Learning to and making a routine of taking your pulse can help you to recognize any type of irregular heart beat that you may have developed, like tachycardia or atrial fibrillation.  In order to measure your pulse, take the following steps:

1. Place your index and middle finger on the under side of your wrist.  This can be felt with either hand, so use the hand that feels most comfortable for you.  Do not use your thumb to take your pulse, as your thumb contains a blood vessel that is large enough that a pulse can be felt.

2. You want to place your index and middle fingers on the radial artery in your wrist.  This will be a point half-way between the center of the wrist and the thumb-side outside of the wrist (if you were looking at the inside of your hand).  When your fingers are in the correct location, you should feel your heart beat.

3. Apply light pressure with your middle and index fingers so you can feel your pulse.  Count the number of beats you feel for 30 seconds.  You should use either your watch or a wall clock to time yourself.

4. In order to calculate the number of beats per minute (or the pulse number), you are going to take the number that you counted and multiply it by two. For example, if you counted 30 beats, you would take 30 and multiply it by 2 to get 60 beats per minute.

5. Repeat the process and compare your results.

If you have any sort of abnormal heart rhythm, you may feel either skipped beats or extra beats, instead of the steady boom boom of a consistent rhythm, you may have a heart arrhythmia.  If you feel your heart start racing, and there appears to be no cause,  like you are sitting  fairly stationary on the couch, you may have tachycardia.  If you experience any of these abnormal heart rhythms, contact your doctor.

Once you know the process for checking a pulse, you will be able to not only check your own, but other people, as well.

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart muscle.  There are three types of cardiomyopathy– restrictive, hypertropic, and dilated- all of which affect the heart muscle.  Cardiomyopathy makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood and deliver it to the rest of the body.  There are several causes of cardiomyopathy, including valvular heart disease, and coronary artery disease.  Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.

Cardiomyopathy can be treated.  The type of treatment that a patient receives is based on the type and severity of cardiomyopathy that he or she has.  Treatments may include medication, surgically implanted equipment or, in serious circumstances, a heart transplant.

Symptoms:

Some patients who develop cardiomyopathy show no signs or symptoms  in the early stages of the illness.  However, as the condition progresses, signs and symptoms typically begin to appear.  Symptoms of cardiomyopathy may include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting
• Difficulty breathing with physical exertion or even at rest
• Swelling of the feet, ankles, and legs
• Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, fluttering or pounding
• Bloating of the abdomen caused by buildup of fluid

Regardless of the type of cardiomyopathy a patient has, signs and symptoms tend to become worse without treatment.  In some people, the worsening of the symptoms occurs rather quickly, while in others, cardiomyopathy may take a long time to worsen.

When To Seek Medical Attention:

A patient should visit their physician if they have one or more of the listed symptoms related to cardiomyopathy.  A patient should seek emergency medical attention if they experience significant trouble breathing, fainting, or chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes.  Because cardiomyopathy is often hereditary, your physician may recommend that your family members be evaluated for the disease.

Causes:

Usually, the cause of the cardiomyopathy is not known.  However, in some cases, physicians are able to distinguish some contributing factors.  Some of the possible causes of cardiomyopathy include:

• Chronic rapid heart rate
• Heart tissue damage from a prior heart attack
• Excessive use of alcohol over many years
• Heart valve problems
• Long-term high blood pressure
• Abuse of antidepressant medications or cocaine
• Metabolic disorders, like diabetes or thyroid disease
• Pregnancy
• Buildup of iron in the heart muscle (hemochromatosis)
• Nutritional deficiencies of essential minerals and vitamins, like magnesium, calcium, thiamin (vitamin B-1), and selenium
• Certain viral infections, which may damage the heart and trigger cardiomyopathy
• Use of chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of cancer

The Three Types of Cardiomyopathy:

• Restrictive cardiomyopathy: In patients with this type of cardiomyopathy, the hear muscle becomes rigid and less elastic, which means that the heart is not capable of expanding and filling with blood between heartbeats.  While the restrictive form can occur at any age, it most regularly affects older people.  This is the least common type of cardiomyopathy and can occur for no specific reason.  The condition can also be caused by diseases elsewhere in the body that affect the heart.
• Hypertropic cardiomyopathy: This type involves abnormal growth or thickening of the heart muscle, especially affecting the muscle of the heart’s main pumping chamber.  As the muscle thickening occurs, the heart tends to become stiffer and the size of the pumping chamber may shrink, interfering with the heart’s ability to deliver blood to other areas of the body.  Hypertropic cardiomyopathy  can occur at any age, but the condition tends to be more serious when it appears during childhood. Most people who are affected  have a family history of the diseasee, and some genetic mutations have been linked to hypertropic cardiomyopathy.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy: This is the most common form of cardiomyopathy.  In this disease, the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) becomes enlarged (or dilated), its ability to pump blood becomes less forceful, and blood does not move as easily through the heart.  Although this type can affect people of any age, it most commonly occurs in people of middle-age and is more likely to affect men.  Some of the people with dilated cardiomyopathy have a family history of the disease.

If you experience one or more of the symptoms of cardiomyopathy, schedule an appointment with your physician.  Your doctor will conduct a physical examination, ask you about your personal and family medical history, and talk with you about when your symptoms appear, like during exercise.  If your doctor believes that you do have cardiomyopathy, you may need to undergo several tests to confirm the diagnosis.  Once the doctor understand the type and severity of your cardiomyopathy, he or she will choose a treatment course for you.

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is produced in your body and is also found in foods that come from animal sources (such as dairy and meat product, fish, and poultry).  The cells of your body require cholesterol in order to function properly.  However, it’s not unusual for excess cholesterol in the bloodstream to build up a plaque in your arteries (atherosclerosis), which causes the arteries to narrow.  Atherosclerosis is the cause of most circulatory and heart problems.

What is the difference between good and bad cholesterol?

Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream attached to proteins.  The combination of cholesterol and protein is called a lipoprotein.  There are two lipoproteins that are the main carriers of cholesterol:  high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LSL).

• LDL, also known as “bad cholesterol,” transports cholesterol from the liver to other areas of the body.  Under specific conditions, LDL cholesterol can cause a plaque to form on the walls of the arteries.  Having a high LDL cholesterol level greatly increases your risk of stroke and heart attack.

• HDL, also known as “good cholesterol,” helps to remove the LDL cholesterol from the body by picking up cholesterol from the bloodstream and moving it back to the liver for removal from the body.  Increasing your HDL cholesterol level may help to reduce your risk for heart disease.

What do the numbers mean?

Not all doctor’s agree on which cholesterol numbers are most useful in establishing a person’s risk of developing heart disease.  The most regularly used values are shown here.  However, the importance of these numbers varies from person to person, depending on whether a person has additional risk factors for heart disease.

All of the following are the desirable levels for cholesterol:

• Total cholesterol (HDL level added to LDL level) should be below 200
• HDL level of cholesterol in men should be above 35,  and above 45 in women
• LDL level of cholesterol should be below 130

Borderline high-risk of heart disease includes one or more of the following factors:

• Total cholesterol level of 200-239
• LDL cholesterol level of 130-159

High-risk of heart disease includes one or more of the following factors:

• Total cholesterol level of 240 or greater
• HDL cholesterol level of less than 35 in men, and less than 45 in women
• LDL cholesterol level of 160 or greater

Triglycerides are a different type of fat that can be found in the bloodstream.  A high triglyceride level can also increase a person’s risk of having a stroke or developing coronary artery disease.

Screening for high cholesterol

You and your doctor should establish the schedule for cholesterol screening that is most suited to you based on your risk factors for coronary artery disease.  One recommendation is to begin screening men at age 35 and and women at age 45.

Basic cholesterol screening tests are quick, easy, and moderately priced.  You can contact your local health department to find out when free or inexpensive cholesterol screenings are available.

If your total cholesterol level is greater than 200 milligrams per deciliter(mg/dl), or if you have any of the following risk factors for coronary artery disease, you will probably want to have your cholesterol checked more frequently:

• Having high blood pressure (greater than 140/90) or taking blood pressure medication
• Being a cigarette smoker
• Having diabetes
• Having a family history of early heart attack (prior to age 55 in brother or father; prior to age 65 in sister or mother)

If your total cholesterol is over  200 mg/dl, and you are not sure what your HDL and LDL levels are, more in depth testing can assist you to better evaluate your actual risk.

During the process of digestion, sugars and starches you eat are changed into glucose, a sugar that your body uses for energy.  Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps to control the glucose in blood.  Without insulin, your body is unable to either store or use glucose, so there is an overabundance of sugar that remains in the blood.  Over a period of time, elevated blood sugar levels can damage nerves and blood vessels, causing an increased risk for developing problems with the kidneys, heart, eyes, legs and feet.

Type 1 diabetes occurs because the pancreas is making little or no insulin.  Type 1 diabetes typically develops during childhood or adolescence, but it is possible for it to develop at any age.  People with type 1 diabetes have to give themselves insulin injections every day, and usually multiple times per day.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to meet the requirements of the body, or the body does not use the insulin appropriately.  Type 2 diabetes usually begins in adults, particularly in persons over 40 years of age who are overweight.  It is possible for many people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar exclusively through diet, regular exercise, and careful weight control.  However, there are other individuals who require insulin injections or oral medication to regulate their blood sugar.

Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include the following:

• Having a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Having a sedentary lifestyle
• Having a history of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
• Being overweight (20 percent or more beyond ideal body weight)
• Being 40 years of age or older
• Being of African-American, Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Island descent

The symptoms of diabetes are typically somewhat vague in nature.  Most people believe that they are experiencing symptoms due to illness or aging, not because of diabetes.  Symptoms of diabetes include the following:

• Increased appetite (this occurs in type 1 diabetes only)
• Unexplained weight loss (this occurs in type 1 diabetes only)
• Dry mouth and increased thirst
• Frequent urination (particularly at night)
• Frequent infections of the skin and wounds that are slow to heal
• Feeling of fatigue, weakness, and dizziness
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Recurrent vaginal infections
• Blurry vision

Your physician will need to perform a blood test to accurately diagnose diabetes.

Prevention:

Currently, there is known way of preventing type 1 diabetes.

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes runs in families.  However, even with a family history of type 2 diabetes, it may be possible for you to delay or prevent its onset by getting aerobic exercise regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight.

If you are experiencing any of the diabetic symptoms, schedule to see your doctor for a blood test and clearly identify the symptoms that you have been experiencing.  Make sure to follow any instructions provided by your doctor for managing your symptoms and/or your condition.  Management of blood sugar is extremely important to keeping your body in the best possible condition.  If you fail to manage your blood sugar appropriately, there can be very serious consequence in the function of your kidneys, heart, circulatory system, and the health of your eyes.

Dogs begin to show signs of aging anywhere between the ages of six and thirteen years.  Older dogs require special care and attention to keep them healthy, comfortable, and feeling loved in their old age.  Here are some steps to follow to ensure that your dog leads a healthy and happy senior life:

1. Ensure that your dog receives a moderate level of exercise every day.  Make sure not to overdo the exercise.  Signs of over exertion include excessive panting and a drooping tail.  This means that the exercise routine is too rigorous for the activity and fitness level of your dog.

2. Feed the dog high-quality dog food that targets the dog’s specific dietary needs.  Older dogs have different nutritional requirements than young ones in order for them to stay healthy.  Typically, their nutritional needs can be met by changing to a food that is made for senior pets, as the nutrient concentrations are intended for dogs in this older age range.

3. Make an effort to be consistent with the dog’s schedule and try to minimize household disruptions.  The schedule would consist of activities such as exercise time, feeding times, and even bed time.

4. Pet and show affection to your aging dog frequently to reassure it that it is still your puppy and that you love it.

5. Groom the dog on a regular basis, checking for lumps and bumps.  Many breeds of dogs are prone to growing tumors as they age, so regularly checking for any new lumps can ensure that a tumor is caught as early as possible.

6. Take the dog to the vet at least once per year  to be screened for pancreatic, kidney, liver, and heat disease.

If you follow these steps, you are guaranteeing that your pet is living the last years of his life in the healthiest and happiest way possible.

Deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT, is a condition in which a blood clot, or thrombus, forms in one or more of the deep veins of the body, most frequently in the legs.  Deep vein thrombosis can cause pain in the legs, but it’s not uncommon to develop one or more clots without any symptoms.

Deep vein thrombosis can develop if you sit in one position for a long period of time, like when traveling by car or plane, or if you have a medical condition that affects the way your blood clots.

Deep vein thrombosis is a very serious medical condition because of the risk that the blood clot that developed in your vein could break free of the vein and be carried to your lungs.  When a blood clot travels to and becomes lodged in your lungs, this is known as a pulmonary embolism.  However, deep vein thromboses can disappear by themselves.

Symptoms of DVT:

In roughly half of all diagnosed cases, deep vein thrombosis occurs without any recognizable symptoms.  However, when signs and symptoms of a blood clot do occur, they can include the following:

• Redness and heat or a “hot spot” in the affected area
• Inflammation in the affected leg, including swelling and pitting edema in the foot and ankle
• Pain in the leg; this may also include pain in the foot and ankle.  The pain frequently starts in the calf and can feel like cramping of the muscles
• If a blood clot forms in the neck or an arm, there can be pain and swelling in those locations

When to seek medical attention:

If you develop symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, contact your doctor right away for guidance.

If you develop symptoms of a pulmonary embolism–a complication of DVT that can be life-threatening– you need to seek emergency medical attention.

The following are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism:

• Severe chest pain that becomes worse when you cough or take a deep breath
• Coughing up blood
• Sudden unexplained onset of shortness of breath
• A sense of nervousness or anxiety
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or fainting

Risk factors for developing deep vein thrombosis:

There are many factors that can dramatically increase your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, here are a few:

• Inherited blood-clotting disorder.  Some people inherit a disorder that causes their blood to clot more easily than other people.  This inherited disorder is unlikely to cause problems unless  it is combined with one or more additional risk factors.
• Prolonged bed rest, like during a hospital stay or paralysis. When your legs remain still for prolonged amounts of time, your calf muscles do not contract to aid in the circulation of blood from the lower legs, this can lead to the formation of blood clots.
• Surgery or injury. Surgery or injury to your veins can slow the flow of blood, increasing the risk of forming blood clots.  Also general anesthetics used in surgery can cause your veins to dilate, which can increase the risk of blood pooling in the veins and then clotting.
• Pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the pressure in the veins of the pelvis and legs.  Women with an inherited clotting disorder are particularly at risk.  The risk of blood clots from pregnancy can continue for as long as six weeks after delivering your baby.
• Smoking.  Smoking affects circulation and blood clotting, which can increase your risk of forming blood clots.
• Sitting  for lengthy amounts of time, like when flying or driving. When your legs remain relatively stationary for long periods of time, your calf muscles don’t contract, which typically aids in the circulation of blood.  Although sitting for long lengths of time is a risk factor, the chance of developing DVT while driving or flying is relatively slim.
• Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy can both increase your blood’s ability to clot.

Diagnosis of DVT:

In order to diagnose deep vein thrombosis, your doctor will ask you a series of questions about your symptoms.  He or she will also conduct a physical exam to look for any areas of swelling, discoloration of the skin, or tenderness.  If your doctor thinks that it is possible that you may have a blood clot, you may be requested to undergo further testing.  Some of the tests used to clearly determine the presence of absence of a blood clot include:

• An ultrasound of the affected body part, be it leg, arm, or neck.
• CT or MRI scan of the affected body part.
• Blood test for an increased level of a clot-dissolving substance called D dimer
• Venography which involves injecting a dye into a large vein in the foot or ankle, so that X-rays can be taken of the veins.

Treatments:

The purpose of treatment for deep vein thrombosis is to stop the blood clot from getting any larger, prevent the clot from breaking loose and causing a pulmonary embolism, and to prevent the deep vein thrombosis from reoccurring.  Your doctor will advise you on the appropriate treatment steps for you to take based on your complete medical history.

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get in shape and/or to lose weight.  Here are some ways to begin a workout process that you can stick to regardless of your fitness level:

1.  Set a fitness goal. The most important part of this process is to allow yourself enough time to reach your goal.  You can’t realistically plan to lose 100 pounds in two months, that would just set yourself up for failure.  Feeling like you have failed is the main reason that people give up on their fitness goals.  Make sure to set some smaller goals along the way, so you can feel a sense of accomplishment as you conquer some of the smaller goals on a regular basis.  Some examples of small goals could include doing 20 push ups, or riding the elliptical machine for five more minutes.

2.  Devise a workout plan. You should try to plan for at least three 40-minute workouts per week at scheduled times.  If you are not physically able to work out for 40-minutes, do not allow yourself to get discouraged, simply workout for as long as you are able.  The more you exercise the stronger you will become, and your endurance will build.  It is also good to vary your workouts, like playing softball with friends one day, and going hiking in the mountains another.  Variation in workout routines will help to keep you interested and excited about getting exercise, as well as making it fun.

3.  Do a reality check. It is extremely important to be honest with yourself about your fitness level.  The process of getting in shape is a personal journey the requires realistic self-perspective; many people who are wanting to lose weight and get into shape are overly ambitious and set goals or workout plans that are well beyond their fitness level, and when they fail, they give up.  It is far more important to take it slow, maintain your focus on improving your health, and paying attention to the progress you make, instead of dwelling on the fact that you did not accomplish your goal the very first day.

4.  Find a workout buddy. You are more likely to actually keep your scheduled workout session if you know a friend is waiting for you.  Seek out a partner who enjoys the same type of exercises that you do and who has a encouraging “You can do it” attitude.  Your joint workout could be taking a Pilates class or going for a 2-mile walk first thing in the morning.  The most important thing is to get your blood pumping and your body moving.

5.  Eat right. You will get more from your workouts if you are using the best foods to fuel your body.  Of course, the healthier you are eating, the more likely you are to lose weight.  You should incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins into your diet.  Drinking plenty of water is also key to keeping your body energized and well-hydrated.  On the days that you do not work out, you should consume  a minimum of six glasses of water, and more on the days that you do workout.

The most important thing to remember is not to feel defeated, you need to continue exercising even if you are not able to accomplish as much as you hoped right away.  You will eventually get there; you’ll start to feel healthier, and have a sense of pride in your commitment to your health.

Varicose veins are twisted, swollen, and often painful veins that are filled with an atypical collection of blood.  In healthy, normal veins, valves in the vein keep blood constantly moving toward the heart.  In varicose veins, the valves do not function correctly, allowing blood to remain in the vein.  Pooling of the blood in varicose veins is what causes them to enlarge.  This process is most commonly found in the veins of the legs, although there is a potential for it to occur elsewhere in the body.   Varicose veins are quite common, and affect predominantly women.

Known causes include the following:

• Congenitally defective valves (valves are defective from birth)
• Thrombophlebitis, which is the inflammation of a vein caused by the presence of a blood clot
• Pregnancy

Standing for long periods of time and having increased pressure in the abdomen may increase the likelihood of developing varicose veins, or make an existing condition worse.

Primary varicose veins occur due to either genetically flawed valves, or without a recognizable cause.  Secondary varicose veins are caused because of another condition, like when a pregnant woman develops varicose veins.

Symptoms include the following:

• Visibly enlarged veins
• Moderate swelling of the ankles
• Heaviness, fullness, aching, and frequently pain in the legs
• Brown discoloration of the skin in the vicinity of the ankles
• In severe cases, skin ulcerations near the ankles

Treatment for Varicose Veins:

1. Wear lightweight compression tights for small varicose veins and heavier elastic support stockings for advanced cases that are not being treated by a surgeon.  This will help to provide support to the skin and veins, so as not to allow the blood to pool so much in the veins causing excruciating pain.

2. Schedule a consultation with a vascular surgeon or a certified dermatologist to discuss your varicose veins and to discuss your treatment options.

3. Have an outpatient ultrasound or duplex scan of your legs to eliminate the possibility of circulatory and/or deep vein disease.

4. Talk with your physician about sclerotherapy, the process of injecting a medication into the affected blood vessels, causing them to shrink.

5. Explore your options for laser treatment.  This is a procedure that requires no surgery or injections.  One vein typically requires between four and six treatments, lasting 15 to 20 minutes each.

6. Discuss your options for vein stripping.  This is a surgical procedure in which a vascular surgeon makes an incision in a leg, normally in the groin area, locates the varicose vein, ties it off and frequently removes it.  Vein stripping requires a general anesthetic and is normally performed in a hospital.  Bear in mind that after vein-stripping surgery, a patient must wear a firm bandage from foot to mid-thigh for two to three days.  The patient is asked to rest during that time with the leg in an elevated position.

7. Ask your physician about ambulatory phlebectomy.  With this procedure, the vascular surgeon inserts a small hooked instrument into tiny incisions he has made in the skin to collapse the enlarged veins.

As you can see, there are several different types of treatments for repairing unsightly and painful varicose veins, the important thing is to speak with your doctor about what procedures could be used to help you.

A stroke is a potentially deadly event caused by a lack of oxygen to parts or all of the brain.  This situation comes about from one of two causes, a blood clot that hits one of the major blood vessels in the brain, blocking blood flow and delivery of oxygen to a portion of the brain.  The other cause of a stroke is a brain aneurysm, the weakening of the walls of a blood vessel, that under pressure (typically an increase in blood pressure) ruptures, allowing blood to flow out of the blood vessel and into the brain tissue.  Because the blood is not being properly transported through the blood vessels to all parts of the brain, parts of the brain will not receive the oxygenated blood.  Regardless of the underlying cause, the longer the cells of the brain go without delivery of the oxygenated blood, the more brain cells will die.  A good way to remember what to do in the event of a suspected stroke is to think FAST.

1. Inspect for weakness or numbness in the face (the “F” in FAST is for face) by asking the individual to smile.  If one side of the individual’s face droops or the person is unable to smile, it may be evidence of a stroke.  Strokes cause numbness or weakness in the muscles of the face, typically limited to only one side.

2. Look for weakness of the muscles.  Ask the individual to try to raise both arms (the “A” in FAST is for arms).  If one of the arms can’t be raised or drifts down, this may be evidence that a stroke has occurred.  Strokes frequently cause  numbness or weakness of the muscles in the legs and arms, again, this is generally limited to only one side of the body.  The affected individual may also be experiencing difficulty maintaining balance or walking.

3. Ask the individual to repeat a simple phrase.  If the person’s speech (the “S” in FAST is for speech) is difficult to understand or slurred, or the person has difficulty remembering the words to repeat, this may be  symptoms of a stroke.  Strokes can cause trouble with cognition and speaking ability, in addition to disorientation and faintness.

4. Seek medical help right away if you or another person experiences any of these signs of a stroke.  You should either call 911 or get the person immediately to the hospital.  Inform the emergency medical staff that the person is experiencing a potential stroke, so appropriate treatment can be started right away. Time (which is the “T” in FAST) is the most critical factor in helping someone to survive a stroke or limit the effects.

Now that you know what to watch for, if you or someone around you experiences some or all of these symptoms, you will be able to recognize the symptoms as indicating a potential stroke.  You will also be able to recognize that the affected person is in desperate need of emergency medical attention as quickly as possible.

Some people mature and become even more attractive with age, like a fine wine.  However, there are frequently times when people want to reduce the signs of aging on their bodies.  Here are some easy steps to help reduce the visible and physical sign of aging:

1. Behave in a younger fashion-people are really only as old as they act, and when a person is young at heart, they appear younger than their actual numerical age.

2. Drink at least one cup of hot cocoa per day.  Cocoa is rich in flavonols, which play a key role in repairing sun damage.  Cocoa also contains a fair amount of phenyethylamine, which is a chemical that increases the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which are associated   with being happy or in a good mood.  Phenylethylamine also increase the production of the neurotransmitter oxytocin, which aids in relaxation.  This is the reason that people seem happier and more relaxed after consuming chocolate that has a high concentration of cocoa.

3. Make a habit of eating cinnamon.  As people age, their lips tend to thin.  Cinnamon aids in the dilation of the  tiny blood vessels in the lips, which causes the lips to plump immediately and completely naturally.

4. Use soy products.  Both soy products that are consumed and soy containing creams contain isoflavones, which increase the production of collagen.  Collagen is the support structure of the skin, which increases both the thickness and the elasticity of the skin.  Collagen is plays a key role in decreasing wrinkles and sagging of the skin.

5. Make sure to drink plenty of water.  Human bodies are made up of 70 percent water, and it is crucial for our general well-being.  Water also helps to keep skin hydrated and healthy, as well as the rest of our bodies.

6. Don’t forget to moisturize.  Moisturizing skin daily keeps moisture locked in and makes skin stay smoother.

7. Get plenty of vitamin C.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that provides a defense against the damaging effects of free radicals.  It can even help to reverse some of the damage that is  already present.  You can get vitamin C through nutritional supplements, or through foods such as cabbage, tomatoes, and citrus fruits.

8. Sleep on your back.  When sleeping on your stomach or side, it causes your face to wrinkle while you are sleeping.  Over time, this can increase the chance of developing premature wrinkles.

9. Make sure to eat nuts and seeds as part of your regular diet.  Nuts help with circulation, especially almonds and sunflower seeds which are loaded with vitamin E.  Vitamin E is critical to good circulation, so adding these type of foods to your diet is as good for you as it is tasty.

There you have it, some little tips and tricks to help fight off the signs of aging.