Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather

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Learn about heat-related illness and how to stay cool and safe in hot weather.

Now is the time to prepare for the high temperatures that kill hundreds of people every year. Extreme heat caused 7,415 heat-related deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2010 . Heat-related deaths and illness are preventable, yet annually many people succumb to extreme heat.

Take measures to stay cool, remain hydrated and to keep informed. Getting too hot can make you sick. You can become ill from the heat if your body can't compensate for it and properly cool you off. The main things affecting your body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather are:

• High humidity. When the humidity is high, sweat won't evaporate as quickly, which keeps your body from releasing heat as fast as it may need to.
• Personal factors. Age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use can play a role in whether a person can cool off enough in very hot weather.

People age 65 and older are at high risk for heat-related illnesses.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Those who are at highest risk include people 65 and older, children younger than two, and people with chronic diseases or mental illness.  Closely monitor people who depend on you for their care:

• Are they drinking enough water?
• Do they have access to air conditioning?
• Do they need help keeping cool?

People at greatest risk for heat-related illness can take the following protective actions to prevent illness or death:

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned, and using air conditioning in vehicles.
• Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device during an extreme heat event.
• Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Don't use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter.

Even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather:

• Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package.
• Pace activity. Start activities slow and pick up the pace gradually.
• Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat-related illness.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

If you participate on a sports team that practices during hot weather protect yourself and look out for your teammates:

• Schedule workouts and practices earlier or later in the day when the temperature is cooler.
• Monitor a teammate’s condition, and have someone do the same for you.
• Seek medical care immediately if you or a teammate has symptoms of heat-related illness.
• Learn more about how to protect young athletes from heat-related illness by taking this CDC course.

Everyone should take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths during hot weather:

• Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as possible.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
  • Pace yourself.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Never leave children or pets in cars.
• Check the local news for health and safety updates.

More Information

• Beat the Heat (When Working Outdoors) [5:30 minutes]
• Downloadable Extreme Heat Media Toolkit
• Extreme Heat and Your Health
• Frequently Asked Questions about Extreme Heat
• Heat and Athletes
• Heat and Infants and Children
• Heat and Low Income
• Heat Stress in the Elderly
• How to Stay Cool in Extreme Heat
• Prepare for Diabetes Care in Heat and Emergencies
• Protect Workers from Heat Stress
• Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness

Source: CDC

6 Ways Water Makes You Beautiful

Have you ever noticed how you feel tired and cranky, and your hair and eyes are dull when you haven’t had enough water? This is because the human body is roughly 70% water and it is an essential nutrient for your body to function. You should be drinking a minimum of 8 glasses a day in order to replace the large amounts you lose through skin evaporation, sweating, breathing, and urine. If your water intake doesn’t match your output then you can become dehydrated, which is unhealthy and potentially dangerous, especially for small children. Water loss is even more rigorous in warmer clients, so for us Pakistani’s drinking water is a priority.
Although you might be aware of the health reasons for water, you might not be informed about its beauty benefits. Read further to learn about ways in which water makes you beautiful from the outside:

Pore Cleanser

Our skin and body is exposed to a number of pollutants and toxins throughout the day. If the body accumulates more toxins than what the liver and kidneys can handle, then the skin takes over. Excessive toxins then leave through the skin and if the body is even slightly dehydrated then the pores become clogged. To help your skin remove toxins and keep your body and pores clear, drink water and stay hydrated.

Toned Skin

One of the numerous benefits of drinking water is that it gets stored in our cells, which expand when properly hydrated with essential H2O causing our skin to look tighter and toned. So instead of visiting the dermatologist for a jab, drink up and help smooth out the appearance of wrinkles, cellulite and flappy skin.

Shiny Hair

You can be getting a weekly protein treatment at your local parlor, but if you hair is dehydrated, there aren’t enough hair treatments to bring it back to life. Our hair is made up of 5% water and 95% protein so when you drink lots of water your hair looks more alive and bouncy. Not only can water make it shiny, but it can help stimulate hair growth, so put down the Rogaine and drink up!

Fight Acne

Like we said before, water is your body’s way of getting rid of toxins and if you’re dehydrated then your pores become clogged. When ridding itself of toxins, your skin’s pH can change. When combined with clogged pores, this is an acne breakout waiting to happen! When you have acne, look at it as a sign that your body chemistry is imbalanced and your detoxification system is backed up. Before begging for harsh retinoid creams from your dermatologist start by drinking half your body weight in ounces of water and see the magic happen.

Sparkling Eyes

Dull, lifeless and bloodshot eyes can be due to many factors, such as illness, diet and dehydration. If you’ve crossed out any medical reasons then it’s time to pretty up those peepers by treating them internally by drinking water.

Weight Loss

Have you ever had a full meal, felt stuffed and then craved food soon after? This might be because your body is dehydrated and is sending you signals to drink up but you’re confusing it with eat up.   Although eating will give you the necessary fluids your body is craving, it’ll also give you unnecessary weight gain.  So next time you feel hungry try having a glass of water instead and see if it kills the craving.

The Takeaway

After reading about the numerous health and beauty benefits of water, we hope you’re chugging away as you read this last paragraph. With benefits like clear skin, sparkling eyes, shiny hair and a smaller waist line, there is nothing keeping you from going above and beyond your minimum eight glasses a day.

5 Ways to Have Healthy Hair

Imagine a world in which every day was a great hair day. Does it seem like something from your dreams? Well, we’re here to tell you it IS possible. No matter what your hair type is, your locks can still look sleek, shiny and flaunt-able in any situation. Find out what you can do to rejuvenate your hair. Read on!

Avoid heat

Avoiding heat doesn’t just apply to straighteners and blow driers, but also avoid showering with hot water. If the water that comes into contact with your hair is too warm, it will dry it and make it brittle.
Tip: Brush your locks in different directions to promote circulation of the scalp.

Blow driers can be more beneficial than air-drying!

If used correctly, blow driers do a better job at drying than air-drying. Put it on a cool setting and hold it some distance away from your locks for protection from any heat. Holding it too close to your hair will cause the water to boil; hence the stereotypes against blow-driers.
Tip: Avoid wringing your locks in a towel right after a shower. Wet hair is fragile, and wringing it will cause it to fall and break. Also, use heat protection sprays when you blow dry your hair, or in case you use flat irons, or curlers.

Massage your locks and scalp

Massaging your mane and scalp with oil or a protein cream stimulates blood circulation, rejuvenates cells and nourishes dry hair, all promoting healthy growth. Using oil, slightly warm the oil of choice and put it in a bowl. Part your locks, and apply oil with your fingertips to your scalp. Make sure your fingers are moving in a circular motion. Continue this process until you’ve covered your entire scalp and the entire length of your hair. Leave the oil for at least 30 minutes, or longer if you desire. Shampoo it out, making sure you apply shampoo BEFORE wetting your locks to sufficiently remove all the oil. Try not to wash more than once, since over washing can strip your locks of nutrients and healthy oils. Basically taking away all the hard work the oil and protein just did.

Try home-made remedies for healthier locks

Make your own conditioner at home for chemical free conditioning:

• One great source of protein is mayonnaise. Apply it your hair until entirely coated and leave it on for an hour. After you wash it out you’ll love the silky feel and the shiny look.

• Another splendid source of protein is yogurt. It’s good enough to substitute with your regular conditioner.

Tip: Mix one egg with shampoo and create a “shampoo omelet.” It might smell, but good news is that you don’t need to leave it on for more than five minutes. The mixture will help enhance the protein in your hair.

Wash your locks correctly

• Massage your scalp with shampoo (NOT conditioner) and continue to do so for about 40 seconds before washing it out. Massaging your scalp with conditioner stimulates blood circulation which also helps prevent dandruff.

• When applying conditioner, make sure you’re doing it right. The right way to apply conditioner is to pour conditioner in your hand and rub it from the roots to the tips of your locks. If you want silkier softer hair, leave the conditioner on for a minute or two before washing it out.

• Try to wash your hair in a cool setting. As we already mentioned, exposure of warm water will dry it out. At least give your locks a cool final rinse to seal the cuticles.

6 Foods for Kidney Health

Just like the heart, brain, lungs and liver, the kidney is also an essential organ of the body without which human survival is difficult. Fortunately, unlike the heart, liver, lung and brain, we have two kidneys. So, if one of them fails, the other is there to rescue the body. It is known that people with one kidney have many problems in their lives as they cannot exert their bodies in exercise.
Kidneys function to form urine and henceforth, regulate the body’s fluids. The main function lies in the excretion of urine- a metabolic waste product better outside the body than inside.

Foods for Kidney Health

Chronic kidney diseases are common and must be taken proper care of. Whether or not you have kidney disease, susceptibility may differ from one individual to another due to the part played by genetics. If your family has a long history of kidney disease or failure, it is best to take precautionary measures and avoid complication rather than waiting for the disease to intervene.
What other way than to naturally make the body stronger? Read further to find out which foods are kidney-friendly and make sure to add them to your diet.

Cabbage

Cabbage is crammed with phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are compounds which fight free radicals before they can cause harm to the body. Many phytochemicals also promote cardiovascular health and provide protection from several types of cancers.
High in vitamin B6, folate, vitamin K, C and fiber, cabbage is a worthy investment for your kidney. Low in cost and low in potassium- the vegetable is quite kidney-friendly, not to mention pocket-friendly too.
Cabbage is a great food for a dialysis diet. They make great additives in salads and as toppings for tacos as well.

Cauliflower

Yet another nutritious vegetable, cauliflower is absolutely great for the kidneys. Their high vitamin C, folate and fiber content have earned them the status. They are jam-packed with indoles, glucosinolates and thiocyanates-compounds that aid liver in neutralizing toxins and preventing any cell membrane and DNA damage.

Garlic

Garlic is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It also helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Note that cooking garlic will not rid it of its anti-oxidant properties, and that is exactly what we want.
The protection against harmful and deteriorating effect of free radicals and easily battled by the antioxidant components of garlic making it a superfood for kidney health.
If you are a dialysis patient sick of the same old garlic salt, use garlic powder instead.

Apples

Not surprised apple made it to the list, because apple a day keeps a doctor away, duh. The high fiber and anti-inflammatory properties of apple protect the kidneys and other organs of the body including the heart. To consume apple’s health benefits, have fresh apple juice every day or eat a raw apple.

Egg whites

Were you aware that egg whites are all proteins? Another note-worthy fact if you’re on a kidney diet is that egg whites are low in phosphorus. Make a sandwich out of the egg whites or boil the eggs and consume the white part.

Fish

Fish is another storehouse of protein. It is highly recommended to include fish in your meal plan at least twice a week. Besides protein, fish makes a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and anti-inflammatory fats thus making great foods for chronic kidney disease. They are also great for the heart because they lower the bad cholesterol LDL and elevate the good cholesterol HDL.
Kidneys are integral for normal body function. It is therefore of utmost importance to make sure that they are as healthy as possible.

Top 12 Websites for Online Study & Certifications, Free and Paid

Top 12 Websites for Online Study & Certifications, Free and Paid:

There are several websites that offer online study and certifications all around the world. Some charge fee for the online course, while some provide certificate free of cost. Here is a list of both websites where you may apply for this purpose:

Coursera:

A very famous website for online study is Coursera that contains the biggest online library with the collaboration of sixteen renowned universities. It has more than one million students across the globe. Join for free https://www.coursera.org

The Open University:

This site has been designed for you to pass any course as per your interest without any fee. You can see, the course which has the high rating, shows that its demand is high. Visit http://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Khan Academy:

Khan Academy has recorded a number of video lectures, which are available for you without any fee. However, there is no reading in this course. You can watch free videos and learn in this way. Follow the official site, i.e. https://www.khanacademy.org/

UMass Boston Open Courseware:

UMass invites you to study online a wide range of subjects, including science, technology, social sciences and Math, etc. They follow a proper discipline and send the students timely assignments, quizzes and exams. For more details, visit their official website: http://ocw.umb.edu/

MIT Open Courseware:

MIT offers you to download all the study stuff free and you can learn independently at your home. Check http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

Free-Ed:

It is a big platform where you can quench your thirst for study and a particular benefit is that you can join their Facebook community for home based group study with the other students enrolled in its courses. Visit http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/

Udemy:

Udemy presents free as well as paid courses related to various disciplines. It is the best website to learn web development and designing from the scratch. You can search for the desired course and its details at https://www.udemy.com/

Open Yale Courses:

This is another big online portal for free education. It proposes different courses and certificates. It is easy to navigate website and becoming popular rapidly. Check http://oyc.yale.edu/

ALISON:

ALISON stands for Advanced Learning Interactive Systems Online. As from the name is obvious, it is for eLearning and provide a certificate at the completion of the course. There is a negligible fee for accessing ALISON Manager, which is a control panel for the tutors. It is worthwhile platform based in Ireland. See details at http://alison.com/

University of the People:

It is indeed a university of the people, where they can learn and enhance their knowledge free of cost. You can enroll in any course of your own choice and also get a degree online. There is a minimal fee charged for Application Processing and Examination Processing. Find details at http://uopeople.edu/groups/tuition-free-online-degree

Open Culture:

It invites you to select any course from a collection of 1100 courses offered by the valuable universities and educational institutions worldwide. You can download study material of the renowned universities from Open Culture Website, i.e. http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

Google Code University:

This is the best choice to learn computer languages and Android App development, etc. it has collected worthy stuff from different educational institutions. Official link is https://developers.google.com/university/

Conflict Strategies for Nice People

Conflict — presenting a different point of view even when it is uncomfortable — is critical to team effectiveness. Diversity of thinking on a team is the source of innovation and growth. It is also the path to identifying and mitigating risks. If you find yourself shying away from conflict, and by doing this you think you are maintaining your self-image as a nice person (That’s not nice at all). Read the techniques in the attached file and get to know how you can overcome your shyness and put your opinion on the table to resolve the conflict

Conflict Strategies for Nice People