It’s that time of year again…gardening, mowing lawns, and enjoying the outdoors. After a long winter indoors the mind is ready to get back outside, but is the body ready to handle the rigors of regular lawn maintenance? Many people complain of low back pain and/or shoulder and neck pain after a weekend of gardening and lawn maintenance. Some even notice that they can’t be on their hands and knees as long as they once used to be. Others notice that hours of mowing and weed-eating cause the low back to cramp and the shoulders to throb. If the problem continues to progress, gardeners may notice numbness in the arms or legs as a result of their hard work.

The main reason for these aches and pains is due to deconditioning of the spinal, trunk, and shoulder muscles over the long winter months. Muscle tightness, arthritis in the hands, knees and spine, and muscle imbalance are the main causes of pain experienced after gardening. The contracted muscles can then pull on the spine and cause the joints to "pinch together," causing pain and discomfort in that particular area. If the joints and muscles pinch off too much, they will pinch a nerve and cause sharp pains and /or numbness.

A few precautions can be taken to help prevent these pains from occurring, allowing the gardener to enjoy the day and the garden being tended to at the time.
Take a few moments to stretch before and after gardening. Roll the shoulders and hips. Stretch the hamstrings and thighs. Bend the wrists. Stretch the neck. Drink plenty of water while out in the hot sun. When bent over at the waist-Keep the stomach sucked in, this helps reduce strain on the back. If on the knees, place a cushion under them for support and Keep the stomach sucked in for additional support.

Take breaks. Stand up and stretch if there is cramping. Do not stay bent over for more than a ? hour or perform weed-eating for more than a ? hour to an hour at a time.
If these tips do not help, then it may be time to see a chiropractor and/or massage therapist to put the body "back together again." Periodic spinal tune-ups and muscle therapy help reduce chronic pain and improve the quality of all daily activities.

For more information, email drheather@mccarterchiropractic.com.

Sharon Shaner knows quite a lot about foundations-in make-up, in garments and in business. Good foundations are the hallmark of her success.

Although it’s not quite a dynasty yet, Sharon is following in her mother’s footsteps. Twenty years ago, Sharon’s mother Peg Foley started a Merle Norman business in Zanesville, Ohio. In addition to the complete line of cosmetics and skin care products, her Merle Norman & More studio carried specialty products, including wigs, turbans and oversized scarves that were helpful for women who had experienced the side effects of chemotherapy. She also added special foundation garments and inserts for mastectomy patients.

Sharon, a stay-at-home, says, “Mom did most of the pioneering. She had never owned a business. She was a principal with a full time job when she decided to start a business.” Sharon, a stay at home Mom, started helping at the store. “Mom didn’t need full time help at first”, so Sharon started college, got her degree in Business administration in 1986 and worked as a job trainer for four years. But, “In 1992, I began full time at Merle Norman & More.”

Sharon learned the Merle Norman products, skin care physiology, customer service and began fitting women for bras.

In January 2004, when Peg Foley retired, Sharon purchased Merle Norman & More. Later in the year, Sharon discovered that the Marietta Merle Norman franchise was closing. “I couldn’t help being interested. And, there weren’t any shops that offered specialty bras and prosthesis in Marietta, so it seemed like a great opportunity. The downtown location was wonderful, the other merchants are active and friendly and the drive from home in McConnelsville is about the same to Zanesville or Marietta.” She bought the business.

She has kept the same customer oriented approach and product line that made Merle Norman & More a success in Zanesville. A certified mastectomy fitter, Sharon has over 200 clients in the first Ohio store. She continues to add products that specifically address needs of women who have experienced surgical or chemical alterations to their appearance. “But, often they are great solutions for any woman. The wide brimmed hats and 36” scarves are very fashionable. And, I don’t think any women who have bought the mastectomy swimsuits actually needed them. The suits are just so flattering and so comfortable.”

For women with hypersensitivity to sun because of chemotherapy, medication or Mother Nature, Sharon carries hats treated with an SPF 50 ingredient embedded in the fabric. Although women have gotten away from restrictive undergarments, Sharon says, “They still like support.” She is adding a new line of brassieres that lift and support without underwires. “They come in 1200 choices of band and cup measurements. It is like having a custom made bra. The ‘custom’ bras are for any woman who ever needed just a half size increment, a 35 1/2 or a B plus!”

Surgical solutions for breast cancer have tended more toward lumpectomies than full mastectomies. Sharon welcomes the advancement and says, “Women can still have a partial form made to fill in, on top or underneath, a customized shell that simply slips into the bra and evens out the look. Many insurance companies cover the smaller prosthesis.” Since the shop is open six days a week, studio manager Shirley Hale and Tammy Earhart, Beauty Consultant, help provide the personal attention that is an integral part of the Merle Norman & More family tradition. Sharon’s daughter, Lanie Hale has joined the staff, part time, carrying on a family tradition. Visitors are encouraged to browse, ask questions and take advantage of free makeovers and skin care lessons.

Sharon says they use a color IQ system based on skin tone and color intensity. “Women should wear what they want, but in the right shade and intensity.”

She knows that starting with the right foundation is the best way to make a look, a life and a business, successful.

For more information, contact Sharon Shaner, Merle Norman & More, 132 Putnam Street, Marietta Ohio., 740-373-8519.

Adopting from the local ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or animal rescue shelter is an excellent idea. In doing so, you are saving the life of an animal, giving it love and a new home.

There are many great pets out there in need of homes and families, and rather than purchasing a pet from a breeder, adopting is a way to give love and life to an animal in need.

Some tips before you adopt: Be sure everyone in your family is prepared for the responsibilities that go along with owning a pet. Be sure every member agrees on the type of animal. Including small children in the tasks of taking care of a pet is a great way to teach responsibility; but, as a parent you should always supervise and assist in taking care of the pet.

You’ll also want to be sure the type of animal, the breed, etc., will be okay with all members of your household, especially concerning children. Some animals or breeds do not make good pets for children. Take allergies into consideration, too. Many people are allergic to certain types of animals, so you may want to let members of your family spend time around that type of animal before adopting one.

There are a few different types of organizations that allow pet adoption. Open access shelters generally take in stray animals. Humane societies are private organizations, and foster groups usually consist of foster parents who care for animals temporarily while permanent homes are sought.

Spend some time with the pet before you make the final decision to adopt. Visit your local shelter and spend time with many of the pets. Get a feel for the type you’re looking for, and get to know the pet before adopting. Be sure you’re compatible with one another.

Purchase food and needed supplies before you adopt your pet. This will prepare you fully to start providing adequate shelter, food, etc., to your pet, and can also give you a good idea of how much time and work will be involved in taking care of the animal.

It is always best to research the pet or speak with a pet dealer or expert about the animal before committing to its care. Be sure you know what you’re getting into, with workload, compatibility, and commitment. That way you’ll be happy with your new pet, and the pet will be happy with you!

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com.

1.   Spray a deep skillet with a nonstick spray coating. Preheat pan over high heat.

2.   Cook chicken in hot skillet, stirring, for three to five minutes, or until no longer pink. Reduce heat.

3.    Add tomatoes and their juice, low-sodium chili sauce, greenpepper, celery, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

4.   Serve over hot cooked rice or whole-wheat pasta.

Cut back on the sleep robbers. Cut out caffeine after 2:00 p.m., and refrain from drinking alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime. You may become drowsy after a couple of glasses of wine, but too much alcohol will make you wake up frequently during the night. In addition, although coffee is the most obvious source of caffeine, don’t forget that there’s also caffeine in colas, chocolate, tea, and some medications.

Go toward the light. Get outside when it’s sunny, or at least turn on the lights at home in the morning. This will help you reset your awake-sleep cycle.  Drink like a fish. Even mild dehydration—losing as little as ½ cup of body water—could turn into lowgrade chronic fatigue. Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day, and add four to six more glasses when you exercise. To prevent unnecessary trips to the bathroom at night, empty your bladder before going to sleep, and don’t drink more than 4 ounces within an hour of going to bed.

Exercise earlier in the day. Regular exercise first energizes, then relaxes you.  So if you start doing calisthenics or aerobics right before bed, nerve-stimulating hormones will be released and will raise your body’s core temperature, preventing you from falling asleep. Exercise—but do it earlier in the day.

Walk into sleep. You don’t have to walk far to get sleep-enhancing benefits.  People who walked at least six blocks a day at a normal pace were one-third less likely to have trouble sleeping, according to one study of more than 700 men and women. Those who picked up the pace had even better sleeping habits. You get the same benefits with walking that you’d get by taking sleep medication—but without the medication’s side effects, such as grogginess, increased snoring, risk of sleep apnea, and possible addiction.  Take a nap. It’s okay to nap, especially if you didn’t sleep well last night. Research has found that people who nap for 15 minutes feel more alert and less sleepy, even after a bad night’s sleep.

For more information, visit www.prevention.com.

Question: We’re replacing our mattress set, which is about fifteen years old. What should we expect to pay for a quality mattress set?

Answer: The answer depends on your comfort preference. Fifteen years ago, manufacturers were building many more firm beds; today softer beds dominate the market. There are two reasons for this shift:

1.   As we age, our muscle tone and connective tissue have less integrity, and more comfort layers are required to relieve pressure points on the body. The aging boomer generation continues to shift the market toward softer beds.

2.   New sleep research continues to shows that firmer beds are not necessarily better than a softer bed with good underlying support.

Now, back to the original question of price. Firm beds are less expensive because there is less foam used in construction. If you’re buying a firm queen bed, expect to pay $800 – $1400 for a quality set constructed with a spring unit. And expect to pay $1400 – $2500 for a firm foam core bed (memory foam or latex). 

The question of the price of a quality soft bed is more difficult to answer. A quality soft mattress will cost significantly more than a firm mattress because quality foam is expensive to manufacture. For a quality queen set, constructed with a spring unit expect to pay between $1000 – $1800 and up to $2800 for a soft foam core set.

Barbara Stewart is the owner of MattressMax, a 4000-sq foot Mattress Gallery located in Vienna, WV. www.mattressmax.biz

The skin is the largest organ of the body that is often neglected. During the winter and cold months, the behavior of your skin reveals the characteristics of your skin type.

Remember, your skin profile changes seasonally with age and your environment.  The best solution is to consult with a skin care specialist to recommend the right skin care products for healthy -looking skin, at every age.

Since the skin is usually always dry during this time of the year, here are some characteristics that you will find in dry skin:
- No oil in T-zone
- Cheeks are uncomfortable or slightly dry
- Dryness may be present around the eyes
- Your face may feel a bit taut in areas without a moisturizer
- Blemishes are rare to occasional
- Possible visible flakiness

The objective to the dryness would be a monthly hydrating seaweed facial; and for a daily routine to add moisture and comfort to the skin would be to use a milky cleanser, an alcohol-free toner, a hydrating moisturizer, boosters, hydrators and exfoliators to target and restore the ph balance of skin cells.  Both of these recommendations would be the perfect solution to protect your skin from the cold winter months.

Lee Rector is the owner of Lee’s Studio and Medispa, located at 3113 Murdoch Avenue, Parkersburg, West Virginia. For more information, call (304) 422-2940.

A new term coming up in the media concerning facial aesthetics is the “Liquid Lift.” This refers to the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dermal Fillers to improve the look of facial lines and contour. 

This safe, minimally invasive alternative to surgery is most attractive to patients because there is virtually no down time. Experienced physicians can “sculpt” the face using dermal fillers (Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse, etc.) to dramatically improve “laugh lines,” “marionette lines,” “frown lines,” “jowls” and more in about an hour in the office.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is used to weaken the muscles that create dynamic wrinkles like frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. These combined procedures can be performed in a single office visit for an instant lift with no down time.

The results last from 6-18 months, depending on the products used and the individual patient. Some fillers are permanent, but most physicians recommend treatment with absorbable fillers first, to get a feel for what the permanent results might be. For those wanting a “lift,” but not the downtime that comes with surgery, the “liquid lift” is a great alternative.

Dr. Samia Turner is the owner and medical director of Turner Medical Spa, located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia. For more information, call (304) 776-1611.

Everyone’s heart beats around 70 times per minute, or 100,000 times per day, or about 2.5 billion times in the average lifetime.
This vital organ is programmed to work automatically for every second of every day for as long as you live, no matter what else you’re doing mentally or physically.

In other words, the heart never rests.  Your heart is located just about in the center of your chest and is divided into four chambers: The two smaller upper chambers are known as the left atrium and right atrium and the two larger lower chambers are the left ventricle and right ventricle.

Oxygen-poor blood enters the right atrium and is then pumped into the right ventricle and through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it is enriched with oxygen (and loses carbon dioxide).  The oxygenated blood is then carried to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins, from where it enters the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart.  It is the thick, powerful muscle of the left ventricle that pumps blood to all the organs of the body via the aorta.  From a cardiologist’s point of view, it is the left ventricle that is the most important chamber because it is the area of the heart most likely to be affected by a heart attack.

As blood enters the aorta, some is immediately directed to the coronary arteries. The left main coronary artery divides into two major coronary arteries the left circumflex artery (LCx) and the left anterior descending artery (LAD).  A third major artery, the right coronary artery (RCA), has its own point of origin from the aorta.

All of these arteries have branches, which are also known as coronary arteries.  They supply the beating heart muscle with blood and oxygen. If anything obstructs the flow of blood through one of these arteries for more than 20 to 30 minutes, the heart will likely not receive enough oxygen, and the part of the heart muscle fed by that artery will die. This is what happens when you have a heart attack.  Heart failure occurs when your heart muscle damaged to the point that your heart can no longer pump sufficient blood to the rest of your organs.

When your heart is damaged and can no longer pump efficiently, blood also tends to back up into the lungs, making them heavier, which results in difficulty breathing.

For more information, visit www.everydayhealth.com

The new course topics, available directly at www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses, include revising business plans to reposition with current conditions, winning customers in a slowing economy, restructuring existing debt, and diversifying your customer base with federal contracts.

The most recently added course is “Downshifting in a Slowing Economy: A Business Planning Guide.” This course is designed to help business owners reorganize and streamline their business strategies. Other related business tools include a new automated business plan template, and an assessment and strategies guide for surviving in a slowing economy.

“The SBA is helping small businesses with the resources and tools they need in the current business cycle,” said Jeff Andrade, Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development.  “In addition, SBA offers a variety of resources and referrals to small businesses uncertain about what to do in the current economy on its Web page on Economic Recovery at www.sba.gov/helpingmainstreet.”

Each free course is self-paced, and provides practical guidance on how to stay on top of economic conditions. These and other courses can be accessed from the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/training. To access them, click on “Free Online Courses,” then make a selection under the header “Surviving in a Down Economy.”

The SBA can also help to find local agency offices and lenders. Business owners can: talk with an SBA representative about financing options and identify local, participating SBA lenders; learn about SBA’s Loan Guaranty Program using an electronic guide with audio assistance and many targeted links; and train with expert counseling and mentoring services by talking with a Small Business Association representative or resource partner about management assistance.

For more information, visit www.sba.gov.