While the 21st century has put a spotlight on one of the most common human experiences, learn how you can raise mental illness awareness here.

Mental illness is still spoken about in hushed tones or with language that promotes misunderstanding.

The way people talk about it might cause you to think that poor mental health is uncommon. In reality, nearly one in five adults in the United States struggle with some type of mental illness.

The lack of sound, evidence-based knowledge surrounding mental health and illness is damaging for everyone, including people who never go through it.

That’s why it’s so important to raise mental illness awareness among the general public.

How can you make a difference? It’s not hard. It starts by talking.

1. Talk to Your Friends and Family

Given that one in five will deal with some type of mental illness at some point, then either you or someone you know will go through a crisis.

So, ask the people in your life how they’re doing. If you see them struggling at work or with personal relationships, listen to them — really listen. Acknowledge their feelings and experiences because they’re valid.

You may also find it helpful to share your own experience.

If you struggle with depression, anxiety, or another condition, be honest about it. It may not only help you but also help end the stigma that so often causes silence.

2. Lead with Empathy and Kindness

The language we use to speak about mental illness matters.

Words like “crazy” are damaging and disparaging, and they’re never helpful.

Moreover, a person isn’t “depressed,” nor are they “bipolar,” but they can have these conditions and these illnesses inform their experience of the world. Speaking this way is harmful — and often unkind — and usually reinforces negative stigma about health.

If you’re going to talk about mental health, use person-first language.

Person-first or person-centered language sees the person first and considers their illness or health as something that is part of their identity but doesn’t dominate it.

3. Learn More

Everyone has more to learn about mental illness, and education is a vital part of mental illness awareness.

To do your part, you need to find reputable sources that offer the best available information. Some of the best resources come from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and its affiliates and programs.

Your education isn’t to make you an armchair psychologist or recommend mental health treatment programs.

Instead, it’s to enable you to help end stigma both in your own life and the broader world by learning what mental health is and how to talk about it.

Mental Illness Awareness Starts with You

Raising mental illness awareness is critical because one in five of us will struggle with poor mental health at some point.

However, you don’t need to be an activist or hold a fundraiser to spread awareness. (Though, those things are great, too.) Instead, change starts with you and your willingness to educate yourself, learn, and share your experiences with others.

Mental health is a lifelong conversation that we can all benefit from.

Are you ready to get started? Visit our archives for more great content like this.

Dinosaurs have always been fascinating creatures. Their fossils are amazing prehistoric relics that are difficult to discover and are worth thousands of dollars. Paleontologists spend years in search of fossils so that they can learn more about these animals. Most of the fossils that have been discovered are on display in museums around the world. 

Dinosaurs are far, far older than humans and were wiped out hundreds of years ago. Yet, it is interesting to think that perhaps we could bring them back to life today. Many people today are actively working to do this very thing. But while cloning could be far away, human-made dinosaurs have been around for years.

The two most notable versions of modern human-made dinosaurs are the animatronic dinosaur and the fiberglass dinosaur. With the help of these impressive creations, all your dinosaur dreams are just an order away! If you wish to own a fun and realistic dinosaur costume, worry no more. You can order one in just a click. 

What is an Animatronic Dinosaur?

Animatronic dinosaurs are used to enact the actions of a dinosaur realistically. They are typically made with a metal frame that allows them to move freely. The actions performed by the dinosaur are controlled by a mechanical framework that is electrically powered. Typically, a battery is used to power the system, and no charging is required in advance. 

Animatronic dinosaurs are fun to watch because they move just like a real dinosaur would. Watching them in action is a dream come true for any dinosaur fan, or even Jurassic World fans!  These dinosaurs are designed with the utmost care. Experts uniquely sculpt every design. The references used for these animatronic dinosaurs are scientifically approved and in line with the latest research as well. The body design, shape, and dimensions are based on the most recent fossil records, which gives a realistic result. 

The patterns on these dinosaurs are inspired by their modern reptilian descendants, thus portraying what these dinosaurs may have looked like today. Animatronic dinosaurs are used in films and exhibitions. Their lifelike appearance and ability to move are key factors behind their immense success and popularity in the market. 

The best animatronic dinosaurs have the ability to rotate their necks and move their limbs freely. Those of the highest quality can open and close their mouths and make authentic dinosaur sounds as well! All of these special effects allow animatronic dinosaurs to give you the ultimate dinosaur experience. 

What is a Fiberglass Dinosaur?

Fiberglass is a brilliant material. It has an impressive extent of durability and can survive harsh natural conditions, including strong winds and heavy rain. Dinosaurs made from fiberglass, a medley of fiber and plastic, have a very long life expectancy. They will, at the very least, stay with you for years before deteriorating. Fiberglass dinosaurs are definitely a worthy investment!

Fiberglass dinosaurs are non-motile, which means that they cannot move without being physically picked up from one place and moved to another, like an inanimate toy. They do not have any electrical parts and are unable to move their limbs, jaws, or any other part of their body. 

Unlike animatronic dinosaurs, fiberglass dinosaurs are not built to move. However, fiberglass dinosaurs are much more affordable than animatronic ones and will probably outlive their electronic counterparts. Fiberglass is also an extremely lightweight material, and the dinosaur will not be hard to move around for this reason. Regardless, it will still always be unable to make sounds and move freely as an animatronic one can. 

Animatronic Dinosaur Costumes and How to Use Them

Your new animatronic dinosaur costume is just a bundle of fun waiting to happen! The incredible detail on it will blow away your friends and family. If you wear the costume and walk towards your friends, they might even believe a real, live dinosaur is making its way towards them!

To operate your dinosaur costume, follow these simple rules. There are two triggers in total. One trigger lies on the right-hand side of the costume, and the other towards the left. The triggers are shaped as handles, making them easy to hold and use. 

To make your dinosaur costume open its mouth wide open, use the right-side trigger. Watch in awe as your glorious beast of a costume roars to life! The animatronic dinosaur costume comes with eight sound files on a TF card. Four of these are dedicated solely to different kinds of roars. Choose whichever one you wish to use while opening and closing the dinosaur’s mouth so you can scare your friends! To make your dinosaur blink its eyes, use the left trigger. There are also four sounds tailored to fit the action of a blinking eye. You can use them to make your dinosaur experience even more authentic!

Our company offers two types of animatronic costumes. The first allows your legs to be seen, and the other covers them up! Both of them are excellent and will guarantee you hours of fun! They are modeled from the finest foam felt material and hand-painted to create a truly authentic and accurate dinosaur design. 

The costume is also coated with silicone to create the perfect skin-like finish in order to resemble a real reptile! Again, this is done by an expert to make sure every detail is perfect. The full costume is mounted on a metal frame that is easy to carry. There is also a little fan inside the costume to make sure you don’t feel too hot! The system is electrical and can be used time and time again.

Conclusion

Animatronic dinosaurs have gained immense popularity recently. New advancements in technology mean you can wear a full-sized dinosaur and even walk in it! For an authentic dinosaur experience, order a realistic dinosaur costume now!

When buying medications online, you want to make sure that they’re coming from a trustworthy source. Learn how to find a safe, reliable online pharmacy.

Roughly 11 percent of American adults that buy prescriptions use an online pharmacy. It’s no surprise, considering some prescriptions cost more than many people can afford. 

But when you buy your prescriptions online, you want to make sure that it’s coming from a trusted source. So how do you find a reliable online pharmacy?

To find the best online pharmacies, start by following these tips and avoiding common mistakes.

What to Avoid

There are certain red flags to look out for when searching for an online pharmacy service. For your safety, never buy from a pharmacy that can’t verify their product and licenses.

Sites That Don’t Require a Doctor’s Prescription

Don’t trust any site that claims you can buy medications without a prescription. A valid prescription from your doctor is always necessary to obtain prescription drugs online.

Avoid sites that claim you can call in a prescription yourself. Likewise, any website that claims they can have their doctor prescribe for you without an exam is a major red flag. Taking drugs without a prescription is against the law and unsafe.

Services Without a Physical Address

You might think that because you’re buying your medication online the pharmacy doesn’t need a physical address. But avoid companies that don’t have one or use a P.O. box because they’re probably a scam and located somewhere else.

A legitimate online pharmacy in the U.S. and Canada should have a verifiable street address. You should also avoid companies that ship worldwide.

Tips for Finding a Reliable Online Pharmacy

A trustworthy online pharmacy should follow guidelines and have a verifiably licensed physician. Follow these tips to ensure you only buy online from a reputable source.

Look for the VIPPS Seal or CIPA-Certified Pharmacies

Online pharmacies based in the United States should always have a VIPPS seal of approval. Canadian online pharmacies should be CIPA-approved (the Canadian International Pharmacy Association).

You can find lists of verified pharmacies online through CIPA or the FDA website.

Learn more about getting prescriptions through a verified Canadian pharmacy.

Only Use Services with Licensed Pharmacists

Prescriptions should only be filled by a verifiable licensed and registered pharmacist. If you can’t find this information on a website, you should avoid using their services.

Look for Bio-Equivalent Generic Medications

By law, generic medications must be bio-equivalent to brand medications. That means that it must release its active ingredient in almost exactly the same way as the original drug. A bio-equivalent drug is equal in terms of dosage and quality.

Illegitimate online pharmacies often sell counterfeit medication. These drugs are illegal and can be hazardous to your health.

Finding an Online Pharmacy That’s Safe and Reliable

You should always follow these tips when looking for a reliable online pharmacy. If you spot any red flags, don’t use that service.

When searching for an online pharmacy, the information should be easy to verify. Remember, there should always be a licensed pharmacist handling your prescriptions.

Did you find this article useful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our site for more useful tips and advice on a variety of topics.

“It feels like a sauna in here” is a phrase often used when a space is uncomfortable. But the reality of a sauna is that it is truly a comfortable, calming, restorative place to be! Yes, the extreme environment and powerful heat of a sauna bath can be both mentally and physically rejuvenating. These steamy hot rooms have been used in Finland and throughout Scandanavia for thousands of years. And in various forms, they have slowly been spreading across the globe.

Spend some time in a high-quality sauna, and you’ll lose some serious sweat. Like buckets of sweat, pouring off of the body. And that’s a good thing!

When you step out into the cool air, you’ll feel renewed, revived, and cleaned from the heat. Not so different than if you’d spent some time relaxing in the waters of a luxurious soaking bathtub!

Benefits of Regular Sauna Use

The most important benefits you get from regular sauna bathing are that it will clear your mind, relax the body, invigorate you, and provide a sense of mental restoration. The mental revitalization you get from your time in the sauna is the most important, and most valuable benefit you can get from using a sauna.

That said, there are many claims floating around that saunas provide significant medical health and wellness benefits. Sauna manufacturers sometimes promote questionable claims and overhype preliminary studies to make it look like sauna baths work miracles.

If you want luxury within your reach, Amba’s heated towel racks are available in both hardwired and plugin configurations, and they never go out of style. 

If you start to look around, you’ll find loads of information on how saunas will make you lose weight (hint: it’s water weight, not fat), they’ll cure cancer, they will give you magical fairy wings, etc. The truth is that most of these claims are either outright fabrications, or they are based off very small studies with low quality.

That’s not to say that all the research is bad. There are several solid studies showcasing some real health benefits from both traditional and infrared sauna use. I’ll run through a few of them in a moment, but first, a few works on the different types of saunas.

Types of Sauna

The two major categories of sauna are infrared saunas and electric or wood-burning saunas. Electric and wood-burning saunas heat the sauna up in a similar way, though infrared heat is fundamentally different.

Infrared saunas have been growing in popularity due to their simplicity and lack of hassle compared to traditional saunas. Infrasaunas use infrared panels to generate radiant heat (and run at a lower temperature). Radiant heat warms the surfaces on the body directly, as opposed to warming the room itself.

Infrared light is not the same as the UV light produced in a tanning bed and is not dangerous. IR light is on the opposite side of the spectrum from UV light. Infrared saunas typically don’t need special wiring, and they don’t heat up as hot as a traditional sauna, due to the radiant heat design.

Traditional wood-burning and electric saunas heat the room with direct heat from wood or electricity. Sauna rocks are usually placed on top of the heater, and when you want to add steam to the room, you pour some water onto the rocks.

Infrared saunas don’t use sauna rocks, and there is usually no steam involved.

Most sauna studies have been on traditional saunas with steam, not infrared saunas.

MiHigh infrared sauna blanket has plenty of benefits for your body, like detox and weight management.

Saunas and Life Extension

This is likely the most interesting study around that looks looking at sauna use. In this study, discussed by Harvard Medical School. researchers looked at the death rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke among sauna users.

The study followed 2,300 Finnish men over 20 years, focusing on their sauna use. That’s a pretty thorough study! It found that “frequent visits to a sauna were also associated with lower death rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke.”

The study considered traditional Finnish saunas, and may not apply to (more common in homes) infrared saunas.

Heart Health and Blood Pressure

A few studies looking at people with existing cardiovascular issues found there may be improvements in cardiovascular function after regular visits to an infrared sauna. The underlying cause of the improvements is still unclear, but regardless, benefits have been found.

This is very much preliminary stuff, and more research needs to be done.

Joint Pain

For those who suffer from joint pain and arthritis, saunas may offer some relief. Scientists have found that regular sauna treatments over the course of a month lead to reduced incidence of joint pain, especially in those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

General Health and Saunas

The Mayo Clinic has a great round-up on the current science around infrared saunas. As they state, “Several studies have looked at using infrared saunas in the treatment of chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, headache, type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, and found some evidence of benefit. However, larger and more-rigorous studies are needed to confirm these results.”

What about Toxins?

You can find all sorts of claims in sketchy corners of the internet stating that saunas will get rid of toxins, remove heavy metals, etc. The reality is that saunas will definitely make you sweat, and sweat contains very small amounts of metals in it. So yeah, technically, saunas do remove heavy metals.

But seriously, if you have toxic levels of lead or other heavy metals in your body, you need to get to the doctor. The sauna’s just not going to cut it.

Conclusion

A sauna is a great place to relax and enjoy. Spend screenless time in the sauna with friends and family, and you’ll find plenty of enjoyment. Whether you choose a sauna in a spa or gym, or a home model, you’ll find a rewarding, rejuvenating heat awaits!

Are you aware of the savings you can get from using discount drug cards to buy your prescriptions? Learn more in this guide.

Did you know that the average American spends over $1,200 a year on prescription drugs?

Prescription drugs are one of the most expensive aspects of paying for healthcare in America, but they are one of the most important as well. So how can you save money on this essential medication?

Prescription drug cards are one option for patients looking to save money. Let’s take a closer look at how they work.

What Is a Drug Card?

Basically, a prescription drug enrolls the patient in a program where they can buy medications at a discount using the pharmacy’s cash price. Consumers are able to access this lower price because the discount card company negotiates a lower price with the pharmacy.

Who Offers Prescription Drug Cards?

These drug cards are offered for free by a few different types of companies.

One is the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM), which is a prescription insurance processing company. These companies typically work as a liaison between the drug manufacturer, the pharmacy, and the insurance company to set drug prices. These are the most common sources of drug cards.

In other cases, data collection companies that collect data related to prescription drugs will offer drug cards. Finally, some non-profit or for-profit entities will provide them. These organizations make their money off of the processing fees from the pharmacy.

How Do Prescription Drug Cards Work?

Again, the organizations that offer prescription drug cards negotiate a lower price with the pharmacy. The prescription drug card provider generates additional business for the pharmacy by providing the card, resulting in the lower prices. 

This makes prescription drug cards a great option for patients who either don’t have insurance or for patients whose insurance does not offer a good prescription drug plan. 

How Can I Use a Prescription Drug Card?

You will need to take your prescription drug card with you to the participating pharmacy. This can be a stand-alone pharmacy, one in a grocery store, or even an online pharmacy. Click here to learn more about online pharmacies.

The pharmacy will then use the billing code associated with your drug card to bill your medication. They will then apply the negotiated drug price to your purchase.

There are two important factors when using your prescription drug card. First, the pharmacy you go to must be a participating pharmacy. Second, the medication you are purchasing must be one of the ones negotiated by the program. When you receive a prescription drug card, you should be able to obtain a list of covered medications.

Use Prescription Drug Cards Today

When it comes to saving money on medication, using prescription drug cards is a no brainer. With a prescription drug card, you will be able to save money on the medications you need to maintain your health.

Looking for more healthcare tips? Check out the healthcare section of our blog today.