Although it is a disease that has seen a major expansion as far as awareness over the past couple of years, the disease is still somewhat of a mystery. The impact of the disease, what causes it, the different types, its treatments, and what a person living with MS can expect may be a little different for each person.
The first step is to become as educated about the disease as possible. There is always a certain amount of fear after the diagnosis is made. This is natural for both the person with the disease and family members. Learning as much as you can will help tremendously in dealing with the disease. You will undoubtedly come across several drugs and treatments which can help alleviate, delay, or prevent some of the symptoms of the disease. It’s really important to explore the options with your doctor, and once you have settled on a plan with your physician, it is important to follow it every day. Many of the treatments have proven to be very effective in preventing symptoms or lessening the effects and duration once they occur
Laser hair removal might seem like the kind of treatment you don’t think of until it is nearly summer. The thought of shorts, sandals and swimsuits scares most of us into a frenzy of self-improvement, and getting rid of unwanted hair is part of the late-spring ritual. However, to take full advantage of the benefits of laser hair removal, it is important to start thinking about it in the cold days of winter. That’s because for most people, it takes about four treatments every four to six weeks to achieve maximum results. If you plan ahead, most patients will see an 80% permanent reduction in hair growth. That means all that time you save waxing, shaving and plucking you can instead spend sipping frozen drinks by the pool.
According to Katherine Hobson in the October 18, 2007, issue of U.S. News and World Report, “Most women simply don’t think much about heart disease. They’re much more likely to worry about breast cancer, though cardiovascular disease (which includes high blood pressure and stroke) kills almost twice as many American women as all cancers put together. Nearly 1 in 2 will develop it in her lifetime, and 1 in 3 will die from it. Generally, trouble strikes women in their 60s, about a decade later than men, possibly because naturally protective estrogen levels decline. But a lower risk of heart disease at a younger age doesn’t mean women in their 40’s and 50’s don’t have to worry, especially if they’re getting by on fast food and a once-a-month trip to the gym. Indeed, doctors are particularly interested in identifying and preventing disaster in the vast group of women who are at intermediate risk—they have a couple of bad habits and a family history—and are most likely unaware of the consequences. It’s in this group that fully 70 percent of heart attacks occur.”
Best Diet Tip No. 1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need.
“If you don’t like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories,” says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Best Diet Tip No. 2: Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.
Start by focusing on getting the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Healthy eating means choosing a variety of foods from the basic food groups: meat and meat substitutes; dairy; fruits and vegetables; grains, such as breads and pasta; and a limited amount of fats and sweets. As simple as this sounds, it’s not always as easy to get the nutrition you need. You may eat more of your favorite foods from only one food group, and as a result, get less of other food groups. Or perhaps you opt for convenience over quality when you are hungry.
Healthy eating requires a purpose, some planning, and an effort to include a variety of foods in your meals. If you look closely at how you eat, you might find you are not getting enough nutrients, or a balance of nutrients, because you do not consume the recommended number of servings from each food group.
Birds are great additions to your backyard. Putting up bird houses is an excellent way to attract them. However, not all birds opt to nest in bird houses. Birds differ in their habitat preferences and only cavity-dwellers are probably interested in the bird shelters in your backyard. As it is, these cavity-dwellers also have their own specifications about the kind of house they like. These are minor measurements or feature issues but they are important for the birds. However, there are general guidelines in building these houses.
First, it is important to identify the species of birds that visit your backyard. It is also necessary to distinguish which are the cavity-dwellers from the tree and burrow dwellers. Common cavity-dwellers are wrens, chickadees, bluebirds, and flickers. Choose one you like best and focus your bird house design on it. Even if the idea of building multiple bird houses appeal to you, refrain from doing so because birds are territorial animals.
Second, determine the required dimensions of your chosen bird. Forget asking the birds for these because you’ll get no answers. Dimensions of bird houses include entrance-hole, height, depth, and floor size. Smaller birds like wren and chickadees usually prefer 4×4 floor size and a reasonable 8” depth. Consult a bird book or the internet for information regarding the measurements of your bird house.
Third, it is better to use untreated wood and lumber for bird houses. Aside from mimicking the birds’ natural habitat, natural wood also minimizes risks of poisoning and overheating. Treated and processed wood like plywood contains preservatives like formaldehyde, which poses serious health hazards to your feathered friends. Lumber that is classified as pressure-treated often contain toxic chemicals which can poison the nesting birds. Paint is also a no-no. Chipping paint can be mistaken by the bird for food and eat it. Also, metals and plastics are not suitable for building avian shelters since they are both prone to overheating. You would want to provide the birds shelter, not an outdoor oven.
Fourth, in drafting or designing a plan for your bird houses, it is important to consider the birds’ safety against the elements and predators. Slanted roofs are preferable so rain, dirt, and moisture would not collect on top and rot the wood. It is also preferable that the roofs extend over the sides and front.
Perches are not really necessary since cavity-dwellers do not perch. Consider drainage and ventilation needs. Drill small holes on the floor but make sure that these are smaller than the bird’s feet. These holes are also best placed on corners to help in draining water out in case of rain. Baby birds drown easily and a bit of collected rainwater in their shelter is enough to send them to their deaths. Aside from the relatively larger entrance holes, place ventilation holes along the house’s walls or back. These let heat escape to keep the structure comfortably cool. Placing the bird house atop a pole is a good way to discourage predators like cats and raccoons.
Fifth, maintenance and cleanliness are also factors in bird house building. Unkempt bird houses are causes of diseases, according to experts. To help you in maintaining cleanliness in the bird house, add a backdoor. This way, you can easily remove unused nest and disinfect the vacated house. Droppings and other dirt also contribute to the contamination and cleaning these out limits risks of infecting other birds.
With these tips, you are on your way to designing and building your own bird houses this winter for placing in your backyard early in the spring.