Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Get Nutrition for Dry, Brittle NailsAuthor: peterhutch
Brittle nails are usually not associated with a medical disease. Brittle fingernails are a common condition, occurring in about 20 % of people; more women than men develop brittle nails. 1 Brittle nails usually break or peel off in horizontal layers, starting at the nail’s free end. Brittleness in the nail may be caused by trauma, such as repeated wetting and drying, repeated exposure to detergents and water, and excessive exposure to harsh solvents, such as those found in nail polish remover.
A deficiency of folic acid and vitamin C can result in hangnails. Inadequate dietary essential oils, like omega-3, make cracking nails. Also, external precautions are also required. Use nail polish remover no further than once a week. Desist from nail polish removers with acetone and take out nail polish at most once a week. You can always do your nails during the week if your nail polishes chips. Cosmetic moisturizers provide immediate relief for dryness but endure only while they are applied. For people with gentle or irregular brittle nails, a cosmetic moisturizer may be ample to hold the skin from feeling dry. Use a glass file or an emery board instead of a metal nail file.
Avoid nail polish removers with acetone and remove nail polish at most once a week.
Several vitamins and minerals have been proposed for the prevention of brittle nails.
Nail health can be a sign of your overall health. If you think your finger nails are showing symptoms of a larger health issue, such as a thyroid problem, visit your doctor.
The nutrition for dry, brittle nails and hangnails through a diet rich in vitamin C, folic acid and omega-3 can be classified into four major elements: the efficacy of the nutrition control and management procedures, the level of involvement of the people concerned, the guidelines and policies for nutrition control and management, and lastly, the control of potential dangers and hazards linked with the nutrition management.
The endeavors included in the efficacy of the nutrition for dry, brittle nails involve discovering the most acceptable diet alternatives, evaluating the current dietary methods, altering implementation procedures if needed, and the approval through medical evaluation that the diet rich in vitamin C, folic acid and omega-3 can be considered as at par to the best processes as of that time.
A deficiency of folic acid and vitamin Degree Centigrade can take to hangnails. Insufficient dietary indispensable oils, like omega-3, cause cracking. Use nail gloss remover no more than than once a week. Avoid nail gloss removers with propanone and take nail gloss at most once a week. You can always touch up your nails during the hebdomad if your nail gloss chips. decorative moisturizers, which supply contiguous alleviation of waterlessness but last lone while they are applied. For people with mild or intermittent brickle nails, a cosmetics moisturizer may be adequate to maintain the tegument from feeling dry.
Use hand lotion on your nails, too. Rub it in after you wash your hands or take a shower.
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Thursday, February 4th, 2010
How to do a Lumbar Puncture: Instructions from a practising neurologist
By Dr Raeburn B. Forbes MD(Hons) FRCP
Introduction
Even today the word lumbar puncture still strikes fear in patients and practitioners. Like all fear, education will alleviate it! Ive now done hundreds of LPs, teach about LPs and write LP guidelines. Heres how I go about it. The information here would be very useful when counselling your patients prior to the test. Any postgraduate physician in training would be expected to have a detailed knowledge of how to do an LP, and it is a core skill for emergency medicine and neurology.
Before you do an LP, make sure you have observed several successful and unsuccessful procedures. Make yourself aware of the anatomy of the lumbar spine and spinal canal, and the layers that your needle will traverse. An LP will be a lot easier in a calm environment e.g. side room, treatment room, day-case theatre/OR. I strongly advise that you have with you a nurse or nursing auxiliary who has assisted at many LPs before.
Equipment
An LP is usually performed on a hospital bed, or treatment couch or procedure table. The room should be well lit, warm and private. You will need, anti-septic (chlorhexidine or iodine-based), sterile drapes, sterile gloves. You will need a hypodermic needle and 5 ml syringe to draw up local anaesthetic, and another hypodermic needle to inject the local anaesthetic. You need a spinal needle (will discuss choice of needle later), and a manometer to measure opening pressure. Specimen containers are required - usually 4 are needed, and a fluoride oxalate tube if glucose is being measured in CSF. Blood bottles and venepuncture equipment for paired blood glucose, protein and serum oligoclonal bands are also needed. Most hospitals will already have pre-packed trays to which you need to add your own manometer. Pre-packed spinal amaesthesia trays usually have very fine (25 or 27G)atraumatic needles. These fine atraumatic needles may not be suitable for diagnostic or therapeutic LP, you will need a 22G atraumatic needle if you are hoping to measure opening pressure. Alternatively you can use an ordinary sterile dressing pack and add your own choice of LP needle and manometer.
Choice of needle
There has been debate for years about use of atraumatic needles versus the classic bevelled tip needle. The difficulty with atraumatic needles is that the aperture in the needle is small and the needle is of fine bore making pressure recording (arguably) unreliable and sample collection slow. A bevelled needle will give a more reliable pressure reading and in some cases you actually want to create a dural tear - such as therapeutic LP in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. There is consensus that atraumatic needles do reduce the incidence of post-LP headache. If you can obtain a 22G atraumatic needle, you should use that. There is a technique described where oblique insertion of a traditional bevelled needle can create a self-sealing hole - this is not widely practised but makes a lot of sense. Whichever needle you choose, you should be comfortable with its handling to keep patient discomfort to a minimum.
Anatomy review
The layers you pass en route to the CSF are: 1. Skin, 2 Subcutaneous fat, 3 Interspinous ligament, 4 Ligamentum flavum, 5 Epidural space, 6 Meninges to arrive at the subarachnoid space. The usual distance to the CSF space according to most studies is about 4 to 7 centimeters, i.e. before the needle is in to the hilt. In obese subjects the subcutaneous layer obscures the anatomy and increases the distance to the spinal canal. You need to have this layering in your mind as you do the LP. The ligamentum flavum can often be heavily calified in older people and may give resistance, before the needle pops gently into the epidural space. I would not say that a give or pop is felt in every case, but if you can learn to feel for this it will help you in some cases.
Positioning the patient
The aim of positioning is to create the widest possible gap between the L3 and L4 spinous processes for your needle, and to set the patient up as geometrically as possible to create easy reference points to allow you to plan the needles trajectory. An LP is easiest performed in the sitting position, with forward flexion of the trunk, as the midline of the spine is easy to see. However a seated patient has a 40-60cm column of pressure from the base of the neck to the entry point of the LP needle. In a seated patient, high pressure is always recorded! I am not a great fan of inserting the needle seated and then gently lowering the patient on to their side to measure pressure. I have done it, but the potential for neural injury must be present, and it is disquieting to withdraw a kinked needle. Usually, if pressure is needing to be measured (and it almost always does, especially in acute headache), lie the patient on their left hand side - the left lateral position, with knees flexed up towards the abdomen. The head should be supported by one pillow only, and your patient may feel more comfortable with another pillow between their knees. In a horizontal plane, make sure that your patients back is parallel with the edge of the bed. In a vertical plane imagine that a plumb line suspended from the ceiling will touch both posterior iliac spines. If you take time to position in this way, you are most likely to have acheived adequate separation of the spinous processes. If you maintain the correct vertical orientation you are less likely to pass the needle to the left (too low) or right (too high) of the midline. Remember that if you can aim for the small target between spinous processes towards the small diamond of exposed ligamentum you could be well on your way to a near painless LP needle insertion! Most pain associated with LP is due to contact of the needle with periosteum of the spinous processes.
Confirming the L3/L4 intervertebral space
This can be very difficult, and some studies suggest that accuracy in identifying this space could be as low as 50%. Ultrasound can assist in identification of the interspinous space, especially if there is an excess of subcut tissue. Unfortunately Ultrasound is not widely used, but I expect this will become standard practice in the future, especially if anatomical landmarks are indistinct. The line between the right (upper as you see it) and left (lower as you see it) posterior superior iliac spines - named Tuffiers Line - runs through closest to the L4/5 interspace i.e. too low. You want to go for the interspace immediately cephalad (towards the head) to Tuffiers Line. The L3/4 space is wider and easier to penetrate. L2/3 is wider still, but you are more likely to hit an abnormally low lying spinal cord tip at L2/3. Your needle wants to enter the skin at a point on the surface in the midline in horizontal and vertical planes. You can mark the skin with a pen, or indent the skin with a blunt marker (e.g. the cap of one of your hypodermic needles).
Preparing the skin
Use aseptic technique (and do not, under any circumstance, penetrate the skin through an obvious focus of cutaneous infection - you could cause meningitis), start at the proposed puncture site and in a circular motion move outwards until your field is covered. Wait for the solution to dry (takes 2-3 minutes - will feel like a long time) and apply another. While waiting for the second application to dry, draw up local anaesthetic, get your LP needle out of its cover, and connect up your manometer. When connecting your manometer make sure you test the 3-way tap at the bottom as it is usually very stiff and almost impossible to undo with one hand holding the manometer steady! In one of my first LPs I did not loosen the 3-way, and struggled to open it while trying to steady the manometer guage with the same hand.
Local Anaesthetic
I normally use about 1 to 2ml of lidocaine 2%. My initial injection is a subdermal bleb, which almost immediately freezes the dermis (a tip taught me by a staff grade anaesthetist from Ninewells Hospital, Dundee - whose name I forget - sorry!). If you achieve immediate anaesthesia - test by pricking the skin with the needle over your bleb. If frozen, I usually go straight for the LP needle. If you do not acheive immediate anaesthesia, put 1-2 mls a bit deeper. I avoid using too much local as it can eventually distort the palpable anatomy. You may have been taught to put in 5 to 10mls, but I am letting you know I rarely use more than 2mls. Acute lidocaine toxicity can provoke a generalised tonic clonic seizure (Ive seen it happen) and is another good reason to avoid too much LA.
Insert the Needle
Insert the needle into your dermal bleb. Try to keep the needle parallel with the ceiling, and perpendicular to the inter-iliac line. Aim the needle slightly cephalad (meaning aim for the umbilicus area - mid anterior abdomen). After about 4 cm start to feel if you get a very slight give as you penetrate the 4th layer in the LP cake called ligamentum flavum. If you feel that give, you are nearly there. If you are slightly too high (right) or too low (left) you may make contact with a lumbar nerve root, which will produce sciatic-type pain into the thigh. Ask your patient to report any shooting pain as it can help you reposition the needle back toweards the middle. Once you have felt the give advance the needle another 2-3mm and withdraw the central part of the needle called the stylet. Wait about 10 seconds to see if CSF appears. If you get venous blood you are most likely in the epidural space and are only a few millimetres from glory. In a non-obese subject you may find that you have advanced the needle almost up to the hilt (9cm / 3.5inches). If you do not have CSF, pull the needle back 3-5mm and remove the stylet to see if you get CSF. Check that you have not deviated from the midline and are still heading in the direction of the centre of the anterior abdomen. When you pass a fine needle through dense tissue, physics will determine that the needle could be deflected off course. This is one reason why LPs can be unsuccessful even when you think the anatomy and set-up is correct. Your options are etiher to try a wider needle, or try and insert the needle more slowly.
Collecting CSF
If you get CSF (well done!), connect the 3-ay tap and manometer tubing. The CSF will rise up the tube and once it has reached its peak you may see it rise and fall with respiration. Open the three way tap to drain the manometer into a CSF container (this will come out in a rush). Then you have the option of removing the manometer completely and allowing CSF collection to proceed directly from the end of the open needle. Collect about 20 drops per container (Im talking about adults), which will be about 2mls per container. This means you will never have to explain to your patient that despite all the trouble of getting an LP needle the lab report said insufficient sample (you must avoid this!). An adult makes about 500mls of CSF per day, and isotope studies suggest that CSF is replaced about 4 times daily. This means that your 8 ml CSF sample is replaced by the brain within about 20 minutes of LP completion. DO not colect tiny samples - you have been warned!
Withdrawing the Needle and Skin Dressing
Before removing the needle, replace the stylet. If you dont there is the potential for a suction effect to draw soft tissues, such as a nerve root into contact with the LP needle, leading to nerve injury and pain for your patient. Please make sure you replace the stylet. A simple dry dressing is sufficient dressing after an LP. There is no need to bandage the patient up like they have had major surgery.
Aftercare
Prolonged bed rest is not mandatory after an LP, as clinical trial evidence does not support its use to prevent post-LP headache. A short period of rest is of course kind and considerate, and I advise my patients to sit up once they feel comfortable to do so. Avoid driving home after an LP as your patient may develop an acute post-spinal headache which could impair driving ability. The dry skin dressing can be removed after 12-24 hours.
Complications
About 30-50% of people after LP will experience a new headache, worse with upright and better with supine posture. This is due to low pressure of CSF within the cranial cavity, caused by persistent leak of CSF through your dural tear into the lumbar canal. About 1-2% will dvelop a severe post-LP headache and may not be able to lift their head from the pillow without vomiting or experiencing extreme pain. I normally reserve epidural blood patching for the latter group. Most post-LP headaches will resolve with a mix of bed rest, additional 1.5 to 2 litres per day fluid intake and regular dosing with non-steroidals or paracetamol.
Consent forms
All procedures require a patients consent. In emergencies it may not be possible to obtain a patients consent e.g. confusion or coma, and it is reasonable in that situation to record that consent is not possible (as a courtesy you should explain the procedure to next of kin). Your patient should be consented for the following: 1 Reason for LP, 2 initial pain of local anaesthesia, 3 potential for discomfort of inserting needle close to bone or nerve root 4 transient low back discomfort in the days after an LP, especially if it was difficult to obtain, 5 post-LP headache 30-50% rate, 1-2% are severe and may require additional intervention.
Dr Raeburn Forbes is a practising neurologist from Northern Ireland. He writes http://www.migrainenews.co.uk and http://www.lumbarpuncture.net. Dr Forbes is a graduate of the University of Dundee, and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh and London. His main interest is in acute neurology, specifically headache disorders. He is a member of the Association of British Neurologists, International Headache Society and the British Association for the Study of Headache.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Cardarone
Cardarone is used for treatment of irregular heartbeat. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Drug Uses
Cardarone is used for treatment of irregular heartbeat and to maintain a normal heart rate. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
How Taken
Use Cardarone as directed by your doctor. It is recommended to take Cardarone with a meal. However, it is more important to take it consistently with regard to meals. If you take it with food, try to always take it with food to improve absorption of this medicine. If you prefer to take it on an empty stomach, then always try to take it on an empty stomach. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking Cardarone . Take Cardarone at the same time each day.
Warnings/Precautions
Before taking Cardarone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances, if you are allergic to any ingredient in Cardarone, if you have a history of liver problems, lung disease, heart problems, low blood pressure, thyroid problems, electrolyte problems (eg, low blood potassium or magnesium), eye problems, or sinoatrial heart block, you will be having surgery, or if you take medicine for diabetes, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast–feeding. Cardarone has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Cardarone during pregnancy. Cardarone is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast–feed while taking Cardarone. Some medicines may interact with Cardarone. Therefore tell your doctor of all prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement that you are taking. Do not take Cardarone if you have you have complete, second degree, third degree, or severe sinoatrial heart block, an abnormally slow heartbeat, or shock due to serious heart problems, or if you have had fainting due to slow heartbeat (except if you have a pacemaker), if you are taking cisapride, dofetilide, an H1 antagonist (eg, astemizole, loratadine, terfenadine), an HIV protease inhibitor, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (eg, vardenafil), or a streptogramin (eg, dalfopristin). Long–term exposure to Cardarone may cause blue–gray discoloration of the skin, particularly of the face and hands. This effect is not harmful and usually reverses, sometimes incompletely, after the medicine is stopped. Avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun may help to prevent this effect. Limit alcoholic beverages while taking Cardarone. It may take several days to weeks for Cardarone to work. A response may not be seen for up to 3 weeks after the medicine is started. Cardarone stays in your body for weeks or months, even after you are no longer taking it. Therefore, caution is advised not only during treatment, but for several months after treatment with Cardarone has stopped if you are taking any interacting medicines. Cardarone may cause skin reactions similar to serious sunburn or sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period. Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Cardarone . Carry an identification card at all times that says you are taking Cardarone . Use Cardarone with extreme caution in children. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. However if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the Missed Dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Possible Side Effects
Some of the Possible Side Effects are- Abnormal skin sensations, bitter taste in mouth, blue–green discolouring of skin (especially hands or feet), constipation, decreased sexual interest, dizziness, dry eyes, flushing of the face, headache involuntary muscle movements, nausea, poor coordination, tiredness, trouble sleeping, vomiting. Contact your doctor if any of these or other side effects occur. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately- allergic reactions, chest pain, chills, coldness, cough, coughing up blood, dark urine, decreased urination, easy bruising or bleeding, enlarged thyroid gland, fatigue, fever, irregular pulse, menstrual changes, muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, nervousness, persistent sore throat, severe dizziness, severe stomach pain, shortness of breath, skin reaction similar to serious sunburn, slow heartbeat, sluggishness, sweating, uncontrolled shaking or tremor, unexplained weight change, vision changes, wheezing, worsening of irregular heartbeat, yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Storage
Store Cardarone at 59 – 77 °F (15 – 25 °C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Cardarone out of the reach of children.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected seek medical attention immediately. Some of the symptoms of Cardarone overdose are- fainting, severe dizziness, unusually slow pulse, weakness.
More Information
Cardarone may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or blurred vision. These effects may worsen if Cardarone is taken with alcohol or certain other medications. Use Cardarone with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug. If your symptoms do not improve or if they worsen, contact your doctor. Cardarone should be used only by the patient for whom it has been prescribed. Do not take less or more or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Disclaimer
This is only general information, it does not cover all directions, drug integrations or precautions. You should not rely on it for any purpose, it does not contain any specific instructions for a particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information. We`re not responsible for any damage.
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Sunday, January 31st, 2010
How to Get Rid of Back Acne, Just Follow These Simple TipsAuthor: Robert Sheehan
Itching to wear that stunning Armani gown with the plunging back? You can. But after you have got rid of your back acne. And this entails that you stock up on the information on how to get rid of back acne.
Tips to Cure Back Acne
Back acne, or bacne is a common problem plaguing many acne sufferers. Acne, and especially on your back, is worsened by excessive sweat and the resultant congested pores. So the best advice that dermatologists can tender in this matter is to avoid tight-fitting clothes, especially in sultry weather. Remember, to prevent pimples and acne, always make time for taking frequent showers, particularly after a grinding day of work or workout regiment.
When you have painful back acne, heavy backpacks are a definite ‘no-no’. They rub against your back and cause further swelling and redness. During these times, carry a handbag and give your acne-assaulted back a rest.
A good idea is to use a mild exfoliating agent when you shower. This will ensure that your back is scrupulously clean at all times and you keep away those ungainly and painful spots of pimples and acne.
Since acne is caused by bacterial infection, it is important that apart from a cleaning regimen, you should follow tips to keep your back as germ-free as possible. This means that you need to wear clean and airy cotton clothes when you are working out. Also put a clean towel underneath your back before you lie down on any exercise machine or a mat. Unknown to many, it is unwise to go to a steam room just after your workout.
Anti-bacterial treatment like benzoyl peroxide is an effective acne cure and dermatologists often advice a dab of it after a bath.
Particularly stubborn back and body acne, and especially those caused by the genes, however demand stricter measures. In this respect, oral antibiotics are popular remedies. However, oral medication is often said to have unpleasant side effects like depression.
Back acne is more difficult to treat than acne on your face. Though the mode of treatment for facial and back acne are along similar lines, the latter in its severe form may require chemical exfoliation like glycolic acid peels.
The tips to get rid of back acne do not require much of an effort on your part. Follow them and boast of a smooth, clear back.
About the Author:
Robert Sheehan is a freelance writer and co-owner of Visit Robert And read more about treating acne at
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Thursday, January 28th, 2010
A community cannery is a self-help facility equipped for preparing and heat processing food. People bring in produce from their gardens and through their own efforts preserve it for future use.
Community canneries began during the late 1800’s in response to the desire of families to work together to preserve their food for the off-season. At the end of World War II there were over 3,800 community canneries in the United States. Most of these wartime canneries were subsidized, but after the war the monies ceased. Growth of the food industry, development of freezing techniques, and the lack of subsidy led to a decline of the canneries.
Today there is a resurgence of interest in establishing community canning centers. This has been influenced by the cost of food, a marked increase in the concern for nutrition, and gardening activities.
A community cannery promotes the preservation of seasonal garden surpluses for consumption during the nonproductive season. It encourages small farmers and nonfarm individuals to produce more food, thereby promoting self-sufficiency for families. It enables families who do not own recommended food preservation equipment to use safe and reliable equipment and techniques.
Availability of nonseasonal foods on a year-round basis can result in a better diet for families, especially if the center incorporates nutrition education classes as part of its program. People who grow their own food may make substantial savings in their food budget. The community cannery creates a social atmosphere of friendly, cooperative work leading to tangible results, and promotes a feeling of self-reliance.
Most of the community canneries in the country have been organized by Community Action Agencies or similar community organizing groups. Individuals, food co-ops, and other groups have successfully set up canneries, but it is recommended that people wanting to establish a canning center contact a community organizing agency. Normally, these agencies have professional people who will work on such a project. They have experience in writing proposals and are aware of potential funding sources.
Support for the canning center can be enhanced by making a special effort to include a diverse membership on a board of directors for the center.
Farmers, low-income people, business people, contractors, Extension personnel, community organizers, local officials, and members of the clergy are all potential supporters and advisors for the cannery.
Although organizing a community cannery requires a lot of work, this need not be a roadblock to initiating the project. It takes many hours to plan the canning operation, draft proposals, develop community support, locate a site, and to select, purchase and install equipment. Because this can easily be a full-time job for one person, efforts should be made to hire a coordinator. In many instances, paid community organizers, Vista volunteers, and home economists have provided valuable assistance in completing the work.
Preparation for and organization of the cannery are the foundation of the project. At least six months should be set aside for organizing.
Points to Consider
Here are some questions to consider before starting a community center:
How many people will commit themselves to organizing a center?
How much time will they give?
How much support can be expected from the community, town officials, local growers?
How many community and family gardens are in the area?
How near are the community gardens to the cannery site?
Is the site near a well-travelled route?
Is parking available?
Can the canning center exist merely to provide a service to the community, or will the cannery have to become involved in a commercial venture?
If some food processed at the cannery is to be sold, are local farmers willing to contract with the cannery to supply it with produce? How close are these farmers to the cannery?
Is a building available for canning purposes (for example, some old creamery)?
If so, what is the size of the building? What is its condition?
Are there cement floors and walls constructed so they can be washed down daily?
Is there room for storage, a walk-in cooler?
Is the sewage system adequate?
Does the building have existing equipment that could be put to use?
Is a dependable supply of potable water available?
What is the minimum water pressure and is it constant?
Is the water “hard?” If so, what is the analysis?
What type of electricity is available?
What is the cost of electricity per KWH and demand rate for 240 volt, 3 phase, 60 cycle?
What is the availability and cost of gas (natural or LP) or of fuel oil?
What is the number of families expected to participate? How many are low-income families?
What are the principal foods to be canned?
If it is anticipated that some products will be processed for sale, what will those products be?
Is there a market for the “for-sale” items?
Will canning supplies such as jars, lids, screw bands, tin cans be available? Can they be purchased at wholesale prices?
Is at least one person who is knowledgeable in food preservation methods available to supervise the cannery?
What will be the charge for processing a pint or a quart of food? Will low-income people be able to pay this amount?
Are funds available to subsidize the canning of food for low-income people?
It is important to obtain a site easily accessible to the public. Selectmen, property owners, realtors should be approached for potential sites. Usually the center has limited funds, and it is difficult and takes time to locate an appropriate building with low-cost rent.
In times of a strained economy and high cost of property maintenance, the business community may be hesitant to provide low-cost housing for the site.
Establishng the faclity in a publicly owned building, such as a school, is a solution in many communities. These canneries are a part of the public school’s physical plant and have traditionally been operated under supervision of the vocational agriculture and home economics teachers, using school funds.
In recent years, some schools have wanted to close canneries for several reasons: Lack of operating capital, limited use, lack of interest or knowhow on the part of participants and teachers. With the resurgence of interest in canning, many new cannery ventures are located in schools but are now funded separately from school budgets.
If the cannery is the result of a community endeavor, adjoining small towns could appropriate funds sufficient to set up and man a center. Such a proposal would have to be presented to the town governing bodies. This points up the need for ample planning time. Devising means to allow the cannery to remain open year-round would favor obtaining a site other than in a public building.
Major Costs
Cost of organizing a community cannery is influenced by its size and scope of operation. Expenses can be broken down into these major areas:
Purchase and installation of equipment Building renovation Rent Labor Utilities Jars or cans Produce Miscellaneous costs (office supplies, freight, postage, insurance, cleaning supplies, maintenance)
At least two companies manufacture community canning equipment (Ball Corp. and Dixie Canner Equipment Co.). Prices start at $4,300 for a single-unit operation, and go up to $20,000 for a large center. This does not include the price of a steam boiler, which costs between $3,000 and $5,000. By fabricating some of its own equipment, and by buying used equipment from canning and restaurant equipment suppliers, the cannery can reduce some of its purchase costs substantially.
Installation of the canning equipment and the steam boiler needs to be done by a licensed plumber or steam fitter, or be closely supervised by such a person.
Renovation of a building and installation of the canning equipment can cost between $4,000 and $8,000, including labor costs. Cost can be reduced by soliciting volunteer labor from local craftsmen. The organizers can handle much of the renovation, such as painting, carpentry and cement work. Teams of vocational students may be willing to take on the site renovations as part of their school training.
Salaries for employees can be paid from the cannery’s operating budget. Labor costs can be reduced if the workers are already salaried employees provided by other food-related agencies. The cannery can also be an ideal training site for participants in the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) and can be staffed successfully in this way.
Regulations
Food and Drug Administration regulations regarding food processing do not apply to community canning centers if they are not involved in interstate commerce. In June, 1976, FDA issued “Suggested Minimum Guidelines for Community Canning Operations” to protect the safety of the consumer.
Environmental regulations that apply to the centers must be carefully followed. Although these regulations are usually not hard to follow, they often mean a possibly unplanned-for expense to the cannery. It may be necessary to apply for a variance to zoning regulations. Cannery supervisory boards should have a working knowledge of all requirements of State and Federal agencies that regulate health, environment, fire, safety, plumbing, electricity, and public building codes.
Sites for the centers should have sewage and draining systems that meet demands of the centers. This would mean a septic system and leach fields, or a municipal sewage system, the latter being the easiest and least expensive method of disposal. Solid waste produced by the center is termed “clean,” and effluent from the processing could be put through a strainer, piped out of the center, and then deposited into a leach field.
To maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety, at least one supervisor should be on duty whenever the cannery is in operation. The person in charge must have a thorough knowledge of every aspect of food processing.
The Food and Drug Administration requires that a “certified registered canner” be in attendance only when low-acid foods are processed to be sold. An FDA-approved course is offered by the National Canners Association for commercial cannery personnel in various sections of the country. The cost would involve a registration fee of approximately $125 plus expenses. At present, the course content is geared chiefly toward industry. A shift to a more practical approach would be of greater help to community cannery personnel.
Cannery supervisors and attendants can participate in food preservation classes and demonstrations provided by the Extension Service. When canneries are equipped with commercial food preservation centers, representatives of the manufacturing companies are available for technical information to the cannery staff. Manufacturers may also provide the cannery with a complete operations manual, processing charts, and recipes.
Skills Needed
Cannery supervisors will benefit by employing people to work at the cannery who can provide or learn such skills as:
Bookkeeping/accountingto keep records of input and outflow of goods and money; to pay bills.
Managementto oversee the flow of food through the center in an efficient manner for smooth operation of the plant.
Maintenance and repairto maintain equipment and housing in operational condition.
Purchasing/supplyto ensure a supply of materials such as jars and lids.
Salesto manage sales of surplus retail products if these are processed at the plant.
Public relationsto advertise and promote knowledge of canning centers; to handle complaints and problems of patrons.
Technicalto provide detailed information on processing techniques, food, nutrition, and gardening.
A form of recordkeeping on all foods processed at the plant is essential. This kind of information would include such data as name of person doing the processing, the date, specific food, number of jars, method of processing, time in and time out, and an identification number for foods processed for sale by the cannery.
Canning centers may be incorporated as independent nonprofit cooperatives with a board of directors as the policymaking body. By being organized in conformity with the traditional farmers’ cooperative structure, the centers receive special tax considerations. Incorporation on a nonprofit basis is a requirement of many funding sources. The cooperative structure also lends itself to a tighter knit organization, with members feeling they are part of the organization, responsible for its affairs, and willing to pitch in and help if there is some work that needs a few extra hands.
The community cannery should have general liability insurance to cover injuries sustained by the workers or persons using the canning center. Products liability insurance is unnecessary for the cannery operated solely to provide a service to the community. For the cannery that sells commercially, products liability insurance should be obtained.
Hours, Fees
A community cannery should be available to all people interested in preserving food. Ideally, canneries are open during daytime and evening hours. Weekend hours are a possibility. When canneries are limited to processing vegetables and fruits, at least 6 months of potential operation are lost in certain sections of the country. If at all possible, canneries should be operated to process a wider range of foods such as jams, jellies, pickles, preserves, meat, fish, poultry.
A processing fee is usually set for use of the canning equipment, ranging from 5 to 10 for pints to 10 to 15 for quarts. These prices do not include the cost of jar, lid, screw band, or any canning supplies such as salt, vinegar, sugar, spices that may be sold at wholesale prices at the cannery. An additional charge of 50 per hour is common for the use of a pulper-juicer and steam-jacketed kettle.
It may be a financial hardship for some low-income families to meet these costs, but they can be given the opportunity to exchange work time at the cannery for payment. Families of limited resources might leave off a percentage of their processed high-acid foods to be sold by the cannery. Sponsoring agencies may apply for grants, such as might be available from Title XX of the Social Security Act, in an effort to subsidize canning costs for low-income families.
To date, no community canneries are completely economically self-sufficient, so far as we know. There are centers in the South which do enough community canning to pay for all their expenses except salaries. To become self-supportive, some canneries are now developing specialty products to be sold commercially. Organic-health food distributorships and food co-ops are often a good market for community cannery processed foods.
The future of community canneries depends on continued interest in home gardening and food preservation, and concern for proper nutrition. Undoubtedly, the cost of food in the marketplace will also be a contributing factor.
Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/authors/488/Bob-Bergland
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/7280/1/Resurgence-of-Community-Canneries.html
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Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Molds are organisms that attach themselves to organic matter and eat their way through it. Basically, molds spread around by releasing spores into the air and when the spores settle on organic matter they thrive when conditions are good. Molds like it when the area they are in is moist and dark, although they an also live in relatively humid and bright areas.
People often have mold allergies when exposed to mold spores. Mold spore allergy occurs during the time when molds release their spores into the air. The times of higher possibility of getting a mold spore allergy are usually during spring and autumn. This is because these are basically the warmer months and usually the time when it is optimal to reproduce. Some people are more sensitive to mold spores compared to exposure to molds themselves. A mold spore allergy is something that comes out of this sensitivity.
Symptoms Of Mold Spore Allergy
The symptoms of a mold spore allergy are basically the same withal other allergies triggered by exposure to molds. These symptoms are sneezing, a stuffy nose, watery and itchy eyes, post nasal drip, congestion, clearing of the throat, slight coughing and sometimes reduce hearing. These are the more common symptoms of a mold spore allergy.
Treating Mold Spore Allergy
Mold allergy treatment is usually through medication and through prevention. Antihistamines and corticosteroids are among the medications prescribed for individuals who suffer from mold spore allergy. These medications inhibit the production of histamines and enable the management and control of the symptoms that come with a mold spore allergy. There may be some mild side effects that come with these medications but in all they can manage to control the allergy very well.
Awareness of one’s surroundings is a way to prevent mold spore allergy from frequently occurring. Checking for mold colonies and infestations is something that needs to be done in humid areas. Water damaged areas of the home needs to be fixed or treated to avoid these being the site of a mold colony since molds thrive in moist areas. Other areas of the home that will need special attention regarding molds are the kitchen, the bathroom, the basement and also the attic.
A mold spore allergy can be dangerous if the individual is continually exposed to molds without any respite or control. Some molds are toxic and can promote serious conditions in humans which may be fatal or life threatening.
http://www.thehealthguide.org/allergies/what-is-mold-spore-allergy/
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Sunday, January 24th, 2010
CHILD ABUSE HELP
Child Line
http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/childsexhelpabuse.html
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
Clinical depression symptoms are very easy to find once you know what to look for. There are many different kinds of clinical depression symptoms, but when seen together it can make diagnosing clinical depression fairly easy. Manic depression symptoms are very different from clinical, and in some cases are the complete opposite. A manic depressive will have many outward symptoms that do not correspond with the clinical ones.
Examples Of Clinical Depression Symptoms
There are some obvious signs that a person may suffer from clinical depression. The first is an obvious feeling of sadness and gloom. Just being sad though is not really enough to be considered clinically depressed. In association with that a person will also have feelings of no self worth that can appear to be impossible to overcome. These feelings are not able to be overcome and become oppressive. In addition to those feelings, a person will have a tough time finding joy in anything that they do. Even tasks that at one point that they found to be enjoyable will now become a chore. This has a double effect because as the person feels sadder and sadder there is nothing that they can do to cheer themselves up.
In addition to these emotional clinical depression symptoms there will be some physical symptoms as well. Most people that are clinically depressed will either lose or put on weight. While some people will find comfort and satisfaction in eating and do it to a point of obesity, others find the act of eating to be to difficult to overcome. They will avoid food and let themselves go to waste. Both of these conditions only help to contribute to the condition. By not eating a person does not have the energy to overcome their situation. By becoming fat a persons feelings of self worth and energy levels can drop to an all time low.
Another clinical depression symptom is any kind of pain that is un treatable. This can range through a variety of things from headaches, to joint pain, to stomach ache. Regardless of where the actual pain lies there is no cure or treatment that will work. Generally physicians will prescribe pain killers as treatment, but unfortunately these will only exasperate the condition making it far worse. People who are showing clinical depression symptoms are much more likely to become addicted to pain killers and can find it nearly impossible to come off of them. Also, prescription pain killers can be an almost too convenient way to cause serious harm if not death. Physicians need to be very careful when giving out these prescriptions.
http://www.thehealthguide.org/depression/examples-of-classic-clinical-depression-symptoms/
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Friday, January 15th, 2010
Vision
by: Kent Pinkerton
The eye is the first component of the sensory system of vision. Despite its small size, the eye is a very complex organ. The retina performs the first stage in visual perception. The optic nerve and the visual cortex of the brain are the next stages of visual perception.
Light enters the eye and passes through the cornea, the aqueous humor, lens and vitreous humor. It ultimately reaches the retina, the light-sensor of the eye.
Color vision is possible due to cones called cone pigments, which contain color responsive pigments. There are three kinds of color-sensitive pigments namely, Red-sensitive pigment, Green-sensitive pigment and Blue-sensitive pigment. Each cone has a pigment sensitive to the corresponding color.
Color blindness occurs when a cone does not function properly. This causes the inability to differentiate between colors. People suffering from color blindness may be able to see red or green, but confuse the two colors. This disorder affects men more than women. It is an inherited disorder.
Normal vision, known as vision or visual acuity, is the ability of a human being to read a Snellen eye chart from a distance of 20 feet. This is termed as 20/20 vision. A 20/40 vision is when a person stands 20 feet away from the chart, and can see what most people can see when standing 40 feet from the chart. In the United States, a vision of 20/200 is considered as legal blindness.
The general process of visual perception is universal and independent of any culture or race. It is also clear that individual differences such as impairment of sight and spatial skills also affect our visual perception.
Vision provides detailed information on Vision, Vision Care, Vision Correction, Laser Vision Correction and more. Vision is affliated with .
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com
http://www.e-healtharticles.com/Detailed/1323.html
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Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
According to statistics, an average person walks around 6500 km in his lifetime. So you can imagine how much stress your feet go through in one lifetime. Cracked heels are due to years of neglect; hence do not expect positive results in two days.
Common cause for Cracked Heels
Standing for long periods of time Being overweight Open backed shoes Medical condition which causes drying of the skin, prevalent in diabetes Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
Common Treatment for Cracked Heels
Clean and moisturize your feet daily. Before going to bed, soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 15 minutes, wash and dab it dry. Take one teaspoon Vaseline, add lemon juice extracted from one lemon. Rub this mixture on your feet mainly the cracked areas. Let the skin absorb this mixture. Do this daily to get maximum benefits.
Mixture of glycerin and rosewater applied on daily basis helps heal the cracked feet.
Exfoliating and scrubbing your feet is very important. The accumulation of dead skin can worsen the problem. Use of pumice stone or a loofah to remove the dead skin is recommended.
Apply oil based moisturizer on your feet, twice daily if possible.
Pamper your feet by giving it a pedicure either at home or at a parlor. If you are too lazy to go to the parlor wash your feet in sea salt water and scrub it. Apply hand and body cream on your feet.
In 100 gms of coconut oil add 3 teaspoon camphor and 3 tablespoon paraffin wax melted. Apply this daily on your cracked heels before going to bed. After washing it in the morning apply hand and body cream.
Exfoliation with the help of strawberry. Crush 6-8 strawberries; mix two tablespoons of olive or almond oil and one teaspoon of sea salt. Apply this paste on your feet and use vigorous movements to improve blood circulation. Leave it for 10-15 minutes; rinse using with warm water then cold water. You could do the same thing using almonds instead of strawberries. Other scrubs can be prepared by grinding corncobs and walnut sheet (very useful for tough skin and hardened heels). The juices and oil from the different fruits and nuts helps to nourish your feet.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/authors/246/Kevin-Pederson
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/4101/1/Healing-Cracked-Heels.html
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