Make This Summer the Summer of Love

The weather's not all that heats up in the summer. This can also be the season of love, whether you're single and looking for a relationship or in a committed partnership.
"Summer's a great time to develop a new relationship or to spice up the one that you already have," says Terri Orbuch, Ph.D., author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great. "Summer brings with it such a sense of optimism."
Here's how to make this the steamiest summer ever in terms of romance.

1. Make the weather work to your advantage. Open your doors and windows to the warm breezes, put flowers everywhere, and inhale deeply. "Summer has such wonderful smells," Orbuch says. "And positive smells can increase the attraction between two people."

2. Shed those winter blues and resolve to be optimistic. "Just waking up to sunshine can have a positive effect on mood," Orbuch says. "And that optimism rubs off on other people as well." It's natural to want to be close to someone who's got a sunny, positive outlook on life, so strive for an upbeat attitude.

3. Summer's the perfect opportunity to show a little more skin, so make every inch count. Wear strapless tops in flattering colors, flirty sundresses, strappy sandals, and, of course, bathing suits.  And there's nothing wrong with adding a fun, floppy hat to your outfit.

4. If you can afford it, take a weekend share in a summer rental with a group of singles. "A summer house is a great way to meet people," says Brooke Wise, MBA, founder of Wise Matchmaking. "You're all in a house together by the beach, and weekend relationships can turn into serious relationships when the fall comes."

5. Use your creative juices to add an element of surprise into activities that can increase passion and romance. Plan a couples massage night, go to a wine tasting together, or stay up late watching erotic videos together.

6. If you're going out on a first date with someone, schedule something that takes advantage of the gorgeous weather. "Plan a picnic outside, or go to an arboretum," Orbuch says. "It's a little out of the ordinary and chances are it will help you reach your goal, which is a second date."

7. If you're single, take advantage of outdoor activities, like rooftop bars, movies in the park, and hiking clubs.

8. If you're a couple, take advantage of slower work schedules to do something together that you've been putting off due to lack of time. "Plan a getaway to a bed and breakfast," Wise says. "Or take a picnic to the park, just the two of you."

9. If you're a couple and you're feeling as if things are getting ho-hum and stale, plan something exciting together. Take a road trip, go up in a hot air balloon, or take a plane ride that lasts for at least two hours before you reach your destination, Wise says. That way, you'll feel far enough away from the kids to really relax together. (There's no time like the summer, when the kids are out of school, to leave them with grandparents for a few days.)

10. If you're single, save up and go on a singles trip, Wise suggests. "A trip to a faraway land, where you're traveling with others who are single, is a great way to meet someone," she says.

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Alarm Clocks for a Gentler Wake-Up

If you're tired of being jolted from your sleep by the sudden sound of a jarring alarm clock, there's a more pleasant way. Try beginning your day with a simulated sunrise, emanating from a natural light clock or enticing aromas to soothe you into the world of the awake.

How it Works
Usually starting 30 minutes before your set wake-up time, the light from a natural light alarm clock starts to mimic sunrise, gradually getting brighter. On some models, you can set a timer that allows you to wake up gradually over a period of time as short as 10 minutes or as long as an hour and a half. At the same time, natural sounds such as those of a jungle, rainforest or ocean, wind chimes, or songs from a selected radio station, start out at low volume and gradually reach a pre-set higher volume. So with a 30-minute wake-up, if you need to be out of bed by 6:30 a.m., the light and music start at 6:00.

Plug In
Natural light alarm clocks have built in radios with speakers. Some also come with docks for iPods, iPhones, and USBs. There are even brands that contain aromatherapy beads that wake you to the soothing scent of lavender or familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee. In some models, you can add your own essential aromatherapy oils.

Pick a Style
A variety of designs from robotic to light box to lamp-like. Some are spherical, presumably to resemble the sun. Others have a more clinical appearance, and when they are not lit, could be mistaken for a personal humidifier or vaporizer with a built-in clock.

Choose Well
If you have a hard time getting up no matter how well an alarm works, look for a natural light clocks that also comes with a snooze button or even a beeper that goes off when all else fails. The bottom line is: do some research to find a wake-up light that works best for you. Be sure to try out the sound effects before you buy. Not everyone likes to fall asleep or wake up to simulated sounds of birds chirping or rain falling, or to the smell of perfume and flowers. On the other hand, if you don't get good radio reception where you sleep, you may need those nature sounds or that iPod dock.

Sleep Tight
Just as natural alarm clocks help you wake up to gentle sounds and gradually increasing light, some can also be set to provide gradually decreasing light and sounds to help you fall asleep at night. Some models include white noise and low-intensity night light options.

Sources:

Shattell, Mona M. "Peaceful Awakenings: Taking the "Alarm" out of the Alarm Clock" Issues in mental Health Nursing, 2007 28:1271-1272. Web 11 May 2011

http://uncg.academia.edu/MonaShattell/Papers/304141/Peaceful_Awakenings_Taking_the_Alarm_out_of_the_Alarm_Clock

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TMJ: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a jaw disorder that at its most basic may cause minor pain and at its most involved may include myriad overlapping conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Because pain in the jaw can result from so many things, it's critical to have a thorough physical exam to figure out the root cause before a diagnosis is made. Yet doctors admit that much of the time, TMJ has them stumped. Here's what to know about this mysterious malady:

TMJ is fairly common. About 35 million people in this country suffer from some form of TMJ problem. And while it can affect anyone, most TMJ sufferers are women of childbearing age.

TMJ can have a multitude of symptoms. A person with TMJ typically experiences jaw pain upon chewing or opening the mouth. This pain can radiate to other areas, including the ears, neck and shoulders. The person may also experience a popping, clicking or grating sound when opening or closing the mouth, jaw stiffness or an inability to open the mouth all the way, a bite that doesn't feel aligned, and difficulty speaking and swallowing. But jaw trouble isn't always present-there are other signs of TMJ that may at first glance have little to do with the jaw. These include headaches, difficulty hearing, dizziness, and vision troubles.

Doctors aren't always sure what causes TMJ. A common cause of TMJ is arthritis, which may simultaneously affect other areas of the body. TMJ also may result from injury. Or it could be a result of genes, your own particular hormonal mix, infection, and even certain dental treatments.

Hypersensitivity to pain is typical in TMJ sufferers. Doctors believe this characteristic of TMJ patients is linked to the fact that they frequently suffer from other chronic pain conditions.

TMJ's progress varies from person to person. Many TMJ sufferers have mild or moderate symptoms. These often resolve on their own or after the patient practices self care such as eating soft foods, avoiding opening the mouth wide, and applying heat or ice. Unfortunately, some TMJ sufferers experience a progressive worsening of the condition and long-term pain. In such cases, jaw surgery may be recommended.

Sources:

The TMJ Association, www.tmj.org
Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com

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What You Need to Know About Barrett�s Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a rare disorder-affecting about one percent of adults in the U.S.-in which the lining of the esophagus (the tube, also called the food pipe, which carries food from the throat to the stomach) is damaged by stomach acid. Although the condition itself doesn't cause symptoms, the acid reflux that causes Barrett's esophagus frequently leads to heartburn and is commonly found in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In rare instances, Barrett's esophagus may develop into esophageal cancer.

When you eat, the food you put in your mouth passes down your throat to the stomach through the esophagus. Once the food is in your stomach, a ring of muscles keeps it from leaking backward into the esophagus. If the muscles don't close tightly, stomach acid can leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus. When this reflux damages the lining of the esophagus, it's referred to as Barrett's esophagus. The condition occurs more commonly in men than women, and is more likely to be found in people who have had GERD for a long time. In fact, treatment for GERD may prevent Barrett's esophagus from developing.

Because Barrett's esophagus itself doesn't cause symptoms, many doctors recommend that adults over 40 who have had GERD for many years undergo an endoscopy, a test in which a thin tube with a camera on the end is inserted through your mouth and passes into your esophagus and stomach. While the test is being performed, your doctor may take tissue biopsies from different parts of the esophagus to make a positive diagnosis of Barrett's and to look for changes that could lead to cancer.

If a tissue biopsy shows cell changes in the esophagus, called high-grade dysplasia-which  may lead to cancer-your  doctor may recommend surgery or other procedures to remove the damaged tissue where the cancer is most likely to develop. Treatment may include:

Surgery to remove most of the esophagus if you have severe dysplasia or cancer. A portion of the stomach is then pulled up into the chest and attached to the remaining portion of the esophagus.Photodynamic therapy, which involves the use of a laser device called an esophageal balloon along with a drug called Photofrin®.Other procedures using different types of high energy to destroy the precancerous tissue.

See your doctor if your heartburn symptoms last longer than a few days, if you have pain or difficulty swallowing, if your GERD symptoms get worse, or new symptoms such as weight loss or problems swallowing develop.

Sources:

http://www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/barretts/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002128/

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Cuts forcing patients to wait for treatment, NHS admits

In some cases hospitals are being told to delay treatment in order to save money, while in others GPs are telling patients they cannot be operated upon until their conditions worsen.

The Primary Care Trust Network, an umbrella group that represents health service managers who buy treatment, admits the moves are “undesirable” and will be “unpopular” with the public.

But managers insist they are only acting “reluctantly” as a result of “financial constraint”, and deny allegations by private providers that they are biased against them.

It comes as the NHS struggles to make an unprecedented £20billion of savings over the next three years, at the same time as the Government imposes a radical reorganisation of commissioning and management structures.

Already, NHS patients can be treated for non-emergency operations such as hip and knee replacements in private hospitals in order to speed up treatment.

But it is claimed that Primary Care Trusts, which currently commission care, are finding ways to delay referrals and reduce demand for services in order to save money.

An official tribunal called the Co-operation and Competition Panel is looking into allegations that NHS managers are trying to reduce the amount of business private providers receive.

In a submission to the panel, the PCT Network denied it was discriminating against the private sector – but it did admit that managers are rationing treatment to save money.

This includes increasing waiting times between referral and treatment, to slow down the number of patients being treated and thus the amount of money being spent in the health service, and increasing the threshold of pain or illness that patients are in before they qualify for treatment, so that fewer have to be seen.

Its letter, written by David Stout, Director of the PCT Network, says: “From the information we have received from PCTs, it is the case that in a context of financial constraint, a number have reluctantly decided to temporarily reduce activity levels this year to help contain costs, by asking providers to extend (or not further reduce) their waiting times (while keeping them within the constitutionally required 18-weeks) or imposing in-year caps on (in effect deferring) activity.

“PCTs, working with their practice-based commissioners, are also rightly reviewing referral thresholds and guidelines, and adopting a variety of different referral management processes to help maintain adherence to these, to ensure that patients who need and will benefit most from secondary interventions are prioritised for treatment.”

But he added: “Where choice of provider is appropriate, patients are still being offered this once a decision to refer has been taken, albeit with a longer waiting time or higher treatment threshold.

“For this reason, while the PCTs acknowledge that these actions are undesirable and may be unpopular with patients and providers, they do not believe they are breaching the rules which require commissioners to be transparent and non-discriminatory and to promote choice of provider where appropriate.”

David Worskett of the NHS Partners Network, which represents private firms that treat NHS patients, told the BBC: “It is absolutely the case that in this period of transition that independent sectors are facing significant difficulties. The practices seem to be bias against the independent sector.”

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