7 tips to keep your fluid down on dialysis by: Stuart Drew

As any dialysis patient will tell you, keeping your fluid gain between dialysis sessions in check is not only important to your long term health, it is a major factor in your immediate well-being. Keeping fluid level gains as low as possible between dialysis treatments will minimize the risk of congestive heart failure, pulmonary oedema, and hypertension. Cramps, headaches and breathing difficulties are short term side-effects of fluid overload, and whilst not as dangerous as the long term effects, these should be heeded as a pointer to fluid overload in dialysis patients. Whilst every dialysis patient has their own special method of keeping their fluid levels in check, I thought it might be pertinent to explain some of the methods that I have found (relatively) successful. 1/ Buy a bag of ice. I have a large chest freezer in my kitchen, I buy a 5kg (approx 11lb) bag of ice chips from the service (gas) station, place it in the freezer, and suck on ice chips throughout the day. Make sure the freezer is in a convenient place, so you can reach it quickly to grab a few small pieces of ice, so you can avoid the temptation to fill a glass with ice. (In which case you might as well have that mug of coffee you wanted in the first place!) 2/ Get a GOOD set of digital scales. I have a set which measures with an accuracy of 200grams (don’t we all wish we could afford the scales at the dialysis unit which measure to 50grams?!?), which is accurate enough to get a good idea of where you are at with your fluid gain. Work out the difference between your dialysis centre scales, and your home scales, so you can get an accurate reflection of your fluid gain. I weigh myself first thing when I get up in the morning (you’d be surprised how much weight you lose over a warm night!), as soon as I get home from work, and whenever I have a drink. This method is great in two ways: 1)You never (well, rarely, anyway!) get a nasty surprise when you arrive at dialysis and jump on the scales. And 2) You don’t get the opposite surprise of getting to dialysis with only 1kg of fluid on, thinking: “Damn, I wish I’d drank more!” (I often find myself in the ridiculous situation of forcing myself to have another cup of coffee before I leave for dialysis, as there’s no bank for fluid, once you’ve had that dialysis, the opportunity to have that drink is gone forever!) 3/ Save up your drinks if you’re going to need them. If you know you are going to an event where the temptation to drink more fluid that you should will be strong, save up your drinks beforehand. For example – if you get off dialysis at lunchtime on Wednesday (meaning that you go back to dialysis on Friday Morning), and you have a function to attend on Thursday night, try to drink as little as possible between Wednesday lunchtime and Thursday evening, telling yourself that your reward will be the fact that you will be able to drink (nearly) as much as a “normal” person at the function. 4/ Keep yourself busy! Any dialysis patient will tell you that when they’re busy, they’re not thinking about drinking. It could be a gentle walk, send an email to a friend, jump on the phone, or play with your kids. It doesn’t matter, as long as it keeps your mind occupied. 5/ Frozen water. Freeze a bottle of water, containing the amount you have allowed yourself to drink that day, and drink it as it defrosts. This has the benefit of the drink being ice-cold, as well. The down-side of this is that if your bottle melts too quickly, you could find yourself at 3pm, with all your water gone! 6/ Spray bottle. Get yourself a spray bottle, and fill it with water (maybe with a little lemon juice or mint flavouring), and spray it into your mouth when you feel the urge to have a drink. Whilst this won’t completely sate your desire for fluids, it may help you wait a little longer before indulging! 7/ Mints and toothpaste. Try sucking a strong mint, or even brushing your teeth. The feeling of a clean, fresh mouth will often lessen the desire to blow your fluid limit. (This method will make you nicer to kiss, too!) I hope that these suggestion will help you in the dialysis patient’s eternal quest to keep their fluid gain under control. But remember, life is for living too, and we, as dialysis patients more than most need to adhere to this edict. So whilst keeping your fluid gain under control is important for both your immediate and long term health, remember that if you’ve blown your fluid this time, there is always next time, so keep trying!

5 Simple Signs to Tell if it is Acid Reflux or Heart Pain by: Jessica Deets

Chest pain can be a very scary, serious issue. If you are one of many Americans at risk for heart disease, it can be even more frightening. But sometimes chest pain isn't heart related, it is a digestive issue. Heartburn, or it's more serious cousin acid reflux, affects millions of people everyday. The symptoms of both heart problems and acid reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously very different. It's easy to mistake one for the other because the esophagus is located behind the heart in the chest cavity. Identifying the real problem when you have chest pain is very important. Here's a few things to look out for. But remember, when in doubt see your health care provider. 1. Burning in the throat due to stomach acid. This is an extension of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus and mouth is due to acid reflux, not heart problems. 2. Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is more likely due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with physical exertion. The heart experiences stress during physical exercise that can manifest potential problems within. 3. Coughing, wheezing, breathing problems, acid regurgitation, bitterness in the mouth: these are all signs of acid reflux disease. The acid entering the esophagus is to blame for each of these symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem to be prone to heartburn during the last two trimesters where a growing fetus crowds the space the stomach normally occupies. For these women, and others in high risk groups, understanding their propensity to heartburn is also important. For example, some pregnant women with chest pain find themselves in the hospital thinking they are having heart attacks, when in fact they are having very serious acid reflux. Again, knowing you are susceptible to acid reflux can help you identify the cause of your symptoms. 4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms can be a symptom of a heart attack, and is generally not a symptom of acid reflux. Obviously these symptoms are serious and should be treated immediately by a health care professional. 5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acid reflux disease. Overeating or bending over after eating can exacerbate the problems, which are not heart related. The extra acid a stomach releases to digest food is to blame for the increased discomfort after meals. While these acids are effective in helping the digestive process, they can be very detrimental for those who suffer from acid reflux disease. Acid reflux disease and heart disease do share some of the same symptoms, but with careful attention and the help of a health care professional, you can determine which of these issues is causing your chest pain. About the author: With either of these conditions, treatment options are not only available, but are necessary to prevent more serious health problems. Our website has the latest news on acid reflux and our blog features news and info. You can see it at this website www.Acidrefluxnews.com

5 Keys to Naturally Better Vision by: Ray Smith

Our vision is our primary means of relationship to the world around us. Of the five physical senses, vision is the most dominant and useful sense. Yet, over half the people in this country (U.S.A) wear glasses or contacts. Needing corrective-lenses to see clearly is now considered normal, though there are ways to have better vision naturally without the use of any artificial means and complicated procedures like surgery. In this article, I will disclose 5 keys to naturally better vision that has been tried and tested by thousands of individuals over years. Key1 Blink Regularly: Blinking is a natural preserver of your better vision. Blinking cleanses and lubricates the eyes. When there is no tension, your eyes blink 10-12 times every minute, or about once every 5 seconds. But people who do not see clearly tend to stare and unconsciously hold their eyes open, which causes strain as well as the feeling of dry and tired eyes. Consciously remind yourself to blink every 3-5 seconds. The more you blink the better it is for your eyes. Your eyelid is controlled by only one muscle. By having proper relaxation in that muscle, it can promote relaxation throughout the entire body. Flutter Blinking: To practice Flutter Blinking, blink your eyes lightly and rapidly 10 to 20 times. Do not strain or squeeze your eyes shut and relax your face as you blink. Then close your eyes and relax. Repeat this 2 or 3 times. Flutter Blinking will help to keep your eyes moist, relaxed and free of strain. Key 2 Use your Peripheral Vision Your eyes may be offering you more than you realize. At the same time that you are focusing on one object, images are also coming into your eyes from your peripheral awareness – from the left and the right, and from the front of and behind what you are directly looking at. But unfortunately, people with poor vision have trained their minds to so intently focus on just one thing that they block out their peripheral awareness. This “putting on of blinders” breeds mental fatigue and a tense style of concentration. Whatever you are looking at, always remind yourself to be aware of your peripheral vision. Consciously remember to be aware of everything at the same time that you are looking at one point. Key 3 Keep your Eyes Moving and Change your Focus Staring is the most commonly practiced bad habit in regards to poor vision. Keeping your eyes moving and changing your focus is the most direct and powerful way to break the staring habit. Normally, the eye moves slightly 50-60 times every single second, constantly changing what it is looking at. This subtle movement is essential for clear vision; you can unlock tension in your visual system by remembering to change your focus frequently. This encourages your eyes to become more relaxed. Whatever you may be doing with your eyes, you should always remember to shift your focus and keep your eyes moving. Key4 Avoid Daydreaming The word daydreaming is used to mean any mental activity – whether or not it involves images, that captures a person’s focus while their eyes are open. There isn’t anything wrong with the creative use of the imagination, but when daydreaming becomes a habit it can have a negative effect on your vision. Here’s why: If you close your eyes and imagine looking at a distant scene, your eyes respond to that, and change their focus, as they would if they were actually looking at that distant scene. So, if you’re driving down the road and you’re thinking about something else, your eyes are caught in a dilemma – what should they be seeing? On the one hand, they are trying to bring the road into focus and on the other hand, are trying to focus on what’s in your mind. This causes you to stare, creates visual tension and sends mixed messages to your brain. Key 5 Look with the “Eyes of a Child” Engage in your world as a child would – with excitement, freshness, awe and wonder – as if you are seeing everything for the first time. If you are remembering to blink, to move your eyes and shift focus, to use your peripheral vision and to avoid daydreaming, you can get stuck in the trap of just mechanically using your eyes. There’s a big difference between seeing and actively looking. There’s always something new and different to notice. Apply these 5 tips consciously and regularly and you’ll find that not only will your eyes start to feel more relaxed but your seeing will become clearer. If you want a complete method to improve your inner and outer sight feel free to contact the Cambridge Institute for Better Vision at http://www.program-for-better-vision.com

3 Serious Concerns About Hygiene in Public Restrooms Revealed in Survey by: Emily Clark

by: Emily Clark

In a study by Kimberly-Clark Professional, 39% of survey respondents feared picking up germs in a public restroom more than any other place. Is there good reason for the fear or are people overly concerned? Can you reduce the risks? WHAT'S IN THERE - CAN IT HURT YOU? Without getting too specific, there are many germs that can thrive in restrooms. Bacteria live off of moisture and organic food (or waste)- which can be plentiful in public restrooms. Fears of contacting STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) from a public washroom have more to do with the fear of the disease than the likelihood of picking it up in a washroom. Many of these bacteria and viruses do not live long enough outside the body to be easily transmitted. However, some experts admit there is a theoretical risk of herpes or crabs being contracted under certain - but unlikely - conditions. Some public facilities provide flushable toilet seat covers, antibacterial cleansers or you can line the seat with toilet paper. Of greater concern are salmonella and shigella bacteria which can be transferred by contact with feces. The infected person can transmit the bacteria on their hands which can then be transferred to flushing handles, door handles and faucets. RESTROOM HYGIENE - BATTLING BACTERIA Foul odors, lack of supplies and puddles on the floors can all be signs of improper maintenance. Odor that comes from public washrooms can be caused by urine in tile grouting. If the floors aren't properly cleaned daily (or more) then the uric acid salts will not be removed with regular cleansers. These salts provide a food source for bacteria whose digestive processes give off the foul odor. Products like MicroGuard (tm) from AllDura and even stainless steel can reduce the maintenance required to keep bacteria growth to a minimum. A lack of supplies (toilet paper, hand drying towels or soap) can also increase the unhygienic conditions of a restroom. Overly crowded restrooms can suffer from a lack of supplies or a lack of available sinks, soap dispensers or dryers. PERSONAL HYGIENE - THE MAGIC WEAPON It is the simple truth that hand washing will drastically cut the chance for germ transference. A study done by Scott Papers found that more than nine out of ten respondents claimed to wash their hands when using public restrooms. However, only 67% were actually observed doing so. As manufacturers of paper products, including towels, the company also states that drying hands thoroughly is imperative in practicing proper hygiene. The moisture left on hands can still carry bacteria. Because of this, air drying machines may not be enough protection since many individuals do not use them long enough to thoroughly dry their hands. The knowledge that proper washing and drying can protect you from even unsavory public restrooms is comforting. The fact that public washrooms still need to provide the basics for good hygiene, as well as good maintenance is something that needs work. Carrying an antibacterial gel for emergency use is recommended when visiting a public area. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.