Health Topics

A cold is uncomfortable, but it is usually just an inconvenience. Medicines normally do not fully cure a cold you can however, adopt various remedies by which you can reduce or ease your cold. Take care that occasionally cold-like symptoms may be signs of a more serious illness. Call for advice if you, have chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or lung disease, are a heavy smoker, or have other serious or chronic illness. Call for advice if symptoms worsen after 3-5 days, if symptoms don't improve or remain bothersome after 7 days, or if symptoms are not resolved after 14 days. Seek immediate assistance if cold related symptoms rapidly worsen or if you develop painful or difficult breathing, wheezing, or difficulty swallowing. Normally the below mentioned tips and prove to be quite helpful in controlling your cold.

Tips & Remedies for Colds

Raise the humidity level by sitting in the bathroom with a warm shower running or using a humidifier/vaporizer (cool mist preferred). Empty and clean daily to reduce the growth of molds.
Drink lots: all fluids are good; warm fluids seem to provide the most relief. Try hot tea and hot water with lemon .

Gargle with salt water; homemade salt water (1/4 tsp salt dissolved in 8 oz of warm water, or a store version, will help relieve a sore throat.

Ear infections--There are several types of ear infections. Antibiotics are used for most, but not all, ear infections.
Suck on hard candy. Hard candies are as effective as cough drops.

Try saline nose drops or sprays.

Remain up and about. Extra rest may help, but you'll generally feel better by staying moderately active. Read, do puzzles, play board games. Boredom makes you feel worse!

Some Over the counter medications may provide temporary relief, but beware of potential side effects. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid disease, check with your physician regarding decongestant use.

Use Vicks Vapo-Rub; even if it doesn't really Do anything, doesn't it just smell like it should be helping?

Just like brushing your teeth, healthy habits should be cultivated on a daily basis.

The following is a guide to daily tasks:

1. Activity should be a daily occurrence. Walk, run or jump for a minimum total of 20 minutes a day.

2. Protect your skin. Sun block should be applied on face, neck, arms and hands even in the dead of winter. It protects against climatic toxins too. Moisturize skin daily.

3. Eat fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products and small amounts of protein. Avoid sweets and other processed foods.

4. Meditate or spend a minimum of five minutes daily in quiet time.

5. Find your spiritual self. Discover what inspires you, raises your level of consciousness, motivates you, and satisfies your soul.

6. Exercise your brain. Read, study, solve problems, and learn new skills. As does the body, the brain atrophies with lack of use.

7. Hug somebody.

Being Fit and Healthy is every souls dream. A healthy and fit body along with a healthy mind makes life an interesting journey and this world a heaven. Here are a few steps to achieve a healthy body.

Commit To Get Fit
The first thing you need to do is commit yourself to a fitness programme. The best way to do this is join a local gym – once you've coughed up the cash, you can view it as an investment.
Choosing A Gym
Many health clubs will be offering good deals on membership. Try to find one with a swimming pool.
You don't have to spend a fortune on fitness gear but you should invest in a good pair of cross trainers for indoor and outdoor use. If you're going for the yoga and Pilates approach, you won't need trainers.
Work It Out!
Before you rush headlong into a tough workout schedule you should actually work out how fit you are and how far you've got to go.
Try a 'fat-burning', sugar-free diet for one month. Cut out ALL sugar, cakes, biscuits, chocolate and white bread.
Are you getting enough? Water that is! If you feel that you are under performing mentally and physically or suffering from constipation, sinus problems, lethargy or depression, you may be dehydrated. The average intake of water should be eight glasses of water a day to keep the brain and internal organs functioning efficiently.
Healthy Arms
Here's how to get them….Hold a dumbbell or can of beans in your right hand and rest you left knee and left hand on a chair or bench, keep left arm straight. Bend your right knee and make sure your back is parallel to the floor. Bend your right elbow up and behind you keeping it close to your torso with the palm facing in. Extend the forearm back so that the arm is straight and the upper arm is squeezed into the body. Slowly return the arm to the bent position and repeat. Use a 3-5lb weight and perform three sets of 10 to 12 reps.
Healthy Legs
Focus on the inner thigh muscles to get rid of the wobble. Try swimming. For lean, trim legs, do 20–60 minutes of cardiovascular exercise like running, skating or cycling at least three times per week. Cardio circuit training classes that include running and jumping are a great way to slim down the thighs. Deep stretching will also streamline any lumpy areas.
And finally,
Get active! Whether you can fit 10 minutes or 60 minutes into your day do something that raises your heart rate. Try brisk walking for part of your way to and from work or during your lunch hour. With the light evenings and inclement weather, get on your bike, roller blades or just your feet and just get moving!

No, The time of day during which you choose to eat has no bearing on how your body processes food. Any extra calories you take in will be stored as fat whether you eat them at noon or midnight.

That's not to say that evening eating isn't a problem for many dieters. It's easy in the evening to snack while relaxing.

When we eat in front of the television, we aren't paying attention to what we are eating in front of the TV report feeling like they haven't eaten at all. It appears that the food eaten doesn't register all that well when we are distracted.

*Don't deny fat. Eating fat-free cookies and other treats that contain refined carbohydrates can lead to bingeing. Instead, allow yourself up to 30% of your daily calories to come from fat, particularly mono- and poly-unsaturated vegetable oils, nuts, and fish oil.

*Stay with it. More than half the dieting success stories in the survey said they applied these strategies to their diets every day.

Ready to start a fitness program? Measure your fitness level with a simple four-part test. Then use the results to set fitness goals and track your progress.
You probably have some idea of how fit you are. But knowing the specifics can help you set fitness goals, monitor your progress and maintain your motivation. Once you know where you're starting from, you can plan where you want to go. And it's easier than you might think! Get started with the simple assessment guidelines below — based on guidelines provided by the President's Challenge, an activity program designed by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Gather your tools
Generally, fitness is assessed in four key areas — aerobic fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility and body composition. To do your assessment, you'll need:

A watch that can measure seconds or a stopwatch
A cloth measuring tape
A yardstick
Heavy duty tape
Someone to help you with the flexibility test
You'll also need a pencil or pen and paper to record your scores as you complete each part of the assessment. You can record your scores in a notebook or journal, or save them in a spreadsheet or another electronic format.
Check your aerobic fitness: Brisk walk
To assess your aerobic fitness, take a brisk one-mile (1.6-kilometer) walk. You can do the walk anywhere — on a trail or track, inside a shopping mall or on a treadmill. Before and after the walk, check and record your pulse in your notebook or journal.

To check your pulse over your carotid artery, place your index and third fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe. To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery — which is located on the thumb side of your wrist. When you feel your pulse, look at your watch and count the number of beats in 10 seconds. Multiply this number by 6 to get your heart rate per minute.
Let's say you count 15 beats in 10 seconds. Multiply 15 by 6 for a total of 90 beats per minute.
After you've recorded your pulse, note the time on your watch and walk one mile (1.6 kilometers). After you complete the walk, check your watch and record the time it took you to finish — in minutes and seconds — in your notebook or journal. Then check and record your pulse once more.
Measure muscular fitness: Push-ups
Push-ups can help you measure muscular strength. If you're just starting a fitness program, do modified push-ups on your knees. If you're already fit, do classic push-ups. For both types:
Lie facedown on the floor with your elbows bent and your palms next to your shoulders.
Keeping your back straight, push up with your arms until your arms are extended.
Lower your body until your chest touches the floor.
Push your body upward, returning to the starting position.
Count each time you return to the starting position as one push-up. Do as many push-ups as you can until you need to stop for rest. Record the number of push-ups you complete in your notebook or journal.
Assess your flexibility: Sit-and-reach test
The sit-and-reach test is a simple way to measure the flexibility of the backs of your legs, your hips and your lower back. Here's how:
Place the soles of your feet even with the mark on the yardstick.
Ask a helper to place his or her hands on top of your knees to anchor them.
Reach forward as far as you can, holding the position for two seconds.
Note the distance you reached.
Repeat the test two more times.
Record the best of the three reaches.
Estimate your body composition: Waist circumference and body mass index
With a cloth measuring tape, measure your waist circumference at its smallest point — usually at the level of the navel. Record your waist circumference in inches or centimeters in your notebook or journal.
Then determine your body mass index (BMI) — an indicator of your percentage of body fat — through a BMI table or online calculator. If you'd rather do the math yourself, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and multiply by 703. Or divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. (To determine your height in meters, divide your height in centimeters by 100). Record your BMI with the rest of your scores in your notebook or journal.
Monitor your progress
Now that you know your fitness level, keep track of your progress. Take the same measurements six weeks after you begin your exercise program and periodically afterward. Each time you repeat your assessment, celebrate your progress — and adjust your fitness goals accordingly. Show the results to your doctor or personal trainer for additional guidance.

Work at a desk all day? Don't take it sitting down. Make office exercise — from fitness breaks to walking meetings — part of your routine.

If you're doing your best to set aside time for exercise either before work or after work, good for you. But finding time to exercise can be a challenge for anyone with a busy schedule. Why not work out while you're at work?

Sure, you know you can park at the far end of the parking lot and take the stairs instead of the elevator. These are great ideas, but there's even more you can do to burn calories during your workday — especially if you sit at a desk most of the day. Consider 10 creative ways to make office exercise part of your routine:

Make the most of your commute. Walk or bike to work. If you ride the bus, get off a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way.

Look for opportunities to stand. You'll burn more calories standing than sitting. Try a standing desk, or improvise with a high table or counter. Eat lunch standing up. Trade instant messaging and phone calls for walks to other desks or offices.

Take fitness breaks. Rather than hanging out in the lounge with coffee or a snack, take a brisk walk or do some gentle stretching. Pull your chin toward your chest until you feel a stretch along the back of your neck, or slowly bring your shoulders up toward your ears.

Trade your office chair for a fitness ball. A firmly inflated fitness ball can make a good chair. You'll improve your balance and tone your core muscles while sitting at your desk. You can even use the fitness ball for wall squats or other exercises during the day.

Keep exercise equipment in your work area. Store resistance bands — stretchy cords or tubes that offer weight-like resistance when you pull on them — or small hand weights in a desk drawer or cabinet. Do arm curls between meetings or tasks.

Get social. Organize a lunchtime walking group. You might be surrounded by people who are ready to lace up their walking shoes — and hold each other accountable for regular exercise. Enjoy the camaraderie, and offer encouragement to one another when the going gets tough.

Conduct meetings on the go. When it's practical, schedule walking meetings or brainstorming sessions. Do laps inside your building or, if the weather cooperates, take your walking meetings outdoors.

Pick up the pace. If your job involves walking, do it faster. Take long, easy strides, and remember to breathe freely while you walk.

If you travel for work, plan ahead. Exercise doesn't need to go by the wayside when you're traveling. If you're stuck in an airport waiting for a plane, grab your bags and take a brisk walk. Choose a hotel that has fitness facilities — such as treadmills, weight machines or a pool — or bring your equipment with you. Jump-ropes and resistance bands are easy to sneak into a suitcase. Of course, you can do jumping jacks, crunches and other simple exercises without any equipment at all.

Try a treadmill desk. If you're ready to take office exercise to the next level, consider a more focused walk-and-work approach. If you can comfortably position your work surface above a treadmill — with a computer screen on a stand, a keyboard on a table or a specialized treadmill-ready vertical desk — you may be able to walk while you work. In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers estimate that overweight office workers who replace sitting computer time with walking computer time by two to three hours a day could lose 44 to 66 pounds (20 to 30 kilograms) in a year. The pace doesn't need to be brisk, nor do you need to break a sweat. The faster you walk, however, the more calories you'll burn.

Want more ideas for office exercise? Schedule a walking meeting to brainstorm ideas with your supervisors or co-workers. Remember, any physical activity counts!

Finger Stretch
Working hard at your desk? To avoid getting sore and worn out, try a stretch break. If you spend lots of time clutching a pen or typing on a keyboard, start with the finger stretch.
Separate and straighten your fingers until you feel a stretch, keeping your hand in alignment with your wrist (left). Hold for 10 seconds.
Next, bend the end and middle knuckles of your fingers (right), keeping your hand and wrist in the same position. Hold for 10 seconds.
Then, relax.

Stretching safely

Stretching is a key part of your exercise program. Stretching before your workout — especially if you have tight or injured muscles — can prepare your body to exercise. Stretching after your workout promotes better range of motion of your joints. Stretching also improves your flexibility, balance and coordination.

When you're stretching, keep it gentle. Breathe freely as you hold each stretch. Try not to hold your breath. Don't bounce or hold a painful stretch. Expect to feel tension while you're stretching. If you feel pain, you've gone too far.

Starting a fitness program may be one of the best things you can do for your health. After all, physical activity can reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve your balance and coordination, help you lose weight — even boost your self-esteem. And the benefits are yours for the taking, regardless of age, sex or physical ability.



Stretching and Flexibility

Stretching is a powerful part of any exercise program. Most aerobic and strength training programs inherently cause your muscles to contract and flex. Stretching after you exercise promotes equal balance. Stretching also increases flexibility, improves range of motion of your joints and boosts circulation. Stretching can even promote better posture and relieve stress.

As a general rule, stretch whenever you exercise. If you don't exercise regularly, you might want to stretch at least three times a week to maintain flexibility. When you're stretching, keep it gentle. Breathe freely as you hold each stretch. Try not to hold your breath. Don't bounce or hold a painful stretch. Expect to feel tension while you're stretching. If you feel pain, you've gone too far.

Stretching: Focus on flexibility

You can stretch anytime, anywhere. Consider the benefits of stretching, such as increased flexibility and circulation. Then ready, set, stretch!

You pound out a few miles on the treadmill. You work your way through a series of strength training exercises. You even add some time on the stationary bike for good measure — and you smile with satisfaction that you made it through your workout. Nothing to do now but hit the shower.

Not so fast. Did you consider stretching those muscles that pulled you through your invigorating workout? Understand why stretching matters — and how to stretch correctly.

Benefits of stretching

Most aerobic and strength training programs inherently cause your muscles to contract and flex. That's why regular stretching is a powerful part of any exercise program.

Stretching increases flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring.

Stretching improves range of motion of your joints. Good range of motion keeps you in better balance, which will help keep you mobile and less prone to falls — and the related injuries — especially as you age.

Stretching improves circulation. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Improved circulation can speed recovery after muscle injuries.

Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress.

Some studies indicate that stretching helps prevent athletic injuries as well. However, this finding remains controversial. Other studies don't support stretching as a way to prevent injury.

Stretching essentials

Ready, set, stretch!

Target major muscle groups. When you're stretching, focus on your calves, thighs, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders. Also stretch muscles and joints that you routinely use at work or play.

Warm up first. You may hurt yourself if you stretch cold muscles. Warm up by walking while gently pumping your arms, or do a favorite exercise at low intensity for five to 10 minutes. Better yet, stretch after you exercise — when your muscles are warm and more receptive to stretching.

Pace yourself. It takes time to lengthen tissues safely. Hold each stretch for about 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side. Do each stretch three or four times.

Don't bounce. Bouncing as you stretch can cause small tears in the muscle. These tears leave scar tissue as the muscle heals, which tightens the muscle even further — making you less flexible and more prone to pain.

Focus on a pain-free stretch. Expect to feel tension while you're stretching. If it hurts, you've gone too far. Back off to the point where you don't feel any pain, then hold the stretch.

Relax and breathe freely. Don't hold your breath while you're stretching.

How often to stretch is up to you. As a general rule, stretch whenever you exercise. If you don't exercise regularly, you might want to stretch at least three times a week to maintain flexibility. If you have a problem area, such as tightness in the back of your leg, you might want to stretch more often.

Know when to exercise caution

You can stretch anytime, anywhere — in your home, at work or when you're traveling. If you have a chronic condition or an injury, however, you may need to alter your approach to stretching. For example, if you have a strained muscle, stretching it like usual may cause further harm. Discuss with your doctor or physical therapist the best way to stretch.

Permanent weight loss can be a challenge. These 20 ideas can help.

Weight maintenance is much like weight loss. The principles are essentially the same: Eat healthy foods, control your portion sizes and exercise regularly. And to keep the pounds off permanently, you need to incorporate the new, healthy behaviors into your routine so that they become a natural part of your daily life.

Here are 20 ideas to reinforce your healthy lifestyle and to keep you committed to permanent weight loss.

Exercise 30 to 60 minutes each day. If time is limited, exercise for several brief periods throughout the day — for example, three 10-minute sessions rather than one 30-minute session.
Eat three healthy meals during the day,
including a good breakfast. Skipping meals causes increased hunger and may lead to excessive snacking.
Focus on fruits and vegetables. Top off your morning cereal with sliced strawberries or bananas. Stir berries or peaches in yogurt or cottage cheese. Liven up your sandwiches with vegetables, such as tomato, lettuce, onion, peppers and cucumber.
Weigh yourself regularly. Monitoring your weight can tell you whether your efforts are working and can help you detect small weight gains before they become even larger.
Don't keep comfort foods in the house. If you tend to eat high-fat, high-calorie foods when you're upset or depressed or bored, don't keep them around. Availability of food is one of the strongest factors in determining how much a person eats.
Plan a family activity. Get the family together to go for a bike ride, play disc golf or kick the ball around in the yard.
Eat healthy foods first. Eat foods that are healthy and low in calories first so that when it comes time to enjoy your favorites — sweets or junk food, for example — you won't be so hungry.
Pay attention to portions. Serve meals already dished onto plates instead of placing serving bowls on the table. Take slightly less than what you think you'll eat. You can always have seconds, if really necessary.
Create opportunities to be active. Wash your car at home instead of going to the car wash. Bike or walk to the store. Participate in your kid's activities at the playground or park.
Sit down together for family meals. Avoid eating in front of the television. TV viewing strongly affects how much and what people eat.
See what you eat. Eating directly from a container gives you no sense of how much you're eating. Seeing food on a plate or in a bowl keeps you aware of how much you're eating.
Vary your activities. Regularly change your activity routine to avoid exercise burnout. Walk a couple of days, swim another and go for a bike ride on the weekend. Seek out new activities — karate, ballroom dancing, cross-country skiing, tennis or Pilates.
De-stress your day. Stress can cause you to eat more. Develop strategies that can help you relax when you find yourself becoming stressed. Exercise, deep breathing, muscle relaxation techniques and even a good laugh can ease stress.
Eat at home. People eat more food in restaurants than at home. Limit how often you eat at restaurants. If you do eat out, decide what and how much you're going to eat before you start and have the rest boxed to go.
Plan healthy snacks. The best snacks include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Fruit smoothies, sliced fresh fruit and yogurt, whole-grain crackers, and carrot and celery sticks with peanut butter are all good choices.
Start your day with a high-fiber breakfast cereal, such as bran flakes, shredded wheat or oatmeal. Opt for cereals with "bran" or "fiber" in the name. Or add a few tablespoons of unprocessed wheat bran to your favorite cereal.
Walk for 10 minutes over your lunch hour or get up a few minutes earlier in the morning and go for a short walk.
Plan a week's worth of meals at a time. Make a detailed grocery list to eliminate last-minute trips to the grocery store and impulse buys.
Look for a distraction when you're fighting a craving. Call a friend, put on music and dance or exercise, clean the house, pull weeds in your garden, or run an errand. When your mind is occupied with something else, the cravings quickly go away.
Reward yourself. Losing weight and keeping the pounds off is a major accomplishment. Celebrate your success with nonfood rewards, such as new clothes or an outing with friends.

Your weight is a balancing act and calories are part of that equation. Fad diets may promise you that counting carbs or eating a mountain of grapefruit will make the pounds drop off. But when it comes to weight loss, it's calories that count. Weight loss comes down to reducing extra calories from food and beverages and increasing calories burned through physical activity.

Once you understand that equation, you're ready to set your weight-loss goals and make a plan for reaching them. Remember, you don't have to do it alone. Talk to your doctor, family and friends for support. Also, plan smart: Anticipate how you'll handle situations that challenge your resolve and the inevitable minor setbacks.


But don't forget the bottom line: The key to successful weight loss is a commitment to making permanent changes in your diet and exercise habits.

Weight loss: 6 strategies for success

Make your weight-loss goals a reality. Follow these proven strategies.

You probably know that hundreds of different fad diets, weight-loss programs and outright scams promise quick and easy weight loss. But the foundation of every successful weight-loss program still remains a healthy, low-calorie diet combined with exercise. You must make permanent changes in your lifestyle and health habits to lose significant weight and keep it off.

How do you make those permanent changes? Follow these six strategies.

1. Make a commitment

Permanent weight loss takes time and effort. It requires focus and a lifelong commitment. Make sure that you're ready to make permanent changes and that you do so for the right reasons.
No one else can make you lose weight. In fact, external pressure — often from people closest to you — may make matters worse. You must undertake diet and exercise changes to please yourself.

As you're planning new weight-related lifestyle changes, try to resolve any other problems in your life. It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to change your habits. So make sure you aren't distracted by other major life issues, such as marital or financial problems. Timing is key to success. Ask yourself if you're ready to take on the challenges of serious weight loss.

2. Get emotional support

Only you can help yourself lose weight by taking responsibility for your own behavior. But that doesn't mean that you have to do everything alone. Seek support when needed from your partner, family and friends.

Pick people who you know want only the best for you and who will encourage you. Ideally, find people who will listen to your concerns and feelings, spend time exercising with you, and share the priority you've placed on developing a healthier lifestyle.

3. Set a realistic goal

When you're considering what to expect from your new eating and exercise plan, be realistic. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week. To do this, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day, through a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.

Make your goals "process goals," such as exercising regularly, rather than "outcome goals," such as losing 50 pounds (23 kilograms). Changing your process — your habits — is the key to weight loss. Make sure that your process goals are realistic, specific and measurable, for example, you'll walk for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

4. Enjoy healthier foods

Adopting a new eating style that promotes weight loss must include lowering your total calorie intake. But decreasing calories need not mean giving up taste, satisfaction or even ease of meal preparation. One way you can lower your calorie intake is by eating more plant-based foods — fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without giving up taste or nutrition.

5. Get active, stay active

Dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 500 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about a pound a week: 3,500 calories equals 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) of fat. But add a 45- to 60-minute brisk walk four days a week, and you can double your rate of weight loss.

The goal of exercise for weight loss is to burn more calories, although exercise offers many other benefits as well. How many calories you burn depends on the frequency, duration and intensity of your activities. One of the best ways to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise — such as walking — for more than 30 minutes most days of the week.
Even though regularly scheduled aerobic exercise is best for losing fat, any extra movement helps burn calories.

Lifestyle activities may be easier to fit into your day. Think about ways you can increase your physical activity throughout the day. For example, make several trips up and down stairs instead of using the elevator, or park at the far end of the lot.

6. Change your lifestyle

It's not enough to eat healthy foods and exercise for only a few weeks or even several months. You have to include these behaviors in your lifestyle. To do that, you have to change the behaviors that helped make you overweight in the first place. Lifestyle changes start with taking an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine.

After assessing your personal challenges to weight loss, try working out a strategy to gradually change habits and attitudes that have sabotaged your past efforts. Simply admitting your own challenges won't get you past them entirely. But it helps in planning how you'll deal with them and whether you're going to succeed in losing weight once and for all.

You likely will have an occasional setback. But instead of giving up entirely, simply start fresh the next day. Remember that you're planning to change your life. It won't happen all at once, but stick to your healthy lifestyle and the results will be worth it.

Diabetes is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes) is caused by the body’s ineffective use of insulin. It often results from excess body weight and physical inactivity.
Gestational diabetes is hyperglycaemia that is first recognized during pregnancy.

Your hearth is the engine of your body, it keeps working, you are fine and you are running! But the latest statistics of people having heart diseases and deaths caused due to it especially in men is alarming. Mens Health issues especially heart problems are thoroughly discussed and researched. No matter how young or old you are, you can be a victim of cardiovascular disease of any kind. Here are few things which men of every age need to do to keep their cardiovascular routine running forever.
Mens Health in regards to heart health demands the following:
A regular 30 minute exercise which would include some cardiovascular exercises.
Check of cholesterol level and blood pressure at regular intervals.
Check the food items being gulped down the canal.
Good lifestyle habits like proper time sleep, eating in time, and avoid smoking and heavy drinking.
If you have a history of family heart problems, keep a track of your heart through regular check ups.
Usually when a man crosses his 30 th birthday it becomes very essential for him to become conscious with his pumping machine. But it is a good idea if one can build the above mentioned habit from an age of early twenties. Thus good heart is necessary for Mens Health. Mens heath depends a lot on supplements you take.

Remove or secure scatter rugs.
Clear all pathways (pay special attention to electrical cords, toys, pets and furnishings).
Have needed objects e.g., phone within your easy reach.
Ensure adequate lighting including a nightlight.

Choosing Proper Attire

Wear appropriate footwear e.g., non-skid soles.
Avoid excessively long or loose clothing.
Wear eyeglasses or lenses and hearing aid when indicated.

Utilizing Adaptive Equipment

Check with therapist or nurse to ensure that all equipment is appropriate, properly adjusted and in good working order.
Use non-skid bath mat in tub or shower. Discuss bathroom safety with nurse or therapist i.e., shower chair, tub bench, grab bars, etc.
If you have an assistive device e.g., cane, walker, use it at all times.
Remember to lock wheelchairs, use safety belts, swing away leg rests.
Remember to keep bed side rails up.

Other Precautions

Rise slowly when getting out of bed or a chair.
Avoid leaning or supporting yourself on unstable objects, i.e. rolling objects, towels racks, soap dish on shower wall, sink, etc.
Avoid walking on wet or slippery surfaces.
Hold onto banister on stairs at all times.
Walk carefully, looking ahead.
Turn carefully and slowly.
Ask your aide for help as needed.
If you have a Personal Emergency Response System, please wear it.
Check that emergency numbers are posted on or near each telephone.
Make sure smoke alarm is present and working.
Make sure you know how to contact Fire/Police Department in case of an emergency.
Oxygen Precautions
Check that electrical cords are not frayed or cracked.
Check that all outlets and switches have cover plates.
Make sure that no one in the house ever smokes in bed.
Make sure that electric blankets are not covered or folded.
Report all falls and accidents to your Home Care Team.

Start your day with breakfast. First thing in the day begins with the Breakfast fills your "empty tank" to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in any place. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, and some fruit etc. Get Moving! It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day. Then you will be a healthy person. Snack Smart. Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, or some dry cereal. If you eat smart at other meals, cookies, chips and candy are ok for occasional snacking.

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.


Blood Pressure:

Brain Power:
Morning Sickness:
Mosquito bites:

Overweight and at work?
Temperature control:
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! Recently, in Doctor Gotts column, he mentioned using the inner part of the banana peel to rub on any psoriasis...gotta try it!!!

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven a its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.









1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days

2. Gastric - 10 days

3. Diabetes - 30 days

4. Constipation - 10 days

5. Cancer - 180 days

6. TB - 90 days




Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...




A serious note about heart attacks: Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.


Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.


Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware.. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...


By Dr. David Butler-Jones,Chief Public Health Officer of Canada

The months leading up to and during pregnancy are critical times for fetal health and development. By taking care of yourself during pregnancy, you are laying important groundwork for your child’s future health as an infant, toddler and beyond. Knowing the basics about prenatal nutrition, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use and emotional health will help you make good decisions about how to care for yourself before, during and after pregnancy.
Establish regular and healthy eating habits

Nutrition before and during pregnancy is an important part of both mom’s and baby’s health. All women of childbearing age, whether planning a pregnancy or not, are advised to take a daily multivitamin that contains 0.4 milligrams of folic acid. Together with a healthy diet, folic acid reduces the risk of certain birth defects in the baby, but only if it is taken before pregnancy and in the early weeks of pregnancy—when a woman may not even know she is pregnant. Women who become pregnant should talk to their prenatal care provider about a vitamin supplement to meet their needs during the pregnancy.

During pregnancy, eating healthy and regularly can be difficult if you are experiencing nausea but pregnant women should make sure they are eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day, as well as daily servings of whole grains, low-fat milk products and meat and meat alternatives (like tofu, lentils and beans) as recommended by Canada’s Food Guide. Fish is also important and should be eaten each week; however, certain types of fish, such as canned albacore white tuna and swordfish, may contain elevated levels of mercury. Follow the latest advice from Health Canada to limit your exposure to contaminants in certain types of fish.

During the second and third trimester, pregnant women need an extra two or three daily servings to support baby’s growth. Extra calories can be added by having an extra slice of whole grain toast at breakfast, eating fruit and yogurt as a snack, or by drinking an extra glass of milk at supper.

Certain foods should be avoided during pregnancy, since they may be contaminated by bacteria, including:
Raw fish, especially shellfish such as oysters and clams
Undercooked meat and poultry
Processed deli meat
All foods made with raw or lightly cooked eggs (for example, homemade Caesar dressing)
Unpasteurized milk products and foods made from them, including soft and semi-soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert
Unpasteurized juices, such as unpasteurized apple cider
Raw sprouts, especially alfalfa sprouts

Stay activeRegular exercise contributes to healthy pregnancies. Physical activity can improve mood and self-image, reduce stress, control weight gain and help you sleep. It also helps to prepare your body for the birthing process by increasing muscle tone, strength, and endurance. Being physically fit will also help you recover more quickly from labour.

If you are already physically active, it’s safe to continue your regular activities. Talk to your healthcare provider about your current routine and about when and if you need to make changes. If you aren’t physically active, it’s not too late. Start slowly, with mild activities like swimming or walking, progress gradually and don’t overdo it.
Avoid alcohol, tobacco and other substances Avoiding alcohol, tobacco and other substances during pregnancy is critical to fetal health and development. Smoking and second-hand smoke decrease your baby’s ability to absorb oxygen and nutrients and can lead to slow growth, lower-than-average birth weight and other health problems before, during and after birth. If you are planning on becoming pregnant or are already pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about any prescription medications you are taking, to ensure they are safe.

It’s important to note that there is no safe amount or safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. By drinking alcohol you are at risk for giving birth to a baby with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD describes a range of disabilities (physical, social, mental/emotional) that may affect people whose birth mothers drank alcohol while they were pregnant. Because some women may not realize they are pregnant right away, it’s best to avoid drinking any alcohol if you are trying to conceive.

Take care of body, mind and soul For many women, pregnancy is a time of mixed emotions. In addition to the happiness you are feeling, there are times when you may feel anxious, scared or upset. These feelings are normal and expected given the changes happening with your body and hormones.

Take care of yourself by eating well, staying active and finding time to relax and rest when you need it. Let family and friends take special care of you and share your thoughts and feelings with those you trust. It’s important that you talk to your healthcare provider if you feel that you may be experiencing symptoms of a more serious depression.

Disease Linked to Untreated Risk Factors in Second and Third Decades of Life

As many as 1 in 100 black men and women develop heart failure before the age of 50, 20 times the rate in whites in this age group, according to new findings from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. In the study, heart failure developed in black participants at an average age of 39, often preceded by risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and chronic kidney disease 10 to 20 years earlier.
Findings from the 20-year observational study Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study (CARDIA) are published in the March 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

By the tenth year of the study, when participants were between ages 28 and 40, 87 percent of black participants who later developed heart failure had untreated or poorly controlled high blood pressure. Black participants who developed heart failure were also more likely in their young adulthood to be obese and have diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, 10 years before developing heart failure, they were more likely already to have some level of systolic dysfunction, or impairment in the ability of the heart muscle to contract, visible on echocardiograms.
"The disproportionate rate at which heart failure impacts relatively young African-Americans in this country underscores the importance of recognizing and treating risk factors for heart disease,"said Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D., director, NHLBI.

With heart failure, the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood through the body. The life-threatening condition usually develops over several years. The leading causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. About 5 million people in the United States have heart failure, and it results in about 300,000 deaths each year.

CARDIA includes 5,115 black and white men and women (52 percent black, 55 percent women) who were age 18-30 at the start of the study in 1985 and 1986, recruited from Birmingham, Ala., Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland, Calif. Participants were followed for 20 years, with physical exams conducted every few years and telephone interviews every six months. Twenty-seven men and women developed heart failure; all but one were black.
Higher blood pressure, greater body mass index, lower HDL (or "good" cholesterol), and chronic kidney disease were all independent predictors at ages 18 to 30 of heart failure developing 15 years later.

"Through this long-term study, we saw the clear links between the development of risk factors and the onset of disease one to two decades later. Targeting these risk factors for screening and treatment during young adulthood could be important for heart failure prevention," said Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, study author, University of California, San Francisco.

The study found that each 10 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure among blacks in their 20s doubles the likelihood of developing heart failure 10 to 20 years later.

"This study shows how devastating high blood pressure in young adulthood, especially if uncontrolled, can be for developing heart failure later on. Unfortunately, we know from national data that younger adults with high blood pressure are often unaware that they have the condition, and even when they are aware, their blood pressure is often not controlled," said Gina Wei, MD, medical officer, CARDIA study, NHLBI.



The United States and most other countries eradicated polio decades ago, except for rare cases.
The disease most commonly affects young children. Poliovirus spreads in human waste. People usually get it from contaminated food or water. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, vomiting, neck stiffness, and leg and arm pain. Most infected people never have symptoms. No treatment will reverse polio paralysis. Moist heat, physical therapy and medicines might ease symptoms.
Some people who've had polio develop post-polio syndrome (PPS) years later. Symptoms include tiredness, new muscle weakness and muscle and joint pain. There is no way to prevent or cure PPS.

Also called: Viral hepatitis

Your liver helps your body digest food, store energy and remove poisons. Hepatitis is a swelling of the liver that makes it stop working well. It can lead to scarring, called cirrhosis, or to cancer.

Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. The type of hepatitis is named for the virus that causes it; for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Drug or alcohol use can also lead to hepatitis. In other cases, your body mistakenly attacks its own tissues. You can help prevent some viral forms by getting a vaccine. Sometimes hepatitis goes away by itself. If it does not, it can be treated with drugs. Sometimes hepatitis lasts a lifetime.

Some people who have hepatitis have no symptoms. Others may have
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Dark-colored urine and pale bowel movements
Stomach pain
Jaundice, yellowing of skin and eyes

Flu is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. The viruses pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth. Between 5% and 20% of people in the U.S. get the flu each year. The flu can be serious or even deadly for elderly people, newborn babies and people with certain chronic illnesses.
Body or muscle aches
Sore throat
The main way to keep from getting the flu is to get a yearly flu vaccine. If you get the flu, your health care provider may prescribe medicine to help your body fight the infection and lessen symptoms.

Also called: Pyrexia

A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. It is not an illness. It is part of your body's defense against infection. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections do well at the body's normal temperature (98.6 F). A slight fever can make it harder for them to survive. Fever also activates your body's immune system.

Infections cause most fevers. There can be many other causes, including
Heat exhaustion
Autoimmune diseases

Treatment depends on the cause of your fever. Your health care provider may recommend using over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower a very high fever. Adults can also take aspirin, but children with fevers should not take aspirin. It is also important to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration.

Also called: Break-bone fever, Dengue fever

Dengue is an infectious disease caused by a virus. You can get it if an infected mosquito bites you. It is common in warm, wet areas of the world. Outbreaks occur in the rainy season. Dengue is rare in the United States.
Symptoms include a high fever, headaches, joint and muscle pain, vomiting and a rash. Most people with dengue recover within 2 weeks. Until then, drinking lots of fluids, resting and taking non-aspirin fever-reducing medicines might help. Sometimes dengue turns into dengue hemorrhagic fever, which causes bleeding from your nose, gums or under your skin. It can also become dengue shock syndrome, which causes massive bleeding and shock. These forms of dengue are life-threatening.

To lower your risk when traveling in dengue-prone countries

Wear insect repellent with DEET
Wear clothes that cover your arms, legs and feet
Close unscreened doors and windows

Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella virus. Most cases occur in children under age 15 but older children and adults can get it. It spreads very easily from one child to another.
Symptoms include an uncomfortable, itchy rash, fever and headache. The rash is like blisters and usually appears on the face, scalp or trunk. The disease is usually mild and lasts 5 to 10 days, but it sometimes causes serious problems. Adults and older children tend to get sicker from it. Do not give aspirin to anyone sick with chickenpox since the combination might cause Reye Syndrome.
Once you catch chickenpox, the virus usually stays in your body forever. You probably will not get chickenpox again, but the virus can cause shingles in adults. A chickenpox vaccine can help prevent most cases of chickenpox, or make it less severe if you do get it.

Also called: Avian flu, Avian influenza, H5N1

Birds, just like people, get the flu. Bird flu viruses infect birds, including chickens, other poultry and wild birds such as ducks. Most bird flu viruses can only infect other birds. However, bird flu can pose health risks to people. The first case of a bird flu virus infecting a person directly, H5N1, was in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, the bird flu virus has spread to birds in countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Human infection is still very rare, but the virus that causes the infection in birds might change, or mutate, to more easily infect humans. This could lead to a pandemic, or a worldwide outbreak of the illness.

During an outbreak of bird flu, people who have contact with infected birds can become sick. It may also be possible to catch bird flu by eating poultry that is not well cooked or through contact with a person who has it. Bird flu can make people very sick or even cause death. There is currently no vaccine.

Viruses are capsules with genetic material inside. They are very tiny, much smaller than bacteria. Viruses cause familiar infectious diseases such as the common cold, flu and warts. They also cause severe illnesses such as AIDS, smallpox and hemorrhagic fevers.

Also called: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the most advanced stages of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that kills or damages cells of the body's immune system.
HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. AIDS may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of an infected person. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth.
The first signs of HIV infection may be swollen glands and flu-like symptoms. These may come and go a month or two after infection. Severe symptoms may not appear until months or years later.
A blood test can tell if you have HIV infection. Your health care provider can perform the test, or call the National AIDS hotline for a referral at (800) 342-AIDS (1-800-342-2437). There is no cure, but there are many medicines to fight both HIV infection and the infections and cancers that come with it. People can live with the disease for many years.

Also called: Knee arthroplasty
Knee replacement is surgery for people with severe knee damage. Knee replacement can relieve pain and allow you to be more active. Your doctor may recommend it if you have knee pain and medicine and other treatments are not helping you anymore.
When you have a total knee replacement, the surgeon removes damaged cartilage and bone from the surface of your knee joint and replaces them with a man-made surface of metal and plastic. In a partial knee replacement, the surgeon only replaces one part of your knee joint. The surgery can cause scarring, blood clots and, rarely, infections. After a knee replacement, you will no longer be able to do certain activities, such as jogging and high-impact sports.

There are many kinds of bone problems:
Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and more likely to break
Osteogenesis imperfecta makes your bones brittle
Paget's disease of bone makes them weak
Bone disease can make bones easy to break
Bones can also develop cancer
Other bone diseases are caused by poor nutrition, genetic factors or problems with the rate of bone growth or rebuilding

Also called: Backache, Lumbago

If you've ever groaned, "Oh, my aching back!", you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.

Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.

If your back pain is severe or doesn't improve after three days, you should call your health care provider. You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury.

Cancer of the eye is uncommon. It can affect the outer parts of the eye, such as the eyelid, which are made up of muscles, skin and nerves. If the cancer starts inside the eyeball it's called intraocular cancer. The most common intraocular cancers in adults are melanoma and lymphoma. The most common eye cancer in children is retinoblastoma, which starts in the cells of the retina. Cancer can also spread to the eye from other parts of the body.
Treatment for eye cancer varies by the type and by how advanced it is. It may include surgery, radiation therapy, freezing or heat therapy, or laser therapy.

Brain tumors are growths inside your skull. They are among the most common types of childhood cancers. Some are benign tumors, which aren't cancer. They can still be serious. Malignant tumors are cancerous.
Symptoms of a brain tumor might include
Vomiting and nausea
Personality changes
Trouble controlling muscles
Vision or speech problems
Treatment for children is sometimes different than for an adult. Long-term side effects are an important issue. The options also depend on the type of tumor and where it is. Removal of the tumor is often possible. If not, radiation, chemotherapy or both may be used.

Cancer begins in the cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, new cells form as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. The extra cells can form a tumor. Benign tumors aren't cancer while malignant ones are. Malignant tumor cells can invade nearby tissues or break away and spread to other parts of the body.
Children can get cancer in the same parts of the body as adults, but there are differences. Childhood cancers can occur suddenly, without early symptoms, and have a high rate of cure. The most common children's cancer is leukemia. Other cancers that affect children include brain tumors, lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is. Treatment may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Cancer is a major illness, but not everyone who gets cancer will die from it. Millions of Americans alive today have a history of cancer and had successful treatment. For them, cancer has become an ongoing health problem, like high blood pressure or diabetes.
For most people with cancer, living with the disease is the biggest challenge they have ever faced. The disease changes your routines, roles and relationships. It can cause money and work problems. The treatment can change the way you feel and look. This page includes information on different aspects of living with cancer. Special sections cover nutritional, financial, emotional and sexual issues.

Also called: Benign cancer, Benign neoplasms, Noncancerous tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They are made up of extra cells. Normally, old cells die, and new ones take their place. Sometimes, however, this process goes wrong. New cells form even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. When these extra cells form a mass, it is called a tumor.


Treatment often involves surgery. Benign tumors usually don't grow back.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people whoSpend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburnedHave light-colored skin, hair and eyesHave a family member with skin cancerAre over age 50You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs.National Cancer InstituteStart HereSkin Cancer(Patient Education Institute)

Also available in SpanishSkin Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute)
What You Need to Know about Skin Cancer(National Cancer Institute)

Know the name of your medications.

Write down a list of your medications, with their dose and frequency. This can be used as a reminder, and can be utilized if you're unable to tell medical personnel in the case of an emergency. This will be particularly useful if you see more than one doctor.

Take your medications until they're gone. This is particularly true for medications such as antibiotics. If you are prescribed two weeks worth of pills, don't stop them in a few days "because you're feeling better". These medications need to be taken for the total duration of time that they're prescribed to completely clear the infection to keep it from coming back.

Keep on taking your medications. Don't just quit if your refills run out. You or the pharmacist should call the doctor's office for a refill. Medications for most medical conditions (other than temporary conditions such as an infection) need to be continued. I have had more than a few people stop their medicines for high blood pressure or high cholesterol when the first set of refills ran out - their blood pressures and cholesterols went right back up!

In general, it is more important to take the pill than to take it at just the right time! Schedules such as "one hour before or two hours after a meal" are simply too complicated for most of us to follow. It is better in most cases to get the medication taken than to miss it all together while trying to do it "perfectly".

Try to take your medicines in conjunction with some other regular daily activity, such as that first cup of coffee, breakfast, dinner, or brushing your teeth before you go to bed. Turn this into a habit that is to your advantage.
Know what to do if you forget a dose. This is different for each different medication. Ask your pharmacist or physician.
Read the label each time you get your medication to make sure that there have been no accidental changes made by the pharmacist. Look at the pills to make sure they look the same as the old ones. If you have questions about these matters, contact your pharmacist immediately.

Ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines. Despite the fact that they are available without a prescription, they may have definite risks, especially for patients with heart disease, or those on several medications.
Don't mix pills in bottles with other pills - keep them in their original container (unless you place them in a dispenser).

When you travel, plan ahead! Get enough medication to take over your vacation. Get a dispenser and make sure you have enough. Carry your medications with you or on your carry-on. don't pack them in the suitcase that may get lost. You may even wish to carry a second set of pills in case the first is lost or damaged.

Don't take another person's medication, or give them yours.

If you have a hard time "keeping your medicines straight", then:
Have someone help you lay them out
Buy one of the simple and inexpensive devices at the drug store that allow you to put in a week's worth of medicine at once. That way, if you're not sure whether you took your medications at a particular time, if you look and they're gone, you'll know you've taken them!

Bring your medications in their bottles to the doctor for your doctor visits. That way they can be checked exactly. Don't just bring a day's worth of pills in a little container . . . there's just too many that look alike to allow them to be identified.

Side effects: Ask your doctor about side-effects that might occur. The list of medications in the "package insert" is regulated by the FDA, and many side effects are listed which occur only rarely or are of questionable relationship to the medication. In my experience, most patients do not have adequate experience to interpret these complex, and overly legalistic, documents. Almost every symptom imaginable is listed for every drug. Many medical guides do not offer much more assistance. Regardless of "what the books say", if you feel your medication is causing a side effect, discuss it with your doctor. Don't ignore it, and don't just stop the medication!

If you have questions, ask! There really are no stupid questions. You will not be the first to ask.
Tell your doctor about any over-the-counter medications you may be taking.

Keep a record of any medications you may have had in the past that didn't work, or didn't agree with you. Be absolutely sure to remember any medications that caused serious reactions. Consider obtaining a bracelet that alerts people to these serious reactions (you may also list important medical conditions and medications such as diabetes and insulin).

Other ways to help be sure you get your medications taken:¨ Keep a calendar near your pills. Mark down when you’ve taken them.¨ Buy a wristwatch with an alarm. Set it for when you are to take your medications.
If you are on more than one medication, try and get them "synchronized" in terms of when they are refilled.
Ask your physician if you can have generic medications.

Watch the number of pills in your bottle and the number of times you can refill the prescription. Get refills before you run out (your doctor will appreciate it!).

If you do need to call your doctor for refills, have their names and doses ready. Also, have the name and phone number of your pharmacy handy