HowToDoThings.com Recent Health & Fitness Articles

How To Choose and Use Bach Flower Remedies

nishmabadiani — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:47:25 -0500

How To Avoid BPA

Sommer — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:00:14 -0500

How To Prevent Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

JimLow — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:04:03 -0500

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a health condition in which the liver begins to store an excessive amount of fat. While most cases of NAFLD do not progress to actual liver damage (lesions or sclerosis), the condition does place those who develop it at higher risk for developing diabetes and elevated lipid counts (which includes high cholesterol and triglycerides).

How To Prevent a Skin Reaction from Poison Ivy

steve — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:52:52 -0500

The rash that develops on your skin after coming in contact with poison ivy is caused by your skin’s reaction to a toxic chemical in the plant: an oil called urushiol. Urushiol is released when the leaves, stem or other parts of the poison ivy plant are touched, bruised, or otherwise stimulated. The oil can get on your clothing or on a pet and then be transferred to your skin up to several hours later. If you are one of those allergic to urushiol, a rash will develop on your skin 2-7 days after the contact.

How To Calm Yourself During Panic Attacks

JimLow — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:53:09 -0500

A panic attack is a climax of anxiety symptoms that causes them to be experienced suddenly and forcefully. The symptoms may include: intense fear, rapid heart rate, hyperventilation, an urge to escape, muscle tension, dizziness, sweating and mild to moderate pain and pressure in the chest. People who experience frequent panic attacks have a condition referred to as Panic Disorder. The following four steps which are often used in variations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help those who suffer panic attacks, to calm themselves when experiencing them.

How To Get Rid of Poison Ivy Rash

Shellystefbyrne — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:59:13 -0500

How To Give a Back Massage

3100 Caldera Blvd — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:19:48 -0500

How To Lose the Baby Weight

FITMOM — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:08:29 -0500

How To Use Supplements for Heart Health

3100 Caldera Blvd — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:32:38 -0500

How To Diagnose Prostate Cancer Symptoms

drosenba — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:02:25 -0500

How To Treat a Jellyfish Sting

3100 Caldera Blvd — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:27:25 -0500

How To Treat Thyroid Nodules

JimLow — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:32:11 -0500

According to statistics, approximately ten percent of the population has thyroid nodules, and people with diseases of the thyroid gland are at higher risk for developing them.

How To Not Drink Your Calories

3100 Caldera Blvd — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:49:51 -0500

How To Understand Thyroid Goiters

JimLow — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:08:35 -0500

A goiter simply means swelling of the thyroid gland. There are several important facts with regard to goiters, shown in the steps below.

Goiters are commonly caused by autoimmune thyroid diseases, in which case they are the results of auto-antibodies that are sent by the immune system to attack and damage the thyroid gland. The autoimmune response causes two diseases of thyroid autoimmunity:
- Autoimmune hypothyroidism (under-active), also called "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis"
- Autoimmune hyperthyroidism (over-active), called "Graves' Disease"
These thyroid-attacking antibodies also cause an inflammatory reaction that results in the swelling. This enlargement in the gland can be mild, causing only minor discomfort, or can become severe enough to obstruct a person's swallowing and/or breathing.

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How To Avoid Potential Dangers of Cosmetic Surgery

JimLow — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:36:04 -0500

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) statistics, in 2007 nearly 11.7 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed. Plastic surgery is becoming more popular each year but there are possible risk factors and complications to be aware of and steps for insuring against these when considering surgery.

Risk of death from cosmetic surgery is relatively low, with statistics stating that one in 57,000 procedures are fatal. Other potential complications are also rare, and there are steps that can be taken by a person considering plastic surgery to ensure their safety or that of a loved one. It is important to find the right surgeon and to get a medical checkup by your regular doctor to rule out unknown health issues, as well as researching about the procedure you wish to have done. The 5 steps listed below are important to making a final decision in preparing for plastic surgery.

How To Recognize Teen Depression

instinctual — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:53:09 -0500

How To Treat a Bee Sting or Wasp Sting

teacher — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:25:16 -0500

How To Understand Facts about Thyroid Cancer

JimLow — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:53:34 -0500

Thyroid cancer is a rare type of thyroid disease but is also rapidly increasing in incidence worldwide. The majority of thyroid disorders are not thyroid cancer but thyroid cancer is a potentially serious disorder and people who suspect they might have it need to see a doctor immediately. The earlier thyroid cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis.

How To Revamp Your Diet

Crystal Concepts — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:46:51 -0500

How To Relieve Asthma Using Earth-Friendly Products

Sommer — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:46:54 -0500

How To Increase Your Real Life Hit Points

weefz — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:43:10 -0500

Hit points - the amount of damage you can take before falling unconscious. As any self-respecting RPG fan will know, hit points are boosted by your constitution modifier. Here's how to make sure that your constitution is up to scratch.

How To Get Better Sleep

bronwyn — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:15:28 -0500

Who among us has not wished for a better night's sleep? Especially on nights when it is imperative that we rest, we find ourselves tossing and turning, obsessing over how much sleep we are not getting. Luckily, there are some easy ways to get better sleep!

Quit the caffeine. Yes, I know, you can't live without caffeine! However, it turns into a vicious cycle - you're tired, so you need caffeine, which keeps you awake and you're more tired. For better sleep, don't drink anything caffeinated after noon. Remember that decaffeinated drinks also contain some caffeine.
Keep distractions to a minimum. TVs, computers, blinking electronic lights and digital clocks can all cause stress, which is not what you want as you're about to go to sleep. Your bedroom should be a relaxing sanctuary, free of electronic (and other) distractions.

How To Choose the Best Electric Toothbrush

bronwyn — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:57:24 -0500

We've all been told by the dental hygienist that electric toothbrushes are far superior to manual toothbrushes, and many of us have even acted on this advice - after all, if you can avoid fillings and root canals, why wouldn't you? However, there is a huge range of types of electric toothbrushes in existence, and it can be difficult to find the right one for you. When choosing the best electric toothbrush for yourself, it is helpful to keep a few criteria in mind.

How To Master the Art of Meditation

margnorton — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:19:10 -0500

What do you think of when you hear the word meditation? Many people say they think of Buddhist monks kneeling for long periods of time, skinny people twisting their bodies in strange yoga positions, strong incense smells and unrecognizable sounds, and something that only the religious or new age type person does. But this is not necessarily true. Anyone can learn to meditate. It can be done anywhere and anytime with no special preparation. You don't have to be on top of a mountain in a foreign country.

How To Get Stress Relief

bronwyn — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:03:54 -0500

Stress has become an accepted factor in our lives, but it doesn't have to be! The demands of job, family, and personal matters have made us all stressed out! However, all that stress can definitely lower the quality of our lives, so it is very important to learn how to get some stress relief!

How To Lose Weight with a Healthy Weight Loss Plan

andrea_albright — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:59:46 -0500

Most people fail at losing weight because they don't have a healthy weight loss plan. They just jump into the "quick fix" way of thinking but only end up getting scammed by bogus diet pills, slowing down their metabolisms (making it even harder to lose weight) and destroying their hope and confidence in themselves. Don't let this happen to you. The only way to lose weight permanently and forever is to follow a healthy weight loss plan step-by-step. When you have a healthy weight loss plan, you know exactly where you are going and exactly what to expect at each stage. It's just like going on an adventure and following a map to guide you.

Here are the steps you should take to follow your healthy weight loss plan and get you where you want to go - a lifetime of health in a fit, lean body.

How To Understand the Function of Thyroid-Related Hormones

JimLow — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:49:12 -0500

There are four major hormones having to do with thyroid function and the resulting metabolism these regulate in the body. In the four steps below, we will look at the thyroid related hormones called the T-4, T-3, Reverse T-3 and TSH.

How To Remove Leeches

3100 Caldera Blvd — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:14:37 -0600

Removing leeches isn't hard to do, but should be done in a way that is safest. It isn't advisable to use salt, heat or flame, or other products on the leech (which are very common methods) because they will usually vomit into the wound and then detatch. This can cause an infection and make the wound worse, as well as increasing the chance of disease.

How To Know if You Have Fibromyalgia

JimLow — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:57:11 -0600

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of widespread body pain and fatigue. There are signs and symptoms, including those shown below, that can help to identify and diagnose fibromyalgia.

How To Bear God (Ishvara-Pranidhan)

premansu_chand — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:29:33 -0600

Ishvara-pranidhan (to bear God) is the fifth discipline of Niyama. In an earlier article, self-study has been described. Here let us see how to bear God in ourselves and also the result of it. Patanjali writes that by bearing God, one achieves Samadhi (total concentration). A Yogi without any blind prejudice should understand these teachings for bliss and freedom.

How To Practice Self-study (Svadhyay)

premansu_chand — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:08:22 -0600

Self-study (svadhyay) is the fourth discipline of Niyama. Everybody understands what self-study is. Wise men of all societies and religions talk about self-study. However very rarely do people think or study about their Self and have confidence on Self. Most religious people think, learn and study about their imaginary and external Gods and Goddesses. Patanjali writes that through self-study one meets one's beloved God. Let us define and explore self-study and how one meets one' beloved God.

How To Practice Santosh (Contentment)

premansu_chand — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:47:44 -0600

The second discipline of Niyama is Santosh (contentment). Patanjali writes, "By practicing Santosh, one gets incomparable happiness." The aim of yoga is to reach a blissful state and for this one should try to stay content and happy always. Whatever one does daily, one should do with full satisfaction.

How To Practice Tapa

premansu_chand — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:18:50 -0600

The literal meaning of Tapa is to heat or to rule. Tapa is the third discipline of Niyama. Tapa is the action by which warmth or heat is supplied to the body; by which body becomes more active, fresh and strong; by which body is brought under control; and by which body is able to sustain hardship of life. It is a misconception that practice of Tapa is possible for those who lead a secluded life. But in reality it is very much essential to the social and family life which has physical as well as mental stress.

How To Treat MRSA

bronwyn — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:08:23 -0600

MRSA, or methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a rather frightening antibiotic-resistant bacteria. About one-third of the general population are "carriers" - that is, they have MRSA bacteria on or in their body but show no symptoms of the infections.

How To Practice Mindful Eating

bronwyn — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:17:07 -0600

In our frantic society, it is not considered abnormal to eat and run. In fact, many of us are so rushed that we don't make time to eat, or eat whatever is convenient, regardless of its nutritional value. Multi-tasking has its place, but most of us would feel much better if we practiced eating mindfully.

How To Speed Up Your Metabolism Naturally

andrea_albright — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:11:00 -0600

Your metabolism is simply the rate at which your body uses the calories you are eating. And we've all heard that if you're eating more calories than you're burning, this is what causes your body to store fat and gain weight. So the key is to get your body burning through those calories fast and efficiently. By speeding UP your metabolism, you will have more energy, think more clearly and have a lean and trim body without excess fat. Follow these tips to speed up your metabolism naturally:

How To Identify Hidden Sources of Caffeine

bronwyn — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:54:07 -0600

We all know that our morning coffee contains caffeine, and so does black tea. However, how sure are you about the rest of the foods and beverages that you consume daily? Do you actually know your daily caffeine intake or are you - like many people - assuming that your decaf coffee, your orange soda, and your green tea do not contain caffeine? The average adult consumes approximately 200 mg of caffeine per day - make sure you know where your caffeine is coming from!

How To Use Caffeine to Treat Migraines

bronwyn — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:42:43 -0600

Caffeine gets a bad reputation for causing headaches, and it is true that one of the most common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal is a headache. However, caffeine can also be used to treat certain types of headaches - specifically migraines and tension headaches.

Understand how caffeine affects tension headaches. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and are often described as a constant dull pain. During a tension headache episode, blood vessels dilate, or open wider than normal. Caffeine actually helps the blood vessels to constrict, helping the headache subside.In fact, analgesics with caffeine are 40% more effective than those without in treating headaches. This explains why many people treat tension headaches with caffeine.

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How To Endure Caffeine Withdrawal

bronwyn — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:19:39 -0600

Caffeine, a stimulant, might be the world's most commonly used mind-altering substance. Although most of us don't think of it as being a drug, it actually fits the definition perfectly! Like any other drug, quitting caffeine can lead to withdrawal. Luckily, there are many proven methods to endure caffeine withdrawal, even if you can't avoid it completely.

Don't start drinking too much caffeine! The best way to avoid caffeine withdrawal entirely is not to get hooked on it in the first place! If you want to drink coffee, tea, or soda, it is almost always possible to find a caffeine-free or decaffeinated version.

How To Give or Get a Coffee Enema

h.buhse — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:10:41 -0600

Any discussion about how to give a coffee enema needs to be prefaced with why one might go down this road. Practitioners of alternative medicine, and their books, websites, and newsletters are where you will find recommendations for them. Proponents prescribe it as a detoxification procedure, a liver stimulant, and a colonic cleanser. The Mayo Clinic’s website is mum on the subject, and the FDA clearly does not approve. It is most controversial when recommended as a cure or preventative for certain cancers.

How To Prevent and Treat Scurvy

Akemati — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:10:22 -0600

Scurvy afflicts mankind at land as well as at sea. Back in the year 1747, scurvy killed more seamen than guns and storms put together.

To fight this dread scourge, the sixty cannons mounted on the oaken decks of the Salisbury were useless. But by a flash of genius, one man in the ship's crew -- Dr. James Lind -- was able to defeat it. The conquest of scurvy ranks as one of the major medical victories of all time. Dr. Lind is today recognized as one of the most important figures in a whole branch of science called Nutrition. Dr. Lind later gained fame as the father of naval medicine.

How To Quickly Lose Weight

lashawn — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:54:30 -0600

How To Get the Most Out of Thyroid Hormone Therapy for Hypothyroidism

JimLow — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:00:46 -0600

People taking thyroid hormone replacement medication for hypothyroidism need to follow a set routine for taking their medication. Hormone therapy can have a delicate balance; even small variations in the levels created in the body from taking a hormone medication can greatly affect how well a patient feels. The steps below help to insure the best results from thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

How To Whiten Teeth

bronwyn — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:01:08 -0600

Tooth bleaching has now become the most sought-after dental treatment in the United States, with the number of tooth whitening procedures being performed in dentists' offices increasing by more than 300 percent in the last five year. There are many different options for those wishing to whiten their teeth - from $25 over-the-counter strips to $600+ specialized in-office dental procedures.

Determine if you are a candidate for tooth whitening. Children under 16 years old, those with sensitive teeth or gums, pregnant and nursing women, and those with peroxide allergies should ask their dentist for advice before embarking upon a tooth whitening journey. Also, remember that fillings and crowns will not bleach, and tooth whitening does not work on all stains.

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How To Understand the Link Between Caffeine and Arthritis

mcdesign — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:06:48 -0600

For years, scientists, nutritionists, and experts in the field of arthritis have debated the possible link between caffeine and arthritis. There are over 100 forms of arthritis, with two of the most common types of arthritis being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Osteoarthritis targets the cartilage in joints, resulting in pain, tenderness, swelling, and decreased function of the joints as the surrounding tissue is damaged. This form of arthritis is most often age-related, with the majority of cases affecting people in their early 60s. Recommended treatment includes weight reduction, exercise, heat on the affected joints, pain medication, and in severe cases, replacement of the joint.

How To Fall Asleep

StuDent — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:00:23 -0600

People who meditate often have trouble staying awake. You can turn their problem into your solution for insomnia.

How To Apply the Healing Benefits of Raw Food

angiekennedy — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:11:59 -0600

The benefits of raw food include the improvement of bloating, PMS, fatigue, immune system function, wrinkles, over-active appetite, aches and pains, diabetes, thyroid function, hypertension, cellulite, weight issues and general well-being. While the results take a bit of time, the journey can be just as exciting as the destination!

How to include more raw food every day:

How To Observe Shaucha (Purification)

premansu_chand — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:42:50 -0600

Patanjali Yoga has eight limbs and the first is Yama (abstention). There are five types of Yama which have been described in my earlier articles. The second limb is Niyama (discipline) which is also divided into five types -- Shaucha (purification), Santosh (contentment), Tapa (heating), Svadhyay (self-study), and Ishvara Pranidhan (bearing God). Let us explore Shaucha (purification).

Patanjali writes in his aphorism (I.40) that by observing Shaucha, body is protected and relation with foreign matter is eliminated. So how to purify and protect body from foreign matter?

How To Prevent MRSA in the Workplace

bronwyn — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:35:47 -0600

MRSA is a frightening type of staph bacteria, since it is one of the "superbugs," or bacteria that cause severe infections that are resistant to traditional antibiotics.

Wash your hands! As in any setting, to prevent MRSA in the workplace, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly and effectively. Use warm water and soap, lathering up to your elbows for 30 seconds. It may sound like overkill, but it's a way to stay healthy!
Use hand sanitizer. If you are unable to wash your hands frequently, use an alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer to kill germs. It is generally a better idea to wash your hands, but if you can't get to water and soap, a hand sanitizer will work just fine.

How To Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS) Infection

lindsaynorris — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:48:49 -0600

What is Group B Streptococcus? Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a very common bacterium. It occurs naturally in many people, from babies to the elderly, and typically causes no harm or symptoms. Carrying GBS (also called GBS colonisation or GBS carriage) is entirely normal - up to one in every three people carries GBS in the gut (bowel), and in women it is often also found in the vagina. Carrying GBS can be intermittent - it can come and go - and simply carrying GBS does not require treatment.