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LASIK or Laser-In-Situ-Keratomileusis is a type of laser eye surgery which has met with success in relieving people of their trials and tribulations with glasses, lenses and the like. This surgery has proved be a good and viable alternative for people who would like to do away with their glasses and lenses or at the very least reduce the number from thick soda bottle type glasses to their sleeker thinner counterparts. It is well advertised in newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. There is enough information available and people should make themselves aware of the pros and cons of this form of laser eye surgery.

The procedure involves altering the shape of the cornea which will reduce the refractive error and this is carried out for the treatment of different degrees of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Doctors like Dr O’Brien who is the director of refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute at the John Hopkins University at Baltimore cautions prospective patients of being taken in by the grandiose promises that the ads make to influence people to go in for this surgery. Delicate eye surgery should not be ruled by price alone and one should have a capable and experienced surgeon to perform this type of surgery.

Despite assurances by doctors that this is a surgery with little or no post-operative pain, very little pain otherwise and rapid recovery, there are some risks involved as is the case with any invasive type of surgery. Some of the risks include over or under treatment, permanent loss of vision, the fact that you may not be able to wear contact lenses which means that should you need some prescription glasses you will have to use only spectacles. There could also be a reduction in the quality of vision and trouble with driving at night and you may not be able to see properly in dimly lit conditions. Above all, this surgery is not reversible.

One would do well to consult an eye doctor as there are alternatives available like photorefractive keratectomy or PRK, used by normally less than 5% of the glasses wearing community. There have been some cases of eye surgery where PRK is seen to be more appropriate than LASIK. Here the shape of the cornea is altered by using microscopic bits of tissues from the outer surface itself by using a computer controlled cool ultra-violet beam of light and the best part about this surgery is that it takes only a few minutes and the recovery period is a week, at the very maximum.

Laser Thermal Keratoplasty or LTK is yet another lesser known option that is found useful in temporarily reducing hyperopia in people above the age of 40. Here 16 parts of the outer part of the cornea are zapped and shrunk. The chances of infection and loss of vision here are almost non-existent but this is a temporary procedure. Take it from the experts, laser eye surgery works best on those who are diagnosed with mild to moderate levels of refractive surgery and one should be aware of the risks before making a decision.

More information on laser eye surgery

eye surgery

http://www.lasereyesurgical.com

Many serious tanners will be happy to know that they can now afford to have their very own tanning bed, in their very own homes! That’s right, home tanning beds are finally affordable for everyone. Even those who cannot shell out the money for home tanning beds in one payment can easily get financing - as long as they carefully pay attention to the terms of the loan!

Tanning salons are fine, but having your own tanning bed at home is sheer luxury. There are many beds that are now designed specifically for home use, operating on standard 120-volt home outlets. These beds are typically a bit smaller in dimensions than commercial tanning beds - to save space in your home - but they are certainly just as powerful as the beds that you find in tanning salons.

New home tanning beds can usually be purchased for around $2000. At that price, you can find a quality bed that will suit your needs. Of course, if you want more features, you can pay upwards of $5000 for a home tanning bed - but most average tanners don’t need that much bed! If you cannot afford to pay that much at one time, you will find that many dealers now offer financing. Banks and loan companies also finance home tanning beds, if you have good credit.

If you do not have good credit, beware of some finance companies that offer to loan money on ‘luxury items.’ A tanning bed is a luxury item, and the terms of the loan may be impossible to meet. For instance, many of these ‘easy financing’ companies charge outrageous interest rates. Some charge reasonable interest rates, but include a stipulation in the contract that if you are even one day late with the payment, the interest will be raised considerably! If possible, you should avoid financing, and just save the money to make the purchase outright.

Another option for obtaining your very own personal tanning bed is to buy a used one. There are many sources for quality used tanning beds. In fact, many salons sell their tanning beds when they are ready to upgrade. Dealers often sell their showroom models at a greatly reduced rate as well. You can often find tanning beds for sale in your local classified ads. Be very careful when buying a used bed. Find out why it is for sale, and make sure you test it to make sure that it works as it should before making the purchase. Also, find out what the price of the same bed is when it is brand new to make sure that you are getting a fair price.

Another option for a cheap home tanning bed is to purchase one through a wholesale company. This is a way to avoid financing, and avoid buying a used bed. Wholesale companies are easy to find - simply use the Internet and do a search for ‘wholesale tanning beds.’ You will be amazed at the search results that pop up. This is also a great way to purchase tanning bed parts and tanning supplies. When purchasing from a wholesale company, just be sure to check the refund and exchange policy before making your purchase. You want to be able to return the bed if anything is wrong with it!

Don’t be afraid to purchase your tanning bed online. Simply visit a local dealer, where you can physically see and test the beds to determine which one you really want. Return home and fire up your computer - look for wholesale companies that are selling the exact same bed - at a considerably lower price! The bed should typically arrive partially assembled, and as long as you know how to use a screw driver, finishing the assembly should not be difficult at all.

When purchasing home tanning beds through a wholesale company, see about purchasing extra lamps for the bed - in bulk - at the same time. You will probably get a huge break on the price simply by making that purchase at the same time. Add some additional items to your purchase as well, such as a case of your favorite tanning lotion. Take advantage of all of the price breaks you can get!

Home tanning beds - Suntan-bed.com provides you with information on how to determine what the best tanning beds are and where you can get suplies such as tanning beds bulbs. http://www.suntan-bed.com/

Safer, less expensive, and easy-to-use natural skin care can be as easy as opening your kitchen cabinet, coupled with a few minutes of preparation.

Healthy, radiant, glowing skin is something every person wants. Yet, few of us even think to use what’s really the best for out skin: natural skin care products.

Each year, millions of dollars are spent chasing after perfectly healthy, ageless skin. The environment, stress, and less than healthy eating habits, all play a major role in the quality of your skin.

The answers to achieving radiant, glowing complexion are within arm’s reach. Many of the items in your kitchen right now can provide natural skin care that’s even better thank those expensive, chemical filled products that cost an arm and a leg.

Skin Care Throughout Life

From the day we are born, our skin requires much care to remain smooth and healthy. It begins with soap to keep us clean. Then, there are creams, powders, and ointments to keep diaper rash from our bottoms. During the first few years of our lives, our skin will do well with soap for cleaning and the occasional lotion or cream for moisture. Then come the teen years. Our raging hormones bring out the oily skin, the pimples, and a host of other conditions.

It’s important to understand that everything that comes in contact with our body affects our health and the condition of our skin. That’s why choosing natural skin care products and ingredients is important. The liver filters the toxins and poisons from the food we eat, but whatever we place on our skin is directly absorbed. This includes deodorant, lotions, gels, cleansers, toners, make-up, perfumes, and more.

As we age, our skin becomes more sensitive, and we need to be even more careful with the beauty treatments we use.

Simple Solutions for Better Skin

Here are a just a few natural skin care solutions for you to try. You’ll be very pleased with the results:

-once a week, rub your skin with baking soda while in the shower, for a smooth, silky feeling. You can also do this on your face to remove black heads.

-fresh tomatoes are great for the oily areas of your face. (Please make sure to try the tomato juice on your arm first, as your skin may be sensitive to it). Rinse thoroughly immediately after using the tomato juice.

-for a great moisturizer try olive oil: this healthy fat is good for you, and is great for your skin. You can also use it to soothe sunburned skin.

-vinegar can work wonders for smelly feet and armpits. Mix water and vinegar 50/50, and use in place of deodorant: it will keep the unpleasant sweat smell away, without any irritation. As for your feet, if you suffer with athlete’s foot, a week of vinegar foot bath will help a lot, sometimes completely getting rid of your condition.

-egg yolk mixed with honey makes for a really great mask: put on your skin, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse off. Excellent for sensitive skin. Honey gives a tingling/ticklish sensation, so if you are sensitive to that, use the egg yolk alone.

-another use for egg yolk: for those with eczema, use it instead of soap. It doesn’t smell great, but it will heal your damaged skin.

-a great treatment for dry skin is avocados: mash it, smooth it onto your face, and rinse off after 20 minutes.

Lastly, make sure you drink 8 glasses of water every day to keep your skin cared from the inside out.

Find out more about General Health at healthandfinesse.com

It will seem horribly unfair to any child who suffers with allergies that they cannot have a pet or must loose one whom they have grown attached to. Is there a way to deal with pet allergies which may lessen or even eliminate the suffering for adults and children with allergies?

WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?

By establishing whether the animal is actually the cause of an allergy is certainly the best starting point. However, that can be a difficult task if you already have an animal since the allergens are extremely difficult to remove entirely.

If an existing pet can be removed and the home thoroughly cleaned (carpets, walls, furniture etc.) you MAY be able to verify the allergy in several months. Obviously that is not the easiest solution.

Having the child stay with a friend or relative for a week (as long as there are no pets in the home) may show an improvement that might indicate an allergy to the family pet.

A visit to the doctor can confirm an allergy with a simple test. The tests vary, but some can be mildly uncomfortable and would probably not be considered if the allergy symptoms were mild.

Some allergy symptoms are compounded by exposure to several allergens. By identifying other sources and removing them you may find the reaction to pets is lessened and not a barrier to enjoying their presence.

CREATING AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY HOME

There are several steps you can take to reduce the build up of allergens and bring relief to allergy sufferers.

The first recommendation is to have hardwood or other smooth surface for your flooring. Carpets hold far more of the particles that cause allergies and hard flooring makes it easy to clean.

Leather furniture is also ideal for homes with pet allergies. For the same reason as hard flooring is more suitable than carpet, leather holds far less allergens than fabric.

Keep a seat for the allergy sufferer that pets are not allowed to sit on. Also be certain that animals do not sleep on the beds or enter the bedrooms of allergy sufferers. Consider keeping the sleeping area of the home as a pet-free zone.

MAKING YOUR PET AS HYPO-ALLERGENIC AS POSSIBLE

There are even things you can do with your pet to reduce the allergic effects of having them in your home.

Frequent grooming and bathing with a mild soap to prevent over drying will reduce the dander that is one of the main causes of pet allergies. It would be recommended that someone without allergies take on this task.

Washing hands after playing with a pet and avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands will also help. Since some individuals are also allergic to the saliva of pets it would be sensible to not allow your pet to lick you.

In the case of more serious allergies or asthma it may be best that no pet share the home. For older children or adults it may be possible to find a medication or treatment which makes the situation tolerable if they prefer to keep the pet despite the allergy.

Find out more about General Health at healthandfinesse.com

According to the principles of Feng Shui, strategic placement of objects can mean the difference between health and illness. Placing houseplants in the main living areas of a house, for example, can enhance the flow of energy through the entire structure. Similarly, placing houseplants in the bedroom can mean better sleep for the occupants of the house.

There are several reasons why houseplants can promote better sleep.

a) Healthy plants are a source of cleaner air; because plants release oxygen, they can bring the air quality of a room up several notches. Some plants produce more oxygen during the night; these are snake plants and bromeliads, aloe and orchids. Placing these houseplants in the bedroom will enhance night-time sleep.

b)Most plants remove toxins from the air-pollutants that are found in houses– such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, ammonia, acetone, ethyl acetate. Houseplants can actually absorb these pollutants through their leaves and convert them to harmless substances. New findings suggest that plants can be a good antidote to the sick building “disease” most often caused by our unsustainable high tech innovations for convenience. A single spider plant in a closed chamber containing formaldehyde can remove 85% of the pollutant within 24 hours. Experts estimate that fifteen houseplants can make a dramatic impact on clean air quality in an average house. Some houseplants seem to be particularly effective in absorbing and removing indoor pollutants. These are, to name a few, Chinese evergreen, dracaena, orchids, golden pothos, Norfolk Island pine, red emerald philodendron, spider plant, schefflera and snake plant.

c)Houseplants also act as purifiers of animal bioeffluents-substances not produced by materials in a building, but by humans and animals. These include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, alcohol and others. Houseplants do a wonderful job of converting these bioeffluents into harmless substances. Peace lilies, parlor palms, chrysanthemums, for example, are wonderful houseplants that purify the air of biological and biochemical toxins. Moreover, the moisture given off by plants suppress the formation of airborne microbes, thus diminishing the “allergenic” potential of the bedroom.

d)The green foliage of most houseplants also “soften” the mood of a room. They can mute away harsh corners, endow a bare window with charm or render a touch of symmetry to oddly furnished walls. In general houseplants give a pleasant , soothing effect to the bedroom, an effect that promotes relaxation and sleep. They also absorb odors and fumes, replenish the air with oxygen and humidity, keeping the temperatures cool and sustainable for better sleep. No wonder the most attractive bedrooms in “Better Homes” magazines are always shown with several charming houseplants strategically placed in various spots. And if you are still unsure about the positive effects of plants on human emotions, take note of this: a study by the Washington State University found that people with plants in their work environment were 12 percent more productive and had lower blood pressure than people who did not have plants. There is much support for the idea that the botanical world is inextricably linked to the human psyche and that houseplants can promote better sleep.

However, the air-cleaning abilities of these houseplants are jeopardized if the plants are sick, unhealthy or unclean. Unhealthy houseplants are perfect invitations for insect infestations which produce mold spores that are highly allergenic. To ensure that your houseplants will give you better sleep, you must keep them cleaned and trimmed, free of insects or mites as these are easy sources of allergies and breathing spasms. As well, choose plants that do not shed pollen.

A fitness and weight consultant, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies through nutrition, exercise, positive vision and creative engagement. Visit her atGreatBodyat50 or at
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Your health is very important, and having bad health can prove to be very discouraging. No doubt you want to do everything that you can to make sure that you improve and maintain good health. While no matter what you do, you probably will not improve your health overnight, there are a variety of things that can help to improve your health if you keep at it. The following are some very simple things that you can do on your own to start improving your health.

Start Moving
One very simple thing that you can start to do every day to improve your health is to get moving. Anything that gets you moving is a great way to improve your health. Start taking the stairs instead of elevators, park far away from the store so you get to walk a bit. You can even start to schedule time to play outside with your kids or your pet. Walking your dog every day is a great way to start moving as well. Although you do not need to start exercising for an hour every day, just scheduling in 15-20 minutes of moving can help to drastically improve your health.

Avoid Fat
Cutting fats out of your diet can be a great way to improve your health as well. Start skipping the high fat fast food and choosing healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables. You should also watch out for dairy products as well, since they tend to be quite high in fat too. Start looking for foods that are fat free or low fat, and start eating them instead of their high fat competitors.

Stop Smoking
One thing that many people are doing that will lead them to an early grave is smoking. If you want your health to improve in drastic ways, then you need to stop smoking as soon as possible. While it may not be easy to quit, if you keep smoking it will probably kill you in the long run. Smoking can have a variety of bad effects on your health, including respiratory problems, heart problems, cancers, and more. If you are serious about improving your health, then you need to stop smoking now.

Get Rid of Stress
While it is definitely easy to say than it is to do it, getting rid of stress can help you improve your health in amazing ways. It is important that you start finding ways to reduce the stress in your life. Take up a hobby or start doing relaxation or yoga if you find it helps to melt the stress away. Start thinking more positively and take time out for yourself as well. Stress can cause all kinds of physical and emotional problems, so get rid of it and improve your health.

Start Flossing
Your teeth are very important as well, and have a lot to do with your total health. One thing that you can do to improve the health of your teeth is to start flossing every day. While brushing your teeth and using mouthwash is great, usually it is difficult to get to those germs and food that are between your teeth. If you start flossing your teeth will last longer and your mouth will be healthier as well.

Drink More Water
If you want to improve your health, one simple thing that you can do is to start drinking more water every day. No doubt you have always heard that you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and you should drink that much if not more. Drinking water helps to keep you hydrated and flushes out your system as well, which can promote health. Start taking water with you everywhere and you will start feeling better very quickly.

Cut Down on Salt
One thing that many people do not think about when they are considering their health is salt. While a bit of salt may not cause any harm, too much salt can cause a variety of problems within the body, including high blood pressure. Just cutting back on the amount of salt that you eat each day can help to improve your health now and in the long run.

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
While you’ve probably heard your mother telling you all your life to eat more fruits and vegetables, it really can help to improve your health. Fruits and vegetables are filled with great vitamins and antioxidants that can help the way your body functions. They can even help you fight off infections and colds as well. Start eating more fruits and vegetables daily and you will see an improvement in your health.

Learn how goji juice from FreeLife can help you boost your health. Goji Juice Blog.