sammyblog

Preschool Make Me Happy

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:15:08 +0100

I was very happy when my parent brought me to preschool. It was my first time to meet friends and playing with them. I was so young at the time,, Sammy has to play with toddler at his age, my parents think, so they decided to bring me to preschool. Well,,I really enjoyed being there.. qall I have to do is playing and learning something fun.

Six months later, I can speak to my parents, and talking about my activity with them. It was nice because from that time I can communicate to them and I understand what ever they say, especially when my parents told me a story before going bed.

sammy

Active Oxygen Detoxifier

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:42:54 +0100

What is Active Oxygen or Ozone?

Chemically, ozone is oxygen with an extra molecule added. Electrically, ozone is oxygen with a higher energy level. It is unstable and highly reactive.

There is a cycle of oxygen just as there is a cycle of water. Oxygen is released in photosynthesis by land plants and ocean phytoplankton (mostly diatoms), and rises up in the atmosphere about 25-30 miles, where it is energized by a part of the ultraviolet spectrum of energy from the sun, producing ozone. Ozone is heavier than air and begins to descend. It immediately attaches itself to airborne particles if it contacts them, oxidizing them, cleaning the air. If it encounters water vapour, it can attach itself to it, forming hydrogen peroxide. Rain and snow both contain hydrogen peroxide naturally. That is why plants grow better from rainwater than from irrigation.

At ground level, ozone attaches itself to all pollutants, oxidizing them and cleaning the air. It has been incorrectly blamed for smog. Ozone is present in smog only transiently at around 25 parts per hundred million.

Carbon monoxide is present in smog at about 3000 parts per hundred million, and hydrocarbons at about 100 parts per hundred million. Smog is produced by the photoelectric effect of the sun's rays acting on carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere, which are the end products when hydrocarbons are burned.

Ozone cannot be produced in the internal combustion engine because the hydrocarbon fuel quenches the spark gap. The ozone that exists in the atmosphere is produced by nature and it is attracted to pollutants because of opposite charge -- it attempts to oxidize them and clean the air. The problem is one of too little ozone to complete the job, not too much.

Ozone is also created near the ground by lightning. The fresh smell in the air after a thunderstorm is ozone. The amount of ozone created in an average thunderstorm is about three times the safe limit according to US EPA regulations.

The ancient Hebrew meaning of ozone is the breath of God. It was discovered in 1840 by Christian Friedrich Schonbein. Ozone is also referred to as activated oxygen. It contains three atoms of oxygen O₃ rather than two atoms we normally breathe. When you lookup at the sky, the ozone layer is what makes it blue. Ozone cannot be stored or transported because of its unstable tendency to break down quickly, so ozone must be generated on site. Ozone is a colorless gas at ordinary temperatures composed of three oxygen atoms, and has a strong oxidizing power that is next to fluorine in nature. Its oxidizing power is said to be seven times that of chlorine, and its application has been in progress in diverse fields such as oxidization, disinfection, decolorization and deodorization. *Ozone uses a method for disinfecting microorganisms by its oxidative effect, and research on the disinfection has been in progress from long ago.

The life cycle of ozone is

Generation → Oxidation → Return to oxygen.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide, the partner to ozone, is more properly called oxygen water, since it is water with an extra oxygen molecule. It is found in rain and snow; the water at Lourdes; in fresh fruit and vegetables; and in colostrums, the first milk that a mother produces, where it provides a defense against infection until the baby's own immune system develops and is able to produce its own hydrogen peroxide. In the body's immune defense, hydrogen peroxide is released by T-cells to destroy invading bacteria, viruses and fungi. Blood platelets release hydrogen peroxide on encountering particulates in blood. Hydrogen peroxide is formed in the body by microbodies called peroxisomes, which combine water with oxygen, if sufficient oxygen is available. The importance of a high level of oxygenation is obvious. In the large intestine, acidophilus lactobacillus produces hydrogen peroxide, which keeps the ever-present candida yeast from multiplying out of control. When candida spreads out of the intestine, it escapes the natural control system and can gain a foothold in the organs of the body, causing what is called chronic fatigue syndrome and allergic hypersensitivity. Bathing in hydrogen peroxide is the best way to get it into the body, and is inexpensive. The recommended rate is 8 oz. of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide in a tub of unchlorinated water, soaking 30 minutes. Up to 3% hydrogen peroxide can be made by bubbling ozone through cold water for a period of time. The medical uses of hydrogen peroxide were pioneered in this century by Dr. Edward Carl Rosenow who did research and treatment at the Mayo Clinic for 60 years, and who wrote many papers on the medical uses of hydrogen peroxide. Used together, ozone and hydrogen peroxide offer the world a bright and healthy future in the coming century.

History of Ozone

In 1785, German named VANMARUM discovered a grassy flavor in fresh air after rain and at that time the name ozone was still unknown. Till 1842, German scientist, Schonbein first advanced that the flavor in the air after thunder and lighting. He thought that flavor was similar to the Greek word OZONE which means fresh air, so named it “OZONE”.

Ozone, with molecule formula of O₃ and molecule quantity of 48.00, consists of 3 oxygen atoms, thus being called as “trioxygen”, “super oxygen”. It is a very unstable light blue gas and capable of self-dissolving into oxygen under normal temperature and pressure. So it cannot be stored, generally produced on site.

Ozone is a broad, effective, rapid, safe bactericide without secondary pollution, which can kill bacteria brood body, cell fungus, virus, protozoa cystica and damage meat toxic element. It was reported that ozone can kill bacteria like cloform bacillus, golden staphylococcus, salmonella, aspergillus, Iceland Penicillium, bacillus subtilis var. niger spores, natural germs and N.gonorrhoeae in fruits, vegetable and meat. Moreover, it can detoxify the residue of pesticide and abstergent, especially the common remnant pesticide like dichlorvos, dimethoate, DDT and hexachlorocyclohexane. The effectiveness of disinfection and sterilization depends on the ozone concentration, processing time, relative humidity and temperature. The mode of mechanism of disinfecting is that ozone takes effect on the cell membrane of bacteria so as metabolism deficiency to inhibit their growth till death. The mode of mechanism of killing virus is to destroy directly their DNA or RNA; disconnect the chemical bond directly to decompose the pesticide.

In recent several decades, the applied ozone technology has been developed prominently. In 1997, the EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) proved that: security of ozone technology to food freshing and disinfecting conformed to the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Now a day, ozone has been used widely in food industry, hospital, tap water, drinking water, cold storage, environmental protection, aquaculture, fishery, agriculture etc. The significant effect in disinfection, pesticide detoxification, air purification, food preservation, and odor elimination has been widely accepted and used in Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada. It is believed that the ozone product will play an important part in the welfare of mankind.

How is Ozone used?

Ozone is now known to be one of the most powerful disinfectants and oxidants and kills microbial contaminates like E.coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Giardia and Cryptosporidium more effectively than conventional disinfectants like chlorine. In fact, ozone kills E.coli more than 3000 times faster than chlorine, another popular but sometime ineffective disinfectant.

When generated, it seeps into crevices, carpets, drapes and furniture and under beds where normal air currents are minimal or non-existent. When the extra oxygen atom splits off from the ozone molecule, one of two things happen; disinfecting and oxidation. As a disinfectant, these atoms quickly destroy the bacteria, mold, mildew and the odors they cause when they come into contact and leave behind only oxygen.

Where are these purifiers used?

These air purifiers have been used for years by professional restoration companies to remove fire and flood odors. They are also found in major hotel chains, they use them to convert smoking rooms to nonsmoking rooms. Now you have access to his advance purifying technology to use in your home, office, basement or other area you wish to sanitize.

The Mechanism of Sterilization

The sterilizing property of ozone:

Ozone is recognized worldwide as the strongest and most effective germicide with a strong property of oxidation, germ killing, detoxification and deodorization. Scientific experiments in various countries have been proven that the sterilizing capability of ozone is 3 ~ 5 times as great as ordinary chlorine sterilizer. Its speed to sterilize is even 600 ~ 3000 times higher. It kills viruses, microbes and germs in a very short moment. It denatures the thallus coat protein by oxygenizing it and kills germ’s brood body, brood cell, virus and fungus. For colibucillus, streptococcus, fungus, staphylococcus aureus etc, its germiciding ratio is 99%.

O₃ also kill hepatitis virus and coryzavius. The cells of a healthy human body have a balanced enzymatic system and a proper amount of O₃ is not in any way detrimental to them. O₃ reduces to O₂ and is a healthful and environment-friendly germiciding substances. Its properties have found application in hospitals and families.

It has good suffusion and reduction but without residual toxicity and pollution. Its property in decomposition of chemical toxins, deodorization and bleaching is obvious. Therefore ozone is widely used in the fields of germ killing, freshness retaining and water purifying etc.

The concentration of “TIENS” Ozone is as high as 500 mg/h, so it is not necessary to add anything to it when it is used for long period of time for purifying and sterilizing the air or drinking water.

The air refreshing property of an ion

Modern experiments and observations have found that the health resorts and sanatoriums located in big forests or beside waterfalls always help people staying there feel relaxed and happy. Thus, their health conditions will be remarkably improved and even some of their diseases will mystically disappear. The mystery of all this can be explained that because the air there as an ion of very high concentration. Therefore people say an ion is the vitamin of the air. On the contrary, in a dry, dirty or smoky environment, such as deserts or a closed air-conditioned room or over-crowded bus, people will feel very uneasy or even worse, they will become sick. The reason why is simply because such environments lack an ion but is full cat ion, which deteriorate the air.

Medical experiments have discovered the following effects of high concentration anion.

It improves human-bodies metabolism; expedites the circulation of blood; relieve cardiovascular diseases.
It improves the functions of human body, help people feel relax and happy and restore their health.
It reduces anxiety, raise working efficiency.
It checks and kills germs and viruses; be helpful to the treatment of burns, bronchitis, gastric ulcer and some other diseases as well.
It refreshes the air, which is particularly beneficial to brain workers.

Application Scope

FOOD

Water purification:

Insert the vent of the machine into the water container and run for 5 to 15 minutes, then ozone water in different consistency is ready, which can be drunk directly (waiting for several minutes after turning it off) or used for disinfection and sterilization (the proportion of water and running time is 10kg/10min).

Disinfection for instant food:

Immerse the food into water inside the container and cover up, then induce ozone for 5 to 15 minutes, you can enjoy food with ease.

Disinfection for Fruits and Vegetables:

Dip the fruits and vegetables into water inside the container, place the vents in the bottom of water, operate the machine for 5 to 10 minutes.

Effect: The residual pesticide, fertilizer and other poisonous materials will be removed. Operate the machine for 20 to 30 minutes; 5 to 10 kg of fruit or vegetable may be treated.

Keeping fresh of eggs, meat and Fish:

Place eggs, meat or prawns in water and induce ozone for about 15 minutes, the bacteria and other germs will be killed.

Effect: Moreover, the residual hormone, antibiotics and fungus will also be removed to make the meat fresher, and its fresh duration can be prolonged to 2 or 3 times as it used to be.

Treatment of crusted rice:

If the rice has been kept too long, odor will increase and virus and bacterial will propagate. Immerse the rice in water inside container and operate the machine for about 10 minutes before eating.

Effect: The mildew smell, residue pesticide and fertilizer will be effectively removed to give the freshness of the rice.

Keeping the rice or Soybean:

Put the vent into the receptacle containing rice or soybean, and run for about 10 minutes.

Effect: To avoid the breeding of worms, mould etc. and prolong its fresh insurance.

Cleansing of Shells and Sea Food:

Insert the vent into the container in which shells or other seafood are stored, operate the machine for 15 minutes, and the hepatitis virus will be killed. Besides, the expelling of sand by shells will also be improved.

Medical Care and Health Care

Cough

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:30:22 +0100

A cough is an action your body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating to your air passages, which

carry the air you breathe in from the nose and mouth to the lungs. A cough occurs when special cells along the

air passages get irritated and trigger a chain of events. The result? Air in your lungs is forced out under

high pressure. You can choose to cough (a voluntary process), or your body may cough on its own (an

involuntary process).

Causes of Coughs

The list of possible causes of cough is long and highly varied. Doctors classify coughs into 2 categories,

acute and chronic. Many doctors define an acute cough as one that been present for less than 3 weeks. Chronic

coughs are those present for more than 3 weeks.

    * Acute coughs can be divided into infectious (caused by an infection) and noninfectious causes.

    * Infectious causes of acute cough include viral upper respiratory infections (the common cold), sinus

infections, pneumonia, and whooping cough.

    * Noninfectious causes of cough include flare-ups of the following chronic conditions: chronic bronchitis,

emphysema, asthma, and environmental allergies.

    * The easiest way to simplify the causes of chronic cough is to divide them into their locations with

respect to the lungs. The categories are environmental irritants, conditions within the lungs, conditions along

the passages that transmit air from the lungs to the environment, conditions within the chest cavity but

outside of the lungs, and digestive causes.

    * Any environmental substance that irritates the air passages or the lungs is capable of producing a

chronic cough with continued exposure. Cigarette smoke is the most common cause of chronic cough. Other

cough-producing irritants include dusts, pollens, pet dander, particulate matter, industrial chemicals and

pollution, cigar and pipe smoke, and low environmental humidity.

    * Within the lungs both common and uncommon conditions cause chronic cough. Common causes include asthma,

emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Less common causes of lung-induced chronic cough include cancer,

sarcoidosis, diseases of the lung tissue, and congestive heart failure with chronic fluid build-up in the

lungs.

    * The passages that connect the lungs to the external environment are known as the upper respiratory tract.

Chronic sinus infections, chronic postnasal drip, diseases of the external ear, infections of the throat, and

use of ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure have all been implicated in chronic cough.

    * In addition to disease processes within the lung and air passages, diseases elsewhere within the chest

cavity may also be responsible for chronic cough. Conditions within the chest known to cause chronic cough

include cancer, unusual growth of a lymph node, and an abnormal enlargement of the aorta, which is the main

blood vessel leaving the heart.

    * An often-overlooked cause of the chronic cough is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). GERD occurs when acid

from the stomach travels up the esophagus. This abnormal condition can cause irritation of the esophagus and

larynx resulting in the reflex production of a cough.

Cough Symptoms

Although the signs of a cough are self-explanatory, what differentiates the cause of a cough are the associated

signs and symptoms. Another important factor in determining the cause of the cough is whether it is acute or

chronic.

    * Acute coughs have been divided into infectious and noninfectious causes.

          o Signs and symptoms that point to an infection include fever, chills, body aches, sore throat,

nausea, vomiting, headache, sinus pressure, runny nose, night sweats, and postnasal drip. Sputum, or phlegm,

sometimes indicates an infection is present, but it is also seen in noninfectious causes.

          o Signs and symptoms that point to a noninfectious cause include coughs that occur when you are

exposed to certain chemicals or irritants in the environment, coughs with wheezing, coughs that routinely

worsen when you go to certain locations or do certain activities, or coughs that improve with inhalers or

allergy medications.

    * The signs and symptoms of the chronic cough can be hard for doctors to assess, because many causes of the

chronic cough have overlapping signs and symptoms.

          o If your cough is related to environmental irritants, it will worsen when exposed to the offending

agent. If you have an environmental allergy, your cough may improve when using allergy medications. If you have

a smoker's cough, it may improve if you stop smoking and worsen with increased smoking.

          o If you have a chronic lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis, you may have a

persistent cough or a cough that worsens with certain locations or activities. You may or may not have sputum

with your cough and often have improvement in your cough with the use of inhaled or oral steroids, or other

inhaled medications.

          o If your cough is caused by chronic sinus infections, chronic runny nose, or chronic postnasal drip,

you will often have the signs and symptoms associated with these conditions. You may also notice that your

cough worsens when your problem worsens, and often your cough will improve when the underlying problem is

treated.

          o If your cough is associated with medications, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)

inhibitors, the cough will begin after starting the medication in question. The cough is often dry and improves

when the medication is stopped.

          o A cough associated with GERD is often associated with a sensation of heartburn. This type of cough

worsens during the day or when you lie flat on your back. Furthermore, a sizable minority of people with a

cough caused by GERD will note no symptoms of reflux, but most people will report improvement in their cough

when GERD is treated properly.

          o If your cough is a warning sign of an underlying cancer, you may have a group of symptoms. If lung

cancer or a cancer of the air passages is present, you may cough up blood. Other signs and symptoms that may

warn of a cancer include worsening fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained loss of weight, or decreased ability

to swallow solid or liquid foods.

When to Seek Medical Care

Whether to call the doctor about a cough can be a difficult decision.

    * In general, contact the doctor if you experience the following:

    * Cough is associated with a fever and sputum production

    * Cough fails to get better after other symptoms go away or lessen

    * Cough changes in character

    * Trial therapy shows no signs of reducing the cough

    * You begin coughing up blood

    * Cough interferes with the activities of daily living or sleep cycles

    * Call your doctor immediately if you have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Most coughs do not require evaluation in the Emergency Department, and efforts should be made to discuss the

situation with your doctor. But certain circumstances warrant emergency evaluation.

    * If you have a cough that is caused by a chronic condition, discuss what signs and symptoms warrant going

to the Emergency Department with your doctor or specialist.

    * If you develop severe shortness of breath with your cough, you could have any number of serious medical

problems that require urgent intervention.

    * Elderly people or people with weakened immune systems who develop a cough and high fever should be seen

in the Emergency Department if they are unable to contact their doctor.

    * If you have a known lung disease and an acute worsening in your cough that does not respond to home

therapy, you should go to the Emergency Department.

Exams and Tests

The diagnosis of a cough is based largely on the information you provide. Information that is necessary to help

make an accurate diagnosis includes the duration of the cough, associated signs and symptoms, activities or

locations that make your cough worse or better, relation between the cough and time of day, past medical

history, and any home therapies already attempted.

    * In an acute cough the doctor may be able to make a diagnosis simply by interviewing you and performing a

physical examination. If you have an acute cough, chest x-rays typically do not add to the doctor's ability to

make a diagnosis. Elderly people, people with weakened immune systems (typically from cancer, diabetes, or

AIDS), and people with abnormal lung sounds on examination may benefit from an x-ray to check for pneumonia,

however.

    * In a chronic cough, doctors will often rely on the interview and physical examination to aid them in

determining what tests, if any, are appropriate in order to make a diagnosis. Many people will receive a chest

x-ray to search for problems. Beyond this, other diagnostic tests may be ordered at the doctor's discretion and

based on the interview and examination. Some of these tests may be ordered by your doctor, and others will

require referral to a specialist. The specialist selected will depend on the suspected source of the cough.

    * It is important that you be an active participant in your own care and discuss with your doctor the

purpose of any test ordered and what the expected results will mean.

Cough Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Home care of the cough is often directed at treating its underlying cause.

    * If you have an acute cough and have not been to the doctor, you may attempt to use over-the-counter cold

remedies to relieve your symptoms. If a common cold or flu is suspected, these may provide relief until the

infection gets better on its own. Acute coughs that are caused by allergies are often relieved with allergy

medication, and coughs due to environmental irritants will respond to elimination of the agent.

    * Home care of the chronic cough with a known cause is directed at treating the underlying cause of the

cough. This should be done in close consultation with your doctor or with a specialist. Although not every

chronic cough can be eliminated, many people can find relief of their cough by following their doctor's

recommendations closely.

Medical Treatment

The treatment of a cough will depend largely on its severity and underlying cause.

    * The treatment of an acute cough is directed primarily at decreasing the cough in addition to treating the

underlying cause.

          o Symptomatic relief of cough can be provided by over-the-counter or prescription cough remedies.

          o Severe coughs or coughs that interfere with sleep may need remedies that include narcotic

medications. If these are prescribed, take care to avoid alcohol, driving, and operating any heavy machinery

while using the medication.

          o If a bacterial infection is suspected the doctor will often prescribe antibiotics. People who are

suspected of having a viral infection will not benefit from antibiotics and will receive treatments directed at

their symptoms only.

          o Elderly people, people with very severe bacterial or viral infections, and people with weakened

immune systems may require admission to the hospital to manage the underlying problem.

    * The treatment of a chronic cough will also be directed at treating the underlying condition. It is

important to recognize that treatment may be difficult, may employ multiple approaches, and may not completely

eliminate the cough.

          o If you have a cough caused by smoking, allergies, or environmental irritants, you will benefit from

elimination of the offending substance. It may take several weeks for the doctor to assess the response to this

approach because of the length of time required to repair damage to the lungs and air passages from the

offending agent.

Next Steps

Follow-up

The best plan for follow-up care for a cough of any nature is to discuss when and where follow-up should occur

with your doctor or the doctor from the Emergency Department. Acute coughs typically get better on their own

and often will not need follow-up. Many chronic coughs will take weeks to months to get better even when

treatments are followed closely; thus, follow-up should be arranged based on this time schedule. For coughs

that do not get better with standard treatments, referral to a specialist may be needed to decide the cause and

best treatment.

Prevention

Prevention of a cough is based on avoiding the medical problems that cause cough.

The most important aspect of prevention is to stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, particularly for people

with asthma, chronic lung disease, and environmental allergies.

For people with GERD, prevention is aimed at diet modification, sleeping with the head of the bed elevated, and

taking all medications as prescribed.

For any person who is on medication for a chronic lung disease, the best prevention is strict adherence to the

doctor's prescribed treatments.

Outlook

The prognosis for a cough will vary depending on the underlying cause. After the cause has been addressed, most

acute coughs will get better within 2-3 weeks. People who smoke during their cough can expect a longer period

before they are completely better. People with chronic cough often have more varied results, and people with

chronic lung disease often have periods of resolution in addition to periods of worsening of the cough. Again,

smoking will make a chronic cough last longer and should be avoided.

Synonyms and Keywords

coughs, acute cough, chronic cough, smoker's cough, asthmatic cough, productive cough, dry cough, postnasal

drip cough, pulmonary cough, captopril cough, ACE inhibitor cough

Authors and Editors
Author: Manuel Hernandez, MD, Chief, Department of Emergency Medicine, Parkway Medical Center.

Coauthor(s): Jacob W Ufberg, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Temple University

School of Medicine.

Editors: Patrick Taylor, MD, FAAEM, Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, CHRISTUS St Frances

Cabrini Hospital; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Steven L Bernstein, MD,

Vice-Chair, Academic Affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Assistant

Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mt Sinai School of Medicine.

          o If you have a lung disease, you will often need ongoing therapy to treat your condition. Therapies

used will depend largely on the type of disease present. Multiple treatments are often used at the same time to

help reduce symptoms. Careful adherence with the treatment selected will be critical to help slow the

progression of any disease and to reduce symptoms. In cases where home therapy fails and symptoms worsen, you

may need hospitalization so that additional or more intensive therapies may be attempted.

          o If your cough is suspected to be caused by a medication, you will show improvement when the

medication in question is stopped. When this occurs, the cough will likely take up to a few weeks to get better

completely. Another medication may be needed to replace the one you stopped taking.

          o If you are suspected of having a cough caused by GERD, you will need treatment directed at reducing

the amount of acid reflux from the stomach. This is typically done with diet changes and medication. Successful

treatment may take time, and multiple therapies may be needed.

Keeping Your Dust Allergy Under Control

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:43:36 +0100

Little dust mites can be a big problem when dealing with allergies. Check out these indoor allergy tips to learn how you can decrease the amount of dust in your home.

Dust in the home can be a major irritant for people with allergies. But the dust itself is not the most likely cause of sniffling, sneezing, and overall discomfort; dust mites are. These microscopic insects thrive in dust, and they're the ones that are triggering your “dust” allergy – more specifically, the proteins contained in their droppings are probably triggering it.
Indoor Allergy: About Dust Mites

Every home has dust mites, says Bradley A. Becker, MD, an allergist at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis and associate professor at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. They are pretty much unavoidable, but you'll never see them — they are invisible to the naked eye.

Dust mites are considered the leading cause of indoor allergy. These mites can thrive inside throughout the winter, particularly if it is warm and humid in the home. They tend to flock to bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpets and they feed on skin scales from humans and pets, as well as on pollen, fungi, and bacteria they find in your home.

"If you're not at a high altitude, they're in all the bedding after a few months," Dr. Becker says. "They also find their way into upholstered furniture and carpet after a few months."

Indoor Allergy: Bedroom Control

It’s practically impossible to completely rid your home of dust mites, but there are ways to reduce the amount of dust mites in your home.

Your bedding is the place to start. "If you’re allergic to dust mites, you're basically sleeping face-down in what you're allergic to," Becker says.

To make your bed less appealing to dust mites, you should:

Encase your pillows, mattress, and box spring in zippered allergy-proof covers so the mites can’t get inside them.
Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets every week. "They used to say to wash in hot water, but the best way to kill the mites is to dry in high heat," Becker explains. That's because the water needs to be at least 130 degrees to kill dust mites, a heat that can scald hands if your hot-water heater is set at that level.

Indoor Allergy: Other Controls

Here are some other steps you can take to make your house mite-resistant and improve your indoor allergy symptoms:

Control the humidity in your home. Dust mites thrive in houses that have humidity greater than 50 percent. Becker recommends keeping the humidity level between 30 percent and 49 percent. "In humid parts of the country, like St. Louis, one would need to keep the windows shut, and use heat and air conditioning for comfort, as necessary," he says.
Vacuum your carpets and upholstered furniture. Be sure you use a vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or you'll just keep stirring up the dust mite allergens around your house. "Dust mite protein is very small and it basically blows in and out of any vacuum that’s not equipped with a HEPA filter," Becker says.
Dust often. Be sure to use a damp cloth or furniture polish to dust, so you aren't just tossing dust up into the air. If you dust before you vacuum, the vacuum cleaner will help pick up whatever particles your cloth fails to capture.
Use an air filtration system. Again, you'll want to use a system equipped with a HEPA filter that can catch the dust mite matter in the air. HEPA filters have been proven to work better atridding the air of allergens than electrostatic air purifiers.

Even if you can’t entirely rid your home of dust mites, these tips will help you significantly reduce their impact on your allergies.

Working Parents And Kids Health

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:54:06 +0100

Meeting the demands of career and family is a challenge for working moms and dads. Get ideas to create the right work-life balance.

Less than 60 years ago, 56 percent of U.S. households had only one parent working outside the home, leaving the other parent to manage the home and family. Today, with only 33 percent of households in that situation, achieving a work-life balance is a challenge for many. And not only are there more working moms and dads now, they are also working longer hours than in previous decades. That adds up to less time for the kids and family life.

With busy careers and seemingly endless family responsibilities, from cleaning the house to preparing healthy meals and carting the kids around to their activities, it's easy for working parents to become overwhelmed, stressed out, and wondering if striking the right work-life balance is even possible.

Work-Life Balance: You Can Have Both!
Rest assured, working moms and dads, a happy family life and a successful career can be yours simultaneously. Here are some simple guidelines for working parents who want to reduce stress and maximize their time and energy.

Be realistic about what you can accomplish. You can't get everything done in a day. Prioritize what's most important and schedule everything out over the coming weeks. Your daily routine needn't be back-to-back tasks; instead, make sure it allows for at least a small dose of downtime.
"Having a schedule is crucial. Routines help children transition and with behavior problems. They also help parents with time management," says Arlene Kaufman, director of Temple Trager Preschool in Louisville, Ky., and a mom who has found ways to balance a hectic life and career. Her advice: "Take time for yourself — whether it's a bath, reading a book, or working out."
Learn how to say no, even at work. To achieve a healthy work-life balance, working moms and dads often have to make difficult choices as to the responsibilities they can't take on. "The most practical preventive approach is to know your limits. That means saying no to things that you might want to do or that are otherwise important, like chairing a fund-raiser. Too many parents get involved in too many things. You need to set limits at work, even if it means slow (or no) advancement. Decide how much you can travel or work late, and stick to it," says Scott Ries, associate professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
Evaluate how you spend your time. Once you have a good schedule in place, you can sit back and "relax" by focusing on whatever you are involved in at the present moment. "For instance, when at work, work; when at home, pay attention to family members. It may be difficult to pay attention to the 50th consecutive game of Candyland, but children know when you are 'present' and when you are distracted," says Ries, who recommends reading Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, a book that outlines some ideas for maintaining a work-life balance.
Ask for help. What's a family for, after all? Working moms in particular shouldn't stress themselves out over cooking dinner or cleaning the house all by themselves. To help find that essential work-life balance, delegate some work to your spouse and kids. Household chores can take less time and be less stressful when the whole family contributes. Also, consider hiring someone to help you with cleaning or babysitting a few hours a week. If finances permit, treat yourself and your family to dinner out or takeout occasionally.

By acknowledging that you're human — not an automaton — you can set some healthy limits on your schedule that will keep you from spiraling out of control, something both your family members and your co-workers will appreciate. Achieving that work-life balance is within reach.

STORY : Parents' Poverty, Not Deaths, Lead To Flooded Orphanages

Indonesian Parents Forced To Give Up Kids

Yulianto's parents are still alive, but the 13-year-old has spent half his life in an orphanage. Looking down at the ground, he quietly explains why: His mom and dad are too poor to feed him and put him through school.

Yulianto is far from alone. A major survey of Indonesia's child care institutions released this month found orphanages flooded with children separated from their parents not by death, but because of poverty.

"I just want to be with my parents, even if it means I cannot get an education," said Yulianto, who like many Indonesians uses a single name.

The study by the U.S.-based charity Save the Children and the Indonesian government was the first detailed look at children's homes in the country. It surveyed six provinces and analyzed the legal and political issues facing the institutions.

According to the report, up to 500,000 of Indonesia's 85 million children live in institutions, one of the highest rates in the world. Of those, 90 percent still have one or more parent alive.

In the 36 homes surveyed, the children spent much of the time when they were not at school cooking, cleaning and looking after younger children because the institutions were under staffed.

Staff quoted in the report were not worried about this, saying the children were receiving free food and education and would almost certainly be working in the fields or helping their parents if they had remained at home.

"The staff are about managing children, not providing care," said Florence Martin, a child protection adviser with Save the Children in Jakarta. "Institutions think their purpose is providing education, so children's needs at the psychological level are not on the agenda."

The survey found government policy was in part fueling the surge in parents giving up their kids.

As part of efforts to combat poverty, the government has for five years funded orphanages based on the number of children they register. The aid has led religious and social organizations to establish new institutions and existing homes to actively "recruit" children, the survey found.

As evidence, the survey pointed to a dramatic rise in the number of orphanages in Indonesia - as many as 8,000, up from 1,600 in 1998.

"If you wanted to be mean, you could say running an institution is a pretty good business," said Martin. "When you've got 10 children coming out, you need to find 10 children to come in."

The report says most children have little contact with their families - perhaps a brief visit home once a year - because they are too poor to travel. Some institutions discourage relationships between children and their families because "it is believed the moral guidance children get in institutions would be weakened by contact with parents," Martin said.

Yulianto lives in the Parapattan Orphanage in central Jakarta with 65 other kids. The home encourages families to visit, but many parents say they cannot often do so because they lack money and work long hours.

The buildings are clean, but signs of wear and tear are everywhere. Paint peels from the walls and grass grows up between cracked concrete flooring. In the yard, boys use sandals to bat plastic balls over a shredded net.

The report makes it clear that the parents give up their children because of poverty.

World Bank figures show about half of Indonesia's 235 million people live on less than US$2 a day. Martin said the soaring prices of staple foods and a recent 30 percent increase in fuel costs would surely lead to more parents giving up their kids.

"I know my children are angry with me, but I try to convince them that is the best choice for us," said Tinor Niang, a 38-year-old noodle vendor who brought her two sons to Parapattan nine years ago.

"As a mother I want to take care of my children but I cannot be selfish. I want the best future for them, so I have no choice but to leave them."

Almost all of Indonesia's children's homes are privately run, many by Islamic organizations in this majority Muslim country. Nearly half operate on less than US$10,000 a year, the report found.

Makmur Sunusi, director general for social services and rehabilitation at the Welfare Ministry, said the government was aware of the problem and was looking at ways to help poor families without breaking them up.

Farm laborer Noldi Jacob held back tears explaining why he left his children at Parapattan.

"The economic situation is getting more difficult and I cannot depend on my brothers and sisters to pay for my children," he said. "As a father it pains me to admit that I cannot finance my children, but I believe this orphanage can guide, love and teach them."

Reading Activities for Preschoolers

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:19:17 +0100

Teaching children at an early age to be interested in reading is something they'll carry with them as they get older. The following tried-and-true activities will help your kids learn to enjoy reading.

Preschoolers enjoy listening to cassettes or CDs while they read, especially when it's their voice. Read a story with your child and make a recording of it. For example, the parent reads the story and at a certain point in the book the child can read a line. Have a copy of the recording and the book on hand so they can listen to the tape/CD and read along by themselves.
Set up a library in your home to teach your children about libraries and to show them the variety of reading materials available. Let your child take a turn being the librarian. Make a list of your child's different interests and look for books on those subjects. Stock your library with picture books, story books, magazines, greeting cards, atlases, song books and pamphlets.
Hang index cards around your house to name different items. For example, hang the cards on a shelf, the wall, the door, a clock and a desk. A part of reading is memorizing the words. When your child can see the word every day, he'll learn to read that word easier.
Grouping coupons is another fun reading activity. This teaches kids to read different words, such as milk, chicken, corn and juice. When they learn these words from the coupon, they'll remember the word when they see it elsewhere.
Make printouts of street signs. Show them how S-T-O-P means "Stop." Street signs teach them words such as "bridge," "school," "slow" and "turn." While they're outside or riding in a car, they'll see the signs and remember these words. They'll later associate those words when they see them in books.
Make books together:
• The "Alphabet Book" is a fun and popular activity for preschoolers. Associating the word and the letter sound to the picture is the first step to learning to read.
• Make a "Cereal Book." Collect cereal boxes and read different parts of the box with your child. Cut the words out and paste in the book.
Have a reading picnic in the living room! Use a picnic basket, lunchbox or cooler and paper plates. Lay out a blanket and serve sandwiches, juice and fruit. Have your child choose several books to read and make an afternoon of it. Create fond memories by making it a "teddy bear reading picnic" or a "beach time reading picnic," and reading books about teddy bears or families at the beach.
Teach your children some words in sign language. Show them how to make the sign while you say the word. Young children pick up sign language rather quickly. When you're reading a story and see the word that you've taught, act the word out in sign as you read it. Check out the American Sign Language Browser at http://aslbrowser.commtechlab.msu.edu/ for videos of signs/words.
Read the book, A New Home for Snowball, by Joan Bowden. This book tells the story of a child who built a house for his pet, Snowball, and was trying to find the perfect word to put above his door. He realized the perfect word was, "Snowball." After you read the story, make a sign for your child's wall or a name plate for her door. Make a "favorites list" using her name by taking each letter of her name and writing a word of something she enjoys. For example, Megan is: Monkeys Eggs Giraffe Angel Naps.

Source : Charlotte Hopkins is a mother, freelance writer and job coach from West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.

Be A Kids Model

Wed, 13 May 2009 06:46:16 +0100

Babies are most probably the thing guaranteed to bring a smile to your face before anything else.

And of course no baby is more beautiful than your own :-)

There is great demand for baby models.And the fortunate thing about this particular "modeling industry" is that it is most probably the safest and most professionally run.

There are strict laws around the world for how long a baby can actually work for - and the babies needs are put first in any commercial or film shoot.

What is also heartening for the parents - again using the word "safety" is that baby models are safe from predators, unlike unfortunately the child modeling world.
Because given the age of a baby - the mother MUST always be present so there is not any opportunity for any unsavory behavior.
And again there are very strict laws as to how to work with a baby for commercial purposes.

Having said all of this - if you have a baby that you would like to get into modeling. Or you have a friend who has a baby that you think is just too beautiful for words and would get booked in an instant...

Whatever is your reason for reading this - it's still important to know where to go, where to find the best Baby Modeling Agency.

And what you need to do as a parent to make sure your baby is:

A) Protected

B) Given the best opportunities/jobs

C) Is paid handsomely for it

It is also worth your while to become fully acquainted with your rights as the mother/baby when your child is modeling. And it is of course better that you know this - as opposed to relying on the 'professionals' at the agency to tell you.

You want to feel in control of your baby's infant career, as well as working positively with the agent, bookers and companies hiring him/her (as honestly playing the "Stage Mum" will not get you very far, and will harm your baby's chances).

To find out ALL you need to know about Baby Models and Baby Modeling go here: http://true-info-now.com/babymodels/

http://hubpages.com/hub/Baby_Models

Always Like Plane

Fri, 01 May 2009 07:10:09 +0100

Plane,,,, I Like It,,,,,,,,

Back to years behind,,, me and my parents went to my grandma village.. To reach that,, we have to go by plane. That was a small plane and with the long delay flight as well as use to be the custom in this country.. I won't tell you how damaged the industry rather than to share you a moment that I enjoy the flight.

It was a shock experience at first time to flight,,,try your self then,,, Once that thing in the air,,,,, I felt good..c'os I remember my favorite toys,,, superman,,( I used to call it emen,,). My Mom's showed me the blue sky and guess what else,,,,, My curious tell me that I have to grab something outside that windows,,, Wooups,, my Mom's didn't allow me to did so,, Something out there make me wonder,, I have to feel it,,,,

Hourly flying,, of course didn't make me feel better,,, I miss the land,,,,,,,,,,,
Journey to grandma,,, inside the iron bird,,, tell me the nice one,,,,,,,,,,,

Someday,,,,I will be a pilot,,,,

My Blue Baby Bike

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:45:06 +0100

My "Nice Blue Baby Bike"

Someday before, my Dad's came from work. As usual,,, I heard his bike sound (''broom,,,brooomm,,, what a big bike I knew"). Somehow I always thinking that Dad's brought me something I can taste (like my favorite chocolate,,,hmmmm,,tastyyy). Then I found that my Dad's brought me a "nice blue baby bike"

I love it,,,,,,,woow,,, I can't hardly believe it,, finally I can ride my own bike. He,,,he,, don't you see,, I enjoy ride it event I didn't realize bumped a wall.... Well my experience was so good at that time ride it.

Somedays.... I'll become a good bike rider,,, like motobike rider I used to watch on my small TV with my lovely Dad's. Off course my Mom's won't let me ride by myself at first,,, she played with me and try to feed me as well ( you know,, Mom's always feed me while I was busy with my toys,,,).

Well I hope you all can understand why I am so exciting about my first bike.... That gift was my first happy impression about,,, Parents always give the best for their kids event not in your bhirthday,,, What ever my parents give me,,,, there must be excite me,,, hmmm except they try to feed me my medicine ( I guess you have the same reaction as well)... Happy ride,,,watch your feet ,,, (my dad's warn me) ,,, and Ride,,,,ride,,,ride,,,,

I Wanna Be A Biker

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:11:52 +0100

My Dad's has a bike that we used to go around. For me, it is too big to ride.. but I always wanna try to ride it..It is always fun when my Dad's and Mom's took me along with that bike.... I can feel the wind, and fresh air (of course if there is no other big vehicle in front),,, Seeing the road and the environtment along the ride will be very pleasure experience while you are at my age.

Once, we did ride in a small village in West Kalimantan. At first, it was a good travel, suddenly the weather change very quickly,,, and here came the big rain.... Wooow,,, what a troule we have... My Dad's decided that we have to step by,,,, so we went to a small store and wait for the rain over there...

Now,,, we live in a big town,,, my Dad's change his bike to a small one,,, efficience and don't take much effort to ride it he said... In fact, in my city, there are millions bike at the street.... You can image,,, seems that every people in my town has a bike,,,,,,, There will be frustating if you ride in my town, cause you will be surrounding by bike,,,,,

Hhh,,, I think automotive has a good industry in our country,,, there are many factories from several brands.... For me as a kid,,,, I just hope that my friend (age like me) won't get hurts from bump the bike which is too many in the street.... Be carefull as I do,,,,

Somedays,,, I wanna be a biker too,,, not just as usual,,, but I wanna try to race... Hmmm,,, I hope my Dad's doesn't hear my wishes......

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