Love Your Job, You Will Get Success.

Love your job or love what you do. We must love our job like children love any job they undertake. When they play, they play with all the love at their command. Whatever we may do, if we do the same with love, we will get success definitely. We need to work hard and if we fix up our goals before embarking upon any task, success is bound to follow. Goals are our dreams with deadlines. If you choose a goal and stick to that, that would change everything and you will achieve the success you dream for. If you want to reach a distant goal, you must take small steps instead of sitting idle.

We all understand well that focus and determination play significant roles in success. If we look at any top athlete or businessman, painter, politician, any successful individual – a movie star, musician or any other celebrity, we will find that they succeed because they focus on their task, they love their job, they love what they do. For our success, we need to identify our goals and then let nothing distract us from achieving it. Any distraction can lead to dissipate our energy and attention.

Here, we must ignore “Luck” factor in our psychological manoeuvrability while working for our goals fixed. What is luck? It is only as relevant or irrelevant as we make it. Whenever a gamble plans to gamble, he swears by the same. But we are not gambler. We need to achieve our task, the task defined by our goals. Luck is nothing but a convenient excuse, an alibi or a crutch for those who fail or who do not love to work sincerely but await for the results without putting in the hard labour the task warrants for. What we make of our life is entirely in our own hands. Luck is what happens to others. It is just a consolation for the losers.

It is true that you can not win all the time. Somebody in your opposition may have put in better efforts. We can learn from our failures and try to do better next time. If we compete fairly, it shall be our greatest challenge and we need to accept it even if somebody criticises our efforts/steps. Criticism must be considered as a part and parcel of our success. We need to live with it and learn about our wrongs. It is also true that an average human being does not accept criticism of any kind very easily. We need to work above what an average human being does. We must take seriously every criticism and examine the same just to improve ourselves. Dealing with criticism in a mature way makes one a stronger person.

Appreciation is the oxygen that nurtures the creative instinct. You must apply it with your team members as and when required but we must not take it as narcotic for ourselves as if we do not get appreciation, we may get nervous. Instead, we must remain attuned to our work and in course of time, we too will get appreciation. It is possible only when we love our job.

Be Happy – Give Up Your Worries

With our friends, our close relatives and many other persons, we mention very frequently that to ensure happy living, one must not have any worry. This is the most important value we do have amongst those multiple values we wish to lead our life with. But we do not tend to give up our worries very easily. We are helpless, perhaps ignorant too because we do not try to go beyond that point where our worries start. Once they take form, we start to concentrate all of our resources around them for finding solution but not making check-points that they should not come up ever.

Now, there is a solution within your reach for ensuring happy living, for ensuring worry-less living. How? Very easy. You may have a re-look upon your worries whether they have erupted from the matters you have concern. To be concerned is one thing and to worry about is something different. When you worry, your psychological worries start multiplying themselves making you inwardly tiring and exhausted soon. The sheen of your resources get weak and your problems become bigger than their actual dimensions. No fun, be serious. If you redefine your worry to be a matter of your concern, you will evoke your love energy to concentrate for the solution and make you more alive.

Whenever you make something a matter of your concern, you may have to make choice if that matter which needs some solution/settlement is within your power/approach or not, whether that can be solved/settled with a little push-up from other source if required and what are the limits you have. If that matter is beyond your all limits and resources, you may give up your worries because you did not create the worry yourself. Some bad element has created them and that will finish in course of time if you continue your smiles.

You will be surprised to know that here in our society, there are some persons who are not able to live a smooth life because their successes are so enormous that they do not have time to live their own life smoothly. Every time, they get an opportunity to run after just to keep their momentum on, they worry if they miss the bus, they may not reach to the destination and every time, their destination points get farther. Whatever they do, they attempt with full zeal and get success. Their successes are the sum of their worries. They do take on every opportunity to gain success and in this run, they get restless. Apparently, it is good that they take it a matter of concern but that is not good for their health too. They need to ensure a balance between their actual requirements and the opportunities available. The limit of their greed can settle it.

The series of their successes cheats them of their time required for their own life. They need to classify the matters of their worries – the matters upon which they can attempt upon and make change, and the matters beyond their reach. For example, aging factor. They can not do anything, with the time, they would get older and older and one day, their physical machine may break down. They can keep their efficiency tuned up for some time through extra energy doses and cosmetic treatment but that is not the permanent solution and that too would be against the nature’s decaying principle. Simply, we can not go beyond. Where they can attempt to change, they must act as and when there is an opportunity to do so, not worrying in advance. They may have a schedule to work on.

On the other hand, some people do not have sufficient opportunities even to make for their minimal livelihood. Why so? It is a matter of concern for the society as a whole. For the individuals who do not count themselves successful need to rethink why they are not successful. A review of their resources vis their targets can open their eyes. Perhaps they may need a little push up from an outer source. If they feel that the little push-up from an outer source is not possible or that is beyond their reach, they may modify their target to bring within their reach instead of just worrying about.

Those who worry, whether they are successful or not successful, keep themselves in the state of feeling insecurity, anxiety, fear and many other psychological self-inquiries to put their inner being in disorder as reaction to their worries. Why so? You need to feel concern with the problem. If you have got children, you need to love them. It is their right to claim love and care from you. If you have got parents with you, you need to take care for them because when you were in your childhood, they had brought up you to the present stage. If you are parents, your children owe this duty naturally. If sometime they do not perform their duty perfectly, you do not need to worry because somewhere you had missed something which made them irresponsible to some extent. You may get another opportunity to make them repent.  But do not crush your present with the worry on such subject.

If you are engaged somewhere, you need to have concern with your engagement. You are going to your office, you need to go there with all the love, not the hate. If your boss is rude, you need to find out the reasons and assess what you will do if you are boss to some one else in the same circumstances. If you are at home, you need to make your home happier. It is your concern not the worry.

You need to have trust upon yourself. Trust that existence cares for you, loves you and is coaching you in different ways. Here again, success and failure both are not the features to be worried about. Success is not the end of your fulfillment. One success creates the need of another success. One failure requires you to turn around the table. You get involved in action and reaction process. That does not mean you should always worry. It is simply a process you need to continue. Your brain is always working to lead you to fulfillment. The day your brain finds your capacity exhausted and you got fulfillment, it stops to work and you are declared as expired. Therefore, you should not worry for your success and your failure – just go through the working of your brain and you will find the way out. If you worry yourself, it will create pressure upon your brain to put in energy diverted from the main subject. This way, you are suggested to give up your worries to ensure happy living.

Be Happy – Give Up Your Worries.

Be Happy – Be Happy Again.

How can I be happy again? This question strikes you very frequently when the future holds little promise, and you fear you haven't lived the kind of life you can be content with. There are a number of tasks outstanding before you wish to have eternal sleep. This you know that in spite of your best efforts to maintain yourself, best medicines and treatment now available, super possessions to make your life more comfortable than your previous generations had, your present life is to expire one day, and you, as you are on date, would be no more.  

In organizing all the facilities to put at your disposal, you might have done some wrongs, you might have cheated someone, you might have killed someone’s due share – you did it to organize your comforts. OK, you did not do it but you might have made some profits out of the deals you made which may not be said genuine. Or, you did not perform the duties assigned to you but you got remuneration for that as salary. It is also one kind of wrongs we commit but we seldom care for.

One of my friends, really very good friend, is in government service. He goes to mosque to offer his prayers very punctually. He meets me every time with smiling face, he listens my problem and makes deep discussions to find out the way and advises me sincerely too. Yesterday I got the opportunity to meet him in quest of getting some solution to my problem – I have very recently been cheated by the partner of my son. He asked me to come around 12.30 pm. I reached accordingly. At that time, he was talking with his brother who had come to meet him after he fixed the time for me. He could not inform me to defer my meeting with him. When he saw me, he expressed sorry and asked for half an hour time. 

After finishing his talks with his brother, he told me, “Mr.Gulati, sorry, I could not meet you at the time fixed.” I said, “No, no, that does not matter much.” He stunned me back, “No, why no? My brother came in without seeking an appointment in advance because of some urgency in the domestic affairs. Since he is elder, I had to meet him but it is my duty time – my meeting with you was scheduled under my duty. I feel sorry because I spent my official time in my personal affairs – sorry to you also, as I wasted your time too.” I felt impressed with him. He confessed and he is happy because he did it sincerely.

Some time ago, I thought what would happen if I put some cigarettes unlit in a cup of water for a night. Then, I should drink the water in the morning. I am told that nicotine is a lethal poison. I never experimented over this statement given to me because I had never been a science student. But I assume that when you smoke it you burn most of the poison away. But if it drains into the water…The theory was I'd be dead of a heart attack in sixty seconds. My fear was that I would I have brain damage instead.  

I've known people with brain damage. That would be no good. It was three in the morning. I knew I was going to go broke. My office had papers and dead computers and dead books and the cards of dead friends everywhere. I had an incomparable loneliness in all of my relationships. All the work and hours I had put in had added up to this dirty office and no money.

Or maybe there was the other time. My whole life added up to being escorted by police to a hotel room to spend the night. "To calm down." Or the time I was thrown out of graduate school. Or the time I was asked by my boss, "Don’t you think it's important to show pride in your work?" Or the times I was cheated on.

If I really want to be honest I could say I threw a burning iron at someone and that's when the police came. But perhaps that would seem too much. If I wanted to truly be correct, I could look back at the past and say I did everything they told me to do, all the secret agents that wanted to destroy me: friends, parents, colleagues, bosses, lovers, and here I am – look where I ended up? And where did they all go? Back to their safe houses.

I could sit here all night until daybreak talking about the past, which is gone forever. And the future, which will never exist and yet seems so real. Maybe the economy will end us. Or global warming.  Or war. Or we lose our jobs. You and me. We can be scared all night together.

The future just a bleak desert, mirages of water only lasting a few seconds before I realize my thirst won't be quenched. May never be quenched again.

One thing you forgot to mention in your question, my friend, is the present. Right now. The only thing we know exists. The most important thing of all and we left it out. I was keeping cigarettes in water when I could've been looking in on my sleeping daughter. I could've kissed her forehead. I could've been grateful to be given such a magical moment. Then I could've called my father one month before his fatal stroke and told him I loved him. Instead I never spoke to him again.

I gave up that magical moment forever because of worries about the future and because of something I did in the past.

The magical moments only exist right now. They will never exist again. The way we miss them is when we focus on the past. Or we try to drink from the mirage in the distant future. Flying unicorns could be all around us but our eyes are glazed over with cataracts of the dismal future and bleaker past.

I would say, "if only this company sells, I'll be happy." And then I was never more miserable. And then later I would say, "I blew it so bad I ruined everyone's life and not just my own." And then I was never more miserable. If only I had left out both those statements out I never would've been more happy. Happiness doesn't exist because "I already did A, B, and C".

Your Present Matters – Past is your history to learn not to repeat if some wrong has been committed and future is at some distance.

This doesn't mean live only for the moment. We all have responsibilities. But DO them. And then be grateful. Find the five things you are grateful for. There's always five or more. List them. That's a chart to get you happy again. And it compounds into more happiness if you always bring yourself back to it when your mind wanders like a time machine. Every time your mind wanders, bring it back, and list what you are grateful for. You will improve your mistakes

If you always bring yourself back to that present moment, the future will more than take care of itself. The happiness will grow every time you bring yourself back to the present moment and count the things you are grateful for. That's it. That's the only trick to get great happiness in your life.

We start off with that helpless destined feeling. That we will die with our handcuffs on or we may be poor. And the hopes we had would be put a stop to. We would be found guilty in our worst nightmares. We would be silenced by our fears.

But right now I'm happy I'm talking to you. I'm happy because you are reading my lines. I'm grateful because I can feel my breath. Maybe one day I'll decay and die. Maybe one day all around me will be the mirage and the desperate heat. Maybe one day my past will seem too much for me. But right here and now you and I are both alive. We're both breathing. It is enough. I have got all the gifts God gave me when I took birth here. I have been using them since my birth and would like to re-inspect if the use was proper, I would make it better and hope that I would be happy again to look after my present after learning from the past and care for the future accordingly. But I won’t worry for the future as much I care for the present one. That method may solve your problem too.

Be Happy – Be Happy Again.

Be Happy – Wish Everyone Happy New Year!

The year 2011 has gone and now, we are beginning a new year 2012. Time does not stop. It goes on and on. It is the life for all that we must go on. If it stops, if we stop at a single point, we may perhaps not deserve life anymore. Let us resolve that in this year, we won’t commit those wrongs which occurred during the last year whether they were with our knowledge and efforts and not within our knowledge and not through our efforts. If we wish good for all, naturally we may get good from others.

Let us dedicate this year to better health for all. Better Health means better output and better prosperity for those who command better health. If you maintain poor health, the most of time may go to put yourself on the track again and again. That is why you must resolve to keep yourself healthy. If you are healthy, you can take care for yourself and others you love. You must include nutrients and exercise in your schedule of work.

Go through your working in the previous year.

Before you chalk out new programs for new year, you must go through your working in the previous year. Where you succeeded and where you failed, what were the shortcomings and where you could improve and what else you could accomplish should be the matter of serious consideration for the next year.

Undertake a Daily Exercise Plan

History teaches you to improve, not to get inclined with the failures all the time. If you feel like you could not put yourself best in your work due to your physical weakness, you must now think over it. If you have not already included strength training in your workouts, you're missing more than feeling strong. Working your muscles increases blood flow and keeps your system clog-free. Plus, it can help you fight off health bullies ranging from arthritis and diabetes to osteoporosis and heart disease.

Start With a Warm-Up

Warming up your muscles before your workout helps your muscles adjust to the exercises that you'll be doing, and it's a great way to slowly increase your heart rate. Your warm-up could include taking a brisk walk or bike ride, or simply marching or jogging in place, or doing some jumping jacks for 1 to 3 minutes.

Work Your Shoulders

Standing with your feet together, place the band under the arches of your feet and hold the handles of your resistance band. With your hands at your sides and your palms facing down, lift your arms straight out to your sides 25 times. The slower you raise and lower your arms, the more you work your muscles. Always lead with your elbows -- not your wrists -- to prevent injury. After finishing the set, lift your arms straight one more time, and hold for 30 seconds.

Strengthen Your Rotator Cuff Muscles

While standing on the band and holding the handles, reach your arms out to your sides and bring your hands as high as you can -- but not more than shoulder height. Rotate arms clockwise in small circles (about the size of a cantaloupe) 25 times, then switch direction and rotate arms counterclockwise 25 times.

Stretch Your Shoulders

Place the back side of your right hand just above your right hip. Standing up straight, clasp your right elbow with your left hand (if you can't do this, slide your right hand behind your lower back until you can reach your elbow). Gently pull your elbow toward your belly button and take five deep breaths into your upper chest, then exhale slowly. Keep your chest lifted and shoulders even. Do the same on the other side.

Strengthen Your Upper Back and Arms

Stand with your feet together. Wrap the band around each hand three times and lift your hands above your head with your palms facing forward. With straight arms, pull your hands away from each other 25 times, keeping the band taut throughout. Do 25 reps balancing on your left foot with your right knee in line with your right hip; switch sides and repeat.

Build Stamina

Stand with your feet together. Hold the band above your head with your hands apart for 25 seconds (with the band as tight as possible). Don't tighten your face or scrunch your shoulders. Do the exercise while balancing on your toes.

Work Your Upper Back and Arms

Stand up straight with your feet together. Holding the handles, bring the band right in front of you at shoulder height. Pull your hands away from each other 25 times.

Open Up Your Upper Back

Stand with your feet together. Without the band, interweave your fingers and turn your palms away from your body so you're looking at your knuckles. Reach your palms as far away from yourself as you can as you hunch your back and curl your tailbone under. Take five deep breaths, expanding your rib cage.

Warm Up Your Chest and Arms

Grab each handle of the band and wrap the tubing around each hand to shorten it. Place the band behind your back, just underneath your shoulder blades. With your hands out to your sides at shoulder height, as if hugging a tree, bring your hands together in front of you on the exhale (keeping elbows straight). Inhale and bring your hands back to your sides. Do 25 reps. Do 50 and work your calves by rising up on the balls of your feet as you bring your arms together.

Strengthen Your Chest and Arms

Standing on the band with your feet shoulder-width apart, hold the handles down by your sides. Slowly lift your right hand (palm side up) out in front of the right side of your chest and then back down. Do the same thing with your left hand. For each arm, do 25 reps. If this is easy for you, do both at the same time. After finishing the set, hold both hands at the highest point for 30 seconds, palms facing up.

Stretch Out Your Chest and Arms

Leave the band loosely in your hands and interweave your fingers behind your head without touching your head. While standing upright, act as if there are strings on your elbows and hands, pulling them directly behind you as you take five deep breaths.

Work Your Triceps

Wrap the band around your left hand, hold the handle in your right hand, and stretch both hands out to your sides to shoulder height. Hold them there. Next, leaving your elbow stationary, bring your right hand (palm facing forward) toward your chest 25 times. Switch and wrap the band around your right hand. Do 25 reps on the left. To make it harder: Balance on one foot and wrap the band around one more time in each hand.

Warm Up Your Biceps

Stand with both feet on the band and hold the handles. Reach hands out to your side, palm side up, and circle your arms clockwise in small circles (about the size of a cantaloupe) 25 times. Switch direction and rotate arms counterclockwise 25 times.

Work Your Biceps

Stand with your feet together and place the band under the arches of your feet. With hands down to your sides, hold the band handles and turn your palms out until your thumbs are as far back as feels comfortable. Curl your arms up 25 times. Resist bringing your arms to the front. Tip: If doing both arms at the same time is too difficult, try doing one arm at a time. Do 50 reps in double-time.

Stretch Your Shoulders

This is a great stretch for tension across the tops of your shoulders. Standing with your feet together, interweave your fingers behind your back and rest them on your tailbone. With your chest lifted, arms straight, and shoulders down, lift your clasped hands back and away from your body. Resist rolling your shoulders forward.

Strengthen Your Legs and Butt

Stand with your feet together on the band and hold the handles. Bring your hands up to elbow height. Keep open hands facing up (don't squeeze band). Step side to side: Move your right foot to your right and plant it, then bring your left foot over to your right foot. Next, step your left foot to the left and plant it, then bring your right foot over to your left foot. Go back and forth 25 times. To make it harder: Lift your leading foot off the ground and tilt your body from side to side.

Work Your Legs and Butt

With the band under both feet and your feet shoulder-width apart -- or together -- hold the handles in front of you. Squat down as far as feels comfortable (keeping your core tight), as if you were sitting in a chair. As you squat, reach your arms straight out in front of you at shoulder height. This will help you work on balance. Come all the way back up to slightly bent knees. Do 25 reps. To make it harder: While in squatting position, pulse 25 times.

Stretch Your Leg Muscles

Without the band, cross your left foot over your right. Ideally you want your big toes in line, but go to where you feel comfortable balancing. Slowly walk your hands down your legs as far as feels comfortable. Really relax your neck, as if your head were a bowling ball elongating your spine, and take three deep breaths. Slowly come all the way back up to the starting position, cross your right foot over your left, and repeat.

Enjoy the Payoff

Doing a workout like this one that involves your body pushing and pulling against resistance adds to your body's lean muscle mass, builds bone, and burns fat. How much fat? A pound of fat burns 1 to 3 calories per day while a pound of muscle incinerates 50 to 150. Maintaining and building muscle takes just 10 minutes, three times a week. So, put your resistance bands to work and enjoy getting 'pumped up.'

For the Life of Your Heart

When it comes to the health of your heart, what you do and what you don't do can truly make a difference. Lifestyle choices -- such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise -- can be far more dangerous than hereditary factors. The good news is you have the power to make your heart both stronger and younger through what you eat, how you exercise, and how you respond to social and environmental stressors.

Here's a step-by-step plan to help you make heart-smart choices and get your ticker in top form.

Pump Your Heart

For optimal health, you need to do enough physical activity to burn between 3,500 and 6,500 calories a week (or roughly 500 to 950 a day). Everyday tasks will put a dent in this, but science shows that you'll also need about 60 minutes a week of stamina training. What’s that? It’s cardiovascular exercise that gets your body moving and your heart rate climbing, and makes you breathe harder. The way to improve heart function is to sweat more. Why? Cardiovascular activity helps lower your blood pressure.

Try These Heart-Pumping Activities

Be gentle on your joints. Haven't exercised in awhile? Try low-impact workouts, such as swimming, cycling, or using an elliptical trainer. Aim for at least three 20-minute sessions a week. Walk 30 minutes. Work your muscles -- including your heart. Add short bursts of intensity to moderate activities. After warming up, take it to the max for 1 minute, then slow down to recover for 2 minutes. Repeat. This will help rein in your cholesterol and slow your heart rate (a sign of cardio health).

Know Your Numbers

The most important numbers to watch are the big three -- cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar -- plus two more: homocysteine and C-reactive protein. Consider these numbers a stock ticker for a heart-healthy ticker. They tell you how you're doing and when you need to do more. When you have them measured, make sure your doctor also tells you your goal levels and what you can do to get there. Getting more active, losing weight, and making smart food choices can help get your numbers in a healthy range.

Get Happy

There are lots of reasons to be happy, including your heart health. Negative emotions, such as anger and hostility, can raise blood pressure. People with depression are four times more likely to have a heart attack. And while we don't understand how emotional stress causes physical stress, we do know there's a powerful connection.

You can seriously slash your risk for heart disease by choosing healthful foods that help keep cholesterol and blood sugar levels in the healthy zone. Take the time to plan your meals, create a heart-healthy grocery list, and cook foods that are good for you and your heart.

Follow this simple rule of thumb: opt for a heart-healthy diet with healthful fats, fiber, and good-for-you nutrients, such as flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. Nix the salty, sugary, sat-fat-laden, or processed stuff.

Foods for a Healthy Heart

If you think eating a heart-healthy diet means bland, boring food, your taste buds are in for a shock. With a few smart and simple substitutions, you won't even miss the unhealthy fats, salt, and extra calories making your heart old before its time. In fact, you can still eat some of the old standards if you modify them -- and when you add foods that lower cholesterol, you’ll have new, healthy, delicious options to choose from as well.

6 Must-Eat Foods for a Healthy Heart

To help lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, and prevent inflammation and arterial aging, eat these delicious foods:

1. Strawberries -- and just about any other colorful fruit or veggie you can find. Why? Because fruits and vegetables like red grapes, cranberries, oranges, plums, and tomatoes are bursting with flavonoids -- antioxidants that help quell inflammation. And that's a good thing, because inflammation is one of the many processes involved in heart disease. Eat them fresh -- sliced or whole. What could be easier? Aim for 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit a day.

2. Rye bread -- and any other grain product made from whole grains. Whole-grain breads and cereals, brown rice, quinoa, flaxseeds, and whole soybeans are full of heart-protective fiber and magnesium that can help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in a healthy range. Try for six or more daily servings of whole grains.

3. Avocado -- and other healthy vegetable-based fats. Use mashed avocado, olive oil, and nut butters in place of unhealthful fats. Mashed avocado makes a good sandwich spread if you mix it with a little salsa. And olive oil is a great butter substitute when you're sauteing veggies. Use nut butters and peanut butter in place of butter and cream cheese. Substitutions like these are delicious ways to bring down "bad" LDL cholesterol and boost the "good" HDL kind. Just remember to limit portion size as you would with any other oils or fats.

4. Salmon -- and other fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. A strong body of research shows that eating fish (as long as it's not fried) helps lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, arrhythmia, high triglycerides, arterial plaque buildup, and inflammation in your arteries. Opt for three portions per week of oily fish rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

5. Nuts -- yep, not only do they make healthy nut butters, but they make a great snack, too. And eating nuts regularly can cut your risk of heart disease by 20% to 60%. Almonds, pistachios, and especially walnuts are loaded with heart-friendly fats and are a great source of vegetable protein. Just stick to one handful per day to keep your calorie count down.

6. Dark chocolate -- see, you don't have to avoid sweets entirely. In fact, a little dark chocolate every day is good for your heart.

Heart Cutbacks

As you add more heart-healthy items to your daily menu, you also need to curb the foods that age your heart. That means minimizing unhealthy saturated and trans fats, salt, and sugar. But as you can see by the list above, there's no reason to be dismayed when you've got options like apple wedges with peanut butter, low-fat yogurt with raisins, crusty whole-grain breads, fresh berries, olives, veggies with hummus, savory salmon, and even a bit of dark chocolate now and then. So what are you waiting for?

Learn From Your Relatives

Even though you have a lot of control over your own heart-healthy destiny, a family history of heart disease does raise your risk significantly. So, along with talking to your doctor about a schedule of heart screenings, talk about your family health history, too. If Mom, Dad, or a sibling, for example, developed heart disease, be extra vigilant about screenings and adopting heart-smart practices. Keep a health journal to track your health habits, including family medical history, immunizations, and more.

Pop an Aspirin

Who would have ever thought that one little white pill could have such a powerful effect on the heart? Indeed, evidence shows that -- when taken regularly -- aspirin may reduce the incidence of heart attack or heart disease by making blood platelets less sticky and decreasing arterial inflammation. But it only makes sense for men over the age of 35 and women who are older than 40. Remember to check with your doctor first because aspirin can have side effects, such as stomach irritation and bleeding.

Take Your Vitamins

Certain nutrients and supplements can work preventive wonders for your heart, including:
Multivitamins: Your multivitamin is chock-full of heart-healthy micronutrients, such as magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D. Folate: This B vitamin lowers homocysteine to healthy levels. Since folate from food is only partially absorbed by your body, take a 400-microgram folic acid supplement. Make sure you're getting enough B6 and B12, too, because folate can mask a deficiency in these vitamins. Niacin: This drug appears to decrease the production of triglycerides in the body, which might be the mechanism that allows the body to decrease LDL levels. (Check with your doctor before taking a large dose.)

Schedule Sleep

Skimping on sleep increases arterial aging and raises your risk of a heart attack. Getting less than 6 to 8 hours a night will also cause you to release less serotonin (the feel-good hormone) in your brain. The result: You risk later indulging in less-than-healthy ways to feel good, such as noshing on sugary foods or tipping too many martinis. Also, consider napping. A daytime doze is a stress buster and heart protector. Dead tired? Did your neighbor's dog start yapping at 3 a.m. -- again? Are money worries messing with your ZZZs? Don't feel guilty if the idea of a little afternoon snooze sounds irresistible.

Naps can be great for you. They boost your mood, memory, and performance. They increase alertness and make you more likely to drive safely. They even protect your heart from stress: After a tense event, your blood pressure bounces back to normal much faster if you can grab a quick nap that lets you recoup and regroup.

You just have to do it right. Here's how to get the most out of a siesta, even if you can only catch one on the weekends:

· Keep it short. Start with 30 minutes and experiment. Some people feel refreshed in just 10 or 15 minutes; others need 45. Much longer and you'll likely feel groggy afterward.

· Aim for midafternoon. That's when the postlunch energy sag strikes. If you snooze much past 3 p.m., you may have trouble sleeping at night.

· Got a hammock? Nap there. Adults, just like babies, love to be rocked to sleep. In fact, you'll fall into deep, restful sleep faster in a gently rocking hammock than in a stationary bed.

· Get comfy. Kick off your shoes, loosen tight clothing, and darken the room. If you don't have a hammock, stretch out on your bed (not the couch). Underscoring the association between your bed and sleep keeps daytime napping from interfering with nighttime bliss (the falling asleep part, not the other stuff).

Partner with Your Doctor

If your doctor has prescribed medication for your cholesterol or high blood pressure, don't leave those pills sitting in the pill bottle. Following your doctor-prescribed treatment plan could literally save your life. Plus, sticking to your treatment plan makes all your other efforts to eat right and exercise pay off big time.

Check in and Check Up

Monitoring your own health and seeing your doctor regularly for progress reports is a vitally important step in your stay-healthy heart plan. Call your doctor if you feel overly fatigued, frequently get sick, or experience any symptoms that might indicate medication side effects. And make sure to schedule regular checkups with your doctor as well.

Love Your Heart

What's not to love about your heart? It pumps blood to your brain so you can think, to your sex organs so you can make love, and to your muscles so you can move and play. Be Happy – Wish Everyone Happy New Year!

Your Laughter Restore Your Mental Peace (Part 1)

Laughter is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Infants begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a common sound, you can learn to laugh at any stage of life.

Begin by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might with working out, and build from there. Eventually, you’ll want to incorporate humor and laughter into the fabric of your life, finding it naturally in everything you do.

Here are some ways to start:

Smile -

Smiling is the beginning of laughter. Like laughter, it’s contagious. Pioneers in “laugh therapy,” find it’s possible to laugh without even experiencing a funny event. The same holds for smiling. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling.

Count your blessings -

Literally make a list. The simple act of considering the good things in your life will distance you from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humor and laughter. When in a state of sadness, we have further to travel to get to humor and laughter.

When you hear laughter, move toward it. Sometimes humor and laughter are private, a shared joke among a small group, but usually not. More often, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?”

Spend time with fun, playful people -

These are people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.

Bring humor into conversations -

Ask people, “What’s the funniest thing that happened to you today? This week? In your life?”
Want to bring the fun? Get a pet…

Most of us have experienced the joy of playing with a furry friend, and pets are a rewarding way to bring more laughter and joy into your life. But did you know that having a pet is also good for your mental and physical health? Studies show that pets can protect you depression, stress, and even heart disease.

Developing your sense of humor:


Take yourself less seriously-

One essential characteristic that helps us laugh is not taking ourselves too seriously. We’ve all known the classic tight-jawed sourpuss who takes everything with deathly seriousness and never laughs at anything. No fun there!

Some events are clearly sad and not occasions for laughter. But most events in life don’t carry an overwhelming sense of either sadness or delight. They fall into the gray zone of ordinary life–giving you the choice to laugh or not.

Ways to help yourself see the lighter side of life:

Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take ourselves less seriously is talk about times when we took ourselves too seriously. Attempt to laugh at situations rather than bemoan them. Look for the humor in a bad situation, the irony and absurdity of life. This will help improve your mood and the mood of those around you.

Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.

Keep things in perspective. Many things in life are beyond our control—particularly the behavior of other people. While you might think taking the weight of the world on your shoulders is admirable, in the long run it’s unrealistic, unproductive, unhealthy, and even egotistical.

Deal with your stress.

Stress is a major impediment to humor and laughter.Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.

Checklist for lightening up

When you find yourself taken over by what seems to be a horrible problem, ask these questions:
· Is it really worth getting upset over?
· Is it worth upsetting others?
· Is it that important?
· Is it that bad?
· Is the situation irreparable?
· Is it really your problem?

Using humor and play to overcome challenges and enhance your life.

The ability to laugh, play, and have fun with others not only makes life more enjoyable–it also helps you solve problems, connect with others, and be more creative. People who incorporate humor and play into their daily lives find that it renews them and all of their relationships.

Life brings challenges that can either get the best of you or become playthings for your imagination. When you “become the problem” and take yourself too seriously, it can be hard to think outside the box and find new solutions. But when you play with the problem, you can often transform it into an opportunity for creative learning.

Playing with problems seems to come naturally to children. When they are confused or afraid, they make their problems into a game, giving them a sense of control and an opportunity to experiment with new solutions. Interacting with others in playful ways helps you retain this creative ability.

Here are two examples of people who took everyday problems and turned them around through laughter and play:

Roy, a semi-retired businessman, was excited to finally have time to devote to golf, his favorite sport. But the more he played, the less he enjoyed himself. Although his game had improved dramatically, he got angry with himself over every mistake. Roy wisely realized that his golfing buddies affected his attitude, so he stopped playing with people who took the game too seriously. When he played with friends who focused more on having fun than on their scores, he was less critical of himself. Now golfing was as enjoyable as Roy hoped it would be. He scored better without working harder. And the brighter outlook he was getting from his companions and the game spread to other parts of his life, including his work.

Jane worked at home in her apartment complex designing greeting cards, a job she used to love but now felt routine. Two little girls who loved to draw and paint lived next door. Eventually, Jane invited the girls in to play with all the art supplies she had. At first, she just watched, but in time she joined in. Laughing, coloring, and playing pretend with the little girls transformed Jane’s life. Not only did playing with them end her loneliness and mild boredom, it sparked her imagination and helped her artwork flourish. Best of all, it rekindled the playfulness and spark in Jane’s relationship with her husband.

As laughter, humor, and play become an integrated part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new discoveries for playing with friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and loved ones will occur to you daily. Humor takes you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed, positive, creative, joyful, and balanced perspective.

A dose of daily laughter is the key to manifesting an amazing life that you love. Laughing is a key ingredient in learning how to let go. It is one of the most positive releases one can experience without having an actual orgasm! Laughter frees you up in such a unique way that there is no "mind" there analyzing, criticizing, and constantly making effort to remain in control. A good long authentic belly laugh is one of the best medicines you could ever take on a daily basis. If you can truly do this everyday, it's a good chance you're a highly liberated human being who is far along the journey on your spiritual path.

If you can just have one big long deep belly laugh every day about something, anything that is remotely humorous, you will start opening yourself up like a flower to receive a major healing in your life. There are thousands of reported clinical cases where people have been healed of major life threatening diseases just through laughing. The endorphins released in your brain naturally create a "happy cocktail" which over time induces me a massive healing reaction throughout the body. So really life basically comes down to... you laugh or you die. If you cannot laugh about yourself, your life or whatever you're taking too seriously, you're doing the opposite of healing yourself. So give yourself permission to have the biggest belly laugh of your life in the next 24 hours, and don't hold back! You'll start having a much lighter experience of life that will impact your inner perception of "reality" more than you know.

It's common that people believe that some silly event needs to happen in order to really have a good laugh. The truth is that if you can start looking for the humor in life, you can laugh at just about anything. There is a perspective which is less dramatic, serious, and worried than any other. It just sees this human experience as if it was one big long comedy. Just try to take a humorous view about something you're taking very seriously in your life. Is your seriousness really helping? Laughing about it feels much better than being angry, depressed, ashamed, blamed or playing some old victim game inside. No matter what it is, you can always choose to see the divine order and comedy behind it all. You can let your life become a big orgasmic ball of laughter that fills the space with joy everywhere you are.

The more you laugh, the more you are free. You release that all mighty grip on those all too important thoughts, beliefs, expectations and desires. The freedom leads you directly into the enlightened state. When you realize that you're in charge of which thoughts you choose to entertain, you fall directly into the cosmic joke of it all. The joke is that you are whatever you decide to put your attention on, you become that! Reality is like silly putty. It bends and molds to wherever you focus your mind. You can make it be whatever you want it to be. In one second, everything can change and your entire perspective can shift a millimeter to the left, and you suddenly have a brand new expansive understanding about your entire life.

The funniest thing about laughter is that it's not something you can do, it's something that happens to you. An authentic outrageous laughing attack can only fall upon you when you have learned how to totally let go. If you want to enjoy your life to the max, you must be able to let go of it. It's ironic, yet the idea that we are "in control" of our lives forces us to eventually swing over into the sense of feeling "out of control". When you can embrace both sides of the equation and consciously allow the ego to imagine its "in control" or "out of control", then you can transcend them both. This is when the great cosmic joke sets in and you realize there is no need try to control anything. You awaken to the fact that one of the greatest goals in life is to let it become one deep long "let go". This is when enlightenment sneaks in.

It's this overly serious mind who has blinded you from knowing how to fully enjoy life. It has gotten lost in the world of trying to achieve, resist and become something. Laughter is not about achieving anything, it is a releasing and a cleansing of your past. It liberates you from the mind and delivers you to a place of deep peace inside where enlightenment can be found. The serious mind doesn't have time or reason to laugh. It sees no purpose in laughing because it's so caught up in it's own web of illusions. The serious mind has forgotten that the Universe is a giant cosmic karmic playground where you are the actor, director and producer of the play, as well as the watcher, witness and audience who's seeing it all happening on stage. This massive playground exists in all directions and is within everything around you now. Just feel the vastness of its infinite presence. Connecting with the infinite Universe provides the space to relax, let go of everything, and laugh at it all.

There really is just one simple rule for creating massive joy in your life this week. If you want to have an amazing life that you love, don't ever let seriousness into your body....ever! No matter what anyone tells you, if what you're doing is not enjoyable, fun, or at least educational, then don't do it! You can find something better! Seriousness is a disease to your soul and only cripples your life. It's never too late to change directions and have a sense of humor about it all. Just choose to let a little more lightness into your heart right now. How does that feel? If you can bring this lighter heart feeling into your mornings, your entire week will become lighter and more clear. The cloudy skies go away and you can see how beautiful and FUN life is again! Did you remember that life is supposed to be fun? It just feels good to see how ridiculous the serious mind is, and how overly contracted it can become about anything.

Happiness is always a choice. What appears to be serious now will only change with time, so why not let go of this tension earlier? You can afford to follow a lighter path now, and others will appreciate it. They will soon catch on. Even if people are devout grumpsters, your simple light heartedness may be the secret to helping them bust a smile when no one is watching. Having access to this light playful spirit is the key to creating a tremendous healing in your life. It's the great golden secret to turning everyone's life around...including yours! Simply say to yourself everyday, "I can let go and laugh about it all!" Yes! It's time you started to have more fun in this awesome game called Life. It all starts by taking a tiny step back from the mind, and not taking anything (especially your mind) too seriously.


Be Happy – Let Laughter Restore Your Mental Peace.

Be Happy – Save Yourself from Allergies attacks.

When You are Out of Your Home.

It is uncomfortable, not to mention very embarrassing, to experience allergy attacks while outside your place where relief is nowhere near. It is in your best interest then to stay away as much as possible from things that could trigger allergy attacks. You can follow on the following suggestions to prevent public display of allergy symptoms.

1. Avoid outdoors

First thing on our list is to avoid outdoors especially on occasions and places where your allergy symptoms are noticeably more severe. Allergens are of course more abundant outdoors than indoors which makes it more likely that you experience uncomfortable allergy symptoms outdoors than indoors. It makes sense then that it is okay to stay indoors for several days at a time especially in seasons when allergens prolific.

2. Use bug and insect repellent

If you are regularly exposed to bugs and if there are higher numbers of bugs in your region, see to it that you are always protected from them and from the things they normally carry. Always wear bug and insect repellents to prevent your self from getting allergic reactions. Also, always go out fully protected with long sleeves, long pants and closed shoes.

3. Clean Up Your Car

Driving in an unclean car is uncomfortable enough, but that does not end there. Unclean cars can also cause allergy attacks. The interiors of the cars especially the carpets, nooks and other hard-to-reach spaces are not only repositories of dirt but can also serve as breeding places for insects. Clean the interiors of your car regularly, especially if you love driving with the windows down.

4. Use protective tools

Face masks, gloves and other tools that can help keep allergens from your face and surface of the skin are very helpful in preventing allergy attacks. You can use these whenever you anticipate your exposure to allergens. Otherwise, you might get sick.

5. Know the seasons for allergies

There are several types of allergies but when it comes to classifications according to season, there are just two types: the perennial allergy and the seasonal allergy. The latter is often a product of seasonal changes. If you have been diagnosed of seasonal allergies, here are the months of the year when you must be more careful while outdoors.

• May is the high time for grass pollen. If you are allergic with these pollens, try to know your options for allergy attacks prevention.
• August to September- These months are most likely to cause you allergic reactions due to the high number of ragweed pollens floating in the atmosphere. Again, secure to it that you have yourself protected from the attacks of allergens.
• During late fall- There may not be a lot going on outside but indoors, you must be on guard for dust, ash, hot temperature and humid internal environment. These are conditions conducive for breeding of some insects and bugs and for the development of molds.

If you are allergic to foods, insist not on eating them. If you are allergic to pollens, stay away from gardens, flower shops and flowers. If you are allergic to pets, keep them out of your house. Prevention from allergens and allergic attacks need not be complicated.

Just try to stay away from the causes and risks and you might be able to keep the attacks at bay.

When You Are Inside Your Home

There are medicines for almost everything but there are also people with allergic reactions who do not want to take them. So what can you do in order to avoid meds and allergy triggers altogether? Below are some must-do things so you can avoid being sick with allergy attacks.

1. Know what you are allergic to.

There is a host of allergens that people can develop allergic reactions. It is therefore imperative that you first know which allergen is making you sick such that prevention and treatment can be delivered appropriately. Once you have checked which allergen is causing your body to produce symptoms and what type of allergy you carry, you have already solved half the problem and you can move on to the next stage: prevention.

2. Allergy-proof your home.

You think you are safe within the confines of your own home, think again. There are many allergens that are sitting at your own place that you must eliminate. The presence of allergens on your couch, carpet, drapes and air ways are possibly the best explanations why you never stop sneezing, developing rashes and getting sickly. Allergy-proof your home by securing the following things:

3. Clean your home's air passages.

Allergens are minute particles that come and go through your house's air ducts which often serve as doorways for the allergen to invade your home. Be sure to regularly clean your air conditioning and air heating systems from insect droppings, dusts, pollens, grass and dried leaves. Keeping your home's air passages is the first best move you can do to reduce the quantity of allergens in your home, sanitizing them is another story.

4. Dust-proof your flooring.

Floorings, regardless of the type, are conducive as repositories of allergens, or at least the primary receivers of dirt, animal dander and other components that are causing you allergic reactions. Carpets are the worst. If you love your carpets and would not exchange them for less allergen-friendly floorings, consider employing professional carpet cleaners. They are sure to deliver deep cleaning for your carpets.

5. Use only quality air filters.

Whether it's in your air conditioning/air heating system or in individual air-purifying devices, you must always get the right and the top quality air filters. Be sure to check in your local supplies stores for really good air filters. These sometimes make the difference between skipping another allergy attack or not.

6. Check your basements.

If carpets are the repositories of allergens, basements are the breeding grounds. Since most of us do not give much attention to our basements, they tend to house our not-so-favorite friends- the allergens. So check your basement for mildews, molds, and other less inviting things. If they look somewhat out of this world-ish, they surely are not good for your allergy.

7. Invest on hypoallergenic bedding.

While materials that serve both to deliver comfortable sleep and to protect you from allergens cost more than ordinary pillows, blankets and mattresses, they are, however, very good options when you want to avoid allergy attacks. Hypoallergenic beddings are worth the extra dollars you toss in since they save you the trouble of allergy attacks at night or while you are resting.

You may be safe at your home but how safe are you from allergens and allergy attacks? Please consider our suggestions above to allergy-proof your home.

Be Happy – Save Yourself from Allergies attacks.

Be Happy – You Can Control the Allergies of Your Children.

Allergies point to the exaggerated reaction as posed by the immune system as a response to any physical contact with the substances that seem foreign to the body. The reaction is labeled as exaggerated simply because the body itself deems these substances as harmless. At the same time, those who are non-allergic have non-responsive bodies. The reaction turns in when the body realizes that there are certain foreign substances that it gets in contact with and automatically a part of the immune system is activated.

Allergens and their Nature

The allergens are those that produce the allergy. Some known allergens include the dust mite, pollens, foods, dander, and molds, among others. Simply put, the allergens are those foreign substances which when it gets in contact with the body can cause the allergic reaction. However, not all individuals exude the exaggerated reaction. There are those who don't have the allergy on any of the above mentioned allergens.

The term allergic also goes by the name "atopic". It means that your immune system gets turned on as a response to the foreign substances that gets near your body. You develop that allergic reaction when your body inappropriately reacts to the allergens. Hence, you are called allergic or atopic if you are too prone to the allergy.

Allergy and its Etymology

The term "allergy" is rooted from the Greek words "allos" or changed or different and then "ergos" that means action or work. The word likewise points out the "altered reaction" which the body succumbs to. It was firstly used in the year 1905 to define the adverse reaction of the children who received multiple shots of horse serum to fight against infection.

Determining the Causes

There are several causes that provoke any kind of allergy to develop. It can be due to dust mite, food, pets, and many others. The reaction can be in the form of eye itching, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, skin itching, rash breakout, and the list goes on.

As you know, the body has the immune system which fights off the foreign organisms that get into the body or those which are otherwise termed as the "foreign invaders" or infections. The antigens then provoke the generation of the antibodies and depending on the internal process, they may result to allergic reactions.

Like the army, the immune system aims to ruin the enemy. The protective proteins which are known as antibodies mean to target those foreign invaders. The antibodies or immuno-globulins protectively reach towards the surface and call every immune cell to action. The different types of immuno-globulins are IgA, IgM, IgG, IgD, and IgE. The latter is the one that functions as the antibody.

The Ones at Risk

The rationale behind the question "Why are some people allergic while some are not?" can be further explained by heredity as one of the many factors. The same reaction can be passed on from one generation to another. It is to be made clear that you may not necessarily carry the same allergy or disease like what your parents have or sometimes you may not exhibit the symptoms. Another factor to blame is the environment. The exposure to allergen can provoke the allergic reaction.

Allergies may develop despite the age. In fact, some people get them while they are yet in the womb. Children can carry them towards their adulthood. Some individuals experience the breakout during their adult stage.

Common Allergies

Allergies developed by adults can be particularly hard to diagnose, but even more complex to children as some common symptoms may be also similar indications of other ailments. What makes it even harder is that children are often less capable of describing the symptoms, which leave the parents guessing. When such cases occur, it is always wise to immediately seek help of a trusted physician as they are the right authority to treat and provide medications. But to make it easier for you to see if your child is suffering from a certain allergy, here are five common symptoms related to allergies:

Sinus Infections

When your body overreacts to a certain allergen, it produces more body fluids, which in turn cause the sinus passages to be blocked. There are germs and bacteria that will be able to pass through these passages and as they leave, they also invade the tissues lining your sinus cavity. This causes infection, to which people who have allergies are more susceptible because their body's immune system weakens from attempting to ward off foreign elements; and thus, causing the body to be less effective in fighting itself from germs. Sinus infections are usually serious conditions as they lead to nasal congestion, headaches, and fever.

Itching Nose

This is one of the most common allergy symptoms in children, and even in adults. The nose easily detects by becoming itchy if there are irritants or allergens in the environment. An itchy, stuffy nose can also clearly define that there are allergens and are more serious when the condition leads to cold. When your child is rubbing their nose which seems to resemble a salute action, this is already an indication of the allergy. In fact, this action has already been nicknamed as the "allergy salute." Allergic reactions can be prevented by avoiding your child from being in an environment where there are any allergens. But in any case that they get it, the itchy nose can allow you to intervene whatever allergy your child is developing.

Chronic Cough

If the child is dry coughing and it does not seem to go away, this is chronic cough. Sometimes, there is phlegm, in which case can be an indication that there is an increased fluid present in their sinus cavity; thus, is an allergy symptom you should not ignore. Remember that chronic cough is not a condition but rather an allergy symptom; therefore, it is best to eliminate the source of cough for good rather than by just treating it. However, if the cough persists even after eliminating the source, the best course of action is to seek medical help as it can be a symptom of other conditions as well.

Allergic Eczema

If the skin comes in contact with irritants, it develops a skin condition called contact dermatitis. This is less serious. However, if it is persistent and certain physical conditions occur, this can be already associated to allergies. If there are rashes, dryness, redness, and itchiness in the folds of elbows, eyes, knees, and on the face, this is a condition requiring immediate attention, specifically medical treatments.

Dark-Eye Circles

This is usually called, Denni-Morgan lines. These are taken after two physicians' names who have first established connection between the allergies and the relationship to dark eye circles. And this is also called the allergic shiners, because the discoloration or black, raccoon appearance under the eyes are the results of amplified blood flow occurring in the sinus area and not due to lack of sleep. The circles can also come with extra skin fold.

Treatment

Avoidance is always the best treatment for allergies regardless of which allergens are the triggers. Interestingly enough, the most effective, least expensive, and simplest options are not always followed. Many people choose medications or vaccinations instead, despite their drawbacks. Fortunately, there are lots of simple methods, both old and new, to help with avoidance. Remember, putting into practice any of these measures can only be helpful in managing your allergies.

The good news is that you really don't have to strip your house down to the bare bones to make it allergy proof. Thorough and regular cleaning generally makes a huge difference in keeping your house as mold and dust free as possible. Patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis that are due to dust mites, molds, or other indoor allergens can feel better by taking these simple measures:

• Keep the home cool (between 68 and 72 degrees F);
• Maintain a low humidity (between 40 and 50%); and
• Make certain there is good ventilation.

When patients get started with the process of "allergy- proofing" their homes, one of two things usually happens. They either do nothing or "overdo it." Some patients become so overwhelmed with all the different methods of allergy- proofing that they simply do nothing. That's always a disappointing outcome, especially when the process is so straightforward and inexpensive. Just focusing on the basics of a routine and thorough cleaning and temperature and humidity reduction can lead to fewer symptoms and a vastly improved quality of life.

Sometimes, the opposite occurs. The allergy-proofing process becomes all consuming and inordinately expensive. Overpriced and often inefficient whole-house filtration devices are installed when simple cleaning and reduction of humidity and temperature would have been adequate. Clearly, there are situations in which extreme measures need to be undertaken. Before going down this path, however, it's best to consult with your doctor. Start with the easy things first.

Cleaning and More Cleaning: What Really Helps?

If you are going to undertake to thoroughly clean your home, it is best to ensure at the beginning that the techniques being used are the most effective. The tips discussed below will help you achieve the maximum benefit for all of your efforts.

Soap & Hot Water

Scientific studies of patients who are allergic to dust mites have shown that taking steps to minimize dust mite allergens in the bedroom leads to a decrease in allergic symptoms and medication requirements. Emphasis is placed on the bedroom since people spend at least one third of a 24 hour day there. It is also the room with the greatest number of dust mites.

New synthetic bedding materials are available that are equivalent to down for warmth but can withstand washing more easily because the fibers don't clump. The ideal water temperature for washing is at least 130 degrees F to completely kill the dust mites found throughout the bedding.

Allergy Alert

When the hot water heater is set to achieve a temperature of 130 degrees F, precautions must be taken to prevent scalding a child. For example, at bath time, always remain in the room with a child and make sure to always turn off the "hot" water faucet first and finish with the "cold" faucet.

The choice of bedding materials becomes important. They must be able to withstand the rigors of weekly hot water washing in order to kill the dust mites and remove accumulated allergens. Many bedding materials may be bulky, making them more difficult to wash. It may be easier to use several layers for warmth instead of bulky items for ease of washing. Since any type of blanket material can support dust mite growth, it is important to select one that can withstand repeated washings.

Vacuuming the Right Way

If the carpet can't be replaced by a solid surface such as linoleum or hardwood, then it must be cleaned thoroughly and frequently. Also remember to vacuum upholstered furniture, draperies, and other fabric items that cannot be washed, removed, or replaced. The trouble with vacuuming is that the allergenic dust mite and mold particles become airborne during the process. Dust mite particles can remain airborne for about 15 minutes and be redistributed throughout the home environment. Allergic persons clearly should not be doing the vacuuming and should also stay out of the area until the dust particles resettle. Dust mite particles also become airborne during bedding changes or the placement of dust covers on the mattress, box spring, and pillows. For severely allergic people, these tasks can lead to significant allergy and possible asthma attacks. Those affected by these allergies should definitely not perform these chores.

Allergy Alert

Allergic persons should not perform vacuuming tasks and should keep out of the immediate environment for at least 1 hour after the vacuuming has been completed. Damp dusting should then follow to catch any loose particles.

The vacuum cleaner collecting bag acts as the primary filter in most vacuum cleaning systems. A standard bag can be replaced with a high-filtration multi-layer bag and an exhaust filter can be added. These measures prevent the allergen particles from escaping and becoming airborne during the vacuuming process. Replacing the vacuum bags and adding exhaust filters are economical ways to increase the efficiency of an older vacuum. These bags and filters are easily obtained from allergy supply houses. The filters are available in 8" x 10" sheets that can be cut to size for any canister vacuum. Very expensive vacuum units with built-in HEPA systems (High Efficiency Particulate Air- filter) have been available for years. Now, more affordable brands of vacuums come equipped with HEPA filters and a removable canister that can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher. This system eliminates the problem with vacuum bags. As the older generation of vacuums is phased out, this development should be quite helpful in allergy control. Whole-house vacuum systems, although quite expensive, are also helpful because the dirt collection system is located outside of the house, usually in the garage.

Hard Surfaces Are Easier to Clean

Dust mites, molds, animal danders, and insect debris are difficult to thoroughly clear from the environment. However, it really is easier and quicker to clean a hard surface such as wood, tile, vinyl, or leather than it is to clean all those nooks and crannies found in carpet, fabric, or other soft surfaces.

Allergy Assist

Replacing the carpet with a hard-surfaced floor can eliminate over 90% of dust mites. If you absolutely have to have carpet, get the kind that has a low pile.

The following is a list of suggestions for how to make allergy-proofing an easier task. Hopefully, these ideas will lead to other methods you can use to thoroughly clean and maintain your environment allergy free. Take it one step at a time and focus on the bedrooms first. If you plan on moving, pay close attention to steps that can be taken to allergy-proof prior to moving into the new house. It is much easier to put these ideas into action in the beginning than after everything is in place. It's really not as hard as it looks!

Cleaning Tips

• Avoid ornate furniture. Plain, simple designs accumulate less dust. No open bookshelves; they are great dust-catchers.
• Keep all clothes in drawers or closets, never lying about the room. Enclose wool clothes in plastic zipper bags. Avoid mothballs, insect sprays, tar paper, or camphor. Keep drawers and closet doors closed.
• Remove as much clutter as possible to make cleaning easier. Place hard-to-clean items in closets, drawers, or display cabinets with glass doors.
• When choosing furnishings, it is best to go with wood, leather, vinyl, or rubberized canvas furniture and avoid upholstered pieces. Upholstery easily traps allergens and is much harder to clean. You might try washable slipcovers on existing upholstered furniture.
• Install wood, tile, or linoleum flooring. Limit throw rugs to those that can be easily cleaned in the washer. They should be able to withstand washing weekly.
• Use allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses, and box springs. Tape over zippers to help prevent leaks. Vacuum all casings frequently. Store nothing under the bed.
• Use washable cotton or synthetic blankets, not fuzzy surfaced ones. Use easily laundered cotton bedspreads or coverlets; avoid chenille.
• Install roll-up washable cotton or synthetic window shades. Avoid venetian blinds, mini-blinds, and pleated shades.
• Use washable cotton or fiberglass curtains. Avoid draperies and decorative fabric window treatments!
• Install central air conditioning or window units. Keep windows closed, especially during periods of high pollen counts and windy conditions. Grasses, weeds, and trees tend to pollinate during the early morning hours. Sleep with the windows closed.
• Use Dacron or other synthetics for pillows. Avoid feathers or foam rubber, which traps moisture and promotes mold and dust mite growth.
• Space heaters are preferred over hot air ducts. In homes with forced air heat, use filters or damp cheesecloth over inlets to reduce dust circulation. Change every two weeks. Consult your physician about air purifiers. Keep beds away from air vents.
• Damp dusting using a dampened cloth or an oiled mop will minimize the distribution of dust through the air.

Baby's Room - Special Tips

It's a good idea to eliminate potential irritants and allergens from your baby's environment. Here's what you can do to help eliminate potential sources of allergens from your baby's world.

• Wood or plastic chairs are best for baby's room.
• Again, avoid all feather bedding.
• Use dust-proof casings for all bedding.
• Stuffed animals should never be placed in the crib and, if used, should be washable. Put most of the stuffed items in a closed chest or closet. Store them in a freezer bag when not in use.
• When it comes to gifts for children, ask for books rather than stuffed animals. Keep the books in a bookcase with doors to help reduce allergens.
• Humidifiers should be reserved for croup. They should not be used routinely since they increase the dust mite and mold counts. If a humidifier is required, the cool water variety is safer than a steam humidifier in terms of burns. Also, be sure to change the water daily if a humidifier is necessary.
• Animal fur is a potential allergen. It's best to keep pets out of the baby's room.
• Overhead mobiles and wall hangings collect dust!
• Baby bumpers should be simple and washable. No ruffles or pleats.
• Ruffled curtains and venetian blinds collect a lot of dust. Vertical blinds are preferable. If levelers or shutters are used, be sure to clean them weekly with a damp cloth.
• The crib should be placed away from air vents.
• HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air-filter) can be placed under the crib. The filter will help to decrease airborne allergens such as pollens, mold spores, and animal danders.

Be Happy – You Can Control the Allergies.