When it is time to dispose of old medicines, there are recommended guidelines to prevent drug abuse, protect your identity and personal health information (PHI).

Although it may seem like an easy solution, flushing medicines down the sink or toilet is actually not recommended, unless the disposal instructions on the prescription label specifically direct you to do so, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

How to Safely Dispose of Medications

Your neighborhood may have a drug take-back program, which will allow you to bring unused drugs to a location for proper disposal. However, if this is not available to you and the label does not instruct how to dispose of the medication, the CDC recommends mixing the meds with coffee grounds or kitty litter so that they are not easily recognizable. Then, place the mixture in a sealed bag or empty container and throw it out with the household trash.

The American Pharmacists Association also recommends crushing solid medications or dissolving them in water (which also applies for liquid medications) before mixing them in with the undesirable substances mentioned above.

When in doubt, speak with your pharmacist. Typically, pharmacists are easily accessible and can guide you on how to properly dispose of your unused meds.

They also recommend protecting your personal information by scratching out any content presented on the prescription label before throwing away the bottle.

It is very important to dispose of unused prescription drugs in the appropriate way. If the proper precautions are not taken, children, pets, or people who intentionally go through the trash may get their hands on your unused medications.

Consequences of Taking the Wrong Drug 

There are some prescription medicines that can be harmful if taken by someone other than who the prescription was meant for, the CDC indicates, so it is also not recommended to give your unused medications to family or friends.

Keep in mind: disposal of medications is not the only thing that is important when trying to keep members of the household safe. You should ensure that medicines are also being stored safely. 

In one case scenario, a three-year-old child happened to wander into his grandmother’s bedroom while the parents were visiting and conversing in the living room with the grandparents. The grandmother had her pills on a table next to her bed. The child found the pills. Opened the containers and started putting them in his mouth, thinking they were candy. Fortunately, the boy was not harmed as those particular meds were not controlled substances nor habit forming. They were mild sleep inducers. They didn’t know how many he had swallowed, but apparently, it wasn’t a lot. This situation could have been much worse though, since the grandmother did have controlled medications in containers right next to the sleep inducers. 

This is why, even if you are visiting someone, make sure they have their meds safely stored away. Either keep prescriptions locked up, or stored somewhere high and out of the reach of children.

Teenage Curiosities

When it comes to teens, we head into a new arena. Many teenagers, especially adolescents are curious individuals, sometimes foolishly curious. If you have meds, especially controlled substances, and have teenagers living with you, hide the medications! 

As per prp.jasonfoundation.com, “More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED.”

Indeed with statistics such as this, being vigilant about teenagers would be an understatement.

In Closing

If you have small children or teens, or even pets, make sure you have your medications stored away properly where they cannot get to them! 

The early bird catches the worm – a familiar term we’re used to hearing, especially when being woken up for school by our parents in the early hours of the morning.

But does this phrase hold true for physical fitness? Keep on reading to find out.

Importance of Exercise

The benefits of regular physical activity and exercise have long been proven and hold to this day. From strengthening bones to building muscle and burning body fat, physical exercise offers a wide range of advantages. Enhancing memory, improving blood flow, and building up a better immune system are just some to start with.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, an adult should get at least 150 minutes to 300 minutes of moderate physical exercise every week.

The Edge of the Early Worm

Morning workouts, particularly on an empty stomach, is one of the best times for burning stored fat, making this time ideal for weight loss. This is mainly because the body’s hormones are set up physiologically to shed the most during that time. The same reason is attributed to the body being more energized during morning workouts.

Even if you hate early alarms, exercising as early as 7 a.m. may shift your body’s internal clock earlier, making you feel more alert during mornings. This habit also makes you feel tired at night so you go to bed early and get enough rest to get a fresh, early start and repeat the same process.

A morning workout has also been associated with better mental health, creativity, and productivity throughout the day since exercise is a great stress reliever. It is also easier to pick up and stick to healthier habits that you start with in the mornings.

However, if you are not a morning person, do not force the habit upon yourself as it could lead to an inefficient workout routine.

Afternoon Workouts are Just as Good

If you are doing an intense or rigorous routine, swinging in a workout at lunch is a good fall back option as well.

Morning workouts are best for shedding weight and losing fat. But workouts performed during the afternoon will be boosted by the energy received from the one or two meals you had eaten before starting out.

An afternoon workout is also a great way to get over the end of the day slump. Exercising between 1 pm and 4 pm can shift the body clock similar to morning workouts. Even a brisk walk can rejuvenate you and help you focus better.

Nighttime Perks

Most people only find time to work out in the evenings after work. Some people believe that exercising at night makes it difficult to fall asleep later. This is a common misconception.

As long as you are not exercising, showering, and immediately jumping into bed, you are still safe from this belief. But research conducted found that exercising between 7 pm and 10 pm does delay the body clock. Instead, other stress relieving activities performed at night can be more beneficial and help you fall asleep. These activities include meditation and yoga.

How to Make Your Workout More Effective

Now that you know the advantage different workout times hold for you, check out the following strategies that can make you get the most from your training.

• Don’t push your limits too much. If you have time constraints and are limited to a few hours each week, do not go for overkill within that short time frame. You should have a more patient approach and combine in other factors like sleep quality and diet if you are aiming for weight loss.
• Shift the focus. Exercising, especially weight training, requires more focus on the quality of reps rather than the amount you do. Proper form not only leads to a better physical appearance but also prevents injury.
• Keep challenging yourself. The progressive overload principle is a cardinal rule among trainers which states that in order for the muscle to grow stronger the body must be forced to bear greater work than it is used to. In other words, if you keep on doing what you do every day your body won’t change.
• Learn to have fun and enjoy. Exercising for most people is just a means to an end and they only start because they feel obligated to. After a certain point, learn to have fun and enjoy instead of feeling obligated to performing repetitive tasks. If you feel the gym has become too monotonous, you can opt for other forms of exercise such as boxing or dancing which are more engaging.

The Bottom Line

To pick a time that is most optimal for exercise, experts recommend going for the morning sweat. Early workouts make the most of your physiology and biology and do wonders in the long run.

However, sticking to a strict schedule and time is not easy while living a demanding life that requires one to pay attention to friends and family. To get the most benefits from exercise, the best time to do it is when you will actually do it and not slack off.

Picking a time and sticking to it like a bee on honey, regardless if it is morning or evening, is the best approach. Exercising consistently at the same time each day develops a habit that is hard to lose.

 Photo by alexx60 – yayimages.com

This coming April is National Autism Month.  and so we find it prudent to take the time to cover some important aspects of Autism.

A Brief Overview of Autism 

Autism is a spectrum disorder that makes one develop differently in terms of communicating and forming social skills. Everybody falls on a different spectrum. If you are a parent of an autistic child, then it is understandable that every day is a challenge for you.

It’s a responsibility as a parent to make their child thrives in this world, regardless of any conditions they are born with. Autism is not impossible to deal with and once you learn how to manage it, things can become easier for you and your child.

Here are 11 ways on how you can be a better parent:

Have a Fixed Schedule

Autistic children learn better if they have a schedule fixed for them. A highly structured daily routine is just what they need to do their best. Consistency is something they can easily depend on and thrive towards. A regular set of activities such as school, play time, meals and therapy makes autistic children feel safe and something they are familiar with. It will less likely cause any tantrums or outbursts as well. Avoid any distractions or disruptions in their schedule. Anything out of the routine can make them upset. Inform your child in advance for any changes.  

Be Consistent

Autistic children need consistency in order to learn something. It is difficult for them to apply the skills learned in just one setting.  Your child can do one thing at school such as using sign language but doesn’t think he/she has to do it at home. Consistency is the key to reinforcing learning and acquiring new skills.

Creating consistency for autistic children makes their emotional development smoother and easier to manage. You must make your child practice and apply all the skills learned in different environments and settings in order to expand the learning process. Consistency should not only be done for learning but also the way you interact with your child during good and challenging behavior.  

Have a Special Safe Area at Home

Even though your home is a safe place for your autistic child, there will be some challenging times when your child will feel unsafe. This is why you need to create another safe place within your home where your child goes to relax and not feel pressured or disturbed in any way. It should be a private space where he can calm down and feel secure. Make sure that the area is marked for easy recognition. Whenever your child feels uneasy, he can come whenever possible. Safety-proof your entire house so that no place is dangerous for any outbursts or self-injurious behavior.

Connect with Your Child Non-Verbally

Autistic children might not speak or communicate much but you can still connect with them non-verbally. You can communicate and connect with your child through other cues such as the eyes, hand gestures, the tone of your voice and other signs of facial expressions and body language. It can even include the way you touch her. You can create your own mix of language as long as it helps the both of you stay connected. Pay close attention to your child’s non-verbal cues as well so that you recognize what they need to express.

Have Some Fun Time

Both you and your child need to have some fun time together to strengthen communication and connection. There should be more to life than just coming in and out of therapy sessions and special classes for your child. Find out how both of you can have fun through incorporating your child’s favorite activities or introduce new games or recreational pastime. Play is an important part of children’s learning and development, and autistic children are no different.

Know Your Child’s Triggers

Autistic children respond differently to different things. Some are highly sensitive to certain things that can trigger them such as light, touch, sound, smell or anything that they perceive to be uncomfortable or dangerous. It is essential to know what triggers your child so that you can avoid any challenging or difficult behavior and reaction.

Don’t Confine Your Child

Interacting is quite difficult for many autistic kids but that doesn’t mean that they should be left by themselves most of the time in their room. Take your child outside every day, whether it is to a store, a walk in the park or even in your own backyard. Autistic children are part of the community and must participate in their own way, no matter how different or limited it might be.

It’s Ok to Take a Break

As a parent of a child, a break is not only normal but a must. This is true whether your child has special needs or not. Don’t feel guilty if you want to leave your kid with a babysitter and go have some fun time with your friends or spouse. You take on the daily challenges and struggles every day. It’s only natural that you take out time for yourself so that you are better able to take care of your child later on.

Join a Support Group

Interacting with other parents of autistic children will let your mind at ease and you can learn from one another on how to manage your kids.

Take Care of Yourself

This one can’t be stressed enough. If you can’t take care of yourself, then you won’t be able to care for your kid as well. Create a schedule for your own activities such as gym, classes, spa treatments, movies etc. If your whole day revolves around your child, then you will be more likely to get burnt out and exhausted.  A healthy and happy you can definitely make everything for your child so much better.

Split the Responsibility

Don’t let all the responsibility of taking care of your child rest on you. There can be just one parent who the child connects with more but you got to make them learn that there are two people watching out for them. This is important because if either one of you is busy or sick, you have the other to rely on.

HIV and Aids are two correlated ailments which have serious consequences for patients. The aim of our discussion today is to understand what each entails and the issues that must be dealt with.

Defining HIV

First and foremost, HIV is a deadly virus that has a significant impact on the person’s immune system. The immune system is the all-important defense mechanism of the body. Its main objective is to protect the body from diseases. When the body’s natural armor against unfavorable agents becomes comprised, there is a definite cause for concern.

The acronym HIV, which means Human Immunodeficiency Virus, decimates the white blood cell count in the body. These cells are known as T-helper or CD4 and are replaced by HIV, which multiplies once it enters these spaces.

Gradually, the white blood cell count declines as the HIV spreads further. This results in the failure of the immune system to act appropriately. Therefore, an HIV patient would find it increasingly troublesome to deflect diseases since his/her body’s natural defense will fail to do so.

Thankfully, there are legitimate antiretroviral options available to combat HIV in patients, which can afford them a chance at a normal life again. Of course, treatment depends on the stage at which HIV is diagnosed. If the patient is lucky and the diagnosis is done relatively early, then doctors can work their way to better long-term health in patients. This is precisely why regular HIV testing is recommended.

HIV can be found in a person’s semen, blood, body fluids and even breast milk in some cases. It cannot be transmitted through urine, saliva or perspiration. However, individuals must be extraordinarily cautious when they initiate sexual intercourse, as adequate protection is obligatory to avoid transmission of HIV (or any type of sexual disease).

There are other factors which pertain to HIV as well. A contaminated or used syringe can be the cause of HIV. This is why it is imperative to use a sealed and brand new needle to inject any drugs or execute a blood test. Last but not least, women who are expecting and develop HIV, unfortunately, must act promptly. Pregnant females must be aware of the fact that if the virus is situated in their blood, it can easily pass on to the unborn child. Alternatively, the virus may be carried into the child’s body through breastfeeding. Pregnant women must already exercise every caution in the book and this is amplified when motherhood is imminent.

Understanding Aids

Aids and HIV are frequently mentioned in tandem which begs the question: how are they different? Aids is actually the syndrome or symptoms that are caused by HIV.

Aids stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is also called advanced HIV or late-stage HIV by doctors. A person with Aids is said to have a weak immune system which is unable to stave off ailments and infections. Aids is essentially the final phase of HIV, which means the infection has manifested itself considerably. The consequences of this can be fatal.

Carriage of HIV

Now that we’ve shared the fundamental details of HIV and Aids, we can shift the focus to learning how it is transmitted from one person to another person.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is disseminated through a number of ways. The most common theme is that a person may make contact with specific bodily fluids which emanate from a person who has HIV. Examples include the blood of a patient. For instance, if a person is subjected to a syringe which was used by another patient, then the blood of the former may already be contaminating the needle, which is how it could find its way into the bloodstream of the other. Semen can be transmitted through unprotected sex and so can pre-seminal lubricants. A mother may directly affect her infant child through the process of breastfeeding.  

The actual procedure is called HIV transmission. The most common of the aforementioned causes is sexual intercourse. In the US, it is the number one reason for contracting HIV. Obviously, to greatly diminish the likelihood of HIV, individuals must be responsible and use precautions. Condoms are a given and instructions on how to use these are provided with the packaging.

Moreover, agents which do not transmit HIV include basic contact between humans such as exchanging pleasantries or embracing another person. Coming in contact with commodities such as dishes or doorknobs does not mean HIV is transferable (although it is always advisable to wash your hands frequently in order to help avoid any number of other diseases, including the common cold). Foreign carriers such as mosquitoes and fleas, which are known to carry multiple diseases, also do not carry this virus either.

Treating HIV Patients

Antiretroviral therapy can assuage and alleviate is when medication is prescribed which tackles the HIV infection. People who undergo this therapy are required to consume a combination of medicines on a daily basis. They actively prevent the virus from multiplying and replacing white blood cells in the human body. Additionally, the medication vastly reduces the quantity of the virus in the body. Naturally, lesser HIV is tantamount to better health and a greater capability of the body to combat concerns is restored.

In terms of the actual diagnosis, there is a fixed criterion to determine whether a person is suffering from HIV. Tests may indicate that determining a person’s white blood cell. A low count can indicate numerous issues, HIV being one of them. A CD4 count below 200 cells per cubic millimeter is a sign that HIV is at play. The average or healthy count of CD4 ranges from 500 to 1600 cells per cubic millimeter. Alternatively, the other reason may be that the person develops an opportunistic infection, which brings about HIV.

There is no cure for AIDS, but it can be controlled and people can live a fairly normal lifestyle as former NBA star Magic Johnson can attest to. With that said, careful practices during sex and when using injections is paramount to avoid the possibility of contracting this disease.