The results of this study on average life expectancy stress the continual need to physically push yourself; you should always strive to increase your physical fitness level. Remember, fitness is broken into three subsections – cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility – and you should work on improving all three! With this in mind, below are some suggestions for ways to improve your fitness level:

Cardiovascular training: Cardiovascular fitness is synonymous for aerobic activity, which includes activities like running, swimming, biking, fast walking, aerobic classes, etc. When doing aerobic activities, aim to raise your heart rate to up to 50-85% of your maximum heart rate. If you are just starting an exercise program, or have not exercised some time, work your endurance up slowly. Start by doing at least twenty minutes of cardiovascular activity, increasing your exercise session every few weeks. You should start by exercising at least three times a week with a goal of ultimately exercising five times a week.

Strength training: Strength training workouts test muscular strength. These workouts consist of activities such as weight machines, free weights, tubing, and calisthenics (i.e. push-ups, abdominal crunches). In order to strength train, you will need access to a location with weight machine facilities – so buy a gym membership! In general, the rule is to use an appropriate weight, whereby you will fatigue the muscle after the number of intended repetitions. In the beginning, you should aim to perform resistance training exercises two times a week, at least twenty to thirty minutes per session. Eventually, you should work up to training four times a week, at twenty to thirty minutes per session, completing two to three sets at eight to twelve repetitions each.

Flexibility Training: Flexibility exercises are defined as the range of motion around a joint. It is important to maintain an adequate range of motion in order to reach peak performance in cardiovascular and strength activities. The bad news is, certain factors, such as age, inactivity, and gender, contribute to a loss of range of motion. The good news is, working on stretching can increase your range of motion and have added benefits, such as reducing muscle soreness and reducing the risk of injury. You can work on your flexibility by attending yoga or Pilatesclass! You should also stretch after cardiovascular or strength activity; hold each posture for ten to thirty seconds.

By following the above recommendations, you will surely increase the average life expectancy in your household, hopefully leading to a long and happy life!

Your vacation may have greatly affected your mental function ability. The stress of planning your trip might have been difficult, and sometimes can ruin the entire trip if it is not perfect. That’s what vacation planners are here for!  You could try giving  them the planning job to save yourself some time and avoid stress.  It is true, though, that when those lengthy emails start coming in from the hotel or from the vacation planner you may experience “email bombardment”. A study from London describes that as someone waits for an email, their concentration is off track.  They are trying to be mentally prepared for the email they are going to receive instead of focusing on other tasks. This email overload can actually reduce your IQ by up to ten points.

Then there was the transportation to your destination. When you were up in the air and on your way to your destination, you felt the dryness in the air. To worsen this problem, you may have said yes to the alcohol when it came around. Depending on what you were drinking, it’s possible that you dropped your IQ ten to twenty points when you consumed your beverage while in flight. Alcohol can cause you to become more dehydrated in the dry air of a plane, so in the future it is best to just stick to water or reduce your alcohol intake.

All those months of exercise for that bikini body really paid off, but the exercise should not stop there. Inactivity while on vacation can reduce the amount of oxygen that enters the brain, causing certain nerve cells to degrade. To prevent this from happening, it is best to stay active on your trip with daily walks or some laps in the pool. Since you may be in a hot place, doing those laps in the pool may be your number one choice since it is refreshing. Some people may also prefer a nice cold beer to keep cool as well, but this may not be the best choice. Those overly cold drinks can reduce your IQ by up to 10 points since your body is rushing the blood from your brain to your stomach to balance the change in temperature.

To avoid this brain melt-down, it is best to just stay active on your trip, keep your brain working by playing intellectual games, and keep hydrated! These vacation after-effects should only last a couple of weeks before you feel back to normal. There are still many benefits of vacations such as helping us reconnect with ourselves, promoting creativity, and lowering stress levels. Be sure to leave a day or two after your vacation before you go back to work so you can feel at home again!

What is Acid Reflux?

What does acid reflux feel like?—Painful. When that burning bile finds its way sneaking up into that delicate lining of your esophagus, relief needs to be easy and immediate. There are two main ways of treating acid reflux: the first approach is to introduce a basic material to an otherwise over-acidic environment, otherwise known as an antacid; the second approach involves reducing the body’s production of stomach acid, usually through the aid of a drug like Zantac (Ranitidine.) The following is some Zantac information intended to expedite that fiery indigestion.

Zantac Drug Interactions

Zantac is part of a family of drugs known as H2 blockers, also known as H2 receptor antagonists, which achieve their effect blocking the action of histamine on the parietal cells in the stomach, thereby decreasing the production of acid in these cells.

The Decision

Zantac prescription, or over the counter Zantac? If you find yourself wondering if you can purchase Zantac over the counter, or if you will need a prescription, you are not alone. The fact is, these acid-reflux medications come in both OTC and prescription forms depending on the severity the nature of the ailment. Zantac 75, and Zantac 150, for example, are both relatively weak variants of the drug and can be purchased over the counter; these would be used to extinguish a small brush fire in your gut. Zantac 300 contains twice the active ingredient as the 150 option, and is a prescription drug; best reserved for when you feel that raging inferno which threatens to burn a hole right through the lining in your stomach.

Though the same, (chemically) there are two possible routes to purchasing Zantac: Generic Zantac or the brand name Zantac drug. If you experiencing acid reflux in babies, there is also a Zantac syrup for infants which offers the same type of relief, but an in an easy-to-administer liquid dropper format.

Overdosing on Zantac?

It is very difficult to overdose on Zantac, as all it does it signal your stomach to stop producing acid; it is far more likely to simply lead to simply lead to physiological complications if abused—however, as with all medications, you should consult with your doctor before starting treatment.

1. Be Active – Developing a steady exercise program can benefit your heart and reduce the risk of heart disease.  Try your best to exercise three – four times a week for at least half an hour at a time. Besides the exercises you do a few times a week you should also do 30 minutes of cardio six times a week.
2. Brush and Floss Everyday – Periodontal disease increases one’s risk of heart disease.  For women, having gum disease doubles their chances of having heart disease.  The reason?  Gingivitis is said to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke because of the high levels of bacteria in the infected mouth. The bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the gums and damage the blood vessels, which can then lead to clotting.
3. Reduce Your Salt Intake – Reducing your salt intake can reduce the risk of heart disease by 40%. People should be having among 1500 – 2000mg of salt per day; the average American consumes 3400mg of salt a day. This can really affect a person’s life and cause them to have cardiovascular problems as well as blood pressure problems.
4. Drink Wine – Drinking alcohol in moderation is actually good for your health. Having one glass of wine a day (for women it would be about one standard drink whereas for men it would be two) can actually reduce your chance of dying from heart disease by 25%. It can also prevent heart attacks.  This is because grapes are rich in quercitin and resveratrol. These two substances are not only good for the heart, but also extend your lifespan.
5. Get Enough Sleep – Constantly sleeping poorly and for only a few hours at a time can actually lead to high blood pressure and stroke. Sleep allows the heart to slow down and blood pressure to drop.  If a person is not sleeping enough, this cannot happen and increases in blood pressure occur.
6. Have More Sex – Having sex twice a week is a fun way to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and reducing stress.
7. Calm Your Mind – The best way to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease is to simply relax. Reduce the stress in your life through yoga, relaxation exercises, or meditation. You can also listen to music to lower the blood pressure in your body.

Scientists have learned that a combination of chemical neurotransmitters is functioning when we fall in love. According to Dr. Helen Fisher, leading love researcher at Rutgers University, when we are love sick we have a hard time sleeping due to too much dopamine and norepinephrine in our system. “This is why you have so much energy, why your face is flushed, and why you can walk till dawn and make love around the clock.”

Do you experience other symptoms of love such as not being able to think of anyone else other than your partner? These symptoms are due to dopamine, which gives you that obsessive focus where your mind can only focus on your partner. Other love sick people experience the symptom of being unable to eat. They tend to lose quite a bit of weight, which friends may wrongly attribute to the miracle of weight loss pills. During their period of infatuation however, studies have shown that the intense feelings tend to last anywhere between six months to two years. Psychologist Dorothy Tennov coined a term known as Limerence which is defined as an “…obsessive, intrusive, and all-consuming state where we justify letting work, friends, responsibilities — even ourselves — slide so we can satisfy our unquenchable thirst for our new partner.”

However, not all our lovesick symptoms can be blamed on our chemical neurotransmitters. According to Psychologists, a person takes 90 seconds to 4 minutes to determine whether a person is a suitable love interest based on the following qualities:

• 55% on their body language
• 38% through their tone and speed of their voice
• And 7% through what they say

• Always have sunscreen on hand:

Most sunscreens are not waterproof and tend to wash off once there is contact with water. Always apply sunscreen right after you finish swimming so you have a greater chance of avoiding a sun burn.

• Avoid leaving during the hottest part of the day:

It is better not to go outdoors when the sun is shining during 11AM to 3PM because these are the times when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

• Beware of water, and sand:

They reflect and intensify the sun’s rays which will increase the chances of being sunburn.

• Be wary of sunlamps and tanning beds:

These can damage your skin more than the sun. It is best to use a self-tanning product to get a tan rather than sunlamps or tanning beds, however, don’t forget to use sunscreen along with the product.

• Don’t forget to apply sunscreen everywhere:

Make sure to apply sunscreen on your feet, ears, neck and hands which are the places that tend to be the areas that get the worst sunburn.

• Prepare Early:

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving for it to work on the skin.

• Seek Shade:

Try avoiding being out in the sun for a long time and instead find a nice comfortable tree to sit under.

• Sunscreen with a high SPF is important:

Use a sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher. The greater the SPF the  longer it will protect you from the sun.

• Wear a hat:

A wide brim hat is recommended to effectively protect your face, neck and ears from the sun.

Recently there has been a lot of talk about Omega 3 fatty acids because of all the benefits for your body. In terms of weight lose omega 3 fatty acids keep those joints loose, your organs healthy, and cells active so they can properly function when you exercise.

Vitamin D is even more important in your diet for weight lose. Studies show that women who are exposed to more vitamin D generally have less fat. If you want to know the science behind it well the kidneys activate vitamin D into the hormone which controls the growth of cells including fat cells. So the fat cells become smaller. It is recommended that you take a minimum of 2,000 units of vitamin D a day. Here are three reasons why you should take vitamin D it drains fat cells, improves metabolism, increases appetite, and increases muscle contraction.

Vitamin C might just be the most important one of the there. Vitamin C naturally turns your body fat into energy especially around your abs. Vitamin C basally increases your metabolism. Your metabolism is what burns your fat. Keeping that on tract is critical.

However you have to keep in mind that vitamins alone aren’t going achieve weight loss, just aid you in your quest in losing weight. Also keep in mind over doing it one vitamin can lead to other problems so take the right amount recommended by your doctor.

However, in January, the Chicago board of education passed a mandate that required every elementary school to serve a free breakfast during the first 15 minutes of the day. Parents were quick to send their concerns and objections to the board due to the fear of children with allergies being exposed to life-threatening foods. For example, Nathan Sodolski, who is a first grader, would break out in hives or go to the emergency room just by having spilled milk or eggs on his desk. According to Dr. Kelly Newhall at the Chicago Family Asthma and Allergy medical practice, this is extremely risky for little kids because they are at the age where their hands are constantly in their mouths. Many parents suggest that they are on board for supporting feeding hungry kids but believe there are better alternatives to do so. So far, 1000 parents have signed the petition against breakfast being served in elementary schools.

So far an agreement has been reached to not serve peanut products at breakfast but parents are still upset that officials have planned for students to clean their desk rather than adults, which means that they will have to touch certain foods that they could be allergic too. This has increased the fears of many parents who have children with severe food allergies because they are at a greater risk. Dr Newhall stated that, “…25% of children who have no known food allergies have their first reaction at school.” This only adds to the worry of many parents.

Unlike colds, allergies are not contagious. Allergies are caused by many different allergens, such as pollen, which make the immune system overreact. Hence, the allergic reaction one undergoes. The common cold is different from allergies because the cold is caused by 200 different possible viruses and is very contagious.

Furthermore, the first step towards relief is to distinguish between the symptoms of allergies and colds. Colds tend to start with a stuffy nose, throat irritation, and a lower fever which is followed by sneezing and a runny nose with thick yellow or green mucus. On the other hand, allergies have symptoms which include sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, and mucus that is clear.

Also, colds generally last from one to two weeks. However, allergies are more persistent and worsen with repeated exposure to an allergen. Aches and fevers are likely related to a cold. Symptoms such as itchy eyes indicate an allergy. If you are unsure of which medical condition you have it is recommended to go seek professional help in order to provide allergy relief.

Doctors usually prescribe medications that can be taken together and are safe for the patient. However, one third of senior patients were found to be taking their meds at different times. Drugs are typically prescribed alike so they can be taken together. It is difficult for a patient to take prescriptions when they do not have enough information. Doctors should be up to date about what a patient is taking, such as herbal supplements and vitamins, and administrate clear instructions about taking drugs.

If you are unclear about instructions on taking medications then consult your doctor or a pharmacy right away. QualityPrescriptionDrugs is an online pharmacy where patients can ask any questions or address concerns with knowledgeable staff or directly to a qualified doctor. Additionally, QualityPrescriptionDrugs offers high quality medications such as Lipitor and Aciphex, and allows patients to talk to a pharmacist about instructions regarding intake of these prescription medications. A fear of accidental overdose and negative effects of medications prevent patients from taking medications, which can worsen the health problem. So when you’re in doubt, do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist or doctor any questions.