TODAY HEALTH AND FITNESS

It is one of the most common things that individuals experience in their lifetime and can strike at any moment - the feeling of not being able to breathe. There are a great number of different causes for this feeling and it really depends on what your physician has diagnosed you with. However, many times the most common health condition that can cause one to feel like they can not breathe is asthma. Asthma is a condition that has plagued our society for generations and it has always been quite difficult to deal with. What makes it particularly hard is the fact that it can occur at anytime without warning.

As a result, you could be enjoying your favorite activities and then suddenly you are stricken with the feeling that you can not breathe and area gasping for air. Although this health issue has been diagnosed for centuries, however the treatments for it have become markedly better in the past couple of years. The first step that occurred was actually the advent of asthma medication with the potency to immediately stop symptoms and open the airway passages. Such medication as Albuterol are typically what has led the market and physicians have been recommending it for years.

However, the most recent innovation that has truly changed the asthma landscape has been the nebulizer machine. This device is something that is made specifically for the purpose of taken medication like Albuterol and transforming it into mist form so that it can be breathed in by the patient. The whole purpose and benefit have transforming it into mist form is because of the fact that when in vapor form it can be easily breathed in by the individual and absorbs far more quickly into the system.

One of the most common situations that arises is actually the feeling of not being able to breathe by children. A child may be playing on the playground and then suddenly you notice that they are gasping for air. This is a very common scenario and is what leads parents to utilize prescription medicine in order to combat the symptoms. Physicians tend to recommend using pediatric nebulizer devices when it comes to children because they are made in a way that is more child-friendly than the average device. As a result it is far more effective and works quickly to relieve the difficult symptoms that can occur at any moment.

It's the inherent trait of the human nature to be on the move. Out forefathers millions of years ago were the hunters and nothing short of the fiercest predator around. This logic applies to the present day man as well. We are still ruthless in our approach. It goes the same for people associated with any kind of profession. You might be an athlete, a CEO of a top company or even a clerk at the post office. No one wants to draw the short straw and deviate from the path of success and job stability. It is therefore of utmost importance that we stay fit and fine all around the clock.

We all have heard the wise saying that health is wealth and it is indeed very true. It is only by staying fit that we can rely on our instincts to take the correct decisions at all important and crucial junctures of our lives. What's better than to have a pedometer, a simple device which will help you out during your daily regimen of working out?

It is a very well known fact that not all of us can afford the time and energy to visit the gym at a regular basis, but the staying fit bug seems to have bitten a fairly large population all around the world. Maybe you are one of those who do not find it necessary to hit the gym at regular basis but do your part to stay fit by taking regular jogs or morning walks through the neighborhood park.

So what is actually a pedometer? A pedometer is actually a device that can be worn as wrist watches or can even be attached to the leg muscles. This device is a step counter and it measures the number of steps taken by you. It is one of the important tools that you require while you are sweating it our trying to stay fit. The pedometer is also beneficial as it can be used to mark out the course, the distance that you will be traveling and the level of activity. It is like the extension of the human body that will give you the precise details of the effort that you will be putting in regularly to stay fit.

Fitness is major big concern right now for everyone residing at all the corners of the world. Of late it is really tragic the way people are falling ill and growing fat owing to the absence of adequate rest and a balanced diet. It is quite a true fact that our daily lives are responsible and the hectic schedule that we are in for daily takes it's toll leaving us without rest and making us unfit. It is therefore very important that we do our bit for our own body and the pedometer will be like a friend letting you know about the endeavors that you have put in and the levels that you need to push yourself to achieve weight loss and high fitness levels.

YOUR HEART RATE
Your pulse or heart rate is what will form the basis of your level of exercise intensity for your aerobic conditioning.

Maximal rate (MHR) is the highest rate a person can attain during heavy exercise. To work at this maximum rate is both dangerous and unnecessary, so we work to a specific formulae (known as the Karvonen Formulae) which is 220 - your age.

As we age our maximum heart rate becomes lower, so it is of even greater importance to monitor the rate of an older person, as it is for an un-conditioned or un-fit person. All work performed will be at a percentage of your maximum rate as shown below. Your resting heart rate (RHR) is the rate at which your heart beats per minute when at rest.

Example for a 40 year old
220 - 40 (age) = 180 (MHR)

For an un-fit or overweight person I am recommending that we begin working at 70% of your maximum rate, i.e: 126 BPM.

I find an easy way of working out your percentage (without a calculator) is to simply divide the 180 (MHR) and the percentage by 10 and multiply e.g:
70% of 180 = 7 times 18 = 126
50% of 180 = 5 times 18 = 90

A wonderful tool to utilize, particularly when you are starting out is a Heart Rate Monitor. These are available at all good sports stores and a decent one will set you back about $200. Otherwise calculate your rate by counting your pulse rate over 15 seconds and multiply by 4 for one minute. At the wrist with index and middle fingers (not your thumb).

Setting and continually attaining your goals is what keeps you on track. Now we are going to do some basic fitness assessment tests of which are great to give you an idea of your ability and limitations at this early stage. Make sure you keep a record of each test so you can compare notes at regular intervals.

RESTING HEART RATE Have a clock with a second hand next to your bed. On waking take your pulse at the wrist either for 15 seconds multiplied by 4 or for the full minute. This is your resting heart rate. This is a good habit to get into as it helps you to become more confident in taking your heart rate at other times and it can be very motivating to see your rate dropping as you become fitter. It is nice to know the old heart doesn't have to work so hard as it used to.

Find a step approx 45cm high and fairly solid to comfortably take your weight when standing freely on it. With your watch or clock in view, begin stepping up and down from the step, left foot up, left foot down, right foot up, right foot down for 5 minutes at a reasonable pace. On completion immediately take your heart rate at 1 minute, 2 minutes and 3 minutes (recording times) Doing this test at a later date will show a much lower heart rate proving your increasing fitness and aerobic capacity.

ABDOMINAL STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE Laying on the floor with knees up and arms straight out in the horizontal position, lift your shoulders off the ground in a crunch position until your wrists cover your knees. Do as many as you can in one minute, or 30 seconds if this is not possible. Through your pilates and yoga moves later on you will notice huge improvements in your core-strength.

If your goal is to remain wholesome by keeping yourself in great shape it does not have to be hard. Truthfully, for the most part, keeping yourself in good health involves little more than doing a few things on a regular basis. Do not be like the people who wait around getting woefully out of shape or are dealing with a critical illness before they decide to find out how to return to their previous level of health.

Staying in shape or keeping healthy does not need to be such a challenge. All it takes is to adopt a couple of good habits. Several small habits you can learn for increasing your health, will greatly benefit your health. A couple of times each week, you should be eating fish. This can be tuna fish for lunch or some type of fish for dinner. Omega-3 acids are vitally important for health and it can be found abundantly found in fish.

By getting into the habit of eating fish you can prevent the development of many different diseases including heart disease, and Alzheimer's. Many people do not like fish or are allergic to it, so they can get the same benefits by taking omega-3 fish oil capsules.

Something that you probably never heard before is that humming can help your hearing. When you are humming, a muscle inside the ear canal is triggered, and it helps keep other sounds from getting in. If you attend a loud event, you should avoid other loud things for a day or more. Human ears are vulnerable to loud sounds for days after the initial exposure to the noise.

Another habit to change is to do your exercises standing up, especially when you are doing weight training. Working out and lifting weights while standing up causes your abdominal muscles to support your spine, which will keep you in a good upright position. This makes sure that your abdominal muscles get a good workout while you are lifting weight.

Another small improvement you can make for your health is to invest in a Sonicare toothbrush. The leading brand of electric toothbrushes that you can buy is probably Sonicare. It may cost a lot of money, but the investment is well worth it for your dental care. It not only thoroughly cleans your teeth but it uses sonic waves to drive out plaque from between your teeth. Since this is sort of like flossing, a Sonicare toothbrush is great for people who do not like to floss.

There a many small changes that you can make to better your health. Whether that means humming while you work, or getting a better toothbrush, or even investing in earplugs, excellent health is waiting for you. It actually boils down to you making wise decisions in the little things each and every day.

It is without a doubt that the medical device industry has changed significantly. Many decades ago when you needed to purchase a device for home use you had to resort to buying it directly from a hospital. Then as that proved to be quite financially ineffective the pharmacies began to purchase in bulk and as a result offer the savings to customers. However, now there is a completely new realm of commerce which occurs completely online and the medical device market has been quick to embrace this new medium. Essentially, lets say that you were interested in purchasing a nebulizer for your home use in order to help with you respiratory condition like asthma or COPD. In the past you had to go to the pharmacy and purchase an expensive brand that took a hefty toll on your financial budget. However, now you can simply just go to a retailer site on the internet and within minutes get the exact device you need with the specifications you desire.

There are couple of reasons why this has proved to be extremely effective. Firstly, the convenience of having to never leave the comfort of your home lends greatly to those that either do not have the time to go out in the store or those that are elderly and are not able to go.

So going back to the nebulizer example, if you are an elderly individual with COPD and you are not able to drive to the store or wait in the long lines then you can simply go online, order, and in a few days you get the device delivered directly to you. The other benefit is the price factor. Because the online stores lack the overhead costs such as rent and utilities that comes with have a brick and mortar establishment they are able to offer the same products at a fraction of the cost. As a result it is not unusual to see savings in the neighborhood of 50% to 60% less than what you would typically find in a regular store environment. Also, most of these online distributors have dedicated technical and sales support lines that can answer so many questions that a typical store clerk in a pharmacy is not able to.

The ability to purchase from a store that specializes in a particular device you are looking for is far more appealing that to purchase from a pharmacy that also sells bubblegum and candy as well.

Quite a big percentage of people answered that losing your job is a major reason for bankruptcy but these people do not know the real deal. It is not through job loss that makes a person totally broke - it is because of not being healthy and getting sick all the time; maybe because they are not aware of health tips that can change their lives in the long run.

Remember that when you are sick, you need to pay the doctor, you have to buy medicine and even go to the hospital if the physician requires you to. What if you do not have insurance? You need to pay for everything and you cannot work at the same time.

This is a fact. This is reality. Now, if you do not want to be bankrupt, all you have to be is in your very best physical shape. You must envelop yourself with a healthy way of living. Here are three important things for you to remember:

Love yourself. It is never too late to start with these health tips. Do these now and you will see positive changes in your life - health and money-wise.