How to Become a Paramedic

Lots of public service positions can benefit from becoming a certified paramedic. Some professions that have found benefits in this additional training might be police officers and firemen. Very often police officers pursue some level of EMT training and also some fire departments now request their firemen to have a paramedic-level of certification. Cross-training helps to create mutual respect and confidence amongst our public service professionals. It creates harmony among members of EMS teams as well.

EMT's and Paramedics of all levels work together with other members of emergency medical response teams like firemen, rescue workers, and policemen to deliver necesarry medical assistance promptly and effectively. Watching a group of emergency medical professionals, each with their own unique and specified roles is an impressive testament to their trained skills and ability to assess and address all kinds of emergencies. If you would like to learn about how to become a paramedic, now is an excellent time.

Paramedic Courses

EMTs and Paramedics are representative of a more elite part of emergency response teams. Because of this, there are much fewer practicing EMTs and paramedics then the more basic or intermediate EMTs. Actually statistics show that about 90% of ambulances are staffed by basic and intermediate-level EMTs. This 90% consists of what would be referred to as a Basic Life Support ambulance (or also known as BLS). Only a mere 10% make up ALS ambulances. ALS or also known as Advanced Life Support specialist ambulances are equipped and staffed by advanced paramedics with higher certifications. Different levels of teams and ambulances are dispatched depending on the severity of the case which an ambulance may be responding to. In the most extreme medical emergencies a Medevac and a hospital owned and operated helicopter is dispatched to help injured victims. In this case, an EMT with paramedic-level training is required to be on board to administer any pre-hospital care which may need to be administered while in the air. Though paramedics are not MDs, their dynamic role in saving and carrying out emergency medical care involves quick assessment and insightful pre-hospital care under prescribed physician protocols. Paramedic courses are easy to take on-line if you are interested in this career path.

How To Become an EMT

EMTs and paramedics have a very important job in response to emergency situations. A good paramedic may be the difference between life or death. On arrival, paramedics are given only perinent details immediately available to the dispatch operator. In many cases the EMT may have barely any information when responding to the call; often there isn’t even enough information to assess or predetermine the extent of the injury or nature of the emergency. The number of people involved and the exact details pertaining to the accident must be evaluated upon arrival. An EMT specialist responding to an accident scene may know as little as whether they are responding to a domestic issue, a car accident, or to a conscious or unconscious patient. Often times they arrive completely naive to the situation with no information other than the accident location. In all instances, however, EMTs and paramedics are expected to come prepared with the right equipment, training, , and psychological mind set to deal with any medical emergency they may encounter. This is what makes EMTs and paramedics so valuable. If you would like to learn more about how to become an EMTlearn about how to get your degree online.

Billing and Coding: Salary

Some people are not as gifted with good human interaction skills as others. The health field is a very interesting field and, as human beings, we all have a vested interest in and can relate on some level. At some point in everyone’s life it is inevitable that they will need to seek out a health care professional. The fact that being good with human interaction has been a prerequisite to becoming an effective healthcare worker has left out a lot of the human race from this ever-growing field. The availability of a career in Billing and Coding
really changes that. As a professional in this field you will rarely, if ever, come into contact with the patients you are working on. You most likely will be working from home or be situated in the administrative offices, far away from contact with patients. But you are still able to contribute to the interesting field of human health.
Human relations skills are not the key qualities for this position but there are some characteristics that would make a person better suited for this type of position. Often times a specialist is required to meet a quota of work for a day and if you are good at working efficiently and accurately under pressure, you would excel in this environment. Entering the wrong information could prove to be very detrimental to a humans health or to a medical facility. It is imperative that a professional in this field have a strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Billing and Coding

Choosing a career path is a big decision. Life is long and for a career to remain interesting there must be room for growth. This profession allows for continued education and vertical growth through different levels of certification. There are currently seven levels of certification as specified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), with the requirements of education and work experience increasing with each level.
There is always new information to learn to stay abreast of the latest developments within this profession. To support this, there are continuing education requirements to maintain a current accreditation and to test for additional accreditation. For example, those with an associate degree level of accreditation are required to gather 20 hours of continuing education every two years. There are many different ways to acquire continuing education hours.
This career choice can keep growing and expanding to keep a professional interested for lifetime. There are numerous avenues of employment, including managerial, hospitals, private physicians, law firms, insurance companies, research, pharmaceutical companies, and the list continues. Please take the time to learn more about Billing and Coding

Billing and Coding: What does it Include

For doctors to have access to patient information can be the difference between successful and unsuccessful treatment. Having the immediate ability to realize why a patient is in medical distress, may in some cases be the difference between life or death. The key to producing and keeping this information up to date can be credited to the medical Billing and Coding field of professionals. This information makes treatment for clients much more efficient and issue-specific for doctors and other medical professionals that may have access to your files. This quickly growing profession also enables the streamlining of patient care by seeing that the lack of medical background won’t be a hindrance to medical treatment. Proper and complete management of medical information can be a pathway to higher quality, safer healthcare for individuals. However, I would like to poin out one glaring issue which I don't think people are taking into account. I have had numerous occasions where doctors have met with me and not taken the time to even read the notes that were provided to them. In fact, the last doctor that I saw ran two unnecesarry blood tests, simply because he negelcted to recognize that my referring physician had already run them. The key to making this system work is going to depend on the doctors and their assistants actually taking the time to read the medical records of the patients sitting in their office.

Billing and Coding: A Closer Look

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) describes the profession as "the glue that holds healthcare together."
Medical billing and coding experts have become very important to the medical industry in the past couple of years. Billing and coding professionals work to organize and upkeep an ongoing stream of billing information and medical records that are processed through medical facilities and hospitals everyday. Experts in this profession are responsible for the task of processing bills for their medical services to insurance companies and maintaining accurate medical records for clients. Modern medicine hopes to increase the rate of success and accuracy for patients and doctors by making comprehensive medical histories more accessible and consistent. Some other information these medical records might include would be any previous diagnosis, efficacy of previously administered treatments, and any allergies to medicine or anesthesia that patients may have experienced. If you enjoy working in the medical field, but don't know how to get started, now is a good time to learn more about Billing and Coding.

Medical Billing and Coding

Medical Billing and Coding is easily one of the fastest growing professions in the Allied Health Field. If all goes as planned, all of our medical records will be accessible by doctors, surgeons, and emergency room technicians. We will be discussing and exploring the most up to date information regarding this health field for the next two weeks. We have interviewed current professionals to obtain inside information on any questions one may have such as; How much is a Medical Billing and Coding salary, what Medical Billing and Coding Schools are the best to attend, how long is the required program to become medical billing and coding certified, what is the environment like, and many other questions. Please join us for the next two weeks to explore the world of Billing and Coding

Exercise Benefits Ultrasounds

There is a 20% decrease in an ultrasound's ability to detect fetal problems in obese women compared with overweight women. It's clear that exercise is good for a mom-to-be. Now researchers say a pregnant woman's workout may also aid her baby's nervous system. Their study found that compared with those of sedentary women, exercisers' fetuses have better control during "breathing movements," a sign that development of their respiratory and central nervous system was on track. They also had a significantly lower then average heart rate and more heart rate variability; both promising predictors of health. The exercising moms-to-be, who were between 20 and 35, walked at a moderate-to-vigorous pace, did stationary cycling or ran at least 30 minutes three times a week. One very vital vitamin that is also worth acknowledging is a folic acid supplement. Women who hope to become pregnant have long been advised to take folic acid supplements to help prevent certain birth defects. But now University of Texas researchers have found that taking the B vitamin for at least a year before conception also reduces the risk of preterm birth - by at least 50%.

Learn more about ultrasounds or ultasound technician

New Borns: Preventative Measures

One of the most important members of your fist year caravan is your pediatrician. If possible, its best to stick with the same practice-if not the same doctor-for all visits, but if you need to make a change be sure to bring along all your child's medical records to better help your new care provider treat your infant. To make sure your baby's first 365 days are healthy ones, I can't stress how important it is to go to every single recommended well-child checkup during the first year. Most practices recommend visits at 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months. It's also wise to keep your child up-to-date with his immunizations. Regular checkups give your doctor the chance to check out your baby and make sure he's growing and developing normally and they also give you a chance to to talk to a professional about any concerns you might have. Most moms have at least a few during the first year. Whether you have questions about diaper rash, teething, or verbal development - or if you just need help dealing with a picky eater - your pediatrician is and invaluable resource.

If babies interest you, learn more about ultrasound technician schools

Ultrasound Tech: Drug Treatment of Labor Pains

There are many different options for drug treatment of pain during labour. Some of the most popular are: Entonox, Pethidine, Morphine, Diamorphine, Epidural, spinal, local anaesthetic , and general anaesthetic. I will outline and describe each option below.
Inhaled Drugs: Many women use Entonox, a mixture of nitrous oxide, and oxygen. This is breathed through a mask as the contractions begin to build up to its maximal effect within 30-40 seconds and wers off as contraction fades. The side affects are minimal. It make your mouth dry, but on the upside, the oxygen is good for the baby.
Injected Drugs: These are all opiates, which are drugs like heroin. They make you relax, feel sleepy and not worried. They can make you feel nauseated, or vomit, so they are often given with another drug to reduce nausea. They are usually given into a muscle in your thigh, and there can be some discomfort and bruising at the site of the injection. These drugs can all slow your breathing and they can cross over the placenta to have the same effect on the baby. This is not considered a problem while he is getting his oxygen from the placenta, but it can be worrying if he is slow to breathe after the birth. For this reason these are only administered in the first stages of labour. Meptazinol tends to be used more in women who have already had a baby and so are more likely to have a shorter labour, as it is less sedating and has much less effect on the baby. Please join us later to learn more about our last form of Pain treatment, injections into the spine. Being an ultrasound tech would give you an opportunity to experience the miracle of childbirth every day.

Ultrasound Tech: How Can I Prepare for Labour Pain?

Pain is very subjective, and greatly influenced by your mental attitude. This is the one aspect of childbirth that you can prepare your self for and control. That doesn't mean you will avoid pain, but there are several ways to help manage pain. The first and most obvious solution is an epidural. In our previous blog I mentioned some natural ways to manage your pain and fears. We will be outlining these management techniques more in depth today.
The factor that is most likely to make the pain worse is fear. Having a baby is scary and learning everything that you can about the process in advance will help to decrease the mystery. Ideally, expectant mothers should consider Parentcraft classes. In addition to explaining what will happen, these will coach you in how to relax and the best way to breath through the contractions. Relaxation really does take the edge off the pain, but it is best to practice beforehand so it is automatic during labour. Massage and TENS units both act in part by giving your nerves a sensation other than the pain. So, basically it helps to distract your brain. Warm baths are helpful to take the strain off of your body. Floating weightless in warm water can be incredibly soothing whether or not you intend to deliver the baby in water. Next blog we will study Drug treatment of pain more in depth. Please consider learning more about what it takes to be an ultrasound technician if you love babies.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Pain Relief in Labor

I haven't had any children yet, but lets not kid ourselves, most women say labor hurts. Of course, some women have higher pain thresholds than others, and some very lucky women actually feel little more then discomfort in labour. But, for the rest of us, there will be pain. Remember, though, that every woman copes with it with varying amounts of help. Every woma finds it hard to remember just how bad it was, once it is all over and the cute little baby is in her arms. And, after all, it can't be that bad - otherwise nobody would have more then one baby.
Why is labour painful you ask? There are several reasons that labour is painful. Firstly, there is the pain from the muscles of the uterus working to full capacity - just as your legs hurt when you have been running up too many stairs. Then there is the stretching of the cervix, which can feel lika a bad period pain, the discomfort of the stretched ligaments that hold your pelvic bones together and the discomfort from your other muscles that might be tensing up as you try to cope with each contraction. Some Non-durg methods for Pain relief are; relaxation, warm baths, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), massage and aromatherapy, herbalism, accupressure and accupuncture, oeteopathy, homeopathy, reflexology, and self-hypnosis. I am not sure which of these methods work best. As I already said, I have not had a baby...yet....I will probably try the pain out although a massage sounds good!
If the subject of childbirth and pregnancy interests you, you may be interested in diagnostic medical sonography . We will be discussing pregnancy in the blogs to come. Stay tuned!

Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Programs

How Long are most diagnostic medical sonography Programs?

A sonography program, or also known as, ultrasound technician program, typically lasts anywhere from 18-24 months. Most programs are set up with the first year consisting of full time coursework in conjunction with some part time clinical experience. The clinical work is excellent hands on training for ultrasound tech students. The second portion of the education typically consists of part time coursework in addition to part time clinical experience (usually 32 hours per week). It is important to research each program individually because each school varies in their requirements for certification.

What is the cost?

For in-state programs the range is anywhere from $1800-$6000 for the 18-24 month associate’s program. There are programs available that can cost less then $1800 and some that cost upwards of $60,000. The cost of the program largely depends on if you’re paying in state or out of state tuition, the length of the program, and the type of school you choose to attend. Technical Schools are generally the least expensive option and you can even do many of these programs on-line.

Are there waiting lists to get into a program?

Often, this highly competitive field has a wait for admittance into a program. Many more students apply than they have room for so some must be placed on a wait list. Most schools accept between 18-25 students into each program cycle and some have as many as 60-100 applying. You never know which schools will have room for students, so always try no matter if a program has a wait list and how long the list is. Acceptance varies from one program to the next, and wait lists are common in ultrasound technician programs.

The individuals who have the best chance of being accepted right away have completed a college degree, have previous experience in the health care industry, and have already completed the necessary prerequisites. Schools also look at grade averages when making a decision.

Ultrasound Technician: Daily Tasks

If you are interested in becoming an Ultrasound Technician, but wonder what daily tasks a sonographer performs read on! I find it is sometimes helpful, when exploring a new career, to imagine what might be expected. I am a visual person, and imagining always helps to ease my worries. Being an ultrasound tech requires a nice blend of personal interaction and technical training.
Personal Interaction begins with documenting the medical history of each patient beforehand. Next, an ultrasound tech usually explains the procedure, and answers any questions or concerns that a patient may have. After all of these have been addressed and the medical history is documented, an ultrasound tech then sets up the procedure. This is where the technical aspects of the job come in. The positioning of each patient’s body is a very important step. It is a large pertinent to correctly situate each body in order for the highly technical machines to acquire a clear view of the necessary images. Since some patients may be as young as babies or elderly, having a solid understanding of human anatomy is a must for a successful career in this field.

After the exams are successfully completed, it is the ultrasound technician's job to present the images to the radiologist. Sometimes, at this point, additional snapshots are requested by the radiologist. In this case, the sonogropher would take additional images.
Finally, the ultrasound technician (you), wouldl communicate findings regarding the radiologist report. If attending ultrasound technician schools interests you, perhaps you should look further into this high demand, secure, well paying field of sonography.

Ultrasound Tech: Are There Different Techniques?

There are different techniques, and different types of sonograms in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. One of the main challenges of being an ultrasound tech is to identify and adapt what type of sonography is needed for various patient examinations. Note: For your information, the type of physician that orders a sonogram is called a radiologist. A physician, or radiologist, can order any variety of images based on the reason for the sonogram. The main body areas that ultrasounds address are: pelvic, abdomen, testes, thyroid, appendix, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), neonatal brain, herniacarotid arteries, hernia, and biopsies of internal organs. Some other less usual types of ultrasounds are musculoskeletal, which involve scans for the rotator cuff (shoulder), soft tissues, and tendons. An even less common sonogram is a hysterosonogram (HSG). This method involves water being injected into the uterus through the cervix allowing observation of the uterine lining. So, clearly there are several types of ultrasounds for various parts of the body. The career of an ultrasound tech holds a wide array of experience and options.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography: A Glimpse

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers play a very important role in the field of medical imaging. There are many different terms used to refer to individuals who work in this field. Some of the other common names used to refer to sonographers are ultrasound tech or ultrasound technician. In this career, professionals are trained to work with equipment that uses high frequency sound waves to view various body parts. Internal images are created with the help of the sonography machine which produces the image called an ultrasonographyal. The more recognizable term for ultrashonographyal is ultrasound or sonogram. These images are helpful to physicians when diagnosing patients.
Most people hear the terms “sonogram” or “ultrasound” used in relation with pregnany. In this case the sonographer will scan the belly with a wand to produce images of the developing baby inside. Yet, there are other specializations within this high demand field! An ultrasound can be used to obtain an image of almost any part of the body. For example, a sonogram can be used to detect potential gall stones, plaque of carotid arteries, or blood clots. If you are possibly interested in diagnostic medical sonography , please read this week to learn more about it.

Radiology Schools: MRI Technicians

Path to becoming an MRI Technician:

Most MRI technologists begin in the allied health field as a radiology technician. Becoming an MRI technician is usually a skill learned on the job, and most facilities don't require formal training. However, there is a national licensing exam in MRI that is required to practice.

Don't waste time or money on MRI school. The best path to becoming an MRI technician is to become a radiology technician first. Most imaging departments within a hospital or free-standing imaging centers want to hire employees who can perform more than MRIs.
Schools to become and MRI Technician:
There are different kinds of schools and programs to receive radiology technician training. Before you can attend an RT program, students must have completed high school or an equivalent (GED). Then certain college level prerequisite courses are required. One inexpensive option is to attend a local community college to complete prerequisites and, then advance into the RT program. You can also attend a hospital based program to earn a certificate to become a radiology technician but these programs often have long waits and are competitive for acceptance. We have found the easiest and most flexible option to be on line courses. There are many accredited radiology schools on line.

Radiology Schools: MRI's vs. X Rays

What is the difference between an MRI machine and an X Ray machine?

An MRI machine, which stands for "magnetic resonance imaging" looks at ligaments, tendons and the soft tissues of the body. MRI uses magnetic fields to view the hydrogen atoms in the water in a patient's body while lying in the machine. The procedure can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Radio frequency fields are then used to change the alignment of the magnetization systematically, causing the hydrogen nuclei to produce a rotating magnetic field detectable by the scanner. This signal can be manipulated to build up sufficient information to construct a replica of the body. MRI's are now being used as a preventative procedure much like a mammogram can be used to prevent breast cancer.

An X Ray machine is used to look at the bones of a body. It is kind of like a camera. Instead of visible light, however, it uses X-rays to expose the film, more like invisible light. X rays use electromagnetic waves, that are more energetic in order to penetrate a variety of different materials and matter at different degrees. When the X-rays hit the film, they expose it just as light would. Since muscle, bone, tumors, and fat all absorb X-rays at different levels, the image on the film lets you see different (distinct) structures inside the body because of the different levels of exposure on the film. Learn more about radiology schools, and what is required to operate this machinery.

Radiology Technician: MRI Specialization

There are several specializations a radiology technician can branch into.
Today we will be focusing on becoming an MRI specialist. First lets have a look at a MRI scanner, pictured on the right. This is the main device a MRI specialist will be using and must be familliar with; it detects problems relating to the spinal chords, joints, lungs, brain, and chest. I received an MRI by a doctor once to determine whether I had torn my ACL. The test is safe, painless, and requires anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes to administer. The only obstacle for patients may be claustrophobia. In this case the MRI specialist would want to be sensitive to each individual patient's needs, and may choose to sedate individuals so they can remain relatively still during the process.
An MRI device, administered by a MRI technician, scans the patient in order to diagnose various medical conditions such as; heart diseases, reproductive organ tumors, tumors in the chest or other areas of the body, and torn ligaments or nerves. Endometriosis, breast cancer, liver diseases, and other health problems can be detected with the assistance of an MRI scan as well. Becoming an MRI technician does not typically require extra schooling but rather additional training. Usually a radiology technician learns this more specialized skill on the job if there is an opening in one of these areas and someone willing to train them. There is a national registry exam available for MRI, but not all facilities require their techs to be certified in order to practice in these fields.

Radiology Technician Schools: Career Profile

It is important when choosing an x-ray technician school to make sure it matches your individual needs. There are many different schools available for training to become an x ray technician. In this blog I would like to briefly outline the x ray technician career. An x ray technician can also be referred to as; radiologic technologists, a radiographer or an x ray technologists. These professionals play an important role in the field of Radiology by conducting x rays ordered by physicians on a variety of body parts and bones. X ray technologists should be sensitive to patients’ physical and psychological needs. They must pay attention to detail, follow instructions, and work as part of a team. In addition, operating complicated equipment requires mechanical ability and manual dexterity. Radiology involves nonintrusive imaging using radiation, which helps a physician diagnose or treat medical conditions. Some instances where one may commonly receive an x ray may be at the dentist’s office or the chiropractor. There are several specializations one can branch into when pursuing x ray technician careers. Four examples of these specializations are MRI, CT, mammography and angiography. These additional fields do not typically require extra schooling but rather additional training or certification. Mammography is one specialty that in some states, such as California, requires the completion of a 40 hour accredited course, observed testing while conducting 25 exams, and passing a state specific exam. Sometimes an x ray technician may have the opportunity to learn the additional skills required to specialize, on the job, if there is an opening in one of these areas and someone is willing to train them. There is a national registry exam available for both CT and MRI, but not all facilities require techs to be certified in order to perform these specialized types of x rays. Now that we have examined the career of an x ray technician, lets look at the types of schooling required to become an x ray technician. If you are interested in learning more about becoming an x ray technician or attending radiology technician schools please visit us at Allied Health World.

Allied Health: Obama Health Care Reform

Obama addressed The Nation yesterday to defend, clarify, and sale his ideas on health care. I was actually relieved that it seemed practical and versatile; I don't understand how anyone could complain! It addresses the three main groups of Americans; the insured, the uninsured because of health limitations, and the uninsured because of financial limitations. Here is a recap of the speech as I understood it.

Obama claims his new plan would do three things; 1) give people who have health insurance greater security and coverage, 2) set up a healthy marketplace for competition creating affordable access to coverage for those without insurance and 3) it would reduce care costs for all.

Obama also stated alarming statistics showing a sharp drop in health insurance coverage due to the recession and financial hardship that Americans have been experiencing. 45.7 million Americans were uninsured in 2007 and now the numbers have reached 46.3 million. It has been predicted that 6 million Americans will lose coverage.

2/3 of Americans claimed to support Obama's health care reform plan directly following his address. This number was up from 53% before. That means 1 in 7 Americans changed their minds.

I found it interesting that Obama encouraged everyone to participate in the health care reform of our country. He emphasized that if we do not participate as people and companies, his plan would not work. He also encouraged businesses to insure their employees saying that it gives an "unfair advantage" against competitors who are offering health care to employees. Obama also encouraged health care reform with the intention that responsible citizens can have more freedom to choose different jobs and career paths. So many people stay in jobs they don't like because they are afraid to lose health care for themselves and/or their families.

Demand for allied health employment continues to increase and looks like it could skyrocket in the next four years. One of the most promising fields seems to be radiology technician training. If you are interested in learning about a good radiology technician school, please visit us.

X-Ray Technician School

This week we will be explaining and exploring the wide world of the x-ray technicians. We will be looking at x-ray technician school, x-ray technician training, x-ray technician careers, and just x-ray technicians in general. If you are interested in the field of x-ray technicians. Please join us next week to learn all about this exciting career.

US Open 2009: Serena Williams Training

Serena Williams, the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, will have the opportunity to win her third Grand Slam of the year, and 12th overall, at the US Open 2009. Her first match will be against reigning French Open champion Kuznetsova, who will, in turn, attempt to win her second US Open.

What is Serena doing to prepare for this match, and the US Open 2009?
At the recommendation of father and coach, Richard Williams, Serena now travels to New Orleans for consultations with a strength trainer named Mackie Shilstone. Mr. Shilstone is known mainly for his work with prize fighters, and claims little experience in tennis training. Why does Serena visit him? His emphasis on discipline is something both Serena, and her father, agree she needs to improve on.

When Mr. Shilstone met Serena in her hotel room for the first time at the New Orleans Marriott, he immediately asked Serena for a tape of her best performance. She replied that she didn’t have one because "she’d never played her best tennis". “She was dead serious,” Mr. Shilstone recalled.

While working with Mr. Shilstone, Serena has developed a portable conditioning regimen using a system of tension cords that attach to the fence behind the baseline. The tension cords provide resistance as she moves around the court practicing her ground strokes. In addition to this, she and Mr. Shilstone have also developed a nutritional program to help avoid weight gain on the road. Serena has recently opened up about her struggle with weight in her new book, "On the Line."

Now, about a month before each Grand Slam event, Mr. Shilstone meets with Serena for daily conditioning sessions after her two-hour on-court practices. Their regimen includes quick sprint drills designed to recreate the back-and-forth movement required during long rallies.
“I told her before Wimbledon we were going to break the spirit of the Russians by being there on every shot they try, no matter where it is,” Mr. Shilstone said.

Now Serena begins each day with two hours on the court with various practice partners, or her father, and works on coming to the net. Her wingspan makes her nearly impossible to pass. “I’m good up there,” she says with a laugh. Net play also gives her the chance to end points quickly, preserve energy, and avoid long rallies on the baseline. When she leaves the practice court, she heads to the gym for two hours of strength training, then finishes her workout with 20 minutes of sprints.

Sounds like a lot of practice. We hope it pays off Serena! We are rooting for you.
This week we will be assessing other strength and conditioning
workouts designed for the athletes in the US Open 2009.

How To Be a Biggest Loser

Sometimes losing "weight" is not the most productive goal, because it can be an inaccurate assesment of your health and body composition. When you are working out, and taking more care about what is eaten your body will change, but sometimes that means gaining muscle. Muscle weighs more then fat, so you may not see the numbers on the scale decreasing and get discouraged. Often times, the way I know my body is changing is by how my clothes fit. Over time I can even tell which spots will decrease the fastest and which will stubbourbly hold on to my fat.
So, back to losing weight.
Now that you have discovered your BMR (yesterday's blog), lets figure out how many calories we need to cut to lose weight. We will use my body as an example. BMR = 655 + (4.35 X 130 weight) + (4.7 X 64 inches) - (6.8 X 31 age) = 655 + 565.5 + 300.8 - 210.8=1310.5 BMR
So I burn 1310 calories per day just living my normal life. The healthy standard for losing weight is 2 pounds a week. 1 pound is equivalent to 3500 calories. So in order for me to lose 2 pounds per week, I must burn an excess of 7000 calories.
In conclusion, if you would like to lose X amount of pounds, simply figure out your BMR number and add 500 calories per day. This is the amount of calories you will need to burn each day in order to lose 1 pound per week.
If articles like this interest you, and if you would like to learn more about personal trainer courses please visit us at AlliedHealthWorld.com.

Calories Do Count: Calculating BMR

Calories do count in any fitness program and small errors can add up to disappointing results. You don't want to work your butt off to burn calories while unknowingly adding to your waistline. We all know by now the key to losing weight is to burn more calories then you consume, but we should also be conscious of straining our bodies to burn unneeded calories. A personal example would be adding cream and sugar to my coffee each morning. These two small additions could add up to 200 empty calories! I could run an extra 2 miles per day, but over time this extra strain on joints and bones may not be worth it; and honestly, I probably won't run the extra two miles long term to make up for it. Instead you could eat something nutritious and equally as enjoyable such as celery and peanut butter, or a fruit shake.

As everyone has a different metabolism, and each person has a different calorie intake, it is important to establish your personal BMR. BMR = the number of calories your body needs to function on a daily basis. Its what your body will burn on the most basic level. To calculate your BMR use this formula:

Women: 655 + (4.35 X weight in pounds) + (4.7 X height in inches) - (4.7 X age in years)

Men: 66 + (6.23 X weight in pounds) + (12.7 X height in inches) - (6.8 X age in years)

The idea to lose weight is to create a defecit in calorie consumption while supplying your body with enough energy to complete workouts while also creating a defecit through your daily activities. If you would like to learn more personal training tools, or personal trainer certificates, please visit us at Allied Health World.com. Tomorrow we will touch on how many calories we should burn each day to reach our training goals.

5 Tips For Strength Training

When I was in my late teens and early twenties it was relatively easy to stay in shape. I was always athletic in high school, and remained active throughout college. As the years crept by, however, I began to gain unexplainable weight. I was still running everyday, but it didn't seem to make a difference. I could not control my weight! Over a five year period, I put on thirty pounds. I felt powerless and didn't understand why my body was no longer responding to my methods. At age 28, I employed my first personal trainer, Michael McKinney, and it was money well spent. He taught me that weight training is truly the key to staying lean. Muscle tone from sports kept me in shape through my younger years, but it had slowly deteriorated while working 40 hours a week sitting at a desk. Here are 5 tips Michael taught me to improve the effectiveness of my weight training workouts:

1) Get Leaner by Being Longer - While doing squats, lunges or sit-ups, raise your hands above your head. It will improve balance, increase intensity, and elongate your spine.

2) Take the Bounce out of your Step - Pause for at least four seconds at the bottom of lunges and squats. This eliminates momentum and forces your body to use more muscle to recover.

3) Go the Distance - When doing push-ups, plank, or other exercises which facilitate your body weight as resistance, try putting feet or hands on a block or a stair to position you further from the floor. This will increase the distance you must overcome for each rep.

4) Add a Twist - We do lots of exercises bending our bodies up and down, but not many twisting from side to side. Add a twist to anything to increase the burn and engage your obliques.

5) Get off the Floor - Hold one foot or arm in the air while performing various strength and conditioning drills. This will make push-ups, planks, sit-ups and any other floor related drills a challenge in balance, and increase calories burned.

After many sessions with a Personal Trainer, I realized that all of these little steps can make a huge difference. If you would like to learn more about personal trainer certificates please visit us at Allied Health World.com! I have lost the extra thirty pounds, and lowered my body fat to 19% by just employing these methods.

Madonna Turns 51: Looks 20

So Madonna has turned 51. I promised to recap what I know about her fitness routine. But first, lets have a look at this picture....is she eating still? Is there such thing as being too buff? This is something you and your personal trainer will need to discuss.

Tracy Anderson is named as Madonna's trainer. She also deserves credit for training Gwyneth Paltrow, and Stella McCartney.

Tracy Anderson's top 10 tips - all you need is a spare hour a day, six days a week ... for the rest of your life

• Beware of the gym: the weights are too heavy. "After over-exercising in gyms in my late teens my muscles got very bulky and I was more like a gymnast than a ballet dancer. It looked like somebody threw me in the trash compactor: my neck got really short."

• High reps, low weights. "For me, fitness is all about high repetitions and low resistance. I mean 60 reps with 10 different exercises using weights of three pounds or below."

• Train for one hour a day, six days a week. "Do 30 minutes of cardio training [dancing, jogging, aerobics] and 30 minutes of muscular structure [weights and stretches]," says Anderson. "Do it six days a week for the rest of your life." Yes, you read that correctly.

• Learn to dance. "If you want a dancer's body, dance. Dance aerobics is my favourite cardio. It's very frustrating if people think you have to become a dancer to do it - you don't. My DVDs are very user-friendly. You can take one or two combinations a day and learn them."

• Don't just switch off while you're working out. "I have done research about people who think they're doing movements and people - like Madonna and professional dancers - who are actually 'performing' movements. The people who can connect and perform during their workout get results way above and beyond the people who are just going through the motions."

• Watch yourself exercise. "Look at yourself in the mirror and critique yourself and your movements as you would a piece of artwork. Have an opinion about how you are moving."

Some criticize Anderson and her results, "Madonna does not have the body of a 20-year-old. She has the body of a 50-year-old who is well-exercised and half-starved. " author Faye Weldon comments. Anderson replies, "Who cares what some people say? Who wouldn't want to look like [Madonna]? But then I'm obsessed with intricate definition and strength. It's beautiful. Madonna is exquisite to look at and she works hard at it".

If you are interested in personal trainer courses, please get more information at Allied Heallth World.com

Heidi Montag: Miss Universe performance

This week on Allied Health we will be focusing on personal training, and different tips to stay in shape. We will start this Monday morning with basic gossip, why not?
The biggest craze this Monday has been Heidi Montag and her singing performance on Miss Universe last night; the main focus of tabloids has been her "newly" toned body that she worked "so hard" to achieve for the playboy cover this month. First of all, I would like to point out that she didn't have much to lose. I love when stars, if that is what she is (I haven't discovered any legitimate talents), claim to vigorously train to get their bodies! Sorry if I am skeptical, but Heidi Montag was tiny to begin with. Anyways that aside, Heidi divulged that her method to get fit for the Playboy Magazine spread was; 90 minutes of training per day, 5 days a week with personal trainer Chad Waterbury. Her personal trainer emphasizes full-body conditioning exercises executed as rapidly as possible, “so you burn fat faster,” says Waterbury, who does both light and heavy weights with Heidi to give her body “a hard look with a feminine shape".
Heidi claims to have modified her diet. She abstained from any enriched “white” foods (carbs) and stayed full with lean protein including steak, green veggies, berries and apples.
If this article interests you and you would like to learn more about Personal trainer courses , or other Allied Health careers please visit Allied Health World. Tomorrow, we will scrutinize Madonna's personal training. Now there is a woman that has beat the odds; at 51 she still has an incredible figure.

Childhood Obesity: Explored by Oprah and Dr. Oz

Oprah and Dr. Oz dedicated a show to childhood obesity. Statistics show that our children are becoming less active and eating more processed foods. Is your child struggling with obesity? Find out with the facts below.

Childhood Obesity is defined as an excess percentage of body weight due to fat. This excess fat puts children at risk for many problems. In children older than two years of age, obesity is measured the same as adults, the BMI. BMI stands for Body Mass Index, and the way to determine it is below.

BMI – Body Mass Index is calculated from a child’s weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fat for most children and teens. For children, BMI is specified by age and sex and then compared with other children in the same category to gain a percentile ranking.

How do you know if your child is considered overweight or obese?

Children with a BMI over the 85% but less then the 95^th percentile are considered overweight and those with a BMI greater then the 95^th percentile are considered obese.

Are you interested in learning more about Health Education ? Please visit Allied Health World

Allied Health: Careers and Degrees

This is an introduction to a new blog which discusses health and healthcare related issues. Allied Health is defined as the domain of medical practices that support medical professionals. I would like to start a forum which discusses and educates individuals on different health issues and ailments. Please let me know if there are any subject suggestions you would like me to research or address. As increasing numbers of Americans are losing their health insurance, and many can't even afford it to begin with, the internet is becoming increasingly important as a source of information. This week we will be discussing children and obesity as seen on Oprah Tuesday 8/18/09.