Paxil is indicated for conditions that fall under the psychiatric disease spectrum such as major depressive disorder, generalize anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Paxil is contraindicated for pregnant women or women who have a chance of getting pregnant and people who are below 18 years of age. Since the drug is also associated with side effects that involve a great deal of sexual health, such as erectile dysfunction and decrease in libido, it may also be contraindicated or discouraged in sexually challenged individuals.

Just like any other medication, Paxil, (or SSRI’s for that matter) has its own side effects. Harmful side effects that have been identified are gastrointestinal dysfunctions such as constipation and diarrhea, nausea, appetite loss, weight gain, headache, light-headedness, dry mouth, insomnia, sweating, tremors, delay in orgasm, and sexual arousal problems.

The use of SSRI’s, which includes Paxil, leaves the patient with happy feelings. This therapeutic effect would have been fine if not for the possibility of also leaving the patient with huge possibilities of getting too attached to the use of the medication, which leads to addiction. If drug use is abruptly halted, the patient experiences what is referred to as the SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome, or simply, withdrawal. Paxil is highly known among its class to produce this kind of effect. For this reason, drugs of this type should be discontinued gradually by decreasing dosage amounts little by little or by switching to a different type of drug still under the group of SSRI’s, usually fluoxetine, to ease the process of discontinuing Paxil.

Paxil comes with a big bold warning. Through research studies and actual human experiences, it has been found out that Paxil and SSRI’s in general can lead to a big possibility of suicidal thoughts and actual suicide. Before jumping into SSRI therapy, pros and cons are weighed to determine if the benefits would really outweigh the risks in taking such medication. This effect of the medication generally lessens as age increases, which is why SSRI’s are never prescribed to people who have not reached the age of 18. Most countries do not allow under 18′s to buy Paxil. In adults however, Paxil has been proven to be more beneficial than it is harmful.

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 The American Heart Association (AHA) and the Red Cross are 2 of the world’s most renowned leaders in heart-related courses and training. These 2 organization spend a lot of time and effort researching about life-saving techniques.

 For you to be CPR-certified, you can visit your local AHA and Red Cross centers and ask them when is their next scheduled training course. Now if you don’t like to attend classes, or you simply don’t have the time to do so, online CPR classes are also available. With this kind of program available, you will be able to do training at your own pace and in your own time. But you also need to be careful, not all online CPR training are accredited by the Red Cross or AHA. Two thirds of the training videos online may teach the wrong techniques.

 You can choose a class time that fits best in your busy work schedule. CPR classes online can be very convenient although it lacks face-to-face interaction that a regular classroom can offer. It is also not offered in all areas so you have to be very flexible. If you are too busy during weekdays, you can look for a weekend class so it won’t interfere with your job schedule. Each class can last up to 5 hours so you have to set enough time to complete your CPR class.

 You can register in a class online or by person in an organizational facility where CPR classes will be conducted. These classes are priced between $30 to $40. Prices also depend on whether you’re a first timer or a refresher. After you’re finished with the course, ask for your CPR certification. Check your CPR card and the expiration. Be sure to renew before the date indicated as CPR techniques change over time.

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 Gastroesophageal reflux disease or what is known as acid reflux is a type of disease condition that can cause damage to the lining of our esophagus. GERD is described as the reflux of stomach content back to the esophagus instead of going down to the duodenum. Since stomach contents are acidic it can cause irritation to the lining of the esophagus which is not protected by a mucus barrier unlike our stomach. This in turn produces discomfort and pain. GERD begins to develop when food that is ingested is not properly digested. This happens when enzymes of gastric acid present in the stomach fails to break down food. Good thing is there are a lot of natural remedies to combat acid reflux.

 Before enumerating the effective natural remedies for GERD, it is important to know the different symptoms produced by this disease condition:

1.  Heart burn

2. Reflux of food from stomach to mouth

3. Pain in the chest area

4. Difficulty swallowing

5. Asthma or difficulty breathing

6. Sore throat and hoarseness

7. Erosion of teeth and gums

 These are the most common symptoms that can occur if you have an acid reflux. Symptoms can worsen in time if they are not treated and managed properly.

 To battle GERD, here are some effective and natural remedies that can reduce the symptoms if not prevent acid reflux. These are easy to do remedies and since they are natural, they are also very affordable.

1.  Drink at least 2 glasses of water after every meal. Increasing your oral fluid intake can dilute the acid that is in the stomach thereby decreasing its potency, lessening harm and irritation to the esophageal lining.

2. Eat almonds in the morning after breakfast. Almonds are nuts that can eliminate the symptoms of GERD. In order to completely feel its benefits, the nuts should be chewed thoroughly.

3. Chamomile tea. This type of tea is effective in relieving the symptoms of acid reflux and reduces the discomfort that GERD brings. The good thing about this tea is that you can drink it any time of the day.

4. Apples and ginger. Both ginger and apples can reduce the acid in the stomach.

5. Chewing gum. Chewing gum can increase the production of saliva that can be effective in diluting the acid once stomach content reaches the mouth.

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Whether you’re planning to go on Paleo or you’re currently on it, here are Paleo Diet Guidelines that can be useful during your quest for a leaner, healthier body:

• The caveman’s diet is not about counting calories or controlling portions. Food should be high in fat, low to moderate amount of carbohydrates is needed and there should be moderate animal protein.
• The amount of saturated fat is not limited. You can eat as much coconut oil or butter as you want. Oil from olives, macadamia, and avocado are good fats that can be drizzled over salads but you can’t use them on frying. If ever you will choose beef tallow, the rendered form of beef or mutton fat, it should come from healthy and well-treated animals. These animals are mostly grass-fed and are raised in pastures.
• You can eat moderate amounts of animal protein found in red meats, poultry, organs like liver, kidney or heart, eggs, shellfish and fishes caught in the wild.
• Include fresh vegetables in your diet. You can either cook them or eat them raw. Non-toxic carbohydrates are found in starchy vegetables such as yam and sweet potatoes.  If possible always choose organic fruits and vegetables.
• Eat low amounts of fruits and nuts. Fruits low in sugar and rich in antioxidants such as berries are good. Nuts should be high in omega-3 but low in polyunsaturated fats and omega-6. If you are trying to lose weight fast or if you have a digestive and autoimmune disease, we suggest that you limit your fruits and nuts intake.
• Eliminate legumes and cereal grains such as black-eyed peas, wheat, rye, corn, brown rice, etc.
• Stay away from hydrogenated/ partially hydrogenated and vegetable oils such as margarine, soybean, peanut, sunflower and canola oils.
• Remove sugar. You can practice by visiting only the meat and poultry sections when you go to the grocery or supermarket.
• Eliminate heavy creams. Instead, try using raw or fermented dairy.
• Always eat when hungry and don’t worry if you have skipped one or two meals. You don’t have to eat 3 large meals a day.
• Sleep at least 8 hours a day and stay stress-free as possible.
• Don’t overdo your workout sessions. It is alright to keep them intense but make it short. Rest when tired.

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1. Stair Climb. Any benefits you can get from an aerobics class, you can also get at home. If you happen to have a staircase in the house, you can begin exercising simply by climbing up those stairs. First, go to the bottom of the staircase and walk in place for about 60 seconds. This is to warm up your legs and legs muscles.  You can start the pattern by climbing on to the first step and then back down. Repeat this at least 10 times. Walk again in place for 20 seconds and then start climbing 2 steps and then back down. Climb up one step, come down, and repeat this again 10 times.  You can repeat this pattern up to the 10^th stair, but we don’t recommend climbing more than ten steps, it will be extremely difficult to get back down after that. After this routine, you will surely feel the burn. You don’t have to over exert yourself. You can start climbing to up to 3 stairs only for a few weeks and then build your endurance slowly.

2. Laundry Basket Lifts. You will be surprised to know that your laundry bin full of dirty clothes is more than part of your everyday house chores. Lifting laundry baskets can be a good arm sculpting exercise.  Carefully lift the bin basket on top of your head and lift upwards and then slowly back down. Do this 15 times a set and do 3 sets a day. If the laundry bin is too heavy for you, you can remove some of the clothes and then restart the set. You can also try the lying position and lift from your chest up and then back down. This exercise will help shape your upper arms, shoulders and back muscles.

3. Commercial Break Exercises. If you are a certified couch potato and you love curling up on the sofa while watching your favorite shows everyday, then commercial breaks exercises are perfect for you.  As your favorite drama series is on, you can curl up on some weights, a five or ten pounds weight will do. But when commercials come on, you’ve got to stand up on your feet and do intense exercises such as jumping jacks, crunches, sit-ups, push-ups or any heart rate-rising workout you can think of.  When the TV show comes back on, you can return to light exercises. Do this pattern all through out the show and you will hardly notice you’re getting the best exercise!

 4. Home Office Chair Presses. If you have a swivel chair in your home office, you can use this to workout your arms. Sit on the chair and hold on to the edges of the office table while you use your arms to pull yourself towards the table and do the same to push yourself away from it.

These are just some of the ways you can exercise at home. There are still a lot of exercise you can try such as dancing in your living room, doing combo crunches and couch kicks. Be imaginative and resourceful and figure out new and exciting ways to workout your way to fitness.

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First 10 seconds

As you take the first puff, smoke passes through your mouth leaving brown stains on your white teeth. Pernicious gases such as ammonia and formaldehyde can immediately put your immune system on guard as these gases can cause inflammation all over.

Once in the trachea, smoke will slow down your cilia. Cilia are tiny sweepers which clear your respiratory tract of fluids and foreign particles. On the other hand, nicotine which is the addictive agent in cigarettes enters the bloodstream through the capillaries.

Our body gets a sudden push of energy as nicotine reaches the adrenal glands. This triggers the release of too much adrenaline that can cause raise your blood pressure and speeds up your heart rate. Finally, your heart cannot rest in between beats putting you at risk of stroke.

While these are happening, carbon monoxide from smoke is beginning to accumulate in your bloodstreams slowing down the transport of oxygen to your vital organs.

When nicotine hits the brain via thru the bloodstream, the brain releases a substance called dopamine which is a neurotransmitter that aids in controlling the brain’s pleasure centers.

After 10 minutes

Dopamine quickly gets back to normal levels, and your body will be aching for another cigarette even if you are not aware of it. When you always give in to the smoke craving, chances are your brain will get hooked to it and you will feel withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop smoking.  Smoking can be very addictive according to some experts. It can be as addictive as heroin.

Lifetime Effects

Smoking will leave a sticky brown tar in your lungs and this can be the start of numerous health conditions.

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And then you ask what to do to shoo away your smelly breath. When your breath turned bad because of foods such as cheese, fish, onions and garlic, you will need a breath freshener every now and then or at least a day until after odor clears out from your bloodstream. Frequent brushing is impossible so what you can do is to treat your bad breath with something that is handy, foods.

1. Try sucking on a lemon. This is easy to do especially in restaurants because they use lemons as garnish. Sparkling water with lemon or lemon-flavored candies are great alternatives. You can even carry them with you wherever you go as they are very portable.
2. Go for green garnishes. If your favorite garlic-rich dish or an onion-laden burger was served with green garnishes such as parsley, consider it as a bad breath remover more than a food décor. Chewing on parsley sprigs releases certain oils that can freshen up your breath.  Other garnishes such as basil and rosemary can work wonders too.
3. Chew fresh, crisp vegetables and fruits like apples, pears and carrots. Aside from having high fiber content, all that munching will increase saliva production- this combination is perfect as it serves as a scrubbing solution for your mouth.
4. Munch on some crispy spices like fennel seeds, coriander and anise which are available in most supermarkets and grocery stores. Mix these spices and store in a small container near your salt and pepper. Chewing these seeds can release certain oils that can sweeten your breath after eating curry or drinking coffee.
5. Try cinnamon sticks or mint gums. There’s a kind of oil found in cinnamon that can kill oral bacteria and can prevent them from invading your mouth. Mint gums on the other hand usually contain Xylitol which can easily freshen up your breath and prevent cavities.
6.  Combine yogurt and berries. If you can’t help but eat your favorite breath-unfriendly foods, you can try eating for prevention, which they say is better than cure. Consuming at least a cup full of yogurt two times a day can remove that rotten egg smell from your mouth. Berries on the other hand can kill smelly mouth bacteria. To get best results, combine berries with yogurt and you won’t have to worry about bad breath ever again.

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Obesity in children usually starts between the ages 5 and 6, but it can also begin during adolescence. Children are considered obese or overweight if their total body weight is more than 25% fat in boys and 32% fat in girls. While just an additional few pounds on a small child can make him obese. This can be determined through the use of weight and height charts.

There have been numerous research and studies made about obesity in youngsters and the results are very alarming. 1 in every 5 children is considered obese and almost 20 percent of children in America are most likely to be obese. Since 1980, the number of obese children has doubled and what is more alarming is that, children nowadays are 10 pounds heavier than the average weight 10 years ago.

You will know how serious this problem is simply by going to local shopping malls where you will see a lot of teenagers who do not fit into thin clothes. Clothing shops who sell teen clothes now offer a selection of larger dress sizes. Not too long ago these stores only offer smaller sizes and obese teenagers and kids usually go to a Plus Size Shop.

The impact of obesity in teenagers should not be underestimated since adolescence is the time when a child creates a personal identity and develops his self-worth. Not being able to fit in a world obsessed with THIN is difficult and can injure a child’s self-esteem leading to depression. Aside from this, being obese can also cause numerous medical problems such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and gall bladder disease.

The causes of obesity in children are combinations of several factors such as poor eating habits, genetic make-up or even ethnicity. Not a lot of people know that obesity is common in African-Americans, American-Indians and Hispanic. It is more common in girls than in boys.

Studies show that children who are obese are not necessarily overeaters. More often than not, they just eat too much of the bad stuff. Eating junks foods and drinking soft drinks everyday can lead to weight gain. Many health organizations are now pointing finger on TV watching and playing video games as major contributors to obesity. Children who are glued to the TV for hours while munching high calorie foods are most likely to be obese. Also, children who are addicted to video games have less time for exercise.

Most overweight children need medical help. For parents who have overweight children should seek the help of a doctor so that careful evaluation of their children’s health can be done. This assessment should be able to tell if the child really needs to lose the excess weight or gain weight slowly so he can grow into it.

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Infants

Bottle decay happens when milk stays in contact with your baby’s teeth for long periods of time. To prevent this from happening, place water only in your baby’s bottle during bedtime. Clean your baby’s gums with a wet cloth to remove the plaques.

When the very first tooth erupts, you can already start brushing your baby’s tooth using a soft infant toothbrush.

If your baby is uncomfortable because of teething pains, try to rub his gums with your finger or with clean wet gauze. If pain and discomfort persist, call his pediatrician.

Most parents believe that fever is normal when their babies are teething. But this is not true according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). If your baby has fever and he is teething, call his doctor.

Your baby’s first dental visit should be scheduled right after his first birthday. His dentist may recommend fluoride supplements especially if your child does not drink fluorinated water.

Ages 1 to 5

Your child’s thumb sucking usually goes away by age 2. If it continues past the age of 4, it may hinder dental development. Talking to his doctor about this is important.

Educate your child about teeth-friendly foods and snacks. Choose foods that do not promote tooth decay.

You can start flossing your kids’ teeth after all the primary teeth have erupted. This is approximately at 2 ½ years of age.

Toddlers and preschoolers can already be taught on proper tooth brushing. Make the activity fun as much as possible like singing a song with him while brushing. Make sure that he uses a small amount of toothpaste and that he’ll learn how to spit and not swallow.

Ages 6 to 12

The initial permanent molars appear between the ages 5 and 6. These molars should last a lifetime so make sure your kids take good care of them. The same permanent molars give shape to the lower part of the face.

During his dental visits, his dentist may recommend that your child use an over-the-counter fluoride mouth rinse. Instruct your child on how to use this type of rinse and supervise when needed.

By age 7, your child should be able to brush alone. Flossing on his own may be difficult at this time but come the age of 8, he should be able to use the floss more effectively with minimal supervision.

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A new research done at the University of Yale shows that persons who take antihistamines are more likely to gain excess weight and be obese than those who don’t. The study involves the observation of the body weight of 268 antihistamine takers. 45% of the total no of users were found overweight.  All in all, taking anti-allergies increases the risk of being obese or overweight.

The researchers however pointed out that, antihistamines don’t necessarily cause weight gain. It can also be that having allergies makes a person vulnerable to weight gain.

A more in depth explanation is that, our brain has antihistamine receptors. These receptors play a vital role in a person’s appetite and metabolism. People taking antihistamines maybe eating more and have a slowed down metabolism. And weight gain is, unfortunately, the unhappy end result.

Besides antihistamines, there are other medications that can cause gradual weight gain. These are anti-seizures, antidepressants, insulin, steroids and beta blockers. The weight gain can be gradual that some people may not even know why they are gaining weight and worse, it can be difficult to take the added pounds off.

For these reasons, many people ask if there are alternatives to antihistamines in treating allergies that do not cause weight gain. If you’re one of the people who experience weight gain from taking antihistamines, you can consult your doctor. He may advice you to use a steroid based nasal spray. This is quite effective in treating allergic rhinitis and it does not cause weight gain. Also, there are antihistamine eye drops that you can use for itchiness. Since it is not absorbed systematically to a significant degree, it will not cause weight gain.

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