Providing the right nutrition at the right time is important for optimal condition and health. Even though most cats spend most (or all) of their time indoors in relatively climate-controlled conditions, they still have a physiological response to the changing seasons.

For wild carnivores, breeding season is typically in the colder months, when food is scarcer; with young born in the spring when food is more abundant. Summer is generally a season of higher activity; but in winter, much energy is used to keep warm, so energy requirements may be higher. Human tinkering with genetics may have produced breeds that look quite different, but physiologically our cats are not so different from their wild ancestors.

In general, good fats (such as fish oil or cod liver oil) should be increased in the winter (especially in the dry climate of Colorado), while protein can be higher in the summer when cats are more active. Diet changes should be accomplished gradually, beginning in the transition seasons (spring, fall). In dry pet foods, grains and other carbohydrates, such as starchy vegetables, are used as an energy source (e.g., calories), but after their days as nursing kittens days, cats do not need carbs. Excess carbs, in fact, seem to have a detrimental effect on cats, causing weight gain and leading to urinary tract disease, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and a host of other diet-related health problems.

Breed, age, and lifestyle have major effects on an individual cat’s nutritional needs. Cats shed their summer coat in the fall and grow in a thicker, more insulating winter coat that is, in turn, shed out in the spring in favor of a lighter summer coat. Smaller cats have a faster metabolism and need more calories per pound than larger breeds like Maine Coons and Savannahs. Young cats are more active and need more calories-but once they’re spayed/neutered, their caloric requirements drop immediately and dramatically; their food intake should be cut by about 1/3 after spay/neuter surgery.

Overall, energy needs decline with age in cats; and their digestion also slows down. Weight control is important at all ages, but especially for older animals who are prone to develop arthritis; excess weight creates even more stress on joints and can exacerbate arthritis pain. Older cats tend to eventually lose weight on their own, so even for cats who were chubby in their younger years, maintaining a good body weight may actually require increased calories. Omega-3 fatty acids provide good anti-inflammatory effects as well as a very usable source of energy.

Another Perspective

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers diet to be extremely influential on health, especially in terms of the balance of Yin and Yang. Yin is considered cool, dark, and feminine, while Yang is warm, light, and masculine. It’s usually recommended to eat more Yang foods during the winter (the most Yin season), and to eat more Yin foods during the summer (the most Yang time of year). But it’s also appropriate to eat in tune with the season — eating Yin foods during the winter and Yang foods during the summer. It is all about balance.

Not only are certain foods considered more Yin or Yang, but the way food is prepared also affects the amount of Yang or Yin energy it has. For example, frying increases Yang, while steaming increases Yin.

Yang foods: chicken, beef, lamb, oats, sardines cheese, organ meats, egg yolks; Preparation: fried, stir-fried, boiled, baked; food served very warm Neutral foods: beef liver/heart, brown rice, buckwheat, dairy, fish, honey, milk, rice, yam; Preparation: food served slightly warm Yin foods: kelp, barley, crab, fish, eggs, millet, pork, seafood, spinach, tofu; Preparation: steamed, raw; food served cool or cold

Your pet’s individual type (Earth, Water, Metal, Fire, or Wood) and pattern of disharmony (too much Yin or Yang; as well as external factors such as dampness, heat, or wind) can override these general guidelines. For example, cats tend toward Yin deficiency and may need warmer foods. However, TCM can be very complex! If you want to work with diet for healing purposes, you may wish to consult a veterinarian familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine who can advise you on specifics (see www.holisticvetlist.com to find a practitioner).

By: Jean Hofve, DVM

Those of us who live with constant pain in our knees know just how problematic it can be to do common, everyday things. Walking up stairs or walking through a store can be a torturous experience and running is almost unthinkable. It doesn’t matter how the condition is caused, the end result is still the same. Pain in the knees that can be unbearable at times. So when do you get to the point where you consider knee replacement surgery?

Many times, arthroscopic surgery can be done to remove pieces of cartilage that are causing pain. And for some people that can be enough. But if the damage to the cartilage and the underlying bone is significant enough then total knee replacement has to be considered. That kind of damage means that the knee is in constant pain, even when not being used for walking. With constant pain in the knee it becomes harder and harder to have a reasonable quality of life.

Most of the time, it takes reaching your limits with pain and with the inability to do even the most basic of things that tips the scale. When those limits are reached then total knee replacement surgery becomes not just an option, but a necessity. However total knee replacement isn’t quite the nightmare it used to be thanks to major advances in the way the surgery is done and the new physical therapies that have been developed.

With today’s surgeries, not only is the surgery easier to tolerate and the recovery time shorter but after the physical therapy and after the healing process is complete, your knee can be totally pain free in just a few months. With that kind of complete recovery you can resume a realistic lifestyle, even an active one, without having to worry about having pain in your knees. Not only are you getting an improved quality of life, but you’re getting your life back. That makes a huge difference.

When it comes to deciding when to have a total knee replacement, it all depends on what your limits are. If the surgery is going to be unavoidable with any other treatment options, it’ll depend on what you want your limits to be. Do you set your limits by your pain threshold or do you set your limits by how much the pain takes away from your life? The choice is up to you, but either way, you can rest assured that after the surgery the difference will be remarkable.

By: Johney J Maron

Dry eye, as the name suggests, is an uncomfortable state of eyes, in which the eyes are restricted to shed tears. There is a special layer possessed by human eyes, known as tear film, which is responsible for generating tears. In the dry eye syndrome, this film is disabled to work appropriately to secrete the desired amount of tears. The symptoms of dry eye include itching and burning sensation, pain in eyes, improper vision, tear secretion while watching TV, stringing eye muscles and discomfort with contact lenses.

What Leads To Dry Eye

Dry eye is caused due to a number of factors related to age, place of living, job and activities carried out by the patient and many more. Some of the most significant causes of dry eye include:

Old age, in which less oil is produced by body Polluted environment having excess of smoke particles Use of contact lenses A number of diseases like Sjogren’s Syndrome and arthritis Stressful working, especially on computer Dry heat and air conditioners that soak away the tears from eye surface
Dry Eye Treatment – The Options Available

In case, you experience dry eye syndrome, you must consult an optometrist to know about various dry eye treatment options available. First of all, it is necessary to diagnose the level of dry eye syndrome before starting the dry eye treatment. For this purpose, you may follow any one of the following tests:

1. Shimmer Test – In this test, bits of paper are put on the lower eyelid to examine the quantity of tears available in your eyes.

2. Tear Break Up Test – In this test, a solution is pored in the eye to understand the process of tear secretion.

The most common dry eye treatment options include:

Drinking a lot of water Avoid sitting directly in front of fan and air conditioner Avoid places having extreme weather conditions Blinking the eyes more frequently Wear wrap-around glasses to avoid heat and air Avoid smoking Scrub the eyelids with warm water and mild shampoo

The products that might provide assistance in dry eye treatment include:

Punctal Plugs – These are made up of collagen or silicon and block the drainage system of eyes to conserve tears in the eyes. Vitamin A medications – As we know, Vitamin A is necessary for eyes, thus most optometrists recommend Vitamin A medications like BioTears for dry eye treatment. Artificial Tears Generators – There are a number of products available in market that help the eyes to produce artificial drops. For instance, Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma eye drops are found to highly effective in this direction. Restasis – This is the ophthalmic eye drop that helps in reducing the inflammation around the eye channels carrying mucin and lipids. Other products include flax seed oil, lubricating gels and antibiotics that are recommended by the optometrist.

Along with these prescribed medications, one must focus on healthy eating by consuming foods rich in Vitamins and Minerals. You can consult your optometrist to get advised on the food items to be consumed as a part of dry eye treatment.

By: Matt Murren

It has been proven that red wines, when being consumed, may have a number of health benefits due to the high antioxidant substance. Red wines contain certain antioxidants not found in other alcoholic beverages that offer extra health-protective effects.

Recent studies have proven that when woman consume one glass of red wine (men consume two glasses) it lowers the risk of a heart attack by 30-50 percent. Also, if you have already had a heart attack it decreases the risk of you having another one in the near future.

In other studies, researchers have found that red wines can raise HDL cholesterol and prevent LDL cholesterol from molding. In addition, red wines can also help prevent blood clotting and lower the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits. Studies have shown that the people from the Mediterranean region, who drink red wines on a regular basis, have a lower risk of heart disease.

Unlike other alcoholic drinks, red wines contain important antioxidant and resveratrol, both which helps repair damaged cells. Resveratrol, commonly found in grape skins and seeds, increases HDL cholesterol and prevents blood clotting. Another antioxidant found in red wines is flavonoid. Flavonoid displays antioxidant properties that help prevent blood clots and plaques formation in the arteries. In retrospect, drinking red wines can increase heart health and circulation and also help prevent cancer.

Also, red wines can help fight against colon cancer. In a recent study, “those who drank one glass of wine each week were far less likely to develop colorectal polyps; only one percent of wine drinkers were afflicted compared to twelve percent of nondrinkers and eighteen percent of those who consumed either grain-based liquor or beer.”

Overall, people who drink wine, beer or spirits frequently and temperately had a lower occurrence of coronary heart disease than heavy drinkers, nondrinkers and those people who drink randomly and splurge when they do drink. The benefits are typically associated with consistent, temperately drinking; while serious health problems are associated with heavy drinking and random overindulge drinking.

By: Lindsay Alston

Shifting is a big undertaking; it should not be taken in easy way. It is hard enough to make you tense and stressful. It givers several unwanted issues. From packing, moving, loading, to unloading and unpacking all are various tedious and traumatic jobs. You can get rid of these issues occurred in shifting process by the help of professional moving company in India. There are several moving companies in India offering packing and moving services within the city, inter-city, inter-state or internationally. You can get assisted with your nearby moving company. A well-established moving company can assist you and make your home shifting or office shifting easy.

A moving company from India offers a wide range of professional packing and moving services across the country and abroad. A well-established and reputed Indian moving company offers services like packing, loading, moving, unloading, unpacking and rearranging of your valuable belonging, like household items, office items, etc. Some Indian moving companies also offer car carrier & transportation, warehousing & storage, air cargo, sea cargo, and insurance services to strengthen their packing and moving services.

A reputed moving company from India has a team of professionals that do their job of packing and moving in expert ways. Expert workers handle each and every your belonging extremely carefully. They take utmost care while packing your valuable household or office items and pack them in the most sufficient manner. They move your belongings in the suitable transport medium and ensure you for delivery of your valuable household or office items in time. They make easy the task of packaging, loading, moving, unloading, unpacking etc that is considered as very hectic and tedious.

There are several packing and moving companies also known as movers in India offering their packing and moving services across the country and abroad. There wide network of offices across the country make easy to handle the packing and moving services from any cities of India. Cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, etc are the prime centers of packing and moving companies. You can choose packers movers from your nearby cities. For instance, you are living at Delhi and want to shift your home to Bangalore; you can choose either Delhi Packers Movers or Packers Movers Bangalore . Both Bangalore and Delhi Packers Movers can be suitable for your home shifting.

But the major problem occurs in selecting a right moving company. You always got confused that which movers can be suitable for your shifting. This is also a big issue. You always choose a right, experienced and cost effective packers and movers . You can find information about a moving company from website or web-directory have information about various packing and moving companies and find quote from them. You can also ask from your friends, relative other persons who have recently taken services of packing and moving companies.

Well, if you too are planning to shift your home of office to a new destination, well, let do the job of packing and moving to professionals. Surly, it will be a helpful an beneficial decision.

By: Michael Braganza

The health care industry is booming. However, it is still a fact that most people feel, being a part of this industry can only be possible if you are a licensed physician. This could not be any farther from truth. There are numerous administrative, and technical positional available that are very well respected on a general level.

In fact, it is almost hard to imagine how the medical industry would function without the help of these professionals. Surgeons or doctors cannot perform all required tasks on their own, without any assistance from others.

Who is a Medical Assistant?

A Medical Assistant is a registered health care worker who performs major clinical and administrative tasks that are required to supplement the physician’s work.
The Medical Assistant is the one bringing a smile to the patient’s face while assisting a health care professional.

How to become a Medical Assistant

In order to be successfully employed as a Medical Assistant you must get certified.
In order to be eligible for this, you must graduate from a medical assistant training program accredited to the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

Medical assistant certification can be earned from many organizations. Some of the most renowned organizations are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the National Health Care Association (NHCA). The certification must be renewed every five years.

Popular training programs

There numerous technical and community colleges that offers accredited medical assistant certification programs.

Here are the names of some of the most popular colleges from each state-

• Alaska- UAF Community and Technical Coll and University of Alaska- Anchorage.
• Alabama- Wallace Community Coll and South University Montgomery.
• Arkansas- Arkansas Tech University.
• Arizona- Central Arizona Coll and Kaplan Coll.
• California- Cabrillo Col and Chabot Col.
• Colorado- Community College of Denver and Everest Coll.
• Connecticut- Capital community Coll and Lincoln Col of New England.
• Delaware- Delaware Technical and Community Coll.
• Florida- Broward Coll and Daytona State Coll.
• Georgia- Columbus Technical Col and Augusta Technical Coll.
• Guam- Guam Community Coll.
• Hawaii- Herald College and Kaplolani Community College.
• Iowa- Kirkwood Community Coll and Southeastern Community Coll.
• Idaho- Brigham Young University and Idaho State University.
• Illinois- Harper Col and Westwood Col.
• Indiana- Brown Mackie Col and Ivy Tech Community Col.
• Kansas- Wichita Area Technical Col and National American University.
• Kentucky- National College and Sullivan University.
• Louisiana- Career Technical Col and Bossier Parish Community Col,
• Massachusetts- American Career Institute and Salter Col.
• Maryland- Cecil Col and Allegany College of Maryland.
• Maine- Beal Col and Southern Maine Community College.
• Michigan- Alpena Community Col and Davenport University.
• Minnesota- Academy Col and Globe University.
• Missouri- Everest Col and National American University.
• Mississippi- Hinds Community Col and Northeast Mississippi Community Col.
• Montana- Flathead Valley Community Col.
• North Carolina- Brookstone Col and Davidson County Community Col.
• Nebraska- Central Community Col and Nebraska Methodist University,
• New Hampshire- Hesser Col and Manchester Community Col.
• New Jersey- Berdan Institute and Warren County Community Col.
• Nevada- Col of Southern Nevada.
• New York- Erie Community Col and Plaa Col.
• Ohio- Zane State Col and The University of Akron.
• Oklahoma- Tulsa Community Col and Moore Norman Technology Centre,
• Oregon- Central Oregon Community Co and Mt. Hood Community Co.
• Pennsylvania- Berks Community Co and Thompson Institute.
• South Carolina- Forest Junior Co and South University.
• South Dakota- Lake Area Technical Institute and Colorado Technical University.
• Tennessee- South Co and National Co.
• Texas- Cisco Co and Col of the Mainland.
• Utah- Davis Applied Technology Co and Broadview University
• Virginia- Bryant and Stratton Co and Tidewater Community College.
• Washington- Clark Co and Olympic Co.
• Wisconsin- Madison Area Technical Co and Rasmussen College.
• West Virginia- Mountain State University and Huntingdon Junior Co.

By: Christina G. Flannagan

While traveling, most people tend to forget their health, yet it is one of the most important aspects of travel. You can make sure that your trip sails smoothly without any health complications by walking around as you wait for your plane. This will improve your blood flow and relax your muscles. You could even carry around your luggage, which will boost your metabolism rate. These activities will be of great benefit once you board the plane.

To avoid jet lag, which can be caused by dehydration, make sure that you consume as much water as possible. This will not only help in hydrating your body, but the fact that you will have to visit the bathroom often will allow for blood flow protecting you from muscle cramps. You should avoid eating any junk food before and during the flight as they cause fatigue and stomach upsets. Carry along some eye drops, which will help in lubricating your eyes preventing you from eye irritations caused by the dry air on the plane.

For better nutrition while on the road, you can have an omelet that has been filled with vegetables, whole-wheat toast, and one bowl of oatmeal if you are eating at a restaurant for breakfast. In case you are taking your breakfast at a hotel continental bar, you can have a whole grain cereal containing low fat milk, some fresh fruits, yogurt, or even hard boiled eggs.

At a service station, order a single serving of whole grain breakfast cereals, protein bars with low sugar levels and in case you cannot access these, have a hot breakfast sandwich. Fast food restaurants will offer you fruits and yogurt, low fat milk or pure fruit juice. For take away snacks in the car, carry fresh vegetables and fruits, plenty of water, vegetarian cheese, whole grain crackers that have been baked, packs of sandwiches that have been made with whole grain bread and any nuts that contain polyunsaturated fats such as cashews.

For lunch and dinner go to the full service restaurants as they offer more choices than the fast food restaurants. Order some soup or salad to eat together with your main course. Consider sharing the meal with your partner, as you will be served with huge portions, and eat the vegetables or order for a dish if not served with some. Go to fast food restaurants that allow you to choose the ingredients to be contained in your sandwich, as well as low fat salads. In case you are eating at a hotel, buy snacks at a local grocery such as nuts or popcorn and pizzas containing many vegetables. Also avoid overeating to maintain your health.

By: Bill Manly

In order to get into a Physicians Assistant Program in Colorado, certain general pre-education requisites should be accomplished. A previously finished B. A. or (preferable) B.S. degree should have been accomplished. In applying for a Colorado Physicians Assistant Program, the required GPA should not be lower than 2.8 overall. Also, to get accepted into an accredited school in Colorado, every science coursework should preferably be higher but definitely not have a grade lower than “C”.

Before finalizing plans to enter into a certain program, this must first be checked in coordination with AAPA’s standards for the accreditation of Physician Assistant programs and schools. Once you are sure the school and educational curriculum is accredited, you may proceed with your application as you can now be confident that you will be legally allowed to apply for further exams, licensing and certification, as well as employment after graduating from your chosen program. Successful graduates must also check with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ADRD-PA).

The educational curriculum of the Physicians Assistant Program in Colorado would include learning the basics first. Information on the principles and concepts of immunology, physiology, pharmacology and the practical knowledge of learning problem solving skills in the medical field/clinical situations would be part of this curriculum.

The coursework will of course include anatomical and medical studies, training in the composition of medical history and making of the diagnosis, as well as training in the behavioral sciences and their applications to medical and diagnostic procedures. Behavioral applications to emergency medical situations, evidence-based medicine, assessing patients, therapy before and after surgery, etc, will also be included in the training. There are some programs in Colorado that can give an additional Master’s Degree to interested students but only after a required Master’s Thesis is completed in addition to the regular Physicians Assistant program coursework.

It is highly advised to have already completed the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before application Assistant Program in Colorado. This GRE result given during application must not exceed five years old.

Successful graduates of any AAPA accredited Assistant Program in Colorado can expect to have a great chance of possible employment in some of the best hospital and medical facilities in the state such as Memorial Hospital Center and Denver Health Medical Center among others.

Due to higher population density, some areas in Colorado such as Boulder, Denver, and Greeley have higher employment opportunities for licensed Assistants compared to less densely-populated areas such as Fort Collins and Colorado Springs where the employment prospects are lower.

The Assistant Program in Colorado generally takes up to about 2 years before completion. After completion of the program, the graduates that have been groomed are now required to take the National Assistant Certifying Exam.

After all accreditation issues have been rechecked and finalized, graduates of any of the legally listed Physicians Assistant Programs in Colorado can move on to apply for the Physician Assistant Certifying Exam (PANCE) handled by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). After successfully passing this, they can now be sure that they are certified Physician Assistants, and can again move on to acquiring licensure (to practice in the State of Colorado) after getting their credentials verified by the Federation of State Medical Boards.

By: Richard S Murphy

There are times when you may want to choose the sex of your baby. You may want to do this for medical or personal (elective) reasons. The method of choice is yours and there are several options you can pursue when deciding whether to look at baby gender selection. Keep in mind that each option has its own effectiveness, prices vary, and not all methods are readily available. When you are considering adding a child to your family and you have medical or personal reasons for wanting the child to be male or female, then you have some options that make your chances greater of having your child of choice. Of course, there are no guarantees for you when conceiving a child and most people are happy knowing that their baby is alive and healthy. The choice is ultimately left up to each individual couple.

One method to look at when making your decision on baby gender selection is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Medical professionals have the ability to create and identify embryos of a specific sex and then implant them. This procedure was founded in 1978 and has become more common and successful since then. The percentage of becoming pregnant through IVF is now quite high and results in a viable pregnancy in 1 out of 5 implantations. Age and reproduction health of both the male and female partner are part of the overall physical evaluation when a physician is consulted for infertility reasons.

In Vitro Fertilization is no longer the extensive surgical procedure it used to be. It usually can be performed in a physician’s office and requires no general anesthesia. The physician combines ultrasound imaging with a sonographically-guided needle to recover the oocytes (female eggs.) To prepare for In Vitro Fertilization, the woman must undergo approximately two weeks of hormonal therapy using fertility drugs so that the physician can retrieve the eggs at the most optimal time (immediately before ovulation.) The procedure itself requires only local anesthesia and the patient will only have mild discomfort such as experienced during an annual pap smear. Almost always, the patient will be able to go home that same day and resume her usual daily activities.

By: Matt Murren

A health Care revolution is under way-a dynamic change in the way individuals vision the recovering of the body. Today, health-care methods that were once ridiculed, thought to be inconsequential, fringe, strange, as well as cultish not merely are becoming embraced by the general public but in addition are being merged as regular method in the majority of health care institutions.

Consider prayer: an determined one third of men and women use prayer, additionally to traditional health care and harmonizing and alternative therapies, for wellness issues, in accordance to an article in the April 26, 2002, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A unique mission at Duke identified as MANTRA, headed by cardiologist Dr. Mitchell Krucoff and nurse professional Susan Crater, published findings that demonstrated heart patients who obtained prayer have 50% to 100% less adverse effects compared to those patients not prayed for.

Research published in the October 25, 1999, documentation with the exact same journal assessed the widespread use of prayer and its usage to health issues. Of the 2,055 men and women ages eighteen and older involved in the study

35% used prayer for health concerns.

75% used prayer as a way to seek recovery from a health condition.

22% directed their prayer for specific medical conditions.

69% of those praying for particular medical conditions asserted they enormously benefited from the use of prayer.

Heart patients whom others prayed for, but who were not mindful of becoming the target of prayers, had an 11 percent decrease in medical problems or the requirement for surgery or prescription medication while in the hospital, according to researchers. The authors examined the medical charts of nearly one thousand cardiovascular patients, following their health track records between hospital admission and release and noted. Today we are surprised by the distant results of prayer as Newton’s critics were by the distant outcomes of gravity. However, In the same way that the debate over gravity steadily diminished, the debate encircling intercessory prayer may also disappear with time, although our ineptitude about the mechanism associated may continue. The truth will remain, in lamp-lit of all present-day scientific and medical exploration, that prayer definitely works. If there ever was a drug to exhibit the identical amount of results as prayer, it would be the medication of the centuries.

By: Chris Pellow