Collateral Benefits
It’s been long known that physical well-being is to some degree paired with mental well-being, and vice versa. If you eat right and exercise regularly, you’re likely to have better physical and mental health. Yet these things in and of themselves are not all which define a person. Someone could eat the best foods and exercise daily for years but yet retain poor mental health.

Being properly mentally adjusted often means being properly socially adjusted. To have such adjustment requires regular social interaction. The conflict comes in human traits. It turns out people are not always in a positive frame of mind. There are many times where the best efforts yield negative social interaction.

People are quick to become jaded when they have reached out multiple times and either been rejected or had an experience that was less than pleasant. The problem is that life does not always provide an arena where healthy mental activity can be stimulated in a social sense. So many will implode on themselves when they’ve had such negative experiences.

From there, a downward spiral characterizes forward momentum for the reclusive individual. Regardless of exercise or diet, their mind begins to follow negative tracks, and negative behavior becomes normalized. The problem compounds should the now “rotten” individual encounter others similarly damaged and like-minded in their brokenness.

A Surprising Place To Clear Your Mind
Churches can help turn around negative mental habits. Did you know that having a giving heart has good physical and psychological side-effects? Caring for others is, in a roundabout way, caring for yourself. You can see why if you take a step back and examine the situation logically.

If you’re thinking about someone else, rather than yourself, this has a time-dilation effect. Until you’ve accomplished your goals as pertain to the other person, your mind goes round and round about the upcoming meeting. When you do something good for the person in question, now your mind is following that tack, and additionally in a way which helps you avoid focusing on the negative.

There are positive emotions that are associated with giving. Have you ever heard the phrase “laughter is the best medicine”? How about “will to live”? Both of these describe how emotional states can have a healing effect on the body. Well, being involved in a church puts you in a good, stable emotional state regularly, additionally providing you the opportunity to exercise a giving heart.

Stable Circumstances
Being around other emotionally stable people helps an individual calm their mental seas. When you get out by yourself for too long, you can forget what healthy social interactions even look like. Among a group of individuals trying to live for something greater than themselves, you may be able to find that healthy interaction again.

Also, many churches provide outreach to a local community. Such outreach has a cumulative positive effect that is good for those providing the charity, and those who are receiving it. It’s a win-win scenario.

Certainly, there are times when the best solution for specific mental effects may just be a nootropic of some variety; for which Horizon Counseling Services has many articles—according to one, “If you’re looking for a real version of the Limitless pill, you’re in luck…” However, in many situations, a healthy mental function can be facilitated through healthy community involvement.

Churches represent, they are a well-known secure location where you can find healthy, stimulating social interaction, easily get plugged into community involvement, and be perpetually welcomed with open arms by people who authentically care.

Out-of-pocket healthcare costs are skyrocketing, with Americans paying higher premiums, deductibles, and copayments.

The truth is, without health insurance, a regular trip to your primary care physician would cost nearly $395.

Those without insurance for an entire calendar year pay for nearly half of their care out-of-pocket. However, know that prices vary by state.

Combine this with the fact that a trip to the emergency room can cost you as much as rent, let alone four times that, and having healthcare insurance is almost a given. Still, what can you do to cut costs and save more? Read on to find out!

Check With Your Doctor to See if You Need the Test

With preventive medicine being a trend (that doesn’t seem to be going away) in the health industry, chances are, there are some tests you may not need at the moment.

If you are strapped for cash, according to WebMD, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to put the test on hold. If so, schedule the test at a later date. That way, you have time to set funds aside.

Consider Asking About a Payment Plan

Of course, know that your health provider may advise you to undergo the test, in which case, it is best to listen to your provider’s instructions.

If you find yourself in this situation, you may be able to work out a payment plan with your provider or the medical facility the test is performed at. You won’t need any pills to make you feel more relaxed – you’d be settled with any health emergencies and that leads to healthier life.

You are then able to afford the test while still taking care of your health: a win-win. Don’t be afraid to ask; your health is worth it.

Set Up an Emergency Fund

Let’s face it, emergencies happen. The question is not whether they will happen but when, and do you have the funds saved to be prepared for them.

For this reason, set aside a percentage of your income for emergencies: this could be a trip to the emergency room or funds for prescription medicine.

Start Small

Start small, and then go from there. You could set aside as little as $100 per month, with a goal of reaching $500.

Then increase your goal to $1,000, and then $3,000. That way, you have funds in place that will cover the average cost of an emergency room visit.

What Does Your Insurance Cover?

Know what your health insurance covers and what it does not. For instance, some insurance plans include dental while, with others, you may have to purchase dental insurance separately.

If you aren’t sure what care applies to your insurance, don’t be afraid to call them up. Remember, you’re the one paying the monthly premium; you have a right to know exactly what you are paying for. Since you can choose among private, public or state options for health care insurance, it’s extremely important to go through pros and cons of each one. This decision is individual so what fits your neighbor doesn’t have to fit best to you, too. In the last decade the growth of “Option C” – private health insurance is constant. People are having the opportunity to choose among options, meaning to choose how much to pay, and to choose for exactly what they are paying for. This trend attempts to lower health costs in general.

Factor This Information Into Your Emergency Saving Fund

After getting off the phone with your insurance provider, you will have a better idea of how much money you need to set aside to pay for the care your insurance does not cover.

Final Thoughts on Healthcare Costs

Out-of-pocket healthcare costs are only going to increase over the years. This means it is more important than ever to take proactive steps at reducing your cost of care.

Besides these healthcare-saving tips, buy generic versus brand medication and take preventative health measures such as exercising on a regular basis and maintaining a healthy diet.

What other ways can you cut down on health costs and save more? Do you feel the high deductibles, copayments, and premiums? Leave a comment below.

Whether you have slight discoloration or deep-set stains, there are multiple ways to whiten your teeth. Teeth whitening shouldn’t be hard, and with over-the-counter topical applications to professional whitening services provided by a dentist, any lifestyle and budget can be accommodated.

There are two main types of teeth whitening; extrinsic, which removes discoloration from the surface with an abrasive substance, and intrinsic, which removes the stains by a bleaching process. There are numerous ways that stains can develop, and this can influence what works best to remove them.

Whitening Toothpaste

These are readily available in nearly any retail store that sells personal care items. They remove stains through an abrasive method combined with ingredients such as activated charcoal, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or hydroxyapatite. The benefits of this type of whitening include overall tooth health as they also clean the teeth simultaneously. Toothpastes that contain hydrogen peroxide, however, can cause damage to the teeth if it is used more than the recommended amount.

Different Toothbrushes

The classic toothbrush with soft to hard bristles has existed for decades. Recent advancements have led to electric, sonic, and rotating brushes that can help prevent staining from occurring by removing more surface plaque and food particles. Electric, oscillating toothbrushes are also very effective in removing stains in hard to reach places that a manual brush would find difficult.

Professional Whitening Services

This option can be a lot more expensive than most of the other ways to whiten teeth but is overall extremely effective. A gel is applied to the surface of the teeth, either a highly concentrated type of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which is activated by a polymerization light, sometimes followed by a UV light treatment. Usually applied over one to three sessions, this method takes about an hour each time.

The downside to this method is that it frequently only lasts around a week, making it an expensive short-term solution. People attending a major ceremony or life event may find this option the best way to quickly and safely apply whitening, but the cost may prohibit this as a long-term solution.

Whitening Gel Trays

A gel tray is custom-fitted to your teeth by your dentist which allows the whitening gel to reach as much of the surface of your teeth as possible. The gel is purchased separately and must be kept chilled. The tray fits over your teeth and should be made to protect your gums from coming into contact with the gel. To get the tray made will require at least two visits to your dentist so this can factor into the cost.

It is very important that the gel not come into contact with your skin for more than a minute or two. It should be rinsed away fairly quickly; otherwise, you may experience some discomfort or discoloration of the skin if it stays on for any length of time. Like any toothpaste or gel that contains whitening agents, it is important not to swallow any of them.

The tray is normally used daily for about three weeks, up to 8 weeks for much darker stains, but you should not use it for longer than that, and you should only do this process once a year. You should also be careful not to purchase over-the-counter gels that have a higher than 10% concentration of peroxide; anything above 10% may cause your teeth to become sensitive.

Whitening Strips

These have become a popular alternative to the more expensive trays and work in a similar fashion. Though unlike the trays, they do not conform perfectly to your teeth, they do come very close. These also have a convenience factor as they can be applied to your teeth for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, some go up to an hour, and are then discarded making them a quicker option than professional services or the gel tray.

One of the downsides to them is that the gel that is applied to them can easily come into contact with your gums, which you would want to avoid as much as possible. They also come in one-size fits all or in small/medium or large/extra-large sizes, which may not cover the entire surface.

DIY Options

There are a few homemade options or alternative solutions than commercial products for whitening your teeth.

Baking soda is a natural whitening agent. You can find commercial toothpaste with baking soda in it, a better overall tooth-cleaning agent, but just the homemade paste will also remove plaque, giving some cleaning benefit.

Oral Care & Tooth Maintenance

Of course, avoiding certain liquids or foods can help prevent stains, to begin with, but with as many as there are, it is unlikely you will be able to avoid all of them. Instead, after you have drunk your coffee, tea, or red wine, try to brush as soon as possible or at least rinse with mouthwash. Keeping up with regular dentist appointments to take care of any cavities or to perform healthy root canals if you are experiencing dental pain will also help your whitening attempts as the gels used can cause painful sensations to exposed areas. Getting a good amount of sleep each night is also helpful as sleep deprivation harms dental health by keeping your immune system from working at its best, which may lead to tooth decay or gum disease. Brushing and flossing twice a day is also two of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth looking their best.

Best Whitening Options

Best Overall – Gel Whitening Trays: They will cover your teeth exactly and give the best long-term whitening effect. There is some expense involved, but even the more economical choices of whitening toothpaste or strips can add up if you use them frequently enough.

Best Value – Whitening Strips: These are moderately inexpensive, do not take an exceptional amount of time, and are easily applied and removed with little clean-up.

Most convenient – Whitening Toothpaste & Brush: This option does not require any changes to your daily routine, is inexpensive (depending on the brush you choose, there may be a little bit of an initial layout), and is effective at removing surface and some deeper stains over time.

Itching, tingling, burning, numbness or discomfort in your private parts are all signs that everything is not alright down there. There are many reasons why you could be experiencing these sensations – most of which are not good.

1. Fungal or Bacterial Infection

The most likely cause is that you have contracted a fungal or bacterial infection. This happens when there is an imbalance in the good bacteria in the vagina caused by a pH imbalance. The common name for this type of fungal infection is thrush but the medical name is vaginal candidiasis, candida and is the result of insufficient bacteria. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) occurs when there is too much bacteria.

An affordable antifungal or antibacterial ointment should be available from your local pharmacy and effectively resolve either the fungal or bacterial infection respectively within a few days. An oral antibiotic may be prescribed to treat BV. However, if the itching, burning or discomfort continues after using the treatment, schedule an appointment with a medical practitioner as soon as possible.

2. STD’s

STD’s or sexually transmitted diseases are another cause of itching, tingling, burning, numbness or discomfort. There are a wide variety that can result in one or more of these sensations including the following:

1. Vaginal Warts

2. Chlamydia

3. Herpes

4. Gonorrhea

5. Trichomoniasis

If you have itching, burning, tingling, numbness, pain or discomfort in your private parts, see a medical practitioner as soon as possible to get an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment. It is also recommended to contact all your sexual partners and inform them of the diagnosis.

3. Skin Conditions

Skin conditions that affect the head and other areas on the body can also affect the groin area. These conditions commonly result in itching but tingling, pain, burning or discomfort may also occur – especially if you scratch or rub the area. Skin conditions that can affect the vaginal area include:

1. Dandruff

2. Eczema

3. Psoriasis

4. Lichen Sclerosus

See a medical practitioner for a diagnosis and treatment which normally involves the topical application of a cortisone cream.

4. Allergies

An allergy to a detergent, fabric softener, fragrance or other products may result in Contact Dermatitis which presents as an itchy, red and inflamed rash. Visit a medical practitioner to prescribe a cortisone treatment and discontinue the use of any product that may be causing the rash.

5. Pubic Lice

Just like head lice, pubic lice can result in itching and bumps. Commonly referred to as crabs, symptoms are often only noticeable when an infestation has occurred. Visit your pharmacist for an over-the-counter treatment. If the problem persists, visit a doctor.

Conclusion:

These are the most common reasons for unusual sensations in your private parts. There are others and it is always recommended to visit a medical practitioner for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Medical professionals recommend to make a herpes test in order to avoid this dangerous disease and keep your body healthy as possible. Remember that everything that is happening with your body should be under your control. If you feel something is wrong, don’t wait until tomorrow to see your doctor. The sooner you join in the right way, the healthier you will be.