diane walker asked:


Most older people do not develop mental health problems, but a significant minority have dementia or experience problems such as depression.

Introduction

It is estimated that 18% of the general population in the UK are of pensionable age and that this figure will grow to 20% by 2025. As a society, we tend to assume that older people will develop mental health problems as a ‘normal’ aspect of ageing. Most older people do not develop mental health problems, although a significant minority does. For example:



about 25% of people over 85 have dementia.

between 10-15% of people over 65 have depression

between 4-23% of older adults seen by medical staff have an alcohol problem.



In addition to those older people who have an identifiable mental illness such as dementia, there are many who experience psychological or emotional distress associated with isolation, loneliness or loss. These problems are not recorded by the health or medical care system.

What problems affect people in later life?

Dementia

Dementia is a decline in mental ability which affects memory, thinking, problem solving, concentration, perception and behaviour. Some forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are degenerative. That is, they get worse over time. Other forms of dementia, such as vascular dementia, may be non-degenerative. That is, they may not get worse over time.

People with dementia can become confused. Some people also become restless or display repetitive behaviour. They may also seem irritable, tearful or agitated. This can be very distressing for both the person with dementia and their family and friends. Some people with dementia also develop other problems such as depression, disturbed sleep, aggression, inappropriate sexual behaviour and incontinence, although the latter issues tend to be associated with more advanced dementia.

About one in 20 people over the age of 65 are affected by dementia and this figure rises to one in four people over the age of 85 (Audit Commission, 2000). People under the age of 65 can develop dementia but this is rare and is known as early onset or pre-senile dementia.

What causes dementia?

Dementia occurs as a result of the death of brain cells or damage in parts of the brain that deal with our thought processes and functioning. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. We do not know what causes Alzheimer’s disease but we do know that ageing is the biggest risk factor. The second most common type of dementia is vascular or multi-infarct dementia. This occurs as a result of a series of mini-strokes which constrict blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Can dementia be prevented and is there a cure?

Most types of dementia cannot be cured but a number of psychological treatments and anti-dementia drugs can be very effective for those in the early stages of dementia. It is therefore very important to get a proper assessment of cognitive function from a medical practitioner as early as possible.

There are no guaranteed ways of preventing dementia, but you may find it helpful to follow a sensible diet and pursue a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical exercise and supplements like Gingko Biloba can help to ensure that there is always a good supply of blood to the brain. Please consult your GP before taking such medication. You can also help yourself by keeping your mind active, for example by doing crosswords or puzzles.

Depression

Depression describes a range of moods, from feeling a bit low to a severe problem, which interferes with everyday life and normal functioning. People with severe depression may experience a range of symptoms including low mood, loss of interest and pleasure as well as feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

Depression can affect anyone, of any culture, age or background but it affects proportionally more older people than any other age group. It is estimated that around 10-15% of elderly people in the community exhibit depressive symptoms, with this proportion rising to about 40% of care home residents. That said, you will not necessarily become depressed just because you are getting older.

What causes depression?

There are a number of risk factors that play a role in increasing older people’s vulnerability to depression including:



being widowed, divorced or retired

neurobiological changes associated with ageing

use of medication for other conditions

greater physical impairment and disease

loneliness and isolation

genetic susceptibility, which increases with age.



Can depression be prevented and is there a cure?

Depression in later life is a widely under recognised and under treated medical condition. Up until recently many health professionals – including GP’s – failed to offer the treatments and supports available to other age groups. Most forms of depression can be treated, using medication, talking treatments or other strategies.

It is can be difficult to diagnose depression in older people because it often occurs alongside other mental and physical illnesses, such as dementia, stroke, diabetes and cancer. In addition many older people do not seek help from their GP until they have a number of symptoms. As with dementia, it is important to seek help as early as possible.

Self-help strategies that can help reduce the risk of depression include:



taking regular exercise

planning for critical transitions such as retirement

seeking support from family and friends following the loss of a long-term partner

ensuring that you pursue a range of interests in later life.



Dementia and depression

The relationship between dementia and depression is complex. The symptoms of dementia and depression – including withdrawal from social activities and general apathy – are very similar. An elderly person with severe depression may occasionally be misdiagnosed as having dementia. A person with dementia may also become depressed.

Alcohol abuse

It is estimated that between 4%-23% of older adults seen by medical staff experience problems with alcohol. Figures also show that older men are currently between two and six times more likely than older women to be at risk of abusing alcohol.

Although alcohol abuse is a problem for people of all ages, it is more likely to go unrecognised among older people. Many older people use alcohol to deal with loss or loneliness. Approximately 10-30% of older people who abuse alcohol become depressed. They are also at greater risk of *******.

Medication

Prescribed medications can cause mental health difficulties among older people. A 2001 Department of Health survey found that 79% of older people take prescribed medicines. Many older people take four or more medications at the same time. There are risks associated with taking multiple medications, including confusion.

More detailed information about medication and mental health problems can be found at the following sites:

Other mental health problems

There are a number of rarer mental health problems that affect older people, including delirium, anxiety and late-onset schizophrenia. The prevalence, nature, and course of these disorders are different in older people, as are the treatments that may be offered.

Capacity and older people with mental illness

People with dementia or severe mental illness may have difficulty in making and communicating decisions. Very few people are unable to be involved in making choices at all but some may have partial or fluctuating mental capacity and may need help with communication. Different approaches are also required to engage a person with dementia. They often need longer to make decisions, may need an advocate to speak on their behalf and their mental functioning may also vary by day, and time of day. Family members or carers are often useful sources of information but it is important to take account of the views of the person with dementia alongside those of their carer.

Help for carers

Caring for an older person with mental health problems can be very stressful, time consuming and emotionally and physically challenging. Caring for an older person with dementia is associated with higher levels of stress, with a third of carers suffering from depression.

For free advice on depression or a free consultation visit www.clairehegarty.co.uk or ring 0151 678 3358 or 07714853524

Visit www.in2town.co.uk for all the latest health news and advice

Health Advice Online asked:


Eating healthy foods will help you to boost your immune process, but what if it’s the foods themselves making you sick? Food borne illness can cause food poisoning and a variety of other more dangerous diseases, so they are a real threat to our bodies. Luckily, there’s a quantity of things you can do to prevent food borne illnesses. Following safety tips when handling, preparing, and storing food is  important.

After your food is cooked, you should continue to monitor temperature. basically put, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Hot foods should be kept at temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while cold foods should be kept at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The range between that’s where bacteria can grow. When letting food lovely for refrigeration, place in the refrigerator after no over one hours and when thawing meals, do so in a bowl or pan in the refrigerator,  than at room temperature.

First and foremost, you should be concerned with the temperature of your foods. When cooking meat, make sure to use a thermometer in order to make sure that you meat is reaching to proper temperatures inside. Some meats, like beef, can be served rare safely, but proper temperatures are crucial. This kills any bacteria that may be growing on the meat. In the case of burger and other loaf meats that have been ground and formed in to patties, you should not eat rare meals. The bacteria then easily are found inside the meat as well as on the outside, and you are at risk if you do not cook these meats for a long period of time to kill any bacteria.

Cross contamination is a huge culprit when you are concerned with preventing illness and your food. Cross contamination is basically the moving of bacteria from one dish to another. This happens when you use dirty cutting boards, don’t wish your dishes properly, and use the same utensil for all of your foods. If you use, for example, a knife to cut raw chicken and then use that same knife to cut your food after it’s been cooked, a quantity of the bacteria from the raw chicken has probably remained on the knife, which can make you  ill. Make sure that you are using a neat work space and neat tools whenever you cook.

Along with using a neat environment, you should make sure that you are washing you hands regularly. Every time you touch raw foods, you should use disinfecting hand soap and hot water to make sure that no bacteria remains on your hands. Making sure that your food is safe is one of the most important parts of healthy eating, so don’t overlook this step the next time you prepare a meal.

Douglas Anchell asked:


We don’t like to think about getting injured or sick when traveling, but when it happens, being prepared can save your vacation.

It is time to take your family vacation. Your bags are packed, your hotel reservations are confirmed, and the taxi to the airport is waiting, but are you really prepared? Inside your bags do you have all the medications you might need and received the proper inoculations for this trip?

Firstly consider some basic preventative measures. Before going to any destination, the first thing you should do is consult a physician to find out if any inoculations are advised? Malaria stays with you your whole life, and Cholera might kill you, don’t make the mistake in believing you are immune to the bugs that inhabit this world. When planning your trip always assume the best and prepare for the worse. Get those shots, buy your medications and be aware of health warnings in every country you visit.

In some countries immunization is required before you arrive and in such instances, make sure you have your International Certificate of Vaccination. You can get this certificate from your local health department although many physicians can also provide you this form.

But even if you take all the immunization and recommended drugs before and during your travel, keep in mind that you may still become ill if exposed to contaminated water, food or insects. Bugs do mutate so regardless how prepared you became stateside, when visiting your travel location, you must still keep your guard up. Experienced travelers know this and take the trouble to boil water or buy trusted bottled water. They prepare many of their own meals, washing their foods carefully and making sure everything is well cooked. Mosquito netting is a must, preferably a full net for a bed, and a net-hat that covers you head and neck.

But in case you do become ill, make sure you have packed sufficient medical supplies. If you are in need of medications, bring a full supply that will last the entire trip. Medications overseas cannot always be depended on, either because the medication does not exist in that country or because the quality may be significantly different than what you are expecting.

The standards of medicine vary county to county but keep in mind that medical practitioners overseas sometimes don’t need a license and certainly don’t have insurance. ‘Oops’ is not an uncommon word in medical facilities in even many of the developing countries I have visited.

In short, here is my advice. Do your research, get those shots, pack all your medications and by all means, use your intelligence, keep aware, and have a safe and good trip.

HBF Health Funds asked:


Funny thing pain, if you’ve never had a severe pain then the suggestion of taking simple analgesia and resting the affected area all seems quite reasonable. I was reminded of this when I read recently of a doctor’s advice to someone who was suffering from sciatica. Having personally experienced sciatica, it’s a condition I would not recommend to anyone who wishes to walk, sit, laugh, sleep, or to just simply pull up your trousers. It’s a bit like a dentist drilling your teeth without an anaesthetic, but it affects your whole leg. In other words the pain is consuming, exhausting and without respite. Clinical studies do show that in the majority of cases the pain will eventually subside and surgery may not be necessary, but in the meantime the patient has to deal with the pain or deal with the medication required to dull the pain. Remember, pain-killers are not selective to the area affected. They affect the whole of the nervous system and elsewhere so there may be significant side-effects from these medications.

Dealing with severe pain can be a complex issue, but I suggest that you have to treat this sort of pain fairly aggressively as acute severe pain is relatively easier to treat than chronic severe pain. In the early stages of an injury or insult to an area of the body, most of the pathological processes are happening at the site of the injury or insult. Throughout time the brain begins to modulate this pain and so no only do you have the injured area to deal with, but you also have complex neural pathways within the brain to deal with as well. This often means a far more complex management plan and a far more protracted recovery time. Specialists are very skilled at dealing with these issues but they do rely heavily on the stories their patients give them. That means being honest in answering their questions and not being heroic with a grin and bear it grimace! Often the use of a pain scale is helpful with zero being no pain at all and a 10 being the worse pain you have ever experienced.

Another health issue we commonly down play is influenza. Over the years I have frequently heard people say that they would not have the flu vaccine because either they never get the flu or that they had it last week for a couple of days and then it was all over! Influenza is a serious debilitating disease that will usually last from 10 days to two weeks and often leave you flat on your back exhausted. It’s not a happy 10 days either as patients do not have the energy to read a magazine or even watch a DVD. You will literally feel ancient with every movement being a real challenge and that doesn’t include the aching all over or the fevers and sleepless nights. The influenza virus is also extremely contagious and most people are unaware that if you spread it to someone who is more frail than yourself that you may actually be putting their life at risk.

With the ‘flu the big challenge is to vaccinate as many people in the community as possible, including children, those employed and unemployed, the elderly and the infirm, to reduce the chance of an epidemic occurring. Recent research has also showed that vaccinating pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy will help protect their new born infants born during the ‘flu season.

Medicine has evolved over the last 40 years, but the change has been fairly slow with doctors by nature being very cautious and conservative people. But we can’t leave the doctors to take all the initiatives. As patients we need to be good listeners in our approach to health by heeding all the great health messages that keep being given to us about vaccinations, smoking, alcohol, exercise and healthy eating. We also need to be good communicators and tell our doctors how we are feeling with conditions such as pain. If the team treating you doesn’t have the best information then it may be that you will not end up getting the best treatment!

 

Francis Githinji asked:


The available wealth of information concerning preconception health should enable you to enrich your baby’s life as well as yours. Years back women were ignorant about preconception health. Conception and child birth was best learn through experience or in other words through severe mistakes. Our generation is lucky enough to be able to take sexual responsibilities in their lives. It is possible to plan when to get that wanted pregnancy. There is information about safe days, contraception and the prime time when a woman can conceive. In this day and age, an unwanted pregnancy shows that the woman is careless with her sexual life.



A female’s age is a big point to consider while planning about your reproductive life. According to theory, the reproductive age is said be between 15 to 45 years of age. Preconception health advises that a woman should not conceive at the two extremes of this range. If the woman is too young, her body is not in a full capacity to cater for the pregnancy. There will be an emotional and physical dissatisfaction in the pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies subject the mother to great harm. If you are a man, do not sire babies with young girls because you are harming their body’s health. On the other hand, women over 35 years are not reproductively suit to produce healthy babies. Chances are the babies born of these older mothers will have a problem with congenital abnormalities for example Downs’s syndrome and others.

If you have had problems with past pregnancies, you should be keen when you want to conceive yet another time. What affected the previous pregnancy might as well rear its ugly head on the one you are planning. May be it is a miscarriage. You aborted before it was due. This is very painful to any woman. It is such pain to lose a life you had started to develop a connection with. To avoid a repeat of the same, visit your doctor for some preconception health advice. If you were a victim of serial abortions you might be in real hot soup too. Medics say that if you had aborted once or twice you might be lucky to carry your pregnancy until its due. If you have a habit of aborting the fetus when they are two or three months in the womb, you might have a problem with carrying the pregnancy to its full time. It is worse if the frequency of abortions exceeds five times. If the baby previously born had a birth defect, you should see the doctor to establish the cause before you conceive again.

Preconception health advises that you have to look in to your lifestyle and nutrition if you are planning to have a healthy baby. Everything good comes with a price so you have to watch what you consume and what you do. Stress reduces the chances of conceiving. You might think you are infertile while actually you are undergoing stress. For the sake of your unborn baby eliminate stress. Diet is a key issue during preconception planning. As the pregnancy advances, the requirement in terms of nutrition increase too. While pregnant, make it a habit to visit your doctor in order to get a prescription of a well balanced diet. The diet should provide enough minerals, vitamins, proteins and energy for the mother and the fetus. If you want to make healthy babies abstain from alcohol, cigarettes and any form of drugs.

Eckee asked:


A person’s health will always be its greatest asset. Ask anyone and he will tell you why I always prefer to want material things, it has always been blessed with good health. The importance of Good Health should be taught to children while they are still young so that when older, and have come accustomed to a healthy lifestyle.

Some parents give their children everything and let them eat unhealthy foods. That the reason they can allow their children to eat whatever they want because they are still young and have all the time in the world to look after their health when they grow old. This seems to be a mistaken notion, because a child lives by what has been taught since I was a baby. Thus, a child who was raised eating unhealthy foods will always have a yen for this type of food, even when it is already an adult.

Every responsible parent should teach their children the general health advice that children should live, and when they become older. Training children to live and the right to eat healthy foods can make a difference in how to care for their health later in life. It is always wise to teach children to drink plenty of water instead of carbonated drinks, while they are still young. Water is an elixir of health. Drink plenty of water can do wonders for the skin and overall health of a person.

Every child should be taught the value to start the day by eating a healthy breakfast. A healthy child who has proper nutrition and exercise for better performance in school than a child who skips breakfast and exercise. Sanitation should also be part of health councils, which must be given to children. This should include regular washing of hands with soap and water. This practice can minimize the transfer of bacteria when children are playing dirty with the sick or playing with objects.

However, parents should also ensure that children have completed the shooting of vaccination at an early age. They also ask their doctors for new vaccines that can be given to children to prevent the spread of new diseases. Even parents need to practice these tips to serve as General Health as good examples for their children. It is foolhardy to teach children to practice the same things when the parents do not preach.

It is also a good idea to undergo annual checkups to ensure that there is nothing wrong with the person. Thus, diseases are easily detectable and can be treated at an early stage before it worsens.

While there are diseases that are transmitted genetically, a person should always take care of your health and your family by hitting the boards of health.

There are other things you can do to lead a healthy life, but the important thing is to be conscious of what you have to do and what one must avoid to keep a healthy life.

Ann Marier asked:


Finding good relationship problems advice can be very difficult. It is not that there isn’t enough information. Almost everyone and their mother have relationship advice. If you tell someone, even a stranger on the street, that you are having trouble with a relationship, they will probably have something to say. Nevertheless, most advice for relationship problems is based on biases alone. Anyone you ask will most likely try to apply the lessons from their own relationship problems to yours. These lessons may be appropriate, but then again they may not be. Whether you are worried about breaking up relationship ties, or dealing with relationship problems for an ongoing relationship, it is always a headache if you can’t figure out what to do.

There is no point in getting relationship problem advice from a physician either. Even psychiatrists give lousy love advice most of the time. They say that they are qualified to give relationship problems advice, but in my experience they are often not good at this particular area. Don’t get me wrong – if your relationship is massively flawed and there is something psychotic about your partner, a psychiatrist will give you the right relationship problems advice – get out of it! Nevertheless, psychiatrists make terrible romantic partners. As such, how can you consider them fit to give relationship problems advice?

It has always seemed to me that the only way to get dependable relationship problems advice is to find a best friend who knows all about those things. Find someone with words of wisdom for dating help, go out for a few drinks with him whenever you are having relationship troubles, and trust his word implicitly. Friends like this are hard to find, and their skills at giving relationship problems advice should be fully exploited.

I get most of my relationship problem advice from my best friend. It is pretty odd because he has never been in a relationship himself. He’s actually not really been interested in dating at all, spending most of his time in more intellectual pursuits. Nevertheless, he gives the best relationship problems advice that you have ever heard. Maybe it is because he is looking at it from an outsiders perspective, but I swear that his advice is better than any advice column you could ever read! Getting romance advice from someone who has never been in, nor even desired, a romance is a little bit weird, but it has begun to feel totally natural to me.

Francis Githinji asked:


A chubby **** is a girl who has a bit of weight on her. Being big is not just caused by overeating and lack of exercise. It is also caused by health problems as well as other complications. If you find yourself chubby, it is not time to **** the person you are. It is time to ask yourself what you can do to make your life better. There are very many things you can do to ensure you get back in shape. There are no new ways or hidden secrets, the road to getting fit will involve hard work, determination and commitment. Being big or overweight can land you in more problems than you can imagine. You are not only at risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes but, you might suffer from a poor image of yourself, it is therefore paramount to ensure that you keep in mind all you have to gain when you decide to loose the weight.

This is not to dismiss all the girls who are chubby; there are many ***** who are fit and healthy. Therefore, judge your case as an individual and, if you are at risk of the things I have mentioned above, it is better to plan for weight lose. A chubby **** can loose the weight and get the figure she has been yearning for with the right weight loss plan. There has been talk about the simplest way to get in shape. Do not be ignorant, keep in mind there are no quick fixes and if there are, they are not worth your sweat because they are not good enough. Therefore, look for a plan that sounds realistic to you. First, you have to consider what you take in. The saying, you are what you eat could not be more true. Do not sleep with chocolate bars and expect to be in shape. Employ moderation and know the right stuff for your body. We have so much information that we do not use. Therefore, the lesson that fruits and vegetables are good for you will not be repeated forever. You either decide to follow what is good or you do not. When you decide to eat more vitamins and whole meal foods, you will not only improve your metabolism but, you will feel better.

Junk food never goes well in your system if you take it exclusively. This is enough to show you what your body needs. Every chubby **** needs to heed to this advice. The following are some of the things that a chubby **** can do to loose the extra weight. Little things like chewing slowly go a very long way. There are many girls who do not savor their food. You need to let it stay longer in the mouth for proper digestion. Have a habit of drinking plenty of water which is clean. This way, your cells will be replenished and cleansed. If you find yourself in a restaurant, order something healthy. Sometimes, the healthy stuff never seems to taste as great but, this is just a poor attitude. Engage in routine exercise so that you can burn the extra fat. Being active will also help you digest the food you have eaten better. With the above pointers, you will no longer be a chubby **** again.

Tim Amherst asked:


One of the most devastating parasites which may threaten your Pit Bull is the heartworm. These nasty creatures can linger in your pet for years before dealing a death blow to your Pit Bull. Heartworms are treatable, but it is best to use a protective stance rather than wait for infection to occur.

This disease is not spread from pet to pet via contact, but by another nasty creature we all know as the mosquito. The mosquito is a necessary link in the transfer of the disease. The number of dogs infected with heartworms always increases during the height of mosquito season. Long mosquito seasons will increase the rate of infections rapidly.

Once heartworms are transmitted by the mosquito into the dog’s blood stream, they travel through the blood into the heart and the major pulmonary blood vessels. The heartworms are in the immature stage and are called microfilaria.

Upon arriving in the heart, the microfilaria will set up residence and grow into adult heartworms. These fully grown parasites cause heart blockage and damage to surrounding tissues by clogging the heart and the major blood vessels leading from the heart. Adult heartworms will also interfere with the valve action within the heart.

When the heart and main blood vessels get clogged, the blood flow to other critical organs is reduced, which can cause problems for the liver, kidneys and lungs, resulting in organ failure.

Most dogs which are infected with heartworms will not show any outward signs of disease for as long as up to two years. Sadly, by the time the disease starts to show signs in the dog, it is in the advanced stage. These signs depend on several factors, such as the number of adult worms and microfilariae present, as well as their location. The length of time the infection has been present, and the amount of damage already done to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys are all essential factors.

Signs of Heartworm Infestation

The most obvious outward signs of heartworms are:

Unexplained weight loss.

A dry almost constant cough with labored breathing.

Shortness of breath.

Sudden weakness.

A sudden show of nervousness or listlessness, accompanied by a loss of stamina.

The signs of heartworms are most noticeable after the dog has been engaged in exercise or play. Some dogs with heartworms may even faint or drop dead suddenly right after engaging in rigorous play or exercise.

Treatment for heartworms is available but it is costly and in some cases may prove fatal to the dog itself. To prevent this horrible disease in your Pit Bull, be sure to keep your dog’s regular vet appointments. Heartworms can be prevented easily by administering heartworm medication to your pet each month.

As always, talk to your vet if you have any concerns that your dog may have heartworms, and never try to treat the disease on your own. Always consult a properly qualified professional before starting any type of treatments on your dog.

Dorianne Schwaiger asked:


, unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise are the three major contributing factors to the diseases that plague most Americans today. If people would focus their attention on the list of right things to do that I have included in this article, they would enjoy good health and lose unwanted pounds naturally.

Hypertension ( stress), Bad Cholesterol, Obesity, High Blood Pressure.

Do these words sounds all too familiar?

These are the buzz words of our time…listen to the news or read a magazine, its all that we hear these days. This is the legacy we pass on to our future generation. These are the words that describe poor health.

Unfortunately, all of our focus these days is on Diet and body image when it should stress the importance of good health. Society dictates that thin is in! The advertising industry invests billions of dollars in the marketing of miracle fat burners and quick loss schemes that promise amazing overnight results. The fact is that most fad diets are developed by people with little to no scientific or health background.Most quick weight loss diets may produce short term results that in turn prove harmful with long term side effects for the very people who suffer from the health problems I have listed above

Your body weight and clothes size is not a reliable indication of a healthy person. No two people have the same body composition. Ask any doctor or nutritionist and they will likely state that the true measure of health and longevity has mainly to do with proper diet,healthy eating habits, a high degree of exercise and most of all a sound mental outlook on life.

Good health is not hard to achieve. Below is a complete list of healthy habits to practice throughout your life and I can almost guarantee that when you focus on your health, the excess weight will naturally take care of itself

Check List For A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Eat a well rounded diet each day consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and calcium rich foods.

2. Replace large meals with 5 small low fat, high fiber meals.

3. Drink plenty of water. Make sure to drink at least 15 oz. of water in the morning to start your day. This will hydrate your organs and body and get your system off to a good start.

4. Cut back on your alcohol intake.

5. Limit caffeine intake and all other beverages that contain fat or high amounts of sugar.

6. Practice deep breathing exercises. When you breathe deep through your diaphragm and exhale slowly, this will reduce daily stress and stimulate your lymph nodes to help cleans and flush toxins from your body

7. Do at least 30-45 minutof strenuous exercise per day. This will burn calories, rev up your metabolism, tone your muscles and also reduce stress levels.

8. Take a good multi-vitamin along with certain natural supplements that will enhance your energy level and replace important nutrients not absorbed with your meals. * Note: Consult with your doctor or a licensed nutritionist before setting up your dietary plan.

9. Be good to yourself! Do something each day that brings you personal joy. Read a good book, travel, meditate, garden, enjoy your pets,spend quality time with your spouse, get together with friends. All of these are good suggestions that will relieve stress and create a healthy & positive state of mind.

To Your Good Health & Healthy Weight!