HEALTHY

Health education

Health education is defined as the principle by which individuals and groups of people learn to behave in a manner conducive to the promotion, maintenance, or restoration of health. The ultimate aim of Health Education is Positive Behavioural Modification
Education for health begins with people. It hopes to motivate them with whatever interests they may have in improving their living conditions. Its aim is to develop in them a sense of responsibility for health conditions for themselves as individuals, as members of families, and as communities. In communicable disease control, health education commonly includes an appraisal of what is known by a population about a disease, an assessment of habits and attitudes of the people as they relate to spread and frequency of the disease, and the presentation of specific means to remedy observed deficiencies. (Washington State Department of Health)
Health education is also an effective tool that helps improve health in developing nations। It not only teaches prevention and basic health knowledge but also conditions ideas that re-shape everyday habits of people with unhealthy lifestyles in developing countries। This type of conditioning not only affects the immediate recipients of such education but also future generations will benefit from an improved and properly cultivated ideas about health that will eventually be ingrained with widely spread health education। Moreover, besides physical health prevention, health education can also provide more aid and help people deal healthier with situations of extreme stress, anxiety, depression or other emotional disturbances to lessen the impact of these sorts of mental and emotional constituents, which can consequently lead to detrimental physical effects. Health education is included in the curriculum of most schools. In the United States some forty states require the teaching of health education. A comprehensive health education curriculum consists of planned learning experiences which will help students achieve desirable attitudes and practices related to critical health issues. Some of these are: emotional health and a positive self image; appreciation, respect for, and care of the human body and its vital organs; physical fitness; health issues of alcohol, tobacco, drug use and abuse; health misconceptions and quackery; effects of exercise on the body systems and on general well being; nutrition and weight control; sexual relationships, the scientific, social and economic aspects of community and ecological health; communicable and degenerative diseases including sexually transmitted diseases; disaster preparedness; safety and driver education; choosing professional medical and health services; and choices of health careers.
The term Health Education can also refer to the process of educating health professionals, including post-secondary education culminating in supervised experience.

LIFE

Extraterrestrial life

Earth is the only planet in the universe known to harbour life. The Drake equation has been used to estimate the probability of life elsewhere, but scientists disagree on many of the values of variables in this equation (although strictly speaking Drake equation estimates relate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy with which we might come in contact - not probability of life elsewhere). Depending on those values, the equation may either suggest that life arises frequently or infrequently.
Panspermia and exogenesis are theories proposing that life originated elsewhere in the universe and was subsequently transferred to Earth in the form of spores perhaps via meteorites, comets or cosmic dust. However those theories do not help explain the ultimate origin of life.

BISNIS INNOVATION

How to Form an Innovation Strategy
Posted by Scott Anthony on August 19, 2008 9:06 AM
Companies just starting innovation efforts often begin by getting a group of people together and telling them "It's innovation time!" I've never seen efforts like this succeed in meaningful ways.
Instead, we suggest that companies begin innovation efforts by creating an innovation strategy that details clear targets and tactics.
Clear targets help internal innovators know what they're shooting for. A reasonable starting place is to imagine what success looks like five years in the future. Are you seeking to double your business? Hold it steady? Something else? Setting a target that is several years in the future can help to de-politicize a potentially charged discussion.
Then think about the sources of growth. How much can you reasonably expect your core business to contribute? In some industries your five-year contribution might be below today's contribution, and that's okay.
Next, look at what's already in your development pipeline. What can you reasonably expect that pipeline to contribute in the future? One tip here: make sure to risk adjust your pipeline. If you assume all of your projects will succeed, you are being wildly optimistic.
Now, calculate the gap (it will almost always be a gap) between where your projections suggest you will be and where you want to be. That gap is your target for new innovation efforts.
Then think of the tactics that are on and off the table. A lot of people think that creativity and chaos are friends. We disagree. Instead, we find it helpful to carefully consider what you want innovators to do, what you'll consider, and what you don't want innovators to do.
One way to make the tactical options tangible is to use this "Goals and Boundaries" visual (from Chapter 1 of The Innovator's Guide to Growth).

The figure (download it
here) represents the "goals and boundaries" of innovation. Note how the figure includes a diverse set of elements, such as steady-state revenue, channel, business model, and brand. Customize the vectors for your context, and gain consensus about what's clearly in bounds, what's on the fringes, and what's clearly out of bounds.
Gaining consensus on this visual will help you to evaluate ideas and to guide innovators in their exploration efforts.
Formalizing targets and tactics is a great way to kick-start your innovation efforts. Start allocating resources to support your strategy, and you are on your way to innovation success!
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Know Your Diabetes Glucose Monitoring Kit

By : Roberto Sedycias Submitted 2008-12-15 13:05:42


As we all know, Diabetes is one of the most common disease prevalent over the world these days. The condition in which the body accumulates excess of sugar is termed as diabetes. There can be two reasons for this, either a problem with secretion and functioning of the Anti Diuretic hormone or the problem with secretion of insulin. The former is called, Diabetes insepidus, Diabetes Mellitus being the latter one. The latter is rather more prevalent and is the matter of concern for almost every second house in the society these days. There is no miracle drug to totally cure diabetes at once, but what we can do is just keep it under control by imposing a regular check on it by using medicines etc. For this we need monitoring the progress of the disease from time to time. In the busy schedule of the 21st century it is virtually impossible to go to the doctor every time there is a need for testing the blood sugar level. The solutions to these are Glucose monitoring kits. November is celebrated as the National diabetes awareness month, and what is better than buying a new technologically improved glucose monitoring kit this month, with lots of companies selling them at discounted price. The most common and used item all over the world is the Accu chek. There are various variants like, Accu chek AVIVA, Accu chek Compact Plus, Free style flash, free style lite, Ascensia Breeze 2, Ascentia contour. Free style freedom meter kit is considered to be using the least amount of blood (3 - 10ml). Moreover the kit includes, 10 test strips, lancing device from Free Style, 10 Lancets, Free style control solution, etc. Accu check Advantage Diabetes monitoring kit contains the blood glucose meter, Adjustable Accu-Chek Softclix Lancet Device (10 lancets), etc. Accu check active diabetes monitoring kits also has a similar composition. The new Accu chek Compact plus diabetes monitoring kit requires no strip handling and auto calibration is done. There are various combo offers available too, when brought in combination a discount can be availed. One Touch Ultra 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System: It requires just a drop of blood and requires only about 5 seconds to get the result. The back light and the scroll button makes it easier to handle. It can store last 500 records with time and date of checking. Hence, the patient can have a look at the rate of improvement. It has got a simple and unique design and comes in various combo offers. The one touch ultra 2 strips are available separately. One Touch Ultra Mini Blood Glucose Monitoring System is simple and sleek in design. Only one touch Ultra test strips can be used with it and the result comes within 5 seconds. The whole kit comes with an educational booklet along with category of food which, if taken keeps the blood sugar level low. Home Diagnostics Sidekick Blood Glucose Testing System, is another one in the similar category. It requires 1 UL of blood sample and less than 10 seconds to give the answer. The blood is generally taken from the forefinger. However, while using these Diabetes testing kits, you must keep in mind certain simple things: * Proper instruction should be followed while taking the test at home. * Each strip should be used only once and after that it should be discarded at a safe place. * When abnormally low or high results come, then you must repeat the test to confirm. * Proper medication should be taken only after consultation with the doctor.
Author Resource:- You can have access to portuguese articles about diabetes monitoring kits from page Health_And_Beauty Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br/
Article From Article Health And Fitness

Water: How much should you drink every day?

Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.
How much water should you drink each day? A simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.
Though no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
Health benefits of water
Water is your body's principal chemical component, making up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
§ Dehydration
§ Dehydration and youth sports: Curb the risk
How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
Several approaches attempt to approximate water needs for the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate.
§ Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your total fluid intake, so if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet, you will typically replace the lost fluids.
§ Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as all fluids count toward the daily total. Though the approach isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink.
§ Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine advises that men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.
Even apart from the above approaches, if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or slightly yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate.
Factors that influence water needs
You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
§ Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, the duration of your exercise and the type of activity you're engaged in.
During long bouts of intense exercise, it's best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you're finished exercising.
§ Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.
§ Illnesses or health conditions. Signs of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose additional fluids. In these cases you should drink more water and may even need oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. Also, you may need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.
§ Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.
Beyond the tap: Other sources of water
Although it's a great idea to keep water within reach at all times, you don't need to rely only on what you drink to satisfy your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake, while the remaining 80 percent comes from water and beverages of all kinds.
For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent to 100 percent water by weight. Beverages such as milk and juice also are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is one of your best bets because it's calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.
Staying safely hydrated
It's generally not a good idea to use thirst alone as a guide for when to drink. By the time you become thirsty, it's possible to already be slightly dehydrated. Further, be aware that as you get older your body is less able to sense dehydration and send your brain signals of thirst. Excessive thirst and increased urination can be signs of a more serious medical condition. Talk to your doctor if you experience either.
To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. Nearly every healthy adult can consider the following:
§ Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal.
§ Hydrate before, during and after exercise.
§ Substitute sparkling water for alcoholic drinks at social gatherings.
If you drink water from a bottle, thoroughly clean or replace the bottle often.
Though uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who consume an average American diet.
If you're concerned about your fluid intake, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. He or she can help you determine the amount of water that's best for you.