Female Care » fun

10 Fun Facts From the World of Medicine

Article Poster — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:01:08 +0000

The first implanted pacemaker went to Swedish recipient Arne Larsson in 1958. Larsson was 43 at the time, and lived for another 43 years with the pacemaker in place.
The drug Viagra was originally created to treat high blood pressure.
X-rays were first discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen.
Syphilis was named after a poem written by an Italian doctor in 1530. The main character in the poem, called Syphilis, suffered from the disease.
The only organ in the human body that can regenerate is the liver. Transplants are possible with half of a liver, which will grow back to full size within months.
Warfarin, a substance commonly found in rat poison, is actually a blood thinner used to treat humans for a wide variety of conditions, including stroke, thrombosis, and pulmonary embolisms.
The first pharmaceutical drug to be sold to the public was Aspirin in 1899, and was sold as a powder to be mixed with water.
Cocaine was once used as an anesthetic for surgical procedures and emergency medical services.
Adverse drug reactions are the cause of death for more than 100,000 people per year in the United States alone.
After the Civil War, over 400,000 soldiers were addicted to morphine. The common nickname for morphine addiction is “Soldier’s Disease”.

A Sign of Communication

Article Poster — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:42:56 +0000

The early years in a child’s life can be very frustrating, as they understand their needs and desires much earlier than they can communicate through speech. Teaching your child sign language can help to overcome this.

For parents and carers, communicating with their children is the key to a good relationship; unfortunately, babies begin to understand their needs and desires long before they learn the art of talking.

This is an emotional time for a young child, which often results in a number of tantrums, as the frustration of not being understood becomes too much for them. This is equally the same for mum and dad, as they desperately try to understand what it is their child wants or what the problem is. Teaching your child how to use sign language could help prevent all this upset and at the same time help you to build up a good and lasting relationship with them.
Many people only associate sign language as a means of communicating with deaf children and do not realise the enormous benefits that can be gained by using it as a way of communicating with all children. It actually bridges the gap between a child’s early understanding of words and meanings and being able to express them in their speech.

Actions speak louder than words
As large muscle co-ordination is learned before small muscle co-ordination, it is easier for a child to shake the head or move the hand, than it is to gain manipulation of the lips, jaw and tongue. From as young as four months old babies will probably begin to understand that specific words correspond to specific objects. When they reach around seven months old they can freely use sign language to communicate their requirements. It is never too soon to start signing with your child.

Most babies are interested in learning a few high impact words before their first birthday. Words like, ‘no,’ bye-bye,’ and names of important people, animals and toys in their lives. Enforcing these words with a sign, like shaking the head for ‘no’ waving ‘goodbye’ and using a chosen sign to match a name, like touching the back of the hand, is the best way to begin this learning process.

Gradually you can begin to introduce new signs to express requests such as, ‘I’m hungry’, and you could put your hand on your mouth, ‘change me’, and tap your bottom. There are endless possibilities. You must ensure that each member of the family uses the word and the sign together every time the word is used. These very simple exercises offer rewarding ways for parents to connect with their children; by involving all the family, you will also help to make older children feel part of the process, which can help to ease sibling rivalry.

Helpful and fun
ASL (American Sign Language) Flash Cards can be an excellent resource to help teach children. These brightly coloured, laminated cards come in sets; like family and animals and each card comes with a suggested sign that you could use for each word. Videos, CDs, DVDs, and books are also available. These learning tools provide a fun and exciting way to learn for the whole family.

Various classes and workshops are available in some areas, where parents can go along with their children and make new friends. This can be lots of fun and usually includes the use of music and nursery rhymes. Having a tutor can help to emphasise the importance of signing each sign exactly the same right from the onset, and help you with any problems you may encounter along the way; apart from showing you new and exciting ways to help with the learning process.

Educational benefits
Sign language exercises different parts of the brain than verbal language. Creativity is enhanced when we are given the opportunity to stimulate and exercise different parts of the brain. By using sign language you are helping to stimulate and build creativity in your child.

Early communication with sign language can raise IQ scores and according to a study, funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, infants that used sign language had an increased ability to communicate, decreased frustration and better language skills. It also strengthens fine motor skills and is a fun way to introduce children to different languages and cultures.

So, if you have never thought about using this interesting concept to help you to communicate with your child, there is no time like the present to get started. Hopefully, you will thoroughly enjoy the involvement and immense rewards that will be gained from it.

Losing Weight With a Friend

Article Poster — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:03:22 +0000

Dieting isn’t always easy, especially when first getting started, but a friend can make dieting considerably easier and much more fun. Turn your dieting efforts into a group effort by including a friend or two. Your chances for success will be much greater, and the process of dieting and exercise will be much less painful. Talk about exercise and dieting with close friends, and chances are you’ll find someone who also wants to improve their health as well as their physique.

Support

A weight-loss partner can lend support like no other friend or loved one. Someone else struggling with weight-loss understands the difficulties, and a friend such as this can better lend much needed encouragement. Call your weight-loss friend on a daily basis. Together you’ll discover what doesn’t work as well as what does, and you can share tips and suggestions as you both travel down the road to weight-loss success.

Diet Plans

There are numerous diet plans to choose from, and sticking to the same diet plan with a friend isn’t as important as supporting each other on whatever plans you choose. Find a diet plan that best fits your lifestyle and individual taste, and make sure it includes balanced meals and healthy snacks.

Avoid fad diets since they usually don’t promote a wide variety of healthy choices, and they don’t encourage long-term change or permanent success. Simply losing weight and appreciating a new and improved body isn’t always enough to keep the weight off for good. Lifestyle changes must take place. If you revert to old eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle, the weight will eventually return.

If you get started on a diet plan and can’t imagine sticking to that particular plan for months on end, instead of giving up altogether, find a plan that you can live with. A diet plan that works for a friend may not work for you, so carefully consider your strategy, and don’t be afraid to alter your plan if necessary. Stick to the diet plan that works for you, and once you reach your weight-loss goal, continue to follow your strategy for long-term weight control and maintenance.

Eating Out

Restaurant dining with a friend is always fun, and if you and a friend are dieting together, make eating out a part of your weekly routine. Reward yourselves for sticking to your diet plans with tasty restaurant meals that won’t sabotage your diets. You’ll look forward to eating out every week, and you’ll help each other stay on track.

Choose restaurants that offer low-calorie menus or restaurants that post details regarding calories, fat grams, and carbohydrates. Today there is more focus than ever before on health and nutrition, and many major eating establishments offer this type of information as a service to their patrons. There are countless restaurants that offer nutritional information, and there are usually numerous choices and options for diners.

Exercise

Exercise is a chore to some, and what better way to make exercise less of a chore than by exercising with a friend? This doesn’t mean that you and a friend on a weight-loss mission have to sign up at the local gym or join an aerobics group. You and your dieting partner can involve yourselves in calorie-burning activities such as walking or participating in sports. Contemplate the activities you and your friend enjoy, and get moving. You have nothing to lose but excess calories and extra pounds and inches.

If the weather isn’t ideal for outdoor activities such as walking or participating in sports, consider investing in an exercise DVD or video that you and a friend can exercise with. Neither of you will be embarrassed if you need to take a break, and if the workout becomes too strenuous, briskly walking in place will suffice. Take turns hosting an exercise session, and make it an enjoyable time to visit and become healthier with a friend.

Weighing-in

Unless you don’t mind divulging your weight, you don’t have to share how much you weigh with your diet and exercise buddy. Feel free to share the amount you want to lose as well as the amount you’ve lost, but don’t count on your friend telling you how much he or she weighs even if you do. It’s a personal matter, and many people prefer to keep it that way.

Weigh yourself within the comfort and privacy of your home on a daily basis, and don’t become discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. It takes time for the weight to start coming off, and when it does, you’ll notice your clothes fitting better than ever before. The extra weight didn’t suddenly appear, and it won’t disappear any faster.

Rewards

Set goals for yourselves, and once both you and your weight-loss partner reach predetermined objectives, go on a shopping spree. Reward yourselves by purchasing new clothing or other items of encouragement. Repeat this satisfying ritual after meeting every goal, and you’ll have fun while sharing the joy of your weight-loss success with an understanding friend.

Preparing for Motherhood: Things to Do in Your Third Trimester

Adam — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:20:12 +0000

The third trimester is the perfect time to tie up loose ends and really start preparing for motherhood. During these last three months of pregnancy, have fun preparing for your baby and try to enjoy relaxing activities while you can. Below are some fun and useful things to do during the third trimester of pregnancy.

The third trimester is the perfect time to plan a fun baby shower with all of your friends and family. Even a small baby shower is an enjoyable way to celebrate your pregnancy. Celebrate with your favorite foods and a fun theme, and enjoy being the center of attention for a day. Most expectant moms find that registering for gifts is a fun way to pass the time, even if you don’t end up getting everything on your list.

Organizing all the baby clothes and toys you receive while you are pregnant is a good way to use nesting energy, and it will also help you to have things in order ahead of time. Make sure to wash all of the baby clothes in gentle detergent designed especially for babies. Sort the clothes by size so it will be easy to find what you need later on. Go ahead and assemble the baby toys and carriers so they will be ready as soon as your baby arrives. You can also set up a diaper changing area with diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment, baby powder, and a diaper pail.

The last trimester of pregnancy is also an excellent time to pack your hospital bag and also a diaper bag for when you’re out with your new baby. Make sure your diaper bag is roomy enough to fit the necessities, but not so large that it’s cumbersome and in the way.

When you are pregnant, it never hurts to put your feet up and read a good book. The last three months of pregnancy are a good time to put those reading skills to use and find some good books on childbirth and parenting.

During the last month or two of pregnancy, you can also bake some of your favorite meals to store in the freezer. You will thank yourself later when you have plenty of good meals that can be popped right into the microwave or oven and served within minutes. Have fun baking: you might not have time for it for a while after your baby is born.

Of all the preparing you can do in the last trimester of pregnancy, the most important thing to remember is to relax and get the rest you need. While it’s great to be prepared, it’s even better to keep your stress levels low and make sure your body has the energy it needs for your baby. You can have a blast preparing for your baby, but you shouldn’t overexert yourself.