Physical Therapy aids

If you've ever been injured or hospitalized for a surgical procedure and needed physical therapy, you know the importance of having a knowledgable physical therapist and dependable physical therapy equipment. Physical therapy tables must be sturdy, adjustable, and able to tilt to support your body and provide flexibility while doing the many therapy exercises.

There are many different techniques available to help you get back on your feet so to speak as quickly as possible after a major health event. Massage is very healing to the body and made easier with the help of a good massage table or portable massage chair along with the use of ice, lotions and oils. Hot and cold therapy can also be helpful for pain management from injuries and muscle and joint pain and can be done at home using hot packs to soothe pain and cold therapy to relieve swelling. Hydrotherapy is also very effective to relax muscles and relieve stress. Electrotherapy is good for pain management, neuromuscular dysfunction, joint mobility, tissue repair,acute and chronic edema, peripheral blood flow, and urine and fecal incontinence.

Orthepedic supplies are also quite important for your rehab after an injury. Ankle, elbow, knee and lumbar supports, walking boots, cervical collars, night splints, and seat supports all have their uses. Getting the right exercise equipment is very helpful if you plan to do your physical therapy at home. An exercise mat, weight bar, exercise ball, resistance bands, free weights, and software for your computer or DVD player are available to help rebuild your strength and flexibility. You may also find it helpful to have a wheelchair, walker, cane or crutches, bathroom safety aids such as a raised toilet seat, cast protector, dressing aids, blood pressure monitor and a back scrubber to help you be more self sufficient in your personal care.

Recovering after a major health event can be stressful, but being informed and prepared for what lies ahead can make the whole situation a lot easier and more bearable, and get you back to normal activities as quickly as possible.

Pets dressing up for Halloween

Here are some cute pics of dogs dressed up for Halloween.  Some look like they're enjoying it,while others not so much. These dog's owners are pretty clever though.

(photo origins unknown)

Macadamia nuts for your heart and weight

Recent studies showed that adding macadamia nuts to your diet have many positive affects for your health, especially your heart health and weight maintenance. They also provide the following:

• unique fatty acids

• beneficial serum lipids and lipoproteins which reduce heart disease

• low in saturated fats

• high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids

• significant protein

• essential amino acids and minerals to maintain weight

• improve omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids

• high in dietary fiber

• high in phytonutrients of phenolic compounds

To read more details on macadamia nuts and why they are so good for us, CLICK HERE.

A word of caution: Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, so don't be tempted to share them with your best friend. In dogs, they cause macadamia nut toxicosis with very serious affects such as inability to stand, vomiting, muscle tremors, hyperthermia, and elevated heart rate. Usually a dog can recover, but it can be deadly, especially if chocolate is fed with the macadamia nuts.

Why flu hits us in the Winter

I read an interesting article by Dr. Rowen of the Second Opinion newsletter on the real reason flu hits in Winter.

According to Dr. Rowen, it's not the cold weather as most people believe, because studies have shown people in warmer climates still get the flu in Winter.  Back in 2005 a prison in California was hit by a severe flu outbreak.  Only one ward wasn't affected by this outbreak, and they were exposed the same as the other inmates.  However, the doctor in that one ward was giving prisoners daily doses of vitamin D.

Vitamin D protects you from many illnesses including osteoporosis and cancer, and it protects you against infections also.  Vitamin D stimulates your body to make a powerful germ-fighting substance called cathelicidin.  Our vitamin D levels drop in the Winter because we don't get enough sunlight.  Sunlight causes your body to produce vitamin D.  So Dr. Rowen advises taking vitamin D in D3 form (it's the same as your body makes) in supplement form in the Fall, Winter and Spring.  It's hard to get enough vitamin D from food; however, some foods that contain natural vitamin D are:
cod liver oil  (1 tablespoon contains 1,360 i.u.)
mackerel
sardines
tuna fish
beef liver
egg yolks

For more information on vitamin D, click here.  So supplement your diet with vitamin D to avoid getting sick this Winter.

Making your home's exterior sparkle

Whether you're trying to sell your home in today's competitive "buyers market" or just want to make your home look more personalized, we all hope our home looks and feels inviting to visitors, family and friends. Your home's interior is important, but so is your home's exterior, starting at the street with your mailbox and continuing up to your front door.

That's why a home's curb appeal is important. Starting at the street, make sure that your mailbox fits with the style of your home and clearly shows your address numbers so that visitors can find you easily. You might also set the mood of your home with one of the many custom address plaques available today. Many designers on the landscaping shows I enjoy use personalized address plaques with the house numbers right by the front door or if you have a larger lot perhaps out in the yard.

Continuing on with your curb appeal, install a lamp post at the beginning of your sidewalk so that your visitors path is well lit to your front door. Add a decorative mat at your door with a potted plant or two on the sides to show your personal style and a welcoming touch. And don't forget the glitz or jewelry for your home's entrance - a new porch light, door knocker and kick plate at the bottom of the door gives your front porch a little sparkle and finishes that first impression for visitors and it won't break your budget. Silver or bronze address plaques are just one way to add some sparkle to your front porch. Get creative and make your house show your very own personality.

The beauty and meaning of flowers

As a home gardener, I love the beauty and fragrance of flowers, from the natural wildflowers surrounding my vegetable garden to the more hybrid and delicate roses that climb a trellis above our gate. Walking out into my yard and seeing the simple beauty of my flowers really brightens my day. I remember helping my grandma gather fresh flowers from her garden to take to a sick friend, to make arrangements for the altar for Sunday church services or to place on someone's grave. Flowers evoke a strong emotion in us and I'm sure that's the reason sending flowers has become such a tradition in our society.

Sending live plants and flowers is a great way to express our feelings, such as sympathy, to say I'm sorry, to celebrate an important occasion like a birthday, anniversary, engagement, or just to say I'm thinking of you today. And did you know the type and color of flower you choose has a special meaning? One of the most popular flowers is the rose; red roses are a sign of love, white roses eternal love or innocence, pink roses perfect happiness, yellow roses friendship, or a single rose says "I love you" or "I still love you." Another popular flower is the carnation and it has different meanings depending upon the color also; red carnations mean admiration, pink carnations mean "I'll never forget you, white carnations mean innocence, yellow carnations mean rejection or disdain, and a striped carnation means refusal or "I can't be with you."

And when you receive your lovely flowers, you want them to last as long as possible. One way is to use those little packets that come with your flowers as they contain bactericides to kill bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Other additives for cut flowers that work well to kill bacteria etc are copper (a penny) an aspirin, or two tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar in one quart of water. Here are some other tips to keep your flowers fresher longer:
* use cold water (using warm water will dehydrate the flowers)
* place cut flowers in refrigerator for 6 hours to triple their lifespan
* recut stems every few days
* remove leaves and foliage below the water line

So the next time you receive some flowers, you'll know the secret meaning behind them and how to keep them looking their best longer.

Natural ways to avoid the flu

This time of year, we're encouraged by the CDC to get a flu shot. But did you know that people don't usually die from the flu itself, but from pneumonia, and the flu vaccines don't protect you from pneumonia? And some evidence points to flu shots causing Alzheimer's and Autism because of the mercury and aluminum formaldehyde contained in them. Other adverse reactions to flu vaccines are joint inflammation, arthritis, anaphylactic shock, and Guillain-Barre'syndrome, a paralytic autoimmune disease.

The good news is that Vitamin D will protect you from the flu. Our bodies produce Vitamin D naturally from sun exposure, but in the Fall and Winter our bodies can become deficient in the vitamin so supplementation may be needed. Cod liver oil is an excellent source of the vitamin. Dr. Mercola has more information on the subject of flu shots and the use of Vitamin D.

Titanium Jewelry

Normally I think of jewelry being made from gold, silver or platinum, but I've recently been reading alot about titanium jewelry. Titanium is a very strong and durable metal and is said to be harder to cut or shape compared to gold, silver or platinum, thus making it a very good metal for jewelry. Titanium is not a precious metal but the price of titanium jewelry is due to the skilled labor involved to craft the ring because of the metal's hardness. The jewelry is made from a solid bar of titanium which makes for a seamless piece. One big benefit of jewelry made from titanium is that it won't irritate or discolor your skin like other precious metals can, which is why it is often used for medical and dental purposes.

If you're interested in titanium jewelry, Titaniumstyle.com is worth your consideration. They have a great assortment of titanium bracelets, necklaces and rings to choose from. And if you're looking for wedding rings, their titanium ring design assortment is quite large, including hammered, inlaid and stone set designs. If you're unsure about your ring size, they have a ring size guide under the "fitting help" tab. Every order is delivered with a certificate of authenticity and a warranty card for their lifetime warranty so you can order with confidence.

So if you're looking for some new jewelry or maybe a wedding is in your future plans, check out titanium jewelry for a unique and long lasting piece.

(sponsored by TitaniumStyle.com)

A new use for that leaky garden hose

If you have a leaky garden hose, don't throw it away. It can easily be converted into a soaker hose for your flowers or vegetable garden.

Simply attach a cap to one end to seal it. These caps can be purchased very cheaply at any garden or hardware store. Then poke some holes all along the hose, and you've got yourself a soaker hose for no money.

Home storage solutions

The long warm relaxing days of Summer are behind us and it's time to get things in order around your home before Winter sets in. Maybe you're looking for some storage solutions to protect your lawn furniture or organize your garage that has become cluttered over the Summer.

Steel Sheds are one way to maximize your storage, giving you added storage while saving space in your garage. In your garage, Steel Storage Cabinets are a great way to organize items you use for car maintenance, painting supplies, tools and other home maintenance materials you keep on hand. Arrow Sheds and Arrow Spacemaker Garage Storage cabinets are just two items available from ArrowSpacemaker.com. They also have car ports, patios, shelving, tool racks and workbenches etc. for all your storage needs. They've been in business since 1962 and have sold over 12 million sheds worldwide. Storage sheds start as low as $75 and right now they're having a Fall clearance sale so it's a good time to check them out.

Putting a little thought and effort into organizing your home will make it much easier to locate what you need the next time you have a home project or need to work on your vehicles. And it's always smart to protect your possessions from the harsh elements of Nature.

(sponsored by ArrowSpacemaker.com)