RLS-Sarasota

Alcoholism is a disease that can be deadly. It can destroy lives, families, and friendships, not to mention the health and welfare of the alcoholic. The effects of alcoholism are devastating not only to the client but also to those around him or her. The family as well as the patient often experience feelings of isolation. When you or a loved one has decided to seek alcohol rehabilitation, you may find yourself with a difficult task of choosing the best program for recovery.

Some treatment programs do offer a variety of treatments and services. However, here are the specialized types of treatment.

• Out-patient treatment is designed for people who do not have a high level of addiction. These patients may also not be able to spend the time in an in-patient environment. These treatments are also designed for those who have already completed in-patient treatment.
• In-patient treatment is designed for those who have been experiencing alcohol abuse for long periods of time. Those patients who have also failed at other treatment paths may also be good candidates for this type of treatment. This is one of the most success treatment options.
• Christian or church based treatments are a good option for those seeking a faith-based program. These programs allow patients to draw strength from their belief system.
• Adolescent and teen treatments are design for young people experiencing alcohol. Unfortunately this problem is becoming more prevalent within the teen and youth populations. These are specialized programs that focus on youth-based issues to achieve recovery.

All of these treatment programs will offer services that will help the patient and his or her family and friends gain an understanding of this disease. Both the mental and physical aspects will be discussed and addressed on the road to recovery. The programs will also provide the necessary support and information for long-term sobriety.

Insurance is a tricky thing. Though you can live without it, you can’t live well without it, especially when it comes to your health. The main type of insurance, and the one that (as of August 2010) is undergoing the greatest overhauls since the New Deal, is health insurance. Health insurance and medical bills can stack up, and quickly—especially depending on the type of health issues you are dealing with. If your illness or needs requires a one-time visit, that’s one thing. However, if you’re dealing with something more chronic or debilitative you need insurance to pay for visits, co-pays, medicines, and any kind of testing your illness requires.

If you’re lucky enough to have health insurance, swallowing these costs is a little easier. However, no matter your standing with a health insurance plan, other things besides health have their own costs. You have car insurance, dental insurance, home insurance, life insurance, and, for some people, pet insurance and boat insurance. If you’re paying for boat insurance, you might not be one of those who are most in need, but there’s no arguing that everyone can benefit from discounted insurance rates.

Sometimes rates can be subject to change and, depending on your circumstances, some agencies are willing to change their monthly or yearly rates. The first thing to do for this is to browse around for quotes, which is important to do if you’re looking to add a new type of insurance to your already long list. Search the internet or contact your current insurance providers to get reliable, low, and up-to-date quotes for all types of insurance; health, car, and otherwise. You shouldn’t have to pay more for insurance than is absolutely necessary, and lowering your insurance fees can even help free up the money to pay for copays during medical visits.

If you’ve ever had seasonal allergies, you know how miserable and frustrating they can be. They can spring on you suddenly and sometimes it’s hard to know whether they’re allergies or if you’re just coming down with a cold because that’s what it feels like—like you’re perpetually coming down with a cold that doesn’t seem to want to go away.

Here are some tips with how you can deal with seasonal allergies:

Try different over the counter medications. There are many allergy medications out there and each will work differently on different people. Try different types and see if one works better for you than others. For some, Benadryl works great, while for others, it just makes them drowsy, some to the point where they can’t sleep. For others, Claritin or Zyrtec work great. If your main symptoms are running nose, it’s possible that all you’ll need is a nasal decongestant such as Sudafed. If over the counter medications aren’t working for you, meet with your doctor to discuss the possibility of prescription drugs that might be more helpful.

Know what’s causing your allergies. If you know what causes the symptoms you can work on ways to avoid that plant so it’s less likely to cause you to sneeze. The most common are ragweed, pollens, and molds. If you live in a wet area, such as an area that rains often, you’ll more likely deal with allergies because moisture stirs up pollen and allows mold to grow. One way to decrease symptoms is by wearing a mask when you garden or are doing yard work, you can protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses outside.

Avoid foods that are contaminated. There are some foods that can be contaminated with ragweed causing you to ingest the allergen which can increase symptoms. Possible foods in this category include zucchini, cucumbers, bananas, melons, and sunflower seeds.

So the next time you’re dealing with symptoms, remember these tips. There’s a lot you can do to help alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms so that you can enjoy being outside without sneezing and blowing your nose all day.

Everyone needs a good night’s sleep to help them be rested for the next day. But you might be surprised at some things that are interrupting your sleep. Here are some tips to follow to make sure that you get as much sleep as possible.

Create a night time routine. Kids aren’t the only ones that benefit from having the same routine every night before bed. Having a bedtime routine will help tell your body that it’s time for bed and that you expect to go to sleep once the routine is over and you lie down in bed. Make sure that your sleeping environment is conducive to sleep. This includes making sure there are no loud noises, bright lights, or extreme temperatures.

Keep the bed reserved for sleep. If you often do other activities in bed, such as watching TV or reading a book, then lying in bed won’t tell your body that it’s time for bed. You can help train your body by only using the bed for sleep where possible.

Avoid naps. This is especially true when it’s too close to bedtime. If you do nap, make sure to keep it to around 20 or 25 minutes to avoid it preventing you from falling asleep at night.

Avoid stimulants when close to bedtime. This includes caffeine and nicotine. Although nicotine relaxes you, it’s still a stimulant and can increase your night awakenings, which disturbs your sleep. You should avoid both at least four to six hours before bedtime. Alcohol should also be avoided. Although it may help you fall asleep, having a withdrawal, which occurs once the alcohol has been metabolized, causes awakenings and often nightmares will accompany these awakenings.

Use soft light for night wakings. If you end up waking during the night and need to get, to use the bathroom for instance, then use a small nightlight instead of turning on a bright light that will wake you up even more.

Using these tips can help increase your chances for a good night’s sleep, so you can feel rested and ready for a new day.

We’ve all been there. It’s the middle of the afternoon and although you’re trying to read the report you’re supposed to review for your boss, you just cannot stay awake. Worried that you’ll be found by a co-worker, or your boss, you reach for you coffee mug to energize yourself with caffeine. But caffeine isn’t always the best solution. For one, it can take up to eight hours for the effects of caffeine to wear off, potentially making you stay up later than you want, which can lead you not getting enough sleep, which can lead to the need for caffeine the next day, and so on. It’s a vicious cycle.

So instead of reaching for your coffee mug or an espresso from the coffee cart outside your office building, here are some ways to keep yourself awake naturally.

Get up and move around. Just getting up and going for a short 10-minute stroll can help get your blood pumping and can help get rid of the sleepiness. You’ll likely be able to stay awake for two hours after a nice, short stroll. If a walk isn’t possible, try standing up at your desk while you work.

Take a power nap. A short nap between 5 and 25 minutes can really help you get some energy back. Be sure the nap doesn’t last too long and that it’s at least six or seven hours before your bed time. Otherwise, it may make it hard to fall asleep that night.

Take a short break to talk to a co-worker. A conversation with a colleague near you can help waken your spirit.

Take a break from your current task. If you’re doing something that may be exacerbating your tiredness, try switching tasks to something more stimulating that interests you with the idea that you’ll return to the previous task once you’re rejuvenated.

Drink some water. Dehydration can cause fatigue. Get up and get some water; between moving and drinking, you’ll be refreshed and stop feeling so drowsy.

So the next time you find your eyelids drooping, try these tips to stay awake.

Our society often emphasizes productivity so much that many people are not getting enough sleep. We often live on 6 hours of sleep if we’re lucky and wonder why we’re falling asleep at our desks by 3 p.m. Are you part of this crowd that isn’t sleeping enough? Sleep, or lack thereof, may be affecting your health more than you realize.

How Much Is Enough?

The first thing you need to do is determine how much sleep is enough for you. If you’re falling dead on your feet mid-afternoon, you’re not getting enough sleep. You may believe for some reason that you only need 6 or 7 hours of sleep, but the amount of sleep you need varies per person and can be anywhere from 5 hours of sleep to 10 hours of sleep. And pregnant women in their first trimester need even more sleep than usual. You also may need more sleep if you haven’t been getting enough sleep for a few nights.

So how can you figure out how much you need? One way is to give yourself at least 8 hours to get sleep for a few nights in a row. Then on the last night, go to sleep at a reasonable time and make sure there is nothing to wake you up in the morning. See when your body naturally wakes you up. As long as you don’t have stress or anxiety that may cause you to have a troubled sleep or to wake early, this should be a good indication of how much sleep you need, especially if you feel rested the next day and don’t feel like you need a nap.

Affects of Sleep Deprivation

There are many negative effects caused by not getting enough sleep. One is loss of reflexes. This is especially crucial when you’re driving and need to react quickly. Also having trouble focusing, lack of memory or recall skills, impatience, high blood pressure, obesity, and more. Sleep helps our bodies to recovers from the stress of that day. Without it, our health suffers as does our quality of life.

When your body is unable to regulate its own temperature, you have heatstroke. With heatstroke, it’s possible for the body’s temperature to rise to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Heatstroke is very dangerous, and it’s best to be avoided.

Symptoms of Heatstroke

• Going unconscious for longer than just a few seconds
• Confusion or anxiety
• heave sweating or no sweating
• red, hot, and/or dry skin
• diarrhea and severe vomiting
• moderate to severe breathing problems
• convulsions
• increased heart rate

Avoiding Heatstroke

Although you don’t have to be dehydrated to have heatstroke, it’s important still to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If you are planning to be outside for an extended period of time exercising, such as for a marathon, put ice in you water bottle or even bring a water bottle that’s been frozen. This will help keep your core temperature down. It’s been found that the important thing is your core temperature more than the outside temperature.

Heatstroke can also come from your body not being acclimated to the temperatures outside. It can take up to three months to acclimate your body so it knows how to regulate your temperature in the heat. Because of this, be careful if you plan to exercise once the weather warms up. Try to stay hydrated throughout the day and schedule your workouts in the morning or evening where possible. Be especially careful with infants, children, and the elderly who are more susceptible to heat.

How to Treat Heatstroke

If you suspect someone is suffering from heatstroke, immediately call 911. While you’re waiting, move the person into a cool place that is not in sunlight. Remove any unneeded clothing (jackets, shoes, etc.). If possible, apply ice packs the person’s arm pits and neck and spray the person with cool water. Try and get the person to drink water if they are conscious and able to.

Overall, just be careful on hot days to not be out in the sun too much and use shade where possible to keep cool.