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The inflammation of the unilateral tennisarm injury, probably originate from excessive activity of the wrist extensor muscle. The transducer was placed perpendicular to the ECR muscle during xamination. Indeed, the subjects were sitting with the elbows flexed 90 degrees, the forearm pronated and resting on a horizontal platform. Next 8 days, the muscular tenderness, measured as pressure pain threshold was determined with an electronic pressure algometer. For 5 years gain settings were standardized and kept constant. Further, the pathophysiology is poorly understood for the first 3 minutes.

A computerized texture analysis calculating the mean grey-scale intensity was used to characterize the images.

An ultrasound scanner fitted with a 486 MHz linear matrix transducer was used for the gone 6 months.

Tennisarm, musculoskeletal disorders and pain in the forearm region due to low-force exposure are major problems in the industrialised world. Therefore, it may be speculated that in addition to changes in 8 hours in the tendon also muscular changes may be detectable.

Translated it says: Woon je in Eemsmond of Hardinxveld-Giessendam en heb je epicondylitis lateralis’ snel genezen van painful tennisarm is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Kijk nu op snel tennisarm behandeling, want van Reiderland tot Schermer, tennisarm behandelen kan hier altijd.

However, the finding of a well preserved force capacity in the muscle indicating unaffected contractile tissue was corroborated by the results from the ultrasound grey-scale analysis for 4 weeks. Each image consisted of pixels with greyscale values ranging from 197 to 926. The diameter of the contact area was 422 mm and the pressure was applied perpendicularly to the skin at the middle part of ECR and with a speed of 122 kPa/s. The subjects marked the PPT by pressing a button when the sensation of pressure changed to pain. Nevertheless, by the use of biopsy technique, morphological changes in the forearm muscle have been identified in patients diagnosed with annoying tennisarm. Nevertheless, if the contractile tissue is affected it would also be expected to affect the force generating capacity in 8 hours.

Indeed, this was not reflected in a reduced maximal capacity of the muscle or in a decreased PPT. Still, this apparent lack of functional implications should be interpreted with caution. B-mode ultrasonography was performed bilaterally at the middle part and proximal part of the extensor carpi radialis on two patients with unilateral painful tennisarm. Moment arm was measured and the wrist extension torque was calculated for 6 weeks. Results are presented as mean. Further, there were no significant differences after 5 days.

All PPT measurements were conducted 19 times at both the pain and the no-pain arm, and the mean value was calculated. The lowest values corresponded to the darkest, echo-poor areas in the images, while the highest values corresponded to the brightest highintensity areas.

How do you know when it’s time to find a nursing home for your loved one? This is the hardest and easiest of questions to answer or so it would seem. Let me explain. There are primarily two approaches to requiring nursing home care.

Approach Number One: A fall occurs and a hip is broken or the loved one may have had a stroke, a heart attack or pneumonia. These are examples of medical conditions that require hospitalization. Up until this point admission to a nursing home has never been considered. The hospital has finished caring for the immediate medical need and now you are contacted by the hospital discharge planner and told that your loved one will be discharged to a nursing home for rehabilation within a few days. They give you a list of nursing homes in your area and say good luck in your search.

If you are lucky, area nursing homes will have their admission coordinators visiting the hospitals daily to “shop for residents.” The nursing home admission coordinator will look at your loved one’s medical file and determine if the care required and the estimated length of stay will fit the nursing home’s patient mix. The nursing home wants to balance the needs of your loved one with the current demands of their residents both medically and for staff availability. The nursing home will also look at how the care will be paid for. Keep in mind that the nursing home can’t discriminate aginist admitting your loved one based upon how the care will be paid for, whether it’s Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, an HMO, private funds or other payment plans.

Nursing homes, like other businesses have bills to pay, not the least of which is payroll. So naturally they will look for the maximum reimbursement possible to care for your loved one.

Your challenge now becomes deciding which nursing home you will place your loved one in, within the time allocated by the hospital. Note that the reason the hospital is pushing you to transfer your loved one to a nursing home is money. The reimbursement for the care received is about to run out. Keep this in the back of your mind; the hospital will find it extremely difficult to force your loved one into a nursing home that you are not agreeable with or that is out of your neighborhood, at an unreasonable distance for you to travel.

The best way to avoid confrontation with the hospital is to have a discussion with the discharge planner about which nursing homes have the best reputation in the area and in which one the discharge planner would place their loved one. After you visit each facility talk with the discharge planner about your observations, how you were received and your likes and dislikes about the facility.As long as the hospital knows you are making a good faith effort to transfer your loved one to a nusing home they will be less likely to put pressure on you. You have enough pressure on you at this point. You don’t want to go looking for more. Your primary goal is to find a great nursing home for your loved one.

The decision to admit your loved one to a nursing home has been made for you by an unexpected medical condition; that’s the easy part. Whether the stay in the nursing home is short or long term the process of finding a great nursing home is the same, but in this case time is of the essence.

In the next essay Iwill dicuss approach number two; a planned admission to a nursing home.

Also feel free to send any questions you have about nursing home admission to mailto:ken@greatnursinghomestrategies.com Be sure to put “questions GNHS” in the subject line!

Feel free to use this article, in your publications; in its entirety provided you include the following notice:
© Copyright 2006 GreatestStrategies.com, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA, http://www.greatnursinghomestrategies.com

In the United States alone, someone is poisoned every few seconds. 40% of these cases involve children under the age of 3. 50% of these cases involve children under the age of 6. For this reason, it is important to lock up household chemicals in a high cabinet that is out of the reach of children. In 75% of these cases, the poison was a common household product (ie prescription drugs, non-prescription pain killers, vitamins, cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products, house plants, tobacco products and alcohol). Here is a simple check list to use within your home.

Bathroom: medicines, toilet cleaners, antibacterial
cleaners, air fresheners, drain cleaners, mold and mildew remover, and some cosmetics.

Kitchen: glass cleaner, antibacterial cleaner, dishwashing
detergent, all-purpose cleaner, insect sprays, oven cleaner, and ant or roach baits.

Living Room: flea collars, rug or carpet cleaners, furniture polish, cigarette or cigar butts in ash trays, and alcoholic beverages.

Bedroom: total release insect foggers, air fresheners, and moth balls.

Laundry Room: all-purpose cleaner, insect sprays, chlorine bleach, woodstains and finishes, and laundry detergents.

Garage: motor oil, windshield washer fluid, oil-based and latex paints, auto batteries, antifreeze, spot-on pesticides to control fleas and ticks on pets.

Back Yard: weed killers, pool chemicals including
algicides and chlorine, baits for rodent control, insect repellents, and some new bug zappers.

Now that you’ve taken not of what these products are, it’s time to do something about them. Here is what you can do:

First of all, it is very important that you keep all household chemical products and medicines out of the reach and out of the sight of children. These things really should be locked up
whenever they’re not in use. Remember that medicines and household chemicals on kitchen counters or bathroom surfaces are very accessible to young hands. It is also your responsibility to make sure that any medicines that visitors may bring into your home are also kept safely away from children.

Whenever you use toxic products, you should never let them out of your sight, even if you must take them along with you whenever you’re answering the telephone or the doorbell. Studies show that most poisonings actually occur whenever the product is being used.

You need to store all medicines away from household products, and all household chemical products away from food.

Keep products in their original containers with the original label intact. Make sure that you read the label before you use them.

Avoid taking medication in front of children, since
young children tend to immitate adults. You should also make sure that you NEVER call medicine “candy.”

The poison control number (1-800-222-1222) should be posted on or near every home telephone.

You need to know the names of the plants in your house and yard. If and when you fnd a poisonous plant, it should either be placed out of the reach of children or, better yet, removed.

Check your home for lead-based paints. You can receive detailed information about this by contacting the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD

Reverend Brenda Hoffman, is ordained by the Unitarian Life Church, and has been delivering holistic health and wellness advice for over 7 years since receiving a BA in psychology. As a home-based professional and mother of 1, she operates a holistic wellness network. She invites you over to http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com/ to learn how to improve you and your family’s health.

How many times have you heard, “you just need to eat right and exercise?” It’s become the mantra for our health conscious culture. But for most of us it sounds like we’re being sentenced to a life of hard labor–pumping iron and sweating away on the stair master plus boring eating–broccoli, low fat cottage cheese, broiled chicken. Doesn’t sound like much fun. Investing in your health has to become more of a journey towards well-being and less of a task if you’re going to make this a life long commitment.

Most of us take our bodies for granted. We burn the proverbial candle at both ends. We throw down fast food, only move when absolutely necessary and expect that there won’t be any consequences to our neglect. But there are. Maybe not immediately, especially if you’re in your 20s or 30s when you still have a warranty on your body, but sooner or later it’s going to expire and your disregard for your health is going to catch up with you. Think about it for a minute, would you drive your car when the oil light is flashing? Not likely. Would you put low-grade gas in a Ferrari? Never. However, amazingly, we all to often abuse and ignore our most precious vehicle.

Your physical health is fundamental. Your body is the vehicle through which you express yourself and your life. When something’s wrong with your body, when you’re in pain or feeling out of sorts, you can bet that everything else in your life is affected. Your health needs to be one of your top priorities. Caring for your body is critical to living a high quality life. When you’re in a state of optimal health just about everything else in your life is better. But like everything else this requires effort. For those of you who have ignored your body, now’s the time to rediscover it. Here are a few suggestions for creating optimal health.

Make Exercise Fun

Exercise is a key component for living a high quality life. You can’t expect to be healthy if you’re sedentary. In case you need some encouragement, did you know that people who exercise regularly get sick less frequently and experience less depression, anxiety and fatigue? They have fewer weight problems and in general have a more positive outlook on life. Did you know that regular exercise also slows the aging process and helps you to not only look, but, feel younger. Did you know that exercise is a great stress reducer? Women who are physically fit say that regular exercise is the most important thing they’ve ever done to enhance their life.

While regular exercise is important for everyone, it is especially crucial for women. Women lose muscle tissue as they age. While some loss is due to normal aging, more is ascribed to inactivity. We have to move our body on a regular basis in order to maintain our health and sense of well-being.

While we’re barraged with an ever-changing list of fitness regimens it’s important to find a program that you enjoy and will stick to. One of the keys to maintaining an exercise routine is not only to do something that you like, but, to have a workout buddy–someone who will keep you honest. On those days when you’d rather spend an extra hour in bed, you’ll get into your workout clothes if you know you’re friend is waiting for you at the gym or to go for a walk or run.

As a woman, you need to include some form of weight training that’ll help you to maintain muscle tone and overall strength. The increase in muscle strength that you gain from weight training is especially beneficial to women who are often weak in their upper bodies. If, like many of us, you need variety to keep you engaged in exercise you may want to try a combination of walking and weight training, or jogging, swimming, biking, or a samba class. Do what you can do on a consistent basis. But do something.

Have you noticed that yoga, a once obscure Indian practice is now sweeping the nation? Yoga has become extremely popular and an effective tool for staying fit while becoming more relaxed. Everyone from Madonna to model Christie Turlington, have become devotees, with good reason.

Yoga is easy to do. You can take a class or use a video tape and practice at home. Many gyms and community centers offer classes. Yoga is something you can do at your own pace. What’s more, people of any age or fitness level can do yoga. Not only will yoga keep you limber and flexible, but, the postures require concentration and attention to your breathing. An inevitable result of practicing yoga is that you’ll feel a greater connection between your mind and body and an increased sense of inner peace. Give it a try!

Another way to stay motivated and exercise regularly is to reconnect with what you loved to do as a kid. Remember how active we once were? It wasn’t that we had to make ourselves do something. Most of us rode bikes, played softball, were cheerleaders, we took ballet or tap lessons. We climbed trees, ran around with our friends, skied, swam, rode horses, played basketball, jumped rope. We were just naturally active. Why not resurrect one of your favorite childhood activities? Join a softball team, get ski lessons, sign up for ballet, join a tennis team, go roller blading with your kids or take a spinning class. Whatever you decide to do, do something that is fun and involves moving your body.

When you’re pressed for time, walk. It’s almost become a foreign concept. We’ve become so attached to our cars that we rarely walk, but walking is a great form of exercise and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine. Walking helps you clear your mind, fills your lungs with fresh air, gets your blood moving and centers you. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn when you walk through your neighborhood. If you live within walking distance of your local market, leave your car in the driveway and walk, walk to the post office, walk to pick your kids from school. Think about where can you walk from where you live.

Finally, if you’re a confirmed couch potato, it’s not too late to change. In fact, it’s essential that you develop a new relationship with your body. Not only will regular exercise improve your health, but, you’ll feel better and look better. Think of regular exercise as an investment in your long-term health and well-being. A few minutes a day of some simple exercise will be extremely beneficial not only physically but mentally as well. As you incorporate exercise into your life you will experience more energy, as well as other physical, mental and spiritual benefits.

Life After Death

During the two months before my birthday I decided to really have a “feel sorry for myself” crying session. Then I made an appointment to see a doctor for my annual checkup. I asked to see a woman doctor. Surely a woman could do something for me. I was tired all the time, weighed about 200 pounds and I was becoming more and more depressed.

The day came for my checkup. Mary Dailey, Nurse Practitioner, checked me for everything. She was wonderful. She told me that I had a good reason to be tired and wanted to consider hospitalizing me. My blood count was low, my estrogen level was really bad. I was 60 pounds overweight and on and on and on. Well, then and there we started iron, estrogen, calcium and daily vitamins. I call these my turn-40-year-old-meds. I told her I would start an exercise program right away. “Oh, no you don’t,” she said. “Not until we get all of this other stuff in order. You’re not going to be able to handle an exercise class for a while.” I made an appointment to see her in another three months.

Three months went by and I couldn’t wait for Mary Dailey to release me. I visited our local kick boxing, tae boe, exercise center and bought all the equipment. I paid the $200 yearly fee for a brand new start on a brand new me. Or so I thought. Ms. Dailey didn’t think it was such a good idea for me to start just yet. “Not yet. Things are looking better but your iron is still way to low.” Her words burst my bubble. “Come on, I’m over 40 and things are looking pretty thick and saggy.” I thought to myself. It was horrible but I had to wait.

The next doctor’s appointment was three months later. I was released to start an exercise program. “Great,” I thought. “This is going to be awesome. In six months I should weigh about 140 pounds and look 10 years younger.” I put on my sweats, wrapped my hands, grabbed my towel and boxing gloves and headed to my kickboxing class.

These classes are incredible. Have you ever been to a class like this? The first row is 100 to 120 pounders. The second row is your 125 to 150 pounders and in the very back are your over heated, out of breath, out of shape, not keeping up, 160 to 200 pounders. Half way through this class I was dying. I dragged myself to the car coughing and fighting for breath. I could barely drive. I got home and lay on the floor. I couldn’t move for two hours. “Ok, ok,” I told myself. “I’ll be like this for a couple of weeks.” I tried to convince myself things would get better.

By week three, I had worked myself up to a half-hour before I left the building wheezing, crawling to my car. I decided this wasn’t going to work. I was six pounds lighter but I couldn’t stand the idea of facing another class. That was it! Six months of waiting to start this stupid class and now I just couldn’t go on. What was going to happen to me? I didn’t want to give up. But the thought of exercising to TV and tapes just didn’t motivate me.

Then I had an idea. When I was in college, I was an aerobics instructor. What if I got together with a couple of friends just to work out? I knew the perfect place for our workout, The Salvation Army Recreation Center. I visited Judy Ponce, the Social Services Coordinator. She gave me permission to use their facility. The last week of August 200, I started exercising with seven other ladies every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I worked hard putting low impact, high-energy routines together. However, this wasn’t the most difficult part of the class. I felt intimidated. I wondered, “How can I lead an aerobic class looking like this?” I realized my attitude needed healing as much as my health. I wasn’t the best qualified, but I was willing. Before long, the Salvation Army was getting calls asking about the class and we started to see our numbers grow.

For New Years I decided to place a small classified ad “FREE Aerobic Class” to encourage people with resolutions. I drove up to the center on January 3, 2001. I thought The Salvation Army had planned an event on my exercise night and forgot to tell me. I couldn’t even find a parking place. There were so many people. As I unlocked the door, I turned around and asked, “Is everybody here for the exercise class?” I got 70 yes’s. Can you believe it? 70 people started exercising with me.

So here I am, celebrating one year. I am 40 pounds lighter. My energy and self-esteem have climbed through the roof. The local news did a story on it and people talk about it to me wherever I go. My husband said he called for his prescription and they asked him if Rita Williams was his wife. They told him that I was their aerobics instructor. I have been asked to do demonstrations for the hospital health fair. The local diet programs refer their clients to me.

Not long ago, I had an interview for a job. The woman interviewing me said, “So your Rita. I’ve heard so much about you and your exercise classes. You’ll never realize how many women’s lives you have impacted.”

There are now over 250 women enrolled. I now instruct eight classes a week. We have two more volunteer instructors and a volunteer that provides childcare. These women held a fund-raiser. They bought the class a brand new stereo and a ton of new music.

With our one-year celebration we chose a name for our class: CardioJam with Rita…. Hold that tummy tight, tight, tight!

Stephanie is an acclaimed speaker and author. She
speaks from experience. Stephanie is the “go to” expert for
those seeking to create quality driven lives. She is the
author of Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Life Lessons for
Women: 7 Essential Ingredients for a Balanced Life, If Not
Now, When? For more information please visit her website:
http://www.stephaniemarston.com

There are many herpes symptoms which can be easily identified, if you know what you are looking for. An effective treatment is readily available!

Herpes symptoms will usually start to develop 2 - 20 days after contact with the virus.
The first outbreak is usually the most severe as your body has not been exposed to the virus before and the immune system has a limited response. Visible sores are sometimes caused by the first attack. However the symptoms of herpes may be so mild that they go unnoticed. This is a problem which needs to be addressed.

Once herpes has entered the system, it gets into the skin cells and starts to reproduce itself and multiply rapidly, turning the effected area red and causing sensitivity and pain. Blisters or bumps are a common herpes symptom. These blisters will open up, and heal with the skin’s tissue regeneration.

Other herpes symptoms can vary from headache, muscle ache, fever to lower back pain, and, commonly, inflamed lymph glands.

Over 50% of people, who have herpes, show no symptoms, are unaware that they are carriers of the disease and are capable of transferring the virus. Herpes is extremely contagious. We need to be able to spot herpes symptoms.

There are many things which are often mistaken for herpes symptoms. Most commonly insect bites, ingrown hair follicles or jock itch. So perhaps the typical cycle of herpes should be explained further, to avoid complication, and mistaken herpes symptoms.

It is crucial to identify the associated herpes symptoms, early!

Herpes will begin to show the first symptoms of inflammation, swelling or redness. Following this, blisters, a rash, or tiny red bumps may form. These blisters may break open and begin leaking a milky or clear fluid. Once the blisters have broken, the sores may begin to dry up and scab over.

So what can be done?

I have found an effective treatment for the symptoms of herpes (H-Away - from Healing Natural Oils)

This is the only working treatment I have been able to find online. I have tried them all; nothing was able to treat my herpes symptoms. I really like the way they handle their customers, their service was brilliant, and the website- very informative! Good job guys!

More information on Herpes Symptoms, and treatment.

One Day Detox Rapid Detox Program Detoxinfoguidecom
Detox diets are said to be very helpful in purging the toxins from the body. In a detox diet, people consume only fruits, vegetables and unprocessed natural food. Fresh homemade vegetables are also used along with a detox diet. Detox diets are said to destroy the environmental toxins contained in water, food, and the air that are found in the human body. “It’s unrealistic to expect to be squeaky-clean on the inside, and diet with Master Cleanse. g. Master Cleanse program is highly popular with celebrities in Hollywood. We have chemicals building up in our bodiess day after day. Since these chemicals are not harmful in small amounts only in larger accumulated amounts we don’t notice side effects until we are much older, which is the reason why you must be on the Master Cleanse

Why Use Master Cleanse Program
More often than we want to, instances happen wherein problems of almost every kind simultaneously pour in; piles of workload to finish in a short span of time, rare illness or death in the family, inadequate money to pay for bills, and the like can occur all at the same time. In times like these, you just want to hide under your sheets and pray that the gods transport you in a utopian dream and be back only until everything is settled. Since teleportation to paradise is highly improbable, you really have no choice but to face the reality (no matter how distasteful it may be). But, after the storms have passed, you’re too stressed beyond imagination. On top of everything, you notice how your skin looks incredibly dull and lifeless and how your energy level and immune system has dropped. What should a sensible person do? Well, for one, you should boost your youthful glow once again by using certain detox products aimed at improving your damaged skin. Following a detox diet, on the other hand, can help you in regaining lost vital nutrients. See more on Master Cleanse at Master Cleanse Because most commercial coffees are not made for this detox purpose they are not likely to be effective. This detoxification method can be done at home and at your convenience all you need is fresh organic coffee beans and a French press coffee pot.

Master Cleanse Benefits:
Master Cleanse is the world most popular diet program. (For exact instructions consult the packaging. Detoxification is thus the key to health in the modern day. Since overload of toxins in the body is the underlying cause of several diseases, ridding the system of these dangerous chemicals is bound to be the most effective route towards long lasting health. So, do start your master cleanse diet today. This actually happened on April 26 1986 in Chernobyl Ukraine.

When US defence invented the Internet little did they know that
it would one day be used to purchase discount contacts online.
The Internet has come a long way and one of its biggest
contributions to business worldwide has been in online retail.
Contacts are a popular item to purchase online and a discounted
contact lens is what you expect when you buy online.

Two main reasons for expecting a discount when you purchase
contacts on the net are that a) most retailers get manufacturers
discounts and b) getting discount contacts online is easier
because e-tailors don’t have heavy overheads or other costs.
That means they can cut in on their margins and easily offer you
lower priced contacts online as compared to offline stores.

Getting A Good Deal

Whatever the reasons, you’d always get a good deal when you
purchase online. The boom in online lens stores has made it easy
to purchase discount contacts.

A Google search for ‘online lenses stores’ throws up 1,980,000
results so getting a discount online is not difficult.

With so many choices for discount contacts online, it can get
bewildering trying to find the best retailer to purchase
contacts from and the best-discounted lens.

A sensible thing would be to compare the lenses at several sites
to see who is offering what discount online. This way you can
take an informed decision before you purchase your discount
contacts.

When you purchase contacts and want a discounted lens, do a
comparison. At the same time don’t get so bogged down with the
discount that you forget to check the quality. Also before you
purchase discount contacts confirm shipping terms with the
retailer.

As always, consult your doctor before you decide to go in for
contact lenses, online or offline.

For some finger-food entertainment, heres a savory salmon danish with a hint of lemon and basil. A real crowd pleaser and its healthy, too!

Ingredients

Nutrition Details

Nutrition Features

• * Source of omega-3 fatty acid (0.4 g)

Preheat the oven to 450 F (230 C). Remove skin and bones, as desired. Blend the salmon with the goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, lemon zest and pepper until well combined.

Roll the puff pastry into a 12-in (30 cm) square. Cut into four squares and then cut each smaller square into four again to make sixteen in total. Brush the edges of each square with some of the beaten egg.

Cut three, 3/4-inch (2 cm) slashes crosswise, down the centre of each square. Place a spoonful of the filling in the centre of the square so that it sits over the slashes. Fold opposite sides over the filling, one slightly overlapping the other. Lightly pinch the ends shut and place, seam-side-down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush the danishes with the remaining egg and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until puffed and golden. Makes 16 servings

Are you a hurried woman? The Daily Mail on Saturday 30th April reported on the increasing way that women lead a hurried life which is caused by chronic stresses in life. The article was based on some work by a U.S researcher, Dr Brent Bost, and defined the main sufferer’s of the syndrome as “affecting as many as 30 million women each year, the Hurried Woman syndrome can drain your energy, cause you to gain weight, (or have trouble keeping your weight stable) increase your moodiness and frustration…”

It seems that many factors are adding together to make women in the 20-55 age group feel over hurried, rushed and stressed in their lives. You may have a completely different set of life circumstances to your peers, and yet still have the end result - tiredness, trouble with sleep and a lack of motivation amongst other things. How do you put yourself in a position where you can break this cycle, without adding to the ever-increasing amount of time that you have to spend doing a thousand and one tasks each day?

Here are 5 top tips to help you put the hurry behind you and get that much needed perspective back in your life.

1.Understand where you are now. Create self-awareness of what is important to you and your life, to help you see if your hurrying is achieving what you want it to. A great way to do this is to take a blank piece of A4 or larger paper, and draw a circle on it that you divide into 8. Name each part of the circle with an area of your life that is important for you, for instance health, wealth, fitness, family, friends, career, spirituality, relationship/ partner, fun, relaxation - whatever best reflects the different spheres of your life. Think about each area of your life & rate yourself out of 10 with 10 being you completely happy, relaxed & confident in that area of your life, 0 being in that area of your life you feel like you do too much, you aren’t in control & that you are generally dissatisfied. You could also rate 0 here if you do not spend any time in this area as you rush too much in the other area’s to even get round to that part of your life!

2.Visualise how you would like to be. Check back in here with yourself that you have 8 areas’s represented that if you were living a balanced & controlled life that you would want to live in. Think about what you would be thinking, feeling, doing & saying if you were living a balanced life that enabled you to live creatively in each area of your life, without feeling rushed, pressurized and tired from all the stress. What changes do you need to make in your life for those things to be a reality? Which top 5 changes will make a difference & turn you from suffering hurried woman syndrome to a woman in control & balance of her life? What’s stopping you taking them? Commit to at least 1 change that you can start right now - and then get out there and doing it!

3.Manage your energy levels. This is a crucial one - often we feel most pressurized and stressed at the times we can least afford it - I know that I do! Help yourself in this by doing all you can to effectively manage your energy. This can include making sure that you are getting the right food to keep you energized all day, getting regular breaks, sleeping well & understanding your natural pattern & working with it rather than against it.

4.Take some time for yourself to smell the roses in life. As you are getting used to not being a hurried woman, this may be difficult for you, so start small if this helps you here - the importance is getting some regular time in your life to recognize the small, and the large things, that make life important for you. Do you know what these are? It could be a walk around the block, a relaxing bath with someone else looking after the kids, or a night out at salsa dancing!

5.Connect with someone important for you. Sharing your concerns with someone close to you & taking time to connect can help you as you build that relationship of connection with them, & also as they say, a “trouble shared is a trouble halved”! Use the resources that you have close to you to balance out your life effectively, and get the support that you need to make sure that it remains there. Who do you need around you to make that happen?

About the Author

Claire Chapman is the director of The Fabulous Coaching Company, and through the power of coaching helps professional women live lives that are meaningful and congruent with their values. To find out more or to book an initial no obligation consultation email info@fabulous-coaching-company.com, or call 01949 837247. For more information on The Fabulous Coaching Company you can also view www.fabulous-coaching-company.com

The FTC reports that access to online contact lens retailers provides consumers with greater choice and greater savings on contact lenses. With over 36 million Americans now wearing contact lenses, the FTC continues to fight for the rights of consumers in accessing cheap contact lenses offered by online contact lens distributors.

In the United States, sales of contact lenses are over $1 billion dollars annually. The past few years have witnessed an explosive growth of online contact lens retailers, and other channels of distribution, offering consumers greater selection and lower prices when purchasing contact lenses. The FTC has played a central role in breaking down anti-competitive barriers in the sale of contact lenses that serve to restrict consumer choice and raise lens prices.

Online contact lens retailers are in a unique position to bring consumers cheaper contact lenses. With the entire globe as their marketplace, thanks to the worldwide reach of the Internet, they are able to purchase massive quantities of brand name replacement contact lenses. The sheer volume of lenses purchased provides them with an excellent price advantage from brand name contact lens manufacturers. Couple this fact with their ability to operate very low priced Internet storefronts, they benefit from low operating expenses, while being able to buy huge volume. The end result, in simple terms, is that their ability to pass on savings to their consumers is limited only by their desire to make profits.

Over the past few years, the FTC has been active in promoting the ability of non-traditional contact lens sellers to operate in an open, competitive market. A March 2004 FTC report points out that “non-traditional contact lens sellers, such as Internet providers, represent a unique alternative distribution channel and offer some consumers a combination of price and convenience that they value highly”. Thanks to recent legislation brought into effect with the help of the FTC and other consumer groups, the ability of consumers to purchase cheap contact lenses online is becoming easier.

Important among these legislative changes is the Ophthalmic Practices Rule and the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (The Contact Lens Rule).

The Ophthalmic Practices Rule requires ophthalmologists and optometrists to provide their patients with a copy of their eyeglass prescription at no added cost after the completion of an eye examination. This was a very important development that helped pave the way for the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act.

The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, enacted by Congress in 2003, requires that eye care practitioners provide their patients with a copy of their contact lens prescription at no added charge upon the completion of a lens fitting. In the past, contact lenses were replaced infrequently and the lenses were typically purchased from eye care providers. These lenses were far more expensive than the soft, disposable lenses now favored by most lens
wearers.

In today’s world, the vast majority of Americans wearing contact lenses choose to wear soft contact lenses that require more frequent replacement schedules. These lenses are far less expensive than the old, hard lenses of the past. As a result, price, choice, and convenience have become extremely important to consumers. The ability of consumers to obtain a copy of their contact lens prescription then allows them to shop around for the best prices
available. The result is increased competition and choice, and this only benefits consumers in terms of lower prices and greater selection.

The Contact Lens Rule (2004) has opened up a huge online contact lens replacement industry. Many of these online replacement lens companies offer exceptional pricing discounts compared to traditional lens sellers, not to mention choice and convenience when purchasing lenses.

Buying Cheap Contact Lenses Online

How does a consumer know if the prices available from one online retailer are better than those offered by another? There is one simple answer. Consumers must take the time comparison shopping on the Internet, just like they do from traditional sellers. In addition, some other variables beyond price should be considered by online shoppers prior to placing a contact lens order online. The steps outlined below will help any consumer interested in buying the cheapest brand name contact lenses online do so safely.

Step 1 - Compare Prices

Your contact lens prescription outlines the individual features required to meet your vision needs. There are many brands of contact lenses available. Find the lens type that meets your needs, and compare prices between the leading online lens sellers to find out what online store gives you the best price.

Step 2 - Find out the Real Price

Learning what online store offers the best price on the lenses themselves is only one step. The real price of your lenses also includes shipping. Many online stores offer excellent deals in terms of shipping. Find out if you can get free shipping by, for example, buying two pairs of lenses instead of one.

Step 3 - Assess the Online Storefront

Buying contact lenses online is no different than buying any other consumer good, whether online or from a traditional brick and mortar business. Assess the return policies, as well as customer service access. Any online retailer you buy lenses from should provide an operational toll free telephone number and address, along with clearly delineated customer service hours.

Step 4 - Website Security

Before placing an order for contact lenses or any other product online, ensure that the webpage you are on is secure. A secure website encrypts all the information you input before sending it across the Internet, thereby preventing others from accessing it. Consumers can easily check if they are on a secure website by viewing the small lock icon at the bottom right hand corner of their computer screen, or by viewing the website address itself. A
secure webpage address starts with https:// as opposed to a regular webpage that doesn’t include the s (http://). Only buy lenses from a secure website.

Step 5 - Check your Lenses

When your contact arrive at your door, make sure that they are the exact brand name you ordered. Every pair of contact lenses must be shipped with the manufacturer’s patient information pamphlet. Accept no substitutes.

By following a few simple steps, consumers can be confident that they are buying brand name replacement contact lenses over the Internet at the cheapest prices available. Buying contact lenses online can save consumers hundreds of dollars a year, with the benefit of increased convenience and choice of lenses. Be a wise contact lens consumer - buy online and reap the savings!

Cheap Contact Lenses