Finger Pulse Oximeter Parameters

1. OverviewThis document contains an overview of suggested operating parameters for the OctiveTech series of Finger Pulse Oximeters. This document is intended to be a guide only, and should not be used as a substitute for clinical diagnosis performed by a licensed practitioner. 2. Extended SpecificationsSpo2 Measurements Pulse Rate Range: 0% - 100%Resolution: 1% 30-254 BPMResolution: ±1bpm Accuracy: 80% - 99%, ±2% Accuracy: ±2bpm or ±2% Accuracy: 70% - 79%, ±3% Accuracy: 0% - 69%, unspecified 3. Measurement InterpretationThis section contains a guideline on various levels of blood oxygen and heart rate that are within tolerable ranges.3.1 Oxygen SaturationMeasurement Critical Notes Spo2 > 95% N Normal healthy individual Spo2 91% - 95% N Clinically acceptable, but low. Patient may be a smoker, or be unhealthy. Spo2 70% - 90% Y Hypoxemia. Unhealthy and unsafe level. Spo2 3.2 Resting Pulse RateMeasurement Critical Notes PR 220 BPM Y Abnormally high heart rate. The OctiveTech 300-series does not detect heart rates > 254 BPM.

Measuring for Your Lift Chairs

A lift chair is a medical device that is designed to help individuals with mobility related disabilities rise from a sitting position, or to sit down. Lift chairs move at a very slow and steady pace. This is imperative because it ensures that the person will be able to get to a standing position safely. There are many different colors available, so it will not be a problem at all to find the perfect match for your existing décor. Before you purchase your new lift chair you should have an idea of the sitting dimensions that will best suit your needs. The easiest and most reliable way is to measure your existing chair so you have a benchmark for comparing the new chairs measurements. If your existing chair is too small then make sure the new one has bigger measurements and vice versa. Generally there are 4 different types of measurements: seat width, seat depth, seat to floor, and seat to top of back. - Seat Width: This is the distance from armrest to armrest. - Seat Depth: This is the distance from the front of the seat to the back of the seat.- Seat to Floor: This is the distance from the floor to the top of the seat.- Seat to Top of Back: This represents the length of the backrest.By measuring your existing chair first, you can better understand the measurements provided by the manufacturer. Remember it does not have to be a recliner that you measure. If you do not have a recliner you can measure a kitchen chair or really any other type of chair. This way you can have a solid idea of what size chair to get.

Using Radon Detectors To Find Out About The Extent Of The Radon Exposure

Inhaling radon is more than just risky, this gas is held responsible for thousands of cases of lung cancer signaled every year all over the globe. Unfortunately, there are almost no reliable ways to predict the presence or the concentration of radon in a certain area, and not even geological studies can be of any help here. This is why, the only way to prevent poisoning is by means of special radon detectors; the use of such devices is an absolute must particularly since two house located next to one another may have completely different radon exposure levels. Measurements to detect the presence of the gas are mainly performed in the basement, and here is the place where radon detectors are generally installed.There are several types of radon detectors used to track the gas level in an enclosed space. The most commonly used are the alpha-track devices that rely on the use of small sheets of polycarbonate plastic material. The moment the alpha particles come into direct contact with these plastic sheets, they create some tiny pockmarks that are afterwards identified and analyzed in labs. Depending on the counting of the pockmarks, the level of radon concentration will be higher or lower.Radon detectors are designed either for long or for short-term use; the latter for instance may require a period varying between two and ninety days for an accurate data collection. The important thing to mention here is that the long-term radon detectors are more reliable than the others, since they provide an average value of the radon level. Why does the average value matter so much? Well, radon gas concentration varies from one day to the other, and there is a whole range of environmental factors that influence such alternations; cold vs. hot weather, air circulation in the house and moisture are only a few factors to be mentioned here.Radon detectors may also help one find out about the extent of the radon exposure threat starting from the number of hours the house is inhabited per day. Windows opening and closing are equally important here since they are both connected to the time you spend at home. Besides the use of radon detectors, simple measures should be taken to ensure the safety of the family members; thus, ventilation systems installed in the basement, the sealing of holes, cracks and even piping joints, the pressurization of the house by means of fans, they are all ways to maintain a radon-free environment.

Male Infertility- It Doesn’t Mean Loss Of Your Manhood

When someone talks about infertility most people initially assume that it is the female in the relationship. Did you know that each year there are 2 million cases of infertility reported in men? Out of all of the cases reported each year for both. 35% of those can be attributed to the male and 55% to the female. It normally occurs in men when the sperm are abnormal. Either having too few sperm, sperm that swim too slowly, or problems with ejaculation. No one knows why, but many researchers agree that sperm counts have been declining for decades. This potentially due to the our exposure to environmental hazards and toxins of our time. Even chemicals from normal everyday plastics have been reported to have caused reproductive damage.If you and your partner have been trying to become pregnant for more than 12 months without any success, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor. You will first want to ensure that there is not an underlying infection standing in your way. A clean bill of health with get you off to a great start. Next you will want to have a semen analysis done. Your doctor will look at different measurements during the test. Sperm count should be 20 million per ml or more. Your doctor will also observe the swimming ability of your sperm and the number of abnormal forms present.If your sperm are abnormal it may be caused by inflammation of the testicles, abnormally developed testicles, or swollen veins in the scrotum. If the results show that your sperm count is low it can be caused by several different factors. Use of alcohol or tobacco, wearing restrictive underwear, or a hormone disorder are only a few of the reasons why your sperm count may be low.Sometimes you may find that you have a problem with ejaculation. Premature ejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, or erection dysfunction can all prohibit the sperm from reaching the cervix. Did you know that an oral bacteria can cause an infection in the male reproductive system that can lead to problems with fertility? Here’s a good reason to see your dentist on a regular basis.Generally infertility is treated by taking antibiotics to remove any infections. Taking medicine to increase sperm production, or hormones to help with any imbalance. Unfortunately there is normally nothing you can do to prevent male infertility that is caused by genetic problems or an illness. However there are some things you can do to decrease your chances of experiencing infertility issues. Keep yourself healthy. Eat properly, exercise regularly, and take vitamins. Avoid caffeine. One cup of coffee can decrease your fertility by 50%. Avoid long hot baths or showers. Wear loose fitting underwear so your testicles remain unrestricted.Find a support group in your area. Hearing that other people are experiencing the same issues can help with th emotional side of infertility.

Hitting A Plateaus While On Atkins

If you are experiencing a stall or plateau in your Atkins weight loss efforts, you are not alone. This occurs from time to time. However, you first must make sure that you have actually reached a plateau point. A plateau means that you have gone an extended period of time without losing weight or inches. It’s important to take your measurements before you start your weight loss plan, in addition to your weight. On some weeks it may not seem like you are losing any at all on the scale. But a quick look at your measurements will prove otherwise. On the Atkins diet you are replacing fat with muscle, which is denser and heavier. You might actually gain a little weight because you are building muscle to replace your fat. The result will be an increase on the scale, but a decrease in your inches. Your body will be smaller and leaner, but you may weigh the same. Before you start your program, measure your chest, waist, hips, upper arms, thighs and calves. You never know where you may be losing inches, so it’s important to have these comprehensive measurements to refer to. It is normal to go through periods where you body is readjusting. Remember that you are reforming the composition of your body and this process will take some time. Check your measurements once a week, just like your weight, and you can track your overall progress. There may be periods of 3 to 4 weeks where you have a stall in weight loss, but a loss in inches. Or vice versa. Using both methods to track your fat loss is the best assurance for an accurate measure of your progress. These stall periods are not a reason to quit or to give up. They are natural parts of the weight loss process. Stalls may occur more frequently if you are 5 to 10 pounds away from being at your goal weight. By following a low-carb, high-protein way of eating you have created a lot more muscle in your body. Your muscle-to-fat ratio is higher than ever before, so your body might be resisting losing anymore fat. It may be time to rethink your goal weight. Perhaps your body is trying to tell you something and its time to start maintaining your weight loss rather than trying to lose more. There are some other possible causes of stalls and plateaus on the road to weight loss. If you’ve gone four weeks with no change in weight or measurements and you are nowhere near your goal weight, you can try a few different methods to get yourself out of the rut. First, make sure your carbohydrate level is in check. If you are eating too many carbohydrate grams per day, your weight loss will stall. Look for hidden carbohydrates in packaged foods, dressings and sauces to make sure they aren’t the culprits in your plateau. Check your daily water intake. When you are dehydrated, your body will retain water and that can mimic a plateau. Water will also help flush ketones from your system and make more room for new fat burning ketones. Undereating can also be a cause for weight loss plateaus. Make sure not to let yourself go hungry and eat smaller, more frequent meals. Remember, you are on a carbohydrate-restricted diet, not a calorie-restricted diet. Make sure to have some protein with every meal and snack. Never go more than 5 hours without eating something (except overnight of course). Also, eat freely from the acceptable foods. Don’t try to count calories or restrict your calorie intake. When your body gets too few calories, it goes into starvation mode and will hold onto fat cells. Increasing your exercise level can help get you through a plateau as well. As your muscles get used to working out at a certain level, you’ll have to increase the duration or the intensity in order to keep challenging your body. Add a new exercise into the mix, or try increasing weight in resistance training. Trying one of these methods will most likely get your weight loss back on track. Remember that occasional stalls are normal, but they do not have to last.

Tips To Avoid Rapid Descent After Breast Augmentation

Some women come through breast augmentation surgery with the appearance they desire and a look they love. Others, however, recover and soon discover the look they longed for escapes them. The outcome is often determined not only by the skill of the surgeon, but also how well a woman followed advice to prevent post-operative breast changes.

So, what should women do to avoid complications that leave their breasts looking misshapen and unattractive? The number one thing to watch out for is rapid descent.

Rapid descent is an appearance condition that arises when a breast implant relaxing in its position following surgery. This situation is characterized by a breast that is larger below the nipple line than above it. The outward appearance of rapid descent might be “natural,” but it saggy, aged and baggy. In short, rapid descent makes a woman who has undergone breast enlargement surgery look entirely different than she likely intended.

To avoid rapid descent, and others malformations of appearance following breast implant surgery, women should:

* Avoid purchasing bras prior to surgery – Bras for post-operative wear should only be purchased following surgery. It is simply impossible to purchase a bra with a correct fit until the right measurements are in place.

* Make certain to purchase the right bras after a boob job – Once comfort level is in place, a woman should make sure to purchase and wear the right bras. A properly fit bra will have a wire that fits on the new breasts’ crease lines. It will also offer comfortable, yet firm strap support. The cups will fit well without being too deep or too shallow.

* Take expert advice on bra fit – It is a very good idea to make sure a bra is selected with expert input. The proper measurements and fit are vital for preventing rapid descent and other appearance complications. Going to a good department store can make a big difference on this front. It is also a good idea to let the surgeon check the fit of new bras during post operative visits.

* Not wear push-up or wonder bras – This type of bra can actually cause appearance changes in the breasts following enhancement surgery. During the healing process, it is imperative to avoid the use of a push-up. Wearing one can cause deformities in breast shape and undo all of the good work a surgeon has done.

* Not go braless right away – Whilst it’s okay to go braless once in a while after the healing phase has well passed, making a habit of this early on can lead to rapid descent. Proper support is imperative for ensuring breast implants remain in the proper position. This means the implant sits equally above and below the areola.

Breast implant surgery can have an incredible effect on the appearance of a woman. When the right surgical skills are blended with proper post-operative care, the outcome of this surgery can be quite pleasing. To avoid rapid descent and other complications, however, women must do their part.

Anyone who has spent a few years in the gym can probably show some pectoral development. However, to earn that massive set of Arnold-like pecs, you have to go further, train harder and stay more focused than the rest. Here are six key steps to developing a successful pec strategy.

1. Stay Focused

Some guys train hard and disciplined, but decide to take a month or two off during summer. Then they come back to the gym and realize they’ve lost their gains, so they train their asses off again, until that Christmas party and the new girlfriend derails them for another couple of months. Then they come back, realize they’re back to square one and they’re off for another cycle of training and subsequent breaks. That won’t cut it. Consistency is a requirement for bodybuilding success, and pec training certainly is no exception. You need to stay focused on your long-term goals, come hell or high water (or summer, or a hot new girlfriend, or whatever.)

A good trick for staying on track is to review your training log every 3 months and make note of the poundages/reps you do on a separate sheet. Next, measure your flexed chest and make a note of the exact number. If you’re serious, a Polaroid snapshot can be helpful too. Why not a monthly log review? That would be too frequent – a bad day or a cold could jumble the numbers. However, with a 3-month snapshot you get a more reliable status report on how you’re progressing. This serves the dual purpose of reminding you of your long-term goals and providing valuable feedback on whether your training works or not. If you’ve added 30 lbs to your regular 8-rep bench press and you’ve gained an inch, you’re doing something right and will think twice about deviating from course. On the flip side of the coin, if you’re lifting the same weights and have the same measurements as 3 months ago, it’s time to take a good look at what isn’t working. Here you can go back and see what worked in !

the past, when you DID make gains.

2. Avoid Injuries

Injuries can throw the best and most well planned strategies right out the window in a matter of seconds. Rip a shoulder joint and see how much benching you’ll do in the following 6-12 months, and let’s not even talk about the atrophy you’ll have to make up for. Let’s face it: balls-to-the-wall, Hardcore training is one thing, taking unnecessary risks to flatter ones ego is another. Sure, as a serious bodybuilder you have to walk the line of insanity on a daily basis, but your objective should always be to stimulate your muscles as much as possible while subjecting them to as little risk of injury as possible.

That doesn’t mean training like a wimp. You still need to push yourself out of the comfort zone each and every workout, and you still need to use heavy enough weights to trigger growth. However, there are certain steps you can take to decrease the risk. First off, don’t skimp on the warm-up. You need 10 minutes on a treadmill, bike or stepper to get your blood flowing and get the body ready. Secondly, do 2 light sets and stretch thoroughly before your first working set. Thirdly, avoid one-rep max benching. If you’re already big, you don’t need to prove anything – just go about your business of getting even bigger by keeping your reps in the 6 to 10 rep-range, occasionally going perhaps as low as 4 reps without cheating. Last but not least, be attentive to strange joint pains. Muscle pain is what bodybuilders thrive on, but a shooting pain where the muscle ties in with the bone is a red flag that shouldn’t be ignored. Remember: Resting for a week now, is better than spending !

months waiting for a full-blown injury to heal.

3. Trigger Growth

As the late Mike Mentzer explained in his books about Heavy Duty, the key to effective weight training is to trigger growth without draining the energy needed for recovery. Granted, his high intensity principles may not be for everyone, but it is important to recognize the fundamental truth in what he said. You go to the gym because you want results, not for the joy of spending hours wearing down gym equipment. In a nutshell, you want to do fewer and more intense sets.

In a perfect world you can get adequate stimulation with a single set of the kind of heavy, explosive load that makes the fast-twitch fibers jolt. In reality, 2 sets are more likely to do the trick. Doing 3,4 or even 5 sets should be pointless if you did the job right in the first 2 sets. If you didn’t manage to trigger growth when the muscle was fresh, what makes you think you’ll achieve it now that you’ve banged out 4 sets and are starting a fifth? Worse yet, knowing in the back of your head that you have a ton of sets ahead of you may unconsciously cause you to hold back during the first, truly crucial sets.

4. Review Your Nutritional Intake

As a serious bodybuilder, you eat plenty of protein, take all your daily vitamins and probably have a vast array of supplements lined up on your kitchen counter.

But do you get enough carbs to fuel your brutal workouts? Carbohydrates are your primary source of energy, and if you run low before the end of your workout not even the steeliest determination can keep you going at full strength.

To ensure a reliable supply of carbs, make sure to get at least 100 grams of complex carbs 60-90 minutes before your workout, preferably with some protein and fiber. Simple sugars are only good for immediate post-workout consumption (not pre-workout, as some claim) so go for complex carbs as found in parboiled rice, beans, oatmeal, thick pasta and rough bread. Complex carbs will dissolve slowly and keep your blood sugar high and even, keeping you nicely powered throughout the workout.

5. Get Enough Rest

Most growth occurs at home, in bed. Your body releases respectable bursts of natural growth hormone while you’re happily snoring away, repairing the damage you incurred while in the gym earlier that day. Getting sufficient sleep means giving the body the time it needs to grow. It only makes sense to help your body accomplish your common goal, so make it a priority to get at least 8 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night. Many bodybuilding pros take 60-90 minute naps during the day to get further benefit of sleep. This may not be practical for the rest of us, but we can at least lock in our good night’s sleep.

To ensure restful sleep, avoid caffeine and any type of ephedrine-based fat burner late in the afternoon. Avoid alcohol as well, as it drastically cuts the quality of sleep. If you have thin walls, live in the city or have a neighbor with a love for very early lawn mowing, earplugs can be a good investment. Another good habit is to have a pure-protein drink right before hitting the sack. Since protein does not trigger a release of insulin it won’t make you store fat, but the protein will further help your body rebuild itself through the night.

6. Visualize Progress

The importance of the mental game cannot be overstated. Arnold would routinely stand in front of the mirror and visualize his biceps growing like mountain peaks. Evidence suggests it helped him stay on track quite nicely. For pecs, you can apply similar techniques. Stand in front of the mirror and flex and relax your pecs, alternating and simultaneously, while mentally projecting the image of your pecs getting thicker, broader and with deeper cuts. If you’re competing, this exercise gives you the added advantage of better muscle control while posing.

Using the BMI Scale to Help You Stay on Your Diet Plan
by John Smith

Trying to lose weight can be a difficult process. Since burning off the fat takes time, it can sometimes be difficult to stick to a diet and workout plan. Therefore, in order to give yourself the best chance of successfully losing weight, you might want to implement a few weight loss motivation techniques that will help you continue with your plan and enjoy better health.

Maintaining a Journal

One of the best weight loss motivation techniques you can implement is maintaining a weight loss journal. Before you start your program, document all of your vital body statistics. For example, calculate BMI (Body Mass Index) as well as your current weight while also taking measurements of your waist, thighs, arms and more. This way, you can more easily see the progress you have made with your diet. Although you may not have lost many pounds, when you calculate BMI and compare BMI over time, you may find that your body is getting healthier. When you take a look at the BMI scale, you just might be surprised by the progress you have made!

In addition to documenting your body changes within your journal, you should also document the exercise routine you are following. If you start off running a mile in 9 minutes and then work the time down to 7 minutes, you can take pride in your improved athletic performance and health.

Finding a Partner

Finding someone to diet with you and to workout with you is another great way to help improve your weight loss motivation. Remember, you are not competing with each other. Rather, you are dieting and working out together so you can help keep each other motivated. On those days that you dont feel like working out, your partner can encourage you to head to the gym. Similarly, by having a partner that is dependent upon you for support, you will be more likely to continue with your program.

Rewarding Yourself

Another key to weight loss motivation is to is to reward yourself when you reach certain milestones. If you make a move on the BMI scale, for example, treat yourself to something special. For example, if you have been wanting to purchase a new television, you can reward yourself with the television you have been eying once you reach a certain goal. You should also set small goals with smaller rewards in order to maintain your motivation and keep you moving forwards with your health goals.

Finding weight loss motivation can be difficult, but when you calculate BMI and document your progress on the BMI scale, you may find it easier to stick to your program.

Pupillary distance explained and how to obtain your measurement

This is the distance glasses between the center of one pupil to the center of the other pupil measured in millimeters. Usually written as one value (60mm) but sometimes written as 34/33 if one eye is slightly further away from the center of the nose than the other.
Unfortunately, many prescriptions do not include a PD measurement or Pupillary distance measurement. Your Optician does not yet HAVE to give you this as part of your eye test and so often chooses not to so as to encourage you to pay over the odds for your reading glasses rather than using our fantastic service at glasses2you. So therefore we encourage you to ask your Optician to supply you with this measurement. However, don’t panic if you haven’t got this or don’t want to ask your optician.
We can still make your Cheap prescription glasses up using an average pupillary distance measurement based on your gender, the size of the frames you have ordered and the experience of our dispensing optician. In the majority of cases this method works extremely well but there will be certain customers gents glasses and women’s glasses who through having very strong prescriptions or who significantly differ from the average may encounter some problems. In these cases the specs won’t damage your eyes but may well cause some discomfort. If you know that you have a particularly strong prescription or you suspect that you may not fall close enough to what is seen as average sizes we would recommend that you try one of the following methods of obtaining your PD measurement.
Obtaining your own Pupillary Distance

Method 1: Ask your partner or friend to help you.
Make sure your friend is sat at roughly the same height as you are and ask them to place a ruler across the bridge of your nose upside down so that the millimeter measurements are on the edge of the ruler closest to your eyes. The measurer holds the ruler in their left hand across the bridge of your nose and closes their LEFT eye to avoid any parallax error. With their RIGHT eye open, they then first line up the ruler with the center of your left pupil. Then without moving the ruler they close their RIGHT eye and with their LEFT eye open, read off the measurement to the center of the RIGHT pupil. (See diagram below). Best results are achieved if you fix your gaze on the bridge of the nose of the person taking the measurement. This point should ideally be around 16 inches or 40 cm’s away.
Method 2: Taking a measurement yourself
This is easily measured looking in a mirror and using a ruler! Please follow these steps
• Stand in front of a mirror at a distance of about 20cm (8 inches)
• Close your right eye
• Place your ruler flat against the mirror and align it horizontally with the millimeter scale pointing upwards
• Looking over the top of the ruler with your left eye, align the zero mark of the ruler in the center of your left pupil
• Now open your right eye and close your left but keep your head still and the ruler in the same position
• Read the millimeter measurement corresponding to the center of your right pupil
• To be sure, you can repeat this process a few times for consistency
Method 3: (With a helper)
Please follow these steps:
• Put your glasses on
• Ask your helper to stand in front of you and mark a dot on your glasses directly above your pupils left and right (Please be sure to use a NON PERMANENT MARKER PEN)
• With a ruler, measure the distance between the 2 dots

Buying contact lenses is a big deal because they affect how it is you see the world around you. Since eyesight is very important, it is important to make sure that no harm can be done to our vision and that nothing occurs that can negatively compromise our vision. However, when buying contact lenses, many are not sure what to look for and there are certain things that should be evaluated before contact lenses are considered. Do you have allergies? Do you work in an environment where particles of materials and fumes can get in your eyes? Are you able to properly take care of the contact lenses? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself when bringing the issue of having contact lenses to the table with the doctor.Once you answer the above questions and you determine that allergies, work, and proper care of the lenses are not an issue; then it is time to ask the doctor questions. Learn as much about your contact lenses as possible. Even if you are using an online service to order your contacts, get on the phone or e-mail them a bunch of questions. You want to know what your choices are and how those choices will affect your ability to see. You want to be able to see the best you can and be comfortable while doing it, so don’t be afraid to ask these questions:- What do the markings on the box mean? You should ask this question, especially if you will be ordering contacts from a source other than your doctor. The markings are your measurements such as “sph” meaning the spherical power of the lens. A negative before the number means that you are myopic, or what many call nearsighted. The “BC” is the curvature of the back of the lens and the “Dia” is the diameter of the lens. These are just a few examples of what you may see on the box.- What are the different materials that I have to choose from? You want to know this because different people may require different materials. Some even have to try different contacts before they find one that fits them well, so don’t get discouraged if this is you. This is why the doctor may offer you a trial pair. If that doesn’t work, then he may offer you another until you can find one that is comfortable enough for you. - Are soft contacts or hard contacts better for me? Hard contacts are hardly used nowadays, but there are those who wish to continue wearing them. The doctor may suggest soft lenses, but an exception may be made if you wore hard lenses in the past and liked them.- Why is my contact lens prescription different than my glasses? The distance the lens is from your eye can have an impact on this. It also depends on what degree of astigmatism you have. Astigmatism may be corrected on one or the other.- Can my astigmatism be corrected with my contacts? It is possible for low astigmatism to be corrected with contacts, but it is fair to say that those with severe astigmatism may find that they see better with their glasses since astigmatism can only be corrected so much with contact lenses.And so these are questions that you must ask of your doctor to learn a little more about these very small and clear circles that correct vision for millions of people. It is important to know this information because it allows you to know more about what you’re putting in your eyes and helps you make more informed decisions when choosing the contact lens that is right for you.