Monday, July 27, 2009

Sun Holidays and Sunshine Breaks - Demand Your Money Back If it Rains

The Times, reports from data collected by Expedia, that foreign travel searches have increased compared to the same time last year - going against what many were predicting during these recessionary times. One of the biggest movers, Spain's east coast - Costa Dorada, saw an increase of 119 percent as the UK succumbed to more rain. Yet, it also seems that if we are eager to travel then we might as well go the distance - with interest in holidays in Hawaii being up 90 percent too.

With this sudden interest in famously hot holiday destinations, some holiday providers eager to compete in the increasingly tough recession-hit industry are offering your well earned money back should the sun fail to shine - ensuring that we get what we pay for on our sun holidays. The scheme has been implemented by insurance company Aon France, who state that if anyone can prove that it rained over at least four days of their holiday, they will receive a significant refund (according to mailonline.co.uk).

Additionally, the company are also offering smaller refunds should the weather simply not live up to expectations. Aon use satellite photos from France's weather centre, and then calculate the likelihood of bad weather in relation to how much money they offer to pay back should it rain.

Nice Tourist Office have supported the idea, stating: 'If a destination is offering itself as a place for a sunshine break, then there is probably no reason why someone should not pay up if it rains every day. The policy sounds like an excellent idea.' And others in Britain have suggested that a similar scheme may be made available here - though I'm finding it very difficult to recall ever hearing of an advertised "Drizzle Break"!

Gohop.ie offers last minute holidays and cheap holidays.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Travel Nurse Jobs

With the lack of nurses in the United States and Canada, hiring has actually extended to the international scene. There are hospitals and companies that have started recruiting from the Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and others.

If you are from one of these countries and are interested in working in the US or Canada as a traveling nurse, there are certain credentials that you will have to meet. You have to be a graduate from a 3-year general nursing accredited university. You must have basic background in adult clinical medicine, adult clinical surgery, pediatrics, midwifery and psychiatric care. You should also possess a nursing license in your home country, and you must qualify for a US Visa without any criminal records. In addition, you need to pass three exams: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a 540 score or higher; Test of Spoken English (TSE), with a 50 score or higher and Test of Written English (TWE), with a 4.0 score or higher. If you originate from Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, it is no longer necessary for you to take the English-related exams.

Traveling nurses are paid higher than the usual nursing staffs, especially if you come from a third world country. The benefits for you are exponentially higher than those you would get from your own country. Aside from the financial benefits, you usually receive a comprehensive health, life, dental and vision insurance, housing benefits and other amenities. All your official trips can be reimbursed. You can also take advantage of continued education allowances and retirement plans. Joining the pool of traveling nurses opens you up to a whole lot of job opportunities.

Travel Nurses provides detailed information on Travel Nurses, Travel Nurse Jobs, Travel Nurse Companies, Travel Dialysis Nurses and more. Travel Nurses is affiliated with Home Nursing Jobs.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Pathological Condition - Acute Myocardial Infarction

Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) can be defined as condition in which, there is death or necrosis of myocardial cells. It is generally diagnosed at the end of the ambit of myocardial ischemia or acute coronary condition. Myocardial infarction occurs once myocardial ischemia oversteps a critical threshold and overcomes myocardial cellular repairing mechanism that is contrived for maintaining normal operating function and hemostasis. Ischemia at such critical threshold level for quite a longer period ends up in irreversible myocardial cell damage or in worst cases, even its death.

Classical symptoms of acute MI include fulminant chest pain (a typical radiating pain that travels from the left arm or left side of the neck to the heart), dyspnea (shortness of breath), nausea and/or vomiting, palpitation, profuse perspiration and anxiety (often called as sense of impending doom). Statistics say that women might experience less typical symptoms as compared to that of the men, most commonly dyspnea, weakness, gastrointestinal disturbance, and tiredness. Roughly, about one quarter of all myocardial infarctions are silent i.e. they do not show any chest pain or other signs.

Most of the cases of myocardial infarction are caused due to a commotion in the vascular endothelium that is linked with unstable atherosclerotic plaques those stimulate the formation of an intracoronary thrombus that ultimately ends up in coronary artery blood flow block. If such blockage persists for longer duration (approximately 20 to 40 min) there will be irreversible myocardial cell damage and cell death. The development of atherosclerotic plaques occurs over a period of years and even to the decades. However, the reason for initial vascular lesion that leads to the development of atherosclerotic plaques is still illusive.

Generally, it is high level of cholesterols in the bloodstream that restrict the blood flow to the cardiac tissues. Excessive body fats, high cholesterol and/or lipid profiles can be few of the main culprits for myocardial infarction. The blood vessels are nothing but the hollow pipe or tube-like cylindrical structure that allows the blood to flow flawlessly. High cholesterol levels start accumulating onto the walls of blood vessels and this, in turn, results in narrowing of the blood vessels. The blood supply is reduced and over the times, it could be cut-off for a while (ischemic conditions, where there is transient loss of blood supply). When the affected organ is heart, it is ischemic heart attack.

The damage

The severity of myocardial infarction is dependent on three main factors: the degree of the occlusion in the coronary arteries, the tenure of time of occlusions, and the presence or absence of circulation of the collateral blood. Usually, if there is more proximal the coronary occlusion, there will be more extensive chances of myocardium at risks of necrosis. Simply putting, larger the myocardial infarction, greater is the chance of death because of mechanical complications or pumping failure. If vessel occlusion is for prolonged period, there are more chances of permanent myocardial damage distal to that occlusion.

As the continuance of the occlusion will increase, the area of myocardial cell death will expand that finally extends from the endocardium to the myocardium (middle layer) and finally to the epicardium (innermost layer). The area of myocardial cell death will then spread laterally to area of watersheds or collateral perfusion and usually, after 6-8 hours have passed of coronary occlusion, most of the distal myocardium would have died. The magnitude of myocardial cell death reflects the extent of the myocardial infarction. If blood flow is successfully restored before the major damage to the myocardium, more heart muscle can be saved from the permanent damage or death and the life can be saved.

Dr. Maulik is an Ayurvedic Physician with Diploma in Healthcare Management and also Certified in Food and Nutrition. Dr. Maulik is also a freelancer and online consultant for Ayurveda and other alternative medicinal therapies. He is also spreading Ayurvedic Knowledge through his Beta website - http://www.ayurvedadosha.com, which is one stop place for ayurveda information and solution.