Tours Travel

Tips for Choosing Gorilla Safaris in Uganda

Uganda, often referred to as “the Pearl of Africa”, is a small country by African standards, yet it is a vibrant destination where you will find warm and hospitable people, outstanding natural beauty and the largest variety of primates in the world, including the mighty gorilla.

Uganda is home to more than thirteen national parks and wildlife reserves and therefore the safari options here are numerous. To help you, here are some tips for choosing gorilla safaris in Uganda.

  • The best time to go on a gorilla safari is outside of the rainy season, which is March to April and October to November.
  • Make sure you book Uganda gorilla safaris well in advance as the required permits you will need are very restricted.
  • One of the best ways to choose a gorilla safari is through personal recommendations and word of mouth. Check blogs etc. to find the most recommended operators.
  • Cost is an important factor when choosing a safari. If you have a higher budget, why not opt ​​for one that includes other activities such as an overland expedition through several countries, visits to numerous national parks, city tours in places like Kampala (the capital of Uganda) and even chimpanzee safaris. .
  • You can also choose a safari based on the accommodation you want to stay at. Although on some holidays you can stay in hotels and hostels, there is nothing better than camping for the best African experience and the opportunity to get closer to nature.
  • Ultimately, your choice of gorilla safaris in Uganda can also come down to how long you want to go. With tours ranging from 7-day gorilla safaris to 112-day overland trips that include a gorilla safari, you’re guaranteed to find one that suits your needs.
Arts Entertainments

How to prevent your wife from leaving? Here are the tips that will do the repair work for you quickly

When your marriage is in trouble and your wife is ready to pack up and leave you forever, it must be a traumatic experience for you, especially if you still love her and want a second chance.

Don’t give up without trying. Now is the time to take immediate action and learn how to prevent his wife from leaving. As the situation is delicate, it is essential to be very careful with how you act and what you speak in your efforts to make her stay.

Make an effort to discover all the reasons behind his anger. – Although the final break may result from the last remembered fight, it is usually not the only reason. The resentment and anger built up over a period of time leads to the breakup and it is in your best interest to find out all the reasons and try to eliminate them before she leaves you.

Stop desperately resisting – Your wife may be harboring a lot of resentment and if you stop her from leaving with a desperate please, she may act more determined. She just allows the circumstances to flow naturally and she tries to buy him time while she tries to identify the root cause of the problem and eliminate it.

Make an effort to understand their side of the story. – It is in your best interest to stop being stubborn and make a sincere effort to understand the situation from their perspective. If you find that she has misunderstood your actions, you can try to clarify your position and clear the air.

Give respect at all times – No matter how frustrated you are with your wife’s behavior and stubbornness, never disrespect her as this will definitely widen the gap in your relationship.

Never anticipate actions and reactions. – Be sure to always approach any discussion with your wife with an open mind. An open mind is the best means that can analyze clearly and guarantee the best solutions.

Involve mutual friends you can trust – Choose friends who are close to your wife and whom she trusts with all her heart to mediate between the two of you. However, you need to make sure that the friends you choose are unbiased and have your best interests at heart.

Marriage Counseling Can Help – Do everything you can to convince your wife to go with you to a marriage counselor. Choose a reputable counselor who is good at her job and gives you a good chance for the survival of her marriage.

Technology

Nook Color review: A look at the new color touchscreen eBook reader

Barnes and Noble just released their new Nook Color, which means it’s time for a detailed Nook Color review. Is this a good product or just some weird hybrid between a tablet and an e-book reader? Let’s take a detailed look at the new product and see what it’s all about.

The “NC” has some very different features that differ from the original Nook, which is still available as a B and N product.

The Nook-color touch screen Obviously, this is THE main difference between the original and colored Nook. It is equipped with a 7-inch color touch screen with “Vivid View” technology.

This screen is an IPS screen that displays more than 16 million colors and allows up to 178 degrees of viewing. This is the same technology used in the iPad, so if you’ve seen the iPad screen, then you know what the Vivid View screen looks like. It also switches from portrait to landscape mode when you rotate the device 90 degrees.

Social Reading Features- The NC comes with some features that take advantage of social networks. You can share thoughts, lines from a book, favorite books, etc. through Facebook and Twitter.

Games and apps- The NC comes with Sudoku, Chess and Crossword puzzles (3 games). Beyond “Lend Me” and “Nook app” for PC and other phones etc, apps are still not a thing of the present with Nook. But since it uses Google’s Android technology, there may be new interest for developers.

Pandora Radio has jumped on the Nook bandwagon and also offers its service on the device.

Lend Me App- The “Lend-me” app allows owners to lend books to friends and family who also have the app. Application access is more readily available to the user with the color touch screen.

Memory- The memory capacity is 8 GB, which allows you to store thousands of books, images, songs, etc.

Kids only- This new Nook section at Barnes and Noble offers a line of children’s books that work with the corner color. They are interactive to the touch and have the ability to be read to the child by selecting the function.

Battery duration- Battery life is only 8 hours, compared to the 10-14 day battery life of the original Nook with e-ink display.

Browsing the Web – It also allows you to browse the web (not with 3G, but wirelessly). So you can open your browser to visit sites and check your emails as well as compose them.

All in all, the new Nook Color has good reviews. It’s a bold move for Barnes and Noble, and a much-needed bold move.

Business

Performing Due Diligence When Purchasing a Liquor Store

The due diligence process goes far beyond a simple evaluation of the financials presented. You must be able to access all files and records, review information and research staff while reviewing what they tell you. It is recommended that you allow at least four weeks for this process and do not be tempted to rush to judgment. Some problems may only come to light after a period of time and therefore you should proceed carefully.

There are a few decisions you can make about purchasing a liquor store business before fully immersing yourself in the due diligence process. While you may be involved in a lot of number crunching and footwork as you go, is there anything you’ve learned about the industry to this point, or about this specific business, its location, or its owners thus far that should give you an idea? pause? for thought? If, for example, you already know that financial records are incomplete for reasons given by the seller, or that the condition of the store or its assets is not what you expected or expected, inventories are incomplete, inspections, certificates or licenses are compromised for one reason or another, they can all be reasons for you to turn around and have a good day.

For a due diligence process to be complete, you will need to focus on seven different areas:

1. The Facilities.

We have already told you about the need to allocate four weeks to this entire process and you must agree with the seller that during this time you dedicate an agreed period to observe the operation of the business. First, you’ll need to assess the interior and exterior of the facility and determine how much you’ll need to spend to repair, replace, or upgrade. Remember that the attitude of the staff is very important in the retail business and you must immediately assess how the existing staff interacts with customers. Are they always nice, attentive, quick? Personal matters or conversations should not be apparent. Ask yourself if the store looks good, has a good atmosphere, seems fresh and clean, has well-maintained restrooms and seating areas, and is generally spotless.

You should also make sure that you are happy with the specific location of the business, the competition that surrounds it, the type of people that regularly frequent the area, the accessibility and don’t forget, always be especially vigilant for any possible or pending construction of a main road in the area, as this could literally “make or break” the business you are considering buying.

2. Finances.

At a minimum, you’ll need to review profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and tax returns. You would do well to retain the services of an accountant with experience in the liquor business to assist you at this point. Look at all bills from vendors and compare them to revenue. This can be a time-consuming process, but you’ll be able to determine your margins this way. Be very vigilant about any transaction that involves cash, especially if it involves your suppliers. You will need to obtain written confirmation from the providers of their current terms.

Remember some of these industry benchmarks:

– the gross margin must be between 24 and 28%

– rent must be 7% of maximum income

– product mix must be up to 70% liquor or up to 40% wine

– labor must represent 5 to 7% of income

– net profit must be 8 to 12% of income

– Inventory should be rotated between eight and 10 times a year.

3. The Team.

All equipment and furnishings should be in good working order, and nothing should require repair or replacement for any length of time. To ensure this, you should carefully review all maintenance and service records, check yourself to see if each refrigeration cabinet is clean and well-maintained, and inspect all other equipment to make sure it is well-cared for.

4. Provider Agreements.

Your wholesalers and suppliers are absolutely essential when you purchase liquor store business assets and you should get to know them well during your due diligence. Can fixes be transferred to you or will you have to make new ones? You don’t have to be prepared to strike a deal with existing vendors or vendors and really should research as many options or opportunities as you can. You may, for example, see better terms elsewhere and this knowledge will be great ammunition when it comes to negotiations and peace of mind.

5. Leasing Agreements.

Always make sure that the lease is transferable or that there are no obstacles in front of you. You must be able to take on or purchase a long-term lease before proceeding.

6. Operations.

You will likely need a number of licenses and this should be a particular area of ​​concern when it comes to a liquor license. Sometimes these may not be assigned or transferred or jurisdictions may set other onerous terms.

Review daily procedures from opening time to closing time; Who has access to the passwords and alarm settings? Does the company have a procedure for emergencies of any kind? Ask the vendor to provide you with an optimal inventory level. Be sure to review all insurance certificates and be adequately covered for all eventualities. You’ll need to talk to credit card processors and commercial banks and be prepared to move for better rates if needed.

7. The Employees.

As this can be a significant area of ​​cost and liability, please focus here. Check each member’s compensation, especially if there is a chance it will be paid in cash “under the table.” If you see high employee turnover, ask yourself why. Is there a procedure for training? While the salesperson is often wary of informing his employees that a sale is in the works, he must look at each employee individually, assess his loyalty and competence, and adjust his plans accordingly. Understand that certain procedures may be quite traditional for them and you should ask yourself how you think they will react if you need to make significant changes. If one or more employees are absolutely critical to your success, you’ll need to meet with them before consuming a contract.

When you come across a liquor store for sale, if you do your due diligence to a very high standard, you’ll get the chance to see exactly how the business works, on a daily basis, and you won’t have any problems. awkward surprises if you decide to take over.

Home Kitchen

5 simple tips to infuse a retro style in your home

Retro home decor is making a comeback, and it’s doing so in style, as many homeowners are now turning to the old days to give their home a new look. When you decide to infuse a retro style in your home, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Are the kitchen walls avocado color? Or is it the classic shag rugs in front of the fireplace? Well, whatever your idea of ​​retro is, know that vintage pieces not only bring much-needed refreshment into your home, they also don’t cost you a fortune.

So how do you add retro elements without completely changing the theme of your home? Keep reading this guide to find out.

5 simple tips to infuse a retro style in your home

1. Use saturated colors

Home decor in the 1960s and 1970s focused heavily on color, which makes almost every house have a look of its own. You don’t need to redo your entire home, all you have to do is use bold shades in certain areas of your home to give it a classic look from a bygone era. While bold colors that go a little over the top can give a room a retro look, remember that one color doesn’t fit everywhere.

As a general rule, use pale colors in a small room and darker colors in larger rooms. If your room is small, paint the walls a lighter color and complement the look by adding more saturated accessories.

2. Use vintage furniture and accessories

Infuse a retro look into your home.

Perhaps the best part of trying to infuse a retro look into your home is the fact that you don’t need to combine everything down to the last possible detail. To bring a sense of nostalgia, all you have to do is introduce a retro-style table, some classic chairs, or a 70s-inspired sofa set. As more people experiment with retro images, many companies have dedicated to offer specialized services to reimagine and recreate everything retro.

Accessories like a rotary phone, a lava lamp, a disk stack of albums sitting in a corner, or some retro posters can add significantly to the overall appeal without burning a hole in your pocket. If you can find old retro posters of your favorite band or movies, simply frame them and hang them on the wall to create a fabulous centerpiece.

3. Make the most of lighting

Just like furniture, lighting has a tremendous impact on how your room looks and feels. To fully capture the essence of a bygone era, you can use vintage-style industrial pendants to imbue a kitchen with a rustic feel or bring in some circular mod chandeliers for a quick retro fix. If you’re not ready to invest in permanent fixtures yet, try Edison bulbs that come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Don’t ignore the lighting aspect if you want to fully infuse a retro look into your home.

4. Change the header and panels

Try out some Victorian-era designs with bead boards or paneling that should be available at any of your neighborhood hardware stores. This can be a great way to infuse a retro look into your home as it adds the necessary character and texture to fully reflect the old days. Focus on overlooked spaces like laundry rooms, hallways, entryways, and other small areas to add an immediate spark to the visual aesthetic.

5. Make the most of the flea market items

There is always one thing in every home that defines its character. When you’re going to infuse a retro look into your home, the best way to find a unique piece, without spending a lot of money, is to check out the flea market or a reputable online auction site. You can bring in an old steamer trunk and use it as a coffee table or use old fabric ladders to hang bedding or to stack potted plants. Whatever you do, be prepared to see a look of amazement on the faces of your guests.

Infusing a retro look into your home is easy if you know how to change a few things here and there and are willing to spend some time researching and experimenting. We hope that these tips will help you get the retro house of your dreams.

Auto

Important elements that matter when buying a used car

Buying a used car is similar to searching for treasure. You can find many used car deals in the market. However, you should limit your car purchases to those that will benefit you in the long run. One of the important factors during a used car search is the age of the vehicle. Understanding the important factors that make or break a used car deal will help you determine whether you should take the plunge to buy a used car or wait for a newer model.

Full breakdown of the elements that make or break a used car deal

  1. car age

Over the years of use, cars lose value due to depreciation. Your goal should be to purchase a car with a low depreciation rate so that its value does not depreciate significantly in the near future. But be sure to avoid buying a very old car because it may end up in the garage more often. Most lenders avoid financing a used car that is more than nine years old because as the years go by, so does the cost of maintenance. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a used car, but do not choose a very old one.

  1. Odometer reading

Mileage is a deciding factor when buying a used vehicle. The average car miles traveled per year is about 12,000. Lenders generally prefer that a used car be driven under 100,000 miles. In the event that the car you want to buy has more miles on the odometer, it is advisable to do more research and look for more details. Ask if the car received regular maintenance while you drove the extra miles. However, if the car is in good condition, well maintained, and the mileage is a little above average, you should buy the used car without worry.

  1. Without changes

Make sure the used car you’ve reduced to buy is not modified in any way. Any modification made to the used car can compromise the performance of the vehicle. For example, if the previous owner modifies the engine and the car is stressed, it may break down sooner than expected. Modifications generally do not come with any warranty and parts cannot be replaced. So be sure to ask the right questions about modifications before you accept the car offer.

Buy a used car but with caution

Buying a used car is light on the pocket compared to a new car. Make sure you have the used car checked out by a mechanic before you make the purchase. You can also use the vehicle identification number to receive an instant report on the make, model and year of manufacture of the car. A vehicle report will also give you a true picture of the vehicle’s current condition. Based on the information, you can decide whether to buy the used car or find another one. Therefore, keep in mind the essential details before saying yes to a used car.

Digital Marketing

What is a marketing initiative?

Marketing is not as simple as many may lead you to believe. For your business to be effective, you need to understand what goes into promoting what you offer in terms of products and services. That’s where a good marketing initiative comes in. A marketing initiative is essentially anything that is clearly defined as a marketing effort. Simple, right? It’s basically something specific in your marketing plan. So what kinds of things are considered marketing initiatives? Here are some examples that can help you.

For larger companies, a marketing initiative can be a theme. For example, a series of commercials that uses a specific character or funny situation over and over again can be considered a marketing initiative. This, however, would certainly be more common with larger companies. An example of this is the Geiko commercials that feature the cute talking gekko. The initiative is to associate their car insurance products and services with a character that sticks in your head. Being cute is an added bonus. This is the reason why many commercials use cute and cuddly characters like babies and puppies etc.

Another example of a marketing initiative is undertaking a certain method relentlessly. Sometimes you may want to focus your efforts solely on one marketing method. If, for example, you decide to implement email marketing with great fervor, then you can call that your email marketing initiative. You will outline a very specific plan for that initiative. And you will carry it out. Focusing your efforts on a single initiative requires that you understand it intimately. You better know what you’re doing if that’s the ONLY initiative you have. In addition, you also need to have a backup plan in case your initiative does not work out as expected. Often when you put all your eggs in one basket, you better have more eggs!

Another type of marketing initiative you can invoke is a large-scale change in what you’re doing. If you’re moving away from traditional marketing to exclusively use the Internet, that’s a whole new marketing initiative you’re implementing. Although not as specific as other examples, it is certainly something that directly affects the marketing of your company. These types of initiatives are usually done in parallel with your existing marketing initiatives. Old initiatives are phased out as the new one takes over.

A marketing initiative can also be as simple as a change in idea. You may have a new marketing initiative that simply changes the way you market your business, or more specifically, what happens to the business you’re trying to market. A change in positioning is a good example.

Marketing initiative is a broad term that is used frequently. However, if you understand what it is, you will be better able to implement an initiative effectively if needed. Changing or implementing an initiative is a big part of promoting your business. So it is important that you understand what it means in the first place.

Health Fitness

How to get the maximum benefits from acupuncture treatment for neuropathy

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. For the body to be fit, it is essential that a person get enough rest, exercise regularly, eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet, get six to eight hours of sleep, and avoid habits such as smoking, drinking, and eating fast foods. . When a person experiences numbness or weakness in the hands, legs, or other parts of the body or shows impaired reflexes, this may be a sign of peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy can affect any or all nerve groups, including sensory nerves, motor nerves, and autonomic nerves. People with peripheral neuropathy may show the following signs:

  • Sensations of numbness and tingling in the hands or feet,
  • sharp stabbing bread
  • drop in blood pressure
  • Heaviness in arms and legacies
  • Weakness of hands and legs.

Causes of peripheral neuropathy

Listed below are several factors that lead to nerve damage:

  • Pinched nerves due to herniated disc or muscle spasm
  • glucose intolerant
  • Reynaud’s disease
  • Lupus
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney disorders
  • hypothyroidism
  • Vitamin deficiency, especially C, B-1, B-6, or B-12

Seeing a neurologist or neurosurgeon who assesses your current health status and diagnoses your nerve disorder will help you get an idea of ​​your prognosis.

Treatment of peripheral neuropathy

Before finalizing the correct course of treatment for peripheral neuropathy, it is essential to find out the exact cause that has led to this disorder. If it is caused by a vitamin deficiency, a change in diet along with vitamin therapy would be helpful. Similarly, if the nerve damage is due to alcohol abuse or the use of certain drugs or intoxicants, avoiding the substance can restore nerve health. A major factor contributing to nerve inflammation is a diet high in sugar and salt. Even if you don’t have diabetes, avoiding processed foods and sweets will save your nerve function so that when you hit your 90s, you can still walk and think normally.

Alternative Medical Therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy

Acupuncture has been found to be highly effective for patients with peripheral neuropathy. In addition to pain relief, patients also experience a marked improvement in nerve conduction after completing the course of acupuncture specified by the acupuncturist. The number of treatments depends on the medical condition of each person; for a chronic condition, it will take a few months for nerve function to return.

Researchers have revealed that electroacupuncture has helped regenerate nerve cells in rats suffering from spinal cord injuries. There are also human studies that have indicated that acupuncture can restore normal sensation to the nerves in the hands and feet. Also, acupuncture can help hands regain their strength. If after a nerve injury, after doing physical therapy for a few months, you continue to develop muscle atrophy, it is the right time to start an acupuncture treatment to help the nerves regenerate as soon as possible.

Nerve disorders that acupuncture can correct

Whether it’s addiction to alcohol, tobacco, or junk food, or Bell’s palsy, dementia, headache, migraine, or stroke, getting acupuncture treatment from a specialist and completing a course of 12 to 24 treatments would provide enough blood flow to the nerves If diabetes is the main cause of nerve damage, then acupuncture treatment may also prevent a rise in blood sugar induced by sugar intake and help stabilize blood sugar.

Complications of peripheral neuropathy include falls, infections, burns, and skin trauma. In addition to receiving specialized acupuncture treatment, patients must make healthy choices related to diet, exercise, and lifestyle. This would help them minimize risk factors and prevent further nerve damage, allowing them to enjoy a long and healthy life.

Some of the important things to keep in mind are as follows:

  • Include fruits, green vegetables, whole grains, and protein in your diet for healthy nerves
  • Exercise 30 minutes-1 hour three times a week to improve circulation to peripheral nerves
  • Avoid excessive smoking or drinking, spicy foods, exposure to drugs or toxic chemicals.
Legal Law

Laughing at Wall Street by Chris Camillo – Book Review

Content Synopsis:

The subtitle of this book is “How I beat the investment pros (by reading tabloids, shopping at the mall, and connecting on Facebook) and how you can too.” This is a good summary of what this book is about.

The author, Chris Camillo, is considered one of the most successful amateur investors in the world. His claim is that from September 2007 until the book came out in April 2010 his self-managed investment portfolio appreciated from $83,752 to $2,388,311. A schedule of that performance is available on his website, chriscamillo.com.

Camillo’s method is to carefully observe trends and fashion products that you see in shopping malls, in the Internet media, and in what you see on TV and in tabloid publications. The idea is that demand for a particular product or service can skyrocket for reasons Wall Street is often unaware of and that if you buy the stock of the company involved before Wall Street is aware of the trend and sell as soon as Wall Street see the trend you can make a significant profit. Camillo demonstrates in the book in some detail how he has done this to grow his portfolio so impressively.

It tells us that the traditional Wall Street types, mostly white, male and middle-aged, are not connected to the popular trends that drive this type of market demand. They are based on corporate reports and conventional financial news reports, neither of which report these trends until they are old news.

He offers examples including observations of a cool new shoe he spotted on the beach before it became famous in financial circles and a clothing brand Obama’s first family wore to the inauguration that sparked a buying spree that caused share prices rose rapidly.

Camillo pays some attention to traditional fundamental and technical trading methods and tells us how and why they are not dependent. He then discusses how this popular trend watch is superior. His method requires a lot of observation, web surfing, and a form of due diligence to make sure that the trend he suspects he is seeing is genuine and that the stock market doesn’t know it yet on Wall Street. He then dives in, buys this stock and waits for it to peak when it becomes common knowledge.

The appeal of Camillo’s approach is that it doesn’t require any specialized knowledge of stocks, the market as a whole, technical trading techniques, or fundamental analysis of business management for which Warren Buffet is famous. This method can be done by anyone who is observant and disciplined and willing to do the legwork required. A high school student could and has.

As with any method of making money, this one requires a lot of time and effort. This is not really a get-rich-quick scheme, although Camillo has shown remarkable performance in trading it using it. It’s not about day trading either, he waits until he identifies a genuine potential moneymaker, buys and holds the stock until it takes off and market demand ends the up-ride, then sells before it goes down again once everyone knows it. they know.

It should also be noted that the author is a professional market researcher by trade, this is what he does for a living, and in that he watches market trends for a living, he starts out with some advantage over the novice.

This method is clearly not for everyone. It takes time and commitment to the methodology and some awareness and understanding of market trends for a specific product or service that are not yet common knowledge. However, it does appear to offer a unique and highly accessible method of beating the market odds for someone willing to do the work in the manner it illustrates. For anyone with the time and willingness to learn this method, there is clear potential to outperform index fund averages.

This book is a must read for anyone looking for an accessible and relatively simple method of capturing market profits.

Utility:

For the person with some money to invest and the time and self-discipline to apply this method, this book is an excellent introduction to a new and promising way to increase returns on equity investments.

Disclaimer: All investment methods carry some risk, including this one. This review should not be related to professional investment or financial advice. Consult a professional financial advisor for professional advice.

Readability/Writing Quality:

The book is very enjoyable and easy to follow. It is well organized.

Notes about the author:

Chris Camillo is a market researcher who has been unimpressed with more traditional stock trading methods and has used his own power of observation to outperform market averages.

Three great ideas you can use:

1. If traditional market analysis isn’t for you and you don’t want to leave the management of your investment portfolio in the hands of a professional manager, there is a method almost anyone can use to learn about promising stocks before they take off.

2. This method requires continual time to observe and learn about products and services and emerging market trends that can be observed at the local mall, on Facebook, and many other places. It then requires some due diligence to ensure that you have observed a genuine large-scale trend that will increase the value of the stock.

3. By following a proven method of being careful to do your homework, you can improve your odds with stocks. However, you need to read the book for the details of how it’s done.

Release information:
Laughing at Wall Street by Chris Camillo
Copyright 2011 by Chris Camillo. Published by St. Martin’s Press

Lifestyle Fashion

Adrenal fatigue: what is that unpleasant smell?

Believe it or not, an increased awareness of unpleasant odors is one of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. I discovered that tidbit recently when I found out I suffered from adrenal exhaustion…along with about 80% of the American population. Now it might seem strange to you that a cowgirl like me could pick up more foul odors, being surrounded as I am by horse droppings, dirt, billy goats and cows, but I noticed. So it all made sense when my doctor told me that I had fatigued my adrenal glands.

What is Adrenal Fatigue or Burnout?

So what is adrenal exhaustion? It’s exactly what it sounds like: it’s what happens when the adrenal glands become overworked and undernourished, causing them to become fatigued. Why are the adrenal glands important? Well, these little pea-sized glands on top of the kidneys secrete hormones that allow us to deal with immediate and long-term stress. The adrenal glands secrete more than 50 different hormones, including adrenaline, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and DHEA. You have probably heard of most of these hormones. These hormones are what give us the ability to “get up and go,” providing the energy we need to deal with our hectic and overstimulated lives.

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

Unfortunately, these glands, when overly stressed, eventually stop working and then we end up with adrenal exhaustion or symptoms of fatigue, including:

– chronic fatigue and tiredness

– depression

– inability to think clearly

– chronic anxiety

– low blood sugar

– decreased metabolism

– changes in skin color

– craving for sweet or salty foods

– bread stamp

– decreased immune function

– low body temperature

– food allergies and sensitivities

– dark circles under the eyes

There are other symptoms of adrenal overwork that could be added to the list, but you get the general idea. Our adrenal glands do a lot for our bodies and when we overuse them, they burn out.

Causes of adrenal fatigue

In general, our modern lifestyle is a recipe for adrenal exhaustion and exhaustion. Our adrenal glands suffer when we push them too hard. Our minds are active and full of ideas, but our bodies can’t keep up. Specifically, lifestyle habits that overload the adrenal glands include:

– very little sleep

– poor diet

– use of caffeine or other stimulants

– use of medications to fall asleep at night

– use of medicines to treat anxiety or depression

– perfectionism

– constant physical, mental or emotional stress

– over stimulation of cell phones, music, traffic, pagers and email

You get the picture… it’s nothing out of the ordinary in our modern lives. For most people, it’s just a snapshot of everyday life. But it’s hell for the adrenal glands. In fact, modern life has such a strong negative effect on the adrenal glands that some women suffering from adrenal fatigue show signs of menopause as early as their 30s. Oh! You read that right: adrenal exhaustion can cause premature aging.

Adrenal Fatigue Treatment

Fortunately, treatment is possible for this condition. Treatments fall into three basic categories:

1) Herbal and nutritional support (I like XanGo’s X51/Eleviv, other people like pure herbs)

2) Changes in lifestyle

3) Revitalizing practices

This article is the first in a series on getting healthy after adrenal fatigue, and future articles will cover specific strategies for doing so. The prognosis for getting out of adrenal fatigue is generally quite positive and many doctors offer the following time frame for recovery:

– 6 to 9 months for minor fatigue

– 12 to 18 months for moderate fatigue

– Up to 24 months for severe fatigue

As you can see, the road back to energetic and vital health is not a short one…but then again, most people don’t achieve adrenal fatigue overnight either! Stay tuned for more articles on treating adrenal fatigue, or explore the Zen Cowgirl blog to read more.