. A trip to town for more, and many hours later, the best ever sleeping bag lay on the kitchen table for all to see. The amazing part of this exercise was that I had never used a sewing machine in my life. Make sure, when it's all said and done, that you leave something for your child to do! You might want to place a pile of "rubble"--blocks, dominoes or whatever--near one of the buildings. Or leave one or two of the buildings unfinished. For a little added insurance provide a house friendly sand-box, also on the edge of town. To do this, place different size cups on a baking sheet. Fill one of the cups with sand and leave some measuring spoons next to it. Alli is a diet supplement it is not a cure all. In order to successfully lose weight you must be committed to make a change in your eating habits and exercise routine. The key to a healthy eating plan is to eat small meals frequently and to replace some higher fat foods with lower fat varieties. If you do this the side effects of Alli should be minimal. Most people who complain about the harsh side effects are not doing enough to change their eating habits and replacing what they normally eat with lower fat foods.

Article From Article Health And Fitness

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Treatments Options For Spider Veins

Friday 30th April 2010

What are the options for spider vein treatment?

Sclerotherapy is the 'gold standard' for eliminating spider veins and small reticular leg veins. Multiple injections of a sclerosing agent are injected into the abnormal red, blue or purple spider veins of the involved leg. Injecting the unwanted veins with the sclerosing solution causes the target vein to immediately shrink, and then dissolve over a period of weeks as the body naturally resorbs the treated vein. The FDA has recently approved the sclerosing agent, polidocanol, for treatment of spider veins. Injection of this drug is painless and it has a good safety profile.

Prescription compression stockings should be worn for one week after treatment to ensure a successful outcome. Patients are encouraged to walk at least thirty minutes every day during that time. The patient usually requires at least 2-3 treatment sessions separated by several weeks to significantly improve the appearance of their legs.

Are there side effects?

Side effects of treatment may include pain and swelling of the leg for a few days after injection. Rarely, brown discoloration over the vein or scarring may occur. In women taking estrogen-containing drugs, the formation of tiny, new blood vessels in the treated area can occur within a month after treatment but this usually resolves spontaneously by 6 months. Cosmetic lasers can be used to treat these tiny vessels.

Can laser be used to treat spider veins?

For smaller spiders, laser therapy may be used with excellent results. Nd YAG lasers can erase these veins with little or no darkening of the skin, and compression stockings are not required to be worn after the procedure. More than one treatment session may be necessary to completely clear your veins.

Will my spider veins return?

Usually the treated veins do not return. However, if you suffer from underlying venous hypertension or varicose veins, new spider veins may open up in the same areas after successful treatment. If this occurs, you should see a specialist in venous disorders, who will examine your legs with duplex ultrasound. This test can determine if your deeper veins are involved. If they are, correction of the underlying problem may eliminate these smaller veins.

Robin Fleck, M.D is a double-board certified dermatologist and internist, recognized by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Internal Medicine.

She is the founder and Medical Director of Vein Specialties in Prescott, Arizona and is a member of the American College of Phlebology and the American Venous Forum.

For more information about venous disorders visit our website at http://prescottvein.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Fleck,_M.D.

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HRT - The Risks And Benefits

Thursday 29th April 2010

Hormone replacement therapy is commonly prescribed in women with severe menopausal symptoms. HRTs also have been found to have beneficial effects on osteoporosis, coronary heart disease and colorectal cancer, and this has led many women to also use them in the hope of reducing their risks of these conditions.

However, in recent years, the use of HRTs have dropped significantly due to the publication of the findings of the Women's Health Initiative Study.

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Study is the largest randomised controlled trial on one combination of HRTs. Conjugated equine estrogen 0.625mg plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg was compared against a placebo in 16,608 healthy postmenopausal women aged between 50 to 79 years, with an intact uterus from 40 North American centres over a planned 8.5 years. One of the study's components examined the role of HRT in the prevention of major degenerative diseases (cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and cancer).

This component of the WHI Study was stopped prematurely on 31st May 2002, after 5.2 years by the data and safety monitoring board, due to an increased risk of invasive breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes and pulmonary embolism. Reduction of risks were observed in endometrial cancer, hip fractures and colorectal cancers. Since the overall health risks exceeded the benefits, it was concluded that combined estrogen-progesterone is probably only suitable for short term treatment of early menopausal women with significant menopausal symptoms. In general, menopausal symptoms will resolve within 5 years spontaneously.

HRT & Menopausal Symptoms:

HRT is effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms (in particular, vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and urinary symptoms), thus improving the quality of life in women who suffer from significant symptoms.

HRT & Osteoporosis:

HRT reduces the risk of osteoporosis and its subsequent fractures. However, in view of the associated risks of HRT, alternatives such as bisphosphonates should be used instead.

HRT & Colorectal Cancer:

HRT reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer, however, combination HRT should not be used sole for this purpose due to its associated long term risks.

HRT & Coronary Heart Disease:

Current evidence has not demonstrated any benefit in use of HRT in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.

HRT & Dementia:

There is no evidence to suggest that HRT improves cognition or protects against dementia.

HRT & Breast Cancer:

Long term HRT use (more than 4 years) is associated with a small but significant increase in risk of invasive breast cancer. The breast mammographic changes on that occur with HRT use may also hinder the diagnosis of breast cancer.

HRT & Endometrial Cancer:

Combination HRT has been shown to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.

HRT, Deep Vein Thrombosis & Pulmonary Embolism:

Combination HRT use has been associated with significantly increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

HRT & Stroke:

Combination HRT use has been associated with a small increase in ischaemic strokes.

Dr Ang C.D. is has been in medical practice for over 12 years. He graduated with an M.B.B.S. degree from the National University of Singapore in 1997 and subsequently completed his post-graduate diploma in Family Medicine.

He has had training in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery and Urology.

Dr Ang currently practices in a family clinic in Singapore, seeing a good mix of paediatric, adult and geriatric patients.

With the goal of providing local and international patients with a resource for specialist care in Singapore, Dr Ang has founded SingaporeDoc.com, a Web Directory of Specialists in Private Practice in Singapore.

http://singaporedoc.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Ang_C._D.

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Coping With General Anxiety Disorder

Wednesday 28th April 2010


Worrying about that presentation at work next week? Feeling anxious about an upcoming medical exam? Stressing about your kids' welfare? Worries are part and parcel of leading a busy life in this modern, hectic world, but when the worries take over and become something more serious like General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), they can impact on your health and happiness. Approximately 6.8 million American adults suffer from General Anxiety Disorder and some believe that number is increasing each year.

So what is General Anxiety Disorder?
It is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by an excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday things that is disproportionate to the actual source of worry. As well as the irrational worries about wealth, health and the well-being of family and friends, GAD sufferers often exhibit a variety of physical symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, nausea, muscle tension or aches, numbness in hands and feet, trembling, twitching and rashes.

How do you know if you have General Anxiety Disorder rather than just "normal" worries?
"Normal" worries include
• Your worrying doesn't get in the way of your daily activities and responsibilities.
• You are able to control your worrying.
• Your worries, while unpleasant, don't cause significant distress.
• Your worries are limited to a specific, small number of realistic concerns.
• Your bouts of worrying last only a short time period.

General Anxiety Disorder
• Your worrying significantly disrupts your job, activities, or social life.
• Your worrying is uncontrollable.
• Your worries are extremely upsetting and stressful.
• You worry about all sorts of things, and tend to expect the worst.
• You've been worrying almost every day for at least six months and the accompanying physical symptoms have also been present for a similar amount of time.

How to cope with General Anxiety Disorder
If you have GAD, there are many things you can do to make yourself feel better and you don't necessarily have to seek out professional help. For some, self-help strategies are enough to get the anxiety symptoms under control. For others, additional therapy and support is needed. But whether you seek medical attention or not, self-help coping techniques will help reduce your overall anxiety levels.

Effective self-help techniques for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) include:
• Dealing with your worry and anxiety in a productive way such as challenging irrational worrisome thoughts, learning how to postpone worrying, and learning to accept uncertainty in your life.
• Instigating anxiety-reducing lifestyle changes, such as eliminating caffeine, starting an exercise program, improving your diet, and drawing on the support of family and friends.
• Learning and practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga. Consciously relaxing for even 20 minutes can make a difference!

When to seek treatment
If despite trying out the self-help techniques listed above your anxiety is still getting in the way of your life and/or your emotional well-being, it's time to seek professional help. Before you do that, though, it is important to make sure that your symptoms are truly due to GAD. If you have struggled with anxiety and fears your whole life, it's likely that your anxiety symptoms are due to GAD. However, if your anxiety symptoms are relatively new, this could be a sign of a different problem. For example, many medical conditions and medications can cause anxiety, as can traumatic experiences. The worries created by these situations are usually short-lived and not related to GAD.

It can be difficult for the possible GAD sufferer to be objective about their symptoms so it is always best to seek a mental health professional to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. GAD is often accompanied by other problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and other anxiety disorders so for your treatment to succeed, it's important for these factors to be considered so that you receive help for ALL of the problems you're dealing with.

Nancy Travers, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializes in all types of relationships; dating, existing relationships, family relationships, and relationships with friends and business relationships. She also helps her clients overcome anxiety and depression through talk therapy as well as through hypnosis. What sets her apart from many other counselors is that she has counseled in the gay/lesbian community for over 10 years. She also has experience counseling families with elder care issues. Nancy has been in practice for over 15 years and can provide you with the tools you need to approach dating and relationships with confidence. Visit her website at http://www.nancyscounselingcorner.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Travers

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