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When one thinks of acupuncture, what are some of the images that typically come to mind? Instantly, though, a picture of a black kettle pot with a bunch of concoctions and needles should come to mind. On the other hand, acupuncture therapy does not have to concoct such awful images in one's head. However, if you have ever thought about the possibility that acupuncture may be able to replace Western medicine you are sorely mistaken. On the other hand, there are some important distinctions between the two fundamental ideas of medicine, and in this article the idea of acupuncture will go head to head in an effort to compete against Western medicine.

Stomach weight is associated with making the arteries age. Your arteries supply blood through out your whole system and if these become blocked it can cause many problems for you. Obesity can lead to a heart attack, memory loss, the skin will wrinkle and strokes can occur too, which is all caused from the blocked arteries. Your diet plays an important role in helping to keep these arteries clear. You need to include a certain amount of goods fats in you diet if nothing else eating nuts for a snack. 

Keeping the mind busy and enjoying activity helps the brain and it will help prevent depression, anxiety and stress. Everyone seems to get these three things as we age because we slow down and don’t get out enough. It is very important to be with people and get that exercise to keep your mind from thinking and worrying so much.

Medical practitioners of the Orient are know to incorporate natural healing methods with alternative herbal medicines. Instead of undergoing expensive medical treatment using synthetic and modern technologies, many find the natural method along with alternative herbal medicine a cost-effective solution to achieve the perfect health.

The belief of natural healing involves the use of 100% natural techniques and ingredients to promote better health. Synthetic medicines and modern medical technology are known to have side-effects that may prove to be fatal if not properly administered or performed.

As smokers, little attention is paid to the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes or chose to ignore them. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals with at least 400 poisonous and more than 50, cancer-causing ones.

Nicotine
Nicotine is a strong poisonous and addictive drug.

Tar
Tar is a black and sticky residue used to cover road surfaces. It clogs up the lungs and causes lung cancer.

When trying to decide any educational course for a higher educational goal, there are always important issues that one must take up with the school ever before setting foot in the door. Questions like what the university teaches, what courses and majors are offered, as well as what other types of training are taught in the school setting. The same questions can be said for acupuncture schools, though, as there are many different schools all across the United States and the world that have many different methods of teaching acupuncture courses, as well as methods about how it originated.

One important thing to remember when trying to choose a school to learn acupuncture in is where the professors are from and where they started out at. Many professors that teach acupuncture courses in university and college settings may not have the depth required for some people who are generally interested in learning more about the acupuncture method. For example, one of the reasons that I would choose an acupuncture school is if the professors who are teaching the course actually studied under the Chinese culture and a Chinese teacher who knew all the different facets, ins and outs, as well as the benefits and downsides to the method of acupuncture. For some people the issue of authenticity is truly important and acupuncture schools and professors vary greatly across the board when it comes to this issue.

Ever since shiatsu massage therapy was brought into the healthcare market, many people has been benefiting from it. It is now popular worldwide and if you are reading this, you are probably interested to try it too. Why not? But first, let's see how shiatsu will benefit you.

Health Philosophy

Shiatsu adheres to the philosophy that in order to have healthy benefits, the vital energy, 'qi' for Chinese people and 'ki' for Japanese people, should flow the entire body through its meridians, which are the series of pathways. Other oriental health massage or therapy practices, like the acupuncture, also use these meridians principle likewise believing that these can be blocked once energy is not allowed to flow freely, subsequently producing symptoms of some diseases.

Alternative herbal medicine offers a healthy solution for a total body makeover. You don’t have to dish out thousands of dollars a month just to keep your body in top shape. It's true that there are plenty of high-end medical equipments and synthetic drugs made by pharmaceutical companies to help you fight health-related problems, but the cost of the treatment and side-effects might prove to be a hindrance to you rather than a benefit.

Healthy Facts About Herbal Medicines

As the name suggest, herbal medicines are made from plants. There are certain plants that contain chemicals and extracts that is highly beneficial to the human body. Herbal products sold in health and fitness shops today uses only 100% natural ingredients to fight certain health conditions. The aim of this natural healing method is to boost the body's immune system to fight off ailments naturally, rather than subject your body to synthetic chemicals that might prove harmful to your health.

You can be diagnosed with pre-diabetes before you actually get diabetes. In pre-diabetes
you have higher than normal blood sugars but they are not at the level that they would
need to be in order to be considered diabetic. If you are obese or severely overweight and
pre-diabetic there are steps you can take to put off the actual diagnosis of diabetes or
prevent it.

The same test is used for pre-diabetes as it is for diabetes. Once you find out that you
have pre-diabetes you can make a plan with your doctor to prevent the onset of the
disease. By losing weight and either adding or increasing your level of physical activity
you can delay diabetes for quite sometime. There have been people who have gone on to
maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise and have remained in the pre-
diabetic phase for their lives.

If you are not able to get down to your goal weight, just losing a small amount can be
beneficial. It takes an additional strain off of your body by lessening the need of the
amount of insulin that is produced. There are many other benefits that you will also get
by reducing your body weight including increased energy and cardiovascular health.

Most times, doctors do not test for diabetes unless there are risk factors present including
age (over 45 years old). But if you are considered obese, your doctor will probably order
the appropriate glucose test each year at your physical examination to check for pre-
diabetes and diabetes.

Although there is no permanent or real cure to Down syndrome, you can certainly find ways to alleviate the various symptoms. Several individuals have successfully coped with the effects of the problem by simply living healthier lifestyles and finding the right alternatives. You do not need to shell out much and can continue to live fairly normal lives.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an effective way to treat Down syndrome among children, especially for symptoms that arise later in life. At this time, basic skills have already been practised so there are many levels of severity in the symptoms. Consulting a physical therapist early on can help determine if the person can start a physical therapy program. The program can help individuals cope by learning how to do basic moves and actions like sitting, walking and standing. Children with Down syndrome actually walk and do things later compared to other kids. Special practice is required for kids to learn how to jump, climb, sit and roll over.

The Role of the Physical Therapist

The physical therapist can design programs that will help children specifically address problems like sitting up, holding the head up straight and rolling over. The problems may show that the patient has a weak upper spine or need special treatment like surgery or the like to help support the neck muscles. Physical therapy offers advantages such as improving strength, flexibility and endurance.

Refining skills are also needed by Down syndrome kids, so a physical therapist can still help patients learn how to stand properly, sit properly, correct posture and walk well. Some of the other associated problems to be fixed include back pain, knee problems and twisted legs. Habits, stances and techniques can be relearned too.

Things to Address

Newborns have concerns to be addressed and treated such as provision of adequate emotional support and knowing more information regarding the syndrome. Infants have to be protected against infections and colds. Therapies, without the inclusion of drugs, should be considered for safety. During early childhood, there are developmental milestones that need to be reached. Although it is expected for patients not to attain these, some supportive measures like diet and exercise, prevention of common sicknesses, improvement in behavior and development of social skills can greatly help.

During the middle and late childhood stages, parents should help kids gain more independence, develop social skills, as well as enhance the ability to learn. Adolescent and young adult patients have to deal with the smooth transition into adulthood. Planning is essential, so that the child can deal with the different challenges that come with age. Sexuality and relationship issues also need to be addressed.

Other Things to Treat

The patient needs to see a registered dietitian to prescribe the right meal plans and other nutritional strategies that will effectively treat weight problems. Make sure the Down syndrome patient gets enough exercise and recognizes the importance of physical activity. Depression also needs to be treated as soon as noticed.

A licensed therapist and guidance counselor can help develop programs and other strategies such as talk therapy and occupational therapy that will help the patient express and provide outlets for internal issues. Management techniques will also be taught. As a last resort, medications may also be prescribed to help control mental symptoms and aid patients recover faster.

Whether you are new to finding out about acupuncture or you are a professional in the field, chances are that you've always loved to learn about new therapies and training techniques. In the American society, acupuncture is one therapy that has recently been introduced and has been made more popular by a whole lot of people. On the other hand, the Chinese civilizations have long known about acupuncture and its effectiveness on the body. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though, and there is plenty more to learn about the age-old therapy of acupuncture.

Question 1: Will Acupuncture Work for Any and All Ailments?

Answer 1: There are many people who believe that Acupuncture will work for any and all ailments, but there are probably some diseases and ailments that just simply are not cured by acupuncture. For starters, little research has been done to see whether or not the acupuncture therapy will work for those who are suffering from HIV and AIDS. Other than those two diseases, though, there are probably hundreds of other common ailments that aren't cured by the age-old technique, too. In addition, it's not possible that every single disease and ailment could be studied by the therapy of acupuncture, so there are just some cases and diseases that are not known whether or not acupuncture is successful!

Question 2: Will Acupuncture Prevent any Illnesses?

Answer 2: The Chinese believe that the pressure points along the body are the ones that are responsible for most of the bodily pain that we feel. In believing this, though, the theory would also have to go by the fact that by practicing acupuncture then there are naturally going to be some illnesses that are automatically avoided? Of course, avoiding these types of illnesses usually requires strict adherence and practice of acupuncture almost daily, if not just regularly in an attempt to foster preventive care within the body.

Question 3: Why Did Acupuncture Originate?

There are many theories as to the reason of when acupuncture originated and how it came to be in the United States, among many other countries, but not many discussions shed light on the matter of why this therapy came to be. Most likely, however, the absence of any types of medications in the ancient Chinese civilizations brought about a yearning for a medical therapy that would work for almost any disease, illness, or ailment that humans felt. Even though this therapy is not scientifically based, there is still much to be learned from the therapy that Chinese cultures have relied heavily upon for so many years.

These are just some of the questions and mysteries surrounding the practice of acupuncture. There are plenty of acupuncture professional therapists around the world, especially in the Chinese culture, which will also help answer any other questions that one may have. In the end, though, it comes down to the real benefit of acupuncture which should lead people to their trust in this therapy that has come all the way around the world!

The modern martial art from Japan called Aikido is often referred to as the "art of peace" because it espouses a quick peaceful end to any form of aggression. In the practice place of Aikido, usually called dojo, students will be able to learn about flexibility and adaptation. Both of these are results of a relaxed manner that Aikido students strive to embody.

The reason why being relaxed and calm is taught in Aikido practice is because at the heart of its principles of spirituality and philosophy, Aikido masters and instructors believe that the ki or ch'i or energy can only truly flow in its complete potential energy when one is relaxed. It is in this relaxed state that ki flows freely and smoothly. This philosophy that ki is a force that is very strong and fundamental.

It is believed to be superior to muscle and physical strength, which sometimes hinders the ki. In fact, in Aikido, instead of muscle and strength building, flexibility and endurance is part of the Aikido martial art training. Now, it said that to be able to truly harness the power of the ki, it must be allowed to flow. It can only flow properly within us when we are in a relaxed state. The relaxed state cannot be built like muscles through exercise. A spiritual journey must be taken upon by an Aikido student to be able to achieve the state of calm and peace that is vital in combat.

In constant defense and fear, we tend to be too busy to concentrate and are easily distracted. Aikido stresses this fact and so it teaches its students to remain calm in the face of an assault. Remaining calm puts an advantage over the assailant because you will not be caught of guard and unaware and therefore will not be toppled over or thrown. More advanced techniques teach students not only to fall properly, but also to be able to rebound and plant a counter attack as one rises from a fall.

Beyond combat and the dojo however, Aikido masters and instructors cultivate the development of spirituality and character within Aikido students so that they can apply Aikido principles everyday in life. True understanding of Aikido simultaneously promotes better performance in practice combats as well as in performance in everyday life.

Aikido everyday in life is akin to having an unshakable peace and calm that enables you to have the strength needed to withstand even the toughest of life's challenges. Remember that Aikido teaches students about flexibility, adaptability, calm and clarity. All these are useful tools in dealing with life, so say Aikido practitioners.

Some Aikido martial artists tend to relate Aikido combat principles to everyday life like work, play and personal relationships. This results in a true oneness in the practice of Aikido everyday in life. In Aikido training, there is such a thing as uke and nage. One cannot exist without the other. Uke makes an assault on nage and consequently is the receiver of the Aikido technique which nage uses to neutralize uke's attack energy with. In training using uke and nage, one will be able to get better in Aikido techniques by learning from each other and gaining each others strengths and battling each others weaknesses together.

If this is something that you want to cultivate in your life then Aikido everyday in life is something that you might want to take up and learn.

Alternative herbal medicines are being used by many in today's societies to promote a healthy lifestyle. Despite the availability of modern medical treatment methods, many are still opting for the natural healing method to avoid side-effects and getting as much savings as possible from the treatment.

In most cases, herbal products today vary according to their formulation and functions. Most of the ones you see today are carefully formulated for weight loss. Some comes in the form of diet supplements to give the body enough energy to last the day, as well as to build up the immune system to ward of any signs of ailments easily.

Why Go For Herbal Medicines?

Herbal medicines are proven to be safe by many doctors and medical experts today. It is formulated with 100% natural ingredients that have no side-effects in the body unless taken in large doses outside the boundaries of the prescription. Since the ingredients are mostly from plant and animal extracts, they are cheaper compared to synthetic medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies today.

One of the advantages of using herbal medicine is that it promotes the natural healing method. Unlike synthetic drugs that only affect a specific part of our body or only address one type of health problem, herbal medicines are formulated to boost every single function in the human anatomy.

If you see that one herbal product is for weight loss, then you can be sure that it has some extra ingredients that has other functions that is related to weight loss -- like hunger suppressant, added nutrients, and so on. To add to your knowledge about herbal medicines, here are some examples of the famous ones being used today.

The Ever-Popular Garlic

Garlic is one of the most potent herbal medicines used as home remedies today. It has the most number of uses compared to other plants used in herbal products. Aside from being a useful kitchen spice for a great recipe, garlic can also be used to keep you heart and liver healthy. They are great for the common cold and offer a tasty brew when used as a health drink.

One of the medicinal qualities of Garlic is its ability to treat heart problems. It is a common remedy for people with high-blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of heart attacks. Many also use garlic as an anti-bacterial agent for many skin conditions.

Green Tea Leaves

The Green Tea Leaves you see in the market today is actually a potent herbal medicine if used correctly. Drinking it at least twice a day can help oxidize your fat to make it easier for your body to burn. This a great dietary supplement for people who are suffering from overweight or obesity with high cholesterol levels.

Many say that Green Tea Leaves also has a calming effect that is perfect for those who are always under the mercy of stress. Its extracts has the ability to get rid of nasty toxins in our body that usually cause signs of aging to appear on our face or in other parts of the body. You can either take them as tea or buy them as pills.

There are other alternative herbal medicines used to promote a healthy body. Keep in mind that you have to be specific with what you want for your treatment before using them to avoid complications. Just make sure that it is from a credible medical or pharmaceutical company, as well as follow the exact prescription or dosage to ensure that you won't be having any problems with it during and after use.

It is always a good thing to have friends, which you can socialize with. There are so many good things about being around people. It is difficult living alone without someone there to lend you an ear when needed. Unfortunately, we live in a world filled with consume souls, which rarely take the time to share and listen to others. Still, you can find someone in the billions of people in the world who will listen. When you are alone you, feel lonely. At this time your body and mind endures unwarranted stress from lack of socialization. Experts tell us all the time to get out and enjoy life, since withering away, locked behind the walls of your home will affect your health.


What problems can non-socializing cause?
Non-socialization can affect your mind and body. Usually a person who refuses to socialize will sit around dawdling in self-pity. The mind starts to stress out, which leads to depression. While you may enjoy being alone away from stressful relationships, you need balance since sometimes you need company. You need to be active so you stay healthy you need to socialize with people like you need the sunshine. With out socialism you will feel tried and sick all the time.

Why is socializing good for me?
Socializing is good for you, since it gets you out to meet other people. As well, you keep active, which great for building and strengthening the bones, joints and muscles. Studies were conducted with proven results stating that those who stay active can live to healthy aging.


What can I do to meet more people?
There are many ways to meet people. You can visit your local stores and meet new people. Taking a walk is a great way to say hi to passer-bys. You never know you might find a friend for life. Maybe you would like to go to a local church. Church is a great way to meet people. Perhaps you can get involved with church groups and join in group activities. Give your time to a local shelter for people in need that would be a wonderful way to meet people. Maybe at your place of place of employment, you can become familiar with one of your fellow workers. Getting out to enjoy the world is a great way to live a healthy aging life. If you just sit home, you are waiting for something to happen. You are missing all the things the world has to offer you.

When you sit home, alone your health will slowly fade away. At what time your health diminishes you will feel sickly. You have to get out and enjoy life this way you will stay healthier and enjoy life to the fullest. Staying active will make you happy and you will have more of a healthier life.

One thing you want to keep in mind, as you age your bodily functions start to change. You will notice these changes.


One of the first things that start to decline is the musculoskeletal system. This system is designed to give you strength and energy. When this system starts to degenerate, you have less time to spend in the world. To keep the system healthy one must exercise, eat right and socialize.

When you socialize, activities will follow. As you see socialism provides you a means to carry forward in life without weakening the musculoskeletal system, more than aging alone will cause it to degenerate.

You have options. On this note, take action now to live your healthy aging life with success following your every path.

Although the signs and symptoms of Down syndrome are very distinct, there are still others that might confuse both doctors and patients. Knowing the characteristics, nature and triggers can be very valuable for finding immediate alleviation measures. You can also avoid complications by checking for the early signs. Here are the complete details.

Incidence and Age

About 1 out of every 1,000 births in the United States results in Down syndrome. There is no link between the condition and ethnic group, socioeconomic status, geographic location and culture. It is a genetic condition primarily, and can display characteristics like cognitive disability, developmental delays and mental retardation. The chances of a person getting Down syndrome is greatly related to the age of his or her mother. Below the age of 25, the incidence is around 1 in every 1,400. At 40 years old, the odds are an estimated 1 in every 100 and about 1 in every 350 at age 35.

Down Syndrome Types

There are 3 types of the condition namely Trisomy 21, Mosaicism and Translocation. Trisomy 21 is the first type which occurs in about 95 percent of individuals with Down syndrome. The patient 3 number 21 chromosomes, instead of 2. There are normally 23 pairs of chromosomes, with each comprised of genes. During conception, the man or woman's pair of chromosomes usually split so that there is only one chromosome found in each sperm or egg. In Trisomy 21, the 21st pair of chromosomes does not split. A double-does then goes to the sperm or egg. About 95% to 97% of the extra chromosome comes from the mother.

Mosaicism is described as a Down syndrome patient having an extra 21st chromosome in only a number of cells, but not in every single one. Other cells usually have the regular pair of 21st chromosomes. The Mosaicism type is the rarest, with only 1% to 2% of patients having it. Translocation happens in about 3% to 4% of Down syndrome patients. The extra part of the 21st chromosome usually attaches to another chromosome. One parent has the extra 21st chromosome material in hidden or balanced form.

The 24 Symptoms

The list of signs and symptoms of Down syndrome includes physical anomalies such as a protruding tongue, abnormally shaped ears, flattened face, snub nose, upward slanting eyes, short neck, flattened nasal bridge, deep palm crease, hypotonia, deep transverse crease of the palm, iris white spots or Brushfield spots, the baby not crying a lot, short stubby hands, short stubby feet and slow physical growth. Thyroid symptoms include autonomic disturbances, congenital hypothyroidism and an enlarged thyroid. The patient may also have mental retardation and developmental delay.

Other Conditions

Children may also develop other medical conditions associated to Down syndrome like cognitive disability or mental retardation. Several kids with Down syndrome have either moderate or mild cognitive disability. Heart defects may also arise in about half of kids with Down syndrome. The defects are found at birth or shortly after.

Other diseases can also be present like Celiac disease, eye conditions and hypothyroidism. Parents should be especially careful, since other health problems can also occur like hearing problems, eye infections, dental problems and respiratory infections. Tissue buildup in parts of the eye can happen. Crooked teeth may also be present later on in life, with an irregularly shaped mouth.

There are thousands of individuals who are inflicted with physical and mental ailments and many people are diagnosed with these problems every year. What is troubling, though, is the fact that many times these patients are simply given prescription medications to treat the symptoms that they have as though prescription drugs are the miracle workers of society prancing around giving help to anyone who needs it. However, one method that many people don't give weight to is acupuncture. There are many reasons that even the mention of the alternative therapy of acupuncture may make heads turn, but it seems as though Western society is becoming too dependent as a whole on prescription medications. Everything from Zoloft to Xanax is given to patients in order to treat everything from Major Depression to common viral infections.

However, there needs to be more studies done about the effectiveness of the therapy of acupuncture and how it would eventually be able to help, if not replace, prescription drugs altogether. Just about 10 years ago, though, in 1998, the University of Arizona completed a double-blind study about the effectiveness of acupuncture.

In this study, patients who were suffering from Depression were treated with acupuncture while the other group was subjected to bouts of psychotherapy and prescription medication. In the end of the study by the university, they found that the patients who were inflicted with Depression had most of their symptoms relieved by the therapy of acupuncture. There have been other private studies done since then, however, none large enough that really attracted any authorities in the medical field. But still, the fact that the research at the University of Arizona pointed in the favor of acupuncture, it begs the question of why nothing has been done about it.

Since it has been shown that acupuncture can successfully treat Depression symptoms then there must definitely be more fund money and research that sheds light on the fact and reaches the conclusion that America and Western society must incorporate the therapy of acupuncture more wholly into the treatment of different ailments.

One of the problems with replacing prescription drugs with acupuncture, though, is the fact that prescription drugs are scientifically based. Whereas the effects of prescription drugs can clearly be seen by monitoring the pictures in patient's brain, acupuncture can not be readily studied, therefore, the physiological affects of such a therapy is not readily embraced. But why does Western society and America in general have a fear of the unknown? Perhaps the reason lies that many people consider their wealth to lie in the information and knowledge that they know.

All in all, though, acupuncture has already been proven to be effective by the thousands of people living in America and Western society who care to learn more about the therapy. It is now time to infiltrate the medical field and bombard all the researchers and physicians with accurate pictures of just how it works, and how it can be an effective way to get rid of the need for prescription drugs!

People do not realize what vitamins can do for them. Vitamins are great for those who need them. On the other hand, if you have sufficient vitamins, then you will not need regimens of vitamins. Building vitamins in your system, which has too much already, or sufficient nutrients can cause harm. Vitamins will make you look younger and feel younger as well as make you feel good about yourself, providing you need regimens suited for your system.

How do I learn what vitamins are good for me?
We get natural vitamins in the foods we eat. Some times, you do not get the right amount so you have to take vitamins, which come in many ways. You can get them in a pill form, liquid, powder, etc. If the vitamins you choose do not work for you, your doctor can give you a shot. You can get almost all the vitamins you may need at local drug stores. You will find vitamins at supermarkets, department stores and so on. If you cannot determine which vitamins are right for you, check with your doctor. He may have some recommendations. In fact, you should visit your family doctor first and ask him/her, which vitamins may be suitable for your body type.

How vitamins help you:
Taking vitamins will help you to relieve stress. Vitamins will help control your weight, and help keep you from getting sick with the common cold and the flu. There are many vitamins to help you out. You can check out at your local pharmacy many different kinds. You pharmacist is your best friend as well as your doctor. He/she may be able to help you find out which vitamins are best suited for your body type.

What kinds of vitamins should I consider and for what purpose?
You have a wide array of vitamins to choose from, including B1, B12, B6, E, D, K, A, and so on. B1 is designed to help your heart function in order. The vitamin will assist your central nervous system as well, helping you to have a better attitude in life. B1 will give you energy, since it is known to swap blood sugar, transferring it to energy. B1 promotes a healthy mucous membrane, and will promote the muscular and cardio functions.

How to decide if you need vitamins:
Some things that you may feel if you are low on vitamins are fatigue. You may feel muscle tenderness, or experience insomnia. Insomnia can benefit from Melatonin supplements. You can get natural vitamins from corn breads, nuts, oatmeal, cereal, wheat and so on. Eat plenty of veggies and fruits also to get the vitamins you need.

If you have colds, you can benefit from Vitamin C. If you are searching for anti-aging vitamins consider E, since According to experts, Vitamin E is responsible for preserving oxygen in the blood, reduce more than 40% of the oxygen amount the heart needs as well. Vitamin E also has been linked to influential anti-coagulants. Some experts believe the vitamin will slow blood clotting by dilating the blood vessels. If you searching for the vitamin to help you stay young and healthy, then Vitamin E that contains 200 units is for you.

According to German experts Wolf and Luczak Vitamin E is a stabilizer for youth and strong blood. If this is true, then dying cells will be replaced quickly by new cells. Dying cells is responsible for many diseases, including cancer, AIDS, HIV, leukemia and so on. In fact, T-Cells that deteriorate is responsible for AIDS, certain types of cancers, herpes simplex, and so on.

Since the 19th centuries, common prolonged existence or longevity is greater than before. At one time, the average male expected to live up until the mid forties, while the average female expected to live until the late forties. This seems illogical, since many of our older generation of people born in the 1900s are still around today. As our system advanced, experts found that people were living beyond the 70 and 80s. The longevity has changed dramatically providing the people gain. Still, in recent times, men are expected to live over 80 and women are expected to live past 90. Rarely do you see someone who has lived past 100 years of age. According to experts, a person living past 125 years of age has the same odds of finding a needle in a large haystack. Most people can live past 90 however providing they have quality medical care and their hereditary makeup is healthy.

Many illnesses today emerge from poor eating habits, lack of exercise, poor sleeping habits, and bad habits such as excessive drinking, drugs, nicotine, etc. Still, some people are marked at the beginning since they have genetic makeup that poses threats to their health. According to experts, genetic makeup is responsible for some cases of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and so on. According to experts, genetics influences a person's longevity. If a person has a family history of disease, their risks are higher of coming in contract with the same or similar disease. In short, if a person has a high risk of genetic factors, the person will likely have a shorter living expectancy.

How do doctors consider longevity?
Doctors review family history to search for genetic factors that may show short or long life expectancy. If you have a history of diabetes, the doctor will take actions to reduce your risks, yet it may not help stop the disease. Doctors also consider your lifestyle. Do you smoke? Do you have an alcohol problem? Do you have drug problems? Do you have anorexia or bulimia? Do you exercise? If you answered no to each question, then likely you will live a longer and improved life. On the other hand, if you answered yes to these questions you can expect to live a shorter lifespan.

Doctors will also consider factors, such as environment when considering longevity. If you live in an area where toxins are high, likely you will have unnatural exposure to these toxins, which shortens your life. Even if your genetic makeup illustrates longevity, your environment plays part in how long you can live.

Doctors consider medical care. If you have a history of visiting your doctor often, then you will have a better chance at living healthy. Medical care is the process of reducing risks of disease, preventing disease and finding treatments for pending disease.

What you should know:
Did you know that some types of not all cancers are curable providing the disease is spotted early? Did you know that Alzheimer’s disease is curable if the disease is caught in the early stages? Did you know that most diseases are curable, providing the disease is caught at an early stage?

If you know this, you will see that medical care is essential to live healthy while aging. Since the 19th centuries, medical experts have come along way. In addition, the experts continue to find ways to help people live a longer life. Doctors took their roles in life because they care about your health (at least most) therefore listen to the considerations that doctors focus on to help you live a healthy aging life.

Although the main causative aspect for Down syndrome is genetic, a number of findings suggest that some other factors may also be contributory to the development of the abnormality. It is vital to know about these to stay safe. Early detection and consistency in the prevention and treatment approaches can help a lot in alleviating the problem.

About Types and Causes

Normal human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes. A chromosome in every pair stems from the father, while the other comes from the mother. There are 3 types of abnormal cell division that involves he 21st chromosome. The cause of Down syndrome is considered to be one of the three types. All three abnormal divisions lead to the extra genetic material from chromosome 21, which is functional for the unique features and developmental problems that is Down syndrome.

In the case of Trisomy 21, the condition is caused by abnormal cell division that occurs while the sperm cell or egg cell is still developing. Patients with trisomy 21 have 3 copies of the chromosome 21 instead of the regular 2. The Mosaic type is rare, caused by the abnormal cell division after fertilization. Kids in this case, have cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21. Translocation type has the regular 2 copies of the chromosome 21, as well as additional material from chromosome 21 attached to the chromosome being translocated. This occurs before or during conception. Environmental and behavioral factors are not known to cause Down syndrome.

On Inheritance

Majority of Down syndrome are actually not inherited. There are mistakes that occur during cell division as the egg, embryo or sperm develops. The translocation Down syndrome is the only type that can be passed from the parents to the kids. Only around 4% of Down syndrome patients have the translocation type. Around 50% of the cases are inherited from either parent. During the occurrences, the father or the mother is a balanced carrier of the translocation, meaning that he or she has a kind of rearranged genetic material, with no extra genetic material. A balanced carrier displays no sign or symptom of the condition, although the translocation can be passed on to the children.

The possibility of passing on the translocation type will depend on the gender of the parent that has the rearranged chromosome 21. There is a risk of around 3% if the father is the carrier. There is a 12% risk if the mother is the carrier.

On Maternal Age

Most cases of Down syndrome is caused by a random event during the formation of reproductive cells, the sperm or ovum. The incidence of Down syndrome actually grows as the mother grows older or with increasing maternal age. Not all parents with translocation trisomy 21 actually are balanced carriers. There may be zero risk in future pregnancies. As mothers grow older, the possibility of errors will grow as close as having a ratio of 1:12 when they reach 45 years old.

Increasing Risk

Several experts recommend that pregnant women age 35 years old or older should undergo prenatal tests and diagnostic procedures to find the possibility of Down syndrome. Using maternal age alone does not detect more than 75% of pregnancies that lead to Down syndrome. It is important that women consider their age as a factor to determine the cause of the problem.

The pharmacologic industry is one of the most promising and progressing business of the present. An increase in the awareness and focus of research and development on medicine has triggered a big push to drug manufacturing.

With the main driving force of improving the lives and promoting human longevity; researchers, scientists, and businessmen have jumped into the business of creating medications for the sick, as well as for those who want to prevent further illness.

The western civilization brought industrially prepared medicine, and sold at commercial markets while the eastern part of the globe saw the need for intervention of natural means of preparation through alternative herbal medicine.

East Meets West

It may very well be said that Western medicine is technologically advanced and came about with the notion of curing an existing illness. It is on the forefront of stopping and getting rid of a susceptible disease or complications.

As for Eastern medication, it is historically rooted and is based on centuries' worth of human existence, with the idea of preventing illnesses from happening in the first place. It is in the background of keeping our bodies healthy and sickness free.

As for the fusion of the old and the new, past and present, technology and tradition, and western and eastern ideologies, alternative herbal medicine was produced. Pharmacological firms embraced the idea of herbal and natural medication in line with their own synthetically made variants to provide an option for everyone in need of medicine.

Sensitive and Fragile

Those who are in need of medication take prescribed drugs, some of which are quite harmful to other cells, and organs. The liver is one of the body's organs hit hard by drug intervention when it synthesizes and tries to bind the specific components to our body's cells. The more unnaturally existing and synthetic the drug is, the more it is at risk for our body to react against. This is even more risky for fragile bodies such as our kids.

Our kids' bodies are still growing, their minds and way of thinking still developing. They are also prone to infection and sickness because of their increased activity without much conscious protective measures. Giving them industrially created drugs expose their bodies to harmful chemicals even if these drugs cure them of their sickness.

They too have their own immune system to provide immediate and automatic protection from harmful elements both in and out of their bodies. However, bacteria and other environmental factors overpower them much like with adults. The only difference is that young children are still building up their body's defenses.

Prevention and Herbal Medication

With the application of research and development on naturally occurring plants in our environment, it is now possible to give alternative herbal medicine to our children. Certain drug companies adhere to the idea of natural medication since it is beneficial not only to children, but to anyone in terms of less adverse reaction of the body. This is because the components of alternative herbal medicine are naturally occurring, organic, and supports life processes.

Administering alternative herbal medicine to children does not stress their livers because organic compounds from the plant source can be easily synthesized as compared to synthetic ones. Herbal supplements also are safe to take on a daily basis as prescribed to prevent sickness and illnesses from occurring.

There are hundreds of thousands of individuals within the United States and elsewhere who have seemed to embrace the idea and practice of acupuncture as something that is real and can be used to treat a wide variety of issues. On the other hand there are hundreds of thousands of other people who are on the exact opposite of the fence. Some people believe the idea of acupuncture is a myth, while others know to the core of their being that acupuncture therapy is real, not imagined. Whatever the case in your belief system, though, chances are that you have at least heard of the acupuncture myth controversy that some people have started in the United States and throughout the world.

Why Acupuncture is Considered a Myth

Many people consider acupuncture to be a myth because there are already so many myths in the Chinese culture that have not yet been debunked. Further to that, many people logically process the thought that just because the Chinese considered the acupuncture therapy to be real thousands of years ago does not mean that the traditions were carried on and the affects were real. For many, the idea of acupuncture leads to imagery of ancient Chinese people concocting special recipes that only serve as to buffer the whole myth of acupuncture therapy. Some people say that these people simply don't know what they're talking about. Acupuncture professionals in the Chinese culture have rejected those who say that acupuncture therapy is a total myth.

Why Acupuncture is Considered Very Real

As mentioned, by professional and authoritative Chinese experts in Asia as well as other countries throughout the world reject the idea that the whole concept of acupuncture therapy could be a myth. What is the reason that they reject that notion, though? The main reason, and perhaps the most important reason, too, is the fact that these acupuncture experts have actually experienced the healing properties of the process of acupuncture. For these people, they are confident by the fact that they are able to heal through this very delicate process and are confused as to why anybody would doubt the whole miracle!

Any Middle Ground?

We have heard arguments for the myth side of acupuncture and we have also heard arguments for the reasoning behind believing in acupuncture, but is there any middle ground to the issue? Is it possible that there could be some myths associated with the medicine techniques, but most of the acupuncture therapy is actually a real thing? On the contrary, though, there can hardly be any middle ground to something or some idea that is either false or true. Many acupuncture defenders contend that their way of healing is the absolute right way and they also say that if one is to be too skeptical about the whole issue then the best thing to do would be to try it out for themselves! Indeed, personal experience is what is most important, and the issue of acupuncture certainly warrants the experience!