Minimize Clutter and Maximize Floor Space With Recessed Cabinets

A place for everything and everything in its place: This is the mantra of the organized, tidy person. If your place is small but cluttered, you want cabinets to put your clutter in, but you can't afford the floor space. There's a way to have your cake and eat it too in this instance. The way to clear precious floor space without blocking this same floor space with bulky cabinets is with recessed or built-in cabinets. These can be the shelf storage cabinet, bathroom storage cabinets, or the bathroom wall cabinet, among others. Recessed cabinets can also add beauty and a look of elegance to your rooms.

Let's start in the bathroom. This is the most obvious spot, with the usual recessed medicine cabinet and toilet paper holder. But other things can be recessed, including bath storage cabinets, shelves for towels, towel bars themselves, and tissue box holders. As an added bonus, when these things are recessed, they aren't targets for elbows and knees in the dark.

There are a lot of opportunities for recessed storage cabinets in the living room. Think of how beautifully your books can be displayed in recessed bookcases. These bookcases can be wide or narrow. They can be tall or short. They can be recessed into a corner. If they have decorative molding, this molding can be designed to blend with the architectural style of your house or your interior decorating style. They can even be glassed in to keep the dust off your precious library collection. But the storage shelves in the living room can be designed to hold more than just books. Media storage shelves can be designed to hold DVDs, CDs, and computer games.

A woman with an abundant supply of jewelry would love to have a recessed jewelry cabinet. These cabinets come in many styles. Some are rectangular. Some have an arched top. Additional functionality and aesthetic value are added by a mirror on the door.

There are many types of recessed cabinets for the kitchen. Think of the pantry, the home fire station, the built-in ironing board, and the pet food holder. Do you have a few spices? Install a spice rack. Are you a gourmet cook? The full-sized spice cabinet may be just what you need. Your kitchen will be the best organized on the street.

Wall niches are a beautiful addition to any room, whether it's the bedroom, living room, entry way, or hallway. These niches are less functional than just beautiful. Wall niches go far back into history as a way to decorate a wall with three-dimensional art objects such as vases, figurines, plants, and statues. A niche is a good solution for these displays because they are flush with the wall, making it difficult for the careless person to knock the art object to the floor.

With so many options for built-in storage, there is no excuse for not having a place for everything. Look at your walls. Where can you put a well-placed cabinet to hold your stuff?

How To Stop Pneumonia From Becoming Cancer

They say you can die from pneumonia, but what do they mean by that? Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics, but sometimes not all the bacteria is killed off by the antibiotics and the pneumonia can return.

Pneumonia also causes inflammation in the lungs. If the inflammation remains, your body will fight back by developing what is called pleural effusion. Pleural effusion occurs when inflammation causes fluid to accumulate between the lungs and the lung linings. If the pleural effusion is not treated and remains, it will eventually thicken and form nodules or plaques. This thickening is called "pleural thickening".

What, Exactly, Is Pleural Thickening?

The lining of the lungs, called the pleura or pleural membranes, consists of thin membranes that cover the lungs and provide protection and support. Some diseases such as bacterial pneumonia can cause these membranes to thicken, often as a result of inflammation.

So pleural thickening is the thickening and hardening of the pleura or pleural fluids.

It can occur in 2 forms:

1. Diffuse pleural thickening extends over a large area and may restrict expansion of the lungs.
2. Pleural Plaques are localized areas of pleural thickening/calcification which do not usually interfere with breathing.

To diagnose the condition a doctor will use an imaging test such as an MRI or a CT scan, and may also take a fine needle biopsy of the lung tissue. Pleural thickening is considered to be a life threatening condition.

Some of the early symptoms of pleural thickening include difficulty breathing immediately after physical activity and a slight pain in the chest. In most cases, the initial symptoms of pleural thickening are difficult to detect even for the person experiencing them.

The more advanced symptoms of pleural thickening include extreme difficulty breathing even when at rest, chronic chest pain and a chronic cough.

These pleural symptoms can also occur in conjunction with a condition called hemothorax, which is caused by the presence of blood in the chest cavity.

Thickening of the pleural membranes is not a condition which is treatable. Because the thickening is a symptom of a disease, treatment is more focused on the underlying cause of the thickening.

Causes of Pleural Thickening:

Pleural thickening can occur as a result of any inflammation occurring in the lungs.

Diagnosis of Pleural Thickening:

The degree of thickening helps doctors determine whether the cause is benign or malignant (cancerous). The appearance of nodules, circumferential thickening (thickening with well defined borders) and thickening of more than 1 cm may be a sign of malignancy.

Prevention/Solution

In most cases, by the time symptoms of pleural thickening trigger a diagnosis the condition cannot be treated. Doctors will focus on relieving the symptoms of pleural thickening such as the chest pain and the inability to breathe. From time to time the lungs may fill with fluid and the doctor may recommend surgery to relieve the pressure caused by the fluid, but there is no medication or surgery that can control the spreading of the effects of pleural thickening once it has advanced to the point of creating noticeable symptoms. If pleural thickening is caught early enough it may be treated by surgery. Doctors will remove any infected lung tissue, and this may mean the removal of an entire lung.

If the nodules are diagnosed as malignant, the usual cancer treatments will be ordered by your doctor, like surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

But the way to avoid all this is to get rid of the pleural effusion before it begins to thicken and form the nodules in the first place.

There are things you can do to help your doctor and yourself. When you have been diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia:

- Always finish taking any prescribed medications. If you don't finish taking your medications your pneumonia can come back and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can continue to grow.
- Keep all of your future appointments and xrays your doctor has ordered. You might feel better, but sometimes the round of antibiotics you took might not have gotten rid of all the bacteria. It's important for your doctor to keep an eye on your health for some time to make sure your pneumonia does not come back.
- Turn down your humidifiers and put a cap of bleach in the water each time you fill them.
- Omega3 fatty acids, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, Cruciferous, Alfalfa and Aloe Vera, taken orally, will help to soothe the lining of the lung and help with inflammation and tissue repair/replacement.
- Vitamin E will help you breathe easier and will help dissolve scar tissue.
- Garlic capsules can help kill bacteria.
- Drink lots of water as it will help to flush toxins. Also, liquids keep you from becoming dehydrated and help loosen mucus in your lungs.
- Stay away from alcohol and smoke.
- Get plenty of sleep -- don't push it. Things can wait to be done until after you are completely healed.

Some herbal formulas relieve symptoms without interfering with the healing process. For example, white willow bark contains a different form of salicylic acid than aspirin, so that it blocks only the inflammation chain of the prostaglandins and not the healing chain.

Eat whole, natural foods and stay away from convenience foods and fast foods which conatin additives, toxins and chemicals. If there are foods that are out of season in your area then you should supplement your diet with vitamins. This will not only make you stronger, it will help your medications work better.

There was a link found between lung function and Vitamin D levels in a study done at University of Auckland in New Zealand (December 2005, "Chest"). The higher levels of Vitamin D that were present determined how much better the lungs were preforming. Harvard University did another study and found that improved survival rates were connected to higher levels of Vitamin D in cancer patients who had surgery.

Dr. Ray Sahelian who is an alternative medicine expert explains that oxidative inflammation and stress greatly influence lung damage. Supplements with anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants can counteract this and using them benefits general lung health. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids and resveratrol are examples of anti-inflammatories and strong antioxidants. Dr. Sahelian notes specific research from Japan on COPD patients who take omega-3 fatty acid supplements that shows improved breathing.

Warnings

Do not use antioxidant supplements if you take pharmaceutical drugs. Some antioxidant supplements can interfere with certain types of chemotherapy drugs because they remove chemicals and other toxins (drugs) from your blood, so if you are undergoing this treatment for lung cancer, do not take antioxidants. Quit taking them a week before starting treatment and then you can begin taking them again a week after your treatments are completed. Also, if you are undergoing chemotherapy you should stop taking any Vitamin B supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E can interact with blood-thinning medications and in themselves work like blood thinners so you should not take them before or during surgeries. Certain herbs such as St. John's Wort, gingko, and ginseng can interfere with blood clotting and can cause potentially harmful changes in blood pressure and heart rate in people undergoing anesthesia. If you plan to take supplements along with your treatment, do your homework and research the effects these herbs and supplements have on different drugs, treatments or surgery.

Knee Braces For Arthritis

Knee arthritis is a common problem especially for people over 50 years of age. About 1 in 2 people at this stage in life will show some signs of this condition. Unfortunately, the actual aetiology of this disease is unknown despite loads of research around the world. But what is known is that if you have a family history of arthritis or if you have experienced a previous injury to you knee your chances of suffering from this condition is significantly increased, especially is the injury occurred in your teenage years.

Treatment options for knee arthritis vary, ranging from medication, exercise and weight loss in order to reduce the amount of load placed of the joint.

Bracing also known as orthotics is another treatment option especially for people who are wanting to stay active and put off a knee replacement as long as possible. The function of a knee brace is to help decrease the impact force from the ground as the lower leg takes weight while walking. The brace can also add pressure to the lateral or medial side of the knee to help with the alignment of the leg and therefore allowing the knee to be held in a better biomechanical position.

Knee braces (or knee orthoses) can be divided into 2 categories:

1. Off the Shelf

2. Custom Made

Off the shelf braces come in a range of sizes (e.g. small, medium and large). It is a matter of choosing one that fits you and that feels comfortable.

Custom made knee braces are better than off the self braces because the knee brace is specifically designed to suit you and your knee. However, like anything custom made, the cost is higher. Prices can be up to $1000. Another important factor to consider is your foot wear. By having a well fitting shoe that provides good shock absorption capability, the stress or load placed on the knee will be reduced.

Unfortunately, knee arthritis is a condition that typically progresses with age. Many treatment options are available. Even though knee bracing may feel awkward for the first few weeks of use and may cost up to $1000, it provides an individual with the ability to reduce the load placed through the knee and therefore continued to be active in their later years of life.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Knee Cartilage Damage

Cartilage will be found everywhere in the body. It is prevalent in the ears and nostril, the vertebrae and joints throughout the body. The variety of cartilage within the knee joint is named hyaline which can also be discovered in the windpipe and between the ribs. Hyaline cartilage in a joint is known as articular. Cartilage is hard and stretchable and features the joints, acting as a buffer between bones. Within the knee, this is a c-shaped tissue known as the meniscus.

As with most knee injuries, the signs of knee cartilage harm are a swelling in and across the knee, a relentless ache and reduced mobility. Injury to the articular knee cartilage is often attributable to either a sudden blow to the realm or the gradual wear and tear over a lot of years. People who play numerous sport are liable to this sort of knee injury as a sudden blow or impact might end in a tear. This will end result after hard tackle in a sport like Rugby, resulting within the player falling closely on to the knees. Inactivity may also be an explanation for cartilage injury as the tissue requires common movement for it to function properly.

In additional serious cases, cartilage might be torn away and left to 'float' around the knee. This will result in a knee locking as it's extended or in many cases, giving way. A surgeon could perform an arthroscopy which entails making a small incision within the knee and directing a digicam in to determine the damage. The symptoms of cartilage injury in the knee often mirror these of ligament damage so a radical investigation is required. An MRI scan can also be carried out though these are uncommon, with life-threatening ailments getting priority. In many circumstances, torn or free cartilage might be sewn again into place; however, that is solely normally the case if the affected person is relatively young. For older patients, the cartilage could merely be reduce away to make the floor even or washed out to enhance mobility.

Treatment of the sort of damage varies relying on the severity. Most individuals can be instructed to rest it, take painkillers and make the life-style modifications necessary to limit the strain on the joint. This may increasingly imply a change of profession or cessation in sports activities participation. Physiotherapy may also be provided as the strengthening of the muscle groups across the joint can relieve strain on the cartilage and cut back pain.

In probably the most critical circumstances, surgical procedure is required with three choice typically available. An arthroscopic operation will 'flush' out loose pieces of cartilage and enhance mobility. Marrow stimulation entails the drilling of holes onto the bone instantly underneath the cartilage. A blood clot then varieties and the presence of red blood cells initiates cartilage re-growth. The one drawback with this technique is that instead of the traditional hyaline cartilage, the much less supple, fibrocartilage grows leaving the potential for additional surgical procedure in the future. There may be additionally the option of mosaicplasty where cartilage is taken from an area that helps no weight such because the facet of the knee and is used to replace the damaged tissue. All of those choices will be examined by the doctor and essentially the most appropriate procedure for the individual shall be undertaken.

Why Your Knees Hurt Squatting & 3 Alternatives to Squats

Just because your knees hurt squatting doesn't mean that squats are a bad exercise. In fact, squats and lunges have gotten such a bad reputation for causing knee, hip and lower back problems when this is absolutely not true.

In this post I will share 3 alternatives to eliminate knee pain squatting but before I get there you need to know why squats hurt your knees.

In nearly a decade of working with clients who have had issues such as back pain, lower back fusion surgery, knee pain, meniscus surgery, acl reconstruction, knee replacements, hip replacement surgery and other nagging injuries I have yet to see any indication where squats were directly responsible for knee pain or back injuries.

The truth is that knee pain during squats is almost always the result of doing the exercises incorrectly. Squats will not hurt your knees if you do them correctly. But, most people do not perform them correctly even if they think they do.

Below are the most common mistakes I have identified in individuals whose knees hurt squatting. Just one of these mistakes is enough to feel knee pain during squats:

1. Weight on the toes: This happens a lot when using too much weight which tends to pull your body too far forward. Other times it's simply a lack of awareness of how to distribute one's body weight.

2. Knees moving forward while squatting: This is another common example of using too much weight. It can also be the result of the quadriceps (thigh muscles) overcompensating for weak glutes.

3. Thigh and lower back muscles doing most of the work: This happens when the glutes and hamstrings are weak. When you lack proper hip strength muscle imbalances often result in the quadriceps and lower back over working. This is one of the main reasons for knee pain during squatting.

4. Glutes and hamstrings are weak: These muscles need to be properly strengthened in order to eliminate knee and lower back pain.

5. Trunk collapsing too far forward: This is a sure-fire sign of weak core muscles and/or quadricep and lower back overcompensation. Typically, weakness in the abdominal and hip muscles are the problem.

3 Squat Alternatives

Static squat-teaches the basic technique of squatting. To do this stay back on your heels and slowly descend into a half squat position and hold. The goal is to focus on using your glutes and hamstrings and not just your quadriceps (thighs). Once you master this it's time to move on to some progressions listed below.

Dumbbell deadlifts- an easier option rather than using a barbell because barbell deadlifts pull you forward which can make it harder to stay back on your heels.

The difference when using dumbbells is that the dumbbells stay at your sides and don't have as much forward pull which makes it easier to maintain proper technique

Dumbbell front squats- these help you maintain a more upright trunk because the weight of the dumbbells has a slight forward pull to it which makes you counter balance by remaining upright. You'll automatically pull yourself to a more upright position to even out the load.

Inflammation Pain - Make the Pain in Your Neck, Knee Or Shoulder Go Away

Most pain is due to inflammation and Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain as a result. Some times anti-inflammatory medications work, but when they don't, many are forced to see a doctor and take medications that can be harmful to your body. Even over the counter medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin can be harmful if you take the over an extended period of time.

Generally when you go to your doctor, they will rest, light exercise, weight loss, stretching and anti-inflammatory medication that can also control the pain. In many cases, steroid medications are used and the patient may eventually require joint replacement.

Whether you have shoulder, neck, knee joint pain or even chronic arthritis, there are natural alternatives. There are certain food that are anti-inflammatory foods, but there are also foods that can cause inflammation. Most likely foods you are eating every day. What you eat can affect your body. Eating foods that are high in saturated and trans fat and sugar are definitely foods that cause inflammation.

Foods That Cause Inflammation
Processed meats such as lunch meats, hot dogs and sausages contain chemicals such as nitrites that are associated with increased inflammation and can cause chronic diseases. Saturated fats are particularly found in meats, dairy products and eggs. Although I don't recommend that you cut these out completely, it is just something to keep in mind. Low fat milk and cheese would be a better choice. A diet high in sugar has also been linked to inflammation, obesity, and chronic diseases such as diabetes. So cut way back on the cookies, sodas and candy. Eating vegetables and fruit are important, but there are even some of those that are not good for people to eat if they have joint pain or other inflammation. People with arthritis or any kind of joint pain, should stay away from potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant. These foods can actually make inflammation worse. These vegetables are part of the nightshade family of plants and contain a chemical alkaloid called solanine. Solanine can trigger pain in some people. Try it for a couple weeks to see if it makes a difference.

Anti-inflammatory Foods
Oils are good in your diet if you use the right kind. Use olive oil and canola oils when cooking. Walnuts and pumpkin seeds are also anti-inflammatory foods. Good protein sources are lean poultry, fish and seafood, nuts, beans and seeds. Avoid red meats, as they may cause inflammation. Eating soybeans, tofu, and soy milk are a great way to get your protein and also help reduce pain and inflammation. A diet high in fiber is also a terrific way to reduce your inflammation. Eating lots of whole grains, vegetables and fruit will increase your fiber intake. Berries are also a great food choice, especially blueberries and strawberries which are packed with anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and anti-oxidants. The color in brightly colored fruits, vegetables and berries contain many phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties. One example is quercetin, which is found in apple and red onion skins.

Diet Tips
Over all, when you are choosing anti-inflammatory foods to help reduce your inflammation and pain, choose fresh foods instead of heavily processed foods. Here are some tips:

• Breakfast could be oatmeal served with fresh berries and walnuts, with a cup of soy milk.


• Snack on whole fruits, nuts, seeds, and fresh vegetables throughout the day instead of cookies and candy.


• Eat more fish and less fatty red meat.


• Stay away from deep fried foods and bake or stir fry your meals instead.


• Choose green, orange, and yellow vegetables for your side dishes.


• Drink plenty of water, fresh 100% fruit and vegetable juices.

5 Best Countries for Medical Tourism

Planning for a relaxing vacation but not sure if you can keep up with the expenses because of that nose job you've been saving up for? Well, fortunately you can have both with the added bonus of saving yourself tons of money. "Medical Tourism" is the answer you've been looking for.

Medical Tourism has been a rising trend. Promoted by the plastic surgery industry in highly developed countries like the US, procedures are performed in facilities in other nations where the costs are significantly lower. Patients get the benefit of quality procedures along with a plane ticket, hotel room, and fun tourism opportunities - all this for the same price you would pay for a just the surgery alone in the United States.

For those that are convinced of the many advantages and opportunities in Medical Tourism, here are your 5 best options:

1. Hungary - Neighboring Europeans have been crossing over to this nation for years to get a dose of their state-of-the-art medical technology. Visiting Westerners can take advantage of dental procedures at half the price of what they would pay at home.

2. Thailand - Plastic surgeons and enthusiasts have Thailand's King Bhumipol's father, Prince Mahidol to thank for the country's medical systems, prided as one of the world's best. Phuket is acclaimed around the world for its excellent results in procedures like otoplasty (reshaping of the ear to correct deformities or to simply improve appearance) and blepharoplasty (procedure to lessen drooping of the eyelids). All this is a result of the prince's life-long goal to provide good quality and affordable medical services to citizens.

3. South Africa - Specializing in "medical safaris", you get the chance to see lions, elephants, alligators and many more all in their natural habitat. Doubting South Africa's medical abilities? The fact that the first human heart transplant was successfully performed in this African nation in the 60's should be enough to pacify any aesthetically challenged patient's worries.

4. Egypt - The land once ruled by Cleopatra has more than pyramids and camel rides to offer. Egypt offers surgeries priced up to 60 - 70% lower than in the US or UK. A thigh reduction procedure that costs up to $2000 in the US, will only set you back a mere $260 in Egypt.

5. Malaysia - You can get a face lift, cataract removal and even a knee replacement all for excellent quality and a very reasonable price. You can spend your days recovering in absolute relaxation on the shores of this "Truly Asian" country's beautiful beaches.

Now that you know some of the best countries to get cosmetic work done, it's now time to pack up your bags and board the next plane to self-beautification.