Ultrasound Technician Schools

The Controversial Role Ultrasound Technicians Play

Site Administrator — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:46:10 +0000

Ultrasound technicians play a vital role in fetus development and keep new parents updated on the progress their new baby is making throughout the pregnancy. However, recently, several states have passed bills that now require ultrasound technicians to give sonograms to expectant mothers who are trying to have an abortion within the first trimester. Abortion is a controversial subject alone, but adding this type of requirement that seemingly infringes on our constitutional rights is another subject altogether. Ultrasounds are an essential part of fetus growth, and viewing your ultrasound for the first time is supposed to be one of the best experiences of your pregnancy. However, incorporating this into the procedure to get an abortion is a different experience all together which seems like a technique to force women to view their baby beforehand. While there are many viewpoints on this controversial subject, ultrasound technicians have been thrown into the middle of the debate and now appear to be the bad guys in all of this.

Ultrasound technicians have been thrust into the spotlight because they have a large role in these new reforms that have taken place. The Supreme Court seems unwilling to declare this unconstitutional, so ultrasound technicians have to participate in one of the most controversial procedures of medical history. However, most technicians are able to get past this and concentrate on the more rewarding parts of their career – like showing parents the first images of their child, detecting early breast tumors, and determining if there is anything severely wrong with a new baby. Additionally, for those ultrasound technicians who do not want to play this controversial role, only a few states have so far approved this bill and they can simply move to a different state.

Ultrasounds should not have to be as controversial as politics have made them, but should remain as medically sound as they have always been, and should continue to bring joy to people’s faces – not uncertainty and fear. Ultrasound technicians did not ask to be included in the abortion debate and should not be made to be a part of something that is so outside of their typical career. Regardless, ultrasound technicians continue to serve a vital role within our community, and hopefully the controversies they are in the middle of will begin to die down with the coming years.

Watch Out for Snake Oil Science

Site Administrator — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:02:29 +0000

With so many products out there claiming to do things like grow back your hair, give you more energy and help you lose weight, it’s hard to know what really works and what’s based on hype rather than results. Very often, we choose these solutions because nothing else we have tried has worked. Yet it’s important to remember that there is very often a good reason why other things haven’t worked– there simply isn’t a simple solution to these health problems. So how can you separate true health claims from those that are based on phony, snake-oil science? Here are a few things to watch out for:

First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that the products have been evaluated by the FDA to really have the effects they claim to have. You will find that in many cases, these products will openly admit to not having been found to reliably perform what they say they can do. While there might be exceptional cases where they work, the average person will not find them to be useful and could even be susceptible to some pretty nasty side effects depending on the kind of product in question. Always stick to products that have been fully evaluated or those that have been recommended to you by a medical professional.

Next, if something sounds too good to be true, in almost every single case it will be. There are no magic pills that can help you shed pounds while eating cheeseburgers or creams that will erase 20 years of wrinkles from your face. If there were, everyone would be using them and there wouldn’t be a hard sell on an infomercial for the product.

Finally, even medical studies cited by products are something worth a little more investigation. While the vast majority of medical studies are done professionally and provide fairly reliable results, not all are or the results of them aren’t reported accurately. If you’re investigating whether or not a product or treatment can really help you, look up the study cited and see who’s doing it and what it actually had to say. In some cases, you’ll find that things aren’t quite as they appear to be.

Very often we choose to overlook snake-oil science because we want to believe in the power of medications and treatments to make us well, help our appearances and treat what ails us, but the reality is that there are a lot of products out there that simply aren’t what they claim to be. By educating yourself and making smart choices, you can help avoid getting taken in by these products and keep yourself safe and healthy while you seek out other solutions.

Decrease Your Risk of Heart Disease

Site Administrator — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:33:55 +0000

Many risk factors related to heart disease cannot be controlled. These types of factors include family history, sex, age, and race. But even though you cannot control the factors you may have been born with, there are plenty of factors that you can.

To decrease your risk of heart disease, it is important that you watch what you put into your body. First of all, you need to eat right and follow a heart healthy diet. This type of diet involves eating foods that are low in salt, cholesterol, refined sugars, and saturated and trans fat. It also involves eating foods that are rich in nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants, and natural foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. Second, do not smoke, and avoid being around those who do. If you are a smoker, you double your risk of having a heart attack. According to Web MD, in the United States, about 20 percent of all deaths from heart disease are directly related to cigarette smoking.

You can decrease your risk of heart disease by watching your cholesterol levels and blood pressure. As your total amount of cholesterol increases, so does your risk for developing heart disease. Strive to maintain a total cholesterol level that is less than 200 mg, a LDL level that is less than 130 mg, and a HDL level that is higher than 40 mg if you are a man and 50 mg if you are a woman. The most common risk factor for heart disease is high blood pressure, which is classified as any blood pressure reading that is over 140/90. Over time, having high blood pressure can begin to damage the blood vessels or vital organs, leading to heart disease or stroke. Make sure to keep your blood pressure at a healthy range and lower it through diet, exercise, and certain medications.

Decrease your risk of developing heart disease by maintaining a healthy weight and getting plenty of exercise. If you are overweight, chances are you are putting more strain on your heart than your body needs. Not only does excess weight put you at risk for heart disease, it also increases risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure and cholesterol. Lose extra weight by following a healthy diet and increasing your level of physical activity. It is important to take the time to exercise, even if it’s only in mild to moderate amounts. People who choose to lead sedentary lives risk having a higher rate of death and heart disease.

Nutrients That Fight Cancer

Site Administrator — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:46:06 +0000

The easiest way to reduce your risk of developing cancer may just be with a healthy diet rich in these nutrients.

Folate. As a B-complex vitamin, folate is important during rapid cell division and growth. The human body needs folate in order to synthesize, repair, and methylate DNA. This vitamin may help fight cancer as it aids in the prevention of changes in DNA that may lead to cancer and it is possible that it can protect against DNA mutations. High amounts of folate can be found in leafy vegetables, such as spinach, turnip greens, and asparagus, and legumes, such as peas, lentils, and beans. Many fruits and vegetables contain moderate amounts of folate, such as bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and beets.

Vitamin D. This vitamin helps the body absorb calcium in order to build strong bones and teeth. It also adjusts neuromuscular function, reduces inflammation, and influences the action of many genes that regulate the production of cells. It may also help to build protection against cancer by repressing the growth of cancerous cells. It has been found to help fight against the development of breast cancer and improve the survival rates of those with lung cancer. Many types of fish are a good source of vitamin D, such as salmon, catfish, tuna, and mackerel. Different types of food are also commonly fortified with vitamin D, such as milk, bread, yogurt, and cereals.

Antioxidants. These substances are believed to protect cells from the damage that free radical molecules can cause. Over time, exposure to free radicals can cause irreversible damage and lead to diseases like cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals, therefore preventing them from harming the body. Given there neutralizing abilities, it is possibly that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent cancer from developing. Found in substances such as beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A, antioxidant rich foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, as well as some meats, poultry, and fish.

Flavonoids. As type of plant secondary metabolite, flavonoids benefit the human body in many ways. As the body processes flavonoids it induces enzymes that help to eliminate mutagens and carcinogens as well as mechanisms that may kill cancerous cells. More than just an alternative to coffee, tea can be a great source of flavonoids. Green tea contains the major flavonoid kaempferol, which may have protective effects against cancer, as well as catechins, and epicatechin. Other good sources of flavonoids include, wine, citrus, and dark chocolate.

Ways to Keep Your Diabetes Under Control

Site Administrator — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:50:57 +0000

Control your blood glucose. By keeping your blood glucose levels at a normal range, you can help delay or even prevent problems with diabetes. If your blood glucose levels are not controlled and stay at high levels for long periods of time, it can eventually cause damage to your eyes, nerves, blood vessels and kidneys. According to the National Institute of Health, most people with diabetes should aim for a target glucose level of 70 to 130 before eating a meal and less than 180 one to two hours after the beginning of a meal. It is important that you discuss with your doctor about what your target levels should be, and what times of the day you should use a blood glucose meter to check them. Keeping track of your blood glucose checks and recording them daily can also help you and your doctor develop a plan to keep your blood glucose under conrol.

Control your blood pressure. By keeping your blood pressure within a healthy range and not letting it get too high, you can prevent damage to your heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. People with diabetes should aim to keep their blood pressure below or as close to 130/80 as they can, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Take the time keep track of your blood pressure on a daily basis. If you notice you consistently have high blood pressure, discuss with your doctor about how it can be lowered. A doctor may be able to prescribe you a blood pressure medication that can help lower it or give you advice on changes that may need to be made in your lifestyle. You can also take steps to control your blood pressure by eating a diet low in salty foods and high in fruits and vegetables, losing weight, being more physically active, not smoking, and limiting your alcohol intake.

Control your cholesterol. By having normal levels of cholesterol and blood fat, you can help prevent your risk for heart disease and stroke. At least once a year, you should visit your doctor to have your blood fat levels checked. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the target blood fat levels for people with diabetes are below 200 for total cholesterol, below 100 for LDL cholesterol, below 150 for triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol levels should be above 40 for men and above 50 for women. You can maintain your blood fat levels through regular physical activity, healthy meal planning, and certain medications.

100 Awesome Twitter Feeds for Healthy-Minded Moms

Site Administrator — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:37:34 +0000

When you want real tips and advice for keeping your family healthy, turning to Twitter can be extremely helpful, especially if you’re short on time. Get constant updates on health and medical news, pregnancy, autism, green living, healthy cooking and more all day long without having to waste time on lots of different sites. Here’s our list of 100 awesome Twitter feeds for healthy-minded moms.

Pediatrics and Pregnancy

Learn about healthy eating while you’re pregnant, get tweets from respected pediatricians, and learn about infant health here.

@TheMommyStation: This feed shares links about pregnancy, adoption, breast feeding and more.
@APregnancyStory: Sharon Rowe is an RN who is also runs the website epregnancyjournal.com.
@Pediatricians: The National Association of Pediatricians tweets here.
@WeeklyPregnancy: Find pregnancy tools, diet info., and newborn safety tips here.
@saludpediatrics: This Chicago pediatrics practice tweets about healthy living for kids and families.
@MarchforBabies: Learn what March for Babies is doing to ensure a healthy future for newborns.
@LamazeOnline: @LamazeOnline shares tips for healthy weight gain during pregnancy, exercising during pregnancy, and more.
@ebabymagazine: Pregnant and new moms learn about early childhood development and infant health.
@DrMommyCalls: Dr. Tanya R. Altmann is an LA-based mom, author and pediatrician.
@First5CA: This is California’s campaign to get kids healthy and ready for school by the time they’re five. Learn about healthy living tips, healthy food ideas for kids and more.
@DrKimMD: Dr. Kim Newell is a San Francisco-based pediatrician who tweets about kids’ health.
@thebump: The Bump pregnancy social network and information hot spot tweets here.

Family Health and Doctors

These family health feeds come from hospitals, doctors and real moms.

@TeenageCancer: If your teen has cancer, tune in to this feed for research findings and more.
@autismanthem: Lorraine Spencer’s son has autism, and she uses her Twitter feed to share information and support.
@childrenshealth: The Children’s National Medical Center tweets here.
@K1Dz: Dr. Jim tweets to help caregivers of young children raise healthy kids.
@MFCHatWMC: The Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center tweets about whooping cough, bike helmets, hospital news and pool safety.
@speaknowforkids: This child’s health reform feed is full of news and information from Congress, the American Academy of Pediatrics and more.
@ChildrensMercy: Kansas City’s premier pediatrics hospital tweets about child safety, accident prevention and public health.
@DrMariaSimbra: Dr. Maria Simbra is a TV medical reporter in Pittsburgh who is also a new mom.
@sanjayguptaCNN: CNN medical reporter Dr. Sanjay Gupta keeps families up to date on the health news that’s affecting you.
@FamilyDoctorMag: Leigh Ann Otte is the editor of Family Doctor Magazine.

Running

Moms who run have Twitter feeds that are full of inspiration, support and fitness tips.

@BrennanAnnie: Ann Brennan is a runner, freelancer and mom who tweets about it all.
@run2ny: Follow @run2ny to learn what it’s like to train for a marathon while raising kids.
@Coach_Jenn: Jenn is a running coach and mom who tweets frequently about shopping, running shoes and more.

Health Care and News

Get public health news, find health care providers and more from these feeds.

@mydochub: Find doctors and health information through this Twitter feed’s doctor search engine.
@CR_health: Consumer Reports Health tweets about fitness tests, parenting news, health surveys, drug reviews and more.
@JohnsHopkinsSPH: Read tweets from JHU Public Health to learn about childhood pneumonia, vision impairment, antibiotics and more.
@organizedwisdom: OrganizedWisdom.com is a physician-reviewed health search tool, and their Twitter feed shares news and information about odd cures and news.
@WSJHealthBlog: Get quick, frequent updates from the health news world.

Recipes

Get never-ending ideas for healthy meals and snacks here.

@WholeRecipes: Whole Foods shares one healthy recipe after another, like grilled caprese salad and watermelon salad.
@recipeupdates: SimplyRecipes.com tweets recipes from its many categories, including easy and quick recipes and healthy recipes.
@Healthy2Eat: Follow @Healthy2Eat to get reviews of healthy eating cookbooks.
@healthy_recipes: This New Zealand feed shares healthy, green eating tips and resources.
@fertilefoods: Learn about the kinds of foods you should eat before, during and after pregnancy.
@recipeaday: Follow this feed to get a quick and healthy recipe idea a day.
@NutritiousFeast: Learn about farmer’s market shopping, basic nutrition and more.
@thepoorchef1: Learn how to make satisfying, nutritious meals for less than $7.
@TheChefsWife: This working mother is looking to network with healthy-minded moms who love to cook.
@Chefjen: Jen is a mom and cookbook author who tweets about all the fun things she cooks and does.
@elanaspantry: If your family needs to eat gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan, find recipes on this feed.
@whatscooking: @whatscooking is maintained by an eco-mom who teaches kids how to cook healthy meals.
@Chefgigi: Learn about nutrition and kids’ cooking projects here.
@KidsCuliChefs: This kids’ cooking school tweets about healthy cooking alternatives and fun cooking facts that appeal to kids.

Stress and Balance

These Twitterers will help you manage stress and find a balance between your work, family, R&R time and mission to live healthier.

@Parenting_Famil: Turn to this feed when you feel stressed or overwhelmed from a day with the kids.
@HealthyMinute: The tips shared on this feed can help you quickly release stress and channel a healthier lifestyle.
@JulieBaird: Help your kids get better grades with less stress when you follow @JulieBaird.
@Potentialz: This Australian psychologist tweets about childhood behavioral issues, mental health treatment options and more.
@twittermoms: @twittermoms is the Twitter feed for the expanding mom-centric network.
@DraHelenaDuch: This bilingual child psychologist tweets lots of helpful information and tips.
@thedailybalance: Get tips on how to lead a more balanced, stress-free life.
@ChildPsych: Dr. Laura Compian is a child psychologist who works with school-age and adolescent kids.
@MomBalance: This working, single mom has a son with ADHD and Aspergers.
@ZenMommy: Follow @ZenMommy for positive parenting support.

Organic and Green Living

Eco-moms tweet about healthy and safe products, diets and lifestyle choices here.

@TastyMom: Follow this feed for information from the organic baby food company.
@deliciousliving: Get ideas for better, greener living from this feed that shares recipes and more.
@lunchboxbunch: Learn about whole foods and wellness here.
@LighterFootstep: Get cheap ideas for living green.
@JollyGreenGirl: This natural mom and "eco-fashionista" tweets about green brands and more.
@thegreenparent: Jenn Savedge tweets about natural remedies, green eating, diaper alternatives and more.
@teensturningre: Teens Turning Green tweets about all the inspiring green projects they take on.
@Green_Parents: Get green living tips and giveaways for eco-conscious families here.
@barleyandbirch: Follow this brand, which creates eco-friendly clothing for kids and babies, on Twitter.
@care2: Learn about all things green and healthy on Care2′s Twitter feed.
@shopOrganic: Learn about organic shopping deals here.
@VEGdaily: Vegetarian families will like this feed that shares health, cooking and lifestyle news.
@mattyhick: @mattyhick tweets about greening your home from Brooklyn.
@Treehugger: Learn about the products and lifestyle tips that are safe for your family and the environment.
@madonnacramer: This feed combines healthy and eco living with mom survival tips, deals and more.

Fitness and Diet

Keep your family active and healthy here.

@workoutmommy: This mom loves yoga, running and fitness.
@TropicanaOJ: The official Tropicana orange juice feed shares links and tips for healthy living, boosting energy and more.
@FITNESSkristen: Kristen Diederich is the editor of Fitness Magazine.
@dailyfitnesstip: This women’s fitness feed posts fun links about making your workout more interesting and effective.
@LifeFitness: Find everyday tips for managing fitness and exercise plans for your family.
@dietnews: Get diet news and information here.

Alerts

Follow these feeds to get important health news alerts.

@bbchealth: Get world health news from the BBC here.
@CDCemergency: Get all kinds of health and safety alerts from the CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response organization in Atlanta.
@PublicHealth: Learn about the newest public health alerts, risks and news here.
@CDCFlu: Learn about outbreaks, vaccines and other flu information here.
@DailyMeHealth: Get a roundup of the top health news stories, diet columns and more.
@FamHealthGuide: Find breaking health news relevant to families.

Safety

Keep your kids safe from recalled products and accidents by following these feeds.

@AlivePast5: Learn about recalls and general baby and child safety here.
@safekidsusa: Follow this government feed to stay abreast of car seat regulations, product recalls and more.
@SafeKidsTV: Learn how to prevent accidents here.
@FDArecalls: The FDA tweets recalls, health risks and other public heath information here.
@MyPreciousKid: Get safety information and reviews for baby and kid products.
@wiredmom: Learn how to keep your kids safe when they’re online.
@FoodSafety: Here you’ll find food recalls and general food safety info.
@MomRN: This mom nurse is also a child safety expert.
@foodsafeguru: @foodsafeguru is another food safety feed.

Miscellaneous

From Oprah to women’s health to medical social networking, here are even more Twitter feeds for healthy-minded moms.

@womenshealth: Womenshealth.gov tweets about healthy living, exercise, women’s check-ups and more.
@HighChair: Aimee is a food blogger, former chef and mother of two who tweets about healthy-minded–but yummy–living.
@eatrightdenise: Denise is a registered dietician, wife and mother who shares stories from family BBQs and more.
@iVillageBuzz: This mom’s and women’s site tweets about raising kids, shopping, finding the balance and more.
@TodaysMoms: These authors and NBC Today Show producers tweet about general healthy, responsible, spiritual living for moms.
@momswithcancer: Moms who have cancer can find support and tips for balancing their illness and family.
@Oprah: Let Oprah help you become a healthier minded mom.
@SELFmagazine: Get healthy eating, fitness and emotional well-being tips here.
@medicalmommas: Follow the tweets from the women’s medical social networking site here.
@HIFS: This twitter feed and organization is "standing up for healthy individual and families."

50 Incredible iPhone Apps to Relax Your Mind and Body

Site Administrator — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:01:57 +0000

If you have an iPhone, you probably depend on it to keep your contacts organized, your web access fast, your music on hand, and your maps, GPS and utility tools easy to find at any given moment. But if all that data starts to give you an anxiety attack, will your iPhone still be able to help you out? Of course it can. Check out our list of 50 incredible iPhone apps to relax your mind and body.

Exercises and Healing

These apps are designed to help you de-stress through optimum exercise moves.

Yoga Trainer PRO: Customize your yoga workout from this iPhone app.
Pocket Workout: Practice your calisthenic exercises along with this training app.
Workout: This app helps you balance high intensity exercises against periods of relaxation and cooling down.
Japanese massage: Get detailed illustrations of how to do shiatsu.
YOGA Instructor: This app is another yoga tool to help you learn poses and come up with a customized work out.
Sole Massage Guide: Learn how to give yourself an effective foot massage with this app.

Visual and Simulation

Sometimes visualization is the most effective strategy for regaining your composure and relaxing your mind and body. Use these apps to picture yourself somewhere peaceful and away from the people and situations gnawing at your sanity.

Distant Shore: This game centers around a desert island and simple tasks like collecting sea shells and sending messages in a bottle.
Blow Away: Use this app to view a peaceful image of a windmill blowing flowers.
iLava: View 3D blobs move around your iPhone screen just as they would in a lava lamp.
Trancit: Use Trancit to distract you from whatever’s worrying you with bright, swirly lights and colors.
iAquarium: iAquarium displays a colorful, peaceful tropical tank full of chilled-out fish.
MindWave Lite: This incredible app brings your brain to its optimum level for relaxing, learning and breaking bad habits.
iFish: This fishing simulator features 40 different locations in which to zone out.
Glyder: Play Glyder to simulate flying in a magical, relaxing land.

Audio

Here you will find play lists, nature sounds and music to help you drift away from your hectic day and fall asleep, focus, or just mellow out.

Music Healing: Music Healing plays soothing songs and pieces while streaming relaxing images to help you de-stress.
iheartradio: Find your favorite radio stations, including jazz and classical music.
Audiogasm: Audiogasm displays corresponding images to the songs you listen to for a cohesive relaxing experience.
SleepStream Music Spa: Start the soothing play lists during your lunch break, nap time or anytime you need to wind down.
Public Radio Tuner: Find relaxing public radio stations with this app.
iLoveNature: Learn about wild animals and the environment while listening to natural sounds that relax you, too.
Tranquil Alarm: Set up your alarm so that it wakes you up with sounds of wind chimes, wind in the trees or a violin.
Ambience: Ambience blocks out distracting, stressful noises by playing gentle, peaceful sounds from the jungle, a rainstorm, the ocean and more.
BBeats Lite: These beats lure you into a hypnotic trance and help you focus on positive affirmations and relaxation.
AmbiScience: These tracks are designed to boost brain power, help you visualize your tasks, and relax. Tracks include Angel Ascension, High Plains Asia and Pink Noise.
iAspirin: Take a virtual aspirin that manipulates brain waves to make you drowsy, relaxed, and free of pain.

Meditation and Sleep

Drift off to sleep or get help meditating with these useful apps for the iPhone.

Sleepmaker Waves Lite: Listen to relaxing ocean waves with this app.
White Noise: This app plays natural sounding noises like crickets chirping and waves to help you fall asleep or tune out your environment.
Daze: Hypnotize yourself with Daze, which uses the eye fixation technique to relax you.
Zen Bound: This mind game is challenging but also relaxing.
Meditate Now: Meditate Now can help you fall asleep, chill out, end emotional eating, find inner peace, ace a test and get over whatever’s troubling you.
Sleepmaker Storms: Sleepmaker Storms mimics the sound of heavy rain, heavy wind and more.
Sheep Counter: Count sheep along with this app to fall asleep faster.
aRelax Sound Sleep Lite: Set a timer and choose a relaxing sound or play list, like dogs barking, katydids, cave winds and more.
Tylenol PM Sleep Tracker: Customize your sleep experience by keeping a sleep log, picking your mood for the day, getting sleep tips and more.
Meditate Now 2: This thought coach app will help you with affirmations to end pain, center your chakras, breathe it out, anchor your spirit and more.

Mood

Use these apps to boost mood and help you study mood cycles so that you can better understand how to make yourself relax and feel more positive.

Happiness: This simple app shows you comforting images to make you smile and laugh.
Wired for Joy: Wired for Joy lets you log your emotions and helps you deal with your mood swings.
iPsychologist: Track your moods and let this tool help you define your behaviors and attitudes.
Mood Tracker Ver 1.0: Rate your mood and tune into your overall psychological health with this app.
MindPulse: Depending on your mood, this app generates a synchronized audio/visual experience to enhance meditation, sleepiness, relaxation or focus.
Dream: Ultimate: This app syncs audio and visual features to help you focus. Choose from rain, fire and water settings.
iTakeBreaks: This app vibrates at pre-set intervals to remind you to get up and take a stretch or snack break.
Cheer For Me: Cheer for Me is better than a pep talk. When you open your iPod or iPhone music, this app will cheer you on as you work out, run or relax.
iMood Tracker: This app is another mood tracker that lets you record and study the factors that influence mood.

Health

Relaxing isn’t just about feeling more positive and focused: relaxing is also key to good health. These apps will help you lower blood pressure, learn about holistic living and more.

Natural Cures: With Natural Cures, you can learn about natural health remedies that will help you feel better without going to the doctor.
Yogi Says: Touch the yogi to generate a new quote about holistic living.
Hypertension Awareness: Learn the signs of hypertension and high blood pressure and what you can do to minimize risk.
ChakraMania: Sync up your seven Chakras (located along the spine) to minimize stress, anxiety and pain. This app will show you how to do it.
iRest: This app helps you relax your head, throat and eyes.
BeatMonitor: This app can be used as an exercise partner to monitor your target heart rate. Or, you can use it to help you calm down and slow heart rate when you’re overanxious.

How to Avoid Dropping Out of College

Site Administrator — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:25:29 +0000

When you first started college, you probably imagined a bright future in school ahead of you, not the possibility of leaving it all behind. But bad grades, financial pressure, and social issues can get even the best of students down. However, dropping out doesn’t have to be the answer. Read on to find out how you can salvage your college career from the brink.

Don’t overwhelm yourself. It’s tempting to take a lot of classes so that you can get things out of the way and graduate as early as possible. But be sure that you’ve slowed to a pace that’s reasonable for you. Taking too many classes, or bunching up difficult classes all at once can be a recipe for stress and disaster that can leave you burnt out. Carefully consider how many classes you can expect to handle each semester before you plan out your schedule for the semester, and remember to keep a good mix of classes that will be difficult, and some that will be a bit easier to handle.

Practice good study skills. College will be much more difficult to manage if you can’t figure out a way to study effectively. Go to class, pay attention, take good notes, and find a quiet place to study. Pace your studying evenly through the semester and avoid waiting until the night before exams to try and cram a semester’s worth of learning in.

Get financial aid. Many students drop out because they simply can’t afford tuition anymore. This may help your financial picture in the short run, but in the long run, it’s a waste. Don’t throw away the money and effort you’ve already invested in your education. If you’re having trouble paying for school, talk to your campus financial aid department about scholarships, grants, loans, and even work-study programs to see if you can work things out and keep the ball rolling.

Ask for help. If your grade situation is looking bleak, reach out for help. Talk to your professors, advisors, and other people on campus that can offer you assistance. You may be able to take on extra credit assignments, retake classes, or withdraw from a course without having to take a bad grade on your GPA.

College can be undoubtedly difficult, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Take these points into consideration if you’re in danger of dropping out of college, and use them to keep your dream of a degree alive.

Good Sleep Is Essential to Good Health

Site Administrator — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:45:03 +0000

As you work your way through medical or nursing school, or whatever degree you’re pursuing, sleep may take a backseat to homework, work and a social life. Yet not getting enough sleep can take a big toll on your school performance, attitude and overall health. As a student, you’ll need to balance your need to get things done with your body’s need for a little rest and relaxation if you want to stay healthy mentally and physically during your time at school.

Did you know that not getting enough sleep could be affecting your grades and performance on the job? It’s not only hard to pay attention when you’re feel drowsy, but not having gotten enough sleep could be lowering your mental ability as well. Studies have shown that those who regularly slept until they felt rested performed better not only in alertness and concentration but in their cognitive abilities as well. There’s no sense in not living up to your full mental potential so, getting enough sleep should always be part of an effective student schedule.

Perhaps one of the biggest health-related reasons to get enough sleep is stress. Those who do not get enough sleep are often doing so because they have too much on their plates already and are stressed. The problem is only compounded by not getting enough sleep which adds to the stress and can cause some very serious health problems. Being under stress for an extended period of time can increase your risk of heart disease, cancer, depression and many other very serious and potentially life-threatening conditions so it is essential that you balance work and school with resting when your body needs it.

Lack of sleep can affect your body in other ways as well. There is some indication that there is a correlation between poor sleeping habits and weight gain, perhaps because of increased levels of stress hormones in the body. Being overweight will not only feel less confident about yourself, but could put you at risk of some serious health conditions as well.

Getting less sleep may seem like a fact of life as a student or young professional, but it shouldn’t be. Sleep should be just as much of a priority as the other things in your life as not getting enough rest could have some unwanted consequences further down the line and could play a part in you not performing to your full potential. So no matter how busy your schedule, make sure to pencil in some time for quality sleep.

Drinking Tea Daily Can Boost Your Health

Site Administrator — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:43:19 +0000

While what you eat, how much you exercise and your genetics are the largest factors in determining your overall health, there are small changes that you can make as well that could have a big impact if you stick with them. Adding a cup of tea to your daily routine could be one of those things. There are a wide variety of health benefits from drinking tea that require little from you other than brewing up a cup or a pot for breakfast or lunch.

The health benefits of tea have been touted since almost 5000 years ago in Imperial China where the brew was thought to help everything from tumors to low energy. While today we know that tea isn’t good for treating anything that ails you, it can help prevent your risk of some pretty serious illnesses and make you feel better in the process to boot.

Perhaps one of the most talked about benefits of tea is its potential to prevent cancer. Several studies have suggested that both green and white tea may slow or prevent the spread of cancers of the lung, prostate and breasts. Of course, it’s not a cure all and has been shown to have little effect on cancers of the stomach and digestive system.

For those trying to lose weight, tea may be able to help, as there is research that indicates that tea helps to boost the metabolic rate and help your body to burn more of the calories you take in rather than let them turn into weight gain. Tea also helps reduce the levels of stress hormones in the body, reducing your risk of stress-related illnesses and the weight gain that can sometimes come along with prolonged stress.

If you work somewhere where you’re in contact with those with coughs and colds, tea could give you a leg up on preventing catching whatever bug is going around. Some studies suggest that tea helps boost your immune system and makes it better capable of fighting off infections by strengthening your T-cells keeping you healthy throughout the year.

Finally, using tea as a replacement for coffee could help break your addiction to caffeine and give you energy without the sluggish crashes caused by the high levels of caffeine in other beverages. Tea has been shown to boost mental alertness and reduce cognitive impairment so it’s a great substitution for your morning cup of Joe. And even if you get nothing else out of drinking teas, you’ll get a small part of your day to just relax, kick back and enjoy a nice cup of tea.