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Experts in the military are becoming increasingly concerned that substance abuse and its related problems may be rising in military personnel who are involved with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as their family members.

Professionals in the fields of health and medicine often look at the organizational structure of the military — which is quite unique — as well as demographics, for the high frequency of binge drinking and smoking. In addition the military has a relatively low rate of abuse of illicit substances, when compared to the civilian population. For instance the use of tobacco is approximately 50 percent higher among active duty personnel than within the civilian base of the population. What is more interesting is that this rate is additionally 50 percent higher with military members having served in war zones.

Studies indicate that combat experience may have an influence on the substance abuse rates. One study indicates that there may be a possible link between post-traumatic stress disorder and other cognitive and mental disorders and the associated substance abuse and dependence.

Research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has set out guidelines for treating and preventing this substance abuse. These studies are helping reduce abuse and the subsequent consequences. The NIDA does say that these guidelines may change. Many military members are reluctant to enter a drug treatment program or treatment. This may be a result of the emphasis on maintaining a show of strength by military personnel rather that to seek assistance.

The NIDA studies do say that studies and research should be done in order to recognize the link between military deployment to war zones and the rate of substance abuse. The organization especially emphasizes the need for research on the high rates of substance abuse and those with corresponding incidents of post-traumatic stress syndrome.

The Damaging Effects of Substance Abuse

Heavy substance abuse can be a problem and can cause users to experience other problems in their lives, such as losing their job, family members abandoning them, or an overall feeling of helplessness in combating the addiction.

However, a dependency on cigarettes or alcohol is not something that an individual has to consider hopeless or incurable. Proper medical intervention and counseling can help a person gain control of the behavior and stop the cycle of dependency.

There are also alternatives available that will help addicts deal with their dependent personalities and inclinations. Many smokers have switched to e-cigarettes because they aren’t harmful to the body or offensive to others. At the same time, smokers still enjoy the sensation of “smoking.”

Finding Alternatives for Personal Habits

Just like smokers who use the e-cigarette, there are other alternatives people can use to help reduce their substance dependency or eliminate it altogether.

• Replace caffeine with caffeine-free products or reduced caffeine. Another option is to use half-caffeine and half non-caffeine. Caffeine usually doesn’t affect the taste of a drink. After a period of time, there won’t be any noticeable difference in either of the two tastes.

• Switch from alcoholic beverages to non-alcoholic drinks. If going completely off the substance is too difficult to do, you can use the same half-in-half approach as you can with caffeine. This option is more likely to give you favorable results.

• Find another outlet for whatever stimulates the need for the dependency. This could be traditional exercise or the use of alternative medications and herbs.

Substance dependency varies from person to person and may depend on the degree of addiction. You need to handle the situation with care and finding the best solution for the person suffering from the addiction. By being supportive, you can help a person overcome the addiction and make a full recovery.

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Every summer, at least one overly hot and humid stretch hits the country causing news anchors and meteorologists to launch into warning mode. Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings should not be taken lightly, but unfortunately every summer dozens of Americans die from heat exposure. More people lose their lives to heat exposure than all other natural disasters put together, even taking into account lives lost in tornadoes and hurricanes. While most heat related deaths occur in the elderly and the very young, people of every age are susceptible.

The least worrisome of all heat-related illnesses is heat rash which occurs in areas of the body that sweat the most. Tiny, red, pimply bumps aren’t cause for too much concern and most commonly affect young children. Anyone who’s over-exerted themselves in the heat is likely to have experienced heat cramps. Painful muscle spasms are accompanied by sweaty, pale skin that is still cool. A person experiencing heat cramps will have a normal temperature.

Heat syncope is a fancy term for dizziness or fainting due to heat exposure. This usually happens when a person works out in the heat. Skin remains sweaty and pale and an elevated temperature is unlikely. A more serious heat-related illness is heat exhaustion, or nature’s alarm warning of overheating. Elderly folk, people who work outside, and people with other health issues like diabetes or high blood pressure are at a higher risk for succumbing to heat exhaustion. Someone who appears overly clumsy, extremely sweaty, thirsty, scatterbrained, and weak is likely suffering from heat exhaustion. As with other heat-related illnesses, body temperature remains normal, but an elevated heart rate is common.

The most serious and most dangerous heat-related illness is heat stroke. This potentially fatal condition occurs when a person’s body can no longer cool itself, often times resulting in death; medical attention is vital to survival at the first sign of symptoms. High fever is accompanied by confusion, strange behavior, dizziness, racing pulse, and zero sweat. It’s very important to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness to stay safe and healthy every summer.

Mothers are often concerned about the slightest things. A different cry, a temperature, and a mystery rash can send even the most seasoned mom searching for the phone to ring the family physician. While the sudden appearance of a rash on an infant can be alarming, it’s not usually serious. There are several causes for infant rashes and most don’t require medical attention. Viral illnesses are to blame for many types of skin rashes. While some viruses can cause specific types of rashes, some viruses don’t manifest a unique appearing rash. Keep in mind, that if a child is unwell, and develops a rash, it’s probably a harmless virus at blame.

Chicken pox begins as a few red bumps accompanied by a fever. Over the course of a few days, more bumps appear and older bumps start to blister. After a few days of new bumps and blistering, the older bumps start to crust over and fever subsides. It’s important to keep infected kids isolated until all the blisters are crusted over as this is when Chicken Pox is no longer contagious. Fifth disease is a very common virus known as Slapped Cheek disease. Children come down with fever and develop bright red cheeks. From there, a rash spreads outward from the trunk to the limbs. Sometimes, kids experience a cough and a runny nose with Fifth disease, but no other discomfort. Roseola is one of the most common culprits when it comes to rashes and fever in children. Children run high to moderate fevers over the course of a few days with no other symptoms. Around day four, the fever breaks, but a red, bumpy rash appears. Children will act like nothing is wrong, even though the rash covers their entire body. Coxsackie is known as hand, foot, and mouth disease and causes blisters on said body parts. Overall, viral illnesses aren’t contagious once the fever is gone and symptoms will clear on their own.

With summer heat beginning to blaze, it’s tragic that each year several dozen babies and toddlers succumb to the heat and are accidentally killed when left in or become trapped inside over-heated cars. Since the turn of the century, several hundred children have died from hyperthermia, or overheating caused by a rapid rise in body temperature. Babies and children’s bodies aren’t made like adults and cannot keep cool as effectively; a little one’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult. This affect is amplified by the oven-like environment of a well-sealed car interior.

By following some easy steps, all parents can avoid losing a child in this manner. Upon entering your vehicle, put everything necessary for that trip in the back floorboard. If you’re going to work, put your briefcase in the back or if you’re shopping, put your purse in the back. You’ll need to retrieve these things when you reach your destination and will be reminded your little one is with you. Place children behind the passenger seat where they are more likely to be seen. When you’re child’s seat is unoccupied, place a stuffed animal in it. When it is full, move that animal to the front as a reminder that your little one is there. If you take your children to day care, ask the provider to call you if you don’t bring your child as scheduled. Always open the back when leaving the car, making it a habit, and you’ll never forget the baby. It’s important too that you always make sure baby is where you think; misunderstanding has caused many hot-car deaths. Devices that sing a lullaby when the car stops or sound alarms when you walk away with a child in the car are available to help you avoid this tragedy. Simple steps that are frequently taken can become a life-saving habit for your baby.

Every day bystanders and witnesses act heroically to save others’ lives. Performing critical first aid and CPR for a stranger is a wonderful act of service, but can also place a person in danger from contracting a communicable disease. During CPR, a minimal amount of fluids can be exchanged when mouth-to-mouth is done without a protective barrier and this is sometimes causing pause in some good samaritans. Previous information indicates that adults who are in critical need of life-saving CPR only receive it less than 50 percent of the time when surrounded by bystanders. There is hope for the critically ill though; two recent studies indicated that CPR, when performed without mouth-to-mouth, is enough to save a life.

These recent studies reinforce the American Heart Association decision to encourage “hands-only” CPR. The American Heart Association has been encouraging hands-only CPR for the past couple of years, but there is no definitive answer as to whether or not the movement has taken hold. These two recent studies strengthen the American Heart Association’s position and promote dispatchers and good Samaritans to be vigilant in using this new method of CPR. This method could result in many, many saved lives every year.

A little over 300,000 Americans die annually from cardiac arrest in public and private places or emergency rooms. About six percent of Americans who suffer cardiac arrest away from a hospital survive to tell tales ever again. When an emergency arises, people automatically think calling 911 is the best thing to do. While that is a critical move, when CPR is given at the scene, survival rates double to 12 percent.

This new technique will increase the number of bystanders who are willing to attempt CPR on a stranger by around ten percent, reflective of what scientists found occurred in these studies. While hands-only CPR can save a person in cardiac arrest, traditional CPR is necessary when an adult or child has ceased to breathe due to drowning, choking, or any other respiratory distress. By using hands alone, many lives can be saved.

Has the recent rise in popularity of organic and natural foods left you wondering if all the hype is necessary? Does it really make a difference if you eat organic or you don’t? According to the Environmental Working Group, it does make a difference when it comes to certain fruits and vegetables.

A recent study of over 100,000 pesticide reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture led the group to determine which foods are safer and which foods to avoid based on the amounts of pesticides found. Pesticides are considered to be any chemical used on crops to prevent or kill pests, weeds, and disease. According to the USDA, without pesticides almost half of the world’s crops are lost due to damage from pests and disease. The EPA, USDA, and FDA collaborate to monitor and limit the amount of pesticides used and that is allowed to remain on produce once it’s in the store. Even low amounts of pesticides have been discouraged because of the risk shown between exposure and cancer, ADHD, and other nervous system illnesses. Some links have been found between pesticide exposure and weak immunity. Some pesticides can be found on the exterior of the fruit or vegetables, but others have been taken up into the fruit or vegetable via the root system and washing doesn’t really do much to reduce the amount of pesticide ingested. Washing is really meant to remove harmful bacteria and dirt.

The Environmental Working Group’s recent study indicates that a person who purchases organic versions of certain fruits and veggies can reduce their exposure to pesticides by up to 80 percent. Their list includes celery, bell peppers, spinach, potatoes, lettuce, grapes, peaches, strawberries, nectarines, cherries, and apples. While this is considered the naughty list, the group did release a nice list of fruits and vegetables that were found to have the lowest amount of pesticides and were completely fine to purchase the non-organic versions. These include onions, peas, eggplant, sweet potatoes and onions, asparagus, pineapple, kiwi, cantaloupe and watermelon and grapefruit.