Recently, the New York Times posted an excellent article on non-drug approaches to treat insomnia http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/…. The article highlights recent experimental evidence that suggests that Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) works as well or better than medications. They also provide a few handy tips on how to improve sleep.

CBT entails first learning about one’s sleep habits, including documenting times to bed, wake up times, sleep quality, use of medications, napping, daytime fatigue, the presence of stress, anxiety, and other factors. The treatment then teaches new ways to approach sleep, managing wake ups and difficulty falling asleep, incorporating relaxation techniques, and stress management. Research suggests that about 70 - 80% of patients who undergo CBT for Insomnia report sleeping better after treatment.

Behavioral Healthcare Associates, LLC has experienced clinicians who have training and research experience in providing Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia.

Winter is here, and as much as I like the snow and the holiday season, it can take a serious toll on your skin.

This is the time to really take extra special care of your face and the rest of your skin! The cold winter air has a way of sucking the moisture right out of our skin and drying it out and on top of that you go inside to get out of the cold and into indoor heating which is winter’s most vicious-skin drying scoundrel. Which is why your skin looses that “natural glow” and instead appears chapped, dry and feels tight.

Don’t despair, there are a few tips to keeping your skin hydrated (whether your skin type is normal, dry, combination or oily).

- Keep hydrated, by drinking your 8 glasses of water a day.

- Remember that even though it is winter, you still need SPF. The rays are still shining through and the reflection off of beautiful white snow will get you.

- A humidifier can help put moisture in the air (which your skin will suck right up), and it you won’t feel as dry or itchy. You can find inexpensive ones out there.

- Use Lip Balm at all times and make sure to read the ingredients many of them contain a small percentage of alcohol, which only dries out your lips and does not keep them from getting chapped!

- Of course a good moisturizer for your face for day and night. Your day moisturizer can contain sunscreen to take care of both, or apply them separately. Your evening moisturizer should be applied before bed, and while you are sleeping your face will be replenishing itself.

If you are not sure what products are good for you, or what is going to fix your specific needs, then you can contact me for a free consultation where we touch, smell and test all of the products, so that you get exactly what you want and need.

And as always “How old you are is your business, How good you look is Mine.”

Tracie Rosales- Mary Kay - tracie.mkpink@gmail.com

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to provide leadership in the prevention control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.The Arthritis Foundation has three major functions; discovering answers thru research, change behaviors by helping patients in finding the right care and reduce pain, and influence government thru public policy. 

If you want to help the Foundation and those who fight arthritis everyday, then walk with us this spring.

The Arthritis Walk^® is the Arthritis Foundation’s annual nationwide event that raises awareness and funds to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. It is a tremendous opportunity to help improve the lives of the 46 million men, women and children doctor-diagnosed with arthritis. Get your company involved or recruit friends and family members to form a team. Best of all, walk in honor of a loved one with arthritis and know you’re making a difference by raising funds to support Arthritis Foundation research, public health and public policy efforts to improve the lives of people with arthritis.

At the Event…

• Choose from a three-mile or one-mile walk route
• Write an inspirational message on the Wall of Heroes
• Wear a blue “hero” hat if you have arthritis
• Enjoy the fun, festivities and free health information

Register Today

Register online today! 

The Loudoun County Walk is going to be on May 31, 2008. 

Here is an article that falls a little short on health care. It briefly states the obvious and then opens up to comments (hmm…kind of like this site). The most entertaining part is reading some of the comments after the article. They range from the ridiculous to the pitiful, but neither the article NOR the comments specifically address the real problems:

1) Most health insurance (companies and plans) is not chosen or negotiated by the end user.
2) The average deductible in the U.S. is $500.

That’s it. End of story. You solve that, you solve about half the problem. And until you solve that it’s IMPOSSIBLE to solve the other half of the problem. Is this an easy problem to solve? It is for the consumer if you live in the right state (about 45 out of the 50). It’s not if you don’t.

My personal advise until the “Gubment” decides to solve all of our problems:

Take control of your health, and take control of your health insurance. Get underwritten while you’re healthy, and stay healthy.

This is a great illustration, and I would even argue the BEST illustration–brought to my attention by my good friend, JohnnyB–of what’s wrong with the current Health Care System, how it got there, and who’s actually (shockingly enough) coming up with the most radical (and arguably the most logical) approaches to solving said system. My favorite excerpt:

…[E]verything people dislike about our system results from the tax break for employer coverage. It makes costs rise, since people are less careful when they’re not paying out of pocket. It means people often lose their insurance when they switch jobs. And it keeps a lot of people–those who don’t have employers who provide coverage–from having much access to health insurance.

It’s always amazing to me how so many want us to learn from our past and figure out the “how did we get here” when discussing public policy…except for Health Care for some reason. In the case of a flawed public (tax) policy towards Health Care, many instead want to look outward and say: “Hey everyone else is doing it this other way.”

It’s really very simple: We do not have a true market-driven system if the end-user, the consumer, is not involved in the decision-making process. As soon as we give that a try, we’ll see if an ACTUAL market-driven system works.

The lesson to take from this? Everyone needs to figure out a way to write off their individual Health Insurance. Start a business, somehow, sell Amway if you have to, start a non-profit, whatever it takes, but don’t depend on your employer for your Health Insurance, and don’t let 60-year-old tragically flawed tax policies keep you from managing your own health costs and risks.

AND DO THIS WHILE YOU’RE HEALTHY, so that you NEVER have to make a job decision based on benefits.

If you have questions about taxes, call Earl, if it’s the Health Insurance you’re looking for, well you know by now who to call.

Just got through watching a video clip of the candidate’s forum a couple of weeks ago through the chamber.  One of the panelists asked a question about how local Supervisors could help with small businesses offering health insurance.   A few of the candidates (half) suggested the chamber (or someone) should sponsor forming a group for offering health insurance to  small businesses as a part of their membership.

I’m sorry, but “pooling” is not the answer…it’s actually more accurate to say that it’s the problem.  It’s a short-term fix at best and dangerous at worst.  Actually any sort of group coverage is only advantageous for those who have fairly serious health problems, and can sometimes be disastrous for someone who’s healthy when they sign up, but not-so-healthy when they leave their job.

Many of the panelists (candidates) were business owners themselves and stressed how health insurance was their biggest line item.  But only ONE…ONE (Mark Allbright) pointed out the obvious:  that the real secret was not to find a big pool, for more “bargaining power” (which doesn’t really exist-by the way), but to stay educated on new options, and keep your employees educated on how to best use their coverage so as not to make the rates go through the roof year after year.

Mr. Clem mentioned he was paying $2500/mo for TWO families’ health insurance.  Having no idea how healthy these families are, there is a good chance that not only is this exorbitant cost a waste of his money, but a waste of his employees’ money as well.

The real solution?  Call your agent (that’s me) and get on a plan that:

• Takes real advantage of current tax laws.
• Puts the reins of cost controls in the hands of the insured (not the insurance company OR employer).
• Has benefit structures that most insulate premiums from substantial increases.

And (using the service providers in the GCF Network–of course) educate yourselves and your employees on how to live healthy, stay healthy, and keep costs low by being healthy.

“While often referred to as if it were a single disease, arthritis is actually an umbrella term used for a group of more than 100 medical conditions that collectively affect nearly 46 million adults and 300,000 children in America alone.”(Arthritis Foundation) The most common forms of arthritis and the most well-know are Rheumatoid (RA), Osteo-Arthritis (OA) and Juvenile-Rheumatoid Arthritis(JRA), which is what children with arthritis suffer from.  Although many of us know about these diseases the cause is still unknown and there is no cure. With so many people suffering young and old, the Arthritis Foundation has put together an event to help fight this horrible disease.

…and what can it do for you?

Thermography, also known as digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI), is a totally non-invasive clinical imaging procedure that detects thermal differences within the body, which may indicate the presence of disease or physical injury. It can be used as an aid, in conjunction with other diagnostic tools, for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as monitoring therapy progress, for conditions and injuries, including: back injuries, arthritis, headache, nerve damage, unexplained pain, fibromyalgia, RSD (CRPS), dental problems and TMJ, artery inflammation, heart disease, vascular disease, breast disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, disc disease, inflammatory pain, skin cancer, referred pain syndrome, sprains and strains, stroke screening, whiplash, digestive disorders and many more diseases and dysfunctions in the body.

Images, known as thermograms, can be taken of the whole body or just specific areas, such as a breast scan or a half body scan that scans for disease in all the major organs of the body. (more…)

The 10th Annual Hike with Hope is this Saturday!

Friends of Loudoun Mental Health has been supporting folks who struggle with mental health problems – since 1955. That’s their mission: to raise money and provide direct financial aid for Loudoun programs that clearly empower people to get healthier through recovery.

You can help!

How? Come hike with us and/or give tax deductible dollars, and/or get sponsors to pay
you to take our 5- mile hike. We need your energy and happy spirit.

Where? We begin at Fox Ridge Park in Leesburg, move west along the W & OD bike trail 2.5 miles to a marked point on the trail, then turn around and come back. Food provided by Red Hot & Blue. We supply water. Please check in at the pavilion.

When? October 27, 2007. Activities start at 12:30 - the hike is from 1-3 pm.

Why? Because we are a “goosey group of caring folks” that believe in our community. This is just one way of “helping our neighbors.” Come Hike with us!

What? We Hike Rain or Shine! Prepare yourself for the adventure!

For information, email Amber Ernst at
arernst@loudounfriends.org
or call (202) 351-8612,
or Judy Hines at (703) 443-0524.
www.loudounfriends.org

Their website is being renovated, but here’s the full flyer on PDF, complete with a donor form.

PLUS, their mascot is a goose…I think. So how can you beat that?

http://nymag.com/news/sports/38001/

Still think exercise and activity burn fat? Still think more is better? This article will show you why that is not necessarily true and probably the biggest misconception when it comes to exercise’s role in fat loss. The truth is, exercise is a weak weapon for fat loss, but crucial that it be done during the process of fat loss. The supposed authorities on exercise are touting ever more activity, but that’s only in hopes the public will do anything. Realistically all it takes is a couple of hard workout sessions (20-30minutes at most) per week and good calorie control while not working out. To understand this further or to find out how you can lose fat efficiently without endless physical activity, contact me at SuperSlow Zone 703-421-1200.