Archive for January 23rd, 2008

Child Behavior Problems: My Son Has Night Terrors

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
by Dr. Noel Swanson

Q. “My 7-year old son wakes up periodically in the middle of the night. We find him sitting bolt upright, staring straight ahead, and screaming at the top of his lungs. He sounds like he’s being viciously attacked. This goes on for a while, during which we try to console him. He goes back to sleep without knowing we were even there. If we decide to awaken him, he appears confused, and doesn’t remember his dreams”.

A. Your little boy doesn’t remember his dream because he wasn’t dreaming. It sounds as if he’s experiencing night terrors.

When we first fall asleep, we enter stage one sleep. We then progress through stages two and three until, after about an hour and a half, we enter our the deepest sleep, stage four. Scientists can recognize these stages by our brain-wave (EEG) patterns.

What is surprising is that we don’t dream during the four stages. If someone awakens during them, the most they can say is that they were “thinking”.

After stage four we then suddenly shift into a completely different mode of sleep called “rapid eye movement” (REM) sleep. This is when all the dreaming occurs. If you watch someone in this stage, you will see their eyes darting from side to side. We dream for about 45 minutes, and then we go back into non-REM sleep for another hour or so. This pattern continues through the night, with the non-REM stages becoming increasingly lighter. Hence the saying “an hour before midnight is worth two after”.

It is when we dream that we can have nightmares. These are usually Hollywood style productions in full color that seem very real at the time.

Night terrors, on the other hand, occur in stage four sleep. This is also the stage in which sleepwalking and talking occur. The reason they occur is unknown, and most children grow out of them. They may be worse at times of stress.

Although very alarming, and most distressing to the rest of the family, night terrors cause no harm to the child himself. Indeed, if you can possibly bear it, the best tactic is to not wake him. As you have said, after a while, he just goes back to sleep by himself. The same also applies to sleepwalking, when the goal is simply to make sure the child is safe in his wanderings, and. that he cannot fall down the stairs or out of a window.

Night terrors usually occur in children from 3 to 6 years of age, but sometimes go a little later. They are not an indication of any problem. You would actually be better to get your own rest during these occurrences, difficult as it sounds.

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What To Do When The Markets Prime

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
by Jacques Cocquerel

According to the news, the real estate market today is at its lowest. That is why the housing market is littered with foreclosures, which really is creating some serious trouble to the homeowners. The situation makes homeowners tap into their escrow and second mortgage.

Consumer reports foretell of a slump in the real estate market in 2008. So where does that leave the investor?

The more seasoned investors would rejoice to hear a fall in the housing market prices because it would mean cheaper property for them to buy. This is really a kept tactic among investors. Even a newbie investor could join in the buying frenzy that is happening now.

A word to the wise is to be smart although, you want to get the biggest bang for your invested dollar. Don’t waste your time on something that will eat all your budget, because we all know when something usually looks good it’s not.

An ideal deal for investors is one that makes them save capital; it usually goes with a purchase of multiple properties with the same amount of money they would otherwise spend in a single purchase. The most opportune time to make multiple purchases is NOW when the market is seeing a slump in the prices. This action will, in the long-run, make you more money.

It’s always best to be on your toes when inspecting a property though. Don’t sign anything before knowing that you get the best value for your money for any purchase. You should always bear this in mind in each of your property purchases.

Investors are alerted, you don’t have to stop at residential or commercial properties; don’t limit yourself. Think big, dream big HUD homes, abandoned buildings, old historic homes and commercial buildings are all exceptional ways to make added income. Most of those purchases can be very cheap and don’t require large amounts of investments for repairs, as you can bring a property back to life fairly cheaper now than you could five years ago.

A historic home that is remodeled and brought anew is very enticing for local business office, that’s why they make a good investment. Nowadays, businesses spring up like mushrooms so that the demand for commercial buildings sees no letting-up.

Continue to watch the market as 2008 will be the year to buy and sell all types of real estate. Remember to stay keen so not to get stuck in a bad deal and out a lot of money. We’ve all heard it takes money to make money which is absolutely true, but don’t walk before you can crawl.

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Growing Vegetables In A Small Garden Space

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
by Dave Truman

Most people tend to picture vegetable gardens as sprawling plots of land with rows stretching 15 feet or more. Growing vegetables in a container or limited space seems foreign to many.

Growing vegetables in a small space is not only possible, but very rewarding as well. You can grow tomatoes in pots on the edge of your patio, watermelons alongside your driveway or beans on a trellis on your apartment’s balcony.

A space no larger than a card table can supply you with vegetables year-round. The trick is to create a garden that has the right growing conditions and to buy seeds that are well suited to smaller areas.

A lot of seed suppliers have started to offer miniature plants to meet the needs of people with limited space. They’re often in categories like midgets or space savers in their catalogs.

Producing vegetables on a reduced scale, however, is basically a different proposition from other kinds of gardening. Small gardens devoted to woody ornamentals like dwarf conifers, rhododendrons or heathers or to miniature bulbs or alpines are arranged and managed largely for appearance: they exist to be decorative, to please the eye.

Vegetables are most often grown to reward not the eye but the palate. So while corn stalks and bean bushes can make the mouth water they rarely make the eye pop, and they are not likely to be found gracing a well designed border, although creative horticulturists have combined a few of the handsomest vegetables with flowering plants to good effect.

One of the challenges with a small vegetable garden is practicality. While some vegetables, such as lettuce, will be fine with only 4 hours of sunlight a day, most others require a full 8 hours.

Similarly, a friable soil mix, amply fertilized, is desirable in vegetable growing but too heady for many dwarf plants that are expected to stay small. The major problem, however, is presented by the need to turn over the vegetable garden’s soil every year, in effect reconstituting it; such heavy tilling cannot be done in a bed of rock garden plants and perennials. In most cases, a vegetable patch must be sited differently and separated from the conventional small-scale garden.

This said, there is no doubting the fact that the smaller vegetables are worth trying, especially if space for the larger kind is at a premium. It is important to choose, however, the kind of smallness desired, whether it is the fruit or produce itself that will be miniature, or the plant that yields it. Miniature vegetables as such are amusing and eye-catching, a novelty that many restaurants and imaginative cooks offer with great success. Some miniatures, for example, cherry tomatoes, are accepted for their own sake, while a number of vegetables are of course just naturally small - radishes, for example.

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Getting To The Root Of Hair Loss Vitamin Deficiency

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
by Irina Thorton

Debates over hair loss vitamin deficiency are still ongoing. On one side, we have people claiming that hair loss is not due to vitamin deficiency. The other side says that losing your hair due to nutrient deficiency is very real. What is the truth about hair loss vitamin deficiency?

Hair Loss

It is a fact that even some people with balanced diets still experience hair loss. This is because hair loss is often caused by heredity and the action of hormones. Some individuals actually have genes that make them sensitive to the hormone DHT. It is this hormone that eventually shrinks the hair follicles and causes hair loss. This doesn’t mean though that there is no truth behind hair loss vitamin deficiency. In a way, being deficient in some vitamins and minerals could contribute to hair loss in people of all shapes, colors and sizes.

Hair Loss Vitamin Deficiency

Human hair is not an artificial attachment. It is very much a part of our bodies. Whatever we put inside our bodies will therefore either nourish or contribute to the diminished quality and quantity of our hair. It has been scientifically proven that eating meals that lack some vitamins and minerals can make you shed some hair strands.

Hair loss can, however, be attributed to eating habits of people. Uncontrolled dieting, frequent fast food meals or not eating at all due to lack of time are only some of the modern conditions that can help promote hair loss vitamin deficiency.

Nutrients You Need

As a general rule, you stand a greater chance of slowing down or preventing hair loss if you eat a healthy and balanced diet. This would mean cutting down on fat, eating only lean meat and increasing your intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Other than this common sense tip, you should also remember to ensure that you have enough of some specific vitamins and minerals to prevent hair loss vitamin deficiency. One examples of these anti hair loss vitamins are the B complex vitamins specifically vitamin B6. This vitamin is necessary for promoting healthy blood cells which are needed to distribute nutrients to the entire body, including the hair. B complex vitamins can be found in beans, poultry, milk, cabbage, oatmeal, nuts and spinach.

Aside from the B-complex group, you should also make sure that you have enough vitamin C, A, E and K. Other than vitamins, increase your intake of foods with magnesium and zinc too.

Because it is not always possible to get all these nutrients by food and diet alone, it is also advisable to take vitamin and mineral supplements.

Other Hair Loss Cases

If you are taking proper supplements and eating right but still experiencing hair loss, then vitamin deficiency may not be the cause of your condition. Consider looking into other factors. It is possible that if hair loss does not run in your family, then it could be caused by stress, restrictive hairstyles or an autoimmune disorder.

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Selecting A Sofa Bed Mattress

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
by Hayden Madisson

From the name itself, one can surmise that the sofa bed mattress is the kind that fits well with sofa beds. It therefore functions both as a sofa and as a bed. Two purposes found in single furniture. It can be used as a sofa during daytime and as bed when night time comes. If intended solely as a sofa, sofa bed can be utilized as bed during those instances wherein unexpected visitors will opt to stay in your house for the night.

The size of your sofa bed naturally determines the size of the mattress. There are four main types of sofa bed: (1) metal action sofa bed, (2) click clack sofa bed, (3) futon sofa bed and (4) armchair sofa bed. The latter is ideal for rooms that have small space such as a study room. The most likely appropriate size for sofa bed mattress is that of a standard double size

In choosing a sofa bed mattress, it is necessary to choose something that is way very comfortable. Sofa beds have this impression to be uncomfortable to sleep on and can cause body aches after sleeping on it for a longer period of time. Therefore, it is only proper to choose a comfortable sofa bed mattress in order to give the sofa bed a “user-friendly” atmosphere.

What are the things to be considered in choosing a sofa bed mattress?

- Above anything else, it should be comfortable. What is more rewarding and luxurious than to have a good night sleep. Regardless of the type of sofa bed mattress and its size, what is far most important is the kind of comfort it brings to the user.

- Consider the space available for the furniture. Before buying a sofa bed mattress, one should already have a good estimate on the space where the sofa bed mattress will be situated. Sofa beds, most of the time, do not require much space compared to that of traditional beds. It should be taken into consideration, however, that there should be enough room for the sofa bed as soon as it will stretched to be in the form of a bed.

- Select a mattress that is durable. Sofa bed mattresses, just like any other types of mattress, should be durable enough to withstand the different weights of the people who will lie down on it. It should also be in good condition to sustain the tossing and changing of positions of the persons who will be using it.

Sofa beds are popular because it is easy to store away in the day and to pull down at night. It also come in different frames - can be made of metal or wood. Sofa beds can also be a good accent for fine interiors especially that it have wide array of fabrics, enough to complement the various home style interiors. Furthermore, sofa beds are very convenient inside the household especially if guests will have to stay for overnights.

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7 Cat Labor Signs - How To Tell Your Cat Is About To Give Birth

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
by Jane Tompsett

You’ve waited for weeks, your cat has become rounder and rounder, you’re excited about the forthcoming birth of her kittens - but how can you tell when the time has arrived? Suddenly it seems that your cat starts to act differnetly and you need to know if this is really It.

Are her kittens about to be born?

How can you be certain?

What signs of labor can you expect to see?

It’s natural for any cat lover to want to give the very best care to their pet. But when illness strikes - or in this case, due to give birth to kittens - we often feel very stressed and helpless. All of a sudden, we realise that we just don’t know enough to be of help.

After all, we’re cat owners, not vets! You need to know what to expect and you need to know what to do.

Your cat’s pregnancy will have lasted around 64 days but it is very unlikely that you will able to be that accurate. Instead, you will need to be able to recognise the different stages of pregnancy and be alert to the signs which will indicate that your cat’s labor is about to begin.

At first, you may have noticed that your cat begins to eat much more than usual and you will start to see her unborn kittens making distinct movements in her belly.

Also, she will have been displaying ‘nesting’ behaviour - looking for a safe, warm and quite place in which to give birth. Hopefully, you will have already provided a suitable ‘nesting box’ for her to use, otherwise you may find that she has chosen to give birth in the middle of your bed!

Then, as your cat nears the start of her labor, her appetite will reduce dramatically. It may even disappear completely.

Sign number three is that of ‘clingy’ behavior. Your cat will want to be with you all the time, looking for affection. As time brings her closer to the actual birth, she may start pacing around and seem particularly nervous or even excitable.

Another, unmistakable sign of impending labor, is ‘calling’. If you have never heard your cat make this sound before, don’t worry, you won’t be able to mistake it!

As the time approaches, you will see your cat repeatedly licking her bottom as she reacts to changing sensations in her body as she prepares for the birth of her kittens.

Finally, as your mother cat begins to feel the onset of her contractions, she is likely to appear anxious and uneasy. She will repeatedly enter her nesting box and ‘tread’ the nesting material as she seeks to arrange it to her liking.

When you see this last behaviour, you can be quite sure that your lovely cat is entering the first stage of the birth process - your cat’s labor has begun!

But you can’t just sit back and with for your kittens to arrive. To be in control and ready and able to help should an emergency arise, you must have prepared youself by learning about your cat’s birthing process. That way you will know what is normal and what is not, when to remain watchful and when to intervene. That way, you will be giving you cat the very best care that you can.

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