How To-75: "How to Prepare Yourself for a Healthy Pregnancy"

How to Prepare Yourself for a Healthy Pregnancy at 35 Years Old

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Thirty-five seems to be the turning point for an increase in fertility issues, miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth, placenta previa (placenta covering the cervix), birth defects, high blood pressure, diabetes, as well as complications during labor in an expectant mother. There are ways to reduce the risks. A healthier you is a greater guarantee for a healthy baby.

Steps

Before Pregnancy

1. Get a thorough blood, urine, blood pressure, diabetes test done.
2. Have a thorough gynecological exam done and talk to your ob/gyn that you are planning to conceive.
3. Have a family history ready for your doctor. If miscarriages have taken place in the past, then share this information with your doctor. Ditto with seizures, high blood pressure, diabetes, or any chronic medical conditions. Also provide a list of all medication (short-term and long-term), vitamins, and 'natural' or 'health' herbs, pills, drinks, etc.
4. Take vitamins your doctor prescribes for 3 months before you plan on conceiving. These contain, among other things, folic acid, which is critical for the development for the fetus.
5. Stop drinking alcohol, smoking, and/or drugs, if you use any of these intoxicants. Ditto for your significant other, whose sperm quality is affected by these habits. There is no such thing as 'moderate' smoking or drugs. Planning for pregnancy calls for complete cessation of these activities before, during, and after pregnancy.
6. Get on a regular routine for sleeping, eating, exercising, and relaxing. Stress works against getting pregnant and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Once the baby is out, routine is out of the question for the next 18 years or so.
7. If overweight (have the doctor tell you what normal is, with body fat measurements, charts, etc.), focus on losing weight first by dieting and exercising, both in moderation. Excess weight may lead to increased chances for gestational diabetes as well as difficult labor. To make your plan foolproof, consult with a dietician to ensure you are getting the very best of nutrients in the right portions.
8. Attend yoga classes two to three times a week for both mind and body, i.e., flexibility, strength, breath control, relaxation, and focus. Get regular massages to relax further.

During Pregnancy

1. Stick to your doctor's appointments and treat them as sacrosanct. Review with the doctor blood test results taken during pregnancy, especially the tests that cover the likelihood of specific birth defects.
2. Stick to your doctor's prescribed list of prenatal screening tests. Being over 35, amniocentensis will most likely be recommended. To get more information on the
3. Listen to your instinct. If something feels wrong, go to your doctor's or to the hospital.
4. Keep your visits to beauty salons to a minimum. Avoid all chemical fumes. Avoid getting your hair colored or chemically treated. Minimize the manicure/pedicure time. Request for a well-ventilated area.
5. Maintain your diet to prevent gestational diabetes, under strict supervision from a dietician. Gestational diabetes can be a precursor to diabetes later on in life, and results in bigger babies with their own health problems, not to mention a riskier labor. A dietician will also avoid which foods to avoid or reduce, e.g., fish that carries higher risk for mercury, etc.
6. Make regular appointments with a masseuse who specializes in pre-natal massage. Regular massage, especially Swedish, Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, and Reflexology are out of the question.
7. Stick to a regular routine for sleeping, eating, exercising, and relaxing.
8. Enroll in pre-natal yoga classes two to three times a week. Take moderate walks up to 30 mins. a day.
9. The first trimester is immensely taxing. Listen to your body, slow down, and get extra sleep (learn to sleep on your side, not back). Weekend afternoon naps are de rigeur. You may or may not experience morning sickness or nausea. Keep nausea at bay by sticking to a 6 times a day diet in small quantities and by avoiding strong smells and greasy, fried foods. Ditch the high heels and switch to flats and supportive sneakers, preferably. Get used to getting bigger shoes to accommodate for the 'swelling'. Avoid getting into stressful situations, if possible. Your body is slowly increasing its internal heat. Plan your wardrobe accordingly, even in winter.
10. The second trimester is the golden trimester. Keep up the routine.
11. The third trimester is again very taxing, especially the last 4 weeks. If working, and if the doctor advises that yours is a high risk pregnancy, then take off from work earlier than scheduled, as per the doctor's instructions. Keep up the yoga, sleep, diet, light exercise.

Tips

• Don't be shy to ask people to give up their seats in a bus, train, or subway car. Point to your belly and request politely for a seat.
• At work, have an emergency plan ready for number 1 and 2 colleagues who would stay with you throughout the trip to the hospital should you go into labor while at work. Include doctor's name, number, hospital name, number, address, map, directions, personal contacts' information.

Warnings

• Any thing that just feels wrong, e.g., baby not moving when he/she regularly does so.
• Sudden, sharp pain anywhere.
• Lightheadness, fainting, sudden sweating, hot flashes.
• Bleeding.
• Anybody/anything 'bumping' into your pregnant belly or your back. Must be avoided at all costs. This means using both arms even in a crowded subway to guard your belly and asking people for space.
• Avoid any situation that may result in your falling (even on your butt). Attempting to 'waddle' on icy sidewalks and on stairs is a no-no.
• If you fall or are bumped into, go to the doctor or the hospital.

Related wikiHows

• How to Get Pregnant
• How to Find out the Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy
• How to Deal With Teen Pregnancy
• How to Estimate Date of Conception
• How to Take Care of Your Twins Pregnancy

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Prepare Yourself for a Healthy Pregnancy at 35 Years Old. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-74: "How to Sidestep Depression During the Holidays"

How to Sidestep Depression During the Holidays

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

The season of light can be very dark for many people. The holidays represent a stressful time for most. Expectations are high, commitments are many, and time seems more scarce than ever. With a few helpful tips and some planning, many of these issues can be avoided.

Steps

1. Start early. As the adage “The early bird catches the worm" counsels, getting a head start on your holiday preparations can save you a lot of headaches later on. Gather your family members and quiz them on their favorite foods. Compile a list of your favorite meals, then select the ones that combine the best. Who ever said you can’t have spaghetti for a holiday meal? Do what works for yourself and your family. Reaching a compromise and an agreement early on takes the stress out of last-minute meal planning.
2. Shop ahead. If you have a mile-long list of people to gift this year, consider buying in bulk. Forget buying an individual gift for all your child’s preschool pals. Go to a warehouse which sells things in large quantities and earmark those items for larger groups.
3. Remember the reason for the season. If you come from a Christian background, remind your children that Christmas is not about Santa Claus alone, but about celebrating Jesus’s birthday. We give and receive gifts as a reminder of his importance in our lives.
4. Manage your children's expectations. It will help prevent an embarrassing outburst on Christmas morning in front of Aunt Sarah when your child fails to get his favorite toy.
5. Make a mailing list. Use your Excel computer application, if you have one, to manage your addresses. Have your children help dig through old Christmas cards to find addresses of long lost friends and relatives. Allow your children to cut up the old Christmas cards to make new ones of their own.
6. Use an advent calendar. Advent is a neat time of year in Germany. It is comprised of the last four Sundays before Christmas. We use an advent calendar with the 25 days up to Christmas to help our children deal with the anxiety of waiting for the big day. You can make your own by wrapping 25 little treats to be opened each day. Or get a regular calendar and place a special sticker on each day as it begins.
7. Get exercise. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, light is a precious commodity. Be sure to get out during your lunch break for a bit of sun exposure. Even on cloudy days, it can revive your spirit and give you the oxygen you require. Shovel snow if it applies to you.
8. Get enough sleep. Have you noticed that when the days are shorter your need for sleep increases? It is a natural response. In a way, our bodies shut down. Honoring your need for rest is as important as ever.
9. Eat vitamin-enriched food. If the sun is weaker in your area, your daily dose of vitamins needs to come from your food intake. Take vitamins and drink fruit tea and lemon to stave off the common cold.
10. Communicate with your partner. Oftentimes, admitting you feel blue is all you need to reach acceptance that things aren’t always perfect.
11. Take time to celebrate with friends, or catch up with people you may not see often. A phone call to distant relatives or friends will brighten both your days.
12. Volunteer in your neighborhood. Helping others often gives a boost to your own spirit, and is a good way to meet new people and build new friendships. Is there a canned food drive? What about gift wrapping for a charity? Maybe a soup kitchen?
13. Celebrate the winter solstice. Mark off the days on your calendar to encourage yourself that a new beginning is right around the corner. Gather with friends to honor this age-old rite of passage into the season of renewal.
14. The winter solstice also marks the fewest number of daylight hours, and that can make getting out of bed difficult in the mornings. To create your own artificial "sunrise" in an otherwise dark bedroom, use a multi-light lamp hooked up to timer. There are other ways to Brighten-up-a-Dark-Room too.

Tips

• In some women, depression may be caused (or worsened) by low hormone levels, most commonly progesterone...and progesterone levels drop in times of stress (such as the holidays). Progesterone helps keep serotonin levels from dropping too low, and low serotonin can cause depression. Doctors can test for low progesterone and prescribe it (though many doctors are unaware of the link with depression); it is even available without prescription, which gives you an idea how safe it is when used according to directions. Indications that a depression may be progesterone related are: symptoms get worse in the two weeks before menses, during perimenopause/menopause, or after giving birth. Anxiety-depression is most commonly seen, sometimes accompanied by severe mood swings and insomnia; some women may get more headaches/migraines. NOTE: synthetic progestins such as Provera, medroxyprogesterone, DepoProvera, and birth control pills can make these symptoms worse instead of better; we're talking about progesterone specifically, not its "substitutes". Progesterone is available as Progest cream (a good brand) without prescription, and as Prometrium capsules with prescription; compounding pharmacies also make various dose forms (such as Progesterone 50 mg/ml Lotion, compounded).

Warnings

• Many people get stressed and feel down during the winter holiday season, but if you're really feeling depressed, see a therapist or a doctor. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real type of seasonal depression that may require medication or light box therapy.

Sources and Citations

• For more tips, go to http://www.diaryofamother.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.diaryofamother.com
• For additional information on seasonal affective disorder, try this site or do a google search: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195" rel="nofollow">http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Sidestep Depression During the Holidays. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-73: "How to Deal With Your Period"

How to Deal With Your Period

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have a hard time when that time of the month comes? Here are some tips to help you become less stressed when your "friend" comes!

Steps

1. Always keep a pad/tampon/etc. with you. Even if it's not that time of the month, you should still carry it with you just in case.
   
2. Try plain ibuprofen first, if you have cramps. If ibuprofen doesn't work, try Pamprin, Midol, next time. If it still doesn't work, put a heating pad or hot water bottle on the painful spots, take a bath, or exercise. It might help to cut down on the amount of sugar and salt you eat. Also, you can try lying on your back on the floor with your legs elevated on the couch - it forces your uterine muscles to relax and is a natural pain reliever after ten or fifteen minutes.
   
3. Try to keep track of how long you have your period, when it started and ends, how heavy it is, etc. If your period lasts longer than 1 week to 10 days, consult your gynecologist.
   
4. Take a day off! Relieve all that stress.
   
5. Get plenty of rest and eat healthy. It will keep your body in balance, and you won't feel as bad. Be careful not to change your diet completely, as it will create more complications.
   
6. Warn people you are close to ahead of time, if you are moody so they can prepare and take caution. Part of maturing into womanhood, though, is learning to manage your moods. If you experience severe mood swings, tell your doctor -you may need some help with an imbalance.
   
7. Wear comfortable clothes. Most women would prefer not to wear uncomfortable clothing while having their period. Wear some sweat pants and a sweatshirt or anything else that feels comfortable, but don't make it too obvious. You can just wear black pants and keep a jacket around in case you stain your pants. When that happens, you can just tie it around your waist.
   
8. Try not to stress out! Stress can affect your flow and/or your cycle. Relax for a little bit and don't worry about it. Other women have to go through the same thing, so you're not the only one!
   
9. If you have to change for gym in school, wear red, black or brown underwear. People will be less likely to notice you have your period. Also, try changing your pad before gym and try to wear pads without wings. It will be much harder for girls to tell that you have your period if you're wearing a pad without wings. Try changing your pants or shorts wearing a long t-shirt, if you prefer.
   

Tips

• Try different combinations of pads and tampons. For example, try a light tampon and a pantyliner when your flow isn't so heavy, or try a larger sized tampon with a pantyliner for heavy flows.
  
• If a certain size of tampon doesn't fit, don't force it! Try a different size.
  
• Don't change your diet when you are about to have or you do have your period.
  
• Don't pig out! You may desperately want to, but high doses of sugar and salt may cause severe cramps.
  
• Wear darker pants/shorts and panties during your period so if you do happen to leak it won't be as noticeable.
  
• Try not wearing skirts or dresses during your period, unless you are absolutely sure your flow is light. You don't want a leak happening.
  
• Wear older panties (known as "period panties") during your period.
  
• Do shower regularly during your period.
  
• Carry around a small purse with your tampon/pad. You don't want to keep them in a pencil case because people are likely to go through them.
  
• Feminax is a good painkiller.
  

Warnings

• If you feel nausea, headaches, hot flashes, or fatigue while using a tampon, take the tampon out and replace it with a pad to prevent TSS (toxic shock syndrome) and see your doctor.
  
• If you don't change your pad/tampon regularly you might smell an unpleasant odor. Change it regularly.
  
• Read the labels on any medications you take, even over-the-counter ones, especially if you are sensitive to any medications. Many of those formulated for periods have multiple ingredients in them, so if plain ibuprofen works for you, stick with that.
  
• If you wear tampons, at least one day of your period should be without one and wear a pad. It's better for you that way.
  

Things You'll Need

• Tampons/Pads/Pantiliners/Menstrual Cup/etc. of your choice
  
• Ibuprofen, Pamprin, Midol, etc.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Swim when You Are on Your Period
  
• How to Tell Your Mom About Your Period
  
• How to Have a Relatively Accident Free Period
  
• How to Celebrate Your Daughter's First Period
  
• How to Survive Your Period when You Live With All Guys
  
• How to Tell a Friend You Have Started Your Period
  
• How to Stop Your Mom from Telling Everyone You Got Your Period
  
• How to Get Through PMS
  
• How to Reduce Menstrual Cramps
  

Sources and Citations

• Monthly Challenges: Your Period and You from iEmily.com
  
• Getting Your Period from girlshealth.gov

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Deal With Your Period. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Health News-10: "Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg in Anti-smoking Campaign"

Billionaires Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg have jointly pledged $ 500 million for an anti-smoking campaign with special focus on India and China.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, July 25, 2008.

Article on “Smoking” and “Tobacco and Health” from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_tobacco_smoking

“Secondhand Smoke Fact Sheet” from American Lung Association:
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35422#one

“Secondhand Smoke and Children Fact Sheet” from American Lung Association:
http://www.lungusa.org/site/?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=39857

“Global Information System on Tobacco Control (GISTOC)” from World Health Organisation (WHO):
http://www.who.int/tobacco/global_data/en/index.html

“You Can Quit Smoking” from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dept of Health and Human Services, USA:
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/you_can_quit/nicotine.htm

Grateful thanks to The Hindu, American Lung Association, WHO, CDC and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Health Warnings-1: "Soya Risk"

A soya-basd diet is linked to low sperm count, suggests a new study by the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, July 25, 2008 (“Newscape”)

Asthma and Allergic Foundation of America website says soya contains 15 allergenic proteins and it may cause asthma, urticaria, eczema, allergic rhinitis etc. The relevant page from their website:
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=20&cont=522

For detailed article on Soyabean from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean

For a detailed article on “Soy - One of the nine most common food allergens” from Health Canada:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/allerg/fa-aa/allergen_soy-soja-eng.php

“The dark side of Soy” from AlterNet.org:
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/56087/

Grateful thanks to The Hindu, Asthma and Allergic Foundation of America, Health Canada, AlterNet.org and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Health Tips-18: The Six Tastes and their Application in Treatment

The Six Tastes and their Application in Treatment (especially Diabetes)

Though the West classifies food taste into four categories: sweetness, bitterness, saltiness and sourness, India classifies food taste into six categories, the additional two being 'pungent' and 'astringent'.

Indian Naturopathy experts say one can keep good health and overcome diseases by eating raw, uncooked, natural food. One can easily find websites and books suggesting various types of natural food depending upon the condition of the individual. The general idea is if our food is balanced and contain all the six tastes in the right proportion, our system is strengthened and it can tackle most of the ailments. But since we generally avoid 'bitter' and 'astringent' food and prefer sweet and spicy food, our system gets weakened.

Two important points from various Nature Cure experts are:

1. Bitter-tasting food generally strengthens blood vessels; and,

2. Astringent-tasting food generally improves blood circulation.

As such, these these two tastes are important and one should not avoid them. They should be taken in moderation like every other taste. Too much of anything is generally not good.

Bitterness contrasts sweetness. As you may probably know, medical experts tell us that excess blood surgar can damage small blood vessels in the heart, eyes and the kidneys and that is why diabetes is called a silent killer. When excess blood sugar damages small blood vessels in the eyes, it impairs one's vision and one can even become totally blind suddenly. Once a diabetic loses his eyesight, there is no way he can get it back. This has happened to many.

Likewise, when excess blood sugar damges the small blood vessels in the heart, heart ailments including massive heart attack could happen. That is why experts advise you to keep your blood sugar under control.

There are some relevant articles on this topic, which you can see for yourself if you want:

1. 'Taste' (Article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste#Basic_taste

2. 'The Six Tastes of Ayurveda' (Article from HealingLifestyles.com)

http://www.healinglifestyles.com/index.php/nov2006-balancedliving-cuisine

3. 'Diabetes Mellitus" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes

4. 'Diabetic Retinopathy' from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_retinopathy

5. 'Diabetic Retinopathy: Treatment and Prevention' from ABC of Diabetes:

http://diabetes-abc.blogspot.com/2007/10/diabetic-retinopathy-treatment.html

6. 'Diabetes: Short-term Complications' from Diabetes Information Guide:

http://www.reddiabetes.com/Diabetes_Short_Term_Comlications.html

7. 'Diabetes: Long-term Complications' from Diabetes Information Guide:

http://www.reddiabetes.com/Diabetes_Long_Term_Complications.html

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, HealingLifestyles.com, ABC of Diabetes and Diabetes Information Guide.

Alternative Medicine: "Oil Pulling"

Oil Pulling or just “OP”, as it is popularly known, is being used by people all over the world. It is claimed to cure a lot of diseases like headache, toothache and a plethora of other diseases, besides ulcers in the mouth.

I tried OP personally some years back for a period of about 30 days. My sincere feeling is that there is definitely something good in it. As it is said, most of the infections start in the mouth, and OP obviously prevents many of these.

Many websites and blogs devoted exclusively to OP have sprung up. They give in detail method of using OP, its benefits and many other things. I am furnishing below a few links which you may find useful:

FAQ : http://www.oilpulling.com/faq.htm

User Experiences: http://www.oilpulling.com/users.htm

Home Page: http://www.oilpulling.com/

How to do Oil Pulling: http://www.guideforselfhealing.com/2007/06/05/how-to-do-oil-pulling/

Article on “Oil Pulling” from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_pulling

“Bad Teeth Equal Bad Heart”:
http://preventdisease.com/news/articles/020805_bad_teeth_heart.shtml

“Link between Gum Disease and Heart Disease”:
http://austindental.com/more/gumupdate.shtml

Grateful thanks to Oilpulling.com, Guide for Self-Healing, PreventDisease.com, AustinDental.com and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Health Tips-17: Nuts and Asthma Risk

London: Pregnant who eat nuts or nut products like peanut butter daily raise the risk of their children developing asthma by 50%, Dutch researchers said on Tuesday.

The study also showed that moderate amounts did not seem to have an effect, meaning it is too soon to say whether pregnant women should give up nuts because they contain many important nutrients and healthy fats a developing foetus needs.

“We were the first to find these strong effects on asthma symptoms,” said Saskia Willers, an epidemiologist at Utrecht University, who led the study. “But until we are certain we don’t want to restrict them from the diet.”

In some countries as many as 30% of children develop asthma, according to the World Health Organisation. Scientists do not know why some children develop asthma; some believe allergies can trigger the disease that causes a narrowing of the bronchial tubes. – Reuters.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, July 16, 2008

Articles on “Asthma” and “Allergy” from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergies

Grateful thanks to Reuters, The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How To-72: "How to Stop Bleeding Gums"

How to Stop Bleeding Gums

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Bleeding gums are not uncommon, and most often, the culprits are either brushing too hard or flossing infrequently. Beyond lightening up with the toothbrush and/or flossing more regularly (every day, so that your gums get used to it), you can stop the bleeding naturally, with ingredients you'll find in your cupboard.
---6-4-08---
And how will flossing reach 3 to 4 mm or more under the gum line to eliminate the infection? The surface of your tooth is not infected, the tissue around the root of the tooth is infected.
Plain water pressurized irrigation is the only way to keep the wound (and it is a wound)clean and the bacteria out. You are removing loosely attached plaque before it becomes attached and allows bacteria to grow. Use it the am and before bed. There are models now that hook up to your shower and are very easy to use with no mess. A mixture of lemon and honey is not going to cure a periodontal infection.

Ingredients

• Half a lemon
  
• With a glass of Jahmela(just kidding)
  
• 1 cup of warm water
  
• 1 teaspoon of honey
  

Steps

1. Squeeze the juice out of the lemon.
   
2. Mix it with the water.
   
3. Add the honey.
   
4. Stir it all up.
   
5. Drink it, making sure to swish it all throughout your mouth before you swallow.
   

Tips

• This drink should be taken every morning.
  
• Massaging the gums gently with coconut oil also helps.
  
• Massaging your gums gently with warm water and a soft toothbrush helps toughen them up. Tougher gums are less likely to bleed.
  

Warnings

• This remedy does not replace a dentist's attention. It is for temporary relief from bleeding gums. See a dentist as soon as you can because the problem could be serious.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Keep Your Children Brushing Their Teeth
  
• How to Get Rid of Bad Breath
  
• How to Stop Bleeding Gums, Gingivitis, Periodontitis
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stop Bleeding Gums. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-71: "How to Recognize the Early Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Alzheimers Disease is a tragic illness that robs victims and their families of years of happiness by slowly destroying the mind and personality of the person afflicted. Though there is no cure yet, there are drugs available to treat symptoms and delay progression of Alzheimer's if it is diagnosed early. A new test called a bio-barcode assay, which may be able to identify a certain protein in spinal fluid associated with the disease, is being studied to determine its usefulness in the early detection of the disease. Hopefully this will prove to be a key tool in diagnosis and treatment in the near future. Until then, being aware of the early symptoms of Alzheimer�s is the best way to catch it in its early stages.

Steps

1. Watch for memory loss, one of the first signs of the disease. If someone has trouble recalling where they parked the car or what they went to get in the pantry, that is not unusual and may be a normal part of aging. The loss associated with early Alzheimer's affects short term memory, things that recently happened, such as not remembering that they ate lunch an hour ago. Another indicator may be that they are increasingly and persistently misplacing everyday objects like glasses or keys. Or putting the items in unusual places, like the refrigerator.
   
2. Listen carefully. The inability to think of the word for common items like a spoon or hairbrush may also occur. This is not the same as being at a momentary loss of a descriptive word for something. The individual no longer knows what the object is called and may make-up or use a word that sounds like or has a similar meaning for the object. Speech and understanding become slower and they may lose their train of thought in mid sentence.
   
3. Pay attention. Difficulty learning new things and making new memories is another indicator. The individual has a shorter attention span, may ask repetitive questions and resists change. They also have trouble organizing their thoughts and thinking logically. This loss of processing skills might be evident in the inability to do things such as balance a checkbook or forgetting to pay for an item.
   
4. Spend time observing. Being unable to perform simple everyday tasks as effortlessly as they once did is another symptom of mild Alzheimers. The individual may take longer doing routine things and become agitated if rushed. They may also get lost easily, even going to familiar places, and sleep patterns can become disturbed.
   
5. Be aware of behavioral changes. One of the earliest changes might be a loss of interest in life or things once enjoyed. Less energy, a lack of spontaneity, emotional outbursts and unprovoked hostility are other symptoms. The individual may also experience a loss of inhibition causing behavior such as undressing in public or making inappropriate remarks. The loss of the ability to judge time and space and whats going on around them can contribute to paranoid behavior.
   
6. Other signs can be e.g. going outside in their nightie/pyjamas, neglect of personal grooming and hygiene, accusing people of stealing/moving/hiding belongings.
   

Tips

• Drugs do exist that can treat some symptoms of the disease such as improving memory and calming anxieties. It is more likely that symptoms will respond to treatments early in the disease.
  
• Beginning treatment as soon as possible will make the individual afflicted more comfortable and better able to independently perform certain personal functions longer. This will also make things easier for the caregiver.
  
• Early diagnosis gives the patient and family the time needed to make decisions about the future, including health care, financial and legal concerns.
  

Warnings

• The symptoms listed above are associated with early or mild Alzheimer's Disease. They could also be symptoms of other illnesses - including dehydration, vitamin deficiency, thyroid problems and reaction to medicines - which are treatable and reversible. If you are concerned about yourself or someone you care about it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
  
• Just because you forget things (car keys, water bottle, etc) does not mean you have Alzheimer's disease. Check with a doctor if you think you have Alzheimers.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Be More Aware of Your Health
  
• How to Deal With Alzheimers As a Caregiver
  
• How to Recognize the Signs of Attention Deficit Disorder
  
• How to Finance Nursing Home Care
  
• How to Grow Old Without Feeling Old
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Recognize the Early Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-70: "How to Question Your Doctor About Heartburn"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Occasional heartburn is common, but heartburn symptoms that are more frequent could mean something more serious such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). If you have heartburn symptoms, here are some things you should address at your appointment.

Steps

1. Determine if your case is relatively mild or severe. A heartburn severity scale is a way for people to measure their pain so that health professionals can help plan how best to control it. Mild symptoms are defined as symptoms that are hardly perceivable with only a slight impairment of general well-being; moderate symptoms are defined as clearly noticeable symptoms, but tolerable without immediate relief; and severe symptoms are defined as overwhelming discomfort with an urgent desire for immediate relief.
   
2. Find out about recommended lifestyle changes. There are a lot of things you can do to avoid heartburn in the first place. They all mostly get down to what you put in your mouth. You want to avoid those foods that stimulate the prodcuction of acid in your stomach, avoid smoking, and limit your drinking of alcoholic beverages.
   
3. Inquire about over-the-counter medicines. If your heartburn is mild and infrequent you can usually manage it temporarily by avoiding certain foods or activities that cause symptoms or with over-the-counter treatments like antacids or H2-antagonists, also known as H2-blockers. Antacids neutralize the stomach acid already present and provide quick but short-term relief of heartburn symptoms. H2 blockers partially block the production of stomach acid. H2 blockers can be effective depending on the specific product or brand used and typically one dose can last from 6 to 12 hours.
   
4. Consider prescription medicine. Medicines that reduce the amount of acid that your stomach releases are commonly referred to as PPIs or proton-pump inhibitors. PPIs effect both the symptoms of heartburn and help heal the damage that GERD does to the esophagus. They are often recommended for people whose symptoms are not relieved by H2 blockers or who already have some damage to the lining of their esophagus.
   
   • Ask about side effects. Individual results vary but you may experience side effects like abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, and/or headache.
     
   
   
5. Discuss alternative if the medicine doesn't help. There are other medicines that address heartburn from different angles, for example there are medicines that makes you feel full sooner.
   
6. Figure out if you show any signs of esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus You should ask your doctor about this if swallowing causes pain when food reaches part of your esophagus or if food sticks in this area, or if you experience bleeding. Anemia (low red-blood cell count), black stools, and vomiting of blood (obviously) are signs of bleeding.
   
7. Ask about an examination for esophageal cancer. Humphrey Bogart died of esophageal cancer at the age of 57. Since the signs of esophagitis can be the same as for esophageal cancer it is a good topic to bring up with your doctor.
   
8. Set up future examinations if necessary. Ongoing symptoms require ongoing exams if only to compare your current situation against your first visits.
   
9. Accept that surgery may be a possibility. Surgery is occasionally required to treat esophagitis, especially if a hiatus hernia is present and when the above steps have been ineffective. Newer laparoscopic surgery has simplified this procedure.
   

Related wikiHows

• How to Cope With Wearing Nappies As a Disabled Person
  
• How to Be Comfortable Urinating in Front of People
  
• How to Get Rid of Food Poisoning
  
• How to Take Precautions to Prevent Diarrheal Illness
  

Sources and Citations

• How To Address Heartburn With Your Doctor - Original source of this page. Shared with permission
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Question Your Doctor About Heartburn. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-69: "How to Treat Diarrhoea Without Medicines"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There are certain times when it is not recommended that you treat diarrhea with OTC medicines (ex. when you're taking antibiotics). Here are a few tips that may help!

Steps

1. Drink clear fluids - broth and juices - for the first twelve hours of your diarrhea.
   
2. Follow the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Green bananas are best for diarrhea.
   
3. Try to eat bland foods, such as chicken and Jell-O.
   
4. Limit insoluble fibers. Insoluble fibers are called "insoluble" because they do not dissolve in water. Insoluble fibers accelerate the movement of food through the GI tract. Soluble fibers, such as pectin (found in applesauce), slow the movement of food through the GI tract by forming a gel when combined with water. Soluble fibers have a property called viscosity, and fibers with a higher viscosity are more beneficial for diarrhea.
   
5. Try some yogurt. If the diarrhea is caused by antibiotics, yogurt with live cultures is often helpful to restore the balance in your digestive tract. Often the cause of antibiotic-related diarrhea is an overgrowth of the clostridium bacteria, and "good" bacteria often help keep that in check.
   
6. Eliminate foods that might be contributing to your diarrhea, such as high-fructose foods, sugar-free foods sweetened with sugar alcohols, and dairy products. Dairy products may worsen diarrhea in people who are not lactose-intolerant because food usually travels through the intestines more quickly during diarrhea, which may reduce the absorption of lactose. The unabsorbed lactose may then draw water into the bowels.
   

Tips

• Having diarrhea for more than 1 week means you need to change your diet. If it still persists, call your doctor ASAP.
  
• If you have the urge to go. Just go. We know it's disgusting but better out than in right? Do not hold it in as it the symptoms will get worse.
  

Warnings

• The foods you want to avoid is anything that makes you go to the bathroom. Do NOT eat beans or chocolate. This makes you go.
  
• When you are in the theaters, avoid the food.
  

Things You'll Need

• A will power of the foods you like that causes you to go the bathroom
  
• A bland diet
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Remember to Take Medication
  
• How to Determine if Expired Medication Is Good
  
• How to Swallow Bitter Medicine
  
• How to Administer Medicine to a Resistant Child
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Treat Diarrhea Without Medicines. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-68: "How to Use Herbal Supplements Safely"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement that contains herbs. A plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent, or potential therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and roots., either singly or in mixtures. An herb (also called a botanical) is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties.
Many herbs have a long history of use and of claimed health benefits. However, some herbs have caused health problems for users. This article contains points you should consider for your safety if you use, or are thinking about using, herbs for health purposes. It does not discuss whether herbs work for specific diseases and conditions.

Steps

1. Understand that "natural" doesn't necessarily mean safe. It's important to know that just because an herbal supplement is labeled "natural" does not mean it is safe or without any harmful effects. For example, the herbs kava and comfrey have been linked to serious liver damage.
   
2. Be aware that herbal supplements can act in the same way as drugs. This means that they can cause medical problems if not used correctly or if taken in large amounts. In some cases, people have experienced negative effects even though they followed the instructions on a supplement label.
   
3. Be very cautious if you are pregnant or nursing. Women who are pregnant or nursing should be especially cautious about using herbal supplements, since these products can act like drugs. This caution also applies to treating children with herbal supplements.
   
4. Get proper advice. It is important to consult your health care provider before using an herbal supplement, especially if you are taking any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some herbal supplements are known to interact with medications in ways that cause health problems. Even if your provider does not know about a particular supplement, he can access the latest medical guidance on its uses, risks, and interactions.
   
5. Follow your health professional's instructions. If you use herbal supplements, it is best to do so under the guidance of a medical professional who has been properly trained in herbal medicine. This is especially important for herbs that are part of a whole medical system, such as traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurvedic medicine.
   
6. Note any different regulation issues. In the United States, for example, herbal and other dietary supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods. This means that they do not have to meet the same standards as drugs and over-the-counter medications for proof of safety, effectiveness, and what the FDA calls Good Manufacturing Practices.
   
7. Keep informed of studies. The active ingredient(s) in many herbs and herbal supplements are not known. There may be dozens, even hundreds, of such compounds in an herbal supplement. Scientists are currently working to identify these ingredients and analyze products, using sophisticated technology. Identifying the active ingredients in herbs and understanding how herbs affect the body are important research areas for such government bodies as the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
   
8. Be cautious of the contents. Published analyses of herbal supplements have found differences between what's listed on the label and what's in the bottle. This means that you may be taking less - or more - of the supplement than what the label indicates. Also, the word "standardized" on a product label is no guarantee of higher product quality; for instance, in the United States, there is no legal definition of "standardized" (or "certified" or "verified") for supplements. Some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms, or other substances.
   
9. Treat miraculous claims on websites with care. There has been an increase in the number of websites that sell and promote herbal supplements on the Internet. The US Federal Government has taken legal action against a number of company sites because they have been shown to contain incorrect statements and to be deceptive to consumers; this has also happened in other jurisdictions, such as Australia. It is important to know how to evaluate the claims that are made for supplements.
   

Tips

• About dietary supplements. Dietary supplements were defined in a law passed by Congress in 1994. A dietary supplement must meet all of the following conditions:
  
  • It is a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet, which contains one or more of the following: vitamins; minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; or any combination of the above ingredients.
    
  • It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, soft gel, gelcap, or liquid form.
    
  • It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.
    
  • It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.
    
  
  

Things You'll Need

• Good information sources
  
• Professional health advice
  

Sources and Citations

• Entire article initiated from NCCAM, Herbal Supplements:Consider Safety Too, public domain resource for sharing.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Herbal Supplements Safely. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-67: "How to Cure a Cold Without Medicine"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit


This article is a stub. You can help by expanding and clarifying it. Notice added on 2007-12-04.
One of the most helpful cold remedies is Vitamin C!

Steps

1. Take vitamin C tablets or eat citrus fruit regularly
   
2. Get extra vitamin C when cold symptoms appear
   
3. Remember to get plenty of natural vitamins in addition to any pills taken
   
4. Although not proven, try eating chicken noodle soup lessening the affects of a cold
   
5. You can also gargle some salt water to reduce mucous from the throat.
   
6. Another remedy is by taking a warm bath, the steam from the bath will thin out the mucous and temporarily stop coughing.
   
7. Drinking fluids will help relieve a cold sooner, so be sure to stay hydrated.
   
8. Honey disolved in tea will help to soothe a sore throat
   
9. Take the day off: sleep is the fastest way to get over a cold
   
10. Breathe in steam to get rid of a plugged nose
    

Tips

• Drinking a cup of orange juice every morning is an easy way to get Vitamin C!
  
• Eating healthy and excersising can decrease your risk of getting sick.
  
• Make sure you get lots of rest
  

Warnings

• Be sure not to overdose on Vitamin C!
  
• Medicine can sometimes be needed, so be sure to see a doctor if symptoms persist or if you feel really sick.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Cure a Cold Without Medicine. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-66: "How to Remedy Hemorrhoids With Simple Folk Medicine"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Make your own large easyer to use version of Hemorrhoidal Pads with Witch hazel to help soothe and shrink the hemorrhoids. Works like magic. Witch hazel has been used by Native Americans for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Steps

1. Purchase witch hazel you find at the store in the liquid astringent form (typically in 12 ounce bottles) and a tub of baby wipes, Buy a multi-pack refill of baby wipes to save money. Some refills also contain a new tub.
   
2. Pour entire contents (no more then a single 12 ounce bottle) into a new and unused baby wipe container. To make sure of full saturation of wipes separate sections of wipes and pour some on each section. It will be very soggy and there will be an inch or two extra at the bottom if you use entire 12 ounce bottle. Add just enough to see extra at bottom of tub of wipes.
   
3. Wipe the affected area with witch hazel wipes in the same method you use paper tissue after using paper tissue wipes.
   
4. Use until cured.
   

Tips

• Wash your hands before and after using toilet.
  
• Make sure your septic will take baby wipes so you do not cost your self a plumbing bill and a headache. If you have city sewer lines, don't flush the baby wipes because even ones that claim to be flushable can clog lines.
  
• If possible try to discontinue using dry paper tissue wipes to avoid irritations and pain.
  
• Use witch hazel wipes after wiping with paper tissue
  
• Baby Wipes are expensive and not as environmentally friendly, but they do clean better and feel refreshing as opposed to paper tissue.
  
• Make sure to separate sections of wipes while pouring.
  
• Avoid the urge to squeeze excess liquid back into baby wipe tub. to avoid cross contamination if you have fecal matter on your hands or other types of matter that can cause problems.
  
• Do not recycle liquid at bottom because it will be mostly water and additional additives from the wipes and it will most likely not be as effective. It may be too high of concentration of witch hazel and could cause irritation or affected area.
  
• Use wipes instead of tissue paper too avoid irritations and pain if you think this will help. So people are not used to doing this out of habit. this of it this way to you use tissue paper on babies? No.
  
• This is an extreme version of the hemorrhoid pads that are very small and much more expensive and hard to use.
  
• Typical bottles of witch hazel are 14% by volume alcohol so if your sensitive to alcohol consult a doctor.
  
• Make sure you have medical approval if your going to use this method.
  
• Use common sense.
  

Warnings

• Avoid the urge to squeeze excess liquid back into baby wipe tub. to avoid contamination.
  
• Some people may have irritations from witch hazel. read warnings on typical containers of hemorrhoid pads.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Cure Hemorhoids or Piles
  
• How to Insert a Rectal Suppository
  
• How to Take a Stool Sample
  
• How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Remedy Hemorrhoids With Simple Folk Medicine. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-65: "How to Stop Nausea With Acupressure"

How to Stop Nausea With Acupressure

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

This is how to stop nausea with a quick Chinese Acupressure technique. This can be used on airplanes, with hangovers, and at sea. This is quick fix only. There are two wikiHows that addresses nausea self treatment in commendable depth.

Steps

1. Take your index finger and middle finger and place them on your wrist at the base of your palm to measure where your nausea acupressure points are.
   
2. Find your acupressure points -- two fingers down the wrist from the base of your palm and centered on the wrist.
   
3. Take your thumb and index finger and press firmly on the points on both sides of the wrist when you feel nauseous. You should feel relief in 10-30 seconds.

Tips

• Check out the related wikiHows on how to treat nausea for more conventional and longer term self help.
  
• Don't think about how unscientific Chinese medicine is while you do this. The effects may be reduced.

Warnings

• These are acupressure points, not acupuncture points. Do not use needles!
  
• This technique is effective. If it's not you might consider medical attention.
  
• If you suffer from chronic nausea you should definitely seek medical attention even if the technique works. It is only a quick fix after all.

Related wikiHows

• How to Cure Nausea
  
• How to Deal With Chronic Unexplained Nausea

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stop Nausea With Acupressure. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Wikipedia articles on "NAUSEA" and "ACUPRESSURE":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupressure

Grateful thanks to wikiHow and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How To-64: "How to Use Music Therapy for Relaxation and Stress Management"

How to Use Music Therapy for Relaxation and Stress Management

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Research has demonstrated that a variety of music therapy relaxation and stress management approaches are effective for people requiring rehabilitation. In addition, these approaches are also effective for healthcare professionals and caregivers. Benefits include decreased heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure, anxiety, agitation and depression, along with general stress reduction, improved coping skills and better psychosocial adjustment. Music has also shown to be an effective sedative component in pre-operative and operative procedures. You can help yourself with stress management and relief by exploring the following self-help techniques, compiled by Institute for Music and Neurologic Function director of music therapy clinical training, Benedikte B. Scheiby, MA, MMEd. DPMT, CMT, LCAT.

Steps

1. Take notice of how listening to various types of music and nature sounds with or without music can help you relax.
   
2. If you play an instrument, record a piece of music that you find relaxing. Then listen to the tape when you need to relax.
   
3. Listen to relaxing background music at work or during lunch break. Add some body stretching at the same time. This also works just before going to sleep.
   
4. Participate in local community programs and centers that offer stress management and relaxation activities accompanied by music.
   
5. Place your hands on a drum and become aware of the many rhythms that exist within you such as your breathing and heartbeat. There is a rhythmical symphony that is the homeostasis of our biology. Breathe deeply and play this rhythm for 3 or 4 minutes. You may reconnect with your inner natural rhythms, intuition, and feelings, and ultimately feel renewed.
   
6. Consult with a music therapist to find effective recorded music for your needs.

Tips

• Music with a strong beat can stimulate the brain and ultimately cause certain physiological processes to attune to the rhythm of the music. This phenomenon is called entrainment.
  
• Slow rhythms can also encourage the slow brainwaves that are associated with meditative states.
  
• Stress may come from anxiety, fear or other emotions. Sudden or long-term illness can certainly be stressful, especially if the patient is experiencing pain or problems with breathing. Tension caused by pain manifests itself not only in the part of the body that is experiencing the pain; it can be felt as stomachache, headache, or neck or shoulder tension as well. Likewise, when there are problems taking a full breath or if the respiration rate is too fast, the body may respond with anxiety and fear. Music can elicit the body’s natural counterbalance to stress: The Relaxation Response. It is defined by being in a physical state of deep rest where the physical and emotional response to stress changes and may cause changes in heart rate, blood pressure, rate of breathing, metabolism and muscle tension.
  
• A music therapy practitioner can alleviate stress and help a person achieve the benefits of relaxation and stress reduction through a variety of specific active interventions that involve music.

Related wikiHows

• How to Think Clearly and Put Your Mind at Ease
  
• How to Massage Your Back With a Ball
  
• How to Relieve the Stress of a Runny Nose
  
• How to Chill

Sources and Citations

• Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, [1] - original source of content, shared with permission.

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Music Therapy for Relaxation and Stress Management. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Wikipedia articles on "MUSIC THERAPY", "STRESS MANAGEMENT" and "RELAXATION TECHNIQUES":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_therapy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_management

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relaxation_technique

Grateful thanks to wikiHow and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How To-63: "How to Disinfect Public Surfaces"

How to Disinfect Public Surfaces

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Humans, being the rather revolting creatures they are, constantly shed, secrete, and transfer various distasteful substances onto the surfaces they touch and approach. Contact with such surfaces are often unavoidable, but to reduce personal contamination to some degree, here are some methods to consider.
The truth is, the effectiveness of disinfectant on public surfaces is limited. Thus, keeping clean implies limiting exposure to filth.

Transportation

1. Don't directly touch surfaces.
   
• Cars, buses, subways, and the like are particularly dirty places, often housing upholstered seatings, scarcely-mopped flooring, and railings which thousands of human hands cling to and ooze upon.
  
• Consider standing whenever possible, or sitting on a newspaper or other disposable object.
  
• Instead of grabbing onto handrails with one's hands, wrapping a clothing-clad arm around the pole can provide security and keep hands clean.
  
• When traveling, wear shoes at all times, even in hotels. Also for hotels, bring a blanket from home to sleep upon to limit exposure to hotel sheets.
  
• Note on airplanes: Forget it, there is no hope. Airplanes are concentrated misery. Embrace the filth.

Restrooms

The public bathroom is necessary, but likely the most vile facility on the planet

• Never place personal items on the floor. After using the restroom, do not pick up personal items with dirty hands.
  
• Flush toilets with feet.
  
• Wash hands thoroughly and dry with a paper towel, turning off the water faucet with the paper towel.
  
• Use paper towel to open bathroom doors, prop open the door with foot, and toss paper towel into trash bin.

Restaurants

1. Visually inspect. Always do a visual inspection of potential eateries.
   
• Scanning the room for rats, cockroaches, and raw sewage might save one the time attempting to develop a filth-avoiding strategy.
  
• Select a seat at the most obviously hygienically sound table/booth/bar stool available (after a through search for leftover food particles, dead animals [aside from the organisms one intends to consume]).
  
• Ensure silverware and dishes are clean, and that one never utilizes the napkins or other disposable wear that has already contacted a public surface or previously inhaled atmosphere.
  
• For example, the napkins in the middle of the stack are more desirable than those at the top or bottom.
  
• Avoid sitting too close to others, finger-slurping, double dipping, consuming comestibles from public eating dishes, and sharing in general.

Other Locations

1. Consider all locations. Even a benign location such as a library houses innumerable bacteria and immeasurable squalor. Thus, a few precautions can aid in making a public experience a somewhat less repugnant one.
   
• Any object, such as a keyboard, that has experienced constant fondling by unwashed hands, can be a potential dirt-magnet.
  
• Using the keyboard example to represent such objects, one may begin the use process with a disinfectant wipe. The wipe alone, however, cannot remove years of accumulated oils and dander on the keys, so wearing a pair of gloves is an excellent means by which to avoid personal contamination.
  
• If one wishes to reduce breathing in the horrible particulates located in previously inhaled atmosphere, such as pathogens and airborne saliva particles, a surgical mask is a lightweight and practical option.
  
2. General: Finally, the best step is simply to remain at home, which one should clean. Often.

Tips

• Always wear long sleeves. An over-sized jacket or long sleeved over-shirt that one can remove in hot weather or after contamination is particularly useful. Whenever contact with a public surface seems imminent, such as when opening doors or shaking hands, one may covertly shake the sleeves over their hands to avoid direct contact.
  
• Always bathe regularly and wash hands after contact with filth.
  
• Using a personal object, such as an mp3 player or laptop in a public place transfers filth to that object. Disinfect those items after exposure to germs and grime, especially before using them again at home.

Warnings

• Following these tips may cause social isolation, dirty looks, and obsessive compulsiveness.
  
• Current science advocates tolerance to germ exposure, as it aids in building the immune system.

Things You'll Need

• Essential items include long sleeves, hand sanitizer, wipes, some sort of disinfectant spray, gloves, surgical masks, a bar of soap, and a packet of tissues.

Related wikiHows

• How to Use a Public Restroom
  
• How to Wash Your Hands
  
• How to Be Hygenic

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Disinfect Public Surfaces. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-62: "How to Keep Feet Clean"

How to Keep Feet Clean

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

How can you keep your feet fresh and lovely? Cut down on odour and other unpleasantries by following these steps

Steps

1. Be clean. Bathe your feet every day. Just letting the shower water splash on them isn't good enough. Lather them thoroughly with soap and scrub them with a loofah.
   
2. Be sure to dry your feet completely when you're done. Don't forget to dry between the toes. Leftover moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria, which causes odour.
   
3. Wear the right socks. Cotton, some wools, and special knits made for athletes will absorb sweat and allow your feet to breathe. Put on a fresh pair if they get damp.
   
4. Make sure your shoes aren't too tight. If they are, your feet might sweat more than normal.
   
5. Switch shoes. Wearing the same shoes every day can make them smellier. Let them dry out for a couple of days before wearing them again.
   
6. Kill those germs. Consider using a disinfectant spray to kill bacteria in your shoes. Wash your feet with antibacterial soap. Setting shoes out in the sun also may help.
   
7. Wash shoes or insoles. Some insoles or shoes, especially sneakers, may be washable. Be sure to dry them completely before wearing them.
   
8. Avoid shoes made of plastic. Plastic and some human-made materials don't let your feet breathe.
   
9. Go barefoot. Let your feet air out by letting them spend some time in the open air, especially at night.
   
10. Keep your toenails trimmed and clean. Use a nail brush if you have to. Toenails are hiding places for bacteria.
    

Tips

• Bacteria are to blame. In the right conditions, bacteria will feast on your feet. These bacteria eat dead skin cells and oils from your skin. Their colonies will grow and start getting rid of waste in the form of organic acids. It's those organic acids that smell bad. And for 10% to 15% of people, the smell is really bad. Why? Because their feet are extra sweaty and become home to bacteria called Micrococcus sedentarius (say: my-kroh-kah-kus seh-den-tair-ee-us). These bacteria produce more than just stinky organic acids - they also produce stuff called volatile sulfur compounds. Sulfur compounds usually are powerful and awful smelling. If you've ever smelled a rotten egg (Hydrogen sulfide), you know what volatile sulfur compounds smell like.
  
• For most people, foot odor can be controlled. The worst part about having stinky feet is that it's embarrassing. If you're worried about this, just keep your shoes on when you're in social situations, like when you're at school or riding in a car. At home, keep your feet clean and go barefoot so they get some air. If your feet are clean and dry, those bacteria will have to find their lunch somewhere else!
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Wash Your Hands
  
• How to Make Hand and Foot Cream
  
• How to Get Beach Sand off Your Feet
  
• How to Relax Your Feet
  
• How to Make Your Feet Beautiful
  
• How to Ask Someone to Take off Their Shoes at Your Home
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Keep Feet Clean. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.