Instructions to Taking a Horse's Heart Rate

December 15th, 2011

Taking a horse's heart rate is an important health check. Most adult horses have a resting heart rate of about 30 to 40 beats per minute. Heart rates higher than that can indicate your horse is in pain and may need medical attention. An elevated heart rate can also indicate dehydration or fever. Heart rates are generally higher in smaller and younger horses, with resting heart rates ranging from 70 to 120 bpm in foals, 45 to 60 bpm in yearlings and 40 to 50 bpm in 2-year-olds.

Difficulty:
Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Stopwatch or wristwatch with a second hand
  • Stethoscope
  1. Behind the Elbow

    • 1

      Stand on your horse's left side, facing its left elbow and left shoulder. The elbow is the joint where the left front leg joins the body.

    • 2

      Put on the stethoscope, and place the end behind the point of the elbow. Press it into the armpit, and move it around until it is flat on the horse's skin.

    • 3

      Locate the sound of your horse's heartbeat. A single beat consists of two sounds and is very similar to a human heartbeat.

    • 4

      Count the heartbeats for a 15-second period as measured on your stopwatch. Multiply this number by four to get the number of beats per minute.

    Under the Chin

    • 1

      Stand in front of your horse's head, slightly to its left. Reach your hand into the joint between its cheek and chin, just below the eye.

    • 2

      Find the transverse facial artery, a cord-like structure about the thickness of the pencil, and press it firmly with your middle two fingers. Adjust your position until you can feel the horse's pulse.

    • 3

      Once you have the pulse, count the number of beats for 15 seconds on your wristwatch or stopwatch. Multiply this number by four to get the number of beats per minute.

Tips & Warnings

  • If your horse is at a show or event, you may find its heart rate is elevated due to the excitement of the event. It may also be elevated during other periods of excitement.

  • It may help to tie your horse during the procedure so it will stand still and make it easier to listen to the heartbeat.

How to Sleep on a Firm Mattress to Avoid Back Pain

December 1st, 2011

For years, doctors have been recommending sleeping on a firm mattress in order to avoid back pain, especially since lying flat on a hard surface seems to alleviate the problem. Recent studies, however, have shown that a medium mattress may be more effective in reducing back pain.

Difficulty:
Easy

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine whether or not a firm mattress will actually help you to avoid back pain while you sleep. While recent European studies seem to indicate that you will be twice as likely to decrease back pain with a medium mattress, you may still respond to a firmer mattress. The causes for back pain are numerous, and the studies have not yet isolated these factors.

    • 2

      Rotate and replace your mattress regularly, based upon the manufacturer's recommendations (usually 10 to 15 years). You should rotate or flip your mattress at least twice a year to avoid the permanent indentations you have made in the mattress while you sleep. Such indentations can cause back pain.

    • 3

      Sleep on either your side or your back. When you sleep on your stomach, you may be putting a lot of pressure on your lower back since your head is raised and turned for long periods. A firm mattress may actually complicate this, since your hips may not sink far enough to reduce the pressure on your lumbar area.

    • 4

      Find the right pillow to avoid back pain when you sleep on a firm mattress. A pillow that is too soft will not provide adequate support to your head, and a pillow that is too firm will elevate your head at an unnatural angle. Both types of pillows can cause the spine to curve uncomfortably during sleep, potentially causing back pain.

    • 5

      Ask your doctor or chiropractor to recommend a firm mattress that will help you to avoid back pain. In light of recent studies about back pain and firm mattresses, you may receive differing opinions on the subject. However, this can open a dialogue between you and your health-care professional, so that you can establish a baseline for your back pain and learn how to effectively treat it.

Tips & Warnings

  • An adjustable air mattress, for which the firmness setting can be adjusted via remote control, may be an effective way to find out what type of mattress will help you to avoid back pain.

How to Pull Out an Ingrown Toenail

November 24th, 2011

Ingrown toenails occur when the toenail grows into the skin on the edges of the nail. This condition can be extremely painful, can cause swelling and redness and is generally caused by shoes that are worn too tightly, nails that are cut improperly or simply stubbing your toe. Ingrown toenails can be trimmed at home, which will put an end to the pain and help your toenails grow back correctly, so you won't have to suffer with an ingrown toenail again.

Difficulty:
Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Water
  • Small tub
  • Cotton balls
  • Toenail clippers
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Antibacterial ointment
  • Bandage
  • Loose-fitting shoes and socks
    • 1

      Place your sore toe in a tub of warm water for 15 minutes, 2 to 4 times a day.

    • 2

      Place a small piece of cotton, such as a ripped cotton ball, into the corner of the affected toe after it has been soaked to help the nail naturally remove itself from the corner of your skin.

    • 3

      Change the piece of cotton each time you soak your foot, and repeat this process for several days, or until the nail has removed itself from the skin.

    • 4

      Once the nail has been taken out, gently cut it straight (not rounded) so that it will not grow back into your skin. Make sure to sterilize the toenail clippers with rubbing alcohol before use.

    • 5

      To prevent infection, place an antibacterial ointment on the toenail, and wrap it in a bandage.

    • 6

      Wear loose-fitting socks and shoes for several days after the toenail is removed to avoid any further irritation.

Tips & Warnings

  • Prevent ingrown toenails by avoiding tight-fitting shoes and by cutting your toenails straight across.

  • Call your doctor if the toenail cannot be removed at home or if the pain, swelling or redness becomes worse.

  • Do not try to dig the nail out of your toe with tweezers, toenail clippers or manicure scissors. This could lead to infection.

  • Do not drain any pus that might be present with a small needle. This could also lead to infection.

Medical Symptoms of Alcoholism

November 22nd, 2011
Medical Symptoms of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a serious disease that can manifest itself in many ways. The exact cause for why some become addicted to alcohol and why others do not is unknown but it is a disease that cuts across all lines. Anyone at any age of any race, gender or social class can become addicted. One of the serious dangers is that an alcoholic can go for years without drinking a drop and then begin drinking again without the ability to stop. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or others please contact a medical professional/counselor.

  1. Tolerance

    • One obvious medical symptom to alcoholism is a significantly increased tolerance to alcohol Buy Nolvadex online no prescription. An alcoholic can drink large amounts of alcohol without anyone else knowing they are intoxicated. This is due to your body's chemical balance becoming increasingly used to alcohol.

    Mental Changes and Memory Problems

    • An alcoholic also undergoes mental changes, which can include paranoia, irrational fears, and lost interest in activities that the alcoholic previously enjoyed. Alcoholics have trouble remembering and can cease to recall entire evenings of drinking. They can also begin to exhibit signs of confusion. This is due to alcohol affecting the brain.

    Depression

    • Depression can often become an issue with alcoholics. Alcohol tends to make the usual feelings of depression worse after the high wears off and can also cause an onset of depression.

    Ongoing Pain and Sickness

    • Vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain can occur fairly consistently for alcoholics. These can also help contribute to eating disorders.

    Heart Problems

    • Many long term problems can arise due to alcoholism including heart disease, high blood pressure and blood clotting. These problems, and others, lead to lower life expectancy among alcoholics.

    Liver Problems

    • One common problem that results from alcoholism is liver inflammation, called alcohol hepatitis. This hepatitis can then turn into cirrhosis of the liver, which over time can lead to liver failure.

    Other Long Term Problems

    • Sleeping disorders, pancreatic disease, a weakened immune system, and sexual dysfunction are all problems that can affect alcoholics.

Resources

  • Info on Alcoholism-The Mayo Clinic

Nutrition & Spinal Alignment Problems

November 21st, 2011
Nutrition & Spinal Alignment Problems

Nutrition is a very important factor in regards to spinal alignment problems. When the body receives proper nutrients it is able to heal muscles and tissues that hold the spine in proper alignment. Improper nutrition will increase the chances of further spinal problems due to the lack of nutrition.

  1. Minerals

    • Minerals are an essential nutrient of the spine; without them the spine would be soft and weak Buy Phentermine 37.5mg Online. The strength and hardness of the bones comes from the minerals that are deposited in them by what you eat and drink. Also, when the proper amount of minerals is present in the spine, chiropractic adjustments will hold and no longer be necessary. Calcium and magnesium are required not only for proper nutrition but also for building strong bones and muscles.

    Water

    • A huge risk factor for spinal alignment problems is dehydration. Dehydration is a condition where the body is in need of water. Bones are made up partially of water, which contributes to bone density. Water is vitally important to the body and is used for many things, including lubrication of the joints, shock absorption for the spinal cord and carrying nutrition throughout the body. It is recommended that a person drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day for optimum health and pain relief.

    Vitamins

    • To build strong bones, Vitamin D is very important as it is used by the body to help create new bone cells and Vitamin K is needed for bone growth. To help prevent bone loss, vitamin C is recommended. Vitamin B-12 is also important when treating spinal alignment problems, as it supports the proper function of the nervous system.

    Fasting

    • Where other methods have fallen short, fasting has achieved significant results. Fasting helps the body rid itself of toxins and speed up the healing process, which in turn helps improve organ function. When the body does not have to focus its energy on digestion, the body is able to recover a lot quicker. Spinal alignment problems respond to fasting, as do headaches and chronic back and neck pain.

    Effects

    • When the body doesn't get proper nutrition imbalances can occur and the spine is more likely to go out of alignment, causing other health problems to occur. When nutritional imbalances are corrected, spinal alignment problems are alleviated and health is restored throughout the body.