Cancer Research has recently revealed that bowel cancer rates among men in the UK have ‘risen by nearly 30 per cent in the last 35 years, while women have seen an increase of only six per cent’. This is particularly distressing, given that bowel cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer if it is discovered in its early stages. In fact, the NHS tells us that 90% of cases can be successfully treated if detected early enough. Unfortunately, bowel cancer manifests itself as a range of symptoms that people deem embarrassing, and 65-year-old South African businessman, Norman, says that “it’s such a funny subject; people don’t want to talk about it, they just suffer”. The disease can be very destructive if left to progress, and with an average of 44 people dying of bowel cancer each day in the UK, it’s so important that people open up to their doctors sooner rather than later.

Awareness surrounding bowel cancer is important, but it’s also important to know how to deal with life after the disease. 20 years ago, after chemotherapy and radiation therapy, Norman Peires went into remission. But his ordeal wasn’t quite over. Later on he made the life-changing decision to have a colostomy bag attached to his stomach to collect the waste products that would normally pass through his colon.

Some people might think of a colostomy bag as a dark reminder of their disease but Norman takes it all in his stride. “With the new fashion of low rise trousers, it would be nice if they could make the colostomy lower down, so I don’t have to look like Simon Cowell,” he laughs.

Norman found that having bowel cancer put everything in perspective for him. He was able to take a step back and look at a life from a different angle. He has learnt to enjoy the simple things.

He tells us how he feels now about the pressures of everyday life: “You realise you don’t have to be everywhere and you just want to stay home and watch Eastenders and University Challenge. What matters is family and friends.”

Although Norman does enjoy the simple moments, he and his wife Lorna have developed a thrill-seeking side. They have recently learnt to fly and are known to dabble in historic car racing.

Norman’s eyes light up as he tells us: “the biggest thrill is going round a race track, the speed and going to the edge”. This month, Norman and Lorna took part in the Rally for Heroes, a 50 mile car race in aid of military charity Help For Heroes, and they raised over £3,500 for the cause.

When the Peires’ aren’t behind the wheel of a rally car or helicopter they are avid skiers and tennis players. It is astonishing that, at 65 and having battled a horrific cancer, Norman is still vibrant, active and full of life. When we asked him about his love of outdoor activity he told us: “I find it refreshing, it gets the cobwebs out of your brain”.

What are menstrual cramps, anyway?

Known to doctors as “dysmenorrhea,” menstrual cramps may occur immediately prior to or during a woman’s period.  There are two types of menstrual cramps: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary.

The former is what most women know to be common cramps, that usually begin a year or two after she begins her period and occur in the lower abdomen or back, ranging from mild to severe pain.  These menstrual cramps may become less severe and more infrequent as a woman ages and may disappear completely once she has her first baby.  Secondary dysmenorrhea refers to cramps caused by a disease or disorder within a woman’s reproductive organs.  These cramps typically begin much earlier in the menstrual cycle, last longer, and are more severe than their primary counterparts.

Cramping is caused by uterine contractions.  The uterus is a pear-shaped, hollow organ and will contract throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, thus sloughing off the lining, which is released through the vagina.  If the uterus contracts too strongly, it will press against the surrounding blood vessels cutting off their oxygen and causing a cramp.

The symptoms of menstrual cramps go beyond just a normal cramp.  There is often an aching in the abdomen or lower back, pain in the hips, lower back, and inner thighs, upset stomach, vomiting, and sometimes even diarrhea.  For some women, the cramps may become so severe they cannot walk, stand, or sit comfortably.  Severe cramps can also lead to missed work and disrupt a woman’s life significantly.

Relieving menstrual cramps

Women do not have to live with debilitating menstrual cramps – they are highly treatable.  Any cramping that lasts more than two or three days or is so severe she cannot proceed with a normal day should be brought to a doctor’s attention.  However, women can take action to deal with bad menstrual cramps for themselves.

Relieving mild menstrual cramps is relatively simple – medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen are very effective.  Women who experience severe cramps may also consult their doctor and buy Celebrex, another very effective prescription medication.  In addition to medications, applying heat to the lower back or abdomen or taking a warm bath can work wonders.

In addition to taking pain relievers, getting on “The Pill” might also help.  Hormonal contraceptives, such as the birth control pill contain certain hormones that prevent ovulation, thus reducing the severity and frequency of menstrual cramps.  Staying on a hormonal method throughout the year can drastically reduce the onset of cramps, though taking a break from the pill may help a woman regulate her body from time to time.

Women who engage in regular exercise also experience less severe and less frequent menstrual cramps.  In an effort to prevent cramping, it is a good idea to incorporate exercise into one’s weekly routine.  However, getting up and moving during the cramping can also help – simply take a walk around the neighborhood, run on a treadmill, or taking a bike ride can do wonders for increasing blood flow and reducing cramps.   Yoga and stretching have also been known to help.

Diet also plays a role in preventing menstrual pain.  A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of fiber, and lots of water is particularly beneficial.  Eating these foods will help cleanse the body of extra estrogen, which contributes to the onset and severity of cramps.  Making sure that one gets enough vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, and thiamine also have been shown to help.

Below is an optimal itinerary combining food, art, and the beauty of the city. To make your way to the Netherlands, check out www.fly.co.uk for airline tickets offered at low prices.

Doppio Espresso
Gravelandseweg 14

This award winning coffee shop brings the taste of Italy to Hilversum. Although the menu is in Dutch and the baristas have limited English, they are happy to give suggestions. I’d recommend the vegetarian goat cheese sandwich on local bread. Grab a lime green tea to go and prepare for an afternoon in the sun.

Pinetum Blijdenstein
Van der Lindenlaan 125

Founded by Amsterdam bank director B.W. Blijdenstein in the 19^th century, this 1.5 hectare botanical garden has gathered an extensive amount of rare and endangered trees and plants. It also contains one of the most impressive collection of conifers and other gymnosperms in the world. It is a wonderful retreat to wander around and photograph the flora.

Modern Architecture
Begin at Dudokpark 1

W.M Dudok crafted approximately 75 buildings in the city, making the entire city feel like an open-air museum for modernist architecture. To highlight the best of his work, the W.M. Dudok Architectural Route was created. This 10km, three-hour walk takes you through several of his most important works, including his most lauded work, Hilversum Town Hall. Another eye-catching building is the 2006 built Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. The colorful exterior is etched glass featuring important moments from Dutch television history. 

Royal Mandarin
Emmastraat 9

As Hilversum caters primarily to the upmarket, there are a few splurge spots for fine dining. Curiously based in a historic Dutch farm, Royal Mandarin is considered to be one of the best Chinese restaurants in the country. The prices are high, but the quality of food and knowledgeable staff is comparable. Order from the Surprise Menu to allow the chef to demonstrate his best dishes.

Recognising culture shock

Usually within the first few months of living in a new place – once the novelty has worn off and you’ve come to grips with the idea of living abroad, anxiety, nerves or feelings of alienation can set in.

What causes culture shock?

As an expat living in a foreign land, it’s very normal for cultural differences such as customs, conversational etiquette, mindset and language all form barriers to feeling comfortable and at home.

Working through it

Many experience culture shock as an emotional roller coaster, but being aware of the possibility that you might have negative responses to your new life, such as a feeling of isolation or resentment, and being willing to deal with the issues are key to overcoming them.

Minimising the effects

Before leaving, make a concerted effort to learn about the customs and culture of your destination. This will mean fewer surprises in the transition.

Once at your location, you need to seek support – both personally and professionally – to minimise the effects of culture shock. Seek the advice of other expats you know, and make an extra effort to make friends locally. Being a recluse or communicating solely with people back home or within your family will only increase your feelings of isolation

Small efforts on your part – such as getting to know local news, asking questions, even watching local TV programs will mean that you have a good starting point for conversations with new people, along with a growing understanding of the culture and habits of your new home.

Though it can be stressful and unpleasant, culture shock is an important step along the route to settling down in a new place. If you are prepared and take positive steps to combat culture shock, you will find your expat experience greatly enriched.

Vivienne Egan writes for Now Health, who provide international health insurance for expats.

Being cut off from communicating effectively can cause untold amounts of stress, and the extra strain involved in trying hard to hear things has been linked to illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Get Your Hearing Checked

Of course, before you rush out to buy a brand new hearing aid to try and counteract these problems, you really should get yourself checked out by a trained hearing loss specialist (such as an audiologist, an otologist or an otorhinolaryngologist). They should be able to tell you what is wrong and whether a hearing aid will fix it.

Once you’ve done that, you should have an idea of what sort of hearing aid you need – one that your friend uses won’t necessarily suit you; just like with glasses, different people have different needs. Now you can get online and start shopping!

Browse the Web

Visit a number of different hearing aid websites (such as the official NHS page) to get a greater understand of exactly which services are offered, and what each type of hearing aid can do for you.

Next, you’ll have to choose the supplier you wish to buy your hearing aid from. There are many different vendors out there on the internet, but one reliable and trustworthy one is Boots Hearingcare – hearing aids from Boots come with a minimum of two years’ warranty, and they operate under a price match promise too, so you know you’re getting a good deal.

Have Your Audiogram by Your Side

While you’re shopping for your lovely new hearing aid, make sure you keep your most recent audiogram to hand – you may need to send the results to your chosen hearing aid vendor. This is so that they can develop your device specifically tailored to your needs.

If you haven’t got your audiogram around, some hearing aid websites allow you to do an online audiogram. With these, you’ll need to wear ear-covering headphones and complete an online test, following the instructions given. Once completed, the submitted results will help the vendor in creating your hearing aid.

Choose What You Want

As mentioned before, there are many types of hearing aid available, so you have to choose the one you like the most. For example, if you don’t want your hearing aid to be seen by everyone, In the Canal (ITC) models are almost invisible, but they aren’t as effective as the traditional Behind the Ear (BTE) version, so they may not be suitable for people who suffer from extreme hearing loss.

Shop around on various sites to see the differences between various models and to compare prices; some vendors will of course be cheaper than others, and brand name hearing aids will always be more expensive than others.

If you did a search lately on the likes of Ebay, you would probably have seen a few timeshare properties on sale for less than £10!! Yes, you read that correctly.

Why are sellers letting go of their stake for such a ridiculously low value?

Well, the main reason is because they are completely fed up with their money zapping timeshare contract and they want out. Another reason is that they want to get it sold quickly, so by advertising it for such a cheap price, they’ll more than likely get a windfall of interest from potential buyers online.

However, this low auction value isn’t the only expense that the new owner can expect to pay. Not by a long shot.

The seller will have to add in the cost of legal checks, the price for transferring the documents and any outstanding maintenance fees associated with the property.

This means that once you click “buy now” on Ebay, you will then be faced with these charges. This is a bad way to attract potential customers and new buyers will get stung with all these additional charges.

If you are in a position where you own a timeshare piece of real estate and you want to get it sold at a decent price without spending a fortune in the process, then contact the folk at Right ChoiceTransfer to get the ball rolling.

Potential buyers who are looking at the timeshare market on Ebay need to pay attention to what’s actually being offered with the £10 property. It’s cheap for a reason, namely the seller wants to get rid of the financial burden and pass more or less all the expenses over to the new owner.

When you purchase this timeshare on Ebay and all the legal work is completed, you will basically have to pay the maintenance fees along with any other special fees that go with it. This means that if a new roof or sewage system is required, then you’ll have to fork out for it.

Don’t let your judgement be clouded by the thoughts of a holiday home in an exotic location. There’s a lot of financial intricacies involved with owning a timeshare, so think about it wisely before you make a decision.

Teach English If you have a bit of money to invest in a TEFL Certification (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), you’re well on your way to earning money abroad. It’s a ticket to freedom because nearly every non-English speaking country has a need for native speakers to teach the language. Whether you prefer working with children, high-school age students or adults, there are plenty of schools with job openings.

Work Online These days, there are literally thousands of ways you can earn money online; all it takes is a little creativity. If you like to write, contact travel websites and see if you can contribute articles; many websites will pay you per article. Check out freelance work sites like elance.com and odesk.com for the latest online job postings. Learn how to build or design websites for money, or start up your own travel photography business. The options are endless; look inside yourself to find what you love, and put it online.

Farmwork If you love the outdoors, you can work on organic farms either for free food and accommodation or a small stipend. Either way, it’s a great way to fund your travels as you won’t spend much money at all. Organizations like WWOOF and WorkAway help connect potential workers with hosts. Work can range from everything from picking fruit to caring for animals or picking grapes on a vineyard. You’ll come away with skills you never knew you’d have!

Work at a Hostel If you’re looking to score some free accommodation, just ask hostels if they need someone to take care of cleaning, reception or other duties. Oftentimes hostels will give you a free bed in exchange for a predetermined amount of work hours per day. You can even work out a way to earn a small stipend. Working in a hostel is a great way to meet travelers and get connected with the place you’re staying.

Starting Out

To qualify nurses must study for a three year degree or diploma in nursing. At this stage they can usually decide what kind of area of nursing they would like to train in from Adult, Child, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health and Midwifery.

The most common route onto a degree course is via a university, and institutions such as Middlesex University offer the full range of nursing courses to choose from. To get on the course, nurses will hold other qualifications such as GCSEs or A Levels in science-related subjects, as well as other subjects such as Psychology or Behavioural Studies.

Apprenticeships are also available from the government for health support roles, if applicants lack the necessary supporting qualifications, however this route usually requires trainees to take the degree course as their careers develop.

Learning on the job

At this point, qualifying nurses will enter a mixture of classroom and practical learning. Within the classroom nurses who are specialising in other areas may share classes, but generally will be taught in their separate specialisations. The practical learning involves supervised work experience within a hospital environment, where nurses can get to grips with real-life medical problems.

During a student nurse’s first year they will generally have less practical learning, and as they develop into the third year there will be less classroom teaching, and more learning on the job, in complex situations such as on the accident and emergency ward. Student nurses will get paid for the work experience they do too.

Qualifying

After completing the degree course, all newly qualified nurses must register as a qualified nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to be able to work in the UK. At this point, nurses can apply for roles relevant to them within the NHS and private healthcare. Nurses can take extra courses to specialise in certain areas of healthcare, and can even work their way up to qualify as a director of nursing or nurse consultant, which requires additional examinations.

Obesity is not just a risk to physical health anymore. Individuals who struggle with obesity also put their personal bank account and even their loved ones’ finances at risk as they face greater health costs in later years than their fitter peers. Industry experts report approximately one in every five adult Americans (20 percent) is now considered clinically obese. A significant additional group of adult Americans is considered overweight, if not yet obese. Even one pound of extra weight beyond what is ideal for your gender, age, frame and height adds extra pressure to joints and places a greater burden on internal organs and body systems. Perhaps most critically, excess weight can limit mobility, independence and quality of life later on. According to a recent poll, nearly 30 percent of older Americans report their greatest concerns about living longer include maintaining independence and affording skyrocketing medical care costs.

Obesity Defined

“Obesity” is a medical term describing a health condition in which body mass (most typically from body fat) has exceeded what is considered medically healthy for an individual. The mathematical calculation used to determine conditions of overweight or obesity is called “body mass index” or BMI for short. Physicians use a formula that inputs the ratio of height to body weight to calculate an individual’s BMI. Depending on age, height, gender, frame and other factors, two people could have the same BMI and one may be considered medically obese while the other is not. As a rule of thumb, an adult individual may be classified as “obese” if that person weighs 20 percent more than what their ideal BMI is supposed to be. Obesity is a serious condition that impacts a person’s health in numerous ways. Among the most common health risks for obese (and to a lesser extent, overweight) individuals are these:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Joint issues
• Diabetes
• Asthma and sleep apnea
• High blood pressure
• Gallstones and gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis

Aging: Your Early Warning System

Biologically, two things occur once you reach the age of 40. The first is you slowly begin to lose muscle mass — up to five percent per year. The second is you begin to gain weight. The reasons for weight gain are linked to changes in hormone levels and metabolism. Researchers at Berkeley Labs report even if you continue to exercise and eat the same healthy diet as you did when you were in your 20s and 30s, a gradual weight gain is nearly inevitable without some kind of corresponding increase in exercise and a stricter adherence to a healthy diet.

Obesity and Long-Term Care Insurance

The twin primary health impacts of obesity — loss of mobility/independence and higher cost of health care — are two issues long-term care insurance is well-equipped to address. However, for obese or overweight individuals who wait to apply for a policy until their health has begun to decline, it is often harder to afford the premiums or to qualify for a policy. This is why consultants are now recommending purchase of a long-term care insurance policy as early as age 40, when premiums will still be lower and it is more likely you will be readily approved for a policy. As well, by applying for a long-term care insurance policy at a younger age, it is easier to budget for affording premiums into your later years.

Longer lifespans and better technology are already contributing to public concern about affording health care later in life. The best tool on the market today to alleviate the financial burden of escalating health care costs is the long-term care insurance policy. By educating yourself about how aging impacts your health, researching care costs early and selecting the appropriate insurance policy to protect you and your family, you are prepared to enter your golden years with the tools necessary to stay financially healthy and independent.

About the Author: Joe Houston is a guest blogger and counselor. He recently purchased long-term care insurance after researching LTC Tree.

You may have seen ads on television and online showing electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, but aren’t sure if they’re as effective as or safer than traditional cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes have been available for several years. People are discovering they’re a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes or a great way to gradually kick the habit. However, there are still several popular myths concerning electronic cigarettes floating around. Here are five of the most pervasive myths and why they are false.

E-Cigarettes Contain Anti-Freeze

A United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report concluded electronic cigarettes were dangerous for a simple reason: They contained unverifiable amounts of diethylene glycol, a main ingredient in the antifreeze used to cool cars. However, this claim was investigated by a number of independent laboratories and determined to be false. It’s believed the sample or samples provided and analyzed by the FDA were contaminated, thus making this claim ungrounded. Look at this from another way: Would electronic cigarettes be available if this claim were true? The simple answer to that is “no.” If it were true, millions of people would have been sickened from exposure to diethylene glycol, which results in dizziness, nausea, disorientation and vomiting.

Electronic Cigarettes Are Marketed to Kids

You’ll notice the packaging of electronic cigarettes, like the majority of products on the shelves, is flashy, bright and appealing. The cartridges, which contain liquid nicotine, are available in various flavors, including peppermint, strawberry or chocolate. For these two reasons, a rumor spread that e-cigarette manufacturers were expressly and purposefully marketing their products to entice children and teenagers to smoke. This is incorrect and a potentially dangerous accusation. Electronic cigarettes are intended for use by adults over the age of 18. The reason the majority of electronic cigarette manufacturers offer a variety of nicotine cartridge flavors is simple: Their adult consumers asked for them. Electronic cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes and as a smoking-cessation aid. This would indicate they are marketed to active, adult smokers.

Electronic Cigarettes Are an Ineffective Way to Quit Smoking

If you want to kick the habit completely, the best method is to use the patch, gum, lozenges or ask your doctor for a prescription, right? Electronic cigarettes are safer, but they won’t help you quit smoking, right? In actuality, electronic cigarettes are a highly effective smoking-cessation tool. It’s possible to purchase e-cigarette nicotine cartridges in a variety of strengths. You can begin kicking the habit by smoking a stronger concentration of nicotine. Over the preceding weeks or months, the concentration in the cartridges is lessened. Eventually, you’ll begin to intake so little nicotine you’re able to put down cigarettes, electronic or traditional, for good.

Electronic Cigarettes Emit Dangerous Vapor

It’s well-documented that a lit traditional cigarette produces dangerous and carcinogenic secondhand smoke. This secondhand smoke lingers in the air for several seconds and can travel for a great distance. Because electronic and traditional cigarettes both contain nicotine, many people have spread an unfounded rumor that e-cigarette vapor is as dangerous as secondhand smoke. In actuality, the vapor produced after inhaling an electronic cigarette is odorless and dissipates rapidly. The fleeting odor aside, there is little to no effect on anyone around you if you decide to enjoy an electronic cigarette.

It’s unfortunate, but there are a number of pervasive myths and untruths surrounding electronic cigarettes. These generally are created from a lack of information or preconceived notions because the word “cigarette” is in the title. Before believing the unfounded hype, do research and you’ll find e-cigarettes are a safer, effective and in most cases, cheaper alternative to traditional cigarettes.

About the Author: Henry Chase is a successful blogger and author. Henry is currently striving to inform the public about the misconceptions surrounding electronic cigarettes and why they are unfounded.