Travel to Health

People 65 years and older have some of the highest rates of hospitalization and death as a result of influenza infection. If you are in that age group, you could choose: No flu shots  Regular flu shots  Higher dose flu shot [1]   All medical interventions have a benefit-to-risk ratio. Each person has to weigh the supposed benefits against the potential risks [2] .  The most common flu vaccine—the inactivated virus—is not “truly sterilizing because it doesn’t generate local immune response in the respiratory tract,” Crowcroft  says. This fact, coupled with low immunization rates (often shy of 50 percent among adults) and the influenza virus’s ability to infect and move between multiple species , enables it to constantly change in ways that make it hard for our immune system to recognize .   Still, depending on the year, flu vaccines have been shown to reduce hospitalizations among older adults by an estimated 40% and intensive care admission...

To get you started with Yan-Style Tai Chi Chuan , you can following instructions in the following articles: Yang-Style Tai Chi Chuan 24 Forms Tai Chi Chuan—Directional Instructions Tai Chi Chuan Step-by-Step Instructions (1/8) Tai Chi Chuan Step-by-Step Instructions (2/8) Tai Chi Chuan Step-by-Step Instructions (3/8) In addition, we have provided more helpful tips in this article. Tips Exercise with empty stomach Warm-up first Easy motions, such as shoulder circles, turning the head from side to side, or rocking back and forth, help you to loosen your muscles and joints and focus on your breath and body. Coordinate your breathing with your movements There is a pattern in healthy breathing that relates to the timing of the inhale, exhale and pause Pauses are the time at the bottom of the exhale where no in breath or exhale is occurring Consider Tai Chi a repeated 1, 2 pattern in breathing and movements 1, 2 breathing involves the inhale and exhale (considerin...

If you plan to learn Tai-Chi by watching video  without teacher's help, one of the difficult parts is to learn in which direction you should face in the exercise. In this article, I will try to help by providing directional guidance. Clock-Facing Position Whatever position you take at the start of the form (or whatever direction the center of your chest and navel face) consider that starting position to be facing the 12 o'clock position . [2] When the center of your chest and navel face the 12 o'clock position, your right side faces 3 o'clock , your back side faces 6 o'clock , and your left side faces 9 o'clock . Movements In  Yang-Style Tai Chi Chuan , it is composed of 24 forms. Starting at the starting position facing 12 o'clock, you move from right to left and then left to right on approximately a line as shown in the diagram. When you finish, your final position will face 12 o'clock again. From below, please f...

For a mobile-friendly version, click here . Oil pulling is inexpensive and can be easily included in your morning oral hygiene routine. Based on a recent review, it concludes that: [13] The limited evidence to date from clinical trials suggests that oil pulling may have beneficial effects on oro dental hygiene as seen for the short period of time investigated. Given that this is a potentially cost-effective intervention, this practice might be of particular benefit. Future clinical trials should be more rigorous and better reported. Oil pulling is also claimed to have advantages over commercial mouthwashes since it causes no staining, has no lingering after taste, causes no allergic reactions and is readily available in the household. [5] As a personal testimony with10 year's practice, I believe that oil pulling could be used as an effective preventive adjunct in maintaining and improving your oral health for most people (read "Warning" section below). Figure...

Attention: Click  here  to view a mobile-friendly version. Health Benefits Tai Chi is often described as “ meditation in motion ,” but it might well be called “ medication in motion .” As you move, you breathe deeply and naturally, focusing your attention — as in some kinds of meditation — on your bodily sensations.  You can read [16] to learn its health benefits. Video 1.   24 Tai Chi video with English subtitles and narrations (YouTube link ) Movements In Yang-Style Tai Chi Chuan , it is composed of 24 forms. Starting at the starting position facing front, you move from right to left and then left to right on approximately a line as shown in the diagram (see [ 12 ] to learn in which direction you should face with each form). When you finish, your final position is about one step to the left of your starting position. So, if you have a free space of roughly 20 feet x 6 feet, you can practice it. Commencing (Qǐshì, 起势), Prep...

Globally, some seven million deaths each year are linked to the effects of air pollution , according to the World Health Organization, making it the biggest environmental killer. Pollution kills more people than car accidents, diabetes or dementia. [16] Health Effects of Air Pollution on Kids Fourth and fifth graders in El Paso, Texas , are more likely to have lower grade point averages if heavily exposed to contaminated air at home, according to a new study which is the first to look at kids’ exposure to air toxics—such as benzene , arsenic , lead , mercury , hydrochloric acid , toluene , vinyl bromide , xylenes , and diesel particulate matter —at home and its impact on their school performance. [3] Scientists suggest that children’s developing bodies are more susceptible to air pollution, which can harm their respiratory systems and brain. They also surmise that air pollution might hamper kids’ grades via at least two ways:  Illnesses ( mostly respiratory) That...

We're more microbe than we are person: Our bodies contain 10 times more bacteria than cells , meaning around 100 trillion microbes are crawling inside and on us. By far the largest collection—about 3 pounds' worth—hangs out in the stomach and intestines . Video 1.   How Italian Gorgonzola Cheese Is Made | Regional Eats (YouTube link ) While historical evidence has linked harmful gut bacteria to everything from increasing diabetes risk to the formation of autoimmune diseases , [24]    healthy gut bacteria are now being hailed as a possible solution in disease prevention.    One way to make your gut healthy is by consuming fermented foods—From Korean kimchi , Japanese  tsukemono ,  Indian chutneys to the ubiquitous sauerkraut , yogurt and cheese , global cultures have crafted unique flavors and traditions around fermentation. In this article, we will discuss the history of fermented foods and their potential health benefits. History...