Health

Breast augmentation is one of the most requested cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States. Over 300,000 procedures were performed in 2018 alone.

Small breasts or changes in your breasts after breastfeeding or losing weight can seriously harm your self-esteem. If you aren’t satisfied with your breast size or shape, you’re not alone.

Making an informed decision on whether or not to get a boob job is the first step towards the procedure. It’s not an easy decision and it might take some soul searching, but knowing the facts about breast augmentation can help you manage the stress and make your final decision.

Here are some of the insider tips that you should know before getting a boob job.

1. It Will Cost Around $3,700

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average total cost of a bob job is about $3,700. This includes the surgeon’s fee only–not the additional cost of anesthesia and materials. The price will also range widely depending on the doctor, the region, and the type of augmentation you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for a breast reduction procedure, the price can vary widely. The procedure takes three or four times longer than an augmentation can cost more.

2. You Can Still Breastfeed

Getting breast implants won’t interfere with your ability to breastfeed a child. The implants can be placed underneath the breast muscles–keeping the milk ducts intact.

However, getting breast implants might lead to problems with breastfeeding. You’ll be more vulnerable to mastitis and other breast infections.

Furthermore, if your surgery involves a nipple incision, it may affect your nipple sensitivity. This might lead to a difficulty getting milk to flow when a baby latches on.

If you’re concerned about any of these issues, have an open conversation with your plastic surgeon so they can adjust the procedure to allow you to breastfeed in the future.

3. Augmented Breasts Will Feel Different

While silicone breasts will appear and feel similar to breasts, they still won’t feel exactly like natural breast tissue.

This depends on the size of your implants. Smaller implants or those placed further below the muscle will be harder to detect.

You might notice a difference–but they still feel natural and you won’t feel any pain or discomfort in your breasts.

4. Good Looking Breasts Take Time

Directly after your surgery, it might not look like you have the results you wanted. Don’t be disappointed just yet–wait the full recovery period for the full results of your implants.

In the days after your procedure, your breasts will be swollen and they may not look as perky as you’d expected.

The tissue needs some time to recover and adjust to your body after the procedure. Give yourself the full time to heal and you’ll see the shape of your breasts improve.
Your breasts will improve day by day–but you’ll be able to see the final result in a few months.

5. You Might Lose Feeling In Your Nipples

When you have any kind of surgery done to your breasts, there’s a chance that you’ll lose sensation in your nipples.

This is especially likely when your procedure involves a nipple incision. It can also involve other factors, including breast shape, size of the augmentation, and surgery type.

But even if you lose some or all feeling in your nipples, they’ll still respond to stimulation.

6. You’ll Still Need a Bra

Many women dream of being able to go without a bra. While your breasts will be larger and tighter after the procedure, you’ll still need a bra.

Not only will this help you with personal comfort, but it’s also crucial for maintaining your new breast shape. Wearing the right bra prevents skin from stretching. Now that there’s additional weight, your breasts could sag over time if you don’t give them the support they need.

Although you’ll need new bras after surgery, give it a month or two before you go shopping. Your implants need time to settle into their final appearance–and you don’t want to buy the wrong size. As such, look for an ideal everyday bra that feels great and matches on you.

Many surgeons recommend that you wear a sports bra for the first few weeks. This will provide you with the support and comfort that you need.

7. You Can’t Go From Small to Large All At Once

Although a boob job can increase your breast size, don’t expect to go from small to large breasts in one go.

Your body and skin need time to adjust to the drastic changes. If you really want to up your breast size, most surgeons will recommend only going up a few sizes at a time. Over time, you can gradually increase the size until you reach what you’re looking for.

Furthermore, the larger implants you have in your breasts, the more noticeable it will be. The less breast tissue you have compared to the implant, the less real your breasts will feel to the touch.

8. There Are Different Types of Implants

Although most implants are made from silicone, you may have more options to choose from when it comes to breast augmentation. Many surgeons offer two options: silicone and saline.

Silicone implants are widely associated with breast implants because they offer a natural appearance. With these implants, surgeons will place a silicone “pocket” inside your breasts, which will then be filled with silicone gel.

With saline implants, these pockets are filled with a saline (salt water) solution. For these procedures, the incisions will be smaller. In the case of a leak, the saltwater liquid used is similar to body fluids and won’t damage your body.

Interested in getting a boob job? Discover more about the types of breast implants available.

9. You’ll Need Longer Cancer Screenings

Regular mammograms are necessary to scan for early signs of breast cancer. If you’re planning breast augmentation surgery, keep in mind that your check-ups might take longer than usual.

The implants could interfere with screening and conceal lumps or other abnormalities in your breast tissue. Both implants also prevent X-rays from passing through your breasts.

While you can still be examined for cancer or other diseases, it might take a deeper examination. You’ll have to do four additional mammography scans in addition to the standard procedure.

In rare cases, a regular mammogram could also cause implants to rupture. Be sure to tell your doctor that you have implants before you begin.

10. It Might Affect Your Posture

Depending on the size of your implants, you might notice a change in your posture. If you pick implants that are proportional to your frame, there won’t be much of a difference. But if you opt for something bigger than your frame, you might notice the effects of the additional weight.

You can talk with your plastic surgeon before the procedure to make sure that the weight of your implants will be proportional to your body.

If you do opt for a larger size, just be prepared to adjust your posture afterward. You can train your body to better carry the weight without slouching or causing back pain.

11. It’s Usually Not Covered by Health Insurance

In the U.S., most breast augmentation surgeries can cost $3,700 or more. If you’re planning on getting a boob job, you’ll likely have to pay it out of your own pockets.

Most health insurance companies won’t cover breast enlargement surgery. It will, however, cover breast implants for women who have suffered from breast cancer.
If you need surgery to your breasts later on, your health insurance also may not cover that.

Here are a few questions you should ask your health insurance company before getting implants:

• If I get breast augmentation surgery, will any of the costs be covered?
• Will these implants affect my rates?
• If I have health complications related to my implants, will the surgery or treatment be covered?
• Will additional diagnostic tests post-surgery, like MRIs or extra mammograms, be covered?

Things You Need to Know Before Getting a Boob Job

Are you considering getting a boob job?

Breast augmentation surgery can help you improve the shape of your breasts and boost your self-confidence about how you look. No matter the type or size of the implants, breast augmentation can help you feel good about the appearance of your breasts.

Knowing the benefits, risks, and complications involved in the procedure can help you make the decision that’s right for you.

Looking for more tips, tricks, and advice to boost your health and your confidence? Check out our health section for more articles.

As many as 20% of the American population comes down with the flu every year. The majority of those cases occur when the weather transitions between the seasons of summer and winter.

So, basically, the flu has timed itself to get massive amounts of the population sick right around the holidays.

Thanks, flu.

If you’re suffering from headaches, mucus, coughing and all of those other flu symptoms, you don’t have to let them get the best of you. As it turns out, decades of medical science have supplied us with flu relief tips that can help you get your symptoms under control.

Our team has assessed multiple medical opinions to bring you the tips we think are most helpful.

1. Don’t Spread the Flu

Our first flu relief tip is targeted at you relieving other people from the flu. The best way to keep the rest of the world from having to deal with the same pain you’re managing is to not spread your sickness.

So stay home. Seriously. Don’t go out.

The flu is highly contagious, even with the help of a flu shot.

Believe us when we say that your classmates and/or co-workers will thank you for your consideration.

2. Get Lots of Rest

When your body is sick, it’s allocating a lot of resources towards battling the unwanted invaders causing your illness. That’s why it’s important to rest.

If you start exerting yourself, your body needs to pull resources away from getting you better and move them towards helping you accomplish whatever it is you’re trying to do.

To make sure that you’re not left suffering from the flu for longer than you need to be, laying down and napping is your best bet!

3. Fluids Are Your Best Friend

If you’re like most flu sufferers, you’re dealing with a lot of mucus trouble. You’re also at risk of becoming dehydrated due to the increased pressure your body is under.

Fluids can help you deal with both of those issues.

Drinking lots of water can bring flu relief to your mucus related symptoms by thinning it out so you can cough it up.

If you’re not big on water, have no fear! Other fluids like sports drinks, fruit juices, and soups can also be helpful.

4. Crush Fevers With Medication and Baths

A portion of flu sufferers will need to contend with a fever over the course of their illness. To help you reduce some of the symptoms associated with fevers, consider picking up appropriate medications.

Things like Advil or Tylenol can both be helpful.

Many people also find that taking a bath can help bring their body’s temperature down. If you’re feeling up for getting out of bed, give hopping in the shower a whirl!

5. Steam Your Respiratory System

Beyond consuming fluids, another great way to help you flush out your repository system is by breathing in steam.

Steam can help you loosen your mucus which will make spitting it up and blowing it out a lot easier. It can also bring some relief to your throat which may feel dry and damaged from coughing.

You can purchase a steamer online or you can run a hot shower and sit in the bathroom as it steams up.

We prefer purchasing steamer since it’s a lot more of a water conscious solution.

6. Gargle With Salt Water

Painful throat got you down? Salt can help.

When you cough a lot, micro-abrasions can form in your throat which causes discomfort. This discomfort is then exacerbated when substances like mucus seep into abrasions.

To help your throat heal faster, gargle salt water.

Doing so may be uncomfortable to start but shortly thereafter you’ll find that your throat is a lot more numb to irritation.

7. Enjoy Raw Honey

Honey is one of the lesser known flu relief go-to’s and that’s a shame because it works really well. Not only does honey contain anti-viral properties that can help keep your sickness at bay, it also can provide relief for your sore throat.

Some people opt to eat raw honey off of a spoon while others choose to mix it into their favorite tea.

Either option works!

If you’re not a fan of honey but want to enjoy it’s healing properties, you can try consuming elderberry syrup instead.

8. See a Doctor

Most times you can manage your flu symptoms on your own. Sometimes, you need an assist.

If you’re coughing so much that you need prescription grade cough suppressant or if your fever gets too high, pop into a place like MedNow Urgent Care.

Your primary care physician or local urgent care building will be able to properly assess your condition and give you the medical-grade medication you need to get your symptoms under control.

Seeing a doctor is also a good idea if you haven’t gotten the flu yet and are due for a vaccination!

Wrapping Up Flu Relief Tips to Get You Through the Holidays

From eating honey to getting rest, there is no shortage of flu relief tips you can leverage to get yourself feeling better, fast.

If the flu has you down in a big way this year and you opted to not get vaccinated, let what you’re feeling now propel you towards making vaccination a priority next year.

Get well soon!

For more of the best lifestyle, music, home and fashion content you can find online, check out more of our articles on We Are Augustines today!

Over one million Americans suffer a trip, slip, or fall in the workplace each year. Thirty percent of those employees suffer moderate to severe injuries.

Workplace safety doesn’t only apply to construction sites and warehouses.

Offices and retail environments can also have health and safety hazards. Every workplace is vulnerable to injuries, accidents, and even death. As an employer, how are you going to make your workplace a safe place?

The Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a crucial tool in every workplace. It can effectively reduce the amount of work-related injuries. Keep reading to learn how to perform a JHA.

1. Meet with Employees

The JHA isn’t only the employer’s job. It takes the entire staff to contribute and join in. Hold a meeting with all your employees.

In this meeting, state what a JHA is. Explain that you will be observing different job duties and tasks. By observing, you can notice potential workplace hazards.

Ask for their health and safety concerns. Do they feel safe doing all the tasks of their job? Are they scared of getting injured at work?

This needs to be an honest and open conversation. Allow your employees to communicate freely. Consider creating a box for anonymous contributions to the conversation.

2. Review Workplace Incident Reports

Before you start observing, pull out all the incident reports from the past five years. You should be storing past records for review and analysis.

Study these reports to see which accidents happen most. What equipment or tools get mentioned most in these reports?

For workplace’s with big machinery or tools, it’s even more important to analyze the reports. An accident with a forklift could be the difference between life and death.

Also, review any personal injury lawsuits filed by employees or past employees. These are serious situations that affect your business. Take the extra steps to learn more about each case.

3. Start Ranking

Rank the tasks that have the most frequent accidents or most severe. This is where your employees’ input comes in handy.

How many of them have experienced “close-calls” with some of the equipment? There might not be incident reports from a certain task yet, but it could be a matter of time. If there’s a job your employees are nervous about, that needs to be a high priority.

If new equipment entered your workplace, there might be some apprehension around it. Employees will feel safer once you establish precautions.

4. Observe the Tasks

From the list of top priorities, pick your first task. Observe an employee performing this task and watch every moment.

Make a list on your clipboard of each broken-down action. Consider filming the task for further review, with the employee’s permission.

The employee reached for the lever and pulled. They had to use two hands to pull. Then they locked the machine in place.

Every action the employee took could be a potential hazard. Make these detailed lists on all the top priority workplace tasks. By the end, you should have a chart breaking down each job into specific actions.

5. Identify the Hazards

What hazard does pulling down the lever with two hands cause? It could cause back strain or a pulled muscle if the proper posture isn’t used. Or, the employee’s fingers could get stuck under the lever.

Delve into the hazards of each action. Before you know it, you’ll see how dangerous the workplace is.

Of course, the likelihood of some of these hazards occurring could be slim. That’s where the incident reports and employee concerns come in.

Your chart should include the task, actions, and potential risks. Review your findings with the employees who do each job. Ask for their input on the risks to ensure you didn’t miss anything.

6. Remove the Hazards

Now’s the most important part. How are you going to prevent accidents and remove the hazards? Some workplaces are more dangerous than others.

Warning your employees to “be careful” isn’t enough.

Consider changes to the equipment. Some machinery might need replacing or fixing. Don’t put it off any longer; show your employees that you care about their safety.

How can you change the process of doing certain tasks? Perhaps add an extra step of caution between actions. Before pulling out the forklift, pause and check all blind spots.

Add personal protective gear to certain roles. If there’s a risk of burning or vibration injury in a task, add the necessary gear.

7. Train Employees on New Procedures

Every employee needs new training on the updated procedures. It must be more than a company-wide email. You need to confirm that each employee understands the protocols.

One way to do this is by creating a health and safety training program. There are many companies that offer this service. Make sure the program gets customized to your unique workplace.

Start doing monthly quizzes on health and safety. Annual training is normal, but a monthly quiz motivates employees to remember information.

8. Review the JHA

The JHA is not a one and done project. It needs editing and revision on a regular basis.

Anytime a new piece of equipment gets installed or a new procedure, conduct a JHA. If accidents keep happening and incident reports keep getting filed, conduct a JHA.

Be open to suggestions from employees on ways to improve the workplace. They do the tasks more than the employer in most cases. Trust when they bring up a risk or hazard.

Consider making one employee a Health and Safety Officer for the department. It could be their job to stay on top of hazards and report any changes to you.

Ready to Perform Your First Job Hazard Analysis?

The JHA is a crucial tool to keep your employees safe at work. Accidents happen; some of them result in death. You must do everything you can to ensure that doesn’t happen in your workplace.

Follow the steps above to conduct a job hazard analysis. Communicate with your employees and trust their input.

Making your workplace safer isn’t the only way to improve your business. Stay up to date on the latest business tips and guides. Employees are the key to your business’s success, keep them safe.

Trying to decide how much health insurance you need? Click here to learn how you can pick the right type of health insurance plan for your needs.

Currently, there are 44 million uninsured Americans and 38 million who are underinsured or have inadequate health coverage. With the price of medical procedures costing hundreds or thousands of dollars this lack of insurance is a recipe for disaster.

But one major problem is that health insurance can seem extremely complex with plans and prices that are difficult to understand. Many Americans don’t even fully understand what type of health insurance plan they have or what their insurance covers.

This lead to our current crisis where medical bills are responsible for 60% of bankruptcies in the United States. And of these bankruptcies 75% of these people have insurance.

If you want to avoid this fate than read on. We have a list of tips to help you pick the right health insurance plan for you and your family.

Understand What Health Insurance is

If you are new to the concept of insurance you may be asking yourself what is health insurance? And why do I need it?

Health insurance is a type of insurance that covers medical injury and illness. Coverage can range be broad plans covering everything from eye care and dental care to mental health care.

Plans are broken down into deductibles, premiums, and copays. Each of these elements determines how much you’ll pay for health coverage overall.

Deductibles represent the amount that the policyholder will pay out of pocket before the insurance company will pay any expenses. The premium is the amount that you pay usually every month. And copays are the amount that you pay for services or treatments usually this is lee than you’d pay without insurance.

As a general rule if your plan has a higher deductible you’ll have a lower monthly premium and vice versa.

Know how the Affordable Care Act Impacts Your Healthcare

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows people to shop for healthcare on the open market and receive tax credits to reduce the monthly cost. You can look up health insurance information and find out which plan is best for you.

Many plans include affordable prescription and generic drugs and low-cost doctors visits.

Though the decision was at the time controversial for many it has vastly reduced the price of their health insurance.

To buy health insurance on the market you have to create an account on Healthcare.gov and enter relevant information about your income and age to determine how much you’ll pay.

You May Qualify for Medicaid or Medicare

Medicare and Medicaid are both single payer medical national health insurance program.

Medicaid is based on income and family size. It offers coverage in all 50 states for people who are poor, pregnant woman and those with disabilities. The program is funded on both the federal and state level.

If you’re over 65 years old you automatically are entitled to Medicare benefits. This covers the vast majority of elder care needed but some things aren’t covered like personal home care assistance and nursing homes. Luckily Medicaid covers these things.

Consider Your Health History

Though the ACA has banned denying coverage for preexisting conditions your overall health and how often you plan to see a doctor will impact how much you pay and what kind of plan you should choose.

Many insurance plans also offer incentives to get and stay healthy. Like deductions for quitting smoking and low-cost gym membership.

Your Age is Important

No matter how old you are health insurance is essential for survival in the United States. But your age will dictate what kind of plan your eligible for and how much you need to pay for insurance.

If you’re older you should be sure that your plan has options for long-term elderly care.

Your Income Will Determine the Type of Health Insurance Plan You Can Afford

Most people get insurance through their employer. This means that for many the kind of job you have will determine how much pay for insurance.

As stated earlier if you make too little money you can apply for government assistance.

Health insurances usually offer limited low-cost plans that provide insurance coverage to people who don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. You can even visit most insurer’s websites to get a quote to see if a plan is right for you.

How Big is Your Network?

Networks are often considered the most frustrating part of health insurance. For most people, the hospitals and doctors you have access to will come down to who what type of health insurance plan you have.

When it comes to health insurance your network represents the healthcare providers, physicians, and hospitals that will work with your insurance company to provide low-cost care. If the place is not in your network the fees may be more expensive and at times unaffordable.

The easiest way to see who’s in your network is to check your insurer’s website or call the provider to see if they take your insurance.

If you want to avoid large fees make sure you know which doctors are available. Also, choose a healthcare insurance provider with a large network that includes local hospitals.

How Inclusive is Your Healthcare Plan?

What does your healthcare plan cover?

Does your plan include dental does dental cover mundane things like yearly cleanings? Or more serious procedures like dental implants?

Knowing the answer to this question can save you thousands of dollars per year in doctors bills.

When you’re picking your insurance plan keep in mind things like vision and dental as well as mental health and specialist cost.

We Can Help You Live a Healthier Life

The type of health insurance plan you have can impact how healthy you’ll be in the future. But there’s more to health than just having the right insurance.

If you want tips and tricks about how to live a better life contact us today!

 

Prescription drugs can be expensive, and sometimes the cheapest way is to buy them through a foreign pharmacy online. Keep reading below to learn more.

Prescription drug expenditure in the U.S. could reach as high as $338 billion in 2018.

The already-high costs of prescription drugs are rising. As a result, many Americans have started buying their prescriptions from a foreign pharmacy.

But how do you know you’re buying your prescriptions from a legitimate source? And are online foreign pharmacies safe?

If you’re looking to purchase your prescriptions online, you need to understand the risks. You should also know what to look for in a reputable company.

We’ll tell you all that and more. Read on before putting in your online order.

Why Buy Prescriptions Drugs from a Foreign Pharmacy?

There are a number of reasons why you might consider purchasing your prescriptions from an online pharmacy.

The biggest driver is usually cost. Approximately 8% of U.S. citizens don’t take their medications because they’re unable to afford them. Foreign pharmacies offer a substantially more affordable alternative for buying brand-name drugs.

Another reason for buying prescription drugs from online foreign pharmacies is availability. Foreign pharmacies may have access to drugs that aren’t currently or readily available in the U.S.

People may purchase prescription drugs online to protect their privacy. Purchasing drugs from an online foreign pharmacy that doesn’t require a prescription means not having to have awkward conversations with your doctor.

Whatever the reason for purchasing from an overseas pharmacy, there’s a lot to know when you’re buying prescriptions and medications online.

Understand the Law

It’s illegal to purchase controlled substances without a prescription. In order to legally buy prescriptions, you’re required to hold a prescription for the medication that’s written by a licensed physician. This physician has to evaluate your need for the prescription whether it’s for narcotic painkillers, stimulants, sedatives, and/or anabolic steroids.

It’s also illegal to purchase drugs from a foreign country for “personal importation” or “reimportation.” The definition of these laws are as follows:

1. Personal importation: The FDA defines this as bringing prescription drugs purchased in a foreign country into the U.S. for personal consumption.
2. Reimportation: This is when you purchase a drug that was manufactured in the U.S. in a foreign country and bring it back to the U.S. for consumption. Whether the drug is FDA approved or not is irrelevant. This practice is against the law for purchases both in person and via mail.

These laws apply to all foreign countries. Even making a prescription purchase in Canada or Mexico can result in legal trouble.

However, the FDA laws regarding personal importation and reimportation are more strictly enforced on commercial distributors and resellers than on individuals. The FDA is more lenient when it comes to individuals purchasing drugs from a foreign pharmacy and bringing them home for personal use.

To avoid legal complications, the FDA has created guidelines for filling prescriptions through an overseas pharmacy:

• The drug is declared at Customs and is accompanied by a prescription or medical documentation.
• The amount being brought into the U.S. is less than or equal to a three-month supply.
• When an individual has a serious condition and could benefit from a drug that’s not approved in the U.S.

If you meet these criteria, you’re legally allowed to bring foreign-bought prescriptions into the country.

Choose Your Pharmacy

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) found that only 3% of online pharmacies were compliant with laws and practice standards. That’s how fake drugs and medications without active ingredients get sold to consumers. Some of the drugs sold online can even contain ingredients that are harmful to your health.

This is why choosing the right pharmacy is so important. An attractive website isn’t enough to prove a provider is legitimate.

Don’t trust a site that attempts to sell you any kind of controlled substance via advertisements. It’s against the law for pharmacies to ship or sell narcotics, controlled, or targeted substances.

It’s not too tough to find legitimate Canadian online pharmacies. You can also seek a fully-licensed online foreign pharmacy from Australia, Western Europe, or New Zealand.

You can find the licensing number on the website. If you don’t see it, you can ask the pharmacy and verify it with the licensing organization in that country. You can also trust pharmacies with a blue and red Verified Internet Pharmacy Practices seal from the NABP.

Keep in mind that the prescription is key. This important link between doctor-patient-pharmacy will be required by a legitimate online pharmacy. If the pharmacy doesn’t ask for a prescription or a medical/prescription history, that’s a red flag.

Another thing to look out for is the domain of the online foreign pharmacy. Sites that end in .pharmacy have to get special approval from the NAPB. Though, many .com pharmacies don’t use the designation and are still safe to use.

Things to Keep in Mind

Below are a few quick tips to keep in mind when you’re shopping for your prescriptions online:

• Avoid sites that sell drugs without the need for a prescription
• Avoid sites that offer to provide you with a prescription
• Check the currency-conversion before buying — you might not be saving as much as you think
• Check the label of your prescription when it arrives
• Don’t buy products without a list of ingredients that are in a language you can read and verify

With just a few simple tips, you can save yourself on prescription costs while protecting your health.

Alternatives to Buying Online

If you’re purchasing prescriptions online for convenience sake, you might also consider a preferred mail-order pharmacy. Perfect for seniors who take daily or regular medication, your insurer may cover the cost of working with a pharmacy that sends prescriptions directly to your home — without any of the risks of online pharmacies.

More Health Advice

If you’re unable to afford your prescriptions, an online foreign pharmacy might be an alternative solution for you. But before you make a purchase, understand the risks and know how to choose the right pharmacy. Buying from a foreign pharmacy with a prescription isn’t illegal if you follow the right guidelines and processes.

And for more health advice and information, be sure to read our blog.

Is your kitchen a danger zone? Discover the common risks and the answer to what is the best way to prevent poor food safety.

Every year, 1 in 10 people become ill from eating contaminated food. In addition, about 420,000 people die every year as a result of food contamination.

Considering how simple it is to practice proper food safety procedures, these numbers are staggering.

The problem is, however, that many people simply do not know how to prevent poor food safety. By educating yourself and your employees, you can help bring the number of food safety-related deaths and illnesses down.

So, what is the best way to prevent poor food safety?

Read on to find out!

1. Handwashing

We’re putting handwashing as number one for a reason: it’s the number one way to prevent foodborne illnesses.

The problem is, while many people do wash their hands, most don’t take the time to wash their hands properly.

When you wash your hands, use a good amount of soap, and wash them under warm water. Warm water helps to kill bacteria, so this is very important.

And, make sure you are washing your hands for the right length of time. Washing your hands for just a few seconds is basically like not washing them at all.

To properly clean and disinfect your hands, you need to wash them for at least 20 seconds. A good rule of thumb is to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice while washing.

Also, you need to make sure you are washing your hands at the right times. Washing your hands after using the bathroom is obviously a must.

But, you should also wash your hands if they’ve been in contact with someone else’s bare skin, or really, any dirty surface.

And, most importantly, always wash your hands after handling raw meats.

2. Stay Out of the Danger Zone

In the food safety injury, there is something known as the ‘danger zone’.

The danger zone refers to foods that fall within a certain temperature, and are therefore not safe to eat.

The temperature range for the danger zone is 41 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Foods that fall at temperatures between these numbers are at a higher risk for growing bacteria that could make someone sick.

The longer a food sits in the danger zone, the greater chance there is for bacteria growth.

In order to keep foods out of the danger zones, you should be monitoring them with thermometers regularly.

This is especially important for those who have catering businesses or who run buffet lines, as these foods can be especially susceptible to neglect, and therefore, danger zone temperatures.

Keeping track of all these temperatures can feel like a lot. Luckily, there are food safety templates out there that can help you stay on top of everything.

3. Store Food Properly

Food storage is one aspect of food safety that is often overlooked.

When it comes to fruits and vegetables, you should always store them immediately after cutting them. As soon as a fruit or vegetable is cut open, it becomes more susceptible to environmental contaminants.

Placing fruits and veggies immediately in the fridge will help eliminate this concern.

Also, make sure you are storing food in the proper order.

Veggies and fruits should be on top, while meats and poultries should be on the bottom. This will prevent raw meats and poultries from dripping onto the fruits and veggies and contaminating them.

4. Cook to the Right Temps

Many people think that a food’s texture and color are enough to determine if it’s safe to eat.

However, this is not the case.

The only way to determine if a food is properly cooked is by testing it with a thermometer, making sure it is out of the danger zone.

When cooking eggs, you should always ensure that both the white and the yolk are firm. When cooking food in a microwave oven, make sure it is properly covered, and that you rotate and stir it for even cooking.

If you are reheating sauces, soups, or gravies, always bring them to a boil before reserving.

5. Chilling at the Right Temps

Just as you need to make sure you are cooking foods at the right temps, so too do you need to make sure you are chilling them at the right temps.

First things first, periodically check to make sure your chilled foods are always at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

For meats, poultries, eggs, and seafood: refrigerate them within 2 hours of purchasing or cooking.

Also, many people thaw foods on the countertop, at room temperature. However, this is completely unsafe. You have three options for thawing foods:

1. In the microwave

2. In the fridge

3. In a pot of cold water

In order to ensure warm foods cool off quickly enough when storing, separate them into smaller portions and place them in shallow containers.

6. Rinsing Utensils

Rinsing your utensils is another important aspect of food safety that is often overlooked.

Cutting boards should be always be washed and sanitized after handling foods that are prone to bacteria, such as meats and poultries.

Also, if you can, opt for plastic cutting boards over wood ones. It’s much easier to wash bacteria out of a plastic cutting board than a wood one.

Knives also need to be washed periodically. Just like cutting boards, you should wash your knives after handling bacteria-friendly foods, like meats and poultries, and seafood.

7. Properly Address Food Allergies

Did you know that roughly 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies?

If you own a restaurant, there’s a high chance that you encounter someone with a food allergy on a weekly basis.

This means you need to be very diligent with training your staff in the right way to handle food allergies.

For example, if someone alerts you of an allergy as you’re about to serve them food, you cannot simply remove the food from the plate to fix the issue.

Foods can cause allergic reactions through anything they touch. This includes not only other foods, but also utensils, plates, and serving pans.

If someone has a food allergy, everything needs to be cooked and served using freshly washed supplies. This is the only way you can guarantee the allergen won’t come in contact with anything.

What is the Best Way to Prevent Food Safety?: Now You Know!

Now that you can answer the question, “What is the best way to prevent food safety?”, it’s time to put these tips to use.

As we discussed at the beginning of the article, food safety is a serious issue. Therefore, these tips aren’t really optional. You can learn more by taking classes offered by your states, which usually cost around $100 per person. It is usually required for each of your employees take these courses. If you need help covering the course costs, see if you can get a title loan with no title to get a secured loan to cover the business expense.

If you have questions about this article, be sure to drop us a comment below. Otherwise, be sure to check out our health section for more guidance on helping yourself and others lead a healthy life.

 

 

Dental Procedures

There are a number of reasons for people choosing to have dental implants and the attachment of dental prosthesis once their implants are secure enough for the second stage of the procedure, tooth decay or due to an injury being two of the main ones. The biologic process of osseointegration is the foundation for dental implants in the modern times. Osseointegration means the joining or bonding of materials like titanium to bone of the patient.

Once we have been given the green light by our dentist to move on to the next stage involving the addition of a dental prosthesis, we should start to think about dental implant after care. In fact, lots of people that have had this type of dental surgery will look on the internet for articles providing useful insight on how to take care of their new tooth or teeth when at home. Of course, by being prepared to find out more about the various aspects of dental implants and the attaching of a dental prosthesis, people with concerns about such surgery should be able to have a lot more peace of mind.

Long Lasting

Just like people hoping to keep their teeth for as long as possible will floss and clean them on a regular basis in order to achieve this common goal, those who have had dental prosthesis work should also do their best to take care of their new teeth. However, it must be said that the implants’ success or failure before we can even get to the dental prosthesis stage depends on the patient’s health, the drugs affecting the chances of osseointegration, and the health of the mouth tissues.

Brisbane-based people who get in touch with a Dentist Everton Park in order to enquire about the possibility of having much needed dental implant surgery carried out will talk to an empathic and highly-dedicated dental consultant before it is decided whether they are suitable for the surgery. Of course, once we have been accepted with our request for one or more dental implants, it would be smart to start asking about the sorts of things we need to do if we hope to have long lasting dental prosthesis.

Indeed, some of the more important aspects of dental implant after care can be seen below:

1. Rinse with salt water on a regular basis
2. Avoid irritating the implant
3. Do not take part in potentially risky activities
4. Keep an eye on bleeding and swelling
5. Be gentle when cleaning

Healing Time

Probably the most important thing to take into account after having dental implant surgery is giving the implant time to heal properly. Before the dental prosthetic – a tooth, denture or bridge – is fastened to the implant or an abutment is put in order to hold the prosthetic, there is an adjustable amount of healing time required for osseointegration.

Of course, in order to get back to smiling with confidence after having dental implant surgery and subsequent dental prosthetic work, we will need to make sure we take good care of our new teeth. The prosthetic can either be removable or fixed. If fixed, the person will not be able to remove the teeth or the denture from the mouth. If removable, the person can take the prosthetic off.

A sober coach is one of the best tools for staying sober. Read on to learn how a sober coach can help you stay on the path to a healthier life.

Many people have a difficult time dealing with the stresses of normal life after leaving rehab or recovering from addiction. Alcoholics Anonymous provides members with sponsors who help them stay sober.

Not everyone is afforded the luxury of a sponsor, though. It’s essential to have people in your life that understand how sobriety works and how difficult it can be to maintain. The unfortunate thing is that many people feel like they’re thrown to the wolves when they exit rehab.

This is where a sober coach can come into play.

Let’s take a look.

What is a Sober Coach and How Can They Help?

A sober coach, or a sober companion, is someone who can help you stay on track to being successfully sober. Hiring one will is sometimes a necessary step.

The thing that people don’t understand at first is that recovery is a life-long process, and different stages bring different challenges. Life’s larger stressors often trigger cravings. In fact, even the little things can be triggers.

Seeing an old drinking buddy or someone you used with, driving past an old apartment, or even hearing a song could trigger a craving. Those are things that are difficult to handle, and sometimes you need to call for help.

While sober coaches are sometimes associated with the rich and wealthy, there are people that will do the job for a reasonable wage.

Should You Get a Coach?

It’s up to you if you think you need a sober coach. Getting a sober coach is a relatively new idea, so not everyone knows that you even have the possibility to get one.

If you feel as though no one in your life understands you or your struggle to stay sober, that might be a good indication that you need a coach. While we shouldn’t blame anyone for not understanding sobriety, it does make living drug-free incredibly difficult when we don’t have people to relate to.

Not everyone knows the best way to help someone.

This is especially true if the people around you are drinking and using drugs. If someone around you, probably a counselor or parent, recommends a sober coach, you should certainly consider it.

If it isn’t you that’s experiencing addiction, learn ways to approach your loved one in a healthy way. Some approaches can actually serve to make the addiction worse.

What Will They Do for You?

A sober coach will be a person that you can call day or night for advice. They’ll recommend and push you to take on healthy habits that are conducive to recovery.

This person will also help to educate your family about ways that they can improve your recovery process. Family education is a central element to a successful road to sobriety. Ultimately, you’ll benefit from the fact that this person has been where you currently are.

Do What You Have to Do

Every person has a different experience trying to get sober. Some people will require a sober coach while others only need to spend time with family and friends.

Whether you or a loved one is experiencing addiction, it’s essential that you take immediate steps to improve the life of the person suffering. Visit our site for more information on when to start taking action.

 

Beauty may be more than skin deep, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care about what’s on the surface. Read on for 5 ways to achieve better skin.

Good skin: we all want it, but it seems that so few of us have it.

The good news? You don’t have to spend half your paycheck on expensive creams, or spend every night with your face in an ice bath, to get the results you want.

In this post, we’ll tell you about three of the most basic tips for better skin that even the laziest among us can master (that go beyond just getting more sleep.)

Read on to learn how to look younger, enjoy clearer skin, and of course, finally get skin that’s soft to the touch.

1. Stop Over-washing

Especially if your skin is a letter less blemish-free than you’d like it to be?

It can sometimes be hard to resist the temptation to wash your face as much as possible. You exfoliate every day, use a cleansing brush or sponge, and you apply as much toner as is possible.

But the secret to better skin is to actually wash your face less?

We’re not suggesting that you fall asleep with your makeup on — just that you wash your skin less frequently.

This will help to preserve healthy oils on your skin, and will ensure that your skin doesn’t over-produce these oils because you’re stripping them away so quickly.

2. Invest in Professional Treatments and Products

If you’re serious about how to improve skin, then you need to get the right treatments and products to make it happen.

Look for face creams containing salicylic acid to help keep skin clear, and aim to buy retinoids when you want to keep skin looking young.

You should also make regular chemical peels and laser treatments a part of your routine. Sometimes, you just need a professional touch.

Consider a cool lifting treatment to firm things up and stimulate collagen production.

3. Keep Your Hands Off

We know: that whitehead in the middle of your forehead is just begging to be popped.

But before you become your own personal version of Doctor Pimple Popper, stop to consider one of the most important tips for better skin: resist the urge to pick.

This only pushes the gunk that’s clogging up your pores deeper into your skin (yes, even if it looks like stuff is coming out of it.) This will cause you to get another eruption right next to the zit you popped.

Also, think about all the stuff you touch during the day.

Do you really want that on your face? Touching it too much could be the reason behind those breakouts.

To master how to have better skin, keep your hands off.

Getting Better Skin Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

If you follow the three tips in this post, then we’re sure that the better skin you’ve always dreamed of is within reach.

Looking for more ways to love yourself more and live your best life?

Keep on checking back with our blog for more beauty advice, self-care tips, and even info about how to plan the perfect vacation.

After all, we know you want to show off your great skin!

 

Are you tired of sitting back and watching a loved one destroy themselves and everything around them? It’s time for a substance abuse intervention. Here’s how.

It’s scary to think about your loved one dealing with substance abuse. It’s even scarier to think about what might happen if you don’t address the issue.

About 21.5 million Americans struggle with substance abuse, which costs American society $200 billion in healthcare, criminal justice, and lost workplace productivity each year.

Substance abuse doesn’t have to be the story of your loved one’s life. We’re going through everything you need to know about staging a substance abuse intervention, from why you should do an intervention to the steps you need for a successful one.

Why Stage a Substance Abuse Intervention?

First things first: why should you stage an intervention?

Interventions are a helpful tool when friends and family have been unable to convince someone to seek support for substance abuse, especially if the individual is unwilling to accept that they have a problem.

It acts as a powerful way to convey a message from friends, family, and often a medical professional that someone needs help and their loved ones want to support them in seeking it.

What Happens in an Intervention?

The premise of an intervention is simple: the individual goes to a meeting with their loved ones, facilitated by an interventionist.

During this meeting, loved ones will read aloud a letter they wrote to the individual about how much they mean to the person, how their addiction has affected that person, and how they hope their relationship can proceed.

Signs You Need to Stage an Intervention

Admitting your loved one needs help is the first step towards getting them to admit that they need help. The key is to recognize problematic behaviors and know when to act.

This primarily has to do with recognizing the signs of addiction.

The specific signs of addiction can vary based on the drug of choice (opiate addiction is different than alcoholism, for example) but addictions do have a few commonalities. These include:

• significant behavioral changes
• significant physical changes
• ongoing deceptiveness

Behavioral changes can include mood swings, irritability, or sudden failure to meet daily responsibilities. Physical changes can include anything from unexplainable weight changes to changes in sleeping patterns to a neglect of personal hygiene.

10 Steps to Stage an Addiction Intervention

Now that you know why you should stage an intervention and what to look for as signs that your loved one needs an intervention, let’s talk about what you should do during an intervention.

Remember that the ultimate goal of a family intervention is to get your loved one to agree to treatment. Structure your intervention with that in mind.

If your loved one does need to receive professional treatment for addiction, you can learn more about options with Jacksonville Metro Treatment Center.

1. Choose Your Team with Care

Before you write any letters or set a tie, you need to choose the right team for the task.

This isn’t as easy as choosing any family members who are willing to volunteer. You need people who know, love and trust the addicted person. More importantly, you need people the addicted person is most likely to listen to.

People who have strained relationships with the person are not the people you want in the room, even if they’re a close family member. The point of an intervention isn’t to air grievances or mend fences.

You can engage the whole family in recovery once the addicted person agrees to treatment, but that comes after the intervention.

It’s also a good idea to have a professional interventionist in the room to act as an impartial third party and keep the intervention on track and on message.

2. Find the Right Time and Place to Talk

When we talk about the right time, we’re not necessarily talking about a time of day, though that’s also important.

The bigger point here is to talk to your loved one during a sober moment, or as close to sober as they usually get.

In general, talking to someone while impaired by drugs or alcohol isn’t a great idea, as anyone who’s ever tried to reason with a drunk person can tell you. Besides a lack of rational thinking, drugs tend to impair a person’s ability to reason, remember, and react calmly to something they don’t like.

As a rule, first thing in the morning is usually a safe bet.

You should also find the right place to hold an intervention. Many families try to do this at home, but the family home can actually be too comfortable, as the person could retreat to the bathroom or their bedroom.

Instead, a therapist’s office is a good place to hold an intervention, as people tend to be on their best behavior and they won’t form negative associations with the room.

3. Gather Information

Next, you need to do your homework.

Gather information about nearby treatment options, as well as information on the type of addiction your loved one struggles with. This will help you have an informed dialogue when the time comes.

4. Plan the Order of Talking and Rehearse

Once everyone has the required information and you know where the intervention will happen, you need to figure out the order of speakers.

The intervention ends when the person leaves or agrees to go to treatment. Allowing the right person to speak at the right moment can reach the desired goal much faster.

For example, if the addicted person has a loving relationship with a spouse or child, the child could speak first and the spouse could speak last. That way, the child is speaking when the person is likely most resistant and needs convincing, and the spouse can speak when the person is feeling most moved.

You also need to hold rehearsals, preferably several. An intervention isn’t a school–emotions run high, and you need the speakers to keep emotions in check for the person to be receptive to what they’re hearing.

5. Write a Script and Stick to It

You also need to write a script, usually a letter to the addicted person. This will be your script. Anything not in the letter shouldn’t be said during the intervention.

Write your script and go through it several times with the interventionist. You want to maintain a calm, loving, nonaccusatory tone that nonetheless expresses the hurt you feel in a way that encourages the person to seek help.

Once you have your script, stick with it, regardless of what you or the addicted person may be feeling. Surprise can make people uncomfortable, and that can lead to critical errors that make the whole thing fall apart.

6. Mind Your Body Language

Your body language should be like the language of your script. It should show your loved one that you want to talk and you want them to change.

Be careful to maintain open, warm body language throughout the intervention. Your arms and legs should be uncrossed, with your hands unclenched. Your shoulders should tilt towards the person you’re speaking to, and you should look at them when you talk to them.

7. Manage Your Expectations

Before, during, and after the intervention, it’s important to keep your expectations in check and realistic.

The person likely won’t do a complete 180 shift in their life after an intervention, and it’s unfair to be frustrated when they don’t. It’s also unfair to be frustrated if they’re unreceptive to what you’re saying, no matter how badly the person has hurt you.

Remember that TV interventions are usually successful because, well, they’re on TV. Even if the whole intervention goes as planned, there’s no guarantee that the person will accept help, acknowledge that they need it, or even stay through the entire intervention.

It’s important to manage your expectations, as this will help you keep your emotions in check.

8. Keep Tempers in Check

With that in mind, it’s vital that everyone involved in the intervention keeps their tempers and emotions in check throughout the entire process.

If someone is addicted, chances are they’ve hurt you, intentionally or otherwise. That’s not fair to you or the other members of your family. But you should address those issues in treatment, not during an intervention.

The angrier or more upset everyone gets, the less likely it is for the addicted person to agree to treatment. Resist the urge to lay blame, argue back, launch counterattacks, or make ultimatums. If the person tries to pick a fight, don’t rise to the bait.

If the person picks a fight and manages to change the subject, you’re suddenly arguing about your family issues instead of the problem at hand, and that isn’t productive.

9. Don’t Give Up

Finally, don’t give up on your loved one, no matter how frustrated you might be.

They may be resistant now, but they need you at this moment more than ever. They need to acknowledge that they have a problem, and they need your compassion in order to do so.

Some people commit to making a change after one conversation. Others take several tries. The key is to keep trying and not lose your patience.

Beyond Your Substance Abuse Intervention

A substance abuse intervention can be scary, but this is when your loved one needs you the most. If you want your loved one to make a change in their life, you need to give them the support and prompting to do it.

If you need more tips for living a healthier, drug-free life, check out our blog for more tips, like this post on what to do if you think your child is on drugs.