Clean-Bill

No, I’m not crazy! I just thought it was a catchy title that would grab your attention and get you to read on.

The stool or more correctly, the legs of the stool are a metaphor for what I feel is one of the most important aspects of quitting smoking - SUPPORT. Picture if you will sitting down at the computer to write a letter on a stool with only one leg and how difficult it would be to remain on it. Sure, you can say ‘If the leg is in the middle of the stool, balancing shouldn’t be too hard.’ True, but what say the one leg is attached to the outer perimeter as normal? Do you think it would be much harder to concentrate on finishing your letter if most of your attention is spent trying not to fall over? Probably very difficult, I would think.

Now let’s add a leg to the stool. Does it become any easier to sit on? Of course it does. Now you only have to worry about the stool moving side-to-side or front-to-back, but not both so you only have to give it half as much attention. Much easier to concentrate on the task at hand.

How about a third leg? Is that any better? You bet - perfect stability. With this surefootedness we can focus all our attention on our task as we no longer have to worry about ending up on the floor if our concentration slips.

How does this metaphor relate to quitting smoking? Well, like the one legged stool, if you attempt to quit smoking on your own with no other support, it will be that much more difficult to stay focused. Why try to do it alone when there are friends out there who would be more than willing to help you. Adding another couple of legs to your efforts would be recommended to get more stability (support), but four, five or more friends would not be out of line either.

Here’s the thing though. When asking for support from these friends, it is of utmost importance that you also ask that they don’t repetively question you about ‘how it’s going’. We want your support system to be approachable when you need them, not have the people in it grilling you all the time. It is also a good idea to make a pact within your support group, if you have the courage, in that if you ever come to think that ‘just one’ won’t hurt, you MUST get on the phone and call each and every one of your ‘legs’ and let them know you’ve decided to continue smoking. Make it through all of those phone calls and still think smoking is a good idea and I’d be very surprised.

FREEDOM from the cigarette will come once you’ve made up your mind and enlisted all the tools you can find, including the multi-legged support system.

When trying to implement a new program at your school or school district you can run into some stiff resistance. The automatic defibrillator will be no exception to this. School officials may initially pose some objections to a Philips Onsite AED program however, with some guidance and advice you can overcome them. One day the school or district may even have to thank you for beginning a program that saved someone’s life. Below are a few tips and tricks to help you get started in the right direction.

There many possible stances you can utilize to push for an Philips Onsite AED in your school system. If there has been a tragedy of a student or even faculty member, who has died from cardiac arrest at your school or a neighboring district this heartbreaking event will still be fresh in the minds of parents and administration. Look for assistance from your school nurse too, he or she attends conferences and meetings about issues like this and maybe a great help to you.

Next, spend some time with your planning committee. This should be comprised of anyone who is interested, parents, teachers, community leaders, coaches and even the students themselves. Be aware that you do not grow so large of a committee that you cannot get anything done, to many cooks spoil the soup.

Be aware that this will be a long process, the school board will have to consult legal council before any firm decisions or actions are taken. In fact, you could approach the school legal team with the idea before getting too involved in the planning aspects. They can give you the heads up on potential legal issues before you submit your plan. Check into any possible liability issues a head of time this will move things along much faster.

Do your homework gather all the information you can before presenting it to your school board, parents or others especially issues that are particular to your school. For instance take a head count at sporting events, then check the response time of your local emergency medical team service during good and bad weather. Now compile this data into a presentation on possible survival rates should someone experience sudden cardiac arrest.

Talk to and convince as many parents as possible. Your school board will hear the voice of their parents before anyone else. This should not present a very big problem, as parents are always concerned with the welfare of their children.

A huge hurdle will probably be getting the money. The school district may already be operating on a strict budget, so be prepared to find alternate sources of funding if necessary. Plan concrete ways to get the initial funding as well as any that will be needed on a regular basis; this will overcome many objections while proving that you are committed to the process of putting Philips Onsite AED in your school.

When all other devices have failed, it has been found by some people that Chantix is the one that finally did help them to quit. Chantix is different than most stop smoking aids. It works as a nicotine blocker, which in turn blocks the absorption of nicotine to the receptors in the brain. This, over time, lessens the desire to smoke as there is less receptors available for the nicotine to attach itself to. Which, of course, makes you want that cigarette less and less.

A lot of folks have quit relatively easy using this method. And on top of that, there has been amazingly few withdrawal symptoms. Surprisingly, even two pack a day smokers are at times successful. But the first thing is to check and see whether your insurance company will cover it as Chantix is only available by prescription and many companies are reluctant to cover stop smoking products in general. If it is indeed covered, expect at least some level of pharmacy co-pay.

Since Chantix contains no nicotine, it is not necessary to quit smoking when you begin the medication. You will receive a starter pack that gradually builds up the medication in your system over the next two weeks.

Whether you pick a quit day two weeks or three weeks out in order to allow the medication to build up even further is unimportant. The important thing is that you do pick a quit day and stick to it.

There are several side effects that have been experienced, but this can vary greatly from person to person, and are normally temporary. Extremely vivid dreams are most notable especially during the first few weeks of using the medication, as well as excessive gas, nausea and in some cases headaches.

To help with your efforts, Chantix even comes with a very good free online support system that not only sends you daily emails to keep you on track, but also provides stop smoking projects to help remind you as to why you wanted to quit in the first place.

Chantix is not for everybody and although it is a very promising medication, some people have more of the psychological addiction to nicotine, than a physical one. In the latter case Chantix could work very well and does offer some behavioral support. However if you have more of the psychological addiction to nicotine Chantax may not be the right medication for you and your doctor may recommend a different medication better suited to your needs.

Whatever you do, do not think that Chantix, or any other stop smoking aid for that matter, is the magic pill that is going to make you quit. Only medications used with a strond desire to quit have a chance of being successful. The medications, Chantix included, are only there to give us an edge in quitting, not do it for us.

It is a truth that a hypnosis course is considered as fun, and informative. No doubt that nowadays, people are hurrying to attend courses of teaching hypnosis. This due to the fact, that our days become full of frustrations and worry, so taking such a course will be an excitement for an altering.

The Course of Hypnosis is not a Comedian Matter

Frankly, we are not talking here about a comedian matter of hypnosis courses, but we are seriously, preferring that straight one as a way of changing.

The hypnosis course teaches you how to hypnotize. There are various courses. You may either select to attend a special course or that of a little group. Sometimes, we see online courses of hypnosis. This course concentrates on an idea of your will to get a change and gain new thoughts.

Do You Know the Reasons of Taking Up a Hypnosis Course?

Good question. Some do it because they are intrigued with the idea of controlling other people’s minds. This may or may not be a good thing. If you want to help people deal with certain problems or issues (insomnia, confidence issues, past hurts etc) then good for you. That’s essentially what hypnotherapy and taking up a hypnosis course is about. If you want to learn hypnosis to make people think they are sticks of salami about to be devoured by a 50 foot gorilla, well, if it’s for a light comedy show that maintains respect for individuals and public accountability on your part, you’ll hear little objection from us.

But if all you want is to control people’s thoughts, to manipulate them for your own scheming ends, then you are on the wrong path my friend. You have no business taking part in a hypnosis course of any kind.

Since hypnosis is a sensitive practice, it must learnt by caution. Avoid play on other’s minds. You should treat them with respect. You have to assist them passing their problems and find a good meaning in life. Ignoring others’ acts and minds will cause firing you from the course!

But if your goal is to help people, to provide them with an alternative path to healing and dealing with problems and pain, then you have a bright future ahead of you. A hypnosis course will certainly benefit you in terms of self-development and ultimately, it will help others as you put your learning into practice.

Remember, the goal of hypnosis is to help people, to provide them with a way to deal with pain and problems. Do not stray from that path. You will only perpetuate pain in the lives of others, as well as your own.

After you have convinced the powers that be that the benefits of a Philips Onsite AED program are worth the effort you may see the whole community rally around the cause. It is true that heart attacks strike younger children less often than other age groups it does happen. The saddest part is that death in this situation is so highly preventable. All that is required is for the school to have access to a Philips Onsite AED.

Often, emergency medical staff cannot make it in time to save the life of the person who is having a heart attack. The patient is sadly already clinically deceased as soon as they enter cardiac arrest and without action, there is a small chance of survival. This will happen a lot less often if a Philips Onsite AED is at hand. It’s especially true during school athletic practices and events, since most cases will occur in young children during strenuous activity. One objection that you will likely find on any school campus will be in the area of funds.

Some schools maybe in the black and have the funds readily available; however that will likely be the exception and not the rule. In all other cases, you will have to go outside the school to get the money. This is where the community comes in, have bake sales, raffles and any other type of fundraiser you can think of.

Do not hesitate to look to civic organizations and physicians for assistance. Doctors will be especially cognizant of the benefits of a Philips Onsite AED program. Make sure the word is spread about what you are doing, place flyers and ads in the local paper. When the public is aware of what and why they will be more inclined to contribute.

Look to your local businesses for contributions and space to place donation boxes. Some large companies have a commitment to contributing so much annually to the community in which they do business. When making donation boxes remember they do not have to be fancy, a jar or box with a photo of the needed equipment will do just fine. Other possible contributors would be fraternal organizations like the Rotary, Kiwanis and so forth. Any person or organization that makes up a part of the community is fair game.

Plus many of these are looking for areas to contribute to anyway and what is more worthy than a potentially life saving device like a Philips Onsite AED? Besides the members of these clubs are likely parents or grand parents of current or future students and will be interested in anything that keeps them safer. Bring your community together and you will have no problems pulling together the funds for a Philips Onsite AED program for your school.

It is not easy to break any old habit, least of all smoking, which is more than just a habit. However, if you have reached a point when you really want to quit smoking, you can do that more easily in a group rather than do it alone. But, first things first! You must be honest with yourself whether you truly want to quit smoking or is it just a passing fancy that impels you to give it up for any temporary reason. If you really want to give up smoking, then you must feel accountable to yourself and others. That is why you need a support group around you that can be of at least two or three other people, though five is ideal.

If you only have to answer to yourself when an overwhelming urge strikes, that’s only one person the nicotine beast has to overcome, but if you have a group, that’s a whole other story.

So how do you hold yourself accountable to others?

Of course, you begin by being accountable to yourself first. For example, if you’ve been off cigarettes for a week and then the irresistible urge strikes you, and you make hundred and one excuses, you battle with guilt and frustration, and ultimately, you give in because the nicotine beast is very strong and you are only one person. This is the story of many people who break down at this point.

But what if you had five loyal soldiers standing between the nicotine demon and you? Ah, now that’s a completely new ball game.

The process

Set up a small support group for yourself whether it be via email, telephone, or a support forum. Tell these people your goal to quit smoking but also ask them not to pester you about it - just to be there when you need help and positive support. Use them for encouragement.

Now, with a support group in place, when you again encounter an overwhelming urge to smoke, you will have to get past not just your own guilty conscience, but you have to call these five people and tell them that you have decided to start smoking again.

If you can do this much, you need not do anything else. They will do the talking and you just have to sit back and listen without getting angry or upset. Chances are that they will talk you out of your momentary weakness and encourage you to stick to your resolve. And it may not even take all five voices to convince you. However, if you can make it through all five members of your support team and you still think that you can do with just ‘one’ cigarette, then you must know that it is not just one ” it is always the first one that will get you.

This is why the support system works so well - because now it’s six (your support team plus you) against the ‘one’.

One last point, you must be well informed about the whole process before you try to quit smoking. The more you know about quitting, the more successful you will be.

Best of luck,

Darren Warmuth

When travelling to a foreign country for some period of time there should be many points to be aware about. It is essential to pack the necessities, take care of your finances, keep an up to date passport and obviously make sure to keep in touch with your loved ones back at home. It is also important to find a comfortable and healthy planned trip so that any medical emergencies are taken care of outside home.

The first step involves searching the internet and various institutions for finding safe travel packages. A traveler who is well informed from before will be better prepared in times of emergency.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, part of the U.S. State Department provides useful information for travelers and expatriates, including information about health and safety plan options. This bureau also has travel warnings and other such useful information available to the public.

Registering with a U.S embassy or consulate is a wise option for a safe trip. The authorities involved with help you better in times of need while abroad.

International SOS is a very good option for international travelers looking for a safe journey. This is basically an international membership organization which can provide travelers with health insurance and necessary information about specific health, vaccination and other safety information. Apart from travel health and safety plans International SOS also specialize in medical assistance, hospital referrals and all over the world emergency services for all members of this esteemed group. This kind of service or similar ones can provide with guarantee and satisfaction of medical options and emergency services for travelers.

The Travel Doctor, (www.tmvc.com.au/info10.html), is an internet resource that is a gold mine of vaccination advice and general articles on subjects of contemporary interest in health and safety plans. This may be a good first place to start your research about health and safety plans for travelers and expatriates.

It seems that cosmetic surgery is on everyone’s mind these days.

There are the “extreme” makeover shows on TV and of course the ads are everywhere. It seems like everyone wants to improve their looks surgically.

You might be surprised to learn that cosmetic surgery is in fact nothing new. The earliest documented cosmetic surgery procedures date back to 60 BC in India.

Bigger breasts, smaller noses, bigger lips and slimmer midsections. No matter what part of your body you’d like to change, there is a cosmetic surgery procedure which can do the job; changing your appearance and boosting your self confidence.

You might want to have plastic surgery performed to improve on nature in some area or other. Perhaps you wish you’d been born with a smaller stomach or larger breasts.

It may also be due to the effects which you’d like to counteract surgically.

As we age, we lose the collagen and elastin which keep our skin looking smooth and youthful. This loss is hastened by sun exposure and of course, this loss of collagen and elastin causes wrinkles, folds and furrows.

Maybe you are trying to turn back the hands of time and reverse some of the physical effects of aging.

Happily, there are cosmetic surgery procedures which can resolve these problems. It’s the intersection of science and art - using modern technology to improve on your aesthetic appeal. At the Colorado Plastic Surgery Center, you’ll always receive the best in surgical techniques and the personal attention you need.

Of course, there is also an element of art to cosmetic surgery.

You need to establish a relationship of trust and respect with your plastic surgeon to create the comfort necessary to let them know exactly what you want from your surgery.

At Most Plastic Surgery Centers, you’re an individual, not a body part or a procedure.

You need to be comfortable with your plastic surgeon. You have to have confidence in their expertise and experience. You need to be comfortable enough with your surgeon to let them know exactly what you expect and hope for from your surgery.

We go the extra mile to make sure that we build a personal relationship with all of our patients and really get to know you. We’ll answer all of your questions and make sure that you know everything there is to know about the procedures we perform.

It’s important to weight your options when you’re considering a cosmetic surgery -you can start right here! Ask us anything - we’re here to help you.

When you are thinking about having a cosmetic procedure done, you should always:

Talk to surgeons until you find one with whom you are totally comfortable and have confidence in.

Be certain that your doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Otolaryngology.

Be realistic about what you expect from the procedure; you and your surgeon should discuss your expectations in detail.

Cosmetic surgery can produce results which can be personally rewarding and transform you in a positive way.

Feelings of fatigue, irritibility and an extremely persistent headache are all side effects of nicotine withdrawal and are all perfectly normal. Why? Simply because it is in the first 72 hours which nicotine purges itself from your system - regardless of the smoking cessation method you have chosen to use.

The good news is that if you prepare mentally for your quit day, many of the symptoms will not make you feel like you have to lock yourself in a closet. Letting friends and family members know that today is your quit day (if you feel they would be a help and not a hindrance) would be a good idea and since it’s common knowledge about how people act when they stop smoking, you may just get the to house to yourself for the day.

What are the symptoms of withdrawal? What are you going to feel? By planning beforehand, you can alleviate a lot of these problems before they arise. Here are a few things you may want to include on your list:

Feeling angry or agitated: I will take deep breaths and take a walk outside. I will leave the room or go take a shower.

Feeling overly emotional or sensitive: Seek out somewhere you can be alone until the feelings subside.

Feeling tired: Rest and healing are needed to allow myself to heal from my addiction.

Feeling nauseated: I will eat an apple or ginger (helps with nausea).

After a meal I will: get out and take a walk, or clear the table.

By drinking lots of fluids, and most especially water, your body’s stores of nicotine will be rapidly metabolized and flushed from your system. The downside is that you will have to go to the bathroom more often, but the upside is that the nicotine will clear itself from your system that much quicker and alleviate the physical withdrawal symptoms.

A few things can make the withdrawal symptoms stronger rather than weaker. Caffeine may be one of those. But not for all people. Every situation is unique. Best to judge for yourself. If you are finding that caffeinated drinks are causing you cravings, you should cut down drastically or quit altogether.

Just be careful not to overload your willpower by giving up too many things at once. Perhaps just cut back slowly on the caffeine in the beginning and replace those types of drinks with things that will help rid your body of the nicotine, like fruit juices and water.

A very common side effect during the first few nights is finding it difficult to fall asleep and then to sleep soundly. Even though you might’ve been exhausted throughout the day, when it’s time for bed it seems like everything is racing through your mind and you can’t get comfortable.

To help alleviate this, I recommend a hot shower before heading off to bed to help you relax. Usually the sleep deprivation only lasts for a night or two. However if it persists, I would suggest a visit to the pharmacy to pick up a sleeping aid until the restlessness passes. It won’t last forever.

Today you’re going to do those badly needed repairs to your roof. You start by putting all your tools and supplies together. You do this before you climb up the ladder onto the roof. You do this because you do not want to take that long trip to the top and discover you did not have all of the necessary tools at your disposal. Nobody wants to start a task from the beginning again.

This example is just the same as the task of quitting smoking. Surely, when it comes to the decision to stop smoking, you are making a choice to repair your life and health on many levels. You decided to improve your appearance - have fresher breath and be confident when you speak to people. Without the proper tools in hand, the damage caused by smoking cannot be repaired.

Many experts have come to the conclusion, that the more tools the better. Some of the tools in your toolbox may be: Herbal Products. Nicotine Patches. Nicotine Gum. Smoking cessation program. These are just a few to mention. The more tools you have in your toolbox will greatly increase your progress and eventually lead to your success.

A journal will make your toolbox complete and the benefits keeping a journal are substantial. When you begin the process to stop smoking you should consider including a journal to your toolbox and making it part of your program. A toolbox is not complete until you add a journal to it.

1. You will start to experience a variety of emotions when you start the process to stop smoking. Journaling can lessen the effect of some of these emotions. This may include anger, frustration, anxiousness, and others.

Second, journaling alone can be used as a healthy alternative to the act of smoking. When you would normally be smoking a cigarette, you can instead take a few minutes to write some thoughts or ideas into your journal.

3. The journaling process creates a database for you to reference. Strong moments and weak moments will surface. This data is valuable and can be used to correct the problem or weak areas that need more focus.

At the finish, you will realize the benefits of journaling are enormous and you will be very happy that you added a journal to your toolbox at the start of your stop smoking program and process