Motivational interviewing refers to a counseling approach that relies on collaborative conversation between the counselor and patient.

There are different approaches counselors can take when it comes to communicating with their clients. One effective method of communication is known as motivational interviewing.

There are different approaches counselors can take when it comes to communicating with their clients. One effective method of communication is known as motivational interviewing.

What is motivational interviewing?

Motivational interviewing refers to a counseling approach that relies on collaborative conversation between the counselor and patient in order to motivate the patient to want to change. This communication and motivation then drives the individual to take real action and actually make the change occur.

Every patient comes to counseling at a different stage in his or her life. Some have yet to accept the fact that they need to make changes, some are ready to make a change but don’t know how, and some have tried to change but have failed and need professional help. Through motivational interviewing, each individual will be able to work through his or her desired goals and ultimately find success.

What is the main focus of motivational interviewing?

There are four different interactions that need to be taken for successful motivational interviewing. These include asking open-ended questions, providing affirmations, using reflective listening and providing summary statements.

During a motivational interviewing session, patients are not judged or confronted about their behaviors. Instead, they are asked into a welcoming environment with someone who simply wants to talk about their behaviors, the consequences of their behaviors, the changes that could be made, and the future of their life when these changes occur. All of this is meant to motivate the individual to make their desired change.

What makes motivational interviewing different than other counseling approaches?

With motivational interviewing, the desire to change is brought on solely by the patient. Yes, the counselor is there to talk with them about their behaviors, the consequences of their behaviors, and how their life could be different if change was made, but they never force the change on the person. Instead, they use the motivational conversation to help the patient understand that they can change and provide them with the desire to want to change all on their own. The patient is never forced to change, and they can decide to change on their own time. In fact, the counselor is there mostly to direct the questions and thoughts, but never to provide his or her own input or opinion.

What “challenges” are best resolved with motivational interviewing?

There are certain fields where motivational interviewing is typically applied, and those include health coaching, gambling addiction, substance abuse and mental disorders.

Where did motivational interviewing start?

The concept of motivational interviewing was developed by clinical psychologists Stephen Rollnick, Ph.D. and William Miller, Ph.D. The approach was first described in 1983 and used as a treatment with individuals suffering from drinking problems. More detailed descriptions of the procedures were announced in 1991. It has since grown into a popular and widely used counseling approach today.

How can I become a motivational interviewer?

If you wish to become a motivational interviewer or use the approach in your own counseling, you need to receive training. Training classes can be found on the MINT website.

James Lawson is an life coach, podcaster and freelance writer focused on addictions and recovery

Here are five tips for new moms to help sleep a little bit more.

Becoming a mom for the first time is an exciting time but it can also be quite nerve-wracking. There are so many things that are going to be new for you and it is really hard to prepare for the changes that are going to happen in your life.

One big difference is unfortunately going to be the fact that you won’t be getting much sleep at the start.

To help you out here are five simple and handy tips that can help you sleep better and just a little bit more.

1. Get The Father Involved With Feeding

Although you want to keep breastfeeding the baby it is still possible to get the father involved with the feeding routine. For instance, use a breast pump to express some milk that the father can feed the baby with when putting the baby to sleep.

This way you can hit the bed earlier while the father gets some time alone with the baby.

It isn’t a bad idea to take turns with the night feeding either. For instance, try to make it so that both are able to get six hours of uninterrupted sleep at least every other night.

2. Take Naps

Naps aren’t naturally the same as getting a full night sleep but they are still better than not getting sleep at all. There are a lot of studies that have looked into the art of napping. For instance, the BBC article on the subject states that the perfect nap length is something between 20-30 minutes.

3. Keeping Baby Busy

You should invest in a proper baby carrier that you can put the baby in while you are doing something else. Even placing a blanket and some soft baby toys on the floor can keep the baby occupied while you prepare food or do other chores around the house.

This allows you to rest together with the baby instead of doing the chores then.

4. Shopping Online To Save Time

One of the best ways you can have just a little bit more time to sleep is to start shopping for things online. Not only will it help you save the time from getting yourself and the baby to the shops but it also gives you the freedom to shop whenever you have time.

For instance, if you are trying to get the baby to sleep in the middle of the night you can go clothes shopping at the same time. This way during the daytime you can perhaps try to get a nap. Shopping online is often cheaper as well. For example, wholesale clothing at All Stores Clothing can save you a lot of money as well as time.

5. Ask For Help

You don’t need to try to be a supermom either. It is OK to ask for help because the more rested you are the better it is going to be for the baby and your relationships.

Ask someone to babysit for the baby and just sleep a few hours during this time. You could even get help with cleaning the house so that you are able to sleep or spend more time with the baby.

There are a lot of affordable options out there even if you can’t get friends or family to help out. 

Nadine likes to help young and new mothers and fathers face the challenges of becoming a parent. She loves to find out tips for helping babies have a good environment to grow up in. She also loves to meditate.

India is popular for many things; among them are attractions like the Ganges River, cricket and Indian food. It is estimated that India receives over 5 billion tourists annually, making tourism one of India’s leading income earners. Of this number, there are those that are in India for more than just sightseeing; medical tourists. The number of medical tourists to India has ballooned so much that industry experts estimate that medical tourism will be a billion dollar industry come 2015.

Medical Tourism in India

The reasons for travelling to India for healthcare are self-explanatory. The cost of healthcare, especially in developed countries, is off the roof. With no insurance, many people choose alternative means, which in this case is travelling miles and miles away to seek affordable health services. There are tens of thousands of skilled health professionals in India, especially in Chennai, dubbed the health capital of India. According to statistics, Chennai, with its numerous hospitals receives about 45% of the medical tourists that come to India. Other reasons that make India popular among medical tourists is the availability of medical technologies, absence of visa restrictions, minimal language barrier and of course, diminished costs.

Fertility clinic in Chennai

Also termed as reproductive exile, fertility tourism is the practice of travelling to another country to seek fertility treatments. India tops the list of fertility tourists with the availability of numerous fertility clinics in Chennai. What allures about these hospitals is the fact that they have state-of-the-art fertility laboratories, qualified doctors and specialists, and, as a result, offer the best fertility services including intra cytoplasm sperm injection (ICSI), sperm banking, intrauterine insemination, blastocyst culture, laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, ovulation induction, frozen embryo transfer and egg sharing. As a result, they have some of the highest pregnancy rates in the world.

Child hospitals in Chennai

For those seeking paediatricians and child healthcare professionals, Chennai is your own stop shop. There are a number of child hospitals in Chennai that cater to infants and kids alike. Most of these hospitals are run by highly qualified trained paediatricians.

Before travelling to India

Before travelling to India, it is imperative that you call the hospital you are about to visit, and make sure that things are in order. Needless to say, you should plan every aspect of your visit for easy travel. Fortunately, there are a number of medical travel agents, who can coordinate your travel and medical check-up and treatment at a nominal fee.

If you're ready to quit smoking but you have no idea where to even start this article is for you. Learn how to kick the bad habit once and for all.

                          

Quitting any habit is a very difficult task to see through to the very end, especially smoking. The internet is buzzing with so many different tips and tricks to help you, it’s hard to know which ones to follow. But there’s no need to panic, after scouring the internet and filtering out the good information from the bad this article has complied all the necessary information for you.

Mental Preparation

The first step to quitting is preparation. Make sure that you are mentally ready for this big step in your life because it will greatly affect your emotions, as well as your  body. There’s no evidence that cigarettes help level your mood so know that when your body is screaming for a cigarette the feeling will pass.

Have A Plan

Instead of going cold turkey, which doesn’t work for a majority of people, create a schedule that you’ll follow which outlines how you’ll slowly decrease the number of cigarettes that you smoke. Also allocate a day in the future that you want to be completely smoke free. It will make it more likely that you will quit if you set yourself achievable goals.

Get Focused

Give yourself a reason to quit. There will be some days that are just terrible on your road to becoming a non-smoker and on these days it will be tempting to slip back into old habits.

So compose a list of all the reasons why you should quit. Maybe it’s for your health, or for the sake of a loved one. Whatever your reasons are write them down and keep them somewhere you can see them often. Maybe on your fridge door or on the mirror in your bedroom.

Arm Yourself With Information

Know all the negative effects of smoking and all the benefits of quitting. On average people who smoke lose up to 16 years of their lifespan. Also children can develop bronchitis, pneumonia and meningitis when exposed to second-hand smoke.

Non-smokers are less likely to develop cancer, heart and lung disease while second-hand smoke increases children’s and adult’s chances of getting lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%. Black lungs aside, here are the effects on your body you might not already know.

For a more positive spin, you could save hundreds of pounds that you would normally spend on cigarettes and will feel healthier and more energetic the longer you quit for.

Manage Your Cravings

When you stop smoking your body will go through withdrawal which often results in cravings, irritableness and even fatigue. There are a number of ways to tackle your cravings and different people find that different methods work best for them.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NTR) is one of the more popular methods. Instead of smoking you can chew on nicotine gum, wear nicotine patches or use nasal spray. Unlike cigarettes NTRs do not contain tar, poisons or carbon monoxide so they are less harmful to your body. NTRs are also easy to purchase as you can buy them from pharmacies and other shops without a prescription from your doctor or GP.

For certain people taking up exercise helps them with the withdrawal symptoms. Even just a short half hour walk could really help. In fact keeping busy in general can help keep you mind of cigarettes and cravings. 

There are certain kinds of drinks that you should try and stay away from because they can affect your cravings. For example alcohol, fizzy drinks, coffee and tea are all drinks that you should avoid, at least in the beginning of your recovery. Instead stick more to juice and water to help quit.

Take The Good With The Bad

You’ll have good days and bad days and often you’ll think about just giving up trying to quit but you should try and stay positive. Remind yourself constantly why you want to do this and all the benefits you will gain from it. Others have done it before and it is not impossible for you. Believe that you can do this, and you’ll be more likely to succeed.

Quitting smoking is never easy and for many people it’s easy to give up but now you are aware of the tips of how to get through this tough time. Good luck!

Have you recently stopped smoking? What worked for you? Share your experiences and help others quit today.

Chioma is passionate writer and spends a lot of her time writing articles and blog posts. She is also a big fan of fantasy TV shows, reading and eating chocolate.

The Sunshine Act was originally adopted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010 which requires pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers to report annually to CMS about transfers of value they make to physicians and teaching hospitals. This information will be compiled by CMS and posted which can be accessed by public.

Physicians are not required to carry out any specific procedure under this act as they have been defined as “covered recipients” under the final rule but it is recommended for many physicians.

The information that physicians should expect applicable manufacturers to report are: the physician’s name, address, specialty, license information, NPI and details of payment made.

In the Sunshine Act there are some exclusions mentioned for educational materials that are for patient use or direct patient benefit, but all “educational materials” provided by a company will not be excluded. The reported items include: items provided for the education of physicians and marketing and promotional materials.

In order to adhere to this, companies should consider developing a method and process for assessing which items must be tracked and reported to satisfy state laws and the new Physicians Sunshine Act regulations and assigning a value to each of these items that is consistent across the company.

Some of the things to do to ensure a compliant practice are:

• Practices must take care to make sure that current organizational document, employment agreements, compliance policies, and conflict-of-interest disclosure procedures are updated.

• Under this act, physicians must request the ability to conduct a pre-submission review from the manufacturers and GPOs with which they have financial arrangements. If this is not available, physicians need to review and look-up for any loop-hole in the information.

• Physicians must make a note in their calendars to review the information reported to CMS. It is important to maintain accurate financial records to ensure that the information that has been submitted to CMS is accurate.

• If applicable manufacturers and GPOs fail to adhere to the Sunshine Act, they will face severe penalties, including a hefty fine of $1,000,000 for those that intentionally fail to report. This implies that the information provided will be published and it is necessary to steer-clear of scrutiny with regard to the information that they will provide.

Going through a breakup is never easy. It may seem like the dark cloud of loneliness and despair will never dissipate. Here are a few ways you can handle a breakup and get yourself back on track.

Accepting the end

The road to moving on begins with taking one step. This first step is called acceptance. If you want to be able to start that journey to recovery, you need to be able to accept the reality that your relationship is done. Once you are able to acknowledge that, you can begin mending your own heart. You need to stop wishing that things will return to how they once were or that this breakup was just a misunderstanding. Clinging to this hope will bring you nothing but unhappiness and social anxiety.

Respecting yourself

Be kind enough to yourself and your emotions. Don’t blame yourself for the end of your relationship. Instead, acknowledge you faults and faults of your ex-partner. This way, you will be able to respect and appreciate yourself.

Pampering yourself

When feeling down or unhappy about the breakup, indulge in a little pampering. This will make you feel better and give yourself a much-needed break. Recovering from a breakup is tough and you deserve a day of fun. Go out and watch a movie or spend a weekend at a spa. Do the things that you enjoy doing.

Connecting with family

This is the perfect time to reconnect with relatives. They can be your support system during this time. They will also give you unconditional love, something you will need after losing the love you had with someone. Count your blessings and remember the people who will always be there for you no matter what.

Allowing yourself to heal

Moving on after a breakup will not happen quickly. Take all the time you need to sort out your feelings and grieve. There is no shame in giving yourself enough room to recover properly from the end of a relationship. You will not move past this in a day or week. Don’t rush this process.

Forgetting about revenge

Don’t dwell on thoughts about revenge or anger. For those who were betrayed in a relationship, take a step back from planning your revenge. Instead, forgive your ex-partner and forget the incident. This will be tough, but it will be better for you in the long run. Holding on to negative feelings will only hinder you from moving forward. Let go of past transgressions and focus on getting your life back on track.

Taking up a new hobby

One of things you can do to take your mind off of negativity is getting a new hobby. Learn how to create things or join an exercise class. These activities can help channel your energy into a productive platform. Enrolling in a boxing class can even let you vent off some steam and aggression. Find a new and exciting activity and stick with it.

Moving on

Continue moving forward and not back. Think ahead to a time when you’re at peace and enjoying the moment. Surround yourself with positive energy and don’t let memories of dark times cloud your days. You don’t need to be in a new relationship to move on. Cultivate the positive relationships with friends and relatives for now and let a new love come when it’s time.

To learn more techniques in coping with relationship issues feel free to visit calm clinic. You can also read more topics about conquering mental issues which are a common effect of relationship break ups.

So you saw this fabulous sexy dress in a shop the other day? How wonderful would it be to be able to wear it confidently, wouldn't it? It doesn't hurt to dream but real changes require some effort. Make your dreams come true and be your own star by having a healthy and beautifully shaped body using the tips and information in the infographic. There's a right diet for everyone and combined with physical activities one can achieve miraculous results! Are you considering becoming a vegetarian? Choose from pescatarian, flexitarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, vegan or raw food diet. The essential information on what to eat, what are the pros and cons of each diet you will find in the infographic. You also have other options: the spectrum of low carbs, low calorie and low fat diets is really wide. And when you already decided about your new eating habits, combine it with some exercises like cycling, dancing or aerobics and burn accordingly 364, 273 or 664 calories per hour! Don't worry if diets and sport fails in your case. There is the third but sure option to lose weight: bariatric surgery. Check out the infographic and find out the essential info on gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and gastric band.

created by Nordbariatric

A well written article discussing the main benefits of chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care utilizes alternative therapeutic practice. Its main aim is to prevent any problems in the musculoskeletal system and particularly the spine. Chiropractic care is not only for people who suffer from chronic back pain or for those who have been involved in an accident. It can benefit people with different health conditions. Even those with few health complications can benefit from this care. Busy professionals, weekend warriors, athletes, golfers and marathoners can all benefit a great deal from chiropractic care. Here are five health benefits of chiropractic care.

Pain management

If the nervous system is overworked, there’s a tendency for your body to receive pain responses fast. Chiropractic care helps to treat body pain by alleviating stress on the body’s nervous system and block the transportation of pain messages. The care may also increase the ability of the body to tolerate discomfort and pain so patients can perform many tasks for a long period of time. 

Increased blood circulation

Blood circulation is a vital part of the body's overall health. The heart pumps blood to different parts of the body through the blood vessels within a circulatory system. An increase in blood circulation to areas helps promote cell growth as well as organ function. A healthy skin can fight infections and bacteria that it might come in contact with. A chiropractor can aid to increase blood circulation and fluids to promote overall health. 

Relaxes the body

Relaxation is the single most vital key to health. It’s a remedy for stress which is known to be the cause of many ailments. When the body is relaxed blood pressure and oxygen consumption decrease, breathing slows, and some even report increased sense of overall well-being. Chiropractic treatment can act as a catalyst and expedite the healing process by relaxing the muscles so healing can occur. When done correctly the person may immediately start to feel change in the way their body feels.

Helps to transport oxygen in the body

Much like blood, there are certain areas of the body that require vitamins and other essential nutrients in order to heal or operate well. When your body doesn't get enough vitamins and nutrients, it may break down the muscle for the energy it requires. This makes it take longer to recover from diseases. Chiropractic care can improve the circulation of oxygen and other nutrients within your body.

Increase muscle strength

Because the approach entails doing various movements and positions, patients can increase their muscle strength and flexibility. People who require physical therapy because of injury or trauma can greatly improve their motion range in just a matter of days. There are a number of special techniques incorporated by chiropractors based on the affected parts of the body to boost recovery.

Irrespective of which kind of program you take part in, chiropractic care will help you accomplish your health goals. By no means does one have to continue chiropractic care for his entire life, a common myth usually believed by many. Most people who discover the advantages of regular chiropractic care and its effect on their day to day functions chose to continue the care.  

Julia is a passionate health blogger and works alongside of a chiropractic care centre in Perth.

Do you spend hours getting dolled up for a night out, then end up coming home alone? Could it be that you are unwittingly committing one of the top ten beauty blunders according to a recent survey of 1091 men?

A study by WebVoucherCodes.co.uk forms the basis of this info graphic, in which over 1000 men were asked to vote for their top beauty turn-off. 

Discovery of the potential that stem cell therapy had was celebrated around the medical community. The use of these special cells is to address some of the most complicated medical conditions mankind has ever seen such as cancer. The recipients of these medical treatments who are the populace have also heard about the benefits of this new therapy and its potential for changing medical research and treatment permanently. As always, whenever there is the dissemination of complex medical information it is possible for a lot of information to be misunderstood. This has led to some misconceptions about stem cells pervading the common consciousness and leading to misunderstanding of this therapy as a whole. Here, we address some of the most common misconceptions.

Stem cells are varied and specific

A common misconception is that stem cells are multipurpose and can be used to treat anything. The reality is that stem cells are quite specific in the kind of cells that they are able to produce. Mesenchymal stem cells, for example, are able to create connective tissue cells and are such useful in treating conditions such as inflamed joints. They are also able to help in cancer treatment as they produce cytokines which reduce inflammation. It is important to be wary of any medical facility that offers up stem cells as a cure-all.

Stem cells need guidance to perform their duties

Stem cell therapy is not simple as the injection of these cells into the damaged or diseased area of the body and hoping for the best. There are hacks out there that are preaching this sort of message. The reality is that these cells must be instructed on what to do once they are injected in the target area. This is usually done chemically. It ensures that they integrate into the body as needed and perform their desired function. This is why stem cell treatments take a long time to develop.

Stem cell treatments are mostly in the research phase

There are those who think that stem cell treatment is ready for mass use. The reality is that medical researchers have only completed research on some such as Mesenchymal stem cells. They are, therefore, only starting to undertake clinical trials to measure the effectiveness of these treatments and the best way to use them. In order for these treatments to be perfected and made safe for mass use, it will take some time and, so patience is needed. 

People who consider getting help from a mental health professional are unfortunately often prevented from making that first appointment because they stumble over a hard to break stigma surrounding counseling. The stigma is the idea that people who go to counseling or therapy are somehow different, incapable, or emotionally immature, and that people will react by thinking less of them if they know a person is seeing a mental health professional. Even though counseling is common and can be sought for a number of different issues, varying in severity, people are often afraid that seeing a counselor or psychiatrist will summon an adverse reaction from their friends and family. 

In order to avoid this reaction they expect others to give, a person who was formerly thinking about seeking help might tell themselves they can handle their own problems, even in the midst of intense emotional turmoil or mental distress, and choose not to pursue professional help.

Powerful cultural stigmas keep people from getting help

Anyone considering professional help should understand that the powerful stigmas surrounding counseling and therapy should not prevent them from going because the stigmas are built on falsehoods. One of the most powerful lies that prevents people from attending counseling is that people think, “I’m too messed up,” or “I don’t even know where to start talking about my issues - the psychiatrist will think I’m crazy.” On the flip side, some people think that because their symptoms don’t seem too severe, they’re not “one of those people” who has to seek mental health help.

The public perception of psychological help can powerfully influence a person’s decision to avoid it as well. A person may worry that people will view them as incapable, or that their relationships will be affected, or that their family will worry too much about them.

Counseling is much more common than you think.

If you feel like the only person considering counseling, look around. A website like Half of Us poignantly represents real stories from the wide community of people who are seeking help over hurt, anger, abuse, depression, and other issues that lead them to talk to a professional. Over 19 million people in the United States are affected by depression, with half of all college students reporting intense stress and pressure that can inhibit normal functioning during the school year. The National Health Institute of Mental Health reports that an estimated 26.2 percent of adults in the U.S. suffer from a diagnosable mental health issue in any given year.

Getting help is a proactive decision that takes courage.

It’s not easy to admit a need for help. Often people bottle up their cries for assistance to avoid being a bother. So when a person can seek help from a mental health professional, it shows courage, character, and maturity. Often people don’t give themselves the credit they deserve for simply speaking up. Speaking up takes courage, and this should not be discounted.

Counseling is a confidential thing that doesn't have to be made public.

People shouldn't feel the need to hide their counseling attendance  to family, but perceptions about mental health vary across the board and it can be hard to know how people will react to the knowledge that you are seeing a mental health professional. Whether you’re getting medication from a psychiatrist or simply talking to a counselor, you want loved ones to support you. While there should be no shame in this, it’s understandable when people stay quiet in order to avoid hurtful or insensitive comments. If it’s something that feels uncomfortable to share, a person doesn't have to say anything. But having several close friends to whom to simply say, “Hey, I’m getting some help right now,” can be healthy, especially in order to simply know that you are supported.

Making that first appointment

A person ultimately has to decide that despite what other people might think, the best option for their health and well being is to talk to a mental health professional. The ultimate decision should be yours and not dependent on what other people think. Anyone who loves and supports you should back your decision to seek help, and should support you.

Making that first appointment is a courageous step that can result in progress, change, and new habits. Don't be afraid of stigmas or other people. Do what's best for you. Let other people take care of themselves, and realize that you're not alone. 

Brooke McDonald is a writer and blogger who frequently writes about mental health issues. She writes for Dr. Allison Holt, a Minnesota psychiatrist who works with children, adolescents, and adults.

Choosing a maternity hospital is one of the most significant decisions for the health of a family. These hospitals provide an essential service during the pregnancy, assist in childbirth and help care for the child and mother after birth. The challenge is that, with a wealth of hospitals in India, it can be a daunting task for anyone to choose the best maternity hospitals out of the myriad choices available to them. So as to ensure that you are not lost in the wealth of choice, there are some things that you should focus on when choosing. These are factors that go beyond the simple and obvious such as having qualified doctors and extensive facilities.

Service by staff

The staff of the maternity hospital such as the nurses will be the ones that determine the level of service that you are provided with. Many of the interactions in a maternity hospital between patients and staff are usually done between patients and nurses. Best maternity hospitals, therefore, make an effort to ensure that they get staff which is well trained in patient care and customer service. This means that the services will be delivered in a professional, courteous and caring manner. This can make all the difference when you are in labor and in pain.

Follow up services

Some of the best maternity hospitals will provide an extra service to ensure that women who have delivered recently are followed up on. This is the care at home service that will enable them to send a medical service provider such as a nurse over to the home of the woman who just delivered. This follow up service is vital to ensure that both the mother and the child are doing well after the delivery and that there haven’t been any complications.

Care at home private service

A good maternity hospital is also able to deliver medical health services to the patients at their homes if they are requested to. This is the main form of care at home service. This enables the patient who does not truly need a high level of specialized care or equipment to be treated and cared for from the comfort of their own home. This can be an excellent service for people who are not interested in visiting hospitals. When it comes to maternity facilities, the most notable thing to look for is the services they provide and how they provide them. This will enable you to identify the best hospitals from the many available. 

Throughout history, the human race has survived several epidemics. With each disease came different symptoms, treatments and prognoses. Some had bigger impacts than others; some were fought with medicine while others became immune. Is the zombie trend just a tactic to sell movies, or is it foreshadowing of a mass disease that we could be faced with? Here’s an infographic that will walk you through what out breaks have occurred, the affect it had on us and what might be the next great pandemic.

So the new fall season of television is about to reach the airwaves, which means all of our favorite sitcoms are back! From Big Bang Theory to a New Girl, a ton of laughter is about to be had from the viewing public. Unfortunately, for some, laughter can cause a little bit of embarrassment. Have you ever heard the phrase, “I laughed so hard I just peed my pants.”? While this common phrase is meant to be figurative, for some, it could actual be a literal situation that could cause them to run for an exit.

Stress incontinence is a common condition that can inflict people of any age. It is a condition where individuals can’t handle sustained pressure on their bladders. When the abdomen experiences events and activities like laughter, coughing, exercise and sneezing, it can push urine to the bladder. For most people, this is fine, but for those with weak pelvic muscles or a damaged sphincter, it can result in complete embarrassment in the form of leaked urine.

There are a wide variety of circumstances that can cause stress incontinence. For women, the most common reason is pregnancy. Stress incontinence develops often due to a change in the body and pregnancy as well as menstruation and menopause are often culprits. However, this is not the only way the body can change. Surgery is another key cause of stress incontinence – as is smoking due to a chronic cough that can be developed from chronic bronchitis and asthma.

No matter the reason, those with stress incontinence are looking for a way to prevent the embarrassment and shame that can occur from the condition. Here are several ways that individuals can safeguard against these feelings:

• Incontinence Briefs: If you’re looking for a non-invasive way to prevent urine leakage from affecting your life, you might want to try incontinence briefs. They are worn underneath your clothing and underwear and provide a secure way for you to hide the condition without feeling embarrassed.

• Kegel exercises: You can also try strengthening your pelvic muscles, which can certainly help to reduce leakage. In order to do a Kegel exercise, pretend that you’re trying to hold in your urine or gas. Your pelvis muscles will contract. Overtime, they will strengthen and your body might get used to the added pressure. If you go this route, you should do Kegel exercises every day.

• Weight Loss: Unfortunately, those who are overweight are more likely to have stress incontinence due to added pressure on the inner organs. If you’re suffering from this condition, you might be able to prevent incidences from losing a few pounds.

• Surgery: As a last ditch effort, you can elect to have surgery. Surgeries, such as retro pubic suspensions and sling procedures, may work and they’re minimally invasive.

There’s no reason why you can’t laugh or cough again and then be forced to excuse yourself. Although, stress incontinence can be an annoying condition, it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. By considering these measures, you can enjoy a regular life and not worry if you should leave the room.

Creative ideas to get a clean smile

There are many ways to get a beautiful smile. Of course brushing and flossing your teeth every day will help, but there are more non-traditional ways that you can have a healthy and happy smile. These tips can help:

Wear dark colors

Wearing darker colors can actually help make your face and your teeth look brighter and darker colors such as natural earth tones can inspire more brightness in your overall look. For example women who wear darker lip shade colors such as red, deep pink or rose, often have smiles that look more attractive and clean. The movie industry will do this trick often to make the actress's look more healthy. 

Change your toothpaste flavor 

Changing your toothpaste flavor can be a great way to get a healthy smile. If you stick with the flavor of mint or spearmint, you could become bored with the flavor. If you use it all the time you could be brushing your teeth too fast and rushing through the process. This can be unhealthy for your teeth. Rushing through the process will ensure that you're not getting a good enough cleansing process. But by changing your toothpaste flavor you will enjoy the new flavor and most likely brush longer. Because the human body naturally craves change and naturally you will brush your teeth longer.

Visit your dentist

Chances are you may visit your dentist when you have a toothache or something is bothering you in your mouth, but seeing your dentist regularly, at least twice a year can help prevent these types of problems from happening in the first place. Having a beautiful smile is about taking care of your teeth and that starts with being proactive, your dentist can help you keep your mouth clean.

Eat fresh greens

Since you were a child, you have probably heard that eating green vegetables is one of the best ways to stay healthy but most people don't talk about how good green vegetables are for your teeth.

Whether you use a juicer to get your greens or you eat salads, chances are you're not getting enough greens into your diet. Greens are not only good for your body but they improve your smile because they are healthy and loaded with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Having healthy teeth means having strong teeth and getting calcium in your body with green vegetables and dairy products can help improve the quality of your mouth.

When you take care of your teeth, you feel healthier and you want to smile more. Smiling is one of the best ways to approach other people and feel good in your body.

Making healthy choices is important not only for you but for your friends and family. When you start to take better care of your body, the people around you will see the positive changes and they will also want to be healthier. This is a social effect of taking care of you. Which means that essentially you and your loved ones can all get healthier together? Spending quality time together with your loved ones can also improve the quality of your health and you will naturally wan

Shannon Kaiser has natural white teeth, and she uses all of these tips she shares in this article to create a beautiful smile. She consulted with their friend who is a dentist inNewberg Oregon for tips for this article. 

In this article you will find the 7 healthiest foods that are packed full of vitamins of all kinds!

You're probably familiar with certain foods that you know are good for you, but do you know why they are good for you? It's extremely important to get vitamin rich foods in your body each day. These provide you with the necessary nutrients to have healthy functioning organs and body functions. Below you will find the 7 healthiest foods that are packed full of vitamins of all kinds!

1. Pumpkin Seeds

         

These seeds are tasty and can be flavored in a variety of different ways. Although these are high in calories, they are also high in a variety of nutrients and vitamins. These include: iron, vitamin c, vitamin k, vitamin b6, magnesium, calcium and fiber. They are also packed full of protein so they can work as a snack that makes you feel full.

2. Salmon

If you want to eat a healthy fish, then salmon should be it. This is low in saturated fat and high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for brain and heart health. Salmon is also full of vitamin a, calcium, vitamin c, vitamin b6, vitamin b12 and magnesium. It's best to bake this with low-sodium seasonings, but you can also steam it.

3. Spinach

One cup of spinach is low in calories and high in vitamins. The nutrients in it include: vitamin a, vitamin b6, magnesium, calcium, vitamin c and iron. You can eat this cooked in a variety of recipes or in a salad with protein on top of it. This is also a food that is low in carbohydrates, so it's great for anyone who is dieting.

4. Avocado

Avocado is one super food that is definitely worth taking advantage of. It's low in carbohydrates but high in potassium and healthy fats. It's also got vitamins and nutrients in it including: vitamin c, iron, vitamin b6, magnesium, vitamin e and copper.

5. Quinoa

If you're looking for a healthy carbohydrate to take the place of rice or pasta, then try quinoa. It's a great choice because it's high in protein, is a slow burning carb and has a lot of vitamins in it. The calcium, vitamin b6, magnesium and iron in this will all help make your body healthier and more active.

6. Sweet Potato

This is a great alternative to regular potatoes that is high in magnesium, vitamin a, vitamin c, iron, vitamin b6 and potassium. It's something you can put in a variety of recipes, and it's healthier than regular potatoes. Try these out and enjoy a nice snack that has an earthy and sweet taste to it.

7. Kale

If you're not eating kale, then you need to start! It's a versatile leaf that can be used in a variety of different recipes. It's packed full of vitamin c, vitamin a, calcium, vitamin b6, magnesium, iron and more. Try this baked in the oven or raw in a salad and your body will thank you for all the nutrients.

Now you know foods that contain all necessary vitamins. Try to consume them more and you will be healthy!

Daniel has been contributing his advice about fitness, sport equipment and health to JackedGorilla.com, which is a site where readers can find useful tips and advice to be healthier each day.

It is possible to quit smoking with electronic cigarettes as they can complement other methods of giving up smoking such as gum and patches.

Electronic cigarettes have been on the market for a relatively short time but already they have quite a following. It has been estimated that there are well over a million users – although this is compared to 9 million smokers – and not all of them only use e-cigarettes. Some of this number also smoke tobacco or use tobacco substitutes such as patches, sprays or gum as an aid to quitting smoking. Some also use e-cigs as a means to smoke when out of the house although with legislation catching up fast, this option may well be closing. Most users argue that since the reason for banning smoking in public places was to prevent secondary smoking, electronic cigarettes should not be banned but the argument goes deeper than that.

Do electronic cigarettes re-normalize smoking?

There are many arguments on the question of whether vaping (as smoking an electronic cigarette is called) encourages smoking but the general consensus seems to be that it doesn't. Peer pressure is the reason most people give for starting to smoke and with far fewer young smokers now beginning to smoke that pressure is far less. Also, if a young person vapes a flavored electronic cigarette, the flavor can be anything from watermelon to popcorn and after that a real cigarette would come as a nasty surprise – from that point of view, vaping could be said to be likely to put youngsters off smoking if anything. The problem many people have with giving up is that they don’t have anything to do with their hands – e-cigs give them something to fiddle with which gets them over that hurdle, so in that respect, they are a good aid to quitting smoking.

What about the chemicals

Electronic cigarettes are thoroughly checked and recent legislation has brought them under the umbrella of the UK body which is in overall charge of medicines and medical products. This means that any changes to the chemical constituents in electronic cigarettes will need to be passed by them so essentially you can be sure that they will always be safe from now on because they will be rigorously checked. Oncologists who specialize in lung cancers are convinced that with more people using e-cigs all the while that deaths from cancer and smoking related diseases will fall steadily from now on. Because people find it easier to quit smoking when they have something which mimics all of the social side as well as the nicotine hit, vaping should mean that more quitters will succeed. Many people vape socially because it makes them feel more of a group than going outside to smoke a cigarette in the cold and damp. With winter coming on, there will be a sharp increase in the use of e-cigs and most people who try them carry on and eventually become successful non-smokers although some keep up using nicotine free electronic cigarette.

Although the use of electroniccigarettes appears to be controversial, they appear to be a good help in quitting smoking.

Rob Steen is a freelance copywriter who is an expert in healthcare questions.He sometimes writes for electronic cigarette supplier Prestige-Vaping.