Depression Suicide Aging and EQ

There are so many myths about aging. For instance, do you think, as many do, that ?all old people are alike,? and that nobody changes after about the age of 50?

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Freud?s famous statement that people couldn?t change after the age of 50 simply isn?t true. At the time he formed his theories, most people didn?t live past 50, and that of course shaped his views. He may not have seen a lot of people over 50.

In fact this limited exposure to people in older age groups continues to confound our understanding. A lot of the psychological assessments available weren?t normed on enough people over the age of 60 to make them reliable for individuals in that age group. It?s all about developmental stages and you wouldn?t expect ?normal? to mean the same thing for a 75 year old as a 42 year old and more than for a 6 year old and a 12 year old.

Seniors are not alike as individuals or as a group. Surveys show that the most ?contented? people are people aged 60-69, but at the same time, the highest suicide rates of any age group occur among individuals 65 and older. 81% of senior suicides are male and Anglo males are particularly vulnerable. White males over 65 have the highest suicide rate, second only to white adolescent males. Suicide rates are higher for those who are divorced or widowed, and cause is attributed first to physical ailments, and then to depression.

The percentage of seniors in the population has risen steadily from 3% in 1900, to about 12% now. It?s projected to increase to 21% in the next 30 years. Since most emotional problems are often presented first to a primary care physician, as physical problems (headache, backache), medical schools are hastening to add exposure to geriatric medicine and psychology in the training of doctors. Psychology licensing boards are also beginning to require it.

It?s important to understand that depression manifests itself in different ways. We usually think of the ?lethargic? depressed person, the one who moves and thinks slowly, can?t sustain eye contact, talks negatively, is disinterested or unable to enjoy their usual pleasures, and wants to sleep all the time. But depressed people can also be agitated, angry, restless, irritable, eyes darting around, frantically trying to enjoy things (but not able to), and not able to sleep much.

In either case, women may talk about the feelings, but men tend to complain about physical ailments when they see a doctor.

It?s important to understand that depression isn?t a ?normal? part of aging, and that it's treatable. If you think you?re depressed, or that your loved one is, it?s good to start with a physical checkup. You should be make a list of all medications being taken, and also consider the normal routine. Many seniors, especially those who live alone, neglect nutrition and exercise.

As I say in my ebook, ?EQ and Depression,? you aren?t supposed to be depressed as you age. You?re supposed to feel good. Many seniors have a high EQ, are resilient, and are experienced copers. EQ intends to increase with age, but not if you don?t work on it. Skills such as flexiblity, creativity and resilience can be learned, and it pays to start developing them in early adulthood, as they take time to learn. Barring physical problems, you can learn to manage your emotions and the thoughts that accompany, and cause, them.

We know that isolation is worse on our health than high blood pressure and obesity combined, and it not being isolated depends upon your interpersonal skills ? your ability to make new friends and keep the old ones.

Creativity is needed to learn to work around things that change. It tends to take longer, for instance, to learn new things as we age, but many seniors are adept at ?many ways to skin a cat.? Likewise there are ways to make the short-term memory loss less bothersome. Short-term memory loss is one of the things that does come with aging, but the vast experience of seniors in coping gives them a vast store of tricks to pull ou of the bag to help them remember.

As one of my senior coaching clients tells me, ?My short-term memory?s off about 10%, but since it used to be far above-average, I?m doing fine. Now I just write things down, like I?ve seen others do for years.?

The ability to creatively meet challenges depends upon having an optimistic attitude, which also can be learned. I coach people in learned optimism and emotional intelligence competencies all the time! If you want to, and are willing to, you can learn to change self-limiting beliefs, once you realize they aren?t working for you. It depends upon correct information (like it?s not ?normal? to be depressed at any age, including old age) and then becoming aware of your emotions and self-talk, and changing them.

Depression usually responds best to a regime of exercise, good nutrition including neutraceuticals, medication, and cognitive work. Coaching can help you move forward, make goals and stay accountable to them.

We also know that resilient seniors are lifelong learners. While we don?t make any more brain cells as adults, we can continue to form new connections throughout the lifespan IF we learn new things; the more radical the better. This means if you?re an engineer, take a literature course. If you?re a Spanish teacher, study some physics. If you?re a left-brained mathematician, take an EQ course and develop the other side of your brain. As someone said, ?fall in love with learning and you?ll never end up with a broken heart?.

Intentionality is a high-order emotional intelligence competency. Why not intend to be one of those seniors who?s resilient and contented, who ages gracefully? Look to your wellness now, whatever age you are, and don?t leave out the EQ skills. The time to be developing them is now.

Our emotions directly effect our immune sytem, which is our health. They also effect our ability to get along with, and enjoy, others and ourselves. Men may particularly want to address the EQ issue. I know from the statistics, and from my coaching practice, that a man living alone at the age of 60 or beyond is in a vulnerable position, and while there are more men at that age than women, the smart women will be holding out for the healthy, EQ-smart men to bless with the health-promoting marital state.

Get started now. It?s never too late to learn!

Please consider this article for your website or ezine. Permission to reprint if byline stays intact and links are activated on the Internet. Courtesy notification appreciated.

?Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc. Susan works with adults of all ages to develop their emotional intelligence for applications to wellness and success in relationships and career. She offers individual coaching, Internet courses and ebooks. She also certifies EQ coaches in an innovative, no-residency program. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine, and more information.

Easy Eating Tips for a Healthy Heart and a Longer Life

Heart disease is one of the major causes of death in the developed world and a huge amount of research has been carried out into its causes. Good diet is considered to be one of the major factors in the prevention of heart attacks. Here we discuss what you should and should not be eating to minimize your risk of heart failure.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Not all fats are bad. We need fats like omega 3 to survive. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid which is not present enough in the western diet. These are polyunsaturated fatty acids found predominantly in oily fish. It is also found in vegetarian sources such as walnuts, flaxseeds and in a variety of other seeds. Omega 3 is very effective in protecting the circulatory system and preventing heart diseases.

Omega 3 fatty acids can help slow down the production of thromboxane A2 and inflammatory cytokines which means that there is a reduced tendency of the blood to clot. Blood clots blocking the heart valves can cause heart attacks. Research has proved that those who eat a lot of Omega 3-rich foods have a lower risk of heart attacks than those who consumed less in their diet. A love of oily fish and the Omega 3s within are considered a major reason why the inhabitants of Okinawa, Japan have the longest life expectancy of any population in the world.

Antioxidants

The body also needs antioxidants to prevent heart disease and improve circulation. Antioxidants stop free radicals from damaging cells. Free radicals are formed naturally during metabolism and other physiological processes. Antioxidants are very useful in fighting and preventing cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. Some of the most common antioxidants are Lycopene, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Lycopene, found in tomatoes and red fruits, is a bright red carotenoid pigment. It is also the most common carotenoid in the human body. Tomatoes are an excellent source, because the processing of tomatoes increases the concentration of lycopene. Along with tomatoes, it can be found in watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya and rosehip.

The daily recommended intake of Vitamin C is 40mg to 90 mg. Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. The daily recommended intake of Vitamin E is 6 mg to 19 mg. Soybean, broccoli, almonds, and peanuts are excellent sources. A person eating a balanced diet would get enough of both the vitamins. Smokers, pregnant women and those under stress may need a little more.

Grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extracts could help prevent heart disease and improve circulation. It is rich in flavonoids, which are phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. These help improve blood circulation and strengthen blood vessels, benefiting people with heart disease and cancer. Some studies point out that using grape seed oil would increase good cholesterol by 14% and reduce triglycerides by 15% in just one month1.

Calcium

Calcium is an important mineral in regulating heart and muscle contraction and nerve conduction. It works effectively with magnesium and Vitamin D is needed for its absorption. Ionized calcium is one of the most important minerals in maintaining heart functions. As it stimulates muscle contraction, it supports the relaxation phase of the heart. Calcium deficiency, especially in the elderly, has been linked to arteriosclerosis and hypertension, which could lead to heart disease. Calcium is found in dairy products, dark leafy vegetables, soybeans, figs and more. The daily units recommended are 360 grams at birth, increasing to 800 grams from the age of one to 10 years. Adults may need up to 1200 grams, as calcium absorption slows down with age.

Folic Acid

Research suggests that folic acid helps the elderly reduce the risk of stroke, thrombosis and heart disease, if they increased the recommended levels of folic acid by three times. However it is wise to talk to the doctor before radically increasing folic acids levels as it may have other side effects.

References

1.Vigna GB, Metabolism. 2003 Oct;52(10):1250-7

Iris is a Canadian trained physician who has been involved in the nutritional world for over 15 years and has a major interest in traditional Chinese medicine. Iris currently works as a medical advisor to Mitamins, the custom made online supplements company.

Mitamins Health Directory Informative health information and custom nutrition formulas for a huge array of health concerns from Allergies to Osteoporosis.

Choose a Plastic Surgeon Who Can Perform Diverse Procedures

?By using the most modern, scientifically proven plastic surgery techniques,? says Dr. Douglas Hendricks in Newport Beach, California, ?I can provide patients with healthy, vibrant, more youthful appearances through a variety of different plastic surgery procedures.?

When a patient is deciding on the best plastic surgeon for them, there are many different things that must be considered. First, is the plastic surgeon board certified, how experienced are they, and finally what are the procedures that they perform.

By choosing a plastic surgeon that is able to perform many different types of plastic surgeries, a patient can be sure to receive the procedure they want, and the results that they desire.

A plastic surgeon that has experience with diverse plastic surgery procedures usually has more training and education. Also, by performing diverse procedures, a plastic surgeon will have more experience dealing with emergencies, complications, or anything else that might arise during the plastic surgery.

Prior to deciding on the plastic surgeon, a patient should be well informed of all aspects of the plastic surgery procedure they would like to have performed. This can include the different forms of the procedure, implants that may be involved, and incisions used during the plastic surgery.

For instance, if a patient is interested in having a liposuction, they should know exactly what area of the body they would like treated, where they would like the incisions to be made, and what type of liposuction they want perform. Liposuction is one of many plastic surgeries that have different types a patient can choose from, including ultra-sonic liposuction and tumescent liposuction.

One of the best ways to determine if a plastic surgeon is able to perform diverse plastic surgery procedures is to schedule an initial plastic surgery consultation. During the initial consultation, a patient will be able to ask the plastic surgeon questions about the plastic surgery they want.

Also, an initial consultation is a way to view before and after photos of the plastic surgeon?s patients. This will allow a patient to determine if the plastic surgeon performs many different procedures and provides quality results.

Click here for more information about a specific procedure or to learn more about choosing a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California.

The Bacteria and Other Microorganisms that are Involved in Dental Infections in Root Canal Fillings

This article is part of Dr. George Meinig's, DDS, FACD, research information of the extensive and investigative research of Dr. Weston Price's, DDS, FACD, research work.

It might be of interest that the wall Street Journal, on the morning of my typing this page, reported that one year ago a small group of Scientists had met and exchanged data on the first drugs discovered by major pharmaceutical campanies to arrest the AIDS virus. Their euphoria was blown just six months later when they found the AIDS virus wasn't being controlled but was mutating, and in its new form the infection was able to begin all over again.

The article went on to say that because of the organisms' ability to adjust and change, scientists now feel it may be a long time, if ever, before there is a cure for AIDS. Isn't it interesting that so long ago Dr. Price found bacteria trapped inside of teeth were doing the very same thing?

In the case of mutating streptococci germs or other bacteria housing themselves in dentin tubules, the obvious question is: So what; how can they escape?

The cementum itself won't allow the bacteria through its dense substance, except through accessory canals. However, the cementum is not able to stop the toxins of the bacteria from seeing through it structures.

In another investigation, Dr. Price explored this possibility using extracted teeth. He cemented small steel tubes into the root canal from the tooth's root end. He then hooked these up to a device which would pump water into the root canal under pressure. He found that when a dye was introduced, the colored water not only traveled through the dentin tubules but seeped through the entire structure of the cementum, the roots' outer, seemingly impervious, protective covering.

In addition to these ways for bacteria to escape into the bloodstream, bacteria can also leak out from around the root canal filling material. dentists diligently try to pack the root canal filling material so it doesn't permit bacteria trapped in the dentin to leak through the root-filling material and out through the root- canal opening at the end of the root, but tests by Dr. Price and others have shown that leaks occur.

About author:

Dr. George Meinig,D.D.S.,F.A.C.D. is a Founder of the Association of Root Canal Specialists Discovers Evidence That Root Canals Damage Your Health Learn What to Do.

Learn how Dr. George Meinig discovered that a meticulous 25 year research program, conducted by Weston A. Price, DDS, under the auspices of the American Dental Association's Research Institute, was buried by disbelievers of the focal infection theory. Along the way, Dr. Meinig has received many recognition citatons and awards, both Nationally and internationally.

For further information:

Visit: http://www.1stultimategumsolution.com

Edited and prepared by Sung Lee, alternate author

This article can be reprinted freely online as long as the entire article with resource box are included.

3 Reasons You Should Do Eye Laser Surgery

There are a number of reasons why you should do eye laser surgery, but also many reasons why you shouldn't. This article examines those reasons, in order that you can make an informed decision if eye laser surgery (or Lasik) is right for you.

To start, we can discuss the conditions which are certainly treatable by Lasik, and mean that you could or you should do eye laser surgery.

Myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia farsightedness or astigmatism are all treatable by eye laser surgery. As long as your vision has remained unchanged for at least two years, then you would probably experience benefit from having the procedure done.

There are some caveats to these though, and we can start with your age.

If you are under 18 years old, then eye laser surgery is most definitely not right for you. The FDA has not approved any laser for the use of LASIK for people under 18, because in all likelihood, your visions prescription will still be changing. There is also the legal argument that minors may not be able to sign a legal consent form.

There are also some other considerations.

You should be aware that eye laser surgery, like all other surgical procedures, does come with some risks attached to it, and your vision at the end may be less than perfect. Furthermore, it is possible that you may encounter side effects such as a 'glare' effect. If you are not willing to accept the potential risks, then eye laser surgery is not right for you.

Once the Lasik procedure has been completed, there will be a significant amount of time required to recover. In other words results will not be immediate. You will also need to follow a fairly strict regime of medications such as eye drops. If you feel unable to do this, then eye laser surgery is not right for you.

If you have any of the following conditions:-

* Diabetes

* Auto immune diseases

* If you are Immunocompromised at all

* Collagen vascular disease

Then you should not be considering to do eye laser surgery.

If you are taking any medications which might impair or prevent your natural healing, then you should not be considering to do eye laser surgery. The type of medications in question are steroids or immunosuppressants.

There are a number of existing eye conditions which also mean that you should not be considering to do eye laser surgery. Some of the conditions in question are as follows:-

* Keratoconus or other corneal thinning disorder

* Corneal scarring

* Glaucoma

* Cataracts

* A recent occurrence of ocular herpes.

* Retinal disease

* Dry eye

Any of these conditions should preclude you from undertaking eye laser surgery.

I hope this article has been of use, and you leave better informed about eye laser surgery than when you arrived. If you have doubts or questions, then always refer to your Lasik surgeon or doctor.

You can visit Charlie's website about eye laser surgery, to review information on 3 Reasons You Should Do Eye Laser Surgery.

Where To Find The Best Treadmill Review

If you've recently decided on purchasing a new treadmill for your home or office in order to lose some excess weight or simply to get in shape by improving your overall fitness level I'm sure you've wondered which treadmill to actually purchase. Let's be realistic, anytime you have the possibility of spending several thousand dollars on a piece of fitness equipment you probably should do yourself some good and read the reviews on the latest and greatest treadmills. But perhaps that leads to another obstacle ? which treadmill review can you trust and where can you find the best treadmill reviews?

When searching for the best treadmill review you will find yourself up against what appears to be a difficult task. The reality is for every person you find that absolutely loves a particular brand name treadmill there will be 2 other consumers that hate it or vice versa. With so many differences of opinion and everyone branding themselves as an expert on treadmill reviews, who can you trust and where can you go to find the best online treadmill review?

The first thing you must do before attempting to find the best online treadmill review is to set up several factors that will refine your search process. You should start by making a list of things that are important to you when deciding on which treadmill to purchase. For instance is price a concern? How much space will you require? How many times will you use your treadmill? How loud are you willing to let your treadmill sound during operation? Do you have a particular manufacture or treadmill model in mind? Questions like this will allow you to tailor your search requirements and allow you to find the best source for treadmill reviews quickly and easily.

As someone who just recently purchased a brand new treadmill for my home I can tell you I was initially stumped on what model to buy. I was looking for a reliable treadmill that I could fit in a smaller area. Both my wife and myself would use this treadmill on a daily basis so it had to be rugged and sturdy enough to take 2 times the normal use on any given day. I initially started my search on the Internet by simply typing in treadmill reviews but with over 3,700,000 references that proved to be a futile task at best. I simply didn't have time to go through a vast majority of the listed websites. I did have a few treadmill models by some well-known manufactures that I wanted to research more thoroughly but again that proved to be a bad idea due to the overwhelming number of competing websites showcasing these individual models.

I finally resolved my own personal turmoil of trying to find the best treadmill review site by heading over to consumer search which is a website dedicated to finding items online. From there I proceeded to perform several searches until I found reviews of many of the models of the most popular treadmills that fit my criteria. Armed with the information I needed I made my own purchase and both my wife and myself couldn't be happier with our decision.

As you can see buying the right treadmill can be easy or difficult. However you can make the process go faster and alleviate some of the stress involved by locating the best treadmill reviews you can find and then researching them to ultimately confirm your decision on which treadmill you should by based on your own desires.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Treadmill-Solutions.com. He provides more treadmill ratings, recommendations and information on finding the best treadmill reviews that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Going to the Beach? Lose Up to 20 lbs. In Just 2 Weeks

Do not eat anything beyond 3 hours before bed time. This is probably the most important factor in quick and in long term weight loss. And that includes all foods. Water may be an exception. Although, you shouldn?t drink too much water either, during this time. It will make you get up in the middle of the night for a visit to the washroom which will increase the chances of going for a snack. Remember, your defenses are down when you?re half asleep.

Cut down on starchy carbohydrates and eat only whole grain bread and pasta and brown rice. Avoid potatoes or cut down to very small portions. Eat yams instead of potatoes. Yams are much lower in starch; they have a low glycemic index and are much less filling.

Never combine two starches in a meal. For example, if you?re eating rice, do not eat pasta, bread or potatoes. Fill up on fresh or lightly steamed vegetables and salad at the expense of starch and protein. Do not use any creamy salad dressings. Instead, add olive oil (not too much), apple cider vinegar, oregano and basil to your salads. You?ll notice that vinegar replaces the need for salt.

Salt must be reduced because it retains water. And a lot of the bulk in an overweight person is simply water. Water is the first thing that comes off when people begin dieting. This article, however, as you have probably realized, is not really about dieting. It?s about making certain changes ? replacing old habits with better ones.

Avoid eating deep fried products in restaurants such as, fried chicken, French fries and donuts (yes, they are deep fried). Avoid dessert completely. If you must eat dessert decrease your meal portion and have fresh fruit only for dessert - which brings us to the next point.

You must cut down on the total amount of food you eat. Remember, it still comes down to input and output. One method I use to lose weight is decrease the size of my meals to half and add an extra meal. In other words, if you have 3 meals a day each containing 1000, the total is 3000 calories. If you cut the 3 meals in half (500 calories) and add another meal (500 calories), the total becomes 2000 calories. In this example we have reduced the day?s consumption by 1000 calories. Just like that. And it?s not hard to figure out how to reduce meal portions. Simply visualize you regular meal portion and reduce it by half.

Avoid junk food snacks like candy bars, chips and so on (you know what I mean). If you feel like something sweet, have a fresh fruit or a non fat yogurt with fruit. When you want something not sweet, try crunchy fresh vegetables or unsalted walnuts and almonds.

As you may have noticed, what we?re doing is:

- Cutting down on total calories and choosing foods lower in fat and calories.

- Increasing high fiber foods (fruits and vegetables,) that fill you up while containing almost no calories.

- In addition, these fresh foods along with walnuts and almonds have 2 great benefits. One is they contain very powerful antioxidants that help fight against heart disease and cancer. The other thing is, foods like walnuts and wild greens, for example, increase a certain food ratio (the n6:n3 ratio) which has shown - in certain cultures - to extend life and reduce body weight. For more information on this, visit the site which contains the downloadable e-book I have written at http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm.

- Decreasing starchy carbohydrates (your body turns excess carbohydrates into fat).

- Avoiding late night snacks which just end up getting stored as body fat, as the body does not burn many calories at rest.

- Avoiding junk food which is extremely high in fat and calories, high in salt and various unhealthy chemicals.

The final thing we need to include is something that most of us dread - daily exercise. ?Did you have to include this? The food stuff part is hard enough.??you say.

I know, I?m sorry ? but you want to lose weight very fast don?t you? Well then you have to exercise and not just 3 or 4 times a week (that?s the weight loss maintenance level). To lose weight quickly or even for the long term, for that matter, you must exercise 6 to 7 times a week. Your workouts should last at least one hour. Your exercise intensity target should be between 65%-85% of your maximum heart rate. In other words train at a moderately vigorous level.

If you?re already exercising, increase it to the above level; if not get clearance from your doctor first and then increase your intensity gradually to that level. To find out the best way to lose weight with exercise go to my Blog and look for the title: ?Do You Lose More Weight When Exercising On An Empty Stomach?? At http://topweightlosssite.blogspot.com

Depending on certain factors such as body fat percentage (BMI) and level of metabolism a person could lose from 10 to even 20 pounds in just the first week by following this program.

Good luck, good health and enjoy the beach!

References:

www.exrx.net, ?Aerobic Exercise Guidelines for Specific Goals?, retrieved 17 May 2006 from http://www.exrx.net/Aerobic/AerobicGoals.html.

John Tiniakos helps make weight loss easier through proven weight loss methods using information and analysis from the worlds leading scientists. To subscribe to his blog or his free monthly newsletter that includes valuable, up to date tips on diet, weight loss and health and to receive 2 free reports visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com. For more information on his latest ebook ?Nulife Natural Weight Loss Program? visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm