Suspend-It

As I was resting after I went home from the hospital, I watched the TV. I drifted off to thinking while an auto insurance quotes ad was running, and I realized how I had been taking my health for granted.

I had to do something, I had to take care of myself better starting now, or worse things will happen. If I push myself too hard from work, I’m going to end up dead and giving everyone around me even more problems than what I am trying to solve right now.

If you’ve been taking your health for granted, start thinking about what you should do to take care of yourself now. You can’t take care of other people when you can’t take care of yourself.

We had an annual medical checkup in my company last December 1, and other than the lump/mass in my left breast, the result was that I am perfectly fit to work. The lump, according to the doctor, could most likely be just due to hormonal change. But just to be sure, the doctor gave me a referral to have breasts ultrasound.

Unfortunately, my company switched to another HMO last December 14. We haven’t had time yet for the new HMO orientation though because it’s been a very busy month. I just hope it has similar benefits like the Blue Advantage - my dream health plan.

Anyway, I’ll just schedule myself for a breast ultrasound as soon as I get the details of our new HMO. As you know, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women (TRIVIA: 1 out of every 8 women will develop the disease). Finding a breast change does not necessarily mean there is a cancer. That’s why I’m pretty confident that mine’s not cancerous. Still, prevention is always better than cure.

In fact, in our case, performing a breast self exam (BSE) every month is key in preventing breast cancer. The exam is simple to do and only takes 10-15 minutes each month! All you need is a mirror which lets you see both breasts, a pillow for your head and shoulders, and privacy. That’s it!

Okay, fine, cigarettes do not fall under the new weight loss pill category. Then again, did you know that in spite of the ads and laws being implemented on why smoking is bad for your health, smoking cigarettes actually do have benefits?

Yep. Because Nicotine is an appetite suppressant, one of the beneficial aspects of smoking is that it keeps the weight down. Cigarettes do this by:

• Keeping food in your stomach longer
• Suppressing your appetite
• Artificially speeding up your metabolism

Smoking burns up an extra 200-300 calories each day in a heavy smoker. Consequently, when you quit smoking, it’s normal to experience a gain of between 5 and 10 pounds during the first few months. However, if your eating habits have remained the same as when you smoked, you can easily shed this small gain with simple daily exercise such as a brisk, 30-minute walk.

So yeah, for those who want to quit smoking, you do not have “weight gain” as an excuse for not being able to. 0:p After all, knowing this benefit of smoking allows you replace the good side of smoking with things that are safer and healthier for you, while achieving similar results.

My friend, Hazel, recently got a scholarship in the Netherlands and asked me to help her buy a laptop which she can carry around the campus and the country in general. She only has a CPU right now and it would be such a hassle, not to mention extra cost, to bring it all the way to the Netherlands.

I recommended to her the leveled up version of my current notebook computer – Lenovo IdeaPad S10 – which my friend Mark helped me research and purchase last October 14, 2008. I told her to go for either a Lenovo S10-2 or IdeaPad S12. Although the latter is half a pound heavier, it shares traits with the smaller S10-2, but its keyboard is also reminiscent of the larger IdeaPad Y450. This makes the S12 is a good netbook for touch typists like her.

The best part of getting the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 or S12 is that it is easy to carry with its 2lbs 11oz, 3lbs 5.4oz travel weight (3.4 pounds for S12). Having a small, easy to carry netbook is great because it does NOT scream out “laptop” to robbers.

However, we do suggest you use a backpack when carrying netbooks. By utilizing the age-old technology of carrying your load on your back, you’re not only hands free when walking; you also lessen the risk of straining your neck and shoulders. After all, compared to single-strapped bags and purses which can cause excess strain on your neck and shoulders (putting you at higher risk for spine and muscle problems as well as other injuries), backpacks are a much healthier way of transporting your things. This is because you’re spreading the weight over both shoulders when using a backpack.

After pointing out all these to Hazel, she immediately and unhesitatingly purchased the Lenovo S10-2 (which is lighter) AND a backpack that same day. ^_^ Hmmm… I should get paid for promoting Lenovo. Hehehe.

My cousin has been having constipation problems for quite some time now. She shared to me that one of her friends advised her to try a colon cleanser and given her current state, she might just do that.

I told her to check with her doctor first before trying anything else. In most cases, as I’ve mentioned in my Colon Cleansing: Is it necessary? post, most doctors do not recommend it for detoxification, let alone fixing your bowel movement. It’s generally unnecessary and at times may even be harmful.

I did recommend that she eat more green foods and do Bikram Yoga. Yoga’s overall health benefits, not to mention the fact that it helps blood circulation, could greatly help improve her current situation. She’s considering it and said she’ll keep me posted on that one. I hope it works for her.

My company is teaming up with the Bikram Yoga studio located just within the area to promote health and wellness among its employees. They had an orientation about the benefits of Bikram Yoga during our break last Wednesday. Although I already know all of those since I availed of a one-week unlimited trial last October, I attended the orientation to get a good grasp on the rates and promos.

I was not disappointed. They’re giving us a 30% discount for the monthly rate! Hooray! ^_^ I just wish they’d agree to extend the discount to family and friends as well. My friend Mark would really love that especially since he’s been stressed for the longest time. My sister, on the other hand, definitely needs to do yoga to accompany her intake of Fastin. That way, she’ll get toned up while losing weight.

I talked with the HR about the extension of the discounts after the orientation and she said she’ll do her best to include family and friends as well. I’m keeping my fingers crossed on this one. It’d be so much fun if I can do yoga with my friends. 0:D

Have you heard of the term “chronic fatigue syndrome”? I have read about this disorder in books and it is one of the mysterious illnesses that usually affect adults. Symptoms include general weakness, laziness, and exhaustion after doing even minimal physical activity. Up to now, there are no standard clinical tests to verify if you have this fatigue syndrome. Moreover, because it shares the same symptoms as the common flu, diabetes, and dehydration, doctors may prescribe medicines that might be inappropriate.

I have been concerned about this “chronic fatigue syndrome” because I feel I have all of its symptoms. Sometimes I’m too tired to work or to even get out of bed. I also often feel fatigued, even though I just had a complete 10 hours of sleep.

I asked my physician about this and told me not to worry. The cause of my fatigue is just stress and lack of exercise – which is true because for the past few weeks I have been doing plenty of overtime to meet the deadlines at the office. Anyhow, I was advised to give myself a break and relax for a while. My boss agreed and said that I deserve the time off. So now I’m just in the garden, looking at the stars, sitting on the outdoor furniture and just sipping coffee. Now this is what I call, relaxation.

As a part of their medical benefits, the software development team held their annual physical exam. They were given a general check-up which involved x-rays, laboratory tests, stress test, and physical exam. The results were not good as eight out of ten employees either have high blood sugar or back problems.

These symptoms may lead to even more disorders so the doctors gave the whole company a seminar regarding why this is happening. The seminar was about having a healthy lifestyle – eating the right food and doing plenty of exercise (which is impossible for software developers). Exercise relieves stress and helps the body excrete toxins and burn excess sugars. It also strengthens the muscles and relieves back aches.

Our company gives priority to fitness and health so we teamed up with a fitness gym and encouraged the employees to attend class regularly. This way, we will be keeping our employees, our greatest asset, fit and happy to work for us.

For those who do not know, medical malpractice is basically “A form of negligence where an injury results from a medical professional’s or medical facility’s failure to exercise adequate care, skill or diligence in performing a duty.” In short, it is the result of a healthcare provider’s failure to provide the expected standard of care.

You see, despite the fact that doctors are THE health experts, we need to keep in mind that they too are humans; they are prone to errors and misjudgments. Consequently, many people are injured or even killed due to medical mistakes.

That’s why the world is a much better place to live in with lawyers such as the Rochester medical malpractice attorney. Just to give you an idea, some of the most common ways that medical malpractice occurs is through failure or errors in:

• timely diagnosis and ordering appropriate treatment
• ordering necessary tests and proper medication
• consulting with specialists
• surgical procedures

Do take note that medical malpractice claims are one of the most difficult areas of litigation. This is because the negligent action must be documented and proven within specific guidelines. Consequently, to ensure that you are on the right track, make sure to get only a skilled medical malpractice lawyer that can qualify the merit of your case.

I’ve seen, heard, and read about colon cleansing and its advantages and disadvantages. Several products, such as Colonix, which claims to produce this effect, are out in the market nowadays. Then again, is it necessary?

Just so you know, Colon cleansing or colon therapy, according to Wikipedia, “encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies intended to remove fecal waste and unidentified toxins from the colon and intestinal tract.”

I browsed over some readings and the usual claim is that colon cleansing, also known as colonic irrigation, removes toxins that can cause a variety of health problems, such as arthritis, allergies and asthma. Consequently, it promotes healthy intestinal bacteria, boosting your energy and enhancing your immune system.

Then again, up to now, there is little scientific evidence to support or refute the benefits of colon cleansing. In fact, the bowel itself is not dirty and cleans itself naturally without need for assistance. Also, frequent colon cleansing may interfere with the proper functioning of the colon and can lead to dependence on laxatives or enemas to defecate. To cap it off, the FDA has issued several letters warning manufacturers and suppliers of colon hydrotherapy equipment about making false claims of effectiveness, safety issues and quality control violations.

Do take note that doctors prescribe colon cleansing as preparation for medical procedures such as colonoscopy. However, most don’t recommend it for detoxification. It’s generally unnecessary and at times may even be harmful.

Before having your colon cleansed, consult your doctor first.