Air Travel Tips for Travelers with Health Issues or Disabilities
Travel by air for people with health issues, handicaps, disabilities or special needs, can be challenging. The following air travel tips will help make your flight and trip, whether domestic or international, easier, cheaper and safer.
When making your travel reservations, request any carts, wheelchair services or any other transportation you’ll need. Fully describe your limitations and needs. Get your airline ticket and boarding pass well ahead of time so you don’t have to wait in any lines. You’ll be able to arrange travel at a discount, get better travel deals, and avoid last minute travel headaches.
Talk with your airline representative or travel agent regarding the type of restrooms that are on the airplane. Call your airport and find out as much information as possible about the restrooms and handicapped parking at the airport.
You’ll need to find out how you’ll be boarding the airplane at each of the airports involved in your trip. You may need another type of airplane or alternative route so you’ll have Jetways, or jet bridges, into the plane from the airport and not have to worry about stairs.
One year my mother and I were going to fly out of the San Jose, California airport and discovered after we arrived that we had to go outside on the ground level with the wheelchair to the tarmac. Four airline employees had to carry my mother in the wheelchair up the steep steps to board the plane. This might be impossible if there are weight issues.
Think about what seat arrangement will work best for you needs. Would an aisle seat make it more convenient to get to the restroom? You’ll want to avoid sitting in the emergency exit row. The passengers in this row may be asked to help others in an emergency situation.
Let the airlines and flight attendants know if you have any assisting devices. Find out the best way to store them so they arrive without damage.
Always keep in mind what you can do easily and without assistance, as well as situations that would require help.
Can you transfer to seats by yourself? Will you need a transfer board or assistance from airline staff?
Consider hiring a travel nurse if you have serious health or medical issues. There are traveling nurses networks.
Can you describe your wheelchair, scooter or walker, dimensions, weight, type of tires, type of batteries, etc.? You may need to take along spare batteries. You also may need to rent or buy a travel wheelchair.
Make sure to mention to your travel agent or airline representative any assisting devices you may need or already have like canes and crutches. Do you need a slow pace or are you a slow walker?
If you will be traveling through different time zones, how will jet lag affect your situation?
Consider how the following will be of concern during your trip and discuss with your travel agent: upper body strength, communication ability, speech issues, voice issues, vision problems, hearing problems, heat issues, medication needs, oxygen requirements, and dietary requirements such as gluten-free meals.
Try to arrange or book your air travel through experienced travel agencies or tour operators that specialize in disabled travel. There are a large number of agencies throughout the U. S., Canada, Europe, Australia and many other countries.
Just in case you need them, it’s also good to know if there are any travel agencies that specialize in disabled travel at your destination, for return travel, local resources or travel services.
At the airport let airline boarding personnel know that you may need extra time to board the plane. Sit close to the door at the gate so you’re called first and then board at a comfortable pace.
After the plane has landed, never get off the plane until you see or have your assisting device, wheelchair, travel wheelchair, etc. Flight attendants have to stay on the airplane until the last passenger leaves. They will help you while you’re on the plane but once you’re off the plane they won’t be able to help you.
Make sure you carry your medications and back-up prescriptions with you onto the plane, along with doctors’ names, addresses, fax numbers for faxing prescriptions, phone numbers, medical diagnosis, names and dosages of medications you’re taking and any allergies you have.
Photocopy passports, airline tickets, American Express Travelers Cheques, credit cards, any important papers.
Carry your health insurance information with you on the plane. Know what you’ll do if you encounter a health problem or medical emergency on your trip. Get travel insurance to ensure less costly medical assistance. These emergency bills may not be covered under your health insurance policy. It’ll ease your mind to have this back-up travel insurance and prevent costly emergency medical charges on your trip. Emergency medical costs can run considerably higher than standard medical fees.
These air travel tips should provide good insurance and help make your airplane travel, with health issues, handicaps, disabilities or special needs, easier, safer and cheaper.
Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/air-travel-tips-for-travelers-with-health-issues-or-disabilities-93835.html
Health Dangers of Modern Food Production
The commercial food we now consume is grown in soil that has been seriously depleted of its minerals because of continuous farming without crop rotation or rest. In addition, there is a total dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow produce.
Depending on the soils they are grown on, there can be a significant difference between commercially grown and organically grown vegetables. One study concluded that organically grown foods were richer in minerals than commercially grown products. By comparison, there was 87% less content of magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron, and copper in conventionally grown foods.
It is now a proven fact that when soil is made healthy with organic humus and natural minerals, plants become healthier and more pest-resistant.They do not contain “weakness attractors” for pests.Even though we may be eating adequate quantities of fruits and vegetables, if they are not grown organically, or if they have been irradiated,our bodies are not receiving the nutrition required to build and maintain health.
We are consuming incomplete nutrition because the food lacks the natural vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes necessary to maintain life and build vitality.
Food Processing
The following food preparation processes are listed in order of nutritive
value, from best to worst:
- Raw
- Juiced, and consumed immediately after preparation
- Dehydrated, or dried, without chemicals or additives (2-5% loss of nutritive value)
- Frozen (5-15% loss)
- Lightly steamed, so that the vegetable is still a little crunchy (15-40% loss)
- Cooked (40-100% loss, depending of length of time cooked)
- Leftovers
- Microwaved (90-99% loss)
- Commercially canned
- Fried, and deep fried
- Processed foods with additives (contain toxins and have zero nutrient value)
Food industries process food so that it can be sold to consumers. In our fast-paced world, we have been conditioned to expect food that is conveniently packaged, easy and quick to prepare, has a long shelf life, and tastes good. Tantalizing taste is now the main criterion for choosing food.
Food loses its nutrient value when it is processed. For example, refined white flour contains only two or three nutrients, compared to more than fifty in whole-wheat flour. Whenever food is heated to temperatures in excess of 112 degrees fahrenheit (44 degrees celsius), most of the natural enzymes in it are destroyed.
Original, living, natural food becomes more or less unnatural dead food, lacking life force energy. Enzymes contained in raw food function as catalysts to assist with the digestive process and with other functions in our bodies.
Without live enzymes in food, our bodies must manufacture them from vitamins and minerals in our own tissues to be able to digest the nutrient-deficient processed foods we eat.Whenever we prepare foods by canning or overcooking, we are killing the live enzymes. When we consume these foods, we are depleting our body’s nutrient reserves.
Ron Garner
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/health-dangers-of-modern-food-production-76071.html
Tips For Shopping Online For Home Health Care Products
There are a multitude of home health care products that can be purchased online. However, the very availability of these products means we need to be particularly careful about what we buy and for what reason. We also need to be aware of the variability in quality, ingredients and manufacturing conditions that may not be of the same standard as those in our own country. Home health care products can include pharmaceuticals, natural remedies, and other products and equipment that support healing and wellness.
First, it must be said that just because you can buy a health care product online doesn’t mean it is legal for you to do so. It is illegal to bring some health products into the country because they have either have not been approved for use here, or have been declared illegal for various reasons. With regard to home health care products that are not taken by mouth, such as equipment, the manufacturers may not have to meet the same quality standards or safety standards as locally made products. Of course, this only refers to imported items. If you can buy well known, safe, local brands online, by all means do so.
The main proviso is with pharmaceutical and natural remedies. There is a risk in home treatment. Both pharmaceutical medications and natural remedies have the potential for side effects and can be harmful in wrong doses or in combination with other products. It is very important that you take the time to fully understand the potential risks and side effects of these types of products and when you are ready to buy, purchase a brand with good quality control and high quality ingredients.
Here are three tips to help you shop online for home health products:
PLAN YOUR PURCHASE. It is not a good idea to impulse buy home health care products. Know exactly what you need. If possible, look at local products and ask questions of health professionals regarding their recommendations. If you cannot view products, search for personal and industry recommendations. Decide on a preferred brand or perhaps narrow it down to a few choices.
SEARCH FOR THE BEST PRICE AND LOWEST DELIVERY COST FROM A RELIABLE ONLINE SUPPLIER. Once you have made your decision, you can target your online shopping to locate the product at the best price. Make sure you only purchase from a supplier that guarantees the product and will refund your money if the product does not do what they say.
CHECK THE SECURITY OF THE SITE BEFORE YOU PAY. Make sure that the payment system is secure before you pay. It can be helpful to type the name of the website plus the word fraud or scam into a search engine and see what comes up. If you get a whole lot of specific results, that would be a good indication you should shop somewhere else.
For the most part, shopping online is a safe and convenient process. The main things you really need to consider is the quality and purpose of the products you are looking to buy. Self medication can be risky and is not advisable. Neither is buying medications from overseas suppliers as you really don’t know what you are getting. With regards to any home health care products, it is important to act circumspectly and knowledgeably. After all, you wish to care for your health not harm it.
Gabriel Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tips-for-shopping-online-for-home-health-care-products-118453.html
Gaining Better Health Through A Raw Food Diet
Chances are that you’ve probably heard people talk about a raw food diet and how healthy it is for you, but did you ever wonder exactly what it is they’re talking about? Perhaps you envisioned raw oysters and beef on your dinner table. That doesn’t sound too appealing doesn’t?
In fact, a raw food diet is simply eating food in its natural unprocessed state. You probably already are on part of a raw food diet. If you snack on fruits and vegetables without cooking them, then you’ve eaten raw food.
Raw food, or unprocessed food is much better for you because the act of processing the food strips it of a lot of its vital nutrients. You’ve probably heard that cooking vegetables can leach out a lot of the vitamins and it can also destroy the important food enzymes as well. Packaged foods, that you find in the grocery store like potato flakes to make mashed potatoes and other foods that have been processed in some way to make an easy package meal not only have little nutritional value, but your body simply isn’t made to process these foods.
If you think about raw foods as being the natural foods the way that they come from the earth, then it makes sense that these are easier for our bodies to process as these of the foods are great ancestors ate and there really hasn’t been that many generations since grocery stores, and therefore prepackaged foods, were invented.
Raw foods are packed full of vitamins, minerals and food enzymes. These food enzymes are important, although you don’t hear a lot about them. One of the things they do is help you digest your food and getting enough enzymes can help your body with the digestion process which takes a lot of energy, and if your body is spending less energy on digestion it will have more energy for you to do the things you like. Did you ever wonder why you feel so tired after you eat a big meal of cooked foods? One of the reasons is because food enzymes are destroyed by cooking, so there are no enzymes to help your body digests that big meal you just ate.
People in a raw food diet eat about 75% of their food as raw and whole foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, sprouts, raw nuts, seaweed and other foods in their natural form.
Raw foods can be prepared in a couple of ways. One of the most popular is juicing. Many people go on a juice fast where all they do is drink the juice of raw organic fruits and vegetables. Even just drinking fresh juice in the morning can give your health a boost.
Another way that people eat raw foods is to use a food dehydrator. This takes all the moisture out of the fruits and vegetables so they can be easily stored for long periods of time without going bad. A food dehydrator uses hot air to dehydrate the food but it keeps the temperature under 116°F so that the vital food enzymes are not destroyed.
Of course, you can simply eat your fruits and vegetables the way nature intended picked straight from the tree. Nuts can be a great raw food that you eat for snacks as well, but be careful because most of the nuts you find in the grocery store are cooked. You need to make sure you get raw nuts which you probably will have to buy either online or from a health food store.
You don’t have to all of a sudden start eating 75% of your foods as raw foods in order to enjoy the health benefits of the raw food diet. You can gradually increase the amount of raw foods you eat as time goes on and you will notice how much more energy you have and how healthy you feel. Remember, you are what you eat!
Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/gaining-better-health-through-a-raw-food-diet-106764.html
Tips On How To Properly Care For You Cats Health
Just like humans, cats feel miserable when they are sick. As a pet owner, it is your primary responsibility to keep your feline friends healthy and happy. With proper care and nutrition you will have a friend for life in the form of your pet cat.
Here are some tips on how you can properly care for your cat’s health:
1. Feed them properly.
Every cat has a preference when it comes to food. There are several types of cat food available in the market. Try each one until you find out which variety your cat prefers.
However, you can still try to mix the variety of cat food you prepare so that your pet will have a nutritious and balanced diet.
Commercial cat foods have been well-researched so you do not need to worry about the nutritional value of what you are feeding your pet.
Also, supply your pet with a lot of clean water to drink. Having an ample supply of drinking water will lead to a healthier animal.
It does not matter if you serve dry, canned or moist cat food. Just make sure that you preserve the freshness of the food that they eat.
You would also want to opt for a healthy and natural cat food. Remember that it should be made of quality ingredients.
2. Remember that even domestic cats are natural hunters.
Mice can serve two purposes in your cat’s life: prey and dinner. Hunting for mice would preserve their natural abilities to hunt and seek prey.
If you decide that you do not like the idea of your cat regularly “hunting” for dinner, make sure that you provide them with a proper diet. This will result to your cat ending up just chasing and running after their prey for satisfying their natural hunting urges.
3. Watch out for unusual behavior.
If your pet is exhibiting unusual behavior, then the cat might not be at its best condition.
Try to look out for the following symptoms:
- being lethargic or less active than usual
- shedding of the fur or coat
- it has waxy ears
- looks poor and unhealthy
If you see these symptoms, you might want to change the food that you are serving your cat.
Better yet, consult a professional if you see your pet being less active than usual. Your pet might have a sickness or disease, and as a pet owner and cat lover, you would not want that to happen.
Ann Kristin
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-on-how-to-properly-care-for-you-cats-health-110517.html
The Health Benefits Of Organic Food
The society of today is one that struggles to find its balance when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. We are bombarded on a daily basis with the newest and best products on the market all designed to help us achieve maximum health. But for many who have traveled this road many a time, the answer is simple; a healthy lifestyle begins and ends with a nutritious diet rich in whole foods. But while we may know the types of food we should be eating - fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains - we are now faced with another choice - that of organic food.
Ask any organic food enthusiast and they will happily tell you the health benefits of organic food. And when faced with the information it’s difficult to ignore the substantial differences between organic food and that food that is grown or produced in a traditional environment.
Organic food is grown and raised by a group of committed organic farmers working within strictly enforced government guidelines. Produce that is grown organically is done so without the use of pesticides or chemical additives. Chemicals and pesticides are, however, used on traditional farms. And while not much thought is given to additives when we encounter fruits and vegetables in the grocery store, the truth is that insufficient research has been done regarding the long term effects of these chemicals on the human body.
The same holds true for agricultural and dairy farming practices. While agricultural and dairy farmers traditionally feed their livestock supplements and hormones to speed their growth and milk production, organic farmers do just the opposite. Animals are given only organic feed and are not subjected to chemicals or hormones of any kind.
Organic food has benefits that extend to the environment as well. Organic farming means that the ground is not subjected to chemical or pesticide run-off. Organic farmers are strongly committed to the environment and their product is only considered certified organic food if they adhere to strict government regulations.
Organic food can mean significant benefits for your health and that of those you love. Additionally, it shows a dedication to the environment and the future of the planet.
Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-health-benefits-of-organic-food-124435.html
Ten Tips to Improve Your Fitness Health
The following paragraphs summarize the work of health experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of health. Heed their advice to avoid any health surprises.
Here are ten tips to improve your fitness health. Even athletes who are incredibly fit may not be really healthy. They often tread a fine line between health and illness or injury.
1) Listen to your body. As you are training it is easy to become preoccupied with the repetitions you are doing, or the time you’ve been exercising. Leave your watch at home and slow down or walk when your body hurts.
2) To improve your fitness health you need to eat a varied diet. Five fruit and vegetables a day should be your minimum target. Your health will improve if you eat at least five different kinds of fruit, then any vegetables will be a bonus.
3) Take a complete day off from exercise every once in a while. It doesn’t have to be every week, but doing extra training when you are tired may have a detrimental effect on your health and fitness. You become fitter and healthier through rest as much as exercise.
4) Limit the number of supplements you take. Adequate amounts can in fact be absorbed by modifying the diet without the risks involved by taking a dietary supplement. Consult a professional dietician. Many sprinters and power athletes, for example, take creatine supplements because it gives them a legal edge. There is a risk, though, as it is possible that they have been contaminated by banned substances. This is a risk to your fitness health, and a risk financially if you are a professional athlete.
See how much you can learn about health when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information.
5) Your health will improve if you minimize the number of tablets that you take. Paracetamol may seem okay, but you will be surprised how often a headache can be cured by drinking water, having something to eat or sitting in a quiet room.
6) You will improve your health and fitness by stretching more. Your muscles get shorter through exercise, and if you never stretch you will get injured. One method is to warm up slowly first, then spend several minutes stretching before the main workout. Stretch thoroughly after exercise as well.
7) You need to stay hydrated if you are exercising more. This means drinking water and sports drinks if you are sweating a lot. You lose minerals in your body while sweating. It is recommended to drink five glasses of water a day, but if you are working out you need to drink more than this. Don’t get carried away, though, because it can be just as dangerous to drink too much as too little.
Exercise with other people. You will meet new friends, and your fitness will improve if you have other people to motivate you.
9) Don’t become too competitive as this may harm your health. Motivation from other people is good, but you should only compete against yourself. Try too hard to keep up with someone else, and you could become injured.
10) Have fun! Your health and fitness will improve if you are having fun because you will stick to your exercise program.
This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.
Michael Hehn
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/ten-tips-to-improve-your-fitness-health-88198.html
Visit A Health Food Store Today
Health food stores have always been mysterious places. Back in the late 1970’s, early 1980’s, health food stores occupied a small niche in society that was close to being underground. They came along on the heels of the hippy movement of the 60’s and often served as a place for communes to sell their homegrown wares. The health food stores smelled of herbs, incense and a few other things that generally defied description. There were strange and exotic foods from all over the globe, all of them claiming to be organic or free range. There were things like granola, soymilk, goat’s milk, tofu and wheat grass juice. You could find books on such subjects as natural healing, crystal therapy and composting.
Wild Oats is a franchise in many cities and when you go into the store, you can tell right away that the basic Mom and Pop operation had changed. This particular chain began eighteen years ago in Boulder, Colorado and has expanded over the years to include more than 110 stores in 24 states and British Columbia. It is clear to see how this company became the standard for the organic market industry.
At first glance, their store looks like any other large grocery store, and you can probably find many of the same items that you would in a standard grocery store - but with one twist. Everything is organic. Usually when you hear the word organic, you might think two things; bland and expensive. However, with all the options and improvements in the way of organic foods are produced, there are many items that are very tasty, and the prices have become comparable to those of a conventional grocery store.
The overall concept of the health food store hasn’t changed. They still offer a wide range of organic foods and herbal remedies. They are filled with all kinds of products to heal the body, mind and spirit. You can find aromatherapy candles, essential oils, books, tapes, and DVD’s on meditation and yoga. You can take cooking classes and learn how to make your own herbal remedies. There are still aisles dedicated to environmentally safe products for household cleaning and recycling.
Some additions are a pleasant surprise, though. There can be four different “deli” counters. There is usually a butcher counter with free-range chicken and beef and a plethora of fresh seafood. Another counter may display an array of amazing baked goods (bagels, cakes and pastries), and in many stores there is yet another section that caters full meals for a quick healthy lunch or a dinner party. The modern health food store also had a section for wine and beer, an astounding array of cheeses, and an extensive frozen foods section.
It is good to see how far the basic health food store has come. Sure you can still find the small ones if you look for them, but like so many other things these days, big corporations have taken over and created franchises that offer more for less. Buying in bulk allows the stores to get better discounts and pass the savings on to the consumer.
Jeff Clare
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/visit-a-health-food-store-today-100583.html
Tips For Choosing A Health Insurance Policy, Part 1
Choosing a health insurance policy is a very important decision and will affect your health in either a positive or negative way, depending on your choice. You will want to be sure that you pick a health insurance policy that will have you covered when you need it. If you are not sure how to pick a health insurance policy for you and your family, consider the following helpful tips. Following these tips can help you pick the best health insurance policy that will cover you and your family adequately while being affordable.
Tip #1 - Consider Your Needs - When you are trying to choose the right health insurance policy for you and your family, you need to take your health needs into consideration. If any of you have a pre-existing medical problem it can make it a bit harder to get medical insurance. You should also carefully consider what needs you are going to have in the next few years. If you are planning to start a family you will want to make sure that your health insurance policy covers maternity and other OB/GYN costs as well. When considering your needs you want to make sure that you purchase enough health insurance coverage, but you also want to make sure that you are not going to pay for coverage that you do not need.
Tip #2 - Are Doctor and Facility Choices Available - Another factor to consider when you are choosing a health insurance policy is the doctor and facility choices that will be available with your insurance plan. Many insurance companies only work with certain doctors or care facilities. If you already have a doctor that you really like you may want to be certain that you can continue to see this doctor and have it covered by your health insurance. Also make sure that it is fairly easy to see a specialist as well. Some insurance companies require doctor referrals and advanced notice if you need to see a specialist, which can be time consuming and can take up time you do not have.
Gabriel Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/tips-for-choosing-a-health-insurance-policy-part-1-118578.html
Eating Organic Food To Improve Your Health
Organic food is food that has been grown without the use of toxic chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers. The food is as natural as can be, safer for the environment and usually tastes better too. Most importantly though, eating this food is healthier for you and may provide many health benefits, which is what this article is all about.
Even though further research needs to be done to gain a better understanding of the benefits of organic food, there is still much valuable information to share with you.
Before we discuss the actual health benefits of eating whole food, lets take a look at the advantages it has over non-organic food.
It’s a fact that this food is highly nutritious and contains higher levels of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C and minerals like magnesium, calcium and iron are just some of the nutrients organic food contains higher amounts of.
Whole foods also contain higher amounts of antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of developing cancers.
You may be surprised to know, but the vegetables we eat today are nowhere near as nutritious as they were 50 or even 15 years ago. Farmers tend to take shortcuts when growing food, and the fastest way is generally not the best way to do something. This trend is expected to continue, so if eating highly nutritious food is important to you, looking into organic foods is something worth considering.
If you were wondering why organic food hasn’t exactly taken the world by storm, it’s mainly due to the extra cost associated with organic growing. Demand is greater than supply and as a result, you can expect to pay about 20% extra for this kind of food..
Numerous studies have been conducted to find out the benefits whole foods can provide us humans. Many results are still fairly inconclusive however there have been many reported cases of benefits when animals are fed organic food.
The reason for the vagueness in health benefits is due to many reasons such as: incorrect method of testing and the lengthy time it takes to determine results of this nature. However several studies have shown benefits such as:
Decline in colds and other conditions
Improves dental health
Improves flow of your overall system
Greater chance of sprains and fractures
Reduces chance of injury
Better over health
As mentioned, the subject of organic food vs non organic food is very iffy and many researches believe that this food provides little to no health benefits.
Thinking about it logically, surely food that has been grown as it was intended to and that contains no added toxic chemicals has to be considerably healthier for us.
Whether the extra cost associated with organic food is worth the money is entirely up to the person. There is insufficient evidence to say something like “eating whole foods will reduce the likelihood of getting heart disease”.
Even though it’s likely that eating organic food will produce significant healthier benefits long term, as of now it comes more down to ones opinion than solid fact.
Darrell Knox
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/eating-organic-food-to-improve-your-health-50829.html