While some believe addictions are completely fueled by circumstance and others claim they’re genetic, the truth may be found somewhere in the middle. The key to avoiding addiction may be found in a healthy lifestyle and awareness of your weaknesses or trigger points. While many people learn the tricks to prevent relapse while in rehab, having those skills initially may have prevented their addiction altogether. Included here are a few tips for staying healthy and avoiding an addiction.

Manage Stress

One of the biggest causes of an addictive lifestyle can be poorly managed stress. Everyone experiences stress on a daily basis, but how you deal with it can be the deciding factor between healthy living and falling into an addiction. While some believe drugs or alcohol are an escape from their daily stress, they really function as a crutch that creates more problems.

Healthy stress management can be found in many outlets other than substance abuse. Finding someone to vent to, exercising or practicing meditation and yoga can all help people reduce stress. While everyone is different, some people find that taking a day of solitude where they go out in nature can help them put life in perspective and reduce stress.

Seek Therapy

Additionally, some people can fall into addiction because they find themselves unable to cope with daily life sober. By seeking therapy, you may be able to resolve some of your problems without resorting to a numbing substance. Many issues with substance abuse can be traced back to a family addiction that affected the individual from a young age.

Genuine depression can affect as many as one-quarter of women at some point in their lives, and close to 15% of men. If you are experiencing genuine symptoms of depression, more than the occasional blues, it may be time for you to seek help. Building a trusting relationship with a therapist can help you cope with your depression and have fewer difficult days.

Live Your Life

While everyone will occasionally find themselves beaten down by the humdrum nature of daily life, it is another thing entirely to be completely dissatisfied with your life. Finding a job that keeps you content is important, and you may have won the lottery if your job genuinely makes you happy. Additionally, many people find altruistic acts like volunteering give their lives meaning.

If you are unable to find a new job that makes you happy, pursue passions and interests outside of work that bring you fulfillment. Websites like MeetUp.com allow people to come together for hobbies and activities they find interesting. Something as simple as a night playing board games or Saturdays spent kayaking can be found on this site and you may form lasting connections that give your life value.

Hair loss in both men and women is a normal occurrence until shedding of hair gets worse and you start noticing your hair thinning or balding at worst. You may even be among those who have been suffering from alopecia, a hair condition quite commonly found in people than we may think.

Most people experience excessive hair loss at a later age due to reasons such as ageing, stress or even genetics. Male pattern baldness is the most common reason for hair loss found in men which is known to affect men by the age of 50 making up almost 70% of the male population. Hair loss in men usually has a pattern of a receding hairline followed by thinning of the hair on the crown and temples. On the other hand, hair loss in women is not as common, due to which the condition may have more impact on the individual. Most common causes in women include hormonal imbalance, genetics, and stress or sometimes even hair accessories like extensions.

How can Hair Transplant Surgery help?

Hair transplant surgery can be considered the most effective solution for hair loss, especially in cases where baldness may already have occurred or even if you suffer from alopecia. Dr Alam, a hair transplant surgeon from Centre for Surgery suggests looking at the Norwood Scale to determine the stage of hair loss you may be on and then decide on the necessary action to be taken if it becomes a worry.

There are three types of hair transplant surgery available today:

• FUT hair transplant surgery – Also known as ‘the strip technique’, FUT hair transplant is the most traditional option that involves cutting a linear strip of healthy hair follicles from a donor area, extracting it and injected it back to the area to be treated.
• FUE hair transplant surgery – A less invasive procedure, the FUE hair transplant involves extracting individual healthy hair follicles from a bald resistant donor area (usually from the back or the side of the head) and then harvesting them one at a time on the area needed to be treated.
• PRP Therapy – The most non-invasive procedure out of the three, PRP Therapy for hair loss involves drawing blood from your body, extracting a high concentration of growth cells, and then injecting it back to the area needed to be treated.

The results achievable from hair transplant surgery are known to be very long lasting for majority of people but your expectations is also something you need to consider before you decide to opt for it. There is no such thing as the best option and it solely depends on your needs and preferences. Discuss your expectations with the surgeon during your consultation to find the right option for you.

As a pregnant mother, there isn’t much more exciting than getting to see the little bun in your oven through the use of an ultrasound. Depending on your pregnancy, you may get one ultrasound throughout your pregnancy or you may receive multiple ultrasounds to check on both your health and the baby’s health. While ultrasounds are not a painful medical procedure, you may find that you have a better experience if you have a good understanding of ultrasounds and why they’re necessary before you have your appointment. To help with this, here are three tips for preparing for your first experience with an ultrasound during pregnancy.

Understanding Both Fetal Ultrasound Types

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two main types of ultrasounds that you may have during a pregnancy. The first is called transabdominal while the second is called transvaginal. As you may be able to tell by their names, the transabdominal ultrasound is done over the abdomen. With the transvaginal ultrasound, the imaging is gone through the vagina. The decision for which type of ultrasound to be done will depend on things like the baby’s position, the type of images needed and other variables.

Preparing for Each Type

Your preparation for your ultrasound will vary depending on the type of ultrasound you’re getting. Baby Center shares that if you’re getting an abdominal scan, you’ll be required to come to your appointment with a full bladder in order to push your uterus higher and get better images of the baby. However, if you’re getting a transvaginal scan, you’ll need to have an empty bladder because a full bladder can make it more difficult to see the baby from that angle.

Regardless of the type of scan you’re getting, it’s a good idea to wear a separate top and bottom rather than a dress or jumper so you don’t have to get completely undressed for the imaging. An abdominal ultrasound will necessitate your stomach to be easily available to the ultrasound technician while a transvaginal scan will require you to remove the bottom half of your attire. While you will be covered by a sheet or drape for modesty, the removal of clothing on your lower half is necessary for the transvaginal scan to be done.

Know What the Tech’s Looking For

An ultrasound can done during pregnancy for any number of reasons. However, there are a few common reasons that every pregnant woman should get an ultrasound. According to WhatToExpect.com, ultrasounds can be completed to listen to the fetal heartbeat, monitor fetal growth and development, locate the placenta and umbilical cord and more. By knowing what your specific ultrasound is being done for, you can better prepare yourself for what you may or may not be able to see within the scan.
Getting an ultrasound is a great way to check on the progress of your pregnancy and your unborn child in order to ensure everything is going how it should. Use the tips mentioned above if you’re nervous or unsure about what your ultrasound will entail and to help you be more prepared for this beautiful experience of motherhood.

Everyone needs to take a moment to relax every once in a while. Life is busier these days, with the use of smartphones and other devices that keep us continually connected and on the go. It really helps to slow down once in a while.

A busy life can lead to stress, which can lead to many things, including heart disease. But, just because you feel like you are always on the run and always busy doesn’t mean you can’t find some time to relax when it’s needed as well. Here are a few things that might help.

Get A Message

Go get a massage. Whether it’s a hands on massage, or your therapist uses some sort of amazing contraption that releases all the tension in your muscles, it’s well worth the hour out of your busy day.

Massage does a great many things for the body, not just helping you relax. It can help with pain relief and more. Talk to your massage therapist about what hurts, what feels tight, and what your day-to-day life is like, and they’ll be able to pinpoint some key areas to help you relax even more.

Start Meditating

Meditation is a really easy way to get relaxed, and you can do it on your own, right in your own home. Whether you simply want to close your eyes and chant “om” or you want to follow along with a guided meditation is up to you. Both are soothing and relaxing.

Guided meditations are great, and easily found online, if you want to meditate with a specific intent, like fighting anxiety or working to change your present.

Just Curl Up And Read A Book

Sometimes the easiest and best way to get some relaxation in your day is to simply curl up in bed, or in your favorite chair, with a good book, and read. Let the book take you into it’s own world, and forget about the worries and problems in your life.

You might fall asleep while you’re all curled up and reading, but that’s OK. Naps are good for stress relief as well.

Try Yoga

Whether you practice yoga at home or you sign up for a class, it’s a great way to relax and take your mind off of life. You’ll be too busy focusing on your positions to worry about that meeting or that article you need to finish writing.

I have always believed that electric guitars can be some of the most powerful instruments out there. If you have something such as bc-1, you are very likely to be able to benefit from all the power you can get in your electric guitar. Just make sure that you have the right parts for the job and you are very likely to achieve the results you have in mind.

Many of us suffer from various conditions that affect our lives. As we get older, we tend to develop more and more conditions that can affect our lives forever. One of such conditions is fibromyalgia. The cause of it is not known, although factors such as genetics or prolonged exposure to stress are likely to be a culprit here. Very often it is a good idea to find the cause as help is on the way.

It turns out that as with many other conditions out there Living with Fibromyalgia is indeed possible. Those living with it have some interesting options to consider in the form of medications, getting enough sleep, exercise, stress management, or even cognitive behavioral therapy. The list here goes on and on.

If you have been diagnosed with the condition, I recommend that you don’t give up your hope yet. If you are not a fan of taking medications, try simpler and more natural solutions such as eating a healthy diet and exercise. Even if those methods do not completely cure your fibromyalgia, at least you are going to feel healthier and happier overall, and this is always good for you as a person.

Try to take steps to reduce the impact fibromyalgia has on your life. If it prevents you from getting a good night sleep, try some relaxation techniques after which you should be able to sleep better. Very often, you can do a lot more yourself than you can possibly imagine. Your lifestyle changes can make a bigger difference than any sort of medication. Of course, the right type of medication can make all the difference as well and if you find it helpful in your case do not steer away from it, but rather use it and be happy with the results.

Try to be optimistic, because optimism is always good for you, regardless of your condition.

With age come various changes in your physical appearance for, some at an early age while for some much later. Droopy, sagging eyelids are one of those changes that can happen to anyone, but is more common among older adults. This is because with age the muscles can stretch causing the eyelids to droop and appear saggy. In some cases, droopy eyelids can even leave the eyes dry or watery affecting your vision, which can be very problematic. It may not be noticeable to you, but droopy eyelids can also be the reason you look weary or tired.

Fortunately, for those who wish to turn back time and restore their youthful appearance cosmetic surgery procedures such as blepharoplasty and browlift are effective options to consider. Keep in mind, when it comes to choosing the best option for you, no procedure is better than the other and it solely depends on your personal needs, preferences and what results you expect to achieve from it. Therefore, it is important that you and your surgeon discuss your expectations during your consultation in order to decide on the most suitable procedure for you.

Blepharoplasty

Voted as one of the Top 5 surgical procedures in 2015 by ASPS, Blepharoplasty also more commonly known as the eyelid surgery is a cosmetic surgery procedure to restore a youthful and rested appearance. The procedure helps diminish skin elasticity on the eyelids by removing loose skin and repairing the muscles. Blepharoplasty can also be performed on both the upper and lower eyelids to get rid of the droopiness and give the best results.

Browlift

Browlift surgery is a procedure done to reposition droopy eyebrows to get rid of the frown lines but also involves stretching drooping upper eyelid skin to provide a revitalised and youthful appearance. Also known as a forehead lift, it also helps banish wrinkles on the forehead that occur with the ageing process.

Combining Blepharoplasty and Browlift

The two procedures are known to aesthetically complement each other very well as both can help treat drooping eyelids.  A surgeon from Centre for Surgery, said that in his experience the combination of Blepharoplasty and Browlift have helped people get the best possible results. Blepharoplasty can be performed to remove the sagging skin along with Browlift which can certainly be performed to reposition the eyebrows for an overall pleasing appearance. Get further information and advice about blepharoplasty by booking a consultation to get a chance to speak directly with a surgeon who can help you find the best option to match your expectations.

It seems that the worst things in life happen at the most inopportune times. Nobody wishes that hardship would befall on them at any time, but Murphy’s Law states that anything that can happen, will happen. If you’ve ever heard the adage, bad things come in threes, you know that when you’re having a hard time in one area of your life, you’re sure to expect more. Trouble begets trouble.

Bad things don’t always happen, but when they do, you have to know how to get back up on your feet. If you’re feeling knocked down and you just don’t know how much strength you have to get back up, here are some ways you can overcome that hardship, especially in the realm of personal injury that comes from things like car accidents, falls, or other things:

Get Legal Help

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you know how much of a burden it is upon your life. As bad as it is when the accident is your fault, it’s even worse when it’s not. You might have done nothing to deserve the pain, the long road to recovery, the hospital bills, and the spike in insurance.

If you feel like this scenario applies to you, take action by getting council and legal help to guide you through this time. You might be able to be freed from some of the strain that you’re under if you just find help from somebody that knows what to do.

Seek Therapy

Not only does an accident wreck havoc upon your financial life, it also takes a toll on your emotions. Depending on what you’ve been through, the emotional toll will vary. A death, for instance, will require a therapy on a deeper, psychological level then a knee injury will.

In either scenario, you must embrace the road to recovery or else things will never be the same. You’ll be living with the bruises of the injury for the rest of your life. If you seek therapy, whether physical or emotional, your chances at healing recovery are much better and you might return to the place where nothing seemed like it happened.

Embrace Your Support Group

When a person encounters trouble and hardship in life, it’s the support group that gets them through in the end. People were not made to go through life alone. When you encounter a personal injury that tears apart the norms of your life, go to the ones who love you and embrace all the love they have for you.

You’ll find that love heals more than anything else. You’ll also find that your support groups goes above and beyond to make sure that your life is as comfortable as possible during this time.

Depression is not a fun thing to deal with, and anyone that has suffered it for any extended period of time knows that it can drain your energy, ruin your life, and make you wish you were all but dead. In fact, depression left unchecked can lead to suicide attempt, or worse.

Depression is not something to ignore, but for the person suffering it can feel difficult to even get up and get on the phone with the doctor to schedule an appointment. There are things that you can do to battle your depression, but it starts with making that call. It might help get you to call knowing that depression in older age can also increase your risk of dementia.

Call Your Doctor

The first step in finding healing from depression is to talking to your doctor. They may be able to help you pinpoint what is causing your depression, which is a good first step in dealing with it. Sometimes knowing the cause is the first step to healing because you know where to start making changes.

Your doctor can also prescribe you medication that will help you. Depression is caused by an imbalance in how your brain works, to put it in layman’s terms. Medication can help make things run more smoothly.

Start Exercising

Cardio exercise, the aerobics and running, aid in the release of endorphins in your brain. These are feel good hormones, which do just what they say. They help lift your mood and give you a natural high. Regular fitness can help increase your happiness.

Change Your Diet

The foods you eat can also help make your depression worse, or they can help you be in a better mood. Eating foods filled with sugar can cause you to crash out, and it can just put your mood in a funk.

Pick healthy foods that give you energy and vitamins. Fruits and vegetables are the best choices. Eating fruits and berries gives your body the antioxidants that you need in order to clean toxins out of your system as well, which can help with your brain health and fight depression and dementia as well.

Do Positive Things

Having positive outlets is another way to make sure that you keep your depression and moods in check. Come up with hobbies that make you happy and enjoy life. That could be anything from your fitness routine to taking up a hobby like knitting or doing a new sport, like bowling.

If your doctor does prescribe you medications, make sure that you take them as prescribed, and don’t quit without talking to your doctor first. Doing so could lead to thoughts of suicide. Think about your health, and talk to your doctor to get help with depression, no matter how long you’ve been suffering.

Many people don’t think that there are issues that come along with prescription medications, aside from a strange side effect once in awhile. People don’t think about the fact that there are some prescription medications that can be easy to get addicted to. They also don’t think about the fact that their teenagers, or even other adults in the household, could be stealing meds from them.

It can be easy to get hooked on things like vicodin, and you may find yourself seeking out various doctors for extra prescriptions because you’ve been taking them incorrectly. Aside from addiction risks, here are some other things to consider when it comes to your prescription medications.

Don’t Quit Taking Them Without Talking To Your Doctor

You should never quit taking a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor first, even if you think it will be OK or you think the drug isn’t doing anything for you. For things like antidepressants, an abrupt stop could lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. For things like heart medications, it could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

It’s easy enough to make an appointment and have a discussion with your doctor about why you want to stop. They will have tips and maybe some alternatives to the medicine for you.

Always Take Them The Same Time Every Day

For the majority of prescription medications, your doctor will likely recommend that you take them the same time each and every day. This aids in keeping the drug in your system on a steady stream. If you take a pill one night, and again the next morning, you could have negative reactions if it’s a one a day only pill.

Follow Recommendations By Doctor

While those last two are doctor recommendations, and the next one in the list is as well, there may be other recommendations that you are given. You may be informed that certain foods can have an adverse affect on your pills, or that you should only take them at night, or only take them in the morning.

If you are afraid you won’t be able to remember all of the instructions given to you by your doctor, ask for them to write the instructions down. Often you’ll get a printout from the pharmacist that will have all of these instructions as well.

Always Take the Right Dosage

Only take the amount of medicine recommended by your doctor. If you have problems remember whether or not you took your pills, it can be helpful to sort them in weekly containers, marked AM and PM, if you have pills for both times of the day. This can keep your from doubling up on doses!

If it seems like you never have enough pills to get through a month, you may either be forgetting when you take them, or you may have someone stealing from you. It can help to keep them locked in a cabinet, if you think theft is the issue.