Author: Taylor Quinn

Yoga pants have become a way of life for individuals across the world. These tightly-fitting articles of clothing have seen a dramatic rise in popularity over the last decade. While constantly associated with yoga itself, yoga pants can be used for practically any type of exercise. Duly, there even a nice alternative for lounging around the home, running errands, or even travelling in.

To correspond with increase in demand, multiple online outlets have begun selling yoga pants. There are vast collections of inventory with ever color, size, and style imaginable. Individuals will feel good in knowing that there’s truly something for everyone as it pertains to yoga pants. While there are a multitude of manufacturers and online stores available, four stand out as prominent options: Fabletics, YogaOutlet, Alo Yoga, and Lululemon.

Fabletics

Fabletics is a company created by Hollywood actress Kate Hudson. This entity prides itself on having the best leggings in the world. Fabletics offers a VIP member program. This entitles customers to discounts across the board. One promotion on the website in particular enables new VIP members to purchase two sets of leggings for an affordable $24. Normally, the price range would equal $99. Detailed descriptions allow interested customers to read about the quality of the leggings — and thus how they cater to each individual body type.

YogaOutlet

Like Fabletics, YogaOutlet also offers customers a chance to be a part of a special program entitled Exclusive Member List. Customers can submit their email address, and will instantly receive 10-percent off their first purchase (in addition to weekly promotions, updates, and information on new products). YogaOutlet offers sales on not only clothing — but also mats and accessories. The clothing section in particular offers a number of exciting options at affordable prices.

Alo Yoga

Alo Yoga has long been known as one of the more popular online stores for yoga pants. A neatly defined drop-down menu enables customers to peruse leggings/pants based upon design, size, and color. There’s also a sales tab which showcases all yoga pants currently discounted in price. Alo Yoga not only boasts strong customer service marks, but it also has a reputation for producing quality apparel.

Lululemon

Lululemon is a leader among shopping for yoga pants — both online and in terms of in-store locations. Based in Vancouver, one can spot men and women all over the globe sporting Lululemon apparel. As it pertains to yoga pants, the company offers a wide variety. Virtually every pair of pants comes with three separate designs to choose from. This sort of customization and diversity truly does cater to the customer. There are more understated looks, and some with a bit more panache.

As one can see, there are a number of exciting online platforms from where customers can purchase yoga pants online.

While many take it for granted, selecting the right dentist is an important step for any individual. Preserving oral health is integral to one’s collective health. This includes daily brushing, flossing, the utilization of mouth wash, and two in-office cleanings a year. Aside from attempting to prevent cavities, oral health is significant in warding off gum disease and the appearance of bacteria.

Whether one’s moved to a new town — or is in need of a new dentist — here are 4 methods to help select the perfect dentist:

Word of Mouth (no pun intended)

Getting a dentist recommendation from a trusted source — whether it’s a family member, neighbor, or co-worker — is significant. These are people who’d offer transparent and honest takes on the dentist in question. Even asking one’s physician isn’t the worst idea. Being able to suss through opinions through trustworthy confidants enables this process to be a bit more personal. When one personalizes something, extra levels of comfort invariably follow.

Dental Benefits

Normally, one’s dental health plan is offered through a place of employment. Depending upon that specific plan, a list of dentists are made available. For example, co-payment fees will be dissimilar when comparing both PPO plans and HMO networks. These will then offer the available choices for one’s dental journey.

Online Reviews

Yes, Yelp isn’t just used for reviewing that $17 arugula salad from last week’s lunch at a hipster hole-in-the-wall spot. Dental facilities and individual dentists are reviewed on a number of online publications. For example, one can filter down a list of dentists in their specific area with the simple click of a button. Letter grades, star ratings, and written reviews are valuable sifting through a long list of candidates. While one runs the risk of not personally knowing the writer of the said reviews, often times these assessments are candidly accurate.

Asking For A Consultation

After compiling a ton of research from various mediums, one may still feel unsure about booking an unknown dentist. As such, why not schedule an in-person consultation? This way, the interested party and the dental professional will have a chance to get to know one another through interpersonal dialogue. This then should offer the prospective customer a greater level of comfort. If the consultation goes smoothly, a dental appointment can be booked immediately. Should one not jive with the professional in question, additional consultations with other dentists can be arranged.

Selecting a medical professional for any task is far from a sure thing. Cultivating a level of trust with the said professional is key. The measures outlined above can offer the individual a fool-proof plan in trying to find the perfect dentist to fit one’s individual and personal needs.

The decision to enter an assisted living situation may seem scary to some. After living one’s whole life independently, the thought of relying upon others can be both daunting and challenging. However, advancements in the field of luxury assisted living truly does make functioning a much easier process for millions of elderly people across the country.

Here are 5 reasons to consider a luxury assisted living situation:

Feasibility

As one gets older, the proposition of having to travel to visit doctors, family members, friends, and other types of commitment can be exhausting. The simple act of driving somewhere may be problematic in one’s later years. A luxury assisted living facility will aid in solving all of these potential issues. There are designated vehicles which offer residents transportation to visit family members, or even to run errands at a local business. Group trips include forays to the mall and other entertainment locations (such as the movie theater).

Health Care

At any luxury assisted living facility, an on-site doctor will be present. Other trained medical professionals will be available to help with most common illnesses — such as colds or the flu. Within the same token, there are staff members specifically hired to help with the distribution of medication. Managing one’s medication can be an annoyance — particularly when having to take different types of pills for specified needs. With these facilities, one can pop over to a designated area in order to take one’s scheduled slate of medications.

Spacious Living Accommodations

It may be difficult to say goodbye to your longstanding home — though there are plenty of spacious options made available. As would be the case for any apartment, there are different accouterments based upon the amount of money one’s willing to spend. It could include getting a smaller studio dwelling, or one with multiple bedrooms, a living room, and a full service kitchen. There have been known to be apartments north of 1,200 sq. ft.

Dining Options

Most luxury facilities will employ highly decorated chefs to create nutritious and decadent meals. Normally, a main dining area will house thousands of residents for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This also includes special dinners for holidays and other sorts of occasions. If one’s not feeling up to making the trip to the dining hall, employees are able to bring them food a la room service. If one’s looking for a snack in-between meals, a smaller kitchen will traditionally offer items to grab-and-go (such as a muffin or a piece of fruit).

Activities

There are a litany of activities for one to participate in during the day. For luxury assisted living facilities, this is a huge point of emphasis. Simply put, activities are made available for people with a wide range of interests. This includes in-home activities such as pottery, movie nights, prayer groups and card games, to ‘field trips’ outside the facility. For those who’re widows or widowers, these opportunities present a chance to garner special friendships. Lastly, these facilities feature the latest in exercise technology. Personal trainers can be procured — whether they’re for active workouts or physical therapy. More often than not, luxury assisted living facilities will have state-of-the-art fitness centers — fully complemented by expensive pieces of machinery dedicated to help with everyday flexibility and functionality.

Diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent within the United States. There are 79 million Americans at least 20 years of age that have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. Additionally, there are 29 million with diabetes.

Insulin moves sugar (or glucose) from the bloodstream into fat cells, muscle, an the liver. Without the appearance of insulin, the blood glucose levels will climb — which then could lead to severe tissue damage and a plethora of other health issues.

While many rely upon insulin shots and a myriad of other medications, there are those who’d rather operate with more of a holistic approach.

Here are 10 natural ways to prevent diabetes naturally:

1. Exercise Every Day

It’s paramount to get some form of physical activity on a daily basis. This task isn’t always easy — especially when factoring in a full day of work (and in some cases a commute). In any event, 30 minutes of walking is a simple and very manageable amount of time needed to get in the requisite amount of physical activity. Physical activity improves tissue sensitivity to both weight management and insulin.

2. Getting Sleep

It’s imperative to get least 6-8 hours of sleep per night. There are many reasons for why we fail to reach this limit — whether it’s stress, insomnia, an active and creative brain, or even those nights when we partake in one too many adult beverages. Simply stated, poor sleeping habits increase the risk of obesity — when then could lead into diabetes.

3. The Ever-So-Often Alcoholic Beverage

The mass consumption of alcohol isn’t really recommended in any case. Aside from the fact that this could have adverse effects on one’s liver, these drinks are chock-full of sugar. However, moderate alcohol intake (one glass of beer/wine for a woman, two for men) helps to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

4. Meditation

There are those scoffing at the idea that meditation employs benefits to diabetes prevention. However, mindfulness meditation is a method to lower one’s stress levels. When agitated, glucagon and epinephrine are elevated. When this happens, blood glucose increases and the insulin levels will drop considerably.

5. Avoid Processed Foods

While those bags of chips are super tasty, they aren’t good for you. Any types of food with trans-fats, added sugar, and high levels of sodium will invariably increase one’s risk for diabetes. It also enhances the possibility of weight gain.

6. Limit Red Meat Intake

The consumption of large quantities of red meat could lead to the development of cardiovascular disease — as well as some types of cancer. Duly, some studies have shown a link between type 2 diabetes and the daily intake of red meat. One should also ward off the temptation for processed meats as well — which are high in sugars and sodium.

7. Eat Cleanly

By avoiding processed foods, one can enjoy “real” food — such as vegetables, fruits, fish, low-fat meat (turkey, bison, chicken), nuts, and seeds. The aforementioned examples are beneficial when regulating blood sugar levels. By cooking at home and limiting the occasions of eating out, one saves money in addition to living a healthier lifestyle.

8. Drinking Green Tea

Green tea has a high polyphenol content. As such, it possesses integral antioxidant properties. Polyphenols do a tremendous job in a controlled release of blood sugars — rather than the gradual build-up of them. The consumption of green tea also acts as a soothing experience, which in turns lowers stress levels.

9. Cinnamon Water

Cinnamon has many health benefits. It helps to prevent against cardiovascular issues, can ward off bacterial infections and viruses, and it can also fight diabetes. By dropping some cinnamon into warm water, the concoction will increase one’s metabolic rate. It’s an effective (and cheap) way of combating the side-effects of diabetes.

10. Basil Leaves

Yes, the use of basil leaves will help in a multitude of ways. One can literally eat basil leaves raw, or utilize them cooked. They can also be added to a drink for flavor. Basil leaves hold antioxidants which relieve oxidative stress. This sort of stress is problematic for those on the cusp of being pre-diabetic. As such, these leaves have the ability to lower blood sugar levels.

Unfortunately, asthma is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. The best treatments are aimed at controlling the disease. What constitutes good “control” over asthma? Asthma treatments are deemed effective if the treatment provides relief from troublesome symptoms including coughing and shortness of breath; minimal need for quick-relief medicine; minimal disturbance during the night, allowing for normal sleeping habits; and overall healthy lung and respiratory function.

Two Types of Asthma Treatments

Long-term asthma medications are effective in reducing airway inflammation, which helps to prevent asthmatic symptoms from developing. Inhaled corticosteroids are the most commonly prescribed long-term asthma treatment. These inhaled corticosteroids control asthma by decreasing inflammation and sensitivity to other inhaled substances. One common side effect from these inhaled corticosteroids is “thrush”, a mouth infection. Rinsing one’s mouth out with water after inhaling the corticosteroids can reduce one’s risk for developing thrush.

Other types of long-term asthma treatments include: Cromolyn (a medicine taken using a nebulizer), Omalizumab (a medicine injected via a shot once or twice a month), Inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists (inhaled medications that open the airway), Leukotriene modifiers (pills that reduce inflammation), and Theophylline (pills that reduce inflammation).

Quick-relief asthma treatments are necessary when a person’s asthma symptoms flare up. Quick-relief options work quickly to relax tense muscles around the airway, letting the airway open up while allowing for air to flow through easily. It is recommended to carry the quick-relief inhaler at all times, in case a flare up occurs.

Using a Peak Flow Meter

It is important for persons with asthma to keep track of symptoms, check peak flow regularly, and adhere to physician recommendations. People with asthma should use a peak flow meter, a relatively inexpensive device, to keep track of asthmatic symptoms. A peak flow meter is a portable, handheld device that measures how well air moves out of the lungs. A person using a peak flow meter should blow into the device and record the number or peak flow measurement; this number indicates how well the lungs are functioning when the person blew into the device. Recording one’s peak flow numbers can help to inform the doctor about which medications to take, how often, and the quantity of the medication. Knowing a “personal best” peak flow number is important to know and to share with healthcare professionals as this “personal best” as it helps to track how well the medications are controlling asthmatic symptoms. The peak flow records provide information that can potentially eliminate an asthma attack – if a person notices his/her peak flow numbers are decreasing and that it feels more strenuous to breathe, it is recommended to take a quick-relief medication as indicated by a healthcare professional. After taking the quick-relief medication, taking note of your peak flow number can provide useful information regarding how well the quick-relief medication worked in controlling your asthma attack.

Treatment Options

All persons with asthma are unique and require an individualized treatment approach. There are special considerations for asthma treatments based on various groups of individuals. Below are FDA-approved medication options for asthma treatment.

Long-term control asthma medications

Inhaled corticosteroids
-fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent HFA)
-budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler, Rhinocort)
-flunisolide (Aerospan HFA)
-ciclesonide (Alvesco, Omnaris, Zetonna)
-beclomethasone (Qnasl, Qvar)
-mometasone (Asmanex)
-fluticasone furoate (Arnuity Ellipta)

Leukotrine modifiers
-montelukast (Singulair)
-zafirlukast (Accolate)
-zileuton (Zyflo)

Long-acting beta agonists
-salmeterol (Serevent)
-formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist)

Combination inhalers
-fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair Diskus)
-budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort)
-formoterol-mometasone (Dulera)

Theophylline
-Theophylline (Theo-24, Elixophyllin)

Quick-relief asthma medications

Short-acting beta agonists
-albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA)
-levalbuterol (Xopenex)

Ipratropium
-ipratropium (Atrovent)

Oral and intravenous corticosteroids

Lifestyle Improvements to Reduce Asthma Attacks

Use an air conditioner + dehumidifier: Air conditioners reduce the particles of pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds that circulate indoors. The decrease in humidity, due to an air conditioner, can also reduce the presence of dust mites. If a person with asthma lives in a damp, humid climate, he/she should ask a medical professional about using a dehumidifier to improve humid conditions inside the home.

Clean home décor: Investing in dust proof covers may improve asthma symptoms. Changing rugs out for hardwood floors may prevent dust or other asthma triggers from gathering as easily inside the home. Change bed sheets, blankets, and pillowcases regularly to decrease the likelihood of nighttime asthma episodes. Cleaning the entire house – bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms, living room, etc. – can decrease the chance of mold spores developing which can reduce asthmatic outbreaks. Irritants such as pollen, mold, cold air, and pollution can also gather on household items, making it even more important to clean regularly.

Avoid furry pets: Some persons with asthma are sensitive to pet dander and should therefore avoid pets with fur or feathers. If a person already has these types of pets, it’s recommended to have the pets groomed or bathed regularly in order to decrease the amount of dander in the home.

Get vaccinated regularly: Remaining current with vaccinations can prevent unwanted illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia – which can trigger asthma attacks.

Follow the doctor’s instructions:
It’s important for people with asthma to regularly measure peak flow, take medications as prescribed by the doctor, stop activities that are likely to induce an asthma attack, and maintain open lines of communication with a doctor about adjusting treatment options to better suit personal lifestyle factors.